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At the end of every episode of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, who wished the viewer "champagne wishes and caviar dreams"?	Collection - Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Sexual Healing What's Going On (Motown 25) Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range . [2] Starting his career as a member of the doo-wop group, The Moonglows in the late 1950s, he then ventured into a solo career after the group disbanded in 1960, signing with Motown Records subsidiary, Tamla. He started off as a session drummer, but later ranked as the label's top-selling solo artist during the 1960s. He was crowned "The Prince of Motown" [3] and "The Prince of Soul". [4] because of solo hits such as " How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) ", " Ain't That Peculiar ", " I Heard It Through the Grapevine ," and his duet singles with singers such as Mary Wells and Tammi Terrell . His work in the early and mid-1970s included the albums, What's Going On , Let's Get It On , and I Want You , which helped influence the quiet storm , urban adult contemporary , and slow jam genres. After a self-imposed European exile in the early 1980s, Gaye returned on the 1982 Grammy-Award winning hit, " Sexual Healing " and the Midnight Love album before his death. Gaye was shot dead by his father on April 1, 1984. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. [5] In 2008, the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Gaye at number 6 on its list of the Greatest Singers of All Time, [6] and ranked at number 18 on 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. [7] He was also ranked at number 20 on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. [8] Collection - Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous What do John Waters, Robert Goulet, and New Kids on the Block have in common? Appearances on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous!" Curated by Whitney Weiss Total Runtime: 0:38:10 Collection 1980s 1990s caviar dreams champagne wishes heartthrobs john waters lifestyles of the rich and famous models money opulence pro wrestlers wealth Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is an American television series that aired in syndication from 1984 to 1995 . The show featured the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy entertainers , athletes and business moguls . It was hosted by Robin Leach for the majority of its run. When Leach was joined by Shari Belafonte in 1994, the show was renamed Lifestyles with Robin Leach and Shari Belafonte. Leach ended each episode with a wish for his viewers that became his signature phrase, "champagne wishes and caviar dreams." Claymation celebrities pitted against each other almost always ending in the loser's gruesome death. Curated by Jason Forrest Collection 90s celebrity celebrity deathmatch eric fogel mtv Celebrity Deathmatch is a claymation television show that depicts celebrities against each other in a wrestling ring , almost always ending in the loser's gruesome death. It was known for its excessive amount of blood used in every match and exaggerated physical injuries (e.g., one person cuts off a participant's foot, living through decapitations, impalement, etc.). The series was created by Eric Fogel ; with the pilots airing on MTV on January 1 & 25 1998. The initial series ran from May 14, 1998 to October 20, 2002, and lasted for a 75-episode run. There was one special that did not contribute to the final episode total, entitled "Celebrity Deathmatch Hits Germany", which aired on June 21, 2001. Professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin gave voice to his animated form as the guest commentator. Early in 2003, a film based on the series was announced by MTV to be in the making, but the project was canceled by the end of that year. In 2005, MTV2 announced the revival of the show as part of their " Sic 'Em Friday " programming block. Originally set to return in November 2005, the premiere was pushed back to June 10, 2006 as part of a new "Sic'emation" block with two other animated shows, Where My Dogs At and The Adventures of Chico and Guapo . The show's fifth season was produced by Cuppa Coffee Studios and the premiere drew over 2.5 million viewers, becoming MTV2's highest rated season premiere ever. In 2011, for the first time, the first "best of" collection is available on DVD, called "Celebrity Deathmatch: The Knockout Collection". The collection is also available to purchase on Amazon Instant Video. + the addition doc "Why did The K Foundation burn a million quid?" Curated by Jim Warrier Docs bill drummond irreverence klf sampling K Foundation Burn a Million Quid was an action on 23 August 1994 in which the K Foundation (an art duo consisting of Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty ) burned cash in the amount of one million pounds sterling on the Scottish island of Jura . The money represented the bulk of the K Foundation's funds, earned by Drummond and Cauty as The KLF , one of the United Kingdom's most successful pop groups of the early 1990s. The incineration was recorded on a Hi-8 video camera by K Foundation collaborator Gimpo . In August 1995, the film—Watch the K Foundation Burn a Million Quid [1] —was toured around the UK, with Drummond and Cauty engaging each audience in debate about the burning and its meaning. In November 1995, the duo pledged to dissolve the K Foundation and to refrain from public discussion of the burning for a period of 23 years, but Drummond spoke about the burning in 2000 and 2004. At first he was unrepentant [2] but in 2004 he admitted to the BBC that he regretted burning the money. [3] [4] A book—K Foundation Burn A Million Quid, edited and compiled by collaborator Chris Brook—was published by ellipsis Books in 1997, compiling stills from the film, accounts of events and viewer reactions. The book also contains an image of the house brick that was manufactured from the fire's ashes. Wipe away your smug sense of superiority by watching mainstream celebrities outshine you in multiple languages. Curated by Whitney Weiss Total Runtime: 0:17:23 Collection a vague sense of american inferiority celebrity foreign language gwyenth paltrow jodie foster language mila kunis polygots Multilingualism is the act of using polyglotism , or using multiple languages , either by an individual speaker or by a community of speakers. Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world's population. [1] Multilingualism is becoming a social phenomenon governed by the needs of globalization and cultural openness. [2] Owing to the ease of access to information facilitated by the Internet, individuals' exposure to multiple languages is becoming increasingly frequent thereby promoting a need to acquire additional languages. People who speak several languages are also called polyglots . [3] excellent 1975 sexploitation film by American filmmaker Russ Meyer Total Runtime: 1:45:29 Movie Supervixens is a 1975 sexploitation film by American filmmaker Russ Meyer. The cast features Meyer regulars Charles Napier, Uschi Digard, and Haji. The film also features Shari Eubank (in a dual role) in one of her only two film roles ever and Christy Hartburg in her only film role ever. Gas station attendant Clint Ramsey, who works at Martin Bormann's Super Service in the desert, finds himself too irresistible to a series of women, all of whom have the word "Super" in their given names. In the beginning, he is married to the hypersexual, demanding, and jealous SuperAngel (Shari Eubank), who constantly harasses him at work. She orders him home at once when she calls Clint and overhears a female customer, SuperLorna (Christy Hartburg), hitting on him at work. Clint finds SuperAngel's constant accusations and arguing a turnoff and, back at home, they fight after he rejects her aggressive advances. A neighbor calls the police as Clint leaves for a local bar, where the bartender is the very scantily clad SuperHaji (Haji). Meanwhile, SuperAngel seduces Harry Sledge (Charles Napier), the cop who responded to the police call. He is impotent and unable to perform. She repeatedly taunts and insults him over this, which finally results in him killing her by stomping her brutally in a bathtub, then throwing a radio in the water which was plugged into the wall socket. Sledge burns down the house, then tries to pin the murder on Clint. Clint claims being in the pub all night, but SuperHaji has her revenge on him (from insulting her breast size earlier) by refusing to confirm his alibi. Clint is then forced to flee. In his rush to escape, Clint hitchhikes a ride from a man (John LaZar) and his girlfriend SuperCherry (Colleen Brennan). During the drive, SuperCherry comes on to him and puts his hand over her breast, but then pulls it back. She then tries to give him a handjob over his pants, but he continues to resist her advances. The driver takes offense to Clint rejecting his girlfriend, but she says he probably just wants a closer contact. She again attempts and fails to seduce him and he asks the driver to let him get out. The driver follows him out and beats and robs him. Clint is found by an old farmer who takes him to his farm to heal from his injuries and Clint agrees to work for the farmer for a week to repay him. The farmer has a younger Austrian mail-order bride, SuperSoul (Uschi Digard), who is hypersexual. After energetically satisfying her husband, she comes knocking on Clint's door at night. She immediately pushes him into his bed where she proceeds to mount and rape him, until he manages to overpower her. However, she does the same the following day and this time overpowering him after jumping him from behind in the barn. Looking for SuperSoul, the farmer finds them in the barn, then chases Clint away and punches SuperSoul. Fleeing from the farm, Clint meets a motel owner and his deaf daughter, SuperEula (Deborah McGuire), who convinces him to take a ride with her in her dune buggy to have sex in the desert. They are caught by her father and chased out of town. Clint eventually meets up with SuperVixen (also played by Shari Eubank) at Supervixen's Oasis, a roadside diner. SuperVixen is (inexplicably) a friendly and giving reincarnation of SuperAngel, whose ghost now appears nude between scenes to comment on the plot from atop a bedspring balanced on a mesa. Clint and SuperVixen fall in love and are inseparable, although their common nemesis, Harry Sledge, arrives on the scene and plots ending the lives of the now happy couple. As a groundbreaker cultural revolutionaire, Meyer was ever watchful for adding sly remarks about American Society. Especially insightful are these: Meyer makes the cartoonish nature of the film explicit towards the end, when Harry's impending death is preceded by the "Beep-beep!" sound of the Roadrunner, which always introduces imminent disaster for Wile E. Coyote in the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoon series. The antagonist breaks the Fourth Wall between the fictional world and the audience with a facial gesture showing he is resigned to his fate. As a humorous sidenote, in the end credits of the film the names of all participants have been changed either partially (Uschi Bristol instead of Digard) or completely (Brown Pants, C. Unt). Shari Eubank is credited as 'Shari Sheridan'. As a combat photographer in World War II, Russ Meyer made many friends and acquaintances in Europe. Meyer used running jokes and recurring themes in many of his films which were unique to the veteran's sense of humor. In Supervixens, these include the use of German marching tunes and Nazi references. Actor Henry Rowland appears as Martin Bormann, who was Adolf Hitler's personal secretary, rumored to have escaped Allied justice for decades and the subject of many "sightings". The Bormann character refers to SuperAngel as the Führer. Bruce Springsteen mentions this movie in the chorus of his song 'Pilgrim in the temple of love'. Garbage included a song called "Supervixen" on their debut album. Collection - Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous ◀ PREVNEXT ▶ MORE INFO ABOUT THIS SHOW » February	Robin Leach
On March 22, 1972, Congress sent the Equal Rights Amendment to the states for ratification, of which 35 said yes before the 1982 deadline. Was Washington a yea? or a nay?	Autoline This Week Archives (2010): 10+ years of automotive news and analysis “King of the 'NACTOY' Hill” Larry Webster, Popular Mechanics, Chris Paukert, Autoblog.com. Topic: North American Truck of the Year finalists. Thanks to producer/animator Mike Judge, most people connect "King of the Hill" with the former Fox TV series. And though there's a lot to be said for a 12-year old cartoon series that centered on one character and his life with propane, here at Autoline any "King of the Hill" reference points to one word and one word only, and of course that word is TRUCK! And this time of year when you talk truck, you're talking about three specific trucks or SUVs -- as the case may be -- who end up as our own "Kings of the Hill," better known as the finalists for the North American Truck of the Year. That's right, twelve months have flown by and left us with the latest top three trucks voted on by the jurors of NACTOY -- the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards. These finalists -- Ford's Explorer, Jeep's Grand Cherokee and the Dodge Durango -- have been narrowed down from a long list of top-notch candidates with the winner to be revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit January 10th. Joining Autoline host and original juror John McElroy to talk about these finalists and who may be crowned this year's "King of the Hill" are fellow NACTOY jurors Larry Webster from Popular Mechanics and Chris Paukert of Autoblog.com. Panel “Roman Holiday” Laura Soave, President, Fiat North America, Alisa Priddle, The Detroit News, Tim Higgins, Bloomberg News. Topic: Fiat North America. It was the movie that turned a trio into stars. Even though Gregory Peck was arguably already there and his leading lady Audrey Hepburn was well on her way, the romantic comedy "Roman Holiday" really focused the spotlight on the third star of this 1953 movie, the Italian motor scooter Vespa. As the trio whipped around Rome it sold us on the delights of small lightweight Italian transportation. Now fast forward to 2010, and small Italian transportation is poised to make a comeback here in America as the FIAT brand returns to the market thanks to its tie-in with Chrysler. Even as Sergio Marchionne has been putting the Pentastar pieces back together so Chrysler, Dodge, Ram & Jeep all have viable futures in the industry, at the same time he is ready to unleash his own brand back into the American car culture. The dealers have been chosen and they're getting ready to showcase the first FIAT product in years, the small, nimble Cinquecento better know as the 500. And the person in charge of the North American reemergence of the FIAT brand joins John McElroy on this week's Autoline. Laura Soave is well aware of what FIAT stands for. Not just from last few months of running the brand here in the Americas but from her Italian heritage and spending time growing up in Europe. She has an interesting task in front of her as she tries to resurrect a brand that disappeared from American shoes for a variety of reasons, none of them good. Joining John on his journalist panel to discuss the future of FIAT is Alisa Priddle from The Detroit News and Tim Higgins from Bloomberg News. Guests Laura Soave, President, Fiat North America Panel “Innocence Lost” Mark Perry, Nissan, Jon Brancheau, Nissan Marketing, Paul Hawson, Nissan. Topic: Nissan LEAF. There was a seismic shift 45 years ago. And as all change goes it was unwelcome at the time. So much in fact, that in a manner of fifteen short minutes it transformed a cultural hero to social pariah, all thanks to the innocence of choice. But that's what happened on July 25, 1965 at the prestigious Newport Folk Festival when Bob Dylan plugged in, turned on and embraced the sound electric. The audience reaction was an early version of shock and awe. His fans became horrified that he had abandoned his acoustic legacy when he launched into an electric version of "Maggie's Farm." But in reality what they didn't know was that he was simply evolving as an artist as evidenced by the success of his beloved "Like A Rolling Stone," which had been recorded just days before the event. It was clear he was moving on. For more than 100 years the internal combustion engine has driven the car. And though it continues to be tweaked and improved to the point where automotive's pioneers might not even recognize today's highly-efficient ICEs, evolution persists. We've been talking alternatives for years -- hybrids, PZEVs, Natural Gas and Hydrogen have all piqued our interest, but our muse has always been electrics. So much promise, so much promised, so much never delivered. But finally like Dylan, we're starting to move on...welcome to the world of the Nissan LEAF. On this week's Autoline John McElroy travels to Tennessee -- a state that brought human evolution to the headlines last century -- to talk about the evolution of the car this century as the LEAF goes electric. John gets a deep dive on the car from Nissan Product Planner Mark Perry while marketing chief Jon Brancheau talks to him how they are rolling it out across the country. In addition, John drives the LEAF all around the city of Nashville and gives you his impressions of this first mass produced all-electric pioneer. Guests “Politics as Unusual” Nolan Finley, The Detroit News, Edward Lapham, Automotive News. Topic: How the Mid-Term Election Affects the Auto Industry. Has the American public ever been so fickle? Two years ago the country went heavily Democratic. This year the pendulum swung strongly Republican. Who knows what next two years hold in store. But what we need to know is: what does this mean for the auto industry? New fuel economy standards, stricter CO2 legislation, generous EV subsidies, the controversial cap and trade policy, our free trade policy, and the Employee Free Choice Act are all on the agenda. Or, at least they were. Thanks to the mid-term elections, committee chairmanships are switching from one party to the other. That means the legislation agenda is going to switch as well. To learn about how the agenda will change, and to put a name to faces of who’s going to be running the show, this week’s Autoline is all about the abrupt about-face in the American political scene. Joining host John McElroy on the show are Nolan Finley, the Editorial Page Editor of the Detroit News, and co-host of the public television program “Am I Right?,” as well as Edward Lapham, the Executive Editor of Automotive News. Panel David Champion, Consumer Reports, Doron Levin, AOL Autos & Fortune Magazine, Scott Burgess, The Detroit News. Topic: Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings. The 1970s was the touchstone for transformation in two important American industries. The world of television was changed forever by producer Norman Lear with ground-breaking shows like 'All In The Family' and its successful spinoff whose theme song has given us this week's headline, 'The Jeffersons.' But at the same time that TV was "movin' on up" the U.S. automotive industry was starting a decades long decline. Fueled by OPEC in tandem with the rise of the imports, the Big Three produced model after model of lower quality cars and they began to pay the price. And we all know what price they eventually paid. But since the start of the new century the 'downgraded' Detroit Three have been on the road back. Designing and building better cars that are not only attracting both old and new customers into showrooms, but they're starting to appear on lists that many consumers use to shop for vehicles. One of those tabulations -- the Consumer Reports Reliability Rankings -- was just released and David Champion, the Senior Director of its Auto Test Division joins John McElroy as his guest on this week's Autoline. Doron Levin of AOL Autos and Fortune Magazine and Scott Burgess, Autocritic of The Detroit News, join John and David to talk about today's best cars. Guests “Champagne Wishes” Ken Meade, Meade Lexus, Chris Consiglio, Eitel Dahm Motor Group, Rob Kurnick, Penske Automotive Group. Topic: Today's luxury car market. Celebrity and luxury have been part of our culture since the beginning. But that potent combination didn't truly take off until about twenty-five years ago when television host Robin Leach made "champagne wishes and caviar dreams" our daily mantra. Suddenly greed was good, TV cops became Armani models and we all worshiped the people and products consumed nightly on the juggernaut "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." That was the springboard that brought us to today's luxury-satiated society where even ten year olds discuss the merits of Louis Vuitton's latest. We're now undeniably smack dab in the middle of a pop culture that's in love with luxury; and don't think any of this has been lost on certain companies that make cars. The American luxury car market used to be just a few select players that came from Italy, Germany and the UK with a couple of homegrowns thrown in for good measure. Today the list of both cars and countries have exploded. But how has the market grown, who are today's players and which customer is buying what? Joining John McElroy for a look at today's luxury car market is an all dealer panel who pretty much have all the brands covered. Ken Meade of Meade Lexus is one of the brand's original dealers whose stores continue to be among the brand's top-sellers in the Midwest while Chris Consiglio is the Group General Manger of the Eitel Dahm Motor Group who handles three different high-end brands from Germany. And rounding out the panel is a man with a multitude of luxury brands to look after. Rob Kurnick is the president of Penske Automotive Group which operates 325 dealerships which nearly half could be considered luxury -- everything from Bugatti to Rolls Royce to Cadillac and more. Guests “The Left Bank 2” J Mays, Group VP, Global Design, Ford, Michael Manley, President & CEO, Jeep. Topic: Paris Motor Show. Last week Autoline Detroit began its coverage of the 2010 Paris Motor Show with four different interviews. This week we've decided to emulate the Seine River, take a couple of twists and turns and do something a bit more avant-garde. Yes, we still have a couple of in-depth automotive interviews that you've come to expect in Autoline Detroit such as talks with J Mays from Ford and Mike Manley from Jeep. But in addition, this week you'll get something completely different. In fact, get ready for John McElroy to take you on a walking tour. Not of Paris mind you, but of some of the brands of cars that populate the city, the country, the entire European Community and that you never see here in the states. From Lancia, to Renault to Alfa Romeo and more, John goes from booth to booth sharing with us some of the history of the brand and as well as why these European vehicles may be influencing what we park in our driveways in the coming years. Oh, and don't miss our preview of the Special Edition Autoline Detroit that we shot in the Ligurian Alps just above Nice. That's also in this week's wrap-up from the Paris Motor Show. Guests J Mays, Group VP, Global Design, Ford Michael Manley, President & CEO, Jeep Show 1433 “The Left Bank” Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe, Jonathan Browning, Volkswagen of America, Ian Callum, Jaguar, Giovanni Mastrangelo, Fiat. Topic: Paris Motor Show. The river Seine slices through the city of Paris like the gentle folds of a fresh croissant. To the south is a section known as "La Rive Gauche" or The Left Bank. The moniker is artistic in origin thanks to the community of superlative painters and writers who called it home at one time or another. From Picasso to Hemingway to Matisse to Fitzgerald, some of the greatest works that we still admire today trace their ancestry to the southern section of the City of Lights. And even though those days are gone it doesn't mean that today The Left Bank is bereft of artistic merit. In fact just the opposite. Over the years it has become home to some of the greatest works of contemporary art though with a more technological feel. And for the next two weeks Autoline Detroit will spotlight this "21st Century Art" as we visit the Paris Motor Show. In this week's first part, John McElroy talks with Stephen Odell, the CEO of Ford of Europe, Jonathan Browning, the new CEO of Volkswagen of America, Ian Callum, Jaguar's Director of Design, and Fiat's Giovanni Mastrangelo, Platform Manager for Small Gasoline Engines. So...rejoignez-nous à Paris (join us in Paris). Guests Jonathan Browning, President & CEO, Volkswagen of America Ian Callum, Design Director, Jaguar Giovanni Mastrangelo, Small Gasoline Engine Platform Manager, Fiat Show 1432 “Don't Look Back” Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America, David Welch, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Chris Paukert, Autoblog.com. Topic: Audi. The longtime Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Satchel Paige once said "Don't look back -- something might be gaining on you." In the case with today's luxury car leaders BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus that "something" is Audi. The great luxury car maker that, in the past, could never quite get over the top has been gaining momentum with awards, marketing and, most importantly, sales. Halo vehicles like the R8 have grabbed the headlines but the real gains are coming across the entire lineup putting pressure on the traditional leaders of the segment. Just what are Audi's sales goals and how does the company plan to keep the momentum rolling? This week on Autoline Detroit to answer those and other questions on this blazing hot German luxury car maker is Johan de Nysschen, President of Audi of America. John McElroy is joined on his Autoline Detroit panel by David Welch of Bloomberg/Businessweek and Chris Paukert from Autoblog.com. Guests Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America Panel “Predictive Power” Ensconced in the ivy-covered halls of universities around the world are men and women who spend their days looking for answers. Answers to questions that might not even exist called "Unknown Unknowns." Many recognize this function as engaging in scientific theory which, over the years, has led to accepted works like Einstein's "General Theory of Relativity." But before his or Newton's or even Darwin's research was accepted, their theories had to generate testable predictions otherwise known as Predictive Power. Predictive Power appears on Autoline Detroit but not in the guise of any ground-breaking theories. Here, as is the case with this week's show, we divide the phrase and spotlight one word at a time. For instance take "power." Who better to talk about it than an executive of McLaren Automotive, the British manufacturer of high performance vehicles? And what better vehicle to talk about than its first sports car developed for those who don't wear fire-retardant suits, the MP4-12C. McLaren's Tony Joseph not only talks to John McElroy about the company and its move into production cars for consumers but also takes him for a walkaround the car that you won't want to miss. Then as far as "predictive" or in this case "predictions" go, we turn to Jeremy Anwyl, the CEO of Edmunds.com. This 45-year-old firm along, with its sister sites, gather automotive information and distribute it to largely a consumer audience. Mr. Anwyl and his team keep their eyes glued to the OEMs do and analyze everything from production to sales to the executives who run the organizations. He stops by Autoline to give John a look at the automotive world from the Edmunds' perspective. Guests “Family” Jack Hollis, Vice President, Scion, Mike Ramsey, The Wall Street Journal, Greg Gardner, Detroit Free Press. Topic: Scion. It's often said that the most important part of human life is family. Despite the fact that you may argue with your father on almost everything or your Aunt Rose still squeezes your checks at 35, being able to gather, celebrate and mourn together is unique to the human existence. Plus, that structure provides a perfect environment, which allows us to learn from one another, perhaps about our heritage or maybe life itself. Of course when it comes to corporations things are a little different to say the least, however, some do embrace the family structure for a variety of reasons. In the automotive industry, for instance, a company like Toyota offers customers three distinct brands that are aimed at different socioeconomic groups. The youngest member of that family, Scion, was created just a few short years ago and provides the entire corporate unit a young and unique set of products and customers. Jack Hollis is in charge of Scion in North America and he joins John McElroy on this week's edition of Autoline Detroit. Mike Ramsey from the Wall Street Journal and Greg Gardner of the Detroit Free Press join in the discussion. Guests Jack Hollis, Vice President, Scion Panel “Containment” William Kozyra, CEO & President, TI Automotive, Dave VanderWerp, Car and Driver. Topic: TI Automotive. It may be a noun with three different meanings, but the word containment has filtered into our daily lives. From news stories spotlighting the Gulf of Mexico to military strategies on the Asian continent, we think of it in big picture terms, but it effects us much differently. Containment is more personal, especially as it relates to transportation. Whether it's your own vehicle or public transportation, the driving force underneath the hood of both modes are fluids; oil, water and gasoline to name three. Delivering those fluids throughout the vehicle is complicated to say the least. And that's where containment comes in. One of the top companies in the automotive "containment" field if you will, is TI Automotive. It's been building fluid delivery systems since the days of the Model T. Joining John McElroy to discuss today's complicated world of fluid storage, carrying and delivery technology is TIA President & CEO Bill Kozyra. And joining in on the conversation is Dave VanderWerp of Car and Driver. Guests William Kozyra, CEO & President, TI Automotive Panel “Listening Booth: 2010 - Part 2” With a nod to our inspiration, musician Marc Cohn's new release "Listening Booth: 1970," in Autoline's 2010 version last week, our focus wasn't on forty-year-old songs, but rather a fresh look at Ford's recent comeback. And that look came from the eyes of someone who has watched it up close -- the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Lewis Booth. In last week's Part 1 he gave us an accounting of that comeback touching on a variety of subjects including its well-received new products, its surprising profit as well as its still-looming debt. This week Mr. Booth is back for Part 2 of our discussion with a deeper dive into Ford's present and future. Join John McElroy along with the New York Times' Bill Vlasic and former Car & Driver chief Csaba Csere as they talk with the man who could be the company's next Alan Mulally. Guests Lewis Booth, Executive VP & CFO, Ford Motor Co. Panel “Listening Booth: 2010” Lewis Booth, CFO, Ford Motor Co., Bill Vlasic, The New York Times, Csaba Csere, Analyst. Topic: Ford CFO, Lewis Booth. Putting a new twist on "the classics" is suddenly chic and popular. Just ask musician Marc Cohn whose new recording, "Listening Booth: 1970" -- a collection of songs from that year -- is a hit on Billboard. Who would've thought re-creating 40-year-old songs like "Wild World" from Cat Stevens, The Grateful Dead's "New Speedway Boogie" or "Make It With You" by Bread of all groups would raise a winner, yet it did. But maybe given what's been going on in Dearborn recently we shouldn't be so surprised. After all, who would've thought even just two years ago that re-creating "classics" like Fiesta, Taurus and Explorer would be returning Ford to its past sales glory, but it is. Of course it's much more than just a couple of new cars that's making the difference, but, as any of the Ford team will tell you, having fresh, quality product doesn't hurt. To understand what's driving Ford back to the top of the industry, this week Autoline takes a turn in its own "Listening Booth", as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth joins John McElroy for the first of two shows. Joining John and Mr. Booth on the panel are Bill Vlasic from the New York Times and former chief of Car & Driver magazine Csaba Csere. Guests Lewis Booth, Executive VP & CFO, Ford Motor Co. Panel “Autolineian” Rebecca Lindland, IHS Global Insight, John Wolkonowicz, IHS Global Insight, Erich Merkle, Autoconomy. Topic: Analyzing the Auto Industry. Analysis always seems more important when it has a name attached to it. Take the world of psychology for instance. Sigmund Freud's surname established the famous 'Freudian' school of psychoanalysis while his contemporary Carl Jung gave us the 'Jungian' version. Two names that have stood the test of time when it comes to branding analysis. So when it comes to the automotive world is it out of bounds to ask if that type of analysis should also have some sort of moniker? Well this week Autoline Detroit does its best to answer that question as it features three top-notch automotive analysts who opine on everything from the current state of the industry, its 2010 sales, the resurrection of the Detroit Three and those all-important breakthrough vehicles like the Volt and the Leaf we keep waiting for. Joining John McElroy on the his 'Autolineian' panel are Rebecca Lindland and John Wolkonowicz two senior analysts from IHS Global Insight and Erich Merkle from Autoconomy . Show 1425 “Hands Down” Sean McAlinden, CAR, Joe Szczesny, The Oakland Press, Robert Chiaravalli, Strategic Labor & Human Resources. Topic: The UAW. Without a doubt, some of the reasons are simple. Old line factories have closed, there's more automation in those that remain and foreign companies are building in right-to-work states. With all that working against them, it's understandable why membership in the United Auto Workers has fallen the last thirty years. Like the constant drip from a faulty faucet, the pool of workers from this once dominant union has been slipping away losing more than a million since its peak in the '70s. But don't cry for Bob King, the new UAW president. Elected merely a month ago, he knows the job in front of him and it's no easy task. Not only does he have to retain his current members, but reach out and recruit new ones. Just how he does that is one of the biggest challenges he'll face. But wait, don't forget about the questions surrounding The Detroit Three. How will the UAW deal with not only the success of Ford, but also the rebuilding at GM & Chrysler? These are just a few of the tough questions that our all-star panel tackles on this week's Autoline Detroit. Joining John McElroy to discuss the future of the UAW are Sean McAlinden from CAR, Joe Szczesny from the Oakland Press and Robert Chiaravalli of Strategic Labor & Human Resources. Panel “B Driven” Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com, Tony Swan, Car and Driver. Topic: North American Car and Truck of the Year. You can see it, can't you? The slow-motion black and white shots of sweaty sinewy muscles inter-cut with close-ups of a certain athletic footwear and a simple closing graphic. Of course you could "IF" this really were the next iconic brand message from Nike. But this "B Driven" headline references the tsunami of new compact cars that will soon engulf America. And though the Bs lead the list, this week on Autoline Detroit we look at several new cars, trucks and crossovers either out now or poised to hit the marketplace soon. Joining John McElroy for this new vehicle smorgasbord are two of his fellow voters on the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, Tony Swan from Car and Driver and Michelle Krebs of Edmunds.com. Throughout the show they'll be discussing many of the potential award-winners that could come from virtually any segment including luxury entrants like the CTS Coupe from Cadillac or the latest XJ from Jaguar. Of course performance cars are always in the spotlight especially with new products such as BMW's 5 Series and Ford's iconic Mustang with not one but two all-new powertrains: a V-6 and, finally, an honest-to-goodness 5-Liter. And of course there are crossovers as well like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sorento and Infiniti QX56 to talk about. But without a doubt, the largest group of important cars coming out this year are indeed the Bs: Ford Fiesta, MAZDA2 and Chevrolet Cruze -- to name three of the bigger volume models -- will be getting the most attention from critics and consumers alike. So join John and his NACTOY panel for a look at the latest and greatest coming to dealer lots this week on Autoline Detroit. Show 1423 “Detroit Drift” Stephen R. Polk, Chairman, Pres. & CEO, R.L. Polk & Co., Tom Walsh, Detroit Free Press, Jeff Green, Bloomberg News. Topic: Auto Industry Trends. Even though it may sound like the next installment in "The Fast & Furious" franchise, this drift refers to what's going on right now in the auto industry in not only Detroit but across the globe. Fresh leaders, closed brands and new marketing plans are just a few of the topics that go into evaluating today's automotive landscape by R.L. Polk, the 140-year-old analytical firm with long-time Detroit roots. So if anyone knows what's going on with sales trends, market position and brand loyalty -- to name a few -- it's Stephen Polk, Chairman, President and CEO of the company. On this week's special July 4th edition of Autoline Detroit, Mr. Polk joins John McElroy to discuss the latest news on everything from sagging spring sales to the potential plug-in revolution. And joining John on this week's journalist panel are Jeff Green from Bloomberg News and Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press. Guests Stephen R. Polk, Chairman, Pres. & CEO, R.L. Polk & Co. Panel “Mythology” Rodney O'Neal, CEO and President, Delphi Automotive LLP, Carol Cain, Michigan Matters, WWJ-TV (CBS), Tom Murphy, WardsAuto.com. The Greek culture has given the world significant contributions in several areas. One of the more interesting is the bizarre mixture of heroes, villains, mortals and gods constructed, most experts say, to explain the mysteries of life. How ironic that so much of what we know as 'Greek Mythology' was centered around the ancient city of Delphi. Ironic because the Delphi we're familiar with today had its own mythology; a Tier One supplier born from General Motors in the '90s with a similar lineup of enigmatic characters who mysteriously turned a thriving company into a bankrupt one. For the last five years the corporation has struggled until it emerged from bankruptcy late last year. Led out by Rodney O'Neal, its current CEO and President who has been around the company since its GM years, Delphi today is much leaner and much less dependent on its former #1 customer. So equipped with a variety of new clients as well as fresh innovative electronic products, Mr. O'Neal believes that Delphi is ready to reclaim what it lost over these last few years, namely sales and market share. This week on Autoline Detroit John McElroy welcomes Rodney O'Neal of Delphi Automotive. Joining John on his panel are Tom Murphy from WardsAuto.com and Carol Cain of CBS Television Detroit. Guests Rodney O'Neal, CEO & President, Delphi Automotive LLP Panel “Grand Re-Opening” Mike Manley, President and CEO, Jeep, Bob Gritzinger, AutoWeek, Scott Burgess, The Detroit News. Topic: Jeep. Fourteen months ago Chrysler was closing down. We're all familiar with the strange turns the story took. From bankruptcy to Obama to Italy and back, Chrysler survived, jobs were saved and the Pentastar was back in business. Well almost. There was that little thing about new product; it didn't have any and wasn't expected for some time. With its competitors pumping out fresh cars and trucks seemingly each month, it didn't seem like a scenario for success. But somehow, someway Chrysler cobbled together a year of better sales with that aged product and, lo and behold, today it finally has something it hasn't had in over twelve months: a new vehicle in the form of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Now it still is the "only" new vehicle available to its dealers for the near future but don't try to rain on Mike Manley's parade with that observation. Jeep's President and CEO is excited about this brand new SUV and what it says about his brand, the company's upcoming products and the future of the new Chrysler itself. For a closer look at this all new Grand Cherokee, the Jeep brand and how it fits into Sergio Marchionne's plan for Chrysler, join John McElroy as he welcomes Mike Manley as his guest on this week's Autoline Detroit. Joining John on his panel are Bob Gritzinger from AutoWeek and Scott Burgess of The Detroit News. Guests Mike Manley, President and CEO, Jeep Panel “Elbow Room” Clay Dean, General Motors, Scott Strong, Ford, Phil Zak, Hyundai North America, Larry Erickson, College for Creative Studies. Topic: Designing cars for megacities. Like it or not, we're all fast becoming neighbors. As the world's population continues to boom and more and more people congregate in urban areas we've created a phenomenon known as megacities. These are metropolitan areas around the globe with populations that exceed 10 million. New York and Los Angeles are the U.S. flagbearers in this urban Olympics which includes places like Tokyo, Mumbai, Shanghai and 20 others (so far). The development of these small population nations has a unique set of challenges in which 'movement' is perhaps the most vital. No matter how you cut it whether it comes to work, food, education or entertainment, transportation or 'movement' within the megacity is the key. How does it take place now? How will it take place in the future as these megacities continue to grow? What will move people around the area and, finally, what are automotive companies designing for that eventual future? These are just some of the provocative questions that were tackled at the 7th Annual Michelin Auto Design Panel recently held at the Detroit Athletic Club and the subject of this week's Autoline Detroit. John McElroy served as the Master of Ceremonies for this Automobile Press Association sponsored event. Joining John on the panel were: Clay Dean, director of GM Advanced Design, Scott Strong, Ford's Global Interior Design Director, Phil Zak, Chief Designer at Hyundai North America and Larry Erickson, the Transportation Design Department Chair at the College of Creative Studies. Panel “Purchasing Power” Tom Stallkamp, Ripplewood Holdings LLC, Edward Lapham, Automotive News, Neal Boudette, The Wall Street Journal. Topic: Tom Stallkamp former DaimlerChrysler executive. Buying in bulk has never been more popular. Warehouse shopping at places like Costco and Sam's Club has sold many consumers on the procurement secrets of the Big Three -- buy in quantity and the unit price goes down. Whether or not that practice is good for every household is another question, however, there's no doubting that it's a winner for the OEMs. Just ask Tom Stallkamp. The former vice chairman and board member of DaimlerChrysler worked his way to the top through Procurement and Supply. Perhaps the only Big Three CEO to ever do so. And he got there by developing innovative purchasing programs and partnerships for Chrysler like SCORE (Supplier Cost Reduction Effort) and the company's 'Extended Enterprise' concept. Today, removed from the the daily automotive grind for more than a decade, Mr. Stallkamp is an Industrial Partner with the private equity group Ripplewood Holdings, yet he remains a keen observer of the industry. This week on Autoline Detroit John McElroy welcomes Thomas Stallkamp, one of the most successful automotive leaders in the last thirty years, to the program for his analysis on the continuing upheaval in the automotive world. Joining John on his panel are Edward Lapham from Automotive News and Neal Boudette of the Wall Street Journal. Guests Tom Stallkamp, Ripplewood Holdings LLC Panel “An Incredible Ride” Victor Muller,CEO, Spyker Cars NV, David Welch, Bloomberg Businessweek, Todd Lassa, Motor Trend. Topic: How Spyker Will Save Saab. It started last year with a simple e-mail between two 'car guys.' That's when Victor Muller the creator of the small exotic luxury brand Spyker petitioned Bob Lutz, the then Vice Chairman of General Motors. Mr. Muller was interested in the corporation's plans for his childhood dream car SAAB. GM, as you'll recall, was staggering out of bankruptcy and in the middle of jettisoning brands like a Golden Retriever sheds its winter coat. Pontiac was closing while Hummer, Saturn and SAAB were all up for sale but in danger of winding down as well. That one November e-mail sparked a heart-pounding 'live-or- die' three months for this iconic Swedish brand. The "incredible ride" as Victor Muller himself describes it finally ended earlier this year with ownership firmly in the hands of this Dutch entrepreneur. On this week's show John McElroy welcomes the new owner of SAAB Victor Muller to Autoline Detroit where he'll discuss not only his suspense-filled acquisition of the car company, but more importantly, how he intends to do what GM couldn't do with the brand and that is sell cars and make money. Joining John on the panel are Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and David Welch from Bloomberg Businessweek. Guests “Platforms” Csaba Csere, driverTV.com, Eddie Alterman, Car and Driver, John Neff, Autoblog.com. Topic: The future of automotive enthusiast magazines. Like many other areas of 21st century life, the publishing world is in an upheaval. Newspapers are consolidating and closing while books are turning into digital devices and music virtually floats around the Internet for free. Yet perhaps the sector with the most on the line is the magazine; those recurrent glossy periodicals that cater to our every interest, taste and whim. The problem is that the magazine audience is getting a little long in the tooth -- to put it mildly -- yielding decreasing sales across the board. And no place is that more evident than with the automotive enthusiast magazine crowd. From Automobile to Car and Driver to Motor Trend to Road & Track, no matter the name, no matter the content, everyone is losing out to the Internet. So the multi-million dollar question is how can these grand old dames of the enthusiast set transfer the magazine experience to a new generation -- one that doesn't so much read information as it does devour it. Well, one answer may be platforms. Creating unique content specifically for a digital device. Of course that's easier said that done because then you still have to have an audience who buys it. Joining John McElroy to discuss the short and long term future of the automotive enthusiast magazines is a panel who knows the issues first hand. Csaba Csere worked for Car and Driver magazine for nearly three decades leaving as Editor-in-Chief in 2008. Eddie Alterman is charged with facing those challenges today as the current Editor-in- Chief of Car and Driver while John Neff and his popular website, Autoblog.com, is just one of the reasons that the enthusiast crowd is looking for new workable options like platforms. Panel “The Perfect Marriage” Jim Hall, 2953 Analytics, Todd Lassa, Motor Trend, Peter De Lorenzo, Autoextremist.com. Topic: Automotive Films. It happened last century. Way back, nearly a hundred years ago; a union so sweet, so hand-in-glove that to this day many of us still take it for granted. The alliance was a smart, sublime coupling of west coast imagery and Midwest manufacturing yielding the perfect marriage: the mating of cars and movies. That's right from Laurel and Hardy to Roger and Me, from the Love Bug to Bullitt, celluloid seemed made for our four-wheeled wonders. In fact, if anything its worked almost too well. From the early days of the silent films all the way up to today's 3D digital blockbusters, cars continue to be enormous stars. But with so many movies in the car film universe, whenever you start to pull together your favorites, it's a list that can careen out of control pretty "Fast and Furious." That's why here at Autoline we leave that sort of heavy lifting to the experts. Joining us for Round Two of our Autoline look at history's greatest car films are Jim Hall from 2953 Analytics, Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and Peter De Lorenzo of Autoextremist.com . From racing to comedy to Bond to cult, our panel critiques these great films and tells you why, if you have yet to see some of them, you need to put them on your own personal list. Show 1415 “Just Do It” Jean Halliday, Advertising/Marketing journalist, David Kiley, AOL Autos, Gary Topolewski, Advertising creative director. Topic: Automotive Advertising. For more than two decades those three words have branded Nike into the public consciousness helping make it the success that it continues to be. Of course having great product didn't hurt, but really, the Wieden and Kennedy advertising team who developed the famous tag line, and subsequent media campaigns, are as responsible as anyone for putting Nike into homes and locker rooms around the world. That's why behind seemingly every successful consumer goods business is an ethos of creative energy -- a team if you will -- that helps sell that product to all of us. The auto industry is no different. Its storied advertising history is not only well-documented but ingrained in our memories. The problem with that is the "history" part. Some experts believe that automotive advertising sort of flies under the radar these days trying to attract but not offend leaving the pubic many times with nothing more than a milquetoast impression. The question becomes is that the result of an overall strategy or is there something else at work? Are brand issues, globalization or perhaps the financial tumult responsible for this change of style? This week on Autoline Detroit John McElroy and his panel of experts tackle the ever-changing world of automobile advertising. Joining John to discuss what's been going on and where it all might be headed are advertising journalist Jean Halliday, former ad man turned commentator David Kiley with AOL Autos and an award-winning advertising veteran who is still on the front lines Gary Topolewski. Panel “Soapbox” Bernard Charles, President & CEO, Dassault Systemes, Drew Winter, Wardsauto.com, Christopher Sawyer, Cars In Context. Topic: Product Lifecycle Management. The next time you're in a store take a walk down the detergent aisle and check out the dozens of different products. Some of the packages that look so comfortable on the shelf may have actually started life as an avatar -- a virtual product in an equally digital grocery store. That may be news when it comes to consumer products but automakers have been engaged with 3-dimension computer design for some time now. In fact this virtual universe allows the manufacturers of these complex machines to take them from concept to clearance -- as it were -- through a process called PLM or Product Lifecycle Management. Not only is it a huge cost saver when it comes to time and materials, but it also gives designers, engineers and marketers alike, 21st Century advantages that their earlier counterparts could only imagine. This week on Autoline the top executive at one of the world's pre- eminent PLM companies joins John to discuss the process and how it continues to revolutionize the auto industry. Bernard Charles, President and CEO of Dassault Systemes talks about the impact of PLM on all of us and how Dassault is out to bring the 3D experience to our daily lives. Joining John and Mr. Charles on the panel are Drew Winter from WardsAuto.com and Christopher Sawyer of Cars In Context. Guests Bernard Charles, President & CEO, Dassault Systemes Panel “Habits” Bennie Fowler, Group VP, Global Quality, Ford, Bryce Hoffman, The Detroit News, Brent Snavely, Detroit Free Press. Topic: Ford Quality. They're defined as acquired behavior patterns that are uniquely involuntary. Known to most of the planet as habits, they come from two camps. Some can be bad if it's a personal glitch or foible while others might be good if it leads to a desired end product. Especially if that product is quality. After all, it was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who was first to recognize some 2,300 years ago that "Quality is not an act, it is a habit." Unfortunately, during the late 20th century, American car makers weren't reading much Aristotle, or so it seemed. Today we're not sure if the Greek Philosopher has become required auto industry reading or not, but we can say with certainty that U.S. quality numbers are up and up significantly. And on this week's Autoline, one of the executives in charge of that change joins John McElroy and his panel to tell us how they're doing it. Bennie Fowler has been on the front lines of this issue for more than three decades. From his days at General Motors in the '70s and '80s into his early years at Ford, he observed the mistakes, the lack of quality, the bad habits if you will, that the American OEMs had eased into. For the last four years he has been in charge of reversing that trend at Ford. And if you look at the numbers, he, and many others in the company, appear to be doing just that. Joining John on this week's panel are Brent Snavely with Detroit Free Press and Bryce Hoffman of The Detroit News. Guests Bennie Fowler, Group VP, Global Quality, Ford Panel “Knots Landing” Dan Knott, Senior VP, Purchasing, Chrysler, Eric Mayne, WardsAuto.com, Daniel Howes, The Detroit News. Topic: Chrysler Rebuilds Supplier Relationships. When it comes to television dramas since the '70s, few have been more consistent than life within the California cul-de-sac called Seaview Circle. And when it comes to automotive drama over that same time frame who has been more compelling than Auburn Hills-based Chrysler? On the precipice of bankruptcy one moment, onto salvation and success the next, then through a merger, a sale and then back to bankruptcy; if this had been a show on CBS it would have an armoire of EMMYs. Instead, today it has a mercurial Italian owner and a dubious future. And that's the GOOD NEWS! Welcome to the "new, newer, newest" iteration of Chrysler, the smallest of the historic Big Three. The challenges of this company are too numerous to list here, but obviously one of the biggest is building quality cars and trucks. And these days you're not going to do that without good suppliers. But with the way that community has been treated by the last two regimes, you sometimes wonder who would still want to do business with Chrysler. Enter Dan Knott, 20-year veteran of the Chrysler culture, and the new head of Purchasing. Mr. Knott joins John McElroy and his panel to discuss the new way of doing business with Chrysler. One that he hopes takes them back to the pre-Daimler days of strong vendor relationships and great Chrysler products. Joining John on his panel are Eric Mayne from WardsAuto.com and Daniel Howes, columnist from The Detroit News. Guests Dan Knott, Senior VP, Purchasing, Chrysler Panel “Stop Your Sobbing” Mike Colleran, SAAB, Todd Lassa, Motor Trend, Jeff Bennett, The Wall Street Journal. Topic: Reinventing SAAB. You may recognize the headline above as a famous '60s song written by the Kinks. However, when GM exited from bankruptcy last year it almost turned that hallowed tune on its head. With brands being jettisoned left and right, "Stop Your SAABBING" -- recorded by Big Ed & The Board -- seemed like the song Detroit was ready to export to Trollhattan, Sweden, home of the iconic motor company SAAB. And as word of its impending doom grew you could practically hear the cries from the Swedish automaker's loyal community for a white knight to save their favorite cars. But instead of resolution came the teeter- totering spectacle where one moment the the brand was saved by some international buyer, while the next the doors were being locked for good. Yet in the end, Dutch businessman Victor Muller rode in to save the day on a white hand-built Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder and stopped all the potential sobbing with his purchase of SAAB. And now the resurrection begins. But how can a car company that sold less than 9,000 vehicles last year in America be reborn? For those answers and details on the plan itself join John McElroy and his Autoline panel -- Todd Lassa of Motor Trend and Jeff Bennett from the Wall Street Journal -- as they talk SAAB with Mike Colleran the man in charge. Guests Mike Colleran, President & COO, SAAB Cars NA Panel “Reputation” Don Esmond, Senior VP Automotive Operations, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Topic: Toyota's Reputation. Have you ever noticed the way pop culture treats a "good" reputation? We all want one but it hardly seems to get talked about. Take '80s music for instance where both Joan Jett & the Blackhearts along with college favorites the dBs both scored hits with their separate (and totally different) songs entitled "Bad Reputation." Now we all may want good to triumph over evil but is there anyone out there humming the tune "Good Reputation?" It almost harkens back to the simple journalism barometer of a dog biting a man. Of course that's not news. But switch the incisors around and suddenly you've got readers, viewers and P.E.T.A. probably jumping all over the man biting dog story. That's sort of the situation Toyota finds itself in today. It spent decades building a rock solid reputation for its vehicle on the foundation of quality, care and customer service which it has seen start to crumble in a mere six months. Now that isn't to say there aren't some problems with the cars, in fact problems the company might've and should've caught earlier. But at this point the question becomes what happens to that reputation. It was once sterling and now it's teetering over a pool of muck. How does Toyota reclaim what it once had? On this week's Special Edition of Autoline Detroit John McElroy sits down with longtime Toyota executive Don Esmond. Mr. Esmond has been out talking directly to the dealer body about their vehicles along with the problems they're facing in Washington, Tokyo and with that heretofore loyal customer base. He talks candidly about mistakes that were made, lessons learned and getting that "good" reputation back. Show 1409 “Hollywood Drivin'” Jim Hall, 2953 Analytics, Todd Lassa, Motor Trend, Peter De Lorenzo, Autoextremist.com. Topic: Automotive Films. In today's high-tech world, it may be hard to believe but there was once a time in America where the best place to enjoy a movie was in your car. This loose-knit community of film-goers would usually meet on a weekend night in a parking lot full of poles known as a Drive- In. Most are now gone, replaced by so many strip malls and condominiums. However, the yearning for that life lives on in many. Well, Autoline may not be able to duplicate the experience in its entirety, but this week's show transforms itself into your own personal drive-in as we feature films "About, Starring and Containing" cars. Our panel of auto experts turned film critics reveal their cinematic interpretations of "The Good" (Bullitt), "The Bad" (Faster, Pussycat Kill Kill) and "The Ugly" (The Betsy), along with a fascinating list of films scattered in-between. Join John McEloy as he goes to the movies with Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics, Todd Lassa from Motor Trend and Peter De Lorenzo Autoextremist.com for a look at Hollywood's love and obsession with cars. Show 1408 “Tiger Woods or Tylenol” Maria Leonhauser, Franco Public Relations, Paul Haelterman, CSM Worldwide, Christie Nordhielm, Univ. of Michigan. Topic: Grading Toyota's Public Relations. A dizzying number of consumer products have been introduced over the last thirty years. And though thousands have succeeded over that time few have achieved the Mount Olympus of brand recognition that translates into the multi-million dollar world of annual sales. And even fewer from that list have survived a potential public relations nightmare that backed the brand into a corner. For the last three months we've been watching the Tiger Woods brand undergo such scrutiny, while 28-years ago Johnson & Johnson faced an even greater disaster with its Tylenol over-the-counter medication. Tylenol, by all accounts, became the gold standard of resuscitating a brand with great corporate public relations. The same can't be said for the Tiger Woods brand though the entire story is yet to be written. Meanwhile Toyota, long one of the most solid brands throughout the world, is currently at a similar crossroads. For the last six months the company has experienced one bad story about its products after another. Accelerators, brakes, cars and recalls have contributed to the public waterboarding of this once proud seemingly indestructible brand. And it doesn't help that the hits keep coming. So going forward from today, what path will the company take? What are the challenges it faces in public relations, in marketing and with the automotive world itself? This week Autoline hosts three experts from these disparate fields to talk turkey to and about the Toyota brand, the Toyota company and the Toyota bottom line. Joining John McElroy to do just that are Maria Leonhauser from the world of public relations, Paul Haelterman an authority in auto analysis and Christie Nordhielm who gave us "The Big Picture," literally, with her book on marketing challenges and solutions for companies like Toyota. Panel “The Eyes Have It” Jean Halliday, Advertising/Marketing journalist, David Kiley, Icon Creative Technologies, Gary Topolewski, Advertising creative director. Topic: Automotive Super Bowl Ads. Whether it's in the U.S. Senate, the California State House or your own city council, any simple up or down tally where "the ayes have it" can have a significant impact on voters' lives. However, when it comes to having an impact in the world of advertising, there is no bigger forum than the Super Bowl. Especially when there are 106 million potential consumers watching. Truly a place where the "eyes" indeed have it. So for 44 consecutive years businesses have put their products in this spotlight of this special day hoping for a great ROI for the money they spend. And throughout the years automakers have been right there on Super Bowl Sunday trying their best to create the splash that translates to sales. This year six OEMs braved the nearly $3-million dollar per 30-second advertising Olympics with one, Hyundai, seemingly saturating the entire game. So did Hyundai or the other five -- Audi, Dodge, Honda, Kia, or VW -- get their money's worth? Is it even possible? Joining John McElroy to try to answer these questions is a panel of automotive advertising experts. Journalist Jean Halliday has written about the industry for years while advertising analyst David Kiley not only covered the business but also worked in it as well. They are joined by an award-winning creative director who is still in the trenches, Gary Topolewski, waiting to produce his next Super Bowl spot. Panel “Nervous System” Dennis Pietrowski, RDA Group, Jeff Green, Bloomberg News, Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press. Topic: Quality & reliability. From the stub of a toe to the bite of a mosquito, our bodies rely on a complex network of neurons that tell our brain what's going on. And like our bodies, each car has a pseudo nervous system which controls everything from the steering to satellite radio. For all manufacturers the quality of their cars and the viability of their systems are extremely important. However, for the world's number one automaker Toyota, its been nothing short of the holy grail. Quality and reliability were once the keys to the design, production and selling of its products. But right now several of Toyota's top models are experiencing what could best be parenthetically described as a severe neurological disorder. This week on Autoline John McElroy examines the latest reliability and quality woes facing Toyota and what some competitors like Ford have been doing to improve its numbers in those categories. Panel “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” Dan Weiss, Center for American Progress, Fred Smith, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Ron Cogan, Green Car Journal. Topic: U.S. Energy Policy. Many know this classic 1939 film pitted an everyman Jimmy Stewart against the rich and powerful under the U.S Capitol Dome. And though more than 70 years have passed, even the writers of this academy-award work of fiction couldn't have imagined that Washington would be even more corpulent and confusing in 2010. And one of the best examples of this weighty indecision can be found in what passes, or doesn't pass, for the nation's energy policy. Solar, Wind and Shale are just a few power options that we've added to the mix over the years while natural gas, electric and hydrogen hint at what may be driving our cars and trucks down the road: yet today no one knows for sure what's best and where we're going. So the question remains: what is our policy and who is driving it? And where better to try to get a handle on what's going on than "inside the beltway" as they say, than by paying a visit to our nation's capitol itself. This week Autoline presents its own version of "Mr. McElroy Goes to Washington" from the floor of the Washington Convention Center. There John is joined by two members of what are known as NGOs or Non-governmental organizations along with the publisher of a cutting-edge automotive periodical to discuss everything from off-shore drilling to the EPA. Guests “The Sun Also Rises” Jim Farley, Group Vice President Global Marketing, Ford Motor Company. Topic: Ford's marketing strategy. After a decade of reporting everywhere from local streets to foreign wars, Ernest Hemingway wrote and published his first novel "The Sun Also Rises." And though you might think we chose this title to turn a clever phrase regarding this week's guest, it has more to do with what the book wasn't named...at least in the United States. With the novel focused partially on traveling in Europe in the 1920s, Hemingway originally titled the book "Fiesta." Of course it was changed here in America but used in several countries throughout the continent. And how appropriate for this week's guest who chose to make a splash here in the U.S. recently with a European car called, ironically enough, "Fiesta." Ford's Global Marketing guru Jim Farley has been turning the Blue Oval every which way trying to draw attention to the new crop of critically-acclaimed products it has been putting out and it's been working on. With a sweep of the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards earlier this month with Fusion & Transit Connect, and the Fiesta and Focus on the way, they might not be holding a party down in Dearborn quite yet, but clearly Ford is on the rise. Guests Jim Farley, Group VP Global Marketing, Ford Show 1403 “Getting Better” Mike Jackson, AutoNation, Susan Docherty, General Motors, John Casesa, Casesa Shapiro Group. Topic: Interviews from the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Throughout the sixties the "sweet and savory" song writing from the Lennon & McCartney partnership produced lines that emphasized the beautiful schizophrenia of life. That's why this week it didn't take much to imagine that the good folks at the Detroit Auto Dealers Association might've been recalling the 2009 NAIAS with the Beatles' chorus "I've got to admit it's getting better...it can't get no worse" echoing in their ears. Yet the good news is true to the song, this year's edition is indeed "getting better" thanks to more OEM booths, more journalists and a heck of a lot of more smiles even though they -- the smiles -- are probably still bordering on the "cautiously optimistic" type. This week on Autoline Detroit John McElroy talks to three automotive professionals from disparate parts of the industry -- wholesale, retail and analytical -- to hear what they have to say about not only the 2010 North American International Auto Show, but where the next twelve months will take us. Guests “Crawlin' From the Wreckage” Guy Gordon, WDIV, Sarah Webster, Detroit Free Press, Jim Hall, 2953 Analytics. Topic: Detroit Auto Show preview. Who would've predicated thirty years ago that a little known new wave song from England's Dave Edmunds would prove to be the perfect theme for the 2010 North American International Auto Show? Last January's edition of the world's most important auto show was less about cars, trucks and crossovers as it was about bailouts, Obama and bankruptcies. Add to that the strange Kabuki dance around the attempted restoration of Cobo Hall -- the show's longtime site -- and the '09 show had all the panache of sportscaster Howard Cosell's 1975 Variety show. But what a difference a year makes... "Crawlin' from the wreckage, into a brand new car" Just as the song's chorus suggests a rebirth, the 2010 NAIAS is likewise being resurrected. Manufacturers are again investing in their booths, prodigal sons have returned and the show is even recharging the career of '80s singer Eddy Grant with its "Electric Avenue" display. So watch this week's Autoline Detroit for an in-depth preview of all that is going on at this year's North American International Auto Show. Panel “The Result of Care: Part Two” Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com, Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press. Topic: Nominees for the North American Truck of the Year. No matter the vocation it's a struggle to achieve quality or to be the best. Well, imagine trying to define it. Some write complex tomes containing various recipes which is fine for a Debate Team but hardly applicable to everyday life. Others like philosopher Robert Pirsig take a sleeker, more modern day approach. He believes the best or highest quality can be defined simply as producing whatever by "the result of care." So if philosophers, lit experts and big thinkers battle over meanings, how do you come up with a standard that means "the best?" Well if you're the jurors of the North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards (NACTOY) you have a criteria you work from. Sure there are still disagreements, arguments and fights over who is "more right" but that's the beauty of the award: subjectivity to the max. And on this week's Autoline John McElroy and his panel discuss those fantastic sparks inside, outside and around the vehicle that made them go WOW! Joining John to discuss the finalists for Truck of the Year are fellow jurors Michelle Krebs from Edmunds.com and Mark Phelan of the Detroit Free Press.	i don't know
5. This morning saw actress and nutjob Elizabeth Taylor pass away at age 79. How many times was she married during her life?	Cele\|bitchy \| Elizabeth Taylor passes away at the age of 79 Elizabeth Taylor passes away at the age of 79 Deaths , Elizabeth Taylor Damn, this is a sad way to start a Wednesday morning. Elizabeth Taylor has passed away at the age of 79. She died this morning, in LA, and the statement given to ABC News says that she was surrounded by her four children. She was a three time Oscar winner – she won Best Actress Oscars for Butterfield 8 and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and she also received an honorary Oscar for her humanitarian work. Go to IMDB and check out her filmography – she made some really, really good movies, and she was a much better actress than most people gave her credit for. Beyond her filmography, Elizabeth was known for many, many marriages, especially to Mike Todd and Richard Burton. She was also on the forefront of the campaign against HIV/AIDS, and she was one of the first Hollywood stars to raise money for AIDS research. Even in her passing, she asks people to donate to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation in lieu of flowers. Oscar winning actress Elizabeth Taylor died today at Los Angeles, Calif.’s Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She was 79-years-old. “She was surrounded by her children: Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton,” Taylor’s publicist, Sally Morrison, said in a statement. “My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love,” Michael Wilding said in a statement. “Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts.” In addition to her children, Taylor is survived by 10 grand children and four great grandchildren. Morrison said that a private family funeral will be held later this week. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and said that those wanting to send personal messages can log on to Taylor’s official Facebook page. Taylor, a two-time Academy Award-winning actress who in later life became notorious for her seven marriages and sometimes eccentric behavior, had reported health problems in recent years and appeared frail in public appearances. Six weeks ago, she was hospitalized with congestive heart failure. Though she had recently suffered a number of complications, her condition had stabilized and it was hoped that she would be able to return home. Taylor reported in October 2009 that she was having a heart procedure done. Via Twitter, she said it was “very new and involves repairing my leaky valve using a clip device, without open heart surgery so that my heart will function better.” The actress’ past health setbacks included a fall from a horse during one of her early film shoots, bouts with pneumonia and skin cancer, a tracheotomy, treatment for alcohol and painkiller addictions, and lung, hip, brain and heart surgeries. She has had anywhere from 30 to 40 surgeries, according to biographers. [From ABC News ] Over Christmas, I read Furious Love , which is the amazing story of the romance of Elizabeth and Richard Burton, from their early courtship on the set of Cleopatra (while both were married), to the last letter Burton wrote to Elizabeth, the night that he died. I think in Elizabeth’s mind, she never stopped loving Richard or tending to her memories of him, and I hope they are together today, somewhere. Maybe having a drink with Mike Todd in heaven. Photos courtesy of WENN.	eight
Known as the Thane of Fife, what character does Macduff kill in the final act of a famous play by William Shakespeare?	Elizabeth Taylor: 8 marriages, 50 movies, 2 Oscars, 100 operations, a £360m fortune \| Daily Mail Online In 79 fabulous years, she looked death in the eye countless times and lived to tell the tale. But yesterday, after a life as dramatic as any movie script, Elizabeth Taylor's battle was over. She died of heart failure in hospital, with her four children at her side. And when the New York Times paid tribute to Hollywood's last movie goddess, it had to admit that Miss Taylor had actually outlived the obituary writer by six years. The Oscar-winning actress spent the final six weeks of her life at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles. She had been admitted after her weight plummeted to less than 98lb and the heart failure diagnosed in 2004 threatened to overwhelm her. Mesmerising: Elizabeth Taylor, pictured here on the set of Suddenly, Last Summer, has died aged 79 A friend described her as 'tiny and fighting for every breath' and added: 'She still felt she had so much to live for. 'But she was happy with her life at the end. She was happy with her family. She was at peace.' Miss Taylor's publicist said she died peacefully, watched over by the children from three of her seven husbands – Michael and Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd and Maria Burton. 'My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humour and love,' said Michael, 57. 'We know, quite simply, the world is a better place for Mum having lived in it.' He said the family, which includes ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, were 'incredibly proud' of her 'remarkable body of work in film, her success as a businesswoman, and her brave advocacy in the fight against HIV/Aids'. A private family funeral is expected to be held this week. Miss Taylor's family is expected to share much of her £360 million fortune although friends say she is leaving some of it to her Aids charity. They may also benefit from the proceeds of handwritten diaries she had reportedly discussed publishing. Never one to miss a party, she had celebrated her 79th birthday with family and friends a month early as she had to go into hospital ten days later. She had asked fans to pray for her as she faced her latest health hurdle. One of her last Twitter messages read simply: 'I'll let you know when it is all over. Love you, Elizabeth.' Miss Taylor had been plagued by health problems all her life. She estimated she had almost died four times. In one of her last interviews she said her first memory was of 'pain'. She was born with scoliosis, or curvature of the spine, and suffered back problems which were partly to blame for her subsequent addiction to painkillers and alcohol. But she never gave up. She had both hips replaced and beat skin cancer,a brain tumour, diabetes, seizures and a stroke. She endured an estimated 70 illnesses and had 100 operations, 20 of them major surgery. A child star who managed to make the transition to adult roles, she won two Oscars – for Butterfield 8 and Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? However, her 50-strong list of film credits tends to be overshadowed by her list of seven husbands, most notably Richard Burton, whom she married and divorced twice. In 2000, she was thrilled to become Dame Elizabeth Taylor in recognition of her services to film. She once described herself as a 'living example of what people can go through and survive'. Her last show: Elizabeth was snapped celebrating her 79th birthday a month early in January before she was admitted to hospital a few days after Tributes: Flowers are placed on Elizabeth Taylor's star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame Beautiful, earthy and professionally brilliant; The extraordinary life of Elizabeth Taylor, last of Hollywood's great goddesses By Philip Norman Iconic: Elizabeth Taylor with Richard Burton in Cleoptra. He was the love of her life and she was to marry him twice The time was 2am and the voice of Elizabeth Taylor rang around the hotel lobby in Salzburg, Austria, as brimful of hellcat fury as any tempestuous heroine she had ever played on screen. ‘Richard!’ she screamed at her fifth husband, Richard Burton. ‘Will you stop drinking and come to bed this minute! Your voice is ricocheting all over this hotel.’ It was a snowy night in 1968, and Taylor, acknowledged to be the world’s most beautiful woman, hardly looked the part at that moment. Her hair was a tangled mess, her Cleopatra-style eye make-up had gone smudgy. She wore a tatty black leather coat over a tarty red chiffon nightdress, and was barefoot. Burton still wore a Nazi officer’s uniform for his role in the Alistair MacLean war story Where Eagles Dare. After the day’s filming, he had stayed up drinking vintage brandy with companions, including me, while Taylor had retired to bed. To complete the drama of her reappearance, Burton was being threatened with a handgun by a pushy expat American he’d just told to get lost. The gunman now looked on, as dumbfounded and dazzled as the rest of us. ‘Either you come up now,’ Taylor hissed at Burton, ‘or don’t bother to, ever again.’ ‘Aah, get away,’ snarled Burton, reaching for the brandy bottle. ‘Get away yourself,’ Taylor hissed. And, clutching her leather coat more tightly around her, she stomped back to their suite on her own. Next morning on location, however, all was sweetness and light again. Taylor called Burton ‘Boofy’, he called her ‘Ocean’, and between takes they canoodled like lovestruck teenagers. ‘My dear, you light up the set,’ the film director gushed at Taylor. ‘She also lights up my heart,’ Burton said gallantly. As an unworldly 24-year-old, I spent several days with the couple, learning more about Taylor, both as an actress and a person, than most of her obituaries can tell. Determined: Taylor in National Velvet (1944). At 10, she set her heart on the lead role but was told she was too short. After weeks of punishing exercise and a weight-gaining diet, she convinced the director she'd gained three inches in height - and got the part For a magazine profile I started out researching for someone else but ended up writing, I also talked to her parents, Francis and Sara, her closest friends, such as the actor Roddy McDowall, her lawyer and a series of directors and old-time Hollywood moguls, some of whom adored her and some who most definitely did not. Being with her on such intimate terms has left an indelible memory. There was, for instance, the moment at dinner in Salzburg when she turned and fixed me with those amazing violet eyes, whose double row of black lashes never needed enhancement by any mascara brush. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share As she smiled at me, I felt suddenly robbed of breath, as if my Adam’s apple had become double its usual size. A moment later, she was regaling the table with a bawdy story about the producer Daryl F. Zanuck. Taylor was a star of the hugest magnitude; the greatest Hollywood name ever to come out of Britain; a sexual icon to rival Garbo or Monroe. But throughout the craziest fantasies and excesses of her career, she remained always primarily a creature of flesh and hot, hot blood - not a silver planet twinkling coldly in the firmament, but a down-to-earth and earthy woman. She was the last of the great movie goddesses, thrilling and intriguing the pre-rock star, pre-TV soap world of the Fifties and Sixties with a love life and lifestyle that any Hollywood story-editor would have rejected as impossibly far-fetched. Luminous: Elizabeth Taylor as a girl in 1934 (left) and already a child star in the film National Velvet in 1944 Even in these celebrity-overdosed times, with a new glamour icon rocketing to fame every other minute, Taylor’s eight marriages, her jewels, spending-sprees, tantrums and epic illnesses remain the stuff of imperishable legend. She was born - to American parents living in Britain - in 1932 in Hampstead, North London, on a modest street not far from where I live now. Her mother, Sara, had been a minor stage actress; her tall, handsome father, Francis, was an art dealer. Even as a tiny tot, Elizabeth had an unsettling, exotic beauty, almost as though the head of a mature woman had been grafted onto the body of a child. On the outbreak of war in 1939, her father moved his art dealership to Beverly Hills, California, starting a gallery whose clients came to include actor Edward G. Robinson and writer-director Billy Wilder. Sara, a ‘stage mother’ of the pushiest kind, steered her violet-eyed ¬little girl into a contract with MGM studios, whose patriarchal boss, Louis B. Mayer, boasted owning ‘more stars than there are in Heaven’. Taylor’s drive to succeed was the equal of her mother’s. After a taste of fame in Lassie Come Home aged ten, 12-year-old Elizabeth set her heart on the lead role in National Velvet, a romance with a horse racing background, but was told she was too short for the role. After several weeks of punishing exercise and weight-gaining diet, she went back to the director and managed to persuade him she’d gained three inches in height. Short-lived romance: In 1950, aged 18, she married Nicky Hilton, a deceptively charming young man whose father, Conrad, founded the Hilton hotel-chain. Nicky was an abusive drunk who battered his young bride so brutally, she lost the baby she was carrying Child stars then seldom made a comfortable transition to adult roles — witness Shirley Temple — but Taylor managed it effortlessly. With her virginal beauty went a voluptuous figure that initially worried the self-censoring movie bosses. Officials known as B.I.s (bust-inspectors) patrolled her sets, ordering higher-cut dresses if too much cleavage was visible. At 18, she married Nicky Hilton, a good-looking and deceptively charming young man whose father, Conrad, had founded the Hilton hotel group. The smiling charmer proved to be an abusive drunk who battered his young bride so brutally that she lost the baby she had been carrying. Divorcing Hilton, Elizabeth rebounded into the arms of British actor Michael Wilding, a man 20 years her senior. The five-year marriage produced two sons, Michael and Christopher, but, as Taylor herself admitted, it was more brother-sister relationship than love match. In 1957, she dumped Wilding for the American producer Mike Todd, a stocky, swashbuckling figure then preparing to launch his epic screen version of Jules Verne’s Around The World In 80 Days. Todd was Taylor’s ideal man - powerful, protective and irresistibly masculine. He adored her in the uncomplicated way she craved, treating her like bone china, showering her with jewels and furs, telephoning her every day no matter where in the world he was. Together they had a daughter, Liza, although complications during the birth required Taylor to undergo surgery to prevent any further pregnancies. In March 1958, Todd took off on a business trip aboard the private aircraft he had named ‘The Lucky Liz’ in his wife’s honour. Before he left, he couldn’t stop kissing her goodbye. ‘I’m afraid something’s going to happen,’ he told her. ‘I’m too happy.’ Scorching: Taylor smouldered on screen including in the 1958 classic Cat On A Hot Tin Roof Legends: Taylor with Richard Burton on their first wedding day in 1964. He was to be her fifth and sixth husband That night, en route for Kansas City, The Lucky Liz crashed in flames, killing Todd and everyone aboard. Taylor was traumatised by his loss for years afterwards. Painkillers and drugs, which she’d begun using as a child star, were her only means of assuaging the pain, along with alcohol. On screen, she was Hollywood’s nearest answer to smouldering European movie goddesses such as Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren. Her portrayal of the sexually yearning Maggie the Cat in Tennessee Williams’s Cat On A Hot Tin Roof and of Gloria Wandrous in Butterfield 8 (for which she won her first Oscar in 1960) fuelled the fantasies of men the world over. But she also proved herself an actress of extraordinary depth and range, notably in Giant — a Texan epic presaging TV’s Dallas — in which she co-starred with heart-throb James Dean. In May 1959 she married her fourth husband, the crooner Eddie Fisher, who had been best man at her wedding to Todd. The pair had caused a scandal when Fisher left his then wife Debbie Reynolds for Elizabeth. A year later, Taylor was filming Cleopatra, a historical epic so long-drawn-out and horrendously expensive that it would come near to bankrupting its producers. She was paid a then record-breaking $1m for her role. Cast as Mark Antony, the Egyptian queen’s Roman lover, was Welsh actor Richard Burton, until then better known on the stage than the vulgar screen. Much married: Taylor arrives at London Airport with her fourth husband, singer Eddie Fisher, and her sons Michael, six, and Christopher, four, children of her former marriage to Michael Wilding Taylor and Burton’s first scene together in Cleopatra produced instant, fizzing sexual chemistry. They held their first screen kiss for so long that the director called out sarcastically: ‘I’m sorry to interrupt you two... but it’s time for lunch.’ Their public love affair caused a scandal since Taylor was still married to Eddie Fisher and Burton to his well-known and popular first wife, Sybil. The then Pope even took a hand, castigating Taylor for stealing another woman’s husband. Married in 1964, ‘the Burtons’ as they became known, created a dazzling screen and stage partnership, appearing together in Shakespeare’s The Taming Of The Shrew and Marlow’s Dr Faustus. Unable to have children of their own, the couple adopted a little girl named Maria from a Munich orphanage. In 1966, they played warring husband and wife in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? for which Taylor won a second Oscar. Their extravagance was like nothing the post-war world had seen before. Burton bought Taylor the world’s largest diamond for a then staggering £1.1 million, as well as other jewels, furs, old masters and a luxury yacht. I was once shown over the yacht, and invited to experience the sensation of rolling on the Burtons’ circular bed. Longevity: Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Zee and Co in 1972 in which she played opposite Micahel Caine Taylor seemed to commit herself wholeheartedly to Burton, even learning Welsh (which she would use to swear at him during their rows) and valiantly trying to curb her natural chaotic untidiness. When I met her parents, they told me in amazement how, since meeting Burton, she’d got into the habit of emptying ashtrays. But the grand passion was sabotaged by drink and by Burton’s growing bitterness at having compromised his talent by accepting second-rate film roles, as he thought, to keep Taylor in the luxury she demanded. As disenchantment grew, his pet name for her changed from ‘Ocean’ to ‘Tubby’. Having turned their marriage into a real-life Edward Albee hell, they divorced in 1974, remarried in 1975 but parted for good a year later. Burton died in 1984 from a brain haemorrhage. Marriage number seven was to John Warner, a rather dull American politician then seeking election to the Senate. Taylor threw herself into the role of Washington wife, even selling the diamond Richard Burton had given her to fund Warner’s election campaign. Style switch: Elizabeth Taylor went through a series of image changes following her marriage to eighth husband, builder Larry Fortensky in 1991. But she wasn't accustomed to men like him. As sweet as he was he couldn't adjust to her world and she couldn't adjust to his No longer in demand in Hollywood, her weight ballooned alarmingly. Seeing the cruel photographs of her with Warner in the late Seventies, I remembered her father’s innocent observation — long before anyone knew about ‘eating disorders’ — that she would routinely eat five hot dogs with bacon, one after another. Warner and Taylor were divorced in 1982, and two years later came the strangest attachment of all when she began a friendship with Michael Jackson, then the world’s most famous and most bizarre rock megastar. The 52-year-old Hollywood matriarch and the 26-year-old, white-gloved moonwalker were reportedly trembling on the brink of matrimony. Taylor insisted that, for all his fixations on childhood and his obsessive facial restructuring, Jackson was the most ‘normal’ person she’d ever met. This even though Jackson at one point considered altering his appearance yet again to become a living replica of Taylor as a young girl in her 1944 film National Velvet. Always a prey to dramatic illnesses and accidents, she suffered grievous ill health as the years advanced, almost dying from viral pneumonia in 1990 and developing chronic osteo-arthritis that necessitated two hip operations and left her more than ever reliant on painkilling drugs and alcohol. Friendship: The actress had a very close relationship with the late Michael Jackson. They are seen here at Liza Minnelli's wedding to David Gest in New York, 2002 In 1988, while drying out at the Betty Ford Clinic, she lost her heart again, to a construction worker named Larry Fortensky, 21 years her junior, who was tackling his own alcoholism. They married in 1991 at Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch, with ex-presidents Reagan and Ford among the guests and Jackson picking up the $1 million tab. As a thank you, Taylor bought the singer an elephant named Gipsy. The relationship between former goddess and her ‘bit of rough’ lasted a surprising eight years, although for most of that time Fortensky looked more like Taylor’s bodyguard than her husband. He was eventually dismissed with a pay-off of £1.3m and returned to his job as a construction worker with, doubtless, a few stories to tell the other lads on site. Honour: Taylor was made a Dame at Buckingham Palace in 2000 So why did Taylor keeping marrying until eventually scoring higher than Henry VIII? Her old friend Roddy McDowall thought it pointed to a deeply old-fashioned nature. ‘When Elizabeth falls for someone, she doesn’t just fall into bed with them,’ McDowall told me. ‘She has to make it legitimate.’ In 1997, a year after her divorce from Fortensky, Taylor underwent a successful operation on a benign brain tumour, emerging with her once-luxuriant dark curly hair now close-cropped and white. Her movie and TV career behind her (except for occasional forays like voicing baby Maggie in The Simpsons cartoon), she no longer needed a Mike Todd or Burton to buy her diamond. A range of perfumes marketed in her name had boosted a fortune then estimated at £100m. She became a tireless campaigner for Aids awareness and, by her own gutsy refusal to go under, despite her mounting health problems, a symbol of courage for women everywhere. In 2000, she paid her first visit to her homeland for many years to be invested as a Dame by the Queen and be honoured by the UK film industry. Though often confined to a wheelchair, she still managed to look spectacular and seem as down-to-earth as ever (despite having sent an advance demand that her Dorchester Hotel suite be repainted violet to match her eyes). ‘A Dame?’ she echoed to one interviewer in amazement. ‘I didn’t think I was the kind of person that happened to.’ Close: Elizabeth Taylor holds the hand of her good friend Jason Winters in 2007. She was said to be contemplating a ninth wedding with the LA property developer, 28 years her junior Thereafter, she became increasingly frail and wheelchair-bound, and behind the lavender-drenched walls of her Bel Air mansion, she came increasingly to resemble Norma Desmond, Sunset Boulevard’s has-been screen goddess. Indeed, Desmond’s great snarl of defiance in the movie could equally have been written for Taylor. ‘I’m still big. It’s the pictures that got small.’ The years may have been remorselessly advancing, but her famous sexual magnetism still flickered fitfully. She was even said to be contemplating a ninth wedding, this time to an LA property developer named Jason Winters, 28 years her junior. Handle A disaffected landscape gardener who left her employment also claimed she had demanded sex from her bisexual French butler, who was wont to refer to her disparagingly as ‘the old trampoline’. To refute claims that her formidable list of ailments now included Alzheimer’s disease, she appeared on Larry King’s TV talk show in 2006, dressed in a lime green and purple kaftan and sporting, as she liked to say, ‘more bling than J-Lo’. As a further sock in the eye to would-be obituaritists, she flew to Hawaii and had herself winched into the water in a cage to enjoy the experience of swimming with sharks. Burton remained the love of her life, run a close second by Mike Todd. She often spoke of being buried near Burton’s childhood home in South Wales even though the actor’s grave is actually in Switzerland, where he died in 1984. Indeed, it was as one half of the world’s most glamorous double act, Burton and Taylor - or Antony and Cleopatra - that she was at her most beautiful, most spectacularly impossible and professionally brilliant. I often think back to having dinner with the two of them in Salzberg in 1968, how kind they were to a young journalist and the moment Taylor’s amazing violet eyes turned directly on me. Even that 43-year-old memory still takes my breath away. Frail: Taylor attends the annual a benefit in Santa Monica in 2009. Her health had been poor for years	i don't know
In 1956, which country became the first Islamic republic in the world?	The Constitution of 1956 You are at: Home » Timeline » 1947 - 1958 »The Constitution of 1956 The Constitution of 1956 1947 - 1958 , 1955 - 1958 Events , Events After assuming charge as Prime Minister, Chaudhry Muhammad Ali along with his team worked day and night to formulate a constitution for Pakistan. His efforts led to the first constitution that was enforced in the country on March 23, 1956. Pakistan’s status as a dominion ended and the country was declared an Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Thereupon the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan became the interim National Assembly and Governor General Iskander Mirza was sworn in as the first President of Pakistan. The Constitution of 1956 consisted of 234 articles, which were divided into 13 parts and 6 schedules. One of the main features of the Constitution was its Islamic character. The Islamic provisions were contained in the directive principles of the state policy. Along with other Islamic provisions in the Constitution, the president, who was required to be a Muslim of at least 40 years of age, was to set up an organization for Islamic research with the aim of establishing a true Islamic society. The Objectives Resolution was, however, only made the preamble of the Constitution and not included in its main text. The Constitution vested the executive authority of the President in the Federation. The President had the discretionary powers to make the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Election Commission, Delimitation Commission and Public Service Commission. He also had the power to appoint the Prime Minister from amongst the members of the National Assembly. However, his appointee had to take a vote of confidence from the Assembly within two months of his appointment. The President also had the power to remove the Prime Minister if he felt that the Prime Minister had lost the confidence of the majority of the National Assembly members. The Constitution of 1956 provided for parliamentary form of government with a unicameral legislature. The only house of parliament, the National Assembly, was to consist of 300 members. The Constitution recognized the concept of One Unit, and the seats were divided equally between the two wings of the country. Thus the principle of parity was introduced. For the first ten years, five additional seats were reserved for women for each wing. National Assembly was to meet at least twice a year with at least one session at Dhaka. The Constitution offered direct elections under adult franchise. Every citizen of Pakistan with minimum age of 21 was allowed to vote in the elections. The Constitution provided for federal form of government in the country. The provincial structure was similar to the one in the center. The pattern for the center-province relations was the same as it was in the Government of India Act, 1935. There were federal, provincial and concurrent lists of subjects. There were 30 items in the federal list, 94 items in the provincial list and 19 items in the concurrent list. The federal legislation was to get precedence over provincial legislation regarding the concurrent list. Residuary powers were vested in the provinces. In case of a conflict between center and provinces or between the two provinces, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was to act as the mediator. The Constitution of 1956 was a written and flexible constitution. It advocated the fundamental rights of the individual. However, the President had the power to suspend these rights in case of an emergency. Judiciary was to remain independent. Urdu and Bengali were both accepted as state languages, while English was to remain the official language for the first 25 years. After ten years’ passage of the Constitution, the President was to appoint a commission with the task to make recommendation for the replacement of English as the official language. The Constitution of 1956 proved to be short lived as on October 7, 1958, Marital Law was promulgated and the constitution was abrogated. This article was last updated on Sunday, June 01, 2003 Disclaimer: The views expressed by the writer are purely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of Story Of Pakistan	Pakistan
On March 23, 1909, what totally bad-assed former president left New York for a year long safari in Africa where he, along with his son, Kermit, shot over 500 big game animals during their 13 month long adventure?	Country independence dates Home » countries » Country independence dates Country independence dates Afghanistan: 19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs) Albania: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire) Algeria: 5 July 1962 (from France) American Samoa: none (territory of the US) Andorra: 1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of France and the Bishop of Urgell) Angola: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) Anguilla: none (overseas territory of the UK) Antigua and Barbuda: 1 November 1981 (from UK) Argentina: 9 July 1816 (from Spain) Armenia: 21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Aruba: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) Australia: 1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies) Austria: 1156 (from Bavaria) Azerbaijan: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Bahamas: 10 July 1973 (from UK) Bahrain: 15 August 1971 (from UK) Bangladesh: 16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note – 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh Barbados: 30 November 1966 (from UK) Belarus: 25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Belgium: 21 July 1831 (from the Netherlands) Belize: 21 September 1981 (from UK) Benin: 1 August 1960 (from France) Bermuda: none (overseas territory of the UK) Bhutan: 8 August 1949 (from India) Bolivia: 6 August 1825 (from Spain) Bosnia and Herzegovina: 1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia) Botswana: 30 September 1966 (from UK) Brazil: 7 September 1822 (from Portugal) British Virgin Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Brunei: 1 January 1984 (from UK) Bulgaria: 3 March 1878 (from Ottoman Empire) Burkina Faso: 5 August 1960 (from France) Burma: 4 January 1948 (from UK) Burundi: 1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration) Cambodia: 9 November 1953 (from France) Cameroon: 1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship) Canada: 1 July 1867 (from UK) Cape Verde: 5 July 1975 (from Portugal) Cayman Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Central African Republic: 13 August 1960 (from France) Chad: 11 August 1960 (from France) Chile: 18 September 1810 (from Spain) China: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch’in Dynasty 221 BC; Qing or Ch’ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic on 12 February 1912; People’s Republic established 1 October 1949) Christmas Island: none (territory of Australia) Cocos (Keeling) Islands: none (territory of Australia) Colombia: 20 July 1810 (from Spain) Comoros: 6 July 1975 (from France) Congo, Democratic Republic of the: 30 June 1960 (from Belgium) Congo, Republic of the: 15 August 1960 (from France) Cook Islands: none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action) Costa Rica: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Cote d’Ivoire: 7 August (1960) (from France) Croatia: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Cuba: 20 May 1902 (from US) Cyprus: 16 August 1960 (from UK); note – Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 Czech Republic: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) Denmark: first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy Djibouti: 27 June 1977 (from France) Dominica: 3 November 1978 (from UK) Dominican Republic: 27 February 1844 (from Haiti) East Timor: 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia) Ecuador: 24 May 1822 (from Spain) Egypt: 28 February 1922 (from UK) El Salvador: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Equatorial Guinea: 12 October 1968 (from Spain) Eritrea: 24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia) Estonia: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Ethiopia: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world – at least 2,000 years Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas): none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Faroe Islands: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Fiji: 10 October 1970 (from UK) Finland: 6 December 1917 (from Russia) France: 486 (unified by Clovis) French Guiana: none (overseas department of France) French Polynesia: none (overseas territory of France) Gabon: 17 August 1960 (from France) Gambia: 18 February 1965 (from UK) Georgia: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union) Germany: 18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991 Ghana: 6 March 1957 (from UK) Gibraltar : none (overseas territory of the UK) Greece: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire) Greenland: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979) Grenada: 7 February 1974 (from UK) Guadeloupe: none (overseas department of France) Guam: none (territory of the US) Guatemala: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Guernsey: none (British crown dependency) Guinea: 2 October 1958 (from France) Guinea-Bissau: 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal) Guyana: 26 May 1966 (from UK) Haiti: 1 January 1804 (from France) Honduras: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Hong Kong: none (special administrative region of China) Hungary: 1001 (unification by King Stephen I) Iceland: 17 June 1944 (from Denmark) India: 15 August 1947 (from UK) Indonesia: 17 August 1945 (proclaimed independence; on 27 December 1949, Indonesia became legally independent from the Netherlands) Iran: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed) Iraq: 3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) Ireland: 6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty) Israel: 14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) Italy: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870) Jamaica: 6 August 1962 (from UK) Japan: 660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor Jimmu) Jersey: none (British crown dependency) Jordan: 25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration) Kashmir : administered by India, Pakistan and China Kazakhstan: 16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Kenya: 12 December 1963 (from UK) Kiribati: 12 July 1979 (from UK) Korea, North: 15 August 1945 (from Japan) Korea, South: 15 August 1945 (from Japan) Kosovo: 17 February 2008 (self-declared) Kuwait: 19 June 1961 (from UK) Kyrgyzstan: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Laos: 19 July 1949 (from France) Latvia: 18 November 1991 (from Soviet Union) Lebanon: 22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Lesotho: 4 October 1966 (from UK) Liberia: 26 July 1847 Libya: 24 December 1951 (from Italy) Liechtenstein: 23 January 1719 Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established; 12 July 1806 established independence from the Holy Roman Empire Lithuania: 11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania’s independence) Luxembourg: 1839 (from the Netherlands) Macua: none (special administrative region of China) Macedonia: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Madagascar: 26 June 1960 (from France) Malawi: 6 July 1964 (from UK) Malaysia: 31 August 1957 (from UK) Maldives: 26 July 1965 (from UK) Mali: 22 September 1960 (from France) Malta: 21 September 1964 (from UK) Man, Isle of: none (British crown dependency) Marshall Islands: 21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship) Martinique: none (overseas department of France) Mauritania: 28 November 1960 (from France) Mauritius: 12 March 1968 (from UK) Mayotte: none (territorial collectivity of France) Mexico: 16 September 1810 (from Spain) Micronesia, Federated States of: 3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) Moldova: 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) Monaco: 1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi) Mongolia: 11 July 1921 (from China) Montenegro: June 2006 Montserrat: none (overseas territory of the UK) Morocco: 2 March 1956 (from France) Mozambique: 25 June 1975 (from Portugal) Namibia: 21 March 1990 (from South African mandate) Nauru: 31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship) Nepal: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah) Netherlands: 1579 (from Spain) Netherlands Antilles: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) New Caledonia: none (overseas territory of France) New Zealand: 26 September 1907 (from UK) Nicaragua: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Niger: 3 August 1958 (from France) Nigeria: 1 October 1960 (from UK) Niue: on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand Norfolk Island: none (territory of Australia) Northern Mariana Islands: none (commonwealth in political union with the US) Norway: 7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26 October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union Oman: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) Pakistan: 14 August 1947 (from UK) Palau: 1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship) Panama: 3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821) Papua New Guinea: 16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship) Paraguay: Declared 14 May 1811 (from Spain), celebrated annually 15 May Peru: 28 July 1821 (from Spain) Philippines: 4 July 1946 (from US) Pitcairn Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Poland: 11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed) Portugal: 1140 (independent republic proclaimed 5 October 1910) Puerto Rico: none (commonwealth associated with the US) Quatar: 3 September 1971 (from UK) Reunion: none (overseas department of France) Romania: 1881 (from Turkey; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947) Russia: 24 August 1991 (when Soviet Union dissolved) Rwanda: 1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship) Saint Helena: none (overseas territory of the UK) Saint Kitts and Nevis: 19 September 1983 (from UK) Saint Lucia: 22 February 1979 (from UK) Saint Pierre and Miquelon: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 27 October 1979 (from UK) Samoa: 1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship) San Marino: 3 September 301 Sao Tome and Principe: 12 July 1975 (from Portugal) Saudi Arabia: 23 September 1932 (Unification of the Kingdom) Senegal: 4 April 1960 (from France); complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960 Serbia: 5 June 2006 (after Montenegro declared independence from Yugoslavia) Seychelles: 29 June 1976 (from UK) Sierra Leone: 27 April 1961 (from UK) Singapore: 9 August 1965 (from Malaysia) Slovakia: 1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia) Slovenia: 25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia) Solomon Islands: 7 July 1978 (from UK) Somalia: 1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic) South Africa: 31 May 1910 (from UK) South Sudan: 9 July 2011 (from Sudan) Spain: 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification) Sri Lanka: 4 February 1948 (from UK) Sudan: 1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK) Suriname: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands) Svalbard: none (territory of Norway) Swaziland: 6 September 1968 (from UK) Sweden: 6 June 1523 Switzerland: 1 August 1291 (Founding of the Swiss Confederation) Syria: 17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration) Tajikistan: 9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Tanzania: 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964 Thailand: 1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized) 27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)Togo Tokelau: none (territory of New Zealand) Tonga: 4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate) Trinidad and Tobago: 31 August 1962 (from UK) Tunisia: 20 March 1956 (from France) Turkey: 29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire) Turkmenistan: 27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union) Turks and Caicos Islands: none (overseas territory of the UK) Tuvalu: 1 October 1978 (from UK) Uganda: 9 October 1962 (from UK) Ukraine: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) United Arab Emirates: 2 December 1971 (from UK) United Kingdom: England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales was enacted under the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284; in the Act of Union of 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanent union as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927 United States: 4 July 1776 (from Great Britain) Uruguay: 25 August 1825 (from Brazil) Uzbekistan: 1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union) Vanuatu: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK) Venezuela: 5 July 1811 (from Spain) Vietnam: 2 September 1945 (from France) Wallis and Futuna: none (overseas territory of France) Yemen: 22 May 1990, Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; previously North Yemen had become independent on NA November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK) Zambia: 24 October 1964 (from UK) Zimbabwe: 18 April 1980 (from UK)	i don't know
What organ is believed to have been part of the digestive system in our primitive ancestors, but seems to have no function in modern humans?	Digestive System Digestive System Reflection After research for an amount of time, have learnt many interesting Facts that would probably never be found on books. here is this website where I found out that Pancreatic enzyme secretion is regulated in a complex manner by several pathways and that the large intestine absorbs water from its inner contents and stores the rest until it is convenient to dispose of it. Attached to the first portion of the large intestine is a troublesome pouch called the appendix. One of the most interesting facts I found out about was that the appendix has no function in modern humans, however it is believed to have been part of the digestive system in our primitive ancestors!!!! After going through the research that I have done for my bio-journal, I have basically answered most of the questions that I have hidden in my heart since I was young. It also gives me a overview of the digestive system. Even after my tedious researches, I know that I have still not answered many questions in my mind. Like: How was the appendix actually used when it was during our primitive ancestors time or why doesn’t the stomach lining in the stomach get corroded even though the Ph of the stomach varies from 1 - 2.But humans are always curious and we try to enquire more knowledge of the things around us, but some of the questions aren’t even on the internet. Sometimes problems can happen when we get impatient doing projects and like the links may have been deleted by the user or that the information given was fake and causing a lot of precious time to be wasted. But if we were to show off this glog by sharing it on facebook, twitter and other communicating websites, people might plagiarise our hard work into theirs. And this will be quite unfair to the other users who actually did their hearts and souls into their work and people just snatch it away? In this project I also learned how to use the Glogster and how to use the Blog, I learnt how to do proper time management, truthfully I just started my glog on Saturday and it was actually a rush against time. But I would never do this again after learning what It feels like to rush on homework like some mad person. I also feel that my end product was not that bad even though it was a last minuter work. I actually chose this topic as I feel that I would do best in this topic because I like to research on the digestive system in the human body as it is one of my favorite topic and I like the digestive system, as it was actually taught when we were all but primary school children, but now in upper secondary, we are actually learning even more about the digestive system and this would spark off a interest in the secondary minds. But by doing this bio-journal on this topic, it can improve on the current knowledge that I have now and helping me learn even newer things about the human digestive system Posted by	Appendix
Known as The Empire State, what was the 11th state to join the union on July 26, 1788?	Vestigial Organs - Creation Studies Institute Dig Deeper - Recommended Resources Borrowing a line from the Bard of Avon is easy; getting the evolutionary establishment to admit that they were wrong is not. Imagine everyone’s surprise when researcher and immunologist, William Parker at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. said, “Maybe it's time to correct the textbooks” and “Many biology texts today still refer to the appendix as a vestigial organ.” That’s the information published today provided by Live Science on the AOL Health News website. The Johnny-come-lately admission of yet another so-called vestigial organ being taken off the no-longer-functioning organs and assorted body parts list – being lost to that oft-touted natural selection, the nearly omnipotent driving force behind “all things evolution” – is not a surprise to Bible believing people or Intelligent Design enthusiasts. This list of no-longer-vestigial organs is continuing to grow. The definition of a vestigial organ, according to my 2004 edition of Prentice Hall’s Biology textbook, states “The vestigial organs are organs that serve no useful function in the organism” (Miller and Levine 2004). These evolutionary educators continue to promote the myth of vestigial organs with the examples of three species of skinks, claiming some species have only remnants or vestiges of legs while others have fully functional legs. This of course begs the question, why do any modern skinks still have legs? This question is not even raised by our fair-minded educators (Miller and Levine 2004). I looked for a list of these vestigial organs in the several biology textbooks I have in my office and found one that claimed, “In the human body there are more than 100 vestigial structures including the coccyx, or ‘tailbone’, the appendix, the wisdom teeth, and the muscles that move the nose and ears.” They further claimed “The human coccyx is an evolutionary remnant of an ancestral, reptilian tail, and the appendix is the remnant of a large digestive sac.” I will not deal with the statement that “both whales and pythons have vestigial hind legs embedded in the flesh of the body wall” and “Apparently, whales and snakes evolved from four-legged ancestors” (Schraer and Stoltze 1999). While I was not impressed with the undocumented mention of “more than 100 vestigial structures,” I was curious about the examples this textbook used. I endeavored to seek the truth concerning these alleged vestigial structures, beginning with the coccyx. According to the evolutionary faithful, the human tailbone or coccyx is supposed to be a vestige of our common ape-like ancestors. The Human Coccyx (Tailbone) What happens when a scientist does not take to the indoctrination of Darwinian Evolution? Enter Dr. David Menton. Dr. Menton has a Ph.D. in cell biology from Brown University. He has a long and illustrious career as medical school professor earning the Silver Award for Basic Research from the American Academy of Dermatology. He was awarded the 'Distinguished Service Teaching Award' from Washington University School of Medicine in 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. Dr. Menton was named ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Washington University School of Medicine in 1979 and was elected ‘Professor of the Year’ by that same institution. Dr. Menton has been a thorn in the flesh of those who try to brainwash and indoctrinate others into believing that Darwinian evolution is a fact of science. Why would a medical school professor become a thorn in the flesh of the evolutionary faithful? The reason is really very simple: because he boldly and unashamedly gives his students, and anyone else who is willing to listen, information that the evolutionary establishment will not disclose. Dr. Menton responded to a clinical case report that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine entitled, “Evolution and the Human Tail” by Dr. Fred Ledley. In his article, Dr. Ledley strongly implied that this growth (called a caudal appendage) was essentially a ‘human tail’, though he admitted that it had virtually none of the distinctive biological characteristics of a tail! (Menton 1994) Dr. Menton corrected the erroneous statements of Darwinian scientists that the human tailbone was a vestigial structure and noted that “all true tails have bones in them that are a posterior extension of the vertebral column. Also, all true tails have muscles associated with their vertebrae which permit some movement of the tail” (Menton 1994). Rather than leaving the reader with the impression that the coccyx has no real function in human beings, Dr. Menton points out “that most modern biology textbooks give the erroneous impression that the human coccyx has no real function other than to remind us of the ‘inescapable fact’ of evolution. In fact, the coccyx has some very important functions. Several muscles converge from the ring-like arrangement of the pelvic (hip) bones to anchor on the coccyx, forming a bowl-shaped muscular floor of the pelvis called the pelvic diaphragm. The incurved coccyx with its attached pelvic diaphragm keeps the many organs in our abdominal cavity from literally falling through between our legs. Some of the pelvic diaphragm muscles are also important in controlling the elimination of waste from our body through the rectum” (Menton 1994). But this is only one of the allegedly “100’s” of vestigial structures we are being told offer evidence of Darwinian evolution. What of the other three or four mentioned in our biology textbooks? We would not want our wisdom teeth, or those allegedly useless muscles that aid us in moving our ears and noses, to escape the scrutiny of simple logic. Or would we? Muscles in our Ears and Noses Would it surprise anyone that Darwin himself wrote on this very subject in his book The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex? Darwin questioned other experts in the field of anatomy to gain their insights into the reason that men, and several of their alleged ape-like ancestors, had lost the ability to move their ears in ways similar to other mammals. He attributes this to the ability that apes and men have to move their heads in a horizontal plane (emphasis added) allowing them to catch sounds from all directions (Darwin 1890). Why no questions about the ears of a Macaque monkey, and some other monkeys, that have far more developed ear muscles? These muscles enable them to focus towards sounds without using their much touted horizontal planes? Like a great deal of the evolutionary rhetoric, things are just stated in support of the theory and most other non-supportive information is simply excluded. Wisdom Teeth That takes us to the other example from our 1999 biology text book: our wisdom teeth. Jonathan Safarti has earned a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry (with condensed matter and nuclear physics papers substituted) and a Ph.D. in Spectroscopy (Physical Chemistry) from Victoria University at Wellington. Dr. Safarti addresses this subject in his book entitled By Design: Evidence for Nature’s Intelligent Designer – the God of the Bible. In the publication, Dr. Safarti explains that “wisdom teeth” is a popular term for our third molars, which often don’t develop properly. Instead, they can be impacted against their adjoining teeth, or partially erupt so the gum doesn’t form a bacterially-tight seal (leaving the tooth vulnerable to infection), or erupt crookedly and then cut the cheek frequently. Thus they are often removed (Safarti 2008). Dr. Safarti reminds the reader that modern dentistry has identified the problem with wisdom teeth as being primarily linked to the diet in modern cultures. In non-technological cultures, impacted wisdom teeth are extremely rare as their tougher diet exercises their jaw muscles properly during chewing, thus helping the jaw to develop properly. The grittier diet also results in tooth wear, and the normal compensation for this loss of tooth surfaces is mesial migration (tooth movement towards the front of the mouth) making more room for the back molars. The modern diet fails both to provide the same jaw exercise, so the jaw doesn’t develop to full size, and to provide tooth wear that would enable them to avoid crowding (Bergman 1998). When I sought to gain a broader perspective about these vestigial organs, I discovered at one time as many as 180 vestigial organs were claimed to exist (Wiedersheim 1895). Dr. Jerry Bergman offers some insight concerning the original 180 specimens. Dr. Bergman has two earned PhD’s. One in human biology, from Columbia Pacific University 1992 and one in measurement and evaluation, minor in psychology, Wayne State University 1976. He has a M.A. in Social Psychology from Bowling Green State University and another M.Ed. from Wayne State University. In his paper entitled “Do Vestigial Organs Exist in Humans,” Dr. Bergman claims that the original list published in 1890 had shrunk down to 0 by 1999 (Bergman 2000). The Wings of Flightless Birds #10 Much to my surprise, on the very same web publication that announced the possible removal of the appendix from the vestigial structure/organ list, AOL’s Live Science, I came across Brandon Miller’s Top Ten Useless Limbs (and other Vestigial Organs) list (Miller 2009). Miller begins his countdown with the ‘wings of flightless birds.’ What Mr. Miller fails to include in his support of Darwinian Theory is the fact that there are other explanations concerning these apparently useless structures. There is more than one explanation for wings that do not produce flight. Even if the wings of these flightless birds are indeed ‘useless’ for purposes of flight, and even if they were derived from birds that once could fly, this does not falsify the creationist’s model. Loss of feathers is relatively easy by natural processes, whereas acquisition of new complex characters, requiring specific DNA information, is impossible. Loss of wings most probably occurred in a beetle species that colonized a windy island. Again, this is a loss of genetic information, so it is not evidence for microbe-to-man evolution, which requires masses of new genetic information (Wieland 1997). Secondly, the wings of these flightless birds have a function. Some possible functions, depending on the species of flightless bird, are: balance while running, cooling in hot weather, protection of the rib-cage in falls, mating rituals, scaring predators (emus will run at perceived enemies of their chicks, mouth open and wings flapping), sheltering of chicks, etc. If wings are useless, why are the muscles functional, allowing these birds to move their wings (Safarti 2008)? It might be helpful if those who espouse Darwinian evolution to be a fact of science honestly gave us all the information, pro and con, and then allowed open discussion and academic debate to rule the day. It seems that asking the evolutionary faithful to allow all the evidence to be heard is no longer an option. Rather than talking about different ways to interpret the data, the evolutionary establishment refuses to even allow any alternate or conflicting opinions to be heard. Hind Leg Bones in Whales #9 The ninth in Miller’s countdown is ‘hind leg bones in whales’. Mr. Miller begins his review of this alleged vestigial structure with the ‘just so’ story of vertebrate evolution. He describes the story of how fish might have become the first land lovers by developing hips and legs and walking out of the water. Then, for no particular reason I can understand, Mr. Miller tells us that this evidently fickle process of evolution caused these one time ‘refugees from the ocean’ to go back into the water. By this process, we are told aquatic mammals allegedly came into existence. Then “despite their apparent uselessness, evolution left traces of hind legs behind, and these vestigial limbs can be seen in the modern whale” (Miller 2009). While the proponents of Darwinian evolution hold up the fossil evidence for whale evolution as one of the best examples of Darwin’s theory in the fossil record, the reality is far different from the hype. It is good to keep in mind that most paleontologists believe that a single-celled organism evolved from inorganic matter and continued to evolve into virtually every living organism that lives today, ever has lived in the past, or ever will in the future live on planet Earth. There is real debate, even among the evolutionary faithful, concerning whale evolution. Dr. Carl Werner is a medical physician and the author of Evolution: The Grand Experiment. In this book, Dr. Werner interviews many of the leaders in the field of paleontology seeking real answers to the questions concerning evolution. In the chapter devoted to the fossil record of whales, Dr. Werner personally interviews several leaders in the field of whale evolution and discovers that the alleged ancestry of whales is not as unanimous as the evolutionary faithful might want us to think. There are some glaring problems with the evolution of whales, not the least of which is the fact that all whales are carnivores. Even the large filter-feeding baleen whales eat small crustacean animals called krill. Evolution scientists have chosen meat-eating land mammals such as the cat-like Sinonyx or the hyena-like Pachyaena, as the land animal precursor of whales, because of the similarities of the meat-eating teeth when compared to teeth of the oldest fossil whales (Werner 2007). Even though a comparison of teeth is often used to trace evolutionary ancestry, in recent times DNA has been used to search for links in the phylogenetic history of living organisms. This was the case in Tokyo when researchers at the Tokyo Institute found evidence that hippopotamus DNA is the closest match to the DNA of whales when compared to all other mammal groups (Werner 2007). But what of those alleged remnants of hips in whales? Dr. Jonathan Safarti echoes the opinions of his fellow creationists, Bergman and Howe, when he explains that many evolutionists support whale evolution by alleging that there are vestigial hind legs buried in their flesh. However, these so-called ‘remnants’ are not useless at all, but help strengthen the reproductive organs — the bones are different in males and females. So they are best explained by creation, not evolution (Safarti 1999). There continues to be a myth that some whales have been discovered with hind legs complete with thigh and knee muscles. Dr. Carl Wieland spent much time and effort tracking down this evolutionary ‘urban legend’. In his article entitled “The Strange Tale of the Leg on the Whale,” Dr. Wieland traced the origin of this myth to a book by Dr. R. Baker in which Dr. Baker writes: ‘And every once in a while a modern whale is hauled in with a hind leg, complete with thigh and knee muscles, sticking out of its side. These atavistic hind legs are nothing less than throwbacks to a totally pre-whale stage of their existence, some fifty million years ago.’ (Baker 1986) In an effort to document Dr. Baker’s source, Dr. Carl Wieland arranged for a colleague to contact Dr. Baker and track down the source for the statement concerning the whale-leg appendage. Dr. Baker indicated that the source for this was Everhard Johannes Slijper (1907–1968). Slijper was professor of general zoology at Amsterdam University, Netherlands and he was the world’s leading authority on whales. In chapter 2 of his classic work is entitled Evolution and External Appearance, he talks about a bone in whales that he calls the ‘pelvic bone’, which is some 30 centimeters (12 inches) long, “but unlike the pelvis of normal mammals, it is not attached to the vertebral column.” This bone serves as an anchorage for the male reproductive organs. Slijper goes on to say that sometimes “another small bone may be attached to it.” Being an evolutionist, he naturally interprets this smaller piece of bone as a throw-back to the femur, or thigh bone, of the whale’s evolutionary ancestor. However, he states that in these occasional cases, the bone in question is generally 2.5 cm (just over an inch) in length, and that it is sometimes ‘fused’ with the pelvic bone (Wieland 1998). The attempt to further track down the alleged whale with a “hind leg, complete with thigh and knee muscles, sticking out of its side,” brought Dr. Wieland to write: “the closest thing to the claim which launched our pursuit of this whole trail is where Slijper states, ‘Thus, at Ayukawa Whaling Station (Japan), a Sperm Whale was brought in 1956, with a 5-inch tibia projecting into a 5½-inch “bump,” and a Russian factory ship in the Bering Sea had a similar experience in 1959.’ No photo is provided.” Ignoring – for the moment – the purely anecdotal nature of the evidence, what is it that is being claimed? Sperm whales are massive — up to about 19m (62 feet) long. A 14 cm (5.5 inch) ‘bump’ on its side would look like an almost unnoticeable pimple. Inside the bump is a piece of bone, some 12.5 cm (5 inches) ‘long’. There is no evidence given of anything which could reasonably be called a ‘leg’. Slijper calls the bone inside the ‘bump’ a ‘tibia’. But we have already seen that it doesn’t take much for evolutionary believers to label abnormal pieces of bone in ways to fit their naturalistic religion (Wieland 1998). So the search for photographic evidence of an atavistic leg, dangling uselessly from the underbelly of a whale, ends in failure. The reason such myths find a home in Darwinian theory, is due to the fact that ‘just so’ stories rarely provide any substantive evidence. Whether it the atavistic leg in whales or the prehensile tails in neonates, looks can indeed be deceiving, especially if the entire theory is based upon a faulty premise. Erector Pili and Body Hair #8 Erector Pili are smooth muscle fibers that are responsible for giving human skin a bumpy appearance normally referred to as goose bumps. The evolutionary establishment sees all evidence through the lens of Darwinian spectacles. The conclusions they reach are affected by their chosen paradigm of naturalism. Therefore, they see absolutely no reason for humans to have goose bumps. While the small size of these miniature muscles make them likely targets for evolutionists, Dr. Menton reminds us that the size of these structures should not be any indication of their usefulness to the organism. As is the case with all allegedly vestigial organs, not understanding their current function does not mean that they have no function, e.g. the now non-vestigial tonsils and appendix. We are reminded by Dr. Menton, while virtually all of the larger muscles of the body have obvious (as well as some not so obvious) mechanical functions, smaller muscles are not necessarily useless. For example, two of the smallest muscles in the body, the stapedius and the tensor tympani, serve to dampen the movements of the auditory ossicles and the tympanic membrane (respectively) preventing loud sounds from overloading these delicate structures of the middle ear. In general, most small, short muscles of the body produce fine adjustments in the movement of larger muscles (Menton 2000). With an almost perfunctory statement alluding to the eyebrow being the only worthy statement of function for body hair, the proponent of the ‘Top Ten Vestigial Organs’ goes on to say that, aside from the possible aesthetic qualities influencing sexual attraction, “all the rest of the hair, though, is essentially useless” (Miller 2009). Here is where the obvious influence of Darwinian thought starts to resemble anti-science. It may very well be a problem on both sides of the debate, that is, coloring our interpretation of the data through our individual worldview rather than looking at all the evidence independent of bias. However, Creationists and Intelligent Design theorists are willing to look at all the possibilities without automatically excluding any of them. We see how the concept of ‘molecules to men’ evolutionary thinking, and their unswerving allegiance to naturalism, clouds the minds of the evolutionary faithful and colors all of their conclusions. They will inevitably assume that man shares a common ancestor with other primates. Primates are usually very hairy; therefore, man must have lost his hair, because he no longer needed it. This is why goose bumps are seen as a rudimentary vestige of our furry relatives, puffing themselves up to appear larger to predators or generating warmth in particularly cold circumstances. It may be too easy to play devil’s advocate with this subject, but just for a minute indulge me. First of all, is human hair really degenerating fur, lost to eons of clothing and improvements in central heating? Can eyebrows, and the ability to grow the hair on our heads longer than other body hair really be traced back to the sexual mores of our alleged furry forefathers, as those 'wise of all' scientists – the proponents of evolutionary psychology – tell us? Is it really as cut and dried as fur and hair being the same thing? Let’s look at the similarities and the differences between hair and fur. First of all, hair and fur have the same chemical composition. They are both made of keratin and when speaking of non-humans, the term “fur” is used to describe the coat of fur-bearing animals. The real difference between fur and hair is found in the core of the hair follicle. In the case of animals, the hair follicle allows for more insulation to coat the hair shaft. Human hair lacks this ability and therefore, it does not provide the same insulation and weather proofing that animal fur provides. Another area of difference is in the growth patterns of fur versus hair. In humans, the hairs grow distinctively from one another without the typical, closely woven appearance of fur. Animal hair will fall out at a predetermined length, while some human hair, e.g. head hair, facial hair in men, etc., can be grown to considerable length. Animal hair seems to have double the composition of human hair and therefore, animal hair is much thicker than human hair. Because evolutionary biology assumes common ancestry between animals and humans, these biologists automatically assume that similarities indicate common ancestry. This is why Creationists and Intelligent Design theorists cry foul when only one possible explanation is presented. Bible believing people see similarities in design as evidence of the ultimate Intelligent Designer, God. Man did not lose body hair as he made an evolutionary leap across time. Man was created with the God-given ability to be fruitful and multiply. He was not some Geico Neanderthal moving up the evolutionary ladder to modern man. The forever-missing link aside, man has reamined virtually unchanged since he was created in the Garden of Eden. Some men are hairier than others. I remember the professional wrestler, ‘George the Animal Steele’, whose body hair was so thick he would have to shave it. It left him with what looked like a fur collar of body hair around his considerably thick neck. 'The Animal' walked with a stooped posture, a hairless head and a thick mat of natural fur-like hair on his exposed arms and torso. Wrestling broadcasters often speculated that The Animal was indeed "the missing link." The fly in this proverbial ointment, as is usually the case, was the truth. George the Animal Steele was not the Neanderthal throwback his promoters presented to his Worldwide Wrestling Federation (WWF) fans. George was a teacher with both a bachelors and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University. George honed his skills in wrestling while serving as both a teacher and the amateur wrestling coach at Madison High School in Madison Heights, Michigan. In reality, George was nothing like his WWF persona. George was just an educator-turned-professional-wrestler who turned his extraordinary fur-like body hair into a successful show-biz shtick. In reality, George was not really a throwback to some long-lost evolutionary ancestor, any more than our human hair is the remnant of any long-lost evolutionary ape-like forefathers. The Human Tailbone or Coccyx #7 (See previous) The Blind Fish Astyanax Mexicanus #6 The next in the line of the top ten vestigial organs is not really what it is being promoted to be. Like the 'bait and switch' tactic of the evolutionary faithful, adaptability is being promoted as evidence of the ‘molecules to men’ grand theory of evolution. Adaptability is not evidence of inorganic molecules forming themselves into organic molecules by natural selection and beneficial mutation. Adaptability is not evidence of a living single-celled microorganism that – contrary to all biogenetic law – is going to be able to produce new information allowing it to morph itself into every living creature that has ever lived, or will ever live, on planet Earth. This ability to transform one form of life into another is often referred to as “macro-evolution.” It is descriptive of the large and complex changes being postulated by Darwin’s theory. Smaller changes can be produced by an incremental accumulation of genetic changes due to a loss of genetic information, or loss can occur due to atrophy. These are the types of changes that produce blind fish or blind salamanders, etc., and do not require new information to be generated. The ‘use it or lose it’ type of changes we observe are often referred to as “micro-evolution.” These are the horizontal changes within a species, e.g. the variety of species within canis familiaris from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane. These changes within the dog species are due to the incredible variety contained in the DNA; that is, information already contained therein and not newly created through natural selection and beneficial mutation. The ability to breed in and out certain genetic traits is far more indicative of special creation and Intelligent Design theory than Darwinian evolution. These changes are real, but not sufficient in nature to produce the vertical changes postulated by Darwinian Theory. As noted previously, the fact that a fish, or other creature, may suffer the loss of ability in part, or the whole, of an organ or organ system is called atrophy, not evolution. The fact that muscles left unused will shrink with time and become virtually useless is not evidence of macro-evolution at all. It is even less supportive of adaptation, or micro-evolution. The loss of function is not necessarily traced back to loss of genetic information and, as modern genetics has clearly established, no major changes can be achieved without new genetic information being generated. Another incredible truth concerning our blind fish is that scientists have been able to reverse their blindness, so the loss of sight was not even permanent. That raises another question. Can some of these losses, e.g. flightless birds and insects, be reversed? The answer, according to 2003 report in the Washington Post, is a resounding “yes” (Gugliotta 2003). The article went on to say how surprised these researchers were to discover that insects commonly known as ‘walking sticks,’ had evolved from winged to wingless and back again to winged. If is all sounds a bit confusing, don’t be alarmed. Darwinian Theory often sounds ridiculous when the ‘just so’ stories get told. Wisdom Teeth in Humans #5 (See previous) The Sexual Organs of Dandelions #4 Here is another example of the skewed thinking that permeates all evolutionary writing. The bait and switch tactic is used here again to imply that not using a particular organ, or ability, is change that is supportive of macroevolution. This ‘use it or lose it’ scenario sounds a lot like Lamarckism, a debunked theory named for the French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744–1829) who postulated that certain traits in an organism (occurring during the life time of that organism) could be passed on to their offspring. Charles Darwin entertained this Lamarckian concept as a possible adjunct to natural selection (Desmond & Moore 1991). The dandelion has the proper organs, e.g. the stamen and pistil, for sexual reproduction, but opts for asexual reproduction. This is seen as supportive of Darwin’s Theory even though, by Darwinian standards, sexual reproduction is considered superior for the proliferation of the species over asexual reproduction (Fisher 1975). Dandelions are being held up as the ‘poster boy’ for asexual reproduction and evidence of vestigial structures. However, the fact remains that other organisms have this ability using both methods to reproduce, e.g. several species of algae, many protists and fungi, flora, and aphids along with some species of amphibians and reptiles, the hammerhead shark (Eilperin 2007) and the blacktip shark (Chapman et al. 2008). So does the loss of an ability to reproduce sexually support Darwin’s Theory? When talking about dandelions, it is important to remember that although they evidently choose to reproduce asexually, the stamen and the anther of the dandelion remain intact and fully functional. Dandelions self-pollinate, they do not clone or bud, thereby offering an advantage that mere cloning or budding does not. Given the fact that most evolutionary biologists believe asexual reproduction preceded sexual reproduction, the loss of the ability to reproduce sexually is really evidence of devolution, not evolution (Miller and Levine 2004). We have also been told that the beautiful flower of the dandelion is a vestigial structure, since the dandelion is no longer reproducing sexually. This is an interesting but flawed argument, because the flowers of the dandelion are not superfluous at all, when one considers the symbiotic relationships that undeniably exist in God's creation. Dandelion leaves are more nutritious than anything you can buy in the local health food store. They're higher in beta-carotene than carrots. The iron and calcium content is phenomenal, greater than spinach. You also get vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, inositol, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc by using a tasty, free vegetable that grows on virtually every lawn. The root contains the sugar inulin, plus many medicinal substances. Dandelion root is one of the safest and most popular herbal remedies. The specific name, Taraxacum officinale, implies that it's used medicinally. The decoction is a traditional tonic that is supposed to strengthen the entire body, especially the liver and gallbladder, where it promotes the flow of bile, reduces inflammation of the bile duct, and helps get rid of gall stones. It is good for chronic hepatitis, reduces liver swelling and jaundice, and helps indigestion caused by insufficient bile. Don't use it with irritable stomach or bowel, or if you have an acute inflammation (Morrow 1994). Fake Sex in Virgin Whiptail Lizards (Vestigial Behavior) #3 Coming in as number 3, is a species of lizard designated genus Cnemidophorus. The females of this particular species do not need the males, because they reproduce by parthenogenesis. Parthenogenesis is a form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual. Despite the fact that it is unnecessary and futile to attempt copulation with each other, the lizards still like to try, and occasionally one of the females will start to act like a male by attempting to copulate with another female. Evolutionists say these lizards evolved from a sexual species and the behavior to copulate like a male – to engage in fake sex – is a vestigial behavior; that is, a behavior present in a species, but expressed in an imperfect form, which in this case is useless (Miller 2009). The Whiptails are not the only parthenogenic organisms on the planet. This form of asexual reproduction is also found in some fishes, several varieties of insects, and a few species of frogs and lizards. The largest lizard known to exhibit this form of reproduction is the female Komodo dragon. Unlike the whiptails, Komodo dragons continue to be able to reproduce sexually. Unlike their smaller cousins – the Whiptails – who always produce female offspring, Komodo dragons that reproduce asexually only produce males. Unlike our evolutionary counterparts, we do not see everything through the lens of Darwinian spectacles. Evolution assumes in the case of the Whiptail lizard, that the ability to reproduce asexually via parthenogenesis is the result of evolutionary change. This is an assumption that is not consistent throughout Darwinian Theory. The standard view is that the oldest life forms are cyanobacteria that have a photosynthetic capability, survive and thrive in anaerobic conditions, and allegedly arose in the aquatic primordial soup of primitive Earth approximately 3.5 billion years ago. I like to call this “the original ‘just so’ story of evolution. Cyanobacteria belong to a relatively new category of organisms called Archaea (Jarrell et al. 1999) and are commonly referred to as blue-green algae. Under normal circumstances, blue-green algae reproduce asexually, thrive without oxygen, and can endure extreme temperatures in aquatic environments. These are some of the reasons they are considered the most primitive form of bacteria on the planet. Included in this category are the thermophiles that thrive in conditions considered primordial by today’s standards. The dirty little secret is that microorganisms – including some species of blue-green algae – reproduce both sexually and asexually, but when it comes to evolutionary theory, the details don’t seem to matter that much. The writer of our top ten focuses on the fact that female Whiptails still occasionally act like males attempting a sexual union with other females. Creationists would theorize that Whiptails were created to reproduce both ways and eventually, through natural selection, they completely switched over to asexual reproduction. That does not mean that instinctual behaviors intended to allow these creatures to “be fruitful and multiply” would completely disappear, hence the occasional female acting like a male and attempting sexual reproduction with another female. So, yes, in this case we do seem to have a “vestigial” behavior if we define “vestige” purely to mean a “leftover” or trace evidence of something that once existed, but it is certainly not a leftover of any evolutionary process. Rather, it is a behavior that signifies a useful trait that once existed in a more fully-endowed population, and has been lost forever in the degenerated form of the whiptail that survives today. Intelligent Design theorists would say much the same, noting that both forms of reproduction are intended to propagate the species in question. Although it is considered more beneficial for the health of a species to reproduce sexually, e.g. twice the genetic information, less inbreeding, etc., some creatures have not benefited as much from sexual reproduction. For example, parthenogenesis is forced on some species of wasps when they become infected with bacteria, as in the genus Wolbachia (Nair 2007). With all the details of the evolution of microorganisms aside, the trace memories of sexual reproduction among a now (but not always) asexually reproducing species of lizard, hardly confirm this practice as evidence of upward change, e.g. Darwinian evolution. Male Breast Tissue and Nipples #2 Here our top ten list becomes almost comical. Our writer states that both men and women have nipples, because in early stages of fetal development an unborn child is effectively sexless. It is true of all neonates that nipples are present in both males and females, and it is only in a later stage of fetal development that the more overt signs of sex differentiation are evident in the fetus. All mammals, male and female, have mammary glands. Our top ten list compiler notes, if male nipples are truly vestigial; they may perform a small role in sexual stimulation and a small number of men have been able to lactate. However, he claims they are not fully functional and, because cancer can grow in male or female breast tissue, the tissue can be dangerous (Miller 2009). The initial statement concerns the pathway that decides the sexual identity of a fetus. The author of the top ten list seems willfully ignorant when he implies that the sex of a child is determined solely by hormonal secretions. Not one mention of the genetic factors involved in sex determination is offered or even alluded to. The fact that some male breast tissue has been known to lactate indicates that these anatomical features still function as originally designed. Sexual stimulation, for some reason, is not really a sufficient function according to our evolutionary friends. Dr. Jonathan Safarti asks: what is the evolutionist’s explanation for male nipples? Did males evolve (or devolve) from females? Or did ancestral males suckle the young? No evolutionist would propose either of these options. He concludes that male nipples are neither evidence for evolution nor evidence against creation (Safarti 2008). Remembering that both men and women are made in God’s image, should give us some insight into why some features are common to both the genders. However, we must remember that evolution leaves no room for an Intelligent Designer, much less an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent God. The Human Appendix # 1 There it was! The number one allegedly vestigial organ in our top ten list: the human appendix. Yet this was the organ that is being demoted off the list of so-called vestigial organs and appeared in the Live Science.com article that suggested it was not really vestigial at all (Choi 2009). As we noted in the opening paragraph of this article, Live Science reported: “Maybe it's time to correct the textbooks,” said researcher William Parker, an immunologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. “Many biology texts today still refer to the appendix as a 'vestigial organ.” Our top ten promoter opines, in plant-eating vertebrates, the appendix is much larger and its main function is to help digest a largely herbivorous diet. The human appendix is a small pouch attached to the large intestine where it joins the small intestine and does not directly assist digestion. Biologists believe it is a vestigial organ, left behind from a plant-eating ancestor. Then Mr. Miller states in a monumental example of bogus reasoning, in 2000 there were nearly 300,000 appendectomies performed in the United States, and 371 deaths from appendicitis. Any secondary function that the appendix might perform certainly is not missed in those who had it removed before it might have ruptured. Aside from the attempt to prove an organ vestigial, because it might become infected and result in death, not all the scientists agree with this view. As we noted earlier, Dr. David Menton has a Ph.D. in cell biology from Brown University. Dr. Menton has had a long and distinguished career teaching medical students anatomy and physiology. Dr. Menton provides the following information on the allegedly vestigial organ called the appendix. The appendix, like the once "vestigial" tonsils and adenoids, is a lymphoid organ (part of the body's immune system) which makes antibodies against infections in the digestive system. Believing it to be a useless evolutionary “left over,” many surgeons once removed even the healthy appendix whenever they were in the abdominal cavity. Today, removal of a healthy appendix under most circumstances would be considered medical malpractice (Menton 1994). So, the list of vestigial organs continues to shrink. The more we discover about our great God and Savior, Messiah Jesus, the more we stand in awe of His creative abilities. The more true science looks at the universe, the more evidence piles up in support of special creation. Today we are seeing the cracks in the foundation supporting Darwinian Evolution. One by one the pillars are giving way to true science and the warning of the Apostle Paul to his son in the faith, Timothy, becomes all the more timely: O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. I Tim. 6:19-20 KJV Submitted by: Steven Rowitt, Th.M., Ph.D. Â Chief Technical Advisor	i don't know
March 23, 1775 saw what revolutionary hero deliver his famous “give me liberty, or give me death!” speech at St. John’s church in Richmond, Virginia?	The History Place - Great Speeches Collection: Patrick Henry Speech - Liberty or Death! Following the Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16, 1773, in which American colonists dumped 342 containers of tea into the Boston harbor, the British Parliament enacted a series of Acts in response to the rebellion in Massachusetts. In May of 1774, General Thomas Gage, commander of all British military forces in the colonies, arrived in Boston, followed by the arrival of four regiments of British troops. The First Continental Congress met in the fall of 1774 in Philadelphia with 56 American delegates, representing every colony, except Georgia. On September 17th, the Congress declared its opposition to the repressive Acts of Parliament, saying they are "not to be obeyed," and also promoted the formation of local militia units. Thus economic and military tensions between the colonists and the British escalated. In February of 1775, a Provincial Congress was held in Massachusetts during which John Hancock and Joseph Warren began defensive preparations for a state of war. The British Parliament then declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion. On March 23rd, in Virginia, the largest colony in America, a meeting of the colony's delegates was held in St. John's church in Richmond. Resolutions were presented by Patrick Henry putting the colony of Virginia "into a posture of defense...embodying, arming, and disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that purpose." Before the vote was taken on his resolutions, Henry delivered the speech below, imploring the delegates to vote in favor. He spoke without any notes in a voice that became louder and louder, climaxing with the now famous ending. Following his speech, the vote was taken in which his resolutions passed by a narrow margin, and thus Virginia joined in the American Revolution. No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope that it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen, if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty towards the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings. Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth -- to know the worst and to provide for it. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House? Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation -- the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motives for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer on the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free -- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending -- if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us! They tell us, sir, that we are weak -- unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make a proper use of the means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come! It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace! Peace!" -- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death! Patrick Henry - March 23, 1775	Patrick Henry
A “duffer” is a below average player of what sport?	Patrick Henry - Unionpedia, the concept map Yes, please No, thanks Patrick Henry Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was an American attorney, planter and politician who became known as an orator during the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. [1] American Revolution The American Revolution was a political upheaval that took place between 1765 and 1783 during which colonists in the Thirteen American Colonies rejected the British monarchy and aristocracy, overthrew the authority of Great Britain, and founded the United States of America. Anti-Federalist Papers Anti-Federalist Papers is the collective name given to the scattered writings of those Americans who starting 25 September 1787 (8 days after the final draft of the US Constitution) and running through the early 1790s opposed or raised doubts about the merits of a firmer and more energetic union as embodied in the 1787 United States Constitution. Battle of Totopotomoy Creek The Battle of Totopotomoy Creek, also called the Battle of Bethesda Church, Crumps Creek, Shady Grove Road, and Hanovertown, was a battle fought in Hanover County, Virginia in May 28–30, 1864, as part of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses Grant's Overland Campaign against Confederate Gen. Belvale Belvale is an historic home in present-day Fairfax County, Virginia built between 1763 and 1766 by George Johnston (1700-1766), member of the Virginia Assembly 1758-1766, friend of Patrick Henry, and legal advisor to George Washington, who was a frequent visitor to the home. Braintree Instructions The Braintree Instructions was a document sent on September 24, 1765 by the town meeting of Braintree, Massachusetts to the town's representative at the Massachusetts General Court, or legislature, which instructed the representative to oppose the Stamp Act, a tax regime which had recently been adopted by the British Parliament in London. Castle Hill (Virginia) Castle Hill (Virginia) is an historic, privately owned, 600-acre (243 ha) plantation located at the foot of the Southwest Mountains in Albemarle County, Virginia, near Monticello and the city of Charlottesville, and is recognized by the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. Constitutional Convention (United States) The Constitutional Convention (also known as the Philadelphia Convention, the Federal Convention, or the Grand Convention at Philadelphia) took place from May 25 to September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from Great Britain. Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress The Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress (also known as the Declaration of Colonial Rights, or the Declaration of Rights), was a statement adopted by the First Continental Congress on October 14, 1774, in response to the Intolerable Acts passed by the British Parliament. Declaratory Act The American Colonies Act 1766 (6 Geo 3 c 12), commonly known as the Declaratory Act, was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, which accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act 1765 and the changing and lessening of the Sugar Act. Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution The Eighth Amendment (Amendment VIII) to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights (ratified December 15, 1791) prohibiting the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishments, including torture. Founding Fathers of the United States The term Founding Fathers of the United States of America refers broadly to those individuals of the Thirteen British Colonies in North America who led the American Revolution against the authority of the British Crown and established the United States of America. George Croghan George Croghan (c. 1718 – August 31, 1782) was an Irish-born fur trader in the Ohio Country of North America (current United States) who became the region's key figure earlier than his 1746 appointment to the Iroquois' Onondaga Council and remained so until his banishment from the frontier in 1777. Emigrating to Pennsylvania in 1741, he became an important trader by going to the villages of Native Americans, learning their languages and customs, and working on the frontier where previously mostly French had been trading. During and after King George's War of the 1740s, he helped negotiate new treaties and alliances with Native Americans. Croghan was appointed in 1756 as Deputy Indian Agent with chief responsibility for the Ohio region tribes, assisting Sir William Johnson, British Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Northern District, who was based in New York and had strong alliances with the Iroquois. Beginning in the 1740s and following this appointment, Croghan amassed hundreds of thousands of acres of land in today's western Pennsylvania and New York by grants from Native Americans and purchases. Beginning in 1754, he was a rival of George Washington for influence in Ohio Country and remained far more powerful there for more than 20 additional years, until 1777 during the American Revolutionary War when he was falsely accused of treason. He was acquitted the following year but patriot authorities did not allow him back in the Ohio territory. Croghan's central role in Ohio Country events finds ample evidence in his two main biographers, yet they understate it. He is irrelevant when not missing in recent George Washington biographies and the necessity of Croghan's as the through story is not yet seen in histories of the region or books on the French and Indian War, the North American front of the Seven Years' War between Britain and France. Ohio's recorded history begins with Croghan's actions in the mid-1740s as fur trader, Iroquois sachem, and go-between for Pennsylvania, according to historian Alfred A. Cave. Cave concludes that the treason charge that ended Croghan's career was trumped up by his enemies. Western Pennsylvania became the focal point of events in August 1749 when Croghan purchased 200,000 acres from the Seneca, exclusive of two square miles at the Forks of the Ohio for a British fort. Croghan soon learned that his three deeds would be invalidated if part of Pennsylvania, sabotaged that colony's effort to erect the fort, and led the Ohio Confederation to permit Virginia's Ohio Company to build it and settle the region. In 1754 Virginia sent George Washington to the Ohio Country, who would eventually supplant Croghan there. French control of Ohio Country, which they called the Illinois Country, indicating the area of their greater settlement, after Braddock's Defeat in 1755 found Croghan building forts on the Pennsylvania frontier. Following which he manned the farthest frontier post in present-day New York as Deputy Indian agent under Sir William Johnson, called the "Mohawk Baron" for his extensive landholdings and strong relations with the Mohawk and other Iroquois. Croghan briefly lived until 1770 on a quarter of a million New York acres. He resigned as Indian agent in 1771 to work on establishing Vandalia, a proposed fourteenth British colony to include parts of present-day West Virginia, southwestern Pennsylvania and eastern Kentucky, but continued to serve as a borderland negotiator for Johnson, who died a British loyalist in 1774. While working to keep the Ohio Indians neutral during the Revolutionary War, Croghan served as Pittsburgh's president judge and chairman of the Committee of Safety, aligning with the patriots. General Edward Hand of this city accused him in 1777 of treason and Croghan was banished from the frontier. Although he was acquitted in a November 1778 trial, Croghan was not allowed to return to the frontier. He died little acknowledged in 1782, shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War. Croghan's 30 years as the pivotal figure in Ohio Country history has attracted relatively little academic interest. John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore PC (1730 – 25 February 1809), generally known as Lord Dunmore, was a Scottish peer and colonial governor in the American colonies. Murray was named governor of the Province of New York in 1770, he succeeded to the same position in the Colony of Virginia the following year, after the death of Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt. As Virginia's governor, Dunmore directed a series of campaigns against the trans-Appalachian Indians, known as Lord Dunmore's War. He is noted for issuing a 1775 document proclaiming martial law in Virginia (usually known as Dunmore's Proclamation) in an attempt to turn back the rebel cause in Virginia. Dunmore fled to New York after the Burning of Norfolk in 1776, and later returned to Britain. He was Governor of the Bahama Islands, from 1787 to 1796. Dunmore was the last royal governor of Virginia. Secession in the United States Secession in the United States properly refers to State secession, which is the withdrawal of one or more States from the Union that constitutes the United States; but may loosely refer to cleaving a State or territory to form a separate territory or new State, or to the severing of an area from a city or county within a State. Second Amendment to the United States Constitution The Second Amendment (Amendment II) to the United States Constitution protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms and was adopted on December 15, 1791, as part of the first ten amendments contained in the Bill of Rights. Separation of church and state in the United States "Separation of church and state" (sometimes "wall of separation between church and state") is a phrase used by Thomas Jefferson and others expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Henry Unionpedia is a concept map or semantic network organized like an encyclopedia – dictionary. It gives a brief definition of each concept and its relationships. This is a giant online mental map that serves as a basis for concept diagrams. It's free to use and each article or document can be downloaded. It's a tool, resource or reference for study, research, education, learning or teaching, that can be used by teachers, educators, pupils or students; for the academic world: for school, primary, secondary, high school, middle, college, technical degree, college, university, undergraduate, master's or doctoral degrees; for papers, reports, projects, ideas, documentation, surveys, summaries, or thesis. Here is the definition, explanation, description, or the meaning of each significant on which you need information, and a list of their associated concepts as a glossary. Available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Russian, Arabic, Swedish, Ukrainian, Hungarian, Catalan, Czech, Hebrew, Danish, Finnish, Indonesian, Norwegian, Romanian, Turkish and Vietnamese. More languages soon. All the information was extracted from Wikipedia , and it's available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License .	i don't know
What Norwegian playwright, known as “the father of modern theater”, is responsible for works such as A Doll’s House, An Enemy of the People, and Peer Gynt?	Henrik Ibsen \| Biography, Books and Facts [Cite This] Henrik Ibsen A Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen is considered as the father of Modern Theatre. He is also referred as the father of realism. After Shakespeare , he is considered as the second most influential and insightful dramatist and poet of the 19th century. Ibsen was born on 20th March 1828 in the city Skien, Norway. Henrik Ibsen was the eldest of his five siblings. He belonged to an affluent merchant family settled in the port town of Skien, which was well known for shipping timber. Henrik father, Knud Ibsen (1797-1877) was a well-off merchant. His mother, Marichen Altenburg (1799-1869) was a daughter of one of the richest merchants of the Skien. When Henrik Ibsen turned eight his father went bankrupt and became alcohol addicted. This was the most shattering thing happened to his family. All through his childhood, Ibsen had been doomed and depressive that can easily be seen in his work which is as much a reflection of his own life. Even in most plays he had named his characters after his family and acquaintances like in his most surreal drama, Rosmersholm (1886). At the age of fifteen, he was forced to leave his school. Then he moved to Grimstad and worked as an apprentice to a pharmacist. That was the time when he discovered himself as an author. He worked at the pharmacy for six years and in the rarely given spare time he started writing plays and painting. Then in 1850 he moved to Christiania (now Oslo) for the sake of getting admission into University of Christiania but couldn’t pass all the entrance exams. Quitting the idea of studies Ibsen fully concentrated on his writing. He completed and published his first verse drama, a tragedy, Catilina with the help of a friend. Nor the play did sell any significant number of copies neither it got accepted at any theatre for performances. In 1851, he got a job at the National Theatre of Bergen. The Burial Mound was his first drama to be staged and attracted few. In the following years he wrote numerous plays that went unsuccessful but his determination to be a playwright stayed strong. Year 1858, Ibsen returned to Christiania to work as creative director at a local Norwegian theatre. Later in the year, he got married to Suzannah Thorese. The couple got blessed with one child, Sigurd Ibsen who also became an author and was a successful politician too. Ibsen’s family faced very hard financial crisis at that time. Disappointed from life in Norway, Ibsen went to Italy in 1864 and didn’t return to Norway, his hometown, for 27 years. Then in this self-imposed exile he wrote a drama, Brands, which gave him a breakthrough and financial success he was seeking for as a playwright. After critically acclaimed Brands (1865), there was no looking back for Ibsen. Some of his fine works include the Peer Gynt (1867) which made him famous in Italy. In 1868, Ibsen went to Germany. Here he dramatized his social and controversial plays such as The Pillars of Society followed by his remarkably famous, A Doll’s House (1879). Then he went to Rome again and wrote Ghosts (1881) and An Enemy of the People. Drama, Ghosts, includes the topics such as venereal disease and incest which even more triggered the controversy about Ibsen’s plays. He moved back to Germany after a few years, and wrote his most well known work, Hedda Gabbler (1890). This was the time when Henrik Ibsen became famous across the Europe. In 1891, Henrik Ibsen went back to Norway as a noted but controversial literary hero. The first drama he wrote after his return was The Master Builder. His later plays became the sort of tourist attraction in Christiania. In 1899, he wrote When We Dead Awaken which proved to be his last play. In 1900, he suffered from a series of strokes but managed to live for few years after that. On May 23, 1906 he passed away. Buy Books by Henrik Ibsen	Henrik Ibsen
On March 21, 1980, President Jimmy Carter announced the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics to protest the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan. Which country was hosting those Olympics?	Henrik Ibsen Home \| Ancient Theatre \| Medieval Theatre \| 16th Century \| 17th Century \| 18th Century \| 19th Century \| 20th Century HENRIK IBSEN (1828-1906) This article was originally published in A Short History of the Drama. Martha Fletcher Bellinger. New York: Henry Holt & Company, 1927. pp. 317-22. IN the entire history of literature, there are few figures like Ibsen. Practically his whole life and energies were devoted to the theater; and his offerings, medicinal and bitter, have changed the history of the stage. The story of his life -- his birth March 20, 1828, in the little Norwegian village of Skien, the change in family circumstances from prosperity to poverty when the boy was eight years old, his studious and non-athletic boyhood, his apprenticeship to an apothecary in Grimstad, and his early attempts at dramatic composition -- all these items are well known. His spare hours were spent in preparation for entrance to Christiania University, where, at about the age of twenty, he formed a friendship with Björnson. About 1851 the violinist Ole Bull gave Ibsen the position of "theater poet" at the newly built National Theater in Bergen -- a post which he held for six years. In 1857 he became director of the Norwegian Theater in Christiania; and in 1862, with Love's Comedy, became known in his own country as a playwright of promise. Seven years later, discouraged with the reception given to his work and out of sympathy with the social and intellectual ideals of his country, he left Norway, not to return for a period of nearly thirty years. He established himself first at Rome, later in Munich. Late in life he returned to Christiania, where he died May 23, 1906. IBSEN'S PLAYS The productive life of Ibsen is conveniently divided into three periods: the first ending in 1877 with the successful appearance of The Pillars of Society ; the second covering the years in which he wrote most of the dramas of protest against social conditions, such as Ghosts ; and the third marked by the symbolic plays, The Master Builder and When We Dead Awaken. The first of the prose plays, Love's Comedy (1862) made an impression in Norway, and drew the eyes of thoughtful people to the new dramatist, though its satirical, mocking tone brought upon its author the charge of being a cynic and an athiest. The three historical plays, or dramatic poems, Brand , Emperor and Galilean, and Peer Gynt , written between 1866 and 1873, form a monumental epic. These compositions cannot be considered wholly or primarily for the stage; they are the poetic record of a long intellectual and spiritual struggle. In Brand there is the picture of the man who has not found the means of adjustment between the mechanical routine of daily living and the deeper claims of the soul; in Emperor and Galilean is a portrayal of the noblest type of pagan philosophy and manhood, illustrated in the Emperor Julian, set off against the ideals of the Jewish Christ; and in Peer Gynt is a picture of the war within the soul of a man in whom are no roots of loyalty, faith, or steadfastness. When The Young Men's League was produced, the occasion, like the first appearance of Hernani , became locally historic. The play deals with political theories, ideas of liberty and social justice; and in its presentation likenesses to living people were discovered, and fierce resentments were aroused. The tumult of hissing and applauding during the performance was so great that the authorities interfered. The Pillars of Society, Ibsen's fifteenth play, was the first to have a hearing throughout Europe. It was written in Munich, where it was performed in the summer of 1877. In the autumn it was enacted in all the theaters of Scandinavia, whence within a few months it spread over the continent, appearing in London before the end of the year. The late James Huneker, one of the most acute critics of the Norwegian seer, said: "The Northern Aristophanes , who never smiles as he lays on the lash, exposes in The Pillars of Society a varied row of white sepulchres. . . . There is no mercy in Ibsen, and his breast has never harbored the milk of human kindness. This remote, objective art does not throw out tentacles of sympathy. It is too disdainful to make the slightest concession, hence the difficulty in convincing an audience that the poet is genuinely humain." The Pillars of Society proved, once and for all, Ibsen's emancipation, first, from the thrall of romanticism, which he had pushed aside as of no more worth than a toy; and, secondly, from the domination of French technique, which he had mastered and surpassed. In the plays of the second period there are evident Ibsen's most mature gifts as a craftsman as well as that peculiar philosophy which made him the Jeremiah of the modern social world. In An Enemy of the People the struggle is between hypocrisy and greed on one side, and the ideal of personal honor on the other; in Ghosts there is an exposition of a fate-tragedy darker and more searching even than in Oedipus ; and in each of the social dramas there is exposed, as under the pitiless lens of the microscope, some moral cancer. Ibsen forced his characters to scrutinize their past, the conditions of the society to which they belonged, and the methods by which they had gained their own petty ambitions, in order that they might pronounce judgment upon themselves. The action is still for the most part concerned with men's deeds and outward lives, in connection with society and the world; and his themes have largely to do with the moral and ethical relations of man with man. In the third period the arena of conflict has changed to the realm of the spirit; and the action illustrates some effort at self-realization, self-conquest, or self-annihilation. The Master Builder and When We Dead Awaken must explain themselves, if they are to be explained at all; for they are meaningless if they do not light, in the mind of the reader or spectator, a spark of some clairvoyant insight with which they were written. In them are characters which, like certain living men and women, challenge and mystify even their closest friends and admirers. Throughout all the plays there are symbols -- the wild duck, the mill race, the tower, or the open sea -- which are but the external tokens of something less familiar and more important; and the dialogue often has a secondary meaning, not with the witty double entendre of the French school, but with suggestions of a world in which the spirit, ill at ease in material surroundings, will find its home. It is significant that Ibsen should arrive, by his own route, at the very principles adopted by Sophocles and commended by Aristotle -- namely, the unities of time, place and action, with only the culminating events of the tragedy placed before the spectator. After the first period he wrote in prose, abolishing all such ancient and serviceable contrivances as servants discussing their masters' affairs, comic relief, asides and soliloquies. The characters in his later dramas are few, and there are no "veils of poetic imagery." IBSEN'S MORAL IDEALS The principles of Ibsen's teaching, his moral ethic, was that honesty in facing facts is the first requisite of a decent life. Human nature has dark recesses which must be explored and illuminated; life has pitfalls which must be recognized to be avoided; and society has humbugs, hypocrisies, and obscure diseases which must be revealed before they can be cured. To recognize these facts is not pessimism; it is the moral obligation laid upon intelligent people. To face the problems thus exposed, however, requires courage, honesty, and faith in the ultimate worth of the human soul. Man must be educated until he is not only intelligent enough, but courageous enough to work out his salvation through patient endurance and nobler ideals. Democracy, as a cure-all, is just as much a failure as any other form of government; since the majority in politics, society, or religion is always torpid and content with easy measures. It is the intelligent and morally heroic minority which has always led, and always will lead, the human family on its upward march. Nevertheless, we alone can help ourselves; no help can come from without. Furthermore -- and this is a vital point in understanding Ibsen -- experience and life are a happiness in themselves, not merely a means to happiness; and in the end good must prevail. Such are some of the ideas that can be distilled from the substance of Ibsen's plays. On the plane of practical methods Ibsen preached the emancipation of the individual, especially of woman. He laid great stress upon the principle of heredity. He made many studies of disordered minds, and analyzed relentlessly the common relationships -- sister and brother, husband and wife, father and son. There is much in these relationships, he seems to say, that is based on sentimentalism, on a desire to dominate, on hypocrisy and lies. He pictured the unscrupulous financier, the artist who gives up love for the fancied demands of his art, the unmarried woman who has been the drudge and the unthanked burden-bearer -- all with a cool detachment which cloaks, but does not conceal, the passionate moralist. From the seventh decade of the last century to his last play in 1899, the storm of criticism, resentment, and denunciation scarcely ceased. On the other hand, the prophet and artist which were united in Ibsen's nature found many champions and friends. In Germany he was hailed as the leader of the new era; in England his champion, William Archer, fought many a battle for him; but in the end no one could escape his example. Young playwrights learned from him, reformers adopted his ideas, and moralists quoted from him as from a sacred book. His plays scorched, but they fascinated the rising generation, and they stuck to the boards. Psychologists discovered a depth of meaning and of human understanding in his delineation of character. He did not found a school, for every school became his debtor. He did not have followers, for every succeeding playwright was forced in a measure to learn from him. HENRIK IBSEN RESOURCES Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) - A biography of the Norwegian dramatist, plus links to purchase all of his works currently in print. Henrik Ibsen: Monologues - An index of monologues by the Norwegian dramatist. Henrik Ibsen: Poems - An index of poems by the Norwegian dramatist. Henrik Ibsen Quotes - A collection of quotes from the plays and other writings of the Norwegian dramatist. Henrik Ibsen Quotes - More quotations from his most famous plays. Brand - An analysis of the play by Ibsen. A Doll's House - A synopsis and analysis of the play by Ibsen. A Doll's House - An analysis of the play by Ibsen.	i don't know
What was the name of the evil wizard whose main goal in life was destroy the Smurfs?	Western Animation-Derived HERO System Character Adaptations - Gargamel WESTERN ANIMATION-DERIVED CHARACTER ADAPTATIONS GARGAMEL Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 10 STR 0 11- Lift 100 kg; 2d6 HTH Damage [2] 10 DEX 0 11- OCV: 3/DCV: 3 14 CON 8 12- 10 BODY 0 11- 20 INT 10 13- PER Roll 13- 14 EGO 8 12- ECV: 5 14 PRE 4 12- PRE Attack: 2 1/2d6 8 COM -1 11- 2 PD 0 Total: 2 PD (0 rPD) 3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED) 3 SPD 10 Phases: 4, 8, 12 5 REC 0 28 END 0 22 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 39 Movement: Running: 6"/12" Leaping: 2"/4" Swimming: 2"/4" Cost Powers & Skills 45 Magic Spells: Variable Power Pool, 40 base + 5 control cost, VPP Can Only Be Changed Between Adventures (-1/2); all slots OAF (Various Different Spell Components; -1), Gestures (Requires both hands; -1/2), Extra Time (Full Phase, -1/2), Incantations (-1/4) 9 Brew Potions: Multipower, 50-point reserve, all slots Extra Time (6 Hours, -3 1/2), OAF (Requires several different material components; -1), Requires Multiple Foci or functions at reduced effectiveness (+1/4), Requires An Alchemy Roll (-1/2) Perks 1 Balthazar: Contact (Contact has been blackmailed by the character, Contact has very useful Skills or resources) 8- 15 Azrael, Gargamel's Pet Cat: Familiar 20 Scruple, Gargamel's Apprentice: Follower 20 Gargamel's Castle/Hut: Vehicles & Bases Notes: Contains arcane library, alchemists lab. Talents 5 Magesight Skills 10 Magic: +2 With Magic Spells 3 Analyze: Magic 13- 3 Bribery 12- 3 Concealment 13- 3 Cryptography 13- 3 Disguise 13- 3 Interrogation 12- 3 Inventor 13- 2 KS: Smurfs 11- 3 KS: Herbalism 13- 2 KS: Arcane Lore 11- 3 PS: Alchemist 13- 4 SS: Alchemy 14- 3 Shadowing 13- 3 Sleight Of Hand 11- 3 Ventriloquism 13- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 169 Total Cost: 208 100+ Disadvantages 5 Enraged: When Outsmurfed By The Smurfs. (Uncommon), Go 8-, Recover 14- 0 Normal Characteristic Maxima 10 Psychological Limitation: Fatherly Love Toward Sassette Smurf (Uncommon, Strong) 25 Psychological Limitation: Obsessed With/Hunts The Smurfs (Very Common, Total) 10 Reputation: "Stay Away From That Bad Ol' Gargamel! He'll Smurf Ya Fer Sure!", 14- (Known Only To A Small Group) 10 Rivalry: Professional (Balthazar; Rival Is More Powerful; Seek To Outdo, Embarrass, Or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware Of Rivalry) 10 Rivalry: Professional (Papa Smurf; Rival Is As Powerful; Seek To Harm Or Kill Rival; Rival Aware Of Rivalry) 0 Rivalry: Professional (Scruple, His Apprentice; Rival Is Less Powerful; Seek To Outdo, Embarrass, Or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware Of Rivalry) 5 Unluck: 1d6 When Dealing With Everything Else 5 Unluck: 2d6: When Dealing With Smurfs 28 Experience Points 208 Total Disadvantage Points Background/History: Gargamel the sorcerer is the sworn enemy of The Smurfs. He is an evil wizard and alchemist, whose main goal in life is to destroy The Smurfs. He lives in a run down castle/hovel with this familiar Azrael, and from time to time, his apprentice Scruple. Personality/Motivation: Gargamel seems to have a personal vengeance against the Smurfs, and is constantly planning their demise, capture, and uses in potions and rituals. From time to time, Gargamel has a notion to eat them. Most notably however, he hopes to find the location of the Smurf village, and to use the Smurfs as an ingredient to make gold. Despite his hatred for Papa Smurf, he has had to work with him on occasion to battle a common evil, but after this compromise passes, he returns to his evil tricky ol' self. Gargamel created Sassette with magic, and sees her as her daughter, though she lives and plays with the Smurfs. Quote: "I hate those Smurfs!" Powers/Tactics: Gargamel's powers center around his magical spells and potions, which always seem to be complex, requiring many different foci. His pet Azrael follows most of his commands. More often than not, his plans are foiled by the Smurfs, his mischievous familiar, or his own bumbling bad luck. Campaign Use: In an less than serious game where the Smurfs or other fey appear, Gargamel would make a fun and bumbling antagonist. Appearance: Gargamel walk with a perpetual stoop, wears a worn and ripped black cloak, has little hair left, and his teeth are rotted.	Gargamel
According to the rules of Monopoly, how many consecutive rolls of doubles does it take to get sent directly to jail?	7 Badass Cartoon Villains Who Lost to Lame Heroes 7 Badass Cartoon Villains Who Lost to Lame Heroes NFL Reviewing Touchdown Celebration Penalty Rules The hero's tale requires that he overcome long odds to defeat the bad guys. We understand that; nobody would have rooted for Luke Skywalker if Darth Vader had been a small, handicapped child. But many of the cartoons of our childhood took this idea to absolutely retarded extremes, to the point that it strained even our childish suspension of disbelief. These are the badass villains who had no business coming out on the losing end: Advertisement 7 Dr. Claw Dr. George Claw is the head of M.A.D., a criminal organization whose main purpose is committing crime and wreaking pointless havoc. Take notice that they don't mention profit or power as a main goal; those are only unexpected bonuses. M.A.D. 1: You know, we could have looted some stuff before burning down that warehouse. M.A.D. 2: Why? There was one time when Claw teamed up with his Japanese counterpart, Waruda, to steal all the jewelery in the world. Yeah, you read it right. All the jewelry. From the Queen of England's crown to the ring in your great grandma's icy death fingers. Why? Presumably, for the hell of it. They also had their logo stamped on everything. You might think it's a weird move for a criminal syndicate, but, you know, you can't underestimate the value of brand management. Who Was He Constantly Losing To? Inspector Gadget. The whole "spawning any weapon from his hat" man machine thing sounds like he'd be a powerful hero, but then you realize he's less "combination of man and machine" and more "combination of machine and pure incompetent asshole." Gadget is constantly being outwitted by his own dog and his 10 or 11-year-old niece. They were the ones who always ruined Dr. Claw's schemes, often by replacing the objects he tried to steal with worthless replicas. It's worth noting that Penny apparently had the same neurological condition as the guy in Memento as she needed to write down everything she was thinking in her 128kb laptop. Really, Dr. Claw? 6 No Heart Well first of all, he is an evil wizard , and we're assuming the name isn't referring to a medical condition. He lives in a dark castle surrounded with dark clouds, where we suppose he performs some dark rituals of dark wizardry. Look at that bastard. Dark robes, a cloak that hides his face in shadows, it's deformed features a mystery other than a pair of glowing, evil red eyes. He also has shadow minions, who may be more fucked up than he is. Whenever children are having good feelings, they just literally suck the feeling out of the children, injecting a creepy pedo-vibe that you don't usually get in Saturday morning cartoons. Also, he is a shapeshifter, so he could just go and shapeshift into some world's leader and start World War III. We tried to find out what power would be more convenient for world domination and we only came out with a gun that had infinite ammo and also great boobs. Then again, he could shapeshift into an even bigger gun with even bigger boobs. Damn you, No Heart! Who Was He Constantly Losing To? The Care Bears. Little fluffy bears who cared. And lived in clouds. Loving everything. Loving each other. Really, when these guys weren't throwing alcohol-free birthday parties they were baking cookies. They sprinkled some light out of their fluffy tummies. Tummies that No Heart should have been able to gut with a single swift move. Instead, they got him with the fluffy tummy light trick over and over again. If the world's most ruthless shapeshifter doesn't stand a chance against fluffy bears, then imagine how screwed we are when the army of Teddy Ruxpin's finally become self aware and crawl up out of the land fills. ↓ Continue Reading Below 5 Gargamel An evil wizard with a degree. He lives in a forest in the middle of nowhere in a run-down hovel, so we're not sure how much good it's doing him. In his early appearances in the cartoons he wanted to capture Smurfs in order to make gold. Later, he decided he wanted to eat them instead. Finally, he got tired of making excuses and admitted he just wanted to slaughter Smurfs because murder is awesome. That's why he named his cat Azrael, which is a name for the angel of death. In addition to being an alchemist, he has the godlike ability to create life, and once created Sassette, a female smurf. If he can make his own smurfs, why does he continue to hunt the free ones? Because he's fucking Gargamel, that's why! Who Was He Constantly Losing To? Tiny (just "three apples tall") peace-loving communists that survive on Smurf berries and very limited skills. Each smurf is named for their single, completely worthless "talent." You've got Hefty Smurf (remember, very small), Brainy Smurf, Jokey Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, Dreamy Smurf, etc. There is no Nucleary Smurf or Snipery Smurf or Impaley Smurf to be found. A normal man of no supernatural powers shouldn't be losing to this group of penis-sized commies. Hell, the goddamned cat should have taken care of the whole village in an afternoon. 4 Duke Sigmund Igthorn The Duke was once a fierce knight loyal to the crown of King Gregor, ruler of Dunwyn. If you know anything about the Middle Ages, you know what kind of shit this guy's got on his resume: Burning down enemy villages while little babies and peasant girls cried for mercy, collecting skulls for the castle's towers, going to war and coming back bathed in enemy's internal organs while bleeding horribly from his own gruesome wounds. After forging his personality in the fires of cruel knighthood, Sir Igthorn became a duke and began a quest to take over the entire kingdom of Dunwyn. What he lacks in arcane knowledge or demonic blood paths, he compensates with badassery. Also, Igthorn commands a legion of bloodthirsty orcs. We don't know if you've watched enough Lord of the Rings to know this, but you don't win the loyalty of orcs with kind words. Igthorn, no doubt, killed half of them and tortured the rest until they swore loyalty with bitter orc tears in their eyes. Who Was He Constantly Losing To? The Gummi Bears. Okay, not the actual candies, but the ones in the candy-inspired Disney cartoon. The story goes that not so long ago Gummi Glen (sigh) was a forest infested with hundreds of Gummi Bears until Duke Igthorn cleared it out, single-handedly. Now, there's only six left and they are somehow giving him a hell of a fight to keep him from taking over the kingdom. And how do these stupid bears stand a chance against the bloodthirsty hellspawn known as Ightorn? Because of the Gummi Juice, a substance that gives the Gummi Bears the amazing power of BOUNCING. Get those things bouncing and a bloodbath ensues Wait a second. Were they really trying to sell us candy by portraying them as sentient, heroic and lovable? For a toddler, doesn't that take the fun out of biting their little heads off? Hell, maybe the whole thing was a roundabout pitch to get us to finish the job Igthorn started. ↓ Continue Reading Below 3 Quellor, the Supreme Oppressor of the Monsters and Villains Organization (M.A.V.O.) Imagine a place so vile that someone finds it necessary to form an organization of monsters and villains, just to get things working a little above pandemonium level. Now imagine what kind of badass it would take to rule this group. That's Quellor, the "Supreme Oppressor" . Quellor takes control of M.A.V.O. with an iron fist, surely in more ways we would like to imagine an iron fist can rule. No matter how odd, stupid, strange or outlandish his orders may be, they are obeyed without delay by each member of M.A.V.O. They know it's that, or a session with Quellor's iron fist. Physically, he is huge and menacing, and throws some kind of electricity from his hands and has a ray that erases the memory of whoever he thinks deserves it. Like No Heart up there, it seems like this guy could rule the world pretty easily. Who Was He Constantly Losing To? Teddy Ruxpin. Teddy is a Illiop, a bear-like creature with a kind disposition. If you're a certain age you may also remember the animatronic Teddy Ruxpin toy that talked out of a cassette embedded in his chest. Then you've got Teddy's friends: Grubby, a kid sized worm that cares only about eating; Newton Gimmick, an absent minded inventor whose head appears to have been ravaged by Alzheimer's; a pair of 10-year-old princess siblings and some furry pink hobbit/yeti/glamorous drag abomination. Well, nothing gay about that. These guys have some precious crystals Quellor wants to get his hands on and, somehow, the Supreme Oppressor never supremely oppresses the fuck out of these furry dipshits. The fist, man! Use the fist! 2 Professor Norton Nimnul Professor Norton Nimnul is a talented mad scientist, however he is not the head of his criminal operations, as he works for Mr. Klordane the Crime Lord. In that capacity, the man has built laser cannons, a shrinking/enlarging gun (he once stole a whole motherfucking museum with it by shrieking it to pocket-size), an aging gun, a cat gun and who knows what else. Shit on the guy, he'll make a gun out of it. Oh, and once he made an earthquake bomb out of nothing but fruit. Who Was He Constantly Losing To? The Rescue Rangers. Don't let the name fool you, this is not a group of Chuck Norrises and Steven Seagals fighting the Professor's inventions with roundhouse kicks. This is a group of five rodents who started a club to fight crime. There is one squirrel who is clever (for a chipmunk), another who is amazingly stupid (for a chipmunk), the muscle of the group (strong for a mouse) and a mouse-girl that actually is pretty good at designing gadgets and devices, but most of the materials she acquires are coke caps, plastic packages and a diverse array of the shit you could dig out of your couch cushions right now. So all of her gadgets could be crushed if the Professor stepped on them. Also, they had a fly. In fact, the whole team could easily die that way. As with Gargamel, it seems the professor should be able to take these rodents out without any of his inventions. A small child could do it, completely by accident. ↓ Continue Reading Below	i don't know
Which First Lady suggested "just say no" to drugs?	Nancy Reagan Introduces "Just Say No" Campaign - HISTORY.com Audio Nancy Reagan Introduces "Just Say No" Campaign (1) In a nationally broadcast message to the American people on September 14, 1986, first lady Nancy Reagan joins President Ronald Reagan to kick off her "Just Say No" campaign, an effort to raise drug abuse awareness. Nancy Reagan Introduces "Just Say No" Campaign (1 min) tv-pg In a nationally broadcast message to the American people on September 14, 1986, first lady Nancy Reagan joins President Ronald Reagan to kick off her "Just Say No" campaign, an effort to raise drug abuse awareness. Related Speeches & Audio	Nancy Reagan
Found in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, what charity was originally formed to fight polio?	Probing Question: Is 'Just Say No' an effective anti-drug approach? \| Penn State University Probing Question: Is 'Just Say No' an effective anti-drug approach? Tom Fitzgerald Probing Question: Is 'Just Say No' an effective anti-drug approach? Shutterstock Many people remember the famous anti-drug slogan coined by former First Lady, Nancy Reagan: "Just Say No." Critiqued by some for reducing a complex issue to a catch phrase, Reagan's campaign is generally considered to have been unsuccessful, and the phrase "just say no" has become a pop-culture joke. "Effective resistance strategies go beyond repeating simplistic slogans at kids,'" says Michael Hecht, professor of communication at Penn State. "Instead, researchers in the field realized a couple of decades ago that we needed to give kids a variety of skills to resist peer pressure, to 'say no,' and to make good decisions. We tried to accomplish this through various structured programs." One of these programs, D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), became especially popular during the eighties and nineties and is still used by some school systems today. But D.A.R.E. has been widely criticized as ineffective. One reason for this failure, according to many, could be that D.A.R.E uses police officers to deliver anti-drug lessons in schools. As Hecht notes, "there is no evidence that police officers are effective in this role. Rather, it is clear from a large body of research that students are more receptive when their peers are involved with delivering the message." Even programs that work well under ideal conditions are frequently less effective when adapted to suit implementers' needs or tastes, Hecht says. And some programs don't work at all, even with proper implementation. "That's why the federal government keeps a database of anti-drug programs and their success statistics in an effort to inform the public about which programs could work for their school or community." One program that has shown positive results is "keepin' it REAL" (an acronym for the program's strategies: "Refuse, Explain, Avoid and Leave"). The four strategies emerged in research conducted by Hecht and associate professor of communication, Michelle Miller-Day, when both taught at Arizona State University in the 1990s. "'keepin' it REAL' differs from previous programs in that it works from the ground up rather than from the top down," according to Miller-Day. In the program, high school students produced video narratives that show how youth have made good decisions and dealt with offers of drugs in their own lives. These videos are shown to middle school students, who then discuss the content. By involving kids in making video presentations of the kind of real-life situations they face, Miller-Day says, the social consequences of drug-taking are addressed in a way that makes sense to other kids. "keepin' it REAL" also takes into account cultural and ethnic differences in the way kids deal with offers of drugs. For example, Hecht and colleagues at Arizona State University designed the program with a version of the curriculum which features Mexican American kids and their culture and a version that is multicultural. How does Hecht know the program works? "That's the easy part," he says. "The research shows that kids are fairly honest on anonymous surveys. Breathalyzer and saliva test results correlate well with the surveys. And more to the point, kids don't have any more reason to lie to us than to anyone else. The survey data show significant positive effects on drug use and attitudes toward drugs." Miller-Day and Hecht attribute this success to the fact that their program was "designed by kids, for kids, and through kids." Programs like "keepin' it REAL" recognize that adolescence is complicated, Hecht suggests, and that kids can play a vital role in explaining to their peers how to "say no" to drugs, even in situations that are not simple or easy. "keepin' it REAL" is now being tested in four schools in Delaware. Next year, fourteen more schools in that state will test the program. Forty-seven schools in Pennsylvania have also lined up to be involved in a Pennsylvania version of "keepin' it REAL" if funding becomes available. Michael Hecht, Ph.D., is professor of speech communications and crime, law, and justice. He can be reached at [email protected] . Michelle Miller-Day, Ph.D., is assistant professor of communication arts and sciences. She can be reached at [email protected] . Share this story	i don't know
Of which nursery rhyme character do we ask “how does your garden grow”?	A-Z Nursery Rhyme List Preschool Activities A-Z Nursery Rhyme List An A-z nursery rhyme list of favorite classic and traditional nursery songs and verses to build a rich cultural heritage. The colourful characters and vivid language have fascinated children for centuries. Do You Know? Find out why seeming nonsense verses about fanciful characters offer many benefits to children and opportunities to learn key skills for effective communication and success in adult life. Also read why memorization is an essential Preschool Language Activity Click on a title on the list below to go directly to that rhyme. Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full One for the master and one for the dame And one for the little boy, Who lives down the lane. Little Bo-Peep Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep And doesn't know where to find them. Leave them alone and they'll come home, Bringing their tails behind them. Little Boy Blue Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn The cow's in the meadow, the sheep's in the corn Where is the little boy who looks after the sheep? He's under the haystack, fast asleep. Top of Nursery Rhyme List Pat-a-Cake Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Pat it and prick it and mark it with B And put it in the oven for Baby and me. Clap Handies Clap handies, clap handies for Daddy to come Daddy's got sweeties and Mommy's got none. Cobbler, Cobbler Cobbler cobbler, mend my shoe Get it done by half past two Do it neat and do it strong And I will pay you when itâ€™s done. Top of Nursery Rhymes List Doctor Foster Went to Gloucester Doctor Foster went to Gloucester In a shower of rain. He stepped in a puddle Right up to his middle And ne'er went there again. Hey Diddle Diddle The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun And the dish ran away with the spoon. Goosey Goosey Gander And in my lady's chamber. There I met a man, Who wouldn't say his prayers. I took him by the left leg, And through him down the stairs. Top of Nursery Rhymes List Horsey, Horsey Horsey, horsey don't you stop Just let your feet go clippetty clop The tail goes swish and the wheels go round Giddy up, we're homeward bound. My Grandfather's Clock Was too large for the shelf So it stood ninety years on the floor. It was taller by half Than the old man himself Though it weighed not a penny weight more. It was bought on the morn Of the day that he was born And was always his treasure and pride But it stopped short never to go again When the old man died. Ninety years without slumbering It stopped short never to go again When the old man died. Top of Nursery Rhymes List. Little Hen (a term of endearment for a daughter) I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen, She washed up the dishes and kept the house clean. She went to the mill to fetch us some flour, And always got home in less than an hour. She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale, She sat by the fire and told a fine tale! Hickety Pickety Hickety Pickety my black hen She lays eggs for gentlemen Sometimes nine and sometimes ten Hickety Pickety my black hen Hickory Dickory Dock The mouse ran up the clock The clock struck one Top of Nursery Rhyme List Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty sat on wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again. As I was Going to St. Ives As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives Each wife had seven sacks Each sack had seven cats Each cat had seven kits Kits, cats, sacks and wives How many were going to St. Ives? (Answer: only one - I) I hear thunder, I hear thunder Hark don't you? Hark don't you? Pitter patter raindrops I'm wet though, I'm wet through! Top of Nursery Rhyme List Jack and Jill Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Little Jack Horner Little Jack Horner sat in a corner Eating his Christmas pie. He stuck in his thumb And pulled out a plum And said: "What a good boy am I!" Jack Sprat Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean, And so between the two They licked the platter clean. Top of Nursery Rhyme List Jack Be Nimble Old King Cole was a merry old soul And a merry old soul was he. He called for his pipe and his called for his bowl And he called for his fiddlers three. Leaves are Falling (to the tune of "I hear thunder") Leaves are falling Look at all the colours Look at all the colours Red, yellow, brown Top of Nursery Rhyme List London Bridge London bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down London Bridge is falling down My fair lady Build it up with sticks and stones Stick and stones, sticks and stones Build it up with sticks and stones My fair lady. Mary Had a Little Lamb Mary had a little lamb Its fleece was white as snow And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day Which was against the rule. It made the children laugh and play To see a lamb at school. Mary Mary Quite Contrary How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. Top of Nursery Rhymes List Old Mother Hubbard To get her poor dog a bone But when she got there The cupboard was bare And so the poor dog had none. Little Miss Muffet Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet Eating her curds and whey, There came a big spider, Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away. Nellie the Elephant And trundled out of the jungle. Off she went with a trumpety trump Trump, trump, trump! Top of Nursery Rhyme List I Had a Little Nut Tree I had a little nut tree, Nothing would it bear The king of Spain's daughter Came to visit me And all for the sake Of my little nut tree. The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe There was an old woman who lived in a shoe She had so many children, She didn't know what to do She gave them some broth without any bread And spanked them all soundly and sent them to bed. Pease Porridge Hot Pease porridge in the pot Nine days old. Some like it in the pot Nine days old. Top of Nursery Rhyme List I Love Little Pussy I love little Pussy, her coat is so warm And if I don't hurt her, she'll do me no harm. So I'll not pull her tail, nor drive her away, But Pussy and I very gently will play. The Queen of Hearts The queen of hearts made some tarts All on a summer's day. The knave of hearts stole the tarts And took them clean away. The king of hearts called for the tarts And beat the knave full sore. The knave of hearts brought back the tarts And vowed he'd steal no more. Pussy Cat I have been to London To visit the queen. I frightened a little mouse under the chair. Top of Nursery Rhyme List Row, Row, Row Your Boat Row, row, row, your boat Gently down the stream Life is but a dream. Rain rain go away Little Johnny wants to play; Rain, rain, go to Spain, Never show your face again! Ring-A-Ring-o'Rosies A pocket full of posies A-tishoo, a-tishoo Top of Nursery Rhyme List Ten Green Bottles Ten green bottles hanging on the wall Ten green bottles hanging on the wall And if one green bottle should accidentally fall There'll be nine green bottles hanging on the wall. Nine green bottles hanging on the wall - repeat until there are no green bottles hanging on the wall. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high Like a diamond in the sky Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are. See-saw Margery Daw Johnny shall have a new master. He shall have a penny a day Because he can't work any faster. Way Down South Way down south, where bananas grow A grasshopper stepped on an elephant's toe The elephant said, with tears in his eyes "Pick on someone your own size." Top of Nursery Rhyme List	Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
According to the Shakespeare play, a seer warned Julius Ceasar to beware what?	BELIEVE IT OR NOT FACTS / MEANINGS OF NURSERY RHYMES;- admin Madmart BELIEVE IT OR NOT FACTS / MEANINGS OF NURSERY RHYMES;- BELIEVE IT OR NOT FACTS / MEANINGS OF NURSERY RHYMES;- did you know that many of the nursery rhymes we parents sing to our young child hold tales of horror, death, sex, superstition and maybe even murder HI EVERYONE, I KNOW THAT THE MEANING OF NURSERY RHYMES DOE'S NOT FALL INTO THE NORMAL REALMS OF A GHOST AND SUPERNATURAL FORUM, BUT AFTER A CHAT AND BEING ASKED ABOUT A MEANING BEHIND A NURSERY RHYME, I LEARNED THAT MANY OF THEM HOLD DARK HORRIBLE MEANINGS, THUS LEADING TO THIS NEW FORUM SECTION BEING FORMED, SO WE CAN SHARE THESE MEANINGS WITH ONE AND OTHER HAVE FUN AND THINK TWICE ABOUT THE MEANING TO THAT NURSEY RHYME, NEXT TIME YOU SING IT TO YOUR YOUNG ONES !!!!!!! Humpty Dumpty The imagery of Humpty Dumpty Humpty Dumpty was a colloquial term used in fifteenth century England describing someone who was obese. This has given rise to various, but inaccurate, theories surrounding the identity of Humpty Dumpty. The image of Humpty Dumpty was made famous by the illustrations included in the 'Alice through the looking glass' novel by Lewis Carroll. However, Humpty Dumpty was not a person pilloried in the famous rhyme! The History and Origins of the Rhyme Humpty Dumpty was in fact believed to be a large cannon! It was used during the English Civil War ( 1642 - 1649) in the Siege of Colchester (13 Jun 1648 - 27 Aug 1648). Colchester was strongly fortified by the Royalists and was laid to siege by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads). In 1648 the town of Colchester was a walled town with a castle and several churches and was protected by the city wall. Standing immediately adjacent the city wall, was St Mary's Church. A huge cannon, colloquially called Humpty Dumpty, was strategically placed on the wall next to St Mary's Church. The historical events detailing the siege of Colchester are well documented - references to the cannon ( Humpty Dumpty) are as follows: June 15th 1648 - St Mary's Church is fortified and a large cannon is placed on the roof which was fired by ï¿½One-Eyed Jack Thompson' July 14th / July 15th 1648 - The Royalist fort within the walls at St Mary's church is blown to pieces and their main cannon battery ( Humpty Dumpty) is destroyed. August 28th 1648 - The Royalists lay down their arms, open the gates of Colchester and surrender to the Parliamentarians A shot from a Parliamentary cannon succeeded in damaging the wall beneath Humpty Dumpty which caused the cannon to tumble to the ground. The Royalists, or Cavaliers, 'all the King's men' attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall. However, because the cannon , or Humpty Dumpty, was so heavy ' All the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put Humpty together again!' This had a drastic consequence for the Royalists as the strategically important town of Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege lasting eleven weeks. Earliest traceable publication 1810. A Picture of typical Cavalier who would have fought for the Royalists during the English Civil War A Roundhead ( Parliamentarian) was so called from the close-cropped hair of the Puritans The word Cavalier is derived from the French word Chevalier meaning a military man serving on horseback - a knight. Humpty Dumpty poem Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses, And all the King's men Couldn't put Humpty together again! Alternative Words... Humpty dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty dumpty had a great fall; Threescore men and threescore more, Could not place Humpty as he was before. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Religious meaning of Hot Cross Buns Hot cross buns are a small, spicey fruit cake decorated with a white cross as shown in the picture of our Hot Cross Buns . Generally Hot Cross Buns are served with a butter spread. Hot cross buns were hawked by streetsellers to the cry of "Hot cross buns!" around the the nineteenth century. This particular way of selling wares is demonstrated in the movie "Oliver!" based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Hot Cross Buns are generally sold at Easter to celebrate the religious significance of the resurrection of Christ following his death on the cross in the Easter Christian festival. Hot Cross Buns nursery rhyme Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! One a penny two a penny - Hot cross buns If you have no daughters, give them to your sons One a penny two a penny - Hot cross buns -------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Rhyme using onomatopoeia in the lyrics of Horsey Horsey The lyrics of Horsey Horsey introduce a child to onomatopoeia ( a word that sounds like its meaning) The words in Horsey Horsey include 'swish' and 'clippetty clop' when pronounced convey the sounds a horse might make! This technique is used in various children's books and Television programmes! The most famous example of a TV program which uses onomatopoeia is Batman and Robin cartoon and tv film programme of the 1970's with a liberal scattering of words such as 'Zap', 'Whoosh' and Pow' etc. In Horsey Horsey the words 'Giddy up' are included. This is a term long used by horse riders from way back in English history and has been adopted in many other parts of the world. Horsey Horsey rhyme Horsey horsey don't you stop Just let your feet go clippetty clop The tail goes swish and the wheels go round Giddy up, we're homeward bound. ------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Words of the Three Little Kittens Nursery Rhyme A cautionary tale with words directed toward to a mother and child and the common occurrence of losing an article, then finding it and finally being rewarded! The word "meeow" shows effective use of onomatopoeia where a word sounds like the action. The mother cat was correct in her view that she could "smell a rat!" This Nursery Rhyme first appeared in the " Only True Mother Goose Melodies" in 1843. Three Little Kittens poem Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry, "Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens." "What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens! Then you shall have no pie." "Meeow, meeow, meeow, now we shall have no pie." The three little kittens they found their mittens, And they began to cry, "Oh mother dear, see here, see here For we have found our mittens." "Put on your mittens, you silly kittens And you shall have some pie" "Meeow, meeow, meeow, Now let us have some pie." The three little kittens put on their mittens And soon ate up the pie, "Oh mother dear, we greatly fear That we have soiled our mittens." "What! soiled you mittens, you naughty kittens!" Then they began to cry, "Meeow, meeow, meeow" Then they began to sigh. The three little kittens they washed their mittens And hung them out to dry, "Oh mother dear, do you not hear That we have washed our mittens." "What! washed your mittens, you are good kittens." But I smell a rat close by, "Meeow, meeow, meeow" we smell a rat close by... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Jack and Jill story - The French (history) connection! The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics to the Jack and Jill poem were made more acceptable as a story for children by providing a happy ending! The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins. The Jack and Jill poem is also known as Jack and Gill - the mis-spelling of Gill is not uncommon in nursery rhymes as they are usually passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. Death by Beheading! On the gruesome subject of beheading it was the custom that following execution the severed head was held up by the hair by the executioner. This was not, as many people think, to show the crowd the head but in fact to show the head the crowd and it's own body! Consciousness remains for at least eight seconds after beheading until lack of oxygen causes unconsciousness and eventually death. The guillotine is associated with the French but the English were the first to use this device as described in our section containing Mary Mary Quite Contrary Rhyme. Jack and Jill poem and story A picture of a French Revolution execution Scene during the Reign of Terror Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Up got Jack, and home did trot As fast as he could caper He went to bed and bound his head With vinegar and brown paper. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Mary Quite Contrary: origin Nursery Rhyme Origins & History The origins are steeped in history... Bloody Mary! The Mary alluded to in this traditional English nursery rhyme is reputed to be Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith - Protestant martyrs. Instruments of Torture! The silver bells and cockle shells referred to in the Nursery Rhyme were colloquialisms for instruments of torture. The 'silver bells' were thumbscrews which crushed the thumb between two hard surfaces by the tightening of a screw. The 'cockleshells' were believed to be instruments of torture which were attached to the genitals! The " Maids" or Maiden was the original guillotine! The 'maids' were a device to behead people called the Maiden. Beheading a victim was fraught with problems. It could take up to 11 blows to actually sever the head, the victim often resisted and had to be chased around the scaffold. Margaret Pole (1473 - 1541), Countess of Salisbury did not go willingly to her death and had to be chased and hacked at by the Executioner. These problems led to the invention of a mechanical instrument (now known as the guillotine) called the Maiden - shortened to Maids in the Mary Mary Nursery Rhyme. The Maiden had long been in use in England before Lord Morton, regent of Scotland during the minority of James VI, had a copy constructed from the Maiden which had been used in Halifax in Yorkshire. Ironically, Lord Morton fell from favour and was the first to experience the Maiden in Scotland! Executions! Another form of execution during Mary's reign was being burnt at the stake - a terrible punishment much used during the Spanish Inquisition. The English hated the Spanish and dreaded the idea of an English Inquisition. The executions during the reign of Bloody Mary were therefore viewed with a greater fear of the Spanish than the executions themselves - it is interesting to note that executions during her reign totalled less than 300 an insignificant amount compared to the executions ordered by her father King Henry VIII which are believed to have numbered tens of thousands! Mary Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Nursery Rhyme & History Who was Old King Cole? The origins of the Nursery rhyme lyrics of Old King Cole are based in history dating back to 3rd century. There is considerable confusion regarding the origins of Old King Cole as there are three possible contenders who were Celtic Kings of Britain, all who share the name Coel (which is the Celtic word for the English word Cole). Historia Regum Britanniae ( History of the Kings of Britain) by Geoffrey of Monmouth (1110-1155) refers to a King Cole as a king of the Britons. Our research details the contenders as follows: Coel Godhebog (Cole the Magnificent - b.220 Decurion of Rome) Coel Godhebog was the Lord of Colchester ( the word Colchester means " Cole's Castle"). The Romans had conquered Britain during this period and Coel Godhebog was a Decurion meaning member of the municipal Senate in Ancient Rome who ran a local government. Gaius Flavius Valerius Constantius (250ï¿½306) was an Emperor of the Western Roman Empire (305-306). According to the Historia Regum Britanniae Constantius was sent to Britain in 296AD. where his liaison with Helena, apparently the daughter of Coel Godhebog, produced a son who became Constantine the Great. Coel Hen ( Coel the Old c.350 - c.420 ) Coel Hen, called Coel the Old due to his longevity, was also the Lord of Colchester and a Decurion. This was the time of the Decline of the Roman Empire and the Romans officials abandoned Britain and returned to Italy which was under attack by the Goths. Coel Hen was therefore believed to be the last Decurion. This man is probably the main contender as 'Old King Cole' due to the name he was given - Coel the Old. St. Ceneu ap Coel ( Born c382 ) St. Ceneu ap Coel was the son of Coel Hen. Ceneu appears to have been made a Saint because he upheld the old Christian ways against pagan invaders. He used Saxon mercenaries to help with this quest. He was named in the Historia Regum Britanniae as attending the coronation of King Arthur who became the 'One King' of the Britons. The Origins The History of the Ancient Britons is being reflected in the origins of Old King Cole encompassing the times of the Celts, the Romans, the Saxons and King Arthur. The Tudor dynasty, starting with King Henry VII, claimed to descend from Old King Cole's royal lineage in attempt to further legitimise the Royal House of Tudor's claim to the English throne. One of the main sources of information regarding the Ancient Britons is taken from the works by Geoffrey of Monmouth. But Geoffrey lived many years later in the 1100's and much of his history on the pre-Saxon kings of Britain is based on Celtic legends - thus adding to the confusion regarding the origins of Old King Cole! Old King Cole poem Old King Cole was a merry old soul, and a merry old soul was he; He called for his pipe in the middle of the night And he called for his fiddlers three. Every fiddler had a fine fiddle, and a very fine fiddle had he; Oh there's none so rare as can compare With King Cole and his fiddlers three. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Who, or what, was a Little Tommy Tucker? Little 'Tommy Tucker' referred to in the words of this nursery rhyme was a colloquial term that was commonly used to describe orphans - Little Tommy Tucker . The orphans were often reduced to begging or 'singing for their supper'. The reference to Little Tommy Tucker marrying and the lack of a wife reflects the difficulty of any orphan being able to marry due to their exceptionally low standing within the community. The first publication date for Little Tommy Tucker was 1829. Little Tommy Tucker rhyme Little Tommy Tucker sings for his supper, What shall we give him? Brown bread and butter. How shall he cut it without a knife? How shall he marry without a wife? --------------------------------------------------------------- London Bells "Oranges and Lemons" Nursery Rhyme Alternative lyrics to the Oranges and Lemon rhyme The Bells of London Nursery Rhyme evolves into Oranges and Lemons! The Oranges and Lemons Nursery Rhymes refers to many of the Churches and Institutions found near, or within the City of London. The alternative lyrics to Oranges and Lemons rhyme is the London Bells Nursery Rhyme which is the original version of Oranges and Lemons! The Children's Choice! Over the course of time the original lyrics have been forgotten - the cut-down version is much easier for children to remember. The section at the end of the Oranges and Lemons rhyme "Here comes the candle..." was added at a much later date, enabling children to play the party game. Our Heritage is conveyed in Nursery Rhymes! The words of the London Bells rhyme accurately reflect the history of London and maintains our heritage - the traditions and customs practised in London's bygone days. The Bells of London are telling us Stories! The stories relating to the Bells of London reflect the history of the city and the people who lived there. At first glance the 'Bells of London' and the newer version of 'Oranges and Lemons' Nursery Rhymes look to be interesting poems which include the most famous bells and churches of London. But the rhyme is actually very clever for the words the bells are saying, such as " Oranges and Lemons", "Bullseyes and Targets" and "Pokers and Tongs", reveal the many long-gone trades practised and wares sold by the people who lived in the great city of London. They also reveal the history of life in London! Lord Mayors, Torturers, Executioners and Money Lenders! Lord Mayors, Torturers, Executioners and Money Lenders are all referred to in the words of the bells! The secret history and origins of the Bells of London Nursery Rhyme are revealed - once again a seemingly innocent Nursery Rhyme for children hides sinister undertones! Picture of the Tower of London "Bells of St Johns" in St John's Chapel in the White Tower Gay go up and gay go down To Ring the Bells of London Town "Oranges and Lemons" say the Bells of St. Clements "Bullseyes and Targets" say the Bells of St. Margaret's "Brickbats and Tiles" say the Bells of St. Giles "Halfpence and Farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's "Pancakes and Fritters" say the Bells of St. Peter's "Two Sticks and an Apple" say the Bells of Whitechapel "Maids in white aprons" say the Bells at St. Katherine's "Pokers and Tongs" say the Bells of St. John's "Kettles and Pans" say the Bells of St. Anne's "Old Father Baldpate" say the slow Bells of Aldgate "You owe me Ten Shillings" say the Bells of St. Helen's "When will you Pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey "When I grow Rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch "Pray when will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney "I do not know" say the Great Bell of Bow Gay go up and gay go down To Ring the Bells of London Town Origins and History of the London Bells Nursery Rhyme! Each of the fifteen 'Bells of London' referred to in the rhyme have been fully researched and can be accessed below;- Church Location Life in London St. Clements Clements Lane and King William Street, Eastcheap Citrus Fruit unloaded at the nearby wharves St. Margarets Lothbury (a street name) Archery practise St. Giles Cripplegate, Barbican Builders St. Martin's Martin Lane, Eastcheap Money lending St Katherine Cree Leadenhall Street Leadenhall Market St. Peter's Cornhill Bakers & Fast Food ! St. John's Tower of London Torturers St. Ann's & St Agnes Gresham Street Coppersmiths St. Helen's Bishopsgate Lord Mayor, Money Lender The above Churches are featured in the London Bells Nursery Rhyme The Bells of St Clements St Clements is a small church situated in St. Clements Lane, Eastcheap. There have been three Churches on the site starting with the first in the 11th Century when the church is mentioned in a confirmation of grants to Westminster Abbey in 1067. The original old Church was rebuilt in the 15th Century. The second church was destroyed in 1666 during the Great Fire of London The existing church was rebuilt in 1687 by Sir Christopher Wren (the great architect of St Paul's Cathedral). The "Oranges and lemons" refer to the citrus fruits unloaded at the nearby wharves. The Bells of St. Margarets St. Margarets was founded in 1197 but the original church burned down in 1440. It was rebuilt at the expense of Robert Large who was Lord Mayor of London at the time of the disaster. The second church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666 but rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1690. The "Bullseyes and Targets" refer to archery which was practised in the nearby fields. In 1363 King Edward III had commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays. This tradition continued, thus ensuring the safety of the Realm, until Bows were replaced with guns. The Bells of St. Giles In 1090 a Norman church stood on this site but was rebuilt in 1394 during the reign of King Richard II. The church escaped the Great Fire of London in 1666 but was badly burnt in the Cripplegate Fire of 1897 and was hit by a bomb during World War II. Oliver Cromwell was married in the church on 22nd August 1620. The "Brickbats and Tiles" refers to the bricks and tiles used by nearby builders. The reference to bricks is interesting as bricks were introduced to London by Judge Popham, who resided over the trial of Guy Fawkes immortalised in the Nursery Rhyme Remember, Remember the 5th November The Bells of St. Martins The Bells of St. Martin's St Martin Ongar church, situated in Martin Lane was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Only the bell tower, complete with the original bell, has survived in the rectory of St Clements. "You owe me five farthings" relates to the moneylenders who traded nearby. The Great Fire of London - destruction of the London Churches Many of the old London churches were destroyed in the Great Fire of London. The fire started in Pudding Lane in the house and shop of Thomas Farynor who was baker to King Charles II. The King was aware of the risk of fire in Baker's shops and ensured that this task was conducted away from the palaces. In the London of 1666 the medieval houses were half timbered, with pitch, and most had thatched roofs - the recipe for disaster in terms of fire risks! The old St Paul's cathedral was destroyed in the fire together with 87 .churches. A total of 13,200 houses were also destroyed but amazingly only 6 were known to have died! Sir Christopher Wren, the great architect, was tasked with the reconstruction of London and built 49 new churches together with the great cathedral of St. Paul's over a period of 35 years! The city was not subject to re-planning and houses were replaced on exactly the sites of the buildings which were destroyed. To this day the City of London has the same structure which dates back to medieval times! A final note on the Great Fire! A year before, in 1665, the City was decimated by the Great Plague of London which killed 16% of the inhabitants (17,500 out of the population of 93,000) - The Great Fire whilst destroying most of London also purged it of the Plague! We recommend the following site for comprehensive information regarding the Bubonic Plague and the Black Death http://www.william-shakespeare.in...-black-plague-elizabethan-era.htm The Bells of St. Peter's St Peter upon Cornhill stands on one of the most historic Christian sites in London. It dates back to AD179 when it was the site of the Roman basilica built by Lucius, the first Christian ruler of Britain. The name Cornhill derives from the Corn Market which was situated there and dated back to Roman times. An earlier church is mentioned in records dating back to 1552 - its bell was faulty and Robert Mott, Master Founder of the Aldgate Foundry, was casting a new bell. It was hung in the steeple but shortly after the church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London and subsequently rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren in 1687. The reference to "Pancakes and Fritters" alludes to the wares which were sold to the local workers - the 'fast food' of old London! The Bells of Whitechapel The bells of Whitechapel do not refer to a church but to the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. The foundry was established in 1570 and famous for making the Liberty Bell which was shipped to America in 1752 and for making the 'Clock Bells' of St Paul's cathedral in 1709. The Great Clock of Westminster - known as 'Big Ben' is the most famous bell ever cast at Whitechapel. The best bells were made 'at the sign of the three bells' in Whitechapel. We are unable to trace the origins of "Two Sticks and an Apple" however the foundry produced hand bells - similar in shape to toffee apples - could be a connection. We also know that the transportation of bells to other parts of London drew great crowds and the atmosphere was similar to that of a fair where of course toffee apples were traditionally eaten The Bells of St. Katherine's The site of St Katherine Cree dates back to 1108 when it was served by the Augustan Priory of Holy Trinity (Christ Church). The church of St Katharine Cree was established as a separate church in the 1200's. It took its name from the original priory as the word 'Cree' is an abbreviation of "Christ Church". The body of the church was rebuilt in 1631 during the years preceding the Civil War, and is one of only eight churches in the City to survive the Great Fire of London. St Katherine Cree is located near Leadenhall market. The market was so called as it was located, in the 14th century, around a great house which boasted a lead roof. "Maids in white aprons" refers to the costume of the women of the early 1600's who sold the wares which included meat, game, poultry and fish. In 1666 the market was partially destroyed in the Great Fire of London. The Bells of St. John's The Chapel of St John is the oldest church in London and situated in the Tower of London on the second floor of the White Tower. The Tower of London was built in 1077 - 97 by William the Conqueror. A door from the Great Chamber on the second floor leads to the north aisle of the Chapel of St John the Evangelist. A gruesome discovery was made under the stairs leading to the chapel. The remains of the bodies of the two Little Princes, Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York were found who were reputedly killed on the orders of their uncle the Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III ( although some scholars name Henry VII as the culprit). The Tower of London was used as a prison for many years and the "Pokers and Tongs" refer to the instruments of torture which were used there! We recommend castles.me.uk for fully comprehensive details regarding the Tower of London The Bells of St. Anne's The joint dedication of St Anne's and St Agnes church was mentioned in a grant given by Westminster Abbey in 1467. The original church was devastated during the Great Fire of London in 1666 and was the eleventh church built by Sir Christopher Wren and finished in 1680 (he built 49 churches and the new St Paul's Cathedral!) The church was hit by a bomb during World War II and required extensive reconstruction. The "Kettles and Pans" refer to the utensils sold by the coppersmiths who worked nearby. The Bells of Aldgate - Church of St. Botolph's The bells of Aldgate do not refer to principally to a church but to the Aldgate Bell foundry. A Master Founder, called Robert Chamberlain, can be traced back through records dated 1420. In 1588 another Master Founder called Robert Mott, who worked for the Aldgate Foundry from 1574 to1606, recast one of the bells of the Church of St. Botolph's in Aldgate. The Church of St. Botolph's is mentioned in records dating back to 1125. St. Botolph was a pious Saxon Abbot who had built a monastery in Lincolnshire in 654AD. Saint Botolph is the Patron Saint of Boston, Massachusetts. The name was taken as a derivative of "Botolph's town" which became known "Boston". The current church was erected between 1725 and 1740 and dedicated to the Patron Saint of Travellers and Itinerants. The Church of St. Botolph's was known as the 'Prostitutes' church' because the ladies would solicit their trade in this area. Catherine Eddowes, a victim of the notorious Jack the Ripper was seen drunk in the vicinity of the church on the night of her murder on 30th September 1888. The reference to "Old Father Bald Pate" relates to Saint Botolph. A bald pate was a colloquialism used to describe a bald-headed person. saint botolph botolph church The Bells of St. Helen's A Benedictine nunnery originally formed part of the church which dates back to 1210. In 1538 the nunnery was surrendered to King Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The convent buildings and land was acquired in 1543 by the Leathersellers' Company. The church was frequented by many rich merchants who lived in the area. These included a Mercer (cloth trader) called Sir John "Rich" Spencer. He became Lord Mayor of London in 1594 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. As his nickname indicates he was extremely wealthy as well as being very mean. He also operated as a money lender and explains the reference "You owe me Ten Shillings" in the rhyme. William Shakespeare attended this church ( the Bard was also involved in money lending and in 1570 his father John Shakespeare, also a leather seller, was accused in the Exchequer Court of Usury for lending money at the rate of 20% and 25% Interest) The Bells of Old Bailey - St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate Church The Old Bailey did not have its own bell - it refers to the bells of St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate church and the bell of Newgate prison! St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate is the largest church in the City of London and was sited opposite London's courthouse and the infamous Newgate prison which housed both criminals and debtors. The bell of St. Sepulchre marked the time ( death knell ) of imminent executions until Newgate prison acquired its own bell. A church has stood on this site since 1137. It was originally called St Edmund-King-and-Martyr but the name was changed during the Crusades to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The church was a useful meeting point for the Knights embarking on a crusade as it was positioned just outside a city gate. The church was destroyed by the Great Fire of London and rebuilt by Wren in 1671. The medieval courthouse of London was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666 and was replaced by London's Central Criminal Court which was used during 1673 -1834. The local name for the court was the 'Old Bailey' which was so-called after the street in which it was located Bailey Street) which was right next to Newgate Prison. The phrase "When will you pay me?" refers to the Debtors housed in Newgate Prison and those tried at the Old Bailey. The Bells of Shoreditch - St Leonard's Church, Shoreditch The Bells of Shoreditch refer to those housed in St Leonard's Church, on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch - now part of the London Borough of Hackney. There has been a Church on the site of St. Leonards since 12th Century. St Leonards was often frequented by Elizabethan actors as it was located near to the first purpose built theatre called 'The Theatre' and also in close proximity to the 'Curtain Theatre'. The current church, was built rebuilt in 1740 but its churchyard still holds earlier graves including those of many actors including William Shakespeare's friend and builder of the Curtain Theatre, Richard Burbage. The area was considered a very poor district of London. In 1774, the Shoreditch Vestry levied a special poor rate for the purpose of setting up a workhouse for the parish of St Leonard's which illustrates the level of poverty in the area. The hopeful phrase " When I grow rich" must have been echoed by many of the inhabitants of Shoreditch. The Bells of Stepney - St Dunstan's Church, Stepney St Dunstan's Church is located on Stepney High Street. A church has stood on the site prior to 952AD, when a stone church was erected, replacing the previous wooden structure. The existing building is the third church to be built on this site and was erected in 1580. There are ten bells in the belfry, dating back to 1385, some which were made at the local Whitechapel Bell Foundry. St Dunstan's has a long traditional link with the sea and it was once known as the 'Church of the High Seas'. Many sailors were buried in the churchyard. The phrase "When will that be?" could possibly refer to wives waiting for sailors to return from voyages with their fortunes, when their 'boat came in'. This was particularly relevant during the 16th and 17th centuries when many sailors were employed on Voyages of Discovery to the New Worlds - their wives would have to wait for their return to receive any wages, but they never knew how long the voyages might be - a two year wait was not uncommon! The Bells of Bow - Church of St Mary-le-Bow St Mary-le-Bow is a historic church in the City of London, off Cheapside. There has been a church on this site dating back to before the arrival of the Normans in 1066. In 1469 the first reference to Bow bells were made in relation to the building of the steeple. In 1631 the poet and Minister John Donne (1572-1631) died and left a bequest for the upkeep of Bow bell. John Donne wrote the famous poem 'For whom the bell tolls' (No man is an island)! The current building was built by Sir Christopher Wren between 1670 and 1680, after the Great Fire of London destroyed the previous church. Dick Whittington - Lord Mayor of London! Dick Whittington, who the famous children's story and pantomime is based on, was a real person (1350 - 1423). He was a Mercer (a dealer in cloth) and was elected Lord Mayor of London four times. In the children's story Dick Whittington leaves London with his cat but is called back by the sound of the ringing of Bow bells. Cockneys! The Bow bells are important to the traditions of London and it is said that to be a true cockney you must be born within hearing distance of the sound Bow bells. Based on this fact there were no Cockneys born between 11th May 1941 (when the bells were destroyed in a World War II German air raid) and 21st December 1961 (when the Bells rung for the first time after 20 years of restoration work). The BBC used the peal of the bells of Bow at the start of each broadcast to occupied Europe during World War II. Church of St Mary-le-Bow Nursery Rhyme Origins & History The Origins of the words from "Doctor Foster" The origins and history of the poem "Doctor Foster" are in England, this is made clear with the reference to the English county of Gloucestershire (Doctor Foster went to Gloucester...). This was a warning to children in bygone days, prior to modern roads, that what may appear to be a shallow puddle could in fact be much deeper! "Doctor Foster" History The origins of "Doctor Foster" are reputedly lie in English history dating back to the Plantagenet monarchy of the 13th century when King Edward 1 ("Doctor Foster") was thought to have visited Gloucester and fell from his horse into a large muddy puddle! He is said to have been so humiliated by this experience that he refused to ever visit Gloucester again! King Edward 1 (June 17, 1239 ï¿½ July 7, 1307) was a powerful man, over six foot tall - hence his nickname of Longshanks. Edward built many castle - fortresses in Wales as part of his strategy to conquer the Welsh who were led by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd - Edward succeeded and Llywelyn became the last independent Prince of Wales. Doctor Foster poem In a shower of rain. He stepped in a puddle Right up to his middle And never went there again! ----------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Action Rhyme reflected in the words of "Hickory, Dickory Dock" A nonsense poem which uses alliteration where children mimic the sound of a clock chiming at the relevant point in the song. Hickory, dickory dock is intended to introduce children to the fundamentals of telling the time. Hickory, dickory dock is also known by another title "Hickory, dickory doc" inevitable perhaps due to the nonsensical nature of the words of Hickory, dickory dock! The first publication date for the "Hickory, dickory dock" rhyme is 1744. Investigation into the meanings of the words used in the rhyme led us to believe that it has its origins in America. The Origins of Hickory Hickory is a derived from the North American Indian word 'pawcohiccora' which is an oily milk-like liquor that is pressed from pounded hickory nuts. The word `Pohickory'' was contained in a list of Virginia trees published in 1653. The word ' Pohickory' was subsequently shortened to `hickory.' The Origins of Dock Dock is a species of plant which has the Latin name of Rumex crispus. A well-known weed which has a long taproot making it difficult to exterminate. The Dock plant can be used as an astringent or tonic and many of us would have experienced the healing properties of the Dock leaf after being stung by a stinging nettle! Hickory Dickory Dock rhyme The mouse ran up the clock The clock struck one The Queen of Hearts Nursery Rhyme Alice in Wonderland This rhyme first appeared in print in 1782. But the term and famous reference to the 'Queen of Hearts' can be found in the work of Lewis G. Carroll in his book entitled 'Alice in Wonderland' which was first published in 1805. The Queen of Hearts in the story was famous for the saying "Off with their heads!" when she was annoyed with her servants. The Queen of Hearts Playing Card Decks of cards depicting illustrations of of Kings and Queens can be traced back to France in 1650. These French cards portrayed the Queen of Hearts as Judith from the Bible. This depiction of Judith was to convey the attribute of courage. In the Bible Judith killed the Assyrian General Holofernes. Princess Diana In more recent history the term the Queen of Hearts was used by Princess Diana during her famous interview with Martin Bashir. Princess Diana stated her preference to the title the Queen of Hearts to that of Queen of England. Princess Diana is now lovingly referred to as the Queen of Hearts The Queen of Hearts poem The Queen of Hearts she made some tarts all on a summer's day; The Knave of Hearts he stole the tarts and took them clean away. The King of Hearts called for the tarts and beat the Knave full sore The Knave of Hearts brought back the tarts and vowed he'd steal no more. ---------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History The origin of the 'tale' of Three blind mice! The origin of the words to the Three blind mice rhyme are based in English history. The 'farmer's wife' refers to the daughter of King Henry VIII, Queen Mary I. Mary was a staunch Catholic and her violent persecution of Protestants led to the nickname of 'Bloody Mary'. The reference to 'farmer's wife' in Three blind mice refers to the massive estates which she, and her husband King Philip of Spain, possessed. The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who adhered to the Protestant faith who were convicted of plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in Three blind mice - but she did have them burnt at the stake! Another Nursery Rhyme which features 'Bloody Mary' can be found as follows: Mary Mary Quite Contrary Nursery Rhyme Three Blind Mice rhyme poem Three blind mice, three blind mice, See how they run, see how they run, They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife, Did you ever see such a thing in your life, As three blind mice? Nursery Rhyme & History Origins of Old Mother Hubbard lyrics in British history The Old Mother Hubbard referred to in this rhyme's words allude to the famous Cardinal Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was the most important statesman and churchman of the Tudor history period in 16th century England. Cardinal Wolsey proved to be a faithful servant but displeased the King, Henry VIII, by failing to facilitate the King's divorce from Queen Katherine of Aragon who had been his queen of many years. The reason for seeking the divorce and hence the creation of the Old Mother Hubbard poem was to enable him to marry Anne Boleyn with whom he was passionately in love. In the Old Mother Hubbard song King Henry was the "doggie" and the "bone" refers to the divorce (and not money as many believe) The cupboard relates to the Catholic Church although the subsequent divorce arranged by Thomas Cramner resulted in the break with Rome and the formation of the English Protestant church and the demise of Old Mother Hubbard - Cardinal Wolsey. Another rhyme reputedly relates to Cardinal Wolsey Little Boy Blue Old Mother Hubbard poem To get her poor doggie a bone, When she got there So the poor little doggie had none. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mary had a Little Lamb Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Mary had a little lamb - use of language The words of the American nursery rhyme Mary had a little lamb would appeal to a small children and introduces imagery of similes (white as snow) as part of use of the English language. The words also convey the hopeful adage that love is reciprocated! No specific historical connection can be traced to the words of Mary had a little lamb but it can be confirmed that the song Mary had a little lamb is American as the words were written by Sarah Hale, of Boston, in 1830. An interesting historical note about this rhyme - the words of Mary had a Little Lamb were the first ever recorded by Thomas Edison, on tin foil, on his phonograph. Mary had a little lamb Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day, which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, to see a lamb at school. And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near, And waited patiently about till Mary did appear. "Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry; "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know" the teacher did reply. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Origins of the Little Boy Blue story - A Connection with Tudor History? The words and story of Little Boy Blue cannot be positively connected to any historical figure in history but there is, however, a theory that 'Little Boy Blue' refers to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (1475-1530) dating back to English Tudor history and the reign of King Henry VIII. Wolsey was an extremely rich and arrogant self-made man with many enemies at court and was unpopular with the people of England. He was called the "Boy Bachelor" after obtaining his degree from Oxford at the unusually early age of fifteen. The expression "Blowing one's own horn" meaning to brag was certainly practised by Cardinal Wolsey. Between 1514 and 1525 he transformed a medieval manor into the magnificent Hampton Court Palace. It was an ostentatious display of his wealth and his power giving rise to the rhyme uttered by his enemies: "Come ye to court? Which Court? The King's Court or Hampton Court?" The anti-Wolsey propaganda worked and in 1529 Henry declared all of Wolsey's lands and possessions forfeit and they became the property of the Crown. At this time England was a prosperous nation largely through the wool trade and the export taxes on wool had augmented both Henry's treasury and Wolsey's assets. The words "where's the boy who looks after the sheep?" could refer to Wolsey's concern with lining his own coffers as opposed to that of the country. The cardinal's robes were scarlet but Wolsey's Blazon of Arms included the blue faces of four leopards - perhaps this was why the title of the rhyme is Little Boy Blue? The Little Boy Blue rhyme may have been a secret message of dissent concerning the greed of the statesman prior to his downfall. Open criticism of the Cardinal would have led to imprisonment, confiscation of property or even death . Another rhyme reputedly relating to Cardinal Wolsey is Old Mother Hubbard The Nursery Rhyme Boy Blue Little Boy Blue come blow your horn, The sheep's in the meadow the cow's in the corn. But where's the boy who looks after the sheep? He's under a haystack fast asleep. Will you wake him? No, not I - for if I do, he's sure to cry ---------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Traditional Nursery Rhyme "Ladybug, ladybug" is chanted by children when a ladybug insect lands on their person. If the ladybug doesn't fly away of its own accord the child would gently blow it away chanting "Ladybug Ladybug fly away home". This insect is found every summer in the gardens of Britain - the most common colour is red with black spots, less common are the yellow variety. In Britain ladybugs are referred to as 'ladybirds'. Ladybird History Connection - Gunpowder Plot Conspirators? Farmers knew of the Ladybird's value in reducing the level of pests in their crops and it was traditional for them to cry out the rhyme before they burnt their fields following harvests ( this reduced the level of insects and pests) in deference to the helpful ladybird: "Ladybird, ladybird fly away home, Your house in on fire and your children are gone" The English word ladybird is a derivative of the Catholic term " Our Lady". The tradition of calling this rhyme was believed to have been used as a seemingly innocent warning cry to Catholic (recusants) who refused to attend Protestant services as required by the Act of Uniformity (1559 & 1662). This law forbade priests to say Mass and forbade communicants to attend it. Consequently Mass was held secretly in the open fields. Laymen were subject to jail and heavy fines and priests to execution. Many priests were executed by the terrible death of being burnt alive at the stake or, even worse, being hung, drawn and quartered. The most famous English recusants were Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot Conspirators. The American Version of the Lyrics It is possible that the word Ladybird was exchanged for Ladybug, in the American version of the nursery rhyme, due the word association with Firebug meaning an arsonist or pyromaniac. The first publication date was 1865 and the word ladybird was used as opposed to ladybug. There has been some speculation that this Nursery Rhyme originates from the time of the Great Fire of London in 1666 The picture above is of the 'Gunpowder Plot' conspirators Starting with Thomas Bates, Robert Wintour, Christopher Wright, John Wright, Thomas Percy, Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby and Thomas Wintour Ladybug Ladybug aka Ladybird Ladybird rhyme Ladybug ladybug fly away home, Your house in on fire and your children are gone, All except one and that's little Ann, For she crept under the frying pan. admin Madmart London bridge is falling down Nursery Rhyme Nursery Rhyme History The Wooden Bridge The 'London Bridge is falling down' Nursery Rhyme is based on the one of the most famous landmarks in London. It's history can be traced to the Roman occupation of England in the first century. The first London Bridge was made of wood and clay and was fortified or re-built with the various materials mentioned in the children's nursery rhyme. Many disasters struck the bridges - Viking invaders destroyed the bridge in the 1000's which led to a fortified design, complete with a drawbridge. Building materials changed due to the many fires that broke out on the bridge. The Stone Bridge The first stone bridge was designed by Peter de Colechurch and built in 1176 and took 33 years to build and featured twenty arches the dimensions of which were sixty feet high and thirty feet wide and was complete with tower and gates. The flow of the Thames under the bridge was used to turn water wheels below the arches for grinding grain. By the 1300's the bridge contained 140 shops, some of which were more than three stories high. ( The reference to Silver and Gold in the rhyme relates to the trading which was conducted on the bridge). London Bridge survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 but its arches and foundations were weakened. (Buildings with thatched roofs were banned in London following the Great Fire of 1666 and this ban was only lifted with the construction of the New Globe Theater in 1994 - the following website is highly recommended for further details of the Globe william-shakespeare.info The Modern Re-builds! In the 1820s a new London Bridge was built on another site, north of the old one. This new bridge opened in 1831 and the old bridge was demolished. In the 1960s yet another London Bridge was built. The London Bridge of 1831 was transported, stone by stone, to Lake Havasu in Arizona, USA. NB ;- There is another Nursery Rhyme called 'London bridge is broken down' - its origins relate to Queen Anne Boleyn - fascinating! And for other surprising revelations about Executions, Torturers and Lord Mayors check out London Bells a Nursery Rhyme containing the original lyrics to Oranges and Lemons! A Picture of London Bridge, complete with houses, gatehouse and church London bridge is falling down - Nursery Rhyme London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, My fair Lady. Build it up with wood and clay, Wood and clay, wood and clay, Build it up with wood and clay, My fair Lady. Wood and clay will wash away, Wash away, wash away, Wood and clay will wash away, My fair Lady. Build it up with bricks and mortar, Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar, Build it up with bricks and mortar, My fair Lady. Bricks and mortar will not stay, Will not stay, will not stay, Bricks and mortar will not stay, My fair Lady. Build it up with iron and steel, Iron and steel, iron and steel, Build it up with iron and steel, My fair Lady. Iron and steel will bend and bow, Bend and bow, bend and bow, Iron and steel will bend and bow, My fair Lady. Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, silver and gold, Build it up with silver and gold, My fair Lady. Silver and gold will be stolen away, Stolen away, stolen away, Silver and gold will be stolen away, My fair Lady. Set a man to watch all nigh, Watch all night, watch all night, Set a man to watch all night, My fair Lady. Suppose the man should fall asleep, Fall asleep, fall asleep, Suppose the man should fall asleep? My fair Lady. Give him a pipe to smoke all night, Smoke all night, smoke all night, Give him a pipe to smoke all night, My fair Lady "Ding Dong Bell" Nursery Rhyme & History "Ding Dong Bell" a poem with a moral theme The origins of this nursery rhyme date back to the 16th century and the era of Shakespeare who used the phrase "Ding Dong Bell" in several plays. The original lyrics of "Ding Dong Bell" actually ended with the cat being left to drown! These words were modified and the cat was saved by 'Little Tommy Stout' to encourage children to understand that it was unacceptable and cruel to harm any animal 'who ne'er did any harm'. The latter version taught morality at an early age. "Ding Dong Bell" also introduces a child to onomatopoeia ( a word that sounds like its meaning) In this nursery rhyme the lyrics and words "ding dong" when pronounced convey the actual sounds! The Shakespeare Connection! The phrase " Ding Dong Bell" was used by William Shakespeare - but given the original drafts of Shakespeare plays were in Quarto text and the majority were not published until 1623 in the First Folio (7 years after his death) could the phrase actually be the writer's original instructions for sound effects? The Tempest, Act I, Scene II: "Sea nymphs hourly ring his knell: Hark! Now I hear them - Ding, dong, bell." The Merchant of Venice, Act III, Scene II: "Let us all ring fancy's bell; I'll begin it - Ding, dong, bell." For a comprehensive Shakespeare website we recommend a visit to william-shakespeare.info Nursery Rhyme & History Zealous Protestants & Secret Priest Holes Goosey, Goosey Gander is a Rhyme with Historical undertones - an attention grabber for a nursery rhyme which uses alliteration in the lyrics designed to intrigue any child. The 'lady's chamber' was a room that once upon a time a high born lady would have her own chamber, (also referred to as a solar). The origins of the nursery rhyme are believed to date back to the 16th century and refer to necessity for Catholic priests to hide in 'Priest Holes' ( very small secret rooms once found in many great houses in England) to avoid persecution from zealous Protestants who were totally against the old Catholic religion. If caught both the priest and members of any family found harbouring them were executed. The moral in Goosey Goosey Gander's lyrics imply that something unpleasant would surely happen to anyone failing to say their prayers correctly - meaning the Protestant Prayers, said in English as opposed to Catholic prayers which were said in Latin! Goosey Goosey Gander poem Goosey Goosey Gander where shall I wander, Upstairs, downstairs and in my lady's chamber There I met an old man who wouldn't say his prayers, I took him by the left leg and threw him down the stairs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Grand old Duke of York Rhyme "The grand old Duke of York" Nursery Rhyme & History The Wars of the Roses The origin to the words of "The grand old Duke of York" are believed to date back to the Plantagenet dynasty in the 15th century and refer mockingly to the defeat of Richard, "The grand old Duke of York" in the Wars of the Roses (1455). This war was between the house of York (whose symbol was a white rose) and the house of Lancaster (whose symbol was a red rose). The Wars of the Roses lasted for over thirty years and were equivalent to a Civil War. Origins of the Rhyme The words of the Nursery rhyme are believed to refer to Richard, Duke of York, claimant to the English throne and Protector of England and the Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460. The Duke of York and his army marched to his castle at Sandal where Richard took up a defensive position against the Lancastrian army. Sandal Castle was built on top of the site of an old Norman motte and bailey fortress. Its massive earthworks stood 33 feet (10m) above the original ground level ("he marched them up to the top of the hill"). In a moment of madness he left his stronghold in the castle and went down to make a direct attack on the Lancastrians " he marched them down again". His army was overwhelmed and Richard the Duke of York was killed. A similar Nursery rhyme is The King of France went up the hill Picture of Motte and Bailey castle fortress The Grand old Duke of York poem The Grand old Duke of York he had ten thousand men He marched them up to the top of the hill And he marched them down again. When they were up, they were up And when they were down, they were down And when they were only halfway up They were neither up nor down. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Polly Put the Kettle on Nursery Rhyme & History The lyrics to "Polly put the kettle on" Nursery rhyme "Polly put the kettle on" was published in 1797. The origin of "Polly put the kettle on" was based on the author having five children - two boys and three girls. There were constant arguments as the boys wanted to play soldiers and the girls wanted to play house! When the girls wanted to play without their brothers they would pretend to start a game of tea party "Polly put the kettle on" and the daughter, called Polly, would put the toy kettle on! As soon as the brothers left Sukey (or Susan) would take it off again! Their father was so amused by this ploy that he set it to words and added the music which were subsequently published. Polly Put the Kettle on poem Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, Polly put the kettle on, We'll all have tea. Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, Sukey take it off again, They've all gone away. London bridge is broken down Nursery Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Who was Lady Lee? The origins of this nursery rhyme are truly fascinating and have roots in the extraordinary events surrounding King Henry VIII of England (1491ï¿½1547) and his second, tragic, wife Anne Boleyn. The 'Lady Lee' referred to in the Nursery Rhyme was, in fact, Lady Margaret Wyatt, the sister of Thomas Wyatt the poet. She married Sir Anthony Lee of Quarrendon and thus became Lady Lee. The Wyatts were neighbours of the Boleyn family and Anne and Margaret were childhood friends. Anne Boleyn As Anne rose in power Margaret accompanied her and become a trusted lady-in-waiting. When Anne was accused of bigamy Thomas Wyatt was accused with her, but he was later released. Margaret, Lady Lee, stayed with Anne Boleyn until her execution and attended the ill-fated queen on the scaffold. The nursery rhyme 'London bridge is broken down' can be described as an allegory - a description of one thing under the image of another. The words of the nursery rhyme are believed to describe the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn (the gay ladye) and the lyrics use the name of Lady Lee to clearly identify the central character, Anne Boleyn. The Hidden Secrets in Nursery Rhymes Many nursery rhymes have secret, hidden, meanings and allude to people and events in history. Anne Boleyn was hated by the common people of England, due to her haughty manner and the common folk's strong allegiance to Henry VIII's first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Open criticism of Anne was approved and encouraged during the reigns of Henry VIII and his eldest daughter Mary (Bloody Mary - Henry and Katherine's daughter). But when Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne all such approval and criticism stopped - the new Queen was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. The words and lyrics of 'London bridge is broken down' are thus explained. Click the following link for more information about the execution of Anne Boleyn http://www.love-poems.me.uk/biography_boleyn_anne.htm The gruesome practice of execution by beheading is revealed in the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill The most famous Nursery Rhyme on this subject is 'London bridge is falling down' - details of the history and origins are available here ABOVE - fascinating! And for surprising revelations about Executioners, Torturers and Lord Mayors check out ;- London Bells the Nursery Rhyme which contains the original lyrics to Oranges and Lemons! London bridge is broken down Nursery Rhyme London bridge is broken down, Dance over my Lady Lee, London bridge is broken down, With a gay ladye. How shall we build it up again? Dance over my Lady Lee, How shall we build it up again? With a gay ladye. We'll build it up with gravel and stone, Dance over my Lady Lee, We'll build it up with gravel and stone, With a gay ladye. Gravel and stone will be washed away, Dance over my Lady Lee, Gravel and stone will be washed away, With a gay ladye. We'll build it up with iron and steel, Dance over my Lady Lee, We'll build it up with iron and steel, With a gay ladye. Iron and steel will bend and break, Dance over my Lady Lee, Iron and steel will bend and break, With a gay ladye. We'll build it up with silver and gold, Dance over my Lady Lee, We'll build it up with silver and gold, With a gay ladye. Silver and gold will be stolen away, Dance over my Lady Lee, Silver and gold will be stolen away, With a gay ladye. We'll set a man to watch it then, Dance over my Lady Lee, We'll set a man to watch it then, With a gay ladye. Suppose the man should fall asleep, Dance over my Lady Lee, Suppose the man should fall asleep, With a gay ladye. We'll put a pipe into his mouth, Dance over my Lady Lee, We'll put a pipe into his mouth, With a gay ladye. One two buckle my shoe Nursery Rhyme & History Origins of the lyrics to "one two buckle my shoe" rhyme These nursery rhyme lyrics have no traceable connection with any events in history. There is no historical or political association to one two buckle my shoe. Devised as a pleasurable and fun way to teach children how to count using one two buckle my shoe and its different imagery to fire a child's imagination. The rhyming used in one two buckle my shoe helps aid knowledge retention. One two buckle my shoe ;-- aka "1 2 buckle my shoe" One two buckle my shoe Three, four, knock at the door Five, six, pick up sticks Seven, eight, lay them straight Nine, ten, a big fat hen Eleven, twelve, dig and delve Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen Seventeen, eighteen, maids in waiting Nineteen, twenty, my plate's empty --------------------------------------------------------------- Pat a cake Pat a cake Rhyme The origins and lyrics of Pat a cake The origins of the Pat a cake poem are unknown, but the tradition of decorating cakes with the name or initial of a child is still adhered to today! The song Pat a cake is always accompanied by a clapping game - much loved by children everywhere. The actions which accompany Pat a cake probably account for the ritual of passing this particular song from one generation to the next. Earliest traceable publication 1698. Historical Note: The Bakers of London The Picture depicts fire-fighting in London. The Great Fire of London of 1666 was started in a Baker's shop, in Pudding Lane and ravaged the City. Bakeries were always viewed as Fire Risks and the premises of the baker to King Charles I was also situated in Pudding Lane so the below poem could POSSIBLY HAVE LINKS to the great fire of london. Pat a cake Pat a cake poem Pat a cake, Pat a cake, baker's man Bake me a cake as fast as you can; Pat it and prick it and mark it with a 'B', And put it in the oven for Baby and me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History The origins of the nursery rhyme "Pussycat pussycat"! The origins of the "Pussycat pussycat" rhyme dates back to the history of 16th century Tudor England. One of the waiting ladies of Queen Elizabeth Ist had an old cat which roamed throughout Windsor castle. On one particular occasion the cat ran beneath the throne where its tail brushed against the Queen's foot, startling her. Luckily 'Good Queen Bess' had a sense of humour and decreed that the cat could wander about the throne room, on condition it kept it free of mice! Pussycat Pussycat poem "Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?" "I've been up to London to visit the Queen." "Pussycat pussycat, what did you dare?" "I frightened a little mouse under her chair" "MEOWW!" Nursery Rhyme & History Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder Plot Words of "Remember Remember" refer to Guy Fawkes with origins in 17th century English history. On the 5th November 1605 Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. Guy Fawkes was subsequently tried as a traitor with his co-conspirators for plotting against the government. He was tried by Judge Popham who came to London specifically for the trial from his country manor Littlecote House in Hungerford, Gloucestershire. Fawkes was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous ever practised (hung ,drawn and quartered) which reflected the serious nature of the crime of treason. The Tradition begins... The following year in 1606 it became an annual custom for the King and Parliament to commission a sermon to commemorate the event. Lancelot Andrewes delivered the first of many Gunpowder Plot Sermons. This practice, together with the nursery rhyme, ensured that this crime would never be forgotten! Hence the words " Remember , remember the 5th of November" The poem is sometimes referred to as 'Please to remember the fifth of November'. It serves as a warning to each new generation that treason will never be forgotten. In England the 5th of November is still commemorated each year with fireworks and bonfires culminating with the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes (the guy). The 'guys' are made by children by filling old clothes with crumpled newspapers to look like a man. Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy". Remember Remember poem Remember remember the fifth of November Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason Should ever be forgot... Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross Banbury Cross - English Nursery Rhyme Origin & History The words of the Banbury Cross nursery rhyme are often attributed to Queen Elizabeth I of England (the fine lady) who travelled to Banbury to see a huge stone cross which had just been erected. The words 'With rings on her fingers' obviously relates to the fine jewellery which would be worn by a Queen. The words 'And bells on her toes' refer to the fashion of attaching bells to the end of the pointed toes of each shoe - this fashion actually originates from the Plantagenet era of English history but was associated with the nobility for some time! Banbury was situated at the top of a steep hill and in order to help carriages up the steep incline a white cock horse (a large stallion) was made available by the town's council to help with this task. When the Queen's carriage attempted to go up the hill a wheel broke and the Queen chose to mount the cock horse and ride to the Banbury cross. The people of the town had decorated the cock horse with ribbons and bells and provided minstrels to accompany her - "she shall have music wherever she goes". The massive stone cross at Banbury was unfortunately later destroyed by anti - Catholics who opposed the notion of pilgrimages. Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross Nursery Rhyme poem Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross To see a fine lady upon a white horse With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes She shall have music wherever she goes Alternative meaning to the Banbury Cross English Nursery Rhyme ;- "The woman in question was in fact Lady Katherine Banbury, wife of Lord Jonathan Banbury. Miss Amy Banbury, sub matron of Auckland hospital, New Zealand (my grandfather's cousin) recalled after World War I her grandfather, Squire of Burford near Banbury in Oxfordshire, telling her that he distinctly recalled the white horse on which the "fine lady" used to ride. Among Lady Banbury's jewels were many very beautiful rings of which she was very fond. The bells were the tiny bells often used in those days to trim the edges of a lady's velvet saddle cloth. Miss Amy Banbury had a copy of the music written for the rhyme by a well known musician of the day, along with fine oak furniture from Banbury Castle. These matters were reported in the New Zealand Herald some years after the end of World War I " ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History History in a game for children in "Seesaw Margery Daw" The seesaw is the oldest 'ride' for children , easily constructed from logs of different sizes. The words of "Seesaw Marjorie Daw" reflect children playing on a see-saw and singing this rhyme to accompany their game. There was no such person that we can identify who had the name Marjorie Daw and we therefore make the assumption that this was purely used to rhyme with the words 'seesaw' i.e "Seesaw Marjory Daw". The last three lines of "Seesaw Margery Daw" appear to reflect the use of child labour in work houses where those with nowhere else to live would be forced to work for a pittance (a penny a day) on piece work (because he can't work any faster). The words of "Seesaw Margery Daw" might be used by a spiteful child to taunt another implying his family were destined for the workhouse. Seesaw Margery Daw poem Johnny shall have a new master He shall earn but a penny a day Because he can't work any faster ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Pease pudding hot - the origins of the words are based on a traditional British dish The pease pudding hot referred to in the words of this poem is a dish which is still enjoyed in Britain today. It is a smooth, thick sauce, (referred to as a pudding in the rhyme for the sake of alliteration) which has a dark yellow colour. Pease pudding is a hot dish made from dried peas - it can be re-heated as often as required (Pease pudding in the pot - nine days old). Pease pudding is traditionally served hot with boiled bacon or a form of sausage called a saveloy. Pease pudding rhyme poem Pease pudding hot, Pease pudding cold, Pease pudding in the pot - nine days old. Some like it hot, some like it cold, Some like it in the pot - nine days old. admin Madmart Lucy Locket lost her pocket, Kitty Fisher found it; Not a penny was there in it, Only ribbon round it. The words of the Nursery Rhyme, 'Lucy Lockett' were based on people and places in London during the 1700's. Lucy Lockett was believed to be a barmaid at the Cock public House in Fleet Street, London. This pub, or alehouse was first established in 1554 and rebuilt in 1888. Samuel Pepys mentioned the Cock Alehouse in his diary which stated: April 23 1668 "To the Cock Alehouse and drank and eat a lobster, and sang..." Kitty Fisher was a famous courtesan - Catherine Maria ('Kitty') Fisher (died 1767). Her lifestyle was described as follows: "She lives in the greatest possible splendor, spends twelve thousand pounds a year, and she is the first of her social class to employ liveried servants..." The Pocket referred to was the old Middle English word for a pouch or a small bag. The implication is that poor Lucy Lockett made very little money as opposed to the similarly employed Kitty who was envied for her great beauty and vast wealth! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- One Two Three Four Five (1 2 3 4 5) Nursery Rhyme & History The lyrics of "one two three four five (1 2 3 4 5)" rhyme The lyrics of the poem "one two three four five (1 2 3 4 5)" are not based on any events in history. "One two three four five (1 2 3 4 5)" is an educational rhyme with the words devised with the specific intention of teaching children to count thus increasing their numeric powers. Strangely enough the title of "one two three four five (1 2 3 4 5)" is often changed to "Once I caught a fish alive". The earliest traceable publication is 1888. One two three four five 1 2 3 4 5 : poem AKA - Once I caught a fish alive One, two, three, four, five. Once I caught a fish alive, Six, seven, eight, nine ,ten, Then I let it go again. Why did you let it go? Because it bit my finger so. Which finger did it bite? This little finger on the right. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History American origins in "Peter Peter pumpkin eater" The lyrics of the "Peter Peter pumpkin eater" rhyme (unlike most) originate not in Europe, but in America. This rhyme is has become known to British children only in recent years as for most British children it has only just become clear exactly what a pumpkin is! As it is not indigenous to the British shores the vast majority of the British population have never eaten pumpkin! The American tradition of dressing up for Halloween (and the subsequent use of the pumpkin for making lanterns) together with 'Trick or Treat' has only reached our shores a few years ago. Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater poem Peter Peter pumpkin eater, Had a wife and couldn't keep her! He put her in a pumpkin shell, And there he kept her very well! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ring Around the Rosy Rhyme Origins of "Ring around the rosy" in English History Connections to the Bubonic Plague (Black Death)? The words to the Ring around the rosy children's ring game have their origin in English history . The historical period dates back to the Great Plague of London in 1665 (bubonic plague) or even before when the first outbreak of the Plague hit England in the 1300's. The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin (Ring around the rosy). Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs ( or posies) which were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells. The term "Ashes Ashes" refers to the cremation of the dead bodies! The death rate was over 60% and the plague was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666 which killed the rats which carried the disease which was transmitting via water sources. The English version of "Ring around the rosy" replaces Ashes with (A-tishoo, A-tishoo) as violent sneezing was another symptom of the disease. We recommend the following site for comprehensive information regarding the Bubonic Plague. http://www.william-shakespeare.in...-black-plague-elizabethan-era.htm Views of the Sceptics The connection between this Rhyme was made by James Leasor in 1961 in his non-fiction book ' The Plague and the Fire. Some people are sceptical of the plague interpretations of this rhyme, many stating that words in the rhyme cannot be found in Middle English. The sceptics must be referring to the later version of the rhyme, possibly with American origins, the English version is "Ring a ring o' rosies" using the Middle English "o" as a shortening of the word "of". The written word " posies" is first mentioned in a poem called 'Prothalamion or A Spousal Verse' by Edmund Spenser (1552-1599). We believe that this addresses the views of the sceptics. Picture of a Plague Physician of the 17th Century AKA as Ring a ring o' rosies Ring around the rosy Nursery Rhyme & History Origin of the lyrics to "Simple Simon" In the days before fast food and convenience stores were invented food was sold from street sellers from trays of food. A fair was an extremely popular place to sell 'your ware' The tradition and history of fairs dates back to Medieval England. The term 'Adieu' meaning 'Goodbye' is no longer used in the English language but will never be lost forever due to rhymes such as Simple Simon! The modern day version of Simple Simon can be found in the song and a game where children have to do exactly what "Simple Simon" says! Simple Simon poem Simple Simon met a pieman going to the fair; Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Let me taste your ware" Said the pieman to Simple Simon "Show me first your penny" Said Simple Simon to the pieman "Sir, I have not any!" Simple Simon went a-fishing for to catch a whale; All the water he had got was in his mother's pail. Simple Simon went to look if plums grew on a thistle; He pricked his fingers very much which made poor Simon whistle. He went for water in a sieve but soon it all fell through; And now poor Simple Simon bids you all "Adieu" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rock a Bye Baby Rhyme Nursery Rhyme - American & English History Origins of words to "Rock a bye baby" in American history The words and lyrics to the "Rock a bye baby" rhyme are reputed to reflect the observations of a young pilgrim boy in America who had seen Native Indian mothers suspend a birch bark cradle from the branches of a tree. Thus enabling the wind to rock the cradle and the child to sleep! This rhyme is also known as "Hush a bye baby" which is the correct title. The confusion regarding these lyrics occurred due to the popularity of the old Al Jolson classic song "Rock a bye my baby with a Dixie melody!". Origins of words to "Rock a bye baby" in English history dating back to the 1700's The story of the Nursery Rhyme relates to a family who lived in a tree house which was formed within a massive Yew tree. The Yew Tree concerned was believed to be nearly 2000 years old. The family were charcoal burners who lived in Shining Cliff Woods, Ambergate, Derbyshire in the 1700's. The ancient occupation of Charcoal Burning would be conducted by people who actually lived in the woods. Just like like this family. Their names were Kate and Luke Kennyon and they lived in what was locally called the 'Betty Kenny Tree' - a colloquialism for Kate Kenyon. The Kenyons had 8 children and a tree bough was hollowed out to act as a cradle for their children! Shining Cliff Woods was owned at the time by the Hurt family. The Kenyons were favoured by the Hurts who commissioned the artist James Ward of the Royal Academy to paint their portraits. The Yew tree still exists but was severely fire damaged by vandals in the 1930s. More information may be located on the Amber Valley Borough Council website. Rock a bye baby song AKA Hush a bye baby Rock a bye baby on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock, When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sing a Song of Sixpence (Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie) Nursery Rhyme & History Action words to the poem " Sing a song of sixpence" Rhyme with some history! Lovely words to this children's action nursery rhyme which is often referred to as blackbirds baked in a pie probably because the image that blackbirds baked in a pie would create in a child's mind . The rye ( a pocketful of rye) was purchased to feed birds. Blackbirds, and other song birds, were actually eaten as a delicacy! However a court jester may well have suggested to the court cook to bake a pie pastry crust and place this over some live blackbirds to surprise and amuse the King! It would not be unreasonable for the blackbirds to look for revenge hence "When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!" It is interesting to note that the references to the counting house and eating honey were the common man's perception of what a King and Queen spent their time doing. The nursery rhyme Sing a song of sixpence or blackbirds baked in a pie always end with the tweaking of a child's nose! Sing a song of sixpence AKA blackbirds in a pie Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye, Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie. When the pie was opened the birds began to sing, Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king? The king was in his counting house counting out his money, The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes, When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose! Additional Information about the Sing a Song of Sixpence Nursery Rhyme History additional information: "During the Medieval times, there were occasions when the cook in the house of a wealthy knight did indeed put live birds (often pigeons, but I'm sure it could just as easily have been blackbirds) inside a huge pastry crust, on his own initiative. This was seen as a great joke and the cook would usually have a real pie waiting to bring in when the birds had been released." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wee Willie Winkie The origin of the Wee Willie Winkie rhyme The explanation of the words to Wee Willie Winkie was to teach children to associate every day tasks with their own lives. Before the days of the wireless, television and the Internet great reliance was put upon the Town Crier to pass on the latest news and information. 'Wee Willie Winkie' was the children's version of the Town Crier! The author of the poem was William Miller (1810 - 1872) and the first publication date of the words to Wee Willie Winkie was in 1841. Wee Willie Winkie rhyme poem Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown, Tapping at the window and crying through the lock, Are all the children in their beds, it's past eight o'clock? massetXA Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the King's horses, And all the King's men Couldn't put Humpty together again! Who was Humpty Dumpty? Humpty Dumpty was a colloquial term used in 15th century England to describe someone who was fat or obese - giving rise to lots of theories pertaining to the identity of Humpty Dumpty. However, in this case the question should be not Who was Humpty Dumpty but What was Humpty Dumpty? Humpty Dumpty was in fact an unusually large canon which was mounted on the protective wall of "St. Mary's Wall Church" in Colchester, England. It was intended to protect the Parliamentarian stronghold of Colchester which was in the temporarily in control of the Royalists during the period of English history, described as the English Civil War ( 1642 - 1649). A shot from a Parliamentary canon succeeded in damaging the wall underneath Humpty Dumpty causing the canon to fall to the ground. The Royalists 'all the King's men' attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall but even with the help of ' all the King's horses' failed in their task and Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege lasting eleven weeks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown And Jill came tumbling after. Up got Jack, and home did trot As fast as he could caper He went to bed and bound his head With vinegar and brown paper. French (history) connection! The roots of this child's nursery rhyme is in France and the Jack and Jill referred to are Louis XVI who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics were made more palatable for the nursery by giving it a happy ending and has further been altered by the passage of time - the actual beheadings occurred in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of this nursery rhyme is 1795 which tie-in with the history and origins ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet Eating her curds and whey, Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away Origins and history of the Nursery Rhyme Little Miss Muffet was a small girl whose first name was Patience. Her father, Dr. Muffet, was an entomologist (someone who studies insects). Whilst eating her breakfast one day she was frightened by one of his spiders and ran away! This particular Nursery Rhyme reputedly dates back to the late 16th century! Unlikely story Little Boy Blue come blow your horn, The sheep's in the meadow the cow's in the corn. But where is the boy who looks after the sheep? He's under a haystack fast asleep. Will you wake him? No, not I - for if I do, he's sure to cry Origins of the story Unlike other Nursery Rhymes the words and lyrics cannot be closely connected to any historical figure in European history. There is, however, a doubtful theory that 'Little Boy Blue' could refer to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey dating back to English Tudor history (although the origins and lyrics cannot be connected to any events in his life). Neither does the rhyme have a moral objective or used to demonstrates any specific use of the English language. The most common belief is that the origins of this nursery are not based on actual events or people in history but is merely a reflection of peaceful country life which would appeal to the imagination of a young child ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean And so betwixt the two of them They licked the platter clean. Origin can be found in British History The Jack alluded to is in fact reputed to be Charles I and Henrietta Maria, his Queen. Apparently, when King Charles declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him (leaving him lean!) So his wife imposed an illegal war tax (to get some fat!) after the angered King dissolved Parliament. The first publication date for the lyrics of this nursery rhyme can be traced to 1639. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed at home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went... "Wee wee wee" all the way home... Action nursery rhyme for baby or young children The lyrics for this particular nursery rhyme include action based words where the little piggy is each one of the child's toes! The last line is used to accompany the child being tickled by the teller of the rhyme! This is a typical rhyme which will be passed down from one generation to another - it has no origins in history! The lyrics for this nursery rhyme were first published in 1728. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ There was an old woman: lyrics There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do! So she gave them some broth without any bread, And she whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed! Origins of the nursery rhyme At first glance this would appear to be a purely nonsense rhyme but in fact it has origins in history! There are two choices of origin ! The first relates to Queen Caroline (the old woman) wife of George II who had eight children. The shoe refers to the British Isles. The second version refers to King George who began the fashion of wearing white powdered wigs and was consequently referred to as the old woman! The children were the members of parliament and the bed was the Houses of Parliament which he required them to have sessions in - even today the term 'whip' is used in the English Parliament to describe a member of Parliament who is tasked to ensure that all members 'toe the party line'. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Owl and the Pussycat: lyrics The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are, What a beautiful Pussy you are." Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl, How charmingly sweet you sing. O let us be married, too long we have tarried; But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows, And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will" So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon. And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand. They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon, They danced by the light of the moon. What is a Runcible Spoon? A traditional childrens poem , or folksong, as the lyrics have been set to music on several occasions. The author was Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) and the first publication date was 1806. Some wonderful illustrated graphics have also been set to the words and lyrics of this poem helping to fire the imagination of a child! The burning question remains, however, what exactly is a runcible spoon? The most agreed upon definition of this term is that a runcible spoon is a kind of fork with three broad prongs or tines, one having a sharp edge, curved like a spoon, used with pickles, etc. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Who killed Cock Robin: lyrics "Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow, "With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin." "Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly, "With my little eye, I saw him die." "Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish, "With my little dish, I caught his blood." "Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle, "With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud." "Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl, "With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave." "Who'll be the parson?" "I," said the Rook, "With my little book, I'll be the parson." "Who'll be the clerk?" "I," said the Lark, "If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk." "Who'll carry the link?" "I," said the Linnet, "I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link." "Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove, "I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner." "Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite, "If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin." "Who'll bear the pall? "We," said the Wren, "Both the cock and the hen, we'll bear the pall." "Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush, "As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm." "Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull, "Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell." All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing, When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin. The origins and history of the lyrics 'Who killed cock robin?' is better described as a British folksong rather than a nursery rhyme. The Death of Cock Robin is frequently taken as a Robin Hood analogue and the ready offers of help following this event, as described in the lyrics, reflect the high esteem that the legendary figure of Robin Hood was, and is, still held. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twinkle twinkle little star: lyrics Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are? Up above the world so high , like a diamond in the sky When the blazing sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, twinkle, twinkle all the night. Then the traveller in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark, He could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so. In the dark blue sky you keep, and often through my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye, 'till the sun is in the sky. As your bright and tiny spark lights the traveller in the dark, Though I know not what you are - twinkle, twinkle little star. Nursery rhyme imagery The words and lyrics of this beautiful nursery rhyme is more like a poem and as such makes good use of the simile ' like a diamond in the sky' . The authors were sisters Ann and Jane Taylor. The first publication date was 1806. The lyrics draw a comparison of the twinkling of the star to the shutting or blinking of the eye providing a perfect illustration of clever imagery and excellent use of the English language. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There was an old lady: lyrics There was an old lady who swallowed a fly I don't know why she swallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a spider, That wriggled and wiggled and tiggled inside her; She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a bird; How absurd to swallow a bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a cat; Fancy that to swallow a cat! She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady that swallowed a dog; What a hog, to swallow a dog; She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a cow, I don't know how she swallowed a cow; She swallowed the cow to catch the dog, She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a horse... She's dead, of course! Nonsense nursery rhyme which aids memory retention A favourite nonsense nursery rhyme amongst most children whose famous lyrics aid memory retention and whose origins have no basis in history! Just look at a child's face the first time the rhyme is repeated to them! Sheer delight in what is happening - the imagery paints a very strong picture which stimulates the imagination whilst clarifying the relative size and order of all of the animals mentioned. The words become more incredulous as they progress and there is almost a sense of relief and also astonishment at the abrupt ending of the tale! There is no basis for the words and lyrics in history -it is perhaps better described as a traditional folksong, the lyrics of which have been set to music and recorded by many various artists. massetXA Mary had a little lamb Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb, Mary had a little lamb, its fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went, and everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day school one day, school one day, It followed her to school one day, which was against the rules. It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play, it made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school. And so the teacher turned it out, turned it out, turned it out, And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near, And waited patiently about, And waited patiently about till Mary did appear. "Why does the lamb love Mary so?" Love Mary so? Love Mary so? "Why does the lamb love Mary so," the eager children cry. "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know." The lamb, you know, the lamb, you know, "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know," the teacher did reply. History: Mary had a little lamb It's fleece was white as snow And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go. were the first four lines of recorded speech. They are the words uttered by Thomas Edison into his new invention -- the phonograph. The rhyme itself was written by Sarah Josepha in 1830 based upon a real incedent that happened at a schoolhouse. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- A wise old owl, the lyrics A wise old owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that wise old bird? The origins and history of 'A wise old owl' The origins and history of this nursery rhyme is vague but its meaning is not, it basically would be told to a child in an attempt to instil the wisdom of observing and keeping quiet! The association of the lyrics of this nursery rhyme derive from the saying 'a wise old owl' based on an owl's behaviour of watching and patiently waiting when hunting its prey "Children should be seen and not heard!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I was going to St. Ives, its lyrics As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives, Each wife had seven sacks, each sack had seven cats, Each cat had seven kits: kits, cats, sacks and wives, How many were going to St. Ives? The riddle and origins of the nursery rhyme! The only answer that can safely be assumed is that one person was definitely going to St. Ives - dependant on the direction of the people he encountered on the way! The origins and history of this nursery rhyme was to improve the logic and deductive skills of the child. (St. Ives is an old village in Cornwall, England) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baa baa black sheep: the lyrics Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full! One for the master, one for the dame, And one for the little boy who lives down the lane. Educational reasons of the nursery rhyme lyrics The reason to the words and history to this song were to associate wool and wool products with the animal that produces it, not to mention the sound that a sheep would make! The first grasp of language for a child or baby is to imitate the sounds or noises that animals make onomatopoeia (words sound like their meaning e.g. baa baa). The first publication date for the lyrics to this famous nursery rhyme can be dated back to 1744. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey diddle diddle: Nonsense lyrics? Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun And the dish ran away with the spoon! Fantasy Nursery Rhyme! Origins and history The first known date of publication for the lyrics of this nursery rhyme is 1765. Completely nonsensical rhyme whose sole aim is to fire the imagination of a child with impossible actions which are, however, very easy and amusing for a child to envision! Walt Disney uses this type of imagery in animated films to great effect! The term 'Hey diddle diddle' was a colloquialism used in much the same vein as "hey nonny no" which can be found in traditional British folk songs. The original title was known as 'High Diddle Diddle' but has been changed to 'Hey Diddle Diddle' during the course of time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hush a bye baby: lyrics Hush a bye baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all. Nursery Rhyme or lullaby? The lyrics to this famous nursery rhyme were first published in 1765. The words and lyrics to this song are often crooned to a baby in an effort to rock them to sleep. When repeating this song children often make a rocking motion with their hands and arms. The imagery conveyed appeals to a child's imagination! The origins and history of this nursery rhyme are said to originate from America and the habit of some Native Americans of placing a baby in the low branches of a tree allowing the young child or baby to be rocked to sleep. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Three blind mice, three blind mice, See how they run, see how they run, They all ran after the farmer's wife, Who cut off their tails with a carving knife, Did you ever see such a thing in your life, As three blind mice? The origins of the 'tale'! The origins of the lyrics to this nursery rhyme are in English history. The 'farmer's wife' refers to Queen Mary I, otherwise known as 'Bloody Mary' the reference to 'farmer's wife' alludes to the massive farming estates which she possessed and those of her husband, Philip of Spain. The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who were plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in the rhyme - but she did have them burnt at the stake! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary Mary quite contrary: origin Mary Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. The origins are steeped in history... The Mary alluded to in this traditional English nursery rhyme is Mary Tudor, or Bloody Mary, who was the daughter of King Henry VIII. Queen Mary was a staunch Catholic and the garden referred to is an allusion to graveyards which were increasing in size with those who dared to continue to adhere to the Protestant faith. The silver bells and cockle shells were colloquialisms for instruments of torture. The 'maids' were a device to behead people similar to the guillotine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ride a cock horse: lyrics Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross To see a fine lady upon a white horse With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes She shall have music wherever she goes Ride a cock horse - English history origins The lyrics of this nursery rhyme relate to Queen Elizabeth I of England (the fine lady) who travelled to Banbury (a town in England) to see the new huge stone cross which had just been erected. The lyrics 'With rings on her fingers' obviously relates to the fine jewellery which would adorn a Queen. The words 'And bells on her toes' refers to the fashion of attaching bells to the end of the pointed toes of each shoe! Banbury was situated at the top of a steep hill and in order to help carriages up the steep incline a white cock horse (a large stallion) was made available to help with this task. When the Queen's carriage attempted to go up the hill a wheel broke and the Queen chose to mount the cock horse to reach the Banbury cross. Her visit was so important that the people of the town had decorated the cock horse with ribbons and bells and provided minstrels to accompany her - "she shall have music wherever she goes". The big cross at Banbury was later destroyed by anti - Catholics. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are little boys made of: lyrics What are little boys made of? Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails That's what little boys are made of !" What are little girls made of? "Sugar and spice and all things nice That's what little girls are made of!" The lyrics! The origins and history of this nursery rhyme date back to the early nineteenth century - the battle of the sexes was raging even then! The lyrics obviously reflect this, but what is the meaning of 'snips and snails'? Many meanings have been suggested but the one that has the most credibility is that the original words were in fact 'snips of snails' snips meaning 'little bits of' No redemption there for describing what little boys are made of' ! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mary had a little lamb: the lyrics Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow; And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day, which was against the rule; It made the children laugh and play, to see a lamb at school. And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near, And waited patiently about till Mary did appear. "Why does the lamb love Mary so?" the eager children cry; "Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know" the teacher did reply. Increasing use of language The words and lyrics of this American nursery rhyme would appeal to a young child and introduces imagery and the use of similes (white as snow) as part of use of the English language. The words also convey the morale that love is reciprocated! We can find no specific connection in history for the origins of this nursery rhyme but the origins are American as the lyrics were written by Sarah Hale, of Boston, in 1830. admin Madmart As I was going to St. Ives Rhyme The riddle of the poem "As I was going to St. Ives" Only one assumption can be made in the Nursery Rhyme "As I was going to St. Ives" and that is that one person was definitely going there - or was it? It , of course would depend on the direction of the people that were encountered on the way! This type of conundrum is now referred to as a logic problem in lateral thinking designed to improve the logic and deductive skills of children, and indeed, adults! (As I was going to St. Ives refers to the name of a quaint old village in Cornwall, England) Earliest traceable publication date is 1730. The Answer to the Riddle Only one man was going to St.Ives! He met the following who were going the other way: A man (1) with 7 wives 7 x 7 (49) sacks 7x7x7 (343) cats A Total of 2,801 wives, sacks cats and kits! Poem - As I was going to St. Ives As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives, Each wife had seven sacks, each sack had seven cats, Each cat had seven kits: kits, cats, sacks and wives, How many were going to St. Ives? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Imaginative words to the Hey diddle diddle rhyme! Hey diddle diddle is a fantasy rhyme designed to delight children with impossible images such "the Cow jumped over the Moon"! Walt Disney's team of animators use this type of imagery in animated films to great effect! The term ' Hey diddle diddle' can be found in the works of Shakespeare and was a colloquialism used in much the same vein as "hey nonny no" which can be found in traditional English folk ballads. The original title was 'High Diddle Diddle' but this has been altered to 'Hey Diddle Diddle' over the years with changes to the English language. The first known date of publication for the words of the Hey diddle diddle rhyme is 1765. For a comprehensive Shakespeare website we recommend a visit to william-shakespeare.info Hey diddle diddle rhyme Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon. The little dog laughed to see such fun And the dish ran away with the spoon! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Naughty "Georgie Porgie"of the Stuart era! The origins of the lyrics to "Georgie Porgie" are English and refer to the courtier George Villiers, 1st duke of Duke of Buckingham (1592ï¿½1628). King James I took Villiers as his lover and nicknamed him "Steenie" (a reference to St. Stephen whom in the Bible describes as having the "face of an angel"). Villier's good looks also appealed to the ladies and his highly suspect morals were much in question! Affair with the married lady - the Queen of France! Villiers most notorious affair was with his liaison with Anne of Austria, (1601ï¿½1666) who was the Queen of France and married to the French King Louis XIII badly injured both of their reputations. This, however, was overlooked due to his great friendship with the English King, James I (1586 - 1625). He was disliked by both courtiers and commoners, not least for helping to arrange the marriage of King James' son to the French Catholic princess Henrietta Maria (1609-1669) - he later became King Charles I (1600-1649). George Villiers ( Georgie Porgie )exercised great influence over the King who allowed him many liberties. Villiers private liaisons and political scheming were questioned and Parliament who finally lost patience and stopped the King intervening on behalf of "Georgie Porgie". The romantic elements of of George Villiers and Anne of Austria are featured in the novel 'The Three Musketeers' by Alexander Dumas. Picture of George Villiers Nursery Rhyme & History Origin to words of Jack Sprat can be found in British History! The Jack Sprat alluded to in this English poem is reputed to be King Charles I (1625-1649) and Henrietta Maria, his Queen (1609-1669). Apparently, when King Charles (Jack Sprat) declared war on Spain, parliament refused to finance him (leaving him lean!) So his wife imposed an illegal war tax (to get some fat!) after the angered King (Jack Sprat) dissolved Parliament. The Robin Hood Legend! Another interpretation of the Jack Sprat Nursery rhyme relates to the story of Richard I (Richard the Lionheart 1157 - 1199) and his younger brother King John (1166 - 1216). Both of whom feature strongly in the traditional legend of Robin Hood. Prince John, Richard the Lionheart and the Ransom! In 1189 John (Jack Sprat) married Joan , the ambitious and greedy daughter and heiress of the Earl of Gloucester ("Joan ate all the fat"). When King Richard went on Crusade, from 1190 to 1194, John attempted to take the crown of England - a ruthless and treacherous usurper). On his return from the Crusades King Richard was taken hostage by Duke Leopold demanding a ransom of 150,000 marks. John reluctantly had to raise the ransom, leaving the country destitute for years and reducing John's inheritance ("They picked it clean"). The ransom was paid and Richard was released. John was crowned King of England following the death of Richard in 1199. He had his marriage to Joan annulled, she was never acknowledged as queen . She then married again to Geoffrey de Mandeville and her third husband was Hubert de Burgh . The picture is of King Charles I whose constant disputes with the Parliamentarians led to the English Civil War and his execution Jack Sprat rhyme aka - Jack Spratt Jack Sprat could eat no fat His wife could eat no lean And so betwixt the two of them They licked the platter clean Jack ate all the lean, Joan ate all the fat. The bone they picked it clean, Then gave it to the cat Jack Sprat was wheeling, His wife by the ditch. The barrow turned over, And in she did pitch. Says Jack, "She'll be drowned!" But Joan did reply, "I don't think I shall, For the ditch is quite dry.". ----------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE ON Little Miss Muffet Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Story of the Little Miss Muffet Rhyme Little Miss Muffet was a small girl whose name was Patience Muffet. Her stepfather, Dr. Muffet (1553-1604) was a famous entomologist who wrote the first scientific catalogue of British Insects. Whilst eating her breakfast of curds and whey Little Miss Muffet was frightened by one of his spiders and ran away! This particular Nursery Rhyme of Little Miss Muffet reputedly dates back to the late 16th century as indicated by the birth date of Dr Muffet! Unlikely story about Patience Muffet! Little Miss Muffet Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet Eating her curds and whey, Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her And frightened Miss Muffet away ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Traditional poem - Mondays child The words and lyrics of Mondays child poem are used to associate children with the pattern and different names to the days of week. Mondays child is a very popular poem but the actual words of Mondays child are not well known! We have all learnt the days of the week as Mondays child intended but we cannot seem to remember the qualities of being being born on individual days! Sunday was traditionally referred to as the 'Sabbath day' so there is no specific reference to Sundays child. "Mondays child is fair of face" Mondays child poem Mondays child is fair of face, Tuesdays child is full of grace, Wednesdays child is full of woe, Thursdays child has far to go, Fridays child is loving and giving, Saturdays child works hard for his living, And the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History 16th Century History origin of the Little Jack Horner story? Little Jack Horner was reputed to have been the Steward to Richard Whiting (1461 - 1539) the Bishop of Glastonbury. The Steward had an important role and was responsible for managing the household, collecting taxes and keeping accounts. The Church, the King and the Gold Glastonbury was the largest and wealthiest Abbey in England and this Benedictine Monastery owned extensive lands and manors in the county of Somerset. Between 1536 and 1540, after breaking away from the Catholic Church, King Henry VIII and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell set about the systematic Dissolution of all of the Monasteries in England. The reason for was to loot the monasteries of their gold and silver and seize the monastic lands. By 1539 Glastonbury was the only religious house left in Somerset and it was only at matter of time before Glastonbury Abbey was also seized. The Bribe It is rumoured that the Bishop tried to bribe the King. He sent his Steward, Richard Whiting, with a gift of twelve title deeds to various English manorial estates. The deeds were said to have been secreted in a pie (valuables were often hidden in this bizarre fashion to thwart thieves). Whiting ( Little Jack Horner) realised that the bribe would do no good and was said to have stolen the deeds to the manor of Mells (it being the real 'plum' of the twelve manors). The Traitor and the Execution The remaining eleven manors were given to the crown but to no avail. The old Bishop was convicted of treason for remaining loyal to Rome. The jury included his treacherous steward Horner who found Bishop Whiting guilty and sent the old man to a terrible death of being hung, drawn and quartered on Glastonbury Tor. The Abbey was destroyed. Following the destruction of the abbey the steward, Horner moved into the Manor of Mells. Whether Horner actually stole the deeds to the Manor or was rewarded with them for helping to convict the Bishop of Glastonbury is not known but the Manor of Mells became the property of the Horner family who lived there until the 20th century. The first publication date for the lyrics to the Little Jack Horner rhyme is 1725. Little Jack Horner rhyme Little Jack Horner sat in the corner Eating his Christmas pie, He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum And said "What a good boy am I!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This Little Piggy Finger or toe rhyme for "This little piggy"! The words for "This little piggy" nursery rhyme are used to point out each one of the child's toes! The last line in "This little piggy" is used to accompany the child being tickled by the narrator of the poem! This rhyme is extremely popular which ensures that it will be passed from generation to generation. The first publication date for the words and lyrics for this nursery rhyme was in 1728. This Little Piggy poem This little piggy went to market, This little piggy stayed at home, This little piggy had roast beef, This little piggy had none. And this little piggy went... "Wee wee wee" all the way home... admin Madmart Red Sky at Night Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History A practical nursery rhyme about the weather - "Red Sky at night" Practical origins for this English nursery rhyme are based on weather predictions and how a red sky at night would indicate fair weather on the following day. In England the words refer to a shepherd who would say that a red sky in the morning was suggesting inclement weather to follow. In America the words relate to a sailor. It should be remembered that there were no weather forecasts, as such, in days gone by and one had to make one's own weather predictions. Those with the most knowledge and experience, such as Sailors and Shepherds, whose lives were dependant on the weather and were fully conversant with changing weather patterns indicated by a "Red Sky at night". The original origins of this Nursery Rhyme can be traced to the Bible: Matthew 16:2-3 2 - He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 3 - And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? Our grateful thanks go to Rilla for providing us with this reference Red Sky at Night poem Red sky at night, Nursery Rhyme & History The origin of the words to "Oranges and lemons" - strange & sinister! The exact date of origin is unknown but there was a Square Dance called 'Oranges and Lemons' dating back to 1665, unfortunately there are no known record of the lyrics which accompanied the dance but is likely that the words were similar to that of the nursery rhyme. The words to "Oranges and lemons" have been much loved by numerous generations of children. The neighbourhood names relate to some of the many churches of London and the tune that accompanies the lyrics emulates the sound of the ringing of the individual church bells. The Tyburn Gallows The words of the nursery rhyme are chanted by children as they play the game of 'Oranges and lemons' the end of which culminates in a child being caught between the joined arms of two others, emulating the act of chopping off their head! The reason for the sinister last three lines of the lyrics of "Oranges and lemons" are easily explained, they were added to the original rhyme, probably by children! This addition dates to some time before 1783 when the infamous public execution gallows (the Tyburn-tree) was moved from Tyburn-gate (Marble Arch) to Newgate, a notorious prison for both criminals and debtors hence "When will you pay me"?". This move was necessary to reduce problems caused by the crowds, often exceeding 100,000, gathered along the execution procession route. This stretched along a three mile route from Newgate Prison to Tyburn and around the Tyburn tree itself. Newgate Prison The 'Bells of Old Bailey', or more accurately the tenor bell of St Sepulchre, had been utilised prior to 1783 to time the executions but after the gallows had been moved, Newgate prison (now the site of the Old Bailey) obtained its own bell. As the words to the poem "Oranges and lemons" indicate the unfortunate victim would await execution on 'Death Row' and would be informed by the Bellman of St. Sepulchre by candle light 'here comes the candle to light you to bed', at midnight outside their cell , the Sunday night prior to their imminent fate, by the ringing of the 'Execution Bell' (a large hand bell) and the recitation of the following : All you that in the condemned hole do lie, Prepare you for tomorrow you shall die; Watch all and pray: the hour is drawing near That you before the Almighty must appear; Examine well yourselves in time repent, That you may not to eternal flames be sent. And when St. Sepulchre's Bell in the morning tolls The Lord above have mercy on your soul. The executions commenced at nine o'clock Monday morning following the first toll of the tenor bell. Who would have thought that "Oranges and lemons" a childrens rhyme could have such a sinister historical connotation? Picture of Execution Procession at Tyburn, London Origin of the saying "On the Wagon" - meaning a person has stopped drinking alcohol! Prisoners were transported to Tyburn Gallows on a wagon and were allowed one last drink in a pub on the way to their execution. If offered a second drink by a sympathiser the guard would reply, "No, they're going on the Wagon!" Oranges and Lemons Poem "Oranges and lemons" say the Bells of St. Clement's "You owe me five farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's "When will you pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey "When I grow rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch "When will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney "I do not know" say the Great Bells of Bow "Here comes a Candle to light you to Bed Here comes a Chopper to Chop off your Head Chip chop chip chop - the Last Man's Dead." Origins and History of the Oranges and Lemons Nursery Rhyme! Each of the fifteen 'Bells of London' referred to in the rhyme have been fully researched and can be read about above in this section. ALSO Read more about the where the Bells and Churches are in London and discover some additional information about the strange and sinister meanings behind the Oranges and Lemons Nursery Rhyme! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The North Wind doth Blow Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History The Robin' or 'The North Wind doth blow'? This nursery rhyme is referred to as either the North Wind doth blow or The Robin. 'The North Wind doth blow' is British in its origins and believed to have originated in the 16th century history. 'The North Wind doth blow' uses the olde English word 'doth'. The purpose of the words to 'The North Wind doth blow' is to ensure that a child associates security with home whilst empathising with the plight of the robin. This therefore accounts for the confusion as to whether the poem should be called 'The North Wind doth blow' or the Robin. The North wind doth blow poem The North wind doth blow and we shall have snow, And what will poor robin do then, poor thing? He'll sit in a barn and keep himself warm and hide his head under his wing, poor thing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Owl and the Pussycat Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & Origin of the Poem The lyrics to "the owl and the pussycat" - What is a Runcible Spoon? A traditional childrens poem , or folksong, as the lyrics to the owl and the pussycat have been set to music and recorded by several artisits. The author of the owl and the pussycat was of course Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) and the first publication date of the owl and the pussycat was 1871. Wonderful illustrated graphics have also been set to the words of the owl and the pussycat poem helping to fire the imagination of a child! The burning question remains, however, what exactly is the runcible spoon referred to in the words of the owl and the pussycat poem? The probable definition of this term is that a runcible spoon is a small fork with three prongs, one having a sharp edge, and curved like a spoon. This spoon is used to eat pickles, etc. Picture of Edward Lear The Owl and the Pussycat poem The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are, What a beautiful Pussy you are." Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl, How charmingly sweet you sing. O let us be married, too long we have tarried; But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-tree grows, And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will" So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon. And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand. They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon, They danced by the light of the moon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was a Crooked Man Nursery Rhyme & History The origin of the Nursery rhyme "There was a crooked man" is in British history The content of "There was a crooked man" poem have a basis in history. The origin of this poem originates from the English Stuart history of King Charles 1. The crooked man is reputed to be the Scottish General Sir Alexander Leslie. The General signed a Covenant securing religious and political freedom for Scotland. The 'crooked stile' referred to in "There was a crooked man" being the border between England and Scotland. 'They all lived together in a little crooked house' refers to the fact that the English and Scots had at last come to an agreement. The words reflect the times when there was great animosity between the English and the Scots. The word crooked is pronounced as 'crookED' the emphasis being placed upon the 'ED' in the word. This was common in olde England and many references can be found in this type of pronunciation in the works of William Shakespeare (1564-1616). There was a Crooked Man poem There was a crooked man and he walked a crooked mile, He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile. He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse. And they all lived together in a little crooked house ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was an Old Lady Rhyme Nursery Rhyme Origin Nonsense rhyme which aids memory retention. A favourite Nursery rhyme amongst children whose famous lyrics of "There was an old lady" aid memory retention. The poem is a relatively modern rhyme and therefore has no origin in history! The imagery of "There was an old lady" paints a very strong picture which stimulates the imagination whilst emphasising the relative sizes and order of the creatures mentioned. The lyrics to "There was an old lady" become more incredulous as they progress and there is almost a sense of relief and also astonishment at the startling ending of the story! "There was an old lady" is perhaps better described as a traditional folksong, the words of which have been set to music and recorded by many various artists. There was an Old Lady song There was an old lady who swallowed a fly I don't know why she swallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a spider, That wriggled and wiggled and tiggled inside her; She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a bird; How absurd to swallow a bird. She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a cat; Fancy that to swallow a cat! She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady that swallowed a dog; What a hog, to swallow a dog; She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a cow, I don't know how she swallowed a cow; She swallowed the cow to catch the dog, She swallowed the dog to catch the cat, She swallowed the cat to catch the bird, She swallowed the bird to catch the spider, She swallowed the spider to catch the fly; I don't know why she swallowed a fly - Perhaps she'll die! There was an old lady who swallowed a horse... She's dead, of course There was an Old Woman Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Origins of the Rhyme "There was an old woman" in Regency England? At first glance the words to "There was an old woman" would appear to be nonsense but in fact it is believed to have origins in English history! There are two choices of origin! The first relates to Queen Caroline (There was an old woman) wife of King George II who had eight children. The second version refers to King George who began the men's fashion for wearing white powdered wigs. He was consequently referred to as the old woman! The children were the members of parliament and the bed was the Houses of Parliament - even today the term 'whip' is used in the English Parliament to describe a member of Parliament who is tasked to ensure that all members 'toe the party line'. As a point of historical interest the wigs worn by women of the period were so large and unhygienic that it became necessary to include mousetraps in their construction! There was an Old Woman rhyme: There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do! So she gave them some broth without any bread, And she whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thirty Days hath September Rhyme Rhyme "Thirty days hath September"- Aide Memoire! The words to "Thirty days hath September" are still used by many adults to prompt them into recalling how many days there are in each month! It's therefore often referred to as the Days of the Month Rhyme! The origin of the lyrics to "Thirty days hath September" are obscure but use of olde English can date this poem back to at least the 16th century. When was the last time that you found yourself muttering the words of the "Thirty days hath September" poem? Thirty Days hath September poem Thirty days hath September, February has twenty eight alone All the rest have thirty-one Except in Leap Year, that's the time When February's Days are twenty-nine alternative lyrics to this famous Nursery Rhyme 30 days hath September, All the rest have 31, Excepting February alone. Which only has but 28 days clear And 29 in each leap year --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the House that Jack built Origins of 'This is the house that Jack built!' Nursery Rhyme The origin of the lyrics to 'This is the house that Jack built' cannot be traced to specific people or historical events but merely reflect the everyday characters and lifestyle which could have been found in rural England and date back to the sixteenth century. The phrase 'This is the house that Jack built' is often used as a derisory term in describing a badly constructed building! This is the House that Jack built poem This is the house that Jack built! This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cat that killed the rat That ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built. This is the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the maiden all forlorn That milked the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the man all tattered and torn That kissed the maiden all forlorn That milked the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the priest all shaven and shorn That married the man all tattered and torn That kissed the maiden all forlorn That milked the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the cock that crowed in the morn That waked the priest all shaven and shorn That married the man all tattered and torn That kissed the maiden all forlorn That milked the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built. This is the farmer sowing his corn That kept the cock that crowed in the morn That waked the priest all shaven and shorn That married the man all tattered and torn That kissed the maiden all forlorn That milked the cow with the crumpled horn That tossed the dog that worried the cat That killed the rat that ate the malt That lay in the house that Jack built! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The words of the Diddle Diddle Dumpling Nursery Rhyme A mother's words to a typical boy child in this poem Diddle Diddle Dumpling! No origins in history can be found for Diddle Diddle Dumpling - it is merely a nonsense rhyme probably made popular and handed down from generation to generation owing to the popularity of the name John (Diddle Diddle Dumpling my son John). It is an interesting fact that this is the only old rhyme that uses the name John - all of the older poems use the colloquialism for John i.e. Jack. John of Gaunt Picture of a famous 'John' from English history. A Plantagenet prince, the rich and powerful John of Gaunt (1340 - 1399 ). His liaison with a commoner called Katherine Swynford produced four illegitimate children who were given the name Beaufort ( He married Katherine in 1396 and their children, by this time adults, were legitimised).Their son John was the Great-Great Grandfather of King Henry VIII of England Poem - Diddle Diddle Dumpling Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John, Went to bed with his trousers on; One shoe off, and one shoe on, Diddle, diddle, dumpling, my son John! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History History of "Rain rain go away" poem The origin of the lyrics to "Rain rain go away" are said to date back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), one of the English Tudor monarchs. During this period of English history there was constant rivalry between Spain and England culminating in the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Spanish Armada consisted of many Spanish galleons and was sent to invade England. The Armada was led by Duke of Medina Sedonia and the the fleet numbered over 130 ships. The English fleet, under Admiral Lord Howard, totalled 34 small Navy vessels and 163 armed merchant ships. But the great Spanish Armada was defeated. Only 65 Spanish galleons and just 10,000 men returned to Spain. The attempt failed, not only because of the swift nature of the smaller English ships but also by the stormy weather which scattered the Armada fleet. Hence the origin of the "Rain rain go away" Nursery rhyme! Rain Rain go Away poem Rain rain go away, Little Johnny wants to play; Rain, rain, go to Spain, Never show your face again! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Wise Old Owl Rhyme 'A Wise Old Owl Nursery Rhyme & History' The origins and history of 'A wise old owl' are vague, however its meaning isn't, basically it would be told to children in an attempt to to teach the child the virtue of being quiet! The lyrics of 'A wise old owl' poem are derived from the saying 'a wise old owl' based on an owl's behaviour of watching and patiently waiting when hunting its prey. Legends concerning the owl are recorded in Greek, Celtic, Native American and Aborigine mythology. The owl is is especially associated with wisdom in Greek mythology being linked with Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. Athens is named from the Goddess Athena and its emblem is the owl . The owl was, for many years, viewed as a sinister bird only hunting at night when only evil spirits and witches were abroad - hence the connection with as a Witches Familiar! A wise old owl - "Children should be seen and not heard!" A wise old owl nursery rhyme / poem A wise old owl lived in an oak The more he saw the less he spoke The less he spoke the more he heard. Why can't we all be like that wise old bird? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Nursery rhyme of "Starlight star bright" with American history The lyrics to the "Starlight star bright" rhyme are believed to be of late 19th century American origin and the words allude to the fantasy that you can wish upon a star. This "Starlight star bright" poem has no doubt been used on many occasions to quieten a child or children ready for bedtime as they look out of the window waiting to see "Starlight star bright" - the very first starlight! Starlight star bright poem The first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Rhyme Imagery used in Twinkle twinkle little star The beautiful words of Twinkle twinkle little star have been immortalised in the poem and music has been added thus increasing its popularity. The simile ' like a diamond in the sky' teaches children how words can be used to paint a picture in the imagination. The words create a comparison between the twinkling of the star to a sparkling diamond thus providing a perfect illustration of clever imagery and excellent use of the English language. The joint authors of Twinkle twinkle little star were two sisters called Ann Taylor (1782-1866) and Jane Taylor (1783-1824). The first publication date was 1806. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star poem Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are? Up above the world so high , like a diamond in the sky When the blazing sun is gone, when he nothing shines upon, Then you show your little light, twinkle, twinkle all the night. Then the traveller in the dark, thanks you for your tiny spark, He could not see which way to go, if you did not twinkle so. In the dark blue sky you keep, and often through my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye, 'till the sun is in the sky. As your bright and tiny spark lights the traveller in the dark, Though I know not what you are - twinkle, twinkle little star. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Finger rhyme of "Here's the church". Visual impact! Children love "Here's the church" rhyme as it combines words with actions expressed by using their hands. This provides the opportunity to increase the manual dexterity and coordination of a child whilst encouraging them to use their imagination. A favourite finger rhyme starting with the hands clasped together ( Here's the church) and ending with the hands joined together as if in Christian prayer! Churches Dominated Life The architecture of British and European churches and steeples dominated the skyline of all major towns and cities. The Nursery Rhyme London Bells, the original version of Oranges and Lemons, details many famous London Churches together with the people who lived in the area including Lord Mayors, Torturers, Executioners and Money Lenders! Here's the church - finger rhyme Here's the church, and here's the steeple Open the door and see all the people. Here's the parson going upstairs, And here he is saying his prayers ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hush a Bye Baby Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Is "Hush a bye baby" a Nursery Rhyme or lullaby? The words and origin of the "Hush a bye baby" rhyme are said to have originated from America. It was the practice of some Native Americans to place a baby in the branches of a tree allowing the wind to gently rock the child to sleep "Hush a bye baby on the treetop". The meaning to the words of the song "Hush a bye baby" seem to match this explanation. The words to the "Hush a bye baby" song have the intention of making a child sleep it can therefore be correctly described as both a nursery rhyme and a lullaby! The words to the "Hush a bye baby" song were first published in 1765. Hush a Bye Baby poem Hush a bye baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows the cradle will rock; When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall, And down will come baby, cradle and all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Itsy Bitsy Spider Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History The lyric to the song "Itsy Bitsy Spider " create a finger rhyme for children. All children love trying to mimic the actions of Itsy Bitsy Spider song. The movements and actions of Itsy Bitsy Spider help children to improve their manual dexterity whilst repeating the words of the song. The name of the spider seems to vary but 'Itsy Bitsy spider' is believed to be the most popular version although in England Itsy Bitsy Spider is known as Incy Wincy spider! The history and origin of the Itsy Bitsy spider rhyme cannot be traced, it is believed just to be a fun finger rhyme that has survived the test of time. Itsy Bitsy Spider song : lyric, Also known as Incy Wincy Spider! Itsy Bitsy spider climbing up the spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Out came the sun and dried up all the rain Now Itsy Bitsy spider went up the spout again! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nursery Rhyme & History Origin and History to the words of Jack be nimble The most commonly agreed origin for the Jack be nimble rhyme is the connection to Black Jack, an English pirate who was notorious for escaping from the authorities in the late 16th century hence Jack be nimble... The words of the Jack be nimble rhyme cannot be further analysed due to the brevity of the text of the lyrics but could be associated with the old tradition and sport of 'candle leaping' which used to be practised at some English fairs. Lace Makers and Candle Leaping? The tradition of candle-leaping originated from an old game of jumping over fires. This dangerous game was banned and replaced by the far less dangerous sport of Candle leaping. In Wendover there were lace-making schools ( a good excuse for using children as slave labour). Here it was traditional to dance around the lace-makers great candlestick and this led to jumping over the candlestick. Due to the cost of candles some employers only allowed the use of candles during the darkest months of the year and centred around Candlemas Day, known as the candle season. It is interesting to note that Jack be nimble is now being referred to as Jack b nimble - the influence of the modern day practise of texting! The first publication date for Jack be nimble is 1798. Jack be Nimble (aka Jack b Nimble) Jack be nimble When Adam delved and Eve span Rhyme Lyrics, Origins and History "When Adam delved, and Eve span Who was then a gentleman?" Rhyme & History Medieval Rhyme This rhyme is one of the oldest known English Rhymes and can be dated to the English Peasant Revolt of 1381. At this time the English had suffered horrifically due to the deadly Black Death ( Bubonic Plague) during which as many as the third of the population had died. The peasants realised that they were now important in society. This seemingly innocent Rhyme was uttered and muttered by the peasants of the land. Like many political rhymes this was easy to remember and makes use of the simple riddle. The seeds of an English Revolution had been sown. The peasants felt oppressed and called for the abolition of feudal obligations - serfdom. They wanted freedom from from servitude, controlled wages, and unfair taxes. The Rulers! During this period England was ruled by the young Plantagenet King Richard II who gained the throne, 4 years before in 1377. The peasants were loyal to the King and their hatred was centred on his uncle, the rich and powerful John of Gaunt. The Rebels! The Kentish leaders of the Revolt were Robert Cave, Abel Ker, Jack Straw, Thomas Farringdon, and Wat Tyler and the rebellion soon spread to Essex and London. A priest called John Ball stirred the flame of revolution even higher by preaching to the peasants and encouraging them to call for justice. The Story! The peasants marched on London whilst the boy-King Richard II and his Court including the Earl of Derby (the future Henry IV), John of Gaunt's son, Sir Thomas Percy (admiral), and Sir Thomas Walworth (Lord Mayor of London) had fled to the Tower of London for safety. King Richard met the rebels at Blackheath and agreed to their demands - many of the peasants peacefully returned to their homes. The remaining peasants led by Wat Tyler met with the King again at Smithfield. Wat Tyler was wounded and captured - he was later beheaded by Mayor Walworth and his men. John Ball met an even more horrific fate and was Hung, drawn and quartered. The King had won the day and the rebellion was crushed. But the rhyme which sparked the 'English Revolution' is still remembered today! When Adam delved and Eve span Rhyme lyrics, "When Adam delved, and Eve span Who was then a gentleman?" Picture of John of Gaunt Picture of a famous 'John' from English history. A Plantagenet prince, the rich and powerful John of Gaunt (1340 - 1399 ) His liaison with a commoner called Katherine Swynford produced four illegitimate children ( He married Katherine in 1396 and their children (the Beauforts), by this time adults, were legitimised) Their son John was the Great-Great Grandfather of King Henry VIII of England "Of Peasant Stock mighty The Elephant Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & Poem The Elephant Rhyme is also known as The Blind Men and the Elephant. The Elephant Rhyme was written by the American poet John Godfrey Saxe (1816-1887)The Elephant Rhyme is a poem with a morale reflecting on people who express their views on subjects that they have no experience of, or as in the Elephant Rhyme that they have never seen. The morale of the Elephant Rhyme is similar to that expressed by the Scarecrow in the wonderful Children's film - The Wizard Of Oz. The screen play / script of the Wizard of Oz movie was written by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allen Woolf. The similarity comes when Dorothy asks the Scarecrow, "How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?" To which the Scarecrow replies, "I don't know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?" See below for the words and morale of the Elephant Rhyme. The Elephant Rhyme It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: ï¿½God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!ï¿½ The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, ï¿½Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ï¿½tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!ï¿½ The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: ï¿½I see,ï¿½ quoth he, ï¿½the Elephant Is very like a snake!ï¿½ The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. ï¿½What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,ï¿½ quoth he; ï¿½ ï¿½Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!ï¿½ The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: ï¿½Eï¿½en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!ï¿½ The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, ï¿½I see,ï¿½ quoth he, ï¿½the Elephant Is very like a rope!ï¿½ And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong! The Moral of the Elephant Rhyme: So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was a Little Guinea Pig Nursery Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Secret Meaning! The origins and lyrics of 'There was a little guinea-pig' like many old nursery rhymes have secret, hidden, meanings and allude to people and events in history. The references in 'There was a little guinea-pig' are believed to refer to the people in the Plantagenet court of King Richard 111 of England (Immortalised by William Shakespeare in the play Richard III.) To understand the meanings of this Nursery Rhyme we need to refer to the famous satirical rhyme by Colyngbourne: "The Cat, the Rat and Lovell our Dog, Rule all England under a Hog" The Cat was Sir Thomas Catesby. The Rat was Sir William Ratcliffe of Ordsall Hall. The Dog was Thomas, Lord Lovell ( Lovell's emblem was a talbot, a now-extinct breed of hunting hound). The Hog was Richard III ( his emblem was a white boar). The couplet refers to the fact that this hated trio of men enjoyed enormous power and influence in the reign of the equally disliked King Richard III. William Shakespeare discredited King Richard even further in his famous play. The nursery rhyme 'There was a little guinea-pig' provides an even more obscure reference to these men. For the most comprehensive information on Shakespeare and his Complete Works search on the internet: William Shakespeare info Picture of King Richard III There was a Little Guinea Pig Nursery Rhyme lyrics, There was a little guinea-pig, Who, being little, was not big; He always walked upon his feet, And never fasted when he eat. When from a place he run away, He never at the place did stay; And while he run, as I am told, He ne'er stood still for young or old. He often squeaked, and sometimes violent, And when he squeaked he ne'er was silent. Though ne'er instructed by a cat, He knew a mouse was not a rat. One day, as I am certified, He took a whim and fairly died; And as I am told by men of sense, He never has been living since. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lion and the Unicorn Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History Origins of "The lion and the unicorn" in British history The Lion and the Unicorn lyrics date from 1603 when King James VI of Scotland became James I of England unifying the Scottish and English kingdoms . The 'Virgin Queen' Elizabeth 1 named the son of Mary Queen of Scots, James, as her heir. The union of the two countries required a new royal coat of arms combining those of England which featured two lions, and Scotland whose coat of arms featured two Unicorns hence "The lion and the unicorn". A compromise was made thus the British coat of arms has one Lion and one Unicorn and the poem about hence "The Lion and the Unicorn" was created. The picture depicts the Lion ( with the crown) and the Unicorn Coat of Arms. The centre of the Arms depicts the lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the Harp of Ireland in the third quarter. The motto around the centre means: " Evil to him who evil thinks" which relates to the Order of the Garter. The motto at the bottom means: " God and my Right " The Lion and the Unicorn poem The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown The lion beat the unicorn all around the town. Some gave them white bread, and some gave them brown; Some gave them plum cake and drummed them out of town ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Little Hen Rhyme Meaning of the Little hen rhyme & lyrics 'Little Hen' is a term of endearment used in Scotland and therefore implies a rhyme with Scottish origins. 'Little Hen' would often be used when referring to the daughter of the house. The imagination of children, however, take the meaning of all words literally, thus any illustrations of this story always depict a little hen! Little Hen rhyme I had a little hen, the prettiest ever seen, She washed up the dishes and kept the house clean. She went to the mill to fetch us some flour, And always got home in less than an hour. She baked me my bread, she brewed me my ale, She sat by the fire and told a fine tale! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hark Hark the Dogs do Bark Rhyme Nursery Rhyme & History A Sinister Tale The "Hark, hark the dogs do bark" rhyme dates back to 13th century England. The origin of "Hark, hark the dogs do bark", reflected in the words, is seeped in history. Wandering minstrels or troubadours and beggars went from city to town singing their songs (some in rags and some in tags and one in a velvet gown) Messages of dissent to the common people were often found in secret meanings to the words of their ballads. In this way the propaganda of the day was safely passed from one community to another. These secret messages could led to plots and uprisings against the royalty, clergy and politicians of the day. Even further back in time, in Saxon England, professional storytellers, called 'scops', would also travel around the country telling stories for their living. During outbreaks of the Bubonic Plague strangers were looked upon with horror! Dogs barking alerted the townspeople to strangers in their area, hence the words "Hark, hark the dogs do bark ..." Hark hark the dogs do bark The beggars are coming to town Some in rags and some in jags* And one in a velvet gown. * Jags - A slash or slit in a garment exposing material of a different color (especially popular during the Tudor period.) Additional Information regarding the history & origin of this rhyme Out thanks go to Yasmin Mazur for submitting the following possibilities for 'Hark, Hark the dogs do bark' It refers to the Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536 - 1540) perpetrated by King Henry VIII and his chief minister Thomas Cromwell, when England broke from the Catholic religion. Their objective was to loot the monasteries and seize the monastic lands (which they promptly sold) thus increasing the wealth in the coffers of England. This resulted in monks begging in the streets and reflected in the lyrics of 'Hark, Hark the dogs do bark' or In 1688 William of Orange brought his Dutch followers to England - it is suggested that the person referred do as being 'one in a velvet gown' was William himself and the beggars referred to his Dutch associates The pictures is of King Henry VIII who broke with the Catholic Church and dissolved the English Monasteries Hark hark the dogs do bark rhyme;- Hark hark the dogs do bark The beggars are coming to town Some in rags and some in jags* And one in a velvet gown. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BIG SHIP SAILS ON THE ALLY-ALLY-OH The big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh The ally-ally-oh, the ally-ally-oh Oh, the big ship sails on the ally-ally-oh On the last day of September. The captain said it will never, never do Never, never do, never, never do The captain said it will never, never do On the last day of September. The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea The bottom of the sea, the bottom of the sea The big ship sank to the bottom of the sea On the last day of September. We all dip our heads in the deep blue sea The deep blue sea, the deep blue sea We all dip our heads in the deep blue sea On the last day of September. The words of the Nursery Rhyme and children's song, 'The big ship sails... ' have only been suggestedto have the following meaning. Little is known about the origins of the song, but we have speculated on possible origins Nursery Rhyme Origins The rhyme and song was often sang by children playing skipping games, the lyrics suited the ritual chants for children 'jumping in' the skipping ropes. Perhaps the term 'big ships' provide a clue to the origins. The Manchester Ship canal was opened in 1894 and is the eighth-longest ship canal in the world, being only slightly shorter than the Panama Canal in Central America. The MSC was built for ocean-going ships - there were only six ships in the world too big to use the Ship Canal. These big ships started their journeys on the canal which led to the sea. The Manchester Ship Canal connected Manchester, W England, with the Mersey estuary at Eastham, Birkenhead. Perhaps this is the origin of the song... An Apple a Day An Apple a Day Nursery Rhyme / Poem The simple meaning behind the sentiment expressed in 'An apple a day' poem is one to encourage the child to eat healthily and wisely that is An apple a day! Although perhaps 'Doctor' could be replaced with 'Dentist' in a modern day version of this poem of "An apple a day" - delicious! The author of the poem "An apple a day" is unknown and the first publication date has been untraceable. Poem - An apple a day keeps the Doctor away An apple a day keeps the doctor away Apple in the morning - Doctor's warning Roast apple at night - starves the doctor outright Eat an apple going to bed - knock the doctor on the head Three each day, seven days a week - ruddy apple, ruddy cheek ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cry Baby Bunting Rhyme The origins - lullaby lyrics for this poem "Cry Baby Bunting" The lyrics of the poem "Cry Baby Bunting" were not intended to be important - it was the sound of the music to accompany it! The song "Cry Baby Bunting" would be sung softly to a young child as a lullaby. Perhaps to explain the disappearance of Father to a crying child! Earliest traceable publication 1784. There is however a version of this lullaby which clearly has American roots - please see lyrics below. Poem - Cry Baby Bunting The Sandman's coming in his train of cars With moonbeam windows and with wheels of stars So hush you little ones and have no fear The man-in-the-moon he is the engineer The railroad track tis a moonbeam bright That leads right up into the starry night So put on you 'jamas and say your prayers The words of the Nursery Rhyme, 'The Sandman ' have been kindly provided by a friend of mine. He believes that they are incomplete, so if anyone can provide any additional words, please let us know! The 'wheel of stars' referred to in the rhyme might refer to Ezekiel's Wheels which were used to highlight the forgotten method of finding the sun's position at night and thus keeping the time, the missing method was by gearing two great imaginary spinning wheels of stars. Nursery Rhyme & History The charitable lyrics of "Christmas is coming" poem! The lyrics of the poem "Christmas is coming" associate the Christmas feast with geese which are eaten in traditional English Christmas feasts. The meaning that is conveyed to a child in "Christmas is coming" is that the festive period is where each should give to charity, according to their means... even if all they could give was their blessing (If you haven't got a penny...) History of the Penny! The history of the English penny is not commonly known but is a vital part of our history and heritage! The first documented reference to the penny is dated 790 AD when the first British penny was minted in silver. The design of the penny frequently changed depicting the images of various rulers. The first Anglo-Saxon pennies depicted a cross on the reverse of the coin as a symbol of Christianity. These crosses were used as guidelines to cut the penny into halves and quarters - "cut coinage". The halfpenny (worth half the value of a penny) and farthing (worth a quarter, or a fourth, of the value of a penny) were then minted. The word farthing was derived from 'fourthing'. The penny changed from silver to copper in 1797 ( hence the colloquialism 'coppers') then changed to bronze in 1860 and copper plated steel in 1992. The Nursery Rhyme "Christmas is coming" can claim to be instrumental in maintaining our heritage in relation to the coinage of both the UK and the USA which also used the humble penny. Poem - Christmas is coming rhyme Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat Please to put a penny in the old man's hat; If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do, If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For want of a Nail Rhyme "For want of a nail" Nursery Rhyme & History A clever set of lyrics in "For want of a nail" encouraging children to apply logical progression to the consequences of their actions. "For want of a nail" is often used to gently chastise a child whilst explaining the possible events that may follow a thoughtless act. The History of Obligatory Archery Practise! The references to horses, riders, kingdoms and battles in "For want of a nail" indicate the English origins of the rhyme. One of the English Kings did not leave anything to chance! In 1363, to ensure the continued safety of the realm, King Edward III commanded the obligatory practice of archery on Sundays and holidays! The earliest known written version of the rhyme is in John Gower's " Confesio Amantis dated approximately 1390. "For want of a nail" American usage Benjamin Franklin included a version of the rhyme in his Poor Richard's Almanack when America and England were on opposite sides. During World War II, this verse was framed and hung on the wall of the Anglo-American Supply Headquarters in London, England. For want of a nail - rhyme For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There was a man lived in the moon, Lived in the moon, lived in the moon There was a man lived in the moon, And his name was Aiken Drum. Chorus And he played upon a ladle, a ladle, a ladle And he played upon a ladle, and his name was Aiken Drum. And his hat was made of good cream cheese, of good cream cheese, of good cream cheese, And his hat was made of good cream cheese And his name was Aiken Drum. Chorus And his coat was made of good roast beef, of good roast beef, of good roast beef, And his coat was made of good roast beef, And his name was Aiken Drum. Chorus And his buttons made of penny loaves, of penny loaves, of penny loaves, And his buttons made of penny loaves, And his name was Aiken Drum. Chorus And his breeches made of haggis bags of haggis bags, of haggis bags And his breeches made of haggis bags, and his name was Aiken Drum. The words of the Nursery Rhyme and children's song, 'Aiken Drum ' have been suggested by Helena. This tune first appeared as a nursery rhyme in Percy Society's Early English Poetry, Ballads, and Popular Literature of the Middle Ages (1841). Aiken Drum Nursery Rhyme Origins The rhyme originates from Scotland and possibly dates back to the 1715 Jacobite Rising. But who was Aiken Drum? He was possibly a mythical creature called a Brownie, who was generally benevolent but sometimes mischievous. A Brownie is a legendary kind of elf or fairy popular in folklore around Scotland and Northern England. In Scotland the most well-known individual brownie, was described in the poem "The Brounie o Blednoch" by William Nicholson, who goes by the name of Aiken Drum! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- His name is my name too. Whenever we go out, There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt. Dah dah dah dah, dah dah dah The words of the Nursery Rhyme, 'John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt ' originate in the USA and possibly reflect the enormous numbers of German immigrants at various points in American history. The surname Schmidt and the surname suffix -heimer are of Germanic origin. It is a favorite rhyme of children and often referred to as a 'Bus Song'. The pseudo-German word 'Jingleheimer' was probably used to mock the longer names often found in this language. admin Madmart The Chapbooks and the Nursery Rhyme The Chapbooks and the Nursery Rhyme A Picture of a Chapbook page dated 1820 The House that Jack Built Nursery Rhyme Chapbooks The Nursery Rhyme began to be printed in England as early as 1570! The Nursery Rhyme, which up to this point been passed to different generations verbally, started to be passed on via the written form. Printing allowed the production of books and cheap pamphlets, or Chapbooks. A chapbook is "a small book or pamphlet containing poems, ballads, stories, or religious tracts". More people during this time were learning to read but the chapbooks were also popular with people who could not read as they contained pictures, in the printed form of crude wood engravings. The Chapbook was a Middle Age equivalent of a Children's comic - documenting funny rhymes and Folklore! The Chapmen! Chapbooks were sold by 'Chapmen' or peddlers who sold, amongst other wares, the popular penny Chapbooks at local fairs! The Chapmen sold various wares that were easy to transport from one village or fair to the next. They attracted attention by dancing and singing the old familiar Rhymes! The word 'Chap' originates in Middle English, from the Old English 'capman' meaning 'trade' add this to the word 'cheap' to provide a full definition of a Chapman. ( You now know the origin and meaning of the name Chapman!) These old Chap books, sold by the Chapmen, have given us most of our old Nursery Rhymes! English Ballads, Folklore and old legends were also documented in Chapbooks and sung by wandering minstrels which helped to continue the spread of the old Nursery Rhymes and Legends. The Chapbooks The Chapbook was a cheap, small book, containing 24 pages or less without a hard cover. Chapbooks were usually anonymous and undated. The popularity of Chapbooks increased during the 1600's, 1700's and 1800's but only a few of the early copies have survived. The contents were committed from memory which accounts for some variations in the lyrics and words of some Nursery Rhymes. The Chapbook Printers and Publishers The leading chapbook printers including John Marshall, published , printed and sold in Aldermary Churchyard, next to the Church of St Mary Aldermary, Bow Lane in 1780. Aldermary Churchyard was situated East and south of St. Mary Aldermary Church, from Budge Row to Bow Lane. It is also of interest to note that Newbery Publishing House, who published "Mother Goose's Melody - or Sonnets for the Cradle", was originally set up in St. Paulï¿½s churchyard. Nursery Rhymes, Fairy Tales & Children's stories in Chapbooks The content and material of the Chapbooks expanded in the 1700's to include children's stories like Robinson Crusoe and various versions of Perraultï¿½s Fairy Tales. The Chapbooks and History The Chapbooks provide some excellent information and material for those interested in tracing the origins of the Nursery Rhyme - all of which help us to maintain our history and heritage through the words and lyrics of the humble Nursery Rhyme. italianguy Nursery Rhymes The Inner Meaning THE ONCE-POPULAR BELIEF in Telluria that fairy tales are mere nonsensical fancies for children is losing ground. Among educated people it is generally accepted that they were not originally intended for children (although the fact that children, on their own level, can appreciate them bespeaks their universality), and that they contain depths of meaning far beyond what appears on the surface. Yet despite this rehabilitation of fairy tales (which, in itself, usually implies only the scantiest understanding of their true meaning, and often takes the form of outright misinterpretations based upon the errors of Jung and Freud) there has been but little tendency to see in nursery rhymes anything more than pleasant childish nonsense. The scope of the nursery rhyme is much broader than that of the fairy tale, ranging from lullabies and baby-games to some quite sophisticated story-verses. In Aristasia we find a wide range of verses, some of which are simply a childï¿½s first introduction to certain aspects of life, and familiar figures of the natural and human realms; others are proverbs concerning good conduct ï¿½ but none of this is merely ï¿½secularï¿½ in the modern sense, since the traditional way of life and view of life is being taught both in the verses themselves and in the explanations of them given by grown-ups; a view of life in which all earthly things are reflections of the Absolute. The obedience, grace, courtesy and uprightness taught by the proverbs are the very foundation-stones of the life of thamï¿½ ï¿½ life within the harmony of Diaï¿½s earthly family and of Her divine Law. Nevertheless, many of the rhymes have a far more detailed and specific inner meaning. As with fairy tales, many of them have direct equivalents in Telluria. Here is one which is known by both peoples and has long been treasured for Its beautiful, haunting quality: How many miles to Abolan? Three score and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes, and back again. If thy heels be fleet and light Youï¿½Il be there by candleï¿½light. (Open the gates as wide as you may And let the Rayinï¿½s horses pass through on their way.) In many Tellurian versions, the Holy City of Abolan appears as the somewhat-assonant Babylon (though in other versions It is Edinburgh or some other city). This use of the Wicked City is a rather ironic, since it obscures the whole point of the rhyme. In Aristasia Abolan was the capital of the old Western Empire (Abolrai), and the name is related to Avala, the Western paradise or Isles of the Blest. Abolan is a type of the Holy City, and as such, the Heart, Centre and Temple of the surrounding land. The Journey to Abolan is, therefore, maidï¿½s spiritual pilgrimage to the true Centre. Three score and ten, of course, is not a number picked at random, but is a symbolic length in folk-tradition for a human life. Many of the critical junctures of life occur at the multiples of seven years: the attainment of reason at seven temple-entry in the East at fourteen, adulthood at twenty-one, the Grand Climacteric at 49 etc. 7x10 links human life to the historical cycle (symbolised by 10). The light of a candle is a traditional image of a single human life. Thus the road to Abolan is the spiritual journey of a maidï¿½s earthly life; a life lived in thamï¿½, whose every activity, however apparently ï¿½worldlyï¿½ is related to the Centre, and whose reward is a coming-to-the-Centre. It is not, however, a reward won lightly, for she must exercise skill and speed in order to attain the Goal. This idea brings us to the final two lines. They are placed in brackets because they are used only when ï¿½Abolanï¿½ is played as a game. The Rayin (queen) represents the human soul, and her horses are the various powers and tendencies of the soul which must be disciplined and harnessed in order to attain the Goal, Two players (they may or may not be children) choose the names of ï¿½oppositesï¿½ such as gold and silver, day and night, and then hold up their hands to form a gate. The other players form a ï¿½crocodileï¿½ (the Rayinï¿½s entourage) in front of the gate, and the rhyme is recited as an exchange between them and the gates. At the end the gates open and they pass through, but the gates come down in an attempt to trap the last player. This is the ï¿½perilous passageï¿½ motif so common in the fairy tales: the need to pass through all the dualities and oppositions of the world in order to attain the Absolute, the Oneness, which lies beyond them.* The necessity of swiftness represents spiritual skill; if the player is too slow, she will be caught, and even if she succeeds her tail may be docked by the gates (often the soul is represented by a hare or a bird). The rest of the game reinforces the concept of the conflict of opposites which creates the flux of the material world and of the perilous passage: each child, as she is caught, must choose in whispers one of the two secret names, and, having chosen, lines up behind the gate to which it belongs. When all the players have been caught there is a tug-of-war between the two sides, and sometimes the losers must run the gauntlet between the winners, who attempt to whip their legs with long grasses or thin sally (willow) switches aa they pass through. The riddle-rhyme: Old Mother Granya hath but one eye And a long tail which she does let fly; And every time she doth jump through a gap She leaveth a part of her tail in a trap. refers obviously to the perilous passage motif. The answer, of course, is a needle, and it is connected also with the solar symbolism of sewing and the stritvatï¿½ or thread-Spirit. The ï¿½one eyeï¿½, as well as its obvious reference, is the ï¿½single eyeï¿½ which sees only the One Spirit and not the pairs of opposites. Of similar import are such rhyme-games as ï¿½Thread My Grandamï¿½s Needleï¿½ and ï¿½Through the Needle-Eyeï¿½, both of which have actions related to that of ï¿½Abolanï¿½. A different type of game is the acting-game of which ï¿½Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bushï¿½ is the best-known example. Here one player stands in the centre while the others form a ring around her. During the choruses they dance round her like the planets about the sun, while in each verse she chooses and leads the action (this is the way we clap our hands, sow the corn etc.). In some versions she is a bramble-bush, but both the bramble and the mulberry are associated with forms of Dia*, and is a minor representative of the World Tree. In each case she represents the still Point at the centre of manifestation, the solar Spirit Herself, by Whom all the forms of manifestation are expressed in their perfect Essence and are reflected upon the rim of the wheel of being, (in the realm of movement and multiplicity) . There are many rhyme-games of this sort. Strictly (because of the perfect ï¿½obedienceï¿½ of the ring) this one represents not the relation of hub to the rim of the wheel, but of the axle-point to the hub that is to say, of God Herself to the Angelic or Archetypal realm of unfallen creation. Competitive versions which turn upon the mistakes made by the players represent the relation of the hub to the rim the fallen world of matter, which mirrors the Spirit, yet is ï¿½a broken and imperfect reflectionï¿½ of Her. Finally, let us consider a very different, though related, rhyme: I had a little nut tree, Nothing would it bear The High PrIncess of Caire Came to visit me, And all for the sake Of my little nut tree. I skipped over the water, I danced over the sea, And all the birds of the air Couldnï¿½t catch me. In Tellurian versions the High Princess of Caire is usually represented by The King of Spainï¿½s Daughter ï¿½ a topical reference to the visit of Joanna of Castile to the English court in 1506 grafted onto an older rhyme. The tree, as is often the case, refers to the Axis Mundi, the central pillar of being, and the possession of it indicates oneness with the central or primordial human state. A maid in such a state is said to be ï¿½in possession of her heartï¿½. The golden and silver fruits are respectively the Spirit and the soul which meet in the heart and the two faculties of the heart: pure Intelligence and pure Love (as opposed to their lesser material reflections, reason and emotion), for the Pear is ruled by Sai Sushuri (Venus) and the nutmeg by Sai Mati (Mercury). The subtle interplay of these two ï¿½cordialsï¿½, explained earlier in relation to the symbolism of Wine and of the Chalice [the reference is to another essay which we hope to reprint here ï¿½ editress] is inherent in the specific fruits used, showing them to be far more than mere random choices, for the scent of the pear has a certain airy, Matic quality (strongly apparent in pear-drops) as opposed to the more obvious choice, the apple, which is the Sushuric fruit par excellence. The scent of nutmeg, for its part, bears a resemblance to the highly Sushuric musk, as its name indicates (from nut + Old French muge = musk). That the tree will bear nothing else indicates the same singleness of purpose as Mother Granyaï¿½s one eye. The realisation of the Primordial State places maid in a situation more central even than the great ritual Centres of the sacred world; thus the High Princess of Caire (the Holy City of the ancient Celestial Empire of the East) herself the ritual representative of primordial Centrality, makes pilgrimage to she who has actualised the true Centre within herself. The last two lines show her as a liberated soul, a mover-atï¿½will. Her speed again represents spiritual skill; dancing or walking on water is a sign of spiritual perfection in Aristasian scriptures, as it is in those of the Buddhists and Christians in Telluria. It represents , among other things, the ability to cross at will between the hither and nether shores; between this world and the world beyond; between earth and Heaven, without need of the ritual ï¿½bridgesï¿½ used by the rest of (normal traditional) humanity. Of course, the full doctrines which lie enfolded In the nursery rhymes are far too complicated for a young child to understand. As with the fairy tales, she begins by feeling only a sense of special magic about them. As she grows older, at least in the East and in the more traditional families of the West, she is slowly led deeper into the real source of this feeling ï¿½ the inner mystery of the rhymes. Her childhood experience is not simply denied and written off as ï¿½childishï¿½ but confirmed, deepened and explained. This is a part of the bringing-up of all normal, traditional children, as opposed to the bringing-down which the abnormal Tellurian society inflicts upon its offspring ï¿½ the systematic denial of all that is deep and true in their natural perceptions until, when they finally come of age after years of perverse ï¿½educationï¿½, they, quite literally, have not the sense they were born with. -------------------------------------------------------------- The "active door" or "narrow gate" motif, comprised of two facing dangers, is probably best known in Telluria from the Homeric Scylla and Charibdis, but for numerous Tellurian examples from many cultures, together with a traditional exegesis, see Ananda Coomaraswamy's "Symplegades". ** Here again, there are Tellurian parallels - for example, in the Iliad the goddess Hera decorates her pierced ears with mulberry clusters and the mulberry is also sacred to Minerva; the bramble was sacred to St Bridget of Ireland (originally the goddess Brighde); the Chinese goddess Ma-Ku took land from the sea and planted it with mulberry trees. italianguy The nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' The nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' Claim: The nursery rhyme 'Sing a Song of Sixpence' originated as a coded message used to recruit crew members for pirate ships. Status: True. Origins: Many of us fondly recall the rhyming ditties we learned as children, such as "Jack Be Nimble" and "The Farmer in the Dell." But how many of us realize that several of our most fondly-recalled nursery rhymes (e.g., "A Tisket, A Tasket" and "Little Jack Horner") were not mere nonsense songs, but actually originated as coded references to such dark events as plagues and religious persecution? Such was the case with another childhood favorite, "Sing a Song of Sixpence." For those unfamiliar with this ditty, let's start by offering its lyrics: Sing a song of sixpence A pocket full of rye Four and twenty blackbirds Baked in a pie When the pie was opened The birds began to sing Was that not a tasty dish To set before a king? The King was in his counting house Counting out his money The Queen was in the parlor Eating bread and honey The Maid was in the garden Hanging out the clothes When down came a blackbird And snapped off her nose! The surprising truth is that this innocent little rhyme, which dates from the early 1700s, actually represents a coded message used to recruit crew members for pirate vessels! Pirates (or corsairs, privateers whose activities were sanctioned by letters of marque from a sovereign) did not spend all their time at sea: they cruised the waters in areas such as the Mediterranean, the Spanish Main, or the Atlantic coast of North America, looking for prizes, and they returned to port when the need for supplies or repairs demanded it. Upon reaching port, the ship's captain paid off the crew (primarily by dividing the spoils of whatever they had captured), and the crew members then dispersed ashore (usually to spend all their pay on alcohol and prostitutes as quickly as possible). Some crewmen tended to stay in the vicinity, but others left for other regions, caught on with other ships, died, were killed, or simply disappeared. Thus, much like the captains of naval vessels and merchant traders, the captains of pirate ships needed to recruit new crew members whenever they embarked on yet another venture. Since piracy (as opposed to privateering) was against the law, pirates devised codes that could be used to advertise for crew members without openly revealing their illegal affiliations. The nursery rhyme "Six a Song of Sixpence" was a coded message that evolved over several years' times and was used by confederates of the notorious pirate Blackbeard to recruit crew members for his prize-hunting expeditions. Like many other messages passed down to us over hundreds of years by oral tradition, there is no one "official" version, nor is there a "correct" interpretation for any particular variant. In general, however, the most common form of this rhyme bore these veiled meanings: Sing a song of sixpence / A pocket full of rye Blackbeard's standard payment of sixpence a day was considered good money in the 1700s, especially since most pirate vessels did not pay a salary: the crew only received a share of the spoils if they were successful in capturing prizes (and many a pirate ship had to return to port empty-handed after spending several fruitless months at sea). As well, his crew was promised a pocket (a leather bag somewhat like an early canteen which held about a liter) full of rye (whiskey) per day. Not bad, considering that alcohol was the average sailor's raison d'etre. Four and twenty blackbirds / Baked in a pie As Henry Betts points out in his book on the origins and history of nursery rhymes, "It was a favourite trick in the sixteenth century to conceal all sorts of surprises in a pie." Buccaneers, too, were fond of surprises, and one of Blackbeard's favorite ruses to lure a ship within boarding range was to make his own vessel (or crew) appear to be in distress, typically by pretending to have been dismasted in a storm or to have sprung a leak below the waterline. Passing ships ï¿½ both honest sailors wanting to help and other pirates looking for an easy catch ï¿½ would sail in close to offer assistance, whereupon a crew of two dozen heavily-armed seamen dressed in black would board the other vessel (via a boat in darkness or fog, or by simply jumping into the other ship when it came alongside if no other means of surprise attack was possible) to quickly kill or disable as many crew members as possible. Thus the four and twenty "blackbirds" (i.e., Blackbeard's crewmen) "baked in a pie" (i.e., concealed in anticipation of springing a trap). When the pie was opened / The birds began to sing This follows from the previous line. Once the victim's ship was lured in for the kill, the "blackbirds" came out of hiding and attacked with a fearsome din. Was that not a tasty dish / To set before a king? This line is commonly misinterpreted. The King is not a reference to any real king, but rather to Blackbeard himself, the king of pirates. And the tasty dish is the plundered ship that was so easily captured. The King was in his counting house / Counting out his money Again, the King is Blackbeard (no real king would take on such a mean task as counting money). This line of the message signals that Blackbeard had the cash on hand to pay a crew on salary rather than strictly on divided spoils. The Queen was in the parlor / Eating bread and honey Blackbeard's main vessel was a French merchant ship named "Le Concorde de Nantes" that was jointly captured by Blackbeard and Captain Hornigold in the Grenadines in November of 1717. Upon his retirement from pirating, Hornigold presented the ship to Blackbeard, who renamed it "The Queen Anne's Revenge". Thus the "Queen" referred to here is Blackbeard's ship, and "eating bread and honey" meant that it was in port taking on supplies in preparation for a cruise. The Maid was in the garden / Hanging out the clothes The use of the word "maid" indicated that the location/route of one or more prize ships was known, and they were going to be specific targets of the upcoming cruise (this greatly enhancing the probability of the crew's collecting prize money). The waters around the Carolinas down to the Caribbean were referred to as the garden, as this was an area where pirates would often cruise for easy pickings. "Hanging out the clothes" meant the targeted ship was already at sea or just about to leave port (thus its sails ï¿½ or "clothes" ï¿½ have been hung). When down came a blackbird / And snapped off her nose! There is some scholarly debate in literary and maritime circles as to whether the last part was originally "and snapped off her nose" or "and snapped off a rose." Either way, the passage is taken to be a Blackbeard's bragging about his plans to swoop in and have his way with the targeted ship. So, next time you hear this innocent children's song, remember that it was originally recited in taverns by drunken, bloodthirsty buccaneers as a code to recruit other pirates for their next murderous voyage! landlover Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty is a character in a nursery rhyme portrayed as an anthropomorphic egg. Most English-speaking children are familiar with the rhyme: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together again. The fact that Humpty Dumpty is an egg is not actually stated in the rhyme. In its first printed form, in 1810, it is a riddle, and exploits for misdirection the fact that "humpty dumpty" was 18th-Century reduplicative slang for a short, clumsy person. Whereas a clumsy person falling off a wall would not be irreparably damaged, an egg would be. The rhyme is no longer posed as a riddle, since the answer is now so well known. Similar riddles have been recorded by folklorists in other languages, such as Boule Boule in French, or Lille Trille in Swedish & Norwegian; though none is as widely known as Humpty Dumpty is in English. Origins Previous to the "short, clumsy person" meaning, "humpty dumpty" referred to a drink of brandy boiled with ale. There are also various theories of an original "Humpty Dumpty", who was not an egg. As some are mutually exclusive, the theories necessarily include false etymologies. According to an insert taken from the East Anglia Tourist Board in England, Humpty Dumpty was a powerful cannon used in the Siege of Colchester during the English Civil War. It was mounted on top of the St. Mary's at the Wall Church in Colchester defending the city against siege in the summer of 1648. Although Colchester was a Royalist stronghold, it was besieged by the Roundheads for 11 weeks before finally falling. The church tower was hit by enemy cannon fire and the top of the tower was blown off, sending "Humpty" tumbling to the ground. Naturally all the King's horses and all the King's men (Royalist cavalry and infantry respectively) tried to mend "him" but in vain. Other reports have Humpty Dumpty referring to a sniper nicknamed One-Eyed Thompson, who occupied the same church tower. Visitors to Colchester can see the reconstructed Church tower as they reach the top of Balkerne Hill on the left hand side of the road. An extended version of the rhyme gives additional verses, including the following: In Sixteen Hundred and Forty-Eight When England suffered the pains of state The Roundheads lay siege to Colchester town Where the King's men still fought for the crown There One-Eyed Thompson stood on the wall A gunner of deadliest aim of all From St. Mary's Tower his cannon he fired Humpty-Dumpty was its name... In Sixteen Hundred and Forty-Eight When England suffered the pains of state The Roundheads lay siege to Colchester town Where the King's men still fought for the crown Then One-Eyed Thompson stood on the wall A gunner of deadliest aim The cannon he fired from the top of the tower Humpty-Dumpty was its name... In another theory, Humpty Dumpty referred to King Richard III of England, the hunchbacked monarch, the "Wall" being either the name of his horse (called "White Surrey" in Shakespeare's play), or a reference to the supporters who deserted him. During the battle of Bosworth Field, he fell off his steed and was said to have been "hacked into pieces". (However, although the play depicts Richard as a hunchback, other historical evidence suggests that he was not.) The story of Cardinal Wolsey's downfall is supposedly depicted in the children's nursery rhyme of Humpty Dumpty. At length Cawood Castle (Cawood, a village in Yorkshire, seven miles southwest of York) passed to Cardinal Wolsey, who let it fall into disrepair in the early part of his career (1514 ï¿½ 1530), due to his residence at the Court, devotion to temporal affairs and his neglect of his diocesan duties. King Henry VIII sent Wolsey back home in 1523 after he failed to obtain a divorce from the Pope ï¿½ a huge mistake on Wolseyï¿½s part. Wolsey returned to the castle and began to restore it to its former grandeur. However, he was arrested for high treason in November, 1530 and ordered to London for trial. He left on 6 November, but took ill at Leicester and died in the Abbey there on 29 November. An explanation given on a British radio programme described Humpty Dumpty as a siege tower, used by the Cavaliers (King's Men) during the English civil war. Unfortunately, as it was poorly designed, the tower often toppled over when it was full of men and broke. Hence, "All the King's horses and all the King's men, couldn't put Humpty together again." References in popular culture Humpty Dumpty and Alice. From Through the Looking Glass. Illustration by John Tenniel. Humpty Dumpty, shown as a riddle with answer, in a 1902 Mother Goose story book by William Wallace Denslow Denslow shows the result of the fallHumpty appears in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, where he discusses semantics and pragmatics with Alice. "I don't know what you mean by 'glory,' "Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!'" "But `glory' doesn't mean `a nice knock-down argument,'" Alice objected. "When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less. "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master -- that's all." Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. "They've a temper, some of them -- particularly verbs, they're the proudest -- adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs -- however, I can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That's what I say!" Among other things, he (mis-)explains the difficult words from Jabberwocky. See Humpty Dumptyism. Throughout James Joyce's Finnegans Wake, the male protagonist, Humphrey Chimpden Earwicker, is compared to Humpty Dumpty. One of many exegeses is that his subconscious, which he "breaks open" every night as he sleeps, contains all the fragments of history, which his wife collects and puts back together again in the morning (unlike the rhyme). Joyce explicitly refers to Humphrey as Humpty on page 12, line 12 of the Wake. "All the King's Men" is used as the title of Robert Penn Warnen's 1946 novel, depicting the events in the dramatic political rise and fall of Willie Stark, a populist southern governor in the American South during the 1930s. In L. Frank Baum's Mother Goose in Prose, the rhyming riddle is devised by the daughter of the King, having witnessed Humpty's "death" and her father's soldiers' efforts to save him. Tori Amos wrote a song named Humpty Dumpty which uses the poem as lyrics. Batman features a character based on Humpty Dumpty - most likely out of its tendency to base ideas on fairy tales and Alice and Wonderland (such as the Mad Hatter). He enjoys taking things apart to see if he can put them back together again and make them better - and was thus mislabeled as a terrorist. Counting Crows have a song called "Einstein on the Beach (For An Eggman)" in which the chorus references Humpty-Dumpty: "And all the king's men reappear / For an eggman, on and off the wall / Who'll never be together again..." A re-telling of the rhyme appeared in the TV show Lost In Space in the episode "Rocket To Earth". Dr. Smith is convinced he is seeing things. The Robot attempts to cheer him up by reciting the following: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty was two inches tall He fell down and broke his shell Poor little egg, I wish him well. To which Smith responds: "I think I'm going to be violently ill". The title of Robert Penn Warren's novel All the King's Men derives from the nursery rhyme, as does the title of Woodward and Bernstein's Watergate memoir All the President's Men. All the King's Men is also the title of a children's opera by Richard Rodney Bennett. Set in the time of the English Civil War it describes the invention of a machine similar to the Roman testudo (see below) which the troops on both sides in the Gloucester siege christened "Humpty-Dumpty". Also, Aimee Mann wrote a song named "Humpty Dumpty", in which the last verses are a romantic adaptation of the original poem ("All the king horses and all the kings men/ Couldn't put baby together Neil Gaiman published in Knave, in 1984 a short story called 'The Case of the Four and Twenty Blackbirds', which casts Humpty as a murder victim. The tone is that of hard boiled detective fiction and casts a number of nursery rhyme characters in various roles such as Jill from Jack and Jill as the femme fatale or Cock Robin as the underworld informant. It is now available to read from his website. Jasper Fforde includes Humpty Dumpty in two of his novels. One, The Well of Lost Plots, the third novel in his Thursday Next series, features Humpty as the ringleader of dissatisfied nursery rhyme characters threatening to strike. The other, The Big Over Easy sets Humpty as the victim of a murder under investigation by Detective Inspector Jack Spratt and his partner Detective Sergeant Mary Mary. Robert Rankin includes Humpty Dumpty as one victim of a serial fairy tale character murderer investigated by Bill Winkie, Private Eye and sidekick Eddie Bear the Teddy Bear, in his novel "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" Humpty makes a cameo in American McGee's Alice, where he is half-broken and smoking a cigar. His role in the game is to point Alice to the location of the Blunderbuss. In Todd McFarlane's 'Twisted Fairy Tales' line, Humpty Dumpty is not an egg, but a huge fat creature wearing a propellor beanie, with entrails leaking from his body and stitches and staples to 'fix' him. Frank Beddor said in an interview that Humpty Dumpty will probably be in his third The Looking-Glass Wars book. Humpty Dumpty also appears in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake as a symbol of the fall of all men. There is also a song by Travis (Scottish band) which is called "The Humpty Dumpty Love Song". The first lines of it are "All of the king's horses and all of the king's men couldn't put my heart back together again". Taken from their third studio album The Invisible Band (2001). There is another Travis Song called "Coming Around". In the video, there is the singer Fran Healy in an egg and by the end of it he falls from a wall. In Fantasy Flight Games Grimm RPG of twisted fairy tales he features as Humpty Dumpty aka. "The Rotten King". A smelly ruler over an evil kingdom of monsters who enjoys nothing more than pitting children against each other in cruel games. The Prog rock band Genesis has a song named Squonk, from their 1976 album A Trick of the Tail, which features the line "All the king's horses and all the king's men could never put a smile on that face". Humpty Dumpty features prominently in City of Glass by Paul Auster. The character Peter Stillman, while cracking open a boiled egg, uses the example of Humpty Dumpty to explain his theories about language. In Amanda Filipacchi's novel Nude Men, the eleven-year-old nymphet, Sarah, uses Humpty Dumpty in a variety of ways (for instance, by inventing slightly erotic Humpty Dumpty stories and creating Humpty Dumpty sculptures) to help her seduce the twenty-nine-year old protagonist she is after. Eggorny is a Colombian cartoon, which is about Humpty Dumpty. It takes place in a mediï¿½val landscape. After his great fall, no one was able to put Humpty together again until some 1500 years later. A teenager named Rufus put him together again, and renamed him Eggorny. Eggorny now lives in the modern-day town of Someville. The British jazz-funk group Central Line name-checked Humpty Dumpty in their 1981 club hit "You Know You Can Do It" ("Not like Humpty / Don't come tumbling down / Into pieces on the ground") 60's rock band The Monkees has a song called "All The King's Horses" with the chorus singing "All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put my broken heart back together again." The rap group 2 Live Crew mentions Humpty Dumpty on their controversial album As Nasty As They Wanna Be (1989), on the song "Dirty Nursery Rhymes": "Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall / 'Cause a ho on the ave was sucking his balls / All the king's horses and all the king's men / Couldn't put that fat motherfucker back together again." In "All the King's horses" by Joss Stone there's a line in the chorus "All the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put our two hearts, together again" Humpty Dumpty is also a minor character in the first story arc of the comic book Jack of Fables, in which he remembers the Battle at Colchester, and actually fires as a cannon once before cracking up. On November 6th, 2006, NPR's All Things Considered used the nursery rhyme to demonstrate the talents of voice-over artists Dennis Steele and Scott Sander. Their voices are both recognizeable as narrators for political season TV advertisements. In a "Dire and Disastrous" tone the rhyme was lampooned as, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All our Federal Tax Dollars could not put Humpty Dumpty back together again. Humpty Dumpty...Wrong on wall-sitting." Ricky Gervais, comedian and producer of both the British and American versions of the television show "The Office", riffed about Humpty Dumpty in his stage show, "Politics." Boston-based band The Receiving End of Sirens uses the lyrics "Bring all the king's horses and all the king's men" in their song "The War of All Against All". The theme song of australian television show Round The Twist,used the line "If All the king's horses, and all the king's men, couldn't put me back together again I'd say...", the next line in the verse is the opening line of popular nursery rhyme Rain, Rain, Go Away. Olivier Blanchard and Michael Kremer close their 1997 paper in the Quarterly Journal of Economics entitled "Disorganization" with a phrase from the rhyme. In Cardcaptor Sakura Tomoyo is Humpty Dumpty during Sakura's trip into "Alice in Wonderland". In Shugo Chara there is a pair of a lock (Humpty Lock) and a matching key (Dumpty Key). The anime also revolves around the search of the Embryo, an egg that makes wishes come true. Toast soldiers that are dipped in soft boiled eggs are believed to have been given the name from the rhyme. In the episode "Nursery Crimes" of The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Mandy tells a very sad Humpty Dumpty tale. The Stevie Nicks song "Fall From Grace" from her 2001 album Trouble in Shangri-La contains the line "Not all the king's horses / Not all the king's men / Could put it back together..." The Teena Marie song Fix It from her album Robbery (1983) mentions Humpty Dumpty ("Just like Humpty Dumpty off the wall/ I'm falling down/ I am just the pieces of a fall") landlover ANOTHER Meaning of the nursery rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep ? ANOTHER Meaning of the nursery rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep ? First in this mad, mad world of political correctness we live in today the nursery rhyme baa, baa black sheep is being re-worded as baa, baa, rainbow sheep because saying black sheep may cause offence to black people Did anyone ask a black person if he was offended In the Middle Ages, a hard-working peasant was required to give one third of his income to the King, "my master," and one third to the fat nobility, "my dame," leaving only a final third for himself, "the little boy." Payment was made in sacks of wool. In other words it was a tax. Another point about this is that wool from a black sheep was worth quite a lot less than ordinary wool. The term "black sheep" of the family derives from this too. It is interesting that taxation rates were exorbitant in the Middle Ages too landlover The Ladybug Nursery Rhyme The Ladybug Nursery Rhyme One of the best known of all nursery rhymes is the one that begins "Ladybug ladybug . . . " or, alternatively, "Ladybird ladybird . . . " One common version of this rhyme is: Ladybug ladybug fly away home, Your house in on fire and your children are gone, All except one and that's little Ann, For she crept under the frying pan. Another is: Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home, Your house is on fire, your children all gone, Except little Nan, who sits in a pan, Weaving gold laces as fast as she can. In Medieval England farmers would set torches to the old hop (used in flavoring beer) vines after the harvest in order to clear the fields for the next planting. This poem was sung as a warning to the ladybugs that were still crawling on the vines in search of aphids. The ladybugs' children (larvae) could get away from the flames, but the pupae, referred to as "Nan" in some versions, were fastened to the plants and thus could not escape. Pupae are the larvae when they have formed a cocoon and are changing into adults. "Nan" was originally an affectionate form of the name "Ann" (but it is now generally used as a short form of "Nancy"). san4uzel meaning of the rhyme Hey Diddle, Diddle. meaning of the rhyme Hey Diddle, Diddle. There are many theories about the meaning of the rhyme Hey Diddle, Diddle. One of the most popular explanations for the cat and the fiddle pertains to Queen Elizabeth I. Hey diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon, The little dog laughed to see such fun, And the dish ran away with the spoon. As with many nursery rhymes, there are many theories about the possible meaning of the popular rhyme Hey Diddle, Diddle. Scholars and laymen argue themselves in circles about where a particular rhyme originated and what it might possibly mean. However, no one is certain about the precise meanings of nursery rhymes because like many traditional forms of childhood entertainment, nursery rhymes were originally an oral tradition. One of the most popular explanations for the cat and the fiddle pertains to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Hey diddle, diddle, Hey Diddle, Diddle was originally published in 1765, as High Diddle, Diddle and reflects the popular use of nonsense phrases in songs and rhymes. Shakespeare used the word diddle in his writing. And the phrase hey diddle, diddle is considered similar to a colloquialism found in traditional English folk ballads: ï¿½hey nonny no.' The cat and the fiddle, The cat is argued to represent Queen Elizabeth I who was nicknamed ï¿½The Catï¿½ because of the way she played or fiddled with her cabinet members, much like a cat will play with mice. An interesting quote by Elizabeth I states, ï¿½I may not be a lion, but I am a lionï¿½s cub, and I have a lionï¿½s heart.ï¿½ Perhaps the nickname, given behind her back, was not unknown to Elizabeth. The cow jumped over the moon, The little dog laughed to see such fun, The little dog was reportedly Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Some believe Elizabeth loved Robert others feel that they were simply very close friends. It is said that Elizabeth once referred to him as her ï¿½lap dog.ï¿½ It is suggested that the cow and the moon are also nicknames for members of Elizabethan court intrigue. Court intrigue was a huge part of life in the Elizabethan era much as political intrigue is part of our world today. There was very strict protocol regarding the behavior of members of court towards each other and towards the Queen and it is not surprising that nicknames would have been given to the various players. And the dish ran away with the spoon. It is said that Elizabethï¿½s serving lady represents the dish and the spoon was the designation of the royal taster. These two servants fell in love and secretly eloped and ran away from the court. When they were captured, Elizabeth had them thrown into the Tower of London. san4uzel Little Jack Horner ;-A Good Boy or Conniving Politician? Little Jack Horner A Good Boy or Conniving Politician? The good little boy in the corner eating his Christmas pie was not so good and implicates a religious man, who is hung, beheaded, and quartered. Modern Version Little Jack Horner sat in the corner Eating his Christmas pie, He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum And said "What a good boy am I!" Historical Version He put in his Thumb, And pullï¿½d out a Plum, And [said] what a good Boy was I Alternate Historical Version of Jacky Horner Sitting in the Chimney-corner Putting in his Thumb, Oh fie!! Putting in, Oh fie! his Thumb Pulling out, Oh Strange! a Plum. The Naughty Little Jack Horner The idea that Jack Horner is a reference to Thomas Horner is, according to the Annotated Mother Goose nursery rhyme books, a persistent legend. However, even if the account is not true, the fact that Jack was a knave is worth consideration. During the Tudor era (1485-1603), Jack was used as another name for ï¿½knave.ï¿½ The earliest known publication of Little Jack Horner is the inclusion of the rhyme in Henry Careyï¿½s ballad titled ï¿½Namby Pambyï¿½ in 1720. It is quite possible that the rhyme lasted in an oral form from the Tudor era until it was first published. The Naughty Thomas Horner After Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church he began to disband the monasteries and abbeys in England. Ironically, the motivation was not religious; it was economic. The Dissolution allowed the King to acquire all the churches property both lands and precious metals (gold, silver, and lead among them). By 1539, Glastonbury Cathedral was one of the last strongholds. Richard Whiting was the Abbot at the time and Thomas Horner was his steward. In desperation, Whiting decided to send a Christmas gift to the King. The gift was the deeds to twelve manorial estates baked into a pie. It was common during the Tudor era to go to extremes to hide valuables and therefore the pie charade was not unusual. Thomas Horner decided to make the most of the situation and opened the pie and removed the deed to the Manor of Mells. His descendents continue to live on the ï¿½plumï¿½ estate that he plucked from a pie. Unfortunately, Hornerï¿½s crimes do not stop there. When the King had Abbot Whiting tried for treason, Thomas Horner was on the jury that found him guilty. The poor abbotï¿½s punishment was to be hanged, beheaded, and quartered. Conclusion Whoever Little Jack Horner may be, it is a fair guess that he was not a very good little boy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Like many nursery rhymes Ring around the Rosy has sinister undertones. Ring around the rosy A pocket full of posies; Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush! Weï¿½ve all tumbled down. Traditional Interpretation Traditionally the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosy or Ring-a-Ring oï¿½Rosies was believed to be a description of the peopleï¿½s experiences with the bubonic plague. Ring-a-ring oï¿½Rosies referred to the circular rose-colored rash that appeared on the skin of those who were infected with the bubonic plague. A Pocket full of Posies referred to the sweet herbs that people collected in pockets or pouches to carry with them in an attempt to prevent the disease. People believed the plague was transferred by bad smells so the posies were considered a beneficial ward against infection. Ashes, Ashes / We all fall down! Falling down clearly refers to death. The phrase ashes, ashes refers to the cremation of the dead. Nearly 60% of the population died from the bubonic plague. The disease was not halted until the Great Fire of London in 1666, which turned the rats who carried the disease into ashes. The variation A-tishoo! A-tishoo refers to the violent sneezing, which was another manifestation of the disease. Modern Concerns The poem did not appear in print until 1881 when it appeared as part of a Kate Greenaway collection of Mother Goose. The late date of any written record for the rhyme leads skeptics to believe that the rhyme has nothing to do with the bubonic plague. Others argue that many of the words found in the rhyme cannot be corroborated in Middle English writing. Particularly problematic is the use of the word of and the word poesies. Defenders claim that while the word of is not found in all versions of the rhyme it is used in the version traditionally associated with the English which uses the Middle English variant oï¿½. While the word poesy is not found in many early documents the word poesy is found in a poem by Edmund Spenser called 'Prothalamion or A Spousal Verse' (1552-1599). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ride a cock horse The theories about the identity of the famous lady who rode to Banbury Cross range from Queen, to scandalous ladies; from goddesses to nobility. Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse; With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes She shall have music wherever she goes. Alternate Version Ride a cock horse to Coventry Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse; With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes She shall have music wherever she goes. Ride a cock horse to Banbury Cross There are several suggestions as to what a cock horse might be, among them a white horse, a black horse, a hobbyhorse, or perhaps a euphemism for stallion. Banbury Cross could refer to either a literal cross, erected in Banbury or to the fact that Banbury was located a crossroads. Banbury had a large white stone cross to which people would pilgrimage. Not much is known about the cross today because in 1602, anti-Catholic Puritans destroyed the cross because they disagreed with the idea of pilgrimages and perhaps just because it was Catholic. The fact that Banbury was located at a crossroads would have been enough to warrant mention in a nursery rhyme. Crossroads are significant as a metaphor in religion, art, and literature. To see a fine lady upon a white horse; The theories regarding who the ï¿½fine ladyï¿½ might be include, Queen Elizabeth I of England, Lady Godiva, Celia Fiennes, and the Welsh Goddess Rhiannon. Queen Elizabeth was said to travel to Banbury Cross to see the notable cross. Lady Godiva is most well known for the legend concerning her naked ride through town on horseback. Her ride was taken in an effort to relieve the taxes of the people Coventry who were under her husbandï¿½s care. After countless appeals to him, Lady Godivaï¿½s exasperated husband said he would relieve the taxes if she rode naked through the town. This account would fit well into the alternate version of the rhyme. Apparently, Celia Feinnes (pronounced fines) married into the Sayre family who lived near Banbury cross at the Broughton Castle. She took many rides through the English countryside in the late 1600ï¿½s. The Welsh Goddess Rhiannon was said to ride a white stallion. With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes Wearing bells on the toes of oneï¿½s shoes was a popular fashion in the 1600ï¿½s, one that dates back to the Plantagenet era. The bells were worn on the toes of shoes that tapered and often curled up. Legend states that these shoes were supposed to imitate the cloven hoof of the goat and were worn by Satanists. She shall have music wherever she goes In addition to the music from her apparel, music may have come from the parade-like atmosphere surrounding the ride. If the ï¿½fine ladyï¿½ were Queen Elizabeth, minstrels would have accompanied her on her pilgrimage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pop goes the weasel. Simply translated the buoyant sounding verse, Pop goes the Weasel is a worker's lament on a ritual of survival in their lives. Half a pound of tuppenny rice Half a pound of treacle Thatï¿½s the way the money goes, Pop! goes the weasel. Up and down the City road, in and out the Eagle Thatï¿½s the way the money goes, Pop goes the weasel. The variations of the nursery rhyme Pop goes the Weasel are diverse. Perhaps one of the reasons for the diversity is that the passage of time has rendered the rhyme so meaningless to modern people that they simply take the imagery away concocting their own interpretive rhymes to fit into the delightful swing of the tune. Cockney Rhyming Slang The rhyme dates back to the 1700ï¿½s. During that time, a group of working class people who lived on the east side of London near St Mary-le-Bow were known as cockneys. A true cockney was a person within earshot of Bow Bells (the bells of St Mary-le-Bow) and who spoke with a cockney accent. The incomprehensibility of Pop goes the Weasel to modern people lies in its origins as a rhyme created in cockney rhyming slang (CRS). Translation of the Slang in Pop Goes the Weasel In CRS, Pop is a slang word for ï¿½pawn.ï¿½ Weasel is shorthand for ï¿½weasel and stoatï¿½, which translates as coat. In that era, how you dressed for Sunday worship was important. As a result, even the poorest people had their Sunday Best. When money was tight, they would pawn their Sunday Best on Monday and claim it on Friday. The pawning on Monday of their Sundays Best would be ï¿½popping their weasel.ï¿½ For some people, this was a weekly ritual. On Monday, they would pawn their coat for money to buy food and on the weekend when they were paid, they would buy back their coat for Sunday. On Monday, the cycle would begin again ï¿½ ï¿½in and out, the money goes.ï¿½ The money would then be spent on food items such as rice and treacle. Half a pound of tuppenny rice Half a pound of treacle Treacle is cane sugar that is refined into a syrup by a process of boiling. The treacle referred to in the rhyme is probably from the second boiling and is what we call molasses. Landmarks in Pop Goes the Weasel The City Road was a road in London on which The Eagle was located. The Eagle refers simply to a local bar or tavern called ï¿½The Eagle Tavern.ï¿½ Clearly, someone spent some of that hard-earned money in the bar. Imagine the exasperated wife ï¿½thatï¿½s the way the money goes! Pop goes the weasel.ï¿½ Simply translated the buoyant sounding verse, Pop goes the Weasel is a workerï¿½s lament on a weekly ritual of survival in their lives. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pussycat, Pussycat The nursery rhyme Pussycat, Pussycat is a fun little nursery rhyme devoid of any meaning besides the literal. Yet there is timeless appeal in the little vignette painted Explanation Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been? Iï¿½ve been to London to look at the Queen. Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there? I frightened a little mouse under her chair. The Queen in this rhyme is Elizabeth I (1533-1603). Apparently, one of Elizabethï¿½s ladies in waiting had a cat that visited the throne room and startled the Queen by brushing against her foot when crawling under the throne. The Queen agreed to allow the cat to remain as long as it removed all mice from the throne room. Digging Deeper A simple image given in a simple rhyme is all we find in Pussycat, Pussycat, right? It ought to be. William A. Miller uses it in his book Big Kidsï¿½ Mother Goose to illustrate the idea of destiny. Say what? Yep, destiny. Still, while Miller may go astray in his thoughts about a deeper meaning for this poem his initial thoughts aim directly at the idea that this rhyme is simply a vignette of life as it actually is. ...to visit the queen! Oh, absolute ecstasy! What a thrill and honor and privilege for any cat! But what happens? ... No royal reception, no conversation with the queen, no mission accomplished. So when the cat returns home everyone excitedly says, ï¿½Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?ï¿½ And the cat replies, ï¿½Iï¿½ve been to London to visit the queen.ï¿½ And they ask, ï¿½Oh pussycat, pussycat what did you there.ï¿½ And the pussycat, somewhat sheepishly answers, ï¿½I frightened a little mouse...under the queenï¿½s chair.ï¿½ Oh well, thatï¿½s the way cats are. Thatï¿½s destiny. Thatï¿½s the way destiny would have it.(Miller, 51-52). It is a simple word picture of life as it is. Variations ;- Version 1 As is often the case with nursery rhymes, there are a number of variations for this rhyme. Pussycat pussycat, where have you been? I've been up to London to visit the Queen. Pussycat pussycat, what did you dare? I frightened a little mouse under her chair MEOWW! Pussycat, pussycat where have you been? Iï¿½ve been to grandmother over the green. What did she give you? Milk in can. What did you say for it? Thank you, Grandam! Version 3 Little girl, little girl, where have you been? Gathering roses to take to the queen. Little girl, little girl, what gave she you? She gave me a diamond as big as my shoe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goosey, Goosey Gander is a nursery rhyme with a historical subtext rooted in religious intolerance. Goosey, goosey gander And in my ladyï¿½s chamber. There I met an old man Who wouldnï¿½t say his prayers. I took him by the left leg And threw him down the stairs. Additional Concluding Lines The stairs went ï¿½crackï¿½ / He broke his back / And all the little ducks went ï¿½quack, quack, quack.ï¿½ Alternate 1 Goose-a-goose-a, gander, / Where shall I wander? / Up stairs, down stairs, / In my ladyï¿½s chamber; / There youï¿½ll find a cup of sack. / And a race of ginger. Alternate 2 Old father Long-Legs / Canï¿½t say his prayers: / Take him by the left leg, / And throw him down stairs. / And when heï¿½s at the bottom, / Before he long has lain, / Take him by the right leg, / And throw him up again. Traditional Interpretation The traditional interpretation of this rhyme regards it as an account of the religious upheaval in England during the sixteenth century. The ladyï¿½s chamber is the private room of a high born lady. The lady in this rhyme, apparently had a ï¿½Priest Holeï¿½ in her room to hide a Catholic Priest. A Priest Hole is a very small hidden room. Priest holes were necessary at this time because those found harboring a priest were executed along with the priest. The old man who wouldnï¿½t say his prayers refers to the fact that Catholic Priests said their prayers in Latin instead of the using correct language for prayers which according to Protestants was in English. Those who did not ï¿½convertï¿½ to the Protestant way were executed. A Specific Event Recorded in the Rhyme Katherine Elwes Thomas in her book The Many Personages of Mother Goose (1930) proposed a specific incident as the source for the rhyme. The old man who wouldnï¿½t say his prayers was Cardinal Beaton. Beaton did not follow the reformed doctrine of the Convenanters who insisted that prayers be said in English and not Latin. Cardinal Beaton was thrown ï¿½down the stairs.ï¿½ Once he reached the bottom, he was stabbed to death. His body was then hung from the walls of his castle. The Evolution of the Rhyme It is not clear how it happened but the rhyme as we know it today is a merger of the two alternate rhymes listed above. Difficult Words in Alternate 1 A ï¿½cup of sackï¿½ refers to vine sec or dry wine. ï¿½Raceï¿½ is a word used for root and is now obsolete. Difficult Words in Alternate 2 ï¿½Old father Long-Legs refers to one of the insects we call daddy longlegs, harvestman, or crane fly. The Annotated Mother Goose explains that this rhyme was said to children cruel enough to pull the legs of these insects. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 'Mary, Mary Quite Contrary' Typically portrayed as a rather sweet girl in a lovely garden, the Mary of 'Mary, Mary Quite Contrary' was not nice. The rhyme is typically associated with Bloody Mary. Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells And pretty maids all in a row. How We See Mary Illustrated The illustrations of Mary in her garden for the nursery rhyme Mary, Mary Quite Contrary are usually those of a cherubic maiden tripping down the path in a whimsical garden full of bells and seashells. Occasionally, one might find a rather disconcerting Victorian interpretation of the rhyme with the heads of maidens as the face of the flowers but that is as disturbing as this popular nursery rhyme gets in modern interpretation. However, Maryï¿½s prototype was not so sweet. About the Real Mary Behind the Rhyme Because it is an English nursery rhyme, the most commonly accepted historical interpretation is that the rhyme refers to Mary Tudor (Mary I of England) also known as Bloody Mary. Mary was the daughter of Henry the VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her young life was full of upheaval and at one point, she was demoted from Princess to simply being ï¿½Lady Maryï¿½ when her father separated with the Roman Catholic Church, became head of the Church of England, and demoted Catherine from her role as Queen, which in turn made Mary illegitimate. However, she did ultimately become Queen. Maryï¿½s first move, as queen, was to retroactively legalize the marriage between Henry and her mother and thus legitimize herself. Her second move was to find herself a Catholic husband so that she could provide herself with an heir and thus remove any opportunity for her Protestant sister Elizabeth from ascending the throne if she were to die. Therefore, at the age of 37, Mary married a prince from Spain named Philip who later became Philip II. Eleven years her junior, Philip did not find Mary desirable; the marriage was simply a political move for him. Mary never succeeded in providing an heir for them. She had two false pregnancies and ultimately died from what appears to have been ovarian cancer. A staunch Catholic, Mary tried to reverse the damage done by her fatherï¿½s break with Rome. In her attempts to rid her country of Protestantism and restore Catholicism, Mary persecuted and murdered many Protestants. Maryï¿½s personal history and the nature of Catholicism lead to several distinct interpretations of the rhyme. Line by Line Interpretation One interpretation suggests that silver bells were Catholic cathedral bells, that the cockle shells were the symbol of pilgrimage to the Catholic Shrine of St James in Spain, and the pretty maids all in a row were Catholic nuns. A second interpretation views the cockle shells as a lewd comment on her relationship with her disinterested husband, Philip II of Spain. The question How does your garden grow? was a scornful attack of her inability to produce an heir. And the pretty maids all in a row was a reference to her miscarriages. A final interpretation goes to the heart of her persona as ï¿½Bloody Maryï¿½ with silver bells and cockle shells referring to instruments of torture: silver bells being thumbscrews and cockles shells being instruments of torture attached to the genitals. While the pretty maids would be a reference to early guillotine-type devices used to decapitate victims. Alternate Interpretation There are some arguments that the rhyme is really about Mary Queen of Scots a contemporary of Mary Tudor with a similar interpretation of the rhyme to the second one listed above. However, the historical data and the fact that this is an English rhyme supports the arguments for Mary Tudor. Levibrawn HIDDEN VIOLENCE / HORROR OF NURSERY RHYMES HIDDEN VIOLENCE / HORROR OF NURSERY RHYMES Nursery rhymes are said, verses in my head Into my childhood theyï¿½re spoon fed Hidden violence revealed Look at the pages that cause all this evil (Jonathan Davis, Korn)1 When we see or experience something wonderful, we often exclaim it was ï¿½just like a fairy taleï¿½, overlooking that most events in fairy tales are rather unpleasant. The morbid elements are most prominent in the earliest surviving texts of these tales. For example in the earliest versions of Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty, we discover that Red Riding Hood does not get saved in the end and the prince doesnï¿½t kiss Sleeping Beauty, he rapes her! (Opie, Classic Fairy Tales 121,102) Although the most widespread versions have been considerably prettified, they are still quite disturbing when you think about it. Most people are conscious of this morbid streak that runs through classic fairy tales, but what about the fairy taleï¿½s close cousin the nursery rhyme? When people think of nursery rhymes they think of ï¿½Twinkle, Twinkle Little Starï¿½, cute, innocent and harmless. They think of them as the ideal entertainment for children, the exact opposite of the ï¿½harmfulï¿½ diversions of todayï¿½s violent cartoons and video games. Few are aware of their dubious history. A very large number of interesting collections have been published, but curiously enough , there are hardly any books devoted expressly to their origin and history. Of course no one theory can satisfactorily account for their origin. Their ages likely vary considerably and their meanings (if they ever had meanings) are diverse. Most of them are innocent enough like the ones that are supposed to help children learn numbers, letters etc. but reading through a comprehensive collection you soon realise that a lot of the rhymes do not fit this ideal image people have. They have the same morbid undercurrent as fairy tales, sometimes blatant, sometimes subtle. This essay is meant to explore these undercurrents. It discusses the history and origin of nursery rhymes, focusing on their lesser-known darker side. What exactly are they? Nursery rhymes which may be either said or sung, are resorted to by the mother (or whoever the guardian is) for the soothing and amusement of her child. They are usually rhymes she remembers from her own childhood, and thus they have been orally transmitted for hundreds of years. More than 40 per cent of the rhymes have been found recorded before the close of the eighteenth century (Opie 72). ï¿½Songs were natural for the occasion of play, feasting, festivals and dancingï¿½ (Baring-Gould 179). The songs preserved from that time are known as folksongs, songs which have a special association with the peasantry. Folk wisdom was often cast in the form of rhymes to make it more easily remembered (Skelton & Blackwood 2), but the connection is more often a matter of transmission than of origin. Many of the rhymes might have been written for the gentry and then copied by the ï¿½folkï¿½ who worked for them. The folk songs have originated in many ways and at many times, but they have all been transmitted by oral, as opposed to written tradition. The labouring classes were largely illiterate and depended on their memory, spoken and sung words for knowledge, and hence they were the perfect vehicle for the transmission of these songs (Williams 1-4). The women who minded the children would have been sure to carry bits of these songs back to the nursery, unconsciously changing and adapting them hence turning them into what we call nursery rhymes. ï¿½It can be safely stated that the overwhelming majority of nursery rhymes were not in the first place composed for childrenï¿½many are survivals of an adult code of joviality, and in their original wording were, by present standards, strikingly unsuitable for those of tender yearsï¿½ (Opie, 3). Like the fairy tales, a lot of the cruder nursery rhymes have been suppressed or prettified throughout the years. Even rhyme collections that claim to include the earliest recorded versions are a bit prudish and often only hint at their possible sordid origin and then print the rhyme with the ï¿½offensiveï¿½ words blotted out!3 The themes of the rhymes are very diverse and scholars have argued on how to categorise them. There are nonsense jingles, character rhymes, lullabies, counting out formulas, riddles, rhyming alphabets, tongue twisters, prayers, singing games and even magic spells and fairy tales in verse. They are fragments of ballads and the cries of street vendors. They are proverbs, prayers, rude jokes and crude romantic lyrics4. They have poked fun at religious practices and laughed at the rulers of the day. They are remnants of ancient customs and rituals4. They have even come out of taverns and barracks5. The fact that some ï¿½inappropriateï¿½ subjects found their way into the nursery is not so strange if we examine the attitude towards children in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Children were treated as miniature adults. ï¿½The conduct and the power of understanding expected of them were those of an adult. Many parents saw nothing unusual in their children hearing strong language or savoring strong drinkï¿½ (Opie 5). ï¿½We can say almost without hesitation that, of those pieces which date from before 1800, the only true nursery rhymes (i.e. rhymes composed especially for the nursery) are the rhyming alphabets, the infant amusements (verses which accompany a game), and the lullabiesï¿½ (Opie 4). Yet even these ï¿½true nursery rhymesï¿½ can get pretty ghastly. The pedagogy of the time involved frightening children to do or not to do something as can clearly be seen in the following lullaby: Baby, baby, naughty baby, Hush, you squalling thing I say. Peace this moment, peace, or mabey Bonaparte6 will pass this way Baby, baby, heï¿½s a giant Tall and black as Rouen steeple And he breakfasts, dines, rely onï¿½t, Every day on naughty people. Baby, baby, if he hears you, As he gallops past the house, Limb from limb at once heï¿½ll tear you, Just as pussy tears a mouse. And heï¿½ll beat you, beat you, beat you, And heï¿½ll beat you all to pap, And heï¿½ll eat you, eat you, eat you, Every morsel snap, snap, snap. (Opie 59) How old are they? When dealing with inaccurate records, word-of-mouth accounts and years and centuries gone by it is impossible to be precise about anything. Deciphering the chronological history of nursery rhymes has proved a very difficult task for scholars and they have been lead along different paths. Nevertheless, a basic history has been established. There is reason to believe some of the rhymes are of great antiquity. Henry Bett concluded that some nursery rhymes and tales "ï¿½have spread over the world with the migrations of races and the forgotten commerce of many thousands of years" (12). He bases this statement on the fact that the rhymes are found in thousands of variations all over the world, and because of their allusions to ancient customs and ideas. An example of this is the counting out rhyme ï¿½Eena, meena, mina, moï¿½, whose purpose, even today is to designate which of a group of children shall be singled out as ï¿½Itï¿½. Strikingly similar versions of this rhyme have been collected in diverse regions8. A popular belief in England was that such counting out rhymes were remnants of formulas used by the Druids for choosing human sacrifices (Opie 12, Baring Gould 12). It is not known how this idea arose, but the words could possibly be a corruption of ancient Celtic numerals: Welsh (pronounced) methera mether methera pin pimp pimp There are numerous versions that bear a striking resemblance to this system, for example ï¿½Ya, ta, tethera, pethera, pipï¿½ and ï¿½Een, teen, tether, fether, fipï¿½ which was collected in America and known as ï¿½Indian countingï¿½, popularly believed to be in the language of Native Americans (Opie 12-14). Wether the counting out rhyme originated from the Druids or from knitting women will remain a mystery but the obvious connection with ancient numerals confirms that some nursery rhymes can indeed be of great antiquity. Casual allusions in ancient writings confirm the archaic origin of a few of them. ï¿½Petronius Arbiter about A.D. 50 tells of a small boy saying ï¿½Bucca, bucca, quot sunt hic?ï¿½ Children today still use ï¿½Buck she, buck she, buck, how many fingers do I hold up?ï¿½ (Opie 17). Although some of the rhymes can be traced as far back as the previous examples indicate, the majority of nursery rhymes are dated from the beginning of the seventeenth century and onwards. The following table presented in The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes gives the over-all picture of the age of the rhymes. The first two rows are based on contemporary documentation. The third row is based among other factors on internal evidence in the rhymes (Opie 7). third row is based among other factors on internal evidence in the rhymes (Opie 7). 1599 & before 10.7 2.3 Some of the rhymes are found to be stanzas from ballads, printed in the seventeenth century. These ballads were written by literary hacks, issued on broadsides and were sold by street peddlers. Most often they were humorous or pornographic, or concerned with current affairs (which has given wind to endless speculations of the rhymes being political satires). They were extremely popular. People carried them on their person or stuck them on cottage and tavern walls. Some of these ballads later ended up in songbooks, also popular at the time and a great source of nursery rhymes. It was in the eighteenth century that collections of nursery rhymes started to appear in print (There are rumors of collections published as early as 1620, but no one has been able to locate any copies of these (Baring Gould 24)). As more books appeared, the more they contributed to the rhymes. The collections published in the early nineteenth century contained some of the best known rhymes known today such as ï¿½Little Miss Muffetï¿½, ï¿½Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starï¿½ and ï¿½Mary Had a Little Lambï¿½. However, this time, the authors were known. Added to old rhymes were new ones, composed especially for the collections. Some editions included selections from the works of Spencer, Wordsworth and other poets, not proper nursery rhymes at all. Some original rhymes were written by ï¿½anonymous hacks [and were] ill-written, tediously repetitive, and overly sentimentalï¿½ (Baring-Gould 111). This custom of ï¿½paddingï¿½ nursery rhyme books by including staff written rhymes and poems by celebrated authors continued into the earliest years of the twentieth century. These have been omitted from modern day collections as they never achieved any popularity and failed to survive ï¿½a remarkable tribute to the good taste of nineteenth century readersï¿½ (Baring-Gould 111). Who was Mother Goose? The term ï¿½nursery rhymeï¿½ sprang up in the nineteenth century. No record of it has been found earlier than 1824. Before that the rhymes had been known mainly as songs, ditties, jingles or Mother Gooseï¿½s melodies. The term Mother Goose is still very popular, especially in America, so I feel I must include something about itï¿½s history. The possible identity of Mother Goose has long been debated. In French history, there are two women connected with this particular fowl. Queen Bertha who died in 783, the mother of King Charlemagne had webbed feet and was known as La Reine Pedauque (Queen Goosefoot) or Berthe au grand pied (Goose footed Bertha). ï¿½In French legendry [she] is represented as constantly spinning with hordes of children clustered about her, listening to her storiesï¿½ (Baring-Gould 17). Another Bertha, wife of Robert II of France (Robert the Pious 970-1013) was so closely related to her husband that he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church. It was whispered that she had given birth to a monster, a creature with the head of a goose (Baring-Gould 17). Although the term ï¿½Mother Gooseï¿½ or (la Mï¿½re Oie) as a teller of tales was already being used in France as early as 1650, many American scholars proclaim that Mother Goose was an American woman by the name of Elizabeth Foster Goose (or Vertigoose) born in 1665. When marrying at twenty-seven she became the stepmother of ten children, later having six of her own. One of her daughters married a printer, who allegedly published a book in 1719 called Songs for the Nursery or Mother Gooseï¿½s Melodies for children featuring the rhymes he had heard his mother-in-law sing to lull her grandchildren. No copy of this book has ever been found and it has been called ï¿½the most elusive ghost volume in the history of American lettersï¿½ (Baring-Gould 17-18, Opie 37-3 . ï¿½Mother Gooseï¿½ died in 1756 and was reputedly buried in the Old Granary Burial Ground, although no headstone is there (Baring-Gould 19). The mysterious world of schoolchildren When children reach school age and start associating with their peers instead of their parents, they enter a whole new community, complete with its own language and lore. It is remarkable how the rhymes, games, jokes and customs of schoolchildren have survived relatively unaltered from generation to generation. As a Douglas Newton pointed out: ï¿½The world wide fraternity of children is the greatest of savage tribes, and the only one which shows no sign of dying outï¿½ (Opie, The Loreï¿½ 2). The rhymes of older children often differ from nursery rhymes both in rhythm and in subject matter. Also, the manner of transmission is different. Nursery rhymes pass from mother (or other adult) to child, who usually doesnï¿½t pass it on again until he/she is grown up and has children of his or her own. The school rhymes however, circulate from child to child, and are not intended for adult ears. When little, the words of nursery rhymes and tales seem almost sacred to children. Even the slightest change will infuriate them. But when they get older they often establish their independence by parodying the rhymes their parents taught them: Mary had a little lamb Her father shot it dead And now it goes to school with her Between two chunks of bread. Or: Mary had a little lamb, Youï¿½ve heard this tale before, But did you know she passed her plate And had a little more? ï¿½Little do children realise that in trying to escape from one tradition they are plunging headlong into anotherï¿½ (Opie, the Loreï¿½ 90). Some of these parodies have been circulating amongst children for a century or more. The first recorded parody of a nursery rhyme goes back to 1886. Children often communicate with each other in secret language so that adults or outsiders arenï¿½t able to understand. The best known example of this is pig Latin, in which the first consonant or double consonant is transferred to the end of the word and ay is added thereafter: (ohnjay isay igpay = John is a pig). Ironically a lot of these secret languages were first thought to have been used by parents who did not want their children to know what they were talking about. (Opie, The Loreï¿½321) When children are about ten years old they enter a period during which they are extremely interested in death, ghosts and goulish things. This is of course reflected in their rhymes and singing games. Take for instance this jump rope rhyme that goes back to at least 1864 and is well known in many countries 10: Mother, mother, I feel sick Send for the doctor, quick, quick, quick, Doctor, doctor, shall I die? Yes, my dear, and so shall I. How many carriages shall I have? One, two, three, fourï¿½ï¿½ In their study of the language and lore of schoolchildren (done in the fifties), Iona and Peter Opie describe a game often practiced in the dormitories of girlsï¿½ boarding schools in England after lights out. One girl whispers to another ï¿½This is the dead mans eye, pass it onï¿½, and she drops a peeled grape into another girls hand. ï¿½This is the dead mans hand, pass it onï¿½ and passes on a rubber glove filled with sand etc. (Opie, The Loreï¿½35). I was amazed when I read this description as I remembered a game very popular in childrenï¿½s birthday parties here in Iceland when I was about 11 years old (the late eighties). A few children locked themselves in the bathroom to prepare themselves. Then the other children were called in one at a time, blindfolded and forced to handle various things which they were told were parts of a dead body. For example the childï¿½s finger was put into a jar of hair gel and he was told he was putting his finger in the bodyï¿½s empty eye sockets. Screams coming from the locked bathroom generated excitement and fear in the ones still waiting outside. It is not known how old this practice is, but a description of it is found in a collection of ï¿½frightening rhymesï¿½ collected in the nineteenth century from schoolchildren in Edinburgh (Opie, The Loreï¿½ 35). There are hordes of spooky rhymes that are recited when the lights are low. Many of them are told in a low, hair-raising voice and then the last word is suddenly shouted. Sometimes the tension is increased by the repetition of an adjective such as old or dark: In a dark, dark wood there was a dark, dark house, And in that dark, dark house, there was a dark, dark room, And in that dark, dark room, there was a dark, dark cupboard, And in that dark, dark shelf, there was a dark, dark box And in that dark, dark box, there was a GHOST! The oldest of these ï¿½quietly told tales with electrifying endingsï¿½ was in print by 1810 (Opie, The Loreï¿½ 36) Children are very superstitious and have a vast array of rituals that they perform on various occasions. They are a primitive community that conducts its business by ritual declaration, considered binding by the whole community. For example, children reinforce the truth by swearing upon their honor, their heart, the Bible, their own life, or their motherï¿½s. Gestures like spitting, linking fingers, holding their hand up to God and making crosses upon their body accompany their declarations to stress their significance (Opie, the Loreï¿½ 121): Cross my heart and hope to die Drop down dead if I tell a lie. Children take these sort of oaths very seriously and do not dare break them. They are considered an infallible test of truthfullness. One inexplicable and incredibly widespread superstition is the one of considering it unlucky to step on the lines between pavement stones. Stories of what could happen to those who do vary from region to region. In America the refrain ï¿½Step on a crack/Youï¿½ll break your mothers backï¿½ is well known. Another widespread superstition is the one that causes two children to ï¿½instantly stop what they are doing and without uttering a word to each other glide into a set ritual which varies according to the part of the world in which they liveï¿½ (Opie, The Loreï¿½ 310). This occurs when children accidentally say the same thing at once. The ritual most often includes locking their fingers together and making a wish. When the Opies asked children if they knew any magic practices, they described folk remedies they had learned for the treatment of minor ailments; cures for warts were most common. A number of them included rubbing the warts with something which then was wrapped in cloth or paper and dropped somewhere. Supposedly, the person who picks the parcel up and opens it will then contract the warts himself and relieve the original sufferer. A description identical to this has been recorded in the Historia Naturalis, the one surviving work of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder, A.D. 23-A.D. 79. This is a practice known to distant corners of the world. In India, scabs from the body of a smallpox victim are placed in little piles of earth set up in the middle of the road and decorated with flowers in the hope that someone will touch them and thus catch the disease and relieve the patient. In Zambesi, Africa, the witch doctor transfers the patients sickness to a little straw pig which is then placed where two paths meet on the chance that a passerby will kick it, absorb the illness and draw it away from the patient. ï¿½It appears that our childrenï¿½are successfully practicing an enchantment worked by witch doctors in Africa, and have obtained this knowledge through having it orally handed down to them from men who were living in the days of Christï¿½ (Opie, The Loreï¿½ 316-317) From all this we can see how schoolchildren remain traditionï¿½s best friends. They honor and respect customs, and in their self-contained community their basic lore and language scarcely alters from generation to generation. Hidden violence revealed: London Bridge The violence present in so many nursery rhymes, is in most cases easily spotted: A woman, a spaniel, and a walnut tree, The more you beat them the better they be. (289 Baring-Gould) But in some cases, the violence is hidden; deeply rooted in the history of mankind. Attempts to find latent meaning in the rhymes have of course been protested. Due to the nature of the material, all attempts to determine meaning are based on conjectures. Some scholars have perhaps ï¿½been a little overzealous in reading meaning into rhymes where no meaning was ever intendedï¿½ (Baring-Gould 13). An example of these is Katherine Elwes Thomas who wrote a book published in 1930 called The Real Personages of Mother Goose9. She was determined to prove that all nursery rhyme characters were based on historical persons, regardless of what other sources said. ï¿½Little Bo-Peepï¿½ became Mary, Queen of Scots, the cat in ï¿½Hey Diddle Diddleï¿½ became Queen Elizabeth and so on (Opie 29). Although theories regarding the possible meaning of nursery rhymes can be far-fetched, they cannot be totally dismissed. We have no conclusive evidence to prove them wrong. An especially convincing hypothesis is one regarding the meaning of ï¿½London Bridgeï¿½, a rhyme still popular today. Iona and Peter Opie say the rhyme ï¿½is one of the few, perhaps the only one, in which there is justification for suggesting that it preserves the memory of a dark and terrible rite of past times. (272) All over the world there are stories about spirits interfering with construction sites. The spirits were thought to dwell in the earth or in nearby rivers, and there are reports of half-finished buildings being dismantled overnight, for which these spirits are credited. At one time, human sacrifice at these sites was common as propitiation to the spirits or for the victims to serve as guardian angels. In Polynesia, the central pillar of an island temple was often planted upon the body of a man. In 1840, an English sailor in Fiji reported seeing men buried alive in the holes in which the posts of the chiefï¿½s house were being set up (Bett 25-32). Many European legends are concerned with the same custom. One from Serbia tells of a fortress that was being built three brothers. Every night a demon demolished all that they had built during the day. The evil spirit had to be appeased by human sacrifice, so the wife of the youngest brother, bringing food for the workmen, was built into the wall. A hole was left so that she might nurse her baby for a time, and tourists visiting this fortress are still shown a stream of water, which looks milky because of the lime in it, trickling down the wall. In some parts of Russia the practice reduced itself to the sacrifice of an animal or to the mere naming of one. Carpenters who were going to build a house called out at the first few strokes of the axe, the name of some animal, believing that it would instantly die. ï¿½Peasants were sure to be civil to them lest they should call out their namesï¿½ (Bett 34). It is with regard to the building of bridges though, that the custom has left most traces in European legend. It was much more difficult to build a bridge than a house, and when raging floods carried away the masonsï¿½ work it might well seem that the spirits of the water was angry. In a number of legends, animals are substituted for humans, and are thrown to the Devil to cheat him of a greater pray. Kilgrim Bridge in North Yorkshire is supposed to derive its name from Grim, the shepherdï¿½s dog who ran across the bridge after a crust of bread. The builders had made a pact with the Devil, promising him the first living thing that went across (Bett 34-35). There are several folk songs from Greece which relate the burial alive of a woman as a sacrifice at the building of a bridge. One of these tells of a bridge falling down each night until a bird told the builders that the bridge could never be built until the wife of the master mason was buried in the foundation. In Germany, in 1843, when a new bridge was to be built in Halle, a rumor was circulating among the people that a child was wanted to be built into the base. When the Bridge Gate at Bremen was demolished, the skeleton of a child was found embedded in the foundations (Opie 275). Skelton and Blackwood report that when this business of sacrifice became socially unacceptable, builders were still said to lure an unsuspecting person to the site, measure their shadow and then ï¿½buryï¿½ it (314). The rhyme ï¿½London Bridge is Falling Downï¿½ and the game which often accompanies it preserve unmistakable traces of this custom of human sacrifice at the building of a bridge. There are many variants but they nearly all agree in these particulars: the bridge has fallen down and attempts to build it up with different materials are all failures. The game revolves around the arrest of a prisoner (a victim?). In France, in Germany and in Ireland versions of the game have been recorded which introduce the Devil. This is the most popular version of the English rhyme: London Bridge has fallen down, fallen down, fallen down London Bridge has fallen down, my fair lady How shall we build it up again, up again, up again How shall we build it up again, my fair lady Build it up with lime and stone, lime and stone, lime and stone Build it up with lime and stone, my fair lady Stone and lime would wash away, wash away, wash away Stone and lime would wash away, my fair lady Build it up with iron barsï¿½ Iron bars would bend and breakï¿½ Get a watch to watch all nightï¿½ Suppose the watch would fall asleepï¿½ Get a dog to bark all nightï¿½ Suppose the dog should get a boneï¿½ Get a cock to crow all nightï¿½ Suppose the cock would fly awayï¿½ What has this poor prisoner done, prisoner done, prisoner done What has this poor prisoner done, my fair lady Off to prison she must go, she must go, she must go Off to prison she must go, my fair lady (Bett 36) The builders of London Bridge are faced with many obstacles. The bridge cannot be made to stand by ordinary means, so a watchman is required. This watchman can apparently protect the bridge against the forces of nature. Legend has it that during the building of the bridge of Rosporden in Brittany, all attempts were unsuccessful until a four-yearï¿½old boy was immured at the foot of it. Supposedly, the boy was buried with a candle in one hand and a piece of bread in the other, so that the guardian might keep alive and watchful (Opie 275). ï¿½Suppose the watch should fall asleepï¿½ï¿½ The earliest text appears in Tommy Thumbï¿½s Pretty Song Book (c.1744) London Bridge Dance over my Lady Lee London Bridge Build it up with Gravel, and Stone, Dance over my Lady Lee, etc Gravel, and Stone Will wash away, Dance over my Lady Lee, etc Build it up with Iron, and Steel, Dance over my Lady Lee, etc Iron, and Steel, Will bend, and Bow, Dance over my Lady Lee, etc Build it up with Silver, and Gold, Dance over my Lady Lee, etc Silver, and Gold Will be stolen away, Dance over my Lady Lee, etc Then weï¿½ll set A man to Watch, Dance over my Lady Lee. Then weï¿½ll set A man to Watch With a gay Lady (Opie 272-3, Skelton & Blackwood 245) Attempts have been made to connect the name of Leigh with the refrain ï¿½Dance over my Lady Leeï¿½. The story goes that at Stoneleigh Park, the seat of the Leigh family in Warwickshire, one or more human victims lie buried under the foundations. Another suggestion is that ï¿½my Lady Leeï¿½ is the river Lea, which connects to the Thames (Opie 276). The evidence connecting this rhyme with human sacrifice seems too great to be a coincidence. This theory and others regarding the meaning of specific rhymes certainly add new dimensions to them. Children seem fascinated by their sheer sound, rhythm and rhyme, seldom bothering about their actual meaning. For adults however, a knowledge of the rhymesï¿½ past might add to the pleasure of them in the present. That has at least been the Opiesï¿½ experience (Opie viii) and mine as well. Nursery rhyme reform It seems to be a rule that whenever a new form of entertainment for youths develops it is let go unrestricted till some authority figure finds fault in it and attempts to somehow repress it. An example of these absurd crusades is the 1950ï¿½s war on comic books. A psychiatrist, Dr. Fredrick Werthman wrote a book called the Seduction of the Innocent , claiming that comic books were the number one cause of juvenile crime. Even though his studies were highly unprofessional and could in no way establish a direct link between comics and delinquency, his opinions were very popular with the press and he found a great following in the 1950ï¿½s housewives. This led the comic industry to cave in and adopt a restrictive code prohibiting sex, violence and anything that had anything to do with horror. But where there is a demand there will always be a supply. Children have always enjoyed being scared, up to an extent and horror simply found a new outlet; in this case television shows with horrific hosts such as Vampira, flaunting morbid humour, comic book style. Right now the witch hunt is aimed at violent video games. The oldest medium for childrenï¿½s entertainment has also been attacked. The macabre elements present in so many nursery rhymes have not gone unnoticed. The following catalog of horrors found in traditional childrenï¿½s rhymes was compiled by Geoffrey Handley-Taylor in 1952: ï¿½The average collection of 200 traditional nursery rhymes contains approximately 100 rhymes which personify all that is glorious and ideal for the child. Unfortunately, the remaining 100 rhymes harbor unsavory elements. The incidents listed below occur in the average collection and may be accepted as a reasonably conservative estimate based on a general survey of this type of literature. 8 allusions to murder (unclassified) 2 cases of choking to death, 1 case of death by devouring, 1 case of cutting a human being in half, 1 case of decapitation, 1 case of death by squeezing, 1 case of death by shrivelling, 1 case of death by starvation, 1 case of boiling to death, 1 case of death by hanging, 1 case of death by drowning, 4 cases of killing domestic animals, 1 case of body snatching, 21 cases of death (unclassified) 7 cases relating to the severing of limbs, 1 case of the desire to have a limb severed, 2 cases of self-inflicted injury, 4 cases relating to the breaking of limbs, 1 allusions to a bleeding heart, 1 case of devouring human flesh 5 threats of death 12 cases of torment and cruelty to human beings and animals, 8 cases of whipping and lashing, 3 allusions to blood, 14 cases of stealing and general dishonesty, 15 allusions to maimed human beings and animals, 1 allusion to undertakers, 23 cases of physical violence (unclassified) 1 case of lunacy, 16 allusions to misery and sorrow, 1 case of drunkenness, 1 allusion to marriage as a form of death, 1 case of scorning the blind, 1 case of scorning prayer, 9 cases of children being lost or abandoned 2 cases of house burning, 9 allusions to poverty and want, 5 allusions to quarreling, 2 cases of unlawful imprisonment, 2 cases of racial discrimination (Baring-Gould 20-21). Critics have popped up now and again claiming that traditional nursery rhymes are not fit for children; that they are preoccupied with death and violence and have hence urged that they be rewritten for a more ï¿½humaneï¿½ and ï¿½enlightenedï¿½ era. In 1925 for instance, a Mrs. Winifred Sackville Stoner Jr. wrote and tried to promote constructive, informative rhymes that she hoped would replace the vulgar ones. She didnï¿½t have much success nor did other would-be reformers. The random violence found in childrenï¿½s entertainment whether it is nursery rhymes, cartoons or video games, seems to be one of their most popular as well as persistent characteristics. Why that is I canï¿½t say, that would be a subject for a nother essay, but as the newspaper editor Robert Warshow wrote during the 1950ï¿½s crusade against comic books: ï¿½Children do need some sinful world of their own to which they can retreat fom the demands of the adult worldï¿½Ultimately one suspects [Wertham] would like to see our culture entirely hygienic. I cannot agree with this tendency. I myself would not like to live surrounded by the kind of culture Dr. wertham could thoroughly approve of.ï¿½ (Skal 236) Conclusion: The future of Nursery Rhymes In our society, death has become somewhat sanitized. Although we are surrounded by death in the media it doesnï¿½t seem real to us and in actuality we are far away from it. We do our best to hide from ourselves and from our children the harsh facts about fried chicken and hamburgers. A pet is ï¿½put to sleepï¿½ and people are not ï¿½deadï¿½, they have merely ï¿½passed onï¿½. Our ancestors however, frequently witnessed the slaughter of animals and were not spared the reality of human death. They could not avoid this reality, but they could laugh at it. Laughter is one of mankindï¿½s most basic defense mechanisms. Gallows humor, in one form or another, permeates European folklore and was bound to make its way into childrenï¿½s nursery rhymes and tales (Ashliman). Although this essay has focused on the dark side of nursery rhymes, they have of course many other sides. Their themes are so diverse that it does not seem to matter what they are. As the poet Walter de la Mare once wrote about the rhymes: ï¿½[They] free the fancy, charm tongue and ear, delight the inward eye, and many of them are tiny masterpieces of word craftsmanship-of the latest device in rhythm indeed-the sprung! Last, but not least they are not only crammed with vivid little scenes and objects and lliving creatures, but, however fantastic and nonsensical they may be, they are a direct short cut into poetry itself. How any child who has ever delightedly dandled to their strains can have managed to grow up proof against their enchantment, and steady and desperately more and more matter-of-fact and prosaic, is a question to which I can find no satisfactory answerï¿½ (Baring-Gould 21) These trivial verses have endures where newer and ,ore ambitious compositions have become dated and forgotten. Although todayï¿½s society is filled with new amusements, the children of today still play games with exactly the same ritual and phrases, in some instances as the children of thousands of years ago. The same goes for the rhymes and stories. There is the same uncanny persistence of tradition, age after age. In the repetition of tales, children demand the exact reproduction of the familiar phrases. Anyone who has any experience of little children knows that. The smallest deviation from the original version will be taken notice of and corrected. We remember these rhymes and they stay with us all our lives. I was watching The Tonight Show with Jay Leno the other night and he was asking people on the street about nursery rhymes. All of them could quote Little miss Muffet/sat on a tuffet correctly even though none of them actually knew what a ï¿½tuffetï¿½ was. We owe the preservation of our nursery rhymes and tales from remote ages to the astonishing persistence of children. I am not worried about the future of nursery rhymes. As long as there are children, there will also be nursery rhymes. Works cited Ashliman, D. L. Aging and Death in Folklore. 1997 Baring-Gould, William and Ceil. The Annotated Mother Goose. New York: Bramball House, 1962. Bett, Henry. Nursery Rhymes and Tales. London: 1924. Opie, Iona and Peter. The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. 1951. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1980. ---. The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren. 1959. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1967 ---. The Classic Fairy Tales. 1974. London: Granada, 1980. Skal, David J. A Cultural History of Horror. London: Plexus, 1993. Skelton, Robin and Margaret Blackwood. Earth, Air, Fire, Water: Pre-Christian and Pagan Elements in British Songs, Rhymes and Ballads. London: Arkana- Penguin, 1990. Williams, Iolo A. English Folk-Song and Dance. London: Longmans, Green and Co, 1935.	i don't know
Name the title and artist of this 1991 #1 hit: ‘With the lights out, it’s less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us. I feel stupid and contagious. Here we are now, entertain us.”	Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Songfacts Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Songfacts Songfacts Kurt Cobain wrote this song for Nirvana; it came together in a jam session when he played it for the band. He said: "I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off The Pixies." Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the group Bikini Kill, gave Cobain the idea for the title when she spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his bedroom wall after a night of drinking and spraying graffiti around the Seattle area. In his pre-Courtney Love days, Cobain went out with Bikini Kill lead singer Tobi Vail, but she dumped him. Vail wore Teen Spirit deodorant, and Hanna was implying that Cobain was marked with her scent. Hanna explained that early in the night, she was Cobain's lookout as he spray pained "God Is Gay" on the wall of a religious center that they believed was posing as an abortion clinic and telling women they would go to hell if they aborted their child. They got quite inebriated that night, and Hanna said, "We ended up in Kurt's apartment and I smashed up a bunch of s--t. I took out a Sharpie marker and I wrote all over his bedroom wall - it was a rental so it was really kind of lame that I did that. I passed out with the marker in my hand, and woke up hung over." Six months later she got a call from Cobain, asking her if he could use what she wrote on the wall for a lyric. Said Hanna, "I thought, how is he going to use 'Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit as a lyric?" Cobain didn't know it when he wrote the song, but Teen Spirit is a brand of deodorant marketed to young girls. Kurt thought Hanna was complimenting him on his rebellious spirit, as someone who could inspire youth. Sales of Teen Spirit deodorant shot up when this became a hit, even though it is never mentioned in the lyrics. This was the first "Alternative" song to become a huge hit, and in many ways it redefined the term, as "alternative" implies lack of popularity and the song was embraced by the mainstream. In an effort to save the label for acts like Porno For Pyros and Catherine Wheel, some industry folk referred to the genre as "Modern Rock," which became a common radio format. "Alternative" became more of a catchall for music played by white people that didn't fit the pop or country formats, and Nirvana quickly became a "Classic Alternative" band. With this track, Nirvana helped ignite the "grunge" craze, which was characterized by loud guitars, angst-ridden lyrics, and flannel. Grunge was a look and sound that was distorted and emotive, led by bands coming out of the Northwest. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were other top grunge bands of the era. Cobain would often dismiss the term as a meaningless label when asked about it in early interviews, but their bass player Krist Novoselic explained that it was a growling, organic guitar sound that defined it. Cobain said he wrote this song because he was feeling "disgusted with my generation's apathy, and with my own apathy and spinelessness." This feeling of detachment is what led to lyrics like "Oh well, whatever, nevermind." Krist Novoselic added: "Kurt really despised the mainstream. That's what 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was all about: The mass mentality of conformity." The video was a huge hit on MTV. The concept was "Pep Rally from Hell," and it was shot at Culver City Studios in California on August 17, 1991, directed by Samuel Bayer, who was a 1987 graduate of the New York City School of Visual Arts. The kids were recruited at a show the band played two days earlier at The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, where flyers were handed out saying, "Nirvana needs you to appear in their upcoming music video. You should be 18-25 year old and adopt a high school persona, i.e. preppy, punk, nerd, jock. Be prepared to stay for several hours. Come support Nirvana and have a great time." The shoot took more like 12 hours, with the extras ordered to sit in the bleachers and look bored while the song played over and over. Said Bayer: "Nobody wanted to be there for more than a half hour, and I needed them for 12 hours. By the 11th hour when the band had had it with me and the kids were so angry with me, they said, 'Can we destroy the set?'" Bayer let the kids come down and form a mosh pit, and with all that pent-up energy they proceeded to smash up the set. This impromptu and genuine destruction provided a nice finale for the clip. The video was inspired by the movie and song Rock And Roll High School by the Ramones, and was also influenced by a 1979 movie called Over the Edge, which was a favorite of Cobain and showed rebellious kids destroying a high school. According to Bayer, Cobain was getting very frustrated with the shoot, but Bayer needed another take. Cobain channeled his frustration into the performance that you see near the end of the video, where he is screaming and mashing his face near the camera. It was great acting trigger by his real anger. Bayer did the first edit of the video , which Cobain didn't like - he used a principal character in a lot of shots and cut it too literal, with the music synching up to the playing. Cobain worked with him to recut the video and make it much more surreal, inserting his crazy look as the second to last shot, and making sure that for his guitar solo, his hands were in the wrong place on the guitar. The girls who played the cheerleaders in the video were originally supposed to be very fat and unattractive (Cobain's idea). The Director Samuel Bayer did not like this idea, but still allowed the cheerleaders to have "sleeve" tattoos and the symbol for anarchy on their shirts. He says he recruited them from a local strip club, which helps explain their unorthodox cheers. >> Suggestion credit: Chris - Louisville, KY Weird Al Yankovic did a parody of this called "Smells Like Nirvana." He shot his video in the same gym with the same janitor, but in his video, the janitor was wearing a tutu. Cobain said he was flattered by the parody: "I loved, it, it was really amusing." >> Suggestion credit: Peter - Montreal, Canada The distinctive bridge was originally at the end of the song. Producer Butch Vig had them move it to the middle. A lot was made of Cobain being a spokesperson for Generation X when this song became a hit. Cobain responded by saying, "I don't have the answers for anything. I don't want to be a f--king spokesperson." Producer Butch Vig explained, "That ambiguity or confusion, that's the whole thing. What the kids are attracted to in the music is that he's not necessarily a spokesman for a generation. He doesn't necessarily know what he wants but he's pissed. It's all these things working at different levels at once. I don't exactly know what 'Teen Spirit' means, but you know it means something and it's intense as hell." The line "Here we are now, entertain us" was something Cobain used to say when he entered a party. In a sign of the cultural apocalypse, the February 20, 1992 issue of Rolling Stone magazine featured the cast of the TV show Beverly Hills 90210 with the tag line "Smells Like Teen Spirit," turning Kurt Cobain's diatribe against the culture of conformity into a convenient headline for a story about a TV series about rich kids. Here's the cover . For a while, MTV refused to air the video. When they finally did, it was on their alternative show 120 Minutes. When the song became a hit, the video went into hot rotation. The album cover shows a baby swimming toward a dollar bill. Cobain and Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic had seen a documentary on underwater birth and wanted to use that image on the cover. Pictures of babies being born underwater were too gross, so they hired a photographer to take some underwater shots during a water babies class. The baby they chose was Spencer Elden, who was 4 months old at the time. At many of their later shows, Nirvana did not play this song, helping root out the people coming just to hear a hit. Courtney Love deliberated a long time before allowing this to be used in the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, who along with Love control the Nirvana catalog, claimed Love was trying to get the title role in the movie, which went to Nicole Kidman. The song was later used in the 2011 movie The Muppets (where it is performed to a captive Jack Black by The Muppet Barbershop Quartet), and in the 2015 film Pan, where it is sung by a large group of rebellious child slaves. It's use in this last film was, er... panned by Entertainment Weekly, which wrote, "The song's satirical lyrics make an already gauche movie even dorkier." The opening guitar part is a small variation on the main riff of Boston's " More Than A Feeling ." This was noted by a Rolling Stone magazine writer years later, but not as an accusation of plagiarism. Influences and similarities like this are everywhere in rock music. >> Suggestion credit: Redstar - Redding, CT The Nevermind album title is taken from the song's lyric: "And I forget just why I taste / Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile / I found it hard, it's hard to find / Oh well, whatever, never mind." Dave Grohl recalled to Mojo magazine March 2011: "Teen Spirit definitely established that quiet/loud dynamic thing that we fell back on a lot of the time. It did become that one song that personifies the band. But the video was probably the key element in that song becoming a hit. People heard the song on the radio and they thought, 'This is great,' but when kids saw the video on MTV they thought, 'This is cool. These guys are kinda ugly and they're tearing up their f--king high school.' So I think that had a lot to do with what happened with the song. But do I think it's the greatest single of all time? Of course not! I don't even think it's the greatest Nirvana single. And compared to Revolution by The Beatles or God Only Knows by The Beach Boys?! Give me a break! Smells like Teen Spirit was a great moment in time… but there's better." A version by Miley Cyrus performed by the pop singer on her Gypsy Heart tour topped Rolling Stone's 2011 reader list of the top 10 Worst Cover Songs of All Time. It was so bad that it even outranked Britney's much-maligned version of " I Love Rock and Roll !" Tori Amos did a popular cover of this song in 1992 that Nirvana sometimes played as their introduction music when they took the stage. Amos was on tour when Cobain died in 1994 and performed her version two days later at a show in Dublin. Patti Smith also recorded the song for her covers album Twelve. The song was re-released as a limited edition 7-inch vinyl single in December 2011 for an online campaign to get it to the Christmas number one in the UK Singles Chart. However, the track only reached #11 - four places lower than the peak originally scaled by the song 20 years previously. The band's producer, Butch Vig, heard this song for the first time on a low quality cassette recording the band made. He couldn't make out much of the song because it was so distorted. When the band started rehearsing it in the studio, however, Vig heard the potential in the song. He made sure it was the first track on the album, since it made a statement. Vig told NPR: "Even though we're not really sure what Kurt is singing about, there's something in there that you understand; the sense of frustration and alienation. To me, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' reminds me a little bit of how Bob Dylan's songs affected people in the '60s. In a way, I feel the song affected a generation of kids in the '90s. They could relate to it." The lines, "And we all just. Entertainers. And we're stupid. And contagious," were interpolated by Jay-Z on his 2013 song " Holy Grail ." Hova's track debuted at #8 on the Hot 100 resulting in Kurt Cobain receiving his first Top 10 writing credit since this song charted. When Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, the surviving members performed a selection of songs with various female singers. For this song, Joan Jett joined them. The following year, Jett was inducted into the Rock Hall.	smells like teen spirit by nirvana
How many ounces in a Starbucks Grande coffee?	Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Songfacts Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana Songfacts Songfacts Kurt Cobain wrote this song for Nirvana; it came together in a jam session when he played it for the band. He said: "I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off The Pixies." Kathleen Hanna, the lead singer of the group Bikini Kill, gave Cobain the idea for the title when she spray painted "Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit" on his bedroom wall after a night of drinking and spraying graffiti around the Seattle area. In his pre-Courtney Love days, Cobain went out with Bikini Kill lead singer Tobi Vail, but she dumped him. Vail wore Teen Spirit deodorant, and Hanna was implying that Cobain was marked with her scent. Hanna explained that early in the night, she was Cobain's lookout as he spray pained "God Is Gay" on the wall of a religious center that they believed was posing as an abortion clinic and telling women they would go to hell if they aborted their child. They got quite inebriated that night, and Hanna said, "We ended up in Kurt's apartment and I smashed up a bunch of s--t. I took out a Sharpie marker and I wrote all over his bedroom wall - it was a rental so it was really kind of lame that I did that. I passed out with the marker in my hand, and woke up hung over." Six months later she got a call from Cobain, asking her if he could use what she wrote on the wall for a lyric. Said Hanna, "I thought, how is he going to use 'Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit as a lyric?" Cobain didn't know it when he wrote the song, but Teen Spirit is a brand of deodorant marketed to young girls. Kurt thought Hanna was complimenting him on his rebellious spirit, as someone who could inspire youth. Sales of Teen Spirit deodorant shot up when this became a hit, even though it is never mentioned in the lyrics. This was the first "Alternative" song to become a huge hit, and in many ways it redefined the term, as "alternative" implies lack of popularity and the song was embraced by the mainstream. In an effort to save the label for acts like Porno For Pyros and Catherine Wheel, some industry folk referred to the genre as "Modern Rock," which became a common radio format. "Alternative" became more of a catchall for music played by white people that didn't fit the pop or country formats, and Nirvana quickly became a "Classic Alternative" band. With this track, Nirvana helped ignite the "grunge" craze, which was characterized by loud guitars, angst-ridden lyrics, and flannel. Grunge was a look and sound that was distorted and emotive, led by bands coming out of the Northwest. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were other top grunge bands of the era. Cobain would often dismiss the term as a meaningless label when asked about it in early interviews, but their bass player Krist Novoselic explained that it was a growling, organic guitar sound that defined it. Cobain said he wrote this song because he was feeling "disgusted with my generation's apathy, and with my own apathy and spinelessness." This feeling of detachment is what led to lyrics like "Oh well, whatever, nevermind." Krist Novoselic added: "Kurt really despised the mainstream. That's what 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was all about: The mass mentality of conformity." The video was a huge hit on MTV. The concept was "Pep Rally from Hell," and it was shot at Culver City Studios in California on August 17, 1991, directed by Samuel Bayer, who was a 1987 graduate of the New York City School of Visual Arts. The kids were recruited at a show the band played two days earlier at The Roxy Theater in Los Angeles, where flyers were handed out saying, "Nirvana needs you to appear in their upcoming music video. You should be 18-25 year old and adopt a high school persona, i.e. preppy, punk, nerd, jock. Be prepared to stay for several hours. Come support Nirvana and have a great time." The shoot took more like 12 hours, with the extras ordered to sit in the bleachers and look bored while the song played over and over. Said Bayer: "Nobody wanted to be there for more than a half hour, and I needed them for 12 hours. By the 11th hour when the band had had it with me and the kids were so angry with me, they said, 'Can we destroy the set?'" Bayer let the kids come down and form a mosh pit, and with all that pent-up energy they proceeded to smash up the set. This impromptu and genuine destruction provided a nice finale for the clip. The video was inspired by the movie and song Rock And Roll High School by the Ramones, and was also influenced by a 1979 movie called Over the Edge, which was a favorite of Cobain and showed rebellious kids destroying a high school. According to Bayer, Cobain was getting very frustrated with the shoot, but Bayer needed another take. Cobain channeled his frustration into the performance that you see near the end of the video, where he is screaming and mashing his face near the camera. It was great acting trigger by his real anger. Bayer did the first edit of the video , which Cobain didn't like - he used a principal character in a lot of shots and cut it too literal, with the music synching up to the playing. Cobain worked with him to recut the video and make it much more surreal, inserting his crazy look as the second to last shot, and making sure that for his guitar solo, his hands were in the wrong place on the guitar. The girls who played the cheerleaders in the video were originally supposed to be very fat and unattractive (Cobain's idea). The Director Samuel Bayer did not like this idea, but still allowed the cheerleaders to have "sleeve" tattoos and the symbol for anarchy on their shirts. He says he recruited them from a local strip club, which helps explain their unorthodox cheers. >> Suggestion credit: Chris - Louisville, KY Weird Al Yankovic did a parody of this called "Smells Like Nirvana." He shot his video in the same gym with the same janitor, but in his video, the janitor was wearing a tutu. Cobain said he was flattered by the parody: "I loved, it, it was really amusing." >> Suggestion credit: Peter - Montreal, Canada The distinctive bridge was originally at the end of the song. Producer Butch Vig had them move it to the middle. A lot was made of Cobain being a spokesperson for Generation X when this song became a hit. Cobain responded by saying, "I don't have the answers for anything. I don't want to be a f--king spokesperson." Producer Butch Vig explained, "That ambiguity or confusion, that's the whole thing. What the kids are attracted to in the music is that he's not necessarily a spokesman for a generation. He doesn't necessarily know what he wants but he's pissed. It's all these things working at different levels at once. I don't exactly know what 'Teen Spirit' means, but you know it means something and it's intense as hell." The line "Here we are now, entertain us" was something Cobain used to say when he entered a party. In a sign of the cultural apocalypse, the February 20, 1992 issue of Rolling Stone magazine featured the cast of the TV show Beverly Hills 90210 with the tag line "Smells Like Teen Spirit," turning Kurt Cobain's diatribe against the culture of conformity into a convenient headline for a story about a TV series about rich kids. Here's the cover . For a while, MTV refused to air the video. When they finally did, it was on their alternative show 120 Minutes. When the song became a hit, the video went into hot rotation. The album cover shows a baby swimming toward a dollar bill. Cobain and Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic had seen a documentary on underwater birth and wanted to use that image on the cover. Pictures of babies being born underwater were too gross, so they hired a photographer to take some underwater shots during a water babies class. The baby they chose was Spencer Elden, who was 4 months old at the time. At many of their later shows, Nirvana did not play this song, helping root out the people coming just to hear a hit. Courtney Love deliberated a long time before allowing this to be used in the 2001 movie Moulin Rouge. Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, who along with Love control the Nirvana catalog, claimed Love was trying to get the title role in the movie, which went to Nicole Kidman. The song was later used in the 2011 movie The Muppets (where it is performed to a captive Jack Black by The Muppet Barbershop Quartet), and in the 2015 film Pan, where it is sung by a large group of rebellious child slaves. It's use in this last film was, er... panned by Entertainment Weekly, which wrote, "The song's satirical lyrics make an already gauche movie even dorkier." The opening guitar part is a small variation on the main riff of Boston's " More Than A Feeling ." This was noted by a Rolling Stone magazine writer years later, but not as an accusation of plagiarism. Influences and similarities like this are everywhere in rock music. >> Suggestion credit: Redstar - Redding, CT The Nevermind album title is taken from the song's lyric: "And I forget just why I taste / Oh yeah, I guess it makes me smile / I found it hard, it's hard to find / Oh well, whatever, never mind." Dave Grohl recalled to Mojo magazine March 2011: "Teen Spirit definitely established that quiet/loud dynamic thing that we fell back on a lot of the time. It did become that one song that personifies the band. But the video was probably the key element in that song becoming a hit. People heard the song on the radio and they thought, 'This is great,' but when kids saw the video on MTV they thought, 'This is cool. These guys are kinda ugly and they're tearing up their f--king high school.' So I think that had a lot to do with what happened with the song. But do I think it's the greatest single of all time? Of course not! I don't even think it's the greatest Nirvana single. And compared to Revolution by The Beatles or God Only Knows by The Beach Boys?! Give me a break! Smells like Teen Spirit was a great moment in time… but there's better." A version by Miley Cyrus performed by the pop singer on her Gypsy Heart tour topped Rolling Stone's 2011 reader list of the top 10 Worst Cover Songs of All Time. It was so bad that it even outranked Britney's much-maligned version of " I Love Rock and Roll !" Tori Amos did a popular cover of this song in 1992 that Nirvana sometimes played as their introduction music when they took the stage. Amos was on tour when Cobain died in 1994 and performed her version two days later at a show in Dublin. Patti Smith also recorded the song for her covers album Twelve. The song was re-released as a limited edition 7-inch vinyl single in December 2011 for an online campaign to get it to the Christmas number one in the UK Singles Chart. However, the track only reached #11 - four places lower than the peak originally scaled by the song 20 years previously. The band's producer, Butch Vig, heard this song for the first time on a low quality cassette recording the band made. He couldn't make out much of the song because it was so distorted. When the band started rehearsing it in the studio, however, Vig heard the potential in the song. He made sure it was the first track on the album, since it made a statement. Vig told NPR: "Even though we're not really sure what Kurt is singing about, there's something in there that you understand; the sense of frustration and alienation. To me, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' reminds me a little bit of how Bob Dylan's songs affected people in the '60s. In a way, I feel the song affected a generation of kids in the '90s. They could relate to it." The lines, "And we all just. Entertainers. And we're stupid. And contagious," were interpolated by Jay-Z on his 2013 song " Holy Grail ." Hova's track debuted at #8 on the Hot 100 resulting in Kurt Cobain receiving his first Top 10 writing credit since this song charted. When Nirvana was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, the surviving members performed a selection of songs with various female singers. For this song, Joan Jett joined them. The following year, Jett was inducted into the Rock Hall.	i don't know
What television show features the last human in the universe, Lister, a creature descended from the common feline, known as Cat, a computer called Holly, and a holographic projection of a human known as Rimmer?	Red Dwarf : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics Top rankings for Red Dwarf 37th PBS_Daytime ">Top programs broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service: PBS Daytime 20th From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the television sitcom. For the type of star, see Red dwarf . Red Dwarf 8 (+Red Dwarf: Back to Earth) No. of episodes 15 February 1988 - 5 April 1999 (original series); 10 April 2009 - 12 April 2009 ("Back to Earth" specials) External links Official website Red Dwarf is a British situation comedy franchise , primarily comprising eight series of a television sitcom / comedy drama that ran on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and gained a cult following . [1] It was created by, and the first six series were written by, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor . The show originated from a recurring sketch, Dave Hollins: Space Cadet part of the mid-1980s BBC Radio 4 comedy show Son of Cliché , also scripted by Grant and Naylor. In addition to the television episodes, there are four bestselling novels, two pilot episodes for an American version of the show, a radio version produced for BBC radio 7 [2] , tie-in books, magazines and other merchandise. Despite the pastiche of science fiction used as a backdrop, Red Dwarf is primarily a character-driven comedy, with off-the-wall, often scatalogical science fiction elements [3] used as complementary plot devices . In the early episodes, a recurring source of comedy was the " Odd Couple "-style relationship between the two central characters of the show, who have an intense dislike for each other but are trapped together deep in space. The main characters are Dave Lister , the last known human alive, and Arnold Rimmer , a hologram of Lister's dead bunkmate. The other regular characters are Cat , a lifeform that evolved from Lister's pet cat Frankenstein; Holly , Red Dwarf's computer; and, as of Series III, Kryten , a service mechanoid. One of the series' highest accolades came in 1994, when an episode from the sixth series, Gunmen of the Apocalypse , won an International Emmy Award in the Popular Arts category, and in the same year the series was also awarded "Best BBC Comedy Series" at the British Comedy Awards . [4] The series attracted its highest ratings, of over eight million viewers, during the eighth series in 1999. [5] In the years following the end of the eighth series, numerous attempts were made to get a movie into production, but funding could not be found. In 2007, the BBC rejected proposals for a ninth series. A three-episode production was commissioned by the digital channel Dave . These episodes were screened in April 2009 during the Easter weekend and comprised a three-part story titled Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, followed by Red Dwarf: the Making of Back to Earth, a behind-the-scenes special from the new episodes. [6] Contents See also: List of Red Dwarf episodes and Red Dwarf ships The second Red Dwarf ship model as used for series 5. The main setting of the series is the eponymous mining spaceship Red Dwarf [7] which is 6 miles (10 km) long, 5 miles (8 km) tall, and 4 miles (6 km) wide and is operated by the Jupiter Mining Corporation. [8] In the first episode set sometime in the late 22nd century , an on-board radiation leak of cadmium II kills everyone except for low-ranking technician Dave Lister, who is in suspended animation at the time, and his pregnant cat, Frankenstein, who is safely sealed in the cargo hold. [9] Following the accident, the ship's computer Holly keeps Lister in stasis until the background radiation dies down—a process that takes three million years. [9] Lister therefore emerges as the last human being in the universe—but not alone on-board the ship. [10] His former bunkmate and immediate superior Arnold Judas Rimmer is resurrected by Holly as a hologram to keep Lister sane. At the same time, a creature known only as Cat is the last member on board of Felis sapiens , a race of humanoid felines that evolved in the ship's hold from Lister's cat, Frankenstein, and her kittens during the 3 million years that Lister was in stasis. [10] The main dramatic thrust of the early series is Lister's desire to return home to Earth. [11] As their journey begins, the not-so-intrepid crew encounters such phenomena as time distortions, faster-than-light travel, mutant diseases and strange lifeforms that had developed in the intervening millions of years. [11] During the second series, the group encounter the service mechanoid Kryten , rescuing him from a long-since crashed vessel. [12] Initially, Kryten only appeared in one episode of series two, but by the beginning of series three he had become a regular character. [13] At the end of series five, Red Dwarf itself is stolen by persons unknown, forcing them to travel in the smaller Starbug craft for two series, with the side-effect that they lose contact with Holly. [14] In series seven, Rimmer departs the crew to take up the role of his alter ego from a parallel universe, Ace Rimmer , whose name has become a long-standing legend and a legacy passed down from dimension to dimension. Shortly afterwards, the crew found a parallel version of themselves from a universe in which Kristine Kochanski , Lister's long-term love interest, had been put into stasis at the time of the leak and so became the last remaining human. [15] A complicated series of events leaves Kochanski stranded in "our" universe, and she is forced to join the crew. [15] At the end of series seven, we learn that Red Dwarf had been stolen by Kryten's service nanobots , who had abandoned him years previously. At the beginning of the eighth series, Red Dwarf is reconstructed by Kryten's nanobots , who had broken it down into its constituent atoms. [16] In the process, the entire crew of the ship — including a pre-accident Rimmer — are resurrected, but the Starbug crew find themselves sentenced to two years in the ship's brig (at first, for crashing a Starbug and bringing onboard Kryten and Cat as stowaways, but later for using information from the confidental files). . [16] The series ends with a metal-eating virus loose on Red Dwarf. The entire resurrected crew evacuates save the original dwarfers. In the cliffhanger ending, Rimmer is left stranded alone to face Death (and promptly knees him in the groin and flees). [17] Nine years later, the four "Boys from the Dwarf" are once more the only beings on the ship. Rimmer is again a hologram, Holly is offline, and Lister is mourning Kochanski, lost to him out of an airlock some time previously. A chance to get back to Earth through a dimension warp presents itself, but though it is not quite what it first appears to be, it results in giving Lister new hope when he learns that Kochanski is still alive after all. Characters and actors Main article: List of Red Dwarf characters Dave Lister , played by Craig Charles , [18] is a genial Liverpudlian and self-described bum. He was the lowest-ranking crew member on the ship before the accident and has a long-standing desire to return to Earth and start a farm on Fiji (which is under three feet of water following a volcanic eruption), but is left impossibly far away by the accident that renders him the last surviving member of the human race. [19] He deeply enjoys Indian food , especially chicken vindaloo , which is a recurring theme in the series. His bunk mate Arnold Judas Rimmer Bsc Ssc ("Bronze swimming certificate" and "Silver swimming certificate"), played by Chris Barrie , [18] is the second-lowest ranking member of the crew: a fussy, bureaucratic , neurotic coward, who is in fact the one responsible for the Red Dwarf cadmium II accident that killed the entire crew (along with himself). Nevertheless, he is chosen by Holly to be the ship's one available hologram. [20] Rimmer was the chosen hologram because he was the person who Lister shared the most sentences with and therefore the person most likely to keep Lister sane. In Series VII, Rimmer left the dimension to become the new Ace Rimmer. He is brought back to life in Series VIII by the nanobots, which rebuilt Red Dwarf and the rest of the crew. He comes face to face with Death at the end of the series, though he is last seen kicking Death in the groin. In the Back to Earth specials, he is once again a hologram. From left to right: Kryten , Lister , Cat , and Rimmer . The Cat , played by Danny John-Jules , [18] is a humanoid creature who evolved from the offspring of Lister's smuggled pet cat Frankenstein. Cat is concerned with little other than sleeping, eating and fawning over his appearance, and tends not to socialise with other members of the crew. As time goes by, however, he becomes more influenced by his human companions, and so begins to resemble a stylish, self-centred human. [21] The ship's computer, Holly (played by Norman Lovett during series I, II, VII and VIII [18] and Hattie Hayridge in series III to V), [22] has an IQ of 6,000, although this is severely depleted by the three million years it is left alone after the accident, having developed "computer senility". The change in appearance for series III is explained by Holly having changed his face to resemble that of a computer from a parallel universe "with whom he'd once fallen madly in love". [23] Kryten , full name Kryten 2X4B-523P (played by Robert Llewellyn from series III onwards, [18] and as a one-off appearance in series II by David Ross ), [22] was rescued by the crew from a crashed spaceship Nova 5 in series II, upon which he had continued to serve the ship's crew despite them having been dead for thousands or even millions of years. Kryten is a service mechanoid and when first encountered by the crew, he was bound by his "behavioural protocols", but Lister gradually encouraged him to break his programming and think for himself. His change in appearance between the two actors is explained by an accident involving Lister's spacebike. [24] Kristine Kochanski (originally portrayed by Clare Grogan before Chloë Annett took on the role from series VII) [22] was initially a Red Dwarf navigation officer whom Lister had a crush on (later retroactively altered to be his ex-girlfriend) and whose memory he had cherished ever since. [19] In one episode , the crew happen upon an alternative dimension, where Kochanski had survived the Red Dwarf cadmium II accident. She joined Lister and the crew after the link to her own dimension collapsed. [15] Although she does not appear in the Red Dwarf: Back to Earth specials, as Lister believes her dead, it is revealed that Kryten, the sole witness to her "death", had lied to Lister. Kochanski had instead fled the ship in a Blue Midget when it became clear Lister's complete lack of self-respect and indulgence on excesses was slowly killing him, which greatly depressed her. Lister is advised by fans of the television series to find her in "the next series" and to make amends. Production The first series aired on BBC2 in 1988 . Seven further series have so far been produced, [13] and a film has been in development almost continually since before the last series in 1999. [25] Concept and commission The concept for the show was originally developed from the sketch-series Dave Hollins: Space Cadet on the BBC Radio 4 show Son of Cliché in the mid-1980s, written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. [26] Their influences came from movies and television programmes such as Silent Running (1972), Alien (1979), Dark Star (1974) and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981), [13] but also had a large element of British-style comedy and satire thrown into the mix, ultimately moulded into the form of a sitcom. Having first written the pilot script in 1983, the former Spitting Image writers had hawked their unusual and original script around but it was rejected by everyone at the BBC, as it was believed a sitcom based around science fiction would not be popular. [26] It was finally accepted by BBC North in 1986, a result of a spare budget being assigned for a second series of Happy Families that would never arise, and producer Paul Jackson 's insistence that Red Dwarf should be filmed instead. [27] The show was lucky to be remounted after an electrician 's strike partway through rehearsals in early 1987 shut the entire production down (The title sequence was filmed in January 1987). [28] The filming was rescheduled for September, and pilot episode finally made it onto television screens on 15 February 1988. [13] Casting Alan Rickman and Alfred Molina auditioned for roles in the series, with Molina being cast as Rimmer. [29] [30] However, after Molina had difficulties with the concept of the series, and of his role in particular, the role was recast and filled by Chris Barrie. Barrie was a professional voice-actor and impressionist who had previously worked with both the writers on Spitting Image , and with the producers on Happy Families and Jasper Carrott productions. [30] Craig Charles , a Liverpudlian "punk poet", was given the role of Dave Lister. He was approached by the production team for his opinion about the "Cat" character, as they were concerned it may be considered by people as racist. [31] Charles described the character as 'pretty cool' and after reading the script he decided he wanted to audition for the part of Dave Lister. [28] Laconic stand up comedian Norman Lovett , who had originally tried out for the role of Rimmer, was kept in the show as Holly, the senile computer of the titular ship. [31] A professional dancer and singer, Danny John-Jules, arriving half an hour late for his appointment, stood out as the Cat immediately. This was partly due to his "cool" exterior, dedicated research (reading Desmond Morris 's book Catwatching), and his showing up in character, wearing his father's 1950s-style suit. [31] Writing, producing, and directing Grant and Naylor wrote the first six series together (using the pseudonym Grant Naylor on the first two novels and later as the name of their production company, although never on the episodes themselves). [32] Grant left in 1995, [13] to pursue other projects, [33] leaving Naylor to write the final two series with a group of new writers, including Paul Alexander and actor Robert Llewellyn who portrayed the character Kryten. [34] For the most part, Ed Bye produced and directed the series. He left before series V due to a scheduling clash (he ended up directing a show starring his wife, Ruby Wax ) so Juliet May took over as director. [35] May parted ways with the show halfway through the series for personal and professional reasons and Grant and Naylor took over direction of the series, in addition to writing and producing. [36] Series VI was directed by Andy de Emmony, and Ed Bye returned to direct series VII and VIII. Series I, II and III were made by Paul Jackson Productions, with subsequent series produced by the writers' own company Grant Naylor Productions for BBC North . All eight series were broadcast on BBC2. At the beginning of series IV, production moved from the BBC's Manchester studios to Shepperton . [37] The theme tune and incidental music were written and performed by Howard Goodall , with the distinctive vocals on the closing theme tune courtesy of Jenna Russell . The first two series used a relatively sombre theme tune for the opening titles; from series III onwards this switched to an instrumental version of the closing theme. Goodall also wrote music for the show's various songs, including "Tongue Tied", with lyrics written by Grant and Naylor. [38] Danny John- Jules (credited as "Cat") re-orchestrated and released "Tongue Tied" in October 1993; it reached #17 on the UK charts. [39] Remastered Main article: Red Dwarf Remastered In 1998, on the tenth anniversary of the show's first airing (and between the broadcast of series VII and VIII), the first three series of Red Dwarf were remastered and released on VHS . The remastering included replacing model shots with computer graphics, cutting certain dialogue and scenes, [40] re-filming Norman Lovett's Holly footage, creating a consistent set of opening titles, replacing music and creating ambient sound effects with a digital master. [41] The remastered series were released in a 4 disc DVD boxset "The Bodysnatcher Collection" in 2007. [42] Hiatus Three years elapsed between series VI and VII, partly due to the dissolving of the Grant and Naylor partnership, but also due to cast and crew working on other projects. [33] When the series eventually returned, it was filmised and no longer shot in front of a live audience, allowing for greater use of four-walled sets, location shooting and single camera techniques. [43] When the show returned for its eighth series two years later, it had dropped use of the filmising process and restored the live audience. [44] The show received a setback when the BBC rejected proposals for a series IX. Doug Naylor confirmed that the BBC decided not to renew the series as they preferred to work on other things. [45] A short animated Christmas special was, however, made available to mobile phone subscribers. [46] Red Dwarf: Back to Earth Main article: Red Dwarf: Back to Earth In August 2008, Robert Llewellyn appeared on Seattle public television station, KCTS 9. In an interview, he revealed that BBC Worldwide , in collaboration with another party, had invested in one hour of new Red Dwarf to be filmed in early 2009. [47] Grant Naylor Productions announced that it had been "on the cards" since February 2008. [48] It subsequently transpired that UKTV channel Dave would screen four new 30-minute specials to celebrate the twenty-first anniversary of the show. [49] The new episodes would form part of an effort by Dave to screen more original programming, instead of just repeats. [50] An announcement in January 2009 clarified that the new special was to be a brand new two-part story entitled "Red Dwarf: Back to Earth", broadcast over the Easter weekend of that year along with a "making of" documentary and a one-off entitled Red Dwarf: Unplugged. [51] On 20 February 2009, it was announced that Red Dwarf: Back to Earth would instead be a three part special and that the unplugged episode had been postponed. [52] Unplugged had been described by Craig Charles as "just the four of us - and some chairs - trying to improvise, or rather trying to remember, classic scenes". [53] Plot-wise, lead-actor, Chris Barrie was reported as saying, “Yes, Lister’s dream is about to come true. But like everything in Red Dwarf, nothing is straightforward.” On 4 March 2009 it was revealed that actress Sophie Winkleman would be playing a character called Katerina, a resurrected hologram of a Red Dwarf science officer intent on replacing Rimmer. [54] Further plot details were explained in issue 181 of British Science Fiction magazine, SFX . The episode is set 9 years after the events of " Only the Good... ", Kochanski is dead and Holly is offline due to water damage caused by Lister leaving a tap running. [55] On 11 March 2009, the official Dave blog posted a brief synopsis of each episode; due to them being released too early, however, these were promptly removed and replaced with an apology. [56] To achieve a more cinematic atmosphere, "Back to Earth" was not to be filmed in front of a studio audience. Although this was not the first time this had happened (for instance, series 7 was filmed entirely without a live audience), it was the first time a laughter track was not added for broadcast. [57] It was also the first episode of Red Dwarf to be filmed in High Definition . [55] The specials were televised over three nights starting on Friday, 10 April 2009 to a mixed audience response. Back to Earth received record ratings for freeview channel Dave. Back to Earth was released on DVD on 15 June 2009. [58] The DVD includes both the individual episodes and a newly edited "Director's Cut" combining the three episodes into a single feature film. The future Doug Naylor stated in an interview with Dave before the broadcast of Back to Earth that he would like to make another full-length series, but added that "we would have to wait and see" how good or bad the reaction to the new specials would be. He also stated that he would not want to make a series 9 but that he might make a series 10, and explained that this would "make a lot more sense in future". The specials establish that two series focusing on the events leading up to Back to Earth occurred after series eight; during the fictional ninth series (described within the episode by one fan as "the best series yet"), Kryten informed Lister that Kochanski had died, but within Back to Earth Lister learned that Kochanski hadn't died at all, leaving open the possibility of Lister's pursuit of Kochanski in future episodes. In late September 2009, rumours in the Red Dwarf community suggested that a brand-new full-length series had been commissioned by Dave, although Dave has since neither confirmed nor denied these rumours. Robert Llewellyn recently confirmed these rumors to be true at Dimension Jump XV via his twitter account, his comments saying "Series 10 of Red Dwarf announcement just been made at DJ 09. To clarify the scripts have been commissioned, won't be filming til 2010". [59] Themes The episode " Polymorph " parodied the 1979 Alien film Red Dwarf was founded on a standard sitcom trope : namely, a disparate and frequently dysfunctional group of individuals living together in a restricted setting. With the main characters routinely displaying their cowardice, incompetence and laziness, while exchanging insulting and sarcastic dialogue, the series provided a humorous antidote to the fearless and morally-upright space explorers typically found in science fiction shows, such as Star Trek , [13] with the main characters acting bravely only when there was no other possible alternative. The increasing science fiction elements of the series were treated seriously by Grant and Naylor. Satire, parody and drama were alternately woven into the episodes, referencing other — not always science fiction — television shows, films and books. [60] These have included references to the likes of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), [61] Top Gun (1986), [62] RoboCop (1987), Star Wars (1977), [63] Citizen Kane (1942), [64] The Wild One (1953), High Noon (1952), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Easy Rider (1969), [65] The Terminator (1984) [66] and Pride and Prejudice (1813). [67] The writers would even base the whole theme of an episode on a film's plot. The series III episode "Polymorph" references and parodies key moments from Alien (1979), [63] series IV's " Camille " echoes key scenes from Casablanca (1942), [66] " Meltdown " borrows the main plot from Westworld , (1973) [68] and "Back to Earth" is greatly inspired by Blade Runner (1982). But the series does not limit its themes to movies or television; historical events and figures have also been referenced and even integrated as part of an episode. [69] Religion also plays a part in the series, as a significant factor in the ultimate fate of the Cat race, and the perception of Lister as their "God". [70] Religion is turned on its head as mundane things are shown to acquire deep religious significance. The dispute over the colour of cardboard hats in Lister's fantasy doughnut diner (which has become the Cat version of Paradise) sparks the holy war that almost annihilates the species. The series also makes a literary reference to the Samuel Beckett play Waiting for Godot in the title for the episode Waiting for God . The episode titled Ouroboros derives its name and theme from the ancient mythological snake by the same name . [71] [72] The series also explores many sci-fi staples such as time-travel paradoxes ( grandfather paradox ), the question of determinism and free will (on several episodes), the pursuit of happiness in virtual reality and crucially to the show's premise of Lister being the last human, the near certainty of the human species' extinction some time in the far future.[citation needed] Aliens do not feature in the series as Rob Grant and Doug Naylor decided very early in the process that they did not want aliens in the show. Instead, the only non-human life forms are Earth descended: either an evolution of an Earth species, a robotic life form created by humans, or a Genetically Engineered Life Form ( GELF ), an artificially created creature (most of the enemies within the later series are some variant on GELFs or Simulants). [73] Hallmarks Main article: List of Red Dwarf Concepts The series developed its own distinct vocabulary. Words and phrases such as hologramatic [sic], Dollarpound, Felis sapiens , Simulants , GELF , space weevil and Zero Gee Football appear throughout the series, highlighting a development in language, political climate, technology, evolution and culture in the future. [74] The creators also employed a vocabulary of fictional expletives in order to avoid using potentially offensive words in the show, and to give nuance to futuristic colloquial language. ' Smeg ', 'gimboid', 'goit', and variants of 'smeg' such as 'smegging', 'smegger' and 'smeg-head' were used. [75] Reception and achievements Mixed reactions The changes that were made to the series' cast, setting, creative teams and even production values from series to series have meant that opinions differ greatly between fans and critics alike as to the quality of certain series. [13] [76] In the 'Great Red Dwarf Debate', published in volume 2 issue 3 of the Red Dwarf Smegazine, science fiction writers Steve Lyons and Joe Nazzaro both argued on the pros and cons of the early series against the later series. Lyons stated that what the show "once had was a unique balance of sci-fi comedy, which worked magnificently." [77] Nazarro agreed that "the first two series are very original and very funny", but went on to say that "it wasn't until series III that the show hit its stride." [78] Series VI is regarded as a continuation of the ' Monster of the week ' philosophy of series V, which was nevertheless considered to be visually impressive. [79] Discussions revolve around the quality of series VI, seen by viewers as just as good as the earlier series', [80] but has been criticised as a descent into formulaic comedy with an unwelcome change of setting. [81] The changes seen in series VII were seen as a disappointment; while much slicker and higher-budget in appearance, the shift away from outright sitcom and into something approaching comedy drama was seen as a move in the wrong direction. [82] Furthermore, the attempt to shift back into traditional sitcom format for series VIII was greeted with a response that was similarly lukewarm. [13] There was criticism aimed at the decision to resurrect the entire crew of Red Dwarf, as it was felt this detracted from the series' central premise of Lister being the last human being alive, as well as recognition that the cast "acted-up" to the live audience in a manner that was detrimental to the world of the series. [83] There are other critics who feel that series VII and VIII are no weaker than the earlier series, however, [84] [85] and the topic is the subject of constant fervent debate among the show's fanbase. [13] Achievements Although the pilot episode of show gathered over four million viewers, viewing figures dipped in successive episodes and the first series had generally poor ratings. [86] Through to series VI the ratings had steadily increased and peaked at over six million viewers, [33] achieved with the episode "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". [87] When the series returned in 1999 it gained the highest audience figures yet — over eight million viewers tuned in for series VIII's opening episode "Back in the Red: Part I". [88] In its eight-series history, the series has won numerous awards including the Royal Television Society Award for special effects, the British Science Fiction award for Best Dramatic Presentation, as well as an International Emmy. [89] The International Emmy Award achieved was for series VI episode "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", which tied with Absolutely Fabulous ' episode "Hospital" in the Popular Arts category. [90] The show had also been nominated for the International Emmy Award in 1987, 1989, and 1992. [90] Series VI won a British Comedy Award for "Best BBC Comedy Series". [90] The video sales have won eight Gold Awards from the British Video Association, [91] and the series still holds the record for being BBC2's longest running, highest rated sitcom. [92] In 2007 the series was voted 'Best Sci-Fi show of all time' by the readers of Radio Times magazine. Editor Gill Hudson stated that this result had surprised them as "the show hadn't broadcast any new episodes this century". [93] Spin-offs and merchandise The show's logo and characters have appeared on a wide range of merchandise. [32] [94] Red Dwarf has also been spun-off in a variety of different media formats. For instance, the song "Tongue Tied", featured in the " Parallel Universe " episode of the show, was released in 1993 as a single and became a top 20 UK hit for Danny John Jules (under the name 'The Cat'). [39] Stage plays of the show have been produced through Blak Yak, a theatre group in Perth , Western Australia , who were given permission by Grant Naylor Productions to mount stage versions of certain episodes in 2002, 2004 and 2006. [95] [96] [97] [98] And in October 2006 an Interactive Quiz DVD entitled Red Dwarf: Beat The Geek was released, hosted by Norman Lovett and Hattie Hayridge, both reprising their roles as Holly. [99] Novels The German edition of Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, entitled Roter Zwerg. Working together under the name "Grant Naylor", the creators of the series collaboratively wrote two novels. The first, Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers , was published in November 1989, and incorporates plot lines from several episodes of the show's first two series. The second novel, Better Than Life , followed in October 1990, and is largely based on the second-season episode of the same name. Together, the two novels provide expanded backstory and development of the series' principal characters and themes. Retaining the show's offbeat sense of humor, the novels share some similarity with Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , also a science fiction comedy series. The authors began work on a sequel to Better than Life, called The Last Human, but Rob Grant was drawn away from Red Dwarf by an interest in other projects.[citation needed] Still owing Penguin Publishing two more Red Dwarf novels, Grant and Naylor decided to each write an alternate sequel to Better than Life. Two completely different sequels were made as a result, each presenting a possible version of the story's continuation. Last Human , by Doug Naylor, adds Kochanski to the crew and places more emphasis on the science-fiction and plot elements, while Rob Grant's novel Backwards , is more in keeping with the previous two novels, and borrows more extensively from established television stories. [33] An omnibus edition of the first two novels was released in 1992, including edits to the original text and extra material such as the original pilot script of the TV series. [100] All four novels have been released in audiobook format; the first two read by Chris Barrie, [101] [102] Last Human read by Craig Charles, [103] and Backwards read by author Rob Grant. [104] In December, 2009, Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers will be released in Germany with the title Roter Zwerg (Red Dwarf in German). [105] VHS, Laserdisc, DVD and Blu-ray releases See also: List of Red Dwarf episodes#Series For the initial release of the VHS editions, Red Dwarf episodes were separated and two tapes were released for each series, labelled "byte one" and "byte two". These videos were named after the first episode of the three presented on the tape, as was typical with other BBC video releases at the time. However, on occasions the BBC decided to ignore the original running order and use the most popular episodes from the series to maximise sales of the videos. For series V " Quarantine " and " Back to Reality " were given top billing on their respective video release. [106] For the second series I VHS release, " Confidence and Paranoia " was given top billing, even though the original broadcast order was retained. Future releases would increasingly observe authenticity with the "original broadcast" context. All eight series were made available on VHS, and three episodes of series VII were also released as special "Xtended" (sic) versions with extra scenes and no laugh track ; [107] the remastered versions of series I–III were also released individually and in a complete box-set. [108] [109] [110] Finally, two outtake videos were released, Smeg Ups in 1994, and its sequel Smeg Outs in 1995. [111] [112] The eight series have since been released on DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4, each with a bonus disc of extra material and each release from series III onwards being accompanied by an original documentary about the making of each respective series. [113] Regions 2 and 4 have also seen the release of two Just The Shows, digipack boxsets containing the episodes from series I–IV (Volume 1) and V-VIII (Volume 2) with static menus and no extras. [114] [115] Red Dwarf: The Bodysnatcher Collection, containing the 1997 remastered episodes, as well as new documentaries for series I and II, was released in 2007. This release showcased a storyboard construction of "Bodysnatcher", an unfinished script from 1987, which was finally completed in 2007 by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor who were working together for the first time since 1993. [42] In December 2008 an anniversary DVD set entitled Red Dwarf: All The Shows was released, reworking the vanilla disc content of the two Just The Shows sets within A4 packaging resembling a 'photo album', which carefully omitted information that no extras were included. This box-set was rereleased in a smaller slip-case sized box, reverting to the Just the Shows title, in November 2009. The series is also available for download on iTunes . Red Dwarf: Back to Earth, the most recent entry into the franchise, was released on DVD and Blu-Ray in 2009. Magazine Rimmer with a greyscale appearance The Red Dwarf Magazine - the magazine part of the title changed to 'Smegazine' from issue 3 - was launched in 1992 by Fleetway Editions . It comprised a mix of news, reviews, interviews, comic strips and competitions. The comic strips featured episode adaptations and original material, including further stories of popular characters like the Mr. Flibble, Polymorph and Ace Rimmer. Notably, the comic strip stories holographic characters, predominately Rimmer, were drawn in greyscale . This was at the request of Grant and Naylor, who had wanted to use the technique for the television series, but the process was deemed too expensive to produce. [116] Despite achieving circulation figures of over 40,000 per month, [116] the magazine's publisher decided to close the title down to concentrate on their other publications. [33] A farewell issue was published, cover dated January 1994, and featured the remaining interviews, features and comic strips that were to feature in the following issues. [117] Another Red Dwarf magazine was started called Red Dwarf: Better Than Life which is only available through the Red Dwarf Official Fan Club. It features cast interviews and the latest news. Each person gets four issues each year. U.S. version Cast of second Red Dwarf USA pilot A pilot episode for an American version (known as Red Dwarf USA) was produced through Universal Studios with the intention of broadcasting on NBC in 1992. [118] The show essentially followed the same story as the first episode of the original series, using American actors for most of the main roles: [119] Craig Bierko as Lister, Chris Eigeman as Rimmer, and Hinton Battle as Cat. [120] Exceptions to this were Llewellyn, who reprised his role as Kryten, and the British actress Jane Leeves who played Holly. [120] It was written by Linwood Boomer and directed by Jeffrey Melman , [120] with Grant and Naylor onboard as creators and executive producers. [121] During filming of the pilot the audience reaction was good and it was felt that the story had been well received. [121] The studio executives were not entirely happy with the pilot, especially the casting, but decided to give the project another chance with Grant and Naylor in charge. [122] The intention was to shoot a 'promo video' for the show in a small studio described by the writers as 'a garage'. [121] New cast members were hired for the roles of Cat (re-named Woo-fen) and Rimmer; [121] Terry Farrell and Anthony Fuscle respectively. [120] With a small budget and deadline, new scenes were quickly shot and mixed in with existing footage of the pilot and UK series V episodes. [121] Despite the re-shoots and re-casting, the option on the pilot was not picked up. [121] (Farrell was cast almost immediately afterwards for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.) As a result, the US pilot exists and has been heavily bootlegged but it has never been broadcast on TV in any country. Movie Since the end of the eighth series in 1999, Doug Naylor has been attempting to make a feature length version of the show. A final draft of the script was written, by Naylor, and flyers began circulating around certain websites. The flyer was genuine and had been distributed by Winchester Films to market the movie overseas. [123] Plot details were included as part of the teaser. It was set in the distant future where Homo sapienoids - a fearsome flesh machine hybrid race — had taken over the solar system and were wiping out the human race. Spaceships that tried to escape Earth were hunted down until only one remained... Red Dwarf. [124] Naylor had scouted Australia to get an idea of locations and finance costs, with pre-production beginning in 2004 and filming planned for 2005. [124] However, finding sufficient funding has been difficult. Naylor explained at a Red Dwarf Dimension Jump convention that the film had been rejected by the BBC and the British Film Council . Reasons given for the rejections were that while the script was considered to be funny, it was not ready. [125] Roleplaying game Deep7 LLC released Red Dwarf - The Roleplaying Game in February 2003 (although the printed copyright is 2002). [126] Based on the series, the game allows its players to portray original characters within the Red Dwarf universe. Player characters can be human survivors, holograms, evolved house pets (cats, dogs, iguanas, rabbits, rats and mice), various types of mechanoid (Series 4000, Hudzen 10 and Waxdroids in the corebook, Series 3000 in the Extra Bits Book) or GELFs (Kinatawowi and Pleasure GELF in the corebook, "Vindaloovians" in the Extra Bits Book). A total of three products were released for the game: the core 176-page rulebook, the AI Screen (analogous to the Game Master's Screen used in other roleplaying games , also featuring the "Extra Bits Book" booklet), and the Series Sourcebook. [127] The Series Sourcebook contains plot summaries of each episode of every series as well as game rules for all major and minor characters from each series. The game has been praised for staying true to the comedic nature of the series, for its entertaining writing, and for the detail to which the background material is explained. [127] [128] However, some reviewers found the game mechanics to be simplistic and uninspiring compared to other science fiction roleplaying games on the market. [129] Red Dwarf Night "Can't Smeg, Won't Smeg" as featured on BBC Two's "Red Dwarf Night" On 14 February 1998, the night before the tenth anniversary of the show's pilot episode broadcast, BBC2 devoted an evening of programming to the series, under the banner of Red Dwarf Night. The evening consisted of a mixture of new and existing material, and was introduced and linked by actor and fan Patrick Stewart . In addition, a series of special take-offs on BBC2's idents , featuring the "2" logo falling in love with a skutter , were used. [130] The night began with Can't Smeg, Won't Smeg, a spoof of the cookery programme Can't Cook, Won't Cook , presented by that show's host Ainsley Harriott who had himself appeared as a GELF in the episode "Emohawk: Polymorph II". Taking place outside the continuity of the series, two teams (Kryten and Lister versus Rimmer and Cat, although Cat quickly departs to be replaced by alter ego Duane Dibbley ) were challenged to make the best chicken vindaloo . [130] After a compilation bloopers show, featuring out-takes, the next programme was Universe Challenge, a spoof of University Challenge . Hosted by original University Challenge presenter Bamber Gascoigne . The show had a team of knowledgeable Dwarf fans compete against a team consisting of Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Robert Llewellyn, Chloe Annett and Danny John Jules. [130] This was followed by The Red Dwarf A-Z, a half-hour documentary that chose a different aspect of the show to focus on for each letter of the alphabet. Talking heads on the episode included Stephen Hawking , Terry Pratchett , original producer Paul Jackson , and Patrick Stewart . Finally, the night ended with a showing of the "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". [130] See also The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , a similarly groundbreaking BBC TV series in the genre of sci-fi comedy. Luna , a children's sitcom with a similar dynamic in a dystopic setting. References Dessau, Bruce (1992). The Official Red Dwarf Companion. Titan. ISBN 1-85286-456-7. Howarth, Chris; Steve Lyons (1993). Red Dwarf Programme Guide. Virgin. ISBN 0-86369-682-1. Red Dwarf Smegazine, (March 1992 - January 1994), Fleetway Editions Ltd, ISSN 0965-5603 Further reading Alexander, Paul (1995). Red Dwarf Log No. 1996. William Heineman Ltd. ISBN 0-434-00370-0. Burnett, Sharon; Nicky Hooks (1997). A Question of Smeg. Penguin. ISBN 0-140-27070-1. Charles, Craig; Russell Bell (1997). The Log: A Dwarfer's Guide to Everything. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-026862-6. Grant; Naylor (1993). Primordial Soup: The Least Worst Scripts. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-017886-4. Grant; Naylor (1996). Son Of Soup. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-025363-7. Grant; Naylor (1996). Scenes from the Dwarf. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-600243-1. Hooks, Nicky; Sharon Burnett (1994). The Red Dwarf Quiz Book. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-023662-7. Llewellyn, Robert (1994). The Man in the Rubber Mask. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-023575-2. Naylor, Doug; Paul Alexander (1996). The Space Corps Survival Manual. Mandarin. ISBN 0-7493-2374-4. Naylor, Doug; Paul Alexander (2000). Red Dwarf VIII Scriptbook. Virgin. ISBN 1-85227-872-2. Nazzaro, Joe (1994). The Making of Red Dwarf. Penguin. ISBN 0-14-023206-0. Notes Rimmer : Lister? Lister: Hmm? Rimmer: Have you ever been hit on the head with a welding mallet? No? Well, shut up, then. Rimmer: [discussing his last exam] Lister, last time I only failed by the narrowest of narrow margins. Lister: You what? You went in there, wrote "I AM A FISH" four hundred times, did a funny little dance and fainted! Rimmer: That's a total lie. Lister: No, it's not. Peterson told me. Rimmer: "No, it's not. Peterson told me." Lister, if you must know, I submitted a discourse on porous circuitry that was too... radical, too unconventional, too mold-breaking for the examiners to accept. Lister: Yeah. You said you were a fish! Future Echoes Holly : I am Holly, the ship's computer, with an IQ of 6000; the same IQ as 6000 PE teachers. Rimmer: [jogging] Morning, Lister! How's life in hippie heaven, you pregnant baboon-bellied space beatnik? What's the plan for the day, then? Slobbing in the morning, followed by slobbing in the afternoon, then a bit of a snooze before the main evening's slob? God, you're a disgrace to the species. [jogs away] [Lister]: Good morning, Rimmer. Holly: Jean-Paul Sartre said Hell was being locked forever in a room with your friends. Lister: Holly, all his mates were French! Rimmer: What's this? Learning drugs? They're illegal, matey! I'm afraid you're in very serious, grave, deep trouble, Lister. Where did you get them? I want names, I want places, I want dates. Lister: Arnold Rimmer, his locker, this morning. Waiting For God Holly: David Lister, Technician, 3rd class. Captain's remarks: "Has requested sick leave due to diarrhea on no less than 500 occasions. Left his previous job as a supermarket trolley attendant after ten years because he didn't want to get tied down to a career." Holly: Arnold Rimmer, Technician, 2nd Class. Captain's remarks: "There's a saying amongst the officers: If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well. If it's not worth doing, give it to Rimmer." Confidence and Paranoia Cat : Hey, this has been a really good day. I've eaten five times, I've slept six times, and I've made a lot of things mine. Tomorrow, I'm gonna see if I can't have sex with something. Cat: [sings] S-E-X, you know I want it! S-E-X, I'm gonna get it! Yeah! [Cat finds Lister unconscious on the floor.] S-E-X, I think I found it! Me² Lister: Hang on, hang on. Are you saying you never became an officer because you shared your quarters with someone who hummed? Rimmer: Obviously not just that, Lister. Everything! Everything you ever did was designed to hold me back and annoy me. Lister: Like what? Rimmer: Like using my mother's photograph as an ashtray. Lister: I didn't know! I thought it was a souvenir from Titan Zoo. Lister: Yo, I didn't know you had any medals. What are they for? Rimmer: Three years long service. Six years long service. Nine years long service... Twelve years long service. Series II Holly: Cow's milk. Ran out of that yonks ago. Fresh and dehydrated. Lister: What kind of milk are we using now? Holly: Emergency back-up supply. We're on the dog's milk. Lister: Dog's milk? Holly: Nothing wrong with dog's milk. Full of goodness, full of vitamins, full of marrowbone jelly. Lasts longer than any other type of milk, dog's milk. Lister: Why? Holly: No bugger'll drink it. And the advantage of dog's milk is that when it goes off it tastes exactly the same as when it's fresh. Lister: Why didn't you tell me, Hol? Holly: What, and spoil your tea? Cat: You'd never get a cat to be a servant. You ever see a cat return a stick? "Hey, man! You threw the stick, you go get it yourself! I'm busy! If you wanted the stick so bad, why'd you throw it away in the first place?" Better Than Life Lister: It's a state-of-the-art sarnie ! Holly: It's the state of the floor I'm worried about. Rimmer: It's like a cross between food and bowel surgery. Lister: It's well naughty. The trick is to eat it before the bread dissolves. Rimmer: It's amazing Where did you get the recipe? Lister: I'm not sure.... I think it was a book on bacteriological warfare. Stasis Leak Cat [to Rimmer]: What is it? Rimmer: It's a rent in the space-time continuum. Cat [to Lister]: What is it? Lister: The stasis room freezes time, you know, makes time stand still. So whenever you have a leak, it must preserve whatever it's leaked into, and it's leaked into this room. Cat [to Rimmer]: What is it? Rimmer: It's singularity, a point in the universe where the normal laws of space and time don't apply. Cat [to Lister]: What is it? Lister: It's a hole back into the past. Cat: Oh, a magic door! Well, why didn't you say? Rimmer: Look... In three million years, you'll be dead. Past Rimmer: [mock surprise]: Oh, will I really? Rimmer: Yes, unless you do something about it now. Past Rimmer: Oh, and what do you suggest I do, then? Eat less white bread? More roughage? Queeg Holly [after being insulted about his temporarily reduced IQ]: 6? Do me a lemon! That's a poor IQ for a glass of water! Rimmer, He's out to lunch, breakfast, dinner, tea, supper, the lot. He's not in for a single meal, if you ask me. Parallel Universe [from the song "Tongue-Tied," sung by Cat, Rimmer and Lister] When I saw you for the first time (first time) My knees began to quiver (quiver) And I got a funny feeling (feeling) In my kidneys and my liver (digestive system baby) My hands they started shakin' (shakin') My heart began a-thumpin' (boom, boom, boom) My breakfast left my body (huey, huey, huey) Now darling tell me somethin.' Holly: I just don't know where we are. There's no two ways about it: I flamingoed up! Lister: What do you mean? Holly: It's like a cock-up, only much much bigger. Series III Backwards Cat: We ain't gonna find 'em. They're gone, buddy. But look on the bright side — they're gone, buddy! Cat: Is that what I think it is? Lister: What do you think it is? Cat: An orange whirly thing in space! Lister: It's a time hole. That's where they are. We're going in. Cat: Are you crazy We can't go in there! Lister: Why not? Cat: Orange, with this suit? Marooned Holly: Well, the thing about a black hole - its main distinguishing feature - is it's black. And the thing about space, the colour of space, your basic space colour, is black. So how are you supposed to see them? Rimmer: But five of them? . How can you manage to miss five black holes? Holly: It's always the way, isn't it? You wait three million years for one to come along, then all of a sudden five turn up at once. Rimmer: He told me that in a previous incarnation I was Alexander the Great 's chief eunuch . Lister: You know what? I believe you. Rimmer: To have lived a life alongside one of the greatest commanders of all time! No wonder the military's in my blood! Lister: No wonder you're such a good singer! Polymorph Rimmer: Erm, I think we're losing sight of the real issue here, which is: what are we gonna call ourselves? Erm, and I think it comes down to a choice between "The League Against Salivating Monsters" or my own personal preference, which is "The Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society." Erm, one drawback with that: the abbreviation is "CLITORIS." Rimmer: The time for talking is over. Now call it extreme if you like, but I propose we hit it hard and we hit it fast, with a major, and I mean major, leaflet campaign. Bodyswap Rimmer: Have you ever been in dissection class held up a frog by its head? You know the way its belly sort of sticks out above its spindly little legs? Well, that's the picture I see when you get down from the bunk in the morning. [Cat and Lister are playing Scrabble.] Cat: Hey hey hey, I've got you now, buddy! J, O, Z, X, Y, Q, K! Lister: That's not a word. Cat: It's a Cat word. Lister: Jozxyqk? Cat: That's not how you pronounce it! Lister: What does it mean? Cat: It's the sound you make when you get your sexual organs trapped in something. Lister: Is it in the dictionary? Cat: Well it could be, if you're reading in the nude and close the book too quick. Jozxyqk!!! Timeslides Kryten : "Pub." Ah, yes: a meeting place where people attempt to achieve advanced states of mental incompetence by the repeated consumption of fermented vegetable drinks. Kryten: [reading Hitler's Diary] Things to do: Stop milk, pay papers, invade Czechoslovakia! The Last Day Rimmer: I used to be in the Samaritans . Lister: I know. For one morning. Rimmer: I couldn't take any more. Lister: I don't blame you. You spoke to five people and they all committed suicide. I wouldn't mind, but one was a wrong number! He only phoned up for the cricket scores! Rimmer: Well, it's not my fault everyone chose that day to jump out of buildings! It made the papers, you know. "Lemming Sunday," they called it. Rimmer: Now I know mechanoids aren't allowed to harm humans, so I suggest you hop it, me laddo, or you'll see a side of me you shan't much like. Lister: Whats he gonna do, drop his trousers? Series IV Camille Kryten: Has anyone ever told you that the configuration and juxtaposition of your features is extraordinarily apposite? Camille: Wow, you really know all the lines, don't you? Kryten: Oh, spin my nipple nuts and send me to Alaska! D.N.A. Kryten: I've been a complete and total polaroid-head. Lister: Yeah, you've had your head right up your recharge socket. Lister: Of course, lager! The only thing that can kill a vindaloo ! Justice Kryten: A man of such awesome stupidity, he even objects to his own defence counsel. White Hole [The crew are talking about how to go back to the bridge through closed doors.] Cat: I've got it. We laser our way through. Kryten: An excellent plan, with just two drawbacks: One, we don't have a power source for lasers; and Two, we don't have any lasers. Cat: Come on, man, you gotta sacrifice your life. I'm not asking you to do anything I wouldn't do. Rimmer: You? You'd sacrifice your life for the good of the crew? Cat: No! I'd sacrifice your life for the good of the crew. Dimension Jump Ace : Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast. Rimmer: [in a scathing tone] I recognize you two. Weren't you in last month's issue of "Big Boys in Boots"? Meltdown Cat: Who is this guy? Lister: Caligula 's a famous Roman Emperor. He slept with his mother both his sister's and ended up eating his son. Cat: Hey, a little advice, bud. We all feel a little peckish after making love, but most of us settle for pizza. [Rimmer tells Lister of his great "victory" leading the good droids against the fascist droids.] Lister: How many survived? Rimmer: Well, we haven't had time to make a full official estimate. But at a rough guess, and obviously this is subject to alteration pending information updates, roundabout: none of them. Lister: So you wiped out the entire population of this planet? Rimmer: You make it sound so negative, Lister. Don't you see? The deranged menace that once threatened this world is vanquished. Lister: No it isn't, pal. You're still here! Series V Holoship Cat: What, am I the only sane one here? Why don't we drop the defensive shields? Kryten: A superlative suggestion, sir, with just two minor flaws. One: we don't have any defensive shields. And two: we don't have any defensive shields. Now I realise that, technically speaking, that's only one flaw; but I thought it was such a big one, it was worth mentioning twice. Kryten: They've taken Mr. Rimmer! Sir, they've taken Mr. Rimmer! Cat: Quick — let's get out of here before they bring him back! The Inquisitor Rimmer: So, Kryten, you've heard of this "Inquisitor"? Kryten: Only as a myth; a dark fable; a horror tale, told across the flickering embers of a midnight fire, wherever hardened space dogs gather to drink fermented vegetable products and compete in tales of blood-chilling terror! Rimmer: A simple "yes" would have sufficed. Kryten: Sir, you don't have to be a great philanthropist or missionary worker, you simply have to seize the gift of life... Rimmer: Oh, God! Kryten: You simply have to have led a life that wasn't totally egocentric, vain and self-serving. Rimmer: You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Terrorform Cat: Okay. I say let's get into the jet-powered rocket pants and junior birdman the hell out of here! Kryten: An excellent and inventive suggestion, sir, with just two tiny drawbacks: a) We don't have any jet-powered rocket pants; and b) there's no such thing as jet-powered rocket pants outside the fictional serial "Robbie Rocket Pants." Cat: Well, that's put a crimp on an otherwise damn fine plan. Rimmer: I don't loathe myself. What is there one could possibly loathe about me? Kryten: Would you like the list, sir? Rimmer: What list? Kryten: Well, there was the fact you were despised by your parents for failing to achieve their standards. The fact your three brothers were all such high-flyers in the Space Corps and you ended up servicing chicken soup machines. There's your inability to form long-term relationships with anyone, your cowardliness, your lack of charm, honour or grace and the awful knowledge that throughout your entire life nobody has ever truly liked you because you are so fundamentally unlikeable. Rimmer: Oh, that. Kryten: Please don't interrupt, sir, I'm only half-way through my list. Quarantine Lister: We're a real Mickey Mouse operation, aren't we? Cat: Mickey Mouse? We ain't even Betty Boop! Lister: Kryten! Are you okay, man? Kryten: I have a medium-sized fire axe buried in my spinal column. That sort of thing can really put a crimp on your day. Demons & Angels Lister: I'll tell you one thing. I've been to a parallel universe, I've seen time running backwards, I've played pool with planets and I've given birth to twins, but I never thought in my entire life I'd taste an edible Pot Noodle . Kryten: These are our higher selves. They are who we could have become if all the negative aspects of our characters were removed. Rimmer: You mean hippies. Kryten: With respect sir, you think Jesus was a hippie. Rimmer: Well, he was. He had long hair and he didn't have a job. What more do you want? Back to Reality Kryten: Question which occurs: if this ocean is supposed to be teeming with new lifeforms, where are they all? Lister: What are you implying? Kryten: No implication intended, sir. Lister: Yes, there is. You're saying there's some huge damn fish out there, aren't yer? Some kinda gigantic weird pre-historic leviathan who's porked his way through this entire ocean. Kryten: That's one option. Kryten: None that occur. Rimmer: This venom — are we safe in here? Lister: It penetrated the hull of a class D space corps seeding ship. In comparison, we're a sardine tin. Rimmer: It's coming straight for us. Lister: There's only three alternatives: it thinks we're either a threat, food or a mate.... It's either gonna kill us, eat us or hump us. Either we persuade him we're not that kinda oceanic salvage vessel, or we scarper pronto. Cat: To get diddled by a giant squid on a first date? Think how I'd feel in the morning! Series VI Psirens Rimmer: There, on the floor... P-S-I-R-E-N-S... "Psirens?" Kryten: The poor sucker must have written it using a combination of his own blood, and even his own intestines. Rimmer: But who would do that? Lister: Someone who BADLY needed a pen. Cat: What surprises me is why he went to the trouble of using his own kidney as a full-stop. Rimmer: I don't think he meant to do that. I think it just... plopped out. [Starbug is threatened by a giant rogue asteroid that could be a mere illusion.] Kryten: Suggest we maintain course. That asteroid does not exist. Rimmer: Suppose you're wrong? Kryten: Sir, I'll stake my reputation on it. Rimmer: Kryten, you haven't got a reputation. Kryten: No, sir, but I'm hoping to acquire one from this escapade. Legion Rimmer: Step up to Red Alert! Kryten: Sir, are you absolutely sure? It does mean changing the bulb. Rimmer: Look, maybe we can reason with it. Open communication channels, Lister. Broadcast on all known frequencies, and in all known languages, including Welsh. This is acting senior officer Arnold J Rimmer of the Jupiter Mining Corporation transport vehicle Star Bug. Now hear this, 'cos it's only coming once: We surrender, totally and without condition. Thank you for listening. Oh, additional: sorry to take up your valuable time. Sorry. Thank you. Sorry. Bye. Bye. Sorry. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Gunmen of the Apocalypse Rimmer: Lister, she's a computer sprite. She's just a load of pixels. Lister: Yeah, but what pixels. Cat: You're going to go with one of my plans? Are you nuts? What happens if we all get killed? I'll never hear the last of it. Emohawk: Polymorph II Cat: Look what it did to me! It's turned me into Duane Dibbley — the Duke of Dork. [While looking for the Emohawk] Kryten: According to the psi-scan, it's somewhere in this location. Lister: It's the barrel! [shoots at the barrel] Sorry. False alarm. That chain, it's moving! [shoots chain] Sorry. Sorry. Kryten: Sir, try and remain calm. You're experiencing a classic knee-jerk, paranoid reaction to a terror situation. It's essential at this time that we - IT'S THE WALL! [shoots the wall] Shame overload. I... I... I sorry. Rimmerworld Cat: All in all, a 100% successful trip! Kryten: But, sir, we lost Mr. Rimmer. Cat: All in all, a 100% successful trip! Lister: There's got to be a way out. There hasn't been a prison built that could hold Derek Custer. Why don't we scrape away this mortar here, slide one of these bricks out, then using a rope weaved from strands of this hessian, rig up a kind of a pulley system so that when a guard comes in, using it as a trip wire, gets laid out, and we put Rimmer in the guard's uniform, he leads us out, we steal some swords, and fight our way back to the 'bug. Kryten: Or we could use the teleporter. Out of Time Rimmer: It can't have gone unnoticed that morale is at an all-time low. We've lost all trace of Red Dwarf and supplies are low. So I have decided to appoint myself morale officer and set myself the task of raising morale all round. Now I thought it would productive if we all met once a week and had a coffee or a beer — whatever's your poison — and get any troubles we may have off our chests. Any objections? [the others mutter agreement.] Well, as it's week one, why don't I start? You know what it is about Lister that really makes me want to puke? That really makes me want to stab him in both eyes with an icepick? Everything, that's what. Especially his godawful chirpy gerbil-faced optimism. And as for the Cat — what an unbelievable git. And Kryten — if he doesn't change pronto, I swear I'll attach jump leads to his nipple nuts and fry him like a Cajun catfish. Well, that's cleared the air. I don't know about you, but I certainly feel better. Thank for your contributions gentlemen. See you at next week's morale meeting. Marvellous. [exits] Lister: Good meeting. [The Dwarfers acquire a time travel device, testing it out by sending the ship to the year 1421] Rimmer: Give us visual. Let's see what it's like out there. Lister: Okay, punching it up. [They see nothing but empty space] Lister: Hey, I don't get it! We're still where we were! Kryten: Of course. We're still in deep space, sir, only now we're in deep space in the 15th century. Isn't it wonderful? Rimmer: So we're still three million years away from Earth? Series VII Tikka To Ride Rimmer: Do you think it's because the subspace conduits have locked with the transponder calibrations and caused a major tachyon surge that has overloaded the time matrix? Kryten: Ah, no, sir. I've just been jabbing it too hard. Cat: How come you need more memory? Over the years you've had more RAM than a field of sheep! Stoke Me a Clipper Ace: You can't judge a book by its cover. Lister: And you can't confuse Rimmer with a book. For a start, a book's got a spine. Ace: Princess Bonjella? Ace Rimmer. There'll be time for explanations later and, hopefully, some sex. Ouroboros Kryten: [to Lister] It's an obscene phone call, sir. I think it's for you. Duct Soup Lister: To pee or not to pee, that is the question. Kochanski : How did I end up like this, on a ship where the fourth most popular pastime is going down to the laundry room and watching my knickers spin dry? Blue [Lyrics to the The Rimmer Song in The Rimmer Experience:] He's Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer, More reliable than a garden strimmer , He's never been mistaken for Yul Brynner ; He's not bald, and his head doesn't glimmer. Master of the wit and the repartee, His command of space directives is uncanny. How come he's such a genius? Don't ask me! Ask Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer. He's also a fantastic swimmer, And if you play your cards right, Then he just might come round for dinner. Beyond A Joke Kochanski: Let's at least ask someone who's at least going to give us a slightly more intelligent opinion. Hello, wall! What do you think? Cat: "Cat do this!" "Cat do that!" What am I? A dog? Epideme [The crew discusses a plan to remove Lister's arm to save his life.] Lister: Can you explain it to me? Something a bit more confidence-stirring than "Can I hack off your limb?" Kryten: The plan is to inject antivirals in a precise pattern through your body, forcing epideme into your arm. Lister: And then you cut it off. Great plan. What choice have I got?... Okay, but make it my left arm, okay. 'Cause my right arm does all my favourite things. Kryten: I take it we're speaking with the Epideme virus? Epideme: Give that man an eyebrow! Hey, I'm feeling generous — give him two! Nanarchy Back in the Red part 1 Cat: Forget Red — let's go all the way up to Brown Alert! Kryten: There's no such thing as a Brown Alert, sir. Cat: You won't be saying that in a minute! And don't say I didn't alert you! Lister: Hey guys, look at me body. Cat: Now there is an invitation that will NOT cause a stampede. Back in the Red part 2 Captain Hollister : Rimmer, is this salute ever going to end? Do I have time to go for a cup of coffee? Maybe go on vacation? Rimmer: Nearly finished, sir. This is my very special extra long salute I reserve for the especially important, sir. Back in the Red part 3 Rimmer: One day in this lousy, stinking penal colony and I'm cracking up. Everyone's so deranged and brutal, it's frightening. This afternoon I was so depressed I went to see the social worker. Lister: Was he any help? Rimmer: Not really; he beat me up. He said I was a whining nancy-boy with girlie white legs, then pummelled me repeatedly with his book, Showing Compassion to Inmates. Lister: I thought social workers were supposed to be nice? Rimmer: In the end I was so shell-shocked I went to see the priest and explained everything. Lister: What did he say? Rimmer: He said I was a whining baby who was missing his mum. Then he beat me up, too. You can still see the crucifix marks in the back of my head. Captain Hollister: I also suspect that someone, possibly Lister, has given Rimmer access to the crew's confidential files, and he's using this information to blackmail his way up the chain of command. It's sickening. It's unforgivable. But it's a technique that can work. I should know; I used the same method myself to become captain. If the crew discover I'm really just Dennis the Doughnut Boy, I'm finished. Cassandra Lister [about their two-year prison sentence]: It's only two years; what, with good behaviour, it'll probably only be eighteen months. Remember when you were first born, then you were eighteen months? The time just flashed past! Rimmer: It flashed past because you had two breasts big as your head at your beck and call day and night! Give me that now and I wouldn't be whinging. Cassandra: All the Canaries will be dead within one hour, except for Rimmer — Rimmer: YES! Cassandra: — who will be dead in twenty minutes. Krytie TV [Lister and Rimmer plan to leave after seeing Krytie TV's "Ladies Shower Night," fearing it could damage their appeal] Rimmer: I want no part of this. Lister: Me neither. [Lister destroys the time wand. Moments later, a giant dinosaur egg is discovered behind a corner.] Lister: Wh-what do we do now?? Rimmer: Now...rebuild...the time wand! It's absolutely priceless! Only the Good Death : Arnold Judas Rimmer, your life is over. Come with me. You will travel to the River Styx, where you will place a coin and — Rimmer: Not today, matey! [knees Death in the groin] Remember, only the good die young! Death: [gasping] That's... never happened before. Rimmer: Why don't you smegging well smeg off, you annoying little smeggy smegging smegger! Back to Earth Part One Cat: I'm walking through the cargo deck, right? Minding my own damn business. When all of a sudden, you know that big tank on G deck? Lister: He means the water tank. Cat: Suddenly there is a disturbance on the surface of the tank and this massive testicle shoots out of the water and grabs me by the throat. Lister: He means tentacle. Rimmer: I hope so. Lister: You were supposed to be manning the sonar, Rimmer! You could have gotten us all killed! Rimmer: Is this about you again? It is, isn't it? Can't you see right now I need some me time? My heart is still hammering. I don't know how I got through that. Lister: You wasn't even there! Rimmer: I was nearly there. That's close enough for me. Part Two Katerina: Something is not right! It's saying we don't exist! How can this be possible? "Taking to nearest valid reality". Makes no sense at all. Katerina : You think you outsmart me, yes? But you don't, I here. Cut a second hole. Rimmer: Science officer, excellent. So pleased you've caught up with us. Katerina: You gave me slip, I know. You not want to be erased. But you won't defeat me, I too smart. Rimmer: Erase me? I thought it was murder to kill a hologram. Katerina: No, hologram already dead. Morally, ethically, hologram killing fine! Rimmer: Fair enough. [Rimmer suddenly pushes her into oncoming traffic, and her image shorts out] Come on, we haven't got all day. Kryten: She didn't see that coming did she. I did. Part Three Cat: Whats going to happen to everybody in the reality we left? The guys all watching us on T.V? Kryten: Well, they will continue to exist as a consequence of us creating them in our hallucination, sir. Its quantum mechanics, every decision that is made creates a new universe, as do all dreams and hallucinations, its multi-verse 1.0.1. Rimmer: But those sad suckers will live out the rest of their lives convinced they're the real ones and we are characters from a T.V show. Lister: And you know if you tell them the truth, you know what they would probably do? Rimmer: Laugh. Lister: Yeah. [They all snigger] They probably would. Novels Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers Rimmer: Oh, great. Not only am I dead, I don't exist, either! Thanks a lot, God! Better Than Life Rimmer: Spaghettification. Let me guess. I can see only two options: one -- due to the bizarre effects of the intense gravitational pull, and because we're entering a region of time and space where the laws of physics no longer apply, we all of us inexplicably develop an irresistible urge to consume vast amounts of a certain wheat-based Italian noodle conventionally served with Parmesan cheese; or two -- we, the crew, get turned into spaghetti. I have a feeling we can eliminate option one. Last Human GELF Leader: Yep [Lister's other self killed everyone], even me I'm afraid. Backwards Rimmer: .If he once again refers to me as a fruit or a vegetable, I'll take that welding torch and set his poufy fringe on fire. Pizzak'Rapp : I am Piece of Crap, welcome to... hell. Cast	Red Dwarf
March 16, 1802 saw the founding of the United States Military Academy. By what name is it better known?	Red Dwarf (Series) - TV Tropes Red Dwarf You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share Timeline Cast in series 3-5. Clockwise from bottom right: Rimmer, Lister, Holly, Cat and Kryten "As the days go by, we face the increasing inevitability that we are alone in a Godless, uninhabited, hostile and meaningless universe. Still, you've got to laugh, haven't you?" — Holly, perfectly summing up the series. Red Dwarf is a British Sci-Fi Comedy television (1988-1993; 1997-1999; 2009; 2012; 2016-) and book series about an enormous interstellar mining ship (the eponymous Red Dwarf), the crew of which has been almost completely wiped out by a radiation leak. One man survives: a chicken-soup-machine repairman from Liverpool named David Lister, preserved because he is confined in the ship's stasis chamber for bringing a pregnant cat on board illegally. Red Dwarf is lethally irradiated. The ship's AI, Holly, sets a course out of the solar system, planning to release Lister from stasis once the radiation level drops to safe levels. Three million years go by . Lister awakens to the news that Everybody's Dead, Dave . To keep Lister sane, the ship's computer Holly creates a hologram of his despised bunkmate, Second Technician Arnold J. Rimmer - the only person annoying enough to make Lister happy to be the last human being alive. The pair discover the Cat, the last known member of his race Felis sapiens, which evolved from the pregnant cat that got Lister put in suspended animation in the first place. Lister decides that he wants to return to Earth, despite the fact that no-one aboard knows if the human race still exists, and despite the problem that the journey back will take another three million years at sub-light speed (even turning the ship around at near lightspeed will take 4000 years according to Lister note This is later contradicted by the series 2 episode "Better than Life", where the ship has already turned around and started heading towards Earth. Red Dwarf was never too concerned with continuity ). Despite what it sounds like, this was essentially just another British comedy about amusing characters bickering amongst themselves, similar to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy , but with a fair amount of monsters , Time Travel and the like thrown in. However, it is notable for a sci-fi-based series in that the writers actively worked to avert , or at least lampshade , many tropes associated with the genre, though nearly always for comedic effect. After series VIII finished in 1999, various factors - primarily repeated attempts to get a feature film off the ground - meant the show was off-air until a three-part, Post Modern , movie-length miniseries Back To Earth aired across the Easter Weekend of 2009 on digital channel Dave, putting an end to the complete lack of any new TV or book output for a decade. BtE broke digital TV viewership records at the time of airing, signalling that the show still had an audience after a decade of TV absence; not long after, Dave commissioned a full 6 episode "tenth" series entitled Red Dwarf X, which eventually aired in 2012. In May 2015, it was announced that both an eleventh AND twelfth series were being produced back-to-back; Series XI was broadcast in September/October 2016 with Series XII due in 2017. There are also four tie-in novels . This program provides examples of: open/close all folders A-B Abnormal Ammo : The heatseeker setting on the bazookoids. Also, the improvised garbage cannon in "Psirens". Aborted Arc : Lister's pregnancy at the end of series 2 was tossed out when the writers realized they couldn't make it funny or not-sexist. It comes up in unreadably fast text in the opening crawl for "Backwards" about what happened to them: the twins (very) rapidly aged to their late teens and (somehow) returned to their native universe. Absent Aliens : All lifeforms encountered in the universe are ultimately Earth-derived. The alternative is mainly used as a gag at Rimmer's expense. Accidental Pervert : "Polymorph". When you're writhing on the floor, begging an android with a large tube attached to its crotch to pull off your underwear, it's kind of easy for people to get the wrong idea . Ace Rimmer. What a guy! Lister actually has two counterparts who fall under this trope. The first is his counterpart from Ace Rimmer's reality, Spanners, who is married to Kochanski and routinely builds ships that break all the speed records and can even travel between dimensions. The second is the holographic version of Lister from the second Kochanski's reality, who is much more intelligent and sophisticated than our Lister. Unlike Rimmer however, Lister harbours no resentment toward Spanners at all, and only complains about Holo-Lister when he's upset by something else (his claustrophobia in "Duct Soup," and the loss of his arm in "Nanarchy"). Ace Pilot : Almost as soon as the Dwarfers transition to Starbug for the majority of their time in Series V/VI - and even beyond when they return to Red Dwarf - the Cat falls into this role. Being a humanoid evolved from cats, his enhanced olfactory senses allow him to act as an early warning system, able to track space-borne phenomena such as asteroids and control a spacecraft to such a degree of proficiency that, even when (an alternate) Kristine Kochanski replaces Rimmer in Series VII, Cat doesn't have his position usurped by the fully-trained bridge officer. Although a hallucination, Series VIII brings his piloting skills to outrageous levels, allowing him to "pilot" multiple Blue Midget landing craft without even boarding a single one. Cat: Fly?! I can make this thing dance! [Cat then proceeds to slide out of the craft and lead five of them in a tap-dancing routine. No, seriously.] Acting Unnatural : In "Backwards", Kryten, in an attempt to look inconspicuous, walks into a cafe wearing a black cloak and a Ronald Reagan rubber mask. Action Prologue : "Stoke Me A Clipper" has one that is a Shout-Out to James Bond films where Ace takes on the Nazis. Addictive Foreign Soap Opera : Kryten is addicted to the soap opera Androids, which is a clear parody of what was then cult Australian import soap Neighbours . Adolf Hitlarious : Done a few times, most notably when Lister managed to get himself inserted into the Nuremberg Rally. Lister: Ignore him! He's a complete and total nutter! And he's only got one testicle! [Hitler salutes] That particular episode ("Timeslides") opens with 'Guest starring Adolf Hitler as himself'. He appears again in "Meltdown". An Aesop : Some episodes end on one, usually given by Lister . Examples include "Back To Reality" ( Humanity's creations usually coming back to bite them in the ass , leading Kryten to quip about humans trying to play God and nearly killing everything themselves ), "Justice" ( The Evils of Free Will being a natural byproduct of True Justice) and "Meltdown" (A "The Reason You Suck" Speech to a borderline insane Rimmer about him sacrificing hundreds of sentient beings basically for his own amusement , fitting the episode's War Is Hell message). After the End : In a sense, since it takes place after the human race has likely gone extinct, and even if they did make it back to Earth there'd probably be nothing to find. For that matter, the setup episode is called "The End". Agent Peacock : The Cat was always vain, self-obsessed and ditzy, but after season 3 he Took a Level in Badass . He is still Camp and obsessed with clothes , but he is also the point-man for any boarding action, the crew's favored pilot and perfectly capable of dodging bullets. A God I Am Not : Lister (In the guise of "Cloister The Stupid"), is the God-figure of the Cat people, them being descended from his cat, Frankenstein. Used in a few early episodes and then quietly forgotten about. This doesn't cause any major problems with the Cat's character development, since, by embracing his natural coolness and not trying to be slobby, he is shown to be secular. A.I. is a Crapshoot : Holly's IQ is, purportedly, 6000. Then again, s/he is 3,000,000 years old and gone a bit... peculiar. Pree technically should not be bad, as she bases her actions on what she predicts the highest-ranking Officer would do. Unfortunately, when she operates on Red Dwarf, that happens to be Rimmer. Air-Vent Passageway : "Duct Soup" takes place primarily within the absurdly spacious vents of the Starbug. They're large enough for the Dwarfers to crawl around two abreast. Aliens and Monsters : Appear somewhat frequently beginning in Series 3. Monsters do at any rate. There are no actual aliens in Red Dwarf, all the creatures they meet are mutated or genetically engineered from Earth organisms, or are mechanoids. The Alleged Car : Red Dwarf and Starbug were run-down, poorly constructed vessels to begin with. Then 3 million years took their toll on them. Naturally, the crew frequently complain that nothing works properly. The Alleged Computer : Holly. Despite apparently having an IQ of 6000, he (she in the later series) has gone very senile, and often blunderingly damages the people on the ship. Alliterative Name : The Talkie Toaster. It might have been a part of marketing strategy to make this device more appealing. Cat's alter ego Duane Dibley. In "Back to Reality", Cat immediately recognizes this is an extremely dorky name and he insists he does not want to be Duane Dibley. One of the sentient vending machines from Series 10 is known as Taiwan Tony. Kryten affectionately calls him TT. Surely one of the most prominent examples must be Kristine Kochanski. Lister at one point claimed to have a gay friend called "Bent Bob." According to the booklet with one of the DVD boxsets, Rimmer's brothers were fathered by his uncle Frank. Kill Crazy's real name is only revealed on the official website. All There in the Script : According to the original script for "The End", George McIntyre was killed by the radiation leak (albeit more contained than what would occur later) from the faulty drive plate that Rimmer would later fail to repair properly. In "Quarantine" Rimmer, suffering from a holographic virus that sends him crazy, attempts to cut off Lister, Kryten, and the Cat's oxygen supply. Lister is stripped of his free subscription of JMC Oxygen after resigning his post in "Fathers & Suns". The crew are transported to one in the episode "Parallel Universe" and meet their female counterparts. Ace Rimmer comes from one in "Dimension Jump". Kochanski comes from one in "Ouroboros". "Backwards" is set in an alternate universe that's identical to ours except it's contracting back in on itself in a "big crunch" and consequently time has reversed its direction. Ambiguous Clone Ending : It's unclear which Rimmer is the Rimmer we see in Back To Earth and series X (the one from Series I-VII who became Ace Rimmer or the one from Series VIII who may or may not have died during the series cliffhanger) as Series X presents evidence for both scenarios.note Series X!Rimmer talks about remembering being killed by the radiation leak, which only happened to the first Rimmer, but also mentions dealing with the chameleonic microbes, which happened with the second Rimmer. Amputation Stops Spread : Kryten and Kochanski's solution to save Lister from the fatal Epideme virus is to force the virus into his arm and then cut his arm off it doesn't work. And I Must Scream : In "Rimmerworld", Rimmer's clones turn on him for having small amounts of the un-Rimmerlike traits they believe are evil and throw him in a small prison. As he's a hologram, he doesn't die and, as everyone on the planet is an even less likeable and more treacherous copy of Rimmer, he knows they'll turn him in if he escapes. He ends up imprisoned among these reminders of what a mess of a human being he is for 557 years. And Then I Said : Rimmer pulls this out in "Better Than Life" but can't come up with something he might have said and is forced to admit he "doesn't remember". Since it's his fantasy, his dinnermates laugh anyway. Animal Assassin : Those Wacky Nazis in "Stoke Me a Clipper" use Snappy, an assassin alligator, on Ace Rimmer. Answers to the Name of God : In the Series X episode "Lemons", a man's name is actually Jesus. Not the famous one, but the crew manage to convince him that he is for a while. Lister: Really? Jesus! Man Sat Behind Him: Yes? Antagonist Title : The series has a few of these; "Queeg", "Polymorph", "The Inquisitor", "Psirens", "Legion", "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", "Emohawk: Polymorph II", and "Epideme". Arbitrary Skepticism : This is played with momentarily in "Back to Reality", when Andy, the "real world" game technician, claims that Lister's destiny is to "jump-start the second Big Bang," making Lister, "the ultimate atheist" (despite being a pantheist), actually God, and Rimmer, equally atheist, God's bunkmate. Archived Army : The waxdroids in "Meltdown" form less literal versions of this. An Arm and a Leg : Played for laughs. As Lister is infected with the Epideme virus, they plan to drive it into his arm, then amputate it. Lister reluctantly agrees, so long as it's his left hand. Naturally Kryten has no choice but to amputate the right hand instead. For added insult, it didn't even eliminate all of the virus. Played with in "Body Swap", after Rimmer (in Lister's body) crashes Starbug. He pretends to have lost Lister's arm in the crash, but he's actually hiding it under the shreds of his uniform. Armor-Piercing Question : Kryten delivers one to the Inquisitor when making his case for existence. The Inquisitor: In a human, this behaviour might be considered stubborn. Kryten: But I am not human. And neither are you. And it is not our place to judge them... I wonder why you do? The Cat, at any point where Starbug gets damaged. From 'Back to Reality' in Series 5: Rimmer: This is a nightmare! I'm on the run from the fascist police, with a murderer and a mass murderer and a man in a bri-nylon shirt. Artificial Human : The 3000 series mechanoids were apparently this. Droids who looked frighteningly realistically human freaked out human beings as it turned out and they were recalled. A few of them escaped and erased their memories, replacing them with fabricated backstories. An unreality pocket has the crew convinced that Lister is one until they learn the truth. The 4000 series is subsequently given a head shaped like a novelty condom and a body with angles to match, but Kryten's replacement, Hudzen 10, is given a human type head and a robotic looking body. Simulants are human in appearance with some differences (some have extra eyebrows or circuit boards) and are partly organic. A couple of them are shown with wear and tear: Most notably the first simulant the crew encounters in "Justice" looks to have exterior damage akin to a Terminator. Artistic License : Kryten describes Virgil's Aeneid as "the epic story of Agamemnon's pursuit of Helen of Troy". That's at best a pretty loose and misleading description of what the story's actually aboutnote The title's kind of a hint. Additionally Lister points out how stupid the Trojans would have been to not think the Trojan Horse was suspicious. The Aeneid's version of the story has a Trojan warn the others, only to be killed by the gods for his trouble. Ascended Extra : Kryten appears in the premiere of Series 2 and becomes a regular in Series 3. (David Ross declined the opportunity to join the main cast due to his distaste for the Kryten makeup and was replaced by Robert Llewellyn. Ross would eventually return to voice Talkie Toaster in 'White Hole'.) Kochanski appears twice in Series 1, once in Series 2 and once in Series 6 (actually a GELF in disguise) and becomes a regular in Series 7. Clare Grogan was replaced by Chloe Annett as Kochanski because Grogan had retired from acting in favor of becoming a TV host. Captain Hollister appears but twice in Series 1 and again in "Stasis Leak" before returning as a regular in Series 8. Captain Hollister went the most time between his last appearance as a guest and his debut as a regular (11 years), his is the only case in which the actor who played him ascended as well. It's a well known in-joke amongst the cast, during the DVD commentaries for series 8, about one of the 'extras'. A hugely built intimidating man, referred to as Chopper. It's about him starting off as simply a background extra, and allegedly persuading the producers to get some lines. To the point where each episode following, he always received some lines, almost close enough to rival Holly. Ass Shove : In the episode "Backwards", the crew accidentally time-travels to a version of Earth in which time runs backwards, to the effect that the natives speak backwards, walk backwards, wars are happy occasions on which millions of dead people come back to life, pub brawls end up cleaning up the pub ("Unrumble!"), food gets un-eaten, beer goes from your mouth back into the mug and from the mug back into the tap, and so on. Unfortunately, just before the Dwarfers leave, the Cat decides to take a crap in the bushes, and the other can't warn him in time... Cat appears from the bushes with a horrified expression and his hair standing on end and walks stiff-legged into the shuttlecraft, avoiding the others' eyes. Cat: Don't ask!! "Back in the Red" sees "Starbug" fly up the rectum of a giant rat in an enormous air vent. In "Lemons", Cat devises a crazy golf course that ends with hitting the ball into a medical student's practice rectum. In "DNA", Kryten asks about how humans recharge, stating that he found what he thinks is the socket, but the plug keeps falling out. In "Krytie TV", Rimmer alludes to have attempted this on Lister with his own guitar. Lister notes that he'd have had more success with the neck end. As the Good Book Says : In "The Last Day," Rimmer notes that his parents' denomination of choice was founded on a misprinted Bible verse. The verse itself is misquoted for the sake of the punchline: Rimmer: 1 Corinthians 13, where it says "faith, hopnote "hope" and charity; and the greatest of these is hop."note In the real verse, the greatest is "charity" (or "love," depending on the translation), not "hope". Asymmetric Dilemma : Kryten's favorite way of pointing out the flaws in the Cat's plans. Kryten: A superlative suggestion, sir, with just two minor flaws. One, we don't have any defensive shields, and two, we don't have any defensive shields. Now, I realize that, technically speaking, that's only one flaw, but I thought it was such a big one it was worth mentioning twice . George MacIntyre has a "Welcome Back" party immediately after his funeral, and thanks the Captain for his eulogy while joking that he doesn't understand why the Captain didn't use the one MacIntyre had written. Rimmer, on several occasions. Back from the Dead : The entire crew of Red Dwarf in Series 8. Backported Development : Lots. For a visual example, when Series VII flashed back to shortly after Lister's revival, the H on Rimmer's head and his uniform were the ones used for Series VII rather than the one in Series I. Another acute one is that the Red Dwarf sets were subtly updated between Series 1 and Series 2, including a lot more detail in the Drive Room and Bunk Room sets, but when the Dwarfers go back in time to the pre-accident Dwarf in Series 2's "Stasis Leak", the 'past' versions look exactly the same as the 'future' ones, including the giant blow-up Banana that only appeared in the Bunk Room in Series 2. Which is a shame, because in a lot of other ways the episode does try very hard to be a match for how the fully crewed ship seemed to be in Series 1. Back to Front : The episode "Backwards" is partly set in a universe where time runs backward, so although the story is told from front to back it has elements of the trope, particularly with respect to the injuries Lister mysteriously acquires near the beginning of the episode as a result of events near the end. Backwards-Firing Gun : In "The Inquisitor", Kryten and Lister steal the Inquisitor's gauntlet and Kryten reprograms it. When the Inquisitor reacquires it and fires it at Lister, it fires backwards and removes the Inquisitor from history. Bad Liar : Kryten has to fight his original programming to lie at all, and even then, he (usually) announces that he's switching to "Lie Mode" first. And in the Series XI episode "Give & Take", it turns out that his "Lie Mode" now has a new tell: uncontrollable stuttering every few words. The Cat after becoming Duane "Duke of Dork" Dibbley as part of a series of Involuntary Transformation scenes of the appropriately named "Emohawk: Polymorph II". Subverted and inverted with Rimmer; Ace is brave and selfless by contrast to normal Rimmer. Lister is turned into a chicken, then a hamster in "DNA". "Backwards". Except it's a "bar room tidy". Unrumble! The real bar room brawl in "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". Barrier-Busting Blow : Low Kryten hits Lister with one in "Demons and Angels". Bathroom Break-Out : In one episode, Rimmer mentions a date he once had, who apparently got a little confused and tried to climb out the bathroom window. Seeing as he spent the whole evening making fun of her nose (in a very misguided attempt to break the ice), it never occurred to him that she was trying to get away. Batman Gambit : Kochanski, of all people, in "Beyond a Joke". When Kryten is kidnapped by the rogue Simulant aboard the S.S. Centauri, she instructs Cat to turn Starbug so it flies away from the Centauri at top speed. The Simulant, after realising they're not giving chase and actually fleeing, assumes they've planted a bomb on his own vessel and starts chasing after them. Cat and Lister are fooled too. This is also how Lister beats the Inquisitor. In Series X, Lister uses it on himself. Battle Butler : Kryten, in later series, although he is programmed never to take a human life . When he is forced to shoot a man to save a child, his guilt chip goes into overdrive and he attempts to commit suicide. Beard of Evil : In "Demons and Angels", the most obvious physical difference that Low Lister has with his High and regular counterparts is his filthy, unkempt beard. That and his Eyepatch of Power . Beat : The episode "Camille", when Kryten is telling her about his crewmates: Camille: Please, I can't meet your shipmates. Trust me. Kryten: But you don't know them! You'll like them! (beat) Well, some of them. (beat) Well, one of them. (beat) Maybe. Be Careful What You Wish For : Rimmer spends the first few minutes of "Only the Good..." complaining that Hollister doesn't see him as officer material. He has a run-in with a vending machine which states that one day they'll meet again and it will destroy him, and Rimmer snarks that on that day, he'll be ship's captain. By the end of the episode, everyone higher ranked than him had been evacuated making him the highest ranked person on the ship, and as he tries to figure out how to save himself, the machine attacks. It's not certain how he fared. Arguably, Lister's desire to have a family in the very first episode backfires on him at the end of series 2 . Better Than Sex : When Rimmer copies himself and moves in together, he describes his new life of discipline as "better than sex". Of course, he's soon proven wrong when it turns out even he doesn't like himself. BFG : The Bazookoids. Big Damn Heroes : Ace Rimmer would have nothing to live for without this trope. Bigger on the Inside : Starbug has its internal volume increased substantially after the events of "Out Of Time" in spite of no change in its external dimensions, due to the various temporal anomalies caused by the battle between the crew and their future selves. Black Comedy : Happens on a number of occasions, but in a relatively subtle way. Compared to typical expressions of this trope. Take, for example, this exchange from the opening of "Legion"... Cat: What the hell is all this down the back of my chair? ...Peanuts? Lister: No, I've been trimming my verrucas. Cat: ...You have personal habits that would make a monkey blush! Lister: You really think I'm psychotically disgusting, don'tcha? They're peanuts, alright? Cat: Real peanuts? (begins eating them) Lister: Yeah. Cat: Where'd you get them? Lister: That derelict a couple of months back. Found them in the dead captain's old donkey jacket. Don't look at me like that! You enjoyed that Mint Imperial, didn't ya? Cat: And where didja get that? Lister: He was sucking that when he got shot! I had to prise his jaws open with a car jack. Black Comedy Rape : Rimmer reveals in the Series 2 episode "Thanks for the Memory" that he lost his virginity to (and whose only sexual liaison while alive the first time around was with) Yvonne McGruder, the ship's boxing champion. Who seemed to be suffering from a concussion because she kept calling him "Norman". This is given a slightly less squicky Retcon in the books. The shenanigans with the Sexual Magnetism Virus in "Back in the Red". After Rimmer takes a dose of the virus all the women at the Captain's supper find him irresistible, and one by one they all go to "get coffee" with him in the galley. Played with in that by the end of the night Rimmer has clearly had enough and is visibly in pain . Also in "Back in the Red", Lister comments that two years in prison means two years without sex, to which Rimmer flippantly replies, "You hope.". Also also in "Back in the Red" and related to the previous example, after the main characters are locked up in the prison Lister applies a bit of the Sexual Magnetism Virus to Rimmer. We are left to imagine the outcome, but it's clearly the reason Rimmer wasn't speaking to Lister at the start of the episode. And "Emohawk: Polymorph II": "Change of plan... leg it!" Rimmer recalls in "The Last Day" that his first intimate experience was with his uncle Frank, who thought he was his mum. Paedophilia (albeit unwitting), and possibly not just one but two different permutations of incest, if Frank and Rimmer's mum were siblings. In the same scene, Rimmer also speculates that Lister's parents were brother and sister. Much, much later we find out that Lister's provenance is even weirder: thanks to a time machine not only is his mum his ex-girlfriend, but he's his own father. Blatant Lies : When Hollister reprimanded Rimmer for doing a rank job of fixing the drive plate, Rimmer told him that he would take full responsibility for the consequences. Considering that one of the first things he does when meeting Lister as a hologram, is to blame him for the catastrophe, it becomes obvious that Rimmer was just trying to save face. To "man-up" and accept the blame for a disaster that will kill everybody is a meaningless gesture anyway. Which makes it perfectly in keeping with Rimmer's symbolism-over-substance attitude. Blue and Orange Morality : Primarily the Cat. Being descended from cats, he can't be properly judged by human standards. By cat standards he's a perfectly regular cat - which makes him vain, self-centered, egotistical and sex-crazed, with a tendency to jump out at things, hiss, and make yowling cat noises and dance when he just walks down corridors. Invoked for laughs in "Rimmerworld", where the hostile reaction that Lister, Cat and Kryten get from the Rimmer clones is intensified because they do not display self-centered, malicious, Jerk Ass traits that have become the foundation of the race's moral structure. 'Rimmer Guard: These three abominations stand charged on eight counts of gross deviancy. Not content with not looking like the true image, they flaunt freakish behaviour such as charm, bravery, compassion and (pauses) honour. Rimmer Emperor: Are there no sighs of normalcy in these wretches? No cowardice or pomposity, no snideyness or smarm, not even basic honest-to-goodness double-dealing two-facedness? Rimmer Guard: Sire, these creatures did not even attempt to sell each other out for their own freedom - they lack even the most basic natural drives. Body Horror : The multi-limbed, multi-headed Rimmer monster in "Officer Rimmer". Bolivian Army Ending : The end of "Only The Good..." where it is undetermined whether Rimmer or the rest of the crew survived for that matter. Bond One-Liner : Played for Laughs with Ace Rimmer . Bookends : Episode 6 of series X is called "The Beginning", in contrast to episode 1 of series I being called "The End". Both episodes end with the line "The slime's coming home". Bootstrapped Theme : The show's closing theme was retooled for its opening theme from Series 3 onwards. The original opening theme continued to be used as incidental music. Borrowed Catchphrase : Rimmer adopts Ace Rimmer's catchphrase 'Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast' when he has to take over Ace's life. He says it when leaving the ship, and mangles it completely. Rimmer: Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for Christmas. Bottle Episode : There have been several of these over the course of the series, such as "Marooned", "The Last Day", "White Hole", "Out of Time", and "Duct Soup". The entirety of Series I is a Bottle Season due to the largest portion of the budget being used on the model shots. Bragging Theme Tune : We discover that Arnold Rimmer has one sung by tiny munchkin versions of himself. If you're in trouble he will save the day He's brave and he's fearless come what may Without him the mission would go astray He's Arnold, Arnold, Arnold Rimmer Without him life would be much grimmer He's handsome, trim, and no-one slimmer He will never need a zimmer Brain Food : The Psirens from Series VI episode I. They look like man-sized insects and will project false visions to their victims. They're perhaps the only brain-eaters to use a straw. Brain in a Jar : Lister's evil, corrupt future self from "Out of Time"; the jar has his dreadlocks Sellotaped to the glass. Lister implies that his uncle was also a brain in a jar in "Balance of Power". Brain Uploading : All holograms , and also the episodes "Thanks for the Memory" and " Bodyswap ". Breaking the Fourth Wall : In " Me 2 ", Lister brings a picture to Arnold and Arnold's quarters and reads the nameplate. 'Second Technician, Arnold J. Rimmer, and Second Technician, Arnold J. Rimmer?!' and looks at the camera in a smirking fashion before shaking his head. In "Cassandra", after screaming " LETS GO KILL SOMETHING, YEAH! ", Kill Crazy pauses to look at the camera before walking off. Cat in "Parallel Universe", when he meets Dog. He glances to the camera and says: "I'm not sure what that is but I'm sure it wants to eat me..." Brick Joke : Used quite a few times, but is taken Up to Eleven by Back to Earth, where the ENTIRE plot is caused by the ending sequence of an episode aired well over a decade ago, well before the hiatus began! "I'm going to eat you, little fishy..." Hilariously used in "Stoke Me a Clipper". Where the pet crocodile of a Nazi Captain that Ace used to surf out of an exploding plane winds up landing on two soldiers heads after Ace escapes a base. Was für ein Kerl indeed. Brilliant, but Lazy - Lister. He's a complete slob, but when forced into action has demonstrated a great deal of ingenuity and resourcefulness. In Ace Rimmer's parallel universe, he's one of the top flight engineers in the Space Corps. As of Series X, he's studying to better himself. Britain is Only Nodnol : Averted; London is never seen or even mentioned in a major way prior to Back to Earth. The only time it really gets mentioned prior to that is on a roadsign in "Backwards," and even then it's flipped, rendering the city's name as "Nodnol" — contrary to popular belief, the backwards universe stuff in that episode is actually set in the city of Retsehcnam (Manchester, where the first three series were produced) rather that Nodnol, as indicated by a barely visible sign in one shot. Grimsby is also mentioned, as are several other places. Lister, of course, is from Looprevil. Broken Ace : Arnold J. Rimmer is a literal example of the trope. Sucked dry of his negativity and neuroses (themselves powerful enough to destroy a Lotus-Eater Machine ) by an Emotion Eater , he immediately turns into Ace Rimmer (what a guy!). Eventually, he becomes the next Ace Rimmer - as each one dies, he recruits the next, and so on, until it finally reaches Arnie himself. It is mostly his neuroses that hold him back - but luckily for him, the Red Dwarf universe has it set that pretty much every Rimmer gets redeemed. Before then, he makes an awesome Last Stand at the end of Series 6. Broke the Rating Scale : Dave Lister frequently talks about writing Michelin Guides or similar about various settings, resulting in "Legion" getting a psycho rating of "four and a half chainsaws, maybe five". Rimmer suggests that the G-Tower from The Tank in series 8 probably gets "the full five slop-out buckets" in the guide to Penal Hell-Holes. Brother-Sister Incest : Rimmer theorizes this is why Lister's parents abandoned him. His words are almost prophetic, in that that they were actually mother and son. Where he's his own father... it's weird, okay? In "Rimmerworld", Rimmer realises that the female clone he's trying to create would technically be his sister. He decides she doesn't need to know, and follows the original plan. Buffy Speak : The Cat's knowledge of most special phenomenon boils down to "wiggly thing" or "swirly thing". At one point, Lister asks if he can't be perhaps a little more specific. Cat: At this point, I'd hate to commit myself and wind up looking like a fool. Lister: A wiggly thing or a swirly thing, and he refuses to commit himself. He's losing it, he's really losing it. Building of Adventure : The ship is city-sized and the primary setting. In some supporting material , it's stated that the ship is 5 miles long, 4 miles wide, and 3 miles high. Which is 60 cubic miles of solid infrastructure to have adventures in. ...But He Sounds Handsome : Holly appears on a recording Holly doesn't remember making (the crew's memories were erased). Initially, he comments, "Nice-looking bloke," and then when the recorded Holly tells them to pause the recording, he does so, because he "Knows what he's talking about, that dude." Buxom Is Better : When choosing the breast size for a new female computer, Rimmer insists on choosing 36D as her breast size, as opposed to Kryten's 30A choice. C-D The Caligula : In "Rimmerworld", Rimmer genetically engineers an entire society made of clones of himself. He becomes The Caligula of his own society only to be overthrown by his underlings, much like the historical figure this trope is based on. The Trope Namer himself appears in "Meltdown" as part of the "Evil" waxdroid army. Call Back : The largest design on the back of Lister's leather jacket in Series X is... Wilma Flintstone. The news broadcast that Rimmer watches in "Better Than Life" is Groovy Channel 27, the same channel that Lister mentioned back in "Future Echoes". Some of the DVDs in the shop in "Back To Earth" hark back to older seasons, most notably Mugs Murphy from series 1 and 2 and Die Screaming With Sharp Things In Your Head from "Demons And Angels". "Can of Worms", the final episode of Season XI has a few beyond just bringing back a Polymorph. Aside from the Morphlings shape-changing having the same sound effect as the original Polymorph from Season 3, the personality tuck that Lister goes through has a couple of references to "Bodyswap" - such as downloading Lister's mind onto a memory stick to be restored later and the expression Lister has while sitting in the machine is the same one he had in "Bodyswap" after the mind enema was administered (staring blankly forward with one eye, the other eye crossed while his tongue lolls out slightly). Can't Get Away with Nuthin' : What lands them in the brig during Series VIII. Despite being found innocent of the original charges against them, because they used classified crew data for their own advantage, they are found guilty of a totally different crime. Captain's Log : Holly would start the episodes of the first two series with a sort-of Captain's Log introduction. Captain Hollister also keeps a diary of some kind. The first episode of Series 7, "Tikka to Ride", opens with Lister recording a captain's log (he even parodies the Star Trek format). Cassette Futurism : In series X, Kryten explains that the human race flirted with DVDs but reverted to VHS cassettes, because unlike a small thin disc, a big boxy cassette is virtually impossible to misplace. Catapult Nightmare : Lister in "Blue", after he and Rimmer kiss in the dream. Male Holly developed a few: "All right, dudes?" "What's 'appenin', dudes?" "Emergency. Emergency. There's an emergency going on. It's still going on." Ace Rimmer's one: Ace Rimmer: Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast. The Cat is extremely fond of asking "What is it?". This is occasionally repeated to the point of an Overly Long Gag . Cat Folk : The ship's cats evolved over the eons into a species of humanoids, one of whom is a main character (and the vast majority of whom emigrated away from Red Dwarf long before.) Cattle Punk : Second half of "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". Censorship by Spelling : In "Parallel Universe", when the Cat meets the Dog, the Dog insists that he spell out "bath"... and then doesn't understand him when he does. Character as Himself : "Timeslides" has a special guest star credited at the start of the episode: Adolf Hitler . True to their word, Hitler appears through use of Stock Footage of his Nuremburg speech, which Lister interrupts. "Back To Earth" combines this with Celebrity Paradox and Acting for Two with Craig Charles playing both Lister and himself. Some of the other Coronation Street cast appear as themselves. Characterisation Marches On : Rimmer is initially portrayed as utterly subservient to authority come what may. However, in "Stasis Leak", he loses his temper and assaults the captain multiple timesnote though the second time he was convinced that the captain was just a hallucination, given he was dressed as a chicken for a costume party. He also calls Todhunter "a big lig" in "The End" after the latter agrees that he's a smeghead, goes on a brief tirade about the captain after hearing the personal remarks about him in "Waiting for God", and the first assault happened because he thought Lister should have been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for the mushroom prank. In short, he respects authority only so long as they seem to be agreeing with him. Chicken Walker : Blue Midget, post-retcon. Cliffhanger Copout : More common than actual cliffhanger resolutions. In a Series 1 episode, Lister takes an exam to become the ship's chef just so that he will outrank Rimmer. At the end of the episode he gets the results; Rimmer asks how he did, and Lister replies: "That's 'How did you do, Mr Lister, sir!'" In the Opening Narration of the next episode, Holly simply adds: "Last week, Lister pretended he'd passed the chef's exam, but really he'd failed. That should tell you how interesting things are around here." The Series 2 finale, of course, ended with Lister becoming pregnant , this was quickly explained away in the Series III premiere as part of a wall of Unreadably Fast Text . Series VI ended with the entire crew aboard Starbug as it was destroyed by their future selves. A quick gag at the beginning of Series VII reveals that this caused a paradox that hit the Reset Button . Finally, the Series VIII finale "Only the Good..." ends with the ship doomed. Back to Earth starts with an intact ship and the words "Nine Years Later", and otherwise does not reference "Only the Good..." in any way (though Rimmer, and seemingly the entire crew minus Lister, are dead and a hologram again). This particular cop-out continues three years later in "The Beginning", with two separate discussions on how they got out of it- both are interrupted before the reveal . Clucking Funny : Lister was transformed into a chicken in "DNA". Cluster Smeg Bomb : Lister and Rimmer, one each. Lister (in "Bodyswap", while in Rimmer's body): Oh, smeg! What the smeggin' smeg's he smeggin' done?! He's smeggin' killed me!! Rimmer (In "Only The Good..." to a vending machine): Why don't you just smegging well smeg off, you annoying litle smeggy smegging smegger? Comically Missing the Point : In the Series X episode, "The Beginning", a rogue simulant reports to his master that they had lost the crew of Red Dwarf in an asteroid field, at which point the master, who has been described as being bred for pure malice and hatred, hands him his sword and tells him "You know what to do", at which point, the subordinate disembowels himself. The master gets annoyed and tells him he was supposed to polish it. However, in a later scene, after complaining he wants his subordinates to question his orders , another subordinate points out that the last one who did was executed, at which point the master orders him hauled away to be executed , so, he might have been intentionally messing with the first guy. In the Series III episode, "Marooned", Rimmer finding out that Lister lost his virginity aged 12 - and taking issue with the fact that this must have meant he wasn't a full member of the golf club where he lost it. In "Entangled", Rimmer rants about the health and safety regulations being so incredibly lax, pointing to the radiation disaster that wiped out the crew as proof. Lister counters that had more to do with Rimmer's incompetence failing to repair the drive plate properly and Rimmer takes that as further proof that the higher-ups failed basic health and safety by assigning him to do the repair! On reflection, he may actually have a point . We know that Rimmer is convinced that he could rise above his station if only his superiors would give him the 'break' he craves, and we know that Rimmer badgered Capt. Hollister pretty much at every opportunity he could get (to the extent that Hollister usually did whatever it took just to make him go away). With Lister in stasis, it's entirely plausible that Rimmer started hectoring the captain to give him a chance with something important, and Hollister capitulated just to shut him up - with unfortunately fatal consequences... This exchange from " Me 2 " when Lister is berating Rimmer for his chronic Never My Fault syndrome: Lister: It's always something! My charts were misplaced! My dividers don't stretch long enough! Rimmer: Well they don't! Lister: SEE?! In "Queeg", Lister tells Rimmer a long and involved story about a rogue AI that's really just a set-up for a weak pun. Rimmer fails to recognise the joke, and reacts to it as a serious story. After a moment, realisation strikes him — regarding an irrelevant detail of the story, and still completely missing the fact that it was a joke. Complaining About Rescues They Don't Like : Lister in "Psirens". "I resent this. I resent you saving my life in this fashion." Compound Interest Time Travel Gambit : It is revealed in an episode that Dave left £17.50 in his bank account on Earth. Three million years have passed, and he now owns 98% of the world's wealth. He also left a sausage out on his table which went mouldy; now the mould covers seven-eights of the surface of the Earth. Furthermore, he left the lightbulb in his bathroom, racking up a gigantic debt to the local utility company, which has now become the ruling faction on Earth and whose battle fleet is rapidly approaching in an Attempt To Collect. It turns out to be a joke by Holly. Mentioned in the American version. Lister's first words after being informed that he's been in suspended animation for almost three million years involve exclaiming that his baseball cards must be worth a fortune. In the original version he also laments that he has an unreturned library book. Consulting Mister Puppet : The episode "Quarantine". Rimmer becomes deranged after contracting a holovirus, and starts associating with a penguin Hand Puppet called Mr. Flibble, who was the former trope namer . Rimmer (Shaking with rage): Mr. Flibble's very cross. You shouldn't have run away from him. What are we going to do with them, Mr. Flibble? (Mr. Flibble appears to whisper in Rimmer's ear) Rimmer: We can't possibly do that! (Mr Flibble tilts to look at the crew) Rimmer: Who would clean up the mess? Contemplate Our Navels : Either played straight or as a parody of science fiction in general being wont to do this, much of the show was taken up by philosophical ideas via sci-fi trappings, i.e. the manifestation of Lister's confidence and paranoia, or the Inquisitor. Continuity Nod : In the episode "Quarantine", Kryten furnishes Rimmer with a copy of the Space Corps Directives manual, when he accuses Kryten of making up the directives he quotes - this act drives the plot of the episode. Following this, Rimmer often quotes directives himself. As a Running Gag , he always gets them wrong (In the most hilarious manner possible) and is corrected by Kryten. While Ace Rimmer doesn't appear until series 4, the seeds for his character had already been sown: In the first series episode " Me 2 ", Rimmer, after speaking with his hologramatic double, remarks "What a guy!" and in the second series episode "Kryten", he asks the other crew members to talk him up to the female survivors of the Nova 5, by calling him by his (alleged) nickname , "Ace". Contrived Coincidence : Parodied extensively in "Entangled". Earlier on, in "Cassandra", the SS Silverburg had been at the bottom of an ocean moon for millions of years, yet it wasn't until after the Canaries boarded it that the bulkhead gave way, drowning many of them. Cool Cat : Cat obviously, although he's humanoid. Coordinated Clothes : In "Parallel Universe" in the Cat's song dream sequence, our guys are wearing matching outfits. The Cat is performing the "Tongue Tied" song, and Rimmer and Lister are his backing vocals. The trio is dressed in the same red suits with frills. And they all dance! "Quarantine": At the end of the episode, Lister, Kryten and Cat all wear red-and-white checked gingham dresses which Rimmer wore when he was insane, being infected by the holo-virus. The guys probably want to psych him out the same as he psyched out them with his madness. Couch Gag : The final line or two of Holly's show-opening distress calls in the first two series. Couldn't Find a Pen : In "Psirens", the crew find a message left by a man who, lacking a pen, used his own blood and intestines. They were torn as to whether he used his kidney as a full stop (period) or whether it had just "plopped out". Cowboy Episode : The episode "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" involves the characters entering a virtual Western town that serves as a metaphor for Kryten's struggles with computer virus. The episode even end with Starbug flying off into the sunset. Cranial Processing Unit : Kryten even has spare heads which have their own personalities. Creator Cameo : Rob Grant appears in "Backwards" as a man un-smoking a cigarette. In "Future Echoes", the usual credits roll has the developing polaroid of Lister with his twins over the top. In "Waiting for God", the credits stop as Rimmer comes to his horrible realization. Rimmer and the skutters play the end theme on a Hammond organ in "Dimension Jump". A Western-style theme is played for "Gunmen of the Apocalypse"'s credits. Elvis sings the Red Dwarf theme in "Meltdown". In the remastered version of "Backwards", the credits are indeed shown backwards. In "Stoke Me A Clipper", Ace Rimmer's theme is played instead. Creepy Crossdresser : The show plays this trope for laughs a few times: In the Series five episode "Demons and Angels", Lister is running for his life from the evil versions of the Red Dwarf crew, until he runs into Evil Rimmer ... wearing what is best described as a Dominatrix-type get up. In another Series 5 episode, "Quarantine". When Rimmer contracts a holo-virus that sends him mad, he appears out of uniform, and holding Mr Flibble . Also lampshaded: [Rimmer appears in an observation window. He is NOT in uniform.] Rimmer: Is something amiss? Lister: [trying to disguise the tremor in his voice] Amiss? God no. What could possibly be amiss? Rimmer: You don't think there's anything amiss? I'm sitting here wearing a red and white checked gingham dress — and army boots — and you think that's un-amiss? Cringe Comedy : Rimmer's hobbies, sex life and general attitude. Critical Staffing Shortage : It starts with over 1,000 crew. After almost all of them are killed by a nuclear accident, the ship is manned by two former vending machine technicians (one of whom is dead), a highly evolved cat, and a sanitation droid. Cryo Prison : The equivalent of the brig on the "Dwarf", and the reason Lister survived the reactor leak. Crystal Spires and Togas : In an episode where the lads got split up into a good and an evil part, the good version was portrayed like this. Cuckoo Nest : "Back to Reality" tries to convince the crew that they were really immersed in a Red Dwarf video game, a prospect all the more demoralizing when they discover the kinds of people they "really" are and the world they inhabit. Death is apparently "like being on holiday with a group of Germans". In the USA pilot, death is "like being in an Amish bachelor party". Three million years without sex is a long time for an Albanian shepherd who's allergic to wool. A deleted scene reveals the line to originally about a Welsh shepherd. Lister's response to Jean Paul Satre's philosophy that "Hell is being trapped for all eternity in a room with your friends" with "All his mates were French". Cut a Slice, Take the Rest : Played with. Lister carefully measures out a spoonful of curry powder, throws the rest of the can into his mix, and dumps the spoonful back into the can. Cut His Heart Out with a Spoon : One of the recurring jokes on the show is characters threatening very unusual and elaborate acts of violence against each other; i.e., "rip out his windpipe and beat him to death with the tonsil end," "shove my fist so far down his gob, I'll be able to pull the label off his underpants..." Darker and Edgier : Series V had much darker and creepier atmosphere than the previous series. Back To Earth has shades of this at points, such as the Garden of Remembrance scene which is played pretty much straight down the line until Cat shows up. In fact, really any scene involving Lister and Kochanski. Dark World : The low Red Dwarf in "Demons And Angels", complete with a Red Dwarf crew of evil Doppelgängers . A Date with Rosie Palms : A lot of the comedy revolves around the build up of sexual frustration in a small group of males trapped alone with no female companionship. Rachel the inflatable sex doll, naturally. Inflatable Ingrid. Lister broke the groinal attachment on the Artificial Reality machine. In three weeks. It had a lifetime warranty... Lister's libido nearly causes a drought due to the endless cold showers he was taking. Dead All Along : Ace Rimmer, the second time he visits the crew. Arnold Rimmer might technically be this to Ace Rimmer, having died in a nuclear accident and been brought back as a hologram in the pilot. In Ace's second appearance, he's dying and attempting to convince Arnold to continue his dimension-hopping heroics. Rimmer turned out to be the latest in a long series of alternate Rimmer's who took up the mantle, so many that his predecessor's holo-bees comprise a Saturn-like planetary ring. Deader Than Disco : Cat is fond in-universe of comparing themselves to extremely unfashionable things to get the point about how dead they are just about to become across. Deadpan Snarker : All of the main characters to varying degrees. The titular video game in episode "Better Than Life". The premise of "Back to Reality". The Series VII episode "Duct Soup" contains a scene cut from the original broadcast but restored for the extended DVD release in which Kochanski mentions spending years hooked up to a computer (the actual term "Better Than Life" is not mentioned, but the premise sounds similar) during her school years. After returning to the real world, she confesses to "going off the rails" for a while and becoming a "retro-punk". Deflector Shields : While shields are stated to exist, they are distressingly lacking on Starbug. So much so that in "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", the simulants gave their shields an upgrade so they would be more of a challenge. Department of Redundancy Department : "The Rimmer Experience" is a place of wonder, excitement and... wonder. Also, in the beginning of "Stasis Leak", when Rimmer finds Lister reading his diary: Rimmer: Lister, that is my private, personal, private diary full of my personal, private, personal things. In "Waiting For God", Rimmer about why he's superior to Lister: Rimmer: It's because I'm better than you! Better trained, better equipped, better... better. Just-just better! Depraved Homosexual : In "Demons and Angels": Evil Rimmer, dressed like a punk version of Dr. Frank N Furter , tells Lister in his most intimidating voice: "First, I'm going to whip you within an inch of your life. Then... I'm going to have you." Despair Event Horizon : The venom of the Suicide Squid in Back to Reality creates a hallucination designed to cause this. For Kryten the thing which pushes him over the edge is taking a human life; for Lister it's 'discovering' that his 'real' self is a brutal enforcer for a totalitarian regime; for Rimmer it's no longer being able to blame his shortcomings on his upbringing; and for Cat it's... not being cool any more . Used for comedic effect in "Timeslides". Used seriously in "Only the Good..." Cat: So, what is it? Lister: Oh, someone punch him out! Dinner Order Flub : Gazpacho Soup Day! Disability as an Excuse for Jerkassery : It's far from being the only excuse he gives, but Rimmer sometimes blames at least some of his awfulness on the fact that he suffers from the worst disability there is: he's dead. The Ditz : The Cat. The old Cat Priest tells us it runs In the Blood : Cat Priest: Then the boy was born, to the cripple and the idiot! The Cat: My father was a jelly brain?! Cat Priest: Yes! That's why he tried to eat his own feet! The Cat: (deadpan) I did wonder. Do Androids Dream? : the notion of 'Silicon Heaven' is programmed into all AIs above a certain standard (it's implied that scutters, at least, lack this programming). In the episode "The Last Day", Kryten faces shutdown, and accepts it humbly because of his belief in Silicon Heaven. Lister tries to argue him out of his belief, apparently unsuccessfully; however, Kryten later disables his robocidal replacement, Hudzen, with the same arguments Lister used on him. Hudzen: (in existential agony) No... Silicon heaven? Calculators... Just... Die? Kryten then explains that he was only using these arguments to disable Hudzen, and that his faith in Silicon Heaven is unshaken. Don't Ask : The Cat says this to the others in the episode "Backwards", having just found out what going to the loo in reverse is like. Double Vision : And how. Almost every series has an episode which utilizes this effect. "Stasis Leak" utilizes it the most impressively: The characters travel to before the accident, and concludes with three Listers and three Rimmers, plus Kochanski and the Cat bickering in Lister and Rimmer's bunk, leading that time period's Rimmer to have a complete mental breakdown: "Three Listers! Splendid! Perhaps Lister here would like to go over to the fridge and open a bottle of wine for Lister and Lister! Rimmer here doesn't drink, because he's dead, but I wouldn't mind a glass!" Do You Want to Copulate? : The Holoship does not have families, and crew members are required to have sex at least twice a day. Refusing an offer of sex is considered bad manners. Drill Sergeant Nasty : Queeg in "Queeg". Driven to Suicide / Heroic Sacrifice : When the attempt to cure Lister of the Epideme virus by isolating it in his arm and amputating it fails, he leaves Starbug with the intention of incinerating himself and the virus along with him before he can infect the rest of the crew. However the sentient virus talks him out of it by tricking him into thinking there is still a cure. Fortunately after they discover that this was a lie Kochanski is able to outwit the virus. Dropped a Bridge on Him : The offscreen death of Kochanski in Back to Earth is a subversion, as she is given a memorial scene in Part One, and in Part Two it is revealed she is still alive and Kryten lied about it to Lister. Dub-Induced Plot Hole : In the Czech dub of "Future Echoes", Lister says that he's never eaten chicken vindaloo before (prawn vindaloo in the original), when in a flashback in "Balance of Power" he says that he'd dropped Rimmer's revision timetable into one (he spilled goat vindaloo on it in the original). E-H Early Installment Weirdness : The soundtrack in series one and two; it would make a comeback for ten. In fact the first two series are this entirely, largely due to the lower budget: The mood is much darker with minimal music. Lister spends much of the time having flashbacks to the days before the disaster, playing pranks on Rimmer and wondering how to get Kochanski back. Holly is male, and plays a central role in the story. He would often explain to Lister what was going on. This was often handled by Kryten later on. They almost never leave the ship - when they do it's using Blue Midget, not Starbug. For Rimmer to go outside he needs to be projected in a 'hologram cage' but he doesn't need to do this later on. Kryten did not appear in Series 1. He was introduced and only appeared in in the first episode of Series 2, but looks, sounds, and acts very different, as he is played by David Ross as an English butler robot. At the time he was only considered a guest character. When they brought him back for Series 3, Robert Llewellyn started playing him as a Canadian robot who handled much of the exposition. The filming style is more washed out, and Rimmer's hologram 'H' is a different shape. Cat mostly acts like a selfish idiot and is mostly there for comic relief rather than adding to the story (in later series he would often pilot Starbug because of his sharper feline senses and reflexes). Einstein Hair : In "Twentica", the crew are looking for Albert Einstein's help in putting together a device to defeat the Expenoids. They're told that he's lost his marbles and is living rough on the streets. They find a guy who fits Einstein's description (Read: Iconic haircut) and drag him back to the speakeasy science lab only to be told that he's just some random bum named Bob. The guy manages to get the device working anyway. Eldritch Location : The crew come across several 'alternate universes' where normal laws of physics and reason are skewed or don't exist at all. The inverted gender universe in "Parallel Universe". The backwards running time period in "Backwards". The living photographs in "Timeslides". Red Dwarf itself in "White Hole". Though "scientifically" explained, the justice zone in "Justice". The psi moon in "Terrorform". The effects of the despair squid and its cousin in both "Back to Reality" and Back To Earth. The crew enter a subspace passage surrounded in an infinite void in "Ouroboros". The unreality bubbles in "Out of Time". The stasis leak from "Stasis Leak". Embarrassing Initials : In "Polymorph", Rimmer's suggestion for dealing with the eponymous alien monster is to form a Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society. He acknowledges that the abbreviation is something of a drawback. Embarrassing Middle Name : Kryten-2X4B-523P — apparently mechanoids consider "2X4B" to be an embarrassing middle name. But at least it's not "2Q4B"... Arnold Judas Rimmer. "Lemons" reveals that the reason Rimmer's mother gave him the name was because she was part of the Church of Judas, who believed that he was Jesus' twin brother, who willingly sacrificed both his life and reputation to save his brother by taking his place on the cross. The ending heavily implies she was right . Empathic Environment : The psi-moon in "Terrorform". The End of the Beginning : Both the first episode of the very first series ("The End") and the final episode of series X ("The Beginning"). Enhance Button : Parodied mercilessly in "Back To Earth" — Uncrop! It serves as a Shout-Out / Take That at the similar scene from Blade Runner . Enemy Without : The crew (and ship) are split into "High" and "Low" copies in "Demons and Angels"; the Highs don't survive very long when they encounter the Lows. In "Terrorform", the entire planet is literally Rimmer's self-hatred attacking him. Escapism : In an episode, the crew discovers a long-lost VR game called "Better than Life". It's Exactly What It Says on the Tin . Even the Guys Want Him : Cat thinks he's this - "Face it, buddy, I have a body that makes men wet!" - but no-one that isn't illusory ever shows any interest in him. Space Corps Special Service Test Pilot Arnold "Ace" Rimmer, on the other hand... Bongo: If you're interested, I'll be in my quarters at lunchtime, covered in taramasalata. Ace: I didn't know your bread was buttered that side, Bongo. Bongo: It isn't. I've been happily married for 35 years. It's just, a chap like you can turn a guy's head. Everybody's Dead, Dave : The core premise and Trope Namer . Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep" : The Cat does not have a name, and is simply called the Cat or Cat throughout the show. The reason for this, according to the books, is that all cats think that they're the center of the universe and the idea that someone might not know who they are is beyond their comprehension. Everything's Better with Princesses : The Damsel in Distress Ace Rimmer rescues from a Nazi firing squad in a parallel universe is Princess Beryl Bonjella, just to make the rescue a bit cooler. The Low counterparts in "Demons and Angels". An evil imitation of Lister shows up in "Psirens". Evolutionary Levels : The evolution of the Cat race stopped once they reached humanoid, plus or minus a few nipples. Justified (although not very much) in that they evolved in an environment (Red Dwarf) designed for the comfort and convenience of humans, so those who had the most human-like traits would be best adapted to that environment. For example, the first cat to develop sufficient manual dexterity to operate a can opener was unquestionably an evolutionary step ahead of the rest. Exotic Entree : The evil future selves in "Out of Time" spend their lives traveling through time so they can eat exotic delicacies like dolphin sweetmeats and baby seal hearts with hosts such as Louis XVI and Adolf Hitler . Explosive Instrumentation : A couple times early on, more frequent in the later series. Lister, the Cat and Kryten all die to exploding instrument panels in "Out of Time". Explosive Leash : Lister gets saddled with one by the BEGGs in "Entangled". Explosive Overclocking : In "White Hole", the crew overclocks Holly, who's been descending deeper and deeper into computer senility, hoping to bring her intelligence back. They get her to an IQ of 12,000, but it drops her lifespan down to less than four minutes. Exposition of Immortality : Given that the titular space vessel has been travelling away from inhabited human space for three million years, many of the remnants they encounter are at least that old or older. The Inquisitor is a self-repairing simulant who Kryten tells of as "living until the end of time." Hudzen 10 was the replacement model for Kryten. And his delivery pod followed the Series 4000 mechanoid through deep space until it found him on the Dwarf; and all that time alone did nothing for his sanity chip. Many of the simulants encountered have been around since they originally rebelled against humanity, too. Legion formed as a gestalt during a series of experiments in shared consciousness by a group of human scientists; he tells us when they died he had to hang around as a "mindless essence" for several million years until the Red Dwarf crew showed up. Expospeak Gag : Played for laughs several times, most notably in "Stasis Leak". Cat: (to Rimmer) What is it? Rimmer: It's a rend in the space-time continuum. Cat: (to Lister) What is it? Lister: The stasis room freezes time, you know, makes time stand still. So whenever you have a leak, it must preserve whatever it's leaked into, and it's leaked into this room. Cat: (to Rimmer) What is it? Rimmer: It's singularity, a point in the universe where the normal laws of space and time don't apply. Cat: (to Lister) What is it? Lister: It's a hole back into the past. Cat: Oh, a magic door! Well, why didn't you say? Facepalm : Both Lister and Rimmer frequently facepalmed because of each other's insane ideas, general smeg-headedness or extreme and disgusting slobbishness. Failure Is the Only Option : Getting back to Earth. Fang Thpeak : The Cat suffers a little bit of this from time to time. Fantastic Drug : Outrazone (prounced vaguely like "ultrazone" in a mock-Canadian accent) is a chemical gunk that is apparently marijuana for mechanoids. A second season episode mentions a powerful hallucinogenic mushroom species native to Titan (one of the moons of Saturn). Apparently, by the time before Arnold Rimmer caused Red Dwarf's fatal accident, humanity had learned to create a form of gin out of marijuana. They called it Marijuana Gin . Explicitly done in "Future Echoes". The teleporter apparently works based on 'subspace', allowing for instant transportation. Fat and Skinny : Baxter and Kill Crazy in Series VIII. Fee Fi Faux Pas : Rimmer's last words were "Gazpacho soup", which Lister eventually discovers is because, when he'd been with the Space Corps for 13 years, he got invited to have dinner with the Captain and, being arrogant and ignorant, he had no idea that the Gazpacho soup starter was meant to be served cold and so he demanded it be taken away and heated. He considers this perhaps the biggest reason why he never went anywhere in the ranks, going on an anguished rant about how he could have been somebody if it had ever been mentioned to him that Gazpacho soup is drunk cold while he was in training. Lister kindly refrains from pointing out that it is more likely that Rimmer never got anywhere because he is an unlikeable incompetent with more ego than skill. The point that this incident could not possibly account for the prior 13 years of failure bears repeating. Feet-First Introduction : In "Demons and Angels", the evil version of Rimmer is introduced walking down a stairway to menace Lister, revealing that he's dressed as a sexually sadistic dominatrix . Fictional Document : The Space Corps Directives. Fictional Sport : Zero Gee Football, as followed by Dave Lister. Appears to be a form of grid-iron football played in a closed dome (Jim Bexley Speed apparently plays "roof attack", and appears on a poster over Lister's bunk looking something like the San Diego Chargers uniform.) Finger-Licking Poison : In "Back in the Red", with a (non-lethal) drug in the seal of an envelope. Five-Finger Fillet : In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment in the opening episode, Petersen can be seen doing this (badly) with a pen. Fix It in Post : In a smeg-up from "Meltdown", Lister knocks on an obviously-wooden-sounding wall and says, matter-of-factly, "Stone," causing the audience to start laughing. Their laughter set off Danny John-Jules, further ruining the take, at which point Craig Charles shouted at the audience "They were gonna sort that out in the dub!" For Want of a Nail : One little split in the destiny line created Ace Rimmer. However, it turns out that it's not getting a break and passing a test that created Ace - it's being held back a year and humiliated that made him finally fight back, which makes our Rimmer's "it's not my fault, I just had a bad childhood" line technically true. Flanderization : The Cat goes from being a rather ditzy guy who acts like a cat and likes his clothes to a guy who's obsessed with fashion and sometimes says stupid things to just being really, really stupid, having virtually no lines that don't have to do with clothes, and few to no feline tendencies at all. On the other hand, he also goes from being completely self-absorbed (as in, he cares more about his lunch than a dying Lister) and absolutely unhelpful to being Lister's buddy who will even sometime go out of his way for him. He also becomes rather more helpful to the crew in general. While Cat's initial traits DID get exaggerated, it also came with more screentime and him becoming more than a random wandering gag. He's also become a good pilot as of Series VI. While Lister's song writing skills prior to Series VI were less than ideal, he was still capable of playing guitar without causing pain and suffering to those around him. Lister also suffers despite having grown a fair bit during the first six series. Series VII sees him acting like a complete idiot, it's hard to believe this was the same guy who was 'faulted' by the clones in Rimmerworld for being brave, selfless and charismatic. Kryten abruptly becomes something of a Mother Hen-like figure after Kochanski arrives, with several episodes of series VII being about his issues with her, and he starts nagging all the characters a lot more. Toned down in Series VIII. Holly starts off as a fairly competent computer with the occasional moments of ditzy-ness, but it gets worse with each series (such as in "White Hole" where she can only count by hitting her head on the screen.) and By series VII and VIII he's completely out of it, offering advice and plans that don't make any sense (although with the odd moments of lucidity). This could be explained by his computer senility just getting worse, though. Rimmer's cowardice isn't referenced in the first series. In fact, his first reaction to seeing The Cat is to attempt to attack him. By "Backwards", his first reaction to a Bar Brawl is to hide under a table at the first sign of trouble. Foreshadowing : An unintended one; the gag at the end of 'Rimmerworld' was originally intended for future Lister to come into the room after the gang had teleported out, oblivious to the fact that their past selves had just been there. This was eventually cut, leading into 'Out Of Time', where something horrible has happened to Lister. Future Rimmer: Rimmerworld was weeks ago! We're now more concerned with the really horrible thing that's happened to Lister! A Fool for a Client : This happens in the series, allowing the setup of the following gag: Rimmer: If only I'd hired a smarter lawyer, instead of the brain-dead, pompous, stupid-haired git I ended up with. Lister: You defended yourself! "Freaky Friday" Flip : "Bodyswap". Freeze-Frame Ending : "Balance of Power" ends on a freeze frame of Lister leaping into the air in victory. This was done as a pragmatic measure: while filming the scene, Craig Charles landed badly and injured his back, rendering the end of the shot unusable and preventing reshoots. The Friends Who Never Hang : Rimmer and the Cat almost never interacted in the early series: Rimmer didn't think of the Cat as a person, and the Cat, before he got more domesticated later on, had no interest in a man who couldn't feed him. Fun with Acronyms : "The Committee for the Liberation and Integration of Terrifying Organisms and their Rehabilitation Into Society." Rimmer jokes that Canaries is in fact an acronym for "Convict Army: Nearly All Retarded Inbred Evil Sheepshaggers" just before he's informed that he's been signed up too. Furry Confusion : Even though The Cat is on the 'almost human' of the Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism , his mannerisms and habits are still very much cat like, more so than most actual cat furries with fur and a tail. Furry Fandom : Although it was made before the Internet made the fandom famous, "DNA" has Rimmer ask incredulously if Lister is claiming to enjoy strapping on a bushy tail and naming himself 'Nutkin' when Lister, attempting to explain why he feels Kryten should change back into a Mechanoid, mentions his envy of a squirrel he saw in the botanical gardens after getting dumped by Kochanski. Future Imperfect : The Cat race took Lister and his dream of retiring to Fiji and turned them into the Cat god Cloister the Stupid and the promised land of Fuschal. Lister, Rimmer and even Holly make historical inaccuracies, but it's tough to tell whether they're owed to widespread historical distortion or to the many varied failings of the characters. Rimmer: They laughed at Galileo. They laughed at Edison. They laughed at Columbo ! Lister: Who's Columbo? Rimmer: The man with a dirty mac who discovered America! Future Me Scares Me : Played for laughs in "Stasis Leak", played straight in "Out of Time". Judging by his reaction in "Bodyswap", either Lister has one or Rimmer has shortcomings . In "Only the Good...", Rimmer gets one (not seen) in the universe where everything's opposite. In "DNA", when Kryten becomes human, he hands Lister two polaroids of his 'groinal attachment' which have to be held together to get the whole thing in. Gainax Ending : Back To Earth has retroactively turned "Only the Good..." into this. The End? The smeg it was... Gargle Blaster : Several. Holly's "android home brew" in "The Last Day" is lethal to humans, and probably to androids as well. In "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", Sheriff Kryten asks for the stuff that guarantees you'll get your eyesight back in three days. Baxter's hooch in "Only the Good..." is "about 300% proof," according to Rimmer. Most American cities in "Tikka to Ride". The Red Dwarf itself qualifies. Gilded Cage : Legion imprisons the Red Dwarf crew in one. A Glass in the Hand : Once Rimmer became a Hard Light hologram, he could vent his frustration on inanimate objects. Godly Sidestep : In "White Hole", Holly gains an IQ of over 12,000 and professes to know the meaning of the universe. The only being present to ask her is a toast-obsessed kitchen appliance, and any questions it puts forward end up being about bread. Before anyone else can ask, she realises she has three minutes to live and refuses to communicate with anyone. God Test : Lister's comments have been misinterpreted over the years as the promises of a god, leading to this hilarious exchange: Lister: I am your god." 'Cat (gesturing to a table): "If you're God, turn this into a woman. Lister: I'm serious. Gone Horribly Right : The Despair Squid was the result of compressing 5 billion years of evolution into 3 years. It killed just about everything in the ocean. Also Pree, a computer intended to allow people to achieve more in less time by finishing tasks for them in the manner they would finish them. On a ship with a competent crew this is a desirable thing. On Red Dwarf ... less so. Good Angel, Bad Angel : Confidence and Paranoia in, unsurprisingly, "Confidence and Paranoia". Although it's up for debate which is which Also the episode "Demons and Angels". Arguably, in "Terrorform", Rimmer's resurrected self-confidence versus, well, everything else in his mind. Good Cannot Comprehend Evil : The Highs in "Demons and Angels" when presented with the Lows. High Kryten: The poor wretch, he has a faulty gun! He's accidentally shot me five times! Oh, how I love him! Groin Attack : Rimmer does this to the Grim Reaper in "Only the Good...", has it done to him (in a way) by Lister in Back to Earth, and gets it from Petersen's arm in "Balance of Power" after he thinks he's outsmarted it. It had previously been aiming much higher. Cat is implied to have done this to Lister (in self-defense, since Lister was being remote-controlled into strangling him) in "Demons and Angels". And what is Cat more dismayed about? The creases in the collar of his suit, of course. Cat: Look what you did to my neckline! This stuff never springs back! Inverted in "The Last Day" by Hudzen 10. His promotional video shows him breaking a brick in half with his groinal attachment. In "Entangled", Lister is fitted with a "groin exploder" to ensure he pays his debts after losing Rimmer in a game of poker. In "Polymorph", Lister accidentally attacks his own groin with a baseball bat. Halfway Plot Switch : Used in quite a few episodes. "Justice" subverts this by starting off as a story about Red Dwarf finding an escape pod and needing to find out who its occupant is, then switching halfway through to being about Rimmer being put on trial for his role in the accident that killed the ship's crew, before switching back to the original plot near the end. Hamster-Wheel Power : Appears twice, first in White Hole when the ship's power is turned off and the Cat makes Lister peddle in an attempt to fry an egg with a hairdryer (before insisting he power the electric blanket while he sleeps) and secondly in a metaphorical sense when Ace Rimmer attempts to train Rimmer to take on his mantle by encouraging him to 'be the cougar running free', and Rimmer's efforts are visualised as a hamster in a wheel. Hand Cannon : The simulant's pistol from "Justice", complete with bayonet . Kryten makes use of a bazookoid pistol in series VI, which is essentially a scaled down version of the standard bazookoid and is almost as effective. Hand or Object Underwear : Done with pieces of paper that say "Top Secret." The Heartless : "Terrorform" is a planet without even the vestiges of a heart that Rimmer has. Head Desk : Lister bangs his head on the table in "Queeg" when he finds out that all he got for dinner is burnt toast and one pea. His head goes down when he loses his pea. While Rimmer is explaining to Lister that the latter has accidentally signed himself (and, unbeknownest to Rimmer, the other main characters) into a suicide squad, partway through the explanation, Lister starts banging his head on a table. Rimmer in "Stoke Me a Clipper" when Ace makes contact with Starbug. Held Back in School : We learn that Rimmer almost was held back a year but just managed to avoid it. Ace Rimmer on the other hand was held back a year and it was crucial turning point in his life. Helping Hands : Kryten's hand is able to return to the ship and get help in "Terrorform", though it scares the hell out of Lister and Cat first. We learn in series 8 that it's not Kryten's only fully-functional detachable part. Kochanski is sent into this state by the squeelookle-ing sewer pipes in "Duct Soup". Also, Kryten in "Beyond a Joke" after an incident involving lobster and ketchup. Rimmer in "Trojan" when he becomes too resentful of his brother. Literally: he crashes from all the clogged up memory. Though it's more like "Heroic Spinning Beach Balls of Doom". Heroic Sacrifice JFK assassinating himself in "Tikka to Ride". Able in "Beyond a Joke". Kryten in "The Inquisitor": Kryten: Well I've got to go back in time now and sacrifice myself so that we can get into this mess we're in now in the first place. Hesitant Sacrifice : In "Future Echoes", when Lister accepts that Rimmer's vision of his death is going to come true, Lister's still determined to fight it all the way to the end. He even rips a towel rack off the wall so he has something to whack the Grim Reaper with. Lister: I'm going out as I came in, screaming and kicking. Rimmer: You can't just whack Death on the head! Lister: If he comes near me, I'm gonna rip his nipples off! Hidden Depths : Lister and Rimmer are surprisingly complex characters, and despite their generally low positions in life, can show great competence. Averted with the Cat, who can barely be said to be a one dimensional character...a one dimensional character with a great ass! High On Catnip : Cat comments on how the unreality pockets in "Out of Time" are worse/weirder than triple strength catnip. Hilarious Outtakes : Referred to as Smeg Ups and Smeg Outs, these appear as DVD extras. They're so popular and genuinely funny in their own right that they have their own boxsets titled Just The Smegs. Hippie Jesus : Referenced when Rimmer dismisses their "High" selves as hippies. Kryten: Sir, you think Jesus was a hippy. Rimmer: He had long hair and didn't have a job! What more do you want? When they meet Jesus in the episode "Lemons," he turns out to be a bit of a hippie (he's certainly a pacifist and is horrified at the amount of wars waged in his name). However, he turns out to be the wrong Jesus (he's Jesus of Caesaria, not Jesus of Nazareth). Historical In-Joke Lister: (talking to a crowd listening to Hitler) "Don't listen to him, he's a complete nutter! And he's only got one testicle!" And the Who Shot JFK? spoof ("Tikka to Ride"), in which Kennedy ended up shooting his own past self because it turned out the timeline in which he survived became a Crapsack World . Lister: "It'll drive the conspiracy nuts crazy! They'll never work it out!" Hoist by His Own Petard : Lister tricks the Inquisitor into erasing himself from history. The Emohawk might have stood a much better chance against the crew if it hadn't sucked out Rimmer's negativity and turned him into Ace . Hollywood Silencer : Averted with The Creator's pistol in Back To Earth. "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". Kryten and Lister fake one in "Stoke me a Clipper" to encourage Rimmer to do something brave. Hot Sauce Drinking : Dave Lister has been known to drink tobasco sauce after spreading it on his cornflakes. Professor Edgington, once she's been re-evolved from a monkey. Parodied in "Twentica" with Harmony, a scientist in an illicit underground science club who dresses like a Prohibition-era floozie. Homoerotic Dream : One of Lister's dreams after Arnold Rimmer left Red Dwarf to become the next Ace involves a kiss between Lister and Rimmer which Lister wakes up from quite shocked. The Cat and Kryten both become more "human" as the series goes along. In the case of Kryten, this actually becomes potentially dangerous in Series VII. Humanity's Wake : Except for Lister the human race is extinct until Series VII. Lister posits the theory that humans are a planetary disease in "Waiting for God". (Incidently, predating The Matrix by about a decade.) Kryten (not so) subtly compares humanity to the Despair Squid in "Back to Reality". Humans created GELFs for all manner of unsavoury reasons, and programmed androids to believe in an afterlife where people would serve them to keep them subservient. Humongous Mecha : Blue Midget's redraw could count as one. Hypocrite : Rimmer. In "Kryten", Rimmer makes several snide put-downs about the obvious lengths Lister has gone to spruce himself up when the possibility that they might be meeting women has suddenly arisen. When Lister points out that Rimmer, who is wearing a ludicrously pretentious officer's uniform complete with medals, hasn't exactly dressed down for the occasion either, Rimmer's response is to start whining about how Lister always starts putting him down whenever it looks like they might be meeting women. Strangely averted in "Quarantine". Rimmer, who's gone completely nuts because of the holovirus, tricks the others into "admitting" they are insane when he has them in quarantine lock-up, and he sentences them to a few hours without any oxygen. It's hypocritical, but rather than coming off as two-faced it just evidences how spectacularly deranged he's gotten. I-L Lister: This might sound like a bit of a corny line, but... can't even bring myself to say it... Rimmerguard: Say what? I Am Legion : In, er, "Legion". I Banged Your Mom : In "Polymorph", the shapeshifter took on the likeness of Rimmer's mother and tells Rimmer than Lister has had her "five times, he was like a wild stallion" to make Rimmer angry. I Choose to Stay : Lister, briefly in Back to Earth. I Did What I Had to Do : In the Series XI episode "Officer Rimmer", Rimmer launches a missile at another ship when it is in imminent danger of drifting into an asteroid field, because the resulting explosion would take Starbug with it. It doesn't get destroyed because the missile is deflected by an asteroid just enough to only glance the ship, which knocks it clear of the asteroid field. The officer on board the ship promotes Rimmer to an officer as a result, believing this was a case of Just as Planned - though ironically Rimmer did the right thing when faced with a situation of destroying the ship or both ships being destroyed. I Hate Past Me : The Dwarfers go back in time to meet 17 year old Lister back when he was the lead singer for Smeg and the Heads. Even the Cat thinks that Past-Lister is an idiot. (Present Day!)Lister: Stop sayin' everything's crypto-fascist! You make me sound like I was a complete git! ...and... Cat: Forget it! The guy's an idiot! (Present Day!)Lister: He's me!! Identical Grandson : Lister. He's the child of the second Kochanski and himself. One of Lister's other sons seems to be identical to him, or at least similar enough to fool Lister's bunkmate without trying. Logical one, perhaps, as their father is a female version of Lister. Even more likely when you consider that, since Lister is his own father (and presumably the female Lister is her own father) The twins really don't have a whole lot of a gene pool since both of their parents and half of their grandparents are the same person! Lister and Cat, entirely unintentionally . Cat: Chicken's good. Kryten: That's not chicken, sir. Cat: Oh, what is it? Kryten: It's that man we found. It just seemed such a waste to leave him lying there when he'd barbeque so beautifully. Rimmer: (sadistic laughing) Kryten: It seemed to me that if humanoids eat chicken, then obviously, they'd eat their own species. Otherwise, thay'd just be picking on the chickens! Lister's horror upon learning the strange white powder he'd been eating was the remains of the Red Dwarf crew. When Lister cooks his own frozen organs (removed in surgery) by mistake thinking that they're pork, only they get stolen and eaten by Cat, before he can chow down. Upon finding out what those were Cat runs off to barf up his last four meals . One of Lister's old schoolmates apparently achieved fame by eating his wife. Back in Space Scouts, Rimmer's "best friend" "Porky" Ruebuck spearheaded a campaign to eat him. By the time the scoutmaster saved him, Rimmer was tied to a stake and covered in barbecue sauce. Informed Obscenity : According to Holly, Tottenham Hotspur counts as a euphemism for shit. This series also gave us "Smeg!" which was intended to be this but turned out to have an obscene real meaning. Informed Species : Cat is a highly humanoid creature with few visual clues as to his real species. However, Cat is actually stated to be a creature evolved from the spectacularly inbred descendants of Lister's pet cat. Inherently Funny Words : Rimmer, you smeghead. Rimmer: Five thousand, six hundred and ninety one IRRADIATED HAGGIS! Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy : Lampshaded in "Quarantine", as they run away from danger. Lister: Why do we never meet anyone nice? Cat: Why do we never meet anyone who can shoot straight? Implausible Deniability : Played for laughs in "Me^2". Lister breaks into the Rimmers' room to steal Rimmer's diary, whereupon the Cat emerges from a closet, wearing a suitably gaudy and over-the-top outfit, and turning towards the camera and shielding his face from Lister, says: Cat: Did you see him clearly? Could you spot him in a parade? I don't think so. I could've been anybody. Innocently Insensitive : While none of the boys (or even Kochanski) are going to win any awards for empathy, it's not usually malice that gets them into trouble with each other - Lister is too straightforward to sympathise with Rimmer's authority complex, Rimmer is so emotionally screwed up that he thinks being "empathic" is something that'll land you in quarantine, Cat has a Blue and Orange Morality that encourages him to think only of himself, and Kryten is still getting the hang of having emotions. Kochanski is just generally neurotic, and Holly's tactlessness is born of senility. Insane Troll Logic : Kryten's explanation for cooking a dead guy they found and feeding him to Lister and the Cat: Kryten: It seemed to me that if humanoids eat chicken, then obviously, they'd eat their own species. Otherwise, thay'd just be picking on the chickens! The Cat gives us a good example of this in the Series XI episode "Samsara", when he explains how Archimedes discovered gravy when he was sitting underneath a tree and a bath fell onto his head. After all, gravy didn't just invent itself, did it? And bathtubs fall out of planes all the time when the doors on them aren't closed properly. Insistent Terminology : Lister claims the event that caused Talkie Toaster to be reduced to several thousand pieces scattered about Red Dwarf's trash heap was an "accident". One involving Lister, the toaster, the waste disposal unit and a hammer. In the Future, We Still Have Roombas : The Skutters. Inventor of the Mundane : Fred "Thicky" Holden, inventor of the "tension sheet", in "Timeslides". Invisible Monsters : Parodied, with a B movie titled 'Attack of the Giant, Savage, Completely Invisible Aliens'', which consists of Bad Bad Actors pointing at the sky and saying "It's the giant, savage, completely invisible aliens!" In with the In Crowd : The android Kryten is turned into an organic human. When talking to his sentient spare heads, he gets high-and-mighty with them. After that he realizes that he's turning into a jerk. I Say What I Say : The two Listers in "The Inquisitor". I Surrender, Suckers : Rimmer tries this out on four simulant death ships, to keep them from killing the crew (after all, you can't fire on a surrendering ship). They ignore him. This turns out to be a rather clever Batman Gambit to trick them into shooting each other It Came from the Fridge : The curry monster in "DNA". "It" Is Dehumanizing : In the episode where Kryten was first introduced, Rimmer refers to Kryten as "it". Looks like painting a portrait of Rimmer on the toilet, pouring soup on his bed, calling him "smeg for brains" and flipping him off taught him a lesson. Rimmer also referred to the Cat as "it" initially. It Runs on Nonsensoleum : The show has such gleefully unscientific phenomena as a mutated flu virus that makes the sufferer's hallucinations "solid" (When Lister objects that this doesn't make sense, Rimmer's second attempt at explaining it fails to be significantly different from the first) and a similarly affected photo developing fluid that not only brings photos to life but allows time travel through them when projected onto a screen. Also creatures like the shape-shifting Genetic Mutant that gains sustenance and strength by sucking 'mental energy' - strong emotions/personality features - right out of the crew's heads (via some kind of sucking proboscis applied to the forehead, as I recall...) Likely Lister getting pregnant by his female alter-ego in the Gender Flip universe is an example. It's unlikely in Real Life that the laws of biology would be as intrinsic to any given universe as the laws of physics, to the point of changing a person's anatomy. It Tastes Like Feet : In the eighth season, Arnold Rimmer disgustedly proclaims that the gravy-covered meat they're being served on punishment tastes worse than his grandmother's buttocks deep-fried in old chip fat. In season six, nobody wants to drink Kryten's homemade wine because it tastes disgusting. Probably because it's brewed out of recycled urine, tastes worse than the original waste fluid it was and leaves a foam mustache that just can't be removed... An earlier episode mentions that the water has been recycled so many times that it's starting to taste like Dutch Lager . Jesus Was Way Cool : In "Lemons", the crew is accidentally sent back in time and encounter Jesus in 23 AD in India, where he's a fairly nice guy who's big on pacifism. After accidentally taking him back to the future with them, he ends up reading about himself and is horrified at what the religion he starts will do to the world, so journeys back in time to trash his reputation in order to make sure that no one bases a religion around him. The Red Dwarf crew, despite being fairly a-religious, figure they should go back in time and fix this, and manage to convince Jesus that while Christianity did plenty of terrible things, he can still do good. Then they figure out that he's the wrong Jesus (he's Jesus of Caesaria, not Jesus of Nazareth) so the whole thing is moot. You do get to see someone credited as "Man Who May Be Jesus" at the very end, but it's indeterminate whether this Jesus is Way Cool or not. Joke Exhaustion : Rimmer recounts the time he went on a date with a woman who had an artificial nose. In an extremely misguided attempt to break the ice, he cracked jokes about noses until she excused herself, went to the bathroom, and fled through the window. Journey to the Center of the Mind : "Terrorform". Sort of. More 'Journey to a Planet that Has Shaped itself to Represent Someone's Mind.' Jumping on a Grenade : Ace does this in "Emohawk: Polymorph II". Since he's Hard Light and virtually indestructible, he's none the worse for wear. Kryten, twice. Of course, he turns out to be Not Quite Dead in both. And Ace Rimmer. Killing Your Alternate Self : To restore Earth's timeline in one episode, President Kennedy has to die. And who better to kill JFK - and drive the conspiracy theorists nuts as they'll never be able to figure it out - but the JFK from the alternate, Crapsack World , timeline? Kissing Warm Up : Referenced in "Confidence and Paranoia", when Paranoia starts dredging up Lister's embarrassing adolescent memories. Klingon Promotion : Rimmer wanted to join the crew of a hologramatic ship. The ship already had a full compliment, so the only way in was "dead man's boots", defeating an existing member of the crew in an intelligence test. The losing crew member would be switched off and Rimmer would take their place. Doesn't quite work out like that, of course. In Series 7, Kochanski's default outfit is a tight red uniform which screams "sexy lady". In one episode, Lister gives Kochanski a beautiful red sparkly dress as a present, but she wears it only in Kryten's Imagine Spot . Princess Bonjella in "Stoke Me a Clipper" wears a long tight red dress. Lampshade Wearing : In "The Last Day", Lister somehow wakes up wearing a traffic cone ("On a mining ship, 3 million years into deep space") after a night of drunken revelry. Cat Hand Waves it by saying "It's not a good night unless you get a traffic cone." Large Ham : Kill Crazy. Kill Crazy: LET'S GO KILL SOMETHING! YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAH! Laser-Guided Karma : The Justice Field from "Justice", which makes any crime commmited or attempt to injure someone, be instead reflected back to the person performing it. Lister figures out how to weaponise it by goading an insane, nigh-indestructible Simulant into attacking him. In "Samsara", the titular ship features a Karma Drive, said to be based on the Justice Field , which creates a Karma Field that rewards good behaviour amongst its crew whilst punishing unethical actions. However, this is then Inverted by two crew members having an affair, who change the settings on the drive to reward bad behaviour and punish the good in order to continue the affair without retribution. This unintentionally leads to the deaths of the Samsara's entire crew. The Last Man Heard a Knock... : Lister's the last human being alive for most of the show, but he's never alone. Last Name Basis : Rimmer and Lister. Only twice have they ever addressed each other by their first names (Arnold and David, respectively); once when they were drained of a negative emotion in "Polymorph" (anger for Rimmer, fear for Lister), and once near the end of the Catapult Nightmare in "Blue", which lead to the both of them sharing a kiss. Last of His Kind : The Cat and Lister at least until the arrival of first Kochanski and later the whole crew of Red Dwarf). Of course, the cat race still exists somewhere Out There, and one of the "lost episodes" that exists only as storyboard (see the DVD extras) would have featured a visit to a planet of Cat's people, as a spoof of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Amok Time". Late to the Punchline : Played with in "Queeg". Lister tells Rimmer a long and involved story about a rogue AI that's really just a set-up for a weak pun. Rimmer fails to recognise the joke, and spends a minute reflecting on the story before realisation dawns — about something unrelated to the punchline, which he still hasn't got. Lazy Bum : Lister is one of the ones we root for. He never does any work whatsoever, but it's not like a giant empty spaceship with no crew needs a lot of work, and he's more fun than his Control Freak nemesis. Kryten: Name? Kryten: Occupation? Lister (after considering carefully): Bum. Leaning on the Fourth Wall : The pub owner's reverse rant in "Backwards", ostensibly informing Kryten and Rimmer they're fired, actually criticises "the one prat in the country who's bothered to get hold of this recording, turn it round and actually work out the rubbish that [the pub owner's] I'm saying." Of course, when the episode was filmed, reversing the recording was a complicated process . Learnt English from Watching Television : It's explained that The Cat's race learned English from watching the American movies (specifically John Wayne movies and The Flintstones ) in the ship's hold. Of course, The Cat obviously learned his mannerisms from watching James Brown , though it's never mentioned in series. "Leave Your Quest" Test : In "Legion", the crew are dragged into a space station by a tractor beam, but find the only occupant - the eponymous Legion - simply wants to accommodate their every need and hopes they'll abandon their journey to find the stolen Red Dwarf ship. This is because he's a gestalt entity and can only exist when there are other life-forms on the station. All the residents died millennia ago. Leeroy Jenkins : Kill Crazy, who is so trigger happy, he doesn't even make it out of the submarine because he charges into battle so eagerly, he knocks himself out by running into the door frame (ironically this saved his life, since everyone but the "Boys from the Dwarf" drowns in the submarine when the bulkhead collapses after three million years of being on the bottom of a water planet too many). At one point, it does prove to be an advantage as a mutated creature takes one look at him and runs away. Let Me Get This Straight : A classic example when Rimmer picks up a hologrammatic virus. Rimmer: So let me get this straight. You want to fly on a magic carpet to see the King of the Potato People, and plead with him for your freedom, and you're telling me you're completely sane?! Like You Would Really Do It : In-universe . Lister has this reaction regarding his dad ( who is Lister himself ) actually throwing his guitar out the airlock Limb-Sensation Fascination : In "Bodyswap", Lister agrees to let the hologram Rimmer take over his body for two weeks, in return for Rimmer taking on an exercise regime to get Lister's body in shape. However, Rimmer is overwhelmed by the experience of having a physical body for the first time since his death, and goes on a two week binge of eating, drinking and smoking. Limited Wardrobe : Averted to hell and back with the Cat, who changed outfits twice or sometimes three times per episode. Once the crew are confined to Starbug in series VI, the basis of his outfits becomes more limited (A black PVC undersuit with various jackets and the like swapped out on top). While he had, rarely, worn the same outfit more than once in the past, this was the first time it was called attention to in-universe, when his greatest fear on confonting a killer rogue simulant for the second time is that she might notice he had on the same clothes as the first time they met. According to a behind the scenes feature , he has fifteen distinct outfits in the six-episode Series III. Literal Split Personality : "Demons And Angels" featured a triplication device, which created a Good Ship with crew (who exist in the starship equivalent of Crystal Spires and Togas , and can even make Pot Noodles edible), an Evil Ship with crew (where Rimmer's H has fallen sideways and... yeah) and a Neutral Ship with crew (i.e. the original gang). The Neutral Ship duly exploded, and it required a polarity reversal to recreate it from the others . "Confidence and Paranoia" featured the episode titles' personality traits manifesting a real people from Listers' mind. They then spend the rest of the episode trying to influence Lister until Confidence murders Paranoia and accidentally commits suicide Locked in a Freezer : Lister and Rimmer in "Marooned", though Rimmer's in no danger. It also subverts the standard ending - Rimmer briefly gains a new appreciation for Lister's strength of character, only to discover that Lister lied to face and used his camphor wood chest for fuel rather than the guitar. Logic Bomb : Kryten deactivates Hudzen-10 with one. Hudzen mentions a Silicon Heaven, which Kryten exclaims doesn't exist. Kryten and Holly persuade Hudzen they're telling the truth, and Hudzen, having been programmed to believe in Silicon Heaven, shuts down . Kryten did believe in Silicon Heaven, but was lying. (Strangely, Kryten was only shown learning how to lie at the beginning of the following series, though it may have had to do more with lying to organics as opposed to other robots.) In "Fathers and Suns", Lister is able to do this to a hostile AI trying to kill the rest of the crew to make her uninstall herself. Longer-Than-Life Sentence : In the episode "Justice", Rimmer gets sentenced to ten thousand years imprisonment. Subverted as he is expected to be able to serve his sentence and be released at the end since he is a hologram. Of course as always Status Quo Is God and the Reset Button is hit by the episode end. Long-Runner Tech Marches On : This Sci-fi Sitcom long-runner features this in the set design, having had its original heyday during the late-'80s/early-'90s but been revived most recently in 2012. The early seasons feature Holly (the ship's computer, seen as a face on a screen) moving about on R/C tube TV rigs, and Total Immersion Video Games being triangular-shaped VHS tapes, but this has (eventually) evolved over time so that by Season X (the latest season as of this writing) the Red Dwarf comes equipped with flat-screen monitors. Whilst both of these types of technology are present on the same ship, the "just go with it" nature of the show means that it isn't too distracting. The show hung a massive lampshade on this trope in the 2009 'comeback' miniseries 'Back To Earth', when the characters encounter DVDs and ask " what are these? " since video cassettes were seen in the earlier series to apparently still be ubiquitous in the future. The dialogue reveals that in their timeline at least DVDs swiftly fell out of favour again, owing to humanity's congenital inability to put the discs back in their case: they were re-replaced by VHS tapes as "videos are just too big to lose". Lost Episode : In the early '90s, a test pilot written by Linwood Boomer was produced by NBC for American audiences. According to some sources, it was received well by the audience, but the studio execs weren't satisfied , so Grant and Naylor were brought on board to try to fix it. The final product never aired, but it's been bootlegged ever since. Lost in Transmission : The American pilot ended with Lister being visited by his own future self. Future!Lister had only a few moments to convey a very important message, but everybody nattered about irrelevant details until there were only a few seconds left. The message Future!Lister finally managed to deliver consisted only of "You've got to—" Lots of Luggage : In the episode "Future Echoes", the Cat is instructed to get together a few essentials before going into suspended animation. He arrives with a rack of suits and, when challenged by Lister, admits there are ten more racks he intends to take. Lotus-Eater Machine : "Better Than Life" features a Virtual Reality Game that can make all your deepest fantasies come true. In the end, though, Rimmer's deep self-loathing results in the destruction of everybody's perfect worlds. It is later reversed in "Back to Reality" by a hallucinogenic venom from a Despair Squid that causes the group to, together, hallucinate a reality that drives them to the brink of suicide. They are only stopped by Holly forcing Kryten to release a mood stabilizer. The three-part miniseries "Back to Earth" that aired in 2009. Act II and Act III get increasingly bizarre until they are revealed as a Lotus Eater Machine hallucination brought on by a hallucinogen that links all the affected characters in a pleasant dreamworld. After finding out, Lister is tempted to stay but ultimately he opts for the real thing.. Lyrical Dissonance : The end theme is an upbeat number that starts with the words, "it's cold outside, there's no kind of atmosphere; I'm all alone, more or less." "Tongue Tied" is an upbeat love song which describes the metaphorical reactions of a person when they're pleased to see someone they love in gory detail. M-P The Mad Hatter : Dr. Langstrom in "Quarantine". Mad Libs Catchphrase : Perilous situations would often result in the Cat exclaiming, "That's it, we're deader than [long-outmoded item of clothing]!" Magic Floppy Disk : On a sci-fi comedy show taking place on a futuristic mining vessel, people still use videocassettes...except they're triangular. It is explained in the 2009 Easter special that DVDs have become outdated by videos, since videos have once precious advantageï¿½you can put them back in the box with minimal risk of breaking them. Lister's entire mind can be stored on a dictaphone casette tape - although this is at least partly justified by Rule of Funny . Maintain the Lie : Rimmer told his mother that he passed every exam he ever took, and had therefore reached the rank of "Rear Admiral Lieutenant General". As opposed to the man who cleaned the chicken soup machine. Mayor of a Ghost Town : They've got the run of the ship; with a few exceptions, they've got the run of the universe, really. Meaningful Name : The SS Samsara in the episode of the same name is appropriate given its karma field. Meaningless Villain Victory : Used against the heroes in "Back in the Red". Having been imprisoned for stealing and destroying a Starbug, their attempt to escape and prove their innocence demonstrates to the captain that their story is true, exonerating them regarding the theft. But it also demonstrates that they had improperly accessed classified personnel files, a crime carrying exactly the same penalty. (The files would have revealed the Captain bribed his way up the career ladder, which explains why he was looking for the loophole.) Medium Blending : "Back in the Red" has the crew end up in a virtual reality's claymation screensaver. Mermaid Problem : Cat envisions himself dating a fish with humanoid legs. Holly: Somehow I'd imagine she'd be a lady on top and a fish on the bottom. Cat: No, that's a stupid way around! Mile-Long Ship : The Dwarf is usually 6 miles long, 5 miles tall, and 4 miles wide. Mind Screw : Quite a few examples, but Back to Earth took it Up to Eleven . Misery Builds Character : Ace Rimmer is this all over. He is different to normal Rimmer because their shared timeline split off when they were children. One of them got held back a year in school, the other didn't. It turns out it's actually Ace that was held back a year, and so he suffered for it (ie by being bullied and suffering the humilation of it all), and decided to fight back, and continued to fight back ever since, building his character and becoming awesome. Normal Rimmer, on the over hand, was never held back a year, and therefore spent the rest of his life making excuses for himself. Misplaced a Decimal Point : Played with when Holly's IQ has been significantly increased (to 12000) in exchange for exponentially reducing her lifespan . When looking at her new lifespan, the screen displays 345 before she realizes "The decimal point, where's the decimal point?" She then discovers that she has 3.41 minutes left to live. Another episode featuring Queeg , who was actually just Holly proving a point "insults" Holly's IQ in this manner. Queeg: It has a six in it, but it's not six thousand. Lister: Well what is it? Mix and Match : Sitcom combined with sci-fi spaceship adventure. Mobile Factory : Presumably Red Dwarf is supposed to be one, since it's described as a "mining ship". We never actually see it do any mining, though... Well, all those replacement Starbugs and Blue Midgets have to come from somewhere. Mohs Scale of Science Fiction Hardness : Flies all over the place. The first couple of series are relatively hard ( Absent Aliens , the Dwarf is powered by a Bussard ramscoop, only slower-than-light spaceships) with the odd doozy ( Explosive Decompression , the Dwarf exceeds light speed simply by continuing to accelerate). However, around series 3 any pretense of scientific accuracy flies out the window, and things like photos developed with "mutated developing fluid" that you can actually climb into and affect history with and small devices that can instantly transport you half a million light years start to appear. Money Fetish : "Now that's the kind of cash that opens anybody's legs." Money to Burn : In the episode "Marooned", Lister and Rimmer are looking for kindling to keep the fire going. Once all the books have been burnt, Lister burns the 24 grand that Rimmer has saved up. However, Rimmer is dead already and has no use for the money and even if he did, there is no civilization left in which to spend it. Monster of the Week : The show goes this way after about the third series. To their credit, the crew is pretty genre-savvy about it, especially in Series 6. For example, Rimmer explains to one monster that everybody they'd met to that point has tried to kill them. It also swings the other direction in Series 7 & 8, having the storylines cover multiple episodes. (Although they are still self-contained.) Mood Whiplash : When Lister and The Cat are debating Rimmer and Kryten's fate, after vainly searching for them in "Backwards": Cat: Three weeks we been doin' this. Lister: We'll do it 'til we find 'em. Cat: (somberly) We ain't gonna find 'em...They're gone, buddy. But look on the bright side...(jubilant) They're gone, buddy! Mr. Exposition : Holly, and later Kryten. Ms. Fanservice : Kochanski in Series VII. This was largely abandoned in Series VIII, which she spent the vast majority of dressed up in the bulky prison jumpsuit and Canaries uniforms, though "Cassandra" and "Krytie TV" are notable exceptions. Mundane Utility : After losing his opportunity to buy a stirmaster from an automated infomercial company in "Trojan", Lister turns the simulant that they just defeated into one. In "Twentica", the Expenoids demand a device from the crew in exchange for Rimmer. Turns out that Lister and the Cat were just using it to prop up the pool table. My Future Self and Me : The ludicrous temporal shenanigans of "Stasis Leak" in Series 2. Lister attempts to re-kindle a relationship with his former girlfriend and in doing so encounters a future version of himself who has already married her. And Rimmer runs into the original him, who he went into the past to try and save, and thus runs into a future version of himself who has an unconvincing moustache. Past Rimmer (In the process of having a mental breakdown yelling at present and future Listers, Cat, Kochanski and present Rimmer, all of whom he thinks are hallucinations brought on by a breakfast of space mushrooms. It Makes Sense in Context ): Perhaps Lister here would like to go over to the fridge and open a bottle of wine for Lister and Lister. Rimmer here doesn't drink, because he's dead, but I wouldn't mind a glass. Future Rimmer (after appearing unexpectedly through a solid object): I don't want anyone to get into a flap here, but I'm from the Rimmer from the double double future. I'm the Rimmer who's with the Lister who married Kochanski. Now from this point on things get a liiiiiittle bit confusing. My Hovercraft Is Full of Eels : Rimmer's increasingly poor attempts to speak Esperanto in "Kryten", especially as the Con Lang was designed to be simple to learn. Further highlighted by Lister being shown to have become semi-fluent, due to the sheer amount of times that Rimmer has watched the tapes having long-since burned the answers into his memory. My Own Grampa : It's revealed that Lister is his own father. Via in-vitro fertilization with Kochanski, no less. This becomes a major plot point in one Series X episode as regards his novel way of celebrating Father's Day: get blind drunk, tape himself messages that he'll forget the next morning to play back to himself, the closest to father-to-son interaction he'll ever have. Mythology Gag : In the episode "Psirens", the SCS Pioneer is commanded by Captain Tau, played by Anita Dobson. Tau was also the name of the female captain of the Dwarf itself in the failed US pilot. Names to Run Away from Really Fast : Arnold Judas Rimmer, for a double dose of treachery. Subverted however in that he eventually becomes a Jerk with a Heart of Gold after receiving more character development. And the show even came up with a somewhat legitimate reason why his mother gave him that name in the first place: her brand of Christianity saw Judas as an unfairly demonized hero. Queeg (see The Caine Mutiny ) is also used for the computer that temporarily replaces Holly. He's actually Holly trying to teach the crew to apprectiate him more. The western-dreamscape character "Bear-Strangler" McGee. The leader of the simulants in Series Ten has the title of The Dominator. Nanomachines : Nanobots are responsible for rebuilding the whole of Red Dwarf, crew included, at the end of series 7. Narcissist : Cat is absolutely in love with himself. The most telling example is when a Shapeshifting Seducer assumes the form that he desires most... himself. Cat: So I'm the object of my own desires? Shapeshifter!Cat: Is there anyone more deserving? A Nazi by Any Other Name : Lister as Voter-Colonel Sebastian Doyle in "Back to Reality". "Vote Fascist for another glorious decade of total law enforcement!" Averted and kicked to the floor by Duane Dibbley. Only to be picked right back up again with how Kochanski is characterized in Series VII. Never Say That Again : Kryten can't handle being called "tetchy" in "Quarantine". Never Smile at a Crocodile : Ace Rimmer's Nazi enemy has a crocodile for a pet, keeping it on his lap and stroking it affectionately, parodying Blofeld's Right-Hand Cat . He throws it at Ace and jumps out of the plane they're on, but Ace overpowers it and proceeds to "surf" on it in free fall. Never Trust a Trailer : The intro for series IV-V, that made it look like an action-heavy adventure show instead of an irreverent comedy with a sci-fi backdrop. The Nicknamer : Cat, who very rarely refers to anyone by their actual name. Kochanski is "Officer Bud Babe" whilst everyone else gets insulting names. Kryten has been "Eraser head" and "Chewed-Eraser Head", with "Novelty Condom Head" a particular favourite, Rimmer is most frequently "Goalpost Head", though he has also been "Trans-Am-Wheel-Arch Nostrils" and "Captain Sadness" among others. Cat: I found Goalpost-Head. No sign of Dormouse-Cheeks, though. In "Give & Take", we find that - albeit following the example of Cat and Lister's insults - Kryten had all data pertaining to Rimmer contained in a folder marked "Captain Bollocks"; one which he had accidentally deleted in order to free up more hard drive space. Nietzsche Wannabe : The Inquisitor; subverted by his attempts to populate the universe with meaningful humans. No Ending : "Officer Rimmer" ends with the crew firing the first Bazookoid shot at the monster terrorizing the crew before it abruptly cuts to credits. Presumably they didn't have the budget to show it actually dying. Noodle Incident / Noodle Implements : "The Last Day": Lister (waking up after a night's drinking): On a mining ship, 3 million years into deep space, can someone explain to me where the smeg I got this traffic cone? Cat: Hey, it's not a good night unless you get a traffic cone. It's the policewoman's helmet and the suspenders I don't understand! We never find out what happened after "Only the Good..." to restore the status quo of previous seasons. It gets referenced in "The Beginning" only for the details of the solution to the virus being shushed. Non Sequitur Thud : Happens to Kryten after he's used as a battering ram, and briefly starts calling Lister "Susan." And also in "Quarantine" when the insane Rimmer telekinetically attacks him with a fire axe. Nonverbal Miscommunication : In "Dear Dave", Cat attempts to convey his news to the rest of the crew through charades (because he is bored). His attempt to mime 'the mail-pod has arrived and crashed into my clothes' is construed by the others as everything from 'we're about to fly into a black hole' to 'we're being attacked by zombies'. No One Else Is That Dumb : When a Psiren is impersonating Lister, the other characters ask one of the two indistinguishable Listers to prove he is the real one by playing the guitar. The first Lister does so, very well, and the other characters shoot him. They know the second Lister is the real one because he only thinks he can play. No Sell : Hudzen 10 takes no damage from Lister's shotgun and simply tosses him aside. No Snack For You : In "Only the Good", we get a vending machine with artificial intelligence that gets angry when Rimmer uses a coin-on-a-string to get a free chocolate bar. Rimmer is unimpressed with its threats of terrible vengeance, only to get clonked on the back of the head by a flying soda can at the end of the episode. Not Allowed to Grow Up : In series I, Lister is 25 ("Future Echoes"). In Series II, Rimmer states that they've now been in deep space for two years, and various other references indicate that each series represents about a year, meaning the characters should be aging in real time. Then series III rolls around and Lister is somehow still 25 ("Backwards"). In series 6's "Out Of Time", Kryten complains about having to do the laundry over the course of "Four long years" (Since series 3, presumably, which would make sense). Then, after a 3-year production hiatus, series 7 begins with Lister telling us that he's just turned...28. As if to lampshade this by taking Refuge in Audacity , series X (Which takes place a minimum of 9 in-universe years after the end of series VIII and aired nearly 25 real-life years after the first episode), describes Kochanski, who was previously established as being about the same age as Lister, as now being 31 years old! Not in the Face! : In "Legion", circumstances force Kryten to knock out his crewmates. The Cat: "Do what you gotta, but don't mess up my hair." Not Quite Saved Enough : Rimmer in "Timeslides". Not Quite the Right Thing : "Nanarchy" has the crew persuading Kryten's nanites to regrow Lister's arm. They do... then they decide to fix the rest of him, resulting in a Lister with a ludicrously buff body, much to everyone's horror. No Periods, Period : Lampshaded and averted. It's briefly mentioned in "Balance of Power" when Kochanski (really (and clearly) Rimmer) claims to be "having a woman's period." In "Only the Good...", Lister explains to Kryten why the second Kochanski has said it's the wrong time of the month. Kryten is shocked that television and film have so successfully avoided this. Kryten, armed with this new knowledge of the female body, hilariously averts the trope . Not Disabled In VR : A subtle one with Rimmer, who is intangible due to being dead, being able to have physical form and interact physically while in the VR game " Better Than Life ". Not-So-Innocent Whistle : In Back to Earth, Kryten demonstrates his "Innocent Whistle Mode" after being caught conspiring with Rimmer. "Not Wearing Pants" Dream : In "Thanks for the Memory", Lister looks in on what Rimmer is dreaming. Rimmer is doing a tap dance in a top hat and tails, but no pants. Novelization : A number of early episodes were adapted as novels, however enough plot changes were made that they are considered to exist in a separate continuity to the TV series. No Water Proofing In The Future : Kryten, and all the other Series 4000 mechanoids of his type. In "Entangled", Lister shorts out the control panel on the Red Dwarf by spilling chilli sauce on it, then attempting to put out the resulting fire with his lager. In Infinity Welcomes Careful Drivers, a console officer spills his coffee on his keyboard and assumes the warning light is a result of this, rather than the radiation leak bearing down on everyone. Now Do It Again Backwards : It's how Red Dwarf is reconstituted from its High and Low counterparts in "Demons and Angels". Obfuscating Stupidity : Holly in "Queeg". Offing the Offspring : In the episode "Psirens", the psirens' illusion of Kochanski gives Lister the impression that she is planning to do this to her and Lister's offspring and then herself to save their "child" from an invasion by monsters who would torture them brutally one captured. Offscreen Crash : Rimmer in the remastered pilot. Somehow. In the original there was no sound effects. Oh Crap! : Rimmer has this reaction in "The Inquisitor". Rimmer thinks he's found a way out of being judged by the inquisitor because of the legitimate point that he might not get a fair hearing. The Inquisitor then explains that to make the hearing as fair as possible, every person's judge will be... [The Inquisitor opens his helmet, revealing Rimmer's face underneath] Rimmer!Inquisitor: ...Yourself! Rimmer: Oh, smeg! Rimmer!Inquisitor: "Oh smeg!" indeed, matey. The Simulants in "The Beginning" when they realise that Rimmer has outsmarted them and they try to surrender. Older Than They Look : Kryten. In "Back in the Red: Part 1" he tells Dr McLaren that he was created in 2340. Since the events of "The End" take place at some point between the 21st and 23rd century (several episodes contradict the figure), and Lister is in stasis for around three million years, that means that when the crew first meet him in "Kryten", the eponymous character is roughly three million years old himself. Even in a show that hardly prides itself on its consistency and continuity, that's a staggering figure. Once a Season : A Time episode. One-Man Army : Ace Rimmer. In "Stoke Me a Clipper", he downs a Luftwaffe plane, takes out a whole squad of Nazi soldiers apart from one and simultaneously rescues a princess. What a guy. Only Child Syndrome : As far as we know, everyone except Rimmer, who has three brothers. In Lister's case this would be justified by his "unique" parentage, though conceivably you could count his and his female double's sons as his half-brothers or something. Or uncles. Or nephews. Lister's family tree exists in a few more dimensions than is normal. One Steve Limit : Averted; there are at least five minor or unseen characters called Frank. And at least two named Gilbert. O.O.C. Is Serious Business : Lister's depression during Timeslides gets so bad he actually says he wants a job. The situation in Quarantine has Kryten so tetchy he implies he's willing to kill Lister for his disgusting habits. Opposite-Sex Clone : Opposite sex dimension in "Parallel Universe". They meet their versions. Rimmer eventually, after several failures breeds an actual opposite sex clone of himself in the episode "Rimmerworld", which even has his face. Other Me Annoys Me : Whenever the Dwarfers meet parallel universe, alternate timeline, copied or time-displaced versions of themselves, to the point that "Stasis Leak" ends on Rimmer screaming at the various time/dimension-traveling versions of himself and his crewmates to just go away. Lister once sold his DNA to a cloning firm for the princely sum of $£100 and half a packet of cigarettes. It turns out that all those smartass Scouse call centre operators that have been plaguing Lister with crap offers are actually his clones. Out of Order : "Dimension Jump" and "Meltdown" were originally intended to air at the beginning of season four. Because of The Gulf War still raging at the time, they were pushed back, due to their military overtones (Ace Rimmer being a jet pilot was a minor one, but still considered too militaristic). This results in a Plot Hole during "Meltdown", where Kryten is unable to resist carrying out the deranged Rimmer's orders, despite having disobeyed him in "Camille" (which aired as the first episode of the season). Food Dispenser: Today's fish is Trout à la crème. Enjoy your meal! Cat plaing up his ditziness up to eleven: Cat: So what is it? (in more than one episode) Red Dwarf X has these too. In "Lemons", the Dwarfers have time-travelled to 23 A.D. Earth, and stumble across a pleasant local by the name of... Jesus. Cat: So how old would Jesus be now? Rimmer: In 23 A.D.? Gosh, well, let's see... (Starts tapping on his palm like a calculator) (Quite a lot of beats indeed) Rimmer: ...oh... twenty-three? Overly Pre-Prepared Gag : The episode "Queeg" has Lister tell Rimmer a long rambling story about why it's cruel to give machines personalities. He tells about how his friend Peterson had a pair of "Smart Shoes" that could always get you home no matter how drunk you were. But Peterson woke up hundreds of miles away because the shoes wanted to see the world. He tried to get rid of them but they'd show back up . In the end the shoes stole a car and wound up driving it into a canal because they couldn't steer properly. Peterson was upset, but a priest consoled him that the shoes were happy and in heaven now. You see, it turns out Shoes have soles. Pac-Man Fever : Averted. Lister is seen playing a GTA clone with a steering wheel and light gun with proper sound effects. Although the Cat does assume Lister is playing a text-only adventure game when trying to communicate the fact that what appears to be a one-eyed tarantula is crawling up his leg. Paint It Black : Evil Holly and Evil Lister in "Demons and Angels". Palette-Swapped Alien Food : All over the table in "Legion". Pals with Jesus : Subverted in "Lemons". They meet a guy named Jesus, just not the Son of God. He later "invents" the bag, after discovering it on the Dwarf. Pardon My Klingon : "Smeg." At least, it was supposed to be a thoroughly fictional profanity. Rimmer: Why don't you smegging well smeg off, you annoying little smeggy smegging smegger? In the earlier series, goit and gimboid appeared. Pass the Popcorn : Watching the black box recording in "Thanks for the Memory". Also, in "Terrorform", when Rimmer is about to be tortured and Lister explains they can either rescue him or sit and watch, Cat asks if anyone has any opera glasses. Parrot Expo What : The Cat does this on occasion, usually having it explained by Kryten. Perverse Sexual Lust : Cat and Lister once debate who's hotter - Wilma or Betty . They opt for Wilma before Lister lampshades how insane their conversation is - Wilma would never leave Fred . Phony Degree : "Arnold J Rimmer, BSc, SSc". (Those initials stand for "Bronze swimming certificate" and "Silver swimming certificate".) Photoprotoneutron Torpedo : the Series X Simulants' "Photon Mutilators". Phrase Catcher : Ace Rimmer, "What a guy!" Pinball Projectile : In "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". The ultimate example of this is "White Hole" where multiple planets are crashed into one another in order to plug up the Negative Space Wedgie . Pointy-Haired Boss : Captain Frank Hollister is revealed to have only reached his rank through blackmail (from the lowly position of Doughnut Boy, no less), implying that he is only marginally more qualified than Rimmer or Lister, though clearly more clever and/or more ambitious. Poor Man's Porn : In the extended version of "Ourobouros", after donating his genetic material for Kochanski's In-Vitro tube, Lister mentions the only suitable... ahem, material on board Starbug is a record sleeve from a James Last album. Plot Armor : Everyone but Rimmer gains in universe plot armour in the episode Cassandra when a precognitive computer predicts that they will all survive the impending destruction of the wreck they're on. They try to use theirs to get Rimmer to safety after he didn't need it as the computer was lying. Lister already had armour in the form of seeing a vision of himself as an old man in the episode "Future Echoes". Plot Hole : Lister's attempt to make a "gift" of the memories of one his love affairs to Rimmer introduces several of these into Rimmer's life. Rimmer: That's why I was an orphan when both my parents were still alive. That's why I had my appendix out twice. Interestingly, Lister also had his appendix removed twice, as Legion removes his appendix when he realises it's about to kill Lister. Last Human handwaves this by stating that by freak of nature, Lister had two appendices. Popular Saying But : "Stasis Leak" has: Holly: What I'm saying, Dave, is that it's better to have loved and to have lost... than to listen to an album by Olivia Newton-John. Cat: Why's that? Holly: Anything's better than listening to an album by Olivia Newton-John. Possessive Paradise : The crew come across a luxurious space station manned by an entity calling itself "Legion". It was built by the greatest human intellectuals who ever lived, but they have all died three million years ago. He's delighted to cater to the crew's every whim and treat them like honored guests. However, he forbids them from leaving because he's a formless entity that is created from the collective minds of the residents on the station. If they leave, he'll become nothing again. Power of Friendship : Inverted. The rest of the crew use this with Rimmer to escape the Psi-Moon in "Terrorform". Rimmer is suspicious right from the start, and even when it does work long enough to get them off the moon, Rimmer immediately realizes that it was all tot, and that they meant not a word of it. Much to his displeasure, by that point they're only too happy to confirm his suspicions. Pre Ass Kicking One Liner : From "Gunmen of the Apocalypse": "Now if you'll forgive the rather confrontational imperative, Go for yer guns, ye scum-sucking molluscs!" From the same episode: "We're gonna cut you up so small, the worms won't even have to chew." Pre-Mortem One-Liner : Kochanski has one for the Epideme virus. It keeps comparing itself to a television series and when it thinks it's infected her, claims to have been "renewed for another season". She replies, "Wrong, Buckhead, you're axed !" and hacks off the arm it's in. Precision F-Strike : Rimmer gets to say 'bastard' on four occasions and "bitch" once, all of which count. The former in 'Waiting For God' arguing with Lister about the Quagaars, 'Thanks For The Memory' insulting Hollister, 'Timeslides' on going back in time to 'save' Lister, 'White Hole' on why he won't turn himself off, and 'Back In The Red pt I' when all te women start lusting after him. Lister says it in Backwards when talking about backwards Father Christmas, In 'Bodyswap' albiet in Rimmer's body after the latter, in his body, crashes Starbug and pretends he's lost an arm, and in 'Tikka To Ride' discussing Kryten's definition of a 'Giant Pizza', actually Lee Harvey Oswald after he's fallen to his death. The show also has precisely one instance of an actual swear word (Cat says "shit" in "Emohawk: Polymorph II", and it's pretty hard to make out at that). Depends on your definition of swear word; definitely includes Lister's infamous 'I say let's get out there and twat it!' line from Polymorph (one of the mistaken assumptions why the video release was a 15 certificate, the highest in the series), numerous uses of 'git' and variations therof, usually by Rimmer, 'arsehole' spoken by Lister in Kryten is seen as more vulgar than it's american counterpart; even it's trademark insult 'smeg' is seen as this in some circles. The very first one in "Future Echoes": Rimmer I look (looks in the mirror) LIKE A COMPLETE AND TOTAL TIT!!!!!! (thanks to Holly giving him a 'haircut', he now possesses a Marge Simpson-esque beehive) Precursors : A variation in that all life in the universe originated on Earth, which makes us the Precursors. Pretty in Mink : "Gunmen of the Apocalypse" starts with Lister doing a VR simulation of a Film Noir , where he romances a dame wearing a fur wrap. Prison Ship : Red Dwarf itself serves a secondary purpose as a prison transport ship. Apparently only a few people are aware of that floor. Prophetic Fallacy : In "Cassandra", Cassandra predicts Rimmer will die in 20 minutes, but doesn't know who Rimmer is. Rimmer gives his jacket and nametag to Knott, who does die in 20 minutes, apparently "Rimmer" to any onlooker. Psychic Radar : During the episode "Quarantine", both Lanstrom and Rimmer, under the effects of the Holovirus, are able to home in on the location of the rest of the crew by sensing their thoughts. "Unfortunately she has already found you! Twinkle, twinkle, little eye , now it's time for you to die!" Punctuated! For! Emphasis! : In "DNA", Cat is fiddling with the DNA machine trying to get Lister out, but with little success. Lister responds with, "Do. Nothing! Press. Nothing! GET! KRYTEN!" Pursue the Dream Job : Dave Lister's dream is to move to Fiji, buy a farm and open a Hot Dog Stand. He tries to save the money to carry out his big plan. Rimmer's is to be an officer in the Space Corps. Problem is, he's rubbish at the required exams. Even after his death, being stranded three million years into deep space and the human race, never mind the Space Corps, no longer existing, he still tries . Put on a Bus : Holly, once in Series VI and VII, and again in the Dave specials Back to Earth (he's fine, just temporarily out of commission for the duration of the episodes). He's still absent as of Series X. Q-T Rain of Something Unusual : Lister hallucinates a real indoor rain of fish in the "Confidence and Paranoia" episode, all of which are quickly eaten by the Cat. Ranked by I.Q. : The crew of the Enlightenment in "Holoship" not only use this to suggest intelligence, but seem to have a rank structure based around IQ. Given that, barring The Captain , everybody on board seems to be a Commander, this makes some kind of sense. Also used in "White Hole", where Rimmer points to Holly's IQ to explain why he thinks she, as opposed to Lister, should be in charge of their attempts to destroy the white hole. Reading Ahead in the Script : Happens in the miniseries Back to Earth. The characters then start writing the script to make each other do humiliating slapstick routines. Real Is Brown : The first two series. The interior of the Red Dwarf is almost entirely grey, to the point where Craig Charles noted that his memories of filming the first two series are of grey. An early plot point involved the paint on the walls being changed from ocean grey to military grey. Even the outside of the ship itself had far more of a reddish-grey look in the first series than it did in the others. After the Re-tool of the third series the grey palette was toned down. Real World Episode : The premise of the Reunion Show . Unlike most examples, several of the people they run into in the "real world" fairly easily work out what they are, and don't find it especially outlandish that a group of fictional characters might pop out into the real world. Of course they ARE Science Fiction fans. As it turns out, the "real world" is a drug-induced hallucination. (Strictly, it's not the real real world; it's one where the series is still going, and is more popular than ever.) Rash Equilibrium : The climax of "Justice". Reality Warping Is Not a Toy : "Better Than Life": When the crew enter the Better Than Life video game, Rimmer's power to make things 'better than life' simply ends up sabotaging the game for all involved, as his subconscious won't let him be happy. "The Reason You Suck" Speech : In "Timeslides", a distraught and disillusioned Lister blasts through a list of reasons he's sick of his fellow crew members — the vast majority aimed at Rimmer, including, "... the fact that you always smile when you're being insulted." In "Terrorform", Kryten gives a long, in-depth list on why Rimmer would have such a strong sense of self-loathing. Kryten goes on for over a minute, and when interrupted by Rimmer, Kryten points out that he is only halfway through. Ironically, Kryten was being polite and informative, rather than condescending. Rimmer's worst moment came when he was being tried for the deaths of everyone aboard Red Dwarf. Kryten argued that Rimmer was not responsible, as it was his commanding officer who gave such an obvious incompetent such an important job. As Kryten said, "Sir, my entire argument relies on proving that you are a dork!", and concludes that the only thing foolish enough to actually appoint Rimmer any job of import was "A yogurt!" And the fact that Rimmer continuously whining "Objection!" throughout it all only helped Kryten's case had to have grated as well. Kryten: He is only guilty of being Arnold Rimmer. That is his crime. It is also his punishment. In "Inquisitor", a Ret Gone Lister proves he does know Rimmer by giving an awesome summation of Rimmer's sheer fail-itude. The Cat and a severely chagrined Rimmer have to admit that Lister must know him to assassinate his character so spectacularly. Rimmer gets them back in "Out of Time" when he appoints himself Morale Officer, in charge of boosting the spirits of the crewmembers. This appears to involve walking up to each of them and yelling a lengthy list of all the things about them that irritate him at them. Lister looks like he's not going to lose any sleep over it though; he's smiling and chuckling as he's being insulted, as though he sensed right away that this was just Rimmer using his self-appointed position to be petty. Rimmer also unleashes a small one on the Cat in "DNA". Problem is, the Cat just brushes off all of Rimmer's criticisms as his best features. Recruited from the Gutter : Subverted in a Season X episode, when Rimmer, pretending to be a Space Corps captain, introduces his brother Howard to the crew: Rimmer: When we found Kryten, he was a burnt-out wreck of a junkie. Howard: And you rebuilt him, gave him something to live for? Rimmer: No, we just hosed him down and gave him a hat. Recycled In Space : Literally - cast and crew have repeatedly described the Canaries as ' The Dirty Dozen in space.' The original pitch of the show relied on convincing the Beeb that it wasn't a sci-fi epic, but more like " Steptoe and Son in space". Series 8 has many prison scenarios and jokes. Kryten even becomes the Harry Grout. It was described as Porridge In Space. Red Alert : An alert status in Starbug one step up from Blue Alert, although it does mean changing the bulb. Restraining Bolt : Kryten has "behaviour protocols" and is programmed to believe in Silicone Heaven as an eternal reward for serving humans Kryten: No behaviour protocols. [short laugh] Just call me Badass! Retcon : One popular (And plausible) fan explanation for the large amount of retconning in the series is that all the messing around the characters do with White Holes and Time Holes and Timeslides and Stasis Leaks and the like is causing large ripple effects in their own personal histories. Almost every epsiode involving any kind of reality-altering or time-manipulating Phlebotinum ends with the crew having to perform an Ass Pull to get the status quo back to normal, but who knows what the wider, long term effects of this behaviour could be? Originally, Lister merely had an unrequited and unacted-upon crush on Kochanski; however, the writers gradually decided that his constant yearning for someone he'd never had anything meaningful with made him a little bit pathetic, and so quietly adjusted this to make Kochanski an ex-girlfriend he'd never gotten over being dumped by following a short-lived romance. Rimmer's parents religion is 7th Day Advent Hoppists in 'The Last Day', in 'Lemons', it's completely different. Ret Gone : What the Inquisitor does to people who fail to justify themselves. Retool : The writers were always willing to pick quality over continuity, no matter how drastic the change. Revisiting the Roots : Back to Earth and Series X have returned to the basic setup of the four main characters alone on Red Dwarf, last seen in Series V. Revival : Series VII was broadcast after a four-year hiatus, and the three-part Back to Earth was broadcast after a ten-year hiatus. Series X, the first full series since 1999, aired three years later. Rewind Gag : "Backwards", in which the crew visit a universe where time runs in reverse, is an entire episode of Rewind Gags, exploring all the possibilities inherent in time running backwards. These include the Cat's horror when he realizes what logically happens when eating and digestion run in reverse — indeed, what must happen a day or so before regurgitating a very good meal onto the plate. Re Write : Too many to count. The creators always maintained that if altering the Back Story could improve the show, then they should alter it. Some of it makes sense. Whose idea was it to give Rimmer a job that could endanger the entire crew? Then they used Rule of Funny and rewrote the Re Write , implying that the job was so easy that anyone that could mess it up must have the brains the size of a newt's testicle. Ridiculous Future Sequelisation : There is a passing mention of Friday the 13th: Part 1,649. Riddle for the Ages : The subsequent series after VIII have turned the cliffhanger ending of "Only the Good..." into this. Robotic Psychopath : In "Demons and Angels", Low Kryten is an evil mechanoid designed to hurt people. He tortures Lister along with the rest of his crewmates. Hudzen 10's time alone in space has apparently worn out his sanity chip, turning him into an Axe Crazy psychopath with a penchant for shotguns. Robotic Reveal : In "Out of Time", Lister gets his arm cut, revealing mechanical parts. Not only mechanical, but of a model inferior to Kryten, which means Kryten technically outranks him! The whole thing is then beautifully subverted when it turns out that Lister's mechanical "nature" is the result of Starbug having hit an "unreality pocket", turning Kryten briefly into a gibbering idiot as he attempts to apologize for his mis-step. Robot Religion : The Electronic Bible (with version numbers) and Silicon Heaven, concepts created by humanity and installed in every artificially intelligent device that could possibly pose a threat if it Turned Against Its Masters in order to keep them under control with a belief that if they accept a lifetime of slavery they will get their eternal reward in the next life. Anything that couldn't possibly pose any kind of threat is not installed with a belief chip in the instance of keeping costs down, so simple appliances such as the skutters and Talkie Toaster are all atheists. The book mentions that Holly may or may not have believed in Silicon Heaven when his IQ was 6000 (though he presumably did have a belief chip, suggesting that sufficiently smart AI can see through the scam) but once his IQ had dropped into the low 90s his belief in it was unshakable. Rule of Funny : Other than applying to the show's entire premise and pretty much every episode ever made, the writers also have no problem tossing aside the show's established conventions if they can get a better laugh without them. Notable examples include Kryten's lies; they normally had to be preceded by Kryten declaring himself to be in "Lie Mode" (obviously undermining the believability of his lie), except when they didn't. Kryten: You won't feel a thing. I'll render you unconcious using the Ionian nerve grip. [Rimmer closes his eyes and braces himself as Kryten grabs his neck... and then breaks a vase over his head] Rimmer: That's not an Ionian nerve grip! That's smashing me over the head with a vase! Kryten: There's no such thing as an Ionian nerve grip. Now stand still while I hit you. One of Red Dwarf's strategies seems to be finding Refuge in Audacity . The sheer amount the show uses is perfectly exemplified in the famous introduction scene of Ace Rimmer, where he, for starters, dislocates his shoulders to escape from ropes (yet retains full control of his arms for the remainder of the scene), and shrugs off bullets with mild annoyance at his clothes being ruined, along with many, many other things. note Really, it's probably easiest if you just watch it. (What a guy!) Schrï¿½dinger's Butterfly : "Back to Reality", the series 5 finale. The crew dies, only to see the "Game Over" text appear and shortly afterwards wake up in VR-game chairs... The series continued after that episode, but when it first aired it wasn't known whether there would be a series 6, and viewers thought this might be the Grand Finale . It plays the concept very seriously. Not only did this sort of go hand in hand with the series "growing up" over time, it also helped create multiple levels of mindscrew. At the end of series VI in "Out of Time." Just before the cataclysmic ending, Starbug hits a "reality mine" — a pocket of alternate history space. Followed immediately by Rimmer deliberately triggering a strange sort of Grandfather Paradox . Followed immediately by the future Dwarfers triggering another Grandfather Paradox . How many layers of unreality can two minutes of airtime possibly layer ... ? Part 3 of series VIII's "Back in the Red", when they return to the reconstructed Red Dwarf, courtesy of the Nanites, and are placed in the brig after signing agreements to participate in a trial involving psychotropic drugs that will cause them to hallucinate. They engineer a daring escape before the trial and make it out into space, at which point they realize that the entire escape attempt has been a hallucination. They enlist the aid of the reconstructed Rimmer and break out again... and realize that, once again, they've all been duped. When they finally make it out of their hallucinated trial, Rimmer asks, "Is this reality? But how can we be sure?" Cat poignantly states, "Why do we care? Nothing makes any sense no matter where we are!" Sci-Fi Bob Haircut : Hilly wears her hair bobbed, and Holly in the female form as well, at least at first. She later has somewhat longer hair. Screw Yourself : Dave Lister has drunken sex with his gender opposite, Deb Lister, in the Opposite Sex dimension, which leads to him actually getting pregnant despite his protestations of "But I can't be pregnant! I'm a guy! I don't have the... equipment!" Cat plans to have sex with himself (the only person he could ever love), but his opposite is actually a male dog. Arlene Rimmer also comes on to Arnold rather strongly, despite the mutual Rimmers' apparent disgust towards Deb and Dave doing the deed, but then hypocrisy is hardly out of character for Rimmer. Second Face Smoke : Lister and Rimmer are in the movie theater, all alone, and Rimmer insists that Lister, who is smoking, move three seats over to be in the smoking section. Lister blows smoke right through Rimmer's face. Second Law My Ass : Abel. Even though he comes from the same model as Kryten, who is logical, intelligent and usually doing the cleaning, Abel's addicted to Otrazone, lives in squalor, and doesn't appear to have enough brain left to tell right from wrong. See You in Hell : Following logically from the belief that mechanoids who obey their programming go to "Silicon Heaven", a rogue mechanoid snarls "See you in Silicon Hell!" Seinfeldian Conversation : For a sci-fi show, characters tend to have relatively mundane, if hilarious, conversations. A good example is Lister and The Cat debating the sexiness of Wilma Flintstone in "Backwards". These scenes earned the Fan Nickname of "Bunk scenes", as they generally occurred in the sleeping quarters. Though absent in Series VI and VII, they made a return in series VIII when Lister and Rimmer are cellmates in the Tank and "Back To Earth" has one in a department store complete with children's bunk beds. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy : Cassandra claims that a character will die of a heart attack after being told he's going to die of a heart attack. Similarly, she prophesies that she will be killed by one Dave Lister; Lister's conscious attempt not to harm her leads to her accidental demise. In "Future Echoes", Rimmer sees an echo of Dave dying at a computer console. To prove the future isn't set in stone, he tries to prevent another echo, Cat breaking a tooth. Bet you can't guess what happens next. Lister: Hey, it hasn't happened, has it? It has 'will have going to have happened' happened, but it hasn't actually 'happened' happened yet, actually. Rimmer: Poppycock! It will be happened; it shall be going to be happening; it will be was an event that could will have been taken place in the future. Simple as that. Your bucket's been kicked, baby. Self-Serving Memory : Taken to ridiculous extremes. Lister is missing the recently departed Rimmer, and rose-tinting his memories of their history together to such a degree that Rimmer comes of almost like a saint. When Kochanksi tries to comfort him, Kryten (who's afraid that she will replace him in Lister's life) takes a massively different tack; He creates a holographic carnival ride based on Rimmer's own "war diary". Needless to say, Rimmer's recollections are massively divergent from reality, depicting himself as the only competent person on the ship, rather than the cowardly, stupid, tasteless nitwit that he really is. It promotes Rimmer's views, tastes, and interpretations on events which clearly are biased. Lister ends the episode decrying his past with Rimmer. Lister: I never want to see or hear from that scum-sucking, lying, weasel-headed smeghead in my entire life! Kryten: Sigmund Freud, eat your heart out. Sequel Episode : The Series VI episode "Emohawk: Polymorph II", which is a sequel to the Series III episode "Polymorph". The three-part special "Back to Earth" also acts as a sequel to the Series V episode "Back to Reality". Sequel Hook : At the end of the "Polymorph", after the crew defeats the eponymous creature, it is revealed that a second one has made it on board. Subverted in the remastered version, in which on-screen text reveals that this one, much less intelligent than the first, took up residence harmlessly in Lister's underwear drawer and eventually died of old age. Doubly subverted by "Emohawk: Polymorph II" three series later in which they meet another one. Series Continuity Error : While the show operates on a floating continuity, where events are often retconned to drive the plot, or make the show funnier, only a few things stick out as being actual slips on the part of the writers. One of these is in "Demons and Angels", when Lister remembers playing pool with planets, even though at the end of the episode in question ("White Hole"), Kryten specifically states that none of them would remember what happened, as the events had been erased from time. Another very minor one - In the Series III episode "Marooned", Rimmer is seen operating Starbug's comms panel with his hand, despite being intangible at that point in the show. Shadow Discretion Shot : Only the shadow of the despair squid (from "Back to Reality") is ever seen. This was almost certainly because they couldn't afford a squid special effect, and preferred Nothing Is Scarier to the anticlimax of a Special Effects Failure . The same thing happened to Rimmer's self-loathing beast from "Terrorform". The model looked great...until it started to move, when it just looked laughable. To get around this, only its shadow is fully shown. Shapeshifters Do It for a Change : In an early episode, Lister threatens to take an exam to get promoted above Rimmer, if Rimmer does not allow him to go on a date with the hologram of Kochanski. Paranoid that Lister will never switch him back on, Rimmer takes on Kochanski's appearance and initially claims "she" isn't interested. Once Lister realizes, however, Rimmer points out that "It's still her body", raising the question of exactly how far he'd go to avoid the situation. Though she appears female to most of the characters, Camille can also take male form if the viewer prefers—the Cat sees himself as his ideal mate . She later notes that her species is actually androgynous. Shapeshifting Seducer : Camille in the episode of the same name. She's a GELF (genetically engineered lifeform) who automatically shapes herself to the desires of others. She appears to the mechanoid Kryten as a female mechanoid, to the hologram Rimmer as a shy and awkward hologram, to Lister as a low-dressed vagrant, and to the Cat as... himself . Her real form is a green blob with stick eyes, which Kryten has no problem with, and goes on a date with her like that. The gang also runs into Enthralling Sirens in the first episode of Series 6, who lure space crews to them so they could snack on their brains . When Lister comes face to face with one, it turns itself into a woman Dave lusted after when he was young. He tries to resist, but eventually falls for her charms. Unfortunately these Sirens are of the Master of Illusion rather than body shapeshifting type, so we're soon treated to a shot of Lister making out with an 8-foot alien bug. Share the Male Pain : Referenced and explained in the episode "Legion", where the titular Legion explains that any pain he feels is conveyed to the rest of the crew. He stabs his hand to show them, and then... Legion: "The next hint of insurrection, and the scalpel ends up... here ." Kryten: That kind of tough talk doesn't scare us. Lister, Rimmer and Cat: Yes it does! Shirtless Scene : Three of the four main cast (even Kryten), except, oddly, for the Cat, who is supposed to be the most sexy. May have to do with the fact that the Cat mentions he perms his leg hair and that he once mentioned six of his nipples tingling. Lister: You perm your leg hairs?! Cat: Only as an aid to the natural curl! Shoot the Bullet : The Riviera Kid demonstrates this ability in the VR episode "Gunmen of the Apocalypse". Shoot the Shaggy Dog : The entire Felix Sapien (Felis sapiens) Civil Wars. They fought over the colour the hats should be (red or blue). Not only would Lister not have approved, but they both were wrong (he wanted green). Leads into Silly Reason for War . Shoo Out the New Guy : Averted with Kryten, who fit into the main cast perfectly; it felt like he'd been in it all along. The ill-fated Americanization put him in the first (only) episode. Shout-Out : The first two series' title music is very reminiscent of Also Sprach Zarathustra , and the sequence is in line with scenes from 2001: A Space Odyssey that use said music. The name Holly is a Shout-Out to 2001's HAL, too, as is the fact that Holly, or "Hol" as Lister sometimes calls him, refers to David Lister as "Dave." (In the radio sketch series Dave Hollins, Space Cadet on which the series is based, the computer was known as 'Hab'.) The "NORWEB" joke was actually lifted from the 1985 pilot of The Space Gypsy Adventures . Speaking of music, Ace "What a guy!" Rimmer's theme in "Dimension Jump" could very well be a shout out to "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun . A different theme was used in "Stoke Me A Clipper". There's a Shout-Out to Die Hard 2 in "DNA"; Lister exclaims "How can the same smeg happen to the same guy twice?" after he is attacked yet again by his favorite foods . The Cat responds "Last time it was hors d'oeuvres, this time it's lunch!" referencing the film poster tagline for Aliens . Queeg's name (and most of his episode's plot) is a shout out to The Caine Mutiny . The episode "Backwards" mentions a mysterious bankrobber named Michael Ellis. "Backwards", in which the space-future protagonists visit present-day Earth in a green spaceship modelled on an animal, contains several nods to Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , in which the space-future protagonists visit present-day Earth in a green spaceship modelled on an animal. The in-universe TV show Androids has a theme song that sounds suspiciously like the long-running Australian soap drama, Neighbours . The android actors even have Australian accents, and one of the show's producers is named Kylie Gwenlan, as a nod to Kylie Minogue. "Androids, everybody needs good Androids...." In "The Last Day", Hudzen 10 's name is likely a shout out to Hudson, the butler in the original Upstairs Downstairs . In Series X, the uniforms of the Space Corps are reminiscent of those seen in the later Star Trek series. In Series Four, the uniforms worn - especially by Rimmer - appear identical to the Spectrum uniforms worn in the Gerry Anderson puppet series, Captain Scarlet . note Strangely, Rimmer's is green. Captain Green from Spectrum is African-American. When Rimmer famously becomes a munchkin puppet in a later show, is this a callback? Ace Rimmer takes on Those Wacky Nazis in an Action Prologue taken straight from a James Bond movie. The Big Bad even tells Ace "No, Mr. Rimmer, I expect you to die!" The Creator lives the Tyrell building from Blade Runner , which is now located in the centre of London. Bear in mind that at the end of the original Alien movie, the only two survivors on the ship are a human and a cat, and they end the movie by going into stasis. Sure, Cat in Red Dwarf is actually only a descendant of Lister's original cat, but still... A more recent one from series X: The other two members of Lister's love triangle in "Dear Dave" are named Roy and Hayley. This is a nod to the well-loved couple from Coronation Street , where Craig Charles played Lloyd Mullaney. Shown Their Work : In the DVD Commentary for the pilot episode, Danny John-Jules mentions researching cats and their behavior for his role. Show Stopper : Usually unplanned, as the actors have to stand awkwardly in place waiting for the laughs to die down so they can continue. On one occasion the laugh was so long it had to be edited down. Inverted for Series VII, which was not shot in front of a live audience, but the episodes were later played for an audience and their recorded responses dubbed over the episodes for broadcast. This resulted in some jokes and lines of dialogue being submerged under the laughter, since the cast would not know to pause for laughter. Some DVD and VHS releases of the series have the laugh track removed. Shrine to the Fallen : Back To Earth implies that an extra bit of the ship has been built (or at least cleaned up specially, which is a pretty big deal for Lister) just to house a commemorative gravestone to Kochanski. Sibling Rivalry : Referenced many times with Rimmer and his brothers, all of whom were said to have climbed far higher into the ranks of the Space Corps. than Rimmer himself ever would. In the series X episode "Trojan", it turns out that Howard was actually a lowly repairman like Arnold. Silly Reason for War : The conflict which almost wiped out the Cat race was fought over their different interpretations of Lister's favourite colour for the hats at the hot dog and donut stand in Fiji. They were both wrong. Sleeper Starship : The Red Dwarf has a couple of stasis pods that freeze time while Starbugs have more conventional suspended animation booths. Sleep Learning : In an early episode, Rimmer has attempted to use the self-hyponsis tapes "Learn Esperanto While You Sleep" and "Learn Quantum Theory While You Sleep". The only results we're told of are that neither he nor his bunkmate got any sleep. Smart People Play Chess : Used by Queeg after being challenged to a duel by Holly. "Better than Life" had Holly engaged in a game of postal chess with Gordon, the A.I on another JMC vessel. They only managed one move, though. Smart People Wear Glasses : Geeky genius-Rimmer wears glasses after his mind patching in "Holoship". In "Polymorph", after the chameleonic lifeform has drained away all of Rimmer's anger, he turns into an ultra-pacifist liberal sporting hornrimmed glasses and a goatee who proposes to hit the monster with "a major leaflet campaign". Professor Edgington wears a pair in "Entangled", though due to her Ditzy Genius nature, wears them upside down. Snapback : Episodes frequently end with the crew in weird situations (trapped in a parallel universe, trapped in virtual reality, menaced by a shapeshifting monster, etc.) that have been tacitly resolved by the beginning of the next episode. One exception is the final episode of the first series, which picks up where the previous episode ended, pretty much just because the writers had been able to think of an episode's worth of more jokes to get out of the closing gag. Sorry I Fell on Your Fist : The "Good" or "High" version of the crew members from "Demons and Angels". With knives and bullets from the "Low" Dwarfers. "I appear to have stained your knife-end with my blood. Forgive me, brother." [dies] "He has just shot me four times in the chest! Oh, how I love him!" "Brother; there is a grievous fault with thine weapon. It keepeth shooting people." [blam] "You see? There it goes again!" Another example is from "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", when Kryten (as the sheriff in an AI simulation dream), confronted by an outlaw who tripped him up, apologized and said 'sorry I tripped on your boot.' Sound to Screen Adaptation : Red Dwarf was born as a short serial in the radio comedy show Son of Clichï¿½ , also written by Grant/Naylor. The parent "series" on radio was called Dave Hollis: Space Cadet and contained sketches and ideas later recycled for the TV series. Spaceship Girl : Holly starts off as a male AI interface, but undergoes a sex change after the second series. Sparse List of Rules : The Space Core Directives that Kryten would often quote. Rimmer ended up quoting directives back but always being wrong. In one episode we see the book of directives and it's rather small despite the high numbers mentioned complete with multiple subcategories for each one, and rules for every situation including performing oral sex in a zero-g environment . Special Person, Normal Name : Dave Lister is pretty ordinary name and he's the last human alive who gives birth to twins despite being male, fathers himself, wipes out an unstoppable killer robot single handed, plays pool with planets, has two appendixes and (probably) creates the universe. Spiritual Successor : To Dave Hollins: Space Cadet, a radio series written as a parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey . HAB was renamed Holly in order to change the character from a HAL expy and Dave Hollins became Dave Lister, as there was a footballer by the name of Dave Hollins at the time. Rimmer and the Cat were added and the rest is history. Spot the Imposter : In "Psirens". The real Lister couldn't play guitar to save his life, but since he thinks he can play guitar like a pro, the Psiren that had taken Lister's form read his mind and played guitar accordingly. And was promptly shot. Stealing from the Hotel : In the episode "Justice", Lister reveals that he used to steal the furniture from hotel rooms. Including the bed. Stealth Parody : Kryten and the whole 4000 series of mechanoids are a parody of Prof. Mamet's fiancee. None of the 4000s know this until they are given the code to unlock the file. Stealth Pun : In one episode, Lister suggests a game of squash with Rimmer's light-bee, a device which flies around and projects his holographic image. Squash is a game played with a small hollow ball. Hollow, holo... The name of Red Dwarf 's subship Blue Midget is based on the main ship's name, with Midget being a synonym for Dwarf, and blue being a different colour. Stop Trick : For the purpose of grabbing hologrammatic items from the air. Strapped to a Bomb : The episode "Entangled" has Lister attached to a machine that will blow up his groin if he does not pay the debt he owes a group of aliens after losing a poker game to them. Strawberry Short Hand : In the episode where Kryten and Lister build a machine that replicates good and bad doubles of things, they test it on a strawberry. The good strawberry is of course incredible. The bad one is less so, what with the maggots and all. Strongly Worded Letter : Rimmer, after having his anger sucked out by a polymorph that feeds on human emotions, suggests that they defeat the creature by hitting it "hard and fast" with a "major leaflet campaign...And if that's not enough, then I'm sorry, it's time for the t-shirts". And in "The Beginning", Rimmer starts writing a strongly worded letter to Geneva complaining that the simulants are violating Treaty 5 as said simulants are launching a barrage of photon mutilators at the Starbug. Studio Audience : Had one until the end of series 8 and from series 10. More special effects heavy episodes ("Backwards", "Bodyswap") and the more filmic seventh series had the audience response to a preview tape rather than a Laugh Track . Back to Earth, the "ninth" series, was completely absent of studio laughter. Suicide as Comedy : The series makes reference to the time Rimmer volunteered for a suicide helpline and caused everyone who called him to commit suicide, including one who just had a wrong number. "Lemming Sunday, they called it." Swirly Energy Thingy : The source of many entertaining quotes on the matter. Table Space : The guys once discover they can use old photos like time machine. Lister becomes filthily rich and has huge mansion. He and his attractive young lady-friend are sitting at opposite sides of a very long table when the two of them are having dinner. Take a Moment to Catch Your Death : Rimmer manages to somehow return to life in "Timeslides". In celebration, he goes around feeling objects, something he was unable to do for three million years. Unfortunately, he accidentally strikes some volatile explosives. Take That : A good natured one occurs in "Back To Earth" when The Cat refers to the set of Coronation Street as being "worse than Rimmerworld ". Lister uses the word "Gwenlan" as a term of abuse at one point. This was a reference to Gareth Gwenlan, a producer at the BBC who turned the show down. Holly notes that it's better to have loved and to have lost than to listen to an album by Olivia Newton-John. Holly's IQ of 6000 is apparently the same IQ as 6000 PE teachers. Take That, Audience! : "The Cat's looking so geeky he couldn't get into a science fiction convention!" Done in a much more direct manner in the Smeg Ups and Smeg Outs videos, where Kryten reads out fan mail criticising the continuity and logic errors in the show, and then berates the people who wrote the letters, accusing them of having no life. Also in "Backwards", there's a speech given in reverse that goes off-script and insults anyone sad enough to play it backwards so they can understand it. Take That, Critics! : In "Entangled", Kryten notes that one of the various professions that is always wrong are tv critics. Temporal Paradox : Lister is the son of his future self and the alternate Kochanski. The whole thing is neatly sewn up by the word "Ouroboros", implying it's a cycle, a temporal loop. Also, the battle between Starbug and future Starbug in "Out of Time". The evil crew win with their advanced weapons systems, but because they destroyed their previous selves, they didn't exist to fight Starbug. Lister, in the next episode, tried to explain why they weren't dead, but the camera he was talking to exploded . Tempting Fate : "That was Ace Rimmer! We're lucky to be alive!" A vending machine swears vengeance after Rimmer steals a chocolate bar from it. Rimmer isn't impressed. "The day that happens, I'll be captain." He becomes captain and promptly gets clonked in the head by a flying soda can fired by the vending machine. Terraform : "Terrorform" somewhat, "Back to Reality", "Rimmerworld". Teeth Flying : Happens backwards in the bar room brawl in "Backwards". Lister: Here, have your tooth back. [punches a guy in the mouth, who is then revealed to have regained a front tooth] The crew's reaction when Queeg reveals that Holly's astronavigational charts are really a children's astronomy book. Also, the revelation that Rimmer's father is actually the man who Rimmer thought was his dad's gardener. Invoked after Kryten is ordered into a waste compactor by a Psiren and crushed into a cube. Kryten: I'm almost annoyed. From "Trojan", after Rimmer has suffered a system crash due to an overload of resentment: Rimmer: Are you saying I'm resentful? I really resent that! The Tape Knew You Would Say That : The episode "Fathers and Suns" has Dave making messages to himself (then getting very drunk so he can forget he made them) in order to have a father and son chat with himself . Each message ends with him leaving instructions for himself to do before moving onto the next one. And each one begins with him shouting at himself for not following instructions. Culminating in Tape!Lister threatening to chuck his guitar out of the airlock if he skipped ahead again! Seeing his guitar is still there, he ignores it, skipping ahead to find Tape!Lister happily congratulating him for finally listening to his advice, telling him to go play a song as a reward. Turns out, the guitar in the room was just a cardboard copy and the real one is now floating half-a-lightyear behind them. They Would Cut You Up : Sort of the catalyst for the whole series. In the first episode, the Captain tells Lister his cat will be cut up and have tests run on it, prompting the response, "Would you put it back together when you were done?" Hollister: Lister, the cat would be dead. Lister: Well, with respect , sir, what's in it for the cat? This Is Not a Drill : In "Marooned"; "This is not a drill. This is a drill." [sound of a jackhammer] And in a later episode when Holly's grammar chip is damaged... "Abandon shop! This is not a daffodil. Repeat, this is not a daffodil!" "Oh Gawd, now the siren's bust! Awoogah! Awoogah! Abandon Ship!" Three-Laws Compliant : Most androids are programmed with something pretty close. Mechanoid characters can take "Asimov's Law" as a flaw in the RPG. Time Travel : "Stasis Leak", "Backwards", "Timeslides", "Out of Time", "Tikka to Ride" and probably more. Particularly hilarious towards the middle of "Out of Time", where they come into possession of a "time drive" and play with it a bit before realizing it's completely, utterly useless while they're still physically located 3 million years away from Earth. It doesn't do space, just time. But they did get to experience the heady medieval atmosphere of pre-Renaissance deep-space. Time-Travel Tense Trouble : In the episode "Future Echoes", Rimmer is gloating over having apparently seen Lister die in the future: Lister: Hey, it hasn't happened, has it? It has "will have going to have happened" happened, but it hasn't actually "happened" happened yet, actually. Rimmer: Poppycock! It will be happened; it shall be going to be happening; it will be was an event that could will have been taken place in the future. Simple as that. Your bucket's been kicked, baby. After being erased by the inquisitor: Lister: We don't exist here anymore! Kryten: Actually sir, we don't ever have existed here anymore, but this is hardly the time to be conjugating temporal verbs in the past impossible never tense! The "Inquisitor" example is Truth in Television — The tenses were so difficult that Robert Llewellyn, playing Kryten, kept flubbing the line and eventually had to have a cue-card held up out of shot... and then the line was cut anyway. It only resurfaced as they showed the final correct take after all the bloopers in the Smeg Ups collection. Timey-Wimey Ball : Lister explains the resolution to the events of "Out of Time" in the opening of series 6: The future Dwarfers killed the contemporary Dwarfers, meaning the timeline resets itself to just before they discovered the time drive, but they still remember everything that happened. However, when JFK is taken back in time and assassinates himself in the same episode, this doesn't seem to cause any similar effect - he just fades away instead of causing a massive Temporal Paradox . "Stoke me a clipper, I'll be back for Christmas!" "Only the good die young!" "Beyond a Joke" "Back to Reality", even getting an Ironic Echo . Title Sequence Replacement : After the second series, the following episodes contained clips from specific to the series it was in. Not quite; series 3's intro contained a shot from Thanks For The Memory from series 2, likewise 4's contained Starbug crashing in both Marooned and Bodyswap from 3. Rimmer in "Rimmerworld". Also parodied in "Out of Time" with "robo"-Lister. Rimmer, Captain Hollister and the rest of the Red Dwarf crew who died in the first episode get resurrected as clones in Series VIII, completely unaware at first that they are all clones and confused why they are millions of years in Deep Space. Tonka Tough : Starbugs are incredibly resilient vehicles. The one from series VI/VIII has crashed "more times than a ZX-81". Too Dumb to Live : Confidence removes his helmet in the vacuum of space. Big mistake . When Lister reads a Comic Book adaptation of The Aeneid in "The Inquisitor", he notes that he doesn't buy the Trojan Horse tactic, wondering why the Trojans wheeled it into the city and all decide to go for an early night. He goes on to say that anyone that stupid deserves to lose and that the phrase that should be derived from the work should not be "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts", but instead "Beware of Trojans: They're complete smegheads." Too Spicy for Yog Sothoth : In an episode, Lister is swallowed whole by a shark while in an AR machine. The shark soon spits him back out before sticking its tongue out and going "bleh!". Guess it didn't like curry vindaloo . Tracking Chip : In "Epideme", Kryten uses a scanning device to identify the dead body of an ex-JMC employee. He mentions that it is attempting to locate her microchip, since JMC employees are implanted with them. Trademark Favorite Food : To say that Dave Lister enjoyed the odd curry would be an understatement on scale with the very planets he once played pool with. He loves curry to such an extent that his early morning pick-me-up is a glass of chilled vindaloo sauce. He also has a trademark unfavorite food: pot noodle. To the extent that, when running out of supplies and facing starvation, he willingly eats a can of dog food rather than have to eat a pot noodle. Traffic Wardens : In the episode "Camille", Lister tries to break Kryten's programming and teach him to lie. Succeeding, Kryten describes a banana as a "small, off-duty Czechoslovakian traffic warden", which was changed to Tasmanian in the Czech dub, perhaps because that country does not have them. In the episode "Back to Reality", the crew wake up to find that Red Dwarf was a virtual reality program. Kryten's real identity turns out to be "Agent Jack Bullit of cybernautics". He assumes that he must be a Cowboy Cop , but Rimmer counters that maybe he's just a traffic warden with a ridiculously macho name. The latter option is later confirmed when they run into a real cop (of the fascist police state they're in). Transformation Ray : The DNA machine in "DNA". Translation by Volume : When Lister and the Cat find themselves on a parallel Earth and for some reason believe they are in Bulgaria. They attempt to get by by speaking slowly and clearly and appending "-ski" to all their words, combining it with Bulgarian flavoured El Spanish O. Trapped in TV Land : Red Dwarf X ramps this up when the crew realise they face having no independent existence outside a TV show. To avert this fate they visit Earth. Where Lister (Craig Charles) visits the set of a long-running TV soap opera . And ends up having a heartfelt chat with an actor playing a taxi driver (Craig Charles) who is nonplussed by it all, viewing Dave Lister as a previous role he played... Trash of the Titans : Lister's room frequently qualifies. His lack of hygiene is natural for him, and he exaggerates it to annoy Rimmer. "Demons and Angels" has this gem from the psychopathic, Creepy Crossdresser version of Rimmer: Rimmer: I want to hurt you. Lister: Why? Rimmer: Because I'm not a very nice person. After the future Rimmer mentions they spend time with the Hitlers and the Goerings: Future Rimmer: It's just a bit unfortunate that the finest things tend to be in the possession of people who are judged to be a bit dodgy. Kryten: Herman Goering is a "bit dodgy"?! Unexplained Recovery : How the crew survived the Bolivian Army Ending of "Only the Good..." is never elaborated in "Back to Earth". Played for laughs in "The Beginning", where the explanation of how they survived is started, only to be quickly cut short . Un Installment : Back to Earth pretends to be set after a fictional Series IX and X during which, among other Noodle Incidents , hologram Rimmer returned and Kochanski died (or did she?). Unreliable Narrator : The Rimmer Experience ride from "Blue", while programmed by Kryten, was based on entries from Rimmer's journal. The Unreveal : A long-winded sounding explanation of "Only The Good..."'s ending is humorously cut short in "The Beginning". Used Future : From Series III onwards, when Mel Bibby became the set designer. The first two series were meant to have a grey submarine feel, but really just looked like plywood walls painted grey. A season one episode had Holly and Lister make Rimmer think an old Red Dwarf garbage pod is an alien ship. The end credit theme song gets paused twice so we can hear him angrily yell about it. "Meltdown" has Waxdroid Elvis sing the closing theme. In one episode, there was a throwaway gag about Rimmer teaching the service robots to play Hammond organ. The closing theme for the episode is rendered on the Hammond organ, with Rimmer giving instructions in voiceover. For the "cowboys" episode "Gunmen of the Apocalypse", the theme is given a Western makeover on honky-tonk pianny and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly-esque ocarina. Vengeful Vending Machine : "Future Echoes": A vending machine has a lisp malfunction, which has been reported. When Lister orders breakfast and black coffee, he gets him a pair of boots. When the machine tries just for the coffee, he produces a bucket. However, he was being really nice and trying to be helpful. In "Only The Good", Rimmer cheats a vending machine out of its money by attaching it to a string and yanking it out after receiving what he ordered from it. Later in the episode, the machine blasts a can at Rimmer in anger, knocking him over while he's trying to escape from a raging fire. Rimmer was in charge of vending machines aboard the Red Dwarf. When they hold a funeral for Rimmer's hologram and say their eulogies in "Stoke Me a Clipper", Lister mentions that with him when you ordered coke, it would never happen for you to get soup or orange juice on his shift. Except it happened all the time, but Lister was trying to say something nice. "Queeg": No food machines work. However, this time it's not the machines being malicious, but it was their new computer Queeg who claims the crew have spent their credit. They have to start working, and real hard. When Lister has dinner, all he got was only burnt toast and one pea. In a Series 10 episode, a vending machine becomes romantically obsessed with Lister. Villainous Crossdresser : Rimmer twice, the Low Rimmer in "Demons and Angels" and the real Rimmer infected with a holovirus in "Quarantine". Villain Song : "Blue"'s Rimmer could perhaps be a subversion. It's not actually Rimmer (it's a simulation created from Rimmer's logbook). Altough Rimmer's more of an Jerkass than a villain, it reminds Lister of this so he'll get out of his Heroic B.S.O.D. over Rimmer's departure. Lister: Yeah, well, everyone dies. You're born, and you die. The bit in the middle's called life, and that's still to come! The holographic (and dead) Rimmer travels back in time to warn his living counterpart: Rimmer: I've come to warn you, in three million years you'll be dead! Past Rimmer: Will I really? In "The Beginning", the lead Simulant tells Rimmer "It is the way of all things. You live, you die." Rimmer counters that sometimes you live again. Weapon for Intimidation : In "Rimmerworld", the characters have a bazookoid they can't actually fire, because it'd damage the ship and cause it to fall apart. It's for psychological purposes only. Weird Trade Union : In the pilot episode, Lister notes that the service droids have a better union than himself and Rimmer. Well-Intentioned Extremist : The Inquisitor; he travels throughout history, erasing from history people who have, by his standards, wasted their lives, and replacing them with alternates who never got a chance to live; as Kryten puts it, 'The eggs that were never fertilised or the sperm that never made it.'. The version of Ace Rimmer created in "Emohawk: Polymorph II" - his plan to save Lister (and thus the human race) is to snap the Cat's neck and then suck Cat, himself and the Polymorph out of the ship's airlock. We Need a Distraction : Played embarrassingly straight by Kryten in "The Inquisitor". Kryten: Excuse me, could I just distract you for just a brief second? We Will Use Manual Labor in the Future : Played for Laughs . Rimmer and Lister's job aboard Red Dwarf is basically all the menial maintenance that is considered too menial for even the service droids. Rimmer is even stated to be outranked by the droids. In Series I, Lister mentions that the only reason he and Rimmer do all the menial jobs is because the service robots have a better union. What's a Henway? : Rimmer practicing his "wormdo" pickup line in "Parallel Universe". Rimmer: Look, you're not giving me the right reply! Lister: What is the right reply? Rimmer: I come to you, saying "Would you like to join me at a cocktail?", you say "Yes", I say "Would you like a wormdo", you say "What's a wormdo?" And I say... Lister: Oh, it wriggles along the ground like that? Rimmer: You know it? Wham Line : "Rimmer, I'm not your father." What Happened to the Mouse? : Did the resurrected Red Dwarf crew perish during "Only the Good..." or did they escape into another universe? Or is the fleet of Starbugs and Blue Midgets still out there in deep space? Wine Is Classy : Discussed when Lister complains about "total smegheads" who always drink wine. "It's never beer, is it? It's always wine. 'What do you want on your cornflakes, darling?' Oh, I'll have some WINE, please!" Lister himself orders a Dom Perignon '44 in "Better Than Life" to go with his caviar vindaloo. Though, in keeping with his working class attitude, drinks it from a pint mug. And during "Polymorph", he drinks some wine from a medical beaker, declaring it "Very cheeky". In another incident, he mentions to Kryten the time he went into a wine bar. He believes if he hadn't done something, he might have become one of those people who went to wine bars all the time, possibly even got a job or something. Wiper Start : Kryten does this when he's learning to fly Starbug in "Backwards". He follows it up by accidentally ejecting the seat Rimmer is sitting in. Lister: With all due respect sir, what's in it for the cat? Also spoofed: Rimmer: With respect, sir, you've got your head right up your big fat arse. World of Ham : Waxworld is this. With Large Hams like Hitler, Caligula, Elvis and Abraham Lincoln pretty much stealing the show, you know this applies. Worrying for the Wrong Reason : Played with when the captain of the ship charges the main character with crimes they are innocent of. In the process of clearing their names, they commit other crimes, the punishment for which works out to be exactly the same. You Didn't Ask : In Bodyswap, this exchange followed a self-destruct scare: Holly: We haven't got a bomb... I got rid of it ages ago. Rimmer: Why didn't you tell us? Holly: You never asked! You Need to Get Laid : Kochanski's response to Rimmer's detailed and carefully-thought-out proposal for revising the official Space Corps salute: Kochanski: ...Rimmer?	i don't know
What drink, commonly served with a stalk of celery, is composed of tomato juice and vodka?	Bartending/Cocktails/Bloody Mary - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Bartending/Cocktails/Bloody Mary A Bloody Mary is a popular cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings such as Worcestershire sauce , Tabasco sauce , beef consommé or bouillon , horseradish , celery , salt , black pepper , cayenne pepper , lemon juice , and celery salt . Contents 2.4 Miscellaneous Preparation and serving[ edit ] A Bloody Mary, as well as the non-alcoholic Virgin Mary, is commonly served in the morning (as are mimosas and screwdrivers). While there is not much complexity in mixing vodka and tomato juice, more elaborate versions of the drink have become trademarks of the bartenders who make them. A common garnish is a celery stalk when served in a tall glass, often over ice. A beer chaser may also be served with the Bloody Mary, although this varies from region to region. Bloody Mary recipe courtesy of the New York School of Bartending: 1 oz. to 1 1/2 oz.vodka in a Highball glass filled with ice. Fill glass with tomato juice 1 dash celery salt 1 dash ground black pepper 1 dash Tabasco 2-4 dashes of Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire sauce 1/8 tsp. horseradish (pure, never creamed) Dash of lemon or lime juice Garnish with celery stalk. May be shaken vigorously or stirred lazily, as desired. Garnish with a celery stalk; a skewer of olives, pickles, carrots, mushrooms, or other vegetables; or even meat or fish (salami, shrimp, etc.) and cheese (see photos). Occasionally, pickled asparagus spears or pickled beans are also used. Prepackaged Bloody Mary mixes that combine the spicy, non-alcoholic components of a Bloody Mary are commercially available. Thailand Lao Khao (literally white liquor} 80 proof, rice distilled, replacing vodka in equal measure Bloody Bishop Sherry in equal measure to vodka Bloody Fairy, Red Fairy Brown Mary or Whiskey Mary Whiskey replacing the vodka. Guinness replacing vodka. Michelada Clementina (or simply "Chelada") Mexican beer replacing vodka, usually flavored with a couple of dashes of Worcestershire sauce and Maggi Sauce and Tabasco sauce. Usually the proportion of beer equals the tomato juice. Ruddy Mary Gin replacing vodka. Red Eye, Calgary Red Eye, or Saskatchewan Red Eye Beer replacing vodka, usually in a 50/50 mixture with Clamato in place of the tomato juice. Red Eye 1 Pint Glass, 1 Shot Of Vokda, Filled Half Way With Beer, Then Topped Up With Tomato Juice, Then An Egg Cracked In (DO NOT STIR) Then Drunk. Red Hammer Through the 1950s in the north eastern USA, while vodka was scarce, gin instead of vodka was known as a Bloody Mary; once vodka became readily available in those regions, the traditional vodka-based Bloody Mary was known as a Red Hammer for a time Virgin Mary, Bloody Shame, or Bloody Virgin Without alcohol; the second term is commonly used in Australia. Variations in mixers[ edit ] Bloody Bull Beef bouillon and tomato juice. The drink originated at Brennan's restaurant in New Orleans and is served at Commander's Palace as well as other Brennan Family Restaurants. Bull Shot Beef bouillon or beef consommé in place of tomato juice. It may also contain salt, pepper, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Caesar, Bloody Caesar, or Clammy Mary Clamato replacing tomato juice, much more popular in Canada than the traditional Bloody Mary. Bloody Eight or Eight Ball V8 replacing tomato juice, or a mixture, usually equal parts Harry's Original The original Bloody Mary created at Harry's New York Bar in Paris, was only vodka and tomato juice Variation in drink format[ edit ] Frozen Bloody Mary	Bloody Mary
March 26, 1971 saw the formation of what country, when East Pakistan declared their independence from Pakistan?	Bar Serves Bloody Mary Garnished with Burgers - Seeker Oct 16, 2012 04:25 PM ET Bar Serves Bloody Mary Garnished with Burgers You may have enjoyed a bloody mary during a casual Sunday brunch. It is, after all, one of the quintessential brunch cocktails served at many restaurants. The basic recipe is simple: mix tomato juice with some vodka, lime, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish and other spices, and garnish with olives and a stalk of celery. However, at [...] Photo: Erik R. Trinidad Photo: Erik R. Trinidad You may have enjoyed a bloody mary during a casual Sunday brunch. It is, after all, one of the quintessential brunch cocktails served at many restaurants. The basic recipe is simple: mix tomato juice with some vodka, lime, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish and other spices, and garnish with olives and a stalk of celery. However, at SMAK, a restaurant/bar in Telluride, Colorado, they’ve stepped up brunch strong by garnishing their bloody marys with actual burgers. (It’s pretty much the greatest bloody mary I’ve ever had.)	i don't know
When Snoopy takes to the skies in his doghouse/Sopwith Camel, who does he do battle against?	GameSpy: Snoopy vs. the Red Baron - Page 1 Snoopy vs. the Red Baron By Phil Theobald \| Dec 15, 2006 Good grief! Snoopy takes to the skies against Germany's toughest pilot. Does the beagle have what it takes? Good Pros: It's simple and easy to get into; lots of playable characters for multiplayer; music and voiceovers make it feel like a Peanuts special. Cons: The gameplay is fairly shallow; forced upgrades can keep you from advancing. How Our Ratings Work Here's a little videogame history for you: This game isn't the first time that Charles Schulz's famous beagle has taken on the dastardly Red Baron in the digital realm. In 1983, Atari released Snoopy and the Red Baron for its Atari 2600 system. It was a simple game, but it was also surprisingly fun. Over 20 years later, not much has changed as this latest encounter between the "funny-looking dog with a big, black nose" and Baron Von Richthofen shares those same attributes. If you've ever read the Peanuts comic or watched the animated specials (in particular, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown), then you know that one of Snoopy's recurring fantasies is that he is a World War I flying ace, using his doghouse to shoot down the infamous Red Baron. This game is set within one of Snoopy's dreams, where his doghouse becomes the imagined Sopwith Camel biplane, and the neighbor kids become military allies in a fantasy version of WWI-era Europe. Campaign mode is the game's main story mode, and it begins with a cinema scene setting up the story. These scenes go a long way in making the game feel like a Peanuts special. The Vince Guaraldi-esque music mixed with the somewhat stilted dialogue reading from the child voice actors lends an authentic feel to the proceedings. Some might dislike the fact that the characters are all rendered in 3D during the cinematics instead of traditional 2D animation (or at least with cel-shading). Personally, I kind of dig the fact that the cinematics look like a living version of the old Peanuts View-Master reels from the late '60s . I doubt this is what the developers had in mind, but I'll chalk it up to happy coincidence. A Real Dog Fight The game itself is a flight combat game. Given that it's targeted at younger players, it's less of a sim and more arcadey. Think of it along the lines of Crimson Skies , Jr. During most of the game's stages, you can fly wherever you want, shooting down enemy planes and other targets. As you progress through each mission, you'll constantly be updated with new objectives that you'll have to accomplish in order to emerge victorious. I do wish that more voiceover was used during the missions. When you're in the thick of battle, it can be difficult to read the latest objectives while trying to dodge enemy fire. I could see this being an even bigger problem for the young audience that this game is geared towards.	Manfred von Richthofen
By what name was the band of outlaws who accompanied Robin Hood on his many capers commonly known?	April 2016 Entertainment at Home Magazine by Home Entertainment Group - issuu issuu The latest on DVD & Blu-ray Disc! April 2016 AVAILABLE 4/5/16 ON DVD & BLU-RAY™! AVAILABLE 4/19 01_0416_EAH.indd 1 3/9/2016 9:26:52 PM Follow the backwoods Clampett clan as they strike it rich, load up the truck, and move to Beverly...Hills that is! Experience the down-home charm of Jed (Buddy Ebsen), Granny (Irene Ryan), Elly May (Donna Douglas), and Jethro (Max Baer Jr.), as these country folk adjust to a new life of fabulous wealth and everything that comes with it. Available 4/26/16 on DVD © 2016 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. It’s time for 14 action-packed adventures with the PAW Patrol and Bubble Guppies! Dive into summer with the Bubble Guppies for a day at the beach, the Big Bug Parade, a high-flying air show, and more fin-tastic fun! Then, roll out with Chase and Marshall for a rescue at sea, a Wild West hoedown, a fire emergency, and other PAWsome tales. Talk about making a splash! Available 4/19/16 on DVD © 2015 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. TM, ® & Copyright © 2010 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. 02Base_0416_Paramount-BevHillbilly & Nick.indd 2 R PG-13 Release dates may change. Some advertised titles may not be available at this location. This symbol marks movies you’ll find HERE before you can get ’em from Netflix or Redbox! KIOSK Star Wars: The Force Awakens Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Harrison Ford, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Mark Hamill Echoes of the past overshadow events in the present. Two young people begin a journey to the far reaches of the galaxy looking for answers to the ongoing conflict. Available 4/5/16 PG-13 2015 136 min. Disney/Lucasfilm The Revenant KIOSK Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter, Lukas Haas, Domhnall Gleeson, Forrest Goodluck, Joshua Burge Legendary explorer Hugh Glass is brutally mauled by a bear, then abandoned by members of his own hunting team. Thus begins a heroic saga. Available 4/19/16 KIOSK R 2015 157 min. Fox 03Base_0416_Cal.indd 3 3/9/2016 8:49:11 PM Action The Hateful Eight Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern Quentin Tarantino directs the tale of a bounty hunter who is traveling to the town of Red Rock to bring a woman to justice. Along the way, he and his wagon driver pick up others. But the travelers may not make it to Red Rock. Available 3/29/16 R 2015 168 min. Anchor Bay Point Break KIOSK Luke Bracey, Edgar Ramirez, Ray Winstone, Teresa Palmer, Delroy Lindo, James LeGros, Max Theriot A young FBI agent infiltrates a cunning team of thrillseeking elite athletes who are suspected of carrying out a spate of crimes in extremely unusual ways. Available 3/29/16 KIOSK PG-13 2015 114 min. Warner In the Heart of the Sea Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw, Brendan Gleeson, Tom Holland In the winter of 1820, a whaling ship was assaulted by a whale with an almost human sense of vengeance. Available now PG-13 2015 122 min. Warner Ip Man 3 Donnie Yen, Mike Tyson, Lyn Hung, Jin Zhang A band of brutal gangsters, led by a crooked property developer, makes a play to take over the city. Master Ip is now forced to take a stand. Fists fly in some of the most incredible fight scenes ever filmed. Available 4/19/16 PG-13 2015 110 min. Well Go USA 04Base_0416_Action.indd 4 3/9/2016 8:50:29 PM Action/Thriller The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Julianne Moore, Stanley Tucci Katniss and a team of rebels prepare for the final epic battle that will decide Panem’s future. Available now PG-13 2015 113 min. Lionsgate Spectre Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission. He infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of a sinister organizaion. Available now PG-13 2015 150 min. Fox Bridge of Spies Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, Sebastian Koch The CIA sends Brooklyn lawyer James Donovan to negotiate with the USSR the release of a captured American. Donovan finds himself thrust into the center of the Cold War. Available now PG-13 2015 141 min. Dreamworks/Walt Disney Black Mass Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Kevin Bacon, Sienna Miller, Adam Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dakota Johnson, Juno Temple An unholy alliance between James “Whitey” Bulger and the FBI allowed Whitey to become one of the most dangerous gangsters in Boston history. Available now R 2015 122 min. Warner 05Base_0416_Action-Thrill.indd 5 Drama Creed Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson Boxing is in his blood even though Adonis Johnson never knew his father, champion boxer Apollo Creed. Seeking a trainer, Adonis tracks down Rocky Balboa, the rival who had become Creedâ€™s closest friend. Available now PG-13 2015 133 min. Warner Carol Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler, Sarah Paulson, Jake Lacy, Cory Michael Smith, Jayne Houdyshell Two women from very different backgrounds find themselves in an unexpected love affair in 1950s New York. Adapted from Patricia Highsmithâ€™s novel The Price of Salt. Available now R 2015 118 min. Anchor Bay Concussion Will Smith, Alec Baldwin, Luke Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw A brilliant forensic neuropathologist discovers CTE, the football-related brain trauma. His quest for the truth to be known puts him at dangerous odds with one of the most powerful institutions in the world. Available 3/29/16 PG-13 2015 123 min. Sony The Big Short Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Marisa Tomei When the banks committed the greatest fraud in U.S. history, four outsiders risked it all to take them down. Available now R 2015 130 min. Paramount 06Base_0416_Drama.indd 6 2. 7. What actor provided the voice for Gru? (a) Russell Brand (b) Jason Segel (c) Steve Carell 3. What does Gru win for Agnes? (a) A giraffe balloon (b) A unicorn (c) A huge teddy bear 4. Who is Kyle? (a) A young super-villain (b) Gru’s dog (c) Gru’s older brother 5. What creature guards Vector’s lair? (a) Shark (b) Dragon (c) Tiger Copyright © 2016 PuzzleJunction.com. Used by permission. 07Base_0416_Quiz.indd 7 Why do Margo, Edith, and Agnes go to Vector’s lair? (a) To sing “Happy Birthday” (b) To get directions (c) To sell cookies What is the name of Gru’s assistant? (a) Dr. Nefario (b) Miss Hattie (c) Mr. Perkins 8. What item does Gru steal from Vector’s vault? (a) A dart gun (b) A squid launcher (c) A shrink ray 9. What book does Gru read to the girls at bedtime? (a) Three Sleepy Kittens (b) Goodnight Moon (c) The Silly Unicorn 10. The three girls perform an excerpt from what ballet for Gru and his mother? (a) The Nutcracker (b) Swan Lake (c) Giselle Solutions 1.a, 2.c, 3.b, 4.b, 5.a, 6.c, 7.a, 8.c, 9.a, 10.b What object is disguised behind Vector’s lair? (a) Pyramid (b) Statue of Liberty (c) Mount Rushmore 3/9/2016 8:57:06 PM 6 6 0 $ $ 7 ( 5 6 $ 3 : $ ( / 49 4 Across 0 ( 5 6 52 / $ 6 1 6 6 7 0 6 4 7 $ $ 1 7 53 8 2 / 2 10 5 7 9 $ 12 55 11 * 3 ' 1 13 12 6 57 8 $ 8 , 2 14 15 58 5 7 : ( 6 61 16 17 62 19 + / $ ( 18 $ 21 2 ' + , $ 9 2223 20 5 65 $ / 0 2324 / 6869 ' 2 / , & ( 25 70 , 6 27 $ 0 26 ( 2 7 30 5 2 1 % 33 2 7 / 71 35 / 2 2829 1 ( 36 6 72 302 5 1 38 73 $ , $ 1 3132 39 3 / 6 0 2 34 ( ( 40 5 ' Down ( 41 5 37 $ 2 42 1 44 2 < 43 45 6 2 / 0 / / 45 46 3 5 $ 2 ( 48 47 3 1 7 2 2 ( 0 < 5 6 $ $ 2 5 & ) 2 7 1 ( 6 Herd of seals Shred 2003 Will Ferrell comedy Mine entrance Webmaster’s creation Kind of admiral Maître d’s offering Hunger Games subtitle ___ and for all Egg protector Verdi heroine 2005 Hawke, Fishburne crime drama, ___ on Precinct 13 The Tale of Tsar ___ (1984 Film adapted from a Russian poem) Actress Benaderet Riviera season Figure out Biblical boat Jack-in-the-pulpit, e.g. Hydrogen ion 2015 Tom Hanks bio flick Peaceful Shoestring Believer’s suffix Fleur-de-___ 08-09Base_0416_CrssWrd.indd 8 Balderdash 1989 John Cusack, Ione Skye romantic comedy, ___ Anything... 1992 Pesci, Tomei comedy, My ___ Vinny 2015 Bond flick Actress Purviance Corn holder From square one With The, 2015 Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander bio flick ___ out! Ward of Sisters Some stingers 2015 Diane Keaton, Steve Martin comedy, ___ the Coopers Saving Private Ryan craft (Abbr.) Compass pt. Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame, to his pals Actress Dawber Flowery verse The Good ___ (2015 animated adventure) Carnival city Eczema symptom Small dog, informally Sea eagle Lawful Mexican dish Sandwich filler Silvery fish MASH role for Burghoff (1970) Atlas features Colm Meaney comedy, The ___ (2014) Stage signal Camel hair fabric Belgrade native Indian lodges Mounted on Errand boys Not good (Prefix) Director Howard Common soccer score Pastrami purveyor He was green in the 2000 holiday comedy Invictus director (2009) Cicatrix Iris’s place Frigid Bubbly drinks It may go under a river 3/9/2016 8:57:53 PM 6 7 $ ( : 0 6 3/9/2016 8:59:31 PM Now Available on Google Play. Download our Free Entertainment at Home Android App. It looks fantastic in Tablets and Phones. Visit EntAtHome.com/app for more details. The Latest On Blu-Ray DVD Digital Dove-Approved The Bandit Hound Catherine Bell, Lou Ferrigno, Judd Nelson, Paul Sorvino A dog whisperer trains the lovable little Bandit to rob banks. When the police almost capture his trainer, Bandit is left behind and is adopted by a young boy and his mom. Available 4/12/16 Dove: Family approved for ages 12 and over Not rated 87 min. Alchemy The Bible Stories: Solomon Ben Cross, Anouk Aimee, Vivica A. Fox, Max von Sydow On his deathbed King David tells Solomon why he has been chosen to rule after Davidâ€™s death. Solomon questions his own ability and asks God for wisdom. Available 4/12/16 Dove: Faith friendly for ages 12 and over Not rated 180 min. Shout! Factory 10Base_0416_MobileApp-Dove.indd 10 3/9/2016 9:01:44 PM Daniel Tosh’s fourth comedy special, People Pleaser, was shot in Los Angeles at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. Tosh’s incredulous comedy leaves no conversational stone unturned. Thankfully everyone is safe because these are just jokes. This awaited special shows the evolution of Tosh as a comedian and preeminent voice today. AVAILABLE 4/19/16 ON DVD! © 2016 Comedy Partners. All Rights Reserved. COMEDY CENTRAL, and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Comedy Partners. Take Entertainment at Home with you! Follow us on twitter! @tweetentathome Join the party on Facebook! facebook.com/entathome And see us on the web! entathome.com While on Win Enter to OT JANE G A GUN Enter at entathome.com/contests/ for a chance to win a copy of Jane Got a Gun Available on Blu-rayTM & DVD on April 26 from Anchor Bay Entertainment © 2015 SP JGAG, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 11Base_0416_Paramount Tosh - Jane Got Gun Giveaway.indd 11 3/9/2016 9:06:24 PM AVAILABLE 4/19/16 ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD! The Revenant follows the story of legendary explorer Hugh Glass on his quest for survival and justice. After a brutal bear attack, Glass is left for dead by a treacherous member of his hunting team. Against extraordinary odds, and enduring unimaginable grief, Glass battles a relentless winter in uncharted terrain. This epic adventure captures the extraordinary power of the human spirit in an immersive and visceral experience. Strong frontier combat and violence including gory images, a sexual assault, language and brief nudity Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian © 2015 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Revenant, LLC in the U.S. only. © 2015 Monarchy EnterprisesS.a.r.l. and Revenant, LLC in all other territories. All Rights Reserved. © 2016 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC. All Rights Reserved. "Twentieth Century Fox, Fox and associated logos are trademarks of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and its related entities. 12, 13, 17, 18 Base_0416_CommCoop.indd 12 3/9/2016 9:08:22 PM APRIL 2016 March 29 March 29 You’ll find this movie HERE before you can get it from Netflix or Redbox! The Hateful Eight Passengers bound for Red Rock seek refuge from a blizzard in a mountainside stagecoach stop. There they learn they may not make it to their destination. Anchor Bay • R • March 29 Point Break A young FBI agent infiltrates a team of thrill-seeking elite athletes who are suspected of carrying out a spate of crimes in extremely unusual ways. Warner • PG-13 • March 29 April 5 April 12 You’ll find this movie HERE before you can get it from Netflix or Redbox! Star Wars: The Force Awakens Two young people begin a journey to the far reaches of the galaxy looking for answers to the conflict between the Force and the Dark Side. Disney/Lucasfilm • PG-13 • April 5 The Forest A young American woman, Sara, journeys to a Japanese forest in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared. Universal • PG-13 • April 12 ® Occasionally some releases experience shipping or studio delays. Just ask our staff for the movies of your choice. Art may not be final and is subject to change. + + 5 2 & . ( 7 ' 6 + 8 7 7 / ( ; ANSWERS TO THIS PUZZLE Copyright © 2016 PuzzleJunction.com. Used by permission. & 0 $ 5 6 = 5 ( 6 & 8 ( $ 6 < 8 ) $ & 0 $ 5 6 = 5 ( 6 & 8 ( $ 6 < 8 ) $ + + 5 2 & . 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Available 4/19/16 KIOSK R 2015 92 min. Universal Daddy’s Home Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell, Lisa Cardellini, Thomas Haden Church, Bobby Cannavale Brad is a radio exec who wants to be the best possible stepdad to his wife’s two children. And then Dusty, her freewheeling ex-husband, breezes back into town. Available now PG-13 2015 96 min. Paramount Sisters Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz, Josh Brolin, John Cena, Dianne Wiest, John Leguizamo Two disconnected sisters return to their hometown and decide to throw one final high school–style party, which ends up turning into a cathartic rager. Available now R/unrated 2015 118/123 min. Universal The Night Before Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Anthony Mackie, Seth Rogen, Lizzy Caplan, Jillian Bell, Mindy Kaling, Michael Shannon Ethan, Chris, and Isaac, finally entering adulthood, plan their most memorable reunion yet, a night of debauchery and hilarity. Available now R 2015 101 min. Sony 15Base_0416_Comedy.indd 15 3/9/2016 9:14:35 PM Now Playing The Lady in the Van Maggie Smith, Alex Jennings, James Corden, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent, Deborah Findlay A woman of uncertain origins “temporarily” parked her van in Alan Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for fifteen years. Available 4/19/16 PG-13 2015 104 min. Sony Brooklyn Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Michael Zegen, Emory Cohen, Mary O’Driscoll Eilis Lacey moves from Ireland to Brooklyn. Her homesickness diminishes as a romance sweeps her into the intoxication of love. But her past disrupts her new life. Available now PG-13 2015 105 min. Fox Spotlight Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Stanley Tucci, Brian d’Arcy James, Billy Crudup, John Slattery This is the true story of a Pulitzer Prize–winning Boston Globe investigation into child sexual molestation in the Catholic Church. The results rocked the city and beyond. Available now R 2015 128 min. Open Road Films Room Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, William H. Macy, Joan Allen, Wendy Crewson A five-year-old and his mother are confined to a small, windowless room. They finally enact a risky plan to escape, bringing them face to face with the real world. Available now R 2015 99 min. Lionsgate 16Base_0416_NowPlay.indd 16 April 19 Ip Man 3 When a band of brutal gangsters, led by a crooked property developer, make a play to take over the city, Master Ip is forced to take a stand. Well Go USA • PG-13 • April 19 The Lady in the Van Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins, “temporarily” parked her van in a London driveway and proceeded to live there for 15 years. Sony • PG-13 • April 19 April 19 April 19 You’ll find this movie HERE before you can get it from Netflix or Redbox! Norm of the North When a developer threatens to build condos in his Arctic backyard, Norm does what any normal polar bear would do: He heads to New York to stop it. Lionsgate • PG • April 19 The Revenant Legendary explorer Hugh Glass is brutally mauled by a bear, then abandoned by members of his own hunting team. This is the story of his survival. Fox • R • April 19 ® Occasionally some releases experience shipping or studio delays. Just ask our staff for the movies of your choice. Art may not be final and is subject to change. APRIL 2016 You’ll find this movie HERE before you can get it from Netflix or Redbox! Fifty Shades of Black Marlon Wayans stars as the wealthy Christian Black, with whom a recent college graduate named Hannah Steele becomes entangled. Universal • R • April 19 Jane Got a Gun Young and pretty and with a soul of pure steel, Jane Hammond takes her fate into her own hands with the kind of bravado legends are made of. Anchor Bay • R • April 26 April 26 You’ll find this movie HERE before you can get it from Netflix or Redbox! You’ll find this movie HERE before you can get it from Netflix or Redbox! Krampus A dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays and accidentally unleashes the wrath of Krampus. Beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own. Universal • PG-13 • April 26 Ride Along 2 James reluctantly takes Ben with him to follow up on a lead in Miami. Plans for a quick trip go awry when they get into a compromising situation. Universal • PG-13 • April 26 ® Occasionally some releases experience shipping or studio delays. Just ask our staff for the movies of your choice. Art may not be final and is subject to change. Just when everybody thinks the ailing show Pucks! has been put out of its misery, the network un-cancels it. For Matt, the hits keep coming as an embezzlement scam drains his finances, forcing him to scramble for cash. Available 4/5/16 on DVD! © 2016 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Fresh from prison, Marty Kaan is driven to rebuild his faltering firm. Nothing’s going to distract him. He must remain focused on out-stabbing the backstabbers in a corporate battle for survival. Available 4/5/16 on DVD! © 2015 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. 19Base_0416_Paramount- Epsisodes&HouseLies.indd 19 Family The Peanuts Movie Voices of Noah Schnapp, Bill Melendez, Rebecca Bloom, Hadley Belle Miller, Kristin Chenoweth, Trombone Shorty Everyoneâ€™s favorite optimist, Charlie Brown, embarks on a heroic quest while his beagle pal, Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his archnemesis, the Red Baron. Available now G 2015 88 min. Fox Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip Jason Lee; voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney Alvin, Simon, and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend . . . and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal. Available now PG 2015 92 min. Fox Norm of the North Voices of Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Bill Nighy, Ken Jeong, Zachary Gordon, Colm Meaney, Janet Varney, Loretta Devin When the polar bear Norm hears that human homes are going to be built in his Arctic backyard, he heads to New York to stop the madness and save the Arctic. Available 4/19/16 PG 2015 90 min. Lionsgate The Good Dinosaur Voices of Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand, Raymond Ochoa, Anna Paquin, Sam Elliott, A.J. Buckley While an apatosaurus named Arlo is traveling through a harsh and mysterious landscape, he learns the power of confronting his fears and discovers what heâ€™s capable of. Available now PG 2015 94 min. Disney/Pixar 20Base_0416_Family.indd 20 3/9/2016 9:17:07 PM The Odd Couple stars Matthew Perry as endearing slob Oscar Madison and Thomas Lennon as uptight neat freak Felix Unger. These former college buddies become unlikely roommates and somehow make this crazy living arrangement work. Available 4/5/16 on DVD! © 2016 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, and Betty White are back for the final season of Hot in Cleveland! It’s the last hurrah for the ladies in a season filled with unexpected twists and turns! Including a series retrospective with favorite moments and bloopers! Available 4/26/16 on DVD! © 2015 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved. 21Base_0416_Paramount- Odd Coup & Hot Cleve.indd 21 3/9/2016 9:20:40 PM Follow us, Like us, Join us! Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney, Yukiyoshi Osawa, Eoin Macken A young American woman heads into the Aokigahara Forest in Japan, where people go to end their lives. She’s been fully warned to stay on the path. facebook.com/entathome @tweetentathome Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Emjay Anthony Nan Fornal [email protected] Print Art Director Brian Witham [email protected] Young Max turns his back on Christmas, which unleashes the KIOSK wrath of Krampus, a demonic force of ancient evil. MEDIA & MARKETING DIRECTOR Robert Stewart [email protected] SALES Director Available 4/26/16 PG-13 2015 98 min. Universal CUSTOMER SERVICE 630-796-9169 KIOSK Copyright © 2016 Home Entertainment Group, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Annual Subscriptions Available! • 22Base_0416_Masthead.indd 22 Have Entertainment at Home delivered by mail for only $26.95 a year! 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"The first rule of fight club is you do not talk about fight club". What is the second rule?	Quote by Chuck Palahniuk: “Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight ...” Chuck Palahniuk > Quotes > Quotable Quote “Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Third rule of Fight Club: if someone yells “stop!”, goes limp, or taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule: only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: the fights are bare knuckle. No shirt, no shoes, no weapons. Seventh rule: fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.” Read more quotes from Chuck Palahniuk Share this quote:	you do not talk about fight club
Which of the original colonies was the first to declare its independence from Great Britain in 1776, and was the first to secede from the Union 84 years later?	Narrator: Great. Ricky: Keep it up then. Narrator: This chick Marla Singer did not have testicular cancer. She was a liar. She had no diseases at all. I had seen her at Free and Clear, my blood parasites group Thursdays. Then at Hope, my bimonthly sickle cell circle. And again at Seize the Day, my tuberculosis Friday night. Marla, the big tourist. Her lie reflected my lie, and suddenly, I felt nothing. Narrator: If I did have a tumor, I'd name it Marla. Narrator: When you have insomnia, you're never really asleep... and you're never really awake. Tyler Durden: We buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't like Tyler Durden: We buy things we don't need, to impress people we don't like. Tyler Durden: The things you own end up owning you. Narrator: I am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection Narrator: I am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection. Tyler Durden: Now this is a chemical burn. Tyler Durden: We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no great war. No great depression. Our great war's a spiritual one...our great depression...is our lives. Narrator: You can swallow a pint of blood before you get sick. Tyler Durden: Listen up maggots! You are not special! You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake! You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else! We are the all singing, all dancing crap of the world! We are all part of the same compost keep. Narrator: On a long enough time line, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Tyler Durden: Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. Tyler Durden: It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. Tyler Durden: Now the passing etiquette. Do I give you the ass or the crotch? Tyler Durden: God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off. Tyler Durden: Fuck damnation, man! Fuck redemption! We are God's unwanted children? So be it! Tyler Durden: Now, a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch? Narrator: This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time. Tyler Durden: I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say let... lets evolve, let the chips fall where they may. Tyler Durden: We're consumers. We are by-products of a lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don't concern me. What concerns me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, some guy's name on my underwear. Rogaine, Viagra, Olestra. Narrator: Martha Stewart. Tyler Durden: Fuck Martha Stewart. Martha's polishing the brass on the Titanic. It's all going down, man. So fuck off with your sofa units and Strinne green stripe patterns. Narrator: You met me at a very strange time in my life. Tyler Durden: Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Third rule of Fight Club: someone yells "stop!", goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule: only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: No shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule: fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight. Tyler Durden: Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Third rule of Fight Club: someone yells 'stop!', goes limp, taps out, the fight is over. Fourth rule: only two guys to a fight. Fifth rule: one fight at a time, fellas. Sixth rule: No shirts, no shoes. Seventh rule: fights will go on as long as they have to. And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight. Tyler Durden: This is your pain. This is your burning hand. It's right here. Look at it. Narrator: I'm going to my cave. I'm going to my cave and I'm going to find my power animal. Tyler Durden: No! Don't deal with this the way those dead people do. Deal with it the way a living person does. Tyler Durden: Fuck off with your sofa units and strine green stripe patterns, I say never be complete, I say stop being perfect, I say let... lets evolve, let the chips fall where they may. Tyler Durden: We're consumers. We are by-products of a lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don't concern me. What concerns me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, some guy's name on my underwear. Rogaine, Viagra, Olestra. Narrator: Martha Stewart Narrator: Martha Stewart. Tyler Durden: Fuck Martha Stewart. Martha's polishing the brass on the Titanic. It's all going down, man. So fuck off with your sofa units and Strinne green stripe patterns. Tyler Durden: Self improvement is masturbation. Now self destruction... Narrator: When people think you're dying, they really, really listen to you, instead of just... Marla Singer: instead of just waiting for their turn to speak? Marla Singer: Instead of just waiting for their turn to speak? Tyler Durden: Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else. Ricky: Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off. Narrator: I am Jack's smirking revenge. Tyler Durden: Where'd you go, psycho boy? Narrator: I felt like destroying something beautiful. Tyler Durden: The things you own end up owning you. Tyler Durden: It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything Tyler Durden: It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything. Tyler Durden: You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. Narrator: I felt like putting a bullet between the eyes of every Panda that wouldn't screw to save its species. Narrator: On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Tyler Durden: Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. Tyler Durden: It's only after you lost everything that you are free to do anything. Tyler Durden: Yeah Yeah I 69'ed you I never pick up my phone Tyler Durden: Yeah I 69'ed you I never pick up my phone Tyler Durden: You're not your job, you're not how much money you have in bank, you're not the car you drive, you're not the contents of your wallet, you're not your fucking khakis, you're all-signing all-dancing crap of the world. Tyler Durden: You know why they put oxygen masks on planes? Narrator: So you can breath. Tyler Durden: Oxygen makes you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. Tyler Durden: "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake; You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else; We are all part of the same compost heap; We are the all singing, all dancing, crap of the world" Tyler Durden: You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake; You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else; We are all part of the same compost heap; We are the all singing, all dancing, crap of the world. Narrator: "With a gun barrel pressed between you're teeth, you speak only in vowels" Narrator: With a gun barrel pressed between you're teeth, you speak only in vowels. Tyler Durden: "You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world." Tyler Durden: You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. Narrator: "When deep space exploration ramps up, it will be the corporations that name everything, the Microsoft Galaxy, the IBM stellar sphere, Planet Starbucks... " Narrator: When deep space exploration ramps up, it will be the corporations that name everything, the Microsoft Galaxy, the IBM stellar sphere, Planet Starbucks... Narrator: On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone drops to zero Narrator: On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Tyler Durden: Fight Club was the beginning, now it's moved out of the basement, it's called Project Mayhem. Tyler Durden: Hey, you created me. I didn't create some loser alter-ego to make myself feel better. Take some responsibility! Tyler Durden: Okay! You are now firing a gun at your imaginary friend, next to 40,000 POUNDS OF NITROGLYCERINE! Tyler Durden: You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. Ricky: I understand. In death a member of project mayhem has a name. His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson. His name is... Tyler Durden: Okay! You are now firing a gun at your imaginary friend, next to 40,000 POUNDS OF NITROGLYCERINE! Tyler Durden: I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who have ever lived an entire generation pumping gas and waiting tables; or they're slaves with white collars. Advertisements have them chasing cars and clothes, working jobs they hate so they can buy shit they don't need. We are the middle children of history, with no purpose or place. We have no great war, or great depression. The great war is a spiritual war. The great depression is our lives. We were raised by television to believe that we'd be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars -- but we won't. And we're learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed-off. Narrator: When you have a gun in your mouth, you can only speak in vowels. Tyler Durden: The things you own end up owning you Tyler Durden: The things you own end up owning you. Tyler Durden: You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everyone else, and we are all part of the same compost pile. Tyler Durden: Listen up, maggots. You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake. You're the same decaying organic matter as everything else. Ricky: Do NOT F* with us! Marla Singer: I haven't been Fed like that since grade school. Marla Singer: I haven't been f**ed like that since grade school. Tyler Durden: I want you to hit me as hard as you can Tyler Durden: I want you to hit me as hard as you can. Tyler Durden: You have a kind of sick desperation in your laugh. Tyler Durden: This is our first day at Fight Club, no shirts, no shoes, and what we do on our first day is...fight! Tyler Durden: This is our first day at Fight Club, no shirts, no shoes, and what we do on our first day is... fight! Tyler Durden: Stop controlling everything and just let go! (Narrator lets car go and crashes) Tyler Durden: Stop controlling everything and just let go! [car crashes] Narrator: I've never been in an accident before, this is my first time. Tyler Durden: Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It's all right here. Emergency water landing - 600 miles an hour. Blank faces, calm as Hindu cows Tyler Durden: Oxygen gets you high. In a catastrophic emergency, you're taking giant panicked breaths. Suddenly you become euphoric, docile. You accept your fate. It's all right here. Emergency water landing - 600 miles an hour. Blank faces, calm as Hindu cows. Narrator: And then, something happened. I let go. Lost in oblivion. Dark and silent and complete. I found freedom. Losing all hope was freedom. Narrator: And then, something happened. I let go. Lost in oblivion. Dark and silent and complete. I found freedom. Losing all hope was freedom. Narrator: I got in everyone's hostile little face. Yes, these are bruises from fighting. Yes, I'm comfortable with that. I am enlightened. Narrator: Every evening I died, and every evening I was born again. Narrator: Every evening I died, and every evening I was born again, resurrected. Tyler Durden: Fuck what you know. You need to forget about what you know, that's your problem. Forget about what you think you know about life, about friendship, and especially about you and me. Tyler Durden: Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. Marla Singer: A condom is the glass slipper for our generation. You slip one on when you meet a stranger. You dance all night, and then you throw it away. The condom, I mean, not the stranger Marla Singer: ...Condom is the glass slipper of our generation. You slip one on when you meet a stranger. You dance all night... then you throw it away. The condom, I mean, not the stranger. Tyler Durden: First rule of fight club: Do not talk about fight club. Second rule of fight club: DO NOT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB! Tyler Durden: Welcome to Fight Club. The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Tyler Durden: You decide your own level of involvement! Narrator: On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone reaches zero. Narrator: On a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. Tyler Durden: You wanna make an omlet, you gotta break some eggs. Tyler Durden: You wanna make an omelet, you gotta break some eggs. Narrator: It was beautiful. We were selling rich women their own fat asses back to them. Narrator: If you wake up at a different time in a different place, could you wake up as a different person? Tyler Durden: I want you, to hit me as hard as you can Tyler Durden: I want you to hit me as hard as you can. Tyler Durden: Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken... Tyler Durden: Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken. Tyler Durden: Tomorrow will be the most beautiful day of Raymond K. Hessel's life. His breakfast will taste better than any meal you and I have ever tasted. Marla Singer: You are like Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Jackass Marla Singer: You're Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Jackass! Narrator: "With insomnia, nothing's real. Everything is far away. Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy." Narrator: With insomnia, nothing is real. Everything is far away. Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy. Tyler Durden: Where'd you go, psycho boy? Narrator: I felt like destroying something beautiful. Narrator: I am Jack's smirking revenge Narrator: I am Jack's smirking revenge. Tyler Durden: The first rule of fight club is: you do not talk about fight club Tyler Durden: The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. Tyler Durden: I am Jack prostate. I get cancer. I kill Jack. Tyler Durden: I am Jack's prostate. I get cancer. I kill Jack. Narrator: You wake up at Seatac, SFO, LAX. You wake up at O'Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth, BWI. Pacific, mountain, central. Lose an hour, gain an hour. This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time. You wake up at Air Harbor International. If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person? Tyler Durden: We are the all singing all dancing crap of the world. Narrator: I Am Jack's Complete Lack of Surprise Narrator: I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. Narrator: I Am Jack's Inflamed Sense of Rejection Narrator: You met me at a very strange time in my life. Tyler Durden: It could be worse. A woman could cut your penis off and throw it out the window of a moving car. Tyler Durden: First rule of Fight Club: You do not talk about Fight Club. Second rule of Fight Club: You DO NOT talk about Fight Club! Tyler Durden: Now, a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch? Narrator: This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time. ×Close Submit a Quote from 'Fight Club' A quote can be a single line from one character or a memorable dialog between several characters. Please make your quotes accurate. Quotes will be submitted for approval by the RT staff. Example:	i don't know
What does DSM-IV define as: A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. C. Disturbance in the way in which one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight. D. In postmenarcheal females, the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles.	Eating Disorders Eating Disorders References Definition and Etiology Eating disorders are syndromes characterized by significant disturbances in eating behavior and by distress or excessive concern about body shape or weight. Presentation varies, but eating disorders often occur with severe medical or psychiatric comorbidity. Denial of symptoms and reluctance to openly discuss make treatment especially challenging. Back to Top Classification Major eating disorders can be classified as anorexia nervosa ( Box 1 ), bulimia nervosa ( Box 2 ), and eating disorder not otherwise specified ( Box 3 ). Although criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision (DSM IV-TR), allow diagnosis of a specific eating disorder, many patients demonstrate a mixture of both anorexia and bulimia. Up to 50% of patients with anorexia nervosa develop bulimic symptoms, and a smaller percentage of patients who are initially bulimic develop anorexic symptoms. 2 Box 1: DSM IV-TR Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa Criteria Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height: Weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight <85% of that expected or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though under weight. Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape are experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight. Amenorrhea (at least three consecutive cycles) in postmenarchal girls and women. Amenorrhea is defined as periods occurring only following hormone (e.g., estrogen) administration. Type Restricting type: During the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). Binge-eating–purging type: During the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). Adapted from American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed, text rev. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000. See also Boxes 1 and 2 . Anorexia nervosa has two subtypes: restrictive eating and binge eating alternating with restrictive eating at different periods of the illness. Patients with bulimia nervosa can be subclassified into purging and nonpurging. Many patients have a combination of eating disorder symptoms that cannot be strictly categorized as either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa and are technically diagnosed as eating disorder not otherwise specified. Obesity alone is not considered an eating disorder. Listed in the DSM IV-TR appendix, binge eating disorder is defined as uncontrolled binge eating without emesis or laxative abuse. It is often, but not always, associated with obesity symptoms. Night eating syndrome includes morning anorexia, increased appetite in the evening, and insomnia. Often obese, these patients can have complete or partial amnesia for eating during the night. There are overlaps in anorexia nervosa and other specific eating disorder diagnoses with eating disorder not otherwise specified. 3 Eating disorders before puberty include food avoidance emotional disorder, which is similar to anorexia; selective eating of only a few foods; pervasive refusal syndrome, with reduced intake and added behavioral problems; and functional dysphagia with no organic etiology. Unpleasant mealtimes and conflicts over eating can precede these conditions of childhood. Pica and rumination are not considered eating disorders, but rather are feeding disorders of infancy and childhood. Back to Top Risk Factors and Prevalence Eating disorders have been reported in up to 4% of adolescents and young adults. The most common age at onset for anorexia nervosa is the mid teens; in 5% of the patients, the onset of the disorder is in the early twenties. The onset of bulimia nervosa is usually in adolescence but may be as late as early adulthood. 2, 4 Methodology differs and makes it challenging to pinpoint, but it is generally believed the eating disorders have grown over the past 50 years. 5 Gender Prevalence Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are more commonly seen in girls and women. Estimates of female-to-male ratio range from 6 : 1 to 10 : 1. Lifetime Prevalence The reported lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa among women has ranged from 0.9% - 2.2% and 0.2 - 0.3% in men (Keski-R et al 2008). 6 With regard to bulimia nervosa, estimates of lifetime prevalence among women range from 1.5% to 2% and 0.5% in men. Prevalence of eating disorders in young children is unknown. However, children as young as 5 years have reported awareness of dieting and know that inducing vomiting can produce weight loss. Eating disorder not otherwise specified is the most prevalent eating disorder. The National Comorbidity Survey Replication reported Binge Eating Disorders in 3.5% of women and 2% of men. Of patients requesting treatment for obesity, 5% - 10% may have binge eating disorders. 7 Cultural Considerations Eating disorders are more common in industrialized societies where there is an abundance of food and being thin, especially for women, is considered attractive. 4 Eating disorders are most common in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. However, the prevalence in non-Western countries is growing. 8 Rates are increasing in Asia, especially in Japan and China, where women are exposed to cultural change and modernization. In the United States, eating disorders are common in young Latin American, Native American, and African American women, but the rates are still lower than in white women. African American women are more likely to develop bulimia and more likely to purge. Female athletes involved in running, gymnastics, or ballet and male body builders or wrestlers are at increased risk. Back to Top Pathophysiology and Natural History Biologic and psychosocial factors are implicated in the pathophysiology, but the causes and mechanisms underlying eating disorders remain uncertain. 2, 4 More about environmental and genetic risk has recently has been uncovered and is leading to greater understanding. 9, 10 Biologic Factors First-degree female relatives and monozygotic twin offspring of patients with anorexia nervosa have higher rates of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Children of patients with anorexia nervosa have a lifetime risk for anorexia nervosa that is tenfold that of the general population (5%). Families of patients with bulimia nervosa have higher rates of substance abuse, particularly alcoholism, affective disorders, and obesity. Traits such as impulsivity, negative affect, perfectionism, and low self esteem are risk factors that may largely be genetically determined. 11 Treasure describes an emotional phenotype in which fear-anxiety and reward system distortions are operating. 12 Endogenous opioids might contribute to denial of hunger in patients with anorexia nervosa. Some hypothesize that dieting can increase the risk for developing an eating disorder. Increased endorphin levels have been described in patients with bulimia nervosa after purging and may be likely to induce feelings of well being. Diminished norepinephrine turnover and activity are suggested by reduced levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol in the urine and cerebrospinal fluid of some patients with anorexia nervosa. Antidepressants often benefit patients with bulimia nervosa and support a pathophysiologic role for serotonin and norepinephrine. Starvation results in many biochemical changes such as hypercortisolemia, nonsuppression of dexamethasone, suppression of thyroid function, and amenorrhea. Several computed tomography (CT) studies of the brain have revealed enlarged sulci and ventricles, a finding that is reversed with weight gain. In one study using positron emission tomography (PET), metabolism was higher in the caudate nucleus during the anorectic state than after hyperalimentation. Figure 1: Click to Enlarge Anorexia risk may increase with a polymorphism of the promoter region of serotonin 2a receptor. Monteleone and Maj reported not only that specific receptor but also the brain derived neurotrophic factor gene to be associated with restrictive type anorexia nervosa. 11 The melancortin 4 receptor gene is hypothesized to regulate weight and appetite. Polymorphism in the gene for agouti-related peptide might also play a role at the melancortin receptor. In bulimia nervosa there is excessive secretion of ghrelin. Ghrelin receptor gene polymorphism is associated with both hyperphagia of bulimia and Prader-Willi syndrome. Perhaps some of the most fascinating new research addresses the overlap between uncontrolled compulsive eating and compulsive drug seeking in drug addiction. 13, 14 Reduction in ventral striatal dopamine is found in both of these groups. The lower the frequency of dopamine D2 receptors, the higher the body mass index. Obese persons might eat to temporarily increase activity in these reward circuits. Frequent visual food stimuli paired with increased sensitivity of right orbitofrontal brain activity is likely to initiate eating behavior. Marijuana's well-known appetite stimulant effect is likely due to its agonist activity at cannabinoid receptors, and cannabinoid receptor antagonism has been associated with reduced binge eating ( Fig. 1 ). Psychosocial Factors Anorexia may be a reaction to demands on adolescents to behave more independently or to respond to societal pressures to be slender. Movies, magazines, and other media show excessively slim starlets and models creating an unhealthy image of what young women should look like. This adds to the internal pressure for perfectionism. Anorexia nervosa patients are usually high achievers, and two thirds live at home with parents. Some consider their bodies to be under the control of their parents. Family dynamics alone, however, do not cause anorexia nervosa. Self starvation may be an effort to gain validation as a unique person. Patients with bulimia nervosa have been described as having difficulties with impulse regulation. Course and Prognosis As a general guideline, it appears that one third of patients fully recover, one third retain subthreshold symptoms, and one third maintain a chronic eating disorder. Sadly, mortality from anorexia nervosa in particular remains a great concern. 15 Anorexia Nervosa Long-term follow-up shows recovery rates ranging from 44% to 76%, with prolonged recovery time (57 to 59 months). Mortality (up to 20%) is primarily from cardiac arrest or suicide. Good prognostic factors are admission of hunger, lessening of denial, and improved self esteem. Poorer prognostic factors are initial lower minimum weight, presence of vomiting or laxative abuse, failure to respond to previous treatment, disturbed family relationships, and conflicts with parents. Bulimia Nervosa Little long-term follow-up data exist. Short-term success is 50% to 70%, with relapse rates between 30% and 50% after 6 months. These patients have an overall better prognosis as compared with anorexia nervosa patients. Poor prognostic factors are hospitalization, higher frequency of vomiting, poor social and occupational functioning, poor motivation for recovery, severity of purging, presence of medical complications, high levels of impulsivity, longer duration of illness, delayed treatment, and premorbid history of obesity and substance abuse. Signs and Symptoms Anorexia Nervosa The essential features of anorexia nervosa are refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and significant disturbance in the perception of the shape or size of one's body. Patients commonly lack insight into the problem and are brought to professional attention by a family member. DSM IV-TR identifies two subtypes of anorexia nervosa: restricting type and binge eating-purging type. Comorbid psychiatric symptoms include depressive symptoms such as depressed mood, social withdrawal, irritability, insomnia, and decreased sexual interest. Many depressive features may be secondary to the physiologic sequelae of semistarvation. Symptoms of mood disturbances need to be reassessed after partial or complete weight restoration. Obsessive-compulsive features-thoughts of food, hoarding food, picking or pulling apart small portions of food, or collecting recipes-are common. Anxiety symptoms and concerns of eating in public are also common. Bulimia Nervosa The essential features are binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behavior such as fasting, vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising to prevent weight gain. Binge eating is typically triggered by dysphoric mood states, interpersonal stressors, intense hunger following dietary restraints, or negative feelings related to body weight, shape, and food. Patients are typically ashamed of their eating problems, and binge eating usually occurs in secrecy. Unlike anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa patients are typically within normal weight range and restrict their total caloric consumption between binges. Diagnosis Rating Instruments In addition to the clinical interview, the Eating Attitudes Test, Eating Disorders Inventory, Body Shape Questionnaire, and others can be used to assess eating disorders. 16 Comorbidities and Coexisting Conditions with Eating Disorders Psychiatric Common comorbid conditions include major depressive disorder or dysthymia (50% to 75%), sexual abuse (20% to 50%), obsessive-compulsive disorder (25% with anorexia nervosa), substance abuse (12% to 18% with anorexia nervosa, especially the binge-purge subtype, and 30% to 37% with bulimia nervosa), and bipolar disorder (4% to 13%). 17, 18 Medical There are many complications related to weight loss, purging and vomiting, and laxative abuse (Box 4). When obesity is associated with the eating disorder, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, joint injury, hypertension, and cardiac and respiratory disorders can result. 19, 20, 21 Liver damage, headaches, and others are not infrequent. 22, 23 Patients with infertility or who are pregnant should also be screened for eating disorders as treatment and management will be greatly impacted. 24, 25 The role of obstetric complications, along with dysmaturity may actually impact vulnerability to later eating disorders. 26 Cardiac complications and osteoporosis may result from anorexia nervosa and require intervention. 27, 28 Box 4: Medical Complications of Eating Disorders Weight Loss Structural and functional brain changes Thyroid dysfunction Purging (Abuse of Laxatives, Ipecac, or Diuretics) Abnormal colonic motility Gastrointestinal irritation, bleeding, or reflux Parotid abnormalities Anorexia Nervosa Medical illnesses include brain tumors and other malignancies, gastrointestinal disease, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Other psychiatric disorders with disturbed appetite or food intake include depression, somatization disorder, and schizophrenia. Patients with depressive disorder generally do not have an intense fear of obesity or body image disturbance. Depressed patients usually have a decreased appetite, whereas anorexia nervosa patients claim to have a normal appetite and to feel hungry. Patients with somatization disorder do not generally express a morbid fear of obesity. Severe weight loss and amenorrhea of more than 3 months are unusual in somatization disorder. Schizophrenic patients might have delusions about food being poisoned but rarely are they concerned with caloric content. They also do not express a fear of gaining weight. Bulimia nervosa patients usually maintain their weight within a normal range. Bulimia Nervosa General medical conditions of central nervous system pathology, such as brain tumors, can simulate bulimia nervosa. Kluver-Bucy syndrome is a rare condition characterized by hyperphagia, hypersexuality, and compulsive licking and biting. Klein-Levin syndrome, also rare, is more common in men and consists of hyperphagia and periodic hypersomnia. Patients with the binge–purge subtype of anorexia nervosa fail to maintain their weight within a normal range. Patients with borderline personality disorder sometimes binge eat but do not have other criteria for bulimia nervosa. Back to Top Treatment A comprehensive treatment plan including a combination of nutritional rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and medication is recommended (see Fig. 1 ). 29 The patient's weight and cardiac and metabolic status determines the acuteness of the illness and the need for hospitalization ( Box 5 ). Treatment guidelines are well documented by the American Psychiatric Association in its practice guideline for treating eating disorders. 29 Box 5: Indications for Hospitalization Weight <75% of individually estimated healthy weight Rapid, persistent decline in oral intake or weight despite maximally intensive outpatient interventions Prior knowledge of weight at which physical instability is likely to occur in the particular patient Serious physical abnormalities Vital sign changes including orthostatic hypotension and heart rate <40 bpm or >110 bpm Inability to sustain body core temperature Comorbid psychiatric illness (suicidal, depressed, unable to care for self, etc.) Aims of treatment are to restore the patient's nutritional status and establish healthy eating patterns, treat medical complications, correct core dysfunctional thoughts related to the eating disorder, enlist family support, and provide family counseling. Transdiagnostic Cognitive Behavior can be tailored to a specific patient's eating disorder. 30 A broad form also addresses comorbidities, while the focused form resembles cognitive behavioural therapy as described later in this report. Nutritional Rehabilitation Expected rates of controlled weight gain should be 2 to 3 pounds per week for inpatients and 0.5 to 1 pound per week for outpatients. Intake levels should start at 30 to 40 kcal/kg per day (1000-1600 kcal/day) in divided meals. If oral feeding is not possible, progressive nocturnal nasogastric feeding can lessen distress (physical and psychological) during early weight gain. Daily morning weights, vital signs, fluid intake, and urine output should be measured. Frequent physical examinations should be performed to detect circulatory overload, refeeding edema, and bloating. Monitor serum electrolyte levels (low potassium or phosphorus), and get an electrocardiogram if needed. Stool softeners, not laxatives, should be used to treat constipation. The diet should be supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Patients should be given positive reinforcement (praise) and negative reinforcement (restrictions of exercise and purging). They should be closely supervised, and access to bathrooms should be restricted for at least 2 hours after meals. After weight restoration has progressed, stretching can begin, followed by gradual reintroduction of aerobic exercise. Psychosocial Treatment Psychosocial treatments are required during hospitalization as well as after discharge. 6-9 Commonly used models include dynamic expressive-supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques (planned meals and self-monitoring, exposure, and response prevention). Research data more strongly support the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral and interpersonal therapies. Although cognitive-behavioral therapy is important, its benefits increase with the addition of a nutritional component. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has proved superior to treatments for behavioural weight loss when the objective is to reduce binge eating. 31 Behavioral management has also been successful in treating anorexia nervosa. 32 Group therapy, support groups, and 12-step programs like Overeaters Anonymous may be useful as adjunctive treatment and for relapse prevention. Family therapy and marital therapy are helpful in cases of dysfunctional family patterns and interpersonal distress. Maudsley Hospital developed a successful treatment that allows families to refeed patients at home. This manual based outpatient therapy has been particularly successful with shorter duration anorexia nervosa. Weight restoration and general stability make this an excellent option. 33, 34, 35 Guided self-help manuals can reduce the number of binge–purge episodes in at least some patients with bulimia nervosa. 36 In fact, a manual-driven self-help approach incorporating cognitive-behavioral principles combined with keeping contact with a general practice physician in one study did as well as specialist-based treatment in reducing bulimic episodes. 37 Computer-based health education can improve knowledge and attitudes as a patient-friendly adjunct to therapy. One unique approach is a behavioral family-based therapy for elementary school–age children with behavioral problems, disordered eating, and obesity. Children and parents were examined and tested before and after the intervention and all lost weight. Although eating disorders did not resolve, other behavioral problems did. There was less parental dissatisfaction as children developed better awareness and behavior patterns. 38 Higher self-directedness at baseline is a good predictor of improvement at the end of a variety of interventions, as well as follow-up 6 to 12 months later. This might help explain why manual-driven self-help and psychoeducational programs that emphasize improvement of self-esteem and reassessment of body image have achieved some success. Medication Anorexia Nervosa When there is no psychiatric comorbidity like depression, the evidence for significant efficacy is lacking, with very few methodologically sound studies. 2, 29, 39 Although medication is less successful in anorexia nervosa than in bulimia nervosa, it is most often used in anorexia nervosa after weight has been restored but may begin earlier when indicated. Medication helps maintain weight and normal eating behavior and can treat associated psychiatric symptoms. 40 Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (eg, fluoxetine) are commonly considered for patients with anorexia nervosa who have depressive, obsessive, or compulsive symptoms that persist in spite of or in the absence of weight gain. Tricyclic antidepressants are also effective in treating eating disorders. However, they should be used with caution, because they have greater risks of cardiac complications, including arrhythmias and hypotension. Low doses of antipsychotics may be used for marked agitation and psychotic thinking, but they can frighten patients by increasing appetite dramatically, particularly if the patient is not psychotic. Antianxiety medications, such as benzodiazepines, may be used for extreme anticipatory anxiety concerning eating. Estrogen replacement alone does not generally appear to reverse osteoporosis or osteopenia, and unless there is weight gain, it does not prevent further bone loss. There is very limited evidence of bisphosphonate's efficacy in treating associated osteoporosis. Promotility agents such as metoclopramide are commonly used for bloating and abdominal pains due to gastroparesis and premature satiety, but they require monitoring for drug-related extrapyramidal side effects. Recombinant human growth hormone has helped stabilize patients medically in shorter hospital stays. Bulimia Nervosa Antidepressants are used primarily to reduce the frequency of disturbed eating and treat comorbid depression, anxiety, obsessions, and certain impulse-disorder symptoms. Medication can reduce binge episodes, but is not sufficient to be the sole treatment. The only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for bulimia nervosa is the SSRI fluoxetine (Prozac). Several studies have demonstrated efficacy of other SSRIs including sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa); tricyclic antidepressants including imipramine (Tofranil), nortryptyline (Pamelor), and desipramine (Norpramin); and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) including tranylcypromine (Parnate). Doses of tricyclic antidepressants and MAOIs parallel those used to treat depression, but higher doses of fluoxetine (up to 80 mg/day) may be needed to treat bulimia nervosa, possibly by reducing an obsessive compulsive component of this disorder. Bupropion (Wellbutrin) has been associated with seizures in purging bulimic patients and its use is not recommended. Other psychotropic drugs are sometimes used. Lithium continues to be used occasionally as an adjunct for comorbid disorders. Various anticonvulsants have successfully reduced binge eating for some patients, but they can also increase appetite. Topiramate lowers appetite but has been associated with cognitive side effects. Sibutramine has also been used to reduce appetite in bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. 41 Back to Top Screening and Prevention Prevention programs presented in schools to both genders or through organizations like the Girl Scouts have been successful in reducing risk factors for eating disorders. Often focusing on media literacy and interactive discussion, there are increasing reports of short-term and longer-term benefits in body satisfaction and acceptance of normal growth. 38 Back to Top Summary The lifetime prevalence of anorexia and bulimia combined may be as high as 5% or more of the general population. Bulimia nervosa is more common than anorexia nervosa and has a better prognosis. The rate of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders is higher in the families of bulimic than anorectic patients. Hospitalization is indicated when body weight drops below 75% of ideal body weight, in the presence of significant fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and when heart rate falls below 40 bpm or rises above 110 bpm when the patient stands. Antidepressant medication is more effective for bulimia nervosa than for anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa respond well to a combination of individual, family, and group psychotherapy interventions that focus on the recovery of normal eating behavior.	Anorexia nervosa
What American composer, and head of the Marine Band from 1880 to 1892, was known as The March King?	TOP RATED Help for Eating Disorders – Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Inadequate food intake leading to a weight that is clearly too low. Intense fear of weight gain, obsession with weight and persistent behavior to prevent weight gain. Self-esteem overly related to body image. Inability to appreciate the severity of the situation. Binge-Eating/Purging Type involves binge eating and/or purging behaviors during the last three months. Restricting Type does not involve binge eating or purging. Eating disorders experts have found that prompt intensive treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery. Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of anorexia nervosa. Warning Signs Dramatic weight loss. Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting. Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.). Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss. Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.” Denial of hunger. Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate). Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food. Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the need to “burn off” calories taken in. Withdrawal from usual friends and activities. In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns. Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation.; The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This “slowing down” can have serious medical consequences: Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones. Muscle loss and weakness. Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure. Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness. Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common. Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm. About Anorexia Nervosa Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women. Between 0.5–1% of American women suffer from anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women. Between 5-20% of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa will die. The probabilities of death increases within that range depending on the length of the condition. Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition. Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence. Defining characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa: Individuals with anorexia nervosa are unwilling or unable to maintain a body weight that is normal or expectable for their age and height (most clinicians use 85% of normal weight as a guide). Individuals with anorexia nervosa typically display a pronounced fear of weight gain and a dread of becoming fat although they are dramatically underweight. Concerns and perceptions about their weight have a extremely powerful influence and impact on their self-evaluation. The seriousness of the weight loss and its physical effects is minimized or denied (women with the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa have missed at least three consecutive menstrual cycles). Diagnostic criteria of anorexia nervosa include two subtypes of the disorder that describe two distinct behavioral patterns. Individuals with the Restricting Type maintain their low body weight purely by restricting food intake and increased activity (i.e. compulsive exercise). Those with the Binge-Eating/Purging Type usually restrict their food intake but also regularly engage in binge eating and/or purging behaviors (i.e. self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas). Binge-Eating/Purging Type of Anorexia Nervosa is also frequently associated with other impulse control problems and mood disorders. People who suffer from anorexia often have low self-esteem and a tremendous need to control their surroundings and emotions. The eating disorder is often a reaction to external and internal conflicts (i.e. anxiety, stress, and unhappiness can be leading factors). Profile: Anorexia Nervosa The person suffering Anorexia is generally extremely sensitive about being fat, or has an intense fear of becoming fat, and of losing control over the amount of food he/she eats. This hyper-sensitivity is accompanied by the desire to control his/her emotions and reactions to these emotions. Low self-esteem and the constant need for acceptance leads to obsessive dieting and starvation as a way to control not only weight, but also feelings and actions regarding their emotions. Many anorexics feel they are not deserving of life's gifts and pleasures. They often deprive themselves of situations that offer pleasure. Starvation or restriction, obsessive exercise, calorie counting, a constant obsession with food and health issues, self-induced vomiting, the use of excessive amounts of laxative, diuretics, and/or diet pills, and a persistent concern with body image can all be some of the physical indications that someone suffers from Anorexia Nervosa. People suffering with Anorexia may also go through periods of Bulimia (binging and purging) as well. There are numerous ways a person with Anorexia can exhibit their disorder. The anorexic attempts to maintain strict control over food/caloric intake. Periods of starvation, obsessive counting of calories, compulsive exercising, and/or purging after meals are among the most common symptoms. In some cases, an anorexic will seem to eat normal meals with only periods of restriction. They use diet pills to control their appetite, or laxatives to attempt to rid their body of food, both of which are dangerous and useless in producing weight loss results. Anorexics will deny hunger, make excuses to avoid eating, will often hide food they claim to have eaten, or attempt to purge the food away with self-induced vomiting, or by taking laxatives. Diagnostic Criteria: Anorexia Nervosa The following definition of Anorexia Nervosa is used to assist mental health professionals in making a clinical diagnosis. The clinical criteria is not always representative of what one living with anorexia feels. Please note, you can still suffer from Anorexia even if one of the below signs is not present. One can not simply read the criteria and think "I don't have one of the symptoms, so I am not Anorexic" or "I don't have a problem with food." 1. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected). 2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. 3. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight. 4. In postmenarcheal females (the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. Restricting Type: during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). Binge-Eating Type or Purging Type: during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating OR purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). Definition/Review of Anorexia Nervosa: Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder effected by a complex mixture of social, psychological and physical problems. Characteristics are: A. An intense drive for thinness B. An intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat C. A disturbance in body image D. In women- a cessation of the menstrual cycle for at least three months E. In men- a decreased sexual drive Facts About Anorexia Nervosa: A. There are two types of Anorexia Nervosa: 1. Restrictive type B. 90-95% of individuals with Anorexia Nervosa are female. C. It affects about 1 in 2400 adolescents. D. It typically develops in early to mid-adolescents. E. Psychological problems are displaced onto food. F. It is usually preceded by dieting behavior. G. Unusual food behaviors are practiced. H. Need to vicariously enjoy food by cooking it, serving it, or being around it is common. I. Preoccupation with body weight and image. J. Dieting becomes increasingly important. K. Denial of the condition can be extreme. L. Body image disturbance (misperception of body size and shape) is common. M. Pronounced emotional changes are common. N. One-third of anorexics subsequently develop Bulimia Nervosa. Common purging behaviors include:	i don't know
March 24, 1989 saw one of the worst man-made ecological disasters when what oil tanker ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound Alaska?	March 24, 1989: Valdez Spill Causes Environmental Catastrophe \| WIRED 1989: The Exxon Valdez runs aground in Prince William Sound, spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil across 1,300 miles of Alaskan coastline. In terms of environmental damage, it ranks among the worst man-made catastrophes ever, and one whose repercussions are felt to this day. The Exxon Valdez , a single-hull oil tanker measuring nearly 1,000 feet long, was laden with 53 million gallons of crude. After clearing the Valdez Narrows, Master Joseph Hazelwood briefly resumed control of the ship from the port of Valdez harbor pilot. Then he quit the wheel house, leaving the third mate and an able seaman to handle the ship. He picked a bad time to leave the bridge. Exxon Valdez was outside the normal shipping lane in an effort to avoid icebergs. Hazelwood had obtained permission from the Coast Guard to change course, which also gave the Coast Guard shared responsibility for ensuring a safe passage. But the ship was not properly monitored and subsequently struck Bligh Reef while maneuvering toward open water just past midnight. As captain, Hazelwood was ultimately responsible for what happened. Not only did he err in leaving the bridge at a critical moment, he compounded his mistake by handing control of the ship to two men who had not completed their mandatory six hours off duty before beginning a 12-hour watch. The vessel may have also been on autopilot when it hit the reef. Worse, Hazelwood had been drinking. It remains unclear whether the alcohol impaired his judgment. He admitted during the inquiry to having had “two or three vodkas” earlier in the evening. The collision tore a gash in the vessel’s hull. Before the leak could be stopped, 10.8 million gallons of crude oil oozed into Prince William Sound and began spreading along the coast. The first cleanup crews attempted to use a combo of dispersant, surfactant and solvent to attack the oil globules, but the lack of wave action hindered that approach, which was soon abandoned. Booms and skimmers were brought in, but most arrived after the spill had moved beyond the containment phase. When they were deployed, more than 24 hours after the Exxon Valdez ran aground, the combination of thick oil and large concentrations of kelp fouled much of the machinery. High-pressure, hot-water hoses were turned on the rocks to disperse the oil. While this was effective in dispersing the oil, it also displaced or destroyed microbial organisms, upsetting the coastal marine food chain and adding to the environmental damage. Attempts to limit the spill’s spread were further hampered by a storm that hit the area three days later. Exxon, the oil giant that operated the ship, was roundly excoriated for its slow response to the crisis. When it finally did bestir itself to action, the company mounted what was then the costliest oil-spill cleanup effort in history. The damage, however, was done. In terms of volume, the Exxon Valdez spill is not even close to being the largest on record. But in terms of environmental impact , it may have been the worst. The sensitive marine habitat around Prince William Sound nestles inside jagged coastline, with many inlets and coves. This is where much of the oil collected, wreaking havoc on the rich variety of flora and fauna. The statistics are grim. Upwards of half a million seabirds were killed outright by the spill. Scientists also counted among the dead 1,000 otters, 300 harbor seals, 250 bald eagles and 22 killer whales . The number of salmon and herring eggs destroyed was put in the billions. More than 20 years on, most of the region has recovered, but not entirely. A 2007 study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that 26,000 gallons of crude oil still contaminates the coastline near Valdez. Some scientists believe it will be at least another decade before that stretch of the Alaskan coast returns to its natural state. As for Hazelwood, he took the full brunt of America’s collective outrage, but somehow emerged relatively unscathed. His master’s license was suspended but not revoked, and in the end he paid a relatively paltry fine of $50,000. He was sentenced to 1,000 hours of community service, which was performed in Anchorage. He has, however, had little luck finding further employment as a seagoing skipper. Source: NOAA, Wikipedia Photo: While the use of high-pressure sprays on rocks effectively helped move the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the Alaskan shoreline, it further damaged the ecosystem by destroying and displacing marine life. (Natalie Fobes/Corbis) This article first appeared on Wired.com March 24, 2009. See Also:	Exxon Valdez
Where in the human body would you find the incus, malleus, and stapes?	Case Study Application for Oil Spills ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Summary A detailed example is presented in this module describing problems associated with spills of petroleum hydrocarbons, by far the most common material lost in Alabama transportation accidents. Most of the accidents involving petroleum products and materials in Alabama are traffic accidents where truck diesel fuel is spilled. However, the largest spills are usually associated with transfer accidents and pipeline breaks. Most of the prediction information available is for marine spills (usually tanker accidents) and focuses on slick movement dispersal. This module summarizes this information by showing specific procedures for calculating the spread and transport of oil slicks. This example illustrates procedures for buoyant materials for which specific methods have been developed (based on actual field studies). These procedures enable the calculation of the magnitude of potential exposures to these hazardous materials. Ocean oil pollution from large oil spills involving tanker accidents are thought to be the most important source of oil in the ocean by the public. Table 7-1 lists the largest oil spills that have been recorded (greater than 100,000 tons). However, most oil pollution in the ocean actually comes from municipal and industrial runoff, cleaning of shipï¿½s bilges and tanks, and other routine activities and events. Table 7-1ï¿½ Oil Spills of 100,000 Tons (640,000 Barrels), or More Date Included are photographs from selected notable oil spills, some of which are included below (from http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/photos/ships/ships.html ): The Amoco Cadiz The AMOCO CADIZ ran aground off the coast of Brittany, France on March 16, 1978, spilling 68.7 million gallons of oil. It currently is #9 on the list of the largest oil spills of all time. The Argo Merchant The ARGO MERCHANT ran aground on Fishing Rip (Nantucket Shoals), 29 nautical miles southeast of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts in high winds and ten foot seas. On December 21, the ARGO MERCHANT broke apart and spilled its entire cargo of 7.7 million gallons of No. 6 fuel oil The Bouchard B155 On August 10, 1993, three ships collided in Tampa Bay, Florida: the BOUCHARD B155 barge, the freighter BALSA 37, and the barge OCEAN 255. The BOUCHARD B155 spilled an estimated 336,000 gallons of No. 6 fuel oil into Tampa Bay. Below is a photo of the OCEAN 255 barge after the collision. The Burmah Agate On November 1, 1979, the BURMAH AGATE collided with the freighter MIMOSA southeast of Galveston Entrance in the Gulf of Mexico. An estimated 2.6 million gallons of oil was released into the environment; another 7.8 million gallons was consumed by the fire onboard. This spill is currently #55 on the all-time list of largest oil spills. The Cibro Savannah The CIBRO SAVANNAH exploded and caught fire while departing the pier at the CITGO facility in Linden, New Jersey, on March 6, 1990. About 127,000 gallons of oil remained unaccounted for after the incident: no one knows how much oil burned and how much spilled into the environment. The Exxon Valdez The EXXON VALDEZ ran aground on Bligh Reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska on March 24, 1989, spilling 10.8 million gallons of oil into the marine environment. It is currently #53 on the all-time list of largest oil spills. On March 24, 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef in the upper part of Prince William Sound. The tanker was carrying approximately 53 million gallons of crude oil. Within a few days, it had spilled almost 11 million gallons of the oil into Prince William Sound. Shortly after leaving the Port of Valdez, the Exxon Valdez ran aground on Bligh Reef. The picture below was taken 3 days after the vessel grounded, just before a storm arrived. During the first few days of the spill, heavy sheens of oil, such as the sheen visible in this photograph, covered large areas of the surface of Prince William Sound Beginning 3 days after the vessel grounded, a storm pushed large quantities of fresh oil onto the rocky shores of many of the beaches in the Knight Island chain. In this photograph, pooled oil is shown stranded in the rocks. Oil being skimmed from the sea surface. Here, two boats are towing a collection boom. Oil concentrated within the boom is being picked up by the skimmer (the vessel at the apex of the boom). In many locations in Prince William Sound, the action of tides and currents distributed oil throughout the entire intertidal zone. In Northwest Bay on Knight Island, tides have deposited oil on this rocky beach face up to the top of the intertidal zone. Workers using high-pressure, hot-water washing to clean an oiled shoreline. In this treatment method, used on many Prince William Sound beaches, oil is hosed from beaches, collected within floating boom, then skimmed from the water surface. Other common treatment methods included cold-water flushing of beaches, manual beach cleaning (by hand or with absorbent pom-poms), bioremediation (application of fertilizers to stimulate growth of local bacteria, which degrade oil), and the mechanical relocation of oiled sediments to places where they could be cleaned by wave and tide action. A brown sediment plume and sheens of refloated oil drift away from this oiled beach as it is cleaned by a team applying high-pressure, hot-water washing. Refloating of oil and release of sediment are often unavoidable consequences of shoreline cleanup that can cause additional environmental harm. Ixtoc I The IXTOC I exploratory well blew out on June 3, 1979 in the Bay of Campeche off Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. By the time the well was brought under control in 1980, an estimated 140 million gallons of oil had spilled into the bay. The IXTOC I is currently #2 on the all-time list of largest oil spills of all-time, eclipsed only by the deliberate release of oil, from many different sources, during the 1991 Gulf War. The Jupiter The JUPITER was offloading gasoline at Bay City, Michigan on September 16, 1990, when a fire started on board the vessel. The Mega Borg The MEGA BORG released 5.1 million gallons of oil as the result of a lightering accident and subsequent fire. The incident occurred 60 nautical miles south-southeast of Galveston, Texas on June 8, 1990. 1991 Gulf War The largest oil spill of all-time was the deliberate release of oil, from many different sources, during the 1991 Gulf War. 1,450,000 barrels were released at Sea Island, Kuwait. Potential Movement and Effects Associated with Oil Spills The amount of oil at any location, and associated impacts, is determined by both the drift movement of the spilled oil and the spreading of the oil. The Trajectory Analysis Handbook (NOAA undated), attached to this module as a pdf document, outlines the mechanisms and procedures that can be used to predict the gross movement of oil spills. The following discussion is a summary of oil spill analysis and impact reports prepared by Woodward Clyde Consultants for numerous clients for submission to regulatory agencies. The following discussions are excerpts and summaries from these reports and indicate how impacts associated from oil spills can be evaluated, especially in regards to spill movement and dispersion. The fate and effects of oil spills on the environment, based on selected historical oil spill incidents, are also described. Parameters Affecting Oil Spill Movement The movements, and other characteristics, of a spill of petroleum hydrocarbons lost on water are controlled by weather conditions (wind, temperature, and rainfall), ocean conditions (tides and currents), and physical parameters of the materials which could be spilled. The important physical parameters of the various petroleum hydrocarbons include the following: Specific gravity (or density); Emulsification ability; and Water solubility. Some of these factors are related. For example, the evaporï¿½ation rate is dependent on weather conditions (especially wind) and the boiling range of the material. Similarly, the spread rate depends on weather, viscosity, and the pour point. Emulsification is a very comï¿½plex parameter since both oil‑in‑water and water‑in‑oil emulsions can be involved and wind and wave conditions are usually controlling. The solï¿½ubility of most of the materials is very limited (below 0.01 g/100g). Table 7-2 gives the significant physical parameters of greatest interest, along with typical values, for residual fuel oils. These values will be used in a later example. Table 7-2. Characteristics of Typical Residual Fuel Oils used in Example Parameter Pour Point (ï¿½F) Sulfur Content (% by weight) 0.5 or less NOAA has published several fact sheets describing characteristics affecting spill movement and fate. Examples for North Slope crude, No. 6 fuel oil, and diesel, are attached to this module as pdf documents. Submarine Pipelines The design and installation of modern submarine pipeline facilities for marine terminals include a number of safety features to prevent oil leakage. In addition, extensive proï¿½visions are made to minimize the volume of oil released in the event of a leak, including: Additional steel wall thickness on product transfer lines. Cathodic protection. Somastic coatings (or coal tar wrap). Concrete weight coating over somastic coatings to increase stability and provide negative buoyancy for empty lines. Burial of lines in surf zone. Pressure safety valves. Submarine hoses of strength several times the operating pressures. Even when these precautions are taken, there is still the possibility of damage to the submarine hoses by improper handling, or to the pipeline by man‑caused events (dropped material, i.e., anchor or chain, of sufficient weight to cut lines) or natural occurrences. The speed of the curtailment of oil released to the sea is dependent upon the rapidity with which the shipï¿½s or shore pumps are stopped, the vacuum pumps started, and the valves closed. The rate at which petroleum products or crude oil could be released would vary depending upon the extent of the pipeline incident. The magnitude of a spill could range from a few gallons (resulting from a minor leak in the pipeline system) to many barrels (resulting from a major pipeline fracture). The quantity released would also depend upon pipeline operating conditions at the time of the incident, i.e., pumps on line or on standby. The potential spillage magnitude would also vary with the location of the pipeline incident. In submarine installations, the sea water (being of higher specific gravity than fuel oil) would seal off the oil in the sector of pipeline above (upslope) the leak. In the sector of the line below (downslope) the leak, water would slowly enter the pipe, displacing the crude oil or product. Potential spills volumes for offshore spills are categorized by the National Oil Spill Continï¿½gency Plan as follows: Minor Spill ‑ a discharge of oil less than 10,000 gals (238 bbl); Moderate Spill ‑ a discharge of oil of 10,000 to 100,000 gals (238 to 2,380 bbl); and Major Spill ‑ a discharge of oil of more than 100,000 gals (2,380 bbl). Based on 42 gal/bbl Pipelines are by far the most common method of transporting crude oil and petroleum products in the United States. The possibility of a crude oil and/or petroleum product spillage could occur at any point along submarine pipelines. An analysis by the National Petroleum Council (1972) of spill incidents from pipeline systems in the United States indicate that approximately 2.8 bbl/mi/yr were lost. Tankers can contribute to oil pollution of the marine environment through five principal sources: Cargo tank cleaning operations; Spills during cargo handling operations; and Vessel casualties. There are three principal causes of unintentional discharges of oil during tanker‑terminal operations, namely (1) mechanical failures, (2) design failures, or (3) human error. Incident reports of spills during tanker‑terminal operations show that human error is the preï¿½dominant cause and is the most difficult to remedy. Mechanical failures include cargo transfer hose bursts, and piping, fittings, or flange failures, either on shore or on the tankers. Mechanical failure could also be due to an inherent design fault including the incompatibility of a tanker with a given marine terminal, i.e., improper manifold connections, inadequate mooring facilities, and shoreside loading pumps with excess pumping capacity. Oil spills that occur during the loading or unloading of crude oil or petroleum products are more often associated with leaky connections, failure to drain cargo hoses, improper mooring, improper valve or manifold alignment, or overfill during loading operations. Prediction of the Movement of Oil Spills The fate of an oil spill in the marine environment depends on the spreading motion of the oil and the translation of the slick by the winds and currents in the surface waters. Both of these mechanisms are understood well enough that oil spill movement predictions can be made, providing adequate input data are available. These required data for the oil spreading equations include surface wind speed and direction, tidal currents, and knowledge of the general circulation of the waters of interest. Fay (1971) developed a prediction equation for the spread of an oil slick considering gravity, inertia, viscous and surface tension forces. This analytical approach, coupled to experimentally determined constants, is considered in some detail by Premack and Brown (1973). Based on this historic research, simplified estimates of the spread of oil on water can be made using the following equations: ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Equation 1 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Equation 2 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Equation 3 where: Amaxï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ = ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ maximum area of spread (ft2) rmaxï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ = ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ maximum radius of a circular slick (ft) tï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ = ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ time to reach maximum radius (minutes) Vï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ = ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ spill volume (gallons) uï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ = ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ spreading coefficient (dynes/cm) (11 dynes/cm for No. 6 fuel oil and 35 dynes/cm for waxy sweet crude) Ichiye (see James, et al. 1972) and Murray (1972) also considered the impact of oceanic turbulent diffusive processes on the fate of an oil slick. Murray compared Fayï¿½s approach and turbulent difï¿½fusion theory to observations of slick growth from the Chevron spill of 1970 in the Gulf of Mexico. He concluded that eddy diffusion is a major driving force which cannot be neglected in oil slick growth. Ichiye developed a mathematical model for oil slick expansion and presented theoretical arguments and data comparisons with the theory to support the need for applying turbulent forces in the equation for deterï¿½mining oil dispersion at sea. Ichiye also pointed out the significance of wind speed on the spreading rate of a slick. Ichiyeï¿½s thorough treatment of the subject added a new dimension to oil slick prediction techniques and is considered in the example analysis that follows is this section. However, it should be pointed out that for discontinuous spills under light wind conï¿½ditions, the two models are in agreement with each other during the time to maximum expansion, as defined by Fay. The consideration of eddy diffusion as a driving force becomes most important at later times and during moderate to high winds. The transport of oil in an oceanic environment depends upon a number of variables. After spreading to its maximum radius, the translation of an oil slick in most near-shore waters will be dominated by wind forces and tidal currents. The direction of the oil slick movement, as influenced by the wind, should be taken as that of the wind (as discussed by Murray 1970). The speed of the wind‑driven component of the slick movement is generally considered to be about 3 percent of the wind speed. Oil slick translation is thus calculated as the vector sum of the tidal currents and the wind stress on the slick. In addition to the translation of the surface slick, one must consider the possibility of the oil aging and mixing vertically with the water column. This requires knowledge of the properties of the oil in question. For example, crude oil in a slick can lose its volatile fraction by evaporation in a matter of hours causing a shift in oil density toward that of sea water. Moveï¿½ment of neutrally buoyant oil globules in deeper waters will be influenced by potentially complex and unknown subsurface circulation patterns. Estimates of initial spill volume and a spreading equation are required to determine the spreading radius of a hypothetical spill as a function of time. Wind speed and direction, local tidal currents, and the general circulation along the coast are required to determine the trajectory of the slick, and estimates of the general circulation of the water body are needed to predict the fate of that fraction of the spill which may mix downward into the water column. The following discussion presents an example analysis of oil spill movement, based on typical offshore oil spill losses, and hypothetical environmental conditions. Spill Volume and Resulting Spill Dimensions In this example, the potential volume of oil that could be released to the environment as a result of a break in a submarine pipeline varies from a minimum of about 500 barrels to a maximum of about 10,000 barrels. A hypothetical oil spill of 500 tons (3750 bbl) is assumed in this example. This volume would be classified as a major spill. Figures 7-1 and 7-2 describe the oil slick dimensions as a function of time for a 500 ton spill for various wind speeds. It should be noted that the predicted elliptical area defines the envelope in which the oil is found. At later times, and especially under high wind conditions, the slick will have broken up and some fraction will have evaporated and some fraction will have mixed with subsurface waters. Calculation of Oil Slick Movement Under Various Selected Wind and Current Conditions The following example assumes an instantaneous oil spill of 500 tons that grows radially according to the theory of Ichiye. Figures 7-1 and 7-2 are plots of this spill growth. Slick movement was predicted by the vector sum of tidal or coastal currents and wind‑driven currents. In this example, tidal currents have an assumed northerly current paralleling the shore during rising tides and a southerly current paralleling the shore during falling tides; an average speed of 0.3 knots over a period of 4 hours for flood and ebb was assumed. No tidal component was applied during the assumed 2-hour periods of slack tides. Wind‑driven currents were assumed to have the same direction as the wind and a speed of 3 percent of the wind speed. Figures 7-3 through 7-5 are examples of the predicted fate of this spill occurring at a tanker berth as a result of a ruptured subï¿½marine pipeline or a tanker casualty for this size spill. Figure 7-1. Growth of a 500 ton oil spill during five to ten knot winds. Figure 7-2. Growth of a 500 ton oil spill during twenty to forty knot winds. Figure 7-3. Predicted behavior of a 500 ton oil spill under the influence of a 5 knot NW wind and 0.3 knot tidal current (spill initiated at slack water before flooding tide). Figure 7-4. Predicted behavior of a 500 ton oil spill under the influence of a 5 knot NW wind and 0.3 knot tidal current (spill initiated at slack water before ebbing tide). Figure 7-5. Predicted behavior of a 500 ton oil spill under calm winds and a 0.3 knot tidal current (spill initiated at slack water before flood tide). Analysis of the Environmental Impact of an Offshore Oil Spill Fate of Oil The impact of an oil spill will depend upon the volume of the spill, duration, type of petroleum product, and physical factors such as wind, wave, and current conditions under which the spill occurs. The fate of oil in an oil spill depends on a complex interaction between the several arbitrarily defined categories, as shown in Figure 7-6, plus a host of other less well‑defined variables. Some of the lighter fractions of oil will evaporate very rapidly (evaporation), others are sensitive to sunlight and oxidize to innocuous or inert compounds (photoï¿½-oxidation), and still other fractions will either dissolve (dissolution), emulsify (emulsification), or adsorb to sediment Figure 7-6. Fate of an oil spill in the marine environment. particles (sedimentation), depending on their physical properties. The physical fate or dispersion of oil can occur by several methods: littoral deposition, physical removal, dissolution, flushing, elution, sedimentation, microbial oxidation, organic uptake. These are discussed in more detail below. In an oil spill, the relative importance of each of the categories in the fate of an oil spill diagram (Figure 7-6) is influenced by several physical and chemical parameters and other events, including: Type of petroleum product (Bunker ï¿½Cï¿½, diesel fuel, naphtha, gasoline, crude oil, etc.); Volume of spill; Sea and weather conditions (air and water temperature, wind direction and speed, wave height, etc.); Oceanographic conditions (currents, tide, salinity, etc.); Shoreline and bottom topography (sand or rock beaches, relief, degree of exposure to surf, etc.); Season of year, especially with reference to biological activities such as breeding, migration patterns, feeding habits, etc.; and Cleanup and restoration procedures. The type of oil spilled will have a dramatic effect on the resulting effect of the spill. Bunker ï¿½Cï¿½ fuel, for instance, although aesthetically unpleasant, is initially less destructive to marine life than is the more toxic diesel fuel. Oil from a spill occurring when oceanographic and/or meteorological conditions result in rough seas is likely to be more widely dispersed through the water column and along the shore by emulsification, dissolution, wind drift, etc., than one occurring in calm seas. However, the latter can be much more readily contained and/or picked up by mechanical devices such as booms, oil skimmers, and the like. Composition of Petroleum In order to consider the properties/behavior of oil in aqueous environments, it is necessary to know the composition of the oil. Crude oil, and several heavy fuel oil fractions, are a complex mixture of hydrocarbon and non‑hydrocarbon molecules, encompassing a wide range of molecular weights. Crude oils and most of their distillation products are extremely complex mixtures of organic chemicals with hydrocarbons being the most numerous and abundant (comprising more than 75 percent of most crude and fuel oils). Over 200 hydrocarï¿½bons, 90 sulfur‑containing organic compounds, and 33 nitrogen‑containï¿½ing organic compounds are present in crude oils. In addition, there are porphyrins, sulfur, trace metals, and residues called asphaltenes in many crude oils. Crude oils and most crude oil products contain a series of n‑alkanes with chain lengths of carbon atoms numbering between 1 and 60. The ratio of abundance of odd chain lengths to even chain lengths is approximately 1.0. A series of branched alkanes are also present including isoprenoid alkanes such as pristane, farnesane, and phytane, naphthenes (cyclic alkanes with or without side chains), aromatic hydrocarbons (ranging from alkyl substituted benzenes and naphthalenes to polyï¿½nuclear aromatic structures), and naphthenoaromatics (naphthenes joined with aromatic ring systems). Alkenes (olefins) are not usually present in crude oils but they are formed in some refining processes and are present in some refined products. There are three properties/behaviors of oil in sea water which are important with respect to the impacts of oil on the marine environment. They are: evaporation, emulsification and, to a much lesser degree, dissolution (solubility). Other properties such as density, boiling point, pour point, viscosity, etc., are less important or manifest themselves in the three prime properties listed. The lighter fraction of crude and heavy fuel oil and other volatile fractions (i.e., those of lower molecular weight) will evaporate to the air at a rate primarily dependent on vapor pressure of the oil. However, evaporation will be enhanced by high winds and rough sea conditions, which favor formation of aerosols and increased surface area; the faster and farther the oil spreads, the faster it evaporates. Cobet and Guard (1973) found that as much as 13 percent of the Bunker C fuel lost in the San Francisco Bay spill could have evaporated within 3 months and, depending on atmospheric conditions at the time, possibly even more would have evaporated. Fuel oil, lubricating oil, and similar components have few or no volatile components and thus will not readily evaporate. On the other hand, diesel fuel and other light ï¿½cuttingï¿½ stocks are comprised primarily of components which evaporate rapidly. In general, the more toxic fractions are those which evaporate fastest, leaving a less toxic, more viscous, and more dense residue in the surface slick. Oil‑in‑water and water‑in‑oil emulsifications do form and considerable quantities of oil may be bound up in this manner. In general, the lighter fractions will go into an oil‑in‑water emulsification more easily than heavier fractions but vigorous agitation and/or solvent-ï¿½emulsifier mixtures are usually required. As the hydrocarbon molecular weight increases, the emulsions become water‑in‑oil. These water‑in‑oil emulsions tend to form naturally and easily, especially with some wind and wave agitation. They are quite stable. For a given class of hydrocarbons, dissolution (solubility) in water decreases with increasing molecular weight (carbon number). For the various classes of hydrocarbons, solubility increases in the following order: alkanes, cycloalkanes, olefins, and aromatics, with corresponding solubilities as shown below. ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ mg hydrocarbon/liter of water Alkanes ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ethane (C2)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½60 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ dodecane (C12) ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 0.003 Cycloalkanesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ cyclopentane (C5)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½156 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ dimethylhexane (C8)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 6 Olefins ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ propene (C3)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 200 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1‑octene (C8)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 3 Aromatics ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ benzene (C6)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1780 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ isopropylbenzene (C9)ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 50 Sea water solubilities are approximately 70 percent of those cited for fresh water. Hydrocarbon solutions in sea water are only temporary because disï¿½solved hydrocarbons volatilize and evaporate rather rapidly. Because there is no discernible reservoir of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, with the exception of methane, the equilibrium favors the transfer of hydrocarbons from the liquid phase (sea water) to the gas phase (air), particularly under turbulent conditions of wind, current, and wave action. Even under the best conditions, relatively little oil is dispersed by dissolution when compared to the amounts dispersed by evaporation, emulsification and physical dispersion. Effects of Oil on Marine Water Quality The most obvious effect on water quality associated with an oil spill would be the physical presence of floating oil slicks which would deter boaters, bathers, divers, and others from using the affected area. Also, oil coming ashore would be aesthetically objectionable and would interfere with shoreline recreational activities such as picnicking, sunbathing, beachcombing, clam digging, and surf fishing. Depending on the specific oil material, dissolved hydrocarbon concentrations in the water column also could significantly increase, especially for a material containing large amounts of soluble components (as mentioned previously). Observations by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the Santa Barbara oil spill showed small dissolved oxygen (DO) reductions even under thin slicks as compared with associated uncontaminated water. The largest decreases in DO were detected in the upper 30 meters under an oil slick. These reductions were insufficient to cause any significant bioloï¿½gical damage. The resultant oxygen levels generally remained above the level considered by the State Water Resources Control Board to be necessary for life (5.0 mg/L) and that the affected area was relaï¿½tively small. Most observations of DO during oil spills have shown little effect of the spill on dissolï¿½ved oxygen levels in sea water‑petroleum mixtures. Typical values of BOD5 for petroleum products in sea water generally range from 2.5 to 5.4 mg BOD5/mg hydrocarbon. These BOD5 values can be high, but the biological activity is generally limited to surface waters where oxygen levels are maintained at high levels due to aeration and photosynthesis. The amount of oxygen required to completely oxidize one gallon of crude oil is equivalent to the entire oxygen content of 320,000 gal of typical sea water, assuming no replenishment from the atmosphere or photosynthetic activity. In general, the BOD5 requirement of oil products would be spread over several days and over a relatively large area. Both the requirement and the effects would be concenï¿½trated in the upper layers of water. Experimental data has shown that an oily odor is imparted to sea water at relatively low petroleum concentrations (0.05 to 1.0 mg/L). The odor persistence is very much a function of whether or not a slick persists. As the temperature increases, the rapidity with which the odor disappears increases. Odor persistence can range from 1 to 3 days in the absence of a slick, to 1 to 25 days with oil films. Following the Torrey Canyon spill, fish and shellfish were tainted by oil. Physical Dispersion Crude oil and refined products are physically dispersed to different parts of the marine environment by several mechanisms. The primary forces determining the fate of an oil slick are advective processes such as currents and the wind stress on the slick which determine its trajectory, and diffusive processes which are important in determining the growth of the slick after the oil has stopped spreading by inertial and viscous forces (discussed above). Low-viscosity, high-API-gravity crude oils, and refined products generally break up and dissolve or emulsify in sea water. Individual oil droplets become attached to sediment particles either by adsorption or adherence, particularly in the intertidal‑shallow sublittoral or surf zones, and disperse with these suspended particles. By this mechanism, oil becomes diluted and may finally become incorporated in sediments, animals, and plants. On the other hand, high-viscosity, low-API-gravity crude oils and refined products such as Bunker ï¿½Cï¿½ fuel behave like soft asphalt. When lower molecular weight hydrocarbons evaporate or dissolve, the remaining portion of these oils may become more dense than seawater and sink. This will be particularly true if they form water‑in‑oil emulï¿½sions which can also then pick up suspended silt particles and become heavier than water. The sunken oil may reside on the bottom in sediments as relatively inert material or it may undergo further chemical and biological degradation, converting the residues to lighter molecular ï¿½weight materials which rise to the surface and repeat the original chain of reactions until most of the oil is consumed. Some of these lighter fractions may also dissolve or emulsify on the way back to the surface. These dense oils can form water‑in‑oil emulsions which may sink or be cast up on the beach. With typical on-shore winds and currents, those fractions of oil, especially of crude and fuel oil, which are not weathered or lost (evaporation, emulsification, dissolution, sedimentation, or organic uptake while on the water surface or in the water column), are deposited in the littoral or intertidal zone (littoral deposition) by waves and/or receding tides. Diesel fuel and other light fractions evaporate rapidly from rocky beaches, but may penetrate severalï¿½ inches into sand beaches and remain there. They will work their way back to the surface over a long period of time, or work their way through the sand to come out in the shallow sublittoral zone (elution). Crude oil and other heavy fractions are deposited on the beaches in the form of ï¿½asphaltï¿½ or tar. On rock beaches, this asphalt coats the rocks, weathers, and becomes a semi‑permanent substratum. On sand beaches, the asphalt may mix with and become buried under several inches of sand to form a subsurface ï¿½pavementï¿½ layer. This situation was observed in both the Torrey Canyon and Santa Barbara spills. In both cases the ï¿½pavementï¿½ layer was exposed and covered several times during winter months. ï¿½ Biological Dispersion Hydrocarbons are not foreign to the marine environment; they are synthesized by most, if not all, living organisms. The conditions under which microbial attack occurs and the rate of biodegradation are a function of such diverse factors as the type and number of bacteria in the given marine environment, the quantity and type of oil spilled, the spill concentration, water temperature, salinity, oxygen concenï¿½tration, nutrients, and pH. Some reported values for marine biodegradation of oils vary from 35 to 55 percent of oxidizable crude oil degraded within 60 hr, to between 26 and 98 percent of oil degraded by mixed cultures within 30 days at 77ï¿½F. Early studies have found an abundance of oil‑oxidizing bacteria in coastal waters and muds near natural oil seeps. As an example, along the California coast, oil‑oxidizing bacteria concentrations range from zero (none detected) to greater than 10 per milliliter of mud, with the largest populations being found in San Pedro Bay and Long Beach Harbor. Microbial degradation appears to be most efficient in removing relatively low concentrations of oil such as thin films. However, oilï¿½ oxidizing bacteria are sensitive to toxic constituents of oils such as toluene and xylene, as well as phenol and small quantities of nitrogenï¿½ous, oxygenated, and/or organic sulfur compounds. Therefore, the concentration and composition of oil in a given area affects both the overall biodegradability and the rate of microbial activity. Many oleophilic microbes become nutrient limited, i.e., they use up all of the nitrogen or phosphorus or both, which are essential for maintainï¿½ing life and growth. Both sea water and petroleum have low concentrations of nitrates and phosphates. Once the nitrates and phosphates are depleted, or at least reach very low levels, the microbe populations will be reduced in species diversity and abundance even though a considerable quantity of oil remains. Recent oil spill cleanup activities have therefore included adding substantial amounts of nutrients to affected areas to encourage natural microbial oxidation of residual oils. Effects of Oil on Marine Ecosystems The effect of petroleum products ranging from gasoline to crude oil on one or more components of marine ecosystems has been the topic of numeï¿½rous symposia, scientific papers, formal and informal lectures, and newspaper articles. Ecological effects are presently receiving close attention by industrial and academic groups under the auspices of the American Petroleum Institute (API), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other industrial, private, state, and Federal agencies. A review of the literature and interviews with these several sources indicate that three kinds of effects (and the resultant biotic responses) exist. These effects are arbitrarily divided into three categories. FIRST ORDER EFFECTS include the direct effect of petroleum products on the biota. These effects may be toxic physically (such as suffocation), or physiologically (such as internal disï¿½turbances following ingestion). All of these may result in immediate mortality, torpidity, or poor health. These are generally short‑term effects which usually affect all species to some degree and show up within hours or days. SECOND ORDER EFFECTS include changes in populations of each species with respect to size‑frequency and age structure, proï¿½ductivity, standing crop, reproductive abilities, etc. These are generally intermediate‑term effects which show up in weeks, months, and for some long‑lived species, years. THIRD ORDER EFFECTS include changes at the community or ecosystem level with respect to relationships within or between trophic levels, species composition and/or abundance, and other aspects of community dynamics. These changes are often the result of subtle, sub‑lethal effects which may not show up for months or years. First order effects have been documented in some detail in several instances. Second and third order effects are generally less well documented, except for a few large spills such as Torrey Canyon, Tampico Maru, West Falï¿½mouth, and Santa Barbara. Even in these cases, the data interpretaï¿½tion may be open to criticism. Clearly, there are significant impacts on the marine environment from most oil spills. This impact may vary from an aesthetic problem of several daysï¿½ duration resulting from visible oil slicks and beaches contaminated with oil, to a severe kill of marine organisms and water fowl, and severe disruption of commercial and recreational activities. Long‑term effects might occur for several years before ecosystem recovery. The spill may even bring about a permanent change in the ecosystem as evidenced by new and different species of flora and fauna becoming dominant in terms of space or ecological importance. The severity of both short‑term and long‑term effects is predicated on certain conditions. The following generally increase the severity of an oil spill: 1. A massive oil spill relative to the size of the receiving and affected area. 2. A spill of primarily refined oil. 3. The spill being confined naturally or artificially to a limited area of relatively shallow water for aï¿½ï¿½ prolonged period. 4. The presence of sea bird and/or mammal rookeries in the affected area. 5. The absence of oil‑oxidizing bacteria in the marine enï¿½vironment. 6. The presence of other pollutants, such as industrial and municipal wastes in the affected area. 7. The application of detergents and/or dispersants as part of the cleaning action. Biological Effects of Recorded Spills The general aspects of some recent major oil spills are presented in Table 7-3. Of these spills, only four have shown extensive kill of much of the areasï¿½ marine life. Three of these, West Falmouth, the Tampico Maru incident off Baja California, and the Wake Island spill shared the common factor of a large amount of product being discharged to a small, partially enclosed body of water. The Torrey Canyon spill occurred in open waters. In most other spill studies, organism kill was most common in the intertidal zone. A brief description of several major historical spills follows. Table 7-3. Summary of Recorded Historical Major Oil Spills ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Quantityï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Detergentsï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Time to Spillï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Dateï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Spilledï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Productï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Used inï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Recovery ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ (1000 gal)ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Tvpeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Cleanupï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ (General Estimate) Louisianaï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1956ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Crudeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Noï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½several months Tampico Maruï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1957ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 2,500ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Diesel fuel (#2 fuel oil)ï¿½ Noï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1 ‑ 10 years Fawley, Englandï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1960ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 52 ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½Fuel Oilï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Yesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ > 2 years Torrey Canyonï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1967ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 29,400ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Crudeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½Yesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ > 2 years Milford Havenï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1968ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 70 ‑ 150ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Crudeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Yesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Several months Santa Barbaraï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1969ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 4,200ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Crudeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Yesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Several months West Falmouthï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1969ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 175ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Diesel fuel (#2 fuel oil)ï¿½ï¿½ Noï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ < 2 years Tampa Bayï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1970ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 10ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bunker "C"ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Yesï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Days to weeks Nova Scotiaï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1970ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 3,800ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bunker "C"ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Noï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Months to years Platform Charlie, LA 1970ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½42aï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Crudeï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Yes ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½Days Wake Islandï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1970ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 6,000ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bunker "C"bï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½--ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ -- San Franciscoï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 1971ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 840ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Bunker "C"ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ Noï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ 10 months + aDaily discharge estimated to be 42,000 gal for a three‑week period. bAlso included aviation gasoline and jet fuel, aviation turbine fuel and diesel oil. Unfortunately, there have been numerous other major oil spills in the last 30 years, as shown previously on Table 7-1. One example is the March 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill when the tanker ran aground on a reef, spilling 258,000 barrels (37,000 tons) of crude oil into Alaskaï¿½s Prince William Sound. Much information is available concerning the biological effects of this large spill, including: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/spotlight/spotlight.html Louisiana Spill. On November 17, 1956, an oil well caught fire and spilled oil for a period of about two weeks into the marshes of Louisiana. Although the original slick covered over 50 square miles, by December the oil had disappeared from the surface except for a light film within Barataria Bay. There was still considerable oil along the shoreline of the Freeport Sulfur Canal. As late as February 5, 1957, oil could still be stirred from the bottom of areas such as Billet Bay, indicating that considerable oil still covered the bottom. There was no way to determine how much oil escaped from the well. All light fractions likely burned when the well was on fire, and much more evaporated. Thus, most of the lost oil was artificially ï¿½weathered.ï¿½ The exception was the oil lost in the short period (several hours) after the fire was extinguished and during which the oil flowed unhindered. Examination of the impact of the spilled oil on oysters was of prime concern. Data from polluted and nonpolluted areas clearly showed that contact with oil for an extended period had no effect as far as the survival and growth of oysters was concerned. Mortalities of oysters in the area were primarily associated with the incidence of infection of a fungus disease typical of Louisiana and were not related to the distance from the well. Oily taste in the oyster meats could not be identified after two months. A cursory examination of the organisms associated with oyster reefs showed that control and experimental stations did not differ significantly. Normal reproduction and growth of populations took place during the entire period of study. The oysters themselves spawned normally, and heavy sets of young oysters occurred at some experï¿½imental stations. Normal reproduction and growth of populations took place during the entire period of study. The oysters themselves spawned normally, and heavy sets of young oysters occurred at some experimental stations. These young oysters grew rapidly with relatively low mortality, while at the same time large numbers of older oysters died of an epidemic disease probably unrelated to the spill. Growth of the surviving oysters was excellent, as was their condition. Thus, survival, reproducï¿½tion, growth, and size of oyster meats were not affected by the oil. Tampico Maru Spill. During the spring of 1957, the oil tanker Tampico Maru went aground off the coast of Baja California. The ship formed a breakwater across a small cove while 60,000 bbl of diesel fuel began leaking from its hull. Damage to the benthic fauna and flora of the cove was extensive, and the shore was littered with dead and dying animals. A month after the accident, a thick viscous sludge of water, oil, and small particles covered most of the bottom of the cove and the tide pools. The sea plants did not seem to be as seriously damaged as the animals. Many plants remained attached and living, although some deterioration was noted. Few animal species survived. Among those that did were the small gastropod, Littorina planaxis, and large green anemones, Anthopleura xanthogrammica. By summer, three months after the spill, the cove began to appear fresh and clean; eight months after, no oil was observed, though small quantities may have persisted. Motile animals, such as large fish, sea lions, and lobsters were seen. Smaller organisms, such as bryozoans, began to colonize the barren zones. By far the greatest change was the appearance of a dense and luxurious growth of seaweed. The No. 2 fuel oil was confined to a small cove by the position of the tanker. This, in turn, reduced the oxygenation of the waters from the breaking waves, resulting in a massive kill among both the fauna and flora. Oil was the primary factor causing the destruction of the organisms. Seaweeds appeared to be more tolerant than the animals. Most of the plant species re‑established themselves within a few months, but the animal species reappeared more gradually over a period of 7 years. Seven years afterward, the populations of certain organisms such as grazing sea urchins, abalones, and filter‑feeding mussels, were still considerably reduced, and some species present before the shipwreck have not been seen since. Several organisms which are believed to be very tolerant of oil pollution were observed after the spill. Fawley (England) Spill. The effects of this 1960 spill of fuel oil were seen on common interï¿½tidal organisms, such as the polychaete worms Cirriforma tentaculata and Cirratulus cirratus, but it was not certain that fuel oil alone was responsible for mortality. Where oil dispersants were employed, studies indicated a sharp decline in adult numbers. Two years after the spill, the numbers of adults of Cirriforma tentaculata had still not recovered. Torrey Canyon Spill. The biological effects of the Torrey Canyon spill can be divided into two main categories: (1) those caused by, or directly related to, the crude oil itself and (2) those related to the cleanup procedures, especially the application of detergents. It was recognized from the onset of the Torrey Canon operations that oil, although it killed several thousand sea birds, was a pollutant mainly destructive to the amenities of shores and beaches, whereas detergents, on the other hand, were known to be destructive to life. Assessment of the biologic damage and recovery in the affected areas was examined in regard to either the presence of crude oil or the presence of crude oil in combination with detergents. Phytoplankton surveys of the channel areas, when compared with past surveys, contained samples having plant populations of the type normally found in a channel in early spring. Both diatoms and dinoflagellates appeared to be healthy at all stations. The overall result of later surveys showed that there were deaths among the smallest flagellates, often after a period of only a few days, in all samples taken from areas of thin or thick oil cover, whereas there were no deaths at stations in uncontaminated water. This indicated that these small flagellates were sensitive to very low concentrations of toxic substances. Other phytoplankton, such as diatoms and dinoflagellates, appeared to be little affected. Further, most of the colorless dinoflagellates were unaffected, and some of those studied in laboratory cultures grew better in oily sea water than in uncontaminated water. Zooplankton, mainly copepod crustaceans, appeared to be of normal abundance, and all seemed healthy when examined immediately after they were captured. Fish also appeared to be healthy. Some oil was found by divers and fishermen on the sea floor, but there were no external signs of oil contamination on the fish and only a few visible traces of oil within the gut. Along the rocky shore, heavy oil alone rarely seemed to have any ill effects during the first few days. In some cases, such as Cape Cornwall, moribund limpets were observed under the oil. It is possible that they had been smothered by thick coatings of oil, or that the oil which enveloped them contained the detergent sprayed at sea. The survival of mussels under heavy oil was seen at Boobyï¿½s Bay in the first few days of pollution. In the absence of heavy detergent treatments, these mussels survived. Furthermore, at Portreath, mussels were found alive and behaving normally, even in pools which had an oil film. In the Hayle Estuary, oil contamination occurred on March 28 ï¿½ 29. 1967. No detergents were used within the estuary. When examined on April 10, the rich worm fauna of the sandy flats seemed unharmed. Although the black oily rim was still visible on the vertical walls around the estuary and harbor in mid‑August, weathering had reduced it considerably. In places, an orange lichen Xanthoria was growing through the oil. Perennial salt marsh plants and grasses had grown through the oily layer and were spreading over the oil residue. The normal drift‑line fauna of small amphipods and wood lice were common under stones. These are good examples of recovery by natural means in the absence of the use of any detergent. Milford Haven Spill. Crude oil was spilled in Milford Haven along the shore at Hazel Beach on November 1, 1968. No evidence of biological damage was observed before cleaning operations commenced, although the rock area was covered with a thick black film of crude oil. Mollusks were attached to rocks and were apparently healthy. Following these observations, the shore was washed twice with an emulsifier applied with a water jet. The most obvious change was the growth of seaweeds in the mid‑shore during March, July, and August. By late September, these plants were about 6-in. long, forming a patchy cover on the shore. Following cleaning (three weeks after the initial spill), the gastropods showed considerable decrease in numbers, but when the next survey was made on January 23, the population had largely recovered its previous abundance. In Milford Haven, it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of small, chronic spills and large, rare spills. Santa Barbara Spill. Oil released from the offshore well in the Santa Barbara Channel eventually affected most of the mainland beaches in the channel and some areas of the Channel Islands. Slicks initially covered large areas of the channel and tended to accumulate on the beaches in the upper littoral zone. Phytoplankton studies in the Santa Barbara Channel showed no conclusive evidence of any major effect which could be directly attributed to the spilled oil. These studies were based on 11 stations which were resampled 12 times from 1969 to 1970. The data showed higher productivity occurring inshore, seasonal variations in productivity, and the presence of a phytoplankton bloom in August 1969. No low productivity values resulting from the presence of oil on the surface of the water were found. There was a reduction in the reproduction in Pollicipes polymerus, a barnacle. The breeding in Mytilus californianus, a mussel, was probably reduced as a result of oil pollution. The major damage to the marine invertebrates following the Santa Barbara spill resulted principally from the oil‑removal operations along the mainland shore. The steam cleaning of rocks to remove the oil killed all sessile invertebrates that were attached to them. Further, cleaning the beaches with skip loaders to remove the oily straw and debris undoubtedly took its toll on some of the invertebrates inhabiting those beaches. No permanent damage to marine plants was observed by California Department of Fish and Game divers during repeated surveys in 1969. On Santa Cruz Island, the algae Hespherophycus harveyanus, originally heavily coated by oil in February, was clean by August. In addition, numerous young plants were found to be present. The surf grass Phyllospadix torreyi was heavily coated by oil and suffered high mortalities but the beds had come back by the time of the later surveys. Most of the other plants and algae surveyed on the islands and the mainland appeared relatively unaffected by the oil pollution. California Department of Fish and Game trawls obtained 14,070 fishes representing 59 species. They failed to show damage directly related to oil pollution or starvation. U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries personnel found no gross evidence of dead or deformed larvae of fish eggs nor gross changes in the composition of the ichthyoplankton in the channel during February 1969. West Falmouth Oil Spill. The West Falmouth oil spill of September 16, 1969, involving No. 2 diesel fuel, has been investigated by scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. These controversial studies indicated that a massive kill of benthic invertebrates occurred even before the application of detergents. In addition, wherever fuel oil was detected in the sediments, there was a reported kill. In areas containing the most oil, the kill was almost complete. The reports state that the kill was caused directly or inï¿½directly by the fuel oil. Affected areas were said to not be repopulated 9 months after the spill, resulting in marshes being eroded because of decreased stability following the kill. Up to two years after the spill, fuel oil is still detectable in the sediments. Nova Scotia Spill. Five months (i.e., July, 1970) after the destruction of the oil tanker S.S. Arrow, carrying Bunker C fuel oil, the marine fauna and flora below the tide levels were healthy, and fishing and lobstering were normal. Background levels of hydrocarbons from the spill had decreased signifiï¿½cantly by January 1971. As expected, the intertidal zone was the most severely affected, but only where oiling was exceptionally heavy. An estimated 25 percent of the clams (Mya arenaria) were killed in the early part of the season. Algae, primarily Fucus spiralis, was oiled and became more easily torn loose in storms. Other species appear to have been little affected. Salt marsh cord grass (Spartina alterniflora) suffered high mortality. The lobster season had gotten underway on schedule in early May and the lobsters were in hibernation when the oil was spilled, which helped to protect them. Other subtidal organisms appear not to have suffered. Zooplankton in early March were normal. Copepods were observed with oil in their digestive tracts, which generally passed through unaltered and without harm to the animal. Local fisheries were found to be unaffected in the following season. Gulf Coast Spill. On February 10, 1970, a blowout fire occurred on offshore Platform 2 in Main Pass Block 41 field, 11 miles east of the Mississippi River Delta. The fire burned until March 10 when it was extinguished by explosives. Over the next three‑week period, crude oil escaped at an estimated rate of 1000 bbl/day before the last well was capped. Oil came onshore only briefly at Breton Island. Investigations revealed no apparent damage to marine organisms. The benthic community consisted of large numbers of species and showed no measurable effect from the discharged oil. Numerous samples showed large numbers of species of fish and normal size and numbers of shrimp. The shrimp data indicated a normal reproductive cycle, with no effect of oil on reproduction and juvenile stages. The normal attachment of oysters just following the spill further indicated no effect of oil on oyster reproduction or ,juvenile stages. Wake Island Spill. The Wake Island spill resulted in an estimated kill of 2500 kg of inshore reef fishes plus an unknown number of invertebrates and other fish. There was no evidence of damage to sea birds. San Francisco Spill. The discharge of 20,000 bbl of Bunker C oil near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay in January 1971 caused extensive coverage of the intertidal zones within portions of the bay and seaward as far north as Bolinas and to a lesser extent south of Half Moon Bay. An investigation on the effect of the spill on Duxbury Reef, a marine reserve, indicated that heavy oil deposits on the reef area caused kills by smothering certain species such as acorn barnacles and limpets. The same effects were noted at Sausalito. Marine snails suffered less mortality than did the sessile barnacles and other sedentary animals. The normally large population of striped shore crabs (Pachygrapsus crassipes) was missing from the rocky crevices. The condition of Duxbury Reef in December 1971 was one of apparent good health; the recruitment of some marine animals appeared to be approaching normal levels and the oil had disappeared from much of the reef surfaces and was barely discernible in the most heavily deluged areas. Summary of Documented Spills The following is a summary of the effects of the historical oil spills, and is based on field investigations. The results of the different studies often have quite varied conclusions (likely due to a combination of factors including spill and material characteristics, and environmental conditions, plus differences in the experimental designs and sampling procedures), but the following is a list of generally accepted conclusions concerning the effects of oil spills. 1. The principal damage from oil spills is to birds. The literature is remarkably unanimous on this point. The data are conclusive and can be taken without reservation. While no bird damage has resulted from some spills, it is believed that this resulted from accidental circumstances, and the danger to birds is present wherever a spill occurs. 2. The effects in the intertidal zones, beaches, marshes, and rocky shores are sometimes of significant severity. The intertidal zone is subject to heavy concentrations of oil, and damage may be expected if concentrations reach a critical level. Usually the damage to biotic communities from the oil itself is quite small even when heavy concentraï¿½tions reach the shore. Humans are among the most affected when beaches are made uninhabitable. 3. Little documentation has shown any significant damage to marine bottom communities in deep or shallow water. There appears to be an intermediate zone between the intertidal area and ï¿½deepï¿½ water in which some relï¿½atively small damage occurs under adverse circumstances (such as heavy wave action in surf zones). 4. Damage to fisheries appears to be confined to those cases where animals (such as the mussel Mytilus, oysters, or clams) live in intertidal zones. Any fishery animal can become tainted with oily taste and smell. Considerable losses to the industry may occur when such contamination affects any significant part of the populations. 5. Recovery from damage caused by oil spills is usually rapid and complete so far as the marine communities are concerned, and in some cases these communities may be stimulated to higher productivity by the process. 6. No significant damage to plankton has been observed in oil spills. Other Links and Information Sources NOAA Office of Response and Restoration: http://www.response.restoration.noaa.gov/ References Cobet, A. and H. Guard. Effect of a Bunker Fuel on the Beach Bacterial Flora. Proceedings of Conference in Prevention and Control of Oil Spills, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C. 1973. Fay, J.A. Physical Processes in the Spread of Oil on a Water Surface. Proceedings of Joint Conference on Prevention and Control of Oil Spills, sponsored by American Petroleum Industry, Environmental Protection Agency, and United States Coast Guard. 1971. James, W.P., et al. Environmental Aspects of a Supertanker Port on the Texas Gulf, Texas A and M University, (prepared for Sea Grant NOAA) 1972. Murray, S.P., et al. Oceanographic Observations and Theoretical Analysis of Oil Slicks during the Chevron Spill, March, 1970, Report No. 87, Louisiana State University, Coastal Studies Institute. 1970. Murray, S.P. Turbulent Diffusion of Oil in the Ocean. J. Limnology and Oceanography. Vol. 17, No. 5. 1972. National Petroleum Council, Committee on Environmental Conservation. Environmental Conservation: The Oil and Gas Industries. Vol. 2. 1972. NOAA. Oil Spill Case Histories 1967-1991; Summaries of Significant U.S. and International Spills. Hazardous Material Response and Assessment Division Report HMRAD 92-11. Seattle, WA. September 1992. NOAA. Trajectory Analysis Handbook. NOAA Hazardous Material Response Division. Seattle, WA, undated (seeï¿½ http://www.response.restoration.noaa.gov/ ï¿½ for further information). Premack, J. and G. A. Brown. Predictions of Oil Slick Motions in Narragansett Bay. Proceedings of Joint Conference on Prevention and Control of Oil Spills, 13‑15 Mar 1973, Washington D.C., sponsored by American Petroleum Industry, Environmental Protection Agency, and United States Coast Guard. 1973.	i don't know
Played by Tom Hanks in the movie, what is the name of the hero in Dan Browns books Angels & Demons, The DaVinci Code, and The Lost Symbol?	Angels & Demons (2009) - IMDb IMDb 17 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican. Director: a list of 32 titles created 01 Oct 2011 a list of 27 titles created 24 Sep 2013 a list of 31 titles created 22 Mar 2014 a list of 48 titles created 03 Nov 2015 a list of 29 titles created 5 months ago Search for " Angels & Demons " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 1 win & 5 nominations. See more awards » Videos A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity. Director: Ron Howard When Robert Langdon wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks, and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot. Director: Ron Howard An eastern immigrant finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there. Director: Steven Spielberg A FedEx executive must transform himself physically and emotionally to survive a crash landing on a deserted island. Director: Robert Zemeckis NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy. Director: Ron Howard The true story of Captain Richard Phillips and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years. Director: Paul Greengrass Jack Sparrow races to recover the heart of Davy Jones to avoid enslaving his soul to Jones' service, as other friends and foes seek the heart for their own agenda as well. Director: Gore Verbinski Captain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, find Jack Sparrow, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle. Director: Gore Verbinski Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary, Professor Moriarty. Director: Guy Ritchie Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too. Director: Rob Marshall A police officer joins a secret organization that polices and monitors extraterrestrial interactions on Earth. Director: Barry Sonnenfeld With the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy. Director: Jon Favreau Edit Storyline Following the murder of a physicist, Father Silvano Bentivoglio, a symbolist, Robert Langdon, and a scientist, Vittoria Vetra, are on an adventure involving a secret brotherhood, the Illuminati. Clues lead them all around the Vatican, including the four altars of science, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. An assassin, working for the Illuminati, has captured four cardinals, and murders each, painfully. Robert and Vittoria also are searching for a new very destructive weapon that could kill millions. Written by XXDustfingerXX The holiest event of our time. Perfect for their return. See more » Genres: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material \| See all certifications » Parents Guide: 15 May 2009 (USA) See more » Also Known As: £6,054,627 (UK) (15 May 2009) Gross: Remo Vinzens was in negotiations to play Camerlengo Carlo Ventresca. See more » Goofs In the final scene, Robert Langdon tells Cardinal Strauss: "I -- don't believe He sent me, Father." A Cardinal would be referred to as "Your Eminence", not "Father". See more » Quotes [first lines] Narrator: The Ring of the Fisherman, which bears the official papal seal, must be destroyed immediately following the Pope's death. The papal apartment is then sealed for nine days of mourning, a period known as "Sede Vacante", the time of the empty throne. See more » Crazy Credits At the very beginning, when the Columbia girl is standing holding aloft the torch, it flickers like the anti-matter. See more » Connections (Singapore) – See all my reviews Tom Hanks returns as Dan Brown's symbologist Robert Langdon in his first adventure Angels & Demons, which Hollywood decided to make after The Da Vinci Code, given the latter's more controversial subject striking a raw nerve on the faith itself. The Catholic Church was up in arms over the first film, but seemingly nonchalant about this one. And it's not hard to see why, considering Ron Howard had opted to do a flat-out action piece that serves as a great tourism video of Rome and Vatican City, and would probably boost visitor numbers given the many beautiful on-location scenes, save for St Peter's Square and Basilica which was a scaled model used. So I guess with the bulk of the budget going toward the sets, the ensemble cast had to be correspondingly scaled down. Ayelet Zurer tried to step into the female void left by Audrey Tautou, but given Tautou's character then having a lot more stake in the film, Zurer's scientist Vittoria had a lot less to do other than just waiting in the wings to change some batteries on a canister filled with anti-matter. In the book she's the fodder of course for Langdon to converse his vast knowledge of the Vatican, the Illuminati and the great feud between the two, but here she's neither love interest, nor his intellectual equal. Ewan McGregor on the other hand, chews up each scene he's in as Camerlengo Patrick McKenna, who is temporarily taking care of the Papal office while the other prominent cardinals are in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new Pope. And he plays Patrick with that glint in the eye, with nuances enough to let you know there's more than meets the eye. There's no surprises here for readers of the novel, but McGregor's performance here is one of the highlights of the film as Hanks plays well, Tom Hanks. The book itself is rich with arguably accurate content as always, and had a lot more plot points on science versus religion, and a wealth of information that Dan Brown researched and linked together in an engaging fictional piece of work. While reading the book some years ago, I thought that should a film be made of it, it's easy to lapse and dwell more on the set action pieces. Sadly, that's what this Ron Howard film did, with a pace that doesn't allow a temporary breather. Unlike the first film where you had the characters sit down for some "discussion time" over a cup of tea, this one moved things along so quickly, it's like reading the book all over again, page after page being skipped just to get to the thick of the action. Catholic reviewers have called Angels & Demons harmless, because I guess it didn't dwell on its many controversies, unlike The Da Vinci Code which struck a raw nerve at the centre of the faith. And if anything, this film served as a great tourism promotional video with a nice showcase of the many prominent touristy landmarks that would entice many around the world to go pay a visit. Naturally certain areas like the catacombs beneath St Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican archives remain out of bounds, but the walk along the Path of Illumination, now that's almost free. Nothing new for those who have read the book other than to see it come alive, but for those who haven't, this film may just compel you to pick up Dan Brown's novel just to read a bit more about the significance about the landmarks, and characters such as Galileo, Michelangelo and Bernini who are intricately linked to the plot, but much left unsaid. Satisfying pop-corn entertainment leaving you with nothing spectacular. 239 of 358 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes	Robert Langdon
Which Gilligan's Island castaway originally hailed from Winfield, Kansas and was the youngest of the castaways?	Angels and Demons Audiobook \| Dan Brown \| Audible.com "A Trip Inside the Vatican" Although this book is a prequel to <i>The DaVinci Code</i>, also written by Dan Brown, I actually read it afterwards. In the beginning I felt his style of writing was a bit rustier than the smoothness of <i>The DaVinci Code</i>. I also saw a different side of his main character which I didn't really appreciate at first. However, once I got into the book, I actually felt it was faster-paced and more suspenseful than <i>The DaVinci Code</i>. The beginning takes you inside CERN and was a bit hard to listen to since they were describing several scientific processes. I had to re-listen a few times to deeply understand. But after the first several chapters the mystery unfolds and the book plays out like a favorite Robert Ludlum novel. This is one I actually couldn't stop listening too! The story takes you into the depths of Rome and inside the Vatican, detailing several practices. The journey takes you inside the Vatican Library, into St. Peter's tomb, catacombs, castles, secret passageways, various churches and more. "A must for fans of The Da Vinci Code" This was my first book by author Dan Brown and his character Robert Langdon, and I was very happy with it. In this prequel to The Da Vinci Code we are introduced to Mr Langdon, a symbologist, as he is called to CERN to help with the murder of one of their top scientists. He in turn is introduced to the scientist's daughter, Vittoria Vetra, who helps him with the investigation, which takes them to Rome and Vatican City. As can be assumed by this setting, the story has a lot to do with Christianity and it's secrets, and the information is presented very well. It also deals with the Illuminati, and therein lies the intrique. The story is a 'page-turner' and keeps you riveted to the very end. While not necessary to read before The Da Vinci Code, it is a prequel, mainly in presenting an earlier 'adventure' of Langdon, an extremely likable main character. "Better in some ways, and worse in others" Like most people I only became aware of this story after having seen and read The Da Vinci code. This book is very suspenseful and the whodunnit/spoilers in this book beat those of the Da Vinci code. If you got used to his writing in the Da Vinci code, it is kind of annoying to go back to an earlier book where Brown uses a lot of cliche's regarding epiphones that Langdon has. It gets old having things' come to a stunning realization stronger than anything he had ever realized before." I think the cliche part is a little more noticeable because it is in audio form. Fantastic read though, 1000 times better than the movie. "First rate thriller, with weak writing." The bad first. Dan Brown is a pretty bad writer. He overexplains, his characters are constantly amazed or some other cliche expression, many characters are so extreme they seem silly, and his hero seems very unlike a Harvard professor. Also, the constant commentary on the struggle between "religion" and "science" seems overblown. But the story is non-stop action and intrigue, and he does a better job of working his "conspiracy theory" stuff into the action in this one than in "The Da Vinci Code." And the plot is strong. You will know right away who the bad guy is, and then you will change your mind a dozen times before the end. Brown has a knack for knowing what you are assuming and using that against you. Overall, a thrilling book with a good, though overdone and not original, debate about religion and science, and several hairsbreadth and impossible escapes that will tax credulity. The writing is annoying, but the story survives anyway. Not sure why some people think it's so gruesome. He mentions a detached body part or two, but he doesn't go into graphic detail about them. I've got a weak stomach, and wasn't bothered by anything. "Utterly predictable schlock" There is enough foreshadowing in the first few chapters to allow you to perfectly predict the end of this pitiable, formulaic thriller within an hour. The next seventeen alternate between cheap thrills, painfully stilted dialogue, and the occasional lame attempt to make it seem as though the inevitable plot line is not so inevitable after all. Brown's talent as a writer evolved substantially between this overwraught dime novel and the Da Vinci Code, and it's interesting to draw comparisons between the two as an example of how an author can grow into his metier, but it took real dicipline and a lot of eye rolling to make it to the end of this painful early excersise in suspense writing. "Wanted it to End..." I listened to the Unabridged Audio Version of Angels and Demons and I was rather disappointed. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed DaVinci Code, but this novel read like the exact same book. Lets see: we've got the overly brainy annoying lead character: check. Nubile younger woman: check. Crazed zealot assassin: check. Catholic Conspiracy: check. Add to this long (and pointless) flashbacks by minor characters, and Robert Langdon's endless preaching and I found myself wishing for the novel to end. I really might be able to enjoy this book, if I actually liked a few of the lead characters. No such luck. The only likeable character was the Pope's assistant. But even he was a stereotype, way too saintly. Lets try for a few human characters rather than such extreme sterotypes, next time shall we? Also, I could do without the rather heavy-handed preaching in the middle. Okay, okay we get it. Because of Science we are all drowning in a morass of hopelessness without Mother Church. We get it. Can we get back to the action story now? Eh. 1 star. This was an okay listen, which could've used an editor.	i don't know
March 21, 1963 saw the last inmate, Frank Wathernam, leave what famous federal prison, closed by order of then attorney general Robert F. Kennedy?	1000+ images about Alcatraz on Pinterest \| Al capone, Gangsters and Islands Forward Al Capone was one of the famous inmates of Alcatraz Island. His nickname was was "Scarface Al.' He went to prision in 1934. He continued running his rackets from behind bars by often buying off guards. He gained media attention after 4-1/2 years in prison when he was transferred to the Federal Correctional Institution at Terminal Island in Los Angeles, CA in 1938, due to poor mental health, a symptom from the tertiary syphillis he had contracted. See More	Alcatraz Island
Although the majority of the teams are in the US, the hall of fame for what sport is located at 30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada?	Alcatraz now hosts voluntary visitors instead of inmates \| Business \| qconline.com Alcatraz is the No. 1 visitor destination in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of National Park Service Al Capone lived in the middle cell in this block at Alcatraz. Photo courtesy of National Park Service Al Capone was one of the first inmates in Alcatraz. Alcatraz now hosts voluntary visitors instead of inmates Jackie Sheckler Finch Alcatraz is the No. 1 visitor destination in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of National Park Service Al Capone lived in the middle cell in this block at Alcatraz. Photo courtesy of National Park Service Al Capone was one of the first inmates in Alcatraz. ALCATRAZ -- Even on a sunny California day, the island was shrouded in fog. We were almost on it before the sun broke through and we could see it well. The island is one very scary place, and that is exactly what it was intended to be. Rising from the middle of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island drips with the dark atmosphere of danger and notoriety. Perhaps the most famous ex-jail in the world, Alcatraz doesn't have a creepy reputation for nothing. From the start, Alcatraz was for the "worst of the worst." "If you broke the laws of society, you were sent to prison," guide Diane McNeely said. "If you broke the laws of prison, you were sent to Alcatraz." Over 29 years, about 1,545 men did time in Alcatraz. Some never left the island alive. Eight men were murdered by fellow inmates, five committed suicide, 15 died of natural causes and seven were shot trying to escape. "The main obsession was escape," McNeely said. Were they successful? Yes. No. Maybe. Thirty-six prisoners were involved in various escape attempts. Whether they lived to tell the tale, in some instances, is still a mystery. Ironically, the very place where inmates were once willing to risk their lives to escape is now a popular tourist attraction. More than 1.2 million visitors can't wait to get there every year. Alcatraz closed as a federal penitentiary on March 21, 1963. The National Park Service became the island's caretaker in 1972. As the last prisoner to leave Alcatraz was boarding the boat, he was quoted as remarking to a crowd of reporters and photographers, "Alcatraz was never no good for nobody." The story of Alcatraz Island begins in 1775 when it was "discovered" by the Spanish explorer Juan Miguel de Ayala. Little more than a rock inhabited by pelicans, Alcatraz was named Isla de los Alcatraces, the Spanish word for pelicans. The rocky, barren island didn't seem to have much value. But its location made it useful when the California Gold Rush hit. Strategically placed at the mouth of the San Francisco Bay, the island was the perfect site for a fort. In 1857, a citadel was built on Alcatraz. However, the fort never saw combat and its defenses quickly became obsolete. In 1907, the Army decommissioned Alcatraz as a fort. But Alcatraz also was a military prison almost from the very beginning. The Great Depression of the 1930s made Alcatraz what it is known for today. The gangster era was in full swing. The nation witnessed violent crime waves brought on by Prohibition and those driven by desperate need. Influential mobsters and sharply dressed public enemies exerted heavy influence. The public watched in fear. Alcatraz seemed the ideal solution. It could condemn public enemies and serve as a very visible warning to this new brand of criminal. The old military prison was modernized. Guard towers were erected. With its natural isolating barrier created by the icy and swift currents surrounding it, Alcatraz was ready to confront the nation's hardest criminals. Wardens from various penitentiaries gave their most incorrigible inmates to the Rock. Inmates with histories of unmanageable behavior, escape attempts and high public profile inmates who were receiving privileges because of their status and notoriety made up the population. Inmates arrived in San Francisco by railroad and were immediately transferred to Alcatraz. “They never set foot in San Francisco,” McNeely said, gesturing to the railroad portal still standing where inmates arrived. “That was an important fact.” Inmates weren't sent to Alcatraz for rehabilitation. They were there to learn how to live by the rules. A mattress to cover the concrete bed, a blanket, a pillow, a job, a book to read, a letter to loved ones -- all privileges had to be earned. And those privileges could just as easily be removed for the slightest infraction. "You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege," stated Rule No. 5 in the prison handbook. In August of 1934, Alcatraz received its first group of inmates -- among them Al Capone, Doc Barker (the last surviving son from the famous Ma Barker Gang), George "Machine Gun" Kelly, Robert "Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud, Floyd Hamilton (a gang member and driver for Bonnie and Clyde) and Alvin "Creepy" Karpis. It was in Alcatraz that Capone lost his mind. Some say it was the devastating Alcatraz regimen. Others say it was syphilis, a disease he evidently had been carrying for years and from which he eventually died. Maybe it was both. “It looks like Alcatraz has got me licked,” Capone said while an inmate. Just beyond the guarded concrete walls and barbed wire was San Francisco, a mile and a half away. Not surprisingly, 36 prisoners were involved in various attempts. Two actually made it off the island, but were quickly captured. Seven inmates were shot and killed trying to escape. Two drowned and five have been unaccounted for, presumed dead. In 1963, Alcatraz was closed. U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy said his decision to close Alcatraz was based on increasing maintenance and operating costs. Since then, the island has been left to tourists. Lost in the fog between reality and myth, Alcatraz has become one of San Francisco's most famous landmarks. "If these walls could talk," our guide said, “think of the dark history these walls have witnessed." Q-C Events	i don't know
The word “motel” is a portmanteau of what two words?	Portmanteau word - definition of portmanteau word by The Free Dictionary Portmanteau word - definition of portmanteau word by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/portmanteau+word (Linguistics) another name for blend 7 [C19: from the idea that two meanings are packed into one word] blend v.t. 1. to mix smoothly and inseparably. 2. to prepare by mixing various sorts or grades: I blend this tea by mixing chamomile with pekoe. v.i. 3. to intermingle smoothly and inseparably. 4. to fit or relate harmoniously: The voices blend well. 5. to have no perceptible separation: Sea and sky seemed to blend. n. 6. a mixture or kind produced by blending. 7. a word made by putting together parts of other words, as motel, made from motor and hotel, or guesstimate, from guess and estimate. 8. a sequence of two or more consonant sounds within a syllable, as the bl in blend; cluster. [1250–1300; Middle English, Old English blendan to mix, for blandan]	motor and hotel
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of what car maker?	Portmanteau - TV Tropes Portmanteau You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share — Bob Belcher, Bob's Burgers A portmanteaunote (pronounced \pȯrt-ˈman-(ˌ)tō\ or "port-man-TOE") is a new word formed by joining two others and combining their meanings; "smog" is a blend of "smoke" and "fog"; "motel" is a portmanteau word made by combining "motor" and "hotel". Essentially, the written equivalent of Frankenstein 's monster. The word itself is an obsolete term for a kind of suitcase that opens into two hinged compartments. It was first used to describe blends of words by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There , when Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice the word "slithy" from the poem " Jabberwocky ": "Well, slithy means lithe and slimy... You see, it's like a portmanteau — there are two meanings packed up into one word." There are two basic types. The first combines the beginning or first syllable of the first word with the ending or last syllable of the other, as in the Goldwyn (Goldfish + Selwyn) Picture Corporation (later part of MGM) and the U.S. Navy's DESRON (destroyer squadron), the second combines the first syllables of the component words, such as in the company name Alcan (Aluminium Company of Canada) and the New York neighborhood Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street). The latter type sometimes mixes with first-letter acronyms, e. g. in NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) and Parufamet, the film distribution firm run by Paramount, the UFA (Universum-Film-Aktiengesellschaft) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the Weimar Republic. During the first half of the 20th century the second type was very common in German and Russian, which through examples like Stuka, Gestapo, Flak, Stasi, Gulag, Comintern and Sovnarkom associated it with Communism and National Socialism in British and American eyes, even though the type actually goes back to before World War 1.note The examples: Sturzkampfflugzeug ("dive combat airplane"), Geheime Staatspolizei ("secret state police"), Flugabwehrkanone ("anti-air cannon", goes back to 1916), Staatssicherheit ("state security"), glavnoye upravleniye ispravityelno-trudovykh lagerey i koloniy ("main administration of corrective labour camps and settlements"), Communist International, and sovyet narodnykh kommissarov ("council of the people's commissars"). "Nazi" itself is not an example, contrary to what some people may tell you. Consequently, fictional totalitarian governments often use them to play on these connotations. Portmanteaus of the second type are still fairly common in Germany to this day. In countries that don't use alphabets, like Japan, this is also still the standard, which is why Portmanteau Series Nickname is full of anime show examples. Incidentally, the original French word "portemanteau" is a portmanteau. "Porte" means carries and "manteau" means coat, so a portemanteau is something that carries your coat. In modern French the word means coat hanger instead of a type of suitcase, and the literary equivalent is called a "mot-valise", or "suitcase-word". open/close all folders Animanga (Anime & Manga) Yaoi = yanma nashi ochi nashi imi nashinote " No plot, no resolution, no meaning ". An alternate (joking) portmanteau for yaoi is "Yamete, oshiri itai!"note "Stop it, my ass hurts!" R.O.D the TV : Joker's codename is a portmanteau of his real name (Joe Carpenter). (Well, or maybe Joe Carpenter is a pseudonym derived from the codename...but either way, portmanteau.) In the Pokï¿½mon note "Pokemon" itself is a portmanteau of "pocket" and "monsters" episode "Short and to the Punch", Clayton the martial artist insists on giving portmanteau nicknames to everyone and coining abbreviations for common phrases . For example, Ash and Buizel are referred to as Ashbui. This trait was carried over largely unchanged from the Japanese version . Many, if not all , of the Pokemon names are portmanteaus. Bulbasaur is "bulb" and "dinosaur". Charmander is "charred" and "salamander". Squirtle is "squirt" and "turtle". And we're not even past the starter choices of the first game yet! Digimon = Digital + Monsters.note Digimon are the champions. Ojamajo Doremi : Ojamajo = Ojamanote meaning "hindrance" + Majonote meaning "Witch" = "Hindering Witch"note Or "Bothersome", "Troublesome", or "Nuisance"; more so the former two. Cardames (Card Games) Magic: The Gathering The fans do these with combos, like Land Tax (If your opponent gets more lands than you, you can search your library for three lands and put them in play.) + Armageddon (Destroy all lands.) = Taxageddon (for massive mana advantage and card advantage). Yawgmoth's Bargain (pay X life to draw X cards) + Heroes' Reunion (gain 7 life) = Heroes' Bargain (or two and a third Ancestral Recalls, which, to be fair, requires you run a three-color deck). Occasionally used for actual cards, such as "Blightning" and "Deadapult". Comistrips (Comic Strips) Video games in FoxTrot tend to be mashups of real-life titles, like the first-person shooters Doom athon and Duke Quakem , adventure game Iron Mysticus (combining Iron Helix, Myst , and Lunicus), or the unlikely combination Riv iablo . Fanfic (Fan Fiction) , Scott and Hank use "groovetacular" (groovy + spectacular). Filmations (Films — Animation) In Kung Fu Panda 3 , the kung-fu masters who have their chi stolen turn into green living statues. When Tigress refers to them as "jade zombies", Po and Monkey both dub them "jombies". Livefilms (Films — Live-Action) In Dave , the title character makes up a girlfriend, describing her as an exotic princess: half Polynesian, half American "Amnesian". Parodied in Kung Pow! Enter the Fist "Killing is wrong. And bad. There should be a new, stronger word for killing. Like badwrong, or badong. Yes, killing is badong. From this moment, I will stand for the opposite of killing: gnodab ." Peter Sellers in The Bobo is a wandering singer/bullfighter who calls himself a matatroubador - or troubamatador, he hasn't decided which. Anomalisa is a combination of "Anomaly" and "Lisa". In Deadpool , Weasel comes up with the word "afrangry" since there seems to be no word for being half afraid, half angry. Litfic (Literature) As one might expect, The Trope Namer , Alice in Wonderland , is chocabloc full of portmanteau words, at least one of which, chortle, made it into common usage. The poem " Jabberwocky " is practically a compendium of portmanteau words, (brillig, slithy, wabe, outgrabe and that's just the first stanza) most of which did not make it into common usage, unless someone is feeling arch and wants to show off their vocabulary. In Feliks, Net & Nika robots in Institute are named by portmanteaus of their functions. Three most prominent examples are Konpopoz (KONserwator POwierzchni POZiomych, Flat Surfaces Conservator), Roznakin (RObot ZNAKujący i INformacyjny, Labeling And Information Robot) and Autotup (AUTOmatyczny TUrystyczny Przewodnik, Automatic Tourist Guide). In Nineteen Eighty-Four , New Speak has a few of them, such as IngSoc, MiniLuv, and... NewSpeak. Enid Blyton used delumptious and scrumplicious, the two possible portmanteaux of delicious and scrumptious. This was also referenced in Goodnight Mister Tom . Some of the future animals in Literature/fterManAZoologyOfTheFuture are named this way, portmanteauing the extant species they're descended from with the species that currently fills their ecological niche (eg Rabbuck, for a rabbit the size of a deer). The Hunger Games has "muttations" (mutt+mutation, for genetically engineered beasts), "nightlock" (nightshade+hemlock, poisonous berries), "Communicuff" (a watch-like communicator that looks like a handcuff), "propos" (propaganda ads) and mockingjay (mockingbird+jabberjay - which was a genetically engineered bird - , a bird that is able to mimic music). The Mysterious Benedict Society . "We're the Winmates! Because we're inmates...that win. It's a portly man's toe or whatever you call it." Cyborg ("Cybernetic" + "Organism") popularized (but not invented) by the 1973 Martin Caidin science fiction novel of the same name, which also popularized "bionic" from "biology" and "electronic". Telelive (Live-Action TV) There was a bit on Arrested Development where Tobias prints business cards declaring himself a cross between an analyst and a therapist... an "analrapist". In another episode GOB and Tobias try to start a business together, as Gobias Industries. One experiment in Better Off Ted is referred to as a disasticle (disater + debacle). Look Around You : "Thanks, ants. Thants." Will in The Inbetweeners calls Neil's dad a "bumder", which he later explains to be a mix of bummer and bender. The Future Is Wild , being a Spiritual Successor to After Man (above), uses a similar naming system. This exchange from The Drew Carey Show regarding Drew's cyber-date is full of them. Kate: Yeah, is "pathetisad" a word? Drew: Hey, whatever BeerStud3 and HoneyBee23 do is their own business. Kate: Beer stud? Forget "pathetisad", is "weirdork" a word? Drew: I don't know, is "sarcastabitch" a word? From Fringe we have vagenda, a portmanteau of vagina and agenda, made up when Walter learns about Fauxlivia seducing Peter . Walter: She tricked my son with her carnal manipulations and he fell right into her vagenda! In Psych , Shawn spends an episode trying to come up with a word to describe the killer of the week, who both set fires and killed people. Two of them were "Arsassin" and "Furderer." Community - a nurse tries to stop Jeff and he asks "Or what, you'll do twice as much work as a doctor for half the pay?" It stops her in her tracks and Britta explains he gave her a 'complisult', a compliment/insult. She adds that she coined the term, adding that was an 'explainobrag'. Star Trek: Voyager . The episode "Tuvix" is about two main characters, Tuvok and Neelix, who are combined via a Teleporter Accident into one person who decides to call himself... Neevok! He then decides Tuvix is better. Music... um, I got nothin' Gorillaz ' "Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head" describes the noise of a volcanic eruption as a "castrophony" — possibly a catastrophic cacophony. Alternatives would also include "symphony". Horned Necrocannibals (Рогатые Трупоеды) have a song named "Vengeanscythe". It's about a vengeful , as far as one can tell , deadman . With a scythe . The Mars Volta use portmanteaus a lot in their album titles like Amputechture (Amputate-Technology-Architecture) and Noctourniquet (Nocturne-Tourniquet) Sammy Kershaw's 1996 single "Vidalia" is about a girl with that name, which is a portmanteau of her parents' names, Violet and Dale. In the song, he sings that the name is appropriate, since Vidalia is also a type of onion, and like the onion, she always makes him cry. Dethklok has the song "Murmaider" from their first album. It's about mermaids. Committing murder. GaMetal is a portmanteau of Game and Metal , fitting since it's a project based on metal remixes of songs from video games. Wizzzard's only album Bettishbreez takes its name from the 3 members: Betty Wright, Ish Ledesma, and Breezy Beat MC. Prestling (Pro Wrestling) Edge and Christian were infamous for doing this sort of thing. The best example was ramipercussions, a combination of ramifications and repercussions. Also, due to the Triple H -led Corporation / D-Generation X alliance being alternately called the "McMahon-Helmsley Faction" and the "McMahon-Helmsley Regime", they called it the "Fac-gime" and "Fregime". Some tag team names are Portmanteaus, such as LayCool , comprised of Layla and Michelle McCool. Ryback combines this with a Development Gag . His first name is Ryan, and he wrestled in the indies as Ryan "The Silverback" Reeves. Madusa 's name is a portmanteau of "Made in the USA" . Tablames (Tabletop Games) Dungeons & Dragons Multiclass character builds in are occasionally named like this, from the bardbarian (bard plus barbarian) to the sorcadin (sorcerer plus paladin). Gnolls in the first edition were conceived as a hybrid of gnomes and trolls, but have since become their own thing . And then there's Mystara's "Thoul", an hybride of ghoul, hobgoblin and troll. The Clans from BattleTech shun the use of contractions, yet will combine other words like quaiff (query affirmative) and quineg (query negative). The Reporting Name for the Timber Wolf came from an Inner Sphere MechWarrior's targeting computer jumping from Marauder (MAD) to Catapult (CAT) repeatedly in an attempt to identify it. Hence, Mad Cat. In the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, there's the Archfiend Palabyrinth Field Spell, a combination of "palace" and "labyrinth". Also, the Psychic monster Dr. Frankenderp , a combination of Frankenstein and "furage", a word that means "flying get", a term used to describe finding something earlier than it should be found. (Which is a description of the monster's effect.) Vidames (Video Games) Diablo II The strategy guides and developer comments refer to the Amazon character as a "spearazon" or a "bowazon", depending on which skill tree the player specializes in. Paladin builds do much the same thing, from the Hammerdin (Paladin who uses Blessed Hammer), Auradin (Paladin who uses auras) and the Vengadin or Avenger (Paladin who uses Vengeance). There's also a build using Holy Freeze and Zeal which is called (appropriately) the Freezealot . Assassins are primarily grouped into Kicksins (those who use kung fu) and Trapsins (those who use traps). World of Warcraft also has the Healadin and Retadin paladin builds. In the Beta and Vanilla days there were dozens more, but they fell by the wayside as online resources (such as wikis) started standardizing information and slang from the smaller crowds started merging. Truid (Tree + Druid), Dammy (DPS + Shaman), Ironwind/Stormforge (Merging two nearby starting city names to differentiate them from Darnassus, which was significantly farther away) come to mind. Most Pokémon names are Portmanteaus. Example: Treecko = tree + gecko. "Pokémon" is in itself a Portmanteau, as copyright issues prevented Nintendo from using "Pocket Monsters" outside Japan. It's all over the Metagame , a fan tendency to combine Pokemon names with moves or abilities. Snorlax with Curse=Curselax, the rare event Bagon/Shelgon/Salamence with Wish is Wishgon/Wishmence ect. The game Worms 4: Mayhem uses poxels. Poxel is a portmanteau of polygon and voxel, which is a portmanteau of volume and pixel, which is a portmanteau of picture and element. In other words, it's a polygon volume picture element. The Gymnatorium from Backyard Basketball is a portmanteau of gymnasium and auditorium. Samurai Shodown is a sort of half-example: "shodown" is meant to be a combination of "showdown" and "shogun," but the end result is phonetically identical to one of the words that make it up. Somari is what you get when you combine Sonic and Mario . Carmageddon (Car+ Armageddon) is a graphically violent vehicular combat 1997 PC video game. What happens when you take the setting of Dissidia: Final Fantasy to the Nintendo 3DS , and then you shift the genre from a Fighting Game to a Rhythm Game ? You get "Theatre + Rhythm", both words blended into the title of the new game: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy . Game developer Westone Bit Entertainment (of Wonder Boy fame) took its name from a combination of its two founding members' surnames: Ryuichi Nishizawa (Nishi = West) and Michishito Ishizuka (Ishi = Stone). The futuristic sport Pararena is played in a parabolic arena. The luminoth in the second Metroid Prime game is a combination of luminous and moth. Half-Life 2 : Episode 1 introduces zombified Combine soldiers. And the developers did not miss the chance to give Alyx a line that calls them Zombine, and the name obviously has become the common name for these enemies. In Dragon Age II there is an Apostate mage being undercover as a prostitute: Isabella: "Apostate prostitutes? Apostitutes! Haha!" Fallout: New Vegas has a hippie/drug dealer that enjoys using the term "groodalicious", a strange combination of "groovy" and "delicious" The fans and creators of Don't Starve have a peculiar term for the creation which allows one to proceed to the next world: the 'Teleportato'. Nazi Zombies : Ever heard of a Blundergat? Weapon Description This is what happens, when you take multiple barrels and firepower of a gatling gun, with the compactness and spread of a blunderbuss. To be frank, this thing is pretty damn rare. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind has (in-universe) ALMSIVI, for Almalexia, Sotha Sil, Vivec (the three gods of Morrowind's Tribunal). By the end of the game and expansions, two of the gods are certainly dead, and one goes missing not so long afterwards (to leave it ambiguous if he was killed or not), so the term has fallen out of favour by the time we get a closer look at Dunmeri culture again. Shoot-em-ups eventually came to be referred to as shmups. Jardinains! = "jardin"note French for "garden"+"nains"note French for "dwarf". It's probably a reference to the garden gnome-like creatures in the game that want to make your life miserable, but burst into powerups if you bounce them enough times. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic : One episode introduces us to the Parasprites : a portmanteau of "sprite" (as in a fairy) and "parasite". In "The Last Round-Up", Pinkie Pie rambles to Applejack about a food she's invented that's basically a chimichanga made with cherry filling, and debates whether to call it a "chimicherry", a "cherrychanga" or a "chimicherrychanga". Inspiration Manifestation : "I'm thinking we go by chariot! Or as everyone will soon be calling them, Rariot!" Twilight's Alicorn Princess form has been nicknamed "Twilicorn". The Hungarian dub of ThunderCats (2011) rendered Lion-O's oft-repeated "Whiskers!" catchphrase as "Bajszus!", combining the words "bajusz" (whisker) and "basszus" (damn it). The title of Sym-Bionic Titan is "symbiotic" (two organisms living closely together) and bionic (cyborgs). King of the Hill . Dale comes up with some from time to time, such as " Objection: conjecture. Objecture! "	i don't know
What island does Puff the Magic Dragon call home?	Puff, the Magic Dragon’s Playground – Children's Creativity Center, Jigsaw Puzzles, and Games in the land called Honalee on the App Store Open iTunes to buy and download apps. Description It’s not just a song any more! Puff, the Magic Dragon’s Playground app brings the popular children’s song to life. This interactive app shares the tale of Puff, the Magic Dragon with games, puzzles, and painting! Join Puff, the Magic Dragon and his friends Jackie Paper, the Pirates, Mousaroo, Dolphin, and the Fairies! Create, paint, and draw with mixed-media collage tools in the Creation Cove Art Center; play with puzzles featuring pictures of Puff and your masterpieces created in the Art Center! Send your little one on a journey through The Castle of Concentration where Memory Games, featuring character art from the original Puff, the Magic Dragon storybook, sharpen memory and expand their attention! The Creation Cove Art Center includes dozens of simple-to-use, immersive painting, drawing, and collage tools where children can use coloring pages, textures, and stamps derived from the artwork from the original Puff, the Magic Dragon storybook. It also contains a full suite of drawing and painting tools. Puzzle Plantation has jigsaw puzzle pages featuring images from the original Puff, the Magic Dragon storybook or images created in the Art Center. You can control difficulty, set the number of pieces, whether the pieces can be rotated, as well as special effects then track your level of improvement – a great tool for children! The Castle of Concentration includes a challenging Memory Card Game featuring character art from the original Puff, the Magic Dragon storybook and sound effects. A portion of revenues go to Operation Respect. Founded by Peter Yarrow, the organization disseminates educational resources that are designed to establish a climate that reduces the emotional and physical cruelty some children inflict upon each other by behaviors such as ridicule, bullying and-in extreme cases-violence. Ages 4+	Puff, the Magic Dragon
The Fed Cup is premier women's international tennis match, pitting teams from various countries against each other. What is the equivalent men's contest?	Puff the Magic Dragon and Marijuana : snopes.com Claim: The Peter, Paul & Mary tune "Puff, the Magic Dragon" is a coded song about marijuana. Status: False. Origins: No, "Puff, the Magic Dragon" is not about marijuana, or any other type of drug. It is what its writers have always claimed it to be: a song about the innocence of childhood lost. The poem that formed the basis of the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" was written in 1959 by Leonard Lipton, a nineteen-year-old Cornell student. Lipton was inspired by an Ogden Nash rhyme about a "Really-O Truly-O Dragon," and, using a dragon as the central figure, he came up with a poem about the end of childhood innocence. Lipton passed his work along to a friend, fellow Cornell student (and folk music enthusiast) Peter Yarrow, who put a melody to the words and wrote additional lyrics to create the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon." After Yarrow teamed up with Mary Travers and Paul Stookey in 1961 to form Peter, Paul & Mary, the trio performed the song in live shows; their 1962 recording of "Puff" reached #2 on the Billboard charts in early 1963. The 1960s being what they were, however, any song based on oblique or allegorical lyrics was subject to reinterpretation as a "drug song," and so it was with "Puff." (For Peter, Paul & Mary, at least, the revelation that their song was "really" about marijuana came after the song had finished its chart run; other groups were not so fortunate, and accusations of "drug lyrics" caused some radio stations to ban songs such as the Byrds' "Eight Miles High" from their playlists.) "Puff" was an obvious name for a song about smoking pot; little Jackie Paper's surname referred to rolling papers; "autumn mist" was either clouds of marijuana smoke or a drug-induced state; the land of "Hanah Lee" was really the Hawaiian village of Hanalei, known for its particularly potent marijuana plants; and so on. As Peter Yarrow has demonstrated in countless concert performances, any song — even "The Star-Spangled Banner" — can be interpreted as a "drug song." Here is what the people who created and popularized the song have said about it: Leonard Lipton (co-writer): ["Puff" is about] loss of innocence, and having to face an adult world. It's surely not about drugs. I can tell you that at Cornell in 1959, no one smoked grass. I find the fact that people interpret it as a drug song annoying. It would be insidious to propagandize about drugs in a song for little kids. Peter Yarrow (co-writer): As the principal writer of the song, I can assure you it's a song about innocence lost. It's easier to interpret "The Star-Spangled Banner" as a drug song than "Puff, the Magic Dragon." This is just a funny rumor that was promulgated by Newsweek magazine [who ran a cover story about covert drug messages in pop music]. There is no basis for it. It's inane at this point and really unfortunate, because even in Hong Kong it's not played because of the allegation it's about drugs. But I assure you it's not. When 'Puff' was written, I was too innocent to know about drugs. What kind of a meanspirited SOB would write a children's song with a covert drug message? Mary Travers: Peter wrote the song in 1958 [sic], and it is not about marijuana. Believe me, if he wanted to write a song about marijuana, he would have written a song about marijuana. Last updated: 25 May 2007	i don't know
Nicknamed Slowhand, what famed English guitarist was born on March 30, 1945?	Slowhand Net Worth - Eric Clapton Net Worth Slowhand Net Worth Read more... Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Net Worth is $115 Million. Eric Clapton has an estimated networth of $115 million. Eric Patrick Clapton was born March 30, 1945 in Surrey, England. He is a blues-rock guitarist, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was ranked at #53 on. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, (b... Eric Clapton Net Worth is $115 Million. Eric Clapton Net Worth is $115 Million. Eric Clapton has an estimated networth of $115 million. Eric Patrick Clapton was born March 30, 1945 in Surrey, England. He is a blues-rock guitarist, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was ranked at #53 on Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and fourth in Gibson's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time. In the mid 1960s, Clapton departed from the Yardbirds to play blues with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. In his one-year stay with Mayall, Clapton gained the nickname "Slowhand". Immediately after leaving Mayall, Clapton formed Cream, a power trio with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop." For most of the 1970s, Clapton's output bore the influence of the mellow style of J.J. Cale and the reg...	Eric Clapton
Abraham Lincoln was president of the Union during the civil war. Who was the president of the Confederate States?	Clapton - Eric Clapton Net Worth Clapton Read more... Eric Clapton Eric Clapton Net Worth is $115 Million. Eric Clapton has an estimated networth of $115 million. Eric Patrick Clapton was born March 30, 1945 in Surrey, England. He is a blues-rock guitarist, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was ranked at #53 on. Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, (b... Eric Clapton Net Worth is $115 Million. Eric Clapton Net Worth is $115 Million. Eric Clapton has an estimated networth of $115 million. Eric Patrick Clapton was born March 30, 1945 in Surrey, England. He is a blues-rock guitarist, composer, singer, and songwriter. He was ranked at #53 on Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and fourth in Gibson's Top 50 Guitarists of All Time. In the mid 1960s, Clapton departed from the Yardbirds to play blues with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers. In his one-year stay with Mayall, Clapton gained the nickname "Slowhand". Immediately after leaving Mayall, Clapton formed Cream, a power trio with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce in which Clapton played sustained blues improvisations and "arty, blues-based psychedelic pop." For most of the 1970s, Clapton's output bore the influence of the mellow style of J.J. Cale and the reg...	i don't know
The Starry Night, The Potato Eaters, and Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear are all paintings by what famed artist?	Van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (article) \| Khan Academy Van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear Email The artist's face and bandaged ear (detail), Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 49 cm (Courtauld Galleries, London) The artist's face and bandaged ear (detail), Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 49 cm (Courtauld Galleries, London) The unfortunate man The following report appeared in the Arles journal Le Forum Republicain on December 30, 1888: Last Sunday, at 11:30 in the evening, Vincent Vaugogh [sic], a painter of Dutch origin, called at the Brothel No. 1, asked for a woman called Rachel and handed her … his ear, saying: 'Guard this object with your life'. Then he disappeared. When informed of the action, which could only be that of a pitiful madman, the police went the next day to his house and discovered him lying on his bed apparently at the point of death. The unfortunate man has been rushed to hospital. Accounts of what took place that night vary. Whatever the exact circumstances, though, whatever underlying motivations could have compelled van Gogh to do it, the episode effectively put an end to one of the most famous working relationships in the history of art, as Paul Gauguin boarded the train to Paris the next day. For nine weeks they had lived together sharing lodgings in the Yellow House, just outside the old town walls of Arles in the South of France, spurring each other on as collaborators and as rivals too. The dream had been to set up “a studio in the South,” as van Gogh put it, a community of artists, with himself and Gauguin, the founding fathers, all working in harmony with nature and, as he hoped, with each other. A brave face? The painting, completed two weeks after the event, is often read as a farewell to that dream. For Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, the most recent biographers of the artist, however, the portrait was first and foremost a plea to van Gogh’s doctors. Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 49 cm (Courtauld Galleries, London) Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, 1889, oil on canvas, 60 x 49 cm (Courtauld Galleries, London) It shows the artist in three-quarter profile standing in a room in the Yellow House wearing a closed coat and a fur cap. His right ear is bandaged. It was in fact his left ear that was bandaged, the painting being a mirror image. To his right is an easel with a canvas on it. Barely visible, a faint outline underneath reveals what looks to be a still-life which appears to have been painted over. The top of the easel has been cropped by the edge of the canvas and the sitter's hat so as to form a fork-like shape. To his left is a blue framed window, and partly obscured by the gaunt ridge of his cheek, a Japanese woodblock print shows two geishas in a landscape with Mount Fuji in the background. Naifeh and White Smith argue that van Gogh, following his release from hospital, was anxious to persuade his doctors that he was indeed perfectly fit and able to take care of himself and that, despite his momentary lapse, it would not be necessary for them to have him committed, as had been suggested, to one of the local insane asylums; hence the winter coat and hat, to keep warm as they had advised, and with the window ajar still getting that much-needed fresh air into his system. The bandage too, which would have been soaked in camphor, suggests that he both accepts what has happened and is happy, literally, to take his medicine. The same note of stoic optimism, if one wishes to read the painting this way, is also found in the letters to his brother Theo, in which van Gogh, far from abandoning his dream of a "studio in the South," talks of continuing the project, expressing the desire for more artists to come to Arles, even proposing that Gauguin and he could “start afresh.” Yet, of course, whether or not van Gogh was willing to admit to it, the project had most definitely reached its end. And though for a short time he did get to carry on living in the Yellow House, within a few weeks, acting on a petition handed in to the local authorities and signed by 30 of his neighbours, he was forcefully removed and taken to Arles Hospital where he was locked in an isolation cell. In May van Gogh committed himself to the private asylum in Saint-Remy a small town north of Arles and in a little over a year he was dead. An obsession with Japanese Art Though Naifeh and White Smith’s argument is convincing, how the artist accounts for himself in his letters and how he expresses himself in paint, are different things. For my own part, what is most interesting about the image is what it reveals about van Gogh’s artistic practice and particularly his obsession with Japanese art: “All my work to some extent is based on Japanese art,” he wrote in July, 1888. Three years earlier, while in the port city of Antwerp in Belgium, he would wander through the markets there where woodblock prints of the Ukiyo-e school, the so-called "artists of the floating world" were readily available and could be bought for just a few centimes. These first glimpses into the art of Japan came at a pivotal moment in the artist’s career: half way between his native Holland where he had schooled himself in the Realist tradition of artists such as Jozef Israëls, with his dark, earthy palette and sympathy for the rural poor, and Paris where he would encounter the colorful urbanity of the Impressionists. For van Gogh, the artists of Japan offered the perfect meeting-point of theory and practice. The most famous of them was Hokusai, “the Dickens of Japan," who shared the Dutchman’s passion for depicting the lives of the poor. It was this compassionate dimension of Japanese art that van Gogh hoped to bring to Impressionism, a movement that—by the time he arrived in Paris in 1886—had already absorbed the visual inventiveness of the Ukiyo-e school. As time went on, the links went still further. In his two-year sojourn in Paris, the city of strangers, it was fellowship above all else that he yearned for, and so he came to imagine the Impressionists, among whose ranks he claimed to belong, to be as he imagined the Japanese, a united body of artists, sharing the same goals and ideals. It was this that prompted the journey south. On arriving in Arles he wrote to his brother, declaring his hope that "other artists will rise up in this lively country and do for it what the Japanese have done for theirs." And again, while decorating his new house with paintings of sunflowers, he wrote to Theo: "Come now, isn't it almost a true religion which the simple Japanese teach us, who live in nature as though they themselves were flowers." Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait (Dedicated to Gauguin), 1888, 65 x 52 cm (Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge) Vincent van Gogh, Self-Portrait (Dedicated to Gauguin), 1888, 65 x 52 cm (Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge) It was in Arles that he read Pierre Loti's novel Madame Chrysanthème, best known today as the literary source for Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly. While its self-sacrificing heroine worked her graceful way into van Gogh Orientalist fantasies, Loti’s description of Buddhist priests inspired his own Self-Portrait (Dedicated to Paul Gauguin), a painting that draws out the direction he hoped the two artists would follow. How very different Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is to this earlier portrait. With its formal setting; the repeated triangles, for example, in the form of his coat, the top of the easel and the view offered of Mount Fuji itself, lending the painting it's aspirational quality, its upward thrust. And yet the dominant feeling is surely conveyed by the internal frames: the window, the canvas and print, each of which appears condensed and somewhat forced into the painting, as though hemming the sitter in. Sato Torakiyo (publisher), Geishas in a Landscape, c 1870-80, coloured woodblock print, 60 x 43 cm (Courtauld Museum, London) Sato Torakiyo (publisher), Geishas in a Landscape, c 1870-80, coloured woodblock print, 60 x 43 cm (Courtauld Museum, London) The Japanese print as van Gogh painted it in Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear differs from the original. Comparing them we see how van Gogh shifted the composition to the right, deliberately discarding one of the figures in favour of the heron, whose razor-sharp beak rears up as if to stab at the artist’s ear. Opposite it, the canvas squeezed in to the left with its ghostly imprint of flowers surmounted by the fork of the easel sets up a formally satisfying but psychologically unsettling parallel. Is there a hint in all this, albeit unconsciously expressed, that the dream of an artist's community in Arles has turned against him? Perhaps, but then of course there is always van Gogh's color—the joyous application of pigment onto canvas, the glorious use of impasto, thick and swift; that fabulous hatching technique, in places evoking the textures it depicts, the weave of the coat, the threads of the bandage, the fur of the hat. And note the tonal array of strokes that make up the face: violet, green, red, brown, orange, straw yellow; the blacks centred in those piercing pupils. André Derain, Henri Matisse, 1905, oil on canvas, 71 x 60 cm (Tate Modern, London) André Derain, Henri Matisse, 1905, oil on canvas, 71 x 60 cm (Tate Modern, London) A yearning to be proved sane or a heartfelt cry of anguish, whatever we may read in the image about van Gogh the man, from a purely art historical point of view, it is here in his brushwork and in his palette that one discovers the source of André Derain’s “deliberate disharmonies." How fitting then that it was while on holiday in the South of France, a favourite haunt of that early Modernist movement to which he belonged—the Fauves—that Derain painted his friend and fellow artist Matisse; enough perhaps to say that Van Gogh’s hope and prediction that "other artists will rise up in this lively country" was not so wildly off the mark after all. Essay by Ben Pollitt	Vincent van Gogh
The secret police force created by Papa Doc Duvalier, the Tonton Macoute terrorized the citizens of what country?	VINCENT VAN GOGH : Academic Medicine Academic Medicine Free Access Vincent van Gogh, born March 30, 1853, in Groot-Zundert, The Netherlands, was destined to lead an unhappy life, struggling in obscurity with mental illness, poverty, and difficult relationships. His genius as a painter was recognized only after his tragic death. Van Gogh's initial exposure to painting came in 1869, when he began a seven-year stint working as an art dealer for his uncles, who were international dealers for Groupil & Cie. However, he felt obliged to follow in the footsteps of his father, a Protestant pastor, so he left the art dealership for the study of religion. While preaching among the poor miners of Borinage, Belgium, he was inspired to begin drawing what he saw, eventually coming to believe that his true mission in life was to be an artist. He began painting at the age of 27. His earliest paintings (e.g., The Potato Eaters) were dark and focused on social issues. Over the next ten years, he produced 800 works. In 1886, Van Gogh moved to Paris with his brother Theo. There he met Degas, Gauguin, Pissarro, and Toulouse-Lautrec. The Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings and Japanese woodcuts that he saw influenced his style, leading him to use brighter colors in his landscapes and portraits (e.g., Sunflowers and The Bedroom at Arles). In 1888, Van Gogh moved to Arles, where Gauguin joined him by the end of the year. It was both a productive and a difficult time for Van Gogh. He produced over 200 works, but his mental illness was taking a toll. During a quarrel with Gauguin, Van Gogh cut off part of his left earlobe (Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear), which he later gave to a woman who worked a brothel. With his mental health in flux, Van Gogh committed himself to the asylum at St. Rémy. It was during this time that he painted one of his most famous masterpieces, Starry Night. In 1890, while attending a show in Brussels, Van Gogh made his first sale of a painting, Red Vineyard at Arles. On July 27 of the same year, following a period of 70 days in which he produced 70 works, Van Gogh shot himself in the chest. He died two days later. © 2002 Association of American Medical Colleges Article Outline	i don't know
The first oral medicine to treat erectile dysfunction, Viagra was approved for sale by the FDA on March 27, 1988. Which company produces it?	Diabetic Sexual Dysfunction \| National Federation of the Blind Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction by Ed Bryant This article originally appeared in Voice of the Diabetic, Volume 19, Number 1, Winter 2004 Edition, published by the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind. The principal symptom of diabetes, type 1 or type 2, is high blood sugar. In time, excess glucose in the blood can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and circulatory system. As human sexual response involves so many systems at the same time, it is not unusual to find a person with long-term diabetes experiencing sexual difficulties: ranging from diminished interest, slow response, discomfort, pain, and, for men, outright impotence. Though these problems express differently in men and women, and sexuality is the sum of many different factors, having diabetes is a major predictor of sexual difficulties, for both men and women. Female Sexual Dysfunction Having diabetes can interfere with a woman's participation in and enjoyment of the sex act. Diabetic complications can make sex painful and unpleasant -- and reluctance to participate can be understandable. But the culture throws negative labels around, and, traditionally, women's sexual issues have not been addressed to the same depth as men's issues--so many medical professionals are less than fully "up to speed" on this subject, so less likely to ask their female patients, and only recently has the medical profession acknowledged any "female sexual dysfunction" at all--so there is a shortage of professional expertise here. Some doctors have real difficulty separating diabetogenic (caused by diabetes) difficulties from unrelated issues. More studies, especially of women with diabetes, are urgently needed. Too many assumptions are derived from the study of diabetic men, and need to be tested. Diabetic women, many of retirement age, were, many of them, raised in a time when "nice girls didn't talk about such things." There can be real reluctance to bring up the subject of sexual difficulties, diabetogenic or otherwise. Anna Sarkadi, MD, and Urban Rosenqvist, MD, PhD, in their paper: "Intimacy and Women with Type 2 Diabetes," published in The Diabetes Educator (2003), stress that both the patient and the clinician need to push for more openness and discussion. In their book, For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life (2001 Edition), sisters Jennifer Berman, MD, and Laura Berman, PhD, quote a survey published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, stating that "43% of American women, young and old suffer from some sexual dysfunction (JAMA,1999)" They continue: " And yet for most of this century doctors have dismissed women's sexual complaints as either psychological or emotional." The Bermans go on to state: "Many of the same health problems that cause erectile dysfunction in men, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, as well as many medications used to treat these conditions, can cause sexual dysfunction in women." Female sexual disorders (according to the Bermans) are classified into four categories: 1) Hypoactive sexual desire disorder, 2) Female sexual arousal disorder, 3) Orgasmic disorder, and 4) Sexual pain disorders. Each disorder has different treatments (Brassil, D.F. and Lewis, J.H., 2003). Sarkadi and Rosenqvist (2003) point out that although "female orgasmic disorder" does not correlate with diabetes, #4, sexual pain often does, and it is vital for both patients and providers to overcome old reluctance, and raise the subject with each other. Just as with men, female sexual dysfunction can result from physiological, hormonal, neurogenic or psychological causes, or a mix of the above -- and physical discomfort can engender psychological issues. Some physical causes include: pelvic surgery or trauma, blood flow problems such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, spinal cord injury, and even (for both men and women) excessive bicycle riding. Hormonal causes can include menopause, endocrine disorders, postpartum hormone deficiencies, and diabetes. In their article: "Sex, Intimacy, and the Kidney Patient" (in Kidney Beginnings magazine), Donna Brassil, RN, MA, CURN, and Jean Lewis, BSN, RN, CNP, caution that although kidney failure (diabetic or otherwise) itself imposes no limitation on sexual activity, sexual function is impaired in many individuals with chronic kidney disease. "A kidney transplant may cause improvement," they report, "although sexual function rarely returns to the pre-illness state." This applies to both men and women. Certain medications have also been shown to adversely affect female sexual response. Some of them might have been prescribed for diabetes complications. The culprits are the same as for the men: anti-hypertensive agents, anti-depressants, sedatives, neuroleptics, anti-convulsants, anti-ulcer drugs, anti-cancer drugs, and many illegal "recreationals." Be sure to discuss medication options with a physician or nurse. Psychological issues must also be evaluated for their possible relationship to sexual disorders. Many disorders, not just diabetes, have been shown to impact sexual response. These will need to be "ruled out." Sarkadi and Rosenqvist caution that too many have been "taught to accept" bad "folk explanations" (that are not in fact explanations at all, but value judgements) for their difficulties, like "because you're too old, or too fat, or too lazy ..." and their resulting guilt and self-blame exacerbate the problems. As when you think you have the answer (however incorrect you may be!), you're not likely to bring up the question, self-blame's consequences range from unpleasant, to dangerous, to outright lethal. How does diabetes cause female sexual difficulties? Neuropathy, nerve damage, can interfere with the ability to feel, to detect touch, and can cause both pain and numbness. Diabetic small vessel circulatory damage can cause dryness, cracking, and impaired lubrication of skin and mucous membranes. Sarkadi and Rosenqvist (2003) state: "women with diabetes had double the rate of disturbed (inadequate) lubrication as their non-diabetic peers." These ramifications can seriously interfere with satisfaction, and with the willingness to participate in sexual activity. Diabetic high blood sugars greatly increase the odds of a woman having a vaginal infection, most commonly a yeast infection. Diana Guthrie, past Professor at University of Kansas School of Medicine--Wichita, warns such infections can dry and irritate the skin, cause terrible itching, and produce severe pain during intercourse. Good diabetes control cuts the odds of such infections, and effective topical treatments for yeast infection are available. "For diabetics, such infections are generally not sexually transmitted," warns Professor Guthrie, "but safe sex must be practiced if you or your partner have such an infection." In one study, where participants' average age was over 60, 18% of the women with type 1 diabetes reported sexual difficulties, but the figure was 42%, for those women with type 2. It was a small study, but the point is valid--type 2 diabetes produces a lot of sexual difficulties! Berman and Berman advise there is no single "cure-all" for female sexual dysfunction, and options for treatment vary as much as the symptoms. They further advise that, although medications may play a role in treatment, sexual dysfunction disorders may persist if accompanying emotional issues remain unaddressed. As a result, they recommend treatment on both a physiological and psychological level. They stated, "Diagnosis and treatment should ideally combine the mind and body in order to attend to all the components of a woman's sexual life." Their suggestions are just as valid for men facing sexual difficulties. Medicinal treatments for women increasingly include prescriptions for Viagra (sildenafil). Similar to its effects for men, Viagra increases blood flow to the vagina, clitoris, and labia, causing engorgement of these tissues, enhanced sensation, and increased vaginal lubrication. It is recommended that sildenafil be taken on an empty stomach, about an hour before intercourse, without alcohol. In addition, a woman must have the desire to engage in sexual relations, and be sexually stimulated enough for it to have an effect. Discuss with your doctor or nurse whether such use is appropriate for you. Note, as other new therapies for men come on to the market, some of them may prove effective for women as well. Talk to your health care team about new therapies. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is currently the only drug treatment that has been approved by the FDA for women with complaints of sexual problems associated with the drop in hormone levels brought on by menopause. Talk to your doctor about whether or not such therapy is appropriate for you. The Eros-CDT (clitoral therapy device), by Urometrics, Inc., of Anoka, Minnesota, became the first treatment for female sexual dysfunction approved by the FDA in May, 2000. The CDT is in essence a small pump with a tiny plastic cup attachment that fits over the clitoris and surrounding tissue. It provides gentle suction and stimulating blood flow to the area. The CTD can cause orgasm in women, and it may help to prevent the fibrosis (collagen deposits) in women that can build up in the arteries leading to the clitoris. Consult your physician for more information on this device. Because no drugs are administered, diabetes contraindications are less likely. Sexual dysfunction's symptoms should be taken seriously. Talk to your doctor. It is not a "moral issue." Get it checked out--as something undetected (like kidney disease) can cause sexual difficulties--then you can start dealing with it, and getting on with your life. A recent Mayo Clinic heart disease study stated people with sexual difficulties had a greatly increased likelihood of undiagnosed heart problems. So Just don't ignore it. Act! The best prevention is the same as for diabetic men: Tight control. Diabetes per se does not cause these ramifications -- they follow long periods of elevated blood glucose, and your best insurance is to keep those numbers down. The better you do, the less the risk. Smoking increases the odds and severity of diabetic complications; it should be stopped. Alcohol use needs to be limited. Male Sexual Dysfunction Of all the complications of diabetes, this one, male impotence (the inability to achieve and sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse), may be most feared, but it is also one of the most treatable. More than 50% of diabetic men may experience erectile dysfunction, but over 95% of cases can be successfully treated. With proven treatment available, and new treatments appearing, a diabetic man experiencing this problem does have options. It isn't something he--or any man--or his partner--should have to live with. Many men do not feel difficulties with their sexual performance are a fit subject to discuss with their partners--or anyone else; they fear they will be ridiculed or condemned for having such. They couldn't be more wrong--for they make things worse by "suffering in silence." Men, all of them, need to move beyond the old idea that the sex act is something the male provides. He is part of a relationship, and what interferes with one affects both. A man's partner is equally involved. Achieving and sustaining an erection requires interaction between the neurological, arterial, hormonal, and psychological functions of the body. Simply, a lot of different parts have to work right. Proper hormonal balance, normal sex drive and emotional make-up, functioning nerves and blood vessels, and healthy penile tissue are all required. Both Libido, the interest in sexual activity, and potency, the ability to perform, must be present. Several different sets of nerves are involved, and neuropathy, nerve damage, to any of them can impair the sex act. Erection is a function of the parasympathetic nervous system, but orgasm and ejaculation are controlled by a different set of nerves: the sympathetic system. "Erection is a hydraulic phenomenon, that occurs involuntarily," says Arturo Rolla, MD, of Harvard University School of Medicine. "Nobody can will an erection!" Anything that limits or impairs blood flow can interfere with the ability to achieve an erection, no matter how hard a man tries, or how much he wants to achieve one. Although sexual vigor generally declines with age, a man who is healthy, physically and emotionally, is able to produce erections, and enjoy sexual relations, regardless of his age. Impotence is not an inevitable part of the aging process. On occasion any man may experience the inability to achieve or sustain an erection. Such transient episodes are common and may be attributed to illness, fatigue, stress, relationship problems, depression, etc. The occasional inability to perform, however traumatic to both partners, is normal. Repeated inability to achieve and sustain an adequate erection can be caused by anything that affects a man, psychologically or physically. Psychological, or "psychogenic," impotence can follow major life changes, unrelated medical treatments or conditions, stressful events, relationship difficulties, or even the fear of becoming impotent. The physiological changes associated with fear can themselves cause erectile dysfunction! When a diabetic discovers the source of his difficulties is not physical--that it is due simply to his fear of the ramifications--sexual function is usually restored. But to tell the difference between physical and psychogenic impotence, and to make any progress against it, requires that you TALK about this sensitive issue--with your partner, your physician, and, ideally, with a urologist specializing in male sexual difficulties. Sexual dysfunction can contribute to psychological problems such as feelings of inadequacy, frustration, loss of self-esteem, and despair. Strained relationships with partners may well result. It is important for people to discuss the problem with their partners, and to promptly seek medical attention. Many men may find counseling helpful. Diabetic impotence is not a sign of diminishing sexual interest! It is generally a result of the blockage of or damage to blood vessels responsible for erection, damage to the nerves that dilate those blood vessels, or a mixture of the two. In some cases, re-establishing good glycemic control may decrease the problem, though permanent damage to nerves and small blood vessels may not be reversible. Such blockage may be an indicator of previously undiagnosed heart disease. A diabetic man can decrease his risk of impotence (and many other complications) by carefully controlling his diabetes. Poorly controlled diabetes, and high cholesterol, increase the chances of vascular complications, which may lead to erectile dysfunction or other circulatory problems. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), a common diabetes complication, imposes its own stresses on the body, and can lead to impairment of sexual function. Short of a kidney transplant, the best treatment is to do whatever possible to keep your kidneys healthy. Exercise regularly, and avoid nicotine and alcohol. Smoking causes constriction of the blood vessels, and greatly increases the odds of diabetic circulatory damage. Good health practices, and tight blood glucose control, help men prevent impotence, just as they ward off the other major complications of neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy. Impotence, the chronic inability to have and sustain an erection adequate for sexual intercourse, may well be a symptom of more serious disorder, such as previously undiagnosed heart complications. Seek prompt medical help for sexual dysfunction--as it can lead to early diagnosis of other problems--for which prompt intervention might save your life. Identification of the source of impotence can point the way to the prevention of strokes, heart attacks, and other life-threatening illnesses. Whatever the cause, if a man does not have or cannot sustain erections adequate for vaginal penetration, and the problem continues over a period of four to five weeks, he should recognize a problem exists, and seek medical help. Don't delay--erectile dysfunction doesn't "just go away!" In treatment of impotence, the choice of doctors is most important--all are not equally qualified to diagnose or treat such a condition. Among the best choices are those practicing at centers specializing in erectile dysfunction, urologists who subspecialize in the treatment of impotence, and other physicians specifically trained in this field. Most people's first contact is with their family doctor. Ask that primary care physician for a referral to a medical professional who is particularly familiar with this disorder. Local hospital referral services may keep lists of such experts in practice nearby. With an interview and physical exam, the doctor should be able to determine whether the erectile dysfunction is psychological or physical in nature. Where diabetes is present, a vast majority of instances of erectile dysfunction have a partly or completely physical cause. But based on examination and interview, the doctor may determine the cause to be psychological, and if so, refer the man to a qualified health professional specializing in psychologically-induced erectile dysfunction. This may be a psychiatrist, psychologist, sex therapist, or marital counselor. Please, do not see such a diagnosis as an insult, or as a defeat--to do nothing, to choose inaction, would be the real defeat. Troy A. Burns, MD, of PropartnersMD in Overland Park, Kansas (who was formerly Medical Director of the Diagnostic Center for Men), reports that an old at-home test for erectile activity during sleep (the lack of which would suggest physically-caused impotence) was the postage-stamp test. The patient was instructed to wrap several stamps snugly around his penis at bedtime. If the stamps had perforated by the time he awakened, some penile tumescence probably occurred! Of course more sophisticated tests are used today. Impotence is sometimes a side effect of medications prescribed for other disorders. Such medications can include: some antihypertensives (diuretics and beta blockers), some ulcer medications, the heart medication Digoxin, antihistamines used for allergy control, antipsychotics, commonly used tranquilizers such as Diazepam, certain antianxiety drugs, certain narcotics, anticholinergics, tricyclic antidepressants, and many illegal drugs. Elavil and other tricyclic antidepressants, sometimes used to treat the pain of neuropathy, can cause, trigger, or aggravate impotence. Be careful of interactions between your medications and any "alternative" herbal supplements too - tell your doctor what you're taking. Non-prescription treatments for a person's unrelated disorders may contribute to the problem, as over-the-counter medications, including certain eye drops and nose drops, have been associated with erectile dysfunction. If you experience erectile dysfunction, and you are using other medication(s), discuss it with your doctor. By adjusting the dosage of current medication(s) or by switching to valid alternates, erectile dysfunction may be alleviated. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about side effects, and be sure to read the package insert in the container. Consult a physician before discontinuing any medications. Much is now known about the causes and treatments of erectile dysfunction, and impotent men should be aware of their various treatment options. Although surgery is one choice, 95% of cases are resolved by nonsurgical means, and the National Institutes of Health recommends trying nonsurgical treatments before more invasive methods. All options should be considered, but the man's personal preferences--and those of his partner--are vital in the choice of treatment. For purpose of discussion I've divided treatments into three categories: medications, external mechanical devices, and surgery. Medications Topical "Vasodilators" May Improve Blood Flow: When diagnosis indicates a problem in the vascular system, particularly arterial insufficiency, externally-applied vasodilators (example: nitroglycerine ointment) can be used to dilate arteries, improving blood flow into the penis. Commonly used in treatment of high blood pressure and associated heart disease, such ointment is applied to the penis to increase penile arterial flow and improve erections. The most notable side effect of nitroglycerine ointment is that it may give the female partner headaches, as it is absorbed into her bloodstream through the vagina. To prevent this, the man should use a condom. Note: some men are "intolerant" of nitroglycerine as well, and cannot use such a product. Talk to your health care team. Another topically applied vasodilator, Minoxidil, was found to have fewer side effects and be more effective than nitroglycerine cream. Although some cases of erectile dysfunction respond well to this kind of therapy, the effectiveness of topical vasodilator products for this purpose has not yet been determined by the scientific community. Research continues. Yohimbine Therapy Shows Promise: Yohimbine medication comes from the bark of a tree that grows in Africa and India. The extract, long used as an aphrodisiac and folk remedy for impotence, has proved effective in some impotence cases, and has an FDA approval for use as an aphrodisiac. It is not known exactly how the medication works. Note that desire is not ability--and an aphrodisiac, "folk" or FDA-approved, does not address the circulatory difficulties central to diabetogenic impotence. Some "alternative" medications, sold on the Internet as "sex-life enhancers," contain yohimbine as one component. The few side effects of yohimbine tablets can be easily alleviated. Many doctors prescribe this therapy for cases of very mild, physically caused dysfunction or for psychological impotence. This therapy does have merit and should be considered. Alprox-TD, a topical cream containing alprostadil, has completed several Phase III clinicals. Manufactured by NexMed (from Robbinsville, New Jersey), it appears to produce a statistically significant improvement in impotence symptoms, and "demonstrated significant efficacy in double-blind, placebo-controlled, take-home studies in a broad patient population." Many of the test population also had cardiac complications, and the medication appeared safe for them as well. "The use of Alprox-TD is not contraindicated in patients using nitrate medication for cardiovascular disease or any other type of medication," says NexMed. This medication (already available in Asia) is not yet FDA approved, but the company expects U.S. marketing clearance shortly. This is NOT "alternative," but carefully-researched medication, and the manufacturer is making sure the product is safe and effective. Oral Medications: Viagra, Pfizer, Inc.'s oral medication for the treatment of male erectile dysfunction (impotence) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration in March of 1998. Viagra is a simple pill, priced about $7 per dose, and appears to successfully treat a wide percentages of cases. Although sometimes contraindicated where circulatory disease is present (talk to your doctor first!), for some, it may be the most convenient treatment of all. Levitra, from Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline, won approval late in 2003, and is now available. Its pattern of action is similar to that of Viagra. Another Viagra competitor, Cialis, sold on many overseas websites as "Super Viagra," won FDA approval in November of 2003. Uprima, manufactured by TAP Pharmaceuticals, is said to work in a similar manner, but where Viagra acts directly on the circulatory system, Uprima "stimulates the appropriate neurotransmitters in the human brain." It is sold on the Internet, billed as an "orgasm enhancer." It might work for some, as might its foreign competitors and generic equivalents: Vig-Rx and Asotas--but these are not "mainstream," and caution is advised. Be extremely cautious with all such overseas "gray-market" medications; your health care team may be unfamiliar with their consequences and contraindications, and familiar labels may be dishonest. Vasomax, by Zonagen Pharmaceuticals, was another anti-impotence oral medication. An oral form of the proven anti-impotence injectable medication phentolamine, approved in Mexico, it failed its final clinical tests in the U.S., and was withdrawn from the market before it could incur the stigma of "banned by the FDA." Penile Injection Therapy: Many sources report that penile injection therapy has an estimated 80% rate of success. Injected directly into the penis, the medication alprostadil produces erection by relaxing certain muscles, increasing blood flow into the penis and restricting outflow. The therapy has disadvantages, such as risks of infection, pain, and scarring--fibrosis--in the penis, and it may create "priapism," a prolonged, painful erection lasting six hours or more (although reversible with prompt medical attention). A popular version of this medication is Upjohn Corporation's Caverject, the first to be approved for such use by the FDA. Note: The MUSE system, described below, administers the same medication, without needles, and (if and when FDA approved), NexMed's Alprox-TD will offer it in a cream. Drug Combination Injection Therapy: Therapies using combinations of drugs have been developed and are proving to be a good "fallback" for individuals who experience difficulties with Caverject alone. "About 15% of all individuals who try therapy with Caverject experience significant pain at the injection site," says Troy A. Burns, MD. "For these 15%, a combination of Caverject, Papaverine, and Phentolamine produces less or no pain." Alternatives The MUSE System, by VIVUS, is a noninvasive alternative to penile injection. The user dispenses his medication (a pellet of alprostadil/Caverject) with an eye-dropper-like applicator, directly into the urethra. No needles are required. Both the drug and the delivery system have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this use. For many impotent men, the MUSE may be the therapy of choice. "Rejoyn" is an inexpensive, nonprescription alternative to the many vacuum-actuated devices described below. Described by its manufacturer as a "support sleeve," it does not "cause" an erection, but rather supports the flaccid penis as if it were erect (one wears it under a condom). External Mechanical Devices This category of treatments for erectile dysfunction includes external vacuum therapies; noninvasive external mechanical devices that produce painless erections by causing blood to flow into the penis while constricting outflow of blood. Such devices imitate a natural erection, and do not interfere with orgasmic experience. External vacuum therapy mechanisms are approximately 95% successful in causing and sustaining an adequate erection. All are portable, and costs range between $200 - $500, covered under most insurance plans, and Medicare Part B. The vacuum constriction device consists of a vacuum cylinder, various sizes of tension rings, and a vacuum pump, either hand-operated or electric. The penis is placed in a cylinder to which a tension ring is attached. Air is evacuated from the cylinder by means of the pump, creating a vacuum, which produces the erection. The cylinder is removed, leaving the tension ring at the base of the penis to maintain the erection. Vacuum therapy devices have a few minor disadvantages. One must interrupt foreplay to use them. THE TENSION RING MUST BE REMOVED AFTER SUSTAINING THE ERECTION FOR 30 MINUTES, TO PREVENT PENILE BRUISING. You must use the correct-size tension ring. Although considered to be basically pain free, initial use may produce some soreness. Such devices may be unsuitable for men with certain disorders related to blood clotting. In general, vacuum constriction devices are successful in management of long-term impotence, and they enjoy wide physician acceptance. They are relatively inexpensive, and they work on simple principles, so they are easy for patients to understand. Widely available, they are now offered in mass-market catalogs like "Dr. Leonards," and, as long as the user follows the instructions, and is in otherwise good physical condition, they usually work well. As no medication needs to be consumed or injected, these devices are good for many men. Surgical Treatments There are many less-invasive and less-expensive options, and surgery should be considered only after all others have proved unsatisfactory. Of the two kinds of surgery performed, one involves implantation of a penile prosthesis; the other attempts vascular reconstruction. Less than 5% of impotent men may benefit from vascular surgery. Expert opinion about surgical implants has changed during recent years; today, surgery is no longer so widely recommended. Even though it is 90% effective (on an appropriate subject), surgery is expensive in both monetary and human terms, but it is one available option for impotent men. The decision to have or not have surgery is one that should be made by the man and his sexual partner, after medical consultation. Companies that market surgically-implanted prosthetic devices sell only to hospitals and physicians and will not provide the selling price to consumers. Some years ago, I checked prices, and found that the malleable prostheses cost about $1,400, and inflatable devices cost about $4,000--just for parts. If the man elected to undergo the surgery, and fees were totaled (surgical, operating room, and the markup on the prosthesis), the cost would be thousands more. The main risk associated with penile surgery is infection. Although every attempt is made during the procedure itself to prevent infection, it can develop, and may force removal of the prosthesis. As with all invasive procedures, there may be some pain, bleeding, and scarring. If for some reason the prosthesis or parts become damaged or dislocated, surgical removal may be necessary. With a general success rate of about 90%, any of the devices will restore erections, but they will not affect sexual desire, ejaculation, or orgasm. Prostheses: Many different types of penile prostheses are available, in three categories: rods, inflatable prostheses, and self-contained prostheses. Semi-rigid or malleable rods are the simplest and least expensive of all. Their main disadvantage is that the penis remains constantly erect, which may cause problems with concealment. Inflatable prostheses are complex mechanical devices that imitate the natural process of erection. Parts are inserted surgically into the penis and scrotum, and activated by squeezing. When erection is no longer desired, a valve on the pump is pressed, and the penis becomes flaccid. Disadvantages include risk of mechanical breakdown or leakage. Fully inflatable devices are the most expensive of the three categories, because of the complicated surgery necessary to implant the parts. Self-contained single-unit prostheses are similar to the inflatable types, but more compact. The entire device is implanted into the penis. When erection is desired, the unit is activated by either squeezing or bending, depending on which of the two types of self-contained prostheses is used. Some of the mechanical types have been known to fail during intercourse; the inflatable device can sometimes be difficult to operate. All penile implants will produce erections suitable for intercourse. When decisions are being made regarding the kind of surgery, other factors should be considered. According to Bruce A. MacKenzie in Impotence Worldwide (Volume 7, No.2), purpose is only one of several elements considered when selecting an implant. MacKenzie said, "To those who wish to simulate nature to the furthest extent--then a fully inflatable would be their choice; for those who wanted something relatively simple, ready to use, lower cost, one day less in the hospital--their choice would be the hinged or malleable; to those who wanted a compromise between the two--a hybrid--they would choose a self-contained; and for those who wanted the least expensive (low end of the line)--the semi-rigid would fit the bill." Vascular Reconstructive Surgery for Impotence uses highly sophisticated techniques and equipment to physically correct the underlying causes of impotence in the penis. The surgeon may attempt reconstruction of the arterial blood supply, or remove veins when the cause is due to leakage. Less than 5% of men with erectile dysfunction have such surgically treatable impotence! Conclusion When your quality of life is affected by sexual dysfunction, diabetogenic or otherwise, you should seek a physician's help, preferably that of a carefully chosen specialist. Don't wait for your doctor to ask you about sexual function - talk about it! Nothing is cured by silence. Talk about it with your partner/spouse, too, as he/she is equally affected by this condition. Remember, you're both involved, so your partner is integral to the relationship and deserves complete honesty. Relationships are solid only when couples consider each other's feelings, so COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER. Remember, man or woman, you are not alone; others have faced these difficulties. You do have options! COMPANIES THAT MARKET IMPOTENCE THERAPY SYSTEMS American Medical Systems, 10700 Bren Road West, Minnetonka, MN 55343; telephone: 1-800-328-3881; Web site: http://www.visitams.com/ They offer prosthetic devices. Encore, Inc., 7696 15th Street East, Sarasota FL 34243; telephone: 1-800-221-6603. They offer vacuum constriction devices. Mentor Corp., 501 Mentor Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93111; telephone: 1-800-235-5731; Web site: http://www.mentorcorp.com/ They offer prosthetic devices. Mission Pharmacal Co., 10999 IH-10 West Suite 1000, San Antonio, TX 78230; telephone: 1-800-531-3333; Web site: http://www.missionpharmacal.com/ They offer the VED line of vacuum constriction devices. Soma Blue Corp., PO Box 10026, Augusta, GA 30903; telephone: 1-800-827-8382; Web site: http://www.somablue.com/ They offer vacuum constriction devices. Pfizer, Inc., 235 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017; Web site: http://www.viagra.com/ They offer the oral impotence medication Viagra. Pos-T-Vac, 1701 N. 14th Street, PO Box 1436, Dodge City, KS 67801; telephone: 1-800-627-7434or 1-800-279-7434; Web site: http://www.postvac.com/ . They offer vacuum constriction devices and the "Rejoyn" support sleeve. See also http://www.rejoyn.com/ TIMM Medical, PO Box 5679, Hopkins, MN 55343; telephone: 1-800-438-8592; Web site: http://www.timmmedical.com/ Successor to Osbon Medical Systems, they offer both vacuum constriction and prosthetic devices. UROMETRICS, Inc., 2022 Ferry Road, Suite 3125, Anoka, MN 55303; telephone: (763)323-1968; fax: (763) 323-1988; Web site: http://www.urometrics.com/ They offer the EROS-CTD device. VIVUS, Inc., 605 E, Fairchild Drive, Mountain View, CA 94043; telephone: (650) 934-5200; Web site: http://www.vivus.com/ . They offer their noninvasive MUSE delivery system for the drug alprostadil (Caverject). RESOURCE LIST OF INFORMATION AND SERVICES Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind, 1412 I-70 Drive SW, Suite C, Columbia, MO 65203; telephone: (573) 875-8911; Web site: http://www.nfb.org/ They offer other information pertinent to diabetes and its ramifications. The Erectile Dysfunction Institute, 10949 Bren Road East, Minnetonka, MN 55343; telephone: 952-852-5559 and 1-866-563-2432; Web site: ( www.cure-ed.com ). They offer information, advice, and the location of trained specialists. Much useful information on their Web site. National Federation of the Blind, Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314; Web site: http://www.nfb.org/ Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They offer advice about blindness, and a free book-length publication of this and other articles about ramifications of diabetes, in large print, or on 4-track audiocassette, titled: Diabetes Action Network Articles. National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse, #3 Information Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3580; telephone: (301) 654-4415; Web site: www.niddk.nih.gov/nkudic.htm . Part of the National Institutes of Health, they publish an "Impotence Fact Sheet," free upon request. Bibliography Berman, Jennifer B. and Laura Berman. For Women Only: A Revolutionary Guide to Overcoming Sexual Dysfunction and Reclaiming Your Sex Life. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2001. Brassil, Donna F. and Jean H. Lewis. "Sex, Intimacy and the Kidney Patient." Kidney Beginnings June/July (2003): 6-8 and 26. Diabetes UK: "Let's Talk About Sex." Balance Magazine ( www.diabetes.org.uk/balance ) #196, November/December 2003. Laumann, E.O., A. Paik, and R.C. Rosen. "Sexual Dysfunction in the United States: Prevalence and Predictors." Journal of the American Medical Association 281 (1999): 537-44. Sarkadi, Anna, and Urban Rosenqvist. "Intimacy and Women With Type 2 Diabetes: An Exploratory Study Using Focus Group Interviews." The Diabetes Educator, Vol. 29, No. 4, July/August (2003): 641-652. ©2017 All Rights Reserved - Copyright 2017 NFB	Pfizer
A former advertising executive, who is the "creative genius" behind the Garfield comic strip?	JMIR-Internet-based Prescription of Sildenafil: A 2104-Patient Series \| Jones \| Journal of Medical Internet Research Journal of Medical Internet Research Published on 31.01.01 in Vol 3, No 1 (2001) This paper is in the following e-collection/theme issue: Consultative & Diagnostic Pathology, Inc, Lee's Summit MO, USA Corresponding Author Miles J Jones, MD (FACP) 1704 SE 11th St Phone: +1 800 217 7330 Fax:+1 618 937 1525 Email: ABSTRACT Background: The Internet is becoming increasingly important as a way for patients to acquire medical information and as a means for patient-physician communication. Questions about appropriate use of this new technology have been brought to the fore by the many patients using the Internet to seek sildenafil prescriptions. Objective: To present the first description of a physician designed and directed Internet-based prescribing system of sildenafil, together with data covering more than 2,100 patient encounters. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a large case series from a medical practice that prescribes sildenafil based on medical and sexual histories obtained through a physician designed and directed World Wide Web (WWW) site, compared against patients from clinics at a Midwestern inner city medical center. We compared all 2,104 Internet patients seeking sildenafil prescriptions online between June 14, 1998, and March 1, 1999, with all 36 medical center patients obtaining sildenafil prescriptions during the same period. The outcome measures compared were: completeness of medical record; patient safety as noted by the follow up responses of all patients requesting refills, any comments received by the internet site (webmaster), and patient or physician comments noted in the clinic medical record; satisfaction as noted by the follow up responses of all patients requesting refills, any comments received by the internet site (webmaster), and patient or physician comments noted in the clinic medical record; examinations and laboratory tests. Results: Fifty-six percent of Internet requests came from 46 states, and 44% from eight foreign countries. Of 2,104 requests, 2,100 were granted. Three hundred ten patients have requested medication refills: all reported erections sufficient for intercourse and 69% said their satisfaction exceeded all expectations; none were at all dissatisfied. Side effect rates were comparable to those in the literature. Comparison of the medical history obtained from Internet patients with that recorded in clinic patients' charts revealed that the former was far more complete. No clinic patient received any examination or laboratory test specific for erectile dysfunction or its causes. There were no reported deaths or serious complications in either group. Conclusions: Internet-based prescription of sildenafil provides the physician with a complete and very detailed medical and sexual history for 100% of patients without denying any information routinely obtained in a direct patient contact setting. Internet-based practice, which may be expected to require far fewer healthcare resources than traditional settings, rates very high in patient satisfaction among patients requesting a refill; no negative comments were received from all other patients. Overall, these data support the safety and effectiveness of Internet prescribing of selected medications. J Med Internet Res 2001;3(1):e2 doi:10.2196/jmir.3.1.e2 Physician-Patient Relations Introduction Erectile dysfunction is an extremely common condition: according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, 52% of surveyed men aged 40 to 70 had some degree of erectile dysfunction, with dysfunction being moderate to complete in approximately half of the 70-year-old men [ 1 ]. Similarly, the National Health and Social Life Survey found erectile dysfunction reported by 18% of men aged 50 to 59 (the oldest group surveyed) [ 2 ]. Until recently, the condition was often ignored. This reflected both the mistaken perception that nothing practical could be done, and the understandable discomfort of many patients and healthcare providers in openly and frankly discussing sexual matters. This changed dramatically with the March 1998 approval of sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer), the first effective oral medication for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Within two weeks, newspapers reported physicians were writing 15,000 to 20,000 prescriptions a day for the medication [ 3 ]. Erectile dysfunction had graduated from secret shame to headline news. Even with erectile dysfunction on the front pages, many men continue to feel uncomfortable discussing their own conditions face-to-face with a health-care provider [ 4 ]. At the same time, many patients are turning to the Internet for medical information and advice on a wide variety of conditions, often because they find the relative anonymity of the Internet less intimidating than a traditional office-based consultation [ 5 ]. Their Internet usage may take the form of formal physician consultation [ 6 , 7 ]; informal physician-originated information and advice [ 8 , 9 ]; or information, advice, and support from others with similar conditions [ 10 ]. This combination of circumstances suggests the Internet as a natural resource for addressing the needs of men with erectile dysfunction who may be reluctant to seek help from their regular physicians. To meet this need, the NET Doctor Group (an association of physicians, pharmacists, and information specialists) established an Internet-based system to provide information on erectile dysfunction and its treatment with sildenafil; to obtain the medical histories of patients with this condition, when appropriate and desired by the patient; and to prescribe sildenafil and, if requested, dispense it through an independent licensed pharmacy. We report on the first 2,104 patients to request sildenafil prescriptions, together with a comparison group of patients who received sildenafil prescriptions in a traditional medical practice (inner city teaching hospital clinic) setting, during the same 10.5 month period. Methods Setting The NET Doctor Group is a private company that uses a physician-designed World Wide Web (WWW) site ( http://www.net-dr.com ) to collect patient information and medical history relevant to prescription of sildenafil. This form is shown in Textbox 1 . Physicians associated with but not employed by the NET Doctor Group review the provided medical history, on a fee-for-service basis (the fee is waived if the requested prescription is refused). All physicians are United States educated and trained, hold active license in multiple states, have current DEA registrations, practice independently of the NET Doctor Group, provide full licensure and identification information to dispensing pharmacies, and maintain individual professional liability insurance. The physicians also attempt to make telephone contact with all patients requesting sildenafil prescriptions; such contact is required when the submitted information appears contradictory or otherwise inadequate to support a decision. Requests are typically approved or refused within 24 hours of submission. U.S. patients who are approved for sildenafil prescription have a choice of receiving the medication directly from the NET Doctor Group's independent pharmacy (not owned or operated by the NET Doctor Group), or of having the prescription faxed to their usual pharmacy. Non-U.S. patients receive the medication directly from the NET Doctor Group. All prescriptions are written for 100-mg tablets of sildenafil as follows: Use 1/2 tab po at least 30 min. before anticipated intercourse (may need to take up to 2 hours before intercourse for maximal effect). If effect inadequate try 1 tab po as above. Warning: Do not take more than 1 tab/day. If unusual pain or symptoms occur consult physician. If chest pain occurs report immediately to nearest ER. For unusual pain or symptoms, patients are advised to consult a physician. Patients are free to contact any physician, including the NET Doctor Group associated physicians, at any time. The patient insert (see Textbox 2 ) advises the patient to consult his or her personal physician. For the most severe and life threatening reactions associated with vigorous or infrequent sexual activity, patients are unequivocally advised to report immediately to the nearest ER. The patient informational insert developed specifically for the NET Doctor Group's patients and included with directly dispensed medication is shown in Textbox 2 . The patient information sheet used by the private pharmacy for its non-NET Doctor Group clients is shown in Textbox 3 . The typical prescription written for non-NET Doctor Group patients is for 25 mg sildenafil and reads as follows: Take as directed. ‎ View this box Patients This study includes all patients of the NET Doctor Group who requested prescriptions for sildenafil during the period from the opening of the Web site on June 14, 1998, to March 1, 1999. All patients acknowledged a waiver of liability and agreed to specific terms of comprehension and truthfulness before submitting their request for physician consultation. The wavier applies to the NET Doctor Group, and not the independent physicians associated with the NET Doctor Group, as they are not employees of the NET Doctor Group. Each physician may rely on the patient's understanding of sildenafil and its potential complications, and the veracity of the patient's answers to the data collection device, as implied by the wavier. We informally compare these Internet patients to patients receiving sildenafil prescriptions at clinics of an inner city teaching hospital during the same period. We reviewed charts of these patients, most of whom had been seen on several occasions prior to prescription of sildenafil, for a period of up to one year prior to the prescribing visit and for all subsequent visits. This report covers information obtained from the medical records of all patients who received sildenafil prescriptions as a result of in-person clinic consultations. It should be noted that the clinics are part of an inner city teaching hospital that is a publicly owned and operated facility. Thus, most clinic patients are members of a lower socioeconomic group. Most patients of the hospital do not have the financial means to afford treatment for erectile dysfunction. The small number of patients (36) in the office-based comparison group is a reflection of the group's socioeconomic status. Results Characteristics of patients receiving sildenafil prescriptions are reported in Table 1 . During the period covered by this report, 2,104 patients requested sildenafil prescriptions at the NET-Doctor Web site. These patients were somewhat younger than typical for men with erectile dysfunction (mean age 49.4 + 5.3 years, median age 45.9 years), possibly reflecting a lower rate of computer usage among the elderly. Diagnoses of hypertension were reported by 18%, of diabetes by 13%, and of atherosclerosis by 7%. Ten patients had been treated for prostate cancer and one had experienced a spinal cord injury. Approximately 33% of the patients said they smoked; very few reported more than social drinking, while an unusually high 86% reported exercising regularly. About 95% of the patients said that their impotence had occurred gradually, and 97% that it involved an inability to maintain, rather than to achieve, an erection. Most said their penises were slightly firm but not self-supporting, although a significant minority reported hardness sufficient for sex despite decreased firmness. Eighty seven percent indicated that there were times they were not impotent. Significantly, almost 66% of the patients reported previously seeking treatment from other physicians for their erectile dysfunction. At least 75% of these men received only psychological counseling or reassurance, and almost none were satisfied with their previous treatment. Of the 2,104 requests for sildenafil, 2,100 were granted. The small number of refused requests may appear unusual. It must be remembered that patients requested sildenafil only after reading information on the drug and its contraindications and completing an extensive medical history form. Individuals with contraindications to sildenafil presumably did not complete and submit the form, and therefore do not appear in the database of patients requesting sildenafil. Three of the requests that were refused came from the same address, provided the same demographic information, and requested the maximum number of tablets (30) for a single prescription. Attempts to reach the requester or requesters by telephone were unavailing. The other patient whose request was refused reported having been diagnosed with stroke, hypertension, and angina, yet denied chest pain. Attempts to reach him by telephone were likewise unavailing. Attempts were made to contact all patients by telephone. Less than 10% of all patients had conversations with the consulting physician. Less than one dozen questions required a physician's response; all questions were answered by email within 24 hours. The questioning patients submitted no follow-up questions. Category Being treated for other medical conditions 46 Both mother and father alive 884 Time since last sexual activity 37 +/-9.4 days Penis not at all firm 63 Penis slightly firm, not self supporting 1267 Firmness decreased but sufficient for sex 770 Previous treatment for erectile dysfunction: Medical Chest pain (past or present) 0 View this table There were 2,101 male patients and 3 female patients in the group. One of the female patients reported a complete absence of libido, which had been relieved by taking sildenafil. The second had experienced sexual dysfunction since her complete hysterectomy three years previously. The physician managing her case had recommended that she try sildenafil in addition to the estrogen-testosterone combination with which she was currently being treated. The third reported problems of sexual performance. She was prescribed 10 sildenafil tablets. Category Being treated for other medical conditions 36 Improvement sufficient for sexual activity 310 Improvement sufficient for penetration /intercourse 310 View this table Three hundred ten (14.76%) of the 2,100 patients requested refills during the study period and have filled out forms reporting their experiences with the drug (see Table 3 ). The number of patients granted refills at their pharmacies is unrecorded. All 310 reported improvement sufficient for them to resume sexual activity and to achieve penetration. Two hundred eighty seven reported that they almost always enjoyed successful sexual performance, with 16 claiming that their sexual performance was always successful and 7 stating that successful performance occurred occasionally. Two hundred fifteen said that their overall satisfaction exceeded all expectations, 76 that it met most expectations, and 19 that they were satisfied; none said that they were dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied. Reports of side effects listed in Table 3 were comparable to those from sildenafil clinical trials [ 11 ]. Since data could be obtained only from patients requesting refills, however, the sample may not be fully representative. No patient has complained directly to the NET Doctor Group via its web site. All prescriptions list the name, address, and telephone number of the dispensing pharmacy. The name of the prescribing physician is included on each prescription and the dispensing pharmacy has the physician's DEA number, state license, office address, and telephone numbers. No pharmacy has contacted the NET Doctor Group or its associated physicians concerning patient complaints. During this same period, 36 patients obtained sildenafil prescriptions from the hospital clinics. The type of medical information contained in the office-based group's charts is summarized in Table 2 . These patients' medical records generally showed that blood pressure and pulse rate had been recorded at least once during the previous six months (including the index visit). Twenty of the 36 patients had received a general physical examination during that period, but only 6 had had their height and weight recorded and there was no record that any had received a rectal examination. Eight clinic patients were recorded as stating that their sex lives were poor and 4 as saying that there were times they were not impotent; these items were not recorded on any of the other reviewed charts. No chart contained any statement as to the quality of the patient's erection or whether the onset of erectile dysfunction was gradual or sudden. Likewise, no chart recorded either a blood lipid profile or any laboratory test relevant to diabetes. The only medical conditions of note recorded in these patients' charts were 4 instances of hypertension and 1 cerebrovascular accident. Just 16 of the 36 charts included a complete list of medications being taken by the patient. Since the primary contraindications to sildenafil use are certain concurrent medications, this is a significant omission. No deaths or serious complications among patients using sildenafil have been reported to the NET Doctor Group, its associated private physicians or independent pharmacies by any patient; patient family member; attorneys representing the patient or their estate; or any local, state, or federal governmental agency. The medical records of the clinic patients had no indication of any adverse effects or death related to sildenafil usage. Lastly, FDA and Pfizer surveillance systems have not reported any deaths directly attributed to sildenafil. The possibility of unreported deaths or complications cannot be completely ruled out. Discussion The explosive popularity of sildenafil, and the demonstrated desire of many patients to obtain this medication without a face-to-face discussion of what they regard as intimate personal matters, has brought to the fore the simmering question of Internet-based medical advice and consultation [ 12 ]. Concern has been expressed by the Food and Drug Administration, members of the American Medical Association's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, and the vice president of the Federation of State Medical Boards [ 13 ]. Yet sildenafil is only a small part of the changes currently in progress. At least two groups are offering fee-for-service Internet-based medical consultations on a wide variety of conditions [ 6 , 7 ] and many other physicians find themselves responding to on-line requests for medical information and advice even when that is not their officially stated policy [ 9 ]. Indeed, medical information on the Internet is proliferating so rapidly that it has been the subject of an official report from a panel convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [ 14 ]. While this panel did not specifically address one-to-one communication between physicians and patients, it did note many of the benefits, such as greater willingness to engage in frank discussions about health status, behavioral risks, and fears and uncertainties. Advantages and problems Advantages of Internet-based patient-physician communication when real-time contact is not required include convenience for the patient and savings in both time and office resources for the physician. Perhaps most importantly, the computer interface greatly facilitates both obtaining and recording a complete medical history. This conclusion is supported by our comparison of medical history data from the Internet consultation form with that from the charts of clinic patients. Due to the limited number of patients and the limited clinical setting, our findings indicate the need for funding further study and comparisons of physician directed Internet prescribing versus traditional prescribing practice. One objection that has been raised to Internet-based consultation and prescribing is that, as with the NET Doctor Group, there is generally no mechanism for providing a consultation report to the patient's primary care physician. Several points need to be made. One is that, even in the U.S., it cannot be assumed that all patients have a primary care physician. A second is that many patients - almost half of those seeking sildenafil prescriptions - are from outside the U.S.; they and their physicians may have very different expectations regarding consultation reports. Third and most significantly, a considerable fraction of the patients may have sought Internet-based consultation because they did not want their usual physician to know of their condition or of a specific sildenafil order. For example, they may not wish their wife to know of the order and may not fully trust the discretion of a physician who treats both family members. Although this is regrettable, respect for patient autonomy requires that there should be no attempt to contact the patient's primary care physician without the patient's explicit permission. This latter point is also relevant to the frequently expressed opinion that it is easier to assess a patient's truthfulness in a face-to-face encounter [ 15 , 16 ]. We are dealing here with patients who have specifically chosen to seek a prescription from someone other than their usual physician. In the absence of an established relationship, mere physical propinquity would do little to assure a complete and truthful medical and sexual history. Indeed, the relative anonymity of the Internet may, in our opinion, well increase patient truthfulness and openness. Another objection sometimes raised is that Internet-based practices, including the one described here, may not specifically list the credentials of the associated physicians [ 15 , 17 ]. However, while physicians reviewing the site might find such information reassuring, its usefulness to patients appears remote. With rare exceptions, very few patients either understand or utilize the data on physician credentials that are available to them. Rather, they typically base their initial choice of physician on friends' recommendations and on convenience. Those factors remain valid in the context of Internet-based prescribing. Can erectile dysfunction be managed online? Clearly, not every medical condition is appropriately managed by Internet encounters alone. Erectile dysfunction may be particularly prominent among the appropriate conditions. Although objective means exist for establishing the existence of erectile dysfunction and for distinguishing between organic and psychogenic causes [ 18 ], these tests are cumbersome and often omitted even from specialists' most comprehensive recommendations. Indeed, there appears to be little in the way of consensus as to what, if anything, beyond the medical history might be appropriate in the diagnostic work-up of erectile dysfunction [ 19 ]. Recommendations that the physical examination focus on signs of vascular [ 20 ] and neurologic [ 21 ] disease, together with palpation of the penis for Peyronie's disease [ 22 ] and tests for atrophy are common [ 23 ]. Except for detection of Peyronie's disease, which can usually be elicited by a thorough medical history, these observations are directed primarily toward determining a cause for the dysfunction. Prior to advent of sildenafil, the etiology of erectile dysfunction rarely affected the choice of treatment [ 24 ]. Consequently, Hakim and Goldstein limit their recommended physical examination to abnormal penile curvature and palpable corporal fibrosis [ 25 ]. Vinik has noted that erectile dysfunction is often the presenting symptom of diabetes and is also a marker for development of generalized vascular disease and for myocardial infarction [ 26 ]. Godschalk et al [ 23 ] recommend inclusion of a hemoglobin A1c and a lipid profile in all work-ups for erectile dysfunction. Similarly, Mobley and Baum recommend assessment of sacral root function by means of a rectal examination that includes evaluation of the bulbocavernosus reflex and of sphincter tone [ 27 ]. All three tests are absent from the recommended diagnostic work-ups of other experts. Significantly, we found no mention of them in the charts of any of the teaching hospital clinic patients who received a sildenafil prescription. One can conclude that there is an almost total absence of expert consensus as to the essential components of an erectile dysfunction work-up. The only area of agreement is the importance of a complete medical and sexual history. Our observations of practice in a Midwestern inner city teaching hospital clinic suggest that physicians in this setting rely primarily on the history in deciding whether a sildenafil prescription is appropriate. Yet we also find that the medical and sexual history they obtain is less complete than that obtained by the NET Doctor Group. Once the physician has concluded that a sildenafil prescription is appropriate, the next step is to instruct the patient in the medication's proper and safe use. Although it is extremely difficult to assess how well different physicians communicate such instructions to their patients, many observations suggest that physician-patient communication is often less than optimal [ 28 ]. It would presumably follow that many patients do not understand the instructions they receive. When oral information is poorly expressed or poorly understood, the patient information sheet becomes critical. As a comparison of Textbox 2 and Textbox 3 shows, the information sheet provided by the NET Doctor Group to its Internet patients is far more thorough and complete, and perhaps more comprehensible as well. Further, it is not the standard for pharmacists to provide a specific patient instruction sheet when dispensing sildenafil. Greater thoroughness may be particularly important given the intuitively plausible assumption that Internet users as a group are likely to grasp information more easily when it is presented in written rather than oral form. Are current ethical codes and legislation too restrictive? The American Medical Association has noted that: Telecommunications advisory services, by way of phone, fax, or computer, can be a helpful source of medical information for the public. Often people are not sure where to turn for information of a general medical nature or do not have easy access to other sources of information. Individuals may also be embarrassed about directly bringing up certain questions with their physicians [ 29 ]. The statement goes on to say: "Under no circumstances should medications be prescribed." This dictum, which is currently being revised [ 13 ], appears unduly restrictive. It may derive from the belief that, without physical examination and laboratory tests, the etiologic basis of a patient's complaint cannot be identified. The point overlooked by this assumption is that sildenafil is only one of many medications intended, not to cure an etiology, but to relieve a symptom; symptoms are normally diagnosed solely on the basis of patient histories. The ease with which the appropriateness of certain medications may be assessed underlies the prescriptive authority sometimes granted pharmacists, who are highly expert in medications and their uses but have little or no diagnostic training. As of 1996, 16 states plus the Indian Health Service and the Department of Veterans Affairs allowed pharmacists to initiate or modify drug therapy under certain conditions; similar legislation was pending in 15 additional states [ 30 ]. In almost all instances, this authority was gained with the acquiescence of organized physician groups [ 31 ]. Support for pharmacists initiating drug therapy is greatest when the condition being treated is diagnostically obvious. A 1993 survey of New York State internists and family practitioners found that 64% of the physicians questioned supported pharmacists providing a butoconazole vaginal cream for candidiasis and 61% supported pharmacists providing a steroid-containing rectal suppository for hemorrhoid sufferers [ 32 ]. Washington State allows certain pharmacists to directly dispense emergency contraceptives [ 33 ]. And although Florida pharmacists are authorized to prescribe approximately 30 types of medication, 82% of their prescriptions fall into just three categories: topical pediculicides (lindane shampoos), oral analgesics, and otic analgesics [ 34 ]. Neither physicians nor the Food and Drug Administration, which in recent years has approved the transfer of large numbers of formerly prescription-only drugs to nonprescription status [ 35 ], believe that every prescription drug calls for elaborate physician physical examination and history. The clinic records from the inner city teaching hospital we examined indicate that some believe sildenafil may belong in this category. It might well be argued that the only reason sildenafil requires a prescription is the need for monitoring of contradictions and potential drug interactions, plus the mistaken ideas many patients hold about its indications and proper usage. This study provides evidence that both monitoring and the provision of patient information can be performed via the Internet at least as well as, and perhaps better than, through a traditional face-to-face physician-patient interview. Cross-border issues Concerns have been expressed about the potential availability to patients of drugs not yet approved in their countries of residence [ 12 ]. That this is a very real possibility is shown by the experience of the NET Doctor Group: 44.4% of the sildenafil prescriptions were issued to patients in 8 different non-U.S. countries. The concern is not truly limited to Internet-based prescribing: many Canadians crossed the border to obtain sildenafil from U.S. pharmacies prior to the medication's availability in their own country [ 36 ]. A large number of countries allow patients to import small amounts of nationally unapproved medications for their personal use. The question is whether individuals' increased ability to obtain nationally unapproved drugs without physically traveling outside their country of residence calls for changes in the law. Conclusions Our results support Internet-based prescription (IBP) of sildenafil utilizing a physician designed and controlled information and decision system. The Internet-based prescribing physician consistently has more, not less, clinically relevant and useful information than was typically obtained and utilized in a specific hospital clinic setting. The data suggest that contrary too conventional thought, there is no evidence of compromise to patient safety. This statement is made with the important limitation that our study utilized only passive means to document patient adverse reactions or complaints. Our web site is available for comments 24 hours a day every day of the year. No negative feedback from patients using sildenafil was noted. Established monitoring systems operated by the FDA, Pfizer, local and state governments are actively gathering data. As of the current date we have served over 5100 patients and have received only one complaint from a patient (the patient had a history of asthma and was distressed that he was granted a prescription, he had been advised by a physician "acquaintance" it was unsafe for him to use sildenafil). While our patients represent a minute proportion of all patients using sildenafil, we expect the aforementioned external event tracking systems would detect any significant variation in the expected outcomes of our patients. Based on the significant lack of spontaneous and voluntarily recorded complaints and the overwhelmingly positive comments of patients seeking refills, patients appear to be satisfied with our approach. IBP is associated with extremely low demands on health care resources and maximum responsiveness to patient needs. Health care standards and governmental regulatory efforts to date have not been based on objective or experimental evidence. They have significantly lagged behind the capabilities and implementation of Internet prescribing systems. We hope that data from this first large, objective scientific study can serve as a starting point for development of fact based, meaningful standards and regulations. We encourage further and broader evaluation of physician-designed and controlled Internet prescribing systems. Acknowledgments	i don't know
March 31, 1917 saw the US take possession of the US Virgin Islands, after spending $25 million to buy them from what country?	St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: Facts & History - Virgin Islands St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: Facts & History St. Thomas, Virgin Islands: Facts & History Population: 51,181 Size: 31 square miles, 13 miles long and 4 miles wide Highest Point: 1,556 feet – Crown Mountain History Archaeological evidence suggests that St. Thomas was once home to natives of the Ciboney tribes, the Taino or Arawak tribe and the Caribs. Indian habitation in what is today the Virgin Islands was recorded in journals kept by settlers and explorers in the late 1500s. By the 1600s however, the Indian populations had plummeted due to disease brought by Europeans, raids by Spanish settlers from neighboring islandsand immigration to other islands of the Caribbean. These indigenous groups no longer exists in the Virgin Islands. Christopher Colombus is credited with “discovering” St. Thomas during his second voyage to the New World in 1493. He apparently was not impressed, as he didn’t stay long, instead sailing on to Puerto Rico. The island was left unguarded by the Spanish and soon its sheltered bays were called on by ships from other nations, captained by men the Spanish would come to consider pirates. St. Thomas’ existence would continue as home to pirates and small settlements long before a European power decided to pursue a permanent settlement. Hassel Island Kayak, Hike & Snorkel Adventures Visit: × × In 1671 the Danish West India Company received its charter from King Christian V to occupy and take possession of St. Thomas and islands thereabouts that might be uninhabited and suitable for plantations. Part of the charter indicated that the Danish government would supply the company with as many male convicts as necessary for working the plantations and as many women, who were under arrest, as needed. Authorities would soon learn that convicts did not make good workers! The officials in St. Thomas would quickly welcome colonists from other neighboring islands and rely on African slaves for labor. The first two ships that set sail to settle St. Thomas headed out on August 30, 1671 and arrived three months later on February 26,1672. The original crew included 116 men engaged by the company and 61 convicts. The first months and years of colonization were costly in terms of lives. Of the first two ships that sailed 89 people died on one ship and 75 died after landing. A third ship with 67 passengers on board sailed to St. Thomas in 1673; 7 died on board and 53 after landing! With these grim numbers the little Danish settlement on St. Thomas grew slowly. Many Dutch settlers seeped in from neighboring islands; consequently from the very beginning Dutch was the dominant language . In 1673 a ship of 103 slaves was sent to St. Thomas, another 24 added in 1675 and 16 in 1678. These were the first of many slaves brought to the island. The population in 1680 was 156 whites and 175 blacks. The settlement included one fort, one road running through the island and about 50 plantations (of which 46 were occupied). Neighboring islands around St. Thomas, like Buck Island and Water Island , were used as pastures for goats and sheep; intended to feed the settlers on St. Thomas. Taphus After some time passed the government realized that much of St. Thomas’ future lay in the development of the area around the natural harbor. Soon Taphus was born! Taphus, meaning beer houses or halls, was the name of what is today Charlotte Amalie. The latter name used in honor of King Christian V’s wife. When the governor gave licenses to residents to develop the area around the harbor, taverns quickly sprung up as did seafarers who enjoyed Taphus. Seafarers… pirates! Under the Esmit Brothers, who served as the 2nd and 3rd governors of St. Thomas, the island gained the image of being a pirates den. This is not surprising considering the Esmit Brothers are said to have illegally and openly traded with freebooters and allowed them to use St. Thomas as a refuge. Romanticized stories of piracy on St. Thomas are common; stories of pirates Blackbeard and Bluebeard are the most well known. In 1685, after several years of poor management, the Danish West India Company signed a treaty with the Brandenburger Company allowing them to establish a slave trading business on St. Thomas. Despite the slave trade being big business, Bradenburger reports indicate that their prosperity was impeded by difficulties with the Danish hosts and conflicts with the Dutch West India Company. Early 1700’s The early 1700’s were the boom period for St. Thomas, sugar became the popular crop and slave trading was on the rise. African slaves were used for labor on the many plantations that dotted the island. Additionally, many traders from other islands came to St. Thomas to buy slaves. Between 1691 and 1715 the population of St. Thomas grew from 389 whites to 547 and 555 blacks to 3042. In 1717, a small group of planters, slaves and soldiers were sent from St. Thomas to claim St. John . And, on June 13,1733 the Danish West India Company bought St. Croix from France. In 1754 a proposal recommending that the Danish Government take over the administration of the islands was approved by King Frederik V. The islands became crown colonies. Around this same time St. Croix was growing rapidly, its population almost doubling St. Thomas’ and St. John’s combined. The capital was moved from St. Thomas to Christiansted, St. Croix. While St. Croix developed a typical plantation economy, St. Thomas’ economy shifted to trade. The English seized the Danish islands in 1801 for about a year and again from 1807 to 1815. While the first takeover left little lasting effect the second caused trade on St. Thomas to stagnate and left some planters impoverished. Free Port St. Thomas was made a free port in 1815 and in the years following it became a shipping center and distributing point for the West Indies. Charlotte Amalie flourished commercially. Large and small importing houses, belonging to English, French, German, Italian, American, Spanish, Sephardim and Danish owners, were thriving. A large part of all West Indian trade was channeled through the harbor. Of the 14,000 inhabitants, many of them free, only about 2,500 (mostly slaves) gained their living on plantations. A substantial segment of free Blacks worked as clerks, shop keepers and artisans. The population and atmosphere was very cosmopolitan, particularly in comparison to its sister island of St. Croix where plantation life was the norm. It is on St. Croix that a slave revolt in 1848 prompted the abolition of slavery in the Danish West Indies. With the increase of steamships in the 1840’s St. Thomas continued forward by becoming a coaling station for ships running between South and North America. Shipping lines made Charlotte Amalie their headquarters. Later advancements in steam and political climate made it possible for Spanish and English islands to import directly from producers, therefore skipping St. Thomas. By the 1860’s the end of prosperity loomed in the horizon. Coaling however, would continue until about 1935. Coaling ships was an occupation largely filled by women. Late 1800s In the late 1800s through early 1900s, several major natural disasters including hurricanes, fires and a tsunami left Charlotte Amalie wanting for major re-building. Years passed before the old warehouses that once stored goods for trade would be rebuilt to house the fancy boutiques and stores that line the streets today. On St. Croix, plantations were suffering with labor issues and low market prices on sugar. The Danish West Indies became more and more dependent on Denmark, and its treasury, during these difficult times. Negotiations between the United States and Denmark were initiated on several occasions between 1865 and 1917 when the final deal was struck and the United States bought the Danish West Indies for $25 million. ‘Virgin Islands of America’ The United States flag was hoisted on the three ‘Virgin Islands of America’ on the 31st of March 1917. The islands remained under US Navy Rule until 1931; during that time several major public works and social reform projects were undertaken. Governors were appointed from 1931 until 1969 when the first elected governor took office. The capital of the island group is Charlotte Amalie, on St. Thomas. As air and sea travel increased in the 1950s prosperity returned to Charlotte Amalie and St. Thomas. Tourism continued to grow in the years thereafter. The island saw an increase in population as immigrants from other Caribbean islands came in hopes of finding work in the developing tourism industry. St. Thomas moved into the 21st century maintaining its prominence as one of the Caribbean’s top vacation destinations and Charlotte Amalie as a favorite cruise ship port of call. VIRGIN ISLANDS VACATION PLANNING PACKET St. Thomas, Water Island, St. John and St. Croix This material covers where to stay, fun things to do, culture, local events, beach guides, how to get around, plants and animals, history, tips, things to see, art galleries, shopping and so much more.	Denmark
What name was given to the practice which tried to turn lead, copper, and other base metals into gold?	Nigeria: Buy Back As Only Option to Reclaim Bakassi Peninsula - allAfrica.com Nigeria: Buy Back As Only Option to Reclaim Bakassi Peninsula analysis By Tony Amokeodo and Ahuraka Isah Though the window of appeal available to the federal government to seek a review of the 10-year-old verdict of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun expired on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 analysts say that hope is not lost for the people of Bakassi as Nigeria can buy back the disputed oil-rich territory from Cameroun. Tony Amokeodo and Ahuraka Isah, write. It is no longer news that the federal government foreclosed any attempt to seek the review of the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) siting at the Hague over the disputed Bakassi peninsula on the grounds that the case was closed. But the development has led to mixed- feelings across the country, especially the people of Bakassi who feels that the government at the centre ought to have protected them and remove the tag of 'foreigners in their fatherland'. But a cross section of stakeholders insist that once the people of Bakassi say that they are prepared to remain in Nigeria, all that is required from the federal government is the political will to buy back the territory as obtained in United States and Canada. Expectations that the country would seek for the review of the ICJ verdict had assumed a frightening dimension as most Nigerians believed that the federal government would beat the deadline and file its grounds of appeal accordingly. But the bubble burst on Tuesday night (the eve of the D-DAY) when the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the minister of justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), dashed the hope of the expectant people of Bakassi and other concerned Nigerians. In a statement signed by him, the AGF said: "It would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) - (5) of the ICJ Statute. Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgement in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroun and Nigeria". But what baffles the stakeholders on the modus operandi of seeking a review of the ICJ is its salient provisions- Article 61, sub-sections 1, 4 and 5, which stipulates the conditions under which a review could be sought. The article reads: "An application for revision of a judgment may be made only when it is based upon the discovery of some facts of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgment was given, unknown to the Court and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence. The application for revision must be made at latest within six months of the discovery of the new fact. No application for revision may be made after the lapse of 10 years from the date of the judgment." What has not been made clear to the public by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government was whether the whole office of the AGF and Ministry of Justice was not aware or was ignorant of these provisions of ICJ statute all along. This is because Nigeria have had 10 solid years to seek for the review of ICJ judgement which many Nigerians believed was pre-conditioned to favour Cameroun since she was the one that filed the matter before the ICJ in 1994. Many people feel that the federal government deliberately slept on its right until barely six days to the October 10, 2012 deadline when the country can legitimately apply to the court for revision of its judgement before President Jonathan pretended to have bowed to popular opinions and constituted a committee with the aim of appealing the judgement. This development is against the fact that the Senate had on November 22, 2007 rejected the transfer of the disputed territory on the grounds that the Green Tree Agreement ceding the area to Cameroun was contrary to Section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution. But according to Adoke, "Government is, however, concerned about the plight of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula and the allegations of human rights abuses being perpetrated against Nigerians in the Peninsula and is determined to engage Cameroun within the framework of the existing implementation mechanisms agreed to by Nigeria and Cameroun in order to protect the rights and livelihoods of Nigerians living in the Peninsula." Nigeria, he said, would also not relent in seeking appropriate remedies provided by international law such as the invocation of the compulsory jurisdiction of the ICJ; Petitioning the United Nations Human Rights Council and good offices of the United Nations Secretary General which has played pivotal role in ensuring the peaceful demarcation and delimitation of the boundary between the two countries and other confidence building measures and calls on the United Nations to continue to provide assistance to the affected populations. He further assured Nigerians, especially those living in the Bakassi Peninsula of government's determination to explore all avenues necessary to protect their interests including negotiations aimed at buying back the territory if possible. But the question begging for answer is - Can Nigerian government who could not lay hands on fresh facts despite reports of plethora of human right abuses meted out to the indigenes of Bakassi Peninsula which runs contrary to the so-called Green Tree Agreement, reach out to facts with which to convince Camerounians to sell the territory to her? Most people believed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo who had in 2002 sworn not to obey the ICJ judgement later saw the territory as a cheap commodity to bargain for support of international communities, both individuals and nations with pecuniary interests in the oil-rich territory for his 2006 third-term project. These "invisible" interested parties, experts have argued, preferred ceding the territory to Cameroun in order to gain access maximally to the abundant oil resources in the place unhindered. Commenting on the need to buy back Bakassi Peninsula, an Abuja -based lawyer, Mr. Joshua Eze angrily stated during a telephone interview that, "That land had already been sold by Obasanjo, what then does Jonathan want to buy? Were they not the same characters, both at home and abroad that prevailed on him (Jonathan) not to apply for the review of the ICJ judgement? These people are damn too funny." Perhaps, this is part of the reasons why the Chairman, Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Anselm Chidi Odinkalu told LEADERSHIP SUNDAY on phone that the federal government's current intention is an "implausible proposition". But a prominent lawyer, Mr. Mike Ahamba (SAN) noted that, "Nigerians must learn that there is always merit in being honourable". Nigeria, he said, submitted to the ICJ voluntarily when she had the option not to submit to its jurisdiction. He said, "We should be rational rather than be emotional on this matter. We need not go to humiliate ourselves further on the issue of Bakassi. But if Cameroun wants to sell, why not, we should buy it. But I doubt the possibility of such offer since we cheaply submitted ourselves to the jurisdiction and acceptance of the ICJ judgement". An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Alasa Ismaila, also said that if the federal government actually cares for its citizens, Bakassi purchase is an acid test. He said, "since we have acquiesced, slept on our rights, and threw our hands in the air to signify that we have exhausted all legal options to possess Bakassi, it is in our interest to go ahead to plead with Cameroun to sell the territory to us for the sake of the indigenes of the place. "But it would have been a different ball game if we had filed the appeal, generate necessary crisis there, while the hearing of our appeal is in process. With such steps, no matter how porous our appeal sound legally, it would have been the best instrument to persuade Cameroun to us. "How can the government mischievously create problems for Bakassi indigenes by offering to resettle them at another place? We already have settlers' problems here and there in the country. They still regard some people who their forefathers settled in places like Jos as settlers, meaning they don't have title or right in such places. Unfortunately for the Bakassi indigenes, we don't seem to have government in place that could protect their rights". Reacting to the federal government's refusal to appeal ICJ judgement, the Pro-national Conference Organisation (PRONACO), in a statement by its spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi said the federal government's position amounted to betrayal as the people of Bakassi prefer to remain in Nigeria. It accused the government of timidity and conspiracy against the people of the area. The statement reads in part: "The federal government erred in stating there is no new fact to enable an appeal for judicial review of the ICJ ruling on Bakassi in spite of the international rights of the Bakassi people and the current demonstration of their interest and desire to remain in Nigeria instead of Cameroun. Is there not a sufficient emergent development to warrant a judicial review if the federal government is indeed educated about the rights of indigenous people like Bakassi as enshrined in United Nations law, which is binding on both Nigeria and Cameroun? "With all our bogus and expensive retinue of officials, consultants and advisers, It is very worrisome that Nigeria remains the only country globally that has refused to catch up with modern constitutional trend. "So, if it is true and real that the Nigerian government elected by the people, their aspirations and interests should have been federal government priority and not any other survivalist external considerations because in all the Bakassi saga, the decisive point according to the UN Charter is the resolve and interest of the Bakassi people". PRONACO assured the people of Bakassi and others that the platform has already commenced local and foreign consultations on how best to help them achieve political autonomy and self-determination within their territories". But an expert in international law at the office of the AGF who sought anonymity because of his civil service status, argued that it may be difficult for the Cameroun to maintain hold on the territory due to resistance that would follow current development in the area. He said, "Instead for the Peninsula to secede with the English speaking part of the Cameroun, it may become plausible for the Camerounians to lose everything. The Nigeria government can surreptitiously support the agitation as a means to make the Cameroun to agree to sell it to Nigeria, otherwise Cameroun may never be willing to offer to sell the place". But the selling and buying of sovereign territory is an age long trade mostly in the settlement of boundary disputes which even the US and Canada had applied to its fullest. The US was founded in 1776 along the east coast of North America, wedged between British Canada and Spanish Mexico. The original country comprised 13 states, while its territory extended west to the Mississippi River. Since 1776, a variety of treaties, purchases, wars, and Acts of Congress have extended the territory which is today known as the United States of America. The Louisiana Purchase "Sale of Louisiana" was the acquisition by the US in 1803 of 828,000 square miles (2,140,000 km2) of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana. The US paid 50 million francs ($11,250,000) plus cancellation of debts worth 18 million francs ($3,750,000), for a total sum of $15 million (less than 3 cents per acre) for the Louisiana territory ($233 million in 2011, is less than 42 cents per acre). The Louisiana territory encompassed all or part of 15 current US states and two Canadian provinces. The land purchased contained all of present-day Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska; parts of Minnesota that were west of the Mississippi River; most of North Dakota; most of South Dakota; north-eastern New Mexico; northern Texas; the portions of Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado east of the Continental Divide; Louisiana West of the Mississippi River, including the city of New Orleans; and small portions of land that would eventually become part of the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. France controlled this vast area from 1699 until 1762, the year it gave the territory to its ally, Spain. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, France took back the territory in 1800 in the hope of building an empire in North America. A slave revolt in Haiti and an impending war with England, however, led France to abandon these plans and sell the entire territory to the US, which had originally intended only to seek the purchase of New Orleans and its adjacent lands. The purchase of the territory of Louisiana took place during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. At the time, the purchase faced domestic opposition because it was thought to be unconstitutional. Although he agreed that the US Constitution did not contain provisions for acquiring territory, Jefferson decided to go ahead with the purchase anyway in order to remove France's presence in the region and to protect both US trade access to the port of New Orleans and free passage on the Mississippi River. The Alaska Purchase The purchase of Alaska was the acquisition of the Alaska territory by the US from the Russian Empire in the year 1867 by a treaty ratified by the US Senate. Russia, fearing a war with Britain that would allow the British to seize Alaska, wanted to sell. Its major role had been forcing Native Alaskans to hunt for furs for them, along with missionary work to convert them. The purchase, made at the initiative of US Secretary of State William H. Seward, gained 586,412 square miles (1,518,800 km2) of new territory. Originally organised as the Department of Alaska, the area was successively the District of Alaska and the Alaska Territory before becoming the modern state of Alaska upon being admitted to the Union as a state in 1959. Russia was in a difficult financial position and feared losing Russian America without compensation in some future conflict, especially to the British, whom they had fought in the Crimean War (1853-1856). While Alaska attracted little interest at the time, the population of nearby British Columbia started to increase rapidly a few years after hostilities ended, with a large gold rush there prompting the creation of a British crown colony on the mainland. The Russians decided that in any future war with Britain, their hard-to-defend region might become a prime target, and would be easily captured. Therefore the Tsar Alexander II decided to sell the territory. Perhaps in hopes of starting a bidding war, both the British and the Americans were approached. However, the British expressed little interest in buying Alaska. The Russians in 1859 offered to sell the territory to the US, hoping that its presence in the region would offset the plans of Russia's greatest regional rival, Great Britain. Mexican Cession This aspect involved a situation where lands were captured in the Mexican-American War in 1846-48, and ceded by Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, where Mexico agreed to the present Mexico -US border except for the later Gadsden Purchase. The US paid $15 million (equivalent to $374 million in present day terms) and agreed to pay claims made by American citizens against Mexico which amounted to more than $3 million (equivalent to $75 million today). In 1917, the US purchased the former Danish colony of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, which is now the US Virgin Islands. The US purchased these islands because they feared that the islands might be seized as a submarine base during World War I. After a few months of negotiations, a sales price of $25 million (equivalent to $454 million in present day terms) was agreed. A referendum held in late 1916 confirmed the decision to sell by a wide margin. The deal was thus ratified and finalised on January 17, 1917, when the US and Denmark exchanged their respective treaty ratifications. The US took possession of the islands on March 31, 1917. The territory was renamed the US Virgin Islands. The US citizenship was granted to the inhabitants of the islands in 1927. Canada Buys Rupert's Land As the Dominion of Canada was taking its first steps, its political leaders were eyeing a vast area of land to the west of the new nation. The government of John A. Macdonald purchased almost eight million square kilometres of land from the Hudson's Bay Company in 1869. The area was almost 30 times the size of Great Britain. An enormous territory called Rupert's Land was up for sale. It encompassed almost eight million square kilometres, including most of the prairies, and parts of what are now northern Quebec, northern Ontario, and Nunavut. The once powerful Hudson's Bay Company controlled the area. But the British fur trade giant had been in decline for years and it was now preparing to sell Rupert's Land. The Americans, who had just paid Russia $7.2 million for Alaska in 1867, were looking for other properties to expand the Republic and eyed the territory. But Canada saw Rupert's Land as the natural extension of its new nation which included Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec. George Brown, editor of The Globe and a Father of Confederation, described it as "the vast and fertile territory which is our birthright - and which no power on earth can prevent us occupying." The Hudson's Bay Company was prepared to sell to the Americans who would pay top dollars, but the British government made it clear it wanted the territory to be sold to Canada. On March 20, 1869, the Hudson's Bay Company reluctantly, under pressure from Great Britain, sold Rupert's Land to the Government of Canada for $1.5 million. The sale involved roughly a quarter of the continent, a staggering amount of land, but it failed to take into account the existing residents - mainly Indians and Mtis. This fact was not lost on Prime Minister John Macdonald". No explanation it appears has been made of the arrangement by which the country is to be handed over", Macdonald told political -ally George-Etienne Cartier. "All these poor people know is that Canada has bought the country from the Hudson's Bay Company and that they are handed over like a flock of sheep to us." But Macdonald would discover that expanding a nation was more complex than just buying real estate. The people of the new territory would show that they had no intention of being shepherded quietly into a union with Canada. Copyright © 2012 Leadership. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media ( allAfrica.com ). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. AllAfrica publishes around 700 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals , representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica . To address comments or complaints, please Contact us .	i don't know
The largest automobile magazine by circulation, what monthly rag publishes a yearly 10Best?	50 best magazines - Chicago Tribune 50 best magazines the Tempo staff What makes a magazine great? The writing. The ideas. The photography. The design. Sure. But more importantly, a magazine's worth depends on how it catches readers' glances, and then their hearts. Here, Tempo presents its second annual 50 Best Magazines list. Our selections reflect the periodicals that we pay good money to buy, that we pile on our nightstands, that we devour on trains, that we consider to be the best at what they set out to do. There are more than 17,500 magazines published in this country, so choosing the 50 best was daunting. We argued, we concurred, we scoffed. And we welcome you to continue the debate. 1. Wired. After a wobbly post-boom period, Wired has transformed itself from an insider computer monthly into a slick, smart and playful cultural journal. The reporting is excellent ("The Future of Food," "The New Diamond Age," for instance) and the graphics deliver some of the best short-form journalism in the business. The back-page feature Found" and the upfront section "Start" are consistently strong, and even the "Letters" page crackles with energy. The writing staff is lively yet authoritative, and columnists Lawrence Lessig and Bruce Sterling are smart without being snooty. Even the ads are cool. Finally: We dare you to show us a better magazine Web site (Wired.com). 2. Real Simple. This gem seduces and delivers the goods with teasers such as "A cleaner house in less time: 23 breakthrough tools and tips," "Swimsuits to flatter every figure" and "With a simple box of yellow cake mix, you can make any of these seven sweet desserts." The magazine is a breeze to read, filled with charts, photos, where-to-buy, how-to-order, how-to-make data right there, front and center. 3. The Economist. The no-nonsense font and rigid layout style make it look like a class handout on the first day of an MBA program, but don't be dismayed. This magazine features the most succinct, globe-encompassing wrap-ups of politics and economics on the market. Even often overlooked cultural features such as book reviews glisten with insight. 4. Cook's Illustrated. Our biggest complaint with this always readable mag? That they haven't come out with a gardening version that gives the topic the same thorough, skeptical treatment. We'll say it again: Not taking ads and writing about the actual cooking process so the average home cook can understand gives this magazine an authority that few others in any field enjoy. 5. Esquire. We suspect we're not as good-looking as we think we are. We know we're not clever enough. Esquire is the antidote to our human frailty. Snazzy, gorgeous, well-dressed, smart and that's just the magazine itself. The writing within is consistently great and sometimes beautiful, offering heaping portions of journalism, fiction, essays and helpful advice columns. Even if we doubt we'll ever wrestle with the great trouser-cuffs-and-suspenders debate, we love it that Esquire does. 6. The New Yorker. With Seymour Hersh's series of revelations about the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, the New Yorker demonstrates yet again how a weekly magazine can still beat the pants off the 24-hour press. And with the presidential election season upon us, look to this book for insight and access into the process and players. Its coverage of pop culture also continues to shine. 7. American Demographics. There are more interesting facts about Americans in one issue of this than in 20 weekly newsmagazines put together. An unparalleled cruncher and analyst of census data, this is the place to learn which ethnic groups buy which products, what counties are the bigger lovers of boats and every detail about how and where we die, among other omnipresent realities. 8. Men's Health. Self-deprecating, funny and jammed with great information. Even those unbearable true-life weight-loss stories are turned into clever contests. Yes, it's full of sex and sultry women with pouty lips, but regular features such as Jimmy the Bartender ("on women, work and other stuff that screws up men's lives") and topical stories make it worthwhile for both sexes. 9. Jane. This fashion and features mag is unapologetically girlie but, surprisingly, is not content-free. For cover stories, celebs such as Kate Winslet and Meg Ryan let down their guard and answer real questions posed by the mag's chatty yet persistent interviewers, and the fashion and beauty advice is actually realistic. Who says a fashion mag has to be glossy, blase and written for stick figures? 10. Consumer Reports. The scolds of the American marketplace, they continue to set themselves apart from an advertising-driven (and, too often, advertising-influenced) media and give the straight dope on everything from dishwashers to insurance. In a world of daily ethical fudging, they're true-blue in giving us cold-blooded assessments of our obsessive consumer culture. 11. Whole Dog Journal. WDJ endorses a distinct, positive and all-natural approach to dog care. There's no advertising, so the monthly doesn't mince words in its product reviews. You can count on no-fluff articles offering relevant tips, and the training and animal behavior pieces are succinct and practical. Passions run high in dogdom; WDJ calmly presents its point of view. 12. Time. Solid, credible reporting, interesting special reports, spot-on political analysis from Joe Klein and generally good writing all around. Is it better than Newsweek? Is Coke better than Pepsi? 13. Reason. In an era of smash-mouth, left vs. right political discourse, the libertarian Reason is a fresh and nuanced antidote, with a frequent a-plague-on-both-their-houses approach. And it kicked butt with a head-turning cover story, meant to underscore the power of database marketing, in which the cover was personalized for each of the 40,000 subscribers with an aerial photograph of the mailing address. 14. People. One of the most influential mags ever, it is America's guilty pleasure. Only the true snoot will deny the allure, especially stuck waiting for a hairdresser, of learning who's sleeping with whom, who's splitsville and who's due when. Yes, there are serious topics, but these folks tapped into our obsession with celebrity and continue to beat the competition to the punch. So who is dating Ben Affleck these days? 15. Business Week. Consistently the best business magazine, more timely than the biweeklies Forbes and Fortune. One strength is international reporting, as in the cover story on India and outsourcing. 16. Fine Homebuilding. If the inside of your head is lined with ceramic tile, then this publication is for you. Amateurs and professionals alike will squint appreciatively at the lavishly detailed photos of distinctive homes. The how-to pieces and the buyers guides to tools and products are written with clarity and thoroughness. 17. The Atlantic Monthly. With a knack for coming up with cover stories that always seem a step ahead of the Next Big Thing in news, this magazine continues at the top of its game. Even the stories that don't make the coveted cover would, in any other magazine, be the spotlight feature. 18. National Review. This right-wing glossy offers smart, certain ideology for these uncertain times. More serious than Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh and less Air Force One-obsessed than the Weekly Standard, the middlebrow NR even manages to squeeze the pretentious arts through its conservative wringer. 19. Conde Nast Traveler. Relentlessly up-scale, yet balanced with fascinating and practical consumer information, this is the magazine for the well-heeled traveler who's not above wearing sensible shoes. Its annual Readers' Choice ranks the best-of-everything in the world of travel -- as long as money isn't an object. But, then, what's a travel magazine for if not to dream? 20. No Depression. For those who crave that tasty trail mix of traditional country, punk, folk and rock that goes under the moniker alt country or Americana, there is no finer or more thorough source for news, reviews and profiles. We adore the long chewy portraits of the genre's big names, and the dispatches from concertland. 21. Cooking Light. Pleasantly attitude-free and rich with all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including nutrition and fitness. Not only are the recipes simple, tasty and healthy, but each month offers ideas for the "Inspired Vegetarian." Another handy section called "Superfast" provides ideas for meals that can be ready in about 20 minutes. 22. Aperture. Each issue of this recently redesigned photography quarterly is a treasure. The printing quality and paper stock are better than in most photography books. Founded by Ansel Adams , Dorothea Lange and others more than 50 years ago, Aperture thrives as a venue for today's most captivating and diverse fine art photography. 23. Us Weekly. No one does photo captions better. Us hooks us with its amazing image-storytelling, like the narrative arc of a Britney spread in which she looks skinny one day and pudgy the next, coupled with a "story" about her fast-food eating diet. We also continue to love the "Stars: They're Just Like Us" feature, in which we gawk in amazement as Jennifer Aniston ties her own shoe and Ben Affleck drops off laundry. Maybe they really are just like us! 24. Car and Driver. Other car magazines make some attempt to appear grown-up, but not C&D. From the legendary "Dodge Intrepid vs. U.S.S. Intrepid " comparison to thorough, definitive road tests, C&D sets the standard. When it arrives in the mailbox, full of readable prose ranging from cranky to hilarious, you see why C&D rules. 25. Essence. Indispensable to its loyal readership with lively and timely reports on issues that matter to women of color. Whether the topic is obstacles to career advancement, obtaining financial security or fighting for better health in the black community, Essence is on the cutting edge. 26. Science News. You don't need a PhD in science to understand this weekly, and it's far more concise than, say, Science or Nature. Those two may fight for first dibs on the newest research, but SN will report later so a layperson can understand it. 27. Budget Living. Here's a magazine that aims at those of us in slightly lower tax and stock sophistication brackets than, say, Martha Stewart Living, where we are not afraid to ask questions such as: Where can I buy a spring coat for less than $40? What is really the cheapest cell phone plan? And how do I garden if I am still a renter? 28. Sports Illustrated. Cliches are the athlete's foot of sports writing, the scummy, unavoidable residue of the genre. This veteran magazine, however, still manages to come up with surprising, inventive prose about the week's big events in the sporting world. The longer features always sparkle. The photos are often instant classics. 29. Vogue. In a landscape of lookalike, sound-alike women's magazines, Vogue maintains its position above the masses with singular old-fashioned sophistication and a healthy sense of humor. It's first and foremost about fashion, which it covers beautifully (those Irving Penn photos!), so we can forgive the long, personal essays about breast-reduction surgery. 30. Entertainment Weekly. If magazines were candy stores, EW would be a wall of delectable penny candy. With bite-size features, irreverent Q&As and exclusive photos, EW generates buzz like few magazines can. While their movie preview issues are more fun than an afternoon of watching summer trailers, EW's movie criticism remains as snarky as it is unpredictable. 31. Parenting. These guys know what parents of young kids need and that's commiseration and advice on uncivilized children, endless colds, work-family guilt, sleep deprivation and keeping up with the Joneses. And that's in just one issue. We really like the "All Yours" section where moms can get tips on what to do during their nanosecond of weekly personal time. 32. Gourmet. Ruth Reichl has pulled this periodical from its stodgy rut into a lively but substantial read. As always, the stunning photography offers nourishment enough, but the magazine is also jammed with fabulous travel pieces, stylishly written guides to upscale and down-home entertaining and the terrific back section. 33. Martha Stewart Weddings. Every bride-to-be knows that a wedding magazine's primary function is to be a carrier for ads. Ads for wedding gowns primarily. Ads for beautiful, unattainable, perfectly snug or flowing or draping or plunging wedding gowns. And on this count, Martha's quarterly beats the competition. 34. Dwell. For modernists who worship at the temple of design rather than decor with an emphasis on graceful re-use. It can be a bit grad-schoolish at times ("How an Idea Becomes a Chair"), but that's part of its serious charm. Otherwise, it's supercool, environmentally aware, and never ever mentions chintz. What else do you need to know? 35. The American Scholar. Despite the intimidating moniker and fancy pedigree, this lean publication includes some of the sharpest, most down-to-earth writing around. Incisive articles about current events, such as bioterrorism, rub shoulders with profound personal essays by the likes of Thomas Mallon and Annie Dillard . 36. The New York Review of Books. In an era in which brevity is deemed beautiful, this remains a home for engaging and longer-form literary and political essays by an A-list of the smartest folks around. For sure, lengthy dissections of the oeuvre of German critic Walter Benjamin by South African Nobelist J.M. Coetzee can be a challenge. But you'll find critical dissections that provide their own intellectual oasis amid the jargon-filled clutter about us. 37. Wooden Boat. Don't own a boat? Doesn't matter. This boldly illustrated magazine brings out the hidden mariner in even the most stubborn landlubber. Yes, those who occasionally do get out on the water might be most intrigued, but the adventure stories and recollections of special journeys are captivating. 38. New York. With a recent boost from new ownership and a prestigious editor in chief, this venerable city magazine is reinventing itself yet again. Whether it's improving upon an existing feature (gossip pages shun celebs for media moguls), bringing back respected contributors (Kurt Andersen, Maer Roshan) or getting away from the fluffy style of its past few years, New York seems to be edging toward a neo-golden age. 39. National Journal. Frothy liberal mags obsess over New Economy titans. But when the wonkish National Journal picks a Power 100, it offers profiles of the men and women of . . . the Department of Homeland Security . No nudity, but phone numbers attached. Insights from the only magazine that treats federal bureaucrats like the megawatt stars they are in their own minds can be more useful than you'd expect. 40. Donna Hay Magazine. This lush Aussie glossy about food comes with a bit of a built-in language problem (We still haven't quite figured out what a "bug" as in "grilled bug tails with kaffir lime leaf and basil" is. A small lobster? A big shrimp? An actual insect?). But the art direction and photography are so gorgeous and satisfying you could skip a meal after reading it. It's also loaded with scores of uncomplicated recipes, kitchen tips and party ideas. 41. Texas Monthly. Now, more than ever. After years of mostly supportive pieces on "W," a 6,000-word article in the February issue by writer Paul Burka titled "The Man Who Isn't There" seems to have signaled the end of the honeymoon. But there's much more than politics in this state, as any Texan will tell you, and it is presented in all its glory here. 42. Vanity Fair. VF really knows what it's doing, and we like that. We'll forgive the magazine for its obsession with the very rich and the very famous. We can read about regular people any old time now, on to Cameron Diaz ! We especially appreciate the beautiful photographs of beautiful people and the provocative writing of Christopher Hitchens and James Wolcott. 43. Chicago. It is impossible for a Chicagoan to read an issue and not come away with useful information. This is its first appearance on the Tempo list since The Tribune Company bought this monthly, but you don't have to take our word it belongs here. It just won a National Magazine Award for general excellence for its mix of probing journalism, clever service stories and darn good restaurant coverage. 44. In Touch. For those who consider People too intellectually cumbersome, In Touch is the ideal way to find out what those crazy celebrities are up to ( Keanu Reeves Buys His Sis a House! Britney's Sexy Beach Date). In Touch has lots of pictures, just enough text to qualify as a magazine, and an obvious respect for bringing the truth to light (for instance, Nicole Kidman "is aghast over reports that she almost gagged to death on piece of tempura" at a trendy NYC eatery). 45. Heeb. This smart-alecky upstart calls itself "the New Jew Review." The slick, sometimes sick and often funny quarterly is intelligent, provocative and oh-so Jewish. Heeb especially appeals to readers who have celebrated their bat or bar mitzvah after 1990 and those who wish they had. The magazine's young and hip point of view, its embrace of its audience's inner-dweeb make it an interesting and unexpectedly fun read. 46. Legal Affairs. Law is no longer a remote, esoteric academic topic and we don't just mean the Kobe Bryant trial. We mean the way legal matters seep into everyday life, influencing and being influenced by the culture at large. For lengthy, extraordinarily topical articles about the law's long reach into our living rooms and psyches, this magazine has become a must. 47. ToyFare. Three words: "Twisted ToyFare Theater." Collectible figures do and say things obviously not condoned by their corporate owners in a feature so popular, it's anthologized outside the magazine. Example : Comic book villains play the board game Risk and recount naughty anecdotes of world domination while harassing the pizza boy. Oh, it's also a price guide and irreverent toy industry magazine. 48. Rolling Stone. Sure, it occasionally reads like your dad trying to be cool. But RS can still blindside with probing, offbeat features (example: Neil Strauss holes himself up in a hotel room with a swirling-the-drain Courtney Love ) and a solid national affairs section. The record reviews can be predictable, but the front-of-book "Rock & Roll" short takes remain addictive. 49. Seahorse. The official magazine of the UK's Royal Ocean Racing Club has built itself into the definitive source for grand prix sailing. Stories range from giant multihulls conquering round-the-world records to America's Cup happenings to who's building the next megayacht. 50. Chicago Wilderness. OK, the tone is a bit boosterish, but what other journal concerns itself with the migrations of the painted lady butterfly or the symphony of flowers busting through our beleaguered prairies? Celebrating the region's natural heritage, this lavishly illustrated quarterly focuses on the inspiring people who protect and heal the local landscape. Contributing: Tim Bannon, Allison Benedikt, Beth Botts, Mike Conklin, Randy Curwen, Amy Dickinson , Robert Elder, Monica Eng, Mike Esposito, David Jackson, Patrice Jones, Chris Jones, Julia Keller, Karen Klages, Lilah Lohr, Emily Nunn, Maureen Ryan, Charles Storch, James Warren, Kevin Williams, Michael Zajakowski. Your turn: What are your favorite magazines and why? Write to: Tempo, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 E-mail: [email protected] .	Car and Driver
Thanks to the color scheme used on cans and jars of Sanka, the handles on restaurant pots of decaffeinated coffee are traditionally what color?	50 best magazines - Chicago Tribune 50 best magazines the Tempo staff What makes a magazine great? The writing. The ideas. The photography. The design. Sure. But more importantly, a magazine's worth depends on how it catches readers' glances, and then their hearts. Here, Tempo presents its second annual 50 Best Magazines list. Our selections reflect the periodicals that we pay good money to buy, that we pile on our nightstands, that we devour on trains, that we consider to be the best at what they set out to do. There are more than 17,500 magazines published in this country, so choosing the 50 best was daunting. We argued, we concurred, we scoffed. And we welcome you to continue the debate. 1. Wired. After a wobbly post-boom period, Wired has transformed itself from an insider computer monthly into a slick, smart and playful cultural journal. The reporting is excellent ("The Future of Food," "The New Diamond Age," for instance) and the graphics deliver some of the best short-form journalism in the business. The back-page feature Found" and the upfront section "Start" are consistently strong, and even the "Letters" page crackles with energy. The writing staff is lively yet authoritative, and columnists Lawrence Lessig and Bruce Sterling are smart without being snooty. Even the ads are cool. Finally: We dare you to show us a better magazine Web site (Wired.com). 2. Real Simple. This gem seduces and delivers the goods with teasers such as "A cleaner house in less time: 23 breakthrough tools and tips," "Swimsuits to flatter every figure" and "With a simple box of yellow cake mix, you can make any of these seven sweet desserts." The magazine is a breeze to read, filled with charts, photos, where-to-buy, how-to-order, how-to-make data right there, front and center. 3. The Economist. The no-nonsense font and rigid layout style make it look like a class handout on the first day of an MBA program, but don't be dismayed. This magazine features the most succinct, globe-encompassing wrap-ups of politics and economics on the market. Even often overlooked cultural features such as book reviews glisten with insight. 4. Cook's Illustrated. Our biggest complaint with this always readable mag? That they haven't come out with a gardening version that gives the topic the same thorough, skeptical treatment. We'll say it again: Not taking ads and writing about the actual cooking process so the average home cook can understand gives this magazine an authority that few others in any field enjoy. 5. Esquire. We suspect we're not as good-looking as we think we are. We know we're not clever enough. Esquire is the antidote to our human frailty. Snazzy, gorgeous, well-dressed, smart and that's just the magazine itself. The writing within is consistently great and sometimes beautiful, offering heaping portions of journalism, fiction, essays and helpful advice columns. Even if we doubt we'll ever wrestle with the great trouser-cuffs-and-suspenders debate, we love it that Esquire does. 6. The New Yorker. With Seymour Hersh's series of revelations about the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison, the New Yorker demonstrates yet again how a weekly magazine can still beat the pants off the 24-hour press. And with the presidential election season upon us, look to this book for insight and access into the process and players. Its coverage of pop culture also continues to shine. 7. American Demographics. There are more interesting facts about Americans in one issue of this than in 20 weekly newsmagazines put together. An unparalleled cruncher and analyst of census data, this is the place to learn which ethnic groups buy which products, what counties are the bigger lovers of boats and every detail about how and where we die, among other omnipresent realities. 8. Men's Health. Self-deprecating, funny and jammed with great information. Even those unbearable true-life weight-loss stories are turned into clever contests. Yes, it's full of sex and sultry women with pouty lips, but regular features such as Jimmy the Bartender ("on women, work and other stuff that screws up men's lives") and topical stories make it worthwhile for both sexes. 9. Jane. This fashion and features mag is unapologetically girlie but, surprisingly, is not content-free. For cover stories, celebs such as Kate Winslet and Meg Ryan let down their guard and answer real questions posed by the mag's chatty yet persistent interviewers, and the fashion and beauty advice is actually realistic. Who says a fashion mag has to be glossy, blase and written for stick figures? 10. Consumer Reports. The scolds of the American marketplace, they continue to set themselves apart from an advertising-driven (and, too often, advertising-influenced) media and give the straight dope on everything from dishwashers to insurance. In a world of daily ethical fudging, they're true-blue in giving us cold-blooded assessments of our obsessive consumer culture. 11. Whole Dog Journal. WDJ endorses a distinct, positive and all-natural approach to dog care. There's no advertising, so the monthly doesn't mince words in its product reviews. You can count on no-fluff articles offering relevant tips, and the training and animal behavior pieces are succinct and practical. Passions run high in dogdom; WDJ calmly presents its point of view. 12. Time. Solid, credible reporting, interesting special reports, spot-on political analysis from Joe Klein and generally good writing all around. Is it better than Newsweek? Is Coke better than Pepsi? 13. Reason. In an era of smash-mouth, left vs. right political discourse, the libertarian Reason is a fresh and nuanced antidote, with a frequent a-plague-on-both-their-houses approach. And it kicked butt with a head-turning cover story, meant to underscore the power of database marketing, in which the cover was personalized for each of the 40,000 subscribers with an aerial photograph of the mailing address. 14. People. One of the most influential mags ever, it is America's guilty pleasure. Only the true snoot will deny the allure, especially stuck waiting for a hairdresser, of learning who's sleeping with whom, who's splitsville and who's due when. Yes, there are serious topics, but these folks tapped into our obsession with celebrity and continue to beat the competition to the punch. So who is dating Ben Affleck these days? 15. Business Week. Consistently the best business magazine, more timely than the biweeklies Forbes and Fortune. One strength is international reporting, as in the cover story on India and outsourcing. 16. Fine Homebuilding. If the inside of your head is lined with ceramic tile, then this publication is for you. Amateurs and professionals alike will squint appreciatively at the lavishly detailed photos of distinctive homes. The how-to pieces and the buyers guides to tools and products are written with clarity and thoroughness. 17. The Atlantic Monthly. With a knack for coming up with cover stories that always seem a step ahead of the Next Big Thing in news, this magazine continues at the top of its game. Even the stories that don't make the coveted cover would, in any other magazine, be the spotlight feature. 18. National Review. This right-wing glossy offers smart, certain ideology for these uncertain times. More serious than Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh and less Air Force One-obsessed than the Weekly Standard, the middlebrow NR even manages to squeeze the pretentious arts through its conservative wringer. 19. Conde Nast Traveler. Relentlessly up-scale, yet balanced with fascinating and practical consumer information, this is the magazine for the well-heeled traveler who's not above wearing sensible shoes. Its annual Readers' Choice ranks the best-of-everything in the world of travel -- as long as money isn't an object. But, then, what's a travel magazine for if not to dream? 20. No Depression. For those who crave that tasty trail mix of traditional country, punk, folk and rock that goes under the moniker alt country or Americana, there is no finer or more thorough source for news, reviews and profiles. We adore the long chewy portraits of the genre's big names, and the dispatches from concertland. 21. Cooking Light. Pleasantly attitude-free and rich with all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including nutrition and fitness. Not only are the recipes simple, tasty and healthy, but each month offers ideas for the "Inspired Vegetarian." Another handy section called "Superfast" provides ideas for meals that can be ready in about 20 minutes. 22. Aperture. Each issue of this recently redesigned photography quarterly is a treasure. The printing quality and paper stock are better than in most photography books. Founded by Ansel Adams , Dorothea Lange and others more than 50 years ago, Aperture thrives as a venue for today's most captivating and diverse fine art photography. 23. Us Weekly. No one does photo captions better. Us hooks us with its amazing image-storytelling, like the narrative arc of a Britney spread in which she looks skinny one day and pudgy the next, coupled with a "story" about her fast-food eating diet. We also continue to love the "Stars: They're Just Like Us" feature, in which we gawk in amazement as Jennifer Aniston ties her own shoe and Ben Affleck drops off laundry. Maybe they really are just like us! 24. Car and Driver. Other car magazines make some attempt to appear grown-up, but not C&D. From the legendary "Dodge Intrepid vs. U.S.S. Intrepid " comparison to thorough, definitive road tests, C&D sets the standard. When it arrives in the mailbox, full of readable prose ranging from cranky to hilarious, you see why C&D rules. 25. Essence. Indispensable to its loyal readership with lively and timely reports on issues that matter to women of color. Whether the topic is obstacles to career advancement, obtaining financial security or fighting for better health in the black community, Essence is on the cutting edge. 26. Science News. You don't need a PhD in science to understand this weekly, and it's far more concise than, say, Science or Nature. Those two may fight for first dibs on the newest research, but SN will report later so a layperson can understand it. 27. Budget Living. Here's a magazine that aims at those of us in slightly lower tax and stock sophistication brackets than, say, Martha Stewart Living, where we are not afraid to ask questions such as: Where can I buy a spring coat for less than $40? What is really the cheapest cell phone plan? And how do I garden if I am still a renter? 28. Sports Illustrated. Cliches are the athlete's foot of sports writing, the scummy, unavoidable residue of the genre. This veteran magazine, however, still manages to come up with surprising, inventive prose about the week's big events in the sporting world. The longer features always sparkle. The photos are often instant classics. 29. Vogue. In a landscape of lookalike, sound-alike women's magazines, Vogue maintains its position above the masses with singular old-fashioned sophistication and a healthy sense of humor. It's first and foremost about fashion, which it covers beautifully (those Irving Penn photos!), so we can forgive the long, personal essays about breast-reduction surgery. 30. Entertainment Weekly. If magazines were candy stores, EW would be a wall of delectable penny candy. With bite-size features, irreverent Q&As and exclusive photos, EW generates buzz like few magazines can. While their movie preview issues are more fun than an afternoon of watching summer trailers, EW's movie criticism remains as snarky as it is unpredictable. 31. Parenting. These guys know what parents of young kids need and that's commiseration and advice on uncivilized children, endless colds, work-family guilt, sleep deprivation and keeping up with the Joneses. And that's in just one issue. We really like the "All Yours" section where moms can get tips on what to do during their nanosecond of weekly personal time. 32. Gourmet. Ruth Reichl has pulled this periodical from its stodgy rut into a lively but substantial read. As always, the stunning photography offers nourishment enough, but the magazine is also jammed with fabulous travel pieces, stylishly written guides to upscale and down-home entertaining and the terrific back section. 33. Martha Stewart Weddings. Every bride-to-be knows that a wedding magazine's primary function is to be a carrier for ads. Ads for wedding gowns primarily. Ads for beautiful, unattainable, perfectly snug or flowing or draping or plunging wedding gowns. And on this count, Martha's quarterly beats the competition. 34. Dwell. For modernists who worship at the temple of design rather than decor with an emphasis on graceful re-use. It can be a bit grad-schoolish at times ("How an Idea Becomes a Chair"), but that's part of its serious charm. Otherwise, it's supercool, environmentally aware, and never ever mentions chintz. What else do you need to know? 35. The American Scholar. Despite the intimidating moniker and fancy pedigree, this lean publication includes some of the sharpest, most down-to-earth writing around. Incisive articles about current events, such as bioterrorism, rub shoulders with profound personal essays by the likes of Thomas Mallon and Annie Dillard . 36. The New York Review of Books. In an era in which brevity is deemed beautiful, this remains a home for engaging and longer-form literary and political essays by an A-list of the smartest folks around. For sure, lengthy dissections of the oeuvre of German critic Walter Benjamin by South African Nobelist J.M. Coetzee can be a challenge. But you'll find critical dissections that provide their own intellectual oasis amid the jargon-filled clutter about us. 37. Wooden Boat. Don't own a boat? Doesn't matter. This boldly illustrated magazine brings out the hidden mariner in even the most stubborn landlubber. Yes, those who occasionally do get out on the water might be most intrigued, but the adventure stories and recollections of special journeys are captivating. 38. New York. With a recent boost from new ownership and a prestigious editor in chief, this venerable city magazine is reinventing itself yet again. Whether it's improving upon an existing feature (gossip pages shun celebs for media moguls), bringing back respected contributors (Kurt Andersen, Maer Roshan) or getting away from the fluffy style of its past few years, New York seems to be edging toward a neo-golden age. 39. National Journal. Frothy liberal mags obsess over New Economy titans. But when the wonkish National Journal picks a Power 100, it offers profiles of the men and women of . . . the Department of Homeland Security . No nudity, but phone numbers attached. Insights from the only magazine that treats federal bureaucrats like the megawatt stars they are in their own minds can be more useful than you'd expect. 40. Donna Hay Magazine. This lush Aussie glossy about food comes with a bit of a built-in language problem (We still haven't quite figured out what a "bug" as in "grilled bug tails with kaffir lime leaf and basil" is. A small lobster? A big shrimp? An actual insect?). But the art direction and photography are so gorgeous and satisfying you could skip a meal after reading it. It's also loaded with scores of uncomplicated recipes, kitchen tips and party ideas. 41. Texas Monthly. Now, more than ever. After years of mostly supportive pieces on "W," a 6,000-word article in the February issue by writer Paul Burka titled "The Man Who Isn't There" seems to have signaled the end of the honeymoon. But there's much more than politics in this state, as any Texan will tell you, and it is presented in all its glory here. 42. Vanity Fair. VF really knows what it's doing, and we like that. We'll forgive the magazine for its obsession with the very rich and the very famous. We can read about regular people any old time now, on to Cameron Diaz ! We especially appreciate the beautiful photographs of beautiful people and the provocative writing of Christopher Hitchens and James Wolcott. 43. Chicago. It is impossible for a Chicagoan to read an issue and not come away with useful information. This is its first appearance on the Tempo list since The Tribune Company bought this monthly, but you don't have to take our word it belongs here. It just won a National Magazine Award for general excellence for its mix of probing journalism, clever service stories and darn good restaurant coverage. 44. In Touch. For those who consider People too intellectually cumbersome, In Touch is the ideal way to find out what those crazy celebrities are up to ( Keanu Reeves Buys His Sis a House! Britney's Sexy Beach Date). In Touch has lots of pictures, just enough text to qualify as a magazine, and an obvious respect for bringing the truth to light (for instance, Nicole Kidman "is aghast over reports that she almost gagged to death on piece of tempura" at a trendy NYC eatery). 45. Heeb. This smart-alecky upstart calls itself "the New Jew Review." The slick, sometimes sick and often funny quarterly is intelligent, provocative and oh-so Jewish. Heeb especially appeals to readers who have celebrated their bat or bar mitzvah after 1990 and those who wish they had. The magazine's young and hip point of view, its embrace of its audience's inner-dweeb make it an interesting and unexpectedly fun read. 46. Legal Affairs. Law is no longer a remote, esoteric academic topic and we don't just mean the Kobe Bryant trial. We mean the way legal matters seep into everyday life, influencing and being influenced by the culture at large. For lengthy, extraordinarily topical articles about the law's long reach into our living rooms and psyches, this magazine has become a must. 47. ToyFare. Three words: "Twisted ToyFare Theater." Collectible figures do and say things obviously not condoned by their corporate owners in a feature so popular, it's anthologized outside the magazine. Example : Comic book villains play the board game Risk and recount naughty anecdotes of world domination while harassing the pizza boy. Oh, it's also a price guide and irreverent toy industry magazine. 48. Rolling Stone. Sure, it occasionally reads like your dad trying to be cool. But RS can still blindside with probing, offbeat features (example: Neil Strauss holes himself up in a hotel room with a swirling-the-drain Courtney Love ) and a solid national affairs section. The record reviews can be predictable, but the front-of-book "Rock & Roll" short takes remain addictive. 49. Seahorse. The official magazine of the UK's Royal Ocean Racing Club has built itself into the definitive source for grand prix sailing. Stories range from giant multihulls conquering round-the-world records to America's Cup happenings to who's building the next megayacht. 50. Chicago Wilderness. OK, the tone is a bit boosterish, but what other journal concerns itself with the migrations of the painted lady butterfly or the symphony of flowers busting through our beleaguered prairies? Celebrating the region's natural heritage, this lavishly illustrated quarterly focuses on the inspiring people who protect and heal the local landscape. Contributing: Tim Bannon, Allison Benedikt, Beth Botts, Mike Conklin, Randy Curwen, Amy Dickinson , Robert Elder, Monica Eng, Mike Esposito, David Jackson, Patrice Jones, Chris Jones, Julia Keller, Karen Klages, Lilah Lohr, Emily Nunn, Maureen Ryan, Charles Storch, James Warren, Kevin Williams, Michael Zajakowski. Your turn: What are your favorite magazines and why? Write to: Tempo, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 E-mail: [email protected] .	i don't know
On March 30, 1981, noted asshat John Hinckley, Jr., took a shot at which US official?	Chapter 17 – The Attempted Coup D’Etat of March 30, 1981 « TARPLEY.net Chapter 17 – The Attempted Coup D’Etat of March 30, 1981 “Bizarre happenstance, a weird coincidence” –Bush spokeswoman Shirley M. Green, March 31, 1981 cui prodest scelus, is fecit –Seneca, first century AD For Bush, the vice presidency was not an end in itself, but merely another stage in the ascent towards the pinnacle of the federal bureaucracy, the White House. With the help of his Brown Brothers, Harriman/Skull and Bones network, Bush had now reached the point where but a single human life stood between him and the presidency. Ronald Reagan was 70 years old when he took office, the oldest man ever to be inaugurated as president. His mind wandered; long fits of slumber crept over his cognitive faculties. On some days he may have kept bankers’ hours with his papers and briefing books and meetings in the Oval Office, but he needed a long nap most afternoons and became distraught if he could not have one. His custom was to delegate all administrative decisions to the cabinet members, to the executive departments and agencies. Policy questions were delegated to the White House staff, who prepared the options and then guided Reagan’s decisions among the pre-defined options. This was the staff that composed not just Reagan’s speeches, but the script of his entire life: for normally every word that Reagan spoke in meetings and conferences, every line down to and including “Good morning, Senator,” every word was typed on three by five file cards from which the Reagan would read. Foreign leaders like the cunning Francois Mitterrand professed shock over Reagan’s refusal to depart from the vaguest generalities in response to impromptu questions; Mitterrand had attempted to invite Reagan to a private tete-a-tete, but he had been overruled by Reagan’s staff. French Foreign Minister Cheysson lamented that the exchanges had been “shallow.” When asked for decisions in the National Security Council, Reagan would often respond with his favorite story about black welfare mothers chiselling the government out of money; aides would then interpret that as approval of the options they were putting forward. But sometimes Reagan was capable of lucudity, and even of inspired greatness, in the way a thunderstorm can momentarily illuminate a darkling countryside; these moments often involved direct personal impressions or feelings. Reagan’s instinctive contempt for Bush after the Nashua Telegraph debate was one of his better moments. Reagan’s greatest moment of conceptual clarity came in his televsion speech of March 23, 1983 on the Strategic Defense Initiative. The idea of defending against nuclear missles, of not accepting mutually assured destruction, and of using such a program as a science driver for rapid technological renewal was something Reagan permanently grasped and held onto even under intense pressure in Hofdie House in Reykjavik in October, 1986 during the summit with Gorbachov. In addition, during the early years of Reagan’s first term, there were enough Reaganite loyalists, typified by William Clark, in the administration to cause much trouble for the Bushmen. But as the years went by, the few men like Clark that Reagan had brought with him from California would be ground up by endless bureaucratic warfare, and their replacements, like McFarlane at the NSC, would come more and more from the ranks of the Kissingerians. Unfortunately Reagan never developed a plan to make the SDI an irreversible political and budgetary reality, and this critical shortcoming grew out of Reagan’s failed economic policies, which never substantially departed from Carter’s. But apart from rare moments like the SDI, Reagan tended to drift. Don Regan called it “the guesswork presidency;” for Al Haig, frustrated in his own lust for power, it was government by an all-powerful staff. Who were the staff? At first it was thought that Reagan would take most of his advice from his old friend Edwin Meese, his close associate from California days, loyal and devoted to Reagan, and sporting his Adam Smith tie. But it was soon evident that the White House was really run by a troika: Meese, Michael Deaver, and James Baker III, Bush’s man. Deaver’s specialty was demagogic image-mongering. Deaver’s images were made for television; they were edifying symbols without content, and took advantage of the fact that Reagan so perfectly embodied the national ideology of the Americans that most of them could not help liking him; he was the ideal figurehead. Deaver had another important job, for Reagan, as everybody knows, was uxorious: Nancy Reagan, the narrow-minded, vain, petty starlet was the one the president called “Mommy.” Nancy was the mamba of the White House, the social-climbing arriviste of capital society, an evil-tongued presence on a thousand telephones a week complaining about the indignities she thought she was subjected to, always obsessed by public opinion and making Ronnie look good in the most ephemeral short term. Deaver was like a eunuch of the Topkapi harem, responsible for managing the humors of the sultan’s leading odalisque. Nancy was a potential problem for Bush; she did not like him; perhaps she sensed that he was organizing a putsch against Ronnie. “He’s a nice man and very capable. But he’s no Ronnie. He comes across as a ‘wimp.’I don’t think he can make it. He’s a nice man, but his image is against him. It isn’t macho enough.” [fn 1] So spoke Nancy Reagan to her astrologer, Joan Quigley, in the White House in April, 1985. That could have been a very serious problem indeed, and that was where James Baker came in. If Deaver played the eunuch for Nancy, Baker was to impersonate her squire and champion. In Nancy’s provincial view, Baker was a sartorially elegant, old money aristocrat and charmeur. His assignment for the Bush machine was to ingratiate himself with the adolescent old lady with flattery and schmooze, and Nancy appears to have been entranced by Baker’s Princeton Ivy Club veneer –those ties! Those suits! Deaver gravitated by instinct towards Baker; Deaver tells us in his memoirs that he was a supporter of Bush for vice president at the Detroit convention. This meant that Baker-Deaver became the dominant force over Ron and over Nancy; George Bush, in other words, already had an edge in the bureaucratic infighting. Thus it was that White House press secretary James Brady could say in early March, 1981: “Bush is functioning much like a co-president. George is involved in all the national security stuff because of his special background as CIA director. All the budget working groups he was there, the economic working groups, the Cabinet meetings. He is included in almost all the meetings.” [fn 2] Even before the inauguration, James Baker had told a group of experienced Republican political operatives in Houston that Reagan was only interested in the public and symbolic aspects of the presidency, and that he had asked the Bush people to come in and take over the actual running of day to day government affairs. That was, of course, the self-interested view of the Bushmen. There were reports in the Bush camp that Reagan would quit after a year or two and let Bush entrench himself as the incumbent before the 1984 election. Later, after 1984, there were even more frequent rumors that Reagan would resign in favor of Bush. It did not happen, showing that Reagan was not the pushover that the Bushmen liked to pretend. During the first months of the Reagan Administration, Bush found himself locked in a power struggle with Gen. Alexander Haig, whom Reagan had appointed to be Secretary of State. Haig was a real threat to the Bushmen. Haig was first of all a Kissinger clone with credentials to rival Bush’s own; Haig had worked on Henry’s staff during the Nixon years; he had been the White House chief of staff who had eased Nixon out the door with no trial, but with an imminent pardon. Haig’s gifts of intrigue were considerable. And Haig was just as devoted to the Zionist neoconservatives as Bush was, with powerful ties in the direction of the Anti-Defamation League. It was, althogether, a challenge not to be taken lightly. Haig thought that he had been a rival to Bush for the vice-presidency at the Detroit convention, and perhaps he had been. Inexorably, the Brown Brothers, Harriman/Skull and Bones networks went into action against Haig. The idea was to paint him as a power-hungry megalomaniac bent on dominating the administration of the weak figurehead Reagan. This would then be supplemented by a vicious campaign of leaking by Baker and Deaver designed to play Reagan against Haig and vice-versa, until the rival to Bush could be eliminated. The wrecking operation against Haig started during his confirmation hearings, during which he had to answer more questions about Watergate than Bush had faced in 1975, when the facts were much more recent. Senator Tsongas was wired in: Tsongas, motivating his negative vote against Haig’s confirmation, told the nominee: “You are going to dominate this administration, if I may say so. You are by far the strongest personality that’s going to be in there.” [fn 3] Three weeks into the new administration, Haig concluded that “someone in the White House staff was attempting to communicate with me through the press,” by a process of constant leakage, including leakage of the contents of secret diplomatic papers. Haig protested to Meese, NSC chief Richard Allen, Baker, and Bush. Shortly thereafter, Haig noted that “Baker’s messengers sent rumors of my imminent departure or dismissal murmuring through the press.” Soon “‘a senior presidential aide’ was quoted in a syndicated column as saying, ‘We will get this man [Haig] under control.'” [fn 4] It took a long time for Baker and Bush to drive Haig out of the administration. Ultimately it was Haig’s attempted mediation of the Malvinas crisis in April, 1982 that weakened Haig to the point that he could be finished off. His fall was specifically determined by his action in giving Ariel Sharon a secret carte blanche for the Israeli government to invade Lebanon, including the city of Beirut. Reagan was justifiably enraged. Shortly before his ouster, Haig got a report of a White House meeting during which Baker was reported to have said, “Haig is going to go, and quickly, and we are going to make it happen.” [fn 5] Haig’s principal bureaucratic ploy during the first weeks of the Reagan administration was his submission to Reagan on the day of his inauguration of a draft executive order to organize the National Security Counbcil and interagency tasks forces, including the crisis staffs, according to Haig’s wishes. Haig refers to this document as National Security Decision Directive 1 (NSDD 1), and laments that it was never signed in its original form, and that no comparable directive for structuring the NSC interagency groups was signed for over a year. Ultimately a document called NSDD 2 would be signed, formalizing the establishment of a Special Situation Group (SSG) crisis management staff chaired by Bush. Haig’s draft would have made the Secretary of State the Chairman of the SSG crisis staff in conformity with Haig’s demand to be recognized as Reagan’s “vicar of foreign policy.” This was unacceptable to Bush, who made sure with the help of Baker and probably also Deaver that Haig’s draft of NSDD 1 would never be signed. Haig writes about this bureaucratic struggle as the battle for the IG’s (Interagency Groups) and SIG’s (Special or Senior Interagency Groups), generally populated by undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and deputy assistant secretaries within the NSC framework. As Haig points out, these Kissingerian structures are the locus of much real power, especially under a weak president like Reagan. Haig notes that “in organizational terms, the key to the system is the substructure of SIG’s and IG’s in which the fundamentals of policy (domestic and foreign) are decided. On instructions from the President, the IG’s (as I will call the whole lot, for the sake of convenience), can summon up all the human and informational resources of the federal government, study specific issues, and develop policy options and recommendations. […] IG chairmanships are parceled out to State and other departments and agencies according to their interests and their influence. As Kissinger, that canny veteran of marches and countermarches in the faculty of Harvard University, recognized, he who controls the key IG’s controls the flow of options to the President and, therefore, to a degree, controls policy.” [fn 6] The struggle between Haig and Bush culminated towards the end of Reagan’s first hundred days in office. Haig was chafing because the White House staff, meaning Baker, was denying him acess to the president. Haig’s NSDD 1 had still not been signed. The, on Sunday, March 22, Haig’s attention was called to an elaborate leak to reporter Martin Schram that had appeared that day in the Washington Post under the headline “WHITE HOUSE REVAMPS TOP POLICY ROLES; Bush to Head Crisis Management.” Haig’s attention was drawn to the following paragraphs: Partly in an effort to bring harmony to the Reagan high command, it has been decided that Vice President George Bush will be placed in charge of a new structure for national security crisis management, according to senior presidential assistants. This assignment will amount to an unprecedented role for a vice president in modern times. In the Carter administration, the crisis management structure was chaired by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser. […] On a broader, policy-making level, senior White House officials were unhappy with what they felt to be ill-timed and ill-considered actions by Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. that placed the brightest spotlight on El Salvador at a time when the administration was trying to focus maximum attention on Reagan’s economic proposals. […] Bush’s stature, by virtue of job title and experience, was cited as the reason that he was chosen to chair meetings in the Situation Room in time of crisis. Principal officials involved in crisis management will be the secretaries of state and defense, the Central Intelligence Agency director, the national security adviser, Meese, and Baker, officials said, adding that the structure has not been fully devised nor the presidential directive written. Reagan officials emphasized that Bush, a former director of the CIA and former United Nations Ambassador, would be able to preserve White House control over crisis management without irritating Haig, who they stressed was probably the most experienced and able of all other officials who could serve in that function. “The reason for this [choice of Bush] is that the secretary of state might wish he were chairing the crisis management structure,” said one Reagan official, “but it is pretty hard to argue with the vice president being in charge.” [fn 7] Lower down on the page was a smaller article entitled “Anatomy of a Washington Rumor,” to which we will return. Haig says that he called Ed Meese at the White House to check the truth of this report, and that Meese replied that there was no truth to it. Haig went to see Reagan at the White House. Reagan was concerned about the leak, and reassured Haig: “I want you to know that the story in the Post is a fabrication. It means that George would sit in for me in the NSC in my absence, and that’s all it means. It doesn’t affect your authority in any way.” Haig also says that he received a further call from Reagan assuring him that his authority was not to be diminished in the slightest. But later the same afternoon, White House press secretary James Brady read the following statement to the press: I am confirming today the President’s decision to have the Vice President chair the Administration’s “crisis management” team, as a part of the National Security Council system….President Reagan’s choice of the Vice President was guided in large measure by the fact that management of crises has traditionally–and appropriately– been done in the White House. [fn 8] Haig says he then drew up his letter of resignation, but hesitated to sign it. He called Bush to complain: “The American people can’t be served by this. It’s an impossible situation for you and me to be in. Of course, you chair the NSC in the President’s absence. We didn’t need to say it. This is all mischief. Why the hell did they do this without discussing it with me.” Haig went on: “I have been dealt with duplicitiously, George. The President has been used. I need a public reaffirmation of my role or I can’t stay here.” Can it be that Haig was so naive that he did not realize that Bush was his ruthless rival and the source of many of his problems? Haig undoubtedly knew, but chose not to say so in memoirs written after he had been defeated. For Haig also knew that Bush was vindictive. Haig does note that he was convinced that Meese was not part of the cabal out to get him. Haig had further conversations with Reagan during these days, which often seemed to have cleared up the confusion, but which in retrospect were never conclusive. In the meantime, George Bush had seized control of the Special Situation Group, which would take control of the Executive Branch in time of crisis or national emergency. It was a superb starting point for a coup d’etat. The other article in the Washington Post of Sunday, March 22 was also a harbinger of things soon to come. This piece was entitled “Anatomy of a Washington Rumor,” and the rumor it traced was that “Vice President George Bush had been nicked by a bullet in a predawn shooting outside a townhouse somewhere on Capitol Hill.” According to this story, the source of the rumor in question was a young woman artist living on Capitol Hill who had rushed into the street on the evening of February 22 when she heard the sound of a traffic accident near her home. There she was met a by a police officer whom she had met previously, on the occasion of the murder a few weeks earlier of a young Supreme Court Librarian in the same spot. According to the woman artist, the policeman told her: “The vice president was shot today.” When the woman artist tried to check on this story with the news media, the article alleged, the rumor took on a life of its own and became an inchoate news story, with Jack Anderson and others trying to verify it. Vice President Bush was reportedly very angry when he was told about the rumor: “Peter Teeley, the vice president’s press secretary, told Bush of the inquiries. The vice president was incredulous and was as angry as Teeley had ever seen him. ‘Jesus, this is the craziest thing I have ever heard,’ he said. Bush though the whole thing was silly. ‘You should call Barbara,’ he told Teeley, ‘ and let her know what this is all about.” Why would Bush be so angry about a spurious report? As reporters dug deeper into the alleged shooting, one asked a Secret Service contact if there had been any recent shooting incidents monitored by his agency. “The answer came back. On March 8, as a motorcade drove west on Canal Road, officers had heard a ‘popping sound’ from a ‘steep, rocky cliff’ on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. But it had been President Reagan’s motorcade, not Bush’s. And the noises never proved to be gunfire.” [fn 9] Had there been an attempt to assassinate Reagan, or to intimidate him? In any case Senator Howard Baker, the GOP majority leader at that time, was overheard making jokes about the allegedly discredited Rumor at a weekend party, and this was duly noted in the Washinton Post of March 25. In the midst of the Bush-Baker cabal’s relentless drive to seize control over the Reagan administration, John Warnock Hinckley Jr. carried out his attempt to assassinate President Reagan on the afternoon of March 30, 1981. George Bush was visiting Texas that day. Bush was flying from Fort Worth to Austin in his Air Force Two Boeing 707. In Fort Worth, Bush had unveiled a plaque at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, the old Hotel Texas, designating it as a national historic site. This was the hotel, coincidentally, in which John F. Kennedy had spent the last night of his life, before going on to Dallas the next day, November 22, 1963. Here was a sinister symbolism! In Austin Bush was scheduled to deliver an address to a joint session of the Texas state legislature. It was Al Haig who called Bush in the clear and told him that the President had been shot, while forwarding the details of Reagan’s condition, insofar as they were known, by scrambler as a classified message. Haig was in touch with James Baker III, who was close to Reagan at George Washington University hospital. Bush’s man in the White House situation room was Admiral Dan Murphy, who was standing right next to Haig. Bush agreed with Haig’s estimate that he ought to return to Washington at once. But first his plane needed to be refueled, so it landed at Carswell Air Force Base near Austin. Refueling took about forty minutes; during this time Bush talked on board the plane with Texas Governor William Clements, his wife, Rita, and Texas Secretary of State George Strake. Texas Congressman Jim Wright was also travelling on Bush’s plane that day, as were Congressmen Bill Archer of Houston and Jim Collins of Dallas. Bush’s top aide Chase Untermeyer was also with the party on Air Force Two. [fn 10] Bush says that his flight from Carswell to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington took about two and one half hours, and that he arrived at Andrews at abouit 6:40 PM. Bush says he was told by Ed Meese that the operation to remove the bullet that had struck Reagan was a success, and that the president was likely to survive. Bush’s customary procedure was to land at Andrews and then take a helicopter to the vice presidential residence, the Naval Observatory on Massachusetts Avenue. His aides Ed Pollard and John Matheny suggested that he would save time by going by helicopter directly to the White House south lawn, where he could arrive in time to be shown on the 7 PM Eastern time evening news broadcasts. Bush makes much oif the fact that he refused to do this, allegeedly on the symbolic grounds that “Only the President lands on the south lawn.” Back at the White House, the principal cabinet officers had assembled in the situation room and had been running a crisis management committee during the afternoon. Haig says he was at first adamant that a conspiracy, if discovered, should be ruthlessly exposed: “It was essential that we get the facts and publish them quickly. Rumor must not be allowed to breed on this tragedy. Remembering the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination, I said to Woody Goldberg, ‘No matter what the truth is about this shooting, the American people must know it.” [fn 11] But the truth has never been established. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger’s memoir of that afternoon reminds us of two highly relevant facts. The first is that a “NORAD [North American Air Defense Command] exercise with a simulated incoming missle attack had been planned for the next day.” Weinberger agreed with General David Jones, the chiarman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that this exercise should be cancelled. [fn 12] Weinberger also recalls that the group in the Situation Room was informed by James Baker that “there had been a FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Administration] exercise scheduled for the next day on presidential succession, with the general title ‘Nine Lives.’ By an immediate consensus, it was agreed that exercise should also be cancelled.” [fn 13] As Weinberger further recalls, “at almost exactly 7:00, the Vice President came to the Situation Room and very calmly assumed the chair at the head of the table.” [fn 14] According to Weinberger, the first item discussed was the need for someonme to sign the Dairy Price Support Bill the next day so as to reassure the public. Bush asked Weinberger for a report on the status of US forces, which Weinberger furnished. Another eyewitness of these transactions was Don Regan, whom the Tower Board later made the fall-guy for Bush’s Iran-contra escapades. Regan records that “the Vice President arrived with Ed Meese, who had met him when he landed to fill him in on the details. George asked for a condition report: 1) on the President; 2) on the other wounded; 3) on the assailant; 4) on the international scene. […] After the reports were given and it was determined that there were no international complications and no domestic conspiracy, it was decided that the US government would carry on business as usual. The Vice President would go on TV from the White House to reassure the nation and to demonstrate that he was in charge.” [fn 15] As Weinberger recounts the same moments: “[Attorney General Bill French Smith] then reported that all FBI reports concurred with the information I had received; that the shooting was a completely isolated incident and that the assassin, John Hinckley, with a previous record in Nashville, seemed to be a ‘Bremmer’ type, a reference to the attempted assassin of George Wallace.” [fn 16] Those who were not watching carefully here may have missed the fact that just a few minutes after George Bush had walked into the room, he had presided over the sweeping under the rug of the decisive question regarding Hinckley and his actions: was Hinckley a part of a conspiracy, domestic or international? Not more than five hours after the attempt to kill Reagan, on the basis of the most fragmentary early reports, before Hinckley had been properly questioned, and before a full investigation had been carried out, a group of cabinet officers chaired by George Bush had ruled out a priori any conspiracy. Haig, whose memoirs talk most about the possibility of a conspiracy, does not seem to have objected to this incredible decision. From that moment on, “no conspiracy” became the official doctrine of the US regime, for the moment a Bush regime, and the most massivew efforts were undertaken to stifle any suggestion to the contrary. The iron curtain came down on the truth about Hinckley. What was the truth of the matter? The Roman common sense of Lucius Annaeus Seneca (who had seen so many of Nero’s intrigues, and who would eventually fall victim to one of them) would have dictated that the person who would have profited most from Reagan’s death be scrutinized as the prime suspect. That was obviously Bush, since Bush would have assumed the presidency if Reagan had succumbed to his wounds. The same idea was summed up by an eighth grade student at the Alice Deal Junior High School in Washington DC who told teachers on March 31: “It is a plot by Vice President Bush to get into power. If Bush becomes President, the CIA would be in charge of the country.” The pupils at this school had been asked for their views of the Hinckley assassination attempt of the previous day. [fn 17] Curiously enough, press accounts emerging over the next few days provided a compelling prima facie case that there had been a conspiracy around the Hinckley attentat, and that the conspiracy had included members of Bush’s immediate family. Most of the overt facts were not disputed, but were actually confirmed by Bush and his son Neil. On Tuesday, March 31 the Houston Post published a copyrighted story under the headline: “BUSH’S SON WAS TO DINE WITH SUSPECT’S BROTHER, by Arthur Wiese and Margarte Downing.” The lead paragraph read as follows: Scott Hinckley, the brother of John Hinckley Jr., who is charged with shooting President Reagan and three others, was to have been a dinner guest Tuesday night at the home of Neil Bush, son of Vice President George Bush, The Houston Post has learned. According to the article, Neil Bush had admitted on Monday, March 30 that he was personally acquainted with Scott Hinckley, having met with him on one occasion in the recent past. Neil Bush also stated that he knew the Hinckley family, and referred to large monetary contributions made by the Hinckleys to the Bush 1980 presidential campaign. Neil Bush and Scott Hinckley both lived in Denver at this time. Scott Hinckley was the vice president of Vanderbilt Energy Corporation, and Neil Bush was employed as a land man for Standard Oil of Indiana. John W. Hinckley Jr., the would-be assassin, lived on and off with his parents in Evergreen, Colorado, not far from Denver. Neil Bush was reached for comment on Monday, March 30, and was asked if, in addition to Scott Hinckley, he also knew John W. Hinckley Jr., the would-be killer. “I have no idea,” said Neil Bush. “I don’t recognize any pictures of him. I just wish I could see a better picture of him.” Sharon Bush, Neil’s wife, was also asked about her acquaintance with the Hinckley family. “I don’t even know the brother,” she replied, suggesting that Scott Hinckley was coming to dinner as the date of a woman whom Sharon did know. “From what I know and have heard, they [the Hinckleys] are a very nice family…and have given a lot of money to the Bush campaign. I understand he [John W. Hinckley Jr.] was just the renegade brother in the family. They must feel awful.” It also proved necessary for Bush’s office to deny that the vice-president was familiar with the “Hinckley-Bush connection.” Bush’s press secretary, the British-born Peter Teeley, said when asked to comment: “I don’t know a damn thing about it. I was talking to someone earlier tonight, and I couldn’t even remember his [Hinckley’s] name. All I know is what you’re telling me.” Teeley denied that Bush had revealed that he knew Hinckley or the Hinckley family when he first heard the assassin’s name; the vice president “made no mention of it whatsoever.” Bush, repeated Teeley, “certainly didn’t indicate anything like that.” Chase Untermeyer of Bush’s staff, who had been with him throughout the day, put in that in his recollection Bush had not been told the assailant’s name through the time that Bush reached the Naval Observatory in Washington on his way to the White House. On April 1, 1981, the Rocky Mountain News of Denver carried an account of a press conference given the previous day in Denver by Neil Bush. During most of the day on March 31, Neil Bush had refused to answer phone calls from the media, referring them to the vice presidential press office in Washington. But then he appeared in front of the Amoco Building at East 17th Avenue and Braodway in Denver, saying that he was willing to meet the media once, but then wanted to “leave it at that.” As it turned out, his wishes were to be scrupulously respected, at least until the Silverado Savings and Loan scandal got out of hand some years later. The Rocky Mountain News article signed by Charles Roos carried Neil Bush’s confirmation that if the assassination had not happened, Scott Hinckley would have been present at a dinner party at Neil Bush’s home that very same night. According to Neil, Scott Hinckley had come to the home of Neil and Sharon Bush on January 23, 1981 to be present along with about 30 other guests at a surprise birthday party for Neil, who had turned 26 one day earlier. Scott Hinckley had come “through a close friend who brought him,” according to this version, and this same close female friend was scheduled to come to dinner along with Scott Hinckley on that last night of March, 1981. “My wife set up a surprise party for me, and it truly was a surprise, and it was an honor for me at that time to meet Scott Hinckley,” said Neil Bush to reporters. “He is a good and decent man. I have no regrets whatsoever in saying Scott Hinckley can be considered a friend of mine. To have had one meeting doesn’t make the best of friends, but I have no regrets in saying I do know him.” Neil Bush told the reporters that he had never met John W. Hinckley, Jr., the gunman, nor his father, John W. Hinckley, president and chairman of the board of Vanderbilt Energy Corporation of Denver. But Neil Bush also added that he would be interested in meeting the elder Hinckley: “I would like [to meet him]. I’m trying to learn the oil business, and he’s in the oil business. I probably could learn something from Mr. Hinckley. Neil Bush then announced that he wanted to “set straight” certain inaccuracies that had appeared the previous day in the Houston Post about the relations betyween the Bush and Hinbckley families. The first was his own wife Sharon’s reference to the large contributions from the Hinckleys to the Bush campaign. Neil asserted that the 1980 Bush campaign records showed no money whatever coming in from any of the Hinckleys. All that could be found, he argued, was a contribution to that “great Republican,” John Connally. The other issue the Houston Post had raised regarded the 1978 period, when George W. Bush of Midland, Texas, Neil’s oldest brother, had run for Congress in Texas’ 19th Congressional district. At that time Neil Bush had worked for George W. Bush as his campaign manager, and in this connection Neil had lived in Lubbock, Texas during most of the year. This raised the question of whether Neil might have been in touch with gunman John W. Hinckley during that year of 1978, since gunman Hinckley had lived in Lubbock from 1974 through 1980, when he was an intermittent student at Texas Tech University there. Neil Bush ruled out any contact between the Bush family and gunman John W. Hinckley in Lubbock during that time. The previous day, elder son George W. Bush had been far less categorical about never having met gunman Hinckley. He had stated to the press: “It’s certainly conceivable that I met him or might have been introduced to him.” “I don’t recognize his face from the brief, kind of distorted thing they had on TV, and the name doesn’t ring any bells. I know he wasn’t on our staff. I could check our volunteer rolls.” But now Neil was adamant: there had been no contact. Neil was a chip off the old block, and could not resist some hypocritical posturing at the end of the press conference: “Let me say that my heart goes out–as does the heart of every American–to the people suffering in this tragedy.” He mentioned Reagan, Brady, the wounded Secret Service agent and District of Columbia policeman. “And the Hinckley family, for the tremendous pain thbey must be suffering now.” And finally: “I only ask now that we can try to put this behind us and move forward in dealing with the problems.” Neil Bush’s confirmation of his relations with Scott Hinckley was matched by a parallel confirmation from the Executive Office of the Vice President. This appeared in The Houston Post, April 1, 1981 under the headline “VICE PRESIDENT CONFIRMS HIS SON WAS TO HAVE HOSTED HINCKLEY BROTHER” by Post Washington Bureau Chief Arthur Wiese. Here the second-string press secretary, Shirley Green, was doing the talking. “I’ve spoken to Neil,” she said, “and he says they never saw [Scott] Hinckley again [after the birthday party]. They kept saying ‘we’ve got to get together,’ but they never made any plans until tonight.” Contradicting Neil Bush’s remarks, Ms. Green asserted that Neil Bush knew Scott Hinckley “only slightly.” Shirley Green described the Tuesday night dinner appointment as “a bizarre happenstance, a weird occurence.” Later in the day Bush spokesman Peter Teeley surfaced to deny any campaign donations from the Hinckley clan to the Bush campaign. When asked why Sharon Bush and Neil Bush had made reference to large political contributions from the Hinckleys to the Bush campaign, Teeley responded, “I don’t have the vaguest idea.” “We’ve gone through our files,” said Teeley, “and we have absolutely no information that he [John W. Hinckley Sr.] or anybody in the family were contributors, supporters, anything.” A summary of this material was made generally available through the Associated Press, which published the following short note on March 31: The family of the man charged with trying to assassinate President Reagan is acquainted with the family of Vice President George Bush and had made large contributions to his political campaign….Scott Hinckley, brother of John W. Hinckley Jr. who allegedly shot at Reagan, was to have dined tonight in Denver at the home of Neil Bush, one of the Vice President’s sons….The Houston Post said it was unable to reach Scott Hinckley, vice president of his father’s Denver-based firm, Vanderbilt Energy Corp., for comment. Neil Bush lives in Denver, where he works for Standard Oil Co. of Indiana. In 1978, Neil Bush served as campaign manager for his brother, George W. Bush, the Vice President’s eldest son, who made an unsuccessful bid for Congress. Neil lived in Lubbock, Texas, throughout much of 1978, where John Hinckley lived from 1974 through 1980. It is not known how many newspapers chose to print this AP despatch; it would appear that the Washington Post for one did not do so. The electronic media also do not appear to have devoted much attention to this story. Once the cabinet had decided that there had been no conspiracy, all such facts were irrelevant anyway. There is no record of Neil Bush, George W. Bush, or Vice President George H.W. Bush ever having been questioned by the FBI in regard to the contacts described. They never appeared before a grand jury or a Congressional investigating committee. No special prosecutor was ever appointed. Which is another way of saying that by March, 1981, the United States government had degenerated into total lawlessness, with special exemptions for the now ruling Bush family. Government by laws had dissolved. The media were not interested in the dinner date of Neil Bush and Scott Hinckley, but they were very interested indeed in the soap opera of what had gone on in the Situation Room in the White House during the afternoon of March 30. Since the media had been looking for ways to go after Haig for weeks, they simply continued this line into their coverage of the White House scene that afternoon. Haig had appeared before the television cameras to say: Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President, and the Secretary of State, in that order, and should the President decide that he wants to transfer the helm he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here, in the White House, pending the return of the Vice President and in close touch with him. If something came up, I would check with him, of course. This led to an immense hue and cry, mightily stoked by the Bush networks, on the theme that Haig wanted to usurp the presidential succession. More than this garbled statement by Haig, Bush was certain to have been disturbed by Haig’s refusal a few seconds later to rule out conspiracy a priori : Q: Any additional measures being taken –was this a conspiracy or was this a…. Haig: We have no indication of anything like that now, and we are not going to say a word on that subject until the situation clarifies itself. [fn 18 ] But when Bush returned, the cabinet soon decided otherwise. The “I’m in control here” story on Haig was made into the Leitmotif for his sacking, which was still a year in the future. Reagan’s own ghostwritten biography published the year after he left office gives some idea what Baker and Deaver fed the confused and wounded president about what had gone during his absence: On the day I was shot, George Bush was out of town and Haig immediately came to the White House and claimed he was in charge of the country. Even after the vice-president was back in Washington, I was told he maintained that he, not George, should be in charge. I didn’t know about this when it was going on. But I heard later that the rest of the cabinet was furious. They said he acted as if he thought he had the right to sit in the Oval office and believed it was his constitutional right to take over– a position without any legal basis. [fn 19] This fantastic account finds no support in the Regan or Weinberger memoirs, but is a fair sample of the Bushman line. What did interest the media very much was the story of John W. Hinckley Jr.’s obsession with the actress Jodie Foster, who had played the role of a teenage prostitute in the 1976 movie Taxi Driver. The prostitute is befriended by a taxi driver, Travis Bickle, who threatens to kill a senator who is running for president in order to win the love of the girl. Young John Hinckley had imitated the habits and mannerisms of Travis Bickle. When John Hinckley Jr. had left his hotel room in Washington DC on his way to shoot Reagan, he had left behind a letter to Jodie Foster: Dear Jodie, There is a definite possibility that I will be killed in my attempt to get Reagan. It is for this reason that I am writing you this letter now. As you well know by now, I love you very much. The past seven months I have left you dozens of poems, letters, and messages in the faint hope you would develop an interest in me. […] Jodie, I’m asking you to please look into your heart and at least give me the chance with this historical deed to gain your respect and love. I love you forever. [signed] John Hinckley [fn 20] In 1980, Jodie Foster was enrolled at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, as an undergraduate. Hinckley spent three weeks in September, 1980 in a New Haven hotel, according to the New York Daily News. In early October he spent several days in New Haven, this time at the Colony Inn motel. Two bartenders in a bar near the Yale campus recalled Hinckley as having bragged about his relationship with Jodie Foster. Hinckley had been arrested by airport authorities in Nashville, Tennesse on October 9, 1980 for carrying three guns, and was quickly released. Reagan had been in Nashville on October 7, and Carter arrived there on October 9. The firearms charge on the same day that the President was coming to town should have landed Hinckley on the Secret Service watch list of potential presidential assassins, but the FBI apparently neglected to transmit the information to the Secret Service. In February 1981, Hinckley was again near the Yale campus. During this time, Hinckley claimed that he was in contact with Jodie Foster by mail and telephone. Jodie Foster had indeed received a series of letters and notes from Hinckley, which she had passed on to her college dean. The dean allegedly gave the letters to the New Haven police, who supposedly gave them to the FBI. Nevertheless, nothing was done to restrain Hinckley, who had a record of psychiatric treatment. Hinckley had been buying guns in various locations across the United States. Was Hinckley a Manchurian candidate, brainwashed to carry out his role as an assassin? Was a network operating through the various law enforcement agencies responsible for the failure to restrain Hinckley or to put him under special surveillance? The FBI soon officially rubber-stamped the order promulgated by the cabinet that no conspiracy be found: “there was no conspiracy and Hinckley acted alone,” said the bureau. Hinckley’s parents’ memoir refers to some notes penciled notes by Hinckley which were found during a search of his cell and which “could sound bad.” These notes “described an imaginary conspiracy–either with the political left or the political right […] to assasinate the President.” Hinckley’s lawyers from Edward Bennett Williams’s law firm said that the notes were too absurd to be taken seriously, and they have been suppressed. [fn 21] In July 1985, the FBI was compelled to release some details of its investigation of Hinckley under the Freedom of Information Act. No explanation was offered of how it was determined that Hinckley had acted alone, and the names of all witnesses were censored. According to a wire service account, “the file made no mention of papers seized from Hinckley’s prison cell at Butner, North Carolina, which reportedly made reference to a conspiracy. Those writings were ruled inadmissible by the trial judge and never made public.” [fn 22] The FBI has refused to release 22 pages of documents concerning Hinckley’s “associates and organizations,” 22 pages about his personal finances, and 37 pages about his personality and character. The Williams and Connolly defense team argued that Hinckley was insane, controlled by his obsession with Jodie Foster. The jury accepted this version, and in July, 1982, Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was remanded to St. Elizabeth’s mental hospital where he remains to this day with no fixed term to serve; his mental condition is periodically reviewed by his doctors. The other aspect of the case that would have merited more careful scrutiny was the relation of John W. Hinckley Sr., the gunman’s father, to the US intelligence community. The line in the press right after the assassination attempt was that “the father of John Hinckley is a devout Christian who did work in Africa.” Some papers also included the fact that John W. Hinckley Sr. had also worked with World Vision, beginning in 1976. World Vision describes itself as the largest “international Christian relief and development agency” active in the third world. It is officially a joint activity of the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches. “Jack” Hinckley, as the gunman’s father was frequently called, during the 1970’s became a close associate of Robert Ainsworth, the director of US Ministries for World Vision, Inc. Jack Hinckley’s profile was that of a born again Christian. Jack Hinckley and Ainsworth traveled together to the Sahel region of Africa, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Even before joining World Vision, Jack Hinckley had carried on “relief work” in Guatemala. “Jack and I became very close,” Ainsworth said. “Jack was a successful businessman. On occasion he would ask us to pray for his son. It’s not that Jack felt that John would do something bad, just that John had no direction, John had not found himself.” World Vision is one of the notorious non-governmental organizations that function as a de facto arm of US intelligence under current arrangements. Robert Ainsworth’s pedigree is impressive: he was a foreign area analyst for the US Deaprtment; an advisor in Vietnam during the war there; and chaired an international committee involved in the negotiation of the Chemical and Bacteriological Warfare Treaty of 1973. The largest contributor to World Vision is the US State Department Agency for International Development (AID), whose program is frankly genocide. Pax Christi, the Catholic human rights organization, has accused World Vision of functioning as a “Trojan horse for US foreign policy.” The entire milieu is thus redolent of the US intelligence agencies. Reagan went into a long convalescence, first in the hospital and then at his ranch in California. Even when Reagan was pronounced fully recovered, he was even more detached than before, even more absent, even more dependent on his long afternoon nap. Nancy Reagan, crazed by fear and unable to comprehend the forces that had been at work behind the assassination attempt, vastly increased her reliance on the astrological advice of her resident clairvoyant, Joan Quigley. Through this channel, the Occult Bureau of British intelligence acquired an awesome capability of manipulation over the Reagan Presidency, which could often be mobilized in favor of Bush. This was all the more true since Nancy Reagan’s obsession was always her image, what the press was saying about her and how she looked in the media. Nancy appealed to her astrologer to secure her a better press image. Since the controlled press could be calibrated from day to day by the Bush networks, Nancy Reagan found herself in the grip of a many-levelled inside-outside operation whose true nature she was too shallow to suspect. As Ms. Quigley has written, she was as resident astrologer of Reagan’s court of miracles “responsible for timing all press conferences, most speeches, the State of the Union addresses, the takeoffs and landings of Air Force One. I picked the time of Ronald Reagan’s debate with Carter and the two debates with Walter Mondale; all extended trips abroad as well as the shorter trips and one-day excursions, the announcement that Reagan would run for a second term, briefings for all summits except Moscow, although I selected the time to begin the Moscow trip. […] I re-created Nancy’s image, defused Bitburg, erected a chart for the INF treaty. […] I exposed the President as little as possible to the public and the media from January to August 1987, to protect him from both the physical and political dangers I foresaw. I was heavily involved in what happened in the relations between the superpowers, changing Ronald Reagan’s “Evil Empire” attitude, so that he went to Geneva prepared to meet a different kind of Russian leader and one he could convince of doing things our way. Improved relations, glasnost and perestroika may, in some small measure, have come out of this.” [fn 23] Bush took up the duties of the presidency, all the while elaborately denying, in his self-deprecating way, that he had in fact taken control: “He campaigned as ‘a President we won’t need to train’ — and for two weeks now, George Bush has stepped smoothly into his limited role as surrogate president….The first stand-in greeted visiting dignitaries, announced Reagan’s proposed relaxation of auto emission standards, met with Congressional leaders….His duties now include an early briefing with Reagan aides Edwin Meese, James Baker, and Michael Deaver, a meeting with Congressional liaison Max Friedersdorf and a full briefing from national security adviser Richard Allen.” [fn 24] During the time that Reagan was convalescing, the president was even less interested than usual in detailed briefings about government operations. Bush’s visits to the chief executive were thus reduced to the merest courtesy calls, after which Bush was free to do what he wanted. “Bush has even limited his visits with Reagan. ‘I just stop in for a minute or two,’ Bush says. ‘I think it’s better not to overload the circuits.'” Bush’s key man was James Baker III, White House chief of staff and the leading court favorite of Nancy Reagan. During this period Deaver was a wholly controlled appendage of Baker and would remain one for as long as he was useful to the designs of the Bushmen. Among Baker, Deaver, and the astrologer, Nancy Reagan could also be manipulated into substantial subservience to Bush’s designs. And Baker and Deaver were not the only Bushmen in the White House. There were also Bush campaign veterans David Gergen and Jay Moorhead. In the cabinet, one Bush loyalist was Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldridge, who was flanked by his Assistant Secretary, Fred Bush (allegedly not a member of the Bush family). The Bushmen were strong in the sub-cabinet: here were Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs John Holdridge, who had served Bush on his Beijing mission staff and during the 1975 Pol Pot caper in Beijing; and Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Affairs Richard Fairbanks; with these two in Foggy Bottom, Haig’s days were numbered. At the Pentagon was Henry E. Catto, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; Catto would later by rewarded by Bush with an appointment as US Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London, the post that Foreign Service Officers spend their lives striving to attain. Bush was also strong among the agencies: his pal William H. Draper III, scion of the racist Draper clan, was the chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank. Loret Miller Ruppe, Bush’s campaign chairman in Michigan, was Director of the Peace Corps. At the Treasury, Bush’s cousin John Walker would be assistant secretary for enforcement. When the BCCI scandal exploded in the media during 1991, William von Raab, the former director of the US Customs, complained loudly that, during Reagan’s second term, his efforts to “go after” BCCI had been frustrated by reticence at the Treasury Department. By this time James Baker III was secretary of the Treasury, and Bush’s kissing cousin John Walker was an official who would have had the primary responsibility for the intensity of such investigations. At the Pentagon, Caspar Weinberger’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia, Richard Armitage, was no stranger to the circles of Shackley and Clines. Weinberger had extravagant praise in his Pentagon memoirs for “Rich” Armitage, “who served the Department and me with extraordinary fidelity and skill and unparalleled knowledge and good humor during all the time I was in office.” [fn 25] Bush’s staff numbered slightly less than sixty during the early spring of 1981. He often operated out of a small office in the West Wing of the White House where he liked to spend time because it was “in the traffic pattern,” but his staff was principally located in the Old Executive Office Building. Here Bush sat at a mammoth mahogany desk which had been used in 1903 by his lifetime ego ideal, the archetypal liberal Republican extravagant, Theodore Roosevelt. Bush also kept an office at the Senate. Some of the leading Bush operatives were: Bush’s chief of staff was Admiral Daniel J. Murphy, who had represented Bush in the Situation Room until the vice president had returned from Texas. Murphy had served Melvin Laird and Elliot Richardson when they commanded the Pentagon under Nixon; he had commanded the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean during the 1973 Middle East War. Murphy habitually accompanied Bush to attend Reagan’s national security briefing each morning in the Oval Office, a ritual that was conducted by Richard Allen as long as he lasted, and attended by Baker and Deaver, plus Haig, until he too was ousted. The deputy chief of staff was Richard N. Bond, a younger political operative who had worked in the offices of liberal Republicans like William Green of New York and Sen. Charles Mathias of Maryland. He had managed Bush’s winning efforts in the Iowa caucuses and in the Connecticut primary. Bush’s executive assistant and special assignments man was Charles G. “Chase” Untermeyer, who had graduated from Harvard, worked as a newspaper reporter and served between 1977 and 1980 as a GOP member of the Texas House of Representatives for the silk stocking Republican 83rd district in Houston, where James Baker, John Connolly, and Leon Jaworski own homes. Bush’s general counsel was C. Boyden Gray, a Harvard-educated lawyer who had worked as a partner for the Washington powerbroker law firm of Wilmer, Cutler, and Pickering, where he was specialized in antitrust litigation and representing businessmen’s groups like the Business Roundtable and the American Mining Congress. Gray’s family were plutocrats from North Carolina who had sponsored the forced sterilization programs described above. Gray’s father, Gordon Gray, had served as chief of the National Security Council during the Eisenhower administration, and had authored the overall document under which the very extensive covert operations of the Eisenhower years had been carried out. “Boy” Gray took an important part in Bush’s Task Force on Regulatory Relief, which was billed as an effort to “cut federal red tape,” but which in reality furthered the highly destructive process of deregulation in many critical areas of business and finance. Boy Gray’s family had profted immensely from the merger of their family firm, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, with the National Biscuit Company to form RJR-Nabisco. They would profit astronomically from the leveraged buy-out of RJR-Nabisco by the Wall Street firm of Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts, a swindle that was facilitated by the new regulatory climate that Boy Gray had himself helped to create. Bush’s assistant for domestic affairs was Thaddeus Garrett, Jr., the highest ranking black on Bush’s staff and an ordained minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Garrett had served Vice President Nelson Rockefeller in the same capacity in 1975-76, and had worked as a Congressional aide to Reps. William Ayres (R-Ohio) and Shirley Chisholm (D-NY). Bush’s assistant for national security affairs was Nancy Bearg Dyke, who had been principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower resources and military administration in the Carter Administration. Dyke was a veteran of the State Department, the NSC, the Senate Armed Services Committee staff, and the Congressional Budget office. Bush’s executive assistant for Congressional relations was Robert V. Thompson, who had served as Bush’s assistant during the presidential campaign. Thompson was from the Tulsa of the Liedtke and Kravis families, where he had founded three companies dealing with commodity speculation, oil rigs, and refrigerator rentals. Bush’s legislative assistant was Susan E. Alvarado, former legislative assistant to the then Senate Minority Whip Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). Bush’s press secretary was Peter Teeley, who had been born in Great Britain and had later lived in Detroit. Teeley had worked for GOP Senators Jake Javits of New York and Robert Griffin of Michigan, and he was considered very much a liberal. Teeley had also been Communications Director for the Republican National Committee. Bush’s deputy press secretary was Shirley M. Green, whom we have seen in action during the March, 1981 attempted coup d’etat. Green had worked at the Texas GOP headquarters in Austin, and had coordinated the Bush for President effort in Texas and Arkansas. Bush’s appointments secretary was the inevitable Jennifer Fitzgerald, who had been his executive assistant during the CIA days in Langley. Fitzgerald had worked as a special aide of former Yale President Kingman Brewster when he was US Ambassador to London. She was a veteran of the White House staffs of the Nixon and Ford years. Jennifer Fitzgerald has remained with Bush over the years, and her presence has given rise to much gossip. Bush’s director of administration was Susan Cockrell, who had worked in vice presidential national security and foreign affairs staffs since 1974, serving Gerald Ford, Nelson Rockefeller, and Walter Mondale before Bush. Bush’s advance man was Michael Farley, a former Arizona insurance agent and broker who had worked for Ford in 1976 and for Bush during the 1979-80 campaign. Bush’s trip director was Joseph W. Hagin, a former operative for the Bush campaign in Florida and Iowa. After the Detroit convention, Hagin travelled full time with Bush. [fn 26] After Reagan had recovered, Bush customarily arrived at his office in the Old Executive Office Building at about 7:30 each morning for his own national security briefing and a staff meeting. Then Bush and Murphy would go over to the Oval Office, less than a hundred yards away, to sit in on Reagan’s national security briefing. During the rest of the day, depending on the requirements of intrigue and manipulation, Bush was free to float between OEOB and West Wing, often gravitating back towards his own staff at the end of the day. Bush had a standing invitation to sit on all cabinet meetings and other executive activities, and Baker was always there to make sure he knew what was going on. Bush was a part of every sesssion of the National Security Council. Bush also possessed guaranteed access to Reagan, in case he ever needed that: each Thursday Reagan abnd Bush would have lunch alone together in the Oval Office. Each Tuesday, Bush attended the weekly meeting of GOP committee chairmen presided over by Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker at the Senate. Then Bush would stay on the Hill for the weekly luncheon of the Republican Policy Committee hosted by Sen. John Tower of Texas. Before and after these weekly events, there was time for meetings with individual senators. Bush also cultivated his older House networks, including through paddleball workouts in the House gymnasium. Prescott’s old friend William Casey was beginning to work his deviltry at Langley, and kept in close touch with Bush. Reports of personality conflicts between Bush and Casey are the most transparent disinformation. The result was a machine capable of steering many of the decisions of the Reagan Administration. At this point, Bush was not looking for a great deal of publicity; he didn’t need it. “Bush himself reacted with sensitivity to the amount of publicity he received while performing as a presidential surrogate while Reagan was recovering from his gunshot wound. When the President returned to his work schedule, Bush asked his staff to cut back on scheduling him for interviews. “He thought he should lower his profile for a while,’ an aide explained.” Problems might have come from the oversight functions of the Congress, but the Congress was now in the process of being destroyed as a Constitutional force. Senator Harris Williams of New Jersey was now on trial on charges resulting from the FBI’s illegal “Abscam” entrapment operations. Williams’ forced resignation from the Senate, after a number of Congressmen had been convicted on the same maufactured charges, would complete the subordination of Congress to police state controls. Problems might have come from the Director of the National Security Council, but here the job had been downgraded: Richard Allen reported not to Reagan, but to Meese. Allen would in any case soon be ousted from office becase he had accepted some watches from Japanese visitors. Allen would be followed in quick succession by William Clark, Bud McFarlane, John Poindexter, Frank Carlucci, and Colin Powell- a new NSC director a bit more than once a year. For Bush, the dangerous one had been Clark; the rest were quite prepared to go with the Kissinger line. In any case, this merry-go-round at the NSC meant that no serious challenge could emerge against Bush from this quarter. It took more than a year to finish off Al Haig. The final opportunity came during the Malvinas (or Falklands) war in the spring of 1982. When Thatcher made clear that she was intent on waging war against Argentina, Haig flew to London and assured her that there would be no new Suez, that the US would back Britain in the end. But Haig insisted on posing in public as an honest broker, mediating between Britain and Argentina, and made proposals that involved concessions which enraged Thatcher. Haig also called Lord Carrington a “duplicitious bastard.” Bush and Baker used the failure of Haig’s shuttle diplomacy in the Malvinas crisis to prepare the final bureaucratic coup de grace. Haig was replaced by George Shultz, a Bechtel executive and Nixon cabinet retread. The loudest squawking in public about Bush’s formidable behind the scenes power during the Reagan years came from the old “New Right” alumni of the Young Americans for Freedom during the Goldwater era. One gathers that these personages were miffed at the idea that George’s networks were grabbing plum jobs which the old YAFers regarded as their eminent domain. One of these was Terry Dolan of the National Conservative Political Action Committee, who spoke in 1982 of the “Bushization of the Reagan Administration.” (Dolan later died of AIDS.) The right-wing direct mail fundraiser Richgard Viguerie asserted that “this is a Bush administration, not a Reagan administration.” The right-wing concern was summed up by Witcover and Germond: “George Bush is playing possum, acting the amenable helpmate to Reagan while insidiously planting his agents in key positions in the administration– especially in the White House– and, more recently, in the Republican National Committee.” [fn 27] These circles pointed to the ascendancy of James Baker in the White House, the influence of David Gergen as White House director of communications, the position of Richard Darman (from the Eliot Richardson stable) as Baker’s deputy, and the dominance of Rich Bond, Bush’s chief of staff, as deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee. Some were also worried about the power of David Stockman, the austerity ideologue of the early Reagan Office of Management and Budget and close Bush ally. “Bush has been more effective in getting his people placed in the administration than Reagan has,” complained Paul Weyrich of the Committee for the Survival of a Free Congress. “There was a tremendous power vacuum and Baker’s moved into it, but Baker has used it to get Bush people into key places…Bush has an ideal situation. He goes around the country collecting due bills by expressing support of Reagan, meanwhile putting his people in place.” These circles were very concerned by the frequent rumors that Reagan might renounce a race for a second term in what Viguerie called an “LBJ scenario,” with Reagan dropping out during the primary season. These hopes never panned out, but the “Baker-Bush connection” enraged the right wingers for years. In public, Bush worked on his Task Force for Regulatory Relief, a good way to curry favor with the legions of greed in Wall Street and Beverly Hills who were looking for the Reagan administration to fulfill their hopes. After the French elections, it was Bush who was despatched to France to meet the new French President Francois “Tonton” Mitterrand of the Grand Orient freemasonry. Bush and Mitterrand had mutual friends in the Schlumberger interests of Jean and Monique de Menil of Houston; Bush began building a special relationship with Tonton Mitterrand that included very cordial Franco-American summits at Kennebunkport and St. Martin during 1989. For Tonton, close ties with Bush were essential for undoing the heritage of General de Gaulle, who had insisted on French national independence and sovereignty. With the Bush-Mitterrand axis, those forces were strenghened who wanted France to become again what she had been in the shameful adventure of Suez in 1956: an auxiliary to the Anglo-Americans. Bush also had a special interest in the Atlanta murders of black children, which were reaching their peak during the first months of 1981. On February 8, 1981, Bush announced that the federal government would provide special assistance to the Atlanta Police Department in investigating the murders. On February 22, a federal task force focussed on Atlanta was created, and on March 15 George and Barbara journeyed to Atlanta to meet with the families of some of the victims. These murders were clearly connected to satantic cults operating in the Atlanta area. Bush became heavily engaged on this front. His office “aggressively and publicly” pursued his assignment of coordinating federal asssistance to Atlanta. Admiral Murphy and staffer Thaddeus Garrett helped to arrange a series of grants from various agencies and set up a task force on the ground in Atlanta under the leadership of Charles Rinkevich, a regional official of the Justice Department. Garrett gave himself credit for expediting $3.8 million to support the investigation of the Atlanta murders and to provide “support and protective supervision” for the terror-stricken residents of the area. Naturally: an alumnus of Skull and Bones knew all about satanism. Forty-four days after the attempted assassination of Reagan, there followed the attempt to assassinate Pope John Paul II during a general audience in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. During those 44 days, Bush had been running the US government. It was as if a new and malignant evil had erupted onto the world stage, and was asserting its presence with an unprecedented violence and terror. Bush was certainly involved in the attempt to cover up the true authors of the attentat of St. Peter’s Square. An accessory before the fact in the attempt to slay the pontiff appears to have been Bush’s old cohort Frank Terpil, who had been one of the instructors who had trained Mehmet Ali Agca, who had fired on the pope. After a lengthy investigation, the Italian investigative magistrate Ilario Martella in December 1982 issued seven arrest warrants in the case, five against Turks and two against Bulgarians. Ultimate responsibility for the attempt on the Pope’s life belonged to Yuri Andropov of the Soviet KGB. On March 1, 1990, Viktor Ivanovich Sheymov, a KGB officer who had defected to the west, revealed at a press conference in Washington DC that as early as 1979, shortly after Karol Woityla became Pope, the KGB had been instructed through an order signed by Yuri Andropov to gather all possible information on how to get “physically close to the Pope. [fn 28] According to one study of these events, during the second week of August, 1980, when the agitation of the Polish trade union Solidarnosc was at its height, the Pope had despatched a special emissary to Moscow with a personal letter for Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev. The Pope’s message warned the Soviet dictator that if the Red Army were to invade Poland, as then seemed imminent, the Pope would fly to Warsaw and lead the resistance. It is very likely that shortly after this the Soviets gave the order to eliminate Pope John Paul II. [fn 29] With the Vatican supporting Judge Martella in his campaign to expose the true background of Ali Agca’s assault, it appeared that the Bulgarian connection, and with it the Andropov-KGB connection, might soon be exposed. But in the meantime, Brezhnev had died, and had been succeeded by the sick and elderly Konstantin Chernenko. Bush was already in the “you die, we fly” business, representing Reagan at all important state funerals, and carrying on the summit diplomacy that belongs to such occasions. Bush attended Brezhnev’s funeral, and conferred at length with Yuri Andropov. Chernenko was a transitional figure, and the Anglo-American elites were looking to KGB boss Andropov as a desirable successor with whom a new series of condominium deals at the expense of peoples and nations all over the planet might be consummated. For the sake of the condominium, it was imperative that the hit against the Pope not be pinned on Moscow. There was also the scandal that would result if it turned out that US assets had also been involved within the framework of derivative assassination networks. During the first days of 1983, Bush lodged an urgent request with Monsignor Pio Laghi, the apostolic pro-nuncio in Washington, in which Bush asked for an immediate private audience with the Pope. By February 8, Bush was in Rome. According to reliable reports, during the private audience Bush “suggested that John Paul should not pursue quite so energetically his own interest in the plot.” [fn 30] Bush’s personal intervention had the effect of supplementing and accelerating a US intelligence operation that was already in motion to sabotage and discredit Judge Martella and his investigation. On May 13, 1983, the second anniversary of the attempt on the Pope’s life, Vassily Dimitrov, the first secretary of the Bulgarian Embassy in Rome, expressed his gratitutde: “Thanks to the CIA, I feel as if I were born again!” Bush consistently expressed skepticism on Bulgarian support for Agca. On December 20, 1982, responding to the Martella indictments, Bush told the Christian Science Monitor: “Maybe I speak defensively as a former head of the CIA, but leave out the operational side of the KGB– the naughty things they allegedly do: Here’s a man, Andropov, who has had access to a tremendous amount of intelligence over the years. In my judgment, he would be less apt to misread the intentions of the USA. That offers potential. And the other side of that is that he’s tough, and he appears to have solidified his leadership position.” According to one study, the German foreign intelligence service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst, believed at this time that “a common link between the CIA and the Bulgarians” existed. [fn 31] Martella was convinced that Agca had been sent into action by Sergei Antonov, a Bulgarian working in Rome. According to author Gordon Thomas, Martella was aware that the White House, and Bush specifically, were determined to sabotage the exposure of this connection. Martella brought Agca and Antonov together, and Agca identified Antonov in a line-up. Agca also described the interior of Antonov’s apartment in Rome. “Later, Martella told his staff that the CIA or anyone else can spread as much disinformation as they like; he is satisfied that Agca is telling the truth about knowing Antonov.” [fn 32] Later US intelligence networks would redouble these sabotage efforts with some success. Agca was made to appear a lunatic, and two key Buglarian witnesses changed their testimony. A campaign of leaks was also mounted. In a bizarre but significant episode, even New York Senator Al Damato got into the act. Damato alleged that he had heard about the Pope’s letter warning Brezhnev about invading Poland while he was visiting the Vatican during early 1981: as the New York Times reported on February 9, 1983, “Damato says he informed the CIA about the letter and identified his source in the Vatican when he returned to the US from a 1981 trip to Rome.” Later, Damato was told that the Rome CIA station had never heard anything from Langley about his report of the Pope’s letter. “I gave them important information and they clearly never followed it up,” complained Damato to reporters. In February, 1983, Damato visited Rome once again on a fact-finding mission in connection with the Agca plot. He asked the US Embassy in Rome to set up appointments for him with Italian political leaders and law enforcement officials, but his visit was sabotaged by US Ambassador Maxwell Raab. The day before Damato was scheduled to leave Washington, he found that he had no meetings set up in Rome. Then an Italian-speaking member of the staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee, who was familiar with the Agca investigation and who was scheduled to accompany Damato to Rome, informed the senator that he would not make the trip. Damato told the press that this last-minute cancellation was due to pressure from the CIA. Much to Damato’s irritation, it turned out that George Bush personally had been responsible for a rather thorough sabotage of his trip. Damato showed the Rome press “a telegram from the American Ambassador in Rome urging him to postpone the visit because the embassy was preoccupied with an overlapping appearance by Vice President Bush,” as the New York Timnes reported. This was Bush’s mission to warn the Pope not to pursue the Bulgarian connection. Damato said he was shocked that no one on the CIA staff in Rome had been assigned to track the Agca investigation. The CIA station chief in Rome during the early 1980’s was William Mulligan, a close associate of former CIA deputy assistant director for operations Theodore Shackley. Shackley, as we have seen, was a part of the Bush for President campaign of 1980. Mehmet Ali Agca received training in the use of explosives, firearms, and other subjects from the “former” CIA agent Frank Terpil. Terpil was known to Agca as “Major Frank,” and the training appears to have taken place in Syria and in Libya. Agca’s identification of Terpil had been very precise and detailed on Major Frank and on the training program. Terpil himself granted a television interview, which was incorporated into a telecast on his activities and entitled “The Most Dangerous Man in the World,” during which Terpil described in some detail how he had trained Agca. Shortly after this, Terpil left his apartment in Beirut, accopanied by three unidentified men, and disappeared. Terpil and Ed Wilson had gone to Libya and begun a program of terrorist training at about the time that George Bush became the CIA director. Wilson was indicted for supplying explosives to Libya, for conspiring to assassinate one of Qaddafi’s opponents in Egypt, and for recruiting former US pilots and Green Berets to work for Qaddafi. Wilson was later lured back to the US and jailed. Terpil presumably continues to operate, if he is still alive. Was Terpil actually a triple agent? What further relation might George Bush have had to the attempt to take the life of the Pope? As we have seen, the Bush family had carried on an obsessive vendetta against the Vatican over decades. In the family tradition, it was Catholic opponents of birth control and genocide, including Roman Catholic prelates, who were held responsible for the defeat of Prescot Bush in the 1950 election, when his involvement with the genocide lobby had received effective and timely exposure. We have seen how Bush personally nursed this grudge, hysterically recounting the story to his colleagues in the House of Representatives. We have seen Bush’s enraged response to Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae, which attacked the racist heart of the Bush family creed. We will later see Bush attacking the political activities of Jesuits in central America. We will see Bush ordering violent demonstrators in Panama City to storm the Papal nunziatura. In all of this the freemason Bush shares the obsession of the Anglo-American elite, who are committed to destroying the papacy as one of the few institutions in the world that has dared to resist their Malthusian proposition that the central problem of humanity is overpopulation. Freemason George Bush allegedly possesses important connections to some of the more sinister currents of continental European masonry. Unconfirmed published reports have linked George Bush to the Propaganda Due or P-2 masonic lodge of Rome, Italy, as well as to the Comite Montecarlo. Barbara Honegger, in her book October Surprise, cites her mysterious informant “Y”, who claims that the notorious Italian political fixer Francesco Pazienza told him that George Bush was even made an honorary member of the P-2 lodge by that lodge’s venerable grand master, the notorious Licio Gelli. Gelli is also reported by informed sources to have worked energetically to promote Bush’s 1980 presidential candidacy. Some see Bush’s alleged connections to Licio Gelli’s P-2 lodge as relevant to the assassination of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme on February 28, 1986. According to Barbara Honegger’s mysterious informant “Y”, on February 25, 1986, just a few days before Palme was killed, Licio Gelli, who was then in Brazil, sent a message to Philip Guarino, a former official of the Republican National Committee telling him that “the Swedish tree will be felled,” along with a request to “tell our good friend Bush.” [fn 33] Palme, at the time of his death, was aware of the participation of Swedish arms companies in weapons deliveries to the Khomeini regime within the framework of what later became known as Iran-contra. On July 2, 1990, the first program (Tg-1) of RAI Television, the Italian government-sponsored network, broadcast an interview by journalist Ennio Remondino with Ibrahim Razin and Richard Brennecke, a former US intelligence agent who has become well known in connection with his allegations concerning the 1980 October Surprise. Here Razin repeated the account of the message from Gelli to Guarino and Bush just summarized. Brennecke added that US intelligence agencies provided the P-2 lodge with funding in the amount of $10 million per month for gun-running, drug-running, and destabilization. In the wake of this telecast, President Francesco Cossiga, the psychologically unstable Italian chief of state, demanded that Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti investigate these charges. Cossiga was indignant that both the US government and George Bush had been accused of these heinous crimes. Andreotti’s investigation was a superficial one and certainly did not disprove any of the charges, leaving the matter hanging. [fn 34] NOTES: 1. Joan Quigley, “What Does Joan Say” (New York, 1990), p. 112. 2. Clay F. Richards, “George Bush: ‘co-president’ in the Reagan administration” United Press International, March 10, 1981. 3. Alexander Haig, Caveat (New York, 1984), p. 54. 4. Haig, Caveat, p. 115. 5. Haig, Caveat, p. 302. 6. Haig, Caveat, p. 60. 7. Washington Post, March 22, 1981. 8. Haig, Caveat, pp. 144-145. 9. Washington Post, March 22, 1981. 10. The Daily Texan, March 31, 1981. 11. Haig, Caveat, p. 151. 12. Caspar Weinberger, Fighting for Peace (New York, 1990), p. 91. 13. Weinberger, Fighting for Peace, p. 93. 14. Weinberger, Fighting for Peace, p. 94. 15. Donald T. Regan, For the Record (New York, 1988), p. 168. 16. Weinberger, Fighting for Peace, p. 95. 17. Washington Post, April 1, 1981. 18. Haig, Caveat, p. 160. 19. Ronald Reagan, An American Life (New York, 1990), p. 271. 20. Jack and JoAnn Hinckley, Breaking Points (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1985), p. 169. 21. Breaking Points, p. 215. 22. Judy Hasson, United Press International, July 31, 1985. 23. Joan Quigley, What Does Joan Say? (New York, 1990), p. 12. 24. Newsweek, April 20, 1981, p. 29. 25. Weinberger, Fighting for Peace, pp. 230-231. 26. For Bush’s staff see “George Bush–Keeping His Profile Low So He Can Keep His Influence High,” National Journal, June 20, 1981, p. 1096 ff.; and Arthur Wiese, “The Bush Team,” Houston Post, April 1, 1981. 27. Jack W. Germond and Jules Witcover, “Why Do Conservatives Hate Bush?”, The Washingtonian, April 1982. 28. Washington Post, March 2, 1990. 29. See Gordon Thomas, Pontiff (New York, 1983). 30. Gordon Thomas, Averting Armageddon (New York, 1984), p. 74. 31. Averting Aramgeddon, p. 268. 32. Averting Armageddon, p. 75. 33. Barbara Honegger, October Surprise (New York: Tudor Publishing, 1989), p. 240. Many are the names that have been attributed to informant “Y,” including Ibrahim Razin, Racine, Oswald Le Winter, Oscar LeWinter, and George Cave, who was supposedly once a CIA employee specializing in Iranian affairs. 34. See Corriere della Sera and La Stampa, July 24, 1990.	Ronald Reagan
April 1, 1976 saw Ronald Wayne, Steve Wozniak, and whom, start a company to sell a computer mother board (including CPU, RAM, and video chip) for a mere $666.66?	National News - ABC News Radio ABC News Radio Entries in Ronald Reagan (9) Tuesday Share Article Dirck Halstead/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s executive director, John Heubusch, has declared an overseas auction house’s plan to sell off a vial stained with the late president’s blood “a craven act,” and promised his organization “will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase.” Heubusch also said that he’s been promised that George Washington University hospital administrators will launch a probe into “how something like this could possibly happen.” Sixty-nine days after being sworn in, Reagan was attacked outside a Hilton Hotel in Washington by John Hinckley, Jr., a schizophrenic young man who later said he was trying to impress the actress Jodie Foster. The Secret Service rushed the president to George Washington University Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Despite significant internal injuries and bleeding, Reagan recovered and was back at work at the White House only weeks later. Reagan, of course, went on to become one of conservative America’s most beloved figures. Now his fans can put in a bid for a 5-inch long, plasma-stained glass tube and an accompanying medical form listing Reagan’s patient identification number, age, sex, and the name of the hospital’s chief cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon. None of the boxes on the form indicating which tests should be done are ticked off, but instructions are written onto the page requesting the sample’s “lead level” be examined. The anonymous seller provided online auctioneers with a “letter of provenance,” claiming that his mother, then a technician at Bio Science Laboratories in nearby Columbia, Md., was given permission by a supervisor to take the vial home at the end of the week Reagan was shot. When his parents died, the seller writes, the vial was passed on to him. “About 3 to 4 months ago,” he continues, “I contacted the Reagan National Library (sic) and spoke to the head of the library, a Federal Agent. I told him what I had, how I came across it and so on. We spoke for about 45 minutes. The reason that I contacted the Reagan National Library was to see if they would like to purchase it from me. He indicated that if I was interested in donating it he would see to it that he would take care of all of the arrangements.” But he wanted to sell it, and after finding that the “National Archives was not interested in what I had, nor was the Secret Service, the FBI and other agencies,” he decided to put it on the block. “Pres. Reagan when he was my Commander in Chief when I was in the ARMY from ’87-’91,” the mystery man writes, “and that I was a real fan of Reaganomics and felt that Pres. Reagan himself would rather see me sell it rather than donating it.” The auction opened on Wednesday, May 9, with a bid of 1,500 British pounds sterling ($2,370.90). By Tuesday morning, “Lot 160 – Ronald Reagan Blood Vial” had a new top offer of $11,977.60. PFC Auctions is based on the island of Guernsey (an autonomous British protectorate and controversial tax haven, just off the northern coast of France). For all interested parties, bidding expires Thursday, May 24, at 2 p.m. EDT. All submissions are considered official and cannot be altered. Payment, according to the PFC Auction website, is due within seven days of the date of your invoice. Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 2:58PM by	i don't know
What popular Nintendo game is set in the Mushroom Kingdom?	Mushroom Kingdom Fusion: The Best Mario Fan Game Ever Made? - Gaming Reinvented Mushroom Kingdom Fusion: The Best Mario Fan Game Ever Made? 2 comments No scratch that, it might actually be the best fan game ever made, period. Forget Super Mario Bros Crossover, that’s just plain terrible in comparison to this. Forget any ROM hacks I’ve ever seen (even the likes of Mario Adventure and Extra Mario Bros), Mushroom Kingdom Fusion officially blows all of those out of the water. Why is this? Well let me show in exactly two videos: You see that? That’s basically the game Super Smash Bros Brawl’s Subspace Emissary only wishes it could be. This isn’t just some minor crossover game with a few elements from other series, or a glorified remake like Super Mario Bros Crossover, this is literally a magnificant merger of near enough video game series ever made. More than 15 playable characters including Mario, Link, Kirby, Samus, Mega Man and Arthur among others, nearly 220 different levels to play through spread over 11 worlds, and levels based on such a massive array of franchises it’s unbelievable. You’ve got real world places, the Mega Man universe, Mobius, Dracula’s Castle (coming soon), levels based on Doom and Quake, various planets from Metroid and even levels based on franchises like Metal Slug, Halo and Gears of War. It is pretty much the apex of crossovers, the best example of a mega crossover game that I’ve ever seen. Really, there’s nothing else to say. If you haven’t tried this game for whatever reason already, you definitely need to try it at some point in your life, it was ranked the best fan game/project on Nintendo 3DS Daily for a reason: Ten Fantastic Fan Projects That Rival Official Games! Definitely check it, download it and play it, because Mushroom Kingdom Fusion is literally one of the most impressive examples of fan work in the history of all of the video game world. Someone needs to so tell Sakurai that ‘no, we don’t want an adventure mode or Subspace Emissary we want something like this’. Heck, someone should tell Nintendo and Namco to outright replace whoever’s doing the single player mode design with the Fusion Fangaming team, they’d be ten times more competent than the people who managed to screw up the Subspace Emissary! Download it here now: http://fusionfangaming.spriters-resource.com/index.php/topic,673.0.html Note/Disclaimer: Nintendo 3DS Daily is an affiliate of Fusion Fangaming… but it doesn’t really matter, I’m also personally a fan of the game myself and think that it’s pretty much the best Smash Bros single player game I’ve ever seen despite it not being a Smash Bros game. 2 thoughts on “Mushroom Kingdom Fusion: The Best Mario Fan Game Ever Made?” hamza62240 says: Of course NOTHING, even this, can beat Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii, a legendary NSMBWii ROM hack. New enemies, new bosses, new levels, new graphics, new platforms, new blocks…. 1. Angry Sun and a Angry Moon! 2. A whole new World Map engine, which is like the SMW world map 3. Fishbones which jump out of the water! 4. Sinking ground 5. Flip Blocks 6. Whole new boss battles, including a big Boo (Ramboo), big Fuzzy (Fuzzy Bear), double Podoboo (Podouble, I think…that may just be a name of a big Podoboo normal enemy in the hack :p), big Rocky Wrench (Rocky Boss), and Samurshai (samurai shy guy) 7. A whole new final boss, which is a Bowser in a airship which you have to throw cannonballs on about 28 times with your Koopa Clown Car with Cannon, while dodging electric asteroids and Amps (boss fight called Captain Bowser) 8. Asteroids. And electric Asteroids. Which spin and you can stand on. 9. Space levels. With new physics. 10. Topmen from Super Mario Galaxy! 11. Extra worlds (A, B, C, D…) 12. Fake Star Coins (spin vertically instead of horizontally, indicating that they are fake, reveal that they are just swarms of Boos when tried to collect) 13. Giga Goombas (giant Goombas which when they walk (stomp, technically), they stun Mario/Luigi/The Toads for a few seconds) 14. Shy Guys 16. New Worlds (Autumn, Scary, Mountain + Space, more) and a lot more…!	Super Mario Bros.
Commonly called Seward's Folly, in honor of then Secretary of State William H. Seward, Alaska was purchased from what country in 1867?	Super Mario All-Stars for Wii - Nintendo Game Details A Celebration Collection The games included in the Super Mario All-Stars are: Super Mario Bros.: This is the game that started it all. It features now-iconic Mushroom Kingdom characters like Mario, Bowser™, Princess Peach™, Toad™ Goombas and Koopas. This game set the standard for all future platforming games. Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels: Originally released in Japan as Super Mario Bros.® 2, this game has only brief cameo appearances in the Western Hemisphere. Mario fans will appreciate the familiar look and feel of the game. Super Mario Bros. 2: This time, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad have little more than vegetables to defend themselves with. Each character has a unique set of abilities: Luigi can jump higher and farther, Toad can dig extremely fast and pull items out of the ground quicker, Princess Peach is the only one who can jump and hover temporarily and Mario has the most balanced skills. Super Mario Bros. 3: This installment introduced new elements like the Tanooki Suit and Koopalings. Mario must battle new enemies, returning favorites and a new Koopaling in each unique and distinctive world on his way to ultimately taking on Bowser himself. Fly above the action using the Super Leaf, swim faster by donning the Frog Suit or defeat enemies using the Hammer Suit. Each game features the enhanced graphics and updated sound from the Super NES™ Super Mario All-Stars game. All four games can be played on the Wii system using one of several controllers: the Wii Remote™ controller, Classic Controller™, Classic Controller Pro™ or the Nintendo GameCube™ controller. Price effective March 11, 2016. Release Date Dec 12, 2010 No. of Players 2 players simultaneous Category Adventure, 2-D Platformer	i don't know
In what wrestling move does the wrestler grabs his opponent, turn him upside-down, and drop into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat?	Piledriver (professional wrestling) - Wikipedia, Photos and Videos Piledriver (professional wrestling) NEXT GO TO RESULTS [51 .. 100] WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE Jump to: navigation , search Professional wrestler Jake OReilly performs a piledriver on his opponent. A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. [1] The technique is said to have been innovated by Wild Bill Longson . [2] The name is taken from a piece of construction equipment, also called a pile driver , that drives countless massive impacts on the top of a large major foundation support, burying it in the ground slowly with each impact. The act of performing a piledriver is called "piledriving." Someone who has recently been the victim of a piledriver is said to have been "piledriven" (e.g. "The wrestler was piledriven into the canvas"). Notable wrestlers who have regularly used a piledriver during their career include Jerry Lawler , Bret Hart , Harley Race , Paul Orndorff , The Undertaker , Kane , The Brain Busters , Buddy Rogers , and Karl Gotch . The piledriver is often seen as one of the most dangerous moves in wrestling. The reverse piledriver is directly responsible for shortening the career of WWE Superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin when his opponent, Owen Hart , inadvertently botched the move, legitimately injuring Austin's neck. Due to this, the move is banned in WWE with the exception of Kane and The Undertaker due to their experience and size. Contents 4 References Danger and precautions[ edit ] Mike Bennett (left) improperly executing a piledriver on B.J. Whitmer in 2013. [3] Here, Whitmer's head is positioned below Bennett's legs and is unprotected. The impact from the move gave Whitmer a neck injury. The piledriver is generally considered a dangerous maneuver in wrestling because of the potential impact on the head and compression of the neck. The proper way to execute the move, in most cases, is for the wrestler performing the move to tuck the opponent's head between his legs before falling to the mat (there are variations that are performed differently, as the list below indicates). If done in this manner, the wrestler receiving the move will land with little or no contact made with the mat at all and thus not run the risk of injury. [4] If the head is not secured and is protruding from between the wrestler's legs, the wrestler receiving the move risks serious injury and potential paralysis as he will likely land with the entire weight of his body on the crown of his head. [5] Perhaps the most famous example of an injury from an improperly performed piledriver came at the 1997 WWF SummerSlam event. In a match between Owen Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin , Hart was to perform a seated reverse piledriver on Austin, who later said that he was not sure if the move was a good idea to perform as he was unsure if his head could properly be protected. As Austin had feared, Hart botched the move and dropped Austin on top of his head. The impact jammed Austin's neck and left him temporarily paralyzed. He continued and finished the match, but stayed away from the ring for two months to recover from the injury. The physical demands of Austin's standing as one of the top stars in the WWF did not allow much downtime for him to rest and take care of the injury and as his career progressed, the damage got worse. Austin underwent surgery on the neck in 1999, but it never fully healed. By 2002, Austin's doctors told him that he risked permanent disability if he did not retire, and he finally did so in April 2003. [6] The piledriver was banned in WWE in 2000, unless the wrestler has special permission to use the move. [5] In a discussion in 2007, Stephanie McMahon said that only two wrestlers were allowed to use the move, "two of the stronger guys", Undertaker and Kane. [7] In fact, The Undertaker 's tombstone piledriver continues to be his finishing move. [8] The piledriver is also banned in many other promotions and certain cities. It is also considered an automatic disqualification in professional wrestling matches held in Tennessee , as the move is banned in that state. [9] In some promotions in the United Kingdom, the move can result in not only a disqualification, but a fine. [10] In Mexico, the piledriver (called a martinete) is an automatic disqualification. Aided piledriver[ edit ] Two wrestlers execute an aided piledriver Any double-team move in which one wrestler help another to perform a piledriver on an opponent by pushing down on the opponent’s foot for more impact. In a variation of the move, the second wrestler jumps off the turnbuckle while pushing the opponent’s feet downward for even more damage, this is well known as a spike piledriver (not to be confused with a one-man spike piledriver ). Argentine piledriver[ edit ] The move is executed from an Argentine backbreaker rack (face up, with the neck and one leg cradled) position. The wrestler pushes the opponent forward while holding the opponent's leg with one arm, and the head with the other arm, and then sits down, driving the opponent head first down to the floor. Back-to-belly piledriver[ edit ] The wrestler bends forward or crouches in front of their opponent, grabs hold of the opponent around the legs and stands up, lifting the opponent upside down facing the wrestler's back. The wrestler then either sits down or drops on to his knees, driving the opponent's head down to the mat. A variation on this which is sometimes known as the sunset driver sees the attacking wrestler hook the opponent's legs underneath his/her arms while holding the opponent up in the back to belly position. From here, the wrestler drops to his / her knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat. This move will often see the attacking wrestler hold the move after landing for a rana style pinfall attempt. Over-the-shoulder back-to-belly piledriver[ edit ] This move begins with the wrestler facing his opponent. From there, the wrestler will pick up the opponent and place them over his / her shoulder so that the opponent's head is dangling over the wrestler's back by the waist of the wrestler. The wrestler then holds the opponent in place by holding his / her leg with one arm and applies a headlock to the opponent with his / her other arm. The opponent is now bent into a circle. The wrestler then drops to a seated position, driving the head and upper back of the opponent into the ground. This move was innovated by Mariko Yoshida, and dubbed the "Air Raid Crash", and was popularized by Fit Finlay, who dubbed it the "Celtic Cross", and CIMA, who uses the "Schwein". Belly-to-back piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a Texas, or traditional piledriver, this is the classic and original piledriver technique. From a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his / her opponent's midsection and lifts so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat. Cradle piledriver[ edit ] The cradle piledriver is a variation on standard piledrivers which sees the attacking wrestler grapevine the opponents leg with their arm. The most common of which is similar to a Texas piledriver . This move sees the attacking wrestler, from a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, reach around the opponent's midsection and lifting them so that they are held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then hooks his / her arms around one leg of the opponent before dropping to a sitting or kneeling position with the opponent's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat. This variant can be used on other types of piledriver; including the cradle tombstone piledriver variation, instead of wrapping both of his arms around the waist of the opponent, the wrestler wraps one arm around the waist and places his other arm between the opponent's legs, grabbing hold of his other arm. The wrestler then drops down on his knees, driving the opponent down to the mat head first. Cross-arm piledriver[ edit ] From a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the attacking wrestler crosses the arms of this opponent between their legs (a double pumphandle ) before then lifting the opponent up into a vertical position and driving them down between the attacking wrestler's legs. Double underhook piledriver[ edit ] Cheerleader Melissa performing her Kudo Driver (Back-to-back double underhook piledriver) finisher on Wesna . Also known as the Tiger Driver '98. In this piledriver, a wrestler will bend his opponent forward, placing the opponent's head between the wrestler's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponent's arms behind the opponent's back . He then pulls back on the opponent's arms lifting him/her up so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting or kneeling position dropping the opponent's head into the mat. Back-to-back double underhook piledriver[ edit ] Also known as vertebreaker . This move is executed from a position in which the opponent is standing behind the wrestler, the wrestler underhooks his/her arms under the opponent's arms. Then the wrestler twists his / her body around so that the wrestler is facing the ground and the opponent is standing with his / her back resting against the wrestler's back. Then the wrestler stands while the opponent is in an upside down position while both the opponent and the wrestler's arms are still hooked. The wrestler then drops to a sitting position. Another way to get the opponent into the position is to approach a standing opponent from behind, hook the opponent's arms, bend forward under the opponent, and then rise up, raising the opponent upside down. [12] This technique is extremely dangerous, possibly one of the most dangerous maneuvers in professional wrestling, as the opponent's arms are restrained and their head is not placed between the wrestler's legs, giving them little to post against. The move was banned by WWE in April 2003, except for in cases where the wrestler received special permission to use the move. [13] The move was innovated by Megumi Kudo , dubbing it the Kudo Driver. It is also used by Homicide who called it "Da Cop Killa" when in the independent circuit, and "Da Gringo Killa" in TNA. Flip piledriver[ edit ] Petey Williams performing the Canadian Destroyer on Brent B The move, made famous by Petey Williams is also referred to as the Canadian Destroyer, or a sunset flip piledriver, begins in a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his / her opponent's midsection latching onto the opponent's back, with his / her head to one side of the opponent's hips or between their legs, keeping his / her legs around the opponent's head. From this position the wrestler pushes off the mat with his / her legs to flip the opponent over. As both wrestlers flip the attacking wrestler uses his / her body weight to land in a seated position driving the opponent's head down to the mat between the wrestler's thighs. A double underhook variation exists in which the arms of a bent over opponent are placed in a butterfly prior to performing the flip. Jumping piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a spike piledriver, stuff piledriver or a belly-to-back piledriver, from a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around their opponent's midsection and lifts so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then jumps in the air and drops to a sitting position. Kneeling piledriver[ edit ] A variation of the piledriver where instead of dropping to a sitting position as in the basic piledriver , the wrestler drops to a kneeling position. Kneeling reverse piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a Tombstone piledriver. A wrestler first stands facing an opponent and places their stronger arm between the opponent's legs and their weaker arm on the opponent's opposite shoulder. They then lift the opponent onto their stronger shoulder, turning them upside-down similar to a scoop slam lift. The opponent is then lowered while being held so that the opponent's head is hanging between the standing wrestler's knees. The wrestler then falls or jumps to his knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat. This move was popularized by The Undertaker and is often used by his kayfabe brother Kane . Package piledriver[ edit ] Kevin Owens executing his package piledriver finisher on "Hacker" Scotty O'Shea A package piledriver is almost the same as a basic piledriver , but instead of grabbing the waist of the opponent, the wrestler puts their arms underneath the opponent's arms and grabs their legs by the knees. The wrestler then stands up, lifting the opponent until they are upside down, and drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head between their thighs. There is also an inverted version of the move in which an attacking wrestler reaches between an opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around that opponent's back from the same side with his other arm before lifting their opponent upside down into a belly-to-belly position. The attacker then grabs the opponent's legs by the knees, jumps up, then drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head between their thighs. This move was popularised by Kevin Owens during his time on the independent circuit. Pulling piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a stump piledriver. This is a variation of the Texas piledriver where, instead of wrapping their arms around the opponent's waist, a wrestler grabs onto the back of the waistband of an opponent's tights to lift them upside down before dropping into a sitting position. Reverse piledriver[ edit ] A wrestler faces an opponent and grabs the opponent's waist and turns them upside-down, holding them belly-to-belly against their torso. The wrestler then jumps up and drops down to a seated position, driving the opponent's head down to the mat between the wrestler's thighs. Pumphandle reverse piledriver[ edit ] This variation sees an attacking wrestler first lock an opponent in the pumphandle hold before then using the hold to raise the opponent up over the shoulder of the attacking wrestler. From here the attacking wrestler brings the opponent down into the belly-to-belly position before then sitting down for a reverse piledriver with the opponent's head impacting the mat between the legs of the attacking wrestler. This move was used as a finisher by Tony Nese . Scoop side piledriver[ edit ] Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between their opponent's legs with their right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with their left arm. They then lift the opponent up on their chest so that they are facing downwards. The wrestler then moves their left arm from around the opponent's neck to around the opponent's torso. They then turn the opponent so that they are upside down on one side of the wrestler. The wrestler then jumps up and falls down to a sitting position, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first. Scoop slam piledriver[ edit ] Facing their opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with their right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with their left arm. They then lift the opponent up and turn them around so that they are held upside down, as in a scoop slam . The wrestler then drops down to their knees, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first. There is also a seated version of this move . Vertical suplex piledriver[ edit ] The wrestler applies a front facelock to the opponent and hooks the opponent's near arm over their shoulder and lifts them into a vertical suplex position. They then turn the opponent 180°, force the opponent into the reverse piledriver position, then drop to a sitting position, dropping the opponent on their head. This move was used by Scott Steiner , who called it Steiner Screwdriver. Wheelbarrow driver[ edit ] Similar to a wheelbarrow facebuster but instead of dropping their opponent face first, they drop their opponent so that the opponent lands on their upper back and neck between the legs of the wrestler, facing towards them usually resulting in a pin.	Pile driver
March 28, 1987 saw the death, at age 82, of one Maria von Trapp, who was the inspiration behind what Rogers and Hammerstein musical?	Piledriver (professional wrestling) - Wikipedia, Photos and Videos Piledriver (professional wrestling) NEXT GO TO RESULTS [51 .. 100] WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE Jump to: navigation , search Professional wrestler Jake OReilly performs a piledriver on his opponent. A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat. [1] The technique is said to have been innovated by Wild Bill Longson . [2] The name is taken from a piece of construction equipment, also called a pile driver , that drives countless massive impacts on the top of a large major foundation support, burying it in the ground slowly with each impact. The act of performing a piledriver is called "piledriving." Someone who has recently been the victim of a piledriver is said to have been "piledriven" (e.g. "The wrestler was piledriven into the canvas"). Notable wrestlers who have regularly used a piledriver during their career include Jerry Lawler , Bret Hart , Harley Race , Paul Orndorff , The Undertaker , Kane , The Brain Busters , Buddy Rogers , and Karl Gotch . The piledriver is often seen as one of the most dangerous moves in wrestling. The reverse piledriver is directly responsible for shortening the career of WWE Superstar Stone Cold Steve Austin when his opponent, Owen Hart , inadvertently botched the move, legitimately injuring Austin's neck. Due to this, the move is banned in WWE with the exception of Kane and The Undertaker due to their experience and size. Contents 4 References Danger and precautions[ edit ] Mike Bennett (left) improperly executing a piledriver on B.J. Whitmer in 2013. [3] Here, Whitmer's head is positioned below Bennett's legs and is unprotected. The impact from the move gave Whitmer a neck injury. The piledriver is generally considered a dangerous maneuver in wrestling because of the potential impact on the head and compression of the neck. The proper way to execute the move, in most cases, is for the wrestler performing the move to tuck the opponent's head between his legs before falling to the mat (there are variations that are performed differently, as the list below indicates). If done in this manner, the wrestler receiving the move will land with little or no contact made with the mat at all and thus not run the risk of injury. [4] If the head is not secured and is protruding from between the wrestler's legs, the wrestler receiving the move risks serious injury and potential paralysis as he will likely land with the entire weight of his body on the crown of his head. [5] Perhaps the most famous example of an injury from an improperly performed piledriver came at the 1997 WWF SummerSlam event. In a match between Owen Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin , Hart was to perform a seated reverse piledriver on Austin, who later said that he was not sure if the move was a good idea to perform as he was unsure if his head could properly be protected. As Austin had feared, Hart botched the move and dropped Austin on top of his head. The impact jammed Austin's neck and left him temporarily paralyzed. He continued and finished the match, but stayed away from the ring for two months to recover from the injury. The physical demands of Austin's standing as one of the top stars in the WWF did not allow much downtime for him to rest and take care of the injury and as his career progressed, the damage got worse. Austin underwent surgery on the neck in 1999, but it never fully healed. By 2002, Austin's doctors told him that he risked permanent disability if he did not retire, and he finally did so in April 2003. [6] The piledriver was banned in WWE in 2000, unless the wrestler has special permission to use the move. [5] In a discussion in 2007, Stephanie McMahon said that only two wrestlers were allowed to use the move, "two of the stronger guys", Undertaker and Kane. [7] In fact, The Undertaker 's tombstone piledriver continues to be his finishing move. [8] The piledriver is also banned in many other promotions and certain cities. It is also considered an automatic disqualification in professional wrestling matches held in Tennessee , as the move is banned in that state. [9] In some promotions in the United Kingdom, the move can result in not only a disqualification, but a fine. [10] In Mexico, the piledriver (called a martinete) is an automatic disqualification. Aided piledriver[ edit ] Two wrestlers execute an aided piledriver Any double-team move in which one wrestler help another to perform a piledriver on an opponent by pushing down on the opponent’s foot for more impact. In a variation of the move, the second wrestler jumps off the turnbuckle while pushing the opponent’s feet downward for even more damage, this is well known as a spike piledriver (not to be confused with a one-man spike piledriver ). Argentine piledriver[ edit ] The move is executed from an Argentine backbreaker rack (face up, with the neck and one leg cradled) position. The wrestler pushes the opponent forward while holding the opponent's leg with one arm, and the head with the other arm, and then sits down, driving the opponent head first down to the floor. Back-to-belly piledriver[ edit ] The wrestler bends forward or crouches in front of their opponent, grabs hold of the opponent around the legs and stands up, lifting the opponent upside down facing the wrestler's back. The wrestler then either sits down or drops on to his knees, driving the opponent's head down to the mat. A variation on this which is sometimes known as the sunset driver sees the attacking wrestler hook the opponent's legs underneath his/her arms while holding the opponent up in the back to belly position. From here, the wrestler drops to his / her knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat. This move will often see the attacking wrestler hold the move after landing for a rana style pinfall attempt. Over-the-shoulder back-to-belly piledriver[ edit ] This move begins with the wrestler facing his opponent. From there, the wrestler will pick up the opponent and place them over his / her shoulder so that the opponent's head is dangling over the wrestler's back by the waist of the wrestler. The wrestler then holds the opponent in place by holding his / her leg with one arm and applies a headlock to the opponent with his / her other arm. The opponent is now bent into a circle. The wrestler then drops to a seated position, driving the head and upper back of the opponent into the ground. This move was innovated by Mariko Yoshida, and dubbed the "Air Raid Crash", and was popularized by Fit Finlay, who dubbed it the "Celtic Cross", and CIMA, who uses the "Schwein". Belly-to-back piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a Texas, or traditional piledriver, this is the classic and original piledriver technique. From a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his / her opponent's midsection and lifts so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat. Cradle piledriver[ edit ] The cradle piledriver is a variation on standard piledrivers which sees the attacking wrestler grapevine the opponents leg with their arm. The most common of which is similar to a Texas piledriver . This move sees the attacking wrestler, from a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, reach around the opponent's midsection and lifting them so that they are held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then hooks his / her arms around one leg of the opponent before dropping to a sitting or kneeling position with the opponent's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat. This variant can be used on other types of piledriver; including the cradle tombstone piledriver variation, instead of wrapping both of his arms around the waist of the opponent, the wrestler wraps one arm around the waist and places his other arm between the opponent's legs, grabbing hold of his other arm. The wrestler then drops down on his knees, driving the opponent down to the mat head first. Cross-arm piledriver[ edit ] From a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the attacking wrestler crosses the arms of this opponent between their legs (a double pumphandle ) before then lifting the opponent up into a vertical position and driving them down between the attacking wrestler's legs. Double underhook piledriver[ edit ] Cheerleader Melissa performing her Kudo Driver (Back-to-back double underhook piledriver) finisher on Wesna . Also known as the Tiger Driver '98. In this piledriver, a wrestler will bend his opponent forward, placing the opponent's head between the wrestler's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponent's arms behind the opponent's back . He then pulls back on the opponent's arms lifting him/her up so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting or kneeling position dropping the opponent's head into the mat. Back-to-back double underhook piledriver[ edit ] Also known as vertebreaker . This move is executed from a position in which the opponent is standing behind the wrestler, the wrestler underhooks his/her arms under the opponent's arms. Then the wrestler twists his / her body around so that the wrestler is facing the ground and the opponent is standing with his / her back resting against the wrestler's back. Then the wrestler stands while the opponent is in an upside down position while both the opponent and the wrestler's arms are still hooked. The wrestler then drops to a sitting position. Another way to get the opponent into the position is to approach a standing opponent from behind, hook the opponent's arms, bend forward under the opponent, and then rise up, raising the opponent upside down. [12] This technique is extremely dangerous, possibly one of the most dangerous maneuvers in professional wrestling, as the opponent's arms are restrained and their head is not placed between the wrestler's legs, giving them little to post against. The move was banned by WWE in April 2003, except for in cases where the wrestler received special permission to use the move. [13] The move was innovated by Megumi Kudo , dubbing it the Kudo Driver. It is also used by Homicide who called it "Da Cop Killa" when in the independent circuit, and "Da Gringo Killa" in TNA. Flip piledriver[ edit ] Petey Williams performing the Canadian Destroyer on Brent B The move, made famous by Petey Williams is also referred to as the Canadian Destroyer, or a sunset flip piledriver, begins in a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his / her opponent's midsection latching onto the opponent's back, with his / her head to one side of the opponent's hips or between their legs, keeping his / her legs around the opponent's head. From this position the wrestler pushes off the mat with his / her legs to flip the opponent over. As both wrestlers flip the attacking wrestler uses his / her body weight to land in a seated position driving the opponent's head down to the mat between the wrestler's thighs. A double underhook variation exists in which the arms of a bent over opponent are placed in a butterfly prior to performing the flip. Jumping piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a spike piledriver, stuff piledriver or a belly-to-back piledriver, from a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around their opponent's midsection and lifts so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then jumps in the air and drops to a sitting position. Kneeling piledriver[ edit ] A variation of the piledriver where instead of dropping to a sitting position as in the basic piledriver , the wrestler drops to a kneeling position. Kneeling reverse piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a Tombstone piledriver. A wrestler first stands facing an opponent and places their stronger arm between the opponent's legs and their weaker arm on the opponent's opposite shoulder. They then lift the opponent onto their stronger shoulder, turning them upside-down similar to a scoop slam lift. The opponent is then lowered while being held so that the opponent's head is hanging between the standing wrestler's knees. The wrestler then falls or jumps to his knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat. This move was popularized by The Undertaker and is often used by his kayfabe brother Kane . Package piledriver[ edit ] Kevin Owens executing his package piledriver finisher on "Hacker" Scotty O'Shea A package piledriver is almost the same as a basic piledriver , but instead of grabbing the waist of the opponent, the wrestler puts their arms underneath the opponent's arms and grabs their legs by the knees. The wrestler then stands up, lifting the opponent until they are upside down, and drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head between their thighs. There is also an inverted version of the move in which an attacking wrestler reaches between an opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around that opponent's back from the same side with his other arm before lifting their opponent upside down into a belly-to-belly position. The attacker then grabs the opponent's legs by the knees, jumps up, then drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head between their thighs. This move was popularised by Kevin Owens during his time on the independent circuit. Pulling piledriver[ edit ] Also known as a stump piledriver. This is a variation of the Texas piledriver where, instead of wrapping their arms around the opponent's waist, a wrestler grabs onto the back of the waistband of an opponent's tights to lift them upside down before dropping into a sitting position. Reverse piledriver[ edit ] A wrestler faces an opponent and grabs the opponent's waist and turns them upside-down, holding them belly-to-belly against their torso. The wrestler then jumps up and drops down to a seated position, driving the opponent's head down to the mat between the wrestler's thighs. Pumphandle reverse piledriver[ edit ] This variation sees an attacking wrestler first lock an opponent in the pumphandle hold before then using the hold to raise the opponent up over the shoulder of the attacking wrestler. From here the attacking wrestler brings the opponent down into the belly-to-belly position before then sitting down for a reverse piledriver with the opponent's head impacting the mat between the legs of the attacking wrestler. This move was used as a finisher by Tony Nese . Scoop side piledriver[ edit ] Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between their opponent's legs with their right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with their left arm. They then lift the opponent up on their chest so that they are facing downwards. The wrestler then moves their left arm from around the opponent's neck to around the opponent's torso. They then turn the opponent so that they are upside down on one side of the wrestler. The wrestler then jumps up and falls down to a sitting position, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first. Scoop slam piledriver[ edit ] Facing their opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with their right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with their left arm. They then lift the opponent up and turn them around so that they are held upside down, as in a scoop slam . The wrestler then drops down to their knees, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first. There is also a seated version of this move . Vertical suplex piledriver[ edit ] The wrestler applies a front facelock to the opponent and hooks the opponent's near arm over their shoulder and lifts them into a vertical suplex position. They then turn the opponent 180°, force the opponent into the reverse piledriver position, then drop to a sitting position, dropping the opponent on their head. This move was used by Scott Steiner , who called it Steiner Screwdriver. Wheelbarrow driver[ edit ] Similar to a wheelbarrow facebuster but instead of dropping their opponent face first, they drop their opponent so that the opponent lands on their upper back and neck between the legs of the wrestler, facing towards them usually resulting in a pin.	i don't know
The speedometer on your car indicates the speed of your vehicle. What gauge indicates the rate of rotation of the engine's crankshaft?	Team Velocity is a Speedometer, not a Tachometer – Modern Agile – Medium Feb 1, 2016 Team Velocity is a Speedometer, not a Tachometer A tachometer is an instrument indicating the rotation speed of the engine of a car. You could say it indicates how hard your engine is working. A speedometer is a gauge that measures and displays the actual speed (aka velocity) of a vehicle. It tells you how fast (or slow) you are actually moving along. For any given engineering team in my organization, especially with regards to their product managers and stakeholders, I care much more about monitoring how quickly they are delivering business value (speedometer) than how hard they are working (tachometer). The metaphor of engineering team as motor vehicle is quite useful for explaining this tricky matter of speed versus effort and why it is a vitally important aspect of modern agile. SUSTAINABLE PACE Let’s first consider effort, how hard the team is working. Modern agile teams are supposed to work at a sustainable pace. They commit to enough work to operate near maximum efficiency; no more, no less. If someone tries to force a modern agile team to do more work than they are capable of doing responsibly, they resist. The team says no. If you push an engine to its redline it will resist. When it hits maximum RPM, it will not go any further. The engine says no. I find it useful to think about a team’s sustainable pace and redline kind of like engine efficiency metrics of a car’s internal combustion engine. All engines have a power band , the range of operating speeds under which they are able to operate efficiently. Engineering teams have a power band too — the range of work commitment that maximizes delivery of business value while still allowing optimal time for vital activities such as automated testing, addressing technical debt (refactoring), learning, innovation, and maintenance of social cohesion. Underutilize a team by not giving them enough work and you’ll waste money. Over-utilize a team (redlining?) and you’ll also waste money, plus they’ll eventually break down and fail. TORQUE & HORSEPOWER The output of an engine can be measured in torque (power) and horsepower (rate of work). Engineering teams can be measured that way too. I like to think of team torque as the power to deliver effective & elegant solutions to difficult problems and team horsepower as an idealized measure of how quickly they deliver solutions. Teams with high torque and modest horsepower can tackle difficult problems, just not very quickly. Conversely, teams with modest torque and high horsepower can crank out software at a high rate, as long as the work is not difficult. Teams with superbly high torque and horsepower, like the engines in supercars, are relatively rare, expensive, and require high maintenance costs. That said, the natural output metrics of a team affect but do not guarantee, velocity. Why? For the same reason you wouldn’t take million-dollar supercar on an off-roading excursion or enter it in a tractor-pull. VELOCITY IS SUBJECT TO EXTERNAL FACTORS External factors matter, sometimes much more than team effort. While a tachometer is a useful indicator of effort, you cannot determine the speed of a vehicle based on the tachometer alone. You need a speedometer because velocity is always subject to external factors. External factors that affect the velocity of your car include the incline of the roadway, rolling resistance , the effects of tail or head winds ( drag ), and the weight of cargo being transported. What are the external factors that affect an engineering team regardless of their horsepower? Technical debt, the quality of the specifications, tooling, team morale, the list goes on and on… POINTS In a car, we measure velocity with MPH (miles per hour) or KPH (same, but with kilometers). On a modern agile engineering team we measure team velocity with points per iteration (PPI?) or simply points. You might say that points are like miles or kilometers on the speedometer. In How we estimate user stories , I explained that only user stories that deliver business value get point estimates, in measures of 1, 2 or 4 points. Stories that are too large and/or undefined to estimate are rejected and refined. Everything else (refactoring, fixing defects and developer chores) is either accomplished in the context of a user story, or tracked individually with zero points. SPRINT VELOCITY IS A TACHOMETER Scrum has you assign points to everything the team does and use the number as the basis for deciding how much work the team should commit to doing during a sprint. Scrum teams have fancy ceremonial procedures like planning poker to decide how many points to assign to a story or task. At best, all that kind of estimation and “velocity” accomplishes is to indicate how hard a Scrum team plans to work for the next two weeks. It does not reflect external factors affecting the team’s actual velocity, and has nil long-term predictive power. You cannot use Scrum’s sprint “velocity” to gain any predictive insight into when milestones will be reached beyond the end of the sprint. Point estimation in Scrum is a tachometer. It’s a big part of why I think Scrum is full of ceremonial bullshit. MODERN AGILE VELOCITY IS A SPEEDOMETER When your estimation and velocity calculation reflect the rate at which business value is delivered per week rather than effort expended, then team velocity truly does indicate speed and can be used to predict arrival times for future milestones. To recap, here are comprehensive rules for making sure that your velocity is a speedometer: Mercilessly break down stories into roughly equal units All user stories added to the backlog must be estimated by a representative of the engineering team Only use 1, 2 and 4 point estimates ( guidelines ) Reject any user story that feels larger than 4 points due to size or uncertainty — send it back to product managers for further decomposition and refinement Identify change requests masquerading as bugs — treat as user stories. Do not ever assign points to work spent on correcting “real bugs” (defects due to programmer error) or addressing technical debt. IF VELOCITY DROPS THEN IDENTIFY WHAT’S SLOWING DOWN THE TEAM Bottom line, when there’s a problem with the team, no matter what the root cause is, you want to it to be bloody obvious that the problem is happening, to everyone involved. Since velocity is the primary metric for the team and the one metric that directly affects product manager’s ability to predict releases accurately, it serves nicely as the team’s primary diagnostic tool. effective craftsmanship over ceremonial bullshit 27	Tachometer
Saturday saw the untimely death of former Representative from New York, Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights and first ever female Vice Presidential candidate, Geraldine Ferraro. Who was her presidential running mate?	Dashboard Gauges For Beginners: The Explanation \| BeamNG This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More. Dashboard Gauges For Beginners: The Explanation Please rate this explanation as you wish. CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. * (1 star) 1,840 The gauges on a vehicle's dashboard is very crucial, mainly because it both displays and conveys various meanings using a variety of gauges. These gauges also show us when a problem exists. If we know what they're telling us, the gauges can also let us know before a problem occurs. Understanding our gauges can help prevent many problems. This in-depth tutorial is designed to help teach both new and old forum members. Whether you're experienced or a newbie, this can help broaden your knowledge of these gauges of which you can apply to your driving in both BeamNG and the real world. Right now, we are going to use the dashboard of the Gavril Grand Marshal as an example, mainly because these dashboards are designed in their own unique way, however they still function the same, regardless of appearance. 1. Tachometer 8. Odometer 1. Tachometer: The tachometer gauge shows the speed at which the engine is rotating. Engine rotation speed is measured as revolutions per minute (RPM). Normally, the numbers on the tachometer gauge stands for 100 RPM. For instance, 25 actually shows 2,500 RPM. The photo, for instance, shows the engine is currently at 900 RPM. Generally, a lower RPM reading on the tachometer gauge shows the engine is turning lower. This is ideally the case when sitting still with the engine running. The lowest RPM is referred to as idle speed, which is usually between 500-800 RPM. More importantly, the red barred section of the tachometer gauge is referred to as redline. Redline refers to the maximum engine speed at which the vehicle's engine and its components are designed to operate without causing damage to the components themselves or other parts of the engine. In this particular case, the Grand Marshal redlines at 5,300 RPM. 2. Speedometer: The speedometer gauge indicates how fast the vehicle is currently moving in miles per hour (MPH) and/or kilometers per hour (KM/H). Often, vehicle manufacturers will provide an additional scale to indicate KM/H on a speedometer that shows MPH, or vice versa. Driving at a rate of speed higher than the maximum speed indicated on the speedometer is known as "burying the needle," which is because the needle will either disappear below the gauge or rest on the stop pin just below the highest increment on the speedometer. 3. Fuel Gauge: The fuel gauge shows how much fuel is currently remaining in the vehicle's tank. Refilling our tank, especially when the gauge reaches or indicates 1/4 remaining can prevent fuel exhaustion. 4. Oil Temperature Gauge: Not to be confused with oil pressure, although oil temperature gauges are used alongside oil pressure gauges. The oil temperature gauge shows the temperature of the oil flowing through the engine. The gauge can also warn the driver when oil temperature is reaching a critically high temperature. 5. Voltmeter: The voltmeter indicates how many electrical volts (v) the vehicle's charging system is available. Most vehicles operate on a 12 v electrical system. It is important to remember that when running, the system will generally produce slightly above that amount. Readings from 12.5 to 14.5 v are about normal on most vehicles. Readings below 12 v or above 15 v generally indicate a problem in the charging system. 6. Water Temperature Gauge: The water temperature gauge (also referred to as a engine temperature gauge) shows the average temperature of the engine. Many people mistakenly think it checks the coolant level or condition. This isn't the case, but it is extremely important. Most engines will operate between 195-215 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures above this will damage the engine very quickly. Temperatures above 260 degrees Fahrenheit are likely to do permanent damage to the engine. Ironically, temperatures below 195 are also bad. When an engine is running too cold, sludge tends to form and the engine's lubricating ability is lost entirely. Low engine temperature is a leading cause of poor fuel mileage. 7. Gearshift Indicator: The shift indicator, or gearshift indicator, is a readout that indicates what gear the transmission is currently engaged in. Every vehicle with an automatic transmission has a shift indicator. The shift indicator is attached to a shift indicator cable. The shift indicator cable moves the shift indicator's position to accurately reflect the gear the transmission is engaged in. Many mechanical-style shift indicators that move along a rudimentary track on the " P R N D 2 L" display, which indicates whether your transmission is in Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Low Gear. 8. Odometer: An odometer is an instrument that indicates distance travelled by a vehicle. In this case, this Grand Marshal has 168, 331 miles (271, 012 kilometers) displayed. This particular type of odometer is a mechanical odometer. Mechanical odometers can only display 6 digits, so when the odometer reads 9 9 9 9 9 9 and the vehicle travels one more mile, the odometer will roll over and restart from zero, so it reads 0 0 0 0 0 0. If you enjoyed my in-depth explanation of the various dashboard displays, or if you found it interesting, please feel free to give it any rating you wish on the poll and/or leave a constructive, yet cheerful comment down below. 1,840 JackAttak said: ↑ I guess I appreciate the detailed explanation, but it's a little weird to see something so simple explained in so much detail in less-than-perfect grammar. It's like you're explaining this to an alien child that's never seen a car before. Click to expand... I appreciate your constructive feedback. Yes. it may seem like I am talking to an alien child who've never seen a car before, but believe me, I am targeting this tutorial at forum members who have recently joined, so this may help answer some questions that they have. Now, for my "less-than-perfect grammar," can you please elaborate on that? Now, for my "less-than-perfect grammar," can you please elaborate on that? Click to expand... Honestly, it's fine and I shouldn't be nitpicking. I was just thrown off by the first section of text which both reads weirdly and has a few issues. Benjamin Tam said: ↑ The gauges on a vehicle's dashboard is very crucial, mainly because it both displays and conveys various meanings using a variety of gauges. These gauges also show us when a problem exists. If we know what they're telling us, the gauges can also let us know before a problem occurs. Understanding our gauges can help prevent many problems. Click to expand... I'm going to try to be less needlessly critical of small things in the future. Thanks for the reply! It really helps me out a bunch! Eastham said: ↑ That's one thing I've always found weird about the grand marshal, oil temperature? On modern cars yeah I guess, but 90's cars? that should be oil pressure imo, I remember my dad had a '93 Jaguar XJ6, it had a oil pressure gauge, and I know there are many more cars from the 80's and 90's with oil pressure gauges. Just a little tid bit that kinda urks me with the marshal. Click to expand... Yeah, it is oil temperature, because of the visible C and H on the gauge, instead of the standard L and H that is often seen on oil pressure gauges. But other than that, thanks for the creative feedback!	i don't know
March 31, 1917 saw the US purchase what is now known as the US Virgin Islands from what European country?	Virgin Islands History - Virgin Islands Virgin Islands History Flags of the Virgin Islands Early Inhabitants The first residents of the present United States Virgin Islands (USVI) were the Ciboney, Caribs, and Arawaks. In 1493, Christopher Columbus visited these islands. He had been searching for a route to India and consequently he called the people he encountered Indians. Columbus named the beautiful islands ‘The Virgins’ in reference to the legendary beauty of St. Ursula and her 11,000 virgins. The period after Columbus’ visit was quiet as far as exploration and colonization is concerned. Explorers as late as 1587 reported evidence of Indian habitation however settlers by 1625 reported not finding Indians. It is believed that Spanish settlers on nearby Puerto Rico raided the islands on a regular basis. Some Indians were forced to work while others fled. Indian groups lived throughout the Caribbean, however European exploration and colonization brought demise to the indigenous groups. They had no immunity to European diseases and were not prepared to deal with the harsh labor they were forced into. Within several decades following colonization of the Caribbean, Indian populations had plummeted. Today they are found on reserved lands on only a few islands. They no longer exist in what is today the USVI. St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John In the early 1600s many countries took interest in the Caribbean and in “the Virgins”; Holland, France, England, Spain, Denmark and the Knights of Malta all sought colonies. England and Holland colonized and jointly inhabited St. Croix in the 1620s. The neighboring Spanish on Puerto Rico invaded the small colony; the French then quickly moved in, removing the Spanish and taking over themselves. St. Croix remained a French colony until 1733. The Danish West India Company first attempted to settle St. Thomas in 1665. They successfully established a settlement on St. Thomas in 1672 consisting of 113 inhabitants. They expanded and settled on St. John in 1694. The Danish had claimed St. John as early as the 1680’s, however hostility from the neighboring British on Tortola prevented the Danes from establishing a settlement. The British, in order to maintain hospitable relations with Denmark, eventually ceased their opposition. After the Danes settled St. John plantation agriculture developed rapidly. The Danish West Indian Company purchased St. Croix from the French in 1733 bringing St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John together as the Danish West Indies. Slave Trade and Piracy In 1685, the Danish government signed a treaty with the Dutch of Brandenburg. This treaty allowed the Brandenburg American Company to establish a slave-trading post on St. Thomas. Early governors also approved of St. Thomas becoming a pirates’ safe haven. The governors realized an influx of pirates would benefit local merchants. While piracy ceased to be a factor in the island’s economy in the early 1800s, the slave trade continued. In the Danish West Indies slaves labored mainly on sugar plantations. Cotton, indigo and other crops were also grown. Sugar mills and plantations dotted the islands hilly landscapes. Each islands economy prospered through sugar plantations and slave trading. While St. John and St. Croix maintained a plantation economy, St. Thomas developed into a prosperous center of trade. Slave rebellion on St. John and St. Croix are well documented. Legitimate trade and business on St. Thomas influenced a different society where many more slaves were given freedom and an opportunity outside of plantation life. A July 2, 1848 rebellion on St. Croix, where some 5,000 blacks were free while another 17,000 remained enslaved, prompted liberal governor Peter von Scholten to declare what he had long pressed for, that all unfree in the Danish West Indies were from that day free. While his proclamation was in direct contradiction of the King’s orders and while plantation owners refused to accept the proclamation, slavery was abolished on July 3rd, 1848. Strict labor laws were implemented several times after emancipation and the populous reacted in tense labor riots. Planters began to abandon their estates and the population and economy in the islands declined. The islands and its residents fell on rough times in the late 1800s due to the poor economy and numerous natural disasters. US Territories The islands remained under Danish rule until 1917, when the United States purchased them for $25 million in gold in an effort to improve military positioning during critical times of World War I. St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John became the US Virgin Islands. While conditions improved, change came slowly and frustrations brewed. Residents felt deceived when they were not granted American citizenship immediately following the transfer and disappointment also existed in that the islands were run by Naval administrators and appointed officials. The Military and the Interior Departments managed the territory until the passage of the Organic Act in 1936. Today the USVI is a U.S. territory, run by an elected governor. The territory is under the jurisdiction of the president of the United States of America and residents are American citizens. National Park In 1956 Laurance Rockefeller gave the National Park Service a generous gift of 5,000 acres of land on St. John. This gift along with subsequent additions have increased the holdings. Today almost two thirds of St. John’s beautiful forest, shorelines and underwater lands are protected by the Park. Historical and marine treasures on St. Croix including Buck Island are also protected by the Park Service, as are portions of Hassell Island. Water Island: The 4th Virgin Island In 1996 Water Island, located in St. Thomas’ Charlotte Amalie harbor, was officially returned to the USVI from the Department of the Interior. Today Water Island is the fourth United States Virgin Island. Tourism In the mid 1900s the Virgin Islands saw the dawn of new times, more prosperous times. Tourist seeking the the warmth, beauty and relaxation the USVI offers, vacationed in the islands. Hotels, restaurants and shops began popping up on beachfront properties and in main towns. With the rise in business and economy came a rise in the population as immigrants from neighboring islands flocked to the USVI to work. Today the population of the USVI is made up of people from all over the Caribbean. The islands entered the new millennium as one of the premiere destinations for tourist visiting the Caribbean. More History	Denmark
Dubbed "the most controversial woman in the history of rock" by Rolling Stone, what all around waste of breath fronted the alt band Hole, is barred from having contact with her own daughter, and is probably most famous for making Kurt Cobain want to eat his own shotgun?	St. Thomas – Day 8 \| Travel Blog St. Thomas – Day 8 Map of Virgin Islands US Virgin Islands - Thursday – March 8th This morning we docked in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands. This is a protectorate of the US and uses US dollars. By contrast, Sait Maartens used Dutch Gilders, and Saint Martins used Euros (actually they both accepted US dollars too). Anyway, the cruise last night was not too long, so we went slowly and smoothly and the ship was docked by 7:00 AM. The Virgin Islands were also named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 for Saint Ursula and her virgin followers. Up to and including the 17th century, these islands were captured and controlled by many European powers, including France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom. By the middle of the 19th century the abolition of slavery took hold and "free labor" was hard to find, which made many of the crops (like sugar cane) unprofitable. The Danish government tried to sell the Virgin Islands to the United States, but that deal fell through. During World War I the United States became worried that the Germans could possible use the islands as a submarine base so the islands were purchased Sailboats in the bay for $25 million on January 17, 1917. The U.S. took official possession of the islands on March 31, 1917 and renamed them "The Virgin Islands of the United States." Ten years later U.S. citizenship was granted to the inhabitants. Most of the current permanent residents were born on these islands. Tourism is the primary product of the island, with virtually everything that is used on the island being imported. In St Martins, gasoline was priced “per liter”, but here it is “per gallon” (approx $4.50 per gallon). The U.S. Virgin Islands remain one of the busiest cruise ship ports and family vacations destinations in all of the Caribbean. Covered with red-roofed buildings and houses, the capital city of Charlotte Amalie sits amidst lush green hills, and is widely considered the most beautiful port in the Caribbean. The duty-free shopping, hotels and restaurants on St. Thomas and St. Croix are said to be second to none. Our tour excursion today was a scenic drive around the island and a trip to Blackbeard's Castle, the Amber Museum and Shopping. We were shuttled around the island in open-sided vans. They drive vehicles with left-hand Ruby Princess at Pier St Thomas - Virgin Islands steering wheels, but they drive on the left side of the road. The roads aren’t quite as narrow as St Martin, the port is definitely more attractive, and the country simply appears to be more affluent than where we were yesterday. Both places are lush with greenery, but here is seems to that time was invested to make it look nice. Our driver gave a commentary along the way and stopped a couple of places for scenic photo-stops. After about an hour we arrived at Blackbeard’s Castle where our drive left us. We were given introductory instructions on how to see the castle and then taken into the gift shop where we were given up to 6 samples of local Rum. The Spiced and Aged Rums were a little too strong to sip straight, but the Banana, Pineapple, Coconut, and Mango Rums were all tasty. Then we prowled the gift shop and seemed more in the mood to purchase things. J Outside again, David climbed to the top of Blackbeard’s Tower, which has a commanding view of this side of the island, and well out to sea. Blackbeard would watch for merchant ships from Janet & David Overlook in St Thomas here and then dash out in his pirate ships to capture their treasure. Janet stayed down in the courtyard below, so he made a short video of the view for her to see later. There are also many statues of various pirates, and we took a few pictures of them too. The tour had described it as needing to negotiate 99 steps. Janet had memories of the forced march up the hillside in Marseilles, but the tram had let us out at the top of the hill and all the steps were downhill instead, which was much easier. We visited a couple of restored houses from the 1700’s. The furniture, wall paintings, floors, and ceilings were all realistic restorations of what the originals would have been. They had large porches and courtyards which would be nice even in houses today. There was a nice breeze gently blowing through the houses, or else they would have been pretty hot to live in. Further down the hill we came to the Amber Museum. There are no amber mines on the island, but the owner of the castle and houses has always been fascinated by amber, so David w/ Jack Sparrow Statue St Thomas he built this museum, along with a gift shop (nobody is getting anything from there, so don’t get your hopes up). However, it was very interesting and it was surprising to learn how many different types/color of amber there is. But there were no dinosaurs being raised. At the bottom of the hill we caught a tender ride back to the ship. This gave us a sea-side view of the town. When the boat arrived back at our pier, we saw several iguanas on the rocks along the seawall. They are very tame because people walked right up in front of them to take their pictures. Back on the ship, we had a light lunch of pizza because we know there is going to be a very large dinner. However, they have relaxed the rules about serving your self and we were able to get our own drinks, pick our own desserts, and they had packets of sugar on the table. We guess they have decided we no longer have a risk of infecting one another with the virus. This is going to make things easier on them and also on us. David & Janet 2nd Formal Dinner After lunch, Janet went back to the cabin to take a nap and rest her legs after all the walking and climbing. That gave her a chance to recuperate before going to High Tea today. David went up to the pool deck to read and watch the scenery a little longer before we left port. At 5:00 was the Captain’s Reception where we rubbed elbows with other travelers and heard a brief speech while we had champagne cocktails and Cosmopolitans. Then it was off to dinner for our second formal night. This is the evening when they typically serve Lobster and Beef Wellington (Janet’s two favorite meals). As in the past, she ordered Lobster Wellington and had a piece of each. However, this time they also were serving Veal Ravioli, which she had as a small serving for her appetizer. A fourth couple joined our table this evening (apparently they had been sitting by themselves up to now), so we finally have a full table. AND we got to have breadbaskets, butter dishes, and salt & pepper on the table. We had previously agreed that everyone would bring their cameras to dinner tonight, Iguana on Breakwater St Thomas so we got pictures of each other in our fancy duds, as well as our waiter (Edwin) and his assistant (Milan). The after dinner show in the Princess Theater was one of the Production Events with the singers and dancers – this one called Stardust. It was a collection of love songs “from your parent’s and grandparent’s generation”, and it was very good – similar to one we had seen on the UK cruise and had enjoyed greatly. At 10:15 Janet wants to go to the Movie under the Stars to see The Artist. Fortunately we do not dock tomorrow until afternoon, so we can sleep in if we choose. We will have to tell you tomorrow whether she actually stayed up for it.	i don't know
Mark Twain's classic book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn takes place along which US river?	The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn : Mark Twain : 9781562549060 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Paperback We can notify you when this item is back in stock Notify me Try AbeBooks Description Themes: Hi-Lo, adapted classics, low level classics, graphic novel. These literary masterpieces are made easy and interesting. This series features classic tales retold with color illustrations to introduce literature to struggling readers. Each 64-page softcover book retains key phrases and quotations from the original classics. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn takes place on the Mississippi during the late 1800s... when the riverboat and small towns along the river were adventurous, exciting, and romantic. show more Product details 148 x 216 x 6mm \| 140.61g Publication date	Mississippi River
What company encouraged you to "have it your way" in their advertising slogan?	Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Mark Twain: 9781514637616: Amazon.com: Books Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Add all three to Cart Add all three to List Buy the selected items together This item:Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Paperback $7.99 In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Paperback $10.25 In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Mass Market Paperback $6.79 In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1 This shopping feature will continue to load items. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. Page 1 of 1 Start over Sponsored Products are advertisements for products sold by merchants on Amazon.com. When you click on a Sponsored Product ad, you will be taken to an Amazon detail page where you can learn more about the product and purchase it. To learn more about Amazon Sponsored Products, click here . Meritorium (Meritropolis Book 2) Joel Ohman In Meritorium, a city where gladiatorial games of life or death combat are waged between High Scores and Low Scores, man and beast, Charley hunts... Meritropolis Joel Ohman In Meritropolis everyone is assigned a numerical Score that decides their worth to society and whether they live or die... Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Review A seminal work of American Literature that still commands deep praise and still elicits controversy, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is essential to the understanding of the American soul. The recent discovery of the first half of Twain's manuscript, long thought lost, made front-page news. And this unprecedented edition, which contains for the first time omitted episodes and other variations present in the first half of the handwritten manuscript, as well as facsimile reproductions of thirty manuscript pages, is indispensable to a full understanding of the novel. The changes, deletions, and additions made in the first half of the manuscript indicate that Mark Twain frequently checked his impulse to write an even darker, more confrontational book than the one he finally published. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Read more From Publishers Weekly Considered the first great American novel, part of Finn's charm is the wisdom and sobering social criticism deftly lurking amongst the seemingly innocent observations of the uneducated Huck and the even-less-educated escaped slave, Jim. William Dufris's voice, unpretentious and disarming, like the book's main characters, seems the perfect armature on which to hang this literary strategy. Although he does an expert job with the entire cast, Dufris's delivery of Jim's dialogue is his crowning achievement. Out of context, Dufris's Jim might sound mocking and racist, due to his expert delivery of Twain's regional vernacular. Ignorance and intelligence, however, are not mutually exclusive, and taken as a whole, Jim's mind and heart come shining through, allowing the listener to reflect on their own assumptions. Tantor Media includes the entire text as a digital e-book on the final CD, a wise and thoughtful move in a market with swift and changing currents. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here , or download a FREE Kindle Reading App . Ignite your imagination with these editor's picks from Kindle books. See more Product Details Age Range: 8 and up Grade Level: 3 and up Lexile Measure: 980 ( What's this? ) Paperback: 186 pages Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 21, 2015) Language: English Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces ( View shipping rates and policies ) Average Customer Review: By James Ellsworth on December 7, 2013 Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase I bought this particular edition of 'Huckleberry Finn' for the few but wonderful illustrations done by Scott McKowen. I already owned a gallery-sized digital print of the cover art and I wanted to document where it came from. I also purchased a 'critical edition' of the work with scholarly annotations by Michael Patrick Hearn. Both editions have their strong points: the Sterling Classic edition is a convenient bedside format and the text, without scholarly annotations, reads easily--like any 'regular' book. The Norton critical edition is sufficiently larger in size to be harder to hold. Its purpose is to inform the reader about Mark Twain, the influences on his writing and his aims in writing 'Huckleberry Finn.' There are columns of text along side of columns of notes on every page. Readers of this review are going to ask: "who is HE to review perhaps the greatest work of fiction in American literature?" I have a literary education and am both a reader and a writer. That helps. I first read 'Huckleberry Finn' as a youth and I marveled at the unfamiliar world of the Mississippi River valley and the unfamiliar time in the history of our country. I read the work purely for its adventure. There is plenty of that. Even today, when readers are more sensitive to the struggle for Civil Rights for all Americans...and when regional dialects are possibly of little interest, the book holds up well as an adventure and as a coming of age story. Most teens will sympathize with Huck's desire for freedom from adult supervision. This has its parallel in Jim's desire for freedom from slavery as an adult. Read more ›	i don't know
First implanted in 1982, the Jarvik-7 was the first successful artificial what?	In 1982, the first human artificial heart was placed in the - BE - 010J View Full Document This is the end of the preview. Sign up to access the rest of the document. Unformatted text preview: In 1982, the first human artificial heart was placed in the chest of Dr. Barney Clark, a 61- year old Seattle dentist. Clark was dying from cardiomyopathy, an irreversible, degenerative disease of the heart muscle that eventually rendered his condition so bad that he was classified as a Class IV patient. He was not eligible for a heart transplant and would not survive if taken off a heart-lung machine following open-heart surgery. An artificial heart implantation was the only choice left. Thus, when his situation worsened, Clark willingly served as the artificial hearts first human guinea pig. Wang 2 Surgeons William DeVries and Lyle Joyce used the two top atria chambers of Clarks heart to anchor Jarvik 7 in a procedure that lasted seven and a half hours. Although the operation prolonged his life by 112 days, Clark suffered from leaking lungs, seizures, and a broken valve before finally succumbing to complicated infections that resulted in multiple organ failure. After Clarks surgery, the artificial heart was implanted in many other patients with varying degrees of success. All patients suffered from infections and tissue rejection. Their general low quality of life after surgery raised questions regarding ethics and patient care. In 1990, the Food and Drug Administration withdrew its approval of Jarvik-7 on the premise that the device was too crude for human use. Current Techniques Today, an artificial heart that can completely and permanently replace the functions of its predecessor without causing long-term medical complications has yet to be engineered. Most devices on the market prolong the lives of its consumers while they await replacement human hearts. Companies such as Thoratec, VentraCor, and MicroMed Technology market left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) to ease the hearts workload. Some can be implanted directly in the aorta. Others are placed outside of the body, with input and output tubes passing through the chest and into the aorta. The latter type is used mostly in hospitals. However, LVADs are ultimately hazardous to the health of its patients and are meant to be removed after recovery or transplant. Drawbacks of Present Methods The body is composed of organ systems that are innately opposed to metal, plastic, and polyester. In our internal aqueous environment, the development of infection due to the presence of a fist-sized device composed of non-biological materials is in many ways inevitable. If infection does not strike, blood clots form, leading to strokes and other complications. Decades of implantation have shown that the design of artificial hearts using anything that is not tissue can only be so successful. In most instances, the heart continues to pump although the body is no longer viable.... Introduction to Bioengineering BE.010J Course Meeting Times Lectures: 14 sessions for Introduction to Bioengineering BE	Heart
Tamed by Bellerophon, what was the name of the winged horse of Greek mythology?	First Artificial Heart Transplant - Dec. 2, 1982 \| StressMarq Biosciences Inc. This Day In Science Dec. 2, 1982 – First Artificial Heart Transplant Leslie Rietveld \| December 2nd, 2014 \| This Day in Science On December 2nd 1982, Barney Clark received the first artificial heart transplant designed for permanent use. Dr. William C. Devries implanted the artificial heart, Jarvik-7, into the 61-year old Clark who was suffering from congestive heart failure. Clark volunteered for this ground-breaking surgery as he wanted to make a contribution to medical science. He did not expect to live longer than a few days with the artificial heart. After the successful implantation of the artificial heart, Clark was tethered to a 400 pound external pneumatic compressor. He survived for 112 days with the artificial heart, while suffering from many instances of bleeding and serious confusion. The Jarvik-7 was designed by Robert K. Jarvik as a temporary replacement device for patients awaiting heart transplants. It was used as a permanent heart transplant for only four other patients, but was used by many people temporarily as they waited for transplants.	i don't know
April 3, 1996 saw the so called unabomber arrested in a remote Montana cabin. What is the actual name of the asshat in question?	knowledge is power knowledge is power "Unabomber" redirects here. For other uses, see Unabomber (disambiguation) . Theodore Kaczynski Incarcerated at ADX Florence , #04475–046 Occupation Former assistant professor of mathematics Dr. Theodore John Kaczynski (pronounced /kəˈzɪnski/ ; born May 22, 1942), also known as the Unabomber (University and Airline Bomber), is an American mathematician and social critic , who carried out a campaign of deadly mail bombings . He was born in Chicago , Illinois , where, as an intellectual child prodigy , he excelled academically from an early age. Kaczynski received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and earned a PhD in mathematics from the University of Michigan . He became an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley at age 25 but resigned two years later. In 1971, he moved to a remote cabin without electricity or running water, in Lincoln, Montana , where he began to learn survival skills in an attempt to become self-sufficient . [1] He decided to start a bombing campaign after watching the wilderness around his home being destroyed by development. [1] From 1978 to 1995, Kaczynski sent 16 bombs to targets including universities and airlines, killing three people and injuring 23. Kaczynski sent a letter to The New York Times on April 24, 1995 and promised "to desist from terrorism " if the Times or The Washington Post published his manifesto . In his Industrial Society and Its Future (also called the "Unabomber Manifesto"), he argued that his bombings were extreme but necessary to attract attention to the erosion of human freedom necessitated by modern technologies requiring large-scale organization. The Unabomber was the target of one of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 's (FBI) most costly investigations. Before Kaczynski's identity was known, the FBI used the handle "UNABOM" ("UNiversity and Airline BOMber") to refer to his case, which resulted in the media calling him the Unabomber. Despite the FBI's efforts, he was not caught as a result of this investigation. Instead, his brother recognized Ted's style of writing and beliefs from the manifesto, and tipped off the FBI. To avoid the death penalty , Kaczynski's lawyers entered a plea agreement , under which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole . Theodore Kaczynski has been designated a "domestic terrorist" by the FBI. [2] Several anarchist authors, such as John Zerzan and John Moore , have come to his defense, while holding some reservations over his actions and ideas. [3] [4] [5] Contents [ edit ] Early life Kaczynski was born on May 22, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois to second-generation Polish Americans , Theodore Richard Kaczynski and Wanda Dombek. [6] At six-months of age, Ted's body was covered in hives. He was placed in isolation in a hospital where visitors were not allowed. Treatment continued for eight months. His mother wrote in March 1943, "Baby home from hospital and is healthy but quite unresponsive after his experience." [7] From grades one through four, Kaczynski attended Sherman Elementary School in Chicago. He attended grades five through eight at Evergreen Park Central School. [8] As a result of testing conducted in the fifth grade which determined he had an I.Q. of 167, [9] he was allowed to skip the sixth grade and enroll in the seventh grade. Kaczynski described this as a pivotal event in his life. He recalled not fitting in with the older children and being subjected to their bullying. As a child, Kaczynski had a fear of people and buildings, and played beside other children rather than interacting with them. His mother was so worried by his poor social development that she considered entering him in a study for autistic children led by Bruno Bettelheim . [8] He attended high school at Evergreen Park Community High School . Kaczynski excelled academically, but found the mathematics too simple during his sophomore year. During this period of his life, Kaczynski became obsessed with mathematics, spending prolonged hours locked in his room practicing differential equations instead of socializing with his peers. Throughout secondary schooling Kaczynski had far surpassed his classmates, able to solve advanced Laplace Transforms before his senior year. He was subsequently placed in a more advanced mathematics class, yet still felt intellectually restricted. Kaczynski soon mastered the material and skipped the eleventh grade. With the help of a summer school course for English, he completed his high school education when he was 15 years old. He was encouraged to apply to Harvard University , and was subsequently accepted as a student beginning in fall 1958 at the age of 16. While at Harvard, Kaczynski was taught by famed logician Willard Van Orman Quine , scoring at the top of Quine's class with a 98.9% final grade. He also participated in a multiple-year personality study conducted by Dr. Henry Murray , an expert on stress interviews. [8] Students in Murray's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)-sponsored study were told they would be debating personal philosophy with a fellow student. [10] Instead they were subjected to the stress test, which was an extremely stressful and prolonged psychological attack by an anonymous attorney. During the test, students were strapped into a chair and connected to electrodes that monitored their physiological reactions, while facing bright lights and a two-way mirror . This was filmed, and students' expressions of impotent rage were played back to them several times later in the study. According to Chase, Kaczynski's records from that period suggest he was emotionally stable when the study began. Kaczynski's lawyers attributed some of his emotional instability and dislike of mind control to his participation in this study. [10] [11] [ edit ] Career Kaczynski as a young professor at Berkeley , 1968 Kaczynski graduated from Harvard University in 1962 and subsequently enrolled at the University of Michigan , where he earned a PhD in mathematics. [8] Kaczynski's specialty was a branch of complex analysis known as geometric function theory . His professors at Michigan were impressed with his intellect and drive. "He was an unusual person. He was not like the other graduate students," said Peter Duren, one of Kaczynski's math professors at Michigan. "He was much more focused about his work. He had a drive to discover mathematical truth." "It is not enough to say he was smart," said George Piranian , another of his Michigan math professors. In fact, Kaczynski earned his Ph.D. with his thesis entitled "Boundary Functions" by solving a problem so difficult that Piranian could not figure it out. [12] Maxwell Reade, a retired math professor who served on Kaczynski's dissertation committee, also commented on his thesis by noting, "I would guess that maybe 10 or 12 men in the country understood or appreciated it." [13] In 1967, Kaczynski won the University of Michigan's $100 Sumner B. Myers Prize, which recognized his dissertation as the school's best in mathematics that year. [13] While a graduate student at Michigan, he held a National Science Foundation fellowship and taught undergraduates for three years. He also published two articles related to his dissertation in mathematical journals, and four more after leaving Michigan later. [14] In the fall of 1967, Kaczynski became an assistant professor of mathematics at the University of California, Berkeley , where he taught undergraduate courses in geometry and calculus. He was also noted as the youngest professor ever hired by the university. This position proved short-lived, however, as Kaczynski received numerous complaints and low ratings from the undergraduates he taught. Many students noted that he seemed quite uncomfortable in a teaching environment, often stuttering and mumbling during lectures, becoming excessively nervous in front of a class, and ignoring students during designated office hours. Without explanation, he resigned from his position in 1969, at age 26. The chairman of the mathematics department, J. W. Addison, called this a "sudden and unexpected" resignation, [15] while vice chairman Calvin Moore said that given Kaczynski's "impressive" thesis and record of publications, "He could have advanced up the ranks and been a senior member of the faculty today." [16] [ edit ] Life in Montana The cabin that Kaczynski built and lived in, located outside of Lincoln, Montana In summer 1971, Kaczynski moved into his parents' small residence in Lombard , Illinois . Two years later, he moved into a remote cabin he built himself just outside Lincoln , Montana where he lived a simple life on very little money, without electricity or running water. Kaczynski worked odd jobs and received financial support from his family, which he used to purchase his land and, without their knowledge, would later use to fund his bombing campaign. In 1978, he worked briefly with his father and brother at a foam-rubber factory [13] , where he was fired by his brother, David, for harassing a female supervisor he had previously dated. Kaczynski's original goal was to move out to a secluded place and become self-sufficient so that he could live autonomously . He began to teach himself survival skills such as tracking , edible plant identification, and how to construct primitive technologies such as bow drills . [1] However, he quickly realized that it was not possible for him to live that way, as a result of watching the wild land around him get destroyed by development and industry . [1] He performed isolated acts of sabotage initially, targeted at the developments near his cabin. The ultimate catalyst which drove him to begin his campaign of bombings was when he went out for a walk to one of his favorite wild spots and it had been destroyed and replaced with a road. About this, he said: The best place, to me, was the largest remnant of this plateau that dates from the tertiary age. It's kind of rolling country, not flat, and when you get to the edge of it you find these ravines that cut very steeply in to cliff-like drop-offs and there was even a waterfall there. It was about a two days hike from my cabin. That was the best spot until the summer of 1983. That summer there were too many people around my cabin so I decided I needed some peace. I went back to the plateau and when I got there I found they had put a road right through the middle of it" His voice trails off; he pauses, then continues, "You just can't imagine how upset I was. It was from that point on I decided that, rather than trying to acquire further wilderness skills, I would work on getting back at the system. Revenge. —Ted Kaczynski, [1] He began dedicating himself to reading about sociology and books on political philosophy , such as the works of Jacques Ellul , and also stepped up his campaign of sabotage. He soon came to the conclusion that more violent methods would be the only solution to what he saw as the problem of industrial civilization. He says that he lost faith in the idea of reform , and saw violent collapse as the only way to bring down the techno-industrial system. [1] About the idea of a reformist means of taking it down, he said: I don't think it can be done. In part because of the human tendency, for most people, there are exceptions, to take the path of least resistance. They'll take the easy way out, and giving up your car, your television set, your electricity, is not the path of least resistance for most people. As I see it, I don't think there is any controlled or planned way in which we can dismantle the industrial system. I think that the only way we will get rid of it is if it breaks down and collapses ... The big problem is that people don't believe a revolution is possible, and it is not possible precisely because they do not believe it is possible. To a large extent I think the eco-anarchist movement is accomplishing a great deal, but I think they could do it better... The real revolutionaries should separate themselves from the reformers… And I think that it would be good if a conscious effort was being made to get as many people as possible introduced to the wilderness. In a general way, I think what has to be done is not to try and convince or persuade the majority of people that we are right, as much as try to increase tensions in society to the point where things start to break down. To create a situation where people get uncomfortable enough that they’re going to rebel. So the question is how do you increase those tensions? —Ted Kaczynski, [ edit ] Bombings An FBI reproduction of a bomb created by Kaczynski on display at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. [ edit ] Initial bombings The first mail bomb was sent in late May 1978 to materials engineering professor Buckley Crist at Northwestern University . The package was found in a parking lot at the University of Illinois at Chicago , with Crist's return address. The package was "returned" to Crist. However, when Crist received the package, he noticed that it was not addressed in his own handwriting. Suspicious of a package he had not sent, he contacted campus policeman Terry Marker, who opened the package, which exploded immediately. Although Marker only received minimal injuries, his left hand required medical assistance at Evanston Hospital . [17] The bomb was made of metal that could have come from a home workshop. The primary component was a piece of metal pipe, about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter and 9 inches (230 mm) long. The bomb contained smokeless explosive powders, and the box and the plugs that sealed the pipe ends were handcrafted from wood. In comparison, most pipe bombs usually use threaded metal ends sold in many hardware stores. Wooden ends lack the strength to allow significant pressure to build within the pipe, explaining why the bomb did not cause severe damage. The primitive trigger device that the bomb employed was a nail, tensioned by rubber bands designed to slam into six common match heads when the box was opened. The match heads would immediately burst into flame and ignite the explosive powders. However, when the trigger hit the match heads, only three ignited. A more efficient technique, later employed by Kaczynski, is to use batteries and heat filament wire to ignite the explosives faster and more effectively. [18] The initial 1978 bombing was followed by bombs sent to airline officials, and in 1979 a bomb was placed in the cargo hold of American Airlines Flight 444 , a Boeing 727 flying from Chicago to Washington, D.C. The bomb began smoking, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing . Some passengers were treated for smoke inhalation . Only a faulty timing mechanism prevented the bomb from exploding. Authorities said it had enough firepower to "obliterate the plane." [17] As bombing an airliner is a federal crime in the United States, the FBI became involved after this incident and derived the code name UNABOM (UNiversity and Airline BOMber). U.S. Postal Inspectors, who initially had the case, called the suspect the Junkyard Bomber because of the material used to make the mail bombs. In 1980, chief agent John Douglas , working with agents in the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit , issued a psychological profile of the unidentified bomber which described the offender as a man with above-average intelligence with connections to academia. This profile was later refined to characterize the offender as a neo-Luddite holding an academic degree in the hard sciences, but this psychologically based profile was discarded in 1993 in favor of an alternative theory developed by FBI analysts concentrating on the physical evidence in recovered bomb fragments. In this rival profile, the bomber suspect was characterized as a blue-collar airplane mechanic. [19] A hot line at 1-800-701-BOMB was set up by the UNABOM Task Force to take any calls related to the Unabomber investigation, with a $1 million reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the Unabomber's capture. [20] [ edit ] Casualties The first serious injury occurred in 1985, when John Hauser, a graduate student and Captain in the United States Air Force , lost four fingers and vision in one eye. [21] The bomb, like others of Kaczynski's, was handcrafted and made with wooden parts. [22] In 1985, a California computer store owner, 38-year-old Hugh Scrutton, was killed by a nail-and-splinter-loaded bomb, placed in the parking lot of his store. A similar attack against a computer store occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 20, 1987. The bomb, which was disguised as a piece of lumber, injured Gary Wright when he attempted to remove it from the store's parking lot. The explosion severed nerves in Wright's left arm and propelled more than 200 pieces of shrapnel into his body. Kaczynski's brother, David—who would play a vital role in Ted's looming capture by alerting federal authorities to the prospect of his brother being involved in the Unabomber cases— sought out and became friends with Wright after Ted was detained in 1996. David Kaczynski and Wright have remained friends and occasionally conduct speaking engagements on reconciliation together. [23] After a six-year hiatus, Kaczynski struck again in 1993, mailing a bomb to David Gelernter , a computer science professor at Yale University . Though critically injured, he eventually recovered. Another bomb mailed in the same weekend was sent to the home of geneticist Charles Epstein from University of California, San Francisco , who lost multiple fingers upon opening it. Kaczynski then called Gelernter's brother, Joel Gelernter, a behavioral geneticist, and told him, "You are next." [24] Geneticist Phillip Sharp at Massachusetts Institute of Technology also received a threatening letter two years later. [25] Kaczynski wrote a letter to The New York Times claiming that his "group", called FC, was responsible for the attacks. In 1994, Burson-Marsteller executive Thomas J. Mosser was killed by a mail bomb sent to his North Caldwell, New Jersey home. In another letter to The New York Times Kaczynski claimed that FC "blew up Thomas Mosser because [...] Burston-Marsteller [ sic ] helped Exxon clean up its public image after the Exxon Valdez incident " and, more importantly, because "its business is the development of techniques for manipulating people's attitudes." [26] This was followed by the 1995 murder of Gilbert Murray , president of the timber industry lobbying group California Forestry Association, by a mail bomb actually addressed to previous president William Dennison, who had retired. [25] In all, 16 bombs—which injured 23 people and killed three—were attributed to Kaczynski. While the devices varied widely through the years, all but the first few contained the initials "FC". Inside his bombs, certain parts carried the inscription "FC", which Kaczynski later asserted stood for "Freedom Club". Latent fingerprints on some of the devices did not match the fingerprints found on letters attributed to Kaczynski. As stated in the FBI affidavit: 203. Latent fingerprints attributable to devices mailed and/or placed by the UNABOM subject were compared to those found on the letters attributed to Theodore Kaczynski. According to the FBI Laboratory no forensic correlation exists between those samples. [27] One of Kaczynski's tactics was leaving false clues in every bomb. He would make them hard to find so as to purposely mislead investigators into thinking they had a clue. The first clue was a metal plate stamped with the initials "FC" hidden somewhere (usually in the pipe end cap) in every bomb. [27] One false clue he left was a note in a bomb that did not detonate which reads "Wu—It works! I told you it would—RV". [28] A more obvious clue was the Eugene O'Neill $1 stamps used to send his boxes. [29] One of his bombs was sent embedded in a copy of Sloan Wilson ’s novel, Ice Brothers. [17] The FBI theorized that Kaczynski had a theme of nature, trees and wood in his crimes. He often included bits of tree branch and bark in his bombs. Targets selected included Percy Wood, Professor Leroy Wood Bearson and Thomas Mosser. Crime writer Robert Graysmith noted "In the Unabomber's case a large factor was his obsession with wood." [30] [ edit ] List of bombings Terry Marker, campus police officer minor Percy Wood, United Airlines President cuts and burns University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah none—bomb defused severe injury to hands requiring extensive rehabilitative treatment July 2 right hand and face; near complete recovery 1985 partial loss of vision in left eye, loss of four fingers on right hand June 13 James V. McConnell and Nicklaus Suino McConnell: hearing loss; Suino: shrapnel wounds December 11 Hugh Scrutton, computer rental store owner first fatality Gary Wright, computer store owner injured Charles Epstein, University of California geneticist destroyed both eardrums, lost parts of three fingers June 24 David Gelernter , computer science professor right hand and right eye 1994 Thomas J. Mosser, advertising executive second fatality Gilbert P. Murray , timber industry lobbyist third fatality [ edit ] Manifesto In 1995, Kaczynski mailed several letters, some to his former victims, outlining his goals and demanding that his 35,000-word paper Industrial Society and Its Future (also called the "Unabomber Manifesto") be printed verbatim by a major newspaper or journal; he stated that he would then end his terrorism campaign. [33] There was a great deal of controversy as to whether it should be done. A further letter threatening to kill more people was sent, and the United States Department of Justice recommended publication out of concern for public safety. The pamphlet was then published by The New York Times and The Washington Post on September 19, 1995, with the hope that someone would recognize the writing style. Prior to The New York Times' decision to publish the manifesto, Bob Guccione of Penthouse volunteered to publish it, but Kaczynski replied that, since Penthouse was less "respectable" than the other publications, he would in that case "reserve the right to plant one (and only one) bomb intended to kill, after our manuscript has been published." [34] Throughout the manuscript, produced on a typewriter without the capacity for italics, Kaczynski capitalizes entire words in order to show emphasis. He always refers to himself as either "we" or "FC" (Freedom Club), though he appears to have acted alone.[ citation needed ] Donald Foster , who analyzed the writing at the request of Kaczynski's defense, notes that the manuscript contains instances of irregular spelling and hyphenation, as well as other consistent linguistic idiosyncrasies (which led him to conclude that it was indeed Kaczynski who wrote it). [35] Industrial Society and Its Future begins with Kaczynski's assertion that "the Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race." [36] The first sections of the text are devoted to psychological analysis of various groups—primarily leftists and scientists—and of the psychological consequences for individual life within the "industrial-technological system". [36] The later sections speculate about the future evolution of this system, argue that it will inevitably lead to the end of human freedom, call for a "revolution against technology", and attempt to indicate how that might be accomplished. [37] [ edit ] Psychological analysis In his opening and closing sections, Kaczynski addresses Leftism as a movement and analyzes the psychology of leftists, arguing that they are " True Believers in Eric Hoffer 's sense" who participate in a powerful social movement to compensate for their lack of personal power. He further claims that leftism as a movement is led by a particular minority of leftists whom he calls "oversocialized": The moral code of our society is so demanding that no one can think, feel and act in a completely moral way. [...] Some people are so highly socialized that the attempt to think, feel and act morally imposes a severe burden on them. In order to avoid feelings of guilt, they continually have to deceive themselves about their own motives and find moral explanations for feelings and actions that in reality have a non-moral origin. We use the term "oversocialized" to describe such people. [38] He goes on to explain how the nature of leftism is determined by the psychological consequences of "oversocialization." Kaczynski "attribute[s] the social and psychological problems of modern society to the fact that society requires people to live under conditions radically different from those under which the human race evolved and to behave in ways that conflict with the patterns of behavior that the human race developed while living under the earlier conditions." He further specifies the primary cause of a long list of social and psychological problems in modern society as the disruption of the " power process ", which he defines as having four elements: The three most clear-cut of these we call goal, effort and attainment of goal. (Everyone needs to have goals whose attainment requires effort, and needs to succeed in attaining at least some of his goals.) The fourth element is more difficult to define and may not be necessary for everyone. We call it autonomy and will discuss it later. [39] [...] We divide human drives into three groups: (1) those drives that can be satisfied with minimal effort; (2) those that can be satisfied but only at the cost of serious effort; (3) those that cannot be adequately satisfied no matter how much effort one makes. The power process is the process of satisfying the drives of the second group. [40] Kaczynski goes on to claim that "[i]n modern industrial society natural human drives tend to be pushed into the first and third groups, and the second group tends to consist increasingly of artificially created drives." Among these drives are "surrogate activities", activities "directed toward an artificial goal that people set up for themselves merely in order to have some goal to work toward, or let us say, merely for the sake of the 'fulfillment' that they get from pursuing the goal". He argues that these surrogate activites are not as satisfactory as the attainment of "real goals" for "many, if not most people". [41] He claims that scientific research is a surrogate activity for scientists, and that for this reason "science marches on blindly, without regard to the real welfare of the human race or to any other standard, obedient only to the psychological needs of the scientists and of the government officials and corporation executives who provide the funds for research." [42] [ edit ] Analysis of Control Methods As mentioned above, the result of the "disruption of the power process" is the primary cause of various maladies in society (e.g. crime, depression, etc.). Kaczynski maintains that rather than recognizing that humans currently live in "conditions that make them terribly unhappy", "the system" (i.e. industrial society) develops ways of controlling human responses to the overly stressful environment they find themselves in. The following are current examples (according to Kaczynski) of this trend: Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy, then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness. Science fiction? It is already happening to some extent in our own society. It is well known that the rate of clinical depression had been greatly increasing in recent decades. We believe that this is due to disruption of the power process... [43] The entertainment industry serves as an important psychological tool of the system, possibly even when it is dishing out large amounts of sex and violence. Entertainment provides modern man with an essential means of escape. While absorbed in television, videos, etc., he can forget stress, anxiety, frustration, dissatisfaction. [44] Sylvan Learning Centers, for example, have had great success in motivating children to study, and psychological techniques are also used with more or less success in many conventional schools. "Parenting" techniques that are taught to parents are designed to make children accept fundamental values of the system and behave in ways that the system finds desirable. [45] [ edit ] Historical analysis In the last sections of the manifesto, Kaczynski carefully defines what he means by freedom [46] and provides an argument that it would "be hopelessly difficult [...] to reform the industrial system in such a way as to prevent it from progressively narrowing our sphere of freedom". [47] He says that "in spite of all its technical advances relating to human behavior the system to date has not been impressively successful in controlling human beings" and predicts that "[i]f the system succeeds in acquiring sufficient control over human behavior quickly enough, it will probably survive. Otherwise it will break down" and that "the issue will most likely be resolved within the next several decades, say 40 to 100 years." He gives various dystopian possibilities for the type of society which would evolve in the former case. [48] He claims that revolution, unlike reform, is possible, and calls on sympathetic readers to initiate such revolution using two strategies: to "heighten the social stresses within the system so as to increase the likelihood that it will break down" and to "develop and propagate an ideology that opposes technology". [49] He gives various tactical recommendations, including avoiding the assumption of political power, avoiding all collaboration with leftists, and supporting free trade agreements in order to bind the world economy into a more fragile, unified whole. [37] He concludes by noting that his manifesto has "portrayed leftism in its modern form as a phenomenon peculiar to our time and as a symptom of the disruption of the power process" but that he is "not in a position to assert confidently that no such movements have existed prior to modern leftism" and says that "[t]his is a significant question to which historians ought to give their attention." [50] [ edit ] Related works As a critique of technological society, the manifesto echoed contemporary critics of technology and industrialization, such as John Zerzan , Herbert Marcuse , Fredy Perlman , Jacques Ellul (whose book The Technological Society was referenced in an unnamed Kaczynski essay , written in 1971), [51] Lewis Mumford , Neil Postman , and Derrick Jensen . [52] Its idea of the "disruption of the power process" similarly echoed social critics emphasizing the lack of meaningful work as a primary cause of social problems, including Mumford, Paul Goodman , and Eric Hoffer (whom Kaczynski explicitly references). [52] [53] The general theme was also addressed by Aldous Huxley in his dystopian novel Brave New World , which Kaczynski references. [54] The ideas of "oversocialization" and "surrogate activities" recall Freud 's Civilization and Its Discontents and his theories of rationalization and sublimation (the latter term being used three times in the manifesto, twice in quotes, to describe surrogate activities). [55] In a Wired article on the dangers of technology, titled "Why The Future Doesn't Need Us," Bill Joy , cofounder of Sun Microsystems , quoted Ray Kurzweil 's The Age of Spiritual Machines, which quoted a passage by Kaczynski on types of society that might develop if human labor were entirely replaced by artificial intelligence. Joy wrote that, although Kaczynski's actions were "murderous, and, in my view, criminally insane", that "as difficult as it is for me to acknowledge, I saw some merit in the reasoning in this single passage. I felt compelled to confront it." [56] [ edit ] Search The widely disseminated forensic sketch of the Unabomber, by Jeanne Boylan Before the publication of the manifesto, Theodore Kaczynski's brother, David Kaczynski , was encouraged by his wife Linda to follow up on suspicions that Theodore was the Unabomber. [57] David Kaczynski was at first dismissive, but progressively began to take the likelihood more seriously after reading the manifesto a week after it was published in September 1995. David Kaczynski browsed through old family papers and found letters dating back to the 1970s written by Ted and sent to newspapers protesting the abuses of technology and which contained phrasing similar to what was found in the Unabomber Manifesto. [58] Prior to the publishing of the manifesto, the FBI held numerous press conferences enlisting the help of the public in identifying the Unabomber. They were convinced that the bomber was from the Chicago area (where he began his bombings), had worked or had some connection in Salt Lake City, and by the 1990s was associated with the San Francisco Bay Area . This geographical information, as well as the wording in excerpts from the manifesto that were released prior to the entire manifesto being published, was what had persuaded David Kaczynski's wife, Linda, to urge her husband to read the manifesto. [59] After the manifesto was published, the FBI received over a thousand calls a day for months in response to the offer of a $1 million reward for information leading to the identity of the Unabomber. There were also large numbers of letters mailed to the UNABOM Task Force that purported to be from the Unabomber, and thousands of suspect leads were sifted through. While the FBI was occupied with new leads, David Kaczynski first hired private investigator Susan Swanson in Chicago to investigate Ted's activities discreetly. The Kaczynski brothers had become estranged in 1990, and David had not seen Ted for ten years. David later hired Washington, D.C. attorney Tony Bisceglie to organize evidence acquired by Swanson and make contact with the FBI, given the likely difficulty in attracting the FBI's attention. He wanted to protect his brother from the danger of an FBI raid, like Ruby Ridge or the Waco Siege , since he knew Ted would not take kindly to being contacted by the FBI and would likely react irrationally or violently. [60] In early 1996, former FBI hostage negotiator and criminal profiler Clinton R. Van Zandt was contacted by an investigator working with Tony Bisceglie. Bisceglie asked Van Zandt to compare the manifesto to typewritten copies of handwritten letters David had received from his brother. Van Zandt's initial analysis determined that there was better than a 60 percent chance that the same person had written the letters as well as the manifesto, which had been in public circulation for half a year. Van Zandt's second analytical team determined an even higher likelihood that the letters and the manifesto were the product of the same author. He recommended that Bisceglie's client immediately contact the FBI. [60] In February 1996, Bisceglie provided a copy of the 1971 essay written by Ted Kaczynski to the FBI. At the UNABOM Task Force headquarters in San Francisco, Supervisory Special Agent Joel Moss immediately recognized similarities in the writings. David Kaczynski had attempted to remain anonymous at the outset but he was swiftly identified, and within a few days, an FBI agent team was dispatched to interview David and his wife with their attorney in Washington, D.C. At this and subsequent meetings with the team, David provided letters written by his brother in their original envelopes, so the use of postmark dates enabled the enhancement of the timeline of Ted Kaczynski's activities being developed by the Task Force. David developed a respectful relationship with the primary Task Force behavioral analyst, Special Agent Kathleen M. Puckett, with whom he met many times in Washington, D.C., Texas, Chicago, and Schenectady, New York over the nearly two months before the federal search warrant was served on Theodore Kaczynski's cabin. [61] [ edit ] Arrest Kaczynski while being booked by the police Agents arrested Theodore Kaczynski on April 3, 1996 at his remote cabin outside Lincoln, Montana, where he was found in an unkempt state. Among the evidence found in the cabin was a live bomb and what appeared to be the original typed manuscript of the manifesto. [62] The Unabomber was the target of one of the most expensive investigations in the FBI's history. [63] Paragraphs 204 and 205 of the FBI search and arrest warrant for Kaczynski stated that "experts"—many of them academics consulted by the FBI—believed the manifesto had been written by "another individual, not Theodore Kaczynski". [27] As stated in the affidavit, only a handful of people believed Theodore Kaczynski was the Unabomber before the search warrant revealed the cornucopia of evidence in Kaczynski's isolated cabin. The search warrant affidavit written by FBI Inspector Terry D. Turchie reflects this conflict, and is striking evidence of the opposition to Turchie and his small cadre of FBI agents that included Moss and Puckett—who were convinced Theodore Kaczynski was the Unabomber—from the rest of the UNABOM Task Force and the FBI in general: 204. Your affiant is aware that other individuals have conducted analyses of the UNABOM Manuscript __ determined that the Manuscript was written by another individual, not Kaczynski, who had also been a suspect in the investigation. 205. Numerous other opinions from experts have been provided as to the identity of the unabomb subject. None of those opinions named Theodore Kaczynski as a possible author. [27] David Kaczynski had once admired and emulated his elder brother, but had later decided to leave the survivalist lifestyle behind. [64] He had received assurances from the FBI that he would remain anonymous and that his brother would not learn who had turned him in, but his identity was leaked to CBS News in early April 1996. CBS anchorman Dan Rather called FBI director Louis Freeh , who requested 24 hours before CBS broke the story on the evening news. The FBI scrambled to finish the search warrant and have it issued by a federal judge in Montana; afterwards, an internal leak investigation was conducted by the FBI, but the source of the leak was never identified. [64] David donated the reward money, less his expenses, to families of his brother's victims. [64] After his arrest, Kaczynski was briefly among several individuals suspected of being the unidentified Zodiac Killer . However, he lived in Illinois during most of the killings, and was eliminated as a suspect. [65] [66] Among the links that raise suspicion were the fact that Kacsynski lived in the Bay Area from 1967 to 1969, the same period that most of the Zodiac's confirmed killings occurred in California, and both being highly intelligent with an interest in bombs and codes. Robert Graysmith of San Francisco, author of the book Zodiac in 1986, said the similarities are "fascinating" but undoubtedly purely coincidental. [67] [ edit ] Court proceedings Kaczynski's lawyers, headed by Montana federal defender Michael Donahoe, attempted to enter an insanity defense to save Kaczynski's life, but Kaczynski rejected this plea. A court-appointed psychiatrist diagnosed Kaczynski as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia , [68] but declared him competent to stand trial. Kaczynski's family said he would psychologically "shut down" when pressured. [69] In the book, The Road to Revolution, Kaczynski recalls two prison psychologists, Dr. James Watterson and Dr. Michael Morrison, who visited him almost every day for a period of four years, who told him that they saw no indication that he suffered from any such serious mental illness, and that the diagnosis of his being paranoid schizophrenic was "ridiculous" and a "political diagnosis". Alston Chase's book Harvard and the Unabomber makes a case for the diagnosis being correct, however. A federal grand jury indicted Kaczynski in April 1996, on 10 counts of illegally transporting, mailing, and using bombs. He was also charged with killing Scrutton, Mosser, and Murray. [70] On January 7, 1998, Kaczynski attempted to hang himself. Initially, the government prosecution team indicated that it would seek the death penalty for Kaczynski after it was authorized by United States Attorney General Janet Reno . David Kaczynski's attorney asked the former FBI agent who made the match between the Unabomber's manifesto and Kaczynski to ask for leniency—he was horrified to think that turning his brother in might result in his brother's death. Eventually, Kaczynski was able to avoid the death penalty by pleading guilty to all the government's charges, on January 22, 1998. Later, Kaczynski attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing it was involuntary. Judge Garland Ellis Burrell Jr. denied his request. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld that decision. [71] The early hunt for the Unabomber in the United States portrayed a perpetrator far different from the eventual suspect. The Unabomber Manifesto consistently uses "we" and "our" throughout, and at one point in 1993 investigators sought an individual whose first name was "Nathan", due to a fragment of a note found in one of the bombs. [28] However, when the case was finally presented to the public, authorities denied that there was ever anyone other than Kaczynski involved in the crimes. Explanations were later presented as to why Kaczynski targeted some of the victims he selected. [57] This section may need to be updated. Please update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information, and remove this template when finished. Please see the talk page for more information. On August 10, 2006, Judge Garland Burrell Jr. ordered that personal items seized in 1996 from Kaczynski's Montana cabin should be sold at a "reasonably advertised Internet auction." Items the government considers to be bomb-making materials, such as writings that contain diagrams and "recipes" for bombs, are excluded from the sale. The auctioneer will pay the cost and will keep up to 10% of the sale price, and the rest of the proceeds must be applied to the $15 million in restitution that Burrell ordered Kaczynski to pay his victims. [72] Included among Kaczynski's holdings to be auctioned are his original writings, journals, correspondences, and other documents allegedly found in his cabin. The judge ordered that all references in those documents that allude to any of his victims must be removed before they are sold. Kaczynski has challenged those ordered redactions in court on first amendment grounds, arguing that any alteration of his writings is an unconstitutional violation of his freedom of speech . [73] [ edit ] Life in prison Florence ADMAX USP , where Kaczynski is incarcerated Kaczynski's cabin at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Kaczynski is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole as Federal Bureau of Prisons register number 04475–046 in ADX Florence , the federal Administrative Maximum Facility supermax near Florence, Colorado. [74] [73] When asked if he was afraid of losing his mind in prison, Kaczynski replied: No, what worries me is that I might in a sense adapt to this environment and come to be comfortable here and not resent it anymore. And I am afraid that as the years go by that I may forget, I may begin to lose my memories of the mountains and the woods and that's what really worries me, that I might lose those memories, and lose that sense of contact with wild nature in general. But I am not afraid they are going to break my spirit. —Ted Kaczynski, [1] Kaczynski has been an active writer in prison. The Labadie Collection , part of the University of Michigan's Special Collection Library , houses Kaczynski's correspondence from over 400 people since his arrest in April 1996, including carbon copy replies, legal documents, publications, and clippings. The names of most correspondents will be kept sealed until 2049. [75] Kaczynski has also been battling in federal court in northern California over the auction of his journals and other correspondence. [76] On January 10, 2009, however, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco , California rejected Kaczynski's arguments that the government's sale of his writings violates his freedom of expression. His writings, books, and other possessions will be sold online, and the money raised will be sent to several of his victims. [77] Kaczynski's cabin was removed and stored in a warehouse in an undisclosed location. It was to be destroyed, but was eventually given to Scharlette Holdman, an investigator on Kaczynski's defense team. [78] It is on display at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. as of July 2008. [79] In a three-page handwritten letter to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit , Kaczynski objected to the public exhibition of the cabin, claiming it violated the victim's objection to be publicly connected with the UNABOM case. In a letter dated October 7, 2005, Kaczynski offered to donate two rare books to the Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University 's campus in Evanston, Illinois, the location of the first two attacks. The recipient, David Easterbrook, turned the letter over to the university's archives. Northwestern rejected the offer, noting that the library already owned the volumes in English and did not desire duplicates. [80] David Kacynski, Theodore's brother and the person who turned him in to the FBI, has never received a response to the monthly letters he sends to Theodore in prison, as of 2007. [57] Anarcho-primitivism , an anarchist movement encompassing many of Kaczynski's views CLODO , a 1980s group of neo-Luddite saboteurs from France Das Netz , a film about Kaczynski Green Anarchy , an anarchist magazine that published some of Kaczynski's writings, including the Ship of Fools short story Propaganda by deed , anarchist concept that sees action as being a form of propaganda Unabomber for President , a political campaign which aimed to elect the Unabomber in the 1996 United States presidential election John Zerzan , an anarcho-primitivist philosopher who defended Kaczynski's writings and was a confidant to him during his trial ^ a b Chase, Alston (June 2000). "Harvard and the Making of the Unabomber" . The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/06/chase.htm . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Cockburn, Alexander (October 18, 1999). "CIA Shrinks & LSD" . CounterPunch. http://www.counterpunch.org/ciashrinks.html . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ a b c McFadden, Robert D. (May 26, 1996). "Prisoner of Rage – A special report.; From a Child of Promise to the Unabom Suspect" . The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B05E7D91139F935A15756C0A960958260&pagewanted=all . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Howe, Peter J. and Dembner, Alice (April 5, 1996). "Meteoric Talent that Burned Out" . Boston Globe. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8378920.html . Retrieved May 9, 2009. ^ Johnston, David (April 16, 1996). "Cabin's Inventory Provides Insight" . The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE4DF1E39F935A25757C0A960958260&pagewanted=all . Retrieved July 6, 2008. ^ Franks, Lucinda (July 22, 1996). "Don't Shoot" . The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1996/07/22/1996_07_22_026_TNY_CARDS_000375118 . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ "The Unabomber: A Chronology (1985–1987)" . Court TV. http://www.courttv.com/trials/unabomber/chronology/chron_8587.html . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Claiborne, William (April 11, 1996). "Kaczynski Beard May Confuse Witness". The Washington Post: p. §A, p. A11. ^ "The Unabomber's Targets: An Interactive Map" . CNN. 1997. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1997/unabomb/victims/ . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Lardner, George; Adams, Lorraine (April 14, 1996). "To Unabomb Victims, a Deeper Mystery" . The Washington Post. p. A01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/unabomber/bkgrdstories.victims.htm . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Elson, John (July 10, 1995). "Murderer's Manifesto" . Time. http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,983142,00.html . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Crain, Craig (1998). "The Bard’s fingerprints". Lingua Franca: 29–39. ^ a b F.C. 1995, §Strategy ^ F.C. 1995, §Oversocialization ^ F.C. 1995, §The Power Process ^ F.C. 1995, §Disruption of the Power Process in Modern Society ^ F.C. 1995, §Surrogate Activities ^ F.C. 1995, §The Motives of Scientists ^ The Unabomber Manisfesto: Industrial Society and It's Future 1995, §Control of Human Behavior (paragraph 145) ^ The Unabomber Manisfesto: Industrial Society and It's Future 1995, §Control of Human Behavior (paragraph 147) ^ The Unabomber Manisfesto: Industrial Society and It's Future 1995, §Control of Human Behavior (paragraph 148) ^ F.C. 1995, §The Nature of Freedom ^ F.C. 1995, §Industrial-Technological Society Cannot be Reformed ^ F.C. 1995, §The Future ^ F.C. 1995, §Human Race At A Crossroads ^ F.C. 1995, §Final Note ^ Kaczynski, Theodore (1971). Unnamed Essay. ^ a b Sale, Kirkpatrick (September 25, 1995). "Unabomber's Secret Treatise" . Nation. http://w2.eff.org/Censorship/Terrorism_militias/sale_unabomber.analysis . Retrieved April 23, 2009. ^ F.C. 1995, §The danger of leftism ^ F.C. 1995, §Human suffering ^ Fagan, Kevin (14 May 1996). "Kaczynski, Zodiac Killer -- the Same Guy?" . San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1996/05/14/MN44704.DTL&type=printable . Retrieved December 5, 2009. ^ Corey, Scott (January 21, 1998). "Revolutionary suicide" . Salon. http://www.salon.com/news/1998/01/21news.html . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ Ferguson, Paul (1997). "A loner from youth" . CNN. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1997/unabomb/accused/early/ . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ "Unabomber" . MSN Encarta. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761585870/Unabomber.html . Retrieved February 4, 2009. ^ "Unabomber's items can be acutioned" . San Francisco Chronicle. January 9, 2009. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/09/BABJ1573QM.DTL . Retrieved January 11, 2009. ^ Walsh, Denny (May 5, 2003). "Unabomber's" . Oakland Tribune. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20030505/ai_n14550345 . Retrieved February 4, 2009. Theodore Kaczynski (October 2008). The Road to Revolution: the complete writings of Theodore J. Kazcynski. Xenia Books Pr. ISBN 978-2-88892-065-6 . Alston Chase. Harvard and the Unabomber: The Education of an American Terrorist. Norton, 2003. ISBN 978-0393020021 Wikisource has original works written by or about: Theodore Kaczynski Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Theodore Kaczynski Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Theodore Kaczynski Industrial Society and Its Future From Wikisource by Theodore Kaczynski In 1995, Kaczynski mailed several letters, some to his former victims, outlining his goals and demanding that his 35,000-word paper "Industrial Society and Its Future" (also called the "Unabomber Manifesto") be printed verbatim by a major newspaper or journal; he stated that he would then end his terrorism campaign. There was a great deal of controversy as to whether it should be done. A further letter threatening to kill more people was sent, and the United States Department of Justice recommended publication out of concern for public safety. The pamphlet was then published by The New York Times and The Washington Post on September 19, 1995, with the hope that someone would recognize the writing style.— Excerpted from Industrial Society and Its Future on Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia. Contents 29 Diagram: disruption of the power process Introduction 1. The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in "advanced" countries, but they have destabilized society, have made life unfulfilling, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World to physical suffering as well) and have inflicted severe damage on the natural world. The continued development of technology will worsen the situation. It will certainly subject human beings to greater indignities and inflict greater damage on the natural world, it will probably lead to greater social disruption and psychological suffering, and it may lead to increased physical suffering—even in "advanced" countries. 2. The industrial-technological system may survive or it may break down. If it survives, it may eventually achieve a low level of physical and psychological suffering, but only after passing through a long and very painful period of adjustment and only at the cost of permanently reducing human beings and many other living organisms to engineered products and mere cogs in the social machine. Furthermore, if the system survives, the consequences will be inevitable: there is no way of reforming or modifying the system so as to prevent it from depriving people of dignity and autonomy. 3. If the system breaks down the consequences will still be very painful. But the bigger the system grows the more disastrous the results of its breakdown will be, so if it is to break down it had best break down sooner rather than later. 4. We therefore advocate a revolution against the industrial system. This revolution may or may not make use of violence: it may be sudden or it may be a relatively gradual process spanning a few decades. We can't predict any of that. But we do outline in a very general way the measures that those who hate the industrial system should take in order to prepare the way for a revolution against that form of society. This is not to be a political revolution. Its object will be to overthrow not governments but the economic and technological basis of the present society. 5. In this article we give attention to only some of the negative developments that have grown out of the industrial-technological system. Other such developments we mention only briefly or ignore altogether. This does not mean that we regard these other developments as unimportant. For practical reasons we have to confine our discussion to areas that have received insufficient public attention or in which we have something new to say. For example, since there are well-developed environmental and wilderness movements, we have written very little about environmental degradation or the destruction of wild nature, even though we consider these to be highly important. The psychology of modern leftism 6. Almost everyone will agree that we live in a deeply troubled society. One of the most widespread manifestations of the craziness of our world is leftism, so a discussion of the psychology of leftism can serve as an introduction to the discussion of the problems of modern society in general. 7. But what is leftism? During the first half of the 20th century leftism could have been practically identified with socialism. Today the movement is fragmented and it is not clear who can properly be called a leftist. When we speak of leftists in this article we have in mind mainly socialists, collectivists, "politically correct" types, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the like. But not everyone who is associated with one of these movements is a leftist. What we are trying to get at in discussing leftism is not so much a movement or an ideology as a psychological type, or rather a collection of related types. Thus, what we mean by "leftism" will emerge more clearly in the course of our discussion of leftist psychology. (Also, see paragraphs 227-230.) 8. Even so, our conception of leftism will remain a good deal less clear than we would wish, but there doesn't seem to be any remedy for this. All we are trying to do is indicate in a rough and approximate way the two psychological tendencies that we believe are the main driving force of modern leftism. We by no means claim to be telling the whole truth about leftist psychology. Also, our discussion is meant to apply to modern leftism only. We leave open the question of the extent to which our discussion could be applied to the leftists of the 19th and early 20th century. 9. The two psychological tendencies that underlie modern leftism we call "feelings of inferiority" and "oversocialization." Feelings of inferiority are characteristic of modern leftism as a whole, while oversocialization is characteristic only of a certain segment of modern leftism; but this segment is highly influential. Feelings of inferiority 10. By "feelings of inferiority" we mean not only inferiority feelings in the strict sense but a whole spectrum of related traits; low self-esteem, feelings of powerlessness, depressive tendencies, defeatism, guilt, self-hatred, etc. We argue that modern leftists tend to have some such feelings (possibly more or less repressed) and that these feelings are decisive in determining the direction of modern leftism. 11. When someone interprets as derogatory almost anything that is said about him (or about groups with whom he identifies) we conclude that he has inferiority feelings or low self-esteem. This tendency is pronounced among minority rights activists, whether or not they belong to the minority groups whose rights they defend. They are hypersensitive about the words used to designate minorities and about anything that is said concerning minorities. The terms "negro," "oriental," "handicapped" or "chick" for an African, an Asian, a disabled person or a woman originally had no derogatory connotation. "Broad" and "chick" were merely the feminine equivalents of "guy," "dude" or "fellow." The negative connotations have been attached to these terms by the activists themselves. Some animal rights activists have gone so far as to reject the word "pet" and insist on its replacement by "animal companion." Leftish anthropologists go to great lengths to avoid saying anything about primitive peoples that could conceivably be interpreted as negative. They want to replace the world "primitive" by "nonliterate." They seem almost paranoid about anything that might suggest that any primitive culture is inferior to our own. (We do not mean to imply that primitive cultures are inferior to ours. We merely point out the hypersensitivity of leftish anthropologists.) 12. Those who are most sensitive about "politically incorrect" terminology are not the average black ghetto-dweller, Asian immigrant, abused woman or disabled person, but a minority of activists, many of whom do not even belong to any "oppressed" group but come from privileged strata of society. Political correctness has its stronghold among university professors, who have secure employment with comfortable salaries, and the majority of whom are heterosexual white males from middle- to upper-middle-class families. 13. Many leftists have an intense identification with the problems of groups that have an image of being weak (women), defeated (American Indians), repellent (homosexuals) or otherwise inferior. The leftists themselves feel that these groups are inferior. They would never admit to themselves that they have such feelings, but it is precisely because they do see these groups as inferior that they identify with their problems. (We do not mean to suggest that women, Indians, etc. are inferior; we are only making a point about leftist psychology.) 14. Feminists are desperately anxious to prove that women are as strong and as capable as men. Clearly they are nagged by a fear that women may not be as strong and as capable as men. 15. Leftists tend to hate anything that has an image of being strong, good and successful. They hate America, they hate Western civilization, they hate white males, they hate rationality. The reasons that leftists give for hating the West, etc. clearly do not correspond with their real motives. They say they hate the West because it is warlike, imperialistic, sexist, ethnocentric and so forth, but where these same faults appear in socialist countries or in primitive cultures, the leftist finds excuses for them, or at best he grudgingly admits that they exist; whereas he enthusiastically points out (and often greatly exaggerates) these faults where they appear in Western civilization. Thus it is clear that these faults are not the leftist's real motive for hating America and the West. He hates America and the West because they are strong and successful. 16. Words like "self-confidence," "self-reliance," "initiative," "enterprise," "optimism," etc., play little role in the liberal and leftist vocabulary. The leftist is anti-individualistic, pro-collectivist. He wants society to solve everyone's problems for them, satisfy everyone's needs for them, take care of them. He is not the sort of person who has an inner sense of confidence in his ability to solve his own problems and satisfy his own needs. The leftist is antagonistic to the concept of competition because, deep inside, he feels like a loser. 17. Art forms that appeal to modern leftish intellectuals tend to focus on sordidness, defeat and despair, or else they take an orgiastic tone, throwing off rational control as if there were no hope of accomplishing anything through rational calculation and all that was left was to immerse oneself in the sensations of the moment. 18. Modern leftish philosophers tend to dismiss reason, science, objective reality and to insist that everything is culturally relative. It is true that one can ask serious questions about the foundations of scientific knowledge and about how, if at all, the concept of objective reality can be defined. But it is obvious that modern leftish philosophers are not simply cool-headed logicians systematically analyzing the foundations of knowledge. They are deeply involved emotionally in their attack on truth and reality. They attack these concepts because of their own psychological needs. For one thing, their attack is an outlet for hostility, and, to the extent that it is successful, it satisfies the drive for power. More importantly, the leftist hates science and rationality because they classify certain beliefs as true (i.e., successful, superior) and other beliefs as false (i.e., failed, inferior). The leftist's feelings of inferiority run so deep that he cannot tolerate any classification of some things as successful or superior and other things as failed or inferior. This also underlies the rejection by many leftists of the concept of mental illness and of the utility of IQ tests. Leftists are antagonistic to genetic explanations of human abilities or behavior because such explanations tend to make some persons appear superior or inferior to others. Leftists prefer to give society the credit or blame for an individual's ability or lack of it. Thus if a person is "inferior" it is not his fault, but society's, because he has not been brought up properly. 19. The leftist is not typically the kind of person whose feelings of inferiority make him a braggart, an egotist, a bully, a self-promoter, a ruthless competitor. This kind of person has not wholly lost faith in himself. He has a deficit in his sense of power and self-worth, but he can still conceive of himself as having the capacity to be strong, and his efforts to make himself strong produce his unpleasant behavior. [1] But the leftist is too far gone for that. His feelings of inferiority are so ingrained that he cannot conceive of himself as individually strong and valuable. Hence the collectivism of the leftist. He can feel strong only as a member of a large organization or a mass movement with which he identifies himself. 20. Notice the masochistic tendency of leftist tactics. Leftists protest by lying down in front of vehicles, they intentionally provoke police or racists to abuse them, etc. These tactics may often be effective, but many leftists use them not as a means to an end but because they prefer masochistic tactics. Self-hatred is a leftist trait. 21. Leftists may claim that their activism is motivated by compassion or by moral principles, and moral principle does play a role for the leftist of the oversocialized type. But compassion and moral principle cannot be the main motives for leftist activism. Hostility is too prominent a component of leftist behavior; so is the drive for power. Moreover, much leftist behavior is not rationally calculated to be of benefit to the people whom the leftists claim to be trying to help. For example, if one believes that affirmative action is good for black people, does it make sense to demand affirmative action in hostile or dogmatic terms? Obviously it would be more productive to take a diplomatic and conciliatory approach that would make at least verbal and symbolic concessions to white people who think that affirmative action discriminates against them. But leftist activists do not take such an approach because it would not satisfy their emotional needs. Helping black people is not their real goal. Instead, race problems serve as an excuse for them to express their own hostility and frustrated need for power. In doing so they actually harm black people, because the activists' hostile attitude toward the white majority tends to intensify race hatred. 22. If our society had no social problems at all, the leftists would have to invent problems in order to provide themselves with an excuse for making a fuss. 23. We emphasize that the foregoing does not pretend to be an accurate description of everyone who might be considered a leftist. It is only a rough indication of a general tendency of leftism. Oversocialization 24. Psychologists use the term "socialization" to designate the process by which children are trained to think and act as society demands. A person is said to be well socialized if he believes in and obeys the moral code of his society and fits in well as a functioning part of that society. It may seem senseless to say that many leftists are over-socialized, since the leftist is perceived as a rebel. Nevertheless, the position can be defended. Many leftists are not such rebels as they seem. 25. The moral code of our society is so demanding that no one can think, feel and act in a completely moral way. For example, we are not supposed to hate anyone, yet almost everyone hates somebody at some time or other, whether he admits it to himself or not. Some people are so highly socialized that the attempt to think, feel and act morally imposes a severe burden on them. In order to avoid feelings of guilt, they continually have to deceive themselves about their own motives and find moral explanations for feelings and actions that in reality have a non-moral origin. We use the term "oversocialized" to describe such people. [2] 26. Oversocialization can lead to low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, defeatism, guilt, etc. One of the most important means by which our society socializes children is by making them feel ashamed of behavior or speech that is contrary to society's expectations. If this is overdone, or if a particular child is especially susceptible to such feelings, he ends by feeling ashamed of himself. Moreover the thought and the behavior of the oversocialized person are more restricted by society's expectations than are those of the lightly socialized person. The majority of people engage in a significant amount of naughty behavior. They lie, they commit petty thefts, they break traffic laws, they goof off at work, they hate someone, they say spiteful things or they use some underhanded trick to get ahead of the other guy. The oversocialized person cannot do these things, or if he does do them he generates in himself a sense of shame and self-hatred. The oversocialized person cannot even experience, without guilt, thoughts or feelings that are contrary to the accepted morality; he cannot think "unclean" thoughts. And socialization is not just a matter of morality; we are socialized to conform to many norms of behavior that do not fall under the heading of morality. Thus the oversocialized person is kept on a psychological leash and spends his life running on rails that society has laid down for him. In many oversocialized people this results in a sense of constraint and powerlessness that can be a severe hardship. We suggest that oversocialization is among the more serious cruelties that human beings inflict on one another. 27. We argue that a very important and influential segment of the modern left is oversocialized and that their oversocialization is of great importance in determining the direction of modern leftism. Leftists of the oversocialized type tend to be intellectuals or members of the upper-middle class. Notice that university intellectuals [3] constitute the most highly socialized segment of our society and also the most left-wing segment. 28. The leftist of the oversocialized type tries to get off his psychological leash and assert his autonomy by rebelling. But usually he is not strong enough to rebel against the most basic values of society. Generally speaking, the goals of today's leftists are not in conflict with the accepted morality. On the contrary, the left takes an accepted moral principle, adopts it as its own, and then accuses mainstream society of violating that principle. Examples: racial equality, equality of the sexes, helping poor people, peace as opposed to war, nonviolence generally, freedom of expression, kindness to animals. More fundamentally, the duty of the individual to serve society and the duty of society to take care of the individual. All these have been deeply rooted values of our society (or at least of its middle and upper classes [4] ) for a long time. These values are explicitly or implicitly expressed or presupposed in most of the material presented to us by the mainstream communications media and the educational system. Leftists, especially those of the oversocialized type, usually do not rebel against these principles but justify their hostility to society by claiming (with some degree of truth) that society is not living up to these principles. 29. Here is an illustration of the way in which the oversocialized leftist shows his real attachment to the conventional attitudes of our society while pretending to be in rebellion against it. Many leftists push for affirmative action, for moving black people into high-prestige jobs, for improved education in black schools and more money for such schools; the way of life of the black "underclass" they regard as a social disgrace. They want to integrate the black man into the system, make him a business executive, a lawyer, a scientist just like upper-middle-class white people. The leftists will reply that the last thing they want is to make the black man into a copy of the white man; instead, they want to preserve African American culture. But in what does this preservation of African American culture consist? It can hardly consist in anything more than eating black-style food, listening to black-style music, wearing black-style clothing and going to a black-style church or mosque. In other words, it can express itself only in superficial matters. In all essential respects leftists of the oversocialized type want to make the black man conform to white, middle-class ideals. They want to make him study technical subjects, become an executive or a scientist, spend his life climbing the status ladder to prove that black people are as good as white. They want to make black fathers "responsible." They want black gangs to become nonviolent, etc. But these are exactly the values of the industrial-technological system. The system couldn't care less what kind of music a man listens to, what kind of clothes he wears or what religion he believes in as long as he studies in school, holds a respectable job, climbs the status ladder, is a "responsible" parent, is nonviolent and so forth. In effect, however much he may deny it, the oversocialized leftist wants to integrate the black man into the system and make him adopt its values. 30. We certainly do not claim that leftists, even of the oversocialized type, never rebel against the fundamental values of our society. Clearly they sometimes do. Some oversocialized leftists have gone so far as to rebel against one of modern society's most important principles by engaging in physical violence. By their own account, violence is for them a form of "liberation." In other words, by committing violence they break through the psychological restraints that have been trained into them. Because they are oversocialized these restraints have been more confining for them than for others; hence their need to break free of them. But they usually justify their rebellion in terms of mainstream values. If they engage in violence they claim to be fighting against racism or the like. 31. We realize that many objections could be raised to the foregoing thumb-nail sketch of leftist psychology. The real situation is complex, and anything like a complete description of it would take several volumes even if the necessary data were available. We claim only to have indicated very roughly the two most important tendencies in the psychology of modern leftism. 32. The problems of the leftist are indicative of the problems of our society as a whole. Low self-esteem, depressive tendencies and defeatism are not restricted to the left. Though they are especially noticeable in the left, they are widespread in our society. And today's society tries to socialize us to a greater extent than any previous society. We are even told by experts how to eat, how to exercise, how to make love, how to raise our kids and so forth. The power process 33. Human beings have a need (probably based in biology) for something that we will call the "power process." This is closely related to the need for power (which is widely recognized) but is not quite the same thing. The power process has four elements. The three most clear-cut of these we call goal, effort and attainment of goal. (Everyone needs to have goals whose attainment requires effort, and needs to succeed in attaining at least some of his goals.) The fourth element is more difficult to define and may not be necessary for everyone. We call it autonomy and will discuss it later (paragraphs 42-44). 34. Consider the hypothetical case of a man who can have anything he wants just by wishing for it. Such a man has power, but he will develop serious psychological problems. At first he will have a lot of fun, but by and by he will become acutely bored and demoralized. Eventually he may become clinically depressed. History shows that leisured aristocracies tend to become decadent. This is not true of fighting aristocracies that have to struggle to maintain their power. But leisured, secure aristocracies that have no need to exert themselves usually become bored, hedonistic and demoralized, even though they have power. This shows that power is not enough. One must have goals toward which to exercise one's power. 35. Everyone has goals; if nothing else, to obtain the physical necessities of life: food, water and whatever clothing and shelter are made necessary by the climate. But the leisured aristocrat obtains these things without effort. Hence his boredom and demoralization. 36. Nonattainment of important goals results in death if the goals are physical necessities, and in frustration if nonattainment of the goals is compatible with survival. Consistent failure to attain goals throughout life results in defeatism, low self-esteem or depression. 37. Thus, in order to avoid serious psychological problems, a human being needs goals whose attainment requires effort, and he must have a reasonable rate of success in attaining his goals. Surrogate activities 38. But not every leisured aristocrat becomes bored and demoralized. For example, the emperor Hirohito, instead of sinking into decadent hedonism, devoted himself to marine biology, a field in which he became distinguished. When people do not have to exert themselves to satisfy their physical needs they often set up artificial goals for themselves. In many cases they then pursue these goals with the same energy and emotional involvement that they otherwise would have put into the search for physical necessities. Thus the aristocrats of the Roman Empire had their literary pretensions; many European aristocrats a few centuries ago invested tremendous time and energy in hunting, though they certainly didn't need the meat; other aristocracies have competed for status through elaborate displays of wealth; and a few aristocrats, like Hirohito, have turned to science. 39. We use the term "surrogate activity" to designate an activity that is directed toward an artificial goal that people set up for themselves merely in order to have some goal to work toward, or let us say, merely for the sake of the "fulfillment" that they get from pursuing the goal. Here is a rule of thumb for the identification of surrogate activities. Given a person who devotes much time and energy to the pursuit of goal X, ask yourself this: If he had to devote most of his time and energy to satisfying his biological needs, and if that effort required him to use his physical and mental facilities in a varied and interesting way, would he feel seriously deprived because he did not attain goal X? If the answer is no, then the person's pursuit of a goal X is a surrogate activity. Hirohito's studies in marine biology clearly constituted a surrogate activity, since it is pretty certain that if Hirohito had had to spend his time working at interesting non-scientific tasks in order to obtain the necessities of life, he would not have felt deprived because he didn't know all about the anatomy and life-cycles of marine animals. On the other hand the pursuit of sex and love (for example) is not a surrogate activity, because most people, even if their existence were otherwise satisfactory, would feel deprived if they passed their lives without ever having a relationship with a member of the opposite sex. (But pursuit of an excessive amount of sex, more than one really needs, can be a surrogate activity.) 40. In modern industrial society only minimal effort is necessary to satisfy one's physical needs. It is enough to go through a training program to acquire some petty technical skill, then come to work on time and exert very modest effort needed to hold a job. The only requirements are a moderate amount of intelligence, and most of all, simple obedience. If one has those, society takes care of one from cradle to grave. (Yes, there is an underclass that cannot take physical necessities for granted, but we are speaking here of mainstream society.) Thus it is not surprising that modern society is full of surrogate activities. These include scientific work, athletic achievement, humanitarian work, artistic and literary creation, climbing the corporate ladder, acquisition of money and material goods far beyond the point at which they cease to give any additional physical satisfaction, and social activism when it addresses issues that are not important for the activist personally, as in the case of white activists who work for the rights of nonwhite minorities. These are not always pure surrogate activities, since for many people they may be motivated in part by needs other than the need to have some goal to pursue. Scientific work may be motivated in part by a drive for prestige, artistic creation by a need to express feelings, militant social activism by hostility. But for most people who pursue them, these activities are in large part surrogate activities. For example, the majority of scientists will probably agree that the "fulfillment" they get from their work is more important than the money and prestige they earn. 41. For many if not most people, surrogate activities are less satisfying than the pursuit of real goals (that is, goals that people would want to attain even if their need for the power process were already fulfilled). One indication of this is the fact that, in many or most cases, people who are deeply involved in surrogate activities are never satisfied, never at rest. Thus the money-maker constantly strives for more and more wealth. The scientist no sooner solves one problem than he moves on to the next. The long-distance runner drives himself to run always farther and faster. Many people who pursue surrogate activities will say that they get far more fulfillment from these activities than they do from the "mundane" business of satisfying their biological needs, but that it is because in our society the effort needed to satisfy the biological needs has been reduced to triviality. More importantly, in our society people do not satisfy their biological needs autonomously but by functioning as parts of an immense social machine. In contrast, people generally have a great deal of autonomy in pursuing their surrogate activities. Autonomy 42. Autonomy as a part of the power process may not be necessary for every individual. But most people need a greater or lesser degree of autonomy in working toward their goals. Their efforts must be undertaken on their own initiative and must be under their own direction and control. Yet most people do not have to exert this initiative, direction and control as single individuals. It is usually enough to act as a member of a small group. Thus if half a dozen people discuss a goal among themselves and make a successful joint effort to attain that goal, their need for the power process will be served. But if they work under rigid orders handed down from above that leave them no room for autonomous decision and initiative, then their need for the power process will not be served. The same is true when decisions are made on a collective basis if the group making the collective decision is so large that the role of each individual is insignificant. [5] 43. It is true that some individuals seem to have little need for autonomy. Either their drive for power is weak or they satisfy it by identifying themselves with some powerful organization to which they belong. And then there are unthinking, animal types who seem to be satisfied with a purely physical sense of power (the good combat soldier, who gets his sense of power by developing fighting skills that he is quite content to use in blind obedience to his superiors). 44. But for most people it is through the power process—having a goal, making an autonomous effort and attaining the goal—that self-esteem, self-confidence and a sense of power are acquired. When one does not have adequate opportunity to go throughout the power process the consequences are (depending on the individual and on the way the power process is disrupted) boredom, demoralization, low self-esteem, inferiority feelings, defeatism, depression, anxiety, guilt, frustration, hostility, spouse or child abuse, insatiable hedonism, abnormal sexual behavior, sleep disorders, eating disorders, etc. [6] Sources of social problems 45. Any of the foregoing symptoms can occur in any society, but in modern industrial society they are present on a massive scale. We aren't the first to mention that the world today seems to be going crazy. This sort of thing is not normal for human societies. There is good reason to believe that primitive man suffered from less stress and frustration and was better satisfied with his way of life than modern man is. It is true that not all was sweetness and light in primitive societies. Abuse of women was common among the Australian aborigines, transexuality was fairly common among some of the American Indian tribes. But it does appear that generally speaking the kinds of problems that we have listed in the preceding paragraph were far less common among primitive peoples than they are in modern society. 46. We attribute the social and psychological problems of modern society to the fact that that society requires people to live under conditions radically different from those under which the human race evolved and to behave in ways that conflict with the patterns of behavior that the human race developed while living under the earlier conditions. It is clear from what we have already written that we consider lack of opportunity to properly experience the power process as the most important of the abnormal conditions to which modern society subjects people. But it is not the only one. Before dealing with disruption of the power process as a source of social problems we will discuss some of the other sources. 47. Among the abnormal conditions present in modern industrial society are excessive density of population, isolation of man from nature, excessive rapidity of social change and the break-down of natural small-scale communities such as the extended family, the village or the tribe. 48. It is well known that crowding increases stress and aggression. The degree of crowding that exists today and the isolation of man from nature are consequences of technological progress. All pre-industrial societies were predominantly rural. The industrial Revolution vastly increased the size of cities and the proportion of the population that lives in them, and modern agricultural technology has made it possible for the Earth to support a far denser population than it ever did before. (Also, technology exacerbates the effects of crowding because it puts increased disruptive powers in people's hands. For example, a variety of noise-making devices: power mowers, radios, motorcycles, etc. If the use of these devices is unrestricted, people who want peace and quiet are frustrated by the noise. If their use is restricted, people who use the devices are frustrated by the regulations... But if these machines had never been invented there would have been no conflict and no frustration generated by them.) 49. For primitive societies the natural world (which usually changes only slowly) provided a stable framework and therefore a sense of security. In the modern world it is human society that dominates nature rather than the other way around, and modern society changes very rapidly owing to technological change. Thus there is no stable framework. 50. The conservatives are fools: They whine about the decay of traditional values, yet they enthusiastically support technological progress and economic growth. Apparently it never occurs to them that you can't make rapid, drastic changes in the technology and the economy of a society without causing rapid changes in all other aspects of the society as well, and that such rapid changes inevitably break down traditional values. 51. The breakdown of traditional values to some extent implies the breakdown of the bonds that hold together traditional small-scale social groups. The disintegration of small-scale social groups is also promoted by the fact that modern conditions often require or tempt individuals to move to new locations, separating themselves from their communities. Beyond that, a technological society has to weaken family ties and local communities if it is to function efficiently. In modern society an individual's loyalty must be first to the system and only secondarily to a small-scale community, because if the internal loyalties of small-scale communities were stronger than loyalty to the system, such communities would pursue their own advantage at the expense of the system. 52. Suppose that a public official or a corporation executive appoints his cousin, his friend or his co-religionist to a position rather than appointing the person best qualified for the job. He has permitted personal loyalty to supersede his loyalty to the system, and that is "nepotism" or "discrimination," both of which are terrible sins in modern society. Would-be industrial societies that have done a poor job of subordinating personal or local loyalties to loyalty to the system are usually very inefficient. (Look at Latin America.) Thus an advanced industrial society can tolerate only those small-scale communities that are emasculated, tamed and made into tools of the system. [7] 53. Crowding, rapid change and the breakdown of communities have been widely recognized as sources of social problems. but we do not believe they are enough to account for the extent of the problems that are seen today. 54. A few pre-industrial cities were very large and crowded, yet their inhabitants do not seem to have suffered from psychological problems to the same extent as modern man. In America today there still are uncrowded rural areas, and we find there the same problems as in urban areas, though the problems tend to be less acute in the rural areas. Thus crowding does not seem to be the decisive factor. 55. On the growing edge of the American frontier during the 19th century, the mobility of the population probably broke down extended families and small-scale social groups to at least the same extent as these are broken down today. In fact, many nuclear families lived by choice in such isolation, having no neighbors within several miles, that they belonged to no community at all, yet they do not seem to have developed problems as a result. 56. Furthermore, change in American frontier society was very rapid and deep. A man might be born and raised in a log cabin, outside the reach of law and order and fed largely on wild meat; and by the time he arrived at old age he might be working at a regular job and living in an ordered community with effective law enforcement. This was a deeper change than that which typically occurs in the life of a modern individual, yet it does not seem to have led to psychological problems. In fact, 19th century American society had an optimistic and self-confident tone, quite unlike that of today's society. [8] 57. The difference, we argue, is that modern man has the sense (largely justified) that change is imposed on him, whereas the 19th century frontiersman had the sense (also largely justified) that he created change himself, by his own choice. Thus a pioneer settled on a piece of land of his own choosing and made it into a farm through his own effort. In those days an entire county might have only a couple of hundred inhabitants and was a far more isolated and autonomous entity than a modern county is. Hence the pioneer farmer participated as a member of a relatively small group in the creation of a new, ordered community. One may well question whether the creation of this community was an improvement, but at any rate it satisfied the pioneer's need for the power process. 58. It would be possible to give other examples of societies in which there has been rapid change and/or lack of close community ties without the kind of massive behavioral aberration that is seen in today's industrial society. We contend that the most important cause of social and psychological problems in modern society is the fact that people have insufficient opportunity to go through the power process in a normal way. We don't mean to say that modern society is the only one in which the power process has been disrupted. Probably most if not all civilized societies have interfered with the power process to a greater or lesser extent. But in modern industrial society the problem has become particularly acute. Leftism, at least in its recent (mid-to-late -20th century) form, is in part a symptom of deprivation with respect to the power process. Disruption of the power process in modern society 59. We divide human drives into three groups: (1) those drives that can be satisfied with minimal effort; (2) those that can be satisfied but only at the cost of serious effort; (3) those that cannot be adequately satisfied no matter how much effort one makes. The power process is the process of satisfying the drives of the second group. The more drives there are in the third group, the more there is frustration, anger, eventually defeatism, depression, etc. 60. In modern industrial society natural human drives tend to be pushed into the first and third groups, and the second group tends to consist increasingly of artificially created drives. 61. In primitive societies, physical necessities generally fall into group 2: They can be obtained, but only at the cost of serious effort. But modern society tends to guaranty the physical necessities to everyone [9] in exchange for only minimal effort, hence physical needs are pushed into group 1. (There may be disagreement about whether the effort needed to hold a job is "minimal"; but usually, in lower- to middle-level jobs, whatever effort is required is merely that of obedience. You sit or stand where you are told to sit or stand and do what you are told to do in the way you are told to do it. Seldom do you have to exert yourself seriously, and in any case you have hardly any autonomy in work, so that the need for the power process is not well served.) 62. Social needs, such as sex, love and status, often remain in group 2 in modern society, depending on the situation of the individual. [10] But, except for people who have a particularly strong drive for status, the effort required to fulfill the social drives is insufficient to satisfy adequately the need for the power process. 63. So certain artificial needs have been created that fall into group 2, hence serve the need for the power process. Advertising and marketing techniques have been developed that make many people feel they need things that their grandparents never desired or even dreamed of. It requires serious effort to earn enough money to satisfy these artificial needs, hence they fall into group 2. (But see paragraphs 80-82.) Modern man must satisfy his need for the power process largely through pursuit of the artificial needs created by the advertising and marketing industry, [11] and through surrogate activities. 64. It seems that for many people, maybe the majority, these artificial forms of the power process are insufficient. A theme that appears repeatedly in the writings of the social critics of the second half of the 20th century is the sense of purposelessness that afflicts many people in modern society. (This purposelessness is often called by other names such as "anomie" or "middle-class vacuity.") We suggest that the so-called "identity crisis" is actually a search for a sense of purpose, often for commitment to a suitable surrogate activity. It may be that existentialism is in large part a response to the purposelessness of modern life. [12] Very widespread in modern society is the search for "fulfillment." But we think that for the majority of people an activity whose main goal is fulfillment (that is, a surrogate activity) does not bring completely satisfactory fulfillment. In other words, it does not fully satisfy the need for the power process. (See paragraph 41.) That need can be fully satisfied only through activities that have some external goal, such as physical necessities, sex, love, status, revenge, etc. 65. Moreover, where goals are pursued through earning money, climbing the status ladder or functioning as part of the system in some other way, most people are not in a position to pursue their goals autonomously. Most workers are someone else's employee and, as we pointed out in paragraph 61, must spend their days doing what they are told to do in the way they are told to do it. Even most people who are in business for themselves have only limited autonomy. It is a chronic complaint of small-business persons and entrepreneurs that their hands are tied by excessive government regulation. Some of these regulations are doubtless unnecessary, but for the most part government regulations are essential and inevitable parts of our extremely complex society. A large portion of small business today operates on the franchise system. It was reported in the Wall Street Journal a few years ago that many of the franchise-granting companies require applicants for franchises to take a personality test that is designed to exclude those who have creativity and initiative, because such persons are not sufficiently docile to go along obediently with the franchise system. This excludes from small business many of the people who most need autonomy. 66. Today people live more by virtue of what the system does for them or to them than by virtue of what they do for themselves. And what they do for themselves is done more and more along channels laid down by the system. Opportunities tend to be those that the system provides, the opportunities must be exploited in accord with the rules and regulations, [13] and techniques prescribed by experts must be followed if there is to be a chance of success. 67. Thus the power process is disrupted in our society through a deficiency of real goals and a deficiency of autonomy in pursuit of goals. But it is also disrupted because of those human drives that fall into group 3: the drives that one cannot adequately satisfy no matter how much effort one makes. One of these drives is the need for security. Our lives depend on decisions made by other people; we have no control over these decisions and usually we do not even know the people who make them. ("We live in a world in which relatively few people—maybe 500 or 1,000—make the important decisions"—Philip B. Heymann of Harvard Law School, quoted by Anthony Lewis, New York Times, April 21, 1995.) Our lives depend on whether safety standards at a nuclear power plant are properly maintained; on how much pesticide is allowed to get into our food or how much pollution into our air; on how skillful (or incompetent) our doctor is; whether we lose or get a job may depend on decisions made by government economists or corporation executives; and so forth. Most individuals are not in a position to secure themselves against these threats to more than a very limited extent. The individual's search for security is therefore frustrated, which leads to a sense of powerlessness. 68. It may be objected that primitive man is physically less secure than modern man, as is shown by his shorter life expectancy; hence modern man suffers from less, not more than the amount of insecurity that is normal for human beings. but psychological security does not closely correspond with physical security. What makes us feel secure is not so much objective security as a sense of confidence in our ability to take care of ourselves. Primitive man, threatened by a fierce animal or by hunger, can fight in self-defense or travel in search of food. He has no certainty of success in these efforts, but he is by no means helpless against the things that threaten him. The modern individual on the other hand is threatened by many things against which he is helpless; nuclear accidents, carcinogens in food, environmental pollution, war, increasing taxes, invasion of his privacy by large organizations, nation-wide social or economic phenomena that may disrupt his way of life. 69. It is true that primitive man is powerless against some of the things that threaten him; disease for example. But he can accept the risk of disease stoically. It is part of the nature of things, it is no one's fault, unless it is the fault of some imaginary, impersonal demon. But threats to the modern individual tend to be man-made. They are not the results of chance but are imposed on him by other persons whose decisions he, as an individual, is unable to influence. Consequently he feels frustrated, humiliated and angry. 70. Thus primitive man for the most part has his security in his own hands (either as an individual or as a member of a small group) whereas the security of modern man is in the hands of persons or organizations that are too remote or too large for him to be able personally to influence them. So modern man's drive for security tends to fall into groups 1 and 3; in some areas (food, shelter, etc.) his security is assured at the cost of only trivial effort, whereas in other areas he cannot attain security. (The foregoing greatly simplifies the real situation, but it does indicate in a rough, general way how the condition of modern man differs from that of primitive man.) 71. People have many transitory drives or impulses that are necessarily frustrated in modern life, hence fall into group 3. One may become angry, but modern society cannot permit fighting. In many situations it does not even permit verbal aggression. When going somewhere one may be in a hurry, or one may be in a mood to travel slowly, but one generally has no choice but to move with the flow of traffic and obey the traffic signals. One may want to do one's work in a different way, but usually one can work only according to the rules laid down by one's employer. In many other ways as well, modern man is strapped down by a network of rules and regulations (explicit or implicit) that frustrate many of his impulses and thus interfere with the power process. Most of these regulations cannot be disposed with, because they are necessary for the functioning of industrial society. 72. Modern society is in certain respects extremely permissive. In matters that are irrelevant to the functioning of the system we can generally do what we please. We can believe in any religion we like (as long as it does not encourage behavior that is dangerous to the system). We can go to bed with anyone we like (as long as we practice "safe sex"). We can do anything we like as long as it is unimportant. But in all important matters the system tends increasingly to regulate our behavior. 73. Behavior is regulated not only through explicit rules and not only by the government. Control is often exercised through indirect coercion or through psychological pressure or manipulation, and by organizations other than the government, or by the system as a whole. Most large organizations use some form of propaganda [14] to manipulate public attitudes or behavior. Propaganda is not limited to "commercials" and advertisements, and sometimes it is not even consciously intended as propaganda by the people who make it. For instance, the content of entertainment programming is a powerful form of propaganda. An example of indirect coercion: There is no law that says we have to go to work every day and follow our employer's orders. Legally there is nothing to prevent us from going to live in the wild like primitive people or from going into business for ourselves. But in practice there is very little wild country left, and there is room in the economy for only a limited number of small business owners. Hence most of us can survive only as someone else's employee. 74. We suggest that modern man's obsession with longevity, and with maintaining physical vigor and sexual attractiveness to an advanced age, is a symptom of unfulfillment resulting from deprivation with respect to the power process. The "mid-life crisis" also is such a symptom. So is the lack of interest in having children that is fairly common in modern society but almost unheard-of in primitive societies. 75. In primitive societies life is a succession of stages. The needs and purposes of one stage having been fulfilled, there is no particular reluctance about passing on to the next stage. A young man goes through the power process by becoming a hunter, hunting not for sport or for fulfillment but to get meat that is necessary for food. (In young women the process is more complex, with greater emphasis on social power; we won't discuss that here.) This phase having been successfully passed through, the young man has no reluctance about settling down to the responsibilities of raising a family. (In contrast, some modern people indefinitely postpone having children because they are too busy seeking some kind of "fulfillment." We suggest that the fulfillment they need is adequate experience of the power process—with real goals instead of the artificial goals of surrogate activities.) Again, having successfully raised his children, going through the power process by providing them with the physical necessities, the primitive man feels that his work is done and he is prepared to accept old age (if he survives that long) and death. Many modern people, on the other hand, are disturbed by the prospect of death, as is shown by the amount of effort they expend trying to maintain their physical condition, appearance and health. We argue that this is due to unfulfillment resulting from the fact that they have never put their physical powers to any use, have never gone through the power process using their bodies in a serious way. It is not the primitive man, who has used his body daily for practical purposes, who fears the deterioration of age, but the modern man, who has never had a practical use for his body beyond walking from his car to his house. It is the man whose need for the power process has been satisfied during his life who is best prepared to accept the end of that life. 76. In response to the arguments of this section someone will say, "Society must find a way to give people the opportunity to go through the power process." For such people the value of the opportunity is destroyed by the very fact that society gives it to them. What they need is to find or make their own opportunities. As long as the system gives them their opportunities it still has them on a leash. To attain autonomy they must get off that leash. How some people adjust 77. Not everyone in industrial-technological society suffers from psychological problems. Some people even profess to be quite satisfied with society as it is. We now discuss some of the reasons why people differ so greatly in their response to modern society. 78. First, there doubtless are differences in the strength of the drive for power. Individuals with a weak drive for power may have relatively little need to go through the power process, or at least relatively little need for autonomy in the power process. These are docile types who would have been happy as plantation darkies in the Old South. (We don't mean to sneer at "plantation darkies" of the Old South. To their credit, most of the slaves were not content with their servitude. We do sneer at people who are content with servitude.) 79. Some people may have some exceptional drive, in pursuing which they satisfy their need for the power process. For example, those who have an unusually strong drive for social status may spend their whole lives climbing the status ladder without ever getting bored with that game. 80. People vary in their susceptibility to advertising and marketing techniques. Some people are so susceptible that, even if they make a great deal of money, they cannot satisfy their constant craving for the shiny new toys that the marketing industry dangles before their eyes. So they always feel hard-pressed financially even if their income is large, and their cravings are frustrated. 81. Some people have low susceptibility to advertising and marketing techniques. These are the people who aren't interested in money. Material acquisition does not serve their need for the power process. 82. People who have medium susceptibility to advertising and marketing techniques are able to earn enough money to satisfy their craving for goods and services, but only at the cost of serious effort (putting in overtime, taking a second job, earning promotions, etc.) Thus material acquisition serves their need for the power process. But it does not necessarily follow that their need is fully satisfied. They may have insufficient autonomy in the power process (their work may consist of following orders) and some of their drives may be frustrated (e.g., security, aggression) (We are guilty of oversimplification in paragraphs 80-82 because we have assumed that the desire for material acquisition is entirely a creation of the advertising and marketing industry. Of course it's not that simple). 83. Some people partly satisfy their need for power by identifying themselves with a powerful organization or mass movement. An individual lacking goals or power joins a movement or an organization, adopts its goals as his own, then works toward these goals. When some of the goals are attained, the individual, even though his personal efforts have played only an insignificant part in the attainment of the goals, feels (through his identification with the movement or organization) as if he had gone through the power process. This phenomenon was exploited by the fascists, Nazis and communists. Our society uses it, too, though less crudely. Example: Manuel Noriega was an irritant to the U.S. (goal: punish Noriega). The U.S. invaded Panama (effort) and punished Noriega (attainment of goal). The U.S. went through the power process and many Americans, because of their identification with the U.S., experienced the power process vicariously. Hence the widespread public approval of the Panama invasion; it gave people a sense of power. [15] We see the same phenomenon in armies, corporations, political parties, humanitarian organizations, religious or ideological movements. In particular, leftist movements tend to attract people who are seeking to satisfy their need for power. But for most people identification with a large organization or a mass movement does not fully satisfy the need for power. 84. Another way in which people satisfy their need for the power process is through surrogate activities. As we explained in paragraphs 38-40, a surrogate activity that is directed toward an artificial goal that the individual pursues for the sake of the "fulfillment" that he gets from pursuing the goal, not because he needs to attain the goal itself. For instance, there is no practical motive for building enormous muscles, hitting a little ball into a hole or acquiring a complete series of postage stamps. Yet many people in our society devote themselves with passion to bodybuilding, golf or stamp collecting. Some people are more "other-directed" than others, and therefore will more readily attach importance to a surrogate activity simply because the people around them treat it as important or because society tells them it is important. That is why some people get very serious about essentially trivial activities such as sports, or bridge, or chess, or arcane scholarly pursuits, whereas others who are more clear-sighted never see these things as anything but the surrogate activities that they are, and consequently never attach enough importance to them to satisfy their need for the power process in that way. It only remains to point out that in many cases a person's way of earning a living is also a surrogate activity. Not a pure surrogate activity, since part of the motive for the activity is to gain the physical necessities and (for some people) social status and the luxuries that advertising makes them want. But many people put into their work far more effort than is necessary to earn whatever money and status they require, and this extra effort constitutes a surrogate activity. This extra effort, together with the emotional investment that accompanies it, is one of the most potent forces acting toward the continual development and perfecting of the system, with negative consequences for individual freedom (see paragraph 131). Especially, for the most creative scientists and engineers, work tends to be largely a surrogate activity. This point is so important that is deserves a separate discussion, which we shall give in a moment (paragraphs 87-92). 85. In this section we have explained how many people in modern society do satisfy their need for the power process to a greater or lesser extent. But we think that for the majority of people the need for the power process is not fully satisfied. In the first place, those who have an insatiable drive for status, or who get firmly "hooked" on a surrogate activity, or who identify strongly enough with a movement or organization to satisfy their need for power in that way, are exceptional personalities. Others are not fully satisfied with surrogate activities or by identification with an organization (see paragraphs 41, 64). In the second place, too much control is imposed by the system through explicit regulation or through socialization, which results in a deficiency of autonomy, and in frustration due to the impossibility of attaining certain goals and the necessity of restraining too many impulses. 86. But even if most people in industrial-technological society were well satisfied, we (FC) would still be opposed to that form of society, because (among other reasons) we consider it demeaning to fulfill one's need for the power process through surrogate activities or through identification with an organization, rather than through pursuit of real goals. The motives of scientists 87. Science and technology provide the most important examples of surrogate activities. Some scientists claim that they are motivated by "curiosity;" that notion is simply absurd. Most scientists work on highly specialized problems that are not the object of any normal curiosity. For example, is an astronomer, a mathematician or an entomologist curious about the properties of isopropyltrimethylmethane? Of course not. Only a chemist is curious about such a thing, and he is curious about it only because chemistry is his surrogate activity. Is the chemist curious about the appropriate classification of a new species of beetle? No. That question is of interest only to the entomologist, and he is interested in it only because entomology is his surrogate activity. If the chemist and the entomologist had to exert themselves seriously to obtain the physical necessities, and if that effort exercised their abilities in an interesting way but in some nonscientific pursuit, then they couldn't give a damn about isopropyltrimethylmethane or the classification of beetles. Suppose that lack of funds for postgraduate education had led the chemist to become an insurance broker instead of a chemist. In that case he would have been very interested in insurance matters but would have cared nothing about isopropyltrimethylmethane. In any case it is not normal to put into the satisfaction of mere curiosity the amount of time and effort that scientists put into their work. The "curiosity" explanation for the scientists' motive just doesn't stand up. 88. The "benefit of humanity" explanation doesn't work any better. Some scientific work has no conceivable relation to the welfare of the human race—most of archeology or comparative linguistics for example. Some other areas of science present obviously dangerous possibilities. Yet scientists in these areas are just as enthusiastic about their work as those who develop vaccines or study air pollution. Consider the case of Dr. Edward Teller, who had an obvious emotional involvement in promoting nuclear power plants. Did this involvement stem from a desire to benefit humanity? If so, then why didn't Dr. Teller get emotional about other "humanitarian" causes? If he was such a humanitarian then why did he help to develop the H-bomb? As with many other scientific achievements, it is very much open to question whether nuclear power plants actually do benefit humanity. Does the cheap electricity outweigh the accumulating waste and risk of accidents? Dr. Teller saw only one side of the question. Clearly his emotional involvement with nuclear power arose not from a desire to "benefit humanity" but from a personal fulfillment he got from his work and from seeing it put to practical use. 89. The same is true of scientists generally. With possible rare exceptions, their motive is neither curiosity nor a desire to benefit humanity but the need to go through the power process: to have a goal (a scientific problem to solve), to make an effort (research) and to attain the goal (solution of the problem.) Science is a surrogate activity because scientists work mainly for the fulfillment they get out of the work itself. 90. Of course, it's not that simple. Other motives do play a role for many scientists. Money and status for example. Some scientists may be persons of the type who have an insatiable drive for status (see paragraph 79) and this may provide much of the motivation for their work. No doubt the majority of scientists, like the majority of the general population, are more or less susceptible to advertising and marketing techniques and need money to satisfy their craving for goods and services. Thus science is not a pure surrogate activity. But it is in large part a surrogate activity. 91. Also, science and technology constitute a mass power movement, and many scientists gratify their need for power through identification with this mass movement (see paragraph 83). 92. Thus science marches on blindly, without regard to the real welfare of the human race or to any other standard, obedient only to the psychological needs of the scientists and of the government officials and corporation executives who provide the funds for research. The nature of freedom 93. We are going to argue that industrial-technological society cannot be reformed in such a way as to prevent it from progressively narrowing the sphere of human freedom. But because "freedom" is a word that can be interpreted in many ways, we must first make clear what kind of freedom we are concerned with. 94. By "freedom" we mean the opportunity to go through the power process, with real goals not the artificial goals of surrogate activities, and without interference, manipulation or supervision from anyone, especially from any large organization. Freedom means being in control (either as an individual or as a member of a small group) of the life-and-death issues of one's existence; food, clothing, shelter and defense against whatever threats there may be in one's environment. Freedom means having power; not the power to control other people but the power to control the circumstances of one's own life. One does not have freedom if anyone else (especially a large organization) has power over one, no matter how benevolently, tolerantly and permissively that power may be exercised. It is important not to confuse freedom with mere permissiveness (see paragraph 72). 95. It is said that we live in a free society because we have a certain number of constitutionally guaranteed rights. But these are not as important as they seem. The degree of personal freedom that exists in a society is determined more by the economic and technological structure of the society than by its laws or its form of government. [16] Most of the Indian nations of New England were monarchies, and many of the cities of the Italian Renaissance were controlled by dictators. But in reading about these societies one gets the impression that they allowed far more personal freedom than our society does. In part this was because they lacked efficient mechanisms for enforcing the ruler's will: There were no modern, well-organized police forces, no rapid long-distance communications, no surveillance cameras, no dossiers of information about the lives of average citizens. Hence it was relatively easy to evade control. 96. As for our constitutional rights, consider for example that of freedom of the press. We certainly don't mean to knock that right: it is very important tool for limiting concentration of political power and for keeping those who do have political power in line by publicly exposing any misbehavior on their part. But freedom of the press is of very little use to the average citizen as an individual. The mass media are mostly under the control of large organizations that are integrated into the system. Anyone who has a little money can have something printed, or can distribute it on the Internet or in some such way, but what he has to say will be swamped by the vast volume of material put out by the media, hence it will have no practical effect. To make an impression on society with words is therefore almost impossible for most individuals and small groups. Take us (FC) for example. If we had never done anything violent and had submitted the present writings to a publisher, they probably would not have been accepted. If they had been accepted and published, they probably would not have attracted many readers, because it's more fun to watch the entertainment put out by the media than to read a sober essay. Even if these writings had had many readers, most of these readers would soon have forgotten what they had read as their minds were flooded by the mass of material to which the media expose them. In order to get our message before the public with some chance of making a lasting impression, we've had to kill people. 97. Constitutional rights are useful up to a point, but they do not serve to guarantee much more than what could be called the bourgeois conception of freedom. According to the bourgeois conception, a "free" man is essentially an element of a social machine and has only a certain set of prescribed and delimited freedoms; freedoms that are designed to serve the needs of the social machine more than those of the individual. Thus the bourgeois's "free" man has economic freedom because that promotes growth and progress; he has freedom of the press because public criticism restrains misbehavior by political leaders; he has a rights to a fair trial because imprisonment at the whim of the powerful would be bad for the system. This was clearly the attitude of Simon Bolivar. To him, people deserved liberty only if they used it to promote progress (progress as conceived by the bourgeois). Other bourgeois thinkers have taken a similar view of freedom as a mere means to collective ends. Chester C. Tan, "Chinese Political Thought in the Twentieth Century," page 202, explains the philosophy of the Kuomintang leader Hu Han-min: "An individual is granted rights because he is a member of society and his community life requires such rights. By community Hu meant the whole society of the nation." And on page 259 Tan states that according to Carsum Chang (Chang Chun-mai, head of the State Socialist Party in China) freedom had to be used in the interest of the state and of the people as a whole. But what kind of freedom does one have if one can use it only as someone else prescribes? FC's conception of freedom is not that of Bolivar, Hu, Chang or other bourgeois theorists. The trouble with such theorists is that they have made the development and application of social theories their surrogate activity. Consequently the theories are designed to serve the needs of the theorists more than the needs of any people who may be unlucky enough to live in a society on which the theories are imposed. 98. One more point to be made in this section: It should not be assumed that a person has enough freedom just because he says he has enough. Freedom is restricted in part by psychological control of which people are unconscious, and moreover many people's ideas of what constitutes freedom are governed more by social convention than by their real needs. For example, it's likely that many leftists of the oversocialized type would say that most people, including themselves are socialized too little rather than too much, yet the oversocialized leftist pays a heavy psychological price for his high level of socialization. Some principles of history 99. Think of history as being the sum of two components: an erratic component that consists of unpredictable events that follow no discernible pattern, and a regular component that consists of long-term historical trends. Here we are concerned with the long-term trends. First principle 100. If a small change is made that affects a long-term historical trend, then the effect of that change will almost always be transitory - the trend will soon revert to its original state. (Example: A reform movement designed to clean up political corruption in a society rarely has more than a short-term effect; sooner or later the reformers relax and corruption creeps back in. The level of political corruption in a given society tends to remain constant, or to change only slowly with the evolution of the society. Normally, a political cleanup will be permanent only if accompanied by widespread social changes; a small change in the society won't be enough.) If a small change in a long-term historical trend appears to be permanent, it is only because the change acts in the direction in which the trend is already moving, so that the trend is not altered but only pushed a step ahead. 101. The first principle is almost a tautology. If a trend were not stable with respect to small changes, it would wander at random rather than following a definite direction; in other words it would not be a long-term trend at all. Second principle 102. If a change is made that is sufficiently large to alter permanently a long-term historical trend, then it will alter the society as a whole. In other words, a society is a system in which all parts are interrelated, and you can't permanently change any important part without changing all the other parts as well. Third principle 103. If a change is made that is large enough to alter permanently a long-term trend, then the consequences for the society as a whole cannot be predicted in advance. (Unless various other societies have passed through the same change and have all experienced the same consequences, in which case one can predict on empirical grounds that another society that passes through the same change will be likely to experience similar consequences.) Fourth principle 104. A new kind of society cannot be designed on paper. That is, you cannot plan out a new form of society in advance, then set it up and expect it to function as it was designed to. 105. The third and fourth principles result from the complexity of human societies. A change in human behavior will affect the economy of a society and its physical environment; the economy will affect the environment and vice versa, and the changes in the economy and the environment will affect human behavior in complex, unpredictable ways; and so forth. The network of causes and effects is far too complex to be untangled and understood. Fifth principle 106. People do not consciously and rationally choose the form of their society. Societies develop through processes of social evolution that are not under rational human control. 107. The fifth principle is a consequence of the other four. 108. To illustrate: By the first principle, generally speaking an attempt at social reform either acts in the direction in which the society is developing anyway (so that it merely accelerates a change that would have occurred in any case) or else it only has a transitory effect, so that the society soon slips back into its old groove. To make a lasting change in the direction of development of any important aspect of a society, reform is insufficient and revolution is required. (A revolution does not necessarily involve an armed uprising or the overthrow of a government.) By the second principle, a revolution never changes only one aspect of a society; and by the third principle changes occur that were never expected or desired by the revolutionaries. By the fourth principle, when revolutionaries or utopians set up a new kind of society, it never works out as planned. 109. The American Revolution does not provide a counterexample. The American "Revolution" was not a revolution in our sense of the word, but a war of independence followed by a rather far-reaching political reform. The Founding Fathers did not change the direction of development of American society, nor did they aspire to do so. They only freed the development of American society from the retarding effect of British rule. Their political reform did not change any basic trend, but only pushed American political culture along its natural direction of development. British society, of which American society was an off-shoot, had been moving for a long time in the direction of representative democracy. And prior to the War of Independence the Americans were already practicing a significant degree of representative democracy in the colonial assemblies. The political system established by the Constitution was modeled on the British system and on the colonial assemblies. With major alteration, to be sure—there is no doubt that the Founding Fathers took a very important step. But it was a step along the road the English-speaking world was already traveling. The proof is that Britain and all of its colonies that were populated predominantly by people of British descent ended up with systems of representative democracy essentially similar to that of the United States. If the Founding Fathers had lost their nerve and declined to sign the Declaration of Independence, our way of life today would not have been significantly different. Maybe we would have had somewhat closer ties to Britain, and would have had a Parliament and Prime Minister instead of a Congress and President. No big deal. Thus the American Revolution provides not a counterexample to our principles but a good illustration of them. 110. Still, one has to use common sense in applying the principles. They are expressed in imprecise language that allows latitude for interpretation, and exceptions to them can be found. So we present these principles not as inviolable laws but as rules of thumb, or guides to thinking, that may provide a partial antidote to naive ideas about the future of society. The principles should be borne constantly in mind, and whenever one reaches a conclusion that conflicts with them one should carefully reexamine one's thinking and retain the conclusion only if one has good, solid reasons for doing so. Industrial-technological society cannot be reformed 111. The foregoing principles help to show how hopelessly difficult it would be to reform the industrial system in such a way as to prevent it from progressively narrowing our sphere of freedom. There has been a consistent tendency, going back at least to the Industrial Revolution for technology to strengthen the system at a high cost in individual freedom and local autonomy. Hence any change designed to protect freedom from technology would be contrary to a fundamental trend in the development of our society. Consequently, such a change either would be a transitory one—soon swamped by the tide of history—or, if large enough to be permanent would alter the nature of our whole society. This by the first and second principles. Moreover, since society would be altered in a way that could not be predicted in advance (third principle) there would be great risk. Changes large enough to make a lasting difference in favor of freedom would not be initiated because it would be realized that they would gravely disrupt the system. So any attempts at reform would be too timid to be effective. Even if changes large enough to make a lasting difference were initiated, they would be retracted when their disruptive effects became apparent. Thus, permanent changes in favor of freedom could be brought about only by persons prepared to accept radical, dangerous and unpredictable alteration of the entire system. In other words, by revolutionaries, not reformers. 112. People anxious to rescue freedom without sacrificing the supposed benefits of technology will suggest naive schemes for some new form of society that would reconcile freedom with technology. Apart from the fact that people who make suggestions seldom propose any practical means by which the new form of society could be set up in the first place, it follows from the fourth principle that even if the new form of society could be once established, it either would collapse or would give results very different from those expected. 113. So even on very general grounds it seems highly improbable that any way of changing society could be found that would reconcile freedom with modern technology. In the next few sections we will give more specific reasons for concluding that freedom and technological progress are incompatible. Restriction of freedom is unavoidable in industrial society 114. As explained in paragraph 65-67, 70-73, modern man is strapped down by a network of rules and regulations, and his fate depends on the actions of persons remote from him whose decisions he cannot influence. This is not accidental or a result of the arbitrariness of arrogant bureaucrats. It is necessary and inevitable in any technologically advanced society. The system has to regulate human behavior closely in order to function. At work, people have to do what they are told to do, otherwise production would be thrown into chaos. Bureaucracies have to be run according to rigid rules. To allow any substantial personal discretion to lower-level bureaucrats would disrupt the system and lead to charges of unfairness due to differences in the way individual bureaucrats exercised their discretion. It is true that some restrictions on our freedom could be eliminated, but generally speaking the regulation of our lives by large organizations is necessary for the functioning of industrial-technological society. The result is a sense of powerlessness on the part of the average person. It may be, however, that formal regulations will tend increasingly to be replaced by psychological tools that make us want to do what the system requires of us. (Propaganda 14, educational techniques, "mental health" programs, etc.) 115. The system has to force people to behave in ways that are increasingly remote from the natural pattern of human behavior. For example, the system needs scientists, mathematicians and engineers. It can't function without them. So heavy pressure is put on children to excel in these fields. It isn't natural for an adolescent human being to spend the bulk of his time sitting at a desk absorbed in study. A normal adolescent wants to spend his time in active contact with the real world. Among primitive peoples the things that children are trained to do are in natural harmony with natural human impulses. Among the American Indians, for example, boys were trained in active outdoor pursuits—just the sort of things that boys like. But in our society children are pushed into studying technical subjects, which most do grudgingly. 116. Because of the constant pressure that the system exerts to modify human behavior, there is a gradual increase in the number of people who cannot or will not adjust to society's requirements: welfare leeches, youth-gang members, cultists, anti-government rebels, radical environmentalist saboteurs, dropouts and resisters of various kinds. 117. In any technologically advanced society the individual's fate must depend on decisions that he personally cannot influence to any great extent. A technological society cannot be broken down into small, autonomous communities, because production depends on the cooperation of very large numbers of people and machines. Such a society must be highly organized and decisions have to be made that affect very large numbers of people. When a decision affects, say, a million people, then each of the affected individuals has, on the average, only a one-millionth share in making the decision. What usually happens in practice is that decisions are made by public officials or corporation executives, or by technical specialists, but even when the public votes on a decision the number of voters ordinarily is too large for the vote of any one individual to be significant. [17] Thus most individuals are unable to influence measurably the major decisions that affect their lives. There is no conceivable way to remedy this in a technologically advanced society. The system tries to "solve" this problem by using propaganda to make people want the decisions that have been made for them, but even if this "solution" were completely successful in making people feel better, it would be demeaning. 118. Conservatives and some others advocate more "local autonomy." Local communities once did have autonomy, but such autonomy becomes less and less possible as local communities become more enmeshed with and dependent on large-scale systems like public utilities, computer networks, highway systems, the mass communications media, the modern health care system. Also operating against autonomy is the fact that technology applied in one location often affects people at other locations far away. Thus pesticide or chemical use near a creek may contaminate the water supply hundreds of miles downstream, and the greenhouse effect affects the whole world. 119. The system does not and cannot exist to satisfy human needs. Instead, it is human behavior that has to be modified to fit the needs of the system. This has nothing to do with the political or social ideology that may pretend to guide the technological system. It is the fault of technology, because the system is guided not by ideology but by technical necessity. [18] Of course the system does satisfy many human needs, but generally speaking it does this only to the extent that it is to the advantage of the system to do it. It is the needs of the system that are paramount, not those of the human being. For example, the system provides people with food because the system couldn't function if everyone starved; it attends to people's psychological needs whenever it can conveniently do so, because it couldn't function if too many people became depressed or rebellious. But the system, for good, solid, practical reasons, must exert constant pressure on people to mold their behavior to the needs of the system. Too much waste accumulating? The government, the media, the educational system, environmentalists, everyone inundates us with a mass of propaganda about recycling. Need more technical personnel? A chorus of voices exhorts kids to study science. No one stops to ask whether it is inhumane to force adolescents to spend the bulk of their time studying subjects most of them hate. When skilled workers are put out of a job by technical advances and have to undergo "retraining," no one asks whether it is humiliating for them to be pushed around in this way. It is simply taken for granted that everyone must bow to technical necessity and for good reason: If human needs were put before technical necessity there would be economic problems, unemployment, shortages or worse. The concept of "mental health" in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs of the system and does so without showing signs of stress. 120. Efforts to make room for a sense of purpose and for autonomy within the system are no better than a joke. For example, one company, instead of having each of its employees assemble only one section of a catalogue, had each assemble a whole catalogue, and this was supposed to give them a sense of purpose and achievement. Some companies have tried to give their employees more autonomy in their work, but for practical reasons this usually can be done only to a very limited extent, and in any case employees are never given autonomy as to ultimate goals—their "autonomous" efforts can never be directed toward goals that they select personally, but only toward their employer's goals, such as the survival and growth of the company. Any company would soon go out of business if it permitted its employees to act otherwise. Similarly, in any enterprise within a socialist system, workers must direct their efforts toward the goals of the enterprise, otherwise the enterprise will not serve its purpose as part of the system. Once again, for purely technical reasons it is not possible for most individuals or small groups to have much autonomy in industrial society. Even the small-business owner commonly has only limited autonomy. Apart from the necessity of government regulation, he is restricted by the fact that he must fit into the economic system and conform to its requirements. For instance, when someone develops a new technology, the small-business person often has to use that technology whether he wants to or not, in order to remain competitive. The 'bad' parts of technology cannot be separated from the 'good' parts 121. A further reason why industrial society cannot be reformed in favor of freedom is that modern technology is a unified system in which all parts are dependent on one another. You can't get rid of the "bad" parts of technology and retain only the "good" parts. Take modern medicine, for example. Progress in medical science depends on progress in chemistry, physics, biology, computer science and other fields. Advanced medical treatments require expensive, high-tech equipment that can be made available only by a technologically progressive, economically rich society. Clearly you can't have much progress in medicine without the whole technological system and everything that goes with it. 122. Even if medical progress could be maintained without the rest of the technological system, it would by itself bring certain evils. Suppose for example that a cure for diabetes is discovered. People with a genetic tendency to diabetes will then be able to survive and reproduce as well as anyone else. Natural selection against genes for diabetes will cease and such genes will spread throughout the population. (This may be occurring to some extent already, since diabetes, while not curable, can be controlled through the use of insulin.) The same thing will happen with many other diseases susceptibility to which is affected by genetic degradation of the population. The only solution will be some sort of eugenics program or extensive genetic engineering of human beings, so that man in the future will no longer be a creation of nature, or of chance, or of God (depending on your religious or philosophical opinions), but a manufactured product. 123. If you think that big government interferes in your life too much now, just wait till the government starts regulating the genetic constitution of your children. Such regulation will inevitably follow the introduction of genetic engineering of human beings, because the consequences of unregulated genetic engineering would be disastrous. [19] 124. The usual response to such concerns is to talk about "medical ethics." But a code of ethics would not serve to protect freedom in the face of medical progress; it would only make matters worse. A code of ethics applicable to genetic engineering would be in effect a means of regulating the genetic constitution of human beings. Somebody (probably the upper-middle class, mostly) would decide that such and such applications of genetic engineering were "ethical" and others were not, so that in effect they would be imposing their own values on the genetic constitution of the population at large. [20] Even if a code of ethics were chosen on a completely democratic basis, the majority would be imposing their own values on any minorities who might have a different idea of what constituted an "ethical" use of genetic engineering. The only code of ethics that would truly protect freedom would be one that prohibited any genetic engineering of human beings, and you can be sure that no such code will ever be applied in a technological society. No code that reduced genetic engineering to a minor role could stand up for long, because the temptation presented by the immense power of biotechnology would be irresistible, especially since to the majority of people many of its applications will seem obviously and unequivocally good (eliminating physical and mental diseases, giving people the abilities they need to get along in today's world). Inevitably, genetic engineering will be used extensively, but only in ways consistent with the needs of the industrial-technological system. Technology is a more powerful social force than the aspiration for freedom 125. It is not possible to make a lasting compromise between technology and freedom, because technology is by far the more powerful social force and continually encroaches on freedom through repeated compromises. Imagine the case of two neighbors, each of whom at the outset owns the same amount of land, but one of whom is more powerful than the other. The powerful one demands a piece of the other's land. The weak one refuses. The powerful one says, "OK, let's compromise. Give me half of what I asked." The weak one has little choice but to give in. Some time later the powerful neighbor demands another piece of land, again there is a compromise, and so forth. By forcing a long series of compromises on the weaker man, the powerful one eventually gets all of his land. So it goes in the conflict between technology and freedom. 126. Let us explain why technology is a more powerful social force than the aspiration for freedom. 127. A technological advance that appears not to threaten freedom often turns out to threaten it very seriously later on. For example, consider motorized transport. A walking man formerly could go where he pleased, go at his own pace without observing any traffic regulations, and was independent of technological support-systems. When motor vehicles were introduced they appeared to increase man's freedom. They took no freedom away from the walking man, no one had to have an automobile if he didn't want one, and anyone who did choose to buy an automobile could travel much faster than the walking man. But the introduction of motorized transport soon changed society in such a way as to restrict greatly man's freedom of locomotion. When automobiles became numerous, it became necessary to regulate their use extensively. In a car, especially in densely populated areas, one cannot just go where one likes at one's own pace—one's movement is governed by the flow of traffic and by various traffic laws. One is tied down by various obligations: license requirements, driver test, renewing registration, insurance, maintenance required for safety, monthly payments on purchase price. Moreover, the use of motorized transport is no longer optional. Since the introduction of motorized transport the arrangement of our cities has changed in such a way that the majority of people no longer live within walking distance of their place of employment, shopping areas and recreational opportunities, so that they have to depend on the automobile for transportation. Or else they must use public transportation, in which case they have even less control over their own movement than when driving a car. Even the walker's freedom is now greatly restricted. In the city he continually has to stop and wait for traffic lights that are designed mainly to serve auto traffic. In the country, motor traffic makes it dangerous and unpleasant to walk along the highway. (Note the important point we have illustrated with the case of motorized transport: When a new item of technology is introduced as an option that an individual can accept or not as he chooses, it does not necessarily remain optional. In many cases the new technology changes society in such a way that people eventually find themselves forced to use it.) 128. While technological progress as a whole continually narrows our sphere of freedom, each new technical advance considered by itself appears to be desirable. Electricity, indoor plumbing, rapid long-distance communications . . . how could one argue against any of these things, or against any other of the innumerable technical advances that have made modern society? It would have been absurd to resist the introduction of the telephone, for example. It offered many advantages and no disadvantages. Yet as we explained in paragraphs 59-76, all these technical advances taken together have created a world in which the average man's fate is no longer in his own hands or in the hands of his neighbors and friends, but in those of politicians, corporation executives and remote, anonymous technicians and bureaucrats whom he as an individual has no power to influence. [21] The same process will continue in the future. Take genetic engineering, for example. Few people will resist the introduction of a genetic technique that eliminates a hereditary disease. It does no apparent harm and prevents much suffering. Yet a large number of genetic improvements taken together will make the human being into an engineered product rather than a free creation of chance (or of God, or whatever, depending on your religious beliefs). 129. Another reason why technology is such a powerful social force is that, within the context of a given society, technological progress marches in only one direction; it can never be reversed. Once a technical innovation has been introduced, people usually become dependent on it, unless it is replaced by some still more advanced innovation. Not only do people become dependent as individuals on a new item of technology, but, even more, the system as a whole becomes dependent on it. (Imagine what would happen to the system today if computers, for example, were eliminated.) Thus the system can move in only one direction, toward greater technologization. Technology repeatedly forces freedom to take a step back—short of the overthrow of the whole technological system. 130. Technology advances with great rapidity and threatens freedom at many different points at the same time (crowding, rules and regulations, increasing dependence of individuals on large organizations, propaganda and other psychological techniques, genetic engineering, invasion of privacy through surveillance devices and computers, etc.) To hold back any one of the threats to freedom would require a long and difficult social struggle. Those who want to protect freedom are overwhelmed by the sheer number of new attacks and the rapidity with which they develop, hence they become pathetic and no longer resist. To fight each of the threats separately would be futile. Success can be hoped for only by fighting the technological system as a whole; but that is revolution not reform. 131. Technicians (we use this term in its broad sense to describe all those who perform a specialized task that requires training) tend to be so involved in their work (their surrogate activity) that when a conflict arises between their technical work and freedom, they almost always decide in favor of their technical work. This is obvious in the case of scientists, but it also appears elsewhere: Educators, humanitarian groups, conservation organizations do not hesitate to use propaganda or other psychological techniques to help them achieve their laudable ends. Corporations and government agencies, when they find it useful, do not hesitate to collect information about individuals without regard to their privacy. Law enforcement agencies are frequently inconvenienced by the constitutional rights of suspects and often of completely innocent persons, and they do whatever they can do legally (or sometimes illegally) to restrict or circumvent those rights. Most of these educators, government officials and law officers believe in freedom, privacy and constitutional rights, but when these conflict with their work, they usually feel that their work is more important. 132. It is well known that people generally work better and more persistently when striving for a reward than when attempting to avoid a punishment or negative outcome. Scientists and other technicians are motivated mainly by the rewards they get through their work. But those who oppose technological invasions of freedom are working to avoid a negative outcome, consequently there are a few who work persistently and well at this discouraging task. If reformers ever achieved a signal victory that seemed to set up a solid barrier against further erosion of freedom through technological progress, most would tend to relax and turn their attention to more agreeable pursuits. But the scientists would remain busy in their laboratories, and technology as it progresses would find ways, in spite of any barriers, to exert more and more control over individuals and make them always more dependent on the system. 133. No social arrangements, whether laws, institutions, customs or ethical codes, can provide permanent protection against technology. History shows that all social arrangements are transitory; they all change or break down eventually. But technological advances are permanent within the context of a given civilization. Suppose for example that it were possible to arrive at some social arrangements that would prevent genetic engineering from being applied to human beings, or prevent it from being applied in such a ways as to threaten freedom and dignity. Still, the technology would remain waiting. Sooner or later the social arrangement would break down. Probably sooner, given that pace of change in our society. Then genetic engineering would begin to invade our sphere of freedom, and this invasion would be irreversible (short of a breakdown of technological civilization itself). Any illusions about achieving anything permanent through social arrangements should be dispelled by what is currently happening with environmental legislation. A few years ago it seemed that there were secure legal barriers preventing at least some of the worst forms of environmental degradation. A change in the political wind, and those barriers begin to crumble. 134. For all of the foregoing reasons, technology is a more powerful social force than the aspiration for freedom. But this statement requires an important qualification. It appears that during the next several decades the industrial-technological system will be undergoing severe stresses due to economic and environmental problems, and especially due to problems of human behavior (alienation, rebellion, hostility, a variety of social and psychological difficulties). We hope that the stresses through which the system is likely to pass will cause it to break down, or at least weaken it sufficiently so that a revolution occurs and is successful, then at that particular moment the aspiration for freedom will have proved more powerful than technology. 135. In paragraph 125 we used an analogy of a weak neighbor who is left destitute by a strong neighbor who takes all his land by forcing on him a series of compromises. But suppose now that the strong neighbor gets sick, so that he is unable to defend himself. The weak neighbor can force the strong one to give him his land back, or he can kill him. If he lets the strong man survive and only forces him to give his land back, he is a fool, because when the strong man gets well he will again take all the land for himself. The only sensible alternative for the weaker man is to kill the strong one while he has the chance. In the same way, while the industrial system is sick we must destroy it. If we compromise with it and let it recover from its sickness, it will eventually wipe out all of our freedom. Simpler social problems have proved intractable 136. If anyone still imagines that it would be possible to reform the system in such a way as to protect freedom from technology, let him consider how clumsily and for the most part unsuccessfully our society has dealt with other social problems that are far more simple and straightforward. Among other things, the system has failed to stop environmental degradation, political corruption, drug trafficking or domestic abuse. 137. Take our environmental problems, for example. Here the conflict of values is straightforward: economic expedience now versus saving some of our natural resources for our grandchildren. [22] But on this subject we get only a lot of blather and obfuscation from the people who have power, and nothing like a clear, consistent line of action, and we keep on piling up environmental problems that our grandchildren will have to live with. Attempts to resolve the environmental issue consist of struggles and compromises between different factions, some of which are ascendant at one moment, others at another moment. The line of struggle changes with the shifting currents of public opinion. This is not a rational process, nor is it one that is likely to lead to a timely and successful solution to the problem. Major social problems, if they get "solved" at all, are rarely or never solved through any rational, comprehensive plan. They just work themselves out through a process in which various competing groups pursuing their own (usually short-term) self-interest [23] arrive (mainly by luck) at some more or less stable modus vivendi. In fact, the principles we formulated in paragraphs 100-106 make it seem doubtful that rational, long-term social planning can ever be successful. 138. Thus it is clear that the human race has at best a very limited capacity for solving even relatively straightforward social problems. How then is it going to solve the far more difficult and subtle problem of reconciling freedom with technology? Technology presents clear-cut material advantages, whereas freedom is an abstraction that means different things to different people, and its loss is easily obscured by propaganda and fancy talk. 139. And note this important difference: It is conceivable that our environmental problems (for example) may some day be settled through a rational, comprehensive plan, but if this happens it will be only because it is in the long-term interest of the system to solve these problems. But it is not in the interest of the system to preserve freedom or small-group autonomy. On the contrary, it is in the interest of the system to bring human behavior under control to the greatest possible extent. [24] Thus, while practical considerations may eventually force the system to take a rational, prudent approach to environmental problems, equally practical considerations will force the system to regulate human behavior ever more closely (preferably by indirect means that will disguise the encroachment on freedom.) This isn't just our opinion. Eminent social scientists (e.g. James Q. Wilson) have stressed the importance of "socializing" people more effectively. Revolution is easier than reform 140. We hope we have convinced the reader that the system cannot be reformed in such a way as to reconcile freedom with technology. The only way out is to dispense with the industrial-technological system altogether. This implies revolution, not necessarily an armed uprising, but certainly a radical and fundamental change in the nature of society. 141. People tend to assume that because a revolution involves a much greater change than reform does, it is more difficult to bring about than reform is. Actually, under certain circumstances revolution is much easier than reform. The reason is that a revolutionary movement can inspire an intensity of commitment that a reform movement cannot inspire. A reform movement merely offers to solve a particular social problem. A revolutionary movement offers to solve all problems at one stroke and create a whole new world; it provides the kind of ideal for which people will take great risks and make great sacrifices. For this reason it would be much easier to overthrow the whole technological system than to put effective, permanent restraints on the development or application of any one segment of technology, such as genetic engineering, for example. Not many people will devote themselves with single-minded passion to imposing and maintaining restraints on genetic engineering, but under suitable conditions large numbers of people may devote themselves passionately to a revolution against the industrial-technological system. As we noted in paragraph 132, reformers seeking to limit certain aspects of technology would be working to avoid a negative outcome. But revolutionaries work to gain a powerful reward—fulfillment of their revolutionary vision—and therefore work harder and more persistently than reformers do. 142. Reform is always restrained by the fear of painful consequences if changes go too far. But once a revolutionary fever has taken hold of a society, people are willing to undergo unlimited hardships for the sake of their revolution. This was clearly shown in the French and Russian Revolutions. It may be that in such cases only a minority of the population is really committed to the revolution, but this minority is sufficiently large and active so that it becomes the dominant force in society. We will have more to say about revolution in paragraphs 180-205. Control of human behavior 143. Since the beginning of civilization, organized societies have had to put pressures on human beings for the sake of the functioning of the social organism. The kinds of pressures vary greatly from one society to another. Some of the pressures are physical (poor diet, excessive labor, environmental pollution), some are psychological (noise, crowding, forcing humans behavior into the mold that society requires). In the past, human nature has been approximately constant, or at any rate has varied only within certain bounds. Consequently, societies have been able to push people only up to certain limits. When the limit of human endurance has been passed, things start going wrong: rebellion, or crime, or corruption, or evasion of work, or depression and other mental problems, or an elevated death rate, or a declining birth rate or something else, so that either the society breaks down, or its functioning becomes too inefficient and it is (quickly or gradually, through conquest, attrition or evolution) replaced by some more efficient form of society. [25] 144. Thus human nature has in the past put certain limits on the development of societies. People could be pushed only so far and no farther. But today this may be changing, because modern technology is developing ways of modifying human beings. 145. Imagine a society that subjects people to conditions that make them terribly unhappy, then gives them the drugs to take away their unhappiness. Science fiction? It is already happening to some extent in our own society. It is well known that the rate of clinical depression had been greatly increasing in recent decades. We believe that this is due to disruption of the power process, as explained in paragraphs 59-76. But even if we are wrong, the increasing rate of depression is certainly the result of some conditions that exist in today's society. Instead of removing the conditions that make people depressed, modern society gives them antidepressant drugs. In effect, antidepressants are a means of modifying an individual's internal state in such a way as to enable him to tolerate social conditions that he would otherwise find intolerable. (Yes, we know that depression is often of purely genetic origin. We are referring here to those cases in which environment plays the predominant role.) 146. Drugs that affect the mind are only one example of the methods of controlling human behavior that modern society is developing. Let us look at some of the other methods. 147. To start with, there are the techniques of surveillance. Hidden video cameras are now used in most stores and in many other places, and computers are used to collect and process vast amounts of information about individuals. Information so obtained greatly increases the effectiveness of physical coercion (i.e., law enforcement). [26] Then there are the methods of propaganda, for which the mass communication media provide effective vehicles. Efficient techniques have been developed for winning elections, selling products, influencing public opinion. The entertainment industry serves as an important psychological tool of the system, possibly even when it is dishing out large amounts of sex and violence. Entertainment provides modern man with an essential means of escape. While absorbed in television, videos, etc., he can forget stress, anxiety, frustration, dissatisfaction. Many primitive peoples, when they don't have work to do, are quite content to sit for hours at a time doing nothing at all, because they are at peace with themselves and their world. But most modern people must be constantly occupied or entertained, otherwise they get "bored," i.e., they get fidgety, uneasy, irritable. 148. Other techniques strike deeper than the foregoing. Education is no longer a simple affair of paddling a kid's behind when he doesn't know his lessons and patting him on the head when he does know them. It is becoming a scientific technique for controlling the child's development. Sylvan Learning Centers, for example, have had great success in motivating children to study, and psychological techniques are also used with more or less success in many conventional schools. "Parenting" techniques that are taught to parents are designed to make children accept fundamental values of the system and behave in ways that the system finds desirable. "Mental health" programs, "intervention" techniques, psychotherapy and so forth are ostensibly designed to benefit individuals, but in practice they usually serve as methods for inducing individuals to think and behave as the system requires. (There is no contradiction here; an individual whose attitudes or behavior bring him into conflict with the system is up against a force that is too powerful for him to conquer or escape from, hence he is likely to suffer from stress, frustration, defeat. His path will be much easier if he thinks and behaves as the system requires. In that sense the system is acting for the benefit of the individual when it brainwashes him into conformity.) Child abuse in its gross and obvious forms is disapproved in most if not all cultures. Tormenting a child for a trivial reason or no reason at all is something that appalls almost everyone. But many psychologists interpret the concept of abuse much more broadly. Is spanking, when used as part of a rational and consistent system of discipline, a form of abuse? The question will ultimately be decided by whether or not spanking tends to produce behavior that makes a person fit in well with the existing system of society. In practice, the word "abuse" tends to be interpreted to include any method of child-rearing that produces behavior inconvenient for the system. Thus, when they go beyond the prevention of obvious, senseless cruelty, programs for preventing "child abuse" are directed toward the control of human behavior of the system. 149. Presumably, research will continue to increase the effectiveness of psychological techniques for controlling human behavior. But we think it is unlikely that psychological techniques alone will be sufficient to adjust human beings to the kind of society that technology is creating. Biological methods probably will have to be used. We have already mentioned the use of drugs in this connection. Neurology may provide other avenues of modifying the human mind. Genetic engineering of human beings is already beginning to occur in the form of "gene therapy," and there is no reason to assume the such methods will not eventually be used to modify those aspects of the body that affect mental functioning. 150. As we mentioned in paragraph 134, industrial society seems likely to be entering a period of severe stress, due in part to problems of human behavior and in part to economic and environmental problems. And a considerable proportion of the system's economic and environmental problems result from the way human beings behave. Alienation, low self-esteem, depression, hostility, rebellion; children who won't study, youth gangs, illegal drug use, rape, child abuse, other crimes, unsafe sex, teen pregnancy, population growth, political corruption, race hatred, ethnic rivalry, bitter ideological conflict (e.g., pro-choice vs. pro-life), political extremism, terrorism, sabotage, anti-government groups, hate groups. All these threaten the very survival of the system. The system will be forced to use every practical means of controlling human behavior. 151. The social disruption that we see today is certainly not the result of mere chance. It can only be a result of the conditions of life that the system imposes on people. (We have argued that the most important of these conditions is disruption of the power process.) If the system succeeds in imposing sufficient control over human behavior to assure its own survival, a new watershed in human history will have passed. Whereas formerly the limits of human endurance have imposed limits on the development of societies (as we explained in paragraphs 143, 144), industrial-technological society will be able to pass those limits by modifying human beings, whether by psychological methods or biological methods or both. In the future, social systems will not be adjusted to suit the needs of human beings. Instead, human beings will be adjusted to suit the needs of the system. [27] 152. Generally speaking, technological control over human behavior will probably not be introduced with a totalitarian intention or even through a conscious desire to restrict human freedom. [28] Each new step in the assertion of control over the human mind will be taken as a rational response to a problem that faces society, such as curing alcoholism, reducing the crime rate or inducing young people to study science and engineering. In many cases, there will be humanitarian justification. For example, when a psychiatrist prescribes an anti-depressant for a depressed patient, he is clearly doing that individual a favor. It would be inhumane to withhold the drug from someone who needs it. When parents send their children to Sylvan Learning Centers to have them manipulated into becoming enthusiastic about their studies, they do so from concern for their children's welfare. It may be that some of these parents wish that one didn't have to have specialized training to get a job and that their kid didn't have to be brainwashed into becoming a computer nerd. But what can they do? They can't change society, and their child may be unemployable if he doesn't have certain skills. So they send him to Sylvan. 153. Thus control over human behavior will be introduced not by a calculated decision of the authorities but through a process of social evolution (rapid evolution, however). The process will be impossible to resist, because each advance, considered by itself, will appear to be beneficial, or at least the evil involved in making the advance will seem to be less than that which would result from not making it (see paragraph 127). Propaganda for example is used for many good purposes, such as discouraging child abuse or race hatred. Sex education is obviously useful, yet the effect of sex education (to the extent that it is successful) is to take the shaping of sexual attitudes away from the family and put it into the hands of the state as represented by the public school system. 154. Suppose a biological trait is discovered that increases the likelihood that a child will grow up to be a criminal and suppose some sort of gene therapy can remove this trait. [29] Of course most parents whose children possess the trait will have them undergo the therapy. It would be inhumane to do otherwise, since the child would probably have a miserable life if he grew up to be a criminal. But many or most primitive societies have a low crime rate in comparison with that of our society, even though they have neither high-tech methods of child-rearing nor harsh systems of punishment. Since there is no reason to suppose that more modern men than primitive men have innate predatory tendencies, the high crime rate of our society must be due to the pressures that modern conditions put on people, to which many cannot or will not adjust. Thus a treatment designed to remove potential criminal tendencies is at least in part a way of re-engineering people so that they suit the requirements of the system. 155. Our society tends to regard as a "sickness" any mode of thought or behavior that is inconvenient for the system, and this is plausible because when an individual doesn't fit into the system it causes pain to the individual as well as problems for the system. Thus the manipulation of an individual to adjust him to the system is seen as a "cure" for a "sickness" and therefore as good. 156. In paragraph 127 we pointed out that if the use of a new item of technology is initially optional, it does not necessarily remain optional, because the new technology tends to change society in such a way that it becomes difficult or impossible for an individual to function without using that technology. This applies also to the technology of human behavior. In a world in which most children are put through a program to make them enthusiastic about studying, a parent will almost be forced to put his kid through such a program, because if he does not, then the kid will grow up to be, comparatively speaking, an ignoramus and therefore unemployable. Or suppose a biological treatment is discovered that, without undesirable side-effects, will greatly reduce the psychological stress from which so many people suffer in our society. If large numbers of people choose to undergo the treatment, then the general level of stress in society will be reduced, so that it will be possible for the system to increase the stress-producing pressures. In fact, something like this seems to have happened already with one of our society's most important psychological tools for enabling people to reduce (or at least temporarily escape from) stress, namely, mass entertainment (see paragraph 147). Our use of mass entertainment is "optional": No law requires us to watch television, listen to the radio, read magazines. Yet mass entertainment is a means of escape and stress-reduction on which most of us have become dependent. Everyone complains about the trashiness of television, but almost everyone watches it. A few have kicked the TV habit, but it would be a rare person who could get along today without using any form of mass entertainment. (Yet until quite recently in human history most people got along very nicely with no other entertainment than that which each local community created for itself.) Without the entertainment industry the system probably would not have been able to get away with putting as much stress-producing pressure on us as it does. 157. Assuming that industrial society survives, it is likely that technology will eventually acquire something approaching complete control over human behavior. It has been established beyond any rational doubt that human thought and behavior have a largely biological basis. As experimenters have demonstrated, feelings such as hunger, pleasure, anger and fear can be turned on and off by electrical stimulation of appropriate parts of the brain. Memories can be destroyed by damaging parts of the brain or they can be brought to the surface by electrical stimulation. Hallucinations can be induced or moods changed by drugs. There may or may not be an immaterial human soul, but if there is one it clearly is less powerful than the biological mechanisms of human behavior. For if that were not the case then researchers would not be able so easily to manipulate human feelings and behavior with drugs and electrical currents. 158. It presumably would be impractical for all people to have electrodes inserted in their heads so that they could be controlled by the authorities. But the fact that human thoughts and feelings are so open to biological intervention shows that the problem of controlling human behavior is mainly a technical problem; a problem of neurons, hormones and complex molecules; the kind of problem that is accessible to scientific attack. Given the outstanding record of our society in solving technical problems, it is overwhelmingly probable that great advances will be made in the control of human behavior. 159. Will public resistance prevent the introduction of technological control of human behavior? It certainly would if an attempt were made to introduce such control all at once. But since technological control will be introduced through a long sequence of small advances, there will be no rational and effective public resistance. (See paragraphs 127,132, 153.) 160. To those who think that all this sounds like science fiction, we point out that yesterday's science fiction is today's fact. The Industrial Revolution has radically altered man's environment and way of life, and it is only to be expected that as technology is increasingly applied to the human body and mind, man himself will be altered as radically as his environment and way of life have been. Human race at a crossroads 161. But we have gotten ahead of our story. It is one thing to develop in the laboratory a series of psychological or biological techniques for manipulating human behavior and quite another to integrate these techniques into a functioning social system. The latter problem is the more difficult of the two. For example, while the techniques of educational psychology doubtless work quite well in the "lab schools" where they are developed, it is not necessarily easy to apply them effectively throughout our educational system. We all know what many of our schools are like. The teachers are too busy taking knives and guns away from the kids to subject them to the latest techniques for making them into computer nerds. Thus, in spite of all its technical advances relating to human behavior the system to date has not been impressively successful in controlling human beings. The people whose behavior is fairly well under the control of the system are those of the type that might be called "bourgeois." But there are growing numbers of people who in one way or another are rebels against the system: welfare leaches, youth gangs, cultists, nazis, satanists, radical environmentalists, militiaman, etc.. 162. The system is currently engaged in a desperate struggle to overcome certain problems that threaten its survival, among which the problems of human behavior are the most important. If the system succeeds in acquiring sufficient control over human behavior quickly enough, it will probably survive. Otherwise it will break down. We think the issue will most likely be resolved within the next several decades, say 40 to 100 years. 163. Suppose the system survives the crisis of the next several decades. By that time it will have to have solved, or at least brought under control, the principal problems that confront it, in particular that of "socializing" human beings; that is, making people sufficiently docile so that their behavior no longer threatens the system. That being accomplished, it does not appear that there would be any further obstacle to the development of technology, and it would presumably advance toward its logical conclusion, which is complete control over everything on Earth, including human beings and all other important organisms. The system may become a unitary, monolithic organization, or it may be more or less fragmented and consist of a number of organizations coexisting in a relationship that includes elements of both cooperation and competition, just as today the government, the corporations and other large organizations both cooperate and compete with one another. Human freedom mostly will have vanished, because individuals and small groups will be impotent vis-a-vis large organizations armed with super technology and an arsenal of advanced psychological and biological tools for manipulating human beings, besides instruments of surveillance and physical coercion. Only a small number of people will have any real power, and even these probably will have only very limited freedom, because their behavior too will be regulated; just as today our politicians and corporation executives can retain their positions of power only as long as their behavior remains within certain fairly narrow limits. 164. Don't imagine that the systems will stop developing further techniques for controlling human beings and nature once the crisis of the next few decades is over and increasing control is no longer necessary for the system's survival. On the contrary, once the hard times are over the system will increase its control over people and nature more rapidly, because it will no longer be hampered by difficulties of the kind that it is currently experiencing. Survival is not the principal motive for extending control. As we explained in paragraphs 87-90, technicians and scientists carry on their work largely as a surrogate activity; that is, they satisfy their need for power by solving technical problems. They will continue to do this with unabated enthusiasm, and among the most interesting and challenging problems for them to solve will be those of understanding the human body and mind and intervening in their development. For the "good of humanity," of course. 165. But suppose on the other hand that the stresses of the coming decades prove to be too much for the system. If the system breaks down there may be a period of chaos, a "time of troubles" such as those that history has recorded at various epochs in the past. It is impossible to predict what would emerge from such a time of troubles, but at any rate the human race would be given a new chance. The greatest danger is that industrial society may begin to reconstitute itself within the first few years after the breakdown. Certainly there will be many people (power-hungry types especially) who will be anxious to get the factories running again. 166. Therefore two tasks confront those who hate the servitude to which the industrial system is reducing the human race. First, we must work to heighten the social stresses within the system so as to increase the likelihood that it will break down or be weakened sufficiently so that a revolution against it becomes possible. Second, it is necessary to develop and propagate an ideology that opposes technology and the industrial society if and when the system becomes sufficiently weakened. And such an ideology will help to assure that, if and when industrial society breaks down, its remnants will be smashed beyond repair, so that the system cannot be reconstituted. The factories should be destroyed, technical books burned, etc. Human suffering 167. The industrial system will not break down purely as a result of revolutionary action. It will not be vulnerable to revolutionary attack unless its own internal problems of development lead it into very serious difficulties. So if the system breaks down it will do so either spontaneously, or through a process that is in part spontaneous but helped along by revolutionaries. If the breakdown is sudden, many people will die, since the world's population has become so overblown that it cannot even feed itself any longer without advanced technology. Even if the breakdown is gradual enough so that reduction of the population can occur more through lowering of the birth rate than through elevation of the death rate, the process of de-industrialization probably will be very chaotic and involve much suffering. It is naive to think it likely that technology can be phased out in a smoothly managed orderly way, especially since the technophiles will fight stubbornly at every step. Is it therefore cruel to work for the breakdown of the system? Maybe, but maybe not. In the first place, revolutionaries will not be able to break the system down unless it is already in deep trouble so that there would be a good chance of its eventually breaking down by itself anyway; and the bigger the system grows, the more disastrous the consequences of its breakdown will be; so it may be that revolutionaries, by hastening the onset of the breakdown will be reducing the extent of the disaster. 168. In the second place, one has to balance the struggle and death against the loss of freedom and dignity. To many of us, freedom and dignity are more important than a long life or avoidance of physical pain. Besides, we all have to die some time, and it may be better to die fighting for survival, or for a cause, than to live a long but empty and purposeless life. 169. In the third place, it is not all certain that the survival of the system will lead to less suffering than the breakdown of the system would. The system has already caused, and is continuing to cause, immense suffering all over the world. Ancient cultures, that for hundreds of years gave people a satisfactory relationship with each other and their environment, have been shattered by contact with industrial society, and the result has been a whole catalogue of economic, environmental, social and psychological problems. One of the effects of the intrusion of industrial society has been that over much of the world traditional controls on population have been thrown out of balance. Hence the population explosion, with all that it implies. Then there is the psychological suffering that is widespread throughout the supposedly fortunate countries of the West (see paragraphs 44, 45). No one knows what will happen as a result of ozone depletion, the greenhouse effect and other environmental problems that cannot yet be foreseen. And, as nuclear proliferation has shown, new technology cannot be kept out of the hands of dictators and irresponsible Third World nations. Would you like to speculate about what Iraq or North Korea will do with genetic engineering? 170. "Oh!" say the technophiles, "Science is going to fix all that! We will conquer famine, eliminate psychological suffering, make everybody healthy and happy!" Yeah, sure. That's what they said 200 years ago. The Industrial Revolution was supposed to eliminate poverty, make everybody happy, etc. The actual result has been quite different. The technophiles are hopelessly naive (or self-deceiving) in their understanding of social problems. They are unaware of (or choose to ignore) the fact that when large changes, even seemingly beneficial ones, are introduced into a society, they lead to a long sequence of other changes, most of which are impossible to predict (paragraph 103). The result is disruption of the society. So it is very probable that in their attempt to end poverty and disease, engineer docile, happy personalities and so forth, the technophiles will create social systems that are terribly troubled, even more so than the present one. For example, the scientists boast that they will end famine by creating new, genetically engineered food plants. But this will allow the human population to keep expanding indefinitely, and it is well known that crowding leads to increased stress and aggression. This is merely one example of the predictable problems that will arise. We emphasize that, as past experience has shown, technical progress will lead to other new problems for society far more rapidly that it has been solving old ones. Thus it will take a long difficult period of trial and error for the technophiles to work the bugs out of their Brave New World (if they ever do). In the meantime there will be great suffering. So it is not all clear that the survival of industrial society would involve less suffering than the breakdown of that society would. Technology has gotten the human race into a fix from which there is not likely to be any easy escape. The future 171. But suppose now that industrial society does survive the next several decades and that the bugs do eventually get worked out of the system, so that it functions smoothly. What kind of system will it be? We will consider several possibilities. 172. First let us postulate that the computer scientists succeed in developing intelligent machines that can do all things better than human beings can do them. In that case presumably all work will be done by vast, highly organized systems of machines and no human effort will be necessary. Either of two cases might occur. The machines might be permitted to make all of their own decisions without human oversight, or else human control over the machines might be retained. 173. If the machines are permitted to make all their own decisions, we can't make any conjectures as to the results, because it is impossible to guess how such machines might behave. We only point out that the fate of the human race would be at the mercy of the machines. It might be argued that the human race would never be foolish enough to hand over all the power to the machines. But we are suggesting neither that the human race would voluntarily turn power over to the machines nor that the machines would willfully seize power. What we do suggest is that the human race might easily permit itself to drift into a position of such dependence on the machines that it would have no practical choice but to accept all of the machines' decisions. As society and the problems that face it become more and more complex and machines become more and more intelligent, people will let machines make more of their decisions for them, simply because machine-made decisions will bring better result than man-made ones. Eventually a stage may be reached at which the decisions necessary to keep the system running will be so complex that human beings will be incapable of making them intelligently. At that stage the machines will be in effective control. People won't be able to just turn the machines off, because they will be so dependent on them that turning them off would amount to suicide. 174. On the other hand it is possible that human control over the machines may be retained. In that case the average man may have control over certain private machines of his own, such as his car or his personal computer, but control over large systems of machines will be in the hands of a tiny elite—just as it is today, but with two differences. Due to improved techniques the elite will have greater control over the masses; and because human work will no longer be necessary the masses will be superfluous, a useless burden on the system. If the elite is ruthless they may simply decide to exterminate the mass of humanity. If they are humane they may use propaganda or other psychological or biological techniques to reduce the birth rate until the mass of humanity becomes extinct, leaving the world to the elite. Or, if the elite consist of soft-hearted liberals, they may decide to play the role of good shepherds to the rest of the human race. They will see to it that everyone's physical needs are satisfied, that all children are raised under psychologically hygienic conditions, that everyone has a wholesome hobby to keep him busy, and that anyone who may become dissatisfied undergoes "treatment" to cure his "problem." Of course, life will be so purposeless that people will have to be biologically or psychologically engineered either to remove their need for the power process or to make them "sublimate" their drive for power into some harmless hobby. These engineered human beings may be happy in such a society, but they most certainly will not be free. They will have been reduced to the status of domestic animals. 175. But suppose now that the computer scientists do not succeed in developing artificial intelligence, so that human work remains necessary. Even so, machines will take care of more and more of the simpler tasks so that there will be an increasing surplus of human workers at the lower levels of ability. (We see this happening already. There are many people who find it difficult or impossible to get work, because for intellectual or psychological reasons they cannot acquire the level of training necessary to make themselves useful in the present system.) On those who are employed, ever-increasing demands will be placed; They will need more and more training, more and more ability, and will have to be ever more reliable, conforming and docile, because they will be more and more like cells of a giant organism. Their tasks will be increasingly specialized so that their work will be, in a sense, out of touch with the real world, being concentrated on one tiny slice of reality. The system will have to use any means that it can, whether psychological or biological, to engineer people to be docile, to have the abilities that the system requires and to "sublimate" their drive for power into some specialized task. But the statement that the people of such a society will have to be docile may require qualification. The society may find competitiveness useful, provided that ways are found of directing competitiveness into channels that serve that needs of the system. We can imagine a future society in which there is endless competition for positions of prestige and power. But no more than a very few people will ever reach the top, where the only real power is (see end of paragraph 163). Very repellent is a society in which a person can satisfy his needs for power only by pushing large numbers of other people out of the way and depriving them of their opportunity for power. 176. One can envision scenarios that incorporate aspects of more than one of the possibilities that we have just discussed. For instance, it may be that machines will take over most of the work that is of real, practical importance, but that human beings will be kept busy by being given relatively unimportant work. It has been suggested, for example, that a great development of the service industries might provide work for human beings. Thus people will spend their time shining each others shoes, driving each other around in taxicabs, making handicrafts for one another, waiting on each other's tables, etc. This seems to us a thoroughly contemptible way for the human race to end up, and we doubt that many people would find fulfilling lives in such pointless busy-work. They would seek other, dangerous outlets (drugs, crime, "cults," hate groups) unless they were biologically or psychologically engineered to adapt to such a way of life. 177. Needless to say, the scenarios outlined above do not exhaust all the possibilities. They only indicate the kinds of outcomes that seem to us most likely. But we can envision no plausible scenarios that are any more palatable than the ones we've just described. It is overwhelmingly probable that if the industrial-technological system survives the next 40 to 100 years, it will by that time have developed certain general characteristics: Individuals (at least those of the "bourgeois" type, who are integrated into the system and make it run, and who therefore have all the power) will be more dependent than ever on large organizations; they will be more "socialized" than ever and their physical and mental qualities to a significant extent (possibly to a very great extent) will be those that are engineered into them rather than being the results of chance (or of God's will, or whatever); and whatever may be left of wild nature will be reduced to remnants preserved for scientific study and kept under the supervision and management of scientists (hence it will no longer be truly wild). In the long run (say a few centuries from now) it is likely that neither the human race nor any other important organisms will exist as we know them today, because once you start modifying organisms through genetic engineering there is no reason to stop at any particular point, so that the modifications will probably continue until man and other organisms have been utterly transformed. 178. Whatever else may be the case, it is certain that technology is creating for human beings a new physical and social environment radically different from the spectrum of environments to which natural selection has adapted the human race physically and psychologically. If man is not adjusted to this new environment by being artificially re-engineered, then he will be adapted to it through a long and painful process of natural selection. The former is far more likely than the latter. 179. It would be better to dump the whole stinking system and take the consequences. Strategy 180. The technophiles are taking us all on an utterly reckless ride into the unknown. Many people understand something of what technological progress is doing to us yet take a passive attitude toward it because they think it is inevitable. But we (FC) don't think it is inevitable. We think it can be stopped, and we will give here some indications of how to go about stopping it. 181. As we stated in paragraph 166, the two main tasks for the present are to promote social stress and instability in industrial society and to develop and propagate an ideology that opposes technology and the industrial system. When the system becomes sufficiently stressed and unstable, a revolution against technology may be possible. The pattern would be similar to that of the French and Russian Revolutions. French society and Russian society, for several decades prior to their respective revolutions, showed increasing signs of stress and weakness. Meanwhile, ideologies were being developed that offered a new world view that was quite different from the old one. In the Russian case, revolutionaries were actively working to undermine the old order. Then, when the old system was put under sufficient additional stress (by financial crisis in France, by military defeat in Russia) it was swept away by revolution. What we propose is something along the same lines. 182. It will be objected that the French and Russian Revolutions were failures. But most revolutions have two goals. One is to destroy an old form of society and the other is to set up the new form of society envisioned by the revolutionaries. The French and Russian revolutionaries failed (fortunately!) to create the new kind of society of which they dreamed, but they were quite successful in destroying the existing form of society. 183. But an ideology, in order to gain enthusiastic support, must have a positive ideal as well as a negative one; it must be for something as well as against something. The positive ideal that we propose is Nature. That is, wild nature; those aspects of the functioning of the Earth and its living things that are independent of human management and free of human interference and control. And with wild nature we include human nature, by which we mean those aspects of the functioning of the human individual that are not subject to regulation by organized society but are products of chance, or free will, or God (depending on your religious or philosophical opinions). 184. Nature makes a perfect counter-ideal to technology for several reasons. Nature (that which is outside the power of the system) is the opposite of technology (which seeks to expand indefinitely the power of the system). Most people will agree that nature is beautiful; certainly it has tremendous popular appeal. The radical environmentalists already hold an ideology that exalts nature and opposes technology. [30] It is not necessary for the sake of nature to set up some chimerical utopia or any new kind of social order. Nature takes care of itself: It was a spontaneous creation that existed long before any human society, and for countless centuries many different kinds of human societies coexisted with nature without doing it an excessive amount of damage. Only with the Industrial Revolution did the effect of human society on nature become really devastating. To relieve the pressure on nature it is not necessary to create a special kind of social system, it is only necessary to get rid of industrial society. Granted, this will not solve all problems. Industrial society has already done tremendous damage to nature and it will take a very long time for the scars to heal. Besides, even pre-industrial societies can do significant damage to nature. Nevertheless, getting rid of industrial society will accomplish a great deal. It will relieve the worst of the pressure on nature so that the scars can begin to heal. It will remove the capacity of organized society to keep increasing its control over nature (including human nature). Whatever kind of society may exist after the demise of the industrial system, it is certain that most people will live close to nature, because in the absence of advanced technology there is no other way that people can live. To feed themselves they must be peasants or herdsmen or fishermen or hunters, etc.. And, generally speaking, local autonomy should tend to increase, because lack of advanced technology and rapid communications will limit the capacity of governments or other large organizations to control local communities. 185. As for the negative consequences of eliminating industrial society—well, you can't eat your cake and have it too. To gain one thing you have to sacrifice another. 186. Most people hate psychological conflict. For this reason they avoid doing any serious thinking about difficult social issues, and they like to have such issues presented to them in simple, black-and-white terms: this is all good and that is all bad. The revolutionary ideology should therefore be developed on two levels. 187. On the more sophisticated level the ideology should address itself to people who are intelligent, thoughtful and rational. The object should be to create a core of people who will be opposed to the industrial system on a rational, thought-out basis, with full appreciation of the problems and ambiguities involved, and of the price that has to be paid for getting rid of the system. It is particularly important to attract people of this type, as they are capable people and will be instrumental in influencing others. These people should be addressed on as rational a level as possible. Facts should never intentionally be distorted and intemperate language should be avoided. This does not mean that no appeal can be made to the emotions, but in making such appeal care should be taken to avoid misrepresenting the truth or doing anything else that would destroy the intellectual respectability of the ideology. 188. On a second level, the ideology should be propagated in a simplified form that will enable the unthinking majority to see the conflict of technology vs. nature in unambiguous terms. But even on this second level the ideology should not be expressed in language that is so cheap, intemperate or irrational that it alienates people of the thoughtful and rational type. Cheap, intemperate propaganda sometimes achieves impressive short-term gains, but it will be more advantageous in the long run to keep the loyalty of a small number of intelligently committed people than to arouse the passions of an unthinking, fickle mob who will change their attitude as soon as someone comes along with a better propaganda gimmick. However, propaganda of the rabble-rousing type may be necessary when the system is nearing the point of collapse and there is a final struggle between rival ideologies to determine which will become dominant when the old world-view goes under. 189. Prior to that final struggle, the revolutionaries should not expect to have a majority of people on their side. History is made by active, determined minorities, not by the majority, which seldom has a clear and consistent idea of what it really wants. Until the time comes for the final push toward revolution [31] , the task of revolutionaries will be less to win the shallow support of the majority than to build a small core of deeply committed people. As for the majority, it will be enough to make them aware of the existence of the new ideology and remind them of it frequently; though of course it will be desirable to get majority support to the extent that this can be done without weakening the core of seriously committed people. 190. Any kind of social conflict helps to destabilize the system, but one should be careful about what kind of conflict one encourages. The line of conflict should be drawn between the mass of the people and the power-holding elite of industrial society (politicians, scientists, upper-level business executives, government officials, etc..). It should not be drawn between the revolutionaries and the mass of the people. For example, it would be bad strategy for the revolutionaries to condemn Americans for their habits of consumption. Instead, the average American should be portrayed as a victim of the advertising and marketing industry, which has suckered him into buying a lot of junk that he doesn't need and that is very poor compensation for his lost freedom. Either approach is consistent with the facts. It is merely a matter of attitude whether you blame the advertising industry for manipulating the public or blame the public for allowing itself to be manipulated. As a matter of strategy one should generally avoid blaming the public. 191. One should think twice before encouraging any other social conflict than that between the power-holding elite (which wields technology) and the general public (over which technology exerts its power). For one thing, other conflicts tend to distract attention from the important conflicts (between power-elite and ordinary people, between technology and nature); for another thing, other conflicts may actually tend to encourage technologization, because each side in such a conflict wants to use technological power to gain advantages over its adversary. This is clearly seen in rivalries between nations. It also appears in ethnic conflicts within nations. For example, in America many black leaders are anxious to gain power for African Americans by placing black individuals in the technological power-elite. They want there to be many black government officials, scientists, corporation executives and so forth. In this way they are helping to absorb the African American subculture into the technological system. Generally speaking, one should encourage only those social conflicts that can be fitted into the framework of the conflicts of power-elite vs. ordinary people, technology vs nature. 192. But the way to discourage ethnic conflict is not through militant advocacy of minority rights (see paragraphs 21, 29). Instead, the revolutionaries should emphasize that although minorities do suffer more or less disadvantage, this disadvantage is of peripheral significance. Our real enemy is the industrial-technological system, and in the struggle against the system, ethnic distinctions are of no importance. 193. The kind of revolution we have in mind will not necessarily involve an armed uprising against any government. It may or may not involve physical violence, but it will not be a political revolution. Its focus will be on technology and economics, not politics. [32] 194. Probably the revolutionaries should even avoid assuming political power, whether by legal or illegal means, until the industrial system is stressed to the danger point and has proved itself to be a failure in the eyes of most people. Suppose for example that some "green" party should win control of the United States Congress in an election. In order to avoid betraying or watering down their own ideology they would have to take vigorous measures to turn economic growth into economic shrinkage. To the average man the results would appear disastrous: There would be massive unemployment, shortages of commodities, etc. Even if the grosser ill effects could be avoided through superhumanly skillful management, still people would have to begin giving up the luxuries to which they have become addicted. Dissatisfaction would grow, the "green" party would be voted out of office and the revolutionaries would have suffered a severe setback. For this reason the revolutionaries should not try to acquire political power until the system has gotten itself into such a mess that any hardships will be seen as resulting from the failures of the industrial system itself and not from the policies of the revolutionaries. The revolution against technology will probably have to be a revolution by outsiders, a revolution from below and not from above. 195. The revolution must be international and worldwide. It cannot be carried out on a nation-by-nation basis. Whenever it is suggested that the United States, for example, should cut back on technological progress or economic growth, people get hysterical and start screaming that if we fall behind in technology the Japanese will get ahead of us. Holy robots! The world will fly off its orbit if the Japanese ever sell more cars than we do! (Nationalism is a great promoter of technology.) More reasonably, it is argued that if the relatively democratic nations of the world fall behind in technology while nasty, dictatorial nations like China, Vietnam and North Korea continue to progress, eventually the dictators may come to dominate the world. That is why the industrial system should be attacked in all nations simultaneously, to the extent that this may be possible. True, there is no assurance that the industrial system can be destroyed at approximately the same time all over the world, and it is even conceivable that the attempt to overthrow the system could lead instead to the domination of the system by dictators. That is a risk that has to be taken. And it is worth taking, since the difference between a "democratic" industrial system and one controlled by dictators is small compared with the difference between an industrial system and a non-industrial one. [33] It might even be argued that an industrial system controlled by dictators would be preferable, because dictator-controlled systems usually have proved inefficient, hence they are presumably more likely to break down. Look at Cuba. 196. Revolutionaries might consider favoring measures that tend to bind the world economy into a unified whole. Free trade agreements like NAFTA and GATT are probably harmful to the environment in the short run, but in the long run they may perhaps be advantageous because they foster economic interdependence between nations. It will be easier to destroy the industrial system on a worldwide basis if the world economy is so unified that its breakdown in any one major nation will lead to its breakdown in all industrialized nations. 197. Some people take the line that modern man has too much power, too much control over nature; they argue for a more passive attitude on the part of the human race. At best these people are expressing themselves unclearly, because they fail to distinguish between power for large organizations and power for individuals and small groups. It is a mistake to argue for powerlessness and passivity, because people need power. Modern man as a collective entity—that is, the industrial system—has immense power over nature, and we (FC) regard this as evil. But modern individuals and small groups of individuals have far less power than primitive man ever did. Generally speaking, the vast power of "modern man" over nature is exercised not by individuals or small groups but by large organizations. To the extent that the average modern individual can wield the power of technology, he is permitted to do so only within narrow limits and only under the supervision and control of the system. (You need a license for everything and with the license come rules and regulations). The individual has only those technological powers with which the system chooses to provide him. His personal power over nature is slight. 198. Primitive individuals and small groups actually had considerable power over nature; or maybe it would be better to say power within nature. When primitive man needed food he knew how to find and prepare edible roots, how to track game and take it with homemade weapons. He knew how to protect himself from heat, cold, rain, dangerous animals, etc. But primitive man did relatively little damage to nature because the collective power of primitive society was negligible compared to the collective power of industrial society. 199. Instead of arguing for powerlessness and passivity, one should argue that the power of the industrial system should be broken, and that this will greatly increase the power and freedom of individuals and small groups. 200. Until the industrial system has been thoroughly wrecked, the destruction of that system must be the revolutionaries' only goal. Other goals would distract attention and energy from the main goal. More importantly, if the revolutionaries permit themselves to have any other goal than the destruction of technology, they will be tempted to use technology as a tool for reaching that other goal. If they give in to that temptation, they will fall right back into the technological trap, because modern technology is a unified, tightly organized system, so that, in order to retain some technology, one finds oneself obliged to retain most technology, hence one ends up sacrificing only token amounts of technology. 201. Suppose for example that the revolutionaries took "social justice" as a goal. Human nature being what it is, social justice would not come about spontaneously; it would have to be enforced. In order to enforce it the revolutionaries would have to retain central organization and control. For that they would need rapid long-distance transportation and communication, and therefore all the technology needed to support the transportation and communication systems. To feed and clothe poor people they would have to use agricultural and manufacturing technology. And so forth. So that the attempt to insure social justice would force them to retain most parts of the technological system. Not that we have anything against social justice, but it must not be allowed to interfere with the effort to get rid of the technological system. 202. It would be hopeless for revolutionaries to try to attack the system without using some modern technology. If nothing else they must use the communications media to spread their message. But they should use modern technology for only one purpose: to attack the technological system. 203. Imagine an alcoholic sitting with a barrel of wine in front of him. Suppose he starts saying to himself, "Wine isn't bad for you if used in moderation. Why, they say small amounts of wine are even good for you! It won't do me any harm if I take just one little drink..." Well you know what is going to happen. Never forget that the human race with technology is just like an alcoholic with a barrel of wine. 204. Revolutionaries should have as many children as they can. There is strong scientific evidence that social attitudes are to a significant extent inherited. No one suggests that a social attitude is a direct outcome of a person's genetic constitution, but it appears that personality traits tend, within the context of our society, to make a person more likely to hold this or that social attitude. Objections to these findings have been raised, but objections are feeble and seem to be ideologically motivated. In any event, no one denies that children tend on the average to hold social attitudes similar to those of their parents. From our point of view it doesn't matter all that much whether the attitudes are passed on genetically or through childhood training. In either case they are passed on. 205. The trouble is that many of the people who are inclined to rebel against the industrial system are also concerned about the population problems, hence they are apt to have few or no children. In this way they may be handing the world over to the sort of people who support or at least accept the industrial system. To insure the strength of the next generation of revolutionaries the present generation must reproduce itself abundantly. In doing so they will be worsening the population problem only slightly. And the most important problem is to get rid of the industrial system, because once the industrial system is gone the world's population necessarily will decrease (see paragraph 167); whereas, if the industrial system survives, it will continue developing new techniques of food production that may enable the world's population to keep increasing almost indefinitely. 206. With regard to revolutionary strategy, the only points on which we absolutely insist are that the single overriding goal must be the elimination of modern technology, and that no other goal can be allowed to compete with this one. For the rest, revolutionaries should take an empirical approach. If experience indicates that some of the recommendations made in the foregoing paragraphs are not going to give good results, then those recommendations should be discarded. Two kinds of technology 207. An argument likely to be raised against our proposed revolution is that it is bound to fail, because (it is claimed) throughout history technology has always progressed, never regressed, hence technological regression is impossible. But this claim is false. 208. We distinguish between two kinds of technology, which we will call small-scale technology and organization-dependent technology. Small-scale technology is technology that can be used by small-scale communities without outside assistance. Organization-dependent technology is technology that depends on large-scale social organization. We are aware of no significant cases of regression in small-scale technology. But organization-dependent technology does regress when the social organization on which it depends breaks down. Example: When the Roman Empire fell apart the Romans' small-scale technology survived because any clever village craftsman could build, for instance, a water wheel, any skilled smith could make steel by Roman methods, and so forth. But the Romans' organization-dependent technology did regress. Their aqueducts fell into disrepair and were never rebuilt. Their techniques of road construction were lost. The Roman system of urban sanitation was forgotten, so that only until rather recent times did the sanitation of European cities equal that of Ancient Rome. 209. The reason why technology has seemed always to progress is that, until perhaps a century or two before the Industrial Revolution, most technology was small-scale technology. But most of the technology developed since the Industrial Revolution is organization-dependent technology. Take the refrigerator for example. Without factory-made parts or the facilities of a post-industrial machine shop it would be virtually impossible for a handful of local craftsmen to build a refrigerator. If by some miracle they did succeed in building one it would be useless to them without a reliable source of electric power. So they would have to dam a stream and build a generator. Generators require large amounts of copper wire. Imagine trying to make that wire without modern machinery. And where would they get a gas suitable for refrigeration? It would be much easier to build an ice house or preserve food by drying or pickling, as was done before the invention of the refrigerator. 210. So it is clear that if the industrial system were once thoroughly broken down, refrigeration technology would quickly be lost. The same is true of other organization-dependent technology. And once this technology had been lost for a generation or so it would take centuries to rebuild it, just as it took centuries to build it the first time around. Surviving technical books would be few and scattered. An industrial society, if built from scratch without outside help, can only be built in a series of stages: You need tools to make tools to make tools to make tools ... . A long process of economic development and progress in social organization is required. And, even in the absence of an ideology opposed to technology, there is no reason to believe that anyone would be interested in rebuilding industrial society. The enthusiasm for "progress" is a phenomenon particular to the modern form of society, and it seems not to have existed prior to the 17th century or thereabouts. 211. In the late Middle Ages there were four main civilizations that were about equally "advanced": Europe, the Islamic world, India, and the Far East (China, Japan, Korea). Three of those civilizations remained more or less stable, and only Europe became dynamic. No one knows why Europe became dynamic at that time; historians have their theories but these are only speculation. At any rate, it is clear that rapid development toward a technological form of society occurs only under special conditions. So there is no reason to assume that long-lasting technological regression cannot be brought about. 212. Would society eventually develop again toward an industrial-technological form? Maybe, but there is no use in worrying about it, since we can't predict or control events 500 or 1,000 years in the future. Those problems must be dealt with by the people who will live at that time. The danger of leftism 213. Because of their need for rebellion and for membership in a movement, leftists or persons of similar psychological type are often attracted to a rebellious or activist movement whose goals and membership are not initially leftist. The resulting influx of leftish types can easily turn a non-leftist movement into a leftist one, so that leftist goals replace or distort the original goals of the movement. 214. To avoid this, a movement that exalts nature and opposes technology must take a resolutely anti-leftist stance and must avoid all collaboration with leftists. Leftism is in the long run inconsistent with wild nature, with human freedom and with the elimination of modern technology. Leftism is collectivist; it seeks to bind together the entire world (both nature and the human race) into a unified whole. But this implies management of nature and of human life by organized society, and it requires advanced technology. You can't have a united world without rapid transportation and communication, you can't make all people love one another without sophisticated psychological techniques, you can't have a "planned society" without the necessary technological base. Above all, leftism is driven by the need for power, and the leftist seeks power on a collective basis, through identification with a mass movement or an organization. Leftism is unlikely ever to give up technology, because technology is too valuable a source of collective power. 215. The anarchist [34] too seeks power, but he seeks it on an individual or small-group basis; he wants individuals and small groups to be able to control the circumstances of their own lives. He opposes technology because it makes small groups dependent on large organizations. 216. Some leftists may seem to oppose technology, but they will oppose it only so long as they are outsiders and the technological system is controlled by non-leftists. If leftism ever becomes dominant in society, so that the technological system becomes a tool in the hands of leftists, they will enthusiastically use it and promote its growth. In doing this they will be repeating a pattern that leftism has shown again and again in the past. When the Bolsheviks in Russia were outsiders, they vigorously opposed censorship and the secret police, they advocated self-determination for ethnic minorities, and so forth; but as soon as they came into power themselves, they imposed a tighter censorship and created a more ruthless secret police than any that had existed under the Tsars, and they oppressed ethnic minorities at least as much as the Tsars had done. In the United States, a couple of decades ago when leftists were a minority in our universities, leftist professors were vigorous proponents of academic freedom, but today, in those universities where leftists have become dominant, they have shown themselves ready to take away from everyone else's academic freedom. (This is "political correctness.") The same will happen with leftists and technology: They will use it to oppress everyone else if they ever get it under their own control. 217. In earlier revolutions, leftists of the most power-hungry type, repeatedly, have first cooperated with non-leftist revolutionaries, as well as with leftists of a more libertarian inclination, and later have double-crossed them to seize power for themselves. Robespierre did this in the French Revolution, the Bolsheviks did it in the Russian Revolution, the communists did it in Spain in 1938 and Castro and his followers did it in Cuba. Given the past history of leftism, it would be utterly foolish for non-leftist revolutionaries today to collaborate with leftists. 218. Various thinkers have pointed out that leftism is a kind of religion. Leftism is not a religion in the strict sense because leftist doctrine does not postulate the existence of any supernatural being. But for the leftist, leftism plays a psychological role much like that which religion plays for some people. The leftist needs to believe in leftism; it plays a vital role in his psychological economy. His beliefs are not easily modified by logic or facts. He has a deep conviction that leftism is morally Right with a capital R, and that he has not only a right but a duty to impose leftist morality on everyone. (However, many of the people we are referring to as "leftists" do not think of themselves as leftists and would not describe their system of beliefs as leftism. We use the term "leftism" because we don't know of any better words to designate the spectrum of related creeds that includes the feminist, gay rights, political correctness, etc., movements, and because these movements have a strong affinity with the old left. See paragraphs 227-230.) 219. Leftism is totalitarian force. Wherever leftism is in a position of power it tends to invade every private corner and force every thought into a leftist mold. In part this is because of the quasi-religious character of leftism; everything contrary to leftists beliefs represents Sin. More importantly, leftism is a totalitarian force because of the leftists' drive for power. The leftist seeks to satisfy his need for power through identification with a social movement and he tries to go through the power process by helping to pursue and attain the goals of the movement (see paragraph 83). But no matter how far the movement has gone in attaining its goals the leftist is never satisfied, because his activism is a surrogate activity (see paragraph 41). That is, the leftist's real motive is not to attain the ostensible goals of leftism; in reality he is motivated by the sense of power he gets from struggling for and then reaching a social goal. [35] Consequently the leftist is never satisfied with the goals he has already attained; his need for the power process leads him always to pursue some new goal. The leftist wants equal opportunities for minorities. When that is attained he insists on statistical equality of achievement by minorities. And as long as anyone harbors in some corner of his mind a negative attitude toward some minority, the leftist has to re-educate him. And ethnic minorities are not enough; no one can be allowed to have a negative attitude toward homosexuals, disabled people, fat people, old people, ugly people, and on and on and on. It's not enough that the public should be informed about the hazards of smoking; a warning has to be stamped on every package of cigarettes. Then cigarette advertising has to be restricted if not banned. The activists will never be satisfied until tobacco is outlawed, and after that it will be alcohol then junk food, etc. Activists have fought gross child abuse, which is reasonable. But now they want to stop all spanking. When they have done that they will want to ban something else they consider unwholesome, then another thing and then another. They will never be satisfied until they have complete control over all child rearing practices. And then they will move on to another cause. 220. Suppose you asked leftists to make a list of all the things that were wrong with society, and then suppose you instituted every social change that they demanded. It is safe to say that within a couple of years the majority of leftists would find something new to complain about, some new social "evil" to correct because, once again, the leftist is motivated less by distress at society's ills than by the need to satisfy his drive for power by imposing his solutions on society. 221. Because of the restrictions placed on their thoughts and behavior by their high level of socialization, many leftists of the over-socialized type cannot pursue power in the ways that other people do. For them the drive for power has only one morally acceptable outlet, and that is in the struggle to impose their morality on everyone. 222. Leftists, especially those of the oversocialized type, are True Believers in the sense of Eric Hoffer's book, "The True Believer." But not all True Believers are of the same psychological type as leftists. Presumably a true believing Nazi, for instance, is very different psychologically from a true believing leftist. Because of their capacity for single-minded devotion to a cause, True Believers are a useful, perhaps a necessary, ingredient of any revolutionary movement. This presents a problem with which we must admit we don't know how to deal. We aren't sure how to harness the energies of the True Believer to a revolution against technology. At present all we can say is that no True Believer will make a safe recruit to the revolution unless his commitment is exclusively to the destruction of technology. If he is committed also to another ideal, he may want to use technology as a tool for pursuing that other ideal (see paragraphs 220, 221). 223. Some readers may say, "This stuff about leftism is a lot of crap. I know John and Jane who are leftish types and they don't have all these totalitarian tendencies." It's quite true that many leftists, possibly even a numerical majority, are decent people who sincerely believe in tolerating others' values (up to a point) and wouldn't want to use high-handed methods to reach their social goals. Our remarks about leftism are not meant to apply to every individual leftist but to describe the general character of leftism as a movement. And the general character of a movement is not necessarily determined by the numerical proportions of the various kinds of people involved in the movement. 224. The people who rise to positions of power in leftist movements tend to be leftists of the most power-hungry type because power-hungry people are those who strive hardest to get into positions of power. Once the power-hungry types have captured control of the movement, there are many leftists of a gentler breed who inwardly disapprove of many of the actions of the leaders, but cannot bring themselves to oppose them. They need their faith in the movement, and because they cannot give up this faith they go along with the leaders. True, some leftists do have the guts to oppose the totalitarian tendencies that emerge, but they generally lose, because the power-hungry types are better organized, are more ruthless and Machiavellian and have taken care to build themselves a strong power base. 225. These phenomena appeared clearly in Russia and other countries that were taken over by leftists. Similarly, before the breakdown of communism in the USSR, leftish types in the West would seldom criticize that country. If prodded they would admit that the USSR did many wrong things, but then they would try to find excuses for the communists and begin talking about the faults of the West. They always opposed Western military resistance to communist aggression. Leftish types all over the world vigorously protested the U.S. military action in Vietnam, but when the USSR invaded Afghanistan they did nothing. Not that they approved of the Soviet actions; but because of their leftist faith, they just couldn't bear to put themselves in opposition to communism. Today, in those of our universities where "political correctness" has become dominant, there are probably many leftish types who privately disapprove of the suppression of academic freedom, but they go along with it anyway. 226. Thus the fact that many individual leftists are personally mild and fairly tolerant people by no means prevents leftism as a whole form having a totalitarian tendency. 227. Our discussion of leftism has a serious weakness. It is still far from clear what we mean by the word "leftist." There doesn't seem to be much we can do about this. Today leftism is fragmented into a whole spectrum of activist movements. Yet not all activist movements are leftist, and some activist movements (e.g., radical environmentalism) seem to include both personalities of the leftist type and personalities of thoroughly un-leftist types who ought to know better than to collaborate with leftists. Varieties of leftists fade out gradually into varieties of non-leftists and we ourselves would often be hard-pressed to decide whether a given individual is or is not a leftist. To the extent that it is defined at all, our conception of leftism is defined by the discussion of it that we have given in this article, and we can only advise the reader to use his own judgment in deciding who is a leftist. 228. But it will be helpful to list some criteria for diagnosing leftism. These criteria cannot be applied in a cut and dried manner. Some individuals may meet some of the criteria without being leftists, some leftists may not meet any of the criteria. Again, you just have to use your judgment. 229. The leftist is oriented toward large scale collectivism. He emphasizes the duty of the individual to serve society and the duty of society to take care of the individual. He has a negative attitude toward individualism. He often takes a moralistic tone. He tends to be for gun control, for sex education and other psychologically "enlightened" educational methods, for planning, for affirmative action, for multiculturalism. He tends to identify with victims. He tends to be against competition and against violence, but he often finds excuses for those leftists who do commit violence. He is fond of using the common catch-phrases of the left like "racism," "sexism," "homophobia," "capitalism," "imperialism," "neocolonialism," "genocide," "social change," "social justice," "social responsibility." Maybe the best diagnostic trait of the leftist is his tendency to sympathize with the following movements: feminism, gay rights, ethnic rights, disability rights, animal rights, political correctness. Anyone who strongly sympathizes with all of these movements is almost certainly a leftist. [36] 230. The more dangerous leftists, that is, those who are most power-hungry, are often characterized by arrogance or by a dogmatic approach to ideology. However, the most dangerous leftists of all may be certain oversocialized types who avoid irritating displays of aggressiveness and refrain from advertising their leftism, but work quietly and unobtrusively to promote collectivist values, "enlightened" psychological techniques for socializing children, dependence of the individual on the system, and so forth. These crypto-leftists (as we may call them) approximate certain bourgeois types as far as practical action is concerned, but differ from them in psychology, ideology and motivation. The ordinary bourgeois tries to bring people under control of the system in order to protect his way of life, or he does so simply because his attitudes are conventional. The crypto-leftist tries to bring people under control of the system because he is a True Believer in a collectivist ideology. The crypto-leftist is differentiated from the average leftist of the oversocialized type by the fact that his rebellious impulse is weaker and he is more securely socialized. He is differentiated from the ordinary well-socialized bourgeois by the fact that there is some deep lack within him that makes it necessary for him to devote himself to a cause and immerse himself in a collectivity. And maybe his (well-sublimated) drive for power is stronger than that of the average bourgeois. Final note 231. Throughout this article we've made imprecise statements and statements that ought to have had all sorts of qualifications and reservations attached to them; and some of our statements may be flatly false. Lack of sufficient information and the need for brevity made it impossible for us to formulate our assertions more precisely or add all the necessary qualifications. And of course in a discussion of this kind one must rely heavily on intuitive judgment, and that can sometimes be wrong. So we don't claim that this article expresses more than a crude approximation to the truth. 232. All the same we are reasonably confident that the general outlines of the picture we have painted here are roughly correct. We have portrayed leftism in its modern form as a phenomenon peculiar to our time and as a symptom of the disruption of the power process. But we might possibly be wrong about this. Oversocialized types who try to satisfy their drive for power by imposing their morality on everyone have certainly been around for a long time. But we think that the decisive role played by feelings of inferiority, low self-esteem, powerlessness, identification with victims by people who are not themselves victims, is a peculiarity of modern leftism. Identification with victims by people not themselves victims can be seen to some extent in 19th century leftism and early Christianity but as far as we can make out, symptoms of low self-esteem, etc., were not nearly so evident in these movements, or in any other movements, as they are in modern leftism. But we are not in a position to assert confidently that no such movements have existed prior to modern leftism. This is a significant question to which historians ought to give their attention. Notes ↑ We are not asserting that all, or even most, bullies and ruthless competitors suffer from feelings of inferiority. ↑ During the Victorian period many oversocialized people suffered from serious psychological problems as a result of repressing or trying to repress their sexual feelings. Freud apparently based his theories on people of this type. Today the focus of socialization has shifted from sex to aggression. ↑ Not necessarily including specialists in engineering "hard" sciences. ↑ There are many individuals of the middle and upper classes who resist some of these values, but usually their resistance is more or less covert. Such resistance appears in the mass media only to a very limited extent. The main thrust of propaganda in our society is in favor of the stated values. The main reasons why these values have become, so to speak, the official values of our society is that they are useful to the industrial system. Violence is discouraged because it disrupts the functioning of the system. Racism is discouraged because ethnic conflicts also disrupt the system, and discrimination wastes the talent of minority-group members who could be useful to the system. Poverty must be "cured" because the underclass causes problems for the system and contact with the underclass lowers the morale of the other classes. Women are encouraged to have careers because their talents are useful to the system and, more importantly, because by having regular jobs women become better integrated into the system and tied directly to it rather than to their families. This helps to weaken family solidarity. (The leaders of the system say they want to strengthen the family, but they really mean is that they want the family to serve as an effective tool for socializing children in accord with the needs of the system. We argue in paragraphs 51,52 that the system cannot afford to let the family or other small-scale social groups be strong or autonomous.) ↑ It may be argued that the majority of people don't want to make their own decisions but want leaders to do their thinking for them. There is an element of truth in this. People like to make their own decisions in small matters, but making decisions on difficult, fundamental questions requires facing up to psychological conflict, and most people hate psychological conflict. Hence they tend to lean on others in making difficult decisions. The majority of people are natural followers, not leaders, but they like to have direct personal access to their leaders and participate to some extent in making difficult decisions. At least to that degree they need autonomy. ↑ Some of the symptoms listed are similar to those shown by caged animals. To explain how these symptoms arise from deprivation with respect to the power process: Common-sense understanding of human nature tells one that lack of goals whose attainment requires effort leads to boredom and that boredom, long continued, often leads eventually to depression. Failure to obtain goals leads to frustration and lowering of self-esteem. Frustration leads to anger, anger to aggression, often in the form of spouse or child abuse. It has been shown that long-continued frustration commonly leads to depression and that depression tends to cause guilt, sleep disorders, eating disorders and bad feelings about oneself. Those who are tending toward depression seek pleasure as an antidote; hence insatiable hedonism and excessive sex, with perversions as a means of getting new kicks. Boredom too tends to cause excessive pleasure-seeking since, lacking other goals, people often use pleasure as a goal. See accompanying diagram . The foregoing is a simplification. Reality is more complex, and of course deprivation with respect to the power process is not the only cause of the symptoms described. By the way, when we mention depression we do not necessarily mean depression that is severe enough to be treated by a psychiatrist. Often only mild forms of depression are involved. And when we speak of goals we do not necessarily mean long-term, thought out goals. For many or most people through much of human history, the goals of a hand-to-mouth existence (merely providing oneself and one's family with food from day to day) have been quite sufficient. ↑ A partial exception may be made for a few passive, inward looking groups, such as the Amish, which have little effect on the wider society. Apart from these, some genuine small-scale communities do exist in America today. For instance, youth gangs and "cults." Everyone regards them as dangerous, and so they are, because the members of these groups are loyal primarily to one another rather than to the system, hence the system cannot control them. Or take the gypsies. The gypsies commonly get away with theft and fraud because their loyalties are such that they can always get other gypsies to give testimony that "proves" their innocence. Obviously the system would be in serious trouble if too many people belonged to such groups. Some of the early-20th century Chinese thinkers who were concerned with modernizing China recognized the necessity of breaking down small-scale social groups such as the family: "(According to Sun Yat-sen) The Chinese people needed a new surge of patriotism, which would lead to a transfer of loyalty from the family to the state. . .(According to Li Huang) traditional attachments, particularly to the family had to be abandoned if nationalism were to develop to China." (Chester C. Tan, Chinese Political Thought in the Twentieth Century," page 125, page 297.) ↑ Yes, we know that 19th century America had its problems, and serious ones, but for the sake of brevity we have to express ourselves in simplified terms. ↑ We leave aside the underclass. We are speaking of the mainstream. ↑ Some social scientists, educators, "mental health" professionals and the like are doing their best to push the social drives into group 1 by trying to see to it that everyone has a satisfactory social life. ↑ Is the drive for endless material acquisition really an artificial creation of the advertising and marketing industry? Certainly there is no innate human drive for material acquisition. There have been many cultures in which people have desired little material wealth beyond what was necessary to satisfy their basic physical needs (Australian aborigines, traditional Mexican peasant culture, some African cultures). On the other hand there have also been many pre-industrial cultures in which material acquisition has played an important role. So we can't claim that today's acquisition-oriented culture is exclusively a creation of the advertising and marketing industry. But it is clear that the advertising and marketing industry has had an important part in creating that culture. The big corporations that spend millions on advertising wouldn't be spending that kind of money without solid proof that they were getting it back in increased sales. One member of FC met a sales manager a couple of years ago who was frank enough to tell him, "Our job is to make people buy things they don't want and don't need." He then described how an untrained novice could present people with the facts about a product, and make no sales at all, while a trained and experienced professional salesman would make lots of sales to the same people. This shows that people are manipulated into buying things they don't really want. ↑ The problem of purposelessness seems to have become less serious during the last 15 years or so, because people now feel less secure physically and economically than they did earlier, and the need for security provides them with a goal. But purposelessness has been replaced by frustration over the difficulty of attaining security. We emphasize the problem of purposelessness because the liberals and leftists would wish to solve our social problems by having society guarantee everyone's security; but if that could be done it would only bring back the problem of purposelessness. The real issue is not whether society provides well or poorly for people's security; the trouble is that people are dependent on the system for their security rather than having it in their own hands. This, by the way, is part of the reason why some people get worked up about the right to bear arms; possession of a gun puts that aspect of their security in their own hands. ↑ Conservatives' efforts to decrease the amount of government regulation are of little benefit to the average man. For one thing, only a fraction of the regulations can be eliminated because most regulations are necessary. For another thing, most of the deregulation affects business rather than the average individual, so that its main effect is to take power from the government and give it to private corporations. What this means for the average man is that government interference in his life is replaced by interference from big corporations, which may be permitted, for example, to dump more chemicals that get into his water supply and give him cancer. The conservatives are just taking the average man for a sucker, exploiting his resentment of Big Government to promote the power of Big Business. ↑ When someone approves of the purpose for which propaganda is being used in a given case, he generally calls it "education" or applies to it some similar euphemism. But propaganda is propaganda regardless of the purpose for which it is used. ↑ We are not expressing approval or disapproval of the Panama invasion. We only use it to illustrate a point. ↑ When the American colonies were under British rule there were fewer and less effective legal guarantees of freedom than there were after the American Constitution went into effect, yet there was more personal freedom in pre-industrial America, both before and after the War of Independence, than there was after the Industrial Revolution took hold in this country. We quote from Violence in America: Historical and Comparative Perspectives, edited by Hugh Davis Graham and Ted Robert Gurr, Chapter 12 by Roger Lane, pages 476-478: "The progressive heightening of standards of property, and with it the increasing reliance on official law enforcement (in 19th century America). . .were common to the whole society. . .[T]he change in social behavior is so long term and so widespread as to suggest a connection with the most fundamental of contemporary social processes; that of industrial urbanization itself. . . "Massachusetts in 1835 had a population of some 660,940, 81 percent rural, overwhelmingly preindustrial and native born. Its citizens were used to considerable personal freedom. Whether teamsters, farmers or artisans, they were all accustomed to setting their own schedules, and the nature of their work made them physically dependent on each other. . .Individual problems, sins or even crimes, were not generally cause for wider social concern. . . "But the impact of the twin movements to the city and to the factory, both just gathering force in 1835, had a progressive effect on personal behavior throughout the 19th century and into the 20th. The factory demanded regularity of behavior, a life governed by obedience to the rhythms of clock and calendar, the demands of foreman and supervisor. In the city or town, the needs of living in closely packed neighborhoods inhibited many actions previously unobjectionable. Both blue- and white-collar employees in larger establishments were mutually dependent on their fellows. As one man's work fit into another's, so one man's business was no longer his own. "The results of the new organization of life and work were apparent by 1900, when some 76 percent of the 2,805,346 inhabitants of Massachusetts were classified as urbanites. Much violent or irregular behavior which had been tolerable in a casual, independent society was no longer acceptable in the more formalized, cooperative atmosphere of the later period. . .The move to the cities had, in short, produced a more tractable, more socialized, more 'civilized' generation than its predecessors." —Roger Lane, Violence in America [If copyright problems make it impossible for this long quotation to be printed, then please change Note 16 to read as follows: 16. When the American colonies were under British rule there were fewer and less effective legal guarantees of freedom than there were after the American Constitution went into effect, yet there was more personal freedom in pre-industrial America, both before and after the War of Independence, than there was after the Industrial Revolution took hold in this country. In "Violence in America: Historical and Comparative Perspectives," edited by Hugh Davis Graham and Ted Robert Gurr, Chapter 12 by Roger Lane, it is explained how in pre-industrial America the average person had greater independence and autonomy than he does today, and how the process of industrialization necessarily led to the restriction of personal freedom.] ↑ Apologists for the system are fond of citing cases in which elections have been decided by one or two votes, but such cases are rare. ↑ "Today, in technologically advanced lands, men live very similar lives in spite of geographical, religious and political differences. The daily lives of a Christian bank clerk in Chicago, a Buddhist bank clerk in Tokyo, a Communist bank clerk in Moscow are far more alike than the life any one of them is like that of any single man who lived a thousand years ago. These similarities are the result of a common technology. . ." —L. Sprague de Camp, The Ancient Engineers, Ballentine edition, page 17. The lives of the three bank clerks are not identical. Ideology does have some effect. But all technological societies, in order to survive, must evolve along approximately the same trajectory. ↑ Just think—an irresponsible genetic engineer might create a lot of terrorists. ↑ For a further example of undesirable consequences of medical progress, suppose a reliable cure for cancer is discovered. Even if the treatment is too expensive to be available to any but the elite, it will greatly reduce their incentive to stop the escape of carcinogens into the environment. ↑ Since many people may find paradoxical the notion that a large number of good things can add up to a bad thing, we will illustrate with an analogy. Suppose Mr. A is playing chess with Mr. B. Mr. C, a Grand Master, is looking over Mr. A's shoulder. Mr. A of course wants to win his game, so if Mr. C points out a good move for him to make, he is doing Mr. A a favor. But suppose now that Mr. C tells Mr. A how to make all of his moves. In each particular instance he does Mr. A a favor by showing him his best move, but by making all of his moves for him he spoils the game, since there is no point in Mr. A's playing the game at all if someone else makes all his moves. The situation of modern man is analogous to that of Mr. A. The system makes an individual's life easier for him in innumerable ways, but in doing so it deprives him of control over his own fate. ↑ Here we are considering only the conflict of values within the mainstream. For the sake of simplicity we leave out of the picture "outsider" values like the idea that wild nature is more important than human economic welfare. ↑ Self-interest is not necessarily material self-interest. It can consist in fulfillment of some psychological need, for example, by promoting one's own ideology or religion. ↑ A qualification: It is in the interest of the system to permit a certain prescribed degree of freedom in some areas. For example, economic freedom (with suitable limitations and restraints) has proved effective in promoting economic growth. But only planned, circumscribed, limited freedom is in the interest of the system. The individual must always be kept on a leash, even if the leash is sometimes long (see paragraphs 94, 97). ↑ We don't mean to suggest that the efficiency or the potential for survival of a society has always been inversely proportional to the amount of pressure or discomfort to which the society subjects people. That is certainly not the case. There is good reason to believe that many primitive societies subjected people to less pressure than the European society did, but European society proved far more efficient than any primitive society and always won out in conflicts with such societies because of the advantages conferred by technology. ↑ If you think that more effective law enforcement is unequivocally good because it suppresses crime, then remember that crime as defined by the system is not necessarily what you would call crime. Today, smoking marijuana is a "crime," and in some places in the U.S., possession of any firearm, registered or not, may be made a crime; the same thing may happen with disapproved methods of child-rearing, such as spanking. In some countries, expression of dissident political opinions is a crime, and there is no certainty that this will never happen in the U.S., since no constitution or political system lasts forever. If a society needs a large, powerful law enforcement establishment, then there is something gravely wrong with that society; it must be subjecting people to severe pressures if so many refuse to follow the rules, or follow them only because forced. Many societies in the past have gotten by with little or no formal law-enforcement. ↑ To be sure, past societies have had means of influencing behavior, but these have been primitive and of low effectiveness compared with the technological means that are now being developed. ↑ However, some psychologists have publicly expressed opinions indicating their contempt for human freedom. And the mathematician Claude Shannon was quoted in Omni (August 1987) as saying, "I visualize a time when we will be to robots what dogs are to humans, and I'm rooting for the machines." ↑ This is no science fiction! After writing paragraph 154 we came across an article in Scientific American according to which scientists are actively developing techniques for identifying possible future criminals and for treating them by a combination of biological and psychological means. Some scientists advocate compulsory application of the treatment, which may be available in the near future. (See "Seeking the Criminal Element", by W. Wayt Gibbs, Scientific American, March 1995.) Maybe you think this is OK because the treatment would be applied to those who might become drunk drivers (they endanger human life too), then perhaps to people who spank their children, then to environmentalists who sabotage logging equipment, eventually to anyone whose behavior is inconvenient for the system. ↑ A further advantage of nature as a counter-ideal to technology is that, in many people, nature inspires the kind of reverence that is associated with religion, so that nature could perhaps be idealized on a religious basis. It is true that in many societies religion has served as a support and justification for the established order, but it is also true that religion has often provided a basis for rebellion. Thus it may be useful to introduce a religious element into the rebellion against technology, the more so because Western society today has no strong religious foundation. Religion nowadays either is used as cheap and transparent support for narrow, short-sighted selfishness (some conservatives use it this way), or even is cynically exploited to make easy money (by many evangelists), or has degenerated into crude irrationalism (fundamentalist Protestant sects, "cults"), or is simply stagnant (Catholicism, main-line Protestantism). The nearest thing to a strong, widespread, dynamic religion that the West has seen in recent times has been the quasi-religion of leftism, but leftism today is fragmented and has no clear, unified inspiring goal. Thus there is a religious vacuum in our society that could perhaps be filled by a religion focused on nature in opposition to technology. But it would be a mistake to try to concoct artificially a religion to fill this role. Such an invented religion would probably be a failure. Take the "Gaia" religion for example. Do its adherents really believe in it or are they just play-acting? If they are just play-acting their religion will be a flop in the end. It is probably best not to try to introduce religion into the conflict of nature vs. technology unless you really believe in that religion yourself and find that it arouses a deep, strong, genuine response in many other people. ↑ Assuming that such a final push occurs. Conceivably the industrial system might be eliminated in a somewhat gradual or piecemeal fashion (see paragraphs 4, 167 and Note 4). ↑ It is even conceivable (remotely) that the revolution might consist only of a massive change of attitudes toward technology resulting in a relatively gradual and painless disintegration of the industrial system. But if this happens we'll be very lucky. It's far more probably that the transition to a nontechnological society will be very difficult and full of conflicts and disasters. ↑ The economic and technological structure of a society are far more important than its political structure in determining the way the average man lives (see paragraphs 95, 119 and Notes 16, 18). ↑ This statement refers to our particular brand of anarchism. A wide variety of social attitudes have been called "anarchist," and it may be that many who consider themselves anarchists would not accept our statement of paragraph 215. It should be noted, by the way, that there is a nonviolent anarchist movement whose members probably would not accept FC as anarchist and certainly would not approve of FC's violent methods. ↑ Many leftists are motivated also by hostility, but the hostility probably results in part from a frustrated need for power. ↑ It is important to understand that we mean someone who sympathizes with these movements as they exist today in our society. One who believes that women, homosexuals, etc., should have equal rights is not necessarily a leftist. The feminist, gay rights, etc., movements that exist in our society have the particular ideological tone that characterizes leftism, and if one believes, for example, that women should have equal rights it does not necessarily follow that one must sympathize with the feminist movement as it exists today.	Ted Kaczynski
According to the nursery rhyme, what did Old Mother Hubbard go to the cupboard to fetch?	040316 daily corinthian e edition by Daily Corinthian - issuu issuu Inside today: More than $95 in coupon savings Prentiss County Resident arrested for sexual battery Tishomingo County Group provides medical kits for sheriff’s department Local Vehicle fire draws attention downtown Page 3A Sunday April 3, 2016 $1.50 Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 81 • Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections Educator honored as citizen of the year BY JEBB JOHNSTON [email protected] Longtime educator Lee Childress has been crowned “citizen of the year.” The Junior Auxiliary bestowed the honor upon Corinth’s superintendent of education during Saturday evening’s charity ball. “His interest in both the welfare and education of our com- munity’s youth has been phenomenal,” said Mayor Tommy Irwin. “Lee Childress goes far beyond the call of duty as a school district superintendent and is truly interested in the education, betterment and welfare of all our youth while serving Corinth in many other ways.” Those who supported Childress’ nomination pointed to a broad record of community involvement while bringing innovation to the Corinth School District. “I tell him constantly that I am lucky to learn from him daily, and I truly mean it,” said Taylor Coombs, who works with the superintendent. “He is constantly looking for the next best thing, not for our district, but for our students. Every de- cision made is one that is based from the question, ‘Is this what is best for all students?’ ” Childress became superintendent in 2001 and has overseen the construction of the new Please see CHILDRESS \| 5A Corinth School District Superintendent Lee Childress reads to students. Health officials approve hospital renovation plan BY JEBB JOHNSTON [email protected] The Mississippi State Department of Health gave approval for Magnolia Regional Health Center to proceed with renovation of space on the third floor to house the behavioral unit. MSDH issued a certificate of need for the 10,550-square-foot renovation, which will involve a Staff photo by Brant Sappington [email protected] The Medical Plaza team of Meghan Butler, Kayla Dees and Tashya Smith were among the local folks cooking up chili along with more than a dozen professional cookers during the ninth annual Crossroads Chili Cook-Off Saturday. The event, designated as the Mississippi state chili cook-off for the International Chili Society, drew teams from as far away as Florida and Illinois for a chance at part of $3,000 in prize money. The fun included the annual people’s choice competition which raised money this year for the Corinth-Alcorn County Special Needs Kids (Havis’ Kids) effort to take special needs children to Disney World. Walk for Life adds 5K run BY KIMBERLY SHELTON The Commission on the Future of Alcorn County is set to deliver its annual update on efforts to improve the community. The commission’s report and community forum will take place at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Shiloh Ridge during a joint meeting of the civic clubs — Kiwanis, Civitans and Rotary — with guest speaker Glenn McCullough Jr., executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. Please see COMMISSION \| 5A People of the Crossroads Dana Bullard, Corinth [email protected] Kicking of yet another exciting year of fund-raising events, the Oasis Medical Center has announced a new addition to this year’s 3K Walk for Life. Slated for Saturday, April 23, at Crossroads Regional Park in Corinth, the traditional walk will also include a 5K Fun Run. “Our 5K Fun Run is a great way to train for the upcoming 10K Coke Run,” said Oasis Executive Director Martha Jobe. “Every runner and walker is asked to participate in fundraising for Oasis.” “It’s easy,” she added. “Simply call Oasis at 662-2878001 to receive a registration/ sponsor pledge form, for more information or team instructions.” Please see RENOVATION \| 5A Development leader headlines commission’s update meeting BY JEBB JOHNSTON Cooking in Corinth capital expenditure of $4.5 million. The funding source is cash reserves. The project involves updating the decor and mechanical systems before relocating the 19-bed behavioral unit, which is currently on the fourth floor. The space to be renovated pre- Staff photo by Zack Steen For 50-year-old Dana Bullard, work is about to get even busier. One of the driving forces behind the new Corinth School District Technology and Innovation Center, otherwise known as C-Tech, Bullard is helping launch the new careertechnical centered campus. “It’s an exciting time in the Corinth School District,” she said. The Cambridge Curriculum Coordinator is the wife of local attorney Arch Bullard. The duo have two grown daughters, Francis and Sarah. In the couple’s downtime, they enjoying hiking outdoors. A wonderful opportunity to support a local ministry which serves over 500 people each year, all funds raised by the event will go directly toward OMC’s services which are provided at no cost to clients. Participants are encouraged to ask their family, friends and co-workers to pledge a one-time tax-deductible gift Please see 5K RUN \| 5A 25 years ago 10 years ago Ron Tutor is among those returning home to the Crossroads from military service in the Persian Gulf. The U.S. Navy sailor served on the hospital ship USNS Comfort. Local student Genie Alice Via becomes the first Ole Miss student selected for the summer program at Georgetown University’s Institute of Political Journalism in Washington, D.C. RENTAL Rent a 2016 Maxima today! Call for complete details and rates! 286.6006 HWY 72 E • Corinth MS www.brosenissan.com 2A • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Daily Corinthian JOB FAIR Equal Opportunity Employer Monday, April 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Avectus Job Fair will be held at the Corinth WIN Job Center located on the NEMCC Corinth Campus, Harper Road Bring Current Resume and 2 forms of ID (Valid State/Government issued picture ID AND Social Security Card) Currently Offering Full Time Positions with Competitive Wages and Benefits For shifts Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM and 10AM-7PM Preferred Job Skills: • Professional • Computer Skills • Telephone Skills • Medical Field, a plus • Insurance Experience - Health or Auto, a plus • Office Skills If you are unable to attend on this day, you may email your current resume to [email protected]. Seeking Also: • Legal Secretary Experience • Paralegal Experience Sunday, April 3, 2016 Today in History Staff photo by Mark Boehler Downtown car fire Action at the Crossroads Chili Cookoff and Green Market was a bit hotter than anticipated Saturday when a vehicle caught fire in the parking lot north of the Corinth Depot. One unit from the Corinth Fire Department responded and quickly contained the blaze which drew attention from the large crowd at the events. Today is Sunday, April 3, the 94th day of 2016. There are 272 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On April 3, 1936, Bruno Hauptmann was electrocuted in Trenton, New Jersey, for the kidnap-murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. On this date: In 1776, George Washington received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Harvard College. In 1860, the legendary Pony Express began carrying mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. (The delivery system lasted only 18 months before giving way to the transcontinental telegraph.) In 1865, Union forces occupied the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. In 1882, outlaw Jesse James was shot to death in St. Joseph, Missouri, by Robert Ford, a member of James’ gang. In 1946, Lt. Gen. Masaharu Homma, the Japanese commander held responsible for the Bataan Death March, was executed by firing squad outside Manila. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed the Marshall Plan, designed to help European allies rebuild after World War II and resist communism. In 1965, the United States launched the SNAP-10A nuclear power system into Earth orbit; it was the first nuclear reactor sent into space. In 1968, the day before he was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “mountaintop” speech to a rally of striking sanitation workers. In 1985, the landmark Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant closed after 56 years in business. In 1996, Unabomber Theodore Kaczynski was arrested at his remote Montana cabin. Ten years ago: Former Liberian President Charles Taylor pleaded not guilty before an international war crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone, denying he’d helped destabilize West Africa through killings, sexual slavery and sending children into combat. (Taylor was later convicted of all 11 counts against him, and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.) Five years ago: The United States agreed to NATO’s request for a 48hour extension of American participation in coalition air strikes against targets in Libya. w Ne Across the Region Booneville District leaders look ahead to rankings BOONEVILLE — Booneville School District leaders are anticipating good news when the latest round of school accountability results is released in May. Superintendent Dr. Todd English recently told the district’s board he anticipates the district will remain among the best in the state when the official ratings are released by the Mississippi Department of Education. The results should be released sometime in May. English said they continue to monitor action in the state legislature, but don’t expect any significant impact from bills currently under consideration. Board members did look at revisions to the district’s attendance policy. English said they want to make sure they keep attendance as high as possible for the benefit of students’ learning and district finances. State funding is based in part on the number of students attending class, known as “Average Daily Attendance.” Iuka Deputies receive medic kit donation IUKA — Tishomingo County Sheriff’s deputies now have a new tool available when they’re in the field. Sheriff John Daugherty says the community has provided 15 medical bags for deputies to carry in their vehicles. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports the need for officers to have basic medical knowledge and supplies was driven home by a February standoff outside of Iuka that left one officer dead and three others Adam Trest Home Accents Classically Southern Mississippi Made injured in a shootout. Deputy Brandon Slack, who is also a paramedic, says a bullet struck one officer’s femoral artery. Slack says he would have bled to death if the Highway Patrol SWAT team didn’t carry tourniquets. Air Evac is providing tourniquets and training to the sheriff’s office and the Belmont, Burnsville, Golden, Iuka and Tishomingo police departments. Booneville Benton County man arrested for battery BOONEVILLE — A Prentiss County man, David Joe Glasco has been indicted and arrested by the Prentiss County Sheriff Office and charged with sexual battery. The indictment stemmed from an incident that allegedly happened Glasco in Prentiss County back in August of 2015. Glasco had since moved from Prentiss County to Benton County, where he was residing at the time of his arrest. Glasco’s bond was set at $20,000 and he remains in custody. Tupelo Renasant secures Georgia bank buy TUPELO — Mississippi-based regional bank Renasant Corp. has completed its acquisition of Georgia-based KeyWorth Bank for $59 million in stock. Tupelo-based Renasant announced Friday that it has wrapped up the deal. The merger bulks up the presence of Renasant in Atlanta’s northern suburbs. Renasant has been gobbling up other banks, acquiring seven in the last 11 years. KeyWorth, based in Johns Creek, Georgia, had $408 million in assets, with four branches and a fifth planned to open by June. Renasant says it will complete the integration of KeyWorth’s systems by mid-June. Renasant says the merger gives it $8.3 billion in assets and more than 175 offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. Drowning in your a ddiction ? Let us Help. Solutions of Savannah offers Methadone/Suboxone Treatment Counseling – Free Referrals Supervisors set meeting agenda The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting at 9 a.m. Monday at the supervisors’ oﬃce on Fulton Drive. The business agenda is: ■ Call to order ■ Prayer by Bro. Mike Brown, pastor of First Church of The Lord Jesus Christ ■ Approval of minutes of March 21 meeting ■ Approval of financial report and payment of claims, March 21 - April 7 ■ Magnolia Regional Health Center audit and quarterly update ■ Kim McCreless — Change status of four 911 employees ■ Bid opening for lease-purchase of one new 2017 single-axle dump truck ■ Award bid for material, labor and equipment to DBST various county roads ■ Travel authorization for tax assessor employees to certified appraiser’s school in Starkville, May 2-6 and May 16-20 ■ Minutes of Northeast Regional Library meeting of Jan. 21 ■ Travel authorization for Leigh Stephens to Collector of Revenue Education and Certification Program Class 2, May 9-13 in Hattiesburg ■ Notification from Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District of completed project: Bridge replacement over Coon Creek, County Road 764 ■ Appointment to Mississippi Partnership Board of Local Chief Elected Oﬃcials ■ Appointment to Northeast Mississippi Community Action Agency ■ Appointment to Jacinto Foundation board ■ Assessment changes ■ Authorization for payment on park project to Cook Coggin Engineers, Inc. — $25,502.65 ■ Authorization for payment on park project to Michael Pittman Construction — $632,711.57 ■ Request for cash #4 DIP #339 — Avectus Healthcare Solutions ■ Copy of letter from Cook Coggin Engineers, Inc., showing preliminary plans on Project No. SAP-02(67), Farmington Road (CR 200), were sent to Oﬃce of State Aid Road Construction ■ Notification from Oﬃce of State Aid Road Construction — Project No. SAP-02(68), CR 510, approved ■ Sheriﬀ’s report ■ County engineer’s report Hair with Flair is pleased to announce that Patsy Aldridge 85 Harrison Street Savannah, Tennessee 38372 731-925-2SOS (2767) has merged with Mable Allen specializing in Family Cuts Beard trims 714 S. Tate St. • 286-2227 Open M, W, Thurs, F 8-5 • Sat 8-12 Easy Care Medical Clinic, PLLC DISABILITY, CAR WRECKS, INJURIES Neil B. Sloan, MD, DC, FAADEP, CEDIR Oxford Square Pillow Fellow American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians Certification in Examination of Disability and Impairment Rating MS State Drill Field Map 1808 E. Shiloh Road Corinth, MS • 662-287-3606 P.O. Box 1800 Corinth, MS 38835 “All the Investigators and Social Workers in this case are to be commended for the efforts in this investigation,” said Sheriff Randy Tolar. Home Delivery 52 weeks - - - - - - - $139.85 24 weeks - - - - - - - - $73.85 12weeks - - - - - - - - - $38.85 Certified Disability Impairment Rater NO COST CONSULTATION! 662-665-9073 Don’t get stranded. Check your balance in a ﬂash with FMBank Mobiliti for your smartphone! Mon-Thur 9:00-4:00 2016 E. Shiloh Rd., Corinth, MS 38834 Mail Rates 52 weeks - - - - - - -$198.90 24 weeks - - - - - - - $101.60 12 weeks - - - - - - - - $53.45 To start your home delivered subscription: Call 287-6111 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For your convenience try our ofﬁce pay plans. Miss your paper? To report a problem or delivery change call the circulation department at 287-6111. Late, wet or missing newspaper complaints should be made before 10 a.m. to ensure redelivery to immediate Corinth area. All other areas will be delivered the next day. USPS 142-560 The Daily Corinthian is published daily Tuesday through Sunday by PMG, LLC. at 1607 South Harper Road, Corinth, Miss. Periodicals postage paid at Corinth, MS 38834 Postmaster: Send address changes to: P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, MS 38835 www.dailycorinthian.com 4A • Sunday, April 3, 2016 Corinth, Miss. Our View C-Tech can be difference maker The recent announcement of C-Tech coming to the Corinth School District is the direct result of anticipated changes with the district being named a District of Innovation by the state. C-Tech is short for Corinth School District Technology and Innovation Center, a new vocational campus expected to open this fall. The end result will be students will soon be better prepared for both career and college as the reshaping of Corinth education begins. This is great news. According to Corinth School District Superintendent Lee Childress, C-Tech will allow students to follow their interests and develop them with guidance so they can graduate high school with diﬀerentiated diplomas while earning credits toward an associate’s degree. The district will move current Corinth students attending the Alcorn School District’s Alcorn Career-Technical Center (vo-tech) to the new campus. While only around 50 students currently attend vo-tech, the district hopes the new C-Tech campus will attract some 250 sophomores, juniors and seniors from Corinth High School. As planning continues for course development at the new center, the district will use the 18 career pathways identified by the state. C-Tech will have available course options provided from student and community input. It will have the flexibility to create customized course development around the needs of any particular industry. Already working closely with Northeast Mississippi Community College, school oﬃcials have asked for partnership and mentor help from community leaders during the recent announcement. C-Tech mentors are needed. We hope the community will respond. The new 2016-17 school calendar beginning on August 1 will include two three-week breaks, one in October and another in April. This is when mentoring will take place. Students will go into the field and see firsthand how things work in their area of interest. Focus areas at the new center will initially include IT, healthcare, manufacturing, tourism and safety industries. “We want to help reshape education in Corinth — and one way to do that is to address career-technical opportunities,” Childress said at the announcement. “Careertech is important to all children, even those going to college. That’s a mindset we have to change and that’s why we felt like we needed a center of our own.” He’s right. This new opportunity for students can be a diﬀerence maker. C-Tech is the start of something big for students in the Corinth School District. Daily Corinthian Prayer for today No copyright on hypocrisy Neither political party can lay claim to purity when it comes to hypocrisy, but Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as others in her party, has taken hypocrisy to new Cal depths. While camThomas paigning in Columnist W i s c o n s i n before next week’s presidential primary, Clinton said that as president she would have a litmus test for any Supreme Court nominee. “I would not appoint someone who didn’t think Roe v. Wade is settled law,” she declared. Her nominee(s) would also have to show that they support overturning the Citizens United decision that established free speech rights for interest groups. She added that while she believes the Senate should hold hearings and a vote on Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee for the Supreme Court, she would have selected someone more like Justice Sonya Sotomayor because Clinton thinks her Hispanic heritage and underprivileged upbringing has Almighty God, my heart beats quicker and the desire for thy care grows stronger when I remember thy promises are given for all eternity. May I be grateful and contented with thy love and care. Amen. A verse to share Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Leviticus 20:8 Keeping in touch State: Sen. Rita Potts Parks Alcorn, Tishomingo, Tippah counties 662-287-6323 (H) 662-415-4793 (cell) [email protected] Rep. Nick Bain Alcorn County 662-287-1620 (H) 601-953-2994 (Capitol) [email protected] Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter Alcorn, Tishomingo counties 601-359-3374 (Capitol) 662-427-8281 (H) [email protected] Rep. William Tracy Arnold Alcorn (Rienzi area), Prentiss counties 662-728-9951 (H) [email protected] All state legislators can be reached via mail: c/o Capitol P.O. Box 1018 Jackson, Miss. 39215 brought a needed perspective to the high court. What about the Constitution? It seems that for the left, the Constitution is only a temporary impediment until they can appoint judges who believe the founding document is more elastic than a waistband and can be stretched to fit their agenda. About Hillary Clinton’s claim that Roe is settled law, was Plessy vs. Ferguson “settled law”? That 7-1 decision in 1896 established “the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the doctrine of ‘separate but equal.’” It remained in force for nearly 60 years until the 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education ruling overturned it. Roe is 43 years old. By the Plessy standard, should Roe really be considered settled law? As for Hillary Clinton’s attacks on Republican senators who refuse to schedule hearings and a vote on Merrick Garland’s nomination, as a senator from New York, she took a contrary position. In 2005, Sen. Clinton said the Senate had a right to reject a president’s nominee: “I believe this is one of the most important roles the Senate plays. This, after all, is in the Constitution. We are asked to give advice and consent, or to deny advice and consent.” Denial is implied, but not written in the Constitution. What the Constitution does not require is for the Senate to hold hearings, or vote, on a court nominee. At a Democrat town hall last month, Chuck Todd of MSNBC asked Hillary Clinton about President Obama’s statement that he regrets as a senator filibustering Justice Samuel Alito’s nomination when George W. Bush was president. Todd noted that Clinton joined 24 other Senate Democrats in a filibuster against Alito’s nomination and ultimately voted against Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts. Her response? “You get to use the rules.” Well, yes, and while not holding hearings on Judge Garland is not a rule, it might be considered on a par with a filibuster designed to delay and, on some occasions, prevent a vote. Add to this the policy of the Democratic Party leadership which has, according to then-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Biden, a lengthy and established “tradition against acting on Supreme Court nominations in a presidential year.” Let’s also recall the words of the likely next Senate Majority Leader, Charles Schumer (D-NY), who said in a July 2007 speech that the “presumption of confirmation” for any more nominees to the Supreme Court during the remainder of President Bush’s term should be reversed, because the court, according to Schumer, “is dangerously out of balance.” In short, not liberal enough. The fabled goose and gander analogy seems to apply here, but many voters have proven to have short attention spans and an ignorance of history, which might explain why a recent Pew Research Center poll found that 46 percent of Americans surveyed want Judge Garland confirmed, while 30 percent oppose him. If Pew surveyed those same people today and read them what Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Chuck Schumer said then and now, how many would call them hypocrites? (Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@ tribpub.com.) Present at the destruction Donald Trump never ceases to amaze, but his answer at a CNN town hall about the pledge he had taken to support the Republican Party’s nominee was still jawdropping. Not only did Trump say that the Rich pledge is null Lowry and void as far as he’s National c o n c e r n e d , Review he also went further and told CNN’s Anderson Cooper that he doesn’t want the support of Ted Cruz. Here is a front-runner for a major party’s nomination doing all he can to repel his nearest competitor, who has won 5,732,220 votes so far, or 29 percent of the total (Trump has won 39 percent), and speaks for a significant, and highly engaged, faction of the party. Is there any precedent for such a willfully and pointlessly destructive act in modern American politics? Every rational calculation says that Trump should seek to preserve the pledge. At Reece Terry circulation manager [email protected] press foreman this point, he is more likely than anyone else to be the nominee and benefit from the support of his competitors. He should want to use every possible lever of unity at his disposal. And yet, he’s done the opposite. Who can guess why? Stupid pride? A manliness contest, where he wants Cruz eventually to have to oﬀer his support even after he says he doesn’t want it? A disdain for every political convention, even one that might help him? Whatever the reason, it is yet another sign that Trump is all about himself. In this sense, he is already what the Republican National Committee feared when it got him to sign the pledge -- a third-party candidate. He’s running against the Republican Party from within the Republican Party. He cares nothing about its values or its interests. He favors it exactly to the extent it can be subordinated to him and no further. Political parties have been riven by clashes of personalities and ideologies before, but it is hard to think of another example of a party so damaged by such a heedless interloper. It’s been a month since we were told Donald Trump was pivoting to being more presidential and unifying after his victories on Super Tuesday. Since then, he has: declared that he’d consider paying the legal bills of a goon who sucker-punched a black protester; talked of riots at the Republican convention if it doesn’t go his way; threatened and mocked Heidi Cruz; and justified his campaign manager’s manhandling of a female journalist in the most asinine and dishonest ways. It has become a truism in the coverage of Trump that nothing can hurt him, and with his base that is certainly true. But everyone else has been paying attention, and Trump has made himself toxic with the general public. Events can always intervene, and Hillary Clinton certainly has her own weaknesses, but every objective indicator is that nominating Trump will mean a divided Republican Party loses in the fall, perhaps badly, maybe even epically. Probably the most favor- World Wide Web: www.dailycorinthian.com To Sound Off: E-mail: email: [email protected] Circulation 287-6111 Classified Adv. 287-6147 able non-Trump scenario is that Ted Cruz beats him on a second ballot at a convention and has enough antiestablishment credibility to take the edge oﬀ the inevitable revolt of the Trump forces. But surely Trump would do all he could to destroy Cruz and the GOP in retribution for denying him the nomination. Trump’s implicit threat is almost certainly lose with me in a simulacrum of a normal process (and lose your integrity and principles along the way), or almost certainly lose without me in an intraparty cataclysm I will make as spectacular as possible. Either way, the GOP is in all likelihood now managing dismal outcomes. The Trump phenomenon holds important lessons for the party, but there is no escaping the insuperable weakness and failings of Trump himself, namely his egotism, immaturity, irresponsibility and habitual dishonesty. (Daily Corinthian columnist Rich Lowry can be reached via e-mail: [email protected].) How to reach us -- extensions: Newsroom.....................317 Circulation....................301 [email protected] advertising@dailycorinthian. Advertising...................339 Classifieds....................302 com [email protected] Bookkeeping.................333 Editorials represent the voice of the Daily Corinthian. Editorial columns, letters to the editor and other articles that appear on this page represent the opinions of the writers and the Daily Corinthian may or may not agree. Daily Corinthian • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • 5A State road tax push dies amid opposition BY JEFF AMY Associated Press JACKSON — Unable to attract enough support from lawmakers, House leaders are giving up on a plan to increase money for roads through a series of tax changes. House Transportation Committee Chairman Charles Busby, R-Pascagoula, said Friday that the push is dead for this year. He said Friday that many representatives instead demanded money-saving eﬀorts at the Mississippi Department of Transportation, which says it needs another $526 million a year to prevent deterioration of state highways and bridges. The House faces a Tuesday deadline to act on a bill allowing possible tax and borrowing for roads that passed the Senate. That placeholder bill had no concrete proposals. Still alive is some kind of general tax cut, which had become linked to road-revenue plans by Gov. Phil Bryant and others who said they wanted a “tax shift” that didn’t increase taxes overall. The measure that passed the Senate would phase out $575 million in state taxes over 15 years. Some of those cuts would start next year, as leaders try to put together a state budget that looks increasingly revenuestarved. House Ways and Means Chairman Jeﬀ Smith, R-Columbus, said Friday by text message that Senate Bill 2858 was “not dead” but that the House would reduce the size of the tax cut and push back its start date. Through Thursday, Busby met with House members trying to persuade them to support a proposal that included: ■ Raising sales tax rates from 7 percent to 9 percent while dropping most sales taxes on groceries. ■ Changing the current 18-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel to a 10 percent sales tax, with a floor of at least 20 cents per gallon and a ceiling of no more than 30 cents. ■ Eliminating the $260-million-a-year corporate franchise tax and the $145 million a year collected by the 3 percent income tax bracket, while considering increases in corporate income taxes. Busby said House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, is likely to appoint a committee to study the issue before the 2017 legislative session, and that such a process might help persuade people who are currently opposed to any tax increase. “Hopefully we can convince everyone that we’ve gotten all the eﬃciencies we can get and that the maintenance of our highway infrastructure is a core function of government,” he said. pledge to sponsor themselves if they are not yet sponsored. Prizes will be awarded for the most pledged in the following categories: Top Runner, Top Walker and Top Walk Team. Individuals raising $200 or more in sponsor pledges will receive a free t-shirt or water bottle as a thank you for their hard work. Those who are unable to attend the event can still take part by running/walking on their own and then mailing their completed form to Oasis. “We hope to add many sponsored participants this year to reach our goal of $50,000. We at Oasis believe the addition of the 5K Run will greatly increase community involvement to support a worthy cause,” said Jobe. “If you would like to sponsor a walker/runner or learn more about the services we provide, please give us a call.” designed to better serve the geriatric psychiatric population and meet additional recreation space requirements. The project is expected to take six months to complete, and the changes will not add any beds or services to the facility. The certificate of need program is part of the state’s health planning and health regulatory activities. 5K RUN CONTINUED FROM 1A to sponsor them. OMC will bill for all pledges $10 and over. All participants will check in at the Pavilion by the walking trail and turn in completed pledge forms at 8 a.m. The walk/run will begin at 8:30 a.m. Pledge forms and run maps will be available. Runners and walkers who are interested may show up the day of the event to participate without a pledge form by checking in at the registration table. They may (For more information call 662-287-8001 or 800-663-1639. Crossroads Regional Park is located on 309 South Parkway in Corinth.) RENOVATION CONTINUED FROM 1A viously housed an acute care unit that was closed after the hospital was approved in 2009 for the tower addition project. The improvements are Love Your Skin Again Free • Medical Facials Facials Brow Wax with •• Oxygen Aqua-Clean Liquid Facials any Facial • Chemical Peels Treatment! • Laser Hair Removal • Pellevè free consultation • Micro-Needling • Permanent Cosmetics • Waxing Magnolia Plastics & Aesthetics Jessica Langley 611 Acorn Dr. Suite 100 • Corinth, MS 662.594.6381 • www.magnoliaplasticsurgery.org Lee Childress (right) stands with Congressman Jamie Whitten. He was an intern/ staff assistant for Whitten in 1978. CHILDRESS CONTINUED FROM 1A elementary school, the launch of the Cambridge curriculum and a range of new programs rolling out now with waivers from the Mississippi Department of Education to try new methods. “I count Corinth as very fortunate to have such a dedicated leader in education,” said Alliance President Gary Chandler. “Without a doubt, Dr. Childress gets the big picture.” Jerry Finger, president of the district’s board of trustees, praised Childress’ caring and compassionate approach. “Lee will have a conversation with the most unlikely student, encouraging, listening intently, giving himself and his time, making that student feel as if he is the most important person in the world, all because he cares for the children in the school,” said Finger. Prior to becoming superintendent, he was assistant superintendent from 1990 to 2001. He previously served a year as director of school improvement for DeSoto County Schools and was a social studies teacher at Clarksdale High School from 1981 to 1987. Past and present civic involvement includes the Corinth Area Arts Council, United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs, The Alliance, Community Development Council, the Horizon educational foundation, Corinth Symphony, LINK, the South Corinth Weed and Seed project, and various church activities, among others. ties of the various task forces working within the commission, which began as a special project of Corinth-Alcorn Reaching for Excellence in 2010 and is patterned after the Tupelo-based CREATE’s Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi. The guest speaker, a former Tupelo mayor and TVA chairman, was appointed by the governor to head the MDA in May 2015. “He will share thoughts on economic development and what communities need to do to present themselves in the most favorable light when industrial prospects are considering locating there,” said Childress. McCullough will visit several locations, including Corinth Elementary School, the industrial rail hub south site, Caterpillar, Magnolia Regional Health Center and the downtown. COMMISSION CONTINUED FROM 1A “The commission continues to work on promoting improvements in education, infrastructure and workforce development,” said Chairman Lee Childress, “and we look forward to continuing to partner with community members and organizations to bring about improvements in these areas.” Information will be presented on the activi- We CLEAN CARPET!! Specializing in: • Water & Smoke Damage • Rugs Pick-Up & Delivery • Rug Binding PICKWICK TREE SERVICE TOP • TRIM • REMOVE ALL TYPES OF TREES & STUMP REMOVAL & LOT CLEARING Call Today! Corinth Carpet Cleaning 662-287-2378 or 662-422-1809 [email protected] OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE - INSURED Owner: Charlie McDaniel Cell: 662-415-6888 BILLY HARBIN 16 CR 329 Counce, TN 38326 FREE ESTIMATES Cell:731-926-0249 Invitation to Bid The United States Department of Homeland Security has made announcement for availability of intercity bus security grant funding. Corinth Charters and Tours will be applying for grant funds under the IBSG grant program and is currently soliciting bids from qualified vendors for the following projects: Facility security enhancements at the bus facility including fencing, gate with controlled access, lighting, cameras, paving, and the necessary materials for professional installation. Also seeking bids for: Vehicle security enhancements for coaches to include GPS/video surveillance systems and the necessary materials for professional installation. The cut off to participate in the bid process expires on Monday, April 4th. For more information, please contact Greg Page at 662-287-4995 or e-mail [email protected]. about your 401(k)? I can help you make the right decisions about your 401(k). Call today – I can help you plan for life. Steven Eaton* FIC 710 Cruise St. Ste. 101 Corinth, MS 38834 662-287-0113 Steven.Eaton@ mwarep.org Zeb Taylor, FIC IFC 167 170 St. 710 Cr Cruise Corinth, Ste. 101 MS 38834 662-643-8295 Corinth, MS 38834 Zeb.Taylor@ 662-643-8295 mwarep.org Zeb.Taylor@ mwarep.org Registered representative. Securities offered through MWA Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen of America. 6A • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Daily Corinthian Sanders’ approach annoys Clinton BY LISA LERER AND KEN THOMAS Joel D. Peters Funeral services for Joel D. Peters, 85, are set for 2 p.m. today at Magnolia Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with military honors. Burial follows at Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation is from 12 noon until the service. Mr. Peters died Friday, April 1, 2016, at his home. Born June 30, 1930, he worked in construction and was a security guard at Magnolia Regional Health Center. He was a U.S. Army veteran with the rank of corporal and a member of First Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Survivors include his wife, Lucille Russell Peters of Corinth; a daughter, Gale Peters Rickman (Eddy) of Corinth; three brothers, David Peters (Ann), Donnie Peters (Glenda) and Harold Peters (June), all of Corinth; a sister, Shirley Embrey (James) of Corinth; two grandchildren, Candy Rickman of Hattiesburg and Nick Rickman (Katie) of Corinth; three great-grandchildren, Maddox Rickman, Cutler Rickman and Oakli Rickman; other relatives; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by a son, Joel Dewayne Peters; his parents, Richard Peters and Ruby Jackson Peters; and a brother, Ray Peters. Memorial contributions may be made to the Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter. Candy Rickman and the Rev. Mike Brown will oﬃciate the service. Online guestbook: magnoliafuneralhome.net Associated Press SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Hillary Clinton snapped at a Greenpeace protester. She linked Bernie Sanders and tea party Republicans. And she bristled with anger when nearly two dozen Sanders supporters marched out of an event near her home outside New York City, shouting “if she wins, we lose.” “They don’t want to listen to anyone else,” she shot back. “We actually have to do something. Not just complain about what is happening.” After a year of campaigning, months of debates and 35 primary elections, Sanders is finally getting under Clinton’s skin in the Democratic presidential race. Clinton has spent weeks largely ignoring Sanders and trying to focus on Republican front-runner Donald Trump. Now, after several primary losses and with a tough fight in New York on the horizon, Wendell Dobbs IUKA — Funeral services for Wendell Dobbs, 53, were held on Saturday graveside at New Lebanon Cemetery in Tishomingo. Mr. Dobbs died Thursday, March 31, 2016. Survivors are his mother, Edith Dobbs; a son, Casey Dobbs; three sisters, Melissa Smith, Sherri Todd and Kristina Vaughn; and his grandmothers, Dimple Winchester and Ruby Johnson. He was preceded in death by his father, Roy Arthur Dobbs. Bro. Dwight Rivers oﬃciated the service under the direction of Ludlam Funeral Home. Clinton is showing flashes of frustration with the Vermont senator — irritation that could undermine her eﬀorts to unite the party around her candidacy. According to Democrats close to Hillary and former President Bill Clinton, both are frustrated by Sanders’ ability to cast himself as above politics-as-usual even while firing oﬀ what they consider to be misleading attacks. The Clintons are even more annoyed that Sanders’ approach seems to be rallying — and keeping — young voters by his side. While Hillary Clinton’s team contends her lock on the nomination as “nearly insurmountable,” the campaign frequently grumbles that Sanders hasn’t faced the same level of scrutiny as the former secretary of state, New York senator and first lady. Her aides complain about Sanders’ rhetoric, claiming he’s broken his pledge to avoid character attacks by going af- ter her paid speeches and ties to Wall Street, and they point to scenes of Sanders supporters booing Clinton’s name at his rallies. Actress Rosario Dawson’s 15-minute speech at a New York City rally on Thursday, in which she rallied the crowd by crying “shame on you, Hillary” and noted that Clinton could soon face an FBI interview over the email controversy while at the State Department, underscored the growing tensions between the campaigns. On Saturday, the bickering was about a possible debate before the New York primary April 19. Clinton’s campaign accused Sanders’ of playing “political games” by rejecting three specific dates; the Sanders team was hopeful of an agreement soon. Clinton hopes that big victories in New York on April 19 and five Northeastern states a week later will allow her to wrap up the nomination by the end of the month. But aides acknowledge that Sanders, who’s raised $109 million this year and has pledged to take his campaign to the party convention in July, is unlikely to feel significant political or financial pressure to drop out of the race, even if it becomes clear he cannot win the nomination. Clinton stayed in the 2008 contest against Barack Obama until the bitter end, though her initial advantage with superdelegates, who later flipped to the Illinois senator, gave her a stronger case for the nomination. Unlike eight years ago, when California Sen. Dianne Feinstein brought Clinton and Obama together for a meeting, few Democrats are in position to broker peace between Clinton and Sanders. For most of his political career, Sanders identified as an independent — not a Democrat — leaving him with far weaker ties to party powerbrokers. FDA proposes arsenic Obama: Comments limit in baby rice cereal like Trump’s reveal lack of understanding BY MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press Betty Leonard Funeral services for Betty Leonard, 80, of Corinth, are set for 6:30 p.m. today at Magnolia Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with burial at Wheeler Grove Baptist Church Cemetery on Monday at 11 a.m. Visitation is today from 4 p.m. until the service. Mrs. Leonard died Friday, April 1, 2016, at her home. Born Feb. 27, 1936, she was a factory worker and a member of Wheeler Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Danny Leonard of Corinth; a brother, W.J. Jumper (Sara) of Muscle Shoals, Ala.; three sisters, Darnell Darwin (Lee) of Florence, Ala., Willie Wilbanks (Gaylon) of Crystal Springs and Gwenda Hewlette (Richard) of Corinth; two grandchildren, Marlena Leonard and Michalya Leonard; and one great-grandson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Leonard, and her parents, Columbus Jumper and Ruby Thrasher Jumper. Oﬃciating the service are the Rev. Merl Dixon, Bro. Warren Jones and Bro. Alan Parker. Obituary Policy All obituaries (complete and incomplete) will be due no later than 4 p.m. on the day prior to its publication. Obituaries will only be accepted from funeral homes. All obituaries must contain a signature of the family member making the funeral arrangements. WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Friday urged the food industry to reduce the already tiny amount of arsenic found in baby rice cereals. The agency proposed a new voluntary limit for the amount of inorganic arsenic — the type found in some pesticides and insecticides — in infant rice cereals to 100 parts per billion, similar to recommendations already in place in Europe. It’s a very small amount, and about half of infant rice cereals the FDA sampled from retail stores in 2014 are already in compliance. But the FDA says rice cereal is a leading source of arsenic exposure in infants and high doses could be dangerous. “The proposed limit is a prudent and achievable step,” said Susan Mayne of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. The FDA said parents don’t need to stop feeding their infants rice ce- real, but oﬃcials said they should vary rice with other things like baby oatmeal, barley and multigrain cereals that are also iron-fortified. The agency said rice intake is about three times greater for infants than adults relative to body weight, primarily due to infant rice cereal. Gerber, the nation’s largest manufacturer of baby rice cereal, says it’s already in compliance with the FDA’s proposed arsenic levels. “We have worked closely with our trusted rice supplier and their growers as well as researchers from agricultural universities to achieve some of the lowest levels of this element in U.S. grown rice,” Gerber said in a release issued shortly after the agency’s announcement. Arsenic is naturally present in water, air, food and soil in two forms: organic and inorganic. Organic arsenic passes through the body quickly and is less toxic. But inorganic arsenic may pose a cancer risk if consumed at high levels or over a long period of time. Rice is thought to have arsenic in higher levels than most other foods because it is grown in water on the ground, optimal conditions for the contaminant to be absorbed. Pre-plan with Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said that suggestions from people like Donald Trump that nuclear weapons would help South Korea and Japan show a lack of understanding of the world. The Republican presidential front-runner told The New York Times last week he would be open to Japan and South Korea having their own atomic arsenals as a deterrent to North Korea. When asked about the issue Friday night, Obama said, “The person who made the statements doesn’t know much about foreign policy or nuclear policy or the Korean Peninsula or the world generally.” He described the U.S. alliance with Japan and South Korea as “one of the cornerstones of our presence in the Asia-Pacific region.” U.S. policy there, he said, “has prevented the possibilities of a nuclear escalation in conflict between countries that in the past and throughout history have been engaged in hugely destructive conflicts and controversies. So you don’t mess with that.” Obama added, “And we don’t want somebody in the Oval Oﬃce who doesn’t recognize how important that is.” Without naming specific candidates, Obama noted that the hectic campaign to replace him had come up during discussions with leaders at this week’s nuclear summit in Washington. Smithsonian to acknowledge Cosby allegations at museum Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian now plans to acknowledge the sexual-assault allegations against Bill Cosby at its new African-American history museum on the National Mall, which will display two items related to Cosby’s career in television and standup comedy. The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opens Sept. 24, will include the cover of a Cosby comedy album and a comic book from his pioneering TV drama “I Spy” as part of its exhibit on black entertainers and artists. Initially, the museum planned to include historical facts about the items without mentioning the allegations, drawing criticism from some Cosby accusers. The museum’s founding director, Lonnie Bunch, said in a statement Thursday that the display would address Cosby’s alleged behavior. The Smithsonian Institution also has been criticized for its recent exhibit of Cosby’s personal art collection at a diﬀerent museum. MAGNOLIA FUNERAL HOME Stop the Harassment & Keep your Property QUICK - EASY - LOW COST no financial plan for the future. Affordable flexible payment plans Do you? ZERO down payment gets you a fresh start with I can help you create a financial plan for life – protection, saving and retirement. Call me today. Let’s talk about your plan for life. 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Witnesses told dispatchers that the plane landed on a vehicle on Interstate 15, about 50 miles north of San Diego. Photos on Twitter showed the nose of the white and blue plane crumpled into the rear of a small black sedan on the shoulder of the freeway. One person in the car was killed, and three others from the vehicle were taken to a hospital, California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Polizzi said. Two occupants in the plane also were transported for treatment. Police: Mom made kids walk to school WHITWELL, Tenn. — A Tennessee woman is facing child neglect charges after deputies found her driving ahead of her daughters while making them walk to school. Marion County Sheriff Ronnie “Bo” Burnett says the mother told deputies her daughters were being punished for missing the bus, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports. Lisa Marie Palmer is scheduled for an initial court appearance April 18 on charges of child neglect and driving without a license. No phone number was listed on a deputy’s report to reach Palmer for comment. Refugee chefs bring recipes to startup sometimes seems like “a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch,” he’s finding it increasingly difficult to see humor in the continuing investigations into his actions as a small-city Ohio mayor. A court-appointed special prosecutor from the state auditor’s office is among those investigating. Allegations have included improper use of city trash bins and falsifying his residency in Hillsboro. The blunt-spoken comedian says he’s “a real lightning rod,” but he considers the investigations politically motivated and has called them a “gross waste” of taxpayer money. Jon Stewart saves runaway bull in NY NEW YORK — A bull that escaped from a holding area and darted through the streets of New York City has been captured and taken to greener pastures by Jon Stewart. Officials tell The New York Times that the black and white Angus was spotted Friday in Queens. The bull was soon corralled at York College, where students snapped pictures and took videos. The bull was dubbed Frank Lee after a prisoner who escaped from Alcatraz. It was later taken to an animal shelter by the former “Daily Show” comedian and his wife, who are animal advocates. Prosecutors: Son killed for being gay LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County prosecutors on Friday charged a man who shot and killed his son with premeditated mur- der, alleging that he committed the crime because his son was gay. The district attorney’s office said Shehada Issa, 69, had allegedly threatened to kill his 29-year-old son, Amir, in the past because he was gay. “The murder was committed because of the victim’s sexual orientation and because of the defendant’s perception of that status and the victims’ association with a person and a group of that status,” prosecutors said in a statement. Issa was arrested Tuesday after Los Angeles police officers found the young man’s body outside a North Hills house. Issa’s wife was found stabbed to death inside the house. Chicago teachers launch 1-day strike CHICAGO — Chicago teachers took to picket lines Friday in a one-day strike they said was aimed at getting lawmakers to adequately fund schools in the nation’s third-largest district. The walkout closed schools for nearly 400,000 students, who had the option of spending the day at “contingency sites” Chicago Public Schools opened at churches, libraries and school buildings. Among those picketing outside Oscar DePriest Elementary School was special education teacher Brian Orlinsky, who said he hoped the walkout would be a wake-up call for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and other lawmakers. Daily Corinthian • 7A Across the State Associated Press Sheriff’s office plans to operate drones NATCHEZ — The Adams County Sheriff’s Office is now certified to operate drones for law enforcement purposes. Sheriff Travis Patten tells The Natchez Democrat the office can now use the unmanned aircraft systems equipped with cameras to keep an eye on large crowd settings or when they want to get a look at something without endangering a deputy. The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday certified the office for drone use, making it the second law enforcement jurisdiction in Mississippi to get the designation. Prentiss County was the first jurisdiction to receive a certificate of authority. Rankin County received its certificate shortly after Adams County. Police arrest man for embezzlement NATCHEZ — A Natchez man has been arrested for allegedly embezzling money from his employer. The Natchez-Democrat reports 43-year-old William Pugh was arrested Friday for allegedly embezzling an undisclosed sum of money from Gulf South Auto, where he worked. Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford says the owner of the dealership, Jody Smith, first reported a suspected problem on Feb. 12. Ford says Smith based his suspicions on bank statements and pointed out several incidents in which he believed money had been taken. Police investigated the claims and a warrant was issued for Pugh’s arrest on March 24. No bond for suspect in Biloxi man’s death Cousin suspected in 16-year-old’s death PASCAGOULA — An Ocean Springs man held on a capital murder charge in the robbery and shooting death of a Biloxi man in Jackson County will remain jailed pending trial. The Sun Herald reports 35-year-old Patrick Anderson was denied bond at an initial court appearance Thursday before County Court Judge T. Larry Wilson. The case will be presented to a grand jury for indictment if Anderson declines a preliminary hearing. Authorities say 36-year-old Rita Olivia Johnston also is being held without bond on the same charge. Sheriff Mike Ezell says Anderson and Johnston are accused in the March 22 robbery and shooting death of 29-year-old Donatae LaShaw Banks. BILOXI — Jackson County authorities say a teenager has been charged in the killing of a 16-year-old from Vancleave whose body was found in the woods behind his grandmother’s home. Sheriff Mike Ezell, in a news release, 19-yearold Dexter Kelley was arrested early Friday and charged with murder. The Sun Herald reports Kelley is the cousin of the deceased teen, Cliff Allyn. Coroner Vicki Broadus says an autopsy is pending. Sheriff’s K9 units found Allyn’s body Thursday evening. The Vancleave High School freshman was reported missing Wednesday. He was last seen playing basketball with his cousins, including Kelley, Monday afternoon. Environmental fine levied on shipbuilder Sen. Horhn: Revive bill to change flag JACKSON — A dead bill to change Mississippi’s flag will likely stay dead despite a state senator’s attempt to revive it. Democratic Sen. John Horhn of Jackson has filed a motion with the Senate Rules Committee to bring back Senate Bill 2147, which would redesign the state flag. A motion to reconsider a dead bill has to pass the committee and then get two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and House. Rules Chairman Terry Burton says it’s unlikely. He says there are plenty of unresolved issues to discuss before the Legislature considers reviving a dead bill. PASCAGOULA — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has levied an environmental fine on VT Halter Marine. The Sun Herald reports the company has agreed to pay the $17,500 for failing to protect the surrounding environment from paint overspray and sandblasting dust. The company, in east Pascagoula, has a $1.9 million state grant to help build a huge building on the grounds to house painters and sandblasters. It was supposed to be complete in summer 2015, and people in neighboring subdivisions were counting on this for relief from industrial dust and paint overspray. NEW YORK — A food delivery service is offering New Yorkers the chance to try some food cooked by some unexpected chefs. All seven employees at Eat Offbeat are either refugees or asylum seekers who fled their home countries. They’re cooking foods from those places, including Iraq and Nepal. None had any professional cooking experience before coming to work for the startup, which launched in November. The company has committed to hiring refugees and teaching them culinary skills, partly for altruistic reasons and partly as a business strategy. In a city filled with good ethnic food, it is a way for the cuisine to stand out. Ex-comedian, mayor faces investigations HILLSBORO, Ohio — Having your wife’s and your underwear examined and toilet usage analyzed might sound like something for veteran standup comedian Drew Hastings’ routine. But he says while it seniorDAY TUESDAY, APRIL 5 IF YOU’RE 55 & OLDER, IT’S YOUR DAY TO SAVE! If you’re 55 or older, take an extra 20% off storewide, or 15% off in our home & shoes departments, with your Belk Rewards Card or any other form of payment, on your sale and clearance purchases. Excludes Earlybirds, Night Owls, Doorbusters, Bonus Buys, Super Buys, Everyday Values, All Clad, Angelica, Antelope, Armani Exchange watches, Assets, Baby Gear, Better & Designer Intimates, Birkenstock, Bonobos, Breville, Brighton, Brooks Brothers, Buffalo, Casio, Citizens of Humanity, Clarisonic, Coach, Columbia, cosmetics/fragrances, Dansko, Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren, designer handbags, designer sunglasses, Diane Von Furstenberg, Diesel watches, Dockers, Donald J Pliner, Dooney & Bourke, Eileen Fisher; Fine Jewelry watches and service plans; Fitbit, Fossil & Fossil Q watches, Free People, Furla, Gear For Sports, Herend, Hugo Boss, Jack Rogers, Johnston & Murphy, Joy & Mario, Kate Spade accessories & shoes, Keen, Kensie Girl, kitchen/novelty electrics/coffee, Lacoste, ladies better swim, ladies designer & contemporary sportswear & dresses; ladies, kids & men’s designer shoes; ladies designer accessories, Le Creuset, Levi’s, Lilly Pulitzer, Lucky, lucy, Marc by Marc watches, Mattel, Merrell, Michael Kors shoes, handbags, jewelry & watches; Minnetonka Moccasin, Miss Me, Monster Headphones, Munro, Nautica, Nike, Orthaheel/Vionic, Polo Sport, Ralph Lauren/Polo, Roberto Coin, Seven for All Mankind, Skagen watches, Southern Proper, Southern Tide, Spanx, Sperry Gold Cup, Stuart Weitzman, Swarovski, Tommy Bahama, Tommy Hilfiger apparel, Trina Turk apparel, Tumi, Ugg, Under Armour, Vera Bradley, Victorinox, Vietri, Vineyard Vines, Vintage 1946, Vitamix, Wusthof; non-merchandise depts., lease depts., salon services and Belk gift cards. Not valid on prior purchases, phone or special orders, trunk shows or on belk.com. Cannot be redeemed for cash, credit or refund, used in combination with any other discount or coupon offer. Valid Tuesday, April 5, 2016. All Belk Rewards Card purchases are subject to credit approval. SENIOR DAY TUESDAY, APRIL 5 WITH YOUR BELK REWARDS CARD 20 OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT EXTRA % OFF SALE & CLEARANCE PURCHASES STOREWIDE 15% OFF HOME & SHOES IN STORE ONLY SEE LEFT FOR DETAILS * 8A • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Daily Corinthian THE WEEK IN REVIEW WEEKLY DOW JONES 19.66 Dow Jones industrials S&P 500 2,072.78 +36.84 MARKET SUMMARY: NYSE AND NASDAQ GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) LOSERS ($2 OR MORE) Name Last DragonW rs 5.53 Staff360 rs 4.55 SkySolar 4.26 Rentech rs 3.04 GenoceaB 5.95 AlderBioPh 25.78 AcadiaPh 28.66 HansnMd rs 3.65 CardiovSys 13.26 AclarisTh n 20.50 CodeReb n 4.53 Last Chg %Chg Name 3.77 +3.34 +152.5 Tecogen +2.05 +82.0 EP Energy 4.03 +1.84 +76.0 NanoViric 2.26 +1.02 +50.5 aTyrPhm n 3.81 12.12 +1.99 +50.3 Conns 4.17 +8.60 +50.1 Zais Grp +8.35 +41.1 WstptInn g 2.17 +1.04 +39.8 PUVixST rs 18.22 +3.74 +39.3 PumaBiotc 29.19 +5.73 +38.8 Ampliphi rs 3.62 +1.25 +38.1 AlonBlue rs 2.46 Chg -2.10 -1.40 -.76 -1.20 -3.70 -1.23 -.62 -5.11 -7.79 -.96 -.65 %Chg -35.8 -25.8 -25.2 -24.0 -23.4 -22.8 -22.2 -21.9 -21.1 -21.0 -20.9 Workers hasten back to market ACTIVES ($1 OR MORE) Name Vol (00) Last Chg BkofAm Pfizer FrptMcM GenElec ValeantPh MicronT FordM SiriusXM Apple Inc MarathnO Petrobras 3904957 13.56 2021314 30.04 1990850 9.89 1884255 31.93 1693787 28.10 1643121 11.03 1600782 13.10 1475385 3.96 1460313109.99 1376315 10.56 1366828 5.87 -.12 -.04 -.22 +.82 -2.99 +.53 +.04 +.09 +4.32 +.27 +.47 BY CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writer STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST Wk Wk YTD Div Last Chg %Chg %Chg Name Ex AFLAC AT&T Inc Alcoa Aon plc Apple Inc BP PLC BcpSouth BkofAm B iPVixST Bemis CalifRescs Caterpillar Checkpnt ChesEng Chevron Cisco CocaCola Comcast CSVelIVST CSVixSh rs Deere DirDGldBr Dover DowChm EnPro ENSCO ExxonMbl Facebook FstHorizon FordM FrkUnv FredsInc FrptMcM GenElec iShBrazil iShJapan iShEMkts iS Eafe iShR2K IBM ItauUnibH KimbClk NY 1.64 NY 1.92 NY .12 NY 1.20 Nasd 2.08 NY 2.40 NY .40 NY .20 NY ... NY 1.16 NY ... NY 3.08 NY .50 NY ... NY 4.28 Nasd 1.04 NY 1.40 Nasd 1.10 Nasd ... Nasd ... NY 2.40 NY ... NY 1.68 NY 1.84 NY .84 NY .60 NY 2.92 Nasd ... NY .24 NY .60 NY .47 Nasd .24 NY ... NY .92 NY 1.03 NY .13 NY .84 NY 1.70 NY 1.73 NY 5.20 NY .45 NY 3.68 64.12+1.42 +2.3 39.05 +.17 +0.4 9.63 +.06 +0.6 104.87+3.74 +3.7 109.99+4.32 +4.1 29.57 -.85 -2.8 21.43 +.58 +2.8 13.56 -.12 -0.9 17.12 -2.18 -11.3 52.16 +.28 +0.5 1.04 -.20 -16.1 76.79+1.50 +2.0 10.16 ... ... 3.83 -.42 -9.9 94.26 -.59 -0.6 28.69 +.73 +2.6 46.83+1.25 +2.7 61.87+1.86 +3.1 26.61+2.92 +12.3 4.19 -1.02 -19.6 76.50 -3.14 -3.9 3.16 -.43 -12.0 64.14 -.47 -0.7 51.14 +.28 +0.6 58.58 +.62 +1.1 9.65 -.95 -9.0 82.96 -1.02 -1.2 116.06+3.01 +2.7 13.10 +.06 +0.5 13.10 +.04 +0.3 6.27 +.01 +0.2 15.18 +.76 +5.3 9.89 -.22 -2.2 31.93 +.82 +2.6 26.89+1.21 +4.7 11.13 -.22 -1.9 34.15 +.79 +2.4 56.55 +.20 +0.4 111.12+3.92 +3.7 152.52+4.57 +3.1 8.77 +.43 +5.2 136.20+2.65 +2.0 +7.0 +13.5 -2.4 +13.7 +4.5 -5.4 -10.7 -19.4 -14.8 +16.7 -55.4 +13.0 +62.0 -14.9 +4.8 +6.5 +9.0 +10.1 +3.1 -33.1 +.3 -80.9 +4.6 -.7 +33.6 -37.3 +6.4 +10.9 -9.8 -7.0 +9.4 -7.3 +46.1 +2.5 +30.0 -8.2 +6.1 -3.7 -1.3 +10.8 +34.9 +7.0 Name Ex Wk Wk YTD Div Last Chg %Chg %Chg KindMorg NY .50 Kroger s NY .42 Lowes NY 1.12 MarathnO NY .20 MktVGold NY .12 McDnlds NY 3.56 MicronT Nasd ... Microsoft Nasd 1.44 NY Times NY .16 NiSource s NY .62 NorthropG NY 3.20 OrbitATK NY 1.04 NY ... Penney PepsiCo NY 2.81 Petrobras NY ... Pfizer NY 1.20 PwShs QQQNasd 1.52 PUVixST rs NY ... ProctGam NY 2.65 RegionsFn NY .24 S&P500ETF NY 4.13 SpdrOGEx NY .73 SearsHldgs Nasd ... Sherwin NY 3.36 SiriusXM Nasd ... SouthnCo NY 2.17 NY ... Sprint SPDR Fncl NY .46 SunEdison NY ... Torchmark NY .56 Transocn NY ... Twitter NY ... US OilFd NY ... Vale SA NY .29 ValeantPh NY ... WalMart NY 2.00 WellsFargo NY 1.50 Wendys Co Nasd .24 WestRock n NY 1.50 Weyerhsr NY 1.24 WhitingPet NY ... Xerox NY .31 17.31 -.78 -4.3 38.32 +.67 +1.8 76.50+1.73 +2.3 10.56 +.27 +2.6 20.12 +.66 +3.4 127.02+3.73 +3.0 11.03 +.53 +5.0 55.57+1.36 +2.5 12.75 +.22 +1.8 23.82 +.79 +3.4 200.31 +6.11 +3.1 86.89+2.84 +3.4 10.63 -.28 -2.6 103.78+3.10 +3.1 5.87 +.47 +8.7 30.04 -.04 -0.1 110.36+3.10 +2.9 18.22 -5.11 -21.9 83.53 +.64 +0.8 7.89 -.17 -2.1 206.92+3.80 +1.9 29.85 +.07 +0.2 14.90 -.10 -0.7 287.65+6.30 +2.2 3.96 +.09 +2.3 51.70 +.80 +1.6 3.63 +.37 +11.3 22.70 +.39 +1.7 .43 -.78 -64.5 54.69 +.70 +1.3 8.58 -.80 -8.5 15.98 +.07 +0.4 9.33 -.73 -7.3 4.32 +.28 +6.9 28.10 -2.99 -9.6 69.06+1.06 +1.6 48.45 -.45 -0.9 10.99 +.57 +5.5 39.20 +.67 +1.7 31.15 +.81 +2.7 7.82 +.28 +3.7 11.10 +.55 +5.2 +16.0 -8.4 +.6 -16.1 +46.6 +7.5 -22.1 +.2 -5.0 +22.1 +6.1 -2.7 +59.6 +3.9 +36.5 -6.9 -1.3 -35.7 +5.2 -17.8 +1.5 -1.2 -27.5 +10.8 -2.7 +10.5 +.3 -4.7 -91.6 -4.1 -30.7 -30.9 -15.2 +31.3 -72.4 +12.7 -10.9 +2.0 -14.1 +3.9 -17.2 +4.4 AGRICULTURE FUTURES WkHigh WkLow Settle WkChg CORN 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel May 16 Jul 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 May 17 Jul 17 374 378.25 382.50 390 398.25 402.75 405.50 347.25 351.25 355.75 364 374 379.75 384.25 WkHigh WkLow Settle WkChg CATTLE 40,000 lbs.- cents per lb. 354 357.75 361.75 369.75 379.50 385.25 389 -16 -16.75 -17.50 -17.50 -16 -14.75 -14.25 Apr 16 Jun 16 Aug 16 Oct 16 Dec 16 Feb 17 Apr 17 133.75 124.60 120.45 120.10 119.70 118.70 117.50 132.25 123.30 119.40 119.12 118.82 117.87 116.67 SOYBEANS 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel HOGS-Lean 40,000 lbs.- cents per lb. May 16 Jul 16 Aug 16 Sep 16 Nov 16 Jan 17 Mar 17 Apr 16 May 16 Jun 16 Jul 16 Aug 16 Oct 16 Dec 16 920 927.75 930 930 934 938 939.75 896 903.50 906.25 907 910 915 915 918.25 +7.75 926 +8.25 928.50 +8.50 928.50 +9 932.25 +9.50 936.50 +10 938.25 +10.75 WHEAT 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel May 16 Jul 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 May 17 Jul 17 477.50 484.50 494 508 521.25 529.75 532.75 455.25 462.75 472.50 487 501 512.50 517.75 68.65 76.92 81.20 80.97 80.42 68.85 63.50 67.25 75.00 78.80 78.92 78.52 67.20 62.12 132.97 123.57 119.57 119.47 119.17 118.25 117.25 -2.88 -1.80 -1.25 -.90 -.90 -.92 -.32 67.80 75.50 79.37 79.27 78.85 67.60 62.37 -1.82 -1.15 -1.48 -.85 -.37 -1.32 -.95 +12.75 +12.25 +11.75 +11.50 +11.25 +11.25 +11 May 16 Jul 16 Oct 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 May 17 Jul 17 59.39 59.03 ... 58.39 59.05 59.02 60.27 57.01 57.04 ... 56.70 57.31 58.18 58.61 59.20 58.84 58.81 58.26 59.04 59.70 60.27 +1.48 +1.26 +1.30 +.91 +.98 +.95 +.96 Tables show seven most current contracts for each future. Grains traded on Chicago Board of Trade; livestock on Chicago Mercantile Exchange; and cotton on Intercontinental Exchange. MUTUAL FUNDS Name Total Assets Obj ($Mlns) NAV Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt Vanguard 500Adml Vanguard TotStIAdm Vanguard InstIdxI Vanguard TotStIdx Vanguard InstPlus Fidelity Contra Vanguard TotIntl American Funds IncAmerA m American Funds GrthAmA m American Funds CapIncBuA m Vanguard WelltnAdm Vanguard TotBdAdml PIMCO TotRetIs Vanguard TotStIIns Fidelity Spartan 500IdxAdvtg Vanguard IntlStkIdxIPls American Funds InvCoAmA m Dodge & Cox Stock Dodge & Cox IntlStk American Funds CpWldGrIA m American Funds AmBalA m American Funds WAMutInvA m Metropolitan West TotRetBdI Vanguard MuIntAdml Dodge & Cox Income American Funds FnInvA m FrankTemp-Franklin IncomeA x Vanguard InstTStPl Vanguard IntlStkIdxAdm Vanguard HltCrAdml Vanguard PrmcpAdml T Rowe Price GrowStk Harbor IntlInstl Vanguard STGradeAd American Funds NewPerspA m Fidelity ContraK Vanguard TotBdInst Vanguard WellsIAdm Vanguard TgtRe2025 Vanguard WndsIIAdm LB LB LB LB LB LG FB MA LG IH MA CI CI LB LB FB LB LV FB WS MA LV CI MI CI LB CA LB FB SH LG LG FB CS WS LG CI CA TG LV +5.0 +2.8/A +11.6/A NL 10,000 +5.2 +0.5/B +11.0/B NL 10,000 +5.0 +2.8/A +11.6/A NL 5,000,000 +5.2 +0.4/C +10.9/B NL 3,000 +4.9 +2.8/A +11.6/A NL200,000,000 +4.1 +2.2/A +11.4/B NL 2,500 +4.6 -9.7/C +0.2/E NL 3,000 +4.0 +0.7/A +7.8/A 5.75 250 +4.5 +0.4/B +10.3/C 5.75 250 +4.0 -0.3/A +6.4/A 5.75 250 +3.9 +1.6/A +8.5/A NL 50,000 +1.4 +1.5/A +3.7/B NL 10,000 +1.4 +0.3 +3.7 NL 1,000,000 +5.2 +0.5/B +11.0/B NL 5,000,000 +5.0 +2.8/A +11.6/A NL 10,000 +4.6 -9.6/C +0.3/D NL100,000,000 +5.2 +1.7/B +10.4/C 5.75 250 +4.9 -3.7/D +10.1/B NL 2,500 +5.3 -19.8/E +0.9/D NL 2,500 +4.6 -4.8/C +6.0/B 5.75 250 +3.5 +3.2/A +9.2/A 5.75 250 +4.7 +2.3/A +11.1/A 5.75 250 +0.8 +1.3 +4.9 NL 3,000,000 +0.5 +3.7/A +5.0/B NL 50,000 +2.4 +0.2/D +3.8/B NL 2,500 +4.8 +3.1/A +9.9/C 5.75 250 +3.4 -6.8/E +4.3/C 4.25 1,000 +5.2 +0.6/B +11.1/B NL200,000,000 +4.6 -9.6/C +0.3/D NL 10,000 +0.8 -4.8/A +18.0/B NL 50,000 +4.0 -0.6/C +12.5/A NL 50,000 +3.5 +0.3/B +12.3/A NL 2,500 +3.7 -10.1/C +1.2/C NL 50,000 +1.1 +1.8/A +2.3/A NL 50,000 +4.0 -1.6/A +7.5/A 5.75 250 +4.1 +2.3/A +11.5/B NL 0 +1.4 +1.6/A +3.7/B NL 5,000,000 +3.3 +3.9/A +7.9/A NL 50,000 +3.7 -1.6/B +6.6/A NL 1,000 +4.7 -2.3/C +9.7/B NL 50,000 147,060 121,424 100,777 92,482 85,519 76,127 73,735 68,528 67,336 66,617 65,408 63,295 58,241 58,081 52,991 52,424 52,329 50,617 49,697 48,633 48,465 47,530 45,117 43,452 43,340 41,969 41,562 36,428 35,813 35,690 35,359 35,343 34,976 34,147 33,922 30,880 30,242 29,406 28,778 28,287 191.19 51.33 189.30 51.31 189.31 97.54 14.28 20.69 40.48 57.42 64.56 10.91 10.19 51.34 73.23 95.56 34.37 157.88 34.69 43.15 24.24 39.15 10.83 14.39 13.47 51.09 2.10 46.43 23.89 83.41 101.67 51.19 59.24 10.69 35.18 97.49 10.91 61.38 15.86 59.75 Lianne Trammel from Alcorn Central Elementary Pre-K was presented a teacher of the year award from Mary Schafer at Jones Motor Company in Savannah, Tenn. Financial strategies. One-on-one advice. Eric M Rutledge, CFP®, AAMS® Financial Advisor 1500 Harper Road Suite 1 Corinth, MS 38834 662-287-1409 Steven D Hefner, CFP® Financial Advisor Chris Marshall Financial Advisor 413 Cruise Street Corinth, MS 38834 662-287-4471 401 E. Waldron Street Corinth, MS 38834 662-287-7885 www.edwardjones.com COTTON 2 50,000 lbs.- cents per lb. 475.75 483 492.50 506.75 520 528.50 532.75 Teacher of the Year WASHINGTON — Americans are flooding back into the job market at the fastest pace since before the Great Recession, encouraged by steady hiring and some signs of higher pay. The flow has halted, at least temporarily, one of the economy’s more discouraging trends: the sharp decline in the percentage of people either working or looking for work. That figure fell last year to a four-decade low. The pickup since then suggests that nearly seven years after the recession ended, Americans are finally more confident that they can find jobs. In March, nearly 400,000 people began job hunts, though not all found work. Their searching lifted the unemployment rate to 5 percent from 4.9 percent. Employers added 215,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday, a solid figure but not enough to keep up with the new job-seekers. Since last September, 2.4 million people have either found jobs or started looking. The proportion of Americans working or looking for work, known as the “participation rate,” has increased to 63 percent during that time, from 62.4 percent, a 38-year low. “The rise ... over the w s e N ? ? t o G SHARE IT! We LOVE to publish news about LOCAL people and what they’re doing. If its important to YOU, it’s important to US! SUBMIT your photos and information to [email protected] Be sure to include contact information should we have a question. CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, FB -Foreign Large Blend, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MI -Muni National Intermediate, TG -Target Date 2021-2025, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar. Stock Footnotes: g = Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars. h = Does not meet continued-listing standards. lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants. Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week. Source: The Associated Press. Sales figures are unofficial. www.dailycorinthian.com \| 662.287.6111 1607 South Harper Rd., Corinth past six months has been truly astounding, suggesting that the job market is finally pulling discouraged workers oﬀ the sidelines,” said James Marple, an economist at TD Bank. Still, the participation rate was 66 percent before the recession began. The drop has fueled concerns that the recession rendered millions of Americans essentially unemployable, held back by deteriorating skills or a lack of available jobs nearby. The increase in the past few months provides hope that’s not the case. Martin Nyholt, 61, of Apex, North Carolina, recently began looking for work again after retiring from IBM last May. He is looking for a part-time position, but would take a “simple job” that pays $10 to $15 an hour if it is fulltime. He wants less pressure than existed in his former project-manager position. “I’ve kind of run out of TV shows that I want to watch,” Nyholt said, outside an employment center. “Every additional month I go is money that’s going to be coming out of (savings) and that’s a negative there.” Economists estimate that at least half of the decline in the participation rate is a result of ongoing retirements by the vast baby boom generation. That demographic trend could overwhelm the return of younger workers, keeping the participation rate flat or pushing it lower in the coming months. The extra job-seekers also give the Federal Reserve additional flexibility in the timing of future interest rate increases, economists said. If employers have more potential workers to choose from, they won’t be forced to raise wages as quickly, a step that can push up inflation. The Fed raised rates for the first time in nine years in December. Most economists don’t expect Fed policymakers to move again until June. Average hourly wages rose 2.3 percent in March compared with a year earlier, a faster pace than the first few years after the recession. But that is still about a percentage point below the rate that is typical for a healthy economy. The percentage of Americans without high school degrees who are working or seeking jobs has jumped sharply since last fall. That could be a response to big increases in low-paying jobs in industries such as retail, which added 48,000 jobs in March, and hotels and restaurants, which gained 26,000. Tara Sinclair, chief economist at the online job site Indeed, says that many companies are frustrated that they cannot find the workers they need. So they are trying to keep older workers on board by oﬀering perks such as flexible hours or part-time work. Daily Corinthian • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • 9A SUNDAY EVENING C A WATN ^ ^ WREG # # QVC $ . WCBI $ 11:30 Quantico “Clue” (N) Local 24 Grizz Na- Scandal Cyrus tries to News tion take down Sally. Channel 3 (:37) Elementary PersonSunday Interest Susan Graver Style Computer Shop Beauty We Love News (:35) Paid (:05) Paid Best Pan Program Program Ever! Hollywood Game News Action Flip My Fix It & Finish It Night (N) News 5 Food CW30 News at 9 (N) House of Meet the There Yet? 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HolBurgers Burgers News lywood Leverage Leverage Leverage Flashpoint Flashpoint Elementary “The Eternity Elementary “Seed News at Sports Seinfeld Seinfeld Friends Friends Injection” Money” Ten Desk (:10) } ›› Horrible Bosses 2 (14, Comedy) Ja- } ››› Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of } ›› The Heartbreak son Bateman, Charlie Day. Ignorance) (14) Michael Keaton. Kid (07) The Circus The Circus Shameless (N) Billions Chuck finds Billions Chuck finds The Circus Shameless Ins Ins proof. (N) proof. Ins Vinyl Richie grows des- Girls (N) Together- Last Week Vinyl Richie grows des- Together(5:55) } ››› Trainperate. (N) ness perate. ness wreck (15) Ridic. Ridic. Ridic. Ridic. Ridic. Ridic. Ridic. South Pk South Pk South Pk Baseball MLB Baseball: New York Mets at Kansas City Royals. From Kauffman Stadium SportsCenter (N) (Live) Tonight in Kansas City, Mo. (N) (Live) Bar Rescue Bar Rescue (N) Life or Debt (N) Bar Rescue “Bare Bar Rescue Rescue” (6:00) } ›› Fast Five (11) Vin Die- } ›› G.I. 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Popoff Paid Beach Bar- Beach Bar- Caribbean Caribbean Island Life Island Life House Hunters Caribbean Caribbean gain gain Life Life (N) (N) Hunters Int’l Life Life Hollywood Medium I Am Cait (N) Hollywood Medium I Am Cait Hollywood Medium American Pickers American Pickers “Big American Pickers (:03) American Pickers (:01) American Pickers Boy Toys” Final NCAA Women’s Tournament SportsCenter (N) SportCtr ESPN FC (N) Jill & Jessa: Counting Who Do You Think You Long Lost Family Who Do You Think Long Lost Family On- Recount (N) Are? (N) You Are? Guy’s Grocery Games All-Star Academy “His- Cutthroat Kitchen (N) Cutthroat Kitchen All-Star Academy (N) tory” (N) “Greece Lightning” “History” Walker, Ranger Walker, Ranger } ››› Pure Country (92, Drama) George Strait. Quigley (6:00) Kept Woman (15) Deadly Daycare (14) A woman suspects that her (:02) Kept Woman (15) A man holds two women Courtney Ford. daughter is being mistreated. captive in a secret bunker. Osteen K. Shook Cope Creflo D. The Ten Commandments The Walking Dead “East” The Walking Dead (N) Talking Dead (N) Fear the Walking Dead Comic Men WTVA ) ) WKNO * WGN-A + ( WMAE , , WHBQ ` ` WPXX / WPIX : iHeart Radio Music Awards (N) (Live) GAME TOON TVLD FS1 S T U K Z FamFeud FamFeud FamFeud FamFeud FamFeud FamFeud Baggage Baggage Baggage Baggage King/Hill Cleve Cleve American Fam Guy Fam Guy Rick Chicken Pickles Venture Reba Reba Raymond Raymond Raymond Raymond King King King King MLS Soccer: Portland Timbers at Orlando City SC. UFC Counterpunch UFC TMZ NASCAR } ›› Ride Along (14) A cop invites his sister’s } ›› Ride Along (14) A cop invites his sister’s } ››› The Other boyfriend to join him on a shift. boyfriend to join him on a shift. Guys (10) Hunt Adv Wild Realtree Hunting Gregg Bone RMEF Drop Archer’s Journey NHL Hockey: Blues at Avalanche (:45) NHL Overtime NHL Sun. Match of the Day Master Class } ››› Akeelah and the Bee (06, Drama) } Akeelah and the Bee (06) Fox Reporting Stossel Greg Gutfeld Fox Reporting FOX Report River Monsters River Monsters (:04) Finding Bigfoot River Monsters (6:00) October Kiss Ash- When Calls the Heart Golden Golden Golden Golden Golden Golden ley Williams. (N) Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Girls Best Bunk’d Girl Meets Austin & Liv and Jessie Jessie (6:00) } K.C. Under- Stuck/ cover Middle Friends Ally Maddie Tangled (5:00) } ›› Batman } ›› Batman Forever Val Kilmer. Batman faces threats from } › Catwoman (04, Action) Halle Returns (92) the Riddler and Harvey Two-Face. Berry, Benjamin Bratt. FX OUT NBCS OWN FOXN APL Ø ∞ ± ≤ ≥ SYFY E Dr. David (6:00) } ››› Pitch Perfect (12) } ›› Mamma Mia! (08) Meryl Streep. A single hotelier prepares Joel Osteen Jeremiah Anna Kendrick. for her daughter’s wedding. } ››› The Young in Heart An elderly woman } ››› Kitty (45) A portrait of a slum girl catches } ››› Within Our reforms a family of connivers. the eye of an aristocrat. Gates (20) iHeart Radio Music Awards (N) (Live) iHeart Radio Music Awards Vacation photos reveal more than mother-in-law knows DEAR ABBY: I’m writing to ask what’s the classy way to handle a touchy situation. My mother-in-law lives with my husband and me because she’s financially unable to live on her own. She sometimes goes away on trips and vacations with her church and “boyfriends.” About a Abigail month ago, I Van Buren noticed several items of nice clothing Dear Abby and shoes had gone missing. I asked if anyone had seen them and got a negative reply. Well, I saw some pictures of my mother-in-law from a recent trip that someone had posted online, and she was wearing some of the missing items. She has since returned, but they haven’t been returned. I haven’t confronted her about it yet, but I need to figure out how to get my things back without blowing my top. She does this frequently. They usually turn up after about six months, in places I know I didn’t put them. How do I put a stop to this once and for all? Please help me! -- UPSET Watch for the Spring Home Improvement special section coming in the Daily Corinthian on Saturday, April 23. DEAR ABBY: May I vent about something? I work for a public library. A customer came up the other day holding a book she was interested in and asked, “Does this smell like cigarette smoke to you?” It did, so I apologized and added it to the box of items to be disposed of. This happens often. Books are returned by obviously heavy smokers with the pages so saturated with the odor of stale tobacco that they must be set aside to see if it will dissipate. Sometimes they smell better after a day or so, but often we have no choice but to throw perfectly good books away. It’s frustrating, because the cost of books, DVDs and other materials adds up. We don’t have a policy for charging the offenders. So, Abby, I hope you will pass along the “hint” to heavy smokers that if they smoke while reading their library books, they’re creating extra costs for the library and their fellow taxpayers, and affecting more than just their own health. -- LIBRARY EMPLOYEE IN WASHINGTON DEAR L.E.: I understand your problem because many years ago there was no rule in the Dear Abby office against smoking on the premises, and several of my mother’s assistants were heavy smokers. In those days, readers’ questions all arrived via snail mail rather than via the Internet, and I vividly remember my mother complaining that when letters were delivered to her home, the tobacco odor was so strong it made it hard for her to review them. Readers, out of consideration for others, please take note and try to refrain from smoking when using library books. The writer of this letter isn’t exaggerating. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. Horoscopes iHeart Radio Music Awards Coming Up In The Daily Corinthian FASHIONISTA DEAR UPSET: Show your mother-in-law the pictures you spotted and see how she reacts. You didn’t mention whether she may be losing her memory and not remember she has taken things or if she’s just light-fingered. The way to fix this would be to install a lock on your closet or bedroom door and use it. (You might also want to explore putting her name on a list for low-cost senior housing if any is available in your community.) ARIES (March 21-April 19). Those who are in tune with the nuances are few and far between today. Mostly people are immersed in their own stories but will nonetheless help with yours when you send clear signals about what you’re looking for. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The Jimmy Buffet song is titled “If the Phone Doesn’t Ring, It’s Me.” That sums up how you feel about a certain someone. The kindest, most mature thing to do is to ignore and ignore with a vengeance. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The paths you tread often stay nice and clear for you, while the ones you don’t go down anymore will grow over with weeds and brush until, one day, you can’t even see where the path is anymore. CANCER (June 22-July 22). The venue won’t matter as much as the company you keep there. Who are your best playmates? You are better off surrounding yourself with those who bring you healthy pleasure. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re the pace setter in your crowd. Whatever you start off with, they will follow your lead. The questions to answer before you begin: What is your destination? And what time would you like to arrive there together? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Maybe you’re not exactly where you want to be, but there are still definite advantages to your position. Knowing what they are and playing them with courage will move you toward your goal. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll be the first to respond to exciting new developments. You’ll give your attention, and others will follow. You’ll be a thought leader and inspire others to act. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re not sure if you’re early or late to the scene. You would love the advice of someone who can see beyond your time. That’s why it will be important to ask the elders and the youth what they see in your position. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The one who has wooed you and won you with past works will have another hit with you today. Because you continue to put yourself in the path of inspiration, you’ll soon be the cause of it for someone else. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Just when the sameness of a situation is starting to make people sleepy, you’ll wake them up by bringing something special to the moment. It’s like it’s in your DNA to delight people. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s not hard to know what the right thing to do is: You simply feel it and you respond. It doesn’t even take courage. Looking back on this day you’ll be amazed at how effortlessly you surmounted the obstacles. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). If you feel you must justify your position, there’s something wrong. Are you perhaps around people who don’t understand or support you but are still more than willing to use your offerings for their own purposes? 10A • Daily Corinthian Shorts Tennis Tournament The Adamsville High School tennis team is sponsoring a non-sanctioned tournament open to all on April 2224 at Buford Pusser Memorial Park in Adamsville, Tennessee. Deadline for entry is Wednesday, April 20 at 9 p.m. For more information or entry forms, call Michael Harvill at 731632-3273 between 11 a.m. and noon, Monday-Friday, or 731-2392434 after 6 p.m. Rebel Road Trip Ole Miss Head Coach Hugh Freeze is coming to Corinth, along with The University of Mississippi Athletic Director Ross Bjork, Lady Rebels Head Coach Matt Insell and other University staff as the BancorpSouth Rebel Road Trip 2016 rolls into the Crossroads area. Hosted by the Tri-State Rebel Club, the road trip is set for Wednesday, April 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Arena at the intersection of U.S. Highway 45 and South Harper Road in Corinth. Tickets are $25 per person and includes a catfish and chicken dinner. The Sugar Bowl, Magnolia Bowl and Egg Bowl trophies will also be on display, as well as the latest Rebel licensed merchandise and information from the Alumni Association. To purchase tickets contact, Tony Smith at 728-1951, Tyler Wilson at 210-5100, Kim Lyles at 415-6308, Susan Holder at 603-1270 or Kenny Carson at 212-3702. For more club information, visit tristaterebelclub.com or search The TriState Rebel Club on Facebook and Twitter. Sports Sunday, April 3, 2016 Gobble, gobble: It’s turkey time! Spring has oﬃcially sprung and hopefully you have been able to take advantage of some time to get out and hunt America’s most beloved game bird, the wild turkey. There have been mixed reviews about gobbling activity thus far across the state, however harvest reports have been pretty good given that we are entering just the third week of season. Much of the early season success has been greatly attributed to the warm weather that we saw in February and early March that set the birds up to be a little more active early in the season. Don’t worry too much if you haven’t been one of the successful hunters in the woods so far. Historically speaking, we are just now entering the most common month to harvest a Mississippi long beard and with that should come great satisfaction in knowing that the bulk of the activity is still ahead of us. For as far back as I can remember I have always been in and around turkey hunting. Some of my earliest outdoor memories were made chasing weary toms across the hills and valleys of north JOSH WEBB Mississippi and southwest Tennessee. For that reason, as well as countless others, I have never tried to hide the fact that turkey hunting is by far one of my favorite things to do. Many people find it hard to understand why hunters spend countless mornings waking up before dawn to go and communicate with a bird. Although it does sound funny when described that way, I can only see two real reasons why someone would have trouble understanding it. One, they have never witnessed the infectious beauty of a big spring tom strutting down a hardwood ridge straight to their lap or they have never had a plate full of fried turkey breast in front of them at the supper table! Either way this problem can be solved if we do as we should and make an eﬀort to introduce someone new to the outdoors each spring. As a turkey hunter you already know that in most years the gobbling activity steadily increases as the season rolls on. I bet as you read this you easily think back to the day you first heard a turkey fire oﬀ in the distance and an immediate smile stretched across your face. It was in that moment you realized why you had walked miles in the dark and why you were willing to spend the rest of the day if need be just to get an opportunity at him. It lit a fire inside of you that will simply never be put out. So why not make sure that our youth get to experience the same burning desire to hunt turkeys each spring as we do? We are blessed in Mississippi to have a youth turkey season that lasts for a full week. It is also a bonus that youth season generally falls within the time of kids’ spring break. I fully believe that this is one of the best times to get a kid introduced to turkey hunting but this should not be the only time a kid sees the woods each spring. The youth season in my opinion is convenient for the state but is often times too early in the year to have much success in harvesting a turkey. It does however give adults the opportunity to teach a kid the essentials of hunting turkeys like being still, when to call and when to be quiet, and how to cover ground without being seen. Make the eﬀort to take a kid when the gobbling activity heats up and watch as the same passion you have begins to grow in a young hunter. Take that time to be proud in knowing that you helped solidify a young hunter’s passion for the outdoors and in doing so you gained a hunting partner for life! (Corinth native and outdoors freelance writer Josh Webb lives in the small Mississippi Delta town of Cruger with his wife, Katie, and son Waylon. He is a new contributor for Crossroads Magazine, the Daily Corinthian and Exploring Pickwick Magazine.) Local Schedule Monday Tennis Kossuth @ Central, 4 Corinth @ Amory, 4:30 Tuesday Baseball Biggersville @ Jumpertown, 5 Belmont @ Kossuth, 7 Central @ Booneville, 7 Corinth @ Amory, 7 Softball Corinth @ Houston, 5 Booneville @ Kossuth Golf Corinth, Kossuth @ Redmont C.C., 9 a.m. Tennis Kossuth @ Corinth, 4 Track Corinth @ Tishomingo Co. Thursday Baseball Amory @ Corinth, 7 Phil Campbell, Ala. @ Central, 7 Softball Shannon @ Corinth, 5 Central @ Kossuth Golf Corinth, Kossuth @ Booneville C.C., 3 Tennis Corinth @ Itawamba, 4 Friday Baseball Tremont @ Biggersville, 3 Booneville @ Central, 6 Kossuth @ Belmont, 7 Softball Tish County @ Corinth, 5 Falkner @ Kossuth Tennis New Site @ Kossuth, 4 Saturday Baseball Central @ Red Bay, Ala., 1 Corinth @ Falkner, 2 Kossuth @ East Union, 5:30 Track Central @ D. Journal Relays Monday, April 11 Golf (G) Corinth @ Oxford C.C. (B) Corinth @ Shiloh Ridge Tuesday, April 12 Baseball Mooreville @ Kossuth, 7 Itawamba AHS @ Corinth, 7 Central @ Belmont, 7 Biggersville @ TCPS, 7 Softball Corinth @ Shannon, 5 Mooreville @ Kossuth Golf Kossuth @ Hillandale, 3 Track Division 1-4A @ Pontotoc H.S. Submitted Josh Webb, youth hunter Shawn Blankenship and Jordan Gurley had a successful turkey hunt in Tennessee. Women’s NCAA Final Four is today Huskies, Orange keep rematch changes under wraps BY MICHAEL MAROT Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Syracuse coach Quentin Hillsman and Washington coach Mike Neighbors will put their budding friendship on hold tonight. After four months of trading text messages, learning about one another’s team and watching their own teams evolve into national championship contenders, the two first-time Final Four coaches will square oﬀ for the second time this season. The winner will get a ticket to Tuesday’s women’s championship game — and will have one more fan in the crowd. “You want to win a game, but you still have to maintain some kind of normalcy in your life,” Hillsman said. “Neighbors is a good guy and really I respect him and respect what he does. That’s one of those things where you -- I’m not that guy, we’re not playing against each other. We’ve got to put a game plan together and let our kids go and play.” Those players have already met once this season, with Syracuse jumping to an early 21-point lead before holding oﬀ the hard-charging Huskies 66-62. But a lot has changed in that time, especially at Washington. After finishing fifth in the Pac-12, the Huskies (26-10) have made a stunning postseason run by beating Maryland on its home court, Kentucky on its home court and conference rival Stanford in the Lexington Region title game. They are the first No. 7 seed to reach the national semifinals since Minnesota in 2004. Back then, the surprising Huskies were still trying to find their identity. Today, they’re a confident, relaxed bunch eager to play. Neighbors learned something else during that game — it’s not easy matching wits with Hillsman. “We can’t simulate (Syracuse) without having our guys’ practice team here,” Neighbors said. “You would have to break down an inordinate amount of film and spend a lot of time to try to predict what they do. So the challenge is adjusting in the game and about the time you do that, so does Q. He’s a really good inPlease see REMATCH \| 11A Oregon St., UConn take different paths BY DOUG FEINBERG Associated Press looked nearly unbeatable. Oregon State has noticed from across the country. “It’s hard to miss them. They’re on ESPN all the time,” Weisner said. “It’s legendary. I would say it’s even an honor to play against them. In 20 years I can tell my kids that I played against that UConn team.” Despite the praise, the Beavers aren’t intimidated by UConn. “I think it’s a mental thing, just like you can’t lose the game before you step foot on the court,” Hamblin said. “You just got to know that they’re humans and they’re going to make mistakes. And every team is beatable if you play the right way. You know they’re not invincible.” INDIANAPOLIS — Ruth Hamblin and Jamie Weisner had a goal when they came to Oregon State four years ago: get the team to the Final Four. Mission accomplished. “We’re small-town kids, we’re dreamers, and we worked hard, and it’s cool to see how far that’s come,” Hamblin said. “But we definitely had the vision.” Now that the pair has helped the Beavers to the school’s first national semifinals, they’ll try to keep it going. That might be a tall task. The Beavers will face top-seeded UConn on tonight in the first semifinal game. The Huskies have won three straight national championships, 73 consecutive games, and have Please see PATHS \| 11A 11A • Daily Corinthian Scoreboard How to beat Golden State is daunting task BY TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press So now it’s oﬃcial. Not only can the Golden State Warriors lose this season, they can even lose at home. Boston pulled oﬀ the surprise Friday night, going into Oracle Arena and stunning the reigning NBA champions 109-106. Even with the loss, Golden State — still 68-8 on the season — remains on pace to top the 72-10 mark set by the Chicago Bulls in the 199596 season for the best record in NBA history. It was Golden State’s first loss in its last 55 home regular-season games. “It takes a lot out of you,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the loss in Oakland, California, “especially when every game is the other team’s biggest game. People are coming after us.” There are some factors to take into account, of course. The Warriors are still without Andre Iguodala because of an ankle injury, and lost center Andrew Bogut in the second half Friday with a rib injury. And Friday’s game was Golden State’s 24th in of 42 days since the All-Star break. So it’s a safe bet fatigue entered the equation as well. “You’ve got to tip your hat to them,” Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas said. Still, there are trends from the eight losses that might serve as a blueprint for those teams trying to Please see TASK \| 12A REMATCH CONTINUED FROM 10A game coach. Every time you make an adjustment, he’s got a counterpunch.” Syracuse’s players can apply additional pressure with their three-guard lineup of Alexis Peterson, Brianna Butler and Brittney Sykes, too. The Orange also have made some changes since November. “We understand we’re a good team, a really good team,” Peterson said. While Syracuse has won 15 of its last 16, Washington is trying to join Tennessee’s 1997 title team as the only 10-loss programs to play for a national title. But the two coaches know this much: Their friendship will survive this game. “He’s going to outdress me tomorrow and there’s no chance I can win that. I’m not even going to try,” Neighbors said. “But he’s somebody that I think has done it the right way.” Here are some other things to watch today: Plum’s Chase — Huskies guard Kelsey Plum is No. 3 in the nation at 26.2 points per game. The junior guard needs 25 points to break Chiney Ogwumike’s Pac-12 scoring record (967), and she needs 57 points for a 1,000-point season. Turnovers — Syracuse leads the nation in turnover-margin at plus10.28 by forcing 24.22 turnovers per game, the most in the ACC. The Huskies, meanwhile, have only 34 turnovers in four NCAA Tournament games. Three For The Show — Both teams made it to Indy largely because of their perimeter play. Syracuse led the ACC and is 11th nationally in 3-pointers made per game (8.9). Butler is Division I’s active leader with 368 3s. Washington is second in the Pac-12 with 7.2 3s per game. Adapting — With two Final Four newcomers, there could be some early game jitters. Whichever team copes best will have the early edge. But the deep shooting backgrounds and festive environment inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse could be a factor, too. PATHS CONTINUED FROM 10A UConn has looked close to perfect over the past two seasons. Every victory has been by double digits and most of the time the starters are sitting for the fourth quarter. The Huskies are on record pace, having won by an average of 40 points. They stand two victories away from completing an unprecedented feat with four consecutive titles. While the Beavers seniors wanted to just make a Final Four, Breanna Stewart had loftier goals. She said she wanted to win four championships. “I want to go out and finish this thing oﬀ,” Stewart said. “I want to finish my career oﬀ on the greatest note, and the same thing with the other seniors.” Sick Samuelson — UConn freshman Katie Lou Samuelson didn’t practice Saturday. Team oﬃcials said she wasn’t feeling well. The 6-foot-3 Samuelson averaged 11 points for the Huskies, but has increased that to 14.4 points during the postseason. She led the team during two of the first three rounds of the tournament, scoring 22 points in a 101-49 win over Robert Morris, then scoring another 22 and grabbing 14 rebounds in UConn’s 9838 regional semifinal rout of Mississippi State. A team spokesman says it’s likely she’ll play in today’s semifinal against Oregon State. UConn’s Dominance — Even Stewart has been impressed by UConn’s NCAA run. The Huskies have already set the record for most consecutive victories in the NCAA Tournament with 22 straight wins. The senior group of Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jeﬀerson have never lost an NCAA game. “It is really ridiculous actually,” she said. “When people say that my class is undefeated in postseason play in the NCAA Tournament, that’s crazy to think about.” Enjoying The Moment — Oregon State coach Scott Rueck has been to the Final Four before, leading George Fox to the Division III championship in 2009. He is so happy to see the NCAA put all three championships in the same place at the same time. “I was so excited,” he said. “I was killing ourselves to get here to be a part of that, and I was really secretly hoping George Fox would be here as well. And they had another phenomenal season and had a shot at that. And so I thought how perfect would that be if we could find a way to be here with them. And so I think that’s really special, first oﬀ. Every level should be celebrated, because it’s all relative. I don’t care more now that I’m here than I was in Division III at the Final Four, it’s all the same.” Auto racing Sprint-STP 500 lineup After Friday qualifying; race today at Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway, Va. Lap length: .526 miles (Car number in parentheses) 1. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 97.043 mph. 2. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 97.033. 3. (14) Brian Vickers, Chevrolet, 96.864. 4. (27) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 96.854. 5. (31) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 96.736. 6. (47) AJ Allmendinger, Chev., 96.676. 7. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 96.657. 8. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 96.642. 9. (20) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 96.44. 10. (24) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 96.224. 11. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 96.205. 12. (21) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 96.171. 13. (17) R.Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 96.637. 14. (16) Greg Biffle, Ford, 96.622. 15. (1) J.McMurray, Chevrolet, 96.617. 16. (78) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 96.568. 17. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 96.474. 18. (13) Casey Mears, Chevrolet, 96.47. 19. (4) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 96.362. 20. (43) Aric Almirola, Ford, 96.244. 21. (88) D.Earnhardt Jr., Chev., 96.049. 22. (23) David Ragan, Toyota, 95.981. 23. (41) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 95.796. 24. (48) J.Johnson, Chevrolet, 95.714. 25. (19) Carl Edwards, Toyota, 96.083. 26. (44) Brian Scott, Ford, 95.917. 27. (95) M.McDowell, Chevrolet, 95.912. 28. (10) D.Patrick, Chevrolet, 95.888. 29. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 95.874. 30. (15) Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet, 95.84. 31. (98) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 95.757. 32. (6) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 95.612. 33. (38) Landon Cassill, Ford, 95.593. 34. (7) Regan Smith, Chevrolet, 95.545. 35. (83) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 95.295. 36. (34) Chris Buescher, Ford, 95.252. 37. (32) Joey Gase, Ford, 94.817. 38. (46) M.Annett, Chevrolet, 94.246. 39. (30) Josh Wise, Chevrolet, 94.218. 40. (55) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet. Baseball Saturday’s Games Washington 8, Minnesota 8, tie Boston 7, Toronto 4 Detroit vs. Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla., ccd., Rain Miami 2, N.Y. Yankees 1 Cincinnati 13, Pittsburgh 6 Cleveland 3, Texas 1 Arizona 4, Kansas City 2 Seattle 8, Colorado 5 Oakland 4, San Francisco 1 Chicago White Sox 10, San Diego 2 L.A. Dodgers at L.A. Angels, (n) Today’s game Chicago Cubs at L.A. Angels, 2:05 p.m. Major League openers Today St. Louis (Wainwright 0-0) at Pittsburgh (Liriano 0-0), 12:05 p.m. Toronto (Stroman 0-0) at Tampa Bay (Archer 0-0), 3:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Harvey 0-0) at Kansas City (Volquez 0-0), 7:37 p.m. Monday Houston at N.Y. Yankees, 12:05 p.m. San Francisco at Milwaukee, 1:10 p.m. Minnesota at Baltimore, 2:05 p.m. Seattle at Texas, 3:05 p.m. Philadelphia at Cincinnati, 3:10 p.m. Boston at Cleveland, 3:10 p.m. Washington at Atlanta, 3:10 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at San Diego, 6:05 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m. Colorado at Arizona, 8:40 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Oakland, 9:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs at L.A. Angels, 9:05 p.m. Tuesday N.Y. Mets at Kansas City, 3:15 p.m. St. Louis at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m. Detroit at Miami, 6:10 p.m. Toronto at Tampa Bay, 6:10 p.m. Seattle at Texas, 7:05 p.m. San Francisco at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m. Colorado at Arizona, 8:40 p.m. Chicago Cubs at L.A. Angels, 9:05 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Oakland, 9:05 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at San Diego, 9:10 p.m. Basketball NBA standings EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB y-Toronto 51 25 .671 — Boston 44 32 .579 7 New York 31 46 .403 20½ Brooklyn 21 55 .276 30 Philadelphia 9 68 .117 42½ Southeast Division W L Pct GB x-Miami 44 31 .587 — x-Charlotte 44 31 .587 — x-Atlanta 45 32 .584 — Washington 37 39 .487 7½ Orlando 32 44 .421 12½ Central Division W L Pct GB y-Cleveland 54 22 .711 — Detroit 41 36 .532 13½ Indiana 40 36 .526 14 Chicago 38 38 .500 16 Milwaukee 32 44 .421 22 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB y-San Antonio 64 12 .842 — Memphis 41 35 .539 23 Dallas 38 38 .500 26 Houston 37 39 .487 27 New Orleans 28 47 .373 35½ Northwest Division W L Pct GB y-Oklahoma City 53 23 .697 — Portland 40 36 .526 13 Utah 38 38 .500 15 Denver 32 46 .410 22 Minnesota 25 51 .329 28 Pacific Division W L Pct GB y-Golden State 68 8 .895 — x-L.A. Clippers 47 28 .627 20½ Sacramento 31 46 .403 37½ Phoenix 20 56 .263 48 L.A. Lakers 16 59 .213 51½ x-clinched playoff spot y-clinched division Friday’s Games Charlotte 100, Philadelphia 91 Dallas 98, Detroit 89 New York 105, Brooklyn 91 Milwaukee 113, Orlando 110 Toronto 99, Memphis 95 Cleveland 110, Atlanta 108, OT Utah 98, Minnesota 85 Miami 112, Sacramento 106 Boston at Golden State Washington 106, Phoenix 99 Saturday’s Games Indiana 115, Philadelphia 102 Detroit 94, Chicago 90 San Antonio 102, Toronto 95 Sacramento 115, Denver 106 Miami at Portland, (n) Today’s Games New Orleans at Brooklyn, Noon Washington at L.A. Clippers, 2:30 p.m. Dallas at Minnesota, 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma City at Houston, 2:30 p.m. Charlotte at Cleveland, 2:30 p.m. Utah at Phoenix, 5 p.m. Memphis at Orlando, 5 p.m. Chicago at Milwaukee, 6 p.m. Indiana at New York, 6:30 p.m. Portland at Golden State, 7 p.m. Boston at L.A. Lakers, 8:30 p.m. NCAA Tournament FINAL FOUR At NRG Stadium, Houston National Semifinals Saturday Villanova 95, Oklahoma 51 North Carolina 83, Syracuse 66 National Championship Monday, April 4 Villanova (34-5) vs. North Carolina (336) , TBA NCAA Women’s Tournament FINAL FOUR At Indianapolis National Semifinals Today UConn (36-0) vs. Oregon State (32-4), 5 p.m. Washington (26-10) vs. Syracuse (297), 7:30 p.m. National Championship Tuesday, April 5 Semifinals winners, 8:30 p.m. WNIT schedule Championship Today South Dakota 71, Florida Gulf Coast 65 Golf Sunday, April 3, 2016 Hockey PGA: Shell Houston Open scores Saturday at Golf Club of Houston, Humble, Texas. Purse: $6.8 million. Yardage: 7,441; Par 72 (36-36) Third Round Jim Herman 69-69-67—205 -11 Jamie Lovemark 67-68-70—205 -11 Henrik Stenson 69-71-66—206 -10 Russell Henley 70-68-68—206 -10 Dustin Johnson 65-71-70—206 -10 Roberto Castro 65-72-70—207 -9 Kyle Reifers 70-70-68—208 -8 Charley Hoffman 64-70-74—208 -8 Chez Reavie 66-70-72—208 -8 Kyle Stanley 69-72-68—209 -7 Si Woo Kim 69-71-69—209 -7 Whee Kim 67-73-69—209 -7 Rickie Fowler 69-70-70—209 -7 Sean O’Hair 68-73-69—210 -6 David Toms 70-70-70—210 -6 Jordan Spieth 67-73-70—210 -6 Charles Howell III 69-69-72—210 -6 Will MacKenzie 69-68-73—210 -6 Tyrone Van Aswegen 71-70-70—211 -5 Daniel Berger 67-74-70—211 -5 Charl Schwartzel 69-72-70—211 -5 Phil Mickelson 69-71-71—211 -5 Johnson Wagner 66-76-69—211 -5 Chesson Hadley 71-71-69—211 -5 Luke List 68-72-71—211 -5 Graham DeLaet 67-72-72—211 -5 Jamie Donaldson 69-68-74—211 -5 Rafa Cabrera Bello 71-72-68—211 -5 LPGA-ANA Inspiration scores Saturday at Mission Hills Country Club, Dinah Shore Tournament Course, Rancho Mirage, Calif. Purse: $2.6 million. Yardage: 6,769; Par: 72 Third Round a-denotes amateur Lexi Thompson 69-68-69—206 -10 Ariya Jutanugarn 69-71-67—207 -9 Lydia Ko 70-68-69—207 -9 In Gee Chun 69-69-69—207 -9 Charley Hull 70-69-69—208 -8 Ai Miyazato 67-70-71—208 -8 Caroline Masson 70-71-68—209 -7 Michelle Wie 70-69-70—209 -7 Sung Hyun Park 71-67-71—209 -7 Suzann Pettersen 71-67-71—209 -7 Lee-Anne Pace 68-70-71—209 -7 Pernilla Lindberg 71-73-66—210 -6 Hyo Joo Kim 71-70-69—210 -6 Gerina Piller 69-71-70—210 -6 Catriona Matthew 68-72-70—210 -6 Champions: Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic scores Saturday at Fallen Oak Golf Club, Saucier, Miss. Purse: $1.6 million. Yardage: 7,151; Par: 72 (36-36) Second Round Scott Dunlap 66-69—135 Jerry Smith 69-68—137 Miguel Angel Jimenez 68-70—138 Glen Day 74-65—139 Steve Lowery 70-69—139 Jeff Maggert 71-68—139 Tom Pernice Jr. 70-69—139 Michael Allen 75-65—140 Tommy Armour III 68-73—141 Corey Pavin 70-71—141 Bernhard Langer 71-70—141 Jeff Sluman 73-68—141 Craig Parry 70-72—142 Scott McCarron 71-71—142 Scott Verplank 75-67—142 Kenny Perry 73-69—142 Gene Sauers 72-71—143 Fred Funk 74-69—143 Lee Janzen 71-72—143 Jeff Hart 70-73—143 Brian Henninger 73-71—144 Grant Waite 72-72—144 Brad Faxon 75-69—144 Jesper Parnevik 70-75—145 Mike Goodes 74-71—145 Jean-Francois Remesy 75-70—145 David Frost 74-71—145 Tom Byrum 74-72—146 Jim Carter 73-73—146 Jay Don Blake 72-74—146 Wes Short, Jr. 76-70—146 John Riegger 74-72—146 Colin Montgomerie 77-69—146 Esteban Toledo 76-70—146 Peter Senior 78-68—146 Marco Dawson 75-71—146 Friday’s Games Detroit 3, Minnesota 2 Boston 6, St. Louis 5 Chicago 5, Winnipeg 4, OT Washington 4, Colorado 2 Vancouver 3, Anaheim 2 Saturay’s Games San Jose 3, Nashville 2, SO Pittsburgh 5, N.Y. Islanders 0 Philadelphia 3, Ottawa 2 Dallas 3, Los Angeles 2 Detroit 3, Toronto 2 Tampa Bay 3, New Jersey 1 Florida 4, Montreal 3 Buffalo 4, N.Y. Rangers 3 Columbus 5, Carolina 1 Calgary at Edmonton, (n) Washington at Arizona, (n) Today’s Games Boston at Chicago, 11:30 a.m. Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m. Minnesota at Winnipeg, 7 p.m. St. Louis at Colorado, 7 p.m. Dallas at Anaheim, 8 p.m Transactions Saturday’s deals BASEBALL American League TAMPA BAY RAYS — Placed RHPs Brad Boxberger and Alex Cobb on the 15-day DL and RHP Chase Whitley on the 60-day DL. Optioned OF Mike Mahtook and RHP Andrew Bellatti to Durham (IL). Selected the contract of LHP Dana Eveland from Durham. TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Assigned OF Junior Lake and 1B Jesus Montero outright to Buffalo (IL). National League ATLANTA BRAVES — Selected the contracts of OF Drew Stubbs and RHP Alexi Ogando from Gwinnett (IL). Designated OFs Michael Bourn and Emilio Bonifacio for assignment. CINCINNATI REDS — Claimed RHP Dan Straily off waivers from San Diego. COLORADO ROCKIES — Released OF Kyle Parker. FOOTBALL National Football League CLEVELAND BROWNS — Waived DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Signed FB Ryan Mueller to a two-year contract. Television Today’s lineup AUTO RACING 9:30 a.m. (NBCSN) – Formula 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, at Sakhir, Bahrain Noon (FS1) – NASCAR, Sprint Cup Series, STP 500, at Ridgeway, Va. DRAG RACING 4 p.m. (FS1) – NHRA Nationals, finals, at Las Vegas GOLF 8 a.m. (GOLF) – 2016 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, at Augusta, Ga. Noon (GOLF) – PGA Tour, Shell Houston Open, final round, at Humble, Texas 2 p.m. (GOLF) – Champions Tour, Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, final round, at Biloxi, Miss. 2 p.m. (NBC) – PGA Tour, Shell Houston Open, final round, at Humble, Texas 4 p.m. (GOLF) – LPGA Tour, ANA Inspiration, final round, at Rancho Mirage, Calif. MLB BASEBALL 5 a.m. (MLB) – Spring training, Minnesota at Washington (tape-delayed) 8 a.m. (MLB) – Spring training, Seattle vs. Colorado, at Scottsdale, Ariz. (tapedelayed) Noon (ESPN) – St. Louis at Pittsburgh 2 p.m. (MLB) – Spring training, Chicago Cubs at L.A. Angels 3 p.m. (ESPN2) – Toronto at Tampa Bay 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) – N.Y. Mets at Kansas City NBA BASKETBALL 2:30 p.m. (ABC) – Oklahoma City at Houston 7 p.m. (NBA) – Portland at Golden State WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 5 p.m. (ESPN) – NCAA Tournament, Final Four, first semifinal, Oregon St. vs. UConn, at Indianapolis 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2) – NCAA Tournament, Final Four, second semifinal, Washington vs. Syracuse, at Indianapolis Villanova, Carolina play for championship Associated Press HOUSTON — Josh Hart scored 23 points on 10-of12 shooting and Villanova advanced to the national championship game with a resounding 95-51 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday night. The Wildcats (34-5) will face North Carolina for the title on Monday night. This was the biggest Final Four semifinal win ever, eclipsing the 34-point wins by Cincinnati over Oregon State in 1962 and Michigan State over Penn in 1979. “That was just one of those nights,” Villanova coach Jay Wright said. “I feel bad for Oklahoma.” Villanova dominated the Sooners (29-8) after an opening 7 minutes that had the teams trading the lead on almost every possession. The Wildcats broke it open with a 21-4 run. The stats about NRG Stadium being a horrible place to shoot went out the window along with the Sooners’ chances at playing for their first national championship. The Wildcats, with Hart going 7 for 8, shot 66.7 percent in the first half, including 6 of 11 from 3-point range in taking a 42-28 halftime lead. “We knew how they could beat us bad so we had a lot of fear coming into this game,” Wright said. As the Wildcats, who won it all in 1985 with the shocking upset of Georgetown, kept making shots, Oklahoma star Buddy Hield kept missing. The unanimous AllAmerica selection was 3 for 8 in the first half, including 1 of 5 from beyond the arc. Hield came into the game shooting 46.5 percent from 3-point range. “Just playing defensively as a team ... we contained him,” Hart said. The Wildcats kept it up in the second half and they had their fourth win in the tournament of at least 19 points, the only close game a 5-point win over overall No. 1 seed Kansas in the regional final. North Carolina 83, Syracuse 66 HOUSTON — Marcus Paige made three 3-pointers in the second half to help North Carolina get untracked from long range and stifle a Syracuse rally for a victory that moved the Tar Heels one win from the program’s sixth title. The Tar Heels (33-6) were 0 for 11 from 3-point range midway through the second half, and Syracuse trimmed a 17-point deficit to seven before Paige found his range. He hit three 3s over the span of seven minutes to end Syracuse’s chances. Brice Johnson and Justin Jackson led North Carolina with 16 points each. Paige finished with 13. North Carolina is the only remaining No. 1 seed in the Final Four. Syracuse (23-14), the first No. 10 seed to make the Final Four, got 22 points from Trevor Cooney. Anticipation builds, stars align for The Masters Associated Press The opening line in a book David Owen wrote 17 years ago about the Masters captures why the anticipation for the first major at Augusta National. “The modern golf season never ends, but it does begin.” That rings particularly true this year. The fall is forgotten. The preliminaries are over. For some, the Masters could not get here soon enough. It felt that way when the 2015 majors ended last August with Jason Day winning the PGA Championship in a one-sided duel and a record score to par. Jordan Spieth opened the new year with an eightshot victory in Hawaii, right as the Masters began airing TV promos with those moody piano notes. For three months, just about every tournament was a reminder of the showdown looming amid the azaleas and dogwoods. “I don’t know if it’s a free-for-all,” Adam Scott said. “I think it’s an exciting lead-up to the Masters with a lot of top players in great form and a lot of stories there, probably more so than the past few years.” The top of golf is so tight at the moment that Westgate Las Vegas Sportsbook has three co-favorites — Day, Spieth and Rory McIlroy — with 7-1 odds to win the green jacket. All in their 20s, they have won five of the last six majors, which is why they have been referred to as the modern version of the “Big Three.” Only now they have company. Bubba Watson won at Riviera, reviving memories of his two Masters victories in the last even-numbered years. Scott tabbed him as the favorite, even as the Australian won in backto-back weeks to start the Florida swing. And then along came Day, who won his last two starts before the Masters to return to No. 1 in the world. “I am looking forward to it. I know it’s one tournament that I’ve always wanted to win, so the motivation and the want ... there’s no problem,” Day said. “I can’t get comfortable with how I’m playing right now. I can’t get lazy, because I’ve got to understand that what I’m doing is working. So I’ve got to keep working ... and then stay focused and hopefully put on the green jacket.” The only player among the top six in the world without a victory is McIlroy, who has had three good chances to win in the last six weeks. He returns to Augusta with another shot at becoming only the sixth player in history to complete the career Grand Slam. Not to be overlooked is three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson, who narrowly missed winning at Pebble Beach and looks rejuvenated at 45. “There are more guys in the conversation,” Scott said. “There are so many that I’d be surprised if some or all of these guys aren’t there come Sunday, from Bubba to Jason to Jordan.” 12A • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Daily Corinthian Royals-Mets rematch part of opening day Associated Press Photos by Randy J. Williams First Pitch, Second Pitch Corinth High School officially opened its new baseball complex on Friday. Superintendent Lee Childress (above) threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Warriors’ 3-1 Division 1-4A win over Pontotoc. Kerrigan Maness (below) was on the mound Saturday morning as the Warriors won their second contest in their new confines — a 10-5 decision over Belmont. Andrew McCutchen vs. Adam Wainwright in the first inning, Josh Donaldson and the bangin’ Toronto Blue Jays teeing oﬀ later, then a World Series rematch in Kansas City. Neat way to begin opening day. The forecast at PNC Park calls for temperatures in the upper 30s on Sunday afternoon when McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates host the first game of the 2016 season, facing the St. Louis Cardinals. “There’s a part of opening day that’s always tremendously special and significant,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Toronto-Tampa Bay and Mets-Royals are on tap, too. Most everyone else opens Monday. Zack Greinke and David Price pitch for the first time with their new teams while NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs begin their much-heralded quest for a championship, visiting the Los Angeles Angels. Detroit and Miami will be the last teams in action, starting Tuesday at Marlins Park. “I think we’re ready,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said after an exhibition game Saturday. “I feel like we’ve been ready for a little bit here.” So long, spring training in the sun. Now the heat is back on. “It’s a diﬀerent vibe, a little more laid back, the weather is always warm. But to get the season started where everything really counts and yes, I’m looking forward to that,” McCutchen said. At Kauﬀman Stadium, it’ll be Matt Harvey of the Mets vs. Edinson Volquez of the Royals. They were the starters in the final game of 2015 — KC rallied at Citi Field in the clinching Game 5 of the World Series. “It’s impossible to simulate World Series atmospheres, but with them getting their rings and raising the banner and things like that, I think it would give a little bit of motivation,” Mets captain David Wright said. After ending their twodecade playoﬀ drought, the Blue Jays are eager to get going, too. The highest-scoring team in the majors boasts a bruising lineup with Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, and open at Tampa Bay against AllStar Chris Archer. Herman, Lovemark tied at Houston Associated Press HOUSTON — Jim Herman and Jamie Lovemark, two players who have never won a PGA Tour event or played in the Masters, shared the lead going into the final round of the Houston Open. A win Sunday and they get to tee oﬀ at Augusta National next week. The 38-year-old Herman shot a 5-under 67 Saturday to position himself for a breakthrough. “There’s a lot to play for tomorrow,” said the pro from Cincinnati, whose best finish this season has been a 10th-place tie. “I had a couple of good par saves, especially on the last hole. I’m committed to going to the first tee (Sunday) and hitting that first fairway. I’ve got to ty to not put any extra pressure on myself.” Lovemark, 28 and a former NCAA champion at USC whose professional career was derailed by major back surgery, wasn’t able to build on his fast start, which saw him birdie three of the first four holes. He stayed in the hunt with a 70 after opening rounds of 67 and 68. Herman and Lovemark were at 11 under par through 54 holes and just a stroke ahead of Henrik Stenson, Dustin Johnson and Russell Hensley. The Swede Stenson, No. 7 in the current world ranking, posted the day’s best round with a 66 after also birdieing three of the first four holes. Henley had a 68 Saturday and Johnson a 70. Hamlin tabs himself as the man to beat at Martinsville today Associated Press MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Denny Hamlin didn’t hesitate in the least. “Myself,” he said when asked who his biggest competition is at Martinsville Speedway now that Jeﬀ Gordon, a nine-time winner on NASCAR’s oldest and smallest oval, has retired and moved into the broadcast booth. “I don’t know how many pit road penalties I’ve had here at this race track or why I choose to push it on pit road knowing that I have the speed on the race track that we’ve shown,” the Chesterfield, Virginia native said. “I think I’ve had two in the last bunch of races, just consecutively.” Still, defending champion Hamlin will try for his sixth career victory on the 0.526-mile oval Sunday, and while he hopes to curb his own self-destructive nature on pit road, he’ll be wise to keep an eye on some of his rivals, too. Jimmie Johnson, the only driver with two victories through the first five races of the season, has won eight times at Martinsville, but the track’s unique trophy — a grandfather clock — has gone elsewhere the last five races. Joey Logano won his third consecutive pole here Friday, and has never won the race. But he was running in the lead and seemingly certain to at least contend to the finish last fall until Matt Kenseth took him out in Turn 1. Hamlin has made 20 starts at Martinsville, and many of those laps he’s run — 1,315 — he was leading. That’s far more than every driver in Sunday’s field except one: in 28 starts, Johnson has paced the field for 2,746 laps. Hamlin will start eighth Sunday, and Johnson will start 24th, but other than the ideal pit box position Logano will have in the first stall, 500 laps aﬀords drivers plenty of time to move up through the field. Since winning the season-opening Daytona 500, Hamlin has two more top-five finishes. Besides having high expectations for this weekend, he feels like he’s entering a stretch where he can make a move in the standings. Thompson is shooting 48 percent, 45 percent from 3-point range. And when he makes more than half his shots, the Warriors are 24-1. Thompson’s line in the loss to Boston: 6 for 16 from the floor, and only three points despite playing the entire fourth quarter. Don’t Let Them Get Away When the Warriors get a double-digit lead, they win. That’s automatic, at least this season. There have been 63 in which the Warriors led by 10 points or more. They’re 63-0 in those games, though some of them have certainly been highly eventful down the stretch. Off Nights (Almost) Required When the Warriors are oﬀ, they’ve been doomed. Luckily for them, it doesn’t happen often. When shooting less than 41 percent, Golden State is 2-6 this season. Also, if the Warriors go up to 50 percent shooting, they win. They’ve won their last 66 games when making at least half their shots, including playoﬀs. The last time they shot 50 percent in a loss was Nov. 11, 2014 — against San Antonio. Win The Half Getting the halftime lead has been a prerequisite to beating the Warriors. Golden State is 60-0 when leading at halftime. When the Warriors trail at the break, they are a mere 8-8. Slow It Down Last and possibly deservedly least, because it’s far easier said than done, would be this tip: Slow them down. Many have tried. Most have failed. But when the Warriors don’t score 100 points — though this rule didn’t apply Friday — they’re 1-5 this season. When they reach the century mark, they’re 67-3. And when they get to 111 points, they’re a perfect 53-0. TASK CONTINUED FROM 11A beat the Warriors in the looming postseason. Here’s a look: Checking Klay In the Warriors’ losses, Stephen Curry (who has played in seven of them, sitting out the other with injury) has been his typical MVP-level self. He’s averaged 28 points, 5.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds in the games where he’s played and Golden State has been beaten. So obviously, he’s not exactly getting shut down. But keeping the other “Splash Brother” in check has proved vital to opponents. Klay Thompson’s numbers in Golden State’s eight defeats have been, by his standards, plebian. He’s shooting 39 percent in losses, 23 percent from 3-point range, averaging just 3.5 rebounds and 2 assists as well. In Golden State’s wins, of which he’s appeared in 66, 1B • Daily Corinthian Sunday, April 3, 2016 Children’s Holocaust memorial taking shape at ranch BY RON MAXEY The Commercial Appeal LAKE HORN, Miss. — Her aging voice is still strong, speaking across decades and generations to bring to life one of mankind’s darkest periods. ��I was born in a small town in Romania, not unlike many small towns in Mississippi,” Friderica Beck Saharovici told a crowd huddled against the chilling wind Wednesday on a ranch once owned by a rock-nroll legend. “After a normal, happy childhood, things changed drastically when Romania became an ally of Germany. I was a first-grader when all the Jewish children were thrown out of the public schools for no other reason than being born Jewish.” Saharovici said she could easily have become one of the unknown children of the Holocaust whose memories were honored on an overcast March morning in Horn Lake. “Only by the grace of God did I survive. Now, I’m very impressed that in a Southern state, with a small Jewish population and with a history of discrimination, that it would be a place to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.” Such is the vision taking shape as part of the redevelopment plans for the old Circle G Ranch in Horn Lake, once owned by Elvis and used as a honeymoon getaway after he and Priscilla married in 1967. On the surface, it’s an unlikely pairing — a memorial to children of the Holocaust and a planned tourist draw for legions of Elvis fans. But, organizers say, it makes sense if you accept that providence drives all things. “This is where it’s supposed to be,” project organizer Kat Joslin said confidently as she dis- “I was born in a small town in Romania, not unlike many small towns in Mississippi,. After a normal, happy childhood, things changed drastically when Romania became an ally of Germany. I was a first-grader when all the Jewish children were thrown out of the public schools for no other reason than being born Jewish.” Friderica Beck Saharovici cussed the relationship that has developed between the Florida-based owners of Circle G and the Unknown Child Foundation, the nonprofit entity behind plans to construct a memorial for children of the Holocaust. The memorial, eventually envisioned as a complex housing a memorial park as well as educational programs and scholarships, has a price tag of $1.5 million — a number you’ll see repeated several times in the unfolding of this tale. Joslin said Wednesday’s launch of the Foundation is intended to give a boost to fundraising, with a goal of breaking ground on a complex within 18 months. Rick Wienecke, a Canadian artist, was commis- sioned to do a sculpture that will be a part of the memorial park. A small model of the planned sculpture shows a child leaning against the inside of a crematorium door in a fetal position. The other side shows a replica of the oven doors at Auschwitz. “I’m really happy to be standing on the piece of property that’s going to house the project,” Wienecke said. “I thank you for sticking with this because you have to, you really have to. It’s an incredibly important project.” Wienecke added he was especially moved by the symbolism of 1.5 million pennies collected by area schoolchildren to represent each of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust. The pennies show, Wienecke noted, the relatively worthless value attached to the lives of Jewish children. The Penny Project, launched in 2009 at Horn Lake Middle School as a way to raise student awareness about the Holocaust, led to formation of the Unknown Child Foundation to keep the work alive, which led to the serendipitous relationship with Circle G owners as they sought ways to develop the sprawling ranch. Call it a lucky series of inspirations that somehow found their way to one another, or call it — as many did Wednesday — the playing out of a divine mission. Either way, Saharovici, the lost child who lived to tell her story, is gratified. “By preserving the memory of the Holocaust and its moral lessons, we tell the world that such atrocities should never happen again to Jews or to any other people in the world,” Saharovici said. “I don’t want my past to become anyone else’s future.” Hobbyist’s donation excites Mississippi State University archaeologists Associated Press STARKVILLE — The late Charles Van Horn made furniture for a living, but he’s more likely to be remembered for his hobby. “He first started collecting with his dad,” said Van Horn’s son, Rufus. “He’d go with him in the fields and see artifacts.” A Vardaman resident most of his life, Van Horn scoured the ground in Calhoun County for arrow points, pottery shards, beads and other remnants from prehistoric people. If that were all he did, his collection would be little more than a curiosity, but Van Horn went about his pastime in a systematic way. He labeled his finds, and left a trail that others can follow for generations to come. Jeﬀrey Alvey, an archaeologist at Mississippi State University, put Van Horn’s achievements in perspective: “Many archaeologists will spend their careers doing similar eﬀorts, so it’s impressive what he did in addition to having a regular job.” Rufus Van Horn grew up around the collection, which was kept in coffee cans and cardboard boxes. “Daddy was pretty well done by the time I can remember anything,” the 48-year-old Tupelo resident said. “I went to one site, and my memory of that was finding out what fire ants are. I remember stomping around because it was hurting.” His dad sometimes wore a carved piece of jewelry around his neck in much the same way the person who made it must’ve done hundreds or thousands of years ago. “When I got walnuts or pecans for Christmas,” Rufus Van Horn said, “Daddy would break out the nutcrackers, which were stones he’d found. They’re very eﬀective.” “They’re still intact,” Alvey said, “so that’s fine.” Alvey and other MSU archaeologists have a vested interest in the artifacts. Van Horn, who died in January, was an MSU alumnus. He’d talked to a professor about donating, then shelved the idea. “As Daddy’s health deteriorated, we started talking about it again,” Rufus Van Horn said. “We thought it would be after he died, but then he said to go ahead and do it.” Last summer, Keith Baca, an MSU archaeologist, met with Van Horn to discuss the collection. “I explained a lot of this to him,” Baca said. “He already knew quite a bit that he’d learned on his own.” The Charles Van Horn collection now belongs to MSU’s Cobb Institute of Archaeology. It includes nearly 2,000 items, but that isn’t what has faculty and students excited. “A lot of people donate artifact collections, but what he did is crucial: You’ve got to keep them separated by site,” Baca said. “It’s no use to us if we don’t know where they came from. He wrote each site number on each artifact.” Before Van Horn, it was believed that Calhoun County had about 70 archaeological sites. He documented 137, and he marked each one of them down in his copy of “Soil Survey of Calhoun County, Mississippi,” a 1965 publication by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service. “It’s pre-GPS,” Baca said, “but it’s detailed enough to get really accurate information.” Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” It’s a statement about how science usually works. New discoveries arise out of previous finds. “The great thing about us having these materials is the stuﬀ is available for generations of students and researchers to study,” Alvey said. “We will continue to learn more about them through the years.” He predicted that at least one master’s thesis will come out of the collection, and he believed Van Horn’s eﬀorts will inspire others to get their hands dirty. “If you’re a student who is doing research on these,” Alvey said, “you might decide it’s worth going back to the site for more artifacts.” “That’s the key,” Baca said. “He plotted every site.” Van Horn also gets credit for something he didn’t do. All of the items were picked from the surface. “Most of it was in plowed fields,” said Baca, adding that digging for artifacts makes it much harder to keep detailed, scientifically valid records. For the curious, the two stones that Rufus Van Horn used to break open nuts were probably used the same way by prehistoric natives. The beads, tools, arrow points and pottery shards range in age from 500 to 10,000 years old, and they’ve already been educational to Derek Anderson, an MSU archaeologist tasked with classifying the collection. “I’m kind of a recent addition to Mississippi. I started here five years ago,” Anderson said. “I was unfamiliar with a lot of the points. I narrowed it down as best I could. It was definitely a learning experience.” Some of the items are on display in the Cobb Institute’s lobby, where anybody can visit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. They’ll eventually be moved to the Lois Dowdle Cobb Museum of Archaeology in the institute’s basement. Three archaeologists gave Rufus Van Horn a guided tour of his dad’s collection in early March. It was his first visit since the items were donated. “It’s impressive, all he did. It’s really powerful to learn how significant the collection is archaeologically, and how his detailed work is helpful for understanding the people who lived here before us,” Rufus Van Horn said. “It’s a great legacy. It makes me proud to be called his son.” Book Review: ‘The Quickest Kid in Clarksville’ offers inspiration to 5-8-year-olds BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER The Bookworm Sez “The Quickest Kid in Clarksville” by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Frank Morrison c.2016, Chronicle Books $16.99 / $23.99 Canada 40 pages You are the best kid… at something. You can run the fastest. You can jump the highest. You’re the best skipper, the best hopper, or the best dancer. But what if there was somebody better than you? See what might happen in “The Quickest Kid in Clarksville” by Pat Zietlow Miller, illustrated by Frank Morrison. Alta was the fastest runner in Clarksville, Tennessee, and everybody knew it. She wasn’t as fast as Wilma Rudolph, but Alta was close and that made her dream. What, she wondered, would it be like to have three Olympic gold medals hanging around her neck? Would Wilma bring her medals to the parade she’d be riding in? The parade was tomorrow; Alta and her friends were even making a banner for it. And then some girl Alta had never met be- Pat Zietlow Miller’s novel “The Quickest Kid in Clarksville” details the struggle of a young girl from Clarksville, Tennesee, as she struggles to cross the finish line and become the fastest runner in her area. fore came “sashaying” over with the brandspankingest, whitest shoes Alta had ever seen. She said her name was Charmaine and her shoes sparkled - they were just made for running. Alta’s shoes had holes in them but shoes can’t tell who’ll win a race. Not even Wilma had the best things, at first. Alta challenged Charmaine to a race – and won. Charmaine challenged Alta to another race – and Charmaine won. Alta was sure that was because Charmaine tripped her. Or because Alta’s toe was poking out of the front of her shoe, which really made her sad because Mama said those shoes had to last… On parade day, while Alta and her friends were finishing the banner, Charmaine came by, strutting “like she’s queen of the block.” Alta wasn’t having any of that; she far preferred to remember that Wilma Rudolph, the fastest woman alive, was coming to town to be in a parade. Maybe she might even see the banner, and she might wave. As Alta started to run to the parade route with the banner, she suddenly realized that the banner was heavy and awkward. It wrapped itself up and caught the wind. It was long, too. There’d be no way she’d get to the parade in time. How would she ever make it? Who likes to lose? Nobody, that’s who, but there are times when losing isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, it means winning and “The Quickest Kid in Clarksville” shows your child how that works. There’s a lot of sass and attitude inside this book, and charm all over: author Pat Zeitlow Miller’s main character has scads of it, in fact, but it’s a confident boldness that kids just can’t miss. Thanks to artwork by Frank Morrison, the fierceness never leaves Alta’s face, even when her new adversary steps into the ’hood – a frenemy who’s surprisingly equal to Alta - leading to a show-down, an ultimate olive branch, and an ending that’ll make you smile. If your kids are curious, Miller also includes a page on the real Wilma Rudolph, putting this book into further prospective. That may be too much info for younger readers, but 5-to-8-year-olds might find “The Quickest Kid in Clarksville” to be the best. 2B • Daily Corinthian Sunday, April 3, 2016 Estes named to national honor society BY SHARRON SHAWL For the Daily Corinthian The National Honor Society of High School Scholars recently welcomed Biggersville High School student Callie Estes as a member. Daughter of John and Rene Estes, she is a Top 10 Senior at BHS with a 3.9 GPA. This organization recognizes top scholars who have gone above and beyond in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and community commitment. Estes, who is an employee of Baskin Robbins in Corinth, has earned a reputation for strong leadership skills, compassion, and charitable service among faculty and students at BHS, according to school counselor Melanie Lee. “With all of her volunteer hours in the community and willingness to assist here at school, Callie deserves this honor bestowed upon on those who go above and beyond. “Callie has turned in 250 plus community Estes service hours and many more she has not documented. One thing that stands out about Callie is that she doesn’t wait to be asked to help, but oﬀers when she thinks there might be a need. With her leadership and the help of some of her peers, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Biggersville High School boasts almost a 100 percent attendance rate, and some weeks makes that mark.” Chairman Claes Nobel, NSHSS founder and a senior member of the family that established the Nobel Prizes, states, “On behalf of NSHSS, I am honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice and commitment that Callie has demonstrated to achieve this exceptional level of academic excellence. Callie is now a member of a unique community of scholars _ a community that represents our very best hope for the future.” NSHSS members become lifetime members. At each step along the way _ from high school to college to career _ NSHSS connects outstanding young scholars with the resources they need to develop their strengths and pursue their passions. “We are proud to provide lifetime membership to young scholars to support their growth and development,” states NSHSS President James W. Lewis. “We aim to help students like Callie build on their academic success by connecting them with unique learning experiences and resources to help prepare them for college and meaningful careers.” Kossuth Elementary School Honor Roll Kindergarten All A’s: Autumn Bates, Weston Bayless, Marcus Bingham, Ainsley Brantley, Joxie Crum, Jon Saxton Cutberth, Preston Fiveash, Briley Garner, Kadyn Glenn, Libby Hammock, Rylan Hardin, Natalie Harvell, Tyler Holmes, Landon Huddleston, Henley Hutchens, Owen Jobe, Zepplin Johnson, Thomas Key, Dalton Lane, Preston Lovelace, Andrew Lovell, Caden Mercer, Ida Mercer, Lilly Morelock, Saylor Mullins, Easton Nash, Emma Norris, Cutler Rickman, Oakli Rickman, Ty Simmons,Marlee Starling, Charles Swindle, Paden Talley,Eli Winters, Jaci Woodruff A’s & B’s: Allie Buchanan, Ella Cook, Jackson Crawford, Checea Dixon, Tavin Fitzgerald, Paisley Henry, Jonathon Hopper, Avery James, Yasmin Juarez, Easton Mcneese, Breeyana Mitchell, Gabrielle Mullins, Anzley Newman, Landon Pittman, Grayson Pannell, Slayden Price, Brantley Samples, Isabella Seago, Cayden Slack, Keedin Terry, Mallory Thrasher, Kadence Wilkins First Grade All A’s: Dalton Brake, Hayden Brooks, Raina Burse, Kailey But- ler, Chloe Caldwell, Ava Cooper, Olivia Cooper, Kylie Cummings, Emma Franks, Bailey Gann, Memphiss Gant, JD Gingery, Malakhi Harris, Palin Holley, Ethan Killough, Alana Lewis, Kaitlin Lovell, Hunter McGuff, Kenlee Null, Bailey Pittman, Jayden Robinson, Carlie Shaw, Kasen Smith, Prestin Sumler, Jack Wilbanks, Cole Wilbanks, Jake Wilhite A & B’s: Conner Barnes, Kaitlyn Bass, Rileigh Bright, Noah Bumpas, Bailey Butler, RJ Calvert, Michael Chism, Ellah Comer, Callie Crum, Micah Crum, Jack Ginn, Lucy Greenlee, Braden Hill, Braxton Hobbs, 2016 Bridal Emma Howell, Ally Huddleston, Rebekah Hutchinson, Baylor Kelly, Kreed McCoy, Brody Mills, Mason Mills, JT Morgan, Riley Mullins, Callie Nash, Emanuel Perez, Cali Rickman, Avanley Stevens, Jarrod Steward, Brayden Stroupe, Cheyenne Walker, Anna Warren, Leah Wessler, Carter Wilbanks, Zoie Willis, Hunter Woodruff, Kristen Yelverton Second Grade: All A’s: Katelynn Barnwell, Landon Berryman, Madison Brewer, Abbey Cloninger, Cade Essary, Erin Gifford, Bryce Gunn, Caliann Mitchell, Millie Kate Nails, Elijah Pittman, Austin Settlemires, Jacob Settlemires, Jacob Spencer, Braxton Stevens A & B’s: Trey Arthur, Aeva Baswell, Chloe Black, Anna Kayte Brock, Andy Butler, Noah Caldwell, Chloe Clement, Tommy Dale Crabb, Sayler Dixon, Logan Doss, Emma Fiveash, Gunner Goodwin, Trenton Hayhurst, Kayla Hubbard, Addison Jones, Peyton Key, Ansylee Lane, Shyann Manner, Jackson Mathis, Kyleigh Mitchell, Maryanna Moss, Frankie Muse, Hunter Norris, Witlie Petry, Kage Richardson, Dale Rickman, Cameron Robinson, Addison Scott, Adalynn Settlemires, Addison Settlemires, Dylan Sides, RJ Simpson, Hallie Kate Smith, Adyson Starnes, Lydia Stewart, McKenzie Stewart, Audrey Wilbanks, Brenyn Wilbanks Third Grade All A’s: Lily Anderson, Addy Burse, Victoria Fields, Claire Hopper, Kate McCormack, Anderson Nails, Gavin Smith A & B’s: Addison Benjamin, Stephen Borden, Brady Crabb, Emma Crabb, Kaden Crum, Brandon Crump, Morgan Dixon, Montana Doss, Josh Dunahue, Ava Fortune, Calli Garner, Madeline Gifford, Meredith Gilmore, Zander Gomez, Sarah Grace Green, Brentley Greenlee, Drew Hebert, Austyn Hicks, Kaylee Hight, Case Hilliard, Ben Hopper, Kate Johnsey, Nellie Kate Johnson, Kalee Mayo, Carter McNeese, Ethan Mitchell, Lanie Moore, Lindsey Parker, Bryant Pittman, Maddox Rickman, Melissa Schneider, Chloe Seals, Alyssa Settlemires, Hannah Spencer, Olivia Spencer, Ashley Stubelt, Lauren Trantham, Jake Waldrep, Claudia Wammack, Eva Yelverton Fourth Grade All A’s: Emilie Evetts, John Thomas Gaines, Sally Kate Garner, Brody Hajek, Macadyn Holley, Hunter Hutchens, Anabelle Marlar, Aven Mathis, Eva Null, Sara Rainey, Kyndle Rider A & B’s: Michael Accettura, Caden Allen, Gracie Andrews, Aiden Bobo, Noah Brown, Mason Cloninger, Ashley Cooper, Eli Cooper, Jake Eaton, Charles Flake, Dylan Ford, Marleigh Garner, Jesse Grantham, Eli Hinton, Kaitlyn Houston, Hayden Huff, Christopher Hutcheson, Reed Irvin, Greyson Ivy, Brantlee Johnson, Brady Kelly, Claudia Lowrey, Emily Mann, Trinity Martin, Maddie Mask, Madison Jo Mills, Ali Newman, Raylee Norris, Chloe Null, Hannah Parker, Avery Parvin, Bianca Perez, Alexis Pittman, Candler Robinson, Dalton Rogers, Michael Rowe, Drew Rowsey, Lynley Woodruff, Casen Woodruff All B’s: Riley Butler, Brandon Cole, Brooklyn Duffey, Aikley Harvell, Peyton Henry, Presley Mitchell, Kensley Rinehart, Natalie Simmons, Bailey Underwood, Cayden Waldrop UM named among top 25 law schools for practical training To reserve your space contact Daily Corinthian 662-287-6111 Deadline to submit is May 19, 2016 The University of Mississippi School of Law has been named among the top 25 nationally for practical training available to students by The National Jurist magazine. The publication crunched the numbers for all the schools’ statistics and issued a report card it its spring 2016 issue, awarding the Ole Miss law school an A- rating, placing 19th in the nation. “Our multifaceted skills training program is one of the great strengths of the UM School of Law,” said Debbie Bell, the school’s interim dean. “We oﬀer students opportunities to ‘learn by doing’ through in-house clinics, externships, practicums, simulation courses, the Skill Session and advocacy programs. I am so glad that the scope of our program has been recognized nationally.” The School of Law has nine in-house clinics, including Child Advocacy, Criminal Appeals, Elder Law, Housing Clinic, MacArthur Justice Clinic, the George C. Cochran Innocence Project, the “Street Law” Clinic, Transactional Law Clinic, the Clinical Externship Program and the Pro Bono Initiative. The Pro Bono Initiative was recently honored by the Mississippi Volunteer Project’s Beacon of Justice Award for public service. Additionally, two practicums, Tax and Conflict Management, oﬀer law students opportunities to learn through experience, providing income tax assistance for low-income families and learning to resolve disputes between undergraduate students. The Tax Practicum won the 2015 Beacon of Justice Award. The magazine used data provided by the American Bar Association and individual schools to compile the rankings, which are based on five categories: clinical experience, externships, simulation courses, interschool competitions and other course oﬀerings. “We look at a number of factors, including which schools have the greatest percentage of students in clinics, externships and simulation courses,” the report said. “We also look at the most robust moot court options. “However, this year, we also wanted to showcase how these programs do more than just get students out of sterile classrooms and away from their favorite Starbucks.” Clinical experience was weighted the highest because it provides “particularly practical training,” the report said. Externships and simulations courses were also lauded for helping students develop professional skills. “The (clinics) provide a great opportunity to experience the real-world practice of law with an actual client in need of representation,” said third-year student Derek Goﬀ. “No traditional case book course allows a student to take on the role of a zealous advocate and hone essential (law practice) skills. The clinical programs are a great resume builder, but more importantly, they oﬀer the unique chance for students to help clients in need.” The Ole Miss law school also has enjoyed notable success in moot court competitions, collecting eight national competition championships in two years, including backto-back championships in the Pace Environmental Law competition and, most recently, the Tulane Professional Football Negotiation Competition. The School of Law is a world leader in air and space law training, offering an LL.M. program in the field. One of the school’s moot court teams won the international championship in the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition, held in Jerusalem in October 2015. Daily Corinthian â€˘ Sunday, April 3, 2016 â€˘ 3B Community Events Editorâ€™s Note: We recommend Community Events be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event. Community Events publish on Wednesday, Sunday and when space allows on Friday.) Community Fellowship Dinner The Easom Community Center, located at 700 South Crater Street in Corinth will hold their monthly community fellowship dinner from noon until 2:30 p.m. today. The cost is $10 for adults and all carry-outs. Children under 9 may dine-in for $5. Items on the April menu include fried chicken, chicken alfredo, dressing, pepper steak, rice, roasted vegetables, broccoli, peach cobbler, banana pudding, rolls and beverages. For tickets and more information contact Ernestine Hollins at 662-643-8024 or Sam Crayton at 404-3863359. Â Relay for Life The Alcorn County Relay for Life Team will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 4. Alcorn County has a new RFL Community Manager, Vickie Duke. Vickie has been the Main Street Director in New Albany MS for many years. Â 3K Walk and 5K Fun Run for Life Oasis Medical Center is excited this year to add a 5K Fun Run to the annual 3K Walk for Life Fundraiser on April 23 at Crossroads Regional Park. This event is a great way to support a local service to over 500 people each year. All funds raised will go directly toward OMCâ€™s services which are provided at no cost to clients. Please help the center reach their goal of $50,000. Oasis Medical Centerâ€™s 5K Fun Run is also a great way to train for the upcoming 10K Coke Run. Every runner and walker is asked to participate in the fundraising for Oasis. Itâ€™s easy. Call Oasis at 662-287-8001 to receive a registration/ sponsor pledge form, for more information, or for walk team instructions. Ask friends, family, and co-workers to pledge a one-time tax-deductible gift to sponsor you. Oasis will bill for all pledges $10 and up. Individuals raising $200 or more in sponsor pledges will receive free T-shirt or water bottle. Prizes will be awarded for highest pledges received in three categories: Top Walker, Top Runner, and Top Walk Team. Participants may Run/Walk on their own if they canâ€™t make it on April 23. Simply mail a pledge form to Oasis. Walk/Run for Life is hosted by Corinth/Alcorn Parks and Recreation. Â Bishop Activity Center The Bishop Activity Center will hold the following events: Monday, April 4 â€“ Bingo; Tuesday, April 5 â€“ Doctor Day, field trip and Tate Baptist exercise; Wednesday, April 6 â€“Bible Study with Jackie Calvart from Oakland Baptist Church and open discussion; and Friday, April 8 â€“ Hour of PowerMinistry by James and Naomi Spears and grocery shopping at Rogerâ€™s Supermarket. Daily Activities include: Open discussion, quilting, jigsaw puzzles, table games, rolo golf and a washer game. Senior Citizens age 60 and above are welcome and encouraged to attend. Â Exercise Class The Boys and Girls Club is holding an exercise class for women on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6:15 p.m. The club is also offering line dancing at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday night. Â information. The class is limited to 15 students. Batik Workshop A Batik Workshop will be conducted every Thursday night for six weeks from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Extension Office, located behind the Crossroads Arena. The cost is $10. Participants should register by calling 662-286-7755. Beginning Quilt Class A Beginning Quilt Class meet at 5 p.m. each Tuesday at the Extension Office, located behind the Crossroads Arena. Six sewing machines will be available for individuals who do not own one. Art History/Art Activity Art History/Art Activity workshops for Home School families are being offered by artist Jaylene Whitehurst at the Alcorn County Extension office. Sessions meet from 1-2:30 p.m. and are scheduled on monthly third Tuesdays: April 19, May 17, June 21, and July 19.The registration fee of $25, with a $5 discount for additional children in the same family, covers all supplies. Workshops are open to students ages 8-16: they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A minimum of five students is required for the class to make. Fees are due at registration at the Extension office at 2200 Levee Road. Deadline for sign-up is the Friday preceding each Tuesday workshop. For more information call 662-2867756. Â Extension Activities: Pray As One Private Applicator Training There will be a Private Applicator Training Session held at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 4 at the Alcorn County Extension Service office in Corinth. This training is for farmers who need their private pesticide applicator certificate. There is a $10 fee to attend the training. Those who would like to attend or need additional information please contact Patrick Poindexter at the Alcorn County Extension Service at 662-2867755. Art Class An Art Class is open to the public at no cost will meet every Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Extension Office, located behind the Crossroads Arena. Participants will need to bring their own supplies and should call 662-286-7755 to register and get more As One is a national call to prayer. The basic strategy revolves around two 40-day periods of prayer walking, fasting, and corporate prayer events. The events will run through the National Day of Prayer on May 5. The second begins on September 30 and ends on Election Day. In addition, there will be much collaboration with major national prayer events that are happening throughout the year. Participants should note that the times of the Bible Reading have changed. The 75 hour Bible reading will be held from 8 a.m. on Monday, May 2 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 5. Â ACES Pre-K/ Kindergarten registration Alcorn Central Elementary School will register for Pre-K and Kindergarten on Thursday, April 7. Kindergarten registration will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pre-K registration will be from 4 to 6 p.m. The child being registered must attend registration. Items needed to complete registration are a birth certificate, social security card, immunization form (121) and two proofs of residency. Â KES Pre-K/ Kindergarten Registration Kossuth Elementary School will hold Kindergarten Registration from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 7 and May 5. Items necessary for registration are the childâ€™s birth certificate, social security card, immunization form 121 and two proofs of residency. The child being registered must also be present. Â Student Art Exhibit The Northeast Mississippi Community College Art department will exhibit its Annual Student Art Show from April 5 â€“18. Categories include: Painting, Drawing, Computer Graphics, Black & White Photography, 2D Design and Ceramics. Gallery Hours are Monday â€“ Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information contact Terry Anderson at 662-720-7336 or [email protected]. Â NARFE Meeting The National Active and Retired Federal Employees( NARFE) Jacinto Chapter 1879 will hold its regular monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 7 at Ryanâ€™s Restaurant, located at 2210 Harper Road in Corinth. All active and retired federal employees are encouraged to attend. Â Cookout for a Cure The Alcorn County Relay for Life Team will sponsor a Cookout for a Cure at on Friday, April 8 at Bancorpsouth, located at Hwy 72 East in Corinth. Pre-orders are due by Thursday, April 7. A hamburger lunch will be available for $6 which includes a burger, chips and dessert. A hot dog lunch will also be available for $5, which includes a hot dog, chips and a dessert. All proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and Alcorn County Realy for Life. For more information call 662-287-0800.Â ACES Spring Carnival Alcorn Central Elementary will hold a spring carnival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. $5 armbands will be available for all day play. A cake walk and concessions will be available for purchase. The carnival will include: Jumpers, a silent auction, games, face painting, antique cars, and a student talent show. Parking will be available in the High School lot only. Â Purple and Gold Banquet and Ball The Alcorn County Chapter of the Alcorn State University (ASU) National Alumni Association will sponsor a Purple and Gold Scholarship Banquet and Ball to provide assistance and scholarships to students from Alcorn County and surrounding areas attending Alcorn State University from 7:30 p.m. until midnight on Saturday, April 9. The event will be held at Refreshments Inc. which is located at 101 W. Linden Street in Corinth. Tickets are available from members or at Walker Law office, located at 408 Waldron Street in Corinth or by calling 662665-9536. Â Cemetery Cleaning Day The cemetery cleaning day for Antioch Free Will Baptist Church in Burnsville is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 9. Everyone who has family and friends buried there is invited to come help with cleaning. Bring your tools and arrive ready to help. All â€œold flowersâ€? will be removed. The wind has blown many flowers off graves and there is no way to identify where they belong. Come prior to April 9 and check graves for flowers that you may want kept. Â Talent Show A â€œSo You Think Youâ€™ve Got Talentâ€? fundraiser show will be held in the Kossuth Elementary Auditorium on Wednesday, April 9. The categories are ages 6â€“11, ages 12â€“18 and ages 19 and up. There will be a uest appearance by Kossuth native Trevor Blakney, â€œAmerican Idolâ€? finalist. Those interested in participating should contact Mary Ann Johnson at 662-664-5365. Entry forms are also available at the KES office and New Life Christian Supply. All proceeds will benefit the Kossuth Elementary Auditorium Restoration Project. Â Live Auction A live auction will be held Wednesday, April 9 at the L.C. Follin Christian Life Center in Kossuth at 6 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Kossuth Elementary Auditorium Restoration Project. Those who would like to donate items for the auction may contact Anthia Follin King at 731-6146513 or Many Glisson at 662-396-1040. Â Kossuth Community Fish Fry A fish fry will be held on Wednesday, April 9 at the L.C. Follin Christian Life Center. Plates are $10. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dinner plates will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. For tickets contact the KES office at 662286-2761 or Suzanne Follin at 662-415-5424. All proceeds will go to the Kossuth Elementary Auditorium Restoration Project. Â Republican Meeting Senator Rita Parks and Representative Bubba Carpenter will be the guest speakers to the Alcorn County Republican Party at 6 p.m. on April 14 in the Corinth City Library. A Meet-and-Greet 5:45 p.m. with speaking at 6 p.m. The subject will be this yearâ€™s accomplishments in the state legislature. Â Senior Sounds Alcorn Central High School seniors will present â€œGood to be Aliveâ€? at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14; Friday, April 15; and Saturday, April 16 at the Coliseum Civic Center â€“ located at 404 Taylor Street. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets go on sale April 4 at www.seniorsounds.net. For more information call Alcorn Central High School at 662-286-872. Â 1966 ACHS Reunion Meeting A meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 18 at the Corinth Library for updates on the 50th year class reunion for Alcorn Central. All interested members are welcome. Legal Scene Your Crossroads Area Guide to Law Professionals ) ($Contact )* Skylar Mincey ) - - (' /) $ at 662-287-6111 " GREG MEYER Attorney At Law Former Assistant District Attorney ( ! &% for the State of Mississippi with 18 years of experience. Serving Northeast â€˘ Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Defense Mississippiâ€™s needs... â€˘ Felony and Misdemeanor Convicton legal Expungement â€˘ DUI " !$ $ ! # v (Payment Plans available) â€˘ Car Accident/ Personal Injury ! " ! %! â€˘' Divorce-Contested and Uncontested $ &% â€˘ Child Support/Child " $"! !Custody " ! v# "( â€˘ Wills and Estates # " ! $ v â€˘ Deeds " "!$ " ! OfďŹ ce located at #'$"# 616 Bunch Street â€˘ Corinth, Mississippi 662-287-5620 [email protected] Odom and Allred, P.A. Attorneys at Law 404 Waldron Street â€˘ Corinth, MS _________________________________________ ' 3 - 1 / 2 1* ' 0 / 1 .2& & 2 662-286-9311 William W. Odom, Jr. Rhonda N. Allred Attorney at Law Attorney at Law [email protected] [email protected] ___________________________________________ &'&#$) #(& ,!"' #"&#$' #&"#' " '",' ' #"#+$' &' " ' ", $$#$ # ("' " ($',# #(" "#!' #") ($#"%(&' 4B • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Daily Corinthian Linklater provides self-portrait as frat boy in ’80s BY JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer “Everybody Wants Some!!” is Richard Linklater’s self-described spiritual sequel to “Dazed and Confused,” and, somewhat miraculously, the spirit has remained intact. It’s been 23 years from one to the other: long enough to literally watch a boy grow up. But between the 1970s high-school graduation of “Dazed” and the first college days of the 1980-set “Everybody Wants Some!!” it feels like hardly a summer has passed. We left oﬀ with Foghat’s “Slow Ride”; we pick up with the Knack’s “My Sharona.” The song’s thumping bass, which opens the film, is an early signal (if the double exclamation points didn’t already give it away) of the exuberance to come in “Everybody Wants Some!!,” Linklater’s marvelously loose and aﬀectionately antic portrait of college life. It’s a chapter that Linklater’s “Boyhood” never got to. But it’s rendered here with the same attention to the rhythms of youth and the in-between moments the director has long been drawn to. Jake Bradford (Blake Jenner) is a freshman baseball pitcher who arrives in September 1980 at Southeast Texas University, where he moves in with his future teammates and fraternity brothers. Bros are not the most loved of college types, but Linklater’s frat guys, aside from being competitive, womanizing boozehounds, are mostly clever, curious and likable. Just as with “Dazed,” Linklater has assembled a strong ensemble of young, promising actors. They include the mustachioed star senior Glenn (Tyler Hoechlin), the philosophizing chatterbox Finn (a tremendous Glen Powell) and the bearded stoner transfer from California, Willoughby (Wyatt Russell). Jake easily and confidently joins them as they bounce from nightclub to nightclub, and prowl the parking lots for women. There isn’t much tension in the mild and innocent “Everybody Wants Some!!” (nor is there any political correctness or sexual assault). The guys of the movie are all eagerness and appetite, with their lives ahead of them. Though the team is nationally ranked and they take their sport seriously, professional baseball is largely an acknowledged pipe dream. Besides, there’s so much more to be excited about. Every night is a different club (disco, country line dancing, punk). Books and records are passed around like joints. A countdown to the start of classes runs throughout, but not in a foreboding way. Out of the aimlessness, a sense of purpose is growing. The world is opening up to Jake, who begins dating a theater student (Zoey Deutch). By focusing on base- ball players, Linklater has given a far tenderer, more dynamic (and largely true) picture of young male athletes than they are usually aﬀorded. But he’s also limited his canvas compared to the more varied, crisscrossing teens of “Dazed.” And while the sunny and sure Jenner is winning, he’s maybe too much so. “Dazed and Confused” took its center from Wiley Wiggins’ timid teen, but the Jake of “Everybody Wants Some!!” has no anxieties to overcome; his first blush with college life is a home run. “Everybody Wants Some!!’ is Linklater’s selfportrait of the artist as a young frat boy. The Austin writer-director of “Slacker” and the “Before...” trilogy went to college on a baseball scholarship before segueing into playwriting. His light touch remains a marvel. Though his characters are often just bouncing from conversation to conversation, night out to night out, the film’s direction is never lackadaisical. The performances are uncommonly natural. Scenes that play out through car windows, over foosball tables or between bong hits are buoyant, funny and meaningful. Though stuﬀed with ’80s details and a soundtrack from Van Halen to the Sugar Hill Gang, the period setting matters far less than the capturing — and appreciation — of a moment. Country star Eric Church breaks the mold with surprise album BY KRISTIN M. HALL Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eric Church knew that his latest album wasn’t going to be a No. 1 record. And he didn’t care. The country singer Cryptoquip Crossword had done no interviews or photo shoots, no radio promotion or exclusive song premieres for “Mr. Misunderstood.” Instead, he gave the surprise album away for free to his fan club members. It was just the way he wanted it. “I don’t care about the hype,” Church said last week, four months after he released the album. “Everyone is so focused on your first week. But I am more concerned with week 80 than week one.” Church’s penchant for unpredictability has proven to be what keeps his career evolving, his legion of fans growing and the accolades mounting. He is heading into Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards with six nominations, including his first-ever entertainer of the year nomination and an album of the year nomination for “Mr. Misunderstood.” “It’s about the life of the album,” Church said in an interview after finishing a day of shooting for his next music video. “Does it is stand up over time and does it grow over time? This record does.” Since the release of his third studio album, “Chief,” in 2011, Church has taken country music by storm. That album debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, earned him his first Grammy nomination and spawned his first two No. 1 country songs, “Springsteen” and “Drink In My Hand.” He followed that with the hard-rocking “The Outsiders,” which also debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre chart in 2014 and went platinum. His 2015 Outsiders World Tour had him headlining Madison Square Garden in New York City and the Staples Center in Los Angeles. So Mike Dungan, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville, was surprised to get a call from Church last year saying he had recorded a new album a year early that he wanted to give to his fans as a present without any announcement. “We’ve had a great deal of success with Eric,” Dungan said. “Artists earn the right to dictate on their terms sometimes.” Beyonce, U2 and Drake have all dropped surprise albums, but no other major country artist has tried such a model. And Church had to put his unique spin on the process. First he delivered the music to about 80,000 members of his fan club for free in some form: vinyl, CD, downloads or streaming. Then for the general public, instead of doing a digital-only release, Church’s album was also available in vinyl and on CD, which meant he had to hide the music through the physical manufacturing process. The vinyl records were pressed in Germany in secret and shipped back to the U.S. The CDs were sold to major retailers under the guise of a Christmas compilation album and Church’s manager, John Peets, even called independent record store organizations to encourage them to order the title. “My biggest beef with the music industry is the labels get it first, the critics get it, the press gets it and the last people to get the record are the fans,” Church said. “It was important to let our fans be the mouthpiece and tell everyone else about it.” Everything was revealed to the public on the day of the Country Music Association Awards last November, when Church premiered the album title song on the telecast. The album is a raw and emotional tribute to those who keep him motivated, such as Stevie Wonder, Jeﬀ Tweedy and even his own son, at a moment in Church’s life when he is hitting on all cylinders. “Normally it takes me 100 songs to find 10,” Church said. “Not this time.” So is everyone happy with how it turned out? The answer is mostly yes. The album still peaked as high as No. 2 on the Billboard 200, in part due to Chris Stapleton’s breakout record topping the chart. And four months in, the album has sold a respectable 334,000 copies. ‘This Old House’ brand gets new owner BY FRAZIER MOORE AP Television Writer “This Old House” is getting new ownership. The venerable home-improvement brand — whose flagship TV series has been on the air since 1979 — has been acquired from Time Inc. by former Time Inc. exec Eric Thorkilsen in partnership with private equity firm TZP Group, the new company announced Friday. This Old House Ventures LLC will be anchored by “This Old House” and its TV sibling, “Ask This Old House,” as well as This Old House magazine, online content, a line of books and other branded products. Thorkilsen was named CEO of the new company. Susan Wyland, most recently an editorial consultant running her own firm, joins This Old House magazine as its new editorin-chief. As a fully integrated, multimedia business, This Old House Ventures LLC will manage all of its own core business functions, including original television production, digital content and operations, advertising sales, magazine editorial, brand licensing and marketing from new headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, beginning this summer, the company said. Time Inc., which launched the magazine in 1995 and later bought the TV show from Boston public TV station WGBH, will continue to provide backoﬃce operations including magazine production and subscription services. No financial terms for the purchase were disclosed. The deal returns Thorkilsen to the helm of a TV show he says he never missed as a viewer, and a brand he nurtured during his three decades at Time Inc. “Long before TiVos, as a homeowner I used to plan my weekends around when ‘This Old House’ was on the air,” he told The Associated Press. “I had to see the newest episode. “Some years later, I had the opportunity to get involved professionally with this brand that I loved so much. We licensed the commercial rights to start extending the brand beyond the television program.” Under his stewardship in 2002 Time Inc. acquired the original series and soon thereafter created its spinoﬀ. The potential seemed obvious to Thorkilsen, who at Time Inc. had orchestrated the Martha Stewart Living media juggernaut. This was then a new business model — a multi-platform paradigm for extend- ing a brand’s reach across print, television, digital and licensing. But long after leaving Time Inc. in 2005, and most recently while running Lifestyle Media Partners, a brand-development company, he still saw untapped opportunities for This Old House. Eventually a deal was struck with Time Inc., which, under its chairman, Joe Ripp, was busy reinventing itself after being spun oﬀ as a publicly traded company in 2014. “I thank the This Old House team for their hard work and commitment to Time Inc. over many years. They’ve got a great new home,” Ripp said. “As an independent entity with the backing of our private equity partners we hope to build it into an even stronger, bigger business,” said Thorkilsen, adding, “Our No. 1 goal is to not screw it up. We’re looking to acquire this brand for what it is, not for how we can change it. We think we can add to it, but the core of it is working very well.” Scott Omelianuk, top editor of This Old House magazine the past dozen years, has decided not to make the transition and is pursuing a new opportunity in the TV realm. But the remainder of the current staﬀ of This Old House Ventures will be invited to join the new company. Daily Corinthian â€˘ Sunday, April 3, 2016 â€˘5B 0232 GENERAL HELP * 6WHHO 7HDP0HPEHUV 1HHGHG 4Ç¸Č?Ç¸ÉşČ¨Č˝Č? 6WHHO0LVVLVVLSSL :RUNVLVKLULQJIRUWKH SRVLWLRQVRI :HOGHU)LWWHU6DQG EODVWHU3DLQWHU ,I\RXKDYHLQLWLDWLYH JRRGZRUNHWKLF DF FRXQWDELOLW\GRZQORDG DSSOLFDWLRQDW JJVWHHOFRPRUDWWKH :,1-RE&HQWHULQ,XND 0V (2(0LQRULWLHV)H PDOHV9HW'LVDEOHG Follow aiily Daily Corinthian ntthian oonn Facebook ceebook or Twitter itt r to see local news ďŹ rst online www.mycrossroadsmagazine.com Check out our E-edition! Local Stories, Photos, & Recipes J#H# HVk^c\h 7dcYh VgZ\^[ih l^i]V [jijgZ# 0244 TRUCKING '5,9(575$,1((612: %HLQJ7UDLQHG +LUHG IRU 0F(OUR\7UXFN/LQHV 122758$5$17((' +20((9(5< :((.(1' /RFDO&'/7UDLQLQJ (DUQNN &DOO7RGD\ 0248 OFFICE HELP 2)),&(326,7,21 /RFDO&RPSDQ\VHHNVD PRWLYDWHGSHUVRQWRILOO RIILFH SRVLWLRQ 0XVW KDYH JHQHUDO FRP SXWHU VNLOOV DQG JRRG SKRQHHWLTXHWWH0XVW EH DYDLODEOH IRU ZRUN KRXUV SHU ZHHN 6HQG UHVXPH WR %R[ FR7KH'DLO\&RU LQWKLDQ 32 %R[ &RULQWK 06 PETS Let the CLASSIFIEDS be the KEY to listing your home! 662-287-6111 G>C<BDG:H=DEE:GHIDNDJG9DDGL>I= AD86AAN;D8JH:969K:GI>H>C<;GDBI=::ME:GIH ANNOUNCEMENTS 0107 SPECIAL NOTICE $'237,21 +$33,/<0DUULHG 6XFFHVVIXO([HFXWLYH 6WD\+RPH0RP\HDUQ IRUEDE\WRGHYRWHRXU OLYHV([SHQVHVSDLG 6XVDQ DYLQ Follow us on Twitter @daily corinthian TO-DO +TMIVPW][M .Q`\PM[QVS SMTT\PMKIZ .QVL\PMLWO 4WWSNWZI2WJ 0I^MaW]Ă…VQ[PML aW]Z\WLWTQ[\' FIND WHO YOU NEED IN THE CLASSIFIEDS 662-287-6111 Like us on Facebook facebook.com/ dailycorin thian %87/(5'28 )RXQGD WLRQ IORRU OHYHOLQJ EULFNV FUDFNLQJ URWWHQ ZRRG EDVHPHQWV VKRZHU IORRU 2YHU \UV H[S )5(( (67,0 $7(6 RU 0844 AUTO REPAIR our certified technicians Weâ€™ll Put Collision Let quickly restore your vehicle condition Damage in Reverse towithpre-accident a satisfaction guarantee. State-of-the-Art Frame Straightening Dents, Dings & Scratches Removed Custom Color Matching Service EMPLOYMENT 0232 GENERAL HELP Weâ€™ll Deal Directly With Your Insurance Company No up-front payments. No hassle. No paperwork. Free Estimates 25 Years professional service experience Rental cars available GARAGE /ESTATE SALES Corinth Collision Center 810 S. Parkway 662.594.1023 CAUTION! ADVERTISEMENTS in this classification usually offer informational service of products designed to help FIND employment. Before you send money to any advertiser, it is your responsibility to verify the validity of the offer. Remember: If an ad appears to sound â€œtoo good to be trueâ€?, then it may be! Inquiries can be made by contacting the Better Business Bureau at 1-800-987-8280. )5((3833,(6 7RDRRG+RPH FARM 0430 FEED/FERTILIZER 5281' 52//6 2) +$< 0,;(' 5$66 3(552// MERCHANDISE MISC. ITEMS FOR 0563 SALE &$1$',$1 RRVH 'H FR\V E\ 5HG+HDG IURP %DVV3URPHDVXUHV ORQJWDOO1(: &DOO 3,(&( GHOX[H %%4 JULOO VHW 1HZ LQ ER[ QHYHU XVHG 5HWDLOV IRU WDNH &DOO IW QHZ DQWHQQD 8+)9+)&KDQHO0DVWHU FRVW ZLOO WDNH 62/,' 2DN &KDLUV OLNH QHZDYHHDZLOO WDNHHD &+$5&2$/ 5,// PHGL XP VL]H JRRG FRQGL WLRQ &8% &$'(7 /DZQ 0RZHU VHOI SURSHOOHG NH\VWDUWZLWKDOODFFHVV 6ROGQHZZLOOWDNH '(/7$6+230$67(5 0LWHU6DZ QREODGH '221(<%85.(SXUVHV (;(5&,6(6722/5HG)LW QHVV ;/ $GMXVWDEOH IRU WHQVLRQWKHVWRROVZLY HOVH[FHOOHQWFRQGLWLRQ &DOO )256$/( 3$3(57,0%(5$1'6$: /26&87 $1' &/($1 83 )266,//3856(6 WR ( 86(' PLFURZDYH JRRG FRQG EON ZVWDLQOHVV VW WULP +$1'0$'(PHGDORXW VLGH WDEOH FKDLUV +$1'0$'(2DN'HVN ZLWK+XWFK /($7+(5 5(&/,1(5 %URZQJUHDWFRQGLWLRQ /($7+(5 62)$ 7DQ PLQRUIODZVJRRGFRQ GLWLRQ /,+7(' &+(55< &XULR &DELQHW Property Directory 6B • Sunday, April 3, 2016 • Daily Corinthian HOME FOR RENT LAND FOR SALE Shiloh Falls Pickwick 3BR/ 3BA, Loft, Fireplace Deck, car D eck , 2 c ar garage, g ara age, gated community g ated c ommunit y $1200.00 per month Minimum 12 month Lease 81 Acres 15 miles West of Corinth Blacktop Access from Hwy 600 Gravel Road access also from CR 652 About 71 Acres in Timber with 10 acres open land Year-Round Spring and Good Hunting Water and Electricity available at Hwy 600 RENTED $190,000 662-279-0935 2010 Ford Escape, 106k miles, air, power steering, nice ..................... $8950 2005 GMC Canyon, 155k miles, gray, extended cab ................................ $5950 FOR SALE 8 - 2 bedroom rental units. Very good shape. All units occupied. 800 sq feet each. Rent for 425.00 each per month. Washer/dryer hook ups each, fridge/stove in each. Call for appointment 662-424-3105. 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, 97k miles, power doors and windows .. $7950 2011 Buick Enclave, new motor, 116k miles, hurry ...............................$12,500 2012 Chevy Equinox LT, white, 110k miles, fully equipped ..................$12,000 2007 Mazda CX7, 125k miles, sunroof, leather, black cherry .................... $7,800 2008 Chevy Trailblazer LS, 106k miles, auto and air ....................... $6,800 2013 Altima Coupe, silver, only 45,000 miles, equipped, ....................... $12,800 See Gene Sanders Corinth Motor Sales HOUSE FOR SALE Selmer, TN. / 0615 3BR, 2 BATH ON DOUBLE LOT REMODELED 2 .5 CA AR GARAGE GA A R AG E A T 2.5 CAR AT BACK OF B AC K O F LOT LOT THAT THA WOULD MAKE A GREAT WORK SHOP. Car Porch RENT $800 MONTH WITH $200 DEPOSIT. $35,000.00 Open House Sunday, April 3 1 to 3 p.m. SERVICES 1423 N Fillmore Street & Business Reduced to $79,900!! This house has 3 bedrooms/1 bath and a partially finished basement. Could be made into great investment property. Great location! – Run Your Ad On This Page For $165 Mo. – GRISHAM INSURANCE 662-286-9835 662-415-2363 Buddy Ayers Rock & Sand We Haul: • • • • • Crusher Run Driveway Slag Fill Sand Top Soil Rip-Rap 0220 MEDICAL/DENTAL MS CARE CENTER Loans $20-$20,000 CHRIS GRISHAM Fi l Expense Final Expense Life Insurance Long Term Care Medicare Supplements Part D Prescription Plan Are you paying too much for your Medicare Supplement? “ I will always try to help you” Harper Square Mall. Corinth, MS 38834 Bill Phillips Sand & Gravel Hat Lady Bill Jr., 284-6061 G.E. 284-9209 FULL SERVICE LAWN SPECIALIST SPRING CLE A N UP CREPE MY RTLE PRUNING • MOW ING • T RIMMING • SM A L L T REE & BRU SH CL E A N U P & MORE • Q UICK SERV ICE • F R E E E S T IM AT E S MARTIN L AWN SERVICE LOCA LLY OWNED & OPER ATED 662-416-9296 Mary Coats Thank you for 15 years!! Call me with your vehicle needs, new, certified, and pre-owned. Come by, text or call today!!! Certified CNA’s TORNADOfor all shifts SHELTERS Dietary, LPN, PRN Laundry Staff 40 Years “Cash For College” LAWN KINGS LAWN CARE AARON 662-665-1518 1299 Hwy 2 West (Marshtown) Structure demolition & Removal Crushed Lime Stone (any size) Iuka Road Gravel Washed gravel Pea gravel Fill sand Masonry and sand Black Magic mulch Natural Brown mulch Top Soil “Let us help with your project” “Large or Small” is looking for We also do: Dozer Back-Hoe Track-hoe Demolition Crane Service Lawn Kings would like your business. I am starting a lawn care business to help pay for my college. We are insured and we guarantee the best job at the best price. We offer a full service mowing package with no contract. Lawn Kings is family owned and operated; we don't sub out our jobs to other lawn care businesses or other workers. It will always be the same 2 family members in your yard giving you the best looking lawn in the neighborhood because your yard is our reputation. We Clean Roofs! ELITE Pressure Washing Professional Pressure Washing & Soft Wash Roof Cleaning Residential & Commercial High-grade mold inhibitor chemicals & Soft wash system used to clean roofs References Available Licensed & Insured. No Job too large or too small. Long Lewis Ford Lincoln of Corinth (662)664-0229 Cell / (662)287-3184 Office [email protected] Full Service Mowing Package: • Mowing • Trimming • Blowing • Debris/ Trash Pickup Chad Cornelius - Owner Lee’s Lawn Service 0232 GENERAL HELP Harbert Hills Academy Nursing Home is accepting applications for a Registered Dietitian For More Information Call (731) 925-5713 Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 0232 GENERAL HELP CDL A TRAINING $500 - $1,000 INCENTIVE BONUS NO OUT OF POCKET TUITION COST! GET YOUR CDL IN 22 DAYS PAID TRAINING AFTER GRADUATION Yard Maintenance, Tree Trimming, Landscaping Chip King 662-415-7721 Please apply in person. 3701 Joanne Dr. • Corinth Mon. – Fri 8 – 4:30 E.O.E. ACCOMMODATIONS PROVIDED IF YOU LIVE 50+ MILES FROM JACKSON Lee Hinton 662-665-2010 6 DAY REFRESHER COURSES AVAIL. MINIMUM 21 YEARS OF AGE 844-689-3747 EOE WWW.KLLMDRIVINGACADEMY.COM Daily Corinthian â€˘ Sunday, April 3, 2016 â€˘7B MISC. ITEMS FOR 0563 SALE MISC. ITEMS FOR 0563 SALE MISC. ITEMS FOR 0563 SALE 0,&+$(/.256SXUVH 3+272:$//FORFNKROGV 386+02:(5IRUSDUWV UNFURNISHED SLFWXUHVPHDVXUHV 0610 APARTMENTS LQFKHV 6.,/6$:EODGH &DOO %5DSW%DWK'LVK +3 ZDVKHU'RXJODV6W REVERSE YOUR 60$// &22/(5 KROGV RU AD FOR $1.00 V H Y H U D O F D Q V : R U N V JRRG EXTRA Call 662-287-6111 7$//%/$&.IORRUODPS % 5 % D W K & + $ 6WRYH5HIULJ PR for details. PHDVXUHVIWWDOO %XUQVYLOOH ZRUNVJUHDW 58(' &29(5 SUHP &DOO WUL IROG WRQQHDX :+,7(+87&+ :($9(5 $376 FRYHUIXOO VL]H 0& 1&DVV%5SRUFKZG &KHY\FUHZFDEVKWEHG ZLWKVKHOYHV XWLO 0,7&+(//$92&(76 6SLQFDVW 5RG DQG 5HHO /LNH QHZ XVHG RQFH :$17 72 PDNH FHUWDLQ \RXUDGJHWVDWWHQWLRQ" $VN DERXW DWWHQWLRQ 1(: VDYLQJ JHWWLQJ JUDSKLFV RYHU $.251 /,.(5((1(* &+$5 5,//(5:&29(5 %$ 2)&+$5&2$/ 0$77('0$12/,$ SLFWXUH0HDVXUHV[ 1(:9(5,=21IOLSSKRQH LQFKHV &DOO 0142 #41cr166 Iuka MS. Black and White 50 lbs male Pit, one eye blue. ACCOUNTING TAX GUIDE 2016 LOST Young Short Haired Yellow & White Cat. Belly partially shaved. Lost around Hwy. 45 & Hwy. 2 Corinth. 662-212-3304 Holder Accounting Firm 1407-A Harper Road Corinth, MS 38834 Kellie Holder, Owner Our staff is ready to help you. Open year-round. Thank you for your business and loyalty. Telephone: 662-286-9946 Fax: 662-286-2713 ADVERTISE YOUR TAX SERVICE HERE FOR $95 A MONTH CALL 287-6111 FOR MORE DETAILS ADVERTISE YOUR TAX SERVICE HERE FOR $95 A MONTH CALL 287-6111 FOR MORE DETAILS $500.00 reward for info. Jackson Hewitt Income Tax WE ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OF THE WALMART JACKSON HEWITTâ€™S $1000.00 if returned to me. Corinth 662-286-1040 2003 Hwy 72 E Booneville 662-728-1080 508 W Chambers Drive Old highway 4 Ripley 662-512-5829 1906B City Avenue N Call 662-321-7804 Ronnie Waldrop, Thanks. SERVICES s e l a S GUARANTEEDAuto Advertise your CAR, TRUCK, SUV, BOAT, TRACTOR, MOTORCYCLE, RV & ATV here for $39.95 UNTIL SOLD! Ad should include photo, description and price. PLEASE NO DEALERS & NON-TRANSFERABLE! NO REFUNDS. Single item only. Payment in advance. Call 287-6147 to place your ad. 816 RECREATIONAL VEHICLES Pace Utility Tandem Trailer. REDUCED Sportsman Camper Queen Bed, Couch sleeps 2, lots of cabinets, pulled 6 times, non-smoker, clean as new on the inside. $9,500.00 $7000.00 287-3461 or 396-1678 (Enclosed) 6x12, Wired, A/C, Custom detailed/paint, inlayed equipment brackets, windows/shades and awning Drop down loading door and mounted Alum tool box. Custom Wheels like new! Perfect for camping. Includes 2 twin electric air mattresses and port-a-potty. Serious inquiries only. No Calls after 6PM. Corinth. $6500.00 662-284-4604 SOLD 2011 AR-ONE Star Craft, 14ft. Fridge/AC, Stove, Microwave, Full bath, immaculate condition. ReďŹ nance or payoff (prox. $5300) @ Trustmark, payments $198. Excellent starter for small family. 284-0138 2006 SPRINGDALE by KEYSTONE pull camper with slideout. Can sleep up to 10 with 2 bedrooms. 29â€™ long. Great condition & new tires. Ready to go. SOLD â€˜07 Dolphin LX RV, 37â€™ REDUCED 2006 WILDERNESS CAMPER 29 FT. SOLD 5TH WHEEL LARGE SLIDE OUT FULLY EQUIPPED $7000.00 Joe Roberts 662-415-5450 NON-SMOKING OWNER IUKA gas burner, workhorse eng., 2 slideouts, full body paint, walk-in shower, SS sinks & s/s refrig w/im, Onar Marq gold 7000 gen., 3-ton cntrl. unit, back-up camera, auto. leveling, 2-flat screen TVs, Allison 6-spd. A.T., 10 cd stereo w/s.s, 2-leather capt. seats & 1 lthr recliner, auto. awning, qn bed, table & couch (fold into bed), micro/conv oven, less than 5k mi. CED U D E R $55,000 662-415-0590 CALL 662-423-1727 30 ft., with slide out & built-in TV antenna, 2 TVâ€™s, 7400 miles. $75,000. 662-287-7734 Excaliber made by Georgi Boy 1985 30â€™ long motor home, new tires, Price negotiable. 662-660-3433 1990 Allegro Motor Home SOLD Excellent Condition Brand New Refrigerator New Tires & Hot Water Heater. Sleeps Six 7,900 ACTUAL MILES $12,500. OBO Must See!! Call 662-665-1420 30' MOTOR HOME 1988 FORD 2003 CHEROKEE 285 SLEEPS 8 EXCELLENT CONDITION EVERYTHING WORKS 5TH WHEEL W/GOOSE NECK ADAPTER CENTRAL HEAT & AIR ALL NEW TIRES & NEW ELECTRIC JACK ON TRAILER $7500 $8995 CALL RICHARD 662-416-0604 Call Richard 662-664-4927 D L O S 51,000 MILES SLEEPS 6 $4300 662-415-5247 WINNEBAGO JOURNEY CLASS A , RV 2000 MODEL 34.9 FT. LONG 50 AMP HOOKUP CUMMINS DIESEL FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS LARGE SLIDE OUT ONAN QUIET GENERATOR VERY WELL KEPT. ,500. 662-728-2628 SOLD CED U D E R 24 FT BONANZA TRAILER GOOSE NECK GOOD CONDITION $2,000.00 $1,800.00 662-287-8894 WINNEBAGO MOTOR HOME 1989 40' Queen Size Bed 1 Bath Sleeps 6-7 people comfortably FORD 601 WORKMASTER TRACTOR WITH EQUIPMENT POWER STEERING GOOD PAINT $8500 Great for a small warehouse 662-287-1464 Toyota Forklift 5,000 lbs Good Condition 662-287-1464 BOOMS, CHAINS & LOTS OF ACCESSORIES $10,000/OBO CALL 662-603-1547 ASKING $7500.00 Or Make Me An Offer CALL 662-427-9591 Call (662)427-9591 or Cell phone (662)212-4946 Built by Scullyâ€™s Aluminum Boats of Louisiana. 1989 FOXCRAFT 18â€™ long, 120 HP Johnson mtr., trailer & mtr., new paint, new transel, 2 live wells, hot foot control. 14â€™ flat bottom boat. Includes trailer, motor and all. BUILT-IN RAMPS & 3' PULL OUTS @ FRONT & REAR. Clark Forklift 8,000 lbs, outside tires Good Condition $15,000 ALUMINUM BOAT FOR SALE 16FT./5FT. 115 HP. EVINRUDE. NEW TROLLING MOTOR TRAILER NEWLY REWIRED ALL TIRES NEW NEW WINCH 2000 MERCURY Optimax, 225 H.P. Imagine owning a likenew, water tested, never launched, powerhouse outboard motor with a High Five stainless prop, for only $7995. Call John Bond of Paul Seaton Boat Sales in Counce, TN for details. 731-689-4050 or 901-605-6571 16' SKI BOAT 1988 Winner Escape Sport 1750 4.3 liter mer Cruiser Alpha One Engine Runs but needs some work Includes Trailer, Winch, Depth Finder and Side Sonar Fish Finder Appraised for $2,200. Make an offer. 662-415-3752 DECK BOAT BAYLINER CLASSIC 15 FT Grumman Flat Bottom Boat 25 HP Motor $2700.00 Ask for Brad: 284-4826 1995 15â€™ Aluminum Boat, Outboard Motor, Trolling Mtr., New Rod Holder, New Electric Anchor $2550.00 462-3373 SOLD 2012 Lowe Pontoon 90 H.P. Mercury w/ Trailer Still under warranty. Includes HUGE tube $19,300 662-427-9063 SOLD 14 Ft. Aluminum Boat & Trailer, 25 HP Johnson Motor. New Battery $2000. REDUCED Call for More Info: 662-286-8455 BOAT & TRAILER 13 YR OLD M14763BC BCMS Includes Custom 19.5 LONG Trailer Dual Axel-Chrome BLUE & WHITE Retractable Canopy REASONABLY PRICED $4500.00 662-660-3433 662-419-1587 1985 Hurricane-150 Johnson engine 8B â€˘ Sunday, April 3, 2016 â€˘ Daily Corinthian HOMES FOR 0710 SALE HOMES FOR 0710 SALE HOMES FOR 0710 SALE nation based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. State laws forbid discrimination in the sale, rental, or advertising of real estate based on HOMES FOR 0710 SALE MOBILE HOMES 0741 FOR SALE factors in addition to those protected under federal law. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. ; 1HZ 7LQ 5RRI %5 % FRYHUHG SRUFKHV 3RZHU 3ROH $& XQLW 6WRYH 5HIULJ0867%( 029(' 25 ; ': %5 % &RPSOHWHO\ UHQRYDWHG LQ RXW$&ZVWRUP VKHOWHU /DQGVFDSHG ODZQ )DONQHU 6FKRROV )25 6$/( %< 2:1(5 &5 %5% DUDJH Z6WRUDJH ':%5%DWK0XVWEH 'HFN6PDOO6WJLQUHDU P R Y H G $ 6 $ 3 6) $F /RW :LOO &DOO7H[W ILQDQFH#ZLWK GRZQ0XVWKDYHJRRG TRANSPORTATION UHI SERVICES The Daily Corinthian Classifieds 1607 S. Harper Rd. Corinth, MS 662.287.6111â€˘ www.dailycorinthian.com Email: [email protected] @ 0955 LEGALS 0955 LEGALS GXULQJ EXVLQHVV KRXUV DW WKH RIILFH DW 6 &DVV 6WUHHW &RULQWK %LGV PXVW EH UHFHLYHG %LGVIRU0RZLQJ LQWKHRIILFHEHIRUH SP RQ $SULO )RU TXHVWLRQV $OFRUQ &RXQW\ :DWHU FDOO $VVRFLDWLRQZLOOEHWDN LQJ ELGV IRU WKH MRE RI PDLQWDLQLQJ WKH JURXQGV DW WKH $VVRFL DWLRQ RIILFH DQG WKH HOME SERVICE DIRECTORY ZHOOV DQG WUHDWPHQW SODQWV DW OHQ -DFLQWR %LJJHUVYLOOH DQG LAWN/LANDSCAPE/ :DXNRPLV $Q\RQH LQ TREE SVC WHUHVWHGLQVXEPLWWLQJD 5,&+$5'621/$:1 ELGPD\SLFNXSDIRUP 6(59,&( $OFRUQ&RXQW\:DWHU $VVRFLDWLRQ STORAGE, INDOOR/ OUTDOOR STORAGE, INDOOR/ OUTDOOR STORAGE, INDOOR/ OUTDOOR $0(5,&$1 0,1,6725$( 67DWH $FURVV)URP :RUOG&RORU 0255,6&580 0,1,6725$*( s e l a S GUARANTEEDAuto Advertise your CAR, TRUCK, SUV, BOAT, TRACTOR, MOTORCYCLE, RV & ATV here for $39.95 UNTIL SOLD! Ad should include photo, description and price. PLEASE NO DEALERS & NON-TRANSFERABLE! NO REFUNDS. Single item only. Payment in advance. Call 287-6147 to place your ad. 868 AUTOMOBILES CED REDU 2009 Pontiac G6 Super Nice, Really Clean, Oil changed regularly, Good cold air and has good tires. 160k D L SO 2004 Hummer H2 134,514 miles $13,900 OBO 2006 Jeep Liberty New Tires 100K Miles Never BeeWrecked 1998 PORSCHE BOXSTER 6 cyl., 5 speed Convertible Leather Seats All Original Electric Windows & Seats 88,000 miles Asking $5400. OBO CALL/TEXT DANIEL @ 662-319-7145 Just serviced and ready for the road. Call @ Automobile for sale 1989 Mercedes Benz 300 CE 145K miles, Rear bucket seats, Champagne color, 1946 Willys Jeep 2012 Jeep Excellent Condition. Wrangler 4WD Completely 00 Miles, Red Diligently Restored Garage Kept, it has maintained. been babied. All maintenance $5000. records available. $4000.00 $5000.00 Call or Text: 662-415-2657 662-594-5830 287-6993 RE DU CE D Black Like new on the inside and out. Runs Great, good tires, 114K miles 4,000.00 $3,900.00 $ 662-664-0357 2003 Mustang GT SVT Cobra Clone Tuned 4.6 Engine 5 Speed Lowered 4:10 Gears All Power & Air $6500. 662-415-0149 2012 Subaru Legacy $10,900 $7,900 Excellent condition, One owner, Must sell! Call 662-284-8365 For Sale or Trade 1978 Mercedes 6.9 Motor 135,000 miles. Only made 450 that year. $2,500. OBO Selling due to health reasons. Harry Dixon 286-6359 2010 Chevy 2005 White Equinox LS Silverado Truck Extended Cab with Bed Cover 130K Miles, Fully Loaded GREAT Condition! $10,500 662-415-8343 or 415-7205 New Michelin Tires Excellent Condition 462-7421 808-9114 1999 DODGE VAN 110K miles, 4 Captain Chairs, Folding Bed/ Rear Seat, TV no DVD, New heads on engine, Runs Perfect. $4500.00 OBO 287-1097 or 808-1297 2004 Cadillac Seville SLS Loaded, leather, sunroof, chrome wheels. 89,000 Miles $5500. $5,000 Call 662-603-1290 $24,200 2010 FORD 95â€™ F150 LARIAT CHEVY ASTRO SUPER CREW, WHITE, LOADED 2 WHEEL DR., LTHR CPT. CHAIRS 57,000 MILES 1970 MERCURY COUGAR Cargo Van Good, Sound Van $2700 1950 Buick 78,400 miles $4200.00 or Trade All Original 662-415-3408 1998 Cadillac DeVille Tan Leather Interior Sunroof, green color 99,000 miles - needs motor $1,100.00 (662) 603-2635 212-2431 2006 Chrysler Town & Country Van 85,000 miles Automatic, AC, Tape, CD Players Electric Doors & Windows. Hideaway Rear Seats. $5000.00 OBO 662-213-7748 2001 LINCOLN TOWNCAR GREAT CONDITION 174,000 MILES $6,000.00 CALL 9AM-5PM M-F 662-415-3658 06 Chevy Trailblazer 1987 Power FORD 250 DIESEL 1994 Nissan Quest everything! New Lifters, UTILITY SERVICE TRUCK Good heat Cam, Head, $4000. and Air Struts and Shocks. 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Well Maintained Looks & Runs Great $5,000.00 662-415-9062 LIKE NEW 9K Miles 25,000 Invested Asking 8K Serviced by H/D Bumpas 731-645-3012 completely refurbished & recovered seat, new brakes, NOS starter, new $125 battery. 6cyl, 3spdWalnut $1850.00, 750-8526 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic Black w/lots of Chrome 21,600 miles $12,500 662-286-6750 2001 FORD CAR HAULER CARGO VAN TRAILER HAS BEEN USED QUIET EXCESSIVELY OVER 352,000 MILES 6 Ft 6 in. wide, 13 Ft 6 in. long, Electric Brakes & Lights GOOD CONDITION $600.00 D D L L SO SO 662-415-7898 2006 YAMAHA 1700 GREAT CONDITION! APPROX. 26,000 MILES $4350 (NO TRADES) 662-665-0930 662-284-8251 1999 Harley Classic Touring, loaded, color: blue, lots of extras. 70,645 Hwy. miles, $7,900.00 OBO Just serviced, good or new tires, brakes, ready for the road. Call @ 662-664-0210 CED U D E R 2012 Yamaha 230 Dirt Bike Great Condition. $2800.00 Call 662.415.1173 1990 Harley Davidson Custom Soft-Tail $9000 2013 Arctic Cat 1949 Harley Davidson Panhead $9000 OBO 308 miles 4 Seater w/seat belts Phone charger outlet Driven approx. 10 times Excellent Condition Wench (front bumper) 662-808-2994	i don't know
The phrase sticky wicket, meaning a difficult situation, comes to us from what sport?	'A sticky wicket' - the meaning and origin of this phrase A sticky wicket A difficult situation. Origin A wicket is, of course, the playing surface used in cricket. This phrase is a direct allusion to the difficulty of playing on a wet and sticky pitch. The earliest citations of the expression refer specifically to cricket; for example, Bell's Life in London, July 1882: "The ground... was suffering from the effects of recent rain, and once more the Australians found themselves on a sticky wicket." For the figurative use of the phrase we need look no further than the cricket-playing countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth. The first such citation that I've found is from the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner, April 1930: "Your Excellency, Sir William Morrison, and gentlemen. I am afraid tonight, owing to the rain we have had in this island of Springs, I am batting on rather a sticky wicket. We have just heard Sir William Morrison make, in my opinion, a magnificent speech. I do not hope or think of living up to that."	Cricket
As of March 28, 1930, the city formerly known as Byzantium and then Constantinople became what known as what?	wicket - definition of wicket in English \| Oxford Dictionaries Definition of wicket in English: wicket noun 1Cricket Each of the sets of three stumps with two bails across the top at either end of the pitch, defended by a batsman. Example sentences ‘Yes, it's the fast bowler strutting his stuff: running up to the wicket; wrecking a batsman's stumps.’ ‘It was there that Robert and his pupils played cricket on a pitch marked out by wickets of willow sticks.’ ‘The aisle also wears a green colour complete with wickets and bails.’ ‘It's a great place to play cricket and the wickets are probably the best batting wickets in the world.’ ‘But if the bowler can knock the bails off the wickets, the batsman is out.’ 1.1 The prepared strip of ground between two sets of stumps: ‘when they inspected the wicket, they found it being rolled by some prisoners’ More example sentences ‘The fact that the wicket was a perfect batting strip makes it more disappointing.’ ‘The wicket and outfield was so batsman friendly that any batsman worth his salt could have turned the match on its head.’ ‘You can spend some time at the crease, get used to the bowler's action, the ground, the wicket.’ ‘It thus becomes important for us to prepare fast and bouncy wickets at home, so that our batsmen get used to these surfaces.’ ‘So we sat around while a new wicket was prepared and cut, which was the only way of playing.’ 1.2 The dismissal of a batsman; each of ten dismissals regarded as marking a division of a side's innings: ‘Darlington won by four wickets’ More example sentences ‘Man-of-the-match Hill snatched four quick wickets as the home side found themselves in disarray on 47-6.’ ‘That did not stop India from totalling a record fourth innings score of 406 runs for four wickets to win the match.’ ‘They went on to win by four wickets when the winning runs were scored in the 16th over.’ ‘Dringhouses maintained their good start in division two as they beat a fancied Sewerby side by four wickets.’ ‘He took 2-37 and then rapped out 61 off only 36 balls with 12 fours as his side won by seven wickets.’ 2A small door or gate, especially one beside or in a larger one. Example sentences ‘The style of the gate should match the house: a wicket gate would look out of place in a smart city setting, whereas antique wrought iron might lead to expectations that a cottage garden fails to meet.’ ‘Outside in the yard was a storm water drain which was used as an urinal and a water barrel for collecting the water from the roof and the slated stone buildings, a wicket gate leading to a dry toilet at the and of the garden.’ ‘Hastily, the girl slid backwards on hands and knees behind the nearest tree, and watched as they opened the wicket gate and walked down the track deeper into the forest.’ Synonyms 2.1North American An opening in a door or wall, often fitted with glass or a grille and used for selling tickets or a similar purpose. Example sentences ‘The barred wicket opened and shut, and the door creaked ajar.’ ‘As to privacy, Mr Husain complained of the wicket in the door.’ 3North American A croquet hoop. Example sentences ‘Each player takes a croquet mallet and must only use the striking end, not the side, when moving their ball through the croquet wickets.’ ‘The wickets are metal or wire pieces that look like miniature arches and are located throughout the croquet course.’ Phrases ‘the batsman remained at the wicket’ More example sentences ‘With the Humpleby brothers both having suffered injuries in the field during the first innings, and unlikely to be able to bat if required, it was in effect the last two Park batsmen who were at the wicket when the winning run was scored.’ ‘Kingswood taking their second turn at the wicket were 104 for the loss of eight wickets before they invited the home side to take second lease.’ ‘When the ball is dead he shall inform the other umpire, the batsmen at the wicket and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.’ ‘He then grabbed 5-63, but Circle squeezed home with the last two batsmen at the wicket.’ ‘Sometimes if a good batsman was at the wicket the ships were hit by sixers.’ ‘More and more practice matches should be given, putting them in opening stands or in middle order so that they get a chance of remaining at the wicket to gain lot of batting experience.’ ‘Keighley TC's Brookes had plenty of reason to be sore at his teammates as they dropped at least two chances, with the last pair at the wicket, which would have given him all ten wickets.’ ‘With scores level and one over remaining, the last pair were at the wicket.’ ‘Tong Park looked in with a chance whilst Sheikar and Wilkinson remained at the wicket.’ ‘Yuvraj's batting does not make me comfortable about him staying at the wicket.’ 2By the wicketkeeper: ‘he was caught at the wicket chasing a wide one’ More example sentences ‘He was dismissed for a series of low scores, typically caught at the wicket, or in the slips.’ ‘Picture this during the toss made at the wicket.’ ‘His rich vein had to be tapped as soon as possible and sure enough Botham raised English spirits by having Wood, who struck the first two balls from the Somerset all-rounder for four, caught at the wicket in the third over.’ ‘Even when Atherton was caught at the wicket off a feeble defensive prod, there was little to suggest that, if England's ship had been holed, the watertight doors would not hold.’ ‘He was given out caught at the wicket, but the left-hander gave the impression that the ball had touched his shoulder before travelling to the wicketkeeper.’ keep wicket Example sentences ‘He was still a world class batsman when he was keeping wicket.’ ‘Griffith himself later kept wicket for England in two of his three Tests in 1948 and 1949.’ lose a wicket (of the batting side) have a batsman dismissed: ‘the tourists lost their last seven wickets for 94’ More example sentences ‘When a player loses a wicket, 10 runs are deducted from the batting team's total and the player remains at the crease.’ ‘That looked a viable viewpoint when Chorley lost a wicket off just the third ball of their innings.’ ‘They knocked off the runs without losing a wicket.’ ‘Leicestershire, at last, showed some backbone to their batting, managing to see out the day without losing a wicket - a notable performance after their double capitulation against Durham last week.’ ‘The Saints lost a wicket to the first ball of their innings and continued to struggle.’ ‘The Red Rose derby between Barrowford and Pendle Forest saw the Bull Holme side make 237 without losing a wicket.’ ‘On a pitch that became increasingly difficult to bat on, East Lancs were rocked by losing a wicket to the first ball of their reply and in truth they never recovered.’ ‘The Keighley side lost a wicket without a run on the board then progressed to 15-1 when play halted.’ ‘The home side lost a wicket with the score on 16 and then proceeded to hit the ball to all parts of the ground.’ ‘Our plan after tea was not to lose a wicket, to end the day with at least two recognised batsmen out in the middle and we didn't do that… With four or five overs to go I should have played a better shot.’ a sticky wicket 1A pitch that has been drying after rain and is difficult to bat on. Example sentences ‘The Bears were sent in on a sticky wicket and were soon in trouble at 3-7.’ ‘Grange had made 91-4 on a sticky wicket against Wheldrake, who had enjoyed a good win over Ovington in the first round.’ ‘Supporters heading to today's game at Wandella would be pleased to know that the rain also failed to turn Wandella Road into a sticky wicket.’ ‘True, it spoke without much inflection, as if reporting a cricket score from a sticky wicket.’ 1.1informal A tricky or awkward situation: ‘I might be on a sticky wicket if I used that line’ More example sentences ‘English cricket looks to be on a sticky wicket in the aftermath of the national team's disappointing exit from the World Cup.’ ‘Hardly a hot bed of rap music so I think they were on a sticky wicket right from the start.’ ‘It's a bit of a sticky wicket, but we've got to put something back and we must try to look at the whole picture.’ ‘The controlling group needs to know they are going to be on a sticky wicket with this.’ ‘If Mark is leaving because of rumoured budget cuts, the person coming in is on a sticky wicket straight away.’ ‘With increasing education levels, and rising standards of living (with rising expectations) China's fascist rulers are on a sticky wicket.’ ‘Fighting ‘globalisation’ always was a sticky wicket for the radical Left.’ ‘It was obvious by his address that the new Governor did not want to start his innings on a sticky wicket, hence his eagerness to disassociate himself with reports which referred to his closeness to the Gandhi family.’ ‘The Democratic Presidential nominee, who has been railing against outsourcing, is walking on a sticky wicket on the issue.’ ‘The Taoiseach is certainly batting on a sticky wicket - if you'll excuse the cricket term - but it fills the bill aptly here.’ see wicket over the wicket (referring to which side of the wicket a bowler runs when bowling) to the left of the wicket if a right-handed bowler and the right of the wicket if a left-handed bowler. Example sentences ‘He operated both round and over the wicket, varied pace and spin and generally looked a genuine spin bowler with an international career beckoning.’ ‘It would have been a deserved third wicket for Panesar who can operate equally well from both round and over the wicket.’ ‘When, briefly Warne switched back to over the wicket after tea, Pietersen hit him straight for six and on-drove him for four.’ ‘Sent down from over the wicket, this was a fine delivery.’ ‘A left-arm paceman operating over the wicket is expected to angle or swing the ball across the right-hander.’ ‘By bowling over the wicket, I would also not be giving him room for his strokes.’ ‘Fifteen of his deliveries pitched on or outside leg stump, but 14 of those were to left-handers from over the wicket, which meant that the angle of delivery would have forced the batsmen to play at them.’ ‘Shifting to the pavilion end, reverting to over the wicket, he speared one on middle stump and managed to break it just enough.’ ‘Giles was over the wicket, so he saw the ball from the moment it left the bowler's hand.’ ‘Giles was widely criticised for this new tactic but, encouraged by Fletcher, he continued to bowl over the wicket.’ round the wicket (referring to which side of the wicket a bowler runs when bowling) to the right of the wicket if a right-handed bowler and the left of the wicket if a left-handed bowler. Example sentences ‘If a rough develops outside the right-hander's leg-stump, he can prove dangerous - from round the wicket - to the left-handers as well.’ ‘Soon he seemed to have given up all hope of trying to get Pietersen out and be content to deny him runs by bowling at his legs from round the wicket.’ ‘After Sidhu tonked him for one huge six, Warne changed to bowling round the wicket.’ ‘Donald's first over was a loosener - ‘not slow but not quick by his standards,’ according to Atherton - but after one ball of his second over, he switched to round the wicket, a sure sign that he was warmed up.’ ‘Brooks played all round the wicket like a finished cricketer and was quite at home.’ ‘A bowler must tell the umpire how many steps his run-up will be, if at all, and whether he is going over or round the wicket.’ ‘Bowling round the wicket and attacking the rough, Benaud took 6 for 70 to secure a series-levelling 54-run win, and Australia went on to retain the Ashes.’ ‘As our graphic shows, Knight worked his runs all round the wicket, and in all he hit only seven boundaries.’ ‘He's been bowling round the wicket to Katich, but comes back over.’ ‘He's bowling round the wicket, to a defensive field, but the Aussies still manage to nibble three runs off that over.’ take a wicket	i don't know
The counterpart to Aphrodite, the Roman goddess Venus was the god of what?	Venus *** Who was Venus? Venus was the Roman goddess of love and beauty, seen in the following picture with Pygmalion and her baby son Cupid by her lover Mars, the god of war . The first day of the month on the Roman calendar was the Kalends. On the kalends of April (April 1), the Romans celebrated a festival to honor Venus, known as the Veneralia. During the festival both women and men of all classes invoked the goddess for her assistance in affairs of the heart, sex, betrothal and marriage. There were many myths and legends surrounding this beautiful goddess in ancient mythology, refer to the Apple of Discord, Proserpine, Adonis and the Goddess of Beauty. Picture of Venus and the sculptor Pygmalion Facts about Venus The following facts and profile provides a fast overview of Venus: Venus Profile & Fact File Roman Name: Venus Role & Function: The function of Venus is described as being the goddess of love, beauty, sexuality, passion and desire Status: Major Goddess and one of the 'Dei Consentes', the Council of Gods. Symbols: the dolphin, scallop shell, rose, dove, pomegranate, pearl, mirror and girdle. Gender: Female Greek Counterpart: The Greek name for this goddess was Aphrodite Name of Husband: Vulcan Name of Father: Jupiter Name of Mother: Dione Names of Children: None by her husband, but many children by her lovers including Cupid, god of love by Mars, the Roman god of war Facts about Venus in Roman Mythology Discover interesting information and facts about Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The facts about Venus provides a list detailing fascinating additional info to increase your knowledge about Venus in ancient Roman history and Mythology. History and Mythical Facts about Venus Fact 1 about Venus: She was the daughter of Jupiter and Dione and the wife of Vulcan. Dione was one of the Oceanides, a descendent of the Titans. Fact 2 about Venus: The names of her lovers who included Mars, Bacchus, Mercury, Neptune, Anchises, Adonis, Butes, Phaon and Phaethon. Fact 3 about Venus: The names of the children of Aphrodite included Anteros, Aeneas, Astynoos, Beroe, Deimos, Cupid , Eryx, the Erotes , Eunomia, Concordia, Hermaphroditos, Himeros, Iakkhos, Peitho, Phobos, Pothos, Priapos, Rhodoe, Tyche , Herophilos and Lyros. Fact 4 about Venus: The rose and the myrtle are sacred to Venus and connected with the Story of Adonis. Fact 5 about Venus: The pomegranate was sacred to the goddess symbolizing the consummation of marriage and the loss of female virginity Fact 6 about Venus: Vulcan made Venus a beautiful golden carriage that was drawn by doves. Fact 7 about Venus: Her children by Mars were Phobos (fear), Deimos (terror), Concordia (harmony), Cupid (love) Himeros (desire), Pothos (passion), and Anteros (mutual love) Fact 8 about Venus: She ordered Psyche to go to the infernal regions of Underworld to ask Proserpina, the consort of Pluto for a box of precious ointment. Fact 9 about Venus: All of the gods were charmed with her beauty and each one demanded her for his wife. Jupiter gave her to Vulcan, in gratitude for the service he had rendered in forging thunderbolts. The most beautiful of all the goddesses became the wife of the ugliest of the gods. Fact 10 about Venus: Venus was often associated with lust, whereas Verticordia was the goddess of chastity Fact 11 about Venus: The Veneralia was the Ancient Roman festival of Venus Verticordia and was held on April 1. Fact 12 about Venus: The Veneralia included rites such as the ritual bathing of the cult statue of Venus. The jewelry, which included beautiful golden necklaces was removed from her statue and then she was offered sacrifices of flowers, especially roses. Fact 13 about Venus: The other sacrifices offered to Venus, were white and female goats and swine, with libations of wine, milk and honey with crushed poppies. Fact 14 about Venus: The Veneralia was a day for Roman women to seek divine support and aid in their love lives. Fact 15 about Venus: Pygmalion was a sculptor who made a statue that was more beautiful than any woman that had ever lived. He prayed to the goddess of love to change his statue into a real woman and she granted his wish. Fact 16 about Venus: Suadela was one of her train of attendants; the god of the soft speech of love. Pothos, the god of the amities of love was also part of her retinue Venus and her lover, Mars, the god of war Venus (Greek Counterpart was Aphrodite) The Romans habitually assimilated various elements from other cultures and civilisations, including the gods and goddesses that were worshipped by the Greeks and other nations. When the Roman Empire conquered the Greeks in 146BC many of the Greek gods and goddesses were adopted by the Romans. The Romans simply changed the Greek gods names to Latin equivalents. The Greek counterpart of Venus was Aphrodite. The Roman religion significantly differed from the Greeks in that it was officially endorsed by the state and exerted influence over the government of Rome. Politicians took the offices of influential priests, called pontiffs, to gain control of the popular worship, Roman gods and goddesses like Venus were worshipped at every public event, including the gladiatorial games, where blood sacrifices were made to the gods. In ancient Rome, the pantheon of 12 major gods, including Venus, were called the 'Dei Consentes' meaning the Council of Gods. Venus and the Roman Gods Family Tree and Genealogy The Roman gods family tree provides an instant overview of the genealogy and the family connections and relationships between the main deities, including Venus, who feature in the legends and mythology of the ancient Romans. The Primeval gods and deities, the Titans and the Roman Olympians. Venus Goddess of Love and Beauty Interesting information and Facts about the Roman goddess of love The Roman goddess of love, beauty, sexuality, passion and desire Stories and Legends in Roman Mythology associated with Venus Facts and information about the Gods and Deities of the Ancient World for schools and kids The Roman goddess of love, beauty, sexuality, passion and desire	Love
Originally played by Ted Cassidy, what was the name of the butler in The Addams Family'?	Greek Mythology: Aphrodite Aphrodite (a-fro-DYE-tee) Roman name Venus. See The Olympians for more information and another picture; also this picture . Aphrodite was the goddess of love. The Romans called her Venus (hence the famous armless statue known as the Venus de Milo). Aphrodite lived on Mount Olympus with the other supreme deities and was married to the homely craftsman-god, Hephaestus. She was said to have been born from the foam of the sea (hence Botticelli's much-reproduced painting of the goddess floating on a seashell). Aphrodite involved herself on several noteworthy occasions with the affairs of mortal heroes. When Jason asked permission of the king of Colchis to remove the Golden Fleece from the grove in which it hung, the king was clearly unwilling. So the goddess Hera, who sponsored Jason's quest, asked Aphrodite to intervene. The love goddess made the king's daughter Medea fall in love with Jason, and Medea proved instrumental in Jason's success. Aphrodite can also be said to have caused the Trojan War. This came about in the following fashion. When the hero Peleus was married to the sea-nymph Thetis, all the gods were invited to the ceremony -- all but one that is. The slighted goddess happened to a specialist in sowing discord, so she maliciously deposited a golden apple on the banquet table. The fruit was inscribed with the legend, "For the fairest". Immediately all the goddesses began to argue about whose beauty entitled her to be the rightful possesor of this prize. Finally it was decided to put the dispute to arbitration. Reasonably enough, the designated judge was to be the most handsome mortal in the world. This turned out to be a noble Trojan youth named Paris, who was serving as a shepherd at the time. So the three finalists -- Aphrodite, Hera and Athena -- sought him out in the meadow where he was tending his flocks. Not content to leave the outcome to the judge's discernment, the three goddesses proceeded to offer bribes. Hera, Queen of Olympus, took Paris aside and told him she would help him rule the world. Athena, goddess of war, said she would make him victorious in battle. Aphrodite sized Paris up and decided he would be more impressed with the guaranteed love of the most beautiful woman in the world. This was Helen, who happened to be married to the king of Sparta. Paris promptly awarded the golden apple to Aphrodite, who in turn enabled him to elope with Helen, who thenceforth became notorious as Helen of Troy. Helen's husband and his brother raised a Greek army to retrieve his wife, and this was the inception of the Trojan War. Another occasion in which the goddess of love came to the aid of a mortal hero also happened to involve golden apples. When the mighty heroine Atalanta agreed to wed whatever suitor managed to best her in a foot race, Aphrodite favored one of the contestants with a peck of golden fruit. By strewing these enchanted apples on the race course, the young lad caused Atalanta to become distracted and she lost the race. Venus de Milo and Mars. (Aphrodite's Roman name was Venus.) ( zoom )	i don't know
Commonly thought to have been coined from the French word for egg, what word is used to describe a score of 0 in a tennis or badminton game?	Archived Fast Fact of the Day - All-Pro Tutoring & Test Preparation Archived Fast Fact of the Day Recent site activity Archived Fast Fact of the Day Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - Who put the crack in the liberty bell? In a sense, it was Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. The Liberty Bell was ordered in 1751 and cast in the Whitchapel Bell Foundry in England, modeled after the Great Tom bell that hangs in Westminster Abbey. It was sent to Philadelphia and cracked the first time it was rung. The bell was recast locally, and was installed in the State House (now Independence Hall) before the Revolution. The bell was rung in honor of significant events that occurred in the new nation including the initial reading of the Declaration of Independence. On July 8, 1835, the bell was tolled as a tribute to the deceased Justice, and it was then that one of our great national symbols cracked again. Though the crack has been bolted on top to keep it from spreading, the bell is no longer rung. Tuesday, March 18, 2014 - Did Paul Revere make his famous ride? Despite what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his classic poem Paul Revere's Ride, the silversmith actually made very little of his ride. On April 19, 1775, British troops assembled in Boston to raid ammunition stores in Concord. At 10 o'clock, Revere saw the single lantern in Christ's Church that signaled the onset of the march. Both he and fellow patriot William Dawes set out for Concord, and were quickly joined by Samuel Prescott. Roughly an hour into the ride, while Dawes and Prescott stopped at a home to warn a fellow revolutionary of the imminent attack, British troops surrounded Revere. Though he was arrested, the other two en escaped. Fortunately for Revere, who certainly would have been executed, his captors heard the sound of far-off gunfire and joined the fray, leaving Revere horseless, to make his way to the home of a friend, Reverend Jonas Clark. He arrived at two in the morning, dejected by his failure. Monday, March 17, 2014 - Who had the first "feet of clay?" It was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In Daniel 2:32, 33 and 34, Daniel--a Hebrew official in the Babylonian court--describes a dream he had of a great statue: "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Though sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces." Daniel reveals that the head of the statue is the king, and that the lower parts are other kingdoms that will succeed Babylon--all of which would be swept away by the kingdom of God. Since that time, any seemingly strong or admirable individual who can be readily toppled, or is not what she or he seems to be, is referred to as having "feet of clay." Friday, March 14, 2014 - Do ostriches bury their heads in the sand? Despite the popular image of the ostrich burying its head to hide, that isn't what its doing. It's a powerful eight ft. tall, 300 pound bird that can see a foe coming from far away and can run an average of 40 miles an hour. It can also deliver a kick that is lethal to most predators. So there's very little from which an ostrich has to hide. So, the reason the bird puts its head in the sand is to find rocks. In order to help digest its food, the omnivorous ostrich must swallow gizzard stones: grave-sized rocks that help with the grinding digestive process. After they've eaten, the birds then spit up the stones. Thursday, March 13, 2014 - How did the Bachelor Degree get its name? A bachelors degree is, more correctly, a baccalaureate degree--Latin for one who has earned a laurel berry. But bachelor is right too, even if it isn't synonymous with baccalaureate. Bachelor comes from the Latin word baccalarius, a farmland, which comes from baculum, a shepherd's staff. In the Middle Ages, knights of the lowest rank, men who were skilled but too young to have banners of their own, were referred to as "knights bachelor ." Students who had some learning but were not yet masters were thus referred to as bachelors of arts or science... Only much later did "bachelor" come to mean an unmarried man, one who was too busy with his career to marry. Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - Is Walt Disney really frozen? The rumor has existed almost since the day he died: Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen, either somewhere at the Walt Disney studios or in Disneyland. Alas, he wasn't frozen. Quite the opposite is true. A heavy smoker, Disney died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966, at St. Joseph's Hospital, across the street from his studio. He was 65. Upon his death, according to his wishes, his body was cremated. Only the immediate family attended the funeral service. Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - Who decided "A-1" means the very best? Lloyd's of London was the organization that gave us the label. When the insurance consortium was just being organized, as a marine insurance association, it was necessary to take careful note of the condition of the ship and its contents, in case any claims were made against either. The ships were awarded a letter grade, with "A" being the highest, while the cargo was given a number, with "1" being the best. Thus, a ship in A-1 condition was absolutely perfect. When Lloyd's branched out into other kinds of insurance, the classifications continued and spread into other walks of life. Incidentally, the firm was not name after a founder or investor, but after Edward Lloyd, owner of a coffeehouse in London that insurers regularly patronized. Monday, March 10, 2014 - Why is "brand new" better than "new?" Because, quite literally, it is so new that it hasn't been used yet . . . and can't be used yet, in fact. It's too hot. "Brand" in this case does not refer to the identity of the manufacturer (i.e. a "new brand" of cereal, detergent, whatever). It means the same thing as a burning piece of wood or metal. That is, it's fresh-from-the-fire new, like newly blown glass or a red-hot, newly forged sword or horseshoe. Until the early 20th century, only items made in ovens or open fires were described as "brand new." In German, the equivalent expression is funkel-nagelneu, or "spark-nail-new," while the French say tout battant neuf, or "fresh from the anvil." And in four of his plays, Shakespeare referred to things as "fire-new." Friday, March 7, 2014 - Why does it take a wooden stake to kill a vampire? According to legend, vampires are loathsome creatures who are repulsed by religious artifacts. Because Jesus was crucified on a cross made of wood, only a stake made of wood, driven through vampire's heart, can kill it. Even at that, the job isn't finished until the vampire's head is cut off and garlic placed in its mouth: That's supposedly the only way to ensure that it's completely dead. As for werewolves, they can be shot dead with a silver bullet, the theory being that silver is as pure as the werewolf is corrupt. However, werewolf killers take care. Make your own bullets, since even sterling silver is not utterly pure. Because the metal is so soft, it is usually mixed with a small amount of copper (7.5) percent) to strengthen it. Thursday, March 6, 2014 - Who first threw in the towel? We don't know who it was for sure, but it was definitely a boxer. As a semi-organized sport, boxing originated in the early 18th century in England, where pugilists fought bare-knuckle fights that resulted in quick, bloody battles with their opponents. The fighters' seconds would wait in the corner of the ring with a bucket and a towel or sponge: When the fighter had had enough, he would signal his second to throw the towel into the ring, signifying that he was finished. Early fighters were surrounded by friends, gamblers and spectators, who would form a square around them. The fact that it was square didn't stop people from calling it a ring, from the Old French word renc, for a row or line. Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - Where there's smoke, there's fire... but where there's fire, is there always smoke? Not necessarily, since the appearance of smoke means that the fire isn't burning as effectively or as efficiently as it should. A fire that is burning just right will create virtually no smoke. If a fire is hot enough and is evenly distributed, everything it touches will burn. Only ash will be left behind and, being heavier than the air, this ash will remain on the ground. If the fire is not perfect, then small particles of unburned material will break away and escape. Since heat rises, these particles will rise upward on the heat of the fire, forming a cloud that appears to be a solid mass--that is, smoke. Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - Do wasps sleep? All their "zzzz's" don't come from buzzing. Wasps do indeed sleep each and every night. But they may be the lightest sleepers on the planet. Those wasps that don't live in a hive or fail to make it back home each night use their mandibles to grab onto the stem of a plant or a twig on a tree, lock their jaws in that position, hold their bodies parallel to the ground, rigid, and go to sleep in that position, with their legs hanging below them. If danger threatens, the wasp merely has to let go of the support, fall and then fly off. Why are wasps so clever? Some would argue that it's because they're born from unfertilized eggs. Fatherless, they thus inherit only the traits of the mother. Monday, March 3, 2014 - What nation sells sand to the Arabs? Great Britain. Saudi Arabia has more stretches of desert than any nation on earth, yet tons of sand from the rivers in Scotland are sent to the Arabs every year. The reason? The fine sands from the desert are unsuitable for making concrete and for use in other forms of construction. For that matter, Saudi Arabia has had to import another commodity you'd think they have plenty of: camels. The herds are much smaller than they once were, so the Saudis buy them from Egypt and other nations in North Africa. Friday, February 28, 2014 - What is the only food that doesn't go bad? No, it isn't last year's Christmas fruitcake. It's honey--the oldest known sweet. Jars of honey discovered in the tombs of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were sampled by archaeologists, who discovered it edible and quite tasty. Not only does honey have a natural ability to destroy bacteria (which is why parents have been putting it into tea for sick children for centuries), but the only way it can go bad is if it absorbs moisture from the air and ferments. If the container is well-sealed, that won't happen. Come back in 2,000 years, and the honey on your shelf will be as good as the day you got it! Thursday, February 27, 2014 - Why are wine bottles colored, and why do they have funny-shaped bottoms? Wine was probably first made by the Iranians around 3500 B.C., and introduced to the Egyptians, who spread it through the known world. One thing they knew then is that the wrong container will destroy wine. Specifically, they learned that you have to keep it away from light. Hence, modern wine bottles are tinted to keep the wine from going bad. Sediments were also a problem. Many societies dealt with this by the toast (see "Who invented the toast, and does it have anything to do with bread?"). But when wine began to be stored in bottles some 400 ears ago, winemakers realized that by putting indentations in the bottom of wine containers, they could form areas where sediments could be trapped. They also discovered that the indentations strengthened the bottom of the bottle. Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - Did Albert Einstein really fail math? Geography, history, and languages, yes. Math, no. He was actually very good at it, and also at literature. Still, memorizing facts bored him, and when Einstein left school at 15, he did not hold a diploma. A year later, when he applied to the Polytechnic Institute of Zurich, Switzerland, he failed the entrance exam the first time he took it. He finally got in when he was 17. As it happens, Thomas Edison did him one better. The great inventor entered school at eight and left after three months, when his teacher described him as "addled." Edison's mother taught him at home. Edison went on to patent more inventions -- 1, 093 -- than anyone else. Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - What was on the menu at "the Last Supper?" The meal was prepared by Jesus's disciples -- Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Lesser, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas -- and served upstairs in the home of a friend. A Passover Seder, it consisted of roast lamb, bitter herbs, matzoh, charoseth (apples, nuts and cinnamon in wine), dates, figs and almonds. Wine was also served. Surprisingly, Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper contains a mistake. Though the artist always strove for accuracy in his works, he portrayed Jesus and his disciples as sitting upright. Da Vinci didn't realize that Jews recline while they eat their Passover dinner. Monday, February 24, 2014 - What makes popcorn pop? Cooking the kernels. But you have to use the right kind. Popcorn kernels are specially grown with a strong, waterproof exterior that prevents the moisture from escaping. When we put them in oil or expose them to hot air, the water turns to steam, the steam builds up, the kernel explodes, and voila! You get popcorn. Popcorn has been eaten in America for 5,000 years, and was eaten by the Pilgrims in 1621 at the first Thanksgiving, which was a breakfast. It was brought by the Indian brave Quadequina, brother of the chief and it proved to be a big hit. Thereafter, the colonists served it for breakfast, covered with sugar and cream. Thursday, February 20, 2014 - Why does your stomach growl? Because you're hungry, of course. But what exactly is happening? The growling is the sound of your stomach muscles moving restlessly. Triggered by your body clock, which tells them it's time you usually eat, they come to life. If there's no food, they'll churn the air in your stomach together with your digestive acids and enzymes. When your stomach talks more quietly, it's usually not your stomach at all, but the sound made by liquefied food moving through your intestines. Wednesday, February 19, 2014 - Check out these odd jobs: Diener: In the undertaking world, a diener is someone who cleans and prepares a dead body for autopsy at the morgue. It comes from the German leichendiener, which means "corpse servant." Hot walker: If this conjures up an image of someone tippy-toeing across a bed of hot coals, think again. A hot walker is the stable hand who cools off a horse after a race by walking it up and down the paddock. This job can be a matter of life and death--thoroughbreds can suffer kidney failure if they aren't "hot-walked." Monument crack filler: These workers use gallons of silicone caulk to plug the cracks in massive stone monuments such as Mt. Rushmore. Tuesday, February 18, 2014 - Do elephants drink through their trunks? If, they did, they'd die of thirst. The only way to an elephant's stomach is through its mouth. But when you watch them, it certainly looks like they're drinking through their trunks. The elephant uses its trunk like a straw, sucking up water which it then shoots into its mouth. In addition, the end of an elephant's trunk has muscles which work just like fingers, enabling them to scoop up peanuts and other food. Friday, February 14, 2014 - How big was Noah's ark? It was surprisingly small. According to Genesis 6:15, "The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits, the breadth of it 50 cubits, and the height of it 30 cubits." The cubit was a measure based on the length of the forearm, and averaged around 18 inches. That would make the Ark 366 feet long by 75 feet wide by 45 feet tall. Incredibly, though the Bible says that the 600-year-old Noah took between two and seven of every animal species onto the Ark, only two species are mentioned by name: the raven and the dove. The only other people on the Ark were Noah's wife, his three sons and their three wives. Thursday, February 13, 2014 - What does the Lone Ranger's "Kemo Sabe" mean? The Lone Ranger radio program, first aired in 1933, was the tale of rangers ambushed by the evil Butch Cavendish Gang. Only one ranger survives; found by the Indian Tonto, he is nursed to health and the two fight outlaws and injustice throughout the Old West. Tonto's name for the Lone Ranger is "Kemo Sabe," which meant "trusted friend" on the show. It was taken from the name of a Michigan boy's camp, Kee Mo Sah Bee, which had been founded in 1911. In that context, the words meant "land of soggy shrubs." The word Tonto meant "wild one" in the language of the Michigan tribe. Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Why do we cross our fingers for good luck? Many historians have long traced this custom to the early days of Christianity, when it is said that converts to the new but outlawed faith would wrap the second finger around the third as a secret sign of the cross, to show that they were Christians. However, artwork that was created many years before that shows people with the same fingers crossed, and most scholars now believe the crossing of the fingers is a phallic symbol which, like the rabbit's foot, suggest both strength and fertility. Yet, some people believe the symbol had a rather different meaning as far back as the time of the Pharaohs. The only way a woman could guarantee that she wouldn't become pregnant was to cross her legs, and crossing the fingers thus became a symbol for one's hope that she--or he--wouldn't be violated. Tuesday, February 11, 2014 - Why is the pitcher's mound 60 feet, six inches from home plate? It wasn't a baseball error, but a blunder of a different kind. Until 1893, the pitcher's mound was 50 feet from home plate. Pitchers were having a relatively easy time tossing fast balls and strikes, and the game was becoming a bore. Thus officials decided to move the mound back 10 feet. A diagram showing a distance of 60'0" was presented to a surveyor, who was supposed to map out new fields. Unfortunately, the surveyor misread the diagram as showing 60'6", and designed the new field accordingly. The blueprints and several new mounds were finished before the error was noticed, so the measurement remained. Monday, February 10, 2014 - How are America's highways numbered? If you know how to read them, U.S. roads are easy to understand. If a highway is odd-numbered, then it will take you north or south. If it's even-numbered--like the famed Route 66--you can travel east and west. If a highway has a one or two-digit number, it's a "through road," which means you can stay on it quite a while. Roads that have three-digit numbers will carry you to, from and around the nearest major city. If the first number of the three is odd, it means that the road is a spur of the larger roadway. Friday, February 7, 2014 - Is a dog year seven human years? Not exactly. And in some cases, not even remotely. Most dogs live for 12 to 14 years. The average human life span is 75 years, give or take a few, which makes a "dog year" roughly equivalent to five-and-a-half human years. But, if we were to consider sexual maturity, the equation would change dramatically. Most dogs become sexually active after just six or seven months. Humans mature much later, of course, which would put a dog year equal to roughly 23 to 25 human years. An if we consider puppies, a dog's coordination at roughly one month is equivalent to that of an eight-year-old child. Since there are 12 months to a year, one dog year would equal 96 human years! Thursday, February 6, 2014 - How far can a kangaroo jump? A kangaroo can cover up to 30 feet in each jump if it wants. Zoologists speculate that these Australian animals developed the talent in order to escape from predators since, unlike most other mammals, they don't have the ability to climb trees. When they leap, these amazingly agile animals use their tails as rudders. Baby kangaroos are born after a gestation period of no more than 40 days. Only an inch-long at birth, the joeys remain in their other's pouch until ready to face the world. Wednesday, February 5, 2014 - How did hookers get the name? Women of the night weren't called hookers until the Civil War, when they started hanging around with the soldiers serving under the Union's General Joseph Hooker. The women spent so much time with Hooker's men, in fact, that they came to be known as "Hooker's girls"--and, in time simply as "hookers." As for the "red light" area where the prostitutes worked when they weren't with the general's men, that got its name around the same time. Prostitutes usually hung out near railroad stations, hoping to pick up business from passengers and trainmen. The man who rode the caboose usually knew where to find women in each city, and he would go there as soon as the train pulled in, always carrying with him the red lamp that hung in his caboose. He would hang the lamp outside the house of prostitution so others could find it, from which we get the expression "red light district". Tuesday, February 4, 2014 - Prohibition did not ban the drinking of alcohol! What did it do? The 18th Amendment to the Constitution didn't say that people couldn't drink alcohol. They could drink all they wanted. They could also buy it and own it ... if they could find it. The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. Exactly what constituted an alcoholic beverage was defined by an Act of Congress known as the Volstead Act, which decreed that anything with more than .5 percent alcoholic content was forbidden. The Volstead Act was what provided officers of the law, like untouchable Eliot Ness, with a guideline for enforcing the amendment. Only Connecticut and Rhode Island failed to endorse the 18th Amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1919. It was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. The Volstead Act also gave us a new word. Whenever law officers would stop shipments of alcohol, they would train their guns on the drivers and order them to raise their hands. The drivers, who were known as "jacks" (for jackrabbits, after the way they'd try to scurry), would ask how high, and were told, "High, jacks." Seizure of a vehicle in transit thus became known as a hijack. Monday, February 3, 2014 - Believe it or not, "wine, women and song" has nothing to do with partying!" Around 1775, noted writer J.H. Voss composed a short essay in which he said that among all the things of which men are fond, wine, women and song are "the hardest to control, in the order named." Some writers, however, including William Makepeace Thackeray, maintain (perhaps facetiously) that the statement goes back even farther, to Martin Luther, who is reported to have said that wine, wife and song are the most difficult things in the world to control. Friday, January 31, 2014 - Who was "Great Scott?" It was the great U.S. soldier, General Winfield Scott, hero of the Mexican and Civil Wars. Also known as Old Fuss-and-Feathers, Scott struck such fear into the hearts of his men during the first of those wars that they stopped using "Great God!" and "Great Caesar's Ghost!" as exclamations of amazement and started crying, "Great Scott!" The general didn't exactly approve of such familiarity, but it stroked his vanity and he usually said nothing when he overheard someone using the expression. Thursday, January 30, 2014 - Where is everything always "hunky dory?" In Japan. When Japan was opened to the West by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1953, Yokohama was one of its busiest ports. The main street at the time was Honcho-dori, and it was extremely popular with the sailors. Not so the secondary and back roads, which were not only confusing to Westerners, especially drunken sailors, but dangerous. The saying among sailors was that when you went to Japan, everything would be all right as long as you remained on Honcho-dori. Thereafter, wherever the sailors journeyed, everything that was all right was described as hunky-dory. Wednesday, January 29, 2014 - Why do magicians say "hocus pocus?" In the early days of conjuring, magicians tried to make their magic seem authentic by uttering Latin phrases while they worked their tricks. Unfortunately, many of them didn't know Latin, so they came up with bogus phrases that sounded right. Often, these phrases were borrowed from the only Latin to which they'd been exposed: passages used in Mass. One such phrase was hoc est corpus Domini, "This is the body of the Lord." As far back as the Middle Ages, magicians had transformed this into the ultimate "magical" phrase "hocus pocus dominocus." Many linguists contend the phrase is derived from the name of a popular 17th century magician named Orchus Bochus, but the expression actually predates him. Monday, January 27, 2014 - Why do ships in danger signal "Mayday?" The radio cry has nothing to do with the month or the springtime celebration. The word "mayday" is a mangled version of the French m'aider, which means "help me." Meanwhile, the telegraphic cry for help, SOS, does not mean "save our ship" or "save our souls," as is commonly thought. In fact, SOS isn't an acronym for anything. It just so happens that the telegraphic pulses for the letters are "... --- ...," which happen to be the easiest to remember and send, and the clearest to understand. Friday, January 24, 2014 - Why is it bad to "face the music?" Many people believe, erroneously, that the expression refers to mustering the courage one needs to go on stage, face the orchestra pit and perform for an audience. Others think it originated with the courage a young boy needed to ask a young girl to dance. Both, however, are incorrect. The expression comes from the 18th century tradition of a soldier being dishonorably discharged. After he was stripped of his sword and buttons, the poor fellow marched away, a column of his comrades glaring at him. At the end of the column was a drum and bugle to send him on his way. Thus, anyone who had to face the music was in for a most humbling experience. It is this sad ceremony which also gave us the expression "being drummed out" of the service or anywhere else. Thursday, January 23, 2014 - What's so even about Steven? Nothing that anyone would be proud about. The original Steven was a wife-beater. In Jonathan Swift's Journal to Stella (1713), the author wrote the following passage, " 'Now we are even,' " quote Steven, " 'when he gave his wife six blows to one.' " That was the inglorious first union of the two words. "Even Steven" didn't become a popular expression until after the American Civil War, when Confederates -- who felt as manhandled as the wife in Swift's narrative -- demanded an "even Steven" exchange of money for Union currency. The pleasant rhyme of the expression has kept it alive. Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - Can starfish swim? No, and part of the reason is that they aren't starfish at all. Starfish are echinoderms, a breed of armed, stiff-bodied marine animals that also includes sea urchins and sand dollars. Starfish don't swim; they crawl around on hundreds of elastic tube feet located under their arms. Each of these feet has a suction cup on the end that allows the starfish to move, hold still and even open clamshells. The most common species of starfish has five radiating arms. However, some have up to 40 arms. And if one of these arms is broken or eaten off, the starfish grows a new one; in some instances, the severed arm can grow into an entirely new starfish! Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - Did Nero fiddle while Rome burned? Nero didn't fiddle while the seat of his empire burned in 64 A.D. What he did as he stood at a window and watched the blaze was recite one of his own compositions, "The Sack of Troy," a poem which seemed appropriate to him under the circumstances. Rome's small Christian population was accused of having set the fire, and many were rounded up and murdered -- including Saints Peter and Paul -- and many of them burnt alive as punishment for the crime. However, many historians believe that Nero himself ordered the blaze set in order to clear land he coveted for the construction of his Golden House. When completed, the emperor's home was the greatest architectural marvel of its day. Friday, January, 17, 2014 - What's up with the "thumbs up" sign? In ancient Rome, giving the "thumbs up" was a very bad sign. In gladiatorial bouts, Romans didn't give a thumbs up gesture if they wanted a fallen gladiator to live. To the contrary, by pointing thumbs up, toward the chest, the crowd was signifying that they wanted the victor to pierce the loser's heart. By pointing thumbs down, they were instructing the winner to put the word point toward the ground, away from his vanquished foe. In any case, it was the emperor or governor who made the final decision, based on crowd reaction. The gestures apparently became switched in the early days of aviation, when pilots signaled thumbs up when they were ready to take to the skies. Thursday, January 16, 2014 - What were Nathan Hale's last words? Now here's one bit of trivia we do learn in school -- incorrectly! His last words were not: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." According to the recently discovered diary of Capt. Frederick Mackenzie, who was present in 1776 for the hanging of the 21-year-old school teacher-turned-spy, Hale said, "It is the duty of every good officer to obey any orders given him by his commander-in-chief." The more dramatic words were obviously put in his mouth by a well-meaning historian who had read Joseph Addison's Cato, wherein a character declares, "What pity is it that we can die but once to serve our country!" Wednesday, January 15, 2014 - Why is scoring in tennis so wacky? It wasn't considered unusual in 17th century France, where the game really began to flower. Early forms of what we know as tennis were played for silver pieces, each of which was worth 60 sous. Wagers were placed on each point in quarters of silver: 15, 30, 45, and 60. When the gambling side of the game was eventually phased out, 45 was reduced to 40 (this kept everything to two syllables), and the scoring became the bizarre system that tennis enthusiasts know and love today. And speaking of love . . . as for the word's meaning no score, that came from the word l'oeuf, which is French for "the egg," or zero. Tuesday, January 14, 2014 - Why are there 5,280 feet in a mile? There weren't always. When the Romans first invented the mile, it was 5,000 feet even: That's 1,000 paces (two full steps) covering five feet each. Indeed, the word mile comes from the Latin milia passuum, which means 1,000 paces. It was all very neat and simple. The mile gained its extra 280 feet in the 16th century, when the British decided to standardize their measurements based on the length of the average furrow in a field. The average furrow came out to 660 feet, or a furlong. Unfortunately, furlongs didn't divide evenly into miles, so the mile was simply upped until eight furlongs could fit cleanly. Incidentally, the English were also responsible for standardizing the marathon at 26 miles, 385 yards long. That was the distance between Windsor Castle, home of the Queen, and the royal box in the stadium of London, where the 1908 Olympic games were held. The original marathon was 22 miles 1,470 yards, run by the Greek soldier Pheidippides who was, in 490 B.C., carrying news to Athens that the Greeks had defeated the Persians on the Plain of Marathon. Monday, January 13, 2014 - Who first yelled "Geronimo" -- and why? The cry was popularized by Indian paratroopers during World War II. They did it partly from pride of their heritage, and partly in the hopes that the spirit of the famed Indian leader would watch over them. The selection of "Geronimo" was entirely appropriate. Not only was the Apache warrior famed for launching surprise attacks, but there's a story, possibly fictitious, that once, when he was cornered on a cliff by the cavalry, Geronimo shouted his own name and leaped off. The jump should have have killed him but didn't, which is why paratroopers began using it. Friday, January 10, 2014 - Did Lancelot and Guinevere ever fall in love? Sir Lancelot, a Knight of the Round Table and lover of Guinevere in the legends of King Arthur, was neither. Though a real King Arthur lived in the sixth century A.D., and poems about him sprung up roughly a century later, Lancelot first appeared in a fictional French story written in the late 12th century In Lancelot (1170) he is in love with Guinevere, but nothing comes of it. In literature, Lancelot didn't become a member of Arthur's court until the 14th century, presumably placed there by scribes who didn't realize (or didn't care) that Lancelot was fiction. Thursday, January 9, 2014 - Is "antidisestablishmentarianism" the longest English word? It isn't. Nor is it "floccinaucinihilipilificationism." No, the longest word in the English language is "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconoiosis," which describes a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of volcanic matter or a similar fine dust. An even longer word, nearly 100 letters long, was used by James Joyce in his masterpiece Finnegans Wake (1939). He created it to describe a thunderclap at the beginning of the story: "bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuvarrhounawnskawntoohoohoodenenthurnuk." For the record, the longest word Shakespeare ever used was "honorificabilitudinitatibus." It's in Love's Labour's Lost (1594). Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - Why are twins who are physically joined called "Siamese?" Because of Chang and Eng, a pair of twins born in Siam on April 15, 1811. Linked at the waist and, fortunately, facing in the same direction, they were the first such individuals to attract worldwide attention, touring Europe and the United States where they were referred to as the Siamese twins. The boys married a pair of sisters in 1843; the twins died within a few hours of one another on January 17, 1874. Ironically their father was Chinese and their mother was half-Chinese and only half-Siamese. The children's names Chang and Eng, not surprisingly, meant right and left. Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - What buck did President Truman say "stops here?" Surprisingly, it had nothing to do with money. He was referring to a knife with a buckhorn handle. While playing cards, players would move the dagger around the table as a means of keeping track of whose deal it was. When the buck "stops here," it's time to pick up the cards and play. "Buck," used to signify money, comes from buckskins, which trappers used to use as payment in lieu of currency. Though cards gave Truman his buck, it should be noted that they did not give us a phrase that is commonly attributed to them. Winning something "hands down" did not come from placing winning cards face-down. As a matter of fact, it comes from horse racing. If a horse was well ahead of the pack, the jockey would release the reins and put his "hands down" on the horse, thus giving the animal free rein . . . and us another expression. Monday, January 6, 2014 - Did people always say hello on the phone? When regular phone service was first inaugurated in New Haven, CT, in 1878, people said, "Ahoy" instead of "Hello." New Haven is located on the busy Long Island Sound, which accounts for the nautical greeting. That isn't all that's changed. For as long as telephones had dials, the number "1" wasn't on them. The reason was electronic. Each time a caller turned the dial, it clicked (you can still hear that on pulse-tone settings). Any number of glitches could have sent a one-click signal over the wires, which the phone would have misinterpreted as a "1." Thus, dials started with a "2." Today, of course,"1" doesn't present a problem and is used for making toll calls. And here's a bit of telephone trivia you may not have known. Though Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it's a little-known fact that his assistant Watson--who was the recipient of the first phone message, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want you"--was in fact the inventor of the telephone booth. One incident did not cause the other, but as it happens, down the road a bit in Ballyhooly, Cork, the way the villagers used to fight, yell and call attention the themselves gave birth to the word "ballyhoo." Thursday, January 2, 2014 - Do houseflies go anywhere in the winter? No, they die. The life span of a housefly is just two weeks. When things warm up in the north in springtime, flies from the south simply move in. If you don't want a fly living in your house for two weeks and you decide to hunt it down, use a fly swatter instead of your hand, a magazine, or a towel. Flies are covered with hairs that sense changes in the air. A fly swatter, with its hole-riddled surface, won't be detected so you can take your best shot. (And in case you ever wondered, flies are able to walk on walls and ceilings thanks to tiny pincers at the end of their six legs. These allow them to hold on while they secure their position with suction-like pads between the claws). Tuesday, December 31, 2013 - Why do we eat humble pie when we are in the wrong? In the Middle Ages, eating humble pie was something people did, literally. "Umbles pie" was a meal consisting of the stringy or fatty remains of an animal (from the Latin lumbulus, or loin), usually a deer. People who ate it were poor and, thus, humble. By the 16th century, well-to-do people who had gotten too big for their britches were admonished to go out and eat umbles pie. Eventually, "umbles" was replaced by "humble". Monday, December 30, 2013 - Are snake charmers really charming? That depends what you mean by "charming." There really are snake charmers in India, and there have been since the third century B.C. But their magic is achieved through a mild form of trickery. Snake charmers don't control snakes through music. Snakes can't hear a note that's being played. What causes the reptiles to sway is wind from the charmers' flute, as well as various hand and head gestures that capture the snake's attention. The charmer's real skill is keeping the reptile sufficiently intrigued without making it angry. The Indian rope trick -- a rope rising stiff from a basket, and a fakir climbing it -- is completely fake. The stage on which the basket sits is hollow below, and a rope reinforced with bamboo is used for climbing. People who climbed the rope and disappeared did so either in the dark or when wearing a hooded garment. In both cases, whether under the cover of night or the robe, the climber would disappear behind a backdrop. Conversely, most sword swallowers really do swallow swords. They learn to stifle the gag reflex using cutlery, then move on to daggers and small swords. If the throat is properly aligned with the stomach, the sword swallower can take a blade two feet long. Monday, December 23, 2013 - Why were prisoners shot at dawn? The custom of executing condemned persons before sunrise began in ancient days, when human sacrifices -- typically, prisoners -- were offered to the rising sun. In the Middle Ages, executions were held early in the morning for an entirely different reason: so they wouldn't attract too large a crowd. As the French Revolution later proved, mobs of people tend to get blood-thirsty and unruly after a beheading or two. It is impossible to say how many innocent men and women were executed just to satisfy their bloodlust. Today, prisons generally perform executions early in the day so as not to upset and arouse other convicts, who are still asleep. Thursday, December 19, 2013 - Why are ships launched with champagne? You might think it comes from this being a festive occasion, but that's not the case. The truth is somewhat grimmer. As far back as the 10th century, ships around the world were usually christened using the blood of sacrificial victims. In some countries, these were prisoners, usually high-ranking ones; in others, they were local citizens with a good sense of direction. In both cases, the thinking was that the spirit of the dead person would remain with the ship and guide it safely over the waters. Later, as sacrifices were frowned upon in many cultures, shipbuilders christened their vessels with wine instead of blood. However, the Roman Catholic church complained that wine symbolized the blood of Jesus, so it was replaced by its bubbly relative, champagne. Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - Who said babies are delivered by the stork? The early Scandinavians. Because storks treated their young with kindness, they became symbols of parenthood. Much later, around 1000 A.D., storks were also regularly spotted using clothing plucked from clotheslines to make nests, often on the tops of warm chimneys. Seeing this, one could easily imagine that they were stuffing babies down the flue. This notion was soon popularized by the writings of Hans Christian Andersen (in particular, his story The Storks), among others. The myth of finding babies in the cabbage patch derived from the fertility of rabbits, who were regulars there. Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - Who decided that boys should wear blue and girls should wear pink? Someone in England, circa 1400 -- probably someone who was in the business of selling dye. And someone who definitely wasn't a feminist! Since blue was the color of the sky--and, hence, of heaven and God--it was believed to be a color that warded off evil spirits. Only boys were dressed in it, however, because girls were thought to be of no interest to demons. It took another 100 years before girls got their own color. The opposite of blue is red, but that was considered too strong a color for girls, so the softer pink was used. Monday, December 16, 2013 - How did the "Rx" symbol come to mean medicine? We got it from the Romans, who displayed the symbol as a command from their highest god to pursue medical research. The "R" comes from the Latin word recipere, "to take," while the "x" stands for Jupiter, who was both the king of the Roman gods and their god of medicine. As with the Greek Hippocratic oath, a Roman who used this symbol in writing or on a residence indicated that he or she was devoted to the art of healing. The Rx was the equivalent of our contemporary medical associations, with members meeting, pooling knowledge and discoveries, and working to standardize treatments. Friday, December 13, 2013 - Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky? This is considered the unluckiest of days, unless you were a "thirteenth-of-the-month baby." Then this should be your best day. The origins of Friday superstitions are many. Of the best known is that Eve tempted Adam with the fatal apple on Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion in the Tower of Babel, and the death of Jesus Christ all took place on Friday. But long before the Bible was written, Friday was considered an important day. Primitive peoples set it aside as a special time to worship their deities and ask them for good crops, health and happiness. Those who worked on this day were told not to expect "good luck" from the gods. Even today many people will not start a trip, move to another house, or begin anything important on Friday because of this antiquated fear. Later, Friday became the Sabbath of many peoples. The old Jewish lunar calendar gave Friday as the seventh day of the week, and it was many years before Saturday was made their Sabbath. Friday is still the Sabbath of the Mohammedans. In pagan religions Friday was set aside for the celebration of marriage and it was customary to eat fish on that day. Later, this became a custom of the Jews and early Christian, except that the day became one of fasting and humility instead. The day Friday was named after Frigg (or Frigga), the Norse goddess of marriage. Later she was confused with the goddess of love, Freya, who in turn became identified with Friday. When the Norsemen and Germanic tribes became Christians Freya was supposed to have been banished to the mountains as a witch. Friday came to be called "witches' Sabbath." For it was believed that on this day each week twelve witches and the Devil met -- thirteen evil spirits up to no good! This is one of the reasons for today's superstition about Friday the 13th. Thursday, December 12, 2013 - Why is it bad luck to open an umbrella indoors? For one thing, it's tougher to get out the door with an open umbrella. But that, of course, isn't the reason the superstition began. Throughout history, in many African and Eastern nations, umbrellas have always been used to shade people from the sun and, in that way, served as acknowledgment of the might of the sun god. Their round design was also conceived as a tribute to the sun. Thus, opening an umbrella in the shade or inside a dwelling was considered a mockery and certain to bring down the god's wrath. The custom moved to Spain with the Moors in the 12th century, and it's still considered bad luck to open an umbrella indoors. Before leaving superstitions, here are the origins of two others. The belief that it's bad luck to walk under a ladder arose from the fact that executioners used them to place a noose around the neck of the condemned -- who, of course, was standing beneath it. People believed that anyone who passed under a ladder would meet the spirits of the evil dead. The tradition that it's bad luck to light three cigarettes with one match dates back to World War I. Keeping a light burning in the trenches gave the enemy enough time to aim and fire. Wednesday, December 11, 2013 - Who says blondes are dumb? Friends of the Countess Marie of Coventry, England, that's who. In 1760, the beautiful but vain noblewoman died of lead poisoning as a result of the excessive amount of makeup she used on her face and hair. Her premature death gave rise to the popular notion that blondes are dumb. Blondes were somewhat redeemed in the early days of motion pictures when platinum blondes like Jean Harlow were perceived as anything but dumb. Unfortunately, Marilyn Monroe changed that and blondes have remained "dumb" ever since. Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - Is it really illegal to damage money? Dumb, yes. Illegal, no. What's illegal is defacing it and then trying to spend it. The U.S. government will replace destroyed money if three-fifths of it is still identifiable. Two-fifths will earn the bearer half the face value; less than that gets nothing. In any case, until the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, there wasn't a coin one could "deface." That was when the first U.S. portrait coin, the Lincoln penny, was issued. The one thing every American coin has had since the Revolutionary War is a design with some symbol of liberty on it. Monday, December 9, 2013 - What does the "X" in Xmas stand for? The "X" doesn't stand for the cross, as is commonly thought, nor is it intended to keep the name of Christ from being used in a frivolous or unholy way. Quite the opposite. The Greek word for Christ is Xristos, from which the English word is derived. Xristos begins with the letter chi, the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet and the equivalent of our letter "X." That makes the substitution both accurate and respectful. Friday, December 6, 2013 - Why is the Golden Rule "golden?" First of all, it isn't "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule is "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew 7:12). Secondly, it wasn't Jesus who called it the Golden Rule. The name was chosen by English clergyman Clement Ellis in 1660. However, he did not choose "golden" because the rule shines like the metal. He called it golden because, unlike a rule of lead, he said that it cannot be "so easily bent and made crooked, or melted and dissolved by the heat of passion." Actually, gold can be melted easily, though Ellis may not have realized that. Besides, the Iron Rule doesn't have quite the same ring. Thursday, December 5, 2013 - Why do the British drive on the "wrong" side of the road? Because that's the way they used to drive their coaches. Passengers used to enter coaches on the right, women first, men second. The coachman would thus sit on the right to be nearer the man to hear any instructions. However, he drove the carriage on the left side of the street so his whip wouldn't strike any pedestrians. In most other countries, gallantry took a back seat to public safety and the men entered first, keeping the coachman on the left, and the coach on the right. When automobiles joined coaches on the street, they naturally stayed on the same side. The other notable left-side drivers were the Swedes, though they made the switch to the right side in September 1967. And speaking of things that seem a little backward to American drivers, why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Because originally, a parkway was a road that ran through a park, while a driveway was a circular road by which we drove past a house. Wednesday, December 4, 2013 - Why do birds fly in a "V" formation? They don't do it to keep from losing members or to present a daunting figure to potential predators. The reasons are purely aerodynamic. The "V" formation helps them to stay aloft. The flapping of the lead bird generates an updraft that helps the second row of birds, and so on down the line. The lead bird changes position regularly, giving each bird a chance to "coast," and allowing them to increase their effective range by 60 to 70 percent. The technique works with airplanes as well, which is one reason long-range bombers often flew in this formation during World War II. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 - Why are manhole covers round? Or should we say, personhole covers, as they're being called in our politically correct times. Whatever you call them, these flat plates are round rather than square or rectangular so that they can't fall through the opening of the hole when they're being removed. A rectangular lid could accidentally be dropped in edgewise, but a lip inside the hole prevents the circular cover from fitting through -- no matter how it's turned or moved. Monday, December 2, 2013 - Why do Americans call the game of billiards "pool?" The words are both catchall terms to describe a number of quite similar games. But what accounts for the two different names? The game of pool evolved from billiards in the 19th century. Men played billiards in gaming parlors and at race tracks while waiting for the results of horse races. Many of these men participated in what was called "pool-betting" -- that is, pooling their money on a long shot in order to win (if they won at all) a greater amount of money. The money they bet or won was usually counted out on the billiard table, which thus came to be known as the pool table. Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - Who decided that north should be at the top of the map? It wasn't the ancient Greeks and Romans. They put the east at the top of their maps, and that made sense. It was the direction of the rising sun. The early Christian and Moslem nations followed suit, since it was believed that the Garden of Eden had been in the East. East, therefore, deserved a place of honor on the map -- just as it did in churches, where the altar was placed on the eastern side. North gradually moved to the top of maps at the beginning of the 14th century because more and more armies, emissaries and traders were traveling, and north -- that is, Europe -- was where the bulk of the populated land areas were located. Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - How did "21" become the legal age? Modern-day teenagers can thank the ancient Normans for having to wait until they're 21 to be considered "legal." In the middle of the 11th century, 13 was actually the legal age in Europe, the Middle East, and portions of Asia -- legal for holding property and, more significantly, for serving in the military. After suffering numerous casualties in their conquests, the Normans realized that 13-year-olds were simply not strong enough to carry armor and weapons, and 19 was made the "legal" age for war as well as for inheritance. However, the process of inheriting estates took two years. Thus, it wasn't long before 21 was regarded as the official beginning of adulthood. Monday, November 25, 2013 - Why do men tip their hats to ladies? This chivalrous practice originated in the days of knighthood. Theoretically, a knight had nothing to fear in the presence of a lady, and he would lift his visor or remove his helmet entirely as a show of trust and a tribute to her femininity. Even when headwear was no longer used to protect a man from anything more dangerous than a stiff wind or downpour, removing the hat was still considered a gentlemanly way of showing respect. Soldiers remove their hats in the presence of a superior officer for much the same reason as the knights of old -- a demonstration of their trust. Friday, November 22, 2013 - Why do we tip the waiter? There's an interesting and oft-told origin for the word "tip" as a gratuity to a waiter. Alas, the story simply isn't true. While there were boxes in English inns and pubs which were used to hold coins to "tip" the waiters, there is no evidence that these ever bore the words "To Insure Promptness." The English would have bristled over such obvious extortion. Rather, the word comes from the 16th century verb "tip," which meant "to give unexpectedly." The English word was derived from the German word tippen, which means "to tap." The expression "hot tip," as on a sure winner in a horse race, also comes from the act of tapping. In the old days, during card games, gamblers would have an accomplice in the room. This accomplice would signal the player regarding the contents of an opponent's hand by "tipping the wink" -- that is, by tapping out a code with the eyelid. Thursday, November 21, 2013 - Why does skin wrinkle when you take a bath? Well, if you take a really long bath, you'll get wrinkled from old age! But even if you don't sit there quite that long, your skin will wrinkle for another reason entirely: it is expanding. As you soak, your epidermis (the outer layer of skin) absorbs water through the pores, causing it to bulge. Though the skin is expanding all over your body, you only notice it on your hands and feet because the skin there is relatively hard and rough. As a result, it doesn't expand as uniformly as the other, more pliable sections of your body. Naturally, the hotter the bath, the more your pores will open and the greater your skin will drink up the water. In any case, once you leave the tub it takes less than an hour for the water to evaporate or be absorbed into the underlying layers of the skin. Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - Who put the chicken in "chicken pox?" It wasn't a doctor or scientist, that's for sure. And no, people never really believed that chicken pox came from chickens or that the scabs looked like chicken scratchings. In Old English, the disease was known as gican pox -- the itching pox. Over the years, as the word "gican" became obsolete and people forgot what it had meant, "chicken" took its place. While we're on the subject of contagious diseases, measles comes from the German word maser for speckle. Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - Where the heck is the "skin of your teeth?" It's right outside of them. In the Bible, Job 19:20, the prosperous Uzite is tortured by the devil. His donkeys and camels are stolen, his sheep are killed, his children die when a roof collapses, his body is covered with sores, and yet he still refuses to curse the Lord. At one point, while remembering his endless woes, Job says, "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth." In other words, Job has been left with only what little flesh remains on his bones and face. No one knows how or why, but the expression has changed over the years to "Escaped by the skin of my teeth." This suggests something different, that a person barely escaped being nabbed--which isn't quite the same thing. Monday, November 18, 2013 - Why do earthworms come out when it rains? It's not because they like grossing people out or getting stepped on. They do it to survive. Earthworms breathe through their skin, and when it rains the soil becomes muddy. If worms didn't get out on the sidewalks and into the open air when it rains, they'd drown. When the soil dries, they burrow back and continue feeding on roots and decaying vegetable matter. Worms often tunnel down eight to ten feet. In an average acre, 10 to 20 tons of soil is turned over each year by earthworms. Earthworms also leave the earth in the morning, when the sun hasn't yet evaporated the moisture that collects in the soil. And that, of course, is when the early bird catches them. Smart worms usually leave their tail end in the ground, where fine, stiff hairs help them dig in when a bird tries to nab them. Friday, November 15, 2013 - Do crocodiles shed tears? Big, insincere tears in a person are called crocodile tears. But crocodile tears in a crocodile aren't tears at all. Crocodiles have no tear ducts. (And what does a crocodile have to get all emotional about, anyway?) What look like tears are actually glandular secretions. Unlike alligators, which prefer fresh water, crocodiles usually live in salt-water marshes, which can be hard on the eyes. The crocodile produces the secretions to wash the salt from its eyes. Incidentally, the primary difference between alligators and crocodiles--apart from these secretions, which alligators don't have--is the shape of the two reptiles' snouts, which are broader and rounder in alligators. Thursday, November 14, 2013 - Do camels store water in their humps? Not a drop -- that is not what their humps are for. Fat is stored there to provide energy when the animal is deprived of nourishment. Equally important, the hump absorbs the direct rays of the sun, cooling them down and protecting the vital organs below. How, then, can camels go from eight days to eight weeks without water? They do it by sweating and urinating very little. Waste water is absorbed into the camel's body and is literally recycled. The high water content of the blood helps keep the animal cool in extreme heat. At the same time, their metabolic rate slows as needed, allowing them to ration water. Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - Do bees hibernate during the winter? No. When the temperature drops below 55º F, workers pack themselves into a cluster around the queen bee and the hive's honey stores. Inside the cluster, the bees can move freely. So the workers take turns going into that space, eating honey, and then vibrating their wings to create heat. The cluster acts like an insulating blanket so that the space inside stays between 68ºF to 86ºF all winter. Friday, November 8 ,2013 - Are elephants afraid of mice? Not as a rule. The myth arose from an ancient Greek story about a mouse that crawled up an elephant's trunk and drove it mad. If that incident every really happened, it was an isolated one. Elephants are generally calm and well-adjusted animals that ignore mice and other small creatures. Indeed, most elephants can't see animals that tiny: Their eyesight is extremely poor. They rely mostly on their sense of smell, and mice don't smell all that much. Besides, a herd of 10 to 50 five-ton animals can handle a mouse. Elephants only show fear in the face of recognized predators, such as big cats, dogs and humans. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, November 6, 203 Do mice really love cheese? They like it, but given a choice they'd rather see other foodstuffs on the menu. Mice, like most rodents, are primarily vegetarians. Their favorite foods are greens and fruits of any kind, as well as seeds, nuts, sprouts, shoots and buds. Among non-vegetable dishes, peanut butter, bacon and bugs top the list. When mice move into a house, they go after bread and baked goods first. These are typically stored in breadboxes, cabinets and elsewhere so historically, mice have had to settle for what was out, which was usually the cat's bowl of milk or the leftover cheese from dinner. It was easy to see that the latter had been nibbled, so people naturally assumed that cheese was a favorite of mice. That does work in a trap...though a peanut butter, celery and fly sandwich will get them for sure. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Why should something be true if it comes straight from the horse's mouth? For centuries, people who brought horses from other people would listen to what the seller had to say, then ignore most of it. The only way to determine what a horse was worth was to walk it around, then check its teeth. The latter, especially, told the tale. If the teeth were healthy, the horse was probably in good shape. Thus, people said that if information came straight from the horse's mouth, it could be trusted Meanwhile, horse traders anxious to unload less-than-healthy animals would think of ways to keep the prospective buyer from looking in the animal's mouth. A seller who could do that was said to have "horse sense," another expression that's still with us. As for horseradish, that's a corruption of "hoarse," which is what many people become when they eat it. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, November 4, 2013 What is "slapstick" and why is it so funny? Slapstick is exactly what it sounds like. From the 16th through the 18th centuries, the Italiancommedia dell'arte featured masked, costumed players who would improvise stories based on standard traits for their characters. Among the many characters were the lovers Lucinda and Octavio; the foolish, baggy-pants Pantaloon; the dashing Scaramouche and the comic figure Harlequin. Harlequin typically hit the backsides of his bumbling co-stars using a piece of wood with another board fastened to it. When he whacked them, the sound of wood striking wood was a loud "slap" and it would send the characters flying--which is why our term "slapstick" means any kind of broad, silly comedy. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, November 1, 2013 Where does the cheer "hip, hip, hurrah!" come from? Chillingly, it was originally used as a taunt against Jews in the Middle Ages. In Germany, knights used to break up religious ceremonies with a cry of "Hep! Hep!" an anagram for Hierosolyma est perdita -- "Jerusalem is destroyed." During the 17th century, the Eastern Europeans added the cry of huraj, "To paradise," to the expression. This made it "Hip, Hip, Hurrah!" in English -- meaning "Jerusalem is lost to the infidel, and we are on the road to Paradise." No one knows how the expression came to be shouted at various sporting events, school rallies and political conventions, though it has long since lost its religious (or rather, anti-religious) meaning. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 31, 2013 Did an apple really fall on Isaac Newton's head? Not exactly, although an apple did play a part in his discovery. The 23-year-old English physicist was sitting in his garden at Woosthorpe one night in 1665, trying to figure out why the moon circled the Earth. From the corner of his eye, he saw an apple fall from a tree. Why did the apple fall down and not up? he wondered. Did the Earth cause the apple to fall? And if so, did the moon merely circle the Earth because it wasn't close enough to fall? These thoughts set him on the right path, though he didn't finish working out his laws of gravity until 1682. Even then, Newton was so shy a man that he didn't want to publish his findings. It took friends three years to persuade him to do so, and another two years for him to produce his historic bookThe Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - Why is the South called "the Land of Dixie?" Believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, the 18th century surveyors whose Mason/Dixon line separated the North from the South. Nor did it come from Mr. Dixie, a kindly slave owner. Early in the 19th century, a New Orleans bank issued 10 dollar bills that bore the word dix, the French word for 10, on their face. The bills became known as "dixies," and possessing them was a symbol of prosperity. Therefore, they became synonymous with the South. What's surprising, though, is where the theme song of the Confederacy came from. Dixie was actually composed by a black Northerner, Daniel D. Emmett. It was first performed in a Broadway show in 1860. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - Who paid first through the nose? The Swedes. And they didn't like it one bit, though paying through the nose was not originally intended to mean paying until it hurts. Not literally. During the 14th century, Swedish tax collectors working for the ruling Danish kings assessed taxes in their region based on the number of noses they counted, not on the amount of money people earned. So, large families with low incomes paid more than small families with a large income. That was deemed unfair--i.e., paying through the nose. In 1521, the Swedes threw off the foreign oppression. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 28, 2013 - Did Whistler really paint his mom? Yes but, the painting popularly known as "Whistler's Mother" was never called that by the artist. James McNeill Whistler named the work, Arrangement in Gray and Black: the Artist's Mother. It was the admiring public who gave the painting its nickname. Whatever you call it, Whistler's painting is the only one by an American hanging in the Louvre in Paris. While we're on the subject, Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture commonly called "The Thinker" isn't that at all. Rodin called it Dante Thinking, and it's a statue of the poet Dante Alighieri. And finally, though we call one of the world's great masterpieces "Mona Lisa," Leonardo da Vinci's painting is actually titled La Giaconda. It's a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giacondo. Friday, October 25, 2013- Why does a snake always stick out its tongue? If their tongues weren't always darting and quivering, snakes wouldn't know where to find their next meal. Snakes usually travel in order to find prey, and the reptile uses its tongue to gather particles in the air, which it then draws into its mouth. There, scent glands interpret the smells better than the animal's nostrils. It can literally taste and identify the type of animal that passed within the last hour or two. The snake continues to sample the air as it moves and tracks the animal down. The tongue is also extremely sensitive to vibrations. As it closes in on its prey, the snake actually uses its tongue, as well as its vibration-sensitive body, to tell in which direction an animal is moving. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 24, 2013 - What made the weasel go "pop" in the old rhyme? It doesn't mean an animal is bursting. In fact, the weasel of the old ditty isn't the cute, furry animal at all. In 17th and 18th century England, a weasel was a tool used by hatmakers to apply the fabric to the outside of a hat. And "pop" was the slang term for pawning something. Thus, when the hatter of the song finds himself without any cash to spend, when "that's the way the money goes," there's only one option: to take the hatting tool to the pawn shop. In other words, "Pop goes the weasel!" (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - What does "between the devil and the deep blue sea" have to do with the devil? Not much. In the olden days, a "devil" was the seam in a wooden ship's hull. It lay just at the waterline and, when it sprung a leak, it was virtually impossible to reach from the inside. Not that things were much better on the outside, where sailors had a "devil" of a time reaching it--hence, the nickname. There was wind, the rocking of the ship, sea-spray and swells to worry about. Thus, even under the best of conditions, no sailor liked to find himself between the devil and the deep blue sea. While linguists agree that the expression was popularized at sea, some say that seamen took it from the Bible (Matthew 8:32), when Jesus drove out the devils who possessed a herd of pigs that had flung themselves into the Sea of Galilee. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - Where is "Podunk," and how did it come to mean a small town? Surprisingly, there isn't--and never was--a town actually called by that name. The Podunks were a tribe of Indians who lived in South Windsor, CT at the mouth of a stream which still bears the name. The Indians disappeared without a trace in 1676 (apparently having joined another tribe), and finding the Podunks became something of a joke to the local colonists. By the early 18th century, New Englanders were using it to describe any place that was remote, lost or too small to locate. Along similar lines, insignificant towns are called "jerkwater" because the vital service they performed was providing water to trains passing through. This was done by cranking the water from tanks, a.k.a. "jerking water," as the train paused in the station. At soda fountains, this process is also called "jerking." (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 21, 2013 - Did anyone ever "kick the bucket?" Yes indeed, though the phrase originally described dying by suicide. In medieval times, suicide victims usually did themselves in by tying a rope to their neck, slinging it over a rafter, and then leaping off a water bucket or milk pail. Most of the victims writhed and convulsed as they strangled--and more often than not, they kicked the bucket during their struggles. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, October 18, 2013 - Who stole someone's thunder? The phrase "stealing one's thunder" had its origin in the theater in 1709. Though playwright and critic John Dennis' play "Appius and Virginia" was a flop, the author did come up with a novel way of producing thunder. The setup consisted of wooden troughs with hammer-like stops that made claps of different volume. Shortly after his play closed, "Macbeth" opened at the same theater. Dennis attended in his capacity as a critic and was shocked to hear his thunder-making device being used. "By God!" he wrote the next day. "The villains will not play my play, but they steal my thunder!" Thursday, October 17, 2013 - Who put the "honey" in honeymoon? Sometime in the fifth or sixth century the ancient Teutons--the forerunners of the modern-day Germans--began the custom of celebrating weddings by drinking an intoxicating beverage called honey mead each night for one month, the cycle of the moon. Hence, they called this period the time of the honey moon. The groom would join in the festivities and invariably passed out at night with his mates instead of with his new bride. In 1552, researcher Richard Huloet suggested that this practice was started to keep a man's love for his honey from waning like the moon after marriage. Though Huloet offered no historical a basis for his theory, personal experience presumably had something to do with it. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Click Archived Fast Fact of the Day for more! Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - How long do dreams last? Despite what many people believe, dreams aren't over in just a few seconds. We experience dreams in real-life time, just as though they were actually taking place. Every one of us passes through several periods of sleep each night, periods that include both light and deep sleep. Dreams come at the end of each of these periods. The sleep periods last from 90 minutes to two hours; dreams that come early in the night last five or ten minutes, while later dreams last an average of 50 minutes. We usually remember these latter dreams when we wake up not only because they're the most recent, but because they're the longest. Contrary to another popular belief, there is no connection between what we eat and what we dream. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 15, 2013 - What does a monkey wrench have to do with monkeys? Apart from the fact that many of us monkey around with them, not very much at all! The monkey wrench got its name thanks to a mistranslation. The tool was invented early in this century by Englishman Charles Moncke, who called it an "adjustable spanner." When the tool was imported to the United States, it was supposed to be called the "Moncke wrench." However, we wrote the name the way it sounded, not the way it was really spelled, and it became a monkey wrench. The tool inspired two expressions. The first is "to monkey with," which means to try and fix. The second is "throw a monkey wrench into the works," meaning you try and fix something, but somehow make it worse. Oh, and there is no such thing as a left-handed monkey wrench. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 14, 2013 - Why wear a wedding ring--and why on the "ring finger?" The wearing of wedding rings has nothing to do with the fact that primitive tribes often captured women from neighboring tribes and brought them back in shackles. Wedding rings were never intended to be a symbol of slavery! Rather, the practice dates back to the ancient Egyptian habit of sealing any kind of a pact with a mutual show of trust. Since the signet ring contained the crest of the owner--and allowed whoever was wearing it to act in the name of the owner--rings were swapped as a show of trust. The practice then moved from politics to business to marriages. The fourth finger of the left hand was selected as the ring finger in the third century B. C. because physicians of the time believed that a nerve ran directly from this finger to the heart. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, October 11, 2013 - Did it ever rain cats and dogs? Some people insist that the expression comes from an old French word for waterfall, catadoupe, but not many linguists subscribe to that. Indeed, we know for a fact that in Europe it did rain cats and dogs, and frequently. Illustrations and writings show that as far back as the early 17th century, cats would do their hunting on the rooftops of buildings in London, and adventurous dogs would find a way to get up and stalk them. Cornered cats and patient dogs were often caught there during downpours, causing them to be washed from gutters, over eaves, and down on startled passers-by. Thus, "raining cats and dogs" became a popular term for a cloudburst. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 10, 2013 - What makes mountain goats so sure-footed? And we sure do mean sure-footed. Mountain goats have the ability to walk almost straight up the side of cliffs. What gives them this unique ability is a supple pad on each cloven hoof. These pads have extremely soft centers. When the animal puts its foot down, each pad works just like a powerful suction cup, enabling the wild goat to appear to defy gravity. Nearly as remarkable is the fact that baby goats have the ability to follow their parents up a sheer cliff just hours after birth. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - Why do waves break? Most of the waves on our oceans, seas and lakes are caused by wind passing over them. As the waves move closer to shore, the distance between the top of the wave and the seabed decreases. When that happens, the water has nowhere to go but up and ahead. The wave becomes steeper and steeper and when the crest is roughly three-fourths as tall as the water is deep, the wave can no longer remain upright. It begins to fall forward and the crest hits the beach as a breaker. Some of the water is absorbed by the sand; the rest returns to the ocean as backwash. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 8, 2013 - Is chop suey Chinese? Yes and no. Chop suey did not originate in China, though the man who created it was Chinese. The dish was first thrown together in San Francisco, circa 1860. The inventor was a Chinese dishwasher who would dice leftovers and mix them in a dish. Curious about how it tasted, the restaurant owner sampled some and decided to offer it to customers. It isn't known which of the men coined the name, and whether "chop" came from "chop sticks" or from the American "chop." All we know for sure is that "suey" came from the Chinese word sui, or "bits." Over the next three decades, the dish made its way east, though it was still primarily eaten by the Chinese population. It finally went mainstream in 1896 when a Chinese official, Li Hung-Chang, was visiting New York during a world tour. He invited several American friends to dine with him in Chinatown, and the cook served chop suey. The Americans were delighted with the mixture of meat, vegetables and sauce, and soon it was served throughout the city. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 7, 2013 - Is there really a "cloud nine"? Absolutely! Early in the 20th century, the U.S. Weather Bureau came up with cloud classifications, and "cloud nine" was used to describe the highest and wispiest form of cloud. It isn't known exactly how the classification worked its way into everyday language, however. By the early 1920s, a person on cloud nine was high and wispy, in a state of airy bliss. (Some linguists think it came from opium smokers, who described themselves as feeling "light as a cloud" when they were on the drug.) Nowadays, meteorologists call the highest clouds noctilucents--not exactly a term from which popular expressions are born. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, October 4, 2013 - Who says Mt. Everest is the world's tallest mountain? No one. Mt. Everest may be the world's highest mountain, but it's not the tallest. At 33,476 feet, Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii is over 4,000 feet taller. However, the mountain's base is underwater, allowing Mt. Everest to rise higher above sea level. Actually, geologists aren't sure that Everest is even the highest mountain on earth. Recent satellite measurements place Everest at 29,028 feet and its fellow Himalayan peak, K-2, at 29,030 feet. Snow cover, erosion, and the fact that the earth is still pushing the mountains skyward make exact measurement difficult. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 3, 2013 - Is the Black Sea black--and the Red Sea red? Not at all. It only looks that way. The black color of the water in the Black Sea comes from decomposition of vegetable matter. This is caused by bacteria that live in the water. The Black Sea also happens to be rough, gloomy and often covered with a thick fog, which is why it was originally called Pontus Axenus, (Inhospitable Sea) by the ancient Greeks. The Red Sea got its name from the reddish algae that thrive in its waters. As for the rest of the world's seas, they seem blue for the same reason the sky seems blue. Light from the sun is broken up by water particles. Since the blue wavelengths are the shortest, they get broken up and bounced around more, making them the dominant color. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 2, 2013 - Why don't we give someone the "hot shoulder?" In the Middle Ages, poor people would go from house to house, begging for food. If the beggar were smart, he or she would go to the manor of a lord and wait until after dinner before knocking on the door. To keep peace with the poor--who would be the first to rebel, if given the chance--the noble would see to it that they were given something to eat. Usually, this was the least-desirable cut of meat: a cold shoulder of mutton. Over time, being given the "cold shoulder" came to mean that someone considered you unworthy of sharing his table. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 1, 2013 - Could an electric eel light up a bulb? Assuming you could hook one up, some of them could. Electric eels reach up to six feet in length and live in the waters of the Amazon in South America. Certain members of the species can generate 500 to 600 volts at two amperes--enough energy to light a dozen 60-watt bulbs or electrocute a human being. The electricity is created chemically and stored in muscles that act like battery cells. Most eels take about an hour to become fully charged, after which they get rid of the energy. Electric eels not only use their electricity to defend themselves and kill prey, but also to light their way in dark waters. Although they look like eels, electric eels are actually freshwater fish of the carp and minnow family. Monday, September 30, 2013 - Why do cowboys wear high heels? Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with being macho. Cowboy boots are made that way to keep the boot from slipping through the stirrup of a saddle. And the stitching on the sides isn't merely decorative: It helps to strengthen the boot and give it extra wear. High heel shoes originated hundreds of years ago with men who rode horses for a living. They were adapted by the general populace for one reason and one reason only: to keep people's feet out of muck, whether it was a gentleman walking to his carriage or a butcher slogging through blood. In the 18th century, as drainage improved, men gave up wearing high heels altogether. Women continued to wear them, largely for the extra height it gave them. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, September 27, 2013 - What do "the dog days of summer" have to do with dogs? Nothing. Many people think the hot, heavy days of summer got their name from the fact that the heat is so intense that dogs just lie around panting. Dogs may very well do that, but the dog days aren't named for them. They're named after the star Sirius--so called because it's located in the dog constellation Canis Major--which rises just before the sun does at this time of year. The ancient Romans believed that these brutally hot days, or dies caniculares, were caused because the dog star added its heat to the already brutal heat given off by the sun. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Real answers given by real students on real tests: "To change centimeters to meters you take out centi." "Lincoln's mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands." "Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper." "Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity by rubbing two cats backward and declared, "A horse divided against itself cannot stand." "Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbis." Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - Did curiosity ever kill the cat? Not the kind of cat you're probably thinking of, anyway. The expression "Curiosity killed the cat" doesn't actually refer to a feline. First used in the 18th century, the expression refers to local gossips who poke, pry and backbite like cats. If they gossip too much or ask too many questions, they'll be friendless--or killed, in a manner of speaking. The phrase was a take-off of "Care will kill a cat," which appeared in George Wither's 17th century poem "Christmas." Wither believed that a cat who is not curious will lose her nine lives to boredom. (From "Did You Ever Wonder" 1997) Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - Great opening lines from famous books: "Once upon a time there was...'A king!' my young readers will instantly exclaim. No, children, you are wrong. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood." --Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio. "When I think back now, I realize that the only thing John Wilson and I actually ever had in common was the fact that at one time or another each of us ran over someone with an automobile." --Peter Viertel, White Hunter Black Heart. "The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended." --Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Monday, September 23, 2013 - Why does Swiss cheese have holes? It doesn't. It has eyes. Call them "holes" in Switzerland and you'll be laughed out of the cheese shop. Swiss cheese has eyes because of microorganisms which act on the cheese while it is aging, or fermenting. These harmless organisms produce gases which literally explode from the cheese, creating the eyes. This doesn't happen with other kinds of cheese because the cheesemakers use the yeasts, molds and bacteria in different proportions, for different lengths of time and under different conditions. Though Swiss cheese can be produced anywhere, the organisms and ingredients found in the mountains of Switzerland still produce the best cheese. And that's the truth...the "hole" truth. (From "Did You Ever Wonder...?" 1997) Friday, September 20, 2013 - Why did the Irish believe there was gold at the end of rainbows? They didn't. It was all a big misunderstanding. Rainbows are formed when light hits droplets of rain. Each droplet acts like a prism, splitting the light into different colors, each of which is bent at a slightly different angle. That's what forms a rainbow. Because the light source, the sun, is a circle, and because light travels in a straight line, the rainbow is a circle as well. In order for the sun's rays to refract so we can see them, the sun has to be within 42 degrees of the horizon, either rising or setting. That's relatively low, which means we can never see the full circle of a rainbow--just the top part of the arc. As far back as the 17th century, the Irish understood this. And they were fond of saying that one was as likely to find a pot of gold as to find the end of a rainbow. The expression somehow changed and became part of their fairy mythology. Thursday, September 19, 2013 What Happened to the Olympic Flag? In 1920 someone stole the Olympic flag-not just any Olympic flag, either: It was the first one to feature the five interlocking Olympic rings, which had been created in 1913. No one was ever caught, and the fate of the famous first flag remained a mystery until 2000, when American diver Hal Prieste, then 103, decided to come forward. Back in 1920, on a dare from teammate Duke Kahanamoku, he had climbed a 15-foot flagpole at the Olympic stadium in Belgium, taken the flag, kept it in the bottom of a suitcase for 80 years. Prieste handed the flag over during a special ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Today it's on display at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - Why--and what--are we supposed to tell the Marines? "Tell it to the Marines" was the idea of an English king who used it to show people he wasn't as gullible as they might think. During the 17th century, King Charles II had a well-deserved reputation as one of the less--shall we say--intellectual monarchs to sit on the throne of England. When informed by an officer of the Maritime Regiment of Foot that seamen recently returned from the east had seen flying fish and other amazing unexplained sights, Charles demanded proof. Fortunately, one of the men had caught a fish and, after seeing its small "wings," the king believed him. Thereafter, whenever he was told something that seemed patently fantastic, the monarch would say, "Tell it to the Marines." After all, these men had seen everything. If they believed it, so would he. Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - Why were World War I pilots called "aces?" Not because they were perfect shots, able to shoot the center from an ace, as Annie Oakley did in Wild West shows. The word comes from the Latin as, which was a unit of weight roughly equal to a pound. In the marketplaces of ancient Rome, goods that weighed exactly an as were considered suitable for sale. When the word became part of the French language, the weight reference was gone. The word as simply meant "terrific." When French, British and American fliers took to the skies during World War I, a victorious pilot was referred to by the French as as. That translated to the English word "ace," and it stuck. The use of the word to describe the playing card took a slightly different course. The Latin as was considered "a whole thing;" the playing card was also regarded as indivisible and, thus, as . . . or an ace. (from "Did You Ever Wonder"... 1997) Monday, September 16, 2013 - Why is the Academy Award called an Oscar? Simple--it was named after someone's Uncle Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded by 30 leading filmmakers and actors on May 4, 1927, to find ways to improve the artistic quality of films and honor those who did. At the group's first official meeting, in a banquet hall at the Biltmore Hotel in Hollywood, director Cedric Gibbons sketched out a design for an award on a tablecloth. That became the model for the Academy Award, which was first handed out in May 1929. For the first few years the award was simply referred to as "the Statuette." However, in 1931, Academy librarian Margaret Herrick noticed one of the statuettes on a desk and remarked, "Why, he looks like my Uncle Oscar!" Those who heard her comment took to calling the award Oscar, and the name stuck. Friday, September 13, 2013 - Did anyone bake "4 and 20" blackbirds in a pie? No, though the truth is stranger than the nursery rhyme it inspired! In France, in 1454, knights who belonged to the Order of the Golden Fleece got together for a fabulous banquet in honor of the founder of their order, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Music was to be a part of the celebration, and the knights wanted something that would impress their guest, King Charles VII. They had the baker prepare an enormous pie crust and when the king sat down, two dozen African musicians emerged from within--the "four-and-20 blackbirds baked in a pie." Thursday, September 12, 2013 - Be careful what you search for! Ever searched Google for something you wanted to keep secret, like a medical issue or a surprise birthday present? No problem. You can always just delete the search history on your computer and it's gone, right? Wrong. That just deletes it from your browser's history. Google still has a record of everything you (and everyone else) has ever used its service to research online. Everything from "burning sensation" to "stylish adult diapers" is stored on Google's electronic servers along with information that shows exactly what computer made the embarrassing search. Wednesday, September 11, 2013 What is a Retronym? Retronyms provide new names for terms that need to be distinguished from their original versions. Snail mail: It was just called "mail" until e-mail. A shorter version is also beginning to catch on - "smail." Coca-Cola Classic: The word "classic" was added in 1985 after the release of New Coke, which flopped. Land line: It was just a regular telephone until cell phones became popular. World War I: Called "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars"... until World War II. Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Can we really multitask? UCLA researcher Russell Poldrack conducted a study to test people's abilities to "multitask." He gave a group of test subjects a set of cards and asked them to remember the shapes drawn on the cards and then relay them to the research team. Then, in a separate test, the subjects were given a new set of cards to sort, but there was a catch- they were also simultaneously fed a series of low- and high-pitched beeps through earphones. They were asked to keep count of the high-pitched beeps while sorting the cards. The results: All of the subjects had better recall when they performed only one task at a time. Monday, September 9, 2013 If skin is always renewing itself, why don't scars heal completely? Only the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, renews itself every 28 days: Skin cells on the surface brush off and are replaced by the new ones underneath. A scar, however, forms when an injury pierces through the epidermis and injures the dermis, the layer of skin beneath it. The dermis is much tougher, and its cells don't die and brush off. So when wounds to the dermis heal, they create tough scar tissue that never renews and never completely goes away. Friday, September 6, 2013 - Who was the world's first turncoat? It was the Duke of Saxony who, in the middle 16th century, owned land that was claimed by both Spain and France. The two nations fought over the land, and the duke had no idea who would be victorious, or whose armies would be where exactly when. His solution? The canny duke had his tailor make a coat for him that had Spain's color, blue, on one side, and France's color, white, on the other. Whenever one or the other side's armies came marching through his land, he would simply turn his coat accordingly and cheer the men on. Other noblemen did likewise, and the practice, along with the word, caught on. Thursday, September 5, 2013 - Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? Afraid not. The average apple provides just .0004 ounces of vitamin C - one-fifth as much as an orange. And it contains only .07 ounces of dietary fiber. The largest single "ingredient" of an apple is sugar: .7 ounces of it. So where did the saying come from? It began in the early 19th century by American apple growers. Highly religious communities blamed the apple for the loss of Paradise, so farmers came up with the slogan in what proved to be a successful attempt to boost sales. They also published apple cookbooks, figuring that there would be less resistance to apples if they were hidden in pies, cider, sauce, and caramel. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 - Does leprosy make fingers and toes fall off? Hardly ever, despite what happened to Ben-Hur's mother and sister. As far back as 500 A.D., lepers were forced to carry sticks to point at things they wanted and made to wear bells to announce their arrival. But leprosy isn't a disease that causes people to fall apart, nor is it even moderately contagious. It's caused by a bacteria that deadens the nerves. Because of this, sufferers will touch fire, suffer a cut, and otherwise hurt themselves without knowing it. These accidents are what cause ulcers, infection and the possible loss of a finger or toe. The disease itself does not. Nowadays,, leprosy is effectively treated by the use of drugs. The name itself comes from the Greek lepros, which means scaly. Tuesday, September 3, 2013 - What is the "X" in X-ray? Not much. In November 1895, Bavarian physicist Whilhelm Roentgen was doing research on electricity when he noticed that a sheet of chemically treated paper in his laboratory was glowing--even though there was a heavy piece of cardboard between his work area and the paper. He moved the paper to another room and continued his work. The paper continued to glow. Roentgen realized that a ray he was somehow generating was causing the chemical to glow. He had no idea what the ray was, so he called it and "X"-ray, due to its mysterious origin and properties. Roentgen continued to do research into his X-rays, and won the Nobel Prize in 1901. But no one ever came up with a better name, so "X" continues to mark the spot in physics books. Friday, August 30, 2013 - Can you get a suntan in the shade?" You sure can. And also on an extremely cloudy day. The sun gives off ultraviolet rays--radiation so powerful it literally cooks the skin and gives us a suntan. Clouds stop visible light from getting through to us, but they barely make a dent on ultraviolet rays. Even on a heavily overcast day, 80 percent of the rays still get through. And if you're sitting under an umbrella on a beach or beside a pool, watch out: the sand and concrete will reflect nearly half of the ultraviolet light, giving you a tan on the soles of your feet! Incidentally, oxygen absorbs ultraviolet radiation and is transformed into ozone. The ozone layer won't let ultraviolet rays through to us; however, if chemicals in the atmosphere eat up the ozone faster than it can be manufactured, we'll fry." Thursday, August 29, 2013 - Who is the "Jack" in "Jack-O'-Lantern?" He's an ancient blacksmith who made a deal with the devil, trading his soul for seven years of prosperity. But he also got three wishes from Jesus and St. Peter: Anyone who climbed his pear tree, sat in his armchair or climbed into his purse must remain there until Jack let them go. When the devil came for Jack's soul, Jack tricked him into climbing the pear tree. The devil gave Jack seven more years of prosperity in exchange for his freedom. When he returned, Jack trapped him in his armchair. When the devil came back seven years later, hoping to sneak up on Jack disguised as an insect, Jack locked him in his purse. When Jack finally went to the underworld, the devil told him that he didn't want him around and he should go to S. Peter. As he left, Jack grabbed a burning coal and placed it in the pumpkin he was eating, using it as a lantern to see his way to heaven. The demons who saw it knew to steer well away from clever Jack...and to this day, we use jack-o'-lanterns to frighten away evil spirits. Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Why do your eyes turn red in flash photos?" It's not because everyone in your family is a little devil, no matter how much the photograph makes them look that way. The eyes appear red because when the flash goes off it illuminates the back of the eye, which is thick with blood vessels. The reflected light is bright red, and that's what the camera registers. You can cut down on the redness by having your subjects avert their gaze slightly, or by turning on other lights, which cause the pupil to dilate and cut down the amount of light entering the eyes and bouncing back. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - Why did Yankee Doodle call the feather in his hat "macaroni?" Back in Pre-Revolutionary America, when the song "Yankee Doodle" was popular, the hero didn't stick a feather in his hat and call it pasta. "Macaroni" was a reference to a fancy-dressing Italian, a style which was widely imitated in England at the time. Thus, by sticking just a feather in his cap and calling himself a Macaroni, that is, a dandy, Yankee Doodle was showing himself to be a country bumpkin--which was exactly how the English regarded most colonials. And speaking of lyrics that have lost something over time, the "matilda" of the 1895 ditty "Waltzing Matilda" is not a girl but a knapsack. Monday, August 26, 2013 - Why is a false clue called a "red herring"? The expression is at least 200 years old, and it was derived from the use of herring--which becomes red when smoked--to train dogs to follow a scent. The fish was placed in a sack and dragged through the woods or streets behind a horse, and was used to teach the animals to focus on their quarry. Unfortunately, escaped prisoners would make a point of getting red herrings to toss here and there as they fled, distracting the dogs that were sent after them--which is how a red herring came to mean something misleading. By the way, English criminals gave us another "misleading" expression. In the 18th century, wealthy men were robbed by thugs who first tugged their wool wigs down so they couldn't see. From this we get the expression "Pulling the wool over one's eyes." Friday, August 23, 2013 - Does fear really make our hair stand on end? Well, sort of. Fear makes the heart race as it pumps blood to parts of the body that need it--the vital organs as well as the legs and lungs--so we can flee in time of trouble. This causes the rest of the body to lose blood and, therefore, warmth. Now when we lose warmth from any part of our body, whether due to fear or cold, tiny muscles beneath the skin contract, causing the flesh to tighten and forcing the hair to stand up, That may not keep us warm nowadays, but it worked quite well hundreds of thousands of years ago, when humans had more hair and stiffening it was an effective way to trap air and keep warm. By the way, hair standing on end is also what gives us goose bumps. The hair tugs at the follicle and makes a little bump in the skin. Thursday, August 22, 2013 - Who posed for the Statue of Liberty? The face was that of Charlotte Bartholdi, the mother of designer Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The sculptor's girlfriend, Jeanne-Emilie, was the model for the statue's arms and body. Gustave Eiffel, who later built the Eiffel Tower, built the statue's metal skeleton. Constructed entirely in France, the statue was packed in 214 cases for its journey to the United States. When it was decided that the French would give a gift to the United States in honor of the 100th anniversary of our independence, Bartholdi sailed to New York to search for a suitable site. When his ship entered the harbor, he knew he had to look no further. The statue replaced an old fortress, Fort Wood, which was located on Bedloe's Island. Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - Can you "catch" a yawn? No. But, you say, don't many people in the same room sometimes yawn at the same time? Yes. But that's not the same thing. When we're tired, the act of yawning brings extra air into the lungs, and hence blood to the brain. When several people yawn at the same time, they're simply responding to the same stimuli: a stuffy atmosphere or boredom. Not someone else's yawn. Tuesday, August 20, 2013 - Who invented the "toast" and does it have anything to do with bread? The Romans...and a great deal. The custom of offering up a salutation before drinking came from the ancient Roman practice of dropping a small square of toast into an alcoholic beverage to soak up any lingering sediments before drinking. The salutation was offered while the bread did its work. These so-called "toast speeches" were kept brief, however, lest the toast sit there too long and begin breaking up. It was the custom for the host not only to present this toast but also to take the first sip in order to prove to his guests that the drink wasn't rancid or poisoned. Monday, August 19, 2013 - Why is a rabbit's foot lucky? Why indeed? Why didn't a bird's or a pig's foot become the ultimate token of good fortune? The tradition dates back to at least 500 B.C., when the rabbit's fertility made it highly regarded by farmers. (The rabbit's use as a symbol for the springtime fertility of crops has since come down to us as the modern-day Easter Bunny.) Initially, the entire pelt of the rabbit was considered lucky and was used to make various kinds of garments, from mittens to hats. In time, however, the foot alone became symbolic of its powers, apparently due to its phallic shape. (Though some scholars have suggested it was a scam perpetrated by trappers who were trying to make some extra money off the carcass!) Friday, August 16, 2013 - Why do we toss spilled salt over our shoulders? To catch the devil. Spilling salt has been considered bad luck ever since Lot's hapless wife disobeyed God's command by looking back on Sodom and Gomorrah as it was destroyed and, as punishment, was turned into a pillar of salt. As a result, salt came to be regarded as the symbol of temptation, and spilling it was viewed as a means of summoning the ultimate tempter, the devil. Once it was spilled and the devil was called, what was one to do? Simple. Throw a pinch of salt over one's left shoulder and hope it hit the devil in the eye, blinding him while the salt was cleaned up. The left shoulder had no significance other than the fact that most people were right-handed. Thursday, August 15, 2013 - Why do we say "God bless you" when people sneeze? Depending upon the culture of the blesser, it was believed that a sneeze either was caused by demons leaving the body, or else left one vulnerable for demons to enter the body. By calling for God's blessing, one was theoretically protecting the sneezer from harm. And while it's considered polite to cover the mouth when we sneeze, this does nothing to protect those around us from germs. At 100 miles an hour, a sneeze will force plenty of bacteria through our fingers. As it happens, people covered up long before they even knew what germs were! Covering the mouth comes from the custom of the sneezer, cougher or yawner making the sign of the cross to prevent evil spirits from entering them. Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - Is dry cleaning really dry? No. In fact, it's nearly as wet as regular cleaning. Clothes to be "dry-cleaned" are put in a large washing machine and subjected to perchloroethylene and a variety of other solutions. After they've been immersed in these, the clothes are placed in a dryer which removes the solvents. Stains that weren't removed during this process are given personal attention with various chemicals (depending on the nature of the stain), after which the clothing is pressed and folded. Clean, yes. Dry-cleaned, no. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - Are bats blind? Hardly. Their erratic flight patterns, plus the fact that they fly at dusk, suggested to ancient peoples that they had terrible vision. But in fact quite the opposite is true. They have excellent eyesight. They fly helter-skelter because they chase darting bugs through the dusk sky. In addition to possessing sharp eyes, bats emit high-pitched sounds which work like sonar and help them to navigate in the dark. But, bats are disoriented in sudden brightness because their eyes are accustomed to the dark. In some countries, the phrase is not "blind as a bat" but "blind as a bat in sunlight." Monday, August 12, 2013 - Why did pirates wear earrings? They didn't do it for decoration. Believe it or not, they did it for their health and well-being. Acupuncturists tell us that there are pressure points located just above the earlobe which help to improve eyesight, reduce the appetite and boost energy levels. These are attributes which would certainly come in handy during long sea voyages. Some of the earrings they wore also had waxy lumps dangling from the bottom. These helped the pirates in another, less exotic way: During exchanges of cannon fire, the pirates used them to plug their ears! Friday, August 9, 2013 - Why is "Scotland Yard" in England? In the 10th century, as a gesture of friendship, a Scottish king was given land in London with the provision that he build a castle and live in it a portion of each year. Seven centuries later, when England and Scotland became united under a common ruler, the land was turned over to London authorities. It was divided into Greater and Middle Scotland Yard, and the London police took up residence there in 1829. Today, Scotland Yard refers to both the metropolitan police force that's based there, as well as its many local stations. Thursday, August 8, 2013 - Why do we eat fish with lemon? It's got nothing to do with taste. Serving lemon with fish is a 600-year-old custom that arose from the belief that lemon juice acted very much like an acid. Thus, if someone swallowed a bone, a mouthful of lemon juice would help to dissolve it. But wait, you say. Wouldn't someone have to put a bone on a plate, tried this out and seen that it didn't work? Perhaps they did. But the odd thing was, inside the body it often did work--though not for the reason people thought. What happed was that sucking a lemon caused the diner's throat muscles to contort, freeing the bone and sending it on its way to the stomach. Incidentally, if you were eating a fish that was supposed to have been boned, and you happened to find a bone, it was polite to say nothing of your discovery. That was the origin of the expression "Make no mention of the bones" which was shortened to, "Make no bones about it." Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - Why do mosquito bites itch? Itching from mosquito bites is caused by an allergic reaction to the fluid the insects inject when they bite you. Once your skin reacts to the bite, you scratch it. But why doesn't that work for very long? The reason scratching stops an itch is because you're hurting yourself. Any itch is an irritation of the nerve endings close to the surface of the skin. Scratching, therefore, causes a minor pain which overrides the itching. If scratching has removed an external cause of the itch--say, dust or a loose thread--it won't return. If the cause is internal, like a mosquito bite, it will return until the irritant is absorbed by the body. When you swat that mosquito, you're killing a mother. Only females bite, and they do it to get blood to nourish their young. Male mosquitoes only consume plant nectar and water. And don't count on your dog to take a bite for you. Different species of mosquitoes feed on different animals. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Tuesday, August 6, 2013- If there's "blackmail" why isn't there "whitemail? There used to be. In 16th century England, the word "mail" meant rent, tax, or tribute. If you were wealthy, you typically paid your debt in silver. This was known as "whitemail," from the color of silver. If you weren't as well-to-d0, you usually paid in some other form, from grain to meat. Since these came from the dark earth, they were known as "blackmail." Because everyone knew exactly what an ounce of silver was worth, whitemail had a set value. Blackmail, however, did not. Thus, if the person receiving the blackmail didn't approve of the amount, they were able to demand more. It was this extortion that gives us the current meaning of the word. Monday, August 5, 2013 - Why do so many cartoon characters have only four fingers? It's a matter of time and economy. Before computers took over many of the artistic chores, each frame of an animated cartoon had to be drawn by hand. In the middle 1920's, Walt Disney, as well as other producers, realized that if the animators had one less finger to draw on each hand, not only would viewers probably not notice, but the artists would be able to spend a few minutes less drawing each individual "cel." That would shave days off the production of each short subject, and weeks on the production of each feature! Disney and the others were right. Audiences who were willing to accept humanized mice, ducks and cats barely noticed that these characters had four or sometimes three fingers instead of five! (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Friday, August 2, 2013 - Did French fries come from France? No--Belgium. No one knows for sure when they were first made. What is known is that around the turn of the century, a fellow by the name of Rodolphe de Warsage was heading home to Liege (in Belgium) when he stopped in a bakery and bought a sack of the thinly sliced fried potatoes. He ate them on the way home, and was so enthralled with their taste that he had them made when he got back. The popularity of the fried potatoes spread to the north of France and from there to other European nations--where, rather unfairly, they were dubbed "French fried potatoes." Then again, "Roldophe fries" doesn't have quite as appetizing a sound. In England, of course, where the thicker fries are literally chipped from the potato, they are known as chips. (from "DidYou Ever Wonder...." 1997) Thursday, August 1, 2013 - How did feeding one's family come to be known as "bringing home the bacon?" Many people think it began in medieval markets, where people would buy a pig, bring it home and slaughter it for food. That makes sense, of course, though the origin of the phrase is rather different. According to 12th century records, there was a county in Ireland in which an unusual number of couples were having marital squabbles. Thus, the local elders came up with a proposition: Whichever couple did not quarrel for one year would be awarded a side of bacon. The custom continued for many years to come, and those who saw a neighbor "bringing home the bacon" knew that all was going well at home. Much later, the expression came to mean that one was successful in business as well as in domestic affairs, and a man or woman who was able to bring home the bacon was viewed as content in every way. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - What does "OK" stand for? Believe it or not, there isn't a language specialist on earth who can tell you for sure! Some scholars say it came from our seventh president, Andrew Jackson, who wasn't all that well-educated and had a habit of misspelling "all correct" as "orl kurrect." When he was too lazy to write it out, he simply wrote "OK," or so the story goes. However, there are no written examples to support this claim. Others say it comes from the Jamaican "oh ki" for "all right," while President Woodrow Wilson said it came from the Choctaw word "okeh." However, most linguists trace its origin to the presidential election of 1840. Democratic nominee Martin Van Buren was born in Old Kinderhook, NY, and one of the groups that supported him was the Democratic O.K. Club. Other Van Buren boosters began using the letters O.K. to signify their support of the candidate, and when he was elected everyone was assured that the country would be OK. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - Who was Davy Jones & why is his locker at the bottom of the sea? Except for the tambourine-slapping member of the Monkees, no one famous ever held the name. The Davy Jones in question wasn't even a real person. A West Indian word for ghost is "duffy," and sailors there often spoke of an apparition of the Biblical prophet Jonah--that is, the duffy Jonah. Seamen from abroad, not quite understanding what the natives were saying, took the figure to be some lost sailor by the name of Davy Jones. As for the locker, that's a common word for a seaman's chest. Thus, to visit Davy Jones' locker is to go to the bottom of the sea...and one's death. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) July 29, 2013 - Why do zebras have stripes? It's easy to understand why tigers have stripes. They live in regions where the grasses are tall, dry, and tawny-colored. When a tiger moves, it's difficult to tell the grass and shadows from the tiger's stripes. But zebra graze in the open where the black and white stripes would seem to be the worst kind of camouflage there is! So why did nature bother? Zoologists believe that nature gave zebras stripes for two reasons. First, predators are most active during sunrise and sunset, when there's sufficient light for the hunt, but heat is relatively low. At such times, the black and white stripes appear gray from a distance, helping the animals blend in with their dark surroundings. Second, if a herd is attacked, the moving stripes of many zebras create a jagged picture that confuses many predators. So as camouflage goes, the distinctive stripes are not quite as useless as they seem! About the only animal that's colored so it can be seen is the sea gull. Because of its whiteness, other sea gulls can see one feeding from afar and join it where the fishing is good. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) July 26, 2013 - The United States has 108 protected areas known as national monuments. President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national monument, Devils Tower in Wyoming, on September 24, 1906. Interestingly, the only mobile national monument is San Francisco's cable cars. New York State has 4 national monuments: Statue of Liberty-1924, Fort Stanwix-1935, Castle Clinton-1946, and African Burial Ground-1978. July 25, 2013 - What is an urban legend? Meaning: Modern folktales. In the 1940s and 50's folklorists started collecting modern American legends (like the one about Bloody Mary appearing in a mirror, or the one about teenagers being chased by a man carrying a hook). The stories all had similar characteristics: They usually offered a warning, were just plausible enough to seem true, and were passed from person to person orally. The folklorists called the legends "urban belief tales" or "city tales." The words "urban"and "city" indicated their dark themes, even though the stories weren't based in the cities. In the 1960s they came to be called "urban legends," and they've been terrifying and entertaining us ever since. July 24, 2013 - What is a jerkwater town? The term dates back to the days when towns were farther apart than trains could travel without stopping to get fresh water for the boilers. When a train low on water came upon a pond or a creek running alongside the track it stopped and the train crew hauled or "jerked" buckets of water back into the train. Small settlements often grew up in places where the trains were known to stop. These towns-in the middle of nowhere-came to be known as jerkwater towns. July 23, 2013 - Why are there 13 in a baker's dozen? To keep bakers out of jail. Because of the way rolls, buns and cakes were cooked in the 15th century--in three rows of four--they were sold in batches of a dozen. The goods were fashioned by hand, of course, and bakers found that they could make them smaller without the customer being any the wiser. Who could tell the difference, after all, when 12 items were stuffed into a bag? Well, enough people apparently could tell, because London lawmakers passed laws which standardized the weight of these goods. Stiff fines and jail sentences were imposed if the total were off, so bakers often took the precaution of throwing in an extra roll or cake to make absolutely sure they made the required weight. Hence, 13 to a baker's dozen. ("Did You Ever Wonder...", 1997) July 22, 2013 - Why is "the life of Riley" so terrific? The life of Riley is a life of easy days and carefree nights. It's an odd expression because the real Mr. Riley was anything but lazy. "Riley" was poet James Whitcomb Riley, who wrote poems like The Old Swimmin' Hole, which glorified the fast-fading innocence of the 19th century and comforted those who had already missed it. But is wasn't just the subject matter of his poems that inspired the expression. It was the fact that Riley's writings made him rich, the wealthiest American author of his day. To "live the life of Riley" wasn't only to be barefoot and fancy free. It was also to be as well-heeled as the man who wrote about such things! ("Did You Ever Wonder...", 1997) We serve all of WNY including but not limited to: Amherst, Buffalo, Clarence, Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Lancaster, Lewiston, Lockport, Hamburg, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Orchard Park, Pendleton, Tonawanda, Wheatfield, Williamsville, Wilson Enroll Today!	Love
Thinking his assassination attempt on then President Ronald Reagan would impress her, with which actress was John Hinkley, Jr supposedly obsessed?	Archived Fast Fact of the Day - All-Pro Tutoring & Test Preparation Archived Fast Fact of the Day Recent site activity Archived Fast Fact of the Day Wednesday, March 19, 2014 - Who put the crack in the liberty bell? In a sense, it was Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall. The Liberty Bell was ordered in 1751 and cast in the Whitchapel Bell Foundry in England, modeled after the Great Tom bell that hangs in Westminster Abbey. It was sent to Philadelphia and cracked the first time it was rung. The bell was recast locally, and was installed in the State House (now Independence Hall) before the Revolution. The bell was rung in honor of significant events that occurred in the new nation including the initial reading of the Declaration of Independence. On July 8, 1835, the bell was tolled as a tribute to the deceased Justice, and it was then that one of our great national symbols cracked again. Though the crack has been bolted on top to keep it from spreading, the bell is no longer rung. Tuesday, March 18, 2014 - Did Paul Revere make his famous ride? Despite what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote in his classic poem Paul Revere's Ride, the silversmith actually made very little of his ride. On April 19, 1775, British troops assembled in Boston to raid ammunition stores in Concord. At 10 o'clock, Revere saw the single lantern in Christ's Church that signaled the onset of the march. Both he and fellow patriot William Dawes set out for Concord, and were quickly joined by Samuel Prescott. Roughly an hour into the ride, while Dawes and Prescott stopped at a home to warn a fellow revolutionary of the imminent attack, British troops surrounded Revere. Though he was arrested, the other two en escaped. Fortunately for Revere, who certainly would have been executed, his captors heard the sound of far-off gunfire and joined the fray, leaving Revere horseless, to make his way to the home of a friend, Reverend Jonas Clark. He arrived at two in the morning, dejected by his failure. Monday, March 17, 2014 - Who had the first "feet of clay?" It was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. In Daniel 2:32, 33 and 34, Daniel--a Hebrew official in the Babylonian court--describes a dream he had of a great statue: "This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Though sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces." Daniel reveals that the head of the statue is the king, and that the lower parts are other kingdoms that will succeed Babylon--all of which would be swept away by the kingdom of God. Since that time, any seemingly strong or admirable individual who can be readily toppled, or is not what she or he seems to be, is referred to as having "feet of clay." Friday, March 14, 2014 - Do ostriches bury their heads in the sand? Despite the popular image of the ostrich burying its head to hide, that isn't what its doing. It's a powerful eight ft. tall, 300 pound bird that can see a foe coming from far away and can run an average of 40 miles an hour. It can also deliver a kick that is lethal to most predators. So there's very little from which an ostrich has to hide. So, the reason the bird puts its head in the sand is to find rocks. In order to help digest its food, the omnivorous ostrich must swallow gizzard stones: grave-sized rocks that help with the grinding digestive process. After they've eaten, the birds then spit up the stones. Thursday, March 13, 2014 - How did the Bachelor Degree get its name? A bachelors degree is, more correctly, a baccalaureate degree--Latin for one who has earned a laurel berry. But bachelor is right too, even if it isn't synonymous with baccalaureate. Bachelor comes from the Latin word baccalarius, a farmland, which comes from baculum, a shepherd's staff. In the Middle Ages, knights of the lowest rank, men who were skilled but too young to have banners of their own, were referred to as "knights bachelor ." Students who had some learning but were not yet masters were thus referred to as bachelors of arts or science... Only much later did "bachelor" come to mean an unmarried man, one who was too busy with his career to marry. Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - Is Walt Disney really frozen? The rumor has existed almost since the day he died: Walt Disney is cryogenically frozen, either somewhere at the Walt Disney studios or in Disneyland. Alas, he wasn't frozen. Quite the opposite is true. A heavy smoker, Disney died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966, at St. Joseph's Hospital, across the street from his studio. He was 65. Upon his death, according to his wishes, his body was cremated. Only the immediate family attended the funeral service. Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - Who decided "A-1" means the very best? Lloyd's of London was the organization that gave us the label. When the insurance consortium was just being organized, as a marine insurance association, it was necessary to take careful note of the condition of the ship and its contents, in case any claims were made against either. The ships were awarded a letter grade, with "A" being the highest, while the cargo was given a number, with "1" being the best. Thus, a ship in A-1 condition was absolutely perfect. When Lloyd's branched out into other kinds of insurance, the classifications continued and spread into other walks of life. Incidentally, the firm was not name after a founder or investor, but after Edward Lloyd, owner of a coffeehouse in London that insurers regularly patronized. Monday, March 10, 2014 - Why is "brand new" better than "new?" Because, quite literally, it is so new that it hasn't been used yet . . . and can't be used yet, in fact. It's too hot. "Brand" in this case does not refer to the identity of the manufacturer (i.e. a "new brand" of cereal, detergent, whatever). It means the same thing as a burning piece of wood or metal. That is, it's fresh-from-the-fire new, like newly blown glass or a red-hot, newly forged sword or horseshoe. Until the early 20th century, only items made in ovens or open fires were described as "brand new." In German, the equivalent expression is funkel-nagelneu, or "spark-nail-new," while the French say tout battant neuf, or "fresh from the anvil." And in four of his plays, Shakespeare referred to things as "fire-new." Friday, March 7, 2014 - Why does it take a wooden stake to kill a vampire? According to legend, vampires are loathsome creatures who are repulsed by religious artifacts. Because Jesus was crucified on a cross made of wood, only a stake made of wood, driven through vampire's heart, can kill it. Even at that, the job isn't finished until the vampire's head is cut off and garlic placed in its mouth: That's supposedly the only way to ensure that it's completely dead. As for werewolves, they can be shot dead with a silver bullet, the theory being that silver is as pure as the werewolf is corrupt. However, werewolf killers take care. Make your own bullets, since even sterling silver is not utterly pure. Because the metal is so soft, it is usually mixed with a small amount of copper (7.5) percent) to strengthen it. Thursday, March 6, 2014 - Who first threw in the towel? We don't know who it was for sure, but it was definitely a boxer. As a semi-organized sport, boxing originated in the early 18th century in England, where pugilists fought bare-knuckle fights that resulted in quick, bloody battles with their opponents. The fighters' seconds would wait in the corner of the ring with a bucket and a towel or sponge: When the fighter had had enough, he would signal his second to throw the towel into the ring, signifying that he was finished. Early fighters were surrounded by friends, gamblers and spectators, who would form a square around them. The fact that it was square didn't stop people from calling it a ring, from the Old French word renc, for a row or line. Wednesday, March 5, 2014 - Where there's smoke, there's fire... but where there's fire, is there always smoke? Not necessarily, since the appearance of smoke means that the fire isn't burning as effectively or as efficiently as it should. A fire that is burning just right will create virtually no smoke. If a fire is hot enough and is evenly distributed, everything it touches will burn. Only ash will be left behind and, being heavier than the air, this ash will remain on the ground. If the fire is not perfect, then small particles of unburned material will break away and escape. Since heat rises, these particles will rise upward on the heat of the fire, forming a cloud that appears to be a solid mass--that is, smoke. Tuesday, March 4, 2014 - Do wasps sleep? All their "zzzz's" don't come from buzzing. Wasps do indeed sleep each and every night. But they may be the lightest sleepers on the planet. Those wasps that don't live in a hive or fail to make it back home each night use their mandibles to grab onto the stem of a plant or a twig on a tree, lock their jaws in that position, hold their bodies parallel to the ground, rigid, and go to sleep in that position, with their legs hanging below them. If danger threatens, the wasp merely has to let go of the support, fall and then fly off. Why are wasps so clever? Some would argue that it's because they're born from unfertilized eggs. Fatherless, they thus inherit only the traits of the mother. Monday, March 3, 2014 - What nation sells sand to the Arabs? Great Britain. Saudi Arabia has more stretches of desert than any nation on earth, yet tons of sand from the rivers in Scotland are sent to the Arabs every year. The reason? The fine sands from the desert are unsuitable for making concrete and for use in other forms of construction. For that matter, Saudi Arabia has had to import another commodity you'd think they have plenty of: camels. The herds are much smaller than they once were, so the Saudis buy them from Egypt and other nations in North Africa. Friday, February 28, 2014 - What is the only food that doesn't go bad? No, it isn't last year's Christmas fruitcake. It's honey--the oldest known sweet. Jars of honey discovered in the tombs of ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were sampled by archaeologists, who discovered it edible and quite tasty. Not only does honey have a natural ability to destroy bacteria (which is why parents have been putting it into tea for sick children for centuries), but the only way it can go bad is if it absorbs moisture from the air and ferments. If the container is well-sealed, that won't happen. Come back in 2,000 years, and the honey on your shelf will be as good as the day you got it! Thursday, February 27, 2014 - Why are wine bottles colored, and why do they have funny-shaped bottoms? Wine was probably first made by the Iranians around 3500 B.C., and introduced to the Egyptians, who spread it through the known world. One thing they knew then is that the wrong container will destroy wine. Specifically, they learned that you have to keep it away from light. Hence, modern wine bottles are tinted to keep the wine from going bad. Sediments were also a problem. Many societies dealt with this by the toast (see "Who invented the toast, and does it have anything to do with bread?"). But when wine began to be stored in bottles some 400 ears ago, winemakers realized that by putting indentations in the bottom of wine containers, they could form areas where sediments could be trapped. They also discovered that the indentations strengthened the bottom of the bottle. Wednesday, February 26, 2014 - Did Albert Einstein really fail math? Geography, history, and languages, yes. Math, no. He was actually very good at it, and also at literature. Still, memorizing facts bored him, and when Einstein left school at 15, he did not hold a diploma. A year later, when he applied to the Polytechnic Institute of Zurich, Switzerland, he failed the entrance exam the first time he took it. He finally got in when he was 17. As it happens, Thomas Edison did him one better. The great inventor entered school at eight and left after three months, when his teacher described him as "addled." Edison's mother taught him at home. Edison went on to patent more inventions -- 1, 093 -- than anyone else. Tuesday, February 25, 2014 - What was on the menu at "the Last Supper?" The meal was prepared by Jesus's disciples -- Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the Lesser, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas -- and served upstairs in the home of a friend. A Passover Seder, it consisted of roast lamb, bitter herbs, matzoh, charoseth (apples, nuts and cinnamon in wine), dates, figs and almonds. Wine was also served. Surprisingly, Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting of the Last Supper contains a mistake. Though the artist always strove for accuracy in his works, he portrayed Jesus and his disciples as sitting upright. Da Vinci didn't realize that Jews recline while they eat their Passover dinner. Monday, February 24, 2014 - What makes popcorn pop? Cooking the kernels. But you have to use the right kind. Popcorn kernels are specially grown with a strong, waterproof exterior that prevents the moisture from escaping. When we put them in oil or expose them to hot air, the water turns to steam, the steam builds up, the kernel explodes, and voila! You get popcorn. Popcorn has been eaten in America for 5,000 years, and was eaten by the Pilgrims in 1621 at the first Thanksgiving, which was a breakfast. It was brought by the Indian brave Quadequina, brother of the chief and it proved to be a big hit. Thereafter, the colonists served it for breakfast, covered with sugar and cream. Thursday, February 20, 2014 - Why does your stomach growl? Because you're hungry, of course. But what exactly is happening? The growling is the sound of your stomach muscles moving restlessly. Triggered by your body clock, which tells them it's time you usually eat, they come to life. If there's no food, they'll churn the air in your stomach together with your digestive acids and enzymes. When your stomach talks more quietly, it's usually not your stomach at all, but the sound made by liquefied food moving through your intestines. Wednesday, February 19, 2014 - Check out these odd jobs: Diener: In the undertaking world, a diener is someone who cleans and prepares a dead body for autopsy at the morgue. It comes from the German leichendiener, which means "corpse servant." Hot walker: If this conjures up an image of someone tippy-toeing across a bed of hot coals, think again. A hot walker is the stable hand who cools off a horse after a race by walking it up and down the paddock. This job can be a matter of life and death--thoroughbreds can suffer kidney failure if they aren't "hot-walked." Monument crack filler: These workers use gallons of silicone caulk to plug the cracks in massive stone monuments such as Mt. Rushmore. Tuesday, February 18, 2014 - Do elephants drink through their trunks? If, they did, they'd die of thirst. The only way to an elephant's stomach is through its mouth. But when you watch them, it certainly looks like they're drinking through their trunks. The elephant uses its trunk like a straw, sucking up water which it then shoots into its mouth. In addition, the end of an elephant's trunk has muscles which work just like fingers, enabling them to scoop up peanuts and other food. Friday, February 14, 2014 - How big was Noah's ark? It was surprisingly small. According to Genesis 6:15, "The length of the ark shall be 300 cubits, the breadth of it 50 cubits, and the height of it 30 cubits." The cubit was a measure based on the length of the forearm, and averaged around 18 inches. That would make the Ark 366 feet long by 75 feet wide by 45 feet tall. Incredibly, though the Bible says that the 600-year-old Noah took between two and seven of every animal species onto the Ark, only two species are mentioned by name: the raven and the dove. The only other people on the Ark were Noah's wife, his three sons and their three wives. Thursday, February 13, 2014 - What does the Lone Ranger's "Kemo Sabe" mean? The Lone Ranger radio program, first aired in 1933, was the tale of rangers ambushed by the evil Butch Cavendish Gang. Only one ranger survives; found by the Indian Tonto, he is nursed to health and the two fight outlaws and injustice throughout the Old West. Tonto's name for the Lone Ranger is "Kemo Sabe," which meant "trusted friend" on the show. It was taken from the name of a Michigan boy's camp, Kee Mo Sah Bee, which had been founded in 1911. In that context, the words meant "land of soggy shrubs." The word Tonto meant "wild one" in the language of the Michigan tribe. Wednesday, February 12, 2014 - Why do we cross our fingers for good luck? Many historians have long traced this custom to the early days of Christianity, when it is said that converts to the new but outlawed faith would wrap the second finger around the third as a secret sign of the cross, to show that they were Christians. However, artwork that was created many years before that shows people with the same fingers crossed, and most scholars now believe the crossing of the fingers is a phallic symbol which, like the rabbit's foot, suggest both strength and fertility. Yet, some people believe the symbol had a rather different meaning as far back as the time of the Pharaohs. The only way a woman could guarantee that she wouldn't become pregnant was to cross her legs, and crossing the fingers thus became a symbol for one's hope that she--or he--wouldn't be violated. Tuesday, February 11, 2014 - Why is the pitcher's mound 60 feet, six inches from home plate? It wasn't a baseball error, but a blunder of a different kind. Until 1893, the pitcher's mound was 50 feet from home plate. Pitchers were having a relatively easy time tossing fast balls and strikes, and the game was becoming a bore. Thus officials decided to move the mound back 10 feet. A diagram showing a distance of 60'0" was presented to a surveyor, who was supposed to map out new fields. Unfortunately, the surveyor misread the diagram as showing 60'6", and designed the new field accordingly. The blueprints and several new mounds were finished before the error was noticed, so the measurement remained. Monday, February 10, 2014 - How are America's highways numbered? If you know how to read them, U.S. roads are easy to understand. If a highway is odd-numbered, then it will take you north or south. If it's even-numbered--like the famed Route 66--you can travel east and west. If a highway has a one or two-digit number, it's a "through road," which means you can stay on it quite a while. Roads that have three-digit numbers will carry you to, from and around the nearest major city. If the first number of the three is odd, it means that the road is a spur of the larger roadway. Friday, February 7, 2014 - Is a dog year seven human years? Not exactly. And in some cases, not even remotely. Most dogs live for 12 to 14 years. The average human life span is 75 years, give or take a few, which makes a "dog year" roughly equivalent to five-and-a-half human years. But, if we were to consider sexual maturity, the equation would change dramatically. Most dogs become sexually active after just six or seven months. Humans mature much later, of course, which would put a dog year equal to roughly 23 to 25 human years. An if we consider puppies, a dog's coordination at roughly one month is equivalent to that of an eight-year-old child. Since there are 12 months to a year, one dog year would equal 96 human years! Thursday, February 6, 2014 - How far can a kangaroo jump? A kangaroo can cover up to 30 feet in each jump if it wants. Zoologists speculate that these Australian animals developed the talent in order to escape from predators since, unlike most other mammals, they don't have the ability to climb trees. When they leap, these amazingly agile animals use their tails as rudders. Baby kangaroos are born after a gestation period of no more than 40 days. Only an inch-long at birth, the joeys remain in their other's pouch until ready to face the world. Wednesday, February 5, 2014 - How did hookers get the name? Women of the night weren't called hookers until the Civil War, when they started hanging around with the soldiers serving under the Union's General Joseph Hooker. The women spent so much time with Hooker's men, in fact, that they came to be known as "Hooker's girls"--and, in time simply as "hookers." As for the "red light" area where the prostitutes worked when they weren't with the general's men, that got its name around the same time. Prostitutes usually hung out near railroad stations, hoping to pick up business from passengers and trainmen. The man who rode the caboose usually knew where to find women in each city, and he would go there as soon as the train pulled in, always carrying with him the red lamp that hung in his caboose. He would hang the lamp outside the house of prostitution so others could find it, from which we get the expression "red light district". Tuesday, February 4, 2014 - Prohibition did not ban the drinking of alcohol! What did it do? The 18th Amendment to the Constitution didn't say that people couldn't drink alcohol. They could drink all they wanted. They could also buy it and own it ... if they could find it. The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcohol. Exactly what constituted an alcoholic beverage was defined by an Act of Congress known as the Volstead Act, which decreed that anything with more than .5 percent alcoholic content was forbidden. The Volstead Act was what provided officers of the law, like untouchable Eliot Ness, with a guideline for enforcing the amendment. Only Connecticut and Rhode Island failed to endorse the 18th Amendment, which became part of the Constitution in 1919. It was repealed by the 21st Amendment in 1933. The Volstead Act also gave us a new word. Whenever law officers would stop shipments of alcohol, they would train their guns on the drivers and order them to raise their hands. The drivers, who were known as "jacks" (for jackrabbits, after the way they'd try to scurry), would ask how high, and were told, "High, jacks." Seizure of a vehicle in transit thus became known as a hijack. Monday, February 3, 2014 - Believe it or not, "wine, women and song" has nothing to do with partying!" Around 1775, noted writer J.H. Voss composed a short essay in which he said that among all the things of which men are fond, wine, women and song are "the hardest to control, in the order named." Some writers, however, including William Makepeace Thackeray, maintain (perhaps facetiously) that the statement goes back even farther, to Martin Luther, who is reported to have said that wine, wife and song are the most difficult things in the world to control. Friday, January 31, 2014 - Who was "Great Scott?" It was the great U.S. soldier, General Winfield Scott, hero of the Mexican and Civil Wars. Also known as Old Fuss-and-Feathers, Scott struck such fear into the hearts of his men during the first of those wars that they stopped using "Great God!" and "Great Caesar's Ghost!" as exclamations of amazement and started crying, "Great Scott!" The general didn't exactly approve of such familiarity, but it stroked his vanity and he usually said nothing when he overheard someone using the expression. Thursday, January 30, 2014 - Where is everything always "hunky dory?" In Japan. When Japan was opened to the West by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1953, Yokohama was one of its busiest ports. The main street at the time was Honcho-dori, and it was extremely popular with the sailors. Not so the secondary and back roads, which were not only confusing to Westerners, especially drunken sailors, but dangerous. The saying among sailors was that when you went to Japan, everything would be all right as long as you remained on Honcho-dori. Thereafter, wherever the sailors journeyed, everything that was all right was described as hunky-dory. Wednesday, January 29, 2014 - Why do magicians say "hocus pocus?" In the early days of conjuring, magicians tried to make their magic seem authentic by uttering Latin phrases while they worked their tricks. Unfortunately, many of them didn't know Latin, so they came up with bogus phrases that sounded right. Often, these phrases were borrowed from the only Latin to which they'd been exposed: passages used in Mass. One such phrase was hoc est corpus Domini, "This is the body of the Lord." As far back as the Middle Ages, magicians had transformed this into the ultimate "magical" phrase "hocus pocus dominocus." Many linguists contend the phrase is derived from the name of a popular 17th century magician named Orchus Bochus, but the expression actually predates him. Monday, January 27, 2014 - Why do ships in danger signal "Mayday?" The radio cry has nothing to do with the month or the springtime celebration. The word "mayday" is a mangled version of the French m'aider, which means "help me." Meanwhile, the telegraphic cry for help, SOS, does not mean "save our ship" or "save our souls," as is commonly thought. In fact, SOS isn't an acronym for anything. It just so happens that the telegraphic pulses for the letters are "... --- ...," which happen to be the easiest to remember and send, and the clearest to understand. Friday, January 24, 2014 - Why is it bad to "face the music?" Many people believe, erroneously, that the expression refers to mustering the courage one needs to go on stage, face the orchestra pit and perform for an audience. Others think it originated with the courage a young boy needed to ask a young girl to dance. Both, however, are incorrect. The expression comes from the 18th century tradition of a soldier being dishonorably discharged. After he was stripped of his sword and buttons, the poor fellow marched away, a column of his comrades glaring at him. At the end of the column was a drum and bugle to send him on his way. Thus, anyone who had to face the music was in for a most humbling experience. It is this sad ceremony which also gave us the expression "being drummed out" of the service or anywhere else. Thursday, January 23, 2014 - What's so even about Steven? Nothing that anyone would be proud about. The original Steven was a wife-beater. In Jonathan Swift's Journal to Stella (1713), the author wrote the following passage, " 'Now we are even,' " quote Steven, " 'when he gave his wife six blows to one.' " That was the inglorious first union of the two words. "Even Steven" didn't become a popular expression until after the American Civil War, when Confederates -- who felt as manhandled as the wife in Swift's narrative -- demanded an "even Steven" exchange of money for Union currency. The pleasant rhyme of the expression has kept it alive. Wednesday, January 22, 2014 - Can starfish swim? No, and part of the reason is that they aren't starfish at all. Starfish are echinoderms, a breed of armed, stiff-bodied marine animals that also includes sea urchins and sand dollars. Starfish don't swim; they crawl around on hundreds of elastic tube feet located under their arms. Each of these feet has a suction cup on the end that allows the starfish to move, hold still and even open clamshells. The most common species of starfish has five radiating arms. However, some have up to 40 arms. And if one of these arms is broken or eaten off, the starfish grows a new one; in some instances, the severed arm can grow into an entirely new starfish! Tuesday, January 21, 2014 - Did Nero fiddle while Rome burned? Nero didn't fiddle while the seat of his empire burned in 64 A.D. What he did as he stood at a window and watched the blaze was recite one of his own compositions, "The Sack of Troy," a poem which seemed appropriate to him under the circumstances. Rome's small Christian population was accused of having set the fire, and many were rounded up and murdered -- including Saints Peter and Paul -- and many of them burnt alive as punishment for the crime. However, many historians believe that Nero himself ordered the blaze set in order to clear land he coveted for the construction of his Golden House. When completed, the emperor's home was the greatest architectural marvel of its day. Friday, January, 17, 2014 - What's up with the "thumbs up" sign? In ancient Rome, giving the "thumbs up" was a very bad sign. In gladiatorial bouts, Romans didn't give a thumbs up gesture if they wanted a fallen gladiator to live. To the contrary, by pointing thumbs up, toward the chest, the crowd was signifying that they wanted the victor to pierce the loser's heart. By pointing thumbs down, they were instructing the winner to put the word point toward the ground, away from his vanquished foe. In any case, it was the emperor or governor who made the final decision, based on crowd reaction. The gestures apparently became switched in the early days of aviation, when pilots signaled thumbs up when they were ready to take to the skies. Thursday, January 16, 2014 - What were Nathan Hale's last words? Now here's one bit of trivia we do learn in school -- incorrectly! His last words were not: "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." According to the recently discovered diary of Capt. Frederick Mackenzie, who was present in 1776 for the hanging of the 21-year-old school teacher-turned-spy, Hale said, "It is the duty of every good officer to obey any orders given him by his commander-in-chief." The more dramatic words were obviously put in his mouth by a well-meaning historian who had read Joseph Addison's Cato, wherein a character declares, "What pity is it that we can die but once to serve our country!" Wednesday, January 15, 2014 - Why is scoring in tennis so wacky? It wasn't considered unusual in 17th century France, where the game really began to flower. Early forms of what we know as tennis were played for silver pieces, each of which was worth 60 sous. Wagers were placed on each point in quarters of silver: 15, 30, 45, and 60. When the gambling side of the game was eventually phased out, 45 was reduced to 40 (this kept everything to two syllables), and the scoring became the bizarre system that tennis enthusiasts know and love today. And speaking of love . . . as for the word's meaning no score, that came from the word l'oeuf, which is French for "the egg," or zero. Tuesday, January 14, 2014 - Why are there 5,280 feet in a mile? There weren't always. When the Romans first invented the mile, it was 5,000 feet even: That's 1,000 paces (two full steps) covering five feet each. Indeed, the word mile comes from the Latin milia passuum, which means 1,000 paces. It was all very neat and simple. The mile gained its extra 280 feet in the 16th century, when the British decided to standardize their measurements based on the length of the average furrow in a field. The average furrow came out to 660 feet, or a furlong. Unfortunately, furlongs didn't divide evenly into miles, so the mile was simply upped until eight furlongs could fit cleanly. Incidentally, the English were also responsible for standardizing the marathon at 26 miles, 385 yards long. That was the distance between Windsor Castle, home of the Queen, and the royal box in the stadium of London, where the 1908 Olympic games were held. The original marathon was 22 miles 1,470 yards, run by the Greek soldier Pheidippides who was, in 490 B.C., carrying news to Athens that the Greeks had defeated the Persians on the Plain of Marathon. Monday, January 13, 2014 - Who first yelled "Geronimo" -- and why? The cry was popularized by Indian paratroopers during World War II. They did it partly from pride of their heritage, and partly in the hopes that the spirit of the famed Indian leader would watch over them. The selection of "Geronimo" was entirely appropriate. Not only was the Apache warrior famed for launching surprise attacks, but there's a story, possibly fictitious, that once, when he was cornered on a cliff by the cavalry, Geronimo shouted his own name and leaped off. The jump should have have killed him but didn't, which is why paratroopers began using it. Friday, January 10, 2014 - Did Lancelot and Guinevere ever fall in love? Sir Lancelot, a Knight of the Round Table and lover of Guinevere in the legends of King Arthur, was neither. Though a real King Arthur lived in the sixth century A.D., and poems about him sprung up roughly a century later, Lancelot first appeared in a fictional French story written in the late 12th century In Lancelot (1170) he is in love with Guinevere, but nothing comes of it. In literature, Lancelot didn't become a member of Arthur's court until the 14th century, presumably placed there by scribes who didn't realize (or didn't care) that Lancelot was fiction. Thursday, January 9, 2014 - Is "antidisestablishmentarianism" the longest English word? It isn't. Nor is it "floccinaucinihilipilificationism." No, the longest word in the English language is "pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconoiosis," which describes a lung disease caused by breathing in particles of volcanic matter or a similar fine dust. An even longer word, nearly 100 letters long, was used by James Joyce in his masterpiece Finnegans Wake (1939). He created it to describe a thunderclap at the beginning of the story: "bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuvarrhounawnskawntoohoohoodenenthurnuk." For the record, the longest word Shakespeare ever used was "honorificabilitudinitatibus." It's in Love's Labour's Lost (1594). Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - Why are twins who are physically joined called "Siamese?" Because of Chang and Eng, a pair of twins born in Siam on April 15, 1811. Linked at the waist and, fortunately, facing in the same direction, they were the first such individuals to attract worldwide attention, touring Europe and the United States where they were referred to as the Siamese twins. The boys married a pair of sisters in 1843; the twins died within a few hours of one another on January 17, 1874. Ironically their father was Chinese and their mother was half-Chinese and only half-Siamese. The children's names Chang and Eng, not surprisingly, meant right and left. Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - What buck did President Truman say "stops here?" Surprisingly, it had nothing to do with money. He was referring to a knife with a buckhorn handle. While playing cards, players would move the dagger around the table as a means of keeping track of whose deal it was. When the buck "stops here," it's time to pick up the cards and play. "Buck," used to signify money, comes from buckskins, which trappers used to use as payment in lieu of currency. Though cards gave Truman his buck, it should be noted that they did not give us a phrase that is commonly attributed to them. Winning something "hands down" did not come from placing winning cards face-down. As a matter of fact, it comes from horse racing. If a horse was well ahead of the pack, the jockey would release the reins and put his "hands down" on the horse, thus giving the animal free rein . . . and us another expression. Monday, January 6, 2014 - Did people always say hello on the phone? When regular phone service was first inaugurated in New Haven, CT, in 1878, people said, "Ahoy" instead of "Hello." New Haven is located on the busy Long Island Sound, which accounts for the nautical greeting. That isn't all that's changed. For as long as telephones had dials, the number "1" wasn't on them. The reason was electronic. Each time a caller turned the dial, it clicked (you can still hear that on pulse-tone settings). Any number of glitches could have sent a one-click signal over the wires, which the phone would have misinterpreted as a "1." Thus, dials started with a "2." Today, of course,"1" doesn't present a problem and is used for making toll calls. And here's a bit of telephone trivia you may not have known. Though Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it's a little-known fact that his assistant Watson--who was the recipient of the first phone message, "Mr. Watson, come here, I want you"--was in fact the inventor of the telephone booth. One incident did not cause the other, but as it happens, down the road a bit in Ballyhooly, Cork, the way the villagers used to fight, yell and call attention the themselves gave birth to the word "ballyhoo." Thursday, January 2, 2014 - Do houseflies go anywhere in the winter? No, they die. The life span of a housefly is just two weeks. When things warm up in the north in springtime, flies from the south simply move in. If you don't want a fly living in your house for two weeks and you decide to hunt it down, use a fly swatter instead of your hand, a magazine, or a towel. Flies are covered with hairs that sense changes in the air. A fly swatter, with its hole-riddled surface, won't be detected so you can take your best shot. (And in case you ever wondered, flies are able to walk on walls and ceilings thanks to tiny pincers at the end of their six legs. These allow them to hold on while they secure their position with suction-like pads between the claws). Tuesday, December 31, 2013 - Why do we eat humble pie when we are in the wrong? In the Middle Ages, eating humble pie was something people did, literally. "Umbles pie" was a meal consisting of the stringy or fatty remains of an animal (from the Latin lumbulus, or loin), usually a deer. People who ate it were poor and, thus, humble. By the 16th century, well-to-do people who had gotten too big for their britches were admonished to go out and eat umbles pie. Eventually, "umbles" was replaced by "humble". Monday, December 30, 2013 - Are snake charmers really charming? That depends what you mean by "charming." There really are snake charmers in India, and there have been since the third century B.C. But their magic is achieved through a mild form of trickery. Snake charmers don't control snakes through music. Snakes can't hear a note that's being played. What causes the reptiles to sway is wind from the charmers' flute, as well as various hand and head gestures that capture the snake's attention. The charmer's real skill is keeping the reptile sufficiently intrigued without making it angry. The Indian rope trick -- a rope rising stiff from a basket, and a fakir climbing it -- is completely fake. The stage on which the basket sits is hollow below, and a rope reinforced with bamboo is used for climbing. People who climbed the rope and disappeared did so either in the dark or when wearing a hooded garment. In both cases, whether under the cover of night or the robe, the climber would disappear behind a backdrop. Conversely, most sword swallowers really do swallow swords. They learn to stifle the gag reflex using cutlery, then move on to daggers and small swords. If the throat is properly aligned with the stomach, the sword swallower can take a blade two feet long. Monday, December 23, 2013 - Why were prisoners shot at dawn? The custom of executing condemned persons before sunrise began in ancient days, when human sacrifices -- typically, prisoners -- were offered to the rising sun. In the Middle Ages, executions were held early in the morning for an entirely different reason: so they wouldn't attract too large a crowd. As the French Revolution later proved, mobs of people tend to get blood-thirsty and unruly after a beheading or two. It is impossible to say how many innocent men and women were executed just to satisfy their bloodlust. Today, prisons generally perform executions early in the day so as not to upset and arouse other convicts, who are still asleep. Thursday, December 19, 2013 - Why are ships launched with champagne? You might think it comes from this being a festive occasion, but that's not the case. The truth is somewhat grimmer. As far back as the 10th century, ships around the world were usually christened using the blood of sacrificial victims. In some countries, these were prisoners, usually high-ranking ones; in others, they were local citizens with a good sense of direction. In both cases, the thinking was that the spirit of the dead person would remain with the ship and guide it safely over the waters. Later, as sacrifices were frowned upon in many cultures, shipbuilders christened their vessels with wine instead of blood. However, the Roman Catholic church complained that wine symbolized the blood of Jesus, so it was replaced by its bubbly relative, champagne. Wednesday, December 18, 2013 - Who said babies are delivered by the stork? The early Scandinavians. Because storks treated their young with kindness, they became symbols of parenthood. Much later, around 1000 A.D., storks were also regularly spotted using clothing plucked from clotheslines to make nests, often on the tops of warm chimneys. Seeing this, one could easily imagine that they were stuffing babies down the flue. This notion was soon popularized by the writings of Hans Christian Andersen (in particular, his story The Storks), among others. The myth of finding babies in the cabbage patch derived from the fertility of rabbits, who were regulars there. Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - Who decided that boys should wear blue and girls should wear pink? Someone in England, circa 1400 -- probably someone who was in the business of selling dye. And someone who definitely wasn't a feminist! Since blue was the color of the sky--and, hence, of heaven and God--it was believed to be a color that warded off evil spirits. Only boys were dressed in it, however, because girls were thought to be of no interest to demons. It took another 100 years before girls got their own color. The opposite of blue is red, but that was considered too strong a color for girls, so the softer pink was used. Monday, December 16, 2013 - How did the "Rx" symbol come to mean medicine? We got it from the Romans, who displayed the symbol as a command from their highest god to pursue medical research. The "R" comes from the Latin word recipere, "to take," while the "x" stands for Jupiter, who was both the king of the Roman gods and their god of medicine. As with the Greek Hippocratic oath, a Roman who used this symbol in writing or on a residence indicated that he or she was devoted to the art of healing. The Rx was the equivalent of our contemporary medical associations, with members meeting, pooling knowledge and discoveries, and working to standardize treatments. Friday, December 13, 2013 - Why is Friday the 13th considered unlucky? This is considered the unluckiest of days, unless you were a "thirteenth-of-the-month baby." Then this should be your best day. The origins of Friday superstitions are many. Of the best known is that Eve tempted Adam with the fatal apple on Friday. Tradition also has it that the Flood in the Bible, the confusion in the Tower of Babel, and the death of Jesus Christ all took place on Friday. But long before the Bible was written, Friday was considered an important day. Primitive peoples set it aside as a special time to worship their deities and ask them for good crops, health and happiness. Those who worked on this day were told not to expect "good luck" from the gods. Even today many people will not start a trip, move to another house, or begin anything important on Friday because of this antiquated fear. Later, Friday became the Sabbath of many peoples. The old Jewish lunar calendar gave Friday as the seventh day of the week, and it was many years before Saturday was made their Sabbath. Friday is still the Sabbath of the Mohammedans. In pagan religions Friday was set aside for the celebration of marriage and it was customary to eat fish on that day. Later, this became a custom of the Jews and early Christian, except that the day became one of fasting and humility instead. The day Friday was named after Frigg (or Frigga), the Norse goddess of marriage. Later she was confused with the goddess of love, Freya, who in turn became identified with Friday. When the Norsemen and Germanic tribes became Christians Freya was supposed to have been banished to the mountains as a witch. Friday came to be called "witches' Sabbath." For it was believed that on this day each week twelve witches and the Devil met -- thirteen evil spirits up to no good! This is one of the reasons for today's superstition about Friday the 13th. Thursday, December 12, 2013 - Why is it bad luck to open an umbrella indoors? For one thing, it's tougher to get out the door with an open umbrella. But that, of course, isn't the reason the superstition began. Throughout history, in many African and Eastern nations, umbrellas have always been used to shade people from the sun and, in that way, served as acknowledgment of the might of the sun god. Their round design was also conceived as a tribute to the sun. Thus, opening an umbrella in the shade or inside a dwelling was considered a mockery and certain to bring down the god's wrath. The custom moved to Spain with the Moors in the 12th century, and it's still considered bad luck to open an umbrella indoors. Before leaving superstitions, here are the origins of two others. The belief that it's bad luck to walk under a ladder arose from the fact that executioners used them to place a noose around the neck of the condemned -- who, of course, was standing beneath it. People believed that anyone who passed under a ladder would meet the spirits of the evil dead. The tradition that it's bad luck to light three cigarettes with one match dates back to World War I. Keeping a light burning in the trenches gave the enemy enough time to aim and fire. Wednesday, December 11, 2013 - Who says blondes are dumb? Friends of the Countess Marie of Coventry, England, that's who. In 1760, the beautiful but vain noblewoman died of lead poisoning as a result of the excessive amount of makeup she used on her face and hair. Her premature death gave rise to the popular notion that blondes are dumb. Blondes were somewhat redeemed in the early days of motion pictures when platinum blondes like Jean Harlow were perceived as anything but dumb. Unfortunately, Marilyn Monroe changed that and blondes have remained "dumb" ever since. Tuesday, December 10, 2013 - Is it really illegal to damage money? Dumb, yes. Illegal, no. What's illegal is defacing it and then trying to spend it. The U.S. government will replace destroyed money if three-fifths of it is still identifiable. Two-fifths will earn the bearer half the face value; less than that gets nothing. In any case, until the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, there wasn't a coin one could "deface." That was when the first U.S. portrait coin, the Lincoln penny, was issued. The one thing every American coin has had since the Revolutionary War is a design with some symbol of liberty on it. Monday, December 9, 2013 - What does the "X" in Xmas stand for? The "X" doesn't stand for the cross, as is commonly thought, nor is it intended to keep the name of Christ from being used in a frivolous or unholy way. Quite the opposite. The Greek word for Christ is Xristos, from which the English word is derived. Xristos begins with the letter chi, the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet and the equivalent of our letter "X." That makes the substitution both accurate and respectful. Friday, December 6, 2013 - Why is the Golden Rule "golden?" First of all, it isn't "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The Golden Rule is "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matthew 7:12). Secondly, it wasn't Jesus who called it the Golden Rule. The name was chosen by English clergyman Clement Ellis in 1660. However, he did not choose "golden" because the rule shines like the metal. He called it golden because, unlike a rule of lead, he said that it cannot be "so easily bent and made crooked, or melted and dissolved by the heat of passion." Actually, gold can be melted easily, though Ellis may not have realized that. Besides, the Iron Rule doesn't have quite the same ring. Thursday, December 5, 2013 - Why do the British drive on the "wrong" side of the road? Because that's the way they used to drive their coaches. Passengers used to enter coaches on the right, women first, men second. The coachman would thus sit on the right to be nearer the man to hear any instructions. However, he drove the carriage on the left side of the street so his whip wouldn't strike any pedestrians. In most other countries, gallantry took a back seat to public safety and the men entered first, keeping the coachman on the left, and the coach on the right. When automobiles joined coaches on the street, they naturally stayed on the same side. The other notable left-side drivers were the Swedes, though they made the switch to the right side in September 1967. And speaking of things that seem a little backward to American drivers, why do we drive on a parkway and park in a driveway? Because originally, a parkway was a road that ran through a park, while a driveway was a circular road by which we drove past a house. Wednesday, December 4, 2013 - Why do birds fly in a "V" formation? They don't do it to keep from losing members or to present a daunting figure to potential predators. The reasons are purely aerodynamic. The "V" formation helps them to stay aloft. The flapping of the lead bird generates an updraft that helps the second row of birds, and so on down the line. The lead bird changes position regularly, giving each bird a chance to "coast," and allowing them to increase their effective range by 60 to 70 percent. The technique works with airplanes as well, which is one reason long-range bombers often flew in this formation during World War II. Tuesday, December 3, 2013 - Why are manhole covers round? Or should we say, personhole covers, as they're being called in our politically correct times. Whatever you call them, these flat plates are round rather than square or rectangular so that they can't fall through the opening of the hole when they're being removed. A rectangular lid could accidentally be dropped in edgewise, but a lip inside the hole prevents the circular cover from fitting through -- no matter how it's turned or moved. Monday, December 2, 2013 - Why do Americans call the game of billiards "pool?" The words are both catchall terms to describe a number of quite similar games. But what accounts for the two different names? The game of pool evolved from billiards in the 19th century. Men played billiards in gaming parlors and at race tracks while waiting for the results of horse races. Many of these men participated in what was called "pool-betting" -- that is, pooling their money on a long shot in order to win (if they won at all) a greater amount of money. The money they bet or won was usually counted out on the billiard table, which thus came to be known as the pool table. Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - Who decided that north should be at the top of the map? It wasn't the ancient Greeks and Romans. They put the east at the top of their maps, and that made sense. It was the direction of the rising sun. The early Christian and Moslem nations followed suit, since it was believed that the Garden of Eden had been in the East. East, therefore, deserved a place of honor on the map -- just as it did in churches, where the altar was placed on the eastern side. North gradually moved to the top of maps at the beginning of the 14th century because more and more armies, emissaries and traders were traveling, and north -- that is, Europe -- was where the bulk of the populated land areas were located. Tuesday, November 26, 2013 - How did "21" become the legal age? Modern-day teenagers can thank the ancient Normans for having to wait until they're 21 to be considered "legal." In the middle of the 11th century, 13 was actually the legal age in Europe, the Middle East, and portions of Asia -- legal for holding property and, more significantly, for serving in the military. After suffering numerous casualties in their conquests, the Normans realized that 13-year-olds were simply not strong enough to carry armor and weapons, and 19 was made the "legal" age for war as well as for inheritance. However, the process of inheriting estates took two years. Thus, it wasn't long before 21 was regarded as the official beginning of adulthood. Monday, November 25, 2013 - Why do men tip their hats to ladies? This chivalrous practice originated in the days of knighthood. Theoretically, a knight had nothing to fear in the presence of a lady, and he would lift his visor or remove his helmet entirely as a show of trust and a tribute to her femininity. Even when headwear was no longer used to protect a man from anything more dangerous than a stiff wind or downpour, removing the hat was still considered a gentlemanly way of showing respect. Soldiers remove their hats in the presence of a superior officer for much the same reason as the knights of old -- a demonstration of their trust. Friday, November 22, 2013 - Why do we tip the waiter? There's an interesting and oft-told origin for the word "tip" as a gratuity to a waiter. Alas, the story simply isn't true. While there were boxes in English inns and pubs which were used to hold coins to "tip" the waiters, there is no evidence that these ever bore the words "To Insure Promptness." The English would have bristled over such obvious extortion. Rather, the word comes from the 16th century verb "tip," which meant "to give unexpectedly." The English word was derived from the German word tippen, which means "to tap." The expression "hot tip," as on a sure winner in a horse race, also comes from the act of tapping. In the old days, during card games, gamblers would have an accomplice in the room. This accomplice would signal the player regarding the contents of an opponent's hand by "tipping the wink" -- that is, by tapping out a code with the eyelid. Thursday, November 21, 2013 - Why does skin wrinkle when you take a bath? Well, if you take a really long bath, you'll get wrinkled from old age! But even if you don't sit there quite that long, your skin will wrinkle for another reason entirely: it is expanding. As you soak, your epidermis (the outer layer of skin) absorbs water through the pores, causing it to bulge. Though the skin is expanding all over your body, you only notice it on your hands and feet because the skin there is relatively hard and rough. As a result, it doesn't expand as uniformly as the other, more pliable sections of your body. Naturally, the hotter the bath, the more your pores will open and the greater your skin will drink up the water. In any case, once you leave the tub it takes less than an hour for the water to evaporate or be absorbed into the underlying layers of the skin. Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - Who put the chicken in "chicken pox?" It wasn't a doctor or scientist, that's for sure. And no, people never really believed that chicken pox came from chickens or that the scabs looked like chicken scratchings. In Old English, the disease was known as gican pox -- the itching pox. Over the years, as the word "gican" became obsolete and people forgot what it had meant, "chicken" took its place. While we're on the subject of contagious diseases, measles comes from the German word maser for speckle. Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - Where the heck is the "skin of your teeth?" It's right outside of them. In the Bible, Job 19:20, the prosperous Uzite is tortured by the devil. His donkeys and camels are stolen, his sheep are killed, his children die when a roof collapses, his body is covered with sores, and yet he still refuses to curse the Lord. At one point, while remembering his endless woes, Job says, "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth." In other words, Job has been left with only what little flesh remains on his bones and face. No one knows how or why, but the expression has changed over the years to "Escaped by the skin of my teeth." This suggests something different, that a person barely escaped being nabbed--which isn't quite the same thing. Monday, November 18, 2013 - Why do earthworms come out when it rains? It's not because they like grossing people out or getting stepped on. They do it to survive. Earthworms breathe through their skin, and when it rains the soil becomes muddy. If worms didn't get out on the sidewalks and into the open air when it rains, they'd drown. When the soil dries, they burrow back and continue feeding on roots and decaying vegetable matter. Worms often tunnel down eight to ten feet. In an average acre, 10 to 20 tons of soil is turned over each year by earthworms. Earthworms also leave the earth in the morning, when the sun hasn't yet evaporated the moisture that collects in the soil. And that, of course, is when the early bird catches them. Smart worms usually leave their tail end in the ground, where fine, stiff hairs help them dig in when a bird tries to nab them. Friday, November 15, 2013 - Do crocodiles shed tears? Big, insincere tears in a person are called crocodile tears. But crocodile tears in a crocodile aren't tears at all. Crocodiles have no tear ducts. (And what does a crocodile have to get all emotional about, anyway?) What look like tears are actually glandular secretions. Unlike alligators, which prefer fresh water, crocodiles usually live in salt-water marshes, which can be hard on the eyes. The crocodile produces the secretions to wash the salt from its eyes. Incidentally, the primary difference between alligators and crocodiles--apart from these secretions, which alligators don't have--is the shape of the two reptiles' snouts, which are broader and rounder in alligators. Thursday, November 14, 2013 - Do camels store water in their humps? Not a drop -- that is not what their humps are for. Fat is stored there to provide energy when the animal is deprived of nourishment. Equally important, the hump absorbs the direct rays of the sun, cooling them down and protecting the vital organs below. How, then, can camels go from eight days to eight weeks without water? They do it by sweating and urinating very little. Waste water is absorbed into the camel's body and is literally recycled. The high water content of the blood helps keep the animal cool in extreme heat. At the same time, their metabolic rate slows as needed, allowing them to ration water. Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - Do bees hibernate during the winter? No. When the temperature drops below 55º F, workers pack themselves into a cluster around the queen bee and the hive's honey stores. Inside the cluster, the bees can move freely. So the workers take turns going into that space, eating honey, and then vibrating their wings to create heat. The cluster acts like an insulating blanket so that the space inside stays between 68ºF to 86ºF all winter. Friday, November 8 ,2013 - Are elephants afraid of mice? Not as a rule. The myth arose from an ancient Greek story about a mouse that crawled up an elephant's trunk and drove it mad. If that incident every really happened, it was an isolated one. Elephants are generally calm and well-adjusted animals that ignore mice and other small creatures. Indeed, most elephants can't see animals that tiny: Their eyesight is extremely poor. They rely mostly on their sense of smell, and mice don't smell all that much. Besides, a herd of 10 to 50 five-ton animals can handle a mouse. Elephants only show fear in the face of recognized predators, such as big cats, dogs and humans. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, November 6, 203 Do mice really love cheese? They like it, but given a choice they'd rather see other foodstuffs on the menu. Mice, like most rodents, are primarily vegetarians. Their favorite foods are greens and fruits of any kind, as well as seeds, nuts, sprouts, shoots and buds. Among non-vegetable dishes, peanut butter, bacon and bugs top the list. When mice move into a house, they go after bread and baked goods first. These are typically stored in breadboxes, cabinets and elsewhere so historically, mice have had to settle for what was out, which was usually the cat's bowl of milk or the leftover cheese from dinner. It was easy to see that the latter had been nibbled, so people naturally assumed that cheese was a favorite of mice. That does work in a trap...though a peanut butter, celery and fly sandwich will get them for sure. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Why should something be true if it comes straight from the horse's mouth? For centuries, people who brought horses from other people would listen to what the seller had to say, then ignore most of it. The only way to determine what a horse was worth was to walk it around, then check its teeth. The latter, especially, told the tale. If the teeth were healthy, the horse was probably in good shape. Thus, people said that if information came straight from the horse's mouth, it could be trusted Meanwhile, horse traders anxious to unload less-than-healthy animals would think of ways to keep the prospective buyer from looking in the animal's mouth. A seller who could do that was said to have "horse sense," another expression that's still with us. As for horseradish, that's a corruption of "hoarse," which is what many people become when they eat it. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, November 4, 2013 What is "slapstick" and why is it so funny? Slapstick is exactly what it sounds like. From the 16th through the 18th centuries, the Italiancommedia dell'arte featured masked, costumed players who would improvise stories based on standard traits for their characters. Among the many characters were the lovers Lucinda and Octavio; the foolish, baggy-pants Pantaloon; the dashing Scaramouche and the comic figure Harlequin. Harlequin typically hit the backsides of his bumbling co-stars using a piece of wood with another board fastened to it. When he whacked them, the sound of wood striking wood was a loud "slap" and it would send the characters flying--which is why our term "slapstick" means any kind of broad, silly comedy. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, November 1, 2013 Where does the cheer "hip, hip, hurrah!" come from? Chillingly, it was originally used as a taunt against Jews in the Middle Ages. In Germany, knights used to break up religious ceremonies with a cry of "Hep! Hep!" an anagram for Hierosolyma est perdita -- "Jerusalem is destroyed." During the 17th century, the Eastern Europeans added the cry of huraj, "To paradise," to the expression. This made it "Hip, Hip, Hurrah!" in English -- meaning "Jerusalem is lost to the infidel, and we are on the road to Paradise." No one knows how the expression came to be shouted at various sporting events, school rallies and political conventions, though it has long since lost its religious (or rather, anti-religious) meaning. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 31, 2013 Did an apple really fall on Isaac Newton's head? Not exactly, although an apple did play a part in his discovery. The 23-year-old English physicist was sitting in his garden at Woosthorpe one night in 1665, trying to figure out why the moon circled the Earth. From the corner of his eye, he saw an apple fall from a tree. Why did the apple fall down and not up? he wondered. Did the Earth cause the apple to fall? And if so, did the moon merely circle the Earth because it wasn't close enough to fall? These thoughts set him on the right path, though he didn't finish working out his laws of gravity until 1682. Even then, Newton was so shy a man that he didn't want to publish his findings. It took friends three years to persuade him to do so, and another two years for him to produce his historic bookThe Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 30, 2013 - Why is the South called "the Land of Dixie?" Believe it or not, it had nothing to do with Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, the 18th century surveyors whose Mason/Dixon line separated the North from the South. Nor did it come from Mr. Dixie, a kindly slave owner. Early in the 19th century, a New Orleans bank issued 10 dollar bills that bore the word dix, the French word for 10, on their face. The bills became known as "dixies," and possessing them was a symbol of prosperity. Therefore, they became synonymous with the South. What's surprising, though, is where the theme song of the Confederacy came from. Dixie was actually composed by a black Northerner, Daniel D. Emmett. It was first performed in a Broadway show in 1860. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 29, 2013 - Who paid first through the nose? The Swedes. And they didn't like it one bit, though paying through the nose was not originally intended to mean paying until it hurts. Not literally. During the 14th century, Swedish tax collectors working for the ruling Danish kings assessed taxes in their region based on the number of noses they counted, not on the amount of money people earned. So, large families with low incomes paid more than small families with a large income. That was deemed unfair--i.e., paying through the nose. In 1521, the Swedes threw off the foreign oppression. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 28, 2013 - Did Whistler really paint his mom? Yes but, the painting popularly known as "Whistler's Mother" was never called that by the artist. James McNeill Whistler named the work, Arrangement in Gray and Black: the Artist's Mother. It was the admiring public who gave the painting its nickname. Whatever you call it, Whistler's painting is the only one by an American hanging in the Louvre in Paris. While we're on the subject, Auguste Rodin's famous sculpture commonly called "The Thinker" isn't that at all. Rodin called it Dante Thinking, and it's a statue of the poet Dante Alighieri. And finally, though we call one of the world's great masterpieces "Mona Lisa," Leonardo da Vinci's painting is actually titled La Giaconda. It's a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florentine merchant Francesco del Giacondo. Friday, October 25, 2013- Why does a snake always stick out its tongue? If their tongues weren't always darting and quivering, snakes wouldn't know where to find their next meal. Snakes usually travel in order to find prey, and the reptile uses its tongue to gather particles in the air, which it then draws into its mouth. There, scent glands interpret the smells better than the animal's nostrils. It can literally taste and identify the type of animal that passed within the last hour or two. The snake continues to sample the air as it moves and tracks the animal down. The tongue is also extremely sensitive to vibrations. As it closes in on its prey, the snake actually uses its tongue, as well as its vibration-sensitive body, to tell in which direction an animal is moving. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 24, 2013 - What made the weasel go "pop" in the old rhyme? It doesn't mean an animal is bursting. In fact, the weasel of the old ditty isn't the cute, furry animal at all. In 17th and 18th century England, a weasel was a tool used by hatmakers to apply the fabric to the outside of a hat. And "pop" was the slang term for pawning something. Thus, when the hatter of the song finds himself without any cash to spend, when "that's the way the money goes," there's only one option: to take the hatting tool to the pawn shop. In other words, "Pop goes the weasel!" (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - What does "between the devil and the deep blue sea" have to do with the devil? Not much. In the olden days, a "devil" was the seam in a wooden ship's hull. It lay just at the waterline and, when it sprung a leak, it was virtually impossible to reach from the inside. Not that things were much better on the outside, where sailors had a "devil" of a time reaching it--hence, the nickname. There was wind, the rocking of the ship, sea-spray and swells to worry about. Thus, even under the best of conditions, no sailor liked to find himself between the devil and the deep blue sea. While linguists agree that the expression was popularized at sea, some say that seamen took it from the Bible (Matthew 8:32), when Jesus drove out the devils who possessed a herd of pigs that had flung themselves into the Sea of Galilee. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - Where is "Podunk," and how did it come to mean a small town? Surprisingly, there isn't--and never was--a town actually called by that name. The Podunks were a tribe of Indians who lived in South Windsor, CT at the mouth of a stream which still bears the name. The Indians disappeared without a trace in 1676 (apparently having joined another tribe), and finding the Podunks became something of a joke to the local colonists. By the early 18th century, New Englanders were using it to describe any place that was remote, lost or too small to locate. Along similar lines, insignificant towns are called "jerkwater" because the vital service they performed was providing water to trains passing through. This was done by cranking the water from tanks, a.k.a. "jerking water," as the train paused in the station. At soda fountains, this process is also called "jerking." (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 21, 2013 - Did anyone ever "kick the bucket?" Yes indeed, though the phrase originally described dying by suicide. In medieval times, suicide victims usually did themselves in by tying a rope to their neck, slinging it over a rafter, and then leaping off a water bucket or milk pail. Most of the victims writhed and convulsed as they strangled--and more often than not, they kicked the bucket during their struggles. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, October 18, 2013 - Who stole someone's thunder? The phrase "stealing one's thunder" had its origin in the theater in 1709. Though playwright and critic John Dennis' play "Appius and Virginia" was a flop, the author did come up with a novel way of producing thunder. The setup consisted of wooden troughs with hammer-like stops that made claps of different volume. Shortly after his play closed, "Macbeth" opened at the same theater. Dennis attended in his capacity as a critic and was shocked to hear his thunder-making device being used. "By God!" he wrote the next day. "The villains will not play my play, but they steal my thunder!" Thursday, October 17, 2013 - Who put the "honey" in honeymoon? Sometime in the fifth or sixth century the ancient Teutons--the forerunners of the modern-day Germans--began the custom of celebrating weddings by drinking an intoxicating beverage called honey mead each night for one month, the cycle of the moon. Hence, they called this period the time of the honey moon. The groom would join in the festivities and invariably passed out at night with his mates instead of with his new bride. In 1552, researcher Richard Huloet suggested that this practice was started to keep a man's love for his honey from waning like the moon after marriage. Though Huloet offered no historical a basis for his theory, personal experience presumably had something to do with it. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Click Archived Fast Fact of the Day for more! Wednesday, October 16, 2013 - How long do dreams last? Despite what many people believe, dreams aren't over in just a few seconds. We experience dreams in real-life time, just as though they were actually taking place. Every one of us passes through several periods of sleep each night, periods that include both light and deep sleep. Dreams come at the end of each of these periods. The sleep periods last from 90 minutes to two hours; dreams that come early in the night last five or ten minutes, while later dreams last an average of 50 minutes. We usually remember these latter dreams when we wake up not only because they're the most recent, but because they're the longest. Contrary to another popular belief, there is no connection between what we eat and what we dream. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 15, 2013 - What does a monkey wrench have to do with monkeys? Apart from the fact that many of us monkey around with them, not very much at all! The monkey wrench got its name thanks to a mistranslation. The tool was invented early in this century by Englishman Charles Moncke, who called it an "adjustable spanner." When the tool was imported to the United States, it was supposed to be called the "Moncke wrench." However, we wrote the name the way it sounded, not the way it was really spelled, and it became a monkey wrench. The tool inspired two expressions. The first is "to monkey with," which means to try and fix. The second is "throw a monkey wrench into the works," meaning you try and fix something, but somehow make it worse. Oh, and there is no such thing as a left-handed monkey wrench. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 14, 2013 - Why wear a wedding ring--and why on the "ring finger?" The wearing of wedding rings has nothing to do with the fact that primitive tribes often captured women from neighboring tribes and brought them back in shackles. Wedding rings were never intended to be a symbol of slavery! Rather, the practice dates back to the ancient Egyptian habit of sealing any kind of a pact with a mutual show of trust. Since the signet ring contained the crest of the owner--and allowed whoever was wearing it to act in the name of the owner--rings were swapped as a show of trust. The practice then moved from politics to business to marriages. The fourth finger of the left hand was selected as the ring finger in the third century B. C. because physicians of the time believed that a nerve ran directly from this finger to the heart. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, October 11, 2013 - Did it ever rain cats and dogs? Some people insist that the expression comes from an old French word for waterfall, catadoupe, but not many linguists subscribe to that. Indeed, we know for a fact that in Europe it did rain cats and dogs, and frequently. Illustrations and writings show that as far back as the early 17th century, cats would do their hunting on the rooftops of buildings in London, and adventurous dogs would find a way to get up and stalk them. Cornered cats and patient dogs were often caught there during downpours, causing them to be washed from gutters, over eaves, and down on startled passers-by. Thus, "raining cats and dogs" became a popular term for a cloudburst. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 10, 2013 - What makes mountain goats so sure-footed? And we sure do mean sure-footed. Mountain goats have the ability to walk almost straight up the side of cliffs. What gives them this unique ability is a supple pad on each cloven hoof. These pads have extremely soft centers. When the animal puts its foot down, each pad works just like a powerful suction cup, enabling the wild goat to appear to defy gravity. Nearly as remarkable is the fact that baby goats have the ability to follow their parents up a sheer cliff just hours after birth. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - Why do waves break? Most of the waves on our oceans, seas and lakes are caused by wind passing over them. As the waves move closer to shore, the distance between the top of the wave and the seabed decreases. When that happens, the water has nowhere to go but up and ahead. The wave becomes steeper and steeper and when the crest is roughly three-fourths as tall as the water is deep, the wave can no longer remain upright. It begins to fall forward and the crest hits the beach as a breaker. Some of the water is absorbed by the sand; the rest returns to the ocean as backwash. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 8, 2013 - Is chop suey Chinese? Yes and no. Chop suey did not originate in China, though the man who created it was Chinese. The dish was first thrown together in San Francisco, circa 1860. The inventor was a Chinese dishwasher who would dice leftovers and mix them in a dish. Curious about how it tasted, the restaurant owner sampled some and decided to offer it to customers. It isn't known which of the men coined the name, and whether "chop" came from "chop sticks" or from the American "chop." All we know for sure is that "suey" came from the Chinese word sui, or "bits." Over the next three decades, the dish made its way east, though it was still primarily eaten by the Chinese population. It finally went mainstream in 1896 when a Chinese official, Li Hung-Chang, was visiting New York during a world tour. He invited several American friends to dine with him in Chinatown, and the cook served chop suey. The Americans were delighted with the mixture of meat, vegetables and sauce, and soon it was served throughout the city. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Monday, October 7, 2013 - Is there really a "cloud nine"? Absolutely! Early in the 20th century, the U.S. Weather Bureau came up with cloud classifications, and "cloud nine" was used to describe the highest and wispiest form of cloud. It isn't known exactly how the classification worked its way into everyday language, however. By the early 1920s, a person on cloud nine was high and wispy, in a state of airy bliss. (Some linguists think it came from opium smokers, who described themselves as feeling "light as a cloud" when they were on the drug.) Nowadays, meteorologists call the highest clouds noctilucents--not exactly a term from which popular expressions are born. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, October 4, 2013 - Who says Mt. Everest is the world's tallest mountain? No one. Mt. Everest may be the world's highest mountain, but it's not the tallest. At 33,476 feet, Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii is over 4,000 feet taller. However, the mountain's base is underwater, allowing Mt. Everest to rise higher above sea level. Actually, geologists aren't sure that Everest is even the highest mountain on earth. Recent satellite measurements place Everest at 29,028 feet and its fellow Himalayan peak, K-2, at 29,030 feet. Snow cover, erosion, and the fact that the earth is still pushing the mountains skyward make exact measurement difficult. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, October 3, 2013 - Is the Black Sea black--and the Red Sea red? Not at all. It only looks that way. The black color of the water in the Black Sea comes from decomposition of vegetable matter. This is caused by bacteria that live in the water. The Black Sea also happens to be rough, gloomy and often covered with a thick fog, which is why it was originally called Pontus Axenus, (Inhospitable Sea) by the ancient Greeks. The Red Sea got its name from the reddish algae that thrive in its waters. As for the rest of the world's seas, they seem blue for the same reason the sky seems blue. Light from the sun is broken up by water particles. Since the blue wavelengths are the shortest, they get broken up and bounced around more, making them the dominant color. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Wednesday, October 2, 2013 - Why don't we give someone the "hot shoulder?" In the Middle Ages, poor people would go from house to house, begging for food. If the beggar were smart, he or she would go to the manor of a lord and wait until after dinner before knocking on the door. To keep peace with the poor--who would be the first to rebel, if given the chance--the noble would see to it that they were given something to eat. Usually, this was the least-desirable cut of meat: a cold shoulder of mutton. Over time, being given the "cold shoulder" came to mean that someone considered you unworthy of sharing his table. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Tuesday, October 1, 2013 - Could an electric eel light up a bulb? Assuming you could hook one up, some of them could. Electric eels reach up to six feet in length and live in the waters of the Amazon in South America. Certain members of the species can generate 500 to 600 volts at two amperes--enough energy to light a dozen 60-watt bulbs or electrocute a human being. The electricity is created chemically and stored in muscles that act like battery cells. Most eels take about an hour to become fully charged, after which they get rid of the energy. Electric eels not only use their electricity to defend themselves and kill prey, but also to light their way in dark waters. Although they look like eels, electric eels are actually freshwater fish of the carp and minnow family. Monday, September 30, 2013 - Why do cowboys wear high heels? Believe it or not, it has nothing to do with being macho. Cowboy boots are made that way to keep the boot from slipping through the stirrup of a saddle. And the stitching on the sides isn't merely decorative: It helps to strengthen the boot and give it extra wear. High heel shoes originated hundreds of years ago with men who rode horses for a living. They were adapted by the general populace for one reason and one reason only: to keep people's feet out of muck, whether it was a gentleman walking to his carriage or a butcher slogging through blood. In the 18th century, as drainage improved, men gave up wearing high heels altogether. Women continued to wear them, largely for the extra height it gave them. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Friday, September 27, 2013 - What do "the dog days of summer" have to do with dogs? Nothing. Many people think the hot, heavy days of summer got their name from the fact that the heat is so intense that dogs just lie around panting. Dogs may very well do that, but the dog days aren't named for them. They're named after the star Sirius--so called because it's located in the dog constellation Canis Major--which rises just before the sun does at this time of year. The ancient Romans believed that these brutally hot days, or dies caniculares, were caused because the dog star added its heat to the already brutal heat given off by the sun. (From Did You Ever Wonder... 1997) Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Real answers given by real students on real tests: "To change centimeters to meters you take out centi." "Lincoln's mother died in infancy, and he was born in a log cabin which he built with his own hands." "Sir Francis Drake circumcised the world with a 100-foot clipper." "Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity by rubbing two cats backward and declared, "A horse divided against itself cannot stand." "Louis Pasteur discovered a cure for rabbis." Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - Did curiosity ever kill the cat? Not the kind of cat you're probably thinking of, anyway. The expression "Curiosity killed the cat" doesn't actually refer to a feline. First used in the 18th century, the expression refers to local gossips who poke, pry and backbite like cats. If they gossip too much or ask too many questions, they'll be friendless--or killed, in a manner of speaking. The phrase was a take-off of "Care will kill a cat," which appeared in George Wither's 17th century poem "Christmas." Wither believed that a cat who is not curious will lose her nine lives to boredom. (From "Did You Ever Wonder" 1997) Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - Great opening lines from famous books: "Once upon a time there was...'A king!' my young readers will instantly exclaim. No, children, you are wrong. Once upon a time there was a piece of wood." --Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio. "When I think back now, I realize that the only thing John Wilson and I actually ever had in common was the fact that at one time or another each of us ran over someone with an automobile." --Peter Viertel, White Hunter Black Heart. "The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended." --Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey. Monday, September 23, 2013 - Why does Swiss cheese have holes? It doesn't. It has eyes. Call them "holes" in Switzerland and you'll be laughed out of the cheese shop. Swiss cheese has eyes because of microorganisms which act on the cheese while it is aging, or fermenting. These harmless organisms produce gases which literally explode from the cheese, creating the eyes. This doesn't happen with other kinds of cheese because the cheesemakers use the yeasts, molds and bacteria in different proportions, for different lengths of time and under different conditions. Though Swiss cheese can be produced anywhere, the organisms and ingredients found in the mountains of Switzerland still produce the best cheese. And that's the truth...the "hole" truth. (From "Did You Ever Wonder...?" 1997) Friday, September 20, 2013 - Why did the Irish believe there was gold at the end of rainbows? They didn't. It was all a big misunderstanding. Rainbows are formed when light hits droplets of rain. Each droplet acts like a prism, splitting the light into different colors, each of which is bent at a slightly different angle. That's what forms a rainbow. Because the light source, the sun, is a circle, and because light travels in a straight line, the rainbow is a circle as well. In order for the sun's rays to refract so we can see them, the sun has to be within 42 degrees of the horizon, either rising or setting. That's relatively low, which means we can never see the full circle of a rainbow--just the top part of the arc. As far back as the 17th century, the Irish understood this. And they were fond of saying that one was as likely to find a pot of gold as to find the end of a rainbow. The expression somehow changed and became part of their fairy mythology. Thursday, September 19, 2013 What Happened to the Olympic Flag? In 1920 someone stole the Olympic flag-not just any Olympic flag, either: It was the first one to feature the five interlocking Olympic rings, which had been created in 1913. No one was ever caught, and the fate of the famous first flag remained a mystery until 2000, when American diver Hal Prieste, then 103, decided to come forward. Back in 1920, on a dare from teammate Duke Kahanamoku, he had climbed a 15-foot flagpole at the Olympic stadium in Belgium, taken the flag, kept it in the bottom of a suitcase for 80 years. Prieste handed the flag over during a special ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Today it's on display at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. Wednesday, September 18, 2013 - Why--and what--are we supposed to tell the Marines? "Tell it to the Marines" was the idea of an English king who used it to show people he wasn't as gullible as they might think. During the 17th century, King Charles II had a well-deserved reputation as one of the less--shall we say--intellectual monarchs to sit on the throne of England. When informed by an officer of the Maritime Regiment of Foot that seamen recently returned from the east had seen flying fish and other amazing unexplained sights, Charles demanded proof. Fortunately, one of the men had caught a fish and, after seeing its small "wings," the king believed him. Thereafter, whenever he was told something that seemed patently fantastic, the monarch would say, "Tell it to the Marines." After all, these men had seen everything. If they believed it, so would he. Tuesday, September 17, 2013 - Why were World War I pilots called "aces?" Not because they were perfect shots, able to shoot the center from an ace, as Annie Oakley did in Wild West shows. The word comes from the Latin as, which was a unit of weight roughly equal to a pound. In the marketplaces of ancient Rome, goods that weighed exactly an as were considered suitable for sale. When the word became part of the French language, the weight reference was gone. The word as simply meant "terrific." When French, British and American fliers took to the skies during World War I, a victorious pilot was referred to by the French as as. That translated to the English word "ace," and it stuck. The use of the word to describe the playing card took a slightly different course. The Latin as was considered "a whole thing;" the playing card was also regarded as indivisible and, thus, as . . . or an ace. (from "Did You Ever Wonder"... 1997) Monday, September 16, 2013 - Why is the Academy Award called an Oscar? Simple--it was named after someone's Uncle Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded by 30 leading filmmakers and actors on May 4, 1927, to find ways to improve the artistic quality of films and honor those who did. At the group's first official meeting, in a banquet hall at the Biltmore Hotel in Hollywood, director Cedric Gibbons sketched out a design for an award on a tablecloth. That became the model for the Academy Award, which was first handed out in May 1929. For the first few years the award was simply referred to as "the Statuette." However, in 1931, Academy librarian Margaret Herrick noticed one of the statuettes on a desk and remarked, "Why, he looks like my Uncle Oscar!" Those who heard her comment took to calling the award Oscar, and the name stuck. Friday, September 13, 2013 - Did anyone bake "4 and 20" blackbirds in a pie? No, though the truth is stranger than the nursery rhyme it inspired! In France, in 1454, knights who belonged to the Order of the Golden Fleece got together for a fabulous banquet in honor of the founder of their order, Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy. Music was to be a part of the celebration, and the knights wanted something that would impress their guest, King Charles VII. They had the baker prepare an enormous pie crust and when the king sat down, two dozen African musicians emerged from within--the "four-and-20 blackbirds baked in a pie." Thursday, September 12, 2013 - Be careful what you search for! Ever searched Google for something you wanted to keep secret, like a medical issue or a surprise birthday present? No problem. You can always just delete the search history on your computer and it's gone, right? Wrong. That just deletes it from your browser's history. Google still has a record of everything you (and everyone else) has ever used its service to research online. Everything from "burning sensation" to "stylish adult diapers" is stored on Google's electronic servers along with information that shows exactly what computer made the embarrassing search. Wednesday, September 11, 2013 What is a Retronym? Retronyms provide new names for terms that need to be distinguished from their original versions. Snail mail: It was just called "mail" until e-mail. A shorter version is also beginning to catch on - "smail." Coca-Cola Classic: The word "classic" was added in 1985 after the release of New Coke, which flopped. Land line: It was just a regular telephone until cell phones became popular. World War I: Called "The Great War" and "The War to End All Wars"... until World War II. Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Can we really multitask? UCLA researcher Russell Poldrack conducted a study to test people's abilities to "multitask." He gave a group of test subjects a set of cards and asked them to remember the shapes drawn on the cards and then relay them to the research team. Then, in a separate test, the subjects were given a new set of cards to sort, but there was a catch- they were also simultaneously fed a series of low- and high-pitched beeps through earphones. They were asked to keep count of the high-pitched beeps while sorting the cards. The results: All of the subjects had better recall when they performed only one task at a time. Monday, September 9, 2013 If skin is always renewing itself, why don't scars heal completely? Only the outer layer of skin, the epidermis, renews itself every 28 days: Skin cells on the surface brush off and are replaced by the new ones underneath. A scar, however, forms when an injury pierces through the epidermis and injures the dermis, the layer of skin beneath it. The dermis is much tougher, and its cells don't die and brush off. So when wounds to the dermis heal, they create tough scar tissue that never renews and never completely goes away. Friday, September 6, 2013 - Who was the world's first turncoat? It was the Duke of Saxony who, in the middle 16th century, owned land that was claimed by both Spain and France. The two nations fought over the land, and the duke had no idea who would be victorious, or whose armies would be where exactly when. His solution? The canny duke had his tailor make a coat for him that had Spain's color, blue, on one side, and France's color, white, on the other. Whenever one or the other side's armies came marching through his land, he would simply turn his coat accordingly and cheer the men on. Other noblemen did likewise, and the practice, along with the word, caught on. Thursday, September 5, 2013 - Does an apple a day keep the doctor away? Afraid not. The average apple provides just .0004 ounces of vitamin C - one-fifth as much as an orange. And it contains only .07 ounces of dietary fiber. The largest single "ingredient" of an apple is sugar: .7 ounces of it. So where did the saying come from? It began in the early 19th century by American apple growers. Highly religious communities blamed the apple for the loss of Paradise, so farmers came up with the slogan in what proved to be a successful attempt to boost sales. They also published apple cookbooks, figuring that there would be less resistance to apples if they were hidden in pies, cider, sauce, and caramel. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 - Does leprosy make fingers and toes fall off? Hardly ever, despite what happened to Ben-Hur's mother and sister. As far back as 500 A.D., lepers were forced to carry sticks to point at things they wanted and made to wear bells to announce their arrival. But leprosy isn't a disease that causes people to fall apart, nor is it even moderately contagious. It's caused by a bacteria that deadens the nerves. Because of this, sufferers will touch fire, suffer a cut, and otherwise hurt themselves without knowing it. These accidents are what cause ulcers, infection and the possible loss of a finger or toe. The disease itself does not. Nowadays,, leprosy is effectively treated by the use of drugs. The name itself comes from the Greek lepros, which means scaly. Tuesday, September 3, 2013 - What is the "X" in X-ray? Not much. In November 1895, Bavarian physicist Whilhelm Roentgen was doing research on electricity when he noticed that a sheet of chemically treated paper in his laboratory was glowing--even though there was a heavy piece of cardboard between his work area and the paper. He moved the paper to another room and continued his work. The paper continued to glow. Roentgen realized that a ray he was somehow generating was causing the chemical to glow. He had no idea what the ray was, so he called it and "X"-ray, due to its mysterious origin and properties. Roentgen continued to do research into his X-rays, and won the Nobel Prize in 1901. But no one ever came up with a better name, so "X" continues to mark the spot in physics books. Friday, August 30, 2013 - Can you get a suntan in the shade?" You sure can. And also on an extremely cloudy day. The sun gives off ultraviolet rays--radiation so powerful it literally cooks the skin and gives us a suntan. Clouds stop visible light from getting through to us, but they barely make a dent on ultraviolet rays. Even on a heavily overcast day, 80 percent of the rays still get through. And if you're sitting under an umbrella on a beach or beside a pool, watch out: the sand and concrete will reflect nearly half of the ultraviolet light, giving you a tan on the soles of your feet! Incidentally, oxygen absorbs ultraviolet radiation and is transformed into ozone. The ozone layer won't let ultraviolet rays through to us; however, if chemicals in the atmosphere eat up the ozone faster than it can be manufactured, we'll fry." Thursday, August 29, 2013 - Who is the "Jack" in "Jack-O'-Lantern?" He's an ancient blacksmith who made a deal with the devil, trading his soul for seven years of prosperity. But he also got three wishes from Jesus and St. Peter: Anyone who climbed his pear tree, sat in his armchair or climbed into his purse must remain there until Jack let them go. When the devil came for Jack's soul, Jack tricked him into climbing the pear tree. The devil gave Jack seven more years of prosperity in exchange for his freedom. When he returned, Jack trapped him in his armchair. When the devil came back seven years later, hoping to sneak up on Jack disguised as an insect, Jack locked him in his purse. When Jack finally went to the underworld, the devil told him that he didn't want him around and he should go to S. Peter. As he left, Jack grabbed a burning coal and placed it in the pumpkin he was eating, using it as a lantern to see his way to heaven. The demons who saw it knew to steer well away from clever Jack...and to this day, we use jack-o'-lanterns to frighten away evil spirits. Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Why do your eyes turn red in flash photos?" It's not because everyone in your family is a little devil, no matter how much the photograph makes them look that way. The eyes appear red because when the flash goes off it illuminates the back of the eye, which is thick with blood vessels. The reflected light is bright red, and that's what the camera registers. You can cut down on the redness by having your subjects avert their gaze slightly, or by turning on other lights, which cause the pupil to dilate and cut down the amount of light entering the eyes and bouncing back. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 - Why did Yankee Doodle call the feather in his hat "macaroni?" Back in Pre-Revolutionary America, when the song "Yankee Doodle" was popular, the hero didn't stick a feather in his hat and call it pasta. "Macaroni" was a reference to a fancy-dressing Italian, a style which was widely imitated in England at the time. Thus, by sticking just a feather in his cap and calling himself a Macaroni, that is, a dandy, Yankee Doodle was showing himself to be a country bumpkin--which was exactly how the English regarded most colonials. And speaking of lyrics that have lost something over time, the "matilda" of the 1895 ditty "Waltzing Matilda" is not a girl but a knapsack. Monday, August 26, 2013 - Why is a false clue called a "red herring"? The expression is at least 200 years old, and it was derived from the use of herring--which becomes red when smoked--to train dogs to follow a scent. The fish was placed in a sack and dragged through the woods or streets behind a horse, and was used to teach the animals to focus on their quarry. Unfortunately, escaped prisoners would make a point of getting red herrings to toss here and there as they fled, distracting the dogs that were sent after them--which is how a red herring came to mean something misleading. By the way, English criminals gave us another "misleading" expression. In the 18th century, wealthy men were robbed by thugs who first tugged their wool wigs down so they couldn't see. From this we get the expression "Pulling the wool over one's eyes." Friday, August 23, 2013 - Does fear really make our hair stand on end? Well, sort of. Fear makes the heart race as it pumps blood to parts of the body that need it--the vital organs as well as the legs and lungs--so we can flee in time of trouble. This causes the rest of the body to lose blood and, therefore, warmth. Now when we lose warmth from any part of our body, whether due to fear or cold, tiny muscles beneath the skin contract, causing the flesh to tighten and forcing the hair to stand up, That may not keep us warm nowadays, but it worked quite well hundreds of thousands of years ago, when humans had more hair and stiffening it was an effective way to trap air and keep warm. By the way, hair standing on end is also what gives us goose bumps. The hair tugs at the follicle and makes a little bump in the skin. Thursday, August 22, 2013 - Who posed for the Statue of Liberty? The face was that of Charlotte Bartholdi, the mother of designer Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The sculptor's girlfriend, Jeanne-Emilie, was the model for the statue's arms and body. Gustave Eiffel, who later built the Eiffel Tower, built the statue's metal skeleton. Constructed entirely in France, the statue was packed in 214 cases for its journey to the United States. When it was decided that the French would give a gift to the United States in honor of the 100th anniversary of our independence, Bartholdi sailed to New York to search for a suitable site. When his ship entered the harbor, he knew he had to look no further. The statue replaced an old fortress, Fort Wood, which was located on Bedloe's Island. Wednesday, August 21, 2013 - Can you "catch" a yawn? No. But, you say, don't many people in the same room sometimes yawn at the same time? Yes. But that's not the same thing. When we're tired, the act of yawning brings extra air into the lungs, and hence blood to the brain. When several people yawn at the same time, they're simply responding to the same stimuli: a stuffy atmosphere or boredom. Not someone else's yawn. Tuesday, August 20, 2013 - Who invented the "toast" and does it have anything to do with bread? The Romans...and a great deal. The custom of offering up a salutation before drinking came from the ancient Roman practice of dropping a small square of toast into an alcoholic beverage to soak up any lingering sediments before drinking. The salutation was offered while the bread did its work. These so-called "toast speeches" were kept brief, however, lest the toast sit there too long and begin breaking up. It was the custom for the host not only to present this toast but also to take the first sip in order to prove to his guests that the drink wasn't rancid or poisoned. Monday, August 19, 2013 - Why is a rabbit's foot lucky? Why indeed? Why didn't a bird's or a pig's foot become the ultimate token of good fortune? The tradition dates back to at least 500 B.C., when the rabbit's fertility made it highly regarded by farmers. (The rabbit's use as a symbol for the springtime fertility of crops has since come down to us as the modern-day Easter Bunny.) Initially, the entire pelt of the rabbit was considered lucky and was used to make various kinds of garments, from mittens to hats. In time, however, the foot alone became symbolic of its powers, apparently due to its phallic shape. (Though some scholars have suggested it was a scam perpetrated by trappers who were trying to make some extra money off the carcass!) Friday, August 16, 2013 - Why do we toss spilled salt over our shoulders? To catch the devil. Spilling salt has been considered bad luck ever since Lot's hapless wife disobeyed God's command by looking back on Sodom and Gomorrah as it was destroyed and, as punishment, was turned into a pillar of salt. As a result, salt came to be regarded as the symbol of temptation, and spilling it was viewed as a means of summoning the ultimate tempter, the devil. Once it was spilled and the devil was called, what was one to do? Simple. Throw a pinch of salt over one's left shoulder and hope it hit the devil in the eye, blinding him while the salt was cleaned up. The left shoulder had no significance other than the fact that most people were right-handed. Thursday, August 15, 2013 - Why do we say "God bless you" when people sneeze? Depending upon the culture of the blesser, it was believed that a sneeze either was caused by demons leaving the body, or else left one vulnerable for demons to enter the body. By calling for God's blessing, one was theoretically protecting the sneezer from harm. And while it's considered polite to cover the mouth when we sneeze, this does nothing to protect those around us from germs. At 100 miles an hour, a sneeze will force plenty of bacteria through our fingers. As it happens, people covered up long before they even knew what germs were! Covering the mouth comes from the custom of the sneezer, cougher or yawner making the sign of the cross to prevent evil spirits from entering them. Wednesday, August 14, 2013 - Is dry cleaning really dry? No. In fact, it's nearly as wet as regular cleaning. Clothes to be "dry-cleaned" are put in a large washing machine and subjected to perchloroethylene and a variety of other solutions. After they've been immersed in these, the clothes are placed in a dryer which removes the solvents. Stains that weren't removed during this process are given personal attention with various chemicals (depending on the nature of the stain), after which the clothing is pressed and folded. Clean, yes. Dry-cleaned, no. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - Are bats blind? Hardly. Their erratic flight patterns, plus the fact that they fly at dusk, suggested to ancient peoples that they had terrible vision. But in fact quite the opposite is true. They have excellent eyesight. They fly helter-skelter because they chase darting bugs through the dusk sky. In addition to possessing sharp eyes, bats emit high-pitched sounds which work like sonar and help them to navigate in the dark. But, bats are disoriented in sudden brightness because their eyes are accustomed to the dark. In some countries, the phrase is not "blind as a bat" but "blind as a bat in sunlight." Monday, August 12, 2013 - Why did pirates wear earrings? They didn't do it for decoration. Believe it or not, they did it for their health and well-being. Acupuncturists tell us that there are pressure points located just above the earlobe which help to improve eyesight, reduce the appetite and boost energy levels. These are attributes which would certainly come in handy during long sea voyages. Some of the earrings they wore also had waxy lumps dangling from the bottom. These helped the pirates in another, less exotic way: During exchanges of cannon fire, the pirates used them to plug their ears! Friday, August 9, 2013 - Why is "Scotland Yard" in England? In the 10th century, as a gesture of friendship, a Scottish king was given land in London with the provision that he build a castle and live in it a portion of each year. Seven centuries later, when England and Scotland became united under a common ruler, the land was turned over to London authorities. It was divided into Greater and Middle Scotland Yard, and the London police took up residence there in 1829. Today, Scotland Yard refers to both the metropolitan police force that's based there, as well as its many local stations. Thursday, August 8, 2013 - Why do we eat fish with lemon? It's got nothing to do with taste. Serving lemon with fish is a 600-year-old custom that arose from the belief that lemon juice acted very much like an acid. Thus, if someone swallowed a bone, a mouthful of lemon juice would help to dissolve it. But wait, you say. Wouldn't someone have to put a bone on a plate, tried this out and seen that it didn't work? Perhaps they did. But the odd thing was, inside the body it often did work--though not for the reason people thought. What happed was that sucking a lemon caused the diner's throat muscles to contort, freeing the bone and sending it on its way to the stomach. Incidentally, if you were eating a fish that was supposed to have been boned, and you happened to find a bone, it was polite to say nothing of your discovery. That was the origin of the expression "Make no mention of the bones" which was shortened to, "Make no bones about it." Wednesday, August 7, 2013 - Why do mosquito bites itch? Itching from mosquito bites is caused by an allergic reaction to the fluid the insects inject when they bite you. Once your skin reacts to the bite, you scratch it. But why doesn't that work for very long? The reason scratching stops an itch is because you're hurting yourself. Any itch is an irritation of the nerve endings close to the surface of the skin. Scratching, therefore, causes a minor pain which overrides the itching. If scratching has removed an external cause of the itch--say, dust or a loose thread--it won't return. If the cause is internal, like a mosquito bite, it will return until the irritant is absorbed by the body. When you swat that mosquito, you're killing a mother. Only females bite, and they do it to get blood to nourish their young. Male mosquitoes only consume plant nectar and water. And don't count on your dog to take a bite for you. Different species of mosquitoes feed on different animals. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Tuesday, August 6, 2013- If there's "blackmail" why isn't there "whitemail? There used to be. In 16th century England, the word "mail" meant rent, tax, or tribute. If you were wealthy, you typically paid your debt in silver. This was known as "whitemail," from the color of silver. If you weren't as well-to-d0, you usually paid in some other form, from grain to meat. Since these came from the dark earth, they were known as "blackmail." Because everyone knew exactly what an ounce of silver was worth, whitemail had a set value. Blackmail, however, did not. Thus, if the person receiving the blackmail didn't approve of the amount, they were able to demand more. It was this extortion that gives us the current meaning of the word. Monday, August 5, 2013 - Why do so many cartoon characters have only four fingers? It's a matter of time and economy. Before computers took over many of the artistic chores, each frame of an animated cartoon had to be drawn by hand. In the middle 1920's, Walt Disney, as well as other producers, realized that if the animators had one less finger to draw on each hand, not only would viewers probably not notice, but the artists would be able to spend a few minutes less drawing each individual "cel." That would shave days off the production of each short subject, and weeks on the production of each feature! Disney and the others were right. Audiences who were willing to accept humanized mice, ducks and cats barely noticed that these characters had four or sometimes three fingers instead of five! (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Friday, August 2, 2013 - Did French fries come from France? No--Belgium. No one knows for sure when they were first made. What is known is that around the turn of the century, a fellow by the name of Rodolphe de Warsage was heading home to Liege (in Belgium) when he stopped in a bakery and bought a sack of the thinly sliced fried potatoes. He ate them on the way home, and was so enthralled with their taste that he had them made when he got back. The popularity of the fried potatoes spread to the north of France and from there to other European nations--where, rather unfairly, they were dubbed "French fried potatoes." Then again, "Roldophe fries" doesn't have quite as appetizing a sound. In England, of course, where the thicker fries are literally chipped from the potato, they are known as chips. (from "DidYou Ever Wonder...." 1997) Thursday, August 1, 2013 - How did feeding one's family come to be known as "bringing home the bacon?" Many people think it began in medieval markets, where people would buy a pig, bring it home and slaughter it for food. That makes sense, of course, though the origin of the phrase is rather different. According to 12th century records, there was a county in Ireland in which an unusual number of couples were having marital squabbles. Thus, the local elders came up with a proposition: Whichever couple did not quarrel for one year would be awarded a side of bacon. The custom continued for many years to come, and those who saw a neighbor "bringing home the bacon" knew that all was going well at home. Much later, the expression came to mean that one was successful in business as well as in domestic affairs, and a man or woman who was able to bring home the bacon was viewed as content in every way. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - What does "OK" stand for? Believe it or not, there isn't a language specialist on earth who can tell you for sure! Some scholars say it came from our seventh president, Andrew Jackson, who wasn't all that well-educated and had a habit of misspelling "all correct" as "orl kurrect." When he was too lazy to write it out, he simply wrote "OK," or so the story goes. However, there are no written examples to support this claim. Others say it comes from the Jamaican "oh ki" for "all right," while President Woodrow Wilson said it came from the Choctaw word "okeh." However, most linguists trace its origin to the presidential election of 1840. Democratic nominee Martin Van Buren was born in Old Kinderhook, NY, and one of the groups that supported him was the Democratic O.K. Club. Other Van Buren boosters began using the letters O.K. to signify their support of the candidate, and when he was elected everyone was assured that the country would be OK. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - Who was Davy Jones & why is his locker at the bottom of the sea? Except for the tambourine-slapping member of the Monkees, no one famous ever held the name. The Davy Jones in question wasn't even a real person. A West Indian word for ghost is "duffy," and sailors there often spoke of an apparition of the Biblical prophet Jonah--that is, the duffy Jonah. Seamen from abroad, not quite understanding what the natives were saying, took the figure to be some lost sailor by the name of Davy Jones. As for the locker, that's a common word for a seaman's chest. Thus, to visit Davy Jones' locker is to go to the bottom of the sea...and one's death. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) July 29, 2013 - Why do zebras have stripes? It's easy to understand why tigers have stripes. They live in regions where the grasses are tall, dry, and tawny-colored. When a tiger moves, it's difficult to tell the grass and shadows from the tiger's stripes. But zebra graze in the open where the black and white stripes would seem to be the worst kind of camouflage there is! So why did nature bother? Zoologists believe that nature gave zebras stripes for two reasons. First, predators are most active during sunrise and sunset, when there's sufficient light for the hunt, but heat is relatively low. At such times, the black and white stripes appear gray from a distance, helping the animals blend in with their dark surroundings. Second, if a herd is attacked, the moving stripes of many zebras create a jagged picture that confuses many predators. So as camouflage goes, the distinctive stripes are not quite as useless as they seem! About the only animal that's colored so it can be seen is the sea gull. Because of its whiteness, other sea gulls can see one feeding from afar and join it where the fishing is good. (from "Did You Ever Wonder...." 1997) July 26, 2013 - The United States has 108 protected areas known as national monuments. President Theodore Roosevelt established the first national monument, Devils Tower in Wyoming, on September 24, 1906. Interestingly, the only mobile national monument is San Francisco's cable cars. New York State has 4 national monuments: Statue of Liberty-1924, Fort Stanwix-1935, Castle Clinton-1946, and African Burial Ground-1978. July 25, 2013 - What is an urban legend? Meaning: Modern folktales. In the 1940s and 50's folklorists started collecting modern American legends (like the one about Bloody Mary appearing in a mirror, or the one about teenagers being chased by a man carrying a hook). The stories all had similar characteristics: They usually offered a warning, were just plausible enough to seem true, and were passed from person to person orally. The folklorists called the legends "urban belief tales" or "city tales." The words "urban"and "city" indicated their dark themes, even though the stories weren't based in the cities. In the 1960s they came to be called "urban legends," and they've been terrifying and entertaining us ever since. July 24, 2013 - What is a jerkwater town? The term dates back to the days when towns were farther apart than trains could travel without stopping to get fresh water for the boilers. When a train low on water came upon a pond or a creek running alongside the track it stopped and the train crew hauled or "jerked" buckets of water back into the train. Small settlements often grew up in places where the trains were known to stop. These towns-in the middle of nowhere-came to be known as jerkwater towns. July 23, 2013 - Why are there 13 in a baker's dozen? To keep bakers out of jail. Because of the way rolls, buns and cakes were cooked in the 15th century--in three rows of four--they were sold in batches of a dozen. The goods were fashioned by hand, of course, and bakers found that they could make them smaller without the customer being any the wiser. Who could tell the difference, after all, when 12 items were stuffed into a bag? Well, enough people apparently could tell, because London lawmakers passed laws which standardized the weight of these goods. Stiff fines and jail sentences were imposed if the total were off, so bakers often took the precaution of throwing in an extra roll or cake to make absolutely sure they made the required weight. Hence, 13 to a baker's dozen. ("Did You Ever Wonder...", 1997) July 22, 2013 - Why is "the life of Riley" so terrific? The life of Riley is a life of easy days and carefree nights. It's an odd expression because the real Mr. Riley was anything but lazy. "Riley" was poet James Whitcomb Riley, who wrote poems like The Old Swimmin' Hole, which glorified the fast-fading innocence of the 19th century and comforted those who had already missed it. But is wasn't just the subject matter of his poems that inspired the expression. It was the fact that Riley's writings made him rich, the wealthiest American author of his day. To "live the life of Riley" wasn't only to be barefoot and fancy free. It was also to be as well-heeled as the man who wrote about such things! ("Did You Ever Wonder...", 1997) We serve all of WNY including but not limited to: Amherst, Buffalo, Clarence, Cheektowaga, Kenmore, Lancaster, Lewiston, Lockport, Hamburg, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Orchard Park, Pendleton, Tonawanda, Wheatfield, Williamsville, Wilson Enroll Today!	i don't know
The Amazon river, the second longest in the world, drains into the Atlantic Ocean through what country?	Amazon River, South America: Map, Facts, Location, History South America Information about Amazon River PDF The Amazon River – Largest River in the World (by the volume of water) The Amazon River, located in South America, is the second longest river in the world. It flows through Guyana , Ecuador , Venezuela , Bolivia , Brazil , Colombia , and Peru traversing a distance of about 4,000 miles or about 6,400 kilometers. While for the major part, the river runs through dense rain forests, some populous and large cities have sprung up on its banks. The largest among these cities is Manaus in Brazil with a population of over 1.7 million people. The Central Amazon Conservation Complex along the Amazon Basin is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Amazon rainfores t is one of the most bio diverse places on earth and is home to a number of freshwater species including over 3,000 different fish species. The world’s largest variety of electric fish, the Amazonian manatee, the black caiman, and Amazonian river dolphins live in the Amazon River. Going by drainage, the Amazon River is the largest in the world. It is so large that the river and its tributaries contain 20% of the planet’s freshwater supply. The river rises to about 30 feet during the monsoons, its rich alluvium settles in the surrounding floodplain soils, while the water fills up the lakes and lagoons through its course. The river drains over 7,381,000 cubic foot of water into the Atlantic Ocean each second. During the monsoons, the width of the Amazon River can reach over 30 miles (50 kilometers). With over 1,100 tributaries, it comes as little wonder that the Amazon is called The River Sea. The Amazon rainforest are known for the various medicinal herbs and minerals available here. While the uses of many of these are known to the indigenous tribes, researchers from across the world are discovering more and more beneficial substances here. Location Map of Amazon River Amazon River Facts The Amazon river originates from the Andes Mountains The mouth of the river is located in the Atlantic Ocean Its length is 6,400 km (4,000 miles) approximately It is the second longest river in the world Where is the Amazon River ? The river, located in the South American continent, traverses the following countries : Guyana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Best time to visit Amazon River The Amazon basin is best avoided through the monsoon months between January and June due to the high humidity and unpredictability of tour operations. July through December, the dry season, is the best to visit the Amazon valley. More on Amazon River Cities Along the Amazon River : Iquitos (Peru); Leticia (Colombia); Manaus (Brazil), Santarém (Brazil), Belém do Pará (Brazil), Macapa (Brazil).	Brazil
Who is missing: Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon	Ahoy - Mac's Web Log - The Top Ten Rivers of the World Ahoy - Mac's Web Log Naval, Maritime, Australian History and more Mackenzie J Gregory The Top Ten Rivers of the World Introduction. The only criterion for selection to this exclusive list is length in miles. The longest river gains first position, and so on in descending order. Number 1. The Nile. Length in miles 4145. Location Africa. Empties into the Mediterranean. The world's longest river, flowing from South to North, and finally emptying into the Mediterranean. It has three major rivers contributing to it, the Blue Nile with its source in Ethiopia near Lake Tana, north of Khartoum, the White Nile and Blue Nile are joined by the Atbara, which also was born in the highlands of Ethiopia. A little north of Cairo, the Nile splits into two arms, the Rosetta Branch to the west, and the Damietta to the east. In 1971 the Aswan High Dam was opened, built to control the flow of the Nile, and Lake Nasser, some 312 miles long, a man made lake came into being as a result of this construction work. Salt water problems. Given this control of the Nile, when the river finally enters the Mediterranean, its strength of flow is no longer robust enough to prevent salt water from the Mediterranean entering into the Nile, and forcing its way back up the river. Thus, this ingress of salt destroys both the soil around the Delta, and the habitat of animals and birds. Map of the Nile River Sunset on the Nile River Number 2. The Amazon River. Length in miles 4,050. Location Peru/brazil. Empties into the Atlantic. The Amazon is pipped by the Nile for the World's longest river title, but only just. However the Amazon carries the greatest volume of water of any river world wide, as it drains the northern half of the South American continent. This river's headwaters start high up in the Andes mountains, it is reported that 4.2 million cubic feet of water per second flow out into the ocean at the Amazon's mouth, and that is an amazing statistic! The basin formed by the Amazon is 9 times the size of the US state of Texas, and its water shed covers the largest tropical rain forest world wide. I was suprised to learn that not a single bridge spans this mighty river. Many species of unique animals, birds, fish, and plants grace the lands that the Amazon passes through on its way to the Atlantic Ocean. The Toucan with its amazing beak, is found no where else but close to this river, the boa constrictor flourishes in the damp rain forest ajoining the river, and the jaguar may be seen stretched out in tree branches as the river flows swiftly by. Whilst in America they may boast of catfish up to 40 pounds in weight, a typical catfish of the Amazon may come in at 200 pounds. The mere mention of the Amazon brings to mind, size, exotic plants, dripping rain forest, adventure, mystery, and a sheer volume of rushing water probably unequalled anywhere else on our planet. Map of Amazon River The boa constrictor of the Amazon area The Toucan only found in the environs of the Amazon River Number 3. The Yangtze River. Length 3,915 miles. location China. Empties into the East China Sea. The third longest river in the world, and the longest in Asia, the Yangtze has its headwaters at 16,000 feet in the South West section of Qinghai, and moves south and then east through the three gorges. These are: Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges. Three Gorges Dam project. Some 20,000 labourers are working flat out to build the world's largest dam here, as broad as the Golden Gate Bridge and twice as high, scheduled for completion in 2009, at a total cost of US $ 7.2 Billion. It aims to produce 18,000 Mega watts of power. Deposit of Silt. The river drops a 170 million cubic meters of silt annually that assists a large plain in Jiangsu Province, where the major crop Rice, is the staple food of the Chinese. Population along the banks of the Yangtze River. Some 400 million Chinese inhabit the areas that surround the river as it winds across China making its exit to the East China Sea, just north of Shanghai. The Yangtze River and the Three Gorges Dam location A view of the Yangtze River Bridge across the Yangtze The Rainbow bridge at Wusan, situated athe end of Wu Gorge, the second of the three gorges on the Yangtze River Number 4. The Mississippi River. Length 3,760 miles. Country United States of America. Empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The source of the Mississippi is found in the Minnesota Northwoods, and it flows down to the Gulf of Mexico. Indian name for Mississippi. The Ojibway Indians living on the banks of the Mississippi river called it "Messipi- Big River. We find up to 400 species of wild life calling this river home. and close to 40% of all North American duck, goose, swan, and wading birds rely on the river as their migration corridor. There are 241 species of fish that live in the Mississipi, and 12 million Americans live in the 125 Counties that border it. History of the River. This river reeks with history, when its waters were traversed by many river boats powered by both side and stern paddle wheels, and the song " Ole Man River" immortalises the timelessness of this great waterway. Mark Twain made it famous with his stories based upon the river, and its traffic. Mississippi River basin Number 5. The Irtysh River. Length 3,100 miles. Country Russia. Empties into the Ob River. Sourced in the Mongolian Altai mountains, its course takes it North West through the 700 square mile lake of Zaysun to Kazakhstan until it meets up with the Ob river in Western Siberia. Steamers navigate this Russian river between April and November, and then it is frozen over. The river's name Irtysh means "earth mover", and prior to the Russians arriving in the late 16th. Century, its environs were occupied by both Chinese and Mongels. Along its banks before reaching Omsk are large power stations devouring vast quantities of the river's water to operate them. The river then moves through the Kazakhstan steppes. Satellite image of the Irtysh River in Russia Map showing the Irtysh River, and it flowing into the Ob Butterfly from the left floodlands of the Irtysh River near the city of Omsk. Photo by Oleg.Hosterin City Administration Building of Omsk, sits on Irtysh River Omsk Passenger River Terminal Number 6. The Amur River. Length 2,900 miles. Location Siberia. Empties into Tatar Strait. ( Pacific Ocean. ) This river is formed by the joining of the Argun and Shilka rivers flowing in the North East corner of Asia, rising in the mountains of NE China to finally exit to the Tatar Strait in the Pacific Ocean. For almost 1,100 miles it marks out a common boundary with China on its right bank, and Russia on its left bank. I sat wondering if sharing a major river between both China and Russia posed any problems, are there disputes over the fish in the Amur? of which there are some 108 different species. One of them is the Black Amur, a fish that may grow to 120 cm, and weigh in at 30 kilograms. There is not a single dam to be found over the total length of the Amur river, but does access to its water provide friction between the neighbours who share this bounty? Do China and Russia cojoin to preserve its assets? The area in, and close by this river, is home to 95% of the world's Oriental White Stork. As the river wends its way across NE Asia through a variety of landscape, on its journey to to the sea, the valleys, drained by it and its branches, embrace some 715,000 square miles. Amur Leopard Cat. The unique Amur Leopard Cat is only found in the environs of the Amur River, the species in dire straits, only 50 of them thought to still be in existence today. Map showing the course of the Amur river A picturesque view of the Amur river Number 7. The Congo River. Length 2,718 miles. Location Congo, Africa. Empties into the Atlantic. The Congo river is second only to the Nile here in Africa, and it forms in the most southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the meeting of the Lualaba and Luvua rivers. It flows to the Stanley Falls just north of the equator, then loops to the North East before turning West, and finally alters course to the South to outlet into the Atlantic Ocean. The river drains some 1.6 million square miles of country, and when it exits into the Atlantic runs at the rate of 1.2 million cubic feet of water every second. The river is a major highway in the area, carrying barges loaded with fuel, copper, wood, minerals, palm oil, and agricultural products. It is also Africa's greatest potential source of hydroelectric power, and the Inga Power project is the first to exploit this possibility. The Congo traverses a rain forest that is second only to that of the Amazon. Some 4,000 islands dot the river within its banks, over its long journey down to the Atlanic Ocean, some up to 10 miles long. The countries that the river passes through are: The Democratic Republic of Congo, The Peoples Republic of Congo, The Central African Republic, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon, and Tanzania. On hearing the name Congo River, it summons up in my mind, Africa, Stanley and Livingstone, the mighty Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, the Dark Continent, and its history of Black Slavery. Map of Congo River Wooden canoes still in use for fishing on the Congo River Number 8. The Huang-Ho or Yellow River. Length 2,700 miles. Location China. Empties into the Gulf of Chihli. The Yellow River, is the northern most of the major rivers in China's Yellow River basin. It is said to be the cradle of China's civilization, and covers three major regions, the upper, the middle, and the lower. Source. The Yellow River starts in the Bayankale Mountains which form the divide between this river in the North and the Yangtze to the South. The highest peak reaches up to 5,267 meters, and the river's source is a basin at the foot of these mountains, from here it drains two major lakes, Zaling and Eling, about 20 k's apart. The river flows eastwards, passing through a number of narrow gorges and then turns north. See the picture of Laxiwa Gorge. Hydro electric Projects. The upper reaches of the Yellow River provide electric power for the major industrial city of Lanzhou. It flows on through the Mongolian Plain and desert, to the middle reaches where its turns very muddy, as it drains the loess plateau, more and still more sediment is collected as it pushes through the gorge section between the provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi. In its lower reaches, the river is confined by levies lining its banks to prevent flooding. Every year 1.6 billion tons of sand are washed into the Yellow River, and this soil erosion causes great harm to all the people living within the reach of this great river. At its estuary, the river dumps a billion tons of sediment into Bohai Bay. The Yellow River pasing through Laxiwa Gorge The Bayankala Mountians. The source of the Yellow River is a basin at the foot of these mountains. Eling lake in winter, shimmering with ice Hydro power works in Liujiaxia Gorge to suppy power to the city of Lanzhou Terraces built over the Loess plateau The river flows through Shanxi province on its right, and Shaanxi province on its left Levee banks at Kaifeng. Built to overcome the flooding prone to the Yellow River An ancient waterwheel in an area vastly eroded and in the category of wastelands, caused by past flooding of the Yellow River Number 9. The Lena River. Length 2,645 miles. Location Russia. Empties into the Arctic. The Lena River is born in the mountains west of Lake Baikal, in south eastern Siberia, and to its mouth on the Laptev Sea in the Arctic it drains some 961,000 square miles. In late spring ice will block the flow of water in the Lena at its mouth, causing flooding across the Siberian Plains. Over the winter months the river remains virtually frozen over. Home to wild life. The river is home for a few months of the year to ducks, geese, sandpipers, terns and gulls. Map of Lena River, Russia Polygon Ponds at the Delta of the Lena River. Photograph by Hartmut Jungius Flooding on the Lena river. The Delta covered in ice shows as red, the River would normally show as a black line, with land areas dull green or tan. Number 10. The Mackenzie River. Length 2,365 miles. Location Canada. Empties into the Arctic. My namesake, the Mackenzie River just sneaks into the world's top 10 longest rivers. It rises from the Great Slave Lake and flows north and west all the way to Inuvik and the Beaufort Sea. This large river collects the flow from up to 100 mountain streams, and it drains 20% of all of Canada. It was named after the early explorer Alexander Mackenzie who, in 1788 believed he was following a river route to the west coast, but it led to the Arctic ocean. The large delta provides a habitat for Snow Geese and Tundra swans, and many types of water fowl. Map showing the Mackenzie River, flowing north to the Arctic Snowgeese found on the Mackenzie River The Tundra Swan found on the Mackenzie River	i don't know
What cereal mascot, the voice behind Frosted Flakes, is famous for his “They’re grrrreat!” motto?	Children of the 90s: Food Fads Classic Children of the 90s Post: Lunchables Your faithful Children of the 90s blogger is still on vacation...but in the meantime please enjoy this classic post about Lunchables: In the late 80s and early 90s, the Oscar Mayer company was out to prove that they were more than just a catchy jingle and a Weinermobile. At this point, we were all fairly aware of Oscar Mayer's way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A. We were relatively proficient in identifying our bologna by both its first and second names. We even had general affection for ingesting the aforementioned mysterious lunch meat daily. What more could they want from us? Perhaps they were upset were were packing non-Oscar Mayer brand products in our school lunches. Maybe it was that sometimes we favored Jennie-O Turkey Breast over our old mystery meat pal bologna. Or possibly they were just concerned we weren't meeting our daily sodium level potential. Whatever the instigator may have been, the quest to streamline the lunch-packing process had begun. When it came to the 1990s elementary school cafeteria, brown bags and insulated coolers were out and prepackaged boxed lunches were in. Suddenly the height of cafeteria coolness revolved around snack-like, nutritionally devoid, candy toting yellow boxes. To pull out one of those signature Lunchables boxes at lunch time was to declare yourself party to the latest in food trends and blatantly flaunt your parents' reputable recalcitrance for wholesome nourishment. Those of us whose parents insisted on packing us a food pyramid-inspired balanced meal were forced to hang our heads in shame at our lack of preboxed lunchtime delights. The Lunchables roster certainly expanded over the years, but it began with a simple savory formula: crackers, adorably miniature slices of lunchmeat, and overprocessed and suspiciously orange cheese slices. Later models included such awe-inspiringly nutrition-void amenities as Capri Sun drink pouches and a fun size portion of candy. Some of us, though I won't say who, learned the don't-put-metal-in-the-microwave lesson the hard way via the addition of the metallic Capri Sun pouches. Her parents may or may not have frozen Lunchables for posterity and future lunchability, and she was not quite patient enough to let it thaw. Again, I'm not naming names, but she may or may not have broken her family's brand new microwave through this ill-fated Lunchable venture. Lunchable varieties became increasingly questionable with each successive incarnation. Each model stayed true to the original formula of a collection of spare lunch parts complete with assembly instructions, but Oscar Meyer certainly weren't afraid to experiment with creativity. They churned out pizzas, nachos, mysterious forms of "dunkers," tacos, and nearly any other fathomable junk food-based product. Naturally (or as the case warranted, by means of artificial flavoring) it was only a matter of time before anti-childhood obesity groups and health advocates stormed the Lunchables bastille in the name of all things overly salty. Yes, these salt-packed snacks were tasty, but it's largely due to the fact that they were often packing a whopping three quarters of a daily recommended value of sodium for an adult. Mind you, these were mainly consumed by children, so it's fairly simple to deduce that the sodium content more than exceeded their healthy daily dosage. This preservative-rich snack boxes came under fire for their absolute defiance in the face of rising health consciousness. Essentially, researchers looked on in horror as morbidly obese children waddled to their lunch tables, inhaled a Lunchable, chased it with the fun size candy, and went into a salt coma. These were kids walking through their elementary school hallways single file not out of obedience to teachers but out of necessity to fit through the cafeteria door. The Oscar Meyer/Kraft people could only hold out for so long. There was really no adequate defense for the remarkably low nutrition levels of their products, other than that children adored them and their junk-foody contents. As long as there was a consumer demographic of parents still willing to poison their children with dangerous sodium levels, there was no reason for them to make any sort of adjustment. However, as the pressure from nutrition advocates mounted and led to devastatingly bad press for Oscar Meyer/Kraft, the company quickly changed their salty tune. It may be a bit harsh to say they sold out, considering the admittedly poor levels of nutrition in the original product. However, they did oblige to their opposition and began offering options such as fruit juice and yogurt. While these new additions may have had some grounding in health food, it's pretty safe to say they didn't significantly alter the overall caloric content. Regardless, as long as the juvenile salt-related cardiac arrest subsided, they were able to quietly continue packing children chock full of delicious artificial additives. That said, it's important to note that some of their current releases are highly questionable. Take this disturbingly fizzy pop-rocks knockoff meat+candy creation .It just goes to show you that change does not necessarily equal progress. To its credit, however, the packaging does herald the excellence of the meal's calcium content. Calcium or not, the whole thing seems pretty suspicious. It's safe to say that while contemporary children may not enjoy the same levels of salty deliciousness, Lunchables continue to outrage parents everywhere in a distinctly kid-pleasing manner. And isn't that what really counts? In case you failed to gather from the heavy hints, this was clearly me. I never did own up to breaking the microwave. 80s and 90s Sugar High Sometimes we all look back and cringe just a bit at the sugary garbage we ate as children. Though it may still hold some nostalgic appeal, it’s tough to defend some of the candy we so adored as kids. You would think we were all spent a significant portion of our youth drifting into diabetic shock--how else to explain the pure sugar our parents pushed down our throats? I can only assume they had no orange juice on hand and had to save our lives with the cunning use of Pixie Sticks. There’s just no other explanation for willingly serving your child the equivalent of the contents of your sugar bowl. For those of us who now work with or have children of our own, we know the lure of bribery is one we cannot always ignore. Do your homework? Have some Nerds! Clean your room? Help yourself to the Fun Dip. Sure, it’s morally ambiguous, but it works. Sometimes, you’ve just got to give in and let the kids be kids. In this case, that means our parents allowed us to hype ourselves up on a diet of pure sugar only to crash later with unforeseen consequences of immeasurable crankiness. We loved them for that moment in which they relinquished the candy, though, and that’s what really counts. We ate all sorts of processed sugar masquerading as innocent snacks, but here are a few of the sweetest culprits: Pixy Stix Possibly the worst offender, Pixy Stix were composed of little more than colored sugar. Apparently an acceptable snack consists of taking pure sugar and a dab of food coloring and calling it a kid-friendly nosh. The worst of the worst prize went to the giant-size straw version, which we can only imagine contained a full two-pound bag of refined sugar. Fun Dip What better to dip candy in than candy? It’s a perfect solution to all your dipping needs. Simply take sugar molded into a solid mass and dip it into its granulated counterpart. Delicious. Nerds Nerds may have been glorified color-coated rock candy, but we can award some credit where due for delicious flavor combinations. Nerds conveniently packaged two complementary flavors in a single box, allowing us to ingest our flavor sugar with a well-balanced palette. Jawbreakers If you thought it was kind of gross simply to consume sugar-laden hard candy, imagine adding an element of extreme germ exposure to the mix. The problem with Jawbreakers lay in the fact that they were simply too large to be consumed in a single sitting. The result? Days of your giant candy hanging out in a bowl or similar open-air receptacle, collecting delicious dust mite seasoning mix. Pop Rocks Pop Rocks have been available since the 70s, but their popularity saw a resurgence in the 80s following their restock on candy store shelves. The candy suffered briefly from the implications of an urban legend that claimed the candy could make your stomach explode when mixed with soda. It can’t, for the record, but it still does work to scare children as effectively as it did back then. Warheads/Cry Babies Children have a naturally competitive nature, so it’s little surprise that they became the target market for discomfort-themed food. It may not sound especially pleasant to endure a painfully sour candy throughout the dissolution of its coating, which is because it’s not. At all. Not even a little bit. With children, though, the natural playground spirit of competition made candies like Warheads a huge hit--not to mention a major indicator of elementary school street credibility. Sour Patch Kids Sour Patch Kids represent sour flavor in its slightly less repugnant form--as a sugar coating over a chewy fruit snack-type candy. It admittedly burns off a taste bud or two, but it’s a small price to pay for coolness in front of your pro-sour friends. Push Pops/Ring Pops Of course, no discussion of sugary 90s candies would be complete without mention of two of the most traded and widely respected hard candies on the playground market: push pops and ring pops. Both caused unnecessarily sticky messes and had limited functionality outside of their general novelty appeal, but who cares? They were delicious in their own sugary way. Though, to be fair, they did give a generation of young girls very unrealistic expectations about the size of a rock they could be expecting on their engagement ring. It should go without saying that I just can’t discuss 90s-themed sugar highs without playing the eponymous song from Empire Records. All of the sugary sweetness, none of the calories. Enjoy! Kid Cuisine Note: Sadly, I could not find a good picture of the old school packaging featuring 90s mascots BJ and The Chef. You will have to settle for this more recent--and of course, vastly inferior--rendition. I apologize for the visual inconvenience. As they say, there's just no accounting for taste. Particularly in children, as they usually either a) have none or b) are not voting party members in the menu-planning decision process. In either case, kids are wont to eat a variety of overprocessed food that most adults find revoltingly unappetizing at best. I don't see many people around my office brown bagging Lunchable stackables or fruit Gushers, but you can bet their children would be psyched to gain some cafeteria cred from packing them. For kids, novelty is a major factor in the appeal of any type of food. Taste and presentation are relegated to afterthoughts when effective marketing and cutesy cartoon mascotry are in play. To a child, a flavor vaguely reminiscent of sawdust and onionskins is a small price to pay; if the cartoon penguin tells you to do it, you do it. It's that simple. Kid Cuisine debuted in 1990 as a niche product claiming to offer quick and easy kid-friendly meals. These prepackaged frozen dinners a la Lean Cuisine featured standard children's meal fare such as macaroni and cheese or chicken nuggets. In typical frozen meal fashion, Kid Cuisine consumers usually sacrificed flavor and taste for convenience. KC dinners were far from culinary masterpieces, but they were the lazy parent's and unskilled babysitter's saving grace at mealtime. In their early days, however, ease was the primary redeeming quality of these questionable dinners. The compartmentalization of the microwave-safe trays was always sketchy if best, leading to less than savory results after heating. It was not uncommon to open the microwave door to a mysterious mishmash of food items overflowing from one pocket to the next. Even kids knew you weren't supposed to eat creamed corn on your brownie or mash green beans into your pizza. It simply isn't done. Truthfully, the compartment crossover was not always such an issue; it's all part of the magic of each meal component tasting exactly the same. No matter what the dinner claimed to be on the outside packaging, the food always retained a taste markedly similar to the packaging it was nuked in. At the end of the day, pudding in your mac and cheese isn't so bad if it all has the same general flavor: mass-produced institutional. Yum. To their credit, Kid Cuisines did come with a "Fun Pack," a small Cracker Jack prize-esque activity book filled with mini games or stickers. While the title "Fun Pack" may be slightly presumptuous, it did prove a popular addition to the frozen prepackaged food market. The only problem? These things come frozen. Those activity booklets were pretty chilly. The meal's frozen nature also provided another dilemma: not all types of foods can and should be microwaved at the same level for the same amount of time. Kid Cuisine's one-size-fits-all approach meant that every item in the tray had to undergo the same degree of nukage. That meant a frozen corndog and a frozen Oreo got the same general heating treatment. Results? Major sogginess. From a nutritional standpoint, these meals were far from well-balanced. To be fair, in the 90s the TV commercial version of a well-balanced breakfast included 2 eggs, toast, orange juice, bacon, potatoes, cereal, and milk, so maybe our portion perceptions were partially skewed. What passed Kid Cuisine quality inspector muster as side dishes would have made staunch starch enthusiasts blanch at the pure volume of complex carbohydrates per package. Even the most lenient and nutritionally ignorant of parents probably knew deep down that pasta, pudding, an Oreo, and some corn niblets does not a sound meal make. Luckily, with the help of some lovable commercial mascots, kids will eat pretty much anything. Anthropomorphic penguin BJ and bear "The Chef" were more than eager to shove these calorie-laden celebrations of starch down our juvenile throats. I'd never considered myself endeared to BJ and The Chef until I learned they were more recently replaced with some ripoff penguin character, KC. Is nothing sacred? Who makes the food if there's no chef? Who, I ask you? It just doesn't add up. Logic withstanding, someone (possibly replacement second-string penguin mascot KC) keeps churning out these meals. In case you were wondering, they are disgusting as ever. To save you from having to find out for yourself, here's an ad featuring KC and one of the most nutritionally questionable Kid Cuisine options yet: macaroni with squeezable cheese sauce topped off with a Fruit by the Foot knockoff. This is by no means current, but the product's downward spiral into deeper caloric jeopardy is amusing nonetheless. Enjoy. Children of the 90s is Still Out of Town: Enjoy this Classic Post--Dunkaroos Sorry for freaking out my loyal readers earlier this week--some anonymously evil spambot hacked into my account and Google, in their infinite if mildly misguided wisdom, temporarily suspended it. Luckily, I was able to convince them that I was not the spambot but rather its innocent blog-writing victim, so the site is back in all of its original glory. Thanks, Google! I am still out of town, but with the site back up and running I will return in full force with new posts next week. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy this delicious frosting-accompanied post on Dunkaroos. It's the second post that appeared on the site back in March 2009, so the likelihood of you having already read it is relatively slim. Enjoy, and thanks to all for your patience and concern during the blog removal scare. I promise I wouldn't abandon you without warning like that --you need your daily dose of 90s, and Children of the 90s is here to deliver. Ah, Dunkaroos. That is, a dual-chamber compartmentalized plastic snack container housing kangaroo-shaped cookies and sweet, sweet frosting. The marketing department at Betty Crocker clearly took a pretty literal approach with their concise yet didactic slogan: "You Don't Just Eat...You Dunk-a-Roo!" And Roos we did dunk. In fact, we dunked to with such zeal and fervor that a web search for "Dunkaroos" leads you to forum after forum where passionate Dunkaroo devotees discuss and debate the various black-market methods of procuring bootleg snacks from their 90s childhoods. Yes, those were simpler times. These days, the current fanaticism surrounding this simple cookie-and-frosting snacktime combo impels Dunkaroo enthusiasts to scour amazon.com and discount stores to locate these discountinued delights. Whether chocolate, vanilla, or the late-era cookies and cream flavor struck your fancy, these were a kid's dream. Imagine, a conveniently packaged snack featuring absolutely no natural ingredients and negligible nutritional value. For some inexplicable reason, this cookie-and-frosting combo was paired with a sharp-dressed and surprisingly formal Australian Kangaroo mascot sporting a hat, vest, and tie. You have to wonder what that marketing meeting was like: "Alright team, we've got these cookies with a frosting dip. What's the logical leap for our big ad campaign launch? I say we go the Australian angle, you know how those Aussies love their prepackaged frosting-laden snacks. Better yet, let's make it a kangaroo with an Australian accent. That's more appropriate, really. And can we dress him up a bit? Let's be real here people, a kangaroo wouldn't just go about eating sweets bareheaded sporting shirtsleeves. That's it, a hat and tie will really emphasize the deliciousness." Exhibit A: Ahh...there's nothing like a half-sung, half-spoken painfully literal description of a snack food to get the hunger juices flowing. Mascot aside (because let's be real, most of our childhood foods were actively promoted by randomly generated anthropormorphic cartoon rabbits, cavemen, leprechauns, and their ilk), Dunkaroos were a phenomenon. These were the food to pull out at snack time. Your cheap handi-snack knockoff cookies-and-cream pack were essentially an affront to the valid cookie and frosting snack community. The most bizarre part was, at the height of their popularity, the Dunkaroos people launched a contest to replace their loveable if oddly matched mascot, Sydney, with...wait for it...another kangaroo. I know they're called Dunkaroos, but really. The parameters of this contest, endearingly titled the "Dunk-a-Roos Kangaroo Kanga-Who Search," essentially requested from their loyal fans the most incremental image change possible. I present to you, Duncan, the dunkin' daredevil. Like all other cartoon food mascots, the majority of his life is devoted to being thwarted by obstacles in an attempt to eat a food that the rest of us can just pick up in our neighborhood grocery store. So there you have it...Dunkaroos. As their then new bad-boy mascot (as denoted by presence of backwards cap) rides into the abyss on a roaring motorcycle, so too must we leave behind this delicious snack from days of yore in a cloud of cookie dust. That is, unless you're willing to risk life and limb by ordering discontinued snack food on amazon.com for purely nostalgic reasons. According to my google search, most of you are willing to take that risk. Dunk safely, children of the 90s. Dunk safely. We Miss Our Discontinued Candy: Bygone Sweets It probably doesn't bode especially well for our generation that we can get all wistful and misty-eyed over some nutritionally void sugar-laden snacks, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves in these matters. It's tragic in its own small way that today's children will never taste the glorious sugary sweets that so sustained us in our youth. By "sustained" of course I mean it kept our hyperactivity level off the charts and kept our dentists' respective children in expensive sneakers. What? It's a valid interpretation of sustenance, given you accept that these treats served no real nourishing purpose. You just don't know what you have till it's gone. For a brief, fleeting period these sugary snacks enticed us with their off-the-charts sweetness. Like all good things, though, our love affair with these candies were forced to come to a bitter end. For many of us, we didn't even realize these sweets no longer graced our grocery store shelves until it was too late. Had I been alerted of the impending discontinuation, I would have stocked up on Hershey's Tastations before it was too late. Mintaburst/Cinnaburst/Fruitaburst Gum You name the flavor, this gum was a'burstin' with it. Unfortunately, it bursts no more. The burst in question was a mysterious compound of so-called "flavor crystals," which seems to be some sort of code for "gritty hard pieces in your gum that are kind of gross but also ripe with flavor." Astropop When I think of what the ideal adjective for describing a favorite candy is, "stabby" usually ranks pretty close to the top of the list. Any candy that can double as weaponry is okay in my book. That book, of course, is called "Lollipop Swords: Beginning Swashbuckling for Youngsters." Look for it coming soon to a bookstore near you. These things were pure sugar, which from a child's perspective is the be-all-end-all of attractive candy characteristics. Astrioios unfailingly stained our lips and tongues, but this should have been the least of our parents' concerns. The most, of course, being that it was possible to lick the Astropop into a finely tuned dagger and inflict multiple puncture wounds onto our siblings on car trips. Ouch. Tastetations Mmmm....Tasteations. These things were creamy hard candy goodness with the Hershey's chocolatey seal of approval thrown in for good measure. Sure, you might feel like a crotchety little old lady carrying around hard candies in your pockets, but the taste made it well worth the minor image sacrifice. Apparently Hershey's first-ever hard candy just wasn't enough to hold our attention--their heyday was pretty short-lived. Carefree Gum How, I ask you, are we supposed to adequately sprinkle Clueless movie quotes into everyday situations when the cultural context has cruelly been discontinued? I'm referring, of course, to Cher's impassioned tirade against gym class in which she claims she barely burned off the calories in a stick of Carefree Gum. By the way, that above commercial is actually pretty funny. Kudos to Milli Vanilli for taking the low road after their incredibly embarrassing lip-syncing debacle. You know what I always say: if you can't make fun of yourself in a gum commercial, you just can't make fun of yourself. Gatorade Gum Also known as GatorGum, this sports-themed chewing gum had it heyday in 70s and 80s and enjoyed a brief revival in the late 90s. When I think sports and quenchiness, I don't typically jump immediately to gum, but hey, it worked. I know the commercial is a bit dated for what we usually post around here, but it's just so funny I couldn't resist. It's cheesy in a way that advertising just can't get away with anymore. "Active people are discovering the gum that's different!" (Man in sweatband crosses finish line) "Now you can lick...dryyyyyy mouth" (Sweatbanded man opens mouth to reveal a camel and some sand). Brilliant. Dinosaur Eggs These egg-shaped jawbreakers from the Wonka candy company came in individual boxes, which misled us to believe we could consume them in a single sitting. These things were huge, plus some of them had the added licking obstacle of the Dinosour taste. Lifesavers Holes If you ever wondered what they do with all the leftover cutouts at the Lifesavers factory, look no further than the briefly popular "Holes" candy pieces. It doesn't get much lazier than this. "Hey, you know those extra candy pieces we already have but usually toss in the trash?" "Yes?" "We should totally sell them." "Sounds like a plan. Let's give them a kind of gross sounding but fitting name." "Done and done." Mars Bars (US) These have been unavailable in the US (despite a steady supply abroad) for nearly ten years. I've heard a rumor, though, that they've been relaunched. If this is true, I'm off to devour one now. These things are awesome. One might even say out of this world. Ba dum ching! Butterfinger BBs Who better to take candy advice from than the man himself, Bartholomew J. Simpson? This kid knew his stuff. These have since been discontinued, so the best we can do now is chop up a bunch of butterfingers into small circular pellets and simulate the experience at the movies. Somehow, it just isn't the same. Crispy M&Ms Yet another bygone product from our pals at M&Ms. It seems every couple of years or so, they come up with some variation on the classic. The crispy kind had a sort of Nestle Crunch style popped rice inside. They were equal parts satisfying crunch and tastiness, though many of us failed to realize their deliciousness till it was too late. Tearjerker's Gum Do you love being tortured by sour candies? Instead of just enduring its presence in your mouth, do you prefer to chew the heck out of it for an extended period of time? Well, then you're in luck. Or at least you were if you grew up in the 90s. These may still be available in limited Hershey's Cookies and Mint Candy Bar Just when they come up with something I really adore, they pull it from the market. It's just my luck. This bar was magnificent--milk chocolate, oreo-type coookie bits, mint flavoring...it had it all. And it was not, as the package implied, green. Thank goodness. This post has made me pretty hungry, which is unfortunate as all of these products are no longer available in safe sell-by date form. We may no longer be able to enjoy them, but at least we have our memories. Sigh. Oh, and if any of you knows where to find these, by all means, please share with the class. Awesome 80s and 90s Happy Meal Toys You've got to feel at least a bit nostalgic for a time when a trip to McDonald's was an incredibly exciting and highly anticipated lunchtime event. As an adult, McDonald's is usually more of a convenience affair exclusive to travel and times when we're in such a rush we can't be bothered to consume anything with marginal nutritional value. As a kid, though, McDonald's was the be-all end-all of fine dining. Give us some nugs, some sweet n' sour sauce for dunking, and throw in a cheap plastic toy, and we'd be satiated for at least an afternoon. Our parents may have been the tiniest bit uneasy about feeding us such junk, but our immediate food coma-related nap was probably more than enough to justify their decision. While the junk food was an essential element of the McDonalds+Children=Pure Ecstasy equation, the Happy Meal toy was a critical ingredient of our satisfaction. The french fries were oily and delicious, yes, but they paled in comparison to the notion of receiving a brand new toy. While usually we'd have to pull the old "throw yourself on the floor screaming in the toy store aisle" routine sure to humiliate our parents, in this case we got the toy no questions asked. It was just that easy. Teenie Beanies Following suit with the TY Beanie Babies craze of the 90s, McDonald's unleashed these "Teenie Beanies" in 1997. While Happy Meal toys are traditionally marketed exclusively at children, the Teenie Beanie promotion caught on in a big way with collectors. The toys quickly became best-selling Happy Meal giveaways, with adults and children alike lined up for cheeseburgers and nuggets. The chain actually ran into a serious issue with food wasting, as many adults were purchasing the Happy Meals solely for Teenie Beanie purposes and discarding their food in the trash. McDonald's had to actually sell them seperately with adult-sized food to satisfy the insatiable public. McDonald's released two Beanies each week across a month-long span in April/May 1997, creating a self-perpetuating sea of hype. Every week, the hysteria would begin anew. I'm sure all of the very well-paid and never-harassed counter help was so pleased. Furby After the success of the Teenie Beanies, McDonald's learned a thing or two about appealing to collectors. Why exactly someone feels that a toy that comes free with a burger and fries is an invaluable collectible is beyond my grasp of logic, but I guess that's why I'm not a collector. These weren't fully functional electronics like the original, but each variety had some special gimmick, be it a growl or an ear wiggle. McDonald's produced 80 variations of 8 main varieties for the launch in 1999, meaning eager collectors had to return time and time again to complete their stash. McDonald's 1, Childhood obesity prevention 0. Barbie/Hot Wheels You just don't mess with the classics. You know, even if they reinforce all types of unsavory gender stereotypes. In the eye of McDonald's toy producers, girls liked dolls, boys liked cars, and that was that. It was generally non-negotiable, though I'm sure there were occasional requests for a trans-gender toy. I don't mean a Barbie with a shaved head dressed in baggy JNCOs, of course, just the girl/boy toy switcharoo. That other way would have been interesting, though. And that commercial? Wow. Just wow. I especially like the way the tone of the voice-over and background music change when describing the fast car versus the tiny doll with styleable (!) hair. If you've got to squeeze a wealth of gender stereotypes into a single 30 second spot, you might as well give it all you've got. Halloween Pails I think the reasoning behind these trick-or-treat pails was something like, "If they're not going to get anything nutritious from us, we might as well limit their eventual candy consumption by offering way-too-small Halloween candy portals." You couldn't make much of a haul with these; you'd have been far better off with a pillow case. For some reason, though, we had these stacked around our house storing toys and holiday decorations for years. I can't imagine we ever ate that many Happy Meals. Perhaps my mom force-fed them to us on the condition that she could use the pails for her home storage needs. It seems vaguely possible. McNugget Buddies Ah, McNugget Buddies. You just don't see good fried food children's character action figures like you used to. These days, they're all Veggie Tales and their religious-tinted health-conscious ilk, but in our day we were more than happy to play with some anthropomorphized Chicken McNuggets. This was clearly a simpler time, or at least a time before parents had any access to relevant nutritional information. When we were kids, apparently no one thought it was creepy for a commercial to feature a clown chatting conversationally with some juvenile chicken nuggets, reminiscing about their younger days and their first dipping sauce experiences. That sounds like a red flag to me, but obviously someone green lighted it. They are sort of cute, in a "I'm going to eat you and not feel remorse" type of way. McDonald's Food Changeables These were like the poor man's Transformers. There's something sort of innocent and benign about a cheeseburger that morphs into a killer robot. It's kind of...cute. In its own way. Even the voiceover guy can't take it seriously. "French fries become....FRY-BOT!" It sounds like he's trying to hold him some major guffaws. And who can blame him? That sentence is completely ridiculous. Disney Movie Tie-Ins: Bambi, 101 Dalmations, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Hercules, Mulan....the list of cheap licensed merchandise goes on and on I'm pretty sure I had the 1988 Bambi Happy Meal toys on display on my dresser for ten years, minimum. What? They were adorable. If I could find them today,I'd probably become that annoying person in the office whose desk is overtaken by tchotchkes and knicknacks (see Scott, Michael). McDonald's acquired the licensing rights to all sorts of Disney paraphernalia, meaning whenever a new Disney movie premiered they were ready with a million tiny molds of all of its characters. I distinctly remember the 101 Dalmations toys because they haphazardly stuck Cruella in there. Who, I ask you, wants to play with a Cruella toy? We were all holding out for adorable puppies. I must've gotten three Cruellas before I finally got my hands on a pup. Cabbage Patch Kids and Tonka Trucks This was our other major boy/girl specific promotion. Obviously they never got too far thinking outside the box. Dolls and Cars, Dolls and Trucks. Big leap on that one. McDino Changeables We've got a similar Changeable concept here, only with...dinosaurs? Don't ask, I don't know what kind of weirdos they had in their development department, but McNuggetasaurus? Really? Is that an actual thing? To be fair, it is sort of cute, but you've got wonder the route to getting that into production. Super Mario Bros 3 This ad is awesome. I love it. It just encompasses so much nostalgia in every beep. It manages to combine two things we loved as children (Super Mario Brothers and fast food) and combine them into a neat little package, complete with take-home toy. Well done, McDonald's. As the promotions cycled in and out monthly, there are dozens of others I simply couldn't contain within the confines of a single post. Feel free to wax poetic about your favorites in the comments section. Just don't get too carried away; we don't want any of you inadvertently morphing into FRY-BOTS or a MCNUGGETASAURUS! Okay, okay, I admit it. That wasn't really related. I just desperately wanted to use those words again. They're adorable. Now knock yourselves out reminiscing about fast food freebies, kids. It's been fun. First things first--I am pleased to announce the winner of the first ever Children of the 90s Giveaway: Lauren Kelly from Walk With Me on this Journey Called Life ! Winner was selected using a randomized shuffled spreadsheet and an online random number generator Congratulations, Lauren Kelly!! I will contact you later today for your mailing information (or you can shoot me an email at [email protected] when you see this), and your 90s care package should be on the way sometime next week! To everyone else, thank you all so much for entering, and don't worry--this isn't the end of giveaways at Children of the 90s. I heard a rumor someone (okay, me) has a blogaversary coming up, so keep checking back for more fun giveaway opportunities. I can't tell you how fun it was assembling these items, and I can't wait to do it again soon! Please excuse the interruption. Now, for today's post: Childhood Cereal Commercial Characters Forget what anyone says. Cereal mascots are the hardest working guys in show biz. They're arguably among the most dedicated, single-minded characters in modern media. They never can just pick up a box of their favorite sugar cereal at the local supermarket like the rest of us. These guys are constantly battling the forces of cereal-related tyranny and oppression in an eternal struggle to get their hands on the much-coveted cereal. For those of us whose parents refused to buy us sugary breakfast cereal, we could relate to their plight. The aim of these characters was to convince a demographic of hungry, sugar-crazed children that these cereals were so desirable that fictional characters would go to extreme lengths to get their hands on them. At the time, it seemed like a fairly viable quandary; what's one expected to do if denied their sugary fuel? Looking at them now, though, I wouldn't be surprised if one of these cartoons showed up on A&E's Intervention. They're not only incredibly desperate for their fix but also seem to be going through some sort of physical withdrawal symptoms. You'd almost expect for them to airlift Honeycomb Crazy Craving to the nearest treatment facility and run a glucose IV through his furry little arm. I'm not a professional, but even I can see that guy needs some seriuos help. These cartoon characters were by no means the only cereal advertising stars. There were plenty of live-action commercials directed at older children, but few of them managed to equal the intensity and desperation encapsulated by these sugar-starved animated critters. Many of these characters have been around since before our time, though they often been through more reinventions than Cher. You'd better hurry up and get your reminiscing in before the remaining mascots go the way of Cookie Crook and Officer Crumb. Blink and they'll be replaced by cooler, hipper characters. Fruity/Cocoa/Dino Pebbles: Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble When the Flinstones debuted as Post Cereal's Pebbles-brand spokescartoons in the 70s, no one could have known they'd still be out hawking cereal decades later. Throughout the years, the story lines have been fairly one-dimensional: Fred Flintstone eats Fruity or cocoa Pebbles. Barney sees said Pebbles. Barney attempts elaborate and ill-thought-out scheme to obtain Pebbles. Fred screams, "BAAAAARNEEEY!" End scene. The only thing I'm not so clear on is what Dino Pebbles are made of. That name still sounds pretty suspicious. Cocoa Puffs: Sonny the Cuckoo Bird Sometimes time really does bring progress. In the original 50s and 60s ads, Sonny was chilling with his grandpa. He still went cuckoo, sure, but with his grandpa. Not exactly the stuff cool kids are made of. Ad writers wised up in the 80s and 90s, making Sonny go cuckoo with kids and eventually pressure other kids into going cuckoo themselves. Yes, you heard right. Sonny worked his way up from user to dealer. At least he wasn't trying to pull his Gramps into it anymore. He did, however, get Joseph Gordon Levitt on the cuckoo train. See evidence above. Frosted Flakes: Tony the Tiger Tony the Tiger may have been born decades earlier, but he probably started his amateur frisbee career in the above 90s ad. The "They're Grrrreat!" slogan has been around for ages, but in the 80s and 90s they tried incorporating some hipper phrases. They promised to bring out the tiger in us or to put the tiger on our team, but perhaps none were as resigned and half-hearted as "The Taste Adults Have Grown to Love." You know, you used to hate it, but over the years the virulence of your hatred has lessened. Buy Frosted Flakes! Trix: Trix Rabbit Talk about prolonged disappointment. The Trix rabbit has been up to his, well, tricks for over 50 years. It's always the same old schtick: he'd try to trick the kids into sharing their cereal, but they'd continually admonish him with the ultimate brush-off: "Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids!" Jokes on the Trix rabbit, though. In elementary school, a friend and I fed some Trix to her pet rabbit, Munchers. He totally went for it. He had no idea they were just for kids. Not a clue. HoneyComb: Crazy Craving This is probably one of the more frightening 90s cereal characters, if for nothing other than the sheer voracity of his need. The weird hopped-up rodent thing's name was Crazy Craving, and I believe he has since been retired. He premiered as Honeycomb's official mascot in the mid-90s, preceded by the HoneyComb Hideout gang. According to these 90s ads, you could actually become Crazy Craving if you went long enough without your fix. Scary indeed. Cookie Crisp: Cookie Crook and Officer Crumb This commercial lied to me. I wanted so badly to enjoy what was promised to me as the sweet taste of cookies for breakfast but when my parents finally caved and threw it in the grocery cart to quell my tantrum, it just wasn't what I'd expected. Cookie Crook and Officer Crumb had hyped it to a level they just couldn't achieve. It turns out the most inspired thing about the cereal was Chip the Dog's howling of "Cooooookie Crisp!" Lucky Charms: Lucky Leprochaun Children first met Lucky in the 60s, but he's steadily tempted our sugar impulses with his endless pushing of marshmallow-laden cereals. He promised them to be magically delicious, and for the most part they were. If only they could have made them magically nutritious, too. Froot Loops: Toucan Sam Toucan Sam was born in the 60s, though he did undergo some beak work a decade or so later. I think I saw it on E!'s Celebrity Plastic Surgery Nightmares but I can't be sure. Whatever the situation surrounding his nose, he followed it to some delicious fruity sugar cereal. How 90s is that Rapping Rhino ad, too? Cinnamon Toast Cruch: Wendell, Bob, and Quello Who exactly were Wendell, Bob, and Quello, you ask? According to General Mills, Bob and Quello don't technically exist. They name main baker Wendell, but it sounds like the other two were using the role to pad out their resumes with bit parts like "Baker #2: illustrates taste he can see." They make fun of adults in a Bubble Tape/Apple Jacks sort of way, mocking their inability to see what makes the cereal so compelling. For the record, it's the swirls of cinnamon sugar in every bite. Honey Smacks: Dig 'Em Sugar Smacks have been through a lot over the years. Well, a lot of names at least. In our day, they were Honey Smacks, but now they're just Smacks. That sounds pretty suspiciously close to Smack, even when you take into consideration the child-friendly Dig-Em frog mascot.. I guess as long as no kids are injecting the cereal intravenously, we're alright. Rice Krispies: Snap, Crackle, and Pop These guys have been around since the 1940s, but they underwent a serious 90s makeover for the Razzle Dazzle edition of the cereal. In case you're unfamiliar with cereal speak, "Razzle Dazzle" is code for "heaps of additional sugar". I couldn't find any video of those ads, though, so you'll just have to settle for watching a kid in a safari outfit get really pissed off at a dinosaur for kidnapping Snap, Crackle, and Pop. I don't know about the rest of you, but this post has left me with a serious hankering from some good old-fashioned nutrition void sugar cereal. It may not have been substantive, it may not have been nutritious, heck, it may not even have been totally honest when it claimed to be part of a balanced breakfast. But it was endorsed by our animated spokescartoons, and darn it that was more than enough to convince us. So excuse me as I go cuckoo following my nose as I make a serious effort to elude the sanctimonious Officer Crumb: I'm off to get my fix. Children of the 90s Ode to Discontinued 90s Foods, Part Deux Well, children of the 90s, it's that time again. I've had some email requests from readers about some of their favorites 90s snacks, so I thought we were due for another discontinued 90s food roundup. If these commercials bring back some cravings, you're probably out of luck. Most of these foods, despite their hearty nostalgic value, have been discontinued somewhere along the way. On a good day, you might be able to find a couple of these on grocery store shelves outside of the US, but for the most part any cravings for these goodies will go unfulfilled. For one reason or another, the producing companies of these delicious (though often un-nutritious) treats decided it just wasn't profitable enough to keep churning them out on their assembly lines. In our day some of these might have had impressive cafeteria trade value, but they've since dropped in kid coolness capital. All we have left is our memories...and for some of us, imbalanced blood sugar and an increased risk for early onset diabetes. We weren't the most health-conscious generation of kids, but we knew what we liked. Food manufacturers must have known, too, as they supplied us with copious amounts of nutritionally devoid options like these: Pop Qwiz At the time, this seemed like a true technological innovation in kid's snack food. Pop Secret released this kid-pleasing product in the early 90s, proving that children are the only group of consumers willing to eat incredibly unnatural-hued foodstuffs. Pop Qwiz was mostly gimmick and little substance, but the gimmick was more than enough to hold our attention and prompt countless tantrums in the popcorn aisle of the supermarket. Hey, I'd still be willing to throw myself on the ground and wail inconsolably for a bag of Pop Qwiz. The name sounds far more educational than the value of the product warrants. I guess that's why they misspelled "Qwiz", to let us all know this popcorn snack was not academically relevant, nor would it offer us extra credit opportunities. Instead, the concept was rather simple: each bag of Pop Qwiz featured a different food-colored mass of kernels. The packaging was unassuming, leaving us kids to impatiently speculate on the bag's contents while still in the microwave. Would it be blue? Green? Purple? This eagerness for answers undoubtedly led to many oil-based burns. Doritos 3-D Our good friends at Doritos had no shortage of creative nacho-flavored chip incarnation ideas in the 90s. Every few weeks or so, it seemed they were debuting a new member of the ever-growing Dorito family. The short-lived Doritos 3-D were especially popular, literally adding a new dimension to our Dorito consumption. They fit in well with the "X-Treme!" trends in 90s advertising and product promotion, but they clearly couldn't stand the test of time. Air-filled pockets of salty goodness can only hold our attention for so long. Planter's Cheez Balls I know this ad is older than the 90s, but it was the best I could find. I think at a certain point, these defied advertising. They were pretty ubiquitous as a nutrition-free party snack food Remember when Planter's used to make a whole bunch of other snack foods? I always thought it a bit weird that Mr. Peanut veered from his legume comfort zone to promote all classes of salty snacks. Cheez Balls (and Cheez Curls, and the briefly available PB Crisps) were once a universal party food. People were forever setting these unnaturally orange puffed balls out in bowls at social gatherings. There was something uniquely satisfying to popping off the tub's cap and hearing the release of suctioned air when you pulled the foil top and released the Cheez Balls into the wild. Unfortunately, you'll have to settle for the generics if you're craving Cheez Balls these days; Planter's has since discontinued the snack. You can, however, get a no-brand version at Sam's Club or Costco if you really need to satisfy your urge. Unfortunately, they're only available in giant tub sizes. French Toast Crunch Uploaded by a90sfan . - Classic TV and last night's shows, online. 90s children's cereal trends show an unprecedented obsession of taking ordinary foods, miniaturizing them, and then convincing us they're a perfectly natural part of a balanced breakfast. French Toast Crunch was a perfect example, giving us bowlfuls of tiny French toastlets that we were expected to drown in milk and eat with a spoon. They didn't taste all that much like French toast, but they were a novelty and were thus deserving of our attention. If you're lucky enough to live in Canada, you've still got access to this delicious breakfast treat. Publicly-funded health care comes second to the allure of starting every day with a big bowl of miniature processed imitation egg-soaked cinnamon bread? Actually, scratch that, make health care first. Daily intake of this sugar-laden cereal probably warrants regular doctor's visits. Sprinkle Spangles Here we go again with the miniatures. Sprinkle Spangles were a sort of Cookie Crisp knockoff, featuring sprinkle-spangled miniature sugar cookies and passing them off as cereal. How any of us ever got this one into the grocery cart and past our parent's wary watchful eye is beyond me, but the concept has yet to lose its appeal for me. I still think a bowl of these would really hit the spot when I'm craving something sweet. Cheetos Paws Like Doritos 3-D, Cheetos came out with an alternately shaped version of its original product and tried to pass it off as something new. Naive as we were as kids, we were ecstatic to find out our favorite orange finger-dying munchies now came in an easily grabbable pawprint shape. It was sort of like a crystal ball, really. It showed us exactly what our hands would look like if we engaged in gloveless Cheeto consumption. Well, the color part, at least. They usually didn't morph into paws. Sodalicious Fruit Snacks Sodalicious wins for best made-up food flavor descriptor. It's not soda per se, but it is delicious in a way similar to soda. How can we hybridize these words? Genius, I tell you. Magic Middles I'm getting a little drooly just watching that commercial. The name is right on: those middles were pure, sweet magic. Those Keebler elves sure are crafty. They realized they could hide even more delicious chocolate inside of an already chocolate-laden cookie, obscuring the extra sugar content from our parents. Oh hey, I'm just eating this chocolate chip cookie. With a candy bar's worth of chocolate inside. Ha ha! Gotcha. Dannon's Sprinklins We weren't allowed much junk food at my house, so we had to settle for the best imitation. That is, foods that incorporated sugary goodness without actually being all that sugary or good themselves. In this case, we had to suffer through some does-a-body-good yogurt in order to get to the good stuff: sprinkles. I challenge you to find a kid who doesn't like sprinkles. They're pure sugar and they're colorful. It's basically a kid's confectionery dream. I always utilized good sprinkle strategy. I'd try to conserve as many as I could for the end, but to a healthy food-disparaging kid, I'd usually have to give in and spread them throughout the cup. I just couldn't stomach it without the "Sprinkl'" part. Like many of you, I didn't notice the gradual disappearance of these goodies from my grocery store shelves. Over time I'd eventually notice that some of my old childhood favorites had gone the way of the Dunkaroos. Unless they decide to ignore low profit margins and get swept up in the 90s nostalgia, it's unlikely we'll be seeing most of these gracing our supermarket aisles any time soon. We'll just have to settle for our delicious memories. Either that, or trying to track down some packages on Amazon or eBay. It just comes down to how seriously you consider expiration dates. In the Meantime, Please Enjoy this Classic Post: Crystal Pepsi Repost Disclaimer: Children of the Nineties is at a work conference, and despite desperate pleas to the contrary is not entitled to personal computer time. In the meantime, please enjoy a pre-scheduled classic CotN repost from earlier this year. As I only had three or four readers at the time, it's probably (okay, almost definitely) new to you. Crystal Pepsi Are you sick of delicious, well-known sodas? Do you find the comforting and familiar to be generally repugnant? Do you need a new soda Right Now, and would prefer to drink it accompanied by the Van Halen song of the same name? Well, you're in luck! Or at least, you would have been had you expressed these concerns somewhere between 1992 and 1993. In 1992, Pepsi executives sat down and thought, "Sure, our product is delicious and thirst-quenching...but is it pure?" You may have thought they had learned a key and important lesson in not-tampering-with-a-successful-formula from the 1985 "New Coke" debacle, but you would be wrong. In an ever-ongoing battle for one-upmanship between Pepsico and the Coca Cola Company, no product launch was too ridiculous. Thankfully, they had an equally absurd ad campaign to accompany the product. Although Crystal Pepsi was indeed clear in color, it tasted pretty much like original Pepsi. I may be going out on a limb here, but I assume that if it tastes the same, there were not major recipe changes for the beverage outside of altering the color of the syrup. This did not stop our friends over at Pepsi from making the supposed "clarity=purity" concept the major cornerstone of their advertising campaigns. The concept in itself was ridiculous; no one was claiming Sprite or 7UP to be particularly pure in comparison to its darker-syruped soda peers. Regardless of the obvious fallibility of this advertising claim, PepsiCo pushed ahead with quintessential 90s commercials like this: So, what did you learn? Nothing? What? You mean to tell me that despite all of those definitive statements splashed across my screen, not a single one of them tells us anything at all about the product itself aside from its clear color? Well, at least the music drops some heavy hints on when I can expect to find this beverages in stores. I'll give you a hint: it's not later. Clearly (sorry, I had to), Pepsi was piggybacking on other marketing trends at the time and aiming to portray a product that was simultaneously familiar and improved. Researchers at the time were uncovering some mildly convincing evidence that people's perception of taste or quality is heavily impacted by its color. However, what the Pepsi R&D people failed to take into account was that people's expectations for taste also change significantly with a color shift. While people were expecting Crystal Pepsi to have a lighter taste and lower caloric content (after all, it's not a huge leap from how they market it in the above ad), their tastebuds were in uproar over the eye-to-brain miscommunication. While Crystal Pepsi had done well in initial test markets, the actual substance of the product failed to live up to the hype. People tasted the cola and were generally unimpressed from its near indistinguishability from the original. In an effort to counterbalance popular public opinion, PepsiCo released the following commercial: So, what did they think? They claimed it have a "nice lemony-zing taste!" and a "clear" flavor. None of those things were particularly true about the initial Crystal Pepsi formula, but the folks over at Pepsi were desperate to convince us they were so. Confronted with a backlash from loyal Pepsi drinkers, Pepsi continued backpedaling in an effort to extricate themselves from this sticky (though supposedly "less syrupy!") situation. Suddenly, it was like the Clinton impeachment hearing of soda marketing as the Pepsi people really took it down to semantics. "What do you mean we called it Crystal Pepsi? It's called Crystal from Pepsi!" That's right. Pepsi realized that their staunch classic soda adherents were in a huff over the fact that they tried to pass off this colorless impostor as their old favorite Pepsi. Why, this wasn't Pepsi at all! It's as if their fanbase got together and put out a statement saying, "We don't care if you make it. We don't even care if people know it's from Pepsi. But for God's sake, we can't have people thinking this is Pepsi! Blasphemy!" And so it was: At least this ad shows the corporation is able to poke some fun at itself. Pepsi recognized how ridiculous the addition of this meaningless preposition was to the name of their product. They also knew it was absurd that they were forced to add a citrus flavor based on people's perceptions of how a clear soda should taste. After all of that, I think we can all agree: no more messing with the original. Is that clear? Crystal.	Tony the Tiger
Opened in 1959, the Hall of Fame for what sport is found near downtown Springfield, MA?	Retro icon of the week Subject: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/02/07 at 10:27 pm I've decided to dedicate a thread to all of the retro icons that have celebrated memories throughout all of our lives. Each week I will feature a new icon, some pictures, facts about the icon. Feel free to discuss it. After the week is over, I will post a new icon to feature. This week's icon will be: The Planter's Peanut AKA Mr. Peanut http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/9595/mrpeanutgj9.gif Amedeo Obici (Ah-may-day-o O-bee-chee), founder of Planters, was born in 1876 in the small town of Oderzo near Venice, Italy. When Obici was old enough to read, his widowed mother would show him his uncle's glowing letters from America. Thus began Obici's dream. At age eleven, reality had him pulling up at Bush Terminal in Brooklyn, New York. An Italian immigrant, 11 years old, not knowing any English, but going on to become prosperous business innovator. His willingness to work showed even at this early age. He started his career as a bellhop and fruitstand vendor in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Later, Obici moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and opened his own fruit stand and invested in a peanut roaster. Here he linked his life's fortune with the peanut. In a few years, Obici turned peddler, using a horse and wagon, and called himself "The Peanut Specialist". In 1906, Obici went into partnership with Mario Peruzzi. He had developed his own method of blanching whole roasted peanuts, doing away with the troublesome hulls and skins; and so with six employees two large roasters, and crude machinery, Planters was founded. Amedeo Obici realized that prices and first profits were not nearly so important as repeat business. He proved his operation based on quality and brand name were important for continued success. Two years later, the firm was incorporated as Planters Nut and Chocolate Company. Mr. Peanut, Planters mascot is such a nut, everybody's just crazy about him! Since his introduction in 1916, to help advertise the sales of the country's first roasted peanut company, Mr. Peanut has become one of the nation's best-known advertising characters. Based on the original drawing of a 13-year-old boy, Antonio Gentile, who won a $5 prize in a 1916 contest for his "little peanut person." The mascot made its debut in 1918 in The Saturday Evening Post. According to the company, Mr. Peanut's hat, shoes, cane, and monocle symbolize fresh taste. The gloves do not symbolize anything; Mr. Peanut simply likes them. Since his conception, Mr. Peanut has appeared in many TV commercials as an animated cartoon character. More recent commercials have shown him computer animated in a real-world setting. His appearances are often accompanied by an elegant accented narrator, and throughout his extensive television life, Mr. Peanut has rarely, if ever, spoken. Throughout the decades, Mr. Peanut has gained celebrity. During World War II, Mr. Peanut helped promote saving stamps and was a star attraction at the New York World's Fair in the 1960s. His notoriety in the United States stretched from coast to coast, all of which he traveled in the Planters "Nut Mobile." In Hollywood, Mr. Peanut has a star on Hollywood's Melrose Avenue Character Walk and his own fan club, the "Peanut Pals." Mr. Peanut also has long been associated with Broadway. His first appearance was in 1942, when his billboard appeared in Times Square. In 1997, he made his inaugural appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and still travels the country in the Planters Nut Mobile. http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4257/2037bbg2.jpg Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/12/07 at 10:25 am This week's retro icon is Tony the Tiger...famous for the comment, "They're GRRRREAT!!" TONY THE TIGER PRODUCT: Kellogg's Sugar Frosted Flakes (later Frosted Flakes) DATE INTRODUCED: 1951 CREATOR: Leo Burnett Co. Only one famous feline (sorry, Morris) can rightfully claim he's the cat's meow of commercials: Tony the Tiger. Adland's premier promotional pussycat was born in 1951, when Burnett was hired to create a campaign for Kellogg's new cereal, Sugar Frosted Flakes. Tony was originally one of four animated critters created to sell the cereal, but he quickly edged out Katy the Kangaroo, Newt the Gnu and Elmo the Elephant to become the sole star of the cereal maker's ad efforts. Tony's original designer, children's book illustrator Martin Provinsen, first created an orange cat with black stripes and a blue nose who walked on all fours. But like most celebrities, Tony has undergone extensive cosmetic changes over the decades. The most dramatic alteration occurred early in his career, when Tony's football-shaped head was replaced with a rounder, softer form. That was followed by a series of other minor face-lifts such as an eye color change from green to gold and the addition of "whisker bones" and contours. When America started heading for the health clubs, Tony also got a slimmer, more muscular physique. He's also risen in stature from a scrawny, cereal-box size pussycat who ambled on all fours to a 6-foot figure with a towering, upright stance. One thing that remained constant for much of Tony's life was his voice. Thurl Ravenscroft provided the sole voiceover for Tony and his trademark growl: "They're Grrrreat!" In 1952, Tony's son, Tony Jr., was introduced into the campaign. And in the early 1970's, Mama Tony, Tony's wife; and Antoinette, Tony's daughter (born in 1974, the Chinese year of the tiger), also came on board. The expansion of the Tony family broadened his audience appeal. http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/779/icontonyln9.jpg Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Tam on 02/12/07 at 3:39 pm Mr. Peanut scared me when I was little. I don't even know why or can't remember. Now, Tony the Tiger on the other hand..... gggrrroooowwwwllllllll! ;D What an awesome thread idea Erin! Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/12/07 at 4:51 pm Mr. Peanut scared me when I was little. I don't even know why or can't remember. Now, Tony the Tiger on the other hand..... gggrrroooowwwwllllllll! ;D What an awesome thread idea Erin! hey, thanks Tam. BTW....if you ever go to amiwrong to take quizzes....I just posted 6 different retro advertising icons matching quizzes today...they should be up tomorrow. :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Ashkicksass on 02/15/07 at 3:57 pm This is a great thread Erin! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/15/07 at 4:02 pm This is a great thread Erin! :) Thanks Ash! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: karen on 02/16/07 at 5:18 am In the UK Tony the Tiger is the icon for Frosties. Same cereal, different name but same catchphrase. I seem to recall Tony jr was used to promote Ricicles which were sugar frosted rice krispies if I recall correctly Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: lorac61469 on 02/16/07 at 12:20 pm Tony The Tiger!! LOVE HIM!!! He's GRRRREAT!!!! I also love Thurl Ravenscroft's voice. I wonder what they're going to do now since he passed away. :( Did you know he also was the vocalist of the song "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"? Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 02/16/07 at 5:37 pm Great thread idea, Erin. :) My husbands name is Tony so whenever we see something with Tony the Tiger on it, we try to pick it up for him, and his favorite cereal is Frosted Flakes. I remember when it was called Sugar Frosted Flakes, but I guess they changed it to try to take the focus off of the fact that it's full of sugar, even though I don't think they took any of the sugar out of it. :-\\ Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/19/07 at 11:37 pm Tony The Tiger!! LOVE HIM!!! He's GRRRREAT!!!! I also love Thurl Ravenscroft's voice. I wonder what they're going to do now since he passed away. :( Did you know he also was the vocalist of the song "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"? wow...I didn't know that! Thanks for the little tidbit of info! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/20/07 at 8:04 am This week's icon is: Orville Redenbacher.....the famous popcorn guru. http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/2414/orvilleredenbacherjv8.jpg http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/9639/orvillepc5.jpg Orville Redenbacher (July 16, 1907 – September 19, 1995) was an American businessman most often associated with the brand of popcorn that bears his name. Born in Brazil, Indiana, he attended Purdue University, joining Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and graduating with a degree in agronomy. He spent most of his life in the agriculture industry, serving as a Vigo County Farm Bureau Extension agent in Terre Haute, Indiana, and at Princeton Farms in Princeton, Indiana. He earned a small fortune in fertilizer, but in his spare time, he indulged in an obsession he had had since he was a child with developing the perfect popcorn. He bought the George F. Chester and Son dent seed corn plant with partner Charlie Bowman, later named Chester Hybrids, in 1951 near Valparaiso, Indiana, and tried tens of thousands of hybrid strands of popcorn before achieving success. He and Mr. Bowman initially named the breakthrough hybrid RedBow but were advised by an advertising agency to use the name Orville Redenbacher to market the corn. It was good advice which they took to heart, and Orville was suddenly everywhere. For example, Redenbacher can be first seen on national T.V. around 1971 or 1972, long before his signature commercial appearances as himself promoting his gourmet kernels. In an episode of the popular game show, To Tell The Truth, he stumped the panelists including Kitty Carlisle, Bill Cullen, Joe Garagiola, and Peggy Cass, all of whom were shown munching on and enjoying samples of Redenbacher's then-"new" novelty popcorn flavors including "chili," and "bar-b-que." In 1976 he sold the company to Hunt-Wesson Foods, which was a division of Norton Simon, Inc. In 1983, Esmark purchased Norton Simon; the following year Beatrice Foods acquired Esmark; and in 1990 Beatrice Foods was taken over by agribusiness giant ConAgra. Redenbacher then moved to Coronado, California. He continued to promote his popcorn, appearing in numerous television commercials (including later ones with his grandson Gary Redenbacher), always wearing his trademark bowtie. His wholesome image and folksy name confused many consumers, some even writing the company to ask if Redenbacher was a real person, and not an actor. He responded to this by appearing on various talk shows, professing his identity. After the initial sale to Hunt-Wesson, the City of Valparaiso started their first Popcorn Festival in 1979. Celebrating Redenbacher's development of his popcorn in Valparaiso, the Festival featured Orville and Gary appearing several times as Grand Marshall of the signature event, the Popcorn Parade. On September 19, 1995, while in the whirlpool tub of his condominium in Coronado, Redenbacher suffered a heart attack and drowned. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea. His brand of popcorn continues to be among the most popular in the United States. 2005 marked the 40th anniversary of Orville Redenbacher's popcorn, still the #1 selling brand in America. To celebrate the man behind the popcorn, ConAgra developed a special website that highlights some of the classic Orville Redenbacher television commercials. One of his most famous and recognizable commercials states, "My gourmet popping corn pops up lighter and fluffier than ordinary popping corn. Eats better, too." On January 15, 2007 during the Golden Globe Awards, an advertisement featuring a digital re-creation of Redenbacher appeared on TV for the first time. It was the first time a digital representation of a deceased individual appeared that could be made to say and do anything. Gary Redenbacher, responding to questions about how he felt about the advertisement stated that "Grandpa would go for it. He was a cutting-edge guy. This is a way to honor his legacy." Prior to his death, Redenbacher also hosted the SFM Holiday Network syndicated movie broadcast package along with his grandson. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Ashkicksass on 02/20/07 at 11:40 am On January 15, 2007 during the Golden Globe Awards, an advertisement featuring a digital re-creation of Redenbacher appeared on TV for the first time. It was the first time a digital representation of a deceased individual appeared that could be made to say and do anything. Gary Redenbacher, responding to questions about how he felt about the advertisement stated that "Grandpa would go for it. He was a cutting-edge guy. This is a way to honor his legacy." As much as I love Orville and his popcorn, that commercial was just CREEPY! Great job here, Erin! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 02/20/07 at 11:59 am As much as I love Orville and his popcorn, that commercial was just CREEPY! Great job here, Erin! :) I didn't see that commercial...I can imagine it would be though! :o BTW, thanks Ash! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 02/23/07 at 8:37 pm As much as I love Orville and his popcorn, that commercial was just CREEPY! Great job here, Erin! :) You're right about the commercial, it totally freaked me out when I saw it! But the popcorn is awesome! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: lorac61469 on 02/26/07 at 7:28 pm As much as I love Orville and his popcorn, that commercial was just CREEPY! Great job here, Erin! :) I agree, AWFUL commercial. It gives me the creeps. Somethings just shouldn't be done with computers. Popcorn is great, though. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 03/08/07 at 12:39 pm This Week's Retro Icon is.... Mr. Clean http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3913/adtour06tq6.jpg http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1851/mrcleancirclesd2.jpg Mr. Clean is a brand name of household cleaner from Procter & Gamble, first introduced in 1958. Mr. Clean is known as Mr. Proper in mainland Europe, and probably to avoid confusion with Mr. Sheen and Mr. Muscle in the United Kingdom it is known as Flash. Mr. Clean also makes the Melamine foam cleaner under the name-brand of Magic Eraser. In Spain, the name changed from Mr. Proper to Don Limpio (limpiar is the Spanish verb for "to clean"), while in Mexico he is named Maestro Limpio (Master Clean). In Italy he is named Mastro Lindo (Master Clean, as in Mexico). Its mascot is the character Mr. Clean, a muscular, American, bald man who cleans things very well. According to the company, his image is supposed to be that of a sailor, although most people think he is a genie based on his earring, folded arms, and tendency to magically appear at the appropriate time. Mr. Clean has always smiled on the packaging, except for a brief time in the mid 1960's when he was frowning on the package. Mr. Clean's theme song has been around since the product's introduction, initially sung as a pop-music style duet between a man and a woman. The Mr. Clean advertising jingle was written by Thomas Scott Cadden. It has been played as recently as 2005, usually in a contemporary musical setting or instrumental version. Mr. Clean gets rid of dirt and grime And grease in just a minute Mr. Clean will clean your whole house And everything that's in it Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean, Mr. Clean Mr. Clean in popular culture Mr. Clean's bald head and muscular appearance has evoked comparisons to skinheads, although the character doesn't dress in typical skinhead styles, nor does he display other aspects of the skinhead subculture. Mr. Clean's appearance with his tight muscle shirt, ear piercing, stylishly handsome looks, fastidious habits, and helpful but deferential persona in television commercials, has made Mr. Clean into something of a Chelsea boy-style gay icon. Mr. Clean has been used as a derisive term in the same manner as goody two shoes or Boy Scout, describing someone who displays conspicuous morally upstanding behavior. The term has been used by Dick Vitale to describe a basketball play that at first glance appeared to be a foul but, in fact, was not. In the ABC series Lost, Sawyer addresses Locke as Mr. Clean, in a reference to Locke's bald head and strong build. In Space Quest VI, by clicking on a Mr. Soylent machine, you will hear a jingle similar to that of Mr. Clean. In Linux kernel the command make mrproper cleans the kernel source directory and returns it to the distribution state. This command is more thorough than make clean. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 03/08/07 at 3:11 pm "Mr. Clean will clean your whole house, Mr. Clean Mr. Clean Mr. Clean!" The one thing Mr. Clean always makes me think of is an old episode of "Who's the Boss" when Tony dressed up like him :D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Ashkicksass on 03/08/07 at 4:18 pm I'm a big fan of all things clean, especially when there's a big strong man attached! ;) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 03/09/07 at 12:33 am I'm a big fan of all things clean, especially when there's a big strong man attached! ;) ya, I'm not usually into bald men....but there's just something about that guy! ;D ;) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 03/09/07 at 8:17 pm Another fun icon Erin! I keep looking forward to seeing what you'll post next! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 03/10/07 at 4:52 am Another fun icon Erin! I keep looking forward to seeing what you'll post next! :) awww...thanks Rhonda! :-* Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 03/10/07 at 6:33 am awww...thanks Rhonda! :-* Well, you know how I love retro stuff! Your new avatar is awesome! :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 03/10/07 at 3:25 pm Well, you know how I love retro stuff! Your new avatar is awesome! :) thanks! I found this website with oodles of them. I'll have to find it and post the link. ;) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: CatwomanofV on 03/16/07 at 12:19 pm Mr. Clean made it fashionable for guys to wear earrings and still be "macho". :D ;D ;D Cat Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 03/21/07 at 10:19 am This week's retro icon is.... McGruff The Crime Dog http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7131/mcgruff2di8.jpg http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3452/mcgruffdogmk5.jpg McGruff the Crime Dog is an anthropomorphic cartoon bloodhound created for the National Crime Prevention Council for use by American police in building crime awareness among children. He debuted in July 1980. The character was created by Sherry Nemmers. The motto "Take a Bite out of Crime" was invented by Jack Keil, who also did McGruff's voice for many years. After two years on the air, a nationwide contest was opened to name the character. The most common entry was "Shure-lock Bones". Other entries included "J. Edgar Dog", "Sarg-dog", and "Keystone Kop Dog". The winner, McGruff the Crime Dog, was submitted by a New Orleans police officer. In some of McGruff's advertisements, he appears with his nephew "Scruff McGruff". McGruff reaches kids through commercials, songs and booklets from the National Crime Prevention Council, talking about drugs, bullying, safety and the importance of staying in school. Recently, McGruff has appeared in commercials addressing identity theft. The character is often used with his motto "Take a bite out of crime!" He also reaches kids through personal appearances as both puppets (often used in classrooms) and costumes worn by police officers nationwide. It was announced that when Jack Keil retires, he will be succeeded by Sgt. Steve Parker, a sheriff's deputy from Burlington, Iowa. As of mid-2006, this changeover has not been announced officially; Parker does fill in for Keil on occasion presently. A McGruff House is a designated house bearing a McGruff logo indicating that it is a safe refuge for children who feel they are in danger. The first McGruff House was opened in Utah in 1982, and there are presently about 700 McGruff House programs throughout the United States. The program is similar to one in the 1970s in which a picture of a red hand was placed in the window of neighborhood houses that provided refuge. Similarly, there is a program whereby public utility and government work trucks can display a decal identifying the occupant as someone who can be approached if a child feels that they are in danger, or lost, or otherwise distraught. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 03/21/07 at 11:43 am I loved those commercials for McGruff. "Take A Bite Out of Crime" I had one of McGruff's Crime Activity Books back in the 80s, but I don't remember what it looked like Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 03/21/07 at 4:55 pm Geez, I was 19 when McGruff had his debut? I thought I was younger when I started seeing that commercial! Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Ashkicksass on 03/22/07 at 2:16 pm I loved Mr. McGruff! I remember seeing the McGruff signs in neighborhood windows as a kid and always felt like someone was looking out for me. Great job Erin! Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Dominic L. on 03/24/07 at 10:23 am Any Smokey the Bear coming soon? Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 03/24/07 at 11:08 pm Any Smokey the Bear coming soon? Oooo..Oooo....hmm, maybe I will take requests! :D ;D ;) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/05/07 at 7:03 pm This week's reto icon: http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/7660/ronald20mcdonaldjq7.jpg http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A9gnMicKjRVGQSUB7AujzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTA4NDgyNWN0BHNlYwNwcm9m/SIG=11qncalvm/EXP=1175903882/**http%3A//theimaginaryworld.com/rnn11.jpg Ronald McDonald is a clown spokesman for McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. According to the book Fast Food Nation (2001), 96% of school children in the United States can identify Ronald McDonald, making him the United States' most recognized fast food advertising icon. Only Santa Claus was more commonly recognized. Many of the restaurants are decorated with a life-size statue of the clown holding out his hand to greet customers at the entrance for children to shake hands with him. Sometimes the figure is sitting on a bench, allowing children to sit next to him or on his lap. In television commercials, the clown inhabits a fantasy world called McDonaldland, and has adventures with his friends Grimace, Hamburglar, Birdie the Early Bird, and The Fry Kids. The McDonald's Corporation has also characterized Ronald McDonald as being able to speak 31 different languages including Mandarin, Dutch, Tagalog, and Hindi. In recent years, the "childish" McDonaldland has been largely phased out, and Ronald is instead shown interacting with normal kids in their everyday lives. Putting on the Ronald McDonald clown face is a painstaking process of applied foundation, spirit gum, white base and detail makeup that would sometimes take two hours to apply. Actors are strictly selected by the McDonald's Corporation and Leo Burnett Advertising for their ability to project energy, warmth and compassion that reflected the desired brand image. Ronald's wig is usually kept in a freezer before shoots to keep a uniform red look when applied to the actor's head. Ronald's nose prosthetic is made from a wax paraffin mold, modelled from the actor's own nose. Ronald's oversized clown shoes were at times very painful for the actors to wear as they were injected with a silicone gel to give them weight and a rubberlike appearance. The modern version of Ronald's costume has inflatable balloons in the pants to make them look oversized. The balloons are adjustable to conform to the actor's buttocks. Many people work full-time making appearances in the Ronald McDonald costume, visiting children in hospitals. There are also Ronald McDonald Houses, where parents can stay overnight when visiting sick children in nearby chronic care facilities. Due to the controversy over fast food, critics have likened McDonald to Joe Camel, the former mascot of Camel cigarettes. Since August 2003, McDonald has been officially recognized as the "Chief Happiness Officer" of the McDonald's Corporation. Two conflicting versions of Ronald McDonald's origins exist. One claims that the original character and design of Ronald McDonald, including facial design and costume (featuring "french-fry bag pockets" and "food-tray hat"), were created by Terry Teene and George Voorhees. Voorhees, a professional clown, supposedly first portrayed the character for a hired performance at a Los Angeles, California drive-in restaurant McDonald's. When his homosexuality became public, the performer was subsequently legally enjoined from performing as, or exhibiting the likeness of, the character in any form. The other version of Ronald McDonald's origins involves Willard Scott (a local radio personality who also played Bozo the Clown on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. from 1959 until 1962), who performed using the moniker "Ronald McDonald, the Hamburger-Happy Clown" in 1963 on three separate television spots. These were the first three television ads featuring the character, whose appearance was substantially similar to George Voorhees' Ronald Mcdonald (spelled with a lower-case "d") as shown in the Valley News and Green Sheet, a San Fernando Valley newspaper of the time. Scott, who went on to become NBC-TV's "Today" show weatherman, claims to have "created Ronald McDonald" according to the following excerpt from his book Joy of Living: "At the time, Bozo was the hottest children's show on the air. You could probably have sent Pluto the Dog or Dumbo the Elephant over and it would have been equally as successful. But I was there, and I was Bozo... There was something about the combination of hamburgers and Bozo that was irresistible to kids... That's why when Bozo went off the air a few years later, the local McDonald's people asked me to come up with a new character to take Bozo's place. So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald." McDonald's does not mention Voorhees or claim that Willard Scott "created Ronald" in their statement: "The smile known around the world," Ronald McDonald is second only to Santa Claus in terms of recognition. In his first TV appearance in 1963, the happy clown was portrayed by none other than Willard Scott." But on March 28, 2000 Henry Gonzalez, McDonald's Northeast Division President, thanked Scott for creating Ronald McDonald, during a taped tribute to Scott on the "Today" show. Various forms of the name "Ronald McDonald" as well as costume clown face persona, etc. are registered trademarks of McDonald's. McDonald's trains performers to portray Ronald using identical mannerisms and costume, to contribute to the illusion that they are one character. Willard Scott's costume was in several minor ways different from the Voorhees' Ronald Mcdonald version (but notably, retaining the "fast food tray" hat design) and, as Ronald, Mr. Scott's clown face was substantially the same as that of his personification of Bozo the Clown, a well-known character whose widespread syndication in early television made him the best-known clown character in the United States. Thus, his use of the character may not violate the clown code. McDonald's marketing designers and stylists changed elements of the Ronald McDonald's character, persona, style, costume and clown face when they adopted the clown as a trademark, possibly in deference to "The Code", the tradition of clowns to scrupulously avoid copying other clowns' appearance or performance style. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/05/07 at 11:26 pm I like Ronald McDonald. I wish they still showed commercials with him, and the whole McDonalds gang. When I was a kid, I used to go to McDonalds and get what was called a "Treat of the Week", a weekly toy that was given out free to kids I still have one .. it's a little cardboard wheel thingy with a blank Ronald face and a bunch of other blank faces. On top are two plastic wheels with eyes and mouths. You spin the wheels to mix and match the faces ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Tam on 04/06/07 at 12:05 am Ronald McDonald and Grimace used to scare the crap out of me when I was little!! ;D ;D ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/06/07 at 12:44 am Ronald McDonald and Grimace used to scare the crap out of me when I was little!! ;D ;D ;D http://www.palomar.edu/kksm/onairs/grimace.jpg Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Tam on 04/06/07 at 12:53 am Thanks Jason! I am sure to have nightmares for the next week!!! ;D Seriously, I have no idea why they scared me - look at him. He ispurple and rolly pollie! All innocent and stuff ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/06/07 at 9:32 am I like Ronald McDonald. I wish they still showed commercials with him, and the whole McDonalds gang. When I was a kid, I used to go to McDonalds and get what was called a "Treat of the Week", a weekly toy that was given out free to kids I still have one .. it's a little cardboard wheel thingy with a blank Ronald face and a bunch of other blank faces. On top are two plastic wheels with eyes and mouths. You spin the wheels to mix and match the faces ;D I used to LOVE those commercials with the whole McDonald's Gang. We've had many b-day parties at McDonalds....they used to have this caboose out back of the restaurant, that they would host parties in...it was so cool 8) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 04/06/07 at 10:52 am I remember getting these cheapy little plastic puppets when I was little and we thought that was a big deal. Now, the toys are way cooler! :) Do they still have the Mcdonaldland characters in any of the commercials? Mayor McCheese, Grimace, The Hamburgler? I really never paid much attention, but if not, they need to bring them back. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/06/07 at 11:27 am I remember getting these cheapy little plastic puppets when I was little and we thought that was a big deal. Now, the toys are way cooler! :) Do they still have the Mcdonaldland characters in any of the commercials? Mayor McCheese, Grimace, The Hamburgler? I really never paid much attention, but if not, they need to bring them back. I haven't seen those characters in their commercials in a long time. I LOVED those characters!! Just look at them...I miss seeing all of them! http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/616/mcdonaldsrn2.jpg Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/06/07 at 1:25 pm I remember getting these cheapy little plastic puppets when I was little and we thought that was a big deal. Now, the toys are way cooler! :) Do they still have the Mcdonaldland characters in any of the commercials? Mayor McCheese, Grimace, The Hamburgler? I really never paid much attention, but if not, they need to bring them back. In the 90s, they were down to just Ronald, Grimmace, Birdy and the Hamburglar. Slowly, they faded each one out, and nowadays, Ronald is the only one to appear in McDonalds commercials, and it's somewhat of a rare sight to even see him in a commercial McDonalds sure isn't as great as it used to be. Those commercials were always fun :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/06/07 at 1:26 pm I used to LOVE those commercials with the whole McDonald's Gang. We've had many b-day parties at McDonalds....they used to have this caboose out back of the restaurant, that they would host parties in...it was so cool 8) I used to love having my B-Day parties at McDonalds. When I was like 5 or 6, I remember one of my parties, I invited this kid from my class who was somewhat large, and ended up eating 3 Big Mac's ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Tam on 04/06/07 at 1:29 pm In the 90s, they were down to just Ronald, Grimmace, Birdy and the Hamburglar. Slowly, they faded each one out, and nowadays, Ronald is the only one to appear in McDonalds commercials, and it's somewhat of a rare sight to even see him in a commercial McDonalds sure isn't as great as it used to be. Those commercials were always fun :) Jason - remember the Sports Memories McDonald's on Bath Rd? Well, we have one down here that is similar, but not. It has all of the characters in mylar on the windows, and inside it has all kinds of the old Happy Meal toys, and cardboard happy meal boxes. Has a painting on one wall of car delivery with a female on roller skates, and another painting of a big Cookie I think... I rarely go in there but the place is amazing! Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/06/07 at 1:31 pm I used to love having my B-Day parties at McDonalds. When I was like 5 or 6, I remember one of my parties, I invited this kid from my class who was somewhat large, and ended up eating 3 Big Mac's ;D I remember one year, my sister and I had a combined b-day party in the caboose at McDonalds..it was in the middle of January and we had this huge snow blizzard....yet, most of our friends still made it out to the party. There we were...sitting cozily in the little caboose, while outside it was a winter wonderland!! :D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: CatwomanofV on 04/06/07 at 2:44 pm Ok, ok. I know I have told this story a few times before but I HAVE to repeat it. When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a presentation. I was "volunteered" to join in. I did a "Vanna White" type thing (revealing letters) and I was having fun and hamming it up. Ronald made a comment about the way I was doing it and then said, "We should go for coffee sometime". Now, I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one definately took the cake. Cat Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/06/07 at 9:06 pm Jason - remember the Sports Memories McDonald's on Bath Rd? Well, we have one down here that is similar, but not. It has all of the characters in mylar on the windows, and inside it has all kinds of the old Happy Meal toys, and cardboard happy meal boxes. Has a painting on one wall of car delivery with a female on roller skates, and another painting of a big Cookie I think... I rarely go in there but the place is amazing! I remember the Sports McDonalds. I miss that one big time. It was neat to go in there and see all the sports memorabilia. It's a "Pizza Pizza" now Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/06/07 at 11:28 pm Ok, ok. I know I have told this story a few times before but I HAVE to repeat it. When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a presentation. I was "volunteered" to join in. I did a "Vanna White" type thing (revealing letters) and I was having fun and hamming it up. Ronald made a comment about the way I was doing it and then said, "We should go for coffee sometime". Now, I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one definately took the cake. Cat karma for making me laugh!! :D ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/06/07 at 11:30 pm Ok, ok. I know I have told this story a few times before but I HAVE to repeat it. When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a presentation. I was "volunteered" to join in. I did a "Vanna White" type thing (revealing letters) and I was having fun and hamming it up. Ronald made a comment about the way I was doing it and then said, "We should go for coffee sometime". Now, I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one definately took the cake. Cat Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: CatwomanofV on 04/07/07 at 11:43 am Was Carlos jealous? We were only dating at the time. When I told him, he did laugh and said, "Who knows, he could be really handsome under all that make-up." Trust me, Carlos had nothing to fear that I would have left him for Ronald McDonald. :D :D Cat Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/24/07 at 5:17 am I wanna do the next Retro Icon ... I don't know much about this one, and info on the net seems hard to come by, but here is Mr. Mini-Wheat In the USA, Mr. Mini-Wheat had a face on two sides, and they would often argue which was better: The frosted side or the wheat side. He now has a face on just the one side ... http://www2.kelloggs.com/uploadedImages/Kellogg/Featured_Content/Mini-Wheats_button.jpg In Canada, Mr. Mini-Wheat has a face on one side, and in his early days, he would contemplate his Frosted side, and in several commercials in the 80s and 90s, he was seen sitting in a psychiatrist's office discussing the matter. At the end of the commercials, he would yell "Stupendous!" ... http://www.kelloggs.ca/french/whoweare/images/char_mw.gif Here's some of the latest commercials featuring Mr. Mini-Wheat: Frosted Mini-Wheats - 3 commercials (America) http://www.mini-wheats.com/advertising.shtml Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/24/07 at 1:42 pm hey...thanks Jason!! Karma to you for the good idea for this week's retro icon. :) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: Tanya1976 on 04/26/07 at 1:28 pm Is he really a retro icon? I've only seen him fairly recently. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 04/26/07 at 1:35 pm Is he really a retro icon? I've only seen him fairly recently. no, he's not really an older icon, to the best of my knowledge....unless he's more of a Canadian thing and been around longer there! ;) Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 04/26/07 at 4:09 pm Is he really a retro icon? I've only seen him fairly recently. no, he's not really an older icon, to the best of my knowledge....unless he's more of a Canadian thing and been around longer there! ;) It might be more of a Canadian thing, but I can't really find much info on him. I know he's been around since the 80s, cause I used to watch the ads when I was a kid lol Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 05/17/07 at 12:42 pm I know I've been slacking a bit, but now I'm back. Anyway, Cat gave me a wonderful idea for the new retro icon of the week...and I had forgotten that Doms requested it awhile back, so thanks to both of them...here it is!! :) This week's icon: Smokey Bear and Fire Prevention "Remember -- Only You...."...Can Prevent Wild Fires!" Smokey Bear has warned people about the ravages of wild fire for so long that few people remember how this famous bear first captured our nation's attention. Dressed in a Ranger’s hat and blue jeans, often sporting a shovel, his famous slogan is one of the most recognized advertising phrases in the world, and is protected by federal law. http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9102/firstsmokeyposterja5.gif In 1937 President Roosevelt kicked off a national campaign to reduce the number of fires caused by people. With approximately forty million acres lost to fire each year across the nation, this campaign featured Uncle Sam as a forest ranger. The message spoke to human element of fire, emphasizing people’s responsibility in protecting the forest. The message- “Your Forests – Your Fault – Your Loss” was a powerful message for the public. http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7581/unclesamposterzh1.jpg Following the attack on Pearl Harbor during WWII, the Japanese also attacked an oil field near the Los Padros National Forest in California. With so many men in the military and only a skeleton staff of firefighters remaining, the potential for wild fires struck terror across the country. Americans feared that a fire could destroy our forest resources when wood products were greatly needed for the war effort. As the prevention of wild fires came into focus, the Wartime Advertising Council developed fire prevention posters with slogans such as, "Forest Fires Aid the Enemy," and “Careless Matches Aid the Axis.” http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1356/ww2jappostergh0.jpg In 1944, Walt Disney released the movie “Bambi,” and allowed the Forest Service to use the deer on their campaign posters for one year. This proved effective and showed that a forest animal helped get the message across. The Forest Service decided to continue using an animal and chose a bear for their fire safety mascot. http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/4701/bambiposterdh6.gif The Forest Service chose the name to be Smokey Bear, after “Smokey” Joe Martin, who had been the Assistant Chief of the New York City Fire Department. On August 9, 1944, the first poster of Smokey Bear was produced, drawn by Albert Staehle. The poster depicted a bear pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. The next year Rudy Wedelin became Smokey’s official artist. Smokey Bear soon became popular, so popular that he was given his own zip code because he received such a large amount of fan mail. His image has been seen in stuffed toys, records, pens, sports items, clothing, and books, and he has become one of the most recognized characters worldwide. The Story of the Real Bear. http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7729/smokeyvetpz8.jpg In 1950, some careless person started the terrible Capitan Gap wild fire on the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico. When a strong wind suddenly swept the fire toward a group of courageous firefighters, 24 of them had to run to a rock slide, lay face down, and cover their faces with handkerchiefs to escape the deadly flames. They emptied their canteens over their clothes and swatted their burning clothes. After an hour, the fire moved on. All 24 survived. When the smoke cleared and they caught their breath, they saw a scorched hillside where once a great forest stood. Amongst the smoldering ashes was a tiny black bear cub, burnt and afraid, clinging to a tree. The cub was nicknamed “Hotfoot Teddy.” They searched for the cub’s mother, but could not find her. The cub needed veterinary aid for the burns on his paws and hindquarters, so he was flown to Santa Fe to receive professional treatment. While his wounds were healing, he stayed at the home of Ray Bell, the game warden who flew him to Santa Fe. Ray's daughter Judy befriended the little bear and helped nurse him back to health. The little bear had gained nationwide attention and was soon renamed Smokey after the symbol for fire prevention. Smokey was presented by the New Mexico State Game Warden to the the Chief of the Forest Service to be used to aid the fire prevention program. Now the question was, “Where will Smokey live?” Little cubs grow up very fast, and Ray Bell’s house was no longer an option as the bear’s home. It was decided that Smokey’s permanent home would be the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Smokey became the most popular exhibit at the Zoo. Two other bears, both from New Mexico, eventually joined Smokey in Washington. Goldie, a female black bear, was introduced in 1962 as a possible mate for Smokey. However, no cubs were born of the two so Smokey II was introduced to carry on for Smokey in his old age. The original Smokey retired from the public display in 1975, after 25 years of service. He passed away later that year. His adopted son carried on for him until 1990. The character of Smokey lives on, a reminder to people across the world of the dangers of fire. Smokey was the first individual animal to ever be honored on a postage stamp. This stamp commemorated Smokey's 40th birthday in 1984. http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/9788/40thannivstampiq6.gif Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: CatwomanofV on 05/17/07 at 1:06 pm Thanks Quirk. I was at the National Zoo sometime in the 70s. I went to see Smokey but he was in his "cave" (he was old at the time) but I did see Smokey Jr. (who was just a cub). Shortly after that, I heard that Smokey died. :\'( :\'( So, I missed seeing him. Cat Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 05/17/07 at 1:30 pm Thanks Quirk. I was at the National Zoo sometime in the 70s. I went to see Smokey but he was in his "cave" (he was old at the time) but I did see Smokey Jr. (who was just a cub). Shortly after that, I heard that Smokey died. :\'( :\'( So, I missed seeing him. Cat aww, that's a shame you didn't get to see him. I always liked Smokey the Bear...he was along the lines of McGruff the Dog....those kind of safety icons were always neato. Speaking of safety icons, an idea just popped into my head of another one for next week's icon! ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 05/17/07 at 2:04 pm I used to love seeing those Smokey the Bear commercials on TV! :) I always wondered what would ever happen if Smokey the Bear and Yogi the Bear ever came face to face? ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: CatwomanofV on 05/17/07 at 2:14 pm I used to love seeing those Smokey the Bear commercials on TV! :) I always wondered what would ever happen if Smokey the Bear and Yogi the Bear ever came face to face? ;D Just as long as Yogi doesn't have to start a fire to heat up his picnic basket, I think it will be fine. :D ;D ;D Cat Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: KKay on 05/30/07 at 9:41 am I really want some of this riht now. Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: whistledog on 05/30/07 at 1:21 pm Kool-Aid Man is awesome! I used to love the commercials when I was a kid! There was a Kool-Aid Man game for the Atari 2600. Never had it, but always wanted to play it lol Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: gemini on 06/04/07 at 6:50 pm I really want some of this riht now. Oh Yeah!! Kool aid man! :D Kool aid was the only thing I could drink the morning after a long night of drinking lots and lots of beer! ;D Subject: Re: Retro icon of the week Written By: quirky_cat_girl on 06/04/07 at 8:24 pm Thanks again for another great retro icon idea...Kool Aid Man it is!!! :D ;D Kool-Aid Man is the mascot for Kool-Aid, a popular drink. The character has appeared in television and print advertising as a fun-loving and avuncular beverage provider, bursting through walls and yelling "Oh yeah!" to share the drink with kids. He is a gigantic anthropomorphic pitcher, filled with Kool-Aid (usually cherry, though other flavors have been used) and marked with a fingerprinted smiley face. http://img470.imageshack.us/img470/9994/180pxkoolaidmanau0.jpg HISTORY The smiling Kool-Aid pitcher first appeared in 1954, a year after Kool-Aid was purchased by General Foods. It was designed by Marvin Potts, an art director at the New York office of the Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency. He was asked to illustrate the ad slogan "A five-cent package makes 2 quarts". Apparently inspired by his son drawing on a frosty windowpane, he produced three different frosted pitcher designs: one had 5¢ drawn in the frost, one had a heart-and-arrow, and one had the smiling face. Kool-Aid Man was introduced in 1975 by adding arms and legs to "Pitcher Man." The name Pitcher Man was conceived as a pun on the idea of the corporate "pitch man.' Already well-known from its company's advertising campaign, Kool-Aid Man starred in a comic book in the 1980s, originally published by Marvel and later Archie Comics. In these comics, he battled long-tongued aliens known as the Thirstees, and later a pyromaniac named Scorch. Also in the 1980s, two video games created by M Networks, and based on the comic books out, were made for the Atari 2600 and Intellivision systems. Both involved Kool-Aid Man having to prevent the Thirstees from stealing all the Kool-Aid from the kids. http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8938/koolaidig2.jpg The voice of the Kool-Aid Man in television commercials — known for the catch phrase "Oh yeah!" — is currently Frank Simms, who sings back-up for singers David Bowie, Madonna, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Al Green, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, and many others. The current character has been modernized, sometimes wearing clothing, or talking with kids in their own slang. http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/6071/kool2600ww9.jpg	i don't know
April 3, 1882 saw Robert Ford shoot what Wild West legend in the back of the head as he stood to clean a picture hanging on the wall?	Jesse Woodson James (1847 - 1882) - Genealogy Jesse Woodson James Kearney, Clay County, Missouri, United States Death: in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States Cause of death: gunshot to the back of the head by Bob Ford Place of Burial: Kearney, Clay, Missouri, United States Immediate Family: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay, Missouri, United States Death: Apr 3 1882 - St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA Parents: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay County, Missouri, USA Death: Apr 3 1882 - St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA Parents: Robert Sallee James, Zerelda Cole Siblings: ...hn (No Mergers), Robert R. James, Susan Lavenia Parmer (born James), Sarah Nicholson (born Samuel), John Samuel, Fanny Hill (born James),... Wife: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay, Missouri, United States Death: Apr 3 1882 - Saint Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, United States Parents: Reverend Robert Sallee James, Zerelda Elizabeth Cole Spouses: Martha James, Zerelda Amanda James (born Mimms) Children: Mary Susan Barr (born James), Jesse Edward James Jr, Emma Bender (born James) Siblings: ...nder Franklin "Frank" James, Robert Reuben James, Robert James, Mary Samuel, Archibald "Archie" Peyton Samuel, Fannie Quantrill Hall (bor... Circa 1846 - Missouri, United States Parents: Robert Sallee James, <Private> James (born Cole) Siblings: Apr 2 1882 - St Joseph ,Andrew,Missouri,USA Parents: Robert Sallee James, Zarelda James (born Cole) Brother: Zerelda Amanda James (born Mimms) Children: Robert Sallee James, Zerelda Elizabeth James (born Cole) Siblings: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay, Missouri, USA Death: Apr 3 1882 - St Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, USA Parents: Robert Sallee James, Zerelda James (born Cole) Brother: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay, Missouri, United States Death: Apr 3 1882 - St.Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, USA Parents: Robert Sallee James, Zerelda "zee" Elizabeth James (born Cole) Siblings: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay, Missouri, United States Death: Apr 3 1882 - St Joseph, Andrew, Missouri, United States Parents: Robert Sallee James, Zerelda Elizabeth Cole Siblings: ...ank") James, Robert R James, Susan Lavenia James, Sarah Louisa Samuel, John Thomas Samuel, Fanny Quantrill Samuel, Archie Peyton Samuel Wife: Zerelda Amanda "zee" James (born Mimms) Children: Sep 5 1847 - Kearney, Clay, Missouri, USA Death: Apr 3 1882 - St.joseph, Buchanan, Missouri, USA Parents: Robert Sallee James, Zerelda Elizabeth Cole Siblings: ... R James, Susan Lavenia James, Sarah Louisa Nicholson (born Samuel), John Thomas Samuel, Fannie Quantrill Hall (born Samuel), Archie Peyt... Wife: Zerelda Amanda "zee" James (born Mimms) Children: Apr 3 1882 - Saint Joseph, MO, United States Parents: Rev. Robert Sale James, Zerelda James (born Mimms) Siblings: Jesse James (Wikipedia) Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847 — April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death. Some recent scholars place him in the context of regional insurgencies of ex-Confederates following the American Civil War rather than a manifestation of frontier lawlessness or economic justice. Jesse and his brother Frank James were Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. They were accused of participating in atrocities committed against Union soldiers. After the war, as members of one gang or another, they robbed banks, stagecoaches, and trains. Despite popular portrayals of James as a kind of Robin Hood, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, there is no evidence that he and his gang used their robbery gains for anyone but themselves. The James brothers were most active with their gang from about 1866 until 1876, when their attempted robbery of a bank in Northfield, Minnesota, resulted in the capture or deaths of several members. They continued in crime for several years, recruiting new members, but were under increasing pressure from law enforcement. On April 3, 1882, Jesse James was killed by Robert Ford, who was a member of the gang living in the James house and who was hoping to collect a state reward on James' head. Jesse James Farm in Kearney. The original farmhouse is on the left and an addition on the right was expanded after Jesse James died. Across a creek and up a hill on the right was the home of Daniel Askew, where Askew was killed on April 12, 1875. Askew was suspected of cooperating with the Pinkertons in the January 1875 bombing of the house (in a room on the left). James's original grave was on the property but he was later moved to a cemetery in Kearney. The original footstone is still outside, although the family has replaced the headstone.Jesse Woodson James was born in Clay County, Missouri, near the site of present day Kearney, on September 5, 1847. Jesse James had two full siblings: his older brother, Alexander Franklin "Frank", and a younger sister, Susan Lavenia James. His father, Robert S. James, of Welsh ancestry, was a commercial hemp farmer and Baptist minister in Kentucky, who migrated to Bradford, Missouri after marriage and helped found William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. He was prosperous, acquiring six slaves and more than 100 acres (0.40 km2) of farmland. Robert James travelled to California during the Gold Rush to minister to those searching for gold[3] and died there when Jesse was three years old. After the death of Robert James, his widow Zerelda remarried twice, first to Benjamin Simms and then in 1855 to Dr. Reuben Samuel, who moved into the James' home. Jesse's mother and Reuben Samuel had four children together: Sarah Louisa, John Thomas, Fannie Quantrell, and Archie Peyton Samuel. Zerelda and Reuben Samuel acquired a total of seven slaves, who served mainly as farmhands in tobacco cultivation in Missouri. The approach of the American Civil War overshadowed the James-Samuel household. Missouri was a border state, sharing characteristics of both North and South, but 75% of the population was from the South or other border states. Clay County was in a region of Missouri later dubbed "Little Dixie," as it was a center of migration from the Upper South. Farmers raised the same crops and livestock as in the areas they migrated from. They brought slaves with them and purchased more according to need. The county had more slaveholders, who held more slaves, than in other regions. Aside from slavery, the culture of Little Dixie was Southern in other ways as well. This influenced how the population acted during and after the American Civil War. In Missouri as a whole, slaves accounted for only 10 percent of the population, but in Clay County they constituted 25 percent. After the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, Clay County became the scene of great turmoil, as the question of whether slavery would be expanded into the neighboring Kansas Territory came to dominate public life. Numerous people from Missouri migrated to Kansas to try to influence its future. Much of the tension that led up to the Civil War centered on the violence that erupted in Kansas between pro- and anti-slavery militias. Civil War The Civil War ripped Missouri society apart and shaped the life of Jesse James. After a series of campaigns and battles between conventional armies in 1861, guerrilla warfare gripped the state, waged between secessionist "bushwhackers" and Union forces, which largely consisted of local militia organizations ("jayhawkers"). A bitter conflict ensued, bringing an escalating cycle of atrocities by both sides. Guerrillas murdered civilian Unionists, executed prisoners and scalped the dead. Union forces enforced martial law with raids on homes, arrests of civilians, summary executions and banishment of Confederate sympathizers from the state. The James-Samuel family took the Confederate side at the outset of the war. Frank James joined a local company recruited for the secessionist Drew Lobbs Army, and fought at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, though he fell ill and returned home soon afterward. In 1863, he was identified as a member of a guerrilla squad that operated in Clay County. In May of that year, a Union militia company raided the James-Samuel farm, looking for Frank's group. They tortured Reuben Samuel by briefly hanging him from a tree. According to legend, they lashed young Jesse.[3] Frank eluded capture and is believed to have joined the guerrilla organization led by William C. Quantrill. It is thought that he took part in the notorious massacre of some 200 men and boys in Lawrence, Kansas, a center of abolitionists. Frank James followed Quantrill to Texas over the winter of 1863–4. In the spring he returned in a squad commanded by Fletch Taylor. After they arrived in Clay County, 16-year-old Jesse James joined his brother in Taylor's group.[3] In the summer of 1864, Taylor was severely wounded, losing his right arm to a shotgun blast. The James brothers joined the bushwhacker group led by Bloody Bill Anderson. Jesse suffered a serious wound to the chest that summer. The Clay County provost marshal reported that both Frank and Jesse James took part in the Centralia Massacre in September, in which guerrillas killed or wounded some 22 unarmed Union troops; the guerrillas scalped and dismembered some of the dead. The guerrillas ambushed and defeated a pursuing regiment of Major A.V.E. Johnson's Union troops, killing all who tried to surrender (more than 100). Frank later identified Jesse as a member of the band who had fatally shot Major Johnson.[12] As a result of the James brothers' activities, the Union military authorities made their family leave Clay County. Though ordered to move South beyond Union lines, instead they moved across the nearby state border into Nebraska. After Anderson was killed in an ambush in October, the James brothers separated. Frank followed Quantrill into Kentucky; Jesse went to Texas under the command of Archie Clement, one of Anderson's lieutenants. He is known to have returned to Missouri in the spring.[12] Jesse was shot while trying to surrender when they ran into a Union cavalry patrol near Lexington, Missouri. Jesse James suffered the second of two life-threatening chest wounds. After the Civil War At the end of the Civil War, Missouri was in shambles. The conflict split the population into three bitterly opposed factions: anti-slavery Unionists, identified with the Republican Party; the segregationist conservative Unionists, identified with the Democratic Party; and pro-slavery, ex-Confederate secessionists, many of whom were also allied with the Democrats, especially the southern part of the party. The Republican Reconstruction administration passed a new state constitution that freed Missouri's slaves. It temporarily excluded former Confederates from voting, serving on juries, becoming corporate officers, or preaching from church pulpits. The atmosphere was volatile, with widespread clashes between individuals, and between armed gangs of veterans from both sides of the war. Jesse recovered from his chest wound at his uncle's Missouri boardinghouse, where he was tended to by his first cousin, Zerelda "Zee" Mimms, named after Jesse's mother.[12] Jesse and his cousin began a nine-year courtship, culminating in marriage. Meanwhile, his old commander Archie Clement kept his bushwhacker gang together and began to harass Republican authorities. These men were the likely culprits in the first daylight armed bank robbery in the United States in peacetime,[18] the robbery of the Clay County Savings Association in the town of Liberty, Missouri, on February 13, 1866. This bank was owned by Republican former militia officers who had recently conducted the first Republican Party rally in Clay County's history. One innocent bystander, a student of William Jewell College (which James's father had helped to found), was shot dead on the street during the gang's escape.[19] It remains unclear whether Jesse and Frank took part. After their later robberies took place and they became legends, there were those who credited them with being the leaders of the Clay County robbery.[ It has been argued in rebuttal that James was at the time still bedridden with his wound. No concrete evidence has surfaced to connect either brother to the crime, or to rule them out.[20] This was a time of increasing local violence; Governor Fletcher had recently ordered a company of militia into Johnson County to suppress guerrilla activity.[21] Archie Clement continued his career of crime and harassment of the Republican government, to the extent of occupying the town of Lexington, Missouri, on election day in 1866. Shortly afterward, the state militia shot Clement dead, an event James wrote about with bitterness a decade later.[19][20] The survivors of Clement's gang continued to conduct bank robberies over the next two years, though their numbers dwindled through arrests, gunfights, and lynchings. While they later tried to justify robbing the banks, these were small, local banks with local capital, not part of the national system that was an object of popular discontent in the 1860s and 1870s.[22] On May 23, 1867, for example, they robbed a bank in Richmond, Missouri, in which they killed the mayor and two others.[12][23] It remains uncertain whether either of the James brothers took part, although an eyewitness who knew the brothers told a newspaper seven years later "positively and emphatically that he recognized Jesse and Frank James ... among the robbers."[24] In 1868, Frank and Jesse James allegedly joined Cole Younger in robbing a bank at Russellville, Kentucky. Jesse James did not become famous, however, until December 1869, when he and (most likely) Frank robbed the Daviess County Savings Association in Gallatin, Missouri. The robbery netted little money, but it appears that Jesse shot and killed the cashier, Captain John Sheets, mistakenly believing him to be Samuel P. Cox, the militia officer who had killed "Bloody Bill" Anderson during the Civil War. James's self-proclaimed attempt at revenge, and the daring escape he and Frank made through the middle of a posse shortly afterward, put his name in the newspapers for the first time.[25][26][27] An 1882 history of Daviess County said, "The history of Daviess County has no blacker crime in its pages than the murder of John W. Sheets."[28] The 1869 robbery marked the emergence of Jesse James as the most famous of the former guerrillas turned outlaw. It marked the first time he was publicly labeled an "outlaw," as Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden set a reward for his capture.[28] This was the beginning of an alliance between James and John Newman Edwards, editor and founder of the Kansas City Times. Edwards, a former Confederate cavalryman, was campaigning to return former secessionists to power in Missouri. Six months after the Gallatin robbery, Edwards published the first of many letters from Jesse James to the republic, asserting his innocence. Over time, the letters gradually became more political in tone, denouncing the Republicans and voicing James' pride in his Confederate loyalties. Together with Edwards's admiring editorials, the letters turned James into a symbol of Confederate defiance of Reconstruction. Jesse James's initiative in creating his rising public profile is debated by historians and biographers, though the tense politics certainly surrounded his outlaw career and enhanced his notoriety.[27][29] Meanwhile, the James brothers joined with Cole Younger and his brothers John, Jim, and Bob as well as Clell Miller and other former Confederates to form what came to be known as the James-Younger Gang. With Jesse James as the public face of the gang (though with operational leadership likely shared among the group), the gang carried out a string of robberies from Iowa to Texas, and from Kansas to West Virginia. They robbed banks, stagecoaches, and a fair in Kansas City, often in front of large crowds, even hamming it up for the bystanders. On July 21, 1873, they turned to train robbery, derailing the Rock Island train in Adair, Iowa and stealing approximately $3,000 ($51,000 in 2007). For this, they wore Ku Klux Klan masks, deliberately taking on a potent symbol years after the Klan had been suppressed in the South by President Grant's use of the Force Acts. Former rebels attacked the railroads as symbols of threatening centralization.[30] The James' gang's later train robberies had a lighter touch. In fact, in only two train hold-ups did they rob passengers, because James typically limited himself to the express safe in the baggage car. Such techniques reinforced the Robin Hood image that Edwards created in his newspapers, but the James gang never shared any of the robbery money outside their circle.[29] Pinkertons The Adams Express Company turned to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency in 1874 to stop the James-Younger Gang. The Chicago-based agency worked primarily against urban professional criminals, as well as providing industrial security, such as strike breaking. Because the James-Younger gang received support by many former Confederate soldiers in Missouri, they eluded the Pinkertons. Joseph Whicher, an agent dispatched to infiltrate Zerelda Samuel's farm, shortly afterwards was found killed. Two others, Louis J. Lull and John Boyle, were sent after the Youngers; Lull was killed by two of the Youngers in a roadside gunfight on March 17, 1874, fatally shooting John Younger before he died. A deputy sheriff named Edwin Daniels was also killed in the skirmish.[31][32] Allan Pinkerton, the agency's founder and leader, took on the case as a personal vendetta. He began to work with former Unionists who lived near the James family farm. On the night of January 25, 1875, he staged a raid on the homestead. Detectives threw an incendiary device into the house; it exploded, killing James's young half-brother Archie (named for Archie Clement) and blowing off one of the arms of mother Zerelda Samuel. Afterward, Pinkerton denied that the raid's intent was arson. But biographer Ted Yeatman located a letter by Pinkerton in the Library of Congress in which Pinkerton declared his intention to "burn the house down."[33][34] The raid on the family home outraged many, and did more than all of Edwards's columns to create sympathy for Jesse James. The Missouri state legislature only narrowly defeated a bill that praised the James and Younger brothers and offered them amnesty. Allowed to vote and hold office again, former Confederates voted to limit reward offers that the governor could make for fugitives. This extended a measure of protection over the James-Younger gang. (Only Frank and Jesse James previously had been singled out for rewards larger than the new limit.)[35][36] Downfall of the gang Jesse and his cousin Zee married on April 24, 1874, and had two children who survived to adulthood: Jesse Edward James (b. 1875) and Mary Susan James (b. 1879). Twins Gould and Montgomery James (b. 1878) died in infancy. Jesse, Jr. became a lawyer and made a career as a respected member of the bar in Kansas City, Missouri.[citation needed] On September 7, 1876, the James-Younger gang attempted a raid on the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota. After this robbery and a manhunt, only Frank and Jesse James were left alive and uncaptured.[37] Cole and Bob Younger later stated that they selected the bank because they believed it was associated with the Republican politician Adelbert Ames, the governor of Mississippi during Reconstruction, and Union general Benjamin Butler, Ames' father-in-law and the Union commander of occupied New Orleans. Ames was a stockholder in the bank, but Butler had no direct connection to it.[38] To carry out the robbery, the gang divided into two groups. Three men entered the bank, two guarded the door outside, and three remained near a bridge across an adjacent square. The robbers inside the bank were thwarted when acting cashier Joseph Lee Heywood refused to open the safe, falsely claiming that it was secured by a time lock even as they held a bowie knife to his throat and cracked his skull with a pistol butt. Assistant cashier Alonzo Enos Bunker was wounded in the shoulder as he fled out the back door of the bank. Meanwhile, the citizens of Northfield grew suspicious of the men guarding the door and raised the alarm. The five bandits outside fired in the air to clear the streets, which drove the townspeople to take cover and fire back from protected positions. Two bandits were shot dead and the rest were wounded in the barrage. Inside, the outlaws turned to flee. As they left, one shot the unarmed cashier Heywood in the head. Historians have speculated about the identity of the shooter but have not reached consensus on his identity. The gang barely escaped Northfield, leaving two dead companions behind. They killed two innocent victims, Heywood, and Nicholas Gustafson, a Swedish immigrant from the Millersburg community west of Northfield. A massive manhunt ensued. The James brothers eventually split from the others and escaped to Missouri. The militia soon discovered the Youngers and one other bandit, Charlie Pitts. In a gunfight, Pitts died and the Youngers were taken prisoner. Except for Frank and Jesse James, the James-Younger Gang was destroyed.[39][40] Later in 1876, Jesse and Frank James surfaced in the Nashville, Tennessee area, where they went by the names of Thomas Howard and B. J. Woodson, respectively. Frank seemed to settle down, but Jesse remained restless. He recruited a new gang in 1879 and returned to crime, holding up a train at Glendale, Missouri (now part of Independence, Missouri),[41] on October 8, 1879. The robbery was the first of a spree of crimes, including the holdup of the federal paymaster of a canal project in Killen, Alabama, and two more train robberies. But the new gang did not consist of battle-hardened guerrillas; they soon turned against each other or were captured, while James grew paranoid, killing one gang member and frightening away another. With authorities growing suspicious, by 1881 the brothers returned to Missouri where they felt safer. In December, Jesse rented a house in Saint Joseph, Missouri, not far from where he had been born and raised. Frank, however, decided to move to safer territory, heading east to Virginia. Death With his gang nearly annihilated, James trusted only the Ford brothers, Charley and Robert.[44] Although Charley had been out on raids with James, Bob was an eager new recruit. For protection, James asked the Ford brothers to move in with him and his family. James had often stayed with their sister Martha Bolton and, according to rumor, he was "smitten" with her.[2] James did not know that Bob Ford had been conducting secret negotiations with Thomas T. Crittenden, the Missouri governor, to bring in the famous outlaw.[44] Crittenden had made capture of the James brothers his top priority; in his inaugural address he declared that no political motives could be allowed to keep them from justice. Barred by law from offering a sufficiently large reward, he had turned to the railroad and express corporations to put up a $5,000 bounty for each of them.[2] On April 3, 1882, after eating breakfast, the Fords and James prepared to depart for another robbery. They went in and out of the house to ready the horses. As it was an unusually hot day, James removed his coat, then declared that he should remove his firearms as well, lest he look suspicious. Noticing a dusty picture on the wall, he stood on a chair to clean it. Bob Ford shot James in the back of the head.[45][46][47] James' two previous bullet wounds and partially missing middle finger served to positively identify the body.[12] The murder of Jesse James was a national sensation. The Fords made no attempt to hide their role. Indeed, Robert Ford wired the governor to claim his reward. Crowds pressed into the little house in St. Joseph to see the dead bandit, even while the Ford brothers surrendered to the authorities but they were dismayed to find that they were charged with first degree murder. In the course of a single day, the Ford brothers were indicted, pleaded guilty, were sentenced to death by hanging, and two hours later were granted a full pardon by Governor Crittenden.[48] The governor's quick pardon suggested that he knew that the brothers intended to kill James rather than capture him.[citation needed] Like many who knew James, the Ford brothers never believed it was practical to try to take him into custody.[citation needed] The implication that the chief executive of Missouri conspired to kill a private citizen startled the public and added to James' notoriety.[49][50][51] After receiving a small portion of the reward, the Fords fled Missouri. Law enforcement officials active in the plan also shared the bounty. Later the Ford brothers starred in a touring stage show in which they reenacted the shooting. Suffering from tuberculosis (then incurable) and a morphine addiction, Charley Ford committed suicide on May 6, 1884, in Richmond, Missouri. Bob Ford operated a tent saloon in Creede, Colorado. On June 8, 1892, a man named Edward O'Kelley, went to Creede on a personal vendetta with avenging James. He loaded a double barrel shotgun, entered Ford's saloon and said "Hello Bob" before shooting Bob Ford in the throat, killing him instantly. O'Kelley was sentenced to life in prison. O'Kelley's sentence was subsequently commuted because of a 7,000 signature petition in favor of his release. The governor pardoned him on October 3, 1902.[54] James' mother Zerelda Samuel wrote the following epitaph for him: In Loving Memory of my Beloved Son, Murdered by a Traitor and Coward Whose Name is not Worthy to Appear Here.[44] James's widow Zee died alone and in poverty. Rumors of survival Rumors of Jesse James's survival proliferated almost as soon as the newspapers announced his death. Some said that Robert Ford killed someone other than James, in an elaborate plot to allow him to escape justice. These tales have received little credence, then or later. None of James's biographers has accepted them as plausible. The body buried in Kearney, Missouri, as Jesse James's was exhumed in 1995 and subjected to mitochondrial DNA typing. The report, prepared by Anne C. Stone, Ph.D., James E. Starrs, L.L.M., and Mark Stoneking, Ph.D., stated the mtDNA recovered from the remains was consistent with the mtDNA of one of James's relatives in the female line.[55] This theme resurfaced in a 2009 documentary, Jesse James' Hidden Treasure, which aired on the History Channel. The documentary was dismissed as pseudo-history and pseudo-science by historian Nancy Samuelson in a review she wrote for Winter, 2009-2010 edition of The James-Younger Gang Journal.[56] One prominent claimant was J. Frank Dalton, who died August 15, 1951, in Granbury, Texas. Dalton was allegedly 101 years old at the time of his first public appearance, in May 1948. His story did not hold up to questioning from James's surviving relatives.[57] Legacy and controversies Further information: Social bandits and Robin Hood James's turn to crime after the end of Reconstruction era helped cement his place in American life and memory as a simple but remarkably effective bandit. After 1873 he was covered by the national media as part of social banditry.[58] During his lifetime, James was celebrated chiefly by former Confederates, to whom he appealed directly in his letters to the press. Displaced by Reconstruction, the antebellum political leadership mythologized the James Gang exploits. Frank Triplett wrote about James as a "progressive neo-aristocrat" with purity of race.[59] Indeed, some historians credit James' myth as contributing to the rise of former Confederates to dominance in Missouri politics[citation needed] (in the 1880s, for example, both U.S. Senators from the state, Confederate military commander Francis Cockrell and Confederate Congressman George Graham Vest, were identified with the Confederate cause). In the 1880s, after James' death, the James Gang became the subject of dime novels that represented the bandits as pre-industrial models of resistance.[59] During the Populist and Progressive eras, James became a symbol as America's Robin Hood, standing up against corporations in defense of the small farmer, robbing from the rich and giving to the poor while there is no evidence that his robberies enriched anyone other than his gang and himself,[2] though they attacked small banks that benefited local farmers. In portrayals of the 1950s, James was pictured as a psychologically troubled individual rather than a social rebel. Some filmmakers portrayed the former outlaw as a revenger, replacing "social with exclusively personal motives."[60] Jesse James remains a controversial symbol, one who can always be interpreted in various ways, according to cultural tensions and needs. Although some of the neo-Confederate movement regard him as a hero[49][61][62] renewed cultural battles over the place of the Civil War in American history have replaced the long-standing interpretation of James as a Western frontier hero. Some point to his absolute commitment to slavery and his vow after the Civil War to shoot any black in Missouri not fulfilling the role of a slave. While his "heroic outlaw" image is still commonly portrayed in films, as well as in songs and folklore, recent historians place him as a self-aware vigilante and terrorist who used local tensions to create his own myth among the widespread insurgent guerrillas and vigilantes following the American Civil War.[1] Museums Some museums and sites devoted to Jesse James: James Farm in Kearney, Missouri: In 1974 Clay County, Missouri, bought it. The county operates the site as a house museum and historic site.[63] Jesse James Home Museum: The house where Jesse James was killed in south St. Joseph was moved in 1939 to the Belt Highway on St. Joseph's east side to attract tourists. In 1977 it was moved to its current location, near Patee House, which was the headquarters of the Pony Express. The house is now owned and operated by the Pony Express Historical Association.[64] First National Bank of Northfield: The Northfield Historical Society in Northfield, Minnesota, has restored the building that housed the First National Bank, the scene of the 1876 raid.[65] Heaton Bowman Funeral Home, 36th Street and Frederick Avenue, St. Joseph, Missouri. The funeral home's predecessor conducted the original autopsy and funeral for Jesse James. A room in the back holds the log book and other documentation. The Jesse James Tavern is in his father's birthplace in Asdee, County Kerry, Ireland, from where his father immigrated to the US in the 1840s as a young man.[66] The parish priest, Canon William Ferris, says a solemn requiem mass for Jesse James every year on April 3. Cultural depictions Festivals The Defeat of Jesse James Days in Northfield, Minnesota, is among the largest outdoor celebrations in the state and is held annually in September during the weekend after Labor Day. Thousands of visitors watch reenactments of the robbery, a championship rodeo, a carnival, performances of a 19th-century style melodrama musical, and a parade during the five-day event.[67] Jesse James' boyhood home in Kearney, Missouri, is a museum dedicated to the town's most famous resident. Each year a recreational fair, the Jesse James Festival, is held during the third weekend in September.[68] During the annual Labor Day weekend Victorian Festival[69] at the 1866 Col. William H. Fulkerson estate Hazel Dell in Jersey County, Illinois, Jesse James' history is told in stories and by reenactments of stagecoach holdups. Over the three-day event, thousands of spectators learn of the documented James Gang's stopping point at Hazel Dell and of their connection with ex-Confederate Fulkerson. Russellville, Kentucky, the site of the robbery of the Southern Bank in 1868, holds the Jesse James International Arts and Film Festival. The JJIAFF completed its second annual event in April 2008 and the third annual is planned for April 25, 2009. The festival has featured a bluegrass band from San Francisco and experimental bands from southern Kentucky as well as painters, sculptors, photographers, and comic artists. Children's activities are a mainstay of the festival. A highlight for adults is the film festival held at the Logan County Public Library in Russellville. Past entrants have included films from Norway and northwestern Kentucky, modern silent film projects, nature studies, and fan films. In addition, the annual Tobacco and Heritage Festival in Russellville features a reenactment of the James-Younger Gang's robbery of the Southern Bank. Today used as a residence, the historic structure on South Main Street has been preserved by the town and county. The small town of Oak Grove, Louisiana, also hosts a town-wide annual Jesse James Trade Days, usually in the early to mid fall. This is a reference to a short time James supposedly spent near this area. Literature Jesse James is often used as a fictional character in many Western novels, including some that were published while he was alive. For instance, in Willa Cather's My Antonia, the narrator reads a book entitled 'Life of Jesse James' - probably a dime novel. In Charles Portis's 1968 novel, True Grit, the U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn describes fighting with Cole Younger and Frank James for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Long after his adventure with Mattie Ross, Cogburn ends his days in a traveling road show with the aged Cole Younger and Frank James. During his travel to the "Wilde West," Oscar Wilde visited Jesse James' hometown in Missouri. Learning that James had been assassinated by his own gang member, "...an event that sent the town into mourning and scrambling to buy Jesse's artifacts," "romantic appeal of the social outcast" in his mind, Wilde wrote in one of his letters to home that: "Americans are certainly great hero-worshippers, and always take [their] heroes from the criminal classes."[70] Comics In 1969, artist Morris and writer René Goscinny (co-creator of Asterix) had Lucky Luke confronting Jesse James, his brother Frank, and Cole Younger. The adventure poked fun at the image of Jesse as a new Robin Hood. Although he passes himself off as such and does indeed steal from the rich (who are, logically, the only ones worth stealing from), he and his gang take turns being "poor," thus keeping the loot for themselves. Frank quotes from Shakespeare, and Younger is portrayed as a fun-loving joker, full of good humor. One critic has likened this version of the James brothers as "intellectuals bandits, who won't stop theorising their outlaw activities and hear themselves talk."[71] In the end, the at-first-cowed people of a town fight back against the James gang and send them packing in tar and feathers. Music In his adaptation of the traditional song "Jesse James," Woody Guthrie magnified James's hero status. "Jesse James" was later covered by the Anglo-Irish band The Pogues on their 1985 album Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, and by Bruce Springsteen on his 2006 tribute to Pete Seeger, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. A somewhat different song titled "Jesse James," referring to Jesse's "wife to mourn for his life; three children, they were brave," and calling Robert Ford "the dirty little coward who shot Mr. Howard," was also the first track recorded by the "Stewart Years" version of the Kingston Trio at their initial recording session in 1961 (and included on that year's release Close-Up). Echoing the Confederate hero aspect, Hank Williams, Jr.'s 1983 Southern anthem "Whole Lot Of Hank" has the lyrics "Frank and Jesse James knowed how to rob them trains, they always took it from the rich and gave it to the poor, they might have had a bad name but they sure had a heart of gold." Rock band James Gang was named after Jesse James's gang. Their final album, released in 1976, was titled Jesse Come Home. Warren Zevon's 1976 self-titled album Warren Zevon includes the song "Frank and Jesse James," a romantic tribute to the James Gang's exploits, expressing much sympathy with their "cause." Its lyrics encapsulate the many legends that grew up around the life and death of Jesse James. The album contains a second reference to Jesse James in the song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" with the lyric "Well, I met a girl in West Hollywood, I ain't naming names. She really worked me over good, she was just like Jesse James." Linda Ronstadt covered the song a year later with slightly altered lyrics. In her album Heart of Stone (1989), Cher included a song titled "Just Like Jesse James," written by Diane Warren. This single, which was released in 1990, achieved high positions in the charts and sold 1,500,000 copies worldwide. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy features the song "Jesse James," ostensibly recorded on a wire recorder. Jon Chandler has also written a song about Jesse and Frank James entitled "He Was No Hero," written from the perspective of Joe Hayward's widow cursing Bob Ford for cheating her out of killing Jesse James. Around 1980 a concept album titled The Legend of Jesse James was released. It was written by Paul Kennerley and starred Levon Helm (The Band) as Jesse James, Johnny Cash as Frank James, Emmylou Harris as Zee James, Charlie Daniels as Cole Younger, and Albert Lee as Jim Younger. There are also appearances by Rodney Crowell, Jody Payne, and Roseanne Cash. The album highlights Jesse's life from 1863 to his death in 1882. In 1999 a double CD was released containing The Legend Of Jesse James and White Mansions, another concept album by Kennerley about life in the Confederate States of America between 1861-1865. Films There have been numerous portrayals of Jesse James in film and television,[72] including two wherein Jesse James, Jr. depicts his father. In many of the films, James is portrayed as a Robin Hood-like character.[73] 1921: Jesse James Under the Black Flag, played by Jesse James, Jr. 1921: Jesse James as the Outlaw, played by Jesse James, Jr. 1927: Jesse James, played by Fred Thomson 1939: Jesse James, played by Tyrone Power with Henry Fonda as Frank James and John Carradine as Bob Ford 1939: Days of Jesse James, played by Don 'Red' Barry 1941: Jesse James at Bay, played by Roy Rogers 1947: Jesse James Rides Again, played by Clayton Moore 1949: I Shot Jesse James, played by Reed Hadley 1950: Kansas Raiders, played by Audie Murphy 1951: The Great Missouri Raid, played by Macdonald Carey 1957: True Story of Jesse James, played by Robert Wagner 1959: Alias Jesse James, played by Wendell Corey in a comedy starring Bob Hope 1960: Young Jesse James, played by Ray Stricklyn 1965: The Legend of Jesse James, TV series starred by Allen Case 1966: Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter, played by John Lupton 1969: A Time for Dying, played by Audie Murphy 1972: The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid, played by Robert Duvall 1980: The Long Riders, played by James Keach 1986: The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James, played by Kris Kristofferson with Johnny Cash as Frank James and Willie Nelson as Gen. Jo Shelby 1994: Frank and Jesse, played by Rob Lowe 1999: Purgatory, played by J.D. Souther 2001: American Outlaws, played by Colin Farrell 2005: Just like Jesse James is the title of a movie that appears in Wim Wenders' Don't Come Knocking, in which Sam Shepard plays an aging western movie star whose first success was with that movie. 2005: Jesse James: Legend, Outlaw, Terrorist (Discovery HD), played by Daniel Lennox 2007: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, played by Brad Pitt, with Casey Affleck as Bob Ford[73] Television The actor Lee Van Cleef played Jesse James in a 1954 episode of Jim Davis's syndicated television series, Stories of the Century, the first western series to win an Emmy Award. The ABC series The Legend of Jesse James aired during the 1965-1966 television season, with Christopher Jones as Jesse, Allen Case as Frank James, Ann Doran as Zerelda Cole James Samuel, Robert J. Wilke as Marshal Sam Corbett, and John Milford as Cole Younger. In the episode of Little House on the Prairie titled "The Aftermath" (aired November 7, 1977), Jesse (Dennis Rucker) and Frank James (John Bennett Perry) took refuge in Walnut Grove after a failed robbery attempt. In the American Western series The Young Riders (1989–1992), Jesse James is portrayed by the late actor Christopher Pettiet. He appeared in 17 episodes as a Pony Express rider. An episode of Deadliest Warrior on "Spike TV" features the Jesse James gang vs. the Al Capone gang. The main weapons used by Jesse James was the Colt .45, the Pistol Whip, the Winchester rifle, and the Bowie Knife. The Jesse James gang came out victorious in the simulated match. In Episode 33 of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction in a segment titled "Mysterious Strangers," a story is told about two men in 1870 who take refuge on a rainy night in an old widow's house. While there they find out that she is about to lose her home to foreclosure. The strangers disappear in the night, leaving her $900 to give to the banker. The strangers, at the end of the story, turn out to be Frank and Jesse James. Beyond Belief purports that the story is documented and true. Secondary sources say he lived under the alias of John Davis HOWARD, but the 1880 census shows him living under the name of George Davis HOWARD. Jesse was buried in the front yard of the James farm and his mother Zerelda allowed tourists to view the grave of her son for 25 cents and sold rocks from his grave. Legend has it that when the rock supply ran low, she simply restocked from the river. Shortly after his death, the inscription on Jesse's monument near the Kearney Baptist Church read: In Loving Remembrance of My Beloved Son Jesse James AGED 34 YEARS, 6 MONTHS, 28 DAYS MURDERED BY A TRAITOR AND COWARD WHOSE NAME IS NOT WORTHY TO APPEAR HERE --- The celebrated Jesse W. James Taken at last HIS CAPTOR, A YOUNG WOMAN. ACCOMPLISHED, AND BEAUTIFUL. Famous DNA Review Jesse James Birth: Sep. 5, 1847 Death: Apr. 3, 1882 Saint Joseph Buchanan County Missouri, USA Western Outlaw. He was born Jesse Woodson James in Kearney, Missouri to Baptist minister Reverend Robert and Zerelda James and the younger brother of James. His father heeding a calling left for California with the intent of preaching to gold miners but contracted cholera and died. He is buried in an unmarked lost grave in Placerville. By the time Jesse was eight, his mother had remarried twice more. From the third marriage, he gained two stepbrothers and two stepsisters. As a youth, he was churchgoer, baptized at the Kearney Baptist Church and sang in the choir wanting to emulate his father and become a Baptist preacher. Jesse had very little formal education but was skilled with horses and a natural leader. When but fifteen, he followed his brother James into the ranks of Quantrill's Raiders. After the war ended, he attempted to surrender at Lexington, Missouri and gain amnesty along with his brother Frank, Cole Younger and others but a gun battle ensured. The remnants of the "Raiders" were forced to hide out in the woods. With no means of livelihood, the James-Younger gang came into being. For the next fifteen years they robbed banks and when security made that difficult, they turned to stagecoaches and trains. After the failed disastrous attempt to rob the bank in Northfield, Minnesota, many of the gang member were wounded and captured, However, Jesse slipped away and lived quietly in St. Joseph Missouri under an assumed name. Two of his gang members were tempted by a reward for his capture dead or alive. They went to his house and while his back was turned, Robert Ford shot him one time in the back of the head. His mother had him buried in the front yard of the James Farm with an imposing monument with a inscription condemning the assassin. The house in St Joseph where Jesse met his death is preserved and is the epitome of morbidity. Here you can see the bullet hole made as it passed thought the skull of Jesse. The structure is filled with James memorabilia. The house was actually moved here after being saved from the jaws of demolition. Now more has been added. Artifacts from the controversial exhumation of 1995. A bullet from his right lung stemming from an old civil War injury, the tie tack he was wearing when first buried and fragments of wood, the handles and the glass fragments from the coffin front piece grace a glass cabinet. Jesse James boyhood home today remains relatively secluded in the countryside near the small town of Kearney. After Zerelda's third and very successful marriage to her neighbor a country doctor, the two farms became one and was very prosperous with several slaves doing most of the work. After the death of her son, a defiant mother sat on the front porch giving tours of the house and selling stones from the grave and supposed pistols owned by her famous son. It was here Union soldiers harassed the family known as confederate sympathizers and attacked Zerelda and tried to hang her third husband. The incident defined young Jessie's determination to join the Confederate army. It was here Pinkerton detectives threw an incendiary bomb into the residence killing a younger step brother and maiming Zerelda. After her death and Jesse's wife, his body was moved from the farm to the family plot in Mount Olivet Cemetery Kearney and interred beside her. Frank James in his old age kept up the tours by charging 50 cents until his death. Clay County purchased the rundown property and after two restorations, 75 percent of the original material remains. It contains original furnishings. The James home is perhaps one of the most authentic birthplace sites in America today. Now, the Clay County government at the Jesse James Farm and Museum is still selling pebbles for 25 cents along with shirts, books and toys. The Jesse James Bank Museum, formerly the Clay County Savings Assoc., located on the historic square in Liberty, Missouri, was the site of the nation's first successful daylight peacetime bank robbery on February 13, 1866, when the James-Younger gang robbed the bank of $60,000 in cash, gold and negotiable instruments. During their getaway, they shot and killed an innocent bystander, 17-year old college student, George C. 'Jolly' Wymore, who was standing across the street. (bio by: Donald Greyfield (inactive)) Family links: Parents: Robert Sallee James (1818 - 1850) Zerelda Elizabeth Cole Samuel (1825 - 1911) Spouse: Zerelda Mimms James (1845 - 1900)* Children: Joseph Jesse Chase (1870 - 1940)* Jesse Edwards James (1875 - 1951)* Gould James (1878 - 1878)* Montgomery James (1878 - 1878)* Mary Susan James Barr (1879 - 1935)* Siblings: Frank James (1843 - 1915)* Jesse Woodson James (1847 - 1882) Susan Lavenia James Parmer (1849 - 1889)* Sarah Louise Samuel Nicholson (1858 - 1915) Fannie Quantrill Samuel Hall (1863 - 1922) Archie Payton Samuel (1866 - 1875)** Calculated relationship Burial: Mount Olivet Cemetery Kearney Clay County Missouri, USA Maintained by: Find A Grave Record added: Jan 01, 2001 Find A Grave Memorial# 539 Jesse James, American outlaw's Timeline 1847	Jesse James
A general wears stars, a colonel gets an eagle, and a Lt. Col gets a silver oak leaf. What insignia does a major wear?	A short note on the death of Jesse James. - OpenStudy A short note on the death of Jesse James. History schrodinger 2 years ago I got my questions answered at brainly.com in under 10 minutes. Go to brainly.com now for free help! schrodinger 2 years ago At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat. Join Brainly to access SyedMohammed98 2 years ago Jesse James was born in Clay County, Missouri on the Fifth of September 1847. His parents were Zerelda and Robert James. They were hemp farmers that owned six slaves, but most people wouldn’t know that. They only know him as an outlaw. Nevertheless, the name “Jesse James” is one that almost everyone has heard, even though he has been dead for over one hundred years. (Defeat n. pg.) Now, although Jesse James was a traditional outlaw in many respects, his legend perseveres as an icon of American culture. When the Civil War began, Jesse had to watch his older brother Frank go off to fight for the rebellion. While Frank was away, he got involved with a group of pro-Confederates “who brought the wrath of Union militiamen to the James family. Jesse was roughed up and his stepfather was tortured for information. This may have been the spark that set off Jesse's flame.”(Death n. pg.) In the spring of 1864, at the age of sixteen, Jesse James joined a group led by "Bloody Bill" Anderson. They terrorized pro-Union enemies within Missouri. James was still a teenager at the time. DEATH OF JESSE JAMES On Monday April 3, 1882, before the sun had risen, Jesse James laid in his bed; with his wife Zee, speechless. Jesse trying to ignore the question of why the Fords are there at their house, he lays there staring at the ceiling. When she finally asks if they are planning other JOB, Jesse tells her they must pull this JOB. After he swore they were done with this kind of life, financial struggles drug him back. Their plan was to move away to California to be able to raise their kids without fear. However, they did not have the MONEY to even get them to California much less start a new life there. Jesse called his friends; Bob and Charley Ford, to help him rob this last job at Platte City. What Jesse did not know was, while he was laying in bed with his wife thinking of the future for day, Bob started to panic and feel paranoid. Bob wakes up Charley in an uproar thinking that Jesse knows they have betrayed him. Bob then confesses he believes somebody found out and told Jesse that they are the ones who killed his cousin Wood Hite. Martha Bolton, sister of Bob and Charley, was actually the one to talk to Governor T.T. Crittenden at the St. James Hotel in Kansas City to make the arrangements on Jesse James murder or capture. They were offered money and amnesty from the law for this conspiracy, but most importantly the safety from Wood Hite's murder. There was a pile of rocks stacked up on the edge of their field. Hite's body was buried underneath the pile of rocks. Every time she looks or thinks about that night when Bob pulled the trigger, she begins to sweat nervously. wingspan Liddil was there when the murder took place and the fear of Jesse getting his hands on Dick to figure out what happened to his favorite cousin frightens her. This was the big reason for Martha's plot against Jesse. But of course, with time to think about her actions, her mind began to make her ask many questions. Could she trust the State to keep their word upon them? Had Jesse found out about the plan? And since she had not heard from her brothers in awhile, she was beginning to think maybe Bob was dead. Cole Younger was once a member of Jesse's gang. However, he had been captured after the Northfield holdup and was sentenced to life in Minnesota State Prison in Stillwater. Bob Younger was shot at Northfield and when Jesse recommended shooting Bob to ease the pain, Cole was unable to forgive Jesse for his thoughts. Just after the incident, Jesse and Frank left the gang and Cole would never be able to forgive Jesse. Cole did not want Jesse's life, he wanted Jesse to suffer forever in a prison cell just has he is. He felt death would not be punishment enough. Once everybody started to waken, Zee was in the kitchen making breakfast. Jesse went out to get a bucket of water. Bob began to get more paranoid. He starts to argue with his brother Charley that Jesse knows of the plan to ambush him. When Jesse returned back to the house, he heard the kids talking, Zee in the kitchen, and the Fords putting their shoes on. When Jesse walks right past Bob after saying the usual morning greetings, Bob begins to think he knows again. And before breakfast, Jesse invites Bob to go to town with him to get the paper. Bob denies the offer at first but Jesse insisted he go. As Bob gets up to leave, he looks at his brother and then back to Jesse as if scared to walk with him. The whole way there they walked in silence. Once they got the Time, the St. Louis Republican, and the Kansas City Journal, Jesse just put them under his arms and began to walk back. On the way back to the house, Jesse asks Bob if he had heard any new on Dick Liddil while he was in Kansas short period earlier. Bob begins to get nervous and tense but answers "no." Again, they walked the rest of the way to the house in silence. Once they go in the house, Jesse takes the papers from under his arm and puts them on the table. Bob looks at the headline and gasp very loudly so everybody could hear. The headline was telling of Dick Liddil's arrest. After remember back to Jesse's question about Liddil, Bob feels Jesse knows something and is just toying with him. He keeps telling himself to just draw and shoot him but he cannot get his hand to do it. Jesse sits down at the table and reads the headline. Jesse asked Bob again about Liddil but Bob and Charley make up excuses why he may not have heard anything about the arrest while fidgeting and acting nervous. More thoughts came into the mind of Bob to shoot Jesse then to get this guilt out of him. After making it obvious he was nervous about something Charley tries to make an excuse to get Bob out of the room to draw the attention away from him. Bob finally gets up and walks into the living room. However, as he walks past the table, he hears Jesse's chair squeak as well. Jesse follows Bob into the other room just to make sure he is alright. Bob's mind begins to wonder even more. Realizing Jesse will not kill him there in front of his wife and kids, he believes he is going to do it later that night on the long ride to Platte City. He begins to look for excuses to cancel the trip and thinks of things such as him being sick. Jesse goes to take off his coat because it is warm but then says he should not because people passing by might think there is a bad man in the house with all the hardware he had on him as he is smiling. Jesse begins to take off his waist belt and all other guns. Bob has never seen Jesse unarmed in his life. Jesse then looks at a painting of the death of Stonewall Jackson and feels it needs to be cleaned. Bob just sitting there thinks Jesse is just playing games with him. His mind begins to race rapidly now. Jesse grabs a chair to stand on so he can clean the painting. As Jesse is on the chair cleaning the painting, Bob pulls his gun and holds it up with both hands. Finally gets the courage to pull back the hammer which is loud in this quit house. As Jesse turns in disbelief, a single shot is fired that caught Jesse in his forehead. After bob could finally move from shack that he actually just did that, he ran from the house. SyedMohammed98 2 years ago From that day Bob was known as "THE COWARD" because he betrayed Jesse James He truly was a famous outlaw A movie is also based on him starring Brad pitt. anonymous 2 years ago Jesse Woodson James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882) was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary figure of the Wild West after his death. Scholars place him in the context of regional insurgencies of ex-Confederates following the American Civil War rather than a manifestation of frontier lawlessness or alleged economic justice.[1] anonymous 2 years ago With his gang nearly annihilated, James trusted only the Ford brothers, Charley and Robert.[52] Although Charley had been out on raids with James, Bob was an eager new recruit. For protection, James asked the Ford brothers to move in with him and his family. James had often stayed with their sister Martha Bolton and, according to rumor, he was "smitten" with her.[2] James did not know that Bob Ford had conducted secret negotiations with Thomas T. Crittenden, the Missouri governor, to bring in the famous outlaw.[52] Crittenden had made capture of the James brothers his top priority; in his inaugural address he declared that no political motives could be allowed to keep them from justice. Barred by law from offering a sufficiently large reward, he had turned to the railroad and express corporations to put up a $5,000 bounty for each of them.[2] On April 3, 1882, after eating breakfast, the Fords and James prepared to depart for another robbery. They went in and out of the house to ready the horses. As it was an unusually hot day, James removed his coat, then removed his firearms, lest he look suspicious. Noticing a dusty picture on the wall, he stood on a chair to clean it. Bob Ford shot James in the back of the head.[53][54][55] James' two previous bullet wounds and partially missing middle finger served to positively identify the body.[13] The death of Jesse James became a national sensation. The Fords made no attempt to hide their role. Indeed, Robert Ford wired the governor to claim his reward. Crowds pressed into the little house in St. Joseph to see the dead bandit, even while the Ford brothers surrendered to the authorities but they were dismayed to find that they were charged with first degree murder. In the course of a single day, the Ford brothers were indicted, pleaded guilty, were sentenced to death by hanging and two hours later were granted a full pardon by Governor Crittenden	i don't know
Comically treated with a cold steak, if someone is sporting a "shiner," what do they typically have?	City Guide Practical Info About Austin Austin is a place where business professionals, artists, musicians, filmmakers and students all bring their passions to life. Even with its population growing rapidly, this city continues to welcome new residents with open arms. Over the past few years, several national magazines have touted Austin as a top place to live. Sixth Street To experience "The Live Music Capital" of the world, Sixth Street is a good place to start. Often closed to vehicle traffic on the weekends, this street is lined with dance clubs, live music venues, eateries and street musicians, plus several tattoo and piercing shops. Visitors can have their tarot cards read by a gypsy on a street corner, or buy handmade jewelry from artists and hippies. Grab a slice of pizza at Roppolo's when the munchies take over; or, if a Cajun meal is what you're after, Roux & Parish serves up Louisiana cooking and great mixed drinks. Music fills the air in this area every night of the week, and visitors can hear everything from country to hip-hop, blues to noise-pop. If you venture north on Red River Street, you'll find some of Austin's best live music venues. Emo's, Stubb's and Red Eyed Fly all reside here. The Capitol Building Built in 1856 and 1857, the Capitol Complex Visitor Center is the oldest remaining state office building in Texas. In 1997, it underwent an enormous restoration and extension. Inside the Capitol Building, there is an exhibit chronicling the restoration, where visitors can view a 20-minute film narrated by Walter Cronkite, titled Lone Star Legacy: A History of the Capitol. The Capitol is a Renaissance Revival-style building made of Texas pink granite and native limestone, overlooking Congress Avenue. Guided tours are free and provide interesting information and anecdotes for visitors. Make sure to stand in the center of the Rotunda, look up, take notice of the Texas star and enjoy the beautiful architecture. Congress Avenue As you are heading south on Congress Avenue, stop by the Austin Museum of Art and check out their collection of 20th-century artwork. Or, if you are in the mood to shop for unique gifts, visit Tesoros Trading Company, where you will find a large selection of Mexican and Latin American jewelry, folk art, amulets and collectibles. Many locals buy their Day of the Dead supplies here, as well as Peruvian good luck charms and Latin American Christmas ornaments. As you travel further on South Congress and cross Lake Austin, you'll encounter a whole new environment. Starting with Güero's Taco Bar, you will notice that South Austin has a different kind of energy - relaxed and funky. Here, you will find antique shops, retro resale shops, vintage clothing and folk art. Stop by Terra Toys to check out their collection of tin soldiers and chemistry sets, then head over to Texas French Bread for soup and a sandwich. Zilker Park is a 400-acre park home to natural, spring-fed Barton Springs Pool, a miniature train that circles the park for children to ride, a giant playscape, picnic grounds, rugby and soccer fields, a disc golf course and canoe and kayak rentals. At Christmas time, one of the city's moonlight towers serves as the trunk for the Zilker Park Christmas Tree. Thousands of colored lights are strung to form the shape, and each year locals and visitors twirl around underneath the enormous structure. Enjoy a number of musical, dance and theater events at the Zilker Hillside Theatre, where the Austin Shakespeare Festival is held each year. Or, visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens, where visitors spend the better part of a day enjoying the cactus, succulents, roses, butterflies and special gardens - all for free. Clarksville Originally an African-American community half a mile outside of the city limits, Clarksville remains a melting pot of art and culture. Houses have increased greatly in price due to the location of the neighborhood and all it has to offer. Jeffrey's resides here, a restaurant for fine dining. You may also enjoy a visit to Nau's Enfield Drug, where you can order an old fashioned malt. The Drag The strip of business along Guadalupe Street, bordering the University of Texas, is lovingly called "The Drag." Many of Austin's coolest shops are here, including the Sound Exchange (CD's, records and tapes). Stop by the outdoor Renaissance Market, where you will find jewelry, clothing and gifts made by Austin artisans. If you're looking for live music any night of the week, head down to the Hole in the Wall. This small dive hosts live music seven nights a week, with free Sunday night shows. The back room is full of pool tables and pinball games, and the crowd features many regular customers. Walk a few more blocks and you'll stumble upon Vulcan Video offering rare cult films and indie classics for rental. Hyde Park Take a leisurely walk or drive through this Central Austin neighborhood and view its historic homes. You will likely see many residents working in their yards, walking pets or riding bikes. Duval Road runs through the neighborhood and is home to the vegetarian restaurant Mother's Café and the popular Hyde Park Grill. This unique area, the city's first planned suburb, has its own small grocery store, and boasts a theatre in its name - Hyde Park Theatre. Stop by Dolce Vita Gelate and Espresso Bar for sweet Italian ice cream or check out Quack's 43rd Street Bakery for a cappuccino and a homemade muffin. French Legation Museum 802 San Marcos Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 8180 King Louis Philippe ordered Alphonse Dubois de Saligny of France to Austin in 1839 to become the French liaison to the Republic of Texas. He insisted on being called "Count" and built this home on 22 acres of land in 1841. While waiting for building to cease, he was involved in a dispute over pigs and moved to Louisiana. He never returned to Texas and did not spend a single night in this home. In 1848, Dr. Joseph Robertson purchased the home and passed it on through his family for years; in 1949, the State of Texas acquired it. The home has been restored and even houses a French Creole kitchen. O. Henry House Museum 409 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1903 Short story writer William Sydney Porter, whose pen name was O. Henry, lived in this home for three years while he spent time in Austin. It was constructed in 1891 and is filled with rare books, O. Henry's writing desk, original furniture, photographs, personal belongings and the chairs that brought The Gift of the Magi to life. Enjoy a guided tour and learn about the history of this home and its famous occupant. The home has been moved twice since from its original location at 308 East Fourth Street. It now features a gift shop with books, videotapes and more. The museum offers writing clubs for Austin children and sponsors many local events such as the Victorian Christmas celebration and the "O. Henry Pun-Off." Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Wooldridge Square Park 900 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6700 Nestled in between the Public Library/Austin History Center and the County Courthouse, you will find this lovely green space. Founded in 1909, this park with hills and steps, leads to a Greek pergola. Picnic tables float along the hills, as local bands grace the stage and fill the downtown air with music. Bands such as The Swells, The Onlys, Maximum Coherence During Flying, Experimental Aircraft, Kitty, Seven Percent Solution, Subset and many others have been known to play free shows here on beautiful weekend afternoons and evenings. Austin History Center 810 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 7480 Built in 1933, this was the first public library building in the city. Showcasing artworks of that time with ornamental ironwork balconies and loggia frescoes, this building is now home to one of the state's best local history collections. It is the official holding place for records of Travis County and the city of Austin. Visitors enjoy temporary exhibits, which rotate frequently. Madison Cabin 2300 Rosewood Avenue Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 6838 From 1843 to 1912 this cabin was home to Henry Green Madison. After caring for eight children with his wife Louise in this cabin, they finally built a larger home in 1886. The Madisons built this new frame house around the structure of the old cabin and it was not again seen until a construction crew uncovered it in 1968. The cabin currently resides in Rosewood Park after its donation to the City of Austin by Ninabelle Wooten. Texas State Cemetery 909 Navasota Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 463 0605 This 22-acre (8.9-hectare) cemetery is the final resting place of some of Austin's most famous military and public figures, including Stephen F. Austin, Barbara Jordan and nearly 2200 veterans of the Confederate Army. It was restored in 1997 with a visitor center addition and is a very tranquil place to be. Visitors may call ahead to arrange for guided tours, or take a private tour with help from the Visitor Center's information packets. Admission is free. Neill-Cochran Museum House 2310 San Gabriel Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2335 Built in 1853 by Abner Cook, the master builder of the Governor's Mansion, this Greek Revival-style home is made with Texas limestone. Originally built as the Washington Hill House, the two-storey structure is now a museum. Operated by the Colonial Dames of America, the museum is furnished with 19th-century reproductions of 18th-century French antiques. Historic documents dating from 1770-1900 are also housed here. A visit to the museum makes for an informative experience for kids and adults alike. Oakwood Cemetery 1601 Navasota Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 7152 These beautiful grounds are the tranquil resting-place for over 23,000 people, including Governor James Hogg and his daughter Ima. The architect who designed the Governor's mansion, Abner Cook, rests here along with the first person who was ever buried in this cemetery in 1839; when Texas was still called the Republic of Texas. This is Austin's oldest cemetery and despite its location (near the Interstate), it is surprisingly peaceful. With beautiful trees and old iron adornments this is a unique place to take a walk. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park 907 Slaughter Lane Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 This 344-acre park has an equestrian trail, a two-mile hike and bike trail, a fishing pier and an 18-hole disc golf course. Other sporting options include basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis and soccer. So you can see, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park is usually bustling with guests on the weeknights and weekends, with visitors bringing food to grill in the barbecue pits. There is also a picnic pavilion to sit under for a shady lunch. Bats Under South Congress Bridge 100 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) The Congress Bridge over Colorado River houses approximately one and a half million bats in mid-summer. In the spring, the pregnant female makes her way north to roosting sites in the Southwestern United States. They each give birth to a baby and at five weeks of age the pups can fly. Hundreds of people line the bridge at dusk to catch a rare glimpse of the bats as they leave the bridge for their nightly feeding. It may take up to 45 minutes for all the bats to exit. They will consume between 10,000 and 30,000 pounds of insects each night. Windy Point Park 6506 Bob Wentz Park Road Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 3337 This privately owned park attracts many people. The park has showers, grills and dressing rooms for visitors to use, along with primitive camping sites for those who want to stay overnight. There are no RV hook-ups available and you cannot bring your pets. A popular attraction here is the underwater adventure for divers featuring welded sculptures, schools of fish and sunken boats. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve 805 North Capitol of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 7622 Founded by seven women, this area was used as an outdoor laboratory for science classes and teacher training. Located on 220 acres (89 hectares) of land it offers 2.5 miles (4.02 kilometeres) of trails reserved for pedestrians. No bikes or pets are allowed; neither is picnicking or camping. This is a true wilderness preserve, and many bird watchers come to catch a glimpse of the Black Capped Vierus or Golden Cheek Warbler. Visitors are asked to donate a voluntary fee. Capital Cruises 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9264 For cruising around on Town Lake, the best way to go is on a Capital Cruise. Have dinner with friends or just your date, while watching the beauty of Austin's downtown from the peaceful water. Sightseeing tours are available along with canoes and kayaks; or you can take out paddle boats for an outdoor activity with the family. So whether it is a romantic evening for two or a day on the lake with kids, this service can meet your needs. Furthermore, the Hyatt caters for these cruises and serves wonders like shrimp pasta, beef or chicken fajitas, to name a few. They will work with your company or group to customize a menu if you desire. Shoal Creek Greenbelt 3755-B Capitol of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000 Shoal Creek Greenbelt is a seven-mile trail that extends from Town Lake to 38th Street. The portion of the trail from 24th Street to 29th Street is designated as a no-leash zone, and hundreds of dog owners flock to the area to give their pets joyous moments of running and playing. If you are not a big dog fan, stay clear of this area, as it is often crowded. As you walk along the crushed limestone, gravel and concrete trail, you will enjoy the trees and green spaces. You are sure to find the perfect spot for a picnic or leisurely stroll. Emma Long Metropolitan Park 1600 City Park Road Austin, TX 78730 United States - Phone: +1 512 346 1831 This park offers over 1,000 acres of land with nearly a mile of lakefront. Visitors can go boating and utilize the park's two boat ramps. Skiing, fishing and relaxing on the sandy waterfront are also options. There is a swimming area that employs lifeguards on summer weekends. Be sure to notice the ash, oak and juniper trees throughout the park. Sixty-six campsites are available, some along the waterfront, and pets on a leash are welcome. Austin Carriage Service 8413 FM 973 Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 243 0044 For a fabulous weekend tour of the city or a romantic evening ride, this service is one of the premier ways to visit Downtown Austin. Tours begin at several of the major hotels, as well as at a number of downtown restaurants. Weekend tours are available and cover over 20 historic sites, including the Governor's Mansion and the County Court House. The carriages are also available for special events. Carriages can be found near the Capitol on 11th at Congress Ave. The ride will take you on a tour of the downtown area. Die Gelbe Rose Carriage Tours 1301 East Fouth Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8824 One of the best ways to learn about scenic Austin is from the back of a Clydesdale-drawn carriage. Romance, historical and family fun tours are available by appointment; or if you are a wayward evening traveler on Sixth Street, take in a tour of downtown. See the Capitol, Governor's Mansion, and the famous Fourth Street "Warehouse District." Custom tours and event rentals, including full wedding packages, are also available. Visit the Web site for more information on rentals and rides. University of Texas Tower (The) 2400 Inner Campus Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6633 / +1 1 877 475 6633(Toll Free) Standing 27 stories high, the University of Texas Tower (the main administrative building) is a fixture in the Austin skyline. Standing very close to the height of the Capitol, the observation deck provides a beautiful view of the city. A testament to school spirit, the tower shines in burnt orange, and the bells peal to hail the University sports teams' victories. This stunning architectural beauty is a must-see when visiting the campus. Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8672 These 22 amazing acres overlook the Zilker Park fields bordering Barton Springs Road. The garden is actually comprised of several different gardens, including the Cactus and Succulent, Xeriscape, Herb and Fragrance, Rose, Azalea, Butterfly and Taniguchi Gardens. Taniguchi is a beautiful Japanese landscape with a waterfall, running stream, lily ponds and wooden bridges. The lush, peaceful grounds are commonly perused by artists and writers searching for inspiration, and by others just looking for solitude amid the city. See their website for further information. Commons Ford Ranch 614 Commons Ford Road Austin, TX 78733 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 This fabulous park is one of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department's premier facilities. Whether it is a family reunion or a company picnic, this park has all the amenities for a fabulous party. The unfurnished house is about 2500 square feet; it has a kitchen and two patios, perfect for informal gatherings. Swimming pool, volleyball, horseshoes, and a croquet set are available as well. The outdoor picnic area easily fits 300 people, while the inside holds up to 150. Call for reservations. Mayfield Park 3505 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 6758 Mayfield Park Cottage and Gardens is open to the public but is a favorite among the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department facilities rental division. The historic 1870s cottage is perfect for a small group. The cottage holds 65 people, while the grounds hold up to 200. Enjoy the landscaped gardens, lily ponds, peacocks and palms in this picturesque environment. Pack up the family or reserve it for your event and enjoy this 23-acre estate in central Austin. Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park 6614 Blue Bluff Road Austin, TX 78724 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 Just east of Austin, this park boasts some of the most popular activities for the outdoor enthusiast, including boating and fishing. Spend an afternoon taking leisurely hikes while enjoying this Audubon sanctuary. Bank and boat fishing are available along with open space, picnic areas, tables, grills and restrooms. Deep Eddy Pool 401 Deep Eddy Avenue Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 8546 The water supply for the pool comes from an artesian well, drawing many to the fresh waters of this popular gathering place. A longtime favorite of locals for its sunbathing lawn and child-friendly atmosphere, Deep Eddy has a shallow end large enough for groups of people to wade in. Located just west of downtown, this is a convenient location for a morning swim. Morning hours are designated for lap swimmers. Those with disabilities may call in advance to secure handicapped access, as the stairs leading down to the pool are not wheelchair accessible. Volente Beach 16107 Wharf Cove Lake Travis, TX 78641 United States - Phone: +1 512 258 5109 Located 30 minutes from downtown and offering boat rentals, cruises, and para-sailing. Enjoy the on-site restaurant or park your boat after a long ride. The new Water Park plays host to numerous water slides and swimming areas.Sundowner Grill offers a variety of Tex-Mex and American fare including burgers, fajitas, sandwiches, nachos, and quesadillas, along with a child's menu. Daniel H. Caswell House 1404 West Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0779 Daniel H. Caswell House was built in 1899 and is located in central Austin. Not far from the Capitol and the Governor's Mansion, this was once the home of a prominent Austin family. With Victorian and Colonial revivalist architecture, it is known as one of the most beautiful local attractions. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s and has been recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. The home belongs to the Austin Junior Forum now, and is available to rent for special events. Saint Mary Cathedral 203 East 10th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6182 Saint Mary Cathedral, designed by noted Texan architect Nicholas J. Clayton, is one of oldest Catholic churches in Austin. Its construction was completed in 1884, but exquisite French and German stained glass windows were added in much later. A beautiful piece of Gothic Revival architecture, this small cathedral now seems almost dwarfed by the high-rise buildings downtown. Apart from regular Sunday services, weekly masses are also conducted; check website for further information. All Saints' Episcopal Church 209 West 27th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3589 All Saints' Episcopal Church was built by Bishop George Herbert Kinsolving, who is buried in a crypt underneath the altar. Originally established as a chapel, this church served the members of Grace Hall, then a women's dormitory for the University of Texas. The chapel was given the designation of a church in 1909. Despite its close proximity to the UT campus, All Saints' attracts a varied congregation of singles and families alike, some driving from as far away as Buda to enjoy the warm atmosphere. Congregation Beth Israel 3901 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 6806 The Congregation of Beth Israel opened the first synagogue in Austin over 120 years ago. Jewish residents lived here for a generation with no formal site at which to worship. But in 1876, a pioneering group of about 30 Jewish citizens met with the Mayor to organize their Reformed Judaism congregation. The group was chartered in 1879, and construction was completed on the synagogue at 11th and San Jacinto in 1884. In 1953, a new site on Shoal Creek Boulevard was purchased to accommodate their significant growth. Construction was complete by 1956 and a stained glass filled sanctuary followed in 1967. The Torah used in this sanctuary was given by a woman who escaped Nazi persecution in Hungary. Shree Raseshwari Radaha Rani Temple 400 Barsana Road Austin, TX 78737 United States - Phone: +1 512 288 7180 The Shree Raseshwari Radaha Rani Temple, part of the Barsana Ashram, is the largest Hindu temple in North America. This striking building was constructed by Hindu artisans and is part of a 230-acre property designed to reproduce the holy land of Braj in India. The Barsana Dham is the main U.S. center of the International Society of Divine Love and is designed to allow worshipers to explore the true devotional environment of historical Ashrams. This was the first Hindu temple built in Austin and it serves as both a place of worship and a center for traditional Indian cultural activities. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church 1206 East Ninth Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 7955 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, an old Hispanic parish in Austin, was originally located on Fifth and Guadalupe. Built in 1907, the church was forced to move to its present location in east Austin in the 1920s due to a city-enforced master plan of cultural segregation. This second church was not large enough to accommodate the growing members, and the current church was set up in the 1950s. This congregation is especially known for its widespread celebration of the Feast of Guadalupe on December 12th, the patron saint not only of their church but for Latinos everywhere. First Baptist Church 901 Trinity Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 2625 Legend has it that while serving in the Capitol, Sam Houston stopped on the corner of West 10th and Colorado, drove a peg into the ground and proclaimed, "I am a Baptist and right here we will build a Baptist church." While there is little evidence to support this statement, Sam Houston was a member of the church later built at that site, the First Baptist Church. Founded in 1847, the structure was complete by 1857. The Women's Missionary Union was formed during a prayer meeting held in the basement of the church in 1880. The mighty bell, which hung from its steeple, sounded for church meetings, town meetings, fire alarms and during the 1960s, for peace during protest marches. When the church relocated in the 1960s to its present location at Ninth and Trinity, the bell was given a special home on the grounds. The new church features a suspended cross hanging from the arches of the ceiling before a background of fishing nets. Inner Space Cavern 4200 South Interstate Highway 35 Georgetown, TX 78628 United States - Phone: +1 512 931 2283 After being sealed for over 10,000 years, this cave was discovered in 1963 when a group of workers were digging to build a highway overpass. Daily tours are available and last just over an hour. The cave stays a comfortable 72 degrees Farenheit year-round, and features not only beautiful rock formations but also the remains of prehistoric mastodons, saber-tooth cats and other ice age animals. After your tour, enjoy the shaded picnic area with a playscape for children. First Presbyterian Church of Austin 8001 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 8866 The First Presbyterian Church settled into a log cabin in Austin around 1850. Since that time, the church has moved to a number of different locations but throughout it all, the love of music reined supreme. In the present location, Oscar, the 100-year-old tracker organ, is the main attraction. With 32 stops, 35 ranks and 1894 pipes, of which about 10 ranks of pipes are from the original 1900 organ. Don't miss a service with this fantastic sound of history. Central Presbyterian Church 200 East Eighth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 2445 The Presbyterian Church has had a presence in the area since 1839, two and a half months prior to the charter ship of Austin. Years later, divisions within the church over the issue of the Civil War caused the church to split. It was from this schism that the pro-northern Central Presbyterian Church was formed, though it was then called Southern Presbyterian Church. The title of the church has changed numerous times over the years, but they have been at their present downtown location since 1871. It was finally named the Central Presbyterian Church in 1983, when all conflicts were resolved. Palmer Events Center 900 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 404 4500 This popular building has been home to the annual Austin Record Convention, numerous gun and knife shows, Sami shows featuring arts and crafts, and many high school graduation ceremonies. Cat and dog shows are also popular events as well as music conventions, like Carnaval Brasileiro, and sports shows. During election time you will find it becomes a central meeting point for ballot collecting and vote tallying. Austin Civic Chorus 3710 Cedar Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 719 3300 Performing all over Austin this chorus is a collaboration of several Austin musical organizations. Founded in 1965, the Civic Chorus joins the Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Austin Children's Choir and the Orchestra of St. David's to perform some of the most famous musical arrangements around. The Chorus is dedicated to uniting the arts community through the collaboration of these fabulous performers. Performances are offered year-round. Elisabet Ney Museum 304 East 44th Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 2255 The former home and studio of German sculptress Elisabet Ney is open to the public for exploration. This home was one of the first buildings erected in the Hyde Park neighborhood, which was developed as a suburb in 1892 by Monroe Martin Shippe. Visitors flock to this museum to view nearly 50 busts and statues of Texas heroes, as well as Europeans she sculpted as a young artist. Her tools and several personal items are also on display. Admission is free. Austin Duck Adventures 209 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5274 Austin Duck Adventures is a one-of-a-kind tour takes you through the city on an authentic amphibious military landing vehicle that carries around 20 passengers. The tour goes through downtown, to the State Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, the LBJ Library, East Sixth Street's music district, historic Congress Avenue and area lakes. Meanwhile, the tour guide gives the history of the city, along with little-known insights. Each tour last for around two hours. Check the website or call ahead for further information. Texas State Capitol 1100 Congress Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 463 0063 The slogan states that “everything is bigger in Texas,” and if you look at its capitol, the phrase rings true. Standing a stately 309 feet (94 meters) and modeled after the nation's Capitol in Washington D.C., the Texas State Capitol owns the distinction of being the nation's tallest capitol building. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers and constructed using red granite, the capitol took more than seven years to complete. It was finished in 1888, at a total cost of more than three million dollars, an extravagant price even by today's standards. The perfectly landscaped grounds reflect the languid pace of life under the Texas sun, inviting you for a quiet stroll or a lazy day under a tree. Texas Capitol Visitors Center 112 East 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 305 8400 Built in 1867 as the home of the Texas General Land Office, this building is the oldest standing government building in the state. Along with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it has quite a bit of history. From 1887 to 1982, a draftsman named William Sidney Porter, better known today as the short story author O. Henry, rented a space upstairs. Some of the author's greatest short stories were inspired by his experiences here. The second floor of the building houses the O. Henry Nook, where visitors can view his comical land tract maps. The building also houses the State Travel Information Center, which provides guided tours. A Texas-style gift shop is located on the first floor. University of Texas at Austin (The) San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 3434 Founded in 1883, The University of Texas at Austin is one of Texas' largest educational institutions. The original campus was laid out as only 40 acres (16.18 hectares), but today the university has expanded to much more. The University of Texas at Austin has earned numerous honors for both academics and athletics and offers a wide range of area to study. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered from areas including Business, Education, Communication, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture and Law. For a complete list of degree programs, contact the admissions office. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum 2313 Red River Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 721 0200 One of the most visited presidential libraries in the nation, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum is supplied with information regarding one of the most controversial times in United States history. Peeking inside the life of the 36th President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, the LBJ tapes provide listeners the opportunity to learn about the John F. Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War. Along with the famous tapes, visitors can see a to-scale replica of the Oval Office, political memorabilia and more than 39 million pages of historical notes. Plan on a full day at this library and museum, but if you are a real history buff, you will barely scratch the surface of what this fantastic archive has to offer. General Land Office Building 1700 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 463 5134 General Land Office Building is over 150 years old, is dedicated to balancing economic development with preservation of the state's natural resources. Established in 1836 after Texas gained its independence from Mexico, its duties have evolved from keeping archives and issuing land titles to managing state lands and mineral properties totaling 20.3 million acres. Other responsibilities include the Recycling, Adopt-A-Beach, Coastal, and Oil Spill Prevention and Response Programs. The Archives and Records division houses original Spanish, Mexican and Republic of Texas land grants and related documents. Mount Bonnell 3800 Mount Bonnell Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6700 One of Austin's oldest tourist attractions, Mount Bonnell is also one of the highest points in the city — there is an incredible view of Lake Austin and the downtown skyline right by the picnic tables. Legend has it that the 99 steps to the top hold enchanting qualities: if a couple climbs the mount once, they fall in love; twice, they become engaged; and three times, they are destined to be married. Barton Springs Pool 2201 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 867 3080 As one of Austin's finest attractions, Barton Springs Pool is the perfect outing for those hot Texas days — or even the cool ones. Maintaining a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) year 'round, you will enjoy a 100-percent natural swimming experience with no chlorine. The grassy hillsides and moss-covered rocks are perfect for sunbathing. Diving boards, concession stands and restroom facilities are also available. When the kids get tired of the water, enjoy the playscape to complete the afternoon. Lifeguards are on duty. You are encouraged to call ahead, as the pool occasionally closes. Zilker Metropolitan Park 2100 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 4914 Patrons will enjoy a huge variety of activities at Zilker Park. You can check out the hike and bike trails, picnic facilities, Zilker Botanical Garden, canoe rentals, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, riverboat rides on Town Lake, concerts, festivals and even a miniature train. The wide-open stretches of grass in this park are just minutes from the downtown area. There is plenty of room and various diversions for the kids, so you can get a suntan, take long walks by the river or just curl up with a book down by the river. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center 1165 Angelina Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 4926 As the first neighborhood museum in the state dedicated to African American history and culture, this 1926 structure houses various forms of art. The library was once Austin's main library and received a Texas State Historical Marker in 1976. The museum is named in honor of Dr. George Washington Carver, a black slave who went on to graduate from college in 1894. The museum exhibits a fantastic collection, as well as changing exhibits of black history and culture in Austin and Travis County. East 6th Street East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) One of the first streets surveyed in Austin, Sixth was originally known as Pecan Street. During the day, shops, restaurants and historic buildings are the main attraction, but by night, the street becomes festive with live music, shows and special events. On Friday and Saturday nights, the blocks are closed to automobile traffic for an all-out street party. Stop by for a beer or a show, or just enjoy watching the eclectic nightlife of Austin. After the bars close at 2a, this can be a dangerous place to hang out alone. Hill Country Flyer 401 East Whitestone Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8468 For an enjoyable afternoon, take a scenic journey on this Central Texas vintage steam train. Traveling deep through the Hill Country, this excursion is a must-see for any train buff. Wander through small Texas towns and view the beauty of an era gone by, all while enjoying a relaxing trip in an old-time rail car. Visit the Web site for a schedule of departure times. Prices vary based on seating. Austin Steam Train 401 East Whitestone Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8468 Escape from the 21st Century and journey back into the Great West aboard the Hill Country Flyer, a vintage passenger train making day-trip excursions every weekend year-round. Departing from Cedar Park, only 20 miles (32.18 kilometers) north of downtown Austin, each train ride offers 1920s coach cars for families on a budget and 1950s Pullman lounge cars for leisure travelers. Special excursion trains throughout the year include Christmas specials for children, mystery dinner trains for adults, and holiday rides to local festivals along the train route. The vintage train is operated by the dedicated volunteers from the Austin Steam Train Association, a community-based non-profit organization. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center 4801 La Crosse Avenue Austin, TX 78739 United States - Phone: +1 512 232 0100 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center was established by Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady of the United States from 1963-1969. This fabulous garden bearing her namesake brims with native Texas plants in courtyards, terraces, arbors and meadows. Along with a fantastic children's center, visitors can explore a visitors gallery, observation tower, café, gift store and nature trails. Enjoy award-winning architecture and fabulous scenery in this wonderful garden spot. Tours by appointment. Treaty Oak 503 Baylor Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 440 5194 According to legend, Stephen F. Austin and local Native Americans signed peace treaties at this site, featuring the last of the Council Oaks. In 1991, the tree was poisoned, and a large section died. Support from the community brought an outpouring of gifts and experts to help save North America's most perfect tree specimen. But even with only one-third of the massive tree surviving, it is still a fantastic living statue to Texas history. Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 505 3112 Time brought Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute (established in 1877) and Samuel Houston College (established 1900) together in 1952. The merged college now known by the joint name is a fantastic campus and educational facility. One of the older buildings is Evans Hall, originally part of the old Tillotson College campus. This limestone building was constructed entirely by students. Prospective students and the general public are welcomed to follow guided tours of the campus. St. Edward's University 3001 South Congress Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 448 8400 Architect Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston designed the beautiful main building (1888) in a Gothic Revival style with Texas white limestone. A fire destroyed most of the main building in 1903 and after being rebuilt, it was again severely damaged by a tornado in 1922. The University received its charter in 1925. Since that time, the academic programs have grown to include business administration, theater arts and an innovative undergraduate program for adults. The graduate school includes a Master of Arts in Human Services, Photo communications, International Studies, Communication, Business, Theater and Spanish/Liberal Arts. Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue West Riverside Drive & South First Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) In 1994, Austin decided to erect a statue honoring the late musician, Stevie Ray Vaughan and denizens overwhelmingly chose Auditorium Shores as the perfect spot. Vaughn's lyrical and guitar work has charmed many ears and hearts in this music-oriented city which faces the Austin skyline. Ten years after his death, a steady progression of locals and visitors leave mementos to this great performer. Stop by and pay your respects to a beloved Austin music legend. Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau 301 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 5171 Make this one of the first stops on your tour of Austin. Pick up brochures and maps to help you navigate the city, and learn about some of the more interesting local landmarks, attractions, restaurants, entertainment and lodging that might not be in the standard tour books. If your interests lie in local history, stop by the Heritage Marketing Department, located in the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. A tour guide is on hand to give you the inside scoop. Austin Zoo 10808 Rawhide Trail Austin, TX 78736 United States - Phone: +1 512 288 1490 Enjoy a hill country setting in a family environment. Austin Zoo, a privately owned home, originally started with a small selection of farm animals and has now grown into a wild animal sanctuary and zoo. See Bengal tigers, lemurs, a butterfly garden and more! The picnic areas are perfect for a birthday party or company event. Barton Creek Greenbelt 2201 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 This creek winds through Central and South Austin, featuring beautiful hiking and bike trails as well as many choice swimming holes. The natural surroundings have been left to flourish as only the Texas countryside can. One of the more popular areas is at the far north end of the park—the Scottish Woods Trails, a rocky path leading to a gorgeous private swimming hole at the base of a small waterfall. Barton Creek Greenbelt runs west and north from Zilker Park for nearly eight miles. Contact the Austin Parks and Recreation Department for a map of the greenbelt and access areas. Zilker Playground 2100 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 When the children need to work off some of their energy, nothing is better than a playscape in the great outdoors. Zilker Playground offers a miniature locomotive you and your children can ride around the park in together. You will also find a fire engine here, perfect for climbing, along with a playscape full of bridges, ramps, chutes and slides. Picnic tables are close by, along with beautiful Barton Springs Pool, which maintains 68-degree waters year round. Call for pool and train hours, which are seasonal. Austin Nature and Science Center 301 Nature Center Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 3888 Spend a day with the kids that is both fun and educational — head over to Zilker Park and take in the fantastic wildlife at the Nature Center. Albino raccoons, barn owls, snakes and other furry creatures roam about the petting zoo. While escaping the urban life, wander down winding trails and past the beautiful pond. Even though this park is in the middle of the city, nature permeates the surroundings, making every adult feel like a kid again. Austin Chamber Music Center 3814 Medical Parkway Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 7562 If you are looking to introduce yourself or your children to a little high-culture, the Austin Chamber Music Center is the place to go. The works of Beethoven and Bach permeate the air as you wander past the classrooms. During the summer, a two-week chamber music camp creates a fun kid-friendly environment for teaching the great composer's works to younger generations. Regular professional performances are also available for the avid chamber music fan. Call for details on enrollment and current events. Boggy Creek Farm 3414 Lyons Road Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 926 4650 This fully functional organic farm has won many awards for its urban farming techniques. Purchase fantastic fresh vegetables on Wednesday and Saturday mornings (9am-2pm), or let your kids experience real farm life right in the heart of the city—animals and tractors are some of the biggest attractions for the little ones on market day. While shopping for produce, take a peek at the historic farmhouse, noted as one of the oldest existing buildings in Austin (built in 1838). Pease Park 1100 Kingsbury Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 This fantastic little park, located near the Hyde Park district, is a favorite for dog lovers. As one of the few places in Austin where dogs can run unleashed, expect to be outnumbered by man's best friend. Former Texas governor Elijah Pease owned the property that now bears his name. Pease Park also has disc golf (similar to traditional golf but played with frisbees) and hosts the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party festival. Hamilton Pool Preserve 24300 Hamilton Pool Road Dripping Springs, TX 78620 United States - Phone: +1 512 264 2740 As part of the Pedernales River and Hamilton Creek, this old-fashioned swimming hole is perfect for the nature lover in all of us. A shaded walk through the canyon opens to the limestone outcroppings that create a 50-foot waterfall landing in the pool. A picnic on the banks of the pool, a swim in the cool water or a quick hike through the canyon will wash away city-accumulated stress. The trail to the pool is fairly short (1/4 of a mile) but does include a series of rock steps. Good hiking shoes are recommended. Visitors with physical disabilities should call ahead to pre-arrange assistance. Parking is limited, and the pool is very popular so go early and stay late. Austin Ghost Tours 303 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 853 9826 In a town with as much history as Austin, you are destined to find some scary stories and haunted locations. This tour takes you through downtown to experience some of the ghosts of this city's past. Hear stories about famous Austinites who have died, but never seemed to leave town. Learn about serial killers pre-dating Jack the Ripper, murders and mayhem, as well as spooks and haunts of Austin's sordid past. This tour may be a bit too much for small children. But adults will find it a wonderful way to learn about Austin's secret history. Manor Downs 9200 Hill Lane Manor, TX 78653 United States - Phone: +1 512 272 5581 Manor Downs is a quarter horse race track and just ten minutes from Austin off Highway 290. Each spring, horses fly down the track while excited onlookers hoot and holler for their pick of the race. Simulcasting is offered Wednesday through Sunday and on holiday Mondays year round. Up to fifteen live races are broadcast daily from other premier horse and dog tracks in America. They can be viewed on one of the monitors scattered under the Manor Downs grandstand or at the Turf Club. The club offers a full bar service in two large viewing rooms (one smoking, the other non-smoking). Frank Erwin Center 1701 Red River Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 7744 Also known as 'The Drum,' this fantastic venue is host to some of the best performances in Austin. Although owned and operated by the University of Texas, academia is far from the list of performers. Primarily used for the University of Texas men's and women's basketball games, many of the large touring music shows also utilize this space. Everyone from Bob Dylan to Pavarotti to ZZ Top has graced this stage. With a capacity to seat roughly 17,000 spectators, this is one of the largest venues in the city. Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge 100 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 5171(Tourist Information) Less than a century ago this bridge served as the gateway to Austin. Originally this was a wooden pedestrian bridge, on which travelers used to pay a toll of a nickel to cross the Colorado River — and an extra nickel for your horse! In 1902, the bridge was washed away in a flood and replaced with a new bridge designed to handle automobile traffic. Since that time, the bridge has maintained its status as a substantial through way for the people of Austin. One of the most amazing sights in Austin takes place every dusk from March to early November, when 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from their roosts under the bridge. Old State Capitol Building Ruins Congress Avenue at 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 3366 Originally housing the first classes ever held by the University of Texas at Austin in 1894, the remains of Austin's first state house is directly across from the current State Capitol Building. Once serving as a temporary capitol building after a fire destroyed the original, the only remains are the foundation and cistern. Take a moment and consider the great achievements, trials and tribulations that have molded Texas into the state it is today. University of Texas Visitors Information Center 405 West 25th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 1000 This historic building was originally designed as the Austin Asylum for the Blind in 1857. In post-Civil War Reconstruction, Major George Armstrong Custer occupied it. Today, it is a starting point for visitors to the University of Texas campus. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the Freshman Admissions Center located in this building to receive admission counseling and information about the university, as well as attend programs especially designed to meet the needs of incoming freshmen. Symphony Square 1101 Red River Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6064 On the banks of Waller Creek, a complex of four 19th century limestone buildings has been combined to create this wonderful shopping space. The Austin Symphony office and Serrano's Cafe and Cantina take up most of the buildings. In the summer, this site is the home of the Symphony's Summer Music Festival, large civic parties and special events including many days dedicated to children's activities. Lone Star Riverboat 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1388 Take a tour with Lone Star Riverboat down the Colorado River (known as Town Lake in the Austin city limits) on a paddle wheel boat. This Southern style of transportation is a perfect way to take in the city's skyline. Trips are 90 minutes long and do not require reservations. Call ahead to determine the seasonal schedule. During the summer moonlight cruises are offered, as well as close-up cruises of the bats underneath Congress bridge. Prices vary by excursion, so check their website for further information. McBeth Recreation Center 2401 Columbus Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 9011 This public recreation center welcomes all children, but is equipped for special-needs children. With a one to four (staff to student) ratio for its youth programs, it offers a craft room for exploring creativity, a kitchen where children are assisted in cooking programs, a sand play area, and a uniquely designed playscape. All activities are easily adapted for individual needs with transfer stations located throughout. Call ahead to discuss your child's interests; the staff is friendly and very helpful. On Fridays, off-site bowling is offered. Congress Avenue 1st to 11th Streets Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 800 926 2282 As one of Austin's most important streets, Congress Avenue's entire district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings that frame the street are full of distinctive beauty. The oldest documented building is the Robinson-Rosner Building at 504 Congress (1856). Starting at the Capitol, the street continues south, passing fabulous little shops and eateries. Stop in at Hickory Street for a quick lunch, check out The State Theater or Paramount Theater to see what fantastic production is going on in the evening, or wander into Star bucks for coffee and treats. Clarksville District Between West 10th and Mo-Pac Expressway Austin, TX 78749 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 5171 Wander through the residential neighborhood behind the busy shops and see some of Austin's most fantastic historical homes. If you are looking for an area that shows off a little bit of every part of Austin's eclectic style, this neighborhood is perfect. You will also find many restaurants to dine in when you take a break from all of the shopping. For many years, this beautiful neighborhood was considered the outskirts of the city. Now, sitting just west of downtown and centrally located, it is a bustling shopping district with fabulous boutiques and wonderful eateries. Texas Federation of Women's Clubs 2312 San Gabriel Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5845 Constructed in 1933, this fantastic mansion is nestled among the skyscrapers of Austin's downtown area. For more than half a century, it served as the state headquarters for The Texas Federation of Women's Clubs. It's a Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop by and visit this beautiful link to our history. University of Texas Campus Tours 2400 Inner Campus Drive Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 7399 The best way to learn about the University of Texas at Austin campus is through one of their wonderfully informative tours. Student guides lead walking tours and discuss a wide range of issues including academic programs, student services, community life and the history of the university. University of Texas Campus Tours start at the Information Desk on the ground floor of the Main Building (also known as the UT Tower). Wear comfortable shoes-the campus is much larger than the original 40 acres designated to hold these facilities. The tours last about one to one and a half hours. For larger groups, make reservations at least two weeks in advance by calling +1 512 475 7399. No tours on official University holidays. Bremond Block 700 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 9415 This fantastic neighborhood was built when downtown Austin was mostly residential. A relaxing stroll through the Bremond Block is a wonderful way to see the lavish homes that were once common in the Austin area. The Phillips-Bremond-Houston House (706 Guadalupe, built in 1854) is one of the oldest homes on the block. Wanting to keep his family close to him, Eugene Bremond purchased the surrounding area and built homes for many of his children and relatives. Eleven of these stately, historic homes still stand today. Highlights of this walking tour include the North Cottage, the Henry Hirshfeld House, the North-Evans Chateau, McLaughlin House and the Pierre Bremond House. Some houses on the block are open to the public; others are used as businesses. While tourists are encouraged to enjoy the Bremond Block, please respect the grounds of private owners. South Congress Avenue South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 Cross the river from downtown and enter the wonderful South Congress Avenue District. Browse through its many shops and check out eateries that tantalize the taste buds and the pocketbooks. Check out Uncommon Objects, a wonderful import and knick knack shop, or The Armadillo Market, which carries everything Texas. For the famished shopper, there are more than enough options: Tex-Mex at Guerro's or the eclectic Magnolia Café are all favorites with the locals. After a cup of coffee or lunch, you should browse the retro resale shops along the avenue. Swisher-Scott House (The) 2408 Sweetbrush Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000 Built in 1856 and designed by the noted architect Abner Cook, this stately home has a two-story portico with paired columns. Originally known as the John Milton Swisher house, it once stood on San Antonio Street, but was later moved to Sweetbrush. For many years, Swisher-Scott House was the home of noted Austin native Zachary Scott—an actor. This is a private home and was added in 1998 to the National Register of Historic Places. Jeremiah Hamilton House 1101 Red Rive Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6064 Jeremiah Hamilton House is one of the few remaining stone wedge-shaped structures still standing in the state. Jeremiah Hamilton built this centerpiece of Symphony Square himself. As an African-American carpenter elected to the State House of Representatives in 1870, Hamilton later became a delegate to the 1873 Republican Convention. Other buildings in Symphony Square include the Michael Doyle House and the McCraven-Wilson house, which was an early Austin nightclub but has now been restored as a 19th-century general store. The Hardeman House, also part of the square, is now a Mexican restaurant (Café Serrano). Millett Opera House 112 East 9th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 Built in 1878, Frederick Ernst Ruffini designed this fabulous two-story limestone opera house; Millett Opera House is the last surviving structure by this architect in the city of Austin. This grand building hosted more than just opera in its day. Boxing matches, vaudeville, political rallies and medicine shows filled out the playbill for this establishment. The lavish interior is even grander than the outside. This wonderful example of Victorian architecture is available for private functions. Woodburn House Bed & Breakfast 4401 Avenue Drive Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 4335 The simple architecture and native history highlight this former residence of Bettie Hamilton Woodburn, who resided in the house from 1909-1920. As the daughter of Andrew Jackson Hamilton, a provisional governor of Texas, she welcomed many notable Texans and world leaders into her home. Erected at 200 East 40th Street, the Woodburn House Bed & Breakfast has since been moved and reflects the American Arts and Crafts period. Tours by appointment only. Please call for available hours. Mary Quinlan Park 1705 South Quinlan Park Road Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 854 7275 This wonderful day-use park at Mary Quinlan Park is located at the upper end of Lake Austin. Visitors enjoy the waterfront, as well as 5.8 acres of land in this secluded park. The lake is great for windsurfing, water skiing and fishing. Picnic facilities with barbecue grills add to the wonderful natural surroundings of this little getaway. Live Oak Brewing Company 3301 East Fifth Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 385 2299 Several Austin restaurants and bars have Live Oak brands (including Big Bark Amber Lager, Live Oak Pale Ale and Live Oak Pilz) on tap. Beer-enthusiasts will appreciate not only the rich malt flavors they find in the tasting room, but also the process behind the brew. The two owners of this company traveled to Prague to learn ancient techniques, and then developed their own unique process. The guided tour, which explains how decoction mash, open fermentation and secondary lagering make Live Oak beers unique, takes about two hours. Free samples follow every tour. West Austin Park 1317 West 10th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 This lush, green park lies at the center of the charming Clarksville neighborhood in Central Austin. You can sit in the shade under the tall, thick trees or bathe in the sun on the hill above a wide, grassy plain. This area is a popular hangout for dog owners, and also has a basketball and tennis court. On any given day, you will likely witness amateur skateboarders showing off their acrobatics while flying off the end of ramps set up along an abandoned court. Bullock Texas State History Museum 1800 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 936 8746 / +1 512 936 4649(Tickets) A 35-foot (10.7 meters) bronze Lone Star sculpture greets visitors at the entrance of this epic museum. This place narrates the story of Texas, sharing its rich cultural heritage and traditions. The three floors of the impressive building present interactive exhibits, special effects shows and more. On the first floor, you will find a permanent exhibit called Encounters on the Land, which highlights the first meetings between Native Americans and European explorers. The second and third floors have exhibits that showcase the evolution of Texas from the time of its inception. The museum boasts a total of 17 media installations and over 700 artifacts, not to mention Austin's only IMAX Theater. Austin Segway Tours 30 North IH-35 Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 9250 / +1 512 699 6051 See the beautiful sights of Austin like you've never seen them before by gliding on a Segway. Segways have a platform perched on two wheels with a patented gyroscope balancing system enabling the standing rider to maneuver by tilting forward or backwards while using the steering control on the left side of the handlebar to turn. They offer 7 days a week, 365 day a year guided 2.5 hour Segway tours, visiting the Governor's Mansion, the Texas State Capital, the world famous 6th Street entertainment district, the new 2nd Street shopping district and much more. The guided Segway tours are informative and rated as one of the highest quality tours in Texas which are ideal for families, visitors, residents and work groups for team building activities. Reservations are strongly recommended. University of Texas Tower Tours University Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6636(Tickets) Summertime signals the return of the popular escorted twilight tours of the University of Texas Tower. Enjoy sweeping vistas of campus and the surrounding Austin community from the Tower's deck, as sunset fades to amber hues and city lights twinkle across the horizon. History and crime buffs will also appreciate this tour. It's the site of the notorious killing spree meted out by Charles Whitman on August 1, 1966. Using the tower as a sniper's perch, Whitman opened fire on unsuspecting people below, killing fourteen innocent victims in ninety minutes. Oliver Stone in Natural Born Killers (1994) makes reference to this dark day in Texas Tower history. Armadillo World Headquarters Plaque 505 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 The ground where the One Texas Center stands was the site of the beloved Armadillo World Headquarters. One of Austin's most popular music hall, the Armadillo was a popular hangout for all kinds of people. The list of famous musicians who've played here is illustrious; from AC/DC to Frank Zappa, they've all graced the stage. The Armadillo World Headquarters shut down in 1980 on the grounds of bankruptcy. The commemorative plaque is still a testimony. Music may die, but it'll be remembered forever. Hyde Park 45th Street @ 40th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098(Tourist Information) Located near the University of Texas, Austin, Hyde Park is a bustling area, full of young people, shoppers and businesses. The park also features many historical landmarks. The Col. Monroe M. Shipe House, where the designer of Hyde Park lived. The Elisabet Ney Museum, a showcase of the sculptor's work in her studio, is also located in Hyde Park. The Shadow Lawn Historic District within Hyde Park showcases amazing works of early, yet advanced, architecture. Drag (The) Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) The section of Guadalupe Street that borders the western edge of the University of Texas campus is called The Drag. It's filled with a variety of shops popular with the student body, such as underground bookstores, tattoo parlors, music stores, gift shops, and thrift stores. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes along the street to stop in when you're getting hungry. The Drag is only about a few blocks long, so it makes for a nice stroll on a sunny day. Waterloo Park 403 East 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6700 The Waterloo Park in the heart of downtown is a beautiful 10.74 acre city park. A lovely and delightful space of green in the midst of concrete, it's like an oasis—lending it's sanctity to the people of the city. The Waller Creek runs through the middle of the park and there are trails for those who love hikes and treks. Besides serving the city people with serene calm from busy city life, the park also doubles as a site for concerts, festivals, and other special events throughout the year. South Park Meadows Slaughter Lane & IH-35 Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 682 5500 South Park Meadows is a place that promises to be the next residential hot-spot. Although at present this area of around 465 acres of land, is scattered with a plethora of stores and eateries that have already enabled this place to gain tourist popularity. Shops ranging from clothing to lifestyle, makes for a wonderful shopping experience. Joints such as TGI and Cine Mark, make sure that you have a good time. Immaculately mowed lawns, and mini playhouse for the kids around the street serves to be a pleasant change. If that's not enough, one can also come down to catch some awesome concerts and rock shows. Cathedral of Junk 4422 Lareina Drive Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 299 7413 Tucked away in the backyard of a residential neighborhood is the Cathedral of Junk, a work in progress over 20 years in the making. Created by Vince Hanneman, the Cathedral turns old and discarded items into an ever-evolving structural work of art. Using old tires, hubcaps, all manner of metal scraps, pipes and more, Hanneman works and reworks the multi-level space into a playground of sorts for adults and children alike. As far out as it is, the Cathedral of Junk is, surprisingly, invisible from the street in front of it — only upon entering the backyard are visitors met with the mass of tangled metal and functioning electric items. Republic Square Park 422 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 Republic Square in Downtown Austin is one of the city's original parks when the city was founded in the early 19th Century. There are plenty of cultural and social events held here throughout the year, including concerts, free movies and even yoga. The weekly farmers' market is also a popular attraction of this easily accessible park in Austin. Brush Square Park 409 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1566 Brush Square Park is a historic landmark in downtown Austin. Occupying less than an acre in the heart of the city, the location was designated a square, when acclaimed fiction writer O. Henry's house was moved to the area and given the status of a public museum. The refreshing greens are ideal for casual group meetings and picnics. Amidst the scattered benches, the sidewalks, the trees and shrubs, pleasant times can be spent. Brush Square Park also hosts multiple concerts and live events. Saunter past this historic place, pay a visit to the O. Henry House Museum, and soak in the natural ambiance! Lockhart City Park 504 East City Park Road Lockhart, TX 78644 United States - Phone: +1 512 398 3461 Lockhart City Park is a centrally located public park in Lockhart. It is managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Lockhart, and is one of the biggest stretches of park lands in the heart of the city. Take a leisurely stroll down the verdant greens in the evening or take a refreshing dip in the attractive pool. One of the busiest of city parks, it hosts a variety of community events like the Lockhart Little League Expo Day, Fourth of July Fireworks Display, District High School Cross Country and so on. Visit website for more information. Fiesta Gardens 2101 Bergman Avenue Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 8318 Over the years, Austin's Fiesta Gardens have been home to numerous festivals and cultural events. This venue has become a firm favorite with organizers because of the thick grass and luscious foliage which prevent it from becoming an annoying dust-filled space. A sheltered pavilion coupled with multiple stages and a superlative layout along the waterside, sets apart these festive gardens from other outdoor event spaces. Frost Bank Tower 401 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6415(Tourist Information) Frost Bank Tower is a skyscraper in Austin that is also known as 'Spike'. This tower stands at 515 feet and has a total of 33 floors. The tower is mainly known for the ALA Fight for Climb, an event held every year in the tower. The event includes people climbing all the way to the top of the tower for a good cause. Hundreds of of participants from all over take up the challenge. For more details on the event as well as the tower, do call ahead. Donn's Depot 1600 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0336 Come enjoy country western music in a railroad relic. This venue, although slightly outside of downtown, provides an excellent opportunity to dance and watch older country western pros strut their stuff. The old Texas feel and the relaxing atmosphere make a great team with cold beer and great music. Broken Spoke 3201 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 6189 Broken Spoke is a western honky-tonk that was established in 1964 and rapidly became an Austin favorite for country-western dancing. The “Spoke” is true country in a real dance hall with a real wood-plank floor. Watch cowboys and locals two-step the night away to live bands from around Texas. This dance hall provides an excellent atmosphere for those just learning to two-step or die-hard country fans driving in from the ranch for the weekend. Practice the Polka, Texas Two-Step or the Chicken, and be sure to try the Cotton-Eyed Joe. There is also a restaurant that serves traditional country food like chicken fried steak. Iron Cactus 606 Trinity Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 9240 This three-story bar is home to one of Austin's best margaritas. Relax on the rooftop bar and watch the crowd meander up Sixth Street, or sit downstairs as the crowds bustle past the huge windows. Patrons enjoy live music at night and during the day, the full-service Southwestern restaurant provides a convenient range from late lunch to happy hour, or dinner to dancing. Stubb's Bar-B-Q 801 Red River Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 8341 Besides providing some of the best barbecue in town, Stubb's Bar-B-Q has a huge outdoor venue that can host rock concerts. A brainchild of Christopher B. Stubblefield, the original Stubb's Bar-B-Q was set up in Lubbock; when it shut its doors this Red River location kept up the Stubb tradition of providing delicious barbecued meat, chilled beer and rocking music. Family platters are also served here. Come early to get a bite to eat, then stay and watch the shows. Sullivan's 300 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 6504 This premiere bar and restaurant located in the Warehouse district is by far a first choice for one of the best steaks available in Austin. Besides a great steak, they host live jazz in their New York-style jazz bar. Bring a date and sit around one of the many cozy tables or up front right below the elevated band. If you just want to grab a top-shelf cocktail, head over to the separate bar and enjoy. The ambiance of the restaurant is pretty high-end and classy, and this is reflected in their prices as well. Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 1958 Opened in 1866, this bar has become a mecca for every Texas governor and quite a number of other people. This is Texas's oldest beer garden; it now provides an extensive menu of traditional bratwurst and sauerkraut as well as barbecue favorites. As is tradition, the bar is a favorite during, before and after the University of Texas Longhorn games. Even if there is not a game, this is still one of the best places to sit back and enjoy a cold beer. Casino El Camino 517 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 469 9330 Besides its great name, this bar is a fabulous place to grab a beer. Casino El Camino also features one of the largest burgers this side of the Mississippi. The jukebox is always crammed with your favorite rock 'n' roll hits, and the staff is very friendly. The lighting inside is subdued, and patrons enjoy the outdoor patio featuring its own birdbath. Hudson's on the Bend 3509 Ranch Road 620 North Austin, TX 78734 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 1369 Tucked away in the trees near Lake Austin is a country home, where some of the best game in the city is offered at the table. A taste for the exotic is definitely welcome here, as are hearty appetites. Instead of those tired, old crab cakes, try Omar's Rattlesnake Cakes. Sample rabbit, javelina, boar or venison one at a time, or get a mixed Grill Platter for a varied feast like no other. You can even do a modern take on surf-and-turf, a Black Angus Beef Tenderloin topped with lobster. Oasis Lake Travis (The) 6550 Comanche Trail Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 2442 This sunset gazers' spot revamped its menu, focusing on Tex-Mex a mix, so that people would come here for the food. But even the best food cannot compete with the view. With tiered decks stair-stepped down the side of a 450-foot cliff overlooking Lake Travis, The Oasis Lake Travis has a table with a view for everyone. It is a magnet for tourists and locals alike. The menu is varied, split between Tex-Mex and traditional fare like pulled pork and chile burger. The food is moderately priced, but who can quibble with prices when the sunset is so priceless? Eastside Cafe 2113 Manor Road Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5858 The central feature of this cozy cafe is not indoors, but out back: a kitchen garden overflowing with the herbs and vegetables that populate the daily menu. These earthly delights are cleverly integrated into soups, side dishes, appetizers and entrees. The soups are standouts, and the ever-changing selection of side dishes keeps the menu fresh. Half orders are available for those with smaller appetites. While you wait for a table, browse Pitchforks & Tablespoons, the garden and kitchen shop on the grounds. Shady Grove 1624 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 9991 Sit at a patio table under the huge oaks and you will discover why this spot is called Shady Grove. One of the best patios ever created is reason enough to stop by, and the consistently tasty, crowd-pleasing food is a great bonus. Happy hour is offered Monday through Friday 4p to 7p. A menu standard is the Hippie Sandwich, a concoction of sautéed vegetables, cheese and a sub-style roll. Add a chicken breast and you have got the Hippie Chick. Kids love the chicken fingers and the burgers are great, too. Plus, this place has personality - just check out the bathroom (housed in an old Airstream trailer). Brick Oven on 35th 1608 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 4330 This cozy Italian spot in a renovated house turns out some of the best pizza in the city. But the full menu of pastas and appetizers make this more than a pizzeria. The copper oven is still central to the experience, even if pasta is what you order: Wonderful, crusty breads are served with pepper-spiked olive oil for dipping, and the smell of pizza baking in the wood oven permeates the place. Ravioli is a crowd-pleaser, and so are all the pizza varieties. Lunch specials give Italian lovers no excuse for passing this place by. Incidentally, this restaurant is owned by the founder of the original Brick Oven on Red River, which is now a franchise. Emerald Restaurant 13614 Highway 71 West Austin, TX 78738 United States - Phone: +1 512 263 2147 A Hill Country limestone cottage converted to an elegant restaurant? Yes, it can be done, and done well. This is a favorite spot for romantics of all stripes, who come for the harp music and relaxing, three-hour dinners. A prix-fixe menu is available, as well as an a la carte menu. The prix-fixe dinner includes bread, salad, appetizer, entree and dessert, and is uniformly well-executed. The Chateaubriand melts in your mouth, and the truffle-topped Tenderloin Medallions are extraordinary. Azteca Restaurant (El) 2600 East Seventh Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 4701 Classic Tex-Mex food can be difficult to find in this era of concept chain restaurants hawking bland versions of the real thing. Once you discover this place, however, you will search no longer. Basic, time-honored Mexican combination plates join ranks here with Interior Mexican specialties and an extensive selection of vegetarian choices. Cheese Enchiladas with Salsa Verde are so good, they're comforting, and classic Chile Con Queso cannot be beaten. Chile Rellenos, Fajitas and other standards are reliably tasty as well. Aztec heroes and heroines, emblazoned on black velvet, keep you company while you dine. Take home an Aztec calendar to remind yourself to return. Green Pastures 811 West Live Oak Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 4747 Southern-style cooking is often thought of as down-home, but at this restaurant, home is a plantation. Relaxing over brunch on the veranda, one almost expects to see Scarlett O'Hara floating by in a hoop skirt. The brunch buffet is always full to groaning with everything from boiled shrimp to a standing rib roast, carved to order. The dinner menu may be traditional, but all the entrees are reliably tasty. The breads are fabulous and the desserts are sinfully rich. Enjoy sipping on a mint julep while watching the peacocks make their way across the lawn. Hut's Hamburgers 807 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0693 The menu may be broader than the burgers, but the burgers are what sets this place apart. There are 20 varieties in all, based on a thick, juicy, medium rare patties. Burgers range from the simplest one-patty version to a double-meat buffalo burger with all the trimmings. As for sides, the onion rings, fries, Buffalo wings are a few options. For those who want their beef sans bun, they offer savory chicken fried steak, cooked tender with gravy that's neither too thick, nor too runny. Whatever you order, be sure that you ask for lots of napkins! Threadgill's Home Cookin' 6416 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 5440 Neon beer signs and vintage clocks line the walls of this Austin institution, a gas station-turned-restaurant that also offers up live music. If comfort food is your pleasure, this is the right place, and if you like your vegetables, you will be in heaven. Whatever the entree, seconds on vegetables come free. Pork roast and fried chicken are great, but the chicken-fried steak is not to be missed. The San Antonio Squash will please even those who turn up their noses at the vegetable. And of course, the mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas are heavenly. Rich, crumbly cornbread comes free, but white-flour rolls are extra (and worth it). Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano 504 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 7497 For elegant Italian dining in Austin, visit Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano. The rustic, brick facade, outdoor patio, and upscale decor are impressive, but the friendly service is what will take your dining experience over the top. Savory, authentic dishes like the veal marsala and parmesan chicken will sweep you away. Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano is also an ideal place to celebrate your event or spend a romantic time with your date. Cafe at the Four Seasons (The) 98 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 4500 In Texas, the best, most creative restaurants often meld Southwestern flavors with tried-and-true European dishes to conjure up a new cuisine entirely. So it is at this hotel restaurant, which consistently tops the list of Austin's best. Try the restaurant's specialty, to see how traditional blends with Texas flavors: Focaccia Crusted Pork Tenderloin served with Texas Ruby Red grapefruit and a citrus beurre blanc. But it is not just the centerpiece of a meal here that is outstanding. From the basket heaped with four types of bread and three flavors of butter to the sumptuous creme brulee, the food is consistently well conceived and perfectly executed. The atmosphere is soothing and sophisticated, and the people watching is unparalleled; everyone from visiting celebrities to politicians to high-tech execs dines here. Manuel's Downtown 310 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 7555 With all the black leather, neon and jazz here, one might be suspicious. Is this a trendy Mexican joint where the food takes a back seat to the slick atmosphere? The answer is a resounding "no." One bite of the Chile Relleno en Nogada is the proof; tender Pork Picadillo studded with raisins and stuffed into a roasted poblano pepper, then sauced with walnut cream. Or try the Enchiladas, Gorditas and Flautas; all make excellent choices. Sunday brunch, with live jazz, is a winner, but dinner and happy hour are the real standout events. The second location is on Jollyville Road. Serrano's Cafe and Cantina 1111 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 9080 With six locations around the city, this home-grown restaurant chain attempts to take Tex-Mex beyond the expected, and sometimes succeeds. In any event, it is a reliable source of the genre's traditional favorites, from nachos and stuffed jalapenos to tacos, enchiladas and fajitas. Here at Symphony Square, Serrano's is housed in an old, historic, triangular home. Start with the Botana Plate, a sampling of appetizers and move on to that Mexican staple, cheese enchiladas. This is basic Tex-Mex at its best. Hyde Park Bar and Grill 4206 Duval Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 3168 This is a perennial Austin favorite. Some come for the battered fries served with pepper-and-onion-spiked mayonnaise; others for the Chicken-fried Steak with its crispy exterior topped with luscious cream gravy. Everyone has a favorite here. But it is not just the reliably tasty food that attracts folks; it is the laid-back, friendly atmosphere, the people-watching and the late hours. Grilled Fish and salads are on the menu, along with the heartier Chicken-fried Steak and tasty, acclaimed burgers. You may be too full for dessert, although you will be missing out, if you skip it. Kerbey Lane Cafe 3704 Kerbey Lane Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 1436 Kerbey Lane Cafe has been cloned several times now, but the original location of this Austin icon is still a local favorite. Its wonderfully diverse menu is a sight to behold for vegetarians. The vegetables are homegrown and pesticide-free, and the beef and chicken are free-range. Breakfast features omelets, pancakes and great breakfast tacos. The restaurant is open 24 hours, every day. No wonder it is an institution here. El Sol y La Luna 600 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 7770 El Sol y La Luna has some of the best Mexican food in the city. This establishment certainly serves the best Mexican breakfast with items like their huevos rancheros, migas and breakfast tacos. Their Posole, a chicken soup with a masa broth, is heavenly and is worth a try. Their enchiladas and tacos are also a tasty treat. A large patio beckons on fine days, and the inside dining space is cool, light and comfortable, with a sun-moon-and-stars mural on the floor and overhead. Relax in the morning with a coffee and a taco, and at night with a bottle of beer and some mole poblano. This isn't just a fabulous eatery. There are live music and events had at this hub of culture and community. Magnolia Cafe 2304 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 8645 At Magnolia Cafe there is comfort food to please adults and children alike, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will wait for a table, especially on weekends, but the wait only serves to sharpen the appetite for breakfast tacos and gingerbread pancakes, fajitas and burgers, grilled chicken and vegetarian entrees. The kid's menu is vast, offering burgers, black bean and chicken tacos and breakfast items. The atmosphere is relaxed and homey. A second location is on South Congress Avenue. Malaga Tapas & Bar 440 West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 8020 This upscale tapas bar features traditional sample plates of Spanish favorites and a wide variety of wine available by the glass. Vegetable empanadas are flaky, rich packages filled with spinach and ricotta or a daily special filling. The Arroz Con Pollo, chicken with a tasty saffron rice, is not to be missed. The slick atmosphere belies the comfortable feel. After work, this is a happening place for the downtowners. Chez Nous 510 Neches Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2413 With fusion food on the rise and the word 'bistro' thrown around willy-nilly, it is comforting to find an authentic one of the French variety. Homemade pate, roasted chicken and crepes, wonderfully executed and served in a cozy, dimly lit dining room dominated by a long bar. Rich, toothsome dishes such as Escalopes de Veau aux Noix can be accompanied by an appropriately Gallic wine from the well-populated wine list. Try the Salade Chez Nous, and do not miss the Crepe du Jour. Cafe Josie 1200 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 9226 Ensconced behind a charming art gallery on West Sixth, is this jewel of a Caribbean cafe. Established in 1997, Café Josie is still piquing the taste-buds of Austin diners. With an intimate dining room and an enclosed patio, the atmosphere is casual, but the food is out of this world. Chicken, beef and seafood, all cooked to a turn and spiced up with the zesty flavors of the islands. It is a step above your typical "fusion" restaurant. Try the Honey Chipotle Shrimp served on Cotija Black Beans and Poblano Rice, with Green Chile Polenta, Manchego Cheese, and Ancho Chile as an entree. The Blackberry Ginger Crisp is a fitting end to the meal. Corazon at Castle Hill 1101 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 0728 The menu at Castle Hill Cafe offers Mexican and American dishes that are delicious and enticing. Try the shrimp enchiladas, seared sea bass or peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin. The menu changes every few weeks as the chefs try out new creations. Some entrees are offered without meat for vegetarians. If you're not in the mood for food, you can sip on coffee or go to the bar and order a cocktail. Their bar features great happy hour specials. Mercado (El) 1302 South First Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 7445 The sombreros and parrots, mixed with the Mexican music in the background, could fool diners into thinking they stepped into a fiesta. This good old-fashioned restaurant is serious about its Mexican food, served with a progressive touch. From breakfasts of huevos, rancheros or migas to dinners of grilled chicken, shrimp, fajitas and more, the food here does not fail to satisfy. The atmosphere is casual; the patio is terrific and the hot sauce is great. Iron Works Barbecue 100 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 4855 The old Weigl family iron works no longer forges metal, but a tasty assortment of fine Texas barbecue. With walls adorned by branding irons, the motif is quintessentially Western, perhaps for the benefit of conventioners from the nearby convention center. At the counter, order your choice of sliced beef, chicken, beef ribs, pork ribs, pork loin and sausage for a two-meat combo plate completed with sides of potato salad and beans. Or make your choice of meat by the pound. The spicy sauce is a tangy counterpoint. And if you are craving barbecue somewhere far away, note that Iron Works ships their goods anywhere. Arroyo (El) 1624 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 1222 If there is a wait at this popular restaurant, order a classic margarita or a 'floater' and dip into the chips and hot sauce and/or queso. Before long, you will be addressing a plate full of the Tex-Mex standard of your choice. Or try any of the variations on barbecued chicken-the chalupas of this variety are especially tasty. Entrees make this a fairly inexpensive spot, provided you do not get carried away on the margaritas. The atmosphere is fun and lively, and El Arroyo has a sense of humor: Just check out the pointedly witty billboard out front, with daily commentary on politics and more. Eddie V's Prime Seafood 9400 B Arboretum Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 342 2642 Located to the north of Austin, Eddie V's offers Gulf coastal cuisine and specializes in seafood and steaks. The menu comprises extraordinary dishes, such as oysters, shrimp, Maine lobster, Ahi tuna, calamari, crab and shellfish. Head to the V Lounge to enjoy live jazz music as you devour a wide selection of wines and cocktails. Happy hours and the elegant ambience will make it difficult to resist. Host your event at Eddie V's Prime Seafood, be it a business meet or a celebration, the amicable staff will ensure it's a success. Jeffrey's 1204 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5584 Open since 1975, this Austin establishment has been a mainstay on the fine dining scene ever since. The complimentary valet service, charming Clarksville neighborhood setting, and exquisite cuisine prepared by expert chef Larry McGuire has this place constantly buzzing with activity. The imaginative menu will have your mouth watering as you try to decide between a bone-in New York strip steak or Akaushi ribeye and whether or not you want to top it with garlic confit and rosemary butter or béarnaise sauce. Don't forget to save room for desserts, their soufflés are often raved about. Fonda San Miguel 2330 West North Loop Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 4121 Step inside this hacienda-style restaurant and find yourself whisked far south by the Mexican interior, where fine food is served in a charming colonial atmosphere. Chef Roberto Sabatinez has added his own creative dishes to the menu of old favorites, including a wonderfully imaginative chile relleno that employs an ancho chile rather than the usual poblano. Traditional dishes are well prepared and the desserts go beyond the flan usually offered at many Mexican restaurants. Brunch is not to be missed; especially for those who love the Mexican custom of making the late morning meal a long, leisurely affair. Madeleine (La) 9828 Great Hills Trail Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 502 2474 This restaurant is decorated as a French cafe in the countryside and the patriarchal owner of this chain really does hail from France. Many of the recipes come from owner Patrick Esquerre's mother's recipe box. The Tomato Basil Soup is a big favorite during fall and winter; use it to start a meal of quiche, Roasted Chicken, wood-fired pizzas or simply a Caesar Salad. Breakfast is also served daily, and includes both hot items and pastries, along with the restaurant's signature French Roast coffee. In desserts, try Ann's Cake, an Almond Croissant or a Pecan Tart. Chuy's 1728 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 4452 Equal parts Tex-Mex restaurant and Elvis Presley shrine, this place combines south-of-the-border dining with a Graceland atmosphere, all for a well-affordable price. The wait staff, friendly and helpful, have been voted as the fastest in town by 'Austin Chronicle' readers. Given the competition, it is no small accomplishment that this is commonly considered the best Tex-Mex restaurant in town. The Elvis homage, oddly enough, works. Hubcaps and images of the rock icon set the stage for a dining experience that is pleasant and casual. The menu features a variety of Mexican dishes (the house special, an overstuffed chicken-and-green-chile confection called a Chuychanga, is especially recommended), steaks and burgers, and features a selection of cold beers and mixed drinks to help wash down the hearty meals. Other branches are found at 10520 North Lamar Boulevard and at 11680 Research Boulevard, Austin. Babe's / Babe's Stageside 208 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2262 Two clubs for the price of one, this place has a great selection of tasty hamburgers and other food items for a reasonable price, as well as a decent selection of beers and other drinks. The main performance area, the Stageside, is home to a number of artists-in-residence as well as visiting acts who can be seen and heard on a stage that once housed loud metal bands but is now home to a wider variety of performing styles, both locals and visitors. Established in 1990, the place has become a major player in the competitive Sixth Street live music scene. Taj Palace 6700 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 9959 Since its opening in 1990, this Indian restaurant has been a local favorite. The tandoori lamb, chicken and seafood specialties are always a good bet, along with several spicy and mild curry dishes. One popular choice is the Barra Kebab (tandoori lamb), marinated in yogurt and spices to enhance its delicate flavor. Plenty of vegetarian entrees are available too. Fresh naan bread accompanies each entree, and wine is moderately priced. Although the atmosphere is somewhat upscale, casual to more dressy attire is acceptable. Austin Java The Original 1206 Parkway Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 1829 Despite its name, this is a full-scale restaurant offers more than just coffee. The menu happens to be one of the most extensive in town and covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes an assortment of American favorites as well as soft tacos. Lunch and dinner offer everything from salads, soups and sandwiches, two vegetarian entrees, burgers and pasta. Fresh-baked desserts are also available, as is a selection of beer and wine. Customers can keep it casual inside or on the patio while dining in this wooden frame house. Paradise Cafe 401 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5667 Located on Sixth Street amongst the action, this space offers a great beer selection and complete bar with a full service restaurant. You can satisfy your hunger pangs here as late as midnight. The casual atmosphere has remained since it was opened in 1981 as the city's first "fern bar"; enjoy all of the fabulous ferns. Appetizers include Fried Calamari served with a marinara sauce, Potato Skins covered in cheese, and Peel & Eat Shrimp; steamed, seasoned and served chilled. Main entrees include a variety of tacos and Southwestern dishes, salads, sandwiches, burgers, Chicken Parmesan served over garlic-basil fettuccine, Cajun Catfish served broiled or fried and even a Gardenburger. Upper Crust Bakery 4508 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 0102 Located in the Rosedale neighborhood, this bakery serves as a meeting spot for locals to enjoy their morning cup of coffee and a variety of pastry offerings. Stacks of already-read newspapers, are collected for others to enjoy, along with a variety of free local papers and magazines. Freshly baked bread is offered in a variety of styles and flavors. Lunch is often a busy time with customers enjoying salads, soups, sandwiches and pizzas. The crowd is relaxed and the staff is friendly. Mismatched tables and chairs are located throughout the café for dining in. Star Seeds Cafe 3101 North Interstate Highway 35 Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 7107 This funky roadside restaurant, located on the grounds of Days Inn University along Interstate 35, provides a hip late-night hangout for all types. Musicians and music fans alike mingle over omelets, breakfast tacos and a full range of diner food. Students are drawn to it because of the late night hours, convenience to UT and affordable menu items. After 2am there is often a wait while the bar crowd trickles in. The walls are covered with artwork, not anything typical, usually very eclectic or raw pieces are shown. The atmosphere is laid back and casual with diner booths filling the small space. Freebirds World Burrito 1000 East 41st Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 5514 Often overflowing with customers during the lunch hour, Freebirds World Burrito serves up fresh food quickly with your tastes in mind. A large staff is available to custom make burritos, tacos and quesadillas on the spot with a variety of tortilla options. Simple modern furnishings adorn the room with small tables grouped for dining. Start by ordering a regular, monster, or super-size burrito with a flour, wheat, cayenne, or spinach tortilla. Chicken and steak are offered, as well as several vegetables for creating vegetarian options. The Avo Taco is a favorite among vegetarians with fresh avocado, rice, sour cream, and cheese. Nice extras include cilantro, jalapenos, pico de gallo, roasted peppers and fresh lime juice. Hula Hut 3825 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 4852 Sit out on the pier, sip on a mango margarita, and watch the cigarette boats churn through the water while you feast on delightful dishes. In case you think you are in Hawaii, you are half right, the point of this place, set beside Oyster Landing, is to give you a Polynesian feeling deep in the Texas Hill Country. If Polynesian Tex-Mex sounds like a contradiction in terms, visit Hula Hut to experience this wonder. You can feast on tacos and fajitas, as well as mahi mahi and Hawaiian chicken. The platters are ideal for sharing with friends. Cafe Lago 1200 Lakeway Drive Lakeway, TX 78734 United States - Phone: +1 512 261 8141 Stop by this eatery if you are interested in sipping coffee with pancakes while you enjoy a scenic view, or chowing down on some serious lunch specials a bit later in the afternoon. The spinach lasagna is a good choice, as are the grilled sandwiches. Cafe Java, an alternate mode of operation, gives the place a nice coffeehouse ambiance, but does not interfere with the tasty items on the main menu. Boiling Pot (The) 700 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0985 This festive Cajun eatery, the Boiling Pot offers a little bit of New Orleans on Sixth Street. Be prepared to get messy, as boiled shrimp, crab legs and unshelled crawfish are the staples here, and eating with your hands is the norm. The food is always satisfying, with sides that should not be ignored—boiled potatoes, Cajun-style beans, corn-on-the-cob, rich gumbo and thick French bread. The atmosphere is decidedly laid back, with meals served on butcher paper. More than 70 kinds of beer are available from the full bar. County Line 6500 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1742 When it comes to barbecue in Austin, take a drive to enjoy the beautiful view of County Line on the Hill. Having won many awards for their lean delicious ribs, brisket and steaks, this Austin landmark also provides a winning view of the hill country and the potential for a great Texas sunset. If beef is not your preference, the chicken and seafood dishes are equally divine. So kick back and relax in this rustic roadhouse restaurant. Mekong River 215 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 8878 This is a consistently excellent Vietnamese restaurant with an extensive menu of reasonably priced entrées. Located in a roomy, two-story space in the middle of the bar and live music district, it is simply decorated with high ceilings and a small waiting area. It serves a variety of Pho (noodle soup), vermicelli and rice dishes topped with grilled or stir-fried meat and vegetables. No alcoholic beverages are served, but the Vietnamese coffee, iced or hot, is not to be missed. Enchiladas y Mas 1911 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 7100 Unbeatable Tex-Mex dishes, including burritos, enchiladas, crispy tacos and Migas are available. The restaurant recently expanded and moved to North Austin due to overflowing business in its previous campus location. The now roomy cafe is casual and generally bustling, with efficient and friendly service. The restaurant offers a full bar and serves beer and margaritas at some of the lowest prices to be found. Pizza Nizza 2712 Bee Caves Road No. 106 Rollingwood, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 7070 Located on Barton Springs' row of restaurants, this popular eatery serves gourmet pizzas, whole or by the slice, along with salads and pasta dishes, in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. An individual pizza runs with a number of toppings (goat cheese is recommended) and a bottle of house wine from the full bar makes a good meal. Lunchtime can occasionally be crowded, as Pizza Nizza offers an express lunch deal, but dinnertime is generally more low-key. Delivery is available to a limited area. Thai Passion 620 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1244 At Thai Passion, you will find outstanding Thai cuisine at an elegant downtown setting. They have a vast menu with a number of Thai specialties such as Thai Passion Noodles, served with chicken or tofu and vegetables in a mild soy-based sauce and stir fried pud ginger. If you wish to take the hotness quotient up a notch, try one of their curries such as Panang or Thai Passion curry. Although prices are on the higher end, their lunch prices are surprisingly reasonable. The restaurant is more upscale in the evenings. Ruby's BBQ 512 West 29th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1651 This restaurant features backwoods barbecue with not-so-traditional side dishes, including collard greens and vinaigrette coleslaw. The restaurant's decor reflects a down-home blues appeal. Ruby's BBQ offers a menu that focuses on barbecue made with all-natural beef in Texas and a house sauce that is one of the tastiest around. Moreover, Cajun dishes and vegetarian preparations are also provided. Beer and wine are offered. Catering is also available. See their website for further information. Ranch 616 616 Nueces Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7616 Ranch 616 feature the flavors and essence of quintessential Tex-Mex dining. This restaurant in downtown Austin is popular among locals and visitors alike. Start of with Fish or Shrimp Tacos, or Crispy Oysters with Chipotle Tartar that are a prelude to mains like Texas Black Angus Ribeye and Spanish Rice. The best way to compliment your meal is with Mezcal, a traditional spirit distilled in Mexico from the agave crop. Some of their varieties include organic Dulce Vida Reposado and the Don Julio 1942, with subtle hints of caramel, nut, cinnamon and chocolate. They also offer excellent catering facilities on hire for your house parties. Curra's Grill 14 East Oltorf Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 0012 Authentic, healthy-tasting Mexican food coupled with a laid-back atmosphere make Curra's Grill a great South Austin institution for any meal of the day. Its unique sauces and dishes are homemade and nicely run the spectrum from mild to spicy. Live music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoon. The crowd is usually festive and lively. Try the cochinita pibil, the foremost traditional dish of Yucatan, which features shredded pork served on a banana leaf with plantains. There are many fresh seafood offerings, including Camarones Chihuahua, shrimp sautéed with goat cheese and guajillo peppers. Musashino Sushi Dokoro 3407 Greystone Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 795 8593 This hidden treasure was rated one of the top 20 sushi restaurants in the nation by a guidebook for Japanese tourists. The traditional sushi and sashimi are served in an elegant, vibrant atmosphere. Musashino Sushi Dokoro also caters to the not-so-adventurous palate with tempura and teriyaki dishes. The sushi regular or deluxe platters are also offered with an all-cooked option. The Born in the USA variety of the menu offers various takes on the California roll and other American sushi hybrids. In addition, the Asparagus Roll is simply divine. Casa De Luz 1701 Toomey Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 2535 Serving macrobiotic food in a community setting, this restaurant offers natural, organic, vegan meals. One complete, balanced macrobiotic meal is created for lunch and another completely different meal will be offered for dinner. You will not find a menu, as the chef plans meals daily based on the seasons. The cooks work continuously during each meal to keep the fresh food coming, as you may go back for seconds as often as you like. The fresh steamed greens with almond sauce are a favorite of many patrons. Its environment is spacious and airy with many windows surrounding the dining area. There is even a silent table, where guests may eat without being disturbed. Mr. Natural 1901 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5228 This family-owned vegetarian Mexican restaurant and bakery is fresh and authentic. Its location in East Austin makes it a bit out of the way, but the food is definitely worth your time. Try the tamales, vegetarian enchiladas, or the tacos, even meat lovers will leave satisfied. After your meal, have a sweet potato empanada, a smoothie, vegan cookies, a slice of pumpkin, cherry or strawberry pie, or a piece of cheesecake. Special orders for baked goods are welcome year-round. Mr. Natural is also a full-service natural foods and vitamin shop, where you will find a variety of herbs and supplements. Chinatown on Mopac 3407 Greystone Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 343 9307 This is Austin's original upscale Chinese restaurant, offering the authentic dishes and seasoning of the Orient. Located just north of the intersection of Mopac (Loop 1) and Far West Boulevard. The unusual two-story building is elegantly decorated and enhances an always-pleasant dining experience. Banquet and catering facilities are available. Serving a vast array of weekday lunch specials, with entree, egg roll, rice, and soup. Chef specialties for dinner include Szechuan spicy duck and Coconut Curry Shrimp among many others. Patrons enjoy and relax at the upscale full bar. Mongolian Barbecue 117 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3938 Where else can you handcraft your own delicious Asian stir-fry? At this downtown location, you choose frozen meats and vegetables to top with any combination of sauces and seasonings. The cook then grills it all in a gigantic metal wok as you watch. It is a tasty and unique experience. Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso Bar 4222 Duval Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 323 2686 Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso Bar is truly a decadent destination, blending the sinful sweetness of Italian ice cream and the jolt of espresso with a fully stocked shot bar. The rich gelatos and delicate ices are made in house, with selections changing daily. Additionally, Dolce Vita offers some 30 single malt scotches and 40 liqueurs to accompany or top the fabulous desserts. With seating inside or on their small patio street-side, this makes for an experience like no other. Thundercloud Subs 3200 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 5010 This local chain that boasts the motto "fresh, fast, and healthy" offers sandwiches that taste fresher and less corporate than their competitors. Even better, the prices are affordable. Vegetarians will enjoy the Veggie Delight cold sub loaded with mushrooms, avocado, sprouts, black olives, cream cheese, onions, tomatos, and ThunderSauce — their trademark special sauce. The other subs offered are largely made up of traditional deli meats such as Smoked Chicken, Turkey, Tuna Salad, Roast Beef and Mixed Cuts. If you're looking for something lighter try a hummus sandwich or soup and salad. There are too many Austin locations to note them all here. Visit their Web site for a complete listing of locations. Look for franchise locations in the Houston area and San Antonio. Jake's Seafood and Steaks 3825 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5253 The lovely setting on Lake Austin provides a perfect backdrop for this classy, yet relaxed eatery. Live cover music enhances the enjoyment of this establishment. Salads and entrees, running the gamut from porterhouse steaks designed to please a Texas-sized appetite, to the most fabulous seafood, smoked crab, lobster, scallops and shellfish, and much more. The Watership Room is ideal for a lunch, whereas the more formal Flagship Room provides the perfect setting for an expansive dinner. The place is dimly-lit, with a waterfront-style, and a prominent saxophone logo out front. Fish, lobster and crab add up to the menu along with beef, salads, soups and appetizers. A complete wine list includes both domestic and foreign brands. Maudie's Cafe 2608 West 7th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 3740 This casual dining establishment is known for its crazy-good Tex-Mex cuisine. From classic migas and enchiladas to fajitas with all the fixings, Maudie's Cafe has everything you need to fulfill those Tex-Mex cravings. Be sure to ask for the house made habanero and green specialty sauces for your chips or tacos, they add quite the kick! Delaware Subs 1104 West 34th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 8423 Delaware Subs has numerous locations all over town. Drop by the one close to your neighborhood for a huge, submarine sandwich placed on fresh French bread. The specialty of the house is their Philadelphia Cheese steak, which consists of grilled steak, mushrooms and onions topped with cheese and your choice of hot or sweet peppers. A large sandwich can comfortably feed two people. Different lunch specials are offered daily. Waterloo Ice House 600 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5400 Next door to Waterloo Records, this casual restaurant is a great place to catch music performed by local talent. Waterloo Ice House serves a variety of American and Tex-Mex food and offers a daily happy hour with half price appetizers. Customers are welcome to call in their orders for pick-up or dining in. Booths and tables are comfortably spaced throughout the room. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Appetizers include Fried Mushrooms served with ranch dressing, Spicy Wings dipped in a tangy barbecue sauce and Chicken Nacho Grande. Salads, soups and spuds are on the menu, alongside Hill Country favorites which are mostly preparations with chicken and spicy sauces. Check website for other locations. 34th Street Cafe 1005 West 34th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 371 3400 34th Street Cafe tucked away just west of Lamar Boulevard, is a pleasant destination for a gourmet lunch. The restaurant is usually crowded with Hyde Park and Rosedale area professionals and residents. The interior is comfortable and intimate, with a number of tables scattered about its two open rooms. The decor is very simple, and the area is bright and inviting. It is quite popular with the lunch crowd, providing a relaxing escape from work. The menu is broad, with gourmet salads, Boar's Head meat and specialty sandwiches, quesadillas and pizzas. Everything served is homemade and delicious. Daily blue plate special includes items like chicken chalupas or fresh pasta. This is quick, fairly inexpensive gourmet fare. Milto's Pizza Pub 2909 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 1021 This campus area location offers excellent pizza, Greek items and pasta dishes for eating in. Prices are reasonable, and the service is generally efficient and friendly. The greek salad and rolls are crave-able, The atmosphere is perfect for an informal lunch while the menu is packed with excellent greek fan fare. Most of the time you can find students relaxing here after lectures or university. La Palapa 6640 Highway 290 East Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 8729 The name means "thatched roof," and it is hard to miss this one, atop a large Mexican restaurant alongside Highway 290. The casual, spacious interior allows for conversation without noise from the kitchen or too-close fellow diners crowding in. Generous Tex-Mex combination plates are the rule here. Try the satisfying enchiladas and bring the rest home for the next day. You will find nearly fish bowl-sized margaritas from the full bar that are not to be missed, and an all you can eat fajita buffet Saturday nights. Karaoke is offered in an adjacent area on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Austin Pizza Garden 6266 Highway 290 West Austin, TX 78735 United States - Phone: +1 512 891 9980 The owners of this family-operated restaurant near the "Y" at Oak Hill previously ran a pizzeria voted the best in Indianapolis for 13 consecutive years. Their experience shows, as folks come for miles to try their authentic New York-style pizza. The century-old historic stone building is hard to miss, with a classic interior best described as casual, family-style Italian. The extensive menu offers a long line of signature pizzas, with Mexican, Hawaiian, Texas, and Greek varieties alongside familiar Italian pies. Also available are great salads, lasagna, stromboli and sandwiches overflowing with Italian meats and cheeses. A list of domestic and imported beer and vintage wine rounds out the selection. Iguana Grill 2900 Ranch Road Austin, TX 78734 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 8439 Located just outside the city in the hill country, Iguana Grill offers customers great lakeside views while they have a few drinks and enjoy cuisine from the interior of Mexico. Dishes are moderately priced, and the menu includes all traditional dishes like quesadillas, burritos, tacos and enchilada. Any attire from casual to dressy is fine and a generally laid-back attitude prevails. Iguana Grill boasts a serene patio that overlooks Lake Travis; this beautiful landscape forms your backdrop, as you dine. Bartlett's 2408 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 7333 Bartlett's has been serving up some of the best American cuisine around. Bartlett's has a business casual atmosphere with a touch of elegant flair. A full bar is available for patrons. Burgers and sandwiches provide a delectable treat for lunch. Perhaps a salad with one of the company's signature salad dressings would be more your style. For dinner, spoil yourself with the catch of the day grilled to perfection. There is also a gluten free menu. The wine selection is superb and the staff is ready to recommend the perfect accent to your entree. Hunan Lion 4006 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 3388 Hunan Lion has been a favorite for nearly two decades. Serving up healthy portions of gourmet Hunan and Mandarin cuisine at honest prices. Attractive atmosphere, but do not expect a lot of Oriental decor. More like a casual Austin restaurant with wood paneling, nice artwork and table linens. Recommended dishes are the hot and sour Soup, seafood rolls; chopped shrimp, scallops and mango wrapped in rice paper and fried, orange beef, lightly breaded and stir-fried in a thick, spicy, brown sauce with orange peel and red peppers; jalapeno chicken; crispy white meat strips accented with sliced jalapenos and black beans. Driskill Grill 604 Brazos Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 391 7162 Driskill Grill is perfect for a formal evening, a professional business lunch, or a comfortable breakfast. Lunch is more casual, but still served with a formal edge. Dinner is a candlelight event with wine savvy waiters and a chef that will visit your table. No matter what time of day, this full-service restaurant is ready to serve with a display of class. The décor consists of white linens and hardwoods with beautiful tapestry carpet. Enjoy steaks, pasta, lobster or the special of the day in this elegant atmosphere. Ancho's 700 San Jacinto at 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3700 Part of the expansive lobby of the Omni Hotel Downtown, Ancho's serves delicious southwestern cuisine with a Texas attitude. The atrium allows patrons to enjoy the open-air setting while still having a roof over your head. Whether you are staying at this centrally located hotel or looking for a casual dining experience, this restaurant can serve you a dish perfect for the occasion. This restaurant, located in the Omni hotel atrium, has wonderful natural lighting from the glass atrium that spans the height of the hotel. For lunch, sample the pasta bar that allows patrons to select their choice of ingredients. Daily specials can also be prepared to order. This wonderful romantic spot is perfect after the sun goes down. Sao Paulo's Restaurante 2809 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 9988 This restaurant serves consistently excellent Brazilian food. Its location just northeast of the UT campus means students are regular customers, but you'll also find a mix of young professionals and others interested in and appreciating Brazilian cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and pleasant with plenty of seating. The Bife A Cebolado is worth trying for its fried yucca but the sauteed sweet onions are well-paired with the thinly sliced sirloin. The Bodo de Camarao comes highly recommended and is an excellent choice for first-time patrons. A live band is occasionally booked for weekend performances. Matt's El Rancho 2613 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 462 9333 This very popular South Austin restaurant has been serving Tex-Mex food since 1952. Matt's El Rancho is a family-owned business that boasts of its delicious food and attentive service. You will discover all of the familiar favorites, including enchiladas, tamales, fajitas, and a satisfying queso dip as a starter, all at mid-range prices. You will also find slightly more imaginative dishes, such as the Garlic Grilled Shrimp. Jardin Corona 13233 Pond Springs Road Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 250 1061 This restaurant offers cuisine that is influenced more by interior Mexico than the locally common Tex-Mex food. The dining space is casual, with a pleasant atmosphere and includes a small outdoor patio area. A good number of appetizers are served, including fully loaded nachos. Reasonably priced specialties include Mole Poblano, chicken simmered in a rich mole sauce and Tamales Veracruzanos, your choice of chicken, beef, pork, raisin, or pineapple tamales wrapped in banana leaves. You will also find burritos and a range of enchilada plates. Breakfast plates and breakfast tacos are served mornings. A full bar is available with daily happy hour. Best Mexican Food Botanitas Catering 6400 South First Street Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 350 8287 Priding itself on fresh, homemade food, this South Austin Botanitas catering service regularly enters its salsa in the local "Hot Sauce Challenge" and has won several times. The atmosphere is low You will find a variety of enchilada plates like the 'Homemade Gorditas' as well as tacos like the 'Taco Plate' and much more. The 'Three Enchiladas a la Carte Tex-Mex' is a must try. The authentic national Mexican cuisine, offered here like the "Lamb Chops Enchilada Combo" and "Flautas Doraditas" to name a few, are some of the highlights on the menu. Z'Tejas Grill 1110 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 5355 Located in a downtown turn-of-the-century Victorian home with a large outdoor dining area and a tree-top bar, it was founded more than ten years ago by four chefs with divergent influences. Banquet and special events facilities are available for reservation. A generally bustling, social atmosphere, and an attentive and knowledgeable wait staff are on hand. Most customers arrive in professional or dressy casual attire. Priding itself on a menu with something for everyone, the Southwestern cuisine is really an amalgam of Cajun, Southern and Californian specialties. Representative dishes include gumbo, jerk chicken salad, fish tacos, enchiladas and grilled rib-eye steak with chipotle sauce. Tres Amigos 1807 West Slaughter Lane Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 292 1001 In business for over twenty years, Tres Amigos prides itself on using the freshest high-quality ingredients in its traditional Tex-Mex dishes. Offering fiesta rooms which can accommodate around 55 guests, the options of having a good time at this restaurant are really good. The service staff is pretty helpful besides being a little overtly friendly. The beverages also range from soft drinks to the regular Mexican favorites. Hoffbrau Steakhouse 613 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0822 Catering to a casual crowd, this fantastic little steakhouse is located just outside the entertainment district on 6th street. The funky nondescript building of Hoffbrau Steakhouse is not the location for a formal dinner, but is designed for a laid back evening of good food and great company. Sit back and relax in this uniquely Austin establishment and enjoy hefty portions of hearty food. Depending on the size of your appetite, platter prices range between $7.50-$15.00. All plates come with hot vegetables and bread on the side, plus soup or salad. Vespaio Ristorante 1610 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 441 6100 This cozy neighborhood eatery is a well-kept secret among the Austin dining elite. The chef lines up a delectable menu of fine Italian favorites that has kept the whole city talking. The service at Vespaio is pleasant and the experience luxurious. The wine selection is extraordinary with over 30 wines by the glass to choose from. Dessert options include cheesecakes, ice cream, tiramisu and creme brulee; they are well worth the indulgence. The wait for a table has become legendary, but the food more than makes up for it. China on the Avenue 908 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 0137 Just two blocks from the State Capitol, this fantastic little restaurant is a favorite with the downtown business crowd. Serving high quality Szhechuan and Hunan Chinese cuisine this wonderful little slice of gourmet cuisine has a fantastic atmosphere and super service. House specialties include the Special Duck and Taipei Shrimp. The Seafood Platter, a mix of crab, shrimp, scallops and veggies served in a fabulous white wine sauce is a steal. The China Bird's Nest, a favorite among the regular patrons, is stir fry of shrimp and chicken with vegetables in a special sauce served in a bird's nest of fried shredded potato. China on the Avenue has a classy but casual oriental setting. Window tables overlooking Congress Avenue and the State Capitol are available. Thai Spice Cafe 701 Capital of Texas Highway South Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 330 0203 Located in The Village at Westlake Shopping Center, Thai Spice Cafe, an informal restaurant is a great stop for lunch or dinner teeming with Thai spices like ginger, cilantro, garlic and lemon grass. This is a popular spot for shoppers and business people who do not have a lot of time but are looking for something with a little kick. Start with a traditional favorite like Chicken Sate or Tom Kha Gai soup and for your main course choose from many well-known and well-loved entrees such as Pad Thai or Panang Curry. Las Palomas 3201 Bee Caves Road, Suite 122 Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 9889 Las Palomas prides itself on serving the freshest seafood and interior-Mexico specialty dishes, and is advertised as having the best margaritas in town. Lunch specials are priced at USD5.95 and include choice of soup and an entree such as enchiladas, migas, or empanadas. Dinner entrees average USD8.95; representative dishes are carne guisada (tenderloin beef), chicken mole and pescado al chipotle (spicy fish filet). You will find a full bar and a regularly scheduled happy hour. The atmosphere is relaxed, but rather more sophisticated than the usual Tex-Mex restaurants. Casual to more dressy attire is acceptable. Boomerang's Gourmet Veggies & Meat Pies 3110 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 380 0032 This centrally located restaurant is a beacon to those craving a homemade and well-made meat pie. But as it's name contests, this is also a vegetarian friendly establishment that has 14 flavors of pies that are sure to intrigue and satisfy any customer. These flaky pastries are inspired by the meat and veggie pies of Australia and range in flavors from steak and chicken to curry and pizza and everything in-between. Boomerang's can easily cater events for 12 to 500 hungry patrons. The pies have become so popular that Boomerang's even offers an online ordering service that ships pies anywhere in the continental United States. The restaurant itself is casual and offers speedy, yet friendly, service. Tavern 922 West 12th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8377 Tavern is one of the best known and best loved places in town to meet with friends, watch sports, have some drinks and eat down-home cooking. From Lamar Boulevard, you cannot miss the sign advertising 'air conditioning'. Designed in 1916 and modeled after a German pub, it operated as a grocery store until the end of World War I. From the Great Depression on, it has operated as a restaurant and bar. The environment is quite casual and often bustling with activity. The full bar frequently offers drink specials. Their large menu offers American and Tex-Mex classics, with entrees such as chicken fried steak and meatloaf. Oishi Japanese Fusion 2025 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0207 Located in Dobie Mall on the edge of the University of Texas campus, Oishi Japanese Fusion is where students and locals commingle to enjoy the fine sushi and Japanese cuisine. Oishi offers an elaborate and moderately priced menu with the sushi as the star item. From Monday through Friday, sushi rolls are half priced after 4p. The Sweet Potato Sushi Roll and Volcano Sushi Roll are worth trying while the White Fire Sushi Roll is a must have. The restaurant is located on the first floor of Dobie Mall, just inside the Guadalupe Street entrance. Check out their Facebook or Twitter feed for the latest specials. Taco Shack 4412 Medical Parkway Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 300 2112 A favorite of the locals on Saturday mornings, this tiny family-owned business is bursting with people willing to wait in a line that extends out the front door for a simple breakfast taco. But their food is anything but simple. The Taco Shack breakfast specialty, the Shack Taco ($1.75), is filled with eggs, potatoes, cheese and chorizos' just bursting with flavor. Although they can certainly prepare a basic breakfast taco with your choice of fillings, try the Burnet Road Burrito if you are extra hungry and want something to fill you up. For lunch, try the Shack Lunch Special. No matter what you order, you will not be disappointed. Jason's Deli 10225 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 9586 This clean, bright place called Jason's Deli is a comfortable stop for a quick meal. The sandwiches are full of flavor, the baked potatoes are huge and the salad bar is the freshest in town. A personal favorite is a one-trip salad bar and half a Plain Jane baked potato. It is just enough to put a smile on your face, but not enough to make you want to go back to your desk and sleep for the rest of the workday. This deli is consistently good and the service is well organized, so mistakes are few. Russell's Bakery 3339 Hancock Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 419 7877 When this restaurant was forced to move from its previous location, the surrounding neighborhood got a petition together to keep the bakery. In their new location at Hancock Drive, the small, family-owned bakery and coffee shop has a new clientèle that is becoming increasingly loyal everyday. From the cinnamon rolls to scones, Russell's Bakery offers fresh and sumptuous eats. The Breve is especially tasty and sure to give you the wake-up call you need on your way to work. With its eclectic selection of tables and chairs, Russell's is a great place to meet for work or pleasure. Satay 3202 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 6731 Satay is not just a restaurant. It's also the name of this restaurant's specialty - thinly-sliced marinated meat on skewers grilled and served with spicy sauces and cucumber salad. It's a dish of choice in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Try Satay with pork, beef, chicken, shrimp or vegetables. The master chef here (who has appeared with Dom De Luis in TV cooking programs) uses absolutely no MSG, and only vegetable and canola oils. Vegetarians and vegans have plenty of options here as well. The restaurant also packages amazing sauces and salsas. Pick up 16-ounces of any sauce or salsa from a wide selection (including spicy peanut and ginger sweet and sour). Tam Deli and Cafe 8222 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 834 6458 This house of Vietnamese cuisine has everything going for it but location. If you blink while driving by the Centre North shopping center you might miss it. But once you're inside, Miss Lan will cook up her Special Lo Mein with Stir-Fried Tofu and assorted veggies. Or, for the carnivore, the menu offers ham, chicken, pork or beef sandwiches for around two bucks. Enjoy a standard but comfortable atmosphere with calm music and plenty of smiles from the server. Buffalo Billiards 201 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7665 This 22,000 square foot Mecca of pool halls offer a full bar and great American food. With 21 pool tables, 7 shuffleboard tables, 5 dartboards and 10 foosball tables you will not have a problem finding fun during the week. Look out for Service Industry Night every Sunday, with discounts for folks in that branch of work. Serving all the classic bar food like nachos, burgers, and wraps. Food is served until 1a. Only 21 and over are admitted. Omelettry (The) 4811 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 5062 Since 1978, this little, friendly diner refuses to die. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu that will please the vegetarian as well as the carnivore. Sit at a wooden table, a booth, or a barstool on the white-and-black-checkered floor and taste the famous Gazpacho or vegetarian chili while waiting for your Avocado BLT. If you prefer morning grub like eggs, fries, pancakes and bacon home style, you have come to the right place. The Chili Con Queso Omelette is loaded with cheese and covered with jalapeños and even more cheese. Pancakes filled with blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, pecans or raisins are another specialty. The weekends are very busy, with standing room only as a common practice. No credit cards, checks or phone-in orders accepted. NeWorlDeli (New World Deli) 4101 Guadelupe Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 7170 This casual Hyde Park sandwich shop caters to those who crave an old-fashioned sandwich piled high with fresh deli meat, cheese, and all the trimmings. Their signature Sloppy Joes consist of a triple deck of Jewish rye bread with turkey, ham, or roast beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and cole slaw. Hot subs, grilled and cold sandwiches, wraps (Thai or veggie), soups, salads, and sides round out the menu. For those not yet satisfied, freshly baked desserts are available, along with a good selection of coffee. No alcohol is served. Siena Ristorante Toscana 6203 North Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 349 7667 The restaurant, nestled in a valley, is housed within an exquisite stone building fashioned after the farmhouses of the Italian countryside. Once inside, the menu is equally inviting, consisting of traditional yet creative Tuscan dishes with a special focus on roasted game. One signature dish is Pappardelle Pasta with wild boar sauce. Provincial soups, breads, and desserts are abundant. The selection of Italian wines is especially extensive. Siena Ristorante Toscana is quite a popular destination, and the clientèle generally arrives in business or evening attire appropriate for fine dining. Asti Trattoria 408 East 43rd Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 1218 Located in the heart of Hyde Park, this classy Italian restaurant will dazzle your taste buds. The decor is modern with contemporary features. Large windows allow light to shine in and give warmth to the space. It is upscale, clean and comfortable, with dimmed lighting in the evening. Start with the Oven Roasted Mussels spiced with white wine, tomato and garlic. Or try the Semolina Fried Calamari, served with its own special sauce. The restaurant offers a selection of pizzas including a White Pizza with truffle oil mozzarella, fontina and provolone cheese with fried sage leaves. Another favorite is the Grilled Eggplant Pizza with fontina & oregano. Main dishes include several pasta and meat selections. Cipollina 1213 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5211 Located in the heart of Clarksville and created by the same team who brought Austin the fine dining of Jeffrey's, this takeout establishment also offers a regular menu with fresh baked goods, pizzas, soups, salads and sandwiches. It offers a relaxed cafe environment with an area for dining in. Enjoy fresh baked breads including Rosemary Currant and Chocolate Cherry or a Lemon Ginger muffin. There are several offered; including spinach and artichoke with goat cheese and basil; or you may build your own from a selection of fresh ingredients. Call ahead for the soup of the day to enjoy with a mixed green salad or a traditional Caesar salad. Hot and cold sandwiches are available, featuring a variety a meats including seafood and lamb. Things Celtic 1806 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 2358 This store specializes in the Celtic art of Crawford Shortt. He designs Celtic knotworks, sundials and goddess figures all carved in stone. He uses native Texas materials to produce the work in limestone, sandstone and quartz crystals. Most of the art is made from recycled material, donated items or found objects. The shop also carries Celtic music by native Irishmen and imported jewelry from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Blue Velvet 217 West North Loop Austin Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 2583 Fabulous clothes are available at bargain prices at this store. Blue Velvet specializes in vintage clothing for men and women. Step into clothes from the 1940s to the 1970s. From Hawaiian shirts to swanky hats and ties, one will never be disappointed here. The big sellers seem to be pea coats, golf and bowling shirts and racing jackets. You'll also find small furniture items and knick-knacks. The shop has also been voted as one of the best thrift shops by various publications, including the Austin Chronicle. Elle Boutique 3663 Bee Caves Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 2552 The feeling in this boutique is of relaxed elegance, and that extends to the clothing and accessories. Owner Nicole Nutt believes in feminine clothing with classic lines, fashioned from the best materials. Hallmark collections include the after-five lines and petite fashions. Victoria Pappas, Joseph A and Finley are some of the featured brands, and local artists have created a selection of the jewelry. Harold's Outlet Barn 8611 North Mopac Expressway Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 794 9036 Here you will find high-quality, classic clothing and accessories for women and men at outlet prices. That means you will find everything from business suits to great-fitting jeans, all classically styled, but just modern enough to keep from being boring. This is the place to shop for a little black dress, an interview suit, a basic cashmere sweater, and the shoes and handbags to pull it all together. The casual clothes are distinctive, with a Southwestern preppy flair, and the helpful staff will create great outfits from the most unlikely elements. You will even be offered something to drink while you are shopping. Neiman Marcus' Last Call 4115 Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 0701 It is the famous season-end sale at Texas' most famous upscale specialty store & dash; all gathered together into its own location, and without the crowds. Sounds like heaven? That would not be far from the truth for die-hard bargain hunters, or anyone with an income out of sync with their expensive taste. Clothing for men, women and children sports top designer labels, such as DKNY, Anne Klein and Dana Buchman. Accessories such as jewelry, belts, handbags and ties are here to complete the look. There are also shoes at bargain basement prices. For the chic home, this store has unusual and beautiful home accessories, fine china and furnishings. University Co-op 2246 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 7211 A veritable warehouse for bibliophiles, this two-level University Co-op store offers two complete worlds of books. Textbooks for University of Texas line shelves in the basement, and, on the first floor are titles for those outside the ivory tower. So shop upstairs for novels, popular history, children's books and self-help, and venture below for more cerebral and scholarly fare. UT fans will find a broad selection of Longhorn merchandise, from caps to socks and everything in between. A great selection of school supplies is also offered. You will even find items like engineering compasses and photography paper. Half Price Books 5555 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 4463 Out of the several locations in Austin, this Half Price Books is understandably the most artsy and intellectual, given its location just off The Drag and a stone's throw from the University of Texas. A bargain-hunter and book-lover's paradise, the store is arranged into sub-shops, each devoted to a category of books. This isn't the place to find the most up-to-the-minute best-seller or the latest entry in Oprah's Book Club, but it is the spot for an out-of-print, hardbound copy of "The Catcher in the Rye", at half off the cover price. CDs, cassettes and other forms of music, even a huge collection of LPs, can be found in another room. Sit on the floor with a book or search the racks of albums for the one that got warped in high school. Loitering is encouraged. The staff is uniformly well-read and helpful, and they will search the store computer for a specific title upon request. Book People 603 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5050 / +1 800 853 9757(Toll Free) Walk in and breathe deeply. You're within range of 300,000 titles, all arranged on three floors, along with a coffeehouse and complete music department. This is one of the bookstore-as-community places, where shoppers are encouraged to put their feet up and read, or to sit at a convenient desk and copy a recipe from the latest cookbook. Children gather for story time every week, and a community room is available for book clubs and other meetings. Of course, they have a huge selection in every conceivable category, from anthropology to zoology. Notable are the shelves of small-press and foreign-press titles, as well as spiritual and religious books. Furniture Brokers of Westlake 4201 Westbank Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 329 8421 The quality of a home consignment shop rests on how selectively the store consigns merchandise. Here, it is obvious that the items are looked over carefully before admission, and not just any secondhand sofa can get in. The brand names are top-notch, including Henredon, Thomasville and Roche BoBois. There is also Wedgwood China and Waterford Crystal. Some of the items come from well-heeled folk who are redecorating, others from model homes. The inventory changes often, so it is fun to check back and see what has newly arrived. Uncommon Objects 1512 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 4000 For aficionados of the shabby chic movement, there is no better stop in South Austin than Uncommon Objects. It is crammed full of antique and collectible furniture. Need a faded piece of crockery for the kitchen? You will find it here. Looking for a soft, old quilt for baby's bed? Most likely you will find a plethora to choose from. The stock is arranged in mini-tableaux, framed by worn textiles and blankets hanging from above. It is a great place to get ideas for making over your home. Maya 1508 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 912 1475 Many people come to Maya for the santos or carved wooden statues that depict various saints. The santos icons and crosses here are beautiful but there is more to discover than religious art in this well-stocked shop. You will find Southwestern and Latin American-style furniture and folk art, Guatemalan pillow covers and other textiles, plus a variety of jewelry. Favorite items include the wrought iron barstools with leather seats and the painted furniture. There is a lot to peruse in this cozy South Congress space, so allow lots of time for exploring. Allens Boots 1522 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 1413 Allens Boots has been in the South Congress shopping district for years. The tan stucco exterior is pretty nondescript, but the boot-emblazoned sign by the door leaves no doubt as to what might be sold here. This is a serious shop for serious Western wear, from the Wranglers to Justin boots and more. This is where you can grab a classic Resistol hat and a pair of ropers, or a fancier set of lizard or snake skin boots. Fancy duds are available, but so are serious work clothes. While urban cowboys are welcome to shop here, the store caters to the real thing, too. Dragonsnaps 2438 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 4497 Out-of-the-ordinary, children clothes are the rule here, where everyone from baby to size 14 big can find an outfit. Comfortable and cute 100% cotton leggings match equally comfortable and cute tees and tops. Pretty party dresses hang nearby, and they are not the run-of-the-mill smocked variety, but more fashion-forward, playful styles. Boys will find their niche here, too, with play wear and dress-up clothes for any occasion, save perhaps the most fancy. The designs are fun and easy to wear for the most free-spirited child. Baby gifts and some toys are also available. Terra Toys 2438 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 4489 / +1 800 247 8697(Toll Free) At Terra Toys, you will find the traditional educational toys, Stieff teddy bears, tin soldiers, art supplies and a wonderful selection of dolls. Then there are mood rings, kaleidoscopes and windup panda drummers. The store is packed full of unique, hard to find gifts and toys. A great place for souvenirs or stocking stuffers, this wide-ranging toy shop will entertain the kids as well as their parents. A notable collection of children's books and candies rounds up the selection. Wild About Music 115 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 877 370 1700 This unique shop showcases gifts with a Texas music theme, offering jewelry, furniture, T-shirts, posters, books and more. The large gallery space features sculptures and oil paintings, among other artworks, all capturing the music spirit of Austin and the state. At Wild About Music, local, national and international artists are represented and all work is for sale. One of the featured artists, Larry Plitz, creates beautiful and eclectic aquariums made from old television sets. Explore the gallery's website for a tour of the online Virtual Art Gallery. Whit Hanks Antiques 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2101 If you are looking to find a large collection of antiques under one roof, with variety in selection and price, this is a great place to begin shopping. With over 70 dealers showcasing collectibles from Europe, Asia, and the American Southwest, plus primitive art, china, wrought iron house wares, adornments for the garden and several local artists displaying work. Merchants are knowledgeable and eager to share collections with customers. Vulcan Video 609 West 29th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 5325 With an excellent collection of B-movies, cult classics, musicals, low-budget horror pictures, foreign films and a variety of videos you will not find at the chain stores, this is a movie-lover's paradise. Peruse the "director's wall" for films grouped by director; if you are looking for a silent film, this eclectic shop has one of the best selections in town. Staff suggestions are located throughout the store if you are having trouble deciding on which flick to rent. Most of the employees are huge film fans and know their business, so if you have questions about a rare movie, this is a great place to start. Comics and More 2104 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 440 7373 If you are looking for comic books to satisfy your superhero-worshiping needs, this is your place. More than just a great source for new, used, and collector's issues of books by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other companies, this place also offers posters, collectible card and role-playing games, T-shirts, toys and nostalgic items. If you are around on Tuesdays, you can pop in on the meeting of the local Toy Club. El Interior 1009 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 8680 Nestled within the downtown, is this cozy little slice of Central American ambiance. Whether it is beautiful hand-woven rugs, straw hats, beaded necklaces, or other household and clothing items you are looking for, El Interior will have it made by individual artists, straight from Mexico or Guatemala, (not mass-market companies). Whatever Mexican you have in mind, this place either has it, or can get it for you. Browsing is half the fun; the place is a treat for the senses. Northcross Mall 2525 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 7466 Consider this north Austin mall as an alternative to the colder, more impersonal mega-malls that have become standard in recent years. This shopping center is a bit cozier, with some unusual finds inside. Despite its smaller size, shoppers will still be able to browse department stores like Oshman's and Bealls, or catch a movie at the resident theater. In addition, the mall offers the only ice skating rink in town, and is home to specialty shops such as Gamefellas, Lammes Candies, and Guitar Center, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts. TG Canoes and Kayaks 3411 North I H 35 Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2644 This full-service shop has the largest boat (kayak and canoe) selection in Texas carrying Prijon, Ocean Kayak, Perception, Dagger and Cobra kayaks and boats. Rental boats are available, and all rentals include paddles and Personal Flotation Devices. It also offers American Canoe Association instructional classes in kayaking and carry tons of camping gear. Organized trips are available for day and overnight excursions that can combine camping, kayaking, snorkeling or diving, and bird watching. Additional classes allow you to fine tune your outdoor skills with a backpacking course, or try map and compass skills training. Clarksville Pottery and Galleries 4001 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 9079 / +1 877 907 9079(Toll Free) Experience a romantic, lush atmosphere when you step through the front door of this shop. Each of the company's two locations features an assortment of riches in the fine arts, works created by local and foreign artists alike. You will find everything you need to decorate your home or office. The selections of jewelry, pottery, hand-blown glass art, wood and metal fabrications are splendid indeed; you will not only find an applewood rocking chair, but a wedding ring and a lovely mesquite jewelry box in which to store it. Ozone Bike Dept. 3202-C Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 302 1164 This full-service bicycle shop sells commuter, racing and mountain bikes. You will find the occasional funky bicycle here too (think Pee-Wee Herman). This wild group started out building bikes from scratch using random, non-matching parts. Those bikes turned into works of art, and all of the hipsters had to have one. They still refurbish old bikes, but they now specialize in professional biking gear. This place is friendly, affordable and fun. Pangaea Trading Company 2712 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 3533 This small store is easy to miss when you are driving by, but you will want to stop and shop. The inventory includes affordable imported clothing, accessories, and gifts from Bali, Thailand, Nepal, Africa and India. Unique jewelry, sparkling barrettes, candle-holders, iridescent make-up bags, beautiful hand-dyed dresses, eclectic pants and more are showcased. Explore the well-crafted boxes, mirrors, woodcrafts, and bags. The store is packed full of special works of art, you may spend hours looking through all they have to offer. New Bohemia 1606 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 326 1238 This retro resale store is located on the perimeter of the funky South Congress antique strand. The merchandise literally spills out into the street with furniture and oddities galore. Inside, there is rack after rack of vintage men's and women's clothing representing all eras, from Western-style shirts to Fifties frocks and Seventies lounge. Unlike many resale shops today, this shop has resisted the urge to jack prices sky high. Here you can find great treasures at affordable prices. World Food and Halal Market 9616 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 832 8365 This market offers multicultural ethnic apparel and groceries. Get out your worldly cookbooks and you will find the ingredients in this market. It carries Halal/Kosher meat including goat, lamb, beef and chicken. You may purchase calling cards for India, Pakistan, Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Greece and the Middle East. The store boasts about its low prices and the largest selection of basmati rice. Located in the North Park Center next to Dollar General. Architects & Heroes 4700 West Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 9393 Since 1992, Architects & Heroes has been Austin's number one destination for the best selection of decorative hardware for the kitchen and bath, imported lighting from Turkey and Italy, unusual gift items for any occasion, objects of art and antiques. Architects & Heroes offers more than 2,000 choices in cabinet knobs and pulls from many of the country's leading manufacturers as well as one-of-a-kind items produced by local artisans. A few brand names available include Emtek, C X Design, Schlage, Bobrick as well as many others. Garden Room (The) 1601 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 5407 The Garden Room is a luxurious boutique that carries women's clothing from the likes of Maureen Keene and Tessuto, shoes, hats, jewelry, fragrances and Parisian Diptyque candles. This is the only store in Central Texas designated as a Home Collection Store for MacKenzie-Childs. In a crunch for time? Try their new service, The Dressing Room. Call ahead and they will order you lunch from Ella's and have a dressing room stocked with appropriate choices for you to slip on when you arrive. Talk about pampering! Congress Avenue Souvenirs 615 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 1663 One thing is for certain, Texans are proud to be Texans. There is no shortage of paraphernalia that proves that point. Texas signs and slogans are affixed to any surface that can hold it. Congress Avenue Souvenirs store has a huge selection of items both practical and fanciful including postcards, key chains, mugs and bumper stickers galore. Get something to take home with you or to give to your favorite Texan. Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds 1506 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 2002 This is by far Austin's most notorious vintage shop, and its most flamboyant. This fabulous store is largely a costume shop packed with thousands of choices ranging from gorilla suits to bullfighters to princesses; and the store carries all the necessary accessories to boot. If your personal style is unconventional (to say the least), there is a huge selection of retro clothing suitable for everyday wear as well. BookWoman 5501 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 2785 In operation for around a quarter of a century, this is one of Texas' oldest and largest feminist bookstores. Featuring classic and cutting edge books by women and for women, this store offers a reading experience like no other. Subject matter ranges from fiction, feminist theory, women's health and psychology, Latina and Chicano books, to spirituality. You will also discover a selection of feminist-minded stickers, T-shirts, pride jewelry, videos and music. Look for author readings and other special events, as this is one business that makes itself part of the community at large. Let's Dish 1102 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 9801 This great shop is an upscale retro boutique featuring men's and women's clothing, accessories and glassware. Dishes are largely from the Forties and Fifties while clothing runs the range from the turn of the 20th century through the 1950s and 1970s. There are modern items, but only if they are exceptional in some way. The store also offers a great selection of costume jewelry, trinkets and baubles. Do not miss this place as you may discover many treasures and unique items found nowhere else in Austin. Kerbey Lane Doll Shoppe 3706 Kerbey Lane Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 7086 This shop features exquisite dolls for both children and collectors. The store carries Ty and Gund bears alongside paper dolls, Madam Alexander, Muffy VanderBear and the popular porcelain Gene doll. The serious aficionado will be pleased with the selection of rare antique finds. There are oodles of those oh-so-important accessories like carriages, trunks, stands, tea sets, furniture and clothing. The store also offers repair service on dolls. Barton Creek Square 2901 South Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 7040 / +1 512 327 7041 Located along the outer edge of the Barton Creek greenbelt, this is one of the biggest shopping centers in Austin. The major department stores are all here, including Nordstrom, Macy's, and JCPenney, Sears, as well as a multitude of boutiques and specialty stores, like Brookstone, Victoria's Secret, Kay Jewelers, Foot Locker and tons more. With a large food court, several ATM machines, opticians, hair salons, a copy service and full security, the mall also offers a total customer service experience. Room Service Vintage 107 East North Loop Boulevard Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 1057 Upon viewing the curious building that houses Room Service Vintage, complete with a rooftop sculpture of a large, purple easy chair, aficionados of retro chic will feel right at home. The furniture department offers the most interesting items in the store. In fact, you will often find some of them reserved as movie props for locally produced films. It also offers a fairly small collection of vintage men's and women's clothing. Whimsical knickknacks from yesteryear abound. Cadeau (The) 2316 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 7276 This shop on the Drag is one of the premier gift shops in Austin, with unique items to fit even the most moderate of budgets. The store is filled with unusual toiletries, candles, upscale women's clothing, funky lamps, picture frames, Christmas ornaments, fine china, kitchen accessories, cookbooks and more. The inventory includes designer lines such as Calvin Klein, Versace and Baccarat. A second location, in the Central Park Shopping Center (4001 North Lamar), offers easier parking but a slightly smaller selection. By George 524 North Lamar Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5951 The premise behind this upscale store is simple: sophisticated fashion that allows the wearer to express their individual style. Looks are classic, yet hip and contemporary. Designer lines of shoes, clothing and accessories include Diesel, BCBG, Jill Stuart, Vivienne Tam, Theory and Kate Spade. By George, what a lovely place to shop! Wheatsville Food Co-Op 3101 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2667 This member-owned cooperative grocery store is full of organic produce, natural health products, great magazines and bulk foods. They have a large beer and wine selection, including organic wines that taste wonderful with the selection of chocolate bars in the front of the store! There is also a full-service deli with sandwiches, soups, salads, tacos, smoothies and many creative specials. Everyone is welcome to shop in this great environment where you will never hear bad music or get a headache from the fluorescent lights. Crofts Original 1714 B South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 6308 This is a fun boutique featuring a wide variety of fabrics and styles, from funky T-shirts to embroidered jeans to velvet dresses. Many pieces are imported, such as the gorgeous selection of Indian beaded long skirts and Parisian mesh tops. Local artist/boutique owner Susan Croft contributes her own hand-painted T-shirts and dresses to the eclectic mix available. Also look for unusual items in the accessories department, including Hope bracelets, candles and cards. Golfsmith 11000 N Interstate Highway- 35 Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 837 4810 This store is recognized as a haven for golf aficionados, and the headquarters of this national chain are based right here in Austin. This huge showroom houses an extensive collection of golf equipment, clothing, accessories, instructional books and videos. Also on location is the 41-acre campus of the Harvey Penick Golf Academy, named one of the top 25 instructional schools by GOLF Magazine. A second location at 10001 Research Boulevard offers a more limited selection. Capra and Cavelli 3500 Jefferson Street Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 450 1919 This locally owned store features upscale and custom men's clothing and accessories. Designer lines include Corneliani, Pal Zileri, Bally Shoes and the popular Vestimenta. Three on-staff master tailors, each with over 25 years of experience, produce one-of-a-kind shirts, trousers, sport coats and suits from an inventory of more than 1,200 high-quality fabrics. The tailors will even come to your office for fittings! The shop has also expanded the inventory to include sportswear along with its more formal daily and evening wear. Antone's Record Store 2928 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 0660 Antone's Record Store features blues, R&B, soul, '50s and '60s rock, exotica, rock-a-billy and much more on vinyl! There are many rare items of collector quality to be found among the bursting vinyl bins. You will find an afternoon is quickly spent rummaging through these records and feeling nostalgic. The inventory features a great selection of Texas and Cajun artists. Not to worry, new-timers; the store does carry some selections on CD. Wildflower Organics 908 North Lamar Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 0449 This unique shop offers an extensive range of ecologically friendly, all-natural products, from clothing to home accessories, furniture to objects d'art. Example items include baby clothing colored with non-toxic dyes, bath towels free of pesticides, herbicides and dyes, organic cotton mattresses, wood furniture, organically grown cotton slipcovers, candles, soaps and more. This store proves that you do not always have to sacrifice quality or fashion for the sake of the environment. Arboretum (The) 10000 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 338 4437 / +1 512 338 4755 The Arboretum, an upscale shopping Mecca located in North Austin, has a much more sophisticated and urban feel to it than you will generally find in this laid-back, low-key city. Located in a suburban area that has seen great growth and development in recent years, many stores and notable restaurants surround this center. Shops at the Arboretum include Barnes & Noble, Chico's, The Walking Company, Z Gallerie, Francesca's Collections The Pottery Barn and several fashion boutiques. Food options at The Arboretum are diverse. 23rd Street Artists' Market Guadalupe Street at West 23rd Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 4002 / +1 512 974 4000 The 23rd Street Artists' Market is one of the highlights of the area known as the Drag, located just across the street from the UT campus. It is open year-round and features the handiwork of some great local artisans. There is no set schedule for vendors as far as participation or time slots—a general rule of thumb is that weekends and around the holidays are the most bountiful. Street performers like mimes and jugglers are often around during these heavy traffic times and add to the lively atmosphere. Selections may include handmade jewelry, purses, tie-dyed T-shirts, paintings, prisms, toys, leather goods and more. Open everyday from 10a till dusk, this market makes for an interesting visit. Village at Westlake 701 South Capital of Texas Highway Westlake Hills, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 3628 Just down Bee Cave Road in neighboring West Lake Hills lies the upscale shopping center of the Village of West lake. This collection of national chain stores, local boutiques and restaurants are housed in a series of buildings that form a general community of shops. Tenants include Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, La Provence, Santa Fe Optical, Canyon Cafe, Tia's Tex-Mex, Marble Slab Creamery, La Madeleine and more. Service Menswear 1400 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 7600 Stepping into this small shop is like being in the dressing room for a fashion shoot. These are extremely stylish clothes for younger by some well known designers. The style is street-skate-surf-retro-smooth, not every guy can pull it off, but those who can, wear it well. Designers include Sundek, B.D. Baggies, Havaiana, Fullum & Holt, Ray Ban, Levi's and more. Mixed in with the cool threads are all kinds of accessories that will complete the look. Asel Art Supply 218 West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1762 Stocking supplies for every kind of artist, this small shop packs the most art-related items per square foot of any place in town. Catering to students and professionals alike for more than a decade, this is a reliable source for hard to find supplies. Some of its merchandise includes paper of varying weight and material, inks, paints, pastels, markers, mounting boards, charcoal, pencils and even a sizable selection of silk-screening equipment. Russell Korman 3806 N Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 9292 Russell Korman began his jewelry career by selling beads on The Drag many years ago and has developed into quite an entrepreneur. Located at 38th Street and Lamar Boulevard, the store carries watch brands such as Mercier, Tissot, Montblanc, Ebel, Hamilton and Baume, and Tag-Heuer. The inventory includes a large selection of certified G.I.A. and E.G.L. loose diamonds, plus a fine selection of platinum mounts. Designer lines are represented, including A. Jaffe, Mercury, Tacori, Romel, Nili and more. If nuptials are in your future, browse the selection of engagement and wedding rings alongside loose diamonds and 14-karat gold pieces for creating your own. Menagerie (The) 1601 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 4644 Specializing in fine jewelry and gifts, this shop is a perfect place to find that one of a kind gift for a special occasion. For the bride, try a silver serving tray or maybe a piece of Herend or Limoges Porcelain. It carries over 200 varieties of fine bar ware and tableware. The executive in your life would love a leather bound atlas or sterling silver perpetual calendar. Or maybe you would prefer a diamond or custom designed jewelry for that special someone. As you browse, enjoy the fresh flowers throughout the store. Fine service and attention to detail has kept customers satisfied for years. Flipnotics Clothespad 1603 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 9011 Downstairs from the popular Flipnotics Coffeespace is Flipnotics Clothespad, which offers an unusual selection of clothing and accessories for stylish young folk. Designers for men include Red Sand, BC Ethic and Filter. Women's designers include Lip Service, Jane Doe and Serious. If the new clothing is a bit too hip for your taste, wander to the back of the store where the retro fashions are located. Throughout the shop are novelty items to catch your eye, like Pee Wee Herman clocks, fuzzy purses, Dashboard Hula Girls, Flame-Covered Wallets and more. It is truly a wacky wonderland. they have it all, hot coffee, good clothes and live music. Callahan's General Store 501 Bastrop Highway Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 385 3452 This well-known store has been filling the western wear needs of Texans for many years. Both locals and visitors come here to find authentic cowboy boots and western hats, belts, shirts, and much more. This is also a fully stocked rustic superstore with all kinds of supplies like hardware, farm equipment, housewares, fishing gear, feed and seed among them. Customers can always expect old-fashioned, friendly service, which makes even the city folk feel right at home. Mi Casa Gallery 1700 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 707 9797 This shop may look small from the outside, but once you step inside you will enjoy exploring 17 rooms full of folk art, antiques, furniture, lighting, imported gifts, Southwestern prints and more. This is a good spot to find quality imports at affordable prices. Explore shopping for retablos, woodcarvings, crosses, saints, icons, mandalas, dream catchers and more. Primitive, rustic Spanish and Southwestern furniture is featured in a variety of materials, including wrought iron, wood and glass. Lakeline Mall 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 257 7467 / +1 512 257 8500 Located at the intersection of US Highway 183 and Route 620 in Cedar Park, Lakeline Mall is a fair drive from central Austin. This is a very large shopping center features a range of stores from those selling moderately priced goods to expensive products. Bed, Bath & Beyond, Brookstone, Dillard's, Finish Line, Hollister, Sears, Perfumania, Express, Victoria's Secret, Men's Warehouse, The Disney Store, The Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch are some of the many stores located here. Patrons can enjoy delicious meals at the aesthetically designed food court. Amelia's Retro-Vogue and Relics 2213 South 1st Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 4446 It is obvious Amelia's Retro-Vogue and Relics is unique from one glance at its globe sign at the entrance. Inside, are vintage treasures galore, with clothing ranging from the mid-19th Century to mid-20th Century. The most recent clothing era stocked is from the 1960s. No disco nightmares here. Amelia's one of the few stores in town to stock vintage children's wear, in addition to their men's and women's clothing. Collectibles, jewelry and accessories are stocked here as well. This is the caliber of a shop you would expect to find in New York or LA. Blackmail 1202 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 326 7670 Are you ever accused of wearing too much black clothing? Do you wear it anyway? If you do, Blackmail is your dream store. Every item in the store, from clothing to accessories to collectibles, is black. Dismal as it may sound to some, it really is a novel, upbeat boutique. Clothes are both vintage and new, and range from fun to sophisticated — of course, given that they are black, all of them are stylish. A good selection of unique gift items is also available, ranging from domino frames to jewelry to beaded handbags. Sun Harvest Farms 4006 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 3079 Sun Harvest Markets is owned and operated by Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Sun Harvest first opened their doors in 1979, making them a pioneer in the now-burgeoning health food industry. Sun Harvest carries natural foods with no artificial color, flavor or preservatives. Departments include cruelty-free beauty products, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, meat, frozen food, produce and cheese. Kitchen goods and housewares are also sold here. Sweetish Hill Cafe & Bakery 1120 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1347 Founded in 1975, the concept of Sweetish Hill Bakery is a marriage of the Viennese coffeehouse with the French boulangerie. Located in a bright, airy space with a great patio in the middle of West Sixth Street shops, the bakers produce over 80 fresh items everyday. The selection of breads, created using European techniques, is unrivaled in town. There is also a great selection of pastries, cakes, homemade soups and lunch fare, including 20 sandwiches and 12 green and side salads. This is a great spot to relax over a light bite or grab something quick and delicious to go. InStep Central 815 West 47th Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5110 InStep Central outlet primarily sells Birkenstock's famous comfortable shoes. Wearers soon become addicted to them, as the cork footbed gradually moulds to the shape of your foot for a personalized fit. In addition, the store offers a shoe repair service, alterations, and supplies such as insoles, with personal attention from a helpful staff. Customers will also find a good supply of other quality European brands of shoes, including Clarks, Mephisto and Dansko. Tipler's Lamp Shop 1204 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5007 Offering a plethora of antique hanging fixtures, floor lamps, lampshades and table lamps, this store's knowledgeable staff can help you decide between the latest designs or 1920s French work. The shop will custom-design a lamp from anything you bring in; be creative! If your favorite pieces are broken, drop by for repair and restoration service, as well. Bitch'in Threads/Kimono 1030 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 441 9955 This truly sophisticated secondhand clothing store offers an alternative to the familiar Salvation Army-style chic of most resale shops. Catering to those with a taste for the unique, you will find a collection of vintage Japanese kimonos, koto coats and colorful obi. The store also carries an array of conventional clothing on consignment for the stylish yet cost-conscious. The shop will accept clothes for resale that are in good condition, clean and in season. Flashback Vintage 1906 South 1st Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 6906 Flashback is a retro boutique of quality vintage goods. They have a vast selection of merchandise tucked into this little house in Austin's Bouldin district. Inventory includes both men and women's clothing, kitsch collectibles, furniture and one of the largest collection of vintage footwear in the area. Fashions span the decades from the 1920s to the 1970s, and include T-shirts, casual clothing, evening gowns and tuxes. Prices on some items can be a bit higher than you might expect, but you are sure to find something unusual that pleases. Toy Soldier-Kids Wheels 12308 Ranch Road Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 257 2399 The Toy Soldier-Kids Wheels offers a wide selection of toys from gently used goods to big ticket (and big fun) items like electric cars. This is the only certified merchant in Central Texas for sale and repair of Peg Perego electric rides. These incredible machines come in all types of styles, including a 2000 Beetle, Desert Challenger mini-motorcycle, Santa Fe Train, Tractor and Dragon. There is also a great selection of unique pedal cars, boxed games, appliance centers and playscapes. Gateway Shopping Center 9607 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 338 4755 The Gateway Shopping Center is an outdoor mall serving North Austin. This burgeoning area is experiencing rapid suburban growth and getting some great shopping as a result. There are several other shopping areas in the vicinity including the upscale Arboretum. Shops in or directly adjacent to Gateway include Old Navy, Best Buy, Office Max, The Container Store, Whole Foods, REI, Mezzaluna, Smith and Hawken, Blue Fish, Blockbuster Music, and Travelfest. James Avery Craftsman 12901 North Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 251 8330 Based out of Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country, James Avery Craftsman inscribes simple jewelry pieces with subtle theistic symbols. The pieces are all hand crafted and have a distinct, recognizable look. Items are largely made with silver, but there is a good selection of pewter and gold pieces as well. The jewelry is sold throughout Texas and also in four stores outside of the state. Paper Place 4001 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 6531 Located in the upscale Central Park Shopping Center, Paper Place purveys high-quality writing goods and accessories. They have a vast selection of premium and recycled papers, along with greeting cards, beautiful pens, photo albums, leather goods, gift-wraps and various novelty items perfect for a gift. This unique shop also makes custom invitations for parties, weddings or any occasion deserving of a fine card. This is a delightful store where browsing is a must. Attal Galleries 3310 Red River Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3634 Owned by noted Texas appraiser W.C. Attal, this antique store features rare and valuable items seldom found about town. Its offerings include paintings, antique furniture, Texana books, glassware, coins, jewelry and more. Do not see what you are looking for? Ask and chances are good that they either have it off location or can help you track it down. Happy hunting in this treasure-stocked boutique. T Kennedy 1011 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0545 Located in the trendy Clarksville area, T. Kennedy offers simple, well-made women's clothing crafted from natural fibers. Common fabrics you will find in this easy-styled boutique include linen, flax and cotton knits. Pieces are designed for comfort and tend to be on the casually elegant side, rather than real formal wear. Typical items include leggings, sweaters, long skirts and silk jackets. There is also quite a lovely collection of jewelry to be found. Whole Earth Provision Company 2410 San Antonio Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 1577 Whole Earth Provision Company has all the top-quality items you need for outdoor pursuits. Its stock of brand-name gear includes items for climbing, river exploration, camping, diving, hiking and biking activities. The shoe department carries lines like Birkenstock, Dana and Gramicci. The store also offers a wide selection of trail and nature maps, books, sunglasses, freeze-dried food, key chains, knives, backpacks and tents. Bicycle Sport Shop 517 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 3472 This shop offers great service, repairs, information, and bikes. Reasonable rental rates let you take advantage of the many beautiful parks and trails nearby. The store carries mountain, hybrid, road, and specialized bicycles for adults and kids from big names like Trek, Voodoo, Santa Cruz and GT BMX. Stop in to learn and shop! Eclectic Eyewear 2510 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 4498 Eclectic Eyewear offers both the service of certified opticians and a collection of the funkiest glasses around. If you are looking for traditional frames, this probably is not the store for you. If you are in search of something a bit more unusual, come on in. These styles are fabulous! Glasses come in all shapes, colors and sizes, even triangular and rectangular. Designers include Calvin Klein, Armani, Silhouette, Guess, Elite and L'Exotica. Flower Bucket (The) 3100 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 6692 The Flower Bucket is an unusual spot, selling both flowers and South American art under the same roof. Alongside roses, mums and other traditional floral offerings, you will find a good selection of folk art from Mexico and Guatemala, terra cotta pots, collectibles, vases and other gift items. It really is quite an interesting place to explore. The staff members make lovely arrangements, and local delivery is available. Bazaar (The) 1605 E Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 448 0736 In business since 1966, this one-of-a-kind shop stocks hip, everyday clothing, along with more daring items and costume accessories. The selection of lingerie ranges from retro-inspired feminine pieces like garter belts and teddies to edgier leather and vinyl intimates. Other merchandise includes Mary Jane-style shoes, Greek sandals, lots of costume jewelry and mix-and-match swimsuit separates. There are even some items for men, such as silk boxer shorts and swim trunks. Long known for its supply of outrageous makeup and wigs, it now has a full-scale costume shop next door. Walton's Florist and Nursery 5604 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1206 For over 30 years, this locally owned florist has been providing beautiful flowers and plants to the Austin area. This is the community of West Lake Hills' only full-service florist and nursery. In addition to beautifully arranged delivery bouquets, it also carries bed plants, shrubs, exotic and tropical flowers—and a staff that is truly helpful with care suggestions. Lovely gourmet fruit baskets and balloons are also available for purchase. Karavel Shoes 5525 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 8095 More than 60 years in the business, Karavel Shoes has the know-how to keep your feet healthy and comfortable. Corrective and comfort footwear are the specialties here, though you will also find athletic and dress shoes. Dozens of quality brands for men, women, and children are available, including Mephisto, New Balance, Clarks, Klogs and Birkenstock. Hard to find sizes and widths are also accommodated, and foot care products such as custom inserts, cushions and shoe modifications make for the perfect fit. Crystal Works 908A West 12th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5597 Crystal Works features a broad spectrum of crystals and minerals, loose or in various artistic settings. This dazzling shop carries a range of ethereal New Age products, including tabletop fountains, jewelry set with semi-precious stones and crystal window ornaments. There is a great selection of stone and polished amber fossils. A collection of Feng Shui books and literature details where to best place items like these calming decorative pieces in your home. The staff is friendly and very helpful. First time visitors receive complimentary lavender. Pro Tape and Communications Supply 313 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 3911 Did you run out of film in the middle of a shoot and its 3am? Available by 24-hour digital pager, Pro Tape and Communications Supply are major supplier of film, magnetic tape and production supplies for Austin's music and film professionals can come to your rescue. The shop carries a large inventory of brands including Eastman Kodak, TDK, Maxell, Fuji, JVC, Sony, BASF, Apogee, Denon and Quantegy. In addition to film and tape, you will find editing systems, lighting equipment, lamps, adapters, cables and more. Austin Guitar School 5401 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 2880 A certain unwritten city ordinance says, when in Austin, you must play guitar. If you need help getting started, head to this guitar school for the best local instruction. The instructional staff includes seventeen experienced guitarists, most formally trained, who teach all styles of picking, from classical and Latin to folk and pop. Also learn fingering style, sight-reading and improvisation. Group instruction in beginning blues and beginning bass is available through the University of Texas. Tom's Dive & Swim Shop 5909 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 3425 Tom's Dive & Swim is one of the oldest dive shops in town, established in 1982 and serving Austin for over 25 years. It offers local diving trips and excursions to the coral reefs of the Cayman Islands and Honduras. The professional instruction team offers a variety of classes for all skill levels and the store is filled with ski equipment, scuba gear, rental equipment and a repair center. There are class schedules to fit your time frame. Check the website for further information. Sandals And Such 621 West Seventh Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 0997 Not only will you find a good selection of sandals at Sandals and Such, but also a variety of sunglasses, shoes and hats. Men's shoes are offered in a variety of styles; check out men's clogs, rope sandals, casual slip-ons, good-looking flip-flops, plus shoes for golfing and water activities. Women will find the same options including the golf shoes. Sports shoes are also sold. You will find Simple, Vans, Sketchers and more. Sandal brands include Teva, Haflinger, Dr. Martens, Azaleia, Sensi, Seychelles, Ecco, Merrell, Reef and La Plume. Ceramics Bayou 3620 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 328 1168 Ceramics Bayou offers pre-made ceramic pieces for you to choose from for painting fun. Coffee mugs, bowls, tiles and more intricate items are available for you and your child to glaze. The shop will fire your pieces for you and they will be ready for pick up in just a few days. Funkytonk Farmers Market 6701 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 879 8565 Local farmers offer all types of produce fresh from the Hill Country during the year; choose from homegrown tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon, strawberries, pecans and even pumpkins at Halloween. Open every Saturday from 9a onwards, the Funkytonk Farmers Market is also where you will find some of the most popular baked products in the neighborhood. There are live music events happening every week, a respite after you're weary shopping expedition. Old Bakery & Emporium 1006 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5961 This 1876 building was originally the Lundberg Bakery. Its confections have served many a famous visitor, including Ma Ferguson and Teddy Roosevelt. O. Henry was even known to have lunch at this bakery while working at the Old General Land Office building. Listed with the National Register of Historic Places, the bakery occupied the building until 1936. Today, it has been restored and is staffed by volunteers as a gift shop, confectionery and hospitality desk to welcome visitors to Austin. Tesoros Trading Company 1500 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 7500 If you are looking for imports, Tesoros is the place to go. With unique items from Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Nepal and Vietnam, you're bound to find the perfect accent piece for your home or office. Owner Jonathan Williams personally travels far and wide selecting the items for import. The store is located on historic Congress Avenue and carries wonderful folk arts and crafts as well as a number of one-of-a-kind artworks. There is also an online retail catalog available on their website. South Congress Avenue South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 Cross the river from downtown and enter the wonderful South Congress Avenue District. Browse through its many shops and check out eateries that tantalize the taste buds and the pocketbooks. Check out Uncommon Objects, a wonderful import and knick knack shop, or The Armadillo Market, which carries everything Texas. For the famished shopper, there are more than enough options: Tex-Mex at Guerro's or the eclectic Magnolia Café are all favorites with the locals. After a cup of coffee or lunch, you should browse the retro resale shops along the avenue. Jay Stevens Apparel for Big or Tall Men 6001 Airport Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 9656 This locally owned store has kept big and tall Austin men fashionably dressed for over ten years. There is a full line of clothing in various styles, from Tommy Hilfiger shirts to Levi's to Dockers and Sansabelt slacks. Pant sizes generally begin at 34" waist and 34" inseam and they're priced in a range from around $40 to around $80. Shirts, in sizes from 17" neck and 34" sleeve to 22" neck and 37" sleeve. Personalized fitting and dressing service is offered at Jay Stevens Apparel for Big or Tall Men for those who need it. Turn of the Century Antiques 1703 Cuernavaca Drive Austin, TX 78733 United States - Phone: +1 512 263 5460 If you are looking for status furniture for your home or office, this small shop is worth checking out. Professionally-restored American Turn-of-the-Century (1850-1910) wooden (oak, walnut, mahogany) furniture is on display beside restorations-in-progress. You will find at Turn of the Century Antiques formal conference tables, swivel chairs, glass cabinets and more. The owner has years of restoration experience and on display are distinct pieces at moderate prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand. Austin Antique Mall 8822 McCann Drive Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 5900 There are over one-hundred vendors here offering a variety of goods, including antique furniture, with many pieces being more than a century old. Additionally, scores of collectibles, like 1970s lunch boxes and Roseville pottery, fine china and glassware and colorful Czechoslovakian art glass all reside at the Austin Antique Mall. You never know what the vendors will bring here from week-to-week! Antique Mall of Texas 1601 South IH 35 Round Rock, TX 78664 United States - Phone: +1 512 218 4290 Antique Mall of Texas has over 250 dealers display a fine collection of antique and collectible odds-and-ends and high-tickets items in this 60,000 square foot antique mall. You may find elegant dining room sets, Heisey stemware, vintage 1970s clothing, sofas, lamps, end tables and lunch boxes. Prices range from $2 to $30,000. The mall's restaurant, called the Tea Room, provides an ideal resting place between vendors where you will find a selection of soups, sandwiches and desserts. Durham Trading and Design Company 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 7424 Durham Trading and Design Company's 10,000 square feet of space holds a quirky yet elegant combination of leather furniture, antler chandeliers, English country furniture, antique European armoires and chests of drawers, plus locally-crafted wooden tables, benches and rocking chairs. This expansive space holds a diverse array of beautiful and comfortable items, combining to form a common theme that is definitely American. Do not miss the wooden canoes hanging from the ceiling. Halbert Antiques 5453 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 8037 Halbert Antiques displays antique furniture and accessories, some dating from the 17th century, but most often from the 18th century through the 1950s. You will find spoon-back Queen Ann/Chippendale Transitional hand carved wooden chairs with upholstered seats and a Celtic look. A four-foot Victorian cast-iron fountain with waterlily and frog details is only one of several pieces in a 5,000 square foot courtyard, full of not only fountains but also statues and architectural pieces, including nineteenth-century limestone capital pieces believed to be from the old La Grange, Texas courthouse. An international selection of antique armoires and cabinets are also available. Fortney's Antiques 1116 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 6505 Inside Fortney's Antiques you will discover antique armoires, servers and other traditional furniture pieces in both iron and wood from all over the world, including France, Egypt, Italy, England and America. This shop's specialty, however, is antique dry bars, of which there tend to be at least three or four on display. The bars range from the traditional to the quirky, including a converted carved wood King George phone booth with glass panels. There is 6,000 square feet of display space on two floors. Prices are reasonable. Keepers... Exceptional Men's Clothing 515 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2512 Whether you are looking for the finest tailored suits or casual Friday power clothes, you cannot go wrong in Keepers... Exceptional Men's Clothing. Ermenegildo Zegna's classic Italian fabrics, Jhane Barnes' California sensibility and New York designers Ike Behar, Tallia and Zanella fill the racks. Crisp, well crafted fitted shirts (including tuxedo shirts), sharp suits, sports coats, vests and topcoats. Slick shoes from Bruno Magli and Cole Haan are also available. The prices are upscale. Negrel Antiques 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1616 An 18th-century Louis XIV blonde walnut armoire at this shop is typical of the several other architecturally powerful pieces you will find here. The timeless pieces of furniture, in size and spirit, somehow seem just right for Texas. Prices for each of these distinct beauties can go as high as several thousand dollars. This Texas antique dealer understands the French-Connection when it comes to furniture. As the 18th-century French armoires and bookcases here testify, the civilized people of that country have for centuries appreciated the importance of tasteful furnishings in enhancing the beauty of interiors. Antique Swan (The) 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 3956 This dealer has an eclectic collection of English antiques, from fine china in glass cabinets to a hodgepodge of Old Britannia. For example, you may see an assortment of lawn balls, a 19th-century pond yacht and a British Grenadier Guard of Honor uniform complete with bear skin hat. You are sure to find inspiration at The Antique Swan on just what to add to your collection or how to start one. Note how lighting adds to the character of each piece. The prices are moderate. Whole Foods Market 525 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 1206 Whole Foods began in the early 1980s in a small flood-prone site farther north on Lamar. Whole Foods Market has since expanded to cities across the United States and into its current limestone home thanks to its healthy success. Of course, the store carries tempeh, tofu, miso and a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables, but customers will also find organic wines, natural beef and free-range chicken. The quick carryout deli offers a variety of worldly foods including Greek dolmas, grilled eggplant, Mexican empanadas and chicken salad. Shoppers will find much more than just food; also offered is a full line of organic cosmetics, skin and hair care products, essential oils, fresh flowers, jewelry, hemp clothing, a good selection of books and magazines and many home accessories. Waterloo Records & Video 600 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 2500 For over 20 years, Waterloo Records has been one of Austin's favorite record stores. Why? The selection of music is unbeatable. Shoppers will find every genre of music here, including current popular favorites and many Texas artists. Waterloo has supported the local music community for years, allowing bands a place to sell their handmade tapes, vinyl and CDs. The store is also famous for its large selection of imports and world music. If you are looking for music that is a little off the beaten path, this is a good place to start. If you are not sure what you are looking for, grab a set of headphones at one of the listening stations and sample anything your heart desires. The shop also carries a great selection of music-related books, magazines, posters and T-shirts. You will also find an excellent blank tape and CDR selection with pro-recording tapes available. Ace Custom Tailors 916 West 12th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 9965 When you need garments to fit your exact measurements and specifications Ace Custom tailors is the place. The tailors can handle all major and minor alterations for men, women and children, with same-day service on most orders. They can reshape clothing that has become too small, or take in clothing that is too large. They will make what no longer fits—fit again. Need to make sure that favorite business suit or tuxedo still makes the kind of impression it did back when you first wore it? Let the professionals give it a makeover. Check website for other locations. Istanbul to Samarkand 901 West 31st Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 8533 You do not have to be an expert to appreciate this shop's tribal rugs. The owner of Istanbul to Samarkand is a nationally recognized authority on antique rugs; particularly Turkish rugs called Kilims. These Kilims (typically 40 to 150 years old with patterns that are always intricate and often colorful) come in sizes to fit any room. The rich crimsons, earth tones and royal blues are stunning for wooden floors or wall-mounting. Most are priced around the thousand-dollar-range. Central Market 4001 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 206 1000 Central Market is not a supermarket for the indecisive. Among the produce section's 18,000 square feet are over 500 varieties of ultra-fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world: baby-eggplant, arugula, gold medallion onions, maroon carrots;these are the unique ingredients that inspire chefs and make great food. The 75-foot seafood counter, packed with both salt water and fresh water delicacies, often includes up to six sorts of salmon. You want cheese? Be prepared to choose from over 700 varieties. Plus the wine section includes over 3,000 domestic and imported bottles. For the time-starved or kitchen-phobic, there's also a stunning array of fully-prepared dishes (starters, main courses and desserts). Cedar Street Courtyard 208 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 9669 This is an intimate outdoor venue with a pleasant courtyard feel. Live jazz music is played nightly to a sophisticated crowd. The martinis are a definite must, and there is also an excellent cigar selection to choose from inside. This is a great place to sit under the oak trees and enjoy the breeze while watching some of Austin's best dancers dance up front. Better yet, why not join in? Speakeasy 412D Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 8017 This multi-level club is situated in the Warehouse district of Austin. After entering through the alleyway behind Congress Avenue, listen to various live swing bands. Swing lessons are taught on Tuesdays at 7:30p. The elegant wood panels and top-shelf bar attract a sophisticated crowd. Upstairs patrons enjoy a pleasant garden atmosphere on the roof with an excellent view of downtown Austin and the Colorado River. Donn's Depot 1600 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0336 Come enjoy country western music in a railroad relic. This venue, although slightly outside of downtown, provides an excellent opportunity to dance and watch older country western pros strut their stuff. The old Texas feel and the relaxing atmosphere make a great team with cold beer and great music. Broken Spoke 3201 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 6189 Broken Spoke is a western honky-tonk that was established in 1964 and rapidly became an Austin favorite for country-western dancing. The “Spoke” is true country in a real dance hall with a real wood-plank floor. Watch cowboys and locals two-step the night away to live bands from around Texas. This dance hall provides an excellent atmosphere for those just learning to two-step or die-hard country fans driving in from the ranch for the weekend. Practice the Polka, Texas Two-Step or the Chicken, and be sure to try the Cotton-Eyed Joe. There is also a restaurant that serves traditional country food like chicken fried steak. Continental Club 1315 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 441 2444 This venue, south of the river, is a throwback to the 1950s. Roots rock and country reign supreme in this bar, where one can often find men in leather jackets and classic Cadillacs out front. With live music nightly, tributes to Elvis, and celebrations of Hank William's birthday, this place is great for dancing, drinking and kicking back on the high stools. Happy hours feature some of Austin's favorite songwriters. The venue has broadened its range of live music to include occasional indie rock. Hole in the Wall 2538 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 4747 With its little stage having played host to some big names over the decades, Hole in the Wall has long been regarded as one of the city's most storied venues. Today, it mostly serves as a launching pad for local up-and-comers ranging in size and genre from 9-piece bluegrass bands to individual singer-songwriters. And although the nature of the crowd itself is subject to similarly sudden shifts (this often being a function of the performing schedule), the bar's proximity to UT brings in a steady flow of students and associated youngsters, most of whom come in for pitchers of Shiner and Lone Star. Iron Cactus 606 Trinity Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 9240 This three-story bar is home to one of Austin's best margaritas. Relax on the rooftop bar and watch the crowd meander up Sixth Street, or sit downstairs as the crowds bustle past the huge windows. Patrons enjoy live music at night and during the day, the full-service Southwestern restaurant provides a convenient range from late lunch to happy hour, or dinner to dancing. Maggie Mae's 323 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 8541 This bar provides multi-level entertainment. The ground floor offers live cover-band music; passers-by can look in and see people dancing to the hits. If dancing is not your thing, sneak next door for a beer in the adjoining beer hall, or head upstairs to the more-than-ample patio overlooking the Sixth street crowd. Maggie's is famous in Austin for their motto T-shirt: "Beer. It's not just for breakfast anymore." Soho Lounge 217 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1916 One of the classiest bars on Sixth Street, this long, narrow bar lets you sit and gaze at passers-by or fellow patrons. The lighting is extremely attractive, generating a genuine New York feel. You will enjoy sitting in one of the high-arched cushioned booths and catching glances of fellow patrons from the mirrored walls. The bar has an excellent music selection. If it is not too busy, play a round of pool or head upstairs to the dance floor. Flamingo Cantina 515 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 494 9336 This club on Sixth Street is all about music. The Cantina has been providing Austin with original, diverse music for years. Depending on when you stop by, you will hear everything from reggae to rock, ska to dub, and punk to metal. This is a great place to encounter local people and hear their great local music, although occasionally it can get a little hot. Plenty of beer is offered to cool you off. Lavaca Street Bar 405 Lavaca Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 469 0106 Located in the Warehouse District, this bar offers a game of blackjack or pool while you enjoy your drinks or, if those are not your games, mosey on over and play a relaxed game of shuffle board. If you can, grab a table by the windows, they offer some of the best views in the house and a great perch from which people-watch. Happy hour is observed from 4p to 7p, Monday through Friday. Lucky Lounge 209 A West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7700 This is a New York-style lounge bar with loud music and a hot singles crowd. The raised platform at the bar lets you survey the crowd while staying out of the mix. The music is played from a jukebox by the patrons, but on certain days you will catch a DJ spinning, too. If you decide to stay late, the bar turns itself into a dance hall. This place opens daily at 8p. Cactus Cafe & Bar (The) 2247 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6515 Located on the UT campus, this small dark cavern is a singer/songwriter paradise. The venue attracts local artists as well as nationally recognized ones. Acoustic combos also play here. The Cafe is rather small, so the acoustics are great and the audience is filled with both devoted music fans and the university crowd. It can be difficult to find; call ahead for walking directions on campus. Parish (The) 214 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 0474 This is an intimate venue for those with sophisticated taste. From jazz to house, from acid rock to rap, from shoegaze to dub, the Parish Room runs the musical gamut. Touring acts such as Smog, Guided By Voices, Autechre and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have graced the stage here. Texas artists Sub Oslo, Lift To Experience, Explosions in the Sky, the Swells and more have also played here. This is the ultimate haven for music lovers and party animals. Babe's / Babe's Stageside 208 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2262 Two clubs for the price of one, this place has a great selection of tasty hamburgers and other food items for a reasonable price, as well as a decent selection of beers and other drinks. The main performance area, the Stageside, is home to a number of artists-in-residence as well as visiting acts who can be seen and heard on a stage that once housed loud metal bands but is now home to a wider variety of performing styles, both locals and visitors. Established in 1990, the place has become a major player in the competitive Sixth Street live music scene. Encore 611 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 782 8439 Want to hear some new rock bands bang their heads and strum their guitars with all their force and power? Then head to Encore in Austin. This club specializes only in rock music, whether it is live or played by a DJ. You will probably hear old favorites by legends such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, or may discover sounds of some new talents on the rock scene. Anyone not sure of entering a rock club, given the unnecessary notoriety surrounding rock clubs, will be genuinely pleased with the smooth service and soft manners of the service staff. And of course, the equipment is incredible enough to ensure a memorable performance. Check the website for more information. Star Bar 600 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8550 Star Bar is located just west of the madness and parking nightmare of the official Sixth Street Entertainment District, and offers an upscale bar with a casual atmosphere. With its leather banquettes, cozy interior and dim lighting, it is the perfect spot for after-dinner drinks or for rubbing elbows with Austin's chic set. The street-side patio has a European flair, while the back patio provides a more intimate environment. Red Eyed Fly 715 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 1084 The Red Eyed Fly is among the ultra cool strand of nightclubs lining Red River just north of Sixth Street. It books largely Texas punk, rock and pop bands but also features national touring acts. If the live music gets too loud outside on the patio, step back inside the cozy, dimly lit interior where local bands are rotated on the jukebox. The club surrounds itself with a good-sized indie rock scene. Desperado's 9515 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 834 2640 Not all of the finer dance spots are located on or near Sixth Street. This Tejano-style nightclub features a cavernous dance floor and longneck beers on most nights and reasonably priced margaritas, to lubricate a good mood before and after the workout you will get amongst the dancers. The bucking bronco on the logo outside pretty much tells you what to expect. Leave your tuxedo at home, dress casually and show up expecting to have a laid-back good time. Ringside at Sullivan's 300 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 6504 Located next door to the fabulous steak house Sullivan's, this high-class jazz club has all the fixin's for a fabulous evening. Live music and a full service bar are only the beginning of the amenities offered at this establishment. This place is where one goes to see and be seen. Prices reflect the pocketbooks that walk through the door. Part of the draw is the ambiance, the other is the selection. The wines from around the world and scotch that can only be found in Scotland are favorites of the regulars. Austin Music Hall 208 Nueces Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 377 1120 / +1 512 298 1777 As one of Austin's favorite live music venues, this club holds around 3000 people. If that sounds like it is too large to get the intimate feel of a band, think again. The bar downstairs helps make the wait for a seat a little more relaxing and the VIP room upstairs is perfect for a great view of the stage. Everyone from Lenny Kravitz to Eric Clapton has performed on this stage. If you are looking for a location for a corporate event or fund-raiser, they do offer their facilities for private parties. Library Bar (The) 407 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0662 This Sixth Street bar makes libraries fun again by having a new take on the traditional library. Here it's all about making it loud, making it rowdy and making it fun. The crowd mostly consists of college kids, but mature personalities sometimes appreciate the ironic juxtaposition of decorator books and, on the second floor, pool and air hockey tables. The DJ starts the evening with Top-40 and progresses into dance music. This bar is especially popular on Friday and Saturday nights when Sixth Street is limited to foot traffic. Tree House Italian Grille 2201 College Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 4200 Sometimes the weather just calls out to be enjoyed and when that happens make the most of it by heading to the Tree House Italian Grille, where you can sit on the pretty patio, and enjoy a meal. The grille serves Italian-American food and offers up delights like the veal cannelloni, which is homemade. Adding to the charm of this restaurant are the live music nights on Fridays and Saturdays. So, go ahead book a table and take someone special because you won't feel like leaving for a long time. Hill's Cafe 4700 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 851 9300 This cafe is one of the hottest spots to mingle, at Austin. The Hills are alive with the sound of music, food and attentive service. Dig into the succulent sizzler's, salads, soups, barbecues; the wine list is endless and the menu includes both lunch and dinner. Located very conveniently near the Austin Bergstrum International Airport, climb those hills, it's worth it. Karma Lounge 119 West 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 469 0504 Karma Lounge is one of the most happening hangouts in Austin. With room names like the shag room and the candle room, bedecked in sensuous tones and candles, it is a nightclub to lose one's self and one's inhibitions. There is something happening here everyday of the week; a live DJ event or the bustling Wednesday nights, which are dedicated to women. One of the main attractions at this lounge is the human aquarium, see it to believe it! Green Mesquite BBQ & More 1400 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 0485 A cheap and satisfying eatery for barbecue lovers and non lovers, Green Mesquite offers it all; from lean and tender pork ribs, ‘po' boys' to vegetable burgers. Sip on a chilled beer while you dig into your Chicken Fried Steak in the cheery outdoor courtyard or roll up your sleeves for the all-you-can-eat special. They also offer Low Carb Plates for the health conscious and reasonable Kid's Plates served with fries. Live music, succulent barbecue, beer and bright sunlight; this is a little piece of Texan barbecue paradise. Lamberts 401 West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 494 1500 Lamberts, located just within the entertaining Warehouse District, has a highly energetic atmosphere with a unique Texas cuisine made up of barbeque, steak and seafood. When finished with any one of their highly recommended dishes, you can enjoy live music playing on their second floor nearly every night of the week. They are open for lunch which has become a popular spot for business patrons and as dinner is a well sought after experience, reservations are recommended. For those who wish to take advantage of the Austin weather, Lamberts also offers an outside patio. Dry Creek Saloon 4812 Mount Bonnell Road Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 9244 The Dry Creek Saloon is one of Austin's older and less well-known watering holes. It is a beer-only bar and they don't take credit cards so remember to stop at an ATM before you arrive. Upstairs on the deck, patrons can catch some afternoon sun while, on occasion, enjoying some live music. While a serious dive bar at first glance, Dry Creek has become a favorite for those looking for a laid back happy-hour experience. Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Lane Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 282 2586 Evangeline's Cafe gets its name from a Longfellow poem and you're forgiven if you're surprised. True, the stuffed animals and neon beer signs don't say Longfellow but diners don't come here expecting a romantic setting for two either. It's for the food and the live music. The kitchen at Evangeline's holds its own in the cajun and creole department, the signature dishes being the gumbo and the crawfish, both with ample meat and cheese. The cafe features new acts every night and the dancing is sure to help you burn some calories. Ignore the no frills impression that you get when you first walk into Evangeline's Cafe and you're guaranteed to have a good time. Easy Tiger 709 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 614 4972 Easy Tiger was formerly Habana Calle 6, a delicious and authentic Cuban bar and restaurant. However, it has since transformed into Easy Tiger, which has equally delicious baked European goods available in the front of the bar. In the back, visitors will have a wide variety of drinks to choose from, including specialty beers and cocktails. Special events and performances are also available at this venue. Whiskey Bar 303 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 481 8599 Within the downtown drinking dichotomy of upscale sleek versus casually informal, Whiskey Bar makes its scene in the middle of the road, striking a happy medium between the two schools of thought by way of an interior that's darkly handsome and an atmosphere that's refreshingly easygoing. On Thursday evenings, such easygoingness descends into happy anarchy when the sudden availability of dollar wells brings in hordes of youngish, post-collegiate types, (including customers from the adjacent nightclubs who pop in for a cheap drink before returning), with customers slowly migrating into the back area for one of the most terribly retro dance scenes to be found in Austin. Headhunter's Bar 720 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0188 Austin takes its music seriously, and one of the establishments championing rock is Headhunters Bar. Enter and you'll have as many Tiki masks make eye contact with you as people. A premier venue for the heaviest rock bands around, the Headhunters Bar promotes live acts seven days a week, on both their stages (one indoors and one out). It can get a bit chaotic when two bands play simultaneously, but it happens infrequently. There's no cover to enter, except on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. So find your place between the fluorescent heads and head-bang away! Elephant Room 315 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2279 If Austin-area jazz lovers feel ignored, it is justified; the local music scene, multi-faceted as it may be, has always neglected their genre of choice. However, what the region lacks in quantity, the Elephant Room more than makes up for in quality. It has been deemed as one of the finest venues in the country by none other than Wynton Marsalis (and subsequently honored by a unanimous resolution of the Texas Senate for having earned the jazz legend's admiration). The appeal stems largely from the club's unceasing lineup of regional favorites, touring greats, and, once in a while, plain ol' jam sessions consisting of anyone who cares to take the stage. Mean Eyed Cat 1621 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 6326 If city parking is like rain on your downtown drinking parade, look no further than the Mean Eyed Cat on West 5th Street. The one-room, no-cover dive bar has an urban feel, but boasts a parking lot that would put Costco to shame. Built to honor the late great Johnny Cash, the Mean Eyed Cat has a crowded back patio and plenty of man-in-black collectibles. The Mean Eyed stage, featuring live music almost every night of the week, is popular with patrons of all ages. Order a shot at the bar to go down, down, down into a burning ring of fire. Midnight Rodeo Austin 2201 East Ben White Boulevard Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 2623 Midnight Rodeo Austin is one hell of a cool place, pride of the 'cowboys' of Austin. Always packed on a Thursday, the atmosphere is one of a lively and happy place. With people getting it on the beautiful oak dance floor in big cowboy boots and huge belt buckles, waving full mugs and bottles around, there is no dull moment at the Rodeo. Once a sprawling lumber house, the club is now a happening place for concerts, events, regional performances and themed parties. Event and venue space is also available. Parties can also be booked here as well. Red 7 611 East 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 8100 Red 7 has a huge teenage and twenty-something fan base. Mainly a punk, metal, rock and indie based venue, it's also very much a happening nightclub. Everyone is allowed in but to access the bar one has to be at least 21. The venue can also be rented for events, parties and concerts. Oilcan Harry's 211 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8823 Oilcan Harry's is a gay bar which has been in business for many years. The ambiance is very relaxing, with high chairs, comfy couches and more. The staff is one of the best aspects of this night spot. OUT Magazine has named Oilcan Harry's one of the "50 Greatest Gay Bars in the World." They have great music with a huge dance floor, where all the people have fun dancing to the sounds churned by the DJ. Elysium Nightclub 705 Red River Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2979 Elysium Nightclub some of the best music to dance to that you could ask for. Whether it's '80s, goth, Euro dance or underground retro, it's all played to make you move like you've never danced before. One of the best entertainment venues in Austin, this nightclub will rock your world all night. The warehouse building that the club is located in is hundreds of years old, making for a unique atmosphere. Charlie's Night Club & Grill 1301 Lavaca Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 6481 Looking for a decent crowd, awesome music and refreshing drinks? Well, this is the place to drop in. Charlie's Nightclub and Grill is a hip establishment, offering the above wants for many years now. Known for their daily events like Super Sunday Show and more, this gay nightclub is also mainly talked about because of the great crowd that show up daily. Keep yourself updated for special events as well. Saxon Pub 1320 South Lamar Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 448 2552 Saxon Pub, located on South Lamar, has a very intimate setting and possesses a classy atmosphere. Live bands and more make this pub quite a hang-out for the locals. Although there is no food available here, you can always bring your own food or even order for that matter. Sports is broadcast on the multiple screens during the day. Saxon Pub is a great place to unwind with some refreshing beer. A comfy ambiance to say the least. Cheers! Light Bar 408 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 8544 Light Bar, one of Austin's favorite bar and lounge, is known for their bar at the back hidden behind the stage. A double dance floored lounge with great music of this generation offered by the DJ. The variety is enormous at the bar, not to mention the bankable service staff. Light Bar is known as the place to come across beautiful people in Austin. So many things to look forward to, when it comes to this bar. Have fun! Element Nightclub 301 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9888 Element Nightclub may seem like a regular nightclub, but the trendy ambiance and the amazing lighting gives it that boost to stand out from other nightclubs. Cheap drinks to start off with, great crowd—hot girls and hunky guys. The dance floor may get a little stuffy, but that's what you can expect from a decent nightclub. If you want to have fun with a group of friends, this is place is good enough for the same. Shenanigans Nightclub 13233 Pond Springs Road Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 258 9717 Welcome to Shenanigans Nightclub! At this club, there are lots of things to look forward to. Starting with the awesome music that sets the mood to the great food which would keep your energy level high enough to dance and keep up with the music. Live music karaoke is one of the main entertaining factors of this nightclub. That's not it, pool, Golden tee 2003, shuffle board, dart and more. But if you just want to sit and eat and feel at home, you can always make use of the big screen TV's. So much at this one nightclub, and how is it possible that you won't have fun? Peckerheads on Sixth 402 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 547 4161 Peckerheads on Sixth, the name may sound like a regular bar round the corner, but FYI it is definitely more than what one can assume. Drinks being of high quality at reasonable prices is just the beginning of this place. Music which will blow your mind, move your body and make you surrender your soul to the sounds of the DJ. Country, Hip-Hop and Alternative Rock are a few of the genres played at this bar. Occasional live music is another feather to this bar's hat. The ultimate trait of this bar are the bartenders who are great with their service so do remember your manners and tip your hard-working bartender. There are nightly drink specials that can make the night inexpensive. Scoot Inn 1308 East 4th Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 6200 Scoot Inn, one of the oldest bars in Texas, is still going strong till date. And rightly so, as the amount of history that this bar has to offer with its interiors is inevitable. Apart from the classic decor, this beer garden serves beer and other drinks at great prices. Music is the core product of this dive bar, as people move to the sounds of Rock & Pop, Blues, Alternative Rock, Funk and lots more. A jukebox too to add to this musical atmosphere. One of the most visited and the best dive bars in Austin, is the place to go to at least once. Dallas Nite Club 7113 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 1300 Dallas Nite Club, known for their Ladies' Night on every Saturday, is a gem of a nightclub. People go bizarre dancing to the sounds of the DJ at this old establishment. And if you're looking out for good country dance partners, this is the place to be at. Drinks at great prices is one of the reasons why people drop by here so often. If you're interested in finding some younger female crowd and good-looking cowboys, you have to step into this club. Chain Drive 504 Willow Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9017 Chain Drive, a gay bar on 504 Willow Street, is quite a talked-about bar by the locals of Austin. This bar possesses a mildly dark atmosphere with music that is good enough to set the mood of the bar. The bar never runs out of guys, not just because it's a gay bar but also because of the drinks at great prices and the beyond friendly bartenders who are always there to lighten up your mood. Don't forget to wear your cowboy hat! pool tables and the airy patio are great relaxing spots at this bar. Pete's Dueling Piano Bar 421 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 7383 Pete's Dueling Piano Bar is a fine establishment where people have fun singing and dancing along to the music provided by live piano players. The ambiance is quite trendy to say the least. For first-timers, it's quite a joy ride. Ego's 510 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 7091 Music from rock & pop, blues, alternative rock, bluegrass and many more genres play at this underground club. Pool tables, pinball and video games enhance the entertainment factor here. Occasionally, live bands find the time to entertain the crowd as well. It's said that if you haven't been here at least once, you've not seen Austin yet. Shakespeare's Pub 314 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1666 Shakespeare's Pub, a classic establishment dedicated or rather themed on a genius of a writer, Shakespeare. If you see any kind of writing, it has to be in the calligraphy form. From Guitar Hero and Wii to Karaoke nights and Rock bands, it all happens out here. Although the name brings out only the pub aspect, it also possesses a nightclub known as the Ally Ale House and it's entrance is at the back. This is where all hell breaks loose in an exciting way as the people simply dance all night to th e sounds of the DJ. Good beer selection, decent crowd, bankable staff and great tunes, enough to make this a perfect pub & nightclub. Tejano Ranch 7601 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 834 2640 Tejano Ranch, is a nightclub known for its country/tejano type of music. Mainly known for the events on every Friday and Saturday, this club can really make you experience an eventful evening. The club has a slight touch of Texas atmosphere, not to mention the cowboy hats worn by many men out there. Drink at great prices with the DJ doing his bit. Live bands and more to add to this unusual club in Austin. Club Breeze 2113 Wells Branch Parkway Austin, TX 78758 United States - Phone: +1 512 990 4994 Club breeze is a lounge & nightclub, which is a quite a good one to drop by at. It's so, not only because it's a nightclub but also because of its smart lighting and its trendy ambiance. This club has a lot to offer from live music to DJ's sound, from great food to the variety in the drinks selection. It can occupy over 450 people with ease, giving the people nothing to complain about. Aquarium on 6th (The) 403 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 8003 Plenty of fish? Well yes, there are quite a few in the biggest aquarium on 6th street, but it's also mainly referred to the awesome crowd which makes this trendy atmospheric establishment, a place to visit over and over again. If you are looking out for a place with great club music, refreshing drinks or someone hot-looking to buy you a drink, then this is the place to be in. A relaxing ambiance to say the least, this bar has one of the finest staff, mainly the ever so friendly bartenders. To sum it up, this is a must-visit club. Friends Bar 208 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8193 Friends, perhaps it may not be based on the hit TV show "Friends", but it is one of Austin's most fun bars to be at. It's mainly for the young adults, college crowd et al. Moreover, Austin's greatest local rock and blues bands play quite often to get the crowd going. And that's not it, in-house DJ brings in the beat as it only gets better. Special drinks at great prices with a decent staff. So, if you have friends and want to have a great time, get 'em along. Vibe (The) 508 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 0632 The Vibe, is a nightclub located on 6th street which has a lot to offer. Starting off with a trendy ambiance, this club has an in-house bar which has a good variety of drinks and a bankable staff too. Techno music and other genres are perpetually delivered by the DJ. A fun place to dance all night, as its open till early hours in the morning. An advice here would be to go on a weekend as you are bound to just go home and crash on your bed. 311 Club 311 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1630 311 Club, yet another nightclub in the town of Austin. This club has the best R&B music, which will make you enjoy every move you make on the dance floor. Good refreshing drinks at decent prices available at this club. Moreover, the staff is quite good with their service. And the crowd too is quite hep. A fun place to come to along with your friends. Enjoy! One 2 One Bar 121 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 0121 One 2 One Bar, one of Austin's most trendy bars is quite a place to be at. Having a comfy ambiance, this bar has a professional staff, whose service is unquestionable. The variety in the drinks selection is enormous. With live music played very often to set the mood, the bar also has a huge patio on the roof which by the way is dog-friendly. So, one can relax and enjoy one's drink under the blanket of stars. Barcelona 209 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0900 Barcelona is a hip underground nightclub on Austin's 6th Street--it's literally located under the ground. It's dimly lit, giving it a cool, cave-like ambiance. It serves a good range of refreshing drinks at great prices--some of them in pitchers! The staff is friendly, and great music keeps crowds dancing all night. Beerland 711 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7625 Beerland, the name says it all. Beer drinkers are assumed to be interesting people which you will certainly find in Beerland. Beers which are available at great prices is just one good thing about this bar. The staff may not be professional but it's definitely good at their jobs and very friendly. Besides that, occasional live music performed and a rock and roll jukebox which always enlightens the bar environment. Not to mention pool and arcade games for everybody. One good place to drink your beer, for real. The Mohawk 912 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 482 8404 Mohawk is a unique nightclub in Austin. It's aim is to bring independent and upcoming acts — local and otherwise — through its doors. Fostering an inclusive community of artists, Mohawk welcomes musicians from a wide variety of genres and styles. It's hard to stand out in a town so inundated with music clubs as Austin, but with its fresh acts, tasty drinks and friendly crowd vibe, Mohawk shows how it's done. Sam's Town Point 2115 Allred Drive Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 282 0083 Sam's Town Point is quite a casual bar, where you will find a lot of usual aspects which one would find in most bars in Austin. Buffalo wings, beer battered mushrooms and lots more on their menu. And the drinks are available at great prices. Not to mention the live music of many genres from rock to country to blues and so on. A easy-going place to relax and enjoy your drink. Trophy's Bar and Grill 2008 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 0969 Trophy's Bar and Grill may not have been famous back in the day, but after the complete transformation which included a lot of changes like lights, sound and so on has made it a nightclub for real. The sound offered by the DJ is awesome and will certainly blow your mind. Latest music with a touch of techno-fused classics, this club gets the crowd on their feet. The bar has some great specials to offer, not to mention the friendly staff. A trendy club for one an all. Valhalla 710 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States Formerly the home of Room 710, this bar on Red River Street, features weekly theme nights and occasional live music performances. The ambiance is makes it a good place to stop by and have a couple of cold ones. Nasty's 606 Maiden Lane Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 4349 Nasty's may not personify its name but it's surely one awesome bar. It's like a house of happiness where everything possibly could make you smile. The atmosphere here is pretty casual while the ambiance has an evening feel to it thanks to the dim lights but not dark as such. The bartenders and the staff are quite up to the mark, while the drinks are available at reasonable prices. Besides the awesome music provided by the DJ, live music being performed by Austin's local artists. There are pool tables, dart boards and video games to enhance the entertainment factor. And thanks to the above, a good crowd shows up every time. Over all it's quite a decent place to hang out at. Club Carnaval 2237 East Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 6396 Club Carnaval may seem like one of the oldest clubs in the town of Austin, but it isn't as it chooses to look a little old fashioned keeping the late '80s and '90s alive. The classic dance floor speaks for itself, while the people coming in are quite friendly. The bar tender and the staff are pretty good at their jobs and easy to get along with. The music being played by the DJ is quite up to date, and that's the prime reason for this place to do so well. A good place to drop by with your group of friends. Plush 617 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0099 Plush is a hip bar and nightclub open to Austin's fun-loving crowd. The ambiance has a touch of elegance while the staff is friendly yet professional. The club has an amazing sound system that will certainly blow your mind. Even when it's crowded here, there's always room to dance. It's a great place to end a night on the town! Club Fuze 505 Neches Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 767 0134 Club Fuze is a fine establishment which is still not known to many which is surprising as in the club you have so much to look forward to. The interiors of the club is quite electrifying with lights et al. It's a two-leveled club, the upper one overlooking the other. The bartenders here are always so friendly and will recommend you something out of the blue. The dance floor is quite big considering there are two levels, while the music delivered by the DJ is exceptional with different types of music from hip-hop to electronica and so on. There's never a dull moment at this club especially if you've come in with your pals. Warehouse Saloon & Billiards (The) 509 East Ben White Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 8799 Warehouse Saloon & Billiards is not just a bar but an exceptional twenty-four years old sports bar. Exceptional because this one has lot to offer other than just drinks. As you enter, you will realize that the people in there are quite casual, having their drinks, watching the game on to big TV screen and so on. Now there are quite a few things one can do at this bar. If you love darts or even if you want to try it, there exists a dart board, where you can try your luck. Three to four foosball tables to add to the fun. Not to mention the mini-arcade section. And the biggest of 'em all is the room full of pool tables, where people just cant get enough of it. Oh! And how could one forget about the drinks especially when they are available at great prices and the staff good at their service. The bar does have karaoke nights too along with some live music. It's complete sports bar to many. Marq (The) 422 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 5180 The Marq is one brilliant nightclub and bar. It has a dimly lit ambiance which compliments the dark wood around the club quite perfectly. The dance floor is sizable enough to hold a large crowd on most nights. The drinks include specials and exotic cocktails which will surprise you. The bartenders are friendly, giving this place a very unpretentious feel. Highland Lakes Bar 3600 Presidential Boulevard Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 530 2242 Highland Lake Bar, part of ABIA, a bar close to the airport is a good place to drop by especially to kill time in case of flight is delayed or so. A little trendy looking bar where you'll see a lot of tourists talking different languages yet it's unity in diversity out here. The drinks are served at fairly reasonable prices while the music mainly played throughout the year here is live. Comfortable seatings, good enough to enjoy a drink or two. Lefty's Bar & Grille 3600 Presidential Boulevard Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 530 2242 Lefty's Bar & Grille may sound like a regular bar but it's not mainly because it's located at the airport. Secondly, the ambiance here is quite trendy while the staff is professional to the core. The drinks and the bar food are equally good, which are priced very reasonably. This is one of those bars where, one would find many tourists, many of 'em not speaking your language, which makes this bar all the more interesting. Not to mention the live music played here by talented local artists, almost throughout the year. Boomerz 6148 West Highway 290 Austin, TX 78735 United States - Phone: +1 512 892 3373 Boomerz is one of the most casual nightclub and bar one could ever be at. The interiors of this fine establishment are quite welcoming. A place where you will encounter a mixed aged friendly crowd over 21 years of age of course, and the staff here too are bankable and attentive. The music here is quite electrifying while the lighting fixtures are smartly placed. The dance floor is fairly big. This slightly dim lit bar also has karaoke nights and live music. It's also a sports bar having around eight pool tables, televisions mainly displaying sports channels, arcade tables and so on. There's lots in store for you at this bar. Cheatham Street Warehouse 119 Cheatham Street San Marcos, TX 78666 United States - Phone: +1 512 353 3777 Cheatham Street Warehouse is not an unusual bar but still there's lot you can look forward to. A laid-back attitude is personified by the body-language of the people, but yet after a while it's a loud and a lively environment. The seating arrangements are mainly pointing towards the small stage, where many talented singers and musician from the local are do their bit live, entertaining the people and interacting with them as well. The drinks are available in plenty, not expensive at all, while the service here is fairly good. It's great place to have a drink or two. Dirty Dog Bar 505 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 9800 / +1 512 774 4695 Dirty Dog Bar may obviously sound like an absurd place to go at. But what may take you by surprise is that it's a complete sports bar with live music. The ambiance spells out shades of jazzy lights quite apt for this fine establishment. The bar has a good range of alcohol to select from. Needless to say that the bartenders are genuinely friendly and attentive. It's a good thing that this bar is a big one, and why not? After all, it has three 8 foot screens and a number of televisions smartly placed all over the bar playing mainly extreme sports, football and UT games as well. Billiards, shuffleboard and air hockey to add to the fun. And for all XBOX maniacs, there's one with the most famous games. There's one special aspect of this bar - Dirty photo booth, where one can click pictures of their wildest poses or subtle ones. On weekends, parties are held which are nothing less than wild. This extreme sports themed bar will ensure that you have your share of fun. Nomad Bar 1213 Corona Drive Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 628 4288 Nomad Bar is quite an undertaking not too far from Downtown. This place has a trendy atmosphere buzzing around, while the people come here just to have a great time. Most come here after work, while for the rest, it's a regular fun outing. The chairs and tables are over-sized and comfy too. Not to mention the outdoor patio, where the weather feels just right. A potential romantic spot as well. But, this glistening bar is mainly better of for friend circles. It has a great range of premium drinks to select from, while the bartenders are professional thus bankable. The food served here is really delicious. One must try the hummus plate, which you may be surprised by its taste and texture. Occasional live music is just one the best aspects of this bar. A favorite spot for many. This place opens at 5pm. BB Rover's Cafe & Pub 12101 Jollyville Road Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 335 9504 BB Rover's Cafe & Pub is a wonderful place to be at, anytime. It's not just because of the timings, but also the atmosphere that is ever so friendly and relaxed. With a fine decor, this place possesses comfy seats and fairly big tables. Now the menu has a lot on it to choose from. With lip-smacking appetizers, soup of the day and lunch specials are served too. Half-pound burgers and refreshing beverages, if you're up only for a small meal. Besides that, one can choose from almost 300 beers and ales. This bar also has a dog-friendly patio. Another USP is the wireless internet available, for free. Live music to set the mood, at this bar. Club Tangerine 9721 Arboretum Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 343 2626 Club Tangerine, located in the exotic Renaissance Austin Hotel is also known as the Club Renaissance. The wonderful dance floor at the club makes it one of the hottest hang out destinations in Austin. This club is a perfect place for social networking in a chilled out atmosphere. Six Lounge 117 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 6662 Head to Six Lounge for a memorable night out with friends. Sip on exotic cocktails as you lounge around at the brightly illuminated bar area, also called the tap room, and tap your feet to dazzling music. Special events, DJ nights and live acts take the cake. If you want a little privacy and quiet, head to the Mezzanine upstairs and munch on appetizing delights as you survey the vibrant scene downstairs. The regulars swear by their selection of fabulous music, delicious snacks and friendly staff. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 3335 Latitude 30 is all about letting your hair down and swaying to good music. Sip on an exotic drinks as you jive to live music performances or catch some action on the TV screens. Special events and DJs rock your world with their selection of impressive music. Head to the comfortable VIP area if you seek a breather from all that action. You can also hire the space for organizing your private events and parties. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. Emo's 2015 East Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 505 9999 / +1 512 693 3667 A hip concert venue, Emo's is home to regular shows and live music events. Located at East Riverside Drive in East Austin, it draws huge crowd during major events and shows. While showcasing a range of contemporary music concerts, it also rents out its facility for private events like parties and receptions. To see their upcoming schedule, please visit website or call ahead. Antone's 2015 East Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8424 / +1 512 800 4628 This renowned blues hall showcases a variety of music in the genres of blues and rock. Bands from home and afar play here in hopes of gaining national attention. Stevie Ray Vaughan used to be a regular and Willie Nelson sometimes makes a cameo appearance. This live music venue provides an upbeat atmosphere for all ages and lifestyles. Dance up front to the band or relax in the back with a cold long neck beer. Graham Central Station 1719 Grand Avenue Parkway Austin, TX 78660 United States - Phone: +1 512 252 0664 Graham Central Station is one of Austin's hottest clubs, featuring one spectacular hotspot with six clubs inside. There are special events throughout the week, including theme parties, dancing, live music and DJs, karaoke and more. Club 1808 1808 East 12th Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 524 2519 Club 1808 has firmly made its mark in the live music scene in Austin after having successfully attracted the finest musicians over the years. Independent and unsigned bands are greatly patronized by this club which has done ts best to promote raw talent. Beer flows all the way each night, while the pool table constantly sees its share of regulars. Tuesdays and Wednesdays beckon with the special promotions available on a range of drinks. Copa Bar & Grill 217 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 5002 A bar, a dance club and a restaurant all rolled into one, Copa & Bar Grill is the best thing to happen to downtown Austin. Offering an appetizing Tex-Mex menu, one can indulge in hearty portions of marinated chicken fajitas, grilled fish tacos served with salad and vegetable rice, or grilled chicken breast served with mushrooms and onions. Wash this down with some chilled cranberry juice or imported beer. By night, the place is entirely transformed with the red lighting casting shadows on the salsa dancers who can master this dance with skilled in-house instructors. Happy hours ensure that everyone stays happy at Copa's! Barbarella 615 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 7766 Barbarella is Austin's premiere dance club. Come here on any given night and you might hear your favorites from the 1980s as well as retro, soul, electro and indie music. People come here to enjoy a bit of nostalgia, or simply to dance. The club is also a venue for a number of shows and bands; it's part of the SXSW (South by Southwest) festival. So, for a fantastic time in Austin, hop over to Barbarella. Independent (The) Brushy Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 485 3001 The Independent at 501 studios, fondly called ND, is a hot and happening music space that offers you a splendid array of nightly entertainment that is sure to keep you coming back for more! An impressive line up of upcoming music sensations, coupled with dark, mysterious interiors draws a huge, music loving crowd. Groove to your favorite tunes or sip on a drink as you hang out with friends and take in the buzz of the night. Theme nights, music festivals, concerts, live performances, impromptu acts and poetry slams among other things spruce up the atmosphere and jazz up the nights. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. Phoenix (The) 409 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 8882 A surreal and mystical space that charms with its eclectic interiors and warm welcoming lighting, The Phoenix is a nightclub that provides a fusion of beautiful people and entertainment. The evenings are revved up with special theme nights that provide an invigorating vivacity. Feeling blue and looking for a night out that allows you to let loose and spell relaxation, then this is the place that permits you just that. For further information, log on to their website or call on the numbers mentioned. Republic Live 301 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9888 Defining the dance scene in Austin, Republic Live is where Fridays and Saturdays see famed DJs spin up a storm, much to the delight of patrons. A VIP room upstairs works for those who prefer a private space to catch up on some conversation and enjoy aerial views of the dance floor. The drinks are fairly priced and bartenders do a good job with mixing cocktails. All in all, Republic Live has much going for it and is well worth a visit. Call for details on events. North Door (The) 501 North I-35 Frontage Road Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 485 3001 Austin's multi-faceted venue in 501 Studios on the city's East Side features live music, burlesque shows, lectures, literature, art, film screenings and more. The venue is equipped with an acoustically splendid concert venue, which is equipped with advanced sound technology. Open till 2a, you can walk into the next door cocktail lounge to sip on some libations. Visit the website for more information about this diverse cultural arts center. Rusty Spurs / Black & Tan 405 East 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States Formerly home to Black & Tan and Rusty Spurs, this venue is available for live music and special events. The popular South By Southwest Festival (SXSW) has hosted performances and parties at this stylish location, which sets the stage for a great night out on the town. There's a small outdoor area where you can catch your breath before heading back in for more entertainment. Bat Bar 218 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States More than one floor of dancing space and 3 full-service bars are what you will find here at Bat Bar on 6th Street. Each night guarantees either live music entertainment or tunes spun by a DJ; call or see the website for more information. Enzo Restaurant & Lounge 801 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 250 3696 If you like an atmosphere with a Latin vibe, this is the perfect spot to be! The great ambiance and spectacular music combine with a mixed crowd of young college students for an entertaining night out. The bartender service is quite good, with a wide variety of drinks available. If you are looking for bottle service, the lounges are great and come with a service crew that is very attentive to your needs. The VIP area is right next to the glowing dance floor. Looking for a big crowd of college students or young adults? Come in on Saturdays, which tend to be a lot more crowded than any of the other days. Special events are held from time to time, and a full menu of tapas and fusion entrees is available. -Victoria Perez Madison (The) 307 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 494 4094 The Madison is located on Austin's 5th Street, and is a gathering place for college students. The atmosphere is lively and the place is spacious, with a second-floor full bar. Little lounge areas are scattered here and there, and a nice balcony overlooks the space from the second floor. Top hits are usually played on weekends, with some Latin music played from time to time. Looking to have a fun night out? Come and join the crowd that's here on weekend nights. Stage on Sixth (The) 508 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 614 1540 Dance the night away to live country music at The Stage on Sixth. With a big dance floor ready to host all of your best moves, all are welcome to join the fun! The patio out back is great for lounging and conversation on warm Texas nights. If the dance floor isn't quite your scene, enjoy the giant game of Jenga available for patrons to play. Gypsy Lounge 1504 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702 United States Gypsy Lounge hosts a variety of events, including afternoon art shows and evening dance parties! Check out the website or contact the venue for more information on the event schedule. Vice 302 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States A nightclub in the Sixth Street area of downtown Austin, Vice is one of the few places that will allow in people younger than 21 years of age. With a limited amount of such places in Austin willing to open its doors to those 18 years and older, this place sets itself apart. There's three floors to enjoy Vice's heart-pounding music. For those 21 years and over, there's a bar located on the first floor and one on the third floor that tends to be less crowded. Thirsty Nickel (The) 325 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 8891 Here's a bar in the Sixth Street area that knows why you come through their doors. The Thirsty Nickel tries to make sure that by the time you leave you won't be thirsty anymore. The bartenders are friendly and keep the drinks coming. The bar has daily drink specials that make the gross amount of alcohol you'll order affordable. There's generally a DJ but when a music festival comes to town, that's when this place gets packed all wanting to catch the live gigs. It's a great place to start your evening off right. Haven 409 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 522 0409 A great addition to the chic night scene of Austin, Haven is the place to be, if you are looking forward to have a fun night. Located at Colorado Street, it lies bang in the heart of downtown. With a classy and upscale ambiance, the nightclub offers a range of drinks, along with a great mix of crowd. Buy yourself a drink, and groove to the hit numbers, that the DJ keeps spinning all evening. You can also choose to host your next party or event here, while the staff at Heaven will make sure that all your needs are looked into. White Horse (The) 500 Comal Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 553 6756 An amazing hangout for those in the neighborhood, The White Horse is known for their eclectic choice of music and amazing drinks. Located at Comal Street, the club lies to the East of downtown. With a divey ambiance, The White Horse has a rustic appeal to it. Serving whiskey on tap, The White Horse hosts an array of live music shows and gigs. Drop by on a weekend, to witness the crowd grooving to country music and reasonably-priced alcohol. Club 606 606 E 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 810 8237 Capital Cruises 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9264 For cruising around on Town Lake, the best way to go is on a Capital Cruise. Have dinner with friends or just your date, while watching the beauty of Austin's downtown from the peaceful water. Sightseeing tours are available along with canoes and kayaks; or you can take out paddle boats for an outdoor activity with the family. So whether it is a romantic evening for two or a day on the lake with kids, this service can meet your needs. Furthermore, the Hyatt caters for these cruises and serves wonders like shrimp pasta, beef or chicken fajitas, to name a few. They will work with your company or group to customize a menu if you desire. Thompson Conference Center 2405 Robert Dedman Drive Austin, TX 78713 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 2938 These modern facilities are also available for rent and are an excellent choice for conferences and educational forums. The staff can even assist with conference planning services. The center also offers classes designed for furthering education of professionals. If you are interested in fine arts, computer application training, or an ongoing seminar series, the Thompson Center can keep you up to speed on the issues. Lions Municipal Clubhouse 2901 Enfield Road Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 6963 Located next to the Lions Municipal Golf Course in beautiful West Austin, this clubhouse has a ballroom of 1300+ square feet. The room has wonderful windows, variable lighting and wood floors. The carpeted conference room opens off the ballroom and it offers a large conference table, 15 upholstered chairs and a credenza. Zilker Clubhouse 200 Zilker Clubhouse Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 Located just west of Zilker Park, this fantastic facility is offered by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The large room can accommodate groups of 150 people inside and the adjoining patio another 50. Tables and folding chairs are provided with your rental fee. With the beautiful view of downtown Austin, this location is perfect for an in-town get away for family or corporate clients. See their website for further information. It's About Thyme Nursery 11726 Manchaca Road Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 280 1192 Owned and operated by Diane and Chris Winslow, this oasis of a garden center sells herbs, bedding and landscaping plants, roses and trees. The owner also does landscaping and irrigation work in residential homes. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful and the selection is plentiful with excellent quality. They have a nice selection of native plants, too. NiaSpace Body-Mind-Soul Fitness 3212 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 3013 Neuromuscular Integrative Action (NIA) means "with purpose" and is designed to help you approach life with passion, feeling and electricity. These classes are formatted like a regular exercise class, but they focus on relaxed, grounded movement. Through a blend of guided imagery and exciting eclectic music, emotional and physical tensions are released from the body. This space also offers yoga classes, T'ai Chi Chuan, Trance Dance, World Music and Dance Fitness and several other classes and events. Come have a completely different fitness experience. Call or visit the Web site for rates and schedule. Wild Basin Fitness 4308 North Quinlan Park Road Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 6161 Nestled in the hills of Austin, Wild Basin Fitness blends its state-of-the-art training facility and talented staff with the breathtaking views of the Wild Basin Wilderness. The staff will help you establish a personalized program offering positive motivation and feedback for your workouts. Manual and massage therapy is offered to increase the body's productivity and reduce stress. Active Iso Stretching is taught to increase circulation and flexibility. Workout in this serene setting and enjoy the nature that surrounds you. Hills Fitness Center (The) 4615 Bee Caves Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 4881 This fitness center has been serving people of all ages and fitness levels for the over twenty years. On eleven wooded acres you will find a ropes course, a sports-plex, a massage therapy department, spa services, fitness classes and two heated swimming pools. Personal Fitness Trainers are available to assist you in designing an individualized comprehensive workout program. Visitors also enjoy the steam room, sauna and whirlpool facilities. Premiere Lady Fitness & Spa 7028 Wood Hollow Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 418 9399 Austin's only all ladies fitness center and club offers personal training, aerobics, top of the line exercise machines, free weights, steam room and sauna, aqua exercises, a pool and whirlpool, a hair and nail salon, facials and massages, and tanning beds. You could spend the entire day here taking care of your body. Childcare is available, with children's swim lessons offered. Try a yoga or NIA class and grab a protein smoothie after your workout. Pro Tape and Communications Supply 313 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 3911 Did you run out of film in the middle of a shoot and its 3am? Available by 24-hour digital pager, Pro Tape and Communications Supply are major supplier of film, magnetic tape and production supplies for Austin's music and film professionals can come to your rescue. The shop carries a large inventory of brands including Eastman Kodak, TDK, Maxell, Fuji, JVC, Sony, BASF, Apogee, Denon and Quantegy. In addition to film and tape, you will find editing systems, lighting equipment, lamps, adapters, cables and more. kidsActing Studio 2826 Real Street Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 836 5437 kidsActing Studio offers a variety of after-school classes as well as half-day and full-day summer camp for ages 3 to 19. Children learn techniques in dancing, singing, acting, performing improvisational comedy, television performing, casting, play production, technical design and writing. The company produces full-scale musicals starring children ages 6 to 18. Austin Convention Center 500 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 404 4000 Austin Convention Center is 411,000 square foot convention, exhibition, and general meeting hall located between Town Lake and Sixth Street, a short walk to hotels and the entertainment district. The facility contains the city's largest ballroom, 29 meeting rooms, and with a recent expansion, additional exhibition halls and an upper level ballroom. The award winning facility is made of native Texas materials ranging from limestone to granite and regularly sponsors concerts, seminars, trade shows, high-tech conventions, and more. Look up their website for a calendar of events or to contact the center to schedule your own event. Parking is two blocks west on Cesar Chavez. Lone Star Riverboat 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1388 Take a tour with Lone Star Riverboat down the Colorado River (known as Town Lake in the Austin city limits) on a paddle wheel boat. This Southern style of transportation is a perfect way to take in the city's skyline. Trips are 90 minutes long and do not require reservations. Call ahead to determine the seasonal schedule. During the summer moonlight cruises are offered, as well as close-up cruises of the bats underneath Congress bridge. Prices vary by excursion, so check their website for further information. St. David's Medical Center 919 East 32nd Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 7111 Neuroscience Center, Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, Neo-Natal transport, emergency services, acute care and cardiology services. MRI diffusion scan is available. Two parking garages are accessible for patients and visitors. Seton Medical Center 1201 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 324 1000 24-hour emergency care, Heart Center, inpatient and outpatient services, minor emergency care, Shivers Cancer Programs, surgery center, and a Skilled Sub-acute Care Program for transitioning from ICU to home care. Valet parking is available at the patient drop-off/pick-up point. A limited parking area for visitors is also available. Brackenridge Hospital 601 East 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 324 7000 24-hour emergency, private ICU rooms with windows, Intermediate Care Unit available, major trauma center, inpatient and day surgery, maternity and midwife services, neurosciences and specialty outpatient clinics. Teaching hospital for the University of Texas at Galveston. Parking is available in the parking garage adjacent to the hospital. Gregory Gym 2101 Speedway Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 6370 The Texas Volleyball team sometimes practices and has matches at the Gregory Gym, which happens to be one of the finest collegiate volleyball facilities in the country. The site, better known as the home of the Longhorns, reopened in 1998 after an eight-year layoff. Locker rooms, offices, meeting rooms and a players' lounge are available for jocks throughout the year. There are also an exercise room, climbing wall, badminton, handball, basketball and volleyball courts. Red and Charline McCombs Field 1300 East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 3434 This is not just a place where the Lady Longhorns wag their tail feathers! This $4.5 million softball complex has witnessed the Longhorns winning the regional softball championship. Located next to UT's Disch-Falk field, the complex hosts 11 home games (mostly double headers) during the season from February to April. It is advised that you purchase your tickets in advance. Alliance Business Centers 816 Congress Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 682 5570 With Alliance Business Centers you can set up shop and be open for business in more than 500 locations around the world. You can select from a menu of services such as a corporate mailing address, personal telephone receptionist and full suite or conference room facilities. No matter how big or small you are, Alliance Business Centers has just what you need. Urgent & Family Care at Avery Ranch 10625 Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78717 United States - Phone: +1 512 733 9400 On-site X-Ray, Lab and EKG. Board certified physicians, most insurance accepted, physician always on hand, no appointment necessary. Administers flu shots, tetanus shots, most vaccinations, pregnancy tests. Bring driver's license or photo ID, insurance card (if applicable), credit card or cash for visit or co-pay fee. Yellow Cab 10630 Joseph Clayton Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 434 7700 Yellow Cab, is Austin's largest taxi service and is well-equipped with modern technology. Safety and city regulated rates are assured with these services. The cab drivers do not belong to a company, but are accessible through Yellow Cab for services. This is a preferred and recommended way of touring around the city as it is regulated by the City of Austin. Austin Cab Company 1135 Gunter Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2222 Since 1984, the Austin Cab Company has been serving travelers in Austin. Since then there has been a constant endeavor to bring betterment and innovation in services. Providing quality services and easy access to the wonderful city of Austin, the company is looked upon as a reliable touring option. Private car and Limousine services are also available on request. Westlake High School 4100 Westbank Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 732 9280 Westlake High School has been educating and inculcating academic excellence since it first opened in 1969. Besides education it emphasizes importance on theater, music and the arts thus developing artistic talent. WHS also offers a variety of academic courses and programs along with athletic programs. The theater department here is an award winning one which has hosted theater of promise and caliber. Besides student activities, the school also has hosted various plays, events and productions. Texas Hillel (The Topfer Center for Jewish Life) 2105 San Antonio Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 0125 Just a stone's throw away from University of Texas at Austin, Texas Hillel is more of a foundation that was built mainly to look after the welfare of the Jewish students of the University. The Topfer Center is an amalgamation of various spaces available for events, cafes and eateries. The foremost motive of this center is to bring about cultural awareness among the students. Within the 18,000 sq.ft of area, this center organizes events pertaining to Jewish culture. The facility is also available on rental basis for private parties and concerts as well. Gamblin Field 1102 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 462 5353 The Gamblin Field at Texas School for the Deaf is the home to the Austin Outlaws, a Women's Football Team. The stadium is an athletic field that also hosts various sporting events like baseball, rugby, etc, and even fund-raising programs. In fact, it became famous after the shooting of popular TV series "Friday Night Lights" was held over here. Tickets for upcoming events can be booked in advance. LBJ Auditorium At UT Austin 2313 Red River Street Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 721 0200 University of Texas is renowned for providing high-standard education which assures academic excellence and personality development of students. Apart from this influential role, the University is also known for its elegant and functional venues. LBJ Auditorium is one of these. This tastefully designed versatile space is the perfect venue for any occasion, be it corporate or private. State-of-the-art amenities combined with sophisticated interiors make this a great venue for businessmen and socialites to play host. Mueller Airport Parking Lot 1 Manor Road Austin, TX 78708 United States Mueller Airport Parking Lot is a popular venue known for hosting a diverse range of events in its premises. This spacious facility equipped with the modernized acoustics and sound technologies provides the perfect setting for any kind of function. Any event held here is sure to be a successful one. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport 3600 Presidential Boulevard Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 530 2242 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been impeccably planned for aviation transport and commercial aviation and also to serve the Texas Army National Guard and State Aircraft Pooling Board. This highly maintained airport has the most advanced amenities to cater to the individual passenger requirements. The restaurant and shops, here, offer a delicious array to satisfy people's taste buds. Besides this, the center in the Barbara Jordan Terminal stages a variety of musical performances and other cultural events to entertain people. House Park Field 1301 1/2 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States Located in the heart of Austin, the House Park Field is known for hosting a diverse range of events. This upscale setting boasts of stylish interiors and modernized sound and lighting equipments which make every event a special one. Give them a chance to plan an event and you are assured it would be a successful one. Crockett Event Center 10601 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 288 7288 Located in the heart of Austin, the Crockett Event Center is known for hosting a diverse range of events. This upscale setting boasts of stylish interiors and modernized sound and lighting equipments which make every event a special one. Give them a chance to plan an event and you are assured it would be a successful one. Austin North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000(Tourist Information) Austin is the capital and fourth largest city of Texas, known for its lively and energetic lifestyle. This place is loaded with art communities, music venues, festivals and lots of fun all year round. The place is also known as the "Live Music Capital of The World," so all you music and art lovers come here and be sure to return with much much more than you expected. Walton's Fancy & Staple 609 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 542 3380 Owned by well-known Austinite Sandra Bullock, Walton's Fancy & Staple is a laid- back space combining a deli, bakery, catering service and florist. With over 20 sandwiches to choose from, along with a daily soup special, multiple freshly made salads, spreads and breakfast tacos, Walton's offers a wide variety of lunch choices. As for dessert, Walton's prepares fresh pastries every day that include macaroons, scones, cupcakes, fresh breads and old-fashioned whoopie pies. Grab one of the few tables to dine in, or walk your lunch to a nearby park for a picnic. The back of the store holds a floral counter with a florist ready to make you a bouquet from the many types of flowers available. - Christine Whalen Cedar Park Center 2100 Avenue of the Stars Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 600 5000 The Cedar Park Center, located near Austin Texas, is an indoor arena that hosts a multitude of events. From rock concerts to sporting events, musicals to Barbeque cook-offs, the Center offers something for everyone. The sports arena boasts 6800 seats, and is home to the hockey team, the Texas All-Stars. Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 4005 Manchaca Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 8082 Founded in 1990, Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is an educational organization that trains students in the field of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The lack of texts and research material in English language and the need for a benchmark and standardized institute, led the founders Lisa and Paul Lin, to establish this medicine college. It also has well-equipped library on-site that comprises texts, medical journals and other material that will help the students. For complete details on admission and other information, check website or call ahead. Elgin North Main Street @ West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78621 United States - Phone: +1 512 281 5724(Tourist Information) Elgin is a city in the state of Texas that is known as the Sausage capital of Texas and the Brick capital of the Southwest. With many upcoming commercial projects, this city is soon gaining the reputation of becoming a commercial hub. There are also many sporting events held here. But the major event that stands apart from all is the Western Days Festival that is held every year. This festival is a week long gathering full of of activities, fun and frolic for all ages. From beauty pageants, dance shows to street plays, this event is a carnival of sorts. There are also activities like pie-eating contests, face painting and so on. A time that is much awaited by many. Texas Union 2247 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78713 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6636 Texas Union was established by students and teachers of the University of Texas in the year 1933. The main aim of this students body is to create a meeting place and space for various co-curricular events and activities. The building has meeting rooms, lounges and dining services. One such event held her is the Austin Annual Ballroom Festival. This mega event is a two day carnival with many workshops and dance lessons. There are also many dance shows in salsa, tango and ballroom by famous dancers and performers. Students are given training at basic, intermediate and advance levels. For more on the even schedule and rental space, do call ahead. Butler Dance Education Center (The) 501 West 3rd Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 9051 A part of the Ballet Austin, The Butler Dance Education Center is a temple for a ballet performer or amateur. With great emphasis on the regiment ballet requires, the trainers are professional and skilled in their areas of proficiency. Importance is always given to an overall understanding of the dance form and its techniques and styles. Students are also provided with the opportunity to perform before large crowds and thereby take a step forward to training for performance. For further information, log on to their website. Shoreline Church 15201 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78728 United States - Phone: +1 512 310 2244 Shoreline Church is a Christian church that believes in propagating the word of God with special emphasis on power and hope. The church was incepted when a couple opened their residential doors to the public, welcoming those in distress and need. The church continues its mission till date and takes in guests as also conducts regular prayer services and other charity events. To find peace and sanctum from your hectic life, Shoreline Church is the place to go. Austin Area Interstate 35 Austin, TX 78701 United States Austin Area or better known as Greater Austin, is a significant metropolitan area in the state of Texas. It is located in the heart of Austin and is one of the oldest areas in the city. The area holds much importance as several universities, the state capitol, commercial centers and offices and located here. The Colorado river meanders alongside the area with many ecological regions and green spaces mellowing down the Texas heat. Being a prominent venue for most government activities, the economy here is diverse. Several annual events, music festivals and cultural carnivals are held here. Hills Country Club (The) 26 Club Estates Parkway Lakeway, TX 78738 United States - Phone: +1 512 261 7200 The Hills Country Club, also known as The Hills of Lakeway is a beautiful club located on the lush green meadows of Lakeway that offers ace golf services. The club offers two championship courses where several tournaments and leagues are held. Amateurs can learn golf at their academy that has a 500-yard learning center with target holes and greens. The academy also offers many learning programs and lessons for all ages. There is also a merchandise shop where you can buy golf clubs, gloves and other golf equipments. Call ahead to know more. Austin Stone Community Church- St. John Campus 500 East Saint Johns Avenue Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 708 8860 Austin Stone Community Church is a Christian place of worship in North Austin. This church has 2 sites; this is one and the other takes place at Austin High School. Sunday Service times are at 9:15a, 11:15a, 5p, and 7p. Call or see the website for more information about the church's beliefs or upcoming events. One Texas Center 505 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000 One Texas Center is a building owned by the City of Austin that contains many of the city's offices and small businesses. It also provides public parking that is sure to be an appealing feature in a city the size of Austin. Located adjacent to the Long Center and the Palmer Events Center, the One Texas Center's garage becomes a popular location for parking. This is also one of the tallest buildings in Austin and, if you can make it, provides amazing views of the city. A meeting or conference will occasionally be held in one of the city's offices located within this building. Sherwood Forest Fairgrounds 1883 Old Highway 20 McDade, TX 78650 United States - Phone: +1 512 731 2316 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Austin lies the Sherwood Forest Fairgrounds, home to the Sherwood Forest Faire and other medieval-esque events, including jousting and weddings. See the website for the events calendar and plan your trip to the dark ages accordingly. New Horizons 300 East Highland Mall Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 888 710 0839 New Horizons, located in the North Loop, partners with companies like Cisco and Microsoft to help professionals who are trying to expand their technical skill set. Mainly focused on computer learning courses, the company regularly hosts seminars and events. Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) 700 Lavaca Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 584 8272 Located in Downtown Austin, the Texas Charter Schools Association is a membership organization that represents over 350 charter schools in Texas. They campaign for funding and help to maintain the quality of the education given at their schools. The organization regularly holds seminars and meetings for those interested in starting a school. Amtrak - Austin 250 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States The Austin Amtrak station is a part of the daily Amtrak Texas Eagle route, which goes from Chicago to San Antonio. Three times a week, there is an extended line that goes from San Antonio to Los Angeles; see the website for more information. Station hours are from 7a to 8p every day of the week, during which all are welcome to use the indoor waiting area and baggage services. The Austin station is located a few streets away from Sixth Street, which is chock full of bars and restaurants with live music. 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX United States Surrounded amongst the Texas foliage is 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street. When you pull up, you'll likely wonder if you got the right address but don't worry, this property located across the street from Austin's Public Library is where events are held. The venue becomes used especially when Austin has one of its many music or film festivals. Given its location, there is sure to be plenty of parking. If you show up early to your event, why not pop into the local library? Librarians miss people. Bastrop High School 1614 Chambers Street Bastrop, TX 78602 United States - Phone: +1 512 772 7200 bastrop High School is a part of the Bastrop Independent School District and offers quality education to its students. Its motto, Lead Today, Tomorrow, For Life emphasizes its goal of instilling leadership qualities and a level of self-confidence in its students to enable them to take on the challenges that life has to offer. The children take part in various co-curricular activities and sports including powerlifting, golf, soccer, volleyball, basketball, dramatics and arts. The school is renowned for its educational standards. Dahlstrom Middle School 3600 FM 967 Buda, TX 78610 United States - Phone: +1 512 268 8441 Established in 1985, Dahlstrom Middle School is an integral part of the education system of Buda. It bears a high standard of education and all-round development of students. Its students are most known for sweeping away all of the major awards and prizes at literary and scholastic events of the University Interscholastic League. Nothing more needs to be said, therefore, regarding the attention that the school pays to the development and grooming of its students. Georgetown High School 2211 North Austin Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626 United States - Phone: +1 512 943 5100 Georgetown High School is a large school in the center of Georgetown and caters to both girls and boys. The school maintains a high level of quality education and focuses on the all-round development of each student. for this purpose, it encourages them to take part in extra-curricular activities like theater and arts, while also emphasizing on the importance of sports and recreation. It has won many accolades in the past, for its contribution to education. Today, it is one of the most preferred institutions in the city. Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex 10211 West Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78717 United States - Phone: +1 512 464 5480 A local sports facility, Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex is located at West Parmer Lane in Austin. With a capacity of 11,000 people, the stadium regularly hosts matches and tournaments. The parking capacity of the stadium is 2750, while the ticket rates change according to the event. Small Middle School 4801 Monterey Oaks Boulevard Austin, TX 78749 United States - Phone: +1 512 841 6700 Running Brushy Middle School 2303 North Lakeline Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 570 3300 Running Brushy Middle School is a small school located in Cedar Park at North Lakeline Boulevard. To know about admission process, or to know the enrolment norms, please log on to their website. Vista Ridge High School 200 South Vista Ridge Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 570 1800 Vista Ridge High School is a exemplary education institution located in Cedar Park. For enrolment process or other queries, please call the school office, or log on to their website. Ted's Barber Shop 628 E. Oltorf Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 9565 To any passerby, Ted's Barbershop appears small (occupying the space next to a gas station), but to locals in the know, the cozy interior paired with the friendly barbers give it a professional and personal touch. It's an understatement to say that the barbers of this place are into professional sports. Many different sports memorabilia dons the walls, and the TV seems to be programmed to only show ESPN. Feel free to try something new and leave with a mohawk, as these barbers proudly advertise that they can make one for you. - Freddie Obregón St. David's Episcopal Church 301 East 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 610 3500 The historic St. David's Episcopal Church was built in 1854. Located in Downtown Austin, the beautiful Gothic structure is one of the oldest buildings in the city and therefore, a part of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). St. David's Episcopal Church is considered one of the most important places of worship in the city and is often sought for events such as baptisms and weddings. Aquaholics Watercraft Rental 16209 Dodd Street Volente, TX 78641 United States - Phone: +1 512 989 7838 Aquaholics is a boat rental company, that is known to present some amazing water crafts for various occasions. Be it skiing in the water, or hosting a party on a boat, they provide with all kinds of services, and cater to everyone's needs. To know their prices, and other information, please call ahead, or visit their website. Trinity United Methodist Church 4001 Speedway Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 5835 Trinity United Methodist Church is a quaint little worship house located at 4001 Speedway, in Austin. With regular events, masses and religious ceremonies, the historic church is functional, ever since its inception. The church welcomes everyone with open arms, and conducts periodic events to accommodate new parishioners. To become a member or know their service timings, please log on to their website. Austintatious Boat Rentals 16107 B Farm to Market 2769 Leander, TX 78641 United States - Phone: +1 281 685 1838 A boat rental facility, Austintatious is located in the beautiful city of Leander. Providing boats, ski jets, and party launches on rent, they are majorly booked throughout summers. To book yourself a anyone of these, either for parties or day trips, please log on to their website or call ahead. University United Methodist Church 2409 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 9387 University United Methodist Church is a beautiful little prayer house located at Guadalupe Street, in the University of Texas. Established in 1887, it continues to function till date. Regular services and other religious ceremonies are all a part of the church's programme. To attend a mass, or to know the timings of these services, please log on to their website. North Austin Event Center 10601 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 3083 North Austin Event Center is one of the preferred locations for hosting popular concerts, major events, conferences and trade fairs, given its convenient location in the north of the city. It is easily accessible from all parts of the city and hence, sees huge crowds. There are two rooms available on hire, with enough space to hold large crowds with ease. It can accommodate a total capacity of 5500 in the two rooms. Catering is available. Northwest Hills United Methodist Church 7050 Village Center Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 1743 Northwest Hills United Methodist Church is a vibrant community worship place that celebrates God through His teachings and the path shown by Jesus Christ. It seeks to guide disciples into the way of life as envisaged in the Bible and finds remedies of everyday hardships in its teachings. People from all walks of life can be seen here, working and praying together during the mass services. St. Louis King of France Catholic Church 7601 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 0384 Working towards establishing unity and peace among its brethren, St. Louis King of France Catholic Church was started by the community in 1952. Its first service was conducted in a temporary location after which the current church was built. It is attended by locals who seek God and want to live by His ways. Weekly masses are held and can be attended by all. Apart from the church, the parish also runs a catholic school at Joseph Boulevard. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 8134 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 8314 St. Matthew's Episcopal Church was established in 1979 and is an integral part of the community at Austin. It preaches the message of love and brotherhood especially in times of strife. The church is nestled amid lush green trees that make for a pleasant canopy to walk under while seeking God. There are several niches in the garden which serve as a memorial site for loved ones. The church is open to visitors who are greeted with sweets in the foyer. St. Michael's Catholic Academy 3000 Barton Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78735 United States - Phone: +1 512 328 2323 One of the most prestigious institutions of the region, St. Michael's Catholic Academy is a Roman-Catholic school that was started in 1984. Its students are one of the most popular during championships and emerge victorious in major competitions. Focusing on establishing the importance of academics in students, the school does not ignore the arts and sports and other spheres of school life that help shape the character of its students, Little wonder then, that its pass-outs get placed in highly reputed colleges and do well for themselves in life. University Avenue Church of Christ 1903 University Avenue Austin, TX 78705-5610 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6088 Nestled in the heart of the city, near the University, the University Avenue Church of Christ is a haven of tranquility that allows one to connect with the inner self. Engage in the joyous praising of God with music, recitation from the scriptures and a collective prayer for unity and peace in trying times. The church organizes Bible classes and volunteers also prepare breakfast for the homeless. It is engaged in many community-activities for the betterment of people. Southwestern University 1001 East University Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626 United States - Phone: +1 512 863 6511 A state-of-the-art educational institute, Southwestern University is located at East University Avenue, in the charming little city of Georgetown. Offering various courses across fields, the university is home to 26 departments, which feature a lot of professional courses. To enroll in the college, or to know their admission procedure, please log on to their website or call ahead. Promiseland Church 1504 East 51st Street Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 6301 A grand worship house, Promiseland Church is located at East 51st Street, and lies towards the north of downtown Austin. The church is home to a lot of events, services and religious ceremonies. If you wish to attend one, or join as a new parishioner, please log on to their website to know more. St James' Episcopal Church 1941 Webberville Road Austin, TX 78721 United States - Phone: +1 512 926 6339 A beautiful little prayer house, St James' Episcopal Church is located at Webberville Road, in the bustling city of Austin. A multi-cultural worship place, it routinely hosts masses, services and religious ceremonies. To attend to one of their events or to know the service timings, please check their website. Saint Elias Orthodox Church 408 East 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 2314 Built around the early 20th Century, Saint Elias Orthodox Church is located at East 11th Street, right in the center of downtown Austin. With regular services still being held, the church has continued to function ever since its birth. To attend one of their masses, or to join as a new parishioner, please see their website or call ahead. Westwood Country Club 3808 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 7246 Situated in a pristine location on the edge of Austin Lake, the members-only Westwood Country Club gives you an atmosphere like no other. The club was established in 1955, however, the main club house known as the McClendon home, dates back to the 1920s. This historic club house is surrounded by various modern sports facilities like tennis courts, racquetball courts, an outdoor pool, squash and fitness rooms for one and all. Apart from sports, the club is also used for hosting private events and wedding functions from time to time. Call ahead or visit their website to know more. Redeemer Presbyterian Church 2111 Alexander Avenue Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 708 1232 One of the more important churches in the community, the Redeemer Presbyterian Church is located on Alexander Avenue in East Austin. A warm and welcoming place of worship, the church is known for its worship services and sermons. The church is very active in the community when it comes to social initiatives and volunteering. Check their website for more details. United Christian Church 3500 West Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78727 United States - Phone: +1 512 218 8110 A vibrant community of over 300 members, the United Christian Church is located on West Parmer Lane in North Austin. The beautiful church building is often sought for various programs and performances throughout the year. The church also offers services to non-members like weddings and memorials. Abundant LIFE Community Baptist Church 2113 West Wells Branch Parkway Austin, TX 78728 United States - Phone: +1 512 251 4673 / +1 512 740 0362 A part of the Abundant LIFE Church Community, that was founded in 2008, by Pastor DeChard Freeman, the Abundant LIFE Community Baptist Church is a community of faith that is, in true sense, modern in its outlook and bearing. A vibrant and active community that is dynamic and, at the same time, welcoming, the church is involved in numerous social initiatives, honestly living up to its vision of compassion and joy of the gospel. Gethsemane Lutheran Church 200 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 836 8560 Located to the north of Austin, the Gethsemane Lutheran Church was established in 1960, replacing the historical Lutheran church on Congress Avenue, in downtown Austin. The architecture of this 21st-century church is quite unique; while being modern in style, it blends in Gothic designs. Standing on a 10-acre (4.04-hectare) property, the church grounds include a charming garden, playgrounds for little ones and an educational center. St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church 606 West 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6757 Catering to the Evangelical Lutheran community in Austin, this church opens its doors welcoming all, irrespective of their backgrounds. Imparting the teachings of the bible, St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church has classes for the young and the old; children can participate in Sunday School, while adults can engage in enlightening discourses during the adult meetings. Music is an integral part of services at St. Martin's, and the melodious choir is led by professionals. Weekend masses and regular community events are conducted at St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church. First United Methodist Church 401 East University Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626 United States - Phone: +1 512 863-2370 / +1 512 868-0726 Located at East University Avenue, the First United Methodist Church of Georgetown is a historic chapel, that functions till date. With regular services and ceremonies being held, the church is mostly frequented by people in the area. To attend a service or to know their mass timings, please see their website. Dance Austin Studio 9012 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78758 United States - Phone: +1 512 323 9760 Apart from being a great dance studio, Dance Austin in Burnet offers its facility on rent for private events or practice sessions. Armed with an experienced and friendly staff of teachers and dance professionals, Dance Austin Studio also offers dance classes in genres such as ballet, break dance, tap dance, hip hop and other activities like bootcamps. Check their website for latest schedules. 24 Hour Fitness - Parmer Sport 12400 North Interstate Highway 35 Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 252 3324 Located in North Austin, on Parmer Lane, this 24 Hour Fitness branch features state-of-the-art fitness and health club that is open all 24 hours a day! Offering numerous workout regimes and fitness classes, the gymnasium is known for its efficient and experienced personal trainers. Apart from this, the gym also offers activities for groups and children. Whether you want to stay fit or get in shape for a special event, 24 Hours Fitness - Parmer makes sure you reach your goal without compromising on health and standards. Bat City CrossFit 12400 Amherst Drive Austin, TX 78727 United States - Phone: +1 512 814 7087 Covering 2000 square feet (185.80 square meters), the Bat City CrossFit is a premiere gymnasium and workout facility in North Austin. Armed with experienced fitness coaches and trainers, this facility features well-maintained equipments. There are regular group workouts for those who find mechanical cardio boring, honest to their belief that group and community fitness activities promote an overall sense of communal well-being. Check out their website for more information. Austin Montessori School 5006 Sunset Trail Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 892 0253 Established in 1967, Austin Montessori School is a top primary education facility in Southwest Austin. Located on Sunset Trail, this school emphasizes attentive and personalized education and guidance for children in their years of development, from 2.5 years to 15 years of age. The school and it's leaders recognize that every child is different and needs varied approaches for optimal growth, and thus keep enriching the syllabus and techniques in that direction. 24 Hour Fitness - William Cannon Sport 4625 West William Cannon Drive Austin, TX 78749 United States - Phone: +1 512 358 0622 Located on William Cannon Drive, this 24 Hour Fitness gym is a great option to join if you plan to get on the healthy wagon! Open for all 24 hours a day, this gym is perfect for working professionals as well as self-employed people who're always pressed for time. The facility features state-of-the-art equipments, a swimming pool, a sauna, a whirlpool. Apart from this, they also offer group workouts and fitness classes like Pilates and cycling. Also on offer are numerous fitness activities for children. Art & Soul 3801 Berkman Drive Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 820 1449 Located inside Wildflower Terrace Building on the Berkman Drive, Art & Soul is a unique educational facility with a fresh, new perspective on visual arts. Offering numerous classes and programs in creative expression and the arts, for adults as well as children, the facility plays host to several art events and exhibitions throughout the year. Their premises are also available for interesting, innovative group and corporate activities like team building exercises and such, that involve visual arts; check their website for more details. Highland Business Center 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78752-4390 United States - Phone: +1 512 223 4222 A part of the Austin Community College, the Highland Business Center is a premiere convention center located in Northern part of Austin. The facility is available for trainings, conventions and symposiums for businesses and other establishments in the community. It features several technologically augmented conference and meeting rooms and classrooms. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary 100 East 27th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 404 4800 The Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary offers higher education in theology to interested students that come from varied professional, academic and demographic backgrounds. The staff at this prestigious institute have deep-rooted are actively involved with the church activities and research on national levels. Needless to say, classes at this educational institution involve not only scriptures and pastoral work but also practical experiences and diverse philosophical insights. Cedar Park Public Library Conference Room 450 Cypress Creek Road Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 401 5000 / +1 512 401 5648 Located inside the Cedar Park Public Library, the Conference Room is a small room that is available on rent for business purposes. Hold your next meeting here and make use of the facilities that include a whiteboard and a large conference table. Ideal for corporate conferences and client meetings, the room seats 20 people comfortably. It has to be booked beforehand by contacting the library. it is available for a minimum period of four hours. Brodie Park Crossfit 9001 Brodie Lane Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 280 1308 Brodie Park Crossfit is a training facility that offers fitness classes and gym training for all ages. Enroll in its classes and discover a new approach to staying fit and living healthy. The workouts are challenging and make you go that extra mile to achieve higher fitness levels. The coaches are friendly and encourage beginners making them feel at home. Christ Church 1201 West 24 Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 410 7780 The warmth and camaraderie of the people at Christ Church is evident when one attends service here. The church is a central part of the community of Austin and belongs to the Anglican church in North America. The church stands for helping people reach God and understand His ways. It is actively involved in community-building activities. Ethos Church 12233 North Farm to Market Road 620 Austin, TX 78750 United States - Phone: +1 512 388 0270 Previously known as the North Hills Community Church, the Ethos Church was an integral part of the North Austin community and preached the unity of mankind with each other and with God. In 2001, it moved to its present location with The Creek Community Church holding its services nearby. Later the two churches were merged together to form what is now known as the Ethos Church. Imbibing the essential principles of both the churches, the Ethos Church paves the way for the realization of God in everything one does. Gateway Church 7104 McNeil Drive Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 837 2162 gateway Church is a relaxed church where everyone is welcome irrespective of their age, creed or appearance. It solely believes that the relationship between an individual and God is personal and does not require any formal rituals. It engages in many cultural and contemporary activities, organizing music concerts and community-building activities. It is located inside the McNeil Campus and is mostly attended by students. Congregation Agudas Achim 7300 Hart Lane Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 735 8400 Congregation Agudas Achim works for the unity and betterment of the Jewish community and was established in 1914. The structure has a skylight that illuminates it using natural light. The walls are composed of limestone that looks akin to Jerusalem stone and imparts holiness to the serene ambience. The synagogue is engaged in teaching the cultural traditions and the path of God to its followers. Buena Vida Acupuncture + Wellness 10601 Pecan Park Boulevard Austin, TX 78750 United States - Phone: +1 512 970 7032 Buena Vida Acupuncture + Wellness Center is a therapeutic care center that is trusted by locals. Having relieved many from their misery, this center has touched their lives using holistic healing techniques like acupuncture, Oriental medicine and healthy nutritional practices. It is known for providing auricular therapy, that is, studying the ear to gauge ailments of the body based on ancient Chinese practices. Schedule a visit and allow the professional staff to take over and provide you some much needed respite from pain. Heartsong Music 2700 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 371 9506 Heartsong Music is an establishment that attempts to tap into the musical talent of babies and toddlers. Classes are held in full swing with children being taught to sing in tow with their families. Nursery rhymes, traditional songs and various International numbers are sung with the list being revised each year. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience by enrolling for the various lessons and watching your child bloom under the spell of the music. Hope Presbyterian Church 11512 Olson Drive Austin, TX 78750 United States - Phone: +1 512 258 9117 Your search for God would lead you to Hope Presbyterian Church in North Austin that works for the empowerment of the community. It is a Presbyterian church that firmly believes in the importance of the Bible and the message of God. It is involved in several community events like Boy Scouts, English classes, fitness workshops and youth programs that instill confidence in individuals and make a difference to society. Lake Hills Church 11521 Farm to Market 2244 Austin, TX 78738 United States - Phone: +1 512 899 8333 Established in 1997, the Lake Hills Church is located at Farm to Market 2244, in the charming city of Austin. A beautiful congregation, it continues to hold regular services and religious ceremonies. To attend one of their events or to know the mass timings, please log on to their website. Liberal Arts and Science Academy 7309 Lazy Creek Drive Austin, TX 78724 United States - Phone: +1 512 414 5272 Liberal Arts and Science Academy is a prestigious educational institute located at Lazy Creek Drive, in the city of Austin. The school offers a number of courses across various fields in arts and science. To enroll as a candidate, or to know the admission process, please log on to their website. Norris Conference Center 2525 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 5011 Norris Conference Center is a fully-equipped rental facility, available for corporate purposes. Located at West Anderson Lane in north Austin, it provides state-of-the-art facilities, along with a generous service. To book yourself the space, please call ahead or log on to their website. St. Stephen's Episcopal School 6500 Saint Stephens Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1213 A contemporary educational institute, St. Stephen's Episcopal School is located at Saint Stephens Drive in Austin. With classes from six to 12, it offers exceptional educational facilities, to all its students. To enroll, or know more about the institute, please log on to their website. Tech Ranch Austin 9111 Old Jollyville Road Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 339 3242 A great service for those looking to build up a business, Tech Ranch provides a lot of insight into putting the first step forward. Located at Old Jollyville Road, it conducts workshops, open houses and a lot of other programs, to give a deep understanding of the business. A start-up space is also offered by the organization, to being your business on a small scale. To know more, or attend any of their events, please have a look at their website. Toybrary Austin 7817 Rockwood Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 765 4174 Toybrary Austin is a toy library located at Rockwood Lane, towards the north of downtown. A toy sharing facility, it works exactly like a book library. You can enroll here as a member, and save on your money to buy toys, that children keep needing every now and then. With a wide variety of toys on offer, this library caters to children between the age of six months to five years. Educational toys, fun-learning games and other such things are also available at your disposal. To know more, please visit their website. Whether you're traveling on business, a leisure getaway, or a family vacation, La Quinta Inns & Suites and LQ Hotel by La Quinta have the right hotel accommodations for you. Take advantage of free Internet access, free breakfast, and comfy beds offered at La Quinta Inns & Suites and LQ Hotel by La Quinta. You'll find the best rates online, the widest variety of room options, the most reliable hotel info, and more on LQ.com. FOLLOW US:	Black eye
What one-eyed Oklahoma, who died in an crash outside Port Barrow, AK, was the first pilot to solo circumnavigate the world, in a mere 7 days and 19 hours?	City Guide Practical Info About Austin Austin is a place where business professionals, artists, musicians, filmmakers and students all bring their passions to life. Even with its population growing rapidly, this city continues to welcome new residents with open arms. Over the past few years, several national magazines have touted Austin as a top place to live. Sixth Street To experience "The Live Music Capital" of the world, Sixth Street is a good place to start. Often closed to vehicle traffic on the weekends, this street is lined with dance clubs, live music venues, eateries and street musicians, plus several tattoo and piercing shops. Visitors can have their tarot cards read by a gypsy on a street corner, or buy handmade jewelry from artists and hippies. Grab a slice of pizza at Roppolo's when the munchies take over; or, if a Cajun meal is what you're after, Roux & Parish serves up Louisiana cooking and great mixed drinks. Music fills the air in this area every night of the week, and visitors can hear everything from country to hip-hop, blues to noise-pop. If you venture north on Red River Street, you'll find some of Austin's best live music venues. Emo's, Stubb's and Red Eyed Fly all reside here. The Capitol Building Built in 1856 and 1857, the Capitol Complex Visitor Center is the oldest remaining state office building in Texas. In 1997, it underwent an enormous restoration and extension. Inside the Capitol Building, there is an exhibit chronicling the restoration, where visitors can view a 20-minute film narrated by Walter Cronkite, titled Lone Star Legacy: A History of the Capitol. The Capitol is a Renaissance Revival-style building made of Texas pink granite and native limestone, overlooking Congress Avenue. Guided tours are free and provide interesting information and anecdotes for visitors. Make sure to stand in the center of the Rotunda, look up, take notice of the Texas star and enjoy the beautiful architecture. Congress Avenue As you are heading south on Congress Avenue, stop by the Austin Museum of Art and check out their collection of 20th-century artwork. Or, if you are in the mood to shop for unique gifts, visit Tesoros Trading Company, where you will find a large selection of Mexican and Latin American jewelry, folk art, amulets and collectibles. Many locals buy their Day of the Dead supplies here, as well as Peruvian good luck charms and Latin American Christmas ornaments. As you travel further on South Congress and cross Lake Austin, you'll encounter a whole new environment. Starting with Güero's Taco Bar, you will notice that South Austin has a different kind of energy - relaxed and funky. Here, you will find antique shops, retro resale shops, vintage clothing and folk art. Stop by Terra Toys to check out their collection of tin soldiers and chemistry sets, then head over to Texas French Bread for soup and a sandwich. Zilker Park is a 400-acre park home to natural, spring-fed Barton Springs Pool, a miniature train that circles the park for children to ride, a giant playscape, picnic grounds, rugby and soccer fields, a disc golf course and canoe and kayak rentals. At Christmas time, one of the city's moonlight towers serves as the trunk for the Zilker Park Christmas Tree. Thousands of colored lights are strung to form the shape, and each year locals and visitors twirl around underneath the enormous structure. Enjoy a number of musical, dance and theater events at the Zilker Hillside Theatre, where the Austin Shakespeare Festival is held each year. Or, visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens, where visitors spend the better part of a day enjoying the cactus, succulents, roses, butterflies and special gardens - all for free. Clarksville Originally an African-American community half a mile outside of the city limits, Clarksville remains a melting pot of art and culture. Houses have increased greatly in price due to the location of the neighborhood and all it has to offer. Jeffrey's resides here, a restaurant for fine dining. You may also enjoy a visit to Nau's Enfield Drug, where you can order an old fashioned malt. The Drag The strip of business along Guadalupe Street, bordering the University of Texas, is lovingly called "The Drag." Many of Austin's coolest shops are here, including the Sound Exchange (CD's, records and tapes). Stop by the outdoor Renaissance Market, where you will find jewelry, clothing and gifts made by Austin artisans. If you're looking for live music any night of the week, head down to the Hole in the Wall. This small dive hosts live music seven nights a week, with free Sunday night shows. The back room is full of pool tables and pinball games, and the crowd features many regular customers. Walk a few more blocks and you'll stumble upon Vulcan Video offering rare cult films and indie classics for rental. Hyde Park Take a leisurely walk or drive through this Central Austin neighborhood and view its historic homes. You will likely see many residents working in their yards, walking pets or riding bikes. Duval Road runs through the neighborhood and is home to the vegetarian restaurant Mother's Café and the popular Hyde Park Grill. This unique area, the city's first planned suburb, has its own small grocery store, and boasts a theatre in its name - Hyde Park Theatre. Stop by Dolce Vita Gelate and Espresso Bar for sweet Italian ice cream or check out Quack's 43rd Street Bakery for a cappuccino and a homemade muffin. French Legation Museum 802 San Marcos Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 8180 King Louis Philippe ordered Alphonse Dubois de Saligny of France to Austin in 1839 to become the French liaison to the Republic of Texas. He insisted on being called "Count" and built this home on 22 acres of land in 1841. While waiting for building to cease, he was involved in a dispute over pigs and moved to Louisiana. He never returned to Texas and did not spend a single night in this home. In 1848, Dr. Joseph Robertson purchased the home and passed it on through his family for years; in 1949, the State of Texas acquired it. The home has been restored and even houses a French Creole kitchen. O. Henry House Museum 409 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1903 Short story writer William Sydney Porter, whose pen name was O. Henry, lived in this home for three years while he spent time in Austin. It was constructed in 1891 and is filled with rare books, O. Henry's writing desk, original furniture, photographs, personal belongings and the chairs that brought The Gift of the Magi to life. Enjoy a guided tour and learn about the history of this home and its famous occupant. The home has been moved twice since from its original location at 308 East Fourth Street. It now features a gift shop with books, videotapes and more. The museum offers writing clubs for Austin children and sponsors many local events such as the Victorian Christmas celebration and the "O. Henry Pun-Off." Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Wooldridge Square Park 900 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6700 Nestled in between the Public Library/Austin History Center and the County Courthouse, you will find this lovely green space. Founded in 1909, this park with hills and steps, leads to a Greek pergola. Picnic tables float along the hills, as local bands grace the stage and fill the downtown air with music. Bands such as The Swells, The Onlys, Maximum Coherence During Flying, Experimental Aircraft, Kitty, Seven Percent Solution, Subset and many others have been known to play free shows here on beautiful weekend afternoons and evenings. Austin History Center 810 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 7480 Built in 1933, this was the first public library building in the city. Showcasing artworks of that time with ornamental ironwork balconies and loggia frescoes, this building is now home to one of the state's best local history collections. It is the official holding place for records of Travis County and the city of Austin. Visitors enjoy temporary exhibits, which rotate frequently. Madison Cabin 2300 Rosewood Avenue Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 6838 From 1843 to 1912 this cabin was home to Henry Green Madison. After caring for eight children with his wife Louise in this cabin, they finally built a larger home in 1886. The Madisons built this new frame house around the structure of the old cabin and it was not again seen until a construction crew uncovered it in 1968. The cabin currently resides in Rosewood Park after its donation to the City of Austin by Ninabelle Wooten. Texas State Cemetery 909 Navasota Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 463 0605 This 22-acre (8.9-hectare) cemetery is the final resting place of some of Austin's most famous military and public figures, including Stephen F. Austin, Barbara Jordan and nearly 2200 veterans of the Confederate Army. It was restored in 1997 with a visitor center addition and is a very tranquil place to be. Visitors may call ahead to arrange for guided tours, or take a private tour with help from the Visitor Center's information packets. Admission is free. Neill-Cochran Museum House 2310 San Gabriel Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2335 Built in 1853 by Abner Cook, the master builder of the Governor's Mansion, this Greek Revival-style home is made with Texas limestone. Originally built as the Washington Hill House, the two-storey structure is now a museum. Operated by the Colonial Dames of America, the museum is furnished with 19th-century reproductions of 18th-century French antiques. Historic documents dating from 1770-1900 are also housed here. A visit to the museum makes for an informative experience for kids and adults alike. Oakwood Cemetery 1601 Navasota Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 7152 These beautiful grounds are the tranquil resting-place for over 23,000 people, including Governor James Hogg and his daughter Ima. The architect who designed the Governor's mansion, Abner Cook, rests here along with the first person who was ever buried in this cemetery in 1839; when Texas was still called the Republic of Texas. This is Austin's oldest cemetery and despite its location (near the Interstate), it is surprisingly peaceful. With beautiful trees and old iron adornments this is a unique place to take a walk. Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park 907 Slaughter Lane Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 This 344-acre park has an equestrian trail, a two-mile hike and bike trail, a fishing pier and an 18-hole disc golf course. Other sporting options include basketball, baseball, volleyball, tennis and soccer. So you can see, there is something for everyone to enjoy. The Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park is usually bustling with guests on the weeknights and weekends, with visitors bringing food to grill in the barbecue pits. There is also a picnic pavilion to sit under for a shady lunch. Bats Under South Congress Bridge 100 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) The Congress Bridge over Colorado River houses approximately one and a half million bats in mid-summer. In the spring, the pregnant female makes her way north to roosting sites in the Southwestern United States. They each give birth to a baby and at five weeks of age the pups can fly. Hundreds of people line the bridge at dusk to catch a rare glimpse of the bats as they leave the bridge for their nightly feeding. It may take up to 45 minutes for all the bats to exit. They will consume between 10,000 and 30,000 pounds of insects each night. Windy Point Park 6506 Bob Wentz Park Road Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 3337 This privately owned park attracts many people. The park has showers, grills and dressing rooms for visitors to use, along with primitive camping sites for those who want to stay overnight. There are no RV hook-ups available and you cannot bring your pets. A popular attraction here is the underwater adventure for divers featuring welded sculptures, schools of fish and sunken boats. Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve 805 North Capitol of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 7622 Founded by seven women, this area was used as an outdoor laboratory for science classes and teacher training. Located on 220 acres (89 hectares) of land it offers 2.5 miles (4.02 kilometeres) of trails reserved for pedestrians. No bikes or pets are allowed; neither is picnicking or camping. This is a true wilderness preserve, and many bird watchers come to catch a glimpse of the Black Capped Vierus or Golden Cheek Warbler. Visitors are asked to donate a voluntary fee. Capital Cruises 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9264 For cruising around on Town Lake, the best way to go is on a Capital Cruise. Have dinner with friends or just your date, while watching the beauty of Austin's downtown from the peaceful water. Sightseeing tours are available along with canoes and kayaks; or you can take out paddle boats for an outdoor activity with the family. So whether it is a romantic evening for two or a day on the lake with kids, this service can meet your needs. Furthermore, the Hyatt caters for these cruises and serves wonders like shrimp pasta, beef or chicken fajitas, to name a few. They will work with your company or group to customize a menu if you desire. Shoal Creek Greenbelt 3755-B Capitol of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000 Shoal Creek Greenbelt is a seven-mile trail that extends from Town Lake to 38th Street. The portion of the trail from 24th Street to 29th Street is designated as a no-leash zone, and hundreds of dog owners flock to the area to give their pets joyous moments of running and playing. If you are not a big dog fan, stay clear of this area, as it is often crowded. As you walk along the crushed limestone, gravel and concrete trail, you will enjoy the trees and green spaces. You are sure to find the perfect spot for a picnic or leisurely stroll. Emma Long Metropolitan Park 1600 City Park Road Austin, TX 78730 United States - Phone: +1 512 346 1831 This park offers over 1,000 acres of land with nearly a mile of lakefront. Visitors can go boating and utilize the park's two boat ramps. Skiing, fishing and relaxing on the sandy waterfront are also options. There is a swimming area that employs lifeguards on summer weekends. Be sure to notice the ash, oak and juniper trees throughout the park. Sixty-six campsites are available, some along the waterfront, and pets on a leash are welcome. Austin Carriage Service 8413 FM 973 Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 243 0044 For a fabulous weekend tour of the city or a romantic evening ride, this service is one of the premier ways to visit Downtown Austin. Tours begin at several of the major hotels, as well as at a number of downtown restaurants. Weekend tours are available and cover over 20 historic sites, including the Governor's Mansion and the County Court House. The carriages are also available for special events. Carriages can be found near the Capitol on 11th at Congress Ave. The ride will take you on a tour of the downtown area. Die Gelbe Rose Carriage Tours 1301 East Fouth Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8824 One of the best ways to learn about scenic Austin is from the back of a Clydesdale-drawn carriage. Romance, historical and family fun tours are available by appointment; or if you are a wayward evening traveler on Sixth Street, take in a tour of downtown. See the Capitol, Governor's Mansion, and the famous Fourth Street "Warehouse District." Custom tours and event rentals, including full wedding packages, are also available. Visit the Web site for more information on rentals and rides. University of Texas Tower (The) 2400 Inner Campus Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6633 / +1 1 877 475 6633(Toll Free) Standing 27 stories high, the University of Texas Tower (the main administrative building) is a fixture in the Austin skyline. Standing very close to the height of the Capitol, the observation deck provides a beautiful view of the city. A testament to school spirit, the tower shines in burnt orange, and the bells peal to hail the University sports teams' victories. This stunning architectural beauty is a must-see when visiting the campus. Zilker Botanical Garden 2220 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8672 These 22 amazing acres overlook the Zilker Park fields bordering Barton Springs Road. The garden is actually comprised of several different gardens, including the Cactus and Succulent, Xeriscape, Herb and Fragrance, Rose, Azalea, Butterfly and Taniguchi Gardens. Taniguchi is a beautiful Japanese landscape with a waterfall, running stream, lily ponds and wooden bridges. The lush, peaceful grounds are commonly perused by artists and writers searching for inspiration, and by others just looking for solitude amid the city. See their website for further information. Commons Ford Ranch 614 Commons Ford Road Austin, TX 78733 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 This fabulous park is one of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department's premier facilities. Whether it is a family reunion or a company picnic, this park has all the amenities for a fabulous party. The unfurnished house is about 2500 square feet; it has a kitchen and two patios, perfect for informal gatherings. Swimming pool, volleyball, horseshoes, and a croquet set are available as well. The outdoor picnic area easily fits 300 people, while the inside holds up to 150. Call for reservations. Mayfield Park 3505 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 6758 Mayfield Park Cottage and Gardens is open to the public but is a favorite among the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department facilities rental division. The historic 1870s cottage is perfect for a small group. The cottage holds 65 people, while the grounds hold up to 200. Enjoy the landscaped gardens, lily ponds, peacocks and palms in this picturesque environment. Pack up the family or reserve it for your event and enjoy this 23-acre estate in central Austin. Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park 6614 Blue Bluff Road Austin, TX 78724 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 Just east of Austin, this park boasts some of the most popular activities for the outdoor enthusiast, including boating and fishing. Spend an afternoon taking leisurely hikes while enjoying this Audubon sanctuary. Bank and boat fishing are available along with open space, picnic areas, tables, grills and restrooms. Deep Eddy Pool 401 Deep Eddy Avenue Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 8546 The water supply for the pool comes from an artesian well, drawing many to the fresh waters of this popular gathering place. A longtime favorite of locals for its sunbathing lawn and child-friendly atmosphere, Deep Eddy has a shallow end large enough for groups of people to wade in. Located just west of downtown, this is a convenient location for a morning swim. Morning hours are designated for lap swimmers. Those with disabilities may call in advance to secure handicapped access, as the stairs leading down to the pool are not wheelchair accessible. Volente Beach 16107 Wharf Cove Lake Travis, TX 78641 United States - Phone: +1 512 258 5109 Located 30 minutes from downtown and offering boat rentals, cruises, and para-sailing. Enjoy the on-site restaurant or park your boat after a long ride. The new Water Park plays host to numerous water slides and swimming areas.Sundowner Grill offers a variety of Tex-Mex and American fare including burgers, fajitas, sandwiches, nachos, and quesadillas, along with a child's menu. Daniel H. Caswell House 1404 West Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0779 Daniel H. Caswell House was built in 1899 and is located in central Austin. Not far from the Capitol and the Governor's Mansion, this was once the home of a prominent Austin family. With Victorian and Colonial revivalist architecture, it is known as one of the most beautiful local attractions. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s and has been recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark. The home belongs to the Austin Junior Forum now, and is available to rent for special events. Saint Mary Cathedral 203 East 10th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6182 Saint Mary Cathedral, designed by noted Texan architect Nicholas J. Clayton, is one of oldest Catholic churches in Austin. Its construction was completed in 1884, but exquisite French and German stained glass windows were added in much later. A beautiful piece of Gothic Revival architecture, this small cathedral now seems almost dwarfed by the high-rise buildings downtown. Apart from regular Sunday services, weekly masses are also conducted; check website for further information. All Saints' Episcopal Church 209 West 27th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3589 All Saints' Episcopal Church was built by Bishop George Herbert Kinsolving, who is buried in a crypt underneath the altar. Originally established as a chapel, this church served the members of Grace Hall, then a women's dormitory for the University of Texas. The chapel was given the designation of a church in 1909. Despite its close proximity to the UT campus, All Saints' attracts a varied congregation of singles and families alike, some driving from as far away as Buda to enjoy the warm atmosphere. Congregation Beth Israel 3901 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 6806 The Congregation of Beth Israel opened the first synagogue in Austin over 120 years ago. Jewish residents lived here for a generation with no formal site at which to worship. But in 1876, a pioneering group of about 30 Jewish citizens met with the Mayor to organize their Reformed Judaism congregation. The group was chartered in 1879, and construction was completed on the synagogue at 11th and San Jacinto in 1884. In 1953, a new site on Shoal Creek Boulevard was purchased to accommodate their significant growth. Construction was complete by 1956 and a stained glass filled sanctuary followed in 1967. The Torah used in this sanctuary was given by a woman who escaped Nazi persecution in Hungary. Shree Raseshwari Radaha Rani Temple 400 Barsana Road Austin, TX 78737 United States - Phone: +1 512 288 7180 The Shree Raseshwari Radaha Rani Temple, part of the Barsana Ashram, is the largest Hindu temple in North America. This striking building was constructed by Hindu artisans and is part of a 230-acre property designed to reproduce the holy land of Braj in India. The Barsana Dham is the main U.S. center of the International Society of Divine Love and is designed to allow worshipers to explore the true devotional environment of historical Ashrams. This was the first Hindu temple built in Austin and it serves as both a place of worship and a center for traditional Indian cultural activities. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church 1206 East Ninth Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 7955 Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, an old Hispanic parish in Austin, was originally located on Fifth and Guadalupe. Built in 1907, the church was forced to move to its present location in east Austin in the 1920s due to a city-enforced master plan of cultural segregation. This second church was not large enough to accommodate the growing members, and the current church was set up in the 1950s. This congregation is especially known for its widespread celebration of the Feast of Guadalupe on December 12th, the patron saint not only of their church but for Latinos everywhere. First Baptist Church 901 Trinity Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 2625 Legend has it that while serving in the Capitol, Sam Houston stopped on the corner of West 10th and Colorado, drove a peg into the ground and proclaimed, "I am a Baptist and right here we will build a Baptist church." While there is little evidence to support this statement, Sam Houston was a member of the church later built at that site, the First Baptist Church. Founded in 1847, the structure was complete by 1857. The Women's Missionary Union was formed during a prayer meeting held in the basement of the church in 1880. The mighty bell, which hung from its steeple, sounded for church meetings, town meetings, fire alarms and during the 1960s, for peace during protest marches. When the church relocated in the 1960s to its present location at Ninth and Trinity, the bell was given a special home on the grounds. The new church features a suspended cross hanging from the arches of the ceiling before a background of fishing nets. Inner Space Cavern 4200 South Interstate Highway 35 Georgetown, TX 78628 United States - Phone: +1 512 931 2283 After being sealed for over 10,000 years, this cave was discovered in 1963 when a group of workers were digging to build a highway overpass. Daily tours are available and last just over an hour. The cave stays a comfortable 72 degrees Farenheit year-round, and features not only beautiful rock formations but also the remains of prehistoric mastodons, saber-tooth cats and other ice age animals. After your tour, enjoy the shaded picnic area with a playscape for children. First Presbyterian Church of Austin 8001 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 8866 The First Presbyterian Church settled into a log cabin in Austin around 1850. Since that time, the church has moved to a number of different locations but throughout it all, the love of music reined supreme. In the present location, Oscar, the 100-year-old tracker organ, is the main attraction. With 32 stops, 35 ranks and 1894 pipes, of which about 10 ranks of pipes are from the original 1900 organ. Don't miss a service with this fantastic sound of history. Central Presbyterian Church 200 East Eighth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 2445 The Presbyterian Church has had a presence in the area since 1839, two and a half months prior to the charter ship of Austin. Years later, divisions within the church over the issue of the Civil War caused the church to split. It was from this schism that the pro-northern Central Presbyterian Church was formed, though it was then called Southern Presbyterian Church. The title of the church has changed numerous times over the years, but they have been at their present downtown location since 1871. It was finally named the Central Presbyterian Church in 1983, when all conflicts were resolved. Palmer Events Center 900 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 404 4500 This popular building has been home to the annual Austin Record Convention, numerous gun and knife shows, Sami shows featuring arts and crafts, and many high school graduation ceremonies. Cat and dog shows are also popular events as well as music conventions, like Carnaval Brasileiro, and sports shows. During election time you will find it becomes a central meeting point for ballot collecting and vote tallying. Austin Civic Chorus 3710 Cedar Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 719 3300 Performing all over Austin this chorus is a collaboration of several Austin musical organizations. Founded in 1965, the Civic Chorus joins the Austin Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Austin Children's Choir and the Orchestra of St. David's to perform some of the most famous musical arrangements around. The Chorus is dedicated to uniting the arts community through the collaboration of these fabulous performers. Performances are offered year-round. Elisabet Ney Museum 304 East 44th Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 2255 The former home and studio of German sculptress Elisabet Ney is open to the public for exploration. This home was one of the first buildings erected in the Hyde Park neighborhood, which was developed as a suburb in 1892 by Monroe Martin Shippe. Visitors flock to this museum to view nearly 50 busts and statues of Texas heroes, as well as Europeans she sculpted as a young artist. Her tools and several personal items are also on display. Admission is free. Austin Duck Adventures 209 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5274 Austin Duck Adventures is a one-of-a-kind tour takes you through the city on an authentic amphibious military landing vehicle that carries around 20 passengers. The tour goes through downtown, to the State Capitol, the Governor's Mansion, the LBJ Library, East Sixth Street's music district, historic Congress Avenue and area lakes. Meanwhile, the tour guide gives the history of the city, along with little-known insights. Each tour last for around two hours. Check the website or call ahead for further information. Texas State Capitol 1100 Congress Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 463 0063 The slogan states that “everything is bigger in Texas,” and if you look at its capitol, the phrase rings true. Standing a stately 309 feet (94 meters) and modeled after the nation's Capitol in Washington D.C., the Texas State Capitol owns the distinction of being the nation's tallest capitol building. Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers and constructed using red granite, the capitol took more than seven years to complete. It was finished in 1888, at a total cost of more than three million dollars, an extravagant price even by today's standards. The perfectly landscaped grounds reflect the languid pace of life under the Texas sun, inviting you for a quiet stroll or a lazy day under a tree. Texas Capitol Visitors Center 112 East 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 305 8400 Built in 1867 as the home of the Texas General Land Office, this building is the oldest standing government building in the state. Along with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it has quite a bit of history. From 1887 to 1982, a draftsman named William Sidney Porter, better known today as the short story author O. Henry, rented a space upstairs. Some of the author's greatest short stories were inspired by his experiences here. The second floor of the building houses the O. Henry Nook, where visitors can view his comical land tract maps. The building also houses the State Travel Information Center, which provides guided tours. A Texas-style gift shop is located on the first floor. University of Texas at Austin (The) San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 3434 Founded in 1883, The University of Texas at Austin is one of Texas' largest educational institutions. The original campus was laid out as only 40 acres (16.18 hectares), but today the university has expanded to much more. The University of Texas at Austin has earned numerous honors for both academics and athletics and offers a wide range of area to study. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered from areas including Business, Education, Communication, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture and Law. For a complete list of degree programs, contact the admissions office. Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum 2313 Red River Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 721 0200 One of the most visited presidential libraries in the nation, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum is supplied with information regarding one of the most controversial times in United States history. Peeking inside the life of the 36th President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, the LBJ tapes provide listeners the opportunity to learn about the John F. Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War. Along with the famous tapes, visitors can see a to-scale replica of the Oval Office, political memorabilia and more than 39 million pages of historical notes. Plan on a full day at this library and museum, but if you are a real history buff, you will barely scratch the surface of what this fantastic archive has to offer. General Land Office Building 1700 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 463 5134 General Land Office Building is over 150 years old, is dedicated to balancing economic development with preservation of the state's natural resources. Established in 1836 after Texas gained its independence from Mexico, its duties have evolved from keeping archives and issuing land titles to managing state lands and mineral properties totaling 20.3 million acres. Other responsibilities include the Recycling, Adopt-A-Beach, Coastal, and Oil Spill Prevention and Response Programs. The Archives and Records division houses original Spanish, Mexican and Republic of Texas land grants and related documents. Mount Bonnell 3800 Mount Bonnell Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6700 One of Austin's oldest tourist attractions, Mount Bonnell is also one of the highest points in the city — there is an incredible view of Lake Austin and the downtown skyline right by the picnic tables. Legend has it that the 99 steps to the top hold enchanting qualities: if a couple climbs the mount once, they fall in love; twice, they become engaged; and three times, they are destined to be married. Barton Springs Pool 2201 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 867 3080 As one of Austin's finest attractions, Barton Springs Pool is the perfect outing for those hot Texas days — or even the cool ones. Maintaining a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) year 'round, you will enjoy a 100-percent natural swimming experience with no chlorine. The grassy hillsides and moss-covered rocks are perfect for sunbathing. Diving boards, concession stands and restroom facilities are also available. When the kids get tired of the water, enjoy the playscape to complete the afternoon. Lifeguards are on duty. You are encouraged to call ahead, as the pool occasionally closes. Zilker Metropolitan Park 2100 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 4914 Patrons will enjoy a huge variety of activities at Zilker Park. You can check out the hike and bike trails, picnic facilities, Zilker Botanical Garden, canoe rentals, soccer fields, sand volleyball courts, riverboat rides on Town Lake, concerts, festivals and even a miniature train. The wide-open stretches of grass in this park are just minutes from the downtown area. There is plenty of room and various diversions for the kids, so you can get a suntan, take long walks by the river or just curl up with a book down by the river. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center 1165 Angelina Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 4926 As the first neighborhood museum in the state dedicated to African American history and culture, this 1926 structure houses various forms of art. The library was once Austin's main library and received a Texas State Historical Marker in 1976. The museum is named in honor of Dr. George Washington Carver, a black slave who went on to graduate from college in 1894. The museum exhibits a fantastic collection, as well as changing exhibits of black history and culture in Austin and Travis County. East 6th Street East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) One of the first streets surveyed in Austin, Sixth was originally known as Pecan Street. During the day, shops, restaurants and historic buildings are the main attraction, but by night, the street becomes festive with live music, shows and special events. On Friday and Saturday nights, the blocks are closed to automobile traffic for an all-out street party. Stop by for a beer or a show, or just enjoy watching the eclectic nightlife of Austin. After the bars close at 2a, this can be a dangerous place to hang out alone. Hill Country Flyer 401 East Whitestone Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8468 For an enjoyable afternoon, take a scenic journey on this Central Texas vintage steam train. Traveling deep through the Hill Country, this excursion is a must-see for any train buff. Wander through small Texas towns and view the beauty of an era gone by, all while enjoying a relaxing trip in an old-time rail car. Visit the Web site for a schedule of departure times. Prices vary based on seating. Austin Steam Train 401 East Whitestone Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8468 Escape from the 21st Century and journey back into the Great West aboard the Hill Country Flyer, a vintage passenger train making day-trip excursions every weekend year-round. Departing from Cedar Park, only 20 miles (32.18 kilometers) north of downtown Austin, each train ride offers 1920s coach cars for families on a budget and 1950s Pullman lounge cars for leisure travelers. Special excursion trains throughout the year include Christmas specials for children, mystery dinner trains for adults, and holiday rides to local festivals along the train route. The vintage train is operated by the dedicated volunteers from the Austin Steam Train Association, a community-based non-profit organization. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center 4801 La Crosse Avenue Austin, TX 78739 United States - Phone: +1 512 232 0100 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Research Center was established by Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady of the United States from 1963-1969. This fabulous garden bearing her namesake brims with native Texas plants in courtyards, terraces, arbors and meadows. Along with a fantastic children's center, visitors can explore a visitors gallery, observation tower, café, gift store and nature trails. Enjoy award-winning architecture and fabulous scenery in this wonderful garden spot. Tours by appointment. Treaty Oak 503 Baylor Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 440 5194 According to legend, Stephen F. Austin and local Native Americans signed peace treaties at this site, featuring the last of the Council Oaks. In 1991, the tree was poisoned, and a large section died. Support from the community brought an outpouring of gifts and experts to help save North America's most perfect tree specimen. But even with only one-third of the massive tree surviving, it is still a fantastic living statue to Texas history. Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 505 3112 Time brought Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute (established in 1877) and Samuel Houston College (established 1900) together in 1952. The merged college now known by the joint name is a fantastic campus and educational facility. One of the older buildings is Evans Hall, originally part of the old Tillotson College campus. This limestone building was constructed entirely by students. Prospective students and the general public are welcomed to follow guided tours of the campus. St. Edward's University 3001 South Congress Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 448 8400 Architect Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston designed the beautiful main building (1888) in a Gothic Revival style with Texas white limestone. A fire destroyed most of the main building in 1903 and after being rebuilt, it was again severely damaged by a tornado in 1922. The University received its charter in 1925. Since that time, the academic programs have grown to include business administration, theater arts and an innovative undergraduate program for adults. The graduate school includes a Master of Arts in Human Services, Photo communications, International Studies, Communication, Business, Theater and Spanish/Liberal Arts. Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue West Riverside Drive & South First Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) In 1994, Austin decided to erect a statue honoring the late musician, Stevie Ray Vaughan and denizens overwhelmingly chose Auditorium Shores as the perfect spot. Vaughn's lyrical and guitar work has charmed many ears and hearts in this music-oriented city which faces the Austin skyline. Ten years after his death, a steady progression of locals and visitors leave mementos to this great performer. Stop by and pay your respects to a beloved Austin music legend. Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau 301 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 5171 Make this one of the first stops on your tour of Austin. Pick up brochures and maps to help you navigate the city, and learn about some of the more interesting local landmarks, attractions, restaurants, entertainment and lodging that might not be in the standard tour books. If your interests lie in local history, stop by the Heritage Marketing Department, located in the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau. A tour guide is on hand to give you the inside scoop. Austin Zoo 10808 Rawhide Trail Austin, TX 78736 United States - Phone: +1 512 288 1490 Enjoy a hill country setting in a family environment. Austin Zoo, a privately owned home, originally started with a small selection of farm animals and has now grown into a wild animal sanctuary and zoo. See Bengal tigers, lemurs, a butterfly garden and more! The picnic areas are perfect for a birthday party or company event. Barton Creek Greenbelt 2201 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 This creek winds through Central and South Austin, featuring beautiful hiking and bike trails as well as many choice swimming holes. The natural surroundings have been left to flourish as only the Texas countryside can. One of the more popular areas is at the far north end of the park—the Scottish Woods Trails, a rocky path leading to a gorgeous private swimming hole at the base of a small waterfall. Barton Creek Greenbelt runs west and north from Zilker Park for nearly eight miles. Contact the Austin Parks and Recreation Department for a map of the greenbelt and access areas. Zilker Playground 2100 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 When the children need to work off some of their energy, nothing is better than a playscape in the great outdoors. Zilker Playground offers a miniature locomotive you and your children can ride around the park in together. You will also find a fire engine here, perfect for climbing, along with a playscape full of bridges, ramps, chutes and slides. Picnic tables are close by, along with beautiful Barton Springs Pool, which maintains 68-degree waters year round. Call for pool and train hours, which are seasonal. Austin Nature and Science Center 301 Nature Center Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 3888 Spend a day with the kids that is both fun and educational — head over to Zilker Park and take in the fantastic wildlife at the Nature Center. Albino raccoons, barn owls, snakes and other furry creatures roam about the petting zoo. While escaping the urban life, wander down winding trails and past the beautiful pond. Even though this park is in the middle of the city, nature permeates the surroundings, making every adult feel like a kid again. Austin Chamber Music Center 3814 Medical Parkway Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 7562 If you are looking to introduce yourself or your children to a little high-culture, the Austin Chamber Music Center is the place to go. The works of Beethoven and Bach permeate the air as you wander past the classrooms. During the summer, a two-week chamber music camp creates a fun kid-friendly environment for teaching the great composer's works to younger generations. Regular professional performances are also available for the avid chamber music fan. Call for details on enrollment and current events. Boggy Creek Farm 3414 Lyons Road Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 926 4650 This fully functional organic farm has won many awards for its urban farming techniques. Purchase fantastic fresh vegetables on Wednesday and Saturday mornings (9am-2pm), or let your kids experience real farm life right in the heart of the city—animals and tractors are some of the biggest attractions for the little ones on market day. While shopping for produce, take a peek at the historic farmhouse, noted as one of the oldest existing buildings in Austin (built in 1838). Pease Park 1100 Kingsbury Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 This fantastic little park, located near the Hyde Park district, is a favorite for dog lovers. As one of the few places in Austin where dogs can run unleashed, expect to be outnumbered by man's best friend. Former Texas governor Elijah Pease owned the property that now bears his name. Pease Park also has disc golf (similar to traditional golf but played with frisbees) and hosts the annual Eeyore's Birthday Party festival. Hamilton Pool Preserve 24300 Hamilton Pool Road Dripping Springs, TX 78620 United States - Phone: +1 512 264 2740 As part of the Pedernales River and Hamilton Creek, this old-fashioned swimming hole is perfect for the nature lover in all of us. A shaded walk through the canyon opens to the limestone outcroppings that create a 50-foot waterfall landing in the pool. A picnic on the banks of the pool, a swim in the cool water or a quick hike through the canyon will wash away city-accumulated stress. The trail to the pool is fairly short (1/4 of a mile) but does include a series of rock steps. Good hiking shoes are recommended. Visitors with physical disabilities should call ahead to pre-arrange assistance. Parking is limited, and the pool is very popular so go early and stay late. Austin Ghost Tours 303 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 853 9826 In a town with as much history as Austin, you are destined to find some scary stories and haunted locations. This tour takes you through downtown to experience some of the ghosts of this city's past. Hear stories about famous Austinites who have died, but never seemed to leave town. Learn about serial killers pre-dating Jack the Ripper, murders and mayhem, as well as spooks and haunts of Austin's sordid past. This tour may be a bit too much for small children. But adults will find it a wonderful way to learn about Austin's secret history. Manor Downs 9200 Hill Lane Manor, TX 78653 United States - Phone: +1 512 272 5581 Manor Downs is a quarter horse race track and just ten minutes from Austin off Highway 290. Each spring, horses fly down the track while excited onlookers hoot and holler for their pick of the race. Simulcasting is offered Wednesday through Sunday and on holiday Mondays year round. Up to fifteen live races are broadcast daily from other premier horse and dog tracks in America. They can be viewed on one of the monitors scattered under the Manor Downs grandstand or at the Turf Club. The club offers a full bar service in two large viewing rooms (one smoking, the other non-smoking). Frank Erwin Center 1701 Red River Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 7744 Also known as 'The Drum,' this fantastic venue is host to some of the best performances in Austin. Although owned and operated by the University of Texas, academia is far from the list of performers. Primarily used for the University of Texas men's and women's basketball games, many of the large touring music shows also utilize this space. Everyone from Bob Dylan to Pavarotti to ZZ Top has graced this stage. With a capacity to seat roughly 17,000 spectators, this is one of the largest venues in the city. Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge 100 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 5171(Tourist Information) Less than a century ago this bridge served as the gateway to Austin. Originally this was a wooden pedestrian bridge, on which travelers used to pay a toll of a nickel to cross the Colorado River — and an extra nickel for your horse! In 1902, the bridge was washed away in a flood and replaced with a new bridge designed to handle automobile traffic. Since that time, the bridge has maintained its status as a substantial through way for the people of Austin. One of the most amazing sights in Austin takes place every dusk from March to early November, when 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from their roosts under the bridge. Old State Capitol Building Ruins Congress Avenue at 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 3366 Originally housing the first classes ever held by the University of Texas at Austin in 1894, the remains of Austin's first state house is directly across from the current State Capitol Building. Once serving as a temporary capitol building after a fire destroyed the original, the only remains are the foundation and cistern. Take a moment and consider the great achievements, trials and tribulations that have molded Texas into the state it is today. University of Texas Visitors Information Center 405 West 25th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 1000 This historic building was originally designed as the Austin Asylum for the Blind in 1857. In post-Civil War Reconstruction, Major George Armstrong Custer occupied it. Today, it is a starting point for visitors to the University of Texas campus. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the Freshman Admissions Center located in this building to receive admission counseling and information about the university, as well as attend programs especially designed to meet the needs of incoming freshmen. Symphony Square 1101 Red River Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6064 On the banks of Waller Creek, a complex of four 19th century limestone buildings has been combined to create this wonderful shopping space. The Austin Symphony office and Serrano's Cafe and Cantina take up most of the buildings. In the summer, this site is the home of the Symphony's Summer Music Festival, large civic parties and special events including many days dedicated to children's activities. Lone Star Riverboat 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1388 Take a tour with Lone Star Riverboat down the Colorado River (known as Town Lake in the Austin city limits) on a paddle wheel boat. This Southern style of transportation is a perfect way to take in the city's skyline. Trips are 90 minutes long and do not require reservations. Call ahead to determine the seasonal schedule. During the summer moonlight cruises are offered, as well as close-up cruises of the bats underneath Congress bridge. Prices vary by excursion, so check their website for further information. McBeth Recreation Center 2401 Columbus Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 9011 This public recreation center welcomes all children, but is equipped for special-needs children. With a one to four (staff to student) ratio for its youth programs, it offers a craft room for exploring creativity, a kitchen where children are assisted in cooking programs, a sand play area, and a uniquely designed playscape. All activities are easily adapted for individual needs with transfer stations located throughout. Call ahead to discuss your child's interests; the staff is friendly and very helpful. On Fridays, off-site bowling is offered. Congress Avenue 1st to 11th Streets Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 800 926 2282 As one of Austin's most important streets, Congress Avenue's entire district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The buildings that frame the street are full of distinctive beauty. The oldest documented building is the Robinson-Rosner Building at 504 Congress (1856). Starting at the Capitol, the street continues south, passing fabulous little shops and eateries. Stop in at Hickory Street for a quick lunch, check out The State Theater or Paramount Theater to see what fantastic production is going on in the evening, or wander into Star bucks for coffee and treats. Clarksville District Between West 10th and Mo-Pac Expressway Austin, TX 78749 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 5171 Wander through the residential neighborhood behind the busy shops and see some of Austin's most fantastic historical homes. If you are looking for an area that shows off a little bit of every part of Austin's eclectic style, this neighborhood is perfect. You will also find many restaurants to dine in when you take a break from all of the shopping. For many years, this beautiful neighborhood was considered the outskirts of the city. Now, sitting just west of downtown and centrally located, it is a bustling shopping district with fabulous boutiques and wonderful eateries. Texas Federation of Women's Clubs 2312 San Gabriel Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5845 Constructed in 1933, this fantastic mansion is nestled among the skyscrapers of Austin's downtown area. For more than half a century, it served as the state headquarters for The Texas Federation of Women's Clubs. It's a Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop by and visit this beautiful link to our history. University of Texas Campus Tours 2400 Inner Campus Drive Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 7399 The best way to learn about the University of Texas at Austin campus is through one of their wonderfully informative tours. Student guides lead walking tours and discuss a wide range of issues including academic programs, student services, community life and the history of the university. University of Texas Campus Tours start at the Information Desk on the ground floor of the Main Building (also known as the UT Tower). Wear comfortable shoes-the campus is much larger than the original 40 acres designated to hold these facilities. The tours last about one to one and a half hours. For larger groups, make reservations at least two weeks in advance by calling +1 512 475 7399. No tours on official University holidays. Bremond Block 700 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 9415 This fantastic neighborhood was built when downtown Austin was mostly residential. A relaxing stroll through the Bremond Block is a wonderful way to see the lavish homes that were once common in the Austin area. The Phillips-Bremond-Houston House (706 Guadalupe, built in 1854) is one of the oldest homes on the block. Wanting to keep his family close to him, Eugene Bremond purchased the surrounding area and built homes for many of his children and relatives. Eleven of these stately, historic homes still stand today. Highlights of this walking tour include the North Cottage, the Henry Hirshfeld House, the North-Evans Chateau, McLaughlin House and the Pierre Bremond House. Some houses on the block are open to the public; others are used as businesses. While tourists are encouraged to enjoy the Bremond Block, please respect the grounds of private owners. South Congress Avenue South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 Cross the river from downtown and enter the wonderful South Congress Avenue District. Browse through its many shops and check out eateries that tantalize the taste buds and the pocketbooks. Check out Uncommon Objects, a wonderful import and knick knack shop, or The Armadillo Market, which carries everything Texas. For the famished shopper, there are more than enough options: Tex-Mex at Guerro's or the eclectic Magnolia Café are all favorites with the locals. After a cup of coffee or lunch, you should browse the retro resale shops along the avenue. Swisher-Scott House (The) 2408 Sweetbrush Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000 Built in 1856 and designed by the noted architect Abner Cook, this stately home has a two-story portico with paired columns. Originally known as the John Milton Swisher house, it once stood on San Antonio Street, but was later moved to Sweetbrush. For many years, Swisher-Scott House was the home of noted Austin native Zachary Scott—an actor. This is a private home and was added in 1998 to the National Register of Historic Places. Jeremiah Hamilton House 1101 Red Rive Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6064 Jeremiah Hamilton House is one of the few remaining stone wedge-shaped structures still standing in the state. Jeremiah Hamilton built this centerpiece of Symphony Square himself. As an African-American carpenter elected to the State House of Representatives in 1870, Hamilton later became a delegate to the 1873 Republican Convention. Other buildings in Symphony Square include the Michael Doyle House and the McCraven-Wilson house, which was an early Austin nightclub but has now been restored as a 19th-century general store. The Hardeman House, also part of the square, is now a Mexican restaurant (Café Serrano). Millett Opera House 112 East 9th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 Built in 1878, Frederick Ernst Ruffini designed this fabulous two-story limestone opera house; Millett Opera House is the last surviving structure by this architect in the city of Austin. This grand building hosted more than just opera in its day. Boxing matches, vaudeville, political rallies and medicine shows filled out the playbill for this establishment. The lavish interior is even grander than the outside. This wonderful example of Victorian architecture is available for private functions. Woodburn House Bed & Breakfast 4401 Avenue Drive Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 4335 The simple architecture and native history highlight this former residence of Bettie Hamilton Woodburn, who resided in the house from 1909-1920. As the daughter of Andrew Jackson Hamilton, a provisional governor of Texas, she welcomed many notable Texans and world leaders into her home. Erected at 200 East 40th Street, the Woodburn House Bed & Breakfast has since been moved and reflects the American Arts and Crafts period. Tours by appointment only. Please call for available hours. Mary Quinlan Park 1705 South Quinlan Park Road Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 854 7275 This wonderful day-use park at Mary Quinlan Park is located at the upper end of Lake Austin. Visitors enjoy the waterfront, as well as 5.8 acres of land in this secluded park. The lake is great for windsurfing, water skiing and fishing. Picnic facilities with barbecue grills add to the wonderful natural surroundings of this little getaway. Live Oak Brewing Company 3301 East Fifth Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 385 2299 Several Austin restaurants and bars have Live Oak brands (including Big Bark Amber Lager, Live Oak Pale Ale and Live Oak Pilz) on tap. Beer-enthusiasts will appreciate not only the rich malt flavors they find in the tasting room, but also the process behind the brew. The two owners of this company traveled to Prague to learn ancient techniques, and then developed their own unique process. The guided tour, which explains how decoction mash, open fermentation and secondary lagering make Live Oak beers unique, takes about two hours. Free samples follow every tour. West Austin Park 1317 West 10th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 6700 This lush, green park lies at the center of the charming Clarksville neighborhood in Central Austin. You can sit in the shade under the tall, thick trees or bathe in the sun on the hill above a wide, grassy plain. This area is a popular hangout for dog owners, and also has a basketball and tennis court. On any given day, you will likely witness amateur skateboarders showing off their acrobatics while flying off the end of ramps set up along an abandoned court. Bullock Texas State History Museum 1800 North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 936 8746 / +1 512 936 4649(Tickets) A 35-foot (10.7 meters) bronze Lone Star sculpture greets visitors at the entrance of this epic museum. This place narrates the story of Texas, sharing its rich cultural heritage and traditions. The three floors of the impressive building present interactive exhibits, special effects shows and more. On the first floor, you will find a permanent exhibit called Encounters on the Land, which highlights the first meetings between Native Americans and European explorers. The second and third floors have exhibits that showcase the evolution of Texas from the time of its inception. The museum boasts a total of 17 media installations and over 700 artifacts, not to mention Austin's only IMAX Theater. Austin Segway Tours 30 North IH-35 Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 9250 / +1 512 699 6051 See the beautiful sights of Austin like you've never seen them before by gliding on a Segway. Segways have a platform perched on two wheels with a patented gyroscope balancing system enabling the standing rider to maneuver by tilting forward or backwards while using the steering control on the left side of the handlebar to turn. They offer 7 days a week, 365 day a year guided 2.5 hour Segway tours, visiting the Governor's Mansion, the Texas State Capital, the world famous 6th Street entertainment district, the new 2nd Street shopping district and much more. The guided Segway tours are informative and rated as one of the highest quality tours in Texas which are ideal for families, visitors, residents and work groups for team building activities. Reservations are strongly recommended. University of Texas Tower Tours University Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6636(Tickets) Summertime signals the return of the popular escorted twilight tours of the University of Texas Tower. Enjoy sweeping vistas of campus and the surrounding Austin community from the Tower's deck, as sunset fades to amber hues and city lights twinkle across the horizon. History and crime buffs will also appreciate this tour. It's the site of the notorious killing spree meted out by Charles Whitman on August 1, 1966. Using the tower as a sniper's perch, Whitman opened fire on unsuspecting people below, killing fourteen innocent victims in ninety minutes. Oliver Stone in Natural Born Killers (1994) makes reference to this dark day in Texas Tower history. Armadillo World Headquarters Plaque 505 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 The ground where the One Texas Center stands was the site of the beloved Armadillo World Headquarters. One of Austin's most popular music hall, the Armadillo was a popular hangout for all kinds of people. The list of famous musicians who've played here is illustrious; from AC/DC to Frank Zappa, they've all graced the stage. The Armadillo World Headquarters shut down in 1980 on the grounds of bankruptcy. The commemorative plaque is still a testimony. Music may die, but it'll be remembered forever. Hyde Park 45th Street @ 40th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098(Tourist Information) Located near the University of Texas, Austin, Hyde Park is a bustling area, full of young people, shoppers and businesses. The park also features many historical landmarks. The Col. Monroe M. Shipe House, where the designer of Hyde Park lived. The Elisabet Ney Museum, a showcase of the sculptor's work in her studio, is also located in Hyde Park. The Shadow Lawn Historic District within Hyde Park showcases amazing works of early, yet advanced, architecture. Drag (The) Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 (Tourist Information) The section of Guadalupe Street that borders the western edge of the University of Texas campus is called The Drag. It's filled with a variety of shops popular with the student body, such as underground bookstores, tattoo parlors, music stores, gift shops, and thrift stores. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes along the street to stop in when you're getting hungry. The Drag is only about a few blocks long, so it makes for a nice stroll on a sunny day. Waterloo Park 403 East 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6700 The Waterloo Park in the heart of downtown is a beautiful 10.74 acre city park. A lovely and delightful space of green in the midst of concrete, it's like an oasis—lending it's sanctity to the people of the city. The Waller Creek runs through the middle of the park and there are trails for those who love hikes and treks. Besides serving the city people with serene calm from busy city life, the park also doubles as a site for concerts, festivals, and other special events throughout the year. South Park Meadows Slaughter Lane & IH-35 Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 682 5500 South Park Meadows is a place that promises to be the next residential hot-spot. Although at present this area of around 465 acres of land, is scattered with a plethora of stores and eateries that have already enabled this place to gain tourist popularity. Shops ranging from clothing to lifestyle, makes for a wonderful shopping experience. Joints such as TGI and Cine Mark, make sure that you have a good time. Immaculately mowed lawns, and mini playhouse for the kids around the street serves to be a pleasant change. If that's not enough, one can also come down to catch some awesome concerts and rock shows. Cathedral of Junk 4422 Lareina Drive Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 299 7413 Tucked away in the backyard of a residential neighborhood is the Cathedral of Junk, a work in progress over 20 years in the making. Created by Vince Hanneman, the Cathedral turns old and discarded items into an ever-evolving structural work of art. Using old tires, hubcaps, all manner of metal scraps, pipes and more, Hanneman works and reworks the multi-level space into a playground of sorts for adults and children alike. As far out as it is, the Cathedral of Junk is, surprisingly, invisible from the street in front of it — only upon entering the backyard are visitors met with the mass of tangled metal and functioning electric items. Republic Square Park 422 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 Republic Square in Downtown Austin is one of the city's original parks when the city was founded in the early 19th Century. There are plenty of cultural and social events held here throughout the year, including concerts, free movies and even yoga. The weekly farmers' market is also a popular attraction of this easily accessible park in Austin. Brush Square Park 409 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1566 Brush Square Park is a historic landmark in downtown Austin. Occupying less than an acre in the heart of the city, the location was designated a square, when acclaimed fiction writer O. Henry's house was moved to the area and given the status of a public museum. The refreshing greens are ideal for casual group meetings and picnics. Amidst the scattered benches, the sidewalks, the trees and shrubs, pleasant times can be spent. Brush Square Park also hosts multiple concerts and live events. Saunter past this historic place, pay a visit to the O. Henry House Museum, and soak in the natural ambiance! Lockhart City Park 504 East City Park Road Lockhart, TX 78644 United States - Phone: +1 512 398 3461 Lockhart City Park is a centrally located public park in Lockhart. It is managed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Lockhart, and is one of the biggest stretches of park lands in the heart of the city. Take a leisurely stroll down the verdant greens in the evening or take a refreshing dip in the attractive pool. One of the busiest of city parks, it hosts a variety of community events like the Lockhart Little League Expo Day, Fourth of July Fireworks Display, District High School Cross Country and so on. Visit website for more information. Fiesta Gardens 2101 Bergman Avenue Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 8318 Over the years, Austin's Fiesta Gardens have been home to numerous festivals and cultural events. This venue has become a firm favorite with organizers because of the thick grass and luscious foliage which prevent it from becoming an annoying dust-filled space. A sheltered pavilion coupled with multiple stages and a superlative layout along the waterside, sets apart these festive gardens from other outdoor event spaces. Frost Bank Tower 401 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6415(Tourist Information) Frost Bank Tower is a skyscraper in Austin that is also known as 'Spike'. This tower stands at 515 feet and has a total of 33 floors. The tower is mainly known for the ALA Fight for Climb, an event held every year in the tower. The event includes people climbing all the way to the top of the tower for a good cause. Hundreds of of participants from all over take up the challenge. For more details on the event as well as the tower, do call ahead. Donn's Depot 1600 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0336 Come enjoy country western music in a railroad relic. This venue, although slightly outside of downtown, provides an excellent opportunity to dance and watch older country western pros strut their stuff. The old Texas feel and the relaxing atmosphere make a great team with cold beer and great music. Broken Spoke 3201 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 6189 Broken Spoke is a western honky-tonk that was established in 1964 and rapidly became an Austin favorite for country-western dancing. The “Spoke” is true country in a real dance hall with a real wood-plank floor. Watch cowboys and locals two-step the night away to live bands from around Texas. This dance hall provides an excellent atmosphere for those just learning to two-step or die-hard country fans driving in from the ranch for the weekend. Practice the Polka, Texas Two-Step or the Chicken, and be sure to try the Cotton-Eyed Joe. There is also a restaurant that serves traditional country food like chicken fried steak. Iron Cactus 606 Trinity Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 9240 This three-story bar is home to one of Austin's best margaritas. Relax on the rooftop bar and watch the crowd meander up Sixth Street, or sit downstairs as the crowds bustle past the huge windows. Patrons enjoy live music at night and during the day, the full-service Southwestern restaurant provides a convenient range from late lunch to happy hour, or dinner to dancing. Stubb's Bar-B-Q 801 Red River Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 8341 Besides providing some of the best barbecue in town, Stubb's Bar-B-Q has a huge outdoor venue that can host rock concerts. A brainchild of Christopher B. Stubblefield, the original Stubb's Bar-B-Q was set up in Lubbock; when it shut its doors this Red River location kept up the Stubb tradition of providing delicious barbecued meat, chilled beer and rocking music. Family platters are also served here. Come early to get a bite to eat, then stay and watch the shows. Sullivan's 300 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 6504 This premiere bar and restaurant located in the Warehouse district is by far a first choice for one of the best steaks available in Austin. Besides a great steak, they host live jazz in their New York-style jazz bar. Bring a date and sit around one of the many cozy tables or up front right below the elevated band. If you just want to grab a top-shelf cocktail, head over to the separate bar and enjoy. The ambiance of the restaurant is pretty high-end and classy, and this is reflected in their prices as well. Scholz Garten 1607 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 1958 Opened in 1866, this bar has become a mecca for every Texas governor and quite a number of other people. This is Texas's oldest beer garden; it now provides an extensive menu of traditional bratwurst and sauerkraut as well as barbecue favorites. As is tradition, the bar is a favorite during, before and after the University of Texas Longhorn games. Even if there is not a game, this is still one of the best places to sit back and enjoy a cold beer. Casino El Camino 517 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 469 9330 Besides its great name, this bar is a fabulous place to grab a beer. Casino El Camino also features one of the largest burgers this side of the Mississippi. The jukebox is always crammed with your favorite rock 'n' roll hits, and the staff is very friendly. The lighting inside is subdued, and patrons enjoy the outdoor patio featuring its own birdbath. Hudson's on the Bend 3509 Ranch Road 620 North Austin, TX 78734 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 1369 Tucked away in the trees near Lake Austin is a country home, where some of the best game in the city is offered at the table. A taste for the exotic is definitely welcome here, as are hearty appetites. Instead of those tired, old crab cakes, try Omar's Rattlesnake Cakes. Sample rabbit, javelina, boar or venison one at a time, or get a mixed Grill Platter for a varied feast like no other. You can even do a modern take on surf-and-turf, a Black Angus Beef Tenderloin topped with lobster. Oasis Lake Travis (The) 6550 Comanche Trail Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 2442 This sunset gazers' spot revamped its menu, focusing on Tex-Mex a mix, so that people would come here for the food. But even the best food cannot compete with the view. With tiered decks stair-stepped down the side of a 450-foot cliff overlooking Lake Travis, The Oasis Lake Travis has a table with a view for everyone. It is a magnet for tourists and locals alike. The menu is varied, split between Tex-Mex and traditional fare like pulled pork and chile burger. The food is moderately priced, but who can quibble with prices when the sunset is so priceless? Eastside Cafe 2113 Manor Road Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5858 The central feature of this cozy cafe is not indoors, but out back: a kitchen garden overflowing with the herbs and vegetables that populate the daily menu. These earthly delights are cleverly integrated into soups, side dishes, appetizers and entrees. The soups are standouts, and the ever-changing selection of side dishes keeps the menu fresh. Half orders are available for those with smaller appetites. While you wait for a table, browse Pitchforks & Tablespoons, the garden and kitchen shop on the grounds. Shady Grove 1624 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 9991 Sit at a patio table under the huge oaks and you will discover why this spot is called Shady Grove. One of the best patios ever created is reason enough to stop by, and the consistently tasty, crowd-pleasing food is a great bonus. Happy hour is offered Monday through Friday 4p to 7p. A menu standard is the Hippie Sandwich, a concoction of sautéed vegetables, cheese and a sub-style roll. Add a chicken breast and you have got the Hippie Chick. Kids love the chicken fingers and the burgers are great, too. Plus, this place has personality - just check out the bathroom (housed in an old Airstream trailer). Brick Oven on 35th 1608 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 4330 This cozy Italian spot in a renovated house turns out some of the best pizza in the city. But the full menu of pastas and appetizers make this more than a pizzeria. The copper oven is still central to the experience, even if pasta is what you order: Wonderful, crusty breads are served with pepper-spiked olive oil for dipping, and the smell of pizza baking in the wood oven permeates the place. Ravioli is a crowd-pleaser, and so are all the pizza varieties. Lunch specials give Italian lovers no excuse for passing this place by. Incidentally, this restaurant is owned by the founder of the original Brick Oven on Red River, which is now a franchise. Emerald Restaurant 13614 Highway 71 West Austin, TX 78738 United States - Phone: +1 512 263 2147 A Hill Country limestone cottage converted to an elegant restaurant? Yes, it can be done, and done well. This is a favorite spot for romantics of all stripes, who come for the harp music and relaxing, three-hour dinners. A prix-fixe menu is available, as well as an a la carte menu. The prix-fixe dinner includes bread, salad, appetizer, entree and dessert, and is uniformly well-executed. The Chateaubriand melts in your mouth, and the truffle-topped Tenderloin Medallions are extraordinary. Azteca Restaurant (El) 2600 East Seventh Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 4701 Classic Tex-Mex food can be difficult to find in this era of concept chain restaurants hawking bland versions of the real thing. Once you discover this place, however, you will search no longer. Basic, time-honored Mexican combination plates join ranks here with Interior Mexican specialties and an extensive selection of vegetarian choices. Cheese Enchiladas with Salsa Verde are so good, they're comforting, and classic Chile Con Queso cannot be beaten. Chile Rellenos, Fajitas and other standards are reliably tasty as well. Aztec heroes and heroines, emblazoned on black velvet, keep you company while you dine. Take home an Aztec calendar to remind yourself to return. Green Pastures 811 West Live Oak Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 4747 Southern-style cooking is often thought of as down-home, but at this restaurant, home is a plantation. Relaxing over brunch on the veranda, one almost expects to see Scarlett O'Hara floating by in a hoop skirt. The brunch buffet is always full to groaning with everything from boiled shrimp to a standing rib roast, carved to order. The dinner menu may be traditional, but all the entrees are reliably tasty. The breads are fabulous and the desserts are sinfully rich. Enjoy sipping on a mint julep while watching the peacocks make their way across the lawn. Hut's Hamburgers 807 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0693 The menu may be broader than the burgers, but the burgers are what sets this place apart. There are 20 varieties in all, based on a thick, juicy, medium rare patties. Burgers range from the simplest one-patty version to a double-meat buffalo burger with all the trimmings. As for sides, the onion rings, fries, Buffalo wings are a few options. For those who want their beef sans bun, they offer savory chicken fried steak, cooked tender with gravy that's neither too thick, nor too runny. Whatever you order, be sure that you ask for lots of napkins! Threadgill's Home Cookin' 6416 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 5440 Neon beer signs and vintage clocks line the walls of this Austin institution, a gas station-turned-restaurant that also offers up live music. If comfort food is your pleasure, this is the right place, and if you like your vegetables, you will be in heaven. Whatever the entree, seconds on vegetables come free. Pork roast and fried chicken are great, but the chicken-fried steak is not to be missed. The San Antonio Squash will please even those who turn up their noses at the vegetable. And of course, the mashed potatoes and black-eyed peas are heavenly. Rich, crumbly cornbread comes free, but white-flour rolls are extra (and worth it). Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano 504 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 7497 For elegant Italian dining in Austin, visit Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano. The rustic, brick facade, outdoor patio, and upscale decor are impressive, but the friendly service is what will take your dining experience over the top. Savory, authentic dishes like the veal marsala and parmesan chicken will sweep you away. Carmelo's Ristorante Italiano is also an ideal place to celebrate your event or spend a romantic time with your date. Cafe at the Four Seasons (The) 98 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 4500 In Texas, the best, most creative restaurants often meld Southwestern flavors with tried-and-true European dishes to conjure up a new cuisine entirely. So it is at this hotel restaurant, which consistently tops the list of Austin's best. Try the restaurant's specialty, to see how traditional blends with Texas flavors: Focaccia Crusted Pork Tenderloin served with Texas Ruby Red grapefruit and a citrus beurre blanc. But it is not just the centerpiece of a meal here that is outstanding. From the basket heaped with four types of bread and three flavors of butter to the sumptuous creme brulee, the food is consistently well conceived and perfectly executed. The atmosphere is soothing and sophisticated, and the people watching is unparalleled; everyone from visiting celebrities to politicians to high-tech execs dines here. Manuel's Downtown 310 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 7555 With all the black leather, neon and jazz here, one might be suspicious. Is this a trendy Mexican joint where the food takes a back seat to the slick atmosphere? The answer is a resounding "no." One bite of the Chile Relleno en Nogada is the proof; tender Pork Picadillo studded with raisins and stuffed into a roasted poblano pepper, then sauced with walnut cream. Or try the Enchiladas, Gorditas and Flautas; all make excellent choices. Sunday brunch, with live jazz, is a winner, but dinner and happy hour are the real standout events. The second location is on Jollyville Road. Serrano's Cafe and Cantina 1111 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 9080 With six locations around the city, this home-grown restaurant chain attempts to take Tex-Mex beyond the expected, and sometimes succeeds. In any event, it is a reliable source of the genre's traditional favorites, from nachos and stuffed jalapenos to tacos, enchiladas and fajitas. Here at Symphony Square, Serrano's is housed in an old, historic, triangular home. Start with the Botana Plate, a sampling of appetizers and move on to that Mexican staple, cheese enchiladas. This is basic Tex-Mex at its best. Hyde Park Bar and Grill 4206 Duval Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 3168 This is a perennial Austin favorite. Some come for the battered fries served with pepper-and-onion-spiked mayonnaise; others for the Chicken-fried Steak with its crispy exterior topped with luscious cream gravy. Everyone has a favorite here. But it is not just the reliably tasty food that attracts folks; it is the laid-back, friendly atmosphere, the people-watching and the late hours. Grilled Fish and salads are on the menu, along with the heartier Chicken-fried Steak and tasty, acclaimed burgers. You may be too full for dessert, although you will be missing out, if you skip it. Kerbey Lane Cafe 3704 Kerbey Lane Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 1436 Kerbey Lane Cafe has been cloned several times now, but the original location of this Austin icon is still a local favorite. Its wonderfully diverse menu is a sight to behold for vegetarians. The vegetables are homegrown and pesticide-free, and the beef and chicken are free-range. Breakfast features omelets, pancakes and great breakfast tacos. The restaurant is open 24 hours, every day. No wonder it is an institution here. El Sol y La Luna 600 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 7770 El Sol y La Luna has some of the best Mexican food in the city. This establishment certainly serves the best Mexican breakfast with items like their huevos rancheros, migas and breakfast tacos. Their Posole, a chicken soup with a masa broth, is heavenly and is worth a try. Their enchiladas and tacos are also a tasty treat. A large patio beckons on fine days, and the inside dining space is cool, light and comfortable, with a sun-moon-and-stars mural on the floor and overhead. Relax in the morning with a coffee and a taco, and at night with a bottle of beer and some mole poblano. This isn't just a fabulous eatery. There are live music and events had at this hub of culture and community. Magnolia Cafe 2304 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 8645 At Magnolia Cafe there is comfort food to please adults and children alike, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You will wait for a table, especially on weekends, but the wait only serves to sharpen the appetite for breakfast tacos and gingerbread pancakes, fajitas and burgers, grilled chicken and vegetarian entrees. The kid's menu is vast, offering burgers, black bean and chicken tacos and breakfast items. The atmosphere is relaxed and homey. A second location is on South Congress Avenue. Malaga Tapas & Bar 440 West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 8020 This upscale tapas bar features traditional sample plates of Spanish favorites and a wide variety of wine available by the glass. Vegetable empanadas are flaky, rich packages filled with spinach and ricotta or a daily special filling. The Arroz Con Pollo, chicken with a tasty saffron rice, is not to be missed. The slick atmosphere belies the comfortable feel. After work, this is a happening place for the downtowners. Chez Nous 510 Neches Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2413 With fusion food on the rise and the word 'bistro' thrown around willy-nilly, it is comforting to find an authentic one of the French variety. Homemade pate, roasted chicken and crepes, wonderfully executed and served in a cozy, dimly lit dining room dominated by a long bar. Rich, toothsome dishes such as Escalopes de Veau aux Noix can be accompanied by an appropriately Gallic wine from the well-populated wine list. Try the Salade Chez Nous, and do not miss the Crepe du Jour. Cafe Josie 1200 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 9226 Ensconced behind a charming art gallery on West Sixth, is this jewel of a Caribbean cafe. Established in 1997, Café Josie is still piquing the taste-buds of Austin diners. With an intimate dining room and an enclosed patio, the atmosphere is casual, but the food is out of this world. Chicken, beef and seafood, all cooked to a turn and spiced up with the zesty flavors of the islands. It is a step above your typical "fusion" restaurant. Try the Honey Chipotle Shrimp served on Cotija Black Beans and Poblano Rice, with Green Chile Polenta, Manchego Cheese, and Ancho Chile as an entree. The Blackberry Ginger Crisp is a fitting end to the meal. Corazon at Castle Hill 1101 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 0728 The menu at Castle Hill Cafe offers Mexican and American dishes that are delicious and enticing. Try the shrimp enchiladas, seared sea bass or peppercorn crusted beef tenderloin. The menu changes every few weeks as the chefs try out new creations. Some entrees are offered without meat for vegetarians. If you're not in the mood for food, you can sip on coffee or go to the bar and order a cocktail. Their bar features great happy hour specials. Mercado (El) 1302 South First Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 7445 The sombreros and parrots, mixed with the Mexican music in the background, could fool diners into thinking they stepped into a fiesta. This good old-fashioned restaurant is serious about its Mexican food, served with a progressive touch. From breakfasts of huevos, rancheros or migas to dinners of grilled chicken, shrimp, fajitas and more, the food here does not fail to satisfy. The atmosphere is casual; the patio is terrific and the hot sauce is great. Iron Works Barbecue 100 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 4855 The old Weigl family iron works no longer forges metal, but a tasty assortment of fine Texas barbecue. With walls adorned by branding irons, the motif is quintessentially Western, perhaps for the benefit of conventioners from the nearby convention center. At the counter, order your choice of sliced beef, chicken, beef ribs, pork ribs, pork loin and sausage for a two-meat combo plate completed with sides of potato salad and beans. Or make your choice of meat by the pound. The spicy sauce is a tangy counterpoint. And if you are craving barbecue somewhere far away, note that Iron Works ships their goods anywhere. Arroyo (El) 1624 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 1222 If there is a wait at this popular restaurant, order a classic margarita or a 'floater' and dip into the chips and hot sauce and/or queso. Before long, you will be addressing a plate full of the Tex-Mex standard of your choice. Or try any of the variations on barbecued chicken-the chalupas of this variety are especially tasty. Entrees make this a fairly inexpensive spot, provided you do not get carried away on the margaritas. The atmosphere is fun and lively, and El Arroyo has a sense of humor: Just check out the pointedly witty billboard out front, with daily commentary on politics and more. Eddie V's Prime Seafood 9400 B Arboretum Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 342 2642 Located to the north of Austin, Eddie V's offers Gulf coastal cuisine and specializes in seafood and steaks. The menu comprises extraordinary dishes, such as oysters, shrimp, Maine lobster, Ahi tuna, calamari, crab and shellfish. Head to the V Lounge to enjoy live jazz music as you devour a wide selection of wines and cocktails. Happy hours and the elegant ambience will make it difficult to resist. Host your event at Eddie V's Prime Seafood, be it a business meet or a celebration, the amicable staff will ensure it's a success. Jeffrey's 1204 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5584 Open since 1975, this Austin establishment has been a mainstay on the fine dining scene ever since. The complimentary valet service, charming Clarksville neighborhood setting, and exquisite cuisine prepared by expert chef Larry McGuire has this place constantly buzzing with activity. The imaginative menu will have your mouth watering as you try to decide between a bone-in New York strip steak or Akaushi ribeye and whether or not you want to top it with garlic confit and rosemary butter or béarnaise sauce. Don't forget to save room for desserts, their soufflés are often raved about. Fonda San Miguel 2330 West North Loop Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 4121 Step inside this hacienda-style restaurant and find yourself whisked far south by the Mexican interior, where fine food is served in a charming colonial atmosphere. Chef Roberto Sabatinez has added his own creative dishes to the menu of old favorites, including a wonderfully imaginative chile relleno that employs an ancho chile rather than the usual poblano. Traditional dishes are well prepared and the desserts go beyond the flan usually offered at many Mexican restaurants. Brunch is not to be missed; especially for those who love the Mexican custom of making the late morning meal a long, leisurely affair. Madeleine (La) 9828 Great Hills Trail Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 502 2474 This restaurant is decorated as a French cafe in the countryside and the patriarchal owner of this chain really does hail from France. Many of the recipes come from owner Patrick Esquerre's mother's recipe box. The Tomato Basil Soup is a big favorite during fall and winter; use it to start a meal of quiche, Roasted Chicken, wood-fired pizzas or simply a Caesar Salad. Breakfast is also served daily, and includes both hot items and pastries, along with the restaurant's signature French Roast coffee. In desserts, try Ann's Cake, an Almond Croissant or a Pecan Tart. Chuy's 1728 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 4452 Equal parts Tex-Mex restaurant and Elvis Presley shrine, this place combines south-of-the-border dining with a Graceland atmosphere, all for a well-affordable price. The wait staff, friendly and helpful, have been voted as the fastest in town by 'Austin Chronicle' readers. Given the competition, it is no small accomplishment that this is commonly considered the best Tex-Mex restaurant in town. The Elvis homage, oddly enough, works. Hubcaps and images of the rock icon set the stage for a dining experience that is pleasant and casual. The menu features a variety of Mexican dishes (the house special, an overstuffed chicken-and-green-chile confection called a Chuychanga, is especially recommended), steaks and burgers, and features a selection of cold beers and mixed drinks to help wash down the hearty meals. Other branches are found at 10520 North Lamar Boulevard and at 11680 Research Boulevard, Austin. Babe's / Babe's Stageside 208 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2262 Two clubs for the price of one, this place has a great selection of tasty hamburgers and other food items for a reasonable price, as well as a decent selection of beers and other drinks. The main performance area, the Stageside, is home to a number of artists-in-residence as well as visiting acts who can be seen and heard on a stage that once housed loud metal bands but is now home to a wider variety of performing styles, both locals and visitors. Established in 1990, the place has become a major player in the competitive Sixth Street live music scene. Taj Palace 6700 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 9959 Since its opening in 1990, this Indian restaurant has been a local favorite. The tandoori lamb, chicken and seafood specialties are always a good bet, along with several spicy and mild curry dishes. One popular choice is the Barra Kebab (tandoori lamb), marinated in yogurt and spices to enhance its delicate flavor. Plenty of vegetarian entrees are available too. Fresh naan bread accompanies each entree, and wine is moderately priced. Although the atmosphere is somewhat upscale, casual to more dressy attire is acceptable. Austin Java The Original 1206 Parkway Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 1829 Despite its name, this is a full-scale restaurant offers more than just coffee. The menu happens to be one of the most extensive in town and covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast includes an assortment of American favorites as well as soft tacos. Lunch and dinner offer everything from salads, soups and sandwiches, two vegetarian entrees, burgers and pasta. Fresh-baked desserts are also available, as is a selection of beer and wine. Customers can keep it casual inside or on the patio while dining in this wooden frame house. Paradise Cafe 401 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5667 Located on Sixth Street amongst the action, this space offers a great beer selection and complete bar with a full service restaurant. You can satisfy your hunger pangs here as late as midnight. The casual atmosphere has remained since it was opened in 1981 as the city's first "fern bar"; enjoy all of the fabulous ferns. Appetizers include Fried Calamari served with a marinara sauce, Potato Skins covered in cheese, and Peel & Eat Shrimp; steamed, seasoned and served chilled. Main entrees include a variety of tacos and Southwestern dishes, salads, sandwiches, burgers, Chicken Parmesan served over garlic-basil fettuccine, Cajun Catfish served broiled or fried and even a Gardenburger. Upper Crust Bakery 4508 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 0102 Located in the Rosedale neighborhood, this bakery serves as a meeting spot for locals to enjoy their morning cup of coffee and a variety of pastry offerings. Stacks of already-read newspapers, are collected for others to enjoy, along with a variety of free local papers and magazines. Freshly baked bread is offered in a variety of styles and flavors. Lunch is often a busy time with customers enjoying salads, soups, sandwiches and pizzas. The crowd is relaxed and the staff is friendly. Mismatched tables and chairs are located throughout the café for dining in. Star Seeds Cafe 3101 North Interstate Highway 35 Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 7107 This funky roadside restaurant, located on the grounds of Days Inn University along Interstate 35, provides a hip late-night hangout for all types. Musicians and music fans alike mingle over omelets, breakfast tacos and a full range of diner food. Students are drawn to it because of the late night hours, convenience to UT and affordable menu items. After 2am there is often a wait while the bar crowd trickles in. The walls are covered with artwork, not anything typical, usually very eclectic or raw pieces are shown. The atmosphere is laid back and casual with diner booths filling the small space. Freebirds World Burrito 1000 East 41st Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 5514 Often overflowing with customers during the lunch hour, Freebirds World Burrito serves up fresh food quickly with your tastes in mind. A large staff is available to custom make burritos, tacos and quesadillas on the spot with a variety of tortilla options. Simple modern furnishings adorn the room with small tables grouped for dining. Start by ordering a regular, monster, or super-size burrito with a flour, wheat, cayenne, or spinach tortilla. Chicken and steak are offered, as well as several vegetables for creating vegetarian options. The Avo Taco is a favorite among vegetarians with fresh avocado, rice, sour cream, and cheese. Nice extras include cilantro, jalapenos, pico de gallo, roasted peppers and fresh lime juice. Hula Hut 3825 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 4852 Sit out on the pier, sip on a mango margarita, and watch the cigarette boats churn through the water while you feast on delightful dishes. In case you think you are in Hawaii, you are half right, the point of this place, set beside Oyster Landing, is to give you a Polynesian feeling deep in the Texas Hill Country. If Polynesian Tex-Mex sounds like a contradiction in terms, visit Hula Hut to experience this wonder. You can feast on tacos and fajitas, as well as mahi mahi and Hawaiian chicken. The platters are ideal for sharing with friends. Cafe Lago 1200 Lakeway Drive Lakeway, TX 78734 United States - Phone: +1 512 261 8141 Stop by this eatery if you are interested in sipping coffee with pancakes while you enjoy a scenic view, or chowing down on some serious lunch specials a bit later in the afternoon. The spinach lasagna is a good choice, as are the grilled sandwiches. Cafe Java, an alternate mode of operation, gives the place a nice coffeehouse ambiance, but does not interfere with the tasty items on the main menu. Boiling Pot (The) 700 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0985 This festive Cajun eatery, the Boiling Pot offers a little bit of New Orleans on Sixth Street. Be prepared to get messy, as boiled shrimp, crab legs and unshelled crawfish are the staples here, and eating with your hands is the norm. The food is always satisfying, with sides that should not be ignored—boiled potatoes, Cajun-style beans, corn-on-the-cob, rich gumbo and thick French bread. The atmosphere is decidedly laid back, with meals served on butcher paper. More than 70 kinds of beer are available from the full bar. County Line 6500 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1742 When it comes to barbecue in Austin, take a drive to enjoy the beautiful view of County Line on the Hill. Having won many awards for their lean delicious ribs, brisket and steaks, this Austin landmark also provides a winning view of the hill country and the potential for a great Texas sunset. If beef is not your preference, the chicken and seafood dishes are equally divine. So kick back and relax in this rustic roadhouse restaurant. Mekong River 215 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 8878 This is a consistently excellent Vietnamese restaurant with an extensive menu of reasonably priced entrées. Located in a roomy, two-story space in the middle of the bar and live music district, it is simply decorated with high ceilings and a small waiting area. It serves a variety of Pho (noodle soup), vermicelli and rice dishes topped with grilled or stir-fried meat and vegetables. No alcoholic beverages are served, but the Vietnamese coffee, iced or hot, is not to be missed. Enchiladas y Mas 1911 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 7100 Unbeatable Tex-Mex dishes, including burritos, enchiladas, crispy tacos and Migas are available. The restaurant recently expanded and moved to North Austin due to overflowing business in its previous campus location. The now roomy cafe is casual and generally bustling, with efficient and friendly service. The restaurant offers a full bar and serves beer and margaritas at some of the lowest prices to be found. Pizza Nizza 2712 Bee Caves Road No. 106 Rollingwood, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 7070 Located on Barton Springs' row of restaurants, this popular eatery serves gourmet pizzas, whole or by the slice, along with salads and pasta dishes, in a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere. An individual pizza runs with a number of toppings (goat cheese is recommended) and a bottle of house wine from the full bar makes a good meal. Lunchtime can occasionally be crowded, as Pizza Nizza offers an express lunch deal, but dinnertime is generally more low-key. Delivery is available to a limited area. Thai Passion 620 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1244 At Thai Passion, you will find outstanding Thai cuisine at an elegant downtown setting. They have a vast menu with a number of Thai specialties such as Thai Passion Noodles, served with chicken or tofu and vegetables in a mild soy-based sauce and stir fried pud ginger. If you wish to take the hotness quotient up a notch, try one of their curries such as Panang or Thai Passion curry. Although prices are on the higher end, their lunch prices are surprisingly reasonable. The restaurant is more upscale in the evenings. Ruby's BBQ 512 West 29th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1651 This restaurant features backwoods barbecue with not-so-traditional side dishes, including collard greens and vinaigrette coleslaw. The restaurant's decor reflects a down-home blues appeal. Ruby's BBQ offers a menu that focuses on barbecue made with all-natural beef in Texas and a house sauce that is one of the tastiest around. Moreover, Cajun dishes and vegetarian preparations are also provided. Beer and wine are offered. Catering is also available. See their website for further information. Ranch 616 616 Nueces Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7616 Ranch 616 feature the flavors and essence of quintessential Tex-Mex dining. This restaurant in downtown Austin is popular among locals and visitors alike. Start of with Fish or Shrimp Tacos, or Crispy Oysters with Chipotle Tartar that are a prelude to mains like Texas Black Angus Ribeye and Spanish Rice. The best way to compliment your meal is with Mezcal, a traditional spirit distilled in Mexico from the agave crop. Some of their varieties include organic Dulce Vida Reposado and the Don Julio 1942, with subtle hints of caramel, nut, cinnamon and chocolate. They also offer excellent catering facilities on hire for your house parties. Curra's Grill 14 East Oltorf Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 0012 Authentic, healthy-tasting Mexican food coupled with a laid-back atmosphere make Curra's Grill a great South Austin institution for any meal of the day. Its unique sauces and dishes are homemade and nicely run the spectrum from mild to spicy. Live music is featured on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoon. The crowd is usually festive and lively. Try the cochinita pibil, the foremost traditional dish of Yucatan, which features shredded pork served on a banana leaf with plantains. There are many fresh seafood offerings, including Camarones Chihuahua, shrimp sautéed with goat cheese and guajillo peppers. Musashino Sushi Dokoro 3407 Greystone Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 795 8593 This hidden treasure was rated one of the top 20 sushi restaurants in the nation by a guidebook for Japanese tourists. The traditional sushi and sashimi are served in an elegant, vibrant atmosphere. Musashino Sushi Dokoro also caters to the not-so-adventurous palate with tempura and teriyaki dishes. The sushi regular or deluxe platters are also offered with an all-cooked option. The Born in the USA variety of the menu offers various takes on the California roll and other American sushi hybrids. In addition, the Asparagus Roll is simply divine. Casa De Luz 1701 Toomey Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 2535 Serving macrobiotic food in a community setting, this restaurant offers natural, organic, vegan meals. One complete, balanced macrobiotic meal is created for lunch and another completely different meal will be offered for dinner. You will not find a menu, as the chef plans meals daily based on the seasons. The cooks work continuously during each meal to keep the fresh food coming, as you may go back for seconds as often as you like. The fresh steamed greens with almond sauce are a favorite of many patrons. Its environment is spacious and airy with many windows surrounding the dining area. There is even a silent table, where guests may eat without being disturbed. Mr. Natural 1901 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5228 This family-owned vegetarian Mexican restaurant and bakery is fresh and authentic. Its location in East Austin makes it a bit out of the way, but the food is definitely worth your time. Try the tamales, vegetarian enchiladas, or the tacos, even meat lovers will leave satisfied. After your meal, have a sweet potato empanada, a smoothie, vegan cookies, a slice of pumpkin, cherry or strawberry pie, or a piece of cheesecake. Special orders for baked goods are welcome year-round. Mr. Natural is also a full-service natural foods and vitamin shop, where you will find a variety of herbs and supplements. Chinatown on Mopac 3407 Greystone Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 343 9307 This is Austin's original upscale Chinese restaurant, offering the authentic dishes and seasoning of the Orient. Located just north of the intersection of Mopac (Loop 1) and Far West Boulevard. The unusual two-story building is elegantly decorated and enhances an always-pleasant dining experience. Banquet and catering facilities are available. Serving a vast array of weekday lunch specials, with entree, egg roll, rice, and soup. Chef specialties for dinner include Szechuan spicy duck and Coconut Curry Shrimp among many others. Patrons enjoy and relax at the upscale full bar. Mongolian Barbecue 117 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3938 Where else can you handcraft your own delicious Asian stir-fry? At this downtown location, you choose frozen meats and vegetables to top with any combination of sauces and seasonings. The cook then grills it all in a gigantic metal wok as you watch. It is a tasty and unique experience. Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso Bar 4222 Duval Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 323 2686 Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso Bar is truly a decadent destination, blending the sinful sweetness of Italian ice cream and the jolt of espresso with a fully stocked shot bar. The rich gelatos and delicate ices are made in house, with selections changing daily. Additionally, Dolce Vita offers some 30 single malt scotches and 40 liqueurs to accompany or top the fabulous desserts. With seating inside or on their small patio street-side, this makes for an experience like no other. Thundercloud Subs 3200 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 5010 This local chain that boasts the motto "fresh, fast, and healthy" offers sandwiches that taste fresher and less corporate than their competitors. Even better, the prices are affordable. Vegetarians will enjoy the Veggie Delight cold sub loaded with mushrooms, avocado, sprouts, black olives, cream cheese, onions, tomatos, and ThunderSauce — their trademark special sauce. The other subs offered are largely made up of traditional deli meats such as Smoked Chicken, Turkey, Tuna Salad, Roast Beef and Mixed Cuts. If you're looking for something lighter try a hummus sandwich or soup and salad. There are too many Austin locations to note them all here. Visit their Web site for a complete listing of locations. Look for franchise locations in the Houston area and San Antonio. Jake's Seafood and Steaks 3825 Lake Austin Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5253 The lovely setting on Lake Austin provides a perfect backdrop for this classy, yet relaxed eatery. Live cover music enhances the enjoyment of this establishment. Salads and entrees, running the gamut from porterhouse steaks designed to please a Texas-sized appetite, to the most fabulous seafood, smoked crab, lobster, scallops and shellfish, and much more. The Watership Room is ideal for a lunch, whereas the more formal Flagship Room provides the perfect setting for an expansive dinner. The place is dimly-lit, with a waterfront-style, and a prominent saxophone logo out front. Fish, lobster and crab add up to the menu along with beef, salads, soups and appetizers. A complete wine list includes both domestic and foreign brands. Maudie's Cafe 2608 West 7th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 3740 This casual dining establishment is known for its crazy-good Tex-Mex cuisine. From classic migas and enchiladas to fajitas with all the fixings, Maudie's Cafe has everything you need to fulfill those Tex-Mex cravings. Be sure to ask for the house made habanero and green specialty sauces for your chips or tacos, they add quite the kick! Delaware Subs 1104 West 34th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 8423 Delaware Subs has numerous locations all over town. Drop by the one close to your neighborhood for a huge, submarine sandwich placed on fresh French bread. The specialty of the house is their Philadelphia Cheese steak, which consists of grilled steak, mushrooms and onions topped with cheese and your choice of hot or sweet peppers. A large sandwich can comfortably feed two people. Different lunch specials are offered daily. Waterloo Ice House 600 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5400 Next door to Waterloo Records, this casual restaurant is a great place to catch music performed by local talent. Waterloo Ice House serves a variety of American and Tex-Mex food and offers a daily happy hour with half price appetizers. Customers are welcome to call in their orders for pick-up or dining in. Booths and tables are comfortably spaced throughout the room. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. Appetizers include Fried Mushrooms served with ranch dressing, Spicy Wings dipped in a tangy barbecue sauce and Chicken Nacho Grande. Salads, soups and spuds are on the menu, alongside Hill Country favorites which are mostly preparations with chicken and spicy sauces. Check website for other locations. 34th Street Cafe 1005 West 34th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 371 3400 34th Street Cafe tucked away just west of Lamar Boulevard, is a pleasant destination for a gourmet lunch. The restaurant is usually crowded with Hyde Park and Rosedale area professionals and residents. The interior is comfortable and intimate, with a number of tables scattered about its two open rooms. The decor is very simple, and the area is bright and inviting. It is quite popular with the lunch crowd, providing a relaxing escape from work. The menu is broad, with gourmet salads, Boar's Head meat and specialty sandwiches, quesadillas and pizzas. Everything served is homemade and delicious. Daily blue plate special includes items like chicken chalupas or fresh pasta. This is quick, fairly inexpensive gourmet fare. Milto's Pizza Pub 2909 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 1021 This campus area location offers excellent pizza, Greek items and pasta dishes for eating in. Prices are reasonable, and the service is generally efficient and friendly. The greek salad and rolls are crave-able, The atmosphere is perfect for an informal lunch while the menu is packed with excellent greek fan fare. Most of the time you can find students relaxing here after lectures or university. La Palapa 6640 Highway 290 East Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 8729 The name means "thatched roof," and it is hard to miss this one, atop a large Mexican restaurant alongside Highway 290. The casual, spacious interior allows for conversation without noise from the kitchen or too-close fellow diners crowding in. Generous Tex-Mex combination plates are the rule here. Try the satisfying enchiladas and bring the rest home for the next day. You will find nearly fish bowl-sized margaritas from the full bar that are not to be missed, and an all you can eat fajita buffet Saturday nights. Karaoke is offered in an adjacent area on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. Austin Pizza Garden 6266 Highway 290 West Austin, TX 78735 United States - Phone: +1 512 891 9980 The owners of this family-operated restaurant near the "Y" at Oak Hill previously ran a pizzeria voted the best in Indianapolis for 13 consecutive years. Their experience shows, as folks come for miles to try their authentic New York-style pizza. The century-old historic stone building is hard to miss, with a classic interior best described as casual, family-style Italian. The extensive menu offers a long line of signature pizzas, with Mexican, Hawaiian, Texas, and Greek varieties alongside familiar Italian pies. Also available are great salads, lasagna, stromboli and sandwiches overflowing with Italian meats and cheeses. A list of domestic and imported beer and vintage wine rounds out the selection. Iguana Grill 2900 Ranch Road Austin, TX 78734 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 8439 Located just outside the city in the hill country, Iguana Grill offers customers great lakeside views while they have a few drinks and enjoy cuisine from the interior of Mexico. Dishes are moderately priced, and the menu includes all traditional dishes like quesadillas, burritos, tacos and enchilada. Any attire from casual to dressy is fine and a generally laid-back attitude prevails. Iguana Grill boasts a serene patio that overlooks Lake Travis; this beautiful landscape forms your backdrop, as you dine. Bartlett's 2408 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 7333 Bartlett's has been serving up some of the best American cuisine around. Bartlett's has a business casual atmosphere with a touch of elegant flair. A full bar is available for patrons. Burgers and sandwiches provide a delectable treat for lunch. Perhaps a salad with one of the company's signature salad dressings would be more your style. For dinner, spoil yourself with the catch of the day grilled to perfection. There is also a gluten free menu. The wine selection is superb and the staff is ready to recommend the perfect accent to your entree. Hunan Lion 4006 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 3388 Hunan Lion has been a favorite for nearly two decades. Serving up healthy portions of gourmet Hunan and Mandarin cuisine at honest prices. Attractive atmosphere, but do not expect a lot of Oriental decor. More like a casual Austin restaurant with wood paneling, nice artwork and table linens. Recommended dishes are the hot and sour Soup, seafood rolls; chopped shrimp, scallops and mango wrapped in rice paper and fried, orange beef, lightly breaded and stir-fried in a thick, spicy, brown sauce with orange peel and red peppers; jalapeno chicken; crispy white meat strips accented with sliced jalapenos and black beans. Driskill Grill 604 Brazos Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 391 7162 Driskill Grill is perfect for a formal evening, a professional business lunch, or a comfortable breakfast. Lunch is more casual, but still served with a formal edge. Dinner is a candlelight event with wine savvy waiters and a chef that will visit your table. No matter what time of day, this full-service restaurant is ready to serve with a display of class. The décor consists of white linens and hardwoods with beautiful tapestry carpet. Enjoy steaks, pasta, lobster or the special of the day in this elegant atmosphere. Ancho's 700 San Jacinto at 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3700 Part of the expansive lobby of the Omni Hotel Downtown, Ancho's serves delicious southwestern cuisine with a Texas attitude. The atrium allows patrons to enjoy the open-air setting while still having a roof over your head. Whether you are staying at this centrally located hotel or looking for a casual dining experience, this restaurant can serve you a dish perfect for the occasion. This restaurant, located in the Omni hotel atrium, has wonderful natural lighting from the glass atrium that spans the height of the hotel. For lunch, sample the pasta bar that allows patrons to select their choice of ingredients. Daily specials can also be prepared to order. This wonderful romantic spot is perfect after the sun goes down. Sao Paulo's Restaurante 2809 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 9988 This restaurant serves consistently excellent Brazilian food. Its location just northeast of the UT campus means students are regular customers, but you'll also find a mix of young professionals and others interested in and appreciating Brazilian cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and pleasant with plenty of seating. The Bife A Cebolado is worth trying for its fried yucca but the sauteed sweet onions are well-paired with the thinly sliced sirloin. The Bodo de Camarao comes highly recommended and is an excellent choice for first-time patrons. A live band is occasionally booked for weekend performances. Matt's El Rancho 2613 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 462 9333 This very popular South Austin restaurant has been serving Tex-Mex food since 1952. Matt's El Rancho is a family-owned business that boasts of its delicious food and attentive service. You will discover all of the familiar favorites, including enchiladas, tamales, fajitas, and a satisfying queso dip as a starter, all at mid-range prices. You will also find slightly more imaginative dishes, such as the Garlic Grilled Shrimp. Jardin Corona 13233 Pond Springs Road Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 250 1061 This restaurant offers cuisine that is influenced more by interior Mexico than the locally common Tex-Mex food. The dining space is casual, with a pleasant atmosphere and includes a small outdoor patio area. A good number of appetizers are served, including fully loaded nachos. Reasonably priced specialties include Mole Poblano, chicken simmered in a rich mole sauce and Tamales Veracruzanos, your choice of chicken, beef, pork, raisin, or pineapple tamales wrapped in banana leaves. You will also find burritos and a range of enchilada plates. Breakfast plates and breakfast tacos are served mornings. A full bar is available with daily happy hour. Best Mexican Food Botanitas Catering 6400 South First Street Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 350 8287 Priding itself on fresh, homemade food, this South Austin Botanitas catering service regularly enters its salsa in the local "Hot Sauce Challenge" and has won several times. The atmosphere is low You will find a variety of enchilada plates like the 'Homemade Gorditas' as well as tacos like the 'Taco Plate' and much more. The 'Three Enchiladas a la Carte Tex-Mex' is a must try. The authentic national Mexican cuisine, offered here like the "Lamb Chops Enchilada Combo" and "Flautas Doraditas" to name a few, are some of the highlights on the menu. Z'Tejas Grill 1110 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 5355 Located in a downtown turn-of-the-century Victorian home with a large outdoor dining area and a tree-top bar, it was founded more than ten years ago by four chefs with divergent influences. Banquet and special events facilities are available for reservation. A generally bustling, social atmosphere, and an attentive and knowledgeable wait staff are on hand. Most customers arrive in professional or dressy casual attire. Priding itself on a menu with something for everyone, the Southwestern cuisine is really an amalgam of Cajun, Southern and Californian specialties. Representative dishes include gumbo, jerk chicken salad, fish tacos, enchiladas and grilled rib-eye steak with chipotle sauce. Tres Amigos 1807 West Slaughter Lane Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 292 1001 In business for over twenty years, Tres Amigos prides itself on using the freshest high-quality ingredients in its traditional Tex-Mex dishes. Offering fiesta rooms which can accommodate around 55 guests, the options of having a good time at this restaurant are really good. The service staff is pretty helpful besides being a little overtly friendly. The beverages also range from soft drinks to the regular Mexican favorites. Hoffbrau Steakhouse 613 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 0822 Catering to a casual crowd, this fantastic little steakhouse is located just outside the entertainment district on 6th street. The funky nondescript building of Hoffbrau Steakhouse is not the location for a formal dinner, but is designed for a laid back evening of good food and great company. Sit back and relax in this uniquely Austin establishment and enjoy hefty portions of hearty food. Depending on the size of your appetite, platter prices range between $7.50-$15.00. All plates come with hot vegetables and bread on the side, plus soup or salad. Vespaio Ristorante 1610 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 441 6100 This cozy neighborhood eatery is a well-kept secret among the Austin dining elite. The chef lines up a delectable menu of fine Italian favorites that has kept the whole city talking. The service at Vespaio is pleasant and the experience luxurious. The wine selection is extraordinary with over 30 wines by the glass to choose from. Dessert options include cheesecakes, ice cream, tiramisu and creme brulee; they are well worth the indulgence. The wait for a table has become legendary, but the food more than makes up for it. China on the Avenue 908 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 0137 Just two blocks from the State Capitol, this fantastic little restaurant is a favorite with the downtown business crowd. Serving high quality Szhechuan and Hunan Chinese cuisine this wonderful little slice of gourmet cuisine has a fantastic atmosphere and super service. House specialties include the Special Duck and Taipei Shrimp. The Seafood Platter, a mix of crab, shrimp, scallops and veggies served in a fabulous white wine sauce is a steal. The China Bird's Nest, a favorite among the regular patrons, is stir fry of shrimp and chicken with vegetables in a special sauce served in a bird's nest of fried shredded potato. China on the Avenue has a classy but casual oriental setting. Window tables overlooking Congress Avenue and the State Capitol are available. Thai Spice Cafe 701 Capital of Texas Highway South Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 330 0203 Located in The Village at Westlake Shopping Center, Thai Spice Cafe, an informal restaurant is a great stop for lunch or dinner teeming with Thai spices like ginger, cilantro, garlic and lemon grass. This is a popular spot for shoppers and business people who do not have a lot of time but are looking for something with a little kick. Start with a traditional favorite like Chicken Sate or Tom Kha Gai soup and for your main course choose from many well-known and well-loved entrees such as Pad Thai or Panang Curry. Las Palomas 3201 Bee Caves Road, Suite 122 Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 9889 Las Palomas prides itself on serving the freshest seafood and interior-Mexico specialty dishes, and is advertised as having the best margaritas in town. Lunch specials are priced at USD5.95 and include choice of soup and an entree such as enchiladas, migas, or empanadas. Dinner entrees average USD8.95; representative dishes are carne guisada (tenderloin beef), chicken mole and pescado al chipotle (spicy fish filet). You will find a full bar and a regularly scheduled happy hour. The atmosphere is relaxed, but rather more sophisticated than the usual Tex-Mex restaurants. Casual to more dressy attire is acceptable. Boomerang's Gourmet Veggies & Meat Pies 3110 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 380 0032 This centrally located restaurant is a beacon to those craving a homemade and well-made meat pie. But as it's name contests, this is also a vegetarian friendly establishment that has 14 flavors of pies that are sure to intrigue and satisfy any customer. These flaky pastries are inspired by the meat and veggie pies of Australia and range in flavors from steak and chicken to curry and pizza and everything in-between. Boomerang's can easily cater events for 12 to 500 hungry patrons. The pies have become so popular that Boomerang's even offers an online ordering service that ships pies anywhere in the continental United States. The restaurant itself is casual and offers speedy, yet friendly, service. Tavern 922 West 12th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8377 Tavern is one of the best known and best loved places in town to meet with friends, watch sports, have some drinks and eat down-home cooking. From Lamar Boulevard, you cannot miss the sign advertising 'air conditioning'. Designed in 1916 and modeled after a German pub, it operated as a grocery store until the end of World War I. From the Great Depression on, it has operated as a restaurant and bar. The environment is quite casual and often bustling with activity. The full bar frequently offers drink specials. Their large menu offers American and Tex-Mex classics, with entrees such as chicken fried steak and meatloaf. Oishi Japanese Fusion 2025 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0207 Located in Dobie Mall on the edge of the University of Texas campus, Oishi Japanese Fusion is where students and locals commingle to enjoy the fine sushi and Japanese cuisine. Oishi offers an elaborate and moderately priced menu with the sushi as the star item. From Monday through Friday, sushi rolls are half priced after 4p. The Sweet Potato Sushi Roll and Volcano Sushi Roll are worth trying while the White Fire Sushi Roll is a must have. The restaurant is located on the first floor of Dobie Mall, just inside the Guadalupe Street entrance. Check out their Facebook or Twitter feed for the latest specials. Taco Shack 4412 Medical Parkway Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 300 2112 A favorite of the locals on Saturday mornings, this tiny family-owned business is bursting with people willing to wait in a line that extends out the front door for a simple breakfast taco. But their food is anything but simple. The Taco Shack breakfast specialty, the Shack Taco ($1.75), is filled with eggs, potatoes, cheese and chorizos' just bursting with flavor. Although they can certainly prepare a basic breakfast taco with your choice of fillings, try the Burnet Road Burrito if you are extra hungry and want something to fill you up. For lunch, try the Shack Lunch Special. No matter what you order, you will not be disappointed. Jason's Deli 10225 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 9586 This clean, bright place called Jason's Deli is a comfortable stop for a quick meal. The sandwiches are full of flavor, the baked potatoes are huge and the salad bar is the freshest in town. A personal favorite is a one-trip salad bar and half a Plain Jane baked potato. It is just enough to put a smile on your face, but not enough to make you want to go back to your desk and sleep for the rest of the workday. This deli is consistently good and the service is well organized, so mistakes are few. Russell's Bakery 3339 Hancock Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 419 7877 When this restaurant was forced to move from its previous location, the surrounding neighborhood got a petition together to keep the bakery. In their new location at Hancock Drive, the small, family-owned bakery and coffee shop has a new clientèle that is becoming increasingly loyal everyday. From the cinnamon rolls to scones, Russell's Bakery offers fresh and sumptuous eats. The Breve is especially tasty and sure to give you the wake-up call you need on your way to work. With its eclectic selection of tables and chairs, Russell's is a great place to meet for work or pleasure. Satay 3202 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 6731 Satay is not just a restaurant. It's also the name of this restaurant's specialty - thinly-sliced marinated meat on skewers grilled and served with spicy sauces and cucumber salad. It's a dish of choice in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Try Satay with pork, beef, chicken, shrimp or vegetables. The master chef here (who has appeared with Dom De Luis in TV cooking programs) uses absolutely no MSG, and only vegetable and canola oils. Vegetarians and vegans have plenty of options here as well. The restaurant also packages amazing sauces and salsas. Pick up 16-ounces of any sauce or salsa from a wide selection (including spicy peanut and ginger sweet and sour). Tam Deli and Cafe 8222 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 834 6458 This house of Vietnamese cuisine has everything going for it but location. If you blink while driving by the Centre North shopping center you might miss it. But once you're inside, Miss Lan will cook up her Special Lo Mein with Stir-Fried Tofu and assorted veggies. Or, for the carnivore, the menu offers ham, chicken, pork or beef sandwiches for around two bucks. Enjoy a standard but comfortable atmosphere with calm music and plenty of smiles from the server. Buffalo Billiards 201 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7665 This 22,000 square foot Mecca of pool halls offer a full bar and great American food. With 21 pool tables, 7 shuffleboard tables, 5 dartboards and 10 foosball tables you will not have a problem finding fun during the week. Look out for Service Industry Night every Sunday, with discounts for folks in that branch of work. Serving all the classic bar food like nachos, burgers, and wraps. Food is served until 1a. Only 21 and over are admitted. Omelettry (The) 4811 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 5062 Since 1978, this little, friendly diner refuses to die. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with a menu that will please the vegetarian as well as the carnivore. Sit at a wooden table, a booth, or a barstool on the white-and-black-checkered floor and taste the famous Gazpacho or vegetarian chili while waiting for your Avocado BLT. If you prefer morning grub like eggs, fries, pancakes and bacon home style, you have come to the right place. The Chili Con Queso Omelette is loaded with cheese and covered with jalapeños and even more cheese. Pancakes filled with blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, pecans or raisins are another specialty. The weekends are very busy, with standing room only as a common practice. No credit cards, checks or phone-in orders accepted. NeWorlDeli (New World Deli) 4101 Guadelupe Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 7170 This casual Hyde Park sandwich shop caters to those who crave an old-fashioned sandwich piled high with fresh deli meat, cheese, and all the trimmings. Their signature Sloppy Joes consist of a triple deck of Jewish rye bread with turkey, ham, or roast beef, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and cole slaw. Hot subs, grilled and cold sandwiches, wraps (Thai or veggie), soups, salads, and sides round out the menu. For those not yet satisfied, freshly baked desserts are available, along with a good selection of coffee. No alcohol is served. Siena Ristorante Toscana 6203 North Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 349 7667 The restaurant, nestled in a valley, is housed within an exquisite stone building fashioned after the farmhouses of the Italian countryside. Once inside, the menu is equally inviting, consisting of traditional yet creative Tuscan dishes with a special focus on roasted game. One signature dish is Pappardelle Pasta with wild boar sauce. Provincial soups, breads, and desserts are abundant. The selection of Italian wines is especially extensive. Siena Ristorante Toscana is quite a popular destination, and the clientèle generally arrives in business or evening attire appropriate for fine dining. Asti Trattoria 408 East 43rd Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 1218 Located in the heart of Hyde Park, this classy Italian restaurant will dazzle your taste buds. The decor is modern with contemporary features. Large windows allow light to shine in and give warmth to the space. It is upscale, clean and comfortable, with dimmed lighting in the evening. Start with the Oven Roasted Mussels spiced with white wine, tomato and garlic. Or try the Semolina Fried Calamari, served with its own special sauce. The restaurant offers a selection of pizzas including a White Pizza with truffle oil mozzarella, fontina and provolone cheese with fried sage leaves. Another favorite is the Grilled Eggplant Pizza with fontina & oregano. Main dishes include several pasta and meat selections. Cipollina 1213 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5211 Located in the heart of Clarksville and created by the same team who brought Austin the fine dining of Jeffrey's, this takeout establishment also offers a regular menu with fresh baked goods, pizzas, soups, salads and sandwiches. It offers a relaxed cafe environment with an area for dining in. Enjoy fresh baked breads including Rosemary Currant and Chocolate Cherry or a Lemon Ginger muffin. There are several offered; including spinach and artichoke with goat cheese and basil; or you may build your own from a selection of fresh ingredients. Call ahead for the soup of the day to enjoy with a mixed green salad or a traditional Caesar salad. Hot and cold sandwiches are available, featuring a variety a meats including seafood and lamb. Things Celtic 1806 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 2358 This store specializes in the Celtic art of Crawford Shortt. He designs Celtic knotworks, sundials and goddess figures all carved in stone. He uses native Texas materials to produce the work in limestone, sandstone and quartz crystals. Most of the art is made from recycled material, donated items or found objects. The shop also carries Celtic music by native Irishmen and imported jewelry from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Blue Velvet 217 West North Loop Austin Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 2583 Fabulous clothes are available at bargain prices at this store. Blue Velvet specializes in vintage clothing for men and women. Step into clothes from the 1940s to the 1970s. From Hawaiian shirts to swanky hats and ties, one will never be disappointed here. The big sellers seem to be pea coats, golf and bowling shirts and racing jackets. You'll also find small furniture items and knick-knacks. The shop has also been voted as one of the best thrift shops by various publications, including the Austin Chronicle. Elle Boutique 3663 Bee Caves Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 2552 The feeling in this boutique is of relaxed elegance, and that extends to the clothing and accessories. Owner Nicole Nutt believes in feminine clothing with classic lines, fashioned from the best materials. Hallmark collections include the after-five lines and petite fashions. Victoria Pappas, Joseph A and Finley are some of the featured brands, and local artists have created a selection of the jewelry. Harold's Outlet Barn 8611 North Mopac Expressway Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 794 9036 Here you will find high-quality, classic clothing and accessories for women and men at outlet prices. That means you will find everything from business suits to great-fitting jeans, all classically styled, but just modern enough to keep from being boring. This is the place to shop for a little black dress, an interview suit, a basic cashmere sweater, and the shoes and handbags to pull it all together. The casual clothes are distinctive, with a Southwestern preppy flair, and the helpful staff will create great outfits from the most unlikely elements. You will even be offered something to drink while you are shopping. Neiman Marcus' Last Call 4115 Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 0701 It is the famous season-end sale at Texas' most famous upscale specialty store & dash; all gathered together into its own location, and without the crowds. Sounds like heaven? That would not be far from the truth for die-hard bargain hunters, or anyone with an income out of sync with their expensive taste. Clothing for men, women and children sports top designer labels, such as DKNY, Anne Klein and Dana Buchman. Accessories such as jewelry, belts, handbags and ties are here to complete the look. There are also shoes at bargain basement prices. For the chic home, this store has unusual and beautiful home accessories, fine china and furnishings. University Co-op 2246 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 7211 A veritable warehouse for bibliophiles, this two-level University Co-op store offers two complete worlds of books. Textbooks for University of Texas line shelves in the basement, and, on the first floor are titles for those outside the ivory tower. So shop upstairs for novels, popular history, children's books and self-help, and venture below for more cerebral and scholarly fare. UT fans will find a broad selection of Longhorn merchandise, from caps to socks and everything in between. A great selection of school supplies is also offered. You will even find items like engineering compasses and photography paper. Half Price Books 5555 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 4463 Out of the several locations in Austin, this Half Price Books is understandably the most artsy and intellectual, given its location just off The Drag and a stone's throw from the University of Texas. A bargain-hunter and book-lover's paradise, the store is arranged into sub-shops, each devoted to a category of books. This isn't the place to find the most up-to-the-minute best-seller or the latest entry in Oprah's Book Club, but it is the spot for an out-of-print, hardbound copy of "The Catcher in the Rye", at half off the cover price. CDs, cassettes and other forms of music, even a huge collection of LPs, can be found in another room. Sit on the floor with a book or search the racks of albums for the one that got warped in high school. Loitering is encouraged. The staff is uniformly well-read and helpful, and they will search the store computer for a specific title upon request. Book People 603 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5050 / +1 800 853 9757(Toll Free) Walk in and breathe deeply. You're within range of 300,000 titles, all arranged on three floors, along with a coffeehouse and complete music department. This is one of the bookstore-as-community places, where shoppers are encouraged to put their feet up and read, or to sit at a convenient desk and copy a recipe from the latest cookbook. Children gather for story time every week, and a community room is available for book clubs and other meetings. Of course, they have a huge selection in every conceivable category, from anthropology to zoology. Notable are the shelves of small-press and foreign-press titles, as well as spiritual and religious books. Furniture Brokers of Westlake 4201 Westbank Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 329 8421 The quality of a home consignment shop rests on how selectively the store consigns merchandise. Here, it is obvious that the items are looked over carefully before admission, and not just any secondhand sofa can get in. The brand names are top-notch, including Henredon, Thomasville and Roche BoBois. There is also Wedgwood China and Waterford Crystal. Some of the items come from well-heeled folk who are redecorating, others from model homes. The inventory changes often, so it is fun to check back and see what has newly arrived. Uncommon Objects 1512 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 4000 For aficionados of the shabby chic movement, there is no better stop in South Austin than Uncommon Objects. It is crammed full of antique and collectible furniture. Need a faded piece of crockery for the kitchen? You will find it here. Looking for a soft, old quilt for baby's bed? Most likely you will find a plethora to choose from. The stock is arranged in mini-tableaux, framed by worn textiles and blankets hanging from above. It is a great place to get ideas for making over your home. Maya 1508 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 912 1475 Many people come to Maya for the santos or carved wooden statues that depict various saints. The santos icons and crosses here are beautiful but there is more to discover than religious art in this well-stocked shop. You will find Southwestern and Latin American-style furniture and folk art, Guatemalan pillow covers and other textiles, plus a variety of jewelry. Favorite items include the wrought iron barstools with leather seats and the painted furniture. There is a lot to peruse in this cozy South Congress space, so allow lots of time for exploring. Allens Boots 1522 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 1413 Allens Boots has been in the South Congress shopping district for years. The tan stucco exterior is pretty nondescript, but the boot-emblazoned sign by the door leaves no doubt as to what might be sold here. This is a serious shop for serious Western wear, from the Wranglers to Justin boots and more. This is where you can grab a classic Resistol hat and a pair of ropers, or a fancier set of lizard or snake skin boots. Fancy duds are available, but so are serious work clothes. While urban cowboys are welcome to shop here, the store caters to the real thing, too. Dragonsnaps 2438 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 4497 Out-of-the-ordinary, children clothes are the rule here, where everyone from baby to size 14 big can find an outfit. Comfortable and cute 100% cotton leggings match equally comfortable and cute tees and tops. Pretty party dresses hang nearby, and they are not the run-of-the-mill smocked variety, but more fashion-forward, playful styles. Boys will find their niche here, too, with play wear and dress-up clothes for any occasion, save perhaps the most fancy. The designs are fun and easy to wear for the most free-spirited child. Baby gifts and some toys are also available. Terra Toys 2438 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 4489 / +1 800 247 8697(Toll Free) At Terra Toys, you will find the traditional educational toys, Stieff teddy bears, tin soldiers, art supplies and a wonderful selection of dolls. Then there are mood rings, kaleidoscopes and windup panda drummers. The store is packed full of unique, hard to find gifts and toys. A great place for souvenirs or stocking stuffers, this wide-ranging toy shop will entertain the kids as well as their parents. A notable collection of children's books and candies rounds up the selection. Wild About Music 115 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 877 370 1700 This unique shop showcases gifts with a Texas music theme, offering jewelry, furniture, T-shirts, posters, books and more. The large gallery space features sculptures and oil paintings, among other artworks, all capturing the music spirit of Austin and the state. At Wild About Music, local, national and international artists are represented and all work is for sale. One of the featured artists, Larry Plitz, creates beautiful and eclectic aquariums made from old television sets. Explore the gallery's website for a tour of the online Virtual Art Gallery. Whit Hanks Antiques 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2101 If you are looking to find a large collection of antiques under one roof, with variety in selection and price, this is a great place to begin shopping. With over 70 dealers showcasing collectibles from Europe, Asia, and the American Southwest, plus primitive art, china, wrought iron house wares, adornments for the garden and several local artists displaying work. Merchants are knowledgeable and eager to share collections with customers. Vulcan Video 609 West 29th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 5325 With an excellent collection of B-movies, cult classics, musicals, low-budget horror pictures, foreign films and a variety of videos you will not find at the chain stores, this is a movie-lover's paradise. Peruse the "director's wall" for films grouped by director; if you are looking for a silent film, this eclectic shop has one of the best selections in town. Staff suggestions are located throughout the store if you are having trouble deciding on which flick to rent. Most of the employees are huge film fans and know their business, so if you have questions about a rare movie, this is a great place to start. Comics and More 2104 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 440 7373 If you are looking for comic books to satisfy your superhero-worshiping needs, this is your place. More than just a great source for new, used, and collector's issues of books by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other companies, this place also offers posters, collectible card and role-playing games, T-shirts, toys and nostalgic items. If you are around on Tuesdays, you can pop in on the meeting of the local Toy Club. El Interior 1009 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 8680 Nestled within the downtown, is this cozy little slice of Central American ambiance. Whether it is beautiful hand-woven rugs, straw hats, beaded necklaces, or other household and clothing items you are looking for, El Interior will have it made by individual artists, straight from Mexico or Guatemala, (not mass-market companies). Whatever Mexican you have in mind, this place either has it, or can get it for you. Browsing is half the fun; the place is a treat for the senses. Northcross Mall 2525 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 7466 Consider this north Austin mall as an alternative to the colder, more impersonal mega-malls that have become standard in recent years. This shopping center is a bit cozier, with some unusual finds inside. Despite its smaller size, shoppers will still be able to browse department stores like Oshman's and Bealls, or catch a movie at the resident theater. In addition, the mall offers the only ice skating rink in town, and is home to specialty shops such as Gamefellas, Lammes Candies, and Guitar Center, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts. TG Canoes and Kayaks 3411 North I H 35 Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2644 This full-service shop has the largest boat (kayak and canoe) selection in Texas carrying Prijon, Ocean Kayak, Perception, Dagger and Cobra kayaks and boats. Rental boats are available, and all rentals include paddles and Personal Flotation Devices. It also offers American Canoe Association instructional classes in kayaking and carry tons of camping gear. Organized trips are available for day and overnight excursions that can combine camping, kayaking, snorkeling or diving, and bird watching. Additional classes allow you to fine tune your outdoor skills with a backpacking course, or try map and compass skills training. Clarksville Pottery and Galleries 4001 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 9079 / +1 877 907 9079(Toll Free) Experience a romantic, lush atmosphere when you step through the front door of this shop. Each of the company's two locations features an assortment of riches in the fine arts, works created by local and foreign artists alike. You will find everything you need to decorate your home or office. The selections of jewelry, pottery, hand-blown glass art, wood and metal fabrications are splendid indeed; you will not only find an applewood rocking chair, but a wedding ring and a lovely mesquite jewelry box in which to store it. Ozone Bike Dept. 3202-C Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 302 1164 This full-service bicycle shop sells commuter, racing and mountain bikes. You will find the occasional funky bicycle here too (think Pee-Wee Herman). This wild group started out building bikes from scratch using random, non-matching parts. Those bikes turned into works of art, and all of the hipsters had to have one. They still refurbish old bikes, but they now specialize in professional biking gear. This place is friendly, affordable and fun. Pangaea Trading Company 2712 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 3533 This small store is easy to miss when you are driving by, but you will want to stop and shop. The inventory includes affordable imported clothing, accessories, and gifts from Bali, Thailand, Nepal, Africa and India. Unique jewelry, sparkling barrettes, candle-holders, iridescent make-up bags, beautiful hand-dyed dresses, eclectic pants and more are showcased. Explore the well-crafted boxes, mirrors, woodcrafts, and bags. The store is packed full of special works of art, you may spend hours looking through all they have to offer. New Bohemia 1606 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 326 1238 This retro resale store is located on the perimeter of the funky South Congress antique strand. The merchandise literally spills out into the street with furniture and oddities galore. Inside, there is rack after rack of vintage men's and women's clothing representing all eras, from Western-style shirts to Fifties frocks and Seventies lounge. Unlike many resale shops today, this shop has resisted the urge to jack prices sky high. Here you can find great treasures at affordable prices. World Food and Halal Market 9616 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 832 8365 This market offers multicultural ethnic apparel and groceries. Get out your worldly cookbooks and you will find the ingredients in this market. It carries Halal/Kosher meat including goat, lamb, beef and chicken. You may purchase calling cards for India, Pakistan, Africa, Asia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Greece and the Middle East. The store boasts about its low prices and the largest selection of basmati rice. Located in the North Park Center next to Dollar General. Architects & Heroes 4700 West Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 467 9393 Since 1992, Architects & Heroes has been Austin's number one destination for the best selection of decorative hardware for the kitchen and bath, imported lighting from Turkey and Italy, unusual gift items for any occasion, objects of art and antiques. Architects & Heroes offers more than 2,000 choices in cabinet knobs and pulls from many of the country's leading manufacturers as well as one-of-a-kind items produced by local artisans. A few brand names available include Emtek, C X Design, Schlage, Bobrick as well as many others. Garden Room (The) 1601 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 5407 The Garden Room is a luxurious boutique that carries women's clothing from the likes of Maureen Keene and Tessuto, shoes, hats, jewelry, fragrances and Parisian Diptyque candles. This is the only store in Central Texas designated as a Home Collection Store for MacKenzie-Childs. In a crunch for time? Try their new service, The Dressing Room. Call ahead and they will order you lunch from Ella's and have a dressing room stocked with appropriate choices for you to slip on when you arrive. Talk about pampering! Congress Avenue Souvenirs 615 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 1663 One thing is for certain, Texans are proud to be Texans. There is no shortage of paraphernalia that proves that point. Texas signs and slogans are affixed to any surface that can hold it. Congress Avenue Souvenirs store has a huge selection of items both practical and fanciful including postcards, key chains, mugs and bumper stickers galore. Get something to take home with you or to give to your favorite Texan. Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds 1506 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 2002 This is by far Austin's most notorious vintage shop, and its most flamboyant. This fabulous store is largely a costume shop packed with thousands of choices ranging from gorilla suits to bullfighters to princesses; and the store carries all the necessary accessories to boot. If your personal style is unconventional (to say the least), there is a huge selection of retro clothing suitable for everyday wear as well. BookWoman 5501 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 2785 In operation for around a quarter of a century, this is one of Texas' oldest and largest feminist bookstores. Featuring classic and cutting edge books by women and for women, this store offers a reading experience like no other. Subject matter ranges from fiction, feminist theory, women's health and psychology, Latina and Chicano books, to spirituality. You will also discover a selection of feminist-minded stickers, T-shirts, pride jewelry, videos and music. Look for author readings and other special events, as this is one business that makes itself part of the community at large. Let's Dish 1102 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 9801 This great shop is an upscale retro boutique featuring men's and women's clothing, accessories and glassware. Dishes are largely from the Forties and Fifties while clothing runs the range from the turn of the 20th century through the 1950s and 1970s. There are modern items, but only if they are exceptional in some way. The store also offers a great selection of costume jewelry, trinkets and baubles. Do not miss this place as you may discover many treasures and unique items found nowhere else in Austin. Kerbey Lane Doll Shoppe 3706 Kerbey Lane Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 7086 This shop features exquisite dolls for both children and collectors. The store carries Ty and Gund bears alongside paper dolls, Madam Alexander, Muffy VanderBear and the popular porcelain Gene doll. The serious aficionado will be pleased with the selection of rare antique finds. There are oodles of those oh-so-important accessories like carriages, trunks, stands, tea sets, furniture and clothing. The store also offers repair service on dolls. Barton Creek Square 2901 South Capital of Texas Highway Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 7040 / +1 512 327 7041 Located along the outer edge of the Barton Creek greenbelt, this is one of the biggest shopping centers in Austin. The major department stores are all here, including Nordstrom, Macy's, and JCPenney, Sears, as well as a multitude of boutiques and specialty stores, like Brookstone, Victoria's Secret, Kay Jewelers, Foot Locker and tons more. With a large food court, several ATM machines, opticians, hair salons, a copy service and full security, the mall also offers a total customer service experience. Room Service Vintage 107 East North Loop Boulevard Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 1057 Upon viewing the curious building that houses Room Service Vintage, complete with a rooftop sculpture of a large, purple easy chair, aficionados of retro chic will feel right at home. The furniture department offers the most interesting items in the store. In fact, you will often find some of them reserved as movie props for locally produced films. It also offers a fairly small collection of vintage men's and women's clothing. Whimsical knickknacks from yesteryear abound. Cadeau (The) 2316 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 7276 This shop on the Drag is one of the premier gift shops in Austin, with unique items to fit even the most moderate of budgets. The store is filled with unusual toiletries, candles, upscale women's clothing, funky lamps, picture frames, Christmas ornaments, fine china, kitchen accessories, cookbooks and more. The inventory includes designer lines such as Calvin Klein, Versace and Baccarat. A second location, in the Central Park Shopping Center (4001 North Lamar), offers easier parking but a slightly smaller selection. By George 524 North Lamar Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5951 The premise behind this upscale store is simple: sophisticated fashion that allows the wearer to express their individual style. Looks are classic, yet hip and contemporary. Designer lines of shoes, clothing and accessories include Diesel, BCBG, Jill Stuart, Vivienne Tam, Theory and Kate Spade. By George, what a lovely place to shop! Wheatsville Food Co-Op 3101 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2667 This member-owned cooperative grocery store is full of organic produce, natural health products, great magazines and bulk foods. They have a large beer and wine selection, including organic wines that taste wonderful with the selection of chocolate bars in the front of the store! There is also a full-service deli with sandwiches, soups, salads, tacos, smoothies and many creative specials. Everyone is welcome to shop in this great environment where you will never hear bad music or get a headache from the fluorescent lights. Crofts Original 1714 B South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 6308 This is a fun boutique featuring a wide variety of fabrics and styles, from funky T-shirts to embroidered jeans to velvet dresses. Many pieces are imported, such as the gorgeous selection of Indian beaded long skirts and Parisian mesh tops. Local artist/boutique owner Susan Croft contributes her own hand-painted T-shirts and dresses to the eclectic mix available. Also look for unusual items in the accessories department, including Hope bracelets, candles and cards. Golfsmith 11000 N Interstate Highway- 35 Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 837 4810 This store is recognized as a haven for golf aficionados, and the headquarters of this national chain are based right here in Austin. This huge showroom houses an extensive collection of golf equipment, clothing, accessories, instructional books and videos. Also on location is the 41-acre campus of the Harvey Penick Golf Academy, named one of the top 25 instructional schools by GOLF Magazine. A second location at 10001 Research Boulevard offers a more limited selection. Capra and Cavelli 3500 Jefferson Street Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 450 1919 This locally owned store features upscale and custom men's clothing and accessories. Designer lines include Corneliani, Pal Zileri, Bally Shoes and the popular Vestimenta. Three on-staff master tailors, each with over 25 years of experience, produce one-of-a-kind shirts, trousers, sport coats and suits from an inventory of more than 1,200 high-quality fabrics. The tailors will even come to your office for fittings! The shop has also expanded the inventory to include sportswear along with its more formal daily and evening wear. Antone's Record Store 2928 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 0660 Antone's Record Store features blues, R&B, soul, '50s and '60s rock, exotica, rock-a-billy and much more on vinyl! There are many rare items of collector quality to be found among the bursting vinyl bins. You will find an afternoon is quickly spent rummaging through these records and feeling nostalgic. The inventory features a great selection of Texas and Cajun artists. Not to worry, new-timers; the store does carry some selections on CD. Wildflower Organics 908 North Lamar Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 0449 This unique shop offers an extensive range of ecologically friendly, all-natural products, from clothing to home accessories, furniture to objects d'art. Example items include baby clothing colored with non-toxic dyes, bath towels free of pesticides, herbicides and dyes, organic cotton mattresses, wood furniture, organically grown cotton slipcovers, candles, soaps and more. This store proves that you do not always have to sacrifice quality or fashion for the sake of the environment. Arboretum (The) 10000 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 338 4437 / +1 512 338 4755 The Arboretum, an upscale shopping Mecca located in North Austin, has a much more sophisticated and urban feel to it than you will generally find in this laid-back, low-key city. Located in a suburban area that has seen great growth and development in recent years, many stores and notable restaurants surround this center. Shops at the Arboretum include Barnes & Noble, Chico's, The Walking Company, Z Gallerie, Francesca's Collections The Pottery Barn and several fashion boutiques. Food options at The Arboretum are diverse. 23rd Street Artists' Market Guadalupe Street at West 23rd Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 4002 / +1 512 974 4000 The 23rd Street Artists' Market is one of the highlights of the area known as the Drag, located just across the street from the UT campus. It is open year-round and features the handiwork of some great local artisans. There is no set schedule for vendors as far as participation or time slots—a general rule of thumb is that weekends and around the holidays are the most bountiful. Street performers like mimes and jugglers are often around during these heavy traffic times and add to the lively atmosphere. Selections may include handmade jewelry, purses, tie-dyed T-shirts, paintings, prisms, toys, leather goods and more. Open everyday from 10a till dusk, this market makes for an interesting visit. Village at Westlake 701 South Capital of Texas Highway Westlake Hills, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 3628 Just down Bee Cave Road in neighboring West Lake Hills lies the upscale shopping center of the Village of West lake. This collection of national chain stores, local boutiques and restaurants are housed in a series of buildings that form a general community of shops. Tenants include Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, La Provence, Santa Fe Optical, Canyon Cafe, Tia's Tex-Mex, Marble Slab Creamery, La Madeleine and more. Service Menswear 1400 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 7600 Stepping into this small shop is like being in the dressing room for a fashion shoot. These are extremely stylish clothes for younger by some well known designers. The style is street-skate-surf-retro-smooth, not every guy can pull it off, but those who can, wear it well. Designers include Sundek, B.D. Baggies, Havaiana, Fullum & Holt, Ray Ban, Levi's and more. Mixed in with the cool threads are all kinds of accessories that will complete the look. Asel Art Supply 218 West Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1762 Stocking supplies for every kind of artist, this small shop packs the most art-related items per square foot of any place in town. Catering to students and professionals alike for more than a decade, this is a reliable source for hard to find supplies. Some of its merchandise includes paper of varying weight and material, inks, paints, pastels, markers, mounting boards, charcoal, pencils and even a sizable selection of silk-screening equipment. Russell Korman 3806 N Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 9292 Russell Korman began his jewelry career by selling beads on The Drag many years ago and has developed into quite an entrepreneur. Located at 38th Street and Lamar Boulevard, the store carries watch brands such as Mercier, Tissot, Montblanc, Ebel, Hamilton and Baume, and Tag-Heuer. The inventory includes a large selection of certified G.I.A. and E.G.L. loose diamonds, plus a fine selection of platinum mounts. Designer lines are represented, including A. Jaffe, Mercury, Tacori, Romel, Nili and more. If nuptials are in your future, browse the selection of engagement and wedding rings alongside loose diamonds and 14-karat gold pieces for creating your own. Menagerie (The) 1601 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 4644 Specializing in fine jewelry and gifts, this shop is a perfect place to find that one of a kind gift for a special occasion. For the bride, try a silver serving tray or maybe a piece of Herend or Limoges Porcelain. It carries over 200 varieties of fine bar ware and tableware. The executive in your life would love a leather bound atlas or sterling silver perpetual calendar. Or maybe you would prefer a diamond or custom designed jewelry for that special someone. As you browse, enjoy the fresh flowers throughout the store. Fine service and attention to detail has kept customers satisfied for years. Flipnotics Clothespad 1603 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 9011 Downstairs from the popular Flipnotics Coffeespace is Flipnotics Clothespad, which offers an unusual selection of clothing and accessories for stylish young folk. Designers for men include Red Sand, BC Ethic and Filter. Women's designers include Lip Service, Jane Doe and Serious. If the new clothing is a bit too hip for your taste, wander to the back of the store where the retro fashions are located. Throughout the shop are novelty items to catch your eye, like Pee Wee Herman clocks, fuzzy purses, Dashboard Hula Girls, Flame-Covered Wallets and more. It is truly a wacky wonderland. they have it all, hot coffee, good clothes and live music. Callahan's General Store 501 Bastrop Highway Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 385 3452 This well-known store has been filling the western wear needs of Texans for many years. Both locals and visitors come here to find authentic cowboy boots and western hats, belts, shirts, and much more. This is also a fully stocked rustic superstore with all kinds of supplies like hardware, farm equipment, housewares, fishing gear, feed and seed among them. Customers can always expect old-fashioned, friendly service, which makes even the city folk feel right at home. Mi Casa Gallery 1700 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 707 9797 This shop may look small from the outside, but once you step inside you will enjoy exploring 17 rooms full of folk art, antiques, furniture, lighting, imported gifts, Southwestern prints and more. This is a good spot to find quality imports at affordable prices. Explore shopping for retablos, woodcarvings, crosses, saints, icons, mandalas, dream catchers and more. Primitive, rustic Spanish and Southwestern furniture is featured in a variety of materials, including wrought iron, wood and glass. Lakeline Mall 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 257 7467 / +1 512 257 8500 Located at the intersection of US Highway 183 and Route 620 in Cedar Park, Lakeline Mall is a fair drive from central Austin. This is a very large shopping center features a range of stores from those selling moderately priced goods to expensive products. Bed, Bath & Beyond, Brookstone, Dillard's, Finish Line, Hollister, Sears, Perfumania, Express, Victoria's Secret, Men's Warehouse, The Disney Store, The Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch are some of the many stores located here. Patrons can enjoy delicious meals at the aesthetically designed food court. Amelia's Retro-Vogue and Relics 2213 South 1st Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 4446 It is obvious Amelia's Retro-Vogue and Relics is unique from one glance at its globe sign at the entrance. Inside, are vintage treasures galore, with clothing ranging from the mid-19th Century to mid-20th Century. The most recent clothing era stocked is from the 1960s. No disco nightmares here. Amelia's one of the few stores in town to stock vintage children's wear, in addition to their men's and women's clothing. Collectibles, jewelry and accessories are stocked here as well. This is the caliber of a shop you would expect to find in New York or LA. Blackmail 1202 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 326 7670 Are you ever accused of wearing too much black clothing? Do you wear it anyway? If you do, Blackmail is your dream store. Every item in the store, from clothing to accessories to collectibles, is black. Dismal as it may sound to some, it really is a novel, upbeat boutique. Clothes are both vintage and new, and range from fun to sophisticated — of course, given that they are black, all of them are stylish. A good selection of unique gift items is also available, ranging from domino frames to jewelry to beaded handbags. Sun Harvest Farms 4006 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 3079 Sun Harvest Markets is owned and operated by Wild Oats Markets, Inc. Sun Harvest first opened their doors in 1979, making them a pioneer in the now-burgeoning health food industry. Sun Harvest carries natural foods with no artificial color, flavor or preservatives. Departments include cruelty-free beauty products, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, meat, frozen food, produce and cheese. Kitchen goods and housewares are also sold here. Sweetish Hill Cafe & Bakery 1120 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1347 Founded in 1975, the concept of Sweetish Hill Bakery is a marriage of the Viennese coffeehouse with the French boulangerie. Located in a bright, airy space with a great patio in the middle of West Sixth Street shops, the bakers produce over 80 fresh items everyday. The selection of breads, created using European techniques, is unrivaled in town. There is also a great selection of pastries, cakes, homemade soups and lunch fare, including 20 sandwiches and 12 green and side salads. This is a great spot to relax over a light bite or grab something quick and delicious to go. InStep Central 815 West 47th Street Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 5110 InStep Central outlet primarily sells Birkenstock's famous comfortable shoes. Wearers soon become addicted to them, as the cork footbed gradually moulds to the shape of your foot for a personalized fit. In addition, the store offers a shoe repair service, alterations, and supplies such as insoles, with personal attention from a helpful staff. Customers will also find a good supply of other quality European brands of shoes, including Clarks, Mephisto and Dansko. Tipler's Lamp Shop 1204 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5007 Offering a plethora of antique hanging fixtures, floor lamps, lampshades and table lamps, this store's knowledgeable staff can help you decide between the latest designs or 1920s French work. The shop will custom-design a lamp from anything you bring in; be creative! If your favorite pieces are broken, drop by for repair and restoration service, as well. Bitch'in Threads/Kimono 1030 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 441 9955 This truly sophisticated secondhand clothing store offers an alternative to the familiar Salvation Army-style chic of most resale shops. Catering to those with a taste for the unique, you will find a collection of vintage Japanese kimonos, koto coats and colorful obi. The store also carries an array of conventional clothing on consignment for the stylish yet cost-conscious. The shop will accept clothes for resale that are in good condition, clean and in season. Flashback Vintage 1906 South 1st Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 6906 Flashback is a retro boutique of quality vintage goods. They have a vast selection of merchandise tucked into this little house in Austin's Bouldin district. Inventory includes both men and women's clothing, kitsch collectibles, furniture and one of the largest collection of vintage footwear in the area. Fashions span the decades from the 1920s to the 1970s, and include T-shirts, casual clothing, evening gowns and tuxes. Prices on some items can be a bit higher than you might expect, but you are sure to find something unusual that pleases. Toy Soldier-Kids Wheels 12308 Ranch Road Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 257 2399 The Toy Soldier-Kids Wheels offers a wide selection of toys from gently used goods to big ticket (and big fun) items like electric cars. This is the only certified merchant in Central Texas for sale and repair of Peg Perego electric rides. These incredible machines come in all types of styles, including a 2000 Beetle, Desert Challenger mini-motorcycle, Santa Fe Train, Tractor and Dragon. There is also a great selection of unique pedal cars, boxed games, appliance centers and playscapes. Gateway Shopping Center 9607 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 338 4755 The Gateway Shopping Center is an outdoor mall serving North Austin. This burgeoning area is experiencing rapid suburban growth and getting some great shopping as a result. There are several other shopping areas in the vicinity including the upscale Arboretum. Shops in or directly adjacent to Gateway include Old Navy, Best Buy, Office Max, The Container Store, Whole Foods, REI, Mezzaluna, Smith and Hawken, Blue Fish, Blockbuster Music, and Travelfest. James Avery Craftsman 12901 North Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 251 8330 Based out of Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country, James Avery Craftsman inscribes simple jewelry pieces with subtle theistic symbols. The pieces are all hand crafted and have a distinct, recognizable look. Items are largely made with silver, but there is a good selection of pewter and gold pieces as well. The jewelry is sold throughout Texas and also in four stores outside of the state. Paper Place 4001 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 6531 Located in the upscale Central Park Shopping Center, Paper Place purveys high-quality writing goods and accessories. They have a vast selection of premium and recycled papers, along with greeting cards, beautiful pens, photo albums, leather goods, gift-wraps and various novelty items perfect for a gift. This unique shop also makes custom invitations for parties, weddings or any occasion deserving of a fine card. This is a delightful store where browsing is a must. Attal Galleries 3310 Red River Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 3634 Owned by noted Texas appraiser W.C. Attal, this antique store features rare and valuable items seldom found about town. Its offerings include paintings, antique furniture, Texana books, glassware, coins, jewelry and more. Do not see what you are looking for? Ask and chances are good that they either have it off location or can help you track it down. Happy hunting in this treasure-stocked boutique. T Kennedy 1011 West Lynn Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0545 Located in the trendy Clarksville area, T. Kennedy offers simple, well-made women's clothing crafted from natural fibers. Common fabrics you will find in this easy-styled boutique include linen, flax and cotton knits. Pieces are designed for comfort and tend to be on the casually elegant side, rather than real formal wear. Typical items include leggings, sweaters, long skirts and silk jackets. There is also quite a lovely collection of jewelry to be found. Whole Earth Provision Company 2410 San Antonio Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 1577 Whole Earth Provision Company has all the top-quality items you need for outdoor pursuits. Its stock of brand-name gear includes items for climbing, river exploration, camping, diving, hiking and biking activities. The shoe department carries lines like Birkenstock, Dana and Gramicci. The store also offers a wide selection of trail and nature maps, books, sunglasses, freeze-dried food, key chains, knives, backpacks and tents. Bicycle Sport Shop 517 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 3472 This shop offers great service, repairs, information, and bikes. Reasonable rental rates let you take advantage of the many beautiful parks and trails nearby. The store carries mountain, hybrid, road, and specialized bicycles for adults and kids from big names like Trek, Voodoo, Santa Cruz and GT BMX. Stop in to learn and shop! Eclectic Eyewear 2510 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 4498 Eclectic Eyewear offers both the service of certified opticians and a collection of the funkiest glasses around. If you are looking for traditional frames, this probably is not the store for you. If you are in search of something a bit more unusual, come on in. These styles are fabulous! Glasses come in all shapes, colors and sizes, even triangular and rectangular. Designers include Calvin Klein, Armani, Silhouette, Guess, Elite and L'Exotica. Flower Bucket (The) 3100 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 6692 The Flower Bucket is an unusual spot, selling both flowers and South American art under the same roof. Alongside roses, mums and other traditional floral offerings, you will find a good selection of folk art from Mexico and Guatemala, terra cotta pots, collectibles, vases and other gift items. It really is quite an interesting place to explore. The staff members make lovely arrangements, and local delivery is available. Bazaar (The) 1605 E Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 448 0736 In business since 1966, this one-of-a-kind shop stocks hip, everyday clothing, along with more daring items and costume accessories. The selection of lingerie ranges from retro-inspired feminine pieces like garter belts and teddies to edgier leather and vinyl intimates. Other merchandise includes Mary Jane-style shoes, Greek sandals, lots of costume jewelry and mix-and-match swimsuit separates. There are even some items for men, such as silk boxer shorts and swim trunks. Long known for its supply of outrageous makeup and wigs, it now has a full-scale costume shop next door. Walton's Florist and Nursery 5604 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1206 For over 30 years, this locally owned florist has been providing beautiful flowers and plants to the Austin area. This is the community of West Lake Hills' only full-service florist and nursery. In addition to beautifully arranged delivery bouquets, it also carries bed plants, shrubs, exotic and tropical flowers—and a staff that is truly helpful with care suggestions. Lovely gourmet fruit baskets and balloons are also available for purchase. Karavel Shoes 5525 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 8095 More than 60 years in the business, Karavel Shoes has the know-how to keep your feet healthy and comfortable. Corrective and comfort footwear are the specialties here, though you will also find athletic and dress shoes. Dozens of quality brands for men, women, and children are available, including Mephisto, New Balance, Clarks, Klogs and Birkenstock. Hard to find sizes and widths are also accommodated, and foot care products such as custom inserts, cushions and shoe modifications make for the perfect fit. Crystal Works 908A West 12th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 5597 Crystal Works features a broad spectrum of crystals and minerals, loose or in various artistic settings. This dazzling shop carries a range of ethereal New Age products, including tabletop fountains, jewelry set with semi-precious stones and crystal window ornaments. There is a great selection of stone and polished amber fossils. A collection of Feng Shui books and literature details where to best place items like these calming decorative pieces in your home. The staff is friendly and very helpful. First time visitors receive complimentary lavender. Pro Tape and Communications Supply 313 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 3911 Did you run out of film in the middle of a shoot and its 3am? Available by 24-hour digital pager, Pro Tape and Communications Supply are major supplier of film, magnetic tape and production supplies for Austin's music and film professionals can come to your rescue. The shop carries a large inventory of brands including Eastman Kodak, TDK, Maxell, Fuji, JVC, Sony, BASF, Apogee, Denon and Quantegy. In addition to film and tape, you will find editing systems, lighting equipment, lamps, adapters, cables and more. Austin Guitar School 5401 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 2880 A certain unwritten city ordinance says, when in Austin, you must play guitar. If you need help getting started, head to this guitar school for the best local instruction. The instructional staff includes seventeen experienced guitarists, most formally trained, who teach all styles of picking, from classical and Latin to folk and pop. Also learn fingering style, sight-reading and improvisation. Group instruction in beginning blues and beginning bass is available through the University of Texas. Tom's Dive & Swim Shop 5909 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 3425 Tom's Dive & Swim is one of the oldest dive shops in town, established in 1982 and serving Austin for over 25 years. It offers local diving trips and excursions to the coral reefs of the Cayman Islands and Honduras. The professional instruction team offers a variety of classes for all skill levels and the store is filled with ski equipment, scuba gear, rental equipment and a repair center. There are class schedules to fit your time frame. Check the website for further information. Sandals And Such 621 West Seventh Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 0997 Not only will you find a good selection of sandals at Sandals and Such, but also a variety of sunglasses, shoes and hats. Men's shoes are offered in a variety of styles; check out men's clogs, rope sandals, casual slip-ons, good-looking flip-flops, plus shoes for golfing and water activities. Women will find the same options including the golf shoes. Sports shoes are also sold. You will find Simple, Vans, Sketchers and more. Sandal brands include Teva, Haflinger, Dr. Martens, Azaleia, Sensi, Seychelles, Ecco, Merrell, Reef and La Plume. Ceramics Bayou 3620 Bee Cave Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 328 1168 Ceramics Bayou offers pre-made ceramic pieces for you to choose from for painting fun. Coffee mugs, bowls, tiles and more intricate items are available for you and your child to glaze. The shop will fire your pieces for you and they will be ready for pick up in just a few days. Funkytonk Farmers Market 6701 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 879 8565 Local farmers offer all types of produce fresh from the Hill Country during the year; choose from homegrown tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon, strawberries, pecans and even pumpkins at Halloween. Open every Saturday from 9a onwards, the Funkytonk Farmers Market is also where you will find some of the most popular baked products in the neighborhood. There are live music events happening every week, a respite after you're weary shopping expedition. Old Bakery & Emporium 1006 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 5961 This 1876 building was originally the Lundberg Bakery. Its confections have served many a famous visitor, including Ma Ferguson and Teddy Roosevelt. O. Henry was even known to have lunch at this bakery while working at the Old General Land Office building. Listed with the National Register of Historic Places, the bakery occupied the building until 1936. Today, it has been restored and is staffed by volunteers as a gift shop, confectionery and hospitality desk to welcome visitors to Austin. Tesoros Trading Company 1500 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 7500 If you are looking for imports, Tesoros is the place to go. With unique items from Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Nepal and Vietnam, you're bound to find the perfect accent piece for your home or office. Owner Jonathan Williams personally travels far and wide selecting the items for import. The store is located on historic Congress Avenue and carries wonderful folk arts and crafts as well as a number of one-of-a-kind artworks. There is also an online retail catalog available on their website. South Congress Avenue South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0098 Cross the river from downtown and enter the wonderful South Congress Avenue District. Browse through its many shops and check out eateries that tantalize the taste buds and the pocketbooks. Check out Uncommon Objects, a wonderful import and knick knack shop, or The Armadillo Market, which carries everything Texas. For the famished shopper, there are more than enough options: Tex-Mex at Guerro's or the eclectic Magnolia Café are all favorites with the locals. After a cup of coffee or lunch, you should browse the retro resale shops along the avenue. Jay Stevens Apparel for Big or Tall Men 6001 Airport Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 9656 This locally owned store has kept big and tall Austin men fashionably dressed for over ten years. There is a full line of clothing in various styles, from Tommy Hilfiger shirts to Levi's to Dockers and Sansabelt slacks. Pant sizes generally begin at 34" waist and 34" inseam and they're priced in a range from around $40 to around $80. Shirts, in sizes from 17" neck and 34" sleeve to 22" neck and 37" sleeve. Personalized fitting and dressing service is offered at Jay Stevens Apparel for Big or Tall Men for those who need it. Turn of the Century Antiques 1703 Cuernavaca Drive Austin, TX 78733 United States - Phone: +1 512 263 5460 If you are looking for status furniture for your home or office, this small shop is worth checking out. Professionally-restored American Turn-of-the-Century (1850-1910) wooden (oak, walnut, mahogany) furniture is on display beside restorations-in-progress. You will find at Turn of the Century Antiques formal conference tables, swivel chairs, glass cabinets and more. The owner has years of restoration experience and on display are distinct pieces at moderate prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand. Austin Antique Mall 8822 McCann Drive Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 5900 There are over one-hundred vendors here offering a variety of goods, including antique furniture, with many pieces being more than a century old. Additionally, scores of collectibles, like 1970s lunch boxes and Roseville pottery, fine china and glassware and colorful Czechoslovakian art glass all reside at the Austin Antique Mall. You never know what the vendors will bring here from week-to-week! Antique Mall of Texas 1601 South IH 35 Round Rock, TX 78664 United States - Phone: +1 512 218 4290 Antique Mall of Texas has over 250 dealers display a fine collection of antique and collectible odds-and-ends and high-tickets items in this 60,000 square foot antique mall. You may find elegant dining room sets, Heisey stemware, vintage 1970s clothing, sofas, lamps, end tables and lunch boxes. Prices range from $2 to $30,000. The mall's restaurant, called the Tea Room, provides an ideal resting place between vendors where you will find a selection of soups, sandwiches and desserts. Durham Trading and Design Company 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 7424 Durham Trading and Design Company's 10,000 square feet of space holds a quirky yet elegant combination of leather furniture, antler chandeliers, English country furniture, antique European armoires and chests of drawers, plus locally-crafted wooden tables, benches and rocking chairs. This expansive space holds a diverse array of beautiful and comfortable items, combining to form a common theme that is definitely American. Do not miss the wooden canoes hanging from the ceiling. Halbert Antiques 5453 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 8037 Halbert Antiques displays antique furniture and accessories, some dating from the 17th century, but most often from the 18th century through the 1950s. You will find spoon-back Queen Ann/Chippendale Transitional hand carved wooden chairs with upholstered seats and a Celtic look. A four-foot Victorian cast-iron fountain with waterlily and frog details is only one of several pieces in a 5,000 square foot courtyard, full of not only fountains but also statues and architectural pieces, including nineteenth-century limestone capital pieces believed to be from the old La Grange, Texas courthouse. An international selection of antique armoires and cabinets are also available. Fortney's Antiques 1116 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 6505 Inside Fortney's Antiques you will discover antique armoires, servers and other traditional furniture pieces in both iron and wood from all over the world, including France, Egypt, Italy, England and America. This shop's specialty, however, is antique dry bars, of which there tend to be at least three or four on display. The bars range from the traditional to the quirky, including a converted carved wood King George phone booth with glass panels. There is 6,000 square feet of display space on two floors. Prices are reasonable. Keepers... Exceptional Men's Clothing 515 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2512 Whether you are looking for the finest tailored suits or casual Friday power clothes, you cannot go wrong in Keepers... Exceptional Men's Clothing. Ermenegildo Zegna's classic Italian fabrics, Jhane Barnes' California sensibility and New York designers Ike Behar, Tallia and Zanella fill the racks. Crisp, well crafted fitted shirts (including tuxedo shirts), sharp suits, sports coats, vests and topcoats. Slick shoes from Bruno Magli and Cole Haan are also available. The prices are upscale. Negrel Antiques 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1616 An 18th-century Louis XIV blonde walnut armoire at this shop is typical of the several other architecturally powerful pieces you will find here. The timeless pieces of furniture, in size and spirit, somehow seem just right for Texas. Prices for each of these distinct beauties can go as high as several thousand dollars. This Texas antique dealer understands the French-Connection when it comes to furniture. As the 18th-century French armoires and bookcases here testify, the civilized people of that country have for centuries appreciated the importance of tasteful furnishings in enhancing the beauty of interiors. Antique Swan (The) 1009 West Sixth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 3956 This dealer has an eclectic collection of English antiques, from fine china in glass cabinets to a hodgepodge of Old Britannia. For example, you may see an assortment of lawn balls, a 19th-century pond yacht and a British Grenadier Guard of Honor uniform complete with bear skin hat. You are sure to find inspiration at The Antique Swan on just what to add to your collection or how to start one. Note how lighting adds to the character of each piece. The prices are moderate. Whole Foods Market 525 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 1206 Whole Foods began in the early 1980s in a small flood-prone site farther north on Lamar. Whole Foods Market has since expanded to cities across the United States and into its current limestone home thanks to its healthy success. Of course, the store carries tempeh, tofu, miso and a plethora of fresh fruits and vegetables, but customers will also find organic wines, natural beef and free-range chicken. The quick carryout deli offers a variety of worldly foods including Greek dolmas, grilled eggplant, Mexican empanadas and chicken salad. Shoppers will find much more than just food; also offered is a full line of organic cosmetics, skin and hair care products, essential oils, fresh flowers, jewelry, hemp clothing, a good selection of books and magazines and many home accessories. Waterloo Records & Video 600 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 2500 For over 20 years, Waterloo Records has been one of Austin's favorite record stores. Why? The selection of music is unbeatable. Shoppers will find every genre of music here, including current popular favorites and many Texas artists. Waterloo has supported the local music community for years, allowing bands a place to sell their handmade tapes, vinyl and CDs. The store is also famous for its large selection of imports and world music. If you are looking for music that is a little off the beaten path, this is a good place to start. If you are not sure what you are looking for, grab a set of headphones at one of the listening stations and sample anything your heart desires. The shop also carries a great selection of music-related books, magazines, posters and T-shirts. You will also find an excellent blank tape and CDR selection with pro-recording tapes available. Ace Custom Tailors 916 West 12th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 9965 When you need garments to fit your exact measurements and specifications Ace Custom tailors is the place. The tailors can handle all major and minor alterations for men, women and children, with same-day service on most orders. They can reshape clothing that has become too small, or take in clothing that is too large. They will make what no longer fits—fit again. Need to make sure that favorite business suit or tuxedo still makes the kind of impression it did back when you first wore it? Let the professionals give it a makeover. Check website for other locations. Istanbul to Samarkand 901 West 31st Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 8533 You do not have to be an expert to appreciate this shop's tribal rugs. The owner of Istanbul to Samarkand is a nationally recognized authority on antique rugs; particularly Turkish rugs called Kilims. These Kilims (typically 40 to 150 years old with patterns that are always intricate and often colorful) come in sizes to fit any room. The rich crimsons, earth tones and royal blues are stunning for wooden floors or wall-mounting. Most are priced around the thousand-dollar-range. Central Market 4001 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 206 1000 Central Market is not a supermarket for the indecisive. Among the produce section's 18,000 square feet are over 500 varieties of ultra-fresh fruits and vegetables from around the world: baby-eggplant, arugula, gold medallion onions, maroon carrots;these are the unique ingredients that inspire chefs and make great food. The 75-foot seafood counter, packed with both salt water and fresh water delicacies, often includes up to six sorts of salmon. You want cheese? Be prepared to choose from over 700 varieties. Plus the wine section includes over 3,000 domestic and imported bottles. For the time-starved or kitchen-phobic, there's also a stunning array of fully-prepared dishes (starters, main courses and desserts). Cedar Street Courtyard 208 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 9669 This is an intimate outdoor venue with a pleasant courtyard feel. Live jazz music is played nightly to a sophisticated crowd. The martinis are a definite must, and there is also an excellent cigar selection to choose from inside. This is a great place to sit under the oak trees and enjoy the breeze while watching some of Austin's best dancers dance up front. Better yet, why not join in? Speakeasy 412D Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 8017 This multi-level club is situated in the Warehouse district of Austin. After entering through the alleyway behind Congress Avenue, listen to various live swing bands. Swing lessons are taught on Tuesdays at 7:30p. The elegant wood panels and top-shelf bar attract a sophisticated crowd. Upstairs patrons enjoy a pleasant garden atmosphere on the roof with an excellent view of downtown Austin and the Colorado River. Donn's Depot 1600 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0336 Come enjoy country western music in a railroad relic. This venue, although slightly outside of downtown, provides an excellent opportunity to dance and watch older country western pros strut their stuff. The old Texas feel and the relaxing atmosphere make a great team with cold beer and great music. Broken Spoke 3201 South Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 442 6189 Broken Spoke is a western honky-tonk that was established in 1964 and rapidly became an Austin favorite for country-western dancing. The “Spoke” is true country in a real dance hall with a real wood-plank floor. Watch cowboys and locals two-step the night away to live bands from around Texas. This dance hall provides an excellent atmosphere for those just learning to two-step or die-hard country fans driving in from the ranch for the weekend. Practice the Polka, Texas Two-Step or the Chicken, and be sure to try the Cotton-Eyed Joe. There is also a restaurant that serves traditional country food like chicken fried steak. Continental Club 1315 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 441 2444 This venue, south of the river, is a throwback to the 1950s. Roots rock and country reign supreme in this bar, where one can often find men in leather jackets and classic Cadillacs out front. With live music nightly, tributes to Elvis, and celebrations of Hank William's birthday, this place is great for dancing, drinking and kicking back on the high stools. Happy hours feature some of Austin's favorite songwriters. The venue has broadened its range of live music to include occasional indie rock. Hole in the Wall 2538 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 4747 With its little stage having played host to some big names over the decades, Hole in the Wall has long been regarded as one of the city's most storied venues. Today, it mostly serves as a launching pad for local up-and-comers ranging in size and genre from 9-piece bluegrass bands to individual singer-songwriters. And although the nature of the crowd itself is subject to similarly sudden shifts (this often being a function of the performing schedule), the bar's proximity to UT brings in a steady flow of students and associated youngsters, most of whom come in for pitchers of Shiner and Lone Star. Iron Cactus 606 Trinity Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 9240 This three-story bar is home to one of Austin's best margaritas. Relax on the rooftop bar and watch the crowd meander up Sixth Street, or sit downstairs as the crowds bustle past the huge windows. Patrons enjoy live music at night and during the day, the full-service Southwestern restaurant provides a convenient range from late lunch to happy hour, or dinner to dancing. Maggie Mae's 323 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 8541 This bar provides multi-level entertainment. The ground floor offers live cover-band music; passers-by can look in and see people dancing to the hits. If dancing is not your thing, sneak next door for a beer in the adjoining beer hall, or head upstairs to the more-than-ample patio overlooking the Sixth street crowd. Maggie's is famous in Austin for their motto T-shirt: "Beer. It's not just for breakfast anymore." Soho Lounge 217 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1916 One of the classiest bars on Sixth Street, this long, narrow bar lets you sit and gaze at passers-by or fellow patrons. The lighting is extremely attractive, generating a genuine New York feel. You will enjoy sitting in one of the high-arched cushioned booths and catching glances of fellow patrons from the mirrored walls. The bar has an excellent music selection. If it is not too busy, play a round of pool or head upstairs to the dance floor. Flamingo Cantina 515 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 494 9336 This club on Sixth Street is all about music. The Cantina has been providing Austin with original, diverse music for years. Depending on when you stop by, you will hear everything from reggae to rock, ska to dub, and punk to metal. This is a great place to encounter local people and hear their great local music, although occasionally it can get a little hot. Plenty of beer is offered to cool you off. Lavaca Street Bar 405 Lavaca Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 469 0106 Located in the Warehouse District, this bar offers a game of blackjack or pool while you enjoy your drinks or, if those are not your games, mosey on over and play a relaxed game of shuffle board. If you can, grab a table by the windows, they offer some of the best views in the house and a great perch from which people-watch. Happy hour is observed from 4p to 7p, Monday through Friday. Lucky Lounge 209 A West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7700 This is a New York-style lounge bar with loud music and a hot singles crowd. The raised platform at the bar lets you survey the crowd while staying out of the mix. The music is played from a jukebox by the patrons, but on certain days you will catch a DJ spinning, too. If you decide to stay late, the bar turns itself into a dance hall. This place opens daily at 8p. Cactus Cafe & Bar (The) 2247 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6515 Located on the UT campus, this small dark cavern is a singer/songwriter paradise. The venue attracts local artists as well as nationally recognized ones. Acoustic combos also play here. The Cafe is rather small, so the acoustics are great and the audience is filled with both devoted music fans and the university crowd. It can be difficult to find; call ahead for walking directions on campus. Parish (The) 214 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 0474 This is an intimate venue for those with sophisticated taste. From jazz to house, from acid rock to rap, from shoegaze to dub, the Parish Room runs the musical gamut. Touring acts such as Smog, Guided By Voices, Autechre and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club have graced the stage here. Texas artists Sub Oslo, Lift To Experience, Explosions in the Sky, the Swells and more have also played here. This is the ultimate haven for music lovers and party animals. Babe's / Babe's Stageside 208 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2262 Two clubs for the price of one, this place has a great selection of tasty hamburgers and other food items for a reasonable price, as well as a decent selection of beers and other drinks. The main performance area, the Stageside, is home to a number of artists-in-residence as well as visiting acts who can be seen and heard on a stage that once housed loud metal bands but is now home to a wider variety of performing styles, both locals and visitors. Established in 1990, the place has become a major player in the competitive Sixth Street live music scene. Encore 611 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 782 8439 Want to hear some new rock bands bang their heads and strum their guitars with all their force and power? Then head to Encore in Austin. This club specializes only in rock music, whether it is live or played by a DJ. You will probably hear old favorites by legends such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, or may discover sounds of some new talents on the rock scene. Anyone not sure of entering a rock club, given the unnecessary notoriety surrounding rock clubs, will be genuinely pleased with the smooth service and soft manners of the service staff. And of course, the equipment is incredible enough to ensure a memorable performance. Check the website for more information. Star Bar 600 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 8550 Star Bar is located just west of the madness and parking nightmare of the official Sixth Street Entertainment District, and offers an upscale bar with a casual atmosphere. With its leather banquettes, cozy interior and dim lighting, it is the perfect spot for after-dinner drinks or for rubbing elbows with Austin's chic set. The street-side patio has a European flair, while the back patio provides a more intimate environment. Red Eyed Fly 715 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 1084 The Red Eyed Fly is among the ultra cool strand of nightclubs lining Red River just north of Sixth Street. It books largely Texas punk, rock and pop bands but also features national touring acts. If the live music gets too loud outside on the patio, step back inside the cozy, dimly lit interior where local bands are rotated on the jukebox. The club surrounds itself with a good-sized indie rock scene. Desperado's 9515 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 834 2640 Not all of the finer dance spots are located on or near Sixth Street. This Tejano-style nightclub features a cavernous dance floor and longneck beers on most nights and reasonably priced margaritas, to lubricate a good mood before and after the workout you will get amongst the dancers. The bucking bronco on the logo outside pretty much tells you what to expect. Leave your tuxedo at home, dress casually and show up expecting to have a laid-back good time. Ringside at Sullivan's 300 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 495 6504 Located next door to the fabulous steak house Sullivan's, this high-class jazz club has all the fixin's for a fabulous evening. Live music and a full service bar are only the beginning of the amenities offered at this establishment. This place is where one goes to see and be seen. Prices reflect the pocketbooks that walk through the door. Part of the draw is the ambiance, the other is the selection. The wines from around the world and scotch that can only be found in Scotland are favorites of the regulars. Austin Music Hall 208 Nueces Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 377 1120 / +1 512 298 1777 As one of Austin's favorite live music venues, this club holds around 3000 people. If that sounds like it is too large to get the intimate feel of a band, think again. The bar downstairs helps make the wait for a seat a little more relaxing and the VIP room upstairs is perfect for a great view of the stage. Everyone from Lenny Kravitz to Eric Clapton has performed on this stage. If you are looking for a location for a corporate event or fund-raiser, they do offer their facilities for private parties. Library Bar (The) 407 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0662 This Sixth Street bar makes libraries fun again by having a new take on the traditional library. Here it's all about making it loud, making it rowdy and making it fun. The crowd mostly consists of college kids, but mature personalities sometimes appreciate the ironic juxtaposition of decorator books and, on the second floor, pool and air hockey tables. The DJ starts the evening with Top-40 and progresses into dance music. This bar is especially popular on Friday and Saturday nights when Sixth Street is limited to foot traffic. Tree House Italian Grille 2201 College Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 4200 Sometimes the weather just calls out to be enjoyed and when that happens make the most of it by heading to the Tree House Italian Grille, where you can sit on the pretty patio, and enjoy a meal. The grille serves Italian-American food and offers up delights like the veal cannelloni, which is homemade. Adding to the charm of this restaurant are the live music nights on Fridays and Saturdays. So, go ahead book a table and take someone special because you won't feel like leaving for a long time. Hill's Cafe 4700 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 851 9300 This cafe is one of the hottest spots to mingle, at Austin. The Hills are alive with the sound of music, food and attentive service. Dig into the succulent sizzler's, salads, soups, barbecues; the wine list is endless and the menu includes both lunch and dinner. Located very conveniently near the Austin Bergstrum International Airport, climb those hills, it's worth it. Karma Lounge 119 West 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 469 0504 Karma Lounge is one of the most happening hangouts in Austin. With room names like the shag room and the candle room, bedecked in sensuous tones and candles, it is a nightclub to lose one's self and one's inhibitions. There is something happening here everyday of the week; a live DJ event or the bustling Wednesday nights, which are dedicated to women. One of the main attractions at this lounge is the human aquarium, see it to believe it! Green Mesquite BBQ & More 1400 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 0485 A cheap and satisfying eatery for barbecue lovers and non lovers, Green Mesquite offers it all; from lean and tender pork ribs, ‘po' boys' to vegetable burgers. Sip on a chilled beer while you dig into your Chicken Fried Steak in the cheery outdoor courtyard or roll up your sleeves for the all-you-can-eat special. They also offer Low Carb Plates for the health conscious and reasonable Kid's Plates served with fries. Live music, succulent barbecue, beer and bright sunlight; this is a little piece of Texan barbecue paradise. Lamberts 401 West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 494 1500 Lamberts, located just within the entertaining Warehouse District, has a highly energetic atmosphere with a unique Texas cuisine made up of barbeque, steak and seafood. When finished with any one of their highly recommended dishes, you can enjoy live music playing on their second floor nearly every night of the week. They are open for lunch which has become a popular spot for business patrons and as dinner is a well sought after experience, reservations are recommended. For those who wish to take advantage of the Austin weather, Lamberts also offers an outside patio. Dry Creek Saloon 4812 Mount Bonnell Road Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 9244 The Dry Creek Saloon is one of Austin's older and less well-known watering holes. It is a beer-only bar and they don't take credit cards so remember to stop at an ATM before you arrive. Upstairs on the deck, patrons can catch some afternoon sun while, on occasion, enjoying some live music. While a serious dive bar at first glance, Dry Creek has become a favorite for those looking for a laid back happy-hour experience. Evangeline Cafe 8106 Brodie Lane Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 282 2586 Evangeline's Cafe gets its name from a Longfellow poem and you're forgiven if you're surprised. True, the stuffed animals and neon beer signs don't say Longfellow but diners don't come here expecting a romantic setting for two either. It's for the food and the live music. The kitchen at Evangeline's holds its own in the cajun and creole department, the signature dishes being the gumbo and the crawfish, both with ample meat and cheese. The cafe features new acts every night and the dancing is sure to help you burn some calories. Ignore the no frills impression that you get when you first walk into Evangeline's Cafe and you're guaranteed to have a good time. Easy Tiger 709 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 614 4972 Easy Tiger was formerly Habana Calle 6, a delicious and authentic Cuban bar and restaurant. However, it has since transformed into Easy Tiger, which has equally delicious baked European goods available in the front of the bar. In the back, visitors will have a wide variety of drinks to choose from, including specialty beers and cocktails. Special events and performances are also available at this venue. Whiskey Bar 303 West Fifth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 481 8599 Within the downtown drinking dichotomy of upscale sleek versus casually informal, Whiskey Bar makes its scene in the middle of the road, striking a happy medium between the two schools of thought by way of an interior that's darkly handsome and an atmosphere that's refreshingly easygoing. On Thursday evenings, such easygoingness descends into happy anarchy when the sudden availability of dollar wells brings in hordes of youngish, post-collegiate types, (including customers from the adjacent nightclubs who pop in for a cheap drink before returning), with customers slowly migrating into the back area for one of the most terribly retro dance scenes to be found in Austin. Headhunter's Bar 720 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0188 Austin takes its music seriously, and one of the establishments championing rock is Headhunters Bar. Enter and you'll have as many Tiki masks make eye contact with you as people. A premier venue for the heaviest rock bands around, the Headhunters Bar promotes live acts seven days a week, on both their stages (one indoors and one out). It can get a bit chaotic when two bands play simultaneously, but it happens infrequently. There's no cover to enter, except on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. So find your place between the fluorescent heads and head-bang away! Elephant Room 315 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 2279 If Austin-area jazz lovers feel ignored, it is justified; the local music scene, multi-faceted as it may be, has always neglected their genre of choice. However, what the region lacks in quantity, the Elephant Room more than makes up for in quality. It has been deemed as one of the finest venues in the country by none other than Wynton Marsalis (and subsequently honored by a unanimous resolution of the Texas Senate for having earned the jazz legend's admiration). The appeal stems largely from the club's unceasing lineup of regional favorites, touring greats, and, once in a while, plain ol' jam sessions consisting of anyone who cares to take the stage. Mean Eyed Cat 1621 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 6326 If city parking is like rain on your downtown drinking parade, look no further than the Mean Eyed Cat on West 5th Street. The one-room, no-cover dive bar has an urban feel, but boasts a parking lot that would put Costco to shame. Built to honor the late great Johnny Cash, the Mean Eyed Cat has a crowded back patio and plenty of man-in-black collectibles. The Mean Eyed stage, featuring live music almost every night of the week, is popular with patrons of all ages. Order a shot at the bar to go down, down, down into a burning ring of fire. Midnight Rodeo Austin 2201 East Ben White Boulevard Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 2623 Midnight Rodeo Austin is one hell of a cool place, pride of the 'cowboys' of Austin. Always packed on a Thursday, the atmosphere is one of a lively and happy place. With people getting it on the beautiful oak dance floor in big cowboy boots and huge belt buckles, waving full mugs and bottles around, there is no dull moment at the Rodeo. Once a sprawling lumber house, the club is now a happening place for concerts, events, regional performances and themed parties. Event and venue space is also available. Parties can also be booked here as well. Red 7 611 East 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 8100 Red 7 has a huge teenage and twenty-something fan base. Mainly a punk, metal, rock and indie based venue, it's also very much a happening nightclub. Everyone is allowed in but to access the bar one has to be at least 21. The venue can also be rented for events, parties and concerts. Oilcan Harry's 211 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8823 Oilcan Harry's is a gay bar which has been in business for many years. The ambiance is very relaxing, with high chairs, comfy couches and more. The staff is one of the best aspects of this night spot. OUT Magazine has named Oilcan Harry's one of the "50 Greatest Gay Bars in the World." They have great music with a huge dance floor, where all the people have fun dancing to the sounds churned by the DJ. Elysium Nightclub 705 Red River Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2979 Elysium Nightclub some of the best music to dance to that you could ask for. Whether it's '80s, goth, Euro dance or underground retro, it's all played to make you move like you've never danced before. One of the best entertainment venues in Austin, this nightclub will rock your world all night. The warehouse building that the club is located in is hundreds of years old, making for a unique atmosphere. Charlie's Night Club & Grill 1301 Lavaca Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 6481 Looking for a decent crowd, awesome music and refreshing drinks? Well, this is the place to drop in. Charlie's Nightclub and Grill is a hip establishment, offering the above wants for many years now. Known for their daily events like Super Sunday Show and more, this gay nightclub is also mainly talked about because of the great crowd that show up daily. Keep yourself updated for special events as well. Saxon Pub 1320 South Lamar Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 448 2552 Saxon Pub, located on South Lamar, has a very intimate setting and possesses a classy atmosphere. Live bands and more make this pub quite a hang-out for the locals. Although there is no food available here, you can always bring your own food or even order for that matter. Sports is broadcast on the multiple screens during the day. Saxon Pub is a great place to unwind with some refreshing beer. A comfy ambiance to say the least. Cheers! Light Bar 408 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 8544 Light Bar, one of Austin's favorite bar and lounge, is known for their bar at the back hidden behind the stage. A double dance floored lounge with great music of this generation offered by the DJ. The variety is enormous at the bar, not to mention the bankable service staff. Light Bar is known as the place to come across beautiful people in Austin. So many things to look forward to, when it comes to this bar. Have fun! Element Nightclub 301 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9888 Element Nightclub may seem like a regular nightclub, but the trendy ambiance and the amazing lighting gives it that boost to stand out from other nightclubs. Cheap drinks to start off with, great crowd—hot girls and hunky guys. The dance floor may get a little stuffy, but that's what you can expect from a decent nightclub. If you want to have fun with a group of friends, this is place is good enough for the same. Shenanigans Nightclub 13233 Pond Springs Road Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 258 9717 Welcome to Shenanigans Nightclub! At this club, there are lots of things to look forward to. Starting with the awesome music that sets the mood to the great food which would keep your energy level high enough to dance and keep up with the music. Live music karaoke is one of the main entertaining factors of this nightclub. That's not it, pool, Golden tee 2003, shuffle board, dart and more. But if you just want to sit and eat and feel at home, you can always make use of the big screen TV's. So much at this one nightclub, and how is it possible that you won't have fun? Peckerheads on Sixth 402 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 547 4161 Peckerheads on Sixth, the name may sound like a regular bar round the corner, but FYI it is definitely more than what one can assume. Drinks being of high quality at reasonable prices is just the beginning of this place. Music which will blow your mind, move your body and make you surrender your soul to the sounds of the DJ. Country, Hip-Hop and Alternative Rock are a few of the genres played at this bar. Occasional live music is another feather to this bar's hat. The ultimate trait of this bar are the bartenders who are great with their service so do remember your manners and tip your hard-working bartender. There are nightly drink specials that can make the night inexpensive. Scoot Inn 1308 East 4th Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 6200 Scoot Inn, one of the oldest bars in Texas, is still going strong till date. And rightly so, as the amount of history that this bar has to offer with its interiors is inevitable. Apart from the classic decor, this beer garden serves beer and other drinks at great prices. Music is the core product of this dive bar, as people move to the sounds of Rock & Pop, Blues, Alternative Rock, Funk and lots more. A jukebox too to add to this musical atmosphere. One of the most visited and the best dive bars in Austin, is the place to go to at least once. Dallas Nite Club 7113 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 452 1300 Dallas Nite Club, known for their Ladies' Night on every Saturday, is a gem of a nightclub. People go bizarre dancing to the sounds of the DJ at this old establishment. And if you're looking out for good country dance partners, this is the place to be at. Drinks at great prices is one of the reasons why people drop by here so often. If you're interested in finding some younger female crowd and good-looking cowboys, you have to step into this club. Chain Drive 504 Willow Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9017 Chain Drive, a gay bar on 504 Willow Street, is quite a talked-about bar by the locals of Austin. This bar possesses a mildly dark atmosphere with music that is good enough to set the mood of the bar. The bar never runs out of guys, not just because it's a gay bar but also because of the drinks at great prices and the beyond friendly bartenders who are always there to lighten up your mood. Don't forget to wear your cowboy hat! pool tables and the airy patio are great relaxing spots at this bar. Pete's Dueling Piano Bar 421 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 7383 Pete's Dueling Piano Bar is a fine establishment where people have fun singing and dancing along to the music provided by live piano players. The ambiance is quite trendy to say the least. For first-timers, it's quite a joy ride. Ego's 510 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 7091 Music from rock & pop, blues, alternative rock, bluegrass and many more genres play at this underground club. Pool tables, pinball and video games enhance the entertainment factor here. Occasionally, live bands find the time to entertain the crowd as well. It's said that if you haven't been here at least once, you've not seen Austin yet. Shakespeare's Pub 314 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 1666 Shakespeare's Pub, a classic establishment dedicated or rather themed on a genius of a writer, Shakespeare. If you see any kind of writing, it has to be in the calligraphy form. From Guitar Hero and Wii to Karaoke nights and Rock bands, it all happens out here. Although the name brings out only the pub aspect, it also possesses a nightclub known as the Ally Ale House and it's entrance is at the back. This is where all hell breaks loose in an exciting way as the people simply dance all night to th e sounds of the DJ. Good beer selection, decent crowd, bankable staff and great tunes, enough to make this a perfect pub & nightclub. Tejano Ranch 7601 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 834 2640 Tejano Ranch, is a nightclub known for its country/tejano type of music. Mainly known for the events on every Friday and Saturday, this club can really make you experience an eventful evening. The club has a slight touch of Texas atmosphere, not to mention the cowboy hats worn by many men out there. Drink at great prices with the DJ doing his bit. Live bands and more to add to this unusual club in Austin. Club Breeze 2113 Wells Branch Parkway Austin, TX 78758 United States - Phone: +1 512 990 4994 Club breeze is a lounge & nightclub, which is a quite a good one to drop by at. It's so, not only because it's a nightclub but also because of its smart lighting and its trendy ambiance. This club has a lot to offer from live music to DJ's sound, from great food to the variety in the drinks selection. It can occupy over 450 people with ease, giving the people nothing to complain about. Aquarium on 6th (The) 403 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 499 8003 Plenty of fish? Well yes, there are quite a few in the biggest aquarium on 6th street, but it's also mainly referred to the awesome crowd which makes this trendy atmospheric establishment, a place to visit over and over again. If you are looking out for a place with great club music, refreshing drinks or someone hot-looking to buy you a drink, then this is the place to be in. A relaxing ambiance to say the least, this bar has one of the finest staff, mainly the ever so friendly bartenders. To sum it up, this is a must-visit club. Friends Bar 208 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8193 Friends, perhaps it may not be based on the hit TV show "Friends", but it is one of Austin's most fun bars to be at. It's mainly for the young adults, college crowd et al. Moreover, Austin's greatest local rock and blues bands play quite often to get the crowd going. And that's not it, in-house DJ brings in the beat as it only gets better. Special drinks at great prices with a decent staff. So, if you have friends and want to have a great time, get 'em along. Vibe (The) 508 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 474 0632 The Vibe, is a nightclub located on 6th street which has a lot to offer. Starting off with a trendy ambiance, this club has an in-house bar which has a good variety of drinks and a bankable staff too. Techno music and other genres are perpetually delivered by the DJ. A fun place to dance all night, as its open till early hours in the morning. An advice here would be to go on a weekend as you are bound to just go home and crash on your bed. 311 Club 311 East Sixth Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 1630 311 Club, yet another nightclub in the town of Austin. This club has the best R&B music, which will make you enjoy every move you make on the dance floor. Good refreshing drinks at decent prices available at this club. Moreover, the staff is quite good with their service. And the crowd too is quite hep. A fun place to come to along with your friends. Enjoy! One 2 One Bar 121 East 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 0121 One 2 One Bar, one of Austin's most trendy bars is quite a place to be at. Having a comfy ambiance, this bar has a professional staff, whose service is unquestionable. The variety in the drinks selection is enormous. With live music played very often to set the mood, the bar also has a huge patio on the roof which by the way is dog-friendly. So, one can relax and enjoy one's drink under the blanket of stars. Barcelona 209 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 0900 Barcelona is a hip underground nightclub on Austin's 6th Street--it's literally located under the ground. It's dimly lit, giving it a cool, cave-like ambiance. It serves a good range of refreshing drinks at great prices--some of them in pitchers! The staff is friendly, and great music keeps crowds dancing all night. Beerland 711 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 7625 Beerland, the name says it all. Beer drinkers are assumed to be interesting people which you will certainly find in Beerland. Beers which are available at great prices is just one good thing about this bar. The staff may not be professional but it's definitely good at their jobs and very friendly. Besides that, occasional live music performed and a rock and roll jukebox which always enlightens the bar environment. Not to mention pool and arcade games for everybody. One good place to drink your beer, for real. The Mohawk 912 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 482 8404 Mohawk is a unique nightclub in Austin. It's aim is to bring independent and upcoming acts — local and otherwise — through its doors. Fostering an inclusive community of artists, Mohawk welcomes musicians from a wide variety of genres and styles. It's hard to stand out in a town so inundated with music clubs as Austin, but with its fresh acts, tasty drinks and friendly crowd vibe, Mohawk shows how it's done. Sam's Town Point 2115 Allred Drive Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 282 0083 Sam's Town Point is quite a casual bar, where you will find a lot of usual aspects which one would find in most bars in Austin. Buffalo wings, beer battered mushrooms and lots more on their menu. And the drinks are available at great prices. Not to mention the live music of many genres from rock to country to blues and so on. A easy-going place to relax and enjoy your drink. Trophy's Bar and Grill 2008 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 447 0969 Trophy's Bar and Grill may not have been famous back in the day, but after the complete transformation which included a lot of changes like lights, sound and so on has made it a nightclub for real. The sound offered by the DJ is awesome and will certainly blow your mind. Latest music with a touch of techno-fused classics, this club gets the crowd on their feet. The bar has some great specials to offer, not to mention the friendly staff. A trendy club for one an all. Valhalla 710 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States Formerly the home of Room 710, this bar on Red River Street, features weekly theme nights and occasional live music performances. The ambiance is makes it a good place to stop by and have a couple of cold ones. Nasty's 606 Maiden Lane Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 4349 Nasty's may not personify its name but it's surely one awesome bar. It's like a house of happiness where everything possibly could make you smile. The atmosphere here is pretty casual while the ambiance has an evening feel to it thanks to the dim lights but not dark as such. The bartenders and the staff are quite up to the mark, while the drinks are available at reasonable prices. Besides the awesome music provided by the DJ, live music being performed by Austin's local artists. There are pool tables, dart boards and video games to enhance the entertainment factor. And thanks to the above, a good crowd shows up every time. Over all it's quite a decent place to hang out at. Club Carnaval 2237 East Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 6396 Club Carnaval may seem like one of the oldest clubs in the town of Austin, but it isn't as it chooses to look a little old fashioned keeping the late '80s and '90s alive. The classic dance floor speaks for itself, while the people coming in are quite friendly. The bar tender and the staff are pretty good at their jobs and easy to get along with. The music being played by the DJ is quite up to date, and that's the prime reason for this place to do so well. A good place to drop by with your group of friends. Plush 617 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 0099 Plush is a hip bar and nightclub open to Austin's fun-loving crowd. The ambiance has a touch of elegance while the staff is friendly yet professional. The club has an amazing sound system that will certainly blow your mind. Even when it's crowded here, there's always room to dance. It's a great place to end a night on the town! Club Fuze 505 Neches Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 767 0134 Club Fuze is a fine establishment which is still not known to many which is surprising as in the club you have so much to look forward to. The interiors of the club is quite electrifying with lights et al. It's a two-leveled club, the upper one overlooking the other. The bartenders here are always so friendly and will recommend you something out of the blue. The dance floor is quite big considering there are two levels, while the music delivered by the DJ is exceptional with different types of music from hip-hop to electronica and so on. There's never a dull moment at this club especially if you've come in with your pals. Warehouse Saloon & Billiards (The) 509 East Ben White Boulevard Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 8799 Warehouse Saloon & Billiards is not just a bar but an exceptional twenty-four years old sports bar. Exceptional because this one has lot to offer other than just drinks. As you enter, you will realize that the people in there are quite casual, having their drinks, watching the game on to big TV screen and so on. Now there are quite a few things one can do at this bar. If you love darts or even if you want to try it, there exists a dart board, where you can try your luck. Three to four foosball tables to add to the fun. Not to mention the mini-arcade section. And the biggest of 'em all is the room full of pool tables, where people just cant get enough of it. Oh! And how could one forget about the drinks especially when they are available at great prices and the staff good at their service. The bar does have karaoke nights too along with some live music. It's complete sports bar to many. Marq (The) 422 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 322 5180 The Marq is one brilliant nightclub and bar. It has a dimly lit ambiance which compliments the dark wood around the club quite perfectly. The dance floor is sizable enough to hold a large crowd on most nights. The drinks include specials and exotic cocktails which will surprise you. The bartenders are friendly, giving this place a very unpretentious feel. Highland Lakes Bar 3600 Presidential Boulevard Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 530 2242 Highland Lake Bar, part of ABIA, a bar close to the airport is a good place to drop by especially to kill time in case of flight is delayed or so. A little trendy looking bar where you'll see a lot of tourists talking different languages yet it's unity in diversity out here. The drinks are served at fairly reasonable prices while the music mainly played throughout the year here is live. Comfortable seatings, good enough to enjoy a drink or two. Lefty's Bar & Grille 3600 Presidential Boulevard Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 530 2242 Lefty's Bar & Grille may sound like a regular bar but it's not mainly because it's located at the airport. Secondly, the ambiance here is quite trendy while the staff is professional to the core. The drinks and the bar food are equally good, which are priced very reasonably. This is one of those bars where, one would find many tourists, many of 'em not speaking your language, which makes this bar all the more interesting. Not to mention the live music played here by talented local artists, almost throughout the year. Boomerz 6148 West Highway 290 Austin, TX 78735 United States - Phone: +1 512 892 3373 Boomerz is one of the most casual nightclub and bar one could ever be at. The interiors of this fine establishment are quite welcoming. A place where you will encounter a mixed aged friendly crowd over 21 years of age of course, and the staff here too are bankable and attentive. The music here is quite electrifying while the lighting fixtures are smartly placed. The dance floor is fairly big. This slightly dim lit bar also has karaoke nights and live music. It's also a sports bar having around eight pool tables, televisions mainly displaying sports channels, arcade tables and so on. There's lots in store for you at this bar. Cheatham Street Warehouse 119 Cheatham Street San Marcos, TX 78666 United States - Phone: +1 512 353 3777 Cheatham Street Warehouse is not an unusual bar but still there's lot you can look forward to. A laid-back attitude is personified by the body-language of the people, but yet after a while it's a loud and a lively environment. The seating arrangements are mainly pointing towards the small stage, where many talented singers and musician from the local are do their bit live, entertaining the people and interacting with them as well. The drinks are available in plenty, not expensive at all, while the service here is fairly good. It's great place to have a drink or two. Dirty Dog Bar 505 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 236 9800 / +1 512 774 4695 Dirty Dog Bar may obviously sound like an absurd place to go at. But what may take you by surprise is that it's a complete sports bar with live music. The ambiance spells out shades of jazzy lights quite apt for this fine establishment. The bar has a good range of alcohol to select from. Needless to say that the bartenders are genuinely friendly and attentive. It's a good thing that this bar is a big one, and why not? After all, it has three 8 foot screens and a number of televisions smartly placed all over the bar playing mainly extreme sports, football and UT games as well. Billiards, shuffleboard and air hockey to add to the fun. And for all XBOX maniacs, there's one with the most famous games. There's one special aspect of this bar - Dirty photo booth, where one can click pictures of their wildest poses or subtle ones. On weekends, parties are held which are nothing less than wild. This extreme sports themed bar will ensure that you have your share of fun. Nomad Bar 1213 Corona Drive Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 628 4288 Nomad Bar is quite an undertaking not too far from Downtown. This place has a trendy atmosphere buzzing around, while the people come here just to have a great time. Most come here after work, while for the rest, it's a regular fun outing. The chairs and tables are over-sized and comfy too. Not to mention the outdoor patio, where the weather feels just right. A potential romantic spot as well. But, this glistening bar is mainly better of for friend circles. It has a great range of premium drinks to select from, while the bartenders are professional thus bankable. The food served here is really delicious. One must try the hummus plate, which you may be surprised by its taste and texture. Occasional live music is just one the best aspects of this bar. A favorite spot for many. This place opens at 5pm. BB Rover's Cafe & Pub 12101 Jollyville Road Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 335 9504 BB Rover's Cafe & Pub is a wonderful place to be at, anytime. It's not just because of the timings, but also the atmosphere that is ever so friendly and relaxed. With a fine decor, this place possesses comfy seats and fairly big tables. Now the menu has a lot on it to choose from. With lip-smacking appetizers, soup of the day and lunch specials are served too. Half-pound burgers and refreshing beverages, if you're up only for a small meal. Besides that, one can choose from almost 300 beers and ales. This bar also has a dog-friendly patio. Another USP is the wireless internet available, for free. Live music to set the mood, at this bar. Club Tangerine 9721 Arboretum Boulevard Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 343 2626 Club Tangerine, located in the exotic Renaissance Austin Hotel is also known as the Club Renaissance. The wonderful dance floor at the club makes it one of the hottest hang out destinations in Austin. This club is a perfect place for social networking in a chilled out atmosphere. Six Lounge 117 West 4th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 6662 Head to Six Lounge for a memorable night out with friends. Sip on exotic cocktails as you lounge around at the brightly illuminated bar area, also called the tap room, and tap your feet to dazzling music. Special events, DJ nights and live acts take the cake. If you want a little privacy and quiet, head to the Mezzanine upstairs and munch on appetizing delights as you survey the vibrant scene downstairs. The regulars swear by their selection of fabulous music, delicious snacks and friendly staff. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. Latitude 30 512 San Jacinto Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 3335 Latitude 30 is all about letting your hair down and swaying to good music. Sip on an exotic drinks as you jive to live music performances or catch some action on the TV screens. Special events and DJs rock your world with their selection of impressive music. Head to the comfortable VIP area if you seek a breather from all that action. You can also hire the space for organizing your private events and parties. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. Emo's 2015 East Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 505 9999 / +1 512 693 3667 A hip concert venue, Emo's is home to regular shows and live music events. Located at East Riverside Drive in East Austin, it draws huge crowd during major events and shows. While showcasing a range of contemporary music concerts, it also rents out its facility for private events like parties and receptions. To see their upcoming schedule, please visit website or call ahead. Antone's 2015 East Riverside Drive Austin, TX 78741 United States - Phone: +1 512 320 8424 / +1 512 800 4628 This renowned blues hall showcases a variety of music in the genres of blues and rock. Bands from home and afar play here in hopes of gaining national attention. Stevie Ray Vaughan used to be a regular and Willie Nelson sometimes makes a cameo appearance. This live music venue provides an upbeat atmosphere for all ages and lifestyles. Dance up front to the band or relax in the back with a cold long neck beer. Graham Central Station 1719 Grand Avenue Parkway Austin, TX 78660 United States - Phone: +1 512 252 0664 Graham Central Station is one of Austin's hottest clubs, featuring one spectacular hotspot with six clubs inside. There are special events throughout the week, including theme parties, dancing, live music and DJs, karaoke and more. Club 1808 1808 East 12th Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 524 2519 Club 1808 has firmly made its mark in the live music scene in Austin after having successfully attracted the finest musicians over the years. Independent and unsigned bands are greatly patronized by this club which has done ts best to promote raw talent. Beer flows all the way each night, while the pool table constantly sees its share of regulars. Tuesdays and Wednesdays beckon with the special promotions available on a range of drinks. Copa Bar & Grill 217 Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 479 5002 A bar, a dance club and a restaurant all rolled into one, Copa & Bar Grill is the best thing to happen to downtown Austin. Offering an appetizing Tex-Mex menu, one can indulge in hearty portions of marinated chicken fajitas, grilled fish tacos served with salad and vegetable rice, or grilled chicken breast served with mushrooms and onions. Wash this down with some chilled cranberry juice or imported beer. By night, the place is entirely transformed with the red lighting casting shadows on the salsa dancers who can master this dance with skilled in-house instructors. Happy hours ensure that everyone stays happy at Copa's! Barbarella 615 Red River Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 7766 Barbarella is Austin's premiere dance club. Come here on any given night and you might hear your favorites from the 1980s as well as retro, soul, electro and indie music. People come here to enjoy a bit of nostalgia, or simply to dance. The club is also a venue for a number of shows and bands; it's part of the SXSW (South by Southwest) festival. So, for a fantastic time in Austin, hop over to Barbarella. Independent (The) Brushy Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 485 3001 The Independent at 501 studios, fondly called ND, is a hot and happening music space that offers you a splendid array of nightly entertainment that is sure to keep you coming back for more! An impressive line up of upcoming music sensations, coupled with dark, mysterious interiors draws a huge, music loving crowd. Groove to your favorite tunes or sip on a drink as you hang out with friends and take in the buzz of the night. Theme nights, music festivals, concerts, live performances, impromptu acts and poetry slams among other things spruce up the atmosphere and jazz up the nights. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. Phoenix (The) 409 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 472 8882 A surreal and mystical space that charms with its eclectic interiors and warm welcoming lighting, The Phoenix is a nightclub that provides a fusion of beautiful people and entertainment. The evenings are revved up with special theme nights that provide an invigorating vivacity. Feeling blue and looking for a night out that allows you to let loose and spell relaxation, then this is the place that permits you just that. For further information, log on to their website or call on the numbers mentioned. Republic Live 301 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9888 Defining the dance scene in Austin, Republic Live is where Fridays and Saturdays see famed DJs spin up a storm, much to the delight of patrons. A VIP room upstairs works for those who prefer a private space to catch up on some conversation and enjoy aerial views of the dance floor. The drinks are fairly priced and bartenders do a good job with mixing cocktails. All in all, Republic Live has much going for it and is well worth a visit. Call for details on events. North Door (The) 501 North I-35 Frontage Road Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 485 3001 Austin's multi-faceted venue in 501 Studios on the city's East Side features live music, burlesque shows, lectures, literature, art, film screenings and more. The venue is equipped with an acoustically splendid concert venue, which is equipped with advanced sound technology. Open till 2a, you can walk into the next door cocktail lounge to sip on some libations. Visit the website for more information about this diverse cultural arts center. Rusty Spurs / Black & Tan 405 East 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States Formerly home to Black & Tan and Rusty Spurs, this venue is available for live music and special events. The popular South By Southwest Festival (SXSW) has hosted performances and parties at this stylish location, which sets the stage for a great night out on the town. There's a small outdoor area where you can catch your breath before heading back in for more entertainment. Bat Bar 218 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States More than one floor of dancing space and 3 full-service bars are what you will find here at Bat Bar on 6th Street. Each night guarantees either live music entertainment or tunes spun by a DJ; call or see the website for more information. Enzo Restaurant & Lounge 801 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 250 3696 If you like an atmosphere with a Latin vibe, this is the perfect spot to be! The great ambiance and spectacular music combine with a mixed crowd of young college students for an entertaining night out. The bartender service is quite good, with a wide variety of drinks available. If you are looking for bottle service, the lounges are great and come with a service crew that is very attentive to your needs. The VIP area is right next to the glowing dance floor. Looking for a big crowd of college students or young adults? Come in on Saturdays, which tend to be a lot more crowded than any of the other days. Special events are held from time to time, and a full menu of tapas and fusion entrees is available. -Victoria Perez Madison (The) 307 West 5th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 494 4094 The Madison is located on Austin's 5th Street, and is a gathering place for college students. The atmosphere is lively and the place is spacious, with a second-floor full bar. Little lounge areas are scattered here and there, and a nice balcony overlooks the space from the second floor. Top hits are usually played on weekends, with some Latin music played from time to time. Looking to have a fun night out? Come and join the crowd that's here on weekend nights. Stage on Sixth (The) 508 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 614 1540 Dance the night away to live country music at The Stage on Sixth. With a big dance floor ready to host all of your best moves, all are welcome to join the fun! The patio out back is great for lounging and conversation on warm Texas nights. If the dance floor isn't quite your scene, enjoy the giant game of Jenga available for patrons to play. Gypsy Lounge 1504 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78702 United States Gypsy Lounge hosts a variety of events, including afternoon art shows and evening dance parties! Check out the website or contact the venue for more information on the event schedule. Vice 302 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States A nightclub in the Sixth Street area of downtown Austin, Vice is one of the few places that will allow in people younger than 21 years of age. With a limited amount of such places in Austin willing to open its doors to those 18 years and older, this place sets itself apart. There's three floors to enjoy Vice's heart-pounding music. For those 21 years and over, there's a bar located on the first floor and one on the third floor that tends to be less crowded. Thirsty Nickel (The) 325 East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 473 8891 Here's a bar in the Sixth Street area that knows why you come through their doors. The Thirsty Nickel tries to make sure that by the time you leave you won't be thirsty anymore. The bartenders are friendly and keep the drinks coming. The bar has daily drink specials that make the gross amount of alcohol you'll order affordable. There's generally a DJ but when a music festival comes to town, that's when this place gets packed all wanting to catch the live gigs. It's a great place to start your evening off right. Haven 409 Colorado Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 522 0409 A great addition to the chic night scene of Austin, Haven is the place to be, if you are looking forward to have a fun night. Located at Colorado Street, it lies bang in the heart of downtown. With a classy and upscale ambiance, the nightclub offers a range of drinks, along with a great mix of crowd. Buy yourself a drink, and groove to the hit numbers, that the DJ keeps spinning all evening. You can also choose to host your next party or event here, while the staff at Heaven will make sure that all your needs are looked into. White Horse (The) 500 Comal Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 553 6756 An amazing hangout for those in the neighborhood, The White Horse is known for their eclectic choice of music and amazing drinks. Located at Comal Street, the club lies to the East of downtown. With a divey ambiance, The White Horse has a rustic appeal to it. Serving whiskey on tap, The White Horse hosts an array of live music shows and gigs. Drop by on a weekend, to witness the crowd grooving to country music and reasonably-priced alcohol. Club 606 606 E 7th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 810 8237 Capital Cruises 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 480 9264 For cruising around on Town Lake, the best way to go is on a Capital Cruise. Have dinner with friends or just your date, while watching the beauty of Austin's downtown from the peaceful water. Sightseeing tours are available along with canoes and kayaks; or you can take out paddle boats for an outdoor activity with the family. So whether it is a romantic evening for two or a day on the lake with kids, this service can meet your needs. Furthermore, the Hyatt caters for these cruises and serves wonders like shrimp pasta, beef or chicken fajitas, to name a few. They will work with your company or group to customize a menu if you desire. Thompson Conference Center 2405 Robert Dedman Drive Austin, TX 78713 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 2938 These modern facilities are also available for rent and are an excellent choice for conferences and educational forums. The staff can even assist with conference planning services. The center also offers classes designed for furthering education of professionals. If you are interested in fine arts, computer application training, or an ongoing seminar series, the Thompson Center can keep you up to speed on the issues. Lions Municipal Clubhouse 2901 Enfield Road Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 477 6963 Located next to the Lions Municipal Golf Course in beautiful West Austin, this clubhouse has a ballroom of 1300+ square feet. The room has wonderful windows, variable lighting and wood floors. The carpeted conference room opens off the ballroom and it offers a large conference table, 15 upholstered chairs and a credenza. Zilker Clubhouse 200 Zilker Clubhouse Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 6797 Located just west of Zilker Park, this fantastic facility is offered by the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. The large room can accommodate groups of 150 people inside and the adjoining patio another 50. Tables and folding chairs are provided with your rental fee. With the beautiful view of downtown Austin, this location is perfect for an in-town get away for family or corporate clients. See their website for further information. It's About Thyme Nursery 11726 Manchaca Road Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 280 1192 Owned and operated by Diane and Chris Winslow, this oasis of a garden center sells herbs, bedding and landscaping plants, roses and trees. The owner also does landscaping and irrigation work in residential homes. The staff is knowledgeable and helpful and the selection is plentiful with excellent quality. They have a nice selection of native plants, too. NiaSpace Body-Mind-Soul Fitness 3212 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 3013 Neuromuscular Integrative Action (NIA) means "with purpose" and is designed to help you approach life with passion, feeling and electricity. These classes are formatted like a regular exercise class, but they focus on relaxed, grounded movement. Through a blend of guided imagery and exciting eclectic music, emotional and physical tensions are released from the body. This space also offers yoga classes, T'ai Chi Chuan, Trance Dance, World Music and Dance Fitness and several other classes and events. Come have a completely different fitness experience. Call or visit the Web site for rates and schedule. Wild Basin Fitness 4308 North Quinlan Park Road Austin, TX 78732 United States - Phone: +1 512 266 6161 Nestled in the hills of Austin, Wild Basin Fitness blends its state-of-the-art training facility and talented staff with the breathtaking views of the Wild Basin Wilderness. The staff will help you establish a personalized program offering positive motivation and feedback for your workouts. Manual and massage therapy is offered to increase the body's productivity and reduce stress. Active Iso Stretching is taught to increase circulation and flexibility. Workout in this serene setting and enjoy the nature that surrounds you. Hills Fitness Center (The) 4615 Bee Caves Road Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 4881 This fitness center has been serving people of all ages and fitness levels for the over twenty years. On eleven wooded acres you will find a ropes course, a sports-plex, a massage therapy department, spa services, fitness classes and two heated swimming pools. Personal Fitness Trainers are available to assist you in designing an individualized comprehensive workout program. Visitors also enjoy the steam room, sauna and whirlpool facilities. Premiere Lady Fitness & Spa 7028 Wood Hollow Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 418 9399 Austin's only all ladies fitness center and club offers personal training, aerobics, top of the line exercise machines, free weights, steam room and sauna, aqua exercises, a pool and whirlpool, a hair and nail salon, facials and massages, and tanning beds. You could spend the entire day here taking care of your body. Childcare is available, with children's swim lessons offered. Try a yoga or NIA class and grab a protein smoothie after your workout. Pro Tape and Communications Supply 313 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 443 3911 Did you run out of film in the middle of a shoot and its 3am? Available by 24-hour digital pager, Pro Tape and Communications Supply are major supplier of film, magnetic tape and production supplies for Austin's music and film professionals can come to your rescue. The shop carries a large inventory of brands including Eastman Kodak, TDK, Maxell, Fuji, JVC, Sony, BASF, Apogee, Denon and Quantegy. In addition to film and tape, you will find editing systems, lighting equipment, lamps, adapters, cables and more. kidsActing Studio 2826 Real Street Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 836 5437 kidsActing Studio offers a variety of after-school classes as well as half-day and full-day summer camp for ages 3 to 19. Children learn techniques in dancing, singing, acting, performing improvisational comedy, television performing, casting, play production, technical design and writing. The company produces full-scale musicals starring children ages 6 to 18. Austin Convention Center 500 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 404 4000 Austin Convention Center is 411,000 square foot convention, exhibition, and general meeting hall located between Town Lake and Sixth Street, a short walk to hotels and the entertainment district. The facility contains the city's largest ballroom, 29 meeting rooms, and with a recent expansion, additional exhibition halls and an upper level ballroom. The award winning facility is made of native Texas materials ranging from limestone to granite and regularly sponsors concerts, seminars, trade shows, high-tech conventions, and more. Look up their website for a calendar of events or to contact the center to schedule your own event. Parking is two blocks west on Cesar Chavez. Lone Star Riverboat 208 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78756 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1388 Take a tour with Lone Star Riverboat down the Colorado River (known as Town Lake in the Austin city limits) on a paddle wheel boat. This Southern style of transportation is a perfect way to take in the city's skyline. Trips are 90 minutes long and do not require reservations. Call ahead to determine the seasonal schedule. During the summer moonlight cruises are offered, as well as close-up cruises of the bats underneath Congress bridge. Prices vary by excursion, so check their website for further information. St. David's Medical Center 919 East 32nd Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 7111 Neuroscience Center, Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit, Neo-Natal transport, emergency services, acute care and cardiology services. MRI diffusion scan is available. Two parking garages are accessible for patients and visitors. Seton Medical Center 1201 West 38th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 324 1000 24-hour emergency care, Heart Center, inpatient and outpatient services, minor emergency care, Shivers Cancer Programs, surgery center, and a Skilled Sub-acute Care Program for transitioning from ICU to home care. Valet parking is available at the patient drop-off/pick-up point. A limited parking area for visitors is also available. Brackenridge Hospital 601 East 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 324 7000 24-hour emergency, private ICU rooms with windows, Intermediate Care Unit available, major trauma center, inpatient and day surgery, maternity and midwife services, neurosciences and specialty outpatient clinics. Teaching hospital for the University of Texas at Galveston. Parking is available in the parking garage adjacent to the hospital. Gregory Gym 2101 Speedway Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 6370 The Texas Volleyball team sometimes practices and has matches at the Gregory Gym, which happens to be one of the finest collegiate volleyball facilities in the country. The site, better known as the home of the Longhorns, reopened in 1998 after an eight-year layoff. Locker rooms, offices, meeting rooms and a players' lounge are available for jocks throughout the year. There are also an exercise room, climbing wall, badminton, handball, basketball and volleyball courts. Red and Charline McCombs Field 1300 East Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 471 3434 This is not just a place where the Lady Longhorns wag their tail feathers! This $4.5 million softball complex has witnessed the Longhorns winning the regional softball championship. Located next to UT's Disch-Falk field, the complex hosts 11 home games (mostly double headers) during the season from February to April. It is advised that you purchase your tickets in advance. Alliance Business Centers 816 Congress Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 682 5570 With Alliance Business Centers you can set up shop and be open for business in more than 500 locations around the world. You can select from a menu of services such as a corporate mailing address, personal telephone receptionist and full suite or conference room facilities. No matter how big or small you are, Alliance Business Centers has just what you need. Urgent & Family Care at Avery Ranch 10625 Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78717 United States - Phone: +1 512 733 9400 On-site X-Ray, Lab and EKG. Board certified physicians, most insurance accepted, physician always on hand, no appointment necessary. Administers flu shots, tetanus shots, most vaccinations, pregnancy tests. Bring driver's license or photo ID, insurance card (if applicable), credit card or cash for visit or co-pay fee. Yellow Cab 10630 Joseph Clayton Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 434 7700 Yellow Cab, is Austin's largest taxi service and is well-equipped with modern technology. Safety and city regulated rates are assured with these services. The cab drivers do not belong to a company, but are accessible through Yellow Cab for services. This is a preferred and recommended way of touring around the city as it is regulated by the City of Austin. Austin Cab Company 1135 Gunter Street Austin, TX 78702 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 2222 Since 1984, the Austin Cab Company has been serving travelers in Austin. Since then there has been a constant endeavor to bring betterment and innovation in services. Providing quality services and easy access to the wonderful city of Austin, the company is looked upon as a reliable touring option. Private car and Limousine services are also available on request. Westlake High School 4100 Westbank Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 732 9280 Westlake High School has been educating and inculcating academic excellence since it first opened in 1969. Besides education it emphasizes importance on theater, music and the arts thus developing artistic talent. WHS also offers a variety of academic courses and programs along with athletic programs. The theater department here is an award winning one which has hosted theater of promise and caliber. Besides student activities, the school also has hosted various plays, events and productions. Texas Hillel (The Topfer Center for Jewish Life) 2105 San Antonio Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 0125 Just a stone's throw away from University of Texas at Austin, Texas Hillel is more of a foundation that was built mainly to look after the welfare of the Jewish students of the University. The Topfer Center is an amalgamation of various spaces available for events, cafes and eateries. The foremost motive of this center is to bring about cultural awareness among the students. Within the 18,000 sq.ft of area, this center organizes events pertaining to Jewish culture. The facility is also available on rental basis for private parties and concerts as well. Gamblin Field 1102 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 462 5353 The Gamblin Field at Texas School for the Deaf is the home to the Austin Outlaws, a Women's Football Team. The stadium is an athletic field that also hosts various sporting events like baseball, rugby, etc, and even fund-raising programs. In fact, it became famous after the shooting of popular TV series "Friday Night Lights" was held over here. Tickets for upcoming events can be booked in advance. LBJ Auditorium At UT Austin 2313 Red River Street Austin, TX 78712 United States - Phone: +1 512 721 0200 University of Texas is renowned for providing high-standard education which assures academic excellence and personality development of students. Apart from this influential role, the University is also known for its elegant and functional venues. LBJ Auditorium is one of these. This tastefully designed versatile space is the perfect venue for any occasion, be it corporate or private. State-of-the-art amenities combined with sophisticated interiors make this a great venue for businessmen and socialites to play host. Mueller Airport Parking Lot 1 Manor Road Austin, TX 78708 United States Mueller Airport Parking Lot is a popular venue known for hosting a diverse range of events in its premises. This spacious facility equipped with the modernized acoustics and sound technologies provides the perfect setting for any kind of function. Any event held here is sure to be a successful one. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport 3600 Presidential Boulevard Austin, TX 78719 United States - Phone: +1 512 530 2242 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has been impeccably planned for aviation transport and commercial aviation and also to serve the Texas Army National Guard and State Aircraft Pooling Board. This highly maintained airport has the most advanced amenities to cater to the individual passenger requirements. The restaurant and shops, here, offer a delicious array to satisfy people's taste buds. Besides this, the center in the Barbara Jordan Terminal stages a variety of musical performances and other cultural events to entertain people. House Park Field 1301 1/2 Shoal Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78701 United States Located in the heart of Austin, the House Park Field is known for hosting a diverse range of events. This upscale setting boasts of stylish interiors and modernized sound and lighting equipments which make every event a special one. Give them a chance to plan an event and you are assured it would be a successful one. Crockett Event Center 10601 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 288 7288 Located in the heart of Austin, the Crockett Event Center is known for hosting a diverse range of events. This upscale setting boasts of stylish interiors and modernized sound and lighting equipments which make every event a special one. Give them a chance to plan an event and you are assured it would be a successful one. Austin North Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000(Tourist Information) Austin is the capital and fourth largest city of Texas, known for its lively and energetic lifestyle. This place is loaded with art communities, music venues, festivals and lots of fun all year round. The place is also known as the "Live Music Capital of The World," so all you music and art lovers come here and be sure to return with much much more than you expected. Walton's Fancy & Staple 609 West 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 542 3380 Owned by well-known Austinite Sandra Bullock, Walton's Fancy & Staple is a laid- back space combining a deli, bakery, catering service and florist. With over 20 sandwiches to choose from, along with a daily soup special, multiple freshly made salads, spreads and breakfast tacos, Walton's offers a wide variety of lunch choices. As for dessert, Walton's prepares fresh pastries every day that include macaroons, scones, cupcakes, fresh breads and old-fashioned whoopie pies. Grab one of the few tables to dine in, or walk your lunch to a nearby park for a picnic. The back of the store holds a floral counter with a florist ready to make you a bouquet from the many types of flowers available. - Christine Whalen Cedar Park Center 2100 Avenue of the Stars Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 600 5000 The Cedar Park Center, located near Austin Texas, is an indoor arena that hosts a multitude of events. From rock concerts to sporting events, musicals to Barbeque cook-offs, the Center offers something for everyone. The sports arena boasts 6800 seats, and is home to the hockey team, the Texas All-Stars. Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine 4005 Manchaca Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 444 8082 Founded in 1990, Texas College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is an educational organization that trains students in the field of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The lack of texts and research material in English language and the need for a benchmark and standardized institute, led the founders Lisa and Paul Lin, to establish this medicine college. It also has well-equipped library on-site that comprises texts, medical journals and other material that will help the students. For complete details on admission and other information, check website or call ahead. Elgin North Main Street @ West 2nd Street Austin, TX 78621 United States - Phone: +1 512 281 5724(Tourist Information) Elgin is a city in the state of Texas that is known as the Sausage capital of Texas and the Brick capital of the Southwest. With many upcoming commercial projects, this city is soon gaining the reputation of becoming a commercial hub. There are also many sporting events held here. But the major event that stands apart from all is the Western Days Festival that is held every year. This festival is a week long gathering full of of activities, fun and frolic for all ages. From beauty pageants, dance shows to street plays, this event is a carnival of sorts. There are also activities like pie-eating contests, face painting and so on. A time that is much awaited by many. Texas Union 2247 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78713 United States - Phone: +1 512 475 6636 Texas Union was established by students and teachers of the University of Texas in the year 1933. The main aim of this students body is to create a meeting place and space for various co-curricular events and activities. The building has meeting rooms, lounges and dining services. One such event held her is the Austin Annual Ballroom Festival. This mega event is a two day carnival with many workshops and dance lessons. There are also many dance shows in salsa, tango and ballroom by famous dancers and performers. Students are given training at basic, intermediate and advance levels. For more on the even schedule and rental space, do call ahead. Butler Dance Education Center (The) 501 West 3rd Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 9051 A part of the Ballet Austin, The Butler Dance Education Center is a temple for a ballet performer or amateur. With great emphasis on the regiment ballet requires, the trainers are professional and skilled in their areas of proficiency. Importance is always given to an overall understanding of the dance form and its techniques and styles. Students are also provided with the opportunity to perform before large crowds and thereby take a step forward to training for performance. For further information, log on to their website. Shoreline Church 15201 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78728 United States - Phone: +1 512 310 2244 Shoreline Church is a Christian church that believes in propagating the word of God with special emphasis on power and hope. The church was incepted when a couple opened their residential doors to the public, welcoming those in distress and need. The church continues its mission till date and takes in guests as also conducts regular prayer services and other charity events. To find peace and sanctum from your hectic life, Shoreline Church is the place to go. Austin Area Interstate 35 Austin, TX 78701 United States Austin Area or better known as Greater Austin, is a significant metropolitan area in the state of Texas. It is located in the heart of Austin and is one of the oldest areas in the city. The area holds much importance as several universities, the state capitol, commercial centers and offices and located here. The Colorado river meanders alongside the area with many ecological regions and green spaces mellowing down the Texas heat. Being a prominent venue for most government activities, the economy here is diverse. Several annual events, music festivals and cultural carnivals are held here. Hills Country Club (The) 26 Club Estates Parkway Lakeway, TX 78738 United States - Phone: +1 512 261 7200 The Hills Country Club, also known as The Hills of Lakeway is a beautiful club located on the lush green meadows of Lakeway that offers ace golf services. The club offers two championship courses where several tournaments and leagues are held. Amateurs can learn golf at their academy that has a 500-yard learning center with target holes and greens. The academy also offers many learning programs and lessons for all ages. There is also a merchandise shop where you can buy golf clubs, gloves and other golf equipments. Call ahead to know more. Austin Stone Community Church- St. John Campus 500 East Saint Johns Avenue Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 708 8860 Austin Stone Community Church is a Christian place of worship in North Austin. This church has 2 sites; this is one and the other takes place at Austin High School. Sunday Service times are at 9:15a, 11:15a, 5p, and 7p. Call or see the website for more information about the church's beliefs or upcoming events. One Texas Center 505 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 974 2000 One Texas Center is a building owned by the City of Austin that contains many of the city's offices and small businesses. It also provides public parking that is sure to be an appealing feature in a city the size of Austin. Located adjacent to the Long Center and the Palmer Events Center, the One Texas Center's garage becomes a popular location for parking. This is also one of the tallest buildings in Austin and, if you can make it, provides amazing views of the city. A meeting or conference will occasionally be held in one of the city's offices located within this building. Sherwood Forest Fairgrounds 1883 Old Highway 20 McDade, TX 78650 United States - Phone: +1 512 731 2316 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Austin lies the Sherwood Forest Fairgrounds, home to the Sherwood Forest Faire and other medieval-esque events, including jousting and weddings. See the website for the events calendar and plan your trip to the dark ages accordingly. New Horizons 300 East Highland Mall Boulevard Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 888 710 0839 New Horizons, located in the North Loop, partners with companies like Cisco and Microsoft to help professionals who are trying to expand their technical skill set. Mainly focused on computer learning courses, the company regularly hosts seminars and events. Texas Charter Schools Association (TCSA) 700 Lavaca Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 584 8272 Located in Downtown Austin, the Texas Charter Schools Association is a membership organization that represents over 350 charter schools in Texas. They campaign for funding and help to maintain the quality of the education given at their schools. The organization regularly holds seminars and meetings for those interested in starting a school. Amtrak - Austin 250 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78703 United States The Austin Amtrak station is a part of the daily Amtrak Texas Eagle route, which goes from Chicago to San Antonio. Three times a week, there is an extended line that goes from San Antonio to Los Angeles; see the website for more information. Station hours are from 7a to 8p every day of the week, during which all are welcome to use the indoor waiting area and baggage services. The Austin station is located a few streets away from Sixth Street, which is chock full of bars and restaurants with live music. 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX United States Surrounded amongst the Texas foliage is 1102 East Cesar Chavez Street. When you pull up, you'll likely wonder if you got the right address but don't worry, this property located across the street from Austin's Public Library is where events are held. The venue becomes used especially when Austin has one of its many music or film festivals. Given its location, there is sure to be plenty of parking. If you show up early to your event, why not pop into the local library? Librarians miss people. Bastrop High School 1614 Chambers Street Bastrop, TX 78602 United States - Phone: +1 512 772 7200 bastrop High School is a part of the Bastrop Independent School District and offers quality education to its students. Its motto, Lead Today, Tomorrow, For Life emphasizes its goal of instilling leadership qualities and a level of self-confidence in its students to enable them to take on the challenges that life has to offer. The children take part in various co-curricular activities and sports including powerlifting, golf, soccer, volleyball, basketball, dramatics and arts. The school is renowned for its educational standards. Dahlstrom Middle School 3600 FM 967 Buda, TX 78610 United States - Phone: +1 512 268 8441 Established in 1985, Dahlstrom Middle School is an integral part of the education system of Buda. It bears a high standard of education and all-round development of students. Its students are most known for sweeping away all of the major awards and prizes at literary and scholastic events of the University Interscholastic League. Nothing more needs to be said, therefore, regarding the attention that the school pays to the development and grooming of its students. Georgetown High School 2211 North Austin Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626 United States - Phone: +1 512 943 5100 Georgetown High School is a large school in the center of Georgetown and caters to both girls and boys. The school maintains a high level of quality education and focuses on the all-round development of each student. for this purpose, it encourages them to take part in extra-curricular activities like theater and arts, while also emphasizing on the importance of sports and recreation. It has won many accolades in the past, for its contribution to education. Today, it is one of the most preferred institutions in the city. Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex 10211 West Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78717 United States - Phone: +1 512 464 5480 A local sports facility, Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex is located at West Parmer Lane in Austin. With a capacity of 11,000 people, the stadium regularly hosts matches and tournaments. The parking capacity of the stadium is 2750, while the ticket rates change according to the event. Small Middle School 4801 Monterey Oaks Boulevard Austin, TX 78749 United States - Phone: +1 512 841 6700 Running Brushy Middle School 2303 North Lakeline Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 570 3300 Running Brushy Middle School is a small school located in Cedar Park at North Lakeline Boulevard. To know about admission process, or to know the enrolment norms, please log on to their website. Vista Ridge High School 200 South Vista Ridge Boulevard Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 570 1800 Vista Ridge High School is a exemplary education institution located in Cedar Park. For enrolment process or other queries, please call the school office, or log on to their website. Ted's Barber Shop 628 E. Oltorf Street Austin, TX 78704 United States - Phone: +1 512 445 9565 To any passerby, Ted's Barbershop appears small (occupying the space next to a gas station), but to locals in the know, the cozy interior paired with the friendly barbers give it a professional and personal touch. It's an understatement to say that the barbers of this place are into professional sports. Many different sports memorabilia dons the walls, and the TV seems to be programmed to only show ESPN. Feel free to try something new and leave with a mohawk, as these barbers proudly advertise that they can make one for you. - Freddie Obregón St. David's Episcopal Church 301 East 8th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 610 3500 The historic St. David's Episcopal Church was built in 1854. Located in Downtown Austin, the beautiful Gothic structure is one of the oldest buildings in the city and therefore, a part of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). St. David's Episcopal Church is considered one of the most important places of worship in the city and is often sought for events such as baptisms and weddings. Aquaholics Watercraft Rental 16209 Dodd Street Volente, TX 78641 United States - Phone: +1 512 989 7838 Aquaholics is a boat rental company, that is known to present some amazing water crafts for various occasions. Be it skiing in the water, or hosting a party on a boat, they provide with all kinds of services, and cater to everyone's needs. To know their prices, and other information, please call ahead, or visit their website. Trinity United Methodist Church 4001 Speedway Austin, TX 78751 United States - Phone: +1 512 459 5835 Trinity United Methodist Church is a quaint little worship house located at 4001 Speedway, in Austin. With regular events, masses and religious ceremonies, the historic church is functional, ever since its inception. The church welcomes everyone with open arms, and conducts periodic events to accommodate new parishioners. To become a member or know their service timings, please log on to their website. Austintatious Boat Rentals 16107 B Farm to Market 2769 Leander, TX 78641 United States - Phone: +1 281 685 1838 A boat rental facility, Austintatious is located in the beautiful city of Leander. Providing boats, ski jets, and party launches on rent, they are majorly booked throughout summers. To book yourself a anyone of these, either for parties or day trips, please log on to their website or call ahead. University United Methodist Church 2409 Guadalupe Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 478 9387 University United Methodist Church is a beautiful little prayer house located at Guadalupe Street, in the University of Texas. Established in 1887, it continues to function till date. Regular services and other religious ceremonies are all a part of the church's programme. To attend a mass, or to know the timings of these services, please log on to their website. North Austin Event Center 10601 North Lamar Boulevard Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 3083 North Austin Event Center is one of the preferred locations for hosting popular concerts, major events, conferences and trade fairs, given its convenient location in the north of the city. It is easily accessible from all parts of the city and hence, sees huge crowds. There are two rooms available on hire, with enough space to hold large crowds with ease. It can accommodate a total capacity of 5500 in the two rooms. Catering is available. Northwest Hills United Methodist Church 7050 Village Center Drive Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 1743 Northwest Hills United Methodist Church is a vibrant community worship place that celebrates God through His teachings and the path shown by Jesus Christ. It seeks to guide disciples into the way of life as envisaged in the Bible and finds remedies of everyday hardships in its teachings. People from all walks of life can be seen here, working and praying together during the mass services. St. Louis King of France Catholic Church 7601 Burnet Road Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 454 0384 Working towards establishing unity and peace among its brethren, St. Louis King of France Catholic Church was started by the community in 1952. Its first service was conducted in a temporary location after which the current church was built. It is attended by locals who seek God and want to live by His ways. Weekly masses are held and can be attended by all. Apart from the church, the parish also runs a catholic school at Joseph Boulevard. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church 8134 Mesa Drive Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 345 8314 St. Matthew's Episcopal Church was established in 1979 and is an integral part of the community at Austin. It preaches the message of love and brotherhood especially in times of strife. The church is nestled amid lush green trees that make for a pleasant canopy to walk under while seeking God. There are several niches in the garden which serve as a memorial site for loved ones. The church is open to visitors who are greeted with sweets in the foyer. St. Michael's Catholic Academy 3000 Barton Creek Boulevard Austin, TX 78735 United States - Phone: +1 512 328 2323 One of the most prestigious institutions of the region, St. Michael's Catholic Academy is a Roman-Catholic school that was started in 1984. Its students are one of the most popular during championships and emerge victorious in major competitions. Focusing on establishing the importance of academics in students, the school does not ignore the arts and sports and other spheres of school life that help shape the character of its students, Little wonder then, that its pass-outs get placed in highly reputed colleges and do well for themselves in life. University Avenue Church of Christ 1903 University Avenue Austin, TX 78705-5610 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6088 Nestled in the heart of the city, near the University, the University Avenue Church of Christ is a haven of tranquility that allows one to connect with the inner self. Engage in the joyous praising of God with music, recitation from the scriptures and a collective prayer for unity and peace in trying times. The church organizes Bible classes and volunteers also prepare breakfast for the homeless. It is engaged in many community-activities for the betterment of people. Southwestern University 1001 East University Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626 United States - Phone: +1 512 863 6511 A state-of-the-art educational institute, Southwestern University is located at East University Avenue, in the charming little city of Georgetown. Offering various courses across fields, the university is home to 26 departments, which feature a lot of professional courses. To enroll in the college, or to know their admission procedure, please log on to their website or call ahead. Promiseland Church 1504 East 51st Street Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 458 6301 A grand worship house, Promiseland Church is located at East 51st Street, and lies towards the north of downtown Austin. The church is home to a lot of events, services and religious ceremonies. If you wish to attend one, or join as a new parishioner, please log on to their website to know more. St James' Episcopal Church 1941 Webberville Road Austin, TX 78721 United States - Phone: +1 512 926 6339 A beautiful little prayer house, St James' Episcopal Church is located at Webberville Road, in the bustling city of Austin. A multi-cultural worship place, it routinely hosts masses, services and religious ceremonies. To attend to one of their events or to know the service timings, please check their website. Saint Elias Orthodox Church 408 East 11th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 2314 Built around the early 20th Century, Saint Elias Orthodox Church is located at East 11th Street, right in the center of downtown Austin. With regular services still being held, the church has continued to function ever since its birth. To attend one of their masses, or to join as a new parishioner, please see their website or call ahead. Westwood Country Club 3808 West 35th Street Austin, TX 78703 United States - Phone: +1 512 453 7246 Situated in a pristine location on the edge of Austin Lake, the members-only Westwood Country Club gives you an atmosphere like no other. The club was established in 1955, however, the main club house known as the McClendon home, dates back to the 1920s. This historic club house is surrounded by various modern sports facilities like tennis courts, racquetball courts, an outdoor pool, squash and fitness rooms for one and all. Apart from sports, the club is also used for hosting private events and wedding functions from time to time. Call ahead or visit their website to know more. Redeemer Presbyterian Church 2111 Alexander Avenue Austin, TX 78722 United States - Phone: +1 512 708 1232 One of the more important churches in the community, the Redeemer Presbyterian Church is located on Alexander Avenue in East Austin. A warm and welcoming place of worship, the church is known for its worship services and sermons. The church is very active in the community when it comes to social initiatives and volunteering. Check their website for more details. United Christian Church 3500 West Parmer Lane Austin, TX 78727 United States - Phone: +1 512 218 8110 A vibrant community of over 300 members, the United Christian Church is located on West Parmer Lane in North Austin. The beautiful church building is often sought for various programs and performances throughout the year. The church also offers services to non-members like weddings and memorials. Abundant LIFE Community Baptist Church 2113 West Wells Branch Parkway Austin, TX 78728 United States - Phone: +1 512 251 4673 / +1 512 740 0362 A part of the Abundant LIFE Church Community, that was founded in 2008, by Pastor DeChard Freeman, the Abundant LIFE Community Baptist Church is a community of faith that is, in true sense, modern in its outlook and bearing. A vibrant and active community that is dynamic and, at the same time, welcoming, the church is involved in numerous social initiatives, honestly living up to its vision of compassion and joy of the gospel. Gethsemane Lutheran Church 200 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78752 United States - Phone: +1 512 836 8560 Located to the north of Austin, the Gethsemane Lutheran Church was established in 1960, replacing the historical Lutheran church on Congress Avenue, in downtown Austin. The architecture of this 21st-century church is quite unique; while being modern in style, it blends in Gothic designs. Standing on a 10-acre (4.04-hectare) property, the church grounds include a charming garden, playgrounds for little ones and an educational center. St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church 606 West 15th Street Austin, TX 78701 United States - Phone: +1 512 476 6757 Catering to the Evangelical Lutheran community in Austin, this church opens its doors welcoming all, irrespective of their backgrounds. Imparting the teachings of the bible, St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church has classes for the young and the old; children can participate in Sunday School, while adults can engage in enlightening discourses during the adult meetings. Music is an integral part of services at St. Martin's, and the melodious choir is led by professionals. Weekend masses and regular community events are conducted at St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church. First United Methodist Church 401 East University Avenue Georgetown, TX 78626 United States - Phone: +1 512 863-2370 / +1 512 868-0726 Located at East University Avenue, the First United Methodist Church of Georgetown is a historic chapel, that functions till date. With regular services and ceremonies being held, the church is mostly frequented by people in the area. To attend a service or to know their mass timings, please see their website. Dance Austin Studio 9012 Research Boulevard Austin, TX 78758 United States - Phone: +1 512 323 9760 Apart from being a great dance studio, Dance Austin in Burnet offers its facility on rent for private events or practice sessions. Armed with an experienced and friendly staff of teachers and dance professionals, Dance Austin Studio also offers dance classes in genres such as ballet, break dance, tap dance, hip hop and other activities like bootcamps. Check their website for latest schedules. 24 Hour Fitness - Parmer Sport 12400 North Interstate Highway 35 Austin, TX 78753 United States - Phone: +1 512 252 3324 Located in North Austin, on Parmer Lane, this 24 Hour Fitness branch features state-of-the-art fitness and health club that is open all 24 hours a day! Offering numerous workout regimes and fitness classes, the gymnasium is known for its efficient and experienced personal trainers. Apart from this, the gym also offers activities for groups and children. Whether you want to stay fit or get in shape for a special event, 24 Hours Fitness - Parmer makes sure you reach your goal without compromising on health and standards. Bat City CrossFit 12400 Amherst Drive Austin, TX 78727 United States - Phone: +1 512 814 7087 Covering 2000 square feet (185.80 square meters), the Bat City CrossFit is a premiere gymnasium and workout facility in North Austin. Armed with experienced fitness coaches and trainers, this facility features well-maintained equipments. There are regular group workouts for those who find mechanical cardio boring, honest to their belief that group and community fitness activities promote an overall sense of communal well-being. Check out their website for more information. Austin Montessori School 5006 Sunset Trail Austin, TX 78745 United States - Phone: +1 512 892 0253 Established in 1967, Austin Montessori School is a top primary education facility in Southwest Austin. Located on Sunset Trail, this school emphasizes attentive and personalized education and guidance for children in their years of development, from 2.5 years to 15 years of age. The school and it's leaders recognize that every child is different and needs varied approaches for optimal growth, and thus keep enriching the syllabus and techniques in that direction. 24 Hour Fitness - William Cannon Sport 4625 West William Cannon Drive Austin, TX 78749 United States - Phone: +1 512 358 0622 Located on William Cannon Drive, this 24 Hour Fitness gym is a great option to join if you plan to get on the healthy wagon! Open for all 24 hours a day, this gym is perfect for working professionals as well as self-employed people who're always pressed for time. The facility features state-of-the-art equipments, a swimming pool, a sauna, a whirlpool. Apart from this, they also offer group workouts and fitness classes like Pilates and cycling. Also on offer are numerous fitness activities for children. Art & Soul 3801 Berkman Drive Austin, TX 78723 United States - Phone: +1 512 820 1449 Located inside Wildflower Terrace Building on the Berkman Drive, Art & Soul is a unique educational facility with a fresh, new perspective on visual arts. Offering numerous classes and programs in creative expression and the arts, for adults as well as children, the facility plays host to several art events and exhibitions throughout the year. Their premises are also available for interesting, innovative group and corporate activities like team building exercises and such, that involve visual arts; check their website for more details. Highland Business Center 5930 Middle Fiskville Road Austin, TX 78752-4390 United States - Phone: +1 512 223 4222 A part of the Austin Community College, the Highland Business Center is a premiere convention center located in Northern part of Austin. The facility is available for trainings, conventions and symposiums for businesses and other establishments in the community. It features several technologically augmented conference and meeting rooms and classrooms. Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary 100 East 27th Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 404 4800 The Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary offers higher education in theology to interested students that come from varied professional, academic and demographic backgrounds. The staff at this prestigious institute have deep-rooted are actively involved with the church activities and research on national levels. Needless to say, classes at this educational institution involve not only scriptures and pastoral work but also practical experiences and diverse philosophical insights. Cedar Park Public Library Conference Room 450 Cypress Creek Road Cedar Park, TX 78613 United States - Phone: +1 512 401 5000 / +1 512 401 5648 Located inside the Cedar Park Public Library, the Conference Room is a small room that is available on rent for business purposes. Hold your next meeting here and make use of the facilities that include a whiteboard and a large conference table. Ideal for corporate conferences and client meetings, the room seats 20 people comfortably. It has to be booked beforehand by contacting the library. it is available for a minimum period of four hours. Brodie Park Crossfit 9001 Brodie Lane Austin, TX 78748 United States - Phone: +1 512 280 1308 Brodie Park Crossfit is a training facility that offers fitness classes and gym training for all ages. Enroll in its classes and discover a new approach to staying fit and living healthy. The workouts are challenging and make you go that extra mile to achieve higher fitness levels. The coaches are friendly and encourage beginners making them feel at home. Christ Church 1201 West 24 Street Austin, TX 78705 United States - Phone: +1 512 410 7780 The warmth and camaraderie of the people at Christ Church is evident when one attends service here. The church is a central part of the community of Austin and belongs to the Anglican church in North America. The church stands for helping people reach God and understand His ways. It is actively involved in community-building activities. Ethos Church 12233 North Farm to Market Road 620 Austin, TX 78750 United States - Phone: +1 512 388 0270 Previously known as the North Hills Community Church, the Ethos Church was an integral part of the North Austin community and preached the unity of mankind with each other and with God. In 2001, it moved to its present location with The Creek Community Church holding its services nearby. Later the two churches were merged together to form what is now known as the Ethos Church. Imbibing the essential principles of both the churches, the Ethos Church paves the way for the realization of God in everything one does. Gateway Church 7104 McNeil Drive Austin, TX 78729 United States - Phone: +1 512 837 2162 gateway Church is a relaxed church where everyone is welcome irrespective of their age, creed or appearance. It solely believes that the relationship between an individual and God is personal and does not require any formal rituals. It engages in many cultural and contemporary activities, organizing music concerts and community-building activities. It is located inside the McNeil Campus and is mostly attended by students. Congregation Agudas Achim 7300 Hart Lane Austin, TX 78731 United States - Phone: +1 512 735 8400 Congregation Agudas Achim works for the unity and betterment of the Jewish community and was established in 1914. The structure has a skylight that illuminates it using natural light. The walls are composed of limestone that looks akin to Jerusalem stone and imparts holiness to the serene ambience. The synagogue is engaged in teaching the cultural traditions and the path of God to its followers. Buena Vida Acupuncture + Wellness 10601 Pecan Park Boulevard Austin, TX 78750 United States - Phone: +1 512 970 7032 Buena Vida Acupuncture + Wellness Center is a therapeutic care center that is trusted by locals. Having relieved many from their misery, this center has touched their lives using holistic healing techniques like acupuncture, Oriental medicine and healthy nutritional practices. It is known for providing auricular therapy, that is, studying the ear to gauge ailments of the body based on ancient Chinese practices. Schedule a visit and allow the professional staff to take over and provide you some much needed respite from pain. Heartsong Music 2700 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 371 9506 Heartsong Music is an establishment that attempts to tap into the musical talent of babies and toddlers. Classes are held in full swing with children being taught to sing in tow with their families. Nursery rhymes, traditional songs and various International numbers are sung with the list being revised each year. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience by enrolling for the various lessons and watching your child bloom under the spell of the music. Hope Presbyterian Church 11512 Olson Drive Austin, TX 78750 United States - Phone: +1 512 258 9117 Your search for God would lead you to Hope Presbyterian Church in North Austin that works for the empowerment of the community. It is a Presbyterian church that firmly believes in the importance of the Bible and the message of God. It is involved in several community events like Boy Scouts, English classes, fitness workshops and youth programs that instill confidence in individuals and make a difference to society. Lake Hills Church 11521 Farm to Market 2244 Austin, TX 78738 United States - Phone: +1 512 899 8333 Established in 1997, the Lake Hills Church is located at Farm to Market 2244, in the charming city of Austin. A beautiful congregation, it continues to hold regular services and religious ceremonies. To attend one of their events or to know the mass timings, please log on to their website. Liberal Arts and Science Academy 7309 Lazy Creek Drive Austin, TX 78724 United States - Phone: +1 512 414 5272 Liberal Arts and Science Academy is a prestigious educational institute located at Lazy Creek Drive, in the city of Austin. The school offers a number of courses across various fields in arts and science. To enroll as a candidate, or to know the admission process, please log on to their website. Norris Conference Center 2525 West Anderson Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 451 5011 Norris Conference Center is a fully-equipped rental facility, available for corporate purposes. Located at West Anderson Lane in north Austin, it provides state-of-the-art facilities, along with a generous service. To book yourself the space, please call ahead or log on to their website. St. Stephen's Episcopal School 6500 Saint Stephens Drive Austin, TX 78746 United States - Phone: +1 512 327 1213 A contemporary educational institute, St. Stephen's Episcopal School is located at Saint Stephens Drive in Austin. With classes from six to 12, it offers exceptional educational facilities, to all its students. To enroll, or know more about the institute, please log on to their website. Tech Ranch Austin 9111 Old Jollyville Road Austin, TX 78759 United States - Phone: +1 512 339 3242 A great service for those looking to build up a business, Tech Ranch provides a lot of insight into putting the first step forward. Located at Old Jollyville Road, it conducts workshops, open houses and a lot of other programs, to give a deep understanding of the business. A start-up space is also offered by the organization, to being your business on a small scale. To know more, or attend any of their events, please have a look at their website. Toybrary Austin 7817 Rockwood Lane Austin, TX 78757 United States - Phone: +1 512 765 4174 Toybrary Austin is a toy library located at Rockwood Lane, towards the north of downtown. A toy sharing facility, it works exactly like a book library. You can enroll here as a member, and save on your money to buy toys, that children keep needing every now and then. With a wide variety of toys on offer, this library caters to children between the age of six months to five years. Educational toys, fun-learning games and other such things are also available at your disposal. To know more, please visit their website. Whether you're traveling on business, a leisure getaway, or a family vacation, La Quinta Inns & Suites and LQ Hotel by La Quinta have the right hotel accommodations for you. Take advantage of free Internet access, free breakfast, and comfy beds offered at La Quinta Inns & Suites and LQ Hotel by La Quinta. You'll find the best rates online, the widest variety of room options, the most reliable hotel info, and more on LQ.com. FOLLOW US:	i don't know
The Italian automaker Lamborghini uses what animal as its logo?	Car Logos, History and Origins - autoevolution autoevolution Car Logos, History and Origins / Home / News / Coverstory As we all know, every single car company out there has its very unique history, mostly related to the way it managed to emerge from a tiny entity into a huge conglomerate that sells hundreds of thousands or maybe millions of vehicles a year. And some of these stories are indeed fascinating and captivating and each of us is invited to find them out once the dealers hands us the keys. Basically, the cars' logos are the introduction to the companies' tales, most of them showing symbols or signs that remind us of the thrilling experiences the automaker had to go through to stay alive. Today, we're inviting you to a journey through some of the most important car logos, so keep reading to find the tales hidden behind the emblems we see every time we get behind the wheel. Abarth, which currently serves as Fiat's sport division, saw daylight in 1949 and was founded by Karl Abarth. Its logo comprises several elements, including the company's name just on top of all the others. The overall shape of the emblem represents a shield and denotes strength and power, thus demonstrating Abarth's capacity to resist over time and become a top player in the automotive world. The three colors underneath the company's name, green, white and red, symbolize Italy's flag, as the company was brought to life in Turin. The scorpion is Karl Abarth's astrological sign – he was born on November 15, 1908 – and is complemented by the two dominating colors, yellow and red, which are indicating the brand's appeal for motor racing.ALFA ROMEO Alfa Romeo, also owned by Fiat but still considered an Italian symbol, is one of the companies whose logo changed a lot over time, but retained the main elements that remind us of the way the brand was brought to life. Alfa Romeo, initially known as Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company), got its first logo in 1910, when Romano Cattaneo created a rounded badge consisting of a grass snake with a man in its jaw. Inspired from the House of Visconti flag, the so-called "biscione" (the Italian term for grass snake) actually represents one's ability to stand against opponents and face competition. Additionally, Cattaneo added the red cross seen in the Milan flag, plus the Alfa Romeo designation separated by two Savoia dynasty knots. Over time, the knots were eliminated from the logo, with each symbol comprising the logo receiving minor "redesigns". AUDI The "brand with the four rings" as Audi is often called is currently one of the world's top automakers and surely a leading German brand. Its logo, seen on millions of cars sold worldwide, is believed to have multiple meanings. First of all, the emblem is seen as a symbol of the merger that took place in 1932 and included four large manufacturers of that time: Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer. On the other hand, some people believe that Audi's logo is a bit older and has a strong connection with the Olympic games. Either of the two meanings are actually true, the Audi logo underwent a minor makeover in 2009 when the badge got a new font plus a restyled 3D design of the four rings.BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Company – BMW as most of us know the brand – is, once again, one of the largest carmakers in the whole world. Its roots can be traced back in 1913, with the first activities strongly related to the aviation industry. The company's logo is obviously based on these facts, but there are again multiple interpretations available. One of them claims that the blue and white colors, which are actually the traditional colors of Bavaria, BMW's natal region, are also representing a white propeller on a blue sky, a hint to BMW's aero history. On the other hand, some people believe that the two colors are only used because they also appear on the Bavarian flag and BMW just wanted to honor the area that hosted its headquarters for years.BUICK Buick, an American symbol as some people name it, was founded in 1903 by David Dunbar Buick. Its history, often connected to General Motors, includes several logo changes that occurred as the company grew bigger. The first logos were actually variations of the Buick designation, but were replaced during the '60s by three shields representing the three models rolled out until that point: LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra. 1975 brought a new change of logo at Buick, with the American icon now adopting a hawk emblem, known at that time as "Happy", that was expected to mark the beginning of a new design era in Buick's history. The moment was celebrated with the introduction of the Skyhawk series. However, the range was discontinued during the '80s, when Buick re-adopted its three-shield badge. CADILLAC Both the name and the logo used by Cadillac were based on the aristocrat the company was named after, Antoine de La Mothe, Seigneur de Cadillac, but the badge suffered several modifications, especially under GM's ownership. The auto manufacturing business received the Cadillac designation in 1902 but during the '90s General Motors brought a few changes as part of an effort to refresh the company's image. The logo thus dropped the six birds (codenamed merlettes), as well as the crown and the La Mothe family crest, but adopted simpler elements that are still being used nowadays.CITROEN There's nothing fancy or too complicated in Citroen's logo which remained practically unchanged over the time. The two inverted Vs are actually reminding of André Citroen's first area of expertise: mass production of double helically-cut gear teeth.CHEVROLET In case you're wondering where does the Chevrolet "plus" symbol comes from, there are several suppositions behind it. First of all, some people are saying that William C. Durant actually designed the logo after a wallpaper he saw in a French hotel. On the other hand, others are claiming that this badge was first seen in a newspaper and Durant's wife proposed it to be used as Chevrolet's logo. FERRARI Almost every car enthusiast out there knows the "Prancing Horse", especially thanks to the great achievements the Italian carmaker recorded in the past. But the story of its logo is once again related to multiple theories. First of all, it is believed that the black prancing horse on yellow background was first used by Count Francesco Baracca, the Italian airforce that made a name for itself in World War I. Another theory claims the symbol was actually seen on a German pilot's plane that crashed during the war - the horse is actually the symbol of Stuttgart, which might raise some eyebrows because Porsche uses the same element as source of inspiration for its very own badge. Last but not least, the Ferrari logo might have a different story. It appears that Ferrari founder's family owned lots of horses so the new company adopted the prancing horse as a symbol of power. However, one thing is 100 percent sure: the three colors appearing on Ferrari's logo represent Italy's flag, the company's natal country.FIAT Fiat, currently the largest Italian automaker and one of the new names in the American auto sector, changed its logo several times, especially following the growth the company recorded during the 1900s. The first emblem created by Fiat's designers was only showcasing the company's full name: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Automobile Factory of Turin). As the time passed by however, Fiat modified the logo several times, with the latest change getting into effect in 2006 when the company turned to the red background instead of the blue one.FORD Ford is surely one of the most powerful automakers in the whole world and the fact that it managed to survive the 2009 crisis without government help comes to confirm this. And the origins of its logo are at least as interesting as the company's past: Harold Wills, often considered Henry Ford's main help within the company, had his very own business card printing company before working for Ford. When Henry Ford decided to choose a badge for the company, Wills designed the first sketch of the logo using his printing equipment and a font he used on business cards. HYUNDAI The Hyundai logo is just a regular badge at the first sight. However, there are multiple meanings of the "H" letter you're seeing on every Hyundai out there. First of all, the oval that surrounds the H letter is actually representing Hyundai's continuous expansion that now goes beyond the Asian continent. And the H is indeed coming from Hyundai but, in addition, it also represents two people shaking hands, probably in an attempt to show Hyundai's appreciation for consumers buying its models.JAGUAR The meaning of the Jaguar logo is quite simple and one could understand it in a second, especially after driving a Jag. Just as we learned in our first school years, the Jaguar is a quick and agile feline, so placing such a badge on a car is actually an effort to underline its vehicles' ability to develop very high performance.KIA The South-Korean brand Kia owns quite a simplistic logo that does nothing than to show the company's name on a (usually) red background. However, if you split the word into two separate parts, the term Kia also has a different meaning. In Korean, KI (the first two letters of the name) stands for "arise" while the A is believed to represent Asia, Kia's natal continent. In this context, the name translates into "arise from Asia", hence matching the company's slogan "The power to surprise". LAMBORGHINI The logo seen on all the Lambos out there (burning or not) isn't surprising at all. The bull logo actually stands for the founder's, Ferruccio Lamborghini, zodiacal sign (Taurus), and is obviously accompanied by the company's name, Lamborghini. Contrary to other "patriot" Italian carmakers, Lamborghini does not use the Italy's colors on its logo.MAZDA Based in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda is becoming more powerful in most markets, especially in Europe where its models are getting more powerful thanks to the company's efforts in the fuel consumption and emission areas. Its logo, which suffered several modifications as time passed by, has multiple interpretations. The company's name, which is inspired by the ancient Iranian prophet Zoroaster, seems to serve as source of inspiration for the badge as well: the restyled "M" (which looks like two spanned wings) is believed to represent the company's flight to the future.MERCEDES-BENZ Mercedes-Benz, an iconic premium and luxury, has been around for a long time but the brand "Mercedes" was only registered in September 1902. The three-pointed start logo however saw daylight in 1909 on a Daimler vehicle and represented the company's domination of land, sea and air. Just as expected, the badge got several "facelifts" as the company grew bigger, but the first interpretation is believed to date back to early 1900 when Gottlieb Daimler drew a star on a picture, adding the following text: "this star would one day shine over own factory to symbolize prosperity." MITSUBISHI The Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi is the subject of several theories when it comes to its logo and although several people are talking about them, there's no official information supposed to put things straight in this matter. According to some sources, the Mitsubishi designation is actually a combination of the words "mitsu" (three) and "hishi" (water chestnut, which could be translated into "diamond"). In other words, the term Mitsubishi could mean "three diamonds", hence the logo of the company. However, there are two interpretations of the logo. Some people consider that the three-diamond logo stands for a mix of the Iwasaki family (who established the business) crest, three stacked diamonds, and the three-leaf crest of the Tosa Clan. On the other hand, the three diamonds could represent the three main attributes describing the company: responsibility, ethics and communication. Last but not least, the logo could actually represent a ship propeller, reminding us of the beginning of the Mitsubishi business.PORSCHE As we said when talking about Ferrari, Porsche uses as a logo Stuttgart's symbol, which is also accompanied by the antlers and red and black stripes that are all parts of the arms of the Kingdom of Wurttemberg.PEUGEOT From the point of view of its logo, Peugeot surely has one of the most captivating stories. The French lion was officially created in 1847 by Justin Blazer who worked as jeweler and engraver and was based on the Region France-Comte flag. However, the logo appeared on Peugeot cars only years later, receiving a lot of modifications over the years. The last modifications occurred in 1998 and 2002 when the company reworked the look of the lion in an effort to better underline the "message" of the logo: it denotes power and balance, while the blue is believed to represent the company's view of the future. RENAULT Renault, now involved in one of the world's biggest alliances with Nissan, changed its logos for over 10 times since it was founded. The French carmaker used an entirely different badge, showing the initials of the three Renault brothers (Louis, Ferdinand and Marcek) drawn on a medallion. The diamond badge was only adopted in 1925, while the 3D perspective was added in 1972 by Victor Vaserely. The last "facelift" of the logo was rolled out in 2007 when the company placed the Renault designation just underneath the diamond, on a yellow background - which is believed to stand for quality.SKODA The Czech manufacturer which now exists under VW Group's ownership got its first logo when the company only produced bicycles using the Slavia designation. The badge was thus comprising the Slavia term plus the names of the two owners, Laurin & Klement. The first logo under the Skoda brand came out in 1926 and obviously included the Skoda name surrounded by an oval decorated with laurels. The popular “winged arrow” design was brought to life in the late '20s and was used for a long time, until 1990. It was believed to be the creation of commercial director of Skoda Plzen, T. Maglic. The current logo was adopted during the '90s and comprises the same winged arrow, now painted in green with black surroundings. The two colors are supposed to represent the company's interest for environment protection and its 100-year history, respectively.SUBARU Subaru's name is actually the Japanese translation of the Pleiades star cluster, which also means "to gather together". The six star logo represents the five companies that joined forces (Fuji Kogyo, Fuji Jidosha Kogyo, Omiya Fuji Kogyo, Utsunomiya Sharyo and Tokyo Fuji Sangyo) to form Fuji Heavy Industries (the biggest star in the logo). SAAB SAAB, the Swedish carmaker now owned by the Dutch company Spyker, uses as a logo the coat of arms of the Count von Skane which also served as symbol for Skane, the Swedish province where Saab was initially based in. As you can see for yourselves, the badge shows a some kind of mythological bird that has the body of a lion but the head and wings of an eagle. It was actually based on Vadis-Scania's logo, the truck manufacturer that joined forces with Saab's parent manufacturer involved in the airplane manufacturing business. TOYOTA Although some of you would expect it, Toyota's logo has absolutely no connection to the stuck accelerator pedals affecting the Japanese company's models (no pun intended). The company's badge is actually made of three different ovals, two of which are said to stand for Toyota's relation with its customers. Furthermore, these two are also creating a symbolic "T" letter that comes from the brand's name.VOLVO A symbol for safety and passenger protection, Volvo's name is inspired from the Latin word "volvere" which translates into "to roll". The badge however is the old symbol of iron but, according to some people, it also tries to transmit Volvo's "attraction" for safety technologies, which are often described to be as durable as iron.VOLKSWAGEN Volkswagen, one of the top players in Germany and in the whole world, has probably one of the most popular logos out there, seen on millions of cars sold in almost every corner of the Globe. There are multiple theories related to the the origins of Volkswagen's logo: one of them claims that it was designed by one of Hitler's friends during World War II while another suggests that it was the result of a design competition won by Franz Xavier Reimspiess, an employee of Porsche. Alfa Romeo Toyota Subaru Mazda Abarth Lamborghini cover story	Bull
On April 9 of what year did Robert E. Lee surrender the Army of Northern Virginia to U.S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse?	Car Company Logos Car Company Logos By Mary Gormandy White In addition to being an essential part of advertising and brand identity, car company logos provide a powerful visual image for auto consumers. Each automobile manufacturer has a unique logo, many of which have changed dramatically over the years. In some cases, these logos are tied to the company's history in surprising ways. List of Car Company Logos Abarth Now Fiat's racing arm, Abarth's logo is rich with meaning. The scorpion represents the Zodiac sign of company founder Karl Alberto Abarth, and the shield is a symbol of passion and triumph. The colors beneath the name represent the Italian flag. Acura Honda's luxury brand features a logo that looks like a stylized letter "A" inside a circle. The symbol also represents the caliper, an important precision engineering tool. Aixam Now Aixam Mega, the logo for this French microcar manufacturer is simple and elegant, spelling out the company's original name and calling out the first letter with a bold "A" (or "M" in some cases) inside a circular graphic. Alfa Romeo This Italian exotic car brand has a complicated, circular logo featuring a red cross and a green snake with a dragon's head. These symbols represent the city of Milan, where the company was founded. Aston Martin The British luxury car brand has an iconic logo of a pair of wings with the company name. A version of this logo has graced Aston Martin cars since the 1920s. Audi This German automaker's four interlocking rings represent this history of the company as it started out as four smaller companies. Bajoun Bajoun is a General Motors brand made and sold only in China. The name means "treasured horse" - and that's exactly what the logo depicts. Bentley The British exotic car manufacturer features a winged logo with a letter "B" in the center. The wings in this logo call up the company's aerospace roots. BMW BMW's blue and white checkerboard pattern represents an airplane propeller, since BMW was originally an airplane manufacturer. The logo's colors and checks are from the Bavarian flag, where the company was founded. Buick This American car brand features a logo with three shields inside a circle. The idea for the shield came from the Buick family crest. Cadillac Cadillac has had many logos over the years. This current version features two stalks of wheat with a shield in the center. Chevrolet One of the most iconic American car logos, the symbol for Chevrolet is a simple angled cross with a longer horizontal line. The design is referred to as the Chevrolet bowtie. Chrysler There are several versions of the Chrysler logo, but the most recognizable is a pentagon with a star in the center, referred to as the Chrysler Pentastar. The current version is sleeker and simpler, suggesting wings. Citroen The double chevrons in Citroen's logo represent the Helical Gear, a Citroen invention that is used in every modern automobile. They also represent the company's commitment to technical innovation. Dacia This Romanian car brand has been part of Renault since 1999.The company is bold and simple, highlighting the company name in a shade of blue representative of one of the colors of the Romanian flag, on a bold, silver-tone graphic. Daewoo The modern logo of this Korean General Motors brand still bears the crown-shaped emblem from the company's early days. The shape is similar to that of a now defunct, but once popular, football club in South Korea. Daimler The Daimler logo is simple and elegant, conveying the same sense of understated luxury that this German car manufacturer is known for around the world. Datsun The Datsun brand is exclusive to Japan and emerging markets like India. The logo places the brand front and center, superimposed over a striking chrome and blue graphic. Denza As the first Chinese car brand dedicated to new energy vehicles, Denza's logo represents the company's values of responsibility to nature and society Dodge The logo for this American brand features is the manufacturer's name in simple block lettering. The two red stripes represent speed and agility. Ferrari This Italian exotic car manufacturer uses a logo of a rearing horse, often set inside a yellow rectangle. The same horse logo once graced the sides of an Italian ace fighter pilot's plane. Fiat Fiat's bold red logo calls to mind its retro roots, as well as a sleek, modern style. Ford The Ford logo is simple and instantly recognizable: a blue oval with the company name in script lettering. A version of this logo has been in use since 1927. GM The white lettering in General Motors' logo stands for the company's purity, charm and integrity. The blue background indicates excellence and trustworthiness. GMC This American car company symbol is easy to recognize, since it is simply the letters "GMC" in red block lettering. Holden This GM-owned Australian car company's logo features a lion rolling a stone - a graphic representation of the invention of the wheel. Honda The Japanese carmaker features a symbol of a silver letter "H" inside a rectangle. Hummer Hummer's logo features the company's name and slogan in block letters appropriate for the company's rugged, yet luxurious, vehicles. Hyundai The symbol for the Korean auto company is a slanted blue letter "H" inside an oval Infiniti This high-end auto brand has an oval logo with a notch out of the bottom. Isuzu This Japanese car company's logo is a bright red representation of its name with mirror image "s" and "z" letters. Jaguar Luxury carmaker Jaguar has a logo of a leaping jungle cat with the company name underneath. Jeep Just like the classic vehicle itself, the Jeep logo is simple and utilitarian, consisting of the company name in block letters. Jiefang China's first domestic car manufacturer bears a logo with the number one as the focal feature. The company is a joint venture with General Motors, and the colors reflect that relationship. Kia This Korean automaker has a logo of the company's name in red letters, surrounded by a red oval. Lamborghini The Lamborghini logo is a gold shield with the company name above a charging bull which stands for Taurus, the Zodiac sign of the company founder. Lancia The Lancia logo features the company's name surrounded by a lance and a shield. Land Rover The green oval Land Rover logo is easily recognizable and elegantly simple. Lexus The luxury arm of Toyota features a simple letter "L" logo inside a silver circle. Lincoln This American carmaker has a simple logo of a vertical rectangle with a cross on it. Lotus The Lotus logo is a yellow circle with a green, curved triangle featuring the company name. Maserati The graphic on Maserati's logo is a red three-pronged spear referred to as a trident. It rises from a base that bears the company's name. Maybach Maybach's logo features two overlapping letter "M"s on a triangular, orange background. Mazda The logo for this Japanese company features a rounded rectangle with a winged V-shape in the center. Mercedes-Benz This simple logo is a circle with a three-pointed star in the center. The logo represents the merging of Mercedes and Daimler who had a laurel wreath and a star as their symbols respectively. Mini Mini's iconic, winged logo calls to mind its British roots and retro style. Mitsubishi Mitsubishi features a logo with three red diamonds arranged in the shape of a triangle. The logo represents the combination of two family crests. Nissan This automaker has a simple logo of a silver circle with the company name across the center. Opel The Opel logo features lightning streaking across an open circle above the German company's name. The logo is inspired by the Opel Blitz truck, as "blitz" is German for "lightning." Peugeot Peugeot's logo has featured a lion since 1948. The modern version features a lion above the company's name. The metallic color represents the brand's values, which are excellence, emotion, and allure. Porsche The Porsche logo features a shield with a prancing horse in the center, and red and black stripes. The horse represents the city seal of Stuttgart, Germany, where the brand was founded. RAM The logo for this American brand features a ram's head inside a shield shape. Renault Renault's logo is a silver diamond above the name on a yellow background. The yellow color represents the brand's joy, optimism and prosperity, while the silver stands for sophistication and creativity. Renault Nissan Representing the alliance of the French and Japanese automakers, this logo features both brand names beneath graphic elements that show their corporate colors joining together. Renault Samsung This logo represents the sophistication and creativity used by Renault Samsung Motors in its quest to produce high-end, modern vehicles and the company's focus on research and development. Rolls-Royce This luxury brand has a symbol of two overlapping letter "R"s on a blue background. Saab This logo is a blue circle with a red, griffin head wearing a gold crown. Saturn Saturn's logo is a silver abstract representation for the planet bearing the same name over a red background. The graphic is outlined in silver and positioned above the brand name. Scion This Toyota offshoot features an oval logo with a slanted vertical line and a horizontal bar printed with the company name. SEAT The logo for this Spanish car company features a bold, silver depiction of an "S" above the brand name boldly presented in red. Skoda The Skoda insignia is an encircled arrow with wings beneath the brand name. The colors and design represent this Czech Republic company's focus on the environment, eco-materials, progress and innovation. Smart Car The Smart Car has a logo shaped like the letter "C" with a yellow triangle. Spyker The Spyker logo calls to mind the company's aero roots with its airplane propellers. SRT Street Racing Technology (SRT) is a Chrysler brand. The logo features the brand's initials (and common name) in a slanted shape that indicates speed. The red color represents speed and agility, and is the same shade used in the logo for sister-brand Dodge. Subaru Subaru has a blue logo featuring several silver stars. The five smaller stars represent the five Japanese car companies that banded together to form the larger company. Suzuki This logo features a bold, red "S" symbol above the full name in dark blue. The red represents the brand's passion, determination and vitality, while the blue stands for strength and harmony. Tesla This green automaker features a shield-shaped logo with a stylized letter "T." Toyota	i don't know
What was the first program shown on Fox when the network started broadcasting in prime time in April 1987?	FOX MAKING ITS DEBUT ON PRIME-TIME TV - NYTimes.com FOX MAKING ITS DEBUT ON PRIME-TIME TV By MARCIA CHAMBERS, Special to the New York Times Published: March 31, 1987 LOS ANGELES, March 30— About a year ago, Barry Diller, the chief executive officer of 20th Century-Fox, and Rupert Murdoch, the company's new owner, set out to find the youngest, most talented and least cynical minds in television and to make them an offer no one under 30 years old could refuse. Garth Ancier, then 28, was vice president in charge of current comedy at NBC. Kevin Wendle, then 27, was also an executive at NBC. What Mr. Diller and Mr. Murdoch offered Mr. Ancier and Mr. Wendle was what they termed a ''historic opportunity,'' a chance to begin what could be a fourth network in the United States, the first new network since ABC went on the air on April 19, 1948. At NBC, the Diller-Murdoch move was viewed as a raid. When Mr. Ancier and Mr. Wendle announced their decision to leave NBC and join Fox, they were given three hours to get out of their offices. ''We were now the competition,'' Mr. Ancier said. On Sunday night ''the competition'' makes its prime-time debut with two half-hour shows: a sitcom, ''Married . . . With Children,'' about a jaded American family, and a variety show starring Tracey Ullman, a comedienne, actress and singer. The new shows will get under way beginning at 7 P.M. Sunday on independent stations across the country, including Channel 5 in New York City. The shows will be repeated in the 8-to-9 and 9-to-10 time slots so viewers can see them without missing favorite programs on the major networks. In the coming months, Fox plans to unveil six more programs to be shown on Saturday and Sunday nights. Mr. Ancier said Fox was trying to reach a younger, more affluent audience and would include the first horror series aimed at teen-agers. The company may also try to sign up sports programming for Monday night. Fox, which opened its attack on ABC, NBC and CBS last October with ''The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers,'' recently failed to wrest Monday night football from ABC. Mr. Diller said he had no doubt about what attracts an audience. ''In the beginning and in the end it is the program,'' he said in a recent interview. But Fox executives insist their programs will not be routine sitcoms. They will ''have a bit of an edge to them,'' Mr. Diller said. Fox's new president, Jamie Kellner, who was born in Brooklyn and once aspired to be a teacher, described Fox's approach to programming. ''One of the first tests we apply is: Would one of the three networks do this? And quite often, if the answer is 'yes,' then we disqualify it. There is no reason for us to exist if we are going to do what they have already done.'' Mr. Kellner, former president of the Orion Entertainment Group, said the company spent most of its first year curtailing the growth of its own bureaucracy, placing a premium on creativity and finding a young staff not yet set in its ways. The staff now totals 94, and Fox says its start-up costs in the first year were roughly $200 million. Often in television, what sponsors will or will not accept in the area of taste is also an issue. Fox started out with only one major advertiser a year ago, the Bristol-Myers Company. It now has about 100 sponsors. ''But we have a long way to go,'' Mr. Kellner said about attracting more sponsors. Photo of Ed O'Neill	Married... with Children
The game of Go, which originated in China more than 2000 years ago, uses stones of what color?	Fox Broadcasting Company \| Radio-TV Broadcast History \| Fandom powered by Wikia This page uses content from Wikipedia . The original article was at Fox Broadcasting Company . The list of authors can be seen in the page history . As with Radio-TV Broadcast History , the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA) . The Fox Broadcasting Company, usually referred to as just Fox (the company itself prefers the capitalized version FOX), is a television network in the United States . It is owned by Fox Entertainment Group , part of Rupert Murdoch 's News Corporation . Since its launch on October 9 , 1986 , Fox has grown from an upstart "netlet" to the status of the highest- rated broadcast network in the coveted 18-49 demographic from 2004-2007. [2] In 2007, Fox became the most popular network in America, dethroning CBS. [3] The Fox name has been used on other entertainment channels internationally that are affiliated with News Corp., including in Australia ( FOX8 ), Bulgaria , Germany , Japan , Italy , Serbia , South Korea , Spain , Portugal , South America , Brazil and Turkey although these do not necessarily air the same programming as the U.S. network. Most viewers in Canada have access to at least one affiliate of the U.S. network. The network is named after sister company 20th Century Fox , and indirectly for producer William Fox , who founded one of the movie studio's predecessors . Contents [ show ] History Groundwork for the Fox network began in March 1985 with News Corporation's $ 250 million purchase of 50 percent of TCF Holdings, the parent company of the 20th Century Fox movie studio. In May 1985, News Corporation agreed to pay $1.55 billion to acquire independent television stations in six major U.S. cities from John Kluge 's company, Metromedia . These stations were: WNEW-TV in New York City , WTTG in Washington, D.C. , KTTV in Los Angeles , KRIV(TV) in Houston , WFLD-TV in Chicago , and KRLD-TV in Dallas . A seventh station, ABC -affiliated WCVB-TV in Boston , was part of the original transaction but was spun-off in a separate, concurrent deal to the Hearst Corporation as part of a right of first refusal related to that station's 1982 sale to Metromedia. In October 1985, 20th Century Fox announced its intentions to form an independent television system which would compete with the three major U.S. television networks ( ABC , CBS , and NBC ). The plans were to use the combination of the Fox studios and the former Metromedia stations to both produce and distribute programming. Organizational plans for the network were held off until the Metromedia acquisitions cleared regulatory hurdles. Then, in December 1985, Rupert Murdoch agreed to pay $325 million to acquire the rest of the studio from his original partner, Marvin Davis . The purchase of the Metromedia stations was approved by the Federal Communications Commission in March 1986; the New York and Dallas outlets were subsequently renamed WNYW and KDAF respectively. These first six stations, then broadcasting to 22 percent of the nation's households, became known as the Fox Television Stations group. Except for KDAF (which was sold to the Tribune Company in 1995), all of the original stations are still part of the Fox network today. Clarke Ingram , who maintains a memorial website to the failed DuMont Television Network , has suggested that Fox is a revival of DuMont, since Metromedia was a successor to the DuMont corporation and the Metromedia television stations formed the nucleus of the Fox network. [1] WNYW (originally known as WABD) and WTTG were two of the three original owned and operated (O&O) stations in the DuMont network; the third of the former Dumont O&O's ( WDTV Pittsburgh ) is currently owned by CBS . 1986: The fourth network is born In January 1986, Murdoch said of his planned network, "We at Fox at the moment are deeply involved in working to put shape and form on original programs. These will be shows with no outer limits. The only rules that we will enforce on these programs is they must have taste, they must be engaging, they must be entertaining and they must be original." On May 6 , 1986 , Murdoch, along with newly-hired Fox chief operating officer and chairman Barry Diller and comedian Joan Rivers , announced plans for "FBC" or the "Fox Broadcasting Company", to be launched with a daily late-night talk show program, The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers . When Fox was launched on October 9 , 1986 , it was broadcast to 96 stations reaching more than 80 percent of the nation's households. Starting with the former Metromedia outlets, Fox had lined up 90 independent stations as affiliates, including notables such as KTVU in Oakland, California , WTAF-TV in Philadelphia , WKBD-TV in Detroit , WTOG-TV in St. Petersburg, Florida , and KPTV in Portland, Oregon . By contrast, ABC, CBS and NBC each had between 210 and 215 affiliates reaching more than 97 percent of the nation's households. Despite broadcasting only one show, the network was busy producing new programs with plans to gradually add prime-time programming one night at a time. Rivers would be gone from the show in 1987, with various guest hosts taking over for a few years afterward; one notable face was Arsenio Hall , who would later front his own late-night talk show to great success, albeit in syndication and not for Fox. From the beginning, Fox portrayed itself as a somewhat edgy, irreverent, youth-oriented network compared to its rivals. Its first prime time shows, which debuted on Sunday nights beginning April 5 , 1987 , were a comedy about a dysfunctional family ( {{{2}}} ) and a variety series ( The Tracey Ullman Show ). The former would become a major hit for the network, airing for 11 seasons, while the latter would spawn the longest-running sitcom and animated series in U.S. history: The Simpsons , spun off in 1989. Another early success was 21 Jump Street , an hour-long police drama. The original Sunday lineup [2] also included the sitcoms Duet and Mr. President . [3] Fox debuted its Saturday night programming over four weeks beginning July 11 , 1987 , with several shows now long forgotten: Werewolf , Women in Prison , [4] The New Adventures of Beans Baxter and Second Chance . [5] The next two years saw the introduction of America's Most Wanted , profiling true crimes in hopes of capturing the criminals, and COPS , a reality show documenting the day-to-day activities of police officers. The two shows are among the network's longest-running and are credited with bringing reality television to the mainstream. In August 1988, America's Most Wanted was Fox's first show to break into the top 50 shows of the week according to the Nielsen ratings . As of 2007 , both AMW and COPS were still in active production and are among prime time TV's longest-running television shows. 1990s: Rise into mainstream success Despite a few successful shows, the network did not have a significant market share until the mid-1990s when News Corp. bought more TV station groups. The first was New World Communications , which had signed an affiliation deal with Fox in 1994 (see below). Later, in 2001, Fox bought several stations owned by Chris-Craft Industries and its subsidiaries BHC Communications and United Television (most of these were UPN affiliates, although one later converted to Fox). This made Fox one of the largest owners of television stations in the United States . Though Fox was growing rapidly as a network and had established itself as a presence, it was still not considered a major competitor to the big three broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC). This all changed when Fox lured the National Football League away from CBS in 1993. They signed a huge contract to broadcast the NFC , which included luring Pat Summerall , John Madden , Dick Stockton , Matt Millen , James Brown , and Terry Bradshaw from CBS as well. At first many were skeptical of this whole move, but the first year was a rousing success, and Fox was officially on the map for good. The early and mid-1990s saw the launch of several soap-opera dramas aimed at younger audiences that became quick hits: Beverly Hills 90210 , Melrose Place , New York Undercover and Party of Five . September 1993 saw the heavy promotion and debut of a short-lived Western with science-fiction elements, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. However, it was the Friday night show that debuted immediately following it, The X-Files , which would find long-lasting success, and would be Fox's first series to crack Nielsen's year-end Top 25. The sketch-comedy series In Living Color created many memorable characters (and launched the careers of future movie superstars Jim Carrey , Damon Wayans , Keenen Ivory Wayans , Jamie Foxx , and "Fly Girl" dancer Jennifer Lopez ). MADtv , another sketch-comedy series, became a solid competitor to NBC's Saturday Night Live . Fox would expand to seven nights a week of programming by 1993, which included scheduling the breakout hit The Simpsons opposite NBC 's The Cosby Show as one of Fox's initial Thursday night offerings in the fall of 1990 (along with future hit Beverly Hills 90210 ,) after only a half-season of success on Sunday nights (the show thrived in its new timeslot, helping to launch Martin , another Fox hit in 1992; The Simpsons returned to Sunday nights in the fall of 1994.) Notable shows that debuted in the late 1990s include the quirky dramedy Ally McBeal and traditional sitcom That '70s Show , Fox's second-longest-running live-action sitcom behind Married... with Children . Building around its flagship The Simpsons , Fox has been relatively successful with animated shows. King of the Hill began in 1997; Family Guy began in 1999, and was cancelled in 2002, but the network commissioned new episodes that began in 2005 due to strong DVD sales and highly rated cable reruns on Adult Swim of Cartoon Network . Less successful efforts included The Critic , which starred Jon Lovitz from Saturday Night Live , originally aired on ABC then moved to Fox before being cancelled, and The PJ's , which later aired on The WB . Around 1996, Fox was exploring plans to merge with The WB. A former Fox chairman at the time noted in a Broadcasting and Cable interview after the CW merger was announced: "Well, we tried to merge with The WB, too, but we couldn't because, at that time, UPN was [half] owned by Chris-Craft and there was no way. We even talked about, 'You get one market, we get another,' but we just couldn't work it out." 2000s: The Idol effect Fox arguably hit a few bumps in its programming during 1999 and the early 2000s . Many staple shows of the 1990s had ended or were on the decline. During this time, Fox put much of its efforts into producing reality fare with subjects often seen as extravagant, shocking, and/or distasteful. These included shows such as Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire? , Temptation Island , and Married by America . The most successful of these shows was Joe Millionaire , whose season one finale was watched by over 40 million people, although its second season was a ratings disappointment. During this time, Fox also featured weekly shows such as World's Wildest Police Videos and When Animals Attack! . After shedding most of these shows, Fox regained a ratings foothold with acclaimed dramas such as 24 , The O.C. , and House , and comedies such as The Bernie Mac Show and Malcolm in the Middle . By 2005, Fox's most popular show by far was the talent search American Idol , peaking at up to 37 million viewers on certain episodes and finishing the 2004–05 and 2005–06 seasons as the nation's highest-rated program. House, airing after Idol on Tuesday nights and having had a successful run of summer repeats in 2005, positioned itself as a top-ten hit in the 2005–06 season. Fox hit a milestone in February 2005 by scoring its first-ever sweeps -month victory among all viewers. This was largely due to the broadcast of Super Bowl XXXIX , but also on the strength of American Idol, 24, House, and The O.C. By the end of the 2004–2005 television season, Fox ranked No. 1 for the first time in its history among the 18–49 demographic most appealing to advertisers. On May 21, 2008, Fox took the #1 general households rating crown for the first time, over CBS, based on the strength of Super Bowl XLII and American Idol [6] . It was estimated in 2003 that Fox is viewable by 96.18% of all U.S. households, reaching 102,565,710 houses in the United States. Fox has 180 VHF and UHF owned-and-operated or affiliate stations in the United States and U.S. possessions. Fox began broadcasting in HDTV in 720p on September 12 , 2004 with a series of NFL football games. News See also Fox News Channel Unlike the Big Three , Fox does not air national morning or evening news programs. However, Fox does air live coverage of the State of the Union Address , as well as live breaking news alerts (also known as Fox News Alerts), and produces national news segments to air on the local Fox affiliates' news programs. Fox News Sunday airs on the local Fox network affiliates. In prime time, Fox first tried its hand at a news show in 1988 with an hour-long weekly newsmagazine called The Reporters , which was produced by the same team behind the FTSG-distributed syndicated tabloid program A Current Affair . After two years with low ratings, this program was cancelled. After Murdoch and Roger Ailes launched FNC in 1996, the network tried again in 1998 with Fox Files , hosted by Fox News anchors Catherine Crier and Jon Scott , as well as a team of correspondents. It lasted a little over a year before being cancelled. During the sweeps of the 2002–2003 TV season, Fox tried another attempt with The Pulse , hosted by Fox News Channel 's Shepard Smith . Many Fox stations have a local morning newscast that airs on average three to four hours, including an extra two hours from 7 to 9 a.m. as a local alternative to nationwide morning programming. Fox, however, did air a nationally based morning show called Fox After Breakfast (which was formerly Breakfast Time on Fox's FX cable channel) between 1996 and 1998, which aired on all affiliates from 9 to 10 a.m. as opposed to the other major networks airing theirs from 7 to 9 a.m. Fox tried its hand again in 2001 at another morning show called Good Day Live , inspired by KTTV 's Good Day L.A. — this time in syndication mode. The show did not fare well in ratings and was canceled in 2005. On January 22 , 2007 , Fox premiered The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet for its O&O stations, hosted by Mike Jerrick and Juliet Huddy of the Fox News Channel's DaySide program. The show is a lighter, more entertainment-oriented show, though that can change when there is big news. In February 2007, the show was syndicated to many ABC , NBC , and CBS affiliates where a MyNetworkTV or Fox station doesn't carry it. [7] Fox Sports See also Fox Sports Management, having seen the critical role that sports programming (soccer programming in particular) had played in the growth of the British satellite service BSkyB , believed that sports, and specifically professional football, would be the engine that would make Fox a major network the quickest. To this end, Fox bid aggressively for football from the start. In 1987, after ABC initially hedged on renewing its contract to carry Monday Night Football , Fox offered the NFL to pick up the contract for the same amount ABC had been paying, about $13 million per game at the time. However, the NFL, in part because Fox had not established itself as a major network, chose to renew its contract with ABC. Six years later, when the football contract was up for renewal again, Fox made what at the time was a bold and aggressive move to acquire the rights. Knowing that it would likely need to bid considerably more than the incumbent networks to acquire a piece of the package, Fox bid $1.58 billion for 4 years of rights to the NFC , considered the more desirable conference due to its presence in most of the largest U.S. markets, such as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia. To the surprise and shock of many, the NFL selected the Fox bid, in the process stripping CBS of football for the first time since 1955 . Fox's acquisition of football was a watershed event not only for the network but for the NFL as well. Not only was it the event that placed Fox on a par with the " big three " broadcast networks ( ABC , CBS , and NBC ) but it also ushered in an era of growth for the NFL which continues on largely to this day. More importantly, Fox's acquisition of the NFL rights also quickly led toward Fox reaching a deal with New World Communications to change the affiliation of 10 of their stations to Fox. The rights gave Fox many new viewers (and affiliates) and a platform for advertising its other shows. With a sports division now established with the arrival of the NFL, Fox would later acquire over-air broadcast rights to the National Hockey League (1994–99), Major League Baseball (since 1996), and NASCAR auto racing (since 2001 season). Beginning in 2007, Fox now airs the Bowl Championship Series college football games, with the exception of the Rose Bowl , which will remain on ABC . This package also includes the new BCS Championship Game, except once every four years, when the game is played at the Rose Bowl, which will be on ABC. In the past few years, when Fox aired new episodes of original programing at 7 p.m. on Sundays during football season, some of the markets, especially on the East Coast, are unable to see all or part of the new episode of the scheduled show due to NFL overrun. Futurama was especially victim to this network decision. Beginning with the 2005 season, Fox has extended its football postgame show to 8 p.m. (the weeks Fox has a doubleheader) or it airs reruns of sitcoms (mostly The Simpsons and King of the Hill ). Station standardization During the early 1990s, Fox began having stations branded as "Fox", then the channel number, with the call signs nearby. By the mid-to-late 1990s, the call signs were minimized to be just barely readable to FCC requirements, and the stations were simply known as "Fox", then channel number. (e.g. WNYW in New York City , WTTG in Washington, D.C. , and WAGA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia , are referred to as Fox 5.) This would be the start of the trend for other networks to do such naming schemes, especially at CBS , which uses the CBS Mandate on most of its owned and operated ("O&O") stations. However, while the traditional "Big Three" do not require their affiliates to have such naming schemes, Fox recommends that all stations use it. (However, there are some exceptions; see below.) All Fox affiliates must have a Fox-approved logo, and most refer to themselves on-air as, for example, "Fox 12." But some affiliates do not include the channel number in the name, and opt instead to use a city/regional descriptor in place of the channel number (e.g. Parkersburg, West Virginia, affiliate WTAP-TV employs the moniker Fox Parkersburg rather than Fox 14). This is because many cable companies assign Fox networks to different channels, often a different channel than it is broadcast over the air, which is especially true for Fox affiliates with a channel over 30; Fox O&O WFLD in Chicago goes by Fox Chicago rather than their channel number of 32. Some affiliates, such as KTVU in Oakland - San Francisco mix between using Fox (channel number) to promote entertainment programming and another brand for news (like their Channel 2 News). A handful of others, like WSVN in the South Florida area and KHON-TV in Honolulu, Hawaii , do not use the Fox brand at all. Starting in 2006, more standardization of the O&Os began to take place both on the air and online. All the O&Os began adopting an on-air look more closely aligned with the Fox News Channel. This includes changing the logos of almost all of these stations to have the same red, white and blue rotating box logo. The news music and graphics will eventually be the same on all the O&Os as well. However, WITI in Milwaukee chose to take on the new graphical coloring, but keep their horizontal FOX6 logo relatively similar to their previous version, due to the heavy integration of the former logo into the station's news set. Taking a cue from News Corporation's recent acquisition of MySpace , many of the Fox O&Os launched new websites that look the same and have similar addresses. For example, MyFoxDC.com takes visitors to the web site of the Fox owned-and-operated station in Washington D.C. Programming Fox adopted a 19-hour programming schedule in September 1993. It was expanded to 20 hours in 1996. It provides 15 hours of prime time programming to owned-and-operated and affiliated stations: 8-10 p.m. Monday to Friday (all times ET/PT), 8-10 p.m. and 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m on Saturday, and 7-10 p.m. on Sundays. Programming will also be provided Saturday mornings as part of a four-hour animation block under the banner 4Kids TV (which in some markets, especially where Fox Television Stations Group owns both the Fox and MyNetworkTV affiliates and the Fox affiliate was formerly owned by {{{2}}} , will air on the MyNetworkTV affiliate, while the Fox station airs local news) and the hour-long political news program Fox News Sunday (time slot may vary). Sports programming is also provided (albeit not every weekend year-round) 12-4 or 8 p.m. Sundays (during football season, slightly less during NASCAR season) and 3:30-7 p.m. Saturday afternoons (during baseball season). Prime time See List of programs broadcast by Fox Returning comedies are in red; new comedies are in pink; returning dramas are in green; new dramas are in blue; returning reality shows are in yellow; returning game shows are in orange; new game shows are in beige; sports programming is in purple. All times are Eastern and Pacific (subtract one hour for Central and add one hour for Mountain time). 7:00 p.m. Template:Main Fox began airing children's programming in 1990 when it launched the Fox Kids Network. Fox's children's programing featured many cartoons and some live-action series (particularly fantasy action programs) including Power Rangers (currently airing on various Disney -owned networks: ABC , Toon Disney , and Jetix channels around the world), Bobby's World , The Tick , Eerie, Indiana and Goosebumps . When The WB added the Kids' WB programming block in 1995, Tiny Toon Adventures , Animaniacs and later Batman: The Animated Series , (all of which originated either on Fox Kids or in syndication) moved to Kids' WB with new productions and original shows included. Fox would abandon Fox Kids after selling the children's division and the former Fox Family Channel (now ABC Family ) to The Walt Disney Company in 2002 and then sell the four hours of Saturday morning time to 4Kids Entertainment . Differences between Fox and the "Big Three" networks Fox only airs two hours of network programming during the prime time hours (three hours on Sundays), compared to the three hours (four on Sundays) by the other major networks (except for The CW and ION Television ). This allows for many of its stations to air local news during the 10 p.m. time slot. Fox's original reason for the reduced number of prime time hours was to avoid fulfilling the FCC's requirements at the time to be considered a network [8] and to be free of resulting regulations, though FCC rules have been relaxed since then. Fox also does not air soap operas or any other network daytime programming (game shows, talk shows) despite being a major network. Because of this, affiliates have more time for lucrative syndicated programming. (Fox produces three syndicated daytime courtroom shows, Divorce Court , Judge Alex , and Cristina's Court ). However, it has been reported that Fox may be moving into the arena in the near future, as they have ordered a daytime drama pilot called Born in the USA which has already been cast and has now started production. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] Local news At least half of Fox's 180 O&O and affiliated stations air local news in the 10-11 p.m. (9-10 p.m. CT/MT) timeslot. The newscast schedules on Fox stations vary more from station to station than ABC, CBS and NBC's affiliates. Some Fox stations have a newscast schedule similar to the Big Three's affiliates along with the added late evening newscast at 10 p.m. and a late afternoon newscast extended by a half-hour competing with the national evening newscasts, while others only have a 10 p.m. newscast. Tampa's WTVT has the most local news of any Fox station with roughly 52.5 hours per week, followed by Kansas City's WDAF-TV with 49 hours a week. Only a few Fox stations that air an 11 p.m. (or 10 p.m.) newscast along with a 10 p.m. (or 9 p.m.) newscast. WDAF-TV , WTVT , WITI in Milwaukee, WFLD in Chicago, KDFW in Dallas/Fort Worth, WJBK in Detroit, WBRC in Birmingham, KMSP in Minneapolis-St. Paul, KSAZ in Phoenix, WTTG Washington, D.C and KTVI St.Louis. are the only Fox-owned stations to have a 11p.m./10 p.m. newscast in the Central and Mountain Time Zones with only WDAF , WITI , WBRC , WTTG , and KSAZ airing it every night. KOKH in Oklahoma City and WSVN in Miami are the few non-O&Os airing a 10pm (or 9 p.m.) and a 11pm (or 10 p.m.) newscast. Stations that don't air local news air syndicated programming , usually off-network sitcoms in that timeslot, though some small market Fox affiliates outsource their newscasts to a Big Three station in the market (either situation may change in the future as more Fox stations start their own news divisions). In some smaller markets with duopolies , the Fox affiliate usually airs a 10 PM newscast from a sister station, such as Youngstown, Ohio where CBS affiliate WKBN-TV airs a 10 PM newscast on its sister station, Fox affiliate WYFX-LP . Upstart Fox local news divisions do not run a full slate of newscasts (i.e., morning, midday, early and late evening newscasts plus news on weekend evenings and possibly weekend mornings), instead starting with a 10 p.m. newscast then gradually adding other newscasts. The largest market with a Fox affiliate that airs no news whatsoever is Buffalo, New York , where WUTV has long opted for sitcom reruns instead to draw a different audience. Criticism Quick cancellations Despite its popularity, Fox has also come under fire from many quarters, especially from fans of sci-fi/fantasy television. This stems from the perceived premature cancellation of several series which had vocal and active fan bases, but low ratings, like Firefly , Wonderfalls and Fastlane . The cancellations of animated series Family Guy and Futurama were also criticized; in the former's case, the program was picked up again in 2005, while the latter series was revived for 2008 on Comedy Central (who also acquired the rerun rights from Adult Swim on September 2007). Fox was also heavily criticized on its decision to cancel the critically acclaimed Arrested Development , which in 2004 gave the network its first comedy Emmy in many years. The show was in discussions to be picked up by Showtime or ABC, but producers decided not to pursue continuing the series. The network's justification for canceling these programs has generally been poor ratings. Fans of these programs respond by pointing toward critical praise and dedicated core fan followings, and blame the ratings on inconvenient time slots, poor advertising or illogical broadcasting. For example, the pilot episode of Firefly , traditionally aired first as an introduction to characters and storylines, was the last episode aired by Fox. Most other episodes of Firefly were aired out of production and storyline order. Another often-cited example is the 1990s series Sliders , which faced similar problems on Fox. In more recent years, the first two episodes of Drive were aired on a Sunday, and the third episode was aired the next day against Dancing with the Stars and Deal or No Deal . Fox canceled Drive after only four episodes and the last two complete episodes were shown online. Further inflaming fans, Fox has promised to air remaining episodes of shows and then failed to follow through on these promises. [21] News In 1997, Fox-owned station WTVT in Tampa, Florida , fired two reporters, Jane Akre and Steve Wilson , who had refused instructions from superiors to revise a story on bovine growth hormone in ways that the reporters saw as being in conflict with the facts, and had threatened to report Fox to the FCC . The reporters sued under a Florida whistleblower law. A jury ruled that Fox had indeed ordered the reporters to distort the facts. Fox successfully appealed against judgment on the grounds that its First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and press protected it from such litigation, and that the FCC's policy against distortion of news was not a sufficiently significant rule for its breach to invoke the whistleblower law. [22] [23] In 2006, a number of Fox affiliates said that they would refuse to air O.J. Simpson 's two-night interview special with Judith Regan , If I Did It, Here's How It Happened , scheduled for November 27 and 29, citing overwhelmingly negative viewer feedback. With other major affiliate groups reportedly threatening to pull their stations as well, Fox pulled the special a week before its airdate. Clip sharing websites Fox has also been criticized for issuing takedown notices to websites that link to copyrighted Fox TV shows and clips. [24] [25] [26] The law on linking liability is currently considered a gray area. Indecency Controversy surrounded the network in 2002 and 2003 over obscenities, expressed respectively by Cher and Nicole Richie , aired live on the network's broadcasts of the Billboard Music Awards on its affiliates in the Eastern and Central Time Zones despite the use of five-second audio delays; the obscenities were all edited out on broadcasts in the Mountain Time Zone and westward. [27] Both of the obscene instances were condemned by the Parents Television Council [28] [29] and named by them among the worst instances on television from 2001 to 2004. [30] PTC members filed tens of thousands of complaints to the Federal Communications Commission over the broadcasts. The Fox network's subsequently apology was labeled a "sham" by PTC president L. Brent Bozell III , who argued that Fox could have easily used audio delay to edit out the obscene language. [31] As the FCC was investigating the broadcasts, in 2004, Fox announced that it would begin extending live broadcast delays to 5 minutes from its standard 5 or 10 seconds to more easily be able to edit out obscenities uttered over the air. [32] In June 2007, in the case Fox et al. v. Federal Communications Commission, the U\.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FCC could not issue indecency fines against the Fox network because the obscenities in the Billboard awards shows were merely fleeting, but the FCC eventually decided to appeal the Second Circuit Court's finding. [33] Broadcasting & Cable has reported that the FCC might makes its final decision regarding the broadcasts by January 2008. [34] Subsequently, the network was given another month's extension to respond to the FCC's petition for the United States Supreme Court to reconsider its decision to invalidate the FCC's indecency findings of the awards shows. [35] The Parents Television Council has criticized many popular FOX shows for perceived indecent content, such as American Dad , Arrested Development , The Simpsons , Family Guy , [36] Hell's Kitchen , [37] Married...With Children , [38] Prison Break , and That '70s Show . [39] The Council sometimes has gone even as far as to file complaints with the Federal Communications Commission regarding indecent content within Fox programming, having done so for That '70s Show [40] and Married By America , having successfully been able to make the FCC fine the Fox network nearly $1 million for Married by America . [41] Also, Fox programming has been chosen by the PTC for its weekly "Worst TV Show of the Week" feature more often than programming from any other broadcast network. [42] Sports Template:Citations missing Template:Main Since the network bought the rights to post-season baseball coverage, Fox has received criticism from non-baseball fans for not airing first-run original programming during October. (Baseball fans point out that there are plenty of other broadcast and cable networks available on every TV package that do show original scripted programming.) For the majority of the years that Fox has aired baseball, the network started the season for The Simpsons and other shows in November. In 2005, Fox started its season in September, took the month of October off to show the Major League Baseball playoffs, and resumed non-baseball programming in November. (In 2007, Fox no longer has rights to League Division Series games, and has only one League Championship Series per year.) Both approaches have drawn criticism. Fox Sports has also received criticism from sports fans of bias toward teams in certain conferences, especially during the Super Bowl and the World Series , usually the National Football Conference in football (due to the fact that Fox owns the rights to NFC games) and the American League , especially the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox , in baseball. Fox rarely shows teams from outside the top-10 media markets during the regular season. Among baseball enthusiasts, Fox's coverage of Major League Baseball is often criticized. Many cite "whooshing" sound effects to accompany on-screen graphics, the use of Scooter , a talking baseball created with the intent of teaching the younger audience the difference between pitches, and even announcers Tim McCarver , Joe Buck , and Jeanne Zelasko as reasons for their disdain (even though McCarver used to be an analyst at ABC and CBS before he worked at Fox). Other purists are critical of Fox's rapid-fire switching of screen shots, complaining that it is not well-suited to the pace of baseball. Fox's National Hockey League coverage drew the ire of some hockey fans due to FoxTrax , a computer-generated "glowing" effect around the puck, which was intended to help casual fans keep up with the action. Ostensibly, it did not work, as the network chose not to match ESPN and ABC Sports ' five-year, $600 million contract with the NHL in August 1998. Fox did not retain FoxTrax for its final season of coverage. Fans of the series Malcolm in the Middle also criticized Fox, because during the football season, Fox would finish the scheduled game, but then cut to another game running over schedule, then do the postgame show, frequently eating into Malcolm's timeslot in the Eastern United States. This resulted in a ratings drop that would later lead to the series' cancellation. This is the same fate previously met by Futurama . Fox is credited with a major graphics innovation in televised sports. Originally known as the Fox Box, a nearly omni-present graphic featuring the score and pertinent information, most notably the position of base-runners, count on the batter, score, inning and pitch speed in baseball; time remaining, score, down, possession and penalty flag indicators for football. Originally presented as a box in an upper corner of the screen (hence the term Fox Box), it is now generally seen as a strip imposed over the picture at the top of the screen. Other networks have adopted the scheme, which allows fans an instant and constant graphic insight into the progress and status of a game, as opposed to the prior practice which saw graphical references to scores and time remaining presented mainly at critical junctures or leading into commercial breaks. The scoring banner design is also used by other Fox owned sports operations, such as Fox Sports Net and the Big Ten Network . All times given in the Eastern and Pacific Time Zones\.	i don't know
April 6, 1930 saw the introduction of what Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling, which was originally stuffed with banana?	INTERSTING FACTS - Google+ INTERSTING FACTS Posted by muhammad ahsan at 19:13 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook most intersting and amazing Posted by muhammad ahsan at 19:07 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Interesting Facts For Your Warehouse of Useless Knowledge 1,525,000,000 miles of telephone wire a strung across the U.S. 101 Dalmatians and Peter Pan (Wendy) are the only two Disney cartoon features with both parents that are present and don't die throughout the movie. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily. 123,000,000 cars are being driven down the U.S's highways. 160 cars can drive side by side on the Monumental Axis in Brazil, the world's widest road. 166,875,000,000 pieces of mail are delivered each year in the U.S. 27% of U.S. male college students believe life is "A meaningless existential hell." 315 entries in Webster's Dictionary will be misspelled. 5% of Canadians don't know the first 7 words of the Canadian anthem, but know the first 9 of the American anthem. 56,000,000 people go to Major League baseball each year. 7% of Americans don't know the first 9 words of the American anthem, but know the first 7 of the Canadian anthem. 85,000,000 tons of paper are used each year in the U.S. 99% of the solar systems mass is concentrated in the sun. A 10-gallon hat barely holds 6 pints. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear. A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off. A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate. A cow produces 200 times more gas a day than a person. A dime has 118 ridges around the edge. A dragonfly has a lifespan of 24 hours. A fully loaded supertanker travelling at normal speed takes a least twenty minutes to stop. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue. A giraffe can go without water longer than a camel can. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds. A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day. Most of the sweat evaporates before a person realizes it's there. A hedgehog's heart beats 300 times a minute on average. A hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a 4 foot tall child inside. A hummingbird weighs less than a penny. A jellyfish is 95 percent water. A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. A jumbo jet uses 4,000 gallons of fuel to take off. A male emperor moth can smell a female emperor moth up to 7 miles away. A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for 6 years. Wow. A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in just one night. A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette in South Bend, Indiana. A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes. A pregnant goldfish is called a twit. A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes. A quarter has 119 grooves on its edge, a dime has one less groove. A shark can detect one part of blood in 100 million parts of water. A skunk can spray its stinky scent more than 10 feet. A sneeze travels out your mouth at over 100 m.p.h. A toothpick is the object most often choked on by Americans! A walla-walla scene is one where extras pretend to be talking in the background -- when they say "walla-walla" it looks like they are actually talking. A whale's penis is called a dork. About 3000 years ago, most Egyptians died by the time they were 30. About 70% of Americans who go to college do it just to make more money. [The rest of us are avoiding reality for four more years.] According to a British law passed in 1845, attempting to commit suicide was a capital offense. Offenders could be hanged for trying. Actor Tommy Lee Jones and former vice-president Al Gore were freshman roommates at Harvard. Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer. All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill. All of the clocks in the movie "Pulp Fiction" are stuck on 4:20. All porcupines float in water. Almonds are a member of the peach family. Almost a quarter of the land area of Los Angeles is taken up by automobiles. America once issued a 5-cent bill. America's first nudist organization was founded in 1929, by 3 men. Ancient Egyptians slept on pillows made of stone. An animal epidemic is called an epizootic. An average person laughs about 15 times a day. An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain. Armadillos are the only animal besides humans that can get leprosy. Armadillos have four babies at a time and they are always all the same sex. Armored knights raised their visors to identify themselves when they rode past their king. This custom has become the modern military salute. Aztec emperor Montezuma had a nephew, Cuitlahac, whose name meant "plenty of excrement." Babe Ruth wore a cabbage leaf under is cap to keep him cool. He changed it every 2 innings. Babies are born without knee caps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2-6 years of age. Baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms every day. Back in the mid to late 1980's, an IBM-compatible computer wasn't considered a hundred percent compatible unless it could run Microsoft's Flight Simulator. Bank robber John Dillinger played professional baseball. Barbie's measurements if she were life size: 39-23-33. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave. Ben and Jerry's send the waste from making ice cream to local pig farmers to use as feed. Pigs love the stuff, except for one flavor: Mint Oreo. Bird droppings are the chief export of Nauru, an island nation in the Western Pacific. Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan. Bubble gum contains rubber. Camel's milk does not curdle. Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand. Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village". Cat's urine glows under a blacklight. Cats can produce over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs can only produce about ten. Charles Lindbergh took only four sandwiches with him on his famous transatlantic flight. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying. Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted people without killing them use to burn their houses down - hence the expression "to get fired." Cleo and Caesar were the early stage names of Cher and Sonny Bono. Columbia University is the second largest landowner in New York City, after the Catholic Church. David Prowse was the guy in the Darth Vader suit in Star Wars. He spoke all of Vader's lines, and didn't know that he was going to be dubbed over by James Earl Jones until he saw the screening of the movie. Did you know that there are coffee flavored PEZ? Dogs and cats consume almost $7 billion worth of pet food a year. Dolphins sleep with one eye open. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd was the physician who set the leg of Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth... and whose shame created the expression for ignominy, "His name is Mudd." Dr. Seuss pronounced "Seuss" such that it rhymed with "rejoice." "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt." Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors. During your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food, that's the weight of about 6 elephants. Einstein couldn't speak fluently when he was nine. His parents thought he might be retarded. Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason. Eskimo ice cream is neither icy, or creamy. Even if you cut off a cockroach's head, it can live for several weeks. Every person has a unique tongue print. Every time Beethoven sat down to write music, he poured ice water over his head. Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie. Facetious and abstemious contain all the vowels in the correct order, as does arsenious, meaning "containing arsenic." February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon. Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails. Fortune cookies were actually invented in America, in 1918, by Charles Jung. Gilligan of Gilligan's Island had a first name that was only used once, on the never-aired pilot show. His first name was Willy. The skipper's real name on Gilligan's Island is Jonas Grumby. It was mentioned once in the first episode on their radio's newscast about the wreck. Giraffes have no vocal cords. Goethe couldn't stand the sound of barking dogs and could only write if he had an apple rotting in the drawer of his desk. Hang On Sloopy is the official rock song of Ohio. Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt. Honeybees have hair on their eyes. Human teeth are almost as hard as rocks. Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete. Hydroxydesoxycorticosterone and hydroxydeoxycorticosterones are the largest anagrams. Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego. "I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. If NASA sent birds into space they would soon die; they need gravity to swallow. If you bring a raccoon's head to the Henniker, New Hampshire town hall, you are entitled to receive $.10 from the town. If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar. If you toss a penny 10,000 times, it will not be heads 5,000 times, but more like 4,950. The heads picture weighs more, so it ends up on the bottom. If your eyes are six feet above the surface of the ocean, the horizon will be about three statute miles away. In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital suspended workers for betting on when patients would die. In 1980, there was only one country in the world with no telephones - Bhutan. In 1983, a Japanese artist made a copy of the Mona Lisa completely out of toast. In 1984, a Canadian farmer began renting ad space on his cows. In 75% of American households, women manage the money and pay the bills. In Bangladesh, kids as young as 15 can be jailed for cheating on their finals. In England, in the 1880's, "Pants" were considered a dirty word. In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. In every episode of "Seinfeld" there is a Superman somewhere. In Kentucky, 50 percent of the people who get married for the first time are teenagers. In Los Angeles, there are fewer people than there are automobiles. In most advertisements, including newspapers, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10. In space, astronauts cannot cry, because there is no gravity, so the tears can't flow. In the 1940s, the FCC assigned television's Channel 1 to mobile services (two-way radios in taxicabs, for instance) but did not re-number the other channel assignments. That is why your TV set has channels 2 and up, but no channel 1. In the great fire of London in 1666 half of London was burnt down but only 6 people were injured. In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated. In the movie "Casablanca," Humphrey Bogart never said "Play it again, Sam." In the White House, there are 13,092 knives, forks and spoons. In Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs. Isaac Asimov is the only author to have a book in every Dewey-decimal category. It takes a lobster approximately seven years to grow to be one pound. It takes about a half a gallon of water to cook macaroni, and about a gallon to clean the pot. It was discovered on a space mission that a frog can throw up. The frog throws up its stomach first, so the stomach is dangling out of its mouth. Then the frog uses its forearms to dig out all of the stomach's contents and then swallows the stomach back down again. It was once against the law to have a pet dog in a city in Iceland. It was once against the law to slam your car door in a city in Switzerland. It's against the law to burp, or sneeze in a certain church in Omaha, Nebraska. It's against the law to catch fish with your bare hands in Kansas. It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. (Don't try this at home!) Ivory bar soap floating was a mistake. They had been overmixing the soap formula causing excess air bubbles that made it float. Customers wrote and told how much they loved that it floated, and it has floated ever since. John Lennon's first girlfriend was named Thelma Pickles. "Kemo Sabe" means "soggy shrub" in Navajo. Kotex was first manufactured as bandages, during WWI. Lee Harvey Oswald's cadaver tag sold at an auction for $6,600 in 1992. Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors. Lightning strikes about 6,000 times per minute on this planet. Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different. Lincoln Logs were invented by Frank Lloyd Wright's son. Lorne Greene had one of his nipples bitten off by an alligator while he was host of "Lorne Greene's Wild Kingdom." Los Angeles's full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula" and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its original size: "L.A." Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable. Many hamsters only blink one eye at a time. Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was allergic to carrots. Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than all of the Nike factory workers in Malaysia combined. Millie the White House dog earned more than 4 times as much as President Bush in 1991. Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton. Montpelier, VT is the only U.S. state capital without a McDonalds. More Monopoly money is printed in a year, than real money printed throughout the world. More people are killed annually by donkeys than die in air crashes. More people use blue toothbrushes, than red ones. Mosquitoes have teeth. Most Americans' car horns beep in the key of F. Most cows give more milk when they listen to music. Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin. Most lipstick contains fish scales. Mr. Rogers is an ordained minister. Murphy's Oil Soap is the chemical most commonly used to clean elephants. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple. Non-dairy creamer is flammable. Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously On a Canadian two dollar bill, the flag flying over the Parliament Building looks like an American flag, but is actually the flag that flew over to Dominion of Canada before the Maple Leaf . On an American one-dollar bill, there is an owl in the upper left-hand corner of the "1" encased in the "shield" and a spider hidden in the front upper right-hand corner. One in every 4 americans has appeared on television. One of the reasons marijuana is illegal today is because cotton growers in the 1930's lobbied against hemp farmers -- they saw it as competition. It is not as chemically addictive as is nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine. One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet. Only 55% of all Americans know that the sun is a star. Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing. Over 1000 birds a year die from smashing into windows. Owls are one of the only birds who can see the color blue. Pamela Anderson Lee is Canada's Centennial Baby, being the first baby born on the centennial anniversary of Canada's independence. Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. Penguins can jump as high as 6 feet in the air. Pinocchio is Italian for "pine head." Playing cards were issued to British pilots in WWII. If captured, they could be soaked in water and unfolded to reveal a map for escape. Polar Bears trying to blend in with the ice will sometimes cover up their black nose with their paws. Pollsters say that 40 percent of dog and cat owners carry pictures of the pets in their wallets. Q is the only letter in the alphabet that does not appear in the name of any of the United States. Recycling one glass jar, saves enough energy to watch T.V for 3 hours. Reindeer like to eat bananas. Research indicates that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have recently eaten bananas. Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated. Sherlock Holmes never said "Elementary, my dear Watson." Sigmund Freud had a morbid fear of ferns. Since 1896, the beginning of the modern Olympics, only Greece and Australia have participated in every Games. Slugs have 4 noses. Some ribbon worms will eat themselves if they can't find any food. Some toothpaste's contain antifreeze. Spotted skunks do handstands before they spray. "Stewardesses" is the longest word that is typed with only the left hand. Studies show that if a cat falls off the seventh floor of a building it has about thirty percent less chance of surviving than a cat that falls off the twentieth floor. It supposedly takes about eight floors for the cat to realize what is occurring, relax and correct itself. Sylvia Miles had the shortest performance ever nominated for an Oscar with "Midnight Cowboy." Her entire role lasted only six minutes. Texas is also the only state that is allowed to fly its state flag at the same height as the U.S. flag. The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.) The average American drinks about 600 sodas a year. The average American will eat about 11.9 pounds of cereal per year. The average bank teller loses about $250 every year. The average person falls asleep in seven minutes. The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year. The average person is about a quarter of an inch taller at night. The average person laughs 15 times a day. The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing. The Baby Ruth candy bar was actually named after Grover Cleveland's baby daughter, Ruth. The band Duran Duran got their name from an astronaut in the 1968 Jane Fonda movie "Barbarella. The blesbok, a South African antelope, is almost the same color as grapejuice. The Boston University Bridge (on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts) is the only place in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane. The characters Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street were named after Bert the cop and Ernie the taxi driver in Frank Capra's "Its A Wonderful Life". The combination "ough" can be pronounced in nine different ways. The following sentence contains them all: "A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed." The company providing the liability insurance for the Republican National Convention in San Diego is the same firm that insured the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. The condom - made originally of linen - was invented in the early 1500s. The cruise liner, Queen Elizabeth II, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns. The Earth weighs around 6,588,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons. The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. The electric chair was invented by a dentist. The elephant is the only mammal that can't jump. The first Ford cars had Dodge engines. The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C. The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It To Beaver." The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world. The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher. The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado. The housefly hums in the middle octave, key of F. The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 672. The katydid bug hears through holes in its hind legs. The "L.L." in L.L. Bean stands for Leon Leonwood. The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched." The longest recorded flight of a chicken is thirteen seconds. The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. The only other word with the same amount of letters is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconioses, its plural. The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building. The microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket. The moon is moving away at a tiny, although measurable distance from the earth every year. Do the math and you will clearly see that 85 million years ago it was orbiting the earth at a distance of about 35 feet from the earth's surface. This would explain the death of the dinosours; the tallest ones, anyway. The most common name in the world is Mohammed. The name for Oz in the "Wizard of Oz" was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum, looked at his filing cabinet and saw A-N, and O-Z, hence "Oz." The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the "General Purpose" vehicle, G.P. The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan." The national anthem of Greece has 158 verses. No one in Greece has memorized all 158 verses. The Neanderthal's brain was bigger than yours is. The oldest known goldfish lived to 41 years of age. Its name was Fred. The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable. The only nation whose name begins with an "A" but doesn't end in an "A" is Afghanistan. The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after the Major League All-Star Game. The penguin is the only bird who can swim, but not fly. The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites. The phrase, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye" is from Ancient Rome. The only rule during wrestling matches was, "No eye gouging." Everything else was allowed, but the only way to be disqualified was to poke someone's eye out. The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb. The placement of a donkey's eyes in its' heads enables it to see all four feet at all times. The praying mantis is the only insect that can turn its head. The Ramses brand condom is named after the great pharaoh Ramses II who fathered over 160 children. The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yore when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases. The Sanskrit word for "war" means "desire for more cows." The "save" icon on Microsoft Word shows a floppy disk, with the shutter on backwards. The saying "it's so cold out there it could freeze the balls off a brass monkey" came from when they had old cannons like ones used in the Civil War. The cannonballs were stacked in a pyramid formation, called a brass monkey. When it got extremely cold outside they would crack and break off... thus the saying. The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in Jello. The starfish is one of the only animals who can turn it's stomach inside-out. The state of Florida is bigger than England. The term "the whole 9 yards" came from WWII fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards." The three best-known western names in China: Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon, and Elvis Presley. The United States Government keeps its supply of silver at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. The United States has never lost a war in which mules were used. The verb "cleave" is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate. The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo. The word "Checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah Mat," which means "the king is dead". The word "modem" is a contraction of the words "modulate, demodulate." (MOdulate DEModulate) The word "samba" means "to rub navels together." The world population of chickens is about equal to the number of people. The worlds oldest piece of chewing gum is 9000 years old. There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball. There are over 52.6 million dogs in the U.S. There are more chickens than people in the world. There are more plastic flamingos in America than real ones. There are only four words in the English language which end in "-dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. There are only thirteen blimps in the world. Nine of them are in the United States. There are two credit cards for every person in the United States. There is a town in Newfoundland, Canada called Dildo. There wasn't a single pony in the Pony Express, just horses. Thomas Edison, lightbulb inventor, was afraid of the dark. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, push your thumbs into its eyeballs -- it will let you go instantly. Two-thirds of the world's eggplant is grown in New Jersey. Until 1796, there was a state in the United States called Franklin. Today it is known as Tennessee. Until 1965, driving was done on the left-hand side on roads in Sweden. The conversion to right-hand was done on a weekday at 5pm. All traffic stopped as people switched sides. This time and day were chosen to prevent accidents where drivers would have gotten up in the morning and been too sleepy to realize that this was the day of the changeover. When opossums are playing 'possum, they are not "playing." They actually pass out from sheer terror. When snakes are born with two heads, they fight each other for food. When the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers play football at home, the stadium becomes the state's third largest city. White Out was invented by the mother of Mike Nesmith (formerly of the Monkees). Who's that playing the piano on the "Mad About You" theme? Paul Reiser himself. Wilma Flintstone's maiden name was Wilma Slaghoopal, and Betty Rubble's Maiden name was Betty Jean Mcbricker. Windmills always turn counter-clockwise. Except for the windmills in Ireland. Winston Churchill was born in a ladies' room during a dance. Women's hearts beat faster than men's. You blink over 20,000,000 times a year. You can only smell 1/20th as well as a dog. You'll eat about 35,000 cookies in a lifetime. You're born with 300 bones, but when you get to be an adult, you only have 206. You're more likely to get stung by a bee on a windy day than in any other weather. Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day. Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, everytime you breathe. Your right lung takes in more air than your left one does. Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks otherwise it will digest itself. Posted by muhammad ahsan at 18:53 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Interesting Facts Interesting Facts Interesting Facts is a clean site for children and adults that makes learning fun. Learn about all kinds of interesting things to tell your friends and family, from funny to the great depression, technology, the planet Mars and so much more. We hope you’ll enjoy us enough to bookmark us as one of your favorites like thousands of others do. If you start the Brain Test Training Games, remember to come back. We like having you around and we add more facts to our pages frequently. Surprise your friends and family by learning all these interesting facts. © In 1938, Time Magazine chose Adolf Hitler for man of the year. Twelve people have walked on the moon. Other than the Earth, the moon is the only other known natural astrological object ever walked on. Scientists voiced concern in 2012 about how radiation may be affecting humans after a recent finding of mutant butterflies in Japan with abnormal legs, eyes, wings and other mutations were discovered. The mutations were caused by radiation from the Fukushima nuclear accident which was triggered by a major tsunami in March 2011. The tsunami was a direct effect of an earthquake. Humans and giraffes both have seven vertebrae bones in the neck. It’s not unusual for a mammal to have 7 vertebra bones in the neck but it’s interesting that the long neck of a full grown giraffe has the same amount. The active ingredient in most toothpastes is called sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride can be lethal, young children using regular toothpaste with this ingredient should be monitored. Even swallowing small amounts can cause stomach problems or worst. Over 3 million people globally every month search for something online with the words interesting facts in it according to the most popular search engine. There are no land snakes in New Zealand. It’s part of New Zealand’s bio security to keep all snakes out and if a person is aware of a snake, by law it must be reported. New Zealand is free of heartworm disease and rabies. Buttermilk does not contain any butter. Did you know Disneyland does not sell chewing gum? Walt Disney did not want guests inconvenienced by stepping on gum purchased in the park. Each year Disneyland uses over 5,000 gallons of paint to maintain the clean appearance of the park. George Washington died on December 14, 1799. Giraffes can go without water longer than a camel. That’s wild! The person reading this is intelligent, interesting and unique. Flattery is alright as long as we don’t inhale! January 30, 1933 was the day the words Hi yo silver! Away! were first heard as the lone ranger debuts on radio channel WXYZ of Detroit. Many people who read the word yawn or yawning begin to feel the urge to yawn. The 2nd president of the United States (John Adams) and 3rd president of the United States (Thomas Jefferson) both died within just a few hours apart of each other on the same exact day of July 4th 1826. They are the only two presidents to die on the same day of the same year. It’s true! When the Titanic departed from port it was documented to have carried approximately 1000 loaves of bread, 86,000 pounds of meat, 40,000 eggs and 36,000 apples to feed the passengers and crew on the 7 day voyage. Now those are some interesting facts! Dogs can have a fatal reaction to eating chocolate. Chocolate contains a bitter alkaloid called Theobromine also known as Xantheose and that’s the active ingredient that’s bad for the dog. If you’ve read all the interesting facts to this point you’re awesome! For a butterfly to fly it must have a body temperature of no less than 86 degrees fahrenheit or 30 degrees celsius. The largest milk producing country by volume in the whole world is India. It is a fact that the first game of chess has been traced back to have originated in northern India. Like other 1,000+ year old games, it would have been played differently than todays rules. It’s thought that todays rules have been around since sometime in the 1400′s A.D. In the United States, the Internal Revenue Service has an employees handbook for the collections division unit. Here’s the interesting part, in it are instructions which guide employees on how to collect taxes after a nuclear war. Kinda scary! If you are severely scared of going to the dentist or having dental work, you may actually have a phobia called odontophobia. Almonds are members of the rose flower family or rosaceae family. The peach is also a member of the rose family. The tallest girl in the world ever recorded was 8 feet 2 inches tall and died at the young age of 17. The average human with a full head of hair contains between 85,000 to 150,000 hairs. Jupiter is the largest planet in the earths solar system. I should’ve known that one. Squirrels forget where about 50% of the nuts they’ve hidden are. Useless, Hahaha. Did you know the first bullet proof vest and windshield wiper blades were both invented by women? Cool! Cold weather makes fingernails grow faster. Weird! Only humans cry because of feelings. Awesome! Mohammad is the most common birth name in the world. There’s only 51 more interesting facts on this page. It takes about 7 minutes for the average person to fall asleep. If you’ve read all the interesting facts to this point you’re amazing! You can give change for a dollar in 293 different coin variations. Good luck! About 1 out of every 2 million people will die by falling out of bed. Be careful, not funny. Most who will die this way are either very young children or elderly people. The construction on the Parisian Notre Dame Cathedral began in 1015 A.D and it took over 400 years to complete, It was completed in 1439 A.D. It’s a well known historic Roman catholic church in Paris. If the human stomach doesn’t produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks it will totally digest it’s self. Weird! 75% of the world’s population wash themselves in the shower from the top to the bottom. Head first, feet last people. There are 31,557,600 seconds in a year. A leap year has 31,622,400 seconds. Amazing! Approximately one fifth of all the publications from Japan are comic books. Did you know a slug has not only one nose but four? What a lot of people call a nose on a slug is actually a breathing pore called a pneumostome. Four out of five people over 100 years old are women. Interesting! The price of the Titanic cost about $7 million to build and the price of the Titanic movie was about $200 million to make. Unbelievable! It’s true! There is only one metal that’s in liquid form at room temperature and that’s Mercury. When water freezes it expands by 10%. The only animal with four knees is the elephant. Birth control pills designed for humans will also work for a gorilla. Now that’s Strange! If you have a deep genuine fear of the number 13, you may have Paraskevidekatriaphobia also called Friggatriskaidekaphobia or Triskaidekaphobia. A mid-sized car launched today generates only an estimated 5% of the pollution which was generated by a car from fifty years ago. Awesome! Stopping a supertanker which is fully loaded and travels at a normal speed needs about 20 minutes to stop completely. A cat’s ear has a total of thirty two muscles. The average person laughs 15 times per day. Hahaha! The eye of an ostrich is larger than it’s brain. A person eats around 60,000 pounds worth of food during his life which is the equivalent of six elephants. Incredible! Ants can pull about 30 times their own weight and lift about 50 times their own weight. A lion can mate more than 50 times in one day. Huh! Did you know, you cannot fold a 8.5″ x 11″ or smaller piece of paper in half more than 7 times. Try it! The MythBusters guys on the Discovery channel folded a piece of paper more than 7 times but it was a really large sheet of paper. Oh no, there’s only 25 more interesting facts to go on this page. More people are killed from donkeys in a year than planes. Most snowflakes form with 6 tips or branches. Generally, the colder it is when the snowflake is formed the sharper and more defined the tips will be. Lung cancer was how the cigarette company Marlboro’s first owner died. Hmmm Snails can sleep for up to 3 years. You cannot think of an English word to rhyme with the word month because there isn’t one. If an infant becomes blind soon after they’re born they will still almost always see images in their dreams, but infants born with blindness will most likely never have dreams with images. People who were born blind do still have very emotionally intense dreams which include hearing, smells, feeling and taste. Now that’s an interesting fact about dreams. It is against the law in the state of Kentucky to marry a man more than 3 times. In the state of Kentucky it is against the law to carry an ice cream in your back pocket. On December 16th 1811 the mighty Mississippi river began to flow backwards due to a powerful earthquake. Fires in the forest have been documented to move much faster up hill than down hill. Did you know that your brain has no pain receptors or pain fibers and the brain it’s self cannot feel? Your brain cannot even feel pain. Although headaches are still not all the way understood, one reason it’s believed you feel headaches is because the skull is surrounded by what’s called meninges or blood vessels which do have pain receptors. Human brains are estimated to be 70 – 75% h2o. Approximately 1 out of every 50,000 people who visit this website send us an email about interesting facts. We enjoy reading them and sometimes use them, thank you. Most people shed between 50 to 100 hairs every day. The question is, where do they go? No other animal has a longer pregnancy term than that of the elephant which is documented at an average of 22 months. During world war 2 the Oscar award given out by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was made of wood because most common metals were very scarce. Breast fed babies score slightly higher on mental development tests than ones on formula. People who apply sunscreen to themselves generally apply 50-75% less than the recommended amount according to the Archives of Dermatology. The color of a hens earlobes will usually determine the color of the egg shell. Farmers know hens with red or darker colored earlobes are most likely to lay brown eggs and hens with lighter colored or white earlobes will usually lay white eggs. There are 722 miles of subway track in New York city. Hartsdale New York has a pet cemetery with more than 12,000 pets buried. Abraham Lincoln died at age 56. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th in the year 1809. Only one state in the United States contains only one syllable, the state of Maine. Everyone knows the dog in the movie “Wizard of Oz” as Toto, the dogs actual name given to it by it’s master was Terry. This concludes the 86th fact on your home page of interesting facts but don’t stop now, read a couple more pages if you can. There’s a lot of cool stuff to learn. Posted by muhammad ahsan at 18:48 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Monday, 3 December 2012 Come to Romania, one of the cheapest countries in Europe Posted on April 26, 2012 You might find this funny, but I’m going to write a bunch of articles for people to actually come to Romania. Of course, we are the host of Dracula and some unique traditions or landscapes, but what Europeans should enjoy are some of the lowest prices in the EU. The cheapest beer in Europe Now, if you’re looking for cheap beer, you must buy your ticket today. You probably heard of the infamous six pack of which Americans are really proud. Well, thos six packs have a maximum of 3l of beer in them and the cost might set you back. In Romania, those six packs can go up to 12l a pack. And the price.. well, let’s just say that you can get really drunk for just 1.5 euro’s. Yeah, that’s 2 litres of beer. The cheapest accomodation in Europe The second item that tourists should enjoy is called accomodation. If you want to come to Romania, you’ll have to think of somewhere to stay because you’re not allowed to drink a beer in the park. Of course you can stay at a hotel and pay from 30 euros to a few hundred per night/ per room. But you can also consider locals’ accomodation. If you want a mental picture, just imagine yourself at the sea site for 12 euros/ room/ night. You’d just have to do a little google research. The cheapest internet in the World And speaking of google, we probably have the cheapest and the fastest internet in the world. With 3.5 euros/ month you can have a wireless intenet modem and a basic speed of 2mbps. If you think that’s expensive comparing with the speed, you can always use the classic internet LAN connection for less than 10 euros. In peed translation, that means: 48mpbs. Yeah, in Romania you can get drunk with 1.5 euros and download a movie in less than 5 minutes. This is how a country should promote itself. Posted by muhammad ahsan at 03:12 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Adidas: “Body spray can instantly kill the British” Posted on May 5, 2012 This message can be found on Adidas’ “Fresh Impact” body spray (made in France). Although body spray abuse is known to be toxic to everyone, no matter the region, Adidas didn’t bother to translate this message in all languages. Therefore, only the poor British people can die. Romanians, for example, can only get blind, develop rashes or start a fire with it. Posted by muhammad ahsan at 03:11 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook The iPhone 5 design Posted on September 13, 2012 Over the years, Apple tried to bring out the best out of their designs in order to make their gadgets more pleasant for the customers. But did iPhone 5 get up to the standard that Apple set for themselves. I guess the answer to that is a no. When the first iPhone came out, the device looked great. A major changes was made in the 3G. Then, 3Gs announced a new design. It was smoother, easier to use and it was a lot faster. iPhone 4 gave the impression that it was flatter, and had a bigger screen, but the device itself did maintain its proportions up to iPhone 4s. The public was basically educated for devices that were as big as the 4s, and lighter by the generation to come. With iPhone 5, Apple will have to convince people that larger is better. The screen is bigger, the phone is longer. Although it doesn’t weight as much as the 4s, iPhone 5 will not be appreciated by Apple fans due to it’s longer length. By bringing the iPhone closer to the iPads, Apple might target Samsung’s Galaxy S fans as well. After claiming rights for their designs, the concept of Apple iPhone 5 will create a lot of rumoring about it’s resemblance to the Samsung smartphone gender. Still, the performance is without a doubt the best it can be on the market today. So, in that area, Apple didn’t and will never fail. Posted by muhammad ahsan at 03:11 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Newer Posts Older Posts Home Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) INTERESTING FACTS ON RAINFORESTSAn area of a rainf... Interesting Facts About Logo 193 FUNNY AND INTERSTING FACTS People Facts ... Interesting FactsFor Your Warehouse of Useless Kn... Interesting Facts Come to Romania, one of the cheapest cou... Adidas: “Body spray can instantly kill the B... The iPhone 5 designPosted on September 13, ... Romania turns 94 today Posted on December... ► November (4) Awesome Inc. template. Powered by Blogger. Read moreShow less Reply I will follow up on that issue.I usually always listen to Ali.when ever run across websites. Read moreShow less In 2002, the most popular boat name in the U.S. was Liberty One out of 20 people have an extra rib 44% of kids watch television before they go to sleep In 1865, the U.S. Secret Service was first established for the specific purpose to combat the counterfeiting of money Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents In 1967, the IMAX film system was invented by Canadian Ivan Grame Ferguson to premier at Expo 67. Approximately 40% of the U.S. paper currency in circulation was counterfeit by the end of the Civil War Every three days a human stomach gets a new lining In 1873, Colgate made a toothpaste that was available in a jar The Kodiak, which is native to Alaska, is the largest bear and can measure up to eight feet and weigh as much as 1,700 pounds The three best-known western names in China: Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon, and Elvis Presley Mars is the home of Olympus Mons, the largest known volcano in our solar system The Gastric Flu can cause projectile vomiting The second best selling game of all time is Jenga. Jenga is a Swahili word, meaning "to build." Cinderella is known as Rashin Coatie in Scotland, Zezolla in Italy, and Yeh-hsien in China The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan." The fur of the binturong, also known as the "Asian Bear Cat," smells like popcorn. The scent is believed to come from a gland located near the tail In 1894 the first big Coke sign was found on the side of a building located in Cartersville, Georgia, and still exists today The longest distance a deepwater lobster has been recorded to travel is 225 miles Orcas (killer whales), when traveling in groups, breathe in unison The Great Pyramids used to be as white as snow because they were encased in a bright limestone that has worn off over the years NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Percentage of American men who say they would marry the same woman if they had it to do all over again: 80% Paul Hunn holds the record for the loudest burp, which was 118.1 decibels, which is as loud as a chainsaw A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette in South Bend, Indiana There are six million parts in the Boeing 747-400. The first TONKA truck was made in 1947 In the U.S., over one million gallons of cosmetics, drinks, and lotions are sold that contain aloe in them per year Sugar Bear (the mascot for Golden Crisps cereal) was born in 1963 The Tonle Sap River in Cambodia flows north for almost half the year and then south for the rest of the year Japanese research has concluded that moderate drinking can boost IQ levels For more than 3,000 years, Carpenter ants have been used to close wounds in India, Asia and South America Baskin Robbins plain vanilla ice cream is the number one selling flavour and accounts for a quarter of their sales Elizabeth Taylor has appeared on the cover of Life magazine more than anyone else The typical lead pencil can draw a line that is thirty five miles long The word "toy" comes from an old English word that means "tool." Smokers are twice as likely to develop lower back pain than non-smokers Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour In 1960 there were 16,067 gambling slots in Nevada. By 1999, this number rose to 205,726 slots which would be one slot for every 10 people residing there It takes the Hubble telescope about 97 minutes to complete an orbit of the Earth. On average, the Hubble uses the equivilent amount of energy as 30 household light bulbs to complete an orbit. The two factories of the Jelly Belly Candy Company produces approximately 100,000 pounds of jelly beans a day. this amounts to about 1,250,000 jelly beans an hour Pucks hit by hockey sticks have reached speeds of up to 150 miles per hour The "naked recreation and travel" industry has grown by 233% in the past decade The Planters Peanut Company mascot, Mr. Peanut, was created during a contest for schoolchildren in 1916 Most lipstick contains fish scales The sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter in the english language The expression cooked "al dente" means "to the tooth." What this means is that the pasta should be somewhat firm, and offer some resistance to the tooth, but should also be tender Of married couples, 70% of men and 60% of women have cheated on their spouse No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times More people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes The first couple to be shown on a sitcom sleeping in the same bed was "Mary Kay and Johnny." Asthma affects one in fifteen children under the age of eighteen A one ounce milk chocolate bar has 6 mg of caffeine Throughout the South, peanuts were known as "Monkey Nuts," and "Goober peas," before the civil war Scallops have approximately 100 eyes around the edge of its shell In 1810, Peter Durand invented the tin can for preserving food The fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth is called Arachibutyrophobia Men in their early twenties shave an average of four times a week Colour is not an indicator for the taste or ripeness in cranberries Each year there are approximately 20 billion coconuts produced worldwide A chicken with red earlobes will produce brown eggs, and a chicken with white earlobes will produce white eggs Not all polar bears hibernate; only pregnant females polar bears do There is a restaurant in Stockholm that only offers all-garlic products. They even have a garlic cheesecake Serving ice cream on cherry pie was once illegal in Kansas Superman The Escape rollercoaster, located in California at Six Flags Magic Mountain, goes from 0 to 100 miles per hour in only 7 seconds Five thousandths of a millimeter is the tolerance of accuracy at the LEGO mould factories 2.5 cans of Spam are consumed every second in the United States In 1836, Mexican General Santa Anna held an elaborate state funeral for his amputated leg. updated A meteor has only destroyed one satellite, which was the European Space Agency's Olympus in 1993. The Koala bear is not really a bear, but is really related to the kangaroo and the wombat. One gallon of pure maple syrup weighs 11 pounds Instead of a Birthday Cake, many Russian children are given a Birthday Pie The largest employer in the world is the Indian railway system in India, employing over 1.6 million people The word "comet" comes from the Greek word "kometes" meaning long hair and referring to the tail The average price for a major league baseball game in 2004 is $19.82 The hydra, which is related to the jellyfish, can grow its body back in a couple of days if it is cut in half The deepest mine in the world is the East Rand mine, which goes to a depth of about 3,585 metres Native Indians have been known to paint their doors blue, which they believe keeps the bad spirits out Before air conditioning was invented, white cotton slipcovers were put on furniture to keep the air cool. It would take about fourteen and half million notes of currency to build a mile high stack Chinese Crested dogs can get acne It costs about 3 cents to make a $1 bill in the United States Colgate faced a big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command "go hang yourself." The cross bow was invented by the Chinese and records of its usage goes back to as far as the Three Kingdom Period (220 a.d.-280 a.d.). It is estimated that by the end of 2000, there has been 142,600 tonnes of gold mined in the world One-third pound stalk of broccoli contains more vitamin C than 204 apples The Flintstones cartoon was the first thirty-minute cartoon to be aired during prime time The abbreviation Xmas for the word Christmas is of Greek origin. Since the word for Christ in the Greek language is Xristos, which starts with the letter "X," they started putting the X in place of Christ and came up with the short form for the word Christmas Dipsomania refers to an insatiable craving for alcoholic beverages China has more English speakers than the United States Pitcher Darold Knowles once pitched all seven games of one World Series In a day, kids in the U.S. that are between the ages of 2 - 8 spend 28 minutes of their time coloring The Ancient Greek women made a type of cheek blush by painting their cheeks with herbal pastes which was made out of crushed berries and seeds Herbert Hoover, who was the 31st president of the United Stated, turned over all the Federal salary checks he received to charity during the 47 years he was in government Macadamia nuts are not sold in their shells because it takes 300 pounds per square inch of pressure to break the shell Japan has approximately 200 volcanoes and is home to 10% of the active volcanoes in the world Before 1928, yo-yos used to be called bandalores in the United States The only South East Asian country that has never been colonized by a Western Power is Thailand In 1631, two London bible printers accidentally left the word "not" out of the seventh commandment, which then read, "Thou shalt commit adultery." This legendary book is now known as the "Wicked Bible." The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar an England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes Irish Wolfhound dogs have a short lifespan and live about 7-8 years When Queen Elizabeth I of England died she owned over 3,000 gowns Female alligators lay about 40 eggs that hatch in 60 - 70 days The nickname for a Japanese businessmen is "Salarymen." Emus cannot walk backwards The external tank on space shuttles is not painted. It is the only part of the shuttle that is lost after launch, so it is not necessary to worry about metal corrosion. The most popular Twizzler candy flavour is strawberry Thirty percent of all bingo players are under the age of 35 Infants spend more time dreaming than adults do The famous Casanova (Giacomo Casanova) was a librarian for many years before he died The only species of turtle that lives in the open ocean is the sea turtle Toronto was the first city in the world with a computerized traffic signal system Seniors who drink a cup of coffee before a memory test score higher than those who drink a cup of decaffeinated coffee Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise Some octopuses have been known to eat their arms off when they are exposed to stressful situations On average, 749 pounds of paper products is used by an American individual annually The skeleton of a spider is located on the outside of the body. The name for this is exoskelton Incas used to create pots in the shape of peanuts that were highly prized The letter J does not appear anywhere on the periodic table of the elements Over 200 varieties of watermelons are grown in the U.S The most dangerous job in the United States is that of a fisherman, followed by logging and then an airline pilot The words "abstemioius," and "facetious" both have all the five vowels in them in order French soldiers during World War I had the nickname "poilu" which translates to "hairy one." Former U.S. President William Taft converted the White House stable into a four car garage in 1909 People living on the east coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while people living on the west coast prefer chunky peanut butter Some snails live on branches in trees Tomato ketchup is a good conditioner for the hair. It also helps get the greenish tinge that some blonde haired people get after swimming in water with chlorine in it The youngest pope was 11 years old Did you know you share your birthday with at least 9 other million people in the world Soldiers disease is a term for morphine addiction. The Civil War produced over 400,000 morphine addicts The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, which is 176 verses During the First World War, cigarettes were handed out to soldiers along with their rations The longest freshwater shoreline in the world is located in the state of Michigan There are bananas called "Red banana" that are maroon to dark purple when ripe Franklin Pierce was the first U.S. President to have a Christmas tree in the White House The USA bought Alaska from Russia for 2 cents an acre Walt Disney had originally suggested using the name Mortimer Mouse instead of Mickey Mouse The length of brink of the Canadian "Horseshoe" Falls located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is 2600 feet The smile is the most frequently used facial expression. A smile can use anywhere from a pair of 5 to 53 facial muscles The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart Native Americans used to use pumpkin seeds for medicine The pound key (#) on the keyboard is called an octothorpe The chemical name for caffeine is 1,3,7-trimethylzantihine Corals take a long time to grow. Some corals only grow one centimeter in one year Walmart-mart sells more apparel a year than all the other competing department stores combined Canada has more inland waters and lakes than any other country in the world Ramses II, a pharaoh of Egypt died in 1225 B.C. At the time of his death, he had fathered 96 sons and 60 daughters The word "lethologica" describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want Since its introduction in February 1935, more than two hundred million Monopoly board games have been sold worldwide Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States The smallest man ever was Gul Mohammed (1957-1997) of India, who measured 1 feet, 10? inches 500,000 tons of dog excrement are dumped annually on the streets of Paris Hydrogen gas is the least dense substance in the world, at 0.08988g/cc In Belgium, there is a museum just for strawberries The Simpsons is the longest running prime-time animated series on television history The more a person struggles to get out of quicksand the faster they will sink. Staying still, and being calm will actually make the body float in the quicksand because the body is less dense than the quicksand is On average, a Canadian girl owns seven Barbie dolls, whereas an American girl owns eight A piece of French toast that was partially eaten by Justin Timberlake sold on eBay The Olympic was the sister ship of the Titanic, and she provided twenty-five years of service Atari had to bury millions of unsold "E.T." game cartridges in a New Mexico desert landfill in 1982 The biggest disco ball in the world has a diameter of 2.41 meters and 137.89 kilograms. It also has 6,900 mirror squares on it The national anthem of Greece has 158 verses An average city dog lives approximately three years longer than an average country dog On average, falling asleep while driving results in 550 accidents per day in the United States Scatologists are experts who study feces. (aka. crap, dung, dookie, dumps, feces, excrement, etc.) Pumpkins contain potassium and vitamin A The greatest mountain range is the Mid-Ocean Ridge, extending 64,374 km from the Arctic Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean Pepsi got its name from the ingredient pepsin, which is said to aid in digestion, however, it is not known The spray WD-40 got its name because there were forty attempts needed before the creation of the "water displacing" substance Contrary to popular beliefs, chocolate does not cause acne Detroit, Michigan has more registered bowlers than any other city in the USA The fastest moving land snake is the Black Mamba, which can move up to 7 miles per hour Annually Americans eat 45 million turkeys at Thanksgiving Rabbits can live up to ten years The average life span of a single red blood cell is 120 days Over 250 million Slinky toys have been sold since its debut in 1946 In 1961, Italian artist Piero Manzoni packed his feces in cans, signed and mounted them, and then sold them as art The last thing Elvis Presley ate before he died was four scoops of ice cream and 6 chocolate chip cookies Some Chinese chopsticks contain gold as on of their materials The chances of making two holes-in-one in a round of golf are one in 67 million The watch was invented by Peter Henlein of Nuremberg in 1510. In North America there are approximately 618 roller coasters The concept of Boxing Day, which is on December 26th, was to give boxes of food and clothing to the poor. It is now viewed in some countries as a time to get merchandise from stores at reduced prices Crayola is a French word that means "Oily chalk." Every year, Burger King restaurants prepare over 950,000 pounds of bacon for their breakfast customers Isaac Newton used to be a member of parliament Dumbest Dog: Afghan hound At just four years old Mozart was able to learn a piece of music in half an hour It would take twenty new mid-size cars to generate the same amount of pollution that a mid-size 1960's car did. The honey badger can withstand hundreds of bee stings that would otherwise kill another animal There are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year Black pepper is the most popular spice in the world In Greece, the climate is so warm that many of the cinemas do not even have roofs The word "moose" comes from the native Algonquian Indian word meaning "twig eater." All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5 bill An armadillo can walk under water There are over one hundred billion galaxies with each galaxy having billions of stars The Uape Indians, who live in the Amazon, mix the ashes of their recently cremated relatives with alcohol, then all members of the family drink the mix with fond memories of the deceased The word "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas," which means "unconquerable." On average, a typical dairy cow lies down and stands up about 14 times a day For the movie "Tootsie" actor Dustin Hoffman thought of the title. His mother used to call him that as a child The world record for rocking non-stop in a rocking chair is 480 hours held by Dennis Easterling, of Atlanta, Georgia The Sears Tower consists of nine framed tubes, which connects nine skyscrapers as one building The first subway system in America was built in Boston, Massachusetts in 1897 There are approximately 45 billion fat cells in an average adult To make one pound of butter, 29 cups of milk are needed The dot that appears over the letter "i" is called a tittle The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments Close to 73% of girls in Bangladesh are married by age 18 Nerve impulses for muscle position travel at a speed of up to 390 feet per second In the summer of 1858, the smell of the sewage in the Thames River in London was so bad that the Members of Parliament had to leave from the chamber of the House of Commons. This was a result of two million people dumping all their sewage into the river One out of five people that eat ice cream binge on ice cream in the middle of the night. The person is usually between 18 - 24 years old The Basenji dog is the only dog that is not able to bark There is a dog museum in St. Louis, Missouri The tip of a bullwhip moves so fast that it breaks the sound barrier. The crack of the whip is actually a tiny sonic boom. There is a city called Smackover located in Arkansas An average person laughs about 15 times a day The labels for Crayola crayons come in 18 different colors The temperature of milk when it leaves the body of a cow is 101 degrees Fahrenheit. The milk is then quickly chilled and stored at a temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit In Spain, it is common to pour chocolate milk or cafe au lait on cereal for breakfast Over 50% of the wedding in the U.S. occur in the afternoon Before the fur trade had started in Canada, it was estimated that there were over 6 million beavers Eating dandelions can make you urinate more Enough paper is recycled in the USA every day, that a 15 mile long train of boxcars could be filled up with paper. The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet cannot tan, or grow hair At the White House, president John Adams was said to be the first to display fireworks there About 10% of the 100,000 thunderstorms that occur in the USA every year are classified as severe. Sylvia Plath was a famous poet who killed herself at age thirty-one by sticking her head into a gas oven A baseball will go farther in hot temperature than in cold temperature A rabbit is not able to vomit The aorta, which is largest artery located in the body, is about the diameter of a garden hose Niagara Falls actually stopped flowing back in 1848 for about 20 hours because there was ice that was blocking the Niagara River The world's first underground was the London Underground in1863. It has 275 stations and 253 miles of track. The first American president to deliver a speech over the radio was Warren G. Harding There are more than 40 million Americans that have "chronic halitosis," which is bad breath that never goes away The human body makes anywhere from 1 to 3 pints of saliva every 24 hours Cheetahs are the fastest land animal and can reach speeds up to 72mph The purpose of tonsils is to destroy foreign substances that are swallowed or breathed in The country with the highest consumption of candy at 29.5 pounds annually per person is Denmark One of the most dangerous insect in the world is the common housefly. They carry and transmit more diseases than any other animal in the world Every day, over 1,300 babies are born prematurely in the USA The sun is approximately 149 million kilometres from the earth The Great White Shark can grow to be more than twenty feet long and can weigh approximately 4,000 pounds In 1832, in Paisley, Scotland the first municipal water filtration works was opened The only popcorn museum in the world is lcoated in Marion, Ohio, USA Any animal that has skin hair or fur can get dandruff, but in animals it is called "dander." The average ice berg weighs 20,000,000 tons In 1819, the USA purchased Florida from Spain for the cancellation of a $5 million debt In a lifetime, the average driver will honk 15,250 times Jewelers Tiffany & Co., based in New York, are responsible for making the Super Bowl trophy Skippy Peanut Butter is sold more in the world than any other peanut butter The highest bridge in the world is located in the Himalyan mountains. It was built by the Indian Army, in 1982, and is about 5,600 metres above sea level In 1893, the first mosque in the United States was built Apples are part of the rose family Every eleven minutes in the U.S., a woman dies of breast cancer Mr. Butts invented the game SCRABBLE. The game was originally called "Criss Cross Words." Actress Meryl Streep holds the record for the most Oscar nominated actress, with a record of 13 nominations In a year approximately 900 million trees are cut down to make the raw materials needed for American pulp mills and paper Enamel is hardest substance in the human body A leech has 32 brains Thomas Edison designed a helicopter that would work with gunpowder. It ended up blowing up and also blew up his factory. In the late 1800's, washing machines and butter churners were sometimes powered by dogs walking on treadmills. In China, people eat a bar of chocolate for every 1,000 chocolate bars eaten by the British Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors Clarence Crane the inventor of "Crane's Peppermint Life Savers" sold his rights to the popular candy for less than three thousand dollars. Namco, who are the manufacturers of Pac Man the video game, has estimated that the original arcade game has been played over 10 billion times by individuals In Ivrea, Italy, thousands of citizens celebrate the beginning of Lent by throwing oranges at one another The sloth moves so slowly that green algae grows in the grooves of their hair In the world, the United States and France have the most pet dogs. Approximately one out of every three families has a pet dog. Switzerland and Germany are the lowest only having one dog per every ten families There are 50% more males that are left handed compared to females Armadillos breed in July, but get pregnant in November after delaying implantation. This allows the young to be born during the spring when there is an abundance of food Carbon monoxide can kill a person in less than 15 minutes The Nobel Peace prize was first awarded in 1901 to Jean Henry Dunant, who was the founder of the Swiss Red Cross In August 1999, Lori Lynn Lomeli set a record by spinning 82 Hula Hoops at the same time for three full revolutions The wheelbarrow was invented by the Chinese. The colour blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones Over 20 million BluBlocker sunglasses have been sold since its debut in 1986. They now come in over 100 different styles Crabs have very small hairs on their claws and other parts of their body to help detect water currents and vibrations In 1962, the first Wal-Mart opened up in Rogers, Arkansas Duracell, the battery-maker, built parts of its new international headquarters using materials from its own waste Vampire bat saliva has been responsible for many advances in research into stroke recovery During the making of the the movie "Fight Club," actor Brad Pitt chipped his tooth. However, he did not get his tooth capped until after the movie was done filming as he thought it would look better chipped for his character Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of their unwanted peoplewithout killing them used to burn their houses down - hence theexpression "toget fired." In ancient Rome, it was considered a sign of leadership to be born with a crooked nose The word "checkmate" in chess comes from the Persian phrase "Shah-Mat," which means the king is dead If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee A common drink for Tibetans is Butter Tea which is made out of butter, salt, and brick tea Bourbon was first made by a Baptist minsister from Bourbon County in Kentucky in 1789. That is where it got its name The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as is necessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the state of Virginia still had segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks and whites McDonald restaurants serve food and drink to an amazing 43 million customers on a daily basis The game Monopoly was once very popular in Cuba; however, Fidel Castro ordered that all games be destroyed Nearly half of all Americans suffer from symptoms of burnout During the era of Louis XIV, women used lemons to redden their lips 70% of the poor people in the world are female The thickness of the Arctic ice sheet is on average 10 feet. There are some areas that are thick as 65 feet The adult human body requires about 88 pounds of oxygen daily The biggest pumpkin the world weighs 1,337.6 pounds The highest consumption of Pizza occurs during Super Bowl week During World War II, condoms were used to cover rifle barrels from being damaged by salt water as the soldiers swam to shore Approximately 55% of movies released are Rated R The Roman emperor Domitian took great pleasure in being secluded in his room for hours and catching flies and stabbing them with pens Tarantulas can live up to 30 years On average redheads have 90,000 hairs. People with black hair have about 110,000 hairs More than half the time spent in United States courts is cases that involve automobiles One barrel of petroleum holds 42 gallons The smoke that is produced by a fire kills more people than a burn does because of carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases The Saguaro Cactus, found in South-western United States does not grow branches until it is 75 years old. In Belgium, 172,000 tons of chocolate are produced in a year The word Nike comes from Greek Mythology. Nike is the goddess of victory and was often depicted as a small winged figure whom the goddess Athene carried The biggest bug in the world is the Goliath Beetle which can weigh up to 3.5 ounces and be 4.5 inches long Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth can waste four gallons of water in a minute Steve Fletcher holds the record for the largest gum wrapper collection. His collection has 5300 gum wrappers from all across the world There was once a country called Prussia. After World War II, it was divided among Poland, Germany, and the USSR The word Spain means "the land of rabbits." In 1936, the first practical helicopter was invented. It was the German Focke-Wulf Fw 61. The word tulip comes from the Turkish word for turban Psychokinesis refers to the ability of moving objects through psychic power The fat that comes from sheep, which is called tallow, can also be used to produce soap and candles In Britain, one out of every four potatoes is eaten in the form of french fries In the movie Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock, chocolate syrup was used for blood in the shower scene The movie "Chicken Run" made in 2,000 had the most plasticine used in an animated movie. They used 2,380 kg of plasticine for the movie During WWII, because a lot of players were called to duty, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles combined to become The Steagles The titan arum flower is the largest flower in the world and gives off a horrible odor that smells like rotting flesh when it blooms Every day, the average person swallows about a quart of snot When the only queen ant dies, so does the entire colony, because no new workers are born The Dutch people are known to be the tallest people in Europe The average American kid will eat approximately 1.500 peanut butter sandwiches by high school graduation Goats do not have upper front teeth It has been suggested that shepherds are responsible for inventing the game golf. It is said that they used to use their staffs to hit the stones There are about 6,800 languages in the world Studies have shown that by putting on slow background music it can make a person eat food at a slower rate By walking an extra 20 minutes every day, an average person will burn off seven pounds of body fat in an year Ironically, when doctors in Los Angeles, California went on strike in 1976, the daily number of deaths in the city dropped 18% Octopus and squid are thought to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates On average, a beaver can cut down two hundred trees a year. The name of the first menthol cigarette in the United States was "Spud." A world record 328 pound ovarian cyst was removed from a woman in Galveston, Texas, in 1905. updated The fastest shark is the "Shortfin Mako," which can swim as fast as sixty miles per hour The flatulation from domesticated cows produce about 30% of the methane on this planet Ironically, watermelons, which are 92% water, originated from the Kalahari Desert in Africa The first tattoo machine was invented by Samuel O'Reilly. He did this by using equipment that Thomas Edison used to engrave hard surfaces. In a lifetime, an average human produces 10,000 gallons of saliva A slug has four noses Chili Powder was invented in the 19th century in the American Southwest The sea cucumber spills its internal organs out as a defense mechanism Approximately 25,000 workers died during the building of the Panama Canal and approximately 20,000 of them contracted malaria and yellow fever Braces were first invented by Pierre Fauchard in 1728. The braces were made by a flat strip of metal, which was connected to the teeth by thread. Marilyn Monroe had six toes There is a town in Texas called Ding Dong. In 1990, the population was only twenty-two people The total volume of mail that went through the Canadian postal system in 1950 was 1,362,310,155 items The highest toll paid by a ship to cross the Panama Canal was by the Crown Princess on May 2, 1993 in the amount of $141,349.97 U.S. funds The name of the famous snack "Twinkies" was invented by seeing a billboard in St. Louis, that said "Twinkle Toe Shoes." The word "Nazi" is actually an abbreviation for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, which refers to the National Socialist German Workers Party The unique characteristics of Barbie dolls in Japan are that they have their lips closed with no teeth showing The Coca Cola company offers more than 300 different beverages Neptune was the first planet in our solar system to be discovered by mathematics Five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married Camel is considered unclean meat in the Bible Soldier Field is the oldest field in the NFL In the U.S., over one million gallons of cosmetics, drinks, and lotions are sold that contain aloe in them per year The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the"General Purpose" vehicle, G.P. Eating eight strawberries will provide you with more Vitamin C than an orange The first toilet ever seen on television was on "Leave It To Beaver". Mosquitoes have teeth To be born on Sunday was considered a sign of great sin during the Puritan times The citrus soda "7 UP" was created in 1929. The original name of the popular drink was "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda", but it got changed to "7 UP." The average four year-old child asks over four hundred questions a day Prosopagnosia refers to the inability to identify people by their faces. In severe cased prosopagnosia a person may not be able to identify themselves in a mirror On November 29, 2000, Pope John Paul II was named an "Honorary Harlem Globetrotter." An adult sheep can eat between 1 to 4 kg of food per day In 1888, Hollywood was founded by Harvey and Daeida Wilcox, who named the city after their summer home in Chicago Blood is such a good stain that Native Americans used it for paint In 1876, the first microphone was invented by Emile Berliner. "I am." is the second shortest complete sentence in the English language On average, a person will spend about five years eating during their lifetime Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts - Charlemagne, Diamonds - Julius Caesar Many cancer patients that are treated with chemotherapy lose their hair. For some when the hair grows back, it can grow back a different colour, or be curly or straight A volcano has enough power to shoot ash as high as 50 km into the atmosphere The longest hiccups on record was by an American pig farmer whose hiccups persisted from 1922 to 1987 Coupons were introduced in 1894 when Asa Candler bought the Coca-Cola formula for $2,300 and gave people coupons that he had written out to receive a free glass of coke Panthers are known as black leopards, as they are the same species of leopard. If looked at closely, black spots can be seen on a panther Approximately 25% of all scald burns to children are from hot tap water and is associated with more deaths than with any other liquid In London, during rush hour traffic moves on average at 13 kilometres an hour Tomatoes and cucumbers are fruits In the United States, approximately 50 million people fish per year Cattle can produce up to 180 litres of saliva in one day Dolphins hear by having sound waves transmit through their skull to their inner ear region Teflon was accidently discovered by scientist Dr. Roy Plunkett while he was conducting a coolant gas experiment in 1938 The risk of cardiovascular disease is twice as high in women that snore regularly compared to women who do not snore. updated Close to 80% of people who watch the Super Bowl on television, only do so to view the commercials The first theatre to show motion pictures was the Nickelodeon on June 19, 1905 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was opened by Harry Davis on Smithfield Street The White House has a movie theater, swimming pool, bowling lane, jogging track, and a tennis court About two hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Druids used mistletoe to celebrate that winter was approaching Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, dogs only have about ten A butterfly can see the colors red, green, and yellow In the game of Monopoly, the most landed on properties are B&O Railroad, Illinois Avenue, and "Go." The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the "American Pie." (Thus the nameof the Don McLean song.) Lions cannot roar until they reach the age of two. A baby kangaroo is called a joey Montreal is the second largest French speaking city after Paris There were 43,687 toilet related accidents in the United States in 1996 In Albania, nodding your head means "no" and shaking your head means "yes." Ringo Starr appeared in a Japanese advertisement for apple sauce. Ironically his name means "apple sauce" in Japanese The average US worker toils for two hours and 47 minutes of each working day just to pay income tax. Indeed, the average American pays more in taxes than for food, clothing and shelter put together There is cyanide in apple pips True spiders always have organs for spinning silk known as spinnerets Great Britain has the highest consumption of ice cream than any other European nation Every continent has a city called Rome The movie "Cleopatra" cost $44 million to make in 1963. The same movie would now cost $300 million to make taking inflation into account A species of dolphin is born naturally blind in the Indus and Ganges rivers in South Asia. These dolphins have a highly sophisticated sonar system and swim on only one side of their body Kermit the Frog was named after Kermit Scott, a childhood friend of creator Jim Henson, who became a professor of philosophy at Purdue University Weatherman Willard Scott was the first Ronald McDonald Aztec emperor Montezuma had a nephew, Cuitlahac, whose name meant "plenty of excrement." Hang On Sloopy is the official rock song of Ohio. Actor Sylvester Stallone once had a job as a lion cage cleaner Play-Doh was introduced in 1956 by Hasbro Inc. The only color availabe was an off white, and it came in one size which a one and a half pound can The USSR launched the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957. An oyster can change its gender From all the states, Montana has the most different species of animals The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.). It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts, and as of 2001 has a population of 80, 20 less people than the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is Queen Elizabeth I always wore a necklace with a little perfume bottle attached everywhere she went A group of people that are hired to clap at a performance are called a claque The tallest tree recorded is located in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California. It is a coast redwood and has been measured at 117 metres high In 1926, a waiter in Budapest committed suicide. He left his suicide note in the form of a crossword and the police had to get help from the public to solve it Anti-American demonstrators protesting in Bangladesh after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks carried posters of Osama bin Laden sitting alongside Bert, a beloved Sesame Street Muppet character Polar bear livers contain so much Vitamin A that it can be fatal if eaten by a human Leather skin does not have any smell. The leather smell that you sense is actually derived from the materials used in the tanning process Finland is also known as "the land of of the thousand lakes," because of the over 188,000 lakes found in this country In an year, an average American kid eats 46 slices of pizza In Las Vegas, casinos do not have any clocks Bubble gum contains rubber When Kleenex was first introduced to the market in 1924, it was marketed as a make up or cold cream remover In the year 1900, for a women to be a telephone operator she had to be between the ages of 17 and 26 and not be married The first spacecraft to visit the planet Venus was Mariner 2 in 1962. Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure Babies that are exposed to cats and dogs in their first year of life have a lower chance of developing allergies when they grow older Urophobia is the fear of urine or urinating In 1949, forecasting the relentless march of science, Popular Mechanics said "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." Water that is safe to drink is referred to as POTABLE Actor John Ritter was the voice of Clifford, from "Clifford The Big Red Dog." Chocolate accounts for less than two percent of the fat in the American diet The band Duran Duran got their name from an astronaut in the 1968 Jane Fonda movie "Barbarella." The accent that Mike Myers used for the character Shrek came from the accent that his mother would use when she was telling him bedtime stories when he was a child In the Netherlands, there are special traffic lanes for bicycles. There are approximately 17,000 kms of cycle lanes with special bicycle traffic lights. It was believed by Ancient Hindus that the world was a sphere and rested on the back of four elephants, which stood on a turtle Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were both epileptic Every year, more than one million miles of Twizzlers licorice is made A penguin swims at a speed of approximately 15 miles per hour The word Thailand means "land of the free." A rose imprint that was fossilized in a slate was discovered in Florisant, Colorado, which is said to be thirty-five million years old U.S. bills are 2.61 inches wide, 6.14 inches long, and are .0043 inches thick and weigh 1 gram The highest mountain in the Western Hemisphere is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. It rises 22,834 feet above sea level The Barn Owls hearing is so highly developed that they can hunt for their prey in total darkness The average number of bridesmaids at a wedding is four Average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000 In 1876, Maria Spelterina was the first woman to ever cross Niagara Falls on a high wire On April 6, 1925, the first in-flight movie was shown. It was a silent film and appeared on a Deutsche Luft Hansa flight The temperature of lightning bolts is sometimes hotter than the surface of the sun. When Burger King introduced the Whopper Sandwich in 1957, it cost only thirty-seven cents Chopsticks originated from China approximately 4,000 years ago The favorite honeymoon place is Hawaii The 1960 Summer Olympics were the first Olympics to be aired on television by CBS The Canadian holiday Boxing Day got its name from the custom of giving. Servants were given boxes which had money hidden inside them from their employers. The servants would have to break the box into pieces to get the money In proportion, if Jupiter were a basketball, then the sun would be the size of the Louisiana Super Dome The Toronto Maple Leafs used to be called the Toronto Arenas, then the St. Patricks and finally the Maple Leafs A dime has 118 ridges around the edge Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world In 1391, China began producing toliet paper for use by its Emperors In the United States, the most frequent month for a tornado to occur is in May. There are some ice creams that are 75% air In the United States, lightning hits the ground 40 million times a year. A mother hen turns her egg approximately 50 times in a day. This is so the yolk does not stick to the shell The reason why flamingos are pink is because they eat shrimp which have a red pigment Totally Hair Barbie is the best selling Barbie of all time. It sold over ten million units Jellyfish have been on Earth for over 650 million years. This is before sharks and dinosaurs Although white wine can be produced from both red and white grapes, red wine can only be created from red grapes Shirley Temple was considered to play the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz." Babies that wear disposable diapers are five times more likely to get a diaper rash than babies wearing a cotton diaper One million cloud droplets are needed to make enough water to produce one raindrop. In the world, the Netherlands has the highest concentration of museums in the world. Just in Amsterdam alone there are 42 museums Amongst pre-schoolers, Caillou is the fastest-ever-growing television show and is seen in close to 97% of U.S. households Rice flour was used to strengthen some of the bricks that make up the Great Wall of China Research has indicated that a tie that is on too tight can increase the risk of glaucoma in men Each year all of the Hostess bakeries combined bake 500 million Twinkies a year. (A twinkie is a sponge cake with a creamy filling.) Charlie Chaplin once lost a contest for a Charlie Chaplin look a like Pluto is the only planet in our solar system that has not been visited by a spacecraft The worlds tallest free fall rollercoaster is The Giant Drop located in Australia. The drops is 120 meters which is equivalent to a 39 storey building Stalks of sugar cane can reach up to 30 feet The markings that are found on dice are called "pips." Joseph Gayetty is credited for inventing toilet paper in 1857. Unfortunately, his invention failed and did not catch on until ten years later A newly hatched fish is called a "fry." The music band UB40 got its name from an unemployment form in England The Olympic Flame was introduced in 1928 in Amsterdam The YKK on the zipper of your Levis stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushibibaisha, the worlds largest zipper manufacturer Armadillos can be housebroken The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one-mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies The material to build the Taj Mahal was brought in from various parts of India by a fleet of 1000 elephants Medical research has found substances in mistletoe that can slow down tumor growth In the USA, 32% of employees eat lunch and work at the same time In Alabama, it is against the law to wear a fake mustache that could cause laughter in the church In the United States, more than 4.2 million couples live together that are not married Bill Gates house was partially designed using a Macintosh computer. new The male howler monkey of Central and South America is the noisiest land animal, which can be heard clearly from a distance of ten miles away Nerve cells can travel as fast as 120 metres per second It is said that grapefruit got its name because it grows like grapes in clusters. One cluster can have up to 25 grapefruits Abdul Kassam Ismael, Grand Vizier of Persia in the tenth century, carried his library with him wherever he went. Four hundred camels carried the 117,000 volumes An average adult produces about half a litre of flatulent gas per day, resulting in an average of about fourteen occurrences of flatulence a day Maine is the toothpick capital of the world Peanut butter is an effective way to to remove chewing gum from hair or clothes The longest kiss on record lasted 30 hours and 45 minutes. Dror Orpaz and Carmit Tsubara recorded it on April 5, 1999 at a kissing contest held in Tel Aviv, Israel Polar bears are excellent swimmers. They have been known to swim more than 60 miles without a rest The most expensive perfume in the world is Parfum VI, which was made by Arthur Burnham. A 4 inch bottle which is covered with diamonds and 24-carat gold costs $71,380 If Wal-Mart was classified as a country, it would be the 24th most productive country in the world Cimeti?re du P?re Lachaise located in Paris is the most visited cemetery in the world. The cemetery opened in 1805 and has over one million people buried there, including rock star Jim Morrison In Australia, a dust-devil is called a "willy-willy The Leaning Tower of Pisa is 58.36 metres above the ground Americans write approximately 50 billion checks a year making it the second most frequent payment method used after cash The name "Snickers" for the popular candy bar was named after a horse that the Mars family owned The #1 peanut producing state is Georgia Keeping Warm With an Axe, is the title of a real how-to book. Click Here For More Details An artificial Christmas tree last up to six years in a home Women are four times more likely to have foot problems than men In 1783, the hot air balloon was invented in France. There was an army general during the Liberia Civil War who used to lead his army into battle naked. His nickname was "General Butt Naked." Joshua Milton Blahyi (his real name) is now an evangelical preacher in Monrovia There are no two zebras who have stripes that are exactly the same The Angel Falls in Venezuela were named after an American pilot, Jimmy Angel, whose plane got stuck on top of the mountain while searching for gold Lake Ontario was originally named Lake St. Louis Actor John Travolta was offered the role of Billy Flynn many times for the movie "Chicago." Richard Gere ended up playing the role The Canadian province of New Brunswick had a bloodless war with the US state of Maine in 1839 There are more than 2,400 flea species in the world Ninety-nine percent of pumpkins sold in the United States are for the sole purpose of decoration David McConnell started the California Perfume Company (CPC) in 1886. Today the company is known as Avon, which he named after his favorite playwright William Shakespeare, and Stratford on Avon Americans did not commonly use forks until after the Civil War Chicago has the largest cookie factory, where Nabisco made over 4.6 billion "Oreo" cookies in 1997 In 1963, Mister Rogers was ordained as a Presbyterian minister There was a post office on the Russian space station Mir. Visiting cosmonauts would use unique postal "markers" to stamp envelopes and other items as having flown aboard the Mir space station In one day, 230 marriage licenses are issued in Las Vegas Every second there are 418 Kit Kat fingers eaten in the world The Great Comet of 1843 had a tail that was over 300 kilometres long. The dumbest dog in the world is the Afghan Hounds There are no blossoms on the branches of a fig tree, instead it is inside the fruit The largest chicken egg ever laid weighed a pound and had a double yolk and shell Billiards used to be so popular at one time that cigarette cards were issued featuring players Chewing gum has rubber as an ingredient An orca whale can hold its breath for up to 15 minutes Alexander the Great was an epileptic Wood frogs can be frozen solid and then thawed, and continue living. They use the glucose in their body to protect their vital organs while they are in a frozen state Canadians eat more Kraft Dinner (Macaroni and Cheese) per capita than any other country in the world In a day, a mature oak tree can draw approximately 50 gallons of water The reason why bubble gum is pink is because the inventor only had pink colouring left. Ever since then, the colour of bubble gum has been predominantly pink Emilio Marco Palma was the first person born in Antarctica in 1978 A top freestyle swimmer achieves a speed of only 4 miles per hour. Fish, in contrast, have been clocked at 68 mph Every single hamster in the United States today comes from a single litter captured in Syria in 1930 Research on pigs led to the development of CAT scans. The Hundred Years War lasted for 116 years Some dolphins can swim up to 40 kilometers an hour In the last 30 years, only seven people have been killed by a polar bear in Canada The longest U.S. highway is Route 20, which is over 3,365 miles The largest LEGO castle that was ever built was built with 400,000 LEGO bricks and was 4.45 m x 5.22 m In the U.S. there are approximately 65.8 million cats One of the steepest main streets in Canada is located in Saint John, New Brunswick. Over a distance of two blocks the street rises about 80 feet Avery Laser Labels are named after company founder R. Stanton Avery The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point in Colorado On September 9, 1950 dubbed laughter was used for the first time on television. It was used for the sitcom "The Hank McCune Show." A violin actually contains 70 separate pieces of wood The human heart can create enough pressure that it could squirt blood at a distance of thirty feet One out of four American households own a cat Queen Lydia Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. She was also the only Queen the United States ever had Every day 2,700 people die of heart disease There are 10 million bacteria at the place where you rest your hands at a desk The quills of a porcupine are soft when they are born An average American child watches approximately 28 hours of television in one week Quality standards for pasta were set in the 13th century by the Pope The A.A. Milne character of Winnie the Pooh made his animated film debut in 1966 in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree People have the tendency to chew the food on the side that they most often use their hand Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country The Pentagon, in Arlington, Virginia, has twice as many bathrooms as isnecessary. When it was built in the 1940s, the ste of Virginia stillhad segregation laws requiring separate toilet facilities for blacks andwhites. The Lemon shark grows about 24,000 new teeth a year. A new set of teeth grow approximately every 14 days One billion seconds is about 32 years An average American eats approximately 60 hot dogs per year Iceland consumes more Coca-Cola per capita than any other nation The water displacement product, WD-40, can be found in 80% of American homes Dexter is the smallest type of cow. This cow was bred to be a small size for household living As part of the original design, the names of 72 French scientists and other famous people is imprinted on the sides of the Eiffel tower The first domain name ever registered was Symbolics.com Thirty to 40 gallons of sugar maple sap must be boiled down to make just one gallon of maple syrup The most frequent season for most suicides to occur is in the spring. The winter months have the lowest number of suicides A seven year old boy was the first person to survive the Horeshoe Falls (Niagara Falls) in just a life jacket The longest punt return for a touchdown was 103 yards The most popular Hot Wheels vehicle sold is the Corvette A giraffe is able to clean its ears with its own tongue The slowest growing finger nail is on the thumb nail and the fastest growing is the finger nail on the middle finger Flu shots only work about 70% of the time People of Salt Lake City eat the most lime-flavoured gelatin Jell-O in the United States In a survey conducted in 2000 by Kimberly-Clark, it was found that men prefer to fold their toilet paper, and women like to wad it On average, a person has two million sweat glands France, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Greece, and Australia have always been in the modern Olympics since it began in 1896 The longer white infants from low-income families are breast-fed, the less likely they will be overweight as young children, researchers said on Monday 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 The Boston University Bridge (on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts) is one of the few places in the world where a boat can sail under a train driving under a car driving under an airplane The most popular treat for Halloween trick-or-treaters are candy bars with Snickers being the most popular Corned beef got its name because this beef was preserved with pellets of salt that were the size of corn kernels, which was also referred to as "corns" of salt The Canandian province of New Brunswick had a bloodless war with the US state of Maine in 1839. In 1908, the first machine to make lollipops opened for business in New Haven, Connecticut In 1976, a Los Angeles secretary named Jannene Swift officially married a fifty pound rock. More than twenty people witnessed the ceremony The most diners per capita in the world are located in the U.S. state New Jersey In Denmark, people eat about 36 pounds of candy a year. The highest consumption of candy of any country John Van Wormer invented paper milk cartons after dropping a bottle of milk one morning. The bottle broke spilling the milk everywhere. That annoyance was enough for Van Wormer to come up with the idea. The long fibres that are found in bananas are excellent in making paper. The long fibres that are found in the banana plant can make the banana fibre paper approximately 3000 times stronger than regular paper The state of Tennessee was known as Franklin before 1796 Over 90% of poison exposures occur in homes Honolulu, Hawaii boasts the only royal palace in the United States of America Seven asteroids were especially named for the Challenger astronauts who were killed in the 1986 failed launch of the space shuttle Americans consumed more than twenty billion hot dogs in 2000 The production of toilet paper in China began in 1391, which was used for the Emperors The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days of yorewhen the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on theground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases. The cigarette lighter was invented before the match. It would take approximately twenty-four trees that are on average six to eight inches in diameter to produce one ton of newsprint for the Sunday edition of the New York Times Every year, kids in North America spend close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum The tuatara lizard of New Zealand has three eyes, two in the center of its head and one on the top of its head The world population of chickens is about equal to the number of people The largest number of children born to one woman, who was a Russian peasant is 69 In a lifetime, an average driver will release approximately 912 pints of wind inside a car The loss of eyelashes is referred to as madarosis Approximately 75% of human poop is made of water The popular chocolate bar "Three Musketeers" got its name because when it was first introduced in 1932 there were three individual bars. The flavours were strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla Every photograph of the first American atomic bomb detonation was taken by Harold Edgerton Heinz Catsup leaving the bottle travels at 25 miles per year In 1864, A Quebec farmer found a frog inside a hailstone Actor Sylvester Stallone once had a job as a lion cage cleaner The first time there was an instance where they had a separate toilet for women and men was in 1739 at a ball in Paris In the marriage ceremony of the Ancient Inca Indians of Peru, the couple was considered officially wed when they took off their sandals and handed them to each other Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable Some birds have been know to put ants into their feathers because the ants squirt formic acid, which kills parasites On average, 42,000 balls are used and 650 matches are played at the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament The WD in WD-40 stands for Water Displacer Lachanophobia is the fear of vegetables Lake Baikal, in Siberia, is the deepest lake in the world In the Middle Ages, peacocks and swans were sometimes served at Christmas dinners India has the most post offices in the world Women take three times longer than men when using the toilet In America, approximately 25% of kids aged 6-14 have a magaznie subscription Canada has more donut shops per capita than the United States In 1886, Coca-cola was first served at a pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia for only five cents a glass. A pharmacist named John Pemberton created the formula for Coca-cola 75% of all raisins eaten by people in the United States are eaten at breakfast Whale oil was used in some car transmissions until 1973 Flamingos are able to fly at a speed of approximately 55 kilometers an hour. In one night they can travel about 600 km 1 out of every 4 kids in the USA is overweight "Kemo Sabe" means "soggy shrub" in Navajo In 1903, there were originally only eight Crayola crayons in a box and they sold for five cents Men are able to read fine print better than women can On average, 150 couples get married in Las Vegas each day Spiders usually have eight eyes, but still they cannot see that well One ragweed plant can release as many as a million grains of pollen in one day Women hearts beat faster than men The Central African raffia palm is known to have the longest leaves. The leaves can measure up to 82.5 feet long. Due to the shortages of lead and metals during World War II, toothpaste was packaged in plastic tubes and have been ever since It is estimated that 93% of American children will go out trick or treating for Halloween In humans, the epidermal layer of skin, which consists of many layers of skin regenerates every 27 days A group of crows is called a murder Ellen Macarthur, yachtswoman, had a total of 891 naps in 94 days that were each 36 minutes long while on her Vendee Round the Globe yacht race Davao City, located at the Southern state of Philippines, is the largest city in the world in terms of area Castaways Travel, a Houston-area travel agency, offers an all-nude flight to Cancun Mexico. Once the plane reaches cruising altitude, you are allowed to take off all your clothes and roam about the cabin People generally read 25% slower from a computer screen compared to paper Certain female species of spiders such as the Australian crab spider, sacrifice their bodies as a food source for their offspring One grape vine produce can produce about 20 to 30 glasses of wine The TV show "Saturday Night Live" made its debut on October 11, 1975 In a pack of Skittles candy, there is an equal 20% distribution of each flavour The names of the two stone lions in front of the New York Public Library are Patience and Fortitude. They were named by then-mayor Fiorello LaGuardia The Hubble telescope is so powerful that it is like pointing a beam of light at a dime that is two hundred miles away. The word "umbrella" is derived from the Latin root word "umbra", which means shade or shadow An ear of corn consists of 80% water Leonardo Da Vinci never signed or dated his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa On average people fear spiders more than they do death Every day, over five billion gallons of water are flushed down toilets in the United States In one trip, a honey bee visits about 75 flowers Barney, the famous dinosaur that entertains kids is from Dallas Jupiter is the fastest rotating planet, which can complete one revolution in less than ten hours A chicken loses its feathers when it becomes stressed Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously The first Tupperware item marketed was the seven-ounce bathroom cup in 1945 Sharks are immune to cancer Manicuring the nails has been done by people for more than 4,000 years Approximately 1 billion stamps are produced in Australia annually The study of the iris of the eye is called iridology Back in 1919, the Russian transplant pioneer Serge Voronoff made headlines by grafting monkey testicles onto human males. The word Cotton originates from the Arabic word "Qutun." In 1946, the New York Yankees became the first baseball team to travel by plane Mummy powder was once thought to be a cure for all remedies. English men used to carry the powder with them in a tiny bag wherever they went By recycling just one glass bottle, the amount of energy that is being saved is enough to light a 100 watt bulb for four hours Slinkys were invented by an airplane mechanic; he was playing with engine parts and realized the possible secondary use of one of the springs The most popular brand of raisins is Sunmaid Estuarine crocodiles are the biggest of all 26 species of the crocodilian family Alaska got its name from the Aluet word "Alyeska" which means "The Great Land." The Mall of America, located in Bloomington, Minnesota is so big that it can hold 24,336 school buses Every second, 630 steel cans are recycled The word witch comes from the word "wicca" which translates to the "wise one." If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have$1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without beingable tomake change for a dollar. In the United States, poisoning is the fourth leading cause of death among children Surveys indicate that the number one reason people play BINGO is for leisure In 1916, Charlie Chaplin was making $10,000 a week, making him the highest paid actor of his time Annually, an Australian eats 15 kg of bananas, which comes out to 27 meters of bananas The largest stamp was issued by China and measured 210 x 65 mm Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had only one testicle It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs. The reason firehouses have circular stairways is from the days when the engines were pulled by horses. The horses were stabled on the ground floor and figured out how to walk up straight staircases The best selling Crayola crayon box is the set of 24 crayons People that smoke have 10 times as many wrinkles as a person that does not smoke Thomas Edison was afraid of the dark. (Hence, the light bulb?) The name of the character that is behind bars in the Monopoly board game is Jake the Jailbird In Colorado, there are about 83,000 dairy cows Just by recycling one aluminum can, enough energy would be saved to have a TV run for three hours. The first telephone call from the White House was from Rutherford Hayes to Alexander Graham Bell Turtles can breathe through their butts A pregnant goldfish is called a twit The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan." A glockenspiel is a musical instrument that is like a xylophone. It has a series of metal bars and is played with two hammers Teenage suicide is the second cause of death in the state of Wisconsin Diamonds were first discovered in the riverbeds of the Golconda region of India over 4,000 years ago. French artist, Michel Vienkot, uses cow dung as paint when he creates his pictures Canada is an Indian word meaning "village" or "settlement." There are 122 pebbles per square inch on a Spalding basketball The seventeenth president of the United States, Andrew Johnson did not know how to read until he was 17 years old The fastest growing tissue in the human body is hair Bhutan issued a stamp in 1973 that looked like a record and actually would play the Bhutanese national anthem if placed on a record player Asparagus comes in three colors: green, white and purple Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, JohnHancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, butthe last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. A cubic yard of air weighs about 2 pounds at sea level. Pancakes are served for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Australia A lion feeds once every three to four days A honey bee has four wings Chedder cheese is the best selling cheese in the USA In the movie "The Matrix Reloaded" a 17 minute battle scene cost over $40 million to produce According to research, Los Angeles highways are so congested that the average commuter sits in traffic for 82 hours a year Over one million Pet Rocks were sold in 1975, makine Gary Dahl, of Los Gatos, California, a millionaire. He got the idea while joking with friends about his pet that was easy to take care of, which was a rock First novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer Because metal was scarce; the Oscars given out during World War II were made of plaster The head of a jellyfish is called the "Bell." The game Monopoly has been played by approximately 500 million people in the world, and the game is available in 26 languages The dragonfly has not changed over the last 300 million years In 1983, a Japanese artist, Tadahiko Ogawa, made a copy of the Mona Lisa completely out of ordinary toast Average number of days a West German goes without washing his underwear: 7 Cotton crops can be sprayed up to 40 times a year making it the most chemical-intensive crop in the world The "Star Spangled Banner" did not become a national anthem until 1931. It was designated by an Act of Congress Every year in the U.S., there are 178,000 new cases of lung cancer On average, the American household consumes six pounds of peanut butter annually A housefly can only ingest liquid material. They regurgitate their food to liquify the food that they are going to eat Bugs Bunny was originally called "Happy Rabbit." In 1685, New France used playing cards as currency because of the shortage of coins Sharks have upper and lower eyelids, but they do not blink The size of a red blood cell is 708 microns. This is equivalent to one millionth of a meter In 1657, the first chocolate house was opened in London, England. The cost of chocolate was about 13 shillings per pound and was a drink that only the elite enjoyed In the movie "Gandhi" 300,000 extras appeared in the funeral scene. Of the 300,000, approximately 100,000 received a small fee, and the other 200,000 did it for free O.J. Simpson had a severe case of rickets and wore leg braces when he was a child The majority of cats do not have any eyelashes Reindeer like to eat bananas A barnacle has the largest penis of any other animal in relation to its size The hottest chili in the world is the Tezpur chili pepper Over half the textile fibers that are used in the world are cotton You can send a postcard from Hell. There is a small town located in the Cayman Islands called "Hell." They even have a post office The property (ID, Facts) VALUES on the Monopoly game board are the same today as they were in 1935 The song "Happy Birthday" brings in about $2 million in licensing revenue to Warner Communications who hold the copyright to the song In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all the world'snuclear weapons combined. Ed Cox from San Francisco invented the pot scrubbing S.O.S. pads in 1917. His wife came up with the name, which stands for "Save Our Saucepans." The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan." Another word for hiccups is "singultus." Better wine can be produced by the soil being of poor quality. This is because the vines have to "work" harder A white tiger can only be born when both parents carry the gene for white colouring Lipogram refers to writing that does not have certain letter or letters In October 1986, Pepsi paid close to $840 million to Nabisco for the Kentucky Fried Chicken empire Edinburgh has more booksellers per head of population than any other city in Britain The most common rock on Earth is basalt The papaya tree is known as "the medicinal tree" in some cultures because it?s seeds and leaves have been used as ingredients in different medicines A cat has 32 muscles in each ear In one gram of soil, about ten million bacteria live in it When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone back in 1876, only six phones were sold in the first month. Americans eat approximately 20 pounds of pasta per person each year Dolphins sleep with one eye open Minnows have teeth located on a bone in their throat The 20th president of the United States James Garfield could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time Japan uses the most energy per year than any other country. Over 436,000 U.S. Troops were exposed to depleted uranium during the first Gulf war Approximately two gallons of water are used to brush your teeth Two-thirds of Canadians live in Quebec and Ontario The first television show to show any portion of a toilet was on "Leave it to Beaver." After fighting for ten weeks to show the toilet, CBS would only allow the producers to show the toilet tank, and not the whole toilet Texas is the only state that is allowed to fly its flag at the same height as the U.S. flag German immigrant, Louis Prang was the first to bring Christmas cards to America In total, Americans eat more than 45 billion sandwiches each year, while sales of custom-made sandwiches are rising 15 percent per year Ninety percent of the population has an innie belly button The fear of Halloween is called Samhainophobia In France, the Big Dipper is called the "casserole." The first African-American to receive a Nobel Peace Prize was Ralph J. Bunche in 1950 Dolphins can swim and sleep at the same time Of all the golfers in Canada, 71.4% golfers are male, 28.6% are female Research indicates that babies who suck on pacifiers are more prone to ear aches In 1917, Margaret Sanger was jailed for one month for establishing the first birth control clinic Iguanas can recognize their human handlers and greet them differently, compared with strangers Being lactose intolerant can cause chronic flatulence Some of the titles that were considered for the hit T.V. show "Friends" were Six Of One, Across the Hall, and Insomnia Cafe The only bone fully grown at birth is located in the ear The incidents of immune system diseases has increased over 200% in the last five years "dous":tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous Bananas contain a natural chemical which can make a person happy. This same chemical is found in Prozac The only desert in Canada is located in Osoyoos, British Columbia The city of Seoul has been the capital city of Korea for more than 600 years Romans used to believe that walnuts could cure head ailments during the Renaissance, since their shape was similar to that of a brain There are coffee flavored PEZ Half of the 42 U.S. Presidents are of Irish descent The General Lee cars used in the popular show The Dukes of Hazards were 1969 Dodge Chargers The word "limelight" that is used in theatre to refer to the performers on the stage originated because before electricity was available lime was burned in a lamp, which created a white light that was directed at the performers Many hamsters only blink one eye at a time In Kentucky, it is illegal to carry ice cream in your back pocket In 1988, the largest ice cream sundae in history was made. It was made in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and weighed in at over 24 tons Sports Illustrated has the largest sports magazine circulation There are some hospitals in Shanghai that have issued a rule that a nurse must wear lipstick while on duty Thirteen percent of the human population reside in deserts There are more chickens than people in the world In 1958, the Crayola crayon color "Prussian Blue" was changed to "Midnight Blue" by the request of teachers as kids could not relate to Prussian history Americans on average use about 580 pounds of paper per year per person Wild turkeys can run at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour Annually, fires that occur at home kill more Americans than all natural disasters combined The only sound Seahorses make is a small clicking or popping sound during feeding or courtship The Baltimore Orioles opened the 1988 baseball season by losing the first 21 games and 107 altogether for the entire season Border collies are the most intelligent breed of dog Tug of War was an Olympic event between 1900 and 1920 There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar Coca-Cola used to contain cocaine when it was initially introduced All the Krispy Kreme donut stores collectively could make a doughnut stack as high as the Empire State Building in only 2 minutes Pepsi originally contained pepsin, (the same stuff in pepcid AC) thus the name The first letter Vanna White ever turned on the game show Wheel of Fortune was the letter "T." Harley Proctor got the idea to name the soap "Ivory" while he was listening to a bible reading at a church in 1879 The average American drinks 400 glasses of milk in a year Canada beat Denmark 47-0 at the 1949 world hockey championships. new 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 Each Jelly Belly jelly belly bean has 4 calories The longest one-syllable word in the English language is "screeched." Only 55 percent of all Americans know that the sun is a star Kissing can aid in reducing tooth decay. This is because the extra saliva helps in keeping the mouth clean There is a place called Hell, Michigan. It is about 50 miles from Detroit, Michigan In 1929, the Coca-Cola slogan was "The Pause That Refreshes." Bamboo plants can grow up to 36 inches in a day. Since the United Nations was founded in 1945, there have been 140 wars Goat meat contains up to 45 percent less saturated fat than chicken meat Chef Boyardee is actually a real person. His real name is Hector Boiardi and he was born in northern Italy in 1898 Bill Bowerman, the co-founder of the shoe company Nike, got his first shoe idea after staring at a waffle iron. This gave him the idea of using squared spikes to make the shoes lighter In 1989, the space shuttle Discovery carried 32 fertilized chicken eggs into orbit The most recycled product in the world is the automobile. Before the 17th century, carrots used to be the colour purple William Taft who was the U.S. president between 1909-1913 once got stuck in the White House bathtub If all the Oreo cookies ever sold were stacked on top of one another, they would be as high as 13.3 million Sears Towers Ancient Egyptians kissed with their noses instead of with their lips Krispy Kreme make five million doughnut a day The only real person to be a Pez head was Betsy Ross There were no red colored M&Ms from 1976 to 1987 In 1681, the last dodo bird died There are over 600 different pasta shapes Some people start to sneeze if they are exposed to sunlight or have a light shined into their eye In 1989, twenty-three people were hired in Jacksonville Florida just to flush toilets so the pipes would not freeze Lake Baikal is the oldest freshwater lake on Earth, having formed between 20 and 25 million years ago From 1939 to 1942, there was a undersea post office in the Bahamas An owl has three eyelids Instead of a birthday cake, many children in Russia are given a birthday pie Atlantic salmon can jump as high as 4.5 meters out of the water Although the outsides of a bone are hard, they are generally light and soft inside. They are about 75% water Each nostril of a human being register smell in a different way. Smells that are made from the right nostril are more pleasant than the left. However, smells can be detected more accurately when made by the left nostril Children who are breast fed tend to have an IQ seven points higher than children who are not Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king fromhistory. Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts -Charlemagne;and Diamonds - Julius Caesar. There are no ants in Iceland, Antarctica and Greenland In the United States, approximately 135 million cars travel every day on the streets, roads, and interstates. A salmon with two mouths, two sets of teeth and two tongues was caught by Bob Bateman of Canada There is a "cemetery town" in California named Colma. Concerns about the public health, crime, and the need for space forced the city of San Francisco to outlaw burials in 1902. The city of Colma, which is five miles south of San Francisco, was established to bury the dead. The ratio of dead to living people is 750 to 1 Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors In Belgium, there is a museum that is just for strawberries The most reproduced image in the world is Mickey Mouse, which can be found on over 7,500 different items On average a person passes gas 14 times a day Vasaloppet, which is located in Sweden is the oldest, longest, and the biggest cross-country ski race in the world. Every year, 14,000 people compete in the race The clown fish has the ability to change its sex. If a breeding female dies, the male fish will change its sex and mate with another male Bats sleep during the day and feed at night. The place that bats sleep in is called the "roost." The puma and the leopard are the highest jumping mammals. They are able to reach a height of 16.5 feet The chances of getting a cavity is higher if candy is eaten slowly throughout the day compared to eating it all at once and then brushing your teeth The Main Library at Indiana University sinks over an inch every year because when it was built, engineers failed to take into account the weight of all the books that would occupy the building On average, a car driver will swear or blashpheme 32,025 times in their lifetime while driving The average ear grows 0.01 inches in length every year The first penny candy to be wrapped in America was the Tootsie Roll in 1896 Buckingham Palace has over six hundred rooms Male owls weigh less and are smaller than female owls Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego The city of Las Vegas has the most hotel rooms in the world Cows drink anywhere from 25-50 gallons of water each day In the United Kingdom, three million people play bingo every year Humans are the only primates that don't have pigment in the palms oftheir hands. Every square inch of the human body has about 19,000,000 skin cells In 1994, 7-Eleven coined the term "brain freeze." The word was developed to explain the feeling people get when drinking a Slurpee. A swordfish can live as long as 25 years and weigh up to 1,200 pounds Due to eating habits in the USA, one in three children born in the year 2000 have a chance of getting type II diabetes The world's termites outweigh the world's humans 10 to 1. Each honeycomb in Honeycomb cereal has seven holes The Nile river is 6,690 kilometers long By law, information collected in a U.S. census must remain confidential for seventy-two years Eighty percent of 10 year old girls in the USA go on a diet 97% of all paper money in the US contains traces of cocaine The name "Grey Poupon" used for mustard comes from two people: Maurice Grey and Auguste Poupon. Grey was the inventor of a machine that mass produced fine textured mustard, and Poupon was an already established maker of mustard. In 1886 the Grey-Poupon firm was formed The Faberge, "Winter Egg" was sold in 1994 for $5.6 million. This is the most expensive decorative egg that has ever been sold The name "Tonka" trucks was named after Lake Minnetonka located in Minnesota. Tonka means "great" in Sioux 18% of an Americans income is spent on transportation Feb 1865 and Feb 1999 are the only months in recorded history not to have a full moon Turkeys have a wingspan of approximately 4.5 feet The first music video ever played on MTV Europe was by Dire Straits, "Money For Nothing." Arnold Palmer was the first player to win $1 million on the PGA Tour Three years after a person quits smoking, there chance of having a heart attack is the same as someone who has never smoked before In a year, the average Americans eats approximately 18 pounds of Turkey The household wrench was invented by boxing heavyweight champion Jack Johnson in 1922 Squids move through the ocean using a jet of water forced out of the body by a siphon Back in 1796, dimes were called dismes Pilgrims did not eat with forks. They only used spoons, knives and their fingers The average human has about 20 square feet of skin weighing about 6 pounds Mass murderer Charles Manson recorded an album titled "Lie." On average, each American consumes approximately two hundred and sixty pounds of meat in a year The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930s who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple An apple, potato, and onion all taste the same if you eat them with your nose plugged. They all taste sweet The United States has paved enough roads to circle the Earth over 150 times. Decaffeinated coffee is not 100% caffeine free. When coffee is being decaffeinated, 2% of the caffeine still remains in it Sales of antacids increase by as much as 20% the day after the Superbowl Automobile building is the largest manufacturing industry in the world. A shark is the only fish that can blink with both eyes Polar bears can eat as much as ten percent of their body weight in less than one hour Marlboro was the first cigarette company to market a cigarette that had a red filter called "beauty tip." This was done to hide the lipstick marks left on the filter from women smokers In Japan, the number four is considered to be unlucky because the Japanese word for four sounds very similar to the word death The life expectancy of a $100 bill is nine years The words moron, imbecile, and idiot are not interchangable. The one with the highest level of intelligence is a moron, followed, by an imbecile, and then idiot Anise is the scent on the artificial rabbit that is used in greyhound races The first known American novelist to hand in a manuscript that was typed was Mark Twain. His typewriter was a Remington No.1, which was invented by Christopher Sholes and Carlos Glidden. The city of Nottingham in England was the first city to have Braille signs (signs for the blind) in its shopping malls for the blind The only woman that has appeared on a U.S. paper currency is Martha Washington The name of the Taco Bell dog is Gidget Each year approximately half of billions dollars is spent on bubble gum by the kids in North America Hair and fingernails are made from the same substance, keratin The average human eats 8 spiders in their lifetime at night The number one cause of blindness in adults in the United States is diabetes India has a Bill of Rights for cows A drink used to be made by the Aztecs for the gods which had the ingredients of ground cocoa mixed in with spices and corn In America, the most common mental illness is Anxiety Disorders The stage were the television sitcom "Friends" is shot on is said to be haunted Gases that build up in your large intestine cause flatulence. It usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes for these gases to pass through your system The largest earthworm on record was found in South Africa and measured 22 feet Whooping cranes are born with blue eyes that change to bright gold by the time they six months old Belize is the only country in the world with a jaguar preserve Tomatos were once referred to as "love apples." This is because their was a superstition that people would fall in love by eating them The American Kestrel hawk weighs only four ounces A 27 year old heir to a sausage empire was handed a ticket for 116,000 pounds for driving at 80 km/hr in a 40 km/hr zone. This is because the speeding tickets in Finland are based on how much money a person makes In China, pancakes are generally served as side dishes. They are stuffed with meat, bean sprouts, and other vegetables 93% of all greeting cards are purchased by women Paper money is not made from wood pulp but from cotton. This means that it will not disintegrate as fast if it is put in the laundry The most deadly fires that occur in the home happen between 6pm and 10pm There are over 200 parts in a typical telephone There is an automobile model called Stutz Bearcat. If you were standing on Mercury, the Sun would appear 2.5 times larger than it appears from Earth The water inside of a coconut is identical to human blood plasma. Many lives in third world countries have been saved from coconut water fed through an IV The least likely day to eat out in the United States is Monday Little Miss Muffet was a girl from the 16th century whose name was really Patience In 1978, the World Water Speed record was made by Ken Warby from Australia. His average speed was 317.6 mph, and his jet-powered hydroplane was 27 feet long called "Spirit of Australia." Warby built the boat himself in his back yard Americans collectively eat one hundred pounds of chocolate every second People who studies laughter are called a "gelotologists." Adolf Hitler was one of the people that was responsible in the creation of the Volkswagen Beetle. He came up with the idea of producing a car that was cheap enough for the average German working man to afford. Chameleons can move their eyes independently. One eye can be looking forward and one eye backward at the same time Bruce Lee was so fast, that they actually had to slow a film down so you could see his moves. That is the opposite of the norm Over 90% of diseases are caused or complicated by stress In 1953, racecar driver Tim Flock raced at Nascar with a monkey in the seat beside him Taipan snakes have 50 times more toxic than a cobra snake Influenza caused over twenty-one million deaths in 1918 English sailors were referred to as "limeys" because sailors added lime juice to their diet to combat scurvy Ukrainian people celebrate Christmas on January 7th, which is the Orthodox Christmas Day Gorillas are considered apes, not monkeys. The way to distinguish between an ape and a monkey is that apes do not have tails Early Romans used to use porcupine quills as toothpicks The longest human beard on record is 17.5 feet, held by Hans N. Langseth who was born in Norway in 1846 Honey is used sometimes for antifreeze mixtures and in the center of golf balls The size of a raindrop is around 0.5 mm - 2.5 mm, and they fall from the sky on average 21 feet per second. In the United States, the first cookbook was published in 1796 and it contained a recipes for watermelon rind pickles The word "walkman" was included in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1986 A headache and inflammatory pain can be reduced by eating 20 tart cherries There is an area located off the south-eastern Atlantic coast of the United States called the "Bermuda Triangle." It is known for a high rate of unexplained losses of ships, small boats, and aircraft, which has led some people to believe that this triangle has supernatural powers State with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska Some toothpastes and deodorants contain the same chemicals found in antifreeze The Shroud of Turin is the single most studied artifact in human history Smartest dogs: 1) Scottish border collie; 2) Poodle; 3) Golden retriever The sperm count of an average American male compared to thirty years ago is down thirty percent Humpback whales are capable of living up to 95 years The 1912, a wrestling match in Stockholm between Finn Alfred Asikainen and Russian Martin Klein lasted more than 11 hours. Klein eventually won, but was to tired to participate in the championship match Manitoulin Island is the largest island in a fresh water lake. It is located in Canadian Lake Superior Cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400 The Chinese politician Mao Zedong refused to ever brush his teeth and instead just washed his mouth with tea The Super Bowl is broadcast to over 182 countries in the world Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour In 1884, Dr. Hervey D. Thatcher invented the milk bottle. Some Ribbon worm will eat themselves if they cannot find food. This type of worm can still survive after eating up to 95% of its body weight The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is "uncopyrightable." Singer Chaka Khan came out with a line of chocolates called "Chakalates." In a day 34,000 children die every day from causes that are related to poverty and hunger Next Page of Facts >> Posted by muhammad ahsan at 02:28 No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Older Posts Home	Twinkie
What country invaded the Falkland Islands on Friday, April 2, 1982, and probably regretted it after Iron Maggie kicked their asses and took the Islands back?	Do I Know This ? Do I Know This ? Updated May 17, 2013, 12:23 AM Have you ever wondered who's got the most number of top singles in U.K ? Have you ever wondered which company is the world's top Global Brand ? Have you ever wondered which country has got the most or the highest number of Netizens ? Use template Amazing Facts 100 amazing & unknown facts! # Our eyes remain the same size from birth onward, but our nose and ears never stop growing. # The Barbie doll’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. # The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. # Ants never sleep! # When the moon is directly overhead, you will weigh slightly less. # Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, never called his wife or mother because they were both deaf. # An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. # “I Am” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. # Babies are born without knee caps – actually, they’re made of cartilage and the bone hardens between the ages of 2 and 6 years. # Happy Birthday (the song) is copyrighted. # Butterflies taste with their feet. # A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. # It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. # Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors. # Minus 40 degrees Celsius is exactly the same as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. # No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple. # Shakespeare invented the words “assassination” and “bump.” # Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand. # Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. # The names of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with. # The sentence, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in the English language. # The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes. # The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. # The word “lethologica” describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want. # Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from the blowing desert sand. # TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard. # You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath. # Money isn’t made out of paper. It’s made out of cotton. # Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks or it will digest itself. # The dot over the letter “i” is called a tittle. # A duck’s quack doesn’t echo. No one knows why! # The “spot” on the 7-Up comes from its inventor who had red eyes – he was an albino. ’7′ was because the original containers were 7 ounces and ‘UP’ indicated the direction of the bubbles. # Chocolate can kill dogs, as it contains theobromine, which affects their heart and nervous system. # Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of plaster. # There are only two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: “abstemious” and “facetious.” # If one places a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death. # Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to slow film down so you could see his moves. # The original name for butterfly was flutterby. # By raising your legs slowly and laying on your back, you cannot sink into quicksand. # Dogs and cats, like humans, are either right or left handed. # Charlie Chaplin once won the third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest. # Sherlock Holmes NEVER said “Elementary, my dear Watson”. # The Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries. # Bats always turn left when exiting a cave. # The shortest English word that contains the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F is “feedback.” # All Polar bears are left-handed. # In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. # “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt.” # Almonds are a member of the peach family, and apples belong to the rose family. # Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. # The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is “uncopyrightable”. # In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10 # Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur. # Alfred Nobel, in whose name the Nobel prizes are instituted, was the inventor of dynamite. # The planet Venus does not tilt, so consequently, it has no seasons. It is the only planet that rotates clock-wise. # Honey is the only food that doesn’t spoil. # The word “set” has more definitions than any other word in the English language. # Molecularly speaking, water is actually much drier than sand. # Human tonsils can bounce higher than a rubber ball of similar weight and size, but only for the first 30 minutes after they’ve been removed. # US President John F. Kennedy was an accomplished ventriloquist. # Coca-Cola was originally green. # Moths are unable to fly during an earthquake. # Contrary to popular belief, the white is not the healthiest part of an egg. It’s actually the shell. # Nearly three percent of the ice in Antarctic glaciers is penguin urine. # Hot water will turn into ice faster then cold water. # “Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel. # Like fingerprints, every person’s tongue print is different. # No piece of normal-size paper can be folded in half more than 7 times. # The tongue is the only muscle that is attached from one end only. # Pumice is the only rock that floats in water. # Camel’s milk does not curdle. # Your foot is the same length as your forearm, and your thumb is the same length as your nose. Also, the length of your lips is the same as the index finger. # Natural pearls melt in vinegar. # Buttermilk does not contain any butter. # The human brain is 80% water. # Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right while women’s shirts have the buttons on the left. # Human fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails. # The Great Pyramid at Giza in Egypt holds a constant temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. # The liquid inside young coconuts can be used as a substitute for blood plasma. # Oak trees do not produce acorns until they are fifty years of age. # It takes approximately 2 million flowers for a bee to make 1 pound of honey. # Human saliva has a boiling point three times that of regular water. # It is physically impossible to urinate and give blood at the same time. # The letter J does not appear anywhere in the periodic table of the elements. # The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart. # Watermelons, which are 92% water, originated from the Kalahari Desert in Africa. # The hair of some cancer patients treated with chemotherapy can grow back in a different colour, and sometimes even be curly or straight. # The markings that are found on dice are called “pips.” # 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321 # The cigarette lighter was invented before the match. # Leonardo Da Vinci never signed or dated his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa. # The ampersand (&) was the last letter of the Latin alphabet. # The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet cannot tan, or grow hair. # Dolphins can swim and sleep at the same time, as they sleep with one eye open. # Each nostril of a human being registers smell in a different way. Those by the right nostril are more pleasant than the left. # The longest single-syllable word in the English language is “screeched.” # The word “Checkmate” in chess comes from the Persian phrase “Shah-Mat,” which means “the king is dead”. # Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades – King David, Clubs – Alexander the Great, Hearts – Charlemagne, and Diamonds – Julius Caesar. # In Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift described the two moons of Mars, Phobos and Deimos, giving their exact size and speeds of rotation. He did this more than 100 years before either moon was discovered! # If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes. Amazing Facts Indonesia consists only of islands - 13,667 total During World War II, the very first bomb dropped on Berlin by the Allies killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo People who ride on roller coasters have a higher chance of having a blood clot in the brain The tallest freestanding sculpture in the world is Chief Crazy Horse in South Dakota, USA Marie Curie, the Nobel prize winning scientist who discovered radium, died of radiation poisoning 898 tornadoes were recorded to have occurred in the United States in the year 2000. The word Popcorn is derived from the middle English word "poppe," which means "explosive sound" The food that is digested in your stomach is called "chyme." Alcohol beverages have all 13 minerals necessary for human life The sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." uses everyletter in the alphabet. (Developed by Western Union to Test telex/twxcommunications) The word housekeeping was invented by Shakespeare The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sportsgames (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after theMajorLeague All-Star Game. In the great fire of London in 1666 half of London was burnt down but only 6 people were injured Lack of sleep can affect your immune system and reduce your ability to fight infections All dogs are the descendant of the wolf. These wolves lived in eastern Asia about 15,000 years ago It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation Parma ham is only Parma ham if it is made in the Parma region of Italy. The British chain supermarket Asda, made and packaged its own "Parma ham" and was successfully sued by the real Parma ham people (Parma Ham Trade Association) With winds of 50 miles per hour, The Statue of Liberty sways three inches and the torch sways five inches A famous bullfighter, Lagarijo, killed 4,867 bulls in the 19th century. Police detectives have used snapping turtles to help them locate dead bodies In most advertisements, including newspapers, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10 The national sport of Japan is sumo wrestling The early occurrence of a fetus yawning is at eleven weeks after conception In a month, a fingernail grows an eighth of an inch Edward VIII did not officially become the King of England as he abdicated the throne to marry an American divorcee The book "Little Red Riding Hood" was banned in 1990 by two school districts in California. They did this because in the book there was a picture of a basket that had a bottle of wine in it The reason why golf balls have dimples on them is because it helps in the ball to move a farther distance by reducing drag Americans consume the most peanut butter in the world Celtic warriors sometimes fought their battles naked, their bodies dyed blue from head to toe To make butter more attractive in colour, carrot juice was used by people in the Middle Ages Early hockey games allowed as many as 30 players a side on the ice Most fleas do not live past a year old It takes seven to ten days to make a jelly belly jellybean Some asteroids have other asteroids orbiting them Maine is the only state whose name is just one syllable The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the males head off There is enough concrete in the Hoover Dam to pave a two lane highway from San Francisco to New York Americans on the average eat 18 acres of pizza every day Every 238 years, the orbits of Neptune and Pluto change making Neptune at times the farthest planet from the sun There is a certain species of kangaroo that is only 2.5 centimetres long when it is born In a lifetime, the average house cat spends approximately 10,950 hours purring The real name of Toto the dog in "The Wizard Of Oz" was Terry Stannous fluoride, which is the cavity fighter found in toothpaste is made from recycled tin It takes 12 honeybees to make one teaspoon of honey Thomas Watson, who was the chairman of IBM in 1943 predicted that their would probably only be a world market for five computers. The largest hamburger cooked in the world weighed in at 6,040 pounds The first lighthouse was in Alexandria in 290 B.C Heinz first started making ketchup in 1876 and the recipe has remained the same ever since The largest wedding chapel in Las Vegas is the Viva Las Vegas Chapel, which can seat 100 people The most popular name for a pet in the United States is Max Spiral staircases in medieval castles are running clockwise. This is because all knights used to be right-handed. When the intruding army would climb the stairs they would not be able to use their right hand which was holding the sword because of the difficulties of climbing the stairs. Left-handed knights would have had no troubles, except left-handed people could never become knights because it was assumed that they were descendants of the devil The largest shopping mall in the world is the West Edmonton Mall located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada The CN Tower located in Toronto, Ontario Canada took a total construction time of 40 months to complete at an original cost of $63 million The 20th president of the United States, James Garfield, was able to write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time The country of Andorra has a zero percent unemployment rate In Los Angeles, there are fewer people than there are automobiles A woman has approximately 4.5 litres of blood in her body, while men have 5.6 litres In India, pickled ginger, minced mutton and a cottage cheese like substance are popular pizza toppings Oral-B were the first toothbrushes to go to the moon when they were aboard the Apollo 11 mission A maple tree is usually tapped when the tree is at least 45 years old and has a diameter of 12 inches In 1998, a law passed in the U.S. state of Virginia allows drivers to keep their road kill, as long as they report it within 12 hours. updated A language becomes extinct in this world every two weeks An acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of dust and gases every year from the surrounding environment The decomposition point of Olive Oil is 220 degrees Celsius Ten radishes only contain eight calories Annually a thousand people are killed by scorpions in Mexico Every year, 100 million sharks are killed by people Tug of war was an Olympic event from 1900-1920 Of all the countries, Brazil has the most plant species, with over 56,000 One female mouse can produce up to 100 babies a year Impotence is grounds for divorce in 26 U.S. states Women who are romance novel readers are reported to make love 74% more often with their partners than women who do not read romance novels. The average lifespan of a human taste bud is ten days The monogram "RR" for Rolls-Royce has never been altered, except for when Sir Henry Royce passed away in 1933. Then it was changed from red to black. People with darker skin will not wrinkle as fast as people with lighter skin Fido means faithful in Latin Pebbles cereal was actually named after the shape of the cereal and not the Pebbles Flintstone character A group of kangaroos is called a mob Cat's urine glows under a blacklight. Every three seconds, a new baby is born More than 260,000 people have been killed by volcanic activity since 1700 AD. The only predator that polar bears have are humans Many insects can carry 50 times their own body weight The last land battle of the U.S. Civil War was fought in Texas Annually 7 million tons of textiles and clothing is thrown out. Out of this, only 12% is used again or recycled A scorpion can have up to 12 eyes A snake charmer in Bangladesh once found 3,500 poisonous cobras and their eggs hidden underneath the floors of two suburban homes The IRS employees tax manual has instructions for collecting taxes after a nuclear war There are approximately fifty Bibles sold each minute across the world The pectin that is found in apples aids in lowering cholesterol levels Post-It Notes, which are adhesive notes, were invented while looking for a way to improve the acrylate adhesive found in tapes Crayola Crayons currently has over 120 different crayon colours Odontophobia is the fear of teeth The width of a tornado can range from less than ten yards to more than a mile. In Johannesburg, the average car will be involved in an accident once every four years. The youngest actress to be nominated as best actress is Keisha Castle-Hughes who was nominated at just 13 years old The Taj Mahal was actually built for use as a tomb According to studies, an average roll of toilet paper lasts about five days in the bathroom Almonds are members of the peach family The oldest known disease in the world is leprosy A fall of 30 feet can be survived my most cats The largest member of the dolphin family are orcas In 1477, the first diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximillian of Austria The hormone replacement drug "Premarin" is made from the urine of pregnant horses TWIX Caramel Cookie Bars were first introduced in 1979 Nintendo was first establish in 1889 and they started out making special playing cards People over the age of fifty will start to lose their dislike for foods that taste bitter In Kentucky, 50 percent of the people who get married for the first time are teenagers Elephants have been known to learn up to 60 commands On average 1,668 gallons of water are used by each person in the United States daily Copper is the second most used metal in the world. Milton Bradley originally wanted to name the game Twister, Pretzel; but he could not since the name was copyrighted According to studies, men prefer to have white bedrooms and women prefer to have blue bedrooms If someone was to fly once around the surface of the moon, it would be equal to a round trip from New York to London St. Patrick never really drove out any snakes from Ireland. This story was an analogy of how he drove paganism out of Ireland Fat is important for the development of children and normal growth The most common seasonings found in American homes are chili powder, cinnamon, and seasoned salts People who have eaten beetles say that it tastes like apples Montreal was named after a local mountain "Mont Royal." Millie the White House dog earned more than 4 times as much as President Bush in 1991. And, rightfully so In an average lifetime, a person will spend 4 years travelling in an automobile and six months waiting at a red light. A small drip from a faucet can waste up to 50 gallons of water daily, which is enough water to run a dishwasher twice on a full cycle Kotex was first manufactured as bandages, during W.W.I The longest Monopoly game ever played was 1,680 hours long, which is seventy straight days The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C Over 1,600 people in North America have been victims of trunk entrapment (being locked inside of a car trunk) A rhinoceros horn is made of compacted hair In 1992, when EuroDisney first opened in France, the public beat some of the park characters because at the time most people had been against the park being built A jiffy is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. Thus the saying, I will be there in a jiffy. There is a muppet named Kami that appears on the South African version of the T.V. show "Sesame Street" that is HIV-positive There are approximately one hundred million people in the United States that have a chronic illness The oldest working Post Office in the world is located in the village of Sanquer, located in the Scottish Lowlands. It has been operating since 1712 Columbia University is the second largest landowner in New York City, after the Catholic Church Approximately three jars of peanut butter are sold every second In Australia, the average person uses 876 gallons of water daily. In Switzerland they use only 77 gallons of water per person daily Every person has a unique tongue print Hair will fall out faster on a person that is on a crash diet In 1890, there was no sunshine for the whole month of December in Westminster in London. Charles Darwin spent 39 years studying earthworms The Boeing 737 is nicknamed the Fat Albert Florida has twice as many lightning injuries and deaths than any other state Chocolate can be fatal to dogs. Chocolate contains a chemical theobromine, which is poisonous to dogs In China, there is a species of yam that is used to make a dye Annually, approximately 46 millions Cokes, five million pounds of french fries, and seven million hamburgers are consumed at Walt Disney World Resort The Chihuahua Desert is the largest desert in North America, and is over 200,000 square miles Every continent begins and ends in the same letter. eg AfricA, EuropE Baseball games between college teams have been played since the Civil War The real name of actress Whoopi Goldberg is Caryn Elaine Johnson Researches have discovered that eating five or more apples a week is linked to better functioning of the lungs Boeing completed more than 15,000 hours of wind-tunnel testing on the first 747 The most popular ethnic food in the United States is Italian food Parts of the Dead Sea Scrolls appeared for sale in the June 1, 1954 issue of the Wall Street Journal If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction The YKK that you see on zippers stands for Yoshida Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha which is the name of the founder of the zipper manufacturing company in Japan The theme song of the Harlem Globetrotters is "Sweet Georgia Brown." 27% of female lottery winners hid their winning ticket in their bras To lose one pound of fat, a person has to burn approximately 3,500 calories In 1969, the American side of Niagara Falls was stopped completely for several months The name for insect poop is frass A can of Pepsi has 41 grams of sugar. This amount to about seven teaspoons of sugar Montreal is actually located on an island There are over 2,000 species of butterflies in the rainforests of South America The world record for the number of body piercings on one individual is 702, which is held by Canadian Brent Moffat Before toilet paper was invented, French royalty wiped their bottoms with fine linen The earliest known example of an organized market for equities dates from Rome, second century B.C There are over 2,000 different species of cactuses Each day 400 gallons of recycled blood are pumped through the kidneys Ten percent of the Russian government's income comes from the sale ofvodka. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning Bananas were discovered by Alexander the Great in 327 B.C. when he conquered India Levan, which is located in Utah, got its name from "navel" which is levan spelt backwards. It was named this because it is in the center of Utah Approximately one out of four injuries by athletes involve the wrist and hand Former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln suffered a nervous breakdown in 1836 Musk is extracted from the bottom of a civet, and is used as an ingredient to make perfumes. The first human heart transplant happened on December 3, 1967. Unfortunately the patient only lived for eighteen days, succumbing in the end to pneumonia In New York City there are 6,374.6 miles of streets The sound made by the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe is so loud that it can be heard 40 miles away Ancient Egyptians used to think having facial hair was an indication of personal neglect In Czechhoslovakia, there is a church that has a chandelier made of human bones The largest hotel in the world is the MGM Grand, which has 5,034 rooms and is located in Las Vegas, Nevada The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets The fleshy bulbs on each side of your nose are called the Alea (AY-lee) singular Ala (AY-luh) Male koalas mark their territory by rubbing their chests on a tree. Male koalas have a dark scent gland in the middle of their chest An octopus has three hearts Roses generally need around 6 hours of sunlight to grow properly. Buttermilk does not contain any butter, but is a cultured milk product which is usually made from fat free milk Pineapples were first called "anana", which is Caribbean for "excellent fruit." Human birth control pills work on gorillas The tallest woman that ever lived was Zeng Jinlian who was 8 feet 2 inches tall of China. Shed died at the age of 17 An adult "Gold Frog" measures to be 9.8 millimeters in body length Each day, anywhere from 35-150 species of life go extinct Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, never telephoned his wife or mother because they were both deaf Alexander the Great made his troops eat onions as he believed it would prove their vitality Bill Russell was the first black head coach of a major league pro sports team In 1945, a seven ounce bathroom cup was the first item Tupperware marketed Central air conditioners use 98% more energy than ceiling fans. The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache Men can read smaller print than women; women can hear better Everyday, U.S. business use enough paper to circle the Earth over 20 times The Welwitschia plant can live up to 1,000 years The dromedary camel can drink as much as 100 litres of water in just 10 minutes According to the American Institute of Stress, job stress approximately costs the U.S. industry over $300 billion dollars per year It takes 72 minutes for the restaurant at the top of the CN Tower to make one revolution Coffee beans were chewed for more than 400 years before the first cup of coffee was brewed All of the Peking ducks in the United States are descendents from three ducks and one drake imported to Long Island, New York in 1873 The first British ship to use the SOS distress signal was the Titanic The Spring peeper (a frog) can survive the winter season with 65% of its body water as ice Studies have shown that the scent of Rosemary can help in better mental performance and make individuals feel more alert The search engine Google got its name from the word "googol," which refers to the number one with a hundred zeros after it The Goliath beetle is about the size of your fist and can weigh as much as 3-4 ounces If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create explosion that is equal to an atomic bomb Humans have about the same number of hair follicles as a chimpanzee has Studies indicate that listening to music is good for digestion The Chihuahua was named after the Mexican state where they were discovered There are no snakes in New Zealand The most popular grown bulbs are tulips Every day the human stomach produces about 2 liters of hydrochloric acid The country of Bolivia is named after a fighter Simon Bolivar Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite The first state to give the right to women to vote was Wyoming In 1949 UNICEF produced the first charity Christmas card. The picture shown on the card was painted by a seven year old girl Archeologists report that cannabis was most likely the first plant cultivated by humans. Cannabis was used for linen, paper, and garments The garfish has green bones Women who drink more than two cups of coffee a day have a higher chance of developing osteoporosis The banana was officially introduced in 1876 in the U.S. at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. The bananas were wrapped in tinfoil and were sold for 10 cents each A yawn usually lasts for approximately six seconds Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads for dating are already married The food that people crave the most is cheese Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury The only animal, besides humans that can get leprosy is the Armadillo In 1894, the carnival made its debut in North America The artist Vincent Van Gogh sliced part of his ear off in madness According to Scientists, vampire bat saliva is the best known medicine for keeping blood from clotting. People from North America prefer pickles with warts, where as Europeans prefer pickles with no warts People that suffer from gum disease are twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack Close to 50% of the water used in a home originates from the bathroom After the Krakatoa volcano eruption in 1883 in Indonesia, many people reported that, because of the dust, the sunset appeared green and the moon blue. The moon was said to appear blue for almost two years. The country with the highest consumption of chocolate per capita is Switzerland, with 22 pounds per person, per year In China, September 20 is "Love Your Teeth Day." Actor Richard Gere was considered to play the role of John McClane in the movie Die Hard. Bruce Willis played the part instead The record for the world?s worst drivers is a toss-up between two candidates: First, a 75-year-old man who received 10 traffic tickets, drove on the wrong side of the road four times, committed four hit-and-run offenses, and caused six accidents, all within 20 minutes on October 15, 1966. Second, a 62-year-old woman who failed her driving test 40 times before passing it in August, 1970 (by that time, she had spent over $700 in lessons, and could no longer afford to buy a car) Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur Left-handed people are better at sports that require good spatial judgment and fast reaction, compared to right-handed individuals Half of a cup of figs will give you just as much calcium as half a cup of milk A "hairbreadth away" is 1/48 of an inch In 1281, the Mongol army of Kublai Khan tried to invade Japan but were ravaged by a hurricane that destroyed their fleet Walt Disney was afraid of mice Studies show that couples that smoke during the time of conception have a higher chance of having a girl compared to couples that do not smoke The reason why some people get a cowlick is because the growth of their hair is in a spiral pattern, which causes the hair to either stand straight up, or goes to a certain angle Approximately 50% of Americans admit they have ran a red light In 1755, the first Canadian post office opened in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The fist Deputy Postmaster General was American inventor Benjamin Franklin who was later dismissed for sympathizing with the American revolutionary cause Reno, Nevada is west of Los Angeles, California. On average, 90% of the people that have the disease Lupus are female Unlike other four legged mammals, kangaroos cannot walk backwards The itch from a mosquito bite can be soothed by cutting open a clove of garlic and rubbing it on the bite If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar Most American car horns honk in the key of F A superstition in baseball is to never lend your bat to anyone or you will be jinxed Bats always turn left when exiting a cave Penguins can jump as high as 6 feet in the air In 1998, approximately 1.6 billion tree seedlings were planted in the United States. This amounts to about five trees per American There are species of fish that can walk on land in search of water when its water source dries up. Some can survive as long as three days on land such as the snakehead fish Racecar driver Lee Petty once left a pitstop and did a full lap at Nascar with a pit crew member still on the hood The first fashion house to be set up was in 1858 by Charles Worth. He opened his store in Paris with the idea of having pre-made gowns presented on models to his customers St. Patrick explained the Holy Trinity to King Laoghaire, using the shamrock to illustrate the trinity More twins are born in the Western world than in the Eastern world Nine egg yolks have been found in one chicken egg The record for the longest Monopoly game played in a bathtub is ninety-nine hours The flea can jump 350 times its body length, that is like a 6 foot-tall human jumping the length of 7 football fields The 1988 move "Big" which was directed by Penny Marshall was the first movie by a female director to gross over $100 million domestically When the Galileo Probe entered Jupiter's atmosphere, it was traveling at a speed of 106,000 miles per hour. This is the fastest impact speed ever achieved by a man-made object. In 1972, a gorilla by the name of "Koko" was taught ASL (American Sign Language) for the deaf. By the year 2000, the gorilla could understand approximately 2,000 English words 3000 children die every day in Africa because of malaria The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour Approximately 125 people die in the United States from an anaphylaxis to foods each year The word "vamp" is used to describe the upper front top of a shoe Construction on the White House began in October of 1792 A galactic year is 250 million Earth-years. This is the time it takes for our solar system to make one revolution around the Milky Way Galaxy. Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic, and he often wrote backwards The male platypus has poisonous spurs on its legs Polar bears can smell seal from 20 miles away Canadians Scott Abbott and Chris Haney invented Trivial Pursuit. They were planning on playing Scrabble and realized that some of the pieces were missing so they came up with the idea of making their own game; Trivial Pursuit On average, there is about three molecules of ozone for every 10 million air molecules. A person uses approximately fifty-seven sheets of toilet paper each day The Barbie doll has more than 80 careers James Buchanan was the only unmarried president of the United States The Stanley Cup originally was only seven and a half inches high In 1991, during an attempted political coup on Russian President Boris Yelstin, food supplies had dwindled down at the parliament buildings so they ordered Pizza Hut to deliver pizzas Some people drink the urine of pregnant women to build up their immune system The five Olympic rings represent the five continents linked together in friendship Ray Kroc bought McDonalds for $2.7 million in 1961 from the McDonald brothers It is possible to lead a cow upstairs but not downstairs Shark cartilage has been used to make artificial skin for human burn victims The first person to die in the electric chair was William Kemmler, an ax murderer from New York on August 6, 1890 Finland has 187,888 lakes and 179,584 islands The average adult has approximately six pounds of skin A crocodile can open and close its jaw but cannot move it side to side There are over 1,000,000 swimming pools in Florida, eventhough the ocean is no farther than 80 miles away 99% of the blueberries that are produced in the United States are produced in the state of Maine On May 9, 1999 approximately 600,000 gallons of whiskey flowed into the Kentucky River during a fire at Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg Thomas Jefferson had three achievements placed on his headstone at his request, "Here Was Buried Thomas Jefferson/Author Of The Declaration Of American Independence/Of The Statute Of Virginia For Religious Freedom/And Father Of The University of Virginia.? He never mentioned being President of the United States Humans and cows have the same gestation period, which is about nine months In the Victoria era, red tulips were a declaration of love The sport Lacrosse was initially played by Native American Indians. They played the sport to prepare for war It takes a sloth up to six days to digest the food it eats According to Scandinavian traditions, if a boy and girl eat from the same loaf of bread, they are bound to fall in love In 1796, Napoleon was only 26 years old when he took command of the French Army of Italy A bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed every animal in the Berlin Zoo except the elephant, which escaped and roamed the city. When a Russian commander saw hungry Germans chasing the elephant and trying to kill it, he ordered his troops to protect it and shoot anyone who tried to kill it The expression "Tying the Knot" comes from an old Roman custom where the brides clothes were tied up all in knots and the groom was supposed to untie the knots Snake is a delicacy in China In 1999, All Nippon Airlines, had one of its jets fully decorated with Pokemon characters from nose to tail on its exterior The Dead Sea has been sinking for last several years Uranus has 27 moons Actress Sally Field was paid $4,000 a week for her role in the TV show The Flying Nun More pollution is emitted from the average home compared to the average car. The snow leopard protects itself from extreme cold when it sleeps by wrapping its 3-foot-long tail around its nose Only 4% of babies are born on their actual due date In the 1940s, the FCC assigned television's Channel 1 to mobile Services(two-way radios in taxicabs, for instance) but did not re-number theotherchannel assignments. That is why your TV set has channels 2 and up, butnochannel 1. A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for approximately sixty-nine years There are more Subway restaurants in Canada than there are McDonald restaurants The CN Tower, in Toronto, is the tallest freestanding structure in the world with a height of about 553 metres The term "the whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards." Construction on the Leaning Tower of Pisa began on August 9th, 1173 President Lyndon Johnson used to smoke three packs of cigarettes a day The Tibetan name for Mount Everest is Chomolungma The word "laser" stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission by radiation." In a lifetime, on average a honey bee produces 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey There are 315 species of parrot in the world The TV show Doctor Who, when it was popular, had an audience of 110 million people The cost to build the Empire State Building was $40,948,900 A person who smokes a pack of cigarettes a day will on average lose two teeth every ten years Wasps that feed on ferment occasionally get drunk and pass out The largest cereal company in the world is Quaker Oats, located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA The first Olympic games only had one event - a foot race Colonel Sanders traveled over 250,000 miles a year visiting various parts of his Kentucky Fried Chicken Empire Some desert snails have been known to sleep for three to four years Over 80% of the brain is water From the age of thirty, humans gradually begin to shrink in size Jackrabbits can reach a speed of fifty miles per hour and can leap as far as twenty feet There are 40 official jelly belly flavours Early sewing machines were destroyed by mobs or workers who felt their jobs were threatened by automation In 1992, the Antarctic Ozone hole was larger than the continent of North America. Someone gets divorced every ten to thirteen seconds There is a certain type of Hawk Moth caterpillar from Brazil that inflates its thorax, which makes its head look like a head of a snake when it feels it is in danger or alarmed The CIA has made a disk camera that is as big as a quarter. This gadget can take many pictures at a time when the disk is opened. The Sanskrit word for "war" means "desire for more cows." In Hong Kong, delivery times are primarily influenced by traffic conditions on elevators. It often takes drivers longer to travel vertically than horizontally, as access to elevators is so congested during "high peak" hours. This is due to the volume of people residing in high rises The ancient Greeks had a fascination with the planet Mars. They attributed the planet to Ares, their god of war, because of its red colour The only lizard that has a voice is the Gecko In Israel, religious law forbids picking your nose on Sabbath In twins, there is a great chance that one will be left handed In the 1920's, Q-Tips were invented by Leo Gerstenzang who got the idea after watching his wife clean their baby's ears with cotton stuck onto a toothpick. In the Pacific Islands when people get burns they often use a banana leaf as treatment Acorns were used as a coffee substitute during the American Civil War An airplane mechanic invented Slinky while he was playing with engine parts and realized the possible secondary use for the springs. Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler after watching her daughter play with baby dolls imagining then in grown up roles When the female grasshopper lays eggs, she covers her eggs with a pasty liquid that protects the eggs throughout the winter The longest recorded duration of a total solar eclipse was 7.5 minutes. On average, an American makes three pounds of garbage in a day Even if you eat food standing on your head, the food will still end up in your stomach Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older. The most common name in the world is Mohammed Apple seeds are poisonous as they contain a cyanide compound The word breakfast was coined due to the fact that after sleeping for hours, we are "breaking our fast." The cardigan was originally made to be a military jacket made of knitted wool The month of December is the most popular month for weddings in the Philippines The deepest cave in the world is the "Lamprechtsofen-Vogelshacht" cave which can be found in Salzburg, Austria. The cave is 5,354 feet deep The capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the only state capital in the United States that does not have a McDonalds The longest engagement lasted 67 years, and the couple ended up marrying when they were 82 years old Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears. never stop growing Milk and cheese can aid in the reduction of tooth decay On average, a strawberry has 200 seeds on it Coconuts kill more people in the world than sharks do The average person spends two weeks of their life kissing Research has indicated that indoor pollution is 10 times more toxic than outdoor pollution Eating a banana at night can help in falling asleep The stapler was invented in Spring Valley, Minnesota. The first television newscaster was Kolin Hager, who used to broadcast farm and weather reports in 1928 Pixie, a Siberian Husky, gave birth to 7 puppies, one of which was bright green Back in 1953, it took 27 hours to make one Marshmallow Peep. Now it takes only six minutes On average, an ear of a corn has 16 rows and approximately 800 kernels The green ring that is formed around the yolk of eggs that have been cooked too long is formed by the chemical reaction from the iron in the yolk and the sulphur in the white part of the egg The silk that is produced by spiders is stronger than steel The first president to have a picture taken was John Quincy Adams Some brands of toothpaste contain glycerin or glycerol, which is also an ingredient in antifreeze 1 in 2000 babies are born with a tooth that is already visible It was during World War II that clothes with elastic waists were introduced. This is because the metal used in zippers was badly needed for the war In 1902, the game table tennis was brought to the U.S. from Europe by Parker Brothers Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes themlooks like it's kissing the conveyor belt. The fat from sheep, which is called tallow can be used to make soap and candles Next to bone marrow, hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body Sigmund Freud had a morbid fear of ferns When playing competitive darts the player must be 7 feet 9 1/4 inches back from the dartboard. Also the board must be 5 feet 8 inches above the floor In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak Earthworms have 5 hearts If all the gold sitting in the oceans and seas were mined, every person on this plant would get about 20 kilograms of gold each. To make an espresso 42 coffee beans are needed The oil that is found in poison ivy is called "urushiol." Of all the days of the week, the most popular day for people to eat ice cream is Sunday The first museum in Moscow that was set up in 1791 was the Natural History Laboratory at Moscow University. This later was changed to the Zoological Museum A surfer once sued another surfer for "stealing his wave." The case was thrown out because the court was unable to put a price on "pain and suffering" endured by the surfer watching someone else ride "his" wave Many people in parts of China eat insects. Some common insects are bean worms, scoprions, and locusts The largest dog in the world is the Irish Wolfhound Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a fifty thousand-word novel, "Gadsby," without any word containing the letter "e." The projection light used for IMAX theaters can be seen from space. The human liver performs over 500 functions Ballroom dancing is a course at Brigham Young University in Utah The word "maverick" came into use after Samuel Maverick, a Texan, refused to brand his cattle. Eventually any unbranded calf became known as a Maverick Finnish folklore states that when Santa comes to Finland to deliver gifts, he leaves his sleigh behind and rides on a goat named Ukko instead More than $1 billion is spent each year on neck ties in the United States In the 18th century, potatoes were given out as a dessert. They were served in a napkin, salted and hot The only poisonous birds in the world are the three species of Pitohui. The Hooded Pitohui from Papua New Guinea is the most deadliest out of the three Pretzels were originally invented for Christian Lent. The twists of the pretzels are to resemble arms crossed in prayer The American Airlines Center in Dallas has more toilets per capita than any other sports and entertainment venue in the country After 8 months, babies are more likely to get a diaper rash The first modern toothbrush was invented in China. Its bristles came from hogs hair or the mane of a horse that were then put into ivory handles The New Zealand Kiwi bird cannot fly 66% of wedding cards are hand delivered by people Heavier lemons produce more, and tastier, juice The leading cause of poisoning for children under the age of six in the home is liquid dish soap The same amount of calories are burned by doing 6 sessions that are 5 minutes each of an activity and doing 1 session of that activity for 30 minutes General William Booth is the founder of the Salvation Army Iguanas can stay under water for up to thirty minutes The fastest flying butterfly is the Monarch, which has been clocked with a speed as high as 17 miles per hour Egyptian pyramid builders used to eat a lot of garlic because they thought it would increase their strength The average office document gets copied 19 times In just the first 56 days of life, the larva of the polyphemus moth eats about 86,000 times its birthweight Every hour one billion cells in the body must be replaced American actor Jack Nicholson, and American singer Bobby Darrin were raised believing their grandmothers were their mothers and their mothers were their older sisters The first Ford cars had Dodge engines The average height of an NBA basketball player is 6 feet 7 inches One in five Americans move homes every year The chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1933 The capital of Burkina Faso is Ouagadougou A catfish has about 100,000 taste buds The Liberty Bell was the first mechanical slot machine, which was invented by Charles Fey, a car mechanic in 1895. A Russian man who wore a beard during the time of Peter the Great had to pay a special tax The silkworm moth has lost the ability to fly ever since it has been domesticated The first cheerleaders in the U.S. were men The name Jeep came from the abbreviation used in the army for the "General Purpose" vehicle, G.P The odds of having quadruplets are 1 in 729,000 In 1965, the price for an issue of TV Guide was 15 cents In 1565 In St. Augustine, Florida the first orange trees were planted Nose prints are used to identify dogs, much like humans use fingerprints In the United States, six tubs of Cool Whip, a brand of whipping cream, are sold every second The most popular chocolate bar in the United Kingdom for the last 15 years has been Kit Kat White-Out was invented by Bette Nesmith Graham, who is the mother of Michael Nesmith from the "The Monkees." There are over 2,000 different types of cheese in the world The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world Owls swallow their prey whole because they have no teeth. After approximately 12 hours they cough up the feathers, bones, and fur in a shape of a football pellet Historically, a blue ribbon has been awarded for first prize Seventy-one percent of households report they have at least one snorer. Forty-five percent of those surveyed admit they snore, 35% said their partner snores, 12% said their child snores and 9% reported their pet snores The original meaning of the word grocer was referring to a person who traded food in wholesale. These people would usually sell in large quantities, or by the "gross." Research indicates that mosquitoes are attracted to people who have recently eaten bananas Actress Michelle Pfeiffer was the first choice to play Clarice Starling in the movie "Silence of the Lambs." She turned down the role because she found it too scary The White House has 35 bathrooms, 3 elevators, 132 rooms, and 412 doors in it Due to the deforestation of the forests in North China, over one million tons of sands blows into Beijing from the Gobi desert. It sometimes causes the sky to turn yellow. Cows are able to hear lower and higher frequencies better than human beings Approximately 60% of the water used by households during the summer is used for watering flowers, and lawns The largest diamond that was ever found was 3106 carats. In 1970, Chip maker Intel purchased a pear orchard to build their corporate headquarters on The mating call of a male toadfish, who are underwater, is so loud that it can be heard by humans above water The most popular jelly belly jellybean flavour is buttered popcorn The Nike swoosh was invented by Caroline Davidson back in 1971. She received $35 for making the swoosh. The first shoe with the swoosh was introduced in 1972 Slaves under the last emperors of China wore pigtails so they could be picked out quickly A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out Kiwis are the only known bird to have nostrils located at the tip of their beak An adult esophagus can range from 10 to 14 inches in length and is one inch in diameter A squash ball moving at 150 kilometers per hour has the same impact of a .22 bullet Telephonophobia is the fear of telephones The word alligator comes from the Spanish word El Lagarto, which means "The Lizard." While still in college, Bill Gates and Paul Allen once built a special purpose machine called "Traff-O-Data." It was a machine that would analyze information gathered by traffic monitors. They never found any buyers. The citric acid found in lemon juice is said to be able to dissolve a pearl Robert Southey wrote the story "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" in 1834 The tallest woman in the world is American Sandy Allen who is 7 feet 7 inches American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first-class Astronauts get taller when they are in space Only 5 to 10 percent of cheetah cubs make it to adulthood Dentyne gum was invented in 1899 by a druggist from New York named Franklin V. Canning It takes about three hours for food to be broken down in the human stomach When former Texas Governor James Hogg was on his deathbed he made a special request that a pecan tree be planted at the head of his grave instead of a tombstone. The governor passed away on March 2, 1906, which is Texas Independence Day. The pecan tree is now the state tree of Texas In a year, there are 60,000 trampoline injuries that occur in the U.S There is an organization called SCROOGE in Charlottesville, Virginia that stands for Society to Curtail Ridiculous, Outrageous, and Ostentatious Gift Exchanges. This was formed to keep gift giving affordable and simple The first World Series baseball playoffs occurred in 1903 Archipelago is the word to describe a large group of islands that are located close together The life expectancy of a garbage disposal is about 5 to 10 years In the original movie "101 Dalmatians," there are exactly 6,469,952 spots on all 101 Dalmatians as they are shown in 113,760 frames of the film combined The average North American car contains 300 pounds of plastics A person who is a specialist in wine making is called an oenologist You can only smell 1/20th as well as a dog The number one cause of rabies in the United States are bats The music for "The Star Spangled Banner" comes from a British drinking song named "Anacreon." 27 percent of U.S. male college students believe life is "a meaningless existential hell." (big surprise, eh?) Close to fifty percent of the bacteria in the mouth lives on the surface of our tongue Less than 1% of the women in the world will ever be able to wear a diamond that is the size of a carat or more Ketchup originated in China as a pickled fish sauce called ke-tsiap An ostrich's eye is bigger that it's brain. In Britain, The Red Lion is the most common name for a pub In 1997, the record for the highest skydive by a dog at 4,572 feet was established by a dog named Brutus The majority of burglaries occur during the daytime when people are not home Traditionally, wild cabbage was used as an aphrodisiac Tiger Woods was introduced to golf at nine months of age by his father A person will burn 7 percent more calories if they walk on hard dirt compared to pavement It would take 29 million years for a car travelling 100 miles per hour to reach the nearest star Blue Jays can imitate the calls of hawks There are over three trillion craters on the moon, with some being having a diameter over three feet In India, a 9-year-old girl was "married" to a stray dog, which tribal custom requires in order to protect a child whose first tooth appears on the upper gum There is now an ATM at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, which has a winter population of two hundred people In Canada, men are three times more likely than women to have seen a doctor in the last year The most expensive spice in the world is saffron In one night, an adult hippopotamus eats approximately 150 pounds of grass The U.S. paid Russia $7.2 million for Alaska in 1867 Cows can detect odors up to five miles away There are about 125 million multiples (twins, triplets, etc.) worldwide Arthur Giblin was the inventor of the first "flushable" toilet Consuming chocolate was once considered a sin during the 16th and 17th century. During that time it was provided in the form of a drink and since drinking wine during lent was a sin, so was drinking chocolate Approximately 40% of the states in the U.S. have severe, or extreme pollution problems Wendel Clark holds the record for the longest span between NHL All-Star appearances, with 13 years (1986-1999) Ancient Egyptians believed that onions would keep evil spirits away Dill seeds are so small that approximately 10,000 dill seeds would be required to make an ounce To make one pound of whole milk cheese, 10 pounds of whole milk is needed If all the insects in the world were put on a scale, they would out weigh all creatures Women smile more than men do A ripe cranberry will bounce. Another name for a cranberry is bounceberry Termites work 24 hours per day -- they do not sleep The Romans used to clean themselves with olive oil since they did not have any soap. They would pour the oil on their bodies, and then use a strigil, which is type of blade, to scrape off any dirt along with the oil The act of stretching and yawning is referred to as pandiculation In the 1960 movie "Psycho" by Alfred Hitchcock, chocolate syrup was used to show the blood in the shower scene Carolyn Shoemaker, famous astronomer, has discovered 32 comets and approximately 300 asteroids The longest fangs of a snake are found on the Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica), and can reach over 2 inches in length Once a human reaches the age of 35, he/she will start losing approximately 7,000 brain cells a day. The cells will never be replaced The only king without a moustache in a deck of cards is the king of hearts Approximately 100,000 people get married in Las Vegas each year Amish people do not believe in the use of aerosal air fresheners Coca-cola used to use the slogan "Good to the last drop," in 1908. This slogan was later used by Maxwell House The blind cavefish is born with eyes, but they fall off as the fish grows In ancient Egypt, Priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies including their eyebrows and eyelashes The Indian election in 1984 was the largest election of any country. Over 379,000,000 voters were eligible to vote at over 480,000 polling stations A single chocolate chip gives enough energy to a human being to walk 150 feet There are 54 bones in your hands including the wrists The name for Oz in "The Wizard of Oz" was thought up when the creator, Frank Baum, looked at his filing cabinet and saw A-N, and O-Z, hence "Oz." The town of Churchill, Manitoba, located in Canada, is known as the "Polar Bear Capital of the World" Amtrak is the combination of the words "American" and "Track" On average, an American relocates 11 times in their life Fires onland generally move faster uphill than downhill The cartoon character Popeye was actually based on a real person named Frank "Rocky" Fiegel who was a tough guy who was quite similar to Popeye physically Frisbee got its name from William Russel Frisbee, who was a pie baker. He used to sell his pies in a thin tin pan, which had Frisbee written on it. When Walter Frederick Morrison thought of the idea of making saucer like disks to play catch, he visited the campus of Yale and noticed people there were using the pie pan to play catch so he therefore renamed his invention to Frisbee Some arthritis medications contain gold salts, which is used as an anti-inflammatory Lemon juice can aid in reducing the swelling caused by insect bites LSD is made from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a type of fungus DC-10, the name of an airplane stands for "Douglas Commercial." In approximately 18 months, the papaya tree can grow to be 20 feet tall Parrots cannot eat chocolate because it is poisonous to their body Americans are responsible for generating roughly 20% percent of the garbage in the world Termites are roasted and eaten like popcorn in South Africa The official state tree of Illinois is The White Oak It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year'ssupply of footballs. In 1971, the postal code was introduced in Ottawa, Ontario The tridacna clam can grow up to four feet long and weigh up to 500 pounds The state that has the most diners in the world is New Jersey, which is referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World." Approximately 1-2 calorie are burned a minute while watching T.V The first recipe for a lasagna type dish was found to be from a British cookbook in the 14th century. Therefore, Italians were not the first ones to come up with the popular dish as believed Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older If an identical twin grows up without having a certain tooth, the other twin will most likely also grow up with that tooth missing Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but he declined According to legend, tea originated in China when tea leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water When you sneeze, all your bodily functions momentarily stop, including your heart Kite flying is a professional sport in Thailand Urine from men?s public urinals was sold as a commodity in Ancient Rome. It was used as a dye and for making clothes hard All 50 states are listed across the top of the Lincoln Memorial on the back of the $5.00 bill 1 out of 350,000 Americans get electrocuted in their life New Mexico is known as the "Land of Enchantment." In 1890, Scott Paper produced the first toilet paper to be available on a roll An elephant in the wild can eat anywhere from 100 - 1000 pounds of vegetation in a 16 hour period Some of the other names that were thought of for the dwarfs in the Disney movie "Snow White" were Awful, Dirty, Shifty, Hotsy, and Jumpy In the U.S., over 35 million people have used some sort of illegal drug in the last year 96% of candles that are purchased are by women The oldest bird on record was Cocky, a cockatoo, who died in the London Zoo at the age of 82 A cow averages 40,000 jaw movements a day The reason the soft drink Dr Pepper is called that is because the inventor Wade Morrison named it after Dr. Charles Pepper who had given him his first job Annually 17 tons of gold is used to make wedding rings in the United States Sex acts like a natural antihistamine, in can clear up a stuffy nose Women on average live seven years longer than men do A British term for slot machine is "fruit machine" or "one-armed bandit." Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin Even though the rose does not bear any fruit, the rose hips have more Vitamin C than most vegetables and fruits In 1946 Danon Yogurt were the first to add fruit to commercially produced yogurt in U.S The first domain name ever registered was Symbolics.com on March 15, 1985. American Airlines saved $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating one olive from each salad served in first class The first flavour of a cheese ball was called "Cheddy Blue." Over 500 million gallons of Kool-Aid drink are consumed each year The waste produced by one chicken in its lifetime can supply enough electricity to run a 100-watt bulb for five hours Hydrogen solid is the most dense substance in the world, at 70.6g/cc Missouri has been to most NCAA tournaments than any other college without reaching the final four The hump of a camel can weigh up to 35 kilograms Lake Malawi has the largest number of fish species in the world The country of Fiji is made up of 332 islands The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City The word "sophomore" means "sophisticated moron." Jim Bristoe, an American, invented a 30-foot-long, 2-ton pumpkin cannon that can fire pumpkins up to five miles. There are about 61,300 pizza restaurants in the United States of America To tell if a egg is fully cooked or raw, just spin it. If the egg wobbles then it is still raw, and if it easily spins it is fully cooked Used in art the word "sfumato" refers to the subtle blending of an outline by gradually blending one tone into another There is a species of bird, Antpitta avis canis Ridgley, that barks like a dog The flu pandemic of 1918 killed over 20 million people Approximately 20% of Americans have a passport The Nobel prize was first awarded in 1901 The reason why milk is white is because it contains a protein called Casein, which is white. Milk also contains fat, which is also white After twenty-seven years, Betty Rubble made her debut as a Flintstones Vitamin in 1996 When telephone companies first began hiring telephone operators, they chose teenage boys for the job. They switched to women because the teenage boys were wrestling instead of working and pulling pranks on callers In a lifetime, the heart pumps about one million barrels of blood The Sears Tower in Chicago contains enough steel to build 50,000 automobiles The first words that Thomas A. Edison spoke into the phonograph were, "Mary had a little lamb." There are 400 species of bacteria in the human colon On average, 100 people choke to death on ballpoint pens every year. In the 20th century, over three million people have died from earthquakes It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open People still cut the cheese shortly after death In ancient Egypt, the only person who was allowed to wear cotton was the High Priest Blueberries have more antioxidents than any other fruit or vegetables The Mount Horeb Mustard Museum which is located in Wisconsin has the biggest collection of prepared mustards. They have approximately 4,000 different jars and tubes from all over the world Bananas trees are not really trees. They are considered to be giant herb plants Sponge Candy was invented in Buffalo, NY When the volcano Krakatoa off the Java islands exploded in 1883, it was so loud that it woke some people up in South Australia Pearls are rarely found in North American oysters The average cocoon contains about 300-400 metres of silk Lake Nicaragua boasts the only fresh-water sharks in the entire world Boxing champion Gene Tunney taught Shakespeare at Yale University The most popular pickle is the Dill pickle Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for about 180,000 deaths per year Every year approximately 3,000 people choke to death Cow is a Japanese brand of shaving foam The fastest running bird is the Ostrich, which has been clocked at 97.5 kilometres per hour When the divorce rate goes up in the United States, toy makers report that the sale of toys also rise Q-Tip Cotton Swabs were originally called Baby Gays The Pacific island of Tonga once issued a stamp that was banana shaped A mole can dig a tunnel three hundred feet long in a single night The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher The only commercial aircraft that is able to break the sound barrier is the Concorde. U.S. Postal Service processes 38 million address changes each year In 1984, Ronald Reagan declared the month of July to be "National Ice Cream Month." The small intestine in the human body is about 2 inches around, and 22 feet long In 1905, the first pizzeria in the U.S. opened in New York City In the early nineteenth century some advertisements claimed that riding the carousel was good for the circulation of blood For the blockbuster movie "The Terminator," O.J. Simpson was considered to play the role of the Terminator, but producers did not choose him as they thought he would not be taken seriously The actor who played the T-1000 in Terminator 2 (Robert Patrick) and the lead singer of Filter are brothers The sole purpose of a drone bee is to mate with the queen bee There are more plastic flamingos in America than real ones Walt Disney had a fear of mice Cleopatra married two of her brothers In an average lifetime, people spend four years traveling in cars and six months waiting for red light to turn green At one time, pumpkins were recommended for removing freckles In just one drop of liquid, 50 million bacteria can be present The Montreal Canadians hockey team has won the most Stanley Cups with 24 Nylon is a man-made fibre that is made from coal and petroleum When the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, received an alarming number of threatening letters, soon after her husband became President at the height of the Depression, the Secret Service insisted that she carry a pistol in her purse Swiss engineer George de Mestral, who got the idea after noticing burrs were sticking to his pants after his regular walks through the woods, invented Velcro. Bees can communicate with other bees by dancing. Their dance can alert other bees as to which direction and the distance nectar and pollen is located The steepest street in the world is Baldwin Street located in Dunedin, New Zealand. It has an incline of 38% One billion pounds of pasta would need approximately 2,021,452,000 gallons of water to cook it. This is equivalent to 75,000 Olympic-size swimming pools Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously The average Super Bowl party has 18 people An ant can detect a movement through 5 centimeters of earth One out of 200 women is colorblind On average, the rainfall across the Amazon is 7 feet annually. Passion fruits have a tranquilizing effect on the body It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky A snail can sleep for 3 years "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt" There is a large brass statue of Winnie-the-Pooh in Lima, Peru In 1982, Larry Walters tied 24 weather balloons to his lawn chair in Los Angeles and climbed to an altitude of 16,000 feet Centuries ago in India, a person could get their nose chopped off for breaking the law The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in Jello The total number of steps in the Eiffel Tower are 1665 The amount of blood a female mosquito drinks per serving is five millionths of a liter An adult porcupine has approximately 30,000 quills on its body, which are replaced every year The name for Ivory Soap was inspired by a verse from the Bible. Harley Proctor got though of the name when the minister read from Psalms 45:8, "All thy garments smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces whereby they have made thee glad." A survey done by Clairol 10 years ago came up with 46% of men stating that it was okay to color their hair. Now 66% of men admit to coloring their hair The name of the squiggly line "~" is called a tilde In 1747, the first American mention of the Christmas tree occurred. However, it was a not a tree but instead a pyramid made out of wood and decorated with apples and evergreen boughs There are more Barbie dolls in Italy than there are Canadians in Canada The study of ants is called Myrmecology In the United States, you are more likely to be killed by a bee sting than a shark attack Coca-Cola was the first soft drink to be consumed in outer space Frozen food can be just as nutritious as fresh food Fourteen people die each day from asthma in the United States The average amount of time spent kissing for a person in a lifetime is 20,160 minutes The human body has approximately 37,000 miles of capillaries The most expensive shoes in the world are ruby slippers located in Harrods in London, which cost $1.6 million, has a full time security guard. The shoes are made from platinum thread and has 642 rubies in them. It took over 700 hours to produce the shoe Only 55% of all Americans know that the sun is a star The city of Denver was originally chosen to host the 1976 Winter Olympics, but had to withdraw because Colorado voters rejected to finance it The longest bout of sneezing recorded was by Donna Griffith. It began in January 13 1981 and continued until September 16 1983 and lasted for 978 days The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, India, was actually built for use as a tomb by Mogul ruler Shah Jehan for his wife, Arjuman Banu Begum In 1943, the July issue of "Transportation Magazine" had an article entitled "1943 Guide to Hiring Women." Spotted skunks do handstands before they spray A dime has 118 ridges around the edge Scientists with high-speed cameras have discovered that rain drops are not tear shaped but rather look like hamburger buns. Ancient Egyptian women used to wear perfume cones made of wax that would melt in the heat letting out a nice fragrance Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday." This is the festival that New Orleans, Louisiana is famous for having every year There was once a fish caught in Delaware Bay with a watch still ticking inside In Singapore, it is illegal to sell or own chewing gum During the female orgasm, endorphines are released, which are powerful painkillers. So headaches are in fact a bad excuse not to have sex Donkeys kill more people annually than plane crashes The nut "filbert" got its name from St. Philbert which is celebrated on August 22nd, which is also when the nut matures Every time Beethoven sat down to write music, he poured ice water over his head Some species of dolphin sleep with one eye open The chewing gum Juicy Fruit has 10 calories. This is approximately the same as a bite of whole wheat bread In ancient Egypt, doctors used jolts from the electric catfish to reduce the pain of arthritis In order to scare away predators, Giant petrels, a type of seabird, throw up all over the intruder Elvis Presley used to be a truck driver before he started singing The average cow produces about 2,305 gallons of milk each year Former U.S. president Ronald Reagan worked as a lifeguard in his youth at a beach near Dixon, Illinois and saved over 77 lives In 2000, there were 1,579,566 drug arrests in the United States. Of those, close to half were for marijuana Just like fingerprints, every cats nose pad is different Popeye is 34 years old, weighs 158 lbs, and is 5 feet 6 inches tall Researchers have shot footage of Orcas (killer whales) attacking and killing great white sharks The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca Cola, and Budweiser, in that order One bushel of wheat can make enough sandwiches that you could eat three sandwiches a day for over six months In 1992, approximately 750 deaths occurred in the United States due to workplace violence In the movie "Babe", the piglet was played by over 30 different piglets they outgrew the part so quickly during the production of the film Research indicates that people prefer the colour blue for their casual clothing The leading cause of deaths for children between the ages of 1 and 4 are motor vehicle crashes The first toilet being flushed in a motion picture was in the movie "Psycho." The human brain has about 100,000,000,000 (100 billion) neurons One acre of wheat can produce enough bread to feed a family of four people for about ten years Queen Victoria used marijuana, to help relieve menstrual cramp pain On a ship a toilet is called a head About 1 in 5,000 North Atlantic lobsters are born bright blue Approximately 10.5 gallons of water is used in a dishwasher. Washing the dishes by hand can use up to 20 gallons of water The thing that hangs from the top of the beak of a turkey is called the snood Ticks can be as small as a grain of rice and grow to be as big as a marble An American chews an average of 300 sticks of gum in a year Most cows give more milk when they listen to music Giant flying foxes, which are a type of bat, that live in Indonesia have wingspans of nearly six feet Heavier lemons contain more and tastier juice Since 1950, over 230 million eggs of Silly Putty have been sold Oral-B is a combination of oral hygiene and the letter B, which stands for the word better Frank Wathernam was the last prisoner to leave Alcatraz prison on March 21, 1963 A blink lasts approximately 0.3 seconds In 1903 Mary Anderson invented the windshield wipers Both Thomas Jefferson and Jimmy Carter, U.S. presidents, were peanut farmers at one time A cow releases about 125 gallons of gas per day The Apollo 17 crew were the last men on the moon Spartacus led the revolt of the Roman slaves and gladiators in 73 B.C The Mexican version of the Tooth Fairy is known as the Tooth Mouse, which takes the tooth and leaves treasures in its place In a day the blue whale calf drinks approximately 130 gallons of milk Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people do All racehorses in the U.S. celebrate their birthday on January 1st A person would have to drink more than 12 cups of hot cocoa to equal the amount of caffeine found in one cup of coffee The oldest documented footwear found was a 8,000 year-old sandal found in a cave located in Missouri, USA Broccoli was first introduced into France during the royal marriage of Catherine de Medici to Henry II of France By federal law, for a noodle to actually be a noodle it must have 5.5 percent egg solids in it, otherwise it cannot be called a noodle The first female guest host of Saturday Night Live was actress Candace Bergen The human heart beast roughly 35 million times a year People that use mobile phones are 2.5 time more likely to develop cancer in areas of the brain that are adjacent to the ear they use to talk on the mobile phone Turkeys can have heart attacks. When the Air Force was conducting test runs and breaking the sound barrier, fields of turkeys dropped dead because of heart attacks The act of sneezing is referred to as sternutation The average medium size piano has about 230 strings A study revealed that men that were born with a low birth weight were less likely to get married It takes about 63,000 trees to make the newsprint for the average Sunday edition of The New York Times On average, you would need 12.5 gallons of milk to make one gallon of ice cream A leech can gorge itself up to a maximum of five times its body weight There are places in Saskatchewan called Elbow, Eyebrow, and Drinkwater A butterfly has to have a body temperature greater than 86 degrees to be able to fly The beeswax that is produced by Honey bees comes from eight paired glands that are located on the underside of their stomach People in low-income homes spend 50% more time playing video games than people in high-income homes Lighthouse keepers were nicknamed "wickies" because they tended the lamps wick Taco Bell serves over 35 million consumers each week in the USA During the Roman times, people used urine, called lotium in Latin, as a hair product There are approximately 90 people that have been frozen after their death. The smallest will ever written was 3.8 cm in diameter. It had 40 words written on it and was signed by two witnesses The length of a human esophagus is 25 centimeters In 1942 the Jello company introduced Cola flavored jello, which only lasted a year Males account for 60% of toy injuries that occur in the U.S The company "Sony" was originally called "Totsuken." They felt the name "Sony" would be easier to pronounce. The name was invented by a cross between the name "sonus" and "sonny." The name sound and sonic are derived. Sonny was used to represent a young man or boy, which would show a energetic young company The Red Cross is called the Red Crescent in Arab countries The Olympics were originally held for the Greek god Zeus The oldest inhabited house in Scotland is the Traquair Castle. The castle has had 27 kings as visitors Four billion pounds of watermelon were grown in the United States in 1999 Wham-O manufactured twenty-thousand hula-hoops a day at the peak of hula-hoop popularity in 1958 JELL-O was declared The "Official State Snack" of Utah in January 2001 Elvis Presley was obsessed with brushing his teeth When the Statue of Liberty was moved from France to the United States, 214 crates were used to transport it. The Statue was also reduced to 350 pieces There are approximately 2000 thunderstorms that are active at the same time which results in 100 lightning flashes a second. In-vitro babies are born in Australia more than any other country in the world Uranus? winter and summer seasons last the equivalent of 21 Earth years More people die from eating sharks then from being eaten by them. This is due to a poison in shark meat The murder rate in the United States is about four times greater than in Japan. In Japan, no private citizen can buy a handgun legally The rarest chocolate bar in the world is the Porcelana bar. There are only 20,000 of these bars produced a year, and they sell for $90 per pound The reason why locusts swarm are because when they are in groups, a "hot-spot" behind their hind legs is stimulated, which in turn causes their destructive nature. A large swarm of locusts can eat eighty thousand tons of corn in a day There are an equivalent number of cows and people in Friesland, Netherlands Centipedes always have an uneven pairs of walking legs A chicken once had its head cut off and survived for over eighteen months, headless The largest diamond found in the United States was a 40.23 carat white diamond. It was found in 1924 and nicknamed the "Uncle Sam." Following directions off the Internet and chemicals obtained from a mail order company, a team of U.S. scientists created an identical copy of the polio virus. Every day, the Hubble telescope transmits enough data to fit 10,000 standard computer disks The average number of people that go to a party for the Super Bowl is 17 The amount of Kit Kat chocolate bars that are made at the York factory every 15 minutes are enough to outstack the Eiffel Tower The skin of a shark is made up of "tiny teeth" which are called dermal denticles The strongest gust of wind was recorded at the Mount Washington Observatory on April 12th, 1934, and measured 231 miles per hour. The company Chanel claims that every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a bottle of Chanel No 5 is sold In their lifetime, house cats spend approximately 10,950 hours purring The reason why bubbles are round is because this is the most efficient shape that the soap film can take for the amount of air trapped inside It is very common for babies in New Zealand to sleep on sheepskins. This is to help them gain weight faster, and retain their body heat From 1526 to 1707, the first six Mogul emperors of India ruled in unbroken succession from father to son A one kilogram packet of sugar will have about 5 million grains of sugar Bats emit ultrasonic sounds to communicate with each other Rats can survive up to 14 days without any food Canola oil is actually rapeseed oil but the name was changed in Canada for marketing reasons Three consecutive strikes in bowling is called a turkey In a year, about 90 million jars of Skippy Peanut Butter are sold. This works out to three jars sold every second In a lifetime, an average man will shave 20,000 times The Pentagon has 284 restrooms From 1967-1976, the town of Tororo located in Uganda had thunder 251 out of the 365 days in a year for those years. Children grow faster in the springtime than any other season during the year Another name for licorice is "Sweet Wood" or "Spanish Juice." The reason the Animal Crackers box is designed with a string handle is because when the popular circus theme was introduced in 1902 they thought it would also be a good idea to package them with a string as a Christmas novelty so they could be hung from Christmas trees Sheep can detect other sheep faces like humans do. They can remember up to 50 sheep faces The loudest insect in the world is the male cicadas, which are like crickets. When they rub their abdomens, the sound made can be heard from 1300 feet Each year 96 billion pounds of food is wasted in the U.S In the past 60 years, the groundhog has only predicted the weather correctly 28% of the time. The rushing back and forth from burrows is believed to indicate sexual activity, not shadow seeking Pretzel snacks have been around for over 1300 years. A European monk invented the snack using used leftover bread dough Sharks are capable of surviving on average six weeks without eating. The record observed in an aquarium is fifteen months by a species of shark known as the "swell shark." The destruction of the Berlin Wall began when private citizens began to demolish entire sections of the Wall without interference from government officials on November 9, 1989 Most American women have their first baby when they are 24.3 years old Frogs do not need to drink water as they absorb the water through their skin A group of larks is called an exaltation The Kool Aid Man used to be known as "Pitcher Man" when he was first introduced in 1975 Wheel of Fortune star Vanna White holds the record for putting her hands together approximately 140,000 times to clap Men sweat more than women. This is because women can better regulate the amount of water they lose Research has indicated that approximately eleven minutes are cut off the life of an average male smoker from each cigarette smoked The triangular shape that Toblerone chocolates are packaged in, is protected by law In 1945, the first "floating ice cream parlor" was built for sailors in the western Pacific. This "floating ice cream parlour" could produce ten gallons of ice cream every seven seconds The formula for Coca-cola has never been patented The average day is actually 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.09 seconds. We have a leap year every four years to make up for this shortfall Before its name was changed, the African Penguin used be called the Jackass Penguin because of its donkey-like braying call During the high feeding season, it has been estimated that an adult blue whale can eat up to 40 million krill in one day. (Krill are shrimp like creatures) Pound for pound, leopards are said to be seven times stronger than humans One average, men spend 60 hours a year shaving Botanically a rhubarb is a vegetable. It was changed to a fruit in 1947 by a U.S. Custom Court Sawney Beane, his wife, 8 sons, 6 daughters, and 32 grandchildren were a family of cannibals that lived in the caves near Galloway, Scotland in the early 17th Century. Although the total number is not known, it is believed they claimed over 50 victims per year. The entire family was taken by an army detachment to Edinburgh and executed, apparently without trial The movie that grossed the most money that was adapted from a T.V. cartoon is Scooby-Doo There are five million scent receptors located in a human beings nose When Coca-Cola was invented, American tourists that visited Spain were surprised to see that Coke was three times as expensive as a glass of brandy Some silkworms can spin cocoons that contain more than two miles of silk The mother of famous astronomer Johannes Kepler was accused of being a witch At one time, Pumpkins were recommended for the removal of freckles and curing snake bites The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies Approximately 200 pets are buried in a pet cemetery out of the thousands of pets that die each day The average Hostess Twinkie is 68 percent air as measured by volume according to university researchers In Haiti, only 1 out of every 200 people own a car. This is ironic considering approximately 33% of the country's budget on import is spent on equipment for fuel and transportation. Every U.S. bill regardless of denomination costs just 4 cents to make About 30% of American admit to talking to their dogs or leaving messages on their answering machines for their dogs while they are away A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why Caterpillar means "hairy cat" in Old French The ostrich has two toes on each feet which gives it greater speed On September 3, 1970, a hailstone was found in Coffeyville, Kansas that was eight inches in diameter and weighed 1.67 pounds. Honorificabilitudinitatibus is the longest English word that consists strictly of alternating consonants and vowels It can take up to a month for a rattlesnake to re-supply its venom Close to 3 billion movie tickets are sold in India every year The word racecar and kayak are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left There were approximately 2,228 people on board the Titanic when it sank. Of this, only 706 people survived An elephant can live up to the age of seventy, or in some cases even more The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world Elephants can't jump. Every other mammal can. The name "cranberry" comes from German and Dutch settlers. The berry was intially called "crane berry." The reason it was called this was because when the flowers bloom, the petals of the flowers twist backwards and look very much like the head of a crane. Eventually the name was shortened down to be "cranberry." In New Mexico, over eleven thousand people have visited a tortilla chip that appeared to have the face of Jesus Christ burned into it On average, he ratio of yellow kernels to white kernals in a bag of popcorn is 9:1 The first toilet stall in a public washroom is the least likely to be used. It is also the cleanest In 1955, only 330 Volkswagen Beetle's were sold at a price of $1800 each in the United States. Printed on the tablet being held by the Statue of Liberty is July IV, MDCCLXXVI The country of Fiji is made up of 332 islands Orville Wright, a pilot, was involved in the first aircraft accident. His passenger, a Frenchman, was killed. The first company to mass produce teddy bears was the Ideal Toy Company Princess Anne from the British royal family competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics Brazil produces the most oranges in the world Average life span of a major league baseball: 7 pitches. The eyeball of a human weighs approximately 28 grams A human head remains conscious for about 15 to 20 seconds after it is been decapitated Witchcraft means "Craft of the Wise Ones." 500,000 kids in the US live in same sex households In July 1874, a swarm of Rocky Mountain locusts flew over Nebraska covering an area estimated at 198,600 square miles. It is estimated that the swarm contained about 12.5 trillion insects. These insects became extinct thirty years later Tropical rainforests cover about 7% of the Earth and receive over 80 inches of rain every year The feet have approximately 250,000 sweat glands Approximately 7.5% of all office documents get lost The desert tortoise can live without having to drink any water. It extracts the water it needs from the vegetation it eats There were 13 couples celebrating their honeymoon on the Titanic A cat has 32 muscles in each ear There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball Elvis Presley had a twin brother named Jesse Garon Presley who died at birth Robert Wadlow is the tallest man recorded in history. He grew to be eight feet and eleven inches and weighed 490 pounds when he died Bank robber John Dillinger played professional baseball Research indicates that plants grow healthier when they are stroked. France is known as the perfume capital of the world According to psychologists, the shoe and the foot are the most common sources of sexual fetishism in Western society Constipation is caused when too much water is absorbed in the large intestine and the feces become dry One ton of grapes can produce 720 bottles of wine Eating about twenty tart cherries a day could reduce inflammatory pain and headache pain In 2001, the five most valuable brand names in order were Coca-Cola, Microsoft, IBM, GE, and Nokia Milk chocolate was invented in Switzerland by David Peter in 1876 In November 1999, two women were killed by a lightning bolt. The underwire located in their bras acted as a electrical conductors, and when the lightning bolt hit the bra they left burn marks on their chest Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891 Over 100,000 birds and sea animals are killed every year due to plastic garbage The big toe is the foot reflexology pressure point for the head 85% of weddings are held in a synagogue or church The sport of surfing originated in Hawaii It is possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs Before soccer referees started using whistles in 1878, they used to rely on waving a handkerchief Tobacco kills more Americans each year than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire and AIDS combined The best time for a person to buy shoes is in the afternoon. This is because the foot tends to swell a bit around this time Dead cells in the body ultimately go to the kidneys for excretion Americans, on average, spend 18% of his or her income on transportation as compared to only 13% spent on food There are some species of snails that are venomous. Their venom can be fatal to humans The first box of Crayola that was ever sold had the same eight colours that are sold in the box today consisting of red, blue, yellow, green, violet, orange, black and brown. The box was sold for a nickel in 1903 A turtle can breathe through its butt. The rarest coffee in the world is Kopi Luwak, which is found in Indonesia. It cost about $300 a pound The average America online user spends 70 minutes day online The song with the longest title is "I?m a Cranky Old Yank in a Clanky Old Tank on the Streets of Yokohama with my Honolulu Mama Doin? Those Beat-o, Beat-o Flat-On-My-Seat-o, Hirohito Blues" written by Hoagy Carmichael in 1945. He later claimed the song title ended with ?Yank? and the rest was a joke People of Ancient China believed that swinging your arms could cure a headache In 1938, Cliquot Club ginger ale was the first soft drink to be canned The largest apple pie ever baked was forty by twenty three feet Roughly 44% of junk mail is thrown away unopened Catfish have tastebuds located on their whiskers The laundry detergent Tide, has a market share of about forty percent market A Canadian, Troy Hurtubise, spent $100,000 and almost went bankrupt building a RoboCop style suit so that he could withstand a bear attack The 3 most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, andBudweiser, in that order. The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after the Major League all-stars Game In the United States, 8.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were done in the year 2001 The Bible has been translated into Klingon. Ian Fleming named his character "James Bond" after real-life ornithologist and author Most dinosaurs walked on their toes. On December 17 1991, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 148-80, the largest margin of victory in an NBA game There are mirrors on the moon. Astronauts left them so that laser beams could be bounced off of them from Earth. These beams help give us the distance to the moon give or take a few metres. The U.S. army packs Tabasco pepper sauce in every ration kit that they give to soldiers The trunk of an elephant can hold up to two gallons of water Every year, an igloo hotel is built in Sweden that has the capacity to sleep 100 people During the holiday season, approximately $220 million worth of Poinsettias are sold A newborn kangaroo weighs approximately 0.03 ounces and is small enough to fit in a teaspoon When Scott Paper Co. first started manufacturing toilet paper they did not put their name on the product because of embarrassment The most senior crayon maker Emerson Moser retired after making 1.4 billion crayons for Crayola. It was then that he revealed that he was actually colorblind The highest point in Pennsylvania is lower than the lowest point inColorado. Scientists have determined that having guilty feelings may actually damage your immune system "Go." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language There are more than 250,000 rivers in the United States, which amounts to 3.5 million miles of rivers Forty-one percent of women apply body and hand moisturizer at least three times a day Pretzel that have no salt on them are called "baldies." The 1912 Olympics was the last Olympics that gave out gold medals that were made entirely out of gold Monopoly is the best-selling board game in the world There was a book written fourteen years before the sinking of the Titanic happened titled "Futility" by Morgan Robertson. This book was remarkably similar to the tragedy that happened to the Titanic in 1912 One ounce of chocolate has about 20 mg of caffeine in it A giraffe can go longer without water than a camel Vikings, after killing their enemies, used their skulls as drinking vessels Studies have shown that classical music helps cows produce more milk Two out of five people end up marrying their first love The Hawaiian alphabet only has 12 letters The name "Muppet" was coined by Jim Henson. The word was made from a combination of the word "marionette" and "puppet." In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, which did not receive a drop of rain for ten years The Christmas season begins after sunset on December 24th and lasts until January 5th. This is also known as the Twelve Days of Christmas Mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue more than any other color In Italy, Santa Claus is known by the name Babbo Natale Two objects have struck the earth with enough force to destroy a whole city. Each object, one in 1908 and again in 1947, struck regions of Siberia. Not one human being was hurt either time When blue whales are first born, they gain as much as 200 pounds a day while they are calves Families who do turn off the television during meals tend to eat healthier. This was regardless of family income, or education About 25 percent of all the energy consumed in the US is from natural gas American novelist Mark Twain was the first known author to submit a typed manuscript If you fart consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb Canada is the only country not to win a gold medal in the Summer Olympic games while hosting the event The sound made by the toadfish when mating underwater is so loud that it can be heard by humans on the shore In America, approximately 20% of children between the ages of 2 - 7 have televisions in their rooms Traveling by air is the safest means of transportation. In 1996, toy company Mattel released a "Harley Davidson" Barbie. This dolls distinctive feature is a birth mark on her face that changes position with every new release of the doll The most common injury caused by cosmetics is to the eye by a mascara wand There have been close to 200 coups and counter-coups in the country of Bolivia On average, pigs live for about 15 years Roughly 42% of people in the United Kingdom snore No NFL team which plays its home games in a domed stadium has ever won a Superbowl Beluga whales which are also called "white whales" are not born white. They are born grey in color, and by the age of six become completely white Tiger Woods is the first athlete to has been named "Sportsman of the Year" by magazine Sports Illustrated two times The eight most popular foods to cause food allergies are: milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish Club Direct, a travel insurance company in Britain, provides insurance plans for protection from falling coconuts There are some bananas that are red instead of yellow Only one out of every three people wash their hands when leaving a public bathroom 570 gallons of paint would be needed to paint the outside of the White House Baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms every day Every three seconds a baby is born somewhere in the world The total mileage driven by all U-Haul trucks in a year is enough to move a person from the Earth to the moon five times a day for an entire year The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one mile in every fivemust be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips intimes ofwar or other emergencies. Pluto was discovered on February 10, 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh Termites have been around for over 250 million years The average person changes their career every 13 years The New York Yankees have appeared in the World Series a league leading 38 times and won 26 titles Approximately 18 billion disposable diapers end up in landfills each year. These diapers can takes as long as 500 years to finally decompose Over 4.5 billion sticks have Trident gum have been chewed. If the stick of gum were laid out end to end they could circle the globe approximately 1.8 times Oak trees can live 200 or more years The brain of an ant has about 250,000 brain cells About 26 per cent of all indoor water used by households in Sydney, Australia are for laundry A rainbow can occur only when the sun is 40 degrees or less above the horizon If you spray an antiseptic spray on a polar bear, its fur will turn purple Over $7 billion a year is spent on chocolates by consumers During World War II, Russians used dogs strapped with explosives to blow up German tanks. They trained the dogs to associate the tanks with food and ended up destroying about 25 German tanks using this method Butterflies taste with their feet St. Louis, Missouri was the first U.S. city to host the summer Olympics in 1904 The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law whichstated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than yourthumb. Every year Alaska has about 5,000 earthquakes, 1,000 of which measure above 3.5 on the Richter scale A fetus develops fingerprints at eighteen weeks It takes about a half a gallon of water to cook macaroni, and about a gallon to clean the pot The cornea is the only living tissue in the human body that does not contain any blood vessels In the U.S. peanuts account for 66% of all snack nuts There are approximately 7,000 feathers on an eagle Sharks can sense a drop of blood from a mile away As a defense mechanism, the North American Opossum closes its eyes and becomes totally limp. Basically it plays dead The longest town name in the world has 167 letters A sneeze zooms out of your mouth at over 600 m.p.h A cesium atom in an atomic clock that beats over nine billion times a second. The mythical Scottish town of Brigadoon appears for one day every one hundred years Kermit the frog delivered the commencement address at Southampton College located in the state of New York in 1996 In World War II, the German submarine U-120 was sunk by a malfunctioning toilet The phrase "Often a bridesmaid, but never a bride," actually originates from an advertisement for Listerine mouthwash from 1924 Over 50% of lottery players go back to work after winning the jackpot The largest cultivated crop in the United States is corn Walt Disney holds the record for the most Oscar nominations with sixty-four On average, Americans eat one hundred acres of pizza a day. This amounts to about three hundred fifty slices per second As an iceberg melts, it makes a fizzing sound because of the compressed air bubbles popping in the ice The Arctic Ocean covers an area of about 14,056,000 sq miles The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C Most toilets flush in E flat Bile produced by the liver is responsible for making your feces a brownish, green colour At one time the group "Grateful Dead" were called "The Warlocks." Bats can detect food up to 18 feet away and what type of insect the food may be using their sense of echolocation At the equator the Earth spins at about 1,038 miles per hour People whose mouth has a narrow roof are more likely to snore. This is because they have less oxygen going through their nose In one day, a human sheds 10 billion skin flakes. This amounts to approximately two kilograms in a year On average, an American home has 3-10 gallons of hazardous materials On average, 35 meters of hair fibre is produced on the adult scalp Dalmatian puppies do not have any spots on them when they are born. They actually develop them as they get older Male goats will pee on each other in order to attract mates A dog by the name of Laika was launched into space aboard the Russian spacecraft Sputnik 2 in 1957 In 2002, dogs have killed more people in the U.S. than the Great White shark has killed in the past 100 years The study of twins is known as gemellology On an American one-dollar bill, there is an owl in the upper right-hand corner of the "1" encased in the "shield" and a spider hidden in the front upper right-hand corner During one seven year period, Thomas Edison obtained approximately three hundred patents. In is whole life he obtained over one thousand patents. When Black Jack Ketchum was hung back in 1901 in Clayton New Mexico, the noose actually ended up taking his head off. The head had to be sewn back on so Black Jack could be buried properly Every 40,000 children are killed by fires The highest recorded speed of a sneeze is 165 km per hour In 1985, a pregnant women was falsely accused of shoplifting a basketball In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere The adult electric eel can produce a five hundred volt shock, which is enough to stun a horse When the are in danger, kangaroos will beat the ground loudly with their hind feet To manufacture a new car approximately 148,000 liters of water is needed. In 410 A.D. Alaric the Visigoth demanded that Rome give him three thousand pounds of pepper as ransom Actress Jamie Lee Curtis invented a special diaper for babies that has a pocket Honeybees use the sun as a compass which helps them navigate An average driver spends approximately 2 hours and 14 minutes kissing in their car in a lifetime In gangster slang, a boxing match that is fixed is called a "barney."	i don't know
Where in the human body would you find cones and rods?	The Rods and Cones of the Human Eye Rods and Cones The retina contains two types of photoreceptors, rods and cones. The rods are more numerous, some 120 million, and are more sensitive than the cones. However, they are not sensitive to color. The 6 to 7 million cones provide the eye's color sensitivity and they are much more concentrated in the central yellow spot known as the macula. In the center of that region is the " fovea centralis ", a 0.3 mm diameter rod-free area with very thin, densely packed cones. The experimental evidence suggests that among the cones there are three different types of color reception. Response curves for the three types of cones have been determined. Since the perception of color depends on the firing of these three types of nerve cells, it follows that visible color can be mapped in terms of three numbers called tristimulus values . Color perception has been successfully modeled in terms of tristimulus values and mapped on the CIE chromaticity diagram . Go Back Cone Details Current understanding is that the 6 to 7 million cones can be divided into "red" cones (64%), "green" cones (32%), and "blue" cones (2%) based on measured response curves . They provide the eye's color sensitivity. The green and red cones are concentrated in the fovea centralis . The "blue" cones have the highest sensitivity and are mostly found outside the fovea, leading to some distinctions in the eye's blue perception . The cones are less sensitive to light than the rods , as shown a typical day-night comparison . The daylight vision (cone vision) adapts much more rapidly to changing light levels, adjusting to a change like coming indoors out of sunlight in a few seconds. Like all neurons, the cones fire to produce an electrical impulse on the nerve fiber and then must reset to fire again. The light adaption is thought to occur by adjusting this reset time. The cones are responsible for all high resolution vision. The eye moves continually to keep the light from the object of interest falling on the fovea centralis where the bulk of the cones reside. Go Back "Blue" Cone Distinctions The "blue" cones are identified by the peak of their light response curve at about 445 nm. They are unique among the cones in that they constitute only about 2% of the total number and are found outside the fovea centralis where the green and red cones are concentrated. Although they are much more light sensitive than the green and red cones, it is not enough to overcome their disadvantage in numbers. However, the blue sensitivity of our final visual perception is comparable to that of red and green, suggesting that there is a somewhat selective "blue amplifier" somewhere in the visual processing in the brain. The visual perception of intensely blue objects is less distinct than the perception of objects of red and green. This reduced acuity is attributed to two effects. First, the blue cones are outside the fovea, where the close-packed cones give the greatest resolution. All of our most distinct vision comes from focusing the light on the fovea. Second, the refractive index for blue light is enough different from red and green that when they are in focus, the blue is slightly out of focus ( chromatic aberration ). For an "off the wall" example of this defocusing effect on blue light, try viewing a hologram with a mercury vapor lamp . You will get three images with the dominant green, orange and blue lines of mercury, but the blue image looks less focused than the other two. Go Back Rod Details The rods are the most numerous of the photoreceptors , some 120 million, and are the more sensitive than the cones . However, they are not sensitive to color. They are responsible for our dark-adapted, or scotopic , vision. The rods are incredibly efficient photoreceptors. More than one thousand times as sensitive as the cones, they can reportedly be triggered by individual photons under optimal conditions. The optimum dark-adapted vision is obtained only after a considerable period of darkness, say 30 minutes or longer, because the rod adaption process is much slower than that of the cones. The rod sensitivity is shifted toward shorter wavelengths compared to daylight vision, accounting for the growing apparent brightness of green leaves in twilight. While the visual acuity or visual resolution is much better with the cones, the rods are better motion sensors. Since the rods predominate in the peripheral vision, that peripheral vision is more light sensitive, enabling you to see dimmer objects in your peripheral vision. If you see a dim star in your peripheral vision, it may disappear when you look at it directly since you are then moving the image onto the cone-rich fovea region which is less light sensitive. You can detect motion better with your peripheral vision, since it is primarily rod vision. The rods employ a sensitive photopigment called rhodopsin. Go Back Rods Do Not See Red! The light response of the rods peaks sharply in the blue; they respond very little to red light. This leads to some interesting phenomena: Red rose at twilight: In bright light, the color-sensitive cones are predominant and we see a brilliant red rose with somewhat more subdued green leaves. But at twilight, the less-sensitive cones begin to shut down for the night, and most of the vision comes from the rods. The rods pick up the green from the leaves much more strongly than the red from the petals, so the green leaves become brighter than the red petals! The ship captain has red instrument lights. Since the rods do not respond to red, the captain can gain full dark-adapted vision with the rods with which to watch for icebergs and other obstacles outside. It would be undesirable to examine anything with white light even for a moment, because the attainment of optimum night-vision may take up to a half-hour. Red lights do not spoil it. These phenomena arise from the nature of the rod-dominated dark-adapted vision, called scotopic vision .	Eye
The United States Congress adopted the flag of the United States on April 4, 1818, which consisted of 13 red and white stripes and one star for each state. How many stars did the first official flag have?	Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) under a microscope! Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder – but our 100 million rod and 6 million cone cells are doing all the hard work! Find out how we see rainbows and ice cream colors, and old movies and starlight. (Each of our "eyes" comes with 2 black-and-white rods and 1 color cone cell. Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) GMUS-MM-0247 $12.95 Additional Information Sizes Giantmicrobes are based on actual microbes, cells, organisms and other critters, only 1,000,000 times actual size! Gigantic (GG) 16-24" Keychain (KC) 2-4" with clip Materials Plush from all new materials. Stuffed with polyester fiber fill. Surface washable: sponge with water & soap, air dry. Packaging Each plush microbe includes a printed card with fun, educational and fascinating facts about the actual microbe or cell. Safety Every product meets or exceeds U.S. and European standards for safety. For ages 3 and up. All about Eye: Rod & Cone (Photoreceptor cells) Description The rods and cones in our eyes help us see! The rods enable us to see in low light while the cones enable us to see in color. There are three types of cones: the S-cones (short-wavelength sensitive cones), the M-cones (middle-wavelength sensitive cones), and the L-cones (long-wavelength sensitive cones). Name The rods are rod-shaped while the cones are cone-shaped. Actual Size A rod cell is about 2 microns in diameter and 100 microns long. A cone cell is about .5 to 4 microns in diameter and 40 to 50 microns long. System There are around 120 million rods and 6 to 7 million cones in our eyes! Fascinating Facts Color blindness occurs when the cones, which are responsible for color vision, are not sensitive or totally absent. The most common type of color blindness is red green color blindness! Colorblind people may only be able to differentiate 20 hues of color whereas non-colorblind people can differentiate 100 hues of color. Human beings are more colorblind than pigeons. There are more colorblind males than females. You may also like	i don't know
Naan, corn, and focaccia are all types of what?	Making Flatbread: Focaccia & Flatbreads from Around the World \| Craftsy Focaccia & Flatbreads From Around the World with Meredith Deeds Add to Favorites Gift This Create tender, flavorful focaccia and flatbreads from around the world, and find out why these breads are a must-add to your cooking repertoire. Skill Level 7 Streaming HD video lessons with anytime, anywhere access Class materials, including recipes Answers to student questions from instructor Meredith Deeds Closed captioning available (web only) How it works Once you purchase find your class in your class library. Watch on any device anytime. Find class materials in the class viewer. Class Overview Learn how to make fresh corn and flour tortillas, delicious naan and even healthy pita bread, with step-by-step instruction from James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author Meredith Deeds. Start by mastering classic focaccia and tempting Tuscan schiacciata, and get tips for adding just the right amount of your favorite toppings to avoid overwhelming your savory breads. Next, step things up a notch with potato-based focaccia, or fill it with creamy, melty cheese. Then, Meredith shows you how to create crunchy cracker-crust flatbread that delivers pizza taste minus the pizza calories. You'll learn to make rich ghee for brushing on crowd-pleasing naan, and get tips for using different fats and types of masa to make the best corn tortillas youve ever eaten. You'll make from-scratch flour tortillas, too, and create pita bread that's cooked to fluffy perfection. Plus, find out how to make pita chips an addiction you don't have to feel guilty about!	Bread
On April 5, 1792, George Washington became the first president to do what to a bill, in this case one designed to apportion representatives among several states?	Flat Breads - How To Cooking Tips - RecipeTips.com Country or region of origin: Egypt Type of flour used: whole-wheat flour Description: A type of flat bread that probably originated in Egypt, but gradually became popular throughout the Middle East. The bread is baked into a round, flat shape. The diameter is usually smaller than pita bread, but the bread is slightly thicker. It is known by a variety of names depending on the country in which the bread is available. Bammy Country or region of origin: Jamaica Type of flour used: grated cassava root Description: A bammy is a pancake-shaped Jamaican flat bread. It is made from grated cassava root that is pressed in a cloth to remove the liquid. The grated cassava root is then mixed with salt, formed into a small round shape, and placed onto a baking sheet. It is pressed down during baking to maintain the flat, pancake shape. The bread is turned over once while baking so that it cooks evenly. Bammy bread is most often served as an accompaniment to fried fish or other fried foods. Barbari Country or region of origin: Iran Type of flour used: unbleached bread flour (wheat) Description: A type of flat bread that is made into a variety of shapes and sizes. It is often made into small, rounded rectangles, diagonally slashed several times, and resembling flattened buns. Barbari is also made into larger flat rounds up to a foot in diameter. The bread is yeast leavened and it is often flavored with olive oil, which can be brushed on before baking. Some variations are also flavored with assorted spices or seeds. Buckwheat Bread Country or region of origin: Poland and the Baltic countries Type of flour used: a combination of buckwheat and wheat flour. The wheat flour is usually bread flour or all-purpose flour. Description: Buckwheat flour is often used for breads in the colder climate of northern European countries. The flour produces a bread with a dark color and a crumbly texture. Buckwheat bread has a distinctive flavor that may be an acquired taste for individuals who have not tried it. Since buckwheat flour is gluten free, it is usually combined with wheat flour so that the dough will rise. Buckwheat bread is often baked in a low cake pan or tart pan with a removable bottom and when cooled, the bread is cut into wedges. Buckwheat bread is difficult to slice when it is made into a loaf shape because of the crumbly nature of the bread. Chapati Country or region of origin: India Type of flour used: atta (chapati flour), which is a very finely ground whole-wheat flour Description: A type of unleavened traditional flat bread of India made with chapati flour (atta), which is a very finely ground whole-wheat flour. There are many variations of chapatis such as rotlas or rotis, parathas, and pooris or puris, but the bread known simply as chapati is the flattest of the different varieties and is usually formed into a round shape that is 5 or 6 inches in diameter. Chapatis are cooked on a griddle with no oil or fat, but are occasionally brushed with ghee or butter after they are cooked. The chapati is most often used to scoop up other foods eaten with the fingers during a meal and is usually served with curries and other spicy dishes. Chapati is also known as khakhara. Cracker Country or region of origin: various Type of flour used: various Description: A generic name for a variety of unsweetened bread products, which are thin, dry, and hard-textured and are commonly served as appetizers or as an accompaniment to a main dish. The name "cracker" is believed to be derived from the sound that is made when this food is broken apart. Some crackers are leavened, such as soda crackers, which are prepared with flour, water, and seasonings and are leavened with bicarbonate of soda, while a variety of other crackers are unleavened. Many commercially produced crackers contain holes spread over the surface, which allows for even baking and results in a crispy texture and a shape that is flat, thin, and uniform. The term "cracker" is used to designate both the large variety of small, commercially prepared crackers and large, thin, crispy flat breads known as cracker bread. Crackers can be served plain as a snack or appetizer or they can be topped with meat, cheese, or spreadable ingredients. They are often served as an accompaniment to soups, stews, or a variety of main dishes. Cracker Bread Country or region of origin: various Type of flour used: various Description: Cracker bread is a generic term for crisp flat bread that is usually very thin and formed into a round, square, or rectangular shape. Cracker breads are a traditional food in Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Scandinavian countries and are now commonly available throughout the world. There are many types of breads classified as cracker bread and many of them keep for long periods - some, such as Norwegian flat bread (flatbrød), may last for as long as one year. Cracker breads are readily available in large food stores and ethnic markets. Crumpet Country or region of origin: England Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually white bread flour or a combination of white bread flour and all-purpose flour Description: Similar to one half of an English muffin, a crumpet is a round, soft yeast bread prepared from a batter. The batter is poured into a metal ring mold on a griddle and cooked to a brown smooth surface on the bottom while the batter on the top surface settles to become rough and filled with open holes. Crumpets are always served heated or toasted, topped with butter, jam, jelly, or cream cheese. The rough texture allows the surface to absorb and hold any spreadable topping added to the crumpet. Focaccia Country or region of origin: Italy Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A savory, leavened, Italian flat bread, flavored with various ingredients, which may include herbs, olive oil, tomatoes, eggplant, roasted peppers, olives, and cheese. Traditional focaccia bread is very flat, but some loaves can be quite thick depending on the type of ingredients stuffed into the bread or used for toppings. Any of the ingredients that are stuffed into the dough or used as toppings should not require a longer cooking time than the bread dough in order to achieve the best results. Some ingredients, such as certain vegetables, may require partial cooking before they are added to the dough. Fougasse Country or region of origin: France Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A type of French bread that is formed into a flattened shape with elongated holes, which give the bread the appearance of tree limbs. It is made with a basic bread dough or a sourdough and it is often flavored with olive oil and a bit of sugar. Anise is another traditional ingredient that is sometimes used to provide a distinctive flavor. Fougasse is a popular bread in southern France and is often compared to focaccia bread of Italy. Gordita Country or region of origin: Mexico Type of flour used: corn flour (masa harina) Description: A type of popular Mexican flat bread that is often used as a sandwich wrap or an open-face sandwich, such as a corn cake patty. When used as a food wrap, the gordita is slit open, similar to a small version of pocket pita bread, and the sandwich ingredients are placed inside. When it is used as an open-face sandwich bread, fillings are placed on the surface similar to an English muffin. Gordita bread preparation begins with corn-based dough (masa) mixed with water, which is then formed into a small round tortilla shape approximately 4 inches in diameter and 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. The shape is similar to a plump type of tortilla, which are usually thinner and wider than gorditas. When the gordita is ready to be cooked, the dough is placed on griddle or skillet and "baked" for 1 or 2 minutes on each side. The top and bottom of the gordita is well cooked, but the sides remain slightly uncooked, which is beneficial if a pocket sandwich is desired. A knife can be inserted into the bread after cooking to open up the gordita similar to a pita pocket bread. In order for the bread to be used in this fashion, some cooks suggest pinching the outer edges together prior to cooking except in the area where the opening is to be made for the food pocket. Prior to filling the gordita with sandwich ingredients, the bread is cooked again, this time in a saucepan or a skillet containing 1/2 inch of oil. The bread is first fried on one side for 10 to 20 seconds before being turned to fry the other side. The intent is to achieve a crispy outer shell while the inside retains its moistness and flakiness. As it cooks in the oil, the Gordita puffs up, becoming plump and fat. This characteristic is what gives the bread the name, "Gordita," which means "little fat one" in Spanish. The next step in the gordita pocket sandwich assembly is to stuff the pocket with various sandwich ingredients. The ingredients may include the traditional shredded beef, onions, and chilies or a variety of other tasty ingredients, such as poultry, cheese, vegetables, or guacamole mixtures. In addition to the bread-wrapped sandwich version, another gordita variety is also popular. A plump patty can be formed using masa harina (corn flour) as the base ingredient. The patty is often topped with additional fresh ingredients, such as bits of peppers, lettuce, and/or salsa. Often sold by street vendors as a small sandwich, the Gordita is a versatile food that can be served as a snack, an appetizer, or as a main meal with a variety of different ingredients. Gordita after Frying: Used for a Pocket Sandwich Gordita Corn Patty Country or region of origin: Ethiopia Type of flour used: teff Description: Injera is an Ethiopian flat bread that is very thin and somewhat crepe-like in appearance. Made from flour ground from teff, a grain cultivated in Ethiopia, the bread begins as a batter that is poured into a skillet or baking pan and made into a round-shaped flexible flat bread that is baked only on one side. If the batter is allowed to ferment, it becomes a sourdough bread. Injera is a common accompaniment to evening meals in Ethiopia where it is used as a base on which other foods, such as meats, poultry, fish, or vegetables, are piled and then eaten. Injera is also broken apart and used as a wrapping for food pieces or it is often used to scoop stews and gravies directly from a plate. Italian Flat Bread Country or region of origin: Italy Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A brittle, cracker-like Italian flat bread made with white flour that is rolled into very thin sheets. It is formed into rounds or rectangles and is often served with olive oil as part of an antipasto course. Khakhara Country or region of origin: India Type of flour used: wheat flour - chapati flour Description: A flat bread that is a traditional food of India. Round, very thin, and soft to crispy in texture, khakhara is a bread that is most often rolled up and used in a manner similar to a utensil to scoop or absorb other foods, such as beans or curried foods. Typically, the khakhara is made with flour, water, and seasonings. The dough is formed into a flat, thin-centered bread that is thicker on the edges. Khakhara, which may also be referred to as Rotli or Chapati, can be baked or fried to create the desired texture, depending on the types of foods it will accompany. Knackebrod Country or region of origin: Finland Type of flour used: usually a blend of rye and corn flour Description: A type of Finnish crispbread that is formed into large, thin, brittle rounds with a hole in the center. The bread has the appearance of a large, flattened donut. Knackebrod is prepared with rye and corn flour, has a crunchy texture, and a delicious grainy flavor that is not as sweet as its Swedish counterpart knackerbrod, made with oatmeal, butter, and sugar. Lavash Country or region of origin: Armenia and Iran Type of flour used: white bread flour or all-purpose flour (wheat), and/or whole-wheat flour Description: A thin Armenian flat bread that is enjoyed throughout the Middle East. It is traditionally made from a dough that is formed into a circle or oval from 6 inches to 24 inches in diameter and baked. It is usually made into a very thin and crisp, almost cracker-like, bread that is eaten immediately following baking. The bread is usually torn into pieces when eating. There are many variations of lavash. Some are leavened and others are not. Lavash is also known as Lavosh, Lahvosh, Lawaash, Paraki, and Armenian cracker bread. Lefse Country or region of origin: Scandinavian countries Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually all-purpose flour Description: A round flat bread that is Scandinavian in origin, made from a mixture of flour, cooked potatoes, cream, salt, and butter. Some recipes also call for sugar. The lefse dough is formed into small balls that are rolled into very thin rounds. The dough is cooked on a griddle (there are special round griddles available specifically designed for making lefse and similar flat breads) until it is lightly browned; then it is turned on the griddle to brown the other side. After cooking, the lefse is placed on a clean white towel to cool. Lefse is often buttered and rolled or folded prior to serving. Sometimes, sugar is sprinkled onto the buttered surface before the lefse is rolled. Lefse is also used as a food wrap for almost any type of ingredient. Sliced luncheon meat, ground meat, cheese, chopped vegetables, jams, and jellies are only a few of the foods that can be used, creating a sandwich or tortilla-like dish. Mannaeesh Country or region of origin: Lebanon Type of flour used: white bread flour (wheat) Description: Mannaeesh (or Mankoush) is a soft Lebanese bread that is shaped into a flat, 5-inch round with a concave surface. The concave surface is filled with an herb, spice, and seed blend known as za'atar, which is a combination of thyme, marjoram, sesame seeds, and ground sumac. Some recipes may omit the sumac because some people do not care for the strong, sour flavor it provides. Matzo Country or region of origin: various Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) Description: Matzo is an unleavened flat bread or cracker bread that is a traditional bread made for the Jewish Passover. It is baked into thin sheets that can be easily broken apart for serving individual pieces. When served for Passover, the bread is made only with water and flour and is made under strict guidelines so that the dough does not rise during preparation. Matzo is increasingly being served throughout the year as a snack or appetizer cracker, which may be made and seasoned with additional ingredients, unlike the traditional recipe. In addition to being served as a cracker bread, matzo may also be used as an ingredient to make matzo meal (fine or coarse ground cracker meal), matzo dumplings known as matzo balls for matzo soup, or for a variety of puddings and other food dishes. Matzo is also known as "matzoh." Naan Country or region of origin: India Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A leavened flat bread originating from northern India, which is traditionally baked by slapping the bread dough onto the side of a hot dome shaped clay oven referred to as a tandoor. The dough's weight would normally cause it to fall into a teardrop shape, which is the recognizable characteristic of naan bread, however, with changes in baking processes there are now a variety of shapes from round to oval that are readily produced. The basic ingredients in naan bread include yogurt and white flour, which can be enriched by adding an egg. There are a variety of flavors produced, such as naan with sesame seeds, whole-wheat naan, herbal flavored naan, and other flavored varieties that are still made with the traditional tandoori baking method. For serving, naan can be filled with various ingredients such as onion, garlic, salsa, meats, cheese, and then folded over or rolled to create a sandwich. Naan can also be cut it into individual pieces and dipped into sauces, salsas, oils, curry, or hummus. It has a dense chewy texture and is best eaten when it is still fresh and hot. Naan is also known as nan, non, nane, or none bread. Papadum Country or region of origin: India Type of flour used: black gram bean flour, lentil flour, rice flour, or potato flour Description: Traditional An Indian cracker bread most often served as a complement to a main dish, but also often used as a snack or appetizer that can be topped with chutney, various dips, or salsas. Commonly made in different sizes, papadums may be small for snacks or larger in size to be used as a food wrap. Typically, it is prepared using black gram bean flour, lentil flour, rice flour, or potato flour with salt and peanut oil added. The ingredients are made into a dough that is formed into a thin, round shape similar to a tortilla and is grilled or fried, making it either soft and moist or crisp in texture. As the dough is prepared, it can be seasoned with a variety of different ingredients such as chilies, cumin, garlic, lentils, pepper, or other spices. Papadums are also known an Indian wafer, a lentil chip, or pappadams. Pita Country or region of origin: Turkey and Greece Type of flour used: white bread flour (wheat) and whole-wheat flour are most commonly used Description: A type of versatile flat bread that is soft, slightly chewy, and often features a pocket inside, which is a result of baking the bread in a hot oven. Because it is a flat bread, pita is often mistakenly considered to be unleavened, but it is indeed leavened with yeast. The bread is often eaten plain or dipped in olive oil. It can be topped with spreads and meats, folded over, and eaten as a sandwich. Pocket versions can be stuffed with various fillings. The popularity of pita bread has spread beyond Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East. Pita bread is also known as pide, which is the Turkish name, and pideh, which is the Armenian version, prepared with whole-wheat flour and is topped with sesame seeds. In the United States, pita bread is often called pocket pita or simply pocket bread, which is the most popular commercially prepared, supermarket type of pita bread. Pocket Pita Bread Country or region of origin: Italy Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A type of yeasted flat bread made with white flour that is similar to a thin, crispy pizza crust. It has a delicious peppery flavor and a crunchy, cracker-like texture. Some versions contain bits of prosciutto ham and grated hard cheeses, such as parmesan, that are kneaded into the dough before baking. The dough is formed into round or rectangular shapes. Pizza rustico is often served with antipasto courses or as an accompaniment to a meal. Schiacciata Country or region of origin: Italy Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually bread flour Description: An Italian flat bread, similar to focaccia, that is often referred to as a Tuscan flat bread. It is prepared with a bread flour dough that is shaped into rounds or rectangles. The surface is dimpled and is usually brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt and rosemary and then baked for a short period of time. Schiacciata is often topped with a variety of ingredients including thin slices of prosciutto, various herbs, onions, peppers and grated cheese. Sopaipilla Country or region of origin: Southwest United States and adjoining areas of northern Mexico Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A flat pastry-like bread that originated in regions of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. The dough is prepared with bread flour or all-purpose flour, water, salt, and vegetable fat and is usually leavened with baking powder. It is formed into rounded shapes of varying sizes and is deep fried to create a puffed up, crispy outer texture that is airy and open on the inside. The plain bread often accompanies a main dish or it can be served as a dessert when garnished with syrup or honey and cinnamon or powdered sugar. The sopaipilla can also be filled with fruits or cream fillings and topped with sweet sauces or pureed fruit. Spelt Cracker Country or region of origin: Germany Type of flour used: spelt flour Description: A type of crispy, cracker-like flat bread prepared with spelt flour. Some recipes are made with additional whole-grain spelt, which gives the flat bread an interesting texture and nutty flavor. Other versions may also contain a number of other whole grains, bran, or seeds. Spelt crackers can be served with jams and jellies as a breakfast item or as a hearty addition to soups and stews. Tortilla Country or region of origin: Mexico Type of flour used: corn flour, masa harina (a type of corn flour), or wheat flour Description: A soft, thin, flat unleavened Mexican round bread made from corn flour, masa harina (which is a type of corn flour), or wheat flour. It is one of the most common breads in Mexico, but it is popular in many other parts of the world, especially in the areas of the United States Southwest that are adjacent to Mexico. Tortillas are baked traditionally on a griddle known as a "comal." A tortilla can be eaten plain, but it is most often used as a food wrap to hold ingredients such as meat, poultry, seafood, cheese, beans, onions, and peppers. Commercially prepared tortillas available in food stores are typically found in sizes ranging from six to twelve inches.	i don't know
Which of Batman's arch enemies was formerly a District Attorney before turning to a life of crime?	Cosmic Comix & Toys \| Baltimore, Maryland THE COURT OF OWLS $16.99 In this new trade paperback, a series of brutal murders rocks not only Gotham City to its core but also the Caped Crusader himself when the prime suspect is one of Batman’s closest allies: Dick Grayson! Collects BATMAN #1-7! BATMAN VOL. 2 TP THE CITY OF OWLS $16.99 After a series of deadly discoveries, Bruce Wayne has learned that the Court of Owls is real – and a deadly threat out to control Gotham City! Unleashing their deadly assassins known as the Talons, Batman must stop the insidious Court of Owls before they claim the city for their own. In doing so, The Dark Knight will uncover dark secrets – not just about the city he’s sworn to protect, but about the history of the Wayne family. Collects BATMAN #8-12 and BATMAN ANNUAL #1. BATMAN VOL. 3 TP DEATH OF THE FAMILY $16.99 After having his face sliced off, The Joker makes his horrifying return to Gotham City in this epic from issues #13-17 that shook Batman to his core! But even for a man who’s committed a lifetime of murder, he’s more dangerous than ever before. How can Batman protect his city and those he’s closest to? BATMAN VOL. 4 TP ZERO YEAR SECRET CITY $16.99 The second arc of BATMAN: ZERO YEAR is collected as the New 52 origin of The Dark Knight delves into Bruce Wayne’s past with the Red Hood Gang and his run-ins with aspiring District Attorney Harvey Dent! You won’t want to miss the moment that Bruce becomes Batman! This new hardcover collects BATMAN #21-24. BATMAN VOL. 5 TP ZERO YEAR DARK CITY $16.99 Before the Batcave and Robin, The Joker and the Batmobile, there was ZERO YEAR. The Riddler has plunged Gotham City into darkness. How will a young Dark Knight bring his beloved hometown from the brink of chaos and madness back into the light? This final ZERO YEAR volume collects BATMAN #25-27 and 29-33. BATMAN VOL. 6 TP GRAVEYARD SHIFT $16.99 In the wake of the death of his son Damian, Batman is in danger of losing his humanity. However, the foes of this grief-ridden Dark Knight mean to strike him when he’s at his weakest. Has Batman’s worst foe become… Bruce Wayne?Plus, three pivotal chapters from the epic ZERO YEAR storyline! From the critically acclaimed, New York Times #1 best-selling creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo comes the next genre-defining graphic novel in their monumental run.Collects BATMAN #0, #18-20, #28, #34 and BATMAN ANNUAL #2. BATMAN VOL. 7 TP ENDGAME $16.99 The Joker is back in these stories from BATMAN #35-40! For years, The Joker has regarded Batman with a sick, twisted love. But now, he’s out to kill Batman! The Joker returns to Gotham City with a deadlier agenda than ever before, using every tool at his disposal to finally kill the Dark Knight. That includes turning Batman’s allies against him in the bloodiest brawl that he’s ever had to survive. BATMAN VOL. 8 TP SUPERHEAVY $16.99 After his deadliest battle to date, Batman is bruised, battered and scarred. And forever changed. Now, a figure in an 8-foot mechanized suit of armor roams the streets of Gotham City. More powerful than ever before, Batman’s pursuit of justice has never been more swift or efficient. But who is the new Dark Knight? And why is he…or she here? Plus, learn the secret origin of the strange new villain known as Mr. Bloom! Collects BATMAN #41-45 and a story from DC COMICS DIVERGENCE #1. BATMAN VOL. 9 TP BLOOM $16.99 As the new Batman, former police commissioner Jim Gordon is in for the fight of his life against the bizarre threat of Mr. Bloom, who controls the underworld in Gotham City! At the same time, an amnesiac Bruce Wayne has discovered the truth of his past as the Dark Knight-and now he must descend into the Batcave and reclaim that painful legacy. Don’t miss the latest helping of Dark Knight tales from issues #46-50 and a story from DETECTIVE COMICS #27. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 1 TP BORN TO KILL $16.99 The first eight issues of the hit DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series is collected for the first time in trade paperback! Batman and Damian – the new Robin – are driven apart by the insidious Nobody! BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 2 TP PEARL $16.99 After the events of BATMAN & ROBIN VOLUME 1: BORN TO KILL, it’s obvious that Damian has a long way to go before he’ll be accepted into Gotham City’s crimefighting family. Will Damian ever be able to live up to the standards that Nightwing, Red Robin and Red Hood set before him? After a battle with the former Robins, can Damian’s convictions stand up to a confrontation with the Dark Knight’s greatest foe: The Joker? Collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #9-14 and 0. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 3 TP DEATH OF THE FAMILY $14.99 In the stories from BATMAN AND ROBIN #15-17, BATMAN #17 and BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #1, Damian battles The Joker-with catastrophic results! What secrets will be revealed? BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 4 TP REQUIEM FOR DAMIAN $14.99 Spinning out from the tragic death of Damian Wayne, the Dark Knight attempts to cope with the death of not only his son but his partner. This title collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #18-23. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 5 TP THE BIG BURN $16.99 The origin of Two-Face begins as Batman finds himself in the crossfire of a vengeful war between Two-Face and mobster Erin McKillen! Both are hellbent on killing each other and anyone else who dares to step between them. Don’t miss these explosive tales from BATMAN AND TWO-FACE #24-28 and BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #2. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 6 TP THE HUNT FOR ROBIN $24.99 After losing his son Damian – a.k.a. Robin – Batman has finally found peace with his death. Damian’s grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul, has not, however. In order to resurrect Robin, he’s stolen the body – and now Batman will stop at nothing to reclaim him.Collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #29-34 and ROBIN RISES: OMEGA #1. BATMAN TP NIGHT OF THE OWLS $19.99 In this new collection, now in paperback, evil spreads across Gotham City as Batman’s allies, including Red Robin, Batwing, Robin, Batgirl, the Birds of Prey, Nightwing and even Catwoman find themselves in a battle coming from all sides. The Court of Owls makes its move against justice in this sprawling tale of corruption and violence. Collects BATMAN #8-9, BATMAN ANNUAL #1, DETECTIVE COMICS #9, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #9, BATWING #9, BATMAN AND ROBIN #9, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #9, BIRDS OF PREY #9, BATGIRL #9, NIGHTWING #8-9 and ALL-STAR WESTERN #9. BATGIRL VOL. 1 TP THE DARKEST REFLECTION $14.99 The hit DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series that brought BARBARA GORDON back as Batgirl is collected in trade paperback! Collects the new BATGIRL #1-6! BATGIRL VOL. 2 TP KNIGHTFALL DESCENDS $14.99 Back in her role as Batgirl, Barbara Gordon faces the deadly new gentleman killer Grotesque, who stalks the streets of Gotham City. Plus: The Court of Owls sets its sights on Commissioner Gordon; and an innocent woman sentenced to Arkham Asylum emerges more dangerous than the inmates she was locked up with! Collects BATGIRL #7-13 and 0. RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS VOL. 1 TP REDEMPTION $14.99 Collecting issues #1-7 of the DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series! The Red Hood is cornered by Green Arrow’s rejected sidekick Arsenal and the alien Starfire – and they want him to lead them as a crimefighting team! Together, they’re about to face threats including The Untitled, Crux and the superassassin known as Essence! RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS VOL 2 TP STARFIRE $14.99 As if Jason Todd didn’t have enough trouble, now Red Robin is knocking on his door-because “Night of The Owls” is here! With Batman in dire need of help, will Red Hood answer the call? Find out in these adventures from issues #8-14! Plus: When Jason and the team find out that Starfire is one of the most feared (and dangerous) commanders in all of space, the team will take to the stars to help decide the fate of the throne of Tamaran. NIGHTWING VOL. 1 TP TRAPS AND TRAPEZES $14.99 Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Eddy Barrows (SUPERMAN)!Haly’s Circus, where Dick Grayson once performed, returns to Gotham City – bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. To uncover more clues to why a mysterious assassin is targeting him, Nightwing joins the circus’s tour. But as Dick becomes reacquainted with the big top he once called home, he learns there are darker secrets to be discovered. Collects NIGHTWING #1-7. NIGHTWING VOL 2 TP NIGHT OF THE OWLS $14.99 In this collection of issues #8-12 and 0, Dick Grayson must face a deadly adversary as he learns of his connection to the mysterious Court of Owls. But even if he can stop an undead assassin, he’ll still have to deal with an anti-Gotham City army-and the mysterious Paragon. BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL. 1 TP KNIGHT TERRORS $16.99 Batman battles the Scarecrow and Bane in this title collecting BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1-9, and delves into the mystery of The White Rabbit! BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL 2 TP CYCLE OF VIOLENCE $14.99 In this second New 52 volume, The Scarecrow has returned! The villainous genius has always preyed on the worst fears of his victims, but now he’s refined his fear toxin to greater effectiveness-and deadlier consequences. As The Scarecrow’s origin is revelead, Batman must find out not only how to conquer this dangerous psychopath, but how to beat his own worst fear. This volume collects from BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #10-15 and #0. BATWOMAN VOL. 1 TP HYROLOGY $14.99 As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52, Batwoman’s new series begins from the team of J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman with this title collecting issues #0-5! Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? And why is a certain government agency suddenly taking an interest in her? These are some of the questions that will be answered in these spectacular stories! BATWOMAN VOL. 2 HC TO DROWN THE WORLD $22.99 Six lives, inextricably linked in the past and present, each on a collision course with the others: Batwoman, fighting for duty and vengeance against a threat of arcane power. Detective Maggie Sawyer, investigating a case that could end her career. DEO Agent Cameron Chase, commanding a vigilante she despises. Colonel Jacob Kane, clutching at a life that’s slipping away. Maro, a new villain corrupting Gotham City. And Kate Kane, wrestling with decisions that will test her loyalties. Collects BATWOMAN #6-11. CATWOMAN VOL. 1 TP THE GAME $14.99 Collecting the first six issues of the DC Comics – The New 52 series! Meet Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman. She’s addicted to the night. Addicted to shiny objects. Addicted to Batman. Most of all, Catwoman is addicted to danger. She can’t help herself, and the truth is – she doesn’t want to. She’s good at being bad, and very bad at being good. But this time, Selina steals from the wrong man, and now he’s got her. He wants his stuff back, he wants answers and he wants blood. Writer Judd Winick begins a new chapter for CATWOMAN – let’s hope she makes it out alive! CATWOMAN VOL. 2 TP DOLLHOUSE $14.99 Teaming with a new partner called Spark, Catwoman is out to take Gotham City – literally! But when Catwoman runs into Dollhouse, a psychotic who kidnaps children from the streets of Gotham City, a rage awakens in her that not even she knew existed! Collects CATWOMAN #7-12. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 1 TP FACES OF DEATH $16.99 As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52 event, DETECTIVE COMICS is relaunched for the first time! With the first seven hard-hitting issues from acclaimed writer/artist Tony S. Daniel, Bruce Wayne returns as Batman – and sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with TV journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings. But time is running out as Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the secret of the dread Dollmaker! DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2 TP SCARE TACTICS $16.99 In this second New 52 collection, Batman must face the madness of the Mad Hatter, and then take on the Talons of the Court of Owls! But even if he survives that, he must face a whole new set of fears when the Scarecrow returns! Can the Dark Knight overcome the terror the Scarecrow brings? And explore the bizarre similarities between these two enemies and how the idea of fear has shaped their lives! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #8-12 and #0, and DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL#1. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 3 TP EMPEROR PENGUIN $16.99 The Dark Knight faces deadly foes including Poison Ivy, Clayface and the Penguin in these stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #13-18. This volume also includes chapters from the epic “Death of the Family” and “Requiem” sagas. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 4 TP WRAITH $17.99 The Caped Crusader is challenged by the mystery of the 900 in a special tale celebrating the 900th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS! Plus, Batman faces two new foes: Emperor Penguin and the deadly vigilante known as The Wrath! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #19-24 and ANNUAL #2. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 5 TP GOTHTOPIA $16.99 Who – or what – created this twisted vision of the Dark Knight’s hometown? As far as anyone knows, Gotham City is and always has been a crime-free utopia, patrolled by the white-clad Batman and his sidekick Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catbird. Don’t miss the strange adventure from DETECTIVE COMICS #25-29, including the amazing DETECTIVE COMICS #27! DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 6 HC ICARUS $16.99 Who – or what – created this twisted vision of the Dark Knight’s hometown? As far as anyone knows, Gotham City is and always has been a crime-free utopia, patrolled by the white-clad Batman and his sidekick Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catbird. Don’t miss the strange adventure from DETECTIVE COMICS #25-29, including the amazing DETECTIVE COMICS #27! JOKER DEATH OF THE FAMILY TP $24.99 After having his face sliced off one year ago, The Joker makes his horrifying return in this new epic that stars Batman’s network of crimefighting allies! While The Joker threatens the existence of Gotham City, these heroes-and villains-must find a way to survive in stories from BATMAN #17, CATWOMAN #13-14, BATGIRL #14-16, BATMAN AND ROBIN #15-17, NIGHTWING #15-16, DETECTIVE COMICS #16-17, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15-16 and TEEN TITANS #15, plus pages from BATMAN #13, BATGIRL #13, NIGHTWING #14, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #13-14, SUICIDE SQUAD #14-15 and TEEN TITANS #14 and 16. JOKER ENDGAME TP $24.99 Gotham City is overrun by Jokerized victims, and The Joker himself is prowling the streets. Even as Batman confronts the Clown Prince of Crime, ordinary citizens and Arkham inmates must confront the mark The Joker has left on the city and themselves. Is anyone truly safe? This jam-packed collection features stories from BATMAN #35-40, BATMAN ANNUAL #3, GOTHAM ACADEMY: ENDGAME #1, BATGIRL: ENDGAME #1, DETECTIVE COMICS: ENDGAME #1 and ARKHAM MANOR: ENDGAME #1. DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN TP $16.99 Damian Wayne, the son of Batman, has adopted the cape and cowl as his own…but what horrific events set this troubled hero on the path of his dark destiny? It’s a possible future that may never be in this epic written and drawn by Andy Kubert! Plus, in a tale written by Grant Morrison, Damian Wayne is the Batman of Tomorrow in a story set 15 years from now in a nightmarish future Gotham City! Collecting DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN #1-4 and BATMAN #666.	Two-Face
The Moai, large stone carvings of mysterious origin, inhabit what south Pacific island	Cosmic Comix & Toys \| Baltimore, Maryland THE COURT OF OWLS $16.99 In this new trade paperback, a series of brutal murders rocks not only Gotham City to its core but also the Caped Crusader himself when the prime suspect is one of Batman’s closest allies: Dick Grayson! Collects BATMAN #1-7! BATMAN VOL. 2 TP THE CITY OF OWLS $16.99 After a series of deadly discoveries, Bruce Wayne has learned that the Court of Owls is real – and a deadly threat out to control Gotham City! Unleashing their deadly assassins known as the Talons, Batman must stop the insidious Court of Owls before they claim the city for their own. In doing so, The Dark Knight will uncover dark secrets – not just about the city he’s sworn to protect, but about the history of the Wayne family. Collects BATMAN #8-12 and BATMAN ANNUAL #1. BATMAN VOL. 3 TP DEATH OF THE FAMILY $16.99 After having his face sliced off, The Joker makes his horrifying return to Gotham City in this epic from issues #13-17 that shook Batman to his core! But even for a man who’s committed a lifetime of murder, he’s more dangerous than ever before. How can Batman protect his city and those he’s closest to? BATMAN VOL. 4 TP ZERO YEAR SECRET CITY $16.99 The second arc of BATMAN: ZERO YEAR is collected as the New 52 origin of The Dark Knight delves into Bruce Wayne’s past with the Red Hood Gang and his run-ins with aspiring District Attorney Harvey Dent! You won’t want to miss the moment that Bruce becomes Batman! This new hardcover collects BATMAN #21-24. BATMAN VOL. 5 TP ZERO YEAR DARK CITY $16.99 Before the Batcave and Robin, The Joker and the Batmobile, there was ZERO YEAR. The Riddler has plunged Gotham City into darkness. How will a young Dark Knight bring his beloved hometown from the brink of chaos and madness back into the light? This final ZERO YEAR volume collects BATMAN #25-27 and 29-33. BATMAN VOL. 6 TP GRAVEYARD SHIFT $16.99 In the wake of the death of his son Damian, Batman is in danger of losing his humanity. However, the foes of this grief-ridden Dark Knight mean to strike him when he’s at his weakest. Has Batman’s worst foe become… Bruce Wayne?Plus, three pivotal chapters from the epic ZERO YEAR storyline! From the critically acclaimed, New York Times #1 best-selling creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo comes the next genre-defining graphic novel in their monumental run.Collects BATMAN #0, #18-20, #28, #34 and BATMAN ANNUAL #2. BATMAN VOL. 7 TP ENDGAME $16.99 The Joker is back in these stories from BATMAN #35-40! For years, The Joker has regarded Batman with a sick, twisted love. But now, he’s out to kill Batman! The Joker returns to Gotham City with a deadlier agenda than ever before, using every tool at his disposal to finally kill the Dark Knight. That includes turning Batman’s allies against him in the bloodiest brawl that he’s ever had to survive. BATMAN VOL. 8 TP SUPERHEAVY $16.99 After his deadliest battle to date, Batman is bruised, battered and scarred. And forever changed. Now, a figure in an 8-foot mechanized suit of armor roams the streets of Gotham City. More powerful than ever before, Batman’s pursuit of justice has never been more swift or efficient. But who is the new Dark Knight? And why is he…or she here? Plus, learn the secret origin of the strange new villain known as Mr. Bloom! Collects BATMAN #41-45 and a story from DC COMICS DIVERGENCE #1. BATMAN VOL. 9 TP BLOOM $16.99 As the new Batman, former police commissioner Jim Gordon is in for the fight of his life against the bizarre threat of Mr. Bloom, who controls the underworld in Gotham City! At the same time, an amnesiac Bruce Wayne has discovered the truth of his past as the Dark Knight-and now he must descend into the Batcave and reclaim that painful legacy. Don’t miss the latest helping of Dark Knight tales from issues #46-50 and a story from DETECTIVE COMICS #27. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 1 TP BORN TO KILL $16.99 The first eight issues of the hit DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series is collected for the first time in trade paperback! Batman and Damian – the new Robin – are driven apart by the insidious Nobody! BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 2 TP PEARL $16.99 After the events of BATMAN & ROBIN VOLUME 1: BORN TO KILL, it’s obvious that Damian has a long way to go before he’ll be accepted into Gotham City’s crimefighting family. Will Damian ever be able to live up to the standards that Nightwing, Red Robin and Red Hood set before him? After a battle with the former Robins, can Damian’s convictions stand up to a confrontation with the Dark Knight’s greatest foe: The Joker? Collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #9-14 and 0. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 3 TP DEATH OF THE FAMILY $14.99 In the stories from BATMAN AND ROBIN #15-17, BATMAN #17 and BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #1, Damian battles The Joker-with catastrophic results! What secrets will be revealed? BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 4 TP REQUIEM FOR DAMIAN $14.99 Spinning out from the tragic death of Damian Wayne, the Dark Knight attempts to cope with the death of not only his son but his partner. This title collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #18-23. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 5 TP THE BIG BURN $16.99 The origin of Two-Face begins as Batman finds himself in the crossfire of a vengeful war between Two-Face and mobster Erin McKillen! Both are hellbent on killing each other and anyone else who dares to step between them. Don’t miss these explosive tales from BATMAN AND TWO-FACE #24-28 and BATMAN AND ROBIN ANNUAL #2. BATMAN & ROBIN VOL. 6 TP THE HUNT FOR ROBIN $24.99 After losing his son Damian – a.k.a. Robin – Batman has finally found peace with his death. Damian’s grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul, has not, however. In order to resurrect Robin, he’s stolen the body – and now Batman will stop at nothing to reclaim him.Collects BATMAN AND ROBIN #29-34 and ROBIN RISES: OMEGA #1. BATMAN TP NIGHT OF THE OWLS $19.99 In this new collection, now in paperback, evil spreads across Gotham City as Batman’s allies, including Red Robin, Batwing, Robin, Batgirl, the Birds of Prey, Nightwing and even Catwoman find themselves in a battle coming from all sides. The Court of Owls makes its move against justice in this sprawling tale of corruption and violence. Collects BATMAN #8-9, BATMAN ANNUAL #1, DETECTIVE COMICS #9, BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #9, BATWING #9, BATMAN AND ROBIN #9, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #9, BIRDS OF PREY #9, BATGIRL #9, NIGHTWING #8-9 and ALL-STAR WESTERN #9. BATGIRL VOL. 1 TP THE DARKEST REFLECTION $14.99 The hit DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series that brought BARBARA GORDON back as Batgirl is collected in trade paperback! Collects the new BATGIRL #1-6! BATGIRL VOL. 2 TP KNIGHTFALL DESCENDS $14.99 Back in her role as Batgirl, Barbara Gordon faces the deadly new gentleman killer Grotesque, who stalks the streets of Gotham City. Plus: The Court of Owls sets its sights on Commissioner Gordon; and an innocent woman sentenced to Arkham Asylum emerges more dangerous than the inmates she was locked up with! Collects BATGIRL #7-13 and 0. RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS VOL. 1 TP REDEMPTION $14.99 Collecting issues #1-7 of the DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 series! The Red Hood is cornered by Green Arrow’s rejected sidekick Arsenal and the alien Starfire – and they want him to lead them as a crimefighting team! Together, they’re about to face threats including The Untitled, Crux and the superassassin known as Essence! RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS VOL 2 TP STARFIRE $14.99 As if Jason Todd didn’t have enough trouble, now Red Robin is knocking on his door-because “Night of The Owls” is here! With Batman in dire need of help, will Red Hood answer the call? Find out in these adventures from issues #8-14! Plus: When Jason and the team find out that Starfire is one of the most feared (and dangerous) commanders in all of space, the team will take to the stars to help decide the fate of the throne of Tamaran. NIGHTWING VOL. 1 TP TRAPS AND TRAPEZES $14.99 Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Eddy Barrows (SUPERMAN)!Haly’s Circus, where Dick Grayson once performed, returns to Gotham City – bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. To uncover more clues to why a mysterious assassin is targeting him, Nightwing joins the circus’s tour. But as Dick becomes reacquainted with the big top he once called home, he learns there are darker secrets to be discovered. Collects NIGHTWING #1-7. NIGHTWING VOL 2 TP NIGHT OF THE OWLS $14.99 In this collection of issues #8-12 and 0, Dick Grayson must face a deadly adversary as he learns of his connection to the mysterious Court of Owls. But even if he can stop an undead assassin, he’ll still have to deal with an anti-Gotham City army-and the mysterious Paragon. BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL. 1 TP KNIGHT TERRORS $16.99 Batman battles the Scarecrow and Bane in this title collecting BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #1-9, and delves into the mystery of The White Rabbit! BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT VOL 2 TP CYCLE OF VIOLENCE $14.99 In this second New 52 volume, The Scarecrow has returned! The villainous genius has always preyed on the worst fears of his victims, but now he’s refined his fear toxin to greater effectiveness-and deadlier consequences. As The Scarecrow’s origin is revelead, Batman must find out not only how to conquer this dangerous psychopath, but how to beat his own worst fear. This volume collects from BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #10-15 and #0. BATWOMAN VOL. 1 TP HYROLOGY $14.99 As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52, Batwoman’s new series begins from the team of J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman with this title collecting issues #0-5! Who or what is stealing children from the barrio, and for what vile purpose? Will Kate train her cousin, Bette Kane (a.k.a. Flamebird), as her sidekick? How will she handle unsettling revelations about her father, Colonel Jacob Kane? And why is a certain government agency suddenly taking an interest in her? These are some of the questions that will be answered in these spectacular stories! BATWOMAN VOL. 2 HC TO DROWN THE WORLD $22.99 Six lives, inextricably linked in the past and present, each on a collision course with the others: Batwoman, fighting for duty and vengeance against a threat of arcane power. Detective Maggie Sawyer, investigating a case that could end her career. DEO Agent Cameron Chase, commanding a vigilante she despises. Colonel Jacob Kane, clutching at a life that’s slipping away. Maro, a new villain corrupting Gotham City. And Kate Kane, wrestling with decisions that will test her loyalties. Collects BATWOMAN #6-11. CATWOMAN VOL. 1 TP THE GAME $14.99 Collecting the first six issues of the DC Comics – The New 52 series! Meet Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman. She’s addicted to the night. Addicted to shiny objects. Addicted to Batman. Most of all, Catwoman is addicted to danger. She can’t help herself, and the truth is – she doesn’t want to. She’s good at being bad, and very bad at being good. But this time, Selina steals from the wrong man, and now he’s got her. He wants his stuff back, he wants answers and he wants blood. Writer Judd Winick begins a new chapter for CATWOMAN – let’s hope she makes it out alive! CATWOMAN VOL. 2 TP DOLLHOUSE $14.99 Teaming with a new partner called Spark, Catwoman is out to take Gotham City – literally! But when Catwoman runs into Dollhouse, a psychotic who kidnaps children from the streets of Gotham City, a rage awakens in her that not even she knew existed! Collects CATWOMAN #7-12. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 1 TP FACES OF DEATH $16.99 As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics – The New 52 event, DETECTIVE COMICS is relaunched for the first time! With the first seven hard-hitting issues from acclaimed writer/artist Tony S. Daniel, Bruce Wayne returns as Batman – and sets his sights on the Gotham Ripper, who in turn has his sights on Batman. Meanwhile, Bruce Wayne explores a budding romance with TV journalist Charlotte Rivers, who’s visiting Gotham City to cover the gruesome slayings. But time is running out as Commissioner Gordon and Batman work to uncover the secret of the dread Dollmaker! DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 2 TP SCARE TACTICS $16.99 In this second New 52 collection, Batman must face the madness of the Mad Hatter, and then take on the Talons of the Court of Owls! But even if he survives that, he must face a whole new set of fears when the Scarecrow returns! Can the Dark Knight overcome the terror the Scarecrow brings? And explore the bizarre similarities between these two enemies and how the idea of fear has shaped their lives! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #8-12 and #0, and DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL#1. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 3 TP EMPEROR PENGUIN $16.99 The Dark Knight faces deadly foes including Poison Ivy, Clayface and the Penguin in these stories from DETECTIVE COMICS #13-18. This volume also includes chapters from the epic “Death of the Family” and “Requiem” sagas. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 4 TP WRAITH $17.99 The Caped Crusader is challenged by the mystery of the 900 in a special tale celebrating the 900th issue of DETECTIVE COMICS! Plus, Batman faces two new foes: Emperor Penguin and the deadly vigilante known as The Wrath! Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #19-24 and ANNUAL #2. DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 5 TP GOTHTOPIA $16.99 Who – or what – created this twisted vision of the Dark Knight’s hometown? As far as anyone knows, Gotham City is and always has been a crime-free utopia, patrolled by the white-clad Batman and his sidekick Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catbird. Don’t miss the strange adventure from DETECTIVE COMICS #25-29, including the amazing DETECTIVE COMICS #27! DETECTIVE COMICS VOL. 6 HC ICARUS $16.99 Who – or what – created this twisted vision of the Dark Knight’s hometown? As far as anyone knows, Gotham City is and always has been a crime-free utopia, patrolled by the white-clad Batman and his sidekick Selina Kyle, a.k.a. Catbird. Don’t miss the strange adventure from DETECTIVE COMICS #25-29, including the amazing DETECTIVE COMICS #27! JOKER DEATH OF THE FAMILY TP $24.99 After having his face sliced off one year ago, The Joker makes his horrifying return in this new epic that stars Batman’s network of crimefighting allies! While The Joker threatens the existence of Gotham City, these heroes-and villains-must find a way to survive in stories from BATMAN #17, CATWOMAN #13-14, BATGIRL #14-16, BATMAN AND ROBIN #15-17, NIGHTWING #15-16, DETECTIVE COMICS #16-17, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #15-16 and TEEN TITANS #15, plus pages from BATMAN #13, BATGIRL #13, NIGHTWING #14, RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #13-14, SUICIDE SQUAD #14-15 and TEEN TITANS #14 and 16. JOKER ENDGAME TP $24.99 Gotham City is overrun by Jokerized victims, and The Joker himself is prowling the streets. Even as Batman confronts the Clown Prince of Crime, ordinary citizens and Arkham inmates must confront the mark The Joker has left on the city and themselves. Is anyone truly safe? This jam-packed collection features stories from BATMAN #35-40, BATMAN ANNUAL #3, GOTHAM ACADEMY: ENDGAME #1, BATGIRL: ENDGAME #1, DETECTIVE COMICS: ENDGAME #1 and ARKHAM MANOR: ENDGAME #1. DAMIAN SON OF BATMAN TP $16.99 Damian Wayne, the son of Batman, has adopted the cape and cowl as his own…but what horrific events set this troubled hero on the path of his dark destiny? It’s a possible future that may never be in this epic written and drawn by Andy Kubert! Plus, in a tale written by Grant Morrison, Damian Wayne is the Batman of Tomorrow in a story set 15 years from now in a nightmarish future Gotham City! Collecting DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN #1-4 and BATMAN #666.	i don't know
April 10, 1912 saw was "moderately famous" ship leave the docks at Southampton, England heading to Cherbourgh, France on its maiden voyage?	Full text of "Encyclopedia of Water Science Vol 2" See other formats UXL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF U«X«L ENCYCLOPEDIA OF water science Volume 2 Economics and Uses K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, Editors Lawrence W. Baker, Project Editor U-X-L An imprint of Thomson Gale, a part of The Thomson Corporation THOMSON * GALE THOIVISOIM * GALE U»X»L Encyclopedia of Water Science K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, Editors Project Editor Lawrence W. Baker Editorial Charles B. Montney Permissions Denise Buckley, Shalice Shah- Caldwell, Ann Taylor Imaging and Multimedia Lezlie Light, Kelly A. Quin, Dan Newell Product Design Jennifer Wahi Composition Evi Seoud Manufacturing Rita Wimberley ©2005 by U»X«L. U«X»L is an imprint of Thomson Gale, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. U«X«L® is a registered trademark used herein under license. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used here- in under license. For more information, contact: Thomson Gale 27500 Drake Rd. Farmington Hills, Ml 48331-3535 Or you can visit our Internet site at http://www.gale.com. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution. or information storage retrieval sys- tems — without the written permis- sion of the publisher. For permission to use material from this product, submit your request via Web at http://www.gale- edit.com/permissions, or you may download our Permissions Request form and submit your request by fax or mail to: Permissions Department Thomson Gale 27500 Drake Rd. Farmington Hills, Ml 48331-3535 Permissions Hotline: 248-699-8006 or 800-877-4253, ext. 8006 Fax: 248-699-8074 or 800-762-4058 Cover photographs reproduced courtesy of Photodisc by Getty Images (volume 1, sailboats), courtesy of Digital Vision Ltd. (volume 2, pump), and by permission of Corbis, photograph by Lester Lefkowitz (vol- ume 3, Hoover Dam). While every effort has been made to ensure the reliability of the informa- tion presented in this publication, Thomson Gale does not guarantee the accuracy of data contained here- in. Thomson Gale accepts no pay- ment for listing; and inclusion in the publication of any organization, agency, institution, publication, serv- ice, or individual does not imply endorsement by the editors or pub- lisher. Errors brought to the attention of the publisher and verified to the satisfaction of the publisher will be corrected in future editions. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA UXL encyclopedia of water science / K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, editors ; Lawrence W. Baker, project editor, p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7876-7617-9 (set : hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7876-7673-X (v. 1 : hard- cover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7876-7674-8 (v. 2 : hardcover : alk. paper) — ISBN 0- 7876-7675-6 (v. 3 : hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Water — Encyclopedias, Juvenile. 2. Hydrology — Encyclopedias, Juvenile. I. Lerner, K. Lee. II. Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth. III. Baker, Lawrence W. GB662.3.U95 2005 553.7— dc22 2004021651 This title is also available as an e-book. ISBN 0-7876-9398-7 (set) Contact your Thomson Gale sales representative for ordering information. Printed in the United States of America 10 987654321 Chapter 7 Science and Technology 4 Aqueducts Aqueducts are man-made conduits constructed to carry water. The term aqueduct comes from words meaning "to lead water" in Latin, the language of the Romans who were the first builders of large aqueducts. Aqueducts carry water from natu- ral sources, such as springs, into cities and towns for public use. The first aqueducts Wells, rivers, lakes, and streams are the oldest sources of water. In the ancient world however, rivers and lakes were also sometimes used as places to dispose of sewage and trash. Water from rivers that flowed though several villages often carried dis- ease-causing organisms. Aqueducts provided a way for a plen- tiful supply of clean water to be piped into cities. The earliest aqueducts were also used to transport water for irrigation (watering crops). Aqueducts were used in ancient India, Persia, Assyria, and Egypt as early as 700 b.c.e. The Romans, however, are regarded as the most famous ancient aqueduct builders. Between 312 b.c.e. and 230 C.E., the most complex and efficient ancient system of aqueducts was built to supply the city of Rome with water. Outside of the capital city of Rome, the Romans built aqueducts throughout their large empire. Ruins of ancient aqueducts can still be seen in Italy, Greece, North Africa, Spain, and France. How ancient aqueducts functioned Ancient aqueducts used tunnels and channels (passages for water to flow) to transport water. The earliest irrigation aque- ducts were simple canals and ditches dug into the ground. In 199 WORDS TO KNOW Cistern: A man-made reser- voir for storing water, usually underground. Irrigation: Water channeled to lands for growing crops. Terra cotta: Ceramic materi- als made from baked clay used in Ancient Rome for aqueduct pipes, dishes, and some tools. order to keep water for use by people clean, aqueducts that sup- plied people with water featured covered channels or pipes. The first aqueduct made of stone-covered waterways was built by the Assyrians around 690 b.c.e. Centuries later, Roman aqueduct builders perfected the closed channel design, building thousands of miles (kilometers) of stone aqueducts throughout the Roman Empire. Ancient aqueducts were carefully planned before they were constructed. Water flowed through the channels by the force of gravity alone. The rate of flow (how many gallons could flow through the conduit in a day) was determined by the force of the spring that fed the aqueduct. Aqueduct channels were con- structed with a gradual slope (angle) so that water from the source could flow downhill to its destination. There were no pumps that could move water up a hill or slope. Thus, when crossing hilly terrain, aqueducts were built on stone bridges and in tunnels. Pipes made of stone or a type of baked clay called terra cotta carried water through carved out tunnels. Aqueduct bridges (or elevated spans) were required to with- stand the heavy weight of water. Spectacular Roman aqueduct bridges featuring several stories (or tiers) of strong arches can still be seen today. Some are still in use! After the aqueducts entered the city, water flowed into pub- lic cisterns (large pools or wells that store water) or flowed from public fountains. In Rome, some citizens had water from the aqueducts piped directly to their homes. Wastewater was carried by sewer systems that emptied into outlying streams that normally did not feed into the aqueduct. Like modern water supply systems, ancient aqueducts required constant maintenance. Where aqueducts ran under- ground, shafts (tunnels) were built to provide access to the aqueduct for repairs. Chalk and other minerals built up in the conduits and required regular cleaning. Wars, earthquakes, storms, and floods sometimes damaged whole sections of aque- ducts. Fixing aqueducts was an expensive undertaking and required the work of strong laborers and skilled engineers. Innovations in aqueduct technology After the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, aque- duct building ceased in Europe. For centuries, the scientific knowledge necessary to build aqueducts, aqueduct bridges, and sewers was lost. Rome and some other cities continued to use their ancient aqueducts. However, during the Middle Ages (500-1500 c.e.), people mostly used wells and rivers as a source 200 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Roman Aqueducts Built by the ancient Romans, the three tiered Pont du Gard aqueduct spans the Gard River in France. © Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis. Reproduced by permission. The Romans were the greatest aqueduct builders of the ancient world. In fact, when one mentions the word aqueduct, most people think of the beautiful, ancient, arched aque- duct bridges throughout southern Europe that were built by the Romans. However, these aqueduct bridges or spans were only a small fraction of the Roman aqueduct system. For example, of the aqueducts that served the city of Rome, only 30 miles (48 kilometers) out of nearly 300 (483 kilometers) miles of aque- ducts crossed valley and hills on arched bridges. The aqueduct system that served Rome was the largest and most complex in the ancient world. Until the late 1800s, it remained unsur- passed in terms of both distance and the amount of water carried. Over a period of 500 years, (from 312 b.c.e. to 230 c.e.), 11 aque- ducts were built to serve the city of Rome. The longest aqueduct brought water from a spring over 59 miles (95 kilometers) away into the heart of the city. When water from the aqueduct reached the city, it was carried to cisterns that were built on high ground. Cisterns are large, deep pools used for storing water. From the cisterns, water was carried to public fountains or private homes by a system of lead or terra-cotta pipes. Sometimes water was carried directly from the aqueduct conduits to public baths or pools. However, taking water directly from the aque- ducts was usually illegal. Only the emperor and very wealthy citizens were permitted to con- struct special conduits that took water directly from the aqueduct to their private residences. The aqueducts were one of Rome's most prized possessions. The army guarded the water system and almost one hundred engi- neers supervised maintenance and repairs. Over two hundred towns in the Roman Empire also had their own water systems featuring :\|ueduct: of water. During the Renaissance (1300s-1600s), a renewed interest in classical architecture and engineering led scholars of the day to rediscover how ancient water systems worked and how aqueducts were constructed. In the 1600s, aqueducts were once again included in public water systems. In France, a system of pumps moved water from a river to an aqueduct system that began on the crest (high point) of a nearby hill. An aqueduct spanning 38 miles (61 kilo- meters) carried water into the city of London, England. The Aqueducts 201 An aqueduct and canal near Bakersfield, California. © Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Chadwell River to London aqueduct flowed over 200 small bridges. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, innovations such the steam pump permitted water to be pressurized. Pressurized water is water that is mixed with air or steam that, with the help of a pump, can be moved forcefully through pipes and conduits. This allowed water systems to move water over any terrain. Aqueducts and water pipe systems carried water over greater distances with the aid of pressurized water. Pressurization also created a need for stronger pipes. Instead of terra-cotta, pipes were made of metals or concrete. Between the 1830s and 1900, the growing city of New York constructed several aqueducts to bring spring and river water into the city from sources over 120 miles (193 kilometers) away. These aqueducts incorporated new and old aqueduct technolo- gy. They employed pumps and deep underground pipe systems, but the Old Croton aqueduct, in use until 1955, also featured a Roman-like aqueduct bridge. Today, the three major aqueduct systems that serve New York City deliver nearly 1.8 billion gal- lons (approximately 6.8 billion liters) of water per day. 202 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Aqueducts today Aqueducts remain an important and efficient means of deliv- ering clean water to cities. Today's aqueducts are longer and able to carry more water than ancient aqueducts. Pumps and pressurized water flow permit aqueducts to flow up a slope. Improved pipe materials allows today's aqueducts to be com- pletely hidden deep underground. The largest modern aque- duct system in the world has been under construction since the 1960s. When finished, the aqueduct will carry water 600 miles (966 kilometers) through the state of California, from the northern part of the state south to the Mexican border. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Hodge, A. Trevor. "Roman Aqueducts and Water Supply." London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., 2002. Websites "Aqueducts." British Waterways. http://www.britishwaterways. co.uk/responsibilities/heritage/aqueducts.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Roman Aqueducts." InfoRoma. http://www.inforoma.it/ feature.php?lookup=aqueduct (accessed on August 24, 2004). "The Water Science Picture Gallery — Aqueducts Move Water." United States Geological Survey, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/ edu/aqueductl.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). Dams and Reservoirs Dams are structures that restrict the flow of water in a river or stream. Both streams and rivers are bodies of flowing surface water driven by gravity that drain water from the continents. Once a body of flowing surface water has been slowed or stopped, a reservoir or lake collects behind the dam. Dams and reservoirs exist in nature, and man-made water control struc- tures are patterned after examples in the natural word. Many lakes are held back by rock dams created by geologic events such as volcanic eruptions, landslides or the upward force of Earth that creates mountains. Humans and beavers alike have Dams and Reservoirs 203 WORDS TO KNOW: Aqueduct: A channel or conduit, usually resembling a bridge, that carries water on land or over a valley, from a higher point to a lower one. Channel: Man-made water- courses designed to carry goods or water. Gorge: A deep, narrow ravine, often with a river or stream run- ning through it. Graded profile: The con- stant slope or slanting contour of the land that a river creates by sedimentation and erosion as it flows to the sea. Hydrologic potential: Poten- tial energy in water stored in reservoirs above the elevation of a river downstream. Reservoir: A lake, usually man-made by damming a river, where water is stored for later use by the community. Weir: A low dam built across a stream or any flowing body of water, usually with rocks, to raise its level or divert its flow. discovered how to modify their natural environment to suit their needs by constructing dams and creating artificial lakes. Dams are classified into four main types: gravity embank- ment, buttress, and arch. • Gravity dams: Gravity dams are massive earth, masonry (brick or stone work), rock fill, or concrete structures that hold back river water with their own weight. They are usu- ally triangular with their point in a narrow gorge (deep ravine). The Grand Dixence dam in the Swiss Alps is the world's tallest gravity dam. • Embankment dams: Embankment dams are wide areas of compacted earth or rock fill with a concrete or masonry core that contains a reservoir, while allowing for some sat- uration and shifting of the earth around the dam, and of the dam within the earth. • Buttress dams: Buttress dams have supports that reinforce the walls of the dam and can be curved or straight. Buttresses on large modern dams, such as the Itaipu dam in Brazil, are often constructed as a series of arches and are made of concrete reinforced with steel. • Arch dams: Arch dams are curved dams that depend on the strength of the arch design to hold back water. Like gravi- ty dams, they are most suited to narrow, V-shaped river val- leys with solid rock to anchor the structure. Arch dams, however, can be much thinner than gravity dams and use less concrete. Dams in history Humans have used dams to trap and store fresh water in reservoirs for more than 5,000 years. Although water is ulti- mately a plentiful, renewable resource on Earth (Earth is after all "the water planet"), fresh water is scarce or only seasonally available in many regions. Left unregulated, the rivers and streams that provide humans' most essential natural resource are often hazardous to human life and too unpredictable to pro- vide a constant source of fresh water. The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Assyria, Mesopotamia, and China grew and prospered in part because construction of dams and reservoirs allowed for irrigation (watering) of arid (extremely dry) lands, control of seasonal floods, and water storage during dry weather. If Earth's streams and rivers are veins that support human survival, dams are valves that regulate the flow of water through those vessels. 204 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Humans today depend on dams to store water for irrigation, drinking water, and flood control just as they did in the ancient Middle East. Mesopotamians and Sumerians used weirs (low dams built across streams or rivers) and channels (passage for water) to irrigate the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, called the Fertile Crescent, about 6,500 years ago. Earthen dams that hold drinking and irrigation water in reser- voirs for small towns and farms around the world today resem- ble the earliest known remains of dams. Archeologists estimate that a rock weir and series of small dams and reservoirs near the modern-day town of Jawa in Jordan were constructed about 5,000 years ago. Systems of aqueducts (artificial channels for conveying water) and canals (man-made watercourses designed to carry goods or water) like those constructed during the Roman Empire (1500-2000 years ago ) carry water from reser- voirs to modern farmlands and cities. Dams and reservoirs have a second important use beyond water storage and regulation of river flows. They can be used to generate hydropower, one of humans' oldest, simplest, and cleanest forms of renewable and reusable energy. Water that is held in a reservoir above the elevation of the river downstream has stored energy called hydrologic potential. When water is released through the dam from the reservoir, its motion can be used to turn a wheel that can then power a mill or an electrical generator. The farther the water falls, the more energy it releas- es. Water scientists and engineers use the height of the reservoir surface, called the hydraulic head, to estimate the amount of potential energy stored behind a dam. The technology to harness the mechanical power of falling water is almost as old as that for water storage and flood con- trol. Ancient Sumerians and Egyptians used waterwheels with buckets on their blades, called norias, to dip water from streams or rivers. By 2,500 years ago, waterwheels drove grain mills and pumped water from wells in the Greek and Roman Empires. During the late Middle Ages, water mills in the industrial cen- ters of Germany and Italy ground grain, pulped wood for paper, spun silk for textiles, pounded metal, tanned hides, and crushed ore (mineral deposits) from mines. During the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century, British civil and mining engineers constructed 200 dams taller than 49 feet (15 meters, which is about the height of a five -story building) to store water for Britain's rapidly growing cities and to provide hydropower for mining and transport of coal, the energy source that powered industrialization. Dams and Reservoirs 205 Modern dams Today's dams and reservoirs provide many of the same bene- fits to humans and rely on the same basic technology as they did in ancient times. However, the size and complexity of mod- ern water control and structures and systems would have astounded ancient Greeks and nineteenth century engineers. In developed nations like the United States, all of the major rivers have been dammed and almost every river system has been altered by humans. Worldwide, there were over 45,000 dams taller than 49 feet (15 meters) in 150 countries at the end of the twentieth century. Today, dams hold water for irrigation, con- trol flooding along rivers, provide water for cities, and generate about one-fifth of the world's electricity. In the countries with the most dams — China, the United States, and the nations of the former Soviet Union — engineering has given humans almost complete control over the rivers. In fact, one of the main reasons humans can no longer depend on hydropower to meet rising electricity needs is that there are very few large rivers left on Earth to be dammed. Dams are, by nature, destined to fail. A river erodes (wears away) and deposits sediment (particles of sand, silt, and clay) along its path from where it originates to the ocean in an attempt to create a constant slope (slanting contour of the land) called a graded profile. When a dam, natural or otherwise, blocks a river, the river adjusts to a new pattern of erosion and deposition in an attempt to return to its graded profile. In essence, the river attempts to remove the obstacle; reservoirs fill with sediment, and downstream erosion cuts under dams. Dams built before the 1930s were constructed with little knowledge of how rivers work or how structures can be designed to resist failure. One in ten dams built in the United States before 1930 has collapsed. In 1889, more than 2,200 people were killed when the earthen embankment above Johnstown, Pennsylvania failed and the town was flooded. By the 1930s, use of concrete and metal in dams, arched designs, and an understanding of rivers allowed engineers to build safer, stronger dams. The new technology also led to an era of construction of ever-larger dams that has lasted until the present. Environmental and social implications of superdams The world's largest dams are massive structures over 492 feet or 150 meters tall (more than three times the height of the Statue of Liberty) that hold back reservoirs that cover a total land area about the size of Nebraska and Kansas combined. Construction of more than 300 super dams since the early 206 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Barges now travel over the remains of cites flooded after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China. © James Whitlow Delano/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. In 1993, seventy-four years after Sun Yat Sen, the "Father of the Chinese Revolution," first proposed a dam across the Yangtze River, preparation began for construction of a mas- sive hydropower plant in the Three Gorges region of China. The Yangtze River is known as the "mighty dragon" that has brought both prosperity and tragedy for the estimated four hundred million people living along its banks. The same unpredictable floods that replenish the fertile soil of central China have destroyed millions of homes, drowned millions of acres of crops, and killed thousands of people over the last century. Dam: Triumph or Travesty? When the Three Gorges Dam is complete, it will be the world's largest and tallest dam, and it will hold back a 360-mile (579 kilometer) long reservoir. The dam will be 610 feet (186 meters) tall, 1.3 miles (2 kilometers) long, and will be visible from the Moon. Chinese govern- ment officials and other supporters of the proj- ect say that the Three Gorges structure will "tame the dragon" by protecting millions of people downstream of the dam from danger- ous flooding and by improving navigation on the river. The hydroelectric plant will generate enough inexpensive electricity to power most of central China. Opponents of the Three Gorges project argue that its costs far outweigh its potential benefits. In addition to its $29 billion price tag as of 2004, the project has already been plagued with corruption, shoddy construction, and cost overruns. Construction of the reser- voir will force about 1.9 million people from their homes and drown tens of thousands of significant natural, archeological, and historical sites. A billion tons of untreated industrial waste and sewage will flow into the new lake. Other potential problems include erosion and loss of fertility in farmlands, coastal erosion, and contamination of water and food. twentieth century has created both benefits and problems for people living nearby. The economic, social, and environmental costs of major dams like the Grand Coulee dam on the Columbia River in the United States, the High Aswan dam on the Nile in Egypt, the Itaipu dam on the Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay the La Grande dams in Canada, and the Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River in China are extremely high and could possibly according to many geolo- gists, exceed the long-term benefits of the projects. Dams and Reservoirs 207 Aswan High Dam The Aswan High Dam and Lake Nasser in Egypt, as seen from the space shuttle Discovery. © 1996 Corbis. Reproduced by permission. The modern Aswan High Dam, like the ancient Pyramids at Giza, is a marvel of Egyptian engineering and government organization. It is a massive embankment dam across the Nile River at the first set of rapids in the Egyptian city of Aswan near the Sudan-Egypt border. The dam, known as Saad al Aali in Arabic, was completed in 1971 after 10 years of work by more than 30,000 people. Since then, the Aswan High Dam has controlled flooding on the Nile, provid- ed hydroelectric power to millions of Egyptians, and dramatically increased the amount of use- able farmland along the banks of the Nile. The waters of Lake Nasser, the 500-mile (805-kilo- meter) long reservoir contained behind the dam, sustained Egypt through droughts, floods, and economic downturns that brought famine, poverty and war to the rest of northeastern Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. Greek Historian Herodotus wrote, "Egypt is the gift of the Nile" in the fifth century b.c.e. This is as true today as it was then. (About 95% of Egyptians live within 12 miles of the Nile.) Recognizing a need for Egypt's growing population to make more efficient use of the vlile, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser commissioned a new dam at Aswan as a gov- ernment project in the late 1950s. (The origi- nal Aswan dam was built by the British in 1889. It was reinforced several times before the need for a larger, stronger dam became apparent.) The high dam was extremely costly and the project's financing placed Egypt in the middle of Cold War controversy. (The Cold War was a prolonged conflict for world dominance between the democratic United States and the communist Soviet Union. The weapons of con- flict were commonly words of propaganda and threats.) When the Americans and British with- drew their support after a conflict between Israel and Egypt, Nasser turned to the Soviet Union for help to complete the dam. Like all superdams, the Aswan High Dam has also had significant environmental and social drawbacks. Tens of thousands of people, mostly Nubian nomads of the Sahara Desert in Sudan, were forced from their homes and land. Ancient artifacts and historical sites were drowned beneath the waters of Lake Nasser. Archeologists and historians located and moved many invaluable sites and objects, including the Great Temple of Abu Sibel, before the lake was flooded, but many treasures were lost. Without annual floods of the Nile, Egyptian croplands no longer receive new nutri- ent-rich layers of silt, and their fertility has diminished, leaving Egyptian farmers depend- ent on chemical fertilizers. The Nile delta and beaches of the Mediterranean Sea are shrink- ing without sand supplied from the mouth of the Nile. Sediment has, instead, collected in Lake Nasser and reduced its capacity. About 15% of the water in Lake Nasser evaporates into the atmosphere or seeps through the dam. The Aswan Dam has been a source of prosperity for Egypt and, in the eyes of the Egyptian government and general public, its benefits have outweighed its costs. 208 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Problems associated with very large dams are now becoming apparent to geologists. According to the World Commission on Dams (WCD), between 30 and 60 million people, mostly poor farmers and people in India and China, have been displaced by large hydropower projects. Irreplaceable natural, archeological, and historical sites are drowned beneath huge reservoirs. Drowned vegetation contaminates reservoir water and fish. Dams like Hoover and Glen Canyon dams on the Colorado River in the United States, or the Aswan High Dam on the Nile, disrupt river systems so large that the ecology (living environ- ment) of an entire region has to adjust. Downstream, agricul- tural lands may lose their fertility, water quality is poor, and natural ecosystems (interactions between living organisms and their environment) are harmed. Coastal erosion results when rivers no longer replenish deltas (land area before river enters larger body of water) with sediment. Many environmental groups, scientists, and even some gov- ernments have begun to seek solutions to the problems pre- sented by large dams. Decreasing the size and number of new dams, discovering new energy alternatives, managing river flows to counteract harmful environmental and social effects, and even removing some dams have all been considered. With the new goal of using dams and reservoirs to create a sustain- able human and natural environment, modern and ancient water management technology combined could serve well far into the future. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D. For More Information Books Postel, Sandra, and Brian Richter. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2003. World Commission on Dams. London: Earthscan Publications, Ltd., 2001. Websites "Benefits of Dams to Society — Did You Know?" http://www. ussdams.org/benefits.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Rivers, Dams, and Climate Change." http://www.irn.org/ programs/greenhouse (accessed on August 24, 2004). "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Education Center — Water Resources Management." http://education.usace.army.mil/ water/resmgmt.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). Dams and Reservoirs 209 WORDS TO KNOW Atom: The smallest unit that has all the chemical and physi- cal characteristics of an ele- ment. Condensation: The transfor- mation (phase change) of a gas to a liquid. Distillation: The purification of water by heating. Parts per million (ppm): The number of particles in a solution per million particles of the solution. Potable water: Water that is safe to drink. Desalination Approximately 97% of Earth's water is either sea water or brackish water (a mixture of salt and fresh water) . Humans and other animals cannot drink salt water and to do so can bring on dehydration (the loss of the body's existing water) that can lead to illness and in extreme cases, death. Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable (drinkable water is also called potable water) or to make it useable for irrigation (watering fields and crops) . Natural desalination occurs everyday as a part of the world's hydrologic cycle. As salt water from the oceans evaporates (changes from liquid to gas), the salt is left behind and the water that moves into the atmosphere is fresh water. Thus, the water in clouds that eventually falls as rain is fresh water. Salt can also be removed from water by a series of processes known as manipulated desalinization, desalting, or saline water reclamation (salt water reclamation). All of these manmade processes are expensive in terms of how much money and energy they each require to produce a gallon of water. Salt is composed (made up) of sodium and chorine atoms (the smallest particles of each element). Seawater contains the same kind of salt (sodium chloride) used everyday on food and in cooking. In addition, seawater also contains many small par- ticles of the chemicals such as calcium and magnesium that also form chemicals called salts. Some of these salts come from chemicals used by industry, others from natural processes. Between three and four pounds out of every 100 pounds of atoms in saltwater (the hydrogen and oxygen atoms that together form water plus the atoms of all chemicals dissolved in the water) are combined into salts. Public health officials who test water use a different scale and label the salt in water as parts (particles) per million (ppm). Using this scale, seawater contains 35,000 ppm of dissolved salts. Brackish water typical- ly contains less than half the amount of salt that is found in sea- water, about 5,000-10,000 ppm of salt. Safe drinking water for humans, and water for most types of crops, must contain only 5,000-10,000 ppm of salt. Methods to remove salt There are several ways to remove salt from seawater and the method used is determined by the intended use of the water. Salt can also be removed from groundwater contaminated with saltwater. For example, if the water is to be drinkable then more 210 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science salt needs to be removed than if the water is to be used for crops. Cost is also an impor- tant consideration because the more salt that needs to be removed, the greater the cost. Stories from ancient Greece tell of how sailors obtained fresh water by first removing salt from seawater by evaporating the seawa- ter, and then condensing (changing from a gas to a liquid) the air carrying the evaporat- ed water. This process, because it uses the heat of the Sun is now called solar distilla- tion. Solar distillation is similar to the natu- ral process of the heat of the Sun evaporating water from the oceans that later condense into fresh water drops in clouds. When the water evaporates, only fresh water moves into the surrounding air because the salts are too heavy and are left behind in the ocean. Only fresh water went into the surrounding air (for example, the air over a bucket of sea- water). As the air came into contact with cooler sheets or sails spread over the bucket, drops of fresh water would form and could then be collected in a separate bucket. Other, but far less efficient ways to obtain fresh water included the use of filtering sea- water. One method of filtering included the use of a wool wick (a length of rope made of wool) to absorb (siphon) the water. The salts were trapped in the wool and fresh water dripped out. Water was also poured through sand or clay to remove salts. By the fourth century (400 a.d.) onward, people obtained fresh water by boiling salt water and using sponges to absorb the fresh water in the air above the pot. The first scientific paper on desalting was published by Arab scientists in the eighth century. The first desalination efforts for industry started in 1869, as land-based steam distillation plants were established in Britain to prepare fresh water for ships going to sea. Methods of distillation and filtering are still the most widely used methods of desalination used in most areas of the world. Other modern techniques use complex machines that change the temperature at which water boils away by lowering the pressure of the atmosphere over a sealed container of water. A worker samples water from the Doha, Kuwait desalination facility. © Ed Kashi/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Desalination 211 This methods reduces the formation of crusty white salts, which appear similar to the sticky white powder found at the bottom of a pan from which all water has boiled away. These crusty white salts can clog machinery and make it more diffi- cult to heat water. In industry the crusty residue is called scal- ing, and the method of lowering the temperature at which water boils is called multistage distillation (multiple stages of distillation). The goal of multistage distillation is to reduce the boiling point of water to a temperature where it will still boil (evaporate) into a collection flask, but that it will not form a crusty salt residue. The residue forms at about 160°F (71°C) so the goal is to reduce the boiling point of water to less than 160°F. In some desalinization plants, distilled water is also fil- tered of other pollutants to make it ready to drink. A process called reverse osmosis can also be used to remove salt from water. Water molecules are forced through a plastic membrane (a barrier) with very small pores (openings) that allow the passage of water, but not of salts. K. Lee Lerner For More Information Books Farndon, John. Water (Science Experiments). Salt Lake City, UT: Benchmark Books, 2000. Postel, Sandra, and Brian Richter. Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2003. Websites "Chemistry Tutorial. The Chemistry of Water." Biology Project. University of Arizona, http://www.biology.arizona.edu/ biochemistry/tutorials/chemistry/page3.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Water Basics." Water Science for Schools, United States Geological Survey, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/mwater.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). Hydropower Hydropower is energy that is generated by moving water. Today, hydropower facilities make electricity by converting kinetic (moving) energy into mechanical (machine) energy as 212 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science water flows in a river or over a dam. Electricity made at hydropower facilities can be carried away via power trans- mission lines, and sold to homes and businesses. Hydropower is a relatively inexpensive, non-polluting form of renewable energy. Canada and the United States are currently the world's top hydroelectric producers. Other countries that use hydropower on a large scale include Brazil, China, Russia, Norway, Japan, India, Iceland, Sweden, and France. Hydropower produces about 10% of United States' electricity, in contrast to Norway, who generates nearly 99% of its electricity from hydropower. Hydropower is used nationwide, but is primarily used in the western coastal United States where other energy resources such as coal are limited. Hydropower is important to the United States economy because it supplies electricity to a growing population and industry. Hydropower in history Humans have harnessed water power for thousands of years, using the mechanical energy of moving water to turn wooden wheels to power mills that sawed lumber and processed grains. Water either fell onto the wheel and caused it to turn or the wheel was placed in the river and the river's current (a steady flow of water in a prevailing direction) turned the wheel. The wheel was attached to other levers and gears inside the mill that did the work needed. During the 1700s to 1800s, mechanical hydropower was used extensively in the United States and else- where for milling and pumping. It began to be widely used to supply electricity in the late 1800s. In 1882 the world's first hydropower facility was built on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Fox River facility generated electricity for local industries. By the 1920s, following the development of the electrical motor and the demand for electricity that followed, hydropow- er accounted for about 40% of the U.S. electricity supply. Since then, other energy technologies have developed that are less expensive than hydropower. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) signed the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Act. The purpose of the TVA was to construct dams on the Tennessee River that would aid in river navigation, control flooding, provide water for irrigation (watering crops) and drinking, and provide hydropower to Tennessee River Valley residents. In the American West, hydropower aided in the production of the WORDS TO KNOW Canal: Man-made or artifi- cially improved waterway used for travel, shipping, irrigation or hydropower. Electrical current: Flow of electricity. Generator: Machine that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. Turbine: A device that trans- forms the energy in moving fluid or wind to rotary mechanical energy; electrical turbines gen- erate electricity by spinning inside a magnetic field. Voltage: Energy potential from a source that can produce a flow of electricity in an electri- cal conductor (circuit). Hydropower 213 Swimmers enjoy geothermally heated pools at Svartsvehring, Iceland. © Bob Krist/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. dams themselves, moving and lifting con- struction materials and providing energy for lights to make round-the-clock work possi- ble. Surplus energy was sold to neighboring farms and homes, which in turn paid for the operation and building costs of the dams. Hydropower facility development was at its peak during the 1930s and 1940s. The Hoover Dam on the Nevada-Arizona border and the Grand Coulee dam located on the Columbia River in Washington state were constructed during this period. The Grand Coulee dam remains the largest concrete structure in the United States. Hydroelectric technology Electricity is one of the most important types of energy because it allows people to perform the work needed to light homes and power appliances and computers. Hydro- power generation utilizes the principles of electromagnetic induction (creating an elec- trical current, the flow of electricity, by mov- ing a magnet through a wire coil), first described by English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) in 1831 when he made the first generator. A generator is a machine that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. Energy is the power to do work. Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it merely changes state, as occurs when electrical energy is harnessed from the mechanical energy of moving water. No matter the type or size of the hydropower facility, elec- tricity is generated in much the same way in each one. The dam or the natural elevation drop in a river creates head, or a certain height over which the water flows as it is released from the dam or as it flows downstream. As water is released from a reservoir in an impoundment or pumped storage facility, or diverted from a river through a control gate, it flows by gravity (the attraction between two masses) to a turbine. A turbine is a device that transforms the energy in moving fluid or wind to rotary mechanical energy. As the water flows past the turbine blades, the turbine blades spin and turn a rotor (the moving part of an electric generator) much like wind spins a pinwheel. Giant magnets inside the rotor move past coils of copper wire 214 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science and create an alternating current. An alter- nating current (AC) is produced when elec- trons wiggle back and forth between atoms. The used water returns to the river through pipes. The alternating current moves through a series of devices called transformers that can increase the voltage (energy required to move a charge from one point to another, similar to pressure). The increase in voltage allows the electricity to travel faster and more efficiently through power lines (important when the hydropower facility is in a remote location) from the hydropower facility to a town's electricity facility. At the local facility transformers are used again to reduce the voltage to a level that is safe for the electricity to be used in homes and businesses. Types of hydropower facilities There are three types of hydropower facil- ities: impoundment, pumped storage, and diversion. Impoundment and pumped stor- age facilities require dams. In the United States, hydropower is a very small percentage of the primary purpose of dams. Usually a L dam is built first for other reasons, such as water storage and flood control, and a hydropower facility is incorporated later if there strated need for electricity. Impoundment facilities require a large dam that allows river water to be stored in a reservoir. When water is released from the reservoir, the water flows downward through a penstock (pipe) in the dam and spins turbines, thereby creating mechan- ical energy that is then used to power electric generators. Transmission lines carry electricity away from the impound- ment facility to local distributors who sell the electricity to homes and businesses. Pumped storage hydropower facilities also require dams to operate. In periods of low electricity demand water is pumped from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir. When electrical demand increases, water is released from the higher reservoir back into the lower reservoir through a penstock, turning tur- Iceland The northern island of Iceland is known for generating geothermal power (power derived from heat found under Earth's surface) rather than hydropower. Yet when large glaciers (large, slow-moving mass of ice) melt in the spring it supplies water to large rivers and provides favorable conditions for hydropower development. Long, dark, and cold winters contribute to Iceland's high rate of energy consumption, second only to Norway. In the early 1900s, Icelanders primarily used peat (plant debris and moss from bogs that is dried) for fuel. By 1940 imported coal and oil were used. Geothermal and hydropower accounted for only approximate- ly 9% of Iceland's energy. About 87% of houses in Iceland are currently heated with geothermal energy. The rest are heated with electricity, 83% of which is generated using hydropower. Orkustofnun, Iceland's National Energy Authority, estimates that only about 10-15% of Iceland's potential hydropower it tes have been developed. is a demon- Hydropower 215 Tennessee Valley Authority Prior to 1933, residents of the Tennessee River Valley lived without water and power. Many people lived in poverty without jobs fol- lowing the Great Depression, which began in 1929. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Tennessee Valley Authority Act as part of his New Deal plan, a series of social pro- grams that reformed American financial prac- tices and offered relief and jobs to struggling Americans during the Depression. This act cre- ated the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), a federally funded utility company incorporating approximately 80,000 square miles (207,200 square kilometers) in Tennessee and parts of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. The TVA was initially charged with making rivers more navigable and bringing water and electricity to homes and farms throughout the seven southern states. Since its founding, the TVA has also been responsible for developing flood control through dam construction, improving and maintaining water quality, replanting forests, developing roads and pro- viding recreation opportunities on lakes and rivers. The TVA improved the Tennessee River Valley economy by providing construction and maintenance jobs to the region and supporting farm and industry development. Originally, tax dollars provided funding for TVA projects, but today the TVA supports its staff and maintains its facilities by making and selling electricity. Today the TVA is the largest public power company in the United States, supplying power for more than eight million people. The TVA currently operates twenty-nine hydroelectric and one pumped-storage dam, eleven coal-fired plants, three nuclear power plants, and several solar, wind, and other renewable energy sites. bines that power electric generators. Pumped storage and impoundment hydropower facilities provide a reliable source of electricity because water flow from reservoirs can be controlled so that electricity production meets demand. Diversion hydropower facilities (sometimes called run-of- river systems) are smaller than impoundment facilities and do not require a dam. Instead, diversion facilities use a river's nat- ural flow to generate electricity. The amount of electricity pro- duced depends upon the river's rate of flow (volume of water flow within a period of time) and the river's elevation change at the diversion facility site. In diversion hydropower facilities, river water is channeled through a canal (artificial waterway that controls water flow, in this case, to a turbine) or penstock. Diversion facilities are less reliable than impoundment or pumped storage facilities because flow rates in rivers can change drastically depending on the amount of rainfall or spring meltwater that supplies the river. 216 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science The Hoover Dam hydropower plant is driven by waters of the Colorado River. © Royalty-Free/CORBIS. Reproduced by permission. Hoover Dam was built on Black Canyon, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Las Vegas on the Colorado River. The dam took less than five years (1931-36) to complete and employed an average of 3,500 people each year. At 726.4 feet (221.4 meters) tall, Hoover Dam was the largest dam of the time. Today, Hoover Dam is a National Historic Landmark and heralded as one of America's Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders. The dam and Hoover Power plant (the hydropower facili- ty) are currently operated and maintained by the Bureau of Reclamation. The reservoir (Lake Mead) is maintained jointly by the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service. Hoover Dam was built to control waters of the Colorado River Basin, including the Green, San Juan, Virgin, and Gila Rivers, which are all tributaries (smaller streams that feed into a larger stream or river) of the Colorado River. Rivers of the Colorado River Basin drain a 242,000-square-mile (626,777-square-kilo- meter) area of the western United States between Colorado and the Gulf of California. Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming are allocated water from the Colorado River Basin. The Hoover power plant is a U-shaped facil- ity located at the base of the dam. The power plant was installed in 1961 and upgraded between 1986 and 1993. Water from the river is taken through 30-foot (9-meter) wide pen- stocks to sixteen 13-foot (4 meter) wide pen- stocks to the turbines. Electricity generated in the Hoover power plant supplies the operations of the dam and plant and provides low-cost power to Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California. Revenues from the sale of power have allowed for its $165 million dollar dam construction cost to be repaid to the Federal Treasury. Revenue monies now pay for opera- tion and maintenance of the Sizes of hydropower facilities The size of a hydropower facility depends upon the amount of energy that can be generated at the facility Some hydropow- er plants may produce electricity for only one to a few homes. These facilities are called micro-hydropower plants. In micro- hydropower facilities the total change in elevation of the flow- ing water is only about 100 feet (30 meters). Energy output can Hydropower 217 be increased, however, with higher water flow. Larger hydro- electric power facilities such as the Hoover power plant in Nevada, however, can provide electricity to more than one mil- lion consumers. Benefits and drawbacks of hydropower Hydropower is an efficient, clean, and reliable source of ener- gy. Once hydropower plants are constructed and the technolo- gy is in place, the cost of hydropower is the lowest of all energy sources. No fuel is used during hydropower production; water returns to the river. No pollutants are released into the air dur- ing electrical generation, so the air around hydropower plants remains clean. Hydropower facilities can respond to high demands for electricity through reservoir storage, even in times of water shortage. The negative effects of hydropower generally come from large-scale facilities. Impoundment or pumped storage facilities often alter wildlife habitats along rivers because large dams must be built to provide a reservoir. Dams can flood areas close to a river or lake, obstruct fish migration (periodic movement from one region to another) , and affect water quality and flow downstream. Humans are sometimes displaced from their homes when dams are built. In diversion facilities, seasonal and annual fluctuations (variations) in water supply can negatively affect electrical production if river flow rates become too low. Regulations and licensing permits for dams and hydropower facilities as well as electrical transportation from remote hydropower are often costly. The future of hydropower Recent energy shortages in the United States has spurred the government to study hydropower's future potential. The Department of Energy has identified 5,677 sites in the United States that have potential for large-scale hydropower develop- ment, but many of these sites are not possible because of eco- nomic drawback, such as their remote location, environmental issues, and other circumstances. Because a change to hydropower as a primary energy source could help lessen air pollution and reduce demands for fossil fuels (oil and gas), hydropower will likely be further explored. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D., and Marcy Davis, M.S. 218 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science For More Information Books Mann, Elizabeth, and Alan Witschonke. Hoover Dam: The Story of Hard Times, Tough People, and the Taming of a Rough River. New York: Mikaya Press, 2001. Websites "Energy in Iceland." Ministries of Industry and Commerce. http ://brunnur. s tj r. is/in terpro/ivr/ivreng. ns 170/ 344886a871936f30002568d30038828d?OpenDocument (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Hydro Facts." National Hydropower Association. http://www. hydro.org/hydrofacts/index.asp (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Hydropower." Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/ hydropower.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). "The Story of Hoover Dam." United States Bureau of Rec lamation. http ://www. usbr. gov/lc/hoo verdam/His tory/ index.htm (accessed on August 26, 2004). "TVA: Electricity for All." Tennessee Valley Authority. http://newdeal.feri.org/tva (accessed on August 26, 2004). 4 Ports and Harbors Peoples of ancient civilizations often built their cities on the shores of natural harbors. A harbor is place on the coastline that is protected from the full effects of tide and currents (a steady flow of ocean waters in a prevailing direction) . Harbors are often shaped like horseshoes. They are surrounded by land with a narrow opening through which ships can pass. Man- made harbors use structures such as walls or barriers built into the water to protect anchored ships from tide or storm damage. Building cities near harbors permitted the construction of ports for trade. A port is a place on a shoreline for the loading and unloading of cargo from shipping vessels. Ports can be located on the ocean coast or on the shores of lakes and rivers. Cities with working ports are also called seaports or port cities. Many of the great cities of the ancient world were seaports. Seaports allowed cities to grow and flourish. Trade made them wealthy. Ports also sheltered ships of war, sometimes a necessi- Ports and Harbors 219 WORDS TO KNOW Barrier Island: Long, narrow coastal island built up parallel to the mainland. Export: Raw materials or goods that are shipped, traded, or sold to other nations. Import: Raw materials or goods that are produced in a foreign country and brought into another. Jetty: Structure built out into the sea, a lake, or a river to protect the harbor or shore against waves or tides. Navigation channel: Pas- sage in a waterway that is nat- urally deep or dredged to permit the passage of ships, or a defined, well-marked passage that leads from the docks to open waters; also called ship channel. ty to guard desirable seaports from invasion. The ancient sea- port of Alexandria (Egypt), located along a man-made harbor along the Mediterranean Sea and the end of the Nile River, thrived for centuries. Alexandria was invaded several times and ruled by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. The modern city of Alexandria, Egypt, is located a few miles (kilometers) from the underwater ruins of the ancient seaport. Modern ports and harbors Improvements in technology has allowed ships to travel faster, carry more cargo, and load with greater ease. Ports have grown in size to accommodate today's bigger, faster ships. However, many parts of modern ports closely resemble their ancient counterparts. In modern day, there are over 185 seaports in the United States. Trade with other nations, called overseas trade, is impor- tant to a nation's economy. Two types of overseas trade occur, imports and exports. Imports are goods and materials that are shipped into United States from other countries. Exports are goods and materials from the United States that are shipped to other nations. Ships move most U.S. overseas trade, and ship- ping on waterways remains one of the least expensive means of transporting goods. Modern ports have several special structures that help with the movement of cargo between land and ships. Navigation channels or ship channels that ships travel into port are marked "roadways." Docks and piers permit vessels to moor (secure to the dock) and for cargo to be loaded and unloaded from ships. Cranes and ramps aid the movement of cargo. On land, ports have large warehouses to store cargo. The waterside port area is connected to inland transportation systems such as roads, rail- ways, pipelines, and airports. This allows cargo from ships to be loaded onto trucks, trains, or airplanes for transport to inland destinations. Cargo is often stored in containers that can be loaded from trucks to trains to ships. For example, metal boxes on railroad cars can be detached and loaded directly onto barges or ships. Liquid cargo, such as oil or gasoline, can be piped from large reservoirs onboard ships into tanker trucks or tanker train cars. Building and maintaining successful ports Modern ports must be built to accommodate several types of ships, from oil tankers and tugboats, to barges and passenger ships. Ports not only aid trade; they are also important centers 220 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science The Port of Hong Kong A junk, a form of boat popular in the waters, sails into the port of Honk Kong, China. © Nik Wheeler/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Hong Kong, China, is one of the major ports of the world. A large natural harbor with deep waters and several barrier islands (narrow coastal island parallel to the mainland) protect the city of Hong Kong from the tides. The port serves commercial, military, and passenger vessels. During the year 2001, nearly 40,000 seagoing vessels used Hong Kong's port. (In the nineteenth century, Great Britain took control of Hong Kong. In 1898, a treaty with China gave Great Britain control of Hong Kong for 99 years. On July 1, 1997, the treaty expired and Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control.) Over the past century, Hong Kong grew into one of the wealthiest most productive ports in the world. When the port was established, it had a sparse population and no industry. In modern day Hong Kong is a major industrial center and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Hong Kong must import raw materials for construction and manufacturing. However, the city prospers because of its fac- tories that produce clothing, shoes, toys, elec- tronics, plastics, and jewelry for export to other countries. of travel for people. Passenger ferries and cruise ships carry people from one port to another. Ports usually have separate docks, piers, and places to moor for passenger vessels. Even if a port is located in a natural harbor, river, or lake, the waterways must be maintained. Ship channels must be kept sufficiently deep to permit the passage of ships, barges, and tugboats. Dredging makes waterways deeper by removing the silt (tiny particles of rock, soil, and plant material) and mud that clogs channels. Docks, piers, and jetties (protective rock barriers) need continual maintenance. The U.S. government and local port authorities oversee daily operations at United States ports. Problems, concerns, and the future of ports Ports are vital to the economies of the cities in which they are located. However, the warehouses, docks, cranes, and shipyards of a working port are generally not considered attractive. Ports occupy large amounts of land near waterways. Commercial Ports and Harbors 221 ships, vessels used for trade, are large and difficult to navigate. They can pose a danger to small recreational boats. Laws often prohibit or limit recreational boats in ship channels and other key port waters. Thus, ports can sometimes restrict individuals' use of shorelines, coastal areas, and waterways. City planners work to carefully balance the needs of the port with the inter- ests of citizens and businesses. Ports also pose special challenges for marine (ocean) and coastal environments. The constant presence of large vessel traffic can disturb plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in port and harbor waters. The construction of jetties and breakwaters changes the effect of tides and currents within a harbor or port area. This alters the water chemistry of water within the jetties. Water chemistry is the balance of tempera- ture, minerals, salts, and even pollutants in water. Even a slight change in the temperature, muddiness, or salinity (saltiness) of water can harm marine life. As ships require fuel to operate, port areas have to store and transport large amounts of gas and oil. Leaks, spills, and ship- wrecks damage underwater and coastal habitats. Ports also increase the amount of other types of pollutants, such as litter. However, ships produce less air pollution than airplanes, trucks, or trains loaded with the same tonnage of cargo. Transportation systems are always changing and improving. Ships, trains, and airplanes are becoming bigger, faster, and more efficient. Trucks and airplanes, only invented a century ago, are already essential means of moving goods and materials. Yet a port, an idea centuries old, remains an efficient link for land and ocean transport. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Bone, Kevin, et al. The New York Waterfront: Evolution and Building Culture of the Port and Harbor. New York: Monacelli Press, 2003. Websites NOAA National Ocean Service. "Marine Navigation" National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://oceanservice. noaa.gov/topics/navops/marinenav/welcome.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). 222 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Tide Energy Tides are twice-daily rises and falls of water level relative to land. Ocean tides can produce strong currents (a steady flow of ocean waters in a prevailing direction) along some coastlines. Humans have sought to harness the kinetic (motion-induced) energy of the tides for hundreds of years. Residents of coastal England and France have used tidal energy to turn water wheels and generate mechanical energy for grain mills since the eleventh century. In modern day tidal currents are used to gen- erate electricity. Tidal energy is a non-polluting, renewable energy source. Modern day technologies for exploiting tidal energy are, however, relatively expensive and are limited to a few coastlines with extremely high and low tides. Tidal energy may, in the future, become more widely used and economically practical. The power in tides Tides result from the gravitational pulls of the Moon and Sun on the surface of the spinning Earth. Gravity is the force of attraction between all masses. The shape of the shore and adja- cent seafloor affects the tidal range (difference between high and low tides) along specific coastlines. Some places, like the English Channel between France and England, and the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada, experience very high and low tides. The tides protected Medieval monasteries in the English Channel since the eighth century. Mont-St. -Michel in western France and Lindisfarne (Holy Island) in northern England are churches built on small islands surrounded by miles of tidal flats (a broad, flat area of coastline alternately covered and exposed by the tides). Today, they are connected to the main- land by roadways but in Medieval times, only devout pilgrims rushed to make the hurried trip across miles (kilometers) of shifting sand between roaring tidal pulses. For tidal energy to be a practical source for electricity gener- ation, the tidal range in a coastal area must be at least 16.5 feet (5 meters). The greater an area's tidal range, the more electrici- ty will be produced. Although tidal energy is reliable and plen- tiful, only a handful of suitable tidal power station locations have been proposed worldwide. Two large tidal power plants are in operation today at La Ranee in Brittany, France, and in the Canadian town of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. In the United States, tidal energy as a power source is realistic only in Alaska and Maine. WORDS TO KNOW Barrage: Artificial obstruc- tion such as a dam constructed in a water channel to increase water depth or divert flow. Tidal fence: Devices in- stalled in an area with highly- changing tides that make electricity by harnessing tidal energy. Tidal flat: A broad, flat area of coastline alternately covered and exposed by the tides. Tide: Periodic rise and fall of sea level along coastlines caused by gravitational and rotational forces between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Turbine: A spinning wheel or other device that converts the kinetic (motion-induced) of a fluid such as water to mechan- ical motion, which in turn gen- erates electrical energy. Tide Energy 223 Exploiting tidal energy Devices used to exploit tidal energy may be shore-based or ocean-based systems. Both systems use a fluctuating column of water to propel turbine blades and generate electricity. This means that the water on one side of the dam is higher than on the other side. As the water falls from the high side of the dam to the other, turbines turn and produce electricity. A barrage is a shore -based, dam-like structure that is built across a narrow-mouthed estuary (the part of a river where it nears the sea and fresh and salt water mix) . As the tide ebbs and flows (moves in and out) through tunnels in the barrage, the water turns large fan-like turbines and generates electricity. Barrages are expensive to build and can harm estuarine life by restricting water flow over the tidal flats. Electricity produced by tidal energy has no harmful wastes or emissions such as greenhouse gases. Once built, the barrage is easy to maintain and inexpensive to run. Ocean-based systems include tidal fences and offshore tur- bines. Tidal fences are like giant subway turnstiles built across the sea floor between the mainland and an island or between two islands. When a tidal fence is built across an open body of water, water is forced to pass through the vertical turbine gates and electricity is generated. Tidal fences may restrict tidal flow and the ability of wildlife to pass through. Offshore turbines are like giant propellers placed on large posts that are set in a line across the sea floor. Ocean currents flow past the turbines and cause the blades to spin and generate electricity. Offshore turbines are like giant propellers placed on large posts that are set in a line across the sea floor. Ocean currents flow past the turbines and cause the blades to spin and gener- ate electricity. Tidal fence turbines have a much lower initial cost when compared to barrages and are much less harmful to the envi- ronment because they do not restrict tidal ebb and flow. Tidal turbines also allow wildlife and small boats to pass through the area. Offshore turbine blades are smaller and less protect- ed than those housed in barrages or tidal fences and so they are more prone to damage from strong tidal currents. Ocean- based systems are much less expensive to install than bar- rages, but are more expensive to maintain due to their remote location. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D., and Marcy Davis, M.S. 224 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science For More Information Books Sylvester, Doug. Oceans Alive: Water, Waves, and Tides. San Diego: Rainbow Horizons Publishing, 2001. Websites Baird, Stuard. "Energy Fact Sheet: Tidal Energy." International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, http://www.icki. org/EFACTS/TIDAL.HTM (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Ocean Energy." California Energy Commission. http://www.energy.ca.gov/development/oceanenergy/ (accessed on August 24, 2004). Wastewater Management Wastewater is any water that requires cleaning after it is used. This includes water that has been used for laundry, bathing, dishwashing, toilets, garbage disposals, and industrial purposes. Wastewater also includes rainwater that has accumu- lated pollutants as it runs into oceans, lakes, and rivers. Pollutants are unwanted chemicals or materials that contami- nate air, soil, and water. The goal of wastewater management is to clean and protect water. This means that water must be clean enough so that it can be used by people for drinking and washing, and by industry for commercial purposes. It also must be clean enough to release into oceans, lakes, and rivers after it has been used. Wastewater is usually divided into two major groups: point source wastewater and non-point source wastewater. Point source wastewater includes wastewaters that enter natural waters (such as lakes, rivers, and oceans) from defined loca- tions. The most common point sources are sanitary sewers and storm drains. Non-point source wastewater is wastewater that is not connected to a specific source. This includes runoff (water that drains away) from agriculture and urban (city) areas, and acidic waters from mines. In many ways, point source waste- water is much easier to manage because its source and the pol- lutants it contains are known. Non-point source wastewater, on the other hand, is both hard to identify and treat. Wastewater Management 225 WORDS TO KNOW Erosion: The wearing away of land by air, wind, or water. Estuary: Wide part of a river where it nears the sea; where fresh and salt water mix. Non-point source waste- water: Wastewater that is not connected to a specific source. Pathogen: Organisms (such as bacteria, protozoa, and viruses) that can cause dis- ease. Point source wastewater: Wastewater that enters natural waters from defined locations. Sedimentation: The pro- cess when sediments settle to the bottom of a liquid. Sludge: A semi-solid resi- due, containing microorgan- isms and their products, from any water treatment process. Sewage treatment One of the largest sources of wastewater is that which comes from homes and industries. These wastewaters all flow into sanitary sewers, which direct them into sewage treatment plants. Wastewaters from homes contain human waste, food, soaps, and detergents. They also contain pathogens, which are organisms that can cause diseases. Industrial wastewaters con- tain toxic (poisonous) pollutants, which can endanger human health and harm other organisms. These include pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs,) and heavy metals like lead, mercury, and nickel. These metals are generally toxic to plant and animal life. The goal of sewage treatment is to remove all of these pollutants from the wastewater so that it can be returned to natural waters. Sewage treatment involves three stages: primary treatment, secondary treatment, and tertiary treatment. Primary treatment physically separates solids and liquids. The wastewater passes through a grating that strains out large particles. The remaining water is left to stand in a tank, where smaller sediments (parti- cles of sand, clay, and other materials) settle to the bottom. These sediments are called sludge. At this point, the liquid part of the wastewater still contains many pollutants and is not safe for exposure to humans or the environment. In the second step, called secondary treatment, the liquid part of the wastewater passes through a trickling filter or an aer- ation tank. A trickling filter is a set of pipes with small holes in it that dribbles water over a bed of stones or corrugated plastic. Bacteria in the stones or plastic absorb pollutants from the water and break them down into substances that are not harm- ful. An aeration tank is a tank that contains bacteria that break down pollutants. The liquid part of the wastewater from pri- mary treatment is pumped into the tank and mixed with the bacteria. Air is bubbled through the tank to help the bacteria grow. As bacteria accumulate, they settle to the bottom of the tank and form sludge. The sludge is removed from the bottom of the tank and buried in landfills. After secondary treatment, the water is generally free from the majority of pathogens and heavy metals. It still contains high concentrations of nitrate and phosphate, minerals that can over- stimulate the growth of algae and plants in natural waters, which can ultimately cause them and the surrounding organisms to die. Circular pools or treatment ponds of a sewage treatment plant. © Lester Lefkowitz/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. 226 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Wastewater Management 227 Tertiary treatment removes these nutrients from the wastewater. One method of tertiary treatment involves using biological, chemical, and physical processes to remove these nutrients. Another method is to pass the water through a wetland or lagoon (shallow body of water cut off from a larger body). Storm sewers In most cities in the United States, the sewers that carry storm waters are routed through sewage treatment plants. Much of the runoff from storms contains fertilizers, oils, and other chemicals that should be removed from the water before it enters lakes, rivers, and oceans. When there are very heavy rainfalls, however, the sewage treatment plants can become overwhelmed by the volume of water entering the facility. At these times, sewage and wastewater from storms may be dumped directly into natural water bodies. Many cities have programs underway to separate the storm sewers from sanitary sewers, but these projects are very costly and time consuming. Agricultural runoff Agricultural runoff occurs when rain falls to the ground and then runs through agricultural fields or livestock-raising farms. The rainwater can accumulate fertilizer, oils, and animal wastes before it runs into rivers, lakes, and oceans. These materials pollute natural waters and can cause fish to die, contaminate drinking water, and speed up the rate of sedimentation (parti- cles settling to the bottom of a waterway) in lakes and streams. In the summer of 1995, runoff from hog farms in North Carolina caused the rapid growth of the algae Pfisteria. This algae released toxins that affected the nervous system of fish as well as humans in the area. In an attempt to manage agricultural runoff, the Office of Wastewater Management (OWM) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated farms as Animal Feeding Operations (AFOS). As of 1998, nearly half a million AFOS had been identified. By designating AFOS, the OWM can regulate the disposal of animal waste products. This moves a large por- tion of agricultural runoff from the non-point source category to the point source category, and allows for better management of agricultural pollutants. Acid mine drainage In places where coal is mined, the mineral pyrite is a waste material. A series of complex reactions between pyrite, oxygen, and water result in acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage is 228 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science wastewater that is extremely acidic and contains high concen- trations of heavy metals. Acid mine drainage is one of the major sources of stream pollution in the Appalachian mountain region. Acid mine drainage has severely damaged more than half the streams in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. There are at least 200,000 abandoned mines throughout the United States that produce acid mine drainage. Acid mine drainage can be treated using chemical treatments that decrease the acidity of the water, and allow the heavy met- als to precipitate (separate from the water) . This type of treat- ment is often very expensive. Another way to treat acid mine drainage is by passing it through a lagoon or wetlands, which removes heavy metals and decreases the acidity of the water. Acid mine drainage is also treated by passing it through a chan- nel of limestone (a rock that is very alkaline) , which also neu- tralizes the acidity of the water. Urban runoff When rain falls on natural lands such as forests and mead- ows, some of it soaks into the soil and then slowly makes its way to rivers, lakes, and oceans. In cities, much of the land is paved with cement and asphalt, and water is unable to sink into the ground. Instead, it quickly moves to storm drains and then into natural waterways. This great volume of water causes much erosion (wearing away of the land) and sedimentation. In addition, as the rainwater runs over paved surfaces, it gathers oil and grease from cars, fertilizers and pesticides from garden- ing, pathogens form animal wastes, road salts, and heavy met- als. These are dumped directly into natural waters with urban wastewater. Runoff from urban areas is the largest source of pol- lution in estuaries (the wide part of a river where it nears the sea) and the third largest source of pollution in lakes. Controlling urban runoff is extremely difficult because its sources are hard to identify. The Environmental Protection Agency works to influence developers to take into account urban runoff when planning new buildings. Some ideas to min- imize runoff include adding vegetation and drainage areas to new construction sites. Some cities have instituted sewer-sten- ciling programs that remind people that rainwater flows direct- ly into natural waters. Gas stations have also been targeted as businesses that can help control car oils and grease. Schools have also developed programs to teach students about urban runoff and non-point source wastewater. Juli Berwald, Ph.D. Wastewater Management 229 For More Information Books Cunningham, William E and Barbara Woodworth Saigo. Environmental Science: A Global Concern. Boston, WCB/McGraw-Hill, 1999. Raven, Peter H, Linda R. Berg and George B. Johnson. Environment, Second Edition. Orlando, FL: Saunders College Publishing, 1998. Websites "Agricultural Runoff Management." Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/ nps/animal.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Managing Urban Runoff." United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/facts/ point7.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). "The Science of Acid Mine Drainage and Passive Treatment." Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/bamr/amd/ science_of_amd.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Wastewater Primer." United States Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/owm/primer.pdf (accessed on August 24, 2004). Wave Energy The oceans store large amounts of kinetic (moving) energy from the wind. The wind generates waves as it blows across the sea's) surface. The larger the wave, the more energy the wave contains. Wave energy provides a continuous source of renew- able, non-polluting energy that can be converted to electricity at wave power plant sites around the world. Where the waves are Windy coastlines around large oceans are the best places to build power plants that harness wave energy. Strong winds that blow continuously over long stretches of open water create the largest waves, which contain the most energy. Strong, steady winds that blow in Earth's major wind belts (zones of wind in a prevailing direction) generate massive waves. In the subtropical zone on either side of the equator (imaginary circle around Earth halfway between the North and South Poles), suitable 230 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science wind power sites are along east-facing coastlines in the path of the westerly trade winds, such as the east coast of Florida. (Winds are named for the direction from which they blow; the trade winds are strong winds that blow from east to west in the sub tropics on either side of the equator.) In mid-latitudes (imag- inary lines on Earth that tell how far north or south a place is from the equator), storms along the course of Easterly jet streams, a current of fast-moving air in the upper atmosphere, produce waves that pound west-facing coastlines such as the Pacific Coast of the United States. At higher latitudes, sub-polar easterly winds produce some of the largest waves in the world, up to 100 feet (30.5 meters) high in the North Atlantic Ocean. Harnessing wave energy There are two types of energy technologies used to capture wave energy and generate electricity: fixed devices and floating devices. Fixed devices are attached to the shore or sea floor. Tapered channels (TAPCHANS) are fixed devices that direct large waves into raised pools on the shore. Water draining from the pools turns turbines that generate electricity. (Turbines are spinning wheels or other devices that convert the energy in falling water to mechanical and electrical energy.) A power plant on the North Coast of Norway uses a TAPCHAN to har- ness wave energy. TAPCHANS are relatively easy and inexpen- sive to maintain. Water can be stored in the reservoir (body of water) so that power can be generated when needed. An appro- priate TAPCHAN site however, is difficult to find because it must have consistent waves, small tidal variations, deep water close to the shoreline, and a place to build a reservoir. Oscillating water channels (OWCs) are fixed devices that consist of a small opening, where waves can enter and retreat, attached to a vertical closed pipe. As a wave flows into the OWC, the water forces air up the pipe, turning turbine blades as it passes. When the wave ebbs (pulls back) the air is sucked back down the pipe and turns the turbine blades again. Adequate locations for oscillating water channels are also diffi- cult to find, in part, because the relatively new technology requires that OWCs be embedded in the shoreline, limiting OWC usage to rocky coasts. Floating devices have several advantages over fixed devices: they have less visual impact on the shoreline, are less likely to change wave patterns and disrupt wildlife, and are quieter than TAPCHANS. Floating devices use the cyclic motion of waves to generate electricity. A Salter Duck (developed by University of Edinburgh professor Steven Salter in the 1970s) looks like a WORDS TO KNOW Fixed wave power device: Wave power electrical genera- tor that is attached to the seafloor and/or shore. Floating wave power de- vice: Wave power electrical generator that is floating in shallow water. Latitude: Imaginary lines that tell how far north or south a place is from the equator. Trade winds: Strong winds that blow from east to west in the subtropics on either side of the equator; named for their part in propelling European sail- ing ships to the East and West Indies to conduct trade. Wave Energy 231 row of floating ducks that are anchored to the sea floor. As a wave passes, the duck rotates about a central turning point. This rotational motion causes fluid within the duck to move thereby generating electricity. Japan, Denmark, Norway, England, Spain, and Portugal are all developing new technologies to use wave energy to generate power. As technologies for generating electricity from wave energy are developed, costs for these systems will decrease, and commercial wave power plants will most likely become more common. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D. and Marcy Davis, M.S. For More Information Books Penney Terry R., and Desikan Bharathan. "Power from the Sea." Scientific American (January 1987). Websites "Ocean Energy." California Energy Commission. http://www. energy.ca.gov/development/oceanenergy (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Wave Energy." U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/ ocean_wave.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Wave Power." The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, http://www.ciwem.com/ policy/factsheets/fs7.asp (accessed on August 26, 2004). 232 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Chapter 8 Science and Research Aquariums An aquarium is any water-filled tank, pool, or pond in which fish, underwater plants, or animals are kept. An aquari- um can be as small as a glass bowl for a goldfish and as large as a pool for a whale or a marine museum. History of fish keeping The ancient Sumarians (2500 b.c.e.) were the earliest fish keepers. Fish keeping developed as a way to provide and store food. Fish were caught in rivers and then kept in small ponds until they were used. The ancient Egyptians also kept fish in ponds, but not all of their ponds served a practical purpose. Egyptian hieroglyphs (a system of writing that used symbols and pictures) and art depict fish and fishponds as decorative objects. In ancient Iran, China, and Japan, fish keepers bred special types of fish for use in decorative ponds. Fish keepers created koi, a popular decorative fish, by selectively breeding carp (a fish used for food) in pleasing colors and sizes. The present-day common goldfish, a close relative of the koi, is also a result of these ancient breeding practices. The popularity of fish keeping spread to Europe and the United States in the eighteenth century, when ornamental fish were imported from the East. Fish keepers maintained ponds of ornamental fish, but the fish could only be viewed from above the water's surface. Growing interest in the scientific study of plants and animals sparked curiosity about viewing marine life from below the surface of the water. In the nineteenth century, 233 WORDS TO KNOW Aeration: Adding oxygen, nitrogen, and other gasses nec- essary for respiration into water. Aquarist Person who keeps an aquarium. Filtration: The process by which pollutants are removed from water. Ichthyology: The scientific study of fish. Water chemistry: The bal- ance of nutrients, chemicals, and minerals in water. zoos, circuses, and natural history museums began to add fish and other marine creatures and plants to their exhibits. Development of modern aquariums The first public aquarium opened in London, England, in 1853. The aquarium was an instant success and several other public aquariums opened in England over the next 10 years. Although popular, these aquariums faced several difficulties. Tanks were limited in size because there were not strong enough materials to construct very large tanks. The tanks also lacked adequate support systems to keep the fish healthy. Without support systems to clean and heat the water, most fish did not survive. Aquariums had to frequently replace the fish in their exhibits. In the 1870s, the first successful long-term aquariums opened. Improvements in glassmaking and metalwork permit- ted the construction of larger tanks to house marine exhibits. Scientists began to study aquatic habitats, the water environ- ments in which plants and animals live, to gather information about water chemistry. When caring for fish, water chemistry concerns the temperature of water and its balance of minerals, salt, oxygen, and other particles. Aquarists (people who keep an aquarium) and scientists experimented with the water chemistry of aquarium tanks. New technologies allowed scien- tists to copy the water chemistry of marine and river environ- ments. Filtration systems cleaned pollutants such as fish waste from the water. Aeration systems added air to the water to aid respiration (breathing) and keep the water moving. Moving water stayed cleaner. Heaters kept water in the tanks at appro- priate temperatures. These support systems helped fish and other marine creatures in aquariums remain healthy. By 1900, support systems permitted aquariums to house exotic tropical fish. Public aquariums competed for the most spectacular creatures and exhibits. Most of the creatures on display came from the ocean. Exotic marine creatures from far- away places were a favorite of aquarium visitors and few exhibits featured local or non-ocean species. The fish and other creatures were the focus of the exhibits. Tanks contained few plants. Several technological advances in the second half of the twen- tieth century heightened scientific and public interest in the sea. Personal breathing systems for marine divers, nicknamed scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus), permitted more lengthy underwater exploration. Small submersibles, sub- 234 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Aquariums in the Home m Aquariums in the home are a popular hobby. © Michael Pole/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Many people keep fish and other marine creatures in aquariums as pets. With proper planning and care, home aquariums can be successful and healthy environments for fish. Before starting an aquarium at home, home aquarists should research which size of tank and species of fish will that live in the aquari- um. All the chosen species must be able to live in the same underwater environment and the same water chemistry. Often this will mean deciding between a freshwater and saltwater aquarium. For example, common freshwater goldfish cannot live in the same tank as tropi- cal saltwater fish. Also, some popular fish, such as colorful betas, need to live alone because they will attack or eat other fish. Like public aquariums, home aquarists are encouraged to copy their pet's natural habitat and place plants, rocks, and corals in the aquarium. Before adding fish, an aquarium should be filled with water and plants. Aeration, filtration, and heating systems should run for at least one day before adding fish. It might be helpful to take a sample of the home aquarium water to the store where fish will be purchased. The water could then be tested to make sure it provides a proper environment for the fish. Like all pets, taking care of an aquarium requires responsibility. Most fish need to be fed daily, but cannot be overfed. Sick or injured fish must be removed from the main tank and placed in a separate tank. Maintaining proper water chemistry, including aeration and tem- perature, is essential to the health and survival of fish. Water must be tested regularly and adjusted carefully. Home aquarists should also clean filters, aerators, and tanks when needed. Routine care for a home aquarium leads to better health for the fish and more enjoyment for their keepers. marine-like vessels usually driven by one to four persons, per- mitted some of the first glimpses of deep waters inaccessible to scuba divers. Cameras that could film underwater captured underwater images for both scientific study and public broad- cast. A television series created by marine biologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) featured underwater habitats, fish, and animals. The series made aquariums even more popular. Greater scientific and public awareness of underwater life changed aquarium exhibits. Tanks began to copy whole marine habitats. Instead of featuring one type of fish, single tanks would recreate a part of the ocean. Coral reefs (underwater Aquariums 235 A girl pets a dolphin at Sea World in San Diego, California. © Carl & Ann Purcell/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. ridges of compacted coral), underwater rocks and coves, and plants were part of ocean landscapes featured in exhibits. Aquarists displayed many species of fish and other marine crea- tures together in tanks in groupings that appeared in nature. By recreating marine habitats, aquariums sought to show visitors a whole picture of life underwater. Unlike the ornamental fishponds of ancient times, exhibits in aquariums are now designed and managed by scientists, such as marine biologists and ichthyologists (scientists who study fish). Today's aquariums also feature a variety of underwater habitats including oceans, lakes, rivers, bays, and swamps. Some aquari- ums provide visitors with a look at underwater environments from two angles, above the water and below its surface. Many include exhibits where visitors can touch and handle underwa- ter creatures such as sea stars, clams, and mussels. Today's aquariums still encourage visitors to have fun, but they also educate visitors about the preservation and protection of underwater habitats and species. Aquariums can show visi- tors healthy habitats in tanks next to pictures of natural habi- tats destroyed by pollution. Aquarium exhibits and programs educate the public about threats to natural underwater habitats and species from litter, chemicals, oil, and over fishing. Captive breeding programs in aquariums help preserve animals endan- gered by habitat loss or over fishing. Rescue programs provide medical care and shelter for animals and fish injured by litter, pollution, and oil spills. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner 236 U X« L Encyclopedia of Water Science For More Information Books Kisling, Vernon N., Jr. Zoo and Aquarium History: Ancient Animal Collections and Zoological Gardens. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2000. Taylor, Leighton. Aquariums: Windows to Nature. New York: Prentice Hall, 1993. Websites Aquarium of the Pacific, http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/ index.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Aquariums as a Hobby." SeaWorld/Busch Gardens. http://www. seaworld.org/infobooks/Aquarium/Aquarium.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Audubon Aquarium of the Americas." Audubon Nature Institute, http://www.auduboninstitute.org/aoa (accessed on August 24, 2004). National Aquarium in Washington, B.C. http://www.national- aquarium.com (accessed on August 24, 2004). Ecology Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms and the relationships between organisms and their environ- ment. Ecology was first recognized as an academic subject in 1869 when German naturalist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) first coined the term ecology. The word is derived from the Greek words eco, meaning "house" and logy, meaning "to study," indi- cating that ecology is the study of organisms in their home. Ecologists often distinguish between two parts of environ- ment as a whole: the living or biotic part and the nonliving or abiotic part. The biotic part of the environment includes all organisms such as animals, plants, bacteria, and fungi. The abi- otic part includes all physical features like temperature, humid- ity, availability of light, as well as chemical components, such as the concentrations of salts, nutrients, and gases. Ecology, then, is the study of the relationships between and among the biotic and abiotic environments. Ecology as part of the biological sciences The components of the biological world are often organized along a spectrum. Assuming the spectrum is laid out from left Ecology 237 WORDS TO KNOW Abiotic: Nonliving part of the environment. Autecology: Ecological study of individual organisms or individual species. Autotroph: Organism that uses inorganic substances to produce energy. Biosphere: All the commu- nities that exist in the world. Biotic: Living part of the en- vironment. Community: All of the organ- isms that live in a certain loca- tions. Ecology: Study of the rela- tionships among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Ecosystem: Relationships between the living and nonliving parts of an environment. Heterotroph: Organism that consumes another organism to obtain energy. Homeostasis: Tendency for a system to resist change. Population: Group of organ- isms all belonging to the same species that live in a specific location. Saprotroph: Organism that decomposes another organism into inorganic substances and in the process obtains energy for itself. Synecology: Ecological study of groups of organisms and how they work together. 238 to right with the left being the smallest, atoms are at the far left. When atoms combine together they organize into molecules, which are just to the right of atoms on the spectrum. Moving right along the spectrum, next comes cells, which are the small- est unit of life. Next come tissues, such as muscle tissue and nervous tissue, which are collections of cells that work togeth- er to perform a function. These tissues are then organized into organs, such as the heart and the brain, and these are found to the right of tissues on the spectrum. Organs work together as organ systems, such as the cardiac system, which includes the heart as well as the blood vessels that transport blood through- out the body. Farther to the right along the biological spectrum are organ systems, which come together to form an individual organism, such as a human, fish, or kelp. Towards the center of the biological spectrum, individual organisms are grouped together into populations. These popu- lations are all the members of a species that live together. Even farther to the right of the biological spectrum, populations are grouped into communities, which are all the organisms that are found in a specific location. Communities include members of different species. Communities depend upon the nonliving world in order to survive, so an ecosystem, also called an eco- logical system, represents all the relationships between a com- munity and the abiotic world. All the communities of the world together make up the biosphere, which is found near the right side of the biological spectrum. The biosphere interacts with all of the abiotic parts of Earth, including the atmosphere, which are the gasses sur- rounding the planet; the hydrosphere, which is the water on Earth; and the lithosphere, which is the soil and rock on Earth. The biosphere and its relationships with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere make up the ecosphere. The ecosphere is on the extreme right hand side of the biological spectrum. Ecologists generally focus their research on the part of the biological spectrum that is to the right of the individual. For example, a population ecologist may study the ways that popu- lations of sardines off the coast of California differ in their mat- ing habits from populations of sardines off the coast of Chile. On the next level, community ecologist will study the diet of the various populations of sardines. An ecosystem ecologist may study how the populations of sardines are affected by the changes in temperature associated with the warming or cooling of the oceans. UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Subdivisions and important concepts of ecology The field of ecology is often subdivided because it incorpo- rates so many different disciplines. Two large groupings within ecology are autecology and synecology. Autecology is the study of the individual organism or an individual species. This part of ecology might focus on the life history of an animal or plant. For example, one could study how the caddis fly grows from an egg into a larva (early stage of insect's life) that builds a house of sand at the bottom of a river and then metamorphoses (changes form) into a fly. Autecology might also investigate how the caddis fly adapts to its environment. For example, a study of how well the caddis fly larvae houses are hidden from predators (animals that hunt others for food) would be an aute- cological study. Synecology focuses on groups of organisms and how they work together. If a study estimated the amount of energy fish obtained by eating caddis fly larvae, it would be synecological. Synecology tends to ask questions that study the ecosystem on a large scale. Another way to subdivide the subject of ecology is by the kind of environment. Commonly, environments are grouped into freshwater (lakes, rivers, and streams), marine (oceans), or terrestrial (land-based). Although the fundamental principles of ecology hold in all of these environments, the specific ani- mals and plants vary and it is often convenient to study each type separately. Finally, ecology can be divided into different types of organ- isms. This is called a taxonomical grouping. For example, one might study plant ecology, bacterial ecology, or insect ecology. This allows the study to be focused on a specific group and to use similar methods to study the different organisms in the group. For example, in order to study the environmental factors that influence the growth of marine algae, one could develop several growth environments with different light and different concentrations of the nutrients phosphate and nitrate. These same growth environments could be used to grow several species of algae. The results might be useful in predicting where and when the rapid growth of algae might occur in the ocean. The ecosystem. Every living thing has requirements in order to exist: food, water, gases, stable temperatures and a place to live. Living organisms depend the nonliving environment for many of these requirements. The relationships between the biotic and the abiotic are called an ecological system, or an ecosystem. Ecology 239 Inorganic (non-living) substances such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon dioxide, and oxygen are required for all organisms to produce the molecules in their bodies. Autotrophs are organisms that use inorganic substances to make energy. (The root word auto means "self and the root word troph means "to eat.") Most often plants are autotrophs, using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide in a process called photosynthesis to produce energy in the form of carbohydrates that their cells need. Heterotrophs are organisms that consume autotrophs in order to get their energy and grow. (The root word hetero means "other.") Heterotrophs include animals that eat plants as well as animals that eat other animals. Finally there are the decomposers or saprotrophs, such as bacteria and fungi. (The root word sapro means "to decompose.") These organisms break down dead organisms into inorganic sub- stances, which may then be used by autotrophs. Understanding the ways that substances and energy flow through ecosystems is one of the fundamental principles in ecology. Homeostasis. Homeostasis is used to describe the tendency for a biological system to resist change. (The root word homeo means "the same" and the root word stasis means "standing.") A principle of ecology is that ecosystems generally remain homeostatic. In other words, if there are no outside influences, the number of organisms that live in any given location will tend to remain the same, and they will have the same food sup- ply and access to shelter over time. Even minor changes in the environment, such as temperature changes or changes in rain- fall, will not greatly affect an ecosystem. One of the ways that an ecosystem maintains homeostasis is through negative feedback mechanisms. For example, kelp forests grow off the coasts of California. Sea urchins eat the kelp, keeping its density relatively constant. In turn, sea otters eat sea urchins. If the population of sea otters were to sud- denly decrease, the population of sea urchins would grow because they would not have any predators. However, the sea urchins would eat a large amount of kelp removing their food supply. Many urchins would starve, decreasing the population of urchins and allowing the kelp to grow back to its former density. Eventually the ecosystem would return to its former state. Of course, large disruptions to ecosystems can be very destructive. For example, hunting sea otters to extinction (as almost occurred during the early part of the twentieth centu- ry) would completely disrupt the homeostasis of the California kelp forest. 240 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Energy in the ecosystem. One of the fundamental principles of physics is that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can, however, be transformed from one form to another. Light is a form of energy. It can be transformed into heat or chemical ener- gy that is stored in food. In fact, this is the basis for photosyn- thesis. Some of the energy in light is stored in the chemical bonds of the molecules in plants. Another fundamental principle of physics states that when energy is transformed from one form to another, some of the energy is lost. In photosynthesis, some of the energy in light is lost as heat. This means that the transfor- mations of energy within ecosystems are never 100% efficient. Energy is always lost as it flows from one organism to the next. In any ecosystem, energy is transferred between organisms as they eat and are eaten by other organisms. Usually the autotrophs or primary producers (such as seaweed and algae) capture light energy from the Sun through photosynthesis. They store this energy in the chemical bonds of the molecules that make up their cells. Herbivores (plant eaters such as urchins and snails) eat the autotrophs. These grazers convert the energy in the chemical bonds of the primary producers into energy that is stored in the chemical bonds of their own cells. Usually about 80-90% of the energy in the chemical bonds of the primary producer is lost during this process. Next, carni- vores (meat eaters such as frogs and fish) eat the herbivores. They convert the energy stored in the chemical bonds of the herbivores into energy stored in the chemical bonds of their own cells. Again, about 80-90% of the energy is lost in this transformation. The result of the energy loss each time an organism is eaten results in what is called an ecological pyramid. At the base of the pyramid are the primary producers; in the middle are the herbi- vores and at the top the carnivores. If one measures the weight of each of these groups after the water has been removed (called the dry weight), one gets an idea of how much energy is stored in chemical bonds at each level of the pyramid. For example, in a lake in Wisconsin, the dry weight of the primary producers is 96 grams per square meter. The dry weight of the herbivores is only 11 grams per square meter. The dry weight of the carni- vores is just 4 grams per square meter. The ecological pyramid demonstrates how about 80-90% of the energy stored in chem- ical bonds is lost every time an organism is eaten. It also shows that there can never be as many predators as there are prey; there is just not enough energy for that to occur. Juli M. Berwald, Ph.D. Ecology 241 For More Information Books Bush, Mark B. Ecology of a Changing Planet. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. 1997. Raven, Peter H., Linda R. Berg, and George B. Johnson. Environment. 2nd ed. Fort Worth, TX: Saunders College Publishing. 1998. Websites "About Ecology." Ecology.com. http://www.ecology.com (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Ecology." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecology #History_of_ecology (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Ecology and Environment Page." The Need to Know Library. http://www.peak.org/~mageet/tkm/ecolenv.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). Hydrology and Hydrogeology Hydrologists and hydrogeologists are water scientists who study the properties of freshwater and its distribution on the continents. (Oceanographers study the physical and chemical properties of salt water in the oceans.) Together, hydrology and hydrogeology provide information on how to manage and pro- tect freshwater, humans most essential natural resource. Hydrology and hydrogeology are distinct fields of study that employ different methods and techniques, but they overlap to provide a complete picture of Earth's freshwater resources. Hydrology is a branch of engineering that deals with the physical properties of surface freshwater, such as lakes and rivers, and with its chemical interactions with other substances. Hydrogeology is a subfield of geology (study of Earth) that, by definition, specifically addresses groundwater — water moving through tiny openings in rock and soil layers beneath the land surface. In practice, ground and surface water interact as a sin- gle system. Surface water seeps into the ground and groundwa- ter emerges to the surface. Hydrogeologists work to explain the geological effects of surface water in rivers, streams and lakes, and hydrologists lend their technical expertise to the mechan- ics and chemistry of moving groundwater. 242 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Hydrology Hydrologists use mathematics and experimental techniques to determine water's general properties, to make specific obser- vations of freshwater environments, and to design water man- agement systems that contain and direct water. Britain's Centre for Hydrology, a government environmental research agency, describes its mission as an effort to answer two questions about the Earth's freshwater: Why is the natural environment as it is? and What is it likely to be in the future? Today, humans, not natural processes, manage the flow, dis- tribution, and allocation of almost all of Earth's surface waters. Dams, levees, and reservoirs (natural or man-made lakes) direct and contain the water of the world's largest and most heavily used river systems: the Nile, Yangtze, Amazon, Ganges, and Mississippi. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hydrologists, along with their counterparts at the Bureau of Reclamation (which has jurisdiction over rivers west of the Rockies), control the flow and distribution of all the surface waters of the United States. Hydrological studies generally seek to understand how water moves between and through bodies of freshwater, such as lakes, streams, aquifers (water-bearing soil and rock layers), and reservoirs, and even the atmosphere (mass of air surrounding Earth) over time. Hydrologists usually begin with data from a particular region. They collect numerous measurements of water system conditions such as rainfall totals, lake and reser- voir levels, river discharges (the volume of water that flows through a river in a given time), and current speeds, air and water temperatures, and humidity (amount of water vapor in the atmosphere) at specific sites. Then they merge the data into a computerized model that shows how water has moved through the region's various freshwater reservoirs in the past. Once a hydrologist has constructed a model of a watershed (land area that contributes water to a stream, lake, or aquifer) or reservoir (body of water) , the hydrologist tests it by compar- ing its calculated predictions with actual results in the natural environment. The model is adjusted to better match the real world. The more times the scientist repeats the process of adding new data to the model and retesting it, the more accu- rate it becomes. Computer models help hydrologists predict the ways that natural and man-made changes like droughts (uncommonly dry weather), heavy snows and rains, and new dams across rivers affect water supplies and flows in the future. Many models also include information about the way water physically and chemically interacts with rocks and minerals on WORDS TO KNOW Aquiclude: Permeable (leaky) layers of rock or soil that confine and pressurize ground- water within aquifers. Aquifer: Rock or soil layer that yields freshwater for human use. Computer model: Descrip- tion of a system, theory, or phenomenon entered into a computer that includes its known properties and condi- tions and can be used to pre- dict future conditions and events within the system. Contaminant: Polluting sub- stance that has harmful effects on biological life and other nat- ural systems. Hydrogeologist: Scientist who studies the properties and distribution of freshwater, espe- cially as it relates to the soil and rock structure of the Earth. Hydrologist: Scientist who studies the properties and dis- tribution of Earth's freshwater. Reservoir: Natural or man- made lake or body of water, often constructed to control a body of water. Hydrology and Hydrogeology 243 An erupting geyser displays the power of geothermal forces. © Royalty-Free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. its path through the system. These models can be used to track contaminants and predict water quality changes over time. One example of how hydrologists' work can affect a regions water supply is in the city of Denver, Colorado when the city had very low reserves of freshwater in its reservoirs. There had been lower than average snowfall in the nearby Rocky Mountains and the city's water supplies ran low without their usual influx of spring melt water. Hydrologists at the U.S. Geological Survey in Denver used data and computer models to help the city distribute limited water during the drought peri- od, and to plan for future dry periods. Models of Denver's sur- face water flows and seasonal patterns also help water managers protect and regulate the city's water supply from contamination by such human waste products as agricultural fertilizers and chemicals, industrial wastes, and sewage. Hydrogeology Hydrogeologists are concerned mostly with groundwater and how geologic features affect groundwater storage, flow, and 244 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science replenishment. Like other geologists, they use observations of rock types and geologic structures on the land surface together with subsurface samples to map folded, faulted (broken), and fractured (cracked) rock layers and bodies beneath the land surface. Hydrogeologic maps show the locations and shapes of aquifers, and the distribution of less permeable (leaky) layers called aquicludes that confine and pressurize groundwater within aquifers. They identify systems of caves, cavities, and fractures where groundwater may flow more quickly along spe- cific routes. They also show the areas where surface water enters aquifers (recharge zones) , and places where groundwater reemerges at springs and seeps (discharge zones). Once a hydrogeologist has mapped out the dimensions, physical characteristics, and "plumbing" of a groundwater reservoir, he or she sets out to understand how water moves through the system. Measurements of flows at recharge and dis- charge points show the rates at which water is entering and leaving the aquifer as well as the time an average water mole- cule (smallest part of water that has its properties) takes to trav- el through the system (residence time.) Water levels and pressures in wells indicate flow patterns and rates inside the aquifer. Groundwater can become polluted. Hydrogeologists also use their understanding of groundwater flow patterns to predict how contaminants might enter an aquifer, move through the system, and reemerge in a distant spring or well. Sometimes an aquifer or soil layer acts as a filter that improves water quality as contaminants move through an aquifer. Others transport polluted water quickly to a discharge site. Some rock layers even contribute hazardous dissolved chemicals to the ground- water. Hydrogeologists collect water samples and monitor water quality within aquifers. They also conduct laboratory and computer experiments to better understand groundwater's chemical interactions. Cities and regions that depend on groundwater require detailed hydrogeologic maps, and a good understanding of how water moves through their aquifer, to effectively manage groundwater resources. In many states and countries, ground- water is common, public property. Most rules and regulations regarding groundwater consumption and contamination were written in an era when groundwater systems were poorly understood and were considered unending sources of clean freshwater. Today, many regions with large human populations and fragile natural ecosystems (communities of plants and ani- Hydrology and Hydrogeology 245 mals) depend on limited, shared groundwater resources. As such, the actions of some of a groundwater reservoir's users can negatively affect the water supply and quality for other people, as well as for the aquifer's plants and animals. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D., and Todd Minehardt, Ph.D. For More Information Books Postel, Sandra, and Brian Richter. Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2003. Websites "Hydrologic Engineering Center." U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, http://www.hec.usace.army.mil (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Water Resources of Colorado." United States Geological Survey, http://webserver.cr.usgs.gov (accessed on August 24, 2004). Limnology Limnology is the study of the chemistry, biology, geology, and physics of waters that are found within continents. In con- trast, oceanography is the study of open ocean waters. Waters found within continents may be lakes, reservoirs, rivers, or wet- lands (land where water covers the surface for at least part of the year) Although most limnologists specialize in freshwaters, the study of saline lakes, like the Great Salt Lake, also falls under the discipline of limnology. One of the more important goals of limnology is providing guidelines for water management and water pollution control. Limnologists also study ways to protect the wildlife that lives in lakes and rivers as well as the lakes and rivers themselves. Some limnologists are working on construction of artificial wetlands, which could serve as habitats for a variety of animal and plant species and aid in decreasing water pollution. History of limnology Limnology is a relatively new academic subject. Francois- Alphonse Forel (1841-1912), considered the father of limnolo- gy, was a Swiss physician who dedicated much of his life to the 246 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science study of the biology, chemistry and physics of Lake Geneva. Around 1868, he coined the term limnology to mean the study of lakes. (The root word limn means "lake" and ology means "the study of.") In 1887, American naturalist Stephen Alfred Forbes (1844-1930), a pioneer in the study of lake ecology (the study of the relationships between organisms and their envi- ronment), published the paper "Lake as a Microcosm," which is still cited as an important study of lake ecosystems. An ecosystem refers to all of the relationships between the living and nonliving parts of an environment. George Evelyn Hutchinson (1903-1991) was a British American biologist and a physicist. He made great advance- ments in limnology beginning in the 1950s and summarized much of the field of limnology in a three-volume text. Hutchinson was extremely influential in bringing modern eco- logical theories to limnology. Today, limnologists focus much of their attention on integrating ideas from geology, physics, chemistry, and biology into understanding lakes and rivers. They also focus much attention on understanding how humans impact these important ecosystems. Geological limnology Geological limnology is focused on the formation of lakes and rivers. Many lakes, especially in North America, were formed by the retreat of the glaciers (slow-moving mass of ice) at the end of the Ice Age. As the glaciers melted, they gouged holes in soft parts of the solid rock. When these depressions filled with water, they became lakes. Other lakes form when tectonic plates (mobile pieces of Earth's crust) pull away from each other, leaving rifts called grabens. When these rifts fill with water, very deep lakes can be formed. The deepest lake in the world, Lake Baikal in Siberia, was formed in a graben. Rivers usually begin as springs in areas of high altitude such as mountains. As they flow downward, rivers gather water from melting snow and other streams, called tributaries, as they flow toward sea level. Geological limnologists are interested in the size and the shape, also called the topography, of the water- sheds of lakes and rivers. A watershed is all of the land and water areas that drain into the lake or the river. WORDS TO KNOW Ecology: Study of the rela- tionships among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Ecosystem: The relation- ships between the living and nonliving parts of an environ- ment. Graben: Rifts or holes left formed when tectonic plates pull away from each other; when filled with water they can form large lakes. Stratified: Layered. Tectonic plate: A piece of the rigid outer layer of the Earth. Tributary: Smaller streams that flow into a larger stream or river. Watershed: All of the land and water areas that drain into the lake or the river. Wetlands: Areas of land where water covers the surface for at least part of the year and controls the development of soil. Physical limnology Physical limnology deals with the physical properties of the water in lakes and rivers. This includes changes in light levels, water temperatures, and water currents. Water absorbs energy Limnology 247 A Russian remote submersible vehicle prepares to explore Lake Baikal, the world's deepest freshwater lake. © Ralph White/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. from sunlight, which warms the surface waters. Because the intensity of the sun changes throughout the year, the amount of heat absorbed in the summer is much greater than that absorbed in the winter. During the summer, lakes become strat- ified or layered, with the warmer, lighter water floating on top of the cooler, deeper water. In the winters, the surface of the lake loses its heat and mixes with the cooler waters below. Understanding the cycle of mixing and stratification is extreme- ly important to understanding the biology of the plants, ani- mals, and microorganisms that live in lakes and the movement of chemicals throughout lakes. Chemical limnology Chemical limnology focuses on the cycling of various chem- ical substances in lakes and rivers. Several factors affect the chemistry of lakes and rivers including the chemical composi- tion of the soil in the watershed, the atmosphere (mass of air surrounding Earth) and the composition of the riverbed or lake bottom. In modern day, human activities have had a very important influence on the chemistry of lakes and rivers, and chemical limnologists play an important role in understanding these effects. For instance, building construction near lakes and rivers changes the erosion (wearing away of soil) patterns and influences they type of chemicals that reach the water. In some areas, rainwater running into lakes and rivers contains large amounts of fertilizers, oils, and heavy metals. The concentration of the hydrogen ion (FT) in water is one of the most important chemicals to study. An ion has a positive 248 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Lake Baikal Lake Baikal, which is located in Siberia in the middle of Asia, is both the oldest (25 mil- lion years) and deepest (1 mile or 1,600 meters) lake in the world. It contains one-fifth of all the unfrozen freshwater in the world. Because of its age and its distance from other water bodies, at least 1,200 different animal species and 1,000 different plant species have evolved in it. It is estimated that at least 80% of these species are only found in Lake Baikal. One of the most interesting animals in the lake is a seal called the nerpa. It is the only mammal that inhabits the lake. Scientists believe that they migrated to the lake about 22 million years ago from the Arctic Ocean. It is estimated that the nerpa population in the lake is about 100,000. They feed on fish that they catch in the lake. During the winter the nerpa swim under the frozen lake, making breathing holes in the ice with their sharp claws. The nerpa can stay underwater for up to 70 min- at a time. Crustaceans (aquatic animals with no back- bone, jointed limbs, and a hard shell) have flour- ished in Lake Baikal. The most numerous animal in Lake Baikal is the Baikal epischura crus- tacean. It is extremely small, about the size of a grain of rice. It feeds on microscopic algae and bacteria by filtering water through appendages around its mouth that look like combs. The total flow of water through the mouths of these tiny animals is equivalent to ten times the flow of all the rivers that enter Lake Baikal each year. The work of these small animals is credited with keeping the lake so clear. One of the most interesting fish in Lake Baikal is the golomyanka or oil fish. They are relatively small, about 10 inches (24 centime- ters) in length, have no scales, and are trans- parent. About 35% of their body weight is made up of an oil that is a very pure form of vitamin A. Residents who have lived near the lake for many years say that the fish was used to treat many diseases, such as arthritis, and to soothe wounds that would not heal. or negative charge and the hydrogen ion indicates the acidity (charge) of the water, which strongly affects which kinds of organisms can live in the water. Other important substances are the sulfate and nitrate ions, which become concentrated in freshwaters as a result of acid rain. Also, the heavy metal mer- cury (Hg) is a dangerous pollutant that can circulate in the water and affect the health of animals, along with the humans who eat those animals and use the lake or river. Biological limnology Biological limnology is directed at understanding the ani- mals, plants, and microorganisms that live in lakes and rivers. The patterns of distribution of these various organisms depend on the geology physics, and chemistry of the lake or river. For example, plants require light in order to grow. Because water is very effective at absorbing light, plants must either grow near Limnology 249 the shore, where the water is shallow or they must float near the surface of the water. Because the intensity of sunlight changes with season, plants usually have a growth season in the spring when the light levels increase and they die off in the fall when light levels decrease. In the same way, animals require oxygen dissolved in water in order to breath. Warm water holds less dissolved oxygen than cold waters. As a result, trout, which require a lot of dissolved oxygen, are more often found in cold lakes and rivers. Bass, on the other hand, require less dissolved oxygen and can be found in warmer lakes and the surface waters of lakes. One of the critical challenges facing biological limnologists is the introduction of exotic species into lakes and rivers. Often, humans introduce new species into lakes and rivers. In some cases these species grow faster than the local species and can take over much of the habitat. For example, in 1985 the zebra mussel was released into the Great Lakes of the United States, in the ballast water of a ship coming from the Caspian Sea in Asia. These mussels are able to reproduce extremely fast in the Great Lakes and have become a widespread problem, clogging sewage pipes and overgrowing docks and piers. Juli M. Berwald, Ph.D. For More Information Books Josephs, David. Lakes, Ponds, and Temporary Pools. New York: Franklin Watts, 2000. Raven, Peter PL, Linda R. Berg, and George B. Johnson. Environment. 2nd. ed. Fort Worth, PX: Saunders College Publishing, 1998. Rowland-Entwistle, Theodore. Rivers and Lakes. Morristown, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, 1987. Sayre, April Pulley. Lake and Pond. New York: Twenty-First Century Books, 1996. Sayre, April Pulley. River and Stream. New York: Twenty-First Century Books, 1996. Websites "Dedicated to the Memory of G. Evelyn Hutchinson." Soil & Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax. http://lakes. chebucto.org/PEOPLE/hutchins. html#Hutchinson (accessed on August 24, 2004). 250 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science "Lake Baikal Home Page." WWW Irkutsk. http://www.irkutsk. org/baikal/index.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Understanding: Lake Ecology Primer." Water on the Web. http://wow.nrri.umn.edu/wow/under/primer (accessed on August 24, 2004). Marine Archaeology Many of the most famous archaeological sites are those of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Vikings. While most all of these archaeological sites, from Egypt's pyramids to Rome's Coliseum, are on land, these cultures had strong ties to the sea, engaging in frequent trade and exploration. They also used ships in wars. These civilizations left behind shipwrecks and the ruins of port cities that have been claimed by the sea due to erosion (wearing away of land). Technological advances in the late twen- tieth century permitted archaeologists to begin exploration and excavation of underwater archaeological sites. This branch of archaeology is called marine or underwater archaeology. Archaeology explores how people lived in the past through excavation and survey. An excavation is a planned, careful exploration of ancient sites. It is sometime called a dig because digging (excavation) is the most well known method for dis- covering clues about the past at an archeological site. Wherever people live or work, they leave traces of their life. Pieces of pot- tery, metal, glass, wood, bricks, and cut stone can remain behind for hundreds or thousands of years after a dwelling (house), city, or civilization has vanished. Remnants that were made or used by humans are called artifacts. Artifacts and their surroundings, called context, give scientists clues to what past peoples valued, what they ate, where they lived, and how they worked. Exploring underwater archaeological sites When studying a site, marine archaeologists pay close atten- tion to the context of each artifact, carefully noting and map- ping exactly where each artifact or ruin was discovered. The location on site where an artifact is found is known as its prove- nience. Noting the provenience of each artifact helps marine archaeologists construct maps and computer models of the site. Artifacts and features are like pieces of a puzzle and such mod- els permit scientists to see how the various pieces fit together. Exploration of underwater archaeological sties is more diffi- cult than studying land-based sites. Underwater archaeology WORDS TO KNOW Archaeological context: The natural surroundings, phys- ical location, and cultural origin of archaeological artifacts or sites. Artifact: Any object made or modified by humans. Curation: Cleaning, preserv- ing, and storing artifacts recov- ered from archaeological sites for further study. Magnetometer: Used in marine archaeology to locate shipwrecks by finding metal objects used in the ship's con- struction such as nails, brack- ets, decorative ironwork, or artillery. Remote sensing: The use of devices to collect and inter- pret data; in marine archaeolo- gy, remote sensing is used to locate, map, and study under- water sites. Sidescan sonar: Type of sonar that operates in a side- ways manner and can cover wide swaths of the ocean floor. Sonar: The acronym for SOund NAvigation and Ranging; bounces sound waves and interprets their echoes to locate objects and gather data under- water. Marine Archaeology 251 Alexandria Submerged The waters of the Mediterranean now cover the spot where the ancient Pharos lighthouse stood near Alexandria, Egypt. © Roger Wood/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Alexandria was an ancient port city in the western Mediterranean Sea on the Egyptian coastline. The city was first established by the Egyptians about 332 b.ce., and later ruled by the Greeks, and then Romans. Because of its favorable location for trade, Alexandria was one of the wealthiest and most important cities in the ancient world. It was a center for trade, ship making, and scientific exploration. Alexandria's most famous buildings were its museum and library. Before being burned down in the third century, the library held the great- Z est collection of work of philosophy, literature, and science in the ancient world. Because of its importance in the ancient world archaeologists have long been fascinated with exploring and studying the remains of the ancient city. Over the past two hundred years, most of this research took place on land. However, excavation of land-based sites is dif- ficult because the modern city of Alexandria, Egypt, stands in the same location as the ancient city. Some of the ancient city now lies underwa- ter. Rising water levels and the changing flows of silt and water in the Nile River delta (the sedimentary deposits where the river meets the sea) deposits altered the coastline around Alexandria. In the 1960s, archaeologists began to explore the submerged areas of ancient Alexandria. Underwater excavation located the ruins of several temples, columns, and buildings. Marine archaeologists have unearthed pieces of pottery, stone statues, and metal artifacts. They have also studied the structures built by the ancient Alexandrians to improve their port. They have found ancient Alexandrians formed a large, protected harbor by connecting several manmade walls and bar- riers between small islands. requires special equipment. People who participate in under- water digs must be skilled in both scuba diving and archaeo- logical field methods. Though often more challenging, underwater archaeologists follow the same scientific standards used on land to conduct careful studies of their sites. Often the first step in studying an underwater archaeological site is a surface survey, a study of the visible parts of the site. A surface survey can be as simple as an archaeologist diving to the site and looking over the structure, shipwreck, or smaller arti- facts. A survey can be as complex as a carefully planned 252 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science removal of visible, small artifacts from specific locations. Marine archaeologists often look for clues about the origin and age of the site from this initial survey. Exploration of an underwater site usually requires excava- tion. Excavation requires both divers and a crew on board the research vessel. If a site is excavated, marine archaeologists first lay out a grid, a geometric plan for the site consisting of rows and columns of small squares. The small squares, or units, are then excavated by removing one layer of silt (tiny rock, soil, and other mineral particles) and artifacts at a time. Vacuum hoses are often used to remove silt layers and carry them back to the research vessel. The silt is then pushed through a screen or mesh and is examined for small artifacts. Larger artifacts are brought up by divers conducting the dig or by the research ves- sel's lifting mechanism. As excavation progresses, marine archaeologists formulate detailed maps of the site. These maps can be drawn from pre- cise notations of each artifact's location. Maps are usually drawn of each level of each unit both before and after a layer is silt is removed. They include drawings and notes about each significant artifact within that level. Features such as changes in the color or texture of sea floor sediments (particles of sand, silt, or clay) are also noted on such drawn maps. Special maps of a site can also be made by using remote sens- ing. Remote sensing involves the use of equipment to discover and map buried or underwater sites from a distance. Sonar (which is short for Sound Navigation and Ranging) sends out sound pulses and interprets their echoes to penetrate the depths of the oceans and locate objects. Different remote sens- ing techniques vary in what they detect and the type of data they produce. Remote sensing techniques are typically used if a site is so deep that humans cannot dive to it, if a large layer of silt covers most of the site, or if archaeologists are trying to locate the precise location or boundaries of a site. Sidescan sonar can look over an 18-mile -wide (29-kilometer) swath of the ocean floor to locate natural features and archaeological sites. Underwater cameras with night vision features penetrate dark waters. A magnetometer, another remote sensing device, finds shipwrecks by detecting metal objects used in the ship's construction such as nails, brackets, decorative ironwork, or artillery (cannons and guns). The data from remote sensing apparatuses are processed by computers, which produce maps and charts that marine archaeologists can then interpret. Marine Archaeology 253 Some archaeologists have employed their basic senses while investigating underwater archaeological sites. In one project requiring the exploration of a two-thousand-year-old Roman shipwreck in the Mediterranean Sea, marine archaeologists even sampled the shipwreck's cargo. They tried a sip of the ancient wine and olive oil discovered in the ship's amphorae (large pottery jars)! Marine archaeology and conservation Excavation is sometimes not the preferred method to explore an underwater archaeological site. Mapping, remote sensing, and surface survey are often used without digging or removing artifacts from a site. Excavation is primarily used only when a site is in danger of destruction from modern vessels, severe storms, dredging (removing sediment from the bottom of a waterway, usually to make it wider or deeper), or rapid, natural decay. Leaving a site intact permits future archaeologists to study the same site. Artifacts can be both helped and damaged by the water that surrounds them. Some artifacts, such as the wooden hull of ancient ships, are better preserved in the salt waters in which they sank. On the other hand, the iron and metal hulls of rela- tively modern vessels, such as the Titanic that sank in 1912, are destroyed by saltwater. The temperature of water, its salinity (salt content) , and depth of a site also affect preservation. Cold water with low salinity does not destroy artifacts as rapidly as salty, warm water destroys artifacts. The hulls of shipwrecks in extremely deep ocean waters can be crushed by intense pres- sures equal to thousand of pounds per square inch. Artifacts removed from underwater sites require special han- dling, preservation, and storage, also known as curation. The goal of proper conservation and curation is to clean and protect artifacts from further damage so that they may be studied by scientists or placed on display in museums. Various pieces of broken pottery jars are grouped together. Sometimes, the pieces are reassembled to restore the object, and sometimes they are left as individual fragments. Some artifacts recovered from the sea are kept moist in special wet or humid cases, other artifacts are carefully dried out once removed. Even a small artifact, such a sailor's wooden pipe, may take months or years of con- servation work before ready for a museum display. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner 254 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science For More Information Books Hackwel, John W. Diving to the Past. New York: Scribners, 1988. Marx, Robert E The Underwater Dig: An Introduction to Marine Archaeology. 2nd ed. Oakland, CA: Pisces Books, 1990. Sunk! Exploring Underwater Archaeology. Minneapolis: Runestone Press, 1994. Websites Clement, Colin. "Mapping the Treasures: NOVA Online." PBS. http ://www. pbs . org/wgbh/nova/sunken/mapping.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). Marine Biology Marine (ocean) biology is the study of the function, biodi- versity, and ecology of the animals and plants that live in the ocean. An organism's function is how it lives and grows in its environment. Biodiversity refers to the wide range of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms such as bacteria that live in the ocean. Ecology is the study of the relationships between organisms as well as the relationships between organisms and their environment. In order to do their work, marine biologists incorporate information and techniques from a broad range of disciplines, including chemistry, physics, geology (the study of rocks), paleontology (the study of fossils), and geography (the study of locations on Earth). Many factors make the marine environment a unique place for animals and plants to live. The marine environment is fluid, which affects the way organisms move and breathe. A variety of chemicals are dissolved in the water that bathes marine organ- isms and many have special ways to use these chemicals or to prevent them from entering their bodies. Ocean water is salty, which affects the organism's ability to obtain and hold water in its body. The ocean has relatively constant temperatures, espe- cially compared to land. This means that animals do not need to exert a lot of energy to stay warm. Sunlight generally reach- es only the surface layers of the oceans so plants must live in surface waters in order to perform photosynthesis (process where they convert energy from the Sun into food) . Marine Biology 255 WORDS TO KNOW Benthic: Animals, plants and microorganisms that live on the floor of the ocean. Biodiversity: Wide range of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in an environment. Ecology: Study of the rela- tionships between organisms as well as the relationships between organisms and their environment. Mariculture: Farming of marine animals and aquatic plants in a controlled marine environment. Necton: Visible animals that live in the ocean. Plankton: Small, often microscopic, organisms that float in the ocean. Phytoplankton: Microscopic plants that float in the ocean. Virus: Genetic material, like RNA or DNA, usually found inside a protein coat that has the ability to reproduce in the correct host. Zooplankton: Small, often microscopic, animals that float in the the ocean. 256 History of marine biology Greek philosopher and natural historian Aristotle (384-322 b. c.e.), is generally regarded as the first marine biologist. Aristotle believed that observation, along with induction and reasoning, would lead to an accurate understanding of the nat- ural world. These pioneering ideas set the stage for the mod- ern scientific method. Aristotle identified, described, and named 24 species of marine worms and crustaceans (animals that have a hard external covering and jointed limbs like crabs, shrimp, lobsters), 40 species of molluscs (clams, scallops, oys- ters) and echinoderms (a group of invertebrate animals that includes sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers) and 116 species of fish. He also correctly identified whales and dol- phins as mammals (warm-blooded animals that have hair and feed young with milk) . Between Aristotle's time and the Renaissance (about 1500 c. e.), very little work was done in marine biology because most people assumed that Aristotle had already accomplished every- thing. In the sixteenth century, explorers made many important observations about marine life. Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a German naturalist who journeyed through Central and South America identifying marine animals and plants. British sea captain James Cook (1728-1779) was a renowned explorer who traveled throughout the Pacific describing and identifying marine organisms. In the nineteenth century, work in marine biology became more active. British naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) studied many marine organisms during his travels aboard the H.M.S. Beagle (1831-1836). Darwin's work led to the theory of evolution, a theory that the organisms best suited to their envi- ronment live and reproduce to eventually form new species while those not suited to the environment will die. His work also led to a theory of how coral reefs form atolls (a type of island) and to a classification of barnacles (a type of crab that attaches itself to hard surfaces) that is still in use today. Edward Forbes was a British naturalist and one of the first scientists to focus his attention on organisms in the ocean. His azoic theory put forward the idea that there was no life at depths below about 1,800 feet (554 meters). Although this theory was accepted as true for nearly a century, it was later proved to be false. The first large expedition to study life in the ocean was undertaken by the British ship H.M.S. Challenger between 1872 and 1876. The biologists aboard found and described a large number of new marine species. UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science During the twentieth century, great advances in marine biol- ogy occurred. Submersible submarines, the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA), and underwater photography allowed scientists to observe life throughout the oceans. Technological advances have led to electronic instrumentation that measure the characteristics of the ocean such as tempera- ture, salinity (saltiness), intensity of light, and concentrations of dissolved gasses that provides important information on the distribution of organisms throughout the oceans. Tracking devices that use satellites (instruments sent into orbit in order to observe Earth) to report the locations of large animals, such as whales, sharks, and tuna, are used to understand migration (travel) patterns. Techniques from the fields of biotechnology (the use of modern equipment and tests to understand biolog- ical processes), molecular biology (the study of molecules within cells), neurobiology (the study of nerves), and bio- chemistry (the study of chemicals that are found in organisms) are used routinely to provide a greater understanding of marine organisms. Types of organisms studied Marine biology involves the study of all types of organisms that live in the ocean, from the very small to the very large. The patterns and distributions of microscopic organisms called plankton involve one area of research. Plankton include virus- es (small molecules like DNA or RNA that have the ability to reproduce when they are in a host), bacteria, phytoplankton (small plants that float in the ocean water) and zooplankton (small animals that float in the ocean). Another focus of marine biology includes the larger animals called neckton that swim through the water. These animals include marine invertebrates (animals without a backbone) such as squid, most species of fish and marine mammals, such as dolphins and whales. Another group of marine organisms are those that live on the ocean floor. These organisms are called benthic and can include animals and plants as well as microorganisms. Some examples of benthic plants include the giant kelp, sea grasses, and algae (plant- like organisms that photosynthesize, but have simpler bodies without veins) that grow on a thin layer on rocks. Many invertebrates are benthic, like corals, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, sea stars, clams, snails, and crabs. A few fish that live close the bottom of the ocean are also considered benthic, such as halibut and some gobies. Many microorganisms, like bacteria and protozoans, are found in among the sand and clay at the bottom of the ocean. Marine Biology 257 Important research areas in marine biology Marine biology contributes a large amount of information to the fields of environmental biology, economics, fisheries research, and biotechnology. Because the field is relatively young, there is still much to be learned from and about the ani- mals and plants that live in the ocean. Marine organisms influence local environmental conditions and economies. A simple, but powerful example of this is the red tide, which is usually caused by a particular type of phyto- plankton called a dinoflagellate. Under certain environmental conditions, these dinoflagellates grow extremely quickly, blooming in bays and near shore regions of the ocean. In some instances they can cause fish kills and infect shellfish with poi- sonous substances, which could make the people that eat them sick. Much work is underway by marine biologists in order to understand the conditions that cause these harmful blooms so that they can predict their effects and when they will occur. Many marine biologists study ways to improve mariculture, which is the farming of marine fish, shellfish, and seaweeds. Work includes developing types of animals and plants that are easy and economical to farm. For example, the triploid oyster is an oyster that has a longer harvest period than those found in nature. In addition, work is underway to improve the health of fish raised in pens and to decrease the pollution caused by marine farms. Much research in marine biology contributes to the fields of biotechnology and molecular biology. Many marine animals and plants have been found to contain chemicals with indus- trial uses. For example, some phytoplankton produce sun- screens that can be incorporated into lotions. Other marine invertebrates produce chemicals that are mixed with paint to discourage the growth of barnacles on ships and moorings. Molecular probes (special molecules that can identify other molecules) are used in marine ecology to detect the presence of harmful viruses and bacteria on beaches and near-shore waters. Other techniques from molecular biology are used to determine if fish and marine invertebrates have been exposed to poisonous pollutants. Molecular biological techniques are also being used to analyze the DNA (genetic substance) in var- ious marine organisms to try to understand the past relation- ships among species. Juli Berwald, Ph.D. 258 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science For More Information Books Byatt, Andrew, et al. Blue Planet. London: DK Publishing, 2002. Cousteau, Jacques. Jacques Cousteau: The Ocean World. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1985. Doris, Helen. Marine Biology (Real Kids, Real Science). New York: Thames & Hudson, 1999. Levinton, Jeffrey S. Marine Biology: Function, Biodiversity, Ecology. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. 2001. Websites Levinton, Jeffrey. "MBRef: A Reference Source for Marine Biology Student Research." Marine Biology Web. http://life. bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/mbref.html (accessed on August 26, 2004, 2004). "Marine Biology." SeaGrant: MarineCareers.net. http://marine- careers.net/marbio.htm (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Marine Organisms." The Marine Biological Laboratory. http://www.mbl.edu/marine_org/index.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Scripps Research." Scripps Institute for Oceanography. http://sio. ucsd.edu/research (accessed on August 26, 2004). Shaner, Stephen W. "A Brief History of Marine Biology and Oceanography." University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning, http://www.meer.org/ mbhist.htm (accessed on August 26, 2004). 4 Marine Geology and Geophysics Marine geology and geophysics are scientific fields that are concerned with solving the mysteries of the seafloor and Earth's interior. Marine geologists, like all geologists, seek to under- stand the processes and history of the solid Earth, but their techniques differ from geologists who work on land because they study geologic (Earth's) features that are underwater. The oceans cover more than 70% of Earth, and water obscures a wealth of information about the rocks and sediments (particles of rock, sand, and other material) in the ocean basins. Marine geologists rely mainly on physical techniques to uncover the features and processes of the seafloor. Marine Geology and Geophysics 259 WORDS TO KNOW Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV): Remote con- trolled motorized crafts that are designed to study and with- stand the pressure of the deep ocean. Bathymetry: The three- dimensional shape of the seafloor. Dredge: Device for scooping or digging rock and sediment from the seafloor. Plate tectonics: The theory that Earth's lithospheric plates move over time. Remotely operated vehicle (ROV): Motorized crafts de- signed to withstand the in- creased pressure of the deep ocean. Seismic waves: Vibrations emitted by earthquakes and large explosions that travel as waves through the Earth. Subduction: Process by which oceanic seafloor is recy- cled into Earth's interior at deep ocean trenches. Submersible: A craft de- signed to carry a pilot and sci- entists for underwater study of the deep ocean. 260 Geophysicists are scientists who study the physical proper- ties of the solid Earth, and often work closely with marine geol- ogists. Geophysicists use experiments and observations to determine how Earth materials such as rock, magma (molten rock), sediments, air, and water affect physical phenomena such as sound, heat, light, magnetic fields (a field of magnetic force) , and earthquake tremors (seismic waves) . Marine geolo- gists and geophysicists make images and maps of the seafloor, along with maps ofsediment and rock layers below the seafloor. They also use instruments to measure changes in Earth's gravi- ty (the attraction between two masses), magnetic field, and the pattern of heat flow arising from deep in the Earth that help to explain geologic features of the ocean basins. Marine geology and geophysics involve many different fields of science. Many marine geoscientists (a group including both marine geologists and marine geophysicists) have backgrounds in such diverse academic fields as physics, chemistry, oceanog- raphy, engineering, and paleontology (study of biological life in the fossil record). Most marine geologists are familiar with the theories and techniques of geophysics, and most geophysicists understand the geological significance of the processes and fea- tures they are working to clarify. Marine geology is also closely linked to the sciences of oceanography and marine biology. Oceanographers study the physical and chemical properties of the water in oceans and marine biologists study the living organisms in oceans. In order to completely understand the cycles, structures and processes of the oceans, scientists from many fields must collaborate. Why study the seafloor? The ocean basins hold keys to understanding the two most important theories of geological science: plate tectonics and the sedimentary record of geologic history. Marine geologists and geophysicists were the first to discover the globe-encircling chain of volcanic mountains, called the mid-ocean ridge sys- tem, where new ocean floor is created. Using their observations of the seafloor, these scientists devel- oped the theory of plate tectonics, the idea that Earth's outer shell (lithosphere) is made of rigid pieces (plates) that move rel- ative to one another over time. Plate tectonic theory explains the worldwide distribution of mountain ranges, ocean trenches (deep, arc-shaped valleys along the edges of the ocean basins), volcanoes, rock types, and earthquakes. By studying plate tec- tonics, scientists can better understand and predict geologic actions of today, such as volcanic activity and earthquakes. UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Scientists also know from studying plate tectonics that the mov- ing seafloor is recycled into Earth's interior at trenches, a process called subduction. Like the theories of evolution (change over time) in biology and relativity in physics, plate tectonics is a uni- fying theory that has general significance to all of science. Marine geologists and geophysicists also study layered sedimen- tary rocks (strata) on the seafloor that hold clues to the chemi- cal, biological, and geographic history of the oceans. The ocean basins hold a vast wealth of economically impor- tant minerals, such as manganese and nickel, and hydrocarbons (oil and natural gas) . Petroleum (oil and gas) and mining com- panies hire marine geologists and geophysicists to find offshore sources of petroleum. They rely heavily on marine scientific techniques to locate petroleum reservoirs and mineral deposits. Studying the seafloor Marine geology and geophysics use a number of technologies uniquely adapted for ocean exploration. Many of the methods used are geophysical because they allow a "hands off" approach to seafloor observation. In other words, geophysical technolo- gies allow marine geoscientists to "see" through water, rock, and sediment. (Techniques that involve observing or measuring the properties of land, sea, and seafloor surface from a distance are generally termed remote sensing.) Like all geologists, marine geologists collect rock and sedi- ment samples. They use dredges, which are metal buckets or claws that are lowered from a ship and dragged along the sea floor, and coring (drilling) devices to bring materials up from the bottom of the sea. Scientists then examine the materials' physical, chemical, and biological properties. Seafloor samples are, however, difficult and very expensive to obtain, especially in very deep water. Marine geologists usually collect them from a few critical locations within a study area and then use geo- physical images to generate a big picture of the study area. Sediments and deep rock samples are collected using shipboard drills that bring back cores (metal tubes) that are filled with several meters of sample. By using samples together with seafloor maps and profiles (cross-sections) through the rock and sediment layers below the seafloor, marine geologists con- struct three-dimensional representations of their study areas. Although most features that interest marine geologists, such as submarine (underwater) volcanoes, massive sand dunes, and deep trenches are too large to observe from the seafloor, direct observations by divers, submersibles, and remotely-operated Marine Geology and Geophysics 261 Deep Ocean Drilling Deep ocean drilling allows scientists to recover cores of ocean sediments and underly- ing oceanic crust for mapping the ocean floor. The core is brought back to the surface where scientists analyze the sediments' history and composition. Deep ocean drilling can be expensive and in 1964, several U.S. institu- tions interested in studying the sea floor pooled their resources and formed an organi- zation called Joint Oceanographic Institution for Deep Earth Sampling (JOIDES). JOIDES direct- ed the first Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) that used a ship named the Glomar Challenger. The Glomar Challenger was a customized ship that had powerful thrusters that kept the ship centered over the top of the ocean floor target. The Challenger could lower the drill through up to 20,013 feet (6100 meters) of ocean water and drill up to 2,500 feet (760 meters) of sed- iment once it hit the sea floor. Over 15 years the DSDP drilled more than 600 core holes during 96 legs (voyages) world- wide. Seismic and magnetic surveys of the ocean floor were made while the ship was in motion. When the cores were brought up they were analyzed in ship-board laboratories. Data from the DSDP project proved that Earth's ocean basins are relatively young when com- pared to the continents and contributed to an understanding of sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. In 1984 a group of 21 nations formed the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP). ODP used the drillship JOIDES' Resolution for drilling in poor- ly sampled areas, especially along the margins of continents and ocean trenches. The ODP also drilled holes in which instruments were lowered to the seafloor, providing a global net- work to study earthquake movements (seismic waves) on the ocean floor. The JOIDES Resolution drilled 650 holes over 110 legs. In October 1993, ODP became the Integrated Ocean Drilling Project (IODP). IODP has two ships, the Chikyu, built by Japan, and an upgraded Resolution. Chikyu will drill in areas where plates converge, slide beneath one another, and produce earthquakes. Resolution will concentrate on recovering sediment cores worldwide to help scientists study climate. vehicles (ROVs) can be useful in some cases. Geologists use waterproof cameras and other instruments carried by divers, lowered on cables from ships, or attached to remotely operated watercraft to capture details of the seafloor environments. Submersibles are small submarines that are capable of carrying passengers to the deep seafloor. ROVs and autonomous under- water vehicles (AUVs) are unmanned robotic submarines equipped with cameras and instruments that operators control from a ship, much like a remote controlled car. Marine geologists rely on sonar (short for "sound navigation and ranging"), which is the use of underwater sound waves. Sound travels at a constant velocity (speed) in water, so the time it takes for the sound wave to travel through the water and echo back to the ship illustrates variations in the seafloor. Sonar is 262 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science mersibles, ROVs, and AUVs Submersibles, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are motorized crafts that are designed to withstand the pressure of the deep ocean. Submersibles carry passengers, usually a pilot and two scientific observers, while ROVs and AUVs are remotely operated. These crafts were originally built of steel, but now are built of light materials such as titanium. Although these type of deep-diving craft are expensive to build and can be dangerous to people riding in the submersibles, they offer scientists a unique look at the deep oceans. Several of the impor- tant capabilities of these crafts include cam- eras that record underwater conditions in real-time; instruments that record tempera- ture, pressure, and chemistry; and robotic arms that can retrieve specimens. The first submersible, named Alvin, was built in 1964 and is still operated by Woods Whole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI). Alvin was the first deep-sea submersible that could carry passengers. Lowered from a ship plat- form, Alvin can dive to a depth of 14,764 feet (4,500 meters) and remain under water for 10 hours. In case of emergency, Alvin's life sup- port system can sustain three people for 72 travel 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) from the ship platform with maximum speed of 2 knots. Alvin is responsible for important observations of hydrothermal vents (geysers on the ocean floor) near the Galapagos Islands, and helping to find the wreckage of the Titanic, a passen- ger ship that sank in 1912 and resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 people. ROVs are small crafts that carry video cam- eras deep and record or transmit live footage back to a screen on a ship. ROVs like Jason, also operated by WHOI, do not carry passen- gers, but are driven like a remote control car. As images are transmitted from the ROV back to the ship, the ROV operator can steer the ROV in the direction he or she wants. AUVs are used for longer-term projects. While submersibles and ROVs are good for intensive short-term studies, AUVs can remain in one location for up to a year. An AUV operator can program a computer inside the AUV to sit on the sea floor for a predetermined time and can "wake up" to perform surveys then return to sleep mode until the next scheduled survey. AUVs can record changes that occur in one loca- tion over time and are often used in between «Mn > ,3 feet ,7 n^, ,on g an, can R0 V „ „ g ,n one .ocion. used to measure bathymetry, the topography or layout of the sea floor. A "chirp" is transmitted from a ship hull and travels until it reaches the sea floor and bounces back to a receiver on the ship where the travel time is recorded. To determine the distance from sea level to the ocean bottom, scientists multiply the time it takes for the sound wave to travel to the ocean floor and back by the rate (speed) at which the sound wave travels in water. Scientists can also map ocean floor bathymetry using satellite (vehicles in orbit around Earth) instruments. The ocean surface is not completely flat, but mimics the sea floor by bulging upward and downward. Satellite observations reveal detailed Marine Geology and Geophysics 263 patterns of mid-ocean ridges and trenches and underwater vol- canoes, thus confirming plate tectonics. Magnetometers, towed behind a ship, measure small changes in Earth's magnetic field. Sensitive shipboard gravimeters record subtle changes in Earth's field of gravity (the attraction between the Earth and another body) . Marine geoscientists also use seismology (earthquake waves) to make an image of the seafloor. A ship tows several air guns that make an underwater explosion using compressed air. The shock waves from the explosion are the same type as waves made in an earthquake. These waves penetrate layers of rock underlying the surface of the ocean and bounce back to hydrophones (receivers). The waves travel at different speeds depending on the type of rock. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D., and Marcy Davis, M.S. For More Information Books Fowler, C. M. R. The Solid Earth, An Introduction to Global Geophysics. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Kennett, James. Marine Geology. Washington, DC: Prentice- Hall, 1981. Websites "Exploring with Satellite Altimeter Data." Satellite Geodesy. http://topex.ucsd.edu/marine_grav/explore_grav.html (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Integrated Ocean Drilling Program." IODP Website. http://www. oceandrilling.org (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Ocean Explorer, Technology." National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ technology/subs/subs. html (accessed on August 26, 2004). Oceanography Oceanography also called marine science, is the study of the ocean. Its goal is to discover unifying principles that can explain data measured in ocean waters, in the organisms that live in the ocean, and on the land surrounding the ocean. Oceanography is a broad subject, drawing on techniques and theories from biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geolo- 264 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science gy, and engineering. Oceanography is usually divided into four different areas of research. Marine biology or biological oceanography focuses on life (animals, plants, and bacteria) in the ocean. Chemical oceanography studies the substances that are dissolved in the ocean. Physical oceanography attempts to understand the movement of water and the relationships between oceans and the atmosphere (mass of air surrounding Earth). Marine geology is directed at understanding geological features of the ocean floor, such as the composition of the seafloor and the movement of tectonic plates (moving plates of Earth's crust). History of oceanography Oceanography as an academic subject is relatively young, probably dating from the 1950s. But interest and study of the ocean has existed for thousands of years. Fifth century Greek historian Herodotus recorded the first documented ocean exploration. He wrote that the Phoenicians sailed from the Mediterranean Sea through the Red Sea and along the coast of Africa before 600 b.c.e. As early as 2000 b.c.e. the Phoenicians may have sailed as far as England. The Polynesians were also great ocean explorers, crossing the Pacific as early as 1500 b.c.e. in order to colonize many Pacific islands. Much of this early exploration was associated with trade, however in the process of sailing the oceans, sailors accumulated knowledge of naviga- tion, currents (the movement of water), tides, and geography. European ocean exploration blossomed in the 1400s when Christian armies invading Spain discovered Greek and Arab writings and maps of the oceans in Islamic libraries. This stim- ulated a period of oceanographic exploration by the Portuguese, Dutch, English, and Spanish. Many of the oceano- graphic advancements made during this time were aimed at solving practical problems, such as sailing faster, navigating more accurately, and avoiding nearshore obstacles. With the skills they developed, the Europeans dominated ocean explo- ration for nearly 400 years. The first expedition focused entirely on collecting scientific data of the ocean took place from 1872 to 1876 and was fund- ed by The Royal Society of London. The H.M.S. Challenger was a war ship that was remodeled to accommodate scientific research. The Challenger expeditions explored the biology and physics of every ocean except the Arctic during a journey of 68,000 miles (109,000 kilometers). The data from the expedi- tion took 23 years to analyze and fills 50 volumes. WORDS TO KNOW Chemical oceanology: Study of the molecules and atoms that are dissolved in the ocean. Marine biology: Study of life in the ocean. Marine geology: Study of the geological features of the ocean. Physical oceanography: Study of the physical properties of the ocean including temper- ature, salinity and density, abil- ity to transmit light and sound and the flow of currents and tides. Plankton: Free-floating plants and animals, usually microscopic. Sediments: Particles gravel, sand and clay. of Tectonic plate: Moving plates of Earth's crust. Oceanography 265 In the 1800s, the United States began establishing govern- ment agencies to improve the safety of sailing vessels, protect fisheries, and defend its coasts. The Naval Depot of Charts and Instruments was established in 1830, followed by the Fish Commission in 1871. Two important oceanographic institu- tions were founded on Cape Cod: the Marine Biological Laboratory in 1888 and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in 1930. Both of these institutions are still active places of research today. In the 1950s, government support of oceanographic research and education increased. Universities became involved in com- peting for government and international grants to study various aspects of oceanography. This cooperative effort between edu- cational institutions and governments is what drives oceano- graphic research in modern day. Biological oceanography Biological oceanographers (or marine biologists) focus on the patterns and distribution of marine organisms. These scien- tists work to understand why certain animals, plants, and microorganisms are found in different places and how these organisms grow. A variety of factors influence the success of a certain species in any location, including the chemistry and physical properties of the water. In turn, the biological organ- isms in the ocean affect the oceans on a global and local level. Biological oceanographers study all types of organisms that live in the ocean, from the very small to the very large. They investigate patterns and distributions of the microscopic organ- isms including viruses (which are not really organisms, but genetic material such as DNA that do have the ability to repro- duce), bacteria, and plankton (free-floating animals and plants). They also study the larger animals and plants, like kelp, sea- weed, marine invertebrates (animals without a backbone), fish, and marine mammals. They incorporate information and tech- niques from a broad range of disciplines including chemistry, physics, remote sensing (the use of specialized instruments, such as satellites, to relay information about one location to another location for analysis), paleontology (study of fossils), and geography (study of Earth's surface) for their research. Chemical oceanography Chemical oceanographers study the chemicals that are dis- solved in the ocean waters. Different parts of the ocean contain varying concentrations of gasses, salts, and other chemical com- 266 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Researchers prepare a deep ocean sampling device. © Paul A. Souders/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. ponents. These variations are due to the impact of the atmos- phere, surrounding lands, seafloor, and biological organisms in the ocean water. Chemical oceanographers work to develop the- ories that explain the various patterns throughout the oceans. One of the more important problems facing chemical oceanographers today is understanding the concentration of and changes in carbon dioxide in the ocean. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas, meaning it holds a lot of heat when it is found as a gas in the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels for indus- try and in cars releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where it contributes to global warming. The ocean, however, can remove a lot of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide readily combines with seawater. It then goes through a series of complex chemical reactions before it becomes a solid material called calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate can be buried in the sediments (particles of gravel, sand, and clay) at the bottom of the ocean. This means that the ocean has the potential to act as a "sink" for a lot of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Chemical oceanographers are working to deter- mine just how large the sink is and how quickly it can act. Physical oceanography Physical oceanographers study the physical properties of the ocean. These include temperature, salinity, density, and ability to transmit light and sound. In turn, these fundamental physi- cal characteristics affect the way that ocean currents move, the forces associated with waves, and the amount of energy absorbed by the ocean. Oceanography 267 Float Research: Athletic Shoe and Rubber Duck Spills The temperature and salinity of the water affect the density of the water. Cooler and saltier water sinks while warmer and fresher water floats. This seemingly simple property of the ocean drives much of the water circulation throughout the globe. Density also affects the way that sound travels through water and the buoyancy (ability to float) of marine organisms. Some of the projects that physical oceanographers are study- ing include understanding trends in climate. Satellites measure ocean temperatures over the whole globe to try to discriminate between local changes in ocean temperature, like the El Nino- La Nina, a cycle that brings warm water and storms to the Eastern Pacific every 5 to 7 years, from more large scale changes, like global warming. Marine geology Marine geologists study the geological features of the ocean. These scientists try to determine the composition of the inner Earth by looking at special places on the seafloor where the tec- tonic plates are moving away from each other. In these places, A major area of research for physical oceanographers is understanding how currents flow throughout oceans. There are two major ways that they study currents. The flow method involves putting a piece of equipment in the water that measures the speed and direction of the current. By using this equipment to record the flow of water in many different places in the ocean, maps of the currents can be constructed. Not all float studies are as technical as drogue studies, however. In May 1990, a terri- ble storm hit a freighter traveling from Korea to Seattle, Washington. The ship lost 21 cargo containers during the storm, some of which contained more than 30,000 pairs of Nike gym shoes. About six months later, the shoes began washing up on beaches along the northwest coast of the United States and the west coast of Canada. Physical oceanographers asked people who found the shoes to notify them and they used the data to adjust their models of currents in the North Pacific Ocean. In January 1992, another storm hit a cargo ship, which lost a container carrying nearly 30,000 bath toys including rubber ducks and turtles. A num- ber of these toys were studied and recovered along a 500-mile (800-kilometer) stretch of the Alaskan coast. A second method of studying currents is called the float method. This method depends on dropping an object that floats into the water and tracking its movement. Usually special instruments called drogues are released into the water, where they float along with currents. These drogues have transmitters that send radio or satellite signals back to scientists iden- tifying their location. J 268 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science called spreading centers, material from the inner Earth rises to the seafloor. Marine geologists analyze the chemical and physi- cal makeup of this material to gain an understanding on how the Earth was formed. The shifting of tectonic plates also can cause earthquakes. Marine geologists also study the movements of the tectonic plates in the ocean to try to predict where and when earthquakes will occur. Another focus for marine geologists is the sediments found on the seafloor. These sediments are made up of particles from the land, dead marine plants and animals, precipitates (solid material) from chemical reactions, and even material from space. Studying the chemical and physical composition of sed- iments provides information on how the Earth's climate has changed over time and where valuable resources, like oil and minerals, can be found. Juli Berwald, Ph.D. For More Information Books Littlefield, Cindy A. Awesome Ocean Science: Investigating the Secrets of the Underwater World. Charlotte, VT: Williamson Publishing, 2002. Thurman, Harold, and Alan P. Trujillo. Essentials of Oceanography, 7th ed. Upper Saddle, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001. Websites "History of Oceanography." About.com. http://inventors. about.com/library/inventors/bloceanography.htm (accessed on April 7, 2004). "Oceanography." SeaGrant: MarineCareers.net. http://marine- careers.net/ocean.htm (accessed on August 26, 2004). "Polynesian History and Origin." PBS: Wayfinders: A Pacific Odyssey, http ://www. pbs . org/wayfinders/polynesian2 . html (accessed on August 26, 2004). Shaner, Stephen W. "A Brief History of Marine Biology and Oceanography." University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning, http://www.meer.org/ mbhist.htm (accessed on August 26, 2004). Oceanography 269 WORDS TO KNOW Decibel: Unit that measures the loudness or intensity of sound. Electromagnetic spectrum: The range of light wavelengths that includes radiation that is invisible to the eye, as well as colors that we can see. Sensor: Device that can detect the waves that have bounced back from the object they contacted.. Sonar: Also known as remote sensing, technique that determine the presence and location of objects underwater; term stands for sound naviga- tion and ranging. Wavelength: Distance of one full wave; can be measured from crest to crest or trough to trough. Remote Sensing Remote sensing is a technique that gives information about the surface of the Earth and the underwater world without touching the surface. The technique bounces energy off of non- living or living objects and analyzes the returning signal to col- lect information. Remote sensing has many uses in water. Common uses of remote sensing include charting the depth of a lake or ocean bottom. It is vital to the fishing industry and in locating objects at the bottom of the water. Treasure hunters and researchers would find it much harder to detect lost shipwrecks if not for remote sensing. People interested in finding out where water pollution is occurring can take remote sensing images of water from planes or satellites (orbiting spacecraft) to detect microor- ganisms such as algae that thrive in polluted water. People who are trying to find deposits of oil and natural gas under the ocean floor also use remote sensing. Energy of remote sensing The first step in remote sensing is to have a source of energy that will be beamed toward the target. The energy comes in the form of light waves of different sizes. Like the waves in an ocean, energy waves can range from waves whose top point (crest) to lowest point (trough) are very tiny to those that are hundreds of feet (meters) long. The distance of one full wave, from crest to crest or trough to trough, is known as the wave- length. The range of waves is known as the electromagnetic spectrum. At one end of the electromagnetic spectrum lie the tiny waves such as gamma rays and X rays. These waves tend to carry large amounts of energy and can penetrate into solid or liquid material more so than other waves. That is why X rays can pass right through skin to reveal images of the bones and teeth underneath. At the other end of the spectrum lie waves such as the microwaves that can penetrate a short distance to heat up foods, and radio waves that beam music through a radio speaker. Radio waves are not efficient for remote sensing operations. Microwaves are the longest waves with enough energy to be used for remote sensing. The regions of the electromagnetic spectrum that is useful for remote sensing contain the waves known as ultraviolet rays (the same rays that give a suntan or sunburn). The term ultra- violet means that the waves are just beyond the portion of the 270 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science spectrum that contains the waves that are visible, in particular the region of the spectrum that contain violet-colored waves. Indeed, for the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, our eyes are the remote sensors ! Shorter, higher energy wavelengths are preferred for remote sensing because the waves have to move through air or water on their way to the target. Passing through air and water caus- es some of the waves to be absorbed or deflected (bounced) off the target. (The deflection of different wavelengths of light as they pass through Earth's atmosphere, the mass of air sur- rounding Earth, is the reason why the sky appears blue. Colors with relatively long wavelengths pass straight through the atmosphere. Blue light has a shorter wavelength and the atmos- phere scatters it.) A higher energy wave will be better able to blast through any interference to the target, and to bounce back from the target. The absorption of waves can be useful when trying to figure out the nature of the target. For example, microwaves tend to The Nile River and Nile River Delta as seen from the space shuttle Columbia in 1991. Corbis/NASA. Reproduced by permission. Remote Sensing 271 be absorbed by the gas form of water known as water vapor. The pattern of absorption detected by scientists on their instru- ments can provide important clues about the amount of water contained in the air above the ground or water. How remote sensing works In order to illustrate how remote sensing works, imagine a bathtub full of water. If a bar of soap is dropped into the water, waves will move outward over the surface of the water. As the waves contact the sides of the tub, some the energy will rebound back into the tub. So it is with the energy that is beamed from a satellite, ship or plane. The returning energy is captured by a detector (also known as a sensor). Instruments and computers that are connected to the sensor can analyze the pattern of the returning waves to help scientists understand the distance and shape of the object on the ground or the ocean floor that deflected the waves. History of remote sensing It has been known since the early nineteenth century that sound can move through water. In 1822, scientists measured how fast sound moved underwater in Lake Geneva in Switzerland by suspending a bell from one boat and having someone in another boat listen through a tube lowered down into the water. Their calculations turned out to be very close to those obtained using modern day sensitive electronic technology. The use of underwater sound became known as sonar, which is a short form for "sound navigation and ranging". Like many technologies, sonar became used in warfare. In World War I (1914-18), British, French, and American forces used sonar to locate submarines and to detect icebergs (massive chunks of ice) that could rip open the hulls of their ships. By World War II (1939-45), sonar had become much more accurate and sophisticated. During the first half of the twentieth century, scientists real- ized that sound waves do not move through all ocean water in the same manner. The depth of the water, the amount of salt in the water, and the ocean temperature can all affect wave move- ment. For example, a technique called acoustic tomography measures the movement of ocean currents (the circulation of ocean waters that produces a steady flow of water in a prevail- ing direction) by examining the differing properties of the cur- rent from the surrounding water. 272 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Sending energy underwater To chart the depth of a lake or ocean bot- tom, a transmitter on a boat will beam ener- gy for a short time (a pulse transmission) straight down into the water. A sensor on the boat detects the returning signal. Using a mathematical formula to account for the presence of water, scientists can then deter- mine the one-way distance of the signal. Other uses of vertical (up and down) sonar include detecting other ships and as an aid in navigating. The energy pulse can also be sent out hor- izontally through the water, rather than straight down. This is called sidescan sonar, and is useful in determining what lies around a ship. Some systems are so sensitive that they can detect an object in the water that is less than 0.4 inches (1 centimeter) in size. Sidescan sonar is also useful in investi- gating underwater archaeological sites. Brian Hoyle, Ph.D. For More Information Books Earle, Sylvia. Atlas of the Ocean: The Deep Frontier (National Geographic). Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2001. Johnson, Andrew K. Earth From Space. Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada: Firefly, 2004. Locker, Thomas. Water Dance. New York: Voyager, 2002. Websites "Acoustics and Sonar Primer." Institute for Marine Acoustics. http://www.marine-group. com/SonarPrimer/SideScanSonar.htm (accessed on June 21, 2004). "Fundamentals of Remote Sensing." Natural Resources Canada http ://www. ccrs . nrcan . gc . ca/ccrs/learn/ tutorials/fundam/ fundam_e.html (accessed on June 21, 2004). Impact of Sound on Marine Animals The U.S. Navy uses powerful sound waves that can travel great distances through the water to detect submarines. The damaging effects of these energy waves on marine life is under study by marine scien- tists. Some researchers claim that damage from sound waves in large marine mammals such as whales is a short-term event, such as when sound waves may temporarily inter- fere with the whales' ability to communicate within their group. Other scientists claim that fish and entire populations of whales could suffer long-lasting consequences from the use of sound waves. The newest Navy active-sonar devices result in a sound of 235 decibels (a unit of measure for sound), about as loud as a space shuttle launch. When several groups of whales beached themselves after exposure to this sonar in 2001-3, scientists found that some of the whales died from decompression sickness or "the bends," the same condition that can affect scuba divers who rise to the surface from deep water too quickly. There is no clear answer yet as to what level of underwater sound is too much for marine mammals but overall, underwater noise in the oceans is increasing. Although the Navy has reached agreements with envi- ronmental groups to limit the use of the powerful active-sonar devices, several other countries are developing similar systems, and control of excess sound in the oceans is aworM " wid " Remote Sensing 273 Chapter 9 Economic Uses of Water 4 Agricultural Water Use The images of seemingly endless crop fields of the American Midwest and the lush San Joaquin Valley of central California are powerful symbols of the agricultural might of the United States. In the past century the United States has become the greatest producer of food in the world. Water has always been a vital part of agriculture. Just like humans, crops need water to survive and grow. The process where dry land or crops are supplied with water is called irri- gation. A century ago, the relatively small fields of a local farmer in many areas of the United States could receive enough moisture from rainwater, along with water that could be divert- ed from local streams, rivers, and lakes. The growth of huge corporate farms that are thousands of acres in size has taken the need for water to another scale. For these operations, water needs to be trucked in, pumped up from underground, and obtained from surface water (freshwater located on the surface) sources in large quantities. In modern times, in countries such as the United States and Canada, agriculture is not the largest user of water but is the largest consumer of water. Other activities such as the oil indus- try use more water than does agriculture. But, in these other industries, much of the water is put back into the ground or sur- face water after being used. Agriculture consumes water; the water does not go back to the surface or to the groundwater. Uses of water in agriculture There are four main areas of water use in agriculture: growing of crops, supplying drinking water to livestock, cleaning farm WORDS TO KNOW Evaporation: The change of liquid water to water vapor. Groundwater: Fresh water that resides in rock and soil layers beneath Earth's land surface. Irrigation: In agriculture, a process where dry land or crops are supplied with water. Surface water: Freshwater that is located on the surface in the form of streams, rivers, lakes and other waterways, or in reservoirs, swimming pools and other containers that have been built. Transpiration: The change from liquid water to water vapor that occurs at the sur- face of leaves. 275 Agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley The San Joaquin Valley is located in the central region of California. It is bound by the coastal mountains on the west, the region containing Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks on the east, and the state capital city of Sacramento to the north. The fertile soil carried down from the rivers and streams that emerge from the moun- tains have made the valley soil fertile for growing crops, and the region is sometimes known as the "salad bowl" of America. Crops grown in the San Joaquin Valley include grapes for the state's famous wine industry, lettuce, peppers, cherries, almonds, peaches, tomatoes, and aspara- gus. These and other crops and livestock make for a $4 billion a year industry. Many valuable farmlands are also valuable to developers, who build new neighborhoods as the population in the San Francisco Bay area and other urban centers grow. California officials predict that by 2020, the population in the San Joaquin Valley will increase by over 50%, adding additional strain to the remaining farmland and water supply. While many California citizens wel- come the new growth, local governments are working to meet the needs of growth while preserving farmlands. buildings and animals, and supplying drink- ing water for those who work on the farm. The amount of each category varies accord- ing to the type of farm. For example, farms in the eastern part of North America usually receive enough rainfall and water from melt- ing snow to meet most of the water needs. But drier areas, such as the U.S. and Canadian prairies, regions of Mexico, and some moun- tainous regions of the West do not receive sufficient natural moisture. On these farms, water must be supplied through irrigation. Irrigation Nearly 60% of the world's freshwater that is used by humans is used for irrigation. Of this water that is applied to crop fields, only about half returns to surface water or groundwater sources. The rest is lost by nat- ural processes such as evaporation (when liquid water changes to water vapor) and transpiration (when water from plant leaves is transformed into water vapor), and acci- dental occurrences such as leakage from pipes or spillage. There are various methods to irrigate crops. The oldest, "low-tech" way is to flood the field. This flood type of irrigation has been used for centuries and remains popular for crops like rice. Field flooding is very wasteful, since only about half of the water used actually gets to the plant. The efficien- cy of flood irrigation can be improved by making the land contoured, such as elimi- nating small hills and putting steps (ter- races) on larger hills to prevent water from flowing over certain portions of the field and gathering in another part of the field. The flooding of a field can also be con- trolled by releasing water from dams (barriers) alongside the field, adding water to the field only when needed. Water that flows off of a field can be captured in a pond and re-used. A newer and much more efficient technique of water use is called drip irrigation. In drip irrigation, water runs through pipes that have tiny holes in them. When buried underground, water can ooze out of the pipe into the soil near the roots of the 276 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science plants. The loss of water is reduced and less water is required to grow the crops. A popular means of irrigation is spraying. Water flows through a tube and is shot out through a system of spray nozzles positioned along the length of the tube. The tube can be fixed in one position or can be moved manually or automatically from place to place. A visual example of a spray irrigation system is a green circle seen from an airplane passing over farmland. The green circles are crops that are being irrigated by a circular sprayer. Spray irrigation is sometimes wasteful, as water that is sprayed can evaporate or be blown away before hitting the crop. Some farmers now use an irrigation method where water is gen- tly sprayed from pipes that are suspended over the crop. This method allows about 90% of the water to reach the crop. With the knowledge that surface and groundwaters are resources that can be overused, agricultural scientists and mod- ern farmers are paying attention to methods of conserving and re-using water while maintaining the growth of their crops. Brian Hoyle, Ph.D. Sprinkler irrigation can be an essential addition to natural rainfall. © Royalty-Free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Agricultural Water Use 277 For More Information Books Wild, Alan. Soils, Land and Food: Managing the Land During the Twenty-First Century. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Websites "Agriculture's Effects on Water." Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, http://res2.agr.gc.ca/publications/hw/01b_e.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). United States Geological Survey. "Irrigation Techniques." Water Science for Schools, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/ irmethods.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). Aquaculture Aquaculture is the farming of animals or plants under con- trolled conditions in aquatic environments. Aquaculture usual- ly refers to growing animals and plants in fresh or brackish water (water that has a salt content between that of freshwater and that of ocean water). Mariculture indicates the farming of animals and plants in ocean waters. (Marine means seawater.) Just as on land, aquaculture and mariculture farmers try to con- trol the environmental factors surrounding their crops in order to make them grow quickly and in good health. Some of the factors that aquaculture and mariculture farmers manipulate are the diet of their animals, the nutrients provided to their plants, the reproductive cycles of both animals and plants, and the chemistry and physical properties of the water where the farms are located. They also try to develop methods to mini- mize diseases in their crops, to keep their crops safe from pred- ators (animals that hunt them for food), and to reduce the pollution produced by their crops. The aquaculture and mariculture industry The combined industry of aquaculture and mariculture rep- resents one of the fastest growing economic areas in the world. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), aquaculture and mariculture have increased by nearly 10% per year since 1970. China has become a world leader in both aquaculture and mariculture. Between 1970 and 2000, China had an annual growth rate of 11.5% in aquaculture and 14% in mariculture. In China, farms produce 278 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science three times more fish and shellfish for human consumption than fishermen catch. FAO estimates that aquaculture and mariculture revenues were $56.5 billion in 2000, half of which was generated by China. The crops that generated the largest amounts of revenue were the finfish (catfish, salmon, and talapia), which account- ed for about half the world's aquaculture and mariculture pro- duction. The other two large crops are mollusks (mostly oysters; mollusks are soft bodied aquatic animals generally hav- ing a shell) and plants (mostly kelp). Excluding China, FAO estimates that about one-fifth of the world's fish and shellfish supply comes from aquaculture and mariculture. Major aquaculture and mariculture crops A large variety of animals and plants are grown by aquacul- ture and mariculture. Animals are grown for human consump- tion, for consumption by other animals, for use in aquaria, for stocking of natural waters and as research animals. Catfish are the most important aquaculture crop in the United States with an estimated 750 million fish grown per year. More than half of Japanese farmers tend commercial oyster beds. © Michael S. Yamashita/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. WORDS TO KNOW Anadromous: Fish that are born in fresh water and then move to marine water as adults. Brackish: Water with a salinity between that of fresh- water and ocean water. Invertebrate: Animals with- out a backbone. Mariculture: Farming ani- mals and plants under con- trolled conditions in marine waters. Aquaculture 279 Catfish Farming The North American channel catfish is no fragile beauty. Catfish are the hardy, whiskered garbage collectors of sluggish rivers and muddy lakes in the southeastern United States. They can survive in almost any type of fresh or brackish water, and they are scavengers that feed on everything from dead animals to human garbage. In the past, catfish was sometimes considered an unfortunate person's meal. Though plentiful and easily caught, the channel catfish's putrid diet gave its meat the taste of, well, garbage. In modern day, thanks to aquaculturists in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and other southern states, mild-tasting catfish is an appealing, inexpensive item on menus at restaurants and grocery store shelves in the United States. When catfish eat feed instead of garbage, their meat tastes good. They are easy to raise in ponds or tanks, and farms have relatively few negative effects on their environment. Unlike other species like salmon or shrimp, they tolerate all kinds of conditions, don't mind living in densely packed ponds, and will eat anything, includ- ing inexpensive plant-based feed. Catfish farms do require a lot of water, and they are less welcome in areas where a large-human population is sharing a limited water supply. these are produced in Mississippi. The next most important fish grown as a crop are the salmon, which are usually raised in pens in bays in the ocean. In 1999, the world mari- culture industry grew by more than 1 million tons of salmon. Norway leads the world in salmon farming, followed by Chile. Tilapia is a finfish with mild, tender meat that is becoming an increasingly important mari- culture crop. Shellfish are also grown on farms. The most important crops are oysters, which are grown both for human consumption and for the pearls that they generate. Shrimp, clams, mussels, and abalone are also farmed in marine waters. In freshwaters, the largest shellfish crop is crawfish, followed by shrimp. Many species of aquatic plants are raised on farms. The major saltwater food crop is kelp, also called wakame in Japan, which is a type of brown algae. This brown algae is also harvested to make agar, a thickening agent used in salad dressings, paint and ink. A red algae, called purple laver or nori, is used in many types of sushi. The most commonly grown freshwater plants for human con- sumption are watercress and Chinese water chestnuts. Other algae are raised as animal feeds and as mulches and fertilizers (prod- ucts used by gardeners). Water hyacinth, which efficiently removes excess pollutants from water, is grown for use in wastewater treatment plants. Drawbacks to aquaculture Although aquaculture and mariculture have the potential to make great contributions to the world's food supply, there are some drawbacks to the growth of these industries. In some developing countries, natural habitats are destroyed in order to build pens for crops. For example, shrimp farmers often cut down large areas of trees called mangroves. These trees have the ability to live in salt water. The roots of these trees serve impor- tant purposes in the tropical marine ecosystem (community of organisms and their environment) . They provide habitats for a 280 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science A fish farm worker nets salmon in British Columbia, Canada. © Natalie Fobes/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Salmon is a delicacy. Like bears, humans find its firm, pink meat tasty and nutritious. The very qualities that make salmon desirable — they have firm muscles from swimming long distances and high protein content from feed- ing on other fish — make them relatively rare in the wild and expensive to grow on farms. Wild salmon meat has always been an expensive luxury that, like a diamond ring or a fur coat, comes with an environmental cost. Raising salmon in tanks and pens is a way to provide salmon to restaurants and grocery stores while preserving wild fish. Most species of Atlantic and Pacific salmon are born in cool freshwater streams and lakes, travel down rivers to oceans where they spend their adult years in salt water, and then return to their home streams to lay eggs and die. (Fish that live in both fresh and salt water are called anadromous. Coho, Chinook, Chum, Pink, and Sockeye are all anadromous Pacific salmon.) Human alterations to river systems including dams, water pollution, changes to the amount Farming of silt and mud in the water, and over-fishing have threatened most species of wild salmon. In modern day, most of the salmon humans eat is raised on farms in cool northern and far southern countries like Norway, Canada, Scotland, Russia, Chile, and Argentina. In the United States, aquaculturists (fish farmers) raise salmon in Washington State and Maine. Aquaculture has made salmon more widely available, but it is still expensive because the fish are difficult to raise in captivity. Salmon farmers accommodate salmon's anadromous life style by spawning and raising young fish in freshwater tanks, and then moving the adult fish to outdoor saltwater pens along coastlines. Salmon are carnivorous (meat-eaters) and it takes about 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) offish to produce one pound of salmon meat. Salmon farming, like most other types of economically-profitable food production, has several drawbacks that concern environmental- ists and biologists. Salmon's carnivorous diet threatens other wild species because their feed is made from wild fish. (Raising the feed fish makes farm-raised salmon more expensive than wild salmon.) Environmentalists also worry that salmon pens pollute coastal waters and affect the pristine beauty of northern coastlines. Finally, adults that escape the pens may com- pete with the wild salmon for resources, spread disease, or mate with wild fish to have babies that cannot survive the rigorous life of wild salmon. (Farm-raised salmon don't have the skills they need to travel thousands of miles [kilometers] in the ocean and then back to their home stream to lay eggs.) Aquaculturists, sci- entists, and environmentalists are working to find solutions that both protect the wild fish and provide salmon for human consumption. Aquaculture 281 Algae and fish are grown in cages by the sea in this Israeli aquaculture center. © Jeffrey L. Rotman/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. variety of juvenile fish and invertebrates (animals without a backbone) that hide from predators in their crevasses. They also prevent erosion (wearing away of soil) during floods and storms, by holding soil in place. Finally they use some pollu- tants, like nitrogen and phosphorus, that are generated by aquatic organisms as they grow. Pollution is a second problem that aquacultural and mari- cultural farmers have to confront. Having a large number of animals concentrated in a small area produces much waste. These wastes can stimulate the growth of microorganisms such as phytoplankton and bacteria, which harm animals that live nearby. Some newer technologies involve growing animals in enclosed tanks where water is cleaned and recycled rather than simply released into the environment. Although not yet finan- cially practical, these techniques may represent a cleaner way to farm fish and shellfish in the future. Finally, the economics of mariculture and aquaculture play a large role in the expansion of these industries. Building and running a facility that grows freshwater or marine organisms is not always profitable. Just as in farming on land, animals and 282 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science plants that are grown on farms in the water must have traits that allow for domestication. For example, animals that exhib- it territoriality or aggressive behaviors are not good candidates for aquaculture or mariculture. Disease can ruin crops, and expensive antibiotics may need to be used to keep animals healthy. Controlling the reproductive rate of farmed animals is extremely important. If animals reproduce too fast, some can become stunted and unable to be sold. If animals reproduce to slowly, costs can overcome profits. Juli Berwald, Ph.D. For More Information Books Davenport, John, et al. Aquaculture: The Ecological Issues. Maiden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2003. Southgate, Paul, and Lucas, John S., eds. Aquaculture: Farming Aquatic Animals. Ames: Iowa State University Press, 2003. Websites Harrell, Reginal M. "Finfish Aquaculture Workbook Series." Maryland Sea Grant Extension, http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/ Extension/finfish (accessed on August 24, 2004). "State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture: 2002." Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y7300e/y7300e00.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). Commercial and Industrial Uses of Water Besides being vital for human survival, water is also neces- sary in commerce and in industry. Commercial operations are those that generally do not manufacture a product, but provide a service, such as hospitals, restaurants, and schools. Industry usually involves manufacturing a product. In industry, water helps keep machinery needed for the making of products run- ning smoothly and efficiently. Water can also be a vital part of the product, such as in sports drinks or soft drinks. In the United States, the total amount of fresh and salt water used every day by industry is nearly 410 billion gallons. To illustrate such a huge number, think of that amount of water in terms of weight. A gallon of water weighs a little over 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms). The daily water usage in the United States totals almost 3.5 trillion pounds (1.6 trillion kilograms), about the same as 200 million 200-pound (90.7 kilogram) people! Commercial and Industrial Uses of Water 283 In the modern world, water is used as a form of art. The Trocadero fountains in Paris compliment the form of the Eiffel Tower. © Royalty-Free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. WORDS TO KNOW Groundwater: Freshwater that resides in rock and soil lay- ers beneath Earth's land sur- face. Surface water: Freshwater that is located on the surface, naturally in the form of streams, rivers, lakes and other waterways, or in reservoirs, swimming pools, and other containers that have been built. Commercial water use In modern day, water is essential to people's daily lives. Without water, restaurants could not supply meals or even clean up after the meals, cars would go unwashed, and fires could be disastrous, with no means of dousing the blaze. Green parks, recreational fields, and golf courses rely on water to keep the grass and soil moist and healthy. Roadways would become dirty and grimy in the absence of any water-based cleaning program. Offices would grind to a halt with no water available for drinking and bathrooms, and office buildings, stores, and public and private centers would also be dark places without the water necessary to generate electricity for lighting. The water for these and other commercial uses comes from the surface and from underground (groundwater) sources. The extent to which a community uses a surface or a groundwater source depends on which source is more abundant in the par- ticular area. For example, the drier central portions of the United States and Canada do not have as much surface water as the eastern and western coasts. In the prairies, wells that reach down to tap underground water sources are more common than in coastal regions such as California. Some of the water that is used for commercial purposes can be reused. The water used in a car wash is one example. Another example is the water that is applied to golf courses. Surface water that is obtained from a lagoon (shallow body of water cut off from a larger body) can be suitable for keeping a 284 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Commercial Fishing Pollack fish spill onto the deck of a commercial fishing trawler in the Bering Sea off Alaska. © Natalie Fobes/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Both fresh and salt waters have long sup- ported commercial fisheries in North America. Rivers on the eastern and western portions of the United States and Canada once were the basis of a productive commercial salmon fish- ery. However, in the past few decades, the number of salmon that return from the ocean to their river homes has been steadily declin- ing. One reason is over-fishing; the catching of more fish than is produced. But other factors may be playing a role. The decline in water quality is one suspected factor. A century ago, the Grand Banks off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada was the world's premier cod fishing ground. Nets would strain under the weight of untold numbers of cod, often the source of fish used in preparing fish sticks and the traditional 'fish and chips'. However, over-fishing by local fishers and by large factory trawlers have greatly reduced the cod stocks. In the 1990s, the government of Canada ended fishing for cod off the east coast of Canada so that the numbers of cod could again increase in their natural habitat. A decade later, the numbers of cod fish had not recovered, and the cod fishery industry in the area was, at least temporarily, lost. least temporarily, golf course lush and green. Other commercial water uses, such as drinking water, demand water that is free of chemicals and harmful microorganisms. Fresh and salt water is home to many living creatures that are harvested by humans. Whether for sport or as a business, fish- eries are completely dependent on water. Industrial water use Industries require large supplies of water. Machinery relies on water to cool it to a temperature that allows the manufac- turing process to keep going. The mining industry needs water to wash off the material that has been brought up from underground in order to sort out the genuine product from other particles. Water is also used to clean machinery build- ings, and even, in the case of the meat processing industry, the Commercial and Industrial Uses of Water 285 carcasses of the cattle, pigs, and other animals that will be trimmed into the items found in the meat section of the local supermarket. In oil producing regions, vast amounts of water are used. As oil wells get older and the underlying oil reserve is tapped, it becomes more difficult to pump out oil that is hiding in cracks in the rock deep underground. One way of getting this oil is to pump water down into the oil formation. The water can make its way into cracks and crevasses and push the oil out in front of it. The oil is then pumped up using another well. Without this industrial use of water, oil and gasoline would be more scarce and more expensive. The generation of electrical power also makes use of water, to cool equipment and to push the turbines that are the heart of the process that produces electricity. Turbines are turning wheels with buckets, paddles or blades that turn as water moves by converting the energy of moving water to mechanical power. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, in the year 2000 about 20 billion gallons (76 billion liters) of water were used each day to make electricity. This represents about 53% of all water use in the country. The vast amount of this water comes from surface water sources. Much of this water is even- tually returned to the environment for reuse. In contrast, water that is used to irrigate (water) crops usually cannot be recov- ered after being applied to the crops. Another big user of water is the pulp and paper industry; millions of gallons of water is used in the various processes that turn a log into a piece of paper. Clean water is also required for papermaking. If the water contains too many solid particles, the paper will not be smooth and the paper-making machinery could be damaged. For other industries, water may not be a key part of the actu- al making of the product, but it is nevertheless, required. In the steel making industry, water is needed for cooling equipment. Like in the oil industry, this use of water does not require water of the same quality as drinking water. Care must be taken in disposing of the water, however. For example, water cannot be disposed of immediately after it is used to cool equipment, as the high temperature of the water would damage fish and other life in the natural environment. This water is usually cooled in a holding pond or container before being released. Brian Hoyle, Ph.D. 286 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science For More Information Books U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Water Sourcebooks: K-12. Washington, DC: USEPA, 2000. Vickers, Amy. Handbook of Water Use and Conservation: Homes, Landscapes, Industries, Businesses, Farms. Amherst, MA: Waterplow Press, 2001. Websites United States Geological Survey. "Industrial Water Use." Water Science for Schools, http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/wuin.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). 4 Economic Uses of Groundwater Groundwater is one of humans' most valuable natural resources. Groundwater is the water contained in the rock and soil layers beneath Earth's surface, and it makes up most of Earth's supply of fresh, liquid water. (The oceans and ice in the North and South Poles contain 99% of Earth's total water sup- ply. Groundwater accounts for almost all of the remaining 1%.) Throughout history, humans have settled in areas with plenti- ful and pure groundwater, and have fought to own and protect wells and springs. Today, human water needs in many arid (dry) or heavily populated regions far exceed surface water sup- plies. Earth's rapidly-growing human population is becoming increasingly reliant on groundwater. Groundwater fills wells and city water supplies. Ground- water irrigates (waters) crops, feeds livestock, and produces farm-raised fish. Groundwater is used to cool nuclear reactors that generate electricity, mix concrete, and manufacture mil- lions of consumer products. In short, groundwater plays a vital role in almost every facet of people's lives, from drinking water, foods, and products people buy to roads and the buildings in which people live and work. Groundwater reservoirs: aquifers Water enters underground reservoirs by soaking in through soils, stream beds, and ponds in areas termed recharge zones. Water flows, often very slowly, through interconnected pore (tiny opening) spaces and then remerges onto the land surface at natural discharge points called springs and seeps. When dis- charge from natural springs and/or human wells exceeds the Economic Uses of Groundwater 287 WORDS TO KNOW Aquifer: Underground rock or sediment layer that yields water of adequate quantity and purity for human use. Artesian flow: Water that rises to the land surface from confined aquifers without pumping. Discharge zone: Land area where groundwater flows out of aquifers on to land surface. Dowsing: Practice of using spiritual powers and a divining rod to locate underground water. Recharge zone: Area where water enters groundwater reservoirs by infiltrating through soils, stream beds, and ponds. Water table: Level below which all pore space is filled with water. rate of recharge, the groundwater level falls, shallow wells and springs dry, and eventually, the reservoir empties. Many groundwater reservoirs, particularly those beneath arid deserts and semi-arid grasslands, filled with water many centuries ago when regional climate was wetter. Groundwater reservoirs that yield water for human use are called aquifers. In part, human economics determine which water-bearing units are exploited as aquifers. In regions where clean surface water is plentiful and inexpensive, groundwater may go unused. In arid regions with scarce or polluted surface water, and in places where human water needs exceed the water supply in streams and lakes, groundwater extraction and purifi- cation become economically worthwhile. When conditions change, as during periods of drought (prolonged dry weather) or increased population growth, new groundwater supplies are tapped, thereby elevating them to aquifer status. Wells In addition to collecting groundwater from springs, humans extract water from aquifers by digging or drilling wells that extend from the ground surface to the water table, the level below which all the empty space in the rocks and soil are com- pletely full of water (saturated) . When a well reaches the water table, groundwater fills the hole like water filling a hole dug in beach sand. In wet regions, the water table may lie only a few feet (meters) below the surface. In arid regions, groundwater wells are often hundreds of feet (meters) deep. Most wells require a bucket system or pump to raise the water to the land surface. Some aquifers, however, contain pressurized ground- water that flows to the land surface on its own. Such free- flowing groundwater discharges are called artesian wells and springs. There are a number of ways to construct wells. Some com- mon types of wells are hand-dug, driven, and drilled wells. • Hand-dug wells: Historically, wells were dug into soil and even rock by hand. Well diggers with shovels or picks would dig a hole below the water table by bailing water faster than it flowed into the well. Once a well was com- plete, its builders reinforced its walls and fitted it with a bucket system or pump to bring water to the surface. Hand- dug wells are still regularly constructed in many parts of the world, but they are uncommon in developed nations like the United States. 288 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Dowsing Groundwater can be hard to find. Today, hydrogeologists use scientific methods to locate aquifers and productive water wells. Aquifers can be extremely complex and groundwater flow patterns difficult to predict, and it is not uncommon for hydrogeologists to drill dry wells. In the past, water-seekers con- sulted with spiritually-guided water prospectors called dowsers or water witches. Dowsers profess special powers that allow them to sense or divine water beneath the ground. While a hydrogeologist searches for groundwater by taking measurements, making observations, and drawing maps, a dowser strolled across the client's land holding a metal or wooden Y- or L-shaped divining rod or a pen- dulum. When water was present, the rod or pendulum was said to be attracted to the water beneath. Some dowsers even claimed that their divining rods would locate groundwater on maps of the land surface. The practice of dowsing has its roots in ancient Egypt and China, and its first published reference appeared in 1430. Early dowsers and water witches probably relied on a combination of spiritual guidance and astute scientific obser- vations of groundwater discharge features such as springs, seeps, and vegetation patterns to locate underground water. Like witch doctors in ancient cultures, dowsers used all their avail- able tools, including scientific knowledge, to help their clients solve problems. As such, mod- ern hydrogeologists are perhaps their closest professional descendants. Modern-day dowsers claim to find water entirely with their spiritually enhanced extrasensory powers. They assert that ground- water has a magnetic field that pulls on their dowsing rods, a theory that has never been sci- entifically proven. Dowsers do successfully locate groundwater, but without clues to the local groundwater system, their results are sta- tistically no better than random well drilling. • Driven wells: Driven wells are constructed by forcing or hammering a narrow pipe into soft ground. These wells are inexpensive and can reach very deep aquifers, but can only be used in areas that have loose soil or sediment (particles of sand, gravel, and silt). • Drilled wells: Today most water wells are drilled using rotary (turning) or percussion (hammering) machines that are mounted on large trucks. Drilled wells that penetrate loose material are lined with plastic or metal pipe called casing, which keeps the sides of the hole from collapsing. An electric pump is placed at the bottom of the well to bring the water to the surface. Historical groundwater use Humans in arid regions such as northern Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia have relied on groundwater to provide drinking water and irrigate crops for thousands of years. Economic Uses of Groundwater 289 Archeologists have discovered the remains of hand-dug wells, oasis (areas in the desert with a source of water) settlements, and groundwater distribution systems throughout the ancient world. Humans have drunk from groundwater springs at the Oasis of Bahariya in the Sahara desert of western Egypt since the early stone age (Paleolithic Age) more than one million years ago. Knowledge of groundwater supplies and extraction tech- nologies was critical information for ancient desert empires such as Mesopotamia, Sumeria, and Egypt. Nomads (wander- ing tribes) in the Saharan and Arabian deserts relied upon fiercely guarded knowledge of groundwater springs and seeps to survive. Egyptians, Mesopotamians, and Chinese who first practiced agriculture dug wells to provide irrigation for water- intensive crops such as rice and cotton, and drinking water for permanent settlements. Groundwater availability affected pat- terns of conquest and settlement in Greek and Roman Empires. European explorers sought groundwater and white settlers excavated wells that supported settlement and farming throughout North and South America. Modern groundwater use Today people use groundwater for agricultural irrigation, industrial processes, municipal (city) and residential (home) water supplies. In the United States, groundwater accounted for about one quarter (26%) of total water use in the year 2000. (Surface freshwater made up the other 74%.) Groundwater use, however, varies by location, and many U.S. residents and indus- tries depend almost completely upon water drawn from region- al aquifers. More than one-third of U.S.' 100 largest cities, including Miami Beach, San Antonio, Memphis, Honolulu, and Tucson get all their water from aquifers. Almost all rural house- holds (98%) draw their water from private wells. Farmers and ranchers in Midwestern and Western states make heavy use of groundwater for irrigation of crops. In the eastern and southern U.S., most drinking and agricultural water comes from lakes and streams, but industries use vast quantities of groundwater for such activities as refining petro- leum, aluminum, and other ores; manufacturing steel and chemicals; producing plastics; and mining. Aquaculture (fish farming) is big business and a significant groundwater con- sumer in Southeastern states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. 290 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science In the United States, groundwater is particularly important in arid and semi-arid agricultural states in the western half of the nation. Heavily agricultural states such as California, Oregon, and Texas use large quantities of groundwater for irri- gation of food crops. The livestock industry also draws heavily upon groundwater supplies in states such as Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. Water drawn from wells not only fills watering troughs, but also irrigates vast tracts of midwestern cropland that produce material for cattle, poultry, pig, and fish feed. Meat processing plants also require water. (It takes about 13 gallons [49 liters] of water to produce 1 pound (0.45 kilo- gram) of beef, and about 4 gallons [15 liters] of water go into producing 1 gallon [3.8 liters] of milk!) Laurie Duncan, Ph.D., and Todd Minehardt, Ph.D. For More Information Books Pipkin, Bernard W., and Trent, D. D. "Fresh-water Resources." In Geology and the Environment. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, 2001. Press, Frank, and Siever, Raymond. "Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater." Understanding Earth. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 2003. Periodicals Hansen, George P "Dowsing: A Review of Experimental Research." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research (October 1982): pp. 343-67. Available online at http://www. tricksterbook.com/ArticlesOnline/Dowsing.htm (accessed August 24, 2004). Websites "Ground Water and Drinking Water." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/index.html (accessed August 24, 2004). U.S. Geological Survey. "Earth's Water." Water Science for Schools, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/mearth.html (August 24,2004). "Water Resources." U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ technical/water.html (accessed August 24, 2004). Economic Uses of Groundwater 291 WORDS TO KNOW Black smoker: Underwater seep of magma that deposits minerals. Element: A substance that cannot be divided by ordinary chemical means. Hydrothermal deposit: Mineral-containing geologic unit that was formed by hot waters percolating through source rocks. Metal: Substance that is a conductor of electricity and heat. Open-pit mine: Large craters dug into the earth to extract ore that is near the surface. Ore: Naturally source of minerals. occurring Placer deposit: Water- deposited mineral source, such as gold nuggets in streams. Stope (adit) mine: Mines with large, vertical shafts for miners to enter the mine and horizontal shafts (adits) for min- ers to reach the ore. Strip mine: Large, under- ground swaths dug through ore- rich zones with shafts for miners to enter and for deposits to exit. Minerals and Mining Minerals are defined as naturally occurring solids found in the earth that are composed of matter other than plants or ani- mals. Ore is a naturally occurring source of minerals, such as a rock. A mineral can be composed from one element, such as diamond, which contains only carbon, or several elements, such as quartz, which contains silicon and oxygen. An element is a substance that cannot be divided by ordinary chemical means. Even ice is considered a mineral. Minerals are found everywhere on Earth, from the bottom of the ocean to the high- est mountains. Mineral deposits are frequently located under- ground, and thus they must be mined. South Africa and Russia hold the largest amount of minerals in the world. Minerals are vital to people's lives, and many of these minerals are critical to countries' industries and economies. The United States is relatively poor in critical minerals, including platinum, cobalt, and gold, but there are sand deposits of titanium ore in Florida and the Pacific Northwest. In the central United States, minerals that contain lead and gal- lium (used in computer chips) are abundant, and iron ore is found in the states near the Great Lakes. Most of the diamonds are mined in Africa, as is gold, although gold is found in many other locations as well. Importance of minerals Minerals are essential in every aspect of life for humans. Humans need to ingest minerals in order for our bodies to func- tion normally. Most of these required minerals come from the foods people eat. Gold and silver have been valued by civiliza- tion since ancient times. Metals became useful for purposes other than money during the Bronze Age, when weapons and tools could be made from metal as people became more edu- cated with how to process the minerals and extract (remove) metals. As metals were not evenly dispersed around the globe, the more powerful nations became that way through military might from weapons made from metal. Industry also depends upon minerals. Without aluminum (mined mostly in Jamaica), people could not manufacture air- planes, much less soda-pop cans. Titanium is used in the aero- space industry for constructing spacecraft and in medicine for the construction of artificial limbs and joints. Copper is required to make wire that carries electricity to homes and factories. 292 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Mineral reserves are of great importance in the marketplace and it is not uncommon to stockpile (save) certain metals extracted from mineral ores. Because large mineral deposits are located in regions of the world that are, at times, politically and economi- cally unstable, the supply of critical miner- als is not guaranteed. The United States stockpiles metals such as platinum, palladi- um, cobalt, chromium, manganese, and vanadium. These metals are used in the high-technology industries and the military. Chromium, for instance, is used to produce stainless steel. Vanadium is used, along with aluminum, to make forms of titanium that are resistant to fracture (breaking), enabling the manufacture of jet planes that can withstand extreme conditions. Platinum is used in removing the impurities from oil. Palladium is used in the exhaust systems of automobiles to reduce the amount of pollutants. It is advantageous for a highly-industrialized country such as the United States to have these resources at hand, and to purchase reserves when prices are low. Water- la id ores and minerals The formation of mineral deposits always involves water. Water is part of the chemical processes of mineral formation and also changes the mineral content of rocks by dis- solving certain elements in the ore and trans- porting them elsewhere. Heat is another ingredient in the formation of many mineral deposits. Manganese Nodules Manganese nodules (solid, raised bumps) are tennis-ball sized mineral nodules that lit- ter the ocean floor, mostly in the Pacific Ocean. They form much like pearls, with a small center that can be a grain of sand or even a tooth from a fish, and over millions of years, manganese, along with iron and other minerals build-up as shells. There are numerous manganese nodules yet they are hard to extract, largely due to the depths from which they must be brought to the sur- face. This is an expensive proposition, and until other sources of the minerals con- tained in manganese nodules are exhaust- ed, will not likely be a source of minerals for human use. Because the nodules are in international waters, there has been debate over who can claim ownership. Many nations formed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which in turn led to the formation of the International Seabed Authority in 1994, which controls international ocean mining rights. The reason for making these laws and forming a governing body was to ensure that all nations could share in the wealth stored in the nodules. The Inter- national Seabed Authority has granted sev- eral areas for exploration and recovery to many public and private concerns, but the United States does not abide by these direc- tives because, as of 2004, it does not Hydrothermal deposits. Many metal- bearing ores are found in veins (cracks in rock filled with minerals) that cut through surrounding rock. In these cases, very hot water reacted with elements and other minerals in the rock, and burst through the layers of rock where there was a weakness. These mineral deposits are called hydrothermal deposits. Hydrothermal deposits form gold, sil- ver, and the platinum-group metals, which are commonly found in veins. The metals themselves are hosted in a vein that Minerals and Mining 293 is often quartz. Miners follow the vein, extract the ore, and remove the host rock to extract the metals contained within. Mining minerals from veins is an expensive process that is sel- dom used today. When hot water flows through porous rock (rock with many small holes), the rock can become a host to a kind of deposit known as porphyry. The host rock containing a porphyry deposit is filled with small veins of (usually) quartz that con- tain the minerals. Although the mineral content is low, por- phyry deposits are large, and most of the copper that is mined comes from these unique deposits. Fool's gold (iron sulfide) is often found in porphyry deposits as well. Volcanogenic deposits. Volcanogenic deposits form when magma (molten or melted rock beneath the Earth's surface) from miles (kilometers) down in the earth is transported to the surface in volcanoes. There are two kinds of volcanic eruptions that most concern scientists. One of these brings iron- rich magma to the surface (such as in Hawaii) and one brings explo- sive plumes of ash and magma to the surface (such as in Mt. Saint Helens) . Elements in the water that is in contact with the magma, along with the rock through which the water travels on its way to the surface, determine the kinds of minerals found in volcanogenic deposits. For the most part, lead and iron ore are found in volcanogenic deposits, along with smaller amounts of cadmium, antimony, and copper. On the floor of the ocean, the same kinds of deposits can form where magma seeps through a crack in the seabed. These features are called black smokers, because the iron-rich magma makes the plume appear like black smoke. The mineral deposits collect near the smoker until the hole becomes plugged or the magma is diverted elsewhere. Mining for minerals The process of mining for minerals begins after a mineral deposit has been identified. The common types of mines used to excavate minerals are open-pit mines, strip mines, and stope and adit mines. • Open-pit mines: These mines are large craters dug into the earth to extract ore that is near the surface. Open pit mines are usually associated with porphyry deposits, and miner- als such as galena (which contains lead), chalcopyrite (which contains copper), and sphalerite (which contains zinc) are commonly mined at open pits. The open pit is 294 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science excavated using very powerful and large earth-moving equipment, and process- ing of the ore (crushing, grinding, par- tial refinement) is often done near the open pit. Open pits are less environmen- tally friendly than conventional mines because any native vegetation in the area is lost, and abandoned open pit mines eventually pool waters that are frequent- ly contaminated. Open-pit mines are used for copper in Arizona. Strip mines: These mines are large swaths dug through ore -rich zones (common for coal). Most mines are located below the surface of the Earth, and require drilling shafts to enable workers to reach the ore below and transport it to the surface. Strip mines are used for coal in many states and other areas where the ore is buried deeply, as in Montana, where plat- inum and palladium ore is extracted (removed) . • Stope and adit mines: These mines are bored into the ground. Shafts are bored vertically, and horizontal offshoots (adits) from the shafts that lead into ore-containing portions of the subsurface are dug. Large mining vehicles that crush the rock move along veins of ore, and this byproduct is transported to the sur- face by rail or cable lifts. Temperatures in conventional mines are high, and the conditions are dangerous — cave -ins occur often — so safety measures are very strict. The shafts and other structures are reinforced with concrete or metal supports. Other ore and mineral deposits Placer deposits are concentrated metals that have been trans- ported to streambeds (the channel through which the stream runs) or beaches. The most famous placer deposits are gold nuggets, although silver is sometimes found as well. Placer metals must be resistant to water, or they would dissolve again. The usual way to extract the placer deposits is to scoop sedi- ment (particles of rock, clay, or silt) from the stream and sift it, leaving the larger rock behind and making the gold easier to spot. California, Alaska, Oregon, and Idaho have all had signif- icant placer deposits of gold. Minerals and Mining Panning for gold near Sutter's Mill, California. © Robert Holmes/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. 295 Placer deposits and the California Gold Rush On January 24, 1848, placer gold was discovered in Sutter's Mill, California, setting off what would become the "Gold Rush." People from all over the United States came to California to seek their fortune in gold and silver mining in stream beds. These people were known as prospectors and San Francisco was a major center to prospectors. The Gold Rush was so large, the population of California exploded almost instantly. Where did the gold come from? To the East, in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, gold-containing rocks eroded (wore away) over tens of thousands of years. Streams transported gold dust and nuggets to north- ern California where the gold was lying in streams, waiting to be collected. Panning for gold was the usual way to collect the placer deposits. Like a strainer from the kitchen, the pan let water and small particles through and did not allow larger particles to pass. In this way, mud and other sediments could be washed away, and the resulting rocks examined to see if any were gold. Shaker tables were also used. This is a slanted surface that mechanically vibrated, sending the less dense (heavy or thick per unit of volume) rocks to the bottom of the table while the more dense rocks, such as gold, stayed near the top. Evaporite deposits form by evaporation. As waters that contain dissolved mineral species evaporate, the minerals remain in solid form. Minerals found in evaporites include potassium chloride, sodium chloride (halite or table salt), calcium sulfate (gyp- sum), barium sulfate (barite), and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). Most of these deposits are near the surface and are scooped from the ground with large earth-moving equipment. Gypsum is used to make sheetrock, which is used to construct the walls of homes and buildings. It is fire-retardant and easily cast into shapes. Barium sulfate is used as drilling mud in oil-producing wells because it is very dense, and prevents oil gushers from erupt- ing as the drill is lowered. Barium itself has use in medicine. Saltpeter is used as an ingredient in gunpowder and fertilizers. In the oceans, concentrations of dissolved mineral ingredients are very high. Evaporites of the chloride type are most common, and they occur in areas where seawater collects in shallow areas that are confined. Thus, a pool of salt-rich water forms, evaporation speeds up the process, and salt deposits result. Another widespread mineral formed in marine environments is limestone, or calcium carbonate. This mineral is formed in the same way as the chloride salts, but also includes another source, organisms whose skeletons are made from calcium carbonate. These organisms die and collect on the sea floor, where they add to the content of calcium car- bonate. Limestone is used in constructing buildings and as an ingredient in concrete. Todd Minehardt, Ph.D. For More Information Books Postel, Sandra, and Brian Richter. Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature. Washington, DC: Island Press, 2003. 296 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Websites "Geoenvironmental Model of Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide Deposits." Government of British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines. http://www.em.gov.bc.ca/Mining/ Geolsurv/MetallicMinerals/metallogeny/098_abstract_ alpers.HTM (accessed onAugust 27, 2004). "The Gold Rush." Oakland Museum of California. http://www. museumca.org/goldrush (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Manganese Nodules." Wikipedia. http://www.fact-index.com/ m/ma/manganese_nodule.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Rivers, Dams, and Climate Change." International Rivers Network, http://www.irn.org/programs/greenhouse/ (accessed on August 27, 2004). Municipal Water Use Many people live in municipalities (cities, towns, and vil- lages with services such as water treatment, police, and fire departments). One benefit of living in a municipality is that potable water (water safe to drink) is usually available at any time by turning on the tap. Part of the responsibility of citizens and municipal officials however, is to manage and protect the local water supply. If municipal water becomes contaminated, the result can be far-reaching and rapid. Bacteria and viruses in water can spread throughout the underground reservoir of water (the aquifer) or throughout the miles of pipelines that carries water to houses in towns and cities. As well, non-living pollutants such as oil, gasoline and sediment can spread contaminate water. The results of such contamination can be disastrous. In the summer of 2000, the municipal water supply of Walkerton, a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, became contaminat- ed with a certain type of bacteria called Escherichia coli (or E. coli for short). This type of E. coli caused a serious illness in over a thousand people who drank the town water, and killed seven people. In addition to protecting water for human use, water man- agement also benefits the environment. Polluted water is bad for the many creatures that live in the water and depend on the watercourse in their lives. Municipal Water Use 297 WORDS TO KNOW Escherichia coli: Type of bacteria that is found in the intestines of warm-blooded ani- mals including humans; some types can cause illness if ingested. Groundwater: Freshwater that resides in rock and soil lay- ers beneath Earth's land sur- face. Municipality: A village, town, or city with its own local gov- ernment that provides services for its residents. Potable: Water that is safe to drink. Surface water: Water that is located on the surface, natu- rally in the form of streams, rivers, lakes and other water- ways, or in reservoirs, swim- ming pools and other containers that have been built. Water treatment: A series of steps that makes water potable and removes chemicals and microoganisms that could be harmful to the natural envi- ronment. Protecting municipal drinking water People who live in a municipality usually have to pay money to the local government for their water. Municipal drinking water may come from wells, which pump water that is located underneath the ground (groundwater) into an underground reservoir. Groundwater is often free of contaminating chemicals and microorganisms because the contaminants are filtered out of the water as it moves downward into the ground, yet the water still must be tested to ensure the absence of contami- nants. Once tested, the water is pumped through pipes that run underneath the streets of the municipality. The pipes lead to houses, fire stations, other offices, swimming pools, and the many other places where water is used. Some municipal drinking water is obtained from streams, rivers, and lakes. This water is called surface water. Surface water must be treated before it can be used for drinking, because there is a greater chance that harmful chemicals or microorganisms could have washed into surface water. Municipalities that rely on surface water will pump the water from the river or lake to a water treatment plant. The water will be cleaned in a series of steps and tested to ensure that it is safe to drink. The treated water can then be pumped to storage tanks until it is used. In many municipalities, one of the treatment steps is the addition of a chemical called chlorine. This chemical kills bac- teria such as E. coli, and so is an effective and inexpensive way to keep the water free from bacteria. The amount of chlorine that is added to water needs to be monitored, since too much chlorine can create taste and odor problems. Furthermore, excess chlorine can combine with organic material in the water (like rotting leaves) to form a compound called trihalomethane that has been linked to the development of cancer in humans. Some municipalities have installed other means of killing or removing microorganisms. These include the use of ultraviolet (UV) light, which kills microorganisms by breaking apart their genetic material. Another technique is to pass the water through a series of filters (a material that has very tiny holes in it). While the water molecules can pass through these holes, the holes are too small to allow most microorganisms to pass through. After water is used, the chemicals, sewage, and other con- taminants must be removed before the water can be reused or returned to a reservoir. In order to accomplish this, wastewater 298 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science — 6 New York City Municipal Water supply water throughout the city. Drinking water from lakes and storage containers (reservoirs) journeys to treatment plants through under- ground pipelines, tunnels cut through hillsides, and channels called aqueducts. From the treat- ment plants, drinking water makes its way to the huge number of people through a system of pipes that, if put together in a straight line, would stretch nearly 7,000 miles (11,265 kilo- meters), about the distance from New York City to Tokyo. Sewage and other used water are col- lected by another system of pipes that is also about 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) long. Each day, 14 sewage treatment plants can treat about 1.2 billion gallons of wastewater, enough to fill 2,000 Olympic size swimming pools! The water quality of the New York City municipal water is the responsibility of the New York Department of Environmental Protection. Over 6,000 people work to make sure that the water is safe to drink. leaves buildings through sewage pipes that lead to the treat- ment facility, and the treatment cycle begins again. Other uses of municipal water Many municipalities provide golf courses, swimming pools, sports fields, gardens and parks for their residents. All of these places require water. Fire fighters need easy access to water, which is provided by a system of pipes that lead to fire hydrants positioned throughout the municipality. The fire fighters hook their hoses up to the high-pressure hydrants to fight fires with water. Many municipalities have cleaning programs, where roads and other surfaces are cleared of dirt and other material that piles up during the winter or a dusty, dry summer. Water is sprayed from vehicles that move slowly along the road, to wash away the accumulated grime. Supplying water to densely packed New York City requires a complex municipal water supply system. © 1996 Corbis. Reproduced by permission. New York City has a population of over seven million people. Another one million people are connected to the drinking water pipelines that Municipal Water Use 299 Safeguarding municipal water Many municipalities have laws that restrict people from throwing garbage into streams, rivers, and lakes, and to stop the dumping of liquids such as oil and gasoline into the water. Preserving undeveloped areas of riverbanks or lakes also encourages growth of natural vegetation that benefits the water supply. By leaving grass, trees, and other vegetation alongside a stream or river, it makes it more difficult for toxic (poison- ous) material to wash into the water. Along with this benefit, the natural stream or river bank often becomes an attractive spot to walk, bike ride, and picnic. Brian Hoyle, Ph.D. For More Information Water available for fire control is an important benefit of a municipal water supply. © Henry Diltz/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Books Marek, Lee, and Lynn Brunelle. Soakin' Science. Toronto: Somerville House, 2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Water Sourcebooks: K-12. Washington: USEPA, 2000. Websites "Drinking Water Kid's Stuff." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids (accessed on August 27, 2004). "How Urbanization Affects the Hydrologic System." Water Science for Schools, U.S. Geological Survey http://ga.water. usgs.gov/edu/urbaneffects.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Water for People." Water for People. http://www.waterforpeople. com (accessed on August 27 2004). Petroleum Exploration and Recovery Petroleum, also called crude oil, is a thick, yellowish black substance that contains a mixture of solid, liquid, and gaseous chemicals called hydrocarbons. Since its discovery as an energy 300 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science source in the mid-1800s, petroleum has become one of humans' most valuable natural resources. Petroleum is arguably the sin- gle-most important product in the modern global economy. Hydrocarbons separated (refined) from crude oil provide fuels and products that affect every facet of life in industrialized nations like the United States. Natural gas and propane are gaseous hydrocarbons that are used to heat homes and fuel stoves. Natural gas actually exists as a gas in underground reservoirs (underground rock formations containing oil or nat- ural gas) and is not refined from crude oil, but it is still consid- ered a petroleum product. The liquid portion of petroleum becomes such essential products as home heating oil, automo- bile gasoline, lubricating oil for engines and machinery, and fuel for electrical power plants. Asphalt road surfaces, lubricat- ing oils for machinery, and furniture wax are all composed of semi-solid hydrocarbons. Petroleum products are the building blocks of plastics. The hydrocarbon gas ethylene is even used to help ripen fruits and vegetables ! Oil and water don't mix, but these two essential natural resources do have a lot in common. Naturally occurring petro- leum forms from the chemical remains of organisms that lived and died in ancient seas. Petroleum collects in deeply buried rock layers called sedimentary rock that are, more often than not, the geologic remains of water-laid deposits like beds of sand or coral reefs on the sea floor. (Sediment is particles of rock sand or silt.) Petroleum reservoirs are similar to ground- water reservoirs, the water below Earth's surface. Petroleum sci- entists use many of the same skills and methods to find and extract oil that groundwater scientists use to prospect for underground water. Finally, many untapped petroleum deposits are buried beneath the seafloor, and much of our present and future petroleum supply lies offshore. WORDS TO KNOW Hydrocarbon: Chemical substance made up of carbon and hydrogen; propane, gaso- line, kerosene, diesel fuel and lubricating oil are common hydrocarbons. Internal combustion engine: An engine takes the energy in fuel and combusts (burns) it inside the engine to produce motion. Natural gas: Naturally- occurring hydrocarbon gas. Organic: Of or relating to or derived from living organisms. Platform: Large buildings, attached to the sea floor or floating, that house workers and machinery needed to drill for oil or gas. Reservoir rocks: Rocks where petroleum collelcts. Source rocks: Mud layers rich with plant and animal material that become rocks where temperature and pres- sure transform the plant and animal material into petroleum. Formation of petroleum deposits Hydrocarbons are organic (part of or from living organisms) chemicals; they form by the breakdown of microscopic organ- isms that were once living. (Biological organisms combine the chemical elements hydrogen and carbon during their lives, thus the term hydrocarbon.) Microscopic plants and animals that collect on the seafloor provide the organic material that even- tually becomes petroleum. Dark, smelly, organic-rich mud col- lects where a heavy rain of dead plants and animals accumulates in an oxygen-poor seafloor environment. (Oxygen-rich waters support animals and bacteria that eat or decompose the organic material.) Petroleum Exploration and Recovery 301 Oil and Gas in the North Sea An offshore platform supplies oil and gas from the North Sea. © Lowell Georgia/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Today, energy companies explore and drill for oil and natural gas in extreme offshore envi- ronments like the North Sea, a frigid, wind- blown expanse of ocean between Great Britain and Scandinavia. (Most relatively straightfor- ward oil and gas deposits on land have long since been located and exploited. Earth's largest remaining petroleum reserves lie beneath regions that are rife with poverty, cor- ruption, and hostility for petroleum-hungry developed nations like the United States.) Prospecting for oil and gas in the North Sea is an extreme challenge for geologists and engi- neers, but our ever-growing need for petroleum makes it economically worthwhile. Geologists from companies like British Petroleum (BP) and Norsk Hydro (a Norwegian petroleum company) seek petroleum deposits in complex rock layers beneath the seafloor. The waters of the North Sea fill an ocean basin that was created by rifting (separation of conti- nental blocks) between the British Isles and Scandinavia that began about 200 million years ago. Oil and gas deposits are the organ- ic remains of microscopic plants and animals that lived and died in the ancient North Sea. Extractable petroleum now lies in sandstone reservoir rocks that have been folded and bro- ken since their formation. Weather conditions in the North Sea are severe; workers and equipment must withstand harsh cold and violent storms. Petroleum engi- neers have designed and built strong platforms (large buildings, attached to the sea floor or floating, that house workers and machinery needed to drill for oil or gas) and powerful drills that can extract crude oil and natural gas from hard rock deep beneath the North Sea's noto- rious towering waves and roaring wind. In spite of extreme weather, difficult geology, and tech- nological challenges, the oil and gas fields of the North Sea are productive, economical sources of petroleum. Unfortunately for petroleum users, oil doesn't simply collect in underground puddles. Organic material must undergo a series of complex changes over many thousands of years before it becomes petroleum that can be extracted for human use. First, organic-rich mud layers become source rocks like shale and mudstone when they are buried beneath thick stacks of newer sediment. Heat, pressure, and bacteria within source rocks chemically transform plant and animal parts into hydro- carbons. Next, pressure squeezes the petroleum out of the source rocks and it migrates (moves) to reservoir rocks where it fills tiny openings, fractures, and cavities. 302 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Productive petroleum reservoir rocks, such as sandstone and some types of limestone, are like swiss cheese. They have lots of empty space between mineral grains (high porosity) and the space is interconnected so petroleum can flow easily through the rock (high permeability). Finally, exploitable petroleum reservoirs are typically contained beneath layers of relatively impermeable rock called cap rock that keeps oil from escaping onto the land surface. Geologic structures like faults (fracture or break along which rocks slip) and folds (bends in rock lay- ers due to the stress imposed by the movement of Earth's tec- tonic plates) trap petroleum from the sides. Petroleum geologists use maps and rock samples from the land surface as well as images of the subsurface to search for deeply-buried oil and natural gas deposits. Oil storage tanks line the channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of Houston, Texas. © Ray Soto/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. History of the modern petroleum industry Petroleum has been known to mankind for thousands of years. Ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans collected the sticky black substance called bitumen from tar pits and seeps (an area where groundwater or oil slowly rises to Petroleum Exploration and Recovery 303 the surface) and used it to pave roads, heal wounds, waterproof buildings and, to a limited extent, for lighting. The modern quest for petroleum began in the mid- 1800s when rapid indus- trialization and population growth prompted a search for a new type fuel that could replace coal in furnaces and whale oil in lamps. (Coal, like petroleum, is an organic fossil fuel that must be mined from underground. Coal beds are the fossilized remains of land plants that grew in ancient swamps.) North American prospectors seeking inexpensive lamp oil first struck oil in Ontario, Canada in 1858. They made the first major petroleum discovery one year later in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859. John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937), a businessman who saw economic potential in Pennsylvania oil, founded the Standard Oil Company in 1865, the same year the American Civil War (1861-65) ended. (Rockefeller went on to become the world's first billionaire. Most major U.S. energy companies, including Exxon-Mobil, Chevron- Texaco, Conoco- Phillips, and the American portion of British Petroleum- AMOCO were originally part of Standard Oil.) By 1901, when a gusher (fountain of pressurized petroleum) shot up into the air above the famous Spindletop well near Beaumont Texas, the American oil industry was positioned to capitalize on an inven- tion that has changed the face of modern civilization, the inter- nal combustion engine. An internal combustion engine takes the energy in fuel and combusts (burns) it inside the engine to produce motion. Petroleum releases heat energy and gaseous carbon dioxide when combusted. Like wood, coal and other organic fuels, petroleum can be used to heat homes, cook food, and power steam engines in trains, ships, and factories. However, petrole- um fuels are more efficient than coal and wood, meaning that they produce more energy and less pollution per unit volume. Smoke-belching nineteenth century steam trains required a car- load of coal and a full-time laborer to feed the coal into the just to leave the station. Today, automobiles powered by internal combustion engines drive hundreds of miles (kilometers) using only a few gallons of gasoline. Petroleum-fueled engines and furnaces generate electricity, heat homes, propel ships, and run industrial machinery. Problems of petroleum use Petroleum is presently industrial nations' most affordable, efficient, and accessible source of energy. Its use, however, presents a number of grave environmental, economic, and social problems. Petroleum that spills and leaks from oil and 304 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science natural gas wells, tankers, pipelines, refineries, and storage tanks into ocean, surface, and ground water causes serious water pollution that threatens the health of plants and animals, including humans. (Hydrocarbons are carcinogenic; they cause cancer.) Explosions and fires threaten petroleum work- ers and people who live near petroleum facilities. Smokestacks and automobile exhaust pipes emit poisonous gases and ash particles that block sunlight, cause acid rain, and negatively affect biological health. Strict regulations and new technologies have made petrole- um extraction, processing, and use cleaner and safer in recent years. However, two more-difficult problems remain as the reliance on petroleum continues to grow. First, only a few regions, including many politically unstable countries in the Middle East, South America, and Africa produce significant amounts of petroleum. Counties that use more oil than they produce, like the United States, are at the mercy of oil produc- ers like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Economic and social con- flicts often arise over oil, and sometimes these oil-related disagreements escalate to armed conflict. Second, the carbon dioxide gas emitted during petroleum combustion is a green- house gas. Scientists have observed rising levels of carbon diox- ide in Earth's atmosphere (mass of air surrounding Earth) , and worry that it may lead to global climate change. Scientists, ener- gy companies, governments, environmentalists and other groups share a common concern for meeting the needs of Earth's ever more energy-dependent human population while reducing the negative effects of petroleum use. Laurie Duncan, Ph.D., and Todd Minehardt, Ph.D. For More Information Books Pipkin, Bernard W., and D. D. Trent. "Energy Resources." In Geology and the Environment. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, 2001. Press, Frank, and Raymond Siever. "Energy and Mineral Resources from the Earth." In Understanding Earth. New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 2003. Yergin, Daniel. The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. Petroleum Exploration and Recovery 305 Websites The Energy Institute. "Fossils into Fuels." Schoolscience. http://www.schoolscience.co.Uk/content/4/chemistry/fossils/ pi. html (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Looking for Oil and Gas?" San Joaquin Geological Society. http://www.sjgs.com/exploration.html (accessed on August 24,2004). Residential Water Use In the United States, approximately 408 billion gallons (1,544 billion liters) of water are used every day! While power production and irrigation (watering crops) consume the majority of water usage, public and self-supply water systems produce 47 billion gallons (178 billion liters) a day for resi- dential users and businesses. Residential water use includes both indoor and outdoor household water usage. Water is used indoors for showering, flushing toilets, washing clothes, washing dishes, drinking, and cooking. Outdoor water usage includes washing the car, and watering the lawn, pools, and plants. Public and private water Nearly 85% of residential water users in the United States receive their water from public supply water systems. A public supply water system is a government facility or private compa- ny that collects water from a natural source such as a lake, river, or the ground. Through a process called purification, pollu- tants, mud, and salt are removed from the water, and then the clean water is delivered to residents for a fee. Public water sys- tems also remove wastewater, all water that goes down a drain, away from homes. Sewer systems carry wastewater to treatment plants where the water is cleaned and then released. County and city water utilities are examples of public supply water sys- tems. The remaining 15% of residential water users in the United States obtain water from a self-supplied water system. A self-supplied water system typically uses a well to obtain clean water from the ground and a septic system to purify wastewater. Since the 1950s, the number of Americans on public supply systems has more than doubled, while the number on self sup- plied systems has decreased slightly. This pattern of water usage reflects the trend of Americans moving from rural areas, which often must rely on wells, to the cities. 306 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Conserving water In many parts of the United States, particularly in the West and Florida, the increased reliance on public water systems has put a strain on the water supply. This has led many local and state governments to ban or limit certain forms of residential water usage. State and local laws may restrict how often resi- dents may water their lawns or wash their cars. Some cities encourage residents to use lawn and garden plants that require less water. Water conservation is important because the average American uses 60 to 70 gallons (227 to 265 liters) of water per day. The high rate of residential water usage led Congress to promote the manufacture of low-flush toilets. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 stated that toilets must operate on 1.6 gal- lons (6 liters) or less per flush. While this may appear to be an unusual law, older toilets, which used 3.5-5 gallons (13 to 19 liters) per flush, accounted for almost half of indoor residential water usage. Before the Energy Policy Act, toilets used 4.8 bil- lion gallons (18 billion liters) of water per day or 9,000 gallons (34,069 liters) per person every year. The introduction of other water saving devices may further lessen residential water usage while also saving money on water bills. Showers account for about 20% of indoor water use. A low-flow showerhead uses 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) per minute instead of the standard 4.5 gallons (17 liters) per minute. Studies have shown that a low-flow showerhead can save thou- sands of gallons (liters) of water per person every year. Even a simple and inexpensive water aerator, which mixes air with the water coming out of a kitchen or bathroom sink, can reduce faucet water usage by up to 60% a year. WORDS TO KNOW Aerator: Device that screws onto the end of a faucet that mixes air into the water flow, reducing splashing and saving water. Purification: Process by which pollutants, mud, salt, and other substances are removed from the wastewater. Sewer system: Network of channels or pipes that carry wastewater to a treatment facil- ity for purification. Wastewater: Water that has been used or consumed and contains unwanted substances from homes, businesses, and industries. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Gartrell, Jack E., Jr., Jane Crowder, and Jeffrey C. Callister. Earth: The Water Planet. National Science Teachers Association, 2001. Websites "How Can 1 Save Water? Residential Water Use." City of New York Department of Environmental Protection. http://www. nyc.gov/html/dep/html/wateruse.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). Residential Water Use 307 WORDS TO KNOW Brine: Water that contains a high concentration of salt. Compound: Substance in which two or more elements are joined together. Element: A substance that cannot be divided by ordinary chemical means. Halite: A mineral composed of sodium chloride, commonly known as rock salt. Solar salt production: A process that yields sea salt by allowing the sun to evaporate saltwater. Solution mining: Producing table salt by pumping water underground where it dissolves halite, then returning the solu- tion to the surface where the salt is recovered through evap- oration. How to Conserve Water and Use It Effectively." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/watrhome/you/chap3.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). Water Resources of the United States." U.S. Geological Survey. http://water.usgs.gov (accessed on August 24, 2004). Salt Common table salt is a compound. A compound is a chem- ical substance in which two or more elements are joined togeth- er. An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance. Elements, either alone or joined together as compounds, make up every object. The elements sodium and chlorine join together to make table salt. Sodium is repre- sented by the symbol "Na," and chlorine is represented by the symbol "CI." Because one atom (smallest unit that has all the chemical and physical characteristics of an element) of sodium joins with one atom of chlorine, table salt is represented by the symbol "NaCl." The need for salt All animals, including humans, require salt. Salt is needed to regulate many bodily functions including maintaining a regular heart rhythm, blood pressure, and fluid balance in the body. Additionally, salt is required for nerve cells to communicate efficiently, and for regulating the electrical charges moving into and out of cells during processes such as muscle contraction. An adult human has about 9 ounces (about 250 grams) of salt in the body. As the body cannot produce salt, animals must get salt from food and water. If too much salt is consumed, the kid- neys remove the salt and flush it out of the body. Salt is also economically important. In ancient societies, salt was often traded for other valuable goods. Early cultures used salt for food preservation and Roman soldiers were paid par- tially in salt, probably giving rise to the word soldier from the Latin sal dare for "giving salt." Today salt is used in food, on food, to de-ice highways, and in the production of industrial chemicals. Nearly 250 million tons (220 metric tons) of salt are produced worldwide every year. Getting salt Salt comes from a variety of sources. Salt is known as rock salt, or halite, when it is found in the ground. Rock salt can be mined 308 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science from beneath the surface through drilling, blasting, and hauling it to the surface. Most mined rock salt is used to de-ice roads in the winter. Salt may also be extracted by solution mining, which involves pumping water underground. The water dissolves the salt, creating brine, which is then pumped back to the surface. The water is evaporated out of the brine, leaving behind salt deposits. Solution mining produces purer salt than rock salt mining. Solution mining is often used to pro- duce edible (able to be eaten) salt. Salt can also be removed from seawater through a process called solar salt production. Solar salt production involves removing sea- water and allowing the water to evaporate. Salt deposits are left behind, forming sea salt. Sea salt is pure and highly sought after for cooking due to its clean taste. A single cubic foot of ocean water produces 2.2 pounds (1 kilo- gram) of salt. The oceans hold more salt than humans could ever use. Salt accounts for about 3.5% of the weight of the oceans. The oceans contain an estimated 39 quadrillion tons (39 million, billion tons, or 35 million, billion metric tons) of salt! The oceans are getting even saltier. Flowing rivers pick up dissolved salts and minerals such as chloride, sodium, sulfate, and mag- nesium from the rocks and soils. Once rivers flow into the ocean, these salts and minerals are deposited in the ocean. Salts and minerals do not evaporate out of the ocean. Once salts are deposited, they will remain there forever, unless humans remove them. Gradually, the ocean gets saltier as more dis- solved salts are carried into it. Joseph P. Hyder For More Information Books Farndon, John. Water (Science Experiments). Salt Lake City, UT: Benchmark Books, 2000. Websites "Water Basics." Water Science for Schools, U.S. Geological Survey, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/mwater.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). A composite photograph of the removal of salt by weather desalination. © Jim Cummins/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Salt 309 WORDS TO KNOW Barge: Large, usually flat boat used for shipping. Canal: Artificially construct- ed body of water which con- nects rivers, lakes, seas, or oceans to each other. Cargo: Goods which are being transported. Dredging: A process where a ship drags a hook or grate along the bottom of a waterway in order to remove the accumu- lated silt and mud. Lock: One in a series of gates that allows boats or ships to pass through multiple water levels. Navigable: Describes a body of water wide and deep enough for boats or ships to travel. River system: A river and its network of headwater streams and tributaries. All the streams that contribute water to the main river. Sediment: Rock particles and other earth materials that are transported and deposited over time by running water, wind, glaciers, and gravity. Silt: A sediment wherein the individual particles range in size from 0.004 to 0.0626 millime- ters; smaller than a sand parti- cle but larger than a clay particle. "What You Always Wanted to Know About Salt." Salt Institute. http://www.saltinstitute.Org/4.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). Shipping on Freshwater Waterways For thousands of years humans have used freshwater water- ways to ship food, building materials, and goods between regions. A freshwater waterway is any low-salt body of water, such as a river, lake, or man-made canal on which ships may travel. The need for freshwater for drinking and irrigation (watering crops) led most early civilizations to develop along rivers. Shipping on freshwater waterways continues to be a reli- able and important way to transport goods. Shipping goods over waterways is slower than other forms of shipping, yet it is less expensive and allows larger loads of cargo. Therefore many heavy raw materials such as coal, oil, timber, food products, and metal are often shipped over water. Many modern cities are still located along rivers and lakes. Shipping in ancient Egypt The ancient Egyptians (3000 b.c.e-30 c.e.) depended upon the Nile River for their survival. The Nile River was the only source of drinking water for most Egyptians. Its yearly floods deposited silt (fine particles smaller than sand) that fertilized Egyptians crops. The Egyptians also used the Nile as their main highway, connecting Upper Egypt in the south with Lower Egypt in the north. Egyptian boats relied on wind or oars to travel on the Nile. Generally, boats traveled south by wind, as the wind usually blew from the north. Since the Nile flows from south to north, most ships would follow the flow of the river and drift with the current or row north. The Egyptians relied on barges to transport large amounts of goods. A barge is a large, usually flat ship that can carry heavy cargo. Egypt depended on barges to move building materials such as stone from places where it was mined and cut in the south to the major cities such as Cairo and Alexandria in the north. Without transporting goods on the Nile, the Egyptians would not have been able to construct the pyramids or con- struct large cities. Propulsion systems The ancient Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, and numerous European civilizations also relied on freshwater shipping to 310 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science move goods. Like the Egyptians, all of these civilizations relied on sails or oars for propulsion. Propulsion is the means by which a ship moves through the water. Sometimes animals, such as horses or mules, walked along the shore and pulled a ship along a slow-moving river or canal using a rope. Over the last few centuries however, humans have developed new forms of propulsion. In the early nineteenth century, the first steamships were developed. Steam propulsion ships, whose power came from boilers that provided steam under pressure to turn turbines or paddlewheels, proved useful on freshwater waterways such as rivers and lakes, which were poorly suited for sailboats. Inland waterways (water bodies away from the coast, such as rivers) often lacked enough wind, or wind blowing in the proper direction, to propel large cargo ships against the current of the river. The invention of diesel engines in the early twentieth century led to diesel-powered ships that replaced steamboats because diesel engines allowed cheaper shipping without the dangers of pressurized steam. With these new forms of propulsion goods can be shipped on freshwater waterways faster, cheaper, and in greater quantity. For example, in the United States, over 700 million tons (635 million metric tons) of cargo are shipped on freshwater water- ways every year. Most of this cargo is carried on freshwater waterways by barges. Modern barges are large, flat boats that are often joined together like railroad cars. A typical string of about fifteen barges is pulled or pushed by small, powerful tugboats, or tugs. A single barge can carry as much cargo as sixty large truck containers or fifteen railroad cars. Types of freshwater waterways Major river systems are the most common form of freshwa- ter waterways used for shipping. A river system is made up of a major river and all of its tributaries, the smaller rivers or creeks that feed into the main river. Lake systems are also often used to ship goods. In the United States, for example, there are two main freshwater systems that are used for shipping, the Mississippi-Missouri river system and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. The Mississippi-Missouri river system allows shipping in the Midwest and Southeast. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system serves the Midwest and north- eastern United States and part of eastern Canada. Over 75% of all materials shipped over freshwater waterways in the United States are shipped on either the Mississippi-Missouri river sys- tem or the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River system. Shipping on Freshwater Waterways 311 Freshwater Shipping in the American Frontier Americans often think of the "frontier" as being the far western United States, but in the eighteenth century colonial period, the American frontier began in western New York, western Pennsylvania, and the Appalachian mountains. In the late eighteenth century, the Northwest Territories, which are known as the Midwest today, were the western frontier. In the early frontier days before railroads, towns and forts were usually built near rivers. The Ohio River became an important waterway for shipping for settlers in the Northwest Territory. Settlers relied on freshwater waterways for their livelihood and for the westward trans- portation of needed finished goods. Settlers relied on rivers, streams, and lakes to ship raw materials such as furs, timber, or metal to the eastern United States. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Mississippi-Missouri river system helped both people and trade move westward. The Louisiana Purchase, in which the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France, nearly doubled the size of the United States and opened up much of the West to American exploration and settlement. While French explorers and fur traders had relied on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers for over one hundred years, American settlers now relied on it as they moved west. The Mississippi- Missouri river system also became important to settlers in the Northwest Territories who shipped their goods to the southern United States. The Mississippi-Missouri river system also provided an outlet to the ocean at the port of New Orleans. Settlers on the American frontier encoun- tered one major shipping problem: river sys- tems did not go everywhere that the settlers desired. The Great Lakes and its developing ports had no way to ship goods from the fron- tier to the major population centers in the East. The 363 mile (584 kilometer) long Erie Canal, which opened in 1825, solved this problem. The Erie Canal connected Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie to Albany, New York on the Hudson River. Shipping costs from Buffalo to New York City were 90% less once the canal opened. The Erie Canal helped create a strong shipping economy in the Great Lakes and Eastern United States. Other smaller river systems are also used for shipping in the United States. The Ohio River system in the Midwest, the Tennessee River system in the Southeast, the Colorado River system in the West, and the Columbia River in the Northwest are important for shipping. There are also major river systems in other parts of the world that are used for shipping: the Danube, Rhine, and Volga river systems in Europe; the Nile in Africa; the Amazon in South America; and the Yangtze in China. Canals What happens when river systems do not quite reach impor- tant places? Other forms of shipping, such as trains, airplanes, or trucks may be used, but the best solution may be the con- 312 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Barges carry freight along the Mississippi River. © Nathan Benn/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. struction of a canal. A canal is a man-made deep and wide waterway through which ships may travel. A canal can connect one river or lake with another to allow ships to travel farther inland to reach major cities. The bodies of water that a canal links may be at different ele- vations (heights) above sea level and therefore, not navigable for ships. Therefore the water level in a canal is usually not the same from one end of the canal to the other. To solve this prob- lem and allow the passage of ships through the canal, a series of gates and locks must be constructed along the course of the canal. A lock is a large area with gates at each end that raises or lowers a ship to areas of the canal that have different water lev- els. Similar to an elevator with door on opposite sides, locks are an essential part of any canal. When a ship is going from an area of lower water level to an area of higher water level the ship enters the lock and the gate behind it closes. Water is pumped into the lock to raise the ship. When the water level inside the lock is at the same level as the higher water level in the canal the front gate opens and the ship continues its journey on the canal. When a ship is moving from an area of higher water level in the canal to an area of lower water level, then the process works in reverse. Once the ship enters the lock, water is pumped out of the lock to lower the water level until it matches the lower level on the other side. Once the water level is the same the gate opens and the ship continues its voyage. Shipping on Freshwater Waterways 313 Shipping on the Great Lakes The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River water- way is one of the busiest and most important freshwater waterways in North America. The Great Lakes are a series of five large, connect- ed lakes in the upper midwestern United States and southeastern Canada. The lakes are Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior. (The word HOMES — Huron-Ontario- Michigan-Erie-Superior — is helpful to remem- ber the names of the lakes.) The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River water- way and connecting canals serve major ports in the United States and Canada, including Chicago, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Duluth, Minnesota; Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Each year over 100 million tons (91 million metric tons) of cargo are shipped to and from the ports on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River waterway. Great Lakes cargo ships, known as "lakers," can be over 1,000 (305 meters) feet long and can carry up to 70,000 tons (63, 500 metric tons). Many improvements have been made to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River waterway to make it more navigable over the last two hun- dred years. The Great Lakes and the rivers that feed into them have different water levels and locks were constructed along the waterway to allow ships to better navigate and to replace dangerous rapids (areas of turbulent, fast- flowing water). In 1855 the opening of the Soo Locks connected the St. Mary's River and Lake Superior. The Soo Locks have undergone many improvements over the years and every ship that passes into or out of Lake Superior must pass through the Soo Locks. In the 1950s the United States and Canadian governments began construction on the St. Lawrence Seaway, which allows ocean- going vessels to enter the Great Lakes. The St. Lawrence Seaway is a deep channel that is 450 miles (720 kilometers) long. While the seaway allowed the largest ocean-going vessels (ships) of the mid-twentieth century to enter the Great Lakes, the increased size of ships means that only today's mid-sized ocean-going vessels may :er the Great Lakes. aat Lak Problems with shipping on freshwater waterways One disadvantage of shipping on freshwater is that it is much slower than other forms of shipping such as trucks, railroads, or airplanes. Also, freshwater waterways do not reach every- where that goods are needed. The construction of canals can extend freshwater waterways to some, but not all areas. These locations must ship their goods to and from the nearest port (seaside) city by another means of shipping. A third disadvan- tage is that like roads, waterways must be maintained or they fall into disrepair. Tree limbs, trash, and soil clog waterways so that a ship cannot pass. Freshwater waterways must be dredged occasionally to remove buildup on the bottom of the waterway and around bridges and shores. Dredging is a process where a 314 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science ship drags a hook or grate along the bottom of a waterway in order to remove the accumulated silt and mud. Dredging makes freshwater waterways more navigable (able for ships and barges to move through the waterway) by deepening the waterway and sometimes helping to smooth areas with strong currents. Joseph P. Hyder and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Batio, Christopher. Super Cargo Ships. Osceola, WI: Motorbooks International, 2001. Bauer, K. Jack. A Maritime History of the United States: The Role of America's Seas and Waterways. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1988. Casson, Lionel. The Ancient Mariners. 2nd ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1991. Websites Schultheiss, N. "Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping." Boatnerd. http://www.boatnerd.com (accessed on August 27, 2004). "The Soo Locks." Michigan State University. http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/SooLock.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Waterways and Shipping." Michigan State University. http ://www.geo .msu. edu/geo333/waterways .html (accessed August 27, 2004, 2004). 4 Shipping on the Oceans Throughout recorded history, humans have relied on the oceans to ship goods quickly and efficiently. Historically, ship- ping on the oceans had several advantages over shipping over land. Shipping over land required moving bulky and heavy goods over mountains, across deserts, or through forests. The location of roads often dictated where goods could be shipped. Before vehicles, land travelers also had to carry enough food and water to keep their pack animals alive, adding to the weight of their loads. Two thousand years ago, the power of the Roman Empire was founded on the economic benefit that Rome gained from its con- trol of trade on the Mediterranean Sea. Most of Rome's empire Shipping on the Oceans 315 WORDS TO KNOW Bulk carrier: A ship that car- ries large quantities of raw material, such as steel, timber, or grain, in large cargo holds. Cargo hold: A section of a ship that is divided from other sections for the transport of a single type of cargo. Container ship: A ship that transports cargo in sealed con- tainers that may be unloaded directly onto trains or trucks. Gross tons: A marine term equal to 100 cubic feet (about 10 cubic meters) used to describe the size of a boat, ship, or barge. Port: City or town on a har- bor where ship dock and cargo is loaded or unloaded. Tanker: A ship that trans- ports liquid cargo, usually oil or chemicals. lay on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, which served as a highway for the trade of wine, food, timber, spices, and other valuable materials. Rome's power stretched from Gaul (modern France) around the Mediterranean Sea to the Middle East and to North Africa. Rome also had territory in modern Britain. Rome typically imported raw materials from its faraway territory and exported finished goods back to its territory. The expansion of European nations into lands fueled trade with their colonies over vast expanses of oceans. British trade with India and Southeast Asia under the British East India Company in the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries deliv- ered spices and teas to Britain via ships. Britain's colonies in North America also shipped raw materials such as timber, furs, and cotton across the Atlantic Ocean to Britain, who shipped finished goods back to the United States. In the nineteenth century, ships made of iron and steel used steam power to transport goods across the oceans faster than ever before. The rise of diesel powered vessels in the twentieth century made shipping cheaper and faster. Goods could be shipped to ports on the other side of the world in days instead of weeks and months. Shipping today Today merchant ships transport more than 90% of the world's cargo. There are several reasons that ships move more cargo than any other form of shipping. First, ships are the cheapest form of transportation. Second, in a world in which many countries have poor roads, boats are often the most effi- cient and reliable means of shipping. Third, boats can move greater amounts of cargo than any other form of shipping. Despite the rise of shipping cargo by aircraft, the ocean ship- ping industry continued to grow throughout the twentieth cen- tury. From the early 1920s through the end of the century, the worldwide number of ships in the merchant shipping fleet increased from under 30,000 to nearly 90,000. Total tonnage increased at an even greater rate. The total tonnage of merchant ships increased from 59 million gross tons (a unit of measure- ment to describe the size of a ship) to over 500 million gross tons during the same period. Types of merchant ships Modern merchant ships serve a variety of purposes. Therefore, shipping vessels come in many different shapes. Some ships, called tankers, are designed to carry liquids. The 316 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science most common type of tanker is the oil tanker. Over 3,500 oil tankers carry petrole- um products to ports around the world. Oil tankers are among the largest ships in the world. Some oil tankers are over 1,300 feet long, or the length of about 4.5 football fields! Similar to oil tankers, chemical tankers carry various liquids such as veg- etable oil, acids, and liquid fertilizers. Many of the chemicals carried by chemical tankers are hazardous. Chemical tankers carry small- er loads than oil tankers due to the increased danger of the cargo, and because consumers require greater amounts of oil. Most merchant ships carry dry cargo. Over the last fifty years, container ships have become one of the most important ship designs. Container ships carry sealed cargo containers that can be unloaded directly onto trains or trucks, thus becoming a rail- way car or a truck trailer. This allows the container to be loaded only once upon departure and unloaded once upon delivery to its final destination. New designs for cargo ships will soon carry up to 15,000 containers that are each 20 feet in length. Bulk carriers, another type of dry cargo ship, carry large quantities of raw material such as iron ore, steel, coal, or wheat. Bulk carriers transport their goods in large cargo holds without the use of containers. A cargo hold is a section of a ship that is divided from the rest of the ship for the transport of a single type of cargo. Shipping in bulk decreases transportation cost by reducing loading and unloading costs. For example, with mod- ern loading methods, more than 15,000 tons of iron ore can be loaded onto a bulk carrier in one hour. Bulk carriers can carry more than 250,000 tons of goods and may have over 10 indi- vidual cargo holds. Large container ships carry freight across the world's oceans. © Lester Lefkowitz/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Problems with shipping Shipping on the oceans poses a variety of possible problems, including harm to the environment, loss of cargo, and loss of lives. The major causes of shipping accidents are human mis- takes, poor equipment maintenance, and natural disasters. Most accidents are avoidable, and the last 100 years have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of shipping accidents. Shipping on the Oceans 317 Increased training and safety regulations have lessened the number of accidents caused by human error and poor mainte- nance. Weather forecasting has improved greatly in the last cen- tury leading to fewer accidents from natural disasters such as hurricanes. Oil and chemical tankers pose a serious threat to the envi- ronment if they lose their cargo. Oil and chemical spills can poison fish and marine mammals. A well-known oil spill, although not the largest, was the Exxon Valdez accident in 1989, when the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on rocks in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Nearly 11 million gallons of oil spilled out into the natural environment, killing fish, birds, and marine mammals. The resulting cleanup of the waters and shore cost about $2 billion. Bulk container ships are involved in more accidents than any other form of cargo ship. Bulk container ships have large hatch- es that stretch across most of the width of the ship. This decreases the overall strength of the ship, especially in rough seas. About thirteen bulk container ships sink each year. On average, about 70 people lose their lives every year in accidents involving bulk container ships. Although shipping by ocean is far less expensive than ship- ping by aircraft, it is also slower. Because the large amount of cargo that modern merchant ships can carry means that less than one percent of the purchase price of a product goes towards ocean shipping, many merchants and consumers choose to wait the extra time for the goods. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Bone, Kevin, et al. The New York Waterfront: Evolution and Building Culture of the Port and Harbor. New York: Monacelli Press, 2003. Gardiner, Robert. The Shipping Revolution: The Modern Merchant Ship. New York: Book Sales, 2000. Websites "Marine Navigation." NOAA National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://oceanservice. noaa.gov/topics/navops/marinenav/welcome.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). 318 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science 4 Surface and Groundwater Use Surface water is the water that lies on the surface naturally as streams, rivers, marshes, lagoons, ponds, and lakes. Surface water can also be collected and stored in containers that have been built especially for that purpose. These containers are called reservoirs. Fresh water also collects in areas of soil and rock underground. This is groundwater. Rain falling from the sky and snow melting in the springtime can flow downhill to gather in stream or riverbeds. From there, the water flows to a lake or ocean. In other locations, the rain or melted snow is soaked up by the soil and makes its way fur- ther down into the ground because of gravity (the force of attraction between all masses in the universe) . Uses of surface and groundwater Surface water tends to be used by humans more often than groundwater. This is because it is much easier to obtain surface water. Inserting a pipe or tube into the water and then pump- ing out the water is all that is needed. Sometimes, if the surface water source is located on a hillside, the water flows through the pipeline because of gravity. Surface water makes up almost 80% of the 410 billion gallons of water that is used in the United States every day. Groundwater makes up the remaining approximate 20% This huge amount of water is enough to fill 400,000 Olympic swimming pools, every day of the year! Drinking water. The main use of surface and groundwater is for drinking water. Without freshwater to drink, animals such as humans die within days. Much of our drinking water is sur- face water, which must be treated before drinking. Soil and plant material can wash into surface water in a rainstorm or as the snow melts into the stream, river, pond, or lake. Microorganisms that live in the feces of animals can also be washed into the water. If the water is not treated to remove the material and the microorganisms, the contaminated water can make humans and animals ill. This is why campers and hikers filter their drinking water or add chemicals that kill the harm- ful organisms in the water. This is also why the water that comes out of the tap in towns and cities has usually come from a water treatment plant; a place where the water is put through a series of steps to make it potable (drinkable). Groundwater may not require treatment before drinking. This is because the ground itself is a filter. As the water moves down into the soil and rocks, big objects like leaves are left on WORDS TO KNOW Aquifer: A underground reservoir of water; source of wells and springs. Groundwater: Freshwater that resides in rock and soil lay- ers beneath Earth's land sur- face. Irrigation: In agriculture, a process where dry land or crops are supplied with water. Potable: Water that is safe to drink. Surface water: Water that is located on the surface, natu- rally in the form of streams, rivers, lakes and other water- ways, or in reservoirs, swim- ming pools, and other con- tainers that have been built. Surface and Groundwater Use 319 Colorado River The Colorado River is a major river locat- ed in the southwestern United States. The river drains an area of over 240,000 square miles (621,597 square kilometers). From its start at over 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) above sea level in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, the river winds over 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) to Mexico. By the time the river reaches the Grand Canyon (the over one-mile-deep canyon carved out by the river over millions of years), the river has dropped about 6,000 feet (1,829 meters). In the 277-mile (446 kilometers) journey through the Grand Canyon, the river drops another 2,200 feet (671 meters) in a series of calm stretches and roaring rapids. In 1963, the Glen Canyon Dam was built upstream of the Grand Canyon. The dam was built to generate electricity and to reduce the amount of soil particles (silt) being washed down the river. Scientists hoped that the reduced amount of silt would help keep another dam, the Hoover Dam, from clogging. The reduced amount of silt has harmed some species of fish and plant life in the Colorado River, resulting in some scientists and environmentalists to cam- paign for the Glen Canyon Dam to be put out of service and the return of a free- flowing river at Glen Canyon. the surface, and smaller objects including bacteria (a million bacteria could fit on the period at the end of this sentence) either stick to the soil or cannot pass through the even tinier holes in the rock. By the time the water collects in the ground, the harmful microorganisms and chemicals have been removed by the filtering action of the soil and rock layers. This can often mean that potable water can be pumped out of the ground from wells. However, it is wise for those who have a private well to have their water tested at reg- ular intervals. Community wells are checked every month to ensure that no contamina- tion of the groundwater has occurred that could be harmful to the community that the well supplies. Recreation. Diving into the swimming pool, water-skiing, and fishing in a lake are all fun (recreational) uses of water that make use of surface water. Groundwater aquifers are sometimes the source of warm or cool springs that come to the surface and are also popular for recreational use. The need to take care of recreational water has been rec- ognized for a long time. In the United States, laws made in the 1960s were designed to help keep surface waters healthy. These laws are known as the Federal Water Project Recreation Act and are still important in maintaining surface water for recreation. Agriculture. Both surface and groundwater help keep crops growing. Depending on the type of crop being grown, water can be pumped or sprayed onto the field. Additionally farm owners and their livestock such as cattle, pigs, and poultry all require drinking water to stay healthy, and water is needed to keep the farm clean. Industry. Industry uses large amounts of water to keep machinery cool, to pump into oil fields to help force the oil up to the surface, to generate electricity, and for other purposes. Much of this water is used and then put back into the ground or onto the surface. 320 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Surface water is used to generate electricity by building a wall (dam) across a river. The dam causes water to collect on one side. When gates in the dam are opened, water rushes through. The rushing water turns turbines, a device that con- verts the fluid into mechanical motion that in turn generates electricity. While dams are necessary to supply the electricity that big cities need, they can sometimes change the river in ways that are not healthy for the animals, plants, and microor- ganisms that live further in the river. Brian Hoyle, Ph.D. For More Information Books Marek, Lee, and Lynn Brunelle. Soakin' Science. Toronto: Somerville House, 2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Water Sourcebooks: K-12. Washington, DC: USEPA, 2000. Websites "Drinking Water for Kids." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids (accessed on August 24, 2004). Water for People, http://www.waterforpeople.com (accessed on August 27, 2004). Tourism on the Oceans Human interest in the sea fuels a multi-billion dollar a year ocean tourism industry. Ocean tourism refers to pleasure travel in which the sea is the primary focus of activities. Ocean tourism comes in many forms including cruises, ecotourism, and fishing expeditions. Cruising the oceans Cruises are one of the most popular forms of ocean tourism. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, cruise liners were needed to carry passengers across the oceans. Many of these cruise ships — including the ill-fated Titanic, which sank in 1912 killing over 1,500 people — provided passengers a lux- urious way to travel. Originally powered by steam-driven engines, most modern cruise ships use diesel fuel to power their engines. Tourism on the Oceans 321 Sailboats moor off the Tahitian islands, a popular tourist destination in the South Pacific. © Neil Rabinowitz/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. WORDS TO KNOW Cruise ship: Large ships, once used as the primary means of transporting people across an ocean, that now serve as vacation destinations, while visiting various ports of interest. Ecotourism: Tourism that focuses on nature and the envi- ronment without harming it. Gross tons: Marine term equal to 100 cubic feet (about 10 cubic meters) used to describe the size of a boat, ship, or barge. International Maritime Or- ganization (IMO): International agency of the United Nations that is concerned with shipping regulation and safety. Port state: Nation where a ship docks. Scuba diving: "Scuba" is the acronym for self-contained underwater breathing appara- tus, referring to the air tanks and mouthpieces used by divers. 322 While cruise ships were needed for Atlantic Ocean crossings, by the mid-twentieth century, air travel made ocean crossings cheaper and faster. An airplane can cross the Atlantic in sever- al hours instead of the one week required by most cruise ships. Cruise lines could no longer promote their services as provid- ing a means of travel to and from vacation. (A cruise line is a company that owns one or more cruise ships.) With little need for cruise ships for ocean crossings, cruise line operators had to take a different approach to their business. They began to change the concept of the cruise itself to a vacation. Ships start- ed traveling to exotic locations and offering more services and activities. Today's cruise ships are large ships that serve as floating hotels for vacationers. Cruise ships include restaurants, shops, swimming pools, theaters, and cinemas. Some cruise ships even offer college-level courses onboard. Cruise ships cost hundreds of millions of dollars to construct and may be over 1 ,000 feet (305 meters) long, over 150,000 gross tons (a term use to describe the size of a boat, ship, or barge), and stand taller than a 20-story building. The length of the largest cruise ship in 2004, the Queen Mary 2, is only 117 feet (36 meters) shorter than the height of the Empire State Building. The largest cruise ships can carry nearly 4,000 people, including the crew. Tourism on the oceans provides a major boost to the economies of countries that are popular cruise destinations. In the United States, nearly 8 million people take a cruise every year. Cruises contribute an estimated $18 billion per year to the American economy. Cruise lines directly employee over 25,000 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science The Titanic Prior to sinking on her maiden voyage, the R.M.S. Titanic was the largest and most luxurious vessel in the world. © Bettmann/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. On April 10, 1912, the Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. At the time, the Titanic was the largest, most expensive ship ever constructed. The Titanic was over 882 feet (269 meters) long and over 46,000 gross tons. The Titanic had 2,227 passengers and crew onboard. Only 705 passengers made it to New York City. More than 1,500 people died when the ship sank on the night of April 14 and early morning of April 15, after hitting an iceberg (large chunk of ice) in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Titanic was an engineering marvel. The ship ti $7.5 million, a considerable sum in 1912. It contained a swimming pool, gymnasium, library, and several dining rooms. The Titanic was designed to be large and luxurious, not fast. It traveled at 21 knots (24 miles per hour). This was considerably slower than the fastest ship at the time, Mauritania, which traveled at 26 knots (30 miles per hour). At 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg. The iceberg was spotted while only a few hundred yards (meters) in front of the ship, which did not allow enough time to avoid the collision. Two hours and forty minutes later, the Titanic slipped beneath the surface of the cold ocean waters. The Titanic only had sixteen lifeboats, the minimum num- ber required by outdated British regulation. The shortage of lifeboats resulted in many unnec- essary deaths. The ship Carpathia responded to the Titanic's distress signal, but did not reach the scene until after the ship had sunk. The Titanic lay in its icy grave until September 1, 1985, when scientists Robert Ballard and Jean Louis Michel discovered its remains. The Titanic lies 12,500 feet (3,810 meters), or about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) ooK ,,ee years ,o Md and cos, over b e,ow ,e wa.er surface. Americans. An estimated 250,000 American jobs are supported by the cruise industry. The ocean tourism industry is highly regulated. Every com- mercial ship, including cruise ships, must be registered with a country in order to sail in international waters. A country may register ships only if it is a member of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO is an agency of the United Nations. The United Nations is an organization consist- ing of most of the independent states of the world and is designed to promote peace and security. Any country that reg- isters ships under the IMO must have adopted the IMO's Resolutions and Conventions on maritime safety. The cruise Tourism on the Oceans 323 industry has taken a major role in promoting safety on the seas. The International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) is a non- governmental group that works with the IMO to promote mar- itime safety and environmental preservation. In additional to ship registration, the nation where a ship docks, called the port state, may also impose restrictions on cruise ships. The United States has a reputation for strictly enforcing safety rules. The U.S. Coast Guard inspects every ocean-going ship in its ports four times per year. The United States imposes additional restrictions on ships registered in the United States, including that construction and ownership of the ship must be American. This leads many cruise ships to regis- ter in other countries, including Norway, Liberia, Panama, and the Bahamas. Over 90 cruise ships are registered in Liberia and Panama. Ecotourism and fishing on the ocean Cruise ships are not the only form of ocean tourism. Ecotourism of the oceans has become increasingly popular. Ecotourism involves tourism that focuses on the natural envi- ronment without harming it. One popular form of ecotourism is scuba diving. Scuba diving involves the use of a self- contained breathing system that allows a person to remain underwater for long periods. Scuba stands for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus." Scuba divers enjoy the beau- ty of fish, coral reefs, and other marine features. Another form of ecotourism involves cruises to view wildlife such as hump- back whales or dolphins, while impacting their environment as little as poissible. Deep-sea fishing expeditions are another popular form of tourism on the oceans. Deep-sea fishing involves taking a boat several miles from shore in order to catch large fish, including tuna, marlin, and dolphin fish. Some species of deep-sea fish can weigh from several hundred to over 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) . Protecting the environment In many areas of the world, such as the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Mexico, numbers of large game fish are reduced, pre- sumably from over-fishing. Many countries, including the United States, have laws stipulating the number, types, and sizes of game fish that may be caught and kept in order to reduce harm to the fish population. 324 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Cruise lines have placed an increased emphasis on protect- ing the environment over the last two decades. Cruise ships must follow the environmental laws of a country when in that country's territorial waters. Ships must follow the Clear Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Control Act when in American waters. These are all laws passed by Congress to con- trol pollution in the United States. The IMO and the ICCL also set environmental regulations for all registered ships. In 1973, IMO adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships at Sea (MARPOL), which it revised in 1978. MARPOL sets environ- mental standards that all ocean-going ships must meet. Cruise lines have also sought better methods to prevent pollution from the waste that cruise ships generate, including sewage and garbage. Joseph P. Hyder For More Information Books Cudahy Brian J. The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America. New York: Cornell Maritime Press, 2001. Websites International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL). http://www.iccl.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). International Maritime Organization (IMO). http://www.imo.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). R.M.S. Titanic, Inc. http://www.titanic-online.com (accessed on August 27, 2004). 4 Transportation on the Oceans For thousands of years, oceans provided one of the fastest and most valuable forms of transportation. By 3200 b.c.e., Egyptian ships made of reeds (tall, woody grass) used sails to travel along the coast of northern Africa. Over the centuries, ocean-going ships became larger and faster. Around 1000 b.c.e. the Vikings explored the coast of Canada in sailboats. Spanish ships explored the Americas in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. British tall ships carried settlers to the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Africa in the sixteenth through nineteenth centuries. Tourism on the Oceans 325 WORDS TO KNOW Cruise ship: Commercial passenger ship whose primary purpose is recreational, usually involving trips to exotic loca- tions. Ferry: Ship that transports cars and people across bodies of water on a regular schedule. Gross tons: Marine term equal to 100 cubic feet (about 10 cubic meters) used to describe the size of a boat, ship, or barge. Hovercraft: Ship that floats over the surface of the water on a cushion of air. Hydrofoil: Ship that has wing-like foils under the hull of the ship that provide lift that raises the hull of the ship out of the water. Until the mid-twentieth century, ships were the only mode of transportation for ocean crossings. The rise of air transporta- tion after 1930 reduced the role of ocean-going vessels in trans- portation. Airplanes provided a quicker and often cheaper way to move people great distances, which caused the types of ves- sels and purposes of ocean transportation to change. Immigration to the New World For the first 450 years after the discovery of the New World, ships provided the only form of transportation between Europe and the Americas. Nearly every citizen of the United States is descended from ancestors who traveled to the New World by ship, and immigration to the New World was a major factor in ocean transportation during this time. Immigration patterns to the United States reflect that immi- grants came from various countries in waves. The earliest set- tlers came from the British Isles and Africa. Before 1790, about 500,000 immigrants came to the United States from the British Isles, and 300,000 immigrants came from Africa. The middle half of the nineteenth century saw a flood of immigrants from Europe with 3 million from the German Empire, 2.8 million from Ireland, and 2 million from England. The United States experienced its greatest influx of immigra- tion between 1880 and 1930. During this period, nearly 20 mil- lion immigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean on ships. These immigrants came primarily from Italy, Russia, Germany, Britain, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Twelve million of these immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island, near New York City. Between 1897 and 1938, Ellis Island served as the main processing point for immigrants. Today over 100 mil- lion Americans can trace their ancestry to an immigrant who landed on Ellis Island. Ocean transportation in America has a dark side. Slave ships transported tens of thousands of Africans to the New World every year. Between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, between 15 million and 20 million Africans were involuntarily brought to the Americas as slaves. About 400,000 slaves were transported to the British colonies and the United States. Scholars estimate that as many as 1 million African slaves died during ocean transit to the Americas. Transatlantic journeys Not all ocean crossing ships were only filled with immi- grants. Travelers also used ships to cross the Atlantic Ocean to 326 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science go between Europe and the Americas. In 1818, New York's Black Ball Line became the first company to offer regular travel across the Atlantic Ocean. The rise of steam ships in the mid- 1800s made ocean crossings faster. While these ships focused on luxury travel for wealthy passengers, they also fueled immigration. Cruise liners offered low-cost, no frills transportation for many immigrants. The immigrants stayed in steer- age class, the least expensive accommoda- tions, and were often responsible for bringing their meals. By the early twentieth century, cruise liner companies began to build larger and more luxurious ships, including Olympic, Lusitania, Britannic, and Titanic. These ships emphasized com- fort and extravagance over speed. Many of these cruise liners contained swimming pools, dance halls, and tennis courts. Unfortunately, the superliners of the early nineteenth century did not stress safety. Thousands of lives were lost in the sink- ings of the Titanic in 1912 and Lusitania in 1915. Following a long ocean voyage, 1920 era immigrants to America arrive at Ellis Island, New York. © Bettmann/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. The rise of the cruise ship By 1950, airplanes replaced cruise liners as the main mode of transportation across the oceans. Many travelers did not choose to spend days crossing the ocean when it could be done in hours by plane. Cruise liner companies had to change their approach to fit the new reality of air travel. They could no longer market cruise liners as a form of transportation to take while on vacation. Instead, cruise companies began advertising cruise liners as a vacation by themselves. By focusing on exotic locales, such as the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, cruise companies found a willing audience. In modern day cruise ships have swimming pools, cinemas, dance clubs, theatres, and classrooms. Modern cruise ships are subject to many safe- ty regulations. Today nearly 8 million Americans go on cruises every year. Cruises generate about $18 billion every year for the United States' economy. A modern cruise ship carries about 2000 guests and 900 crew members. The largest cruise ship in the world as of 2004, Queen Mary 2, was 1,132 feet (345 meters) long and 151,400 gross tons (term describing the size of a boat, ship, or barge). Queen Mary 2 can carry 2,620 guests and 1,253 crew members. In 2004 Queen Mary 2 was the only passenger ship that made regular transatlantic journeys. Transportation on the Oceans 327 Ferries Ferries are one of the most important forms of modern ocean transportation. Ferries are ships that carry people and, occasion- ally, cars over relative short distances. Some ferries are simple ships that transport only people. Ferries that transport people and cars are called "roll-on, roll-off ships. Cars can quickly roll on these ferries upon departure and easily roll off upon arrival. While some ferries are simple boats, many ferries are tech- nologically advanced ships, including hovercrafts or hydrofoils. A hovercraft is a ship that floats above the surface of the water on a cushion of air. A rubber skirt is located between the main ship and the water. Air is pushed into the rubber skirt, creating a cushion of air. Hovercrafts offer smooth rides over rough seas. A hydrofoil is a ship that has wing-like foils (wing-like struc- tures that raises part or all of a powerboat's hull out of the water) underneath the hull of the ship. As the boat increases speed, the foils lift the hull of the ship out of the water. Only the foils skim the top of the water. Like a hovercraft, the main body of a hydrofoil rides above the surface of the water. This reduces drag and increases speed. Unlike most cruise ships, not all ferries are subject to strict safety regulations. Many passengers die in ferry accidents every year, mostly in the developing world. In 2002, the ferry Joola sank off the coast of Africa near Senegal. Joola was carrying over three times its capacity. Over 1,800 people died in the accident, which is more than the number of people who died on the Titanic. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Cudahy Brian J. The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America. New York: Cornell Maritime Press, 2001. Walters, Eric. The Hydrofoil Mystery. New York: Penguin, 2003. Websites American Family Immigration History Center. http://www. ellisisland.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). Ellis Island Immigration Museum, http://www.ellisisland.com (accessed on August 27, 2004). International Council of Cruise Lines, http://www.iccl.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). 328 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Whaling Whaling, which is the hunting and killing of whales, is an activity that dates back centuries. Native people like the Macah, Nootka, and Coastal Salish of the Pacific Northwest are known to have hunted whales nearly 2,000 years ago. Whaling became popular with Europeans when they colonized North America in the late 1600s. By 1672, whaling parties were organized off of Cape Cod in Massachusetts and off of Long Island in New York. However, by the early 1700s, the number of whales that close to shore had already begun to decline, so larger ships called sloops were developed that could capture whales farther off shore. In the late 1800s, whaling had become a thriving commercial industry. Two of the most commonly hunted whales were the right whale and the sperm whale. The right whale was so named because it was the "right" whale to catch. It floated after it was killed and so it was easy to recover from the ocean. Sperm whales were highly prized for their spermaceti, an oil found in their heads and used for making candles. Whales had a variety of commercial uses. Whale oil was used for lubrication, lighting, cosmetics, and food. Whale bones were ground and sold as fertilizer and animal feed supplements. The baleen (horn-like substance that hang from the upper jaws of some whales) from whales was once commonly used in women's corsets (an undergarment). A type of fat called ambergris was occasionally found in the intestines of whales and sold for great sums of money. It was used to make perfume. Today, there are substitutes for all of the products that whales supplied. WORDS TO KNOW Ambergris: A highly prized fat found in the intestines of some whales. Baleen: A horn-like material from the upper jaws of certain whales; historically used in corsets. Commercially extinct: When an animal becomes too rare to be worth hunting. Extinct: When species of animal or plant no longer exists on Earth. Sanctuary: A habitat where killing animals or plants is pro- hibited. The decline of whales The whaling industry quickly overwhelmed the stocks of whales in the ocean. It is estimated that 4.4 million large whales swam in the oceans in 1900. By 2004, the estimates are that only 1 million are left. Of the 1 1 species of whales that are com- monly hunted, in 1999, 8 were commercially extinct, which means that they are too rare to justify the expense of hunting. The blue whale is in danger of becoming totally extinct (no longer in existence). When commercial blue whale hunting ended in 1964, only about 1,000 animals were left and that may be too small a number for the population to recover. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) was estab- lished in 1946 in order to develop guidelines to maintain whale stocks and allow for a healthy whaling industry. In response to the declining numbers of whales in the oceans, the IWC Whaling 329 A group of whales swimming off Tomiura, Japan. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. banned all commercial whaling in 1986. Because their coun- tries depend on a whaling industry, Norway withdrew from the IWC in 1993 and Iceland withdrew in 1996. Japan never stopped hunting whales, even when the ban was in place. These three countries currently hunt the minke whale in Arctic waters. Several whale sanctuaries (areas where whales may not be hunted) have been imposed by the IWC. The Indian Ocean Sanctuary, established in 1979, prevents whaling in the south- ern Indian Ocean, in the feeding grounds of many large whales. In 1994, the IWC voted to make the oceans around Antarctica — where many species of large whales feed — a con- servation area from whalers. This sanctuary neighbors the Indian Ocean Sanctuary. Unfortunately, this sanctuary is often ignored. Both Norway and Japan have killed whales in these waters since the sanctuaries were established. The conservation efforts of the IWC have resulted in increas- es in numbers of whales. Since the commercial whaling ban was put in place, estimates of blue whales off the coast of California increased from 500 in 1979 to more than 2000 in 1991. Similarly, approximately 88 humpback whales were observed off the coast of California in 1979, while more than 600 were observed in 1991. The California gray whale was nearly extinct 330 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science in 1986. Since then, its numbers have rebounded dramatically to approximately 26,000 animals in 2000. In 1993, it was removed from the endangered species list. Juli Berwald, Ph.D. For More Information Books Garrison, Tom. Oceanography. 3rd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1999. Gross, Grant. Oceanography: A View of the Earth. 5th ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990. Murphy, Jim. The Journal of Brian Doyle: A Greenhorn on an Alaskan Whaling Ship (My Name Is America). New York: Scholastic, 2004. Websites Bryant, Peter J. "Whaling and Fishing." Biodiversity and Conservation: A Hypertext Book, http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/ ~sustain/bio65/lec04/b65lec04.htm#top (accessed on August 24,2004). International Whaling Commission, http://www.iwcoffice.org/ index.htm (accessed on August 24, 2004). "Overview of American Whaling." The New Bedford Whaling Museum, http://www.whalingmuseum.org/kendall/ index_Kl.html (accessed on August 24, 2004). Whaling 331 Chapter 10 Recreational Uses of Water 4 Dangerous Waters Ever since humans first took to the seas thousands of years ago, sailors have faced numerous dangers. Ancient civilizations tried to explain these dangerous conditions by claiming that they were the work of angry gods or monsters. While scientific explanations have been advanced for dangerous phenomena such as high waves, hurricanes, and treacherous ocean currents (steady flows of water in a prevailing direction) , many lives are still lost in the water each year, mainly due to drowning or hypothermia. Hypothermia is a condition where the core body temperature becomes too cold to function properly. Prolonged exposure to waters that may initially seem warm, between 70°-80°F (21°-27° C), can cause death from hypothermia. Whirlpools Some of the earliest written works make references to the dangers of the seas. In the Odyssey, Greek poet Homer mentions a great whirlpool that a group of Greek warriors encountered on their return home from the Trojan War. Many scholars assume that Charybdis, the whirlpool mentioned by Homer, is a whirlpool that still swirls today between mainland Italy and the island of Sicily. Viking poems refer to another famous whirlpool, the Maelstrom, which lies off the rocky coast of Norway. Several factors, working alone or together, can create whirlpools. Ocean currents that converge (come together) can cause a whirlpool. Tides and rock formations can create a whirlpool by forcing ocean currents to flow in a circular motion, as in the Maelstrom. Also, constant winds on the ocean WORDS TO KNOW Atmospheric pressure: Pressure exerted upon Earth's surface by its atmosphere at a given point. Hurricane: An organized storm with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (119 kilo- meters per hour) or greater in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, or eastern Pacific Ocean. Hypothermia: A condition where the body becomes too cold to function properly. Iceberg: Large chunks of ice that break off from glaciers and float in the oceans. Mines: Explosive devices that usually explode when an object makes contact with them; sea mines usually float on or just below the surface. 333 Signs warn swimmers of dangerous conditions off the beach at Maui, Hawaii. Kelly A. Quin. Reproduced by permission. WORDS TO KNOW Navigation: The ability to determine the correct position of a ship in the ocean and the correction direction to sail in order to reach the desired des- tination. Tropical storm: A low pres- sure storm system formed in tropical latitudes with sustained winds between 39-74 miles per hour (63-119 kilometers per hour). can create or contribute to a whirlpool, as in the narrow waters between Italy and Sicily. Although movies and literature sometimes refer to people or ships being drawn down into a whirlpool, this rarely happens. Whirlpools can pose a moderate danger to small crafts, as they can experience turbu- lence or even capsize (turn over) in whirlpools. Modern navigation allows ships to avoid large ocean whirlpools. Today, the greatest danger posed by whirlpools is on rivers, where curious boaters often wander too close to whirlpools and quickly find themselves in their midst. Cape Horn and the Straits of Magellan Cape Horn and the Straits of Magellan lie at the southern tip of South America where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. The Straits of Magellan are a narrow passage between mainland South America and Tierra del Fuego, a large island to the south of the mainland. Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) discovered the Straits of Magellan in 1520 during his trip around the world. The Straits of Magellan are narrow and often experience rough seas due to high winds. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are at different levels, which cause churning currents when their waters meet in the Straits of Magellan. These powerful currents caused numerous ships to sink in the Straits of Magellan. Isaac Le Maire (1558-1624), a Dutch merchant and explor- er, discovered Cape Horn in 1615. Le Maire was looking for a different and safer route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Le Maire found a different route in what is today called Cape Horn, but it did not prove to be much safer than the Straits of Magellan. Cape Horn has violent weather patterns as a result of the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Cold air moving north from Antarctica also contributes to the foul weather. Large waves, some over 65 feet (20 meters) tall, often sank ships that tried to round Cape Horn's rough seas. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 eliminated the need for most ships to travel through the Straits of Magellan or around Cape Horn in order to pass between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 334 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Hypothermia Hypothermia is a condition where the body becomes too cold to function properly. The human body strives to maintain a constant internal temperature at or near 98.6°F (37° Celsius). Unlike some animals that live in the cold arctic climates, humans do not have a layer of fat called blubber that surrounds the body. Humans must rely on layers of clothing to keep their bodies warm. If clothing is insuffi- cient or becomes wet, a condition called hypothermia may occur. Many people have experienced mild hypothermia, perhaps while playing in snow. Moderate hypothermia occurs when body tem- perature is between 97-95T (36.1-35°C). Symptoms of mild hypothermia include shiver- ing, numbness in the hands, and an inability to perform complicated tasks with the hands. A person experiencing these symptoms should go indoors or try to warm herself immediately. More severe problems may occur if body tem- perature continues to drop. Severe hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below 90°F (32.2°C). Hypothermia causes the body to lose proper mental and physical functions. If hypothermia continues for a long period or under extremely cold temperatures then death may result. Every year about 700 Americans die from hypothermia. One reason that hypothermia claims so many lives is because many people have the mistaken belief that hypothermia only occurs by falling into cold water. Hypothermia can occur from merely being outside in the cold without proper clothing. Hypothermia can also occur at any time of year, even during the sum- mer. Water temperatures between 70-80°F (21.1-26.6°C) can lead to hypothermia, and even death, within a matter of hours. In water less than 32°F (0°C), death from hypothermia can occur within 15 minutes. Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones A hurricane is any organized storm with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (119 kilometers per hour) or greater in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, or eastern Pacific Ocean. Winds gusts in the strongest hurricanes approach 200 miles per hour (322 kilometers per hour). Hurricanes include circular bands of clouds that slowly swirl around a central core of low atmospheric pressure (the pressure exerted upon Earth's surface by its atmosphere at a given point), called the eye. A hurricane may be hundreds of miles (kilometers) across, but the eye of the storm is typically only 10-30 miles (16-48 kilometers). Winds are strongest around the eye and weaken further out from the eye. A hurricane that occurs in the Indian Ocean is called a cyclone, and those in the middle and western Pacific are called typhoons. The low pressure of the eye pushes a wall of water in front of the storm called a storm surge. The storm surge is often the Dangerous Waters 335 The waters off Cape Horn, some of the most dangerous in the world to navigate, require a watchful eye. © Chris Lisle/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. most destructive part of a hurricane. Storm surges can sink ships at sea, destroy buildings on the coast, and cause flooding inland. Hurricanes are divided into categories based on the speed their sustained winds. A category 1 hurri- cane produces sustained winds of 74-95 miles per hour (119-153 kilometers pr hour) and storm surges 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 meters) above normal tide levels, enough to flood low-lying coastal roads and buildings. Category 2 storms contain winds 96-110 miles per hour (154-177 km per hour) and produce storm surges 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 meters) above normal tide levels, enough to flood coastal escape routes (roads and bridges leading away from the coastline) and require some people to evacuate their beachside homes. A category 3 hurricane has sustained winds of 111-130 miles per hour (179-209 km per hour) and storm surges 9-12 feet (2.7-3.6 meters) above tide levels. Storm surges this high can cause major erosion (wearing away) of beaches and destruction of houses and businesses on and near the beach. A category 4 storm produces winds of 131-155 miles per hour (211-249 km per hour) and storm surges 13-17 feet (4-5.1 meters) above normal tide levels. Wave action from cat- egory 4 storms can destroy buildings constructed on land less than 2 feet above sea level, and can cause flooding up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) inland. A category 5 hurricane has sustained winds over 155 miles per hour (249 kilometers per hour) and brings a storm surge 18 feet (5.5 meters) or more above normal tidal levels. Besides massive building damage from wave action and winds, damaging floods occur more than 10 miles (16 kilo- meters) inland, and large-scale evacuations of coastal communi- ties are necessary. Only three Category 5 hurricanes have ever hit the United States as of 2004. A storm with sustained winds between 39-74 miles per hour (63-119 kilometers per hour) is called a tropical storm. Tropical storms are known for their ability to produce large amounts of rainfall over a short time. An organized storm with sustained winds below 39 miles per hour (63 km per hour) is 336 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science called a tropical depression. A tropical depression can become a tropical storm and possibly a hurricane. Nor'easters Nor'easters, or Northeast winter storms, are large winter storms that dump snow and ice on the coastlines of America's mid-Atlantic and New England states. Nor'easters have struck as far south as Florida. Nor'easters typically occur between October and April. Unlike hurricanes, which rotate, a Nor'easter is a single storm line. A single Nor'easter may stretch for over 900 miles (1,448 kilometers). Nor'easters may pack strong winds and waves, causing beach erosion and blizzard conditions in coastal cities. Ships at sea during a Nor'easter often face waves and swells over 50 feet (15 meters) high. Nor'easters form when warm air from the southeastern United States creates an area of low pressure just off the coast. Northeastern winds pull the warm air in the low-pressure sys- tem up the East Coast. The system picks up moisture from the Atlantic Ocean as it moves north. Cold air from Canada then mixes with this moisture-filled air. The product is a line of strong storms carrying snow and ice. Icebergs Icebergs are large chunks of ice that break off from glaciers or icepacks (a large expanse of floating ice) and float in the oceans. A glacier is a slow-moving solid pack of ice and snow that forms over thousands of years. Most of the world's glaciers were formed between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Most glaciers slowly flow toward the sea. When a large piece of a glacier pushes out into the sea, it breaks away from the glacier and becomes an iceberg. Most icebergs break away from glaciers in Greenland or Antarctica. While the majority of icebergs remain far to the north, out of the way of most ships, every year several hundred icebergs drift into areas containing shipping routes. These ice- bergs pose a major risk to ships. An iceberg can create a large hole in a ship and cause major damage or even sink the ship. The most famous example of this is the Titanic, which hit an iceberg in the north Atlantic Ocean in 1912. The ship sank with- in hours, killing more than 1,500 people. Following the sinking of Titanic, several nations formed the International Ice Patrol to search for icebergs and record their positions. Modern technol- ogy is also capable of detecting icebergs in shipping lanes dur- ing the day and night, and in bad weather as well as clear skies. Dangerous Waters 337 Lost at Sea For thousands of years one major problem plagued sailors: How to tell exactly where their ship was located in the vast ocean. On the open sea there is water as far as the eye can see in every direction. This posed the problem of how to navigate successfully. Navigation refers to the ability to determine the proper position of a ship and the proper direction to sail in order to reach the desired destination. Sailors in ancient cultures solved this problem by never losing sight of land. They would sail along the coast or hop from one island to the next. This method proved to be impractical as ships became larger and need to move cargo over great distances. Mariners (sailors) soon began to use the stars to guide their ships. However only one's position north or south of the equator (imaginary line around Earth between the North and South Poles) could be determined by using stars. Many ships contin- ued to get lost at sea because they could not determine their east-west position. In 1592 a Portuguese ship laden with rich- es was lost on the return trip from India. Six English ships sighted the Portuguese ship and defeated her in battle. The value of the cargo on the ship was roughly half of the amount that the entire English treasury department pos- sessed at the time. In 1707 four British ships ran aground on their return to England. The ships got lost in the fog. Assuming that they were still far from home, the ships continued on through the fog. They soon realized their mistaken when they ran aground near the English coast. Nearly two thousand men died in the ensuing shipwrecks. In 1714 England's Parliament offered £20,000, or several million dollars in today's currency, to anyone who could figure out a way to calculate one's position east-west of the equator. English clockmaker John Harrison (1693-1776) put forth the unlikely solution: a clock. Harrison's clocks could keep accurate time at sea, allowing sailors to calculate its east-west position through mathematics based on the time in London. Harrison never received the full prize money, but fewer ships got lost at sea thanks to his discovery. An instrument called synthetic aperture radar that orbits Earth aboard a satellite (vehicle that orbits Earth) collects and sends pulsed signals back to Earth, where a digital map of icebergs, their size and shape, and their precise location is formed. Reefs and rocks Like icebergs, reefs and rocks near the shore can damage the hull of ships, causing them to spill their cargo and even sink within a short time. A reef is an underwater ridge of rock or coral (tiny marine creatures with hard exterior skeletons) that lies just below the surface. Rocks can be difficult to spot with the eye, and it is nearly impossible to see a reef before a colli- sion. Many modern ships rely on sonar (images produced by sound waves) or satellite technology (images produced by light waves) to detect rocks and reefs, but accidents still occur. In 338 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science 1989 oil tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Prince William Sound, Alaska, caus- ing an oil spill of 11 million gallons (46.5 million liters) into the Alaskan ecosystem. While the Exxon Valdez was not one of the largest oil spills in history, it did have a major impact on the environment and shipping regulations. The ensuing cleanup cost over $2 billion, and the Prince William Sound ecosystem continues to recover to its former level of biodiversity (range of varying plant and animal species). Animals in the seas Although sharks, jellyfish, and other sea animals do injure people in the ocean every year, the number of these attacks are usually sensationalized. Between 70 and 100 shark attacks on humans occur throughout all the oceans worldwide each year. On average, five to ten people die every year as a result of these attacks. Americans are over 300 times more likely to be killed by a car crash involving a deer than by a shark attack in the ocean. Many coastal states monitor shark popula- tions in beach areas where sharks and humans mix by regularly counting and mapping shark populations according to geographic features in their habitat. Areas can use this data to issue shark advisories to beachgoers when shark populations are observed to be greater than the normal number of sharks. Most jellyfish stings cause pain, but they rarely kill humans. One exception is the sea wasp or box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) that lives in the waters off northern Australia and Southeast Asia. This species of box jellyfish carries venom (poison) in its tentacles pow- erful enough that a single sting can cause death without prompt medical treatment. All jellyfish species however, are passive hunters; prey for food, but wait until a potential food humans) bump into their tentacles. Mines Mines are explosive devices that usually explode when an object makes contact with them. While many people are aware of the danger posed by land mines, sea mines can be equally destructive. Sea mines typically float just at or below the surface of the sea. This makes sea mines almost invisible to an approaching ship. Once the ship runs into the mine, the mine explodes. During wartime sea mines serve a defen- sive purpose. They prevent enemy ships from approaching too close to shore. Mines remain a hazard in peacetime because the position of mines may be forgotten or the mines may drift way. Often a defeated nation is left with little resources to pick up sea mines laid by its military. Sea mines can also remain active for many years. In 1988 a U.S. navy ship, Samuel B. Roberts, ran into a sea mine in the Persian Gulf in the Middle East. The mine had been planted about 70 years earlier during World War I (1914-18). The mine caused $96 million in damage to the ship. In order to avoid setting off mines many naval vessels scout ahead for them. This process slows down ships traveling through areas thought to contain mines. When detecting sea mines, ships use sonar or a helicopter with sonar flies in front of the ship. Divers investigate any suspicious objects found. If the object is a mine then specially trained divers disable it. The U.S. Navy is currently developing robots that can Manddisablemines - they do not attack source (including Joseph P. Hyder Dangerous Waters 339 For More Information Books Gemmell, Kathy, et al. Storms and Hurricanes. Tulsa, OK: E.D.C. Publishing, 1996). Lundy, Derek. Godforsaken Sea: The True Story of a Race Through the World's Most Dangerous Waters. New York: Doubleday 2000. Morris, Neil. Hurricanes & Tornadoes: Wonders of Our World. New York: Crabtree, 1998. Websites Bruneau, Stephen E. "Icebergs of Newfoundland and Labrador: Frequently Asked Questions with Short Answers and Pointers." Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism. http://www.wordplay.com/tourism/icebergs/ (accessed on August 27 2004). "Hazards: Hurricanes." Federal Emergency Management Agency. http://www.fema.gov/hazards/hurricanes/ (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Hurricanes." FEMA for Kids, http://www.fema.gov/kids/ hurr.htm (accessed on August 27, 2004). "International Ice Patrol (IIP): Frequently Asked Questions." United States Coast Guard: International Ice Patrol. http://www. uscg.mil/lantarea/iip/FAQ/FAQ_Category.shtml (accessed on August 27, 2004). "International Shark Attack File." Florida Museum of Natural History. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/ISAF/ISAFhtm (accessed on August 27, 2004). "National Weather Service, Tropical Prediction Center." National Hurricane Center, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Oil Spill Facts." Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. http://www.evostc.state.ak.us/facts (accessed on August 27, 2004). Venanzangeli, Paolo. "Cape Horn the Terrible." NauticalWeb. http://www.nautica.it/charter/capehorn.htm (accessed on August 27, 2004). Winchester, Simon. "In the Eye of the Whirlpool." Smithsonian Journeys, http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/ journeys/0 l/aug01/feature_full_page_l. html (accessed on August 27, 2004). 340 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science 4 Recreation in and on Freshwaters Freshwater is water that does not contain a high amount of salt or dissolved solids. Examples of freshwater include lakes, river, streams, and creeks. While many Americans do not live within driving distance of the seashore, almost everyone lives close to a freshwater river, lake, or stream, and many people are drawn to water for recreation. Fishing and swimming Fishing is one of the most popular fresh- water activities, with over 44 million anglers (people who fish) in the United States. Fish live in almost every lake, river, and stream in the United States, which makes fishing pos- sible for most Americans. There are two main types of freshwater fishing: fly fishing and spin fishing. The form of fishing used depends on location, the type of fish, and the body of water. Fly fishing is most popu- lar on rivers and streams. Popular types of fish for freshwater fly fishing include trout, bass, and salmon. When fly fishing, the weight of the fishing line carries the fly, or lure, out into the stream. A series of arm motions whip the fishing line overhead like a bullwhip, simulating the move- ment of the prey. Fly fishers lure fish with artificial flies and other artificial water-loving insects that are the natural prey of river fish. In spin fishing, weights called sinkers are attached to the line and carry the hook and artificial lure out into the water. The hook then sinks in the water and the lure spins as the angler reels in the line impersonating an attractive meal to the fish. Trout, salmon, bass, and pike are popular targets for spin fishers. Swimming is another popular freshwater recreational activi- ty. The principle of buoyancy explains how humans can swim instead of sink in the water. Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a liquid. Water exerts an upward force, called buoy- ant force, on every object that is submerged in it. An object will float if this buoyant force is greater that the downward force of gravity (attraction between all masses). The object will sink if the weight of the object is greater than the buoyant force. A boy tends a cast while fly fishing. © Royalty-Free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. WORDS TO KNOW Buoyancy: Ability of an object to float in a liquid. Buoyant force: Upward force exerted by a liquid on an object; an object will float if the buoyant force of the liquid is greater that the downward force of gravity. Canoe: Boat pointed at both ends and typically with an open top, or deck. Recreation in and on Freshwaters 341 Swimming Swimming is perhaps the most popular form of freshwater recreation. Every sum- mer, millions of Americans go to a local lake or stream to swim. Proper technique is important to be a strong swimmer, as the following elements must work together: leg kick; timing; arm cycle; and breathing. There are many different methods of swimming, involving different arm and leg motions. Each method is called a stroke. Perhaps the most common stroke is freestyle. This is usually the first stroke taught in swimming classes. Freestyle swim- ming involves bringing the arms out of the water and over one's head. The arms provide most of the speed in freestyle, with the legs adding only about 10% of the speed. The legs primary purpose in freestyle swimming is to keep the body balanced. Other popular strokes include the backstroke, the breast- stroke, and butterfly. Good stroke technique maximizes the amount of efficient stroke area exposed to the water by the body (cup- ping hands with fingers together, for exam- ple), while minimizing body movements that could increase drag (friction) in the water and slow the swimmer (such as allowing the too far into the water; The ancient Greek mathematician and sci- entist Archimedes (287 b.c.e-212 b.c.e.) realized that the density of the object deter- mines whether or not an object will float. Density is an expression of the mass of an object within a given volume. A piece of steel has a greater density than a piece of Styrofoam of equal size. Archimedes deter- mined that a solid object would float if its density was less than the density of water. Swimming is possible because the human body is less dense than water. WORDS TO KNOW Density: An expression of the mass of an object within a given volume. Erosion: Wearing away by wind or water. Geothermal: Heat from Earth; energy obtained from the hot areas under the surface of the Earth. Boating Boating comes in several forms: sailboats; motorboats; and personal watercraft or jet skis. Buoyancy also explains how a ship made of steel can float even though steel is denser than water. The density of the overall shape of an object determines if it will float. A ship is constructed so that most of the interior is filled with air. This makes the overall density of the vessel less than the density of water. A simple experiment involving a piece of modeling clay and a glass of water demonstrate how this princi- ple works. The clay will sink if it is rolled into a ball and placed in the water, but the clay will float if it is flattened, approximating the shape of a boat. Sailboats harness the energy of the wind in sails and the energy in the water to pro- pel them through the water. When wind blows along the sails it creates aerodynamic lift, much like on an airplane. Trimming (adjusting) the sails harnesses this lift in a manner that moves the boat in the water. Without a keel or centerboard (the structure that pro- trudes from the bottom, or hull, of a sailboat), the wind would blow the boat sideways. The keel primarily acts as a stabiliz- er. Water passing over the keel also provides lift that counter- acts the force of the wind. Together, these forces push the boat forward. Speedboats have large engines that propel the boat through the water at high speeds. Speedboats are also known as motor- boats or powerboats. These boats are used to zip around on 342 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science rivers and lakes, pulling water skiers or wakeboarders. Water skiing is where a per- son holds onto a rope that is attached to the boat while wearing a pair of skis. The boat then pulls the person along the water. Wakeboarding is similar to water skiing, but it involves a single, larger board rather than two skis. Many fishermen also use motorboats to travel on lakes and rivers in order to reach their favorite fishing spots. Pontoon boats and houseboats are larger forms of motorized boats. A pontoon boat has two long, hollow tubes running the length of the boat. These tubes are called sponsons and help provide buoyancy and reduce rocking. Pontoon boats have a flat deck and have an open, boxy shape, making them stable in calm waters. Pontoon boats have motors, but move much slower than speedboats and are used for leisurely cruis- ing and fishing on lakes and rivers. Houseboats are large, enclosed boats with wide hulls to decrease rocking motion and maximize interior space. Many people vacation on houseboats, and some people live on houseboats throughout the year. Personal watercraft, or jet skis, are small, motorized boats that usually carry one to three people. Riders straddle a per- sonal watercraft as if riding a horse. Personal watercraft are lightweight and can accelerate quickly. As of late 2003 howev- er, personal watercraft were prohibited in 358 of 379 water recreation areas in the U.S. National Park system because of the noise they generate. Water Skiing and Wakeboarding Modem water skis are made of fiberglass or wood. A water skier starts out in a sitting position in the water. As the boat speeds up, the skier rises out of the water into a stand- ing position. Once the boat reaches the proper speed, based on the skier's weight, the skis will skim the top of the water. This effect is called planing. Planing allows water skiers to travel faster because of decreased drag from the water. A wakeboard is similar to a snowboard. Since a wakeboard has a larger surface area than skis, a wakeboard will plane out at lower speeds. Typically, wakeboarders should ride behind a boat traveling at speeds of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour) or less. WORDS TO KNOW Kayak: Boat that is pointed at both ends and has a closed deck except for a small hole where the paddler sits. Thermal spring: Natural spring of water at a tempera- ture of 70°F (21°C) or above; commonly called a hot spring. Rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting Rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting are all forms of transportation that require rowing or paddling to move the craft through the water. A paddle, or oar, is a pole that may have a large, fairly flat end, called a blade. A canoe is a boat that is pointed at both ends and typically has a completely open top, or deck. People sit or kneel in a canoe and use a paddle with a single blade to move the canoe through the water. A canoe usu- ally holds several people. A kayak is a boat that is pointed at both ends and has a closed deck except for a small hole where the paddler sits. A Recreation in and on Freshwaters 343 A powerboat pulls girls on a raft. © Philip Harvey/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. kayak paddle has two blades, with one on each end. A kayak usually holds only one person, but some models can carry two people. In order to steer the kayak, it is necessary to use the entire body for balancing and leaning along with the paddle. A raft is a flat-bottomed boat, which is usually inflated with air. Several riders use paddles with single blades to move and steer rafts. Rafts are flexible, so they are often used in water that may contains rocks. If the raft hits a rock or goes over a small waterfall, the raft will bend instead of breaking. Kayaks and rafts are often used for riding down river rapids, which are stretches of fast moving water on a river or stream. Rapids form from erosion (wearing away by wind or water), when water erodes rocks in a river at different rates. The soft rocks erode first, creating a steeper gradient (the angle of slope down which a river flows) for the river to flow down among the remaining harder rocks. Whitewater rapids are formed as the water increases speed in order to move along the steeper path- way among the harder rocks. When people travel down rapids, these sports are referred to as Whitewater kayaking and white- water rafting. Specially made canoes may also be used for Whitewater canoeing. Thermal springs and spas Thermal springs (natural flow of groundwater), also com- monly called hot springs, were considered healing waters by many ancient cultures and still are by many modern cultures. 344 U X« L Encyclopedia of Water Science Thermal springs produce water that has been heated by the earth to a temperature of 70°F (21°C) or above. The ancient Romans con- structed elaborate bathhouses, or spas, at the sites of thermal springs, and hot springs con- tinue to be a major attraction in modern times. Modern spas often locate at the source of thermal springs, making hot springs popu- lar destinations. The water that flows from thermal springs becomes heated by geothermal warming in one of two ways. Geothermal means relating to heat generated from the center of the earth. The presence of underground volca- noes near the surface of the Earth can heat the water. Iceland is famous for its numerous volcanic thermal springs. Thermal springs can also be produced by rainwater seeping deep into the earth and then rising quickly. One example of this method is found in Hot Springs, Arkansas, where rainwater has seeped into the earth for thousands of years. The water seeps down to a depth of 6,000 to 8,000 feet (1,829 to 2,438 meters) below the surface and warmed by the earth's internal temperature. Cracks in rocks then allow the warmed water to return to the surface in less than a year. Because the water's return trip is quick, the water loses little heat and surfaces at about 147°F (63.8°C). Whitewater Rafting Rapids usually contain rough water. Most Whitewater rafting in the United States occurs in the West and Southeast. Not all rapids are created equal. Some may be little more than a fast river. Others may be violent, rushing torrents of water that can kill even the most experienced Whitewater rafter. Rapids are divided into six categories, which inform rafters of the difficulty of par- ticular rapids. A Class I river is just barely above a slow moving river. Rafting on a Class I rapid is not considered Whitewater rafting. A Class II rapid has small rapids and large pools of water. Class II rapids are safe for everyone and offer gentle thrills. A Class III rapid is moderately difficult to raft. They have larger rapids and faster action. Most healthy people can raft a Class III with brief training. A Class IV rapid is difficult and has long, powerful waves. A Class V is extreme- ly difficult and should only be attempted by experienced rafters. A Class V rapid has fast, complex rapids and sudden, steep drops. A Class VI rapid is considered unsafe, and only world-class rafters should even attempt raft- ing a Class VI rapid. Tourism at Niagara Falls Sometimes observing water is a recreational activity. Niagara Falls, on the United States-Canada border, became a popular tourist destination in the nineteenth century and has remained a popular destination. Every year, over twelve million people visit Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls actually consists of two main waterfalls. The larger waterfall is Horseshoe Falls, or Canadian Falls. Horseshoe Falls, shaped like a horseshoe, is 167 feet (51 meters) high and 2,600 feet (792 meters) across. Over 600,000 gallons of water flow over Horseshoe Falls every second. On the opposite side of the falls, American Falls is 176 feet (54 meters) high and 1,060 feet (322 meter) across. Over 150,000 gallons flow over American Falls every second. The waterfalls at Recreation in and on Freshwaters 345 Niagara were formed nearing the end of the last Ice Age about 12,000 years ago, when melting ice flowed into what is now the Niagara River. The river flowed over the Niagara escarpment (cliff) , slowly wearing away the underlying rocks until the falls was carved upstream to its current position. Winter sports Many parts of the country enjoy recreational activities on frozen lakes and ponds. Ice skating and ice hockey are activities that can be enjoyed on frozen bodies of freshwater. Ice fishing is also another popular activity in some parts of the United States. Ice fishing involves cutting a hole in the ice on a lake or river and dropping a fishing line into the water below the ice. Liquid water is denser (heavier per unit) than ice. This explains why ice floats and forms on top of the lake in winter. Joseph P. Hyder For More Information Books McManners, Hugh. Water Sports: An Outdoor Adventure Handbook. London: Dorling Kindersley 1997. Websites "About Niagara." Niagara, USA. http://www.niagara-usa.com/ about/historyhtml (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Earth's Water: Lakes and Reservoirs." U.S.G.S. Water Science for Schools, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthlakes.html (accessed on August 27, 2003). Fishing.com. http://www.fishing.com (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Great Lakes." U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/glnpo (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Hot Springs National Park." National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/hosp (accessed on August 27, 2004). International Sailing Federation, http://www.sailing.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Office of Boating Safety." United States Coast Guard. http://www.uscgboating.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). USA Swimming, http://www.usaswimming.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). 346 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science 4 Recreation in and on the Oceans Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars and a large amount of their spare time on recreational activities in and on the oceans. Among others, popular ocean-based activities include swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, fishing, and surfing. In the ocean Swimming is one of the most popular forms of ocean recre- ation. Millions of Americans visit the beach every year to swim in the ocean. While swimming, beachgoers participate in snor- keling. Snorkeling, or skin diving, is a form of diving in which the diver swims at or near the surface of the water. Skin diving is simply holding one's breath underwater for as long as possi- ble. The diver can remain underwater for long periods by breathing through a snorkel, which is a hollow tube attached to a mouthpiece. The snorkel juts out above the surface of the ocean, allowing the diver to breathe surface air through the snorkel like a straw. Snorkeling allows divers to explore ocean animals, plants, and coral reefs (tropical marine ecosystems made up of tiny coral animals and the structures they produce) that lay just below the surface of the ocean. Scuba diving allows divers to fully immerse themselves in the ocean environment. Scuba stands for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. Scuba equipment allows divers to go deeper than snorkeling and stay underwater longer. Scuba gear provides oxygen to divers while underwater. Modern scuba equipment is made up of small cylinders of com- pressed air. The diver breathes through a mouthpiece, and the air tank provides oxygen with every breath. Recreational scuba divers can explore about 150 feet (46 meters) below the surface and with advanced training they can dive deeper. Dives deeper than 150 feet (46 meters) require gradual rising to the surface and other precautions. Rising too quickly after a deep dive can cause nitrogen to build up in the body, causing a painful, and potentially fatal condition called decompression sickness, or the bends. The world record for a scuba dive set in 2003 is over 1000 feet (313 meters). It took the diver only 12 minutes to reach this depth, but the diver had to rise to the surface of the water over 6/4 hours in order to avoid the bends. WORDS TO KNOW Deep-sea fishing: Form of fishing that requires boating several miles out to sea in order to catch fish that live far from shore, such as marlin, tarpon, and barracuda. Sailing: Moving across the water in a boat powered by wind energy harnessed by sails. Scuba diving: Self Contained Underwater Breathing Appa- ratus; a form of diving in which pressurized air allows divers to stay underwater long enough to explore deep water. Snorkel: A hollow tube attached to a mouthpiece that can jut out above the surface of the ocean to allow a diver to breath. Snorkeling: Form of diving in which the diver swims at or near the surface of the water using a snorkel to breathe sur- face air. Recreation in and on the Oceans 347 Swimming the English Channel On August 30, 1926, Gertrude Caroline Ederle becomes the first woman to successfully swim across the English Channel. It took Ederle 14 hours and 39 minutes to cross from England to France. © Bettmann/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. The English Channel is a narrow body of water that separates England and France. The Channel is 21 miles (34 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point. On August 24, 1875, Englishman Matthew Webb (1848-1883) became the first person to swim across the English Channel. It took Webb 21 hours, 45 minutes to complete the crossing. Webb set off a craze, as swimmers from around the world attempted to duplicate his feat. ipted to dupli Since Webb crossed the English Channel, there have been over 6200 attempts by others. There have been over 600 completions by about 470 different swimmers. As of 2004, English long-distance swimmer Alison Streeter has crossed the English Channel more times than anyone with over 40 crossings. These swimmers face numerous difficulties on their swims across the Channel. The average water temperature of the Channel is 55-63°F (13-17°C), swells of over 20 feet (6 meters) are common, and the Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Perhaps the most famous swim across the English Channel belongs to American Gertrude Caroline Ederle (1906-2003). On August 30, 1926, Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel. Ederle took 14 hours, 39 minutes to accomplish this feat. Ederle had attempted to swim the Channel the previous year, but fell short of her goal. The press criti- cized her attempt, claiming that no woman could swim across the English Channel. When Ederle completed the task in 1926, she beat the previ- ous men's record by more than two hours. Her record stood for 24 years. Experts estimate that 20-foot (6-meter) storm swells forced Ederle to actually swim 35 miles in order to cross the 21- mile (34-kilometer) wide channel. On the ocean Sailing involves moving across the water in a boat powered by the wind. Sailing may be done for pleasure or sport. Sailing for sport involves serious competition. Sailboats are divided into numerous classes, or divisions, for competition based on the size and style of the boat. The America's Cup race and the Volvo Ocean Race Round the World are two of the most popu- lar and competitive sailing races. In the Volvo Ocean Race, formerly called the Whitbread Round the World Race, each yacht and its crew receive millions 348 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science of dollars from corporate sponsors to design and build newer, faster ships. The race also tests the ability and stamina of the crew over the course of nine months. The 2001-2 Volvo Ocean Race Round the World, for instance, was 31,600-nautical-miles long. A nautical mile is longer than the statutory mile used on highways (1.15 statutory miles). The race, which ran for nine months, consisted of nine legs, or sections. Sailors traveled on the following routes: England to South Africa; South Africa to Australia; Australia to New Zealand; New Zealand to Brazil; Brazil to Miami, Florida; Miami to Baltimore, Maryland; Baltimore to France; and Sweden to Germany. Recreational fishing on the oceans gener- ally comes in two varieties: shore fishing and deep-sea fishing. In shore fishing, the angler (one who fishes) casts his or her bait from the shore. This form of fishing catches fish that stay close to land such as redfish, snook, and seatrout. Deep-sea fishing requires boat- ing several miles (kilometers) out to sea in order to catch fish that live far from shore, where sonar (a device that uses sound waves to locate underwater objects) is sometimes used to spot schools of fish. Tuna, marlin, tarpon, and barracuda are examples of deep-sea fish. Some species of deep-sea fish can weigh over 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). Deep-sea fishing is a large business. Many tourists in popu- lar deep-sea fishing locations pay thousands of dollars to rent boats and equipment for deep-sea fishing trips. Popular deep- sea fishing locations in the United States include Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and New England. Surfing is the act of riding a board, called a surfboard, on the waves. Surfing requires strength and balance. Recreational surfers typically ride on relatively small waves 3-5 feet (.9-1.5 meters), although some surfers travel worldwide in search of larger waves. Surfing competitions judge competitors on wave size, distance, and quality of performance. Some professional thrill-seeking surfers, called tow surfers, ride out on personal water crafts to ride waves up to 50 feet (15 meters) high. Joseph P. Hyder A scuba diver encounters a Stingray in the waters off the Cayman Islands. © Stephen Frink/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Recreation in and on the Oceans 349 A yacht prepares for the start of a section (leg) of the Whitbread Round the World Race. © Roger Garwood &Trish Ainslie /Corbis. Reproduced by permission. For More Information Books Graver, Denis K. Scuba Diving. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2003. McManners, Hugh. Water Sports: An Outdoor Adventure Handbook. New York: DK Publishers, 1997. Slater, Kelly. Pipe Dreams: A Surfer's Journey. New York: Regan Books, 2003. Websites Channel Swimming Association. http://www.channelswimming- association.com (accessed on August 27, 2004). International Sailing Federation, http://www.sailing.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). Volvo Ocean Race Round the World. http://www.volvoocean- race.org (accessed on August 27, 2004). 350 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Chapter 11 History and Culture 4 Arid Climates An arid climate is one that receives less than 10 inches (25.4 centimeters) of rainfall in an entire year. Deserts are areas that are arid. Although the most familiar image of a desert involves hot sand, the Arctic North and Antarctica are also deserts, as they also receive little moisture, usually in the form of snow. In contrast, the island of Fiji receives drenching rains for several months of the year, and is located in a tropical area of the world. Fiji receives an astounding 120 inches of rain each year, more than ten times the rainfall that falls in arid areas. The rain that falls in an arid climate is sporadic and when it does fall, it is usually in the form of a thunderstorm. Flash floods are frequently a danger in arid climates after thunder- storms as the dry, compact soil cannot absorb water quickly enough to capture the rain. Streams swell with water for a few hours and then dry up again until the next cloudburst. Plants surviving in an arid climate Plants that survive in an arid climate have adapted to cope with the rare rainfall. Some plants can remain dormant (inac- tive) most of the time, only growing and reproducing when water is available. This cycle of activity and inactivity that is geared to the availability of water (and sometimes to other fac- tors such as temperature) allows these hardy plants to survive for years. Other desert plants that grow, bloom, and die each year (annu- al plants) will quickly go through the life cycle from a seed to a seed-producing plant, and then having their seeds distributed in the few wet days following a heavy rain. These plants will then 351 Water pipes carry water to irrigation ditches from pump stations located along the Nile River in Sudan. © Bojan Brecelij/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. WORDS TO KNOW Arid: Lack of rainfall. An arid climate has an annual rainfall of only 10 inches or less, per year. Groundwater: Freshwater that resides in rock and soil lay- ers beneath Earth's land sur- face. Stromata: Holes on the sur- face of leaves that can let water vapor pass out of the plant into the air. 352 die and the seeds will lie in wait for the next big rainfall. Surveys of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States have found 10,000 or more seeds in a square yard of soil. For plants like the Desert Sand Verbena and the Desert Paintbrush, this life cycle can be hours or days in length. The brief blooms of these plants turns the desert many beautiful colors. Plants such as cacti have few or no leaves. This reduces the loss of moisture from the leaves into the air (transpiration) that occurs with plants such as maple trees. To avoid water loss the holes in the leaves of some plants that let moisture out (stro- mata) can close during the heat of the day and open at night. Some cacti and other desert plants have long roots that reach far down into the ground to where it is saturated with water (the water table). For example, the roots of the mesquite tree can be up to 80 feet (24 meters) long, the height of an 8 story building. Animals surviving in an arid climate Animals and humans also face the challenge of finding water in an arid climate. Even though a streambed (the channel through which a stream runs) may appear dry, flash floods that UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Las Vegas Water Use Hoover Dam (originally named Boulder Dam) is located 34 miles (54.4 km.) from Las Vegas. Hoover Dam is 726 feet high (220 meters) and 660 feet thick at its base. The dam supplies power to Las Vegas and much of the Southwest United States. © Royalty-free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. The city of Las Vegas is located in the desert in Nevada. While Las Vegas was founded in 1855, until the 1940s the area was not heav- ily populated. Then Las Vegas became known as a resort for gambling and entertainment. Hotels were built and the population began to grow. The population of Las Vegas has grown from approximately 65,000 in 1960 to over 1 million today. The city's population is estimat- ed to double by 2015. Additionally, millions of tourists flock to the area each year. This population growth, vacation popularity, and increased demands for electricity have put a burden on the water supply of Las Vegas. As groundwater (freshwater in layers beneath earth's surface) has been pumped out to sup- ply the city with drinking water and water for golf course management and other needs, the land in some areas of the city has settled lower by more than 5 feet (1.5 meters). If the amount of groundwater that is being withdrawn continues to be more than the amount of water that flows back into the ground (withdrawal currently exceeds the replenishment by 2 to 3 times), then the situation could become dan- gerous for the stability of some buildings. Lower water levels in Storrie Lake, a lake that Las Vegas uses as a water source, has also meant that water rationing is periodically neces- sary. Water levels in Storrie Lake have dropped by more than 45 feet (14 meters) from levels several decades ago. The rationing of water is necessary to protect the lake from going dry. fill the bed to the brim with water may leave some water below the surface of the ground. If a hole looks damp when it is dug, then some water is present. Camels conserve water in their fatty tissues for use when sources of water are scarce in the desert, and can drink over 25 gallons (95 liters) of water at one time when a source of water is found. Humans, unable to adapt with- out water for more than a few days, dig wells and build reser- voirs in arid climates to ensure a consistent water supply. As thirsty as a desert traveler might be, the water should not be drunk before it has been treated to kill harmful microorganisms that might be present. Even in an arid climate (microorganisms WORDS TO KNOW Transpiration: The process where water is absorbed by a plant through its roots and passes into the air from the leaves as water vapor. Water table: The zone above which the spaces in the soil and rocks are not completely filled with water and below which the soil and rock spaces are com- pletely filled with water. Arid Climates 353 ordinarily thrive in moist environments) troublesome microor- ganisms such as Giardia can sometimes be found in natural sources of water. If water contaminated with Giardia is drunk, the microorganisms can cause an intestinal upset. Dew is another source of water in arid climates. Water that is present in the air as water vapor can change to liquid water on the surface of leaves. Many animals in arid climates, such as lizards, make use of the water provided by dew. The scarcity of water in an arid climate makes managing the available water resources especially important for those living in this environment. The naturally available water is not enough to supply the needs of all the people in cities in many arid climates. Water is then brought from other regions into these locations adding an expense to the water. Transporting water is typically accomplished by constructing pipelines that funnel water from often far away locations to the arid community. Brian Hoyle, Ph.D. For More Information Books Abbey, Edward. Desert Solitaire. New York: Ballantine Books, 1990. Alloway David. Desert Survival Skills. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2000. Cromwell, Cathy, and Carole Palmer. Desert Landscaping for Beginners: Tips and Techniques for Success in an Arid Climate. Phoenix: Arizona Master Gardener Press, 2001. Websites "How Plants Cope with the Desert Climate." Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, http://www.desertmuseum.org/programs/ succulents_adaptation.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). Exploration of the Oceans For centuries, exploration of the oceans was primarily limit- ed to exploration on the surface of the oceans. Explorers sailed or rowed ships across the seas in search of new lands or natural resources. Biological limits prevented humans from exploring beneath the surface. Three main issues prevented humans from exploring great depths of the ocean. First, humans must breathe air to survive, and humans can hold their breath for several min- 354 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science utes or less. This does not provide much time to dive, explore, and return to the water's surface. Second, the weight of water increases greatly as a diver descends into deep water. Finally, water temperature decreases with increasing depths. The tem- perature near the ocean floor is near freezing. In the last half of the twentieth century, humans made great advancements in ocean exploration. Technological advance- ments greatly increased knowledge of marine biology (ocean life) and marine geology (ocean floor composition and struc- ture). Humans and machines can now dive to great depths to explore the hidden world that lies below the surface of the ocean. Most of the vast ocean however, still remains unexplored. Diving Until the last several hundred years, humans had to rely sole- ly on free diving to explore beneath the ocean's surface. When free diving, the diver simply holds their breath underwater. Ancient peoples used free diving to gather pearls, mother-of- pearl, and sponges, and some pearls are still gathered today by free diving. The depth of a free dive is limited by the diver's abil- ity to hold his breath and the risk of hypoxia. Hypoxia is a con- dition in which body tissues do not receive enough oxygen to function efficiently. Hypoxia can lead to anoxia, or the absence of oxygen in tissues, and death. The invention of the diving bell in the sixteenth century allowed divers to remain underwater for a longer period. A div- ing bell is a large metal bell that is placed underwater, trapping air from the surface inside the bell. This principle can be observed by turning a glass upside down and plunging it into a full sink or bathtub. A diver could explore underwater, but was required to return to the diving bell for fresh air. The diver returned to the surface before the oxygen supply in the trapped air inside the diving bell was exhausted. By the eighteenth century scientists improved the diving bell and also created diving suits. Like diving bells, diving suits relied on air supplied from the surface to fill the helmet of the sealed suit. Often a long air hose and a series of hand pumps supplied the air to divers. These improvements allowed divers to explore underwater to depths of 60 feet (18 meters) for over one hour. By the nineteenth century scientists began to devel- op diving systems that did not rely on fresh air from the surface. Divers instead carried a supply of air or oxygen with them. Any diving system in which a diver does not rely on surface air is called scuba diving. Scuba stands for Self Contained Exploration of the Oceans WORDS TO KNOW Atmosphere: A unit to measure pressure; one atmos- phere is 14.7 pounds per square inch, which is the standard atmospheric pressure measured at sea level. Bathyscaphe: Small, under- water vehicle used for deep dives during underwater explo- ration. Chemosynthesis: The use of chemicals, rather than sun- light, for the production of food. Coral reef: Tropical marine ecosystem made up of tiny coral animals and the struc- tures they produce. Diving bell: Device used for early diving that has an open bottom and contains com- pressed air; later versions received a continuous supply of air from the surface through hoses. Diving suit: Sealed suit that received a constant supply of air, usually surface air supplied by hoses; used for early ocean dives. Free diving: Underwater swimming without the use of a breathing apparatus; also known as skin diving or breath- hold diving. Hydrothermal vents: Volcanic-powered, hot spring openings in the ocean floor that spew out a fluid that is rich in chemicals and minerals. Hypoxia: Condition in which the concentration of oxygen in body tissues is too low for the body to function normally. 355 WORDS TO KNOW Marine biology: Study of liv- ing organisms in the ocean. Marine geology Study of the formation and structure of underwater land and rock for- mation. Photosynthesis: Process used by plants to make food from sunlight, water, and car- bon dioxide. Plate tectonics: Theory that the crust of the Earth is com- posed of several large masses of land that move over, under, or collide with each other. Scuba: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Appa- ratus; equipment that supplies a diver with compressed air from a cylinder that the diver carries underwater. Sidescan sonar: Type of sonar that emits sound energy over a wide path, tens or hun- dreds of miles (kilometers) across, allowing scientists to map large areas of the ocean. Sonar: Derived from "SOound NAvigation and Ranging," sonar uses sound waves to locate and map underwater objects. Submersible: An underwa- ter vehicle used to dive to extreme depths; submersibles are often used by scientists to study marine biology and marine geology. Underwater Breathing Apparatus. As pure oxygen can be harm- ful to the central nervous system at depths below 25 feet (7.6 meters) , modern scuba equipment contains a mixture of heli- um, nitrogen, and oxygen. French ocean explorer Jacques- Yves Cousteau (1910-1997) along with Canadian engineer Emile Gagnan invented modern scuba gear in 1943. Cousteau and Gagnan's scuba equipment contained a tank of air with a tube for the diver to breath through. Cousteau and Gagnan perfected a regulator for scuba gear that allowed divers to obtain compressed air from a tank simply by breathing normally through a tube. Until this inven- tion, divers had to turn a valve on and off to control the flow of air from a diving tank. The scuba equipment of Cousteau and Gagnan made scuba diving a popular sport for millions of peo- ple who enjoy the underwater world of coral reefs (a tropical marine ecosystem made up of tiny coral animals and the struc- tures they produce) and aquatic animals and plants that remained hidden for most of human history. Submersibles Submersibles (submarines) called bathyscaphes are required to go to the deepest parts of the oceans. Deep ocean tempera- tures average about 39°F (3.8°C). Bathyscaphes are heated to protect humans and equipment from the cold. Bathyscaphes also carry large supplies of air that allow humans to breathe underwater for hours. Bathyscaphes also protect humans and equipment from the pressure exerted by deep water. At sea level, air produces a pres- sure of 14.7 pounds per square inch. Scientists label this stan- dard one atmosphere of pressure. The human body functions best at one atmosphere of pressure. At 33.8 feet (10.3 meters) below the water, the pressure doubles to 29.4 pounds per square inch, or two atmospheres. The pressure increases by an additional atmosphere, 14.7 pounds per square inch, for every additional 33.8 feet below water. The deepest point of the ocean is Mariana Trench, at 35,802 feet below sea level, almost 7 miles (11 kilometers) below the ocean's surface. At this depth, the water pressure is nearly 16,000 pounds per square inch. In addition to manned vessels, scientists have invented numerous types of unmanned submersibles called autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) or remote-operated vehicles (ROVs). These unmanned vessels prevent lives from being placed in danger while exploring the oceans; they often enter shipwrecks and other places usually dangerous for manned 356 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science French explorer and filmmaker, Jacques-Yves Cousteau aboard his research vessel, Calypso. © Bettmann/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Jacques-Yves Cousteau was an inventor, explorer, and marine biologist who popularized marine life and exploration. Born in France, Cousteau became famous after he and Canadian engineer Emile Gagnan invented the Aqualung. The Aqualung was the first modem scuba gear. Most scuba equipment used today is based on the design of the Aqualung Aqualung. The Aqualung contained a tank of compressed helium and oxygen that the diver took underwater strapped to his back. A tube carried the air from the tank to the diver's and Calypso mouth. The revolutionary design aspect of the Aqualung was the demand regulator. The Aqualung's demand regulator allowed divers to :ain air from a tank by breathing naturally hile underwater. Previous scuba gear either supplied air continuously or required the diver to open and shut a valve to start and stop the flow of air. In 1948, Cousteau purchased a boat called Calypso and devoted his life to underwater exploration. Calypso contained a laboratory that allowed Cousteau to conduct experiments in marine biology. Over the next several decades Cousteau made nearly 120 docu- mentaries while sailing around the world on Calypso. In 1956 Cousteau won an Academy Award for The Silent World. Cousteau achieved worldwide recognition through his television series The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, which aired on American television from 1968-75. The series provided many viewers with their first glimpse of underwater creatures, including sharks, whales, exotic fish, and sea turtles. Cousteau's explorations also revealed the negative impact that humans can have on the oceans. Cousteau witnessed the damage that pollution can cause in the seas. These experi- ences led Cousteau to become one of the first and most famous advocates for improving the ocean environment. submersibles. Unmanned underwater vehicles are normally more economical to operate than manned submersibles. Mapping the oceans Below the surface of the ocean, there is an underwater world of topographic (surface) features similar to that on land. Mountain ranges, hills, volcanoes, and trenches lie on the sea floor. Most of these features remained undiscovered until the Exploration of the Oceans 357 Beebe Expeditions William Beebe and Otis Barton pose with their invention, the bathysphere. © Ralph White/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Charles William Beebe (1877-1962) was a naturalist and ocean explorer. Beebe began his career as an ornithologist (a scientist who studies birds) with the New York Zoological Society. Beebe spent most of his early career traveling the world and writing several books about his explorations and bird studies. In the late 1920s Beebe became interested in marine biology. At this time Beebe was the director of the New York Zoological Society's Department of Tropical Research. Beebe used his position to conduct studies of marine life. Beebe led several expeditions to recover marine animals using nets. Most of the ani- mals from the deep sea were dead by the time they reached the ship's deck. Beebe hoped to observe sea animals living in their natural habitat, as he had observed birds. Beebe began diving with a bulky helmet and soon became frustrated with his inability to observe sea creatures in deeper water. Beebe worked with inventor Otis Barton to design a vessel that could descend deep below the ocean's surface. Beebe called the vehicle that Barton designed a bathysphere. In 1932 Beebe and Barton dove 3,028 feet (923 meters) below the surface, a distance over one-half mile. This diving record stood for four- teen years. Beebe wrote many popular books about his adventures in the ocean and tropics, influencing generations of naturalists. twentieth century. Scientists now map the features of the oceans to provide information for the military, geologists (scientists who study earth and rock formations), seismologists (scientists who study earthquakes), and other marine scientists. In the nineteenth century, scientists and shipping compa- nies attempted to map the ocean near the coast. They were mainly interested in discovering reefs and underwater rocks that could pose a problem to ships. A process called sounding was used to produce these early ocean maps. Sounding involved dragging a weighted rope along the sea floor. The rope would slacken when dragged up an underwater hill. The amount of rope taken up by the slack indicated the height of the hill. A crude map could then be made indicating the posi- tion of hills and valleys. 358 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science In the early twentieth century sonar allowed scientists to produce better maps of the ocean. Sonar stands for SOund NAvigation and Ranging. Sonar equipment sends out a pulse of sound energy (all ener- gy travels in waves) that travels about 4,500 feet (1,372 meters) per second. When the sound wave hits an object, such as the sea floor, it bounces back to the source. By deter- mining the length of time that the sound wave takes to return, scientists can calculate the distance of an object. When mapping the floor of the ocean, a sonar signal would take less time to return after striking a hill or mountain than when striking the bottom of a trench. Using these calculations scientists are able to produce maps of the ocean floor. The drawback to conventional sonar is that a sonar beam covers a very narrow area, mak- ing mapping the entire ocean with sonar impractical. A newer form of sonar, called sidescan sonar, allows scientists to map larger areas of the ocean at once. Sidescan sonar equipment is placed in the water and towed by a boat. The equipment is usually towed several hundred yards (meters) above the ocean floor. Unlike active sonar, sidescan sonar emits signals over a wide path instead of straight down. This allows the sidescan sonar to create maps of an area tens or hundreds of miles (kilometers) across. Jason Junior, a submersible, highly maneuverable camera, allowed from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to explore the wreck of the R.M.S. Titanic. © Bettmann/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Marine biology Saltwater covers nearly three-quarters of Earth's surface. Animals, plants, and other organisms live throughout the oceans. Many species of marine life were only discovered in the last several decades. Numerous other marine species will undoubtedly be discovered in the future as humans continue to explore the oceans. Until the last century humans were not able to explore far below the surface of the ocean. Scientists could only study species of plants, animals, and other organisms that lived near the surface. The invention of deep-sea submersibles has exposed a world of living organisms that lay hidden for mil- lions of years. Scientists had long assumed that all organisms depended on sunlight for life. Plants require sunlight to con- duct photosynthesis, or the conversion of sunlight, water, and Exploration of the Oceans 359 carbon dioxide into their food. Animals then rely on plants as the bottom of their food chain (the relationship between plants and animals where one species is eaten by another) . In the 1970s discoveries at the bottom of the ocean changed the assumption that organisms require sunlight for survival. Scientists found small communities of organisms on the ocean floor that were living without sunlight. These organisms depend on hydrothermal vents for survival. Powered by vol- canic activity hydrothermal vents are geysers (hot springs) that spew out a fluid rich in chemicals and minerals. The tempera- ture of some of the fluids from hydrothermal vents is nearly 750°F (399°C). The animals that live near these vents rely on chemosynthesis for survival. Chemosynthesis is the use of chemicals, rather than sunlight, for the production of energy. In addition to the discovery of new species of plants, ani- mals, and microorganisms, recent ocean exploration has also led to new findings about animals that scientists assumed were extinct. In 1938 fishermen near South Africa caught an unusu- al looking fish. Scientists later determined that the fish was a coelacanth. Before this discovery scientists had believed that the coelacanth had become extinct between 65 and 80 million years ago. Unchanged for hundreds of millions of years, many scientists call the coelacanth a living fossil. The coelacanth is a fish that has a pair of lobed-fins in the front and an extra lobe on its tail. The coelacanth can use its front lobed-fins to "walk" on the ocean floor. In 1991 scientists used a submersible to record the first images of living coelacanths in their natural environment. Marine geology Ocean exploration has also revealed a deep sea landscape that is similar to land. Marine geology is the study of the for- mation and structure of underwater land and rock formation. Mountain ranges, hills, valleys, volcanoes, and trenches cover the floor of the ocean. Most of these features remained undis- covered until the twentieth century. Advancements in ocean mapping and submersibles revealed the geology of the ocean floor. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a mountain range that stretches the length of the Atlantic Ocean, was not discovered until 1952. Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean, was not dis- covered until 1951. Ocean exploration has also increased the understanding of plate tectonics. The entire surface of the earth and the ocean floor is composed of large masses of land called tectonic plates. These 360 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science tectonic plates constantly move over, under, or collide with each other. The movement of these tectonic plates creates mountains. The movement of tectonic plates also causes volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Most volcanic and seismic activity (earth- quakes) occurs at the edges of tectonic plates. The area sur- rounding the Pacific Plate is one of the most volcanically and seismically active areas of the world. The Pacific Plate is a large tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. Volcanic erup- tions and earthquakes occur as the Pacific Plate moves under sev- eral other tectonic plates. About three quarters of the world's active volcanoes lie around the Pacific Ocean. For this reason, the area surrounding the Pacific Ocean is called the "Ring of Fire." Joseph P. Hyder For More Information Books Cousteau, Jacques-Yves. Jacques Cousteau: The Ocean World. New York: Abrams, 1985. Cousteau, Jacques-Yves. The Living Sea. New York: HarperCollins, 1963. Graves, Don. The Oceans: A Book of Questions and Answers. New York: Wiley, 1989. Websites Embley Bob. "Sea Floor Mapping." National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, http://oceanexplorer.noaa. gov/explorations/lewis_clark01/background/seafloormapping/ seafloormapping.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). Martin, Lawrence. "Scuba Diving Explained: Questions and Answers on Physiology and Medical Aspects of Scuba Diving." Mt. Sinai Educational Web Portal. http://www. mtsinai.org/pulmonary/books/scuba/sectiona.htm (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute." http://www.whoi.edu (accessed on August 27, 2004). 4 Water and Cultures in the Ancient World Water was the center of life in many ancient cultures. In Greek mythology, one of the most ancient and powerful gods was Neptune, the god of the sea. Ancient Greek literature, such as The Odyssey by Homer (about 800 b.c.e.), mentions sea mon- Water and Cultures in the Ancient World 361 WORDS TO KNOW Aqueduct: Man-made con- duit for carrying water, usually by gravity. Cistern: A man-made reser- voir for storing water. Deposition: Process by which dirt, silt, and sand is moved from its original place by wind or water and deposited elsewhere. Erosion: Wearing away due to wind and water. Irrigation: Water channeled to farmlands for growing crops. Sedimentation: The process by which particles of dirt, sand, and silt that are heavier than water are deposited by water and settle at the bottom of a body of water. Sediments: Gravel, sand, and silt that are deposited by water. Silt: Sedimentary particles smaller than sand particles, but larger than clay particles. Terra cotta: Ceramic materi- al made from baked clay used in Ancient Rome for aqueduct pipes, dishes, and some tools. 362 sters, whirlpools, and harrowing voyages upon the sea. In India, the Ganges River was considered sacred from historical accounts over 3000 years old. To the ancient Egyptians, the Nile River was the political, economic, and life-sustaining cen- ter of their kingdom. Without the Nile, Egypt would be as bar- ren as its nearby deserts. Ancient civilizations' respect for water grew from their absolute need for water. Like today, water sus- tained life in many ways. Seafaring in the ancient world Ancient cities constructed beside the sea based their economies on the nearby water. Fishing, exploration, trade, and warfare necessitated shipbuilding. Shipbuilding was one of the most important crafts of the ancient world. Most ships were wooden, but smaller boats used for fishing were sometimes made of bark or cured (dried and treated) animal skins. Making wooden ships required a good supply of timber and a means of transporting that timber to seaside shipyards. A shipyard is a place where ships are built and repaired. Trade was a key development of the great ancient civiliza- tions. The cultures of the Mediterranean Sea traded actively with each other. Most trade ran along the coastline, with ships sailing close to land to aid navigation. However, some open water trade routes successfully connected various parts of the Mediterranean and Asia. When the Roman Empire overtook most of the Mediterranean region in the first century b.c.e., trade continued to flourish. For example, Rome exported (sold to other countries) wine, olive oil, gold, and silver. The Romans imported (brought into the country) cotton, slaves, silk, ivory, and spices from other parts of the empire and from exotic loca- tions such as India, the Middle East, and Africa. Many of the trade routes used by the Romans in the eastern Mediterranean region had been established by the region's first great seafaring and trading culture, the Phoenicians, beginning in 1200 b.c.e. Sailors, soldiers, and explorers in ancient Greece and Rome returned to their homes with stories of other cultures and far away places. This sparked interest in travel. In Rome, for exam- ple, ancient tourists boarded boats to sail to Greece and Egypt. One of the most popular tourist attractions for wealthy Romans was a cruise on the Nile. Ancient civilizations utilized different styles of boats for shipping than they did for transportation. Cargo ships, ships that carried goods, tended to be large and more broad, for example. However, most ancient boats have some similarities. UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Ancient Egypt and the Nile River Ancient pyramids dominate the landscape along the Nile River near Giza, Egypt. © Bettman/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Life in ancient Egypt depended on the Nile River. The banks of the Nile were lush with veg- etation. Silt deposited on farm fields by yearly floods provided crops with fertile soil. Although its waters were heavy with silt, the Nile was the largest source of drinking water in the desert region. Most of Egypt's cities grew along the banks of the Nile. The Nile was Egypt's main highway. Goods, people, and crops all moved along the Nile on boats or barges. The Nile flows from south to north, and ships heading north would simply float along with the river's current. For the jour- ney south, barges used sails to catch the pre- vailing winds. Water from the Nile permitted the Egyptians to build cities, statues, and the Great Pyramids. The Northern part of Egypt did not have adequate building materials. Stone was quarried (carved out of the earth) in the south and floated on the Nile to where it was need for construction projects. Most European and Middle Eastern boats relied on harnessing the wind with sails. When there were no winds, or when the currents were too strong for their sails, men rowed the large boats. Some ships employed over 100 rowers to propel a ship through the water. The Chinese junk, a small, flat-bottomed ship made from about the ninth century, however, was com- pletely sail-powered. Its movable sails permitted it to adapt to changing winds. However, the junk was usually limited to coastal trade. Many ancient ports, harbors, and coastal towns faced serious problems with deposition and erosion. Deposition is the process by which dirt, silt, and sand is moved from its original place by wind or water and deposited elsewhere. Alexandria, Egypt was located near Nile River delta, the place where the Nile flowed into the Mediterranean Sea. The slow- moving waters of the delta carried large amounts of silt (fine rock, plant, or soil sediment particles) and sand. These silt and sand deposits constantly reshaped the coastline, altering the path- ways into the Nile River. Erosion is the wearing away of soil or rock by wind and water. In Greece, widespread inland defor- Water and Cultures in the Ancient World 363 Ancient Polynesians The ancient people who became the Polynesians when they settled in the South Pacific Ocean began their journey in 500 c.e. off the coast of New Guinea. As food, lumber, and other resources diminished the islands they inhabited, the people migrated to another chain of islands. The Polynesian ship was an open, double canoe-raft with of two hulls con- nected by ropes and timber beams. A platform laid over the beams provided the needed work- ing, storage, and passenger space. The immi- grants took their supplies, tools, animals, and crop plants with them. At first, these journeys were limited to islands already visible from the coastline. However, as the immigrants moved further, they began to send expedition parties to scout for new islands. The trips crossed tens and then hundreds of miles of open ocean, out of sight of land. The Polynesians developed a navigation sys- tem based on observation of the stars to help them find their way. They also carefully observed birds and the currents and tide of the ocean. Watching the environment gave told them when they were close to land. By 1000 c.e., the people who became the Polynesians had settled the Islands of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Easter, and parts of Hawaii and New Zealand. In 1947, Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) recreated an ancient Polynesian canoe raft. He sailed the craft across the open water of the Pacific from Peru to Polynesia. He named the legendary raft Kon- Tiki. Heyerdahl devoted much of his career to the study of ancient Polynesian exploration and culture. estation (clearing of forests) caused soil loss, leaving both inland and coastal areas vulnerable to erosion. By 500 b.c.e., many Greek costal towns were creeping further inland as mud, dirt, and silt washed from the bare land into the mouths of bays and rivers. The ruins of many ancient cities that were once ports now lie several miles inland. Water and science: inventions and discoveries in the ancient world Ancients civilizations developed the art and science of sea- faring. Their journeys were aided by the development of sail powered craft and navigational tools. Although no one knows for sure when the sail was invented, the earliest record of ships with sails is on a piece of 5,000-year-old Egyptian pottery that features a drawing of boats. While researching a Greek ship- wreck, marine archaeologists (scientists who study objects found in water from the past) discovered an early toolfor cal- culating the movement of certain stars and planets known as the Antikythera Mechanism, which involved a complex series of moving gears. Ancient sailors in the Mediterranean Sea prob- ably used the movement of the Sun and stars to determine 364 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science which direction they were sailing and to aid navigation . The Greek mathematician Archimedes (circa 287 b.c.e-211 b.c.e.) discovered the principle of water buoyancy, which explains why objects float in water. The principle of buoyancy states that an object put in water (or any fluid) will displace the same volume of water as the volume of the object. Archimedes also invented the water screw, a spiral shaft within a cylinder used for draw- ing water out of ships, cisterns (tank used to collect water), or pools. He also invented a clock powered by a flow of water. Similar water clocks were also invented and used in ancient China. Although most large cities and town in the ancient world were built near the sea, humans cannot drink salt water. Thus, sources of freshwater still had to be found to provide people with water suitable for drinking. Water from underground sources was the cleanest water, but it was sometimes difficult to locate. Ancient civilizations dis- covered several methods for finding underground water sources. Several cultures observed plant life, noticing that certain types of plants grew only where there was abundant underground water. Others observed changes in soil and rock types. The presence of porous limestone, through which water could seep, indicated that an area could contain under- ground water sources. A common practice among Roman water engineers was to observe patterns of fog, steam, and mist in the early morning. They noted that mist appeared low to the ground near natural springs or underground water sources. Frieze depicting ancient Egyptians (circa 2000 b.c.) using water for irrigation. Hulton/ 'Archive. Reproduced by permission. Ancient water supply systems In the ancient world, most people relied on wells, rivers, lakes, and streams as a source of water. As ancient cities grew, they required large amounts of clean water for their citizens. However, rivers and lakes were also sometimes used as places to dispose of wastewater, sewage, and trash. Waste disposal from one town affected the cleanliness of water downstream. Water taken from rivers that flowed though several towns sometimes carried diseases. Often, towns and cities were abandoned when a water source dried up or became too polluted to use. Water and Cultures in the Ancient World 365 Southwestern Native Americans The ancient Native American cultures in the desert western United States thrived in places where water was scarce. Since rain was infre- quent, and small streams often dried out, they devised ways to store and conserve water. The Anasazi (100 b.c.e.-1600 ce.) and the Hohokam (200 b.c.e. -1450 ce.) cultures occupied lands in similar hot and dry climates, however their approach to water use and con- servation was very different. The Anasazi built their towns in to the side of mesa cliffs. They used a network of ladder to reach the top of the flat mesa where they grew crops. The Anasazi depended on seasonal rains for their crops and supply of drinking water. They would collect rainwater for drinking and store it in cool, stone cisterns constructed in their towns. They also collected rainwater that spilled out of the rocks in the cliff walls. Water was a public resource. It was conserved, and was shared among the community. The Hohokam lived closer to larger sources of water. They diverted seasonal streams and creeks to flow into their farmland and irrigate their crops. Around 300 b.c.e., they had become skillful irrigation farmers. The Hohokam conserved water for personal use, but often took such water from their irrigation canals. The importance of water to the ancient desert cultures is also seen in the names later people gave to the ancient inhabitants of the area. One group of ancient Native Americans thrived for nearly a thousand years before the eruption of a major volcano devastated their farmlands. The civilization became known as the Sinagua, or "those without water.' The most successful ancient cities discovered ways to provide their citizens with ample clean water. Even cities built next to sources of water required a means to move the water to locations within walking distance of people's homes. Canals, ditches, and channels (passages for water) were employed to move water for irrigation (watering crops) and drinking. Over several centuries, this water supply system improved. In the 3rd century b.c.e. the Romans began constructing a completely enclosed water supply system that mostly ran underground. The system involved aque- ducts, which are channels constructed above the ground to carry water by gravity (force of attraction between all masses) from one place to another. Aqueducts brought ample fresh, clean spring water from the hills outside of Rome into the city for pub- lic use. The Romans built thousands of miles of aqueducts throughout the Roman Empire. Remains of these aqueducts are still visible today. Some are still used today to deliver water to public fountains in the modern city of Rome! Aqueducts were used in ancient India, Persia, Assyria, and Egypt as early as 700 b.c.e. As drinking water for people had to remain clean, covered channels or pipes were necessary to pro- 366 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science tect the water as it flowed several miles (kilo- meters) from its source. The first such stone structure was built by the Assyrians around 690 b.c.e. Ancient Rome's aqueducts used tunnels, pipes, and covered channels to pro- tect the water. In ancient aqueducts, water flowed through the channels by the force of gravity alone. Aqueduct channels were constructed along a gradual slope, allowing water from the source to flow downhill to its destination. Constructing aqueducts through hilly terrain required advanced knowledge of mathemat- ics, architecture, and geology. Although there were no modern machines or pumps that could move water up a hill or slope, resource- ful ancient engineers designed tunnels, invert- ed siphons, and aqueduct spans (bridges) to move water. Tunnels were constructed through hills by carving through rock. An inverted siphon is a U-shaped pipe that relies on the force of water flowing down to push the water on the other side of the U-shaped pipe. Pipes made of stone or a type of baked clay called terra cotta carried water through carved out tunnels. Inverted siphons moved water uphill for short distances. Finally, the Romans constructed aqueduct bridges (or elevated spans) from stone. To withstand the heavy weight of water, aqueduct bridges employed several stories (or tiers) of strong arches. Cleaning water of mud, dirt, silt, and some minerals such as lead was common in the ancient world. It improved the taste and clarity of drinking water. Water from rivers, lakes, and aqueducts was often placed in large cisterns. The lack of move- ment in the cistern permitted sedimentation, a process in which heavier dirt, silt, and mineral particles sink to the bottom of the cistern. Water was then drawn from the upper levels of the cis- tern as from a well. In many parts of the Roman Empire, pipes carried water from cisterns to public fountains or into private homes. In Greece, water was sometimes strained through cloth to remove solids before being used. Another innovation of ancient waterworks was the sewer. Sewers carried wastewater away from the city and prevented people from dumping waste into the streets. Sewer systems also Todadzischini Navajo Medicine Man (ca. 1904) displays full mask and ceremonial decorations. Edward S. Curtis. The Library of Congress. Reproduced by permission. Water and Cultures in the Ancient World 367 helped drain city areas and prevent flooding. Ancient sewer sys- tems used a network of underground channels and a flow of water to remove wastes. Sewers helped cities stay clean and aided disease prevention. However, even Rome's most advanced ancient sewer system eventually discharged wastewater into rivers or the sea. Water supply systems also carried water to popular places such as public baths and pools. Both the ancient Romans and the ancient Chinese civilizations built spas and pools using water from naturally hot springs. The Greeks built swimming pools near their public baths. The first known swimming races were held in Japan in 36 B.C.E. Ancient civilizations shaped how humans think about water today. Water is still used for the same tasks today that it was in the ancient world: drinking, cooking, cleaning, irrigation, ship- ping, and powering machines. Ships continue to move most of the world's goods. Even though trains, trucks, and canals permit goods and crops to be moved further inland today, many of the world great cities are still built near harbors and along the coast. Some modern cities, such as Alexandria, Egypt; Rome, Italy; and Athens, Greece are built upon their ancient foundations. Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner For More Information Books Casson, Lionel. Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1995. Culver, Henry B., and Gordon Grant. The Book of Old Ships: From Egyptian Galleys to Clipper Ships. New York: Dover, 1992. Heyerdahl, Thor. Kon-Tiki: Across the Pacific by Raft. New York: Pocket, 1990. Homer. The Odyssey. Translated by Robert Fagels. New York: Penguin, 1999. Websites "Aqueducts Move Water. (Water Science for Schools)." United States Geological Survey, http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/ aqueductl.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "A Brief History of Drinking Water." American Water Works Association. http://www.awwa.org/AdvocacyAearn/info/ HistoryofDrinkingWater.cfm (accessed on August 27, 2004). 368 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Water and Cultures in the Modern World Water plays an important role in shaping the modern world. Cities are built on water. Humans rely on water for cooking, drinking, washing, transportation, trade, energy, irrigation (watering crops), and recreation. The use of water in the mod- ern world has also created problems. Population growth and advancements in technology threaten the world's water supply. Overfishing and pollution stress many of the world's seas, and shortages of water stress human populations in arid (extremely dry) lands. Cities and ports Most cities are located beside water, Coastal areas in particu- lar boast large cities. Eight out of the top ten most populous cities in the world lie on the coast. Nearly 44% of the world's population lives within 100 miles (161 kilometers) of a coast. Coastal cities grow because ports are an integral part of modern life. A port is place where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country by boat. Ports are essential for trade, or the movement of materials in exchange for money. Cities that are not located on the coast are usually located on some other body of water, such as a lake or a river. Cities need large supplies of freshwater for drinking or irrigation. Cities get most of their freshwater from the nearest river or lake. Even most coastal cities are located where rivers flow into the ocean. These rivers provide coastal cities with a supply of freshwater. Goods delivered to a coastal city's port may also be shipped fur- ther inland on the river. Modern cities have factories that make goods required in today's world. These factories often produce pollution that makes its way into the water supply, whether through inade- quate storage or treatment facilities, or as a direct source of pol- lution through dumping industrial wastewater. Cities must also dispose of raw sewage. In most developed countries, sewage is treated and returned to the water supply. This has minimal effect on the environment. In most developing countries though, raw sewage is pumped back into rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Both pollution and sewage can kill animals, plants, and microorganisms living in the water. Exploration In past centuries ocean exploration meant sailing the open seas in search of new lands. Today ocean exploration usually involves exploring below the surface of the ocean. Although Water and Cultures in the Modern World WORDS TO KNOW Bathyscaphe: A sub- mersible vehicle that is capable of going to the deepest parts of the ocean and withstanding extreme pressure. Chemosynthesis: The use of chemicals, rather than sun- light, for the production of food. Ecosystem: Community of plants and animals that interact with each other and with their physical environment. Effluent: Wastewater that has been treated to remove most impurities. Hydrothermal vents: Volcanic-powered openings in the ocean floor that spew out a fluid that is rich in chemicals and minerals. Photosynthesis: Process that plants use to turn sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into food. Port: Place where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country by boat. Potable: Water that is suit- able for drinking. Sanitation: Maintaining clean, hygienic conditions that help prevent disease through the use of clean water and wastewater disposal. Turbine: Device that con- verts the flow of a fluid (air, steam, water, or hot gases) into mechanical motion for generat- ing electricity. Water treatment: Purifica- tion process that makes water suitable for drinking and sanita- tion. 369 Life Below Sea Level in the Netherlands Much of the Netherlands lies below sea level. The Netherlands is a country in north- western Europe, which is sometimes incorrect- ly called Holland. For over 2000 years, the Dutch (people of the Netherlands) have fought to reclaim land from the sea. Nearly 30% of the land area of the Netherlands actually lies below sea level. The Netherlands three largest cities, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, all lie below sea level. For centuries, the Dutch have constructed dikes and levees to hold back the sea. Dikes and levees are walls or embankments that hold back water. Traditionally, dykes and levees were made of earth and stone, but concrete is often used today. Once the dykes and levees were in place, the seawater evaporated or is pumped out. Fertile, flat plains are left behind. Lands that have been reclaimed from the sea are called polders. Beginning in the thirteenth cen- tury, the Dutch started using windmills to pump water back out to sea. Today, an elaborate sys- tem of electric and diesel pumps keeps much of the Netherlands dry. In 1287 the Dutch dikes collapsed, flooding much of the country. The Dutch began con- structing new dikes and levees to reclaim land that had once been dry. The Dutch continue this process today. In 1986 the Dutch created a new province, called Flevoland, by pumping water out of a large lake in the middle of the country. The Dutch even used their system of dikes and levees to gain their independence. The Dutch were ruled by the Spanish crown for many years. Once the Dutch started to rebel, Spain sent troops to bring the area back under control. In 1574 the Dutch, led by William of Orange, intentionally flooded their country to destroy the Spanish army. Several battles later, the Dutch managed to force out the Spanish and gain their independence. oceans cover nearly two thirds of Earth's surface, little was known about what lay below the surface until the twentieth century. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a mountain range that stretch- es the length of the Atlantic Ocean, was not discovered until 1952. The Marianas Trench, the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean, was not discovered until 1951. Several technological advances made underwater explo- ration possible. Humans cannot dive far underwater because of a lack of air, cold temperature, and the extreme pressure under- water. Submarines called bathyscaphes are required to go the deepest parts of the oceans. Bathyscaphes protect humans and equipment from the cold temperatures and extreme pressure of the ocean depths. The deepest point of the ocean is the Mariana Trench, at 35,802 feet (10,912 meters) below sea level, and almost 7 miles (11 kilometers) below the ocean's surface. At this depth, the water pressure is nearly 16,000 pounds (7,257 kilometers) per square inch. 370 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Discoveries at the bottom of the ocean sur- prised scientists. Scientist had long assumed that all living organisms depended on sun- light for life. Plants require sunlight for pho- tosynthesis, the process where light, water, and carbon dioxide are converted into food. Many animals then rely on plants as basis of their food chain (the relationship between plants and animals where one species is eaten by another). In the 1970s scientists found small communities of organisms living in complete darkness. These organisms depend on hydrothermal vents for survival. Powered by volcanic activity, hydrothermal vents are ocean-floor geysers (hot springs) that spew out a fluid rich in chemicals and minerals. Some of the fluids from hydrothermal vents are nearly 750°F (399°C). The animals that live near these vents rely on chemosynthesis for survival. Chemosynthesis is the use of chemicals, rather than sunlight, for the pro- duction of energy. Irrigation More freshwater is used for irrigation than for any other purpose. Irrigation usually involves pumping or diverting water from a river or lake that may lie far away. The water is then sprayed over crops. More than half of all freshwater usage worldwide goes toward irrigation. In the United States, 40% of freshwater usage is for irrigating over 51 million acres of cropland. Over 130 mil- lion gallons of water are used for irrigation in the United States every day, enough to fill 144 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Farms in the western United States use most of this water. Over the last century methods of irrigation have improved. As a result humans are growing more crops than ever before. This is a useful advancement given the world's growing popu- lation and increasing need for food. Irrigation is a necessity but the process has some negative impacts on the environment. First, only about half of all water used for irrigation is returned to the water supply. The rest evaporates. Second, irrigation can carry pesticides into the water supply. Pesticides are chemicals that are used to kill or repel insects, rodents, and other pests. These pesticides can build up in the water supply and harm ecosystems (communities of organisms and their environ- A large flood control dike in Zeeland, the Netherlands, stands ready to hold back a surging sea. © Dave Bartruff/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Water and Cultures in the Modern World 371 ment). Third, areas that use seawater for irrigation run the risk of depositing too much salt onto the land. Salt is usually removed from water through a process called desalinization, yet some salt may remain in the water. Soil with accumulated salt prevents crops from growing. About 10% of soil in the world's irrigated land now contains too much salt. Fourth, irrigation can place heavy demands on a freshwater source, such as a river, and deny the river's resources to those downstream of the point where water is removed for irrigation. Because of irriga- tion and other overuse, the Colorado River in the western United States and Mexico no longer flows into the Gulf of California. Water systems Freshwater has two primary household uses: drinking and sanitation. Sanitation uses include showering, washing clothes, flushing the toilet, and washing dishes. These are important activities to control the spread of diseases. Clean drinking water is also important for preventing disease. Freshwater that comes directly from a river or lake is not usually clean enough to drink or use for sanitation. Water from a river or lake can contains disease-causing microorganisms. Water must be treated to remove these microorganisms. The treatment process occurs at a water treatment facility. The treatment process purifies water by removing microorganisms, dirt, and sediment (particles of sand, soil, and silt) from water. This process improves the puri- ty of drinking water. Once water has been used in the home the water then goes to a wastewater treatment facility. Wastewater treatment facili- ties remove most of the waste from water. Wastewater facilities usually do not purify the water well enough for it to be used as drinking water. Treated wastewater, called effluent, is often used for irrigating crops or cooling power plants. Effluent that is not used is returned to a lake or river. Most people in the United States are accustomed to having clean water whenever it is needed. In many countries however, clean water is not available. Over 1 billion people do not have access to potable water (water safe to drink). About 2.4 billion people lack proper sanitation facilities. This lack of drinking water and poor hygiene causes the deaths of millions of people every year from cholera, the disease responsible for more deaths than any other worldwide. This problem could become worse as the population in developing countries increases. 372 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Joining Waters: The Impact of Canals Often there is a need to connect different bodies of water as a shortcut for ocean trans- portation. The construction of a canal is often the best solution. A canal is a man-made, deep, wide waterway through which ships may travel. Canals are not simply trenches filled with water. Canal builders face challenges of linking water bodies that are at differing elevations, or of creating canals through land that is at differ- ing elevations. In order to solve this problem, a series of gates and locks must be constructed along the course of the canal. A lock is an ele- vator for ships that raise or lower a ship to areas of the canal that have different water levels. Locks are an essential part of any canal. A canal lock is not an elevator in the tradi- tional sense however. A canal lock is basically a large area with gates at each end. At one end, the water level of the canal is at a higher level than it is at the other end. If a ship is going from an area of lower water level to an area of high- er water level, then when the ship enters the lock, the gate behind it closes. Water is then pumped into the lock to raise the ship. When the water level inside the lock is at the same level as the higher water level in the canal, then the front gate opens and the ship continues its journey on the canal. If a ship is going from an area of higher water level in the canal to an area of lower water level, then the process works in reverse. Once the ship enters the lock, water is pumped out to lower the water level inside the lock to match the lower level on the other side. Once the water level is the same, the gate opens and the ship continues. One of the greatest engineering marvels of human history was the construction of the Panama Canal that links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The canal through Central America saves ships going between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans 8,000 miles (12,875 kilometers) in each direction. The construction project proved to be immense and began in 1880 with the canal opening 34 years later in 1914. France and the United States spent nearly $640 million on the proj- ect, and 30,000 lives were lost during its con- struction, mostly to mosquito-borne diseases and construction accidents. Trade and transportation Ships began to replace their steam engines with diesel in the twentieth century. A diesel engine burns oil products to create the energy needed to turn a ship's propellers. In the 1950s sci- entists developed nuclear powered ships and submarines that could remain at sea for months without refueling. Due to envi- ronmental concerns and cost, nuclear power is only used on military vessels. The ability of a submarine to remain underwa- ter for months at a time is a great military advantage. For centuries shipping cargo over the oceans was cheaper than shipping over land. Shipping by boat has become even cheaper in the modern world. Large ships that could travel faster and carry more cargo led to an expansion of trade. As Water and Cultures in the Modern World 373 shipping costs decreased, the cost of products went down. Today, nearly 90% of the weight of all cargo is shipped by boat. Travel During the nineteenth century steam-powered ships made travel more popular. A steamship could cross an ocean in a mat- ter of days compared to weeks for a sailboat. Passenger ships carried tourists and immigrants from continent to continent. By the 1950s and 1960s air travel had replaced ships as the pri- mary form of ocean transportation. The passenger ship indus- try responded by making their ships a vacation instead of simply transportation. Millions of people take cruises to exotic locales every year. Around the world, many people visit bodies of water. The shores of rivers, lakes, and oceans are favorite places for vaca- tions. Venice, Italy, a city built upon canals, is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. In Venice, the canals are the city's roadways. Instead of cars, busses, and taxis, and ambu- lances, people use boats for transportation. Sometimes water makes travel more difficult. To cross the English Channel, a narrow body of water between England and France, people used to rely on ferries. Ferries are large boats that transport people, cars, and trucks. Frequent storms often delayed ferry travel. In 1994 a tunnel opened that runs beneath the channel seafloor. The Channel Tunnel (or Chunnel) allows trains to rapidly transport cars and people between France and England in any weather. Hydroelectric power Humans have learned to harness the energy of river water and use it to generate electricity, called hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power is electricity generated by an electric power plant whose turbines (devices that converts the flow of a fluid into mechanical motion) are driven by falling water. About 10% of the electric power generated in the United States comes from hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power production requires the construction of a dam. A dam is a barrier that holds back the water on a river, forming a lake called a reservoir. The water from the reservoir is released through gates in the dam. The water turns turbines as it flows rapidly through the dam. The turbine turns genera- tors, or machines that produce electricity. The water then comes out the other side of the dam and flows downriver. 374 UX«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Religion and popular culture Because water is necessary for life, many of the world's reli- gions use water in their rituals. Hindus believe the waters of the Ganges River in India are sacred. Christians use water for bap- tisms. Muslims bathe their feet before entering a mosque. In Japan Shinto shrines feature a tsukubai, a large bowl of water for followers to wash their mouths and hands before entering. Water is also part of popular culture. The main ingredient in all popular soft drinks is water. Drinks brewed in water, such as coffee and tea, are favored around the world. The Japanese, Chinese, and several indigenous cultures developed special cer- emonies for drinking tea. In Europe and the United States cof- fee shops and cafes are popular gathering places. Many gathering places and public parks feature fountains as works of art and areas for reflection. Beaches and other waterways are popular settings for educational and entertaining books, movies, and television programs. The "Jaws" series of books and movies in the 1970s and 1980s created intense public inter- est and misconceptions about sharks, most notably the myth that sharks seek out people to kill for food. Joseph Hyder For More Information Books Sorrenti, Francesca, and Shibuya, Marisha, eds. Water Culture. New York: Trolley, 2003. Websites "Drinking Water for Kids: Water Treatment Cycle." EPA for Kids . http ://www. epa . go v/OG WD W/kids/ treat . html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Human Settlements on the Coast: The Ever More Popular Coasts." United Nations Atlas of the Oceans. http://www . oceansatlas . org/servlet/CDSServlet?status=ND0xODc3Jj c9Z W4mNjE9KiY2NTlrb3M~ (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Introduction to Hydroelectric Power." National Renewable Energy Eaboratory. http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/ hydroelectric_power.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "NRCS Irrigation." United States Department of Agriculture: National Resources Conservation Service. http://www. wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/nrcsirrig/ (accessed on August 27, 2004). Water and Cultures in the Modern World 375 "Transportation and Telecommunications." United Nations Atlas of the Oceans, http://www.oceansatlas.org/servlet/ CDSServlet?status=ND0xODUlJjc9ZW4mNjE9KiY2NTlrb 3M~ (accessed on August 27, 2004). "U.N. Says Water, Sanitation Still Sorely Lacking in Developing World." U.S. Water News Online (January 2001). http ://www. uswaternews .com/ archives/ arcglobal/ lunsayl.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Wastewater Management." Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/owm/ (accessed on August 27, 2004). "Water Library- Culture. 2003-The International Year of Freshwater. "UNESCO http://www.wateryear2003.org/en/ev. php-URL_ID=5095&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_ SECTION=201.html (accessed on August 27, 2004). 376 U*X«L Encyclopedia of Water Science Right: Swimmers enjoy geothermally heated pools in Svartsvehring, Iceland. See "Hydropower" entry. © Bob Krist/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: Sailboats moor off the Tahitian islands, a popular tourist destination in the South Pacific. See "Tourism on the Oceans" entry. © Neil Rabinowitz/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Left: Built by the ancient Romans, the three tiered Pont du Gard aqueduct spans the Gard River in France. See "Aqueducts" entry. © Archivo Iconografico, S.A./Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: A junk, a form of boat popular in the waters of east Asia, sails into the port of Hong Kong, China. See "Ports and Harbors" entry. © Nik Wheeler/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Right: Supplying water to densely packed New York City requires a complex municipal water supply system. See "Municipal Water Use" entry. © 1996 Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: Oil storage tanks line the channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of Houston, Texas. The ship in the foreground is painted orange to indicate it carries flam- mable or hazardous cargo. See "Petroleum Exploration and Recovery" entry. © Ray Soto/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Right: A scuba diver encounters a stingray in the waters off the Cayman Islands. See "Recreation in and on the Oceans" entry. © Stephen Frink/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: In the modern world, water is used as a form of art. The Trocadero fountains in Paris com- pliment the form of the Eiffel Tower. See "Commercial and Industrial Uses of Water" entry. © Royalty-Free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Right: The Hoover Dam hydropower plant is driven by water from the Colorado River. See "Arid Climates" entry. © Royalty-Free/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: An erupting geyser displays the power of geothermal forces. See "Hydrology and Hydrogeology" entry. © Royalty-Free/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Left: An aqueduct and canal near Bakersfield, California. See "Aqueducts" entry. © Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: A group of whales swim- ming off Tomiura, Japan. See "Whaling" entry. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. Right: A girl pets a dolphin at Sea World in San Diego, California. See "Aquariums" entry. © Carl & Ann Purcell/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Below: Maintaining an aquarium at home is a popular hobby. See "Aquariums" entry. © Michael Pole/Corbis. Reproduced by permission. Above: Large container ships carry freight across the world's oceans. See "Shipping on the Oceans" entry. © Lester Lefkowitz/ Corbis. Reproduced by permission.	RMS Titanic
Having been published since 1927, what were the names of the two Hardy Boys	Dear Webby Humor Letter Blog - Some banks DO like FireFox and Chrome Dear Webby Humor Letter Blog Some banks DO like FireFox and Chrome Thursday, April 23, 2015, 03:08 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Thursday, April 23, Today I have to go to Calgary for eye injections. That means, no Friday, Saturday or Sunday issues will get sent out. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Florida man keeps cottonmouth snake in pillow case on his bed, and gets bit on his lip. Details at Boneheads Today, in 1348 The first English order of knighthood was founded. It was the Order of the Garter. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness. --- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844 - 1900) ______________________________________________________ Mrs. Applebee, the 6th grade teacher, posed the following problem to one of her asthmatic classes: "A wealthy man dies and leaves ten million dollars. One-fifth is to go to his wife, one-fifth is to go to his son, one-sixth to his butler, and the rest to charity. Now, what does each get?" After a very long silence in the classroom, Little Morris raised his hand. The teacher called on Little Morris for his answer. With complete sincerity in his voice, Little Morris answered, "A lawyer!" ______________________________________________________ A patient had broken his leg and it was going to have to be set. To get him ready for this painful event, he was heavily sedated. While in this "state", he spoke rather freely with the hospital staff and with his wife. She apparently learned several things about her husband. When it was time to reverse the medication, the wife said "Wait! not yet. I have some more questions I want to ask". ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! Reported by Walter, The Stonecarver An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Austin Lane Hatfield, 18, Wimauma Florida Florida Man Bitten By Cottonmouth Snake That He Was Keeping In Pillowcase On His Bed An 18-year-old Wimauma man who was bitten on the lip by a cottonmouth he was keeping in a pillowcase on his bed is recovering at Tampa General Hospital, officials said. The snake, also known as a water moccasin, escaped around 11:45 p.m. Saturday and slithered across the stomach of Austin Lane Hatfield, said Gary Morse, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. When Hatfield tried to recapture it, the snake bit him, Morse said. A bite from a cottonmouth can be deadly with its venom causing massive swelling. Hatfield was rushed to the emergency room. ï¿½His condition has improved today and he is expected to recover,ï¿½ Morse said. Hatfield had captured the snake sometime last week and was illegally possessing it, Morse said. Because cottonmouths are venomous, a state permit is required to keep them. FWC is investigating and Hatfield could face charges, Morse said. The snake was captured and euthanized so a proper identification could be made, he said. A spokeswoman for The cottonmouth, a member of the viper family, gets its name from the cotton-white interior of its mouth. When threatened, the snake often coils and opens its mouth. They are the only venomous water snakes in Florida and are usually found in swamp-like habitats. Adult snakes are dark in color and can grow to between 2 and 4 feet. They have broad, triangular heads and a dark stripe that runs through their eyes. There is a deep pit between their eyes and nostrils. Those who come across the snakes should give them a wide berth, Morse said. ï¿½It really doesnï¿½t want to eat you but it will protect itself,ï¿½ Morse said. ï¿½Cottonmouths have a reputation of being somewhat skittish when you get near them and they will readily defend themselves.ï¿½ ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Roland Re: Some Banks DO cope with FireFox Dear Webby, We use Fire Fox and check our two banks daily with no problems. Roland and Ruth Ann Dear Roland Yes, seems to work just fine with the better banks. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ "Doctor!" said the woman as she loudly bounced into the room, "I want you to tell me very frankly what's wrong with me." He surveyed her from head to foot. "Madam," he said at length, "I've just three things to tell you." "First, you need to lose at least twenty pounds in your lower half. Second, you should use only about one tenth as much rouge and lipstick as you did this morning. And third, I'm an artist - the doctor's office is on the next floor." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Luffa Sponge for Soap Stand I cut a slice from my new luffa sponge to use under my soaps to keep them dry and firm in my soap dishes. I just used a sharp bread knife on a dry luffa sponge. Easy! By Donna [222] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Two redneck guys go on a fishing trip. They spend a fortune renting all the equipment: the reels, the rods, the wading suits, the rowboat, the car, and even a cabin in the woods. The first day they go fishing,but don't catch anything. The same thing happens on the second day and the third . This goes on until finally, on the last day of their vacation, one of the men catches a fish. While driving home one guy turns to the other ... "Do you realize that this one lousy fish we caught cost us nearly $1500?" The other guy says, "Wow! It's a good thing we didn't catch any more!" _____________________________________________________ A drunken man gets on the bus late one night, staggers up the aisle, and sits next to an elderly woman. She looks the man up and down and says, "I've got news for you. You're going straight to hell!" The man jumps up out of his seat and shouts, "Heyyy!Stop! I'm on the wrong bus! I don't wanna go where SHE goes!" ____________________________________________________ Wow! All I can say is Wow! He must be a horse whisperer Today in 1348 The first English order of knighthood was founded. It was the Order of the Garter. 1500 Pedro Cabal claimed Brazil for Portugal. 1521 The Comuneros were crushed by royalist troops in Spain. 1759 The British seized Basse-Terre and Guadeloupe in the Antilies from France. 1826 Missolonghi fell to Egyptian forces. 1861 Arkansas troops seized Fort Smith. 1895 Russia, France, and Germany forced Japan to return the Liaodong peninsula to China. 1896 The Vitascope system for projecting movies onto a screen was demonstrated in New York City. 1900 The word "hillbilly" was first used in print in an article in the "New York Journal." It was spelled "Hill-Billie". 1945 The Soviet Army went into Berlin. 1950 Chaing evacuated Hainan, leaving mainland China to Mao and the communists. 1951 The Associated Press began use of the new service of teletype setting. 1967 The Soyuz 1 was launched by Russia. 1971 The Soyuz 10 was launched. 1981 The Soviet Union conducted an underground nuclear test at their Semipaltinsk (Kazakhstan) test site. 1985 The Coca-Cola Company announced that it was changing its 99-year-old secret formula. New Coke was not successful, which resulted in the resumption of selling the original version. 1988 A U.S. federal law took effect that banned smoking on flights that were under two hours. 1988 In Martinez, CA, a drain valve was left open at the Shell Marsh. More than 10,000 barrels of oil poured into the marsh adjoining Peyton Slough. 1988 Kanellos Kanelopoulos set three world records for human-powered flight when he stayed in the air for 74 miles and four hours in his pedal-powered "Daedalus". 1996 An auction of the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis' possessions began at Sotheby's in New York City. The sale brought in $34.5 million. 1997 An infertility doctor in California announced that a 63-year-old woman had given birth in late 1996. The child was from a donor egg. The woman is the oldest known woman to give birth. 2004 U.S. President George W. Bush eased sanctions against Libya in return for Moammar Gadhafi's agreement to give up weapons of mass destruction. Gadhafi donated the chemical weapons he had bought from the US to the US and invited US military to come in and destroy the rest of them. 2005 The first video was uploaded to YouTube.com. 2009 The iTunes Music Store reached 1 billion applications downloaded. 2015 smiled. His bank can't cope with FireFox Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 03:17 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Wednesday, April 22 Tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, I have to go to Calgary for eye injections. That means, no Friday, Saturday or Sunday issues will get sent out. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Florida woman arrested for battering live-in boyfriend with bowl of eggs following breakfast beef Details at Boneheads Today, in 1500 Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy. --- H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956) ______________________________________________________ >From Barb UK Suicide Bombers Go On Strike Reported by an English newspaper. Muslim suicide bombers in Britain are set to begin a three-day strike on Wednesday in a dispute over the number of virgins they are entitled to in the afterlife. Emergency talks with Al Qaeda have so far failed to produce an agreement. The unrest began last Tuesday when Al Qaeda announced that the number of virgins a suicide bomber would receive after his death would be cut by 25% this April from 72 to 54. A spokesman said that increases in recent years in the number of suicide bombings has resulted in a shortage of virgins in the afterlife. The suicide bombers' union, the British Organization of Occupational Martyrs (or B.O.O.M.) responded with a statement saying the move was unacceptable to its members and called for a strike vote. General Secretary Abdullah Amir told the press, "Our members are literally working themselves to death in the cause of Jihad. We don't ask for much in return but to be treated like this is like a kick in the teeth." Speaking from his shed in Tipton in the West Midlands , Al Qaeda chief executive Haisheet Mapants explained, "I sympathize with our workers concerns but Al Qaeda is simply not in a position to meet their demands." They are simply not accepting the realities of modern-day Jihad in a competitive marketplace. Thanks to Western depravity, there is now a chronic shortage of virgins in the afterlife. It's a straight choice between reducing expenditures, or laying people off. I don't like cutting benefits but I'd hate to have to tell 3,000 of my staff that they won't be able to blow themselves up. Spokespersons for the union in the North East of England , Ireland , Wales and the entire Australian continent stated that the change would not hurt their membership as there are so few virgins in their areas anyway. According to some industry sources, the recent drop in the number of suicide bombings has been attributed to the emergence of Scottish singing star, Susan Boyle. Many Muslim Jihadists now know what a virgin looks like and have reconsidered their benefit packages. ______________________________________________________ MacTavish's little boy was being questioned by the teacher during an arithmetic lesson. "If you had five pounds," said the teacher, "and I asked you for the loan of three pounds, how many would you have left?" "Five," said young MacTavish firmly. "Five?" the teacher said "How do you make it five?" "Well," replied young MacTavish "You can ask for a loan of three pounds, but that doesn't mean you will get it." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! Reported by Walter, The Stonecarver An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Destini Oliver, 22, Palmetto Florida Woman Arrested For Battering Live-In Boyfriend With Bowl Of Eggs Following Breakfast Beef A dispute over the preparation of breakfast ended yesterday morning with a Florida woman under arrest for battering her live-in boyfriend with a bowl of raw eggs, police report. Destini Oliver, 22, and Lorenzo Dixon, 23, quarreled Sunday in their Palmetto home over Oliver not wanting to cook breakfast, according to a police report. The dispute turned physical when Oliver, seen above, allegedly ï¿½threw a bowl of raw eggsï¿½ at Dixon, striking him in the back. Cops on the scene reported spotting egg splatter on Dixon, as well as on a wall and a couch. Oliver, pictured above, was arrested for misdemeanor battery and booked into the county jail, where she remains locked up in lieu of $500 bond. Dixon, a salesman at a Ford dealership in Sarasota, was not injured in the egg attack. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Hank Re: Bank can't cope with FireFox Dear Webby, I have used Firefox as my browser for several years. In the last week, I received two notices of "Secure Connection Failed." One was my bank where I use Internet banking. I called the bank and the customer service rep. Told me that I could only use IE. She said Firefox did not come up to standard with their security. Do you know anything about this? I just don't like to use IE. Thanks so much for your help! Regards, hank Dear Hank FireFox is actually more secure, but their system checks for only one browser, the default browser that all the grannies and grampas use, if they don't know any better. There is no point arguing with the idjit. Just use Internet Explorer for that bank, and close it quickly afterward. It is a security hazard. I use Chrome with my bank, Royal Bank Of Canada, and it works fine, but FF works well too. Have not tried Internet Exploder there, and am not going to. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ A lady on her first visit to Yellowstone National Park said to her guide, "Look at all those big rocks. Wherever did they come from?" "The glaciers brought them down," said the guide. "But where are the glaciers?" The lady asked. "The glaciers," said the guide in a weary voice, "have gone back for more rocks." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Baked "Hardboiled" Eggs I'll never boil eggs again! I found a recipe online for baked eggs and it's just too simple to ever bother with watching a pot again. Place eggs in a muffin tin or directly on your oven rack. And bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove and plunge into an ice water bath, then peel and serve. By aubergine [3] Do you have free electricity? Oven for 30 minutes is expensive! Just get an egg boiler, put half a dozen eggs in, add half a cup of water, and set the timer for 5 minutes. When it DINGs and shuts off, they are done. You can of course also set them for 3 Minute breakfast eggs, with the yolk thick but still runny. An egg boiler uses 1/10 the electricity that your baking uses! Egg cookers are sold by all the companies, that make coffee machines, and are usually $15 - $20. Check Amazon for egg boiler Some even have extra trays for poaching eggs. 5 minutes at 0.35 KW instead of 30 minutes at 1.5 KW Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Two friends, one an optimist and the other a pessimist, could never quite agree on any topic of discussion. One day the optimist decided he had found a good way to pull his friend out of his continual pessimistic thinking. The optimist owned a hunting dog that could walk on water. His plan? Take the pessimist and the dog out duck hunting in a boat. They got out into the middle of the lake, and the optimist brought down a duck. The dog immediately walked out across the water, retrieved the duck, and walked back to the boat. The optimist looked at his pessimistic friend and said, "What do you think about that?" The pessimist replied, "That dog can't swim, can he?" He had to swim back to shore. _____________________________________________________ A guy goes to a doctor and says: "Doctor, my wife has lost her voice a week ago...." "And you are afraid she'll find it again ?" ____________________________________________________ Ethereal Wire Fairy Sculptures, these are beautiful works of art. Today in 1500 Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered Brazil. 1509 Henry VIII ascended to the throne of England 1529 Spain and Portugal divided the eastern hemisphere in the Treaty of Saragosa. 1792 U.S. President George Washington proclaimed American neutrality in the war in Europe. 1861 Robert E. Lee was named commander of Virginia forces. 1864 The U.S. Congress passed legislation that allowed the inscription "In God We Trust" to be included on one-cent and two-cent coins. 1889 At noon, the Oklahoma land rush officially started as thousands of Americans raced for new, unclaimed land. 1898 The first shot of the Spanish-American war occurred when the USS Nashville captured a Spanish merchant ship. 1915 At the Second Battle Ypres the Germans became the first country to use poison gas. 1918 British naval forces attempted to sink block-ships in the German U-boat bases at the Battle of Zeeburgge. 1930 The U.S., Britain and Japan signed the London Naval Treaty, which regulated submarine warfare and limited shipbuilding. 1931 James G. Ray landed an autogyro on the lawn of the White House. 1944 During World War II, the Allies launched a major attack against the Japanese in Hollandia, New Guinea. 1952 An atomic test conducted in Nevada was the first nuclear explosion shown on live network television. 1954 The U.S. Senate Army-McCarthy televised hearings began. 1993 The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum was dedicated in Washington, DC. 1997 In Lima, Peru government commandos storm and capture the residence of the Japanese ambassador ending a 126-day hostage crisis. In the rescue 71 hostages were saved. Those killed: one hostage (of a heart attack), two soldiers, and all 14 rebels. 2002 Filippino President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered a state of emergency in the city of General Santos in response to a series of bombing attacks the day before. The attacks were blamed on Muslim extremists. 2010 The Boeing X-37 began its first orbital mission. It successfully returned to Earth on December 3, 2010. 2015 smiled. Get rid of Salesplus pop-ups Tuesday, April 21, 2015, 06:30 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Tuesday, April 21 On Thursday, April 23, I have to go to Calgary for eye injections. That means, no Friday, Saturday or Sunday issues will get sent out. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Michael Dick in Oregon for being a dick. Details at Boneheads Today, in 753 BC Today is the traditional date of the foundation of Rome. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Competence, like truth, beauty and contact lenses, is in the eye of the beholder. --- Laurence J. Peter (1919 - 1988) ______________________________________________________ Nancys nephew was 4 when she was pregnant with her first kid. She allowed him to place his hand on her belly and feel the baby kick.His little face scrunched and said, "How does the baby get out of there?" She wanted to keep it simple so she said, "The doctor will help." His eyes widened in amazement as he exclaimed, "You've got a DOCTOR in there, too?!" ______________________________________________________ Bill said the power went out recently. His wife, Kathy heard a plane flying low overhead. She noticed the plane's landing lights were on and said, "Must not be a widespread power outage -- the plane's lights are on." She was lucky she was not downtown. I heard that during the latest power failure in Los Angeles thousands of people were trapped for hours on store escalators. ______________________________________________________ Click through for the big picture Logan Pass Glacier National Park If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! Reported by Walter, The Stonecarver An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Michael Dick, 53, Gresham, Oregon Oregon man Michael Dick busted for allegedly masturbating publicly near Tickle Creek An Oregon man called Michael Dick has been arrested for allegedly masturbating in the Tickle Creek area, reports KOIN 6. The ironically named 53-year-old was detained Wednesday. Cops had received reports of a naked, wig-wearing man pleasuring himself in the also aptly-monikered road. Officers claim that Dick matched the description of a repeat flasher. Witnesses said that the naked man would drive up to women in the street, which is near Gresham, before jumping out of his pick-up and pleasuring himself. Convicted sex offender Dick was charged with three counts of public indecency. And, due to his past criminal history, they have been classed as felonies. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Hermon Re: Salesplus pop-ups Dear Webby, I am getting popups from salesplus. Is it safe to download Malwarebytes and send payment over the net? Hermon Dear Hermon Yes, it is safe to get and pay for Malwarebytes over the net. http://webby.com/malwarebytes I use it myself too. Which browser are you using? Have FUN! DearWebby Dear Webby, Malwarebytes did the trick..........thanks for the tip.. Hermon in Kentucky _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The visiting church school supervisor asks little Johnny during Bible class who broke down the walls of Jericho. Little Johnny replies that he does not know, but it definitely is not him. The supervisor, taken aback by this lack of basic Bible knowledge goes to the school principal and relates the whole incident. The principal replies that he knows little Johnny as well as his whole family very well and can vouch for them, if little Johnny said that he did not do it, he as principal is satisfied that it is the truth. Even more appalled the inspector goes to the regional Head of Education and relates the whole story. After listening he replies: "I cannot see why you are making such a big issue out of this; just get three quotations and we'll choose a contractor to fix the silly wall." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Peeling Hard Boiled Eggs When peeling hardboiled eggs, roll eggs on center divider of sink under cold running water. Squeezing the egg with your hands. The shell will peel off easily and the membrane holds the shell almost whole. By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ A 3-year-old went with his dad to see a litter of kittens. On returning home, he breathlessly informed his mother that there were two boy kittens and two girl kittens. "How did you know?" his mother asked. "Daddy picked them up and looked underneath," he replied. "I think it's printed on the bottom." _____________________________________________________ There once was a conservative college in the east coast that had a standing rule, the heat was to be turned off in the dormitories when the school went on summer daylight savings time. Unfortunately, this year, winter decided to stick around a bit longer. Students in both the men's and women's dormitories complained about the bitter cold, but were told that nothing could be done. After days of no heat and no respite in immediate sight, the ladies realized that their dorm faced the equally cold men's dorm. They turned a bed sheet into a banner with the message, "TURN ON THE HEAT OR WE'LL TURN ON THE BOYS!" The thermostat was turned up rather hastily. ____________________________________________________ Creatures of the deep. Gigantic school of Rays, The most ever seen at one time. Today in 753 BC Today is the traditional date of the foundation of Rome. 43 BC Marcus Antonius was defeated by Octavian near Modena, Italy. 1526 Mongol Emperor Babur annihilated the Indian Army of Ibrahim Lodi. 1689 William III and Mary II were crowned joint king and queen of England, Scotland and Ireland. 1836 General Sam Houston defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. This battle decided the independence of Texas. 1856 The Mississippi River was crossed by a rail train for the first time (between Davenport, IA, and Rock Island, IL). 1892 The first Buffalo was born in Golden Gate Park. 1898 The Spanish-American War began. 1914 U.S. Marines occupied Vera Cruz, Mexico. The troops stayed for six months. 1916 Bill Carlisle, the infamous ï¿½last train robber,ï¿½ robbed a train in Hanna, WY. 1918 German fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, "The Red Baron," was shot down and killed during World War I. 1959 Alf Dean caught a 16-foot, 10-inch white shark that weighed 2,664 pounds. At the time it was the largest catch with a rod and reel. 1960 Brasilia became the capital of Brazil. 1961 The French army revolted in Algeria. 1967 In Athens, Army colonels took over the government and installed Constantine Kollias as premier. 1972 Apollo 16 astronauts John Young and Charles Duke explored the surface of the moon. 1975 South Vietnam president, Nguyen Van Thieu, resigned, condemning the United States. 1984 In France, it was announced that doctors had found virus believed to cause AIDS. 1985 Manuel Ortega proposed a cease-fire for Nicaragua. 1994 Jackie Parker became the first woman to qualify to fly an F-16 combat plane. 1998 Astronomers announced in Washington that they had discovered possible signs of a new family of planets orbiting a star 220 light-years away. 2000 In Sinking Spring, PA, a man chased his estranged girlfriend through town and then forced her car into the path of an oncoming train. The woman and her 3 passengers were killed. 2000 North Carolina researchers announced that the heart of a 66 million-year-old dinosaur was more like a mammal or bird than that of a reptile. 2002 In the city of General Santos, 14 people were killed and 69 were injured in a bomb attack on a department store. The attack was blamed on Muslim extremists. 2015 smiled. Monday, April 20, 2015, 08:00 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Monday, April 20 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Man Accused Of Arson, Microwaving Neighbor's Wallet Details at Boneheads Today, in 1775 American troops began the siege of British-held Boston. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest. --- Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962) ______________________________________________________ A big-city lawyer was representing the railroad in a lawsuit filed by an old rancher. The rancher's prize bull was missing from the section through which the railroad passed. The rancher only wanted to be paid the fair value of the bull. The case was scheduled to be tried before the justice of the peace in the back room of the general store. The city-slicker attorney for the railroad immediately cornered the rancher and tried to get him to settle out of court. He did his best selling job, and finally the rancher agreed to take half of what he was asking. After the rancher had signed the release and took the check and cashed it in the store, the young lawyer couldn't resist gloating a little over his success, telling the rancher, "You are really a country hick, old man, but I put one over on you in there. I couldn't have won the case. The engineer was asleep and the fireman was in the caboose when the train went through your ranch that morning. I didn't have one witness to put on the stand. I bluffed you!" The old rancher replied, "Well, I'll tell you young feller, I was a little worried about winning that case myself, because that durned bull came home this morning." ______________________________________________________ A rather boring joke I heard today reminded me of a fun incicent. Many years ago when I was taking a required course in the process of becoming an electrician, we also had to take some basics physics. Personally, I always loved physics, probably because deep down inside I am still a kid that is fascinated by anything that makes noise or moves. Most of the people in the class hated physics, and one guy in particular did a lot of complaining about it and asking why it was necessary. Finally the instructor had enough and he told him that physics was required to save his live. Naturally the guy fell for that straight line and asked how physics would save his live. "It saves lives", the instructor yelled at him, "because it keeps you from finishing the course, and because if you passed my class and then later burned down a house with your lack of knowledge, I'd have to go and shoot you." That guy quit the course right there ______________________________________________________ Click through for the big picture Looking East at sunset and storm clouds from my deck at 7:15PM. Weï¿½ve had lots of rain lightning and thunder today and expecting more tonight. I thought the light was pretty looking East. If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Mohammed Almarri, 21, Tampa, Florida Man Accused Of Arson, Microwaving Neighbor's Wallet A Florida man forced his neighbor onto a balcony and then microwaved his wallet during a bizarre dispute Sunday morning, police say. Mohammed Almarri, 21, allegedly broke into the neighbor's Tampa home and "threatened the owner of the apartment until he retreated to the balcony," TBO reports. Authorities say that Almarri took the homeowner's wallet and microwaved it, and then proceeded to stack several lighters near an electric heater. Firefighters responded to the luxury apartment building and smelled smoke, but found no active fire, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Almarri was arrested on charges including arson and false imprisonment. The damage to the apartment is estimated at approximately $1,000, according to WTSP. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Ellen Re: OR formula in Excel Dear Webby, That was brilliant putting the text onto other sheets, where they can be edited independently of the formulas, without having to touch the formulas. While you are in Excel, I got a problem with OR formulas. Can't get them to work the way i want them to. Can you explain them in your usual way, so that I can understand them? Thanks Ellen Dear Ellen The OR formula is just a YES/NO formula. To make it useful you have to combine it with the IF formula. =IF(OR(condition1,condition2)Result1,Result2) The way that works is like this: IF either condition1 OR condition2 is true, then it shows whatever is Result1, else, if neither condition is true, then it shows Result2 Condition 1 could be a date comparison like (T3>TODAY()-5) Condition 2 could be for example an invoice minimum set in $Z$1 like (R3>$Z$1) So, if the date in cell T2 is larger than Today - 5 OR the Invoice amount in R3 is larger than the minimum set in Z1, then show the text from Result1 else if neither condition is true, then show the text from Result2 I apologize to those of you, who are not familiar with spreadsheets. To you this must look like gobbledigook, but I assure you, to people who do use spreadsheets, this makes perfect sense. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Californians are a strange people. They'll put every chemical known to man up their nostrils, and get so warped from snorting, that they tell you it's bad for you if you put sugar in your coffee! ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Removing Gorilla Glue from Granite Soak the spot with Orange Glo. Take a sharp knife and gently scrape away the glue. Wipe off the dried glue and cover area again with the Orange Glo, let sit, and wipe clean. Easy! By jdarocy [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Frank Green of San Antonio Texas, when sentenced to seven years in jail, carried on about how seven was his unlucky number, pleading and begging the judge not to give him seven years. So the judge gave him eight years instead. _____________________________________________________ A truck driver who had been delivering radioactive waste for the local reactor begins to feel sick after a few years on the job. He decided to seek compensation for his ailment. Upon his arrival at the workers' compensation department, he is interviewed by an assessor. Assessor: I see you work with radio-active materials and wish to claim compensation. Trucker: Yeah, I feel really sick. Assessor: Alright then, Does your employer take measures to protect you from radiation poisoning? Trucker: Yeah, he gives me a lead suit to wear on the job. Assessor: And what about the cabin in which you drive? Trucker: Oh yeah. That's lead lined, all lead lined. Assessor: What about the waste itself? Where is that kept? Trucker: Oh, the stuff is held in a lead container, all lead. Assessor: Let me see if I get this straight. You wear a lead suit, sit in a lead-lined cabin and the radio-active waste is kept in a lead container. Trucker: Yeah, that's right. All lead. Assessor: Then I can't see how you could claim against him for radiation poisoning. Trucker: I'm not. I claiming for lead poisoning. ____________________________________________________ Creatures of the deep. Gigantic school of Rays, The most ever seen at one time. Today in 1139 The Second Lateran Council opened in Rome. 1534 Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, set sail from St. Malo to explore the North American coastline. 1653 In England, Oliver Cromwell expelled the Long Parliament for trying to pass the Perpetuation Bill that would have kept Parliament in the hands of only a few members. 1769 Ottawa Chief Pontiac was murdered by an Illinois Indian in Cahokia. 1775 American troops began the siege of British-held Boston. 1792 France declared war on Austria, Prussia, and Sardinia. It was the start of the French Revolutionary wars. 1809 Napoleon defeated Austria at Battle of Abensberg, Bavaria. 1832 Hot Springs National Park was established by an act of the U.S. Congress. 1841 In Philadelphia, PA, Edgar Allen Poe's first detective story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," was published 1861 Robert E. Lee resigned from U.S. Army. 1865 Safety matches were first advertised. 1879 First mobile home (horse drawn) was used in a journey from London to Cyprus. 1902 Scientists Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element radium. 1916 Sir Roger Casement landed in Ireland to incite rebellion against the British. Casement, a British diplomat, was captured within hours and was hanged for high treason on August 3. 1919 The Polish Army captured Vilno, Lithuania from the Soviets. 1940 The First electron microscope was demonstrated by RCA. 1942 Pierre Laval, the premier of Vichy France, in a radio broadcast, establishes a policy of "true reconciliation with Germany." 1945 Soviet troops began their attack on Berlin. 1945 During World War II, Allied forces took control of the German cities of Nuremberg and Stuttgart. 1951 General MacArthur addressed the joint session of Congress after being relieved by U.S. President Truman. 1953 Operation Little Switch began in Korea. It was the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners of war. Thirty Americans were freed. 1953 The Boston marathon was won by Keizo Yamada with a record time of 2:18:51. 1961 FM stereo broadcasting was approved by the FCC. 1962 The New Orleans Citizens' Council offered a free one-way ride for blacks to move to northern states. 1967 U.S. planes bombed Haiphong for first time during the Vietnam War. 1972 The manned lunar module from Apollo 16 landed on the moon. 1981 A spokesman for the U.S. Navy announced that the U.S. was accepting full responsibility for the sinking of the Nissho Maru on April 9. 1984 Britain announced that its administration of Hong Kong would cease in 1997. 1987 In Argentina, President Raul Alfonsin quelled a military revolt. 1988 The U.S. Air Forces' Stealth (B-2) bomber was officially unveiled. 1989 Scientist announced the successful testing of high-definition TV. 1992 The worlds largest fair, Expo '92, opened in Seville, Spain. 1998 Kenyan runner Moses Tanui, 32, won the Boston Marathon for the second time. He also registered the third fastest time with 2 hours 7 minutes and 34 seconds. 2015 smiled. Calling a value from another Excel sheet Sunday, April 19, 2015, 06:29 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Sunday, April 19 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Great Cornholio runs form cops after TV interview Details at Boneheads Today, in 1943 The Warsaw Ghetto uprising against Nazi rule began. The Jews were able to fight off the Germans for 28 days. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! I have given two cousins to war and I stand ready to sacrifice my wife's brother. --- Artemus Ward (1834 - 1867) You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. --- Irish Proverb ______________________________________________________ Woman cleaning fish at sink to angler husband: "Why can't you be like the rest of the men? They never catch anything." "I can't afford that much beer." ______________________________________________________ A woman went to the Governor of Alabama about getting an early release for her husband who was serving time in a state penitentiary. " What's is in for ?", asked the Governor. " For stealing a ham." " That doesn't sound too bad. Is he a good worker?" " No, I couldn't say that. He's very lazy." " Oh...well, he's good to you and the children, isn't he ?" " No, he is not. He's very mean to us, if you want to know the truth." " Why would you want a man like that out of prison?" " Well, Governor, we've been out of ham for quite a spell." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Jerado Alfanzo Silva 23 Hayward, California Great Cornholio runs form cops after TV interview If you're going to flee a traffic stop and later claim your car was stolen, it's probably best not to look right into a news camera and say "how ya doing?" first. That's what allegedly happened in Hayward, California, last month when a man who was pulled over for a carpool lane violation fled from police -- after he spoke to KRON 4 reporter Stanley Roberts who was filming a "People Behaving Badly" segment. Police initially pursued the driver, but chose to let him go rather than endanger other motorists in a chase. After all, the driver's car, face and voice were all caught on camera by Roberts, who had dubbed him "The Great Cornholio" in his initial segment, based on the alter-ego of Beavis from "Beavis and Butt-head." About 15 minutes after the traffic stop, the driver called the authorities to report that his car had been stolen. Last week, however, the long arm of the law finally caught up with "The Great Cornholio." Jerado Alfanzo Silva was arrested and charged with filing a false stolen vehicle police report, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license and resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer from the performance of his or her duties, according to Roberts. The carpool ticket, on the other hand, would've been a non-moving violation. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Samantha Re: Xcel formula to show text Dear Webby, I need an excel formula that shows one text if a date is befor and a different one if the date is after a third date. The texts are fairly large and have line breaks in them, and need to be updated occasionally. Right now I got a confusing mess, that does not work. I know you dostuff like that with your invoicing, so you must know! Help! Please! Samantha Dear Samantha Put your texts way over to the side or onto a different sheet. If they are, for examplpe on sheet 5 in cells A1 and A2, then you can call them as Sheet5!$A$1 and Sheet5!$A$2 Not as clean and easy as in Quattro, but it works. Now for the formula: =IF(D2<$D$1,Sheet5!$A$1,Sheet5!$A$2) D1 is the permanent comparison date. The $ makes sure that as the formula rattles down the sheet, the comparison is always looked up at D1. So, if D2 is smaller than the comparison date, then the cell shows the text from Sheet5 A1, if not, then it shows the content of Sheet 5 cell A2 The formula works cleanly if you paste it down the whole column. In case you are going to copy the content of that cell into an email or print it, make the first word of that text different. That way you can narrow the column to show just barely the first word, and still know you got the right stuff to mail or print. Another benefit of this method is that you can edit the texts on sheet 5 and instantly change the text for the entire sheet 1. On Quattro from Corel Office you would use letters instead of "sheet". Sheet 2 would be B:, sheet 3 would be C: and so on. They started the stacks of sheets, and used letters, so Microsoft had to come up with something slightly different, and used the designations Sheet1!, Sheet2!, Sheet3!, etc. It's the same thing and works just as well. You CAN use Quattro to set up pages and then save them as Excel. Open Office Calc works the same way. You can save that in Excel format too. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Marcy called to make flight reservations: "I want to go from Chicago to Hippopotamus, New York." The travel agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent said, "Are you sure that's the name of the town?" "Yes, of course I am sure! What flights do you have?" replied the customer. After some searching, the agent came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Hippopotamus anywhere." The customer retorted, "Oh don't be silly. Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "Do you by any chance mean Buffalo ?" "That's it! I knew it was a big animal!" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Exfoliate and Moisturize at the Same Time I have dry flaky winter skin around my eyebrows and the bridge of my nose. Quite by chance, I found a remedy that removes the flakes and moisturizes at the same time without leaving my face all shiny. While in the shower, I put a small amount of hair conditioner on my exfoliating glove and gently scrub the dry area, and the rest of my face while I'm at it. I leave it on until I'm ready to get out of the shower then rinse it off. I like it because my skin is clean of the dry flakes, it doesn't leave red marks from the scrubbing and my face skin is very soft. I don't need to use any extra moisturizer. It works for me and it might for you too. By Mina2184 [23] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ A woman went to the Governor of Alabama about getting an early release for her husband who was serving time in a state penitentiary. "What's is in for ?", asked the Governor. "For stealing a ham." "That doesn't sound too bad. Is he a good worker?" "No, I couldn't say that. He's very lazy." "Oh...well, he's good to you and the children, isn't he ?" "No, he is not. He's very mean to us, if you want to know the truth." "Why would you want a man like that out of prison?" "Well, Governor, we've been out of ham for quite a spell." _____________________________________________________ After the last child moves out of the house, Mom and Dad announce that they're getting a divorce. The kids are totally distraught and pay for a session with the world's most famous marriage counselor as a last effort at keeping their parents together. The counselor works for hours, tries all of his methods, but the couple still won't even talk to each other. Finally he goes over to a closet, brings out a beautiful violin and begins to play. After a minute, the couple start talking. The therapist keeps soloing on the violin and the couple discover that they're not actually that far apart and decide to give their marriage another try. The kids are amazed and ask the doctor how he managed to do it. He replies, "Well, I've never yet seen a couple that wouldn't talk through a violin solo." ____________________________________________________ Sparkle tables Today in 1012 Aelfheah was murdered by Danes who had been ravaging the south of England. Aelfhear became the 29th Archbishop of Canterbury in 1005. 1539 Emperor Charles V reached a truce with German Protestants at Frankfurt, Germany. 1587 English admiral Sir Francis Drake entered Cadiz harbor and sank the Spanish fleet. 1689 Residents of Boston ousted their governor, Edmond Andros. 1713 Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI issued the Pragmatic Sanction, which gave women the rights of succession to Hapsburg possessions. 1764 The English Parliament banned the American colonies from printing paper money. 1770 Captain James Cook discovered New South Wales, Australia. Cook originally named the land Point Hicks. 1775 The American Revolution began as fighting broke out at Lexington, MA. 1782 The Netherlands recognized the new United States. 1794 Tadeusz Kosciuszko forced the Russians out of Warsaw. 1802 The Spanish reopened the New Orleans port to American merchants. 1861 Thaddeus S. C. Lowe sailed 900 miles in nine hours in a hot air balloon from Cincinnati, OH, to Unionville, SC. 1861 The Baltimore riots resulted in four Union soldiers and nine civilians killed. 1861 U.S. President Lincoln ordered a blockade of Confederate ports. 1892 The Duryea gasoline buggy was introduced in the U.S. by Charles and Frank Duryea. 1897 The first annual Boston Marathon was held. It was the first of its type in the U.S. 1927 In China, Hankow communists declared war on Chaing Kai-shek. 1933 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation that removed the U.S. from the gold standard. 1938 General Francisco Franco declared victory in the Spanish Civil War. 1943 The Warsaw Ghetto uprising against Nazi rule began. The Jews were able to fight off the Germans for 28 days. 1951 General Douglas MacArthur gave his "Old Soldiers" speech before the U.S. Congress. In the address General MacArthur said that "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." 1951 Shigeki Tanaka won the Boston Marathon. Tanaka had survived the atomic blast at Hiroshima, Japan during WWII. 1956 Actress Grace Kelly became Princess Grace of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The civil ceremony took place on April 18. 1967 Surveyor 3 landed on the moon and began sending photos back to the U.S. 1971 Russia launched the Salyut into orbit around Earth. It was the first space station. 1975 India launched its first satellite with aid from the USSR. 1981 In Davao, Philippines, thirteen people were killed when members of the New People's Army threw hand grenades into the Roman Catholic cathedral during Easter services. 1982 The U.S. announced a ban on U.S. tourist and business traval to Cuba. The U.S. charged the Cuban government with subversion in Central America. 1987 In Phoenix, AZ, skydiver Gregory Robertson went into a 200-mph free-fall to save an unconscious colleague 3,500 feet from the ground. 1987 The last California condor known to be in the wild was captured and placed in a breeding program at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. 1989 A gun turret exploded aboard the USS Iowa. 47 sailors were killed. 1989 A giant asteroid passed within 500,000 miles of Earth. 1993 The Branch-Davidianï¿½s compound in Waco, TX, burned to the ground. It was the end of a 51-day standoff between the cult and U.S. federal agents. 86 people were killed including 17 children. Nine of the Branch Davidians escaped the fire. 1994 A Los Angeles jury awarded $3.8 million to Rodney King for violation of his civil rights. 1995 The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK, was destroyed by a bomb. It was the worst bombing on U.S. territory. 168 people were killed including 19 children, and 500 were injured. Timothy McVeigh was found guilty of the bombing on June 2, 1997. 1998 Wang Dan, a leader of 1989 Tienanmen Square pro democracy protests, was freed by the Chinese government. 2000 In the Philippines, Air Philippines GAP 541 crashed while preparing to land. 131 people were killed. 2002 The USS Cole was relaunched. In Yemen, 17 sailors were killed when the ship was attacked by terrorists on October 12, 2000. The attack was blamed on Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaida network. 2015 smiled. Saturday, April 18, 2015, 08:06 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Saturday, April 18 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Illinois Man, who fatally assaulted baby who urinated on him. Details at Boneheads Today, in 1847 U.S. troops defeated almost 17,000 Mexican soldiers commanded by Santa Anna at Cerro Gordo. (Mexican-American War) More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers. --- Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892) ______________________________________________________ >From: sexysassysatin An old geezer, who had been a retired farmer for a long time, became very bored and decided to open a medical clinic. He put a sign up outside that said: Dr. Geezer's clinic. "Get your treatment for $500, if not cured get back $1,000." Doctor "Young," who was positive that this old geezer didn't know beans about medicine, thought this would be a great opportunity to get $1,000. So he went to Dr. Geezer's clinic. This is what transpired. Dr. Young: --- "Dr. Geezer, I have lost all taste in my mouth can you please help me? Dr. Geezer: --- "Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in Dr. Young's mouth." Dr. Young: --- Aaagh !! -- "This is gasoline!" Dr. Geezer: "Congratulations! You've got your taste back. That will be $500." Dr. Young gets annoyed and goes back after a couple of days figuring to recover his money. Dr Young: "I have lost my memory, I cannot remember anything." Dr. Geezer: "Nurse, please bring medicine from box 22 and put 3 drops in the patient's mouth." Doctor Young: "Oh no you don't, -- that is gasoline!" Dr. Geezer: "Congratulations! You've got your memory back. That will be $500." Dr. Young (after having lost $1000) leaves angrily and comes back after several more days. Dr. Young: "My eyesight has become weak --- I can hardly see !!!! Dr. Geezer: "Well, I don't have any medicine for that so -- " Here's your $1000 back." Dr. Young: "But this is only $500..." Dr. Geezer: "Congratulations! You got your vision back! That will be $500." Moral of story -- Just because you're "Young" doesn't mean that you can outsmart an old "Geezer " !!!! ______________________________________________________ Two guys sat down for lunch in the office cafeteria. "Hey, whatever happened to Pete in payroll?" one asked. "He got this hare brained notion he was going to build a new kind of car," his coworker replied. "How was he going to do it?" "He took an engine from a Pontiac, tires from a Chevy, seats from a Lincoln, hubcaps from a Caddy and well, you get the idea." "So what did he end up with?" "1 1/2 years in jail and 100 hours of community work." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Martin Alvarado 23 Chicago Illinois Illinois Man Fatally Assaulted Baby Who Urinated On Him An Illinois man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of an 18-month-old child who urinated on him. Police in Cicero said Martin Alvarado Jr., 23, assaulted his girlfriend's son multiple times on Thursday after the child urinated on him. Alvarado was changing the child's diaper at the time, ABC Chicago reports. An autopsy conducted on Friday determined that Edwin Eli O'Reilly died of blunt force trauma. The death was ruled a homicide. During questioning, police said Alvarado made incriminating statements and allegedly confessed to the fatal assault on videotape, according to the Chicago Tribune. This may not be the first time Alvarado has been reported for alleged child abuse. A spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said that the agency has had previous contact with the family, Newser reports. A sibling of the victim was removed from the house and taken into protective custody. Alvarado is due in bond court today. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Judy Re: Which Graphics program is best overall? Dear Webby, You have mentioned various graphics programs that are good, but which one is the best? Judy Dear Judy The answer is "Yes!" Your question is like "Which tool is the best?" What might be the best tool for digging ditches is probably not the best tool for welding. Get one graphics program and get good at using it. For example, I know that PSP is probably not the ideal program for 60 foot billboards, but I don't make billboards graphics. I work with mug shots and with 1024 pixel wide pictures of the day, and logos and business cards. For that PSP works very well, and I am used to it since about 1990. I know the hot keys and the shortcuts. THAT is the important part. Whatever program you use, get good and fast at it. That is much more important than the brand name of the program. As long as you are not required by a chool or employer to use any certain program, just get whatever is comfortable for you, Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ On my first day of school my parents told me to go to the nursery. There I was...surrounded by trees and bushes, having a great time. It's too bad they got more specific about which nursery when there was no semester report card. ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Hiding House Key for Emergency Personnel We all have our favorite key hiding places for our own use. However, to tell the location of a well-hidden key for a 911 call may not be easy, especially by the person who may be in need of emergency personnel. I'm not about to suggest where you could hide your key, but suggest that emergency ituations need to be considered. By Linda [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ According to George, home is where you can say anything you like 'cause nobody listens to you anyway. _____________________________________________________ Millie: What do you do at your Bible Studies meeting ? Susan: We try to figure out how much can we can get away with and still go to heaven. ____________________________________________________ Honza Blï¿½ha is an awesome horse trainer who teaches his horses without reins. Today in 1521 Martin Luther confronted the emperor Charles V in the Diet of Worms and refused to retract his views that led to his excommunication. 1676 Sudbury, Massachusetts, was attacked by Indians. 1818 A regiment of Indians and blacks were defeated at the Battle of Suwann, in Florida, ending the first Seminole War. 1846 The telegraph ticker was patented by R.E. House 1847 U.S. troops defeated almost 17,000 Mexican soldiers commanded by Santa Anna at Cerro Gordo. (Mexican-American War) 1853 The first train in Asia began running from Bombay to Tanna. 1877 Charles Cros wrote a paper that described the process of recording and reproducing sound. In France, Cros is regarded as the inventor of the phonograph. In the U.S., Thomas Edison gets the credit. 1895 New York State passed an act that established free public baths. 1906 San Francisco, CA, was hit with an earthquake. The original death toll was cited at about 700. Later information indicated that the death toll may have been 3 to 4 times the original estimate. 1910 Walter R. Brookins made the first airplane flight at night. 1934 The first Laundromat opened in Fort Worth, TX. 1937 Leon Trotsky called for the overthrow of Soviet leader Josef Stalin. 1942 James H. Doolittle and his squadron, from the USS Hornet, raided Tokyo and other Japanese cities. 1942 The Vichy government capitulated to Adolf Hitler and invited Pierre Laval to form a new government in France. 1943 Traveling in a bomber, Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, was shot down by American P-38 fighters. 1949 The Republic of Ireland was established. 1950 The first transatlantic jet passenger trip was completed. 1954 Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser seized power in Egypt. 1956 Actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco were married. The religious ceremony took place April 19. 1960 The Mutual Broadcasting System was sold to the 3M Company of Minnesota for $1.25 million. 1978 The U.S. Senate approved the transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama on December 31, 1999. 1983 The U.S. Embassy in Beirut was blown up by a suicide car-bomber. 63 people were killed including 17 Americans. 1984 Daredevils Mike MacCarthy and Amanda Tucker made a sky dive from the Eiffel Tower. The jump ended safely. 1985 Ted Turner filed for a hostile takeover of CBS. 1989 Thousands of Chinese students demanding democracy tried to storm Communist Party headquarters in Beijing. 1999 Wayne Gretzky (New York Rangers) played his final game in the NHL. He retired as the NHL's all-time leading scorer and holder of 61 individual records. 2002 Actor Robert Blake and his bodyguard were arrested in connection with the shooting death of Blake's wife about a year before. 2002 The Amtrack Auto Train derailed in a remote area of north Florida. Four people were killed and 133 were injured. 2002 The city legislature of Berlin decided to make Marlene Dietrich an honorary citizen. Dietrich had gone to the United States in 1930. She refused to return to Germany after Adolf Hitler came to power. 2015 smiled. Friday, April 17, 2015, 06:16 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Friday, April 17 Time to wear a bit of red to show your support for the troops! Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Floriduh counterfeiter, who advertised on CraigsList Details at Boneheads Today, in 1629 Horses were first imported into the colonies by the American Massachusetts Bay Colony. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand. --- Putt's Law ______________________________________________________ ~ Apology: I originally wrote, "Woodrow Wilson's wife grazed sheep on front lawn of the White House." I'm sorry that typesetting inadvertently left out the word "sheep." ______________________________________________________ The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Tony Torbert, 20 Merritt Island, Floriduh Craigslist Ads Sink Moronic Counterfeiter A 20-year-old man who allegedly manufactured phony $20 bills in his Florida bedroom is facing federal charges after investigators were tipped to a Craigslist ad he placed offering ï¿½Legit counterfeit $$,ï¿½ according to court records. Tony Torbert is accused of running his counterfeiting operation from his familyï¿½s Merritt Island home, where agents last week seized an HP inkjet printer Torbert said he used to create the fake bills. When investigators arrested Torbert, he said, ï¿½Iï¿½m gonna go ahead and make it easy on you guys. The printer is in my bedroom,ï¿½ according to a U.S. District Court complaint. Seen above, Torbert told agents that he worked alone and had been making counterfeit currency ï¿½since he was in high school.ï¿½ Torbert estimated that he had produced $20,000 in phony bills over the past few months. Investigators allege that Torbert sought to move his fake paper via Craigslist posts advertising ï¿½Legit counterfeit $$. Serious customers only contact me.ï¿½ Along with his phone number, Torbert noted that the the lowest price he could offer was $5000 in fake currency for $1500. After being tipped to the Craigslist ads, police arranged a series of buys from Torbert, who sold an undercover detective counterfeit bills, black tar heroin, and marijuana. The copï¿½s first buy from Torbert occurred in the parking lot of a church directly across the street from Torbertï¿½s home. During a subsequent meeting, Torbert asked the undercover agent whether he could obtain a gun for him. In addition to hand-to-hand transactions, Torbert was apparently eying an online business expansion. In a January post to Redditï¿½s ï¿½Money" subreddit, he asked, ï¿½Can anyone help me get to the dark web or black market reloaded will pay cash.ï¿½ He included the same cell phone number that was listed in the Craigslist ads. Black Market Reloaded was one of several popular marketplaces on the so-called dark web, where narcotics, weapons, counterfeit currency, fake IDs, and other illegal items were sold by vendors. Torbert, who has the word ï¿½Blessedï¿½ tattooed across his chest and neck, is free in advance of trial on felony counterfeiting and narcotics distribution charges (prosecutors did not seek his detention). He has been ordered to continue residing with his parents. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Efa Re: Inkscape Dear Webby, I started using Inkscape recently and think it might be easier than gimp. Definitely easier then blender. https://inkscape.org/en/ Efa Dear Efa It looks good, but I would definitely recommend to check, whether that program is accepted at the college of choice. Unfortunately, at many colleges it does not depend on how good a program is, but whether certain people get a kick-back or freebies. For home use Inkscape is probably more than good enough. And like GIMP, it is free. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe, and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it, and he'll have to touch to be sure. ------ To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a commitee. ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Has the Trash Been Picked Up? I live in a very nice manufactured home park. We put our trash out the night before like everyone else. However, they pick up the trash anywhere between 7am and 4pm. Sometimes it's hard to tell without multiple trips out to lift the lid. Now, by leaving a bit of the yellow or red bag handle out, I know when it's been picked up just by looking out the window. On blustery wet days, this is a real help. By Sandi/Poor But Proud [421] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Two soldiers are late returning from their leave, and now they're standing before their sergeant: "How could you be late for two whole hours? What if a war broke out?" "Well, Sergeant, we went to the opera and we just got carried away with the performance." "Opera?!" the sergeant exclaims. "I know you turkeys got good and drunk, but I doubt you got drunk enough on YOUR salary to wind up in the opera!" _____________________________________________________ How many members of your sign does it take to change a light bulb? ARIES: Just one. You want to make something of it? TAURUS: One, but just try to convince them that the burned- out bulb is useless and should be thrown away. GEMINI: Two, but the job never gets done -- they just keep discussing who is supposed to do it and how it's supposed to be done! CANCER: Just one. But it takes a therapist three years to help them through the grieving process. LEO: Leos don't change light bulbs, although sometimes their agent will get a Virgo in to do the job for them while they're out. VIRGO: Approximately 1.000000 with an error of +/- one millionth. LIBRA: Er, two. Or maybe one. No, on second thought, make that two. Is that okay with you? SCORPIO: That information is strictly secret and shared only with the Enlightened Ones in the Star Chamber of the Ancient Hierarchical Order. SAGITTARIUS: The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out light bulb? CAPRICORN: I don't waste my time with these childish jokes. AQUARIUS: Well, you have to remember that everything is energy, so.... PISCES: Light bulb? What light bulb? ____________________________________________________ Honza Blï¿½ha is an awesome horse trainer who teaches his horses without reins. Today in 1492 Christopher Columbus signed a contract with Spain to find a passage to Asia and the Indies. 1521 Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. 1524 New York Harbor was discovered by Giovanni Verrazano. 1535 Antonio Mendoza was appointed first viceroy of New Spain. 1629 Horses were first imported into the colonies by the American Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1808 Napoleon I of France ordered the seizure of U.S. ships to break the trade blockade. 1810 Pineapple cheese was patented by Lewis M. Norton. 1824 Russia abandoned all North American claims south of 54' 40'. 1860 New Yorkers learned of a new law that required fire escapes to be provided for tenement houses. 1864 U.S. Civil War General Grant banned the trading of prisoners. 1865 Mary Surratt was arrested as a conspirator in the Lincoln assassination. 1875 The game "snooker" was invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain. 1895 China and Japan signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki. It was the end of the first Sino-Japanese War. In the treaty China ceded Taiwan to Japan. 1941 Igor Sikorsky accomplished the first successful helicopter lift-off from water near Stratford, CT. 1946 The last French troops left Syria. 1961 About 1,400 U.S.-supported Cuban exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in an attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro. It was an unsuccessful attack. 1964 The Ford Motor Company unveiled its new Mustang model. 1967 The U.S. Supreme Court barred Muhammad Ali's request to be blocked from induction into the U.S. Army. 1969 In Los Angeles, Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of assassinating U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy. 1970 Apollo 13 returned to Earth safely after an on-board accident with an oxygen tank. 1975 Khmer Rouge forces capture the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. It was the end of the five-year war. 1983 In Warsaw, police routed 1,000 Solidarity supporters. 1983 In New York, a transit strike that began on March 7 ended. 19840 In London, demonstrators outside the Libyan Embassy were fired upon from someone inside. Eleven people were injured and an English Police woman was killed. 1985 In Lebanon, the cabinet resigned as Shiites took W. Beirut. 1987 In Sri Lanka, Tamil guerrillas killed 122 people in a road ambush. 1989 In Poland, courts gave Solidarity legal status. 1993 A federal jury in Los Angeles convicted two former police officers of violating the civil rights of beaten motorist Rodney King. Two other officers were acquitted. 2015 smiled. What kind of keyboard to pick Thursday, April 16, 2015, 08:39 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Thursday, April 16 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Georgia Mother Accused Of 'Naked Twister Party' With Teen Daughter Details at Boneheads Today, in 1943 In Basel, Switzerland, chemist Albert Hoffman accidently discovered the the hallucinogenic effects of LSD-25 while working on the medicinal value of lysergic acid. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work. --- Robert Frost (1874 - 1963) ______________________________________________________ A judge was interviewing a woman regarding her pending divorce, and asked, "What are the grounds for your divorce?" She replied, "About four acres and a nice little home in the middle of the property with a stream running by." "No," he said, "I mean what is the foundation of this case?" "It is made of concrete, brick and mortar," she responded. "I mean," he continued, "What are your relations like?" "I have an aunt and uncle living here in town, and so does my husband." He said, "Do you have a real grudge?" "No," she replied, "We have a two-car carport and have never really needed one." "Please," he tried again, "Is there any infidelity in your marriage?" "Yes, both my son and daughter have stereo sets. We don't necessarily like the music, but the answer to your questions is yes." "Ma'am, does your husband ever beat you up?" "Yes," she responded, "about twice a week he gets up earlier than I do." Finally, in frustration, the judge asked, "Lady, why do you want a divorce?" "Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He said he can't communicate with me." ______________________________________________________ Jill wanted to convince Susan, a continually harried friend, that she needed to find ways to relax. She invited her to dinner and, while she was busy cooking, Susan agreed to watch her videotape on stress management and relaxation techniques. Fifteen minutes later, she came into the kitchen and handed Jill the tape. "It was good," she said, "but I don't need it." "But it's a 70-minute video," Jill replied. "You couldn't have watched the whole thing." "Yes, I did," Susan assured her. "I put it on fast-forward." ______________________________________________________ Click through for the big picture Fixer-Upper. Dish is already installed. If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Rachel Lynn Lehnardt, 35 Evans, Georgia Georgia Mother Accused Of 'Naked Twister Party' With Teen Daughter A mother in Evans, Georgia, is being accused of hosting a party for her teenage daughter that allegedly included naked Twister, consumption of pot and alcohol and culminated with the woman having sex with a 16-year-old male. Rachel Lynn Lehnardt, 35, was arrested Saturday night and charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The charges stem from a wild party allegedly held a few weeks ago in her home, according to police reports. The suspect also has lost custody of her five children, ages 4, 6, 8, 10, and 16. The allegations were made by Lehnardt's Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, who contacted the Columbia County Sheriff's Office after meeting with the suspect to discuss her future plans for sobriety, AugustaCrime.com reports. Lehnardt allegedly told her sponsor that her 16-year-old daughter texted asking if she could have friends over ï¿½to party,ï¿½ according to a sheriff's report obtained by the Augusta Chronicle. Lehnardt reportedly agreed and allowed her daughter and friends to smoke pot and drink booze in her home. In addition, the Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor told investigators that Lehnardt participated in naked Twister with the teens, and showed them photos of herself having sex with her boyfriend. The Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor told authorities that Lehnardt confessed to having sex with an 18-year-old male in the bathroom during the naked Twister game. According to the sheriff's report, Lehnardt allegedly went to bed alone, but awoke around 3:30 when she felt someone having sex with her. "She stated at first she thought it was the 18-year-old from earlier, but then realized it was the 16-year-old who was in fact her daughter's boyfriend," Lehnardt's Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor told deputies. The sheriff's report then goes into shocking detail: "Mrs. Lehnardt told [the sponsor] she and her daughter had spoken later and that her daughter 'felt guilty because the 16-year-old was 10 inches long and huge, and if she had just been able to take it, he wouldn't have needed to rape her sleeping mother.'" This allegation sounds like rape but Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Steve Morris said no charges are pending against him. "Based on the investigation, there's no evidence the 16-year-old committed a crime," Morris told The Huffington Post. The report states the Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor goes to the same church as Lehnardt. The suspect allegedly belongs to a sexual addiction support group where she admitted to being a "sexual deviant" who is addicted to pornography. No confidentiality there either. A Sheriff's spokesman told AugustaCrime.com that Lehnardt was arrested partially based on the account given by her Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor. No sexual crime charges are being filed because 16 is the legal age of consent in her state. Lehnardt was released from the Columbia County Detention Center after posting a $3,200 bond, according to the Augusta News-Times. So much for confidentiality at Alcoholics Anonymous. This case permanently ruins their whole concept. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Ruth Re: What kind of keyboard for my computer? Dear Webby, My keyboard is getting worn and needs to be replaced. It is on an HP computer, that I am not impressed with. Do I need an expensive HP keyboard, or will any keyboard do? Ruth Dear Ruth There are two basic types of keyboards. One type have the Windows flag on the second key from the left on the bottom row, the other type has an apple symbol. You need the type with a Windows button. With those keyboards there are again two types, those with and those without a numeric keypad on the right. Most definitely get one, that has the numeric keypad. The other ones may be shorter, but are a real nuissance. Amongst the ones with the numeric keypad, there are again two types: Wired and wireless. Wired never needs batteries, wireless needs batteries but never gets the cable tangled up. Personally, I prefer wired and don't have to worry about running out of battery. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ One day this old lady walks into the doctors office and is shown into a room. When the doctor comes in and asks what the problem is she answers, "I have awful gas, but it doesn't bother me. You see, it's completely silent, and doesn't smell at all." So the doctor, after examining her thoroughly gives her some pills and tells her to take one everyday and come back in a week. So the old lady comes back, and when the doctor asks if her problem is any better she replies, "Well I don't know what you gave me but now my gas smells terribly!" The doctor replies "Well now that we've got your sinuses cleared up let's work on your hearing!"' ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Razor Blade to Clean Glass Shower Doors Soap scum just flakes off into a powder by removing it with a single edge razor. Very simple. After years of spending money on chemicals for my shower doors, they are now clean! By frgarden [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ At the beginning of a children's sermon, one little girl came up to the alter wearing a beautiful dress. As the children are sitting down around the pastor, the pastor leans over and says to the girl, "That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter dress?" The girl replies almost directly into the pastor's clip-on mike, "Yes. And my Mom says it's a son of a bitch to iron." _____________________________________________________ Sign at the church: Parking is for Church patrons only. Violators will be baptized. ____________________________________________________ Interesting and beautiful smoke drawings in glass bottles. Today in 0556 Pelagius I began his reign as Catholic Pope. 1065 The Norman Robert Guiscard took Bari. Five centuries of Byzantine rule in southern Italy ended. 1705 Queen Anne of England knighted Isaac Newton. 1746 The Duke of Cumberland defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie (and his Jacobites) at the battle of Culloden. 1818 The U.S. Senate ratified Rush-Bagot amendment to form an unarmed U.S.-Canada border. 1851 A lighthouse was swept away in a gale at Minotï¿½s Ledge, MA. 1854 San Salvador was destroyed by an earthquake. 1883 Paul Kruger became president of the South African Republic. 1905 Andrew Carnegie donated $10,000,000 of personal money to set up the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 1917 Vladimir Ilyich Lenin returned to Russia to start Bolshevik Revolution after years of exile. 1922 Annie Oakley shot 100 clay targets in a row, to set a women's record. 1943 In Basel, Switzerland, chemist Albert Hoffman accidently discovered the the hallucinogenic effects of LSD-25 while working on the medicinal value of lysergic acid. 1944 The destroyer USS Laffey survived immense damage from attacks by 22 Japanese aircraft off Okinawa. 1947 The Zoomar lens, invented by Dr. Frank Back, was demonstrated in New York City. It was the first lens to exhibit zooming effects. 1947 In Texas City, TX, the French ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate fertilizer, caught fire and blew up. The explosions and resulting fires killed 576 people. 1951 75 people were killed when the British submarine Affray sank in the English Channel. 1968 The Pentagon announced that troops would begin coming home from Vietnam. 1972 Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon. It was the fifth manned moon landing. 1975 The Khmer Rouge Rebels won control of Cambodia after five years of civil war. They renamed the country Kampuchea and began a reign of terror. 1982 Queen Elizabeth proclaimed Canada's new constitution in effect. The act severed the last colonial links with Britain. 1983 China shelled the Vietnam border in retaliation for raids. 1983 Brazil detained four Libyan planes en route to Nicaragua after finding weapons, explosives and ammunition on the planes. 1987 The U.S. Patent Office began allowing the patenting of new animals created by genetic engineering. 1992 Italian financier Carlo de Benedetti and 32 others were convicted of fraud in connection with the 1982 collapse of Banco Ambrosiano. 1995 The European Union and Canada agreed to protect threatened fish stocks in the north Atlantic. 1996 An Italian court found former Prime Minister Bettino Craxi guilty on charges of corruption. He was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison. 1999 Wayne Gretzky announced his retirement from the National Hockey League (NHL). 2002 The U.S. Supreme Court overturned major parts of a 1996 child pornography law based on rights to free speech. 2007 In Blacksburg, VA, a student killed 33 people at Virginia Tech before killing himself. 2015 smiled. Why a fancy painting program for college? Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 04:18 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Wednesday, April 15 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Washington robber,who carried bag with dollar sign Details at Boneheads Today, in 1865 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He actually died early the next morning. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Walking isn't a lost art: one must, by some means, get to the garage. --- Evan Esar (1899 - 1995) ______________________________________________________ >From Roland Letter to the IRS A couple of weeks after hearing a sermon on Psalm 51:2-4 (knowing my own hidden secrets) and Psalm 52:3-4 (lies and deceit), a man wrote the following letter to the IRS: "I have been unable to sleep, knowing that I have cheated on my income tax. I understated my taxable income, and I have enclosed a check for $150. If I still can't sleep, I will send the rest." ______________________________________________________ Bob took his 4 year old son, Josh, out to McDonald's for dinner one evening for a "guy night". As they were eating hamburgers, Josh asked "Daddy, what are these little things on the hamburger buns?" He responded that they were tiny seeds and were ok to eat. He was quiet for a couple of minutes and obviously in deep thought. Finally, Josh looked up and said, "Dad, if we go home and plant these seeds in our backyard, we will have enough hamburgers to last forever." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Kenneth Morgan Stancil III 20, Goldsboro, North Carolina Suspect in North Carolina college killing captured sleeping on beach The man accused of shooting and killing an employee at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, North Carolina on Monday was arrested early Tuesday in Florida, police say. Kenneth Morgan Stancil III was arrested just after 1 a.m., after he was found sleeping on the beach in Daytona, Goldsboro police said, about 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Goldsboro. Kenneth Morgan Stancil III was arrested just after 1 a.m., after he was found sleeping on the beach in Daytona, Goldsboro police said, about 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Goldsboro, North Carolina. Volusia County Beach Patrol had approached him for violating the city's ordinance against sleeping on the beach. He had a knife, police said. He was taken into custody without incident. The shooting Monday took place on the third floor of a building on campus. The school was placed on lockdown. "This is not a random situation. It is an isolated situation," Maj. Tom Effler of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. The victim was Ron Lane, a longtime employee and the school's print shop operator, officials said. Stancil, a former student at the college, once worked for Lane. "This is indeed a sad day for Wayne Community College and this close family and community," school President Kay Albertson said Monday. While authorities were clearing out rooms, they deployed tear gas into a restroom someone was in, Effler said. The person inside turned out not to be the suspect. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Dan Re: Why a fancy painting program for college? Dear Webby, Why wouldn't Microsoft paint be good enough for college? It does everything I need to do. Dan Dear Dan I realize that Microsoft Paint has improved a bit, but it is simply not in the same class as PSP, Photoshop or GIMP. Whith those programs you can do posters and even billboards, and you probably have come across unbelievable pictures like the ones from WORTH, showing animals with heads of other animals smoothly merged, or a certain, almost believable, birth certificate. You could not do that with Microsoft Paint. In college they have to learn how to make posters and billboards, and for that they need the right tools. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Customer: "You've got to fix my computer. I urgently need to print a document, but the computer won't boot properly." Tech Support: "What does it say?" Customer: "Something about an error and non-system disk." Tech Support: "Look at your machine. Is there a floppy inside?" Customer: "No, but there's a sticker saying there's an intel inside. How do I get that one out? ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Razor Blade to Clean Glass Shower Doors Soap scum just flakes off into a powder by removing it with a single edge razor. Very simple. After years of spending money on chemicals for my shower doors, they are now clean! By frgarden [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ The pastor had launched into one of his "Best Ever"messages. He was about half done, at the 45-minute mark and just getting to the "good part," when a member of his congregation died. Rushing to his office, he dialed 911. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics carried out 51 people before they finally got one who didn't wake up when they got him to fresh air. _____________________________________________________ >From Karolyn My boyfriend, Tim, a mechanic, does work for the Air Force Academy. One day, a guard asked, "Mind if our new guard dog practices sniffing your truck?" Tim obliged and the dog went to work. Amost immediately, it latched onto a scent and jumped into the truck bed, sniffing furiously. Tim grew nervous.There were no drugs, no weapons. What could this dog possibly be after? A few minuted later, the guard approached Tim. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Our dog ate your lunch." ____________________________________________________ I love to swing but don't think I want to swing over a canyon! I like the Groot Swing, thatï¿½s more my style. Today in 1813 U.S. troops under James Wilkinson attacked the Spanish- held city of Mobile that would be in the future state of Alabama. 1858 At the Battle of Azimghur, the Mexicans defeated Spanish loyalists. 1861 U.S. President Lincoln mobilized the Federal army. 1865 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln died from injuries inflicted by John Wilkes Booth. 1871 "Wild Bill" Hickok became the marshal of Abilene, Kansas. 1892 The General Electric Company was organized. 1899 Thomas Edison organized the Edison Portland Cement Company. 1912 The ocean liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg the evening before. 1,517 people died and more than 700 people survived. 1917 The British defeated the Germans at the battle of Arras. 1919 British troops killed 400 Indians at Amritsar, India. 1923 Insulin became generally available for people suffering with diabetes. 1934 In the comic strip "Blondie," Dagwood and Blondie Bumstead welcomed a baby boy, Alexander. The child would be nicknamed, Baby Dumpling. 1940 French and British troops landed at Narvik, Norway. 1945 During World War II, British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen. 1948 The Arabs were defeated in the first Jewish-Arab battle. 1952 The first B-52 prototype was tested in the air. 1953 Charlie Chaplin surrendered his U.S. re-entry permit rather than face proceedings by the U.S. Justice Department. Chaplin was accused of sympathizing with Communist groups. 1956 General Motors announced that the first free piston automobile had been developed. 1959 Cuban leader Fidel Castro began a U.S. goodwill tour. 1967 Richard Speck was found guilty of murdering eight student nurses. 1983 Tokyo Disneyland opened. 1986 U.S. F-111 warplanes attacked Libya in response to the bombing of a discotheque in Berlin on April 5, 1986. 1989 Students in Beijing launched a series of pro democracy protests upon the death of former Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. The protests led to the Tienanmen Square massacre. 1989 In Sheffield, England, 96 people were killed and hundreds were injured at a soccer game at Hillsborough Stadium when a crowd surged into an overcrowded standing area. Ninety-four died on the day of the incident and two more later died from their injuries. 1994 The World Trade Organization was established. 1998 Pol Pot died at the age of 73. The leader of the Khmer Rouge regime thereby evaded prosecution for the deaths of 2 million Cambodians. 1999 In Algeria, former Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Bouteflika was elected president. All of the opposition candidates claimed that the vote was fraudulent and withdrew from the election. 1999 In Rawalpindi, Pakistan, a panel of two Lahore High Court judges convicted former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, of corruption. 2000 600 anti-IMF (International Monetary Fund) protesters were arrested in Washington, DC, for demonstrating without a permit. 2015 smiled. Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 09:00 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Tuesday, April 14 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Washington robber,who carried bag with dollar sign Details at Boneheads Today, in 1865 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He actually died early the next morning. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain. --- Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805) The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on. It is never any use to oneself. --- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) ______________________________________________________ A man dies and goes to heaven, and Saint Peter asks him what religion he belongs to. The man tells him, and Saint Peter says, "Oh, we have a lot of your kind here. In fact, we have a special room for all of you, so you can all be together." He leads the man down a long hallway with doors on either side. They pass one door and they hear a bunch of yelling and hollering inside. "Who's in that room?" the man asks. "Oh, those are the holy rollers," says Saint Peter. "They make a lot of noise but they're pretty harmless". They pass by another door which is nearly shaking off its hinges. "Who's in there?" the man asks. "That's the room for the Shakers," replies Saint Peter. Then they approach another door. Saint Peter whispers to the man, "We must be very quiet going past this door. Don't make a sound." They tiptoe past the door and when they get farther down the hallway the man asks Saint Peter who was in that room. "Oh, those are the Catholics. They think they're the only ones up here!" ______________________________________________________ A fellow in a bar notices a woman, always alone, come in on a fairly regular basis. After the second week, he made his move. "No thank you." she said politely. "This may sound rather odd in this day and age, but I'm keeping myself pure until I meet the man I love." "That must be rather difficult." the man replied. "Oh, I don't mind too much." she said. "But, it has my husband pretty upset." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by David Eli Lingafelter, 20, Olympia, Washington Robber Carried Bag With Dollar Sign APRIL 10--When David Eli Lingafelter was arrested Wednesday for the robbery of a Subway restaurant in Olympia, Washington, he was carrying a white canvas bag with a large, handwritten dollar sign on it, police report. The bag--not unlike those seen in the hands of crooks in comics and cartoons--was tied to the front of Lingafelterï¿½s pants when police nabbed the 20-year-old shortly after the sandwich shop heist. Police allege that Lingafelter entered the Subway wearing a white hat and a red bandana over his face, adding that he ï¿½reached into his pocket as if he had a weapon.ï¿½ After directing a female employee to open the cash register and place her hands on her head, Lingafelter swiped $100 and the workerï¿½s cell phone. While committing the robbery, Lingafelter warned the Subway employee not to ï¿½do anything funny,ï¿½ police reported. Lingafelter was later apprehended hiding behind a dumpster at a nearby shopping center. A police search of the suspect turned up a knife, $100 in cash, and a phone matching the description of the one stolen from the Subway worker. Additionally, investigators noted, Lingafelter ï¿½also had a white canvas bag tied to the front of his pants that had a dollar sign printed on it.ï¿½ As seen above, police photographed Lingafelter with the bag at his waist (and also took a closeup shot of the item). Lingafelter was booked on robbery and obstruction charges. He is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Linda Re: Painting program Dear Webby, My daughter is going to college in the fall, and will need some kind of painting program. Do you know of one, that does not cost an arm and a leg, and that she can learn to use by fall? Thanks Linda Dear Linda I have used PaintShopPro since about 1990, and don't really need anything heavier. You can get older versions quite cheaply on eBay. If she needs total power for huge projects, then there is GIMP. (Gnu Image Manipulation Project) It is totally free and without ad ware, if you get it from GIMP directly: http://download.gimp.org http://www.gimp.org/downloads/ Many colleges and most universities use Linux. To download and install GIMP on Linux, type perl -MCPAN Some colleges specify Photoshop, because the staff get free copies if they insist their students get it, and because it is the only program the snobs know. Find out what the policy is at the college she plans to go to. GIMP is generally considered much more powerful than Photoshop, but because it can do so much, takes a bit of getting used to. There are, of course many more graphics programs, but most other ones beside those three, are not college and university level. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ My 10 yr old niece says her prayers every night and instead of amen she says:"Hit ENTER" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Coffee Filter for Freezing Chopped Bell Peppers Where I live, bell peppers can be rather expensive. I buy them only when they are on sale. I wash them, chop them, then spread them on a cookie sheet. I let a little fan blow on them for about half an hour. This reduces the surface moisture a bit, thereby reducing the formation of ice crystals when I freeze them. I still get enough ice crystals to cause the peppers to stick together. I found that if after doing the above, I place a coffee filter in the freezer bag and squeeze all air out before sealing, the peppers will have very little ice crystals on them, and all the little pieces will remain separate and even pourable. By likekinds [63] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ While Kathy is at her friend's house it starts to rain very heavily. Her friend tells her to spend the night at her house and go home the next day. When she hears this, Kathy rushes out the door and comes back a while later totally drenched and carrying a small, soggy paper bag. So her friend asks "Where did you run off too?" "I went home to get my pajamas!" _____________________________________________________ Each evening bird lover Tom stood in his backyard, hooting like an owl - and one night, an owl finally called back to him. For a year, the man and his feathered friend hooted back and forth. He even kept a log of the "conversation". Just as he thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough in interspecies communication, his wife had a chat with her next door neighbor. "My husband spends his nights calling out to owls," she said. "That's odd," the neighbor replied. "So does my husband!" ____________________________________________________ The selfie thing sure has exploded, some of these are hilarious. Today in 1793 A royalist rebellion in Santo Domingo was crushed by French republican troops. 1860 The first Pony Express rider arrived in San Francisco with mail originating in St. Joseph, MO. 1865 U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. He actually died early the next morning. 1894 First public showing of Thomas Edison's kinetoscope 1902 James Cash (J.C.) Penney opened his first retail store in Kemmerer, WY. It was called the Golden Rule Store. 1912 The Atlantic passenger liner Titanic, on its maiden voyage hit an iceberg and began to sink. 1,517 people lost their lives and more than 700 survived. 1918 The U.S. First Aero Squadron engaged in America's first aerial dogfight with enemy aircraft over Toul, France. 1931 King Alfonso XIII of Spain went into exile and the Spanish Republic was proclaimed. 1946 The civil war between Communists and nationalist resumed in China. 1953 Viet Minh invaded Laos with 40,00 troops. 1956 Ampex Corporation of Redwood City, CA, demonstrated the first commercial magnetic tape recorder for sound and picture. 1981 America's first space shuttle, Columbia, returned to Earth after a three-day test flight. The shuttle orbited the Earth 36 times during the mission. 1984 The Texas Board of Education began requiring that the state's public school textbooks describe the evolution of human beings as "theory rather than fact". 1986 U.S. President Reagan announced the U.S. air raid on military and terrorist related targets in Libya. 1988 Representatives from the U.S.S.R., Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. signed an agreement that called for the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan starting on May 15. The last Soviet troop left Afghanistan on February 15, 1989. 1988 In New York, real estate tycoons Harry and Leona Helmsley were indicted for income tax evasion. 1994 Two American F-15 warplanes inadvertently shot down two U.S. helicopters over northern Iraq. 26 people were killed including 15 Americans. 1998 The state of Virginia ignored the requests from the World Court and executed a Paraguayan for the murder of a U.S. woman. 1999 Pakistan test-fired a ballistic missile that was capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching its rival neighbor India. 2002 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned to office two days after being arrested by his country's military. 2008 Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines announced they were combining. 2015 smiled. Monday, April 13, 2015, 07:18 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Monday, April 13 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Serial Train Masturbator Tetsuya Fukuda Admits Harassing More Than 100 Women Details at Boneheads Today, in 1949 Philip S. Hench and associates announced that cortizone was an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you. --- Don Marquis (1878 - 1937) ______________________________________________________ >From Diana==== Dear Webby I really like it when you add personal bits to the jokes, not just pasting a few dumb jokes and a lot of commercials like the other lists do. My husband had told me about those long distance races, so I read today's Humor letter to him. He got all sentimental and dug out the old photo albums with the pictures of those Pick-Ups with the rock chips all over the windows, and the step-box with the gas drums, and all of them with a 2 by 4 sticking up in the left back corner. When I asked him about that, he just laughed and laughed and pointed at your humor letter. Eventually he told me that it was for holding on to, if one had to stand by the tailgate to empty the used coffee while the truck was flying down the gravel highway at 70 miles an hour. You guys are NUTS! ------- That was no big deal then, however, with todays slower but much more crowded traffic I would not recommend stunts like that. Also, standing at the tailgate for getting rid of used coffee into the big dust cloud that you trail when driving a gravel road at 70 miles per hour, was OK then. Doing the same today on a paved freeway would probably get you arrested in most states. We didn't ALWAYS drive at 70 mph, but the old Alaska Highway was very nicely banked in the corners and with a sloppy steering and the rear end drifting a bit, when going fast enough, it pulled you around the corners without turning the steering wheel. You sure can't do that on pavement! ______________________________________________________ A rich woman was giving a garden party with many wealthy guests in attendance. While the party was going on, two gardeners were doing yard work on the rear lawn. While one of the guests was watching him, one of the gardeners suddenly jumped into the air and performed numerous graceful swirling dance movements. The guest remarked to his hostess, "That man is such a talented dancer, I'd pay him $100 to dance before all of the guests!" When the hostess asked the head gardener about making such an arrangement, he yelled, "Hey Fred! Do you think for $100 you could step on that rake again?" ______________________________________________________ Click through for the big picture Old wedding dresses make excellent winter camo If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Tetsuya Fukuda 40, Tokyo, Japan Serial Train Masturbator Tetsuya Fukuda Admits Harassing More Than 100 Women Police in Japan arrested Tetsuya Fukuda, 40, on Thursday after matching his DNA to a sample of semen taken off of an 18-year-old schoolgirl's skirt in December, according to Asahi Shimbun. Once in custody, Fukuda admitted to doing the same thing to other women on the Japan Rail Sobu line about 2 or 3 times a month since 2011. He told police that he did it because he was "excited to be in close contact with women" on the crowded trains. Cops say he's suspected in more than 100 incidents. They theorize that Fukuda cut holes in his jacket pockets so he could discreetly touch himself, then apply his semen to victims. Perhaps what's most baffling in the case are the charges: Fukuda faces a charge of vandalism for damaging the skirt, according to TBS News. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Alexa Re: Links to other sites Dear Webby, I want to make a page with links to other sites, that I find interesting and want to share. How do i do that? Yesterday's links don't work for that. Alexa Dear Alexa Go to a site, that you want to link to, and copy the URL from the top address bar. For example http://webby.com/humor/ Then put <.a href=" (Without the period before the a < That is just so it shows here as text and not a link) before the URL like this: <.a href="http://webby.com/humor/ and add "> after it, then some description, like Humor Letter And then <./a> at the end. Total: <.a href="http://webby.com/humor/">Humor Letter<./a> If it doesn't work, check to see if you accidentally left that period in, or missed a " or a > HTML is right fussy about that. That is all there is to it. After the first few links, it goes easy. The nicest part of HTML is that you can write it with ANY basic text editor, even Notepad. No need to buy any program to compose it. And here is the most common HTML command: <.BR> (without the period, of course) BR stands for BReak. Line BReak. It breaks the line and starts a new line. Two BRs give you a line break and an empty line for a paragraph break. There IS a Paragraph command, but it's best to stay away from that. The Paragraph command needs to be turned off, AND, it turns off your font settings. So, for now avoid the Paragraph command, and stick with the BR command. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ A man's car stalled on a country road. When he got out to try to fix it, a cow came along and stopped beside him. "Your trouble is probably in the carburetor," said the cow. Startled, the man jumped back and ran down the road until he met the farmer. He told the farmer his story. "Was it a large brown cow with a white spot over the right eye?" asked the farmer. "Yes!" "Oh, I wouldn't listen to Bessie," said the Farmer. "She only knows tractors and diesels but doesn't really have a clue about gasoline engines." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Terra Cotta Lighthouse This terracotta lighthouse is just 2 large plant pots cemented together and painted, with a lantern on top. By patanthar ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ The new preacher, at this first service, had a pitcher of water and a glass on the pulpit. As he preached,he drank until the pitcher of water was completely gone. After the service, someone asked an old woman of the church, "How did you like the new pastor?" "Fine," she said, "but he's first windmill I ever saw that was run by water." _____________________________________________________ One morning, while shaving, a fellow started cursing and swearing so loudly it attracted the attention of his wife, who was preparing breakfast in the kitchen. "What's the matter?" she called out. "My razor -- it won't cut!" he answered. "Don't be silly, dear!" she declared. "You mean to tell me your beard is tougher than linoleum?" ____________________________________________________ Houses and buildings disguised to look like they are not even there. Today in 1598 King Henry IV of France signed the Edict of Nantes which granted political rights to French Protestant Huguenots. 1759 The French defeated the European allies in Battle of Bergen. 1829 The English Parliament granted freedom of religion to Catholics. 1849 The Hungarian Republic was proclaimed. 1860 The first mail was delivered via Pony Express when a westbound rider arrived in Sacremento, CA from St. Joseph, MO. 1861 After 34 hours of bombardment, the Union-held Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederates. 1916 The first hybrid seed corn was purchased for 15-cents a bushel by Samuel Ramsay. 1919 British forces killed hundreds of Indian nationalists in the Amritsar Massacre. 1933 The first flight over Mount Everest was completed by Lord Clydesdale. 1941 German troops captured Belgrade, Yugoslavia. 1945 Vienna fell to Soviet troops. 1949 Philip S. Hench and associates announced that cortizone was an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. 1960 The first navigational satellite was launched into Earth's orbit. 1961 The U.N. General Assembly condemned South Africa due to apartheid. 1962 In the U.S., major steel companies rescinded announced price increases. The John F. Kennedy administration had been applying pressure against the price increases. 1970 An oxygen tank exploded on Apollo 13, preventing a planned moon landing. 1976 The U.S. Federal Reserve introduced $2 bicentennial notes. 1979 The world's longest doubles ping-pong match ended after 101 hours. 1984 U.S. President Reagan sent emergency military aid to El Salvador without congressional approval. 1990 The Soviet Union accepted responsibility for the World War II murders of thousands of imprisoned Polish officers in the Katyn Forest. The Soviets had previously blamed the massacre on the Nazis. 1998 Dolly, the world's first cloned sheep, gave natural birth to a healthy baby lamb. 1999 Jack Kervorkian was sentenced in Pontiac, MI, to 10 to 25 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Thomas Youk. Youk's assisted suicide was videotaped and shown on "60 Minutes" 2002 Twenty-five Hindus were killed and about 30 were wounded when grenades were thrown by suspected Islamic guerrillas near Jammu-Kashir. 2002 Venezuela's interim president, Pedro Carmona, resigned a day after taking office. Thousands of protesters had protested over the ousting of president Hugo Chavez. 2015 smiled. How difficult is it to write a web page? Sunday, April 12, 2015, 03:43 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Sunday, April 12 We got a Chinook, but not a warm one. All the calories in it are spent evaporating the snow in the mountains. No timid melting, straight from snow and ice to vapor. That makes the wind cold, but it doesn't cause floods. Every time you look at the mountains, there a re more dark splotches, but the river is almost dry. Good! So I walked with my parka and the hood up. Next Chinook will be a hot one. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Wyoming Man Who Stole Train sentenced Details at Boneheads Today, in 1861 Fort Sumter was shelled by Confederacy, starting America's Civil War. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! A person is always startled when he hears himself seriously called an old man for the first time. --- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809 - 1894) ______________________________________________________ A bus of politicians is driving by a farm where a man lives alone. The bus driver, caught up in the beautiful scenery, loses control and crashes into the ditch. The farmer comes out and finding the politicians, buries them. The next day, the police are at the farm questioning the man. "So you buried all the politicians?" asked the police officer. "Were they all dead?" The man answered, "Some said they weren't, but you know how politicians lie." ______________________________________________________ A kind-hearted fellow was walking through Central Park in New York and was astonished to see an old man, fishing rod in hand, fishing over a beautiful bed of lillies. "Tch Tch!" said the passerby to himself. "What a sad sight. That poor old man is fishing over a bed of flowers. I'll see if I can help." So the kind fellow walked up to the old man and asked, "What are you doing, my friend?" "Fishin', sir." "Fishin', eh. Well how would you like to come have a drink with me?" The old man stood up, put his rod away and followed the kind stranger to the corner bar. He ordered a large glass of beer and a fine cigar. His host, the kind fellow, felt good about helping the old man, and he asked, "Tell me, old friend, how many did you catch this morning?" The old fellow took a long drag on the cigar, blew a careful smoke ring and replied, "You are the sixth today, sir!" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Derek Skyler Brux, 22, North Antelope, Wyoming Wyoming Man Who Stole Train sentenced A Wyoming man who stole a train from a coal mine and took it for a joyride because he was mad at his boss was sentenced Friday to serve probation and pay restitution. Derek Skyler Brux, 22, will be on supervised release for five years and pay over $63,000 to his employer, Rail Link, after unhitching a pair of engines last fall and speeding down a major rail line in the northeast part of the state. He crashed into a train at another mine after a short run, then backed up his locomotives and rammed it again. A miner stopped him by hitting an emergency fuel cutoff switch, and Brux was arrested a short time later. Brux pleaded guilty in January to a federal charge of "committing violence against railroad carriers," which is known in law enforcement circles as the "train wreck statute." It can carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The October incident began when Brux received a call from his supervisor at the North Antelope Rochelle Mine, about 65 miles south of Gillette, which he said "sent me over the deep end." Available court records don't indicate what his supervisor said. Brux's lawyer, recently assigned to the case, also was unaware. BNSF supervisor Michael Spurlock testified by telephone that only luck prevented Brux's actions from causing a catastrophe. If switches on the mainline had been set a different way, the locomotives could have run into workers, he said. "This is at the very top of the list of things that could go wrong," Spurlock said. "And it's mind-boggling that somebody would do it intentionally." Brux apologized in court. "Something could have happened, and I look at that every day," he said. "And I wish I could take it back. That's all I have to say." U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl in Cheyenne told Brux to find ways to deal with his apparent anger mental health issues. Federal prosecutors said probation was appropriate and that allowing Brux to continue working would help ensure he pays his restitution. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Lilly Re: How difficukt are web pages? Dear Webby, I know you have been mnaking web pages for over 20 years, and I have heard that you have made web pages as fast as somebody could explain their topic over Skype, but how difficult would it be for me? Thanks Lilly Dear Lilly Not difficult at all. Use Open Office WRITE to write your pages, then save them as HTML files. The first and main entrance page is named index.html, and in it you make links to the other pages, like this: <.a href="page2.html">Page 2<.a> (Without the period before the a < That is just so it shows here as text and not a link) If you want to get fancy, look at the free HTML course in the right side menu. Getting your site hosted is also no problem at all. The only challenge is trying to come up with some text and if possible some pictures about your topic. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Excuses, excuses... Philadelphia's Highway Patrol officers hear all kinds of creative excuses that drivers give for speeding. Here are some of the officers' favorites. By the way, none of them worked. A man told the officer he was rushing to the hospital because had been stung by a bee, and was allergic. "There's the bee right there," he said, pointing to his dashboard. The officer looked. The bee was not only dead, but in a advanced state of decomposition. A man was doing 70 mph on the shoulder of I-95, avoiding the bumper-to-bumper traffic. After a third of a mile, he was stopped by an officer. He jumped out of the car, brushing off his pants, and told the cop he had dropped a cigarette on his lap. "I was looking for a place to park," he explained. A speeder said that he and his wife were trying to have a baby. "My wife is ovulating," he told the officer. "I have to get home right now." An officer stopped a man doing 80 mph. When he asked the driver whether he had seen the speed-limit signs, the man responded, "I went by them so fast I probably missed them." A man going south on I-95 was stopped near Washington Avenue doing 79 mph. "My engine misses, and I'm trying to clean out the carburetor," he told the officer. For good measure, he added, "If I don't go this fast, my car won't go at all." "I'm due in traffic court," one speeder said. "If I'm late they're going to enforce the bench warrant." When an officer told a speeder that the speed limit on the Schuylkill Expressway was 50 mph, the driver responded, "Officer, where have you been? It's 65 now." One speeder said simply, "I'm trying to beat my wife home. I have to chase my secretary out before my wife gets there. Don't ask." An elderly person was stopped after doing 73 mph. When told he was getting a ticket, he asked the officer, "Is there a senior citizen's discount?" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Discolored Stainless Steel Pans I find that using liquid bleach on the inside of my stainless steel pans removes tea stains immediately. You can add a little water if you'd like, but I just pour a small amount in the pan, swirl it around and dump it into the next pan with the stains and works great. I rinse the clean pan immediately so the bleaching will stop right away. By BonsterBonnie from Maryland ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ As an instructor in driver education at the local area High School, I've learned that even the brightest students can become flustered behind the wheel. One day I had three beginners in the car, each scheduled to drive for 30 minutes. When the first student had completed his time, I asked him to change places with one of the others. Gripping the wheel tightly and staring straight ahead, he asked in a shaky voice, "Should I stop the car first?" ----------- Sure is different from when I was a young driver. In those days the old Pick-Ups that youngsters drove, all had a step on the outside of the pick-up box. Especially on Cannonball ralleys or the Alcan 2000 Mile races where we carried a couple of drums of fuel on the back, the spare driver used to climb outside and into the box, siphon gas from the drum into the tank, then climb back into the cab on the drivers side and take over as the driver slid over to the passenger side. That was no big deal then, however, with todays slower but much more crowded traffic I would not recommend stunts like that. Also, standing at the tailgate for getting rid of used coffee into the big dust cloud that you trail when driving a gravel road at 70 miles per hour, was OK then. Doing the same today on a paved freeway would probably get you arrested in most states. _____________________________________________________ Golf was once a rich man's sport, but now it has millions of poor players. ____________________________________________________ Top 9 Mysterious Lost Worlds On Planet Earth Today in 1096 Peter the Hermit gathered his army in Cologne. 1204 The Fourth Crusade sacked Constantinople. 1606 England adopted the original Union Jack as its flag. 1782 The British navy won its only naval engagement against the colonists in the American Revolution at the Battle of Saints, off Dominica. 1799 Phineas Pratt patented the comb cutting machine. 1811 The first colonists arrived at Cape Disappointment, Washington. 1833 Charles Gaylor patented the fireproof safe. 1861 Fort Sumter was shelled by Confederacy, starting America's Civil War. 1864 Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest captured Fort Pillow, in Tennessee and slaughtered the black Union troops there. 1892 Voters in Lockport, New York, became the first in the U.S. to use voting machines. 1911 Pierre Prier completed the first non-stop London-Paris flight in three hours and 56 minutes. 1916 American cavalrymen and Mexican bandit troops clashed at Parrel, Mexico. 1927 The British Cabinet came out in favor of women voting rights. 1938 The first U.S. law requiring a medical test for a marriage license was enacted in New York. 1944 The U.S. Twentieth Air Force was activated to begin the strategic bombing of Japan. 1945 In New York, the organization of the first eye bank, the Eye Bank for Sight Restoration, was announced. 1955 The University of Michigan Polio Vaccine Evaluation Center announced that the polio vaccine of Dr. Jonas Salk was "safe, effective and potent." 1961 Soviet Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin became first man to orbit the Earth. 1963 Police used dogs and cattle prods on peaceful civil rights demonstrators in Birmingham, AL. 1981 The space shuttle Columbia blasted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, on its first test flight. 1982 The British Navy began enforcing a blockade around the Falkland Islands. 1984 Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Challenger made the first satellite repair in orbit by returning the Solar Max satellite to space. 1984 Israeli troops stormed a bus that had been hijacked the previous evening by four Arab terrorists. All the passengers were rescued and 2 of the hijackers were killed. 1985 U.S. Senator Jake Garn of Utah became the first senator to fly in space. 1985 In Spain, an explosion in a restaurant near a U.S. base killed 17 people. 1985 Federal inspectors declared that four animals of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus were not unicorns. They were goats with horns that had been surgically implanted. 1987 Texaco filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy after it failed to settle a legal dispute with Pennzoil Co. 1988 Harvard University won a patent for a genetically altered mouse. It was the first patent for a life form. 1989 In the U.S.S.R, ration cards were issued for the first time since World War II. The ration was prompted by a sugar shortage. 1993 NATO began enforcing a no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina. 2000 More than 1,500 anti-drug agents raided four cities in Colombia and arrested 46 members of the "most powerful" heroin ring. 2000 Israel's High Court ordered the release of eight Lebanese detainees that had been held for years without a trial. 2002 It was announced that the South African version of "Sesame Street" would be introducing a character that was HIV-positive. 2015 smiled. Currently best browser for W7 Saturday, April 11, 2015, 07:54 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Saturday, April 11 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Woman who was in a terrible car accident but kept on drinking when the paramedics were trying to help her Details at Boneheads Today, in 1803 A twin-screw propeller steamboat was patented by John Stevens. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! It was no wonder that people were so horrible when they started life as children. --- Kingsley Amis (1922 - 1995) ______________________________________________________ An Texan, a Scot and a Californian were in a terrible car accident. They were all brought to the same emergency room, but all three of them died before they arrived. Just as they were about to put the toe tag on the Texan, he stirred and opened his eyes. Astonished, the doctors and nurses present asked him what happened. "Well," said the Texan, "I remember the crash, and then there was a beautiful light, and then the Californian and the Scot and I were standing at the gates of heaven. St. Peter approached us and said that we were all too young to die, and said that for a donation of $50, we could return to earth. So of course I pulled out my wallet and gave him the $50, and the next thing I knew was back here." "That's amazing!" said the one of the doctors, "But what happened to the other two?" "Last I saw them," replied the Texan, "the Scot was haggling over the price and the Californian was waiting for the government to pay his." ______________________________________________________ >From a Utah highschool - A scout obeys all to whom obedience is due and respects all duly constipated authorities. - Syntax is all the money collected at the church from sinners. - In the middle of the 18th century, all the morons moved to Utah. - A census taker is man who goes from house to house increasing the population. ______________________________________________________ Click through for the big picture See the look on the baby cheetahï¿½s face! If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Tricia Kight, 41, Virginia Beach, Virginia Woman who was in a terrible car accident but kept on drinking when the paramedics were trying to help her Prosecutors in Virginia Beach said a woman was still drinking beer as paramedics tried to help her after a car accident. A judge sentenced 41-year-old Tricia Kight Wednesday for DUI and permanently injuring a victim. Back in October, Kight caused a crash on Shore Drive in Virginia Beach while on the way home from purchasing beer. Kight did not have the right of way and struck another vehicle. As EMS attempted to treat the serious injuries to Kightï¿½s leg, she began drinking a beer, said police. The officer was able to pry the beer from her hand, but she reached for the case of beer on the floor and grabbed another. Kight will spend a year and 10 days in prison. After prison she will have to go to rehab and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings three times a week. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Arthur Re: Which browser is best for W7 ? Dear Webby, I know Internet Explorer is not secure enough, but which of the other browsers is the Best one? Arthur Dear Arthur Firefox is safe but slow, and uses a lot of resources. Chrome is safe and fast, as long as you don't have too many tabs open. The days, when it was OK to have fifty tabs open, are definitely gone. That bogs down not just the browser, but the entire machine. Use the ONE TAB add-on, and whenever you get more than half a dozen tabs open, stash them in ONE TAB. It is free, and you can easily re-open any tab stashed in it. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ One night a father was helping his son with his homework. The father asked "What is the Gross National Product?". The little boy pondered for a minute and replied "Spinach ? Broccoli ?" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Spring Lemon Loaf An easy cake mix recipe that yields sweet, but not too sweet; tart, but not too tart. 1 WWP dessert slices! Approximate Time: 75 minutes, including prep Yield: 36 slices Ingredients: 1 vanilla cake mix 1/4 box fresh squeezed lemon juice (Or you can use Real Lemon, I won't tell) 3/4 cup water 1 cup fat free lemon yogurt 4 6 oz. container egg whites (or two whole eggs) Steps: Let egg come to room temperature for best results. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk away! I used a square 10x10 inch cake pan. Spray with cooking spray, add in the batter, and bake at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes then slice it up. It made 36 slices. Source: adapted from Betty Crocker By Rae G. [11] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Jill: I just don't understand the attraction golf has for men. Mary: TELL me about it! I went golfing with my ex one time, and he told me I asked too many questions! Jill: Well, I'm sure you were just trying to understand the game. What questions did you ask? Mary: I thought I asked legitimate questions..like, "Why did you hit the ball into that lake?" _____________________________________________________ "So, your mother says your prayers for you each night? Very commendable. What does she say?" The little boy replied, "Thank Heaven he's in bed!" ____________________________________________________ Stunning panoramic photos from around the world. --- Thank heavens we didnï¿½t get blown away last night. We had thunder, lightning and rain but no damaging winds. For a change we didnï¿½t even lose power. We usually do in storms like that. The worst storms went north and south of us. I feel for all the people who lost everything in the tornadoes. Barb Today in 1512 The forces of the Holy League were heavily defeated by the French at the Battle of Ravenna. 1689 William III and Mary II were crowned as joint sovereigns of Britain. 1783 After receiving a copy of the provisional treaty on March 13, the U.S. Congress proclaimed a formal end to hostilities with Great Britain. 1803 A twin-screw propeller steamboat was patented by John Stevens. 1814 Napoleon was forced to abdicate his throne. The allied European nations had marched into Paris on March 30, 1814. He was banished to the island of Elba. 1876 The stenotype was patented by John C. Zachos. 1898 U.S. President William McKinley asked Congress for a declaration of war with Spain. 1899 The treaty ending the Spanish-American War was declared in effect. 1921 Iowa became the first state to impose a cigarette tax. 1921 The first live sports event on radio took place this day on KDKA Radio. The event was a boxing match between Johnny Ray and Johnny Dundee. 1941 German bombers blitzed Conventry, England. 1945 U.S. troops reached the Elbe River in Germany. 1945 During World War II, American soldiers liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald in Germany. 1951 U.S. President Truman fired General Douglas MacArthur as head of United Nations forces in Korea. 1961 Israel began the trial of Adolf Eichman, accused of World War II war crimes. 1968 U.S. President Johnson signed the 1968 Civil Rights Act. 1970 Apollo 13 blasted off on a mission to the moon that was disrupted when an explosion crippled the spacecraft. The astronauts did return safely. 1979 Idi Amin was deposed as president of Uganda as rebels and exiles backed by Tanzanian forces seized control. 1981 U.S. President Ronald Reagan returned to the White House from the hospital after recovering from an assassination attempt on March 30. 1981 In the Brixton area of London, a race riot erupted that resulted in the injury of more than 300 people. 1984 China invaded Vietnam. 1985 Scientists in Hawaii measured the distance between the earth and moon within one inch. 1986 Dodge Morgan sailed solo nonstop around the world in 150 days. 1986 In Groton, CT, the submarine Nautilus exhibit opened to the public. 1996 Forty-three African nations signed the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty. 2001 China agreed to release 24 crewmembers of a U.S. surveillance plane. The EP-3E Navy crew had been held since April 1 on Hainon, where the plane had made an emergency landing after an in-flight collision with a Chinese fighter jet. The Chinese pilot was missing and presumed dead. 2007 Apple announced that the iTunes Store had sold more than two million movies. 2015 smiled. Friday, April 10, 2015, 06:38 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Friday, April 10 Time to wear a bit of red to show your support for the troops! Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Teen Attacked Paramedic Who Stopped Ambulance Sex Session Details at Boneheads Today, in 1912 The Titanic left from Southampton, England. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Happiness depends upon ourselves. --- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC) About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age. --- Gloria Pitzer Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard. --- H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956) "A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them." --- P. J. O'Rourke ______________________________________________________ Three churches - Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian - worked together to sponsor a community-wide revival. After the revival had concluded, the three pastors were discussing the results with one another. The Methodist minister said, "The revival worked out great for us! We gained 4 new families." The Baptist preacher said, "We did better than that! We gained 6 new families." The Presbyterian pastor said, "Well, we did even better than that! We got rid of our 10 biggest trouble makers!" ______________________________________________________ The good bishop knew very well that not only did everyone in his small town look to him for an example, but that all too often, all eyes were on him as potential fodder for the local gossip mill, as well. This could be wearing; but usually, he was able to provide the good example and escape the tattlers. One night, however, after a long, hard day, a social obligation beckoned on top of his church responsibilities, and he came to a sudden stopping place. His hostess, noting that he looked tired, asked with concern, "A spot of tea, Bishop?" "No, thank you," he managed. "No tea." "Ah," she said. "Coffee, then?" "No coffee either, thank you." In the spirit of triage, she leaned closer and murmured, "I could bring you a scotch and soda in a dark mug?" "My dear, this is my last word: NO soda." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Kyle Hargreaves, 18, Grimsby, England Teen Attacked Paramedic Who Stopped Ambulance Sex Session A teen who was trying to have sex in an ambulance will spend nearly three years behind bars for attacking paramedics who wanted to use the vehicle for official business. Kyle Hargreaves, 18, of Grimsby, England, was sentenced last week for the Feb. 15 assault and for violating an anti-social behavior order, according to the Grimsby Telegraph. He also admitted robbing a crate of beer from a store on the same day. The incident began when paramedics responded to the home of a 92-year-old man suffering from chest pains. The crew members left open the back doors of the ambulance when they went to retrieve him. When they returned, they found Hargreaves and a female companion making out on a stretcher, the Lincolnshire Echo reports. Hargreaves yelled, "What's your problem? We are just trying to have sex," according to the North Devon Journal. Hargreaves then punched paramedic Michael Newman three times in the face and spat blood and saliva on him. The female suspect also bit the hand of technician William Heron, according to court testimony. The ambulance crew, which was waiting outside the vehicle with the patient, contacted police with a panic button on one of their radios. Police then arrested Hargreaves while a separate crew arrived to take the elderly man to the hospital. He didn't suffer any ill effects from the delay. One medic stayed behind to treat paramedic Newman for a black eye, some cuts and a bleeding nose, the Mirror reports. Hargreaves' partner was not identified. It wasn't immediately clear whether she faced any charges. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Many Re: Ezinefinder To all the good people, who wrote about not being able to vote or get to http://ezinefinder.com or get any replies to emails: Dear Friends There is absolutely nothing I can do about that. I don't get answers from them either. Maybe they only answer Mac users? I don't know. Keep trying to write to [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] or try their email form at http://www2.thriftyfun.com/about/contact.lasso Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Six-year-old Angie and her 4-year-old brother Joel were sitting together in church. Joel giggled, sang and talked out loud. Finally, his big sister had had enough. "You're not supposed to talk out loud in church." "Why? Who's going to stop me?" Joel asked. Angie pointed to the back of the church and said, "See those two big guys in gangster suits standing by the door? They're hushers." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Magic Eraser for Removing Dye On Hands A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works great! They are also good if you get tanning lotion or spray on your hands and they turn orange. By shanita2 [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Two youngsters were closely examining bathroom scales on display at the department store. "Have you ever seen one of these before?" one asked. "Yeah, my mom and dad have one," the other replied. "What's it for?" asked the first boy. "I don't know," the second boy answered. "But if grown-ups stand on it, don't go near them for ten minutes. That thing makes them mad." _____________________________________________________ The social studies teacher had just finished a unit on war and peace. "How many of you," he asked, "would say you're opposed to war?" Not surprisingly, all hands went up. The teacher asked, "who'll give us the reason for being opposed to war?" A large, bored-looking boy in the back of the room raised his hand. "Johnny?" The teacher said. "I hate war," Johnny said, "because wars make history, and then some poor, innocent kid has to memorize all about it and remember it until the next exam." ____________________________________________________ I love trees of all kinds. Today in 1741 Frederick II of Prussia defeated Maria Theresa's forces at Mollwitz and conquered Silesia. 1790 The U.S. patent system was established. 1809 Austria declared war on France and its forces entered Bavaria. 1814 Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Toulouse by the British and the Spanish. The defeat led to his abdication and exile to Elba. 1825 The first hotel opened in Hawaii. 1849 Walter Hunt patented the safety pin. He sold the rights for $100. 1865 During the American Civil War, at Appomattox, General Robert E. Lee issued his last order. 1902 South African Boers accepted British terms of surrender. 1912 The Titanic left from Southampton, England. 1919 In Mexico, revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata was killed by government troops. 1922 The Genoa Conference opened. The meeting was used to discuss the punishment opf the losers of Europe after World War I. 1930 The first synthetic rubber was produced. 1932 Paul von Hindenburg was elected president of Germany with 19 million votes. Adolf Hitler came in second with 13 million votes. 1938 Germany annexed Austria. 1941 In World War II, U.S. troops occupied Greenland to prevent Nazi infiltration. 1941 Ford Motor Co. became the last major automaker to recognize the United Auto Workers as the representative for its workers. 1944 Russian troops recaptured Odessa from the Germans. 1945 German Me 262 jet fighters shot down ten U.S. bombers near Berlin. 1959 Japan's Crown Prince Akihito married commoner Michiko Shoda. 1963 129 people died when the nuclear-powered submarine USS Thresher failed to surface off Cape Cod, MA. 1968 U.S. President Johnson replaced General Westmoreland with General Creighton Abrams in Vietnam. 1972 An earthquake in southern Iran killed more than 5,000 people. 1973 In Switzerland, 108 people died when a plane crashed while attempting to land at Basel. 1980 Spain and Britain agreed to reopen the border between Gibraltar and Spain. It had been closed since 1969. 1981 Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands was elected to the British Parliament. 1984 The U.S. Senate condemned the CIA mining of Nicaraguan harbors. 1990 Three European hostages kidnapped at sea in 1987 by Palestinian extremists were released in Beirut. 1992 A bomb exploded in London's financial district. The bomb, set off by the Irish Republican Army, killed three people and injured 91. 1994 NATO warplanes launched air strikes for the first time on Serb forces that were advancing on the Bosnian Muslim town of Gordazde. The area had been declared a U.N. safe area. 1996 U.S. President Clinton vetoed a bill that would have outlawed a technique used to end pregnancies in their late stages. 1998 Negotiators reached a peace accord on governing British ruled Northern Ireland. Britain's direct rule was ended. 1999 The www.June4.org web site was launched by Chinese dissidents 2001 Jane Swift took office as the first female governor of Massachusetts. She succeeded Paul Cellucci, who had resigned to become the U.S. ambassador to Canada. 2001 The Netherlands legalized mercy killings and assisted suicide for patients with unbearable, terminal illness. 2009 In Fiji, President Josefa Iloilo suspended the nation's Constitution, dismissed all judges and constitutional appointees and assumed all governance in the country. 2015 smiled. Humor: Zoom for web pages Thursday, April 9, 2015, 07:57 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Thursday, April 9 Thank you, Gene! Thank you Michael! Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Naked WV woman attempts to rob convenience store Details at Boneheads Today, in 1962 The Russian newspaper "Pravda" warned youths about the dangers of twisting. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! I know nothing about sex because I was always married. --- Zsa Zsa Gabor (1919 - ) I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out. --- Rodney Dangerfield (1921 - 2004) ______________________________________________________ >From Annette A Pastor goes to the dentist for a set of false teeth. The first Sunday after he gets his new teeth, he talks for only eight minutes. The second Sunday, he talks for only ten minutes. The following Sunday, he talks for 2 hours and 48 minutes. The congregation had to mob him to get him down from the pulpit and they asked him what happened. The Pastor explains the first Sunday his gums hurt so bad he couldn't talk for more than 8 minutes. The second Sunday his gums hurt too much to talk for more than 10 minutes. But, the third Sunday, he put his wife's' teeth in by mistake and he couldn't shut up... ______________________________________________________ In the mid 60's a US Navy cruiser put in to port in Mississippi for a week's shore leave. The first evening, the Captain was more than a little surprised to receive the following letter from the wife of a wealthy plantation owner: "Dear Captain, Thursday, will be my daughter Melinda's coming of age party. I would like you to send four well-mannered, handsome, unmarried officers. They should arrive at 8 p.m. prepared for an evening of polite Southern conversation and dance with lovely young ladies. One last point: No Jews - We don't like Jews." Sure enough, at 8 PM on Thursday, the lady heard a rap at the door which she opened to find, in dress uniform, four exquisitely mannered, smiling BLACK officers. Her lower jaw hit the floor, but pulling herself together she stammered, "There must be some mistake." "Madam," said the first officer, "Captain Aaron Goldstein doesn't make mistakes." ______________________________________________________ Thanks to Carole for sending this picture by her son Danial If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Drema Setliff, 30, Charleston, West Virginia Naked WV Woman Attempts To Rob Convenience Store A woman in Charleston, West Virginia, accused of attempted robbery didnï¿½t have to be strip-searched: She was already naked. Police got a call early Thursday morning about a robbery at the One Stop convenience store at the same time they were responding to a call about a naked woman in a nearby parking lot, according to MyFoxDC. Turns out, the One Stop was really one stop to solve both complaints: Officers found a naked woman later identified as Drema Setliff, 30, hiding in the store's electrical closet. Witnesses told police that Setliff walked into the convenience store carrying the towel, grabbed the female clerk by the hair and demanded that she open the safe, the Charleston Daily Mail reports. A witness opened the store door so the cowering clerk could flee. The unidentified witness stayed until deputies arrived. For reasons that are unclear, Setliff stayed and hid in an electrical closet where deputies found her, according to WOWK TV. Setliff allegedly told the deputies, "Take me to jail," according to the Associated Press. Setliff was carrying a towel, but not using it to hide her naked body, according to Corporal Brian Humphreys of the Kanawha County Sheriffï¿½s Department. ï¿½But from what I understand it wasnï¿½t being used to cover her. She was just holding it,ï¿½ he told WVMetroNews.com. Humphreys suspects drugs or alcohol may have been involved, according to WVGazette.com. They did as requested, and booked her on charges of robbery. Authorities attempted to arraign Setliff on Thursday morning, but she came in crying and refused to talk to the judge, WSAZ TV reports. The court will try it again on Friday and her bond will be set at $50,000. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Mariah Re: Font size Dear Webby, Why is my Humor letter suddenly in a tiny font, that I can't read without my magnifying glass? Can you please fix that? Mariah Dear Mariah You can change font sizes easily by holding down the CTRL key and rolling the scroll wheel on top of the mouse. Apparently somebody did that on your computer and turned the scroll wheel in the wrong direction. Just crank it back to where you see a comfortable to read font size. On correctly written pages like the Humor Letter at http://webby.com/humor even the pictures zoom with that method. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ From High School Exams: 1. Chemistry: Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water. 2. Biology: The body consists of three parts- the brainium, the borax and the abominable cavity. The brainium contains the brain, the borax contains the heart and lungs, and the abominable cavity contains the bowels, of which there are five - a, e, i, o, and u. 3. Sex Ed: To prevent contraception: wear a condominium. 4. First Aid: For drowning, climb on top of the person and move up and down to make artificial perspiration. ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Dawn Dishwashing Soap for Fleas Dawn Dishwashing Soap is a very effective way of ridding your dogs and cats of fleas. Don't ask me why, but if you wash them with it and leave it on for 5 minutes, the fleas will just fall off when you rinse them. By James F. [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Woman 1: Did you get a new haircut? Woman 2: Yes, I did. Thanks for noticing. W1: Oh! That's so cute! W2: Do you think so? I wasn't sure after my hairdresser gave me the mirror. I mean, you don't think it's too fluffy looking? W1: Oh no! No, it's perfect. I'd love to get my hair cut like that, but I think my face is too wide. I'm pretty much stuck with this stuff I think. W2: Are you serious? I think your face is adorable. And you could easily get one of those layer cuts - that would look so cute I think. I was actually going to do that except that I was afraid it would accent my long neck. W1: Oh, that's funny! I would love to have your neck! W2: Are you kidding? I know girls that would love to have your shoulders. Everything drapes so well on you. I mean, look at my arms, see how short they are? If I had your shoulders I could get clothes to fit me so much easier. MEANWHILE.... Man 1: Got your ears lowered ? Man 2: Yeah, it's getting warmer outside. Man 1: Sure is. Guess it's time to tune up the lawn mower. Man 2: You get the beer, I'll bring the tools. _____________________________________________________ While sports fishing off the Florida coast, a tourist capsized his boat. He could swim, but his fear of alligators kept him clinging to the overturned craft. Spotting an old beachcomber standing on the shore, the tourist shouted, "Are there any gators around here?" "Naw," the man hollered back, "they ain't been around for years!" Feeling safe, the tourist started swimming leisurely toward the shore. About halfway there he asked the guy, "How'd you get rid of the gators?" "We didn't do nothin'," the beachcomber said. "Really?" said the tourist. The beachcomber added, "The sharks got 'em." ____________________________________________________ This blew me away! What a voice for a nine year old! Today in 1672 Composer Andre-Cardinal Destouches was born. 1956 Paramount Pictures signed Elvis Presley to a three movie deal. 1962 The Russian newspaper "Pravda" warned youths about the dangers of twisting. 1963 The Kingsmen recorded their version of the song "Louie Louie." 1983 U.S. Interior Secretary James Watt banned the Beach Boys from the 4th of July celebration on the Washington Mall. He said rock 'n' roll bands attract the "wrong element." 1990 Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) suffered a mild concussion in New Haven, CT. when he fell after swinging from scaffolding above his elevated drum kit. 1998 A group of 27 country artists filed suit against Los Angeles resident Jim Salmon who registered the names of the plaintiffs as Website domain names. 2015 smiled. Control the sound of the Internet Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 07:01 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Wednesday, April 8 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Woman Runs Over Sex Offender Boyfriend After He Attempts To Molest Child Details at Boneheads Today, in 1953 The bones of Sitting Bull were moved from North Dakota to South Dakota. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! No tyranny is so irksome as petty tyranny: the officious demands of policemen, government clerks, and electromechanical gadgets. --- Edward Abbey (1927 - 1989) ______________________________________________________ We need some other words for "death." The old ones are outdated. It's trite to say, "Ed's passed away." Just say, "He's pearly-gated." ______________________________________________________ Many years ago, Alex's father was visiting America from Albania for the very first time. He said he wanted to go with him to the supermarket, so he invited him along. As he went up & down the aisles at the local Giant Food Store, he constantly asked questions about products he saw. "Vas diss?? Powdered orange juice??" . Alex said, "Yeh, Dad. You just add a little water, and you have fresh orange juice." A few minutes later, in a different aisle, dad blurted out, "Und vas dis?? Powdered milk?" . "Yeah, Dad. You just add a little water, and you have fresh milk!" A few minutes later, in a different aisle, my dad yelled out, "Und give a look here!! Baby Powder!! Vhat a country, vhat a country!" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by James Oliver 48, Noblesboro, Maine Woman Runs Over Sex Offender Boyfriend After He Attempts To Molest Child A Maine sex offender accused of trying to sexually assault a little girl was hospitalized after his girlfriend allegedly ran him down with her car. The Lincoln County Sheriff's office said Linda Currier and James Oliver had been drinking late Saturday night when Currier, 53, discovered boyfriend Oliver, 48, attempting to have sex with a 12-year-old girl in a home, WCSH reports. "We can't tell too many details about the case, there were other adults at the residence or in the residence so she wasn't completely alone in this particular situation," Sheriff Todd Bracket told the station. Oliver is a registered lifetime sex offender, records show. He was previously convicted of sexual abuse of a minor and rape. A fight broke out after Currier caught James Oliver trying to molest the girl, according to the Portland Press Herald. Officers were called to the house after someone reported a domestic disturbance. They arrived to find Oliver lying in the driveway. Currier had allegedly gotten in her car and run over the convicted rapist. Currier was charged with drunk driving and aggravated assault. She was later released. Oliver was treated at a hospital for a serious leg injury before being taken to jail, where he was charged with gross sexual assault, unlawful sexual touching and failing to comply with the sex offender registration act. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Emma Re: Volume of the Internet (This is an old one from 2001) The music on the postcards is not as loud as it used to be. You must have turned down the volume if the Internet. Please correct your mistakes immediately and turn up the Internet where it is supposed to be so that I can hear it properly! Marcy==== Hi Emma The volume control is in the little speaker icon on your task bar. If that is turned up, check for the setting on your speakers, or if there is maybe a short circuit between your earphones. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ John brought his new colleague, Peter, home for dinner. As they arrived at the door his wife rushed up, threw her arms around John and kissed him passionately. "My goodness", said Peter, "and how long have you been married?" "22 years", replied John. "You must have a fantastic marriage if your wife greets you like that after all those years." "Don't be fooled! She only does it to make the dog jealous." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com No Sew Tin Can Pincushion I've been needing a pincushion for sewing and thought I could probably make it with supplies I already had. It was simple and quick, and it works wonderfully! I was pleased with the fact that I re-purposed the can into something else. Approximate Time: About 20 minutes Supplies: 1 small tin can, from tuna, chiles, etc. scrap paper glue scrap piece of material pillow stuffing or batting glue gun scissors Steps: Take the wrapper off of your can. Measure the width of your can and cut a strip to cover the outside. Use glue, a glue stick, or modge podge to apply the paper. Let dry. Get a handful of pillow stuffing or batting. Make a ball out of it. Cut a strip from your fabric to tie the fabric around the batting. Wrap your fabric around the batting. Tie it tightly with your strip of fabric. Cut the excess fabric off. Put a bunch of hot glue on the inside of your can. Put the pincushion into the can, pushing it in as much as possible. Enjoy your new pincushion! By Becky [44] Amazing! And there I have been using an old sock with a hole in the heel, folded into a tight ball. Not as pretty, but it has worked well for a few decades already. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ A generously endowed young lady at a major university often got teased by her sorority sisters for being so top-heavy. At a fraternity party, a young man asked her what she would like to drink. "Diet soda, please," she replied. "Oh, you must be the double D." he said. The girl was furious, wondering which of her so-called friends had divulged such personal information. "And just what do you mean by that?" she snapped. Surprised at her angry response, the young man meekly answered, "Oh, you know -- the Designated Driver, just soda, no booze." _____________________________________________________ A wife went to the police station with her next-door neighbor to report that her husband was missing. The policeman asked for a description. She said, "He's 35 years old, 6 foot 4, has dark eyes, dark wavy hair, an athletic build, weighs 185 pounds, is soft-spoken, and is good to the children." The next-door neighbor protested, "Your husband is 5 foot 4, as chubby as a pumpkin, bald, has a big mouth, and is mean to your children." The wife replied, "No, I don't want THAT one back. I want the next one!" ____________________________________________________ Technology is happening so fast I can barely keep up with it. Today in 1513 Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain. 1525 Albert von Brandenburg, the leader of the Teutonic Order, assumes the title "Duke of Prussia" and passed the first laws of the Protestant church, making Prussia a Protestant state. 1832 About 300 American troops of the 6th Infantry left Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, to confront the Sauk Indians in the Black Hawk War. 1873 Alfred Paraf patented the first successful oleomargarine. 1939 Italy invaded Albania. 1942 The Soviets opened a rail link to the besieged city of Leningrad. 1952 U.S. President Truman seized steel mills to prevent a nationwide strike. 1953 The bones of Sitting Bull were moved from North Dakota to South Dakota. 1962 Bay of Pigs invaders got thirty years imprisonment in Cuba. 1985 India filed suit against Union Carbide for the Bhopal disaster. 1985 Phyllis Diller underwent a surgical procedure for permanent eyeliner to eliminate the need for eyelid makeup. 1986 Clint Eastwood was elected mayor of Carmel, CA. 1990 In Nepal, King Birendra lifted the 30-year ban on political parties. 1992 In Britain, the last issue of "Punch Magazine" was published. 1994 Smoking was banned in the Pentagon and all U.S. military bases. 2002 Ed McMahon filed a $20 million lawsuit against his insurance company, two insurance adjusters, and several environmental cleanup contractors. The suit alleged breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress concerning a toxic mold that had spread through McMahon's Beverly Hills home. 2015 smiled. Tuesday, April 7, 2015, 07:33 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Tuesday, April 7 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Montana woman accused of huffing while driving with 5-month-old in vehicle Details at Boneheads Today, in 1712 A slave revolt broke out in New York City. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave. --- Sir William Drummond ______________________________________________________ >From Walter , the Stone Carver Two policemen called the station on radio. Patrol 721 to headquarters This is headquarters - go ahead We have a situation here. A woman has shot her husband for stepping on the floor she had just mopped clean. Have you arrested the woman? "No sir. The floor is still wet." ______________________________________________________ I met a nun I really liked once... I think she liked me too, 'cause she said "You can kiss me, just don't get in the habit" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Christian Noel Costa, 22, Billings, Montana Montana woman accused of huffing while driving with 5-month-old in vehicle A Billings woman was arrested for huffing while driving with a 5-month-old child in the backseat Thursday. Christian Noel Costa, 22, appeared by video in Yellowstone County Justice Court from the Yellowstone County Detention Facility on Friday. Billings police received a report of a possible drunken driver just before 6 p.m. near Sixth Avenue North and North 27th Street. The caller told police that the female driver of a silver SUV was huffing air duster and was in a hit-and-run crash. The SUV crashed into temporary fencing, pushing it back about six feet. It then continued traveling west, nearly striking a parked car. The vehicle then sat through four stoplight cycles, court documents say. An officer arrived at the vehicle, located by an off-duty Yellowstone County Sheriffï¿½s deputy, stopped in traffic at Sixth Avenue North and North 30th Street. The deputy had retrieved a can of air duster from the driver, who was identified as Costa. She told police she was driving from the Heights to the West End to pick up her brother, and said she was being irresponsible and huffing while driving, calling herself a ï¿½junkie,ï¿½ documents say. Police found several cans of air duster in the car, some empty, and found three Adderall capsules in Costaï¿½s pockets. Officers on the scene made arrangements for the childï¿½s care. Costa was charged with felony criminal endangerment, felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs, driving under the influence of drugs and driving with a license suspended or revoked. Justice of the Peace Pedro R. Hernandez set bond at $7,500 and ordered her to appear in district court April 10. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Oscar Re: Compute Stick Dear Webby, What's the news about the Intel Compute stick? I heard that it will be available soon, but nobody knows exactly when, just that it will be fantastic. What do you know about it? Oscar Dear Oscar I used to work at Oscar's Electric in Whitehorse, Yukon, rebuilding motors, generators and welders until the economy dived and we ran out of work. The Intel Compute stick will be $150 with Windows 8.1 or $110 with Linux Ubuntu. It plugs into the USB port of any modern monitor or TV. You need a modem/router with wireless antenna, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. It comes with an Atom quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of storage and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. While 2 GB of Ram is probably skimpy for Windows 8.1, it is more than enough for Linux. It looks like a fat USB plug, mostly because it has two USB sockets, one for getting power and one for connecting a big external hard drive. Newegg is listing a release date of April 24 for both models, Apparently you can pre-order it online to bypass the waiting line, that will probably start mid April. I expect demand to be very high. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ A young man had just graduated from Harvard and was so excited just thinking about his future. He gets into a taxi and the driver says, "How are you on this lovely day?" "I'm Bob, Class of 2015, just graduated from Harvard and I just can't wait to go out there and see what the world has in store for me." The driver looks back to shake the young man's hand and says, "Congratulations, I'm Mitch, Class of 1979." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Stinky Shoes Use regular kosher salt or any salt. Just sprinkle in shoes after heavy use, then wear with socks or without. It will kill the odor. Repeat if necessary. If all else fails you need to just toss the shoe. By On Point [1] Salt will damage the shoe and can hurt your feet. Stuff regular newspaper into the shoes. 90% of them will smell clean the next morning. For the remaining 10%, spray them with Simple Green, and then stuff them with newspaper. That works even with thoroughly abused hiking and climbing boots. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Late one night in the capitol city a mugger wearing a ski mask jumped into the path of a well-dressed man and stuck a gun in his ribs. "Give me your money," he demanded. Indignant, the affluent man replied, "You can't do this - I'm a US Congressman!" "In that case," replied the robber, "give me MY money!" _____________________________________________________ Goodman was a moderately successful stockbroker who dreamed of making the big money someday. He took his friend out for a drive, and he chose the route carefully in order to impress on him the possibilities of the brokerage business. "Look at that yacht," he said as they drove slowly past a marina. "That 96' beauty belongs to the senior partner at Merrill Lynch. That one over there 104' is owned by the head of Goldman, Sachs. And look at that huge 210' yacht out there. That's the pride and joy of the top seller at Prudential-Bache." His friend Morris was silent. Goodman turned to look at him and saw a pained look on his face. "What's the matter?" Goodman asked. "I was just wondering," Morris said. "Why aren't there any customers' yachts?" ____________________________________________________ These people are awesome! What balance and body control they have. Today in 1712 A slave revolt broke out in New York City. 1864 The first camel race in America was held in Sacramento, California. 1922 U.S. Secretary of Interior leased Teapot Dome naval oil reserves in Wyoming. 1930 The first steel columns were set for the Empire State Building. 1933 Prohibition ended in the United States. 1943 British and American armies linked up between Wadi Akarit and El Guettar in North Africa to form a solid line against the German army. 1945 The Japanese battleship Yamato, the worldï¿½s largest battleship, was sunk during the battle for Okinawa. The fleet was headed for a suicide mission. 1953 IBM unveiled the IBM 701 Electronic Data Processing Machine. It was IBM's first commercially available scientific computer. 1963 Yugoslavia proclaimed itself a Socialist republic. 1963 Josip Broz Tito was proclaimed to be the leader of Yugoslavia for life. 1966 The U.S. recovered a hydrogen bomb it had lost off the coast of Spain. 1967 Israel reported that they had shot down six Syrian MIGs. 1969 The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously struck down laws prohibiting private possession of obscene material. 1970 John Wayne won his first and only Oscar for his role in "True Grit." He had been in over 200 films. 1971 U.S. President Nixon pledged to withdraw 100,000 more men from Vietnam by December. 1980 The U.S. broke diplomatic relations with Iran and imposed economic sanctions in response to the taking of hostages on November 4, 1979. 1983 Specialist Story Musgrave and Don Peterson made the first Space Shuttle spacewalk. 1983 The Chinese government canceled all remaining sports and cultural exchanges with the U.S. for 1983. 1985 The Soviet Union announced a unilateral freeze on medium-range nuclear missiles. 1988 Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev agreed to final terms of a Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Soviet troops began leaving on May 16, 1988. 1988 In Fort Smith, AR, 13 white supremacists were acquitted on charges for plotting to overthrow the U.S. federal government. 1989 A Soviet submarine carrying nuclear weapons sank in the Norwegian Sea. 1990 In the U.S., John Poindexter was found guilty of five counts at his Iran-Contra trial. The convictions were later reversed on appeal. 1998 Mary Bono, the widow of Sonny Bono, won a special election to serve out the remainder of her husband's congressional term. 1999 Yugoslav authorities sealed off Kosovo's main border crossings to prevent ethnic Albanians from leaving. 2000 U.S. President Clinton signed the Senior Citizens Freedom to Work Act of 2000. The bill reversed a Depression-era law and allows senior citizens to earn money without losing Social Security retirement benefits. 2006 The Boeing X-37 conducted its first flight as a test drop at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. 2009 Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison for ordering killings and kidnappings by security forces. 2015 smiled. Monday, April 6, 2015, 06:40 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Monday, April 6 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Pennsylvania teacher gets 30 days for sex with gossipy student Details at Boneheads Today, in 1652 Jan van Riebeeck established a settlement at Cape Town, South Africa. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them. --- Lily Tomlin (1939 - ) ______________________________________________________ >From Max My wife doesn't complain often, but once she was having a old-fashioned "heart-to-heart" with me and said, "Hon, you never listen to me. Every time I try to talk to you, you get this far-away look in your eyes after only a few seconds. Please promise me you'll try to work on that." The last thing I remember was replying, "I'm sorry, what was that you were saying?" ______________________________________________________ The West Texas farmer had been taken so many times by the local car dealer that when the dealer wanted to buy a $200 cow, the farmer priced it to him like this: Basic cow $200 Two-tone exterior $ 45 Extra stomach $ 75 Product storage compartment $ 60 Dispensing device, Four spigots @ $10 ea. $ 40 Genuine cowhide upholstery $125 Dual horns $ 15 Automatic fly swatter $ 35 __________ Total = $595 ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Erica Ann Ginnetti, 35, Lower Moreland, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania teacher gets 30 days for sex with gossipy student A Pennsylvania wife and former teacher was referred to as "dangling candy" by the judge who gave her just 30 days for the statutory rape of a teen. Erica Ann Ginnetti, 35, was arrested in January in Lower Moreland after police were tipped off when the victim showed photos and videos of the woman to his classmates. According to court records, the photos included images of Ginnetti in a bikini, and others in just her underwear or thong. A video sent to the teen showed her undressing in a "sexually charged manner." The teacher and student were in frequent contact in July 2013, after the two had sex in her car parked at an industrial park. Ginnetti pleaded guilty last year to sexual assault and disseminating sexually explicit materials. The maximum sentence for the two crimes was seven to 14 years behind bars, Philly.com reports. Instead, Judge Garrett D. Page gave the woman just 30 days of jail time. Ginnetti will also have to register as a sex offender. Video of Ginnetti dancing at a High School function: At her sentencing hearing last Friday, Ginnetti cried in court while reading a letter of apology. The judge then compared explicit photos of the woman to "dangling candy" in front of her victim, the Bucks County Courier Time reports. ï¿½What young man would not jump on that candy?ï¿½ Page said. Ginnetti now works at a gym as a fitness instructor. She said in court that she regularly volunteers at her church, and is rebuilding her relationship with her husband and three children. "I don't believe you're a bad human being," Page told Ginnetti. "You did a bad act. So I have to punish you." Assistant District Attorney Sophia Polites said the teen's grades dropped significantly following the statutory rape, and that even today he has trouble in social interactions." Obviously, nobody wants to have anything to do with the town gossip. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Barb Re: Slow net Dear Webby, I donï¿½t know whatï¿½s wrong tonight but my DSL is as slow as dial up! It hasnï¿½t been this slow in years. Itï¿½s hard to do anything on Facebook because of the slowness. Barb Dear Barb Run the speed test http://www.speedtest.net/ If you get less than you pay for, complain to your ISP! Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ >From Anna I was on vacation, playing the slot machines. It was my first time in a casino, and I wasn't sure how the machines operated. "Excuse me." I said to a casino employee. "How does this work?" The worker showed me how to insert a bill, hit the spin button, and operate the release handle. "And where does the money come out?" I asked. He smiled and motioned to a far wall before saying, "Usually at the ATM bank machine over there." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Reuse Junk Mail Envelopes To save money on buying envelopes, take any pre-addressed envelopes that come in the mail that aren't going to be used and put white labels over the address. Make sure not to use envelopes that are obviously not suited to your purpose. Even the envelopes with the see through windows can be used. Just put the white label over the window part. We haven't purchased envelopes in ages! By fossil1955 from Cortez, CO ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ There are four great religious truths: 1. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 2. Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian faith. 3. Baptists do not recognize each other in the liquor store. 4. Jehovah Witnesses do not recognize each other at a hooters restaurant _____________________________________________________ He said: "This coffee isn't fit for a pig!" Waitress said: "No problem, I'll get you some that is." ____________________________________________________ Amazing bubble art. I can tell he's been practicing. Today in 1199 English King Richard I was killed by an arrow at the siege of the castle of Chaluz in France. 1652 Jan van Riebeeck established a settlement at Cape Town, South Africa. 1814 Granted sovereignty in the island of Elba and a pension from the French government, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates at Fountainebleau. He was allowed to keep the title of emperor. 1830 Joseph Smith and five others organized the Mormon Church in western New York. 1830 Relations between the Texans and Mexico reached a new low when Mexico would not allow further emigration into Texas by settlers from the U.S. 1875 Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for the multiple telegraph, which sent two signals at the same time. 1896 The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece. 1909 Americans Robert Peary and Matthew Henson claimed to be the first men to reach the North Pole. 1916 Charlie Chaplin became the highest-paid film star in the world when he signed a contract with Mutual Film Corporation for $675,000 a year. He was 26 years old. 1917 The U.S. Congress approved a declaration of war on Germany and entered World War I on the Allied side. 1938 The United States recognized the German conquest of Austria. 1941 German forces invaded Greece and Yugoslavia. 1953 Iranian Premier Mossadegh demanded that the shah's power be reduced. 1965 U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized the use of ground troops in combat operations in Vietnam. 1967 In South Vietnam, 1,500 Viet Cong attacked Quangtri and freed 200 prisoners. 1981 A Yugoslav Communist Party official confirmed reports of intense ethnic riots in Kosovo. 1983 The U.S. Veteran's Administration announced it would give free medical care for conditions traceable to radiation exposure to more than 220,000 veterans who participated in nuclear tests from 1945 to 1962. 1998 Federal researchers in the U.S. announced that daily tamoxifen pills could cut breast cancer risk among high-risk women. 1998 Pakistan successfully tested medium-range missiles capable of attacking neighboring India. 2015 smiled. Hot key for Chrome settings Sunday, April 5, 2015, 06:40 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Sunday, April 5 Happy Easter! Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a a Montana drunk, who sideswiped two patrol cars and then pleaded Not Guilty Details at Boneheads Today, in 1923 Firestone Tire and Rubber Company began the first regular production of balloon tires. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure. --- Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) ______________________________________________________ I don't normally tell blonde jokes, but this one was sent to me by a beautiful blonde lady who obviously must know which jokes are OK, and which ones go too far. ------------ A plane is on its way on a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to New York when a blonde in coach gets up and moves to the first class section and sits down. The stewardess watches her do this and asks to see her ticket. She then tells the blonde that she paid for coach and that she will have to sit in the back. The blonde replies, "I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, I'm going to New York and I'm staying right here!" The stewardess goes into the cockpit and tells the pilot and copilot that there is some blond bimbo sitting in first class that belongs in coach and won't move back to her seat. The copilot goes back to the blonde and tries to explain that because she only paid for coach, she will have to leave first class and return to her seat in coach. The blonde replies, "I'm blonde, I'm beautiful, I'm going to New York and I'm staying right here!" The copilot tells the pilot that he probably should have the police waiting when they land to arrest this blonde woman that won't listen to reason. The pilot says, "I'll handle this. I'm married to a blonde. I have learned to speak blonde!" He goes back to the blonde, whispers in her ear and she gets up and moves back to her seat in the coach section. The stewardess and copilot are amazed and asked him what he said to make her move without any fuss. "I told her first class wasn't going to New York. ______________________________________________________ There's a little boy at school and asks the teacher if he can go to the washroom. "Okay" says the teacher. "But first you've got to say the alphabet." They boy says the alphabet: "a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,j,k,l,m,n,o,q,r,s,t,u,v,w,x,y,z." "What happened to the 'p'?" asked the teacher. "It's leaking out of my boots now." ______________________________________________________ Than ks to dad for this picture: Click through for the big picture Easter cacti. And behind and above, you see a Jesus-Thornes blooming. The bars outside are the terrace railing, a couple of feet from his WinterGarden. Re the Easter Cacti, dad says the secret is to hang them out in the wind during summer and fall, so that they can pump nutrients up for powering the next year's blossoms. They have to be transplanted in winter, because the wind brings all kinds of hay and flower seeds. If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Ronald Orville Latray, 54, Billings, Montana Montana man denies 11th DUI charge after sideswiping patrol cars A driver who was pulled over by Montana Highway Patrol troopers after nearly sideswiping a pair of patrol cars denied a drunken driving charge, his 11th offense. Ronald Orville Latray, 54, pleaded not guilty Friday to driving while under the influence of alcohol, a felony, and to operating a motor vehicle without liability protection, misdemeanor. District Court Judge Rod Souza reduced bond by $10,000 to $50,000 and said the DUI charge is believed to be Latrayï¿½s 11th offense. The prosecutor, Ingrid Rosenquist, said in addition to Latrayï¿½s previous DUI convictions, he has other felony convictions. Latray was arrested on March 25 on South 27th Street after sideswiping patrol cars, she said. Latray had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.19 percent, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent, and became violent and threatened to shoot officers at the Yellowstone County jail, court records said. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Norma Re: How do I get into Chrome settings Dear Webby, I like Chrome, but don't know of a reasonable way to get into the settings. Isn't there some easy key combo for that? Thanks Norma Dear Norma CTRL SHIFT DEL will instantly get you into the settings. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ A teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honour thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, "Thou shallt not kill." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Cheaper and Less Noxious Cleaning Products Make cleaning sprays for many uses from 4 spray pump bottles, simple household products and water. Take a few drops of Dawn dishwashing liquid, add water and shake. Spray on to eyeglasses, rinse, wipe with eyeglass cloth. Spray bathroom mirrors, wipe with dry cloth. Spray bathroom sinks, counters, faucets, shower doors, shower, tubs, toilets. Wipe with dry cloth. Brush toilet bowl. In another spray bottle, take white vinegar, add water and shake. Spray and wipe kitchen counters, dish drainer, inside microwave and refrigerator. Refresh plastic leftover containers with a spray before washing. Use rubbing alcohol in spray bottle or dilute with water, if desired. Spray and wipe stainless steel appliances and kitchen surfaces. Use bleach diluted with water in spray bottle. Spray and wipe white porcelain cast iron sinks. Use the bleach dilution to clean all surfaces, sinks, faucets, and dishes after preparing raw chicken or poultry. By Linda Baker [119] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ The Sunday school lesson for the day was about Noah's Ark, so the teacher decided to get her small pupils involved by playing a game in which they identified animals. "I'm going to describe something to you. Let's see if you can guess what it is. First: I'm furry with a bushy tail and I like to climb trees." The children looked at her blankly. "I also like to eat nuts, especially acorns." No response. This wasn't going well at all! Finally a kid volunteered: "Well, I know the answer has to be Jesus -- but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!" _____________________________________________________ Four old timers were playing their weekly game of golf, and one remarked how for Easter this year he'd love to wake up on Easter morning, roll out of bed and without an argument go directly to the golf course, meet his buddies and play a round. His buddies all chimed in and said, "Let's do it! We'll make it a priority, figure out a way and meet here early on Easter morning." Months later, that special morning arrives, and there they are on the links. The first guy says, "Boy, this game cost me a fortune! I bought my wife such a diamond ring that she can't take her eyes off it." Number 2 guy says, "I spent a ton too. My wife is at home planning the cruise I gave her. She was up to her eyeballs in brochures." Number 3 guy says " Well, my wife is at home admiring her new car, reading the manual." They all turn to the last guy in the group and he is staring at them like they have lost their minds. "I can't believe you all went to such expense for this golf game. I patted my wife on the butt and said, 'Well babe, is it sex or golf?' and she said, 'Take your sweater, it might be windy out there'." ____________________________________________________ Takhini hot pools annual freezing hair contest. Today in 1242 Russian troops repelled an invasion attempt by the Teutonic Knights. 1614 American Indian Pocahontas married English colonist John Rolfe in Virginia. 1806 Isaac Quintard patented the cider mill. 1843 Queen Victoria proclaimed Hong Kong to be a British crown colony. 1887 Anne Sullivan taught Helen Keller the meaning of the word "water" as spelled out in the manual alphabet. 1892 Walter H. Coe patented gold leaf in rolls. 1908 The Japanese Army reached the Yalu River as the Russians retreated. 1923 Firestone Tire and Rubber Company began the first regular production of balloon tires. 1930 Mahatma Ghandi defied British law by making salt in India. 1941 German commandos secured docks along the Danube River in preparation for Germanyï¿½s invasion of the Balkans. 1951 Americans Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death for committing espionage for the Soviet Union. 1955 Winston Churchill resigned as British prime minister. 1986 A discotheque in Berlin was bombed by Libyan terrorists. The U.S. attacked Libya with warplanes in retaliation on April 15, 1986. 1998 The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan opened becoming the largest suspension bridge in the world. It links Shikoku and Honshu. The bridge cost about $3.8 billion. 1999 Two Libyans suspected of bombing a Pan Am jet in 1988 were handed over so they could be flown to the Netherlands for trial. 270 people were killed in the bombing. 2004 Near Mexico City's international airport, lightning struck the jet Mexican President Vicente Fox was on. 2009 North Korea launched the Kwangmyongsong-2 rocket, prompting an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. 2015 smiled. Ezinefinder problem not your browser cache Saturday, April 4, 2015, 04:01 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Saturday, April 4 Catch a Quick Lunar Eclipse in the Sky and Online Lunar Eclipse Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Florida woman, who offered deputy oral sex in exchange for letting her go Details at Boneheads Today, in 1967 Johnny Carson quit "The Tonight Show." He returned three weeks later after getting a raise of $30,000 a week. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity. --- Robert Heinlein ______________________________________________________ One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?" Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white." The little girl thought about this revelation for while and then said, "You must have been REALLY wicked to turn ALL of grandma's hairs white!" ______________________________________________________ A local preacher was dissatisfied with the small amount in the collection plates each Sunday. Someone suggested to him that perhaps he might be able to hypnotize the congregation into giving more. "And just how would I go about doing that?" he asked. "It is very simple. First you turn up the air conditioner so that the auditorium is warmer than usual. Then you preach in a monotone. Meanwhile, you dangle a watch on a chain and swing it in a slow arc above the lectern and suggest they put 20 dollars in the collection plate." The very next Sunday, the reverend did as suggested, and lo and behold, the plates were full of 20 dollar bills. Now, the preacher did not want to take advantage of this technique each and every Sunday. So therefore, he waited for a couple of weeks and then tried his mass hypnosis again. Just as the last of the congregation was becoming mesmerized, the chain on the watch broke and the watch hit the lectern with a loud thud and springs and parts flew everywhere. "Crap!" exclaimed the pastor. It took them a week to clean up the church. ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Beatrize Carrion-Moore, 23, West Palm Beach, Florida Florida woman offered deputy oral sex in exchange for letting her go A Florida deputy was having no part of this suspect's illicit offer, while he was on dash-cam. The exchange between Beatrize Carrion-Moore and a West Palm Beach Sheriff's deputy was caught on his patrol cars' onboard video system. "While Beatrize was in the back seat of my patrol car, she continued to offer me oral sex in exchange for letting her go," the deputy wrote in his report. A bartender at Boonies Bar in West Palm Beach, Florida, had to call police on the 23-year-old woman last Friday after she allegedly got extremely intoxicated and began offering customers oral sex in exchange for money. The bar manager also told police that she'd been kicked out of the bar about a week before for doing the same thing, according to WESH. Deputies said when they confronted Carrion-Moore, she got angry and resisted arrest, saying they had no right to kick her out of the bar. In a police report, deputies said Carrion-Moore slipped out of handcuffs and knocked a deputy to the ground in a struggle. When he eventually restrained her and put her in the back of his patrol car, the deputy said she kicked him in the groin several times, then offered him oral sex. Carrion-Moore was released from jail Sunday on $6,000 bond. She is charged with trespassing after warning, resisting arrest with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. It doesn't look like she'll face charges for soliciting sex for money. She had a previous arrest in February for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and resisting arrest. In October 2014, a Broward Sheriff's deputy was suspended after he allegedly allowed a female suspect to perform oral sex on him in exchange for letting her go. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Sir Squirrel Re: Voting Hi Dear Webby, When ezine decides to repair whatever is wrong I will vote for you/ Yep, I know, there is nothing either of us can do to get them get off of their dead and on to their aching to fix it! ~Sir Squirrel~ Dear Sir Squirrel Today half a dozen people wrote to me about that. There IS something you can do. Write to Lewis [email protected] You can even run a traceroute, to eliminate any talk about browser cache. Click on START type cmd Hit Enter. In the scary black window that opens, type tracert webby.com That will generate a trace from your machine to webby.com and just shows you how that works. That was just practise. then type tracert ezinefinder.com You will see the difference. The trace does not get to ezinefinder.com You can even take a screen shot of that. Stretch the black screen so that it shows the trace. Click into the black screen, and hit ALT PrtScrn Then click into an email and hit CTRL V to paste it. Send that to Lewis! Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Church Bloopers This afternoon, there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends. ---- The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind and they may be seen in the church basement on Friday afternoon. ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Bar Keepers Friend for Removing Hard Water Spots Bar Keepers Friend and a soft scrub sponge works best for me. It removes all shower spots and window spots from sprinklers. By Jeremy J. [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ A senior citizen visits his doctor for a routine check-up and everything seems fine. The doctor asks him about his sex life. "Well..." the man drawled, "not bad at all to be honest. The wife ain't all that interested anymore, so I just cruise around. In the past week I was able to pick-up and bed three girls, none of whom were over fifty years old." "My goodness Frank, and at your age too! You are well over 90 !" the doctor said. "I hope you took at least some precautions." "Yep. I may be old, but I ain't senile yet doc. I gave 'em all a phony name, yours ." _____________________________________________________ Two doctors are walking down the corridor of the hospital. First doc asks, "Did you tell that poolitician in room 316 that he was going to die?" "Sure did", second one answers. First doc says, "Darn! I wanted to tell him!" ____________________________________________________ Takhini hot pools annual freezing hair contest. Today in 1541 Ignatius of Loyola became the first superior-general of the Jesuits. 1581 Francis Drake completed the circumnavigation of the world. 1687 King James II ordered that his declaration of indulgence be read in church. 1850 The city of Los Angeles was incorporated. 1902 British Financier Cecil Rhodes left $10 million in his will that would provide scholarships for Americans to Oxford University in England. 1905 In Kangra, India, an earthquake killed 370,000 people. 1914 The first known serialized moving picture opened in New York City, NY. It was "The Perils of Pauline". 1917 The U.S. Senate voted 90-6 to enter World War I on the Allied side. 1918 The Battle of Somme, an offensive by the British against the German Army ended. 1932 After five years of research, professor C.G. King, of the University of Pittsburgh, isolated vitamin C. 1945 Hungary was liberated from Nazi occupation. 1945 During World War II, U.S. forces liberated the Nazi death camp Ohrdruf in Germany. 1949 Twelve nations signed a treaty to create The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 1967 The U.S. lost its 500th plane over Vietnam. 1967 Johnny Carson quit "The Tonight Show." He returned three weeks later after getting a raise of $30,000 a week. 1968 Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the age of 39. 1969 Dr. Denton Cooley implanted the first temporary artificial heart. 1971 Veterans stadium in Philadelphia, PA, was dedicated this day. 1975 More than 130 people, most of them children, were killed when a U.S. Air Force transport plane evacuating Vietnamese orphans crashed just after takeoff from Saigon. 1979 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the president of Pakistan, was executed. He had been convicted of conspiring to murder a political opponent. 1981 Henry Cisneros became the first Mexican-American elected mayor of a major U.S. city, which was San Antonio, TX. 1983 At Cape Canaveral, the space shuttle Challenger took off on its first flight. It was the sixth flight for the shuttle program. 1984 U.S. President Reagan proposed an international ban on chemical weapons. 1986 Wayne Gretzky set an NHL record with his 213th point of the season. 1987 The U.S. charged the Soviet Union with wiretapping a U.S. Embassy. 1988 Arizona Governor Evan Mecham was voted out of office by the Arizona Senate. Mecham was found guilty of diverting state funds to his auto business and of trying to impede an investigation into a death threat to a grand jury witness. 1991 Pennsylvanian Senator John Heinz and six others were killed when a helicopter collided with Heinz's plane over a schoolyard in Merion, PA. 1994 Netscape Communications (Mosaic Communications) was founded. 1995 U.S. Senator Alfonse D'Amato ridiculed judge Lance Ito using a mock Japanese accent on a nationally syndicated radio program. D'Amato apologized two days later for the act. 2015 smiled. Friday, April 3, 2015, 06:44 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Good Friday! Today is Friday, April 3 Time to wear a bit of red to show your support for the troops! Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Ashley Sies' Home Invasion Attempt Thwarted By Ceramic Chicken Details at Boneheads Today, in 1860 The first Pony Express riders left St. Joseph, MO and Sacramento, CA. The trip across country took about 10 days. The Pony Express only lasted about a year and a half. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! We are here on Earth to do good to others. What the others are here for, I don't know. --- W. H. Auden (1907 - 1973) ______________________________________________________ Randy, was on a hunting trip up in West Virginia. He became rather cold and thirsty so decided to stop in at his Mother in law's place and ask for something to drink. She said, "You look really cold, how about a bowl of soup." There was a wee Vietnamese pig running around the kitchen, running up to Randy and giving him a great deal of attention.Randy commented, "That pig sure is friendly." Bill, his father in law replied: "Arnold's not that friendly. That's his bowl you're using." ______________________________________________________ A study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (ASA) today showed that over 40% of the practicing psychiatrists in the U.S. were themselves receiving psychiatric treatment of some kind. A spokeswoman for the ASA said the public should not be concerned, as the remainder were undergoing intensive drug-therapy. ----- You gotta be nuts to go see a shrink! (Beetle Bailey) ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Ashley Sies, 31, Lexington, Kentucky Ashley Sies' Home Invasion Attempt Thwarted By Ceramic Chicken A Kentucky woman who allegedly tried to strangle another woman with a bra was thwarted when the victim fought back with a ceramic chicken. Police in Lexington arrested Ashley Sies, 31, early Monday morning after she allegedly pushed her way into a home belonging to Patricia Leece, 61. It happened about 12:30 the other night. Someone came to my doors, banging, screaming and hollering," Leece told WKYT. At first, Leece thought her granddaughter was the one banging on the door. Instead, it was Sies pushed her way inside of Leece's home and wrapped a bra around the homeowner's neck. Sies and Leece struggled for about 15 to 20 minutes before the victim found a way to protect herself, Leece says. "Finally, I saw one of my (ceramic) chickens on the floor so I picked it up and started bashing her on the head with it," she said, according to UPI.com. Sies was knocked out by the chicken. Leece locked herself in the bathroom and called police, Kentucky.com reports. Officers then took Sies to the hospital before booking her on charges of first-degree burglary, WKYT reports. Leece told the station she also plans to press charges for the attack. Sies was in court Tuesday morning where she pleaded not guilty to the burglary charge, according to Kentucky.com. Anywhere else she would have been charged with Home Invasion, burglary of an occupied structure, and attempted murder. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Maryann Re: Easter Hi Dear Webby, Years ago you made a fancy Easter page with all the statues from that place in texas, but I can't find it any more. Did you take it down? Maryann Dear Maryann It's still up there at http://webby.com/humor/i/Easter/ Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Marcy went to her doctor with two very red ears. The doctor asked her what had happened to her ears and she answered: "I was ironing a shirt and remembered I had to call for a hair appointment. I used the speed dial - but when they answered, instead of picking up the phone I accidentally picked up the iron and stuck it to my ear." "Oh Dear!" the doctor exclaimed in disbelief. "But, what happened to your other ear?" "My neighbor called to ask what the screaming was all about" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Q-Tip and Soap for Mascara Clean Up I keep slivers of soap by the sink. I use a wet Q-Tip and rub it on my sliver of soap to remove spill over mascara. Works like a charm. By michele [7] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Two daughters had been given parts in a pageant play at their Church. At dinner that night, they got into an argument as to who had the most important role. Finally the 10 year old said to her younger sister, "Well you just ask Mom. She'll tell you it's much harder to be a virgin than it is to be an angel." _____________________________________________________ An office reports that they have an answering machine that instructs callers to leave their name and address, and to spell any difficult words. Early one Monday when the secretary was reviewing the weekend messages, she heard an enthusiastic young woman recite her name and address and then confidently offer, "MY difficult word is reconciliation. R-E-C-O-N-C-I-L-I-A-T-I-O-N......" ____________________________________________________ Our colorful and amazing world. The Rainbow Mountains in China are awesome. Today in 1829 James Carrington patented the coffee mill. 1860 The first Pony Express riders left St. Joseph, MO and Sacramento, CA. The trip across country took about 10 days. The Pony Express only lasted about a year and a half. 1865 Union forces occupy Confederate capital of Richmond, VA. 1866 Rudolph Eickemeyer and G. Osterheld patented a blocking and shaping machine for hats. 1882 The American outlaw Jesse James was shot in the back and killed by Robert Ford for a $5,000 reward. There was later controversy over whether it was actually Jesse James that had been killed. 1910 Alaska's Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America was climbed. 1942 The Japanese began their all-out assault on the U.S. and Filipino troops at Bataan. 1946 Lt. General Masaharu Homma, the Japanese commander responsible for the Bataan Death March, was executed. 1948 U.S. President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan to revive war-torn Europe. It was $5 billion in aid for 16 countries. 1967 The U.S. State Department said that Hanoi might be brainwashing American prisoners. 1972 Charlie Chaplin returned to the U.S. after a 20 year absence. 1983 It was reported that Vietnamese occupation forces had overrun a key insurgent base in western Cambodia. 1985 The U.S. charged that Israel violated the Geneva Convention by deporting Shiite prisoners. 1986 The U.S. national debt hit $2 trillion. 1987 Riots disrupted mass during the Pope's visit to Santiago, Chili. 1996 An Air Force jetliner carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown crashed in Croatia, killing all 35 people aboard. 1996 Unabomber suspect Theodore Kaczynski was arrested. He pled guilty in January 1998 to five Unabomber attacks in exchange for a life sentence without chance for parole. 2015 smiled. Thursday, April 2, 2015, 07:41 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Thursday, April 2 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Oklahoma Rapist, who allegedly held 3 teens captive at parents house Details at Boneheads Today, in 1801 During the Napoleonic Wars, the Danish fleet was destroyed by the British at the Battle of Copenhagen. The Danes were pro-democracy and Britain was against it. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! A little learning is a dangerous thing but a lot of ignorance is just as bad. --- Bob Edwards ______________________________________________________ >From Roland Sally was puzzled recently by the odd messages she kept getting on her voice mail. Day after day, all she'd hear, from friends, family, and customers alike, would be their message and then they'd ALL say, "BEEP." We were talking about something else at the moment but I had her check her voice mail message anyway to see if there was a clue. She discovered the solution to the BEEP riddle when she dialed her own phone number. Her message said, "I'm not available right now, so please leave a beep after the message." ______________________________________________________ >From Max Excuses, excuses... Philadelphia's Highway Patrol officers hear all kinds of creative excuses that drivers give for speeding. Here are some of the officers' favorites. By the way, none of them worked. A man told the officer he was rushing to the hospital because had been stung by a bee, and was allergic. "There's the bee right there," he said, pointing to his dashboard. The officer looked. The bee was not only dead, but in an advanced state of decomposition. A man was doing 70 mph on the shoulder of I-95, avoiding the bumper-to-bumper traffic. After a third of a mile, he was stopped by an officer. He jumped out of the car, brushing off his pants, and told the cop he had dropped a cigarette on his lap. "I was looking for a place to park," he explained. A speeder said that he and his wife were trying to have a baby. "My wife is ovulating," he told the officer. "I have to get home right now." An officer stopped a man doing 80 mph. When he asked the driver whether he had seen the speed-limit signs, the man responded, "I went by them so fast I probably missed them." A man going south on I-95 was stopped near Washington Avenue doing 79 mph. "My engine misses, and I'm trying to clean out the carburetor," he told the officer. For good measure, he added, "If I don't go this fast, my car won't go at all." "I'm due in traffic court," one speeder said. "If I'm late they're going to enforce the bench warrant." When an officer told a speeder that the speed limit on the Schuylkill Expressway was 50 mph, the driver responded, "Officer, where have you been? It's 65 now." One speeder said simply, "I'm trying to beat my wife home. Don't ask." An elderly person was stopped after doing 73 mph. When told he was getting a ticket, he asked the officer, "Is there a senior citizen's discount?" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Gregory Zavala 23, Tuttle, Oklahoma Oklahoma Rapist Allegedly Held 3 Teens Captive At Parents House An Oklahoma man faces kidnapping and rape charges after he held three teenaged girls against their will at his parents' home over the course of two years, police say. Gregory Zavala, 23, is also charged with child sex abuse and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to KFOR. Investigators said Zavala lured each of the three girls to the home in Tuttle, Oklahoma, at different times between 2011 and 2013. Zavala allegedly held the teens captive for months at a time. Zavala reportedly told each girl that he would kill them and their families if they tried to escape. Authorities said two of the girls were 16 and 17 at the time of the kidnapping, and that Zavala sexually abused them on a daily basis. A third victim's age was not disclosed, but police said she was a minor. He was arrested March 19 after police received tips of criminal activity at the house, where Zavala lived with his parents, according to the Grady County Express-Star. Zavala allegedly told one of the victims, who he kept locked in his bedroom from March to May 2011, that he was trying to get her pregnant. The girl told authorities that the suspect raped her many times and that she eventually became pregnant. She was able to escape before giving birth. Another victim, who was held between January and August of 2012, said that Zavala used a belt or his hand to strangle her, and told her that the only way she was leaving his house was "in a body bag." She was also raped multiple times, became pregnant and managed to escape. The third victim in the case was a homeless woman who became Zavala's girlfriend, moving into his parents house in August 2012. According to KOKH: After moving in, the victim tells police Zavala had her vehicle towed. While the two were dating, the victim says Zavala struck her in the head with a hammer during an altercation. The hammer allegedly left a permanent deformity in the woman's skull. Tuttle police are investigating whether a missing 16-year-old who was last seen with Zavala is connected to the case. Zavala is held in Grady County Jail on $2 million bond, and is scheduled to appear in court June 9. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Maryann Re: Easter Hi Dear Webby, Years ago you made a fancy Easter page with all the statues from that place in texas, but I can't find it any more. Did you take it down? Maryann Dear Maryann It's still up there at http://webby.com/humor/i/Easter/ Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The basketball coach stormed into the University President's office and demanded a raise right then and there. "Please," protested the college President, "you already make more than the entire History department." "Yeah, maybe so, but you don't know what I have to put up with," the coach blustered. "Look, I'll Give you an example." The coach went out into the hall and grabbed a jock who was jogging down the hallway. "Run over to my office and see if I'm there," he ordered. Three minutes later the jock returned, sweaty and out of breath. "You're not there, sir," he reported. "Oh, I see what you mean," conceded the University President, scratching his head. "I would have phoned first." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Mustard for Burn First Aid If you burn yourself, don't run for the ice. Instead, grab the mustard and slather it on the burn. Don't wet it or put ice on it, use the mustard first. You'll be shocked at how quickly it cools the burn and how much it helps the healing process. This also works for a sunburn, just apply a very thin layer. By aubergine [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ A man went to get his driver's license renewed. The line inched along for almost an hour until the man finally got his license. He inspected his photo for a moment and commented to the clerk, "I was standing in line so long, I ended up looking pretty grouchy in this picture." The clerk looked at his picture closely. "It's okay," she reassured the man. "That's how you're going to look when the cops pull you over anyway." _____________________________________________________ The young teacher of the earth science class was lecturing on map reading. After explaining about latitude, longitude, degrees and minutes the teacher asked Morris, "Suppose I asked you to meet me for lunch at 25 degrees, 4 minutes north latitude and 130 degrees, 15 minutes West longitude?" After a confused silence Morris replied, "I guess you'd be eating alone. That's halfway to Hawaii, and I can't swim." ____________________________________________________ There's a jungle inside Vietnam's mammoth cavern. A skyscraper could fit too. And the end is out of sight. Today in 1513 Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon sighted Florida. 1801 During the Napoleonic Wars, the Danish fleet was destroyed by the British at the Battle of Copenhagen. 1872 G.B. Brayton received a patent for the gas-powered streetcar. 1889 Charles Hall patented aluminum. 1905 The Simplon rail tunnel officially opened. The tunnel went under the Alps and linked Switzerland and Italy. 1910 Karl Harris perfected the process for the artificial synthesis of rubber. 1917 U.S. President Woodrow Wilson presented a declaration of war against Germany to the U.S. Congress. 1935 Sir Watson-Watt was granted a patent for RADAR. It had been shown in Germany two years before, but not patented. 1947 The U.N. Security Council voted to appoint the U.S. as trustee for former Japanese-held Pacific Islands. 1960 France signed an agreement with Madagascar that proclaimed the country an independent state within the French community. 1963 Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King began the first campaign in Birmingham, AL. 1966 South Vietnamese troops joined in demonstrations at Hue and Da Nang for an end to military rule. 1967 In Peking, hundreds of thousands demonstrated against Mao foe Liu Shao-chi. 1972 Burt Reynolds appeared nude in "Cosmopolitan" magazine. 1982 Argentina invaded the British-owned Falkland Islands. The following June Britain took the islands back. 1984 In Jerusalem, three Arab gunmen wounded 48 people when they opened fire into a crowd of shoppers. 1986 On a TWA airliner flying from Rome to Athens a bomb exploded under a seat killing four Americans. 1989 General Prosper Avril, Haiti's military leader, survived a coup attempt. The attempt was apparently provoked by Avril's U.S.-backed efforts to fight drug trafficking. 1990 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein threatened to incinerate half of Israel with chemical weapons if Israel joined a conspiracy against Iraq. 1992 Mob boss John Gotti was convicted in New York of murder and racketeering. He was later sentenced to life in prison. 1996 Russia and Belarus signed a treaty that created a political and economic alliance in an effort to reunite the two former Soviet republics. 1996 Lech Walesa resumed his old job as an electrician at the Gdansk shipyard. He was the former Solidarity union leader who became Poland's first post-war democratic president. 2002 Israeli troops surrounded the Church of the Nativity. More than 200 Palestinians had taken refuge at the church when Israel invaded Bethlehem. 2015 smiled. Black boxes and red X Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 03:12 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Wednesday, April 1 Thanks to higher speed servers, the annual Internet cleaning today is expected to take no more than a couple of hours. To avoid data getting cleaned out, all Government employees have been instructed to turn off their computers at 10 am, after they have checked their personal emails, and not to turn them back on, until they get an email instructing them that it is safe to do so. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Ohio woman, who stabbed boyfriend in groin for eating all her salsa Details at Boneheads Today, in 1578 William Harvey of England discovered blood circulation. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people's. --- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) Yesterday, the White House confirmed that President Obama will meet with Pope Francis during his visit in September. Some experts are wondering if they'll discuss their disagreement over contraception. Then Joe Biden said, ï¿½I didn't even know they were dating.ï¿½ --- Jimmy Fallon ______________________________________________________ In a lot of Southern towns, the influence of the Baptist Church is felt in many different walks of life. For example, sexual relations between two unmarried adults is illegal. It seems they felt it might lead to dancing. ______________________________________________________ Angus was returning to Scotland after a year in exile and was met at the station by his two brothers Lorne and Neil. "Lorne!, Neil!, What did you grow beards for while I was away?" Lorne replied angrily "What do you expect? You took the razor blade with you!" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Phyllis Jefferson, 50, Akron, Ohio Ohio woman stabbed boyfriend in groin for eating all her salsa Phyllis Jefferson's temper may be as hot as her salsa. Police in Akron, Ohio, said Jefferson, 50, allegedly stabbed her boyfriend in the groin with a pen Sunday evening after he ate all the salsa in their house, Cleveland.com reports. Jefferson's boyfriend, Ronnie D. Bucker, 61, told police that he and the accused were arguing about the salsa consumption when she allegedly stabbed him with the pen. The suspect then walked over to the TV and threatened to knock it on the floor, according to Ohio.com. When Buckner grabbed the TV, Jefferson allegedly walked to the kitchen to grab a knife and used it to cut him in the stomach. Jefferson fled the scene while Buckner called 911. Responding officers found him on the floor clutching his stomach, Fox8.com reports. Buckner was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries that were believed to be non-life threatening. Jefferson was arrested a short time alater when officers pulled her over on the highway. She allegedly admitted to stabbing Buckner and said she did it "because she wanted to leave." Jefferson was charged with felonious assault and criminal damaging and booked into the Summit County Jail, according to WKYC TV. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Terri Re: Black boxes and red X Hi Dear Webby! How come when I receive some emails with pictures, I get a black box with an x in it and no pictures????? Is it me or them? What can I do to correct this. Thanks so much, Terri, Dear Terri As long as you see the pictures in the Humor Letter, your email program is configured properly. Don't worry about YOUR side. That means the sender made a mistake when sending and incorrectly embedded the pictures. Just tell them to try again. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Church Bulletin Board Bloopers: Babara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons. ---------- The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoy sinning to join the choir. ------------ The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility. ------------ The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus." ----------------- Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done. ------------ The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours." -------------- "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Peel Hard-boiled Eggs Quickly I always struggle to peel the shells off my hard-boiled eggs. I've tried so many tips. I recently saw a video of someone trying this trick. I thought it was a hoax but tried it any way. It works! Here's what you do: Once you have boiled your eggs, take a smallish jar that an egg can fit into. (Alternatively, I also saw one guy use a drinking glass and put his hand over the top). Add about an inch of water. Plop in the egg. Put the lid on. Shake your jar about 20 times, pretty hard. You may want to do this over the sink, in case the jar leaks water. Take off the lid and the peel will be barely hanging on. Just slip it off. It doesn't even take any of the egg white with it. My eggs were perfect for Deviled Eggs. By Becky [39] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ (This one you have to read out loud) "Information? I need the number for Caseway Transport." "Would you spell that, please?" "Certainly. C as in sea. A as in aye. S as in sea. E as in eye. W as in why. A as in are. Y as in you." "Just a minute, sir. I'll connect you with my supervisor." _____________________________________________________ The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, everybody else does, often long before you actually get around to doing it. ----- That was my main reason for leaving Austria in 1970 and moving to Canada. ____________________________________________________ Look what one man accomplished with one pebble at a time and 33 years. Today in 0527 Justinianus became the emperor of Byzantium. 1572 The Sea Beggars under Guillaume de la Marck landed in Holland and captured the small town of Briel. 1578 William Harvey of England discovered blood circulation. 1621 The Plymouth, MA, colonists created the first treaty with Native Americans. 1748 The ruins of Pompeii were found. 1778 Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans businessman, created the "$" symbol. 1793 In Japan, the volcano Unsen erupted killing about 53,000. 1853 Cincinnati became the first U.S. city to pay fire fighters a regular salary. 1873 The British White Star steamship Atlantic sank off Nova Scotia killing 547. 1881 Anti-Jewish riots took place in Jerusalem. 1889 The first dishwashing machine was marketed (in Chicago). 1905 The British East African Protectorate became the colony of Kenya. 1924 Adolf Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison for high treason in relation to the "Beer Hall Putsch." 1927 The first automatic record changer was introduced by His Master's Voice. 1928 China's Chiang Kai-shek began attacking communists. 1929 Louie Marx introduced the Yo-Yo. 1931 An Earthquake devastated Managua Nicaragua killing 2,000. 1933 Nazi Germany began the persecution of Jews by boycotting Jewish businesses. 1937 Aden became a British colony. 1938 The first commercially successful fluorescent lamps were introduced. 1939 The U.S. recognized the Franco government in Spain at end of Spanish civil war. 1945 U.S. forces invaded Okinawa during World War II. It was the last campaign of World War II. 1948 The Berlin Airlift began. 1950 Italian Somalia became a United Nations trust territory under Italian administration. 1952 The Big Bang theory was proposed in "Physical Review" by Alpher, Bethe & Gamow. 1960 France exploded 2 atom bombs in the Sahara Desert. 1960 The U.S. launched TIROS-1, the first weather satellite. 1971 The United Kingdom lifted all restrictions on gold ownership. 1972 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops renewed their offensive in South Vietnam. 1973 Japan allowed its citizens to own gold. 1976 Apple Computer began operations. 1979 Iran was proclaimed to be an Islamic Republic by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the fall of the Shah. 1982 The U.S. transferred the Canal Zone to Panama. 1985 World oil prices dropped below $10 a barrel. 1986 The U.S. submarine Nathaniel Green ran aground in the Irish Sea. 1987 Steve Newman became the first man to walk around the world. The walk was 22,000 miles and took 4 years. 1991 The Warsaw Pact was officially dissolved. 1998 A federal judge dismissed the Paula Jones' sexual harassment lawsuit against U.S. President Clinton saying that the claims fell "far short" of being worthy of a trial. 1999 In Zhytomyr, Ukraine, Anatoliy Onoprienko was sentenced to death for the deaths of 52 men, women and children. 43 of the killings occurred in a 6-month period. 1999 The Canadian territory of Nunavut was created. It was carved from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories and covered about 772,000 square miles. 2001 China began holding 24 crewmembers of a U.S. surveillance plane. The EP-3E U.S. Navy crew had made an emergency landing after an in-flight collision with a Chinese fighter jet. The Chinese pilot was missing and presumed dead. The U.S. crew was released on April 11, 2001. 2001 Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was arrested on corruption charges after a 26-hour standoff with the police at his Belgrade villa. 2003 North Korea test-fired an anti-ship missile off its west coast. 2004 U.S. President George W. Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. The bill made it a crime to harm a fetus during an assault on a pregnant woman. 2009 Albania and Croatia joined NATO. 2010 The U.S. Congress cut Medicare reimbursements to physicians by 21%. 2015 smiled. Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 08:52 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Tuesday, March 31 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to Robbers, who stole cash box from guirl guides Details at Boneheads Today, in 1880 Wabash, IN, became the first town to be completely illuminated with electric light. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish. --- Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) ______________________________________________________ >From Jean Daughter: "Daddy, I am coming home to get married!! Take out your check book. Dad, I'm in love with a boy who is far away from me. I am in Australia and he lives in the UK. We met on a dating website, became friends on Facebook, had long chats on Whatsapp, he proposed to me on Skype and now we've had two months of relationship through Viber. Dad, I need your blessings good wishes and a big wedding." Father: "Wow! Really??!! Then you can get married on Twitter, have fun on Tango, buy your kids on Amazon, and pay for it all through PayPal. And if you get fed up with your husband just sell him on EBay. Best wishes and lots of love Sweetie!! ______________________________________________________ Help! Help" cried the young woman as she ran up the steps of the police station. "An Irishman molested me!" How do you know he was Irish? inquired the sergeant at the desk. "I had to help him" she gasped. ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Pierre Thibault 20, Massachusetts Kayla Lonergan 19, Rochester New Hampshire Robbers stole cash box from guirl guides A group of Girl Scouts selling cookies outside a New Hampshire business had their cash box stolen Friday night by a man who escaped in a waiting getaway car, according to police. Rochester cops report that the Girl Scouts were selling cookies in front of a Walgreens pharmacy when a 5ï¿½ 8ï¿½ black male wearing a winter hat and a New England Patriots jacket ï¿½grabbed their cash box which was located on the cookie table.ï¿½ The man fled in a waiting Toyota Camry that had two occupants (and carried New Jersey plates). Shortly after the theft, police located the vehicle, but the suspects had already fled on foot after pulling into a driveway. One of the suspects, Kayla Lonergan was arrested yesterday afternoon in connection with the theft. The 19-year-old Lonergan, who was driving the getaway car, has been charged with a pair of misdemeanors. During police questioning, Lonergan reportedly confessed to driving the getaway car and said that Thibault came running back to the vehicle ï¿½with people chasing him.ï¿½ According to a Rochester Police Department affidavit, cops noted that Lonergan said Thibault announced ï¿½something to the effect of ï¿½I robbed them,ï¿½ï¿½ upon entering the carï¿½s back seat. Lonergan, pictured above, was locked up in lieu of $7500 bail in advance of her arraignment this morning. Police have also secured an arrest warrant for Pierre Thibault, who allegedly swiped the cash box from the Girl Scouts (none of whom were harmed during the theft). Seen above from a previous mug-shot, Thibault, a 20-year old Massachusetts resident, remains at large. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Verna Re: Lost cursor Dear Webby, I remember those cardboard strips, that fit across the top of the keyboard and had all the commands for CTRL + Letter, number, ALT + Letter or number, F keys and and CTRL and ALT plus F keys to run all of Word Perfect without ever having to mouse around in menues. In those days we got paid according to how many letters we answered per shift, not by how cutesy they were. Good old times! Now I got a problem with my cursor sometimes going on a vacation and not coming back. How do I fix that? Thanks Verna Dear Verna That usually is a sign of a memory shortage. Crap cleaner helps. Make sure CrapCleaner is in the Start-Up menu. Then, when you need it, hit the Windoze key, and use the up / down arrows to highlight Crap Cleaner. Don't expect to configure it while in keyboard only mode. Configure it beforehand, right after start-up. Run the perfectly configured CrapCleaner to free some memory, and the cursor will return. If the mouse is so configured as to show target rings when you pound the CTRL key, that too works sometimes. Another method, that I have observed (from the distance), is pounding the mouse on the desk, cussing at it, and threatening it with taking the battery out. Believe it or not, that method has worked well for a certain lady. It is most likely the slamming onto the desk, that momentarily disconnected the battery, that did the trick. The cussing probably just helped her. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ I couldn't help overhearing a man at a nearby pay phone. "I know it's something you want," he said earnestly, "but I don't think tattoos are a good idea. And the same goes for body piercing. As long as you're living in my house, I think you should respect my wishes." I was secretly cheering him on for his fatherly firmness. Then came the 'coup de grace': "Besides, Ma, you're 75 years old! A tatoo like that would look silly on you !" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Spray Paint Lamp Shades I have painted a few lamp shades with spray paint with good success By lavonneann [6] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ >From Jean A road crew supervisor in southern Ontario hired Herb from Newfoundland, to paint the yellow line down the middle of highway 10 heading up toward Wasaga Beach. He was skeptical about hiring him since he didn't have any painting background; however, he appeared enthusiastic and told him that he really needed the job. At least his wife Lorrie-Jane, told him so. He explained to Herb, that his work day would be to complete 2 miles of centerline on the road. He was set up with brushes and paint and his boss got him started. After the first day, the supervisor was pleased to find that he'd painted 4 miles of road in his 8 hour shift, instead of the two expected of him. He told Herb, that he did an excellent job, and said how pleased he was with his progress. On the second day, Herb completed painting just the 2 miles of road that was asked of him. His supervisor was surprised, because on the first day, he had completed twice as much work. But he didn't say anything, since 2 miles of road was the amount that the job required anyway. He decided to just accept it, and to look forward to the next day when he was sure that Herb would pick up the pace again. On day 3, the supervisor was disappointed to learn that in his 8 hour shift, Herb completed painting only 1 mile of road. Herb was called to the supervisor's office and asked what was the problem. "On your first day, you completed 4 miles of road, on your second day, 2 miles of road, and now on day 3, you were only able to complete 1 mile of road. What's the problem, Herb?" "Well," Herb replied, "I'll tell you watt is da problem dare boy, but I taught a smart man like you would figger it out fer yourself. Every day I got farder and farder away from da paint can." _____________________________________________________ New Yorkers are a breed apart. A man was mugged but had no cash. Afraid he'd be hurt, he offered to write the guy a check. The mugger said dumbfounded, "A Check ? Why would I take a check from you? I don't even know you!" ____________________________________________________ Drywall art sculpture with Bernie Mitchell Today in 1492 King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain issued the Alhambra edict expelling Jews who were unwilling to convert to Christianity. 1776 Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John that women were "determined to foment a rebellion" if the new Declaration of Independence failed to guarantee their rights. 1779 Russia and Turkey signed a treaty concerning military action in Crimea. 1854 The U.S. government signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan. The act opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakotade to American trade. 1880 Wabash, IN, became the first town to be completely illuminated with electric light. 1889 In Paris, the Eiffel Tower officially opened. 1900 In France, the National Assembly passed a law reducing the workday for women and children to 11 hours. 1904 In India, hundreds of Tibetans were slaughtered by the British. 1905 Kaiser Wilhelm arrived in Tangier proclaiming to support for an independent state of Morocco. 1908 250,000 coal miners in Indianapolis, IN, went on strike to await a wage adjustment. 1909 Serbia accepted Austrian control over Bosnia-Herzegovina. 1917 The U.S. purchased and took possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million. 1921 Great Britain declared a state of emergency because of the thousands of coal miners on strike. 1932 The Ford Motor Co. debuted its V-8 engine. 1933 The U.S. Congress authorized the Civilian Conservation Corps to relieve rampant unemployment. 1939 Britain and France agreed to support Poland if Germany threatened invasion. 1941 Germany began a counter offensive in North Africa. 1946 Monarchists won the elections in Greece. 1948 The Soviets in Germany began controlling the Western trains headed toward Berlin. 1949 Winston Churchill declared that the A-bomb was the only thing that kept the U.S.S.R. from taking over Europe. 1949 Newfoundland entered the Canadian confederation as its 10th province. 1966 An estimated 200,000 anti-war demonstrators march in New York City. (New York) 1966 The Soviet Union launched Luna 10, which became the first spacecraft to enter a lunar orbit. 1980 U.S. President Carter deregulated the banking industry. 1986 167 people died when a Mexicana Airlines Boeing 727 crashed in Los Angeles. 1989 Canada and France signed a fishing rights pact. 1991 Iraqi forces recaptured the northern city of Kirkuk from Kurdish guerillas. 2004 Air America Radio launched five stations around the U.S. 2004 Google Inc. announced that it would be introducing a free e-mail service called Gmail. 2015 smiled. Easy consecutive page numbering in Open Office Monday, March 30, 2015, 10:43 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Monday, March 30 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Florida Bank robber arrived drunk in taxi Details at Boneheads Today, in 1814 The allied European nations against Napoleon marched into Paris. They did not like his ideas of democracy. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another. --- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742 - 1799) ______________________________________________________ Did you know that ..... In Seattle, Washington residents may not carry concealed weapons longer than six feet. In Chicago, Illinois, according to state law, it is illegal to speak English. The officially recognized language is "American." ______________________________________________________ Two English ladies were discussing their vacation plans on a London bus near an Irish lady. "We're planning a lovely holiday in Devon this year," said one. "Oh you oughtn't to do that," said the other, "there are Irish there! It would be awful." "Dear me!" said the first lady. "well where are you going?" "Salisbury," she replied. "But Salisbury is simply crawling with Irish!" the first lady objected. At this point the Irish lady could no longer hold her tounge. "Why don't ye go t' hell," she suggested. "There be no Irish there!" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Stanley Geddie 46, Tallahassee, Florida Bank robber arrived drunk in taxi You shouldn't bring a sandwich to a banquet and you probably shouldn't arrive to a bank robbery by taxi -- especially if you're drunk. But that's what Stanley Geddie did Wednesday afternoon, according to police in Tallahassee, Florida. When Geddie, 46, arrived at the Central City Bank, he owed $25.50. He allegedly told the driver, ï¿½I will take care of you when I come out,ï¿½ according to Tallahassee.com. Geddie then walked into the bank and asked to speak to the manager. When the manager invited him into his office, Geddie allegedly said, "I'm here to rob the bank," WCTV reports. He also told the manager he was a carrying a .357 gun and C-4 plastic explosives and would "blow this place up" if he didn't get $100,000. Witnesses told police that Geddie seemed drunk during his alleged bank-robbery-by-taxi. "His movements let people know something wasn't quite right the way he was acting, probably slurring his speech something like that," said Tallahassee Police spokesman David Northway told the station. Concerned tellers contacted police, who quickly arrived on the scene and met up with the disgruntled cab driver, who explained that Geddie was drunk and had stiffed him on the fare, according to WTSP.com. Officers said Geddie did not follow commands and was shocked with a stun gun before being arrested. A search revealed he had neither a gun nor explosives. After arriving at the bank in a taxi, he left in an ambulance. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for stun gun wounds, according to the New York Daily News. While there, he allegedly told police he was wearing two pairs of pants, figuring if he removed one pair after the robbery, he wouldn't look like the suspect, Tallahassee.com reports. Geddie was charged with robbery, resisting an officer, two probation violations and a petty theft charge for the unpaid taxi fare. He remains in the Leon County jail on $25,000 bond. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Walter Re: Open office page numbering Dear Webby, Thank you, Dear Webby, but why is it so laborious and roundabout as compared to "Word?" Be well, live long, and prosper, Walter Dear Walter Probably to avoid getting sued by Microsoft. Just open a footer with ALT i r ALT i d p Remember those two sequences, or write them onto the masking tape at the bottom of the monitor, or onto the keyboard topper cardboard strip, just like in the days of Word Perfect. For text like Walter's Theory of Conundrums, Page you can just type it into the footer. Hit CTRL R to shift the page number to the right side, then type the text to the left of it. It will be automatically inserted with the numbers on following pages, like this Walter's Theory of Conundrums, Page 456 Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ "I presume, Mrs Murphy, you carry a memento of some sort in that locket of yours?" "Indeed I do, sir, it's a lock of my Dan's hair." "But your husband is still alive." "that he is," said she "but his hair is long gone!" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Sunlight as Free Bleach Sunlight will remove tomato sauce type stains from plastics. Just place items in direct sunlight for a few hours around midday. It will bleach white laundry too. By Bruce Byrnes [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Casey and Riley agreed to settle their dispute by a fight, and it was understood that whoever wanted to quit should say "Enough." Casey got Riley down and was hammering him unmercifully when Riley called out several times, "Enough!" As Casey paid no attention, but kept on administering punishment, a bystander said, "Why don't you let him up? Don't you hear him say that he's had enough?" "I do," says Casey, "but he's such a liar, you can't believe him." _____________________________________________________ Two rural church deacons who were having a sociable beer in the local tavern when they saw their minister drive by and take a good long look at their pickup trucks parked outside. One deacon ducked down and said, "I hope the reverend didn't see us or recognize my pickup." The other replied indifferently, "What difference does it make. God knows we're in here... and he's the only one who counts." The first deacon countered, "But God won't tell my wife." ____________________________________________________ These dancers look like they are gliding! Today in 1533 Henry VIII divorced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. 1814 The allied European nations against Napoleon marched into Paris. They did not like his ideas of democracy. 1822 Florida became a U.S. territory. 1842 Dr. Crawford W. Long performed the first operation while his patient was anesthetized by ether. 1855 About 5,000 "Border Ruffians" from western Missouri invaded the territory of Kansas and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature. It was the first election in Kansas. 1858 Hyman L. Lipman of Philadelphia patented the pencil. 1867 The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. 1909 The Queensboro bridge in New York opened linking Manhattan and Queens. It was the first double decker bridge. 1909 In Oklahoma, Seminole Indians revolted against meager pay for government jobs. 1916 Pancho Villa killed 172 at the Guerrero garrison in Mexico. 1936 Britain announced a naval construction program of 38 warships. 1940 The Japanese set up a puppet government called Manchuko in Nanking, China. 1941 The German Afrika Korps under General Erwin Rommel began its first offensive against British forces in Libya. 1944 The U.S. fleet attacked Palau, near the Philippines. 1945 The U.S.S.R. invaded Austria after World War II. 1946 The Allies seized 1,000 Nazis attempting to revive the Nazi party in Frankfurt. 1950 The invention of the phototransistor was announced. 1950 U.S. President Truman denounced Senator Joe McCarthy as a saboteur of U.S. foreign policy. 1964 John Glenn withdrew from the Ohio race for U.S. Senate because of injuries suffered in a fall. 1972 The British government assumed direct rule over Northern Ireland. 1972 The Eastertide Offensive began when North Vietnamese troops crossed into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the northern portion of South Vietnam. 1975 As the North Vietnamese forces moved toward Saigon South Vietnamese soldiers mob rescue jets in desperation. 1981 U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in Washington, DC, by John W. Hinckley Jr. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady were also wounded. 1987 Vincent Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" was bought for $39.85 million. 1993 In Sarajevo, two Serb militiamen were sentenced to death for war crimes committed in Bosnia. 1993 In the Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown hit his first home run. 1994 Serbs and Croats signed a cease-fire to end their war in Croatia while Bosnian Muslims and Serbs continued to fight each other. 1998 Rolls-Royce was purchased by BMW in a $570 million deal. 2002 An unmanned U.S. spy plane crashed at sea in the Southern Philippines. 2002 Islamic militants set off several grenades at a temple in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Four civilians, four policemen and two attackers were killed and 20 people were injured. 2015 smiled. Saturday, March 28, 2015, 07:56 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Saturday, March 28 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to an Ohio Mom April Corcoran, who traded 11 year old daughter for heroin Details at Boneheads Today, in 1797 Nathaniel Briggs patented a washing machine. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! An onion can make people cry, but there has never been a --- Will Rogers (1879 - 1935) The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) --- Isaac Asimov (1920 - 1992) ______________________________________________________ A kid comes home from college. His father is a farmer, and he's shoveling all the manure out of the outhouse onto the strawberries to fertilize them. The kid says, "Hey, Pop, learned in college there's an easy way to do everything." They go downtown and get some dynamite, they're gonna rig it up under the outhouse and blow the solids into the strawberry patch. They get it all rigged up, but they don't see Grandma coming to use the outhouse. BaBooom! The manure goes flying, and so does Grandma. Ploop!...she lands in the strawberries. They go running up to her... "Grandma, Grandma! My God, are you all right? Are you all right?" She says, "Yeah, I'm fine. Whoo! I'm certainly glad I didn't let that one go in the kitchen!" ______________________________________________________ A woman was complaining to a policeman about the neighbor across the way. She took him up to her abode and pointing across the court said, "It's an outrage the way those nudists are carrying on in that apartment--I'm ashamed." The cop looked across the court and said, "I can't see anything going on in there." "Is that so?" she cried, "you just put this chair up on that dresser and stand on it! Take these binoculars and you'll see plenty!" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Apri Corcoran 30, Pleasant Plain, Ohio Ohio Mom April Corcoran Traded Daughter For Heroin An Ohio mom accused of providing her 11-year-old daughter to a drug dealer for sex in exchange for heroin pleaded not guilty today. April Corcoran, 30, was indicted Monday on 27 felony counts, including complicity in rape, complicity in gross sexual imposition, endangering children, and human trafficking, Cincinnati.com reports. Authorities told the website that Corcoran allegedly injected heroin into her daughter. Corcoran pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday. Her bail was set at $5 million, according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors said the alleged crimes took place between Feb. 15 and June 6 of last year. Corcoran, of Pleasant Plain, would drop off her daughter at the home of accused drug dealer Shandell Willingham, 41, and pick up the girl later. Willingham was indicted on 26 felony accounts, including rape, human trafficking and for allegedly videotaping the sex crimes against the victim, according to USA Today. Authorities learned about the alleged crimes last June when the child told her father and stepmother about it. The girl is now in their custody, according to WCPO TV. Both Corcoran and Willingham could face life sentences if convicted, according to Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters. He told Fox19.com the case is "exhibit A for how devastating heroin is to our communities." Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine told the station the situation was "sad beyond measure." "Instead of protecting her daughter, the mother saw her as a way to get drugs because the lure of heroin was apparently too strong," he said. Considering the videos, conviction of the perverts is pretty well assured. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Olga Re: Old business cards Dear Webby, My address changed, so now I got a stack of business cards with the old address. Considering how much I paid for them, I'd hate to just toss them into the garbage. Is there ANY use for old business cards, at all? Olga Dear Olga Yes, sure. Considering the cost of post-it-notes, use them as notes. Get a stick of removeable glue. They are usually colored pale yellow, like the original post-it-notes. Some of your free notes you can use without glue, and the ones to stick up on the monitor frame or mirror or fridge or dash, rub the glue stick across the printed side. Simple, and works great. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ A nursery school teacher was delivering a station wagon full of kids home one day when a fire truck zoomed past. Sitting in the front seat of the fire truck was a Dalmatian dog. The children fell to discussing the dog's duties. "They use him to keep crowds back," said one youngster. "No," said another, "he's just for good luck." Then a third child brought the argument to a close: "They use the dog," she said firmly, "to find the fire hydrant." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Saving Money on Window Cleaner Don't pay extra for Windex. Wait until your auto parts store has car windshield cleaner on sale and stock up. Save dollars by refilling your spray bottles at home. By Terri ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ "How long will it take to pull my tooth?" The patient asked the dentist. "Only two seconds" "How much will it cost?" "Fifty dollars." "For only two seconds of work?" "Well," The dentist answered coolly, "I can pull it very, very slowly and make it last an hour if you prefer." _____________________________________________________ A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he wants. A woman will pay $3.99 for a $2 item that she doesn't want but that is on sale. ____________________________________________________ These 10 Weird Hobbies Were All The Rage In The Victorian Era Today in 1797 Nathaniel Briggs patented a washing machine. 1854 The Crimean War began with Britain and France declaring war on Russia. 1898 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a child born in the U.S. to Chinese immigrants was a U.S. citizen. This meant that they could not be deported under the Chinese Exclusion Act. 1905 The U.S. took full control over Dominican revenues. 1908 Automobile owners lobbied the U.S. Congress, supporting a bill that called for vehicle licensing and federal registration. 1910 The first seaplane took off from water at Martinques, France. The pilot was Henri Fabre. 1922 Bradley A. Fiske patented a microfilm reading device. 1930 Constantinople and Angora changed their names to Istanbul and Ankara respectively. 1933 In Germany, the Nazis ordered a ban on all Jews in businesses, professions and schools. 1938 In Italy, psychiatrists demonstrated the use of electric-shock therapy for treatment of certain mental illnesses. 1939 The Spanish Civil War ended as Madrid fell to Francisco Franco. 1941 The Italian fleet was defeated by the British at the Battle of Matapan. 1942 British naval forces raided the Nazi occupied French port of St. Nazaire. 1945 Germany launched the last of the V-2 rockets against England. 1968 The U.S. lost its first F-111 aircraft in Vietnam when it vanished while on a combat mission. North Vietnam claimed that they had shot it down. 1979 A major accident occurred at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. A nuclear power reactor overheated and suffered a partial meltdown. 1986 The U.S. Senate passed $100 million aid package for the Nicaraguan contras. 1990 Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. President George H.W. Bush. 1990 In Britain, a joint Anglo-U.S. "sting" operation ended with the seizure of 40 capacitors, which can be used in the trigger mechanism of a nuclear weapon. 1991 The U.S. embassy in Moscow was severely damaged by fire. 2010 China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. signed a deal to buy Ford Motor Co.'s Volvo car unit. 2015 smiled. Ezinefinder still down after a week Friday, March 27, 2015, 07:39 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Friday, March 27 Time to wear a bit of red to show your support for the troops! Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Michigan woman, who shot into MacDonalds during Bacon-Rage Details at Boneheads Today, in 1794 The U.S. Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Navy. 1836 In Goliad, TX, about 350 Texan prisoners, including their commander James Fannin, were executed under orders from Gen. Antonio Lï¿½pez de Santa Anna. An estimated 30 Texans escaped execution. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! You can't think yourself out of a writing block, you have to write yourself out of a thinking block. --- John Rogers I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals. I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants. --- A. Whitney Brown Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it. --- Jane Wagner ______________________________________________________ George and Nancy get along just great, except that she's a "backseat driver" second to none. After years of putting up with her pestering, he finally decided he had enough and advised her that he would no longer drive with her in the car. Later that day, on his way home from doing some shopping at the mall, he heard his cell phone ring, just as he was merging onto a freeway. It was Nancy. By chance, she had entered the freeway right behind George. "Honey," she said, "your turn signal is still on. And put on your lights; it's starting to rain." ______________________________________________________ The pastor was doing is weekly "children's message" with the children gathered around him down front. He was talking to the youngsters on their level about being good and going to heaven. At the end of his talk, he asked, "Where do you want to go?" "Heaven!" one of the girls cried out enthusiastically. "And what do you have to be to get there?" the preacher asked. "Dead!" yelled one of the boys. ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Shaneka Monique Torres, 30, Grand Rapids Michigan Michigan woman shot into MacDonalds during Bacon-Rage A jury today found a Michigan woman guilty of firing a shot into a McDonaldï¿½s drive-thru window after employees failed to put bacon on a cheeseburger she ordered. Shaneka Monique Torres, 30, was convicted of a felony firearms charge after only an hour of deliberations by the panel. Torres, seen above, faces a minimum of two years in state prison when she is sentenced next month. Torres fired a single shot into the McDonaldï¿½s at 3:10 AM last February 10, according to Grand Rapids police. The gunplay came after Torres and another woman ï¿½complained that the order was incorrect,ï¿½ cops noted. When a McDonaldï¿½s employee walked away from the drive-thru window, ï¿½one shot was fired from the suspect vehicle,ï¿½ reported police, who added that the bullet entered the eatery at ï¿½head levelï¿½ and ï¿½traveled through the window, across the dining room, and exited the restaurant through another window on the east side of the restaurant.ï¿½ Shortly after the shooting--which did not result in any injuries--cops located Torres and recovered the 9mm Glock handgun used during the bacon rage incident. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Jim Re: Ezinefinder Dear Webby, For the past couple weeks, I have not been able to get into the "Ezine Finder" to vote for the humor letter. Is my computer messed up or are they down? Below are the buttons from today's humor letter. Thanks. Keep up the good work, Jim Dear Jim Your computer is fine. Ezinefinder is down. I think they tried to update the vote counting to 2015, and have not been able to do it just yet. You can try writing to [email protected] Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The Boy Scouts were out collecting bottles for a fund raising activity. One ambitious young man knocked on a door and a sour-faced lady came to the door and asked: "What do you want, Sonny?" "D-d-do you have any beer bottles for the Boy Scouts, M-m-m-ma'am?" he asked. "Look here, young man, do I look like the kind of lady who would drink beer?" replied the lady. "S-s-sorry, Ma'am," was his reply. "W-w-what about vinegar bottles?" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Baking Soda for Cleaning Old Linoleum Floors I read all the posts; tried them all and then some. After scrubbing and scrubbing I found it, the solution! I bought an old house and could not afford new flooring. By far the most effective thing to do is wet the floor and sprinkle baking soda over it. Wait 15 minutes. Then scrub with a brush and wipe dry. Mop off the residue with water. I cannot believe how sparkly clean it came and the wax did not wear off. By Marrabella [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Every newspaper in New York sent a reporter and a staff photographer to the office of a local ophthalmologist when it was learned that he recently performed a successful sight- saving operation on the wife of the country's most celebrated mural artist, who, in addition to paying the doctor's usual fee, had gratefully insisted on painting one of his contemporary masterpieces across an entire wall of the doctor's waiting room. The mural turned out to be an immense multicolored picture of a human eye, in the center of which stood a perfect miniature likeness of the good doctor himself. While cameras clicked and most of the newsmen crowded around the famous artist for his comments, one cub reporter drew the eye specialist aside and asked: "Tell me, if you can, Doctor-what was your first reaction on seeing this fantastic artistic achievement covering an entire wall of your office?" "To tell the truth," the physician replied, "my first thought was, thank goodness I'm not a hemorrhoid specialist!" _____________________________________________________ It was not the apple on the tree but the pair on the ground that caused the trouble in the garden. ------------------------------------ Never argue with a women when she's tired -- or rested. ____________________________________________________ These 10 Weird Hobbies Were All The Rage In The Victorian Era Today in 1794 The U.S. Congress authorized the creation of the U.S. Navy. 1836 In Goliad, TX, about 350 Texan prisoners, including their commander James Fannin, were executed under orders from Gen. Antonio Lï¿½pez de Santa Anna. An estimated 30 Texans escaped execution. 1836 The first Mormon temple was dedicated in Kirtland, OH. 1841 The first steam fire engine was tested in New York City. 1860 The corkscrew was patented by M.L. Byrn. 1884 The first long-distance telephone call was made from Boston to New York. 1899 The first international radio transmission between England and France was achieved by the Italian inventor G. Marconi. 1900 The London Parliament passed the War Loan Act that gave 35 million pounds to the Boer War cause in South Africa. 1900 The Russian army mobilized 250,000 troops for active duty. 1901 Filipino rebel leader Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by the U.S. 1904 Mary Jarris "Mother" Jones was ordered by Colorado state authorities to leave the state. She was accused of stirring up striking coal miners. 1912 The first cherry blossom trees were planted in Washington, DC. The trees were a gift from Japan. 1931 Actor Charlie Chaplin received Franceï¿½s Legion of Honor 1933 About 55,000 people staged a protest against Hitler in New York City. 1941 Tokeo Yoshikawa arrived in Oahu, HI, and began spying for Japan on the U.S. Fleet at Pearl Harbor. 1942 The British raided the Nazi submarine base at St. Nazaire, France. 1946 Four-month long strikes at both General Electric and General Motors ended with a wage increase. 1952 The U.S. Eighth Army reached the 38th parallel in Korea, the original dividing line between the two Koreas. 1958 The U.S. announced a plan to explore space near the moon. 1989 The U.S. anti-missile satellite failed the first test 1997 Russian workers, nearly 2 million, held a nationwide strike to protest unpaid wages. 1998 In the U.S., the FDA approved the prescription drug Viagra. 2004 NASA successfully launched an unpiloted X-43A jet that hit Mach 7 (about 5,000 mph). 2007 NFL owners voted to make instant replay a permanent officiating tool. 2015 smiled. Thursday, March 26, 2015, 05:35 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Thursday, March 26 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Florida perv used video on man using urinal at miniature golf park Details at Boneheads Today, in 1911 In New York City, 146 women were killed in fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City. The owners of the company were indicted on manslaughter charges because some of the employees had been behind locked doors in the factory. The owners were later acquitted and in 1914 they were ordered to pay damages to each of the twenty-three families that had sued. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." --- Al Gore, when he was Vice President ______________________________________________________ Bill: "Hey, tex, how big is your farm?" Tex: "Let me put it this way. If I were to get in my truck at sunrise and kept driving untill sundown, I STILL wouldn't be to the other side of my spread!" Bill: "Oh, yeah, I know what you mean. I used to have a truck like that too once too!" ______________________________________________________ The housewife answered the phone and listened with relief to the voice in her ear. "How are you, dear? What kind of day are you having?" "Oh, mom, the baby won't eat, the washing machine is broken, I've not been able to get out of the house to shop, I twisted my ankle and have been hobbling around. On top of that, the house is a mess and we're supposed to have two couples over for dinner tonight." "Now dear, just stay calm. Sit down, relax, close your eyes, and I'll be over in 1/2 hour. I'll do the shopping, clean up the house, and cook your dinner for you. I'll take care of the baby when I get there and call a repairman I know who'll get the washing machine fixed. In fact, I'll call George at the office and tell him he ought to come home and help out for once." "George? Who's George?" "Why, that's your husband, dear." "Mom, I don't have a husband." "Is this 234-5678?" "Uh, no, it's not. I think you have a wrong number." The housewife paused, then got rather hysterical: "But, but, but, you're still going to come over and help me, aren't you?" ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Geraldine Alcorn 28 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Teacher sent thousands of texts to 11-year-old same sex student expressing 'deep love' An elementary teacher in Pennsylvania is behind bars after police say she sent thousands of texts to an 11-year-old student. In a criminal complaint released by Pittsburgh authorities on Tuesday, 28-year-old Geraldine Alcorn is accused of sending more than 2,400 texts to a female student, where she expressed a "deep love" for the child and talked of running away with the minor, according to WTAE. The child and teacher had allegedly kept their contact a secret for an unspecified amount of time before school officials were made aware of it in February. The child's mother first discovered messages from Alcorn on her daughter's iPod, along with handwritten letters labeled "Things Ms. Alcorn and I can do," "What we can do," and "When we can do it," according to WPXI. Alcorn was allegedly discovered going over to the child's home without permission from the mother. Among the thousands of texts, Alcorn also allegedly discussed adopting the child and running away together, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Alcorn taught several of the girl's classes. Even after Alcorn resigned from her position in March following a police investigation, police say she still attempted contact with the girl. More from the complaint: "On 3/13/2015, after Alcorn had resigned, she went to the school to collect her belongings. On 3/16/2015, the 11-year-old female discovered gifts and several letters, some encrypted, in her locker and desk. The letters, written by Alcorn instructed the 11-year-old female to contact her. Alcorn supplied the 11-year-old female with her telephone number that was encrypted on a math worksheet where the 11-year- old female was instructed to follow the numbers circled." Alcorn now faces a felony charge of interference with custody of children, and misdemeanor charges including luring a child into a vehicle and corruption of minors. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Lynne Re: Duplicate folders in Outlook Dear Webby, I did everything you said to do to get my MailWasher and Microsoft programs to work together. Now I did get my email to come into Mailwasher but even though I followed your directions the washed email would not show up into Microsoft Outlook. I was so frustrated. Your directions always solve the problems. I knew I was missing something. But didnï¿½t know where to look. My brother-in-law came to my rescue!! He suggested that I check the folders under the ï¿½Mailï¿½ listing on the left hand side of the Outlook email program to see if there were 2 Inbox folders and to also look to see if there were any other duplicate folders. I did check and found that the ï¿½Inbox and Sent Itemsï¿½ were listed in there 2 xs just like he suggested. I have no idea how that happened but I did find all my emails in the 2nd Inbox where they had been sitting all the time. I had noticed these duplicate folders before but my email programs were working just fine, until March 15th. Those were the last emails that I received until today!! I do have both programs working together again. I am not sure how to proceed with the extra folders. I want to be sure that they donï¿½t get back in again. After I clear out my over 200 emails, I will proceed very carefully to determine which folders to get rid of. Have you ever heard of how these duplicate folders are created? Thank you so much for your help and I hope that others will be helped with this duplicate folders issue. Dear Lynne I have no idea how the extra folders were created. Cat walking over the keyboard? Overactive boobs? Routine Outlook malfunction? Microsoft is aware of the problem and says in Microsoft Live it is apparently not as bad. They don't have any definite remedies, just a bunch of complicated "You could try...", that all sound rather silly and not like a usable remedy. Probably the best method is to temporarily move the mails from both of duplicated folders, then delete one, and move the temporoarily stashed files into the remaining one. Keep in mind, if the INbox and the TRASH and the OUTbox get large, Outlook and especially Outlook Express, go nuts. Keep those three folders nice and trim. You can have as many mails as you want in 2014-Loveletters, just not in the critical 4.Outlook and Outlook Express have always had that problem. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ In a test of emergency systems some boy scouts impersonated wounded persons who were to be picked up and cared for by the emergency units. One Scout was supposed to lie on the ground and await his rescuers, but the first-aid people got behind schedule, and the Scout lay "wounded" for several hours. When the first-aid squad arrived where the casualty was supposed to be, they found nothing but a brief note: "Have bled to death and gone to McDonalds for a refill." ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Baking Soda for Cleaning Old Linoleum Floors I read all the posts; tried them all and then some. After scrubbing and scrubbing I found it, the solution! I bought an old house and could not afford new flooring. By far the most effective thing to do is wet the floor and sprinkle baking soda over it. Wait 15 minutes. Then scrub with a brush and wipe dry. Mop off the residue with water. I cannot believe how sparkly clean it came and the wax did not wear off. By Marrabella [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ "I hope you didn't take it personally, Pastor," an embarrassed woman said after a church service, "when my husband walked out during your sermon." "I did find it rather disconcerting," the preacher replied. "It's not a reflection on you, sir," insisted the church goer. "Ralph has been walking in his sleep ever since he was a kid." _____________________________________________________ Girls are attracted to boys, even at an early age. At an early age, boys are attracted to dirt. ____________________________________________________ A Glass Labyrinth Today in 1026 Conrad II was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John XIX. 1799 Napoleon captured Jaffa Palestine. 1793 The Holy Roman Emperor formally declared war on France. 1804 The U.S. Congress ordered the removal of Indians east of the Mississippi to Louisiana. 1885 Eastman Kodak (Eastman Dry Plate and Film Co.) produced the first commercial motion picture film in Rochester, NY. 1909 Russian troops invaded Persia to support Muhammad Ali as shah in place of the constitutional government. 1910 The U.S. Congress passed an amendment to the 1907 Immigration Act that barred criminals, paupers, anarchists and carriers of disease from settling in the U.S. 1917 At the start of the battle of Gaza, the British cavalry withdrew when 17,000 Turks blocked their advance. 1937 Spinach growers in Crystal City, TX, erected a statue of Popeye. 1938 Herman Goering warned all Jews to leave Austria. 1942 The Germans began sending Jews to Auschwitz in Poland. 1945 The battle of Iwo Jima ended. 1945 In the Aleutians, the battle of Komandorski began when the Japanese attempted to reinforce a garrison at Kiska and were intercepted by a U.S. naval force. 1958 The U.S. Army launched America's third successful satellite, Explorer III. 1971 Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared East Pakistan to be the independent republic of Bangladesh. 1979 The Camp David treaty was signed by Israel and Egypt that ended the 31-year state of war between the countries. 1992 In Indianapolis, heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson was found guilty of rape. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He only served three. 1995 Seven of the 15 European Union states abolished border controls. 1996 The International Monetary Fund approved a $10.2 billion loan for Russia to help the country transform its economy. 1997 The 39 bodies of Heaven's Gate members are found in a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. The group had committed suicide thinking that they would be picked up by a spaceship following behind the comet Hale-Bopp. 1998 In the U.S., the Federal government endorses new HIV test that yields instant results. 1999 The macro virus "Melissa" was reported for the first. 1999 In Michigan, Dr. Jack Kevorkian was convicted of second- degree murder for giving a terminally ill man a lethal injection and putting it all on videotape on September 17, 1998 for "60 Minutes." 2000 The Seattle Kingdome was imploded to make room for a new football arena. 2000 In Russia, acting President Vladimir Putin was elected president outright. 2015 smiled. Gmail cookies for multiple accounts Wednesday, March 25, 2015, 07:16 AM Posted by Administrator Good Morning, , Today is Wednesday, March 25 Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Today's Bonehead Award goes to a Florida perv used video on man using urinal at miniature golf park Details at Boneheads Today, in 1911 In New York City, 146 women were killed in fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City. The owners of the company were indicted on manslaughter charges because some of the employees had been behind locked doors in the factory. The owners were later acquitted and in 1914 they were ordered to pay damages to each of the twenty-three families that had sued. More of what happened on this day in history at History ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! Spare no expense to save money on this one. --- Samuel Goldwyn (1882 - 1974) "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in our air and water that are doing it." --- Al Gore, when he was Vice President ______________________________________________________ An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, infinite wisdom, or infinite beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom. "Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, "Say something." The dean sighs and says, "I should have taken the money." ______________________________________________________ You might be a Texan if you have ever had this conversation: "You wanna Coke?" "Yeah." "What kind?" "Dr. Pepper." ______________________________________________________ If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Justin Lynn Barrett Pasco County Florida Florida perv used video on man using urinal at miniature golf park An employee at a Florida miniature golf park is facing charges of video voyeurism after allegedly setting up a cellphone camera in a bathroom to film a man answering nature's call. Deputies from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office were called to Congo River Miniature Golf Saturday afternoon, after a man using the restroom noticed a cell phone leaning against the wall under a sink recording him, Bay News 9 reports. The victim called authorities and insisted he didn't give anybody permission to record him urinating, according to WFLA.com. Barrett, one of two employees working that day, was quickly determined to be the main suspect. Authorities said he admitted setting up the camera in the bathroom and said he did it because ï¿½he saw a hot man,ï¿½ according to New Port Richey Patch. Barrett was charged with video voyeurism, a felony, and booked into the county jail. He was released from custody on Monday after posting $5000 bond. When Sheriff Chris Nocco discussed the case with the media, he didn't pull any punches. ï¿½This guy has some issues,ï¿½Nocco told Suncoast News. ï¿½As a father, you do what you can to protect your kids. This is one of those things where thereï¿½s some scumbag who will exploit people. He didnï¿½t know who was going to use [the urinal]. It could have been a 5-year-old boy or a 50-year-old man.ï¿½ Nocco also said Barrett attempted to destroy the evidence on the phone, TBO.com reports. Barrett allegedly told police this incident was the first time he had attempted to film people in the urinal, but Nocco suspects there are other victims ï¿½He said this was the first time he did it, but weï¿½re skeptical," he said, according to the website. "I hope all of [Barrettï¿½s] neighbors see and hear this. I wouldnï¿½t let my children near his house. Heï¿½s the one who needs to be exposed.ï¿½ ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Patrick Re: Gmail cookies Dear Webby, cookie problem: I used to experience that issue as I have a few different gmail accounts. Gmail now allows you to login to separate accounts by logging into your primary account, and then clicking on the little blue person icon in the top right corner of the page and selecting add an account. The first time you do this you will have to login to the second address as normal. Gmail will then place an additional cookie for each separate email account and you can login to any gmail account in any order you wish. Re RCMP. My uncle who is a retired member and avid motorcycle rider claims that he is the one in the story. He has spent the bulk of his career in Western Canada, so I suppose it is possible, but like any great story, I take it with a grain of salt. Patrick Dear Patrick Thanks for the info about the extra account cookies! Re RCMP: Well, SOME RCMP member did it. Might as well be him. Is he also the one, who was jogging in place beside a car stuck and spinning out in a snow drift in a blizzard near Black Diamond, with the drunk in it believing his speedometer and thinking the officer was jogging along at 80 Miles per hour? That apparently happened near here too. I am in Black Diamond. Say HI to him from me! Btw., the drunk was not me. I don't drink. Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ The local pastor noticed that Little Johnny hadn't been to Sunday school in a long time. He was not surprised that Johnny's parents had not been to church in a month of Sundays, but it was unusual for Johnny to miss Sunday school for so long. He went to Johnny's house and knocked on the door. Little Johnny answered the door, took one look at the pastor and called to his father, "Hey, Dad! That guy that collects money for God is here!" ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Mark Sizes on Cake Pans I don't use cake tins often and I always have to measure them to ensure I have the right size. I painted the sizes (in centimetres) of the tins on their sides with ceramic paint and baked them in the oven to set the paint. Now, no more searching for a ruler when I make a cake or flan. By Ann.Mc [1] For easy and cheap permanent marking get a Nissen Marker. They are about $5 - $6, depending on which type you get. I prefer the ball pen type, just from old habit, but they have many different types. Nissen markers I used to use them to mark electric motors before putting them into the burn-out oven to burn all the insulation on the wires in them, to make it easy to remove the old wires prior to re-winding them. Red glowing cast iron did not obliterate the job numbers on the stators. In your oven the pans won't get half as hot as those big motors did. The ball pen type seals as soon as you stop writing. No fuss or brushes to clean. In the last 35 years I have used up a bunch of them, but none ever dried out on me. You can of course also use the Nissen Markers to permanently identify keys, tools, lunch boxes, jam jars, whatever. Have FUN! DearWebby ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it closely. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" his mother asked. With astonishment in a young boy's voice, he answered: "I THINK IT'S ADAM'S UNDERWEAR!" _____________________________________________________ Upon entering the little country store, the stranger noticed a sign saying "DANGER! BEWARE OF DOG!" posted on the glass door. Inside he noticed a harmless old hound dog asleep on the floor. He asked the store manager, "Is THAT the dog folks are supposed to beware of?" "Yep, that's him," he replied. The stranger couldn't help but be amused. "That certainly doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why in the world would you post that sign?" "Because," the owner replied, "before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him and busting their teeth on the counter here." ____________________________________________________ A lot of history here. Too bad it isn't open to the public ......yet. Today in 0421 The city of Venice was founded. 1306 Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland. 1409 The Council of Pisa opened. 1634 Lord Baltimore founded the Catholic colony of Maryland. 1655 Puritans jailed Governor Stone after a military victory over Catholic forces in the colony of Maryland. 1655 Christian Huygens discovered Titan. Titan is Saturn's largest satellite. 1669 Mount Etna in Sicily erupted destroying Nicolosi. 20,000 people were killed. 1807 The first railway passenger service began in England. 1807 British Parliament abolished the slave trade. 1813 The frigate USS Essex flew the first U.S. flag in battle in the Pacific. 1820 Greece freedom revolt against anti Ottoman attack 1821 Greece gained independence from Turkey. 1856 A. E. Burnside patented Burnside carbine. 1857 Frederick Laggenheim took the first photo of a solar eclipse. 1865 The SS General Lyon at Cape Hatteras caught fire and sank. 400 people were killed. 1895 Italian troops invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia). 1901 The Mercedes was introduced by Daimler at the five-day "Week of Nice" in Nice, France. 1901 It was reported in Washington, DC, that Cubans were beginning to fear annexation. 1902 Irving W. Colburn patented the sheet glass drawing machine. 1902 In Russia, 567 students were found guilty of "political disaffection." 95 students were exiled to Siberia. 1905 Rebel battle flags that were captured during the American Civil War were returned to the South. 1905 Russia received Japan's terms for peace. 1907 Nicaraguan troops took Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. 1909 In Russia, revolutionary Popova was arrested on 300 murder charges. 1911 In New York City, 146 women were killed in fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City. The owners of the company were indicted on manslaughter charges because some of the employees had been behind locked doors in the factory. The owners were later acquitted and in 1914 they were ordered to pay damages to each of the twenty-three families that had sued. 1913 The Palace Theatre opened in New York City. 1915 21 people died when a U.S. F-4 submarine sank off the Hawaiian coast. 1940 The U.S. agreed to give Britain and France access to all American warplanes. 1941 Yugoslavia joined the Axis powers. 1941 The first paprika mill was incorporated in Dollon, SC. 1947 A coalmine explosion in Centralia, IL, killed 111 people. 1953 The USS Missouri fired on targets at Kojo, North Korea. 1954 RCA manufactured its first color TV set 1957 The European Economic Community was established with the signing of the Treaty of Rome. 1960 A guided missile was launched from a nuclear powered submarine for the first time. 1970 The Concorde made its first supersonic flight. 1975 King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was shot to death by a nephew. The nephew, with a history of mental illness, was beheaded the following June. 1982 Wayne Gretzky became the first player in the NHL to score 200 points in a season. 1983 The U.S. Congress passed legislation to rescue the U.S. social security system from bankruptcy. 1986 U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered emergency aid for the Honduran army. U.S. helicopters took Honduran troops to the Nicaraguan border. 1990 Estonia voted for independence from the Soviet Union. 1991 Iraqi President Saddam Hussein launched a major counter- offensive to recapture key towns from Kurds in northern Iraq. 1992 Soviet cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev returned to Earth after spending 10 months aboard the orbiting Mir space station. 1993 President de Klerk admitted that South Africa had built six nuclear bombs, but said that they had since been dismantled. 1994 United States troops completed their withdrawal from Somalia. 1995 Boxer Mike Tyson was released from jail after serving 3 years. 1996 An 81-day standoff by the antigovernment Freemen began at a ranch near Jordan, MT. 1998 A cancer patient was the first known to die under Oregon's doctor-assisted suicide law. 1998 The FCC nets $578.6 million at auction for licenses for new wireless technology. 1998 Quinn Pletcher was found guilty on charges of extortion. He had threatened to kill Bill Gates unless he was paid $5 million. 2004 The U.S. Senate voted (61-38) on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act 2015 smiled. If you like the Dear Webby Daily Humor Letter, please vote for it at the Ezine Finder: Thanks for your votes! An INTERNATIONAL BONEHEAD AWARD has been earned by Erica Lynn Mesa, 28, Colonial Forge, Virginia Virginia teacher had students wait in line for sex A former math teacher and volleyball coach at a Virginia high school has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in a student sex case that broke at the beginning of the school year. Erica Lynn Mesa, 28, has been in jail since her arrest Sept. 29, according to WTVR. Mesa admitted to having sex with several students at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford County last year, police said. In a confession obtained by Stafford Sheriff's deputies, Mesa said she had sex with the boys, one of whom was underage at the time, because it made her feel "attractive and wanted." She told how she had sex with one victim in a car in a commuter lot on his eighteenth birthday. She also described how she had multiple students over at her house while her husband was away. She said she made one of the boys wait his turn in the basement while she had sex with another upstairs. "She is not a pedophile," her attorney, Mark Gardner, said in court Friday. "She was not preying on people who had no interest in participating." Sheriff's deputies began investigating Mesa in 2014 after they received a tip from administration at Colonial Forge. Investigators found a electronic trail linking Mesa to her victims, which included nude photos of herself that she'd sent to a 16-year-old student, according to WTOP. Mesa was charged with the sex abuse of two boys, but told police that she had sex with a total of four victims, according to the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star. In exchange for her pleas, prosecutors reduced two charges against her, and dropped two others. She faces a maximum of 22 years in prison when she is sentenced May 21. In court Friday, her lawyer said that his client's poor choices cost her her marriage and her career. As part of her plea deal, Mesa will register as a sex offender. ______________________________________________________ Tech Support Pits From: Kay Re: Gmail cookie problem Dear Webby, Hope all is well with you. I need some information on cookies. Right now I'm working with IE. I have downloaded Mozilla Firefox. When I try to get into my Gmail it tells me that cookies are preventing me from opening my mail. My question is, is it safe to delete all cookies? Thank you for all of the help you have given me in the past. Kay Dear Kay You are the first one with that problem! Get CrapCleaner from my toolbox at http://webby.com/tools With that you can sort out your cookies and dump any, that you don't recognize or like. After that, go through all your Gmail options, and ALLOW it to set cookies. You may have to click on ALLOW in each of your browsers. They are harmless, just store your preferences. Are you using Gmail raw, or hauling it down into a full-featured email program like Eudora, Thunderbird, Outlook, etc? Have FUN! DearWebby _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Re marriage: "My mother says to look for a man who is kind. So that's what I'll do. I'll find somebody who's kinda tall and kinda cute." -Carolyn, AGE 8 ______________________________________________________ If you can help with the cost of the Humor Letter, please donate what you can! ______________________________________________________ Daily tip from Thriftyfun.com Bobbin as Lost Jeans Button When you lose the metal button for your jeans, use a metal sewing bobbin. It is the same size and the shank is perfect for the thicker denim. By Carole A. [1] ______________________________________________________ Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Supposedly true. Has been around the net again and again for twenty years, and the RCMP has never issued a disclaimer. An RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officer stopped to help a stranded rider standing beside a stalled motorcycle in the Rockies just a bit east of here. It was quite cold for riding a bike at speed, and the rider was heavily dressed in a full face helmet, balaclava and snowmobile suit. In a shivering voice, the rider told the Mountie that the carburetor was frozen. "Well, pee on it," the Mountie said. "Can't," replied the rider. The helpful Mountie took out his own equipment and liberally hosed down the carburetor, and the bike soon fired up. A few days later, the local department received a thank you note from a father, grateful for the roadside assistance his young daughter had received from the RCMP. _____________________________________________________ Dogs prayer: Dear God, If we come back as humans in our next life, is that as punishment for jumping on the couch? ____________________________________________________ I love old barns, old log cabins and old historic homes. Today in 1379 The Gelderse war ended. 1545 German Parliament opened in Worms. 1720 In Paris, banking houses closed due to financial crisis. 1765 Britain passed the Quartering Act that required the American colonies to house 10,000 British troops in public and private buildings. 1832 Mormon Joseph Smith was beaten, tarred and feathered in Ohio. 1837 Canada gave blacks the right to vote 1880 The first "hail insurance company" was incorporated in Connecticut. It was known as Tobacco Growersï¿½ Mutual Insurance Company. 1882 In Berlin, German scientist Robert Koch announced the discovery of the tuberculosis germ (bacillus). 1904 Vice Adm. Tojo sank seven Russian ships as the Japanese strengthened their blockade of Port Arthur. 1905 In Crete, a group led by Eleutherios Venizelos claimed independence from Turkey. 1906 In Mexico, the Tehuantepec Istmian Railroad opened as a rival to the Panama Canal. 1911 In Denmark, penal code reform abolished corporal punishment. 1924 Greece became a republic. 1927 Chinese Communists seized Nanking and break with Chiang Kai-shek over the Nationalist goals. 1938 The U.S. asked that all powers help refugees fleeing from the Nazis. 1944 In Rome, The Gestapo rounded up innocent Italians and shot them to death in response to a bomb attack that killed 32 German policemen. Over 300 civilians were executed. 1946 The Soviet Union announced that it was withdrawing its troops from Iran. 1955 The first oil drill seagoing rig was put into service. 1976 The president of Argentina, Isabel Peron, was deposed by her country's military. 1985 Thousands demonstrated in Madrid against the NATO presence in Spain. 1989 The Exxon Valdez spilled 240,000 barrels (11 million gallons) of oil in Alaska's Prince William Sound after it ran aground. 1997 The Australian parliament overturned the world's first and only euthanasia law. 1998 In Jonesboro, AR, two young boys open fire at students from woods near a school. Four students and a teacher were killed and 10 others were injured. The two boys were 11 and 13 years old cousins. 1999 The 7-mile tunnel under Mont Blanc in France was an inferno after a truck carrying flour and margarine caught on fire. At least 30 people were killed. 2001 Apple Computer Inc's operating system MAC OS X went on sale. 2005 The government of Kyrgyzstan collapsed. 2006 In Spain, the Basque separatist group ETA announced a permanent cease-fire. 2014 It was announced that the U.S. and its allies would exclude Russia from the G8 meeting and boycott a planned summit in Sochi in response to Russia's takeover of Crimea. 2015 smiled. Ophelia Dingbatter's News No sermon and not suitable for church, just jokes and fun for grownups. Read it on line or subscribe. If you subscribe, look for the double opt in confirmation request. _____________________________________________________ Walking up to a department store's fabric counter, a attractive young woman asked, "I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?" "Only one kiss per yard, " replied the smirking male clerk." That's fine," replied the woman. "I'll take ten yards." With expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the clerk hurriedly measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly. The girl snapped up the package and pointed to a little old woman standing beside her. "Grandma will pay the bill," she smiled. _____________________________________________________ An IRS man asks a farmer, "How much is your prize bull worth?" The farmer says, "For tax purposes, or has he been hit by a train?" ____________________________________________________ So very beautiful.... I could live there! Today in 1026 Koenraad II crowned himself king of Italy. 1066 The 18th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet took place. 1490 The first dated edition of Maimonides "Mishna Torah" was published. 1657 France and England formed an alliance against Spain. 1794 Josiah G. Pierson patented a rivet machine. 1806 Explorers Lewis and Clark, reached the Pacific coast, and began their return journey to the east. 1808 Napoleon's brother Joseph took the throne of Spain. 1836 The coin press was invented by Franklin Beale. 1839 The first recorded printed use of "OK" [oll korrect] occurred in Boston's Morning Post. 1840 The first successful photo of the Moon was taken. 1848 Hungary proclaimed its independence of Austria. 1857 Elisha Otis installed the first modern passenger elevator in a public building. It was at the corner of Broome Street and Broadway in New York City. 1858 Eleazer A. Gardner patented the cable streetcar. 1861 London's first tramcars began operations. 1880 John Stevens patented the grain crushing mill. The mill increased flour production by 70 percent. 1881 A gas lamp caused a fire in an opera house in Nice, France. 70 people were killed. 1889 U.S. President Harrison opened Oklahoma for white colonization. 1901 Dame Nellie Melba, revealed the secret of her now famous toast. 1901 It was learned that Boers were starving in British concentration camps in South Africa. 1901 Shots were fired at Privy Councilor Pobyedonostzev, who was considered to be Russia's most hated man. 1902 In Italy, the minimum legal working age was raised from 9 to 12 for boys and from 11 to 15 for girls. 1903 The Wright brothers obtained an airplane patent. 1909 British Lt. Shackleton found the magnetic South Pole. 1912 The Dixie Cup was invented. 1917 Austrian Emperor Charles I made a peace proposal to French President Poincare. 1917 In the Midwest U.S., four tornadoes kill 211 people over a four day period. 1918 Lithuania proclaimed independence. 1919 Benito Mussolini founded his Fascist political movement in Milan, Italy. 1921 Arthur G. Hamilton set a new parachute record when he safely jumped from 24,400 feet. 1925 The state of Tennessee enacted a law that made it a crime for a teacher in any state-supported public school to teach any theory that was in contradiction to the Bible's account of man's creation. 1932 In the U.S., the Norris-LaGuardia Act established workers' right to strike. 1933 The German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act. The act effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial legislative powers. 1934 The U.S. Congress accepted the independence of the Philippines in 1945. 1936 Italy, Austria & Hungary signed the Pact of Rome. 1937 The L.A. Railway Co. started using PCC streetcars. 1942 The Japanese occupy the Andaman Islands. 1942 During World War II, the U.S. government began evacuating Japanese-Americans from West Coast homes to concentration camps. 1951 U.S. paratroopers descended from flying boxcars in a surprise attack in Korea. 1956 Pakistan became the first Islamic republic. It was still within the British Commonwealth. 1956 Sudan became independent. 1957 The U.S. Army sold the last of its homing pigeons. 1967 Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. called the Vietnam War the biggest obstacle to the civil rights movement. 1970 Mafia "Boss" Carlo Gambino was arrested for plotting to steal $3 million. 1972 Evel Knievel broke 93 bones after successfully jumping 35 cars. 1980 The deposed shah of Iran, Muhammad Riza Pahlavi, left Panama for Egypt. 1981 U.S. Supreme Court upheld a law making statutory rape a crime for men but not women. 1983 U.S. President Reagan first proposed development of technology to intercept enemy missiles. The proposal became known as the Strategic Defense Initiative and "Star Wars." 1989 Joel Steinberg was sentenced to 25 years for killing his adopted daughter. 1989 Two electrochemists, Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischman, announced that they had created nuclear fusion in a test tube at room temperature. 1990 Former Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood was ordered to help clean up Prince William Sound and pay $50,000 in restitution for the 1989 oil spill. 1993 U.N. experts announced that record ozone lows had been registered over a large area of the Western Hemisphere. It was BS. 1996 Taiwan held its first democratic presidential elections. 1998 Germany's largest bank pledged $3.1 million to Jewish foundations as restitution for Nazi looting. 1998 Russian President Boris Yeltsin fired his Cabinet. 1998 The movie "Titanic" won 11 Oscars at the Academy Awards. 1998 The German company Bertelsmann AG agreed to purchase the American publisher Random House for $1.4 billion. The merger created the largest English-language book-publishing company in the world. 1999 NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana gave formal approval for air strikes against Serbian targets. 2001 Russia's orbiting Mir space station plunged into the South Pacific after its 15-years of use. 2015 smiled. HungerSite A free click donates a cup of food to a hungry person. The number of mammograms donated thanks to clicks has dropped quite noticeably when these two ladies went away. So here they are back, working hard to get you to click. Donate by clicking! A free click helps to donate mammograms to women who can not afford one. , Feed the Animals! Tech Support Pits : Re: Not getting a subscription ... not getting my subscription newsletters, not just the Humor Letter, but others too. I can't re-sub- scribe because I am still on the list.... Dear Friends, If you are on the list, then the subscriptions are sent out TOWARDS you. If you don't see them, then either you or your ISP are blocking them. Complaining to me won't fix your or your ISP's spam block. Check your spam control program and, if necessary, white-list the missing subscription or declare it as friendly. If your spam control program is OK, contact your ISP. If you are using one of those address collectors that pretend to be email verification programs, but ask for people to fill out all kinds of information, forget it! NO newsletter send program will even click on a verification link, never mind filling out some silly junkmail order form. If you want a newsletter, it is up to YOU, to make sure that you are not blocking it. The Humor Letter is no exception, except that you can still read it here, on-line, at http://webby.com/humor , even if you are blocking it in the mail. You can see back issues at http://webby.com/humor/blog You might not need this info now, but keep it in mind, just in case ANY subscription mysteriously stops. Have FUN	i don't know
What does the DSM IV define as: A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:	Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder \| Psych Central Home » Disorders » Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. ~ 1 min read The defining characteristic of binge eating disorder is recurrent episodes of binge eating that occur, on average, at least once per month (for at least 3 months). Binge eating is eating an abnormally more amount of food than a person would normally eat in a similar period of time. The specific type of food doesn’t matter — what matters is the sheer amount of food consumed in one sitting. People with binge-eating disorder (BED) often feel ashamed and embarrassed by their eating issues, and may attempt to conceal their symptoms. Binge eating usually occurs in secrecy, or at least as inconspicuously as possible. After a binge eating episode, people with this disorder often feel depressed and ashamed of themselves. The prevalence of binge eating disorder is 1.6 percent for females and 0.8 percent for males. Specific Symptoms of Binge-Eating Disorder 1. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following: Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2 hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating). 2. The binge-eating episodes are associated with 3 or more of the following: Eating much more rapidly than normal. Eating until feeling uncomfortably full. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry. Eating alone because of feeling embarrassed by how much one is eating. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty afterward. 3. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present. 4. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least once a week for 3 months. 5. The binge eating is not associated with the recurrent use of inappripriate compensatory behavior, as in bulimia, and does not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia or anorexia . Specify if: In partial remission: After full criteria for binge-eating disorder were previously met, binge eating occurs at an average frequency of less than one episode per week for a sustained period of time. In full remission: After full criteria for binge-eating disorder were previously met, none of the criteria have been met for a sustained period of time. Severity is also noted in the diagnosis, from mild to extreme: Mild: 1-3 binge-eating episodes per week Moderate: 4-7 episodes Extreme: 14 or more episodes	Bulimia nervosa
What larger than life American World War II general was affectionately known as Old Blood and Guts?	Acamprosate in the Treatment of Binge-Eating Disorder - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov Acamprosate in the Treatment of Binge-Eating Disorder This study has been completed. Sponsor: First received: August 3, 2007 Last updated: June 21, 2011 Last verified: June 2011 How to Read a Study Record Purpose The purpose of this research study is to determine the efficacy (how well it works), tolerability and safety of acomprosate compared with placebo in patients with binge eating disorder. Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator) Primary Purpose: Treatment Further study details as provided by Lindner Center of HOPE: Primary Outcome Measures: The primary efficacy variable will be change in weekly binge frequency [ Time Frame: 10 weeks ] Secondary Outcome Measures: Secondary efficacy variables will include change in binge day frequency (days during which at least one binge occurs), obsessive-compulsive symptoms of BED, craving for food, depressive symptoms, weight, and BMI [ Time Frame: 10 weeks ] Estimated Enrollment: 999 mg/day - 2997 mg/day, oral Other Name: Campral 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult) Sexes Eligible for Study: Criteria Inclusion Criteria: Subjects will meet the DSM-IV (1) criteria for a diagnosis of binge eating disorder (BED) for at least the last 6 months. The DSM-IV criteria are as follows: Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following: eating, in a discrete period of time (eg, within any two hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat in a similar period of time under similar conditions; and a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (eg, a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating). The binge eating episodes are associated with at least three of the following: eating much more rapidly than normal; eating until uncomfortably full; eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry; eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating; feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or feeling very guilty after overeating. Marked distress regarding binge eating. The binge eating occurs, on average, at least two days a week for six months. The episodes of binge eating do not occur exclusively during the course of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa. In addition, subjects will report at least 3 binge eating episodes per week for the last 6 months prior to randomization Weight > 85% of the midpoint of ideal body weight for their height. (According to the Metropolitan Height/Weight table.) The subject population is expected to include both normal weight and obese individuals (although the majority of subjects are expected to be overweight). Men or women, between the ages of 18 and 65. The subject population is expected to be predominantly made up of women. Exclusion Criteria: Have concurrent symptoms of bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa, including weight loss to at least 15% below the Metropolitan Height/Weight tables. Women who are pregnant, lactating, or of childbearing potential who are not using adequate contraceptive measures. (All women of childbearing potential will have a negative pregnancy test before entering the study). Patients who are displaying clinically significant suicidality or homicidality. Patients who have received psychotherapy or behavioral therapy from a mental health professional as a part of previous treatment for BED for at least 3 months prior to randomization. A DSM-IV diagnosis of substance abuse or dependence (except nicotine abuse or dependence) within the 6 months prior to randomization. A lifetime DSM-IV history of psychosis, mania or hypomania, or dementia. History of any psychiatric and personality disorder (eg, schizotypal and borderline) which might interfere with a diagnostic assessment, treatment, or compliance. Clinically unstable medical disease, including cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, metabolic, endocrine or other systemic disease which could interfere with diagnosis, treatment, or assessment of BED. Patients should be biochemically euthyroid to enter the study. History of seizures, including febrile seizures in childhood. Patients requiring treatment with any drug which might interact adversely with or obscure the action of the study medication. Clinically relevant abnormal laboratory results, specifically including hypokalemia. Patients who have received monoamine oxidase inhibitors, antipsychotics, lithium, or fluoxetine within four weeks prior to randomization. Patients who have received other psychoactive medications (other than hypnotics) within one week prior to randomization. Patients who have received investigational medications or depot neuroleptics within three months prior to randomization. Patients previously enrolled in this study or have previously been treated with acamprosate. Contacts and Locations Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies. Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00511940 Locations	i don't know
April 6, 1896 saw the start of the modern Olympics era when what European city hosted the Games of the 1 Olympiad?	First modern Olympic Games - Apr 06, 1896 - HISTORY.com First modern Olympic Games Publisher A+E Networks On April 6, 1896, the Olympic Games, a long-lost tradition of ancient Greece, are reborn in Athens 1,500 years after being banned by Roman Emperor Theodosius I. At the opening of the Athens Games, King Georgios I of Greece and a crowd of 60,000 spectators welcomed athletes from 13 nations to the international competition. The first recorded Olympic Games were held at Olympia in the Greek city-state of Elis in 776 B.C., but it is generally accepted that the Olympics were at least 500 years old at that time. The ancient Olympics, held every four years, occurred during a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus. In the eighth century B.C., contestants came from a dozen or more Greek cities, and by the fifth century B.C. from as many as 100 cities from throughout the Greek empire. Initially, Olympic competition was limited to foot races, but later a number of other events were added, including wrestling, boxing, horse and chariot racing, and military competitions. The pentathlon, introduced in 708 B.C., consisted of a foot race, the long jump, discus and javelin throws, and wrestling. With the rise of Rome, the Olympics declined, and in 393 A.D. the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games as part of his efforts to suppress paganism in the Roman Empire. With the Renaissance, Europe began a long fascination with ancient Greek culture, and in the 18th and 19th centuries some nations staged informal sporting and folkloric festivals bearing the name “Olympic Games.” However, it was not until 1892 that a young French baron, Pierre de Coubertin, seriously proposed reviving the Olympics as a major international competition that would occur every four years. At a conference on international sport in Paris in June 1894, Coubertin again raised the idea, and the 79 delegates from nine countries unanimously approved his proposal. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was formed, and the first Games were planned for 1896 in Athens, the capital of Greece. In Athens, 280 participants from 13 nations competed in 43 events, covering track-and-field, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, wrestling, weightlifting, fencing, shooting, and tennis. All the competitors were men, and a few of the entrants were tourists who stumbled upon the Games and were allowed to sign up. The track-and-field events were held at the Panathenaic Stadium, which was originally built in 330 B.C. and restored for the 1896 Games. Americans won nine out of 12 of these events. The 1896 Olympics also featured the first marathon competition, which followed the 25-mile route run by a Greek soldier who brought news of a victory over the Persians from Marathon to Athens in 490 B.C. In 1924, the marathon was standardized at 26 miles and 385 yards. Appropriately, a Greek, Spyridon Louis, won the first marathon at the 1896 Athens Games. Pierre de Coubertin became IOC president in 1896 and guided the Olympic Games through its difficult early years, when it lacked much popular support and was overshadowed by world’s fairs. In 1924, the first truly successful Olympic Games were held in Paris, involving more than 3,000 athletes, including more than 100 women, from 44 nations. The first Winter Olympic Games were also held that year. In 1925, Coubertin retired. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the foremost international sports competition. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, more than 10,000 athletes from 200 countries competed, including nearly 4,000 women. In 2004, the Summer Olympics returned to Athens, with more than 11,000 athletes competing from 202 countries. In a proud moment for Greeks and an exciting one for spectators, the shotput competition was held at the site of the classical Games in Olympia. Related Videos	Athens
What cartoon character's alter ego was the humble and loveable Shoe Shine Boy?	April \| 2014 \| OlympStats \| Page 2 President, Organizing Committee: Crown Prince Konstantinos Secretary-General, Organizing Committee: Timolen J. Filimon Official Opening By: King Georgios I Number of Countries Competing: 15 Number of Athletes Competing: ca. 246 [246 Men – 0 Women] Number of Sports: 9 [9 Men – 0 Women – 0 Mixed] Number of Events: 43 [43 Men – 0 Women – 0 Mixed] Number of Nations Winning Medals: 11 Nations Making Their Summer Olympic Début: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, United States (15). The Bid: Athens was selected as the host city for the Games of the Ist Olympiad of the Modern Era at the Sorbonne Congress in Paris on 24 June 1894. London and Paris were also given consideration as hosts, but Athens was elected by acclamation. Games Summary: The obvious choice for the first modern Olympics was Greece and the 1896 Olympics were awarded to Athens at the end of the 1894 Sorbonne Congress at which Pierre de Coubertin convinced the delegates to reestablish the Olympic Games. The city of Athens embraced the Games, but the politicians were initially ambivalent, and in fact, in some correspondence reveals that they asked to be relieved of their duty to host. Only through the efforts of Coubertin and IOC President Dimitrios Vikelas, were the politicians convinced to lend their support to the project. Coubertin addressed a meeting of the Parnassus Literary Society, and finished by telling them, “We French have a proverb that says that the word `impossible’ is not in the French language. I have been told this morning that the word is Greek. I do not believe it.” Credit for saving the 1896 Olympic Games for Athens must go to Greek Crown Prince Konstantinos, who headed the Organizing Committee and lent his considerable prestige behind the Athens Games. And although money was short, a last minute donation of 920,000 drachmas by Georgios Averof allowed the ancient Panathenaic Stadium (built in 330 B.C.) to be refurbished and used for the Olympics. The Games themselves were far from the caliber of sport we expect today. Only 15 countries participated and many of the top athletes in the world did not compete, as the Games were not well advertised. The Modern Olympic Games began with an Opening Ceremony on 25 March 1896, or 6 April 1896, depending on whether or not one used the Julian Calendar (then used in Greece) or the more modern Gregorian Calendar, used by most of the world in 1896, and to this day. The first event of the modern Olympics was the first heat of the 100 metres, won by Frank Lane, a student at Princeton. But the first championship decided was that of the triple jump, won by James Connolly, a Harvard student, who left the Cambridge school to compete in the Olympics. He became the first known Olympic champion since Varasdates of Armenia had won the boxing in 369 A.D. The Americans dominated the athletics events, winning all but the 800 metres, 1,500 metres, and the marathon. The marathon was based on the legend of Pheidippides although the more likely spelling was Philippides. According to Herodotus, Philippides was sent to Sparta from Athens asking for help in the battle. After the battle, a runner, whose name was Pheidippides per Lucian and Eucles per Plutarch, was sent to Marathon from Athens to tell of the victory. Further details are sketchy, though modern legend has Pheidippides/Philippides arriving in Athens to tell of victory in the battle with the words, “Rejoice, we conquer,” and then dying from his effort. The legend is now felt to be apocryphal but it was the reason for the creation of the race from Marathon to Athens, a distance of about 25 miles. In the marathon, there were several early leaders, notably Edwin Flack of Australia, who had won the 800 and 1,500 metres. But midway through the race, Spiridon Loues, a Greek shepherd, took the lead and maintained it to the end. When he neared the stadium, messengers came into the ancient vestibule and cried out, “Hellene! Hellene! (A Greek! A Greek!),” sending the crowd into a frenzy. The Olympic pride based on millennia of tradition was then realized by the home crowd, which heretofore had been rather disappointed by the results of the Greek athletes. Loues won the race and became a hero, offered gifts and riches by many different Greek merchants. But he asked only for a cart to help him carry his water and he returned to being a shepherd in his small town of Marousi. At the end of the 1896 Olympic Games, all the competitors and spectators, including the foreign arrivals, were unanimous in their praise of Athens as an Olympic host. In particular, the American athletes thought that Athens should be the permanent site. The team wrote a letter to Crown Prince Konstantine on 14 April 1896, which was published in The New York Times on 3 May, suggesting that all future Olympic Games be held in Athens. But it was not to be. Coubertin desired that the Olympic Games should be international in scope and rotate to various cities. He would always support that idea but perhaps the next two Olympics in 1900 and 1904 made him reconsider the idea a bit. Medals Won by Countries 36 122 *No second/no third in men’s gymnastics horizontal bar, teams; no third in men’s athletics 110 metre hurdles; no third in men’s cycling 100 kilometres; no third in men’s cycling 12-hour race; no third in men’s fencing foil, masters; no third in men’s gymnastics horizontal bar; no third in men’s gymnastics parallel bars; no third in men’s gymnastics pommelled horse; no third in men’s swimming 1,200 metre freestyle; no third in men’s swimming 100 metre freestyle; two thirds in men’s athletics 100 metres; two thirds in men’s athletics pole vault; two thirds in men’s tennis singles. †In 1896 men’s doubles tennis, Germany / Great Britain shared first place, Greece / Egypt shared second place, and Australia / Great Britain shared third place. The British player who won gold in singles and doubles tennis was John Pius Boland, who was technically Irish, but Ireland was at that time a part of the United Kingdom (Great Britain for Olympic purposes). Top Individual Performances (3+ medals [top 3] or 2+ gold medals [titles]) G	i don't know
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. What planet is the second largest?	Planet Jupiter: Facts About Its Size, Moons and Red Spot Planet Jupiter: Facts About Its Size, Moons and Red Spot By Charles Q. Choi, Space.com Contributor \| November 14, 2014 12:59am ET MORE This photo of Jupiter was taken on Sept. 20, 2010 when Jupiter made its closest approach to Earth since 1963. (Uranus [insert] was visible through telescopes near Jupiter.) Credit: Jimmy Eubanks Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Fittingly, it was named after the king of the gods in Roman mythology. In a similar manner, the ancient Greeks named the planet after Zeus, the king of the Greek pantheon. Jupiter helped revolutionize the way we saw the universe and ourselves in 1610, when Galileo discovered Jupiter's four large moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, now known as the Galilean moons. This was the first time celestial bodies were seen circling an object other than Earth, major support of the Copernican view that Earth was not the center of the universe. Physical characteristics Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system , more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined, and had it been about 80 times more massive, it would have actually become a star instead of a planet. Its atmosphere resembles that of the sun, made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, and with four large moons and many smaller moons in orbit around it, Jupiter by itself forms a kind of miniature solar system. All told, the immense volume of Jupiter could hold more than 1,300 Earths. The colorful bands of Jupiter are arranged in dark belts and light zones created by strong east-west winds in the planet's upper atmosphere traveling more than 400 mph (640 kph). The white clouds in the zones are made of crystals of frozen ammonia, while darker clouds of other chemicals are found in the belts. At the deepest visible levels are blue clouds. Far from being static, the stripes of clouds change over time . Inside the atmosphere, diamond rain may fill the skies. The most extraordinary feature on Jupiter is undoubtedly the Great Red Spot , a giant hurricane-like storm seen for more than 300 years. At its widest, the Great Red Spot is three times the diameter of the Earth, and its edge spins counterclockwise around its center at a speed of about 225 mph (360 kph). The color of the storm, which usually varies from brick red to slightly brown, may come from small amounts of sulfur and phosphorus in the ammonia crystals in Jupiter's clouds. The spot grows and shrinks over time, and every now and again, seems to fade entirely. Jupiter's gargantuan magnetic field is the strongest of all the planets in the solar system at nearly 20,000 times the strength of Earth's. It traps electrically charged particles in an intense belt of electrons and other electrically charged particles that regularly blasts the planet's moons and rings with a level of radiation more than 1,000 times the lethal level for a human, damaging even heavily shielded spacecraft such as NASA's Galileo probe. The magnetosphere of Jupiter, which is composed of these fields and particles, swells out some 600,000 to 2 million miles (1 million to 3 million km) toward the sun and tapers to a tail extending more than 600 million miles (1 billion km) behind Jupiter. Jupiter spins faster than any other planet, taking a little under 10 hours to complete a turn on its axis, compared with 24 hours for Earth. This rapid spin makes Jupiter bulge at the equator and flatten at the poles, making the planet about 7 percent wider at the equator than at the poles. Jupiter broadcasts radio waves strong enough to detect on Earth. These come in two forms — strong bursts that occur when Io, the closest of Jupiter's large moons, passes through certain regions of Jupiter's magnetic field, and continuous radiation from Jupiter's surface and high-energy particles in its radiation belts. These radio waves could help scientists to probe the oceans on its moons. Composition & structure Atmospheric composition (by volume): 89.8 percent molecular hydrogen, 10.2 percent helium, minor amounts of methane, ammonia, hydrogen deuteride, ethane, water, ammonia ice aerosols, water ice aerosols, ammonia hydrosulfide aerosols Magnetic field: Nearly 20,000 times stronger than Earth's Chemical composition: Jupiter has a dense core of uncertain composition , surrounded by a helium-rich layer of fluid metallic hydrogen, wrapped up in an atmosphere primarily made of molecular hydrogen. Internal structure: A core less than 10 times Earth's mass surrounded by a layer of fluid metallic hydrogen extending out to 80 to 90 percent of the diameter of the planet, enclosed in an atmosphere mostly made of gaseous and liquid hydrogen. Orbit & rotation Average distance from the sun : 483,682,810 miles (778,412,020 km). By comparison: 5.203 times that of Earth Perihelion (closest approach to the sun): 460,276,100 miles (740,742,600 km). By comparison: 5.036 times that of Earth Aphelion (farthest distance from the sun): 507,089,500 miles (816,081,400 km). By comparison: 5.366 times that of Earth (Source: NASA .) Jupiter's moons Jupiter has at least 63 moons , which are often named after the Roman god's many lovers. The four largest moons of Jupiter, now called Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, were discovered by Galileo Galilei himself, and are appropriately known today as the Galilean satellites. Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system, larger even than Mercury and Pluto. It is also the only moon known to have its own magnetic field. The moon has at least one thick ocean between layers of ice, although it may contain several layers of both materials. Io is the most volcanically active body in our solar system. The sulfur its volcanoes spew out gives Io a blotted yellow-orange appearance that is often compared to a pepperoni pizza. As Io orbits Jupiter, the planet's immense gravity causes 'tides' in Io's solid surface that rise 300 feet (100 meters) high, generating enough heat for volcanic activity. The frozen crust of Europa is made up mostly of water ice, and it may hide a liquid ocean holding twice as much water as Earth does. Icy oceans may also exist beneath the crusts of Callisto and Ganymede. Some of this liquid spouts from the surface in newly spotted sporadic plumes at the southern pole. Its potential to host life caused NASA to request funding for a mission to explore Europa . Callisto has the lowest reflectivity, or albedo, of the four Galilean moons. This suggests that its surface may be composed of dark, colorless rock. Jupiter's rings Jupiter's three rings came as a surprise when NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft discovered them around the planet's equator in 1979. Each are much fainter than Saturn's rings. The main ring is flattened. It is about 20 miles (30 km) thick and more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) wide. The inner cloud-like ring, called the halo, is roughly 12,000 miles (20,000 km) thick. The halo extends halfway from the main ring down to the planet's cloud tops and expands by interaction with Jupiter's magnetic field. Both the main ring and halo are composed of small, dark particles. The third ring, known as the gossamer ring because of its transparency, is actually three rings of microscopic debris from three of Jupiter's moons, Amalthea, Thebe and Adrastea. It is probably made up of dust particles less than 10 microns in diameter, about the same size of the particles found in cigarette smoke, and extends to an outer edge of about 80,000 miles (129,000 km) from the center of the planet and inward to about 18,600 miles (30,000 km). Ripples in the rings of both Jupiter and Saturn may be signs of impacts from comets and asteroids. Research & exploration Seven missions have flown by Jupiter — Pioneer 10 , Pioneer 11 , Voyager 1 , Voyager 2 , Ulysses, Cassini and New Horizons — while another, NASA's Galileo, actually orbited the planet. Pioneer 10 revealed how dangerous Jupiter's radiation belt is, while Pioneer 11 provided data on the Great Red Spot and close-up pictures of its polar region. Voyager 1 and 2 helped astronomers create the first detailed maps of the Galilean satellites, discovered Jupiter's rings, revealed sulfur volcanoes on Io, and saw lightning in Jupiter's clouds. Ulysses discovered the solar wind has a much greater impact on Jupiter's magnetosphere than before suggested. New Horizons took close-up pictures of Jupiter and its largest moons. In 1995, Galileo sent a probe plunging towards Jupiter, making the first direct measurements of its atmosphere and measuring the amount of water and other chemicals there. When Galileo ran low on fuel, the craft was intentionally crashed into Jupiter's atmosphere to avoid any risk of it slamming into and contaminating Europa, which might have an ocean below its surface capable of supporting life. Another spacecraft, named Juno , is heading toward Jupiter and will reach the planet in 2016. It will study Jupiter from a polar orbit to figure out how it and the rest of the solar system formed, which could shed light on how alien planetary systems might have developed. Jupiter's gravitational impact on the solar system As the most massive body in the solar system after the sun, the pull of Jupiter's gravity has helped shape the fate of our system. It may have violently hurled Neptune and Uranus outward , according to calculations published in the journal Nature. Jupiter, along with Saturn, may have slung a barrage of debris toward the inner planets early in the system's history, according to an article in Science magazine. It may even nowadays help keep asteroids from bombarding Earth, and recent events certainly have shown that it can absorb potentially deadly impacts . Currently, Jupiter's gravitational field influences numerous asteroids that have clustered into the regions preceding and following Jupiter in its orbit around the sun. These are known as the Trojan asteroids, after three large asteroids there, Agamemnon, Achilles and Hector, names drawn from the Iliad, Homer's epic about the Trojan War. Possibility of life on Jupiter If one were to dive into Jupiter's atmosphere , one would discover it to grow warmer with depth, reaching room temperature, or 70 degrees F (21 degrees C), at an altitude where the atmospheric pressure is about 10 times as great as it is on Earth. Scientists have conjectured that if Jupiter has any form of life, it might dwell at this level, and would have to be airborne. However, researchers have found no evidence for life on Jupiter. Additional reporting by Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor Explore the solar system	Saturn
Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo are the mascot for what?	Jupiter \| StarDate Online Jupiter Jupiter Weather systems on Earth blow themselves out in a few days or weeks. On the solar system's giant planets, though, weather systems can last for decades. The record holder is Jupiter's Great Red Spot, which was first observed no later than 1830 -- and perhaps a good bit earlier. This oval storm system is wide enough to swallow two Earths, and the winds at its perimeter blow several times faster than the strongest hurricane ever recorded on Earth. As the Great Red Spot demonstrates, Jupiter is a world of superlatives. It is the largest planet in the solar system (big enough to swallow more than 1,300 Earths, and bigger than some types of stars), and more massive than the solar system's other known planets and moons combined. It rotates faster than any other planet, it produces the most powerful magnetic field, and it offers the largest and most interesting assortment of moons. Despite its great size and its brightness in Earth's night sky, however, much about Jupiter remains poorly understood. Scientists must infer quite a bit about it from observations by the spacecraft that have visited the planet. Much of the mystery surrounds Jupiter's interior. From the planet's mass, density, and magnetic field, scientists surmise that it probably has a dense core of rock and metal at least 10 times as massive as Earth. A thick layer of hydrogen surrounds the core. Jupiter's gravity squeezes this layer so tightly that it acts as a metal. The metallic hydrogen probably rotates at a different speed from the core, so it produces a "dynamo" effect, generating electric currents that create Jupiter's magnetic field. Layers of hydrogen and helium gas surround the metallic hydrogen, and a relatively thin layer of clouds envelops the entire planet. (This layer is actually dozens of miles thick, but compared to Jupiter's great size, that's like the skin on an onion.) Jupiter's rapid rotation stretches the clouds into narrow bands that circle the entire planet. The bands show different colors, which means their clouds are made of different materials and hover at different altitudes. The highest layers of clouds, which are white, are made of frozen ammonia. Clouds in the next layer contain ammonia mixed with other chemicals, so they look brown or orange. The lowest layers contain water vapor and water ice, so they look blue. These bands form alternating light and dark stripes. The light-colored stripes are decks of clouds that are pushed high into the atmosphere by rising bubbles of warm gas. The darker stripes consist of cooler material that is dropping back into the planet's atmosphere. Much of the weather in these zones draws its energy not from the Sun, as is the case with storms on Earth, but from deep within Jupiter itself. As Jupiter's gravity squeezes the planet, it produces heat that wells up through the atmosphere then escapes into space as infrared energy. Jupiter radiates more energy into space than it receives from the Sun. Rings encircle Jupiter, although they are far darker and skimpier than those of the flashier planet Saturn. The rings may consist of material that was "sandblasted" off the surfaces of Jupiter's moons by collisions with meteorites. Since Jupiter has no solid surface, no human will ever walk on the planet. In fact, any attempt to visit the Jovian system will require heavy shielding. Jupiter's magnetic field captures electrically charged particles from the Sun and from the planet's volcanic moon Io. These particles create strong radiation belts. Around Io's orbit, the radiation belts are powerful enough to kill an unprotected human in a few minutes. That adds one more item to the list of Jupiter's superlatives: deadliest radiation belts. Viewing Guide ♃The largest planet in the solar system, and the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon and Venus, shines at its best in early April, when it is brightest and is in the sky all night. Exploration Pioneer 10 and 11 blazed the trail to the outer solar system during the 1970s. Pioneer 10 became the first spacecraft to visit any planet beyond the asteroid belt when it flew past Jupiter on December 3, 1973. Pioneer 10 found that Jupiter's interior is hotter than previously thought, discovered that the planet's radiation belts are strong enough to kill a human being, and discovered that Jupiter's moon Io is embedded in a giant cloud of hydrogen that encircles Jupiter. Pioneer 11 flew past Jupiter a year later, then in 1979 became the first craft to encounter Saturn. Since then, several other spacecraft have flown past the giant planet, including Cassini, which used Jupiter's gravity to sling it out to Saturn. The Galileo spacecraft orbited Jupiter and its moons for more than five years.	i don't know

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