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'The Wall Street Crash' happened in which year? | Brief History of The Crash of 1929 - TIME
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Seventy-nine years ago this week, the New York Stock Exchange experienced the worst financial panic the country had ever seen. There have been more crashes since with bigger numbers and bigger losses but nothing quite rivals the terror and devastation of Black Tuesday: October 29, 1929.
When President Calvin Coolidge delivered his 1928 State of the Union address, he noted that America had never "met with a more pleasing prospect than that which appears at the present time." Americans had a lot to be proud of back then: World War I was thoroughly behind them, radio had been invented, and automobiles were growing cheaper and more popular. Sure, the disparity between the rich and the poor had widened within the past decade, but Americans could now buy goods on installment plans a relatively new concept and families could afford more than ever before. Stocks were on a tear: between 1924 and 1929, the Dow Jones Industrial Average quadrupled. At that time, it was the longest bull market ever recorded; some thought it would last forever. In the fall of 1929, economist Irving Fisher announced that "stock prices have reached what looks like a permanent plateau." ( See pictures of the stock market crash of 1929. )
Unsurprisingly, this exuberance lured more investors to the market, investing on margin with borrowed money. By 1929, 2 out of every 5 dollars a bank loaned were used to purchase stocks.
The market peaked on September 3, 1929. Steel production was down, several banks had failed, and fewer homes were being built, but few paid attention the Dow stood at 381.17, up 27% from the previous year. Over the next few weeks, however, prices began to move downward. And the lower they fell, the faster they picked up speed.
In the last hour of trading on Thursday, Oct. 23, 1929, stock prices suddenly plummeted. When the closing bell rang at 3 p.m. people were shaken. No one was sure what had just happened, but that evening provided enough time for fear and panic to set in. When the market opened again the next day, prices plunged with renewed violence. Stock transactions in those days were printed on ticker tape, which could only produce 285 words a minute. Thirteen million shares changed hands the highest daily volume in the exchange's history at that point and the tape didn't stop running until four hours after the market closed. The following day, President Herbert Hoover went on the radio to reassure the American people, saying "The fundamental business of the country...is on a sound and prosperous basis."
And then came Black Monday. As soon as the opening bell rang on Oct. 28, prices began to drop. Huge blocks of shares changed hands, as previously impregnable companies like U.S. Steel and General Electric began to tumble. By the end of the day, the Dow had dropped 13%. So many shares changed hands that day that traders didn't have time to record them all. They worked into the night, sleeping in their offices or on the floor, trying to catch up to be ready for October 29.
As the story goes, the opening bell was never heard on Black Tuesday because the shouts of "Sell! Sell! Sell!" drowned it out. In the first thirty minutes, 3 million shares changed hands and with them, another $2 million disappeared into thin air. Phone lines clogged. The volume of Western Union telegrams traveling across the country tripled. The ticker tape ran so far behind the actual transactions that some traders simply let it run out. Trades happened so quickly that although people knew they were losing money, they didn't know how much. Rumors of investors jumping out of buildings spread through Wall Street; although they weren't true, they drove the prices down further. Brokers called in margins; if stockholders couldn't pay up, their stocks were sold, wiping out many an investor's life savings in an instant. So many trades were made each recorded on a slip of paper that traders didn't know where to store them, and ended up stuffing them into trash cans. One trader fainted from exhaustion, was revived and put back to work. Others got into fistfights. The New York Stock Exchange's board of governors considered closing the market, but decided against it, lest the move increase the panic. When the market closed at 3 p.m., more than 16.4 million shares had changed hands, using 15,000 miles of ticker tape paper. The Dow had dropped another 12%.
In total, $25 billion some $319 billion in today's dollars was lost in the 1929 crash. Stocks continued to fall over subsequent weeks, finally bottoming out on November 13, 1929. The market recovered for a few months and then slid again, gliding swiftly and steadily with the rest of the country into the Great Depression. Companies incurred huge layoffs, unemployment skyrocketed, wages plummeted and the economy went into a tailspin. While World War II helped pull the country out of a Depression by the early 1940s, the stock market wouldn't recover to its pre-crash numbers until 1954.
| 1929 |
At a 1996 Ascot race meeting, name the jockey who rode all seven winners? | BBC ON THIS DAY | 19 | 1987: Shares plunge after Wall Street crash
1987: Shares plunge after Wall Street crash
The world's stock market has collapsed after shares on Wall Street suffered a wave of panic selling.
The Dow Jones industrial average plummeted by a record 508 points, registering a percentage drop of 22.5%.
On Wall Street itself, share prices crashed across the board in frenzied trading that saw collective losses worse than the infamous "Black Monday" in October 1929.
In London the value of quoted shares fell by �50bn as the FT 30-share index dived 183.7 points to 1629.2.
The previous sharpest one day fall was on March 1, 1974 after Labour's indecisive election victory, when shares fell 7.1%.
Steep drop
The FTSE index also crashed more than 300 points with a loss of �63bn.
The collapse was triggered by Friday's fall on Wall Street and a steep drop in Tokyo.
The White House attempted to calm investors by issuing a statement declaring that President Ronald Reagan remained convinced that the US economy was sound.
Dealers marked prices down in an effort to discourage sellers amid scenes close to hysteria.
The percentage drop was the second largest ever next to the 24.4% fall of 12 December, 1914.
Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange John Phelan said: "This is the nearest thing to a financial melt-down I've ever come across. I would not want to be around for another one like this."
But officials warned against comparisons, saying that the situation is dramatically different from 1929.
Trading activity was driven down by growing fears of rising interest rates and a falling dollar.
These were exacerbated by the news that the US had retaliated against Iranian attacks in the Gulf by bombarding an offshore oil rig.
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What city is the capital of Argentina? | What is the Capital of Argentina? - Capital-of.com
Dates of religious and Civil
holidays around the world.
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Capital of Argentina
The Capital City of Argentina (officially named Argentine Republic) is the city of Buenos Aires. The population of Buenos Aires in the year 2008 was 3,034,161 (12,789,000 in the metropolitan area).
Argentina is a Spanish speaking country on the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean.
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| Buenos Aires |
Bill Clinton was the governor of which US State before becoming President? | Buenos Aires | national capital, Argentina | Britannica.com
national capital, Argentina
Alternative Title: Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire
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Argentina
Buenos Aires, city and capital of Argentina . The city is coextensive with the Federal District (Distrito Federal) and is situated on the shore of the Río de la Plata , 150 miles (240 km) from the Atlantic Ocean . Buenos Aires is one of Latin America ’s most important ports and most populous cities, as well as the national centre of commerce, industry, politics, culture , and technology. According to tradition, Spanish colonizer Pedro de Mendoza established the first settlement there, which he named Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Aire (“Our Lady St. Mary of the Good Air”). Buenos Aires locals are referred to as porteños (“people of the port”) because so many of the city’s inhabitants historically arrived by boat from Europe. Area city, 78 square miles (203 square km); Greater Buenos Aires, 1,500 square miles (3,885 square km). Pop. (2001) city, 2,776,138; Greater Buenos Aires, 12,046,799; (2010) city, 2,890,151; (2011 est.) Greater Buenos Aires, 13,528,000.
Buenos Aires.
Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz
Character of the city
The Argentine poet and philosopher Ezequiel Martínez Estrada (1895–1964) called Buenos Aires “The Head of Goliath,” a metaphor that likened the imbalance of the city’s relation with the rest of the country to that of a large-headed giant with a feeble body. The city’s wealth and influence overshadow the life of the rest of the country, but Buenos Aires also presents Argentina with its severest economic and social problems. This dichotomy has made Buenos Aires a centre for political and social unrest.
This grandiose city with wide avenues and a vibrant cosmopolitan flair is more generally European than Latin American in character. Having little colonial architecture and few landmark buildings, Buenos Aires is chiefly a city of distinctive neighbourhoods that have their own meeting places, generally coffeehouses or bars. This is a tradition rooted in the colonial period, when the centre of each neighbourhood was a general store and bar known as a pulpería. These neighbourhoods provide a sense of community for people who live in an urban sprawl that by the early 21st century was growing twice as fast as the country as a whole.
Buenos Aires.
Ushuaia
The energy and bustle of modern Buenos Aires is most evident in the city centre—the locus of entertainment, shopping, and café-going. Porteños relish politics, football (soccer), and the city’s cultural offerings. At night Buenos Aires’s boites (nightclubs) swell with revellers dancing the tango , the emotional dance that originated in the lower-class areas of the city and that is said to reflect the essence of the soul of the porteño.
Landscape
City site
The city of Buenos Aires is located at the northeastern edge of the flat plain known as the Pampas , which occupies the agricultural heartland of Argentina. It is situated at the point where the Paraná River delta widens to become the Río de la Plata estuary. The eastern and northern limits of the metropolitan area are defined by the Río de la Plata, and the city’s most prominent physical characteristics are the numerous small rivers that flow through its periphery . The centre of the city lies on a bluff overlooking the Río de la Plata, and to the south flows a small river, the Riachuelo, the banks of which mark the other higher ground in the city. The rest of the city is laid out on the floodplains of the rivers, virtually without significant elevations.
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Buenos Aires - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires is also its leading city in population, commerce, and industry. The city is located in the east-central part of the country, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) from the Atlantic Ocean coast. Buenos Aires lies on the broad Rio de la Plata, an estuary at the mouth of the Parana and Paraguay rivers. The early Spanish colonists named the city for the "good winds" that brought them to the port. Today the Buenos Aires metropolitan area is one of the largest in the world. The city proper makes up the Federal District. The Buenos Aires metropolitan area, or Greater Buenos Aires, includes the Federal District and the surrounding suburbs. The city is not a part of Buenos Aires province, which surrounds it.
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What kind of monkey would you find on the 'Rock of Gibraltar? | The Monkeys of the Rock of Gibraltar
Ernest and the Barbary Macaques of Gibraltar
For the last fifty years, Ernest has cared for this
tribe of tail-less rock apes.
Copic marker sketch of a Gibraltar Barbary Macaque. This small population of Barbary Macaques are often referred to as Rock Apes, but they are actually a species Old World monkeys.
For the last fifty years, Ernest has cared for this tribe of tail-less rock apes.
The apes are not exactly apes. They are monkeys - tail-less macaques, origin Morocco. Nobody knows exactly how they arrived on the peninsula, although theories abound. Many say they were brought here by Arab or Berber pirates in the fourteenth century. Others insist they were a tribe from the Baltic, pushed back to the edge of Europe by the Ice Age.
Some have more unusual explanations. In 1920, a journalist for the London Daily Mail wrote, "Well-known monkeys are absent for months, and then reappear with new, strange, adult monkeys of a similar breed. Those who know Gibraltar will agree that there is not a square yard on the Rock where they could have hidden." The author insisted that the only explanation was a submarine tunnel underneath the Mediterranean, connecting the African dens to Gibraltar.
As Gibraltar is simply a large rock (two square miles of Jurassic limestone) - a British colony on the Southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula - everybody, the monkeys included, are in close proximity. Squished together, hugging the steep cliffsides.
The monkeys have hands remarkably like humans, but their behavior is much more monkeylike. "You think their hands would be rough like dog paws," Jane says. "But it's like holding a human hand. They are like baby hands."
Ernest, who cares for the monkeys of Gibraltar.
Ernest invites us to his shaded hut. His accent is more international than the other Gibraltarians we meet. Their English is perhaps the strangest on Earth, sounding sinister, Cockney and Spanish, Arabic and cartoonish all at once. When a bartender at one of the dozens of fish and chips parlours says, 'You want two lagers?', it comes out like this: "Yeh whan twah walagas?"
Ernest gives his own explanation for the origin of the monkeys, "They were brought over here in the year 1311 by Arabs. This was an outpost for them at the time. In 1704, when the British first came to Gibraltar, there were only 11 or 12 monkeys on the peninsula. The British Consul wanted to increase their number. Slowly they were cared for and reared by the military "
“So you’ve seen a lot of change?” Jane asks Ernest.
“Yes, you could say this. When the Germans were expected to come into Gibraltar and bomb, I was eight years old, and the women and children were evacuated.”
“So did the Germans ever actually bomb Gibraltar?” I ask. The notion seems absurd, but then the whole point of this rock is its role as a British garrison; a naval foothold in the Mediterranean.
“Oh yes. The Germans and Italians.”
“Where did you go?” Jane asks.
“11,000 of us were evacuated to Britain, and 4,000 to Jamaica. I spent four years in Jamaica."
"And how did you start taking care of the monkeys?" I ask.
"I was a private in the army," Ernest says. "In Gibraltar, you do your duty starting at age eighteen. I would come up here and help name the monkeys and look after them...Now I have been with the monkeys since nineteen-fifty-four."
"So the Government of Gibraltar officially takes care of them?" Jane asks.
“Oh yes. They are given immunizations and each are named and catalogued. We also feed them and give them medical examiniations. In the old days, the army doctors brought them in for treatment, and examined them one by one."
Caring for the monkeys is not all tourism and show. It is perhaps vital for the people of Gibraltar. Spain - which itself stubbornly refuses to give up its stake in two chunks of the Moroccan mainland, insists that Gibraltar is rightfully Spanish. I ask, "What do you think will happen to Gibraltar in the long run?”
"In two weeks, our foreign ministers are meeting. The foreign minister of Britain is going to Spain and they are expected to make some progress on the subject of our sovereignty. The thing is that we want to be at peace with the Spanish. If the British ever leave, we don't want to go to Spain. We want to be our own people. We will not be ruled by Spain! We are our own nationality. Everybody on Gibraltar believes in our autonomy. We like the British but if they leave we want to be a sovereign state."
"Isn't it true," I say, "that nobody has ever found an ape skeleton on the peninsula?"
Ernest folds his arms and grasps his chin. "Yes, this is true," he says. "Maybe when they go down the cliffs at night they climb into a big hole, and when they think they are going to die, they just stay there. It is believed that the apes created a giant underground burial site, maybe there is a cave. In the nineteen-fifties, there was a very special monkey to the British soldiers. He was called Jocko, and he was very large. When he died they wanted to find his body for a proper burial, and so they looked all over the cliffs but they never found him."
Sketch of the Rock of Gibraltar. I used Copic markers and Sakura Micron liner pens. The Barbary Macaque monkeys, the only wild monkeys in Europe, live in five populations in the upper rocks of Gibraltar.
"But how hard can it be to find a hole in the ground, you would think somebody would try to find it." I say.
"Believe it, people are looking for the burial site all the time," he says. Although Gibraltar is tiny, most of it is dense scrub-trees on bare, steep rock. Human exploration of much of the rock is impossible, even by an experienced climbing team.
"Okay," I ask, "what would happen if all the apes of Gibraltar perish?"
"Yes," Ernest says. "This is the myth that we have here in Gibraltar. They say that if the apes no longer exist, then the control of the Rock will go from Britain to Spain. But I think this will not happen. The apes will thrive."
This myth has existed since the Spanish began making a series of military bungles against the British on the Rock in an attempt to seize what they could never keep even from the Moors. The Spanish finally resorted to the statement that when the monkeys perish, the British will lose Gibraltar.
When the ape population dwindled to about seven individuals near the end of World War II, Sir Winston Churchhill ordered a replenishment from Morocco. In a speech, he said that Gibraltar will remain British as long as the apes shall live.
Ernest pauses to fumble with his pack of Dunhill Filters. His perch is a small painted shack. Like all the rest of Gibraltar's human community below us, it is compact and built tightly against the cliff. His view is the best in all of Gibraltar - a view of a great harbor, a city and the Iberian mainland beyond. It is glorious and vaguely tropical. To his back is Africa, to his front the nation that wants him speaking Spanish.
"The fact is, there are now up to five tribes in Gibraltar. The monkey populations are growing and the people are committed to their survival. Five tribes, that's three hundred apes."
"So there is a lot of weight on your shoulders to keep them alive?"
"Yes, yes." He carries no modesty or pride with this statement. It is simply a fact. He must care for the monkeys lest Gibraltar goes the way of Hong Kong.
It's a big responsibility. Gibraltar was an essential military component in the defense against Napolean. It is thought that without its strategic location, the British Isles would now be French. It was important even in the Falkland's War. So important that the Argentines attempted to blow the whole harbor up by sneaking bomb-clad divers into Spain. When all England's Falkland ships would be refueling in port, the diver's would slip into the sea, creating Pearl Harbor II. Spain uncovered and foiled the plot.
Gibraltar was known in Roman times, along with a mountain on the African coast - called back then the Mountain of Apes - as the physical end of the world. Beyond these Straits of Gibraltar swam the dragons and demons of the Atlantic.
Later I say to Jane. "That has to be the best job in the world. Get to sit in the sun, meet people from all over the world, and play with monkeys all day."
"Great for him, maybe." Jane says. Almost as if I was suggesting we give up our careers and join Ernest.
An overfed lady is feeding one monkey a ham and cheese sandwich. The apes do not do well with the food that humans offer them. The signs are everywhere. Do Not Feed the Apes. The reasons are apparent. This human food is overprocessed. A ham and cheese sandwich will make the monkey die of obesity. Obesity from junk food has become the leading killer of the apes on Gibraltar.
The monkeys are notorious thieves, and one medium-sized male snatches the plastic-bagged sandwich from the overfed lady, startling her into a scream. The monkey drops the sandwich and the lady snatches it back, poking it at the monkey's face until he grabs it again.
This act happens every single day on Gibraltar.
There is only one answer – please keep that sandwich to yourself. The thing about this ham and cheese sandwich is that it came out of a plastic bag. The ham is not the kind of cured delicacy that abounds in Portugal and Spain. It comes from a factory paste. And the cheese is outsourced, a white block oozing oil in the sun. It is the kind of sandwich you get from a vending machine. The kind that makes a thud when it drops.
As Jane and I are traveling the world in search of the finest artisanal cheeses on Earth, I thought this ham and cheese sandwich would make a good conversation point for the point of defining good and bad cheese.
At home, cheese is ever-present. It is slathered on burritos, thick on pizzas, oozing in commercial pasta dishes. Some back-home friends are adamant about non-fat, low calorie cheese that comes in individually-wrapped containers. Bland chalky cheese from big corporations like Kraft. Processed cheese, which is really more a 'cheese food' or a 'cheese sauce', is filled with preservatives and artificial fats and artificial flavoring, shipped in big containers and bumped around by the pressures of modern industry. The ingredient buyers scour the world for cost-cutting schemes, looking to make every ingredient as cost-efficient as possible.
The habits of people in industrialized countries are changing along with the big companies that wish it that way. Restaurants and markets and farmhouse products were once more often distinguishable from others, and distinct cheese manufacturers existed around the world in the hundreds of thousands.
Today we are habituated to the idea of standardization in our products. We want consistency. Whether we're in Chicago or New York or Miami, we want to be able to buy our coffee or a taco or an individually-wrapped cheese and have it taste identical to what we know.
Standardization is comforting, but in the process we lose vital culture. The homogenization of modern food is putting our cultural traditions at the risk of extinction. Cultural cuisine traditions that evolved over thousands of years.
What is happening to our food traditions is like having a very large bookshelf, filled with an improbable combination of volumes, about unimaginably interesting subjects. And one day, you wake to find the bookshelf composed entirely of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code and David Grisham's The Pelican Brief.
The idea of food as art, the idea of regional specialty. The idea of tradition and constant invention. The idea of food as exploration. But to suggest that real cheese is a vital component of human culture can be deemed snobbish. What is culture anyway, and does anybody have the right to suggest what is and isn't?
Culture is that barrier man has built for himself against the chaos of nature. It is the weeded garden, the composed yard, the hybridized specimens growing in the sun. It is the good things in humanity that separates us from the monkeys. It is tradition and dynamic invention. A tug of war between old ideas and new ones. When humans reject part of that balance between the old and new, they flounder. Their so-called gardens become filled with weeds.
Culture can only be defined by healthy societies over time. One thing you often hear from Americans on the subject of Europe is this statement: "They have more culture there." The statement is nonsense, because old buildings have nothing to do with culture. Culture is created by the choices that people make in the present.
This modern conflict is a circumstance St. Deuberex Montclair could never have predicted. In 1910 when he wrote his 'Cheese Travels', processed cheese had not yet been invented. At the same time, Montclair would not have imagined the incredible progress in new artisanal cheeses from Vermont, California, New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. Small farmhouse cheeses, complete new inventions.
However, the five cheeses that lay to our north were lauded by Montclair. Back then in 1910, all five probably tasted about the same as they do now.
Explore more in Europa :
| Barbary macaque |
What would you add to lead to make pewter? | Barbary Apes, Gibraltar 153 Insider Tips, Photos and Reviews
Gibraltar and Bolonia Day Trip from Cádiz
"Gibraltar is a British overseas territory under United Kingdom administration but claimed by the Kingdom of Spain. Gibraltar macaque (also known as ""Barbary ape"") was probably introduced by the Arabs from North Africa and is the only wild primate that they usually are agglomerated in the area of the protected area of the Rock. A superstition holds that if the monkeys leave the Rock so will the British so they are maintained by the local government.Bolonia beach is considered one of the five most beautiful beaches in Spain its main attraction is its dune. With over 30 metres high and 200 metres wide the Bolonia's dune and stands out within the huge system of dunes to which it belongs. Located in the Bolonia Inlet
Gibraltar and Bolonia Day Trip from Cádiz
"Gibraltar is a British overseas territory under United Kingdom administration but claimed by the Kingdom of Spain. Gibraltar macaque (also known as ""Barbary ape"") was probably introduced by the Arabs from North Africa and is the only wild primate that they usually are agglomerated in the area of the protected area of the Rock. A superstition holds that if the monkeys leave the Rock so will the British so they are maintained by the local government.Bolonia beach is considered one of the five most beautiful beaches in Spain its main attraction is its dune. With over 30 metres high and 200 metres wide the Bolonia's dune and stands out within the huge system of dunes to which it belongs. Located in the Bolonia Inlet
Half-Day Private City Tour of Marbella and Puerto Banús
"You will be picked up from your hotel or place of your choice and taken on this private excursion of Marbella and Puerto Banús. You will then be able to enjoy and admire the great architecture and sights of Marbella and Puerto Banus as well as most important and well-known monuments. The itinerary will be organized to suit your needs.Some of the monuments sights and activities:Old Town (Barrio Alto and Barrio Nuevo) Plaza de los Naranjos Chapel of St. John of God - Marbella Royal Hospital of Mercy Historic extension (botanic garden) Marbella’s Golde much more... Your private official tour guide and private luxury vehicle with chauffeur are at your disposal during the tour to help you enjoy the areas to the fullest and to get the most out of your experience in Marbella and Puerto Banús.
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Which of the Wombles shares his name with a South American river? | The Wombles - Do You Remember?
The Wombles
Television
> The Wombles
In terms of green icons, The Wombles were way ahead of their time. Recycling and reusing the junk they found lying around, their motto was ‘Make Good Use of Bad Rubbish’ – a message that was definitely in keeping with the growing interest in being environmentally friendly during the 1970s. They were also chosen as the face of the Tidy Britain campaign – encouraging children and adults alike to bin their waste.
Elisabeth Beresford hit on the idea of the Wombles after a Boxing Day walk. Her young daughter mispronounced ‘Wimbledon’ as ‘Wombledon’, and the seed of inspiration was planted.
According to the books, these cute little creatures lived all over the world, tidying up after humans as they went about their messy, daily business. Her beautifully crafted stories however concerned mostly just the ones who lived in the depths below Wimbledon Common, in their neat and tidy burrows. They spent their days shuffling about in the greenery, looking for rubbish that was left lying around after our apparently endless picnics so they could take it back to their burrows and creatively put it to another use. There were occasional mentions and appearances from some of their Womble cousins though; the water wombles and the huge, snow-coloured Wombles of the Himalayas.
The Wombling lifestyle obviously suited these eco-conscientious fellows as on average they would live for over 200 years (think how many Coke cans they must have amassed during that time…). This may have been down to their fondness for the outdoor life or to other healthy aspects such as a diet of mostly flora - it was occasionally supplemented by left-over picnic food, although they were herbivores, so sausages and ham sandwiches would presumably have been cast aside.
The furry critters went through quite a physical transformation after first hitting the bookshelves in 1968. Originally much larger (not far off the size of a small adult human) they were described as looking like bears, but as they got ready to star in their own television programme it was decided that their look needed to become more appealing to their target audience of children, and so the small, bumbling, cuddly creatures we know and love were born.
So, let’s remember the individual Wombles shall we? Beresford took a personal tone with their creations, with many of them modelled on members of her family. Their names were geographical, and explained in the books by stating that Wombles remained nameless until they were old enough to look through an atlas and choose a name that they felt suited them.
First off we’re obviously going to mention Great Uncle Bulgaria (based on Beresford’s father-in-law), without whose wisdom the Wombles would have probably been in a sorry state indeed. He was their leader; the oldest of the – what’s the collective name for a group of Wombles? A ‘shuffle’? – ok, a shuffle of Wombles, and most definitely the wisest. He could also be pretty intimidating when he chose to be (check out that glare through both pairs of his glasses – yes, that’s right – he wore two pairs of glasses. What a crazy Womble) but underneath it all, Bulgaria was very kind, and kept burrow life running smoothly.
Then there was Tobermory (inspired by Beresford’s inventor brother and named after the cute little town that was the backdrop for children’s programme Balamory), friend to Bulgaria and similar in personality, i.e. gruff and moody, but a soft touch when you scratched the surface. Orinoco (named after the South American river) was a caricature of Beresford’s teenage son so his two favourite things were eating and sleeping, but he could occasionally stir himself into some pretty courageous acts. Bungo (no relation to that irritating bear in Rainbow, but instead named after a province in Japan) was Orinoco’s buddy; slightly overbearing at times, but always enthusiastic for the next rubbish-related adventure.
Golf-mad Tomsk (yep, that’s after the city in Russia) was not the smartest fuzzy in the burrow but if you wanted a golf partner then he was your man – I mean Womble. Wellington had his fair share of brains, but not much self-belief, and was forever forgetting what he was doing. He was so-called because Beresford’s nephew attended Wellington School in Somerset.
Hang on a minute I hear all you non-Womble aficionados cry, there’s a lot of testosterone kicking around that underground home. Where’s the feminine touch? Well, voilà - let me introduce Madame Cholet! A French cook (they don’t explain how she travelled to the UK – perhaps there was a special Womble rate on Brittany Ferries back then), she came across as very straight-laced and proper, but that accent made you think she was probably a right little minx when the apron came off. She was styled on Beresford’s mother however – so if my prediction is right, Elisabeth’s dad was a lucky man indeed.
Madame Cholet also had a female assistant in the books (it’s a full-time job feeding hungry Wombles you know) called Alderney (think Channel Islands: Beresford moved there in the mid-70s); she didn’t make it into the first television series, but when the second one was created in 1998 she returned. Giving it a bit more girl power was Miss Adelaide, a schoolmistress.
A 1977 film, Wombling Free , and the second TV series introduced further characters, all given names in the same manner; my favourite being Stepney, the dreadlocked Womble from the East End of London.
Beresford wrote five Womble novels (‘Womvels’?) and one Womble short story collection, and after the first book, which was published in 1968, was featured on Jackanory the BBC commissioned a television series from FilmFair. Animated and directed by Ivor Wood ( The Herbs , Paddington , Postman Pat ) it was narrated by the incomparable Bernard Cribbens and ran for 30 five minute episodes in 1973. In 1975 a second series was produced, this time animated by Barry Leith, which also had 30 episodes. Both series were bookended by the instantly recognisable Wombles theme, written by Mike Batt, who also went on to perform as part of The Wombles pop group. Apparently for one episode of Top of the Pops , it was the folk rock band Steeleye Span sweltering inside the furry costumes. The Wombles musical combo is apparently popular to this day (obviously this view depends on your definition of ‘popular’) and even played Glastonbury in 2011. I loved the books and the television series; not so fussed about dancing in a muddy field to a song played by 6 foot, starey-eyed fur-balls.
In 1996 FilmFair was bought out by Cinar Films, a Canadian company. They created a fresh Womble television programme, which ran for three series from March 1997 until November 1998 on ITV and introduced several new furry characters.
And that’s not all - Wombles fans old and new will be excited to hear that they’re coming back! A very recent announcement stated that a computer generated animation of everybody’s favourite clearer-uppers will be appearing on Channel 5 in 2015. Judging by a few teaser graphics that have been released the makers have stuck pretty closely to the look of the Wombles from the 1970’s series – although what we really want to know is will their re-use policy now extend to polishing up the rubbish they find and selling it on eBay?
| Orinoco |
George Stubbs is renowned for paintings of which animal? | Extract |
Extract
Introduction
My friend is sitting in the comfortable green leather chair. I squeeze him till he sings. His hat is jammed on his head and his scarf is wound round his neck, as if he is about to brave the elements of an English summer day. He won’t do that. He has developed a reputation for not doing much at all. That doesn’t matter. I first saw him over 30 years ago and he is funny and charming today, as he was then. He doesn’t say anything. But he will break into song, and wrinkle his snout, if you press his paw. I don’t have any other friends who can do that – or any other friends who are named after a South American river.
Orinoco is one of the Wombles who live on Wimbledon Common, picking up ‘things that the everyday folks leave behind’. The Wombles came into the world in 1968 (like me), in the first of a series of books by a journalist named Elisabeth Beresford. After the first book featured on the BBC’s Jackanory series, the Corporation commissioned producer FilmFair to make a series of animated Wombles episodes. Actor Bernard Cribbins supplied the narration and all the voices, Mike Batt wrote the music and lyrics for the theme tune and millions of small children found a new set of furry friends. Each episode brought five minutes of adventure as the Wombles did their bit to keep the world in order.
It seemed like a wonderful world to a small boy in the early 1970s. My older brother had left home at the earliest opportunity. My older sister showed no interest in the Wombles as far as I can recall. The posters in her bedroom were of Snoopy and Barry Manilow. Years later, she married a man with a prominent nose.
So it was my younger brother and me watching TV while sitting on a black leather sofa, which squeaked the house down if you dared to move a muscle. From time to time, we would run upstairs to the main living room – a vast territory which our parents had attempted to shrink by decorating it in black and importing ever more items of bulky furniture. There was a piano, on which my mother would practise classical compositions. For inspiration, she played recordings of performances by Alfred Brendel. One day, the maestro’s rendition of Für Elise drifted down the stairs as our grandmother came to visit, leading her to conclude that Mother’s practising was beginning to pay off. I would ascend to the heights of piano grade 1 (118 marks out of 150), while my brother would murder various tunes with the aid of a trumpet, in our bedroom at the other end of the first floor.
My father was stationed in the newsagent’s shop which he ran at the front of the house, looking out onto Harrow’s main street. My brother and I would run into the shop on daily raids for crisps and Opal Fruits, to tell him if England had lost another wicket or to read one of the magazines. At one stage, the shop stocked selections of children’s books, enabling me to enjoy the entire Famous Five canon for free. Sometimes my reading would stray into more adult material such as the Sherlock Holmes short stories. But it was never long before I returned to children’s literature, much of it from the local library – though not for a while after the discovery under my bed of the library copy of Noggin the Nog, four years after it should have been returned.
The term ‘hyperactive’ didn’t apply to my brother or me. We walked to school, but showed little talent for sport, apart from cricket in which I bowled off-spinners so slow that the batsman was out of form by the time the ball reached him. Our lack of outdoor exercise was influenced by a desire to avoid being run over by the never-ending traffic on the high street. The upstairs living room hosted Scalextric competitions, but for the most part our books and the TV were enough.
There was plenty of TV for us to enjoy: the 1970s had a wider range of children’s programmes in Britain than ever before. Oliver Postgate was busy narrating the Norse saga of Noggin the Nog, the tales of the Moon-based mice known as The Clangers and stories of Bagpuss, an old cloth cat who lived in a shop and who – along with various other toys which came to life – would inspect a different lost or broken object in each episode and attempt to deduce its origins. Eric Thompson’s gentle voice related The Magic Roundabout’s tales of little girl Florence and her friends Dougal the dog, Brian the snail, Dylan the rabbit and Ermintrude the cow.
There was the battle of the magazine format shows, with children defining themselves as Blue Peter or Magpie fans with all the fervour of sports supporters. Our household watched Blue Peter. Despite having no artistic ability, I sat glued to Vision On and its examples of other children’s artwork which, the presenters told us each week, couldn’t be returned. Doctor Who (made by the BBC’s Drama Department, but loved by children) got a new lease of life with Tom Baker in the title role. Thirty years later, children who had watched him as the Doctor were making TV programmes themselves and hiring Baker as a voiceover artist.
Up against such stiff competition for our attention, the Wombles more than held their own, with their domestic eccentricities, accidents and adventures. They have stood the test; they’re as quirky, endearing and funny as ever.
The patriarch of the group is Great Uncle Bulgaria, in his tartan shawl and hat. Bulgaria runs the burrow and it’s his initiatives that drive many of the stories – whether instructing Tobermory to repair the telephone system, conducting an impromptu Wombles orchestra or reminiscing about the age of steam. Bulgaria is hard to disconcert, although he does get cranky if the young Wombles don’t find him a copy of The Times each day. Behind the sternness is a twinkle: he is still sprightly enough to play golf on the common, and mischievous enough to get a cardboard cake baked for the younger Wombles, as a ‘Womble Fool’s Day’ joke.
The resident engineer, Tobermory, makes everything work with ingenuity and imagination. Where Orinoco sees a hammerhead shark, Tobermory knows it is a vacuum cleaner. And when Bulgaria’s rocking chair breaks, Tobermory repairs it with a tyre that Orinoco finds on the common. Like Bulgaria, Tobermory has a childlike side to him. After the younger Wombles steal some buttercup crumpets from the kitchen, Tobermory does the same, with the same result – hiccups. For all his inventions, Tobermory is fallible like anyone else. His paper-transporting hotline is a failure, as Madame Cholet does not appreciate the ‘borrowing’ of her washing line and clothes pegs.
The nearest Womble to Great Uncle Bulgaria in age – or so it seemed to me as a child – is Madame Cholet, the cook with the frilly hat and French accent. She seems to have the classic chef’s temperament, too: the kitchen is Madame Cholet’s domain, and she is not shy of telling all and sundry to leave. Otherwise she fulfils a traditional female role, cleaning and dusting, or ‘rearranging the dust’ as the script put it.
Among the young Wombles, Wellington is the class swot; small, shy, bespectacled and with a blue and black school cap. The other young Wombles respect him for his creativity and intelligence. Give Wellington two tins and a long piece of string and, hey presto, he’ll give you an inter-Womble communication device. When Tobermory needs help creating a new system for Great Uncle Bulgaria, he enlists Wellington first. And Wellington isn’t only a scientist: he can paint – albeit in an abstract fashion which renders Bulgaria in the style of a fried egg. In recent years, my wife Helen has pointed out a disturbing similarity between Wellington and Sven-Göran Eriksson, the phlegmatic Swedish football coach. Maybe it’s the glasses.
If Wellington is the intellectual heavyweight of the young Wombles, there is no doubt who provides the muscle: Tomsk. His enthusiasm exceeds his brainpower, and he has a dangerous tendency to take ladders away without checking if anyone is at the top of them. Tobermory’s instructions on how to fix the burrow pipeline confuse Tomsk, who mixes up the telephone and water systems, with soggy results. But there’s no Womble better for mixing cement or tossing the caber in the Womble Highland Games… even if it does end up in Madame Cholet’s vegetable garden. Tomsk does get the occasional bon mot: when he sees Bulgaria’s head stuck through a painting, he tells the old Womble that ‘You’ve been framed’. But Tomsk’s strength is his strength.
Bungo’s role, on the other hand, is less obvious. The events of the original book The Wombles are seen through his eyes. As the newest and youngest Womble, he is chided by Great Uncle Bulgaria for choosing such a silly name. In the TV episodes, by contrast, Bungo isn’t the most intelligent, or the strongest, or even the funniest – although he is inclined to be bossy. He has his heroic moments, such as his rescue of Wellington when a human comes onto the common (possibly the only rescue in literature by a character disguised by a cardboard box). For the most part, though, Bungo is just one of the gang.
The most popular Womble with my brother, my friends and me was Orinoco. He is fat and lazy and is obsessed with food and sleep, or ‘forty winks’ as he calls it. In one story, when Madame Cholet makes a picnic for the younger Wombles, Orinoco asks for cake, biscuits, buns, a big cake, lemonade, some biscuits and cake, and some sandwiches, and some cake. Bungo and Tomsk join him for the picnic, and Orinoco lightens the picnic hamper… by eating the lot. He is sensitive about his weight, and sometimes tries to do something about it. When Tobermory starts to convert an old grandfather clock into a weighing machine, Orinoco embarks on a frantic sequence of walks and press-ups… only to find that he now weighs ten past three. Much of the comic relief is at his expense. It is Orinoco who is scared by Great Uncle Bulgaria’s ghost stories, and hit by randomly flying objects – though this may be a consequence of Orinoco‘s frequent naps.
Other Wombles share the burrow with this magnificent seven. Miss Adelaide looks after the Womblegarten, and can bring the most unruly young Womble to attention, or for that matter the older ones, including Great Uncle Bulgaria. Younger Wombles include Alderney, Shansi and – in the 1990s version of the TV programme – Stepney. At various points in the books and TV programmes, we meet Wombles from round the world, but that world revolves around Wimbledon.
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are a family, if an unconventional one – in contrast with the worlds of Charlie Brown or Tom and Jerry, where adults are rare. They live in a world with many attractions for a little boy. Nobody has to go to school and nobody gets hurt – although, unlike their near-namesakes the Weebles, Wombles do fall down – quite a lot, as it happens.
The scripts address their young audience without patronising them. One episode introduces the subject of multiplication and calculating machines while, in another, Wellington asks Tobermory to ‘elucidate’ on his ideas.
The Wombles have tasted the high life of pop stars. Mike Batt wrote the songs and a number of professional musicians have chosen to dress up, on stage or screen, as fictional furry animals to perform them. The songs gave Batt an excuse to run the gamut of musical genres, from the country and western Nashville Wombles through the Beach Boys parody Non-Stop Wombling Summer Party to the Empty Tidy Bag Blues. Several singles got into the top 20, and the Wombles appeared on Top of the Pops on various occasions, exhorting us all to enjoy a Wombling Merry Christmas and to join in with the unforgettable Remember You’re a Womble. Their fame became international; they were the interval act at the Eurovision Song Contest one year. They might have won if they’d been the UK entry.
They weren’t content with books, TV series, a film and a musical career. You could buy Wombles-themed clothing, games, household appliances, furnishings and toiletries. There were Wombles toys, including a singing Orinoco. I bought one, and he’s sitting in my living room all these years later. It’s impossible not to smile when a press of Orinoco’s left paw induces a chorus of Remember you’re a Womble and an outbreak of snout-wrinkling. It isn’t obvious why or how a Womble might forget their essential Wombleness. Orinoco and his fellow Wombles are unique and memorable for two reasons.
The first is something which the most prescient writer might not have predicted back in the late 1960s when the first book The Wombles was published: the extent to which environmental concerns have come into the centre of our lives. Greenhouse gases and carbon footprints weren’t a glint in the eye of mainstream 1970s politics, and global warming had yet to attain the status of having more believers than Father Christmas. The Wombles’ burrow, with its doors made of mirrors and walls decorated with old newspapers, gives a homely vision of recycling.
The second is the mechanism for choosing each Womble’s name. Up to a certain age, a Womble is nameless. But then they have to sit down with Great Uncle Bulgaria and choose a name from his atlas. This stroke of authorial genius brings the exotic to a reassuring and familiar setting. Some Wombles live over 200 years, with a few reaching the grand old age of 300, so it’s just as well there are no Wombles called Constantinople or Leningrad. Imagine having to explain to a six-year-old why they had changed their names to Istanbul Womble and St Petersburg Womble.
I am not a Womble. However, as Orinoco continues to gaze out of the window – dreaming of food or a new concept album – there is something I can do which the Wombles couldn’t: visit the places which gave the Wombles their names. For Chairman Mao, a journey of a thousand miles began with a single step. For me, a journey of 50,000 miles begins with a singing Womble.
Does anything connect the places, apart from Wombles? Do the places match up to the Wombles to whom they gave their names? Is Orinoco full of fat, lazy people? Is Cholet stuffed with chefs? Were the Wombles the forerunners of modern environmentalism?
Let’s go Wombling and find out – starting where it all began…
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Fly Agaric is which type of plant? | Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) | Plants & Fungi At Kew
Discover plants and fungi
Amanita muscaria (fly agaric)
One of the most iconic and distinctive of British fungi, fly agaric, with its red cap and white spots, is renowned for its toxicity and hallucinogenic properties.
Amanita muscaria (Photo: Geoffrey Kibby)
Species information
Not considered to be of conservation concern. Widespread, and frequent to common throughout its range.
Habitat:
In woodland, or beside isolated trees. Ectomycorrhizal (forming a relationship with tree roots) especially with species of Betula (birch) and Pinus (pine), and occasionally with other tree species.
Key Uses:
Religious and recreational uses related to its hallucinogenic properties. Insect pest control. Medicinal uses. Forms a food source for some fly larvae.
Known hazards:
Contains small amounts of the toxin muscarine, which causes sweat-inducing poisoning. Also contains the alkaloids muscimol, ibotenic acid and muscazone, causing psychotropic poisoning, which may be severe in some cases, although deaths are very rare.
Taxonomy
Genus: Amanita
About this species
Fly agaric was first described by Carl Linnaeus (Swedish botanist and the father of modern taxonomy) in 1753, as Agaricus muscarius, the epithet deriving from the Latin ‘musca’, or ‘fly’, apparently referring to its use in parts of Europe as an insecticide, crushed in milk for attracting and killing flies.
It is amongst the most iconic of the toadstools, commonly depicted in children’s books and on Christmas cards around the world. It is highly distinctive and, at least when fresh and in good condition, can hardly be confused with any other species.
Its hallucinogenic properties have been well-known for centuries and the species has a long history of use in religious and shamanistic rituals, especially in Siberia. It is a common and widespread fungus, native to much of the north-temperate world, and an important ectomycorrhizal associate of various broadleaved and coniferous trees. Its fruitbodies are also utilised by a wide variety of flies (Diptera) and by some beetles (Coleoptera) as breeding sites.
Synonym:
Agaricus imperialis, Agaricus nobilis, Amanitaria muscaria
Genus:
Discover more
Geography and distribution
Widespread in north-temperate regions, throughout Europe, Iceland, northern Asia - including Siberia and Korea - North Africa, and western North America. Inadvertently introduced with forestry into South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In some places where introduced it is considered a pest species in native forests where it forms mycorrhizas with native trees, including species of Nothofagus, and adversely affects native fungi.
Description
Cap: The cap is at first hemispherical, covered by a universal veil which is whitish and somewhat warty, and expands gradually to measure 7-15 cm across. The mature cap is convex to flat, red or scarlet, more rarely orange to orange-red or fading to orange-yellow with age or in wet weather. It is striate (grooved) at the margin, and bears white, fluffy, scale-like patches of the universal veil, which may be lost with age or wash off in wet weather.
Gills: The gills are free, white or whitish and closely spaced.
Stipe: The stipe (stalk) is 10-18 x 1-2 cm, white, cylindrical, usually slightly felty-scaly, with a well-developed, white or yellow-edged ring or annulus, and a bulbous base bearing scale-like remains of the volva.
Spores: The spore deposit is white. The spores are broadly ellipsoid to subglobose, smooth, not amyloid (not darkening in iodine), and 8-12 x 6-9 µm in size.
Two named varieties occur in Britain: Amanita muscaria var. aureola which has an orange-yellow cap, and A. muscaria var. formosa, which is a rather rare brown or yellow-brown form with a slightly tinted veil.
Mycorrhizas and host trees
Like most Amanita species, as well as a wide range of other fungi, A. muscaria is ectomycorrhizal, forming an intimate, mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of its host trees. In its native range in the temperate northern hemisphere, its hosts include birches and various conifers, including species of Abies, Cedrus, Picea and Pinus.
It has long been established outside its native range in parts of the southern hemisphere, especially in south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania, and in New Zealand. Here, it has spread from the cultivated pine plantations (Pinus radiata), with which it was apparently originally introduced, to form associations with various other introduced trees, including broad-leaves, conifers and Euclayptus. In New Zealand it has become established with Nothofagus and possibly other trees native to the area, and may aggressively compete with, and oust, native ectomycorrhizal fungi. It is regarded as a pest species in New Zealand.
Uses
An older Amanita muscaria showing the veil mostly lost, and colours fading (Photo: Paul Cannon)
Fly agaric is well known to contain psychoactive alkaloids, and has a long history of use in Asia and parts of northern Europe for religious and recreational purposes. It has also been identified with ‘Soma’, a sacred and hallucinogenic ritual drink used for religious purposes in India and Iran from as early as 2000 B.C., and the subject of a Hindu religious hymn, the Rig Veda. The identity of Soma is controversial but is thought by the American author Robert Wasson to be made from A. muscaria.
Since medieval times, fly agaric has also reportedly been used to attract and kill flies, and the ibotenic acid it contains is indeed a weak insecticide. According to the British mycologist John Ramsbottom, it was also used in England and Sweden for getting rid of insects.
Other anecdotal uses of fly agaric include its use as a treatment for sore throats, and arthritis, and as an analgesic. Fruitbodies also provide an important food source for invertebrates, especially for the larval stages of a range of Diptera (flies), particularly in the families Anthomyiidae, Cecidomyiidae, Heleomyzidae, Mycetophilidae, and some Syrphidae.
Toxicity of fly agaric
Fly agaric is psychoactive and hallucinogenic, containing the alkaloids muscimol, ibotenic acid and muscazone, which react with neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system. These cause psychotropic poisoning which may be severe in some cases although deaths are very rare. It also contains small amounts of muscarine, the first toxin to be isolated from a mushroom, and first isolated from this species. This causes sweat-inducing poisoning, stimulating the secretory glands and inducing symptoms which include profuse salivation and sweating. These symptoms can be treated by using atropine but this should not be used in cases of Amanita muscaria poisoning because it increases the activity of muscimol.
It should be cautioned that faded specimens of A. muscaria, with orange caps, have sometimes been misidentified as Amanita caesarea (Caesar’s mushroom) which is a sought-after edible species found in southern Europe and North Africa. It does not occur in Britain, and is easily distinguished from A. muscaria by its yellow gills and large white volva.
Fly agaric at Kew
A young fly agaric, with an unexpanded cap and thick veil (Photo: Paul Cannon)
Amanita muscaria is frequent in the Gardens wherever suitable habitat includes its favoured tree partners. Fruiting occurs during autumn, mainly from September to November. The fruitbodies, with their characteristic red, white-spotted caps and white, ringed stem, are quite distinctive and unlikely to be confused with other species.
Dried collections of A. muscaria from throughout its range are maintained in Kew's Fungarium. These specimens are made available for study by mycologists from around the world, by appointment.
Other British species
Amanita is a large genus, almost worldwide in distribution, and includes the ‘grisettes’, which lack a ring on the stem and were once placed in the genus Amanitopsis. At least thirty species occur in Britain, most of them being ectomycorrhizal (forming a relationship with tree roots) and important forest fungi. They include well-known and common species such as the blusher (A. rubescens) and the tawny grisette (A. fulva) as well as the infamous death cap (A. phalloides), which is amongst the most poisonous of all fungi. Some species are scarce and little-known, and five are on the preliminary Red Data List (2006), including A. friabilis and A. vittadinii which are regarded as ‘Endangered’ and ‘Critically Endangered’ respectively.
Although some Amanita species are regarded as edible, it is wise to avoid the genus from a culinary viewpoint as the various species contain a range of different toxic metabolites. For example, blusher contains haemolytic compounds which may cause break-up of red blood cells, although these compounds are readily denatured by heat so that well-cooked fruitbodies are edible. The toxic alkaloids found in A. muscaria also occur in A. pantherina (panther cap), whereas death cap and its relatives (A. virosa in Britain) contain cyclopeptides, amatoxins and phallotoxins, compounds which are not destroyed by heat and cause severe liver damage leading to death if not treated early.
References and credits
Chilton, W.S. & Ott, J. (1976). Toxic metabolites of Amanita pantherina, A. cothurnata, A. muscaria and other Amanita species. Lloydia 39: 150 – 157.
Evans, S. (2006). The Red Data List of Threatened British Fungi. Preliminary Assessment. Available online .
Johnston, P.R., Buchanan, P.K., Leathwick, J. & Mortimer, S. (1998). Fungal invaders. Australasian Mycological Newsletter 17: 48-52.
Ramsbottom, J. (1953). Mushrooms and Toadstools. New Naturalist Series. Collins.
Wasson, R.G. (1968). Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, New York.
Kew science editor: Brian Spooner
Copyediting: Emma Tredwell
While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and such-like included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions.
| Fungus |
Who played the title roll in the Flint films? | Fly agaric | Plant & fungi species | Wild plants
Plant & fungi species
towards saving wild plants in the UK
Fly agaric © Laurie Campbell
Bright red with white spots, the fly agaric is the archetypal toadstool.
Fly agaric is so called because its caps were used to attract and poison flies, often broken up into milk or sprinkled with sugar. Do not try and eat it – it can be just as toxic to humans!
Distribution
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Geronimo was a member of which (American) Indian tribe? | Native History: Geronimo Is Last Native Warrior to Surrender - Indian Country Media Network
Geronimo spent his life resisting colonization of his homeland in the Southwest.
Native History: Geronimo Is Last Native Warrior to Surrender
Alysa Landry • September 4, 2013
This Date in Native History: On September 4, 1886, the great Apache warrior Geronimo surrendered in Skeleton Canyon, Arizona, after fighting for his homeland for almost 30 years. He was the last American Indian warrior to formally surrender to the United States.
Born in June 1829 near the Gila River in Arizona, Geronimo was a mild-mannered youth, said Mark Megehee, museum specialist at the Fort Sill Museum in Oklahoma. His birth name was Goyalkla or “One Who Yawns.”
At age 17, Geronimo married Alope, with whom he had three children. His life changed in 1858 when a company of Mexican soldiers led by Colonel Jose Maria Carrasco attacked the Apaches and murdered Geronimo’s wife, mother and children.
“Carrasco said he struck and meant to rub out every man, woman and child of the Apaches, but the warriors by and large escaped while their families were the ones that were slaughtered,” said Megehee, a member of the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma. “That changed the personality of Geronimo. His friends noticed he was no longer mild and pleasant to deal with. He was unexpectedly violent and had a temper. He became very grieving, but he was going to settle the score.”
In his own words, translated in 1909 and published in the 1996 book Geronimo: His Own Story, Geronimo described the incident.
“I found that my aged mother, my young wife, and my three small children were among the slain,” he said. “There were no lights in camp, so without being noticed I silently turned away and stood by the river. How long I stood there I do not know, but when I saw the warriors arranging for a council I took my place.”
Only 80 warriors remained, so the chief directed survivors to return home to Arizona, Geronimo said. He had “no purpose left” because he “had lost all.”
“I was never again contented in our quiet home,” he wrote. “I had vowed vengeance upon the Mexican troopers who had wronged me, and whenever I came near (my father’s) grave or saw anything to remind me of former happy days my heart would ache for revenge upon Mexico.”
Geronimo went on to lead a band of Apache warriors throughout southern Arizona and New Mexico, successfully keeping white settlers off Apache lands for decades and becoming a “symbol of the untamed freedom of the American West.”
“He was not just a tough guy, but he had leadership abilities,” Megehee said. “He looked out for men, women and children in a way that all their needs were met. Geronimo did more with less. In today’s vocabulary, he multiplied his force by stealth, by firepower and by mobility.”
By 1886, however, Geronimo was tired. After leading 39 Apaches across the Southwest, running as much as 80 miles per day to stay ahead of 5,000 white soldiers, Geronimo surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles on September 4.
Miles, in his memoirs, described Geronimo as “one of the brightest, most resolute, determined-looking men I have ever encountered.”
After his trial, Geronimo was put to work as a prisoner of war, doing heavy labor for the South Pacific Railroad. This was in violation of the agreement he made with the U.S. when he surrendered.
He spent the rest of his life as a prisoner of war and a scout for the U.S. Army, though he gained popularity as an attraction at the St. Louis World's Fair and Wild West shows. He also was one of six Indians to march in the 1905 inaugural parade for President Theodore Roosevelt.
He died at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1909, still on the federal payroll as a scout.
| Apache |
Diamond is the birthstone for which month? | Apache Indian Resistance - Geronimo - YouTube
Apache Indian Resistance - Geronimo
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Uploaded on Mar 1, 2007
A short explanation of the Apache Native American Indian resistance that happened in the Southwestern United States around the 1860s. There was an active slave trade in the south west that most people are unaware of. The western states were very important in the Civil War for the North. Gold from California and Silver from Nevada helped finance the war against the South. The Indians were in the path of the expanding valuable mineral hunt and settlement. One tribe that fought this expansion were the Apaches. First the Mescalero and then the Chiricahua. The Apache bands were led by Cochise, Victorio, the Chiricahua band was led by famous Geronimo. Geronimo led the most famous Native American resistance and it cost the U.S. government over $40 Million dollars to kill 100 Indians. Geronimo was caught and forced to live in the Southeast where many of the Apaches died. Geronimo died as a captive in 1909 in Oklahoma, far from his mountain home. The speakers are Bob Haozous, a Chiricahua artist and Grace McNeley a Navajo cultural leader.
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Who was Moses elder sibling? | Aaron, Brother of Moses
Aaron, Brother of Moses
See also Aaronic Priesthood ; Moses
In the Old Testament, a son of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi ( Ex. 6:16–20 ); the elder brother of Moses ( Ex. 7:7 ).
Was appointed by the Lord to assist Moses in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt and to be his spokesman: Ex. 4:10–16, 27–31 ;
| Aaron |
What is the more common name of the plant Hedera? | Sibling Rivalries and Younger Sons
Sibling Rivalries and Younger Sons
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Sibling Rivalries and Younger Sons by Samuel Tongue
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, key characters are often the youngest sons in their families. For example, Moses has two older siblings, Miriam and Aaron. David is the youngest of six brothers and is chastised by his eldest brother, Eliab, for leaving the family’s sheep and coming to watch the battle with the Philistines ( 1Sam 17 ). However, it is in the book of Genesis that a recurrent motif of the younger son prevailing over his older siblings is set up as a dynamic plot device, driving the narrative forward. In a number of stories, the youngest son usurps the elder for the twin prizes of the father’s blessing and a double portion of the “birthright” or inheritance. Although some texts suggest that primogeniture (that is, the passing on of an estate or title to the eldest son) is the traditional practice (see Deut 21:15-17 ), Genesis offers some intriguing perspectives on what factors might be at play in choosing one son over another.
Within the narratives of Genesis, this sibling-conflict motif results in the first murder ( Gen 4 ). Eve’s first son is Cain (“a tiller of the ground”), and Abel (“a keeper of sheep”) soon follows. It is when the brothers make sacrificial offerings of their respective firstfruits (Hebrew bekhor) that the trouble starts: God has “regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard” ( Gen 4:4-5 ). Cain is so angry that he leads Abel out to the fields and kills him.
The Hebrew word bekhor can signify a number of things: “firstborn,” “firstfruits,” or, as a qualitative noun, “birthright.” When Cain and Abel offer their firstfruits, there is also an echo of a claim for priority or birthright over one another. So, within the first chapters of Genesis, divine favor plays a role in the countercultural prevailing of a younger son over his older sibling (even though Abel is killed because of it).
Coming much later in Genesis and after the struggles between other foundational sibling rivals (Isaac and Ishmael; Jacob and Esau), the story of Joseph and his brothers is a more complex and literary tale. Although Joseph is the eleventh son of Jacob (Israel), he is Rachel’s firstborn, so in a sense he is both firstborn and favored. The text specifically notes that “Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him” ( Gen 37:3-4 ). The jealousy of his elder brothers results in Joseph being sold into slavery in Egypt, a nation that functions as a traditional archetypal enemy in ancient Israelite narrative.
As Joseph rises through the ranks in the Egyptian court (after some canny dream interpretation), his brothers come from Canaan, where there is a famine, to beg for food. Here, we begin to see how the folk motif of “the elder serving the younger” serves a larger political and theological purpose. Because the tiny kingdoms of Judah and Israel were vulnerable to much larger ancient Near Eastern powers such as the Egyptians, the Babylonians , and the Persians, this folk motif portrays God as supporting the more unlikely heroes, the “younger sons.” The implication, as Frederick Greenspahn writes, is “that the success of Israel’s ancestors was neither easy or expected, making Israel’s status both surprising and suspect.” The younger and weaker are still significant.
In a nice literary twist, toward the end of the Joseph narrative, Joseph brings his sons Ephraim and Manasseh for a blessing from Jacob. Jacob places his left hand on the eldest son’s head (Manasseh) and his right (the hand of blessing) on the youngest (Ephraim). Joseph is displeased that Jacob is not blessing his firstborn and tries to get him to switch hands, thinking that Jacob, in his blindness, is mistaken. Jacob responds, “I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations” ( Gen 48:19 ). The cycle continues.
Samuel Tongue, "Sibling Rivalries and Younger Sons", n.p. [cited 19 Jan 2017]. Online: http://www.bibleodyssey.org/en/people/related-articles/sibling-rivalries-and-younger-sons
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Who played Godber in the sitcom 'Porridge? | Porridge characters - British Comedy Guide
Fletcher
AKA: Norman Stanley Fletcher. Played by: Ronnie Barker
Forty-two year old Fletcher is a former Teddy Boy and native of North London's Muswell Hill.
An "habitual criminal", Fletch has spent many a year behind bars in the past, largely missing out on his three children growing up - the 14-year old Raymond, 19-year old Marion, and 24-year old Ingrid.
Long wise to the ways of the system and how to get by inside, Fletch copes by scoring "little victories" over the warders, be it an illicit spot of gambling or wangling himself a cushy job.
However, now forced to share a room with young Lennie Godber, Fletch seems to have discovered his true calling, quickly becoming a loving father figure to the young lad.
Godber
AKA: Leonard Arthur Godber; Gober; Len; Lennie. Played by: Richard Beckinsale
22 years old and engaged to Denise, whom he met in Birmingham's Bull Ring shopping centre, Godber's a somewhat naive and nervous first-time resident of the prison system.
A petty criminal who simply never had the chances to make anything of himself and fell into criminality, he's determined not to become a repeat resident of Her Majesty's Pleasure like Fletch.
Godber initially struggles to cope with life inside, but is soon soothed by Fletcher's hard-learnt methods for whiling away the hours, keeping busy and keeping his nose clean.
Mr. Mackay
Senior Prison Officer. Played by: Fulton Mackay
A former Drill Sergeant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st Battalion, Mr Mackay continues to exercise military precision and discipline on the landings of Slade Prison.
With his distinctive dulcet tones and sideways nod of the head, MacKay firmly believes in treating all prisoners equally - after all, each man is as despicable as the next!
Mr. Barrowclough
AKA: Henry Barrowclough. Prison Officer. Played by: Brian Wilde
Mackay's polar opposite on Slade's landings, Mr Barrowclough's relaxed approach to prison discipline reflects his belief that Slade's inmates are there to be rehabilitated and eventually sent on their way as useful members of society.
Consequently, his easygoing manner is often taken advantage of by prisoners determined to see their latest illicit scheme through to its conclusion. His relaxed approach extends to his marriage, which not even Fletcher's counsel can offer much hope for!
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Kelp and Wrack are types of what? | Get set for second helpings of Porridge! The show's writers reveal a remake may yet be on the cards | Daily Mail Online
Get set for second helpings of Porridge! The show's writers reveal a remake may yet be on the cards
Porridge producers are looking into creating a new series of the show
They have spoken to Peter Kay about playing Fletch
James Corden could also be in the running to replace Ronnie Barker
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Hollywood actress Kate Beckinsale was only five years old when her actor father Richard died from a heart attack, aged just 31.
As a child she would comfort herself by watching him in re-runs of Porridge, the brilliantly funny BBC sitcom that had established him as a star in the mid-70s.
'He was almost tantalisingly real up there on the screen,' says Kate today. 'Watching him in Porridge was like a bridge for me after losing him. And the show was so funny. It remains one of my all-time favourite sitcoms - and not just because my dad was in it.'
The original producers of Porridge say that they haven't ruled out doing a remake
Coincidentally, Porridge's writers Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement were to come to Kate's rescue again in 2000 while she was filming her first big Hollywood movie, Pearl Harbor.
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Recalls Dick, 'Ian and I got a call from the producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, asking us to fly to Honolulu and do some rewrites on the script, including a scene involving Kate's character, Nurse Evelyn Johnson.
SO WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CAST?
Ronnie Barker (Fletch)
The comedy legend enjoyed TV success after Porridge, in the sequel, Going Straight as well as Open All Hours and The Two Ronnies. He died from heart failure aged 75, in 2005
Richard Beckinsale (Godber)
Like Barker he appeared in Porridge sequel Going Straight, but died from a heart attack aged 31 in 1979, while filming BBC sitcom Bloomers
Fulton Mackay (Mackay)
Developed a movie career post-Porridge appearing in Britannia Hospital (19820 Local Hero (1983) and Defense of the Realm (1986). He died in 1987 from stomach cancer, aged 64.
Brian Wilde (Barraclough)
Played Walter 'Foggy' Dewhurst in Last of the Summer Wine for more than two decades, but he never recovered after a fall in 2008, and died later that same year aged 60.
Christopher Biggins (Lukewarm)
He won I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2007. Now 65, he makes regular appearances on both television chat shows and pantomime.
Tony Osoba (McLaren)
Now 67, the Glasgow-born actor still pops up on television from time to time, most recently as a solicitor in BBC2's acclaimed thriller series The Shadow Line in 2011.
'She was very nervous because it was such a big movie for her, but when she saw us turn up on the set she said how reassured she felt, providing a connection with Porridge and her late father. She said every time something significant had happened in her career, she could find some sort of connection back to Porridge. It was like a talisman for her.'
Few can claim such a deep personal link to Porridge as Kate, but the nation fell in love with the show, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a new three-part documentary series Porridge: Inside Out that goes out later this month.
Set in fictional Slade Prison, the sitcom's 21 episodes spread over three series attracted audiences of nearly 16 million when they originally aired on BBC1 between 1974 and 1977.
Cunning old lag Fletch, played peerlessly by Ronnie Barker, and his naive young cellmate Lenny Godber, played by Beckinsale, were the heroes, forever trying to claim little victories over the warders Mackay (Fulton Mackay) and Barraclough (Brian Wilde), aided and abetted by fellow prisoners including Lukewarm (Christopher Biggins), 'Bunny' Warren (Sam Kelly), Grouty (Peter Vaughan), McLaren (Tony Osoba) and Blanco (David Jason).
Many of the cast are sadly no longer with us, but the show is still seen by many as the greatest sitcom ever written.
Sir David Attenborough went as far as to describe it as 'the finest TV programme ever made', while comedy stars from Geoffrey Palmer and The Fast Show's Simon Day to Ian McShane and Father Ted's Pauline McLynn regard it as their favourite sitcom.
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran say it was the show that inspired them to begin their own illustrious sitcom writing career, penning huge hits Birds Of A Feather, The New Statesman and Goodnight Sweetheart.
And it even had royal approval. 'I met Princess Margaret at a party in Hollywood in the 70s and she said, "We love Porridge,"' recalls Ian La Frenais. 'When she said "we" I took that to mean the whole Royal Family, rather than the royal we.'
So why was Porridge so funny? Says Monty Python star Eric Idle in the documentary, 'It wasn't about people being given one-liners to say - the funny lines flowed naturally out of the situations Fletch and Godber found themselves in, especially when they were trying to get one over on the warders.'
A prime example was when Fletch teased Mr Mackay with a story about a badly injured friend. 'He's a vegetable, a non-thinking zombie,' says Fletch. 'What became of him?' asks Mackay. 'He joined the prison service as a warder,' replies Fletch.
Ian McShane reckons the little ditty Fletch sings to while away the time - 'Born free... till somebody caught me' - is one of the funniest lines he's ever heard, while the scene in which a prison doctor asks Fletch to provide a urine sample into a container set up one of the show's classic one-liners.
Fletch, who's on the other side of the room, replies, 'What, from 'ere?' Then there's Fletch trying to persuade a fellow inmate to read a particular book. 'It's about the sex-starved lady pygmies of the Southern Malaysian desert.' 'What's it called?' 'Little Women.'
Richard Beckinsale and Judy Loe pictured with their daughter Kate Beckinsale in the garden of their Teddington home in 1973
The show also introduced words such as 'scrote', 'nerk' and 'naff' into the nation's vocabulary. Unable to use the foul-mouthed language of real prisoners as it aired pre-watershed at 8pm, the writers had to invent their own. 'Scrote is US prison slang, a derogatory term for someone,' explains Ian La Frenais.
'Naff, as in "naff off" or "naff all", is a euphemism for a much ruder word we got from Keith Waterhouse's novel Billy Liar. And nerk? It's very similar in meaning to scrote!'
The documentary series, which airs over three weeks on Gold, features behind-the-scenes footage and classic clips from the show, as well as visits to some of the locations used, such as the old St Albans Prison gatehouse in Hertfordshire.
'I honestly think Richard may have been dyslexic, so it's amazing he got any TV roles at all because he would have been terrible at auditions.'
It also reveals that Porridge was very nearly a non-starter. As the show's producer Sydney Lotterby recalls, 'Porridge was originally part of a series of one-off comedies featuring Ronnie Barker, and he was keener on developing another one called I'll Fly You For A Quid, about a Welsh gambling addict, than he was on developing Porridge - or Prisoner And Escort, as it was then called. He had to be persuaded to do it by bosses at the BBC.'
Even then, Porridge had problems to overcome before it got off the ground.
'For research purposes, Dick and I went to Wormwood Scrubs and Pentonville and Brixton prisons,' says Ian.
'We realised, perhaps unsurprisingly, that prison life really wasn't funny at all. It was only after Dick and I spoke to an ex-convict and he talked about the little victories prisoners could gain over the warders that we saw a way to make it at least partially funny. That and, of course, having Ronnie Barker on board to play the main role.'
Barker was not only funny but could be relied upon to deliver word-perfect renditions of the script when the cast met for pre-recording read-throughs. Richard Beckinsale couldn't.
'He was terrible at read-throughs,' says Dick. 'If Richard had a big speech to deliver people used to think, "Oh, God" and fear the worst. But then they became more relaxed about him stumbling through and reading lines with completely the wrong rhythm because, two days later, when it came to actually shooting the episode, he would be perfect.' Adds Ian, 'I honestly think Richard may have been dyslexic, so it's amazing he got any TV roles at all because he would have been terrible at auditions.'
The producers of Porridge have spoken to Peter Kay (right) about playing Fletch and they think James Corden (left) would be perfect for the role too
Other cast members brought their own idiosyncracies to the production. Sam Kelly, who played prisoner 'Bunny' Warren, recalls, 'Fulton Mackay was a perfectionist who always wanted that extra rehearsal of a scene before he was satisfied. It used to drive producer Sydney Lotterby mad. He'd sit in the control box, out of Fulton's earshot, shouting, "Come on, Fulton, get on with it!"'
Porridge was to provide Ronnie Barker with one of the biggest hits of his illustrious career, and he wasn't slow to thank those who helped make it successful.
The cast regulars were given silver tankards inscribed by Ronnie at the end of filming the first series, a souvenir that Christopher Biggins still treasures to this day. 'Written on it is "Lukewarm, P", meaning pee, which was Ronnie's little joke,' he says.
By the time the cast had successfully completed the movie version of Porridge in 1979, Ronnie had moved on to bigger gifts. 'He took us into the garage at his home and said to Ian and me, "I want you to have this,"' recalls Dick Clement.
'It was a huge Jaguar car that was so big it had two fuel tanks, one on either side. It was a kind gesture but it guzzled so much fuel you almost needed a petrol tanker behind you to keep filling it up. Ronnie was about to go on tour to Australia for a year with Ronnie Corbett when he gave us the Jag, so maybe he was just trying to avoid parking fees.'
The show's producers, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais are putting some serious thought into reproducing the legendary series
Ronnie's trip to Australia coincided with the saddest footnote imaginable to the success of Porridge. Richard Beckinsale's sudden death in 1979 cast an enormous shadow over cast and crew.
'I was staying in this very cold hotel in Northumberland while I was filming a movie version of The Tempest, and I got a call from London telling me Richard had died,' says Christopher Biggins. 'I went back to my room and just cried and cried and cried. He was such a lovely man with a brilliant career ahead of him.'
At least the 17 episodes of Porridge that Richard did make will remain for posterity, and Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement only wish they'd written more.
'The problem was we'd painted ourselves into a corner at the end of series three in 1977 by having Godber released from jail,' says Dick.
'We do regret not writing another series. Instead, we had a very drunken lunch at the BBC that went on until five in the afternoon and ended with the BBC chaps getting the brandy out'
'But we do regret not writing another series. Instead, we had a very drunken lunch at the BBC that went on until five in the afternoon and ended with the BBC chaps getting the brandy out and us walking out with a commission to write Going Straight, a series about Fletcher after he'd been released from jail. It did well, but never as well as Porridge.'
There was a stage version of Porridge in 2009, with ex-EastEnder Shaun Williamson in the Fletch role, but Christopher Biggins says Porridge should never be revived on TV.
'You couldn't do Porridge again because you need Ronnie Barker to play the lead role,' he says. 'I'd like producers to have a little more imagination when it comes to what they put on TV, rather than grasping at old shows.'
Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais - who also wrote The Likely Lads, Lovejoy and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - disagree and don't rule out a comeback for their most successful show. Intriguingly, they've even spoken to funnyman Peter Kay about playing the part of Fletch.
'I don't think you should rule anything out, although of course there are dangers in bringing back a comedy like Porridge when the original version was so revered,' says Dick.
'But Ian and I talked, academically, about how good James Corden would be in the role of Fletch the other day, and we actually had a conversation with Peter Kay a few years ago when we were thinking about reviving it.
'He was a friend of Ronnie's; he spoke at his memorial service. I'm sure he'd be very good. So you never know, it might just happen. Watch this space...'
The three-part documentary series Porridge: Inside Out airs weekly on Gold from Wednesday 21 May at 8pm.
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Which vegetable is the main ingredient of Sauerkraut? | Recipes Using Sauerkraut - CDKitchen
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Made with black pepper, apple juice, sauerkraut, brown sugar, apple
Method: oven
Made with water, vinegar, sauerkraut, green bell pepper, onion, celery, pimentos, sugar, salad oil
Time: over 5 hours
Made with salt and pepper, flour, dried mushrooms, fresh mushrooms, water, onion, butter, sauerkraut
Method: stovetop
Made with Thousand Island Dressing, chicken breasts, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese
Method: oven
Made with water, oil, chicken bouillon, sauerkraut, mushroom soup, caraway seeds, white pepper, onion
Method: stovetop
Made with black pepper, salt, sugar, bacon, sauerkraut, cabbage, onion, butter
Method: crock pot, stovetop
Made with caraway seeds, wine, sauerkraut, bacon, molasses or dark brown sugar, apples
Method: stovetop
Made with green bell peppers, pimentos, carrots, parsley, cider vinegar, vegetable oil, water, sugar, dried oregano
Method: stovetop
Made with dried parsley flakes, Bavarian-style sauerkraut, stewed tomatoes
Method: stovetop
Made with brown sugar, onion, bacon, sauerkraut, diced tomatoes
Method: oven, stovetop
Made with salt and pepper, sauerkraut, potatoes, bacon, eggs, flour
Method: stovetop
Made with celery seeds, brown sugar, sauerkraut, onion, butter or bacon drippings, apples, white wine, beef stock or bouillon
Method: oven, stovetop
Made with butter or olive oil, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, bacon, onion, breadcrumbs, sauerkraut
Method: oven, stovetop
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Where is the British 'National Motor Museum'? | Sauerkraut History and Use in Eastern European Recipes
"Gdzie jest barszcz i kwasna kapusta, tam chata tlusta."
-- Old Polish proverb meaning "Where there is beet soup and sauerkraut, there is plenty."
The World Runs on Cabbage Power
And I don't mean the byproduct of eating cabbage! This versatile vegetable appears in many guises worldwide -- fresh and brined when it becomes sauerkraut.
History of Sauerkraut
The word sauerkraut is German for "sour cabbage" but it wasn't really invented by the Germans, although it is wildly popular there. It is believed laborers building the Great Wall of China over 2,000 years ago began fermenting shredded cabbage in rice wine to preserve it so they would have a food source during the nongrowing season. Then, nice-guy Ghenghis Khan and his merry band of marauders brought it to Europe 1,000 years later.
In the 16th century, the Germanic peoples began dry curing cabbage with salt to extract the water from the vegetable and allowing the mixture to ferment, turning the sugars in the cabbage into lactic acid which served as a preservative.
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How to Make Curried Pumpkin Soup
The process remains the same today. When sauerkraut was linked to the absence of scurvy in Dutch seamen, Captain James Cook, the French and other Europeans jumped on the sauerkraut bandwagon.
Early German and Dutch settlers brought their recipes for sauerkraut to the Americas along with a New Year's Day meal tradition -- eating pork and sauerkraut for good luck in the coming year.
The Eastern European Sauerkraut Connection
What's in a name? Sauerkraut by any other name would taste as great. Here's how Eastern Europeans say it:
Bulgarian -- kiselo zele
Slovenian -- kislo zelje
Ukrainian, Hungarian -- savanyú káposzta
In the old days, usually in November, Eastern European families prepared for winter by putting up several barrels of sauerkraut. Depending on the size of the family and the size of the cabbage, a clan might ferment as many as 300 whole heads of cabbage in wooden barrels. Occasionally, along with the salt, spices like caraway seeds, wine or other vegetables were added.
By the late 1800s, the cabbage was shredded before being placed in covered crocks. If the family couldn't afford their own shredding tool, a peddler went door-to-door and performed this service for a fee. My 5-foot-tall grandmother did all her shredding by hand with a sharp knife and a strong arm, and taught her daughter, my mother, to do it this way, who passed on the technique to me. I admit to resorting to a food processor now, however.
After the cabbage had fermented to the household's liking, it was stored in a cool place and the housewife would pull out as much as she needed from the crock or barrel and prepare it primarily with pork if it was available or just plain when times were lean and money scarce.
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The Fremont Sauerkraut Company
In 1905, Allen Slessman combined several small Great Lakes sauerkraut manufacturers to form The Fremont Company which still exists today in Fremont, Ohio and is run by his grandson, Richard Smith, and great-grandchildren, Chris Smith and Katie Smith. The company packages under the Frank's, SnowFloss and Deutsche Kuche labels.
Take this virtual tour of the Fremont Sauerkraut Company to see how this versatile vegetable is made.
The company brings in 25,000 tons of fresh cabbage from 12 local farmers from July to November, known as sauerkraut season. One head of cabbage can weigh as much as 20 pounds. Fremont processes 400-600 tons of cabbage a day and produces 150,000 (14-ounce) cans daily, not to mention bagged, barreled and larger cans of sauerkraut.
The process is the same as for home canning, just on a grander scale. Shredded cabbage is salted and allowed to ferment for 4 to 6 weeks, although the cabbage can actually be held for up to a year before being canned.
When tasters have deemed the kraut to be ready, it is sent to the canning room where it is piped into cans, lidded and steam processed at 180 degrees, cooled down and labeled and boxed for shipment.
Two-pound plastic bags of kraut are not processed under steam so they have preservatives and must be refrigerated. This kraut has a crisper texture than canned kraut.
The Fremont Company introduced single-serving packets of kraut for hot dogs and other applications in 2001 and is the only U.S. company doing this.
Sauerkraut Is Better Than Chicken Soup
Besides tasting darn good, eating sauerkraut has a raft of health benefits. Sauerkraut is packed with vitamins and minerals, is an immune booster, balances the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, might be a flu fighter, and its antioxidant properties are thought to combat cancer.
Super Star Food
When Heidi Klum, German supermodel and host of "Project Runway," was asked to what she attributed her success, she said "sauerkraut soup." She says her grandmother's recipe kept her slim and trim. She's not alone. Russian supermodel Anna Azarova also cites sauerkraut as a favorite food.
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Thomas Lord gave his name to what? | Thomas the Apostle | Christianity Knowledge Base | Fandom powered by Wikia
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Saint Thomas is one of the original Twelve Apostles chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ to be His follower. We learn from the gospels that the Apostle Thomas was deeply devoted to our Lord throughout His earthly ministry and that he remained a faithful servant to Him after His Ascension into Heaven. Empowered by the Holy Spirit , Saint Thomas, along with Christ's other disciples, traveled throughout many regions preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and healing those in need. He, like the others, faced many trials and endured harsh persecution by the hands of those who were opposed to the teachings of Jesus. Nevetheless, all of the Lord's disciples continued spreading His gospel, even to the point of death. According to tradition, Saint Thomas was murdered while preaching in Calamine, a city in India in which the Apostle is noted to have lived at one time.
We have little information about Saint Thomas’ life from New Testament writings. However, they provide us with important information pertaining to his steadfast devotion to the Lord through his own words and actions, and of his skeptic nature [i.e, his initial refusal to believe that Christ had risen], a characteristic which earned him the title, "Doubting Thomas." Apparently, this human weakness that we find in the Apostle Thomas [aka Didymus] was fully overcome as evidenced by the fruits of his ministry. For today, there are numerous churches which bear his name and a devoted Christian following in India.
Ii is worthwhile to note that there is additional information about the Apostle besides what is written in the New Testament. Information found in Apochryphal literature (i.e., The "Acta Thomae" [1] ), sheds much more light on the Apostle’s life, although the reliability of much of its content has been disputed.
The Call to Apostleship
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All three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, inform us of how Jesus, at the start of His earthly ministry, chose twelve disciples out of the vast number who followed Him and designated them Apostles. Thomas was numbered among the Twelve.
The gospels also tell how Jesus commanded them to go throughout all Judea , Samaria , Galilee , and across the Jordan , preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God and how they received authority from Christ to cure the blind and to heal the sick, and to deliver those who were oppressed by from evil spirits just as He Himself had done (See The Great Commission ).
As mentioned before, this “Great Commission” which our Lord gave to His Twelve Apostles (and to His other disciples later) is found in the first three gospels of the New Testament, all of which name the ywelve Apostles and explain the orders that they received from the Lord. Christ’s choosing of the Twelve is noted in the gospel passages below.
Matthew 10:1-4 reads: “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. [2]
Mark 3:13-19 reads: “13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve—designating them apostles[a]—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
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Another side of the Apostle Thomas is revealed to us through events that occurred as he and the others journeyed with Jesus. The Gospel of John gives us insight into Thomas’ personal nature by showing us what he says and how he reacts to situations and events.
John 11:1-16 [The Death of Lazarus]
During the time of Lazarus’ death, Jesus asked that they go with Him to see Lazarus . All of the apostles except Thomas objected for fear they would be killed by Christ's opposers. We read in the passage that Thomas' response was, "Let us also go, that we might die with him.” At a later time during His ministry [John 13-14], Jesus tells His Apostles of the death which he must soon suffer before going away. He then tells them that they already know the way to the place to which He is going. Thomas is confused about what Christ means by "the way" and asks Him how can they know where He is going and the way by which to get there. Christ then explains that He is “the way and the life.” Thomas shows skepticism later in this gospel when he doubts Christ’s Resurrection . Christ Himself appears to him and has him to physically touch the wounds in His body.
The passage at John 11:1-16 reads, "1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, 'Lord, the one you love is sick.' 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, 'This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.' 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 7Then he said to his disciples, 'Let us go back to Judea.' 8 'But Rabbi,' they said, 'a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?' 9 Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. 10 It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.' 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.' 12 His disciples replied, 'Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.' 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.' 16 Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'” [5]
John 14:1-7 [Jesus' Comforting of His Apostles]
After explaining to His disciples why he must soon be killed, Jesus comforts them by saying that He will go to prepare a place for them after His resurrection. Some are baffled, however, when He tells them that they know where he is going and how to get there.
At John 14:1-7 Jesus says, "1 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.' 5 Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' 6 Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.'" [6]
John 20:19-20,24-29 [Jesus Appears to His Disciples and to Thomas]
Scripture informs us that the Lord appeared to His disciples for over forty days following His resurrection from the dead. Thomas was not with the others when Christ first appeared to them, so he doubted their story. Christ then made a second appearance when Thomas was present and told Him to touch His wounds so that he might believe. He mildly scolded Thomas for his skepticism.
The account at John 20:19-20 and 24-29 reads, "19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.'" "26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' 27 Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.' 28 Thomas said to him, 'My Lord and my God!' 29 Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'" [7]
The Choosing of Matthias in the Upper Room
Edit
The Apostle Thomas was present along with the other disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem when it came time to choose an Apostle to take the place of Judas Iscariot. Acts 1 verses 12-14 and verses 23-26 tells how this event came about. The passage reads, “12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” “ 23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.”
The Outpouring of Holy Spirit at Pentecost
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Pentecost marks the true begininning of the Church of Jesus Christ, for it was by the Holy Spirit , poured out at Pentecost, that the early Christian community got its strong footing and the impetus to push forward in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ’s original Twelve Apostles, His Seventy Apostles , His mother, the Virgin Mary , and His other faithful followers were all gathered together in the Upper Room. Scripture tells us that the promised Holy Spirit, evidenced by “tongues of fire,” came to rest upon each one, blessing them with all spiritual gifts such as the gifts of healing, prophecy, and the ability to speak in unknown tongues.
After Pentecost
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Immediately after the first Pentecost, the newly-formed Church began its peaching and healing ministry. This ministry spread rapidly throughout all Jerusalem and Judea, and to all of the surrounding regions.
Not long after, the Apostles were dispersed and the gospel message was preached more extensively throughout the Roman Empire in countries such as Turkey, Syria, Greece, Italy and Africa. It is now believed that the Apostle Thomas was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians, and that he ultimately reached India, carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast. There is even a large native population which calls itself "Christians of St. Thomas." One source claims that Saint Thomas shed his blood for Christ Jesus when he was speared to death at a place called "Calamine" in India. [8]
Thomas the Apostle’s Veneration and Feast Day
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For most eastern and western orthodox churches, the Apostle Thomas' feast day is July 3rd. Anglicans, however, who worship according to one of the classical versions of the Book of Common Prayer (e.g. 1662 English or 1928 American) still celebrate his feast day on December 21st. [9]
For the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Eastern Catholic Churches and the Coptic Orthodox Church, Saint Thomas is remembered each year on "Saint Thomas Sunday", which falls on the Sunday after Easter. In addition, the Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches also celebrate his feast day on October 6. For those churches which follow the traditional Julian Calendar, October 6 currently falls on October 19 of the modern Gregorian Calendar.
Saint Thomas is also commemorated along with all of the other apostles on June 30 (July 13), in a feast called "the Synaxis of the Holy Apostles". The Apostle is associated with the "Arabian" Icon of the Theotokos (Mother of God), which is commemorated on September 6 (September 19). July 3rd was the day on which his relics were translated from Mylapore, a place along the coast of the Marina Beach, Chennai in India, to the city of Edessa in Mesopotamia. [10]
New Historical Insights about Saint Thomas’ Writings & Mission
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In early Christianity, traditions that honored a specific Apostle existed in specific geographical regions which honored him as its patron saint. The Pauline [for the Apostle Paul] and the Johannine [for the apostle John] traditions are examples of such traditions; and each region has left its own legacy of apostolic writings. [11]
A Thomas tradition, though less comprehended, also existed, and this tradition existed in the region of Syria where the Apostle is known to have visited and preached. Writings associated with the Thomas tradition, namely, the Gospel of Thomas, were rejected during the early formation of Christian orthodoxy; and by the end of the fourth century most of Thomas’ writings had been condemned and destroyed. ["Let none read the gospel according to Thomas, for it is the work, not of one of the twelve apostles, but of one of Mani's three wicked disciples."?Cyril of Jerusalem, Cathechesis V (4th century)] [12]
There is a growing number of scholars who now believe that the Gospel of Thomas – an ancient biblical text discovered over a half century ago in the Egyptian desert – actually dates to the very beginnings of the Christian era and may well have taken first form before any of the four traditional canonical Gospels.
Christ’s Commission to Thomas
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This leads us to another well-known text called the “Pistis Sophia.” The "Pistis Sophia", found to be in circulation from around 250-300AD, is called a Gnostic text yet it supports the latest scholarly view that recently discovered Thomas writings were written by the Apostle Thomas. The text does this by showing that Jesus Christ did in fact give Saint Thomas the commission to write down His words.
The "Pistis Sophia" contains the words of one of the Lord’s most devoted followers, Mary Magdalene. In this text, Mary Magdalene speaks [prays] to the Lord Jesus Christ about the special commission which He gave to Thomas, Philip and Matthew. Mary Magdalene says that "three witnesses" were committed by Christ to writing "all of his words" and they were Thomas, along with Philip and Matthew.
A portion of this texts reads:
"Now at this time, my Lord, hear, so that I speak openly, for thou hast said to us 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear:' Concerning the word which thou didst say to Philip: 'Thou and Thomas and Matthew are the three to whom it has been given... to write every word of the Kingdom of the Light, and to bear witness to them'; hear now that I give the interpretation of these words. It is this which thy light-power once prophesied through Moses: 'Through two and three witnesses everything will be established. The three witnesses are Philip and Thomas and Matthew" ( ?Pistis Sophia 1:43).
An early, non-Gnostic tradition may lie behind this statement, which also emphasizes the primacy of the Gospel of Matthew in its Aramaic form, over the other canonical three. [13]
Discovery of the Gospel of Thomas
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The best known document by Thomas is the "sayings" gospel, or the “Gospel of Thomas”. This is a non-canonical work which some scholars believe may actually predate the writing of the biblical gospels themselves. The opening line says that the author is "Didymos Judas Thomas" who has been identified with Thomas the Apostle.
This work was discovered in a Coptic translation in 1945 at the Egyptian village of Nag Hammadi, near the site of the monastery of Chenoboskion. Once the Coptic text was published, scholars recognized that an earlier Greek translation had been published from fragments of papyrus found at Oxyrhynchus [a city in Upper Egypt, located about 160 km south-southwest of Cairo; also an archaeological site] [14]
During the first few decades after its discovery several voices representing established orthodox biases argued that the Gospel of Thomas (abbreviated, GTh) was a late-second or third century Gnostic forgery. Scholars currently involved in Thomas studies now largely reject that view, though such arguments will still be heard from orthodox apologists and are encountered in some of the earlier publications about Thomas.
Today most students would agree that the “Gospel of Thomas” has opened a new perspective on the first voice of the Christian tradition. Recent studies centered on the “Gospel of Thomas” have led to a stark reappraisal of the forces and events forming "orthodoxy" during the second and third centuries. But more importantly, the “Gospel of Thomas” is awakening interest in a forgotten spiritual legacy of Christian culture. The incipit (or "beginning words") of Thomas invite each of us "who has ears to hear" to join in a unique quest: These are the hidden words that the living Jesus spoke, and that Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down. And He said: "Whoever finds the meaning of these words will not taste death."[ [15]
The Gospel of Thomas in Coptic and Greek
Edit
In 1945, they discovered the “lost” “Gospel of Thomas” at a place in Egpyt called, “Nag Hammadi”. The Nag Hammadi discovery in 1945 made it possible to definitely identify the Oxyrhynchus texts as fragments from a lost Greek edition of the Gospel. This was called “The Greek Oxyrhynchus Fragments”. [16] What is remarkable about this newly-discovered Coptic version is that it bears a very close similarity to the original Greek version of the “Gospel of Thomas”, thus verifying the integrity of this text. The three papyrus fragments of The “Gospel of Thomas” apparently date to between 130 - 250 AD, and each fragment, no doubt, represents a separate unique copy of the Gospel.
The three Oxyrhynchus fragments preserve 20 of the 114 sayings found in the complete Coptic version of the Gospel of Thomas. These texts allow careful comparisons to be made between the Coptic text found at Nag Hammadi and the original Greek text found much earlier [The Greek Oxyrhynchus Fragments]. The Gospel was almost certainly written in Greek originall, so the Nag Hammadi version is a Coptic translation of this original Greek text. The reader will note below, the close correlation between the two versions, a fact that proves the textual integrity of the Coptic Gospel of Thomas. [17]
Saying 1 [the Prologue]:
A. From the Greek Oxyrhynchus fragments: “These are the [hidden] sayings [that] the living Jesus [sp]oke a[nd Judas who] is also Thomas [recorded.] And he said, "[Whoever finds the interpretat]ion of the[se] sayings will not taste [death]."
B.From the Coptic Nag Hammadi manuscript:
“These are the secret sayings which the living Jesus spoke and which Didymos Judas Thomas wrote down. And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death." Saying 2 (pOxy. 654.5-9)
A. From the Greek Oxyrhnchus fragments:
“[Jesus said,] "Let the one seek[ing] not stop [seeking until] he finds. And when he find[s he will marvel, and mar]veling he will reign, an[d reigning] he will [rest.]”
B From the Coptic Nag Hammadi manuscript: “Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All." Etc., Etc. [18]
Other Writings of the Apostle Thomas
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Three important documents from the Thomas tradition that have survived are The Gospel of Thomas, The Book of Thomas the Contender, and the Acts of Thomas. The latter two were also recovered in the Nag Hammadi Library. Several copies of the third text, the Acts of Thomas, survived over the centuries in monastic collections.
'Hymn of the Pearl'
Imbedded within the Acts of Thomas we find a passage of a classic Gnostic myth describing the exile and redemption of the soul. The text is known as the "Hymn of the Pearl".
'The Acts of Thomas'
The complete text the Acts of Thomas, is from The Apocryphal New Testament, and is translated by M. R. James. The Acts of Thomas connects the apostle's Indian ministry with two kings, one in the north and the other in the south. According to one of the legends in the Acts, Thomas was at first reluctant to accept this mission, but the Lord appeared to him in a night vision and said, ?Fear not, Thomas. Go away to India and proclaim the Word, for my grace shall be with you.? But the Apostle still demurred, so the Lord overruled the stubborn disciple by ordering circumstances so compelling that he was forced to accompany an Indian merchant, Abbanes, to his native place in northwest India, where he found himself in the service of the Indo-Parthian king, Gondophares. The apostle's ministry resulted in many conversions throughout the kingdom, including the king and his brother. [Besides the Acta Thomae there is a different and notably shorter redaction in Ethiopic and Latin.]
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas
There was a widely circulated Infancy Gospel of Thomas written in the later 2nd century [in Syria], which relates the miraculous events and prodigies of Jesus' boyhood. This is the document which tells for the first time the familiar legend of the twelve sparrows which Jesus, at the age of five, fashioned from clay on the Sabbath day, which took wing and flew away.
The earliest manuscript of this work is a sixth century one in Syriac. The gospel was first referred to by Irenaeus. Ron Cameron writes about Irenaeus: "In his citation, Irenaeus first quotes a non-canonical story that circulated about the childhood of Jesus and then goes directly on to quote a passage from the infancy narrative of the Gospel of Luke (Luke 2:49). Since the Infancy Gospel of Thomas records both of these stories, in relative close proximity to one another, it is possible that the apocryphal writing cited by Irenaeus is, in fact, what is now known as the Infancy Gospel of Thomas. Because of the complexities of the manuscript tradition, however, there is no certainty as to when the stories of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas began to be written down."
The "Revelatio Thomae"
The Revelatio Thomae was also condemned as apocryphal in the Degree of Pope Gelasius, and has recently been recovered from various sources in a fragmentary condition (See the full text in the Revue benedictine, 1911, pp. 359-374).
The Book of Thomas the Contender (from the Nag Hammadi [Greek] Library Collection)
Though not integrally related to the central Thomas tradition surrounding the Gospel of Thomas, several other ancient - Christian documents claimed authority in the name of Thomas. They are as follows:
The Apocalypse of Thomas
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas: Greek Text A
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas: Greek Text B
The Infancy Gospel of Thomas: Latin Text
A Compilation of the Thomas Texts
Front view of the San Thome Basilica in Chennai
Saint Thomas in India
Edit
Reliable sources give us a clear picture of Saint Thomas' activities in India. [20] [21] One of these sites states that "after the Apostles were dispersed, Saint Thomas went to India. There he served the Lord by preaching and healing those who were sick. He died at a place called Malabar [Meliapour]. The Roman Breviary states that he also preached in Ethiopia, Abyssinia, Persia and Media." [22]
The site also explains that before he died in Malabar [Meliapour], Saint Thomas erected a very large cross. At the foot of this cross was a rock where Saint Thomas, while praying fervently, suffered his martyrdom by a blow from the lance of a pagan priest. This happened, according to the Roman Breviary, at Calamine, which is in fact Malabar [Meliapour], for in the language of the people the word Calurmine means on the rock (mina). The name was given the site in memory of the Apostle’s martyrdom.
They state further that a body of Christians still exists in Malabar who use a form of Syriac for its liturgical language. A certain Cosmas Indicopleustes speaks of the existence of Christians at Male (?Malabar) under a bishop who had been consecrated in Persia. King Alfred the Great, they report, is said [in the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle"] to have sent an expedition to establish relations with these Christians of the Far East." [23]
The Malabar region lies along the southwest coast of the Indian peninsula and forms the northern part of present-day Kerala state. Malayalam is the chief language of the region, and the ancestors of today's population have inhabited the region for centuries. The coastal cities of Malabar are very cosmopolitan and have hosted some of the first groups of Christians (now known as Syrian Malabar Nasranis.
Saint Thomas in Syria
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"Judas, who is also called Thomas" (Eusebius, H.E. 13.12) has a role in the legend of king Abgar of Edessa for having sent Thaddaeus to preach in Edessa after the Ascension (Eusebius, Historia ecclesiae 1.13; III.1). In the 4th century, the martyrium erected over his burial place brought pilgrims to Edessa. In the 380’s, Egeria described her visit in a letter she sent to her community of nuns at home (Itineraria Egeriae):
"…we arrived at Edessa in the Name of Christ our God, and, on our arrival, we straightway repaired to the church and memorial of Saint Thomas. There, according to custom, prayers were made and the other things that were customary in the holy places were done; we read also some things concerning Saint Thomas himself. The church there is very great, very beautiful and of new construction, well worthy to be the house of God; and as there was much that I desired to see, it was necessary for me to make a three days' stay there."
The reputed relics of St. Thomas were at Edessa in the fourth century, and there they remained until they were translated to Chios in 1258 and fowarded to Ortona. [24]
Thomas and the Assumption of Mary
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According to “The Passing of Mary”, a text attributed to Joseph of Arimathaea, Thomas was the only witness of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. The other apostles were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness her death. Thomas was left in India, but after her burial he was transported to her tomb, where he witnessed her bodily assumption into heaven, from which she dropped her girdle. In an inversion of the story of Thomas' doubts, the other apostles are skeptical of Thomas' story until they see the empty tomb and the girdle. Thomas' receipt of the girdle is commonly depicted in medieval and pre-Tridentine Renaissance art. [25] [26]
| Lord's Cricket Ground |
The resort of Worthing is in which county? | RECEIVING OUR NEW NAMES
RECEIVING OUR NEW NAMES
A SERMON ORIGINALLY DELIVERED AT THE HIGH HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
AND
THE FEDERATED CHURCH OF ATHENS
24 FEBRUARY 1991
By: Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES:
65:13-15
Mark 8:31-38
The Bible is full of name changes, or more properly stated � many of the people and places are given new names that more aptly reflect their character or some event.
What name should the Lord give to us?
What name do we deserve to have?
Let's begin by listening to what we are told in Isaiah 56:1-5.
1. Thus says the Lord,
"Preserve justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come
And My righteousness to be revealed.
2. "How blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who takes hold of it;
Who keeps from profaning the sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3. Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
"The Lord will surely separate me from His people."
Neither let the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."
4. For thus says the Lord,
"To the eunuchs who keep My sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5. To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial,
And a name better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off.
If our heart�s desire is to serve the Lord, then we are told that we will receive an everlasting and new name � a heavenly name.
But God's promise to us is coupled with our faith in Him and in our willingness to serve Him.
We have to receive and perform our portion of the covenant relationship established between us.
This is not a cheap gift.
For without being given this new name, there is no entry into heaven.
Listen again to what Isaiah tells us in 62:2.
2. And the nations will see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory;
And you will be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the Lord will designate.
One of the ways of telling if we are going to receive our new name is if others see our righteousness: if others see our separation from the ways of the world, to the ways of God; and if others see the glory of the Lord within us.
This new name isn't seem in our verbal "Praise the Lord" or "Halleluiah"; it is seem in our unconditional love, compassion, and peacemaking ways of interacting with the whole of creation, as true children of God.
But if we are not that way, listen to what the Lord tells us in Isaiah 65:13-15.
13. Therefore, thus says the Lord God,
"Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry.
Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty.
Behold, My servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame.
14. "Behold, My servants shall shout joyfully with a glad heart,
But you shall cry out with a heavy heart,
And you shall wail with a broken spirit.
15. "And you shall leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones,
And the Lord God will slay you.
But My servants will be called by another name.
I believe that most of us know that the archangel Lucifer, the angel of light, had his name changed to Satan, when he was cast out of heaven for going against God.
Not all name changes are for the good.
But for the good, Simon had his name changed to Peter by the Lord, for within him was found the strength and foundational support of a rock.
But there was one time when even Peter got a name that wasn't very good.
Turn with me to Mark 8:31-38, and see what happened as Jesus was teaching the disciples:
31. And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
33. But turning around and seeing the disciples, He rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind Me., Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
It wasn't that Peter was actually Satan, but that Peter had allowed himself to be used by Satan; and thus, Jesus uses Satan's name as a curse of rebuke against Peter, just as Isaiah said would happen.
Peter had taken his eyes and heart off the fulfillment of the Blood covenant that Jesus was to perform.
Peter just didn't want to lose the Lord's physical presence.
But because the others were there and might misunderstand, He said what He said, and then went on to explain things to them.
Let's listen in on what Jesus said, as we continue with our reading.
34. And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35. "For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it.
36. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
37. "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
What Jesus is telling us is that it is better to die for what is right and go on to heaven, than it is to live for what is wrong and end up in hell.
We have been given the covenant of forgiveness through the blood of Christ.
We have been given the covenant of love that will allow us to see through the sins of others.
What name do you think we deserve to be given when, as a standard for our lifestyle, we are afraid to mention Jesus' name and teachings before others?
What name do you think we deserve when we set aside both of these covenants of love and forgiveness, and desire the blood of others, as in the Middle-East war, and in the billions of animals that are killed every year for human consumption?
I am speaking of people on all sides of this issue.
What name do we deserve?
About 4,000 years ago and about 500 years after the Flood that we talked about last week, the Lord called out Abraham, or Abram as he was called then, from a life surrounded by idolatry to a new life and a new covenant that the Lord Himself would establish with him and his descendants; and Abram went.
Let's take a brief look at a time in Abram's life some 24 years afterwards, when the Lord appeared to him, as described in Genesis 17:1 and following:
1. Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him,
"I am God Almighty;
Walk before Me, and be blameless.
2. "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you,
And I will multiply you exceedingly."
3. And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying,
4. "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you,
And you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.
5. "No longer shall your name be called Abram,
But your name shall be Abraham;
For I will make you the father of a multitude of nations.
Not everything that Abraham did prior to this day was pleasing to the Lord, but Abram's heart was truly set on obeying the Lord, and God knew this, just as He knows the real intent of our heart and mind.
God had previously established this covenant relationship with Abram, but Abram did not fully receive it or, more importantly, follow it.
Thus God is repeating it to him; but as a preface to His covenant words, Abram is reminded to be blameless.
In other words, "This time, Abram, I want you to fully listen to me and follow all that I tell you."
Isn't it amazing how much Abram and we are alike?
This time God, in all His grace, gives Abram a reminder of the full covenant: He changes his name.
"No longer shall your name be called Abram," which means exalted father, "But your name shall be Abraham," which means father of a multitude.
As often as he remembers his new name, or as often as someone calls him by his new name, he will remember this covenant given to him by God.
When we are born, our parents give us a name by which the world knows us.
But when we come to believe in and know the Lord Jesus Christ, we are given a new name � one to reflect our character.
We are not usually called by that name unless that new character is seen in our lives.
That name is Christian.
Do others see that name upon us?
Think about this as we go back and listen to more of what the Lord has to say to Abraham, beginning at verse 6:
6. "And I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come forth from you.
7. "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.
8. "And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
By this covenant, to be the father of a multitude of nations, Abraham and his wife Sarah will have only one son, yet through him and his descendants will the covenant be fulfilled.
Is the covenant of love, peace, and forgiveness, leading to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord, being established in our future generations?
For that matter, is it being established in our own generation?
By what name does the world call us?
And knowing how easily we humans forget, God gives Abraham a physical reminder as well.
Note what we are told next, as we read from verse 9 and following:
9. God said further to Abraham, "Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout your generations.
10. "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
11. "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.
12. "And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.
13. "A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
14. "But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
The covenant of circumcision was to be a personal reminder, several times a day, of the true and everlasting covenant established between God and Abraham.
Today we have a new and more complete reminder of God's covenant relationship with us.
It�s our Bible.
Now, if you men were given the choice of being circumcised for the first time (or again, as the case may be) so that you would remember God's covenant with us, or of reading your Bible, which would you choose?
The interim name of "Christian" is only ours when we reflect it in our lives and as a reminder to others; and without this interim name, there will be no everlasting name for us.
What does God have to do to us today, before we will remember and live by His covenant?
Instead of imagining the pain of circumcision or what many feel is the pain of reading their Bibles, why not imagine the pain and torment of hell?
Our problem as a society, and even as the Church universal, is that we fear the wrong things.
How much better it is to come before the Lord Jesus with a repentant heart and receive our name "Christian."
And with that changed character, all the imagined pain of reading and studying God's word is replaced with true joy.
Then, together we will enter our everlasting life with the Lord Jesus in heaven, and receive that new and permanent name.
It's a free gift for all who will receive it.
Amen.
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The French call them Iles Normades. What do we call them? | Visit Channel Islands
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Who wrote the novel 'Tom Sawyer'? | NEA Big Read
NEA Big Read
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain
The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
>
About the Author
Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Mark Twain was a man ahead of his time from the day he was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, fully two months early, in tiny Florida, Missouri. Not surprising for a preemie, a profound sense of mortality shadowed him all his life. In addition, Twain survived a youth marked by deaths both sudden and grisly.
Not only did his forbidding father, Judge John Marshall Clemens, die of pneumonia when Twain was eleven, but Twain is said to have witnessed the autopsy through a keyhole. He also sat at his beloved brother Henry's bedside as he lay dying after a steamboat explosion, and Twain forever blamed himself for getting Henry his fateful job on board.
Three other formative experiences made Twain the writer he became. First were the gifted storytellers he grew up listening to, many of them slaves. Next came his early job as a printer's apprentice. There he literally put words together, by handsetting type, and observed up close what made sentences sing or clang. Finally came Twain's years in California and Nevada, where he became a newspaperman and found his voice as a writer. There he chose the pen name "Mark Twain," a riverboat expression meaning two fathoms deep, the divider between safe and dangerously shallow water. A tall tale called "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1865), widely reprinted almost immediately, cemented his national reputation.
Twain returned from the West and set out for the East—specifically the Middle East, where he traveled on the first-ever luxury cruise and filed dispatches back to stateside newspapers. The eventual result was a national bestseller, The Innocents Abroad (1869), and highbrow acceptance from the tastemakers at The Atlantic Monthly magazine.
Meanwhile, Twain's personal life settled down. After years of bachelorhood he married Olivia "Livy" Langdon, whom he had first glimpsed in a cameo carried by her brother, Charley, on shipboard. Charley introduced the couple on their return, and after two years Twain overcame the Langdons' misgivings and they married. She was demure and he was outrageous, but somehow it worked. After the death of their firstborn son, they raised three daughters and lived as happily as Twain's dark moods permitted.
Twain's imperishable memories of his boyhood led to the writing of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and, eventually, its more challenging sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885). Twain wrote well and prolifically almost all his long life, but these two companion pieces stand apart as his masterpieces of childhood and childhood's end.
Financial uncertainty and death haunted Twain's last years even more than they had his first. He went broke keeping up the beautiful house he had built in Connecticut and investing in a series of harebrained schemes. A daughter died, then his adored but frail Livy, and then yet another daughter. Through it all he kept writing—fiction when he could, essays when he couldn't, plus magnificent letters and journals by the trunkful. Revered across America and around the world, Twain died on April 21, 1910.
"The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter—it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."
—Mark Twain, from an 1888 letter
Twain on Writing
"God only exhibits his thunder and lightning at intervals, and so they always command attention. These are God's adjectives. You thunder and lightning too much; the reader ceases to get under the bed, by and by."
—from an 1878 letter to his brother Orion
"There is no such thing as ‘the Queen's English.' The property has gone into the hands of a joint stock company and we own the bulk of the shares!"
—from Following the Equator, 1897
"No sir, not a day's work in all my life. What I have done I have done because it has been play. If it had been work I shouldn't have done it."
—from a 1905 interview
"I never write ‘metropolis' for seven cents, because I can get the same money for ‘city.' I never write ‘policeman,' because I can get the same price for ‘cop.'"
—from a 1906 speech, "Spelling and Pictures"
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| Mark Twain |
What nationality was scientist 'Marie Curie'? | Mark Twain Wrote the First Book Ever Written With a Typewriter
Mark Twain Wrote the First Book Ever Written With a Typewriter
in History , Literature | March 15th, 2013 5 Comments
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My Penguin Classics copy of Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi sits alone atop an overfull shelf. There is a bookmark on page 204, exactly halfway through, torn from an in-flight duty-free catalog—whiskey and fancy pens. It tells me “hey, you forgot to finish this, you [various obscenities].” And I shrug. What can I say? I went to grad school, where I learned to read ten books at once and never finish one. Good thing Mark Twain didn’t write that way, or we might not have Life on the Mississippi .
Twain was a diligent and conscientious writer with a memory like a bear trap, or at least that’s what he wanted us to think. But somewhere in his reminiscence he may have been confused. Twain wrote in his 1904 autobiography that his first novel written on a typewriter —the first typewritten novel at all—was Tom Sawyer. Was this so? Twain purchased his first typewriter (which probably looked like the Remington Sholes and Glidden above) in 1874 for $125. In 1875, he writes in a letter to the Remington company that he is no longer using his typewriter; it corrupts his morals because it makes him want to swear. He gives the infernal machine away, twice. It returns to him each time.
The year after Twain’s moral trouble with his Remington, Tom Sawyer is published from handwritten manuscript, not typed. Then, seven years later, Life on the Mississippi comes to the publisher in typescript. Twain did not type it himself—he had presumably renounced the act—but he dictated the memoir to a typist from a hand-written draft. Now, I can hear you quibbling… Life on the Mississippi isn’t a novel at all! Well, okay, fair enough. Let’s just say it’s the first typewritten book and call it a day, eh? Go read this excellent New Yorker piece on the early life of the typewriter and leave me alone. I’ve got a book to finish.
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Who wrote the Opera Madam Butterfly? | Madama Butterfly Synopsis - Puccini's Famous Opera
Madama Butterfly Synopsis
Madama Butterfly Synopsis
The Sad Story of a Devoted Wife in 3 Acts
Bonsi, played by Jan Opalach, takes center stage to express his disapproval of the impending marriage of Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton in the New York City Opera's production of 'Madama Butterfly,' May 21, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. Joe McNally / Contributor / Getty
Teatro alla Scala in Milan on February 17, 1904
Plot Setting:
Puccini's Madama Butterfly is set in Nagasaki, Japan in the early 1900s.
ACT 1
Atop a large hill in Nagasaki, Lieutenant Pinkerton of the United States Navy, inspects a house he recently rented from real-estate agent, Goro. Goro is also a marriage broker and has supplied Pinkerton with three servants and a geisha wife named Cio-Cio San, who is also known as Madama Butterfly. US Consul Sharpless enters the house breathless after climbing the large hill. Pinkerton explains to his friend that as a sailor, he lives life in the moment and seeks one pleasure after the next. He divulges his current infatuation and feelings about Madama Butterfly, but reveals his ultimate dream of marrying an American woman. Despite receiving a 999 year marriage contract with Madama Butterfly when he purchased the house, it renews from month to month and allows divorce at any time.
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Sharpless warms him that his Japanese fiancé may feel more passionate about their upcoming marriage than he does. Pinkerton dismisses Sharpless's advice.
Outside, Madama Butterfly is happily singing about her marriage as she and her friends make their way back to the house. Upon arrival, she tells Pinkerton that her family was once wealthy but fell on hard times, so she became a geisha to earn money for her family. She shows Pinkerton some of her most treasured things and tells him she has renounced her faith and taken up Christianity, despite her family's strong protests. As Madama Butterfly's family and marriage officials arrive, Pinkerton whispers to Sharpless that this is all a farce and that these new relatives will only be around for one month's time. After the wedding and amidst the toasts and celebrations, Madama Butterfly's uncle, a Buddhist priest, enters the house cursing her for abandoning her faith. Before finishing his diatribe, he is interrupted by Pinkerton. Her uncle leaves the house after persuading her entire family to renounce her just as she renounced her faith. Her family leaves and servers all ties with her. Pinkerton takes hold of Madama Butterfly and consoles her. She is sad she has lost her family, but is happy in Pinkerton's arms. Unfortunately unbeknownst to Madama Butterfly, Pinkerton is more in love with the fact that he essentially owns her for the next 999 years than he is with Madama Butterfly herself.
ACT 2
Three years have passed and Pinkerton has not returned. While the servant, Suzuki, prays to Buddha that Madama Butterfly's tears will stop soon, Madama Butterfly is listening to her. When Suzuki finishes Butterfly tells her that the Japanese gods are worthless - only the Christian god will bring Pinkerton home. Suzuki explains to Madama Butterfly that the little money they have left will not last much longer. (In one of the opera's most famous arias " Un bel di, vedremo ") Madama Butterfly tells her to have faith - Pinkerton will return, because he had arranged the American Consul to provide rent money, mosquito netting, and locks to keep out family and intruders. Pinkerton told her that he will one day return with roses in hand when robins build their nests. Upon hearing this, Suzuki weeps. Sharpless arrives moments later with a letter for Madama Butterfly. It is from Pinkerton. Before he can read the letter, she asks questions as to his health and when he might return. Madama Butterfly is overjoyed when Sharpless explains that Pinkerton is in good health. She tells him that Pinkerton once told her he would return when the robins build their nests. She asks if the robins have built their nests in America yet, because they have built their nests three times in Japan since he left. She also tells him that Goro has brought many suitors to her for marriage, but she has refused each one including the most recent - a wealthy prince. As Sharpless mentions the idea that Pinkerton may not return, she brings out her son, Dolore. She tells him that once Pinkerton learns of his son, he will surely return. If he does not, she would rather die. Saddened and moved by her devotion, Sharpless is unable to reveal the contents of Pinkerton's letter to her. In it, Pinkerton states he is not returning to Japan. After Sharpless leaves, a cannon report is heard in the distance. Madama Butterfly rushes to the window with her binoculars and sees Pinkerton's ship enter the harbor. Full of excitement, she instructs Suzuki and her son to fill the house with flowers.
ACT 3
The following morning, Suzuki, having slept all night, enters the room with Dolore to find that Madama Butterfly has been awaiting Pinkerton's return and hasn't slept at all. She persuades Madama Butterfly to get some sleep. Reluctantly, Madama Butterfly agrees and takes her son into the bedroom while humming along the way. Not long after, Sharpless and Pinkerton knock on the front door. Pinkerton tells Suzuki not to wake Madama Butterfly. He asks her how Madama Butterfly knew he has returned, and she explains to him how for the last three years Madama Butterfly studied every single ship that came into the harbor and recognized his ship when it appeared the previous evening. Sharpless reminds Pinkerton that he once warned him of this impending disaster. A minute later, Suzuki sees another woman waiting outside in the garden. Her name is Kate, Pinkerton's American wife. Suzuki falls to the floor in despair. Full of shame and remorse, Pinkerton cowardly leaves the house. Sharpless tells Suzuki that though they can do nothing for Madama Butterfly, Kate wants to adopt Dolore as her own son and take care of him in America. Suzuki and Sharpless go outside to talk with Kate. Kate asks her to encourage Madama Butterfly to give up her son. When Madama Butterfly awakes, she calls out to Suzuki. Suzuki rushes into the house crying, and Madama Butterfly asks her what is wrong. When Madama Butterfly sees Kate and Sharpless standing outside in the garden, she softly asks Suzuki if Pinkerton is alive. Suzuki answers yes. Madama Butterfly knows immediately what is going on. She knows that Pinkerton has returned with his American wife and she must give up her son. Kate and Sharpless enter the house and Kate asks for Madama Butterfly's forgiveness. Madama Butterfly tells her the only way she will give up her son is if Pinkerton comes to the house and asks for him in person. She sends them away and tells them to return in half-an-hour. She tells Suzuki to draw all the curtains as there is too much light in the house and orders her into the other room. Madama Butterfly bows before the buddha statue and takes the dagger her father used to commit suicide and reads its inscription. "Who cannot live with honor must die with honor." As she raises the dagger, her son enters the room. She tells him how much she loves him before sending him outside to play. Once he leaves, she plunges the dagger into her heart. As she lies lifelessly on the floor, Pinkerton arrives calling out her name.
| Giacomo Puccini |
Who piloted the first flight across the English channel in 1909? | The History of Madame Butterfly
The History of 'Madame Butterfly'
(Italian title: Madama Butterfly)
An Opera by Giacomo Puccini
During a visit to London, Puccini witnessed a performance of the little play, "Madam Butterfly," an adaptation by David Belasco of the magazine story so entitled by John Luther Long. That gifted artist, Miss Evelyn Millard, enacted the part of the heroine with rare feeling, and the composer was charmed and touched by her performance, though he knew no English. Returning to Italy, he commissioned Messrs. Illica and Giacosa to write a libretto on the subject. In order to provide fuller scope for Puccini, the librettists placed a new Act in front of the English drama. Besides affording, by its prevailing brightness, a fine contrast to the pathos of the second part, this addition enabled the listener to obtain a better knowledge of the circumstances leading up to the tragedy of the last scene.
The cover of the book version of the short story, Madame Butterfly by John Luther Long (Grosset and Dunlap, 1903). This short story was first published in the Century Magazine in 1898. It was transformed into a play by David Belasco. Puccini was saw this play in London, England, and was inspired to write the opera.
The work was produced at La Scala in 1904, but for some unknown reason, perhaps because of its unfamiliar Japanese character, it failed to please, and was withdrawn after one performance. It was then condensed, divided into two Acts (having been originally played in one), and the tenor air added in the last scene. A few months later it was given at Brescia in its revised form, when it was received with tumultuous applause. In July 1905 the opera made a most successful debut at Covent Garden, Destinn, Caruso, and Scotti playing the principal roles, and ever since it has been a great favourite with all classes of the musical public. The fine English version of the libretto, made by Mrs. R. H. Elkin, and admirably fitting the accentuation of the music, was sung for the first time at Washington, in October 1906, by Henry Savages Opera Company; and shortly after, it was presented at the Garden Theatre, New York, where it ran for three months to crowded and enthusiastic houses. In the summer of 1907 the Moody-Manners Company gave the first performance in English in Great Britain at the Lyric Theatre, London, Mdme. Fanny Moody impersonating the heroine, with Joseph OMara as Pinkerton, and Llewys James as the Consul. It has been played in all the principal cities of the Provinces by this Company, and everywhere the verdict of London has been confirmed.
Recommended Resources
Madame Butterfly Poster
The beautiful cover of an early Italian edition of the music and words for Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly).
Artist: Leopoldo Metlicovitz. Date: 1904.
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Who was the author of 'Man in the Iron Mask'? | Amazon.com: The Man In The Iron Mask (9781590603284): Alexandre Dumas: Books
The Man In The Iron Mask
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Editorial Reviews
Review
My favorite book….No part of the world has ever seemed to me so charming as these pages, and not even my friends are quite so real, perhaps quite so dear, as D'Artagnan. --Robert Louis Stevenson
The name Alexandre Dumas is more than French--it is universal. --Victor Hugo --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.
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Product Details
Publisher: North Books (January 7, 2004)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 1.8 x 5.8 x 8.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
By ced on December 8, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
If you read the entire d'Artagnan Romances(THE THREE MUSKETEERS, TWENTY YEARS AFTER, THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE, LOUISE DE LA VALLIER, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK), you'll probably feel you've had one of the great reading experiences of your life. If you only read THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK, you'll probably think you've wasted your time. That's because THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK is the third part of THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE, which itself is the third part of the d'Artagnan Romances. DON'T START AT THE END!!! The title "THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK" is so popular that even scholarly publishers like Oxford cash in by selling it WITHOUT TELLING YOU IT'S THE END OF A STORY. To read it by itself is like reading THE RETURN OF THE KING without THE HOBBIT, THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING and THE TWO TOWERS, or only book 7 of HARRY POTTER(I'm just trying to think of popular examples). Start with THE THREE MUSKETEERS, and if you like it, work through the series, whose richness always depends on what came before. The story of the man in the iron mask is one of many subplots in a much larger story, so coming into it from scratch, you might be upset if there are few pages devoted to him. So here's how it goes: THE THREE MUSKETEERS is part 1, TWENTY YEARS AFTER is part 2, and THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE is part 3, but it's a massive part 3, divided into 3 books(in the original French, it's one mega-book, but it got divided in English translation): THE VICOMTE DE BRAGELONNE, LOUISE DE LA VALLIER, and THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK. I repeat my first sentance: If you read the entire d'Artagnan Romances, you'll probably feel you've had one of the great reading experiences of your life.
| Alexandre Dumas |
By what name is Annie Mae Bullock better known? | Man Iron Mask by Dumas, First Edition - AbeBooks
Man Iron Mask by Dumas, First Edition
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ISBN 10: 0451197003 ISBN 13: 9780451197009
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Item Description: 2003. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1st. 129mm x 22mm x 201mm. Paperback. In the Musketeers' final adventure, D'Artagnan remains in the service of the corrupt King Louis XIV after the Three Musketeers have retired and gone their separate ways. Meanwhil.Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. 496 pages. 0.345. Bookseller Inventory # 9780140439243
Alexandre Dumas (Author); Keith Wren (Introduction & Notes by)
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Dumas, Alexandre [introduction by Gerard Previn Meyer] [cover by Paul Bacon Studios]
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Item Description: 2003. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1st. 129mm x 22mm x 201mm. Paperback. In the Musketeers' final adventure, D'Artagnan remains in the service of the corrupt King Louis XIV after the Three Musketeers have retired and gone their separate ways. Meanwhile, a myste.Shipping may be from our UK, US or Australian warehouse depending on stock availability. 496 pages. 0.345. Bookseller Inventory # 9780140439243
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Dumas, Alexandre with Illustrations by Edy Legrand
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Item Description: 2003. Paperback. Book Condition: New. 1st. 129mm x 22mm x 201mm. Paperback. In the Musketeers' final adventure, D'Artagnan remains in the service of the corrupt King Louis XIV after the Three Musketeers have retired and gone their separate w.Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. 496 pages. 0.345. Bookseller Inventory # 9780140439243
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Item Description: 2005. Book & Merchandise. Book Condition: New. 1st. 129mm x 197mm x 6mm. Book & Merchandise. This series provides a wide variety of reading materials for all learners of English. The books are retold versions of popular classics and contemporary titles as wel.Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. 72 pages. 0.126. Bookseller Inventory # 9781405076241
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Item Description: U.S.A.: Trident Reference Publishing, 2000. Hardcover. Book Condition: As New. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Condition As New, Uniquely designed, this 6 X 9 deluxe edition of Signature Classics features a padded leatherette casing enhanced by gold gilding on all three sides. Highlighted by a full color picture insert on the cover surrounded by gold foil stamping, this series is sure to become a collectable. Bookseller Inventory # 0000574
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Used Hardcover First Edition
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Item Description: Readers Library, UK, 1927. Cloth. Book Condition: Very Good+. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good+. New Edition. New Edition Circa 1927. Made into a film. Book is very good+ and bright. Contents good. Pages age toned. Spine dulled. The wrapper is very good+ with edges lightly rubbed and nicked. Small loss to spine tips. A few closed tears to edges. PLEASE DOUBLE CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO ENLARGE. Digital images available upon request.Ref 712 Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Bookseller Inventory # 005788
Alexander Dumas. Translated by I.G.Burnham.
Published by H. (1895)
Destination, Rates & Speeds
Item Description: H., 1895. Book Condition: Very Good. S. Nichols, London, 1895. Hardcover. First edition. Volume 1 only. Book: Very Good, in original dark blue binding with titles on cream paper title plate on spine. Ex university library with single cancellation plate on front paste-down. Printed on specially manufactured ribbed paper with deckle edges (it says!). Text pages very white and clean, rough cut page edges. 8.5x6. Contains the 3 stories: Joanna of Naples (approx 143 pages), illustrated by frontis and 2 other b/w photogravures; The Man in the Iron Mask (approx 71 pages) illustrated by 2 photogravure plates; and Martin Guerre (approx 63 pages) illustrated by 1 photogravure.Photogravures are after the original drawings by De Las Rios, Prodhomme Wagrez, etc. Bookseller Inventory # 1837446
Published by The Folio Society, London (2001)
Used Hardcover First Edition
Destination, Rates & Speeds
Item Description: The Folio Society, London, 2001. Hardback. Book Condition: Fine. Roman Pisarev (illustrator). 1st Folio edition. 591pp. Illustrated brown clorh with blocked illustration to the front board and spine. No slip-case but otherwise as new. Printed on St. Paul's Wove paper Size: large 8vo. Bookseller Inventory # Le390
Published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, New York (1910)
Used Hardcover First Edition
Destination, Rates & Speeds
Item Description: Thomas Nelson and Sons, New York, 1910. Flexible Calfskin. Book Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: No Jackets. First Edition. Publisher's '1910' date on title page of Volume One. "New Century Library" stated on half-title page. A handsome complete three volume set bound in publisher's green full soft, flexible calfskin covers. 860 numbered pages in volume one. 852 numbered pages in volume two. 578 and 238 numbered pages in volume three. All page ends finished and top in gilt. Illustrated frontispiece in all three volumes. Cloth ribbon page marker in all three volumes. Spine ends on all three volumes have varying wear; some light, some medium with calfskin mostly present. Some edges and corners show varying wear; mostly light. Otherwise a very solid, very tight, clean and complete set with clean and unmarked internal. Quite collectable! Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Bookseller Inventory # 064692
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Buddy Holly, Lyndon Johnston, Janice Joplin were all born in which US State? | Randolph Crane became famous as which cowboy actor Randolph - IT - 402
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Randolph Crane became famous as which cowboy actor Randolph Scott 47 Ageusia is the loss of which sense Taste 48 Which Irish political parties name translates as we ourselves Sein Fein 49 Henry Ford used assembly line in 1908 but someone before 1901 Ransome Olds 50 Who performed the first heart transplant in South Africa Christian Barnard Page 6
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10000 general knowledge questions and answers www.cartiaz.ro No Questions Quiz 3 Answers 51 What is the common name for the star Sirius Dog Star 52 What calculating aid was invented by William Oughtred in 1662 Slide Rule 53 Which Athenian philosopher wrote nothing - immortalised by Plato Socrates 54 Who designed the WW 1 plane Camel and co designed Hurricane Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith 55 Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull were born in which US state South Dakota 56 In 1666 Jesuit Bark was used as a prevention against what Malaria 57 In 1971 which USA space probe was first to orbit another planet Mariner 9 58 What links Catalonia, Andalusia, Cantabria, Galicia Regions of Spain 59 Ingemar Stenmark won record 85 world cup races in what sport Skiing 60 Who wrote the music for the ballets Firebird and Rites of Spring Igor Stravinsky 61 What common legal item literally means under penalty Subpoena 62 Who was the only person to win world titles on bikes and cars John Surtees 63 What is the oldest swimming stroke Breaststroke 16 th century 64 Which European country is divided into areas called Cantons Switzerland 65 Which medical tool was developed by Sanctorius in 1612 Thermometer 66 What weapon was invented by Ernest Swinton used in 1916 Tank 67 Which mythological King chained grapes rose water fell Tantalus 68 Who created Tarzan (all names) in 1914 Edgar Rice Burroughs 69 Camellia Sinesis evergreen shrub better known as what Tea 70 In 1901 who first transmitted radio signals across Atlantic Marconi 71 Who won six consecutive Wimbledon titles in the 1980s Martina Navratilova 72 What Italian building material translates as baked earth Terracotta 73 What links Buddy Holly, Lyndon Johnston, Janice Joplin State of Texas 74 Which eponymous character was Thane of Cawder Glaimes Macbeth 75 Who wrote the 39 steps (both names) John Buchan 76 Who won the Superbowl in 1987 New York Giants 77 What is the food tofu made from Soya Bean Curd – via Soya milk 78 Who was the son of Poseidon and Ampherite Triton 79 Annie Mae Bullock became famous under which name (both) Tina Turner 80 What linked Armenia, Georgia, Latvia and Moldavia USSR 81 What is the state capitol of New Jersey Trenton 82 Who won an Oscar for best supporting actor in Spartacus 1960 Peter Ustinov 83 What was invented by James Dewer in 1872 Vacuum or thermos flask 84 Who was the Roman goddess of the hearth Vesta 85 Viticulture is the growing of what plants Vines 86 In 1953 what was first successfully transmitted in the USA Colour Television 87 Who wrote the Thin Man in 1934 (both names) Dashiell Hammett 88 Angel falls Venezuela Highest but where second Highest Yosemite USA 89 Whitcome Judson in 1891 invented what for fastening shoes Zip Fastener 90
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Kenyatta University
IT 402 - Spring 2015
1 2 3 4 5 Sampling In Research What is research? According Webster (1985), to researc
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On which country's national flag would you find an eagle and a snake? | Which city in Rajasthan has riding breeches named after it? Jodhpur 174 | TROTTINGRACES.COM
Which city in Rajasthan has riding breeches named after it? Jodhpur 174
Which city in Rajasthan has riding breeches named after it? Jodhpur 174
HYPERLINK http://current-affairs-quiz-questionsanswers.blogspot.com/2010/06/1000-questions-and-answers-quiz.html 1000 Questions and Answers Quiz Sponsored links 1.
Which animal lays eggs? Duck billed platypus 2.
On television what was Flipper? Dolphin 3.
How many rings on the Olympic flag? Five 4.
What colour is vermilion a shade of? Red 5.
King Zog ruled which country? Albania 6.
What colour is Spock’s blood? Green 7.
Where can you find London bridge today? USA ( Arizona ) 8.
Carl and the Passions changed band name to what? Beach Boys 9.
Where in your body is your patella? Knee ( it’s the kneecap ) 10.
What spirit is mixed with ginger beer in a Moscow mule? Vodka 11.
Who was the first man in space? Yuri Gagarin 12.
What would you do with a Yashmak? Wear it – it’s an Arab veil 13.
Who betrayed Jesus to the Romans? Judas Escariot 14.
Who’s band was The Quarrymen? John Lenon 15.
Which was the most successful Grand National horse? Red Rum 16.
Who starred as the Six Million Dollar Man? Lee Majors 17.
In the song Waltzing Matilda – What is a Jumbuck? Sheep 18.
Who was Dan Dare’s greatest enemy in the Eagle? Mekon 19.
What is Dick Grayson better known as? Robin (Batman and Robin) 20.
What was given on the fourth day of Christmas? Calling birds 21.
What was Skippy ( on TV )? The bush kangaroo 22.
What does a funambulist do? Tightrope walker 23.
What is the name of Dennis the Menace’s dog? Gnasher 24.
What are bactrians and dromedaries? Camels (one hump or two) 25.
Who played The Fugitive? David Jason 26.
Who was the King of Swing? Benny Goodman 27.
Who was the first man to fly across the channel? Louis Bleriot 28.
Who starred as Rocky Balboa? Sylvester Stallone 29.
In which war was the charge of the Light Brigade? Crimean 30.
Who invented the television? John Logie Baird 31.
Who would use a mashie niblick? Golfer 32.
In the song who killed Cock Robin? Sparrow 33.
What do deciduous trees do? Lose their leaves in winter 34.
In golf what name is given to the No 3 wood? Spoon 35.
If you has caries who would you consult? Dentist – its tooth decay 36.
What other name is Mellor’s famously known by? Lady Chatterlys Lover 37.
What did Jack Horner pull from his pie? Plum 38.
How many feet in a fathom? Six 39.
Which film had song Springtime for Hitler? The Producers 40.
Name the legless fighter pilot of ww2? Douglas Bader 41.
What was the name of inn in Treasure Island? Admiral Benbow 42.
What was Erich Weiss better known as? Harry Houdini 43.
Who sailed in the Nina – Pinta and Santa Maria? Christopher Columbus 44.
Which leader died in St Helena? Napoleon Bonaparte 45.
Who wrote Gone with the Wind? Margaret Mitchell 46.
What does ring a ring a roses refer to? The Black Death 47.
Whose nose grew when he told a lie? Pinocchio 48.
Who has won the most Oscars? Walt Disney 49.
What would a Scotsman do with a spurtle? Eat porridge (it’s a spoon) 50.
Which award has the words for valour on it? Victoria Cross 51.
If you had pogonophobia what would you be afraid of? Beards 52.
Who would take silk as part of their job? Barrister 53.
Who won an Oscar for the African Queen? Bogart 54.
Who sang the theme song in 9 to 5? Dolly Parton 55.
What in business terms is the IMF? International Monetary Fund 56.
Ringo Star narrates which children’s TV series? Thomas the tank engine 57.
Which country grows the most fruit? China 58.
Which company is owned by Bill Gates? Microsoft 59.
What would you do with a maris piper? Eat it – it’s a potato 60.
In Casablanca what is the name of the nightclub? Rick’s 61.
What was the first James Bond book? Casino Royal 62.
What kind of animal is a lurcher? Dog 63.
What is the currency of Austria? Schilling 64.
What is the Islamic equal to the red cross? Red Crescent 65.
In fable who sold a cow for five beans? Jack ( and grew a beanstalk ) 66.
How did Alfred Nobel make his money? He invented Dynamite 67.
Who was the first man to run a sub four minute mile? Roger Bannister 68.
What are Munroes? Mountains in Scotland 69.
Which car company makes the Celica? Toyota 70.
Air Lingus is the national airline of which country? Republic of Ireland or Eire 71.
Who discovered radium? The Curies 72.
What does an alopecia sufferer lack? Hair 73.
Who painted The Haywain? John Constable 74.
Triskadeccaphobia is the fear of what? Number 13 75.
What is a baby rabbit called? Kit or Kitten 76.
Which country had The Dauphin as a ruler? France 77.
Who did Michael Caine play in the Ipcress File? Harry Palmer 78.
Who won Euro song contest Save All Your Kisses For Me? Brotherhood of Man 79.
Which country had the guns of Naverone installed? Turkey 80.
Ictheologists study what? Fish 81.
What is a Winston Churchill? Cigar 82.
Who or what lives in a formicarium? Ants 83.
What type of acid is used in car batteries? Sulphuric 84.
It’s a flock of sheep what’s a group of owls called? Parliament 85.
What animal would you find in a form? Hare 86.
Who in books and films was the man of bronze? Doc Savage 87.
Who was Stan Laurels partner? Oliver Hardy 88.
What kind of food is Cullan Skink? Fish 89.
What is classified by the A B O system? Blood Groups 90.
What plant does the Colorado beetle attack? Potato 91.
Where did the Pied Piper play? Hamlin 92.
To where in France do the sick make pilgrimages? Lourdes 93.
In which city was the famous black hole? Calcutta 94.
Christopher Cockerel invented what? Hovercraft 95.
Ray Bolger played who in The Wizard of Oz? Scarecrow 96.
Sabotage is French – What did the saboteurs use? Shoes – sabot means shoe 97.
Which part of the human body contains the most gold Toenails 98.
If you had rubella what would you have caught? German Measles 99.
Mohs scale hardest is diamond – what’s the softest? Talc 100.
La Giaconda is better known as what? Mona Lisa 101.
Who wrote the Opera Madam Butterfly? Puccini 102.
What links – Goa – Kerula – Assam – Bihar? India 103.
Eric Arthur Blaire was the real name of which author? George Orwell 104.
Names – Baker Cook obvious what did Cordwainer do? Shoemaker 105.
Which country do Sinologists study? China 106.
Ruby Stevens became famous under which name? Barbara Stanwyck 107.
Which non alcoholic cordial is made from pomegranates? Grenadine 108.
What is Orchesis – either professional or amateur? Art of Dancing 109.
Taken literally what should you see in a Hippodrome? Horses 110.
Who wrote the Man in the Iron Mask? Alexander Dumas 111.
Which 1993 Disney film starred Bet Middler as a witch? Hocus Pocus 112.
Who piloted the first flight across the English channel? Louis Bleriot 113.
What was the first James Bond film? Dr No 114.
What 1991 film won best film, actor, actress, director Oscars? Silence of the Lambs 115.
What was the capital of Ethiopia? Addis Ababa 116.
Aescapalious emblem staff snake Greek Roman god of what? Medicine 117.
Giacomo Agostini – 122 Grand Prix 15 world titles what sport? Motorcycle Racing 118.
What is the largest state in the USA? Alaska 119.
Led Deighton trilogy Game Set Match What 3 Capitals? Berlin MexicoLondon 120.
Alan Stuart Konigsberg famous as who? Woody Allen 121.
Which human rights organisation founded 1961 got Nobel 1977? Amnesty International 122.
Whose autobiography was The long walk to Freedom? Nelson Mandela 123.
What was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter? Tutankamen tomb 124.
Clyde Tonbaugh discovered what planet in 1930? Pluto 125.
Who won the women’s heptathlon at Seoul in 1988? Jackie Joyner-Kersey 126.
Who wrote Northanger Abbey? Jayne Austin 127.
Who ran through the streets naked crying Eureka? Archimedes 128.
Who composed the Brandeberg concertos full names? Johan Sebastian Bach 129.
Who won the World Series in 1987? Minnesota twins 130.
What is the correct term of address to the Pope? Your Holiness 131.
In which city was Alexander Graham Bell born in 1847? Edinburgh 132.
Who composed the ballets Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker? Tchaikovsky 133.
AG Bell opened school in Boston in 1872 for Teachers of what? The Deaf 134.
Benjamin Kubelsky 1894 fame as what comedian? Jack Benny 135.
In the Old Testament what book comes between Obadiah – Micah? Jonah 136.
Robin Williams dressed in drag for which 1993 film? Mrs Doubtfire 137.
Which chess piece could be a member of the church? Bishop 138.
Which German word means lightning war used in WW2? Blitzkrieg 139.
Broccoli belongs to what family of plants? Cabbage 140.
Who designed the first Iron ship the Great Britain in 1845? I.
Kingdom Brunel 141.
Whose boat Bluebird was recently raised from Coniston water? Donald Campbell 142.
In 1951 which (of two) car companies introduced power steering? Buick – Chrysler 143.
Who wrote Catch 22 (both names)? Joseph Heller 144.
Which country set up the world’s first chemistry lab in 1650? Netherlands 145.
What links the names Botvinik, Tal, Karpov, Fischer? Chess World Champs 146.
What is the national flower of Japan? Chrysanthemum 147.
Bombardier Billy Wells was seen on many Rank films – why? Hit Gong 148.
Where in France do claret wines come from? Bordeaux 149.
What did mathematician John Napier invent in 1614? Logarithms 150.
What was the world’s first high level programming language 1957? IBM FORTRAN 151.
Consumption was the former name of which disease? Tuberculosis 152.
Which American state is nicknamed The Diamond State? Delaware 153.
What are the Sirocco, Mistral and Chinook? Winds 154.
Who wrote about Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Roald Dahl 155.
Who, at USA customs declared, nothing but my genius? Oscar Wilde 156.
Issur Danielovitch became famous a who? Kirk Douglas 157.
Who sailed in the Golden Hind? Sir Francis Drake 158.
What was the name of the plantation in Gone with the Wind? Tara 159.
Who won the 1988 Superbowl? Washington Redskins 160.
Which group believes in The Great Architect of the Universe? Freemasons 161.
Robert Alan Zimmerman real name of who? Bob Dylan 162.
Processed Galena produces which metal? Lead 163.
Who wrote Gulliver’s Travels (both names)? Jonathon Swift 164.
What is a Ha Ha? Sunken Fence 165.
In Japan what is Seppuku? Hari Kari – suicide 166.
Who discovered blood circulation? William Harvey 167.
The dunnock is another name for which common bird? Hedge Sparrow 168.
If someone said they were from Hellas – which country? Greece 169.
Who was the son of Zeus and Maia – Gods Messenger? Hermes 170.
Roy Scherer jr became famous as who? Rock Hudson 171.
Who wrote Brave New World (full name)? Aldus Huxley 172.
What links Calabria, Liguria, Puglia and Veneto? Regions of Italy 173.
Which city in Rajasthan has riding breeches named after it? Jodhpur 174.
Portugal has had six Kings with what first name? John 175.
What martial arts name means gentle way? Judo 176.
Jean Claude Killy famous in which sport? Skiing 177.
Kimberlite contains what precious item? Diamonds 178.
Who directed Dr Strangelove – 2001 – The Shining (full name)? Stanley Kubrick 179.
Rene Lalique – Art Nouveau designer worked what material? Glass 180.
Who created the land of Narnia and Lion Witch and Wardrobe? Clive Staples Lewis 181.
What animal lives in a drey? Squirrel 182.
Why is Louise Brown – born 1978 famous? First test tube baby 183.
The title of whose book translates as my struggle? Adolf Hitler 184.
Anna Mary Robinson – famous American painter – what name? Grandma Moses 185.
In which country would you find the Negev desert? Israel 186.
Which character has been played by the most actors? Sherlock Holmes 187.
In Greek mythology a Hamadryads spirit guarded what? Trees 188.
Jocasta was the wife of Laius and the mother of who? Oedipus 189.
Who wrote The Rights of Man – and The Age of Reason? Thomas Paine 190.
What is the capital of Sicily? Palermo 191.
What was invented by Dr Edward Land in 1947? Polaroid 192.
Syd Barett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason – Group? Pink Floyd 193.
Carlo Collodi created which famous children’s character? Pinocchio 194.
What is mainly extracted from pitchblende? Uranium 195.
Which connects Delft, Sevres, Wedgwood, Chelsea? Porcelain 196.
Which country introduced the worlds first diesel loco in 1912? Germany 197.
In 1656 Christian Huygens invented what type of timekeeper? Pendulum clock 198.
Duvali, Dushira and Holi are religious days in which religion? Hindu 199.
In what industry did John Davidson Rockefeller get rich? Oil 200.
The Mau Mau were terrorists in which country late 50s early 60s? Kenya 201.
What movie cast included James Garner, Richard Attenbourough, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasance, James Coburn, Gordon Jackson, Angus McPhee among many others? The Great Escape 202.
If you suffer from epistaxis what is wrong? Nose bleed 203.
In which book would you find the manservant Pas Partout? Around the world in 80 days 204.
What animals name translates as water horse? Hippopotamus 205.
In Greek mythology who killed the Gorgon? Perseus 206.
Which two metals are alloyed to make pewter? Tin and Lead 207.
In 1899 the Eastman company in the USA produced first what? Kodak 1 – hand held roll film cam 208.
What links – Sarte, Neitzsche, Russell and Decartes? Philosophers 209.
In 1643 Evangalisa Torichelli invented the first what? Barometer 210.
Which Spanish painter has first exhibition at 16? Pablo Picasso 211.
Where did the mutineers of the Bounty settle? Pitcairn Islands 212.
What is the longest river in Italy? Po 213.
What does a polyandric women have more than one of? Husband 214.
What links Brazil, Uruguay, Mozambique and Angola? Colonies of Portugal 215.
What is the American equivalent of the Irish Poteen? Moonshine 216.
Who was the last king of Troy killed by Achilles son Pyrrhus? Priam 217.
In 1911 Hiram Bingham discovered what lost city? Machu Picchu 218.
Who won the Superbowl in 1989? San Francisco 49 ers 219.
Who wrote the book Billy Budd also Moby Dick? Herman Melville 220.
Which highwayman rode the horse Black Bess? Dick Turpin 221.
Barry Allen was the alter ego of which DC comic superhero? The Flash 222.
In 1901 which brand of car was seen for the first time? Mercedes 223.
Brisbane is the state capital of which SE Australian state? Queensland 224.
In Norse mythology what is the name of the ultimate battle? Ragnarok 225.
In 1890 the first electric what opened in London? Underground railway 226.
Who wrote the children’s novel Swallows and Amazons? Arthur Ransom 227.
Oil seed rape belongs to which plant family? Mustard 228.
Which Norwegian politicians name became a word for traitor? Vidkun Quisling 229.
What is the capitol of Morocco? Rabat 230.
What shape were the sailors plates in Nelsons navy? Square Thus Square meal 231.
What religion links Weasak, Dhrammacacka, and Bhodi day? Buddhist 232.
Linus Torwalds invented and wrote what? Linux computer operating system 233.
The bander macaque has which commoner name? Rhesus Monkey 234.
Zambia and Zimbabwe used to be called what? Rhodesia 235.
What is the staple food of one third of the worlds population? Rice 236.
Paul Robeson the singer of old man river had what profession? Lawyer 237.
Rene Laennac invented which aid for doctors in 1810? Stethoscope 238.
Jagger, Richards, Wyman, Jones, Watts, Stewart – which band? The Rolling Stones 239.
What digit does not exist in Roman Numerals? Zero 240.
Who was nicknames The desert Fox (both Names)? Erwin Rommel 241.
What aid to archaeologists from 197 bc was found in Egypt 1799? Rosetta Stone 242.
Which annual sporting event between 2 teams started in 1829? The University Boat Race 243.
Who was the jeweller to the Russian Court famous Easter eggs? Faberge 244.
What type of food is Taramasalata? Cured /smoked cod roe 245.
What links Samuel Delaney, Fredrick Pohl, Harlan Ellison? Science Fiction 246.
Randolph Crane became famous as which cowboy actor? Randolph Scott 247.
Ageusia is the loss of which sense? Taste 248.
Which Irish political parties name translates as we ourselves? Sein Fein 249.
Henry Ford used assembly line in 1908 but someone before 1901? Ransome Olds 250.
Who performed the first heart transplant in South Africa? Christian Barnard 251.
What is the common name for the star Sirius? Dog Star 252.
What calculating aid was invented by William Oughtred in 1662? Slide Rule 253.
Which Athenian philosopher wrote nothing immortalised by Plato?Socrates 254.
Who designed the WW 1 plane Camel and co designed Hurricane? Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith 255.
Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull were born in which US state? South Dakota 256.
In 1666 Jesuit Bark was used as a prevention against what? Malaria 257.
In 1971 which USA space probe was first to orbit another planet? Mariner 9 258.
What links Catalonia, Andalusia, Cantabria, Galicia? Regions of Spain 259.
Ingemar Stenmark won record 85 world cup races in what sport? Skiing 260.
Who wrote the music for ballets Firebird and Rites of Spring? Igor Stravinsky 261.
What common legal item literally means under penalty? Subpoena 262.
Who was the only person to win world titles on bikes and cars? John Surtees 263.
What is the oldest swimming stroke? Breaststroke 16th century 264.
Which European country is divided into areas called Cantons? Switzerland 265.
Which medical tool was developed by Sanctorius in 1612? Thermometer 266.
What weapon was invented by Ernest Swinton used in 1916? Tank 267.
Which mythological King chained grapes rose water fell? Tantalus 268.
Who created Tarzan (all names) in 1914? Edgar Rice Burroughs 269.
Camellia Sinesis evergreen shrub better known as what? Tea 270.
In 1901 who first transmitted radio signals across Atlantic? Marconi 271.
Who won six consecutive Wimbledon titles in the 1980s? Martina Navratilova 272.
What Italian building material translates as baked earth? Terracotta 273.
What links Buddy Holly, Lyndon Johnston, Janice Joplin? State of Texas 274.
Which eponymous character was Thane of Cawder Glaimes? Macbeth 275.
Who wrote the 39 steps (both names)? John Buchan 276.
Who won the Superbowl in 1987? New York Giants 277.
What is the food tofu made from? Soya Bean Curd via Soya milk 278.
Who was the son of Poseidon and Ampherite? Triton 279.
Annie Mae Bullock became famous under which name (both)? Tina Turner 280.
What linked Armenia, Georgia, Latvia and Moldavia? USSR 281.
What is the state capitol of New Jersey? Trenton 282.
Who won an Oscar for best supporting actor in Spartacus 1960? Peter Ustinov 283.
What was invented by James Dewer in 1872? Vacuum or thermos flask 284.
Who was the Roman goddess of the hearth? Vesta 285.
Viticulture is the growing of what plants? Vines 286.
In 1953 what was first successfully transmitted in the USA? Colour Television 287.
Who wrote the Thin Man in 1934 (both names)? Dashiell Hammett 288.
Angel falls Venezuela Highest but where second Highest? Yosemite USA 289.
Whitcome Judson in 1891 invented what for fastening shoes? Zip Fastener 290.
Who sold Louisiana to the USA in 1803? Napoleon 291.
Gregory Pincus, John Rock, Gerhart Domangk developed what? Oral Contraceptive 292.
The Gloucester E 28/39 first flew in 1941 – what was unusual? Whittle Jet Engine 293.
Women compete between USA and UK in Wightman Cup – Sport? Tennis 294.
Woolworth’s – the store started in which us state 1979? Lancaster Pennsylvania 295.
Which actress starred in the original King Kong in 1933? Fay Wray 296.
Except Australia 1 New Zealand 1 USA all since 1870 want? America’s Cup 297.
What’s missing from ale that’s included in beer? Hops 298.
Until 1971 what was the name of Zaire? Congo 299.
Karl Lienstater discovered which medical breakthrough in 1901? ABO Blood Groups 300.
Who is the only American president elected unopposed? George Washington 1798 1792 301.
Which countries men use the most deodorant? Japan 302.
Who played Billy the Kid in The Left Handed Gun? Paul Newman 303.
What was the first credit card? Diners Club 304.
What links Humphry Davie, Michael Faraday, Madam Curie? Poisoned by chemicals work 305.
Hippophagic society members support what? Eating horsemeat 306.
What did Britain swap Havana for with Spain in 1763? Florida 307.
What is the crime of embracery? Jury Bribing 308.
Which country made the worlds first feature film in 1906? Australia Story of the Kelly gang 309.
Who wrote Gentlemen Prefer Blonds? Anita Loos 310.
What was Norman Bates hobby in Psycho? Stuffing birds 311.
What was Casanovas day job? Librarian 312.
Where is the worlds largest gold depository? Federal reserve bank Manhattan 313.
Why did the state of Indiana ban Robin Hood in 1953? Communist rob rich 314.
Angelo Scicilano better know as who? Charles Atlas 315.
How did George II die? Fell off toilet 316.
What did Marlon Brando and George C Scott refuse? Oscars 317.
Why was convict 2599 unusual in Pen State prison 1924? Dog doing life for killing cat 318.
What is 6 inches bigger in Summer? Eiffel tower 319.
What two ingredients make the dish angels on horseback? Oysters – wrapped in Bacon 320.
What was Charles Dickens last (unfinished) novel? Mystery of Edwinn Drood 321.
Which sea on Earth has no beaches? Sargasso sea 322.
Reuben Tice died trying to invent a machine to do what? Dewrinkle prunes 323.
De Witt Wallace founded what? Readers Digest 324.
Who is the Patron Saint of thieves? St Nicholas 325.
According to his business card what job did Al Capone do? Sell second hand furniture 326.
Humans are 10,000 times more sexually active that what animal? Rabbits 327.
Shirley Schrift became famous as which actress? Shelly Winters 328.
In Kansas what can a waiter not do in a teacup (legally)? Serve wine 329.
Which country has the smallest birth rate? Vatican City 330.
Which 1956 film caused riots in cinemas? Rock around the clock 331.
Who did the USA buy the Virgin islands from? Denmark 332.
Who played the scarecrow in the Wiz (all black wiz of oz)? Michael Jackson 333.
What was or is a Waltzing Mathilda? Swagman’s Knapsack 334.
Which country was the first to introduce old age pensions? Germany 335.
Which hats became popular with children in 1956? Davy Crocket 336.
Malden Serkiovitch famous as which actor? Karl Malden 337.
What is it illegal to pawn in New York? American flag 338.
What hospital did Dr Kildare work at? Blaire General 339.
Collective nouns – a smuck of what? Jellyfish 340.
Who was Cleopatra’s first husband? Ptolemy Dionysus her brother 341.
Who was John Dawkins better known as? Artful Dodger 342.
Which film star has his statue in Leicester Square? Charlie Chaplin 343.
Virginia McMath became famous as which actress? Ginger Rodgers 344.
What is the name of Captain Ahab’s ship? Peaquod 345.
Roosevelt won the 1932 election – who lost it? Herbert Hoover 346.
Who wrote The History of Mr Polly? H G Wells 347.
What is the first day of Lent? Ash Wednesday 348.
Mr Chips said goodbye – from which fictional school? Brookfield 349.
Who buried the treasure on Treasure Island? Captain Flint 350.
Which TV series was narrated by Walter Winchell? The Untouchables 351.
In which country was Auschwitz? Poland 352.
What was the first British instrumental to top the USA charts? Telstar by The Tornados 353.
On which national flag is there an eagle and a snake? Mexico 354.
What group of animals would be in a clowder? Cats 355.
What is a Sam Browne? Military belt 356.
What is the chemical symbol for tungsten? W 357.
Who are the two most translated English writers? Shakespeare Agatha Christie 358.
Citius Altius Fortius is the motto of what organisation? Olympic 359.
What is the main ingredient of sauce Lyonnaise? Onions 360.
Who played Miss Marple in 6 films (both names)? Margaret Rutherford 361.
From what language does the word alphabet come? Greek -alpha beta 362.
In the nursery rhyme what is Fridays child? Loving and Giving 363.
What was the first film made in cinemascope? The robe 364.
Where was the battle of Hastings fought? Senlac hill 365.
A pearmain is what type of fruit? Apple 366.
What colour is the bull on an archery target? Gold 367.
What was the Rolling Stones first no 1 hit? Its all over now 368.
Name both rival gangs in West Side Story? Sharks Jets 369.
In golf what do the Americans call an albatross? Double Eagle 370.
Which classical composer wrote the Hungarian Rhapsody? Franz Liszt 371.
When is St Swithens day? 15th July 372.
What are ceps morels and chantrelles? Mushrooms 373.
Which part of his body did Charlie Chaplin insure? Feet 374.
In golf what would you put in your shag bag? Practice Balls 375.
A bind is a group of what type of fish? Salmon 376.
Which author created Fu Manchu? Sax Rohmer 377.
Mrs Darell Waters (translated 128 languages) pen name? Edith Blyton 378.
Who played the pawnbroker in the film of that name? Rod Stiger 379.
What was the first manufactured item sold on Hire Purchase? Singer sewing machine in 1850s 380.
Which letters denote Jesus Nazareth King of the Jews? INRI 381.
In France if you were served le miel what would you eat? Honey 382.
The Greek for circle of animals gives it name to what? Zodiac 383.
Who was the Roman god of agriculture? Saturn 384.
What is ikebana? Flower arranging 385.
What nationality was Morse inventor of the famous code? American 386.
Goa used to be a colony of which nation? Portugal 387.
What does a galactophagist drink? Milk 388.
What did God create on the fifth day (both)? Sea creatures and birds 389.
Where was Bob Dylan born? Duluth Minnesota 390.
In the 18th century what would a pencil be? Brush 391.
Agrippa poisoned her husband/uncle who was he? Claudius 392.
Who was the mother of Castor and Pollux? Helen of Troy 393.
What are the snaffle Pelham and Weymouth? Horse bits 394.
Walter Koenig played which part in the Star Trek series? Ensign Chekov 395.
Who had a hit with Devil Woman? Cliff Richard 396.
What were the first false teeth made from? Ivory 397.
The jealous Athena turned who into a spider? Arachne 398.
What was the first Carry On film? Carry on Sergeant 399.
Who was the female lead in The Shootist? Lauren Bacall 400.
What is a dzo? Cow Yak cross 401.
Hypermetropic people are what? Long Sighted 402.
Which leader lives in the Potola? Dalai Lama 403.
What wood was the cross supposed to be made of? Mistletoe 404.
Joseph Levitch became famous as who? Jerry Lewis 405.
If you planted a bandarilla what are you doing? Bullfighting 406.
What was the first Pink Floyd album? Piper at the gates of dawn 407.
In which city was the first public opera house opened? Venice 408.
In what Elvis film did he play a double role? Kissing Cousins 409.
The Aphrodite of Melos has a more famous name – what? Venus de Milo 410.
Which country invented the concentration camp? Britain – Boer war 411.
John Huston scored a hit with his first film – what? Maltese falcon 412.
Stan laurel, Mickey Rooney, Lana Turner what in common? 8 marriages 413.
What real person has been played most often in films? Napoleon Bonaparte 414.
Scotopic people can do what? See in the dark 415.
What is the most critical thing keeping bananas fresh transport? Temperature not below C 55F 416.
What is the name of the Paris stock exchange? Bourse 417.
Whose music featured in The Clockwork Orange? Beethoven 418.
What was the Troggs most famous hit? Wild Thing 419.
In Japan what colour car is reserved for the royal family only? Maroon 420.
What city has Kogoshima as its airport? Tokyo 421.
What was gangsters George Nelsons nickname? Baby Face 422.
Whose first wife was actress Jayne Wyman? Ronald Regan 423.
In MASH what is Radars favourite drink? Grape Knee High 424.
What do you give on the third wedding anniversary? Leather 425.
What is a baby whale called? Calf 426.
In which film did the Rolls Royce have the number plate AU1? Goldfinger 427.
Vladamere Ashkenazy plays what musical instrument? Piano 428.
With which organ does a snake hear? Tongue 429.
On what is the Mona Lisa painted? Wood 430.
What is the second most common international crime? Art theft 431.
Count de Grisly was the first to perform what trick in 1799? Saw woman in half 432.
Who wrote Les Miserable? Victor Hugo 433.
Which bird turns it head upside down to eat? Flamingo 434.
The colossus of Rhodes was a statue of who? Apollo 435.
Who rode a horse called Bucephalus? Alexander the Great 436.
To which London club did Mycroft Holmes belong? Diogones 437.
What did William Addis invent in prison? Toothbrush 438.
What is the only duty of police Gracthenvissers in Amsterdam? Motorists in canals 439.
Kleenex tissues were originally intended as what in 1915? WW1 Gas mask filters 440.
Who invented popcorn? American Indians 441.
What is the colour of mourning in Turkey? Violet 442.
For what is spirits of salt another name? Hydrochloric acid 443.
Which game is played on an oval with 18 player per team? Australian football 444.
In the Winnie the Pooh stories what is Kanga’s baby called? Roo 445.
Which actor is common to Magnificent 7 and Dirty Dozen? Charles Bronson 446.
Who saved Andromeda from the sea monster? Perseus 447.
What flower is the symbol of secrecy? Rose 448.
What items were originally called Hanways? Umbrellas 449.
What is Brussels best known statue? The Mannequin Pis 450.
In which language does God Jul mean happy Xmas? Swedish 451.
Which flying pioneer was nicknamed the lone eagle? Charles Lindbergh 452.
Horse statue – mounted man – on two legs – how man die? Killed in Battle 453.
Which American state produces the most potatoes? Idaho 454.
Who wrote Dr Zhivago? Boris Pasternak 455.
Who is Charlie Browns favourite baseball player (fictional)? Joe Shlabotnik 456.
Emerald is the birth stone for which month? May 457.
Whose yacht was called Honey Fitz? John Fitzgerald Kennedy 458.
What is the white trail behind a jet plane made from? Ice Crystals 459.
What Italian habit did Thomas Coyrat introduce to England 1608? Eating with forks 460.
Purl Plain Fisherman’s Cable types of what? Knitting stitches 461.
Why was Mary Mallen locked up from 1915 to 1938? Typhoid Mary 462.
If you were doing vaccimulgence what doing? Milking a cow 463.
For what purpose was the chow chow dog originally bred? As food or Chow 464.
What kind of fruit is a kumquat? Small Orange 465.
Who was the Greek goddess of love? Aphrodite 466.
What first appeared in New York World 21st December 1913? Crossword 467.
Which group of animals are called a cete? Badgers 468.
Which herb did the Romans eat top prevent drunkenness? Parsley 469.
What is the original literal meaning of the word bride? To cook (ancient tutonic) 470.
Who ran the first marathon? Phidipedes 471.
What is the only creature that can turn its stomach inside out? Starfish 472.
What is Milan’s opera house called? La Scala 473.
What is the oldest most widely used drug on earth? Alcohol 474.
What type of animal is a Samoyed? Dog 475.
In which country did draughts (checkers) originate? Egypt 476.
Shane Fenton became famous as who? Alvin Stardust 477.
What is the worlds most popular green vegetable? Lettuce 478.
What does a racoon do before eating its food? Washes it in water 479.
What other name is used for the snow leopard? Ounce 480.
Which drink did Bach enjoy so much he wrote a cantata for it? Coffee 481.
Who invented the first safety razor in 1895? King Camp Gillette 482.
What nationality is Thor Heyerdahl? Norwegian 483.
What 3 ingredients make a sidecar cocktail? Brandy Cointreau Lemon juice 484.
A spunder or drift is the name for a group of what animals? Swine 485.
What is Erse? Irish Gaelic language 486.
On oometer measures what? Birds Eggs 487.
What did table tennis balls used to be made from? Cork 488.
If you had variola what disease have you got? Smallpox 489.
Which playing card is called the Curse of Scotland? Nine of Diamonds 490.
Which painter did Hans van Meegeren most fake? Vermeer 491.
Which country had the first women MPs 19 in 1907? Finland 492.
In 1969 what category was added to the Nobel prizes? Economics 493.
In which city was Bob Hope born? London (Eltham) 494.
In the human body where is your occiput? Back of head 495.
Who wrote the Star Spangled Banner? Francis Scott-key 496.
Which food did Victorians deride as little bags of mystery? Sausages 497.
Which actor was dubbed the muscles from Brussels? Jean Claude Van Dam 498.
Which film star was the first to appear on a postage stamp? Grace Kelly 499.
What would you expect to find in a binnacle? Ships compass 500.
Which Hollywood star has made the cover of Life most times? Elizabeth Taylor (11) 501.
Which Mediterranean countries orchestra is bigger than its army? Monaco 502.
What links stags tails, pickled worms, gallstones, tomatoes? Once thought to be Aphrodisiacs 503.
Baked beans were originally served in what sauce? Treacle – molasses 504.
Where can you buy a copy of Penguin News? Falkland Islands 505.
Who was the hero of the old TV cop series Dragnet? Sergeant Joe Friday 506.
Which African country was founded by Americans? Liberia 507.
What was Britain called – before it was Britain? Albion 508.
What part of a frog do you rub to hypnotise it? Its belly 509.
How did multi millionaire Russell Sage save money? Not wear underwear 510.
How was USA president James Buchanan different from all rest? Batchelor maybe gay 511.
What’s involved in 20% of car accidents in Sweden? A moose 512.
What’s unusual about evangelist Amy Semple Mcphersons coffin? Contains Telephone 513.
Who would use a swozzle? Punch and Judy man 514.
What does a tailor do with his plonker? Press suits 515.
Churches in Malta have two what? Clocks right and wrong confuse devil 516.
Marnie Nixon what Deborah Kerr Natilie Wood Audrey Hepburn? Dubbed in their singing voices 517.
Which Italian tractor maker tried making cars in 1960s? Ferruchio Lamborghini 518.
What first appeared on Page 1 of the Times 3 May 1966? News stories 519.
Caruso put what in Nellie Melbas hand singing tiny hand frozen? Hot Sausage 520.
What would you do with an Edzell blue? Eat it – it’s a potato 521.
In what month did the Russian October revolution take place? November 522.
Nobody’s perfect is the last line in which classic comedy film? Some Like it Hot 523.
How did Buffalo Bill stick to one glass whisky a day? Quart glass 524.
In 1760 what means of personal transport was invented? Roller Skates 525.
What three counties were Eliza Dolittle taught to pronounce? Hertford Hereford Hampshire 526.
In Hitchcock’s film The Trouble with Harry what was the trouble? He was dead 527.
What was the first gramophone record made from? Tinfoil 528.
What did George Washington soak his wooden teeth in for taste? Port 529.
George V1 Mozart Al Jolson Casanova – which organisation? Freemasons 530.
Who said Its so long since sex I forget who gets tied up ? Joan Rivers 531.
St Appolonia Patron Saint of what? Toothache 532.
What is measured on the Gay-Lussac scale? Alcohol strength 533.
A squid found in New Zealand had the biggest what ever seen? Eye 15.75 inches 534.
What was the first country to guarantee freedom of worship? Transylvania 535.
Which famous person invented the cat flap? Isaac Newton 536.
By law what can you not do in Minnesota with your washing line? Put male female washing together 537.
Why do Tibetans grow long nails on little fingers? To pick noses efficiently 538.
Richard Penniman became famous as who? Little Richard 539.
What is a snood? A kind of hairnet 540.
Who said men are creatures with two legs and 8 hands ? Jayne Mansfield 541.
Which European country eats the most breakfast cereal? Britain 542.
Philosopher Jeremy Bentham has a very unusual pet – what? Tea Pot 543.
What country did Italy invade in 1935? Abyssinia – Ethiopia 544.
Who sang the title song in the film Grease? Frankie Valli 545.
What is produced in a ginnery? Cotton 546.
What was made illegal in England in 1439? Kissing 547.
What was invented by Dr Albert Southwick in 1881? Electric chair 548.
In which country most likely to die from a scorpion sting? Mexico (1000 a year) 549.
Who is the most filmed author? Shakespeare over 300 550.
Excluding religious works what is the worlds top selling book? Guinness Book of Records 551.
Who sold the most albums on a single day? Elvis 20 million day after death 552.
What was the last item shown on British TV before WW2? Mickey Mouse 553.
What countries people had the longest life expectation? Iceland 554.
Who said I like Beethoven especially the poems ? Ringo Starr 555.
What does the entire economy of the island of Nauru depend on? Bird shit – Guano fertiliser 556.
John Glen first USA to orbit earth was in which service? US Marine Corps 557.
Oedipus was named after what – literal translation? Swollen feet 558.
What fish can hold objects in its tail? Sea Horse 559.
Who is the most filmed comic strip character? Zorro 560.
Whose version of A View to a Kill reached 1 in USA 2 in UK? Duran Duran 561.
Which country grows the most potatoes? Russia 562.
What does a drosomoter measure? Dew 563.
Which English Kings armour has the biggest codpiece? Henry 8 564.
Which country was the first to abolish capitol punishment 1826? Russia Czar Nicholas – Siberia instead 565.
In law what is a co-parcener? Joint Heir 566.
Which pop group had a hit with Silence is Golden? Tremaloes 567.
Greek mathematician cylinder enclosed sphere carved on grave? Archimedes 568.
What does a psephologist study? Voting – Elections 569.
Where would you find line of Mars – Girdle of Venus? Palm – lines in Palmistry 570.
British call this bird species tits what do Americans call them? Chickadees 571.
Which country owns the Hen and Chicken islands? North island New Zealand 572.
Who created the TV series – The man from UNCLE? Ian Fleming 573.
Which film director described actors as cattle? Alfred Hitchcock 574.
Shirley Bassey sang three Bond themes – which 3 films? Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, Moonraker 575.
Barring rain – in which athletics event would you get wet? Steeplechase 576.
What colour is the flesh of the Charentais melon? Orange 577.
Who appeared on the first US postage stamps (both names)? Washington – Franklin 578.
Who was the first person elected to US swimming hall fame? Johnny Weismuller 579.
The guillotine was invented for chopping off what? Hands 580.
Which country invented the bedsprings? Greeks 581.
Whats the difference between fog and mist? Seeing Distance under 1000yd 582.
What did Spanish scientists fit to cows to increase milk yield? False Teeth 583.
What people founded cheese making in England? Romans 584.
What is the first name of Mr Toad – in Toad of Toad Hall? Thaddeus 585.
Atephobia is a fear of what? Imperfection 586.
What are Grapnel, Bruce, Danforth, Plough types of? Anchor 587.
Why did Handel compose The Messiah? For Cash 588.
Red flags flown by French ships Joli Rouge origin of what name? Jolly Rodger 589.
In which country could you spend a Kwanza? Angola 590.
John Henry Deutchendorf famous as who (both names)? John Denver 591.
Mitre Dovetail Jig and Hack are types of what? Saw 592.
Tracey and Hepburn first film in 1942 was what? Woman of the Year 593.
Antimacassars were fitted to chairs – what is macasser? Hair oil 594.
Jack Ketch 1663 1686 had what job? Hangman 595.
Nekal was the first type of what product (Germany 1917)? Detergent 596.
Name the first Grand Prix driver to used a safety belt in 1967? Jackie Stuart 597.
The SF award the Hugo is named after Hugo who? Gernsbeck 598.
Maurice Micklewhite became famous as who? Michael Caine 599.
What do Ombrophobes fear? Rain 600.
If you had a Brassica Rapa what vegetable would you have? Turnip 601.
Boob Day in Spain what day in Britain (practical jokes played)? April Fools Day 1st April 602.
What crime did Theresa Vaughn commit 62 times in 5 years? Bigamy – Tried 1922 603.
Who sailed in a ship called Queen Ann’s Revenge? Blackbeard 604.
Saponification is the process that makes what common product? Soap 605.
Blue red green yellow four Olympic rings colour what’s missing? Black 606.
Detective Philip Marlow smokes what brand? Camels 607.
Who landed on Timor Island after being cast adrift? Captain Bligh 608.
What is the more common name of the Chaparral Cock? The Road Runner 609.
In what language did St Paul write his epistles? Greek 610.
Ian Fleming’s house was called Goldeneye – which country? Jamaica 611.
Alfred Schneider became famous as who? Lenny Bruce 612.
A C-Curity was the original name of what common object? Zip Fastener 613.
Fidelity Bravery Integrity is which organisations motto? FBI 614.
Who was the first black entertainer to win an Emmy award? Harry Bellefonte 615.
Anthony Daniels played who in a series of films? C-P3O 616.
Of what material was the hairspring made in early watches? Pigs Hair 617.
In 1860 Napoleon III banquet – serving dishes dearer gold what?Aluminium 618.
Which author created Dick Tracy? Chester Gould 619.
What is the worlds most widely used vegetable? Onion 620.
What are lentigines? Freckles 621.
What type of animal is a vmi-vmi? Very small pig 622.
What did Mege-Mouries invent in 1870 winning a Napoleon prize? Margarine 623.
What was Walt Disney’s middle name? Elias 624.
Who would you expect to find in Castle Gondolofo? The Pope 625.
What two items make up the dish devils on horseback? Bacon Prunes 626.
What does ludo mean (literally)? I Play 627.
The Detours changed to The High Numbers then what name? The Who 628.
What animal was believed to be a cross camel – leopard? Giraffe 629.
An elephant has 400000 what in its trunk? Muscles 630.
What colour is cerulean? Deep Blue 631.
Who composed the Air for the G string (init and name)? JS Bach 632.
What were Twinkletoes – Lucky Jim (stuffed cats) first to do? Fly across Atlantic with Alcock Brown 633.
What are kreplach? Jewish ravioli 634.
The pica pica is what common bird? Magpie 635.
What male human feature was taxed in Elizabethan times? Beards 636.
Which record company rejected the Beatles as being past it? Decca 637.
From which country does spinach originate? Iran 638.
British policemen have truncheons what is USA equivalent? Nightstick 639.
In DC comics Linda Lee Danvers is whose alter ego? Supergirl 640.
In what country does the cow tree grow – sap looks tastes milk? Venezuela 641.
The penny black – worlds first stamp – what was second? Two penny Blue 642.
Which country produces Tokay? Hungary 643.
Where could you legally flash your dong – then spend it? Vietnam currency 644.
The Bald Eagle is Americas bird – What is Britain’s? Robin 645.
Australian Clement Wragge instituted what? Naming Hurricanes 646.
What does Zip stand for in the American Zip Code? Zone Improvement Plan 647.
What wood is plywood mostly made from? Birch 648.
What is a Hummum? Turkish bath 649.
In which sport are left handed people banned from playing? Polo 650.
What food was invented in a sanatorium in 1890? Kellogg corn flakes 651.
What is a Bellwether? Leader of flock of sheep 652.
What was Procul Harem’s greatest hit? Whiter shade of pale 653.
Percy Shaw invented what in 1934? Cats eyes 654.
What animal produces its own sun tan lotion? Hippopotamus 655.
What was a Nuremberg egg? Pocket watch / clock 656.
What was the name of Isaac Newton’s dog – caused fire in lab Diamond 657.
Who was eaten by dogs in the Old Testament? Jezebel 658.
In literature who is the alter ego of Percy Blakney? Scarlet Pimpernel 659.
Juglans Regia is the real name of what type of nut tree? Walnut 660.
What album cover (by the Rolling Stones) had a zip on the side? Sticky Fingers 661.
What lives in a holt? An Otter 662.
Who is the Patron Saint of dancers and actors? St Vitas 663.
What is the worlds tallest grass? Bamboo 664.
Who owned the newspaper in Lou Grant – Nancy Marchand? Mrs Pyncheron 665.
Who reputedly first said – if in doubt tell the truth? Mark Twain 666.
John Richie became famous under what name? Sid Vicious 667.
In Greek mythology who rowed the dead across the river Styx? Charon 668.
Alfred White was a famous author under which name? James Herriot 669.
Which acid was first prepared from distilled red ants? Formic acid 670.
Who invented doctor Who? Terry Nation 671.
What took place on London’s serpentine first time 16 June 1930? Mixed Bathing 672.
Which European city was the bride of the sea? Venice 673.
Who (not Peter Sellers) played Inspector Clouseau in 1968? Alan Arkin 674.
Where could you find the Lutine Bell? Lloyds of London 675.
Yabusame is the Japanese version of what sport? Archery 676.
Which Dickens novel is considered an autobiography? David Copperfield 677.
Dendrologists worship what? Trees 678.
What is the national sport of Finland? Motor Rallying 679.
Who was Agrippa’s son? Nero 680.
Peter Goldmak invented what in 1948? LP record 681.
Milton lost which sense? Sight 682.
What are camel haired brushes made of? Squirrels tails 683.
How did the Greek dramatist Aeschalys die? Eagle dropped tortoise on head 684.
Playing card – Raymond Shaw trance – Manchurian Candidate? Queen Diamonds 685.
Eiffel designed the Eiffel tower – what was his first name? Gustave 686.
The Salk vaccine is used against what disease? Polio 687.
If you are born between June 23rd and July 23rd what star sign? Cancer 688.
An alloy of Iron – Chromium and Nickel makes what? Stainless Steel 689.
Who said Public service is my motto ? Al Capone 690.
Drakes Golden Hind was originally called what? The Pelican 691.
In what film did Elvis play a Red Indian? Stay away Joe 692.
What did the Victorians call servant regulators? Alarm Clocks 693.
Which country first used the fountain pen? Egypt 694.
What is the more popular name for the Londonderry Air? Danny Boy 695.
Freyr was the Norse god of what? Fertility 696.
TAP is the national airline of which country? Portugal 697.
In which country is the port of Frey Bentos? Uruguay 698.
The Koh-i-Nor is a famous diamond – what does the name mean? Mountain of Light 699.
A nilometer measures the rise and fall of what? Rivers (originally Nile) 700.
What was Britain’s first colony (annexed in 1583)? Newfoundland 701.
Joseph Lister – first operation antiseptic – 1867 on who? His sister 702.
What was Black Beauties original name? Darkie 703.
Who was the original Peeping Tom looking at? Lady Godiva 704.
What element is present in all organic compounds? Carbon 705.
What was Professor Moriarties first name? James 706.
Who was known as the Little Brown Saint? Ghandi 707.
Who rode a horse called Morengo? Napoleon at Waterloo 708.
A skulk is a group of which animals? Foxes 709.
Who defended World heavyweight title twice same night in 1906? Tommy Burns both 1st round KOs 710.
What part of an aircraft is the empennage? Tail Unit 711.
We know who wrote Little Women but who wrote Little Men? Lousia May Alcott 712.
Who was the Goddess of the rainbow? Iris 713.
European city can be jailed for not killing furry caterpillars? Brussels 714.
Who was Olive Oyls boyfriend – before Popeye? Ham Gravy 715.
Sienna law forbids women of what name from prostitution? Maria 716.
What do the letters MG stand for on cars? Morris Garages 717.
Who was the first actor to appear on cover of Time magazine? Charlie Chaplin 718.
Polyphemus was the leader of which group of mythical giants? Cyclops 719.
What does a pluviomoter measure? Rainfall 720.
Which game was illegal in Elizabethan England? Bowls 721.
What nationality was Oddjob? Korean 722.
What is a Knout? Russian flogging whip 723.
What language has the most words? English 724.
Which film star used to be a circus acrobat? Burt Lancaster 725.
The comma bacillus causes what disease? Cholera 726.
Which country invented Venetian Blinds? Japan 727.
What is a quadriga? Roman 4 horse chariot 728.
What is a brickfielder? Hot SE Aussie wind 729.
Pupik means belly button in what language? Yiddish 730.
What is the main ingredient in Borsch? Beetroot 731.
What was the name of Dr Dolittles Parrot? Polynesia 732.
What was the name of William Tells son (the apple head boy)? Walter 733.
Laika was the first ever dog to do what? Go into space 734.
Where could you spend a Markka? Finland 735.
What links a bick, throat, half swage, punching hole? Anvil they are parts of it 736.
The Fagus is the Latin name of what type of tree? Beech 737.
If you have Chlorosis what colour does the skin go? Green 738.
The French say Bis – what word do the English use? Encore 739.
Of what are Karakul, Texel, Romney Marsh types? Sheep 740.
What is biltong? Dried meat 741.
What type of fish is Scomber Scombrus? Mackerel 742.
What are brick, fontina, port salut, quargel types of? Cheese 743.
In which country did the turnip originate? Greece 744.
Tchaikovsky died of which disease? Cholera 745.
Sam Barraclough owned which film star? Lassie 746.
Which animals can live longest without water? Rats 747.
Captain Hanson Gregory Crockett created what void in 1847? Hole in Doughnuts 748.
Kaka means parrot in which language? Maori 749.
Who wrote A Town Like Alice? Nevil Shute 750.
Which fruit contains the most protein? Avocado 751.
Ignatius Loyola founded which organisation? Jesuits 752.
Which 16th century Italian wrote The Prince? Machiavelli 753.
A meander bend in a river, named from river meander – where? Turkey 754.
Who tells the story in The Arabian Nights? Sheherazade 755.
Alfred Jingle appears in which Dickens novel? The Pickwick Papers 756.
Vaselina and Brillantino were alternate names which film? Grease 757.
Chaplin ate a boot in the Gold Rush – what was it made of? Liquorice 758.
Phoebe Anne Mozee better known as who? Annie Oakley 759.
What is the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet? Kappa 760.
If you were misocapnic what do you hate? Tobacco Smoke 761.
In sailing ship days who often acted as the ships doctor? Cook 762.
An isoneph on a map joins places of equal what? Average Cloud Cover 763.
Bumper Harris – wooden leg – what Job on London Underground? Ride new escalators 764.
Who is Ivanhoe’s wife? Rowena 765.
The Lent Lilly has a more common name – what? Daffodil 766.
What would you be if you were a coryphee? Ballet Dancer 767.
Whose last words were – Clito I owe a cock to Asclepius ? Socrates 768.
What does the German word Panzer literally mean? Armour 769.
What is Frances longest river? Loire 770.
In which month is the Munich beer festival held? October 771.
What was the name of Norse God Thor’s hammer? Mjolnir 772.
Who ordered John the Baptists execution? King Herod 773.
What was Walt Disney’s first cartoon character? Oswald the Rabbit 774.
What medication discovered in 1928 but introduced 1940? Penicillin 775.
Who wrote Beau Geste? P C Wren 776.
Prophesied the Chalus the Greek – Die on day – did of what? Laughing cos he was not dead 777.
Who is Aladdin’s father? Mustapha the tailor 778.
What American state is the Badger state? Wisconsin 779.
Why was Fred Lorz disqualified 1904 Olympic marathon? Hitched a lift passing car 780.
In China what colour does the bride traditionally wear? Red 781.
A muster is a group of which birds? Peacocks 782.
Bohea is a type of what? Tea 783.
In which country were antibiotics first used? Egypt – used mouldy bread 784.
Which country grew the first Orange? China 785.
Gossima was the original name of what game? Table Tennis 786.
Wild marjoram is also known as what? Oregano 787.
What was the name of Roses monkey in Friends? Marcel 788.
Horse brasses – on dreyhorses – originally what purpose? Charms – ward off evil 789.
Alfred Hitchcock admitted to being terrified of what? Policeman 790.
What was the name of Sancho Panza’s donkey? Dapple 791.
What is Steganography? Invisible ink writing 792.
An Albert chain is usually attached to what? Watch 793.
An unkindness is a group of what birds? Ravens 794.
A fellmonger deals in what items? Animal skins 795.
What colour habit do Franciscan monks wear? Grey 796.
Nenen-Kona is sold in Russia – what do we call it? Pepsi-Cola 797.
Hugh Lofting created which famous character? Doctor Dolittle 798.
What was the name of Russian bear mascot 1980 Olympics? Mischa 799.
What ingredient must French ice cream contain by law? Eggs 800.
A kindle is the name for a group of what young animals? Kittens 801.
What is the commonest symbol on flags of the world? Star 802.
Which country is alphabetically last? Zimbabwe 803.
Smiths Bon-Bons changed their name to what after 1840? Christmas Crackers 804.
Minerva is the Goddess of what? Wisdom 805.
What type of animal is a jennet? Small Spanish horse 806.
If you were crapulous what would you be? Drunk 807.
Where would you Wedel? Ski slope 808.
What is the correct name for a baby otter? Kitten 809.
What colour is the gemstone peridot? Green 810.
Sanskrit is an old language – what does the word mean? Put together or Perfected 811.
In which country do they play houlani – type of hockey? Turkey 812.
What does the name Tabitha mean? Gazelle 813.
With what is spangy played? Marbles 814.
Where did Spam get its name? Spiced Ham 815.
The Pogues took their name from Pogue Mahone – what mean? Kiss my arse 816.
What comes after the year of the snake – Chinese calendar? Horse 817.
Mosi-oa-Tunya – Smoke that Thunders – what natural feature? Victoria falls 818.
One person every 6 seconds dies from what? Contaminated water diseases 819.
Approximately 40 million of what are consumed each year? Bananas 820.
What is the worlds largest rodent? Capybara 821.
Which winter game is known as the roaring game? Curling 822.
The first known what happened in Wisconsin 1878? Organised motor race 823.
Which 2 countries will host the 2002 Soccer World Cup finals? Japan – South Korea 824.
In 1935 Charlton C McGee invented what in the USA? Parking Meter 825.
Which French philosopher created analytical geometry? Rene Decartes 826.
The length of what is approx 1/10th circumference of earth? Great wall of China 827.
What was the world’s first computer bug in 1946? A moth 828.
What does a polythesistic person believe in? Many Gods 829.
Who founded the Greek theatre? Thespis 830.
Maria Magdelana Von Losch Beyyer know as who? Marlene Dietrich 831.
If you suffered from tantartism what would you be doing? Dancing Mania 832.
Which literary prize started in 1968? Booker McConnell 833.
What links Fitzroy, Essenden, Collingswood and Carlton? Aussie rules football teams 834.
What countries people spend most private money on recreation? Taiwan’s 835.
What links The Reivers, Grapes of Wrath, Humbolts Gift? Pulitzer Prize winners 836.
USA has most airports which country has second most? Australia 837.
In 1829 Walter Hunt invented what common item? Safety Pin 838.
Fredrick Sanger discovered which medical life saver? Insulin 839.
Who invented punched cards used in early computing 1880s? Herman Hollerith 840.
Why did Roselin Franklin (pre discovered dna helix) no Nobel? She was dead 841.
What is a Dwarf Goby? Worlds smallest true fish 842.
What types can be saddle, plane or pivotal? Body Joints 843. 1500 paces was what Roman measurement? League 844.
Denis Gabor of Hungary 1971 Nobel prize for what invention? Holograms 845.
Who gave the UN the land in NY to build their HQ? John D Rockerfeller 846.
In 1779 Abraham Darby built the worlds first what? Metal Bridge 847.
What is the worlds oldest monotheistic religion? Judaism 848.
An aubade or alborda is a song – but what type? Mourning 849.
What sport links Castle Cup, Red Stripe Cup, Ranji Trophy? Cricket 850.
What countries leader does not have an official residence? Cuba 851.
Which writer coined the word Cyberspace in 1984? William Gibson Neuromancer 852.
Demeter was the Greek god of what (Ceres Roman)? Harvest 853.
What film won the 1943 Oscar as best film? Casablanca 854.
What do ungulate animals alone have? Hooves 855.
Dr Ludwig L Zamenhof invented what 1887 Poland? Esperanto 856.
Who wrote The Picture of Dorian Grey in 1891? Oscar Wilde 857.
Who composed The Planets suit (both names)? Gustav Holst 858.
What links Doric, Ionic, Tuscan, Corinthian and Composite? Classical Architecture 859.
What is phonetic alphabet word for U? Uniform 860.
Why were women barred from original Olympic Games? Male entries nude 861.
In which USA state is Churchill Downs racetrack? Louisville Kentucky 862.
In 1867 Lucian B Smith invented what restraint? Barbed Wire 863.
In 1961 which Henry Mancini record won Grammy record of year? Moon River 864.
What links Willie Brant, Lech Walesa, Yasser Arafat? Nobel Peace Prize 865.
Which countries government spends most in social security %? Uruguay 866.
Archaeopteryx was the first what? Bird 867.
In 1810 in England Peter Durand invented what? Tin can (food) 868.
Who was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952 (turned down)? Albert Einstein 869.
What is the oldest known infectious disease? Leprosy 870.
A JPEG is a picture file format – what does JPEG stand for? Joint Photographic Experts Group 871.
What is the worlds largest sea (in area)? South China 872.
Which islands wildlife is 90% unique? Madagascar 873.
What are truffles – highly prized as food? Fungi 874.
Which Game is Played 15 a side and scores 3 or 1 points? Gaelic Football 875.
What was invented in 1855 45 years later than it was needed? Can Opener 876.
What links Sissinnius, Zosimus, Liberius, Sergius V1,Victor II? Popes 877.
What is the world largest seed? Coco-de-mare palm a double coconut 878.
Bristlemouths are the worlds most common what? Fish 879.
What swims at 1/8 inch an hour? Sperm 880.
Trypanophobia is fear of what? Inoculations or Injections 881.
Chogori is better know by what boring name? K2 882.
Colonel Jacob Schick invented what in 1928 in USA? Electric Razor 883.
What links Duke Wellington, Earl Derby, Marquis Salisbury ? UK Prime Ministers 884.
In 1996 which Celine Dion album Grammy album of year? Falling into You 885.
What weight is the lightest in Amateur Boxing? Light Flyweight 886.
Which country has the worlds biggest (on land) National Park? Canada at Wood Buffalo 17300s ml 887.
What language speakers were shot Russia and Germany 1930s? Esperanto 888.
Ronald Ross campaigned for the destruction of what? Mosquitoes – stop malaria 889.
Who won two Nobel prizes in different fields? Marie Curie Physics 1903 Chemistry 1911 890.
Name 3rd cent BC Greek mathematician wrote The Elements? Euclid 891.
Evidence of what alternative treatment found in 5300 mummy? Acupuncture 892.
North Fork Roe River – worlds shortest – which US state? Montana 893.
In 1879 James Ritty invented what? Cash Register 894.
Who wrote the novel Tom Jones in 1749? Henry Fielding 895.
What links Millionaires,Metropolitans,Black Hawks,Silver seven? Stanley Cup winners Ice Hockey 896.
What country – largest earthquake of 20th cent 8.6 Richter 1906? Colombia 897.
The okapi belongs to what family of animals? Giraffe 898.
Dimitri Mendeleyev is credited with the discover of what? Periodic Table 899.
What feature of a triangle makes it scalene? Different side lengths 900.
Taphophobia is fear of what? Buried Alive 901.
In the Chinese New Year what year follows Rat? Ox 902.
Genuphobia is the fear of what? Knees 903.
Percy LeBaron Spencer invented what in 1945 in USA? Microwave Oven 904.
St Peter was the first Pope – Who was second? St Linus 905.
What 1945 film won best picture, actor, director Oscars? The Lost Weekend 906.
What is the literal translation of pot-pouri? Putrid Pot 907.
Who did James Bond marry – character – (both names)? Theresa Draco 908.
What is studied in the science of somatology? The Body 909.
What was Hugh Hefner’s jet plane called? Big Bunny 910.
What profession did Handel originally study? The Law 911.
What European nation was the first to drink tea? The Dutch 912.
Beaufort – the wind scale man – had what job? Sailor (Admiral) 913.
What bird is the symbol of Penguin books (children’s section)? Puffin 914.
Diane Leather was the first woman to do what? Sub 5 minute mile 915.
What is Admiral Sir Miles Messervy usually known as? M (Bond films) 916.
Which part of the body is most sensitive to radiation? The Blood 917.
What film made 58 times – cartoon, porrno, operatic, ballet? Cinderella 918.
Mr Chips said goodbye from Brookfield school – What subject? Latin 919.
In which American city can you get doctorate in hambugerology? Hamburger College Chicago 920.
Which author created The Saint (both names)? Leslie Charteris 921.
What is sericulture? Growing Silkworms 922.
What was Eddison’s first practical invention? Tick a Tape for stockmarket 923.
Frigophobia fear of what? Being Cold 924.
Which company invented the transistor radio in 1952? Sony 925.
Who is the only solo performer to win Euro song twice? Johnny Logan 1980 and 1987 926.
Franz Liszt was the farther in law of what composer? Richard Wagner 927.
In what town was Leonardo Da Vinci born? Vinci 928.
Who directed the Halloween series of films? John Carpenter 929.
What metal impurity makes rubies red and emeralds green? Chromium 930.
Helen Mitchell became famous as what soprano? Nellie Melba 931.
Robert Whithead invented what weapon in 1866? Torpedo 932.
Zymase and Glucose combine to form what drug? Alcohol 933.
Translated literally what does television mean? Far Seeing 934.
Not as soups what have gazpacho – vichyssoise in common? Served Cold 935.
Who was the Greek goddess of retribution? Nemesis 936. 47 people worked on a committee to produce what work? Authorised version of Bible 937.
What was the first feature length British cartoon? Animal Farm in 1954 938.
Who first said Publish and be Damned ? Wellington re Harriot Wilson mistress 939.
Edwin Drake sank the first of them in 1859 – what were they? Oil Wells 940.
Calico cloth was invented in which country? India 941.
What is dittology? Double meaning 942.
Who played Pink in the movie The Wall? Bob Geldorf 943.
Rhabdophobia fear of what? Being Beaten 944.
Dr C W Long was the first to use what (anaesthetic) in 1842? Ether 945.
Hey Big Spender comes from what musical? Sweet Charity 946.
Jamie Farr played what role in MASH? Corporal Clinger 947.
Whets the correct name for golf club called Texas Wedge? Putter 948.
Whose nickname was slowhand (both names)? Eric Clapton 949.
Which country invented the mariners compass? China 950.
What countries international car registration letters are DZ? Algeria 951.
The name Malissa means what? Bee 952.
What was Acadia? Nova Scotia (French Name) 953.
Dragoon, Antwerp, Poulter, Tumbler, Horseman types of what? Pigeon 954.
What was the first frozen food available in Britain in 1937? Asparagus 955.
If you suffer from cynanthropy what do you think you are? Dog 956.
What is the phonetic alphabet word for letter P? Papa 957.
What is a runcible spoon? A broad Pickle fork 958.
The artist Abbott Thayer’s developed what for military use? Camouflage colours 959.
What did Francis Bacon call The Purest of Pleasures? The Garden 960.
What is the largest single known gold object in the world? Tutankhamens Coffin 961.
Madame Pauline de Vere first female circus performer – do what? Head in Lions Mouth 962.
How was Alexander the Greats body preserved? In large jar of honey 963.
Californian law no shooting any animal moving car except what? A Whale 964.
Peter Falk plays Lt Colombo but who was first offered role? Bing Crosby 965.
What type of birds (Hugin + Munin) sit on the shoulders of Odin? Ravens 966.
Where are you most likely to have a serious accident? In your home 967.
Melvin R Bissell invented what in 1876 in the USA? Carpet Sweeper 968.
Peniaphobia fear of what? Being Penniless 969.
About which game has most books been written? Chess 970.
Albert De Salvo was better known as who? The Boston Strangler 971.
What was the last European nation to accept the potato? France 972.
Students at Cambridge – no dogs – what Lord Byron keep? Bear 973.
King Mongut had aprox 9000 wife’s/concubines what country? Siam – Thailand 974.
Only approx one third worlds population uses what regularly? Fork 975.
William Tayton was the first man to do what? Appear on TV on Bairds demo 976.
Clemintina Campbell famous as who? Cleo Lane 977.
What should you give after 15 years of marriage? Crystal 978.
What is a Charollais? Type of Cattle 979.
What place is called Rapa-nui by its native inhabitants? Easter Island 980.
Where was/is the original Penthouse? In a Real Tennis Court 981.
What pop group took their name from a Herman Hess novel? Steppenwolff 982.
How often does a Hebdomadal Council meet? Weekly 983.
What was unusual about Tyrell’s car in the 1976 Spanish G Prix? Six Wheels 984.
In what country is the Eucumbene Dam? Australia New South Wales 985.
Males outnumber females by 5 to 1 in what addiction? Alcoholism 986.
For what would an Edgar be awarded or won? Mystery Writing 987.
What are salopettes? Snow proof Dungaree trousers 988.
Which society cared – plague victims when physicians left 1665? Apothecaries 989.
Domenikos Theotocopoulos born Crete – died Spain – who? El Greco 990.
What nation on average takes most time to eat meals? French 991.
Dr F Lanchester invented what motor safety aid in 1902? Disc Brakes 992.
Halophobia fear of what? Speaking 993.
Arthur Jefferson better known as who? Stan Laurel 994.
Why is the city La Paz in Bolivia safe from fire? To high – Not enough air to burn 995.
What is the national drink of Yugoslavia? Slivovitz 996.
Agnes the girls name means what? Chaste 997.
What were the wicks in the Vestal Virgins lamps made from? Asbestos 998.
Who is the Patron Saint of France? St Denis 999.
What are you supposed to give/get for 40 years of marriage? Ruby 1000.
What is the Roman Numeral for 1000? M
Read more about Which city in Rajasthan has riding breeches named after it? Jodhpur 174:
| i don't know |
Which TV series featured 'Blaire General' hospital? | TV ACRES: Medicine > Hospitals > Blair General Hospital (Dr. Kildare)
Richard Chamberlain as Dr. James Kildare (intern/resident specializing in Internal Medicine)
Raymond Massey as Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Kildare's mentor)
Eddie Ryder as Dr. Simon Agurski
Jud Taylor as Dr. Thomas Gerson
Steve Bell as Dr. Quint Lowry
Ken Berry as Dr. Kapish
Robert Paget as Dr. John Ross
Martin Balsam as Dr. Milton Orliff
Andrew Prine as Dr. Roger Helvick
William Shatner as Dr. Carl Noyes
Philip Bourneuf as Dr. Wickens
James T. Callahan as Dr. Yates Atkinson MD
Dean Stockwell as Dr. Rudy Devereux
Dan O'Herlihy as Dr. Phillip Downey
Barry Atwater as Dr. Demerest
James Mason as Dr. Maxwell Becker
Mart Hulswit as Dr. Vincent Brill
Bruce Hyde as Dr. Jeff Brenner
James Earl Jones as Dr. Lou Rush
Lew Gallo as Dr. Philip Leland
Susan Oliver as Dr. Jessie Martel
William Sargent as Dr. Steve Bardeman
Donald Harron as Dr. Ian MacDuff
Paul Stewart as Dr. Guiseppe Muretelli
James Edwards as Dr. Lench
Paulene Myers as Dr. Sackley
Noah Keen as Dr. Bellaman
Gail Kobe as Dr. Anne Warner
Ford Rainey as Andy Meadows MD
Carol Eve Rossen as Dr. Lois Bower
Charles McGraw as Dr. Kenneth Hasker
Laurence Haddon as Dr. Galmeir
Sandy Kenyon as Dr. Galdi
Frank Killmond as Dr. Brown
Sammy Reese as Dr. Dan Shanks
Sidney Blackmer as Dr. Andrew Bennett
Charles Alvin Bell as Dr. William Coombs
Robert Brubaker as Dr. John Connor
Rip Torn as Dr. Nicholas Keefe
Theodore Bikel as Dr. Mahmel Homatka
Robert Culp as Jesse Hartwood MD
Diana Hyland as Dr. Lilith McGraw
Kevin McCarthy as Harvey Gruboldt MD
Brendan Dillon as Dr. Gault
Wilton Graff as Dr. Cassidy
Mary Webster as Dr. Pauline Stewart
Robert Cornthwaite as Dr. Max Gunther
Jan Arvan as Dr. Friedkin
Whit Bissell as Dr. Kenneth Kline
William Bramley as Dr. Bernard Krantz
Robert F. Simon as Dr. Brantell
Dr. Gillespie and Dr. Kildare
Other support personnel included:
Lee Meriwether as Nurse Bonnie Mynes
Carol Anderson as Millie McLean RN
Ann Loos as Nurse Whitman
Lory Patrick as Nurse Betty Taylor
Della Sharman as Betty Johnson RN
Patience Cleveland as Jackie Barnett RN
Helen Wallace as Lucy Webber RN
Jean Inness as Nurse Fain
Lee Kurty as Nurse Zoe Lawton
Jo Helton as Nurse Conant
Christopher Riordan as Dr. Halliman's Orderly
Joan Patrick as Susan Deigh, the Receptionist
Audrey Larkins as Receptionist
Bert Freed as Director
TRIVIA NOTE: The Dr. Kildare character was created by author Max Brand (under the pen name for Frederick Schiller Faust) in a series of short stories. Between 1938 and 1947, several movies were made starring Lew Ayres as Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as Gillespie (these actors continued their roles in a late 1940s radio network series).
In the early 1970s, the Dr. Kildare franchise was revived as YOUNG DR. KILDARE/SYN/1972 starring
Mark Jenkins as Dr. James Kildare
and
Gary Merrill as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
with Claiborne Cary as Nurse; Norma Crane as Nurse Connors; Joyce Van Patten as Nurse Marvin; and Marsha Mason as Nurse Marsha Lord.
External Links
| Dr. Kildare |
Chep Lap Kok airport is located where? | TV ACRES: Medicine > Hospitals > Blair General Hospital (Dr. Kildare)
Richard Chamberlain as Dr. James Kildare (intern/resident specializing in Internal Medicine)
Raymond Massey as Dr. Leonard Gillespie (Kildare's mentor)
Eddie Ryder as Dr. Simon Agurski
Jud Taylor as Dr. Thomas Gerson
Steve Bell as Dr. Quint Lowry
Ken Berry as Dr. Kapish
Robert Paget as Dr. John Ross
Martin Balsam as Dr. Milton Orliff
Andrew Prine as Dr. Roger Helvick
William Shatner as Dr. Carl Noyes
Philip Bourneuf as Dr. Wickens
James T. Callahan as Dr. Yates Atkinson MD
Dean Stockwell as Dr. Rudy Devereux
Dan O'Herlihy as Dr. Phillip Downey
Barry Atwater as Dr. Demerest
James Mason as Dr. Maxwell Becker
Mart Hulswit as Dr. Vincent Brill
Bruce Hyde as Dr. Jeff Brenner
James Earl Jones as Dr. Lou Rush
Lew Gallo as Dr. Philip Leland
Susan Oliver as Dr. Jessie Martel
William Sargent as Dr. Steve Bardeman
Donald Harron as Dr. Ian MacDuff
Paul Stewart as Dr. Guiseppe Muretelli
James Edwards as Dr. Lench
Paulene Myers as Dr. Sackley
Noah Keen as Dr. Bellaman
Gail Kobe as Dr. Anne Warner
Ford Rainey as Andy Meadows MD
Carol Eve Rossen as Dr. Lois Bower
Charles McGraw as Dr. Kenneth Hasker
Laurence Haddon as Dr. Galmeir
Sandy Kenyon as Dr. Galdi
Frank Killmond as Dr. Brown
Sammy Reese as Dr. Dan Shanks
Sidney Blackmer as Dr. Andrew Bennett
Charles Alvin Bell as Dr. William Coombs
Robert Brubaker as Dr. John Connor
Rip Torn as Dr. Nicholas Keefe
Theodore Bikel as Dr. Mahmel Homatka
Robert Culp as Jesse Hartwood MD
Diana Hyland as Dr. Lilith McGraw
Kevin McCarthy as Harvey Gruboldt MD
Brendan Dillon as Dr. Gault
Wilton Graff as Dr. Cassidy
Mary Webster as Dr. Pauline Stewart
Robert Cornthwaite as Dr. Max Gunther
Jan Arvan as Dr. Friedkin
Whit Bissell as Dr. Kenneth Kline
William Bramley as Dr. Bernard Krantz
Robert F. Simon as Dr. Brantell
Dr. Gillespie and Dr. Kildare
Other support personnel included:
Lee Meriwether as Nurse Bonnie Mynes
Carol Anderson as Millie McLean RN
Ann Loos as Nurse Whitman
Lory Patrick as Nurse Betty Taylor
Della Sharman as Betty Johnson RN
Patience Cleveland as Jackie Barnett RN
Helen Wallace as Lucy Webber RN
Jean Inness as Nurse Fain
Lee Kurty as Nurse Zoe Lawton
Jo Helton as Nurse Conant
Christopher Riordan as Dr. Halliman's Orderly
Joan Patrick as Susan Deigh, the Receptionist
Audrey Larkins as Receptionist
Bert Freed as Director
TRIVIA NOTE: The Dr. Kildare character was created by author Max Brand (under the pen name for Frederick Schiller Faust) in a series of short stories. Between 1938 and 1947, several movies were made starring Lew Ayres as Kildare and Lionel Barrymore as Gillespie (these actors continued their roles in a late 1940s radio network series).
In the early 1970s, the Dr. Kildare franchise was revived as YOUNG DR. KILDARE/SYN/1972 starring
Mark Jenkins as Dr. James Kildare
and
Gary Merrill as Dr. Leonard Gillespie
with Claiborne Cary as Nurse; Norma Crane as Nurse Connors; Joyce Van Patten as Nurse Marvin; and Marsha Mason as Nurse Marsha Lord.
External Links
| i don't know |
The 'Little Mermaid' memorial to Hans Christian Andersen is located where? | Hans Christian Andersen statue to be 'buried' in harbour | Books | The Guardian
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen statue to be 'buried' in harbour
Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot to submerge monument in city harbour, with plans to raise it again to mark author's birthday
Galschiot's statue of Hans Christian Andersen, adorned with notice announcing forthcoming 'funeral'
Close
This article is 5 years old
It is, perhaps, a fitting ending for the author of The Little Mermaid: a statue of Hans Christian Andersen is set to be drowned in a Danish harbour by its sculptor.
Artist Jens Galschiot 's bronze sculpture of the fairytale author has stood in Odense town square for the last five years. According to Galschiot, the city was planning to make it part of The Storyteller's Fountain, a larger sculpture intended to be placed in the centre of Odense, honouring the Danish author by recreating the stories he wrote.
Money was raised for the project by a common collection committee, the city council and a local fund, says Galschiot, but the financial crisis meant the fund collapsed, and the council's proposal to place the sculpture in a location away from the city centre was rejected for being "unsuitable". "The Storyteller's Fountain was intended as an interactive sculpture, which requires a certain amount of people passing by, which again requires a certain amount of daily activity or 'life' and not some empty pier," said Galschiot.
Now the artist is intending to bury the 10-foot statue in Odense harbor on 8 October, leaving its head still visible from the pier."At one point the culture department talked about placing the sculpture by Odense harbour in order to attract tourists to the area. Now that the project is definitively suspended, I think I will comply with their wish – maybe not in the way that they had expected but on the other hand, it won't cost them anything," he said. "I think it is a very suitable ending to put The Storyteller's Fountain to rest by creating a new story."
The drowning, where "grieving locals" will be served "funeral beer", will not be the end of the statue's story, however: Galschiot is hoping to resurrect the author's likeness on his birthday, 2 April, next year, and for the burial and resurrection of Andersen to become an annual tradition in the city. "We can drive him to the city centre where he can gaze upon the city for a week or so, and then he will probably be reburied," he said.
He does not expect support for his plans from the local council, however. "They will probably hate me, since the happening really portrays the bureaucracy in a poor way. But I do believe and hope that the 'resurrection' or exhumation will be a recurring event," he said. "Lots of people, who are sad that the sculpture is leaving its current placement in the town square, will be glad to see it return."
But he's not sure Andersen, a shy and reclusive man, would have approved. "To be honest I don't think he would like it since he didn't care much for happenings, although he did like bathing a lot, so maybe he wouldn't be that dissatisfied," said Galschiot. "It would also allow for him to keep an eye on the mermaids." A statue of Andersen's fairytale creation The Little Mermaid already exists in Copenhagen harbour – above the waves.
| copenhagen harbour |
The 'Mojave Desert' Is located in which US state? | Hans Christian Andersen statue to be 'buried' in harbour | Books | The Guardian
Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen statue to be 'buried' in harbour
Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot to submerge monument in city harbour, with plans to raise it again to mark author's birthday
Galschiot's statue of Hans Christian Andersen, adorned with notice announcing forthcoming 'funeral'
Close
This article is 5 years old
It is, perhaps, a fitting ending for the author of The Little Mermaid: a statue of Hans Christian Andersen is set to be drowned in a Danish harbour by its sculptor.
Artist Jens Galschiot 's bronze sculpture of the fairytale author has stood in Odense town square for the last five years. According to Galschiot, the city was planning to make it part of The Storyteller's Fountain, a larger sculpture intended to be placed in the centre of Odense, honouring the Danish author by recreating the stories he wrote.
Money was raised for the project by a common collection committee, the city council and a local fund, says Galschiot, but the financial crisis meant the fund collapsed, and the council's proposal to place the sculpture in a location away from the city centre was rejected for being "unsuitable". "The Storyteller's Fountain was intended as an interactive sculpture, which requires a certain amount of people passing by, which again requires a certain amount of daily activity or 'life' and not some empty pier," said Galschiot.
Now the artist is intending to bury the 10-foot statue in Odense harbor on 8 October, leaving its head still visible from the pier."At one point the culture department talked about placing the sculpture by Odense harbour in order to attract tourists to the area. Now that the project is definitively suspended, I think I will comply with their wish – maybe not in the way that they had expected but on the other hand, it won't cost them anything," he said. "I think it is a very suitable ending to put The Storyteller's Fountain to rest by creating a new story."
The drowning, where "grieving locals" will be served "funeral beer", will not be the end of the statue's story, however: Galschiot is hoping to resurrect the author's likeness on his birthday, 2 April, next year, and for the burial and resurrection of Andersen to become an annual tradition in the city. "We can drive him to the city centre where he can gaze upon the city for a week or so, and then he will probably be reburied," he said.
He does not expect support for his plans from the local council, however. "They will probably hate me, since the happening really portrays the bureaucracy in a poor way. But I do believe and hope that the 'resurrection' or exhumation will be a recurring event," he said. "Lots of people, who are sad that the sculpture is leaving its current placement in the town square, will be glad to see it return."
But he's not sure Andersen, a shy and reclusive man, would have approved. "To be honest I don't think he would like it since he didn't care much for happenings, although he did like bathing a lot, so maybe he wouldn't be that dissatisfied," said Galschiot. "It would also allow for him to keep an eye on the mermaids." A statue of Andersen's fairytale creation The Little Mermaid already exists in Copenhagen harbour – above the waves.
| i don't know |
Where is the 'Sorbonne' university? | Site officiel de l'Université Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)
Contact
Welcome to Paris-Sorbonne
Paris-Sorbonne University is the main inheritor of the old Sorbonne, which dates back to the 13th century. It was one of the first universities in the world.
The largest institution in France dedicated to the study of literature, languages, civilizations, arts, humanities and social sciences is located on the original medieval foundations, and now extends to the Latin Quarter and to other areas in Paris.
The University is characterized by rich culture and tradition with top-quality researchers. Its excellent scientific reputation is demonstrated by regular publications and international exchanges. Paris-Sorbonne seeks to constantly adapt to present-day social and technological changes and to encourage as many students as possible to study at Paris-Sorbonne while preparing for their future careers. The Sorbonne incites its students to think freely, to construct their own judgment so that they can become responsible and inventive citizens who can promote dignity and a culture of peace.
2010 - Université Paris-Sorbonne
| Paris |
The 'Chatham Islands' belong to which country? | Accueil - La Chancellerie des Universités de Paris | La Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
La Chancellerie des Universités de Paris
Visiting the Sorbonne
The Chancellerie des Universités de Paris, guardian of the heritage of the old University of Paris, plays a central role in higher education in France. It contributes significantly to the reputation of research in the universities in the Île-de-France region by strongly backing the university laboratories as well as the work of young researchers in all disciplines.
| i don't know |
Tapioca is derived from which plant? | BBC News | Health | Tapioca treatment for cancer
Monday, April 12, 1999 Published at 18:05 GMT 19:05 UK
Health
Tapioca treatment for cancer
For many adults, tapioca is inextricably linked to school dinners
Tapioca pudding - widely known as frog's eggs by many school pupils - may after all be good for you.
Scientists say the plant from which it is derived may help cure cancer.
Tapioca is derived from the cassava plant.
It is one of many plants which manufactures cyanide to deter animals who might want to eat it.
It does this by producing a chemical called linamarin which releases hydrogen cyanide when it is broken down by the linamarase enzyme.
Geneticists at Newcastle University have been taking genetic material from the cassava plant and adding it to a virus.
This is then introduced into cancer cells which have been impregnated with linamarin from the cassava plant.
The aim is for the cancer cells to produce hydrogen cyanide in high enough doses so that they commit suicide.
Hydrogen cyanide
Professor Monica Hughes has been studying cassava and cancer for seven years.
She has cloned the genes from the plant which are responsible for producing hydrogen cyanide.
Her objective is to reduce the toxicity of the cyanide so that it will not harm humans.
Cassava is a staple crop for many people in Africa, Asia and South America, but, if it is processing wrongly, it can lead to cyanide poisoning.
Because the plant is rarely used in Western diets, it has not been subject to much scrutiny by geneticists.
Professor Hughes has been working with a research team in Madrid to modify the cassava gene and transfer it to a retrovirus.
This gives the retrovirus the ability to produce linamarase.
The Spanish researchers found that a brain tumour in a rat was totally eradicated after one week of the genetic treatment.
It allowed the localised release of small doses of cyanide through the breakdown of linamarin by linamarase.
Neighbouring cells
The team found that part of the reason the tumour was so quickly destroyed was that the cells containing the retrovirus also affected surrounding cells.
They say tests on human tissue samples for certain cancers also look promising.
Professor Hughes' research has been funded by the European Union, but her funding has now run out and she is looking for other sources.
She says her next step is "to modify the genetic material with a view to making the treatment more effective when applied to mammalian cells".
A spokesman for Newcastle University said the research showed how genetically modifying plants could bring beneficial effects.
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What is the common name for 'Nacre'? | Comments 3
Health Benefits of Tapicoa
Tapioca is derived from the cassava plant. It is one of the many plants that manufactures cyanide by producing a chemical called linamarine which releases hydrogen cyanide when it is broken down by the linamarase enzyme.
Spanish researches have been studying the cassava and attempting to clone the genes from the plant which are responsible for producing the hydrogen cyanide and then transfer it to a retrovirus.
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The 'Mona Lisa' was painted by which artist? | Mona Lisa | painting by Leonardo da Vinci | Britannica.com
painting by Leonardo da Vinci
Written By:
sfumato
Mona Lisa, oil painting on a poplar wood panel by the Italian painter, draftsman, sculptor, architect, and engineer Leonardo da Vinci , probably the world’s most-famous painting . It was painted sometime between 1503 and 1519, when Leonardo was living in Florence , and it now hangs in the Louvre , in Paris , where it remains an object of pilgrimage in the 21st century. The poplar panel shows evidence of warping and was stabilized in 1951 with the addition of an oak frame and in 1970 with four vertical braces. Dovetails also were added, to prevent the widening of a small crack visible near the centre of the upper edge of the painting. The sitter’s mysterious smile and her unproven identity have made the painting a source of ongoing investigation and fascination.
Mona Lisa, oil painting on a poplar wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, …
The Print Collection—Heritage-Images
Overview of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, with a discussion of the …
Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz
The Mona Lisa and its influence
These signs of aging distract little from the painting’s effect. In its exquisite synthesis of sitter and landscape, the Mona Lisa set the standard for all future portraits. The painting presents a woman in half-body portrait, which has as a backdrop a distant landscape. Yet this simple description of a seemingly standard composition gives little sense of Leonardo’s achievement. The sensuous curves of the sitter’s hair and clothing, created through sfumato (use of fine shading), are echoed in the shapes of the valleys and rivers behind her. The sense of overall harmony achieved in the painting—especially apparent in the sitter’s faint smile—reflects Leonardo’s idea of the cosmic link connecting humanity and nature, making this painting an enduring record of Leonardo’s vision.
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There has been much speculation and debate regarding the identity of the portrait’s sitter. Scholars and historians have posited numerous interpretations, including that she is Lisa del Giocondo (née Gherardini), the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco di Bartolomeo del Giocondo, hence the alternative title to the work, La Gioconda. That identity was first suggested in 1550 by artist biographer Giorgio Vasari . Another theory was that the model may have been Leonardo’s mother, Caterina. That interpretation was put forth by, among others, Sigmund Freud , who seemed to think that the Mona Lisa’s mysterious smile emerged from a—perhaps unconscious—memory of Caterina’s smile. A third suggestion was that the painting was, in fact, Leonardo’s self-portrait, given the resemblance between the sitter’s and the artist’s facial features. Some scholars suggested that disguising himself as a woman was the artist’s riddle. The sitter’s identity has not been conclusively proven. In an attempt to settle the debate, art and forensic experts in August 2013 opened the tomb of the Giocondo family in Florence in order to find Lisa del Giocondo’s remains, test her DNA, and recreate an image of her face.
Whatever the sitter’s identity, the influence of the Mona Lisa on the Renaissance and later times has been enormous. The Mona Lisa revolutionized contemporary portrait painting . Leonardo’s preliminary drawings encouraged other artists to make more and freer studies for their paintings and stimulated connoisseurs to collect those drawings. Through the drawings his Milanese works were made known to the Florentines. Also, his reputation and stature as an artist and thinker spread to his fellow artists and assured for them a freedom of action and thought similar to his own. One such painter was the young Raphael , who sketched Leonardo’s work in progress and adopted the Mona Lisa format for his portraits; it served as a clear model for his Portrait of Maddalena Doni (c. 1506).
Art & Architecture: Fact or Fiction?
Leonardo even influenced the fashion in which artists dressed their subjects. In his Treatise on Painting, published long after his death, he wrote that art should avoid the fashion:
As far as possible avoid the costumes of your own day.…Costumes of our period should not be depicted unless it be on tombstones, so that we may be spared being laughed at by our successors for the mad fashions of men and leave behind only things that may be admired for their dignity and beauty.
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The Mona Lisa demonstrates this aspect of his treatise perfectly in that La Giaconda is dressed in a coloured shift, loosely pleated at the neck, instead of the tight clothes that were then popular.
Other Mona Lisas
At least a dozen excellent replicas of the Mona Lisa exist, many of them by the master’s students. The proliferation of Mona Lisas reflects, at least in part, the subject’s almost immediate embodiment of the ideal woman—beautiful, enigmatic , receptive, and still just out of reach.
Over the centuries this quintessential woman has taken on a new life in popular culture . In the 20th century alone, her iconic status was mocked in schoolboy fashion—the addition of a mustache and goatee to a postcard reproduction—in Marcel Duchamp ’s readymade, L.H.O.O.Q. (1919). His irreverent defacing of this best known of iconic paintings expressed the Dadaists ’ scorn for the art of the past, which in their eyes was part of the infamy of a civilization that had produced the horrors of the First World War just ended. Andy Warhol too took aim at the painting’s status, in his 1963 serigraph Mona Lisa.
Mona Lisa off the wall
References in the visual arts have been complemented by musical examinations. La Giaconda’s personality and quirks were examined in a 1915 opera by Max von Schillings. Leonardo’s portrait is also the inspiration for the classic song “
” by American lyricist Ray Evans and songwriter Jay Harold Livingston:
Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa
You’re so like the lady with the mystic smile
Is it only ’cause you’re lonely
They have blamed you
For that Mona Lisa strangeness in your smile
Do you smile to tempt a lover, Mona Lisa
Or is this your way to hide a broken heart
Many dreams have been brought to your doorstep
They just lie there, and they die there
Are you warm, are you real, Mona Lisa
Or just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art
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| Leonardo da Vinci |
'Pyrophobia' is the fear of what? | Author(s):
Cécile Scailliérez
This portrait was doubtless started in Florence around 1503. It is thought to be of Lisa Gherardini, wife of a Florentine cloth merchant named Francesco del Giocondo - hence the alternative title, La Gioconda. However, Leonardo seems to have taken the completed portrait to France rather than giving it to the person who commissioned it. After his death, the painting entered François I's collection.
Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco Giocondo
The history of the Mona Lisa is shrouded in mystery. Among the aspects which remain unclear are the exact identity of the sitter, who commissioned the portrait, how long Leonardo worked on the painting, how long he kept it, and how it came to be in the French royal collection.
The portrait may have been painted to mark one of two events - either when Francesco del Giocondo and his wife bought their own house in 1503, or when their second son, Andrea, was born in December 1502 after the death of a daughter in 1499. The delicate dark veil that covers Mona Lisa's hair is sometimes considered a mourning veil. In fact, such veils were commonly worn as a mark of virtue. Her clothing is unremarkable. Neither the yellow sleeves of her gown, nor her pleated gown, nor the scarf delicately draped round her shoulders are signs of aristocratic status.
A new artistic formula
The Mona Lisa is the earliest Italian portrait to focus so closely on the sitter in a half-length portrait. The painting is generous enough in its dimensions to include the arms and hands without them touching the frame. The portrait is painted to a realistic scale in the highly structured space where it has the fullness of volume of a sculpture in the round. The figure is shown in half-length, from the head to the waist, sitting in a chair whose arm is resting on balusters. She is resting her left arm on the arm of the chair, which is placed in front of a loggia, suggested by the parapet behind her and the two fragmentary columns framing the figure and forming a "window" looking out over the landscape. The perfection of this new artistic formula explains its immediate influence on Florentine and Lombard art of the early 16th century. Such aspects of the work as the three-quarter view of a figure against a landscape, the architectural setting, and the hands joined in the foreground were already extant in Flemish portraiture of the second half of the 15th century, particularly in the works of Hans Memling. However, the spacial coherence, the atmospheric illusionism, the monumentality, and the sheer equilibrium of the work were all new. In fact, these aspects were also new to Leonardo's work, as none of his earlier portraits display such controlled majesty.
An emblematic smile
The Mona Lisa's famous smile represents the sitter in the same way that the juniper branches represent Ginevra Benci and the ermine represents Cecilia Gallerani in their portraits, in Washington and Krakow respectively. It is a visual representation of the idea of happiness suggested by the word "gioconda" in Italian. Leonardo made this notion of happiness the central motif of the portrait: it is this notion which makes the work such an ideal. The nature of the landscape also plays a role. The middle distance, on the same level as the sitter's chest, is in warm colors. Men live in this space: there is a winding road and a bridge. This space represents the transition between the space of the sitter and the far distance, where the landscape becomes a wild and uninhabited space of rocks and water which stretches to the horizon, which Leonardo has cleverly drawn at the level of the sitter's eyes.
Bibliography
- ARASSE Daniel, Léonard de Vinci, Éditions Hazan, Paris,1997.
- BEGUIN Sylvie (sous la dir. de), Musée du Louvre. Hommage à Léonard de Vinci, catalogue de l'exposition, Éditions des Musées nationaux, Paris, 1952.
- BEGUIN Sylvie, Léonard de Vinci au Louvre, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, Paris, 1983.
- CLARK Kenneth, Léonard de Vinci, Éditions Le Livre de poche, Paris, 1967.
- CHASTEL André, L'illustre incomprise. Mona Lisa, collection "Art et Écrivain", Éditions Gallimard, Paris, 1988.
- CHASTEL André, Léonard de Vinci, Traité de la peinture, Éditions Calmann-Lévy, Paris, 2003.
- KEMP Martin, Leonardo Da Vinci : the marvelous Works of Nature and Man, Cambridge Mass. : Harvard University Press, 1981.
- MARANI Pietro C., Léonard de Vinci, Éditions Gallimard-Electa, Paris, 1996.
- SCALLIEREZ Cécile, La Joconde, collection "Solo", Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, Paris, 2003, n°24.
- ZÖLLNER Frank, Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, Das Portrât der Lisa del Giocondo, Legende und geschichte, Francfort, 1994.
- ZÖLLNER Frank, NATHAN Johannes (sous la dir. de), Léonard de Vinci, 1452-1519 : tout l'oeuvre peint et graphique, Cologne, Londres, Paris, Éditions Taschen, 2003.
Technical description
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, known as LEONARDO DA VINCI (Vinci, 1452 - Amboise, 1519)
Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo, known as the Mona Lisa (the Joconde in French)
c. 1503–19
H. 0.77 m; W. 0.53 m
Acquired by François I in 1518
INV. 779
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The Ferret is a domesticated variety of which animal? | Ferrets
Ferrets
Ferrets
By Craig Sernotti
Delightful and entertaining small animals, ferrets are eager, rambunctious, and tireless. If you’re looking for an interactive companion pet who has all the best qualities of a cat and dog rolled into one, then a ferret might be the right choice for you. Be sure that a ferret is the small animal you really want, though. Owning one is not the same as owning a dog or cat. A ferret’s curiosity, playfulness, and energy can be charming but can also make him tough to keep up with at times.
Ferrets come in many colors and patterns. They often change colors with the seasons—they’re lighter in the winter than in the summer, and many lighten as they age, too. They are about 1 to 5 pounds (1/2 to 2 kg) in size, and some can live as long as 15 years. Some are cuddly, while others are independent. A single ferret won’t be terribly lonely, although the fun of watching two or three playing together is easily worth the small amount of extra trouble.
Natural History
Ferrets are not wild animals. They have been domesticated for about 2,000 to 3,000 years. Ferrets are believed to have been descended from the European polecat, and they were used as hunting animals, chasing rabbits and rodents out of their holes so that the hunters and farmers could kill them. It’s thought that the Egyptians and Greeks kept them as pets. Ferrets are cousins of weasels and otters.
Enclosure and Setup
House your ferret in a sturdy wire cage. It must be large enough to allow him ample room in which to move around. Because the ferret is a ground-dwelling animal, the cage must have plenty of available floor space. It must also have a strong latch and be escape-proof. Make sure that the cage has distinct sleeping, feeding, and toilet areas.
Put a food dish, a water bottle, a litter pan with litter, bedding, and toys in the cage as well. Pelleted products made from paper or plant fibers are excellent choices for ferret litter. The bedding can be a polar fleece baby blanket, cotton T-shirts, and sweatshirts—your ferret will arrange it into a nest for sleep.
Your pet requires time out of his cage. Give him at least two hours of exercise and interaction with you on a daily basis.
Diet
Ferrets are obligate carnivores, meaning they must eat meat and only meat. Their bodies cannot properly digest fruits or vegetables. Feed them a variety of quality food items. You can buy a commercial ferret kibble from the pet store, but know that just because a ferret is featured on a bag of food doesn’t mean that it’s safe for ferrets to eat. The protein content should be meat based and between 35 and 40 percent. Fat content should be at least 20 percent.
Some keepers offer their ferrets raw meats, mostly chicken and rabbit. Others provide appropriately sized live prey items, like mice, rats, quails, and chicks.
Your ferret must always have a supply of fresh, clean water.
Grooming
You can brush your ferret. He will not like staying in one spot too long, so get into the habit of doing several quick brushing sessions rather than one long one. Use a soft short-bristled brush.
You can also give your ferret a bath, but only do this once a month. Some ferrets may take naturally to water, while others may not. Try to keep the experience as stress-free as possible. Fill the tub or sink with enough slightly warm water so that your pet is mostly covered, and use a gentle shampoo. Lather him up and rinse off all the shampoo, then dry him off with a towel.
Nails should be clipped every two weeks or so. Also, try to brush your ferret’s teeth at least once a week.
Health Care and Illness
Your ferret needs to visit a veterinarian every year for a checkup and to receive vaccinations against rabies and canine distemper. If you notice that something is wrong—a physical change, a behavioral change, a change in appetite, or litter box content or habit changes—see the vet immediately.
| Polecat |
The 'Battle of Trafalgar' took place in which year? | Ferret Care Facts Guide
stockcam / Getty Images
Updated October 13, 2016.
Ferrets are playful and they are very entertaining to watch. They are also smart and very curious, and thus require training and lots of interaction with people to bond with them.
Characteristics
Ferrets live about six to eight years on average, though sometimes up to 11 or 12. They tend to sleep a large part of the day, usually around 18 hours, and are active at dawn and dusk. However, they usually adapt their sleeping and active times to the fit the schedules of their owners.
Males tend to be larger than females in length and weight. Females are 13-14 inches long and weigh anywhere from 0.75 to 2.5 lbs, whereas males are on average 15-16 inches long and weigh 2-3.5 lbs if neutered and are even larger (4 or more lbs) if not neutered.
Females ferrets are called jills, and males are hobs.
Baby ferrets are called kits. In North America, spayed females are sometimes called sprites and neutered males called gibs. A group of ferrets is a "business of ferrets." Most ferrets obtained in North America are spayed or neutered and descented at a very young age before being sold.
Are Ferrets Domestic Animals?
There are often misconceptions and debate about whether ferrets are domesticated, and the short answer is they are. They have been domesticated for probably 2000 years or more, and were brought to America as pets as long as 300 years ago. Nevertheless, in many places they are still not recognized as a domestic animal for the purposes of laws pertaining to animals kept in captivity. The domestic ferret is sometimes also confused with its wild cousin, the black footed ferret.
Ferrets and Odor
Ferrets have an undeserved reputation of being smelly. It is true that they have a distinctly musky odor, but it is neither offensive nor overpowering. This smell comes from their skin glands and is present whether the ferret is descented or not. While occasional baths are recommended, frequent bathing will not reduce the scent, and will likely make it worse as the skin will get too dry and the glands will produce more oils in an effort to combat the dryness.
Ferrets are usually descented in North America, which involved removal of the scent glands. Their scent glands similar to that of a skunk, and they will release (not spray) the contents if threatened. However, ferret scent gland secretions are milder than those from skunks and the smell dissipates quickly and washes away easily. The routine removal of scent glands, which is most commonly done in North America, is now being questioned since the musky odor of ferrets is not due to the scent glands and discharge of their scent glands is not a big problem.
Fun Facts About Ferrets
The name ferret is derived from the latin furonem, which means "thief." Ferret owners can attest that this is a well deserved name, as they will happily steal anything they can get their paws on and hide it in their house.
Ferrets come from the same family ("Mustelidae") as badgers, wolverines, otters, mink, weasels, black footed ferrets and polecats.
The distant ancestry of the domestic ferret is somewhat of a mystery, although they are very closely related to the European polecat.
The scientific name for ferrets is a somewhat controversial topic -- Mustela putorius furo is traditionally used, although recent scientific evidence has suggested they should have a name of their own, Mustela furo.
Ferrets have relatively poor eyesight but a keen sense of smell and hearing.
Ferret owners have a variety of fun nicknames for ferrets: ferts, fuzzies, carpet sharks, furballs, and more!
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A violin has how many strings? | How Many Strings Does a Standard Violin Have | uk.QACollections.com
How Many Strings Does a Standard Violin Have
How Many Strings Does a Standard Violin Have?
There are fours strings on a standard wooden violin. These are 'G' string, 'D' string, 'A' string and the 'E' string.
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Top Q&A For: How Many Strings Does a Standard Violin Have
How Many Strings Does a Violin Have?
A standard wooden violin has four (4) strings. These four strings are the 'G', 'D', 'A' and 'E' strings.
How Many Strings on a Violin?
A normal or standard violin has four strings. The four strings are the 'G' string, 'D' string, 'A' string and the 'E' string.
How Many Strings Does a Banjo Have?
A banjo can have four or five strings. What is considered to be a key part of country and bluegrass music, the banjo was actually imported from Africa.
How Many Strings Does a Ukulele Have?
The Ukulele is a Hawaiian musical instrument. It can have either four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings.
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From which US city can one travel south to Canada? | Violin acoustics: an introduction
Violin acoustics: an introduction
More detail and other links
Overview. A vibrating string can produce a motion that is rich in harmonics (different frequencies of vibration). Bowing the string not only allows a range of expressive techniques, but also supplies energy continuously and so maintains the harmonic richness. However, a string on its own makes little sound (think of an electric guitar that's not plugged into an amplifer). The bridge and body of the violin, and other related instruments, serve to transmit some of the vibrational energy of the string into the air as sound. The way in which they do so is important to the sound of the violin family of instruments.
A violin in the baroque style
First, something about sound.
If you put your finger gently on a loudspeaker you will feel it vibrate - if it is playing a low note loudly you can see it moving. (More about loudspeakers .) When it moves forwards, it compresses the air next to it, which raises its pressure. Some of this air flows outwards, compressing the next layer of air. The disturbance in the air spreads out as a travelling sound wave. Ultimately this sound wave causes a very tiny vibration in your eardrum - but that's another story.
At any point in the air near the source of sound, the molecules are moving backwards and forwards, and the air pressure varies up and down by very small amounts. The number of vibrations per second is called the frequency which is measured in cycles per second or Hertz (Hz). The pitch of a note is almost entirely determined by the frequency: high frequency for high pitch and low for low. 440 vibrations per second (440 Hz) is heard as the note A in the treble clef (the violin's A string), a vibration of 220 Hz is heard as the A one octave below, 110 Hz as the A one octave below that and so on. We can hear sounds from about 15 Hz to 20 kHz (1 kHz = 1000 Hz). A double bass can play down to 41 Hz or below, and the violin can play notes with fundamental frequencies well above 2 kHz. Human ears are most sensitive to sounds between 1 and 4 kHz - about two to four octaves above middle C.
The violin: strings and bow, bridge and body
Strings
The pitch of a vibrating string depends on four things.
Thicker, more massive strings vibrate more slowly so the strings are thicker as (on a violin) you go down from the E to A to D to G strings, even though the length of the string doesn't change, and its tension does not change much.
The frequency can also be changed by changing the tension in the string using the tuning pegs: tighter gives higher pitch. This is what the player does when s/he tunes up.
The frequency also depends on the length of the string that is free to vibrate. The player changes this by holding the string firmly against the fingerboard with the fingers of the left hand. Shortening the string (stopping it further up the fingerboard) gives higher pitch.
Finally there is the mode of vibration. When you play harmonics, you induce the string to produce waves which are a fraction of the length of those normally produced by a string of that length.
For more about strings and their motion, including harmonics, see Strings, standing waves and haromonics . For their interaction with bows, see the section Bows and strings .
The strings themselves make hardly any noise: they are thin and slip easily through the air without making much of disturbance - and a sound wave is a disturbance of the air. An electric violin or an electric guitar played without an amplifier makes little noise. It is the bridge and body of the acoustic violin that transmit some of the vibration of the strings into sound in the air.
This diagram showing the anatomy and nomenclature of the violin is provided by Atelier Labussiere .
The bridge
The bridge transfers some of the energy of vibration of the string to the body of the violin. The bridge itself is very effective at transmitting power to the body at frequencies from about one to four kHz, which is where the ear is most sensitive. This is one of the reasons for the bright timbre of the violin.You can reduce the effectiveness of the bridge at transmitting power by attaching a mass to it - the mass is usually called a mute, and it serves to make the instrument both quieter and less bright in timbre.
The bridge stands on the belly between the f holes. These holes have two different functions. One is to connect the air inside to the air outside, and we talk about this below. The other is a result of their length: the part of the belly lying between the f holes can move more easily than can most of the wood of the body. Let's see how this works.
The soundpost and bass bar
The treble foot of the bridge (the one under the E string) is quite near the soundpost, which is a small post connecting the relatively flexible belly plate of the violin to the much stiffer back plate. This post prevents the belly from collapsing under the vertical component of the tension in the strings, and it also couples the vibrations of the plates. This connection to the stiffer back plate restricts the motion of the treble foot considerably. The bass foot of the bridge is much easier to move up and down. (Press gently with your fingers and you can feel this difference.) As a result, when a string is driven from side to side by the action of the bow, the bridge tends to pivot about the treble foot, highlighted in yellow in the sketch at right. The bass foot moves up and down a little, moving part of the belly with it.
The position of the soundpost (which at low frequencies is the pivot for the motion of the bridge) is critical to the sound of the instrument. Makers will sometimes move it slightly to change the response of the instrument. Small changes can have a noticeable effect.
Under the belly on the bass foot side of the bridge is the bass bar. It extends beyond the f-holes and thus transmits the motion of the bridge over a large area of the belly.
Cross section at the bridge, seen from the tailpiece end. At low frequencies, the bridge oscillation approximates rotation around a point near the treble foot.
The body
The body: the front and back plates, the sides and the air inside - all serve to transmit the vibration of the bridge into vibration of the air around the instrument. For this, the violin needs a relatively large surface area so that it can push a reasonable amount of air backwards and forwards. The most important part is the belly.
The belly or top plate. The belly and back plates are made so that they can easily vibrate up and down. The plates have a number of resonances: ie there are certain frequencies at which they vibrate most easily.
These are identified by luthiers and scientists using Chladni patterns . To make the graph at right, isolated bellies were driven mechanically at the position of the bass foot of the bridge, and the acceleration was measured. The graph gives the ratio for force to acceleration. If we were vibrating a small mass m, the ratio would be that mass, independent of frequency. However, the resonant behaviour of the plate appears here: the acceleration produced by a given force is a strong function of frequency. On this graph, each major resonance is indicated by an inset photograph of its Chladni pattern.
The two curves here are for the bellies of two rather similar violins.
When the violin is assembled, the resonances are more complicated. However, the resonances are very important in transmitting the varying force exerted at the foot of the bridge into radiated sound.
The complete instrument
The graph at right shows the acoustic efficiency of two complete violins. This is the ratio of the sound pressure produced (recorded by a microphone near the f hole) to force applied (electromagnetically at the bridge). The two curves are for the violins made from the top plates whose properties are shown above. (The measurements were made by Ra Inta, PhD student in Music Acoustics, as part of the study on how violins change with playing and environmental changes over time .)
The air inside and the Helmholtz resonance
The air inside the body is also important, especially for the low range on the instrument. It can vibrate a little like the air in a bottle when you blow across the top. In fact if you sing a note near D4 close to the violin, and then hold your ear close to the f-holes, you may hear the air in the body resonating. This is called the Helmholtz resonance . You can see the effect of this resonance at around 300 Hz in these two curves.
Resonances increase the sound output over some frequency ranges
Of both the violin and the guitar, we might say that the lowest resonance (associated with the Helmholtz resonance) falls near the pitch of the second lowest string, and the lowest body mode falls near the pitch of the third lowest. Together theseincrease the sound radiation at fundamentals of several of the notes in the low range of the instrument. Further body resonances are distributed at higher frequencies. These improve radiation of the fundamentals of higher notes, and to harmonics of lower notes.
Where does the sound energy come from?
We have mentioned the importance of resonances in increasing the sound output of the instrument. It is worth making it clear that the body doesn't amplify the sound in the technical sense of the word amplify. An electronic amplifier takes a signal with small power and, using electrical power from the mains, turns it into a more powerful signal. In the violin, all of the sound energy that is produced by the body originally comes from energy put into the string by the bow. The purpose of the body is to make that conversion process more efficient. In an electric guitar, very little of the energy of the plucked string is converted to sound. The body of an acoustic guitar or violin is more efficient at converting some of that energy into sound.
Timbre vibrato
An interesting, very important and almost characteristic feature of the sound of members of the violin family is timbre vibrato, which is largely due to the acoustic response of the body. We see at right that the ratio of the sound pressure to the force that the string exerts on the bridge is a very strong function of frequency, because of the many resonances in the body. (This may seem strange to someone with a background in hifi, where the aim is to produce apparatus with negligible dependence on frequency!). When one plays a note with a particular frequency, some but not all of the hamonics coincide with resonances and so are strongly transmitted in the output sound, while others are weaker.
Now consider what happens when the player rocks backwards and forwards the finger that is stopping the string. This produces a pitch vibrato: the pitch of note varies regularly up and down. As it does so, the harmonics of the note also vary up and down in frequency, and so they may move from a strong transmission (due to a resonance) to weak transmission, or vice versa. This means that the spectrum of the output note varies strongly during the vibrato. Perceptually, this makes the sound much more interesting. It is one of the two most important features that help us identify the sound of a violin. (The other is the way in which a bowed note begins.) The key paper on timbre vibrato is by J. Meyer: "On the Tonal Effect of String Vibrato", Acustica, 76� 283-291 (1992).
To get an idea of why vibrato is so important to the violin, ask a violinist to play a long soft note on an open string, or two notes simultaneously on two adjacent open strings. On the open string, it will have no vibrato. Now close your eyes? Can you imagine that it is an organ playing? Each time the bow changes direction you can tell that it is a violin, but during sustained, steady bowing it is much less clear. Now ask the violinist to play the same single note, or a double-stopped fifth, on different strings, and to play normally. How important is the difference?
We demonstrate this with soundfiles, waveforms and spectra on the page Articulation and vibrato on the violin .
Bowing
The use of the bow is also very important to the violin sound. First, it allows the production of a sustained note, whose loudness can be held nearly constant or, at the performer's choice, varied over time (musicans say 'shaping the note'). There is another important difference between plucking and bowing. A plucked string very quickly loses its high harmonics and, after a few seconds, nearly all of the remaining energy in the string is in its fundamental. Bowing inputs energy continuously to the string and thereby maintains the power in the high harmonics. See Bows and strings .
The bow can be used in a variety of different ways to produce different articulations and sound effects. Some of these are demonstrated with sound files, wave forms and spectra on Articulation and vibrato on the violin .
For more information, see
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What would a cartographer make? | What does a Cartographer do?
What does a Cartographer do?
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A cartographer is someone who will measure, analyze, and interpret geographical information to create maps and charts for political, cultural and educational purposes. The first maps were manually constructed with brushes and parchment, dating back many centuries. From the 15th to the 17th century, during the Age of Exploration, cartographers used maps that had been passed down for centuries, to create new ones based on new surveying techniques and explorers' observations. Of course, the invention of the telescope, sextant and compass enabled increasing accuracy.
How to Become a Cartographer
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What does a Cartographer do?
Cartographers spend most of their time using computers while working in offices. They typically do fieldwork to collect and verify data used in creating maps.
A cartographer will also:
Collect and analyze geographical data, such as population density, demographic characteristics, and annual precipitation patterns
Examine and compile data from ground surveys, reports, aerial photographs, and satellite images to prepare thematic maps
Prepare thematic maps in digital or graphic form to be used for social, environmental, political, business, educational, and design purposes
Revise existing maps and charts to make corrections, adjustments, and updates
Cartographers use information from geodetic surveys and remote sensing systems, including aerial cameras, satellites, and technologies such as light-imaging detection and ranging (LIDAR). LIDAR uses lasers attached to planes and other equipment to digitally map the topography of the earth. LIDAR is often more accurate than traditional surveying methods and also can be used to collect other forms of data, such as the location and density of forest canopies. Data from LIDAR is used to provide spatial information to specialists in water resource engineering, geology, seismology, forestry, construction, and other fields.
A cartographic professional who creates maps using geographic information system (GIS) technology is known as a geographic information specialist. A GIS is typically used to assemble, integrate, analyze, and display spatial information in a digital format. Maps created with GIS technology link spatial graphic features with non-graphic information. These maps are useful for providing support for decisions involving environmental studies, geology, engineering, land-use planning, and business marketing.
A cartographer will also work from existing maps, surveys, and other records. To do so, they must be able to determine thematic and positional accuracy of each feature being mapped. They must make decisions about the accuracy and reliability of the final map. In addition, they must decide what further information they need to meet the client's needs. They must focus on details when including features needed on a final map, and must be able to identify and resolve issues with the tools available to them.
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How to Become a Cartographer
High school students interested in becoming a cartographer should take courses in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, drafting, mechanical drawing, and computer science. A cartographer will usually have a bachelor's degree in cartography, geography, geomatics, surveying, engineering, forestry, computer science, or a physical science. (Geomatics combines the science, engineering, mathematics, and art of collecting and managing geographically referenced information.) However, some come into this occupation after working as surveying and mapping technicians.
With the development of GIS technology, cartographers need more education and stronger technical skills, including more experience with computers, than they did in the past. Cartographers must also be adept at web-based mapping technologies including newer modes of compiling data that incorporate the positioning capabilities of mobile phones and in-car navigation systems.
What is the workplace of a Cartographer like?
Cartographers spend much of their time in offices using computers with large monitors, so they can easily study and extract information from aerial photographs and other sources. However, certain jobs require extensive fieldwork to acquire data and verify results. They typically do fieldwork to collect and verify data used in creating maps.
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According to the saying what is paved with good intentions? | Cartographer
Cartographer
Cartographers collect information about the geography of an area to design and produce maps, charts and pictures.
Salary: £18,000 to £45,000 average per year
Hours: 37 per week
You’ll usually need a degree in a related subject, like:
earth sciences
topographic science
land surveying
Employers may also accept degrees in other subjects like computer science, software engineering, or graphic design.
An MSc may help you find work in a specialist field of cartography like GIS.
You may also be able to get into this role by starting out as a trainee technician and working your way up.
If you want to work as a cartographer in the armed forces, you can apply to the British army as a geographic technician, or the Royal Air Force as an air cartographer.
The British Cartographic Society and Ordnance Survey have more information on internships, graduate schemes and becoming a cartographer.
2. Skills required
excellent IT and maths skills
design skills
the ability to analyse information from different sources
a logical approach
a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
3. What you'll do
You’ll work on different kinds of maps, like:
climate maps
satellite navigation or satnav maps
tourist maps
Your day-to-day duties might include:
using desktop publishing and specialist computer software
designing digital or paper based maps
checking maps and charts are accurate and to scale
editing maps, adding and removing new roads, structures or landmarks
collecting and analysing data from remote sensors on satellites and planes
using GIS to model and analyse landscape features
plotting the heights and positions of geographical features from aerial photographs
carrying out topographic surveys of the land and hydrographic surveys of the sea and coastal areas
4. Salary
If you’re freelance, you’ll set your own rates.
These figures are a guide.
5. Working hours, patterns and environment
You’ll usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You may have to work longer to meet deadlines for publication, or when finishing a project.
You’ll usually be based in an office and spend most of your time working with computers.
6. Career path and progression
With experience you could become a senior cartographer and manage mapping projects and staff.
If you specialise in working with GIS, you could apply for Chartered Geographer (GIS) status .
You could also work on a freelance basis, but you’ll need your own mapping equipment.
Last updated: 13 December 2016
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Which World War II commander had the Christian name Erwin? | Erwin Rommel | World War II Database
World War II Database
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseErwin Johannes Eugen Rommel was born in Heidenheim near Ulm in the Duchy of Swabia in the Kingdom of W�ttemberg in southwestern Germany. His father, Erwin Rommel, Sr., was a school master; his mother, Helene von Luz, was the daughter of a local government official. He was the second of four children. The Rommel family had no connection to the military; on top of that, Rommel was pale and often sick as a child, thus no one expected Rommel to become a soldier. His interest was in engineering. At the age of 14, he and a friend built a full-scale box glider; though it only barely flew, one must keep in mind that this was 1906, the first year of powered flight in Europe. In 1907, he enrolled in the local school Realgymnasium. Urged by his father, he joined the army. On 19 Jul 1910, at the rank of Fahnenjunker (officer candidate), he became a member of the Infanterie-Regiment K�nig Wilhelm I (6. W�ttembergisches) Nr. 124 (or, in English, 124th Infantry Regiment of the W�ttemberg Army) based in Weingarten. In Mar 1911, he enrolled in the Royal Officer Cadet School in Danzig, completing the studies on 15 Nov. In Mar 1914, he was posted to the 4. Batterie of Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 49 (4th Battery of the 49th Artillery Regiment).
ww2dbaseDuring WW1, Rommel first served two years in France. In Sep 1914, while facing three French soldiers alone with an empty rifle, he was wounded by a ricocheting rifle bullet in the left thigh; his actions during this engagement won him the Iron Cross Second Class. In Jan 1915, "he crawled with his riflemen through 100 yards of barbed wire into the main French positions, captured four bunkers, held them against a counterattack by a French battalion and then withdrew before a new attack could develop"; for that action, he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, and was the first man at the rank of Leutnant to receive this medal. He was injured by shrapnel in one shin in Jul 1915. After recovery, he was posted as the company commander in the mountain infantry battalion W�rttembergisches Gebirgs-Bataillon. Theodor Werner, a comrade of 1915, recalled Rommel as "slightly built, almost schoolboyish, inspired by a holy zeal, always eager and anxious to act.... [E]verybody was inspired by his initiative, his courage, his dazzling acts of gallantry." With this unit he served in France and Romania until he was injured again in Aug 1917 with a bullet wound to his arm. Upon recovery, he was transferred to Italy, and it was really his time in Italy that transformed him into a great leader. He constantly inspired his men to put forth their best efforts, whether it was to trek through thick fresh snow with full load of equipment on their backs, or it was scaling cliff faces that daunted even the most skilled mountaineer. It was this ability to inspire that allowed him to achieve spectacular victories against the Italians, surprising the enemy from the rear and crushing them even with a smaller force. For example, in Nov 1917 at Longarone, a town in northern Italy that represented the key of the entire Italian mountain defense system in the region, his smaller force braved the raging Piave River and set up a trap that captured 8,000 Italian soldiers in one day. For his achievements including Longarone, he was awarded the Pour le M�rite, the highest Prussian military honor, by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
ww2dbaseWhile on leave briefly during the war, Rommel visited Danzig in Nov 1916 and married Lucia Maria Mollin whom he had met during his years in the Royal Officer Cadet School. He would grow to become emotionally dependent on his strong wife. "It was wonderful to see how much Erwin fussed around her," recalled a friend of Lucie's. He would write her every chance he got when he was away, including during WW2. The letters would later become valuable research material for Rommel biographers and WW2 historians. The couple produced one son, Manfred Rommel, on 24 Dec 1928; Manfred Rommel later became the mayor of the city of Stuttgart between 1974 and 1996.
ww2dbaseAfter WW1, Rommel remained in the small German military. On 1 Oct 1929, upon his battalion commander's recommendation, he was posted to the Infantry School in Dresden as a junior instructor training lieutenants. "I want to teach them first how to save lives.... Shed sweat, not blood." He was a popular instructor to the students, who filled his lectures to get a glimpse of Rommel's gallantry during WW1, who was by no means shy to recite them over and over again to the point that the stories were much romanticized. "He is a towering personality even in a milieu of hand-picked officers.... A genuine leader, inspiring and arousing cheerful confidence in others.... Respected by his colleagues, worshipped by his cadets", wrote the school commandant in Sep 1931. In Oct 1933, he was posted to a battalion command in Goslar, Germany in the Hartz mountains. While at this position, the up-to-now non-political Rommel met Adolf Hitler on 30 Sep 1934. With Hitler's promise for military glory, he, like so many officers, became a stern Nazi supporter. In Oct 1934, Rommel was posted to the Infantry School in Potsdam as an instructor. He was a non-traditional instructor. While the other instructors pushed military theories on the students, Rommel placed more value on the students' own analysis. A student recalled Rommel asking "[n]evermind what [Carl von] Clausewitz thought, what do you think?"
ww2dbaseIn Sep 1936, Rommel was posted to be one of Hitler's escorts for the Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg. One day Hitler decided to go for a drive, and casually mentioned that no more than six cars should follow him. Rommel counted the number of cars after Hitler, and stopped the rest. The high ranking party leaders who were stopped were furious at the young colonel who dared to stop them. Upon receiving complaints from party leaders that evening, Hitler sent for Rommel and personally congratulated him for his job well done.
ww2dbaseIn early 1937, Rommel published a book on infantry tactics titled Infanterie greift an; a copy of the book found its way to Adolf Hitler's desk, and the writing highly impressed him. He made handsome amounts of money from the sale of the book, but in order to avoid paying taxes, he told his publisher to pay him only 15,000 Reichsmarks per year, keeping the rest in a bank account, gathering interest. Whether this was tax evasion was not really a topic of investigations, for that he was becoming closer and closer to Hitler. In Feb 1937, he became the army's liaison to the Hitler Youth; Rommel clashed with Hitler Youth's chief Baldur von Schirach and did not particularly enjoy this post.
ww2dbaseIn Oct 1938, Rommel was the commander of Hitler's personal guards during the German leader's tour of newly annexed Sudetenland (from Czechoslovakia). Twice during Mar 1939, to Prague and then to Memel, Hitler sent for him to command his mobile headquarters. Being exposed to Hitler so regularly turned Rommel into the grasp of Nazism. "While many of his brother officers still hesitated to commit themselves to the Nazi philosophy, Rommel's conversion was undoubtedly complete. Even in private postcards to his friends, he now signed off: "Heil Hitler! Yours, E. Rommel". In Dec 1938, he made the note that "[t]oday's soldier must be political, Because he must always be ready to fight for our new policies". On 25 Aug 1939, he was promoted to the rank of general, and Hitler ordered that the promotion was to be back dated to 1 Jun 1939. Hitler had also begun to confide in Rommel. "I'm together with [Hitler] very often, even in the most intimate discussions", wrote Rommel in a letter to Lucie. "It means so much to me that he confides in me -- far more than being promoted to general." As Polish men were gathered and sent into camps, Rommel brushed off the observations, convinced that they must be guerilla fighters and other prisoners of war. He was so convinced that Hitler was so perfect that it did not occur to him that cruel fates awaited these men. It all began with his belief in the Prussian military tradition. "Soldiers are worth something again", he wrote Lucie happily and innocently in Sep 1939. In Oct 1939, Rommel suggested that he would like to gain field command. The army offered a mountain division, thinking of his infantry instructor experience and his time commanding mountain troops during the inter-war years. Rommel turned it down. He wanted an armor division. With Hitler's influence, he got the Seventh Panzer Division on 10 Oct.
ww2dbaseOn 12 Feb 1940, Rommel became the commanding officer of the German 7th Panzer Division, which was his first field command; he would become the only divisional commander during the invasion of France and the Low Countries who had no experience during the invasion of Poland. When he first took over the division, he was disappointed to see many of his subordinate officers preferring the "easy life" while some others were described as "floppy". One of his first tasks he embarked upon was to shape these officers so that "they were capable at all times of achieving what I demanded of them." The invasion of France and the Low Countries commenced on 10 May 1940. In Belgium, and then in France, his tanks pushed forward brashly, ignoring risk of enemy counterattacks from the rear because the shock of his rapid advances crushed enemy morale which made calculated counterattacks impossible. Some commanders criticized his carelessness which at times cut off communications between his armor and the main army. In a later writing, Rommel explained that he had acted not carelessly; rather, his bold actions were only committed after careful considerations.
It is my experience that bold decisions give the best promise of success. But one must differentiate between [strategic] and tactical boldness and a military gamble. A bold operation is one in which success is not a certainty but which in case of failure leaves one with sufficient forces in hand to cope with whatever situation may arise. A gamble, on the other hand, is an operation which can lead either to victory or to the complete destruction of one's force. Situations can arise where even gamble may be justified - as, for instance, when in the normal course of events defeat is merely a matter of time, when the gaining of time is therefore pointless and the only chance lies in an operation of great risk.
ww2dbaseDuring the campaign in the Low Countries and France, Rommel's command vehicle was a modified Panzer III tank, and this vehicle was often seen on the front lines; at times, he would also ride with Colonel Karl Rothenburg in a Panzer IV tank, or fly high above in a Storch observation aircraft. Whatever the means of transportation was, he always wanted to be close to the front lines so that he could appraise the situation. On 14 May, his troops reached the Meuse River, but halted while waiting for the engineers to set up a pontoon bridge. Being close to the front lines, Rommel immediately reached the area and personally led a number of tanks to cross the river on ferries to keep up the offensive momentum; his colleague Heinz Guderian, on the other hand, waited, thus giving French troops before him some time to re-organize.
ww2dbaseOn 27 May 1940, at the end of a routine conference with armor commanders, his aid Karl Hanke appeared unexpectedly, announcing "[o]n the F�hrer's orders I herewith bestow on Herr General the Knight's Cross", making him the first divisional commander to be awarded the Knight's Cross in France. His connections with the Nazi Party in Munich and Berlin probably had much to do with the award, but none could argue against his successes. On that same night of the award, he pushed forward toward Lille, one of the biggest French industrial centers. "Mount up! Start Engines! Advance!" He ordered his armor while other armor commanders were just settling down to get a few hours' sleep. The surprise night attack frustrated the the French and British retreat toward Dunkirk, but it also brought his units in the direct path of German artillery shells which had no idea his armor had already made so much progress; he had no choice but to pull back slightly and let his men rest until the morning. On the next day, he took Lille, earning him a few days' rest. By 5 Jun, he crossed the Somme using two bridges the French had failed to demolish. From there, his armor traveled in a box formation across the French countryside, trampling everything in their path, moving 40 to 50 miles a day. At Thieulloy, he captured a British supply convoy full of chocolate and canned fruit, showing the British were not ready for the Germans to advance so quickly. At Elbeuf, a French woman waved to Rommel, convinced any foreign men this far behind the battle front must be British. By 10 Jun, his units reached the English Channel near Dieppe, the first Germas to do so. On the next day, he surrounded thousands of British and French troops waiting to be evacuated at Saint-Val�ry, which surrendered after a terrifying artilery and dive bombing attack. After four days of rest, Rommel started to move again. On 16 Jun his troops crossed the Seine, and on 18 Jun he pushed 220 miles to captured Cherbourg, a major French port city with a garrison 20 times larger than Rommel's numbers. The capture of Cherbourg ended the campaign for Rommel. By this time, he was credited with the capture of 97,000 prisoners of war at the cost of 42 armor and crew.
ww2dbaseRommel's methods were questionable at times however. For example, the German 32nd Division, on Rommel's left flank in France, complained that Rommel had used up not only his own bridging tackle on the first day, but also helped himself to use the 32nd's, which delayed the 32nd Division's timetable. Being a favored commander of Nazi political officers gave him the immunity from much criticism. Some of his peers also complained that Rommel did things his own way and completely disregarded the other divisions. For example, at least one occasion, he commandeered bridging resources originally meant to go to a nearby division which had requested first. When units of the neighboring division arrived to use the bridge that now set up for the 7th Panzer Division instead of their own, Rommel freely commandeered these units' men and equipment as well for his own offensive. Needless to say, as Rommel established his fame as an able commander, he made many opponents as well among his peers.
ww2dbaseIn one of his later papers on the campaign in France, he wrote the following that provided some insight into his mindset when he pushed his troops forward at such a great pace. "The sole criterion for a commander in carrying out a given operation must be the time he is allowed for it, and he must use all his powers of execution to fulfill the task within that time." He also wrote "[t]he officers of a Panzer Division must learn to think and act independently within the framework of a general plan and not wait until they receive orders", again stressing the importance on rapid movement during offensive operations.
ww2dbaseIn Feb 1941, Rommel was selected by Hitler to lead the German forces in North Africa. He arrived there on 12 Feb, witnessing a full retreat of the Italian forces toward Tripoli. with his usual willingness to see the front line situations for himself, he jumped into a Heinkel bomber and took off immediately for an observation run. His troops arrived two days later, on 14 Feb. Several days later, his troops staged a parade at Tripoli. To falsify the numbers to the lower ranks in order to boost morale and to any British spy that could be observing, he ordered his armor to circle the block several times. "We've got to keep the enemy guessing about our strength - that is, about our weakness - until the rest of the Fifth Light Division gets here", he said. Meanwhile, to trick British air reconnaissance, he ordered his men to construct fake armor. Some of the fake armor were built atop Volkswagen cars that moved around every so often, while others were stationary wooden ones. Intercepted British messages revealed British warnings of presence of German medium armor, which meant the fake armor had worked.
ww2dbaseOnce Rommel received adequate equipment, he attacked aggressively, driving the British 8th Army out of Libya and attempted to venture into Egypt. At El Alamein, his aura of invincibility was finally lifted as his supply lines stretched too far. When the Americans landed in North Africa, he turned his attention west, realizing that if the newly arrived troops had the opportunity to meet with the British in his east, the German army would face an even greater challenge. He left the North African theater to meet with Hitler in Berlin on the issues in the theater, and as events would turn out, he would never return to North Africa again.
ww2dbaseRommel's successes in North Africa were respected by friend and foe alike. British general Harold Alexander commented that Rommel "was a very chivalrous enemy", and Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower also held Rommel's capabilities in the utmost regard. American general George Patton, with his colorful and usual expression, symbollically yelled at the German commander, "Rommel, you magnificent bastard! I read your book!", perhaps commenting on the impressive works on military maneuvers that Rommel had published. It was in North Africa that Rommel, nicknamed the Desert Fox, made himself known as an extremely capable and innovative leader.
ww2dbaseAfter North Africa, Rommel served briefly in Italy before returning to France to strengthen the coastal defenses there. He was convinced that if the western Allies launched an attack on continental Europe, the Allies must not be given the chance to gain secure footing, otherwise all would be lost. He prepared armor units miles from the beaches, prepared to counterattack any landing attempts on the French coast without risking exposing tanks in transit to Allied air power. His deployment strategy for his tanks fell in line with his belief that air power was the key to winning a modern war. "The future battle on the ground will be preceded by battle in the air", he said. "This will determine which of the contestants has to suffer operational and tactical disadvantages and be forced throughout the battle into adoption compromise solutions."
ww2dbaseEarly 1944, Rommel was approached to participate in the July Plot to assassinate Hitler. It is popularly believed by historians today that Rommel had refused due to his loyalty, but the exact facts are still unknown.
ww2dbaseAfter the western Allies launched the Normandy landings in Jun 1944, Rommel was out of the area and unable to get a clear picture of the situation, and then Hitler hesitated to approve a counterattack by armor until it was too late. Rommel's nightmare came true over the next six weeks as the Allied beachhead strengthened. On 15 Jul, he communicated to Hitler that Germany should seriously consider ending the war on favorable terms when it was still possible; for whatever reason, this letter was delayed in its delivery. When it reached Hitler, it was more than five days later, and the conspirators of the July Plot had made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hitler. The letter that was brutally honest suddenly carried a traitorous tone. It was soon discovered that Rommel had previously been approached by some of the members of the inner circle who planned the July Plot. While the fiercely loyal Rommel was unlikely to have approved an attempt on Hitler's life (and he might not be informed of such a plan), it was unknown whether Rommel agreed with those who contacted him regarding assuming a leadership role in post-war Germany. Most people understand fairly well that only a small handful of people were respected by Germans and Allies alike, and Rommel topped that list. This characteristic, in the post-July Plot atmosphere, became a threat to Hitler, and Gestapo findings that Rommel was linked to some of the plotters only made Rommel's position worse.
ww2dbaseBetween Jul and Oct 1944, Rommel largely remained inactive, recovering from head injuries sustained when his car was attacked by Allied aircraft on 17 Jul 1944. He wrote several papers during this time, one of which discussed his vision for the model officer of the modern German Army:
The tactical leader of the future, who will decide the battle - for the main emphasis of future battles will be on the tactical destruction of the enemy's fighting power - will need not only mental gifts of a high order, but also great strength of character if he is to be a match for his task. Because of the great variety of tactical possibilities which motorization offers it will in the future be impossible to make more than a rough forecast of the course of a battle. This being so, the issue will be decided by flexibility of mind, eager acceptance of responsibility, fitting mixture of caution and audacity, and the greater control over the fighting troops.
ww2dbaseIn Oct 1944, while at home, Rommel received a phone call from Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel in Berlin, asking him to report in person in regards to his next assignment. Rommel was unsure whether he was indeed to receive a new command possibly on the Eastern Front, or if he was destined to be turned over to the Gestapo; even if Keitel had no hidden agenda, traveling to Berlin might be an one-way trip, delivering himself to Nazi agents who might suspect him to be a plotter. Refusing to go to Berlin, using his health condition as an excuse, Keitel agreed that he would send Generals Wilhelm Burgdorf and Ernst Maisel to Rommel's home in southern Germany with details of his next assignment. Rommel knew them as officers in the staff department, and thought perhaps they would indeed bring news of a new position rather than questions regarding the assassination attempt.
ww2dbaseBurgdorf and Maisel arrived at Rommel's home on 14 Oct 1944, and Rommel brought them to his study. On this day, Rommel chose to wear his desert uniform. Burgdorf, who did most of the talking as Maisel acted mainly as a witness only, revealed what Rommel had feared: Rommel had been implicated in the July Plot, and was given a choice to face the People's Court or commit suicide. Burgdorf promised that, should he choose the latter, he would be given a state funeral and praised as a hero, while his wife Lucia and son Manfred would be protected. Knowing that he had little chance of success with the People's Court, and knowing that family members of those convicted by the People's Court often suffered as well, Rommel immediately knew he really only had one choice. Dismissing Maisel, Burgdorf secretly produced a cyanide capsule for Rommel, promising that it would kill him within seconds, thus sparing him of unnecessary suffering.
ww2dbaseHaving already made up his mind, Rommel exited from the study and went upstairs to see his wife, telling her his decision to take his own life. A few minutes later, Rommel revealed the plan to his son Manfred, who initially suggested that they could shoot Burgdorf, Maisel, and their SS driver Heinrich Doose and then make an escape, but Rommel would have none of it, citing that the home was most like surrounded at a distance and the murder of these men would only make matters worse. With his field marshal's baton under his arm and his son Manfred beside him, he walked out into the garden and cooperatively entered the backseat of the car. Manfred Rommel recalled that his father never looked back as the car drove away. Rommel was driven a few miles onto a side road. When the car came to a stop, Burgdorf dismissed Maisel and Doose, and Rommel knew it was time to bite the cyanide capsule. Burgdorf waved Maisel and Doose back about five minutes later. Doose noticed that Rommel's cap had fallen; crying, he picked it up and placed on the field marshal's head. Lucia was informed of the death about ten minutes later.
ww2dbaseRommel's body was driven to a nearby hospital for a doctor to certify a time of death. The doctor immediately knew that the cause of death was unnatural, and recommended an autopsy, a suggestion that was rejected by Burgdorf. The German government announced Rommel's death as caused by aneurysm in the brain. A personal correspondence from Keitel to Keitel's wife dated 24 Oct 1944 noted that "Rommel has died after all from the multiple skull injuries he received on a car journey, through a blood-clot." Only later in Keitel's memoirs written in 1945 had he admitted in knowing the truth about Rommel's death. Keitel explained that orders were given to prevent Rommel from shooting himself; instead, poison was offered so that the cause of death could be attributed to injuries suffered in an accident. Rommel was buried as a national hero, receiving a state funeral with full military honors. Lucia received full pensions of a field marshal.
ww2dbaseSources:
Pier Paolo Battistelli, Erwin Rommel
Terry Brighton. Patton, Montgomery, Rommel
Walter G�rlitz, In the Service of the Reich
David Irving. The Trail of the Fox
Famous Quote(s)
"The battle is going very heavily against us. We're being crushed by the enemy weight. We are facing very difficult days, perhaps the most difficult that a man can undergo."
» 3 Nov 1942
"The enemy must be annihilated before he reaches our main battlefield. We must stop him in the water, destroying all his equipment while it is still afloat!"
» 22 Apr 1944
Alan Chanter says:
29 Sep 2007 02:52:30 AM
Men are basically smart or dumb and lazy or ambitious. The dumb and ambitious ones are dangerous and I get rid of them. The dumb and lazy ones I give mundane duties. The smart ambitious ones I put on my staff. The smart and lazy ones I make my commanders. (Erwin Rommel)
2. HARSHAD DAVE says:
8 Sep 2008 12:04:16 AM
There are such dynamic and good persons in this world who commits such mistake that Erwin Rommel did. To be dynamic is a potential... a God-given gift to the person. But to have the control to use the dynamic potential for the wise & good cause, behind the justified person/social-body is the moral duty of the dynamic person. FM Erwin Rommel became too late to realize this.
Harshad Dave.
Bill says:
16 Feb 2009 03:45:29 PM
Erwin Rommel will forever be connected with the Afrika Corps. He was after all " The Desert Fox". When I was stationed in W. Germany during the 60's I was able to talk with a man, who served in the Afrika Corps. and like my late Uncle, he would say with pride " I served with Rommel"
4. Anonymous says:
27 Feb 2009 07:42:32 AM
Rommel was key to win the vast oil resources in the middle east and africa, that would have give Germany the much needed economic power to boost its wealth production machine. A network of several german cities foundations would have follow to secure properly this new logistic position. Too bad Hitler didnt have a prudent vision of this strategy.
5.
BILL says:
6 May 2009 12:29:47 PM
Lili Marlene was a wartime favorite song, of both allied and axis soldiers. Joseph Goebbels banned the song for not being Military enough, but Field Marshal Erwin Rommel requested Radio Belgrade to play Lili Marlene every night for his Africa Korps.
6.
BILL says:
10 Jun 2009 06:41:16 PM
"We have a very daring and skillful opponet against us. And may I say across the havoc of war, a great general". Commenting on Rommel
-Winston Churchill-
22 Jun 2009 08:27:59 AM
"Don't fight a battle if you don't gain
anything by winning."
-Erwin Rommel, In his book
"Infanterie greift An", 1937
"I would be rather more happy had he given
me one more division."
Comment after receiving the rank of
Field Marshal from Hitler, 1942
8.
30 Mar 2010 06:18:18 PM
Added information to # 5 May 6, 2009
The famous wartime tune "LILI MARLENE" was
composed by Norbert Schultz in twenty minutes
in 1938.
Lili Marlene was popular with both Allied and
German troops. Sung by Lale Anderson, a little known German singer and forgotten until 1941.
Did you know: that Fraeulein Anderson spent
time in prison, because she was overheard saying " All I want is to get out of this horrible country ".
9. Anonymous says:
19 Apr 2010 03:30:21 PM
i believe that Rommel was given his wonderful ability from God its a shame he died like that
10.
15 Jun 2010 11:26:11 AM
Did you know...
The Afrika Korps was not made up from elite units, within the German army, they were
regular troops, shipped to Afrika in 1941 to help out the Italians.
Although it suffered heavy losses, it fought
on until the surrender in North Africa in
May 1943.
Erwin Rommel and the Afrika Korps are forever
linked together.
When I was stationed in West Germany from
Nov 1966 to Sept 1967 during a conversation with one of the German worker's, he told me
he was a Veteran of the Afrika Korps he showed me his only photograph of himself, he was drafted and assigned to a supply unit taking care of the horses, getting tired of shoveling horse poop, he saw on the unit
bulletin board volunteers needed for Afrika.
He was wounded and captured by the Tommies (British) and thats how he survived WWII. Sounds similar to what I did, to get out of
West Germany, volunteer for Vietnam, but
thats another story.
27 Aug 2010 12:11:38 PM
Lili Marlene has become a legend of WWII, it
was one of the top hits of World War II.
Evernight radio belgrade would play the song
it became a anthem of both Axis and Allied
forces.
Joseph Goebbels the propagenda minister for
the National-Socialist party didn't like it, and banned the song in Germany (Just think what he would have done to Rock'N'Roll).
But its did nothing to stop its popularity.
Field Marshall Rommel even requested
"Lili Marlene" to be played for his Afrika Korps.
THE LYRICS:
Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate,
Darling I remember the way you used to wait,
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly'
That you loved me, you'll always be,
My Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene
Time would come for roll call,time for us to part, Darling I'd caress you and press you
to my heart,
And there 'neath that far off lantern light,
I'd hold you tight,we'd kiss "good-night",
My Lili of the limplight,My own Lili Marlene
Orders came for sailing somewhere over there,
All confined to barracks was more than I
could bear,I knew you were waiting in the
street,I heard your feet, but we could not
meet.
My Lili of the lamplight,My own Lili Marlene
When we are marching in the mud and cold,
And when my pack seems more than I could hold
My love for you renews my might,
I'm warm again, my pack is light,
For Werner and all the Veterans of WWII.
13. Mattlan says:
11 Feb 2011 06:45:04 AM
My Grandfather (Flt Lt Vernon A Lancaster RAAF 453) has log book evidence that he fired on the convoy of Rommell and gave him his injuries. Although he is in his early 90's he is sharp as a tack and it takes a bit of prodding but once you get him talking about his exploits in a Spitfire it is awesome!
14. Anonymous says:
10 Sep 2011 09:33:52 AM
i have pics of his capture and wanted to find out what they are worth
15. Anonymous says:
11 Jan 2012 04:37:57 PM
rommels car was strafed by a canadian pilot in a Spitfire.
Rommel sustained a serious head injury after his staff car crashed into a tree.
http://www.spitcrazy.com/rommelunderattackfull.htm
16. Juan Canela says:
2 Apr 2012 05:53:51 PM
I have no respect for the man, whoever he is or claims to be, who currently occupies our Whitehouse, however, as an American, a Korean veteran,and someone who has been around the block a few times, I have great respect for Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, the great German military genius, and a genuine human being.
17. John Cinnamond says:
3 Apr 2012 04:30:03 PM
I remember quite well at the age of six, the shocking radio news, that the **** had bombed Pearl Harbor. Now at age 78 chronological years, I have learned much, and had my War (Korea 52-53). As an American, a loyal patriot,and supporter of our Constitution, I must say that I have great respect and admiration for Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, far more respect that I could ever have for the current occupant of our Whitehouse, whoever he is,or claims to be, Barry Soetoro, or Hussein Obama II???
18. Anonymous says:
26 Sep 2012 07:15:19 AM
I have heard that Rommel played a dice game with leaders of troops to choose who would lead into battle. Does any one know if this is true and what the game was?
19. Joe Mastandrea says:
3 Mar 2013 01:23:13 PM
Can anyone tell me what kind of vehicle Erwin Rommell was in when he was wounded in 1944.
Thank you
Alan Chanter says:
23 May 2014 01:20:43 AM
Erwin Rommel was born at noon on November 15th, 1891, at Heidenheim, a small town in W�rtemburg, near Ulm. His father, also named Erwin, was a schoolmaster and the son of a schoolmaster. Both father and Grandfather were mathematricians of some distinction.
Herr Professor Rommel was much respected in Heidenheim. In 1886 he married Helena, the eldest daughter of Karl von Luz, the President of the Government of W�rtemburg and thereby a prominemt personage in the region. Helena bore the elder Erwin five children; a son, Manfred, who died young, a daughter, Helena, who remained a spinster throughout her life and followed in the family tradition by becoming a school teacher, Erwin Rommel himself and his younger brothers, Karl and Gerhardt. Karl would become almost cripppled after contracting malaria while serving as a pilot in Turkey during the 1914-18 War, and Gerhardt would abandon a career in agriculture to take up his passion to be an opera singer.
21. Alan Chanter says:
18 Mar 2016 08:22:11 AM
Desmond Young, in his biography of Rommel gives the date of Rommel's posting to the War Academy at Potsdam as October 15th, 1935. A year later than that stated in this article.
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ww2dbaseErwin Johannes Eugen Rommel was born in Heidenheim near Ulm in the Duchy of Swabia in the Kingdom of W�ttemberg in southwestern Germany. His father, Erwin Rommel, Sr., was a school master; his mother, Helene von Luz, was the daughter of a local government official. He was the second of four children. The Rommel family had no connection to the military; on top of that, Rommel was pale and often sick as a child, thus no one expected Rommel to become a soldier. His interest was in engineering. At the age of 14, he and a friend built a full-scale box glider; though it only barely flew, one must keep in mind that this was 1906, the first year of powered flight in Europe. In 1907, he enrolled in the local school Realgymnasium. Urged by his father, he joined the army. On 19 Jul 1910, at the rank of Fahnenjunker (officer candidate), he became a member of the Infanterie-Regiment K�nig Wilhelm I (6. W�ttembergisches) Nr. 124 (or, in English, 124th Infantry Regiment of the W�ttemberg Army) based in Weingarten. In Mar 1911, he enrolled in the Royal Officer Cadet School in Danzig, completing the studies on 15 Nov. In Mar 1914, he was posted to the 4. Batterie of Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 49 (4th Battery of the 49th Artillery Regiment).
ww2dbaseDuring WW1, Rommel first served two years in France. In Sep 1914, while facing three French soldiers alone with an empty rifle, he was wounded by a ricocheting rifle bullet in the left thigh; his actions during this engagement won him the Iron Cross Second Class. In Jan 1915, "he crawled with his riflemen through 100 yards of barbed wire into the main French positions, captured four bunkers, held them against a counterattack by a French battalion and then withdrew before a new attack could develop"; for that action, he was awarded the Iron Cross First Class, and was the first man at the rank of Leutnant to receive this medal. He was injured by shrapnel in one shin in Jul 1915. After recovery, he was posted as the company commander in the mountain infantry battalion W�rttembergisches Gebirgs-Bataillon. Theodor Werner, a comrade of 1915, recalled Rommel as "slightly built, almost schoolboyish, inspired by a holy zeal, always eager and anxious to act.... [E]verybody was inspired by his initiative, his courage, his dazzling acts of gallantry." With this unit he served in France and Romania until he was injured again in Aug 1917 with a bullet wound to his arm. Upon recovery, he was transferred to Italy, and it was really his time in Italy that transformed him into a great leader. He constantly inspired his men to put forth their best efforts, whether it was to trek through thick fresh snow with full load of equipment on their backs, or it was scaling cliff faces that daunted even the most skilled mountaineer. It was this ability to inspire that allowed him to achieve spectacular victories against the Italians, surprising the enemy from the rear and crushing them even with a smaller force. For example, in Nov 1917 at Longarone, a town in northern Italy that represented the key of the entire Italian mountain defense system in the region, his smaller force braved the raging Piave River and set up a trap that captured 8,000 Italian soldiers in one day. For his achievements including Longarone, he was awarded the Pour le M�rite, the highest Prussian military honor, by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
ww2dbaseWhile on leave briefly during the war, Rommel visited Danzig in Nov 1916 and married Lucia Maria Mollin whom he had met during his years in the Royal Officer Cadet School. He would grow to become emotionally dependent on his strong wife. "It was wonderful to see how much Erwin fussed around her," recalled a friend of Lucie's. He would write her every chance he got when he was away, including during WW2. The letters would later become valuable research material for Rommel biographers and WW2 historians. The couple produced one son, Manfred Rommel, on 24 Dec 1928; Manfred Rommel later became the mayor of the city of Stuttgart between 1974 and 1996.
ww2dbaseAfter WW1, Rommel remained in the small German military. On 1 Oct 1929, upon his battalion commander's recommendation, he was posted to the Infantry School in Dresden as a junior instructor training lieutenants. "I want to teach them first how to save lives.... Shed sweat, not blood." He was a popular instructor to the students, who filled his lectures to get a glimpse of Rommel's gallantry during WW1, who was by no means shy to recite them over and over again to the point that the stories were much romanticized. "He is a towering personality even in a milieu of hand-picked officers.... A genuine leader, inspiring and arousing cheerful confidence in others.... Respected by his colleagues, worshipped by his cadets", wrote the school commandant in Sep 1931. In Oct 1933, he was posted to a battalion command in Goslar, Germany in the Hartz mountains. While at this position, the up-to-now non-political Rommel met Adolf Hitler on 30 Sep 1934. With Hitler's promise for military glory, he, like so many officers, became a stern Nazi supporter. In Oct 1934, Rommel was posted to the Infantry School in Potsdam as an instructor. He was a non-traditional instructor. While the other instructors pushed military theories on the students, Rommel placed more value on the students' own analysis. A student recalled Rommel asking "[n]evermind what [Carl von] Clausewitz thought, what do you think?"
ww2dbaseIn Sep 1936, Rommel was posted to be one of Hitler's escorts for the Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg. One day Hitler decided to go for a drive, and casually mentioned that no more than six cars should follow him. Rommel counted the number of cars after Hitler, and stopped the rest. The high ranking party leaders who were stopped were furious at the young colonel who dared to stop them. Upon receiving complaints from party leaders that evening, Hitler sent for Rommel and personally congratulated him for his job well done.
ww2dbaseIn early 1937, Rommel published a book on infantry tactics titled Infanterie greift an; a copy of the book found its way to Adolf Hitler's desk, and the writing highly impressed him. He made handsome amounts of money from the sale of the book, but in order to avoid paying taxes, he told his publisher to pay him only 15,000 Reichsmarks per year, keeping the rest in a bank account, gathering interest. Whether this was tax evasion was not really a topic of investigations, for that he was becoming closer and closer to Hitler. In Feb 1937, he became the army's liaison to the Hitler Youth; Rommel clashed with Hitler Youth's chief Baldur von Schirach and did not particularly enjoy this post.
ww2dbaseIn Oct 1938, Rommel was the commander of Hitler's personal guards during the German leader's tour of newly annexed Sudetenland (from Czechoslovakia). Twice during Mar 1939, to Prague and then to Memel, Hitler sent for him to command his mobile headquarters. Being exposed to Hitler so regularly turned Rommel into the grasp of Nazism. "While many of his brother officers still hesitated to commit themselves to the Nazi philosophy, Rommel's conversion was undoubtedly complete. Even in private postcards to his friends, he now signed off: "Heil Hitler! Yours, E. Rommel". In Dec 1938, he made the note that "[t]oday's soldier must be political, Because he must always be ready to fight for our new policies". On 25 Aug 1939, he was promoted to the rank of general, and Hitler ordered that the promotion was to be back dated to 1 Jun 1939. Hitler had also begun to confide in Rommel. "I'm together with [Hitler] very often, even in the most intimate discussions", wrote Rommel in a letter to Lucie. "It means so much to me that he confides in me -- far more than being promoted to general." As Polish men were gathered and sent into camps, Rommel brushed off the observations, convinced that they must be guerilla fighters and other prisoners of war. He was so convinced that Hitler was so perfect that it did not occur to him that cruel fates awaited these men. It all began with his belief in the Prussian military tradition. "Soldiers are worth something again", he wrote Lucie happily and innocently in Sep 1939. In Oct 1939, Rommel suggested that he would like to gain field command. The army offered a mountain division, thinking of his infantry instructor experience and his time commanding mountain troops during the inter-war years. Rommel turned it down. He wanted an armor division. With Hitler's influence, he got the Seventh Panzer Division on 10 Oct.
ww2dbaseOn 12 Feb 1940, Rommel became the commanding officer of the German 7th Panzer Division, which was his first field command; he would become the only divisional commander during the invasion of France and the Low Countries who had no experience during the invasion of Poland. When he first took over the division, he was disappointed to see many of his subordinate officers preferring the "easy life" while some others were described as "floppy". One of his first tasks he embarked upon was to shape these officers so that "they were capable at all times of achieving what I demanded of them." The invasion of France and the Low Countries commenced on 10 May 1940. In Belgium, and then in France, his tanks pushed forward brashly, ignoring risk of enemy counterattacks from the rear because the shock of his rapid advances crushed enemy morale which made calculated counterattacks impossible. Some commanders criticized his carelessness which at times cut off communications between his armor and the main army. In a later writing, Rommel explained that he had acted not carelessly; rather, his bold actions were only committed after careful considerations.
It is my experience that bold decisions give the best promise of success. But one must differentiate between [strategic] and tactical boldness and a military gamble. A bold operation is one in which success is not a certainty but which in case of failure leaves one with sufficient forces in hand to cope with whatever situation may arise. A gamble, on the other hand, is an operation which can lead either to victory or to the complete destruction of one's force. Situations can arise where even gamble may be justified - as, for instance, when in the normal course of events defeat is merely a matter of time, when the gaining of time is therefore pointless and the only chance lies in an operation of great risk.
ww2dbaseDuring the campaign in the Low Countries and France, Rommel's command vehicle was a modified Panzer III tank, and this vehicle was often seen on the front lines; at times, he would also ride with Colonel Karl Rothenburg in a Panzer IV tank, or fly high above in a Storch observation aircraft. Whatever the means of transportation was, he always wanted to be close to the front lines so that he could appraise the situation. On 14 May, his troops reached the Meuse River, but halted while waiting for the engineers to set up a pontoon bridge. Being close to the front lines, Rommel immediately reached the area and personally led a number of tanks to cross the river on ferries to keep up the offensive momentum; his colleague Heinz Guderian, on the other hand, waited, thus giving French troops before him some time to re-organize.
ww2dbaseOn 27 May 1940, at the end of a routine conference with armor commanders, his aid Karl Hanke appeared unexpectedly, announcing "[o]n the F�hrer's orders I herewith bestow on Herr General the Knight's Cross", making him the first divisional commander to be awarded the Knight's Cross in France. His connections with the Nazi Party in Munich and Berlin probably had much to do with the award, but none could argue against his successes. On that same night of the award, he pushed forward toward Lille, one of the biggest French industrial centers. "Mount up! Start Engines! Advance!" He ordered his armor while other armor commanders were just settling down to get a few hours' sleep. The surprise night attack frustrated the the French and British retreat toward Dunkirk, but it also brought his units in the direct path of German artillery shells which had no idea his armor had already made so much progress; he had no choice but to pull back slightly and let his men rest until the morning. On the next day, he took Lille, earning him a few days' rest. By 5 Jun, he crossed the Somme using two bridges the French had failed to demolish. From there, his armor traveled in a box formation across the French countryside, trampling everything in their path, moving 40 to 50 miles a day. At Thieulloy, he captured a British supply convoy full of chocolate and canned fruit, showing the British were not ready for the Germans to advance so quickly. At Elbeuf, a French woman waved to Rommel, convinced any foreign men this far behind the battle front must be British. By 10 Jun, his units reached the English Channel near Dieppe, the first Germas to do so. On the next day, he surrounded thousands of British and French troops waiting to be evacuated at Saint-Val�ry, which surrendered after a terrifying artilery and dive bombing attack. After four days of rest, Rommel started to move again. On 16 Jun his troops crossed the Seine, and on 18 Jun he pushed 220 miles to captured Cherbourg, a major French port city with a garrison 20 times larger than Rommel's numbers. The capture of Cherbourg ended the campaign for Rommel. By this time, he was credited with the capture of 97,000 prisoners of war at the cost of 42 armor and crew.
ww2dbaseRommel's methods were questionable at times however. For example, the German 32nd Division, on Rommel's left flank in France, complained that Rommel had used up not only his own bridging tackle on the first day, but also helped himself to use the 32nd's, which delayed the 32nd Division's timetable. Being a favored commander of Nazi political officers gave him the immunity from much criticism. Some of his peers also complained that Rommel did things his own way and completely disregarded the other divisions. For example, at least one occasion, he commandeered bridging resources originally meant to go to a nearby division which had requested first. When units of the neighboring division arrived to use the bridge that now set up for the 7th Panzer Division instead of their own, Rommel freely commandeered these units' men and equipment as well for his own offensive. Needless to say, as Rommel established his fame as an able commander, he made many opponents as well among his peers.
ww2dbaseIn one of his later papers on the campaign in France, he wrote the following that provided some insight into his mindset when he pushed his troops forward at such a great pace. "The sole criterion for a commander in carrying out a given operation must be the time he is allowed for it, and he must use all his powers of execution to fulfill the task within that time." He also wrote "[t]he officers of a Panzer Division must learn to think and act independently within the framework of a general plan and not wait until they receive orders", again stressing the importance on rapid movement during offensive operations.
ww2dbaseIn Feb 1941, Rommel was selected by Hitler to lead the German forces in North Africa. He arrived there on 12 Feb, witnessing a full retreat of the Italian forces toward Tripoli. with his usual willingness to see the front line situations for himself, he jumped into a Heinkel bomber and took off immediately for an observation run. His troops arrived two days later, on 14 Feb. Several days later, his troops staged a parade at Tripoli. To falsify the numbers to the lower ranks in order to boost morale and to any British spy that could be observing, he ordered his armor to circle the block several times. "We've got to keep the enemy guessing about our strength - that is, about our weakness - until the rest of the Fifth Light Division gets here", he said. Meanwhile, to trick British air reconnaissance, he ordered his men to construct fake armor. Some of the fake armor were built atop Volkswagen cars that moved around every so often, while others were stationary wooden ones. Intercepted British messages revealed British warnings of presence of German medium armor, which meant the fake armor had worked.
ww2dbaseOnce Rommel received adequate equipment, he attacked aggressively, driving the British 8th Army out of Libya and attempted to venture into Egypt. At El Alamein, his aura of invincibility was finally lifted as his supply lines stretched too far. When the Americans landed in North Africa, he turned his attention west, realizing that if the newly arrived troops had the opportunity to meet with the British in his east, the German army would face an even greater challenge. He left the North African theater to meet with Hitler in Berlin on the issues in the theater, and as events would turn out, he would never return to North Africa again.
ww2dbaseRommel's successes in North Africa were respected by friend and foe alike. British general Harold Alexander commented that Rommel "was a very chivalrous enemy", and Allied Supreme Commander Dwight Eisenhower also held Rommel's capabilities in the utmost regard. American general George Patton, with his colorful and usual expression, symbollically yelled at the German commander, "Rommel, you magnificent bastard! I read your book!", perhaps commenting on the impressive works on military maneuvers that Rommel had published. It was in North Africa that Rommel, nicknamed the Desert Fox, made himself known as an extremely capable and innovative leader.
ww2dbaseAfter North Africa, Rommel served briefly in Italy before returning to France to strengthen the coastal defenses there. He was convinced that if the western Allies launched an attack on continental Europe, the Allies must not be given the chance to gain secure footing, otherwise all would be lost. He prepared armor units miles from the beaches, prepared to counterattack any landing attempts on the French coast without risking exposing tanks in transit to Allied air power. His deployment strategy for his tanks fell in line with his belief that air power was the key to winning a modern war. "The future battle on the ground will be preceded by battle in the air", he said. "This will determine which of the contestants has to suffer operational and tactical disadvantages and be forced throughout the battle into adoption compromise solutions."
ww2dbaseEarly 1944, Rommel was approached to participate in the July Plot to assassinate Hitler. It is popularly believed by historians today that Rommel had refused due to his loyalty, but the exact facts are still unknown.
ww2dbaseAfter the western Allies launched the Normandy landings in Jun 1944, Rommel was out of the area and unable to get a clear picture of the situation, and then Hitler hesitated to approve a counterattack by armor until it was too late. Rommel's nightmare came true over the next six weeks as the Allied beachhead strengthened. On 15 Jul, he communicated to Hitler that Germany should seriously consider ending the war on favorable terms when it was still possible; for whatever reason, this letter was delayed in its delivery. When it reached Hitler, it was more than five days later, and the conspirators of the July Plot had made an unsuccessful attempt to assassinate Hitler. The letter that was brutally honest suddenly carried a traitorous tone. It was soon discovered that Rommel had previously been approached by some of the members of the inner circle who planned the July Plot. While the fiercely loyal Rommel was unlikely to have approved an attempt on Hitler's life (and he might not be informed of such a plan), it was unknown whether Rommel agreed with those who contacted him regarding assuming a leadership role in post-war Germany. Most people understand fairly well that only a small handful of people were respected by Germans and Allies alike, and Rommel topped that list. This characteristic, in the post-July Plot atmosphere, became a threat to Hitler, and Gestapo findings that Rommel was linked to some of the plotters only made Rommel's position worse.
ww2dbaseBetween Jul and Oct 1944, Rommel largely remained inactive, recovering from head injuries sustained when his car was attacked by Allied aircraft on 17 Jul 1944. He wrote several papers during this time, one of which discussed his vision for the model officer of the modern German Army:
The tactical leader of the future, who will decide the battle - for the main emphasis of future battles will be on the tactical destruction of the enemy's fighting power - will need not only mental gifts of a high order, but also great strength of character if he is to be a match for his task. Because of the great variety of tactical possibilities which motorization offers it will in the future be impossible to make more than a rough forecast of the course of a battle. This being so, the issue will be decided by flexibility of mind, eager acceptance of responsibility, fitting mixture of caution and audacity, and the greater control over the fighting troops.
ww2dbaseIn Oct 1944, while at home, Rommel received a phone call from Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel in Berlin, asking him to report in person in regards to his next assignment. Rommel was unsure whether he was indeed to receive a new command possibly on the Eastern Front, or if he was destined to be turned over to the Gestapo; even if Keitel had no hidden agenda, traveling to Berlin might be an one-way trip, delivering himself to Nazi agents who might suspect him to be a plotter. Refusing to go to Berlin, using his health condition as an excuse, Keitel agreed that he would send Generals Wilhelm Burgdorf and Ernst Maisel to Rommel's home in southern Germany with details of his next assignment. Rommel knew them as officers in the staff department, and thought perhaps they would indeed bring news of a new position rather than questions regarding the assassination attempt.
ww2dbaseBurgdorf and Maisel arrived at Rommel's home on 14 Oct 1944, and Rommel brought them to his study. On this day, Rommel chose to wear his desert uniform. Burgdorf, who did most of the talking as Maisel acted mainly as a witness only, revealed what Rommel had feared: Rommel had been implicated in the July Plot, and was given a choice to face the People's Court or commit suicide. Burgdorf promised that, should he choose the latter, he would be given a state funeral and praised as a hero, while his wife Lucia and son Manfred would be protected. Knowing that he had little chance of success with the People's Court, and knowing that family members of those convicted by the People's Court often suffered as well, Rommel immediately knew he really only had one choice. Dismissing Maisel, Burgdorf secretly produced a cyanide capsule for Rommel, promising that it would kill him within seconds, thus sparing him of unnecessary suffering.
ww2dbaseHaving already made up his mind, Rommel exited from the study and went upstairs to see his wife, telling her his decision to take his own life. A few minutes later, Rommel revealed the plan to his son Manfred, who initially suggested that they could shoot Burgdorf, Maisel, and their SS driver Heinrich Doose and then make an escape, but Rommel would have none of it, citing that the home was most like surrounded at a distance and the murder of these men would only make matters worse. With his field marshal's baton under his arm and his son Manfred beside him, he walked out into the garden and cooperatively entered the backseat of the car. Manfred Rommel recalled that his father never looked back as the car drove away. Rommel was driven a few miles onto a side road. When the car came to a stop, Burgdorf dismissed Maisel and Doose, and Rommel knew it was time to bite the cyanide capsule. Burgdorf waved Maisel and Doose back about five minutes later. Doose noticed that Rommel's cap had fallen; crying, he picked it up and placed on the field marshal's head. Lucia was informed of the death about ten minutes later.
ww2dbaseRommel's body was driven to a nearby hospital for a doctor to certify a time of death. The doctor immediately knew that the cause of death was unnatural, and recommended an autopsy, a suggestion that was rejected by Burgdorf. The German government announced Rommel's death as caused by aneurysm in the brain. A personal correspondence from Keitel to Keitel's wife dated 24 Oct 1944 noted that "Rommel has died after all from the multiple skull injuries he received on a car journey, through a blood-clot." Only later in Keitel's memoirs written in 1945 had he admitted in knowing the truth about Rommel's death. Keitel explained that orders were given to prevent Rommel from shooting himself; instead, poison was offered so that the cause of death could be attributed to injuries suffered in an accident. Rommel was buried as a national hero, receiving a state funeral with full military honors. Lucia received full pensions of a field marshal.
ww2dbaseSources:
Pier Paolo Battistelli, Erwin Rommel
Terry Brighton. Patton, Montgomery, Rommel
Walter G�rlitz, In the Service of the Reich
David Irving. The Trail of the Fox
Famous Quote(s)
"The battle is going very heavily against us. We're being crushed by the enemy weight. We are facing very difficult days, perhaps the most difficult that a man can undergo."
» 3 Nov 1942
"The enemy must be annihilated before he reaches our main battlefield. We must stop him in the water, destroying all his equipment while it is still afloat!"
» 22 Apr 1944
Alan Chanter says:
29 Sep 2007 02:52:30 AM
Men are basically smart or dumb and lazy or ambitious. The dumb and ambitious ones are dangerous and I get rid of them. The dumb and lazy ones I give mundane duties. The smart ambitious ones I put on my staff. The smart and lazy ones I make my commanders. (Erwin Rommel)
2. HARSHAD DAVE says:
8 Sep 2008 12:04:16 AM
There are such dynamic and good persons in this world who commits such mistake that Erwin Rommel did. To be dynamic is a potential... a God-given gift to the person. But to have the control to use the dynamic potential for the wise & good cause, behind the justified person/social-body is the moral duty of the dynamic person. FM Erwin Rommel became too late to realize this.
Harshad Dave.
Bill says:
16 Feb 2009 03:45:29 PM
Erwin Rommel will forever be connected with the Afrika Corps. He was after all " The Desert Fox". When I was stationed in W. Germany during the 60's I was able to talk with a man, who served in the Afrika Corps. and like my late Uncle, he would say with pride " I served with Rommel"
4. Anonymous says:
27 Feb 2009 07:42:32 AM
Rommel was key to win the vast oil resources in the middle east and africa, that would have give Germany the much needed economic power to boost its wealth production machine. A network of several german cities foundations would have follow to secure properly this new logistic position. Too bad Hitler didnt have a prudent vision of this strategy.
5.
BILL says:
6 May 2009 12:29:47 PM
Lili Marlene was a wartime favorite song, of both allied and axis soldiers. Joseph Goebbels banned the song for not being Military enough, but Field Marshal Erwin Rommel requested Radio Belgrade to play Lili Marlene every night for his Africa Korps.
6.
BILL says:
10 Jun 2009 06:41:16 PM
"We have a very daring and skillful opponet against us. And may I say across the havoc of war, a great general". Commenting on Rommel
-Winston Churchill-
22 Jun 2009 08:27:59 AM
"Don't fight a battle if you don't gain
anything by winning."
-Erwin Rommel, In his book
"Infanterie greift An", 1937
"I would be rather more happy had he given
me one more division."
Comment after receiving the rank of
Field Marshal from Hitler, 1942
8.
30 Mar 2010 06:18:18 PM
Added information to # 5 May 6, 2009
The famous wartime tune "LILI MARLENE" was
composed by Norbert Schultz in twenty minutes
in 1938.
Lili Marlene was popular with both Allied and
German troops. Sung by Lale Anderson, a little known German singer and forgotten until 1941.
Did you know: that Fraeulein Anderson spent
time in prison, because she was overheard saying " All I want is to get out of this horrible country ".
9. Anonymous says:
19 Apr 2010 03:30:21 PM
i believe that Rommel was given his wonderful ability from God its a shame he died like that
10.
15 Jun 2010 11:26:11 AM
Did you know...
The Afrika Korps was not made up from elite units, within the German army, they were
regular troops, shipped to Afrika in 1941 to help out the Italians.
Although it suffered heavy losses, it fought
on until the surrender in North Africa in
May 1943.
Erwin Rommel and the Afrika Korps are forever
linked together.
When I was stationed in West Germany from
Nov 1966 to Sept 1967 during a conversation with one of the German worker's, he told me
he was a Veteran of the Afrika Korps he showed me his only photograph of himself, he was drafted and assigned to a supply unit taking care of the horses, getting tired of shoveling horse poop, he saw on the unit
bulletin board volunteers needed for Afrika.
He was wounded and captured by the Tommies (British) and thats how he survived WWII. Sounds similar to what I did, to get out of
West Germany, volunteer for Vietnam, but
thats another story.
27 Aug 2010 12:11:38 PM
Lili Marlene has become a legend of WWII, it
was one of the top hits of World War II.
Evernight radio belgrade would play the song
it became a anthem of both Axis and Allied
forces.
Joseph Goebbels the propagenda minister for
the National-Socialist party didn't like it, and banned the song in Germany (Just think what he would have done to Rock'N'Roll).
But its did nothing to stop its popularity.
Field Marshall Rommel even requested
"Lili Marlene" to be played for his Afrika Korps.
THE LYRICS:
Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate,
Darling I remember the way you used to wait,
'Twas there that you whispered tenderly'
That you loved me, you'll always be,
My Lili of the lamplight, my own Lili Marlene
Time would come for roll call,time for us to part, Darling I'd caress you and press you
to my heart,
And there 'neath that far off lantern light,
I'd hold you tight,we'd kiss "good-night",
My Lili of the limplight,My own Lili Marlene
Orders came for sailing somewhere over there,
All confined to barracks was more than I
could bear,I knew you were waiting in the
street,I heard your feet, but we could not
meet.
My Lili of the lamplight,My own Lili Marlene
When we are marching in the mud and cold,
And when my pack seems more than I could hold
My love for you renews my might,
I'm warm again, my pack is light,
For Werner and all the Veterans of WWII.
13. Mattlan says:
11 Feb 2011 06:45:04 AM
My Grandfather (Flt Lt Vernon A Lancaster RAAF 453) has log book evidence that he fired on the convoy of Rommell and gave him his injuries. Although he is in his early 90's he is sharp as a tack and it takes a bit of prodding but once you get him talking about his exploits in a Spitfire it is awesome!
14. Anonymous says:
10 Sep 2011 09:33:52 AM
i have pics of his capture and wanted to find out what they are worth
15. Anonymous says:
11 Jan 2012 04:37:57 PM
rommels car was strafed by a canadian pilot in a Spitfire.
Rommel sustained a serious head injury after his staff car crashed into a tree.
http://www.spitcrazy.com/rommelunderattackfull.htm
16. Juan Canela says:
2 Apr 2012 05:53:51 PM
I have no respect for the man, whoever he is or claims to be, who currently occupies our Whitehouse, however, as an American, a Korean veteran,and someone who has been around the block a few times, I have great respect for Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, the great German military genius, and a genuine human being.
17. John Cinnamond says:
3 Apr 2012 04:30:03 PM
I remember quite well at the age of six, the shocking radio news, that the **** had bombed Pearl Harbor. Now at age 78 chronological years, I have learned much, and had my War (Korea 52-53). As an American, a loyal patriot,and supporter of our Constitution, I must say that I have great respect and admiration for Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, far more respect that I could ever have for the current occupant of our Whitehouse, whoever he is,or claims to be, Barry Soetoro, or Hussein Obama II???
18. Anonymous says:
26 Sep 2012 07:15:19 AM
I have heard that Rommel played a dice game with leaders of troops to choose who would lead into battle. Does any one know if this is true and what the game was?
19. Joe Mastandrea says:
3 Mar 2013 01:23:13 PM
Can anyone tell me what kind of vehicle Erwin Rommell was in when he was wounded in 1944.
Thank you
Alan Chanter says:
23 May 2014 01:20:43 AM
Erwin Rommel was born at noon on November 15th, 1891, at Heidenheim, a small town in W�rtemburg, near Ulm. His father, also named Erwin, was a schoolmaster and the son of a schoolmaster. Both father and Grandfather were mathematricians of some distinction.
Herr Professor Rommel was much respected in Heidenheim. In 1886 he married Helena, the eldest daughter of Karl von Luz, the President of the Government of W�rtemburg and thereby a prominemt personage in the region. Helena bore the elder Erwin five children; a son, Manfred, who died young, a daughter, Helena, who remained a spinster throughout her life and followed in the family tradition by becoming a school teacher, Erwin Rommel himself and his younger brothers, Karl and Gerhardt. Karl would become almost cripppled after contracting malaria while serving as a pilot in Turkey during the 1914-18 War, and Gerhardt would abandon a career in agriculture to take up his passion to be an opera singer.
21. Alan Chanter says:
18 Mar 2016 08:22:11 AM
Desmond Young, in his biography of Rommel gives the date of Rommel's posting to the War Academy at Potsdam as October 15th, 1935. A year later than that stated in this article.
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Which dangerous gas is given off when coke burns? | Carbon Monoxide - Molecule of the Month
Also available: Chime Enhanced , VRML and JMol versions.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic, colourless and odourless gas. It has been invaluable in helping chemists to extract metals from their ores. However, it must be said that its physical properties make it potentially very dangerous .
Making Carbon Monoxide
Carbon and oxygen can combine to form two gases. When combustion of carbon is complete, i.e. in the presence of plenty of air, the product is mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). Sources of carbon include; coal, coke, charcoal. When combustion of carbon is incomplete, i.e. there is a limited supply of air, only half as much oxygen adds to the carbon, and instead you form carbon monoxide (CO).
Carbon monoxide is also formed as a pollutant when hydrocarbon fuels (natural gas, petrol, diesel) are burned. The relative amount of CO produced depends on the efficiency of combustion. Older vehicles are checked annually for CO emissions during their MOT test . Interestingly, only one of the two oxides of carbon, doesn't support combustion and it is for this reason that carbon dioxide is used in fire extinguishers. Carbon monoxide does support combustion and burns with a pale blue flame. The blue flame used to be seen over the fires made from coke (essentially a very pure form of carbon) by night watchmen on industrial sites.
2 CO (g) + O2 (g)
2 CO2 (g)
Laboratory Preparation of Carbon monoxide
From Carbon:
When making carbon monoxide a source of carbon dioxide gas is needed. This could be from a CO2 cylinder or even dry ice (solid CO2). If neither is available carbon dioxide could be generated by the neutralisation reactions between an acid and a carbonate or an acid and a hydrogen carbonate.
2HCl (aq) + CaCO3 (s)
CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
HCl (aq) + NaHCO3 (s)
NaCl (aq) + H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
When carbon dioxide gas is passed over heated charcoal it forms carbon monoxide.
CO2 (g) + C (s)
2CO (g)
There will also be unreacted carbon dioxide, which needs to be removed. Carbon dioxide is removed by reacting it with an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide.
2 NaOH (aq) + CO2 (g)
Na2CO3 (aq) + H2O (l)
From Methanoic Acid:
Another convenient way to prepare carbon monoxide is the dehydration of methanoic acid using conc. H2SO4.
HCOOH (aq)
CO (g) + H2O (l)
Dehydration of a methanoic salt such as sodium methanoate also works well. In this case you dribble concentrated sulphuric acid directly onto the solid. The carbon monoxide, which evolves, can be collected under water. Methanoic acid is found in nettles and ants .
How poisonous?
Carbon monoxide is a very poisonous gas. It is poisonous at levels of only 0.1% (1000 ppm). Its toxicity arises from its ability to bind to transition metals such as iron found at the centre of a haem molecule . Carbon monoxide is attracted to haemoglobin over 200 times more strongly than oxygen. Therefore, in the blood, the presence of carbon monoxide prevents some of the haemoglobin found in red blood cells from carrying sufficient oxygen.
This fact is certainly worth considering if you should be tempted to smoke a cigarette. Smokers have been found to have quite high levels of carbon monoxide in their blood, long after they have finished lighting up their chosen cigarette.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are dizziness and headaches. These sufferings can be confused with other illnesses such as influenza. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be recognised, as victims will often have unnaturally bright red lips.
Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can eventually lead to death. Carbon monoxide has been used as the poison in suicides . Even more disturbing was the use of carbon monoxide by Nazis in WWII to kill its victims of the death camps. More recently, there have been cases of rogue landlords not properly maintaining gas appliances , which led to the death of tenants often students. The law in the UK now requires the annual checking of boilers, gas cookers, and gas fires by registered engineers. The following equation shows what happens when there is incomplete combustion of natural gas, which is primarily methane.
2 CH4 (g) + 3 O2 (g)
2 CO (g) + 4 H2O (g)
Coal Gas
Before vast quantities of natural gas were discovered beneath the seas and oceans, we used to burn coal gas. Coal gas was produced when coal was heated in the absence of air. Its main components are hydrogen methane, and carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide sometimes occurs in coal mines. At one time canaries were taken down in mines to detect poisonous gases. Canaries would be killed at doses not quite lethal to miners. Today gases are detected more humanely with instruments .
Reducing agent
The first time most students meet carbon monoxide in a chemistry lesson is in its use within the Blast Furnace . The Blast furnace is how iron is extracted from its ore, haematite (iron(III)oxide Fe2O3).
Fe2O3 (s) + 3 CO (g)
2 Fe (l) + 3 CO2 (g)
Carbon monoxide is a strong reducing agent and reduces metal oxides for metals less reactive than carbon. The following table is useful for the different definitions of reduction. As oxidation is the opposite of reduction you only need to learn half the facts!
Reduction
Increase in O.N.
Reactions of Carbon monoxide
Several gases (H2, CH4 and CO) have historically been used as reducing agents. One definition of a reducing agent I particularly like is to think of it as being an oxygen grabber. It is important to remember that the reducing agent itself gets oxidised. A quick and simple laboratory reduction can be achieved by heating a mixture of black copper(II)oxide with carbon powder in a test tube. After several minutes of heating the reddish coloured copper can be seen on the side of the test tube. Essentially carbon acts as a reducing agent as well as the carbon monoxide that is inevitably formed by its heating in air. The following reactions are all occurring in this simple experiment.
CuO (s) + CO (g)
2 CO (g)
Affinity for Transition Metals
Carbon monoxide does not show acidic or basic properties. Its feeble Lewis acidity is seen through its formation of H3BCO with borane (BH3). Carbon monoxide has a remarkable affinity for transition metals (located between Groups 2 and 3 of the Periodic Table). The first examples of metal carbonyls was back in 1888, when tetracarbonyl nickel (0) Ni(CO)4 and pentacarbonyl iron (0) Fe(CO)5 were prepared and characterised. The former complex forms part of the Mond Process for the purification of Nickel. Ni(CO)4 is distilled to give pure nickel.
Ni (s) + 4 CO (g)
Ni(CO)4
Ni (s) + 4 CO (g)
Carbon monoxide is so reactive with nickel that within a couple of minutes it will have etched the surface. Ni(CO)4 is highly toxic with a musty smell. As well as being flammable this tetrahedral complex decomposes easily into its constituents. Carbon monoxide is acting as a ligand towards the transition metal through the lone pair on the carbon atom. Diatomic carbon monoxide has a triple bond between its atoms. One of the bonds forming the triple bond is a dative covalent bond.
Please try this at home
Detecting carbon monoxide is a simple task these days. Most hardware stores sell special spots impregnated with palladium compounds, which darken on exposure to carbon monoxide.
| Carbon monoxide |
How many Godfather films have been made? | CAMDEN- Heating Your House With Coal
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
HEATING YOUR HOUSE WITH COAL
This page evolved from a page about the Boudov Coal & Ice Company , a business that was located at 212 Mechanic Street for many years. Three of the website's very good friends, John Ciafrani, Jim Bessing , and Earl Crim , were nice enough write about what it was like to heat their homes with coal, a fuel that has become rarely used in Camden and suburban South Jersey. Prior to the advent of oil heat, and later the appearance of natural gas, coal was for many years the fuel of choice for heating homes, businesses, and other large buildings.
In October of 2006 I received a wonderful article about the George B. Newton Coal Company , which you can find on it's own web-page.
If you have any "coal" memories, please e-mail me- Phil Cohen
You may notice that in the pre-electric refrigerator days there were a lot of "Coal & Ice" business. Why were and Coal and Ice paired like that? It was in great part due to where both items were shipped from.
Coal would be brought own by train to the Camden-Philadelphia port and shipped by boat to Boston and ports north, such as Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine. Once unloaded they would take on a load of block ice and bring it south to New York, Philadelphia, and ports south.
At both ends, the same merchants were buying and selling both products, the same ships taking on regular shipments, and thus, the Coal and Ice business was born, and let's face it, as both business were sort of seasonal, selling coal and ice kept one working year-round
Thanks to Paul W. Schopp for enlightening me as how this trade arose.
Heating Your House With Coal
Do you remember the center grate or grille usually between the living and dining room. This was the only heat grille in the house, upstairs depended on gravity with the hot air rising for heat. Needless to say it didn't work very well. We burned coal till I was almost a teen.
Hot water was a summer-winter hookup from the furnace. Cold weather didn't always get you hot water- you got steam, and you had to be careful. In the summer there was no hot water from this system. We had a little "buck a day" separate hot water heater, which used a bucket of coal a day to make hot water in the summer. With coal costing $20 or more a ton there was only hot water on wash day and maybe Saturday. Don't believe what they tell you, cold baths do not build character. Showers were something you saw in movies.
Ashes were the biggest pain in burning coal. They would get tracked all over the house in winter.
-John Ciafrani, January 2004
That center grate was also a good place to sneak a peek after you went to bed to see who was gathering in the dining room. I remember getting up in the morning and coming down to open the damper and shake down the ashes and stand there in your wool robe turning around 360 degrees to warm up as the coals got hotter and I also remember going to bed with a hot brick or iron wrapped in a towel to warm your feet. Every time I went to visit my Grandmother I would take the ashes out to the curb and sift through them for any unburned coals.
Jim Bessing , July 2004
I can still remember my parents saying at night when we lived in Ablett Village " It's time to bank the heater " which meant adding enough coal to hold the fire over until the next morning. I remember the coal trucks and the coal bins and if a family was running out of coal they used to borrow some from the neighbors until they received their delivery. Jim Bessing has mentioned about sifting the ashes for un-burnt coal. I used to do that as a chore as my father made a square box with wire mesh on the top and we used to dump the ashes on the form and moved them around. It was amazing how much good coal was found. Talking about finding coal, we used to walk the railroad tracks and pickup coal that fell off the rail cars. We also saved the ashes or cinders for the ice and snow for traction. Coal heat wasn't the best heat and there were many nights my mother, my dad, myself and my sister would be in the vicinity of the grate, grill, or as we called it the register.
Earl Crim , August 1, 2004
One thing I think I forgot about burning coal, was that everyone kept old orange crates or scrap wood around. The wood was used as kindling but it had to be dry.
You would put some scrap paper and kindling in the firebox. Kindling went on top or under the coal as your preference. You light the paper, the paper lights the kindling, the kindling lights the coal. So much for auto ignition. Coal was a poor way to heat especially with gravity hot air. Steam and hot water was better.
It was sign of pride that when ashes were shifted that only a few pieces of coal weren't burnt. The ashes were a pain. In the winter everyone used them on icy sidewalks and to give cars traction. Guys would keep ashes in trunk all winter, for snowy weather. Of coarse when you came indoors during winter you tracked the ashes everywhere. There was also a separate collection day for ashes separate from the garbage. collection As a kid I had a little route taking out ashes for some older neighbors. They would give you ten or 15 cents, which was movie money.
Banking the fire didn't do much good on a day when temperature got unseasonably warm. You could tell people who burned coal on a day like that because they would have front door or windows open.
-John Ciafrani, August 2004
In the late spring and early summer you would see quite a few coal deliveries. People were getting head a start on next winter and lower price for fuel. Even 35 yrs ago, the oil companies would solicit you to fill your tank during the summer and I believe I paid about 15 cents a gallon in August McAllister had a coal yard from bridge plaza to Pearl Street, between 7th and 6th streets, where Northgate is now on 7th street was the entrance to the yard. They brought coal in on rail cars right up Main Street. They would run cars up a hump and dumped the coal there, then took empty cars away..... and there was coal dust over everything.
-John Ciafrani, August 2004
Now that weather is starting to change, thoughts turn to heating season. The Pavonia Ice & Coal ad reminded me when we talked about coal heat before, I had meant to tell you this. When ad's spoke of clean fuel for coal they meant complete consumption of the coal with a minimum amount of ashes. Those old heaters were all natural draft, that is, they depended on temperature difference for combustion air, plus I don't doubt old houses were so drafty that you had a good amount of fresh air leakage into the buildings.
Coal by nature burns dirty, giving off soot, and natural draft doesn't help any. On the plus side you had heat even in a power failure. Soot and other products of combustion build up in stack piece and chimney, and as it builds up your combustion draft drops off. The gas of combustion, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and so on, have to go somewhere. With the old chimneys made of brick and mortar, the next thing you didn't know is that you had a colorless and odorless gas filling the house.
Another problem was a fire in the stack or the chimney. That's one reason that when they put a new heating system in today they usually put a chimney liner in, as it stops combustion gas leaks and keeps chimney fires down. A lot of people in "shoulder season", that is, fall & spring, would build a wood fire in the coal furnace. If the wood wasn't dried out, or was a from a sap tree like pine, this added to whole problem. It wasn't unusual as a kid to read about a family over come with flue gas and it was known on occasion to lead to a death.
Good old days? I wonder!
-John Ciafrani, October 2004
We had a coal bin in the front of our house at 152 Eutaw Avenue . We bought our coal from the Pavonia Coal Company. Depending on Dad's budget, we would get one half ton or one ton delivered. Some time in the early '50s we switched to gas heat.
-Tom Probst, October 2004
When we got oil heat, we cleaned out the coal bin. Of course the wooden chute to send coal under the front porch to the coal bin stayed. In the winter we kept 32 ounce Ballantine's under there to keep cold. One winter we got a real bad cold snap in December and the whole case of beer froze. From then on only a few quart bottles went there at a time.
-John Ciafrani, October 2004
While poking around I found a paragraph on "Blue Coal". According to this little note, Blue Coal was used as a selling point in as much as it was supposed to have superior burning qualities and as a theft deterrent. Some of the coal companies sprayed the coal with a blue coloring, so that if anyone tried to steal coal from a slow moving train they would get blue coloring all over there clothes and hands, making it easier for police to catch them. When the coal reached the coal yards its blue coloring was used as a selling point. Three cheers for truth in ad's.!!!
-John Ciafrani, November 2004
I can�t help smiling when I read such tales of woe as �Heating with Coal�. Did everyone but me have central heating back in the 30�s?
Although it must have been fun to be able to spy on those downstairs through the ceiling grates, it must have been wonderful to feel the warm air rising into your freezing bedroom on a cold winters night. Most houses with central heating ,which you didn't use in the summer, came equipped with a gas range for cooking and most houses with gas had a water heater. Central heat via a furnace also meant the ability to pay for coal by the ton which few if any on little Cooper Street could even dream of.
Life on the other side of the tracks:
Coal was a luxury to be bought only when it was absolutely necessary and then only in 50 lb bags. Blue coal or pea or nut or even coke, it didn't matter on any particular day, except which happened to be cheapest.
I would take my little wagon up to the Pavonia Ice and Coal Co. at 23rd and Howell Street s when we had the money and struggle with a bag I could hardly lift then haul it back home and try to carry it into the house. This was our secondary source of coal. At other times, which I hated, I would be ordered to take a bucket and walk the railroad tracks to find coal that had fallen off coal cars. This also meant playing hide and seek with the railroad police, who were not the friendliest people in the world. At that age it didn't dawn on me that they were looking out for my safety as well as protecting railroad property.
My route for coal scavenging usually ranged from behind the Haddon Press down to behind Dimedio Lime, Du Bell Lumber and Concrete Steel Co. On a bad day I would have to continue all the way beyond Warren Webster's to the Standard Oil place at Federal Street and River Road to fill my bucket after which it was a heavy trip back to Cooper Street .
Our heating system at home consisted of a large wood/coal cooking range in the kitchen which was jet black and had shiny nickel plated parts hanging on it. I also had the job of polishing this stove which was done while it was very hot using a liquid consisting of an oil and carbon black dispersion. You rubbed this on with a cloth and it smoked like a volcano and you continued rubbing until it was dry and shiny black, and so were you.
This stove was used for cooking and heating water. There was only one faucet in the house and it was ice cold water. This is why in those days there was a Saturday bath, you didn't shower a couple times a day even if you wanted to. There was no hot water and no shower. Bathing was done in the galvanized laundry tub. During the week you washed your face and hands.
Picture a woman's life during this period:
Throughout the hottest time of the year she always needed a fire. To cook, to have water for the wash and to heat the iron for ironing. The wash was done on a wash board which most women today have seen only in museums. It was backbreaking labor.... and let�s not forget my sister's hair which also required a fire. With no electricity how else do you heat a curling iron?
There were two kinds of curling irons I remember my mother using. One was called a Marcelle Iron and this made waves. The other was a curling iron much like those used today, except that they weren't heated with electricity. Then how were they heated?? Glad you asked.
The irons were held in the fire until they were hot. Then they were taken out and closed on a piece of paper, preferably a brown paper bag. This would smoke, turn black and sometimes erupt into flame. You would continue testing it until it no longer discolored the paper. At this point you would then proceed to put the hair in and roll it up as you do today. After a few minutes you would unroll it and hope the hair didn't stay with the iron. Sound like fun?? I have a curling iron for you to try, if you are so inclined.
Ironing clothes on a 100 degree day was not fun either. Or any other day for that matter.
During the summer months we used wood which meant you could allow the fire to go out when it wasn't needed. The wood was usually scavenged by me from old shipping skids. These could be obtained from the Haddon Press and a few other businesses by hook or crook. Usually the latter. Many commodities in those days were shipped in wooden barrels. These were usually made of gum wood which was difficult to chop. The ax jumped back at you as if it had hid a block of rubber.
Women today say they are overworked because one day a week that may have to DRIVE Johnny to Little League.
That takes care of the kitchen.
There was a pot bellied stove in the parlor which was seldom used at all. Parlors were generally used for special visitors or which happened, it seems , all to often in those days, wakes.
Next comes the pot bellied stove in the dining room which was where we lived. This room served as living room, dining room and family room. This stove was our primary source of warmth throughout the winter months. This stove was not large but it kept the room comfortable.
What about the bedrooms? There was zero heat except what your body generated and the quilts managed to hold next to you. The kitchen stove didn't help because the kitchen was a separate room attached to the rear of the house.
As mentioned before the parlor stove wasn't used for general heating. Because of the size and limited utility of the dining room stove there was no ceiling grate to allow heat to rise to the upstairs�which would result in cooling the down stairs.
I remember one occasion where I didn't think it was warm enough and being home alone I proceeded to remedy that situation. I filled the dining room stove with coke, which was all we had on hand that day. Then I opened the damper all the way which I had seen my father do. In a short period of time the pot belly was glowing red. Soon after the stove pipe started to get red and the red rose higher and higher and I became more and more scared not knowing what to do about it.
The red was within three feet of the ceiling when my father walked in the door. In a short time he had the stove under control. As the stove returned to its normal black my bottom became redder and redder. I had doubts I would ever sit again.
This is the way life went on in the good old days.... and they really were the good old days. Ask anyone who grew up during that period. You may get a different answer if you ask those who were unemployed adults during this time. It�s all in your perspective.
Regards
Tom Agin
December 18, 2004
The natural hot air or gravity system in some ways was worse than a stove in living room or kitchen. It was no more than a large vent that opened on the first floor. Some houses had a grille on the second floor, but often they depended on stairway for any warm air. The drawback was that you lost the radiant heat off the furnace. At least with a stove you could huddle or sleep or sit around it. A lot of the heat from the furnace was wasted.
An even better system of natural draft hot air heat with ducts to the second floor were grossly inefficient. Steam heat was the warmest, but as the boiler aged rather than replace or do needed repair work, most people converted to gravity hot water. The problem here was that the radiators were sized for steam. The hot water didn't circulate fast enough in very cold weather. Circulators for forcing the hot water to circulate through the system were expensive and pricey. The usual result of converting was that water would circulate as the temperature increased but the whole time the supply & return lines were giving up heat all over the house.
Add that to the fact that those brick row houses with a frame back had no insulation. By the time the water got to the second floor, the loss was high, plus there were always one or two rooms that if the weather was very cold didn't get much heat. It was like trying to heat the outside.
In the 40's and 50's a lot of people had insulation blown in the frame back walls of their row houses. The problem was that the insulation, a product like cut wool paper, would settle after a few years. The lower floor would have all the insulation, while the upper floor where it was needed at night was still starved for heat. Add the fact that the radiators (many of which had been originally for steam) were quite often undersized left a lot of back bedrooms as cold as walk-in boxes.
Most hot water and steam heat systems had an extra coil to use the exhaust from the furnace to heat hot domestic water. Still, the bath was no treat in a cold bathroom. A bath and washing your face, hands, and other parts was, in winter, a wake up experience for a bath in winter.
I still remember people in the 40s and 50s collecting scrap wood. That pine used in pallets burned quick and was a dirty fire.
-John Ciafrani, December 2004
I had many opportunities to stay over in houses with central heating and although they were not perfect when compared to post-war standards I don't remember a single one that could compare to an entire house heated with one little stove.
One point John made brought back fond memories. That being that you could cuddle up to a potbellied stove. I can remember running in the house half-frozen from playing in the snow and cuddling to to the stove. This was truly ecstasy. It cannot be duplicated by entering room warmed by central heating.
The concept of using the staircase as a convection channel to heat the upstairs only works with an open staircase. The houses on little Cooper Street 's stairs were totally enclosed clear to the bottom with a full wall both on the dining room side and the living room side. There was a door on one side or the other of the stairs to isolate the dining room, which you wanted to heat, from the living room which you did not.
John states that taking a bath in a cold bathroom was a horrible ordeal. We took our baths in a tin tub in a nice hot kitchen, so take your choice. But a BATHROOM? WOW! Now for the great equalizer. Although we bathed in the nice warm kitchen, think about when nature called.
Remember the old poem :
"Out of bed and unto the floor and a fifty yard dash to the outhouse door"
Actually it was probably about twenty feet door-to-door. When the temperature was down toward freezing or a rain storm was in progress this was a real challenge, and since our lighting was kerosene lamps and nobody was going to light these in the middle of the night the trip would be made in total darkness.
John made a comment about pines and other such woods burning dirty and is probably right. I was too young to pay attention to such things but I remember that my father saved all his old flashlight batteries and on occasions put them in the fire. He said that the acids in the batteries helped keep the chimney clean. Whether it worked or not I don't know.
Tom Agin
December 21, 2004
When times were hard, it was not an uncommon practice to go to the railroad tracks to pick up coal that had fallen from the trains... this is in the days before diesels. Coal-fired locomotives operated in Camden into the 1950s.
This of course could be a dangerous practice, and at least one person was killed while picking coal, hit by a train near North 32nd Street in April of 1928.
Phil Cohen
October 1, 2005
59 Ablett Village. I lived there when they had coal bins. The bin was located to the left of the steps in the rear of the dwelling. Take notice to the area that has been blocked and cemented over. This was an access hole to the outside coal bin.
Click on Image to Enlarge
Camden Courier-Post - February 1, 1933
Camden Courier-Post - February 7, 1933
COAL DEALERS ASK LOWER FREIGHT RATE
South Jersey Men Appear Before I.C.C. to Demand 38-Cent Reduction
South Jersey retail coal dealers are awaiting a decision of the Interstate Commerce Commission on their plea for a reduction in the freight rates on anthracite coal from the Lehigh, Schuylkill and Wyoming regions to Camden.
Headed by John C. Hower, of Hower Bros., Merchantville, chairman of the freight rate committee of the South Jersey Retail Coal Dealers Association, and M. Marshal, secretary of the association, seven dealers testified before Commissioner B. O. Johnson at Washington on Thursday and Friday, when a preliminary hearing on their petition was held.
The dealers asked that the rates to Camden be made the same as the rates to Philadelphia, and sought a reduction of 28 cents a ton on the freight charges. They pointed out that Trenton has the same rate as Philadelphia, and quoted the general rate to Camden as $2.77 a ton as compared to $2.39 a ton to Philadelphia.
Representatives of 13 railroads were present to oppose the petition.
Commissioner Johnson will consider the evidence presented by the railroads dealers and report to the other members of the commission, who will set a date for another hearing.
ATTEMPT MADE TO ENTER OFFICES OF COAL FIRM
Called to the McAllister Coal Company, Seventh and Linden street s, by a neighbor who telephoned that someone was breaking into the place, a squad of motorcycle policemen searched the entire neighborhood early yesterday but found no one.
Detectives found that a rear window had been broken but nothing in the office was disturbed.
Mrs. Mercella Melnik, of 952 Central Avenue , reported to the police that an overcoat was stolen from her automobile while it was parked in front of her home.
Camden Courier-Post
June 24, 1933
GLOUCESTER FIRE LAID TO DEFECTIVE FLUE
A defective flue yesterday caused a fire at the home of William Fowler, 901 Ridgway Street, Gloucester.
The fire department confined the flames to the side of the building, although the living room was dam aged. The fire started on the first floor and the family and neighbors carried out many of the household articles, but returned them after the flames were extinguished. The loss was $500. Fowler is the father of Policeman William Fowler..
Camden Courier-Post
June 25, 1933
CAMDEN COAL HAULER ROBBED OF $50 IN PA.
A Camden coal hauler ,and his helper were held up and robbed of $50 early yesterday by two bandits on Ridge pike near Butler pike, Barren Hill, near Conshohocken, Pa.
Clarence Franchetti, of 1231 Van Hook street . this city, and his helper, Alexander Cherry, whose address was not revealed, were forced by the bandits to drive their truck to the side of the road.
Alighting from a sedan, the bandits poked pistols in the faces of Franchetti and Cherry, then searched and robbed them. The holdup men returned to their automobile and speeded toward Philadelphia.
Franchetti was returning to the mines upstate for a truckload of coal when the holdup occurred, it was reported by police. He said the robbers were two young men.
Camden Courier-Post
June 1, 1939
Coke: The Real Thing?
Growing up in a house where natural gas was the fuel source for heat, I knew very little about heating with coal. In the course of building this site the mention of coke arose a few times, and when I posted the picture above, an advertisement for Otto Coke Co., which operated the Camden Coke Plant, I realized that I didn't have a clue as to what exactly coke is! That being said, I called on a couple of the "Heating With Coal" friends for the answer to that question. As always, an answer came back quickly.
Fire may burn either with or without flames. A flame always indicates that heat has forced gas from a burning substance. The flames come from the combination of this gas with oxygen in the air. When a coal fire flames, it does so because gas is being forced from the coal, and the carbon and hydrogen in the gas combine with oxygen. If kept from burning, such gas can be stored. Manufactured gas is forced from coal in airtight kilns, or retorts. The product left after the gas is extracted from coal is called coke. Coke will burn without flame because no gas is driven off. In order to burn, the carbon in the coke combines directly with oxygen.
It is the gas given off by the heated wax in a candle that produces the bright flame. When a burning candle is blown out, for example, a thin ribbon of smoke will arise. If a lighted match is passed through this smoke an inch (2.5 centimeters) above the wick, a tiny flame will run down and relight the candle.
The brightest flames are not always the hottest. Hydrogen, which combines with oxygen when burning to form water, has an almost invisible flame even under ordinary circumstances. When it is absolutely pure and the air around it is completely free of dust, the hydrogen flame cannot be seen even in a dark room.
- Jim Bessing
November 2004
Soft coal has a lot of impurities in it and therefore doesn't burn real complete or clean, so a hotter cleaner fuel was needed, not for residential use but mostly in the steel industry, at least in this country.
To manufacture coke, they take the soft coal or bituminous coal and heat from a external hot source and drive the moisture & various impurities off, as gas. The fuel left is heavier than soft coal and burns a great deal hotter and cleaner than soft coal would. This is because a lot of the crap was driven out, so the coke burns a lot cleaner and with less residue than soft coal. The coke burns at a steadier and hotter rate than soft coal as I've said very few ashes to remove.
The gas driven off when coke is made is saved and used for cooking, and was from about 1850 to the early 20th century for gas lighting. Even long after just about every home had electric cooking coke gas was used for cooking and domestic hot water. Some parts of the country also used cooking gas for residential heating, but it does not have a real high BTU content.
For many years coke's biggest usage was for industry, and also for it byproduct, cooking gas. If you were to burn coke in a home the grate in furnace had to be a better grade of steel as coke burned so hot that the grates would melt. I had foreman that I worked for years ago who burned coke at home. He had to go down to 3rd & Arch in Philadelphia to get new grate for his furnace every few years if not sooner. A ton of coke cost more than a ton of soft coal.
I don't don't know about Otto Coke, it sounds like a trade or type of process name for that coke. They still used cooking gas in Camden City till about 1957 or 1958. Then PSE&G sent guys around to change the orifices in all gas appliances so we could burn natural gas. Shortly afterwards Camden Coke closed at 2nd & Kaighn . Philadelphia until about the early 1970s had a coke plant on Richmond Street, and in real cold weather they would mix the cooking gas with natural gas so that they could make up any shortfall in pipeline. I think all coal dealers also sold coke too, I can't remember any that didn't.
John Ciafrani
Click on Images to Enlarge
Camden Coke Plant
These were probably taken in 1956. Picture 1 (at left) shows the doors to the ovens from the pusher side. Picture 2 (bottom left) shows the exit side and the ovens being loaded from above. Picture 3 (below) shows the pusher car control cab where the ram was activated to push the coke through the oven and out the back side to waiting rail cars. One of the stories my Dad told me which even he believed was an urban legend said that because of the noisy environment everything was done by whistle or horn signal. It was said that one day after the doors to an oven were opened the worker who used a long pole to clean the area where the door sat was standing in front of the oven when a passing ship on the river blew its horn and he was pushed through the oven along with the coke.
Dick Chamberlin
Photos Courtesy of Dick Chamberlin
Camden Courier-Post
1940s Advertising Blotter
Working at the Coal Yard
Many yrs ago I worked in a Chemical plant power house. It was a good sized operation, 40-odd production buildings, and made enough electricity to power a small town. This was before the air pollution codes got so strict. The plant would burn upwards of 200-plus tons a day in winter. This was soft coal and the sizing requirements weren't as stiff as for hard coal used for home heating. The price a ton was about $4.50-$5.00 and the rail shipping were about equal to the coal cost.
Now the excellent page on Newton Coal didn't mention the so- called (and the spelling may be wrong) demeritage charges. You had about three days to have a coal car empty so that the railroad could take it back. The charges were pretty steep. So not only would the people not be able to get coal delivered but the coal company had to pay some extra steep charges.
In the winter it was a real dog to unload those cars. The cars would freeze that came from West Virginia, Tennessee and upstate Pennsylvania. Now you have to wonder how they froze so solid. Well at the mines they hosed the full cars down with a hose. It was said they did it to keep dust down. Well the water that wet the coal down had weight. You guessed it a lot of the weight you paid for was water not coal.
Now the story on Newton said they climbed up on top of the car to break the coal loose. Well first you had to get the doors on the bottom of cars open and being frozen that was a joy to begin with. Next all the big coal companies had vibrators that would shake the car to help break the coal loose. Then you took a slice bar (a steel bar six to eight feet long, with a probe on end) and started to chip away on the hopper openings of the car. Hopefully as the coal on the bottom came out the weight of the coal on top would cause a collapse and more would run out. If you could get enough out on bottom then you used the slice bar on top and hoped that the weight would help to get the coal running out. Now if the cars were really iced up, you couldn't just load straight in a truck or onto a coal pile. The chunks were just too big. So now you had too break up the chunks. This way the pieces could be run through a grinder that broke them up to a usable size. That was, as the Newton page said, a back breaking job.
Now the other feature of unloading those cars was the outside weather conditions, always cold as hell. When they got really far behind everybody had to help getting cars unloaded.
John Ciafrani
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What does the vertebral column protect? | vertebral column | anatomy | Britannica.com
Vertebral column
Alternative Titles: backbone, spinal column, spine
Related Topics
human body
Vertebral column, also called spinal column, spine, or backbone, in vertebrate animals, the flexible column extending from neck to tail, made of a series of bones, the vertebrae. The major function of the vertebral column is protection of the spinal cord; it also provides stiffening for the body and attachment for the pectoral and pelvic girdles and many muscles. In humans an additional function is to transmit body weight in walking and standing.
Human vertebral column.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Each vertebra , in higher vertebrates, consists of a ventral body, or centrum, surmounted by a Y-shaped neural arch. The arch extends a spinous process (projection) downward and backward that may be felt as a series of bumps down the back, and two transverse processes, one to either side, which provide attachment for muscles and ligaments. Together the centrum and neural arch surround an opening, the vertebral foramen, through which the spinal cord passes. The centrums are separated by cartilaginous intervertebral disks, which help cushion shock in locomotion.
Vertebrae in lower vertebrates are more complex, and the relationships of their parts to those of higher animals are often unclear. In primitive chordates (e.g., amphioxus, lampreys) a rodlike structure, the notochord , stiffens the body and helps protect the overlying spinal cord. The notochord appears in the embryos of all vertebrates in the space later occupied by the vertebral bodies—in some fish it remains throughout life, surrounded by spool-shaped centrums; in other vertebrates it is lost in the developed animal. In primitive chordates the spinal cord is protected dorsally by segmented cartilages—these foreshadow the development of the neural arch of true vertebrae.
Fish have trunk and caudal (tail) vertebrae; in land vertebrates with legs, the vertebral column becomes further subdivided into regions in which the vertebrae have different shapes and functions. Crocodilians and lizards, birds, and mammals demonstrate five regions: (1) cervical , in the neck, (2) thoracic, in the chest, which articulates with the ribs, (3) lumbar, in the lower back, more robust than the other vertebrae, (4) sacral, often fused to form a sacrum , which articulates with the pelvic girdle , (5) caudal, in the tail. The atlas and axis vertebrae, the top two cervicals, form a freely movable joint with the skull .
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| Spinal cord |
True or False, The Earth and the Moon are the same age? | Spine Anatomy, Anatomy of the Human Spine
Anatomy of the Human Spine
Overview
The spine is made of 33 individual bones stacked one on top of the other. This spinal column provides the main support for your body, allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist, while protecting the spinal cord from injury. Strong muscles and bones, flexible tendons and ligaments, and sensitive nerves contribute to a healthy spine. Yet, any of these structures affected by strain, injury, or disease can cause pain.
Spinal curves
When viewed from the side, an adult spine has a natural S-shaped curve. The neck (cervical) and low back (lumbar) regions have a slight concave curve, and the thoracic and sacral regions have a gentle convex curve (Fig. 1). The curves work like a coiled spring to absorb shock, maintain balance, and allow range of motion throughout the spinal column.
Figure 1. The spine has three natural curves that form an S-shape; strong muscles keep our spine in alignment.
Figure 2. The five regions of the spinal column.
The muscles and correct posture maintain the natural spinal curves. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit, and lie so that the least amount of strain is placed on the spine during movement or weight-bearing activities (see Posture ). Excess body weight, weak muscles, and other forces can pull at the spine's alignment:
An abnormal curve of the lumbar spine is lordosis, also called sway back.
An abnormal curve of the thoracic spine is kyphosis, also called hunchback.
An abnormal curve from side-to-side is called scoliosis.
Muscles
The two main muscle groups that affect the spine are extensors and flexors. The extensor muscles enable us to stand up and lift objects. The extensors are attached to the back of the spine. The flexor muscles are in the front and include the abdominal muscles. These muscles enable us to flex, or bend forward, and are important in lifting and controlling the arch in the lower back.
The back muscles stabilize your spine. Something as common as poor muscle tone or a large belly can pull your entire body out of alignment. Misalignment puts incredible strain on the spine (see Exercise for a Healthy Back ).
Vertebrae
Vertebrae are the 33 individual bones that interlock with each other to form the spinal column. The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx (Fig. 2). Only the top 24 bones are moveable; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused. The vertebrae in each region have unique features that help them perform their main functions.
Cervical (neck) - the main function of the cervical spine is to support the weight of the head (about 10 pounds). The seven cervical vertebrae are numbered C1 to C7. The neck has the greatest range of motion because of two specialized vertebrae that connect to the skull. The first vertebra (C1) is the ring-shaped atlas that connects directly to the skull. This joint allows for the nodding or “yes” motion of the head. The second vertebra (C2) is the peg-shaped axis, which has a projection called the odontoid, that the atlas pivots around. This joint allows for the side-to-side or “no” motion of the head.
Thoracic (mid back) - the main function of the thoracic spine is to hold the rib cage and protect the heart and lungs. The twelve thoracic vertebrae are numbered T1 to T12. The range of motion in the thoracic spine is limited.
Lumbar (low back) - the main function of the lumbar spine is to bear the weight of the body. The five lumbar vertebrae are numbered L1 to L5. These vertebrae are much larger in size to absorb the stress of lifting and carrying heavy objects.
Sacrum - the main function of the sacrum is to connect the spine to the hip bones (iliac). There are five sacral vertebrae, which are fused together. Together with the iliac bones, they form a ring called the pelvic girdle.
Coccyx region - the four fused bones of the coccyx or tailbone provide attachment for ligaments and muscles of the pelvic floor.
While vertebrae have unique regional features, every vertebra has three functional parts (Fig. 3):
Figure 3. While vertebrae have unique regional features, every vertebra has three main parts: body (purple), vertebral arch (green), and processes for muscle attachment (tan).
a drum-shaped body designed to bear weight and withstand compression (purple)
an arch-shaped bone that protects the spinal cord (green)
star-shaped processes designed as outriggers for muscle attachment (tan)
Intervertebral discs
Each vertebra in your spine is separated and cushioned by an intervertebral disc, keeping the bones from rubbing together. Discs are designed like a radial car tire. The outer ring, called the annulus, has criss-crossing fibrous bands, much like a tire tread. These bands attach between the bodies of each vertebra. Inside the disc is a gel-filled center called the nucleus, much like a tire tube (Fig. 4).
Figure 4. Intervertebral discs (purple) are made of a gel-filled center called the nucleus and a tough fibrous outer ring called the annulus. The annulus pulls the vertebral bodies together against the resistance of the gel-filled nucleus.
Discs function like coiled springs. The criss-crossing fibers of the annulus pull the vertebral bodies together against the elastic resistance of the gel-filled nucleus. The nucleus acts like a ball-bearing when you move, allowing the vertebral bodies to roll over the incompressible gel. The gel-filled nucleus is composed mostly of fluid. This fluid absorbed during the night as you lie down and is pushed out during the day as you move upright.
With age, our discs increasingly lose the ability to reabsorb fluid and become brittle and flatter; this is why we get shorter as we grow older. Also diseases, such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, cause bone spurs (osteophytes) to grow. Injury and strain can cause discs to bulge or herniate, a condition in which the nucleus is pushed out through the annulus to compress the nerve roots causing back pain.
Vertebral arch & spinal canal
On the back of each vertebra are bony projections that form the vertebral arch. The arch is made of two supporting pedicles and two laminae (Fig. 5). The hollow spinal canal contains the spinal cord, fat, ligaments, and blood vessels. Under each pedicle, a pair of spinal nerves exits the spinal cord and pass through the intervertebral foramen to branch out to your body.
Figure 5. The vertebral arch (green) forms the spinal canal (blue) through which the spinal cord runs. Seven bony processes arise from the vertebral arch to form the facet joints and processes for muscle attachment.
Surgeons often remove the lamina of the vertebral arch (laminectomy) to access and decompress the spinal cord and nerves to treat spinal stenosis, tumors, or herniated discs.
Seven processes arise from the vertebral arch: the spinous process, two transverse processes, two superior facets, and two inferior facets.
Facet joints
The facet joints of the spine allow back motion. Each vertebra has four facet joints, one pair that connects to the vertebra above (superior facets) and one pair that connects to the vertebra below (inferior facets) (Fig. 6).
Figure 6. The superior and inferior facets connect each vertebra together. There are four facet joints associated with each vertebra.
Ligaments
The ligaments are strong fibrous bands that hold the vertebrae together, stabilize the spine, and protect the discs. The three major ligaments of the spine are the ligamentum flavum, anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), and posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) (Fig. 7). The ALL and PLL are continuous bands that run from the top to the bottom of the spinal column along the vertebral bodies. They prevent excessive movement of the vertebral bones. The ligamentum flavum attaches between the lamina of each vertebra.
Figure 7. The ligamentum flavum, anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL), and posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) allow the flexion and extension of the spine while keeping the vertebrae in alignment.
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is about 18 inches long and is the thickness of your thumb. It runs within the protective spinal canal from the brainstem to the 1st lumbar vertebra. At the end of the spinal cord, the cord fibers separate into the cauda equina and continue down through the spinal canal to your tailbone before branching off to your legs and feet. The spinal cord serves as an information super-highway, relaying messages between the brain and the body. The brain sends motor messages to the limbs and body through the spinal cord allowing for movement. The limbs and body send sensory messages to the brain through the spinal cord about what we feel and touch. Sometimes the spinal cord can react without sending information to the brain. These special pathways, called spinal reflexes, are designed to immediately protect our body from harm.
The nerve cells that make up your spinal cord itself are called upper motor neurons. The nerves that branch off your spinal cord down your back and neck are called lower motor neurons. These nerves exit between each of your vertebrae and go to all parts of your body.
Any damage to the spinal cord can result in a loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury. For example, an injury to the thoracic or lumbar area may cause motor and sensory loss of the legs and trunk (called paraplegia). An injury to the cervical (neck) area may cause sensory and motor loss of the arms and legs (called tetraplegia, formerly known as quadriplegia).
Spinal nerves
Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves branch off the spinal cord. The spinal nerves act as telephone lines, carrying messages back and forth between your body and spinal cord to control sensation and movement. Each spinal nerve has two roots (Fig. 8). The ventral (front) root carries motor impulses from the brain and the dorsal (back) root carries sensory impulses to the brain. The ventral and dorsal roots fuse together to form a spinal nerve, which travels down the spinal canal, alongside the cord, until it reaches its exit hole - the intervertebral foramen (Fig. 9). Once the nerve passes through the intervertebral foramen, it branches; each branch has both motor and sensory fibers. The smaller branch (called the posterior primary ramus) turns posteriorly to supply the skin and muscles of the back of the body. The larger branch (called the anterior primary ramus) turns anteriorly to supply the skin and muscles of the front of the body and forms most of the major nerves.
Figure 8. The ventral (motor) and dorsal (sensory) roots join to form the spinal nerve. The spinal cord is covered by three layers of meninges: pia, arachnoid and dura mater.
The spinal nerves are numbered according to the vertebrae above which it exits the spinal canal. The 8 cervical spinal nerves are C1 through C8, the 12 thoracic spinal nerves are T1 through T12, the 5 lumbar spinal nerves are L1 through L5, and the 5 sacral spinal nerves are S1 through S5. There is 1 coccygeal nerve.
Figure 9. The spinal nerves exit the spinal canal through the intervertebral foramen below each pedicle.
The spinal nerves innervate specific areas and form a striped pattern across the body called dermatomes (Fig. 10). Doctors use this pattern to diagnose the location of a spinal problem based on the area of pain or muscle weakness. For example leg pain ( sciatica ) usually indicates a problem near the L4-S3 nerves.
Figure 10. A dermatome pattern shows which spinal nerves are responsible for sensory and motor control of specific areas of the body.
Coverings & spaces
The spinal cord is covered with the same three membranes as the brain, called meninges. The inner membrane is the pia mater, which is intimately attached to the cord. The next membrane is the arachnoid mater. The outer membrane is the tough dura mater (Fig. 8). Between these membranes are spaces used in diagnostic and treatment procedures. The space between the pia and arachnoid mater is the wide subarachnoid space, which surrounds the spinal cord and contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This space is most often accessed when performing a lumbar puncture to sample and test CSF or during a myelogram to inject contrast dye. The space between the dura mater and the bone is the epidural space. This space is most often accessed to deliver anesthetic numbing agents, commonly called an epidural, and to inject steroid medication (see Epidural Steroid Injections ).
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What travels by conduction, convection and radiation? | BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Heat transfer by conduction and convection
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Heat can be transferred from place to place by conduction [conduction: The transfer of heat energy through a material - without the material itself moving. ], convection [convection: The transfer of heat energy through a moving liquid or gas. ] and radiation [infrared radiation: Electromagnetic radiation emitted from a hot object. ]. Dark matt surfaces are better at absorbing heat energy than light shiny surfaces. Heat energy can be lost from homes in many different ways and there are ways of reducing these heat losses.
There are several different types of energy, and these can be transferred from one type to another. Energy transfer diagrams show the energy transfers in a process. More efficient devices transfer the energy supplied to them into a greater proportion of useful energy than less efficient devices do.
Heat transfer by conduction and convection
Heat is thermal energy. It can be transferred from one place to another by conduction, convection and radiation. Conduction and convection involve particles, but radiation involves electromagnetic waves.
Conduction
Thermogram of a pan being heated on a stove
Heat energy can move through a substance by conduction. Metals are good conductors of heat, but non-metals and gases are usually poor conductors of heat. Poor conductors of heat are called insulators. Heat energy is conducted from the hot end of an object to the cold end.
The electrons in piece of metal can leave their atoms and move about in the metal as free electrons. The parts of the metal atoms left behind are now charged metal ions. The ions are packed closely together and they vibrate continually. The hotter the metal, the more kinetic energy these vibrations have. This kinetic energy is transferred from hot parts of the metal to cooler parts by the free electrons. These move through the structure of the metal, colliding with ions as they go.
Heat transfer by conduction
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Convection
Liquids and gases are fluids. The particles in these fluids can move from place to place. Convection occurs when particles with a lot of heat energy in a liquid or gas move and take the place of particles with less heat energy. Heat energy is transferred from hot places to cooler places by convection.
Liquids and gases expand when they are heated. This is because the particles in liquids and gases move faster when they are heated than they do when they are cold. As a result, the particles take up more volume. This is because the gap between particles widens, while the particles themselves stay the same size.
The liquid or gas in hot areas is less dense than the liquid or gas in cold areas, so it rises into the cold areas. The denser cold liquid or gas falls into the warm areas. In this way, convection currents that transfer heat from place to place are set up.
Page:
| Heat |
In golf, how long may you look for a ball before it is declared lost? | NWS JetStream - The Transfer of Heat Energy
NWS JetStream
myForecast
The Transfer of Heat Energy
The heat source for our planet is the sun. Energy from the sun is transferred through space and through the earth's atmosphere to the earth's surface. Since this energy warms the earth's surface and atmosphere, some of it is or becomes heat energy. There are three ways heat is transferred into and through the atmosphere:
radiation
convection
Radiation
If you have stood in front of a fireplace or near a campfire, you have felt the heat transfer known as radiation. The side of your body nearest the fire warms, while your other side remains unaffected by the heat. Although you are surrounded by air, the air has nothing to do with this transfer of heat. Heat lamps, that keep food warm, work in the same way. Radiation is the transfer of heat energy through space by electromagnetic radiation.
Most of the electromagnetic radiation that comes to the earth from the sun is invisible. Only a small portion comes as visible light. Light is made of waves of different frequencies. The frequency is the number of instances that a repeated event occurs, over a set time. In electromagnetic radiation, its frequency is the number of electromagnetic waves moving past a point each second.
Our brains interpret these different frequencies into colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. When the eye views all these different colors at the same time, it is interpreted as white. Waves from the sun which we cannot see are infrared, which have lower frequencies than red, and ultraviolet, which have higher frequencies than violet light. [ more on electromagnetic radiation ] It is infrared radiation that produce the warm feeling on our bodies.
Most of the solar radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere and much of what reaches the earth's surface is radiated back into the atmosphere to become heat energy. Dark colored objects, such as asphalt, absorb radiant energy faster that light colored objects. However, they also radiate their energy faster than lighter colored objects.
Learning Lesson: Melts in your bag, not in your hand
Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of heat energy from one substance to another or within a substance. Have you ever left a metal spoon in a pot of soup being heated on a stove? After a short time the handle of the spoon will become hot.
This is due to transfer of heat energy from molecule to molecule or from atom to atom. Also, when objects are welded together, the metal becomes hot (the orange-red glow) by the transfer of heat from an arc.
This is called conduction and is a very effective method of heat transfer in metals. However, air conducts heat poorly.
Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat energy in a fluid. This type of heating is most commonly seen in the kitchen when you see liquid boiling.
Air in the atmosphere acts as a fluid. The sun's radiation strikes the ground, thus warming the rocks. As the rock's temperature rises due to conduction, heat energy is released into the atmosphere, forming a bubble of air which is warmer than the surrounding air. This bubble of air rises into the atmosphere. As it rises, the bubble cools with the heat contained in the bubble moving into the atmosphere.
As the hot air mass rises, the air is replaced by the surrounding cooler, more dense air, what we feel as wind. These movements of air masses can be small in a certain region, such as local cumulus clouds, or large cycles in the troposphere, covering large sections of the earth. Convection currents are responsible for many weather patterns in the troposphere.
Fast Facts
It is not the heat you feel but ultraviolet radiation from the sun that causes sunburns that lead to skin cancer. The warmth of the sun does not lead to a sunburn.
From the American Academy of Dermatology, sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays that reach the earth - ultraviolet A (UVA) rays and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Overexposure to either can lead to skin cancer. In addition to causing skin cancer, here's what each of these rays do:
UVA rays can prematurely age your skin, causing wrinkles and age spots, and can pass through window glass.
UVB rays are the primary cause of sunburn and are blocked by window glass.
There is no safe way to tan. This includes radiation from artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps. Every time you tan, you damage your skin. As this damage builds, you speed up the aging of your skin and increase your risk for all types of skin cancer.
Even on cloudy days, ultraviolet radiation can pass through clouds and cause a sunburn if you remain outdoors long enough.
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On what day of creation did God make the Sun, the Moon and the Stars? | Sun, shine! Moon, glow! Stars, twinkle! - Day 4 - creation.com
Published in Creation 28(3):24–27 , 2006
‘Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. And God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. And God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day’ (Genesis 1:14-19).
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On the fourth day of Creation Week, God made the sun, the moon, the planets, and all the stars—billions of them! He just commanded them to come into being, and they did. How awesome is the power of God!
God made them all for our benefit. The Bible says their purpose was to give light on the earth, with the sun to light up the day, and the moon to light up the night. They were also to be signs to mark seasons, days and years.
The sun and moon—Earth’s special lights
The sun is the huge star at the centre of our solar system. It is so big that if you wanted to fill the sun with Earths, you would need one million of them. It is made up of white-hot hydrogen and helium gases. The temperature at the sun’s surface is about 6,000ºC, while at the centre it is over 15,000,000ºC. (Water boils at only 100ºC.)
The sun’s energy comes from continuous nuclear reactions at its centre that turn its hydrogen into helium, as happens in a hydrogen bomb. Despite this, the sun’s output is mostly heat and light, with little dangerous radiation (and even this small amount is mostly blocked by our atmosphere created on Day 2). This is just right for the support of life on Earth.
Just right for life!
When God made our solar system He did it just right. Earth is about 150 million km (93 million miles) away from the sun. This is exactly the right distance to hold the temperature between 0°C and 40°C on most of the earth. This is the temperature needed to sustain most life. If we were just 5% closer to the sun, the oceans would boil and the water would all evaporate. If the earth were only 5% further away, the oceans would freeze.
Earth’s orbit around the sun is nearly a perfect circle. If the orbit were oval-shaped (like an egg), the earth would become blazing hot as it approached the sun and deathly cold as it moved away from it.
The moon is Earth’s own special satellite. It reflects the sun’s light onto us, even when the sun is on the other side of the earth. It is a rocky place, with no atmosphere and no water, and huge extremes of temperature. It orbits (circles around) Earth every 29½ days. In the days before modern calendars, farmers would count the number of new moons to work out the right time to plant their crops. (In some parts of the world today, farmers still do this.)
If Earth’s speed of rotation about its own axis were much slower than it is, our days would be unbearably hot, and our nights freezing cold. If the rotation were much faster, the wind would blow so strongly that you wouldn’t be able to stand up in the open. The length of each day and night is also just right for the amount of sleep we need.
The pull of gravity on the earth by the moon and the sun causes the tides. (At the beach, when the sea level is high, we say ‘it’s high tide’ or ‘the tide is in’. Six hours later, we say ‘it’s low tide’ or ‘the tide has gone out’.) Tides cleanse the ocean’s shores, help put oxygen (that fish breathe) into the water, and help keep the ocean currents moving, preventing the sea from becoming stagnant.
The huge planet, Jupiter, with its strong gravity, is in just the right position to pull many comets and meteors away from crashing into Earth and killing us all.
God certainly knew what He was doing! He made everything just right. The Bible says that His eternal power and divine nature can be seen from the things He has made ( Romans 1:20 ).
Problems for atheists
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Atheists—people who don’t believe God exists—have huge problems trying to explain all this. How come Earth’s temperature is just right for life, if not due to God’s plan?
The fact that there are several theories (all with problems) as to where our moon came from shows that they just don’t know.
Another question they can’t explain is: why do three of the planets, Venus, Uranus and Pluto, all rotate in the opposite (or retrograde) direction to the other planets? If the planets all formed the same way they should all be rotating in the same direction.
What about the big bang?
Many atheists use the idea of a ‘big bang’ to try to explain how they think the universe formed itself without God. But were they there to see what happened? No! They say that first of all there was absolutely nothing. But then, they claim, all the energy and matter contained in all the billions of stars in the universe was somehow there, squeezed into a single point, which suddenly ‘exploded’. This somehow formed lots of hydrogen gas, which spread out and filled the universe. Then the clouds of hydrogen gas started to pull themselves together by gravity. These clouds got hotter and hotter until they each formed a star. Then these stars exploded and formed all the other elements, like carbon and oxygen, that make up all the stuff in the universe (and you and me).
More problems for atheists!
But where did the first energy come from? How could it all have been contained in a single point? What made this point ‘explode’? And who ever heard of ‘an explosion’ making order and design? What happens when fireworks explode? You get a bang, certainly, but all you have left is a big mess!
There are lots of sound scientific reasons why the big bang idea is wrong, could not work, and simply did not happen.
In fact, it takes far more faith to believe in the made-up story about a big bang than it takes to trust that Almighty God made the sun, the moon, the stars, and everything in the universe the way He says He did in the Bible. After all, God was there, so He knows what happened, and He has told us. ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands’ ( Psalm 19:1 ).
Why did God wait till Day 4 before He made the sun, moon and stars?
Click here for answers
to print the picture for colouring in.
Make your own water to drink
Did you know that if you were out in the bush without any water, you could make good drinkable water from leaves, using the power of the sun? Or you can use the same process to turn seawater into good drinkable water.
What you will need:
A large bowl (or dig a hole in the ground)
A cup
Some plastic wrap (or plastic bag)
A stone
| Independence Day (United States) |
Which toy was originally a Filipino jungle weapon? | Did God make the sun, the moon and the stars on the fourth day? - YouTube
Did God make the sun, the moon and the stars on the fourth day?
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Published on Mar 24, 2010
From our series entitled, "The Biblical Account of Creation: Does It Square With Scientific Evidence Today?", This clip discusses the question: On creation day four, the moon and the stars became distinctly visible from earth's surface for the first time. Did God make the sun, the moon and the stars on the fourth day?
Category
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The sun is 330,330 times larger than what? | The sun is 330,330 times larger than the earth!... Rate This Interesting Fun Funny Fact
The solar system consists of a central star, the sun and the bodies that orbit it.
Topic: Sun Facts |
It takes 492 seconds for sunlight to reach the Earth!
Topic: Sun Facts |
It takes 8 minutes 17 seconds for light to travel from the Sun's surface to the Earth.
Topic: Sun Facts |
The sun is about five billion years old and will continue to shine for about another five billion years.
Topic: Sun Facts |
A comet's tail always points away from the sun.
Topic: Sun Facts |
A lightning bolt generates temperatures five times hotter than those found at the sun's surface!
Topic: Sun Facts |
Lightning Bolts are the same temperature as the surface of the Sun.
Topic: Sun Facts |
The sun measures about 1.4 million kilometres in diameter.
Topic: Sun Facts |
Research has shown that the sun impacts our productivity at work and school. Workers in offices with constant sunlight and large windows have been shown to be both more efficient with their time and more accurate in completing their tasks.
Topic: Sun Facts |
It takes Several hundred thousand years for newly made photons (light) to travel from the core of the sun to it's surface.
Topic: Sun Facts |
Only 55% of Americans know that the sun is a star.
Topic: Sun Facts |
The center of the Sun is about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million ?C).
Topic: Sun Facts |
The sun is 330,330 times larger than the earth!
Topic: Sun Facts |
| Earth |
A 'jiffy' is an actual unit of time. How long? | How many times bigger is the sun than the earth? | Reference.com
How many times bigger is the sun than the earth?
A:
Quick Answer
According to NASA, the sun’s diameter is approximately 100 times larger than the diameter of the earth. The earth would have to be lined up 100 times in order to stretch across the face of the sun.
Full Answer
Compared to the earth, the sun is enormous. The sun measures approximately 864,000 miles and it weighs about 333,333 times more than the earth. A million planets the size of the earth would fit inside a single start the size of the sun. The earth comes closest to the sun in the winter time in the northern hemisphere, and it is approximately 93 million miles from the sun to the earth.
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A group of geese on the ground is a gaggle, what is a group of geese in the air? | Unnecessary Knowledge | A group of geese on the ground is a gaggle; a group of geese in the air is a skein.
unnecessaryknowledge.com
Comments on #88
A group of geese on the ground is a gaggle; a group of geese in the air is a skein.
(1) Comments
| Skein |
If you had a medal depicting three naked men with their hands on each other's shoulders, what would you have? | Goose Breeding for Beginners
Goose Breeding For Beginners
Click here for print version
Goose Breeders Network Of Australia Inc.
The Gossip of the Gaggle
www.goosebreeders.petdirectory.com.au
Introduction
Geese are amazingly intelligent animals. If raised the right way they will become friends for life. Hand raising sexed goslings is the best way to go if you want pets. From a
young age they bond with you and will follow you around like a puppy dog.
Geese can however be very noisy, a gander has a shrill voice & a goose has a more of a deeper horse cry. Ganders are more defensive then geese but usually only when protecting eggs or young. Geese become excited and noisy when confronted by intruders or strange sounds. They respond by making a hissing sound, and for this reason make good “watch dogs”. The Chinese breed has been the most widely used for this purpose, though all breeds are suitable to some extent.
Geese eat all manner of weeds and with a couple of birds in the backyard, you may never need to mow. Geese are not prolific egg produces, laying only 30-80 eggs a year and breed mostly in the spring.
Feeding
Geese are more like grazing animals then any other type of poultry. Their bill and tongue are particularly well-equipped for grazing. The bill has sharp interlocking serrated edges designed to easily cut & divide grass and other plant tissue like a hacksaw. The tongue at the tip is covered with hard, hair-like projections, pointing towards the throat, which quickly convey the pieces of grass and other vegetable material into the throat. This rough covering on the point of the tongue enables geese to bite off plants even closer to the ground than sheep. Because of this, overstocking must be avoided or the ground will become bare. You can supplement the diet with a little bread, wheat or corn or poultry breeder rations from your local produce store. Favourite grass for geese is kikuyu, clover and lucerne.
Housing
An ideal home is a simple shelter housed within a netted pen, leading to a paddock with access to a pond or a small kids paddle pool. People say you can keep geese without a pond, but they love to preen and paddle. They need access to good shade and plenty of fresh water. A shed is not necessary unless you have a problem with dogs, crows or foxes & you would therefore need to secure the birds at night. If you live in a secure, fenced backyard geese will make a nest under a shady secluded spot to lay their eggs. You could also use a dog kennel with shavings or dry grass clippings when the birds are laying. Unlike hens and some ducks, geese don’t lay eggs consistently. You might get 30 - 80 eggs a year, but goose eggs are much bigger. Their creamy flavor is excellent in quiches, flans and custards. A gander isn’t needed for your goose to produce eggs.
Pet list
Toulouse
A heavy breed that originated from France.
Colour; Bill, legs and feet are orange. Plumage various shades of grey, each feather laced with a white edging. Paunch & tail are white.
Embden
A heavy breed that originated from Germany.
Colour; Bill, legs and feet are bright orange. Tight plumage is glossy white. Head is long and strait, bill is short and stout at the base. Body is broad, thick and well rounded.
Sebastopol
Medium size breed originating from Europe near the Danube River and the Black Sea.
Colour; Bill and legs are orange and their eyes bright blue. Sebastopol are known for their long white curly feathers which cover the whole body.
Brown Chinese
A light breed that originated from China.
Colour; Black bill and Hazel eyes, with orange legs, body feathers are brown and lighter on the underside of the bird.
White Chinese
The Australian White Chinese are a light breed that were created & developed by Michael Peel from Camden NSW.
Colour; bright orange bill and legs. Blue eyes, pure white body feathers & a long slender neck
Pilgrims or Australian Settlers
Pilgrim geese are one of the oldest breeds of geese available.
Colour; They are naturally sex linked with the ganders always being pure white and the geese light grey usually with a white head. Pilgrims are classed as a light breed with the females weighing around 5kgs and the males 6kg.
EXTRA INFORMATION
It only takes a goose twenty minutes to digest food and then excrete it, so be aware, they can be quite messy!
Geese lay around 15 eggs in a clutch and can lay up to 30 eggs in a season.
They also prefer to mate on water and some say that once geese are mated they are paired for life but they will find another partner if they lose their mate (a bit like us).
The term goose applies to the birds in general, and the female in particular. The word gander is used for a male. Young birds, before fledging, are called goslings. A group of geese on the ground is called a gaggle and when flying in formation they are called a wedge or a skein.
There are light and heavy breeds of geese.
Light breeds are roughly 3 – 5kgs in weight and include Pilgrim & Chinese breeds. Being smaller, they can make a better first time bird as they are not so daunting in size.
They make excellent weeder geese & due to their lighter weight they are less likely to compact the ground. Light breeds mature very quickly.
The lighter breeds are more likely to master flying, so clipping of wings is recommended.
Sebastopol’s are a great backyard breed as they are unable to fly due to their evolved plumage.
Heavy breeds such as the Toulouse and the Embden do require a little more space. These birds take years to mature fully, but once there should weigh over 10kg. They are in general a quiet, gentle and slower moving due to their massive size.
Founding members of the Goose breeding Network of Australia are Dr. Harry Cooper, Mark Tully of Blue Hills Poultry Stud, Jim and Kim Cooney of The Pet Directory www.petdirectory.com.au Dr. John Osgood of Atunga Poultry stud, Mr Matt Selway from Brisbane, and The Tully Family Cooperative.
| i don't know |
Which king is the only king without a moustache on a standard playing card? | Why is the king of hearts the only king without a moustache? - www.smh.com.au
Why is the king of hearts the only king without a moustache?
January 24, 2004
Diamonds, clubs and spades are by association linked respectively with the corruption of wealth, war and death. In contrast, the heart as an organ is pure, open, undisguised - it does not wear artifice - hence the clean-shaven King of Hearts.
Gail Hennessy, Rankin Park
Most standard English playing cards used today derived from the original French models produced in the mid-16th century. For the purpose of mass production, the earliest cards were printed using woodblocks. Disfiguring occurred over the centuries as unskilled block makers distorted the original designs, resulting in hands, symbols of office and other attributes losing their meaning. Among the many distortions that took effect, the King of Hearts not only lost his moustache, but the axe he was originally holding became a sword.
Mary Carde, Cherrybrook
He's waiting for the queen to give him some heirs.
Arthur Grey, Wentworth Falls
What causes the headache you get when you eat ice-cream too fast?
Ice-cream headache is caused by "crossed wiring" or "convergence" in the sensory system of the head. Cold liquids, solids or gases passing over the palate and pharynx stimulate cold receptors there and these send nerve messages to the brain. In the brain, some of these incoming messages inadvertently junction with brain cells that also receive signals from parts of the head that help process the sensation of headache. This fools the brain cells - and hence the ice-cream eater - into thinking a headache is occurring. Ice-cream headache is much more common and intense in people who have an underlying headache disorder such as migraine. This suggests that both ice-cream headache and migraine are at least partly the result of "wiring defects" or an oversensitive sensory alarm system.
Dr Geoff Lambert, Headache Research Laboratory, University of NSW
The dentist's bill for the filling.
Nathan Smith, Bondi
Have there been any documented or anecdotal cases of death from overdoses of wasabi, chilli or other hot spices?
Very improbable. After ingestion just be sure to eat lots of ice-icream as an antidote. Later, when you're in a private, seated position, you'll be so glad you had ice-cream for dessert.
Ken Rose, Chatswood
I recall hearing about a US Marine Corps cadet who was forced to drink a bottle of tabasco sauce during "hazing" (what the Americans call bastardisation) and died.
Julian Mallett, Hughes ACT
Why don't dogs have belly buttons?
They do. Like all mammals, dogs are viviparous; they give birth to live young. When the pup is born the umbilical cord is bitten through by the mother and the remains wither away and fall off, leaving a belly button. The mother licks her pups regularly; saliva promotes healing and in most puppies the hole heals cleanly. It is not always easy to see the belly button in an adult dog and admittedly, dog belly buttons don't look quite like the human version, being basically an elongated scar, often hidden by hair, located just astern of the rib cage.
David Buley, Seaforth
Why do people raise their arms above their heads in victory?
Their sweat has a triumphal scent (it's a little-known scientific fact) and it depresses the opponents even more as it evaporates. The invention of deodorant, however, has made this action obsolete - but the motion and purpose behind it is embedded in the human subconscious.
Catherine Mah, Chatswood
Any answers
- Why do you sometimes feel more energetic and awake the day after a late night than you have all week after eight hours' sleep a night?
- Why is the image of the unshaven male so popular in advertising but deemed unattractive and sloppy in daily life?
- Who was Simon, and why do we have to do what he says?
- Where is the Universe?
- What is the origin of "tickled pink"?
- What and where are the living daylights that people threaten to punch out of you?
- Who determines whether races are run clockwise or anti-clockwise?
READERS' RESPONSES: Email your answers, or any questions you want answered, to bigquestions@ smh.com.au or write to Big Questions, Spectrum, SMH, GPO Box 506, Sydney 2001. Limit questions to one short sentence and answers to a maximum of 130 words, and state your name and suburb/town.
| King of Hearts |
How many noses do slugs have? | OCCULT VIEW » » Playing Card Symbolism Revealed: The Secret Identity of the King of Diamonds
Playing Card Symbolism Revealed: The Secret Identity of the King of Diamonds
PLAYING CARDS Add comments
One-Eyed God Odin
Is there any secret, esoteric symbolism in our common playing cards? Occult significance is known to be found in tarot cards. Standard playing cards are a poor symbolic cousin compared to the tarot. Yet, I believe there exists unrecognized symbolism hidden in plain sight in our everyday playing card.
Playing cards are used for games and gambling, where one interacts directly with chance (or fate). Gambling with cards can be either a blessing or ruin lives. They are used for amazing magic tricks, pretending supernatural powers. In cartomancy they are sparks for the intuition and may even foretell the future. And they are powerful symbolic representations for numerology.
There are commonly recognized correspondences with playing cards:
4 suits for the 4 seasons
52 cards for the weeks in the year
13 cards in each suit match the 13 lunar months
365 days in the years (add the pips)
The modern deck is based on the French design, or as we know it today the English deck. These designs have pretty much stayed the same, following an original pattern, regardless of the maker. The exact shape of the pip or the design of the face cards’ colorful wardrobe may differ, but the essential elements remain the same. Card manufacturers simply follow a traditional design. But is there any hidden meaning in these designs?
King Court Cards
I’ll offer one possibility. Let us consider the king court cards. Tradition holds the cards represent the following historic kings:
King of Hearts is Charles
King of Diamonds is Julius Caesar
King of Clubs is Alexander the Great
King of Spades is King David
The Kings of Spades and Clubs always hold a sword. The King of Hearts has a curious pose, holding his sword behind his head. He is also the only king without a mustache. But the King of Diamonds differs significantly from the other three king cards.
The King of Diamonds is the only king card shown in profile. In addition, the King of Diamonds does not carry a sword as the 3 other kings, but an axe. Why these differences? What is special about this card?
I have a theory. The King of Diamonds does not represent Julius Caesar, but the Norse God Odin!
1. The Rune Ing.
A diamond is the shape of a rune, the Elder Futhark’s 22nd rune “ingwaz” or ing. The meaning of this rune is the Norse god Ingwaz, or Freyr. As the 22nd rune, 2+2 equal the 4 sides of the diamond’s shape. If the diamond actually does represent a rune, what other Norse symbolism is in the diamond cards?
2. Odin the One-Eyed God
In Norse mythology, Odin discovered the runes by sacrificing one of his eyes in exchange for the wisdom of runes. Thereafter he was the one-eyed god. The King of Diamonds has one eye and is gazing at the diamond shaped rune. His hand is raised towards the diamond rune, as if offering it to us. His other eye is hidden from view, for if it was shown eyeless the meaning of the king as Odin would be obvious.
3. The Spear Gungnir
The king cards all hold swords except for the Diamond King. In Norse mythology, Odin’s weapon was not a sword but the spear Gungnir. The King of Diamonds has an axe instead of a sword…a shaft of wood with a blade at the end, which could be a stylized version of Odin’s spear Gungnir.
Why have symbols of Odin offering the invention of runes to humanity? I suspect the designer used Norse mythology to make a specific point. The diamond is also a Masonic symbol used in sacred geometry, and this symbolism really feels Masonic in nature.
Esoteric knowledge came at a cost, especially in the past. Historically those who did not follow the doctrines of church and state were severely persecuted. One could lose far more then an eye…it was truly dangerous. Heresy! The King of Diamonds as a pagan god offering runes means unsanctioned, unconventional or non-Christian concepts. Hence only one side of the king’s face is shown, his public side. The other side, maimed and eyeless, is the side seeking freedom of thought and freedom from authority. And secretly offering it to those who seek the same.
Below is an interesting documentary about the mysteries of playing cards:
6 Responses to “Playing Card Symbolism Revealed: The Secret Identity of the King of Diamonds”
Michelle Colebourn
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What is the only letter in the English alphabet that does not appear in the name of any of the United States? | Dumb Facts » English
Dumb Facts » English
The shortest complete sentence in the English language is “I am.”
The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” uses every letter of the alphabet!
The sentence “Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs” uses every letter of the alphabet and uses the least letters to do so!
The most used letter in the English alphabet is ‘E’, and ‘Q’ is the least used!
Floccinaucinihilipilification, the declaration of an item being useless, is the longest non-medical term in the English language.
Goddessship is the only word in the English language with a triple letter.
A moment is defined as zero seconds long.
The world’s longest-named lake has 45 letters (Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg).
The only words with all the vowels listed in order are facetiously and abstemiously.
In the U.S. there are 18 doctors called Dr. Doctor, and one called Dr. Surgeon. There is also a dermatologist named Dr. Rash, a psychiatrist called Dr. Couch and an anesthesiologist named Dr. Gass.
The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is “uncopyrightable”.
“Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel.
The only word with all the vowels in reverse order is subcontinental.
The longest word in the English language is ‘pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis’ which describes a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of volcanic matter or a similar fine dust.
There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with: orange, purple, and month!
| Q |
"Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a novel, ""Gadsby"", which contains over 50,000 words -- none of them with which letter?" | English Gematria
GEMATRIA
Well, God's done it again. He's brought Himself out from behind the curtain into plain sight. This proof is as recent as the forming of present day English.
God has always encoded the language of His oracles, those who would testify to His reality to the other people of the earth. That testimony started with Hebrew and Abraham, continued with Greek and the Celtic nations until the language of the "end times," now.
What's the language that has been the vehicle of the Testifiers of today? English. English has become the World Language. And just as Hebrew and Greek, English is also encoded to show a supernatural design behind the letters and words.
English Gematria!!
God has done many things to show Himself in every age. The Great Pyramid and the Bible Code could not be understood until our age. The same goes for English Gematria.
Before I go on, I have to tell you that two years ago I was sure that there was no such thing as English gematria. Unlike Hebrew and Greek, English letters don't have numbers assigned. Well, if God hadn't personally assigned numbers, then it wasn't a "true" gematria. Boy, was I wrong! I forgot that God would have a way to show Himself through any world wide language.
Let me share a bit from the Monthly Notes of the British-Israel World Federation, March, 2000.
Is the development of English divinely controlled? Certainly God in His foreknowledge would know the language His People would speak during the various stages of their existence, but does our language develop according to certain principles like the rest of Creation? Is there an underlying numeric pattern?
It has been accepted for many years that Hebrew and Greek, the languages of the Old and New Testaments, have an in built code. The use of the numerical values of Hebrew, Greek and Latin letters to change words into numbers is an ancient science. Is it likely that the main language used by God to communicate His Word to the world for the last almost 400 years would not also be divinely patterned, especially when it seems probable that this will be the language of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns to rule from David�s Throne as the Prince of Peace?
Sir Ambrose Fleming, D.Sc. (1849-1945), called �The Grand Old Man of English Science�. Proposed in a short article last century that English might have a numeric basis. He suggested that our alphabet enshrined the simple, straightforward, logical code running from 1 to 26; the letter A having the value of 1, B=2, C=3 down to Z=26.
Others who have made a study of English gematria have concluded that the English language gives evidence of being part of a gigantic numeric pattern, unplanned by human minds, and being perfected over the course of centuries.
Some years ago Mr. J.P.L. Hughes compiled a leaflet in which he showed that words which were greatly allied in thought, were similarly allied, or aligned, by numbers.
For example:
Britain=73�..United=73�..Kingdom=73
Caxton=77�..press=77�..print=77
Judgement=94�..dispute=94�..innocent=94�..guilty=94
Later on we'll get into much more detail on the �pairing� of words, but here are four main rules that Mr. Hughes found to exist for English gematria. He didn't make these up. They became apparent as he worked the words and numbers.
1-The word total is the same; (as above)
2-The word total is consecutive: human 57, beings 56; stock 68, exchange 67; sun 54, shine 55.
3-Word totals have 100 between: inch 34, measurement 134; Bible 30, Holy Writ 130;
4-Word totals are reversed: son 48, daughter 84; spark 65 plug 56;
Note: TRADE 48, buy 48, sell 48, but profit=84
Les and Nella Harrison formerly of Texas, USA, had also been studying the implications of English gematria. Unfortunately, we can no longer call on Les for mentoring. I have included three other pages of Les' study , but this is part of what they have this to say:
�The English language is living, breathing entity, always growing and expanding. Have you ever wondered how the language of a small island off the coast of Europe became the language of the planet? Consider that the same cultural soil that produced the English language also nourished the great principles of freedom and the rights of man.
When the Romans invaded Britain, there was no such thing as the English language. Celtic, Breton and Gaelic were the major dialects. When in 1066 William the Conqueror crossed the English channel speaking French the aristocracy spoke French, the Church spoke Latin and the tongues of the common people were amalgamated into what was called Middle English. But, the French language was soon swallowed up by English. Henry VIII broke with the Pope and Latin was eradicated. Elizabeth I ascended the throne and the expansion of empire began carrying the English language to the four corners of the earth. Shakespeare, Chaucer and others took the language to dizzying heights.
May we suggest that He who sits upon the circle of the earth and governs the universe with His proscribed cycles within cycles and wheels within wheels, He who gave to Adam the first language has brought this language full circle? Linguists have long had a theory that our Mother tongue originated in the valleys of Indo-Europe. And the tribes scattered north, south, east and west, using different tribal names, speaking different dialects, there remained a residual imprint of the Mother tongue in the brain cells of these sons of Adam. This language that emerged from the Garden of Eden has been retained in bits and fragments in all languages of the earth. Now comes the English language borrowing words from other languages.�
Les Harrison, instead of pairing words, has worked English gematria like Hebrew and Greek. Mostly in those other languages the word values are totaled up and compared to numbers already seen to exist in names, places and even physical measurements of our reality, like the diameter of the moon.
Unlike most of my experience with Hebrew and Greek gematria, which deal mostly with single words, English gematria abounds with three or more word phrases. We'll get into a bit more of Les� work later, but here�s what is included in the B-I notes.
�We know that the number 153 is related to the Gospel Age in that the 153 great fishes of John 21:11 typified the multitudinousness seed through the Messiah, as promised to Jacob, ��in thee (physical seed) shall all the families of the earth be blessed.� (Gen 28:14) Les and Nella have listed a number of English phrases relative to the Gospel Age whose gematria totals 153. They have put some of these phrases into a narrative.
"The Gospel Age preached The Kingdom of God(153) and saw the completion and preservation of The Oracles of God 153), The Holy Word (153). At its commencement the promised Seed of the Woman 153) came as The Revealed Son (153), The Branch � Jesus (153), and The True Light (153) of the world, making available The Water of Life (153) to The Christians (153) who became The Children of God (153) by belief in Him and His Sacrifice on their behalf. During this period also The House of Israel (153) and The Great People (153) Of Joseph s� Line (153) have been a Hidden Witness (153) to the faithfulness of almighty God in keeping His promises to their fathers. In the final outcome The House of Jacob (153) is to become A Purified Israel (153) and the British Language (153) possibly The Last Language (153) of the Age.�
I do have to call your attention to what I feel is the most important 153. The over riding concept of the whole Bible is something that God has been doing for at least 6000 years. It is the reason for the earth's and eventually man's creation. Some would like to think that God's purpose for the earth and man is the salvation of man. If that were true, then the Bible would talk a lot about salvation. Did you ever notice how little Jesus talked about salvation? Follow Jesus' life and preaching and you'll find almost nothing about salvation, but that he went "casting out demons and preaching THE KINGDOM OF GOD." God has been getting the earth and mankind ready for His Kingdom.
God's main purpose, for the creation we know, is to get ready for His Kingdom. And we see this confirmed in the very first 153 in Les' paragraph above. "The Kingdom Of God" has an English gematria value of 153. He really knows how to fill in the details, huh?
Like I said, English Gematria is really new to me, but for the last 5 years the tag on my email has said, �Faith is a Verb. Many have responded positively to that. Les took it a step farther. He did EG on, �The Faith is a Verb.� This is probably the second most important concept of Christianity, the resurrection being the first. It is the basic message to the Church, and for the Church to disseminate. The only way that we can help God with His Kingdom is by becoming God-beings, "immortal, incorruptible". The EG for �The Faith is a Verb� is 153! ! ! You want to explain that through some natural process?
Les had put together a 153 list of over 1700.
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When the end of the world comes, it'll come in English. Jesus� 1000 year rule of The Golden Age will be lived in English. Do you suppose that happened by chance? What if there IS a God? Do you think the God described in the Bible wouldn't be in control of something that affected His whole creation? If you were God, and wanted to give some message to people, wouldn't you use ALL the parts of your creation, but especially the way people communicate? We know English is the world tongue. If there�s a God, we'll find His tracks in the world language. So by discovering supernatural design in English, we confirm God�s reality.
In this next section we're going to look at some more of Les� work, and another email friend, Paul Remlinger. He has added a couple of very interesting facets to the study. He�s brought in time and measurement; minutes, hours, feet, inches. Here�s a little taste of Paul�s work. Then I'll explain his way of lining things up.
In effect, he shows that 153=63=36=360=151, and 1=34=360=43=77. Confused?
Starting with the word �divine�, which equals 63, Paul uses the words �sixty-three� to get 153. �Sixty-three is the �reflective wording� (Jesus is the Reflection of the Father) of �three sixty�---->(points to) �360�, which, of course, is the number of degrees in a circle which is like God in that it has no beginning and no end. Note �36: in �360�;�36 is the �reflection� of �63;�the 36th sequential prime number is �151�; �Jesus Christ�=151; �Holy spirit�=151; �The Holy Father�=151; �Jesus is Lord�=151; Christ the King�=151.
Now the next set of equalities:
�The Bible tells us that God is ONE. �ONE�=34; note that 3_4 is like 3_60, as �four�=�60�. I have discovered a great deal of information which supports that Jesus Died on �4/3� �note �43� is the �reflection of �34�. You see 34+43=�77�; �Christ�=�77� (note the �Reflection� numbers); it is also very interesting to note the value for �Power�=77; �Glory�=77.�
The main thing to notice in these exercises is that the numbers always seem to get back around to God, Jesus and the Gospel. Time after time we wind up with 151, 153, 74, 77 or combinations of these numbers. Does that happen by chance?
As you can see, Paul uses some apparent processes that seem to underlie the word values. Some of these processes, like connecting two numbers that are reversed, will be seen in the next section on pairing numbers. Paul changes numbers into their words. He reverses numbers. He combines a number and a number word. He even brings in prime numbers. He also notices when numbers made up of the same digits pop up,like 293 and 329, terming them as the same number �scrambled.� One last property that Paul noticed was the canceling of 9�s.
This next paragraph contains all these features and you may have to reread it several times to sort it all out, but it shows some startling relationships. It establishes the connection of 93, 293, and 279 to Christ.
�The earth is positioned �93� million miles from the sun; our orbit takes us �93� on each side of the sun; so, our solar diameter is �2_93�s� (=186, which --> the speed of light, at 186,000 miles a second). Jesus represents Pisces; Jesus is The �Son� of God; so, the sign is like The �Son�; with �93� on each side of Pisces we would have �93� on each side of The �Son� in the same way that we have �93� on each side of the �sun� �.(sign symmetry) all we have to do is examine our bodies to determine the symmetry in God�s handiwork; �age symmetry�=�151�; realize �two 93�=�151; �mirror imaging�=�151�. �God�=26; but recall �G_O_D�= �7_15_4� --> �7154�. Now note 186 divided by 26 =7.1538461�.I would say that�s �pretty close� to '7154.'�
Paul has worked out 9/29 as Jesus� birth date. I agree. It has long been postulated that Jesus was born on Rosh Hashanah, which is at the end of our month of September.
� By canceling the 9�s from 9/29, we're left with �2�. Jesus is �2��.i.e. �the Second�(=93) Divine Person In God; with Jesus being born on 9/29, realize that �9/30�, was �the second� (93) day of His life. Counting 9/30 as day 1, there are �93� days left in the year; then, there are �93� days to �4/3��.the day of Jesus� Death; I believe Jesus was Conceived on 12/25; measuring from 12/25, counting 12/25 as day 1, then 9/29 is the 279th day; realize that 279 is �3_93�s�; note the value for �two seven nine�=�165�; �Resurrection�=�165; Jesus is The Resurrection; Birth is like resurrection; �2_79 can point at �2_79;s�; realize �Virgin�-79 and �Mother�=79. Here we have �2_79�s�. So, note that �Virgin_Mother -->79_79-->�7_7=�77� after canceling the 9�s; recall �Christ�=�77�!!!!
Realize the zodiac exists about �8� degrees above and below the ecliptic; �8� is a number for Resurrection; so, the zodiac itself points at �2 Resurrections�(=186)..!!! also, �eight�=49; �forty 9� =93; so, �8_8� --> �49_49�--> �93_93� -->�2_93�s� --> 293; also note, 93_93-->�33� after canceling the �9�s�; Jesus died at �33�; again �thirty three�=156; [here�s where Paul uses measurement and time] 15�-6� =186�;�.15:06=3:06 p.m.; 3hours 6 minutes=186 minutes.
Realize that there are �151� minutes left in the day at �9:29: p.m.; recall �The Holy Father�=151; �Jesus Christ�-151; �Holy spirit�=151; �Jesus is Lord�=151 �Christ the King�=151.�
I want to include some of Paul's 293's.
Revealing the Plan of the End Time=293
A sign of God's heavenly presence=293
Revelation of Jesus Christ=193
The secret numbers of Christ=293
God's secret number for mankind=293
The star pointing at Christ=293
That pretty well locks down 93 and 293. Let�s move on to some more 279�s.
�I also wanted to tell you a little more regarding �Virgin_Birth-->79_79-->2_79�s-->�279� I believe that �279� is the number of days in the perfect gestation period. Recall how I was telling you that 9/29 is the 279th day measuring from 12/25. The Perfect Christ would have a perfect gestation period. Recall 79_79-->�7_7� --> �77�, and �Christ�=�77�; and Christ was Born on the �7th� day of the �7th� sign; and that �seventh�=93.
�Virgin Mother�=158; realize that 158th prime number=�929�!!!! 1_58 is like 1-2 as �two�=�58�, 1-2--> 12,. Jesus is �2��i.e. �The Second� (=93) Divine Person in God; realize �fifty 8�=74; �Jesus�=74!!! Recall that it was a �star� (=58) which lead the 3 wise men to Jesus. �A_star�-->�1_58�-->�158�!!!!� That's Paul Remlinger. Neat stuff, huh?
Isn't it amazing how the different facets of Jesus keep coming back around to numbers about Him?
To finish out this section, I want to share a few 279�s that Les Harrison included on a list of 194 phrases he sent me. These just absolutely amaze me. When we get up as high as 279 there�s room for a lot more than a couple or three words. Some of these are complete sentences, but more than that, they are direct, relevant quotes out of Scripture. The direct quotes are marked.
�King of Kings and Lord of Lords� 1 Tim 6:15
�Jesus Christ. The Son of God.� Mark 1:1
I am the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Exodus 3:14-16
The Branch-Lord Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 33:15
�I will make of thee a great nation.� Genesis 12:2
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
My sheep knoweth my voice.
�And lo, I am with you alway(s).� Matthew 28:20
�I will betroth thee unto me.� Hosea 2:19-20
�Many are called but few are chosen.� Matthew 22:14
Well, is God in the modern English language or not? You know, 200 years ago many words were spelled differently. It is present day English that makes these connections. God didn't come out of English until it was the language of the world.
Now just so the cynics wouldn't be able to blame religious fervor or fever on English gematria, God left his stamp on the secular side of English, too. That�s in the next section.
I've got a lot of words to speak in this section. I'll be doing that in the language that God set up for this time in history. How do I know God set up English? Because of a number design built into English. A number design that no number of humans could get together and create. Common words that connect by context or similarity, also have connecting number values. The simple assignment of the numbers 1 to 26 to the letters of the English alphabet results in some startling relationships. No matter what you label the box, many of the basic words in that box will have number values that connect. It's English gematria.
We'll be looking at many different �boxes� of words in this section, but the main focus should be on the historical timing of the development of English. Most of the words we have here were spelled differently or even non-existent 300 years ago. Well, then how can all these relationships occur?
A guy named John P. Hughes wrote a small book sometime after WWII called �ABC-Arithmetic-Gematria. I have my friend Les Harrison to thank for making me a copy. I hope you can find this writing somewhere. It'll be worth the search.
On page three, Hughes defines gematria in a way that I hadn't heard of, even though I've been studying Greek and Hebrew gematria for years. Instead of comparing the number values of words to existing numbers, Hughes looks at how words pair, connect, match or reflect otherwords. Here's the definition.
GEMATRIA�A cryptograph in the form of a word, the letters of which have the numerical value of the word taken as the hidden meaning � also � the cabalistic method of explaining the Hebrew Scriptures by means of the cryptographic significance of the words.
In other words, when we add the assigned number values of the letters in a word, we get a word value. This word value may relate to some known number, real or symbolic. For a better understanding of gematria, I invite you to look at some of my other pages in the Numbers section of my site.
As mentioned above, Hughes found certain consistent relationships of words and numbers. He has stated these as Rules, but don't mistake this for something he has made up. These relationships occur regardless of Mr. Hughes' work.
1-The word total is the same; Ocean (15+3+5+1+14)=38�..tide (20+9+4+5)=38
Tides=57��moon=57 Germs=62�..disease=62�..plague=62
2-The word total is consecutive: human 57, beings 56; stock 68, exchange 67; sun 54, shine 55.
3-Word totals have 100 between: inch 34, measurement 134; Bible 30, Holy Writ 130;
4-Word totals are reversed: son 48, daughter 84; spark 65 plug 56;
Note: TRADE 48, buy 48, sell 48, but profit=84
Hughes goes on to give us some other indications of how words pair.
�Taking into consideration the thousands of words in our language and the complexity of the design needed to incorporate them all into a numeric pattern--words pair with remarkable frequency in accord with their closest affinity. The main categories being GREATNESS, EXCLUSIVITY and MULTIPLICITY."
The greatest Stock Exchange in the world is Wall Street. Already mentioned is Stock=68, Exchange 67. But here�s a part of this study that departs radically from Hebrew and Greek gematria I've studied; the words can �build up.� Watch this.
"Stock Exchange = 135 (68+67). This matches Wall Street, which is also on 135. We can even throw in what they do on Wall Street. Speculation is on 135.
Moving on to Exclusivity we find the words �akimbo�, �Tally Ho�, and �Homing�. These words are used almost exclusively with the words �arms�, �hunting� and �pigeon.� Before leaving the word �arms,� let�s notice the connection to �Mars� 51, �Arms� 51 and �Canals� 50.
Now Multiplicity. Associated by largeness of number.
In all probability �Wheels, Money and Balls� would be the things mostly �Round� in the �World,� which itself is, broadly speaking, �Round�. Round, wheels, money and world are all on 72, while ball is on the reverse, 27.
The word �ball� (27) which pairs in reverse with �round� (72), pairs on its own number with �dance� (27)
The next way that words pair up in context is by being Alternate or Similar. Alternative and Similar words of close affinity provide an abundance of pairing such as:
72 quiet, 72 still; 52 create, 52 form; 86 sibilant, 85 hissing; 62 pause, 62 rest; 50 open, 50 frank.
In our English language we speak of Might and Main, of Neck and Crop, to Join and Quit. These, and many others, all line up.
57 Might, 56 and Main; 52 Neck and, 52 Crop; 67 Join and, 67 quit.
Then we say:
74 Eye for, 74 Beauty; 62 Right, 62 as Rain; 54 Fall in, 54 Love.
See how our general usage of words all fits into numeric harmony:
86 Token of, 86 Respect; 68 Passage, 68 of Time; 83 Margin of, 84 Profit; 77 Arts and, 77 Sciences; 85 Silver, 86 Tongued, 87 Orator.
Before we get into the next part about word pairings building up to form a little story, I want to present a little quiz. The object of this quiz is not to test you knowledge, but to emphasize the fact that historical events, scientific discoveries and the development of English are not historically linear. Some things have happened before they were �supposed� to.
You certainly aren't expected to give precise answers to these questions, just have a vague understanding of when in history they fall.
1-When did the word �longitude�, in its present form, begin to be used?
2-How long has the concept of longitude existed?
3-How long ago was Greenwich established as �Time Zero�?
4-How long before �Time Zero�, did Greenwich exist?
5-Did the word �longitude� reach its final form before the establishment of the �Time Zero� location?
6-How many degrees in an hour of longitude: What do we more commonly call these hour segments?
Now for some answers in the form of word parings. We'll see that some of these things are �out of time.� Notice how the whole buildup tells the story of Greenwich and the hour time zone.
Fifteen=65, Degrees=63; 128 Fifteen Degrees, 128 of(21)Longitude(107);
145 East(45) or(33) West(67), 144 From(52) Greenwich(92).
The parings of Degrees, Longitude and Greenwich which the reader may guess as being indicative of world time zones, fifteen degrees of longitude to one hour of time, calculated from Greenwich, was predestined as the zero longitude point for the setting of the world�s clocks. Quite a story can be built up on the Greenwich theme. Longitude is found aligned with Time Zone on 107! ! !
Now let�s relate this to our quiz. Modern longitude is only some two hundred years old. The Royal Navy offered 20,000 Pounds to the person first able to accurately determine Longitude. This was done by inventing a spring driven clock accurate enough to tell time from the point of origin. Greenwich was adopted as Time Zero after the establishment of the modern longitude system. Greenwich was established before its assignment as Time Zero. The English alphabet we use today came into existence 350 years ago, when the letter �J� became a permanent part of the alphabet!!!! Some of these words were able to pair up before they even existed!!!How could that possibly be?
THE CREATOR OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED OUR LANGUAGE
One more anomaly before we go on. How long have witches been riding broomsticks?
Why do we find Witch paired with Broom on 63, with Stick on 62 and Riding on 61?---which adds up to this alignment:
124 Witch Riding, 124 Broom Stick
Because at some past time the idea, which is numerically paired, was projected into the mind of man!
Then in the plural or possessive form this quartette is found:
87 Witches, 87 Seething, 88 Cauldron, 88 Decoction.
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Now let�s take the time anomaly back to Biblical times, before there was even an inkling of English. In Genesis, God promises Abraham certain things regarding his son-to-be-born Isaac. Isaac would be the father of a multitude of seed, and they would "possess the gate(s) of them that hate him." Later on, Abraham is stopped in the act of sacrificing Isaac and a ram is substituted. Gate, Isaac and Seed are all on 33, while Ram is on 32.
As a plan MUST PRECEDE a finished object, English words must have been planned thousands of years ago. God knew that Isaac, Seed and Gate would pair in 20th Century English and used wording in the original Bible text that would evolve to bear witness today.
In the Box labeled �Jacob� we find 31 Jacob with his father-in-law 30 Laban. Jacob had a Name(33) change. 64 Jacob Name, 64 Israel. His family became the 64 Chosen people.
Now on to Moses. 71 Moses, 72 River, 73 Egypt. 135 The Laws of God, 135 Mount Sinai, 134 2 Stone Tables, 134 Commandments; 73 Decalogue, 173 Ten Commandments.
Whilst the object of this narrative is to present numeric proof of the main features of God�s dealings with man, do not assume that this covers ALL the Bible gematria. It appears everywhere. To quote a few at random:
Marah 41, Bitter Water 141 (Ex 15:23); the greatest biblical Haircut 80 was that of Samson 81; in a consecutive run of four numbers comes inference regarding the fall of the Walls of Jericho (Josh 6:4-5); The people were to march around Jericho Seven Times then the walls were to fall. They did!
65 Seven, 66 Times, 67 Walls, 68 Jericho.
Here�s three for Solomon:
104 The Temple, 104 Jerusalem, 103 Solomon.
The prophet Elijah has many pairings.
52 Carmel, 52 Altar; 68 Trench, 67 Water; 76 Bullock, 76 Evening; 145 Fire from Heaven, 45 Elijah; 143 Translation, 143 Prophet Elijah.
There�s a whole bunch of pairings around Jesus� birth. I'll only give you a few.
167 the Forerunner, 167 John the Baptist, 167 Elisabeth Zacharias; 135 Annunciation, 136 Virgin Mary; 51 Great, 50 Joy, 122 Good Tidings, 122 of Great Joy; 49 Lord, 49 Born, 49 Sing, 49 Carol; 78 Little, 78 Bethlehem, 77 Ephratah (another name for Bethlehem); 79 Virgin, 79 Mother, 158 Virgin Mother, 57 Mary, 215 Virgin Mother Mary, 214 foster Father Joseph. There�s� more.
57 Mary, 57 Birth; 56 three, 56 Wise; 91 The Star, 91 3 Wise Men; 120 Gold Myrrh, 119 Frankincense. And lastly, 239 the Gifts of the 3 Wise Men, 239 Gold Frankincense Myrrh.
Greatness or Exclusive Use have been stressed as means of pairing words. Nowhere could this apply better than in words that mean so much to a Christian.
MESSIAH---
The Anointed One, Christ, The savior of the World, Deliverer---
all are embodied in this word.
Divine Gematria does not fail in aligning this word�see how it totals up together with The Undoubted Claimant to the title: M13, E5, S19, S19 I9, A1, H8=74 paired with J10, E5, S19, U21, S19=74
JESUS is the MESSIAH, He was crucified on a CROSS, gave us His GOSPEL, spoke in PARABLES, He is to be RULER. Second Person of the Trinity, He is the SON OF GOD. See how 74 aligns all of these essential points regarding JESUS the MESSIAH.
74 JESUS, 74 Messiah, 74 Son God, 74 Cross, 74 Parables, 74 Ruler.
Look at the connections in 74 Gospel 74 According 74 To St. 47 John.
Many of the doings and sayings of Jesus align perfectly as if in accord with numeric planning, here are a typical few:
84 Sermon, 83 Mount; 56 Yoke, 56 Light; 63 Abraham�s, 64 Bosom; 69 Serve, 69 Mammon.
The betrayal and crucifixion of Christ has many pairings also.
94 Betrayer, 94 Iscariot; 177 Governor of Judaea, 177 Pontius Pilate; 77 Christ, 78 Crucified;
Blood money of, Judas Iscariot(149) bought the, Potter�s Field(149). Jesus Christ(151) was The Sacrificial Lamb(151). He gave His Self(42), to Pay(42), for Sin(42).
Going forward in time, Luther of Germany protested against Roman Church indulgences and pardons, claiming that justification by faith alone was the right of every sinner. The scriptures were his guide.
84 Luther, 83 Germany: 148 Protestant, 148 Scriptures.
John Wesley 89 is always associated with 89 Revival.
With the advent of the machine age, human knowledge, static for thousands of years suddenly launches out---even into space. Gematria gives many clues that God has raised up men through whom He would impart knowledge. Apart from this task they no doubt will be assessed on their normal private lives, together with all humans.
From the many hidden in our language, let us examine a few.
--James Watt 112, perfected the Steam Engine 112
--George Stephenson 192, is reverse to Locomotive 129, which aligns with Railway Line 129.
--The law of Constant 108 Volumes 107 was propounded by Frenchman Gay Lussac 108, born at St. Leonard 108, France.
--Newton 91, is with Gravitation Laws 191.
--Caxton 77, Print 77 and Press 77 all line up.
--Joseph Lister is rightly with Absorbent Gauze 156
--John 47 Logie 48, build up to John Logie Baird 129, to pair with Television 130.
--Law 36 goes with Scotland Yard 136. We also see 136 fingerprint, 137 Impression, and 138 Identification.
--The Brother 86 of Wilbur 85 Wright 85 was the first Aviator 86 to fly a power-driven Aeroplane 87. Aeroplane 87 even reverses to his name, Orville Wright 178. Wright and Ktty both make 85, Hawk and Fly are both 43 � so the bare facts emerge:
Wright Fly 128, Kittyhawk 128. The first flight was made at Kittyhawk, USA.
ONE WORLD LANGUAGE
God must have taught the art of speech to Adam. In common with all divine creations, this language no doubt was based on numbers.
The one world language continued until the building of the Tower of Babel. About this time two important things occurred�Language was confounded (Gen 11:7), and Earth was divided (Gen 10:25). Was the land mass pushed apart?�and is that why peoples far apart geographically have many words much the same? Such as Daughter in English being Dottir in Iceland, Doche in Russia, and Dukhtar in Persia.
Is it possible that in Modern English, human speech has arrived back at its starting point? Maybe we have the OLD SOUNDS and NUMBER VALUES but with NEWLY SHAPED LETTERS. English is commonly thought of as a mixture of many languages. Can it be that all the correct words are flowing back into one language again� Modern English? This could well explain the Arithmetic in our words.
The Etymology (meaning the origin of words) of English comes via the West Germanic branch of the great Indo European language group as we see prophesied by gematria. By what chance in a thousand do we find these three paired words?
137 Etymology, 137 Indo European, 137 West Germanic.
Holy Writ prophesies a time of Restoration of all things. Zephaniah 3:9 speaks of a Pure Language being given to the people, closely associated with the time of Judgment of the Nations.
English has a 26 Letter Alphabet. See how the mark of God is put on this number by His Name in simplest form.
G7, O15, D4=26
By the spelling out of this number, amazing pairings appear.
159 TWENTYSIX, 159 HOLY LETTERS, 159 INSPIRED ALPHABET.
Adding the definite article �the�(33) we get TheTwenty-six Holy Letters, 33+159+159=351.
This number provides the seal of inspiration for there we get the ALPHABET TOTAL. This is the sum of all the letters of the alphabet being added consecutively;1+2+3+4+5+6+7, etc.
351 The Twenty-six Holy Letters, 351 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.
English is now spoken by over 2 billion people A greater number than any other language
Over 15 years and 30 some radio shows, I've demonstrated that Britain, the USA and northwest Europe are the Lost Ten Tribes of the House of Israel, beyond even unreasonable doubt. It took lots of Bible and History study to prove it. All along, the confirmation was right there in the English words that appear in the box labeled �Lost Tribes.� The leaders of the Lost Tribes are Joseph�s sons Ephraim and Manasseh.
While the identity of Israel becomes lost to the world, Old Testament prophets, particularly Isaiah, give pages of prophecy regarding the future of God�s ancient people. It is strange to find Israel addressed in this way: �Listen O ISLES unto Me." (Is 49:1)
Regarding the promise of God to gather �scattered� Israel as a shepherd does his sheep��declare it in the ISLES afar off� is also part of Jeremiah 31:10. Again in Isaiah 41:1 �Keep silence before Me, O ISLANDS and let the people renew their strength.�
Is it not likely that the continual use of the words ISLES or ISLANDS acts as a clue to lost Israel�s whereabouts? Could the ISLES be the BRITISH Isles? I'll not go into the history here. My Lost Tribes pages are the place to go for that, but here are a few parings.
64 Israel, 64 Isles; 85 Of Israel, 85 British.
Israel, is the divorced, desolate wife of Jehovah.
124 Desolate Wife, 124 Great Britain.
British Israel is the term usually applied to the teaching that the Anglo Saxon Race in the British Isles, are the modern descendants of the 10 Lost Tribes. All of these points find their alignment of 149!!! To which may be added, USA is Manasseh and Correct Teaching.
149 British Israel, 149 Anglo Saxon Race, 149 British Isles, 149 10 Lost Tribes, 149 USA is Manasseh, 149 Correct Teaching. This does not exhaust the list.
But this divorced, desolate wife has children. In Isaiah 49:20 comes mention of the elder child who broke away from the parent nation: �The children which thou shalt have after thou has LOST THE OTHER�.�
A separate destiny was prophesied for the elder of Joseph�s two sons. Jacob foretold that Manasseh would become a Great People, whilst Ephraim would became a Multitude of Nations. Earlier, God had promised Jacob that he would be the father of a Nation and a Company of Nations. The wording of Ephraim�s and Manasseh�s respective destinies which were not fulfilled in Palestinian days, become vividly fulfilled if we can recognize that Manasseh today is the Great People of the USA and Ephraim is the British Commonwealth of Nations.
The British and American peoples are fulfilling a role in the world which could well be one of divine planning. There were 13 tribes in all Israel. Only twelve had territory. Levi was the exception, providing all the priests and civil servants for Israel. Manasseh became the 13th Tribe. By Jacob�s action the name of Joseph does not appear in Tribal leadership, but he receives a Double portion by his sons each becoming tribal leaders. Probably for reason of eventual prophetic recognition Manasseh is displaced from 12th position which his age would give him and is made 13th (see the story in Genesis 48:8-22).
Let ABC Arithmetic tell the story. Lost and Other both make the same total, 66, so whichever we attach to the word Child, the total will be 102
102 Other Child, 102 Lost Child.
There were 102 people on the Mayflower. 74 men and 28 women. Men 32 + Women 70 =102. "The People" totals 102. 102 crops up everywhere. Mixing words and numbers we have, The 102 People=204, 74 men 28 women=204.
Puritans, Atlantic Ocean and Mayflower all make 118 and are joined by Manasseh(80)+Boat(38).
118 Puritans, 118 Atlantic Ocean, 118 Mayflower, 118 Manasseh Boat.
Word placing usually suggests which word is to be used for any particular story, and in reference to the breakaway of Manasseh from the homeland come the word Secession on 108, making a reverse pairing with Manasseh 80. Added, the words make 188, significantly next to a man so greatly involved in the establishment of the "Manasseh" nation.
188 The Tribe of Manasseh, 188 Secession Manasseh, 187 George Washington.
The full significance of the making of Manasseh the 13th tribe of Israel is revealed when we see the theme of THIRTEEN breakaway states being carried through the 13 stripes and original 13 stars on the flag, and 13 used so many times on the official Great Seal of the USA.
No matter how great the gentile intake�the God-given inheritance must still stand�if God gave the land to the tribe of Manasseh, so it remains.
13 attaches to the USA many ways. 13th 41 pairs with USA 41. American 64 and Israel 64 (128), matches The 13th Tribe (128).
One thing that makes English gematria so astounding is that modern English didn't exist 200 years ago. Out of the million words in the English language, 100�s of 1,000�s were only added since this country began. And what about the most basic element of the English language? Our language is built on an alphabet that only came into existence around 1650 AD. The letter "J" didn't officially exist as a singular letter until 350 years ago At that stage, our language became a vehicle of God�s Truth.
I'm imagining the scene where they made up the alphabet. I can see the scholars discussing the letters of the other languages, adapting the shapes to their own liking, maybe assigning different positions to some letters.
The one thing I can't imagine is those men giving each letter a number value. I was never told that the English letters were also numbers. We had separate numbers. I've seen Roman numerals. I've know about them since early grammar school. If English letters are also numbers, why hadn't I heard about if for the last 60 years? English letters just don't have numbers.
But for a minute let�s pretend they do. For simplicity, we'll just make the value of each letter the same as its position in the alphabet. 1 for A, 2 for B, and up to 26 for Z. To find out the value for the word God, I can add 7 for G, to 15 for O and 4 for D, and get a value of 26 for the word God. But that would only be true for the last 350 years. Even though �God� was around before that, 350 years ago the values of the letter �O� wasn't 15. At that time �O� was only the 14th letter of the alphabet, and �God� would have had a value of 25. Any word that had any letters after �I� would have changed values after �J� was invented by God.
God had to invent the �J� so that in our modern science-oriented age we'd have confirmation of supernatural manipulation of our alphabet and language. By introducing the "J", thousands upon thousands of words now connect by virtue of not only their affinity to each other by meaning or contextual association, but also by their number values.
�Man� and �Eden� (you see that relationship, right?) had different values before the "J". Today they pair up on 28. �Bible� on 29 didn't get near �Holy Writ� on 124. Remember, it�s OK to have values 100 apart. And �Messiah� on 74 couldn't match �Jesus� on 74. �Jesus� couldn't exist.
Now I couldn't lay down English gematria without trying it out for myself. Just at the bare beginning of matching words I discovered some interesting stuff. I urge you to try it. It�s fun. Just pick a topic and start listing all the words that come to mind. Then go back and figure out their values. Don't forget that it�s OK to stick in a �the� or �and� or �of�, or take them out. In a couple cases I even used Mr., Mister, President and Pres. Play around with it.
I started with the subject �War", but that was too broad. Too many large sub-contexts, like WWII, but here�s a few examples:
Battle60 Bull47 Run53. . . =160
Battle60 of21 the33 Bulge47=161
Civil55 War42=97
JFK=33, John Fitzgerald Kennedy=233, The33 Bay28 of21 Pigs51=133.
The Bay of Pigs, Cuba=160, Pres. Jack Kennedy=161
President Kennedy=188
I also went to some basic living. The kitchen brought out bread making.
Bread30 pan31; Bread top=81, crust=81; Heat=34, hot=43; Yeast=70 rises=70.
Knead35 dough55=90; Heat oven=90; Oven rack=89; Baking mold=88.
And lastly, the directions for making bread.
130 How to bake bread
130 Baking a loaf of bread
131x2 water67, salt52, flour73, yeast70=262
131 Rising dough
131 Bake in the oven.
130 A golden brown
YUM!!!
This all started when the astronauts were refitting the Hubble Telescope a few months ago. Space is the name of this Box. Here's an example of the setup.
Space=44
| i don't know |
A group of larks is called what? | WHAT DO YOU CALL A GROUP OF LARKS?
What do you call a group of larks?
Answer: exaltation
A group of lark is called a exaltation. Larks are passerine birds of the family Alaudidae. All species occur in the Old World, including northern and eastern Australia; only one, the Shore Lark, has spread to North America, where it is called the Horned Lark. Habitats vary widely, but many species live in dry regions.
| Exalt |
Which can last longer with out water a camel or a rat? | Group Names Discussion from BIRDCHAT
Bruce Helmboldt starts the thread
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 08:02:47 -0700 (PDT) From: "Helmboldt, Bruce" <
.DLA.MIL> Subject: group names I know that a group of crows is called a "murder of crows", and a group of skylarks (found in Vancouver, BC, and on San Juan Island, WA) is called an "exaltation of skylarks". Does the term "gaggle of geese" apply to wild geese or just domesticated barnyard geese? What's the term for a group of swans? Does anybody else have any group names I can add to my collection of worthless bird trivia? Thanks. 0> Bruce Helmboldt 206-889-7357 _/_)_
.dla.mil / Duvall, WA
Stephan L. Moss adds a few suggestions.
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 09:15:10 -0700 From: "Dr. Stephan L. Moss" <
.EDU> Subject: Re: group names Comments: To: "Helmboldt, Bruce" <
.DLA.MIL> May I suggest two sets of responses, those that are 'real' and the ones that are humorous? Real: a Kettle of Hawks (Where does this one come from?) a Gaggle of Geese less real: a Cawldron of crows a Gulp of Swallows ! ! Dr. Stephan L. Moss
.edu ! ! Administrative Computing Pomona College ! Claremont, CA 91711 ! (909) 607-1734
Terry Ross cites Lipton.
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 15:13:34 -0400 From: Terry Ross <
.LIB.MD.US> Subject: Re: "Group Names" James Lipton's "An Exaltation of Larks" is devoted to these collective nouns, many of which orignated as hunters' terms and have been in the language for centuries. Here's a gleaning from his book: A covey of partridges A murder of crows A rafter of turkeys A brood of hens A fall of woodcocks A dule of doves A wedge of swans A party of jays A company of parrots A colony of penguins A cover of coots A sord of mallards A dissimulation of birds A peep of chickens A pitying of turtledoves A paddling of ducks [on the water] A siege of herons A charm of finches A skein of geese [in flight] a tidings of magpies A cast of hawks A deceit of lapwings An ostentation of peacocks A bouquet of pheasants A congregation of plovers An unkindness of ravens A building of rooks A host of sparrows A descent of woodpeckers A mustering of storks A flight of swallows A watch of nightingales A murmuration of starlings A spring of teal A parliament of owls An exaltation of larks ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terry Ross Visit the BALTIMORE BIRD CLUB Baltimore MD http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/~tross/baltbird.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pete Janzen considers "kettles".
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 15:46:45 -0400 From: Pete Janzen <
> Subject: Group names I think the term "kettle of hawks" probably derives from the visual effect of migrating buteos, especially Swainson's Hawks. Swainson's form large flocks that slowly spin as a group, and often stack up vertically, as well as spreading out horizontally. These formations were apparently much commoner in the past, when populations were larger. I've only really seen this once, as a severe cold front moved through in early October, and we saw a group of about 250 Swainson's. Many other raptors were migrating that day as well. Another interesting trivia fact about these "kettles" is the seperation of the much commoner light phase hawks from dark phase individuals. A very knowledgeable birder from western Ks., present during this event, told us to watch as the kettle passed over, and we would see a few dark Swainson's trailing the flock. Sure enough, after the big group was past, 4 dark phase birds came slowly circling, about a mile behind the rest. Pete Janzen, Wichita, Ks
Macklin Smith replies to Ross.
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 17:56:36 -0400 From: Macklin Smith <
> Subject: Re: "Group Names" Comments: To: Terry Ross <
.LIB.MD.US> Although many of the collective nouns for birds and other creatures have a certain charm, and although some of them are indeed quite old (a covey of partridges, a flock of birds), the codification of these nouns in "An Exaltation of Larks" is somewhat misleading. Some are what might be called "natural words"--words old enough to have lost their stamp of origin in metaphor or the specifics of hunting or husbandry. But most are coinages of a rather fanciful, witty, and often literary sort; and aren't particularly old in the long scheme of things. "A murder of crows," for example, is neither common parlance nor old; nor is "an exaltation of larks" or "a murmuration of starlings"--both of which have all the marks of 18th-c. salon wit (though they could date from Renaissance courtly ostentation as well). If we consider lists like these, we see some relatively authentic (i.e., part of the common language) words, but we mostly see poeticisms. Syntactically, a lot of these simply take a verb and wrench it into a nonce noun ("a paddling of ducks")--I mean, no one except a would-be landed gentryperson would speak like this! More legitimately part of the common language are usages like "a brood of hens" (common, ref. to husbandry) and "a rafter of turkeys" (less common, but ditto); and some based on older metaphors ("a skein of geese"). Anyone can coin some of the more fanciful "collective nouns." A few years ago there was a contest designed to expand the list, and I entered--forgive me my silliness, don't flame me!--"a schizophrenia of Hawk-Owls," "a cell of Red Phalaropes," and "a trepidation of Yellow Warblers," and more. It was fun to dream these up, but that doesn't make them words!!!!!! Macklin Smith University of Michigan
Billie Jo Johnstone stands up for group names.
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 1995 22:24:09 -0400 (EDT) From: "Billie Jo T. Johnstone"
> Subject: Re: "Group Names" --- Macklin Smith wrote: "a paddling of ducks"--I mean, no one except a would-be landed gentryperson would speak like this! --- end of quoted material --- It sounds wonderful. And I liked "a fall of woodcock" as well. I guess I must ache to be landed gentry. Oh well. Billie Jo Johnstone Lebanon, NH
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What is a group of toads called? | So Many Frogs!
A group of fish is called a School of Fish.
A group of geese is called a Gaggle of Geese.
A group of sea gulls is called a Flock of Sea gulls.
A bunch of cows and bulls is called a Herd of Cattle.
But what do you call a group of frogs?
Answer: An ARMY of Frogs!
And what do you call a group of toads?
Answer: An KNOT of Toads!
Wild about Words? Check here for more animal language fun!
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In which county would you find 'The Lost Gardens of Heligan'? | Groups of Frog, Toads and Tadpoles - Forest River Forums
Groups of Frog, Toads and Tadpoles
Groups of Frog, Toads and Tadpoles
A group of fish is called a School of Fish.
A group of geese is called a Gaggle of Geese.
A group of sea gulls is called a Flock of Sea gulls.
A bunch of cows and bulls is called a Herd of Cattle.
But what do you call a group of frogs?
Answer: An ARMY of Frogs!
And what do you call a group of toads?
Answer: An KNOT of Toads!
And what about a group of tadpoles?
Answer: Called a school like fish!
Just thought you'd want to know for future reference.
__________________
2012 Georgetown XL - 378TS 49,900 miles
(2013 - 98 days) (2014 - 117 days) (2015 - 67 days) (2016 - 111 days) (2017 Est 115)
USAF Retired - MSgt
A group of fish is called a School of Fish.
A group of geese is called a Gaggle of Geese.
A group of sea gulls is called a Flock of Sea gulls.
A bunch of cows and bulls is called a Herd of Cattle.
But what do you call a group of frogs?
Answer: An ARMY of Frogs!
And what do you call a group of toads?
Answer: An KNOT of Toads!
And what about a group of tadpoles?
Answer: Called a school like fish!
Just thought you'd want to know for future reference.
Thanks for that information, Iggy. As Johnny Carson would have said "I did not know that." I thought a group of FROGS was called a RALLY or, alternately, a RIOT
__________________
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What do snails do in winter? | What do Snails Eat? - Snail Facts and Information
What do Snails Eat?
Home » FAQs » What do Snails Eat?
What do Snails Eat?
What do Land Snails Eat?
Snails tend to feed on a variety of items found in their natural habitat. What they will actually consume depends on where they live and the species of snail that they are. Some common items for their diet include plants, fruits, vegetables, and algae. Plants that are decaying are often a good meal for them. Seeking for calcium to get a thicker shell, snails usually will eat the dirt.
Most snail species are herbivores, which means they have only a plant diet, but some species are carnivores or omnivores. You will likely find snails around your garden as this offers them plenty of fresh plants and leaves to eat. If you use herbicides or pesticides on your plants you may be causing the death of many snails without even realizing it.
Snails as pests
Large numbers of snails though in a garden or even where farmers are growing crops can quickly become a serious problem. They will consume enough of what it growing to ruin the hard work that has been put into the area. If you are talking about a location where someone is growing food to eat or to sell then their livelihood is also being compromised. This is why people do all they can to prevent snails from consuming the agricultural crops that they are growing.
To be more humane, many that have gardens or farms strive to trap the snails that are in the vicinity rather than killing them. They either release them back into new environments or they will sell them as a source of food. Some of the easiest ways to trap them is to place lids from jars with beer in them in the garden.
For farmers that have too much land to do this, they have come up with another way to prevent damage to their crops. This involves placing 6 inch screens of copper that is placed in the ground. The slime from the snails doesn’t seem to mix very well with the copper and that means they will stay away from the foods that are growing. This process has been very successful.
Snails have to feed on foods that include large amounts of calcium. This is necessary to keep their shell hard and protective like it should be. When looking for food they use their powerful sense of smell to find their food. Snails can breathe through their skin and through an opening called the pneumostome visible on the right side of their bodies. (1) Snails have very poor vision so they can’t see what may be very close to them, but that is compensated with an excellent sense of smell.
Snails are nocturnal so they will be looking for sources of food during the night or during the very early morning hours. (2) They will consume more food at the colder months ahead come. This is so they can store up fat reserves to live on while some they hibernate during the winter.
When food sources are very low in the summer or spring months, they may voluntarily put their body into a state of hibernation as well. This allows them to conserve energy and not need to forage for additional food. This is a mechanism that allows them to be able to survive in difficult conditions of drought. (3)
They have a tongue that is very rough and the technical term for it is radula. They have rows of very small teeth that they use to scrap against the foods they want to consume. When you have snails as pets you want to pay close attention to their diet. If you feed them anything containing salt or sugar they will die.
They are often said to be very noisy eaters. However, the sounds you hear aren’t them consuming the food. Instead it is a part of the body called the radula which is tearing on what has been swallowed so it can find its way to the digestive tract.
(1) http://www.pbs.org/kcet/shapeoflife/resources/snail.html
| they hibernate |
What kind of plant is a prickly pear? | What do Snails Eat? - Snail Facts and Information
What do Snails Eat?
Home » FAQs » What do Snails Eat?
What do Snails Eat?
What do Land Snails Eat?
Snails tend to feed on a variety of items found in their natural habitat. What they will actually consume depends on where they live and the species of snail that they are. Some common items for their diet include plants, fruits, vegetables, and algae. Plants that are decaying are often a good meal for them. Seeking for calcium to get a thicker shell, snails usually will eat the dirt.
Most snail species are herbivores, which means they have only a plant diet, but some species are carnivores or omnivores. You will likely find snails around your garden as this offers them plenty of fresh plants and leaves to eat. If you use herbicides or pesticides on your plants you may be causing the death of many snails without even realizing it.
Snails as pests
Large numbers of snails though in a garden or even where farmers are growing crops can quickly become a serious problem. They will consume enough of what it growing to ruin the hard work that has been put into the area. If you are talking about a location where someone is growing food to eat or to sell then their livelihood is also being compromised. This is why people do all they can to prevent snails from consuming the agricultural crops that they are growing.
To be more humane, many that have gardens or farms strive to trap the snails that are in the vicinity rather than killing them. They either release them back into new environments or they will sell them as a source of food. Some of the easiest ways to trap them is to place lids from jars with beer in them in the garden.
For farmers that have too much land to do this, they have come up with another way to prevent damage to their crops. This involves placing 6 inch screens of copper that is placed in the ground. The slime from the snails doesn’t seem to mix very well with the copper and that means they will stay away from the foods that are growing. This process has been very successful.
Snails have to feed on foods that include large amounts of calcium. This is necessary to keep their shell hard and protective like it should be. When looking for food they use their powerful sense of smell to find their food. Snails can breathe through their skin and through an opening called the pneumostome visible on the right side of their bodies. (1) Snails have very poor vision so they can’t see what may be very close to them, but that is compensated with an excellent sense of smell.
Snails are nocturnal so they will be looking for sources of food during the night or during the very early morning hours. (2) They will consume more food at the colder months ahead come. This is so they can store up fat reserves to live on while some they hibernate during the winter.
When food sources are very low in the summer or spring months, they may voluntarily put their body into a state of hibernation as well. This allows them to conserve energy and not need to forage for additional food. This is a mechanism that allows them to be able to survive in difficult conditions of drought. (3)
They have a tongue that is very rough and the technical term for it is radula. They have rows of very small teeth that they use to scrap against the foods they want to consume. When you have snails as pets you want to pay close attention to their diet. If you feed them anything containing salt or sugar they will die.
They are often said to be very noisy eaters. However, the sounds you hear aren’t them consuming the food. Instead it is a part of the body called the radula which is tearing on what has been swallowed so it can find its way to the digestive tract.
(1) http://www.pbs.org/kcet/shapeoflife/resources/snail.html
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Three types of which plant are termed 'Cactus'; 'Ball' and 'Pompon'? | Dahlia Types
Dahlia Types
Dahlia Types
Dahlia Classifications (Dahlia)
The rich variety of their flower colors, shapes and sizes added to their extensive blooming season, have turned dahlias into a popular addition to our landscapes. There are thousands of varieties of dahlias (!!!) and they are all classified by the shape, size and color of their flowers.
Flowers can be as small as 2 inches in diameter or up to one foot. They offer an impressive range of colors such as pink, purple, red, scarlet, orange, yellow, white and can be stripped or tipped with another color. They can be single-flowering (orchid-flowering, anemone and collarettes) or double flowering (cactus, semi-cactus, formal or informal decorative dahlias, ball and pompons).
Their wide height range can start as low as 12 inches and go up to 6 feet.
They thrive in full sun, prefer well-drained sandy soils although they can grow nicely in heavy clay soils - but adding some sand or peat moss would be a good idea. Tender bulbs, they are hardy to USDA Zone 8 where they can be cut back and left in the ground to overwinter. In colder areas, they will have to be lifted after the first harsh frost and stored over the winter.
| Dahlia |
Which type of fruit could be called 'Cambridge Favourite'; Calypso' or 'Royal Sovereign'? | dahlia types
DAHLIA TYPES
AND
INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DAHLIAS
The dahlia is a flower of many forms, the master of flower disguise and indeed continues to evolve with new developments around 2006.
In order to help identify the many varieties that have existed, attempts have been made to identify characteristics that would allow the flowers to be categorised. This process formed the basis for classification.
In the early days, most dahlias were species types and single flowered. They were mainly grown by botanists in Europe who identified them by their species names.
Eventually hybrids appeared to give rise to Dahlia variabilis, and this began to give rise to identification problems as some flowers now had several rows of "petals". As a member of the Compositae, the dahlia flower is comprised of disc and ray florets, each a flower in its own right, although most horticulturists describe them as petals of the dahlia flower. Once double and semi double forms appeared, other breaks in formation also arose including the pompon type (like the pompon on the top of a sailor's hat) and the collerette type.
By 1900, a few different types were recognised, based on overall shape or colour. Cactus, pompon, single, show and fancy were included in an NDS Guide of varieties in 1904.
During the 1900's more types appeared and by 1950, provisional classifications were possible, but these differed from country to country.
In 1962, at the International Horticultural Congress in Brussels and subsequently at the Congress in Maryland in 1966 an international group of botanists and dahlia lovers (supported by the British, Dutch and American Dahlia Societies) got together to find a way of classifying dahlias in a way that was acceptable to all, and would last for all time.. In order to do this, major and minor characteristics were identified, and classification became a relatively simple matter. This was published in 1969 by the RHS, who had been appointed as the International Registration Authority for Dahlias. To this day, the International Registrar holds a list of all registered dahlias along with much information about them, and in 2003 it holds some 18000 different cultivars.
So what were the major botanical characteristics they defined?
Issues of colour and size were discounted as these could be arbitrary and open to individual interpretation as well as differing growing conditions and climates, and shape was seen to be the defining characteristic. It was essential that a flowchart or decision table of the classifying characteristics be developed so it was not open to interpretation and thus a firm basis for the classification process was found.
Firstly, is the central disk visible (open centred), or is the flower fully double (ie only ray florets visible at the centre). In the case of open centred, the overall appearance of the bloom was then considered.
Secondly in the case of fully double blooms, the folding of the individual ray florets along their longitudinal axis was considered. It could be flat, involute (ie curling inwards) or revolute (ie curling backwards), or even a mixture of these.
As a minor characteristic, the end of any ray floret may be split into two or more divisions. This characteristic was defined as Fimbriation of the petals, and once a flower is put into the appropriate group, the bloom may be sub-defined on this minor character.
The outcome of the discussions was a classification table that had nine clearly defined groups, and a tenth group to incorporate any varieties that did not fit the characteristics of any of the other nine groups. Many of these groups were sub-divided into a set of diameter sizes which were purely arbitrary, but were essentially <4" for Miniature, <6" for Small, <8" for Medium, <10" for Large, and >10" for Giants.
In 2010, The International Register held a meeting with the NDS and the Dutch Dahlia Authorities to put in place a new agreement that could be propagated around the world. As a result of this, fourteen groups were agreed, modifying the 1966 set.
Paeony dahlias have multiple outer rings of ray florets surrounding a disc, ray florets are flat or slightly involute at base and are flat or are to some extent revolute.
Minor Characteristics
Dwarf bedding dahlias which do not usually exceed 609 mm. (24in.) in height.
Liliput dahlias are of exceptionally short growth habit, do not usually exceed 304 mm. (12in.) in height.
Gallery dahlias indicates that these plants grow up to approx 300mm (12in.) in height, and flowers larger than Lilliput dahlias.
COLOURS.
Having determined a classification by shape, an attempt was then made to classify by colour to obtain uniformity of definition around the world.
COLOUR CLASSIFICATION
For the purpose of Colour Classification, all colours, shades, tints hues and combinations thereof found in the cultivated forms of the dahlia have been grouped in the following thirteen classes.
Colour Classification is determined by the predominant colour or colours which appear on the face of the ray florets and in such classification the colour of the reverse of the ray florets is not generally taken into consideration. An exception is made in the case of certain orchid-flowered, pompon or ball dahlias.
In the case of Blended, Bicolours or Variegated varieties the first colour indicated is the dominant colour.
The agreed abbreviation follows the colour.
The numbers in parentheses refer to comparative colour numbers
as listed in the Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.
WHITE. (W.) (155,157,158,159.)
Includes pale cream, ivory and colours that are nearly white or cream.
YELLOW. (Y.) (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19.)
All shades of yellow including dresden, primrose, sulphur, mimosa, straw, lemon, amber yellow, chrome yellow (light) and maize
ORANGE. (O.) (21,23,24,25,28.)
Certain Groups have been sub-divided for classification and these,
with their relative sizes, are as follows:
DECORATIVE (5), CACTUS (8), SEMI-CACTUS DAHLIAS (9) AND FIMBRIATED (11)
A Giant-flowered usually over 250mm (l0in.) in diameter.
B Large-flowered usually between 200mm (8in.) and 250mm (l0in.) in diameter.
C Medium-flowered usually between 150mm (6in.) and 200mm(8in.) in diameter.
D Small-flowered usually between 100mm (4in.) and 150mm (6in.) in diameter.
E Miniature-flowered not usually exceeding 100mm (4in.) in diameter.
BALL DAHLIAS (6)
A Small Ball dahlias usually between 100mm (4in.) and 150mm (6in.) in diameter.
B Miniature Ball dahlias usually between 50mm (2in.) and 100mm (4in.) in diameter.
POMPON DAHLIAS (7)
A Large Pompon dahlias usually over 50mm (2in.) and not exceeding 75mm (3in.) in diameter.
B Pompon dahlias Usually not exceeding 50mm (2in.) in diameter.
DUAL CLASSIFICATION
Certain varieties are borderline in size or form. These have been given dual classification. They appear in each of the relevant group lists.
The use of "Syn" after a variety or cultivar name indicates a synonym, which may be either a horticultural synonym or one where blooms are considered indistinguishable from each other.
For problems or questions regarding this web contact [ProjectEmail] .
Last updated: February 26, 2012.
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The saffron flower often used in cooking is a type of which plant? | How to Grow Saffron - Vegetable Gardener
How to Grow Saffron
Dry the bright red stigmas of Crocus sativus, and you have saffron.
Boyd Hagen
Dry the bright red stigmas of Crocus sativus, and you have saffron.
Photo: Boyd Hagen
Print
Lancaster County cuisine is a humble cuisine. For centuries, our Amish and Mennonite kitchen gardens have produced farmers’ food—basic, unassuming meals that are meant to “stick to your ribs” and nourish your soul. My Mennonite grandmothers were not trend-setting gourmets. They knew nothing of nouvelle brunches, or spa cuisine, or macrobiotic dinners. Our food, here, is not about tarragon sauce and angel-hair pasta. We think in terms of quantity, not subtlety, at our farm tables.
For many visiting food lovers, it comes as a great surprise, then, to discover that our rural Pennsylvania Dutch cooks are connoisseurs of the world’s most expensive and exotic spice—saffron. Elsewhere, this garden spice is often shrouded in an aura of exotic mystery, but Lancaster County gardeners have been growing it alongside the cabbages for centuries.
Saffron usually means classical European cuisine, not American farm food. It is meant for risotto in Milan, and bouillabaisse in Marseilles, and paella in Madrid. But thankfully, it is also meant for chicken pot pie in Lancaster County.
Here, saffron is not the extravagant luxury it is thought to be elsewhere. Roman emperors bathed in saffron-scented waters and carpeted their theaters with the purple blossoms. Mennonites never did all that. Saffron, for us, means food—chicken dishes. This crocus provides the deep yellow color and pungent flavor that is critical for the success of some of our most traditional dishes. Actually, any dish using poultry or egg noodles is fair game for saffron in Lancaster County. Our traditional cuisine calls for this yellow seasoning so frequently that we have been referred to as the “Yellow Dutch.”
The dollars and sense of saffron
My grandparents and theirs before them would have been surprised to hear you refer to their unpretentious garden plant as the world’s most expensive spice. When saffron has been growing beside your wood shed for generations, it seems as cheap as dirt.
It has always made good sense to grow your own saffron. If you have to buy it, this spice truly is as expensive as its reputation suggests. Producing saffron commercially is hugely labor intensive. It takes 75,000 blossoms to produce just a pound of dried saffron threads that wholesale for $70 per ounce.
The saffron crocus, Crocus sativus , is an excellent addition to any landscape in Zone 6 through Zone 9. It pays for its garden space many times over with its burst of autumn color and its grasslike foliage that stays green all winter.
At the center of the purple flowers of the saffron crocus are three red stigmas, which are harvested and dried to produce a valued spice.
Saffron is a crocus with personality. It defies the traditional gardening season by lying dormant all summer, and then, when the rest of the garden is turning black with frost, it pushes its purple blossoms up through the mulch to announce its dramatic presence. Each blossom offers up to three scarlet stigmas, the female reproductive organs, to be picked for the next stew or salad or dessert.
Saffron can be a slowly acquired taste. The flavor is unlike any other, and has been variously described as “pleasantly bitter,” “earthy,” and “briny.” Of course, if you are Yellow Dutch, it tastes exactly as you want it to.
The color that saffron contributes to egg noodle meals can be equally surprising to saffron novices. The ideal is a warm, buttery glow. A cook’s heavy hand, though, can produce a dish that seems more crayon yellow than buttery. But here in Lancaster County, we don’t mind that unusual yellow at all.
Growing your own couldn't be easier
Despite saffron’s exotic reputation, it is child’s play to grow. This species is neither finicky nor temperamental, it is disease and insect resistant, and it requires little attention year after year. Its requirements are simple: Plant the bulbs (technically they’re corms) in the summer, harvest the stigmas in the fall, and if you get around to it, divide the plants every four years or so.
To dry harvested saffron threads, place the strands on a paper towel for several days in a warm, dry place.
Growing saffron does require patience, even if it doesn’t require skill. A standard “starter kit” of 50 saffron bulbs will cost around $40 or $50, and will produce less than a tablespoon of seasoning the first harvest. Each year, though, you get more blossoms and more spice from these bulbs, increasing from one or two blooms per bulb the first year, to eight blooms or more by the third year.
Plant the corms 6 in. apart and 3 in. deep in rich, well-drained soil. Using your 50 bulbs, this will create a saffron bed about 2 ft. by 5 ft. As a bonus, you may plant this bed with summer annuals, while the saffron is lying in wait beneath the mulch for its autumn growing season. My great grandmother, Barbara Stoner, always grew portulaca in her saffron bed, and that combination is excellent for any century. When cold weather begins to nip at the portulaca, you pull it out, and there is the saffron, pushing up for its turn in the October sunshine.
Fresh saffron threads can be used immediately for cooking, or they can be dried and stored. Here in Lancaster County, a folk art form has evolved for the sole purpose of storing saffron. We have created our own saffron boxes—miniature containers, shaped like egg cups, for storing this valuable spice. When these prized antiques show up at auction, they sell for more than their weight in gold.
Drying the saffron threads is a simple process of placing the strands on a paper towel for several days in a warm, dry place. You should then transfer the dried saffron to an airtight container and keep it in on a cool shelf, ready for your next yellow chicken dish.
Containers fit for the king of spices
Lancaster County is a hot spot of American folk art. Pennsylvania German arts and antiques command international attention from museums and connoisseurs who appreciate the timeless quality of our regional craftsmanship.
Our county’s signature spice, saffron, plays a curious role in this folk art tradition. Rural Lancaster County was so fond of this yellow seasoning that around the turn of the century, several Mennonite farmers began crafting saffron boxes—folksy, hand-made containers that resemble goblets with lids.
One farmer in particular, Joseph Lehn, became the master of the saffron box. Lehn was a self-proclaimed preacher and part-time barrel maker who turned to woodworking in the mid 1800s to supplement his income. He became a whiz on the treadle lathe, which he used to turn out egg cups, salt cellars, and most importantly, saffron boxes. Then, like the best Pennsylvania craftsmen, Lehn turned utilitarian objects into folk art by decorating these humble pieces with his homemade paints. His best saffron boxes are smothered in garlands of strawberries, pussy willow, and pomegranates.
Today, Lehnware can no longer be called humble. When a good Lehn seed chest surfaces, no one blinks when the gavel drops at $48,000. Fortunately for saffron fans, Lehn saffron boxes are more affordable. But then folk art is not about money, it is about heritage. And if it is Lehnware, it is even about food.
by Clarke Hess
| Crocus |
Vine weevils attack which part of a plant? | Saffron - Medicinal Herb Info
Saffron
Safflower (safflower is really Carthamus tinctorius L.)
Saffron seed
Description of Plant(s) and Culture
Saffron is a small perennial plant; in springtime, an onion-like corm produces basal, linear leaves which are surrounded as a group at the bottom by cylindrical sheaths. These gray-green leaves have hairy margins and grow to about 8 inches long. About August or September, the corm produces a funnel-shaped, reddish-purple (sometimes lilac or white) flower. These crocus-like flowers appear in late September, and the grasslike leaves can stay green until the following spring and are an attractive feature in the winter garden.
Biochemical Information
When dried, the stigmas produce a glycoside called picrocine which then forms safranal. This has the characteristic smell and the carotenoid pigment of crocine (a very powerful yellow pigment highly valued in the Middle East for the fine quality of yellow dye it yields, even in 1 part per 100,000 it will color water yellow).
Legends, Myths and Stories
The most delicately flavored of all spices. Adds golden color and a wonderful flavor to rice dishes, soups, etc. The most expensive of all spices, saffron fortunately needs to be used only in very small quantities. As a culinary herb, it is used for food coloring.
True saffron is perhaps the most expensive of all plant products because of the labor involved in harvesting and it takes 3 acres of flowers to produce 1 lb. of saffron. It retails for about $40 an ounce! For this reason few dealers stock this botanical. False saffron, or safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is used much like true saffron.
afflower contains 2 coloring principles; the one yellow and the other red. The first is removed by water and used mainly in cooking. The second is used in dyeing fabrics and is easily dissolved out by weak solutions of carbonated alkalies, and is again precipitated with the addition of acid. This property is used to manufacture rouge, and in the dyeing of silk, cotton, and wool.
If you wish to collect the stigmata yourself, be sure to plant thousands of saffron, for 60,000 stigmata weight only 1 pound. It takes 50,000 stigmata to make 1 ounce of saffron spice. The stigmata is a small part of the pistil of the flower.
At one time, saffron was highly regarded for its medicinal properties. In 1597, the English herbalist John Gerard wrote about saffron as being the remedy for bringing a person back from death’s door. Today, saffron is used primarily used, by those who can afford it, in cooking.
Saffron was taken from Arabia to China by Chang Chien, at the same time he took safflower and other Western drugs and plants.
Uses
Saffron has been used, in small doses only, for coughs, whooping cough, stomach gas, gastrointestinal colic, consumption, quickens the brain, jaundice, and insomnia. Used for menstrual pain, menopause, irregular menses, impotence, infertility, anemia, enlarged liver, hysteria, depression, neuralgia, lumbago, rheumatism, and chronic diarrhea. As an ingredient in herb liqueurs, it serves as a stimulant to appetite; it is sometimes made into a salve for treatment of gout. Reliable used for measles, all skin diseases, and scarlet fever. Will produce profuse perspiration when taken hot: useful for fever, colds, cough, asthma, and the grippe. Regulates and increases the menstrual flow. Blood vitalizer, counteracts inflammatory conditions.
| i don't know |
If your soil has a ph of around 4, what colour are your hydrangeas likely to be? | Soil's pH affects color of hydrangea | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Soil's pH affects color of hydrangea
June 15, 2013 4:00 AM
'Nikko Blue' hydrangeas show the range of colors from pink through purple.
By Sandy Feather
Q. I have a 'Nikko Blue' hydrangea that was blue when I bought it, but it has been pink since I planted it near my porch. I know the flower color has something to do with soil nutrients. Can you tell me what to do to get blue flowers?
A. Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) have pink flowers in alkaline soil and blue flowers in acidic soil. 'Nikko Blue' is included in this group. Soil pH measures soil acidity/alkalinity on a scale of 0-14, with 7 being neutral. Higher numbers indicate alkaline soil while lower numbers indicate acid soil. Bigleaf hydrangeas are blue if the pH is between 5.0 and 5.5. The flowers turn pink when the pH gets around 6.0.
The flower color is dependent on the concentration of aluminum ions (Al+++) in the soil. Aluminum is more available to the plant when the soil is acidic, less available when the soil is alkaline. In this case, you should use aluminum sulfate to lower the pH of your soil and supply additional aluminum. Have your soil tested to determine the pH so that you know exactly how much aluminum sulfate to use. It is possible to use too much.
Soil test kits are available from your local Penn State Cooperative Extension office. In Allegheny County, soil test kits are $12 for the first kit and $9 for additional kits ordered at the same time. They come with complete information for taking representative samples and understanding your soil test results. You can send a check for the cost of the number of kits you want to Penn State Extension, Soil Test Kits, 400 N. Lexington St., Pittsburgh, PA 15208. Make checks payable to Penn State Extension.
When you receive the kit, take the sample and fill out the paperwork, then send it to Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Laboratory. The fee covers the cost of the kit and the actual testing. Your only other cost is the postage to send it to the university. The kit is a self-contained mailer with the lab's address pre-printed on it.
Although we tend to have acid soils in Western Pennsylvania, there are situations where the pH can move into the alkaline range. For example, garden beds near cement structures (patios, porches, walls, sidewalks and driveways or the foundation of your house) often have a slightly alkaline pH. This is because lime leaches out of concrete. We use limestone to raise soil pH when the soil is too acid for crops such as vegetables, flowers or turfgrass. If your porch is made of concrete, or there are other concrete structures near the hydrangea, it explains why it is pink now, even if it was blue when you bought it.
Q. My weeping cherry tree has a lot of growth that is growing straight up rather than weeping. Can I weigh them down with something to get them to weep?
A. Weeping cherries are grafted onto a cherry rootstock. They often revert to the straight growth of the rootstock, which is what is happening to your tree. The straight growth can outgrow the weeping portion and should be pruned off at its point of origin. Weighing the straight branches down will not train them to weep.
Most weeping and contorted trees such as Harry Lauder's walking stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'); weeping larch (Larix decidua 'Pendula'); and weeping mulberry (Morus alba 'Pendula') are grafted. Any reversion to straight growth should be pruned out as soon as you notice it.
| Blue |
If your soil has a ph of around 8, what colour are your hydrangeas likely to be? | How to Keep Blue Hydrangeas Blue: 12 Steps (with Pictures)
How to Keep Blue Hydrangeas Blue
Three Parts: Understanding the Science Making Your Soil More Acidic Knowing What to Avoid Community Q&A
Hydrangeas bloom blue (rather than pink) when they are grown in acidic soil. Sometimes hydrangeas will change color over time as acidity levels in the soil change. Therefore, if you want to maintain the blue color of the flowers, you will need to monitor the pH level of the soil and take measures to preserve its acidity. This can be done relatively easily by understanding the science behind it and making necessary soil improvements.
Steps
Understanding the Science
1
Know that blue hydrangeas grow in acidic soil, while pink hydrangeas grow in alkaline soil. Hydrangeas are rather unique garden plants because of their ability to change color according to the pH level of your soil. This means the color of hydrangeas in your garden will depend on how acid or alkaline the soil type is.
The scientific reason behind this is that different levels of aluminum become available to the plant depending on the soil’s acidity level (also known as pH). Acidic soils have a high aluminum content, turning the flowers blue.
An alkaline soil will produce pink blooms in hydrangeas; an acid soil will cause the same plant to bear blue flowers. The exception to this is white or green hydrangeas, which are unique varieties and don’t change color. You won’t have any success trying to change a white hydrangea to pink or blue!
2
Test the pH level of your soil. To see whether the soil in your garden is alkaline or acidic, you will need to test the pH levels. This will help you to predict the likelihood of growing blue hydrangeas.
Soil with a pH lower than 5.5 will result in bright blue hydrangea flowers.
When the pH is 5.5 to 6.5 the flowers will be an odd purple color.
Soil with a pH higher than 6.5 will cause the flowers to be pink.
3
Use white vinegar to gauge whether the soil is alkaline or acidic. You can get a fairly good indication of whether your soil is alkaline or acidic using distilled white vinegar. Just grab a handful of your soil, pour the vinegar on top an wait for a reaction.
If the vinegar fizzes and bubbles when it comes in content with the soil, this means that the soil is alkaline and will produce pink hydrangeas. The more intense the fizzing, the more alkaline the soil.
If nothing happens when the vinegar comes in contact with the soil, this means that the soil is either neutral or acidic and is more likely to produce blue hydrangeas. [1]
4
Test the pH of your soil scientifically. If you want to find out the exact pH value of your soil, you can test it using an at-home pH testing kit. These are widely available at gardening centers or online - just follow the instructions on the packaging.
Alternatively, you can take a sample of your soil to a local gardening center where they will test the pH of the soil for you.
Part 2
Making Your Soil More Acidic
1
Sprinkle elemental sulfur over the soil. In order to keep your hydrangeas blooming in blue, elemental sulfur should be sprinkled over the soil around the shrub to lower the pH to below 5.5. The exact amount of elemental sulfur required will vary, depending on the soil type and how much the pH needs to be adjusted.
Loam or silt loam soil will require ¾ pound of elemental sulfur to lower the soil pH in a 25 square foot area by one unit. In other words, it will take ¾ pound to lower the pH from 6 to 5. Sandy or sandy loam soil, on the other hand, will require less than ¼ pound of elemental sulfur to lower the pH by one.
Start sprinkling the elemental sulfur about 2 feet (0.6 m) beyond the shrub drip line or outer edge of the shrub. Spread it evenly over the soil up to about 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 cm) away from the stems. This is the area where most of the roots grow and absorb water and nutrients.
Use a small hand rake to mix the elemental sulfur into the top 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) of soil, then water the area generously to help wash the sulfur into the soil. The elemental sulfur will probably need to be re-applied from time to time in order to keep the blue hydrangea blue.
2
Use acidic compost and aluminum sulfate powder. To plant hydrangeas into a garden with alkaline soil and still get a blue flower, you will need to incorporate plenty of acidic compost and aluminum sulfate into the ground when planting and continue with regular applications over the lifetime of the plant.
You can buy acidic compost at the gardening center - it is usually labelled as "ericaceous". Aluminum sulfate is available as a powder from garden centers or online outlets. It’s often labeled as ‘blue hydrangea powder’. Be careful not to apply the powder directly to the root of a plant, as it will scorch the tissue.
Instead, add one tablespoon of aluminum sulfate to one gallon of water and use this solution to water fully-matured hydrangeas throughout the growing season. Don’t be tempted to apply a stronger concentration as this can burn the roots. [2]
3
Apply a fertilizer that is low in phosphorus and high in potassium. All hydrangeas benefit from fertilization. To produce or maintain blue flowers on a hydrangea bush, use a fertilizer that is low in phosphorus and high in potassium.
This fertilizer may be labeled as an appropriate fertilizer for azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons. [3]
Avoid using fertilizers such as bone meal, as this will make the soil more alkaline, undoing all of you hard work.
4
Use organic matter to increase the acidity of the soil. If you don’t fancy using chemicals in your garden, an application of certain organic matters such as grass clippings, fruit and vegetables scraps or used coffee grounds can turn the soil mildly acidic.
Used coffee grounds are particularly effective, just make sure that they have cooled completely before working them into the soil around the base of your plant. [4]
You can also incorporate coffee grounds into the soil when planting a new hydrangea shrub – perhaps ask your local café if you can take some away, they are usually happy to oblige.
Keep in mind that organic matter changes the acidity of your soil more slowly than chemical powders and fertilizers, so you'll need to be patient if you decide to go down this route.
5
Water your hydrangeas with rainwater. Try to use rainwater (rather than tap water) to water your hydrangeas. If you use a hard tap water on your blue hydrangeas, this will counteract the soil acidity and the flowers will gradually turn pink. For information on how to collect rainwater, see this article .
6
Consider growing your hydrangeas in a separate pot. Rather than attempting to change the acidity of the soil in your garden, it may be easier to just plant new hydrangea bushes in a pot containing acidic ("ericaceous") soil.
You can encourage a blue bloom even further by watering your potted hydrangea with an aluminum sulfate solution, as described above.
Part 3
Knowing What to Avoid
1
Avoid planting hydrangeas in chalky soil. Altering the pH of your soil will only work if you have chalk-free soil. You’ll know if you have a chalky soil if you can see white clumps of chalk or flint. You’ll find water drains easily and doesn’t form puddles. The ground will also be very dry in summer, as water drains away without being retained.
If you’re faced with a chalky soil, you won’t have much luck altering the soil pH so it’s best to grow your hydrangeas in containers using purchased compost rather than any dug out of the ground in your garden.
2
Don't plant hydrangeas near any concrete structures. You’ll find that having concrete near your flower bed (such as a concrete fence base or concrete walkway) can affect soil pH. Concrete is likely to turn soil more alkaline, which will hinder the growth of blue hydrangeas. If you can, plant hydrangeas well away from concrete structures to maintain their blue color.
Community Q&A
If this question (or a similar one) is answered twice in this section, please click here to let us know.
Tips
If you change your mind and want to turn blue hydrangeas back to pink, you’ll need to incorporate dolomitic lime into the soil, or use a fertilizer with high levels of phosphorus. Expect to do this regularly over the lifetime of the plant.
If your hydrangea can’t quite decide what color it wants to be (a mix of pink and blue) or it’s purple, then it’s likely your garden soil is quite neutral. To point the color more towards blue, apply aluminum sulfate as described above in a concentration of 1 tablespoon per gallon. Gradually the color will shift towards blue.
Warnings
Unfortunately it isn’t too easy to change the intensity of color in your hydrangeas. How strong or pale the color is depends on lots of factors such as temperature, humidity and the plant’s general health. Therefore, the only way to help the plant develop or maintain a good intense color is by fertilizing it regularly to maintain its general health.
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| i don't know |
If you have a 'Mahonia Japonica', in which season will it be in flower? | Mahonia japonica | CAROLYN'S SHADE GARDENS
CAROLYN'S SHADE GARDENS
THE JOY OF GARDENING IN THE SHADOWS
Archive for Mahonia japonica
Posted in bulbs for shade , Camellias , hellebores , my garden , snowdrops , winter , winter interest with tags 'Blue Lady' hellebore , 'Fly Fishing' snowdrop , 'Rijnveld's Early Sensation' daffodil , Abeliophyllum distichum , Camellia 'Winter's Joy' , Carolyn's Shade Gardens , Edgeworthia chrysantha , Galanthus 'Fly Fishing' , Galanthus 'Standing Tall' , Galanthus 'Xmas' , Helleborus Joker , Helleborus Winter's Joy , Japanese mahonia , Jasminum nudiflorum , Mahonia japonica , Redstart pulmonaria , snowdrop Standing Tall , snowdrop Xmas , white forsythia , winter jasmine on December 29, 2015 by Carolyn @ Carolyns Shade Gardens
Even though praecox means developing early, ‘Praecox’ Christmas rose hellebore is one of the main season varieties that bloom later in January or February. Here it is in mid-December.
Like much of the country, southeastern Pennsylvania, US, zone 6 to 7, has had unseasonably warm weather for weeks. There has been no snow, the ground has not frozen, we have only had 2 or 3 real frosts, not enough to set back the acanthus, and it was 70 degrees F on Christmas Day. It has also been raining for most of two weeks. Quite a change from the last two falls when it got cold in October and stayed that way. In 2013 to 2014, we experienced record snowfalls. In 2014 to 2015, there was not much snow but record low temperatures.
Nursery News: The 2016 Snowdrop Catalogue is posted on our website, and we are taking orders now. To access the catalogue, click here . For announcements of additional spring 2016 events, please sign up for our customer email list by sending your full name and phone number to [email protected]. Let us know if you are local or mail order only and if you are particularly interested in snowdrops or miniature hostas so we can put you on the right email list.
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‘Winter’s Joy’ fall-blooming camellia is not blooming early but instead continuing to bloom beyond when its flowers and buds would usually be frozen and done. It started in October and is about to enter its fourth month.
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Should we be worried? As Mark Rylance, playing a Soviet espionage agent accused of treason, says in “Bridge of Spies”, would it help? Lots of attention needs to be paid to the very serious issue of climate change and what the US in particular can or should do in the face of the incontrovertible evidence of evolutionary temperature changes occurring at faster than evolutionary speeds. But worrying about the plants in our gardens and neighborhoods won’t accomplish much. We can’t control the weather so just relax and enjoy the early flowers. My friend John Lonsdale who is originally from England tells me that if we lived there, this would all be completely normal—the weather and the bloom times. Here is what is early in my garden:
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Winter jasmine usually sends out a few flowers through out the winter whenever it gets warm. The whole shrub is in bloom now with not many buds left for later.
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The giant snowdrop ‘Xmas’ does open flowers by Christmas, but right now the whole patch is in bloom and starting to go by. Last year I had flowers through March.
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The giant snowdrop ‘Standing Tall’ also opens its buds around Christmas. It was so early this year that its flowers are now completely done.
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| Winter |
The 'Tri colour' is the name given to which country's flag? | 1000+ images about Mahonia - for the winter garden on Pinterest | Blue berry, Oregon and Shrubs
Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas
Mahonia - for the winter garden
Mahonia is a lush evergreen shrub with beautiful plum-red new growth and cheerful, honey-scented yellow flowers November-March. Mahonia flowers and berries attract birds (hummingbirds!) and bees. A fabulous addition for year-round interest and color in the winter garden. Read about Mahonia's history on our Blog: http://swansonsnurseryblog.com/2015/01/16/virtues-of-charity-mahonia/
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| i don't know |
What's the common name for your trachea? | And the trachea whats the common name for trachea Windpipe - ANT - 101
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And the trachea, what’s the common name for trachea? >> Windpipe. >> That your windpipe, and that’s going to be important to see why there’s cartilage in the trachea when we get to the Respiratory System. Elastic is similar to hyaline, but it also contains elastic fibers. All right. It’s better able to withstand repeated bending and we have this in the epiglottis and in the ear. I don’t, we don’t really move our ears around very much normally but our epiglottis moves around all the time. When does our epiglottis move? >> Whenever we shallow. >> Whenever we shallow because this protects the opening of the trachea and remember that’s your windpipe, so what should you have in your wind pipe? >> Wind. >> Only wind, not food. Right? And that I mean by what? Air, that’s for breathing. We should never have, you know, like a Bud Light or popcorn shrimp or anything going down the trachea, and so, it’s the job of the epiglottis to make sure that everything you eat and drink goes into the esophagus instead of the trachea so it’s flopping down all the time, protecting your trachea. >> [INDISTINCT] >> I don’t know. Did anybody see anybody choke yesterday? >> Yeah. [INDISTINCT] >> [INDISTINCT] Well, it’s not what I was talking about. Okay. Well, that's good. Okay. All right. I will talk some more about that when we get into the Respiratory Systems and then lastly, fibrocartilage, these resist compression and tension. Compression means what? Squeezing, right, squeezing down in tension, is the opposite meaning? >> Pulling. >> Pulling. All right. So, this kind of fibrocartilage is good for compression as well as pulling, all right, pressing together as well as pulling apart. And structurally intermediate between the hyaline cartilage and dense regular connective tissue and, as the matter of fact, this certain part of intervertebral disc, namely the outer ring, which we call the annulus fibrosis, all right, in the meniscus of the knee are made out of fibrocartilage. Right? Because these are areas that receive a lot of compression, your vertebral column compresses the vertebrate together and, of course, even more so, your knee, because it’s even lower in your body. Everytime you take a step, your bones of the thigh try to compress the bones of the leg and there is that fibrocartilage that tries to protect those structures, so here’s a pretty nice picture in your book that shows the different kinds of cartilages, hyaline cartilages, elastic and fibrocartilage and where you find them. Okay.
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Ahh, what I didn’t mention is this joint right here, the pubic symphysis. What does that look like? What kind of cartilage? >> Fibrocartilage. >> Fibrocartilage. Good. So, your learning, you can see how to read this diagram right here. So, there’s a joint between two, between the two os coxae, in the anterior part of your pelvis right here, that’s a joint, and fibrocartilage means that is relatively immovable, all right, but it’s still a joint. Guys don’t use this joint very much unless they get into a motorcycle accident and go to the handlebars of their motorcycle but
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TERM
BIOL 231 Integrated Medical Science Lecture Series Lecture 7, Bone 2 By Joel R. Gober
Lecture 007_Bone2
| Trachea |
Ian Fleming known for writing the Bond films also wrote about a car that could fly. What was it? | Tracheostomy
Pocket Guide
Tracheostomy
Tracheostomy (sometimes called tracheotomy) is the creation of an opening directly into the trachea (windpipe) in the neck for the purpose of assisting breathing. While tracheotomy used to be done as an emergency, it is now done more on an elective basis to protect the airway, better clean the airway and to provide more oxygen to the lungs.
Anatomy and Physiology
At the back of the mouth and nose the air passages form the pharynx, which continues into the larynx (voice box). The larynx may be felt as the Adam's apple in front of the neck (Figures 1 and 2)
The trachea is a tube that runs from the bottom of the larynx into the chest where it divides into the bronchi, the tubes that go to each of the lungs
The thyroid gland lies in front of the trachea. The esophagus (foodpipe) lies behind it
The innominate artery passes in front of the lower tracheal rings of the trachea. This artery is a branch of the aorta (the major artery coming from the heart) and gives rise to the arteries to the right side of the brain and right arm
The trachea is a rigid structure formed from rings of cartilage to ensure that the airway always remains open. Its function is to maintain and protect the airway. The trachea is lined with mucus glands, which humidifies air as it passes through the trachea and catches small particles before they reach the lungs.
The trachea also has specialized hair like structures called cilia that move rhythmically to sweep mucus and particles back up to the throat. The trachea also has many defensive cells that kill organisms that enter the trachea
The trachea is supplied by nerves that are part of the cough reflex that helps get rid or irritants
Figure 1 - The trachea as seen from in front. The trachea lies below the thyroid cartilage, which forms the front wall of the larynx. The thyroid isthmus crosses the trachea and the recurrent laryngeal nerve (to the vocal cords) lies on each side of the trachea. � T. Graves
Figure 2 - Section through the neck showing the relationships of the trachea to the larynx, esophagus and thyroid isthmus. � T. Graves
Pathology
Obstruction of the air passages may occur as a result of:
Swallowing of a foreign material or improper swallowing of food
Swelling of the air passages due to allergy
Loss of trachea stiffness due to weakening of the tracheal rings, which may be either present at birth or from prolonged placement of a tube in the trachea (see Anesthesia)
Injury to the face and upper airways
Obstruction usually takes place in the larynx, which is the narrowest part of the air passages
Patients on a ventilator (breathing machine) for a long time
May be sedated and may not be able to cough to clear secretions from the lung and trachea which causes plugging of the air passages
May vomit and aspirate food into the lungs causing pneumonia
May need increased delivery of oxygen. A tracheotomy bypasses the larynx and delivers air directly into the trachea
May develop ulcers around the mouth as well as weakness and narrowing of the larynx and upper trachea from prolonged pressure of the breathing tubes that pass through the mouth
Cancers of the upper airway may cause obstruction that may require a tracheostomy. Surgery for cancers of the upper airway also frequently require a tracheostomy
Indications for surgery
Emergent indications for a tracheostomy are few. In situations of acute obstruction of the airway due to trauma or allergic swelling, an immediate airway is better obtained by intubating (inserting a tube) the trachea by mouth or nose. Sometimes it may be necessary to guide the tube into the trachea using a flexible bronchoscope (a camera on a flexible tube). If necessary, a cricothyroidectomy, which is a small incision in the lower larynx, may be made to allow air passage. These measures may be temporary until the patient is stable enough to undergo a tracheostomy in the operating room
A tracheostomy is advisable for patients who have been on a ventilator for over 5-7 days. A tracheostomy helps in suctioning of secretions, increased delivery of air to the lungs, prevention of aspiration in case the patient vomits and prevention of complications associated with endotracheal tubes through the mouth.
Patients with cancers of the upper airway undergoing surgery may need bypass of their airway circuit, with creation of a permanent tracheostomy.
Surgical Procedure
Before performing a tracheostomy the site of obstruction should be determined to be above the site of the tracheostomy. Patients with large or short necks may be difficult to operate upon
Bleeding disorders or an enlarged thyroid gland should be evaluated
The procedure is usually done under general anesthesia in the operating room. However, if the patient is sedated on a ventilator, it may be done under local anesthetic, even at the patient's bedside
The patient is placed supine (on the back) with the head extended to expose the front of the neck (Figure 3)
The incision is made over the second tracheal ring below the larynx. The incision may be made from side to side or up and down (Figure 4)
Figure 3 - The patient is placed with the head and neck extended. � T. Graves
Figure 4 - The procedure can be carried out using either a vertical (up and down) or horizontal (side to side) incision. � T. Graves
The underlying small muscles in front of the trachea are spread to the side
Sometimes the isthmus (thin middle portion) of the thyroid may have to be cut to expose the second tracheal ring
Once the trachea is exposed, an incision is made through the second and sometimes third tracheal cartilage rings. The incision may be in the form of a flap or a small segment the tracheal ring may be removed (Figure 5)
The tracheostomy tube, the metal or plastic tube to be placed in the trachea, is measured for size to fit the trachea
The anesthetist slowly withdraws the endotracheal tube through the mouth. As soon as the tube is pulled above the level of the second cartilage, the tracheostomy tube is pushed into the trachea and directed downwards. The tube contains an obturator (central portion) that has a cone shaped nose to guide the tube into the trachea. The obturator is removed after the tube is inserted (Figure 6)
Figure 5 - The trachea is exposed and an incision made in the second tracheal ring. � T. Graves
Figure 6 - The tracheostomy tube is inserted into the trachea. � T. Graves
The tracheostomy tube has a balloon at its end, which is inflated to prevent secretions from getting into the lungs (Figure 7)
The tube from the breathing machine or oxygen tube is connected to the tracheostomy tube.
Sutures are used to close the skin incision and a cloth tape is tied around the neck to secure the tube (Figure 8)
Figure 7 - The position of the tracheostomy tube in the trachea. Note that the balloon on the tube is inflated to prevent secretions from going into the lungs. � T. Graves
Figure 8 - The wound is closed around the tracheostomy tube. � T. Graves
Complications
Tracheostomies can become contaminated and improper care can lead to infection of the skin, trachea or lungs
Bleeding may occur from injury to a high innominate artery, jugular veins or thyroid gland. Severe bleeding may occur if the tracheostomy tube erodes through the anterior wall of the trachea into the arteries that lie there or into the thyroid gland. This may be a problem particularly in children where the tracheas are smaller. The bleeding may be life threatening and needs emergency surgery to control the bleeding
Prolonged use of a tracheostomy tube may cause stenosis (narrowing) of the trachea from scarring or tracheomalacia (floppiness of the trachea). These may cause progressive obstruction of the trachea requiring surgery to remove the scarred or weakened portion of the trachea
Pneumothorax (air between the lung and chest wall) may occur following tracheostomy. This occurs more frequently in children
Obstruction of the tube can occur from a blood clot or mucous plug and if the end of the tube presses against the back wall of the trachea
The tube may come out. This is a very serious complication since the patient may not be able to breath
Tracheoesophageal fistula (connection between the trachea and the esophagus) can occur if the tube erodes through the back of the trachea and into the esophagus. Surgery is necessary to separate the trachea and esophagus
Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing) may occur from pressure of the tube on the back of the trachea
Poor laryngeal function may result from prolonged use of a tracheostomy
Care After Surgery
It is very important to keep the tracheostomy clear of secretions
The tracheostomy tube has a double lumen (a tube within a tube) made of plastic. The inner tube may be removed for cleaning. It is also important to suction out the tracheostomy several times a day to clear secretions
The air going through the tracheostomy is humidified to prevent the trachea from drying up
The dressing around the tracheostomy opening is changed daily and kept dry
As the patient recovers and does not need ventilator assistance, the patient may become apprehensive. It is not possible to talk with a tracheostomy tube in place as air is bypassed from the voice box and this may be distressing to a patient
Fenestrated tubes (tubes with a side-hole through them) allow air to pass through the tube into the voice box. As the patient recovers, the opening in the neck may be capped and the patient may be able to talk
As the patient recovers, the tracheostomy tube may be changed at the bedside into a smaller size and eventually removed. The opening in the neck closes by itself in about a week
Patients who have permanent tracheostomies are taught to care for their tubes. They should not to go swimming and should be careful while taking a bath to prevent water from entering the tube and causing aspiration pneumonia
Site written and maintained by Cynthia Bissell, RN
Questions, comments, suggestions always welcome.
Copyright 1996- 2014 tracheostomy.com
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Where would you find the 'Spanish Steps'? | Slow Travel Italy - Accessible Rome, "Walking" Tour from Piazza Navona to Spanish Steps
Accessible Rome - "Walking" Tour, Piazza Navona to the Spanish Steps
Mary Murphy-Hanson
Accessible Rome: Getting around Rome in a wheelchair, for the disabled traveler. Read Wheelchair Travel for some basic information.
The center of Rome has many of the world's greatest fountains, piazzas and churches. This "walking" tour takes you from Piazza Navona to the Spanish Steps.
Piazza Navona
This accessible walking tour begins at Bernini's Four Rivers Fountain (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) in the center of the Piazza Navona.
Piazza Navona is a large oval piazza with a small road around the outside and a curb around the entire circumference of the central area. The curb varies in height from three to four inches to over eight inches. The lowest place on the curb is in the northwest corner of the piazza; there are no cutaways. Once you have gotten over the curb the central piazza is flat and easily traversed. The three fountains on the piazza are easily approached.
<< map showing route from Piazza Navona to the Pantheon to be inserted >>
San Luigi dei Francesci
To continue the tour, from Piazza Navona exit heading east at the northeast corner of the Piazza. There is a pedestrian sign. Cross the Corso Rinasciamento and continue east until you reach Via Scrofa. Detour south on the Scrofa (street name changes) for one block to the church of San Luigi dei Francesci (the French church in Rome). This is the home of Caravaggio's triptych "The Calling of Saint Matthew". There is a ramp in the front of the church that allows easy access.
The Pantheon
From San Luigi continue east until you are at the Piazza della Rotonda. The Pantheon is located at the south end of this piazza.
Access to the Pantheon is tricky because there is a quite steep (if small) hill at the entrance. The grade is at two angles and you can easily tip. The best way to enter the Pantheon is to come directly at the center of the front from the piazza.
Mary in the Pantheon
Santa Maria Sopra Minerva
Before you head on to the Trevi Fountain, lets take a small detour to the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Facing the Pantheon, go along the right side. Turn right on the road at the back of the Pantheon go for less than a block. You will see Santa Maria Sopra Minerva on your left. In front of the church is the Bernini Elephant statue with the obelisk on its back.
To access the church go around the back and up a small side street. There is a doorway that you can go in and this will get you into the church alongside the altar (one step). If it is not open, send someone into the church and have them request that they open the door. There is a ramp on the right of the altar that allows access to the rest of the church.
Trevi Fountain
Return to the Pantheon. To continue to the Trevi Fountain exit at the north east corner of the Piazza della Rotunda. There is a pedestrian pathway with smooth bricks. This is a unique path because it is signed in Braille and the path is equipped with sensors that work with specially modified canes that will beep if the blind stray off the path.
<< map showing route from the Pantheon to the Spanish Steps to be inserted >>
After heading east for about three blocks you cross the Via del Corso, a busy main shopping street. Continue due east to the Trevi Fountain.
The Trevi Fountain is another beautiful, giant fountain of Rome. The rim of the fountain is three steps down from the piazza and there are no ramps. So while you can see the fountain you won't be able to turn around and throw your coin in over your right shoulder (a tradition in Rome). Unless you are like me and just give it a great big hoist into the air and let the coins fall where they may.
Mary at the Trevi Fountain
Spanish Steps
At the Trevi Fountain the tourist path ends but it is possible to continue on to the Piazza Spagna and the Spanish Steps.
There are no sidewalks or zona pedonale (or minimal) for portions of the journey between Trevi and the Spanish Steps; you just have to share the road. When you reach the Spanish Steps, you will find another fountain - the sinking boat, designed by Bernini during a time of drought. The political commentary is pretty hard to miss with the boat having a papal beehive symbol.
Facing the Spanish steps, on the left you will see the signs for the Metro. Go toward the metro and to the right you will see the wheelchair symbol overhead and elevator doors. No this elevator doesn't take you to the metro (the Spanish Steps are inaccessible from the metro), but it does take you to the top of the Spanish Steps. Push the button for the second floor. As you exit the elevator you will find yourself on a platform facing 40 or more steps. There is a button to summon someone with a key to a stair lift. When we did this, we were blizzarded by Italian and we timidly replied "sedia rotale ascensore?" A guard came out, lowered a stair lift and took me up the last 40 stairs. It is worth it because you are now at the top of the Spanish Steps overlooking Rome.
One of our favorite restaurants in Rome is at the top of the Spanish Steps - Ciampini. With the steps at your back proceed to the left about 50 yards. This is where we learned about strawberries and pepper and about cave cheese and pears. They also serve a wonderful prosecco. There is one step into the restaurant and the restroom is not accessible (too small).
Accessible Restrooms
There was an accessible public restroom at the Spanish Steps but it is now closed. There is a McDonalds to the right of the steps but it has no accessible restroom.
Resources
Slow Travel Photos - Accessible Rome : Photo essay to go with these pages.
Mary Hanson is a wheelchair traveler with four months experience navigating Rome in a wheelchair. When she isn't visiting her heart in Rome, she resides in Phoenix with her husband Tom and her mutt Beau-dog.
© Mary Murphy-Hanson, 2005
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Cistercians of the Strict Observance are commonly known as what? | Rome travel guide - Wikitravel
Time Zone
UTC+1
Rome is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — have a look at each of them.
Rome ( Italian : Roma), the Eternal City, is the capital and largest city of Italy and of the Lazio region. It's the famed city of the Roman Empire, the Seven Hills, La Dolce Vita (the sweet life), the Vatican City and Three Coins in the Fountain. Rome, as a millenium-long centre of power, culture (having been the cradle of one of the globe's greatest civilisations ever) and religion, has exerted a huge influence over the world in its roughly 2800 years of existence.
The historic centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . With wonderful palaces, millennium-old churches, grand romantic ruins, opulent monuments, ornate statues and graceful fountains, Rome has an immensely rich historical heritage and cosmopolitan atmosphere, making it one of Europe's and the world's most visited, famous, influential and beautiful capitals. Today, Rome has a growing nightlife scene and is also seen as a shopping heaven, being regarded as one of the fashion capitals of the world (some of Italy's oldest jewellery and clothing establishments were founded in the city).
With so many sights and things to do, Rome can truly be classified a "global city".
Central Rome[ edit ]
Rome can be divided into several districts: the so-called historical centre is quite small - only around 4% of the city area - but it's the place in which most of the tourist attraction are located.
Districts are explained below:
Understand[ edit ]
The Pantheon
Situated on the river Tiber, between the Apennine mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea, the "Eternal City" was once the administrative centre of the mighty Roman Empire, ruling over a vast territory that stretched all the way from Britain to Mesopotamia. Today, the city is the seat of the Italian government and home to numerous ministerial offices. Rome has 2.6 million inhabitants while its metropolitan area is home to around 4.2 million.
Architecturally and culturally, Rome has some contrasts - you have areas with pompously huge majestic palaces, avenues and basilicas which are then surrounded by tiny alleyways, little churches and old houses; you may also find yourself walking from a grand palace and tree-lined elegant boulevard, into a small and cramped Medieval-like street.
The abbreviation "S.P.Q.R" - short for the old motto of the Roman Republic Senatus Populusque Romanus ("The Senate and People of Rome") - is ubiquitous in Rome, being also that of Rome's city council; a humorous variation is "Sono pazzi questi romani" (these Romans are crazy).
For two weeks in August, many of Rome's inhabitants used to shut up shop and go on their own vacations; today, however, things have changed - many shops and restaurants (especially those located in the historical centre that cater to tourists) are open in summer. On the other hand, the ones located in residential areas do close. The temperature in the city at this time of year is not particularly pleasant: if you do travel to Rome at this time, you might see chiuso per ferie (closed for holidays) signs on many establishments. Even in these weeks the city is very beautiful and you will always be able to find somewhere to eat.
The Vittoriano, a symbol of a united Italy.
The Quirinal Palace, the official residence of the President of Italy.
Rome's history spans over two and half thousand years, which have seen its transformation from a small Latin village to the centre of a vast empire, through the founding of Catholicism, and into the capital of today's Italy. This is a long and complex topic; what follows is merely a quick summary.
Rome is traditionally said to have been founded by the mythical twins Romulus and Remus (the sons of Mars and Rhea Silvia) on 21 April 753 BC. The twins were abandoned as infants in the Tiber river and raised by a she-wolf (Lupa) before being found by a shepherd (Faustulus), who raised them as his own sons.
Actually, Rome was founded as a small village on top of the Palatine Hill (including the area where the Roman Forum is found) sometime in the 8th century BC; due to the village's position at a ford on the Tiber river, Rome became a crossroads of traffic and trade. The settlement developed into the capital of the Roman Kingdom, led by a series of Etruscan kings, before becoming the seat of the Roman Republic in 509BC and then the centre of the Roman Empire from 27BC to 285AD. For almost a thousand years, Rome was the largest, wealthiest, most powerful city in the Western world, with dominance over most of Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Even after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476AD, Rome maintained considerable importance and wealth. Beginning with the reign of Constantine I (306-337), the Bishop of Rome (later known as the Pope) gained political and religious importance, establishing the city as the centre of the Catholic Church. The city was sacked by the barbarians, first in 410 and again in 455; after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in AD 476 the city withstood a siege by the Ostrogoths in AD 537 and a Saracen raid in AD 846, followed by its capture by the Normans in 1084.
During the Early Middle Ages, the city declined in population but gained a new importance as the capital of the newly formed Papal States; Charlemagne, for example, was crowned Emperor at Saint Peter's in 800. Throughout the Middle Ages, most of the city's ancient monuments fell in disrepair and were gradually stripped of their precious statues, ornaments and materials; these were either recycled in other constructions or, as in the case of marble, baked in order to obtain mortar for new buildings... meanwhile, the ancient Fora became nothing more but pasture land. However, Rome not only was a major pilgrimage site but was also the focus of struggles between Roman nobles and, most importantly, between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy. In 1309 The Pope left Rome for Avignon, at the request of the King of France, and the city plunged into chaos; despite it being formally under the authority of the Pontiff, nobles ruled it as they pleased and were known for oppressing its citizens, often engaging in bloody feuds. By 1347, the populace was on the verge of rebellion - a commoner, Cola di Rienzo, became "Tribune of the People" and promised to rule for the good of the city; a free comune (city-state) was established, nobles were exiled and a vast reform programme was started. However, said nobles conspired against Cola and this, along with the Tribune's own vanity, caused his downfall in 1354.
The Santa Maria in Trastevere church, a symbol of early medieval Rome.
Following the return of the Papacy (1377) from the Avignonese captivity and with the Italian Renaissance fully under way in the 15th century, Rome changed dramatically. Extravagant churches, bridges, and public spaces, including a new Saint Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, were constructed by the Papacy so that Rome would equal the grandeur of other Italian cities of the period. The city recovered quickly from the sack of 1527 and, in the following 200 years, it became the centre of Baroque architecture; renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Bernini and Caravaggio worked there while the new St. Peter's basilica was begun in 1506, only to be completed in 1626. During the latter stages of the French Revolution - more precisely, in 1798 - local revolutionaries inspired by the new ideals rose against Papal authority and a Roman Republic was declared; the Pontiff was forced to flee and the following year troops from the Kingdom of Naples entered the city, thus putting an end to the revolutionary movement.
Between 1805 and 1814, Rome was also occupied by Napoleonic troops.
In 1849, the population - with the aid of patriots such as Giuseppe Garibaldi and Giuseppe Mazzini - rose against the Papal government and forced the Pontiff to flee the city and seek refuge at Gaeta. A modern, democratic, Constitution was drafted and a new Roman Republic was proclaimed. The Pope then requested the help of the French emperor, Napoleon III, who promptly sent an expeditionary force: despite some initial setbacks the French troops overcame the revolutionary forces which, after a month-long siege, attempted a desperate last stand on the Janiculum hill. In the ensuing bloodbath, the Italian patriots - along with their foreign allies - were crushed; Goffredo Mameli, composer of the current Italian anthem, was among the fallen. In 1860 Rome became again the focus of a power struggle with the rise of the Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont, which sought to unite the peninsula; after a series of battles, the Papal States were stripped of all their Italian possessions except for Rome, which remained under French protection. However, with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, the French abandoned Rome, leaving it clear for the newly-formed Kingdom of Italy to capture on 20 September 1870. Rome became thus the capital of Italy, and has remained such ever since. The new Italian government started a huge campaign of public works; new districts (such as Prati, or the Esquilino), monuments (the Vittoriano) and public buildings were built, while countless Medieval and Renaissance buildings were torn down to make way for the new street layout and the Tiber river was enclosed within its current embankments.
Following World War I, with the rise of Fascism in 1922 Rome's face changed again: new districts (the EUR ), avenues (via della Conciliazione, via dei Fori Imperiali) and other public buildings were built and ancient sites (such as the Fora or the Circus Maximus) were feverishly excavated; in doing so, entire Medieval neighbourhoods were bulldozed. Population grew; this trend was halted by World War II, which dealt (relatively minor) damage to Rome. After Italy had signed the Armistice, the city was occupied by the Germans on 8 September 1943 despite heavy resistance from surviving units of the Royal Italian Army aided by local partisan formations: these were crushed in a bloody battle near Porta S. Paolo. Roman Jews were deported on 16 October and on 24 March 1944 - after 33 German soldiers were killed in a partisan attack - 335 civilians were rounded up and summarily executed at the Fosse Ardeatine. Rome was finally liberated by Allied troops on 4 June.
With the fall of the monarchy and the creation of the Italian Republic in 1946, Rome again began to grow in population and became a modern city. Today's Rome is a modern, contemporary, bustling metropolis with an ancient core that reflects the many periods of its long history - the ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Modern Era - standing today as the capital of Italy and as one of the world's major tourist destinations.
Background reading[ edit ]
At last count there were close to 1,700 novels set in Rome in days gone by. [1] Most easily available in bookshops are those by Lindsey Davis and Steven Saylor . Both are good storytellers and excellent at portraying life in Ancient Rome. Particularly interesting if you are visiting Rome may be Saylor’s “Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome”, which traces the first thousand years or so of Rome’s history by following the fictional fortunes of two families. Each chapter begins with a map showing the state of Rome’s development at the time of the chapter.
The classic work on Ancient Rome remains Edward Gibbon’s “History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”. This was written in 1782 but is still being reprinted. A marvellous book that covers Rome’s fortunes from Romulus and Remus to the 1970s is “Rome: The Biography of a City” by Christopher Hibbert (Penguin). An excellent guide book, too, although perhaps a bit too heavy to carry around.
English-language bookshops in Rome are:
Anglo-American Bookstore, via delle Vite, 102, also close to piazza di Spagna. A large store, with specialist sections. Strong on non-fiction.
The Almost Corner Bookshop, via del Moro 45, Trastevere . Small but very well-stocked store on the other side of the river.
Some Italian bookstores also have English-language sections. Try the large selection of English books (but also French, Spanish and more) at Feltrinelli International in via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando - or the smaller ones in the branches at Largo Argentina or via del Corso.
Cruise ships[ edit ]
Most cruise ships dock in Civitavecchia , and advertise this in their itineraries as "Rome". The reality is Civitavecchia is an hour and a half away from Rome and a bit of a pain to get from the pier to the City if you are travelling without a tour. Some ships begin or end cruises here, some stay a full day to allow passengers to "day-trip" to Rome.
For "day-trippers", many ships arrange shuttle buses to and from the pedestrian port entrance. From there you can walk 10-15 minutes along the shore to the Civitavecchia train station. A B.I.R.G. round trip train ticket for Rome costs approximately €12 (as of 2014), and also entitles you to unlimited use of Rome's Metro, tram and bus lines. Trains for commuters leave every hour or so - more often during rush hours - and take about 80 minutes. For Rome, you can get off either at the Roma Trastevere train station, Roma San Pietro (for the Vatican) or continue to Roma Termini right downtown, where countless buses, some trams and the Metro await.
If starting or ending a cruise using the train, you'll likely want to take a taxi between the ship and the train station. Because some train platforms can only be reached by underground walkway/stairs, plan ahead for transferring your luggage. At certain times of day, there may be porters to help. See also "About luggage" in "By train" above.
It is now possible for modest-to large-sized yachts to dock in the new Porto di Roma at Ostia , a district located 20km from the city centre and linked by the Roma-Lido light railway (whose stations, however, are not within practical walking distance of the marina or riverside boat facilities).
Ferry services[ edit ]
Grimaldi Lines . Provides ferry service from Civitavecchia to Barcelona , Tunis , Toulon (France), Porto-Vecchio ( Corsica ). Many ferries run as much as 4h late causing problems with onward connections such as the train to Rome. The last one leaves Civitavecchia at midnight and can leave you stranded overnight.
By car[ edit ]
Driving to Rome is quite easy; as they say, all roads lead to Rome. The city is ringed by a motorway - the Grande Raccordo Anulare or, simply, the GRA. If you are going to the very centre of the city any road leading off the GRA will get you there; if you are going anywhere else, however, a GPS or a good map is essential. Signs on the GRA indicate the name of the road leading to the centre (e.g. via Appia Nuova, via Aurelia, via Tiburtina) but this is useful only for Romans who know where these roads pass.
One thing to watch out for is the free parking spaces in deserted areas. As car theft is very common in Italy, you should always watch out for them.
By train[ edit ]
Rome's main railway station is Roma Termini, which is closed between 00:30 and 04:30. Most long-distance trains passing through Rome between these times will stop at Tiburtina station instead (see also the "By boat" section below).
Other main stations are Roma Tiburtina, Roma Ostiense, Roma Trastevere and Roma Tuscolana.
About luggage: when travelling between major cities or to/from another country, trains will be designed for passengers and luggage. Most others (e.g., between nearby towns and cities) are often designed to serve commuters.
For stations en route, they stop for only 1-2 minutes.
Most cars have a middle platform close to the station's boarding level, but with a significant gap. Seating areas may be at levels different from the middle platform, with narrow/clumsy steps for moving large luggage and little space to store them. Large pieces must often be left on the middle platform; have someone guard them... as thieves might try to grab them just before the doors close.
By plane[ edit ]
Rome ( IATA : ROM for all airports ) has two main international airports:
Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino International Airport ( Fiumicino , IATA : FCO, ☎ +39 06 65951) - Rome's main airport is modern, large, rather efficient and well connected to the city centre by public transport. However, late-night arrivals may limit you to an irregular bus into town unless you can afford a taxi.
G.B. Pastine/Ciampino International Airport (Ciampino, IATA : CIA, ☎ +39 06 794941) - Located to the southeast of the capital, this is the city's low-cost airline airport, serving Easyjet, Ryanair and Wizzair flights, among others (see Discount airlines in Europe ). This small airport is closer to the city centre than Fiumicino but has no direct train connection. There are plans to move the low-cost airport much further out of Rome, but this is unlikely for some years. Note that at Ciampino cash machines are available only in the departures area. This is a relatively small airport and it closes overnight; you'll be locked out of the airport until it opens again for the first check-in around 04:30 or 05:00. Flying into Ciampino, try to sit on the right of the plane - it will fly just to the east of the city centre. While the plane's reaching Rome, you can see the Tiber and then the Olympic stadium, Castel Sant'Angelo, St. Peter's and the Colosseum.
Transport to/from airports[ edit ]
Private Transfer From Fiumicino Airport
There are two categories of private transportation from Fiumicino airport to the city centre. The Roman taxis that are white with the City Council’s crest printed on the door and the private cars with a chauffeur. Since 2012 there is a flat price €48 from Fiumicino airport to Rome city ring, meaning withing the Aurelian walls and the ride will take about 45 minutes.
You can check in advance whether your drop off destination is within the Aurelian walls. Outside of the Aurelian walls area, you will need to pay what is written on the taxi meter.
For a private car with a driver, it’s advisable to pre-book your transfer in advance and get a quote, the transfer cost might be different from the flat cost determined by municipality of Rome. Your driver will be waiting for you right outside of the arrival gate and it is by far the least stressful option. Please avoid any car or shuttle service that approaches you for a transfer upon your arrival, there might not be licensed drivers.
Rome Airport Taxi Fares FCO Airport to Rome City Ring (downtown) 48 € FCO Airport to Fiera di Rome (Exhibition Center) 25 € FCO Airport to CIA (Ciampino Airport) 50 € FCO Airport to Tiburtina Station (Railway station) 55 € FCO Airport to Ostiense Station (Railway station) 45 €
Useful Tips
The taxis in Rome can take up to 4 people with 4 luggage
There is a flat cost of 48 €, that remains the same no matter the time zone
Feel free to show that you are aware of the 48 € fixed cost inside the Aurellian Walls
It will take you approximately 45 minutes from Fiumicino airport to the city center depending on traffic
The Termini station (central railway station) is inside the Aurelian Walls
Private Transfer From From Ciampino Airport
Like Fiumicino Airport, you can find 2 categories of taxi outside of the Airport. The Roman taxis that are white with the City Council’s crest printed on the door and the private cars with a chauffeur. There is a flat rate set by the city to go from the Ciampino airport to Rome. The flat rate is 30€. Is Advisable to pre-book you transfer from Ciampino Airport, in order to avoid hidden fees and tricks from drivers.
By train, public and private bus[ edit ]
Fiumicino[ edit ]
From the Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino airport, there are two train lines that will get you into Rome:
The Leonardo Express leaves every 30 minutes to Roma Termini, Rome's central train station (35 min trip). Tickets cost €14 and are available (within 7 days of departure) online (you must create an account and enroll in Trenitalia's Cartafreccia program before you can purchase online tickets). Tickets sold at the departure platform are €15. So if there are three of you it is cheaper to take a taxi and you get delivered to your door. You can't buy a ticket for a specific train; it's just a general ticket for a specific route (Termini), but it's good for any time. Get your ticket stamped in a yellow validation machine just before boarding the train: it will expire 90 minutes after the validation. It is important to validate the ticket: otherwise, the train conductor could fine you a substantial sum. At Termini, the Leonardo Express stops at platform # 24.
The suburban train (FL1 line) does not stop at Termini. Get off at Tiburtina or, before that, at the Ostiense train station, where you can connect to line B of the Metro; alternatively, you can get off at the Roma Trastevere train station and from there take the # 8 tram line (direction: "p.za Venezia") to go to Trastevere, Campo de' Fiori, largo di Torre Argentina and piazza Venezia. Tickets are €8, plus €1.50 for a bus-tram-Metro ticket. The extra cost of the Leonardo Express is for the convenience of a direct ride to Termini. If you are going somewhere else close to a Metro station, Tiburtina and Ostiense stations are as convenient. Get your ticket stamped in a yellow validation machine just before using it.
Terravision bus is probably the easiest and cheapest connection between Fiumicino airport and Rome city centre, but the journey takes 55 minutes. However, you should consider that they oversell buses online and you may to wait more than two hours to catch one. The online "reservation" does not guarantee a seat. You can either book online (€4 one-way) or buy the tickets there (€6 one-way, €11 round-trip). The bus departs near Terminal 3 of the airport and arrives at Termini station (the same applies for the route in reverse). There are other buses that go to Termini station and, during the low season, you can hedge your bets and see which one leaves earlier. Be careful terravision is not always on time and you might get late to your flight.
Note: When boarding one of the Terravision coaches from Termini to either airport, you must trade in your ticket for a laminated card called a "Boarding Pass". The €6 ticket is good for any bus in the day of purchase, but there's a limited number of seats available on each bus - and the Terravision office hands out these boarding passes on a first come, first served basis. For example, you may go to the station at noon and buy the 14:30 ticket to Ciampino. The ticket agent will however be giving you a generic ticket; you must then come back (they recommend 30 minutes earlier) at, let's say, 14:00 and trade that ticket in for a boarding pass valid for the 14:30 bus to Ciampino. In rare cases, these passes may have already run out by the moment you show up at the office - our advice is to get onto the bus before the one you actually want to ride. The agents speak decent English, though, so just ask them if you are confused.
COTRAL/Schiaffini operates buses from both airports to the city; don't forget to validate your ticket after getting on the bus. The timetables can be found here: [2]
From Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino, the public bus stop is located outdoors at ground level, at the bottom of the Terminal 1 (Domestic Arrivals). You can buy tickets at the tobacco shop in the Terminal 1 baggage area, with the blue sign (Tabaccheria).
Lines from Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino are:
Aeroporto-Termini-Tiburtina (€4.50)
The schedule for Aeroporto-Termini-Tiburtina is:
from Fiumicino: 01:15, 02:15, 03:30, 05:00, 10:55, 12:00, 15:30
from Rome Tiburtina station: 00:30, 01:15, 02:30, 03:45, 09:45, 10:30, 12:35, 17:30
Night-time timetables aren't that useful; buses may be half an hour late or not arrive at all. But wait at the bus stop, don't give up - the bus will come.
Aeroporto - Roma Cornelia (Metro line A) (€2.80) (schedule [3] )
Aeroporto - Roma Magliana (Metro line B) (€1.60) (schedule [4] )
Aeroporto - Ostia Lido (€1) (schedule [5] )
Aeroporto - Fregene (€1) (schedule [6] )
Aeroporto - Fiumicino (città) (€0.77) (schedule [7] )
An inexpensive choice from Fiumicino is to take the bus (COTRAL) to the "EUR Magliana" stop, which belongs to line B, and then take the Metro. It's the cheapest way to get to the centre (€2.50 bus + €1.50 Metro). The sign on this bus reads "Fiumicino-Porto-Magliana".
Ciampino[ edit ]
From Ciampino airport the cheapest way is a combination of bus and train. For the first part you can take the Atral/Schiaffini bus [8] (roughly every hour or 30 minutes on weekdays) from the stop located outside the terminal building to either Ciampino train station (5min) or to the Metro line A Anagnina stop (10min or more) for a cost of €1.20 to either way. From the Ciampino train station you can take the train to Termini station (20min) for €1.50. Because Ciampino is the first or second train stop on the way to many destinations from Termini, there are around 5 trains per hour and this is probably the overall fastest way (if you are going from Termini to Ciampino by train, you can enter "Ciampino" in the automated ticket machines and it will offer the different destinations/times). From Anagnina Metro station the ticket costs €1.50 (good for any public transport for 100 minutes, see single-ride ticket) and this should be the best way if your destination is near a Metro line A stop, but not Termini station. It's not possible to walk the 4km to the local train station, as there are no footpaths. If you miss the train station to airport bus and can't wait for the next one, a taxi ride will cost you €15-20.
There are a few direct bus services from Ciampino, all of which arrive at Termini station in downtown Rome:
Sit Bus Shuttle . They run a bus line whose ticket costs €6 one-way (€10 round-trip); the ride takes approximatively 40 minutes and there are about 25 rides a day.
Terravision . This is a dedicated airport-city transfer that takes approximatively 40min, with a service every 30min, provided just for the major low cost airlines. The price is €4 one-way or €8 round-trip. You can book on-line, inside the airport or outside near the bus stops (look for the employees with fluorescent vests writing "€4 city transfer"). Passengers should, on their return trip from Termini, board the bus three hours before their flight's departure time.
COTRAL . This carrier's ticket costs €5 one-way (the ride will take some 40min), but has far fewer departures than Terravision. These buses are not mentioned on the airport website yet, but you can find them on Schiaffini's own site. This bus line may come in handy if you arrive at a time when the Metro is closed.
By taxi[ edit ]
Taxis in Rome are white. There is a flat fare of €48 from Fiumicino airport to downtown Rome (the area within the city's Aurelian Walls) and vice versa. Sometimes, taxis in the queue at the airport are not from Rome but from the nearby town of Fiumicino: these are not bound by the fixed fare rule and are best avoided. The fare from Ciampino airport to the city centre and vice-versa is €30; between the two airports, the fare rises to €50. For most other destinations, fares are not fixed and are based on the meter. Generally, Roman taxi drivers are hard-working honest people; however, there's a hard core of crooks who tend to work the airports and the main station. Do NOT negotiate the price for the city centre and be sure your driver activates the metre (all licensed taxis have a metre) when he/she starts driving to any destination not covered by a fixed fare. Drivers at the airport may try to talk you into paying more than the fixed fare, saying that your destination is 'inside the walls' or 'hard to get to'; if they try to overcharge you at your destination, threaten to call the police. They will probably back down. Licensed limousine drivers may approach you at the airports, especially Fiumicino, where there are several companies (mainly cooperatives) with booths close to the exit. A drive with them to the centre could reach as high as €80 but if you are in a group a large limousine or "van" could be cheaper than two taxis. Be aware as well of unlicensed "taxi" drivers. Go directly to the taxi stand and ignore touts.
From the airport at Ciampino, the flat fare is €30. There should be an organised taxi queue - however, the drivers will often negotiate amongst themselves if you are going somewhere the cab at the front doesn't want to go to. There are reports that late-night licensed cabs at Ciampino are asking €100 to take people into town, so try to avoid late flights or take the bus that connects with the flight. If you have to take a cab just pay the legal fare at your destination; if, instead, you have no stomach for the resulting argument then you can phone a cab from one of the numbers listed under the "Get Around" section.
A shared airport shuttle can be hired for around €15 per person to take you from Ciampino airport. However, since the shuttle is shared, it may take longer to reach your destination if other customers are dropped off before you are.
Rental cars are available from all major companies at both airports. Providers can be reached easily in the arrivals halls at both Fiumicino and Ciampino.
Rome Airport Shuttle Another option, is to book a licenced limousine in advance on-line. The prices are often cheaper than a taxi especially for minivans and in Fiumicino even for sedans. One disadvantage however is that you normally need to book at least 24 hours in advance so you need to plan ahead. ☎ +39 345 840 183
Get around[ edit ]
The Capitoline hill and the Imperial Fora.
We'd suggest you to get a map from your hotel or go inside a hotel to ask for directions to a place; every accommodation seems to have a stack of these sponsored by a variety of businesses. Roman roads can indeed be confusing and directions can be hard to follow without a map to reference.
Roma Pass[ edit ]
If you'll be staying in Rome for at least 3 days, consider purchasing the Roma Pass . It costs €36 (or €28 for a 48 hour pass) and entitles holders to free admission to the first two museums and/or archaeological sites visited, full access to public transportation, reduced tickets and discounts for any other following museums (that are included in the programme - e.g., the Vatican Museums are not included) and sites visited as well as exhibitions, music events, theatrical and dance performances.
Rome ComboPass is also available as a combo pass deal that includes the Roma Pass and hop on/off Bus.
OMNIA Vatican and Rome instead includes the services provided by Roma Pass, free entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, fast track entry to St Peter's Basilica and hop-on-hop-off bus tour for 3 days.
By car[ edit ]
In a nutshell: don't do it. Well, some people actually enjoy it. The traffic in the city centre can be chaotic, but it is possible to drive there; it will take a few weeks to understand where to drive, to get where you want to go. When driving in Rome it is important to accept that Italians drive in a very pragmatic way. Taking it in turn and letting people go in front of you is rare. There is little patience so, if the light is green when you go into the intersection and you are too slow, they will let you know. A green light turning to amber is a reason to accelerate, not brake, in part because the lights usually stay amber for several seconds. If you brake immediately when the light changes you are likely to get rear-ended. Parking is scarce. The city centre is plagued with people who demand money to direct you to a space, even on the rare occasions when there are many places available. While in Rome, it is better to travel by bus or Metro, or (in extremis) take a taxi.
If you're driving in the city centre or in certain parts of Testaccio, note that many areas (limited-traffic zones or ZTL) are limited to residents, who have special electronic passes. If you go into these areas (which are camera controlled) you may end up with a fine, particularly if your car has Italian plates. Beware that when turning right across a pedestrian crossing you might have a green light at the same time as the pedestrians.
By taxi[ edit ]
Fake taxis
Some private citizens dress up their cars to look like cabs. These people strategically locate themselves at airports and railway stations waiting for travellers. Beware of operators who don't display a licensed meter and ID. Use only authorised taxis (white vehicles with a taximeter and a taxi light) that are available in the arrivals areas of the terminals. Also, some airport employees may direct you to a "taxi" driver if you ask where you find them when you are inside the airport terminal.
The "taxi" could end up being a Mercedes limo, costing you double the fare of a real taxi and a tricky situation to get out as your luggage is locked away in the limo's boot.
Taxis are the most expensive way to get around Rome, but when weighed against convenience and speed, they are often worth it.
Roman taxis run on meters, and you should always make sure the driver starts it. Taxis will typically pick you up only at a taxi stand, which you will find at all but the smallest piazzas, as well as at the main train station or when called by phone. Flagging down a taxi (like in London) is possible but quite rare as the taxi drivers prefer to use the stands. When you get in the cab, there will be a fixed starting charge, which will be more for late nights, Sundays and holidays. An €1 supplement per bag will be requested for every piece of luggage the driver has to handle (however, if you carry only one bag you won't have to pay the supplement). So, if you have a limited amount of luggage that wouldn't need to go in the trunk, you may decline when the driver offers to put your bags in the trunk. Drivers may not use the shortest route, so try to follow the route with a map and discuss if you feel you're being tricked.
Be aware that when you phone for a taxi, the cab's metre starts running when it is summoned - not when it arrives to pick you up! Therefore, by the time a cab arrives at your location, there may already be a substantial amount on the meter. A major problem is that taxi drivers often leave the previous fare running on the metre. So you may find the cab arriving with €15 or even more on the metre. If you are not in a hurry you should tell him (there are very few female cab drivers in Rome) to get lost, but if you are desperate to get to the airport it's a different matter. You can get a taxi pretty easily at any piazza though, so calling ahead is really not required. A trip across the city (within the walls) will cost you about €11 if starting at a cab rank, a little more if there is heavy traffic at night or on a Sunday. Taxi drivers may try to trick customers by switching a €50 note for a €10 one during the payment, leading you to believe that you handed them only €10 when you have already given them €50.
Note that it is possible to pay with credit cards! To do so, however, you will have to notify the driver before the ride starts.
The tariffs (fixed fares to and from the city's airports are covered in the "Get In" section) work as follows:
Fixed charges:
If you board a taxi on a week-day between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM ---> € 3.00
If you board a taxi on a week-end between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM ---> € 4.50
If you board a taxi at night (between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM) ------------> € 6.50
Base hourly tariff:
If the taxi's teaveling at a speed below 20 km/h -------------------------------> € 27/h
Incremental tariffs:
If the taxi's traveling at a speed greater than 20 km/h ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> € 1,10/km
If the taxi's traveling at a speed greater than 20 km/h and the meter's displaying a fare greater than € 11,00 -------------------> € 1.30/km
If the taxi's traveling at a speed greater than 20 km/h and the meter is displaying a fare greater than € 13,00 ------------------> € 1.60/km
Surcharges:
If you board a taxi with just one piece of luggage ---------------------------------------------------------------------> Free
If you board a taxi with two or more pieces of luggage measuring more than 35 x 25 x 50cm -------> € 1/piece
If you called for a taxi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> € 3.50
Discounts:
10% off if you're directed to one of the city's public hospitals;
10% off to women who board a taxi at night (between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM);
10% off to young people who board a taxi on Friday and Saturdays and are exiting a disco (but only if the place in question is taking part in the scheme).
Notice! The main taxi companies may be called at ☎ 060609, ☎ 063570, ☎ 065551, ☎ 064994, ☎ 066645, ☎ 0688177, ☎ 068822, ☎ 6645 and ☎ 3570.
On foot[ edit ]
Directions for pedestrians on a wall near piazza Navona.
Once you're in the centre, you are best off on foot. What could be more romantic than strolling through Rome on foot holding hands? That is hard to beat!
Crossing a street in Rome can be a bit challenging, though. There are crossings but, sometimes, they aren't located at signalled intersections. Traffic can be intimidating, but if you are at a crossing just start walking and cars will let you cross the street. While crossing watch out for the thousands of mopeds: as in many European cities, even if cars and lorries are stationary due to a jam or for another reason, mopeds and bikes will be trying to squeeze through the gaps and may be ignoring the reason why everyone else has stopped. This means that even if the traffic seems stationary you need to pause and look around into the gaps.
Beware that unlike in other countries where a lit "green man" indicates that it is safe to cross the road, in Italy the green man is lit at the same time as the green light for traffic turning right, so you can often find yourself sharing the space with cars.
By public transport[ edit ]
In Rome, all public transport (comprising buses, trams, trolleybuses, the Metro network and the Roma-Lido, Roma-Viterbo, Roma-Giardinetti light railways) is managed by ATAC [9] , whose site comes with a handy route planner [10] . There's also the route planner belonging to Romamobilità [11] , the city's public agency in charge of programming bus routes and providing real-time information with regards to traffic.
Android users can download the apps: Muoversi a Roma (with route planner), Probus Rome and Autobus Roma, all with menus translated in English.
Tickets[ edit ]
Tickets must be bought from a tobacconist - look for the big 'T' sign, these shops are plentiful - or from a news stand before you board the bus, Metro or tram. Metro stops and bus terminals all have automated ticket kiosks, and major Metro stations have clerked ticket windows. Newer trams and buses have yellow single-ticket vending machines as well.
Please note that the whole public transportation network uses the same kind of tickets. Options are the following:
A single-ride ticket (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo, or BIT) - € 1.50 (you can change buses, trams or into and out of the Metro on one journey; valid for 100 minutes)
Roma 24H - € 7 (valid on the whole network for 24 hours from the date of first validation)
Roma 48H - € 12.50 (valid on the whole network for 48 hours from the date of first validation)
Roma 72H - € 18 (valid on the whole network for 72 hours hours from the date of first validation)
Monthly Pass (Abbonamento Mensile) - € 35 (valid for 30 calendar days; you must write your name on it!)
Annual Pass (Abbonamento Annuale) - € 250
When you board the bus or Metro you must time-stamp your ticket ("convalidare" or the red-tapey "obliterare") in the little yellow machine ("obliteratrice"). The last four types of ticket on the list above need to be validated just the first time you use them. On the whole, the integrated passes are not economical; unless you take many rides spread all over the day, the single ticket option is preferable. Calculating if a pass is worth it is easy since a single ticket ride costs €1.50. For example, for a daily ticket (€6) to be worth it, you would have to make 5 or more trips at intervals greater than 100 minutes apart on a single day. Many visitors just walk through the city in one direction and take a single ride back.
Note: when riding the Metro with a single-ride ticket it is possible to change line without having to buy a new one (in doing so, you won't exit from the turnstiles); this way, you can also change from Metro line B to the light-rail (Roma-Lido) network by using the same ticket. Some stations - especially those near the most popular sites - might have people that will insist upon helping you at automated ticket machines. Beware as some of these people are either pickpockets or scouts/spotters for other pickpockets nearby; when in doubt, walk away and come back to observe how others behind you are dealing with these people and/or using the machine. In many stations, a ticket window is available for buying tickets, where these "helpers" will not bother you at.
Ticket inspectors & fines[ edit ]
ATAC personnel polices the buses, Metro and trams for people riding without tickets. Inspectors can be rare on some buses, although they tend to increase their presence in the summer; they are present on the Metro as well (where they like to hang out at the turnstiles). You should keep your validated ticket throughout your journey as proof-of-payment: if you don't have sufficient money on you to pay the fine, they will actually escort you to an ATM to pay the fee. If you don't have an ATM card to withdraw the money, you will be asked to pay by mail, and the fee goes up to €140; in every case, the officer will issue a receipt.
Note that you can choose to pay on the spot - in this case, the fine will be reduced to €50, which you'll give directly to the officer in question. Of course, you should make sure that he/she (or, better: them, as they go around in packs...) is a legitimate ATAC inspector first! These people have an uniform consisting of a pair of black trousers, a light blue shirt with the red ATAC logo sewn on the breast pocket, and a badge - which they must carry around (either around the neck or pinned on their shirts) at all times. Another livery consists of navy blue jacket and trousers; occasionally, ticket inspectors may wear a yellow (or red) vest with the aforementioned ATAC logo on the back.
Since November 2013, traffic wardens have been authorised to levy fines too.
Bus[ edit ]
Roman buses are reliable, but can be crowded. They are the best way to get around the city, with the notable exception of walking. Free maps of the bus system are available, others can be purchased (€3.50 at Termini). Signs at the bus stop list the stops for each route. Ask for assistance (in Rome, there's always somebody nearby who speaks English or tries his best to help you out). Some bus lines have arrivals every ten minutes or so. Less popular routes may arrive every half hour or less. If heading outside the centre beware that bus schedules can be seriously disrupted by heavy traffic; sometimes trips just get cancelled altogether.
Useful bus lines (along with their most important stops) are:
H Termini (Metro lines A and B; tram lines # 5 and # 14) - via Nazionale - piazza Venezia - via Arenula (Jewish Ghetto; tram line # 8) - viale Trastevere (homonymous district) - Roma Trastevere train station (FL1, FL3 and FL5 train lines)
3B Roma Ostiense train station (tram line # 3; Metro line B; Roma-Lido light railway; Pyramid of Cestius and Protestant Cemetery) - v.le Trastevere (tram line # 8) - Roma Trastevere train station
23 St. Paul Outside the Walls - Roma Ostiense train station - via Marmorata (Testaccio) - v.le Trastevere - p.za del Risorgimento (Vatican Museums; tram line # 19)
30 Piazzale Clodio (Monte Mario; Cavalieri Hilton) - Lepanto (Metro line A) - piazza Cavour (Prati district) - corso del Rinascimento (piazza Navona) - largo di Torre Argentina - piazza Venezia (tram line # 8) - via Marmorata - Roma Ostiense - EUR
40 Termini - p.za Venezia - l.go di Torre Argentina - corso Vittorio Emanuele II - Castel Sant'Angelo [express route]
44 Via del Teatro di Marcello (Capitoline Hill) - Forum Boarium - viale Trastevere - Janiculum - Monteverde vecchio
63 Via Arenula - via del Corso - Barberini (Metro line A) - via [Vittorio] Veneto - via Po (Galleria Borghese) - piazza Buenos Aires (tram lines # 3 and # 19)
64 Termini - p.za Venezia - l.go di Torre Argentina - c.so Vittorio Emanuele II - c.so del Rinascimento - St. Peter's
70 Termini - Repubblica (Metro line A) - via Nazionale - Quirinal - p.za Venezia - l.go di Torre Argentina - c.so del Rinascimento - p.za Cavour - via Cicerone (via Cola di Rienzo) - Lepanto - p.le Clodio
75 Piazza Indipendenza - Termini - Roman Forum - Colosseum (tram line # 3) - Aventine - Roma Ostiense train station - Testaccio - Trastevere - Janiculum - Monteverde vecchio
81 St. John Lateran - Colosseum - Circus Maximus - p.za Venezia - c.so Vittorio Emanuele II - p.za Navona - p.za del Risorgimento
87 St. John Lateran - Colosseum - Roman Forum - via del Plebiscito (p.za Venezia) - l.go Argentina - c.so del Rinascimento - p.za Cavour - via Marcantonio Colonna (via Cola di Rienzo) - Lepanto
90 Termini - Porta Pia - via Nomentana (villa Torlonia) [trolleybus]
115 Largo Fiorentini (via Giulia) - Janiculum (piazzale Garibaldi) - Janiculum (S. Pietro in Montorio) - Trastevere
116 Via Veneto - Campo de' Fiori - piazza Navona
117 St. John Lateran - Colosseum - piazza di Spagna - piazza del Popolo
119 Piazza Augusto Imperatore (Mausoleum of Augustus; Ara Pacis) - Pantheon
130 Roma Ostiense train station - via Marmorata (Testaccio) - p.za Venezia - l.go di Torre Argentina - p.za Cavour - Lepanto
224 P.za Augusto Imperatore - p.za Cavour - Lepanto - piazza Lauro de Bosis (Olympic Stadium; Foro Italico) - lungotevere Maresciallo Diaz (ponte Milvio)
246 Aurelia train station (FL5 line) - via Aurelia (Ergife hotel) - circonvallazione Cornelia (Metro line A)
280 Roma Ostiense train station - via Marmorata - Aventine - L.go Fiorentini - p.za Cavour - Lepanto - p.za Lauro de Bosis
492 Cipro (Metro line A) - p.za del Risorgimento - Castel Sant'Angelo - c.so del Rinascimento - l.go Argentina - p.za Venezia - via del Corso - via del Tritone (p.za Barberini) - Roma Tiburtina train station
710 Circonvallazione Gianicolense (S. Camillo hospital) - p.le Dunant (tram line # 8) - Quattro Venti station (FL3 line) - via Giacinto Carini (Janiculum)
791 EUR district - viale Marconi - p.le Dunant - villa Pamphili - circ.ne Cornelia
871 Trastevere train station - Monteverde district - Janiculum
913 P.za Augusto Imperatore - p.za Cavour - Lepanto - via Andrea Doria - Monte Mario train station (homonymous hill; Cavalieri Hilton)
916 Circ.ne Cornelia - via di Porta Cavalleggeri (St. Peter's) - c.so Vittorio Emanuele II - l.go di Torre Argentina - p.za Venezia.
982 P.za Risorgimento - via Gregorio VII (Roma S. Pietro railway station) - via Piccolomini (lookout point) - Via Leone XIII (Villa Pamphili) - S. Pancrazio (Janiculum) - Quattro Venti
Night buses could be useful due to the closing of the Metro stations at 23:30 and the stopping of regular lines of buses and trams at midnight. During the summer (until 23 Sep) and on Fridays and Saturdays, the frequency of the rides is halved, which can vary among 10, 15, 30 and 35 minutes depending on the line. In any case they are much more punctual than during the day, as traffic is much less jammed. This makes the drivers drive at high speeds, allowing passengers to experience a strange mixture of adrenaline and (the city's) classical views. Hubs of the night buses are Termini station and piazza Venezia.
N1 replaces Metro line A between 23:25 and 05:00. On Fridays and Saturdays, the line operates between 01:25 and 05:00 and the route ends at Termini station.
N2 replaces Metro line B between 23:30 and 05:00. On Fridays and Saturdays, the line operates between 01:40 and 05:15 and the route ends at Termini station.
N28 replaces Metro line C between 23:30 and 05:00. On Fridays and Saturdays, the line operates between 01:40 and 05:15 and the route ends at S. Giovanni.
Note: the # 116, # 117 and # 119 are electrically-powered minibuses. Bus line # 40 is an express route, whose stops are far apart. Along with line # 64, it's notorious because of the pickpockets; be extra careful while riding these two lines. # 90 is a trolleybus.
HO-HO Buses[ edit ]
A popular alternative to city and pre-planned tour buses are the hop-on/hop-off buses... that is, open-top double-deckers. In the last few years there has been a veritable explosion in the number of such buses, and at the last count there were seven different companies. An all-day ticket runs about €18/20, can be purchased as you board at any stop, and provides unlimited access to available seats (the open-air upper deck highly preferable in good weather) and earbud headphones to plug into outlets for running commentary on approaching sights. Commentary is offered in nearly every European language. Most companies follow more or less the same route, starting in sight of Termini station but there are also two different tours of "Christian Rome" and the Archeobus, which will take you to the catacombs and along the Appian Way.
One good tactic for first-time visitors is to ride a complete HO-HO loop, making notes of what interests you. Then stay on until you arrive at each point/area you wish to visit, do so, then hop back on another bus (for that bus line) for the next point/area of interest. Even with a prompt morning start, seeing/doing all that's available with some thoroughness can easily consume the whole day. If you're there more than one day and like the approach, on subsequent days look for different bus lines that take different routes, e.g., most of the same points/areas but in different order.
Taking pictures from the upper-deck while in-motion is tricky but doable (but not recommended by the bus lines) by those with good balance who can also recognise approaching limits on camera and lighting angles. An early start will also help choice of seat location to help camera angles. Watch out for the sales guys hanging outside of the big train station Termini who have leaflets for all the companies, they often actually work for just one and drag you to a ticket office which is a waste of time as you can just get a ticket on a bus.
The different bus companies offer vastly different service levels. Please help by writing about them:
GLT, also known as the Green Line (but the buses are actually grey). No A/C on the lower deck and the audio of the tour is done by multiple different recorded voices (it's not activated by GPS, too) - the narration feels very disjointed and random, sparse and unhelpful; for example, the audio will tell you too late of things you just went past. Also, they don't seem to have many buses compared to the other companies.
Rome Open Tour: green and yellow livery.
Roma Cristiana: yellow buses which stop at the main basilicas, including St. Peter's.
City Sightseeing Roma: red livery with some yellow logos.
Rome's current tram network (click twice to enlarge).
In Rome, there are six tram lines: # 2, # 3, # 5, # 8, # 14 and # 19.
These are the remnants of a much bigger network (in fact, the biggest in Italy) which opened in 1877 but was largely dismantled during the 1960s in favour of a well-developed bus system, whose fleet soon developed a tendency to get stuck in traffic. There are currently three types of of tram cars in service - the oldest one dates from the 1940s and is prevalent on lines #5, #14 and # 19. These cars are not air-conditioned and it's not possible to buy ATAC tickets aboard: they're also considerably smaller, and thus prone to overcrowding, than their newer counterparts. Another type of cars entered service in the 1980s, but this one too is small and lacks both air-conditiong and ticket-vending machines; it can be easily recognised by its angular design. The newest of the whole lot are spacious, air-conditioned, have a ticket-vending machine aboard and - what is more important - they come with free Wi-Fi! They're prevalent on lines # 3 and # 8.
The tram network follows the same timetable as the Metro and bus systems (05:30-23:30): you should avoid rush hour (07:30-09:00), especially on lines # 3, # 5, # 14 and # 19. Line # 8 gets rather crowded on Sundays, because there are fewer trams passing and there's the Porta Portese flea market going on. Most evenings, lines # 5 and # 14 are jam-packed with commuters.
Here are the most useful lines, along with some of their most important stops:
2 Piazzale Flaminio (piazza del Popolo; villa Borghese; Metro line A) - Belle Arti (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna) - piazza Antonio Mancini (MAXXI; Foro Italico; Olympic Stadium)
3 Piazzale Ostiense (homonymous train station; Roma-Lido) - Aventine - Circus Maximus - Colosseum - St. John Lateran - Porta Maggiore (tram lines # 5, # 14 and # 19) - San Lorenzo - Nomentano
Note: in order to get from the Roma Ostiense to the Roma Trastevere train stations (or viceversa) you'll have to catch bus # 3B, whose terminus is located near the pyramid of Cestius.
8 Monteverde district - Roma Trastevere train station - viale Trastevere - piazza G.G. Belli (Trastevere district; Tiberine island) - via Arenula (Jewish Ghetto; largo di Torre Argentina) - piazza Venezia
19 Piazza del Risorgimento (Vatican Museums) - via Ottaviano (Metro line A) - via Lepanto (Metro line A) - Bioparco (Rome's zoo; villa Borghese) - Nomentano - then follows the same route as line # 3
Metro[ edit ]
Rome's Metro network (click thrice to enlarge).
There are three-and-a-half Metro lines: A , B , its B1 branch and the new C line. Lines A and B cross at Termini, while line C doesn't reach the city centre yet.
Line A runs northwest past the Vatican, and then southeast. It has convenient stops for Termini station ("Termini"), Trevi fountain ("Barberini - Fontana di Trevi"), the Spanish Steps ("Spagna"), piazza del Popolo ("Flaminio - Piazza del Popolo"), and the Vatican Museums ("Ottaviano - San Pietro - Musei Vaticani").
Line B runs southwest past the Colosseum and northeast in one direction, but it also splits - this is the B1 branch - at the "Bologna" stop to go due north to "Jonio". This line has convenient stops for the Tiburtina ("Tiburtina") and Termini ("Termini"; this stop is above that of line A) train stations, the Colosseum ("Colosseo"), the Circus Maximus and the Aventine ("Circo Massimo"), the Pyramid of Cestius along with Testaccio and the Ostiense/Roma Porta S. Paolo train stations ("Piramide"), the EUR district ("Eur Fermi"/"Eur Palasport") and the catacombs of S. Agnese ("S. Agnese/Annibaliano", on the B1 branch).
Notice! If you're directed to the Tiburtina train station (served by line B), you'll have to board the trains bound to "Rebibbia": trains headed to "Jonio" do not stop there.
Line C runs southeast, from the adjacent comune of Montecompatri (just outside Rome) through the city's SE suburbs to the Appio district. At present, the line is of no particular use to tourists as it is not yet connected to the rest of the Metro network; the rest of the line will reach the city centre when another stop, located near the archbasilica of St. John Lateran, is expected to open in mid-2016. A further three stops - piazzale Ipponio, via dei Fori Imperiali and piazza Venezia - will open between 2020 and 2021.
Operating hours: all three lines are open every day of the week - including week-ends - and during holidays, when they run a limited schedule.
Sunday to Thursday: Metro lines A, B and C operate from 05:30 to 23:30.
Friday to Saturday: Metro lines A and B operate from 05:30 to 1:30. Line C operates from 05:30 to 23:30.
The Metro is the most punctual form of public transportation in Rome, but it can get extremely crowded during rush hour (08:00 to 09:30) - see safety warnings in the Stay Safe section .
Light rail[ edit ]
Rome is also home to an interesting light suburban railway network that may come in useful if you're headed to some parts of city which are otherwise too impractical to reach via bus or taxi; but you can also use it to get to places such as Viterbo or Ostia Antica . Keep in mind that these lines are leftovers from a much older, extensive network and that the cars themselves are often antiquated: some of them actually look more like trams than proper trains. These railways are all managed by ATAC and are part of the public transportation network the same way as trams and the Metro do, meaning that you can ride them (with a partial exception, see below) by using ordinary ATAC tickets and passes.
These lines are very popular with commuters, so it would be wise to avoid peak hours (roughly 07:30-09:00 AM and 6:00-7:30 PM).
The Roma-Centocelle line connects the city centre with Porta Maggiore - where you can change to tram lines # 3, 5, 14, 19 - and the south-western suburbs. The eastern terminus, called Roma-Laziali, is located next to the far end of Termini station (via Giolitti) while the western one, Parco di Centocelle, lets you connect with the homonumous station of Metro line C which is located nearby. Keep in mind that the line nowadays works just like a tram, despite its name... a relic from times past.
The Roma-Lido line connects Testaccio with Ostia Antica and the nearby Ostia district. The Roma Porta S. Paolo train station, which is located right next to the "Piramide" stop of Metro line B and near the "Roma Ostiense" train station, is this line's main terminus; but it is also possible to board it from the "Basilica San Paolo" and "Eur Magliana" stops of line B, as both systems share part of the same route. To do so, just get off the Metro train and change side of the platform.
The Roma-Nord line connects the city centre with the Parioli district, the city's northern suburbs and Viterbo . The line's Roman terminus is almost hidden from the view as it is tucked in a corner of piazzale Flaminio , near villa Borghese; it's called Stazione di Roma Piazzale Flaminio. Both the "Flaminio" stop of Metro line A and the terminus of tram line # 2 are located nearby. Note that ATAC tickets and passes only cover the urban stretch of the route, which ends at the "Sacrofano" train station: if you wish to continue the trip beyond the city limits, you need a dedicated ticket.
Notice! These lines are not to be confused with the more extensive Regional train network (see below), which is managed by Trenitalia.
By Regional train[ edit ]
Map of the FL network (click thrice to enlarge).
There is a network of eight railway lines - the Ferrovie Laziali or FL (also spelt FM or FR in outdated signage) - that mostly connect to the conurbations of Rome and other towns in the Lazio region; these lines are wholly owned and operated by Trenitalia. Tourists are unlikely to use them, except when arriving from Fiumicino or Civitavecchia, but they can be very convenient if you fancy a day-trip out of Rome (see Get Out ) or need to get across the city quickly (these lines working a bit like the Metro in their urban stretches). You can ride them by using ordinary ATAC tickets for as long as you stay within the city limits: if you're headed to any other destination that doesn't lie within said boundaries you will have to buy (and then time-stamp before boarding the train) a ticket, which costs about €8; there are no reserved seats, food carts or travel classes aboard. This kind of ticket doesn't come with an expiration date, meaning that you can buy one and use it later.
There are also some Regional train lines connecting Rome with other Italian cities and towns - these use the same tracks as the FL lines but are not part of them.
Useful train lines, along with some of the most important stations, are:
FL1 [Fiumicino Aeroporto] - Fiera di Roma - Roma Trastevere (tram # 8) - Roma Ostiense (Metro line B) - Roma Tuscolana - Roma Tiburtina (Metro line B).
FL2 Roma Tiburtina - [Tivoli]
FL3 R. Tiburtina - R. Ostiense - R. Trastevere - Quattro Venti (Janiculum) - Roma San Pietro (St. Peter's) - Valle Aurelia (Metro line A) - [Bracciano] - [Viterbo].
FL5 [Civitavecchia] - R. San Pietro - Quattro Venti - R. Trastevere - R. Ostiense.
Note: Placenames in square brackets indicate that the station in question is located outside the city's boundaries.
Note: The signs and maps in a few local train stations haven't been updated in a while. It is possible that they don't show some of the newer stops (such as Quattro Venti).
On a moped[ edit ]
There is the possibility to hire motorcycles or scooters. Many Romans prefer this way of transportation and even in winter you can see them driving scooters equipped with raincoats, blankets, and rain boots. Motorbikes are not particularly safe in Rome and most accidents seem to involve one (or two!). Nevertheless, Roman traffic can be chaotic and a two-wheeled provides excellent mobility within the city. Scooter and motorcycle rental costs between €30 and €70 per day depending on scooter size and rental company. The traffic can be intimidating and the experience exciting, if a bit insane.
Some of the main rental shops:
HP Motorrad Roma BMW motorcycle rental, via Giuseppe Bonaccorsi 28, ☎ +39 06 83777859
Scoot A Long noleggio scooter, via Cavour 302, ☎ +39 06 6780206
Centro Moto Colosseo, Strada Statale Quattro, 46, ☎ +39 06 70451069
Eco Move Rent, via Varese 48/50, ☎ +39 06 44704518
Rent & Rent, via Capo d'Africa 33, ☎ +39 06 7002915
On a bicycle[ edit ]
There is the possibility to hire any kind of bike in Rome: from tandem, road bikes, children bikes to trekking bikes. Some shops are even specialised only on high quality ones while street stands will hire you cheaper and heavy ones. Bicycling alone can be stressful because of the traffic: the best way to discover how to move around and avoid it first is with a guide, thanks to the tours offered by almost all rental shops. There are different itineraries offered from the basic city centre, panoramic Rome tour to the Ancient Parks (€29 for 4h). The experience is well worth it and you would reduce also your impact on the city's environment.
The Appian Way as seen from two wheels.
Even moderately experienced cyclists, however, may find that cycling through Rome's streets offers an unparalleled way to learn the city intimately and get around very cheaply and efficiently. While traffic in the city centre is certainly chaotic to someone from a country with more regimented and enforced rules of the road, Roman drivers are - generally speaking - used to seeing bicycles as well as motorcycles and one may move throughout the city relatively easily. Should you find yourself in a car's way, they will generally let you know with a quick beep of the horn and wait for you to move.
A particularly spectacular, and relaxing, cycle trip is to pedal out along the via Appia Antica, the original Appian Way that linked much of Italy to Rome. Some of the original cobblestones, now worn by over two millenia of traffic, are still in place. With exceptionally light traffic in most sections, you can casually meander your bike over kilometres of incredible scenery and pass ancient relics and active archaeological sites throughout the journey. ( Rome/South )
Some of the many rental shops:
Punto Informativo. Via Appia Antica 58/60. From Monday to Saturday 09:30-13:30 and 14:00-17:30 (16:30 in winter). Sundays and holidays from 09:30-17:30 non-stop (16:30 in winter). Price: €3/h and €10/day. ☎ +39 06 5126314.
Comitato per la Caffarella. Largo Tacchi Venturi. Su 10:00-18:00. Price: €3/h and €10/day. ☎ +39 06 789279
Catacombe di San Sebastiano. Price: €3/h and €10/day. ☎ +39 06 7850350
Rolling Rome Electric bicycle and bicycle. Via del Cardello 31. ☎ +39 348 6121355
TopBike Rental & Tours. Via Quattro Cantoni, 40. ☎ +39 06 4882893
A bike-sharing point in the city centre.
Bici & Baci. Via del Viminale, 5 (Termini Station). ☎ +39 06 4828443
Collalti. Via del Pellegrino, 82 (Campo de’ Fiori). ☎ +39 06 68801084
Romarent. Vicolo dei Bovari, 7/a (Campo de’ Fiori). ☎ +39 06 6896555
Bikeaway. Via Monte del Gallo, 25/a (near the Roma San Pietro train station). ☎ +39 06 45495816
Bikesharing. Rome's public transport company, ATAC, operates a bike sharing scheme. The bicycles, which are green, are available at numerous locations downtown and further afield. Tickets cost €10, which includes a €5 inscription fee. Electronic cards can be obtained at the Metro ticket offices located in the "Termini", "Lepanto" and "Spagna" stops. The rental costs €1 for an hour. Application is a bit cumbersome and you'll have to give credit card details, but this is a good system if you want to move around Rome quickly and with minimal exhaustion.
By Segway[ edit ]
It is now possible to rent a Segway in Rome; it's a fast, convenient, and eco-friendly way to get around in the city centre. In Rome, a person on a Segway is considered a pedestrian, not a motorist, so Segways are only allowed on the sidewalks, not in the streets with the other vehicles. Segway rental costs between €25-50 per hour, or between €70-100 for an accompanied tour of 2/4h.
Some of the main rental shops:
Rome on Segway, via Labicana 94, ☎ +39 06 97602723, ☎ +39 034 86121355
Rex-Tours and Rent, via dei Balestrari 33, ☎ +39 06 87690040
Ecogo Segway, piazzale Ammiraglio Bergamini 10, ☎ +39 034 09345441
Italy Segway Tours, via di Santa Eufemia 15, ☎ +39 055 2398855
Actual WIPS[ edit ]
The works for the new Metro (line C) station at via dei Fori Imperiali are going on. A good chunk of the pavement in front of the Colosseum is currently inaccessible (looking towards piazza Venezia, pedestrians have to use the one at their left).
A parking lot and a new commercial gallery are being built above the tracks at Termini station: some areas may be off-limits to visitors.
The long-awaited restoration of the Colosseum began on 23 October 2013 and will be complete by late 2016: scaffolding covers approximately one-third of the monument at a time.
The Domus Aurea, along with the gardens of Colle Oppio, is currently undergoing a series of lenghty, expensive and extensive restoration works; limited tours are available.
See[ edit ][ add listing ]
Rome's Capitoline hill.
Italians are very fond of their landmarks; in order to make them accessible to everyone one week a year there is no charge for admittance to all publicly owned landmarks and historical sites. This week, known as the "Settimana dei Beni Culturali", typically occurs in mid-May and for those 7 to 10 days every landmark, archaeological site and museum belonging to government agencies (including the Quirinal palace and its gardens, the Colosseum and all of the ancient Forum) is accessible and free of charge. For more information and for specific dates see [12] or [13] .
In general, Rome's main attractions are free - for example, while it doesn't cost anything to enter the Pantheon you'll have to pay to visit the museums and so forth.
There isn't one pass that provides entry to all paid sights and museums. There are however several tickets that provide entry to a group of sights. You can for example buy a Roma Archeologia Card for €27,50 (concessions €17,50) that is valid for 7 days. This is not for sale online, get it at any of the included sites or at the Rome Tourist Board Office (APT) on via Parigi 5. This pass gets you in to the Colosseum, Palatine hill, the Baths of Caracalla, and the catacombs as well as the Baths of Diocletian, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, the Crypta Balbi, Palazzo Altemps, the Villa dei Quintili and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella. Find all combination tickets listed on Rome.info
It is recommended to buy your tickets in advance, either online or at a quiet ticket booth, to avoid having to wait in line for a very long time at popular attractions. Pre-booked tickets allow you to skip the queues. Online tickets are cheapest at the official site of CoopCulture . Tickets for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel can be bought in advance at the Vatican's online ticket office .
Ancient Rome[ edit ]
Coffers and Oculus of the Pantheon.
The main area for exploring the ruins of ancient Rome is in Rome/Colosseo either side of via dei Fori Imperiali, which connects the Colosseum and piazza Venezia. Laid out between 1924 and 1932, at Mussolini's request, the works for such an imposing boulevard required the destruction of a large area of Renaissance and medieval buildings constructed on top of ruins of the ancient forums, and ended forever plans for an archaeological park stretching all the way to the Appian Way. Via dei Fori Imperiali is a busy throughfare, but it has been partially pedonalised in August 2013; said boulevard is also the location of a grand parade held every 2nd of June in occasion of the Italian national holiday (see the "holidays and events" section). Heading towards the Colosseum from piazza Venezia, you can see the Roman Forum on your right and Trajan's Forum and Market on the left. To the right of the Colosseum is the Arch of Constantine and the beginning of the Palatine Hill, which will eventually lead you to ruins of the Flavian Palace and a view of the Circus Maximus (see Rome/Aventino-Testaccio ). To the left, after the Colosseum is a wide, tree-lined path that climbs through the Colle Oppio park. Underneath this park is the Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea), an enormous and spectacular underground complex restored and then closed again due to damage caused by heavy rain. Further to the left on the Esquiline Hill are ruins of Trajan's baths.
In Old Rome you must see the Pantheon, which is amazingly well preserved considering it dates back to 125AD. There is a hole constructed in the ceiling so it is an interesting experience to be there when it is raining. If you are heading to the Pantheon from piazza Venezia you will first reach largo di Torre Argentina, on your left. Until 1926 the area was covered in narrow streets and small houses, which were razed to the ground when ruins of Roman temples were discovered. Moving along corso Vittorio Emanuele II and crossing the Tiber river into the Vatican area you see the imposing Castel Sant'Angelo, built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian. This is connected by a covered fortified corridor to the Vatican and served as a refuge for Popes in times of trouble.
South of the Colosseum are the Baths of Caracalla ( Aventino-Testaccio ). You can then head South-East on the old Appian Way, passing through a stretch of very well-preserved city wall. For the adventurous, continuing along the Appian Way ( Rome/South ) will bring you to a whole host of Roman ruins, including the Circus of Maxentius, the tomb of Cecilia Metella, the Villa dei Quintili and, nearby, several long stretches of Roman aqueduct.
Returning to the Modern Centre , the Baths of Diocletian are opposite the entrance to the main railway station, Termini. The National Museum of Rome stands in the South-West corner of the Baths complex and has an enormous collection of Roman scultures and other artifacts. But this is just one of numerous museums devoted to ancient Rome, including those of the Capitoline Hill. It is really amazing how much there is.
Catholic Rome[ edit ]
The Baroque opulent exterior of St. Peter's Basilica.
There are more than 900 churches in Rome. Probably one third would be well worth a visit!
St. Peter is said to have founded the Church in Rome together with St. Paul. The first churches of Rome originated in places where early Christians met, usually in the homes of private citizens. By the 4th century, however, there were already four major churches, or basilicas. Rome had 28 cardinals who took it in turns to give mass once a week in one of the basilicas. In one form or another the four basilicas are with us today and constitute the major churches of Rome. They are St. Peter’s , St. Paul Outside the Walls , Santa Maria Maggiore and San Giovanni . All pilgrims to Rome are expected to visit these four basilicas, together with San Lorenzo fuori le mura , Santa Croce in Gerusalemme , and the Sanctuary of Divino Amore . The latter was inserted as one of the seven at the time of the Great Jubilee in 2000, replacing San Sebastiano outside the walls .
Take a look inside a few churches. You'll find the richness and range of decor astonishing, from fine classical art to tacky electric candles. Starting with several good examples of early Christian churches, including San Clemente and Santa Costanza , there are churches built over a period of 1700 years or so, including modern churches constructed to serve Rome's new suburbs.
Churches in Rome deny admission to people who are dressed inappropriately; you will find "fashion police" at the most visited churches ("knees and shoulders" are the main problem - especially female ones). Bare shoulders, short skirts, and shorts are officially not allowed, but long shorts and skirts reaching just above the knee should generally be no problem... however, it's always safer to wear longer pants or skirts that go below the knee; St. Peter's in particular is known for rejecting tourists for uncovered knees, shoulders, midriffs, etc. (you also generally won't be told until right before you enter the church, so you will have made the trek to the Vatican and stood in a long security line for nothing) etc. The stricter churches usually have vendors just outside selling inexpensive scarves and sometimes plastic pants, but relatively few churches enforce dress codes and you can wander into most wearing shorts, sleeveless shirts, or pretty much anything without problems. It is, however, good to keep one's dress conservative, as these are still churches and houses of prayer for many people (older Romans might comment on your attire if it is particularly revealing).
The Seven Hills of Rome[ edit ]
The original seven hills and the Servian wall.
To the modern visitor, the Seven Hills of Rome can be rather difficult to identify. In the first place, generations of buildings constructed on top of each other and the construction of tall buildings in the valleys have tended to make the hills less pronounced than they originally were. Secondly, there are clearly more than seven hills - in Roman days many of these were outside the city boundaries.
The seven hills were first occupied by small settlements and not recognised as a city for some time. Rome came into being as these settlements acted together to drain the marshy valleys between them and turn them into markets and fora. The Roman Forum used to be a swamp.
The Palatine Hill looms over the Circus Maximus and is accessed near the Colosseum . Legend has it that this was occupied by Romulus when he fell out with his brother, Remus, who occupied the Aventine Hill on the other side of the Circus. Also clearly recognisable as hills are the Caelian , to the southeast of Circus Maximus and the Capitoline , which overlooks the Forum and hosts Rome's city hall, as well as the Capitoline Museums. East and northeast of the Roman Forum are the Esquiline , Viminal, and Quirinal hills . These are less easy to distinguish as separate hills these days and from a distance look like one.
The Servian Wall outside Termini Station.
The red line on the map indicates the Servian Wall, its construction is credited to the Roman King Servius Tullius in the Sixth Century BC, but archaeological evidence places its construction during the Fourth Century BC. Small bits of this wall can still be seen, particularly close to Termini railway station and on the Aventine hill . As Rome expanded new walls were required to protect the larger area. These were built in the Third Century AD by the Emperor Aurelian. Lengthy sections of this wall remain all around the outskirts of Rome's centre. Much is in very good condition.
Among other hills of Rome, not included in the seven, are those overlooking the Vatican ; the Janiculum, overlooking Trastevere , which provides excellent views of Rome; the Pincio on the edge of the Borghese Gardens , which gives good views of piazza del Popolo and the Vatican, and Monte Mario, with its famous Zodiaco (a panoramic viewpoint), to the north.
Museums[ edit ]
If you are in Rome for the art there are several world-class museums in the city. The natural starting point is a visit to the area of Villa Borghese in Campo Marzio , where there is a cluster of art museums. Galleria Borghese houses a previously private art collection of the Borghese family, Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia is home of the world's largest Etruscan art collection, and the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna houses many Italian masterpieces as well as a few pieces by artists such as Cézanne, Modigliani, Degas, Monet and Van Gogh. The Capitoline Museums in the Colosseo district opens their doors to the city's most important collection of antique Roman and Greek art and sculptures. Visit the Galleria d'Arte Antica, housed in the Barberini palace in the Modern center , for Italian Renaissance and Baroque art.
A visit to Rome is not complete without a trip to the Vatican Museums . You'll need to go to the museums if you want to see the Sistine Chapel, but there is an enormous collection. You cannot miss any part of it, such as the tapestries, the maps and the rooms painted by Rafael as they are en route to the Sistine Chapel but there is much, much more to explore, including a stunning Egyptian collection and the Pinacoteca, which includes a "Portrait of St. Jerome" by Leonardo da Vinci and paintings by Giotto, Perugino, Raphael, Veronese and Caravaggio, to name just a few. Not to mention the countless, ancient statues...
Rome's National Museum at the Baths of Diocletian in the Modern Center has a vast archaeological collection as does the national museum at Palazzo Altemps, close to piazza Navona . Further afield, the Museo della Civiltà Romana (Museum of the Roman Civilisation), in the EUR , is most famous for an enormous model of Imperial Rome but it is also home to an extensive display of plaster casts, models and reconstructions of statues and Roman stonework.
If you have plenty of time there is absolutely no shortage of other museums covering a wide variety of interests. Examples include the Museum of the Walls (see Rome/South ), the Musical Instrument Museum and a museum devoted to the liberation of Rome from the German occupation in the Second World War ( Rome/Esquilino-San Giovanni ).
Check museum opening hours before heading there. Government museums are invariably closed on Mondays, so that is a good day for other activities. The Rome municipality itself operates some 17 museums and attractions. Info at [14] . These are free to European Union citizens under 18 and over 65. Web sites for other museums are listed on the relevant District pages.
The Keats-Shelley House is recommended for fans of second-wave British Romantic poets (Keats, Shelley, Byron etc). This is the house in which John Keats died of tuberculosis at the age of 25 in 1821; it is now a museum dedicated to the English Romantic poets. It is located at piazza di Spagna, 26, right next to the Spanish Steps. For more information, visit [15] .
Just walking around[ edit ]
The lovely piazza della Repubblica.
Much of the attraction of Rome is in just wandering around the old city. You can quickly escape from the major tourist routes and feel as if you are in a small medieval village, not a capital city. If you can do so while watching for uneven cobblestones, keep looking upwards. There are some amazing roof gardens and all sorts of sculptures, paintings and religious icons attached to exterior walls. Look through 2nd and 3rd floor windows to see some oak-beamed ceilings in the old houses. Look through the archway entrances of larger Palazzos to see incredible courtyards, complete with sculptures, fountains and gardens. Take a stroll in the area between piazza Navona and the Tiber river in Old Rome where artisans continue to ply their trade from small shops. Also in Old Rome , take a 1km stroll down via Giulia, which is lined with many old palaces. Film enthusiasts will want to visit via Veneto (via Vittorio Veneto) in the Modern Center , scene for much of Fellini's La Dolce Vita. The best way to see the heart of what was ancient Rome's "entertainment center", namely the Campus Martius, with its theaters, stadiums, baths, temples and porticos is on foot. This is the area that runs south from the Capitoline Hill to the Piazza del Popolo on the north and the Corso on the east to the Tiber and is what generally encloses the "centro storico" or historic center. Downloadable walking guides through the maze of streets in this area will assist you. See, for instance, P. Jacobs, A Walk Through The Field of Mars - Rome's Ancient Campus Martius A Piedi or A. Claridge, Rome: An Oxford Archaeological Guide.
The piazze[ edit ]
The Trevi Fountain, one of the most famous and popular sights in the city.
The narrow streets of the historical centre frequently broaden out into small or large squares (piazze), which may have one or more churches and a fountain or two. Apart from piazza Navona and piazza della Rotonda (in front of the Pantheon), take in the nearby piazza della Minerva, with its unique elephant statue by Bernini and piazza Colonna with the column of Marcus Aurelius and palazzo Chigi, seat of the Italian Government; right next to it, there's the piazza di Monte Citorio with the homonymous palace, seat of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. On the other side of corso Vittorio Emanuele II are piazza Farnese, with the palace of the same name (now the French Embassy), two interesting fountains and the flower sellers at Campo de' Fiori - scene of the city's executions in the old days. All of these squares are a short distance from each other in Old Rome . The enormous piazza del Popolo in the North Center , which provided an imposing entrance to the city when it represented the northern boundary of Rome, is well worth a visit. A short walk back towards the centre brings you to piazza di Spagna at the foot of the Spanish Steps. Yet another fascinating fountain here. The area was much used as backdrop for the 1953 film "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck.
Piazza Navona
On the other side of the river is, of course, the magnificent St. Peter's square at the Vatican . Further south, in Trastevere , is piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere - a great place to watch the world go by, either from one of the restaurants or bars that line two sides of the square or, if that is too expensive, from the steps of the central fountain. The square attracts many street entertainers.
Moving back to the Modern Center you have to see the Trevi Fountain, surely a part of everyone's Roman holiday. Visitors are always amazed that such a big and famous fountain is tucked away in a small piazza in the middle of side streets. Take extra-special care of your possessions here. Further up the via del Tritone you will come to piazza Barberini, now a busy roundabout, but the lovely Bernini fountain is not to be missed.
Overlooked Places[ edit ]
The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana is an excellent example of the Fascist architecture in Rome, and is often referred to as "the Square Colosseum"; it was designed by architects Giovanni Guerrini and Ernesto Lapadula as part of the ambitious building programme for the Universal Exposition of 1942, which never took place due to Italy's entry into WW2. After having seen the Colosseum itself, you could visit it so to compare the monuments' differences and similarities.
Viewpoints[ edit ]
On the Pincio, above piazza del Popolo, is a good viewpoint.
One of the best views is at the top of the Vittoriano . This can be reached by climbing to the mid level terraces of the building and then paying €7 to ride the lift up to the very top of the building. This gives breathtaking views over the entirety of Rome with informative diagrams to help you understand just what it is that you can see. Views of the city can also come from climbing the many hills, either the original "seven hills" of Rome, or others that surround them. The two most popular views of Rome are from the Janiculum hill overlooking Trastevere and the Pincio at the edge of the Borghese Gardens . The former, best reached by car, has sweeping views of the centre of Rome, as long as the city council remembers to prune the trees on the hillside in front of the viewpoint. Cross over the piazza for an excellent view of the dome of St Peter's. The Vatican is the main sight from the Pincio (Metro line A, "Flaminio - Piazza del Popolo" stop, and then a good climb). Less popular, but just as nice, is the orange grove at the Parco Savello on the Aventine Hill .
Rome for kids[ edit ]
If you are planning some serious sightseeing then leave the kids with their grandparents! They don’t take kindly to being dragged from ruin to ruin and church to church; a common sight in Rome is miserable looking kids traipsing after their parents. Also, push chairs/buggies are difficult to use because of the cobbled streets. If you are a family, do not try to do too much - Itt will be a big strain on kids and in the end everyone will be tired.
Apart from the major attractions, Rome has relatively little to entertain kids. If you noticed a big Ferris wheel on your way in from the airport, think again: the lunapark at EUR was closed down in 2008. A few of the other ways to bribe your kids, however, are:
Children's Museum , via Flaminia, 82. Just north of piazza del Popolo. Controlled entrance at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 17:00 for visits lasting 1 hour 45 minutes. Closed Mondays and for much of August. Best to check the web site for up-to-date info and to book in advance. Hands-on science, mainly for pre-teens, housed in a former tram depot.
Bioparco . The rechristened Giardino Zoologico, Rome's municipal zoo. It is located on the edge of Villa Borghese. 09:30 to 17:00 or 18:00 depending on the month. They try hard, but San Diego this isn't; if you are a regular zoo-goer you will be disappointed.
The Time Elevator , via dei Santi Apostoli, 20 on a side street between piazza Venezia and the Trevi Fountain. Daily 10:30-19:30. "Five-dimensional" shows on the Origins of Life and on the History of Rome, plus "The House of Horrors". Not for the faint-hearted: your seats move all over the place. Kids love it.
Museo delle Cere (Rome's wax museum), piazza dei Santi Apostoli, 67, next to piazza Venezia. Few good reports about this museum. Comments invited.
Planetarium at EUR . Home to an excellent astronomy museum, it's conveniently located next to the Museum of the Roman Civilisation [16] .
The Vatican is, by and large, not a great idea for kids although they often enjoy the Sistine Chapel and are impressed by the beauty and the fact that it was all done in just four years. However, the Sistine Chapel is very crowded and getting there through the corridors of the Vatican Museum is even worse. It is easy for families to get separated so determine a meeting point. The best part of St. Peter's Basilica is that kids can go to the top of the dome. It is 500 steps but you can take the elevator up to the third floor. From there there are another 323 exhausting steps. So it is fun for older kids who can both climb up all the stairs and walk down as there is a huge line for the elevator.
Zoomarine . Dolphins, sea lions, exotic birds, splashy rides and swimming pools some 20km south of Rome, near Pomezia. A good day out, but is this really why you came to Rome? Free transport from the EUR and Pomezia railway station.
Do[ edit ][ add listing ]
Take in a show. There are lots of theatres, but you will need to know Italian to enjoy them. The main concert venue is the Auditorium in viale Pietro de Coubertin in the northern part of Rome . [17] The Auditorium at Parco della Musica is a large complex composed of three separate halls whose shapes are inspired by musical instruments. These are positioned around an open air amphitheatre, that is used nearly every night in the summer for concerts. The Parco della Musica hosts a constant stream of classical, popular, and jazz music, featuring national as well as international musicians and groups. Really big names perform outdoors in the summer; usually in either the Olympic Stadium or in the Stadio Flaminio, which is next door to the Parco della Musica. In winter the Palalottomatica in EUR is an important pop concert venue.
To get full details of what is on, buy a copy of the La Repubblica newspaper on Thursdays, when it has an insert called TrovaRoma. There are a couple of pages in English but even with no Italian you should be able to decipher the main listings. This is not published in late July and August, when half of Rome heads to the beach. Both La Repubblica and Il Messaggero have daily listings.
Learn some authentic Italian cooking with local Italian chefs at their own homes. Learn from the locals themselves, eat great food, enjoy the company of new friends and see a different side of the city. BonAppetour is a great site to discover unique dining experiences in Rome.
Walk and feel the energy of Rome; sights are everywhere waiting to be discovered.
Explore the Trastevere district for some great cafes and trattorie, and a glimpse at a hip Roman neighbourhood.
Take in a game of football at the Olympic Stadium. Rome has two teams, A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio and they both play there.
Cinecittà Shows Off, Via Tuscolana 1055, Rome, [18] . Cinecittà Shows Off is a tour of the legendary Cinecittà Studios in Rome, revealing cinema secrets from the history of the famous studios. Original sketches by celebrated set designers, costumes worn by international stars, and monumental sets: it’s a journey into what was dubbed the "Dream Factory". The exhibition also offers the option of a guided tour through the monumental sets that are still used today for shooting films as well as national and international TV shows. If you love movies, don't miss it. edit
Food and Wine Tour, [19] . Take in some of the best food in the world with a professional tour. Crazy4Rome offers food and wine tours among other walking tours and workshops. edit
Museum Tours, [20] . Rome has some of the best museums in the world, so museum tours are often very popular. Walks Inside Rome offers popular tours that features the notable museums of Rome. edit
Underground Colosseum Tours, [21] . You haven't truly seen the Colosseum unless you've explored the tunnels beneath the amphitheatre. Through Eternity offers fascinating walking tours of Rome, including all the most important ancient sites such as the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine. edit
Cooking Classes and Food Tastings Travelling to Rome means also discovering one of the most ancient and well known culinary culture in the world. Learning how to cook pasta, pizza and exploring the traditional markets of Rome will make your trip unforgettable. During the cooking classes professional chefs will guide you in cooking amatriciana, carbonara and so on, having a lot of fun at the same time.
Tours on wheels Have a ride with a Fiat 500 or a Vespa will let you enjoy the eternal magic of Rome. Tours will give you the chance to experience Rome from a different point of view.
Holidays and Events[ edit ]
Anniversary of the Founding of Rome (21 April) - Since 1922, the city of Rome celebrates its founding. A national holiday between 1924 and 1945, the celebration is now limited to the city itself; during this day, admission to some of the municipal museums is free while historical parades, reenactments and other events take place.
Liberation Day (25 April) - On this day, Italy commemorates both the end of the Second World War, as well as the end of the German occupation (Turin and Milan were amongst the last cities to be liberated on the 25 April). Parades and other kinds of events take place in most major Italian cities.
Labour Day (1 May) - Labour Day is a national holiday in Italy; Romans either leave town or attend a big rock concert in piazza San Giovanni. On this "day of the worker" much will be closed, but you may find parades and festivals all over Italy. Expect big crowds in popular areas.
Vatican guard swearing in (6 May) - This is the day when new groups of Swiss Guards are sworn in, marking the sack of Rome in 1506. Guards are sworn in by the San Damaso courtyard, Vatican City. The public is not invited, but you may steal a glimpse if you book a private guided tour of the Vatican.
Italian Open Tennis Tournament, [22] . For two weeks in May, Rome hosts one of the most important European clay-court tournaments, a warm-up for the French Open. edit
Republic Day (2 June) - This is the Italian national holiday, commemorating the founding of the Italian Republic in 1946; in Rome, a grand military parade takes place from via dei Fori Imperiali to piazza Venezia and the gardens of the Quirinal palace are open to the public.
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June) - This is a public holiday in Rome and a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Public buildings, along with many shops, will be closed; on the plus side, fireworks will take place that evening at Castel Sant'Angelo.
Estate Romana Festival (Roman Summer Festival) - from late June through early September, the city of Rome hosts various musical events of jazz, rock, and classical music, and film, sport, theatre and children’s fun.
White Nights (Notte Bianca), [23] . From early to mid-September, various events will take place until dawn, while shops, restaurants and museums will stay open. The Roman Notte Bianca hosts stages music, dance and theatre events. Expect enormous crowds; buses and trams will be packed to the brim. edit
Opera at the Baths of Caracalla, [24] . Performances start at 21:00. If you are in Rome during summertime don’t miss the chance to experience an opera in the truly unique setting of the Baths of Caracalla (see Rome/Aventino-Testaccio ). Programmes have included Tosca, Carmen and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. edit
Learn[ edit ]
Rome is replete with foreign language and cultural institutions. Of course, learning Italian is a worthwhile activity if you plan to stay for any length of time. If you plan to combine a stay in Rome with academic study, there are several English-language universities.
Accademia Italiana Arte moda e Design. design school The Accademia Italiana, founded in 1984, is one of the most prestigious university level Institutes for fashion, design and photography. It has headquarters in Florence and in Rome. The Accademia Italiana is the only private fine arts university in Florence and in Tuscany authorized to offer Bachelor's degree programs in Fashion, Design and Photography leading to degrees recognized by the MIUR.
The Historical Group of Rome runs a gladiator school in via Appia Antica, 18. ☎ +39 06 5160 7951 [25]
Centro Linguistico Dante Alighieri located at Piazza Bologna offers Italian language courses for all levels A1 to C2. Classes start every Monday.
Buy[ edit ][ add listing ]
Snapshot of a Roman grocery.
Rome has excellent shopping opportunites of all kinds - clothing and jewellery (it has been nominated as a top fashion capital) to art and antiques. You also get some big department stores, outlets and shopping centres, notably in the suburbs and outskirts.
Main shopping areas include via del Corso, via Condotti (plus the surrounding streets) and via Cola di Rienzo; the finest designer stores are around via Condotti, whilst via del Corso has more affordable clothing. The surroundings of via del Tritone, piazza Campo de' Fiori and the Pantheon are the places to go for cheaper items. UPIM is a good shop for cheap clothing of workable quality. Some brands (like Miss Sixty and Furla) are excellent, some are not as good - be sure to feel garments and try them on. There are also great quality shoes and leather bags at prices that compare well with the UK and US. However, when shopping for clothes, note that bigger sizes than a UK size 16/US 12 aren't always easy to find. Children's clothing can be expensive with basic vests (tank tops) costing as much as €21 in non-designer shops. If you really need to buy clothes for kids try the OVS or Cisalfa chains. Note that summer sales in many stores begin around 15 July and that Rome has New Year sales, too - they usually take place during the second week of January.
As mentioned above, via Condotti is Rome's top haute couture fashion street (equivalent of Fifth Avenue in New York City, via Montenapoleone in Milan or Bond Street in London). Here, you can find big brand names such as Gucci, Armani, Dior, Valentino and Hermès, and several other high-class shops. However, the streets around the via Condotti, such as via Frattina, via del Babuino, via Borgognona and the piazza di Spagna also offer some excellent high fashion boutiques, including Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Prada and Givenchy (and several others). So once in the city, the big boutique names aren't absent. In these luxurious streets, however, you needen't only do clothing shopping - there are some really good and funky jewellery (e.g. Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany's & Co.), pens and relative accessories (i.e. Mont Blanc) and artsy stores peppered here and there in these streets.
If you want to spend a day in a large shopping centre, there's the Euroma2 with about 230 shops (mainly clothes and accessories) and restaurants, to be found near the EUR district. Take the B line of the Metro to the "EUR Fermi" or "EUR Palasport" stops (direction: "Laurentina"); from the former Metro stop, you can take the # 070, # 700 or # 709 buses and get off at "Colombo/Pacifico". Otherwise, from the latter stop, you can cross the road and take the frequent free bus (ride takes 5-15 minutes) to the shopping precinct. In addition to many shops and food, the conditioned air and free toilets may be a welcome relief if you are in Rome during mid-summer.
Cinecittà Due is located in via Tuscolana (Metro line A, "Subaugusta" stop). You can combine a sreoll in this shopping centre after a visit to the Cinecittà studios, one Metro stop ("Cinecittà") away.
La Rinascente, Rome's first department store, having been opened in 1887, is also a good retail department store, selling fashion, design, houseware and beauty products.
There are lots of fake plastic designer bags and sunglasses sold at the side of the road. Be aware, buying fake products is illegal in Italy; fines of up to €1000 have been reported. If you are happy to take the risk, make sure you haggle - unsuspecting tourists pay up to €60 for them.
If you want to buy souvenirs or gifts, a museum would be the worst choice since there are many stalls along the streets of touristic areas that offer reasonable prices. It is likely that the same item in the gift shop of any museum will cost much more.
Factory outlets[ edit ]
Castel Romano, near Rome, along the Pontina highway, [26] . A very large factory outlet with more than 100 branded shops. A car is needed to reach the place but a 30% discount in a designer shop is worth the 20km (12 mi) trip for some.
Valmontone, [27] . A little further away from Rome than Castel Romano, you can find Valmontone outlet on the motorway towards Naples, about 50km (31 mi) from Rome. Valmontone itself is a delightful little town some 30 minutes away from Rome which can be reached by train.
Flea markets[ edit ]
The one at Porta Portese (located near the Roma Trastevere train station) is the biggest in city, and takes place every Sunday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM circa. Said market occupies two thoroughfares - via Portuense and via Ettore Rolli - but the stalls in the main drag are usually full of junk: better look in the side streets.
Another market is located at via Sannio, near St. John Lateran: there you can find lots of clothes and shoes. The market is open six days a week, Monday to Saturday, 07:00-13:00 (but some Saturdays the stalls stay open till 17:00).
The one at via Leonina, in the ward of Monti, sells mainly clothing items and takes place (almost) every week-end 10:00-20:00. Many young or aspiring stylists choose to sell their creations there.
A market whose sellers take themselves seriously - which is also the only one where you have to buy a ticket (€1.60) in order to get in - is the one taking place every Sunday at piazzale della Marina, near villa Borghese, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Every first and second Sunday of the month a vibrant thrift sale takes place near ponte Milvio (more precisely, in and around via Capoprati) from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
There's yet another flea fair taking place every third Sunday of the month (c. 09:00-19:00) in viale Maresciallo Pilsudski, near villa Glori - a public park in the upscale Parioli district north of villa Borghese.
The one at Porta Pia, in the Nomentano district, is located at the intersection between via Nomentana and Corso d'Italia. Every second Sunday of the month, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Piazzale delle Belle Arti is home to an interesting tag sale every fourth Sunday of the month from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Mercatino is a chain of second-hand shops scattered throughout Rome, mainly in the residential neighbourhoods outside the city centre. And no, you can't haggle in there (items have a price tag).
Note: always remember that flea fairs are the only place in Italy where haggling is allowed (to a certain degree) - you cannot, for example, negotiate the price of any kind of food nor haggle for an item that has a price tag on it! Also, the market at Porta Portese is visited by lots and lots (and lots, and lots, and lots...) of people every week and the main drag can indeed feel oppressive; if you're claustrophobic, you should not go there and if you do, limit your visit to the side streets or the area around piazza Ippolito Nievo which is spacious enough. Needless to say, the legions of people congregating there every Sunday makes it an ideal target for pickpockets so keep an eye on your belongings.
Eat[ edit ][ add listing ]
Individual listings can be found in Rome's district articles
Rome is full of good restaurants, many in attractive settings, particularly when you sit outside in the evening. No one location can be recommended to search for a good restaurant: some of the best places to eat are in the most unpromising locations while well-situated restaurants can often live on their reputation rather than the quality of their food. Restaurants in guidebooks can be good but prices can be inflated because it is more than likely a "tourist trap." To find an authentic restaurant that wont break the bank try to find a place in a more residential area or somewhere that isn't in the middle of the tourist locations.
Eat like a Roman
In Rome you can ask for:
Cornetto & cappuccino - A croissant and cappuccino (coffee and creamy milk).
Panino - Generic word for a stuffed sandwich.
Pizza al taglio - Pizza by the slice.
Fiori di zucca - Zucchini flowers, prepared in a deep fried batter.
Supplì - Fried rice balls with tomato and mozzarella.
Carciofi alla romana - Artichokes, Roman style.
Carciofi alla giudia - Artichokes, Jewish style (fried).
Puntarelle - Chicory salad with olive oil and anchovies.
Bucatini alla matriciana - A pasta dish with cheek lard, tomato and pecorino romano (Roman sheep cheese).
Spaghetti (or rigatoni) alla carbonara - A sauce made with egg and pancetta (bacon).
Abbacchio "alla scottadito" - lamb chops.
Scaloppine alla romana - Veal sautéed with fresh baby artichokes.
Coda alla vaccinara - Oxtail stew.
Trippa alla romana - Tripe; offal is a Roman tradition, e.g. osso buco (bone marrow).
Many of the best restaurants in Rome, however, are hard to find as most of them are located outside the historical centre - a good tip is to go where Italians live and eat. For example, beyond the Janiculum (in the Monteverde vecchio district) there are some trattorie with authentic Italian cuisine at an affordable price. Rome also has many beautiful spots to eat, so buying some delicacies to make up a picnic can be a great experience. An even more affordable choice is to go to a local supermarket which will also have good foods for lunch.
Pizza[ edit ]
Roman pizzas are very thin crusted, quite different from the classical pizza made in Naples; they're also crunchier and have far less pizza topping. Most restaurants serve pizza only in the evening. Try some of the fried things like baccalà (battered salt cod) or supplì (fried rice balls with cheese and tomato) for a starter, followed by a pizza for a really Roman meal and avoid the tourist areas where you'll often pay double the going rate just to get a badly reheated frozen pizza. Some restaurants also make round pizzas to take away: look for signs reading either "pizze da asporto" or "pizze da portar via".
You'll have to cut your round pizza (in Italy, the cook doesn't do that for you) with fork and knife, which can then be eaten with one's hands; contrary to some travel myths, there's absolutely no stigma whatsoever to doing it.
Pizza al taglio is pizza with a thicker crust and cooked in a large pan. It is served by the piece - usually to take away - and is a good, cheap way to get something to fill you up: point to the one you want and indicate if you want more or less than your server is indicating with the knife. Unlike Naples, pizza al taglio here is sold by weight (the listed price is usually per 100 gm, known in Italian as an un etto, a hectogram).
Pizzerie al taglio (places selling pizza by the slice, that is) are the city's very own equivalent of a fast-food joint and, pretty much like the fish and chips shops in the UK, they're a cornerstone of Roman life. They sell the ubiquitous supplì - which is a truly delicious complement to pizza - pepper roasted chicken, fiori di zucca, potato croquettes, lasagne and roast potatoes; most of these establishments also make round pizzas to take away, but they cost more and you'll often have to wait (especially at lunchtime).
Bakeries ( Italian : forno, or panificio) also make very good pizza by the slice, even though their choice of toppings is quite limited. There you can ask to have your (plain) slice of pizza filled with Nutella...
Ice cream[ edit ]
Look for a gelateria. You pay for your ice cream first... then take your receipt and go fight your way through the throng to choose your flavours. You will be asked "Panna?" when it's almost made - this is the offer of whipped cream on top. If you've already paid, this is free. Some gelaterie require a small additional charge in order to get your cream — mostly half or one euro.
There are a few signs to keep in mind: "Produzione Propria" (homemade - our own production), "Nostra Produzione" (our production), "Produzione Artigianale" (production by craftsmen). If the colours seem dull and almost ugly it is probably natural, the bright colors being just a mix. Producers to try include Gelarmony [28] ; Gelato di San Crispino [29] ; La Palma [30] with a huge choice of tastes; Pompi bars [31] , famous for their wonderful tiramisù, a semi-frozen dessert made of mascarpone cheese, chocolate, coffee and ladyfingers, and Fassi [32] .
Vegetarians and vegans[ edit ]
Vegetarians and vegans should have an easy time finding food in Rome (and Italy in general). Buffets in many restaurants usually have a good range of delicious vegetarian stuff - e.g. gratinated roast peppers/aubergines, etc. Also, pizzas don't always have cheese - a marinara, for example, is just tomato, garlic and oregano; moreover, one can always ask for a pizza without cheese. Italian servers and chefs tend to be accommodating. Vegans need to watch out for pasta fresca (fresh, homemade pasta) or pasta all'uovo, which is made with eggs. There are also some vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Rome.
Kosher dining[ edit ]
While there is not much choice, at least Rome's kosher cooking is truly excellent; try "La Taverna del Ghetto" and "Yotvata" both in the (former) Jewish ghetto. The area around piazza Bologna (Metro line B, "Bologna" stop), in the Nomentano district, is also home to a sizeable Jewish community: there are a few kosher restaurants you might like to try. The same can be said for parts of the Monteverde district, beyond the Janiculum.
Pricing[ edit ]
You can get cheap food in Rome, the problem is that if you don't know the city well or are forced to eat out in the centre, the prices go up.
Travellers, beware! The "coperto" and "servizio" charges...
...and why you should not pay for them.
As per Regional Law n° 21/2006, these two charges are illegal in Rome and the Lazio region.
More precisely:
The coperto charge is always illegal (as specified by article 16, § 3).
The servizio is illegal unless it's been noted in the menu (art. 16, § 2 and 3).
If a restaurateur is insisting on making you pay for them, simply call the Guardia di Finanza (117) or threaten to do so until him/her backs off.
The full text of the law in question can be found here (in Italian): [33]
€3.50 - You buy the pizza and eat it walking around, since it's a bread shop with a limited (or non-existent) sitting area. You can choose how much you want to eat, but you'll be spending about €2 for it + about €1.50 for a can of soda or €1 for water. As an alternative, you can drink the free water directly from one of the countless fountains in the city: it's very fresh and good. And you save money by refilling your bottle.
€15/20 - At lunchtime if you go to a restaurant you'll be spending between € 15 for a set menu (not always good, try to go where you see Italian office workers having their lunch as your best bet) and €20. For this you should get a pasta dish and a second course (meat) ending with coffee; obviously, if you have wine the price will increase. Most Chinese restaurants tend to fall in this price range.
€20 - At night you can spend about €20 at a pizza restaurant or if you have only one main course. Again, if you have wine it will cost you more.
€20+ - For a sit down lunch or dinner in a restaurant €20 is cheap and if you want you can go up to €200 a head.
Chinese restaurants are still quite cheap but other ethnic restaurants (Thai, Indian) are generally expensive (think €30 upwards per person); sushi is very expensive (€40 minimum per person). Waiters have been known to take advantage of patrons by bringing more expensive items than what was ordered or asking for a tip, although it's not mandatory and should be included in the price by law.
Unlike other countries, you'll be charged for bread; if you don't want to pay for it, just refuse the baskets the waiter brings you or send back those already on your table. As far as cafés are concerned, only touristy ones will make you pay more if you choose to sit down - in (truly local) neighbourhood bars, that is unheard of.
Coffee[ edit ]
Starbucks has so far avoided Rome (or Italy, for that matter).
Italians don't like to eat meals or having their coffee while strolling or sitting; a coffee is, actually, just a few minutes break and you'll find that most locals drink it standing in front of the counter.
What foreigners erroneously call "espresso" is just plain coffee, and is more commonly just referred to as caffè. Caffè doppio means a double shot of espresso, while caffè macchiato is espresso 'marked' with a dab of steamed milk, like a small cappuccino. An americano, or lungo - the one to order if you like filter coffee - is espresso diluted with hot water and is not drunk much by Italians. Decaffeinato is self explanatory, but it is often referred to by the common brand-name Caffè Hag. A caffè corretto is an espresso with some alcoholic drink, like sambuca (distilled from the elder tree, similar to the anisette), anisette, brandy, cognac, grappa (grape spirit) or whatever. Usually the barmen add about a spoon of the "correction".
Latte in Italian is just... milk. If you're expecting coffee in that glass, you should ask for a caffellatte. A latte macchiato (meaning "marked") is steamed milk stained with a smaller shot of espresso.
Cappuccino is well known outside of Italy, but be warned: it is considered very un-classy and... quite disgusting to order one after 11 AM (and certainly during or after a meal). Cappuccino doesn't help the digestion as an espresso is supposed to do because it's too heavy - especially after a large meal.
Wine and water[ edit ]
House wines (vini della casa) are almost always drinkable and inexpensive (unlike, say, in the UK). Most trattorie would not be caught dead serving poor wine. You may often find a bottle of wine on the table for you. Believe it or not: this bottle will be less expensive than a glass would be in the U.S. or UK, possibly only €4 or €5. This does not always apply to those places that look really tourist-trap-like! Slightly better quality wines are usually sold at a relatively small mark-up on shop prices. The best wines are marked as D.O.C. (Registered Designation of Origin) or D.O.C.G. (Registered and Guaranteed Designation of Origin) — they are not necessarily expensive.
Italians, despite the romanticised stereotype, don't usually sit outside cafés drinking a glass of wine and watching the world go by - this is actually something foreign tourists do! Wine is supposed to be served along with (usually, important) meals: it's not something you'd drink everyday. Also - when eating pizza Italians prefer drinking beer, or a Coke, or just a glass of water.
Speaking of which, most restaurants serve bottled water with their meals; it comes usually in 1 litre bottles and can be had normale/liscia/naturale (still water) or gassata/frizzante (sparkling water). No ice is usually served in the water, even in the summer like American customers can expect. Few restaurants offer the free water in the pitcher or the in-house "purified" water in the pitcher usually customised with their logo.
Water is free at designated water fountains, called nasoni (big noses) or simply fontanelle (small fountains). Not only the water's very fresh and good, but it comes from the famous springs scattered throughout the Lazio region - it is perfectly safe to drink. If you carry an empty bottle, fill it up for the rest of the day; look for the drinking fountain with constant running water, plug the bottom hole, and cool water will shoot up from a smaller hole on top of the tap. Don't put your lips round the hole at the bottom, as stray dogs tend to like to get a drink.
Before dinner[ edit ]
Pre-dinner drinks (aperitivi) accompanied with small hors d'oeuvres (antipasti) are very popular with the chic yuppies in their 20s-30s, who crowd the area around piazza delle Coppelle (behind the Parliament) and piazza di Pietra (near the Chamber of Commerce). Younger generations sprawl around the square and streets of Campo de' Fiori for a beer and a chat, while tourists and some posh locals alike sit to drink in the narrow streets beyond the Pantheon (piazza Pasquino and via del Governo Vecchio).
Gay travellers[ edit ]
One of the places to be on Friday nights is Circolo degli Artisti in via Casilina Vecchia, 1 (rather central but reachable only by taxi): a luxurious garden with open-air bars and tables, next to an ancient Roman aqueduct. Two large discos are Mucca Assassina @ Qube in via di Portonaccio, 212 and Alpheus in via del Commercio. During the week the main meeting place after dinner is Coming Out (a bar right in front of the Colosseum) where crowds of gay Romans and tourists gather in and outside all year round. Overwhelmingly crowded during the summer are late-night clubs such as Hangar in via in Selci (Metro Line A, get off at the "Manzoni" stop). The best sauna (open 24 hours during week-ends) is Europa Multiclub in via Aureliana (behind piazza della Repubblica; Metro line A, "Repubblica" stop). A meeting spot for gay people day and (especially) night is Monte Caprino, the park on and behind the Capitoline hill - below the City Hall - with spectacular views over the temples and ruins of ancient Rome. The Galoppatoio at villa Borghese is crowded at night but go AYOR.
Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ]
Rome City Tax[ edit ]
You read that right! Since January 2011, Rome's City Council's been levying an accommodation tax. The current rates, approved in September 2014, are:
€ 2 per person, per night, at campsites;
€ 2.5 per person, per night, in B&Bs;
€ 3 per person, per night, in two-star hotels;
€ 4 per person, per night, in three-star hotels;
€ 6/7 per person, per night, in four and five-star hotels.
The tax - whose proceeds go to the restoration of the city's monuments and sights - will be included in your hotel bill. It doesn't apply to hostels, though.
Hotels[ edit ]
The Colosseum
The area to the southwest of Termini railway station has numerous large hotels; these are used in particular by groups and coach parties. On the other side of the station are many smaller, fairly inexpensive, hotels that are popular with individual travellers. Perhaps the best choice for a first-time visitor is to stay right downtown, (such as near the Pantheon ). Most attractions are walking distance from there, and you will save much transportation time and leave more for enjoying the city. Hotels in the downtown area are costly, but a good apartment is a decent alternative, especially for couples and if you don't mind cooking yourself from time to time: it will save even more of your budget.
Offering of short term apartment rentals is enormous. Many apartments can be booked directly through the owner, but most owners make arrangements via rental agencies, both large and small. When looking for a hotel or an apartment in Rome, take note that the price of accommodations varies significantly from month to month, depending on typical amount of tourists—always check prices at your accommodation for your specific dates.
Being as it is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, there are tons of choices for where to stay, and you will have the choice of whatever type of accommodation you wish.
Warning! Rome hotel touts
This Rome guide is heavily frequented by business owners keen on adding their own hotel or rental agency. While the worst of them are removed on a regular basis, you should always check other reviews before commiting. Many unscrupulous hotel owners are also busy creating false reviews of their accommodation on sites like Tripadvisor and Hotels.com - so tread carefully!
Note Hotel listings can be found in the appropriate districts , and should be added there. Please do not add listings here.
Camping[ edit ]
There are at least two campsites near Rome, they are:
Camping Tiber, via Tiberina, km. 14 (Prima Porta), ☎ +39 06 33610733 (fax: +39 06 33612314). On the bank of the river from which it draws its name. To the north of the city. There's a minimarket, a pool, a restaurant and a bar. edit
Happy Valley, ☎ +39 06 33626401 (fax: +39 06 33613800). It has a pool, a bar, a restaurant and a minimarket. edit
Contact[ edit ]
Call 060606, Rome's City Hall's call centre (open 24/7) - also available for generic and tourist information. Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Albanian, Polish and Romanian spoken. M-F 07:00-19:00 and Saturday 08:00-13:00.
Here's a list of the various Tourist Information Points (PIT), open every day from 09:00 - 18:00. Locations:
Via del Corso, largo Goldoni, ☎ +39 06 68136061
Castel Sant'Angelo, piazza Pia, ☎ +39 06 68809707
Fori Imperiali, piazza Tempio della Pace, ☎ +39 06 69924307
Piazza Navona, piazza delle Cinque Lune, ☎ +39 06 68809240
Via Nazionale, piazza delle Esposizioni, ☎ +39 06 47824525
Trastevere, piazza Sidney Sonnino, ☎ +39 06 58333457
St. John Lateran, piazza San Giovanni, ☎ +39 06 77203535
Santa Maria Maggiore, via dell'Olmata, ☎ +39 06 4740995
Termini station (arrivals), piazza dei Cinquecento, ☎ +39 06 47825194
Termini station, Galleria Gommata (central gallery), ☎ +39 06 48906300
Fontana di Trevi, via Marco Minghetti, ☎ +39 06 3782988
Work[ edit ]
If you want to work, ask around at the hostels, hotels and restaurants. There are differing views on how easy it is to get a job in Rome: however, the country's currently in the midst of a financial crisis, unemployment is sky-high and most jobs seem to go on a family - friends - other Romans - other Italians - white EU - other foreigners pecking order. Knowing Italian helps. Be wary about making any financial commitment before you've actually been paid - late to non-payment is common here, and you may find as a non-Roman you are more likely to be seen as an easy target for this. You will also need a permesso di soggiorno, whether or not you are an EU citizen; legally, you're required to have a working visa although it is very easy to work and live without one.
There are numerous schools to teach the English language in Rome: if you're a native speaker, this may be the best opportunity of picking up a part-time work.
Talk[ edit ]
In Rome, obviously, the population speaks Italian and the road signs are mostly in that language (except for "STOP"). If you are staying in the city, there are plenty of English alternatives to be found; Rome is a popular place to visit and there are maps and information in many languages available. Police officers and transit drivers are more than willing to help you get around and usually provide easier ways to get around.
Also, most residents speak - to varying degrees - the local Roman dialect which can be hard to understand if you've just picked up Italian.
English is widely spoken in Rome by the younger generations and by people working in the tourist industry; among 40+s the chance of finding English-speaking people is a lot less, and with 60+s as good as zero. Most Romans, however, always try to be helpful with the tourists by giving some basic indications - and since so many people have a limited knowledge of English, it is wise to speak slowly and simply.
Romance languages other than Italian - especially Spanish, French and Portuguese, can be also understood (Spanish better than Portuguese) due to their similarity to Italian, although not necessarily spoken. Romanian, on the other hand, is not well understood despite it being a Romance language. However, make sure not confuse Italian with Spanish, or to address locals in that language - they might not take it kindly.
Respect[ edit ]
Romans regularly interact with foreigners and tourists - it shouldn't be hard to find friendly help, provided you know some Italian; as for most every place in Italy, just be polite and you won't have much trouble. If you hit someone with your luggage or shoulder while walking on a street, say "sorry" (mi scusi or simply scusi). Despite being busy like New York and London, bumping someone and going ahead is considered bad behaviour; a little apology will be more than enough.
In buses or trains, let older people have your seat if there's no space available. The gesture will be appreciated. Romans, and Italians as well, can be chaotic while in a queue and often "clump" without any particular order: it's considered impolite, but they do it anyway (however, note that everyone knows who's last). Be careful while driving, as Romans often drive frantically and bend the rules to cope with the heavy traffic.
Catcalls, shoutouts or wolf whistles directed to young ladies are nothing more but a travel myth: however - in the (admittedly, very rare) occurrence this happens to you - don't react and just walk away.
As pointed out before, attempting to speak the language will work wonders: however, make sure not to confuse it with Spanish - locals may not appreciate it.
If you really need to check a map, don't do so while standing in the middle of the pavement and try not to clog it while walking with your group.
Despite all the (unsubstantiated) claims made by most guidebook writers, locals do not refer to the Vittoriano by nicknames such as "the Typewriter" or "the Wedding Cake" - and most of them certainly don't dislike it. They find these nicknames disrespectful as the building not only is dedicated to a united Italy and its first King (thus being considered one of the country's symbols), but is also the resting place of the Unknown Soldier from WWI.
Stay safe[ edit ]
Rome is generally a safe place, even for women travelling alone. However, there have been rape cases around Termini station, so be careful (especially at night time). There is very little violent crime, but plenty of scams and pickpocketing that target tourists. As in any other big city, it is better if you don't look like a tourist: don't exhibit your camera or camcorder to all and sundry, and keep your money in a safe place. Consciousness and vigilance are your best insurances for avoiding becoming a victim of a crime in Rome. Remember, if you are pickpocketed or victim of another scam, don't be afraid to shout, "Aiuto, al ladro!" (Help, Thief!) Romans will not be nice to the thief.
Members of the Italian public are likely to be sympathetic if you are a crime victim. Police are also generally friendly if not always helpful. Carabinieri (black uniform, red striped trousers) are military police while the Polizia (blue and grey uniform) are civilians, but they both do essentially the same thing and are equally good, or bad. If you are robbed, try to find a police station ("commissariato") and report it. This is essential to establishing a secure insurance claim and to replace documents: the chances of it resulting in the return of your possessions are, however, fairly remote.
Rome is home to two rivals Serie A football clubs - A.S. Roma and S.S. Lazio; there's a long history of conflict, and even rioting, between the two. Never wear anything that shows that you support either of them during the Derby (when the two clubs play each other): avoid even wandering into groups of supporters of the other club, or you may be subject to heckling or even confrontation. Play it safe and refrain from openly supporting either club unless you are very familiar with the rivalry. If you are a fan of a foreign team that is playing in Rome, be careful as a number of supporters have been stabbed over the past few years. A.S. Roma's colours are yellow and red (more precisely, orange and garnet-coloured, the same you can see on the city's flag); S.S. Lazio's livery is composed by white and light blue (azure). Other tee-shirts not appreciated: Juventus (black and white vertical stripes), Milan (red and black), Inter (blue and black) - but they are twins with Lazio - and Napoli (light blue). However, don't take these tips too seriously: it is extremely unlikely that you'll ever get in any trouble whatsoever just for wearing other teams' tee-shirts (especially in the central areas).
Pickpocketing[ edit ]
Since Rome is incredibly popular as a tourist destination, a great deal of pickpocketing and/or bag or purse snatching takes place - especially in crowded locations - and pickpocketers can get pretty crafty. A 2010 study found that Rome was second only to Barcelona for pickpocketing of tourists.
As a rule, you should pretty much never carry anything very valuable in any outside pocket - the back pocket of your trousers is one of the easiest and most common targets. Keeping your wallet in your front pocket or in your bag is far from safe; you should consider using a money belt and carry only the cash for the day in your pocket.
Also, beware of thieves — they will use the old trick of one person trying to distract you (asking for a cigarette or doing a strange dance) while another thief picks your pockets from behind. Bands of kids will sometimes crowd you and reach for your pockets under the cover of newspapers or cardboard sheets. It is generally a good idea to be extremely wary of any strange person who gets too close to you, even in a crowd. If someone is in your personal space, shove the person away. As one frequent traveler put it, "Don't be afraid to be a dick in Rome." It is better to be rude than to be stolen from.
Termini (the main railway station), bus line # 64, the central stops of the Metro and Trevi fountain are well-known for pickpockets, so take extra care in these areas.
Remember that hotel rooms are not safe places for valuables; if your room has no safe, give your valuables to the hotel staff for safekeeping. Even if they do have a safe, hotels will usually warn you that they have no liability (unless you put your items in the hotel's safe). This is not true, as it is against the Italian normative on hotel responsibilities.
Be aware of the danger and take the usual precautions and you should be all right. You don't need to be paranoid, just keep your eyes open and use your common sense!
Tourist scams[ edit ]
Read up on the legends concerning tourist scams: most of them occur regularly in the city centre and you will want to see them coming.
One of the recent scams is when you get out of the airport and look for the airport shuttle to Termini Station. One of the three service providers (Schiaffini since previous reports), will sell you a ticket and hurry you to the bus, saying that the bus will depart anytime. Being worried and hurried, you forget to receive your change, and since this must be paid in cash, it will be very hard to show that no change was given. Also, it was witnessed that they don't give change and want exact change sometimes, since most people don't care about one or two euros, some will let this slip, and take the bus anyways. Beware, your entitled to your change no matter if it's one cent or two euros.
A particular scam is when some plainclothes police will approach you, asking to look for "drug money," or ask to see your passport. This obviously is a scam to take your money. You can scare them by asking for their ID: the Guardia di Finanza (whose personnel wears grey uniforms) are the ones doing customs checks.
Another recent scam involves men working near the Spanish Steps, around piazza Navona and outside the Colosseum. They approach you, asking where you are from, and begin to tie bracelets around your wrists. When they are done they will try to charge you upwards of €20 for each bracelet. If anyone makes any attempt to reach for your hand, retract quickly. If you get trapped, you can refuse to pay, but this may not be wise if there are not many people around. Carry small bills or just change, in your wallet, so if you find yourself in cornered to pay for the bracelet, you can convince them that €1 is all you have.
When taking a taxi, be sure to remember licence number written on the car door. In seconds, people have had a taxi bill risen by €10 or even more. When giving money to taxi driver, be careful.
Around tourist sites like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and the Spanish Steps there are groups mostly of men trying to sell cheap souvenirs. They may also carry roses and say they are giving you a gift because they like you but the minute you take their "gift" they demand money. They are often very insistent and often the only way to get rid of them is to be plain rude. Do the best you can to not take their "gifts" as they will follow you around asking for money. Simply saying: "No!" or: "Go away!" will get them off your back until the next vendor comes up to you. Also, be aware of the toys being sold by these vendors. One such item is a squishy ball which flattens when thrown onto the ground; they cost around €1. Once bought, they last a mere quarter hour before bursting - if you get one and are not careful you could end up ruining your luggage.
Occasionally, people may stand outside churches to charge an 'admission fee,' (€1-2) blocking the entrance unless they are paid. No churches in Rome charge a fee to enter - simply ignore them.
Be wary of places where you can exchange currency. Read ALL signs before changing money. Often times places set up just for currency exchange will add as much as a 20% service fee on all money being traded. The shops near the Vatican have especially high service fees, whereas places near the Trevi Fountain will be more reasonable. The best bet is to change enough money before you leave your home country. There are few places around the city that are under the table and are just interested in American money. These places charge no service fee. Or simply go to a bank.
Be careful of con-men who may approach you at tourist sights. The best advice to avoid scams is to get way from anyone that you have never seen before who starts talking to you. For example, a man could approach you asking for directions to a bar, strike a convincing conversation and invite you for a drink at that bar. He would then take you there with some (call) girls, offer you a drink (for which he doesn't mind paying); a (call) girl will approach you and make you agree to pay for a champagne for her. Eventually, you'll end up being asked to pay hundreds of euros for that bottle of champagne when billed.
A car may pull up next to you, and the driver asks you for directions to, say, the Vatican. He will strike up a conversation with you while he sits in his car and tell you he is a sales representative for a large French (or Italian or whatever) fashion house. He will then tell that you he likes you and he would like to give you a gift of a coat worth several thousand euros. As you reach inside his car to take the bag the coat is in, he will ask you for €200 for gas, as his car is nearly empty.
Emergencies[ edit ]
The former province of Rome is now covered by the new emergency number, 112, which works pretty much like 911. Carry the address of your embassy or consulate.
On anything else you may need for your Roman holiday, you can contact the official helpline of the Italian Ministry of Tourism: +39 039 039. 09:00-22:00 daily, in seven languages.
Cope[ edit ]
Police. To report theft you should generally go to the Carabinieri or Police (Polizia di Stato or simply Polizia) station (commissariato) nearest where the theft occurred. Ask people at the scene of the crime where to go.
Left Luggage Termini. You can leave luggage at Termini but there are no lockers. Each bag goes through an X-ray machine, and there are just two of the machines. The result is that queues can comprise 100 or more people. Count on waiting for 30 minutes (the wait can easily be longer). It costs about €4 per bag (of any size) for the first 5 hours, €0.80 per bag for each hour thereafter. There's a sign limiting bags to 20kg (44 lb) each, but no facility for weighing them so it's probably not enforced. The left-luggage office is on level -1 and a few minutes' walk from the metro's exit.
Embassies[ edit ]
Afghanistan, via Nomentana, 120, ☎ +39 06 8611009 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 86322939), [34] . M-F 8:00-14:00. edit
Albania, via Asmara, 5, ☎ +39 06 8622410/14/15/16 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8622410), [35] . M-Th 09:00-14:00, F 09:00-13:00. edit
Argentina, piazza dell'Esquilino, 2, ☎ +39 06 48073300, emergencies: 335 6031207 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 48073331), [36] . edit
Australia, via Antonio Bosio, 5, ☎ +39 06 852721, emergencies: 800877790 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 85272300), [37] . M-F 09:00-12:00. edit
Austria, viale Bruno Buozzi, 111, ☎ +39 06 8418212, after hours emergencies: 335 7089749 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 85352991), [38] . edit
Belgium, via dei Monti Parioli, 49, ☎ +39 06 3609511, after hours emergencies: 335 234157 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 3610197), [39] . M-F 8:30-12:30, 14:00-15:00. edit
Brazil, piazza di Pasquino, 8, ☎ +39 06 6889661, after hours emergencies: 333 1184682 ( http://cgroma.itamaraty.gov.br , fax: +39 06 68802883), [40] . M-F 08:30-11:00. edit
Bulgaria, via Pietro Paolo Rubens, 21, ☎ +39 06 3224640/3/5/8 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 3226122), [41] . M-F 09:00-17:00. edit
Canada, via Zara, 30, ☎ +39 06 854442911 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 854442912), [42] . edit
China, via Bruxelles, 56, ☎ +39 06 96524200 (fax: +39 06 96524260), [43] . edit
Croatia, via Luigi Bodio, 74/76, ☎ +39 06 36307650, +39 06 36307300 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 36303405), [44] . M-F 09:30-12:30. edit
Cuba, via Licinia, 7, ☎ +39 06 5717241 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 06 5745445). edit
Cyprus, via Ludovisi, 35, ☎ +39 06 8088365, +39 06 8088367 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8088338), [45] . edit
Czech Republic, via dei Gracchi, 322, ☎ +39 06 3609571 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 3244466), [46] . edit
Denmark, via dei Monti Parioli, 50, ☎ +39 06 9774831 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 97 748399), [47] . M-F 08:00-17:30. edit
Egypt, via Salaria, 267, ☎ +39 06 84401921 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8554424), [48] . M-F 09:00-17:00. edit
Eritrea, via Boncompagni, 16/b, ☎ +39 06 42741293 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 42741514). edit
Estonia, viale Liegi, 28, int. 5, ☎ +39 06 84407510 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 84407519), [49] . M-F 09:00-12:00. edit
Ethiopia, via Andrea Vesalio, 16/18, ☎ +39 06 4416161 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4403676), [50] . edit
Finland, via Lisbona, 3, ☎ +39 06 852231 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8540362), [51] . M-F 08:00-17:30. edit
France, piazza Farnese, 67, ☎ +39 06 686011 (fax: +39 06 68601360), [52] . edit
Germany, via San Martino della Battaglia, 4, ☎ +39 06 492131 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4452672), [53] . edit
Greece, via Saverio Mercadante, 36, ☎ +39 06 8537551 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8415927). edit
Hungary, via Messina, 15, ☎ +39 06 44249938, +39 06 44249939 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 44249908), [54] . edit
India, via XX Settembre, 5, ☎ +39 06 4884642/3/4/5 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4819539). edit
Iran, via Nomentana, 361, ☎ +39 06 86328485, +39 06 86328487 (fax: +39 06 86328492), [55] . edit
Iraq, via della Camilluccia, 355, ☎ +39 06 3014508, +39 06 35077281 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 3014445). edit
Ireland, via Giacomo Medici, 1, ☎ +39 06 5852381 (fax: +39 06 5813336), [56] . M-F 10:00-12:30, 15:00-16:30. edit
Israel, via Michele Mercati, 14, ☎ +39 06 36198500 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 36198555), [57] . edit
Japan, via Quintino Sella, 60, ☎ +39 06 487991 (fax: +39 06 4873316), [58] . M-F 10:00-12:30, 15:00-16:30. edit
Korea, via Barnaba Oriani, 30, ☎ +39 06 802461 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 80246259, +39 06 80246260), [59] . edit
Kuwait, via Archimede, 124/126, ☎ +39 06 8078415 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8076651). edit
Latvia, viale Liegi 42, ☎ +39 06 8841227 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8841239), [60] . edit
Libya, via Nomentana, 365, ☎ +39 06 86320951 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 86205473). edit
Lithuania, viale di Villa Grazioli, 9, ☎ +39 06 8559052, +39 06 8540482 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8559053), [61] . M-F 10:00-12:00. edit
Luxembourg, via Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, 90, ☎ +39 06 77201177 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 77201055), [62] . edit
Macedonia, via Bruxelles, 73/75, ☎ +39 06 84241109 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 84241131). M-F 09:00-17:00. edit
Malaysia, via Nomentana, 297, ☎ +39 06 8415764 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8555040), [63] . 09:00-16:30 (no lunch break). edit
Malta, lungotevere Marzio, 12, ☎ +39 06 6879990 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 6892687), [64] . edit
Mexico, via Lazzaro Spallanzani, 16, ☎ +39 06 4416061 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 44292703), [65] . edit
Montenegro, viale Antonio Gramsci, 9, ☎ +39 06 88857745 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 88857743). M-Th 10:00-13:00. edit
Morocco, via Brenta, 12/16, ☎ +39 06 855080201 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4402695). edit
Netherlands, via Michele Mercati, 8, ☎ +39 06 32286001 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 32286256), [66] . M-F 08:00-17:30. edit
New Zealand, via Clitunno, 44, ☎ +39 06 06 8537501 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4402984), [67] . edit
Norway, via delle Terme Deciane, 7, ☎ +39 06 45238100 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 45238199), [68] . edit
Pakistan, via della Camilluccia, 682, ☎ +39 06 361775 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 36301936), [69] . M-F 09:30-16:20. edit
Poland, via Pietro Paolo Rubens, 20, ☎ +39 06 36204200 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 3217895), [70] . edit
Portugal, via della Camilluccia, 701, ☎ +39 06 844801 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8417404), [71] . edit
Romania, via Niccolò Tartaglia, 36, ☎ +39 06 808452906, +39 06 51531155 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 808499506). M-F 08:30-13:00, 14:00-17:30. edit
Russia, via Gaeta, 5, ☎ +39 06 4941680, +39 06 4941681, +39 06 4941649 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 491031). edit
Saudi Arabia, via G.B Pergolesi, 9, ☎ +39 06 844851 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8551781). edit
Serbia, via dei Monti Parioli, 20, ☎ +39 06 3200805, +39 06 3211950 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 3200868). edit
Singapore, via Frattina, 89, ☎ +39 06 69783010 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 6780586). edit
Slovakia, via dei Colli della Farnesina, 144, VI/A, ☎ +39 06 636715200, +39 06 636715201 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 36715265), [72] . edit
Slovenia, via Leonardo Pisano, 10, ☎ +39 06 80914310 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8081471), [73] . edit
South Africa, via Tanaro, 14, ☎ +39 06 85254262, +39 06 85254213 ( [email protected] ), [74] . M-F 08:00-16:30. edit
Spain, largo della Fontanella di Borghese, 19, ☎ +39 06 6840401 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 6872256), [75] . M-Th 09:00-17:30, F 09:00-14:30. edit
Sweden, piazza Rio de Janeiro, 3, ☎ +39 06 441941 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 44194760/1/2), [76] . edit
Switzerland, via Barnaba Oriani, 61, ☎ +39 06 809571 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8088510), [77] . edit
Thailand, via Nomentana, 132, ☎ +39 06 8622051 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 86220555/6), [78] . M-F 09:00-13:00. edit
Tunisia, via Asmara, 7, ☎ +39 06 86030608 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 86218204). edit
Turkey, via Palestro, 28, ☎ +39 06 4469933, +39 06 445941 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4941526). edit
Ukraine, via Guido d'Arezzo, 9, ☎ +39 06 8412630, +39 06 8413345 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 8547539), [79] . edit
United Arab Emirates, via della Camilluccia, 492, ☎ +39 06 36806100 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 36806155), [80] . edit
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, via XX Settembre, 80, ☎ +39 06 42200001, after hours emergencies: +44 20 7008-1500 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 42202333), [81] . edit
United States of America, via Vittorio Veneto, 121, ☎ +39 06 46741 ( [email protected] , fax: +39 06 4882672), [82] . 08:30-12:00. edit
Get out[ edit ]
If you have a rail pass, making Pompeii a day trip is very doable. From Rome, it will take about 3 hours via the "slower" train and one hour or so with the Frecciarossa to Naples . Both depart from Termini. You'll save a decent amount of money by buying the tickets at least 24 hours in advance.
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Which Saint is celebrated on 15th July? | July 15th
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July 15th
Born: Richard Cumberland, bishop of Peterborough, 1632, Aldersgate, London; Gerard Langbaine, the Younger (bibliography of the English drama), 1656, Oxford.
Died: Anne of Cleves, consort of Henry VIII, 1567, Chelsea; James, Duke of Monmouth, executed on Tower Hill, 1685; John Wilson, botanist, 1751; Cardinal Passionei, librarian of the Vatican, 1761, Rome; Bryan Edwards, author of History of the West Indies, 1800, Southampton; Thomas Dermody, peasant-poet, 1802; William Mackworth Praed (comic poetry), 1839; Prince Adam Czartoryski, Polish patriot, 1861, Paris.
Feast Day: St. Plechelm, bishop and confessor, apostle of Gueiderland, 732; St. Swithin or Swithun, confessor, bishop and patron of Winchester, 862; St. Henry II., emperor of Germany, 1024.
ST. SWITHIN�S DAY
The pranks played by tradition with the memory of various noted individuals, saintly and otherwise, display not unfrequently the most whimsical anomalies both as regards praise and blame. Whilst the sordid and heretical George of Cappadocia has been transformed into the gallant and chivalrous St. George, the patron saint of England , and the mirror of all knightly virtues, it has been the misfortune of the patriotic and virtuous St. Swithin to be associated in the popular mind with drunkenness and excess, and at best to enjoy only a mythical reputation as the hero of a well-known saying in connection with the state of the weather on the anniversary of his so-called translation.
The common adage regarding St. Swithin, as every one knows, is to the effect that, as it rains or is fair on St. Swithin's Day, the 15th of July, there will be a continuous track of wet or dry weather for the forty days ensuing.
St Swithin's Day, if thou dost rain,
For forty days it will remain:
St. Swithin's Day, if thou be fair,
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair.'
The explanation given by Brand in his Popular Antiquities of this saying�an explanation which has been pretty currently received as correct�is as follows. St. Swithin, bishop of Winchester, was a man equally noted for his uprightness and humility. So far did he carry the latter quality, that, on his death-bed, he requested to be buried, not within the church, but outside in the churchyard, on the north of the sacred building, where his corpse might receive the eaves-droppings from the roof, and his grave be trodden by the feet of the passers-by. His lowly request was complied with, and in this neglected spot his remains reposed till about a hundred years afterwards, when a fit of indignation seized the clergy at the body of so pious a member of their order being allowed to occupy such a position; and on an appointed day they all assembled to convey it with great pomp into the adjoining cathedral of Winchester. When they were about to commence the ceremony, a heavy rain burst forth, and continued without intermission for the forty succeeding days. The monks interpreted this tempest as a warning from Heaven of the blasphemous nature of their attempt to contravene the directions of St. Swithin, and, instead of disturbing his remains, they erected a chapel over his grave, at which many astounding miracles were performed. From this circumstance, it is stated, arose the popular belief of the anniversary of the attempted translation of St. Swithin being invested with a prophetic character in reference to the condition of the weather for the ensuing six weeks.
This statement is specious, but unfortunately rests on no authority whatever, and indeed has been traced by an annotator on Brand to no more trustworthy source than a cutting from an old newspaper. So far from the account of the repugnance of the saint to his transference from the churchyard to the church being borne out by the real facts of the case, these are diametrically the other way; and from what has been actually ascertained, the translation of St. Swithin was, instead of being a disastrous failure, accomplished with the utmost eclat and success. For the most recent history of this celebrated personage we are indebted to the Rev. John Earle , professor of Anglo-Saxon in the university of Oxford, who has published a facsimile and translation of a Saxon manuscript of the tenth century�the earliest fragment which we possess regarding St. Swithin�along with an ingenious essay, in which he has collected all the reliable data connected with the saint that can be obtained. These are far indeed from being either numerous or ample, but, such as they are, may be considered as exhaustive on this subject.
Swithin, or Swithun, was born in the neighbour-hood of Winchester, probably about the year 800. He became a monk of the Old Abbey of Winchester, and gradually rose to be prior of that community. He seems to have gained the favour of Egbert, king of Wessex, who intrusted him with the education of his son and successor, Ethelwulf. An authentic record of Swithin at this period is furnished by a charter granted by King Egbert in 838, and bearing the signatures of Elmstan, episcopus, and Swithunus, diaconus. Elmstan dying in 852, Swithin was appointed his successor in the see of Winchester, a situation which he filled with great credit and usefulness. Through his endeavours great improvements were effected on the city, including the erection of several churches, and the spanning of the Itchen by a fine stone bridge, the first of the kind which had been seen in these parts.
After the accession of Ethelwulf, he acted as that monarch's counsellor in all matters relating to religion and the peaceful arts, whilst the charge of military and foreign affairs was assumed by Alstan, bishop of Sher-bourne. It has been imagined that he was chosen by Ethelwulf to accompany his son, the great Alfred, then a boy, on his visit to Rome, and also that he acted as mediator betwixt Ethelwulf and his eldest son, the rebellious Ethelbald. Swithin seems to have died about 862, leaving directions that he should be buried in a vile place, under the eaves-droppings on the north side of Winchester church. Mr. Earle conjectures that he may have chosen this locality for sepulture, to put a stop to the common superstitious prejudices against burial in that part of the churchyard. Whatever may have been his reasons, his request was acceded to, and there he would probably have been permitted to rest undisturbed, had it not suited the policy of Dunstan , more than a hundred years afterwards, to revive the popular veneration for Swithin, in furtherance of his own schemes for the establishment of monastic discipline, for Swithin appears to have been a maintainer of the stricter conventual rule, which Dunstan zealously sought to enforce; and he had, moreover, earned a most enduring mark of distinction, by being the first to get introduced the system of tithes as a provision for the clergy.
This was during the reign of Ethelwulf, who was induced by Swithin to set apart a tenth of his lands for religious uses, though the payment of tithes as a legal obligation was not introduced till the time of Athelstan, nor finally established till under King Edgar. In addition to the reasons just detailed, the cathedral of Winchester was then rebuilding under Bishop Ethelwold, a confederate of Archbishop Dunstan; and the enrichment of the new temple by the possession of some distinguished relics was a most desirable object. The organised plan was now accordingly put into execution, and ingenious reports were circulated regarding certain miraculous appearances made by Swithin. The account of these forms the subject of the Saxon fragment above referred to, edited by Mr. Earle. According to this, Bishop Swithin appeared one night in a dream to a poor decrepit smith, and requested him to go to a certain priest, named Eadsige, who, with others, had been ejected for misconduct from the abbey of Old-Minster, and desire him, from Swithin, to repair to Bishop Ethelwold, and command him to open his (Swithin's) grave, and bring his bones within the church. The smith, in reply to the orders of his ghostly visitant, stated that Eadsige would not believe him, whereupon Swithin rejoined that he would find the reality of the vision confirmed by going to his stone coffin, and pulling there from an iron ring, which would yield without the least diffuculty. The smith was still unconvinced, and Swithin had to repeat his visit twice; after which the smith went to the bishop's tomb, and withdrew the ring from the coffin with the greatest ease, as had been foretold. He then delivered. Swithin's message to Eadsige, who hesitated for a while, but at last communicated it to Bishop Ethelwold. Contemporaneously, various wonderful miracles took place at Bishop Swithin's tomb, including the cure of a deformed man, who was relieved of his hump, in the most astonishing manner, by praying at the grave; and of another individual, who recovered by the same means from a grievous ailment in his eyes. These preternatural occurrences were all duly reported to King Edgar, who thereupon gave directions for the formal translation of the relics of St. Swithin from the grave in the churchyard to the interior of the cathedral, where they were enclosed in a magnificent shrine, and placed in a conspicuous position.
A few years afterwards, the church, which had previously been dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul, changed these guardians for St. Swithin, who continued its patron saint till the time of Henry VIII., who ordered the name of the Holy Trinity to be substituted. A splendid ceremonial and feast accompanied the translation, which was effected on 15th July 971, 108 years after the death of Swithin. It ought to be remarked, that, though distinguished by the prefix of Saint, Swithin was never regularly canonised by the pope, a practice not introduced till nearly 200 years after his translation, which is the only ceremony on which he rests his claim to the title. He is thus emphatically what Mr. Earle calls 'a home-made saint.' It will be noticed that the above narrative completely contradicts Mr. Brand's account of a supposed supernatural inter-position on the part of Swithin to prevent his translation.
No event or natural phenomenon, which could be construed into such, is alluded to by any of the various authors�Monk Wolstan and others�who subsequently wrote histories of St. Swithin. On the contrary, the weather seems to have been most propitious, whilst the community at large, so far from regarding these proceedings of their rulers as an unhallowed contravention of the wishes of the holy man, seemed rather to have rejoiced in the honours bestowed on his relics, and to have feasted and revelled to the utmost. How, then, did the popular notion about St. Swithin's Day arise? Most probably, as Mr. Earle remarks, it was derived from some primeval pagan belief regarding the meteorologically prophetic character of some day about the same period of the year as St. Swithin's. Such adaptations, it is well known, were very frequent on the supplanting throughout Europe of heathenism by Christianity. Many of our popular customs and beliefs can indeed be only satisfactorily explained by tracing them to such a source.
In further confirmation of this view, it is to be observed, that in various countries of the European continent the same belief prevails, though differences exist as to the period of the particular day in question. Thus, in France, St. M�dard's Day ( June 8 ), and the day of Saints Gervais and Protais ( June 19 ), have a similar character ascribed to them:
'S'il pleut le jour de Saint M�dard,
Il pleut quarante jours plus tard;
S'il pleut le jour de Saint Gervais et de Saint Protais,
Il pleut quarante jours apre's.'
It is a little curious that St. M�dard should have the post of a rainy saint assigned him, as the celebrated fĕte at Salency, where the young maiden who has enjoyed the highest reputation during the preceding year for good-conduct receives a prize, and is crowned with a chaplet of roses, takes place on his day, and is said to have been instituted by him. A somewhat ludicrous account is given of the origin of the peculiar characteristic of St. M�dard's Day. It is said that, M�dard being out with a large party one hot day in summer, a heavy fall of rain suddenly took place, by which all were thoroughly drenched, with the exception of the saint himself, round whose head an eagle kept continually fluttering; and by sheltering him with his wings till his return home, accomplished effectually the purposes of an umbrella. In Belgium they have a rainy saint, named St. Godeli�ve; whilst in Germany, among others, a character of this description is ascribed to the day of the Seven Sleepers.
The belief in the peculiar characteristics of St. Swithin's Day is thus alluded to in Poor Robin's Almanac for 1697:
'In this month is St. Swithin's Day,
On which, if that it rain, they say,
Full forty days after it will,
Or more or less, some rain distil.
This Swithin was a saint, I trow,
And Winchester's bishop also,
Who in his time did many a feat,
As popish legends do repeat:
A woman having broke her eggs,
By stumbling at another's legs,
For which she made a woful cry.
St. Swithin chanced for to come by,
Who made them all as sound or more,
Than ever that they were before.
But whether this were so or no,
'Tis more than you or I do know.
Better it is to rise betime,
And to make hay while sun doth shine,
Than to believe in tales and lies,
Which idle monks and friars devise.'
In the next century, Gay remarks in his Trivia
'Now if on Swithin's feast the welkin lours,
And every penthouse streams with hasty showers,
Twice twenty days shall clouds their fleeces drain,
And wash the pavement with incessant rain.
Let not such vulgar tales debase thy mind;
Nor Paul nor Swithin rule the clouds and wind!'
The question now remains to be answered, whether the popular belief we have been considering has any foundation in fact, and here the observations at Greenwich for the 20 years preceding 1861, must be adduced to demonstrate its fallacy. From these we learn that St. Swithin's Day was wet in 1841, and there were 23 rainy days up to the 24th of August; 1845, 26 rainy days; 1851, 13 rainy days;- 1853, 18 rainy days; 1854, 16 rainy days; and, in 1856, 14 rainy days. In 1842, and following years, St. Swithin's Day was dry, and the result was in 1842, 12 rainy days; 1843, 22 rainy days; 1844, 20 rainy days; 1846, 21 rainy days; 1847, 17 rainy days; 1848, 31 rainy days; 1849, 20 rainy days; 1850, 17 rainy days; 1852, 19 rainy days; 1855, 18 rainy days; 1857, 14 rainy days; 1858, 14 rainy days; 1859, 13 rainy days; and, in 1860, 29 rainy days. It will thus be seen, by the average of the fore-going 20 years, that the greatest number of rainy days, after St. Swithin's Day, had taken place when the 15th of July was dry. It is, indeed, likely enough that a track of wet weather, or the opposite, may occur at this period of the year, as a change generally takes place soon after midsummer, the character of which will depend much on the state of the previous spring. If this has been for the greater part dry, it is very probable that the weather may change to wet about the middle of July, and vice versa''. But that any critical meteorological influence resides in the 15th, seems wholly erroneous.
Hone, in his Everyday Book, quotes an amusing instance of a lady, a stanch believer in St. Swithin, who, on his day one year being fine, expressed her belief in an approaching term of fine weather, but, a few drops of rain having fallen in the evening, changed her tune, and maintained that the next six weeks would be wet. Her prediction was not accomplished, the weather having been remark-ably fine. 'No matter,' she would say, when pressed on the point, 'if there has been no rain during the day, there certainly has been during the night.' Her opinion of St. Swithin's infallibility was in nowise to be shaken. The same author mentions a pretty saying current in some parts of the country when rain falls on St. Swithin's bans: 'St. Swithin is christening the apples.'
It is only to be remarked, in conclusion, that the epithet of the 'drunken saint,' sometimes applied to St. Swithin, is a base slander on the worthy bishop's memory. True, the Saxons were rather noted for their convivial habits, and St. Swithin, doubtless, had no objection to a cheerful glass in moderation. But no aberrations whatever, on the score of temperance, are recorded of him. The charge belongs clearly to the same category as that veracious statement in the popular ditty, by which St. Patrick, the apostle of Ireland, is represented as a lover of potheen, and initiating his converts in the art of manufacturing that liquor.
JAMES, DUKE OF MONMOUTH
Monmouth's tragic history has redeemed from contempt a person who was naturally a mediocrity, and something of a fool. Born in 1650, the eldest natural son of the young exiled Charles II, brought into prominence as a beautiful boy at the Restoration , he was thought to have his fortune made by being married to the girl Countess of Buccleuch, then considered the greatest heiress in the three kingdoms, seeing that her family estates were reckoned at five thousand a year! But there was something horrible and revolting in uniting two mere children in marriage for interested reasons, and nature avenged herself by introducing alienation between them, though not till they had become the direct ancestors of the line of the Dukes of Buccleuch.
There was always a hankering notion that a secret marriage had existed between Charles II and Lucy Waters, the mother of Monmouth. Charles took formal steps for declaring the contrary to be the truth; but, nevertheless, the love the king had for his handsome son, and perhaps a few suspicious facts, kept alive the idea in the young man's heart. The oppressed dissenters took him up as one in whom they might have hopes, if legitimacy could be established. So it was not wonderful, when his essentially weak character is considered, that he should have set up pretensions to the throne against his uncle James II, though nothing could be for himself more ruinously unfortunate.
His ill-starred expedition in June 1685, the rebellion he headed, his defeat at Sedgemore, and the subsequent circumstances, have all been rendered familiar to the present generation by the animated narration of Macaulay . The exact particulars of his capture are less known, and are very interesting. It appears that the duke rode from the field along with Lord Gray, and proceeded to Woodyates, where they quitted their horses, and the duke assumed the clothes of a peasant. He then walked on with the design of reaching Bournemouth, in order, if possible, to get shipping for the continent. An alarm from the appearance of his enemies interrupted this plan, and he fled across the country to a wild tract of ground called Shag's Heath. There was here a patch of cultivated ground, divided by hedges, enclosed by a ditch, and bearing crops of rye and pease in full summer growth. It bore the name of the Island, by reason that it was entirely surrounded by ground in an opposite condition. On the report of a woman, that she had seen a man enter that enclosure, the dragoons surrounded it---'beat' it in all directions�and at length, on the ensuing day, when about to depart in despair, lighted upon the would-be king, skulking in a ditch under fern. The spot is still indicated with precision by a tree, which is popularly called Monmouth's Ash. It was with some difficulty he was identified, so great was the change which the mean attire and three days of personal neglect, starvation, and terror had wrought upon his once graceful form. The woman, Ann Farrant, who had given the information regarding his entering the Island, was considered by the peasantry to have never thriven after her ungracious act.
Amongst the articles found upon Monmouth's person, was a little pocket-book containing notes of various journeys, and a number of charms or spells. This volume, recovered from a book-stall at Paris, was shewn in 1849, at a meeting of the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, and is now in the British Museum. The charms are found to be for such purposes as learning how a sickness is to end, and whether a friend will continue faithful; to heal certain maladies, and make gray hair turn black. There are also cabalistic and astrological figures, which have not been explained. The character of this part of the contents, of the book is in conformity with a statement which has come from Colonel William Legge, the officer who conducted Monmouth to London after his capture. This gentleman reported that, on their journey, the duke shewed him several charms he had about his person, which he said he had got when in Scotland, but which he now saw to be only 'foolish conceits.' It must be admitted that Monmouth was not singular in trusting to such conceits. We may here well remember that his truly 'cruel uncle,' James II, a very few years afterwards, was induced to pause in his advance against the Prince of Orange, and to return from Salisbury to London, by a bleeding at his nose!
MACKWORTH PRAED
The name of Praed is one far less familiar to the public than it deserves to be. Some writers with great natural gifts have obstinately stood in their own light�have written so obscurely that the world would not be at the trouble of deciphering their meaning; but the subject of our present notice wrote as clearly as Cowper, and yet remains comparatively unknown on this side of the Atlantic. The Americans, with their usual quickness, long ago perceived his merits, and published his poetical works, but have included in the edition many poems which Praed never wrote, and many which, for his literary fame, he had better not have written. A small volume might, however, be made up of his selected writings, which would, in its line, be without a rival. As an author of Verses of Society �and those not of transitory interest, or on altogether frivolous themes�he is far superior to Thomas Moore, to the Hon. William Spencer (a writer far more widely known than Praed), and indeed to any poet of the class, whom we can call to mind, whether celebrated for those efforts alone, or exercising powerful pinions, as in Moore's case, in such short 'swallow flights of song.' He combined no small portion of the wit of Hood, with an elegance to which Hood could not lay claim; while in his soberer pieces he reminds one of Crabbe dancing that is to say, they have all the naturalness of the Tales of the Hall, mingled with a certain graceful humour. The Vicar is a charming poem of the latter class.
His talk was like a stream which runs
With rapid change from rocks to roses;
It slipped from politics to puns;
It passed from Mahomet to Moses;
Beginning with the laws which keep
The planets in their radiant courses,
And ending with some precept deep
For dressing eels or shoeing horses.
He was a shrewd and sound divine,
Of loud dissent the mortal terror;
And when by dint of page and line,
He 'stablished truth or startled error,
The Baptist found him far too deep;
The Deist sighed with saving sorrow,
And the lean Levite went to sleep
And dreamt of eating pork to-morrow.
He wrote, too, in a quiet way,
Small treatises and smaller verses,
And sage remarks on chalk and clay,
And hints to noble lords and nurses;
True histories of last year's ghost;
Lines to a ringlet or a turban,
And trifles for the Morning Post,
And nothings for Sylvanus Urban.
He did not think all mischief fair,
Although he had a knack of joking;
He did not make himself a bear,
Although he had a taste for smoking.
And when religious sects ran mad
He held, in spite of all his learning,
That if a man's belief is bad
It will not be improved by burning.
And he was kind, and loved to sit
In the low hut or garnished cottage,
And praise the farmer's homely wit,
And share the widow's homelier pottage.
At his approach complaint grew mild,
And when his hand unbarred the shutter,
The clammy lips of fever smiled
The welcome that they could not utter.
He always had a tale for me
Of Julius Caesar or of Venus;
From him I learned the rule of three,
Cat's-cradle, leap-frog, and Qum genus;
I used to singe his powdered wig,
To steal the staff he put such trust in,
And make the puppy dance a jig
When he began to quote Augustine.
That Praed should have gathered so little fame is the more remarkable as, when alive, he had a reputation even superior to his merits. The friend and contemporary of Macaulay at Cambridge, he awakened an equal expectation of future greatness in all who knew them both. He carried off as many university prizes as the embryo historian; 1 he divided with him the applause of the under-graduate audience in the Union; and in the poems which the friendly rivals contributed at that period to Knight's Magazine, Praed (with one glorious exception, The Battle of Naseby) surpassed Macaulay altogether. It is only in the pages of that extinct serial, and here and there in other dead periodicals, that the treasures of Praed's muse can be found. In politics, Praed was a Conservative, and in the Songs of the Civil Wars which Macaulay and he contributed to the pages of Mr. Knight, took the Cavalier side, as will be seen in the following passage from his ballad of Marston Moor .
To horse! to horse! Sir Nicholas, the clarion's note is high!
To horse! to horse! Sir Nicholas, the big drum makes reply!
Ere this hath Lucas marched, with his gallant cavaliers,
And the bray of Rupert's trumpets grows fainter in our ears.
To horse! to horse! Sir Nicholas! White Guy is at the door,
And the Raven whets his beak o'er the field of Marston Moor.
Up rose the Lady Alice from her brief and broken prayer,
Aud she brought a silken banner down the narrow turret-stair;
Oh! many were the tears that those radiant eyes had shed,
As she traced the bright word "Glory" in the gay and glancing thread;
And mournful was the smile which o'er those lovely features ran.
As she said, "It is your lady's gift, unfurl it in the van!"
"It shall flutter, noble wench, where the best and boldest ride,
Midst the steel-clad files of Skippon, the black dragoons of Pride;
The recreant heart of Fairfax shall feel a sicklier qualm,
And the rebel lips of Oliver gave out a louder psalm;
When they see my lady's gewgaw flaunt proudly on their wing,
And hear the loyal soldier's shout, "For God and for the King!"
'Tis noon. The ranks are broken, along the royal line
They fly, the braggarts of the court! the bullies of the Rhine!
Stout Langdale's cheer is heard no more, and Astley's helm is down,
And Rupert sheaths his rapier, with a curse and with a frown,
And cold Newcastle mutters, as he follows in their flight,
"The German boar had better far have supped in York tonight!"
The knight is left alone, his steel-cap cleft in twain,
His good buff jerkin crimson'd o'er with many a gory stain:
Yet still he waves his banner, and cries amid the rout,
"For Church and King, fair gentlemen! spur on, and fight it out!"
And now he wards a Roundhead's pike, and now he hums a stave,
And now he quotes a stage-play, and now he fells a knave.
God aid thee now, Sir Nicholas! thou hast no thought of fear;
God aid thee now, Sir Nicholas! for fearful odds are here!
The rebels hem thee in, and at every cut and thrust,
"Down, down," they cry, "with Belial! down with him to the dust!"
"I would," quoth grim old Oliver, "that Belial's trusty sword,
This day were doing battle for the Saints and for the Lord!"
The tendencies of Praed induced the Conservative party to entertain great hopes of him in parliament; but in that arena, although he sat for some years, he made no figure. In 1830, he was elected for Truro; in 1835, for Yarmouth, and finally for Aylesbury; he was Secretary of the Board of Control under the Conservative government in 1835. When he died, still young, a lament arose from a large circle of friends that he had done so little, and that little only as a fashionable poet. But a first-rate fashionable poet is surely equal to a second-rate politician, and more than this, there was really no reason to suppose that Praed would ever become. He exercised his talents in the direction for which they were best fitted, and acquitted himself excellently well. He wrote at least half-a-dozen poems which deserve to live as long as the language, and to be popular while humour, elegance, and pathos still command a welcome.
The biography of Winthrop Mackworth Praed is comprised in his poems. They are all he did with which mankind at large has any concern. The darling of a fashionable and intellectual circle, he lived the usual butterfly life of his class, except for the parliamentary experiments above alluded to. His influence upon his contemporaries�clearly traceable, by the by, in Macaulay's early poetic efforts�was doubtless very considerable, but we have no means of estimating it.
There are certain men to whom the public is I not introduced except by proxy�such as Sidney Walker, and Arthur 'H. Hallam�and whose merits we are required to take upon trust. Men of judgment to whom they were justly dear, and who estimated them highly, evidence warmly in their favour; at last, half irritated that we refuse to welcome a shadow, they publish their Literary Remains. In nine cases out of ten, the disappointment of the public thereupon is made rudely manifest, and the reputation that has been sought to be established is blown to the winds. At the head of all authors of this class stands Mackworth Praed, but with this important difference, that his Remains�although no pious British hand has yet collected them�more than bear out all that we hear of his merits from private sources. It is impossible to question the social charms of the man who could write the following poem, which fitly concludes this sketch�'a poem,' says Miss Mitford, 'as truthful as if it had been written in prose by Jane Austen.'
And she was flattered, worshipped, bored,
Her steps were watched, her dress was noted,
Her poodle-dog was quite adored,
Her sayings were extremely quoted.
She laughed, and every heart was glad,
As if the taxes were abolished:
She frowned, and every look was sad,
As if the opera were demolished.
She smiled on many just for fun
I knew that there was nothing in it:
I was the first, the only one,
Her heart had thought of for a minute.
I knew it, for she told me so,
In phrase that was divinely moulded;
She wrote a charming hand, and oh!
How neatly all her notes were folded.
Our love was like most other loves�
A little glow, a little shiver;
A rosebud and a pair of gloves,
And "Fly not yet," upon the river;
Some jealousy of some one's heir;
Some hopes of dying broken-hearted;
A miniature; a lock of hair;
The usual vows; and then we parted.
We parted: months and years rolled by,
We met again some summers after;
Our parting was all sob and sigh!
Our meeting was all mirth and laughter!
For in my heart's most secret cell
There had been many other lodgers;
And she was not the ball-room belle,
But only Mistress�something�Rogers!
W. M. Praed was born in 1802 and died in 1839.
THE FIRST HULKS ON THE THAMES
English statesmen, in past days, felt a difficulty which the lapse of time has rendered very little more soluble than before: viz., the best kind of secondary punishment to adopt for offenders against the law�the most effective mode of dealing with criminals, who deserve some punishment less awful than that of death. Whipping, transportation, silent imprisonment, and imprisonment with hard labour, have all had their advocates, as being most effective for the purpose in view; and if the first of these four has given way before the advanced humanity of English society, the other three still form a debatable ground among thinking persons.
Early in the reign of George III, there were so many kinds of crime for which capital punishments were inflicted, that executions used to take place in London nearly every week, giving rise to a very unhealthy tone of feeling among the lower class. It was as a means of devising a severe mode of punishment short of death, that the Hulks on the Thames were introduced, in 1776. 'Hulk' is a nautical name for any old ship, applied to temporary purposes after its sea-going qualities have become impaired; it has often been applied to prison-ships, fashioned out of old men-of-war; but these prison-ships have sometimes been constructed for this special purpose, and yet the term hulk' remains in use as a short and easy designation.
The avowed object in 1776, was 'to employ prisoners in some kind of hard labour for the public benefit;' the severity and the continuance of the labour being made dependent on the good-conduct of each prisoner. Special care was to be taken that the imprisonment, while on the one hand not cruel, should on the other not be comfortable. 'They [the prisoners] are to be employed in as much labour as they can sustain; to be fed with legs and shins of beef, ox-cheek, and such other coarse food; to have nothing to drink but water or small-beer; to be clad in some squalid uniform; never to be visited without the consent of the overseers; and never to be supplied with any gifts from other persons, either in money or otherwise.' The Thames between Woolwich and Barking being much choked with mud, it was deemed a useful work to employ convicts in dredging. A vessel was built, neither a ship, tender, nor lighter, but combining something of all three: on a plan approved by the king in council. Part of the stern was decked in as a sleeping-place for the convicts, part of the forecastle was enclosed for the overseer, and the rest of the vessel was open. There were overhanging platforms, on which the men could stand to work; and on one of these was `a machine called a David, with a wind-lass, for raising the ballast '�which was probably the same thing as sailors now call a davit. The vessel had space for about thirty tons of sand, mud, or ballast, dredged up from the Thames.
Such was the hulk or prison-ship, which was placed under the management of Mr. Duncan Camp-bell, a sort of superintendent of convicts. On the 15th of July, in the above-named year, the first party of convicts, chained two and two by the leg, entered the ship, and commenced their labours off Barking Creek. Many violent encounters took place before the convicts could be brought to understand the reality of the system. On one occasion, several of them attempted to get off their chains; they were flogged, and made to work harder as a consequence. On another occasion, five of them slipped down into a boat, and rowed off; they were pursued, and fired at; two were killed, one wounded, and two recaptured. One day, during a violent north wind, the hulk was driven across from Barking Creek to Woolwich; fourteen of the convicts rose on the keepers, compelled them to keep below, and escaped; a naval officer meeting them on the Greenwich road, persuaded eight of them to return to the vessel; of the six who refused, some were afterwards captured and hanged. In a further instance, eight convicts effectually escaped; they seized the arm-chest, took pistols, intimidated the keepers, and made off in an open boat. This system of working in hulks had a long trial on the Thames, but gradually gave way to other arrangements.
| Swithun |
St Denis is the patron Saint of which country? | St Swithin's Day
St. Swithin's Day
St Swithin's Day, if it does rain
Full forty days, it will remain
St Swithin's Day, if it be fair
For forty days, t'will rain no more
Celebrated (or berated as the case may be!) on July 15th, weather sayings pertaining to St. Swithin's Day are probably the most infamous weather sayings in the UK. St. Swithin died 862 and was buried outside Winchester Cathedral so that he could 'feel' the raindrops when he was dead. However, when he was canonised a tomb was built inside the cathedral and July 15th 971 was the day his body was to be moved. Legend has it that a storm, breaking the end of a long dry spell, on the 15th and rain on each of the subsequent 40 days led to the monks taking this as a sign of 'divine displeasure' and left his body where it was.
There is, however, some evidence to suggest that St. Swithin's remains were, in fact, moved on or around 15th July 971 and no evidence exists to support 40 days of bad weather. Following the Norman conquest St Swithin's remains were then moved to a new shrine and new cathedral in Winchester. There was a large St. Swithin's cult in the Middle Ages though and this is where the legends and sayings surrounding his day are likely to have come from. During Henry VIII's reign this shrine was destroyed in an attempt to try and end these legends and sayings about St. Swithin. This probably guaranteed the sayings immortality and they have continued to be passed down through the ages!
This is the most famous of all the weather related saints' days in the UK. The legend originally only concerned rain, but later related to 40 days of similar weather. There is very little truth behind these sayings, and since 1861 there has neither been 40 dry nor 40 wet days following a dry or wet St. Swithin's Day. In fact on average about 20 days with some rain and 20 rain free days can be expected between July 15th and August 24th, and of course it goes without saying that the weather on July 15th is independant of conditions for the following 40 days.
However, the summers of 1983, 1989, 1990 and 1995 were near misses. During these summers July 15th was dry over southern England, as were 38 of the following 40 days and on those days on which rain fell, it was only light rain. Meanwhile, in 1976 38 of the 40 days after July 15th were also dry, but on July 15th itself late evening thunderstorms affected parts of southern England, around 25mm rain being dumped on Luton, for example, in just one hour. So 1976 was either a spectacular failure or a near success depending on how you look at it! As for wet weather, Philip Eden reports that in 1985 it rained on July 15th in Luton and then rained on 30 of the subsequent 40 days.
Still, the perpetrators of the sayings surrounding St. Swithin's Day during the Middle Ages were obviously aware that summer weather patterns are usually quite well established by mid July and will then tend to persist until late August, a fact backed up by the fact that similar sayings exist around the same time of year in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and France. It would seem that the sayings surrounding St. Swithin's Day perhaps ought not to be taken completely literally but that a grain of truth does lie behind them. Maybe the sayings should be updated to read, "St. Swithin's Day, if it does rain, 40 days staying unsettled, St. Swithin's Day, if it fair, 40 days staying settled.". Not quite the poetic punch as the rhyme at the top of the page but you get the idea!!!!
As mentioned in the paragraph above some of the UK's northwestern European neighbours have similar sayings based around the idea of 40 days of similar weather (ie wet or dry) after a given day. For example the French have St. Medard's Day and St. Protase's Day on the June 8th and 19th respectively. The Germans have the Day of Seven Sleepers on June 27th whilst the Belgians have St. Godelieve on July 27th. Meanwhile, the Dutch clearly like to hedge their bets with sayings surrounding St. Henricus on July 15th ("Met St. Henricus droog, zeven weken droog. Met St. Henricus regen, veertig dagen duurt die zegen." - Dry on St. Henricus, 7 weeks dry. Rain on St. Henricus, 40 days rain.") and St. Magriet on July 20th ("Is het droog weer op St. Margriet, dan regent het dertig of veertig dagen niet." - Dry on St. Margriet, dry for 30 or 40 days - and "Magriets regen brengt geen zegen." - Margriet's rain is no blessing.).
References/Sources
An articel by Philip Eden in The Daily Telegraph one summer between 1998 and 2000.
EDEN, P. 1995. Weatherwise, Macmillam, 323pp.
MARRIOTT, P. 1981. Red Sky at Night, Sheba Books, 376pp.
| i don't know |
Cornish Rex and Devon Rex are types of which animal? | Devon Rex Cat | Cat Breeds | Petfinder
Devon Rex Cat
See more adoptable Devon Rex cats available on Petfinder
Devon Rex Cat Personality
Devons have been compared to pixies, elves, and, of course, space aliens for their jumbo-sized satellite-dish ears, large, mischievous 'window-to-the-soul' eyes, and ethereal appearance. Fanciers laud the 'poodle cat' (as the breed is affectionately called), as people-oriented snugglers that love nothing better than to cuddle up with you at night and wake you in the morning with hugs, kisses and purrs of affection. And since the Devon sheds less than other breeds, you can snuggle back without fear of covering yourself in cat hair.
But there's lots of other reasons to acquire a Devon besides their coats: their loyalty, devotion, playfulness, courage, and intelligence, just to name a few of the qualities that make them a good choice for the cat-obsessed. Devons are shoulder perchers, lap sitters, tail waggers, and retrievers of tossed cat toys. They have a well-developed sense of curiosity and want to be involved in whatever you're doing, whether it's peeling potatoes for dinner or showering for a Saturday night date.
Devon Rex Cat Breed Traits
While the Cornish's coat lacks guard hairs, the Devon's coat contains all three hair types (guard, awn, and down), but the guard hairs are typically fragile and stunted, and the whisker hairs are often missing altogether. The hairs break easily and therefore this breed can develop bald patches that remain until the next hair growth cycle (typically fall and spring). Devons need very little grooming; their favorite grooming tool is your hand, applied on their heads and down their backs.
Interested in the history of the Devon Rex cat breed?
The Devon didn't settle into the unsuspecting laps of us humans until 1960. The father of the Devon breed, a feral, curly-coated tom, lived around an abandoned tin mine near Devonshire, England. He mated with a straight-coated calico female that produced a litter of kittens in the garden of cat fancier Beryl Cox. One of the kittens, a brownish-black male that Cox named Kirlee, had the same short, curly coat as his father. Breeders think that the calico female and the curly-coated male must have been related, since the Devon Rex gene that governs the curly coat is recessive and must be present in both parents to manifest in the offspring.
At first, Kirlee was thought to be related to the Cornish Rex. Subsequent matings between Kirlee and the cats of Cornish breeder Brian Stirling-Webb resulted in only straight-coated offspring, from which Cox and Webb concluded that the two breeds were unrelated. The name Devon Rex was adopted for the new breed, and a breeding program established.
The first Devon was imported to the United States in 1968. In 1972 ACFA became the first United States association to accept the Devon for Championship. The Devon was accepted by TICA in 1979 (the year TICA formed). The CFA recognized the Devon for Championship in 1983.
Through careful outcrossing, breeders have expanded the Devon Rex gene pool while retaining the integrity of the breed. While he has never quite caught up to the Cornish Rex in popularity, the Devon has made great strides and is seen more and more frequently in the show halls and judging rings.
Copyright © 1998 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. based on
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CAT BREEDS by J. Anne Helgren.
Shelters with Devon Rex Cats
Shelters that currently have Devon Rex cats ready for adoption:
| Cat |
The Hoover Dam was originally called what? | 1000+ images about Cornish Rex Cats on Pinterest | Cornish rex, Cornish rex cat and Cat breeds
Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas
Cornish Rex Cats
Marcel waved cats that feel like crushed velvet and don't noticeably shed. They are smart, athletic, sweet and they're little clowns.
324 Pins744 Followers
| i don't know |
The Chelsea Flower Show is held in which month? | Chelsea Flower Show RHS Showground Location Map
Gardens > England > Greater London > Chelsea Flower Show RHS Showground Location Map
Chelsea Flower Show RHS Showground Location Map
The Chelsea Flower Show is held in the last week in May, organised by RHS Royal Horticultural Society. The showground location is the site of the Royal Chelsea Hospital Chelsea. The nearest underground station is Sloane Square. It is well sign-posted but you can just follow the flow of the crowd to find the entrance. Gardenvisit.com publishes reviews of garden designs at the Chelsea Flower Shows .
Chelsea Flower Show RHS Showground Location Map
Address
| May |
Which human bone is the Clavicle? | This month - The RHS Chelsea Flower Show • Gardening Blog • 99Roots.com
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The 2013 Chelsea Flower Show is set to be held from May 21st to the 25th and once again is looking like it's going to be an amazing event.
This year celebrates 100 years of the Chelsea Flower Show so they're pulling out all the stops to make this a show to remember. As well as the superb show gardens, there's plenty more to see and do. There are stands and stalls offering information, demonstrations and garden related products to buy; there are experts on hand whom you can ask your gardening questions; and plenty of other great exhibits and events over the course of the show. Sadly, tickets for the show are now sold out, so if you haven't booked yours then you've missed out for this year.
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| i don't know |
By what common name is Calcium Carbonate known? | What is the common name for calcium carbonate? | Reference.com
What is the common name for calcium carbonate?
A:
Quick Answer
Calcium carbonate is an element found around the world. Because of this, there are six common names for the element: calcite, chalk, eggshells, limestone, marble and Tums.
Full Answer
Calcium carbonate can be found in rocks, snails, pearls, and more. Most of it is mined from quarries, and pure sources of calcium carbonate can be extracted and used for foods and pharmaceuticals. It can also be created from calcium oxide. When water is added to calcium oxide, it produces calcium hydroxide. Passing carbon dioxide through calcium hydroxide produces calcium carbonate by means of precipitation, earning it the industry name of precipitated calcium carbonate, or PCC.
| Chalk |
The French actress Camille Javal is better known as who? | It's Elemental - The Element Calcium
It's Elemental
Melting Point: 1115 K (842°C or 1548°F)
Boiling Point: 1757 K (1484°C or 2703°F)
Density: 1.54 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
Period Number: 4 Group Number: 2 Group Name: Alkaline Earth Metal
What's in a name? From the Latin word for lime, calx.
Say what? Calcium is pronounced as KAL-see-em.
History and Uses:
Although calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust , it is never found free in nature since it easily forms compounds by reacting with oxygen and water. Metallic calcium was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 through the electrolysis of a mixture of lime (CaO) and mercuric oxide (HgO). Today, metallic calcium is obtained by displacing calcium atoms in lime with atoms of aluminum in hot, low-pressure containers. About 4.2% of the earth's crust is composed of calcium.
Due to its high reactivity with common materials, there is very little demand for metallic calcium. It is used in some chemical processes to refine thorium , uranium and zirconium . Calcium is also used to remove oxygen , sulfur and carbon from certain alloys. Calcium can be alloyed with aluminum , beryllium , copper , lead and magnesium . Calcium is also used in vacuum tubes as a getter, a material that combines with and removes trace gases from vacuum tubes.
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is one of the common compounds of calcium. It is heated to form quicklime (CaO) which is then added to water (H2O). This forms another material known as slaked lime (Ca(OH)2) which is an inexpensive base material used throughout the chemical industry. Chalk, marble and limestone are all forms of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is used to make white paint, cleaning powder, toothpaste and stomach antacids, among other things. Other common compounds of calcium include: calcium sulfate (CaSO4), also known as gypsum, which is used to make dry wall and plaster of Paris, calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), a naturally occurring fertilizer and calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2), the main material found in bones and teeth.
Estimated Crustal Abundance: 4.15×104 milligrams per kilogram
Estimated Oceanic Abundance: 4.12×102 milligrams per liter
Number of Stable Isotopes: 3 ( View all isotope data )
Ionization Energy: 6.113 eV
| i don't know |
If you were suffering from scurvy what would you most likely be lacking? | Scurvy - NHS Choices
Scurvy
Scurvy Prevention
Introduction
Scurvy is a rare condition that can develop if you don't have enough vitamin C in your diet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C (also called ascorbic acid) is vital for the body, because it's needed to make collagen. Collagen is a type of protein found in many different types of tissue, such as skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage.
Without vitamin C, collagen can't be replaced and the different types of tissue break down, leading to the symptoms of scurvy. These include:
muscle and joint pain
the appearance of red dots on the skin
bleeding and swelling of the gums
Read more about the symptoms of scurvy .
Unlike some other types of vitamins , the human body is unable to make vitamin C.
All of the vitamin C that the body needs has to come from your diet, so the best way to prevent scurvy is to eat a healthy, balanced diet that contains plenty of fruit and vegetables .
Read more about preventing scurvy .
Who's affected by scurvy?
People tend to think that scurvy is a condition of the past, because our diet and standard of living has improved over the years.
However, although rare, vitamin C deficiency can still be a problem for certain groups of people, including:
elderly people who are unable to maintain a healthy diet
people who smoke or have a dependency on alcohol or drugs
people on a low income
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may also be at risk of getting scurvy if they will only eat certain foods that aren’t good sources of vitamin C.
Read more about the causes of scurvy .
Treating scurvy
A doctor will usually be able to diagnose scurvy by asking about your symptoms and diet. They may also carry out a blood test to measure the level of vitamin C in your blood.
Treatment for scurvy is relatively straightforward. It involves taking vitamin C supplements and eating food that's high in vitamin C. This should quickly reverse the harmful symptoms of scurvy.
The fact that a person has scurvy in the first place is usually a sign that they're vulnerable or living a chaotic lifestyle. Referral to a dietitian, social worker or mental healthcare professional may be required to prevent further episodes of scurvy or other problems linked to malnutrition .
Read more about treating scurvy .
How much is 5 A DAY?
Exactly how much is one portion of fruit or vegetables? Dietitian Azmina Govindji explains
Media last reviewed: 11/07/2015
Good sources of vitamin C
Fresh fruit and vegetables are some of the best sources of vitamin C, including:
oranges
| Vitamin C |
What do the Americans call the aubergine? | Scurvy - Better Health Channel
Scurvy
Scurvy is a disease caused by severe and chronic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency.
Good sources of dietary vitamin C include citrus fruits and green vegetables.
Overdosing on vitamin C can cause problems, so never take more than the recommended dose of a vitamin C supplement without your doctor’s knowledge and approval.
Scurvy is a disease caused by severe and chronic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency. Most people think of scurvy as a disease of the past, when sailors had to spend months at sea without access to fresh fruit and vegetables. While scurvy may be uncommon in modern society, it does still exist. Anyone whose diet is inadequate in vitamin C is at risk.
The onset of symptoms of scurvy depends on how long it takes for the person to use up their limited stores of vitamin C. The human body is unable to make vitamin C. For example, if the diet includes no vitamin C at all, the average onset of symptoms is about four weeks.
The many roles of vitamin C
Vitamin C is important for many metabolic processes, including:
Collagen formation – collagen is used in different ways throughout the body. Its primary role is to strengthen the skin, blood vessels and bone. The body also relies on collagen to heal wounds.
Antioxidant function – the metabolism of oxygen within the body releases molecular compounds called ‘free radicals’, which damage cell membranes. Antioxidants are substances that destroy free radicals, and vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant.
Iron absorption – the process of iron absorption is aided by vitamin C, particularly non-haem iron (the form of iron found in plant foods such as beans and lentils).
Infection fighting – the immune system, particularly cells called lymphocytes, requires vitamin C for proper functioning.
Other roles – vitamin C is used to produce other important substances in the body such as brain chemicals (neurotransmitters).
Early symptoms of scurvy
Many of the early symptoms and signs of scurvy are similar to various mild complaints. A person may not visit their doctor because they believe, for example, that they have the flu or some other self-limiting illness.
Some of the non-specific symptoms of scurvy may include:
generally feeling unwell
Symptoms and signs of severe scurvy are more specific and may include:
swollen, spongy and purplish gums that are prone to bleeding
loose teeth
bleeding into the skin (severe and easy bruising)
scaly, dry and brownish skin
very dry hair that curls and breaks off close to the skin
slow-healing wounds
opening of previously healed scars
bleeding into the joints and muscles, which causes areas of swelling over the bones of the arms and legs
premature stopping of bone growth (in babies and children).
Complications of scurvy
In babies and young children with scurvy, the growth of the long bones in the arms and legs is typically stunted. This is because the lack of vitamin C prompts the growth plates in the bones to prematurely harden. In people of all ages, untreated scurvy may lead to complications including anaemia, heart attack or death.
Regular dietary intake is important
Dietary intake of vitamin C (from food and drinks) is essential, because the human body cannot make this vitamin from other compounds. We also need to have vitamin C as a regular part of our diet because the body cannot store vitamin C for very long.
High-risk groups for scurvy
There are various factors or lifestyle issues that might increase the risk of scurvy. These include:
unhealthy diet – people who regularly neglect their diet such as alcoholics, illicit drug users, the elderly or the mentally ill
crash dieting – particularly some diets that exclude food groups (for example, extreme versions of the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet)
dependency – some elderly people or young children who are not given adequate care
allergy diets – that are very restrictive in an attempt to manage particular allergies
eating disorders – like anorexia nervosa or bulimia
smoking – because smokers need more vitamin C to cope with the extra stress on their body
fussy eating – some fussy eaters will not eat fruits and vegetables.
Diagnosis of scurvy
Tests used to diagnose scurvy may include:
physical examination
detailed questions about dietary habits
blood tests to check vitamin C and iron levels
x-rays of joints including the knee, wrist and ribs.
Treatment of scurvy
Scurvy is relatively easy to treat – the person simply needs to increase their daily intake of vitamin C. A doctor may recommend a short-term course of vitamin C supplements (usually a minimum of 250 mg per day) to speed relief of symptoms. Bleeding in the skin and gums should stop within 24 hours of effective treatment. Joint and muscle pain may take a few weeks to settle.
Other nutritional deficiencies, such as anaemia, may need treatment with an improved diet and the short-term use of supplements. Underlying problems such as eating disorders or alcoholism may need to be addressed. The doctor may also recommend that the patient consult with a dietitian.
Sources of vitamin C
Dietary sources of vitamin C include:
fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, blackcurrants, mangoes, kiwifruits, tomatoes and strawberries
vegetables, particularly green vegetables such as cabbage, capsicum, spinach and broccoli
kidney and liver.
Precautions in taking vitamin C
Taking large quantities of vitamin C supplements may be harmful. Never take more than the recommended dose of a vitamin C supplement without your doctor’s knowledge and approval.
Overdosing on vitamin C can cause problems, including:
nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea
decreased effect of some prescription medications, such as certain blood-thinning drugs
kidney stones in people with kidney disease or a history of kidney stones.
Where to get help
Dietitians Association of Australia Tel. 1800 812 942
Things to remember
Scurvy is a disease caused by severe and chronic vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency.
Good sources of dietary vitamin C include citrus fruits and green vegetables.
Overdosing on vitamin C can cause problems, so never take more than the recommended dose of a vitamin C supplement without your doctor’s knowledge and approval.
| i don't know |
What do Americans call coriander? | Cilantro vs. Coriander, and The Verbal Bloodbath That Ensued. – The Everywhereist
🙂
http://antiquitytravelers.blogspot.com/ Cleo2670
I was taking Asian cooking classes while living in SF because, well because I suck at cooking. Anywho, we made this great recipe in my Thai class with stuffed calamari in a green curry sauce. Absolutely delicious. I of course set off to make this for my hubby and headed off to Clement Street (THE place for Asian groceries … my favorite was always Happy Grocery … gotta love that name). One of the main ingredients is ‘fresh coriander.’ Seemed simple enough right? WRONG! After attempting to speak half broken English with the guy in the vegetable section of Happy Grocery I was completely confused. He just stared blankly at me then turned grabbed the cilantro and handed it to me. I politely handed it back and repeated FRESH coriander. He picked it up again and handed me the Cilantro. WTF! I finally gave up after several rounds of this and bought the Cilantro and headed home. Once home I looked up coriander in my spice book The Complete Book of Spices (yes it is sad that I have a book on spices, but maybe next time I’ll read it first before yelling at the poor grocery guy). The book showed coriander as the dried seed and cilantro as the fresh leaf … and thus FRESH coriander was the stem of the plant. WTF and BTW while my husband loved this dish has begged me to never make it again in the house. The stuff calamari is steamed first before adding to the curry and makes the entire house smell like toe cheese even after all windows have been opened for more than an hour with 40 mile an hour winds.
GreenWyvern
It’s just as well you didn’t start referring to courgettes as zucchinis. Then would really have been a battle.
Dena
I was recently in Scotland and was scared to try the “courgettes” I saw on several menus, fearing they were using a French word to hide something nasty… escargot = snails… courgettes = chicken butts. Finally it was revealed by a very nice and cultured young Scots woman that they were in fact, zucchinis. To which I asked, “why don’t you call them zucchinis?” and she replied, “because no one wants to order a vegetable”.
darran311
They are called courgettes. As a chef ive heard zucchini used but never knew what one was ive just learned another example of american awkwardness but at least itll help with understandings etc.
20 years in kitchens and I never knew zucchini was just another way to describe courgette. Then it took long enough to realise americans call sweet potatoes yams when they are from a completely different family of plants known as morning glory
http://www.mikecurato.com Mike
That might explain why when I tried shopping for cilantro in Ireland, it turned into a carnival sideshow of perplexed faces. That aside, I still cooked my Irish cousins quesadillas, which they had never had before. Despite the lack of cilantro zing, there are at least 5 people in the world who think I’m a gourmet.
http://ericakjordan.com Erica
I have been wondering what the difference was for YEARS! In retrospect, I could have looked it up, but it wouldn’t have been as good as learning the difference via funny story.
A lot of Japanese people can’t eat “coriander” so I’d assume that “cilantro” was totally fine and serve it to them. No one’s complained yet, but I don’t know if that’s out of politeness or the placebo effect.
http://laurasviequotidienne.blogspot.com laura
This explains so much! In French they called it coriandre (which is just like coriander), and I was convinced that it wasn’t cilantro as we have something called coriander in America too! But I cooked with it anyway. Basically the British are just way more French than we are (as aubergine is also French for eggplant).
Great story by the way, it made me laugh.
James
errr. eggplant is a colo(u)r (dark purple) :p
Perhaps it might be better to say eggplant is an american translation of aubergine…or melongene, garden egg or guinea squash or brinjal.
Sillyness asside. Eggplant came from a european effort to grow em that didn’t result in the eggplant you know and love. It resulted in a fruit that looked like eggs….because they were white. Hence the name. How this got translated to a purple colo(u)r (since it described “a plant that bore white fruit”) is anyone’s guess.
…and aubergine isn’t a french word it has western Mediterranean origins
melongene….eastern Mediterranean origins
jus’ sayin, in a british accent that you will struggle to argue with
darran311
Eggplant is just american for aubergine then ? This is all just to confuse matters and cause arguments I think because there was nothing wrong with the way things were originally named and then people run round using all these inaccurate terms instead
Meghan
Hilarious!!! I just had a subdued argument (because we were at HER bridal shower) with a friend about this! When she said coriander and cilantro were the same thing, I just looked at her with one eyebrow cocked and said, Okay….
Andi
Is that the Cilantro on Tottenham Court Rd? I went by that restaurant almost everyday and never tried it, glad I didn’t now. I’ll have to bring this argument up to my British friends, never really thought about it before, I always assumed they were 2 completely different things..cilantro and coriander, who knew?
Betty
Rage fingers! Snort! Churgle! I love you so much Everywherist. I had to forward this to my Brit friend and now we’re arguing about taxicabs and hire cars which is great fun. He is SO wrong!
James
where do you stand on minicabs 😉
http://www.gentlemansgazette.com/ Sven Raphael Schneider
The American way is indeed way less confusing but in Germany, it everything is called Coriander as well. Fortunately, the new world comes up with innovative neologisms on occasion ;).
Molly
we encountered this when we first moved to London — took a good two weeks to find cilantro. we felt incredibly stupid once we figured out that we’d been staring at it for almost a half hour, trying to figure out what the coriander was. i can’t say i ever got in a fight about it though. i also remember distinctly that oregano is pronounced o-re-GAN-o, like origami. i couldn’t understand the poor bloke, had to have him repeat it three times before i caught on.
and i believe Cilantro the restaurant is fairly new… there were absolutely none in London three years ago. i was there two months ago and noticed it for the first time.
http://www.quietwanderings.com Cherina | Quiet Wanderings
This article still has me in stitches. I am Australian and, we too, call it coriander. I am living with an American guy right now and we have this ‘discussion’ every time I cook with coriander…which seems to be often. He can’t get his head around our word either. “Why? Why would you call it that?” he says. Should I even mention the the whole boot/trunk and bonnet/hood fiasco! I travel a lot so my theory is…when in Rome…etc
Michael
Laughed and laughed. YOu can call it whatever you want: “Coriander” “Cilantro” “Chinese Parsely” “Mitsuba”, etc.
It’s wretched in every language and by every name.
Cheerio !
LilMil
Oh i can definately vouch for your British friend. Here in Australia we too call it coriander – all of it. And we are almost always referring to the fresh stuff.
Katherine See Calacday
Hi Everywhereist! I am amused that two English-speaking people, an American and a Brit, could argue so much about an herb. And add another word “herb” pronunciation. Being a Filipino, with English as a second language, I find it strange that such incidents happen. I thought the differences are only “lift” and “elevator”, “biscuits” and “cookies”. Well, it is a nice story and very enlightening. Now my vocabulary has increased. Have a good day!
Steve
Years ago (the 70s) nobody that I knew in the Pacific NW knew about cilantro, but coriander seeds were used in baking, I believe. So, linguistically, it’s natural that it would come into American English as cilantro because most people I know were introduced to the fresh hhhhhherb through Mexican or Latin American cooking. They didn’t get the connection between the two. I mean, how many people actually ever see the seeds on a plant in their garden? They might see them in a McCormack’s bottle, though.
I lived in Hawaii for a time and knew it as Chinese parsley and tried to convince my brother in Oregon to put it in his chili con carne recipe. He went to Safeway looking for Chinese parsley and came back with bok choi (for crying out loud, plus he still puts bok choi in his chili, wth). I live in Costa Rica now and it’s called “culantro” which makes me laugh because culo means ass and antro in some places like Mexico means a dive as in a scuzzy bar. Anyhow, there’s another version here in CR called culantro coyote (coyote ass dive bar?), which doesn’t even look like cilantro or culantro at all. The joys of language — it changes through people’s ignorance as much as anything else.
Everywhereist
I laugh every time I see the word “culatello”. Even though I realize it’s supposed to be cut from that part of the pig. 🙂
Frank in FIGTREE NSW Near Sydney Australia
It doesn’t matter what you call it. It stinks. (See “stink bug”) Reminiscent of cat pee. Smells soapy sometimes. Overwhelmes the flavour of the food being served with it and generally is a waste of space on my plate. Why oh why has it become politically correct to like this stuff in recent years. OK it was used in hot countries for many years but, apart from the Spanish and Scandinavians (UUH) not so much in Europe generally until recently and NEVER in British cooking. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!
Kitty
If it makes you feel better, the same happens with Spanish language. My husband is a spaniard and I’m an argentinian and we have this kind of argument every single day.
Kayleigh
I was looking up a recipe for a different Miso soup and noticed the word cilantro. I had NO idea what it was, not being a particularly avid cook. I Googled it to find this, well, astonishing realisation. I suppose we do have quite a few words different to one another, but I didn’t realise it went quite so far. And the herb! HA! I thought it only in video games did they say ‘erb. Although a fair few of our ilk are in the disuse of ‘h’, many of us still find it to be an important letter. Some of your spellings make some sense to me, ‘Draft’ (as in an alcohol) as ‘Draught’ (our variant) seems ridiculous. However, I don’t quite understand the exclusion of the letter ‘U’ in some words. That’s beyond me.
LOVED YOUR BLOG.
Randomguy
Coriander in Australia where I live too. Never heard of cilantro until I was watching an american cooking show. Its funny that you associate it with mexican cuisine as that country is on your border, for we actually associate it with south east asian cuisine because of that regions proximity to us.
Expat
Bwahahahaah. This whole stream is cracking me up! Why do the Brits say FILLet instead of filet??
As an American living in Amsterdam I’ve been searching for cilantro for two years but had to use coriander instead because it was all i could find. Hahaha it was the same damn thing and I didn’t even know it!
James
if they are “cockney barra bois” they probably drop the t as they tend to get silenced
kevos
its coriander my American friends. Frankley i find it hard to accept any culenry argument from those whos countrymen invented bolony!
Also can u stop calling Jelly- Jello. Minced beef – ground beef. And my biggest gripe: I dont mind u calling biscuits cookies But for Gods sake STOP STOP STOP calling Scones biscuits!!!!
That said although as a classicly french trained British chef I dont think much of your food YOU ARE A GREAT PEOPLE. Long live America
john
There are two different plants. I grow both in my garden. They look similar but taste very different. One has a slightly rounder leaf and is used in Aisan cooking. I know this as coriander. The other is used in European type cooking more and tastes very similar to “curley parsley”. I have seen this in the shops in Australia labelled as “cilantro” , “flat leaved parsley”, and “continental parsley”. I have bought it in Italy as “cilantro”.
I have lived in Europe, China, USA and now Australia, and seen the labels mixed up, or one not available, so the other labelled as both.
Naomi Anderson
That’s only recent that Australia started using the term cilantro… 🙁 Stupid hippy stuff really, we normally call it all Coriander and all our Thai and Indian mates call it coriander and they use it in curries alll the time… Who cares though it tastes great.
Chris Kelly
I’m coming from the other side of the argument.
My GF recently bought me a Lebanese cookbook for Christmas. She was not to know that it was written by a US based chef.
I was left perplexed by the following ingredients:
Cilantro
On the subject of “Cilaaaaaaantro” as you pronounce it.
Mint is mint. It comes in dried and fresh form.
Parsley is parsley. It also comes in dried and fresh form.
Coriander is bloody Coriander whether it’s dried or not!
If you say “Hello I’d like some Coriander please” in a shop in England you will be given a fresh H-erb unless you state that you would like the the dried form. Why on earth would we use a different name for the fresh form and the dried form?? It’s the same bloody thing!
Don’t even get me started on GARBANZO BEANS. Jaysus, you mean chick peas. And then there’s “Snow Peas.”
But perhaps the most egregious US naming of food is reserved for onions: Yellow onion = onion. Green onion = spring onion, Pearl onion = shallot. How basic can you get. Just name things by the colOr (without the U).
http://- Kate
I am English and was left perplexed recently when I read a recipe with ‘cilantro’ in it. I thought it was some kind of alcoholic liqueur until I looked it up and realised it was coriander.
I think the reason for the difference is because England was invaded by the Normans many years ago which had a big influence on our food-related vocabulary. So we say courgettes where you say zucchini, aubergine when you say egg plant and coriander when you say cilantro. In the US you have more Italian and Spanish influences over your English that we simple don’t have. As long as we understand each other that’s all that matters.
But it’s definitely coriander 😉
Nick g
Try looking at the Latin name for the plant, IE the universal identifier. Coriander is a derivation
http://google Diane G
I hate cilantro and resent people saying I have a recessive gene. Do people who dislike fiver, chocolate, etc..have recessive genes? The leaves of the nasty herb is cilantro and the seeds are corriander.
http://www.parisbarrs.blogspot.com Carol
Living in the Paris region as an American expat, I have not been able to find cilantro and now will try the feuilles de coriandre. I feel your frustration. I crave Mexican food and have to cook it since there are no restaurants nearby us. I keep telling the Mexicans I know back home that they need to bring their restaurant over here. Many Parisians cook their own. I’ve missed the cilantro in my salsa, in my fish tacos, etc. So I will try this now. Maybe it will turn up. Loved your story.
Linda
so if everyone but the US call it coriander…………..?
http://everywhereist.com Chantay
In Senegal (west Africa ) they call it Chinese parsley or coriander; but the taste is far different from the cilantro I used in the US, so I had to look it up, just to make sure both are the same herb. Well…yeah, in writing , but taste is different. Maybe I should get the seeds of the real thing from the US & plant it in my garden ( I leave in Senegal now), I kinda miss it
Angela Mobley
This is the funniest thing I’ve read in a while – I LOVE your sense of humor!
Horso
Well I am an Australian and have traveled quite extensively. The herb is called coriander everywhere except the US. On my numerous visits to the US I always laugh when I see a sign for tyres, spelt tires. I have also noted that most Americans speak English, I must admit there are some individuals in Texas and the other southern states who might be speaking Russian for all I can understand them. The English syntax is the evolution of a language developed by the English over a period of over a 1,000 years. American bastardization of the language only emphasizes their ignorance. I suppose Webster is mainly to blame, to my understanding he was the moron who first attempted to rewrite the English dictionary.
The same could be said about Americas resistance of adapting the metric system. Are Americans incapable of adapting. Australia adopted the system in 1966 I was still at school and never had a problem with the conversion.
Horso
The individual who wrote this articular is a lucky man, he was arguing with an Englishman not an Aussie. If he made comments re the mother of the Englishman to an Aussie he would be missing a head.
Everywhereist
I’m not a man.
Jane Howkins
I’m english but found this very funny. I prefer Coriander, although having different terms for different parts of it kinda makes sense. Its herb though (with an h), if you’re speaking English. And ‘erb when speaking French
| Coriander |
What term is used when cutting vegetables into matchstick shapes? | Coriander
Coriander
Coriander
What is Coriander?
Coriander is probably native to the Middle East and southern Europe, but has also been known in Asia and the Orient for millennia. It is found wild in Egypt and the Sudan, and sometimes in English fields. It is referred to in the Bible in the books of Exodus and Numbers, where the colour of ‘manna’ is compared to coriander. The seed is now produced in Russia, India, South America, North Africa — especially Morocco – and in Holland. It was introduced to Britain by the Romans, who used it in cookery and medicine, and was widely used in English cookery until the Renaissance, when the new exotic spices appeared. Among ancient doctors, coriander was known to Hippocratic, and to Pliny who called it coriandrum for its ‘buggy’ smell, coris being a bug; or perhaps because the young seed resembles Cimex lectularius, the European bed-bug.
Coriander is the seed of a small plant. The seeds are almost spherical, one end being slightly pointed, the other slightly flattened. There are many longitudinal ridges. The length of the seed is 3 – 5 mm (1/8” – 3/16”) and the colour, when dried, is usually brown, but may be green or off white. The seed is generally sold dried and in this state is apt to split into halves to reveal two partially hollow hemispheres and occasionally some internal powdery matter. Coriander is available both whole and ground. The fresh leaves of the plant are called cilantro and are used as an herb.
Bouquet: Seeds are sweet and aromatic when ripe. Unripe seeds are said to have an offensive smell. The leaves have a distinctive fragrance.
Flavour: The seeds are warm, mild and sweetish. There is a citrus undertone similar to orange peel. The leaves combine well with many pungent dishes from India, Mexico and the Middle East.
Hotness Scale: 1
Cooking with Coriander
The commonest use of coriander seed is in curry powders, where it is the bulkiest constituent, often rough ground in India to give a crunchy texture. The seeds can be likewise used in stews and soups. They blend well with smoked meats and game and feature in traditional English black pudding recipes and Italian mortadella sausage. Coriander is an ingredient of garam masala , pickling spices and pudding spices and is used in cakes, breads and other baked foods. Sugared comfits made from the seeds are a traditional sweetmeat and breath sweetener. Coriander is a characteristic of Arab cookery, being common with lamb, kid and meat stuffings. Taklia, a popular Arab spice mixture, is coriander and garlic crushed and fried. Coriander with cumin is a common combination and features in falafel and in the Egyptian appetizer dukka, which consists of those spices plus sesame seeds, hazelnuts, salt and pepper, roasted and crushed. Coriander goes well with ham and pork, especially when orange is included. It enhances fish dishes and, with other spices, may form a delicious coating for spiced fish or chicken, rubbed into the scored flesh and grilled. Try frying a few seeds with sausages to add an unusual flavour. Coriander complements chili and is included in many chili recipes, such as harissa , the hot North African red pepper sauce. It may be added to cream or cottage cheese. The leaves are always used fresh. They feature in Spanish, Middle Eastern, Indian, Oriental and South American cookery. They are sprinkled like parsley on cooked dishes, minced or puréed in sauces, soups and curries, especially bhuna. Both seeds and leaves can be used in salads. In Thailand the root of the coriander plant is used to flavour meats and curries.
Preparation and Storage
Coriander seed is generally used coarsely ground or more finely powdered, depending on the texture desired. It is best bought whole as, being brittle, it is easy to mill or pound in a mortar. Ground coriander is apt to lose its flavour and aroma quickly and should be stored in an opaque airtight container. Whole seeds keep indefinitely. Their flavour may be enhanced by a light roasting before use. As coriander is mild, it is a spice to be used by the handful, rather than the pinch. The leaves can be chopped or minced before use. They lose flavour when dried, but may be frozen either blanched or chopped and frozen into ice cubes.
Coriander Oil Benefits
Coriander oil is an aromatic stimulant, a carminative (remedial in flatulence), an appetizer and a digestant stimulating the stomach and intestines. It is generally beneficial to the nervous system. Its main use is in masking foul medicines, especially purgatives, where it has anti-griping qualities. Coriander cakes were once taken against ‘St. Anthony’s fire’, or ‘Rose’ a severe streptococcal skin infection called ‘erysipelas”, which caused many deaths before the advent of antibiotics. In Asia the herb is used against piles, headache and swellings; the fruit in colic, piles and conjunctivitis; the essential oil in colic, rheumatism and neuralgia; the seeds as a paste for mouth ulceration and a poultice for other ulcers. Recent studies have supported its use as a stomach soother for both adults and colicky babies. Coriander contains an antioxidant that helps prevent animal fats from turning rancid. It also contains substances that kill meat-spoiling bacteria and fungi. These same substances in Cilantro also prevent infection in wounds. Coriander has been shown to improve tummy troubles of all kinds, from indigestion to flatulence to diarrhea. Weak coriander tea may be given to children under age 2 for colic. It’s safe for infants and may relieve their pain and help you get some much-needed sleep. Cilantro and Coriander contain substances that kill certain bacteria and fungi, thereby preventing infections from developing in wounds. Sprinkle some coriander Seed on minor cuts and scrapes after thoroughly washing the injured area with soap and water. Intriguing new studies suggest that coriander has anti-inflammatory effects. Since the pain of arthritis is cause by inflammation coriander oil may help you.
Growing Coriander
A herbaceous hardy annual, of the parsley family, occasionally surviving into a second year. Its height averages 60 cm (2 ft). Its erect slender stems are branching and bright green. The small pink, pale blue or white flowers are borne in compound umbels. The upper leaves are wispy and finely divided, the lower ones broad, undivided and trilobate. The fruits are achenes, crowned with minute calyx.Coriander is grown from seed. It prefers warm dry conditions. For seed, it is sown in the spring, needing little maintenance. Harvest in about ninety days as soon as seeds are ripe and before they drop. An indication of ripeness is that the seeds’ aroma turns pleasant. For the leaf, the seeds are sown during the summer.
Other Names
Chinese Parsley, Cilantro, Dizzycorn, Japanese Parsley
French: coriandre
| i don't know |
Which TV Cook has a series of 'River Cottage' programmes? | River Cottage - All 4
River Cottage
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall goes back to the land and the sea in search of an alternative culinary lifestyle. Hugh grows his own produce and sees if he can make vegetables the stars of any meal.
First shown: 14 Feb 1999
This programme is subtitled
| Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall |
I you are trying the national dish of Morocco, what are you eating? | BBC - Food - Chefs : Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall recipes
FAQs
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has become known for his earthy, back-to-basics approach to cooking. Born in London, but raised in Gloucestershire, Hugh has been keen on cookery since he was a child.
He didn't train professionally, but instead studied at Oxford and travelled to Africa to do conservation work. When he returned to England, he joined The River Café in London, where he worked as a sous chef. He established the original River Cottage Headquarters near Bridport in Dorset in 2004, moving it to Park Farm on the Devon and Dorset border two years later; today, River Cottage is an establishment synonymous with a bucolic ‘grow your own’ philosophy fostered by Hugh’s work.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipes
| i don't know |
What is pasta shaped as a spiral called? | Pasta Shapes Dictionary - Pasta Fits
Pasta Shapes Dictionary
Contact Us
Pasta Shapes Dictionary
There is a pasta shape to complement every pasta dish out there. Pairing the correct pasta shape can make a big difference in your overall satisfaction when cooking.
Pasta shapes with holes or ridges like mostaccioli or radiatore are perfect for chunkier sauces, but remember no matter what shape you chose, portion control is key.
The Shapes
Acini di Pepe
(“Peppercorn”) Acini di Pepe is perfect to use in soup recipes. Include them with plenty of vegetables in broths and you’ll have a wonderful outcome.
Alphabet Pasta
This favorite kids’ shape makes any meal fun. Have a child that’s too picky to eat their veggies? Pair alphabet pasta with some vegetables or soup to win them over.
Recipes
Anelli
Small rings of pasta. It can be used in various soups and is also a complement to the fresh vegetables in a number of salads. Its smaller version, Anellini, can also be used in its place.
Recipes
Angel Hair
Long, thin noodle with a round shape. It can be used with light sauces and vegetables as well as traditional Italian sauces. Although it resembles another spaghetti, another long and thin pasta, Angel hair is much more fine.
Recipes
Bucatini
This straw-like pasta is shaped like thick Spaghetti but is hollow in the center. Bucatini is the perfect choice for nearly any sauce, or it can be baked in casseroles or stirfried in dishes. Try it with different lean proteins and sauces for a change of pace.
Recipes
Campanelle
(“Bells”) Campanelle pasta resembles a small cone with a ruffled edge. Campanelle pasta can be paired with lean proteins, vegetables or sauces of any base. These shapes can also be a treat in a cold pasta salad.
Recipes
Cappelletti
Cappelletti pasta is folded and then twisted to form the shape of a small hat. On occasion, this pasta is sometimes referred to as an alpine hat.
Recipes
Cavatappi
(“Corkscrew”) The tight spiral locks-in the flavor, allowing the shape to pair with both simple and sophisticated sauces. Pair Cavatappi with sauces of any base or partner it with vegetables or lean protein and this pasta is sure to impress. Also, these shapes are great when used in pasta salads.
Recipes
Casarecce
Casarecce pasta is shaped like a very narrow, twisted and rolled tube. This pasta is best used when served with chunky sauce and can be used in a variety of casserole dishes.
Recipes
Cavatelli
Cavatelli resembles tiny hot dog buns. These shapes are commonly served with thick, chunky sauces or in pasta salads. Cavatelli pairs nicely with meat, cream, seafood or vegetable sauces.
Recipes
Conchiglie (Shells in Small, Medium, and Large)
Shells make a great addition to soups or as the base of a wonderful salad. For a fun twist on a time-honored tradition, try remaking your favorite Macaroni and Cheese using Shells. Large Shells are best when stuffed with your favorite mixtures of cheese, meat and vegetables. Stuff with meat flavored with taco seasoning, top with salsa and bake for a delicious Mexican dish, or create your own stuffed treat.
Recipes
Ditalini
(“Little Thimbles”) This versatile shape can be used as the base of any dish. Bake it, stir it into soups, or create great salads and stir-fry dishes.
Recipes
Egg Noodles (Medium and Wide)
(From “Nudel,” German meaning paste with egg) – This size of Egg Noodle can be baked, tossed in soups or salads, or topped with cream, tomato, cheese or meat sauces. Go beyond the traditional Stroganoff and use Wide Egg Noodles to create soups, salads and casseroles. Or, top with a variety of sauces.
Recipes
Elbow Macaroni
A highly versatile shape that can be topped with any sauce, baked, or put in soups, salads and stir-fry dishes. Elbow Macaroni is traditionally used to make Macaroni and Cheese, but why not change it up and add in some seasonings, proteins, or veggies for a delightful dish.
Recipes
Farfalle (Bow Ties)
(“Butterflies”) Bow Ties brighten any meal with their interesting shape. Thick enough for a variety of sauces, or a perfect addition to a number of salad or soup recipes.
Recipes
Farfalline
Farfalline is a small version of the bow tie or butterfly shaped pasta. This versatile shape can be used as the base of any dish. Bake it, stir it into soups, or create great salads and stir-fry dishes.
Recipes
Fettuccine
This thick ribbon-like pasta is often paired with thick meat-based sauces. One of the more popular pasta recipes is the rich fettuccine alfredo sauce.
Recipes
Fideo
Short thin strands of pasta that are slightly curved. Fideo pasta is commonly partners with veggies and lean proteins to be used in various soup recipes.
Recipes
Fusilli
(“Twisted Spaghetti”) This long, spiraled shape can be topped with any sauce, broken in half and added to soups, or turned into a beautiful salad. Fusilli also bakes well in casseroles.
Recipes
Gemelli
(“Twins”) Add a touch of style to any dish with this distinctive shape. Gemeilli pairs nicely with meat, cream, seafood and vegetable sauces.
Recipes
Gigli
(“Lilies”) Gigli is a fluted edge piece of pasta that has been rolled into a coneshaped flower. Gigli is perfect for heavier sauces, like cheese, meat and tomato or it is a perfect addition to a number of casseroles.
Recipes
Lasagna
(From “lasanum,” Latin for pot) Create original Lasagna casseroles by using chopped vegetables, cheeses and any kind of sauce. You can also assemble your casserole and freeze it for a later meal.
Recipes
Lasagne
This wide flat-shaped pasta is arguably one of the oldest types of pasta. The word Lasagne refers to a dish made with Lasagne sheets alternating with sauces and other ingredients in many languages.
Recipes
Linguine
(“Little Tongues”) A great shape to complement a variety of sauces. Also a good choice for salads and stir-fry dishes.
Recipes
Mafalda
This flat wide ribbon pasta is said to be similar in shape to the lasagne noodle but with a slightly narrower in size. The pasta comes in both short and long lengths.
Recipes
Manicotti
(“Small Muffs”) Stuff Manicotti with a mixture of meat, cheese and vegetables, top with your favorite sauce, and bake.
Recipes
Orzo
(“Barley”) This small, grain shaped pasta can be topped with any sauce, added to soups, or baked as a casserole. Perfect as a side dish as well as a main course.
Recipes
Pappardelle
This Italian flat pasta is usually cut into a broad ribbon shape. It’s width is between Lasagna and tagliatelle. Pappardelle goes great with heavy rich sauces. This pasta is very popular during the winter months.
Recipes
Pastina
This super tiny pasta is perfect for children. They are traditionally used in soups with Italian and Turkish cuisine.
Recipes
Penne
(“Quills” or “Feathers”) Penne complement virtually every sauce and are exceptional when paired with a chunky sauce. Penne pairs nicely with chunky meat, chunky vegetable, cream, or oil based sauces. Also, these shapes are great for baking dishes.
Recipes
Penne Mostaccioli
(“Quills” and “Small Mustaches”) This tubular pasta complements a variety of sauces, is frequently used in salads, baked in casseroles, or made into stirfry dishes.
Recipes
Penne Rigate
(“Quills” or “Feathers”) Penne compliment virtually every sauce and are exceptional when paired with a chunky sauce. Penne Rigate are ridged and ideal to lock-in flavor. Penne Rigate pairs nicely with chunky meat, chunky vegetable, cream, or oil based sauces. Also, these shapes are great for baking dishes.
Recipes
Pipe Rigate
A hollow curved pasta that resembles a snail shell. This shape has a wide opening at one end and the other end is flattened. Pipe Rigate pairs nicely with chunky meat, chunky vegetable, cream, or oilbased sauces.
Recipes
Pipette Rigate
This shape is a smaller version of Pipe Rigate. Pipette Rigate pairs nicely with chunky meat, chunky vegetable, cream, or oil-based sauces. Also, these shapes are great for baking dishes.
Recipes
Radiatori
(“Radiators”) This ruffled, ridged shape adds elegance to any sauce. It also works well baked in casseroles, or used in salads and soups.
Recipes
Rigatoni
(“Large Grooved”) Rigatoni’s ridges and holes are perfect with any sauce, from cream or cheese to the chunkiest meat sauces.
Recipes
Rotelle
(“Little Wheels”) The cartwheel is not a classic Italian shape, but due to the variety of color and entertaining shape they are a crowd favorite. Because the spokes of the wheels are good for capturing flavor, these shapes are easy to pair. Rotelle pasta pairs nicely with meat, cream, seafood or vegetable sauces.
Recipes
Rotini
(“Spirals” or “Twists”) Rotini’s twisted shape holds bits of meat, vegetables and cheese, so it works well with any sauce, or you can use it to create fun salads, baked casseroles, or stir-fry meals.
Recipes
Ruote (Wagon Wheels)
(“Wheels”) Wagon Wheels make interesting salads, casseroles and stir-fry dishes. Add to soups, or simply top with sauce and enjoy.
Recipes
Spaghetti
(“A length of cord”) America’s favorite shape, Spaghetti is the perfect choice for nearly any sauce, or it can be used to make casseroles or stir-fry dishes. Go beyond tomato sauce and see what your favorite becomes.
Recipes
Tagliatelle
The Tagliatelle pasta is long and ribbon-like in shape, very similar to the fettuccine. It can be served with an array of sauces but a classic meat sauce tends to be the way to go.
Recipes
Thin Spaghetti
Thin Spaghetti is very similar to Vermicelli. Each one is slightly thinner than Spaghetti. Thin Spaghetti is perfect topped with any sauce, or as a salad or stir-fry ingredient.
Recipes
Tortellini
Tortellini is a ring-shaped pasta typically stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables. Tortellini is commonly served in a broth or cream sauce.
Recipes
Tortiglioni
Tortiglioni is narrow, tubular pasta. This shape is commonly used to add decoration to salads or paired with a simple sauce.
Recipes
Tripolini
Tripolini is a tiny bow tie-shaped pasta used in soups and salads or paired with a simple sauce.
Recipes
Tubini
A medium-sized, tubular pasta shape, Tubini is perfect for chunky sauces and meat dishes. It also makes wonderful salads, baked dishes and stir-fry meals.
Recipes
Vermicelli
(“Little Worms”) Slightly thinner than Spaghetti, Vermicelli is good topped with any sauce, or as a salad or stir-fry ingredient.
Recipes
Ziti
(“Bridegrooms”) A medium-sized, tubular pasta shape, Ziti is perfect for chunky sauces and meat dishes. It also makes wonderful salads, baked dishes and stir-fry meals.
| Fusilli |
If you are eating a vegetable known as 'ladies fingers', what are you eating? | Food-Info.net> Pasta-shapes
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Anelli Siciliani
Large size ring-shaped short-cut pasta, suitable for soups or salads
Armonie
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Ballerine
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Bigoli
Bigui, Pincinelli
Large diameter (about 3 mm) and very long-cut spaghetti, made with wholemeal soft wheat flour or semolina.
Bucatini
Perciatellini, Foratini, Fidelini bucati, Fide bucate
Small diameter (about 2.4 - 2.7 mm) and smooth surface long-cut dry hollow pasta.
Cannelloni
Gnocchettoni Zitoni, Tagliati di Zitoni, Cannelloni Zitoni, Canneroni, Spole, Sigarette, Schiaffoni
Short-cut shape, suitable for vegetable sauce pasta or casserolas
Cannolicchi medi
Sciviotti ziti, Denti di cavallo, Denti di pecora, Fischiotti, Fischioni, Canneroni
Hollow short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or vegetable soups
Capelli d'angelo
Angel's hair, Cabellos de Angel, Capelvenere, Fidelini, Fedelini, Cappellini, Sopracappellini,
Capellini fini, Bassetti,
Tagliolini a nido, Barbine a nido
Very thin long-cut extruded pasta (ø mm 1 - 1.2), usually nested or coiled, suitable for clear soups.
Very popular shape all over the world.
Cappelletti
Medium size, pinched stuffed fresh pasta, filled with vegetables, cheese, ricotta or meat based filling
Cappelletti Umbri
Typical for the Umbria region
Cappello napoletano
Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Casarecci
Cesariccia
These are short lengths of rolled and twisted Italian pasta. They're usually served with meat sauces.
Cavatelli
It usually refers to small pasta shells that resemble tiny hot dog buns. The name is less commonly used for a type of dumpling made with ricotta cheese.
Chiocciole
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Ciocchetti
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Cocciolette
Small shell-shaped pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Conchigliette
Tofettine, Coccioline, Cinesini, Margaritine, Cinesi rigati, Mezzi cocci, Margherite rigate, Cappettine
Extruded short-cut shape, suitable for soups or meat sauce pasta
Conchiglioni
Large size short-cut grooved pasta
Coquillettes
Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Creste di galli
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups. Shaped like creste di galli ("cockscomb" in Italian).
Dischi
Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Fagiolini rigati
Cornetti rigati, Sedanetti rigati, Sedanini rigati, Stortini rigati, Diavoletti rigati, Tubetti lunghi rigati
Stamped " Bologna " shape, suitable for casseroles or meat sauce pasta
Fettuccelle ricce
Nastrini, Reginette, Reginelle, Fettucce ricce
Curled fettuccine (width about 12 mm).
Fettuccine
Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 8 mm), fresh or dry.
Francesine
Stricchetti tondi, Saliere, Farfalle tonde, Fiocchetti
Extruded short-cut shape, suitable for soups or meat sauce pasta
Fusilli
Spiral shape short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Fusilloni
Spiral shape short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Gemelli
Spiral shape short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Gianduietta
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Gigli
Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Gramigna
Crestine, Margherite lisce, Fagioletti, Zitellini, Tubettini lunghi
Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Gramignoni
Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Grano
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Grattoni
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Italiana
Pierced short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable and clear soups
Lasagne
Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.6 x 25 mm), fresh or dry.
Linguine
Bavettine, Bavette fini, Radichini, Linguettine
Small size and elliptic section long-cut pasta.
Lumachine
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups
Maccheroni
Rectangular size double side-curled long-cut pasta (width about mm 10).
Malloreddus
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups. From Sardinia .
Maltagliati
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Margherita Messinese lunga
Middle-lenght cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pa
Merletti
Short-cut pasta, suitable for soups or salads
Messinesi
Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Mezzani
Perciatelloni, Mezze Zite, Regine, Scaloppi, Napoletani
Large diameter (about 5 - 6 mm) and smooth surface long-cut dry hollow pasta
Mostaccioli
Mezze Penne, Mezze Penne zite, Penne di ziti, Ziti tagliati
Slanting short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles, soups or salads
Mparrettati
This unusual variety of Italian pasta consists of poorly wrapped straws of dough, about 20-30 cm long.
Nuvole
Short cut pasta suitable for soups or salads
Occhi di Passero
Occhi di Pernice, Occhio d'acquila, Occhi di Trota
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Ondule
Curled short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Orecchiette
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups. Shaped like ears.
Orzo
Puntine, Punte d'ago, Armelline, Semi d'orzo, Semi d'avena, Semi di riso, Occhi di giudeo, Armellette, Puntalette, Semi di cicoria, Cicorietta, Risetto, Chicchi di riso, Semini, Avena, Avena grande, Cicorie
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Pantacce
Short cut pasta suitable for soups or salads
Pappardelle
Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 20 mm), fresh or dry
Paternoster
Mezze pennette lisce, Mezze penne, Mezzani, Pennettine, Pennuzze, Penne Regina
Slanting short-cut hollow shape, suitable for vegetable sauce pasta
Pennoni
Penne di Zitoni, Zitoni tagliati, Penna a candela
Large size short-cut hollow pasta
Perciatelli
Maccheroncelli, Maccheronicini, Mezzanelli, Long Macaroni
Medium diameter (about 4 mm) and smooth surface long-cut pierced dry pasta.
Pizzoccheri
These long buckwheat noodles are popular in northern Italy
Quadrefiore
Short cut pasta suitable for salads or soups.
Quadrettini
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Quadrucci rigati
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Radiatori
Short-cut extruded shape, suitable for vegetable or meat sauce pasta
Ravioli
Different size and shape fresh pasta, stuffed with vegetables, ricotta, cheese, meat and even fish based filling.
Ricciarelle
Riccioline, Sfresatine, Manfredine, Fettuccia riccia
Double size curled large tagliatella (width about 15 mm).
Rigatoni
Long hollow tube shaped pasta
Rocchetti
Short cut pasta suitable for casseroles or salads
Ruotine
Wheel-shaped, short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Sagnarelli
This flat Italian pasta is about 5 cm long, and has a ridged border.
Sciviottini
Cannolicchi piccoli, Fagioloni, Svuotini, Gnocchetti di Ziti, Canoncetti, Svoltini
Hollow short-cut pasta, suitable for soups or casseroles
Semi di Melone
Semi di mela, Midolline, Semoni, Risone
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Spaghetti
Vermicelli, Fide, Ristoranti, Vermicelloni, Filatelli, Vermicelloni giganti, Spaghettoni
Medium diameter (1.8 - 2.4 mm) long-cut dry pasta (broken for Vermicelli).
Spighe
Tree-shaped short-cut pasta, suitable for casseroles or salads
Stellette
Stellettine, Stelle, Astri, Fiori di Sambuco
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Strozzapreti
The name means "priest strangler" in Italian, and it refers to a pasta shape that resembles a rolled towel.
Tagliatelle
Tagliarelli, Reginelle, Fresine, Nastri, Fettuccelle, Fettucce romane, Fiadi
Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 10 mm), fresh or dry.
Tagliati di Ziti
Cannelli Ziti, Gnocchetti Ziti, Spolette
Short-cut shape, suitable for vegetable sauce pasta
Tagliolini
Fidelini a nido, Tagliatelline, Trinette a matasse
Long-cut pasta with rectangular section (about 0.8 x 3 mm), fresh or dry.
Tempesta
Seme Santo, Tempestina, Grattata, Peperino, Pepe, Fregolina, Peperini di Genova, Vaporino, Piselli, Pisellini, Grandinina soda, Grattini, Primaverine, Scintille
Short-cut pasta, suitable for vegetable or thin soups
Torchio
These pasta shapes resemble torches, the better to scoop up chunky sauces.
Tortelli
Tordelli
Medium or large size, rectangular or square stuffed fresh pasta, filled with vegetables, ricotta, cheese or meat based filling
Tortellini
Very small size fresh or even dry pasta, stuffed with meat based special filling, by tradition only suitable for meat broth or casserole
Trenne
Hollow tubes, flattened on one side.
Trennette
Same as Trenne, but smaller.
Tripolini
One side curled long-cut pasta (width about 10 mm).
Troffiette
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Sometimes called a cobnut or a filbert, what is it? | Why Are Hazelnuts Called Filberts or Cobnuts?
Question: Why are hazelnuts called filberts?
Hazelnuts are also known as cobnuts
Answer: The most commonly accepted explanation is because hazelnuts mature on or around St. Philibert's Day, August 20. Other historians believe the term filbert derives from the German vollbart meaning full beard, a reference to the appearance of the husked shell. Although the current definition of filbert tends to refer to commercial cultivated crops of hazelnuts, the terms hazelnut and filbert are generally used interchangeably. Hazelnuts are also known as cobnuts in some areas. Other experts claim these are all different varieties of the nut, but once shelled, they are quite difficult to tell apart.
More About Hazelnuts and Hazelnut Recipes:
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Filberts (Hazelnuts)
What do we know about filberts (Hazelnuts) (Hazelnuts) in history?
Carbonized filbert shells were discovered in 1972 in an archaeological excavation near Pompeii, in a site destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. We know that the filbert nut was exported from regions near the Black Sea at least 2,000 years ago. It is, in fact, one of the oldest cultivated plants of Europe, having been grown for many centuries in Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and England. By the eleventh century, filberts (Hazelnuts) were traded in the markets of Genoa. In 1773 filbert nuts were brought into Russia, and exchanged for leather and velvet. The International Exhibition in London displayed Turkish filberts (Hazelnuts) in 1851.
filberts (Hazelnuts) are also known as hazelnuts. The nut-bearing hazel has long been associated with mystic rites and the occult. In ancient Rome, hazel torches were burned during the wedding night as a token of fertility and to ensure a happy marriage. A forked divining rod, made from the Y-shaped branch of a hazel, was regarded in remote times as a tool for finding buried treasure. During the Dark and Middle Ages, the hazel rod was used in attempts to detect underground streams of water and unseen veins of precious metals. There are references to the hazelnut in Shakespeare?s works. And even today, dowsing enthusiasts employ rods made from hazelnut wood.
What is the best climate for cultivating filberts (Hazelnuts), and where is it found?
filberts (Hazelnuts) require mild winters, warm springs and cool summers. They absolutely cannot tolerate late freezes. Mostly they grow near bodies of water which moderate the climate.
Thus, there are four limited geographical regions in the world where filberts (Hazelnuts) are produced today. Approximately 70% of all filberts (Hazelnuts) grown come from small Turkish farms bordering the southern coast of the Black Sea. Another 20% grows in the coastal regions of Italy, 7% grows in Spain?s Mediterranean coastal areas, and the remaining 3% is produced in the coastal valleys of Oregon and Washington, in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
What types of filberts (Hazelnuts) grow in the United States?
There are two species of filberts (Hazelnuts) indigenous to North America. One is the American filbert located primarily in the East, and the other is the beaked filbert, which ranges from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Both are small, hardy, shrubby trees or bushes. The nuts from these species are small, with thick shells, and they are of inferior quality. They are mainly used as food for wildlife, and not for human consumption.
In the western United States, the Corylus nut is known as filbert, while in the East it is referred to as hazelnut. It also sometimes used to be called ?cob nut?. Generally speaking, all of these names are used interchangeably.
The tasty filbert of commerce that is cultivated in the United States comes from European stock. In 1629 filberts (Hazelnuts) were included in a selection of seeds sent to the Massachusetts Company. By 1771 filbert plants were being offered for sale in New York, in William Prince?s nursery catalog.
Although attempts were made to grow filberts (Hazelnuts) in the northeastern United States, as well as the Midwest and the South, they mostly failed, due to one or another of the following reasons: a filbert blight, winter killing of the catkins (pollen producing organs), winter killing of the trees themselves, or unsuitable soil conditions. In the northeastern United States, filberts (Hazelnuts) bloom in the early spring. Their catkins start to develop in the first warm days. If the bloom is followed by some frigid nights, the flowers die and there will be no nuts.
In 1871 Felix Gillet, a French barber who established a plant nursery in California, introduced the cultivated varieties of filberts (Hazelnuts) to the West Coast of the United States. He accurately foresaw that filberts (Hazelnuts) would thrive in the maritime coastal valleys of Oregon and the neighboring state of Washington. Oregon produces about 97% of the United States tonnage, while the remaining 3% comes from Washington.
How are filberts (Hazelnuts) cultivated in the United States?
In the United States 85% of the filbert production comes from a single cultivar, Barcelona, while 5% comes from its pollenizer, Daviana. Recently Barcelona has been replaced by a superior cultivar named Ennis, while Daviana has been replaced by an exceptional pollenizer named Butler.
The recommended spacing for filbert orchards vary, ranging from 15 feet by 15 feet to 20 feet by 10 feet. Every sixth tree in every third row is a pollenizer. This provides uniform pollination in a ratio of one pollenizer to 17 main crop trees. It is not necessary to introduce bees to the orchard, because filberts (Hazelnuts) are pollenized by the wind. Under favorable conditions, the filbert orchard can be productive for 50 or 60 years, after an initiation period of five years. A good harvest is considered two thousands pounds of dry in-shell filberts (Hazelnuts) per acre. If there is a heavy crop one year it is usually followed by a light crop the next year.
The normal growing pattern of the European filbert is to produce suckers, so that it becomes a multi-stemmed shrub. In the United States the season-long production of suckers would be a nuisance; consequently American growers train their filbert trees to a single trunk. In 1928, the U.S. Department of Agriculture started researching nuts in a laboratory especially set up for this purpose in the Pacific Northwest.
Another change has recently been introduced into filbert orchards. The former methods of tilling the soil by tools has been replaced with new methods of soil management, involving chemical herbicides in the row and mechanical weed control in the aisles. This results in a firmer harvest surface than that obtained by harrowing the ground.
In Oregon, the harvest begins towards the end of September, or in early October. With good weather and modern harvesting equipment, an experienced crew of five workers can harvest about two hundred acres in 10 days. Mechanical sweepers gather the nuts, which are then picked up in bins. The nuts are taken to be washed, cleaned and dried to about 8% moisture content. Then the filberts (Hazelnuts) are sold to consumers in the shell, or to bakers and salters in shelled form.
filberts (Hazelnuts) grown in Oregon and Washington are larger than those produced in Europe. There is a growing export demand for these ?giants? and ?jumbos?. In the past the greatest demand was for the smaller sizes. Since the U.S. imports about 45% of the filberts (Hazelnuts) that it consumes annually, there is room for expansion, and a bright future is in store for the Oregon and Washington filbert industries.
How did filbert production develop in Turkey?
In the mid 1800?s Turkey began making serious efforts to increase its production and export of filberts (Hazelnuts). A Turkish company, formed in 1879, engaged in a thriving export business for several years. However, as a result of military conflict with Crete, several large nut shipments were lost at sea in 1903, and the firm went bankrupt.
Although Turkey has had to contend with endless wars, economic depressions and violent government changes, it has managed to gradually increase its filbert production and export. Thus, Turkey is the world?s leading filbert producer, despite its primitive agricultural techniques.
How does filbert cultivation in Turkey differ from that in the United States?
The main difference lies in the machine-oriented methods employed in the U.S., as opposed to the manual labor practiced in Turkey.
Also, in the United States, filbert trees are planted in straight rows, and each tree is trained to grow with a single trunk to permit mechanical cultivation. In Turkey, filberts (Hazelnuts) grow on multi-trunked shrubs, set in rocky, steep hillsides, in clumps of four or five bushes in a five-foot circle. The bushes are often the result of chance seedlings taking root. Each bush has several stems about 12 to 16 feet high. The stems are permitted to grow for about thirty years or so, then they are removed to make way for younger stems. There are no regular filbert orchards in Turkey. Bushes are planted unevenly and haphazardly in the steep, stony terrain to avoid crags, boulders and other obstacles. Goats are frequently grazed among the filbert bushes to control weeds. The Turkish peasant generally allows nature to take its course, and uses hand tools and manual labor for tilling.
In the United States most filberts (Hazelnuts) are harvested following their natural drop to the ground. The filbert industry is mechanized from start to finish, from the time the hole is dug to plant the young tree, to the point when the nuts are machine-harvested from the ground. Because the filbert seedlings do not grow true to type, and the filbert is difficult to graft, a procedure called ?layerage? is used in Oregon. Year old stems of the desired filbert cultivar are bent into the soil and out again so that the tip is above ground and the U-shaped portion under ground. During the growing season roots are formed on the underground part of the stem. The new layered tree is severed from the parent tree in November and dug in December. Layerage is a slow method of propagation, but it produces a well-rooted tree large enough for orchard planting.
In Turkey the filberts (Hazelnuts) are hand-picked off the bushes by women, old men, girls and boys, with baskets hanging from their sides. And yet, despite its primitive methods, Turkey has managed to increase its recent domination of world filbert production, as is apparent from the following statistics.
Consider that 2,200 pounds equals one metric ton. In 1966, Turkey produced 190,000 tons while about 11,100 tons came from the United States. In 1979, when the total world production of filberts (Hazelnuts) was 410,00 metric tons, 290,000 tons came from Turkey, while only 11,800 tons were produced in the United States. How did Turkey manage to increase it filbert production so dramatically? Mostly by devoting more acreage to growing filberts (Hazelnuts). It is estimated that in Turkey there are roughly two hundred and forty filbert bushes per acre, compared with one hundred and eight filbert trees per acre in Washington and Oregon. It is difficult to calculate the precise acreage devoted to filberts (Hazelnuts) in Turkey, as there are no real statistics available. Nevertheless, we can safely assume from the information we do have, that almost 600,000 acres of filberts (Hazelnuts) are planted in Turkey, while in the United States just 24,000 acres are devoted to filberts (Hazelnuts) (in Washington and Oregon). In fact, the United States actually imports about 4,000 tons of filberts (Hazelnuts) from Turkey each year.
How are filberts (Hazelnuts) processed in Turkey?
After the filberts (Hazelnuts) have been picked in the husk on the Turkish hillsides, they are transported to central locations to be dried in the sun. Sometimes they are dried in heated buildings. Then the husks are removed, either manually, by beating them lightly with thin rods or slender shoots taken from the filbert bushes, or by husking machines. Shells are cracked between revolving millstones or similar equipment. Blowers remove the shells. The kernels are screened, graded by size, sorted and bagged for export.
The nuts are classified according to the region where they were collected. Round nuts are preferred in shelling, since they are less prone to damage during cracking than pointed ones. Europeans prefer shelled filberts (Hazelnuts) over unshelled; about 80% of Turkish filberts (Hazelnuts) are sold in shelled form for use in the manufacture of candy and baked goods.
Hardly anything goes to waste in the Turkish filbert industry. Broken but edible nuts are used in the extraction of edible filbert oil. Rancid and inferior nuts are made into industrial grade filbert oil. The combustible trash from the bushes, husks and shells is used for fuel.
How are filberts (Hazelnuts) grown in Italy?
In Italy, too, most filberts (Hazelnuts) grow near the sea. In this case, it is the Mediterranean. The industry is located mainly in Campania and Sicily, though there are also filbert plantings in the north, as well as in locations near Rome.
In Italy the filbert bushes are planted at more regular intervals than in Turkey, though they frequently also consist of several stalks planted in a clump. Perhaps it is due to the warmer climate that Italian yields are higher than Turkish yields. Possibly, the higher yields may be attributed to greater use of fertilizers and more fertile soil. During filbert harvesting in Italy, the bushes are beaten with canes and the nuts picked off the ground.
Many of the Italian orchards are farmed by tenants, in the absence of their landowners, who may be urban professionals or business people. These tenant-farmers give two-thirds of the crop to the owner, and keep one third for themselves.
In the past, Italy has produced about 80,000 tons of filberts (Hazelnuts) annually. This amounts to one-fifth of the total world production. Italy exports filberts (Hazelnuts) to Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
How are filberts (Hazelnuts) grown in Spain?
In Spain most filberts (Hazelnuts) are produced in the low-lying plains of the northeastern province of Tarragona. Some filberts (Hazelnuts) are grown on the moist hillsides of Barcelona and Oviedo.
The Spanish filbert orchards in Tarragona are usually planted in regular rows, fifteen to twenty-five feet apart, with only one bushy shoot per location, instead of in clumps as in Turkey and Italy. In other parts of Spain, however, clump planting is still common. Filbert plantings are routinely irrigated in Tarragona, as well as in other Spanish areas where the soil is poor and rocky.
Spain is the third largest producer of filberts (Hazelnuts); its produces about 20,000 tons annually. Most of its filberts (Hazelnuts) are exported to France and Switzerland. filberts (Hazelnuts) are used in Spain itself in the nougat and candy industry.
An interesting note: in traditional Spanish herbal medicine filberts (Hazelnuts) are recommended as a cure for enuresis (bedwetting). The patient is simply required to eat twelve filbert nuts just before retiring for the night.
What is the recommended method for storing and enjoying filberts (Hazelnuts)?
filberts (Hazelnuts) taste best when they are slightly toasted. The skin is thin, and not at all bitter. In fact, some people prefer using the filbert nut together with its skin.
However, if you wish to remove the skins, you can spread filberts (Hazelnuts) in a shallow pan and toast them in a 275°F oven for about twenty minutes, or until the skins crack. Then, while the nuts are still warm, rub them between your hands until the skins come off.
filberts (Hazelnuts) can be ground, chopped and sliced, according to preference. They should be stored in properly sealed plastic bags or glass jars for optimum flavor. Under these conditions they can keep for about one year at room temperature, or two years if refrigerated or frozen. They should, however, be brought to room temperature in a well ventilated area so as to prevent the drawing of moisture, which would cause mold and rancidity.
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