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The 'Chelsea Flower Show' is held in which month (a) May (b) June or (c) July? | London - Chelsea Flower Show - Photos of the week - The week in pictures - May 21-27, 2016 - Pictures - CBS News West Point cadet in tears The most compelling images from the week's news, May 21-27, 2016. Soon-to-be pinned 2nd Lt. Alix Schoelcher Idrache, with his face covered in tears, looks back at the crowd during the commencement ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, May 21, 2016. In seven years, Indrache went from speaking basic English in a working class neighborhood in Port-au-Prince to graduating from one of the most prestigious military and educational institutions in the United States. This July, Idrache will enter the Army Aviation Center for Excellence at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as West Point's top-ranking graduate this year in physics. This July, Alix train to be a pilot at Fort Rucker, Alabama, as West Point's top-ranking graduate this year in physics. By CBSNews.com Senior Photo Editor Radhika Chalasani Credit: Staff Sgt Vito T. Bryant/Army London - Chelsea Flower Show The stigma of a Meconopsis 'Slieve Donard' is seen at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, May 24, 2016. Credit: Stefan Wermuth/REUTERS Topless Hillary supporters Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes a photo with supporters John Nelson, 32, (L) and Dan Stifler, 32, (C) after speaking at the UFCW Union Local 324 in Buena Park, California, May 25, 2016. Credit: Lucy Nicholson REUTERS Ukrainian pilot releasaed Ukrainian servicewoman Nadiya Savchenko reacts at Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, May 25, 2016. Savchenko spent nearly two years in detention for Russian allegations she was involved in the killing of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine in 2014. She was convicted earlier this year, but was traded for Russian captivse. Credit: Gleb Garanich/REUTERS Fleet Week The wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan passes the Statue of Liberty as it arrives in New York Harbor to mark the beginning of Fleet Week in New York City, May 25, 2016. Credit: Lucas Jackson/REUTERS Mount Sinabung Primary school children wear masks while studying in the classroom in Karo district, North Sumatra province, on May 24, 2016, as Mount Sinabung is seen spewing out volcanic ash through the school window reflection. Indonesian rescuers searched for survivors in scorched villages and devastated farmlands after the volcano erupted in clouds of searing ash and gas, killing seven and leaving others fighting life-threatening burns. Credit: Fatima Elkareem/AFP/Getty Images 5000 Poppies Garden A volunteer stands to the entrance of the 5000 Poppies Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 23, 2016, the garden, created by Australians Lynn Berry and Margaret Knight is a tribute to their fathers who both fought in WWII. The Chelsea flower show, held annually in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, runs from May 24-28. Credit: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images New Delhi - Plane crash Indian bystanders and emergency personnel gather around the wreckage of an aircraft which crash landed in a field on the outskirts of New Delhi on May 24, 2016. An air ambulance crash landed in a field near New Delhi airport on Tuesday, but all seven people on board survived, police said. Credit: Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images Obama in Vietnam President Barack Obama speaks at the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative town hall event in Ho Chi Minh City on May 25, 2016. Obama urged communist Vietnam on May 24 to abandon authoritarianism, saying basic human rights would not jeopardize its stability, after Hanoi barred several dissidents from meeting Obama. Credit: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images France - Giraffes A giraffes nuzzles another giraffe at the African Reserve (Réserve Africaine ) of Sigean, southern France on May 24, 2016. Credit: Raymond Roig/AFP/Getty Images Migrants rescued off Libya Migrants are seen on a capsizing boat before a rescue operation by Italian navy ships "Bettica" and "Bergamini" off the coast of Libya in this photo released on May 25, 2016. Twenty two separate coast guard rescue operations were conducted in |
Who played 'Private Pike' in Dad's Army? | Pictured: Ian Lavender plays cameo role in new Dad's Army film - Telegraph Film news Pictured: Ian Lavender plays cameo role in new Dad's Army film Ian Lavender, who played Pike in the original Dad's Army, has been photographed on the set of the new film in a cameo role Ian Lavender and Mark Gatiss on set of the new Dad's Army film Photo: Splash News By Hannah Furness , Arts Correspondent 6:32PM GMT 21 Nov 2014 Follow He played the hapless Private Pike in the original Dad’s Army, but it appears the actor Ian Lavender has gone up in the world. He has been photographed on the set of the new Dad’s Army film as he plays a cameo role as an officer, going back to his roots with a new generation. Lavender, the veteran actor, was spotted on location in Bridlington, Yorkshire, alongside actor Mark Gatiss, wearing the uniform of the day. He rose to fame as the naïve Pike in the BBC television series, helping to coin the catchphrase “don’t tell ‘im, Pike”. The role will now be taken by actor Blake Harrison, who is best known for his role in The Inbetweeners, while Bill Nighy plays Sergeant Wilson. Related Articles Don’t panic! Dad’s Army is ripe for a remake 11 Oct 2014 The role of Private Pike, formerly played by Ian Lavender (left), will now be played by Blake Harrison (BBC/Getty) The role of Captain Mainwaring will be filled by Toby Jones, with Michael Gambon as Private Godfrey and Tom Courtenay as Lance-Corporal Jones. Catherine Zeta-Jones will play a new, glamorous addition to the original cast as a journalist, while Mark Gatiss, who appears in the BBC’s Sherlock, will play the vicar. Photographs suggest his cameo role will see him elevated through the ranks of the military, returning to visit the Dad’s Army troops. Lavender, now 68, has previously praised the concept of remaking Dad’s Army , saying : “I’d say great, go for it.” He told the Big Issue magazine: “I’ve kept out of the discussion on it all because it’s not my property. I don’t own anything. I don’t own the character. “I find it totally fascinating that it’s even thought possible and I’m glad that people are challenging what’s accepted as the rule. Good on ‘em.” A spokesman for the film confirmed that Lavender will be making a cameo appearance in the forthcoming film. Start your free 30 day Amazon Prime trial» |
Which nuts are used to make satay sauce? | Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce Recipe : Tyler Florence : Food Network Watch how to make this recipe. Marinade: Combine the yogurt, ginger, garlic, and curry powder in a shallow mixing bowl, stir to combine. Place the chicken strips in the yogurt marinade and gently toss until well coated. Cover and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at up to 2 hours. Thread the chicken pieces onto the soaked skewers working the skewer in and out of the meat, down the middle of the piece, so that it stays in place during grilling. Place a grill pan over medium heat and brush it with oil to prevent the meat from sticking. Grill the chicken satays for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until nicely seared and cooked through. Serve the satays on a platter lined with lettuce leaves and cilantro; accompanied by a small bowl of peanut sauce on the side. Peanut Sauce: Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, red chili paste , brown sugar, and lime juice in a food processor or blender. Puree to combine. While the motor is running, drizzle in the hot water to thin out the sauce, you may not need all of it. Pour the sauce into a nice serving bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts. Serve with chicken satay. Yield: 3 cups |
Thomas à Beckett was killed in which English Cathedral? | The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170 The Murder Of Thomas Becket, 1170 Printer Friendly Version >>> A sword's crushing blow extinguished the life of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, on a cold December evening as he struggled on the steps of his altar. The brutal event sent a tremor through Medieval Europe. Public opinion of the time and subsequent history have laid the blame for the murder at the feet of Becket's former close personal friend, King Henry II. Becket was born in 1118, in Normandy the son of an English merchant. His family was well off, his father a former Sheriff of London. Becket benefited from his family's status first by being sent to Paris for his education and from there to England where he joined the household of Theobold, the then Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket's administrative skills, his charm, intelligence and diplomacy propelled him forward. The archbishop sent him to Paris to study law and upon his return to England made him Archdeacon of Canterbury. A Medieval Mass Becket's big break came in 1154, when Theobold introduced him to the newly crowned King, Henry II. The two hit it off immediately, their similar personal chemistries forming a strong bond between them. Henry named Becket his Chancellor. Archbishop Theobold died in 1161, and Henry immediately saw the opportunity to increase his influence over the Church by naming his loyal advisor to the highest ecclesiastical post in the land. Henry petitioned the Pope who agreed. There was only one slight hindrance. Becket, busy at court, had never been ordained. No problem, Becket was first invested as a priest. The next day he was ordained a Bishop, and that afternoon, June 2, 1162, made Archbishop of Canterbury. If King Henry believed that by having "his man" in the top post of the Church, he could easily impose his will upon this powerful religious institution, he was sadly mistaken. Becket's allegiance shifted from the court to the Church inspiring him to take a stand against his king. In those days, the Church reserved the right to try felonious clerics in their own religious courts of justice and not those of the crown. Henry was determined to increase control of his realm by eliminating this custom. In 1163, a Canon accused of murder was acquitted by a church court. The public outcry demanded justice and the Canon was brought before a court of the king. Becket's protest halted this attempt but the action spurred King Henry to change the laws to extend his courts' jurisdiction over the clergy. Becket vacillated in his support of the king, finally refusing to agree to changes in the law. His stand prompted a royal summons to Henry's court at Northampton and the king's demand to know what Becket had done with the large sums of money that had passed through his hands as Chancellor. "Who will rid meddlesome priest?" Seeing the writing on the wall, Becket fled to France where he remained in exile for six years. The two former friends appeared to resolve their dispute in 1170 when King Henry and Becket met in Normandy. On November 30, Becket crossed the Channel returning to his post at Canterbury. Earlier, while in France, Becket had excomunicated the Bishops of London and Salisbury for their support of the king. Now, Becket remained steadfast in his refusal to absolve the bishops. This news threw King Henry (still in France) into a rage in which he was purported to shout: "What sluggards, what cowards have I brought up in my court, who care nothing for their allegiance to their lord. Who will rid me of this meddlesome priest." The king's exact words have been lost to history but his outrage inspired four knights to sail to England to rid the realm of this annoying prelate. They arrived at Canterbury during the afternoon of December 29 and immediately searched for the Archbishop. Becket fled to the Cathedral where a service was in progress. The knights found him at the altar, drew their swords and began hacking at their victim finally splitting his skull. The death of Becket unnerved the king. The kni |
For how many years did Henry111 rule? | Henry VIII - British History - HISTORY.com Google Henry VIII: Early Life Henry was born January 28, 1491, the second son of Henry VII, the first English ruler from the House of Tudor. While his older brother Arthur was being prepared for the throne, Henry was steered toward a church career, with a broad education in theology, music, languages, poetry and sports. Did You Know? An accomplished musician, Henry VIII of England wrote a song entitled "Pastime With Good Company" that was popular throughout Renaissance Europe. Arthur had been betrothed since age 2 to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella, and in November of 1501 the teenage couple were married. Months later, Arthur died of a sudden illness. Henry became next in line for the throne and in 1503 was betrothed to his brother’s widow. Henry VIII: First Years as King Henry VIII took the throne at age 17 and married Catherine of Aragon six weeks later. Over the next 15 years, while Henry fought three wars with France, Catherine bore him three sons and three daughters, all but one of whom died in infancy. The sole survivor was Mary (later Mary I ), born in 1516. Henry was an active king in those years, keeping a festive court, hunting, jousting, writing and playing music. He issued a book-length attack on Martin Luther’s church reforms that earned him the title “Defender of the Faith” from Pope Leo X. But the lack of a male heir—especially after he fathered a healthy illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519—gnawed at the king. Henry VIII: Dissolving a Marriage, Splitting the Church By the 1520s, Henry had become infatuated with Anne Boleyn, a young woman in his wife’s entourage. He also worried that his marriage to Catherine had been cursed by God because of the Old Testament ban on marrying the widow of one’s brother. The king decided to seek a papal annulment that would free him to remarry. With the assistance of his powerful adviser Cardinal Wolsey, Henry petitioned Pope Clement VII but was rebuffed due to pressure from Catherine’s nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Wolsey was forced from power for his failure and died in 1630 awaiting trial for treason. With the backing of the English parliament and clergy, Henry ultimately decided that he didn’t need the pope’s permission to rule on issues affecting the Church of England. In 1533 Henry and Anne Boleyn were married, and their daughter Elizabeth was born. Mary was declared illegitimate and Elizabeth named his heir. England’s monasteries were closed and in most cases sold off to add to Henry’s wealth. Henry VIII: More Marriages and Deaths In January of 1536 Henry was unhorsed and injured during a jousting tournament. When news of his accident reached the pregnant Anne, she miscarried, delivering a stillborn son. Henry then spurned her, turning his affections to another woman of his court, Jane Seymour. Within six months he had executed Anne for treason and incest and married Jane, who quickly gave him a son (the future Edward IV) but died two weeks later. Henry’s fourth marriage bore similarities to his first. Anne of Cleves was a political bride, chosen to cement an alliance with her brother, the ruler of a Protestant duchy in Germany. The marriage only lasted a few days before Henry had it annulled. He then married Catherine Howard, but two years later she too was beheaded for treason and adultery. In the last years of his reign Henry grew moody, obese and suspicious, hobbled by personal intrigues and by the persistent leg wound from his jousting injury. His final marriage, to the widow Catherine Parr in 1543, saw his reconciliation with Mary and Elizabeth, who were restored to the line of succession. Henry VIII: Death and Legacy Henry VIII died on his 56th birthday, January 28, 1547. His 9-year-old son Edward VI succeeded him as king but died six years later. Mary I spent her five-year reign steering England back into the Catholic fold, but Elizabeth I , the longest-reigning of the Tudor monarchs, re-entrenched her father’s religious reforms. Tags |
'Meg; Jo; Beth and Amy' is the sub-title to which Louisa May Scott novel? | Little Women by Louisa May Alcott · OverDrive: eBooks, audiobooks and videos for libraries Classic Literature Fiction The beautiful Meg, artistic tomboy Jo, doomed Beth, and selfish Amy: since the publication of Little Women in 1869, these four sisters have become America's most beloved literary siblings. Louisa May Alcott's rich and realistic portrait has inspired three movies and stirred the emotions of countless young girls. Set in New England during the Civil War, the novel follows the adventures of the March sisters as they struggle to pursue their dreams. The illustrations for this series were created by Scott McKowen, who, with his wife Christina Poddubiuk, operates Punch & Judy Inc., a company specializing in design and illustration for theater and performing arts. Their projects often involve research into the visual aspects of historical settings and characters. Christina is a theater set and costume designer and contributed advice on the period clothing for the illustrations. Scott created these drawings in scratchboard an engraving medium which evokes the look of popular art from the period of these stories. Scratchboard is an illustration board with a specifically prepared surface of hard white chalk. A thin layer of black ink is rolled over the surface, and lines are drawn by hand with a sharp knife by scraping through the ink layer to expose the white surface underneath. The finished drawings are then scanned and the color is added digitally. |
In which year did the Munich Air Disaster happen? | BBC - Manchester - History - The Munich air disaster: a timeline You are in: Manchester > History > History features > The Munich air disaster: a timeline Manchester United in 1957 The Munich air disaster: a timeline The timeline looks at some of the key moments in the story of the Munich air disaster, how the tragedy unfolded on the day and what happened in the aftermath. Tuesday 22 October 1957 The Busby Babes' 4-0 Charity Shield drubbing of Aston Villa, coupled with the fact that they’d recorded their largest ever goal and points tallies the season before, leads to speculation that the team can win an unprecedented league, FA Cup and European Cup treble. Duncan Edwards and Yugoslav journalists (04/02/58) Wednesday 4 December United face Dukla Prague away in the European Cup - they lose the tie, but win on aggregate. Delays in their return journey mean they nearly miss their clash with Everton the following Saturday. The problems lead to a decision to charter a plane for the next away tie, versus Red Star Belgrade. Tuesday 14 January 1958 United beat Red Star Belgrade 2-1 at Old Trafford in the home leg of their second round tie. Help playing audio/video Monday 3 February The Manchester United party board the flight from Manchester to Belgrade. The route is arranged via Munich both ways for refuelling, as a direct route is out of range for the aeroplane. The team line-up for the game (05/02/58) A few hours later, they arrive to find low cloud, poor visibility and snow. Conditions are at the minimum allowed by British European Airways (their flight operator) for pilots to land in. Indeed, the weather is so bad that the airport engineer only realises the plane has landed when it taxis on to the parking apron. Wednesday 5 February United draw 3-3 with Red Star Belgrade and go through to the European Cup Semi Finals for the second year running. After the game, a cocktail party for the players is held at the British Embassy. The wreckage of the crash (07/02/58) Thursday 6 February The travelling party, plus an extra five people - including the wife and baby daughter of the Yugoslav air attaché in London – departs Belgrade in sunshine for Manchester. The takeoff is delayed for an hour as winger Johnny Berry loses his passport. A little later, the plane makes its scheduled stop in Munich to refuel, where the airport is shrouded in low cloud, rain and snow. The descent into Munich requires the pilot, Captain James Thain, to use the anti-icing equipment on the wings. On the ground, the Manchester party disembark for refreshments in the terminal building, with some of the players taking the opportunity to snowball the refuelling team. Help playing audio/video After completion of departure details, the party return to the aircraft, with the crew stopping to inspect the wings. As a precaution, de-icing fluid could be sprayed onto the wings or snow brushed clear, but they decide that is unnecessary under the circumstances. The wreckage of the crash (07/02/58) At 2.20pm GMT, just over an hour after arrival, the plane is cleared for take-off. However, an uneven tone in the engines alarms Captain Thain and his co-pilot, Captain Kenneth Rayment, causing them to abort the take-off. The pair decide to try again, but the second take-off is aborted for the same reason, described by Captain Thain to his passengers as a "slight engine fault" which would require them to return to the apron for an engine check. Everybody disembarks again, and on returning to the departure lounge, United’s star player Duncan Edwards sends a telegram to his landlady - "All flights cancelled. Flying home tomorrow. Duncan." Unexpectedly, the call to board the flight is made and the party re-embark. Albert Scanlon in hospital (09/02/58) At 3.04pm, a third take-off is attempted. The plane fails to gain height and crashes into the fence surrounding the airport and then into a house. The port wing and part of the tail is torn off and the house catches fire. A tree shatters the port side of the cockpit, while the starboard side of the fuselage hits a wooden hut, causin |
What is the tympanic membrane better known as? | Tympanic Membrane Pictures, Function & Anatomy | Body Maps Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close Tympanic membrane The tympanic membrane is a vital component of the human ear, and is more commonly known as the eardrum. It is a thin, circular layer of tissue that marks the point between the middle ear and the external ear. It is approximately 0.1 mm thick, 8 to 10 mm in diameter, and has a mass weight of around 14 mg. Despite this diminutive size and mass, the tympanic membrane is extremely tough and flexible, and difficult to damage beyond repair. The tympanic membrane is comprised of three layers of tissue: the outer cutaneous layer, the fibrous middle layer, and a layer of mucous membrane on its innermost surface. The membrane is held in place by a thick ring of cartilage, a tough but flexible kind of tissue. The tympanic membrane's function is to assist in human hearing. When sound waves enter the ear, they strike the tympanic membrane. The membrane vibrates with the force of the sound wave strike and transmits the vibrations further in, to the bones of the middle ear. Patients with ruptured or absent tympanic membranes have extreme difficulty in hearing, and possibly even complete hearing loss. |
What was the name of the horse in the TV comedy 'Steptoe and Son'? | "Steptoe and Son" A Death in the Family (TV Episode 1970) - 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 A Death in the Family 45min When Hercules the horse dies Albert takes to his bed. Harold buys another horse which he names Samson, but then this horse also appears to fall ill. When Albert gets up to tend to the horse... See full summary » Director: Title: A Death in the Family (06 Mar 1970) 7.4/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? Edit Storyline When Hercules the horse dies Albert takes to his bed. Harold buys another horse which he names Samson, but then this horse also appears to fall ill. When Albert gets up to tend to the horse he finds out that the illness is actually a pregnancy and Samson is a mare after all. Rather than call her Delilah, the name Hercules II is chosen. Written by don @ minifie-1 6 March 1970 (UK) See more » Filming Locations: Steptoe Totters Into The '70's 28 February 2009 | by ShadeGrenade (Ambrosia) – See all my reviews After an absence of five years, 'Steptoe & Son' returned to B.B.C.-1, and at an interesting time for British television. Colour had arrived, and I.T.V. were topping the ratings with 'Please Sir!', the 'Doctor' series, and 'On The Buses', meaning the B.B.C. needed to compete. Shows made pre-1969 could not be re-run ( two exceptions were the period drama 'The Forsyte Saga' and the children's programme 'Andy Pandy' ). The obvious solution was to either remake old shows ( as was done with 'Sykes' ) or to construct sequels to earlier hits ( such as 'Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads' ). Just think of it - had Harry H.Corbett and Wilfrid Brambell refused to reprise their roles, 'Steptoe & Son' would now be a forgotten show. 'A Death In The Family' was the first of the new run, and a sad little episode it is too. Hercules, the Steptoe's horse, drops dead while Harold is on his rounds. When a tearful Harold tells his father, he is accused of causing the animal's death. The horse was not just an important part of the business, more like a family member. The old man takes to his bed, refusing to get up. Harold buys a new horse - which he calls Samson - but Albert does not want to know. Then Samson falls ill. Of course Harold never bothered to check the animal's sex before buying... Hercules' death and Samson's arrival can be seen as a metaphor for the end of the old show and the commencement of the new one. Some people found it a bit hard to take, however; on 'Points Of View' complaints were read out from those who found the sight of Harold and Albert grieving for a dead animal upsetting rather than funny. Nevertheless, as the weeks rolled by, it became clear that the new 'Steptoe' was every bit as good - if not better - than the old. Funniest moment - Harold, determined to erase the memory of Hercules' death, switches on the television. A Western is on, followed by a commercial for dog food ( think about it! ) This episode, along with several other early '70's 'Steptoes', exists only in monochrome. Luckily, comedy of this calibre looks good no matter what medium it is in. 2 of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes |
In which country would you find 'Lake Como'? | The Italian Allure of Lake Como by Rick Steves The Italian Allure of Lake Como By Rick Steves Varenna’s romantic promenade hugs the shore of Lake Como. (photo: David C. Hoerlein) Stretched over two chairs atop the tiny passenger deck of a ten-car ferry as it shuttles across Lake Como, I look south into the haze of Italy. I'm savoring the best of my favorite country with none of the chaos and intensity that's generally part of the Italian experience. Turning the other way, facing a crisp alpine breeze, I marvel at the snow-capped Alps. I'm just minutes from Switzerland...but clearly in Italy: The ferry workers have that annoying yet endearingly playful knack for under-achieving. Precision seems limited to the pasta — exactly al dente and reliably homemade. Rather than banks and public clocks (which inundate nearby Swiss lake resorts, such as Lugano), the lanes that tumble into this lake come with lazy cafes and hole-in-the-wall alimentari brimming with juicy reds and crunchy greens. In Italy's romantic Lakes District, in the shadow of the Alps, wistful 19th-century villas are seductively overgrown with old vines that seem to ache with stories to tell. Stunted palm trees seem held against their will in this northern location. And vistas are made-to-order for poets. In fact, it was early nature-lovers who wrote and painted here that put this region on the map in the 1800s. A handful of lakes tempt visitors just north of Milano. The million-euro question is: Which lake to see? Tiny Orta has an off-beat, less developed charm. Maggiore has garden islands and Stresa, a popular resort town. Garda is a hit with German windsurfers. But for the best mix of scenery, off-beatness, and aristocratic-old-days romance, my choice is Lake Como. And it's just an hour north of Milan by convenient train. Sleepy Lake Como is a good place to take a break from the obligatory turnstile culture of central Italy. It seems half the travelers you'll meet have tossed their itineraries into the lake and are actually relaxing. Today the hazy lazy lake's only serious industry is tourism. Thousands of lakeside residents travel daily to nearby Lugano, in Switzerland, to find work. The area's isolation and flat economy have left it pretty much the way those 19th-century Romantics described and painted it. Bellagio is the lake's leading resort. The self-proclaimed "Pearl of the Lake," it's a classy combination of prim tidiness and Old World elegance. If you don't mind that "tramp in a palace" feeling, it's a fine place to surround yourself with the more adventurous of the posh travelers. Arcades facing the lake are lined with shops. The heavy curtains, which hang between the arches, keep the visitors and their poodles from sweating. While the fancy ties and jewelry sell best at lake level, the locals shop up the hill. Lake Como is famous among Italians for its shape — like a stick figure of a man with two legs striding out. Bellagio is located where the two legs come together (and the subject of funny, if crude, local rhymes you can learn when you visit). For a delightful break in a park with a great view, wander from the town right on out to the crotch. At Punta Spartivento — literally “the point that divides the wind” — you’ll find a Renoir atmosphere — just right for a picnic while gazing north and contemplating the place where Italy is welded to the Swiss Alps. The town of Varenna (a ten-minute hop on the ferry from Bellagio) is your best Lake Como homebase. Varenna packs its 800 residents into a compact townscape — tight as fifty oysters overloading a too small rock. Individual homes are defined only by their pastel colors. Narrow stepped lanes climb almost invisibly from the harbor to the tiny through road that parallels the lake along the top of town. With Varenna’s dwellings crowding the lake, the delightful passerella (board walk) arcs past private villas guarded by wrought iron and wisteria from the ferry dock to the tiny harbor. Two centuries ago, the harbor was busy with coopers expertly fitting their chestnut and oak into barrels, stoneworkers c |
The 'Yo-Yo' was first used in the Philippines. What was it's purpose? | History of the Yo-yo | YoYo Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia History of the Yo-yo Share Although the yo-yo is an undeniably ancient toy there is no proof that it is the second oldest toy as claimed. However, very few records remain about its origins due to the fact people in the past have not considered yo-yos worth writing about. Contents [ show ] Origins The origin of the yo-yo is still under argument, but documentaries that have been made show that it came from Greece. It is rumored that it was used as a weapon for hunting game or other land animals. Although physics may prove the use of the yo-yo as a hunting tool to be ineffective, the concept of being able to retry a missed throw of an object was still an amazing feat. But people still have, to this day, believed it to be a weapon. The yo-yos was actually first made by the Duncan yo-yo demonstrators in the 1930s and the yo-yo today is now considered a weapon due to the Duncan brothers making up the rumor of it being a weapon, this was done as a marketing strategy. Since the time of the Duncan brothers' making of the rumor, people have tried to use it as a weapon but in all cases it has failed. The rumor still stands today and many people still believe but it in fact isn't more than a child's toy. 1000 BC - Chinese origins Some historians believe the yo-yo originated in China in approximately 1000 BC. Although there are no formal records of the yo-yo, there is proof that the diabolo, a toy that is part-yoyo, part-top was developed in China which has much in common. Some records claim that the word 'yo-yo' came from the word 'come-come' in the ancient version of Tagalog, a Filipino language. Some linguistic experts say that the name 'yo-yo' is Oriental in origin, supporting the theory that China was the birthplace of the yo-yo. 500 BC - Greek yo-yos The first historical document featuring a yo-yo-like device was in Greece dated to 500 BC, and so some historians argue that the Greeks invented the yo-yo. These feature Greek discs which are arguably similar to a yo-yo which can be seen in Greek museums, such as the museum of Athens. Some historians argue that these were used for spools for thread or hanging drapes due to the fact the discs were ceramic which could break during play. There is, however, a painting found on a Greek vase with what appears to be a boy playing with a yo-yo, that may support the use of these discs as play [1] . 16th Century AD - Philippines It is noted in a 1916 newspaper article that colonizing Spaniards introduced the spin top to the local tribes when trying to describe the shape of the Earth and how it rotates in space. During those times, yo-yos were traditionally handmade from caribou (Filipino Water Buffalo) horn. [2] 1700s AD - Europe Yo-yos became very popular in Europe in the late 18th century, having probably arrived there via India. It enjoyed popularity with the French nobility, with many famous people having used them. It is worth noting that the yo-yoers in this time period are recorded as being adults, who referred the yo-yo as a 'Bandalore' or a 'Quiz'. In 1791, the Swedish Enlightenment writer Johan Henric Kellgren mentions the yo-yo as 'joujou de Normandie' in the poem "Dumboms leverne" . Kellgren places its invention roughly around the middle of the century. The French word 'joujou', possibly derived from 'jouer', to play, thus appears in Europe roughly 170 years before it was supposedly imported from the Philippines. 1860s AD - United States A patent in 1866 by James L. Haven and Charles Hettrick showed a new way of making a yo-yo using a central rivet to hold the two halves together, enabling the first metal yo-yos to be created. This patent demonstrates that there were yo-yos in the USA before this, but those were referred to as 'Whirligigs' or 'Bandelores.' In 1867, Charles Kirchhof (a German immigrant living in the USA) patented and manufactured a yo-yo-like toy that he referred to as a "return-wheel", although he did not manage to sell a great number. Some other patents include edible bandelores that can be eaten, excep |
By what name is 'Katerina Imperaildi di Francabilla' better known? | My dishonourable friend | This is Money My dishonourable friend comments BORN with so many aristocratic titles that he started selling a few to wealthy Americans, Richard Bentinck Boyle, 9th Earl of Shannon; Viscount Boyle, Baron of Castle-Martyr, Co. Cork; and Baron Carleton of Yorkshire, comes from the bluest of blue-blooded stock. He was born into the pomp and luxury of the Indian Raj and served as a page at the coronation of George VI. After Eton, he joined the Irish Guards, rising to the rank of captain, and in 1947 married glamorous Italian Caterina Imperiali di Francavilla. As Katie Boyle, she found fame as a television presenter in the Sixties and Seventies. They divorced after eight years. But now, the 80-year-old earl and his titles have cropped up in connection with a string of business failures, a fraud investigation and a new venture with an ex-convict. Earlier this year, Paul Fenton, a semi-retired businessman who splits his time between Spain and Southampton, was approached to put £100,000 into a computer training business by self-styled businessman Richard Kelly-Wiseham. Fenton learned that Kelly-Wiseham was a convicted fraudster. Boyle, a friend of Kelly-Wiseham, was to be chairman of Inspire IT, which was sponsored by respected accountancy firm Mazars. Believing that Fenton had promised some money, Boyle sent him a letter on House of Lords stationery saying: 'I will be very pleased to invite you and your wife for lunch, by which time we will see the benefits of our investments.' Boyle, who has not put a penny of his own money into the venture, signed the letter 'Shannon', under which was typed 'Rt Hon The Earl of Shannon'. Though he had been Deputy Speaker in the Lords in the Seventies, he lost his seat when hereditary peers were scrapped in 1999. He said the paper for the lunch invitation was 'probably in my desk somewhere from years ago'. Lords stationery is not supposed to be used for private purposes, but Boyle said: 'If that is the rule, you can throw out every member of the House.' Boyle - family motto Let Us Be Judged By Our Actions - has known Kelly-Wiseham for more than 15 years and was aware he had served eight months in Ford open prison for false accounting and other fraud. Both men had been directors of two other failed companies, Carleton Ltd and Concept Accessories, which were dissolved in late 2002. Of Inspire IT, Boyle said: 'Somebody I knew said he was doing this business, which seemed rather a good idea. It was selling training on IT. I've been involved in manufacturing for most of my life and this was another product to sell.' Unfortunately, the 50-page document produced by Mazars to sound out its wealthy clients about investing in Inspire IT makes no mention of Boyle's age, nor of the fact that Kelly-Wiseham was jailed in 1998 for obtaining credit by deceit and false accounting and was subsequently an insurance salesman. Mazars' proposal letter contains highflown statements such as: 'The future is the belief in the product delivery as being a vehicle that will make a difference in enabling individuals greater access to learning through a range of methods that suit learner participation and style.' Glowing CVs describe Boyle as the ' proposed' non-executive chairman and Kelly-Wiseham as the intended 'business development manager'. At his home in Bishopstoke, near Southampton, Kelly-Wiseham admitted his fraud conviction to Financial Mail but denied any wrongdoing. Mazars, which published the informal proposal, said that the investment communication would go only to ' experienced' investors to gauge their interest. They were also advised to seek professional advice in respect of it with their own financial advisers. The firm added: 'As is made clear in the Terms of Issue, no reliance is to be had on it, including for the purposes of investment decisions.' There is no suggestion that Mazars was aware of Kelly-Wiseham's past. More reliance can perhaps be placed on Companies House records, which show that Boyle, who now lives with his third wife, Almine, near Reading, Berkshire, had dire |
In what year were 'Premium Bonds' first introduced? | BBC ON THIS DAY | 18 | 1956: Macmillan unveils premium bond scheme About This Site | Text Only 1956: Macmillan unveils premium bond scheme The British Chancellor Harold Macmillan has unveiled plans for a new state saving scheme offering cash prizes instead of interest. The premium bond would be "something completely new for the saver in Great Britain," he told MPs. The scheme is part of what he called his "savings budget" aimed at getting more people to save money by offering a top prize of �1,000. However the proposal is likely to draw criticism from some who regard the scheme as a form of gambling and therefore oppose the idea on moral grounds. Small fortune Mr Macmillan tried to head off the critics by declaring: "This is not a pool or a lottery, where you spend your money." The investor would be saving their money and the government would guarantee to buy the bonds back at the original price at any time. There was laughter as he insisted the premium bonds would bring in new savers tempted by the possibility of winning a small fortune. But Labour spokesman Harold Wilson urged the chancellor to take the sale of premium bonds out of his financial proposals and allow MPs to examine the idea in more detail as part of the government's bill on gambling and betting. The Rev J Clark Gibson, secretary of the Churches' Committee on Gambling said he understood the chancellor's aim but rejected the plan. "As the prizes are distributed by chance the deal therefore becomes a gamble, because the gains of the few are at the loss of the whole body of investors, whether they want to gamble or not," he said. The bonds will cost �1 each and holders will have a chance of winning a prize in a quarterly draw. The government will pay out the equivalent in prizes of 4% interest on the total number of bonds. Lord Mackintosh of Halifax, chairman of the National Savings Committee, said he hoped the premium bond, with its tax-free prizes, would bring "millions of people who had so far not found the conventional forms of savings attractive" into the fold. It seems likely the new bonds will be sold over the counter at post offices and possibly banks. Sweden has had state lotteries since 1896. The last one was held in 1955 to raise funds for the State Opera. Finland and Greece have also had similar schemes. |
Which horse won both the 1973 and 1974 Grand Nationals? | Red Rum 1973, 1974 Grand National /in Horses /by Simone Wright Red Rum was a racehorse who achieved an unmatched historic treble when he won the Grand National in 1973, 1974 and 1977, and also came second in the two intervening years. As well as his unprecedented record in the world-famous steeplechase, Red Rum was also renowned for his remarkable jumping ability as he fell only once in over 100 races. Red Rum was bred at Rossenarra stud in Kells, County Kilkenny, Ireland, by Martyn McEnery. Bred to win one-mile races, he won his National titles over the longest distance, four miles and four furlongs. “Rummy” started off in life running in cheap races as a sprinter and dead-heated in a five-furlong flat race at Aintree Racecourse . In his early career he was once ridden by Lester Piggott and after being passed from training yard to training yard, he found his footing when Liverpool car dealer Ginger McCain bought him for his client Noel le Mare and famously trained the horse on the sands at Southport. McCain, who also won the Grand National in 2004 with Amberleigh House , thirty-one years after his first victory with Red Rum, reportedly took Red Rum for a therapeutic swim in the sea off Southport before his first National appearances to help treat the horse’s pedalostitis, a debilitating, incurable bone disease in his foot. At the 1973 Grand National, Red Rum beat the Australian chaser Crisp, carrying 23 pounds more, in what was a new record time of nine minutes, 1.9 seconds. Crisp had led the field virtually all the way in that year’s National, and at the last fence was 15 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer, Red Rum. However, jockey Brian Fletcher made up the ground on the final stretch and, two strides from the finishing post, Red Rum pipped the tiring Crisp to win by three-quarters of a length in what is often considered one of the greatest Grand Nationals in history. A year later, Red Rum retained his title at the 1974 National , carrying 12 stone on his back. Red Rum came second in 1975 and 1976; Tommy Stack replaced Fletcher as jockey in the latter race after Fletcher had angered trainer Ginger McCain by telling the press the horse no longer felt right after a defeat in a race away from Aintree. Again, Red Rum saved his best for Aintree but was held off by Rag Trade . The following year, Stack rode the 12-year-old to his record third Grand National triumph. |
What make of motor car was the Dolomite ? | Triumph Dolomite | Classic Cars Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] History The Dolomite was the final addition to Triumph's complex small-car range (codenamed "Project Ajax"), which had started in 1965 with the Triumph 1300. Designed to be a replacement for the rear-wheel drive Triumph Herald, the 1300 was originally fitted with a 1,296 cc (79 cu in) engine and front-wheel drive. The later model, introduced in September 1970 as the Triumph 1500, featured a remodelled front and rear, styled by Michelotti, and a larger 1,493 cc (91 cu in) engine. Triumph were however dissatisfied with the market performance of the 1300; although successful, the higher price and greater complexity meant sales never reached the levels of its predecessor, the simpler and cheaper Herald. To this end the car was comprehensively re-engineered to be cheaper and simpler to build and maintain; launched in September 1970, was the Triumph Toledo, a cheaper and more basic variant with conventional rear-wheel drive. This was assembled alongside the now larger-engined front-wheel drive version. It was launched at the same time as the 1500, adding further complexity to the model range. The "Dolomite" Designed as the successor for the upmarket variants of the front-wheel drive designs, and also for the 6-cylinder Triumph Vitesse, a sporting relative of the Herald, the Triumph Dolomite was presented at the London Motor Show in October 1971. However due to a number of strikes and other industrial upsets, the car was not reported to be in full production until October 1972. The name "Dolomite" had been used by Triumph for a range of models prior to the Second World War and this name was revived for the new car. The car used the longer bodyshell of the front wheel drive Triumph 1500, but with the majority of the running gear carried over from the rear-wheel drive Triumph Toledo. Initially, the only version available used the new slant-four 1854 cc engine, which mated an alloy OHC head to an iron block, providing 91 bhp (68 kW) which offered sprightly performance. This was a version of the engine that the company was already providing to Saab for use in their 99 model. The car was aimed at the then-new compact performance-luxury sector, vying for sales against cars such as the BMW 2002 and Ford Cortina GXL, and was offered with a high level of standard equipment, including twin headlamps, a clock, full instrumentation, luxury seats and carpets, a heated rear window, and a cigar lighter. Styling was similar to the Triumph 1500, with some updates such as a black painted rear panel, Vinyl D-posts, and new wheel trims. The car was capable of 100 mph (160 km/h), with 60 mph (97 km/h) coming up in just over 11 seconds. An overdrive gearbox was soon made optional, offering relaxed motorway cruising and improved fuel economy, and there was also an optional automatic transmission. Dolomite Sprint Although the Dolomite proved to be refined and rapid, competitors such as the BMW 2002 had a performance advantage which was costing Triumph dearly, both in terms of sales and prestige. To remedy this, Triumph unveiled the Dolomite Sprint in June 1973, although the launch had been delayed by a year; it had been due to go on sale in 1972. A team of engineers led by Spen King developed a 16-valve cylinder head with all of the valves being actuated using a single camshaft rather than the more normal DOHC arrangement. The capacity was also increased to 1,998 cc (122 cu in), and combined with bigger carburettors the output was upped to 127 bhp (95 kW). This represented a significant increase over the smaller 1850cc variant, however it fell short of the original target of 135 bhp (101 kW). Despite BL engineers being able to extract a reliable 150 bhp (112 kW) from test engines, the production line was unable to reliably build the engines to the same level of quality, with production outputs being in the region of 125 bhp (93 kW) to 130 bhp (97 kW). This led to the original model designation, the Dolomite 135, being replaced at short notice with the Sprint name. As a result of t |
In which US state would you find the Grand Canyon? | Directions - Grand Canyon National Park (U.S. National Park Service) Directions Where is Grand Canyon? Grand Canyon is in the northwest corner of Arizona, close to the borders of Utah and Nevada. The Colorado River, which flows through the canyon, drains water from seven states, but the feature we know as Grand Canyon is entirely in Arizona. Most of the Grand Canyon lies within Grand Canyon National Park and is managed by the National Park Service. Jump to a larger map. Jump to: South Rim ---- North Rim The mile-deep Colorado River creates a barrier that divides the park into north and south Rims. In this illustration, the region above the North Rim is shown in yellow and the region below the South Rim is shown in blue. Why is the park separated into South and North Rims? A 277 mile long (446 km) canyon separates the park into South and North Rims. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is a mile-deep, (1.6 km) and creates a barrier that bisects the park. Even though the average distance across the canyon is only 10 miles/ 16 km, be aware that it is a five-hour drive of 220 miles/ 354 km between the park's South Rim Village and the North Rim Village. Scenery, climate and vegetation are noticably different between north and south rims because of differences in elevation. It is almost like having two parks in one and it takes time, planning and effort to be able to visit both sides of the Canyon in one trip. How Do I Travel to the South Rim? The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is Open All Year and is located on the "Arizona" side of the Canyon. The South Rim receives 90% of the park's visitation. The South Rim has an airport and rail service and is a 90 minute drive from Interstate 40 and the transportation centers of Williams and Flagstaff , Arizona. A larger city with a major airport, Phoenix, Arizona , is also on this side of the canyon, and is approximately a four hour drive. More... South Rim Visitor Center: 36°03'32"N 112°06'33"W Grand Canyon National Park & Vicinity. Scroll down for approximate driving distances. Click on map above to download it. (2.5 MB pdf file) Highway 89 from Page, AZ south to Bitter Springs, AZ reopened on March 27, 2015. The North Rim of the park is more remote, and harder to get to. Lodging, restaurants and shops are open from May 15th through October 15 each year. The North Rim receives 10% of the park's visitation. The North Rim is closed for the winter at this time. The North Rim is located on the "Utah" side of the Grand Canyon and the entrance station is 30 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67. (The actual rim of the Grand Canyon with visitor services is an additional 14 miles south of the entrance station.) There is no airport or rail service to the park. (that means that the North Rim village may only be reached by road). More... North Rim Visitor Center: 36°11'51"N 112°03'09"W Click anywhere in the photo above for information about our publications. "Traveling Green" is a great way to help Grand Canyon and other areas you visit reduce carbon emissions, divert and reduce what goes into the waste stream, and to generally help the environment. Go to the Traveling Green page for helpful tips on planning your next green adventure. Thanks for doing what you can to help protect our environment! On the South Rim, the Village Route (Blue Route) bus provides transportation between the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, hotels, restaurants, and campgrounds. Canyon views are a short walk from some of the bus stops Quick links to information about: |
In 'Dallas' what was the Ewing family's ranch called? | Southfork Ranch - Southfork Ranch Welcome to the Legendary Southfork Ranch, made famous by the Ewing Family in the television series Dallas! We are now a premier special events venue and meeting destination in the Dallas Metro Area. With 63,000 square feet of event space, each year we host hundreds of events including weddings, reunions, and holiday parties, corporate meetings, concerts, company picnics and much more. We are a full service catered facility and is proud to be a three time winner of facility of the Year award from the DFW Meeting Professionals and also voted best Wedding facility in DFW by The Association of Wedding Professionals.In addition to the event center, we also have outdoor covered pavilions and 40 acres of land perfect for festivals, concerts or picnics. Whether you are hosting a group of just 10 or 10,000, Southfork Ranch provides a beautiful backdrop for any occasion. Often called “The World's Most Famous Ranch”, the setting, facilities and service will make your next event truly unforgettable. Upcoming Events at Southfork Ranch Texas’ Tribute to Elvis Festival Music and Entertainment to celebrate the King. May 26th, 27th & 28th 2017 |
Bewick and Hooper are which type of bird? | Swan Species Swan Species THE SEVEN SPECIES OF SWANS Mute Swans originated in Europe and Asia and are the most common captive swans found on lakes and ponds in private settings such as resorts, zoos, parks and estates. Mute Swans are not really mute. They are less vocal than other species of swans due to the anatomy of their trachea, which goes straight into the lungs instead of being embedded in the sternum. The English Mute and the Polish Mute Swans look very similar. The difference is in the coloring of their bills and feet. The English Mute have reddish orange bills and jet black feet. The Polish Mute is a pure white version of the Mute Swan. They have bright orange bills and light buff-colored/ grayish colored feet. Mute Swans produce a clutch of young once a year. Mute Swans typically have between 5-10 eggs and typical brood sizes are from 1-9 cygnets. Incubation is between 30-40 days. Captive male Mute Swans typically weigh between 24-30 pounds with the females weighing approximately 17-23 pounds. Mute Swans’ wingspans average 78 inches. Australian Black Swans Australian Black Swans originated in the Botany Bay and Perth areas of Australia . The black swans are typically more aggressive than other swan species especially during mating and nesting seasons. This species is highly aggressive and will actively seek out predators or intruders. The Black Swan is black in color with white tips on its wings. The bird’s red bill has a pale band at the tip. The male black swan’s red eyes will turn white during mating season. Captive male Black Swans typically weigh between 13-14 pounds with the females weighing approximately 11-12 pounds. Black Swans’ wingspans average 77 inches. Black Swans typically have between 1-9 eggs. Typical brood sizes are 1-5 cygnets. Incubation is approximately 36 days. Black Swans produce two clutches of young a year. The Whooper Swan is the national bird of Finland . This Old World swan is a very rare visitor to Alaska and Korea . The Whooper Swan is a white swan with a yellow bill. Average wingspan is 72 inches. Nesting begins as soon as the ice melts in early March or April. Nests are built on small islets surrounded by water. Clutch size for a Whooper Swan is about 4-6 white-colored eggs. Incubation lasts about 34-36 days. Whooper Swans are social birds that are extremely noisy. Whoopers like cold weather but have been successfully raised and bred in the hot, humid climate of the southeastern United States. North American Trumpeter Swans The Trumpeter Swan is indigenous to North America. The Trumpeter is know for its unique “trumpeting” call. The bird is pure white with a jet-black bill with a red border on the lower mandible. Average wingspan is 70-84 inches. These birds are the largest waterfowl in the United States and the largest swan species. Males can weigh up to 35 pounds. Nesting begins in late March through early May. The pen will lay from 3-9 eggs. Incubation is done only by the pen and lasts for about 33-35 days. North American Tundra Swans The Tundra Swan has been called the “American or Whistling” Swan and is indigenous to North America. It gets its name from the “whistling” sound made by the slow, powerful beating of its wings in flight. The Tundra Swan has a black bill with a yellow lore below the eye. Like the Trumpeter, the Tundra Swan may have a red lower mandible. Tundras can be distinguished from Trumpeter Swans by their higher pitched, more soft, and melodious calls. The Tundra Swan is a much smaller bird. Average wingspan is 62 inches with a body length of 45 inches. Nesting begins in late May or early June. Clutch size is about 4-6 eggs and the egss are cream-colored. Only the pen incubates the eggs and the incubation lasts about 32 days. These swans like cold weather and live on the tundra in North American, hence their name. However, this species has been successfully raised and bred in the hot, humid climate of the southeastern United States. Bewick Swans: (Eurasian Sub-species of the North American Tundra Sw |
The vacation destinations of Pattaya and Phuket are in which country? | Samantha H We spent a total of 19 days visiting Vietnam and Cambodia. I planned the trip with fairly short notice and rather individualized. Daisy was super accommodating with our requests even after our arrival. She showed great concern for our well-being when the weather turned cold as we were heading toward Sapa in the mountains. We purchased the ubiquitous "North Face" jackets for the experience of snow in Vietnam. Our trip had numerous guides and every form of travel. Never once were we stranded by our hosts. Our favorite parts of the trip were Sapa, Ha Long Bay (boat), Hoi An (beach), and Angkor Wat. In these and the other locations we always felt well taken care of in excellent hotels and on the arranged tours. The vacation using 365 Travel met our expectations and then some. I would highly recommend using 365 for your Southeast Asia travels. Gregory M , US When your knowledge of the language is limited to "hello" and "thank you" it's VERY desirable to have a native-speaking guide at your side, and 365 provides friendly, knowledgable, professionals waiting for you at every stop. And we had many stops in our four-week travels, excellently planned, collaboratively with us, by Daisy. They even shuttled us to and from a resort we booked independently. It's also compelling for us that every guides was local to the area we were visiting, and took pride and interest in their home area - besides having lots of useful information and guidance. Besides the Vietnam destinations mentioned in other reviews, we stopped in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap (for the Angkor complex), Luang Prabang, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok. Fascinating. Too many highlights to mention - though being at a temple hearing monks chanting into the New Year, and then seeing revelers launch small hot-air balloons, was really special. Having an unscheduled day after the endless flights to Hanoi was a smart decision, as was a beach day before flying home! Good to know is that visits to workshops and demonstrations carry an expectation that you'll make a purchase - so be prepared to buy - or decline. We should also add that 365 accommodated our - sometimes last-minute - change requests, both before and during our travels. And that flexibility made for a more enjoyable / interesting / balanced trip. Finally we should add that we'd got a quote from another custom provider before we discovered 365 online, and 365 were able to offer a very similar itinerary at a very competitive rate. Should we return to the region, we wouldn't think of arranging it with another provider. Thanks Daisy, and all the guides. Visited December 2015 Mwb2016 , United States My family of four just completed a 14 day excursion with 365 Travel that included 4 days in Thailand, 3 days in Cambodia and 7 days in Vietnam. I worked with an amazing trip planner Hanna Doan who was extremely accomodating to all of our requests and allowed us great flexibility to make changes sometimes necessitated by air travel changes. She was a great resource when we chose to make some of the hotel arrangements on our own. I had the chance to meet Hanna in Hanoi and she was a lovely person who even gave us beautiful souvenier gifts from her country. I will start by saying that our family has traveled throughout the world with a number of great tour operators and the level of customer service focus of this company is about as good as it gets. At each of our stops, we were met by wonderful guides who were kind, passionate, informed and friendly and drivers who were not onlyexcellent drivers in navigating through an amazing web of traffic at many large cities but were always courteous and giving us water and facial wipes along the way. The guides responded to all of our questions, gave us suggestions and even treated us to local food and drink for tastings. They were also very patient with us waiting sometimes hours at the airport due to flight delays or visa issuance delays in Ho Chi Minh city. They made sure at hotels and airports that everything was in order before leaving us even though we had made some of these arran |
In medicine, what is the study of children and their illnesses known as? | Alternative Medicine Use Common In Kids With Chronic Conditions: Study | The Huffington Post Alternative Medicine Use Common In Kids With Chronic Conditions: Study 01/14/2013 12:12 am ET Catherine Pearson Children with chronic health conditions are regularly treated with alternative therapies, according to a new Canadian study that suggests the use of so-called " complementary and alternative medicine " in pediatrics is on the rise. Many children in the study took multivitamins or minerals, while others tried treatments like massage, aromatherapy and chiropractic manipulation. "The use of [alternative medicine] is always going to be much higher in those kids who have a specific condition, particularly one not well-treated with conventional medicine, because parents are always asking, 'What can I do to help my kid?'" said Dr. Joyce Frye, an integrative physician and epidemiologist with the University of Maryland's Center for Integrative Medicine, who did not work on the study. Because there is no clear definition of the term, any health care system, practice or product outside of Western medicine is generally grouped under the label of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM. In the new study, published online in the journal Pediatrics on Monday, researchers asked more than 900 parents of children at two children's hospitals in Canada whether their children had ever used alternative medicine and, if so, how. The patients were being treated in cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, oncology or respiratory clinics. Almost half of the parents reported that their child had used an alternative therapy at the same time that he or she was undergoing conventional medical treatment. Nearly 10 percent of parents said they'd turned to alternative medicine before seeking conventional treatment for their child's condition, and 5 percent used CAM in lieu of conventional medicine. The most popular alternative products used were vitamins and minerals, followed by herbal products and homeopathic remedies, while the most popular practices were massage, faith healing (which can include the laying on of hands or a visit to a spiritual location) chiropractic manipulation, aromatherapy and relaxation techniques. In the U.S., the most recent comprehensive information on alternative medicine use among children was published as part of a 2008 report issued by the National Institute of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It found that nearly 40 percent of adults and 12 percent of children, or 1 in 9 kids in the U.S., have used some form of complementary medicine. Children whose parents used complementary therapies were far more likely to do so, as were teens, white children, those whose parents had more education and those with multiple health conditions. The survey also found that children whose families put off seeking out traditional medical care because of costs were more likely to try alternative medicine. Frye told The Huffington Post that to-date, most studies have focused on the prevalence of alternative medicine use rather than its potential risks and benefits. "Some dietary supplements, particularly herbals, may change [how] the body [metabolizes] certain drugs. It's what we call herb-drug interactions," said Dr. Josephine Briggs, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. More than half of the children in the Pediatrics study were using alternative medicine in conjunction with prescription drugs, and while the majority said they'd consulted with their doctor first, nearly 20 percent had not spoken with a doctor or pharmacist. "The take-home message from this is that doctors should ask, and patients should tell their health care providers about the use of any dietary supplements," said Briggs. Other alternative therapies have been studied more rigorously, she said, including acupuncture. A Canadian review of 37 studies published in Pediatrics in 2011 concluded that the practice is generally safe for kids. The study found that the incidence of adverse events durin |
What is the name of the shrub known as the butterfly bush? | Types of Butterfly Bush Types of Butterfly Bush Types of Butterfly Bush Kinds of Buddleia Shrubs: Pink, Blue, Non-Invasive Butterfly bush is lovely and draws butterflies, but the species plant is invasive in many areas. Seek non-invasive cultivars or native alternatives, instead. David Beaulieu By David Beaulieu Updated February 13, 2016. Butterfly bush shrub (Buddleia davidii) is known for many things. For starters, it's easy to grow and produces striking flower spikes, which, thanks to the magic of the cultivar developers, now come in a number of colors, including pink and blue. And of course, first and foremost, the shrubs are known for what they attract, namely, their namesakes, which are the closest thing to real fairies that our gardens will ever enjoy. So what's not to like about butterfly bush? You'd be surprised! It has its detractors, largely because there's one other thing the shrub is widely known for: invasiveness! Although not invasive everywhere, the species plant is invasive in enough areas to have given "butterfly bush" a bad name. Below I offer 3 resources on butterfly bush. The third one introduces a Buddleia davidii that is supposed to be a non-invasive type. That would be welcome news, indeed! Admirers of Buddleia davidii in America's Pacific Northwest, in particular, have longed for news of a non-invasive butterfly bush.... continue reading below our video How to Make a Space Feel Brighter Butterfly Bush : Introduction Butterfly bush comes in a number of colors. In fact, there is even a multi-colored type (Buddleia x weyeriana 'Bicolor'). But before reading about some of the specific colors the plant comes in, newcomers to the subject may wish to read my introductory article on Buddleia davidii, which includes observations pertinent to the controversy that swirls around this shrub. When you're finished reading, come back and learn about some relatively new types that bear pink or blue flowers, plus (potentially) a non-invasive cultivar: In the Pink: 'Miss Ruby' I've grown 'Miss Ruby,' a cultivar with pink flowers, and I'm very happy with the blossom color. Fortunately, the "Ruby" part of the name isn't just there for show: This shrub's flowers aren't merely pink, they're a rich, deep pink. Another cultivar offering pink blooms is 'Pink Delight.' Click the link below to read more about 'Miss Ruby': "Blue" Butterfly Bushes and a Non-Invasive Type? Frankly, I can't say that the flower color of 'Blue Chip' is its chief selling point. Maybe other gardeners have coaxed truly blue flowers out of theirs, but mine show only hints of blue. From some of the pictures I've seen of a type of Buddleia davidii named 'Ellen's Blue,' I'm thinking that the latter cultivar may hold out a better hope for gardeners seeking a true blue butterfly bush. But it's not all about the color with 'Blue Chip.' This plant is said to be a non-invasive Buddleia davidii. Learn more about this potentially breakout cultivar by clicking on the link below: |
Can you name South Africa's national animal? | South Africa's National Animal The Springbok (Afrikaans: spring = jump; bok = antelope, deer, or goat) (Antidorcas marsupialis) is a small brown and white gazelle that stands about 75 cm high. The males can weigh up to 50 kg and the females up to 37 kg. The Latin name marsupialis derives from a pocket-like skin flap which extends along the middle of the back on to the tail. The springbok can lift this flap, which makes the white hairs underneath stand up in a conspicuous 'fan'. Typical of this species is the pronk (jumping display), which led to its common name. Both sexes have horns but those of the ram are thicker and rougher. This species has adapted to the dry, barren areas and open grass plains and is thus found especially in the Free State, North West province and in the Karoo up to the west coast of South Africa. They are herd animals and move in small herds during winter, but often crowd together in bigger herds in summer. They eat both grass and leaves and can go without drinking-water, because they get enough moisture from the succulent leaves. Where drinking-water is available they will use it. The springbok was a national symbol of South Africa under white minority rule (including a significant period prior to the establishment of Apartheid). It was adopted as a nickname or mascot by a number of South African sports teams, most famously by the national rugby team. It appeared on the emblems of the South African Air Force, the logo of South African Airways (for which it remains their radio callsign) and the Coat of Arms of South Africa. It also featured as the logo of 'South Africa's Own Car', the Ranger, in the early 1970s. The Springbok remains the national animal of South Africa. After the demise of apartheid, the ANC government decreed that South African sporting teams were to be known as the Proteas, however, the rugby team still maintain the name Springboks after the intervention of then-president Nelson Mandela, who did so as a gesture of goodwill to the mainly white (and largely Afrikaner) rugby supporters. Sources: Antelope Specialist Group (1996). Antidorcas marsupialis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Brownell, FG, Nasionale en Provinsiale Simbole. 1993. Johannesburg: Chris van Rensburg Publications. GCIS |
What is the Caribbean island of St Christopher commonly known as? | The 27 most visited destinations in the Caribbean The 27 most visited destinations in the Caribbean | Published on March 17, 2015 27. Montserrat is located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, in the West Indies. In 2013 it saw just 7,202 visitors. David MacGillivary, Montserrat Tourist Board 26. Anguilla is one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles, lying east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and directly north of Saint Martin. In 2013 it saw 69,068 visitors. Anguilla Tourist Board 25. St. Vincent & The Grenadines (also known simply as St. Vincent) is located in the Lesser Antilles Island arc, in the southern portion of the Windward Islands. It saw 71,725 visitors in 2013. St. Vincent & The Grenadines Tourist Office 24. Dominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. 'The Nature Island' saw 78,277 visitors in 2013. Discover Dominica Authority 23. The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis (also known as St. Kitts and Nevis), located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island country in the West Indies. The small nation saw 100,997 visitors in 2013. Getty Images 22. Grenada is located at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. The nation saw 116,456 visitors in 2013. Grenada Board of Tourism 21. Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a sovereign state on the Caribbean coast of South America. The country saw 165,841 visitors in 2013. Getty Images 20. Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, located off the east coast of North America. The island's pink sands saw 236,343 visitors in 2013. The Bermuda Department of Tourism 19. Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The two islands saw 243,932 visitors in 2013. Antigua Barbuda Tourist Office 18. Suriname, officially known as the Republic of Suriname, is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. The nation saw 249,102 visitors in 2013. Getty Images 17. The Turks and Caicos Islands, or TCI for short, are a British Overseas Territory in the Lucayan Archipelago, part of the larger Antilles island grouping. The islands saw 290,587 visitors in 2013. Turks and Caicos Tourist Office 16. Belize is a nation-state on the eastern coast of Central America. It saw 294,176 visitors in 2013. Demian Solano, Belize Tourist Board Fullscreen 15. Saint Lucia is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. The island saw 318,626 visitors in 2013. St. Lucia Tourist Board Fullscreen 14. The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. They saw 345,387 visitors in 2013. Cayman Islands Department of Tourism 13. The Virgin Islands, commonly referred to as the British Virgin Islands, is a British overseas territory located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands saw 355,677 visitors in 2013. The British Virgin Islands Tourist Board Haïti, officially the Republic of Haïti, occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti saw 419,736 visitors in 2013. Rafaelle Castera, Haiti Office of Tourism 11. Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of the Venezuelan coast, that forms part of the Dutch Caribbean. It saw 440,044 visitors in 2013. Curacao Tourist Board 10. Sint Maarten is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It encompasses the southern third of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The nation saw 467,259 visitors |
Where would you find the Atacama Desert? | Atacama Desert @ National Geographic Magazine By Priit J. Vesilind Photographs by Joel Sartore Parts of Chile's Atacama Desert haven't seen a drop of rain since recordkeeping began. Somehow, more than a million people squeeze life from this parched land. Get a taste of what awaits you in print from this compelling excerpt. Stretching 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from Peru's southern border into northern Chile, the Atacama Desert rises from a thin coastal shelf to the pampasvirtually lifeless plains that dip down to river gorges layered with mineral sediments from the Andes. The pampas bevel up to the altiplano, the foothills of the Andes, where alluvial salt pans give way to lofty white-capped volcanoes that march along the continental divide, reaching 20,000 feet (6,000 meters). At its center, a place climatologists call absolute desert, the Atacama is known as the driest place on Earth. There are sterile, intimidating stretches where rain has never been recorded, at least as long as humans have measured it. You won't see a blade of grass or cactus stump, not a lizard, not a gnat. But you will see the remains of most everything left behind. The desert may be a heartless killer, but it's a sympathetic conservator. Without moisture, nothing rots. Everything turns into artifacts. Even little children. It is a shock then to learn that more than a million people live in the Atacama today. They crowd into coastal cities, mining compounds, fishing villages, and oasis towns. International teams of astronomersperched in observatories on the Atacama's coastal rangeprobe the cosmos through perfectly clear skies. Determined farmers in the far north grow olives, tomatoes, and cucumbers with drip-irrigation systems, culling scarce water from aquifers. In the altiplano, the descendants of the region's pre-Columbian natives (mostly Aymara and Atacama Indians) herd llamas and alpacas and grow crops with water from snowmelt streams. Get the whole story in the pages of National Geographic magazine. Rescued from the cutting room floor is this month's Final Edit, an image of a baby viscacha stretching from tail to toes. In More to Explore the National Geographic magazine team shares some of its best sources and other information. Special thanks to the Research Division. Along much of the coast of northern Chile, rainfall is so scarce that remote communities long had to import water by truckan expensive and inefficient processin order to survive. Finally, however, some coastal residents discovered how to make use of the one form of precipitation they get plenty of: fog. Although rain rarely falls on the Atacama's coastline, a dense fog known as camanchaca is abundant. The fog nourishes plant communities called lomas, isolated islands of vegetation that can contain a wide variety of species, from cactuses to ferns. In the village of Chungungo, human residents now take advantage of the same camanchaca that their botanical neighbors have so successfully exploited. Thanks to Canada's International Development Research Centre and the Canadian Embassy in Santiago, a decade ago the villagers began to gather water using an ingenious system of nets that catch the fog as it rolls over the mountains above their homes. Constructed from a very fine mesh, the nets hang vertically above a series of troughs. As the fog condenses on the nets' surfaces, moisture drips into troughs; pipes then carry the water down to the village. Residents of Chungungo can now take pride in their gardens; they can shower daily. The fog-catchers supply the village with an average of 2,600 gallons (10,000 liters) of water every day. The success of the Chilean fog-catchers has inspired people in countries such as Peru, Ecuador, South Africa, and Namibia to develop similar systems for their arid-land homes. For more information on the innovative art of fog-catching, go to www.idrc.ca/nayudamma/fogcatc_72e.html . Robin A. Palmer www.frc.ri.cmu.edu/atacama In April 2003 an international team of scientistsmostly from NASA and Carnegie Mellon Universitytraveled to the Atacama |
In which park would you find 'London Zoo'? | ZSL London Zoo - Zoo in London - Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Celebrate National Winnie-the-Pooh Day by discovering more about the real-life bear from ZSL London Zoo that inspired author A.A. Milne. zsllondonzoo Our adorable narrow-striped mongoose baby is sure to brighten #BlueMonday! zsllondonzoo No lie in for Jae Jae this morning! Happy #Caturday zsllondonzoo One of the Zoo’s most famous structures was designed by Lord Snowdon himself and today we're saddened by the news that he has passed away. Ralph Armond, Director General at ZSL, said: “Lord Snowdon will be sadly missed. He created a truly unique piece of architecture for ZSL London Zoo. He was inspired by the graceful movements of flying birds and conceived a pioneering aviary that looks almost weightless - like a bird. It is an iconic piece of architecture so we are proud to have something very special to remember him by.” zsllondonzoo Join us LIVE as keeper Amy tells us all about our vicunas! zsllondonzoo Ever wondered what happened on this day at the Zoo in 1828? Well, now you can find out as volumes of the Zoo's fascinating daily occurrences have been made available to view online for the very first time. From animal births to special visitors, the daily records contain an amazing breadth of information that zoologists and historians alike have been using as an amazing resource. zsllondonzoo Meet the 'Skywalker' hoolock gibbon, a new species discovered in the rainforests of China. A team of scientists, led by Fan Peng-Fei from Sun Yat-sen University and including ZSL's Dr Samuel Turvey, used the force (and a comprehensive scientific study of gibbon genetics) to determine that the Skywalker is in fact a completely distinct species of gibbon. It was named Skywalker because the Chinese characters of its scientific name mean "Heaven's movement" and the primates spend their time high in the rainforest canopy, but also because the team are big fans of the Star Wars films. zsllondonzoo Fancy taking on a new challenge in 2017? Why not put yourself to the test with the ZSL Stampede. Enjoy a 5k or 10k running route through the Zoo and Regent's Park all while raising money for precious wildlife around the world! zsllondonzoo Did you know that all clownfish are born male? The dominant male will change sex when the female of the school dies. zsllondonzoo Brand new for 2017, why not take on our Zoo to Zoo bike ride between London and Whipsnade! The wildest bike ride in the south east will see cyclists pushing their pedals for wildlife on Sunday the 2nd of July. The long-distance route will take in three counties along the journey, with cityscapes and countryside vistas to admire along the way. zsllondonzoo |
An 'Oryx' is what kind of animal? | oryx facts Predators: Lions, hyenas, wild dogs Kenya's Tana River divides the range of East Africa's two types of oryx the beisa oryx (Oryx g. beisa) and the fringe-eared oryx (Oryx g. callotis). The fringe-eared oryx ranges from Kenya to central Tanzania. The beisa oryx ranges from Ethiopia through Somalia into northeastern Uganda and Kenya. Physical Characteristics The oryx is a large antelope of striking appearance with long, spearlike horns. It has a thick, horselike neck with a short mane and a compact, muscular body. A defined pattern of black markings that contrast with the white face and fawn-colored body are prominently displayed in dominance rituals to emphasize the length of horns and strength of the shoulder. The head is marked with black triangular patches and broad black stripes that extend from the base of the horns over the eyes to the cheeks. A ring of black encircles the throat and runs down the neck to the chest. The ears end in a black tip (a black tassel hangs from the ear tip of the fringe-eared oryx). A narrow black stripe runs along the spine, and another one separates the lower flank from the white underparts of the body. The white forelegs have a black ring above the knee and a black patch below. The black tail tassel reaches to the hocks. The oryx's ringed horns are up to 30 inches long, making them formidable weapons. The female's horns are often longer and thinner than the male's. Habitat Originally, various oryx species were found in all of Africa's arid regions. One species that occurred on the Arabian Peninsula was exterminated recently but has now been reintroduced into the wild from captive stock. Well adapted to the conditions of their hot, arid habitats, oryx can live as long as 20 years. Behavior The social system of the oryx is unusual in that nonterritorial males live in mixed groups with females, or with females and their young. Males that dominate are territorial to a degree, marking their areas with dung deposits. Groups are composed of 10 to 40 males and females of all ages and both sexes; herds of up to 200 are common in some East African habitats. The dominance hierarchy among oryx is based on age and size. As they grow, calves test one another in what look like games, though in reality are tests of strength. As the hierarchy becomes established, the need to fight is reduced. Ritual displays replace actual contact, except when evenly matched individuals may have to fight to establish their rank. Along with lateral displays, oryx perform a slow, prancing walk and sometimes break into a gallop. When several males are making these displays, they may clash horns. Herd composition in the wild constantly changes according to need. Oryx wanting to drink, for example, form a group to go to water, or females with young form a group that moves more slowly. The result is a social system that allows for individual needs but retains the advantage of group living. Oryx range widely over a large area, but their keen sense of smell alerts them to rain in the area, so that groups quickly assemble, often in herds of 200 or more, to feed on new growth. Diet Oryx typically feed in early morning and late afternoon and sometimes on moonlit nights. Their diets consists mainly of |
The 'Magna Carta' was written in which language? | In which language was the Magna Carta written? | Reference.com In which language was the Magna Carta written? A: Quick Answer The Magna Carta was written in medieval Latin. Although most of the charter is not pertinent to modern times, it guarantees an individual's right to due process, requiring that certain legal procedures must be followed. Full Answer In 1215, King John met British barons at Runnymede to discuss limiting the king's feudal rights and his forms of justice. After a compromise was reached, many copies of the agreement were handwritten by royal scribes onto expensive parchment, using abbreviations to shorten the text. The documents were distributed to bishops, sheriffs and other important officials. As of 2014, only four copies of the Magna Carta remain. |
Who played the lead role in 'Crocodile Dundee'? | Crocodile Dundee Cast: Then and Now Crocodile Dundee Cast: Then and Now Pin it Share ‘Crocodile Dundee’ enjoys its 30th anniversary this year, but it’s a movie that’ll live forever: a stereotypical snapshot of Australia perfectly preserved in cinematic amber. The cast, however, do not have that luxury – what have the ageing stars of 'Crocodile Dundee’ been doing since the summer of '86? Linda Kozlowski – Sue Charlton The object of Mick Dundee’s affection was also the apple of Paul Hogan’s eye – the actor left his wife to start a relationship with Kozlowski and the pair were married in 1990. Non-'Crocodile Dundee’-related movie roles were not easy to come by, said Linda: “These straight-to-video schlocky films I was getting were giving me an ulcer because I was the only one on the set that cared about anything. Between that and my biological clock, I decided to give it all away.” - The Tragic Life of Top Gun’s Kelly McGillis Hogan and Kozlowski had a son, Chance, but the pair divorced in 2003, with Kozlowski citing “irreconcilable differences” and the fact that they just “didn’t have anything in common”. She now spends her time travelling between her home in LA and her tourist business in Marrakesh. Paul Hogan – Mick 'Crocodile’ Dundee 'Crocodile Dundee’ changed Hogan’s future forever: he will always be associated with the knife-wielding bushman. A few dodgy career decisions – he turned down the lead role in 'Ghost’ – led to a poor sequel, 'Crocodile Dundee II’, and then an atrocious threequel in 2001’s 'Crocodile Dundee In Los Angeles’. Movie roles were few and far between after that, when his biggest challenge became wrangling with the Australian tax office: after several years of tax fraud allegations and encounters with the Australian Crime Commission (he was prevented from leaving the country when he flew to Sydney in 2010 for his mother’s funeral), the criminal investigation against him was dropped, but not before it was revealed he had money in offshore accounts. Now 76 and semi-retired, Hogan helps care for his 17-year-old son, Chance. A TV biopic about Hogan and 'Crocodile Dundee’ is set for broadcast on Aussie TV next year. John Meillon – Walter “Wally” Reilly The part of Wally, Mick Dundee’s business partner, was his most high profile role, but actor John Meillon already had a substantial body of work before he got into the croc-catching business. He’d appeared in radio plays since he was a boy, toured with Shakespeare companies and even received an OBE for services to theatre in the Queen’s honours list in 1979. His last movie was 'Crocodile Dundee II’ in 1988 – the following year, Meillon succumbed to cirrhosis at his home in New South Wales. At least he never had to suffer the indignity of appearing in 'Crocodile Dundee In Los Angeles’. He is survived by his wife Bunny and his two children. Read More Mark Blum – Richard Mason As Sue’s scumbag editor-slash-lover Richard, Blum was never going to find himself on the winning team, but the actor has enjoyed a lengthy career post-Dundee takedown. Single-serving characters in esteemed TV series paid the bills: Blum can count roles in 'Frasier’, 'The West Wing’ and 'The Sopranos on his CV’. The odd disparate movie role surfaced in the 21st century too, with the actor starring in films as diverse as journalism drama 'Shattered Glass’ and dance movie 'Step Up 3D’. Blum has since settled into a recurring role as Uncle Bob on the award-nominated Amazon music show 'Mozart In The Jungle’. Steve Rackman – Donk You know him as Donk, the unmovable object that Mick Dundee manages to move with a kiss on the lips, but Steve Rackman went by another name in his other career as a professional wrestler – and something tells us “Crusher” could have taken on “Crocodile Dundee” no problem in a fair fight. Donk reprised his role in both sequels and felt like completing the Crocodile Dundee trilogy was a fitting way to retire from Hollywood. Where is Donk now? He runs a gym back home in Australia… and we bet he’s still great fun in pubs. David Gulpilil – Neville Bell Indigenous acto |
What would you process in a ginnery? | Ginnery - definition of ginnery by The Free Dictionary Ginnery - definition of ginnery by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ginnery Also found in: Thesaurus , Financial , Encyclopedia . gin 1 (jĭn) n. A strong colorless alcoholic beverage made by distilling or redistilling rye or other grain spirits and adding juniper berries and sometimes other flavorings such as anise, caraway seeds, or angelica root. [Alteration of geneva, from Dutch jenever, from Middle Dutch geniver, juniper, from Old French geneivre, from Vulgar Latin *iiniperus, from Latin iūniperus.] gin′ny adj. 1. Any of several machines or devices, especially: a. A machine for hoisting or moving heavy objects. b. A pile driver. c. A snare or trap for game. d. A pump operated by a windmill. 2. A cotton gin. tr.v. ginned, gin·ning, gins 1. To remove the seeds from (cotton) with a cotton gin. 2. To trap in a gin. Phrasal Verb: gin up 1. To create or produce; work up: "If we ever ginned up the courage to speak honestly about race, we might also open up unexpected avenues of racial healing" (Michael Eric Dyson). 2. To create or produce under false pretenses: "U.S. officials have asked their foreign counterparts to gin up a charge so that the United States can credibly claim it is rendering a suspect to face legal charges when it is really trying to gather information" (Daniel Byman). 3. To increase or make more active: gin up sales; gin up the economy. [Middle English, from Old French, short for engin, skill; see engine.] gin 3 Used to announce that one has won a game of gin rummy. gin (dʒɪn) n 1. (Brewing) an alcoholic drink obtained by distillation and rectification of the grain of malted barley, rye, or maize, flavoured with juniper berries 2. (Brewing) any of various grain spirits flavoured with other fruit or aromatic essences: sloe gin. 3. (Brewing) an alcoholic drink made from any rectified spirit [C18: shortened from Dutch genever juniper, via Old French from Latin jūniperus juniper] gin (dʒɪn) n 1. (Mechanical Engineering) a primitive engine in which a vertical shaft is turned by horses driving a horizontal beam or yoke in a circle 2. (Mechanical Engineering) Also called: cotton gin a machine of this type used for separating seeds from raw cotton 3. (Hunting) a trap for catching small mammals, consisting of a noose of thin strong wire 4. (Mechanical Engineering) a hand-operated hoist that consists of a drum winder turned by a crank vb (tr) , gins, ginning or ginned 5. (Mechanical Engineering) to free (cotton) of seeds with a gin 6. (Hunting) to trap or snare (game) with a gin [C13 gyn, shortened from engine] ˈginner n |
Who is Maurice Micklewhite better known as? | Michael Caine - Biography - IMDb Michael Caine Biography Showing all 212 items Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (2) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (5) | Trivia (103) | Personal Quotes (94) | Salary (3) Overview (3) 6' 1" (1.85 m) Mini Bio (2) Michael Caine was born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite in London, to Ellen Frances Marie (Burchell), a charlady, and Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, a fish-market porter. He left school at 15 and took a series of working-class jobs before joining the British army and serving in Korea during the Korean War, where he saw combat. Upon his return to England he gravitated toward the theater and got a job as an assistant stage manager. He adopted the name of Caine on the advice of his agent, taking it from a marquee that advertised The Caine Mutiny (1954). In the years that followed he worked in more than 100 television dramas, with repertory companies throughout England and eventually in the stage hit, "The Long and the Short and the Tall." Zulu (1964), the 1964 epic retelling of a historic 19th-century battle in South Africa between British soldiers and Zulu warriors, brought Caine to international attention. Instead of being typecast as a low-ranking Cockney soldier, he played a snobbish, aristocratic officer. Although "Zulu" was a major success, it was the role of Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File (1965) and the title role in Alfie (1966) that made Caine a star of the first magnitude. He epitomized the new breed of actor in mid-'60s England, the working-class bloke with glasses and a down-home accent. However, after initially starring in some excellent films, particularly in the 1960s, including Gambit (1966), Funeral in Berlin (1966), Play Dirty (1969), Battle of Britain (1969), Too Late the Hero (1970), The Last Valley (1971) and especially Get Carter (1971), he seemed to take on roles in below-average films, simply for the money he could by then command. There were some gems amongst the dross, however. He gave a magnificent performance opposite Sean Connery in The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and turned in a solid one as a German colonel in The Eagle Has Landed (1976). Educating Rita (1983) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) (for which he won his first Oscar) were highlights of the 1980s, while more recently Little Voice (1998), The Cider House Rules (1999) (his second Oscar) and Last Orders (2001) have been widely acclaimed. - IMDb Mini Biography By: [email protected] Michael Caine is an English actor and author. Renowned for his distinctive working class cockney accent, Caine has appeared in over 115 films and is regarded as a British film icon. He made his breakthrough in the 1960s with starring roles in a number of acclaimed British films, including Zulu (1964), The Ipcress File (1965), Alfie (1966), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, The Italian Job (1969), and Battle of Britain (1969). His most notable roles in the 1970s included Get Carter (1971), The Last Valley (1971), for which he earned his second Academy Award nomination, The Man Who Would Be King (1975), and A Bridge Too Far (1977). He achieved some of his greatest critical success in the 1980s, with Educating Rita (1983) earning him the BAFTA and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. In 1986, he received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Woody Allen's Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). Caine played Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992). Having by that time practically retired from acting on the big screen, he enjoyed a career resurgence in the late 1990s, receiving his second Golden Globe Award for his performance in Little Voice (1998) and receiving his second Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for The Cider House Rules (1999) the following year. Caine played Nigel Powers in the 2002 parody Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), and Alfred Pennyworth in Christopher Nolan 's Batman film series. He appeared in several other of Nolan's films including The Prestige (2006), Inception (2010), and Interstellar (2014). He also appeared as a supporting character in Alfonso Cua |
What would you find listed in the 'Millers Price Guide'? | Miller's Antiques & Collectables - READ MORE >> Upcoming Talks & Events I have a wealth of speaking events coming up in the next month across the country. I do hope to see some of you there. You can find the links below to find out more about each event and purchase tickets. Crickhowell Literary Festival – “Talking Antiques with Judith Miller” … READ MORE >> Panel Discussion and Signing with The Blanchard Collective When: From 11 am on Wednesday 5 October 2016 Where: Marlborough Showroom, The Blanchard Collective, Littlecote Road, Froxfield, Nr Marlborough, Wiltshire, SN8 3JY Judith Miller will sign copies of her book and share her knowledge with visitors. A highlight of the event will be a panel discussion with Judith and … |
What colour is an amethyst? | Amethyst: Purple Amethyst Quartz Gemstone & Jewelry Information; GemSelect Amethyst Origin and Gemstone Sources Back to Top The most important amethyst deposits are in Brazil, namely the "Palmeira" amethysts of Rio Grande do Sul and the "Maraba" amethysts of Para. Other significant amethyst deposits are located in Bolivia, Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States (Arizona), Uruguay and Zambia. Buying Amethyst and Determining its Gemstone Value Back to Top Amethyst Color Amethyst owes its color to iron and aluminum impurities. The colors range from purple and violet to pale red-violet. The deep colors are the most valuable, particularly a rich purple with rose flashes. "Siberian" deep purple amethyst with red and blue flashes commands the highest prices. So-called green amethyst is produced by heat treatment, but since amethyst is defined by its purple color, green amethyst is not considered to be a true amethyst. Amethyst Clarity and Luster Fine amethyst is transparent, which means that the light passes through the stone unhindered. In translucent amethyst, the passage of light is slightly weakened as it travels through the stone. The best quality amethyst is "clean" and free of visible inclusions of any kind. Since amethyst is quite plentiful, there is little reason to buy stones with visible inclusions. Amethyst Cut and Shape Due to the variability of the color distribution in the amethyst crystals, it is often cut as brilliant rounds or ovals to maximize the color. Very rarely will amethyst be cut en cabochon. Other shapes and modified cutting styles are quite popular, but typically, only amethyst specimens with good color distribution are cut into fancy stones. Amethyst is available in just about every shape, cut and size. Calibrated sizes are easily found and fancy shapes such as trillions, hearts and shields are very common. Many artisans prefer to cut ornamental carvings with amethyst stone and so there are many amethyst carvings available on the market today. Amethyst Treatment Amethyst quartz is typically untreated. Some amethyst stones may be enhanced though heating, but heating of amethyst will reduce coloring agents and result in 'heated citrine'. Gemstone suppliers should always disclose any enhancements. Heat treatment of 878ºF to 1382ºF will typically yield light-yellow, red-brown, green or colorless results. Amethyst Gemological Properties: Back to Top Chemical Formula: Amethyst Gemstone Varieties or other Similar Gemstones: Back to Top Golden Citrine There are many different varieties of quartz gemstones, and most are based on optical properties such as color and crystal structure, but other varieties refer to origin or other similar traits. Locality based trade names are used mostly by gemstone sellers or collectors only. Quartz stones can be classified into one of two branches, cryptocrystalline and macrocrystalline. The two varieties can be distinguished by transparency and luster. Amethyst is macrocrystalline and there are many other similar varieties of stones. Most Popular Related Gemstones: Amethyst geodes , citrine geodes , Rose quartz, chalcedony, agate, rutile quartz, ametrine, citrine, star quartz, cat's eye quartz, golden quartz, carnelian and chrysoprase are most popular quartz varieties. Lesser Known Related Gemstones: Sardonyx, onyx, mystic quartz, strawberry quartz, aventurine, rock crystal quartz, blue quartz, hawk's eye, prasiolite, blood stone and chrysocolla chalcedony (gem silica) are of the rarer and lesser-known quartz varieties. Amethyst Gemstone Mythology, Metaphysical and Alternative Crystal Healing Powers Back to Top The legend of the origin of amethyst comes to us from a Greek myth. Dionysius, the god of intoxication, was angered one day by an insult from a human and swore revenge on the next mortal that crossed his path. Aggressive tigers would carry out his wish. Amethyst, a beautiful young maiden on her way to pay tribute to the goddess Diana was to become the victim. Diana turned Amethyst into a statue of pure crystallin |
Budgerigars are native to which country? | Budgerigar | Invasive Species Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia The budgerigar is natvie to Australia, where it is present throughout much of the interior. [1] Introduced Range Edit The budgerigar has become established in much of Florida. It's established range is greatest on, but not restricted to, Florida's western Gulf Coast. [2] These populations may be falling due to competition with other birds, including another introduced species, the European starling . The budgerigar has also become established in much of Japan, in the prefectures of Niigati, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagwa, Yamnashi, Shizouka, Nagano, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Kochi, Oita and Miyazaki. [3] The budgerigar has also been introduced to South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico but have not become established in these countries. [1] Pathways and Introduction Edit The budgerigar is extremely popular as a pet and as a result has been sold in many countires.[3/4] Budgerigars have been present in Florida since at least the 1940s, when they were first seen in the city of Saint Petersburg.[5] Budgerigars were first brought to Great Britain in 1840. It is likely that escaped or hitchhiking animals travelled on ships from Australia to the UK, although the first sightings in the wild were not until 1970 in Tresco.[4] |
What's the name for a penguin's breeding ground? | Fairy Penguin - Facts, Pictures, Diet and Habitat | Australian Animals Contact Us Fairy Penguin Fairy Penguin is the smallest member of the family of Penguins primarily found in the southern parts of Australia and New Zealand. This cute looking Penguin has multiple species and known by different names like Little Blue Penguins. These Penguins are among the major tourist attractions in the places they are found and people are in awe of their beauty as they glide along the coastal areas. They are distinguished by their typical bluish hue and white under color and look wonderful when they move around noisily in clusters. Scientific name Fairy Penguin is scientifically known as Eudyptula minor. Fairy Penguin Description These creatures can be easily identified, as they are the smallest of creatures in the species of Penguins in an attractive shade. Some of their physical attributes are: Color The mammals have a nice blue shade on their upper body or feathers and a contrast is being provided by the shade of white under those feathers comprising the underbelly. They have dark black-gray colored beaks along with pink feet covering black soles. Shades are lighter when they are young. Weight Fairy Penguins weigh around 1 kg and look prettily plump. Height They have incredibly short height, growing up to around 12 inches tall in their entire lifetime. Their approximate length of the beak is almost 3 to 3.5 cm and their age determines other measurements of their physical appearance. Picture 1 – Fairy Penguin Feathers They have taut and small feathers that have an amazing waterproofing quality made possible by the presence of oil glands in the tail. Fairy Penguin Behavior Fairy Penguins have several distinct behavioral traits. Since they love swimming, they indulge in it frequently after sunrise. They hunt for their food usually in the evenings by diving into the sea and are great at it. These creatures can communicate via certain sounds that are prominent during the breeding season when they call for their mating partners. They show distinct behavior pattern while recognizing their partners. Apart from having definite vocal patterns, they also display physical behavior. They have a distinct hunting design and are able to dive as deep as 10 to 15 m for hunting food. Interestingly they cover their bill while sleeping which may seem to be a clever way of preventing the loss of heat from the body. Fairy Penguins like any other species of the same family are extremely social though they tend to be shy as well. They move around and also eat in groups. These little creatures a distinct way of waterproofing their bodies by releasing and rubbing the oil on their bodies by the process of preening that they do all through the day. Picture 2 – Fairy Penguin Photo Fairy Penguin Sounds They are highly vocal and they have a way of communicating via sounds of various kinds. An extensive range of sound emitted by the creature helps them mate, seek protection and play. As mating season approaches, they recognize their partners and call for them via different sounds. Princeton Fairy Penguin Diet These amazing Penguins are carnivorous creatures surviving on tiny sea creatures, fishes and squids like Australian anchovies. Distribution They are fairly distributed mainly on the southern fringes of Australia, New Zealand, Chatham Islands and Tasmania. Habitat This family of Penguins differs from other species by the way of living in tropical as well as sub Antarctic regions. These creatures make burrows underground which again have a pretty stable temperature around 25 to 30 degree Celsius. These burrows are adjacent to the sea or any other water body. They generally form colonies that are scattered around place where they are dominant. Picture 3 – Baby Fairy Penguin Fairy Penguin Predators Among the predators at sea, killer whales, sharks and furs are common, while they are preyed upon by massive Gulls and Sea Eagles on land. New Zealand Fur Seals are a common danger apart from foxes, snakes, feral cats and lizards. Fairy Penguin Adaptations Fairy Pengui |
The disease 'Pertussis' is more commonly known as what? | Pertussis | Whooping Cough | Home | CDC ShareCompartir Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis can affect people of all ages, but can be very serious, even deadly, for babies less than a year old. The best way to protect against pertussis is by getting vaccinated. English | en Español |
The first 'Gulf War' took place in which year? | Persian Gulf War - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Persian Gulf War A+E Networks Introduction Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait in early August 1990. Alarmed by these actions, fellow Arab powers such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt called on the United States and other Western nations to intervene. Hussein defied United Nations Security Council demands to withdraw from Kuwait by mid-January 1991, and the Persian Gulf War began with a massive U.S.-led air offensive known as Operation Desert Storm. After 42 days of relentless attacks by the allied coalition in the air and on the ground, U.S. President George H.W. Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28; by that time, most Iraqi forces in Kuwait had either surrendered or fled. Though the Persian Gulf War was initially considered an unqualified success for the international coalition, simmering conflict in the troubled region led to a second Gulf War–known as the Iraq War–that began in 2003. Google Background of the Persian Gulf War Though the long-running war between Iran and Iraq had ended in a United Nations-brokered ceasefire in August 1988, by mid-1990 the two states had yet to begin negotiating a permanent peace treaty. When their foreign ministers met in Geneva that July, prospects for peace suddenly seemed bright, as it appeared that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was prepared to dissolve that conflict and return territory that his forces had long occupied. Two weeks later, however, Hussein delivered a speech in which he accused neighboring nation Kuwait of siphoning crude oil from the Ar-Rumaylah oil fields located along their common border. He insisted that Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and cancel out $30 billion of Iraq’s foreign debt, and accused them of conspiring to keep oil prices low in an effort to pander to Western oil-buying nations. Did You Know? In justifying his invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, Saddam Hussein claimed it was an artificial state carved out of the Iraqi coast by Western colonialists; in fact, Kuwait had been internationally recognized as a separate entity before Iraq itself was created by Britain under a League of Nations mandate after World War I. In addition to Hussein’s incendiary speech, Iraq had begun amassing troops on Kuwait’s border. Alarmed by these actions, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt initiated negotiations between Iraq and Kuwait in an effort to avoid intervention by the United States or other powers from outside the Gulf region. Hussein broke off the negotiations after only two hours, and on August 2, 1990 ordered the invasion of Kuwait. Hussein’s assumption that his fellow Arab states would stand by in the face of his invasion of Kuwait, and not call in outside help to stop it, proved to be a miscalculation. Two-thirds of the 21 members of the Arab League condemned Iraq’s act of aggression, and Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd, along with Kuwait’s government-in-exile, turned to the United States and other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for support. Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait & Allied Response U.S. President George H.W. Bush immediately condemned the invasion, as did the governments of Britain and the Soviet Union. On August 3, the United Nations Security Council called for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait; three days later, King Fahd met with U.S. Secretary of Defense Richard Cheney to request U.S. military assistance. On August 8, the day on which the Iraqi government formally annexed Kuwait–Hussein called it Iraq’s “19th province”–the first U.S. Air Force fighter planes began arriving in Saudi Arabia as part of a military buildup dubbed Operation Desert Shield. The planes were accompanied by troops sent by NATO allies as well as Egypt and several other Arab nations, designed to guard against a possible Iraqi attack on Saudi Arabia. In Kuwait, Iraq increased its occupation forces to some 300,000 troops. In an effort to garner support from the Muslim world, Hussein declared a jihad, or holy war, against the coalition; he also attempted to ally himself with the Palestinian |
On the London Underground map which line is represented in light blue? | Victoria Line | London Tube Map London Tube Map Brixton The Victoria Line is represented on the London Tube Map by a light blue line and runs from Brixton to Walthamstow Central. It handles 183 million journeys every year and serves 16 stations on its 13-mile length. The proposal for the new line, running from Victoria to Walthamstow, came from a British Transport Commission working party in 1948 in order to ease congestion in Central London. Work began on the line in 1962 and continued until 1972 despite the line formally opening in 1968. The Brixton extension was approved in 1967 and the Pimlico station in 1968. Image taken from the Victoria Line article on Wikipedia. The line was built to ease congestion on other lines - most urgently the Piccadilly line as well as provide more interchanges between other lines. Every line on the Victoria line is an interchange, save for Pimlico. |
Who's horse was called Marengo? | Everyone remembers the name of Wellington''s horse: Copenhagen. Similarly, Napoleon''s horse was called Marengo. But what was the name of the horse of other commander at Waterloo, Bleucher? | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk Everyone remembers the name of Wellington's horse: Copenhagen. Similarly, Napoleon's horse was called Marengo. But what was the name of the horse of other commander at Waterloo, Bleucher? Benjamin Craig, Altrincham UK Marshal Blucher Actually lost his horse (and as a consequence nearly his life) at the battle of Ligny three days before Waterloo. The horse died under him During one of the Marshalls impetuous cavalry charges, where he led from the front. The horse was killed under him. Trapped beneath the beasts body , Blucher had to "play dead" for nearly four hours as french lancers came through time and time again, looking for survivors. As a consequence marshall Bluchers horse on the great day was probably an anonymous replacement Napoleons Deputy Marshall Ney was even more daredevil than the aging Prussian, Losing at least Four horses under him in one Day at Waterloo. Ben, London UK In actual fact, Napoleon, suffering ill health, spent most of the Waterloo campaign in a traveling coach. On the occasions he did ride he rode not the more famous Marengo, which he rode in other campaigns, but a mare named Desire. Blucher is reputed to have been drunk out of his skull for most of the campaign, and even he probably didn't know which horse he was riding, but on the fateful day - 18th June - he would have been riding a second choice horse in any case, as the steed he had been riding two days previously had been shot and fallen upon him at the Battle of Ligny. On this occasion he had narrowly evaded capture by the French, and had he not, history could have taken a very different turn, as his deputy Gniesenau favoured a defensive move away from Waterloo, and was in the process of organising this when Bleucher returned from the battlefield to overrule him and march to Wellington's aid. David Wilson, Dorking UK |
If a dish is served 'Florentine' which vegetable will it contain? | What Does Florentine (or à la Florentine) Mean in Cooking? By Danilo Alfaro Updated October 31, 2016. In the culinary arts, the word Florentine (pronounced "FLOR-en-teen"), or the term à la Florentine, refers to a recipe that is prepared in the style of the Italian region of Florence. The easiest way to remember what it means is that a Florentine-style recipe features spinach. Specifically, a dish prepared à la Florentine will feature some main ingredient, such as eggs, poultry or fish, served on a bed of spinach which has been cooked in butter, then topped with Mornay sauce and grated cheese, and finally browned under the broiler. One common dish with the Florentine moniker is eggs Florentine, a variation on eggs Benedict featuring a poached egg served over a bed of spinach (in place of the ham) on a grilled English muffin. It's served with Mornay sauce instead of hollandaise sauce , although it's not uncommon to find it served with hollandaise in a lot of restaurants. And while spinach is characteristic of a dish prepared à la Florentine, a pile of steamed spinach is a far cry from the traditional Florentine method of gently simmering the spinach in melted butter. continue reading below our video How to Sharpen a Knife Like a Professional And not cooked and then a little bit of butter stirred in. Simmered in butter. If that sounds decadent, consider that the technique is said to originate with Florence-born Catherine de Medici's, or rather her chefs, who accompanied her to France upon her marriage to the Duke of Orleans and future king. Spinach is thought to have been brought to Sicily by Arab merchants over 1,200 years ago, and the plant thrived in Italy, Spain and elsewhere across the Mediterranean region. Thus spinach is not so much a Florence thing as a Catherine de Medici thing. Even so, I can't help wondering which scenario is more plausible: that the future queen of France, aged 14 at the time, was so devoted to spinach that she endeavored to bring bundles of it with her to her wedding (indeed, in some versions of the legend, such is Catherine's preternatural obsession with the leafy vegetable that she brings spinach seeds, with an eye toward cultivating them after the nuptial ceremony); OR, that upon arriving in Marseille, the site of the wedding, her chefs discovered an abundance of spinach, owing to the similar Mediterranean climate, and went ahead and cooked with it because it was a familiar ingredient I hate to debunk these beautiful legends, but honestly I think the latter is much more likely, don't you? In any case, strictly speaking, in addition to buttered spinach, a Florentine-style dish needs Mornay sauce, grated cheese and an au gratin finish. Which means the version of eggs Florentine described above, is technically just eggs with spinach. But don't mention this fact to your server at brunch this weekend, because I guarantee they will not be amused. Note that the word florentine also has another definition not related to recipes made with spinach and Mornay sauce. There's a thin, crunchy wafer or cookie that also goes by the name florentine. This florentine cookie is made with honey and nuts and is sometimes coated with chocolate. |
Goa was an overseas territory of which country until 1961? | Portuguese India . Portugal refused to recognize the Indian sovereignty and Portuguese India kept its representatives in the Portuguese parliament until the revolution in 1974. Until today people from former Portuguese India have the right to Portuguese citizenship, when they were born there before 1961. After the fall of the territory two sets of stamps were issued. These were not available in the territory. Capital:��������������������� Nova Goa Government:������������� overseas territory of Portugal Area:������������������������ 3.814 km� (excl. Dadra and Nagar Aveli) Population:���������������� 600.000 (1955) Currency:������������������ 1 Rupia (16 Tangas), from 1959: 1 Escudo (100 Centavos) UPU 75th anniversary date:����������������� October 1949 designer:����������� Jos� de Almada Negreiros printer:�������������� Lito Nacional, Porto perforated:�������� 14� 1���� 2 � Tgs.����� globe, letters, text "Uni�O POSTAL UNiVERSAL / 75� aniversario" ������������������������� red ������������������������� (cat. Michel 453/SG 579/Yvert 420) The World United Against Malaria date:����������������� April 1962 designer:����������� - printer:�������������� Casa da Moeda, Lisbon perforated:�������� 12� remark:������������� this stamp was issued after the occupation of the colony by India 2���� 2$50����������� malaria mosquito (Anopheles fluviatilis), campaign emblem, text "O mundo unido contro o ������������������������� paludismo" and "Fluviatilis" ������������������������� multicoloured ������������������������� (cat. Michel 590/SG -/Yvert 564) |
What letter lies to the immediate left of the letter 'M' on a standard keyboard? | Keyboard Input (Windows) Keyboard Input Collapse the table of content Expand the table of content This documentation is archived and is not being maintained. This documentation is archived and is not being maintained. Keyboard Input The keyboard is used for several distinct types of input, including: Character input. Text that the user types into a document or edit box. Keyboard shortcuts. Key strokes that invoke application functions; for example, CTRL + O to open a file. System commands. Key strokes that invoke system functions; for example, ALT + TAB to switch windows. When thinking about keyboard input, it is important to remember that a key stroke is not the same as a character. For example, pressing the A key could result in any of the following characters. a A á (if the keyboard supports combining diacritics) Further, if the ALT key is held down, pressing the A key produces ALT+A, which the system does not treat as a character at all, but rather as a system command. Key Codes When you press a key, the hardware generates a scan code. Scan codes vary from one keyboard to the next, and there are separate scan codes for key-up and key-down events. You will almost never care about scan codes. The keyboard driver translates scan codes into virtual-key codes. Virtual-key codes are device-independent. Pressing the A key on any keyboard generates the same virtual-key code. In general, virtual-key codes do not correspond to ASCII codes or any other character-encoding standard. This is obvious if you think about it, because the same key can generate different characters (a, A, á), and some keys, such as function keys, do not correspond to any character. That said, the following virtual-key codes do map to ASCII equivalents: 0 through 9 keys = ASCII '0' – '9' (0x30 – 0x39) A through Z keys = ASCII 'A' – 'Z' (0x41 – 0x5A) In some respects this mapping is unfortunate, because you should never think of virtual-key codes as characters, for the reasons discussed. The header file WinUser.h defines constants for most of the virtual-key codes. For example, the virtual-key code for the LEFT ARROW key is VK_LEFT (0x25). For the complete list of virtual-key codes, see Virtual-Key Codes . No constants are defined for the virtual-key codes that match ASCII values. For example, the virtual-key code for the A key is 0x41, but there is no constant named VK_A. Instead, just use the numeric value. Key-Down and Key-Up Messages When you press a key, the window that has keyboard focus receives one of the following messages. The WM_SYSKEYDOWN message indicates a system key, which is a key stroke that invokes a system command. There are two types of system key: ALT + any key F10 The F10 key activates the menu bar of a window. Various ALT-key combinations invoke system commands. For example, ALT + TAB switches to a new window. In addition, if a window has a menu, the ALT key can be used to activate menu items. Some ALT key combinations do not do anything. All other key strokes are considered nonsystem keys and produce the WM_KEYDOWN message. This includes the function keys other than F10. When you release a key, the system sends a corresponding key-up message: WM_SYSKEYUP If you hold down a key long enough to start the keyboard's repeat feature, the system sends multiple key-down messages, followed by a single key-up message. In all four of the keyboard messages discussed so far, the wParam parameter contains the virtual-key code of the key. The lParam parameter contains some miscellaneous information packed into 32 bits. You typically do not need the information in lParam. One flag that might be useful is bit 30, the "previous key state" flag, which is set to 1 for repeated key-down messages. As the name implies, system key strokes are primarily intended for use by the operating system. If you intercept the WM_SYSKEYDOWN message, call DefWindowProc afterward. Otherwise, you will block the operating system from handling the command. Character Messages Key strokes are converted into characters by the TranslateMessage function, which we first saw |
Who starred as 'Sharpe' in the TV series of the same name? | Sean Bean - IMDb IMDb Actor | Producer Sean Bean's 20 year career spans theater, radio, television and movies. Bean was born in Handsworth, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, to Rita (Tuckwood) and Brian Bean. He worked for his father's welding firm before he decided to become an actor. He attended RADA in London and appeared in a number of West End stage productions including RSC's ... See full bio » Born: a list of 26 people created 03 Jun 2011 a list of 38 people created 09 Jun 2012 a list of 24 people created 30 Nov 2013 a list of 21 people created 19 Jun 2014 a list of 26 people created 15 Aug 2015 Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Sean Bean's work have you seen? User Polls 13 wins & 11 nominations. See more awards » Known For 2017 Broken (TV Series) ( filming ) Father Michael Kerrigan 2016 Roman Empire: Reign of Blood (TV Series documentary) Narrator 2016 Civilization VI (Video Game) Narrator (voice) 2013 Papa Sangre II (Video Game) Guide (voice) 2013 Family Guy (TV Series) Portrait Griffin 2008 Real Prison Breaks (TV Series documentary) Narrator 1989 The Fifteen Streets (TV Movie) Dominic O'Brien 1988 The Storyteller (TV Series) Prince 1986 The Practice (TV Series) Terry Donlan 1984 The Bill (TV Series) Horace Clark - Long Odds (1984) ... Horace Clark Hide 2017 Broken (TV Series) (executive producer) ( filming ) 2015 Legends (TV Series) (producer - 10 episodes) 2016 Larry King Now (TV Series) Himself - guest 2016 Ares III: The Untold Story (Video documentary short) Mitch Henderson 2016 Trawlermen Tales (TV Mini-Series documentary) Narrator 2015 Pop Wrapped TV (TV Series documentary) Himself 2015 Made in Hollywood (TV Series) Himself 2015 Drew Pearson Live (TV Series) Himself - Special Guest 2015 Reel Junkie (TV Series) Himself 2015 Tavis Smiley (TV Series) Himself - Guest 2015 Film 2016 (TV Series) Himself - Interviewee 2015 All Access Pass (TV Series) Himself 2014 Live! with Kelly (TV Series) Himself - Guest 2013 Natural World (TV Series documentary) Narrator 2013 80s Greatest (TV Series documentary) Narrator 2011 Scream Awards 2011 (TV Special) Himself 2011 Pete Postlethwaite: A Tribute (TV Movie documentary) Himself 2006-2009 This Morning (TV Series) Himself - Guest 2008 The Making of Sharpe's Peril (TV Movie documentary) Himself 2007 Brit Awards 2007 (TV Special) Himself 2006-2007 HypaSpace (TV Series documentary) Himself 2006 Directing Bond: The Martin Chronicles (Video documentary short) Himself 2005 Corazón de... (TV Series) Himself 2005 D-Day to Berlin (Video documentary) Narrator (voice) 2005 'National Treasure' on Location (Video documentary short) Himself 2004 National Treasure Uncovered (TV Movie) Himself 2004 The Passing of an Age (Video documentary short) Himself 2004 The Making of 'Troy' (TV Movie documentary) Himself 2003 Tinseltown TV (TV Series) Himself 2003 Cameras in Middle-Earth (Video documentary) Himself 2003 Warriors of the Third Age (Video documentary short) Himself 2002 Making the Movie (TV Short documentary) Himself 2002 Cameras in Middle-Earth (Video documentary) Himself - Boromir 2002 From Book to Script (Video documentary short) Himself - Boromir 2002 The Fellowship of the Cast (Video documentary short) Himself - Boromir 2002 The Road Goes Ever On... (Video documentary short) Himself - Boromir 2002 Weta Workshop (Video documentary short) Himself - Boromir 2001 Live Lunch (TV Series) Himself - Interviewee 2001 Quest for the Ring (TV Short documentary) Himself 1996 Decisive Weapons (TV Series documentary) Narrator 1995 GoldenEye: The Secret Files (TV Short documentary) Himself 2014 Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) Himself 2010 Almost Famous III (TV Movie documentary) The Practice 2007 The Story of Dibley (TV Movie documentary) Sean Bean (uncredited) 2006 Premiere Bond: Opening Nights (Video documentary short) Himself 2006 Video on Trial (TV Series) Himself 2005 Corazón de... (TV Series) Himself TV commercial (voiceover) for Beechams FluPlus. See more » Publicity Listings: 1 Print Biography | 5 Inter |
Which American president had a sign on his desk saying 'The buck stops here'? | Truman: The Buck Stops Here Support "The Buck Stops Here" Desk Sign The sign "The Buck Stops Here" that was on President Truman's desk in his White House office was made in the Federal Reformatory at El Reno, Oklahoma. Fred A. Canfil, then United States Marshal for the Western District of Missouri and a friend of Mr. Truman, saw a similar sign while visiting the Reformatory and asked the Warden if a sign like it could be made for President Truman. The sign was made and mailed to the President on October 2, 1945. Approximately 2-1/2" x 13" in size and mounted on walnut base, the painted glass sign has the words "I'm From Missouri" on the reverse side. It appeared at different times on his desk until late in his administration. The saying "the buck stops here" derives from the slang expression "pass the buck" which means passing the responsibility on to someone else. The latter expression is said to have originated with the game of poker, in which a marker or counter, frequently in frontier days a knife with a buckhorn handle, was used to indicate the person whose turn it was to deal. If the player did not wish to deal he could pass the responsibility by passing the "buck," as the counter came to be called, to the next player. * On more than one occasion President Truman referred to the desk sign in public statements. For example, in an address at the National War College on December 19, 1952 Mr. Truman said, "You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done, after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you -- and on my desk I have a motto which says The Buck Stops Here' -- the decision has to be made." In his farewell address to the American people given in January 1953, President Truman referred to this concept very specifically in asserting that, "The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job. The sign has been displayed at the Library since 1957. * Mitford M. Mathews, ed., A Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1951), I, pages 198-199. |
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on which island? | PBS - Napoleon: The Man and the Myth Napoleon Bonaparte was born the 15th of August, 1769 on Corsica, just three months after the island had been defeated by the French. He would spend his childhood hating France, the nation he would one day rule. "I was born when [Corsica] was perishing. Thirty thousand Frenchmen spewed on to our shores, drowning the throne of liberty in waves of blood... The cries of the dying, the groans of the oppressed and tears of despair surrounded my cradle from the hour of my birth." After the French victory, many Corsican rebels fled to the mountains, where they continued to fight on. But Napoleons father Carlo, a twenty-three year-old university student, readily submitted to French rule. Soon he was wearing powdered wigs, embroidered waistcoats, and silver buckled shoes. The Bonapartes were Corsican aristocrats, but they were not rich. With eight children, they struggled just to get by on an island that had been impoverished for centuries. Napoleon never forgave his father for betraying his Corsican heritage. He would later say harshly that Carlo was rather "too fond of pleasure." His mother, Letizia, was a hard, austere woman, toughened by war, who punished her children to teach them sacrifice and discipline. "She sometimes made me go to bed without supper, as if there were nothing to eat in the house. One had to learn to suffer and not let others see it." As a representative of the Corsican parliament, Carlo travelled to Versailles. There, he saw the splendor of the French court in all its majesty, and he worked to secure Napoleon a scholarship to Brienne, a private academy in France. Napoleon set foot in France for the first time in the winter of 1778, a thin, sallow nine year-old, accustomed to the warmth of the Mediterranean, suddenly alone on the windswept plains of northern France. He could hardly speak French. JOURQUIN : He thinks of himself as a Corsican. He is surrounded by students who are the children of French aristocrats. And they have nothing in common with this little foreigner. And since he is quite proud, he becomes a loner. CARRINGTON : When he was in school in Brienne in continental France, where he was very much laughed at and bullied for being a barbarous Corsican, he dreamt all the time of
liberating Corsica. But he did something quite exceptional. He conquered his conquerors. He got the better of the French. At the age of fifteen Napoleon was promoted to the Royal Military Academy in Paris. At sixteen, he began his apprenticeship as a lowly second lieutenant, training with the best artillery unit in the French army. His ambitions soared far beyond a military career, but in French society power and achievement was reserved for the nobility not for an unsophisticated Corsican soldier. "Always alone among men, I come home to dream by myself and to give myself over to all the forces of my melancholy," Napoleon wrote. "My thoughts dwell on death... What fury drives me to wish for my own destruction? No do |
What is the US Presidents Maryland retreat called? | Camp David FAS | Nuke | Guide | USA | C3I |||| Index | Search | Camp David Presidential Retreat Site Located 70 miles from the White House in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland, Camp David was established in 1942 as a place for the President to relax and entertain. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt wanted to escape the summer heat of Washington, D.C., and the higher altitude of the Camp provided cool breezes and good security. President Roosevelt called the Camp "Shangri-La" after the mountain kingdom in James Hilton's book Lost Horizon. It was renamed Camp David in 1953 by President Eisenhower in honor of his grandson. The Camp is operated by Navy personnel, and troops from the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., provide permanent security. Marine One carries the President during the half-hour helicopter ride from our Nation's capital. Guests at Camp David can enjoy a pool, putting green, driving range, tennis courts, gymnasium, and the many guest cabins -- Dogwood, Maple, Holly, Birch, and Rosebud, to name a few. The presidential cabin is called Aspen Lodge. Camp David has been the site of many historic international meetings. It was there, during World War II, that President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill planned the Allies' invasion of Europe. Many historical events have occurred at the Presidential Retreat; the planning of the Normandy invasion, Eisenhower-Khrushchev meetings, discussions of the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam War discussions, and many other meetings with foreign dignitaries and guests. President Jimmy Carter chose the site for the meeting of Middle East leaders that led to the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt. Camp David continues to serve as the Presidential Retreat. It is a private, secluded place for recreation, contemplation, rest, and relaxation. Maintaining the privacy and secluded atmosphere of the retreat is an important role for Catoctin Mountain Park. The Presidential Retreat still remains within park boundaries but is not open to the public. It is a place where presidents can relax, unwind, contemplate, entertain distinguished guests in an informal setting, and cope with the pressures of modern day society. The Presidential retreat is not open or accessible to the public, but the eastern hardwood forest of Catoctin Mountain Park has many other attractions for visitors: camping, picnicking, fishing, 25 miles of hiking trails, scenic mountain vistas, all await exploration. Catoctin Mountain Park was originally submarginal land purchased by the government in 1936, to be developed into a recreational facility. The facility was to demonstrate how rough terrain and eroded soil could be turned into productive land again. The New Deal's Works Progress Administration, WPA, began the work in the newly created Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area, joined by the Civilian Conservation Crops, CCC, in 1939. Camp Misty Mount was first used by the Maryland League for Crippled Children. After the first year, the League moved to a second camp in 1938, Camp Greentop, because Camp Misty Mount's terrain was difficult to negotiate in a wheelchair. A third camp, Camp Hi-Catoctin, was completed in the winter of 1938-1939 and was used for three years as a family camp for federal employees. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was accustomed to seeking relief from hot Washington, D.C. summers and relaxing on weekends, aboard the presidential yacht "Potomac" or at Hyde Park, NY. In 1942 the U.S. Secret Service were very concerned about the President's continued use of the "Potomac." World War II had brought an attack on Pearl Harbor and German U boats close in Atlantic waters. Presidential safety was a concern and Presidential health was also a concern. The muggy climate of Washington, D.C., was considered detrimental to his health, affecting his sinuses. A new retreat, a place to relax, within a 100 mile radius of Washington, D.C. and in the cool mountain air was sought. Several sites were considered but Camp Hi-Catoctin in the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area was select |
In 1999 Richard Branson sold just under half of Virgin Atlantic shares to which other airline? | INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Virgin Airlines Sells a 49% Stake to Singapore Carrier - The New York Times The New York Times Business Day |INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; Virgin Airlines Sells a 49% Stake to Singapore Carrier Search Continue reading the main story Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur who started Virgin Airlines 15 years ago with a single jumbo jet flight across the Atlantic, sold nearly half his business today to Singapore Airlines for $965 million. The sale of a 49 percent stake gives Mr. Branson a highly profitable partner at a time when his airline is in a heated battle with British Airways for trans-Atlantic passengers, Virgin's most important business. It will also greatly expand the European reach of Singapore Airlines, which is known for the quality of its service. In effect, the deal gives Mr. Branson's airline an instant global reach. Mr. Branson said the airlines had ''sort of courted each other'' for 12 years. ''This deal has avoided leaving us out in the cold,'' Mr. Branson said. The most significant benefit for Singapore Airlines is its gaining access to Heathrow in London, Europe's busiest airport. That access will allow it to fly trans-Atlantic routes. Advertisement While Singapore Airlines will not be able to fly directly between Britain and the United States using its own planes, it will be able to book the routes as Singapore Airlines flights in a code-sharing program with Virgin Airlines. The deal means Virgin and Singapore will control 2.5 percent of the available slots at Heathrow. Available slots are the number of available daily takeoff and landing opportunities. By law, an airline cannot sell a stake of more than 49 percent without forfeiting its nationality and its rights under international route agreements. The transaction is the latest in a series of international alliances in the airline industry that give participating carriers integrated route schedules and timetables. Mr. Branson said, however, that Virgin Airlines would not enter the much broader Star Alliance, which Singapore Airlines is expected to enter in the spring. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy That arrangement, led by the United Airlines unit of the UAL Corporation and Lufthansa, enables several international carriers to coordinate schedules and ticketing. Mr. Branson and Cheong Choong Kong, the chief executive of Singapore Airlines, said at a news conference in London today that the agreement came together during lunch on Saturday. After a morning of negotiations, Mr. Branson and Mr. Cheong both adjourned for lunch at the same restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel. As Mr. Choong told it, he was eating when Mr. Branson walked over and passed him a handwritten note on scrap paper. ''There were two sentences on it, Mr. Choong said. ''The first indicated strongly that we could strike a deal; the second was a question: 'who is paying for lunch?' '' Advertisement Mr. Choong added, ''I was so excited about the first sentence that I forgot the question.'' He said he owed Mr. Branson lunch. Analysts said the deal would benefit both companies. ''It puts Singapore Airlines in a great position and is a tremendous price for Virgin to get,'' said Chris Tarry, an analyst at Commerzbank in London. Singapore Airlines has been trying to make an acquisition since it unwound an alliance with Swissair and Delta Air Lines by selling its stakes in the two carriers for $526.1 million. Even though Singapore Airlines has $3.07 billion in cash, it made two unsuccessful attempts to acquire stakes in South African Airways and Ansett Australia. Singapore Airlines also recently expressed interest in buying a stake in Thai Airways International. Shares of Virgin's domestic rival, British Airways, fell 4.8 percent today, as investors worried that the deal would mean an increase in competition on North Atlantic routes, which industry executives already say have too many planes. |
Travelling directly east from Cape Horn where would your next landfall be? | A Holland America cruise around Cape Horn - Telegraph Cruises A Holland America cruise around Cape Horn After a cruise on Holland America's ms Veendam around Cape Horn, Gill Charlton was finally converted to cruising. The shape of Cape Horn, the end of a continent Photo: Alamy Holland America's ms Veendam, a mid-size ship by modern standards, with a sense of tradition Port Stanley on the Falkland Islands Photo: Alamy One of the landing points was Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay Photo: Alamy Image 1 of 5 A king penguin, one of a couple of species that Gill Charlton saw on her cruise around Cape Horn Photo: Alamy By Gill Charlton 11:25AM GMT 03 Nov 2011 Even for a veteran traveller like myself, there’s a frisson of excitement on the quayside in Buenos Aires as we hand over luggage and passports. Plastic smartcard in hand, I mount the gangway with some trepidation. Two friends have persuaded me to go on a Holland America cruise despite my qualms at being holed up with 1,600 others and seeing only fleeting glimpses of ports of call. However, 12-day cruises around Cape Horn, from Argentina to Chile via the Falkland Islands, is a journey that should be done by sea. The ms Veendam plies this route every winter. A mid-size ship by modern standards, she retains a sense of tradition: lots of polished brass, formal dining with black-tie nights and wooden steamer chairs on her wraparound promenade deck. Museum-quality antiques and artwork are all over the ship. My Lanai stateroom is spacious and comfortable: a king-size bed, sofa and small desk. The bathroom has a short shallow bath and a powerful shower. Best of all, a sliding-glass door opens on to the lower promenade deck. The glass has been treated, so I can watch the ocean lying in bed but nobody can look in at me. The red-plush Rotterdam dining room occupies the stern of the ship. We have been assigned table 23 beside a large window on the upper balcony. Guests can choose free seating or reserve tables for two, four or more. It means there is no chance of getting stuck with the very dull. (For those who prefer not to dress for dinner there is a bright, buzzy self-service restaurant.) The cheerful, attentive waiters are from Java, supervised by Raj from Bangalore, who has a no-problem-can’t-be-solved attitude. He trained with Taj Hotels and, after discovering our love of India, invites us one evening to try a fiery curry cooked by his personal chef. Related Articles Th ultimate guide to America's 'last frontier' 08 Feb 2016 The cheapest wines – $22 (£13.73) a bottle – are uninspiring choices from Australia and California. Instead, we pick up Argentinian and Chilean vintages in our ports of call and pay the $18 corkage. Overnight we cross the River Plate to Montevideo, capital of Uruguay. It is Saturday and the colonial centre is deserted; even the museums are closed. A flea market selling silver plate, second-hand books and clothes draws in a few locals, who walk along sucking maté tea through silver straws, a Thermos tucked under an arm for refills. This sour-tasting brew made from the holly leaf is a national obsession. There’s a strong South American and Spanish presence on the ship, couples and multi-generation families, plus a few parties of French and more British than I had expected. Americans and Canadians still dominate, but the age profile is younger than on many cruises, probably because the seas can be rougher. It soon dawns that there are two kinds of passenger on board and that their paths rarely cross. The majority like to lie around the pool, eat in the self-service restaurant, play the slot machines and take coach excursions. The minority read in the excellent library, drink cocktails in the Crow’s Nest bar and listen to talks on how to make your own way in the next landfall. Nowhere on board seems crowded. Up on Deck 12, we are the only ones pounding the boardwalk (13 laps to a mile) as we sail towards the Falkland Islands. The sky is blue and streaked with horsetails, the wind still warm. Sleek black skuas follow in our wake. We take all our |
How many men have walked on the Moon? | How Many People Have Walked on the Moon? - Universe Today Universe Today How Many People Have Walked on the Moon? Article Updated: 21 Dec , 2015 by Nancy Atkinson Ask someone if they know the names of the astronauts who have walked on the Moon, and most people would be able to list Neil Armstrong, and maybe even Buzz Aldrin. But can you name the rest of the Apollo astronauts who made it down to the lunar surface? How many people have walked on the Moon? In total twelve people have walked on the Moon. Besides Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin – who were the first two astronauts to leave their bootprints on the Moon — there were also Pete Conrad, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, David Scott, James Irwin, John Young, Charles Duke, Eugene Cernan, and Harrison Schmitt. Interestingly, out of the dozen people who walked on the Moon, no one ever did it more than once. Here’s some additional information about the men who walked on the Moon and their missions: Apollo 11 – 2 people The iconic photo of Buzz Aldrin on the Moon for Apollo 11. Credit: NASA On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first person to set foot on the Moon. He was soon followed by Buzz Aldrin. In a nail-biting landing, Armstrong had to manually fly the Lunar Module past the intended landing spot, which he could see was filled with boulders. He landed safely in Tranquility Base with Aldrin keeping an eye on the altitude and velocity, along with a dangerously low fuel tank. In total, Neil and Buzz were on the lunar surface (both inside their Eagle lunar module and walking on the Moon) for only 21 hours, 36 minutes and 21 seconds and were outside walking in the Sea of Tranquility for just 2 hours, 31 minutes and 40 seconds. During their EVA, they collected rocks, planted the US flag, and deployed a seismograph and an experiment called the Lunar Ranging Retroreflector – a reflective device that measures the distance between the Earth and the Moon using lasers from Earth — which is still in use today. Apollo 12 – 2 people A bootprint in the lunar regolith, taken during Apollo 11 in 1969. Credit: NASA. Pete Conrad and Alan Bean were the Moon walkers on the Apollo 12 mission. The Apollo 12 crew experienced two lightning strikes just after their Saturn V rocket launched on November 14, 1969. The jolts knocked out the guidance system and power for a time, but thanks to quick thinking by Mission Control and Alan Bean, the systems were recovered. The Apollo 12 crew proved they could make a pin-point landing, touching down just 185 meters (600 feet) from the Surveyor 3 unmanned spacecraft. During one of their EVAs, Conrad and Bean walked to the Surveyor 3 spacecraft and removed pieces of it bring back to Earth for analysis. Conrad and Bean were on the Moon for two days, November 19 and 20, 1969. Apollo 13 – 0 People The next mission to launch to the Moon was Apollo 13, but because an oxygen tank on the spacecraft’s Service Module exploded two days after launch, the crew was not able to land on the Moon – and a harrowing and spectacular recovery ensued. You can find out more about the Apollo 13 mission here. Apollo 14 – 2 people The launch of Apollo 14. Credit: NASA. The next two people to set foot on the Moon were Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell who were part of the Apollo 14 mission. They launched on January 31, 1971, and landed on February 5 in the Fra Mauro region of the Moon, the original destination for Apollo 13. Shepard and Mitchell performed two EVAs, deploying seismic experiments to study potential Moon quakes, and used the Modular Equipment Transporter (MET), a pull cart for carrying equipment and samples. During the second moonwalk, they tried to reach the edge of a crater named Cone Crater, but with no obvious landmarks amid the rolling, repetitive terrain, they weren’t able to find it. Later analysis combining images the astronauts took with orbital images, it was determined the duo had come within just 20 meters (65 feet) of the crater’s rim. While on the Moon, Shepard fashioned a golf club and hit a couple of golf balls. Mit |
The Painting 'La Giaconda' is better know as what? | La Gioconda: mystery, regret and controversy behind the painting | Italy La Gioconda: mystery, regret and controversy behind the painting Submitted by annadefilippo on Tue, 12/22/2015 - 12:04 La Gioconda: mystery, regret and controversy behind the painting One of the greatest paintings of Italian art is certainly La Gioconda, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece. The painting, better known abroad as "Monna Lisa" ("Monna" is the abbreviation for Madonna and corresponds to the current term "woman") is kept in the museum of the Louvre in Paris. This 77 x 53 cm painting is unsigned, but it is sure the work was painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci in 1500. However, the artist never considered the work completed and he never gave it to his commissioner. This has often raised questions which, together with many others, haven't found any answer, yet. La Gioconda Many years have passed since its creation, but the secrets surrounding La Gioconda are far from being revealed: mystery dominates all that relates to this amazing work of art. Mistery created by the penetrating, yet ambiguous gaze of Monna Lisa herself, the identity of whom we do not know. La Gioconda is a typical Renaissance painting characterized by harmony of colors and nuances. The portrait divides the canvas into two main sectors: one where the protagonist predominates the scene, and the second where we can see a landscape with rocks, streets, rivers and vegetation, considered an imaginative place. The painting and its elements have been given several different interpretations. The identity of the subject remains still uncertain, but its image well known: an enigmatic woman, smiling. According to research conducted by Florentine scholars, La Gioconda really existed in the past and she corresponds to Lisa Gherardini, the second wife of the Florentine silk trader Francesco Del Giocondo. The Del Giocondos knew Leonardo's family: it was the artist's father, it seems, who put them in touch with one another. Other women have been linked to the identity of the painting and it has also been hypothesized she may have been pregnant due to the way she rested her hands on her belly. Another interesting position on the matter, often considered hazardous, is the theory according to which the subject of the painting is Leonardo himself. This thesis was elaborated not only for the similarity between the painting and Leonardo's face, but also because the reason Leonardo never returned the painting to its commissioner has never been clarified. The attachment of Leonardo to the painting is still unexplained, but that's the same for the identity of the person portrayed, which may remain a mystery. La Gioconda, in spite of its popularity, is fundamentally a work of mystery: the smile, the eyes, the subject, all contributed to create an aura of mystery and enigma around it. The eyes and the smile of La Gioconda have been considered the key to reveal its secrets by many. Proof of it is the number of studies carried out on their analysis in the hope to solve, once and for all, the mystery of the Monna Lisa. |
The only fruit to have it's seeds on the outside is a what? | What's the Only Fruit to Have its Seeds on the Outside? What's the Only Fruit to Have its Seeds on the Outside? Desserts/Baking Expert By Carroll Pellegrinelli Everyone should know this answer, but I admit I didn't think of it at first. If you guessed Strawberries , you were right. Sometimes the questions about everyday reality are the hardest to answer. Be sure and check-out this article to find out more about this red fruit. |
Lanzarote belongs to which group of islands? | Lanzarote | Lanzarote Business's for Sale Show the navigation Lanzarote The northernmost and also the easternmost of the Canary Islands, is located only 77 miles from the African mainland. It is the fourth largest island of the archipelago. Geographically, Lanzarote belongs to Macaronesia, a group of islands in the Atlantic including the Canary Islands as well as the archipelagos of Madeira, the Azores and Cape Verde. Population: approx 150,000 Area: 326 sq miles| 40 miles long and 13 miles wide (east to west at its widest) Capital: Arrecife Airport Code: ACE Population breakdown: The population of English-speaking expats in Lanzarote is just under 8,000 people, German 4,200 and Irish 700. A total of 136 nationalities live in Lanzarote. |
The setting agent 'Agar' is obtained from seaweed. True or false? | CHAPTER 1 - PRODUCTION, PROPERTIES AND USES OF AGAR CHAPTER 1 - PRODUCTION, PROPERTIES AND USES OF AGAR by Rafael Armisen and Fernando Galatas Hispanagar, S.A., Poligono Industrial de Villalonquejar Calle López Bravo "A", 09080 Burgos, Spain INTRODUCTION According to the US Pharmacopeia, agar can be defined as a hydrophilic colloid extracted from certain seaweeds of the Rhodophyceae class. It is insoluble in cold water but soluble in boiling water. A 1.5% solution is clear and when it is cooled to 34-43°C it forms a firm gel which does not melt again below 85°C. It is a mixture of polysaccharides whose basic monomer is galactose. These polysaccharides can be sulphated in very variable degrees but to a lesser degree than in carrageenan. For this reason the ash content is below those of carrageenan, furcelleran (Danish agar) and others. A 5% maximum ash content is acceptable for agar although it is normally maintained between 2.5-4%. Agar is the phycocolloid of most ancient origin. In Japan, agar is considered to have been discovered by Minoya Tarozaemon in 1658 and a monument is Shimizu-mura commemorates the first time it was manufactured. Originally, and even in the present times, it was made and sold as an extract in solution (hot) or in gel form (cold), to be used promptly in areas near the factories; the product was then known as tokoroten. Its industrialization as a dry and stable product started at the beginning of the 18th century and it has since been called kanten. The word "agar-agar", however, has a Malayan origin and agar is the most commonly accepted term, although in French- and Portuguese-speaking countries it is also called gelosa. A Japanese legend is told about the first preparation of agar: "A Japanese Emperor and his Royal Party were lost in the mountains during a snow storm and arriving at a small inn, they were ceremoniously treated by the innkeeper who offered them a seaweed jelly dish with their dinner. Maybe the innkeeper prepared too much jelly or the taste was not so palatable but some jelly was thrown away, freezing during the night and crumbling afterwards by thawing and draining, leaving a cracked substance of low density. The innkeeper took the residue and, to his surprise, found that by boiling it up with more water the jelly could be remade". Agar production by modern techniques of industrial freezing was initiated in California by Matsuoka who registered his patents in 1921 and 1922 in the United States. The present manufacturing method by freezing is the classic one and derives from the American one that was developed in California during the years prior to World War II by H.H. Selby and C.K. Tseng (Selby, 1954; Selby and Wynne, 1973; Tseng, 1946). This work was supported by the American Government which wanted the country to be self sufficient in its strategic needs, especially in regard to bacteriological culture media. Apart from the above American production, practically the only producer of this phycocolloid until World War II was the Japanese industry which has a very traditional industrial structure based on numerous small factories (about 400 factories operated simultaneously). These factories were family operated, producing a non-standardized quality, and had a high employment rate as production was not mechanized. For this reason, and in spite of the later installation of some factories of a medium to small size, only in recent times has Japan operated modern industrial plants. During the second world war the shortage of available agar acted as an incentive for those countries with coastal resources of Gelidium sesquipedale, which is very similar to the Gelidium pacificum used by the Japanese industry. So in Portugal, Loureiro started the agar industry in Oporto while at the same time J. Mejias and F. Cabrero, in Spain, commenced the studies which led to the establishment of the important Iberian agar industry. Other European countries which did not have agarophyte seaweeds tried to prepare agar substitutes from other seaweed extracts (see Appendix). SOURCES OF AGAR Different s |
Patrick Duffy played which character in 'Dallas'? | Patrick Duffy - IMDb IMDb Actor | Director | Producer Youngest of 2 children, and only son born to Terrence and Marie Duffy. He is NOT related to Julia Duffy , of Newhart (1982) fame. Patrick was born in Montana, where his parents owned local taverns, and raised in Seattle since age 12. He wanted to become a professional athlete, and became a certified scuba diver while in his teens. However, his ... See full bio » Born: a list of 27 images created 05 Sep 2012 a list of 35 people created 07 Mar 2015 a list of 44 people created 15 Mar 2015 a list of 35 images created 31 Oct 2015 a list of 43 people created 27 Nov 2015 Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Patrick Duffy's work have you seen? User Polls 5 wins & 5 nominations. See more awards » Known For Step by Step Frank Lambert / Yo-Yo (1991-1998) 2015 The Fosters (TV Series) Robert Quinn Sr. - The End of the Beginning (2015) ... Robert Quinn Sr. 2012-2014 Dallas (TV Series) 2010 30 for 30 (TV Series documentary) Narrator 2010 Party Down (TV Series) Patrick Duffy 2010 Healing Hands (TV Movie) Uncle Norman 2009 Love Takes Wing (TV Movie) Mayor Evans 2006 Desolation Canyon (TV Movie) Sheriff Tomas 'Swede' Lundstrom 1999 Dead Man's Gun (TV Series) Lyman Gage 1998 Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) Wayde Garrett 1997 Heart of Fire (TV Movie) Max Tucker 1992 Goof Troop (TV Series) Harold Hatchback - Buddy Building (1992) ... Harold Hatchback (voice) 1991 Daddy (TV Movie) 1990 Murder C.O.D. (TV Movie) Steve Murtaugh 1990 ABC TGIF (TV Series) Frank 1988 Unholy Matrimony (TV Movie) John Dillman 1987 Our House (TV Series) Johnny Witherspoon 1986 Strong Medicine (TV Movie) Dr. Andrew Jordan 1981 The Love Boat (TV Series) Ralph Sutton - The Walking Bomb (1976) ... Sgt. Musial 1974 Hurricane (TV Movie) - Hindsight, Part 3 (2016) ... (as Patrick G. Duffy) 2014 Dallas (TV Series) (1 episode) 2016 The Eighties (TV Mini-Series documentary) Actor, 'Dallas' 2014 The Insider (TV Series) Himself 2004-2014 The View (TV Series) Himself 2014 The Talk (TV Series) Himself 1990-2014 Live! with Kelly (TV Series) Himself / Himself - Guest 2013 Pioneers of Television (TV Mini-Series documentary) Himself 2012 This Morning (TV Series) Himself 2012 Piers Morgan Tonight (TV Series) Himself 2006-2011 Loose Women (TV Series) Himself 2011 Inside TNT's Dallas (TV Short) Himself 2009 TV Land Moguls (TV Mini-Series documentary) Himself 2008 Bingo America (TV Series) Himself - Host 2007 TV Land Confidential (TV Series documentary) Himself - Interviewee 2007 Bring Back... Dallas (TV Movie documentary) Himself 2006 A Hero's Welcome (TV Special) Host 2005 All-Star Cup 2005 (TV Series) Himself 2004 Good Day Live (TV Series) Himself 2004 Biography (TV Series documentary) Himself 2003 CBS at 75 (TV Special documentary) Himself 2002 After They Were Famous (TV Series documentary) Himself 2002 TVography: Suzanne Somers - Mastering Success (TV Movie documentary) Himself 2002 Top Ten (TV Series documentary) Himself 2000-2002 E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series documentary) Himself 1998-2002 Intimate Portrait (TV Series documentary) Himself 2000 So Graham Norton (TV Series) Himself 2000 Dale's All Stars (TV Series) Himself 1998 Late Lunch (TV Series) Himself 1996 Talk Soup (TV Series) Himself 1995 The Ultimate TV Trivia Challenge (TV Movie documentary) Himself 1991 Showbiz Today (TV Series) Himself 1988 Your Alcohol I.Q. (Video documentary short) Himself 1986-1987 Hour Magazine (TV Series) Himself 1987 The Morning Program (TV Series) Himself 1983 exclusiv (TV Series documentary) Himself 1983 Formule 1 (TV Series) Himself 1982 Estudio abierto (TV Series) Himself - Guest 1977-1979 The Hollywood Squares (TV Series) Himself 2016 Geschichten aus der Salzburger Altstadt (TV Movie documentary) Himself (uncredited) 2012 The Wright Stuff (TV Series) Himself - Actor - Episode #17.174 (2012) ... Himself - Actor 2011 Breakfast (TV Series) TV commercial: Miracle-Ear Digital Hearing Aids See more » Publicity Listings: 3 Interviews | 2 Articles | 4 Magazine Co |
King Zog was the last ruler of which European country? | King Zog I of Albania | History Today King Zog I of Albania The Balkans Political Richard Cavendish charts the events leading up to King Zog I's coronation on September 1st, 1928. Zog I was probably the strangest monarch of the 20th century. The Times called him ‘the bizarre King Zog’ and his biographer, Jason Tomes, quotes descriptions of him ranging from ‘a despotic brigand’ to ‘the last ruler of romance’. He created his throne for himself and as Europe’s only Muslim king ruled Europe’s most obscure country. He had started life as Ahmed Bey Zogolli or Ahmed Zogu in 1895, the son of an Albanian chief, when the country was still part of the Ottoman empire. Order broke down during the First World War as other Balkan countries tried to seize areas of Albania. From 1920 there was a succession of short-lived governments, in which Zogu held various posts until he was driven into exile in 1924. He returned at the end of the year, crossing the northern border into Albania with Yugoslav backing and an army of mercenaries recruited with money supplied by international oil companies and rich Albanian familes. Another mercenary army, led by Zogu’s lieutenants, invaded from the south. Zogu swiftly established himself as Albania’s dictator with the title of president. He had his principal opponents murdered and ruled by force – there was no other effective way of ruling Albania – but Zogu realized that he could only survive with support from abroad and decided to rely on the Italians. A military alliance was signed in 1927 and Italy soon dominated Albania. In 1928, with Italian approval, Zogu, who genuinely wanted to modernise his Ruritanian country, decided to make his dictatorship permanent. A new Constituent Assembly, elected under strict government control, proclaimed Albania a monarchy under Zog I, King of the Albanians. The king made his way to the ceremony in Tirana in an open car with an escort of cavalry past lines of soldiers, but the streets were kept clear of spectators for fear of assassination. However, every house displayed the Albanian flag, with a black eagle rampant on a scarlet ground. The flags had been mass-imported from Italy on the cheap. In the Parliament House the monarch stood on a dais to deafening applause and swore an oath on both the Koran and the Bible to maintain the country’s national unity, territorial integrity and independence. Loud cries of ‘Long live the king!’ accompanied him to his royal palace and six days of public holiday followed, with bonfires, firing of rockets and much slaughtering of sheep. Handsome, courteous, reserved and ruthless, Zog was a chain-smoker who enjoyed western classical music and films starring Charlie Chaplin and Shirley Temple. Mussolini ousted him in 1939 and declared Albania an Italian protectorate. Zog went into exile, for part of the time comfortably installed in London’s Ritz Hotel, and died in France in 1961 at the age of 65. |
The 'Society of Friends' are better know as what? | Society of Friends - RationalWiki Society of Friends Christ died so that we may write articles about v - t - e The Religious Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers, is nominally a Christian group, though not all Quakers see themselves as Christians. There are roughly a quarter of a million Quakers worldwide. [1] The Society of Friends was founded in England in 1648 as a breakaway from Puritanism . Pacifism is one of their major tenets and they have consistently opposed war. Their prayer meetings involve sitting quietly. Quakers believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God . They were some of the first to value women as important ministers and to campaign for women's rights; they became leaders in the anti- slavery movement, and were among the first to pioneer for humane treatment of prisoners and individuals with mental disorders. Contents [ edit ] Quietism The essence of Quaker spirituality, as seen in the history of the movement, is a form of Christian mysticism known as quietism, understood as 'the direct experience of God culminating in divine union.' The Quaker innovation is to undergo this "direct experience of God" in a group setting, which answers the Roman Catholic objections to quietism as undermining Church discipline and unity. Quietism was a target of the Roman Inquisition well into the 1700's. [ edit ] Persecution The Society was banned from Massachusetts for many years - Mary Dyer was hanged for going back there to preach her beliefs. This banishment eventually led to the founding of Pennsylvania as a safe home for them. Quakers were not allowed to sit in the British parliament from 1698 to 1833. Many Quakers have been imprisoned for being conscientious objectors in wartime. A famous trial involved the prosecution of William Penn in England in 1670 for preaching a Quaker sermon, which was illegal at the time. The jury found him not guilty; the judge then imprisoned the jury and informed them they would remain in jail until they changed their verdict. The jury refused to change their verdict, and fighting their own case from jail, won their freedom using a writ of habeas corpus (a legal procedure seeking injunction against unlawful imprisonment first recorded in England in 1305). This case is often considered a precedent setting case affirming the use of habeas corpus as well as establishing that jurors cannot be prosecuted for their decisions in cases where jury nullification occurs or is perceived to have occurred. William Penn would later go on to be granted a charter for a new colony, Pennsylvania, and to found the city of Philadelphia . [ edit ] The Klan In the 1920s, many southern Indiana Quakers joined the Ku Klux Klan , e.g. Quaker minister Daisy Douglas Barr[ wp ]. [2] [3] [ edit ] Honours The Society was collectively awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947. The Quaker and prison reformer Elizabeth Fry was until recently (2016) pictured on the Bank of England five pound note. Captain Ahab, ambulatory-challenged sportsman. Edward R. Murrow, chain-smoking anchorman who fought McCarthyism. Herbert Hoover , 31st President of the United States (1929-33). Thanks to his belief in progressivism he made sure to give huge income tax increases for everyone (for the poor-from 1.5% to 4%, for millionaires-38% to 63%), taking a corporatist approach to the Great Depression by telling employers to Keep Wages High. He also signed... Anyone? Anyone? -- the Republican -backed Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which only helped sink the economy even faster. Well, he was an engineer, not an economist. Also refused to engage in Gunboat Diplomacy . A. Mitchell Palmer[ wp ], Attorney General who hired J. Edgar Hoover . His famous Palmer Raids[ wp ] earned him the moniker, "the Fighting Quaker". Richard Milhous Nixon , one and a half-term President of the United States (1969-74), eminent proponent of carpet bombing, was a member of The "Friends Church" (or in specific East Whittier Friends Church), not the Religious Society of Friends - a spinoff sect of Quakers that parted ways in the early |
The Mountain Ash is also known as the What tree? | Mountain Ash Tree, Pictures of Sorbus aucuparia Mountain Ash Tree Species, Berry Images Mountain Ash, Photos of Ash Tree Bark & Wood Mountain Ash, Facts on Mountain Ash Trees Looking for Ash tree pictures and facts, please follow to the Ash Tree category. Mountain Ash, American: Sorbus americana This small native tree's dark green leaves turn orange and purple in the fall. Showy white spring flowers are followed in mid summer with flame-red berry fruit loved by many birds. Likes acidic soil with good drainage, full sun to light shade. American Mountain Ash grows to 10 to 30 feet tall. Type of tree: The American Mountainash falls into the following type(s): Flowering Trees, Ornamental Trees Mature Height: The American Mountainash grows to be 10' - 30' feet in height. Mature Spread: The American Mountainash has a spread of about 15' at full maturity. Spread Variations: This tree grows at a slow growth rate. Sun: This mountainash does well in full sun, partial shade. Soil: The American Mountainash grows in acidic, loamy, sandy, well drained, wet, clay soils. Moisture: This tree has flame-red fruit Additional Information: American Mountain Ash Attributes: Spectacular fall foliage. The fruit provides winter food for birds. Description: This small native tree's dark green leaves turn orange and purple in the fall. Showy white spring flowers, followed by flame-red fruit loved by birds. Likes acidic soil with good drainage, full sun to light shade. Grows to 10' to 30'. Wildlife Value: The American Mountain Ash is an important source of food for many small birds and mammals including catbirds, thrushes, and waxwings. Fruits persist through winter. History/Lore/Use: First cultivated in 1811. The Mountain Ash is a northern tree that is a true plastic taxon inasmuch as it will interbreed with other families of trees and plants including the great rose family. The fruit has been known to intoxicate birds. Also known as the Rowantree because it resembles the European Rowantree. The bark was used as a anti-malarial medicine by pioneer doctors because of its close resemblance to the Quininetree. It was also believed to be powerful in exorcising witches by the early settlers and was known as Witchwood. Thank you for visiting Mountain Ash Tree Pictures, please come back soon for more great tree pictures! Type of Tree Pictures |
What is a rhinoceros horn made from ? | Rhinoceros | Rhino Horn Use: Fact vs. Fiction | Nature | PBS Rhino Horn Use: Fact vs. Fiction August 20, 2010 Explore more from this episode More All five of the world’s diverse species of rhinoceros have been brought to the edge of extinction because of human appetite for their distinctive horns. The horns have been prized for tens of centuries for their beautiful translucent color when carved, and their supposed healing properties. In the Middle Eastern country of Yemen, the horn continues to be coveted by Muslim men, although imports were banned in 1982. The material, whose luster increases with age, is used for the handles of curved daggers called “jambiya,” which are presented to Yemeni boys at age 12. Jambiya are considered a sign of manhood and devotion to the Muslim religion, and are used for personal defense. Yemeni men place great value on the dagger handles, which are commonly studded with jewels. In China, the ornamental use of rhino horn dates back to at least the 7th century AD. Over the centuries, rhino horns have been carved into ceremonial cups, as well as buttons, belt buckles, hair pins, and paperweights. Far more pervasive, however, is their use in the traditional medicine systems of many Asian countries, from Malaysia and South Korea to India and China, to cure a variety of ailments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the horn, which is shaved or ground into a powder and dissolved in boiling water, is used to treat fever, rheumatism, gout, and other disorders. According to the 16th century Chinese pharmacist Li Shi Chen, the horn could also cure snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, carbuncles, vomiting, food poisoning, and “devil possession.” (However, it is not, as commonly believed, prescribed as an aphrodisiac). In Yemen, the rhino horn is used for the handles of curved daggers called jambiya Historical mentions of other uses for the horns date back thousands of years. In Greek mythology, they were said to possess the ability to purify water. The ancient Persians of the 5th century BC thought that vessels carved from the horn could be used to detect poisoned liquids, causing bubbles in the presence of some poisons — a belief that persisted into the 18th and 19th centuries among the royal courts of Europe. Now, science is now stepping in to dispel some of the mystery and fiction surrounding the use of rhino horn. It is believed that there may be some truth behind the rhino horn’s ability to detect poisons which is linked to the composition of the horn. Rhino horns are composed largely of the protein keratin, also the chief component in hair, fingernails, and animal hooves. Many poisons are strongly alkaline (or basic), and may have reacted chemically with the keratin. Unlike the horns of most animals, which have a bony core covered by a relatively thin layer of keratin, rhino horns are keratin all the way through — although the precise chemical composition of the keratin will vary depending on a rhino’s diet and geographic location. This fact has allowed ecologist Raj Amin of the Zoological Society of London and his colleagues to take “fingerprints” of horn samples and determine the animal populations they came from, which has helped law enforcement officials target and crack down on poaching. Rhino horns are not, as once believed, made simply from a clump of compressed or modified hair. Recent studies by researchers at Ohio University using computerized tomography (CT) scans, have shown that the horns are, in fact, similar in structure to horses’ hooves, turtle beaks, and cockatoo bills. The studies also revealed that the centers of the horns have dense mineral deposits of calcium and melanin — a finding that may explain the curve and sharp tip of the horns. The calcium would strengthen the horn while the melanin would protect the core from being degraded by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. As the softer outer portion was worn away over time by the sun and typical rhino activities (bashing horns with other animals, or rubbing it on the ground), the inner core would be sharpened into a |
Diplopia is the medical term for what condition? | Diplopia | definition of diplopia by Medical dictionary Diplopia | definition of diplopia by Medical dictionary http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/diplopia [dĭ-plo´pe-ah] the perception of two images of a single object; called also double vision . binocular diplopia double vision in which the images of an object are formed on noncorresponding points of the retinas. crossed diplopia horizontal diplopia in which the image belonging to the right eye is displaced to the left of the image belonging to the left eye (divergent strabismus). direct diplopia horizontal diplopia in which the image belonging to the right eye appears to the right of the image belonging to the left eye (convergent strabismus). horizontal diplopia diplopia in which the two images lie in the same horizontal plane, being either direct or crossed. vertical diplopia diplopia in which one image appears above the other in the same vertical plane. di·plo·pi·a diplopia /di·plo·pia/ (dĭ-plo´pe-ah) the perception of two images of a single object. binocular diplopia double vision in which the images of an object are formed on noncorresponding points of the retinas. crossed diplopia diplopia in which the image belonging to the right eye is displaced to the left of the image belonging to the left eye. direct diplopia that in which the image belonging to the right eye appears to the right of the image belonging to the left eye. homonymous diplopia direct d. horizontal diplopia that in which the images lie in the same horizontal plane, being either direct or crossed. monocular diplopia perception by one eye of two images of a single object. paradoxical diplopia crossed d. torsional diplopia that in which the upper pole of the vertical axis of one image is inclined toward or away from that of the other. vertical diplopia that in which one image appears above the other in the same vertical plane. diplopia di·plo′pic (-plō′pĭk, dĭ-plŏp′ĭk) adj. diplopia [diplō′pē·ə] Etymology: Gk, diploos + opsis, vision double vision caused by defective function of the extraocular muscles or a disorder of the nerves that innervate the muscles. It occurs when the object of fixation falls on the fovea in one eye and a nonfoveal point in the other eye or when the object of fixation falls on two noncorresponding points. Also called ambiopia . Compare binocular vision . diplopia Double vision Ophthalmology A condition whereby a single object appears as 2 di·plo·pi·a [G. diplous, double + G. ōps, eye] diplopia Double vision. The perception of two images of a single object. This occurs in squint (strabismus) when both eyes are not aligned on the object of interest. Diplopia with one eye is rare but possible. Diplopia Mentioned in: Nasal Trauma diplopia The condition in which a single object is seen as two rather than one. This is usually due to images not stimulating corresponding retinal areas. Other causes are given below. Syn. double vision (colloquial). See differential prismatic effect; haplopia ; myasthenia gravis ; retinal corresponding points ; polyopia ; multiple sclerosis ; strabismus ; diplopia test; triplopia . binocular diplopia Diplopia in which one image is seen by one eye and the other image is seen by the other eye. crossed diplopia See heteronymous diplopia . heteronymous diplopia Binocular diplopia in which the image received by the right eye appears to the left and that received by the left eye appears to the right. In this condition the images are formed on the temporal retina. Syn. crossed diplopia. homonymous diplopia Binocular diplopia in which the image received by the right eye appears to the right and that received by the left eye appears to the left. In this condition, the images are formed on the nasal retina. Syn. uncrossed diplopia. incongruous diplopia Diplopia present in individuals with abnormal retinal correspondence in which the relative positions of the two images differ from what would be expected on the basis of normal retinal correspondence. Example: an exotrope experiencing homonymous diplopia instead of heteronymous diplopia. S |
The 2002 Winter Olympics were held in which city? | 2002 Winter Olympics | Utah.com 2002 Winter Olympics The 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City were an astounding success. Now, Utah residents and visitors alike can enjoy Olympic legacy facilities — Utah Olympic Park, Soldier Hollow and Utah Olympic Oval — which offer an array of activities for people of all ages, abilities and aspirations. Whether you are a recreational enthusiast, developing athlete, spectator or tourist, we encourage you to "Get Up & Go!" for a unique Olympic experience. Read more... Discover Snowbasin Additional Information Each venue has been transformed into a community facility, open year-round to the public for post-Games usage. There are introductory Olympic winter sports programs, public skating on "The Fastest Ice On Earth," tours of the Olympic facilities, tubing, cross-country skiing, public bobsled rides, ski jumping and freestyle aerial shows, 2002 Games exhibit and the Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center/Alf Engen Ski Museum. Get Up & Go! Games Overview The XIX Olympic Games took place February 8th through February 24, 2002; afterwards, the VIII Paralympics Winter Games began March 7th, and concluded on March 16, 2002. Salt Lake Olympic Committee's volunteer program had three phases with approximately 8,000 volunteers for pre-Game activities, 18,000 core volunteers for the Olympic Winter Games, and 6,000 volunteers for the Paralympic Winter Games. SLOC accredited approximately 70,000 individuals for the Salt Lake Games. An estimated 2,345 athletes and 1,200 officials came from 80 National Olympic Committees (NOC's). More than 1,100 athletes and officials from 40 regions competed in the Paralympic Olympic Games. Share |
Who did Paul McCartney marry in 1969. First name and surname? | BBC ON THIS DAY | 12 | 1969: Paul McCartney weds Linda Eastman 1969: Paul McCartney weds Linda Eastman Paul McCartney has married Linda Eastman in a civil ceremony in London. Hundreds of people gathered outside the Marylebone Register Office to catch a glimpse of the couple as they arrived with Miss Eastman's six-year-old daughter, Heather, from a previous marriage. A dozen policemen were on hand to fend off enthusiastic teenagers, many of whom were distraught that the last remaining bachelor Beatle was tying the knot. The couple entered the building via a side-door to the disappointment of many of the crowds. Miss Eastman, 27, was wearing a daffodil yellow coat over a fawn dress, while 26-year-old Mr McCartney was sporting a matching yellow tie. Best man arrives late The ceremony was delayed because the best man, Mr McCartney's brother Mike McGear of the Scaffold pop group, arrived late. He had been travelling from Birmingham where he had been performing the night before when his train became delayed. After the ceremony the newly-weds were ushered through the crowds into a waiting car and driven away to their local parish church where the marriage was blessed. The couple met two years ago when Miss Eastman, a professional photographer, was taking photographs of the Beatles in America. Linda Eastman was born in 1941 in New York and was educated at the prestigious Scarsdale High School. After leaving school, she trained as a photographer and throughout the 1960s has photographed many famous names, including Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, the Who, Bob Dylan and Otis Redding. Paul McCartney was born in 1942 in Liverpool and had written his first song, I Lost My Little Girl, by the age of 14. The Beatles were formed in 1960 and by 1963 Beatlemania had gripped the country. The couple plan to spend their honeymoon visiting relatives in America. |
Yellowstone National Park is located in which US state? | Where is Yellowstone National Park? Home | Where is Yellowstone National Park? Where is Yellowstone National Park? Yellowstone is in the Northwest Region of the United States Yellowstone National Park covers 3,472 square miles. Even though the official address is to the state of Wyoming, Yellowstone is actually in three states. The majority of the Park (96%) is in Wyoming. A small section of the Park (3%) to the north and northwest is in Montana. And a small section of the Park (1%) to the west is in Idaho. Getting Around Gateway Towns to Yellowstone National Park Towns nearest Yellowstone’s five entrances include West Yellowstone, Montana ; Jackson Hole, Wyoming ; Cody, Wyoming ; Cooke City, Montana ; Gardiner, Montana ; Livingston, Montana ; and Island Park, Idaho . Each town has its own character and history. These nearby towns offer convenient lodging, camping, activities, and attractions. Yellowstone Seasonal Access All five entrances , facilities, and roads (barring road construction) are open during the summer vacation season. Parts of the national park are closed to wheeled vehicles during the winter (November through early May). Many facilities also have seasonal opening and closing dates . Several times a year, all national parks have free days . Otherwise, entry fees apply. Please check Yellowstone’s regulations before entering the park. Yellowstone is enormous, which is why it’s a good idea to figure out what you want to see and know which entrance is closest to those sights. Choose your park portal by reading Which Entrance to Yellowstone National Park Should I Take? Getting Around Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone’s main roads are the five entrance roads and the Grand Loop road. On the Loop, you’ll find many visitor centers, museums, boardwalks, and scenic side roads. All major roads are accessible by RVs and other large vehicles, but most side roads are not. Yellowstone has no shuttle bus service. To travel around Yellowstone, you’ll need a car, motorcycle, bike, or tour transportation . Yellowstone has eight main visitor areas with visitor centers , lodging, and museums. These include: Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower-Roosevelt, Canyon Village, Fishing Bridge, West Thumb, Grant Village, Old Faithful, and Madison. |
If you were a 'Fletcher' in medieval times what would you make? | Medieval Bowyer and Fletcher Medieval Bowyer and Fletcher This Blog is my exploration of the skills of a bowyer, and collecting / making the items needed to be a medieval Bowyer. I will eventualy used my skills in medieval re enactments. Archery is something I enjoy, and I have been making my own arrows for a couple of years. Friday, 22 February 2013 Shave Horse This is the shave horse I have just finished, I was restricted to scrap wood lying around the garage and garden. I chose three legs as it is supposed to be a bit more stable than four on uneven ground. I've given the legs added security by roping them together. Though the legs are secure I'm still not happy with the way they look and may end up changing them I tried to model it on a picture of a medieval Shave horse which is quite common on the net. It is titled Vom Bergkwerk of Georgius Agricola (1557). If you look carefully you can see a spare draw knife on the floor. I made this cut out section to make it easier to push the foot pedal without curving the leg around the bench Another thing that I wanted was for the bench to double up as a bench in the evenings for sitting around the camp fire, also for ease of transport it needed to come apart. Hence the foot pedal arm and shaving ramp all were made detachable. Posted by New Tiller Stick Having been using a tiller stick made by my six year old I thought it was time to make my own. With no modern materials. I used two pieces of wood held together with two dowels (broken arrows) and then sanded the corners off to make it look a bit more natural. I cut out notches every inch and then carved in the inch numbers I'm hopeing this finished article will pass for medieval will pass for the re enactment shows. Posted by The short Longbow - fire slinger With there being a medieval law, which is still in place today, although mostly forgotten, that states every parent or gardian of a boy aged 7 or above must provide them with a bow and two arrows for practice, and that Archie is now seven years old, it was time for me to have another go at making him a wooden bow instead of to the fiber glass one I bought him out of guilt for breaking the other one we were making (in my last post). I recieved a new beech handled spoke shave (starting bids on ebay can be as little as 99p). I had lying around a piece of wood from the front of a very old kitchen unit. Which I beleave is hickory rift saw (diagonal running grain), very good for beginners. I cut off a peace 60 inches long leaving an other length of 59 inches which I think I'll use for a flat bow. Having marked it out to the measurements for a long bow which the the depth should be 5/8 the dimensions of the width and using the spoke shave to trim it down to the marking. Once the shape had been roughed out I smoothed it out and the bow was floor tillered (begining to bend when pressed in the centre against the ground. and rounded it off at the back with a file. I then started the tillering, using the tillering stick my son had made for me (again in the last post). This all went well this time! I took my time which meant exercising the limb 30 times each inch, training it to bend firstly on the long string. all seemed to go well without the need for extra tillering as the limbs were bending evenly. I moved to a shorter string and carried on again it seemed to be going too well. Having took it to full brace again (a shorter string using a cord from an old blind at this stage) until I get time to visit The Longbow Shop in Birkenhead a very friendly shop which I recommend anyone to visit, if it's too far away they have an on line shop www.thelongbowshop.com I tillered it to 23 inches at about 14lbs ideal for the majority of Archie's arrows. As it had been going so well and it hadn't needed any extra wood taken off for an even bend I decided to take it further. I took it on to 27 inches at about 20lb again it didn't need anymore wood taking off for an even bend. I felt like a bit of a cheat not having to anything more than the initial shave. I have made Archie two arrows |
Can you name the capitol city of Venezuela? | Venezuela Facts on Largest Cities, Populations, Symbols - Worldatlas.com Ethnicity: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people GDP total: $402.1 billion (2012) GDP per capita: $13,200 (2012) Language: Spanish (official), indeginous dialects Largest Cities: (by population) Maracaibo, Caracas, Valencia, Barquisimeto, Ciudad Guyana, Petara, Maracay, Ciudad Bolivar Name: Upon seeing Venezuela, Christopher Columbus remarked that is must be paradise. He nicknamed the region Land of Grace. On a later expedition, Amerigo Vespucci said that the land reminded him of his home city Venice, Italy. He named the region "Venezuela" meaning "little Venice" in Italian. Some scholars believe that the original name may have come from an indigenous people who called themselves the "Veneciuela". National Day: July 5 Religion: Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2% |
When 'World War 1' broke out who was Britain's prime Minister? | The British Declaration of War - History Learning Site The British Declaration of War Citation: C N Trueman "The British Declaration of War" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 31 Mar 2015. 16 Aug 2016. On August 4th 1914, Great Britain declared war on Germany. It was a decision that is seen as the start of World War One. Britain, led by Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, had given Germany an ultimatum to get out of Belgium by midnight of August 3rd. In fear of being surrounded by the might of Russia and France, Germany had put into being the Schlieffen Plan in response to the events that had occurred in Sarajevo in June 1914. By doing this, the German military hierarchy had doomed Belgium to an invasion. Belgium’s neutrality had been guaranteed by Great Britain as far back as 1839. Asquith had a very simple decision to make – but one that would have a cataclysmic impact on British society. He could either turn a blind eye to a war in mainland Europe that might have little impact on Britain if she stood as a neutral. Or the British public could see Asquith as the man who stood up to the perceived bullying of Germany and who stood for righteousness and decency. A future Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, described the scene in London in the hours that led to the declaration of war. “It was eleven o’clock at night – twelve by German time – when the ultimatum expired. The windows of the Admiralty were thrown wide open in the warm night air. Under the roof from which Nelson had received his orders were gathered a small group of admirals and captains and a cluster of clerks, pencils in hand, waiting. Along the Mall from the direction of the Palace the sound of an immense concourse singing ‘God save the King’ flouted in. On this deep wave there broke the chimes of Big Ben; and, as the first stroke of the hour boomed out, a rustle of movement swept across the room. The war telegram, which meant, “Commence hostilities against Germany”, was flashed to the ships and establishments under the White Ensign all over the world. I walked across the Horse Guards Parade to the Cabinet room and reported to the Prime Minister and the Ministers who were assembled there that the deed was done.” While Churchill seemed to indicate that there was a general expectation for war in Britain, records show that this may not have been reciprocated in Germany. Kaiser Wilhelm II said as it became clear that Germany planned to invade France: “With heavy heart I have been compelled to mobilise my army against a neighbour at whose side it has fought on many a battlefield. With genuine sorrow do I witness the end of a friendship, which Germany loyally cherished. We draw the sword with a clean conscience and clean hands.” His views seemed to be supported by the Chancellor Bethmann Hollweg when he addressed the Reichstag on the day war was declared: “Gentlemen, we are now in a state of necessity, and necessity knows no law! Our troops have occupied Luxemburg and perhaps are already on Belgium soil. Gentlemen, this is contrary to the dictates of international law. The wrong – I speak openly – that we are committing we will endeavour to make good as soon as our military goal has been reached. Anybody who is threatened, as we are threatened, and is fighting for his highest possessions can have only one thought – how he is to hack his way through.” However, the concerns about international law as expressed by the Chancellor, were not shared by the German public. They seemed, as with their counterparts in London and Paris, to be actively enthusiastic about war. It is said that Bethmann Hollweg referred the treaty between Britain and Belgium as a “scrap of paper”. However, some question whether this was a literal translation as no one knows whether he referred to the Anglo-Belgium Treaty in German or in English and whether what he actually said was lost in translation. On the surface what Bethmann Hollweg said seemed to be at odds with his declaration to the Reichstag that Germany was breaking international law. In Britain, when Asquith |
"The song ""I Could Have Danced All Night"" featured in which musical?" | I Could Have Danced All Night,… | Recording Details and Tracks | AllMusic I Could Have Danced All Night, song (from "My Fair Lady") Share this page |
Where would you find Michelangelo's (fresco) painting, ' The Creation of Adam'? | Michelangelo's Creation of Adam - ItalianRenaissance.org Search Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam Michelangelo, Creation of Adam, from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Rome, 1508-1512, fresco The most famous section of the Sistine Chapel ceiling is Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam. This scene is located next to the Creation of Eve, which is the panel at the center of the room, and the Congregation of the Waters, which is closer to the altar. The Creation of Adam differs from typical Creation scenes painted up until that time. Here, two figures dominate the scene: God on the right, and Adam on the left. God is shown inside a floating nebulous form made up of drapery and other figures. The form is supported on angels who fly without wings, but whose flight is made clear by the drapery which whips out from underneath them. God is depicted as an elderly, yet muscular, man with grey hair and a long beard which react to the forward movement of flight. This is a far cry from imperial images of God that had otherwise been created in the West dating back to the time of late antiquity. Rather than wearing royal garments and depicted as an all-powerful ruler, he wears only a light tunic which leaves much of his arms and legs exposed. One might say this is a much more intimate portrait of God because he is shown in a state that is not untouchable and remote from Man, but one which is accessible to him. Unlike the figure of God, who is outstretched and aloft, Adam is depicted as a lounging figure who rather lackadaisically responds to God’s imminent touch. This touch will not only give life to Adam, but will give life to all mankind. It is, therefore, the birth of the human race. Adam’s body forms a concave shape which echoes the form of God’s body, which is in a convex posture inside the nebulous, floating form. This correspondence of one form to the other seems to underscore the larger idea of Man corresponding to God; that is, it seems to reflect the idea that Man has been created in the image and likeness of God – an idea with which Michelangelo had to have been familiar. One of the questions that has been raised about this scene is the identity of the figures next to God. Given her privileged placement under the arm of God, the female figure is presumably an important one. Traditionally, she has been thought to be Eve, the future wife of Adam, who waits to the side until she is created out of Adam’s rib. More recently, however, a theory has been floated that this is actually the Virgin Mary, who takes this place of honor next to God and the child next to her, who would therefore be the Christ Child. This view is supported by the placement of God’s fingers on the child – the same fingers that the priest would use to raise the Eucharist during the Mass. Since Catholic theology holds that the Eucharist is the Body of Christ, this theological understanding would be embodied in this painting. If this latter interpretation is correct, the Creation of Adam would be intrinsically linked to the future coming of Christ, who comes to reconcile man after the sin of Adam. In all, the painting shows several hallmarks of Michelangelo’s painting style: the lounging position of both Adam and God, the use of bodies which are both muscular and twisting, and the painting of figures who come across as works of sculpture. It is good to remember that Michelangelo was, after all, a sculptor. Painting was not his primary area. The Creation of Adam is one of the great jewels of Western art, though it and the rest of the Sistine Chapel ceiling suffered the ill effects of centuries of smoke that had caused the ceiling to darken considerably. It was not until 1977 that the cleaning of the ceiling was begun. The result of the cleaning was astonishing after its completion in 1989; what was once dark and drab became vivid. The change from pre-cleaning to post-cleaning was so great that some initially refused to believe that this is the way Michelangelo actually painted. Today, we have a much better understanding of Michelan |
Which iconic car was designed by Alec Issigonsis? | The first ‘modern’ small car - designed by Alec Issigonis in 1959 and greeted with amazement by the public. Much smaller wheels than those previously seen and an overall utility look with sliding windows and a sash- pull for opening the doors did not deter the buyers who saw the mini as an accessible small car. Issigonis had already been instrumental in creating another long lasting design icon in the form of the Morris Minor – this design also became a cult and survived in production until 1971. It had been conceived in the late 1940s. This was the first British car design to sell one million units . By the end of production nearly 5.5 million minis had been sold making the design the most popular British model. Besides being a popular car with family and other motorists the design had also won the Monte Carlo rally three times. ( Mini- Cooper) In an international poll to find the most influential car designs ever – the mini was second to the legendary Model- T Ford. At the end of its production run in 2000 a newer variant appeared – the New Mini and so the innovative design lives on in a redeveloped form. Long gone now though are the cord- pull door handles, the bare interior parcel shelf and the sliding windows – all features of the original design and which very soon disappeared as the car gained a significant market share of the 1960s. That austerity look that kept the price of the car so much lower than other models and which brought motoring to a wide market are no longer features that draw customers in the car market. In 1967 Issigonis expanded the idea of the mini into a slightly larger design – the ‘Mini Metro’. This design finished its production run in 1998. With the engine mounted transversely a reduction in length was achieved which in a car designed for city travel – parking being a priority – was essential. Parking being rated a priority in the less populated roads of 1960 now seems vaguely amusing ! The car sold for around £350 at the time of its Design: Alec Issigonis – Manufacturer: British Motor Corp. © British Motor Industry Heritage Trust With such a popular car it is hardly surprising that some fans take their admiration to the extreme. A tattoo that depicts an early mini clearly shows an original fan. So now estimate the age of the woman whose picture is featured here ! It might perhaps be difficult for her to against the idea that it wasn’t the latest model that was used as a reference at the time ! The car certainly was revolutionary and discussion was common as to whether the wheels could withstand rotation speeds required –since they were so much smaller than those on more conventional cars of the period. |
Who gave up the title 'Viscount Stansgate'? | Tony Benn's son inherits title his father gave up | Politics | The Guardian The Observer Tony Benn's son inherits title his father gave up Tony Benn helped bring about Peerage Act 1963 which allowed him to renounce title and keep Commons seat Stephen Benn becomes the 3rd Viscount of Stansgate. Photograph: Imagewise/. Saturday 15 March 2014 20.06 EDT First published on Saturday 15 March 2014 20.06 EDT Close This article is 2 years old Tony Benn's eldest son, Stephen, has inherited the title that his father renounced in 1963 and become the 3rd Viscount Stansgate. The new peer will not be eligible to sit in the Lords because of reforms made by the Labour government in 1999. The succession brings the story of the peerage almost full circle . Benn's father, a Labour minister, was created Viscount Stansgate of Stansgate in the County of Essex in 1942 and sat in the Lords as an hereditary peer. On his father's death, Anthony Wedgwood Benn, later known as Tony Benn, became the second Viscount Stansgate, disqualifying him from staying in the Commons. He was still eligible to stand in the resulting Bristol South East byelection, which he won, but insisted on his right to abandon the peerage and kept his Commons seat in a byelection on 4 May 1961 prompted by his succession. However, an election court gave the seat to the Tory runner-up, Malcolm St Clair. But eventually the Conservative government accepted the need for a change in the law. The Peerage Act 1963, allowing renunciation of peerages, became law on 31 July 1963 and just 22 minutes later he became the first peer to renounce his title. However, under the law the title continues to pass through the generations. Labour has four hereditary peers in the Lords and it would require one of those to die and for the new viscount to then seek to win a byelection, competing against other hereditary peers. Under Labour's House of Lords Act the number of hereditary peers in the chamber is restricted to 92. Stephen Benn, the new viscount of Stansgate, is director of parliamentary affairs for the Society of Biology. He spent the last two decades in a similar role for the Royal Society of Chemistry. Stephen Benn's younger brother Hilary is the shadow secretary of state for communities and local government. The two other siblings are Melissa, a journalist, and Joshua, a student of information management. |
'The Maldives' islands are situated in which ocean? | Maldives Map / Geography of Maldives / Map of Maldives - Worldatlas.com Print this map The Maldives, a group of about 1,200 islands, separated into a series of coral atolls, is just north of the Equator in the Indian Ocean . Only 200 of the islands are inhabited. It has a population of 393,988 and celebrates their National Day on July 26th. Many of these tropical atolls and islands are simply gorgeous, with swaying palms, white sandy beaches and deep-blue lagoons; none of the islands rise higher than 7.8 ft. above sea level. These low-lying specs of coral are subject to erosion, and stand at the mercy of any sea level rise. Some were severely damaged during the December 2004 Tsunami . The culture of the Maldives as we know it today, developed and flourished sometime around the 3rd century BC, as a 1,400 year-long Buddhist period cemented a foundational importance in the island's history. Due to its strategic location, the Maldives aroused the interest of Middle Easterners , and by the 10th century AD trade routes were established and Islam was introduced to the region. Despite being ruled by an independent Islamic sultanate for centuries, the Maldives were taken over by the Dutch in the mid-17th century, and later, were driven out by British forces some years later. As a British protectorate, the Maldives were given military protection, and non-interference in local administration. At the emergence of a proposed constitutional monarchy, conflicts erupted, and the people of the Maldives pushed for independence. The Maldives successfully gained their freedom from the United Kingdom in 1965, and three years later, declared itself an independent republic. In 1978, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was elected president, and a period of political stability flourished along with an increase in tourism and increased foreign contact. In spite of the booming economy, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's presidency was seen as controversial, and a series of coup attempts throughout the 1980s were attempted. Additional riots in the capital city of Malè during August 2004 garnered worldwide attention, and prompted the president and his government to pledge much needed democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Prev Page 1/2 Next Page See Also |
In which US State does 'London Bridge' now stand? | History and pictures of London Bridges on the River Thames. London Bridges by Katie Calvert If one counts footbridges (and certainly, one should), more than 100 bridges span the River Thames from beginning to end. Tower Bridge, Millennium Bridge and London Bridge, are widely recognized around the world. London's bridges enable trains, cars, and pedestrians to cross quickly over the River Thames rush hour permitting. While some are celebrated in nursery rhymes or captured as backdrops in travelers' photographs, each London bridge has a unique history. Let's take a brief look at several of London's bridges. London Bridge A London Bridge has existed in more or less the same spot for almost 2,000 years. And just as the nursery rhyme explains, it kept falling down. The Romans built the first bridge shortly after they set up camp in London in 46 AD. Constructed out of wood, early versions of London Bridge were susceptible to fire, storms, and occasional invading armies. The first stone bridge was completed after 33 years of construction in 1209. King John was on the throne, and he permitted houses and shops as well as St. Thomas à Becket Chapel to be built on the span. A drawbridge permitted maritime passage. To secure the bridge at night, a gate was installed at both ends. It was from the southern gatehouse that the severed heads of traitors were displayed for macabre enjoyment and royal warning. William Wallace and Sir Thomas More were among the traitors so honored. The stone bridge lasted over 600 years and was finally put out of commission in 1831. Its replacement was not so durable (foundation problems caused it to sink over the years), and that London Bridge was sold to American Robert McCulloch, who had it taken down and then reconstructed in Lake Havasu , Arizona, in the United States where the bridge has been a successful tourist attraction since its opening in 1971. The current London Bridge was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. It accommodates both vehicles and pedestrians. Tower Bridge This bridge is so popular that some people think that it is actually London Bridge. Perhaps the most-photographed of all of London's bridges, Tower Bridge is comparatively young—it went into service in June 1894. A busy port and docks east of London Bridge necessitated another span across the Thames, but it would take years of discussion, an open design competition, and eight years of construction to make Tower Bridge a reality. Tower Bridge is a bascule (the word means see-saw or rocker in French) bridge; the engineering design enables the bridge to be quickly raised to accommodate the passage of ships below. The Tower Bridge Exhibition (admission is charged) lets visitors see the original engine rooms; the exhibition uses photos, drawings, movies, and animatronics figures to describe the project's history and engineering. Visitors can walk across the high walkways and enjoy the magnificent views—remember to take your camera. It is the bridges proximity to the Tower of London that gives it its name, though you wouldn't be faulted for thinking that the twin tower design was responsible for the moniker. Millennium Bridge London's pedestrian-only Millennium Bridge—linking St. Paul's Cathedral to Tate Modern, Bankside—opened to great fanfare in June 2000. The steel suspension bridge was closed just days later. The problem—it wobbled . The designers had not allowed for the effect of large numbers of people walking across the span at the same time. So all the officials had to do was fork out a few million more pounds and spend almost two years correcting the mistake, and violà, London has one of its newest and most contemporary bridges. Westminster Bridge Westminster Bridge connects Westminster and Lambeth. Made of wrought iron, the current bridge was opened in 1862 (it replaced a notoriously wobbly and dangerous overpass that opened in 1750) and is London's oldest bridge . Open to both vehicles and pedestrians, the bridge matches some of the Gothic detailing of the nearby Houses of Parliament. Westminster Bridge is |
In which country will you find the city of Fez? | Fez travel guide - Wikitravel 14 Get out Fez (فاس) (French: "Fès") is one of the imperial cities of Morocco . It is famous for being home to the world's oldest university, the Qarawiyyin university. It has an ancient walled city, which many compare to the walled city of Jerusalem. Understand[ edit ] The city of Fez. Fez is the medieval capital of Morocco founded by Idris I in 789, and a great city of high Islamic civilization. Fez has the best-preserved old city in the Arab world, the sprawling, labyrinthine medina of Fes el-Bali, which is incidentally also the world's largest car-free urban zone. Within the medina transports of goods is provided by donkeys, mules and handcarts. Understand that the city infrastructure is not necessarily prepared for tourism, especially English speakers. Try to use Google translate to get across, but learning basic words won't hurt, and you will see people appreciating your efforts. Map of Fez (Overview) Leaving the airport, change some money (€10) in the change, for the bus. After leaving, go slightly left, into an alley. Walk for about 200m, until you see a bus stop marked by a sign. Wait there for a blue bus. Resist the offers from touts and yelling taxi drivers. They will try to scam you into paying anything from €5-20. So unless you want to spat at these hard-working Moroccans, who can only watch crooks scamming tourists, wait for the bus. You will pay about 50 cents for it, and support a tax-paying company, and the country in general. Also: nobody will think you are another one of 'these' tourists. Royal Air Maroc offers daily flights from Casablanca London-Gatwick and Paris-Orly to Fes-Saiss Airport. Jetairfly offers flight from Brussels Charleroi Airport. Ryanair offers flights from Barcelona (El Prat), Brussels (Charleroi), Dusseldorf (Weeze), Eindhoven, Frankfurt (Hahn), Lille, London (Stansted), Marseille, Milan (Bergamo), Nantes, Nimes, Paris (Beauvais), Pisa, Rome (Ciampino) and St.Etienne to Fez, though not on a daily basis. Vueling flies from Barcelona (El Prat) to Fez, many connections to cities all over Europe are proposed via the Vueling hub in Barcelona The airport is located about 15 km from the city. One option, if you don't have too much luggage, is to take a 'local bus' (line 16) costs 4 Dirham, or you can choose a 'taxi' (cost 120-150 dirham into town, price is for the whole car). Bus 16 leaves from the stop near the train station every hour (at a quarter to the hour). It takes 40 minutes to get to the airport. Facing the train station the bus stop is on the left of the entrance near a parking lot for taxis. There is a fixed price for a taxi MAD 120 (MAD 150 -April 2016) from the airport to the town centre. If you come in the night it's a good idea to book it in advance. By train[ edit ] The train station Fès-Ville. edit is found at the northern end if the Ville-Nouvelle. There is regular train service along the Marrakech to Oujda and Tangier to Oujda train lines. Eight arrivals daily from Marrakech . The train takes about 7.5 hours (although delays are frequent) and costs exactly 295/195 Dirhams. (First class / Second Class) The trip from Casablanca takes about 3 hours 20 to 4 hours 20 and costs 165/110 Dirhams. (1st class/2nd class). High speed double decker trains are being phased in on this route in 2011. There are five trains per day from Tangier arriving after 4.5 hours at a cost of 155/105 dirhams (1st class/2nd class). From Rabat takes about two and a half to three hours, and costs 75-105 dirhams. In summer, train compartments can be hot, with passengers standing everywhere when all seats are taken. While occasionally unreliable, first class compartments are generally well air-conditioned, with assigned and numbered seats. Be aware that there are hustlers operating on trains into Fez. See the Stay Safe and Cope sections, below. A petit taxi between the train station and Bab Boujeloud costs about MAD10 with taxi meter. Insist on using the meter, if necessary, say "khdm l-koontoor" (Work the counter) to the taxi driver. By car[ edit ] Fez is about 3 hours' |
To what religion would you belong if you celebrated 'Diwali' (The Festival of Lights)? | Happy Diwali! Here's what you need to know about the Hindu festival of lights | abc7.com Happy Diwali! Here's what you need to know about the Hindu festival of lights <iframe width="476" height="267" src="http://abc7.com/video/embed/?pid=1578201" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> The festival of lights celebrates the triumph of good over evil. (Fareed Khan/AP Photo) kabc Friday, October 28, 2016 Sunday marks Diwali, of one of the the biggest festivals in India. Celebrated during the Hindu month of Kartika, the festival commemorates the triumph of good over evil with glistening lights and delicious food, and is celebrated around the world by followers of the Hindu faith and beyond. Here is what you need to know about Diwali. When is Diwali celebrated? Women lighting diya lamps and enjoying Diwali festivities on November 10, 2015 in Indore, India. Diwali rituals and preparations take place over five days between mid-October and mid-November. Since the holiday is celebrated by the lunar calendar instead of the Gregorian, it falls sometime between mid-October and mid-November each year. When did Diwali first start being celebrated? A woman celebrating Diwali. The true origins of Diwali are still debated. The festival was first mentioned in Sanskrit scriptures in the second half of the first millennium AD. The holiday's themes of good vs. evil and knowledge vs. ignorance first appeared in the Katha Upanishad, a Hindu religious text, in first millennium B.C. Although the holiday's roots are in Hinduism, Diwali has grown in popularity over the centuries and is now celebrated by Indians of different religious creeds, including Buddhists and Sikhs. What does Diwali commemorate? Hindu women are seen praying for Diwali celebrations inside a Hindu temple on November 10, 2015 in Shah Alam, Malaysia. Diwali marks the return of the Hindu deity Rama to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana. The holiday also marks the deity Krishna's victory over Narakasura, the demon of ignorance, according to Hinduism Today . The triumphs of these gods are at the root of Diwali, with participants celebrating Rama's victory of good over evil and Krishna's victory of knowledge over ignorance. How is Diwali celebrated? Pakistani minority Hindus celebrate Diwali with fireworks in Karachi on November 11, 2015. On Diwali night, participants dress up in colorful clothing and light oil-wick lamps, filling their homes with bright light. Communities will also share tasty treats, light fireworks and pray to the deities. "If you rolled a bit of Christmas, New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July all into one, then catered the affair with mountains of sweets and savory snacks, you would have a taste of what it means to celebrate Diwali," writes Hinduism Today. Why is it the "festival of lights?" An Indian woman lights an earthen lamp in Amritsar on November 10, 2015 on the eve of the Indian festival of Diwali. Light is a major symbol in Hindu culture, signifying knowledge and consciousness. Hindus incorporate light into Diwali by lighting lamps to keep darkness away from their hearts and to embrace knowledge and goodness, according to National Geographic. Lighting lamps is also done by Hindu followers to invite Lakshmi into their homes. These bright lamps helped make Diwali known as the "festival of lights" across the world. Related Topics: |
In which Shakespeare play would you find the characters 'Shylock and Portia'? | SparkNotes: The Merchant of Venice: Character List The Merchant of Venice Plot Overview Analysis of Major Characters Shylock - A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Although seen by the rest of the play’s characters as an inhuman monster, Shylock at times diverges from stereotype and reveals himself to be quite human. These contradictions, and his eloquent expressions of hatred, have earned Shylock a place as one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters. Read an in-depth analysis of Shylock. Portia - A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portia’s beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a clause in her father’s will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three caskets, Portia is nonetheless able to marry her true love, Bassanio. Far and away the most clever of the play’s characters, it is Portia, in the disguise of a young law clerk, who saves Antonio from Shylock’s knife. Read an in-depth analysis of Portia. Antonio - The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylock’s contract and almost lose his life. Antonio is something of a mercurial figure, often inexplicably melancholy and, as Shylock points out, possessed of an incorrigible dislike of Jews. Nonetheless, Antonio is beloved of his friends and proves merciful to Shylock, albeit with conditions. Read an in-depth analysis of Antonio. Bassanio - A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanio’s love for the wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. An ineffectual businessman, Bassanio proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the casket that contains Portia’s portrait. Gratiano - A friend of Bassanio’s who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man, Gratiano is Shylock’s most vocal and insulting critic during the trial. While Bassanio courts Portia, Gratiano falls in love with and eventually weds Portia’s lady-in-waiting, Nerissa. Jessica - Although she is Shylock’s daughter, Jessica hates life in her father’s house, and elopes with the young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. The fate of her soul is often in doubt: the play’s characters wonder if her marriage can overcome the fact that she was born a Jew, and we wonder if her sale of a ring given to her father by her mother is excessively callous. Lorenzo - A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. He schemes to help Jessica escape from her father’s house, and he eventually elopes with her to Belmont. Nerissa - Portia’s lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portia’s trip to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk. Launcelot Gobbo - Bassanio’s servant. A comical, clownish figure who is especially adept at making puns, Launcelot leaves Shylock’s service in order to work for Bassanio. The prince of Morocco - A Moorish prince who seeks Portia’s hand in marriage. The prince of Morocco asks Portia to ignore his dark countenance and seeks to win her by picking one of the three caskets. Certain that the caskets reflect Portia’s beauty and stature, the prince of Morocco picks the gold chest, which proves to be incorrect. The prince of Arragon - An arrogant Spanish nobleman who also attempts to win Portia’s hand by picking a casket. Like the prince of Morocco, however, the prince of Arragon chooses unwisely. He picks the silver casket, which gives him a message calling him an idiot instead of Portia’s hand. Salarino - A Venetian gentleman, and friend to Antonio, Bassanio, and Lorenzo. Salarino escorts the newlyweds Jessica and Lorenzo to Belmont, and returns with Bassanio and Gratiano for Antonio’s trial. He is often almost indistinguishable from his companion Solanio. Solanio - A Venetian gentleman, and frequent counterpart to Salarino. The duke of Venice - The ruler of Venice, who presides ov |
In the film 'To Die For', who played Nicole Kidman's husband? | Pamela Smart: Nicole Kidman's Portrayal in To Die For was 'Embarrassing' and 'One-Dimensional' Pamela Smart: Nicole Kidman's Portrayal in To Die For was 'Embarrassing' and 'One-Dimensional' [email protected] (Steve Helling) Pin it Share For most people, it would be an honor to be portrayed by Nicole Kidman in a movie. But Pamela Smart doesn't think so – and says that Kidman's performance in the 1996 movie To Die For is embarrassing and inaccurate. In 1990, Smart was a working as a media coordinator at a high school but dreaming of becoming a journalist. But she was later convicted of conspiring with her teenaged lover that year to kill her husband, Gregg Smart. The teen, William "Billy" Flynn , pleaded guilty to second degree murder and testified against Smart. She is serving a life sentence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in New York State. She maintains her innocence. In To Die For, Kidman played Suzanne Stone, a character modeled after Smart. She, too, was an aspiring journalist who worked with high school teens. The character also conspired with a teenaged lover (played by Joaquin Phoenix) to kill her husband, played by Matt Dillon. In an exclusive jailhouse interview that will air Saturday night on Murder Made Me Famous on the Reelz Channel, Smart criticizes Kidman for taking the role – and portraying her too simplistically. (An exclusive preview is below.) Pamela Smart: Nicole Kidman's Portrayal in To Die For was 'Embarrassing' and 'One-Dimensional'| Crime & Courts, Murder, True Crime, To Die For, Nicole Kidman, Pamela Smart More "I would say to Nicole Kidman that she's an acclaimed actress and I believe she's a good person," says Smart. "She's has a family. She has children and that as a mother, she should take a look at the character that she's playing." "She never came to see me," Smart continues. "She never spoke to me. She never tried to find out anything to the contrary of, you know, the script that they gave her. And that she played a one dimensional character." "It was embarrassing," Smart says. "I mean, she played me as like a complete airhead. And I'm not that person. So it's hard because I'm constantly hated for being something. I'd probably hate myself if I didn't know myself, based on what they say." Murder Made Me Famous combines reenactments, exclusive interviews and never-before-seen photos and video to tell the story of infamous murderers. The show is hosted by PEOPLE Senior Writer Steve Helling . The show's second season will begin with the Pamela Smart special episode Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET on the Reelz Channel. Reblog |
Who played 'Frank Churchill' in the 1996 film 'Emma'? | Emma Movie Review & Film Summary (1996) | Roger Ebert Tweet “Emma” is the fourth recent version of an Austen novel, after “ Persuasion ,” “Sense and Sensibility” and the TV adaptation of “ Pride and Prejudice .” (As a bonus, the Beverly Hills comedy “ Clueless ” was based on the same story.) It is not about very much--about the romantic intrigues of a small group of people who will all more or less have to marry one another sooner or later, if they haven't already. Advertisement Either you are in sympathy with this material or you are not. I had to smile at an undergraduate's review of the movie, posted on the Internet, which complains that “a parade of 15 or 20 or 8 billion supporting characters waltzes through the scenes. Each is called Mister or Miss or Mrs. Something, and each of them looks and acts exactly the same (obnoxious).” I am not sure you can look obnoxious, but never mind. It may be that young people in a permissive age do not have sympathy for a movie in which a busybody matchmaker spends her days trying to pair off unwilling candidates for matrimony. Yet in its high spirits and wicked good humor, “Emma” is a delightful film--second only to “Persuasion” among the modern Austen movies, and funnier, if not so insightful. Gwyneth Paltrow sparkles in the title role, as young Miss Woodhouse, who wants to play God in her own little patch of England. You can see her eyes working the room, speculating on whose lives she can improve. She takes as a project Harriet Smith ( Toni Collette ), a respectable young woman of imperfect pedigree, insisting that she marry the Rev. Elton ( Alan Cumming ). Miss Smith would much sooner marry a local farmer, but Emma won't hear of it. When the poor farmer sends Miss Smith a letter of proposal, she shows it to Emma, who sniffs, “It is a good letter. One of his sisters must have helped him.” Miss Smith is so uncertain of herself that she turns down the farmer, only to discover that the Reverend doesn't love her--he loves Miss Woodhouse (“I have never cared for Miss Smith,” he tells Emma, “except as your friend”). This should be a lesson for Emma, but she'll need more than one. Stories like this are about manners, nuance and the way that one's natural character tugs against the strict laws of society. In a time when most people traveled little and diversion was largely limited to local parties, three-volume novels and church services, gossip was the great pastime. Local characters were prized because they gave you someone to talk about, and “Emma” has its share, most delightfully Mrs. Elton ( Juliet Stevenson ), who praises herself incessantly by quoting others (of her musical talent, she says, “I myself don't call it great. I only know that my friends call it so”). Advertisement Other local color is provided by Miss Bates and her deaf mother, Mrs. Bates. (They are played by Sophie Thompson and Phyllida Law , who are Emma Thompson's sister and mother.) Miss Bates says everything three times and Mrs. Bates never hears it, and when Emma is unforgivably rude to poor Miss Bates it is the upright Mr. Knightley ( Jeremy Northam ), her brother-in-law, who dresses her down, giving her a stern lecture on her responsibilities under the class system. Emma thinks of Knightley as a brother. She is interested in the Reverend not at all. There is a dashing young bachelor in the neighborhood named Frank Churchill ( Ewan McGregor ) who seems cast as her beau (he rescues her when her carriage gets mired in the river, and again when she is threatened by gypsies). But he has other plans, too, and in the fullness of time Austen sees that everyone gets what they deserve, or in Emma's case perhaps rather more. Popular Blog Posts |
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in which city? | Music History 102 Born: Salzburg, January 27, 1756 Died: Vienna, December 5, 1791 At the age of four he could learn a piece of music in half an hour. At five he was playing the clavier incredibly well. At six he began composing, writing his first symphonies at the age of eight. He was constantly traveling all over Europe with his father, Leopold Mozart (1719-1787), a violinist, minor composer and Vice-Kapellmeister at the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg. The musical feats and tricks of young Wolfgang were exhibited to the courts (beginning in Munich in 1762), to musical academicians, and to the public. Between the ages of seven and fifteen, the young Mozart spent half of his time on tour. During these tours, Mozart heard, absorbed, and learned various European musical idioms, eventually crystallizing his own mature style. Fully expecting to find an ideal post outside his sleepy home town of Salzburg and the detested archiepiscopal court, in 1777 Wolfgang went on a tour with his mother to Munich, Mannheim, and Paris. It was in Paris that his mother died suddenly in July, 1778. With no prospects of a job, Mozart dejectedly returned to Salzburg in 1779 and became court organist to the Archbishop. Mozart finally achieved an unceremonious dismissal from the archiepiscopal court in 1781, and thereafter became one of the first musicians in history to embark upon a free-lance career, without benefit of church, court, or a rich patron. Mozart moved to Vienna where he lived for a time with the Webers, a family he had met in 1777. He eventually married Constanze Weber in August of1782, against the wishes and strict orders of his father. Then for a time, things began to look bright for the young composer. Beginning in 1782 with the Singspiel Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), Mozart began turning out one masterpiece after another in every form and genre. Mozart is probably the only composer in history to have written undisputed masterworks in virtually every musical genre of his age. His serenades, divertimenti and dances, written on request for the entertainment and outdoor parties of the nobility, have become synonomous with the Classical "age of elegance," and are perhaps best exemplified by the well-known Serenade in G major, which the composer called Eine kleine Nachtmusik (A little night music). In Vienna, Mozart became a regular at the court of Emperor Joseph II (1741-1790), where he wrote much of his greatest music. A sampling of Mozart's mature works comprise a virtual honor roll of musical masterpieces: the last ten string quartets, the string quintets, and the Quintet for clarinet and strings; the Mass in C minor and the unfinished Requiem; the Serenade for thirteen wind instruments, the Clarinet concerto, the late piano concertos, and the last six symphonies. Mozart's more than twenty piano concertos remain models of the classic concerto form, developed by him over time into works of symphonic breadth and scope. The concertos often begin with an elaborate sonata form first movement, followed by a tender and melodious second movement, and usually conclude with a brisk, engaging rondo, as in the Piano Concerto no. 22 in E-flat. In his last three symphonies, the second of which is the great Symphony no. 40 in G minor, Mozart infused this form with a passion and expressiveness unheard of in symphonic writing until the advent of Beethoven . Of Mozart's operas, Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), composed for the Viennese court in 1786, is the earliest opera still found in the repertoire of virtually all of today's opera houses. Through his dramatic and musical genius, Mozart transformed such operatic comedies and characters into living, breathing dramas peopled with real human beings. He found a kindred spirit in this regard at the Viennese court in the person of Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838), who supplied Mozart with the librettos of his three Italian operatic masterpieces. Figaro was followed in 1787 by Don Giovanni (Don Juan), written for Prague, where Figaro had been an overwhelmi |
Who is the current Earl of Chester? | Prince of Cambridge will be Earl of Chester - Chester Chronicle Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby son will one day become the Earl of Chester if a 14th century tradition is upheld. The young prince’s paternal grandfather, Prince Charles, is the current Earl, created such on the same day that he became Prince of Wales (July 26, 1958), although his investiture did not take place until July 1, 1969. Born on Monday, July 22, the royal baby has not yet been named but he is the first Prince of Cambridge in 190 years. The last was Prince George of Cambridge, a grandson of George III and the only son of Prince Adolphus Frederick, the 1st Duke of Cambridge. The baby’s father Prince William will become the next Earl of Chester, followed by his son and heir. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their newborn son History of the title The Earldom of Chester was one of the most powerful in medieval England and since 1301 the title has generally been granted to heirs-apparent to the English throne. From the late 14th century it has been given only in conjunction with that of Prince of Wales. As Countess of Chester in 1983, Diana, Princess of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge’s late mother, and Prince Charles, officially renamed the city’s hospital, in honour of her title. Like us on Facebook |
Three of the four presidents carved into Mount Rushmore are Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson. Who is the fourth? | Mount Rushmore--Presidents: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Amy Bracewell for National Park Service Every year, the many visitors to Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota draw inspiration from the colossal portraits of four outstanding presidents of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Gutzon Borglum carved his gigantic Shrine of Democracy Sculpture into ancient granite high on the southeast face of Mount Rushmore “in commemoration of the foundation, preservation, and continental expansion of the United States.” The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt are about 60 feet high, and the grouping extends approximately 185 feet along the crest of Mount Rushmore. Dark ponderosa pines and other evergreens set off the stark white sculpture. Added at the time of the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976, a flag-lined formal Avenue of Flags creates an impressive approach. In 1923, South Dakota State Historian Doane Robinson came up with an idea for attracting tourists to the State. Robinson envisioned shaping a cluster of tall thin granite peaks called the Needles into statues of explorers and Indian leaders. The Needles stand where the Black Hills rise from the plains as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and the West. In 1924, Robinson wrote sculptor Gutzon Borglum about his idea. Borglum telegraphed back his enthusiastic support. Avenue of Flags at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Amy Bracewell for National Park Service Born to a Danish American family on a homestead in Idaho in 1867, Gutzon Borglum made his name celebrating things American in a big way. In 1908, he created a large, 40 inches-high head of Abraham Lincoln. Representatives of the United Daughters of the Confederacy soon contacted him about creating a portrait head of Robert E. Lee on the side of Stone Mountain in Georgia. Convinced that the scale of the mountain would dwarf a single head, he convinced them to create a huge group portrait of General Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis. Borglum completed the head of Lee in 1924, but a dispute with the backers of the project soon led to his dismissal and the eventual removal of his work. His departure from Georgia made it possible for him to concentrate on Mount Rushmore. Borglum scouted out a location far better than the fragile Needles: 5,725-foot Mount Rushmore. Its broad wall of exposed granite was more suitable for sculpture and received direct sunlight for most of the day. Borglum himself selected the presidents for the memorial, to reflect the nation’s first 150 years of history and to make the project a national, rather than regional one. Original plans included only George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Borglum picked George Washington the father of the new country because he was a leader in the American Revolution, the first president of the United States, and the man who laid the foundation of American democracy. Abraham Lincoln was selected for preserving the Union during the Civil War and abolishment of slavery. As the project progressed, Borglum added Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt. Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence, began America’s westward expansion by purchasing the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, which doubled the size of the country, adding all or part of 15 present-day States. Theodore Roosevelt, 26th president of the United States and extremely popular in the early 20th century, linked the east and the west through the construction of the Panama Canal and was famous as a “trust buster,” fighting large corporate monopolies and championing the working man. Initial planning and fund-raising began in August 1925. The project was almost out of money in 1927 before carving even began. Borglum and the planners succeeded in getting the support of President Coolidge when he was vacationing in the Black Hills |
The novel 'The Water Babies' was written by whom? | The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley | Featured Books : Stella & Rose's Books The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley View current stock of this title The Water Babies, subtitled by its author as A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby, on closer examination has been seen as more than just a fairy tale by many. It can also be seen as a story rich in moral lessons and religious parallels. Written for his son Grenville, Charles Kingsley's popular fable was first serialised in MacMillan's Magazine on a monthly basis, from August 1862 through to March 1863. It was first published in book form in 1863 with two full page illustrations by J. Noel Paton. The Story: The book tells the story of Tom, a young chimney sweep, who is cruelly treated by his master, Mr. Grimes. During a new job at the posh 'Harthover', Tom loses his way and accidentally falls down the chimney into the wrong room. He lands in the bedroom of the squire's daughter, Ellie. Tom examines the room and is 'puzzled' to see 'a washing-stand, with ewers and basins, and soap and brushes and towels; and a large bath, full of clean water - what a heap of things all for washing!' He then becomes aware of his own dirty, disheveled appearance, by means of a looking glass in Ellie's room. 'And looking round, he suddenly saw, standing close to him, a little ugly, black, ragged figure, with red eyes and grinning white teeth'. Above right: 'Ellie's Room', illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith . On waking and seeing the dirty and 'ragged' Tom in her bedroom, Ellie began to scream, so alerting the rest of the household to the incident. A chase ensues, during which Kingsley cleverly uses the undergrowth and flora and fauna to show Tom in a different environment to the city; his usual surroundings. It reflects the freeness that Tom feels, as he runs away. Tom's realization of his dirtiness makes him desire to be clean: 'I will be a fish, and swim in the water. I must be clean, I must be clean'. With that, 'suddenly, he found himself, not in the outhouse on the hay, but in the middle of a meadow, over the road, with a stream just before him...' Tom enters the stream and so he begins his magical adventures beneath the waves as a Water-baby. Left: An illustration by Alice B. Woodward . When Tom starts his journey to the sea, he is alone, but is always watched by the ever-present 'Queen of all fairies ' and his other 'brothers and sisters', who long to play with him, but are warned that he first needs to 'learn lessons from the animals'. Below right: Queen of the Fairies. Illustration by Warwick Goble . During his adventures undersea, Tom meets many exciting and wonderful creatures that are all new to him, such as 'water-monkeys' and 'water-squirrels'. Unfortunately, 'he was very fond of hunting and teasing animals, just for fun' The water animals soon stay away from Tom and he becomes very lonely, until he happens upon a dragonfly, who becomes his friend and tells him stories. Some of the water-creatures, however, are not so pleasant. He crosses paths with an otter and her family, who are intent on 'salmon for breakfast'. Later, he comes across them again, when he tries to help a 'clumsy' lobster who has been caught in a fisherman's pot. The otter wants the lobster for dinner too! After a close escape helping the lobster, Tom almost immediately comes across a fellow water-baby - 'A real live water-baby, sitting on the white sand.' They meet and Tom finds his whole 'water-baby' family and is taken to their home - St. Brandan's fairy isle. The water-babies in this chapter are shown to be 'all the little children whom the fairies carry off because people are not kind to them in the land-world'. Left: Tom is befriended by the Dragonfly. Illustration by Anne Anderson . Tom is as happy as can be - but is soon up to his old tricks of tormenting the water-animals. Very soon, we are introduced to Mrs. Bedonebyasyoudid, who serves out punishments to all the adults in the human world, who have been cruel to children. Then Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby comes to visit the water-babies, 'the most nice, soft, fa |
If you were a member of the 'Pumas' rugby union team, which country would you play for? | Rugby union - World Rugby aiming for global season by end of 2016 Rugby union - World Rugby aiming for global season by end of 2016 Pin it Share The board member of the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR), Agustin Pichot, speaks during the press conference in which the coach of the Argentine national rugby team Los Pumas, Santiago Phelan (out of frame) announced his resignation to the post, at the headquarters of the UAR in Martinez, Buenos Aires, on October 22, 2013. Phelan, who had been widely expected to step down when his contract came to an end in December, resigned as coach of the Argentinian rugby team with immediate effect on Monday ending a five year spell in charge. Phelan has just come off a Four Nations tournament where the Pumas lost all six of their games. AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATAThe board member of the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR), Agustin Pichot, speaks during the press conference in which the coach of the Argentine national rugby team Los Pumas, Santiago Phelan (out of frame) announced his resignation to the post, at the headquarters of the UAR in Martinez, Buenos Aires, on October 22, 2013. Phelan, who had been widely expected to step down when his contract came to an end in December, resigned as coach of the Argentinian rugby team with immediate effect on Monday ending a five year spell in charge. Phelan has just come off a Four Nations tournament where the Pumas lost all six of their games. AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA (AFP Photo/JUAN MABROMATA) More - World Rugby is aiming for a global rugby union season unifying the North and South Hemispheres by the end of the year, top administrators said. "It's been a big challenge. It's been on the agenda for some time but with (president) Bill (Beaumont) we're looking forward to getting it right," World Rugby vice-president and former Argentina captain Agustin Pichot said. "It's not going to be perfect, but it is there, we're not going to hide it. It's a big task, but we're confident we can achieve something by the end of the year hopefully. Maybe it's not perfect but we'll work hard for that." A unified global season has long been a sticking point between organisers of the Six Nations in the North and the Rugby Championship in the South. AFP |
A camel with two humps is a? | The Difference Between One-Hump and Two-Hump Camels The Difference Between One-Hump and Two-Hump Camels Advertisement For years scientists believed that camels - like unicorns, mermaids, and the American Indian - were just a mythical creature used to market cigarettes. That was until scientists discovered the existence of real-life camels in the Egyptian desert in 1967. But seriously speaking, there are three types of camels, which are one-hump camels, two-hump camels, and camel cigarettes. I am only going to address the first two types. Dromedary is the name for one-hump camels. This type of camel is common to Africa and the Middle East. It was exported all over the world and is now relatively common in Australia and North America, where is has been used sporadically over the years as a pack animal. Dromedary camels are much more common than two hump camels and much less common than camel cigarettes. Bactrian Camels are much less common than dromedary (one-hump). Bactrian camels are native to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Aside from the obvious difference of the number of humps, Bactrian Camels differ in a few other key ways. For example, the Bactrian camel grows a thick coat of hair each winter. That coat of hair falls off every spring. This is to deal with the extreme variation of temperature in the Gobi desert where summer highs often top 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and winter months can see significant amounts of snow. In general, Bactrian camels are much more mild-mannered than their hot-tempered dromedary kin. (The Dromedary camel has a uniform length of hair year round.) Estimates for the number of Bactrian Camels in North America range from about 400-800 head. It is possible to cross breed the two types of camels. Some people would expect that by breeding a one-hump camel with a two-hump camel that the result might be a three hump camel. The actual math equation is closer to this: one-hump camel + two-hump camel=a camel with one really large hump. Due to lower numbers, and the higher regard in the eyes of breeders, Bactrian camels command much higher prices than Dromedary camels. by Cameron Hatch |
The novels, 'On the Beach' and 'A Town Like Alice' were written by whom? | Nevil Shute Novels And Characters Web Links Nevil Shute wrote 24 novels and an autobiography between 1924 and 1960. All are excellent but some are obviously better than others. A complete bibliography is below. In some cases books were published under different names in the UK and the US. Both titles are shown where applicable. Book Synopses The following list of Nevil Shute books, by date of publication, is meant to describe the books only in sufficient detail to serve as a reminder of content to those who may have read them in the past, but forgotten the titles and to give a taste of the content of each story. For more comprehensive content reviews and comments, see the Book Review section of this page. Go To Synopsis Page Bibliography and Book Reviews Please click here for a list of all books written by Nevil Shute, including book reviews. The reviews and comments contained on this site are all voluntary submissions by fellow Shutists. Additional submissions are always welcome, as are commentaries, analyses, and related discussion papers relating to Nevil Shute and his writing. All submissions are subject to review and editing by the Foundation staff. Our policy is to post writer's name and e-mail address unless specifically asked not to do so. If you would like to submit a review, please contact the WebMaster . Nevil Shute's book review of A Town Like Alice Copyright by the Trustees of the Estate of the late Nevil Shute Norway. Nevil Shute's views on modern art as he expressed them in The Far Country Nevil Shute and Modern Art Shirley Norway's review of So Disdained, What Happened To The Corbetts, and On The Beach A short while ago, Shirley Norway wrote that she had begun rereading her father's books, after around fifty years. She made several comments regarding her impressions of So Disdained that we felt would be of interest to web site visitors. As a result, we asked if she would consider providing a paragraph or two on each book, as she finished rereading it. Shirley has graciously agreed. Her comments on So Disdained, What Happened To The Corbetts, and On The Beach are provided below. Shirley Norway's Book Reviews Favourite Books You have had the opportunity to read what everyone thinks, now you have the chance to vote for your top three favorite Nevil Shute titles and see which books currently top our poll. Click here for a listing of your favorite books. Nevil Shute Characters This section of the site is devoted to analyses of the characters in Nevil Shute's novels - "Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things." Nevil Shute Characters Nevil Shute Translations The Foundation is building up a profile of the availability of Nevil Shute titles in languages other than English. Devoted Shutists have provided the foundation with details of books translated into several languages, however we are always on the lookout for more. Click below to find out how you can help the Foundation with this exciting project. |
Which US state has the largest population? | The United States Has The Largest Prison Population In The World — And It’s Growing The United States Has The Largest Prison Population In The World — And It’s Growing (Credit: Shutterstock) By Nicole Flatow Both in raw numbers and by percentage of the population, the United States has the most prisoners of any developed country in the world — and it has the largest total prison population of any nation. That didn’t change in 2013. After several years in which the prison population dropped slightly, the raw number of inmates in United States custody went up again in 2013 . More than 1.57 million inmates sat behind bars in federal, state, and county prisons and jails around the country as of December 31, 2013. In the federal prisons, more than half of those sentenced to a stints of a year or longer are still there for drug crimes . In states including Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, and Georgia, at least 1 percent of male residents were in prison on December 31. And across the country, racial disparities persist. Black men are six times more likely than white men to be in prison. Hispanic men are 2.4 times more likely, according to a Sentencing Project analysis of the data. This doesn’t paint the full picture of the U.S. incarceration system. Many have estimated the total number of U.S. incarceration to be more than 2.4 million. This is in part because another estimated 12 million individuals cycle through the county jail systems in a given year for periods of less than a year, and are therefore not factored into a snapshot on December 31. There are also other mechanisms of incarceration not factored into this figure, including immigration detention, civil commitment, and Indian Country facilities, according to a Prison Policy Initiative briefing . And a vastly greater number of Americans — 1 in 31 according to 2009 Pew figures — are under U.S. corrections custody either through parole, probation, or incarceration. One in three Americans have a criminal record, according to recent FBI estimates. But it’s not all bad news. In just the federal prisons, the population actually dropped for the first time since 1980. Some experts attributed this to decreased priority on marijuana arrests, as states move toward decriminalization or legalization, and federal authorities shift their resources elsewhere. The federal prisons are where drug offenders are serving many of the most onerous sentences for drug offenses carrying mandatory minimum sentences . And despite the first decrease in more than two decades, its population remains expansive. “These figures challenge premature and overly optimistic forecasts of the end of mass incarceration,” said Marc Mauer , Executive Director of The Sentencing Project. Just this week, a Congressional Budget Office analysis found that passing a bipartisan bill in Congress to reform mandatory minimum sentences, the Smarter Sentencing Act, would reduce prison costs by $4 billion in just the first decade. The Justice Department projected savings of at least an additional $7.8 billion in the second decade. The Smarter Sentencing Act would roll back required sentences for drug offenses that start at 5 or 10 years in jail and ratchet up quickly from there. It would instead allow judges to use their judgment to set an appropriate sentence, as well as retroactively eliminate an antiquated and racist disparity between sentences for crack cocaine and powder cocaine offenses. And some recent changes coming from the executive branch this year to attempt stopgap sentencing reform were too recent to have affected the 2013 population. At the state level, populations saw a drop over the past few years in large part due to court-ordered population reductions in California, where the U.S. Supreme Court deemed prisons so overcrowded that they constituted cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Now that California’s reductions have leveled off, the state population went up again in 2013, despite reforms in some states that are widely considered models for the feder |
If you were a nyctophobic, what would you fear? | Nyctophobia - Fear or Being Afraid of the Dark - Disabled World Nyctophobia - Fear or Being Afraid of the Dark Print Published: 2010-10-28 - Contact: Disabled World Synopsis: Being afraid of the dark is called Nyctophobia a phobia characterized by an acute fear of the darkness or a dark environment. Main Document Nyctophobia is a phobia characterized by an acute fear of the darkness. Although rational fear of the dark is good for us, producing caution and alertness for the natural dangers of darkness, Nyctophobia is triggered by the mind's disfigured perception of what would or could happen when in a dark environment. The fear of darkness (nyctophobia) is a psychologically-impacted feeling of being disposed from comfort to a fear-evoking state. The fear of darkness or night has several non-clinical terminologies - lygophobia, scotophobia and achluophobia. If you have a phobia of the dark, you are likely to become nervous in any darkened environment. You may sleep with a night-light. You might be reluctant to go out at night. You will likely experience an increased heart rate, sweat, shake and even feel ill when forced to spend time in the dark. Nyctophobia is often accompanied by breathlessness, excessive sweating, nausea, shaking and sense of detachment from reality. Often times this fear is carried into late childhood and adulthood. Nyctophobia is a phobia generally related to children but, according to J. Adrian Williams' article titled, Indirect Hypnotic Therapy of Nyctophobia: A Case Report, many clinics with pediatric patients have a great chance of having adults who have nyctophobia. The same article states that "the phobia has been known to be extremely disruptive to adult patients and... incapacitating" Most people retain a bit of a fear of the dark throughout life. This fear may be evolutionary in nature, as many predators hunt at night. Consequently, darkness is a frequently used element in horror movies and Halloween events. Fear Of The Dark Treatment: Treatment with anxiety medication is often recommended for cases where frequent panic attacks and lose of sleep occur. Facing the "monster in the closet" is the best home therapy for children and adults. Someone who has a history of nyctophobia may also want to mention it before undergoing MRIs and other medical tests which involve being in dark environments. Energy Psychology is emerging as an excellent therapy for fears and phobias because in studies it is shown to be rapid, safe, effective and long-lasting. It is based on a theory and practice that has been around for a couple of thousand years. It has the same foundation or roots as acupuncture, except in this case there are no needles used. You could call it emotional acupuncture - without the needles. Recent scientific studies have shown it to be very effective. (www.phobia-fear-release.com/nyctophobia.html) |
Heather Small was the lead singer in which band? | Heather Small (Singer) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Heather Small Female Born Jan 20, 1965 Heather Small is a English soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the band M People. Her debut solo album was Proud in 2000. She was also a contestant in the British television show Strictly Come Dancing in 2008. related links Wall Street Journal - Jan 25, 2016 'http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/01/23/blizzard-heres-the-weather-effect-on-the-economy-youre-not-thinking-of/http://graphics.wsj.com/weather-small-talk/http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/01/23/blizzard-heres-the-weather-effect-on-the-economy-youre-not-thinking-of/http://graphics.wsj.com/weather-small-talk/http://www.wsj.com/articles/winter-storm-snarls-transportation-networks-across-region-1453574891?tesla=yhttp://blogs.wsj.com/economicshttp:/www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-metro-area-shu... Why Is Tv So Bad At Music Shows? Guardian (UK) - Jul 24, 2013 ' The only way a pop star gets on the small screen these days is via cookery programmes. Where are the new Top of the Pops and CD:UK? As two music pilots launch, we look at what is going wrong Music on television just does not work. If you ask around in TV circles, this is what people say. It is more than five years since Top of the Pops, CD:UK and Popworld all disappeared, two-and-a-half years since the BBC axed youth strand Switch, and six months since T4 shut its doors. Simon Cowell, no ... Small Wash. School Closes Because Of Nice Weather NPR - May 04, 2013 ' Small Wash. school closes because of nice weather » E-Mail This    » Add to Del.icio.us ' Passion Finale No Longer In A Jam Lancashire Evening Post - Apr 05, 2012 ' Pop star Jamelia has stepped in to sing the finale at the Preston Passion after singer <mark>Heather Small</mark> pulled out due to illness. ' Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Heather Small. CHILDHOOD 1965 Birth Born on January 20, 1965. THIRTIES 1997 32 Years Old In 1997, Small performed on the "Perfect Day" record alongside a wide range of artists including Tom Jones and Lou Reed. … Read More The song was the official 1997 Children in Need charity release. It sold over a million copies and was the UK's number one single for three weeks, in two separate spells. Read Less 1998 33 Years Old In 1998, after M People's "Best Of" album, Small and the band took some time off to pursue solo projects. Show Less … Heather Small (born 20 January 1965) is an English soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the band M People. Read Less Her debut solo album was Proud, which was released in 2000. … Read More She was also a contestant in the British television show Strictly Come Dancing in 2008.<br /><br /> Small joined her first group, Hot House, while she was still a teenager. She was the studio singer voice of the re-recorded version of UK number 1 single "Ride On Time" from Italo House Band Black Box. After a chance meeting with Manchester DJ Mike Pickering, formerly of Quando Quango, Small and her distinctive voice helped to sell over 10 million albums worldwide singing with his group M People. They had considerable success with songs such as "Moving on Up" and "Search for the Hero". Small has said that her major influence has been singer Elkie Brooks. Read Less In 2000, Small released her debut solo album Proud and a single of the same name, closely affiliated with the British Olympics team of the time. … Read More The single "Proud" was also used for the first season and the last chapter on the finale season of Queer as Folk. "Proud" is Small's signature song, with which she achieved international success. Read Less FORTIES 2005 - 2006 2 More Events 2005 40 Years Old When Oprah Winfrey was looking for a song to sum up the work she'd been striving to achieve over her twenty-year career, she got in touch with Small and the song "Proud" became the theme song to The Oprah Winfrey Show, and in 2005 Small made her American television debut on the show. … Read More Then in 2005 the song became the theme song for the American reality weight loss show The Bi |
In which county would you find the town of Banbury? | Banbury, Oxfordshire, England To See a Fine Lady Upon a White Horse With Rings on Her Fingers And Bells on Her Toes She shall have Music... The nursery rhyme , 'Ride a Cock Horse', has made Banbury one of the best-known towns in England. It has been suggested that the 'Fine Lady' of the nursery rhyme may have been Lady Godiva , wife of Leofric of Coventry, famous for her ride, allegedly naked, through that city some 900 years ago. It is more likely to have been a local girl riding in a traditional May Day procession. The original cross was pulled down at the end of the 16th century. The present cross was erected in 1859 to celebrate the wedding of the then Princess Royal to Prince Frederick of Prussia. The name Banbury is said to be derived from 'Banna', a local Saxon lord who is said to have settled there in the 6th century. The Domesday Book has an entry for 'Banesberie' (Banbury). In the 13th century it had grown to become an important wool trading centre. The great fire of 1628 destroyed many buildings, although some still survive to the present day. The opening of the Oxford Canal in 1790 connecting Banbury with the Midlands bought new industries and growth which continued with the arrival of the railways . The opening of the M40 in 1990 now provides easy access by road to the Midlands, the North and London . Today Banbury is a very attractive, thriving market town, with excellent shopping including small and independent shops as well as well known High Street stores. Apart from the Cross, Banbury is also noted for its Banbury Cakes which can be bought at the various bakeries in the town. At one time these little fruit and spice cakes were exported all over the world. Market days are Thursdays and Saturdays, the market being right in the centre of the shopping area. You can find almost anything or everything for sale; there are stalls selling fruit, vegetables, CD's, clothes, gifts, plants, coffee, hardware, handbags, pet food.....! In the narrow, cobbled streets surrounding the market square you will find several excellent coffeehouses where you can taste the famous Banbury Cakes. One of Banbury's most attractive features as a destination has to be it's location, on the edge of the Cotswolds and the Cherwell Valley, a most beautiful area of England. Selected Attractions in and around Banbury Historic Town Trail Follow the Historic Town Trail or join one of the free guided walks around Banbury. Contact the Tourist Information Centre at Banbury Museum for more details. Tel: + 44 (0) 1295 259 855 Banbury Museum Spiceball Park Rd, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 2PQ. Telephone: 01295 259 855 The story of Banbury - Cakes, canal, plush, agricultural machinery. History and art exhibitions, coffee bar. Banbury Cross, Horsefair. The cross dates from 1859 when it was erected to commemorate the marriage of Victoria to the Crown Prince of Prussia. Designed by J.Gibbs of Oxford. Figures of Victoria and George V added in 1914. St Mary's Church St Mary's Church was built in 1797 and is famous for its Pepperpot tower and beautifully restored interior. It can be found in the historic Banbury Cross area. More information on www.stmaryschurch-banbury.org.uk Sulgrave Manor Off the B4525 road from Banbury to Northampton. 7 miles NE of Banbury. Tel: 01295 760205 16th century home of George Washington's ancestors. Frequent Living History events throughout the year - check out our Living History Diary for details. Broughton Castle, Near Banbury. Home of Lord Saye and Sele's family since 1451. Moated mansion with early 14th century core. Open: May to September, Wed. and Sunday 2-5pm Tel: 01295 276 070 Farnborough Hall, National Trust. Georgian House in remarkable setting with garden temples, walks and a view of Edgehill. Home of Holbech family for 300 years. Tel: 01295 690 002 How to get here Banbury is situated in the north of the county of Oxfordshire , easily accessible by both road and rail . |
El Al is the national airline of which country? | El Al Israel National Airlines | Jewish Virtual Library El Al Israel National Airlines Tweet A mere vision in 1948, EL AL Israel Airlines today is one of the world’s most advanced and efficient airlines and the ultimate success story of international civil aviation. The birth and growth of EL AL can be directly tied to the dramatic and historical events responsible for shaping the State of Israel . The establishment of Israel as an independent state on May 14, 1948 paved the way for EL AL to become Israel’s national airline. In September of that year, the Israeli Government wanted to bring home its newly designated President Chaim Weizmann and his wife Vera from Switzerland in a stately manner. So, government officials chose a four-engine C-54 plane from the Israeli Air Force and named the aircraft “EL AL” inspired by the biblical phrase from the book of the Hebrew prophet Hosea , meaning “to the above” or more poetically “to the skies.” Hurriedly, the plane was painted with the name “EL AL” and “Israeli National Aviation Company” in both English and Hebrew with, most beautifully, the Israeli flag on the tail. The makeshift aircraft was decorated with furniture borrowed from the Israeli Air Force and the volunteer in-flight crew was from the Air Force as well. Meals were provided by a local kosher restaurant. Extra fuel tanks were fitted so that the aircraft could travel the 10-hour nonstop flight from Geneva to Israel . On September 28, 1948, the aircraft landed with President Weizmann , his wife Vera and an entourage at Israel’s Ekron Air Base near Rehovot (southeast of Tel Aviv ) to a military band playing Hatikva , Israel’s national anthem. By November of 1948, the new Israeli national airline became incorporated under the name EL AL Israel Airlines Ltd., with the Israeli government holding 80% and the remaining 20% held by Jewish organizations in Israel. The mission of EL AL was, and continues to be, to “secure and maintain a regular civil air link between Israel and the outside world in times of peace and war.” With Operation Magic Carpe t in January 1949, dozens of EL AL pilots and cabin crew participated in the airlift of almost 47,000 Yemenite Jews and 3,000 Habbanim Jews from the Arabian Peninsula to Israel. The aircraft had to be repainted, enabling EL AL to fly safely over Arab air space. To accommodate as many passengers as possible, EL AL replaced the aircraft’s seats with wooden benches. At the peak of the operation, planes flew around the clock to Israel , seven to eight flights a day on routes of 1,600 miles that each took about nine hours, which today would take about two and half hours. As they arrived in Israel , many of the Yemenites kneeled and kissed the tarmac as their dream to be brought to the Promised Land on “Eagles Wings” was realized. Following the great success of the Yemenite airlift, an even more massive rescue mission of Jews from Iraq took place, called Operation Ali Baba. In March of 1950, following Iraqi persecution of the local Jewish communities, the Iraqi government finally allowed Jewish emigration. Operation Ali Baba started in May of that year and continued through December of 1951. EL AL became the first visible symbol of a new life of freedom for 113,000 Iraqi immigrants. While these rescue missions were taking place, commercially EL AL operated its first trans-Atlantic charter flight from Tel Aviv to New York in June of 1950. That flight required four stops: Rome , Paris , Shannon and Gander, Newfoundland before arriving at Idlewild Airport (today JFK) in New York. With the arrival of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft named Mazel Tov (“good luck”), the airline finally inaugurated regular scheduled service between Tel Aviv and New York in April of 1951. Upon the outbreak of the Sinai War on October 29, 1956, every foreign airline immediately cancelled all flights to and from Israel . Only EL AL flew passengers in and out of the country. As many of the airline’s pilots were called to active duty by the Air Force , EL A |
Which Nottinghamshire town gave it's name to a New York airport? | New York City Airport Information New York City Airport Information New York City Airport Information Click on the airport name you are interested in for maps and more information: JFK Airport (JFK) - An international airport located in Queens County, on Long Island, in southeastern New York City. Newark Airport (EWR) - An international airport within the city limits of Newark, New Jersey, about 15 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) - Located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP, Islip) - Located on Long Island, in Ronkonkoma. NYC Airport Transportation There are multiple airports in the New York area, including the smaller MacArthur (ISP) Airport on Long Island. There are many convenient New York City Airports for travelers to choose from, making it easier for you to reach your intended destination. The NYC airport system is the busiest in the United States and second busiest in the world. The John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the largest and busiest airport in all of NY with eight different terminals and over 150 gates. Located in Southern Queens on Long Island, the JFK Airport is 12 miles away from Lower Manhattan. Placed in the Northern part of Queens on Long Island, is the LaGuardia Airport (LGA) that rests on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay. The LaGuardia Airport has increasingly gained popularity due to its close proximity of just eight miles away from Manhattan. The Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is located in both city limits of Elizabeth, NJ and Newark, NJ and is just 15 miles from Midtown Manhattan. The Newark Airport was the first major airport built in the NY area opening in 1928, and is currently the tenth busiest airport in the United States. The MacArthur Airport (ISLIP) is the smallest airport of the four and is located on Long Island in Ronkonkoma. A far 60 mile trip to Manhattan, two million passengers a year use this airport to escape the congested airports such as JFK, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia. NYC Airport Shuttles There are shuttles to and from all Airports in the area There are a number of different ways to reach your destination once you have safely landed in a NY airport. NYC airport shuttles are easy to find and have different types of service you’re welcome to choose from. Winston Airport Shuttle provides services to and from Long Island and offers airport shuttle services, private NY shuttle buses, shared sedans, private sedans, and taxi services to all NYC and Long Island airports. Go Airlink Shuttle is a 24 hour NYC shuttle service and provides shuttle services and private luxury vans between JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports. Airlink also provides services to residences, hotels, and cruise ship terminals. Before you book a NYC airport shuttle, check to see if the NY hotel you are staying at offers a complimentary transfer to and from the airport. The following hotels all provide free shuttle service to specific airports. |
One square kilometre contains how many square metres? | Square Kilometers to Square Meters - How many sq m in a sq km? Square Kilometers to Square Meters Conversion How many square meters in a square kilometer ? Square kilometers to meters (km2 to m2) conversion table shows the most common values for your quick reference. Also, you may use the converter below to convert any other values. 1 Sq. Kilometer = 1 000 000 Sq. Meters Square kilometer is a metric system unit, used mostly in land measurement. Spelled as "square kilometre" in many countries. It equals to 100 hectares or 1 million square meters. The abbreviation is "km2" or "sq km". Square meter is an area unit in metric system and used widely in measuring the small lands, floor plans etc. Commonly spelled as "square metre" in many countries. It equals to 10.7639104 square feet. The abbreviations are "m2" or "sq m". |
In which country would you find the Interlagos motor racing circuit? | Interlagos Alloy Wheels by TSW See Gallery Interlagos Interlagos is a motor racing circuit named after the district in the city of Sao Paulo in Brazil where it is located. Also called the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, after a Brazilian Formula 1 driver, it is the home to the Formula One Brazilian Grand Prix. The Interlagos circuit has created some of the most exciting and memorable races in recent Formula One history, and is regarded as one of the most challenging and exciting circuits on the F1 calendar. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that the circuit is driven anti-clockwise, and it was not built on flat terrain, but follows the ups and downs of hilly ground, which places higher demands on the drivers and their vehicles. * The Interlagos Rotary Forged® Wheel /RF™ Wheel is manufactured using a highly advanced production technique called Rotary Forging® /RF™. The rim of the wheels is forged at high pressure while the wheel is spun at high speed. This alters the molecular structure and enhances the strength of the alloy. The benefit is a much lighter weight than a regular cast wheel. Most importantly, the weight saving is in the outer rim of the wheel which dramatically reduces rotational mass and enhances vehicle performance. Find a Dealer |
The Aborigines call it Uluru. What do we call it? | 3 Things You Should Know about Uluru's Aboriginal Name Uluru-Ayers Rock: What’s in a Name? Many people ask us what is the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock means. So we’ve written this page to not only help you to learn what the original name for Ayers Rock is, but also to dispel some of the myths about Ayers Rock’s original name. We often see information written on the internet about Ayers Rock that simply isn’t true. For example, I’ve seen websites stating that Ayers Rock is the heart chakra of the world! Until recently, Wikipedia’s entry claiming that Uluru means ‘island mountain’. I’ve even heard one ignorant tour guide at Uluru’s base spreading this ‘island mountain’ meaning to tourists. Not only is this untrue, it’s also offensive to Aboriginal people who have their own spiritual traditions associated with the Rock. So we want to make sure that you have the real facts about Uluru – and especially about the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock. On this page, I (Amanda) will share my knowledge as an anthropologist and tell you the real story behind Ayers Rock’s original name. 1. Uluru: The Original Name The Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock is Uluru. Uluru is a Yankunytjatjara word. Yankunytjatjara is the name of the Aboriginal people whose land Ayers Rock is located on. Uluru is not just the name of Ayers Rock itself, but also of the country around Ayers Rock. Uluru is in fact the name of a large tract of land where a particular sub-group of Yankunytjatjara people (anthropologists call this an ‘estate group’) live. 2. What Does Uluru Mean? Uluru is first and foremost a place name. It does not have any specific meaning, although it may have some connection to the Yankunytjatjara words for ‘crying’ and ‘shadows’. As I really wanted to know what the word meant, I asked Senior Traditional owners, Reggie and Cassidy Uluru and well known Alice Springs historian, Richard (Dick) Kimber, about the meaning of Uluru. After a few ignorant comments on this post, I then asked several Yankunytjatjara people who are highly skilled language interpreters about the meaning as well. They all told me that Uluru was the name of the place, and that it had no specific meaning. I also read through the writings of Charles Mountford, one of the first anthropologists to live and work with Yankunytjatjara and Luritja people, and the books of Bill Harney (the first ranger at Ayers Rock). I consulted the anthropological work of Robert Lawton, who worked on land claims in the area during the 1970s. Mountford worked with Aboriginal people at Ayers Rock in the 1930s and 1940s. He records that Uluru is both the name of a Dreaming ancestor, a snake, AND the name of a rockhole that is a Men’s Sacred site located on top of the Rock. Traditionally, only initiated senior men could climb the Rock and visit this special site (this fact is often hidden from public knowledge, but is there in historical and anthropological records for anyone to discover.) Bill Harney arrived at Uluru in the late 1950s. He was told by the Aboriginal custodians of Uluru that it was a place name. Robert Lawton was the anthropologist who interviewed all of the old people for the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Land Claim. He also established that Uluru was a place name. After doing this research and asking expert people, the evidence suggested that the Aboriginal name for Ayers Rock, Uluru, is indeed a place name with no specific meaning. Aboriginal people felt that the connection to ‘crying’ or ‘wailing’ was actually associated with ‘Yulara’, which is the name of the township where Ayers Rock Resort is located. There are several named places on the south western side of the Rock (near the Park HQ) which refer to shade or shadows. (The ‘ul-‘ sound refers to shade or shadow in several Central Australian Aboriginal languages ). There may be some connection of the word ‘Uluru’ to shadows or shade, however, the Aboriginal men I spoke with did not suggest this. So we can conclude that just as Niagara Falls is the name of a place, or London or the Amazon River, so too is Uluru. It does not mean ‘Ear |
The Royal Armouries Museum is located in which English city? | The Royal Armouries in Leeds, Britain’s National Museum of Arms and Armour | Miles Away Travel Blog The Royal Armouries in Leeds, Britain’s National Museum of Arms and Armour Other Elephan Armour The Royal Armouries is Britain’s national museum of arms and armour. With locations in the northern England city of Leeds , at the Tower of London, Fort Nelson on the southern coast of England and even in Louisville, Kentucky (in collaboration with the Frazer History Museum), the Armouries' collection consists of some 70,000 examples of arms, armour and artillery dating from antiquity to the present day. The Royal Armouries includes royal armours of the Tudor and Stuart kings; arms and armour of the English Civil Wars, including the Armoury from Littlecote House; British and foreign military weapons from the Board of Ordnance and MOD Pattern Room collections; hunting and sporting weapons, as well as an exceptional collection of oriental arms and armour. At the Leeds Museum alone there are more than 8,500 objects on display in five galleries: War, Tournament, Oriental, Self Defence and Hunting. The highlights of a visit there are many but here a few must-see items. Elephant armour The museum's elephant armour is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest animal armour in the world and one of the last surviving examples of elephant armour. Horned helmet This masterfully crafted and ornate helmet was part of a gift from the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I to King Henry VIII of England. Tokugawa armour Japanese armour that was a gift to James I of England, VI of Scotland. Hall of Steel An elegant steel and glass tower that can be seen from every floor, this is the architectural centrepiece of the Royal Armouries museum in Leeds. Offering views of Leeds, Clarence Dock and the Aire/Calder navigation canal, it also serves as a display consisting of mainly 17th century armour and 19th century military equipment. There are more than 2,500 objects in the hall, making it the largest mass display of arms and armour since the 19th century. The Royal Armouries Museum is located at Clarence Dock, only a short distance from the centre of Leeds I West Yorkshire. It's a 10-minute walk from Leeds Bus Station and 20-minute walk from Leeds Rail Station. Admission to the museum is free. However, there may be a small charge for some special events. The museum is open all year daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. except for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Find out more at www.royalarmouries.org . Experience the museum for yourself and jump on a flight to Leeds today! Your email address will not be published. Comment Facebook By Weblizar Powered By Weblizar Recent Posts We Want to Know… Tags Sign Up for the CheapOair Newsletter! Download Our App General DisclaimerHide General Disclaimer [+][-] * Instant Discount This $10 off sale applies to our transaction service fees only. All fares displayed above are after the 10 USD instant discount applied. Maximum discount amount is the amount of the transaction service fees for that transaction or 10 USD, whichever is less. Some discounted and other special sale fare offers may not be eligible for this instant discount promotion. This offer may be revised or discontinued without notice. [+][-] ** Promo Code Offer Applies to Domestic Travel only. Book by November 30, 2013. Enter Promo Code at time of check out. The advertised Promo Code provides discounts against our service fees on stated routes. Promo Code and Instant Savings offers can be combined up to the amount of our service fees. Excess savings will not be applied. Promo Code expires on date indicated and can be withdrawn at anytime without notice. [+][-] ¹ Booking Bonus Instant Savings Discount ¹ The booking bonus instant savings discount is automatically applied to our standard service fees . Not available on all flights. Available only on selected itineraries as indicated. Fare indicated reflects the discounted amount. The promo code offer may be combined with the instant savings offer, for savings not to exceed our applicable service fees. [+][-] General |
We know the golfer as 'Tiger Woods' what is his real first name? | What Is Tiger Woods' Real First Name? By Brent Kelley Question: Tiger Woods First Name: What is Tiger's Real First Name? Answer: What is Tiger Woods' first name? Everyone knows him as "Tiger," but everyone also knows that isn't his given first name, his birth name. Tiger Woods ' real first name is "Eldrick." I can find no source that explains why his parents gave him the name "Eldrick." There doesn't necessarily have to be a reason (such as Woods being named after a relative), of course, beyond it being a name his parents liked and selected. According to those baby name suggestion Web sites, "Eldrick" is of German or English origin, and is a variation of "Eldridge" or "Aldric." The original meaning of the name was "righteous ruler" or "sage ruler." |
With the Olympic Games coming up in 2012, can you name one of the two years London has hosted the Olympic Games in the past? | London Olympic Games 2012 - Facts and information British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales London Olympic Games 2012 Click for facts about London When did the London Olympics take place? The 2012 Summer Olympic Games was held in London from 27 July to 12 August 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September. How many times has London hosted the Olympics? London has now hosted the Olympic games three times - 1908, 1948 and 2012 How took part in the London 2012 Olympics? 205 nations took part in 300 events at the Olympic Games in 2012. 147 nations took part in the Paralympic Games. |
What nationality was the actress Greta Garbo? | Greta Garbo — Ethnicity of Celebs | What Nationality Ancestry Race by ethnic on September 10, 2009 Birth Name: Greta Lovisa Gustafsson Date of Birth: 18 September, 1905 Place of Birth: Stockholm, Sweden Date of Death: April 15, 1990 Place of Death: New York City, New York, U.S Ethnicity: Swedish Greta Garbo is a Swedish actress. Greta’s paternal grandparents were Johan Agaton Gustafsson (the son of Gustaf Adolf Gustafsson and Anna Lena Jacobsdotter) and Lovisa Andersdotter (the daughter of Anders Persson and Lovisa Johansdotter). Greta’s maternal grandparents were Johan August Karlsson (the son of Carl Johan Nilsson and Vendla Wenda Isaksdotter) and Emma Kristina Adamsdotter (the daughter of Adam Gabrielsson and Maria Lovisa Andersdotter). Source: Genealogy of Greta Garbo – http://www.geni.com profile by mooki |
A film star and cousin to two former New Zealand cricket captains, who is he? | Russell Crowe helps carry coffin of cousin and former NZ cricket captain Martin Crowe | Irish Examiner Russell Crowe helps carry coffin of cousin and former NZ cricket captain Martin Crowe Friday, March 11, 2016 - 08:37 am Actor Russell Crowe helped carry the coffin of his former New Zealand cricket captain cousin Martin Crowe, who died after a battle with cancer. The Gladiator star was not initially expected to attend the service at Auckland's Holy Trinity Cathedral, having taken part in a memorial planned by Martin in the last days of his illness. Eulogies were delivered by Martin Crowe's wife, former Miss Universe Lorraine Downes, his brother Jeff and former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith. Ms Downes described her husband as "authentic, loving and full of prayer", but said he could also be "intense, restless and complex". The funeral included video messages from current New Zealand cricketers Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor, who are in India for the World Twenty20 tournament. In a Twitter post after the service, Russell Crowe said a haka, or war dance, performed by students from Crowe's former high school, Auckland Grammar, "shook the earth". Former New Zealand captains Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming did not attend the funeral because they were playing in a charity event at the New Zealand Golf Open in Queenstown, where a separate commemoration was held. Smith, who was a former team-mate of Crowe but became closer to him when both were involved in television commentary, said he had a passion for cricket. "Sometimes it led him down the path of confrontation, but it occurred solely because his devotion ran so deep," Smith said. "It was in his heart, it flowed through his veins." Crowe played 77 tests for New Zealand over 13 years, scoring more than 5,444 runs at an average of 45.36 with 17 centuries and a highest score of 299. He is regarded as New Zealand's finest test batsman, but often battled with the pressure of expectation. He was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 2012 and was thought to have been cured by chemotherapy, but the disease returned in 2014. In an autobiography he admitted he often struggled to cope with pressure created by his talent and described himself as the "record-holder for grievances". But Ms Downes said her husband found peace in his battle with illness "and from that internal work he finally saw what we knew about him, that he was a gentle kind and loving soul". Jeff Crowe said Martin and Russell were especially close as they grew up together in Auckland. "Martin and Russell spent some special times together, especially many years ago when both were setting off on their amazing journeys," Jeff Crowe, also a former New Zealand cricket captain, said. "I do remember a wager they had on who would be the most famous. Today only, Martin might be in front." |
'The Laughing Cavalier' was painted by who? | Famous Painters: Frans Hals and The Laughing Cavalier Famous Painters: Frans Hals and The Laughing Cavalier Tweet Frans Hals, along with Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer, were three famous painters who dominated the Golden Age of Dutch Art in the 17th century. Frans Hals, born circa 1581, introduced a vitality and expressivenesss not previously seen in portraiture. Of the 300 or so paintings he created, nearly all are portraits, typically of Haarlem citizens as individuals or in groups. Among his most famous artwork is The Laughing Cavalier, also called The Merry Cavalier. Frans Hals, The Laughing Cavalier. Oil on canvas. 1624. 33 3/4" x 27". The Wallace Collection, London. Here, the courtly soldier epitomizes Baroque gallantry and seemingly flaunts his amorous tendencies - his sleeves are ornately decorated with bees of Cupid and Mercury's winged staff and hat. The intricacy of the embroidery is juxtaposed by Frans Hals' broad, energetic brushwork in the cavalier's black sash. As in most portraits by Frans Hals, a fleeting moment is captured with immediacy. Fast forward three centuries to the 1920s, a time during which the three masters of the Dutch Golden Age were frequently imitated and forged. Noted art historian Cornelis Hofstede de Groot had devoted himself to determining which 17th century Dutch paintings were authentic, and which were created by followers or forgers. In 1924, he published a brief article titled, "Some Recently Discovered Works by Frans Hals", announcing his discovery of The Merry Cavalier. De Groot proclaimed it an authentic Frans Hals painting, after which the work was sold to an auction house. Shortly thereafter, the auction house claimed it a forgery and demanded partial reimbursement of the purchase price. Profoundly offended, De Groot stated that if he was wrong, he'd donate his personal (and sizeable) art collection to Holland's museums, further vowing "never to express another word, either in writing or verbally, about the genuineness of an unknown Frans Hals." The subsequent trial provided incontrovertible proof that De Groot had erred -- although Frans Hals died in 1666, the blue paint in the cavalier's coat was first available in 1826; another blue in the background was made in 1820, while the white in the collar was zinc white, only made after 1781. Furthermore, the canvas was attached to its stretcher with modern, paint-splattered nails, meaning that they were positioned before the painter began. In spite of this data, De Groot was steadfast in his conviction that he'd found an authentic Frans Hals work. Before the trial concluded and a verdict announced, De Groot - contending he was the victim of injustice - purchased Merry Cavalier for himself. The following year, he published a booklet entitled True or False? Eye or Chemistry?. Here he stated that a connoisseur's eye was the best determination of artistic authenticity, adding that scientific analyses were beside the point. "A forger could scarcely imagine a more welcome message", notes Edward Dolnick in The Forger's Spell. If you are engaged by the complexities of art forgery -- in the work themselves and in the mind of the forger -- I strongly recommend Dolnick's work, "a true story of Vermeer, Nazis and the greatest art hoax of the twentieth century". |
Which two colours make up the Greek flag? | The Meaning, Folklore, and History of the Greek Flag By deTraci Regula Updated April 11, 2016. The Greek flag is one of the most recognizable of the world's flags. The simple blue and white design means "Greece" to almost everyone. Description of the Greek Flag The Greek flag consists of an equal-armed white cross on a blue ground in the upper left corner of the flag, with the remaining area filled with nine alternating blue-and-white horizontal stripes. The top and bottom stripes of the flag are always blue. There are five blue stripes and four white ones on the Greek flag. The flag is always made in a proportion of 2:3. History of the Greek Flag The current flag was only officially adopted by Greece on December 22, 1978. An earlier version of the Greek flag had a diagonal cross in the corner instead of the square one now used. This version of the flag dates back to 1822, just after Greece declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Meanings and Symbolism of the Greek Flag The nine stripes are said to represent the number of syllables in the Greek phrase "Eleutheria H Thanatos", usually translated as "Freedom or Death!", a battle cry during the final revolt against the Ottoman Occupation. continue reading below our video America's Best Foodie Cities The equal-armed cross represents the Greek Orthodox church, the predominant religion of Greece and the only officially-recognized one. The Church played a crucial role in the fight for independence against the Ottomans, and rebellious monks fought vigorously against the Ottomans. The color blue represents the sea which is so important to Greece and such a major portion of its economy. The white represents the waves on the Mediterranean Sea. Blue has also always been a color of protection, seen in the blue eye amulets used to ward off evil, and white is seen as the color of purity. As in Greek mythology , there are always other versions and explanations. Some say the nine stripes on the Greek flag represent the Nine Muses of Greek myth, and that the colors of blue and white represent Aphrodite rising up from the sea foam. Unusual Facts about the Greek Flag Unlike most national flags, there is no "official" shade of color required. Any blue may be used for the flag, so you will see them ranging from a relatively pale "baby" blue to a deep navy blue. Most flags tend to use a dark blue or royal blue but you'll see them in all shades around Greece. The nickname of the Greek flag is "Galanolefci", or the "blue and white", similar to the way that the American flag is sometimes just called the "red, white and blue". What European country was forced to change its official flag because it was too close to that of Greece? Click here for the answer . Other Flags Seen in Greece You will often see the European Union flag displayed with the Greek flag at official spots in Greece. The European Union flag is a deep blue with a circle of gold stars on it, representing the EU nations. Greece also proudly flies many "Blue Flag Beach" flags over its pristine beaches. This flag is awarded to beaches that meet special standards of cleanliness, both for the sand and the water as well as other qualifications. More on the Blue Flag Beaches of Greece . Plan Your Own Trip to Greece |
The crane Fly is often referred to as a what? | Crane Fly (Crane Fly or Daddy Longlegs) Crane flies are among the animals which cause the most panic in a bedroom, apart from probably spiders, that is. Attracted by the light, they fly in the window and start to flap against lampshades of the main light or the bedside light...apart from this they do no harm at all. Craneflies are merely large flies. They do not feed as adults, nor do they bite or sting. The female lays eggs in the ground, where the larvae feed on vegetation, sometimes causing damage by gnawing at the roots of plants. Crane fly larvae may also appear in thatch. They normally live in damp earth, and so it is only in old, damp, mossy thatched roofs that they can thrive. They themselves do little damage in a roof that has already suffered, but it becomes more serious if rooks or other birds discover this source of food and start to pull at the thatch in order to reach the larvae. These rather leggy flies, sometimes referred to as Daddy Longlegs, have a tendency for the legs to break off when handled. Many crane flies are only mosquito-sized, but all can be recognised by the V shaped suture on the thorax together with a lack of ocelli. Larger species generally rest with the wings extended: smaller species generally fold their wings flat over the body and often bob up and down on their legs when at rest, hence their alternative name of "bobbing gnats". The female abdomen is pointed for laying eggs into the ground or other materials. Some females are wingless and can be seen on house walls in late autumn. Adults may lap nectar and other fluids but do not feed much. Larvae live mainly as scavengers in the soil or decaying matter, often under water. The larvae, pictured above, are often referred to as "leatherjackets". Looking at the picture below that is of two craneflies mating, the female is recognisable on the right by her more swollen abdomen, this is because she is full of egss, as yet unfertilised. The abdomen tapers to a stylus like ovipositor, frequently mistaken for a sting. The male genitalia include a pair of claspers which grip the female genital valves but in order to do so the males abdomen has to be twisted through 180°. |
'The Ride of the Valkyries' was composed by who? | The Ride Of The Valkyries by Richard Wagner Songfacts The Ride Of The Valkyries by Richard Wagner Songfacts Songfacts "The Ride Of The Valkyries" is the popular term for the prelude to Act III of Die Walküre, the second of the four operas by German composer Richard Wagner that comprise The Ring of the Nibelungs (German Der Ring des Nibelungen). The Ring of the Nibelungs is a sequence of four musical dramas based on the Norse saga, which concerns the turbulent family history of a race of gods and their pursuit of a magical golden ring. It began as a single opera focusing on the death of Siegfried but grew into a vast cycle of four operas comprising Das Rheingold (The Rhine Gold), Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), Siegfried and Die Gotterdammerung (The Twilight of the Gods). Wagner's intention for The Ring was to create a "Gesamtkunstwerk," a total work of art that fuses elements of music, drama, poetry, and stagecraft into an indivisible whole. It was a more ambitious piece of musical theater than any other devised up to that time and it arguably remains the most influential contribution by any composer to opera. The entire cycle was completed in 1874, and the first complete performance of The Ring took place in 1876 at the Bayreuth Festival in a theater especially designed for the production by Wagner. The opera was an immediate success. Richard Wagner devised the Wagner Tuba, a cross between the French Horn and Sax horn to enrich the harmonies for The Ring. Other composers have since written for the instrument, include Anton Bruckner, whose Symphony No. 7 utilizes four of them in memory of Wagner during the slow movement. The main theme for "The Ride Of The Valkyries" itself was first written down on a loose sheet of paper by Wagner on July 23, 1851 and was fully orchestrated by the end of the first quarter of 1856. It introduces the third act, which starts with the Valkyries, warrior maidens raised by the god Wotan, riding back from battle before they gather on a mountaintop. The complete opera Die Walküre was first performed on June 26, 1870 in the National Theatre Munich and soon the composer was receiving requests for "The Ride" to be performed separately. However, Wagner wrote in his journal that such a performance should be considered "an utter indiscretion" and forbade "any such thing." The best known use of "The Ride" in the media is during the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, where it is the music played as the American helicopters bombard a Vietnamese village. The piece was similarly used in the Vietnam flashback scene in the 2009 Watchmen film, where it soundtracks nuclear superhero Dr. Manhattan obliterating Viet Cong soldiers with his godlike power. |
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