On which Shakespeare play is the musical 'The Boys From Syracuse' based?

Shakespeare/Pop Music: Broadway - shakespeareandpopularmusic shakespeareandpopularmusic   INTRODUCTION Although considered  part of the classical theatrical canon today, Shakespeare's plays were an important part of the popular culture of Early Modern England. It seems only fitting that Broadway has made these plays part of popular culture again by adapting them into musicals. Very little academic research and/or writing, however, is available on this topic. In order to remedy the situation, this page has compiled a working archive of resources on Broadway musicals based on Shakespeare's plays, in the hopes that this will generate further interest and analysis. Most of the research that went into creating this page is centered on Broadway specifically, but a list of non-Broadway musicals has also been included in order to show that this phenomenon is by no means centered in one locale.   To date, this archive includes the names of twenty-two Shakespearean musical productions. These productions have been produced in the United States, England, and Prague and have been performed in numerous other countries. Shakespeare's romantic comedies are the genre of  play  most often adapted into musical productions. Sixteen of the twenty-two productions included in this archive are based on Shakespearean romantic comedies. The Comedy of Errors, which was the first Shakespeare play to ever be adapted into a musical, is tied with Twelfth Night for the most number of musical theatre adaptations, at four productions each (Comedy of Errors: The Boys from Syracuse, Oh, Brother! , The Bomb-itty of Errors, and Da Boyz/Twelfth Night: Play On!, Music Is, Love and Let Love, Your Own Thing), while A Midsummer Night's Dream  and Hamlet follow close behind with three different musical theatre adaptations (A Midsummer Night's Dream: Swingin' The Dream, Babes in the Wood, and The Donkey Show: A Midsummer Night's Dream Disco/Hamlet: Rockabye Hamlet, The Lion King, and Hamlet The Rock Opera). Besides Hamlet, three other Shakespearean tragedies have been adapted into musicals: Romeo and Juliet (West-Side Story and Sensations), King Lear  (Pop!) and Macbeth (From a Jack to a King). No evidence has been yet found of a history play having been turned into a musical.   Popular music has also been appropriated by many of these productions. Swing (The Brothers of Syracuse, Swingin' the Dream, Play On!) , Rock and Roll (Two Gentlemen of Verona, Rockabye Hamlet, Your Own Thing, From a Jack to a King and Hamlet The Rock Opera), Hip-Hop/Rap (The Bomb-itty of Errors and Da Boyz), and Reggae (The Big Life) are all examples of musical genres that have been appropriated by Broadway musicals - whose songs, incidentally, also sometimes become the stuff of popular music  (Kiss Me Kate, West Side Story, Lion King, and so forth). The fluid relationship between Shakespeare and popular music in Broadway productions deserves further consideration, as does the fact that many of these productions are using Shakespeare and popular music not simply to make money, but also to discuss issues of both race (Swingin' the Dream) and gender (Kiss Me Kate) or both (Play On!). Theatre Royal Stratford East's 2005 production of The Big Life, for example, uses Reggae music and the plot-line of Love Labour's Lost to tell the historically true story of Caribbean immigrants who set sail for England in the 1950s on the SS  Empire Windrush because they had been promised both jobs and a better life by the English government who very much needed their help to re-build after the war.     Some of the questions that productions like The Big Life require academics to ask of themselves include: 1) Can popular music be used in musical adaptations of Shakespeare to talk-back to colonial/patriarchal imperatives and to de-centralize the hegemonic authority of Shakespeare's works? (And if so how are they able to do this? ); 2) Does the capitalist form of Broadway musical productions make it impossible to de-centralize power of any kind in these musical adaptations of Shakespeare? (And, if so, what are Sha


Which old British coin was known as a 'tester'?

Coin nicknames – the British fondness for change | The Royal Mint Blog Coin nicknames – the British fondness for change by James Owen The British public give coins nicknames as if they are old friends. Over the past few hundred years, many coins have taken on names that they were never originally supposed to have. Though many of these do not survive to the present day, we present to you a selection of our best attempts at referencing and researching the murky history of coin nicknames. Enjoy! Old names Bender – A sixpence was known as a bender because due to its silver content it could be bent in the hands. This was commonly done to create ‘love tokens’, many of which survive in collections to this day. The value of a sixpence was also enough to get thoroughly inebriated as taverns would often allow you to drink all day for tuppence. This gave rise to the expression ‘Going on a bender’. Bob – The subject of great debate, as the origins of this nickname are unclear although we do know that usage of bob for shilling dates back to the late 1700s. Brewer’s 1870 Dictionary of Phrase and Fable states that ‘bob’ could be derived from ‘Bawbee’, which was 16-19th century slang for a half-penny. ‘Bob’ was also used to refer to a set of changes rung on church bells, and this may have been the nickname’s origin as the word ‘shilling’ has its origins in the proto-Germanic word ‘skell’ which means ‘ring’. A George IV shilling or ‘bob’   Florin – The early florins took their name from coins first issued in Italy which became dominant trade coins across Western Europe. Edward III attempted to introduce a six shilling gold coin that would be suitable for trade with European super-powers of the time, but due to being underweight for their face value they were unsuitable as such and were quickly withdrawn. Groat – also known as the fuppence, this large four penny coin was a mainstay of medieval money. The name comes from the Dutch ‘groot’ which means ‘great’ and is a reference to the coin’s size. The word entered the British lexicon in several expressions, most of which have now fallen out of use. The groat’s strong medieval association finds it commonly referred to in fantasy and historical literature. Tanner – this alternative name for the sixpence probably dates from the early 1800s and seems to have its root in the Romany gypsy ‘tawno’ which means ‘small one’. Thruppenny bit – also variously known as a Joey or a thruppence, this coin is still manufactured in very small numbers by The Royal Mint for inclusion in sets of Maundy Money. Modern names, still in use Quid – an old nickname for the pound that has survived into modern British usage. Originally the name quid referred specifically to bank-notes, but since the introduction of the pound coin that has changed. Sov – a nickname for Sovereigns, and also sometimes applied to pound coins. Nugget – a relative newcomer used to refer to pound coins but which may have been previously applied to Sovereigns. Beer token – commonly used but often assigned specifically to the £2 coin, as when it was introduced a pint of beer in Britain commonly cost around £2. A London Underground ‘beer token’   Foreign names Nickel – This term became popular after 1866 when the content of the 5-cent piece was changed from silver and copper to copper and nickel, a cheaper metal. Quarter – Spanish dollars circulated alongside US dollars for many years. Spanish dollars were divided into 8 “bits” and so the US government issued a 25¢ coin to help people give change. these coins were known as ‘quarters’ or ‘two bits’. Loonies – The Canadian one dollar coin was introduced in 1987. It bears images of a common loon, a bird which is common and well known in Canada, on the reverse. Toonies – The Canadian two dollar coin is unsurprisingly nicknamed the ‘Toonie’. (Thanks to reader Shuki Raz for this one!) Pieces of eight – The ‘Pieces of eight’ was the 8-Reale coin, the Spanish silver dollar. This was perhaps the most widely used and universally accepted coin in the world during the past 300 years. An 8-Reale coin was so va


What name was given to small balls used as a charge in a cannon that scattered when fired?

Cannon Cannon: A Review Of Artillery Of The American Revolutionary War    Before beginning a discussion on the types of artillery employed during the American Revolutionary War, a few words need to be noted. The word, Artillery, was coined in the early Medieval Ages to denote any type of projectile-throwing device. The word, Cannon, is of more recent invention, having come into usage only since the Renaissance; it originally referred to only one particular type of artillery. During the American Revolutionary War, the word, artillery, was generally used to refer to cannon because it was the only form of projectile-throwing device still in use at the time.    Prior to the invention of cannon, there were three types of catapults, which principally made up what armies of the day termed artillery. Known as engines, they hurled heavy objects at their targets. The Ballista was an engine that shot javelins or arrows by placing the projectile against a flexible piece of timber that would be stretched back and let go. The Mangonel hurled large stones and boulders from a spoon-shaped arm lashed to a base in such a way that it sprang forward when released. The third type of engine was the Trebuchet, the largest of the three types of catapults. The Trebuchet consisted basically of a long arm, counterweighted to provide sufficient spring, with a leather sling on the opposite end, into which a large stone or another object of substantial size and weight would be placed.    Cannon, per se, did not appear until the Fourteenth Century, the first one having been recorded at Florence, Italy in February of 1326. It would not be until the middle of the next century, though, before cannon was used on a large scale throughout the world. By the start of the 1700s, the cannon was a common weapon in use by European armies, and artillery companies were integral units of the armies, almost on a par with the cavalry.    Cannon was not used extensively in the colonies in North America prior to the French and Indian War period. The difficulty of moving and operating them in the wilderness that made up most of the colonies made cannon impracticable. The first appearance of cannon in use in the Americas was that of cannon carried aboard ships for the purpose of bombarding forts guarding harbors. A naval engagement between the French and Spanish in 1565 off the coast of Florida would probably qualify as the earliest incident recorded in which cannon were used in or near the North American colonies. Field artillery would not be utilized to any extent until 1745 when the British attacked the French fortification at Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. Assisting the British Royal Army at Louisbourg was the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston.    During the various colonial wars, especially during the French and Indian War, the use of cannon and other artillery proliferated. Artillery companies tended to slow the advance of the armies during a campaign, but that was indeed a small problem in comparison to the benefits the artillery provided. Fortifications were generally constructed of stone in the established European countries. The initial fortifications built in the colonies tended to be constructed of wood, which was a readily available material. The forts were generally constructed with the intention of providing safety against the indigenous Indian tribes, who did not possess artillery of any sort. Wood palisade walls sufficed for protection against the arrows and warclubs of the Indians.    As the belligerent European powers quarreled over lands in the new world, those countries sent over artillery along with the artillery companies needed to operate them. It was soon discovered that artillery could penetrate the wood fortifications rather easily. Sieges involving the bombardment of wooden fortifications with artillery became a standard part of campaign strategy for the opposing forces.    By the time of the American Revolutionary War, both France and Great Britain had transported large numbers of cannon to the North American colonies to bombard ea


What is the fruit of the plant ananas comosus?

Ananas comosus – Pineapple – Hawaiian Plants and Tropical Flowers Synonyms: Ananas ananas, Bromelia ananas, B. comosa Common Name: Pineapple Duration: Perennial Growth Habit: Herb/Forb Hawaii Native Status: Cultivated. This commercial food plant is native to Brazil. It was brought here to Hawaii in the early 1800s. Flower Color: Violet. The more conspicuous inflorescences are pink or brown. Height: Up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, but usually around 3 feet (90 cm) tall Description: The pineapple-shaped, reddish or brownish inflorescences have numerous small flowers and are crowned with small leaves. The individual flowers are relatively inconspicuous, violet, tube-like, and have 3 petals, 3 sepals, and 6 stamens. In the tropical Americas, the flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds (which are not found here in Hawaii), and only the pollinated flowers will produce seeds. The inflorescences are followed by large, 6 to 12 inch (15 to 30 cm) long, round to egg-shaped, pinecone-like, leafy-topped, green to blackish, ripening to yellow, orange, reddish, or purplish compound fruits (pineapples) with white or yellow flesh. Each hexagonal section of the pineapple is actually an individual fruit. The leaves are glaucous, dull green, purplish, reddish, or striped with pink, yellow, or white, sword-shaped, spine-tipped or merely point-tipped, and either smooth-edged or edged with spiny teeth. The rosette-like leaves are spirally arranged on short, stout stems. Here in Hawaii, these plants are commercially cultivated and reproduce asexually by suckers, offshoots (slips), or by the planting of the leafy fruit tops. The similar Red Pineapple (Ananas bracteatus) has more colorful, spiny inflorescences and smaller fruit. Special Characteristics Edible – The ripe fruit is edible either raw or cooked and is the familiar pineapple found in grocery stores. The leathery rind, leafy top, and tough core are removed and the sweet, juicy, tangy, acidic, yellow or white flesh is eaten. Besides being edible themselves, the fruits also contain bromelain, which is used in meat tenderizers and for various medicinal purposes. Poisonous – The green, unripe fruits are poisonous and can cause throat irritation and gastrointestinal upset if eaten. Sap from the leaves contains ethyl acrylate and calcium oxalate crystals and can cause minor skin irritation and severe mouth pain if ingested. Classification


The exotic flower strelitzia is also known by which more common name?

1000+ images about Strelitzia flowers on Pinterest | Madeira, Cool drinks and This morning Our exotic flower display in our shop this morning, lots and lots of Strelitzia (Bird of paradise), stunning purple anthurium and purple allium. #reidsflorists #exoticflowers #birdofparadise See More


Which player has won 5 FA Cup winners medals in the last ten years?

FA Cup Finals History: Results, Winners, Records, GoalScorers & Venues | Sportslens Blog Teams Arsenal FA Cup Finals History: Results, Winners, Records, GoalScorers & Venues FA Cup Finals History: Results, Winners, Records, GoalScorers & Venues Tom Gatehouse 19 May, 2016 Arsenal , Chelsea , Crystal Palace , FA Cup , Liverpool , Manchester United The FA Cup is English football’s biggest cup competition and one of the most important in football. It is also the oldest cup competition in the world, having first started in 1871, with 736 teams taking part in the 2015/16 edition of the tournament. FA Cup final history is vast with many dramatic clashes taking place across its 145 year history. Manchester United and Crystal Palace will play in the 2016 FA Cup final on May 21st at the Wembley in London, with the match a repeat of the 1990 FA Cup final in which United triumphed 1-0 in a replay after the final ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw. United are the second most successful team in the history of the FA Cup, having won eleven titles, with the club just one title away from Arsenal, who became the most decorated FA Cup side ever after winning the last two editions of the competition. Palace are searching for their maiden FA Cup triumph, with this their first final since their loss in 1990. Check out our guide to FA Cup final history below: FA Cup Final Winners Since 1988, the FA Cup has been won by the traditional ‘Big Four’ in English football – Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool – 22 times in 27 seasons. The FA Cup has been won by 43 different teams throughout history, with West Ham’s victory in 1980 the last time a team from outside English football’s top division has been crowned champions. Of the teams to have won more than one FA Cup, fans will not be familiar with two. Wanderers, who last won the competition in 1878, are an amateur club who had great success in the early years of organised football in England. Old Etonians were also an amateur club in the 1800’s, winning the trophy twice. Arsenal – Titles: 12 – Last final win: 2015 Manchester United – Titles: 11 – Last final win: 2004 Tottenham Hotspur – Titles: 8 – Last final win: 1991 Liverpool – Titles: 7 – Last final win: 2006 Chelsea – Titles: 7 – Last final win: 2012 Aston Villa – Titles: 7 – Last final win: 1957 Newcastle United – Titles: 6 – Last final win: 1955 Blackburn Rovers – Titles: 6 – Last final win: 1928 Everton – Titles: 5 – Last final win: 1995 West Brom  – Titles: 5 – Last final win: 1968 Manchester City – Titles: 5 – Last final win: 2011 Wanderers – Titles: 5 – Last final win: 1878 Wolves – Titles: 4 – Last final win: 1960 Bolton  – Titles: 4 – Last final win: 1958 Sheffield United – Titles: 4 – Last final win: 1925 Sheffield Wednesday – Titles: 3 – Last final win: 1935 West Ham – Titles: 3 – Last final win: 1980 Preston – Titles: 2 – Last final win: 1938 Old Etonians – Titles: 2 – Last final win: 1882 Portsmouth – Titles: 2 – Last final win: 2008 Sunderland – Titles: 2 – Last final win: 1973 Nottingham Forest – Titles: 2 – Last final win: 1959 Bury – Titles: 2 – Last title win: 1903 + 20 teams on one FA Cup win FA Cup: Individual Records Some of the greatest players have graced the competition, with many having outstanding scoring records. Being such an long-running competition, stretching back to 1871, it is impossible to accurately compile a list of top goalscorers from all rounds across history. However, Liverpool’s Ian Rush has the most goals in FA Cup final history with five, with his goals helping the club to win three FA Cups in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba holds the record for highest number of FA Cup finals scored in with four. The Ivorian was known for turning up in the big games, scoring an incredible 10 goals in 10 finals and winning 10 trophies with the club over nine years and two spells at the London club. Ashley Cole played with Drogba in West London for six years, with the English defender holding the record for most FA Cup winners medals. Cole won seven across his career in England with both


Who composed the 1912 ballet 'Daphnis et Chloe'?

Daphnis et Chloé - Ravel - Dutoit - YouTube Daphnis et Chloé - Ravel - Dutoit Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Oct 6, 2012 Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937) Daphnis et Chloé (1909 - 1912) Ballet in three parts Part I (Une prairie а la lisiére d'un bois sacré) 00:00 - 01. Introduction et Danse religieuse 10:20 - 02. Danse générale 11:51 - 03. Danse grotesque de Dorcon 13:46 - 04. Danse légère et gracieuse de Daphnis 18:11 - 05. Danse de Lycéion 23:10 - 06. Danse lente et mystérieuse des Nymphes (Nocturne) Part II (Camp des pirates)


Flores and Corvo are islands in which group?

Flores and Corvo islands - Flores and Corvo The Azores Flores and Corvo Islands, Azores Flores and Corvo islands Flores and Corvo islands Flores Island The Portuguese discovery of the islands that form the western group probably took place sometime in 1452. It is believed that Diogo de Teive was the navigator responsible for the finding of this “far away” land. The name Flores (Flowers) is believed to be associated to the abundance of natural flowers that the island showcased as soon as the 1470s.  The first efforts to settle Flores were also carried out by the Flemish, namely by Willem van der Haghen, who had initially settled on the island of São Jorge and then tried to settle on a land located further to the west around 1480. In a similar fashion to the rest of the archipelago, the economy was based on cereals for about two centuries, as well as on sheep breeding, the production of cloth and fishing. During the 16th and the 17th centuries, the island lived in tranquillity and isolation, a condition that was threatened by the frequent and unwelcomed visits of privateers. As Europe’s westernmost point, Flores had a highly relevant tactical position and functioned as a strategic location for the logistic support that the Crown provided to ships arriving from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Consequently the island was closely watched by privateers and pirates, whilst they quietly awaited the passing of Spanish galleons filled with precious metals from the Americas and Portuguese carracks from the East. By the mid 18th century, Flores became a safe harbour for the English and North-American whaling fleets, looking for supplies and sailors. This external influence required the construction of bases for the hunting of sperm whales at Lajes das Flores and Santa Cruz das Flores. There are still vestiges of these premises, which were then built for the extraction of oil from the whales. The opening of the airport in 1972 and the construction of modern ports led to a greater integration of the Western Group in the Azores Archipelago. The services sector now supports the island’s economy, employing about 60% of the local workforce, with tourism playing an increasingly larger role. Corvo Island The sighting of the island of Corvo by the Portuguese navigator Diogo de Teive might have occurred in 1452, at the same time as the discovery of the island of Flores. Given its small size, this island did not attract the attention of those who looked forward to settle in the Azores. Its natural, pure state was only broken during the 16th century, when the donatory-captain Gonçalo de Sousa sent a group of slaves, probably from Cape Verde, to Corvo to farm the land and breed cattle. In approximately 1580, some settlers who came from the island of Flores increased the local population. Life in Corvo runs slowly and peacefully, guided by the rhythms of agriculture, fisheries and cattle breeding, to assure the survival of the community. But contrary to assumption, the geographical position of the island allows it to exceed its expected isolation. In fact, Corvo was the reference point where the Portuguese fleets came together to receive the ships coming from the various points of the Portuguese and Spanish Empires and, from there, to escort them safely to mainland Europe. Therefore, at the end of the 16th century and throughout the 17th century, this isolation was broken by the frequent arrival of privateers and pirates looking forward to pillage the land and to capture hostages. They faced a strong resistance in Corvo, and it is quite historic the defeat of the Barbary Corsairs from North Africa in 1632, with the locals throwing stones to repel the invasion. According to legend, in this hard and uneven battle, the local population was helped by the Saint Nossa Senhora do Rosário (Our Lady of the Rosary), who “deflected the bullets fired by the pirates and returned them, in multiple figures, back to the ships of the Moors, thus dispersing them.” Since then, this saint became known as Nossa Senhora dos Milagres (Our Lady of Miracles). During the 1


Who was England's most married queen? She had four husbands.

BBC - History - Elizabeth I: An Overview Elizabeth I: An Overview By Alexandra Briscoe Last updated 2011-02-17 Elizabeth I is considered one of the country's most successful and popular monarchs. Clever, enigmatic and flirtatious, she rewrote the rules of being Queen. But what was Elizabeth really like? And was her success down to her own skill and judgement - or an intuitive grasp of public relations? On this page Print this page A different kind of Queen The reign of Elizabeth I is often thought of as a Golden Age. It was a time of extravagance and luxury in which a flourishing popular culture was expressed through writers such as Shakespeare, and explorers like Drake and Raleigh sought to expand England's territory overseas. This sense of well-being was embodied by Queen Elizabeth who liked to wear sumptuous costumes and jewellery, and be entertained in style at her court. But life in Tudor England did not always reflect such splendour. The sixteenth century was also a time when the poor became poorer, books and opinions were censored, and plots to overthrow the Queen were rife. Elizabeth's ministers had to employ spies and even use torture to gain information about threats to her life. In 1558 the Protestant preacher John Knox wrote, 'It is more than a monster in nature that a woman should reign and bear empire over man.' So was he right? Were women fit to rule the country? The people had lived through the unpopular reign of Mary I, known as 'Bloody Mary' for her merciless persecution of Protestants. Lady Jane Grey was Queen for only a matter of days before being toppled and eventually executed. And Mary Queen of Scots made a series of ill-judged decisions which led her to the executioner's block in 1587. Elizabeth could be as ruthless and calculating as any King before her. Elizabeth was a different kind of Queen: quick-witted, clever and able to use feminine wiles to get her own way. Elizabeth could be as ruthless and calculating as any king before her but at the same time she was vain, sentimental and easily swayed by flattery. She liked to surround herself with attractive people and her portraits were carefully vetted to make sure that no physical flaws were ever revealed. She relied upon the ministers close to her but would infuriate them with her indecision - 'It maketh me weary of life,' remarked one. Faced with a dilemma - for example whether or not to sign the execution warrant of Mary Queen of Scots - Elizabeth would busy herself with other matters for months on end. Only when the patience of her ministers was running short would she be forced to make up her mind. She had a formidable intellect, and her sharp tongue would quickly settle any argument - in her favour. Top Early years The Tower of London    © So what influences had shaped the young Elizabeth? Her mother was the ill-fated Anne Boleyn who had caught the eye of Henry VIII at court. He was soon bewitched by her, arranging to divorce Catherine of Aragon and quickly making Anne his second wife. But her fate was sealed when she failed to provide Henry with what he desperately wanted - a son. Everyone, from court astrologers to Henry himself, was convinced Anne would give birth to a boy. It was a girl, Elizabeth. Henry, beside himself with disappointment, did not attend the christening. When Elizabeth was just two years old her mother was beheaded at the Tower of London. Henry, beside himself with disappointment, did not attend the christening. Elizabeth was brought up in the care of governesses and tutors at Hatfield House and spent her days studying Greek and Latin with the Cambridge scholar, Roger Ascham. In later years Katherine Parr, Henry's sixth wife, took a keen interest in the young Elizabeth and made sure that she was educated to the highest standards. Elizabeth was taught the art of public speaking, unheard of for women at the time. But the ability to address a large number of people, from ministers in Parliament to troops on the battlefield, stood Elizabeth in good stead for the future. She learnt how to turn the tide of opinion in her fa


What was the surname of the British father and son who shared the Nobel Prize for physics in 1915?

The Nobel Prize in Physics 1915 The Nobel Prize in Physics 1915 William Bragg, Lawrence Bragg The Nobel Prize in Physics 1915 Sir William Henry Bragg William Lawrence Bragg Prize share: 1/2 The Nobel Prize in Physics 1915 was awarded jointly to Sir William Henry Bragg and William Lawrence Bragg "for their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays" Photos: Copyright © The Nobel Foundation Share this: To cite this page MLA style: "The Nobel Prize in Physics 1915". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 20 Jan 2017. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1915/>


Norman Cook, known as Fat Boy Slim, began his music career as a member of which chart-topping group?

Fatboy Slim. Biography, news, photos and videos Horoscope : Capricorn "I was a white bloke who liked dance music or 'black music' as it was called back then," he recalls. But the real challenge? He says: "I wanted to make black music without sounding like Simply Red." Born Quentin Cook on July 16, 1963, in Bromley, Kent, the artist currently known as Fatboy Slim was raised in the town of Redhill, Surrey, the son of an MBE-holding environmental consultant dad and a schoolteacher mum. He later studied English, politics and sociology at Brighton Polytechnic, and would make his home in the coastal town. In 1985, he changed his name to Norman and started a career with Caravan Of Love popsters the Housemartins. After leaving the group three years later during which time he had a short-lived marriage to Philippa Watson he topped the charts as part of a number of dance club acts including Beats International, Pizzaman, Mighty Dub Kats and Freakpower, before adopting his latest pseudonym. Norman, who would later earn a place in the Guinness Book Of Records for achieving the most UK Top 40 hits under different names, became Fatboy Slim while DJ-ing at a London club where his pals the Chemical Brothers were also spinning discs. After finding a lack of songs he wanted to hear, he began to create tracks in his home studio "that I wish somebody else had made, but they hadn't". Fatboy's "big beat" sound helped the Brighton musician once again top the UK charts. His Better Living Through Chemistry a nod to his friends the Chemical Brothers and a well-documented predilection for party substances helped him break the international scene in 1997. His 1998 single The Rockefeller Skank marked his mainstream arrival Stateside. "In England I'm a venerable old granddaddy, but in America, it's 'this thrusting new talent'," he says. "It's all quite amusing." With his highly-publicised hedonistic lifestyle, the self-described "happy drunken idiot" seemed to put his private life on the back burner. Until he met radio DJ Zoe Ball, that is. After sparks flew at a 1998 gig, the two got engaged on Valentine's Day, 1999. "My love life has put me into a place where I've never been before," said the love struck artist in May of that year. "I've changed because of Zoe. She's a good influence and keeps me out of trouble. When you're in love, you don't need to slap about so much." The celebrity couple quietly married at a Bath register office in August of that year, following the secret ceremony with a £300,000 bash attended by hundreds of friends and family members. In December 2000, the superstar DJ and his new wife, by then known as a reformed "Queen of the Ladettes" welcomed their son, Woody. Though they quickly gained a reputation as one of the most stable couples on the UK show biz scene, four years down the line the blissful union hit a crisis, with Zoe and Norman announcing a trial separation. "We are determined to try and make it work again," the father-of-one announced, however. And it seems his home life is where the musician is focusing in the future, saying that maintaining his career isn't his first priority. "I don't mind if I'm less successful," he says. "I have been to the mountaintop. If you lose it when you are 40, that is okay. By then I can do the school run every day and coach the kid's football team." © 2000-2017, HELLO!


Which authoress (1890-1969), surname Lamburn, was born in Bury?

Greater Manchester People Greater Manchester People UK Portal - England Top Surnames Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 - 1928) From - (please visit for full citations)  Emmeline Pankhurst (born Emmeline Goulden) (15 July 1858 – 14 June 1928) was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movemen... Greater Manchester People People with connections to Greater Manchester and Family Heads The modern county of Greater Manchester was not created until 1974. Most of today's Greater Manchester lay within the ancient county boundaries of Lancashire; see also Families on Geni The project Historic Manchester covers the History of Manchester and historical/political people. Please add the earliest head of the family to the list of Manchester Families on Geni below and link their profiles to the project. These should be male! Adding anyone with a Greater Manchester birthplace to the project would cause the project to be a little cluttered, so please restrict this to the earliest head of family! Names with Bold links are to Geni profiles. Non-bold links take you to other biographical web pages. Renown people of Greater Manchester The list of people from Greater Manchester, in North West England, is divided by metropolitan borough. The demonym of Greater Manchester is "Greater Mancunian". Manchester A Caroline Aherne - BAFTA award winning actress, comedian and writer, The Mrs Merton Show Daniel Adamson (1820–1890): engineer born in Durham who designed the Manchester Ship Canal. Adamson was one of the directors of the Manchester chamber of commerce and a Justice of the Peace for Cheshire and Manchester. He was buried in Withington Chris Addison - Stand-up comedian, writer and actor Mark Addy (1840–1890): Manchester-born Albert Medal recipient William Harrison Ainsworth - A historical novelist born in Manchester Sir John Alcock - aviator who, with fellow British aviator Arthur Brown, made the first nonstop transatlantic flight Don Arden - Cheetham Hill-born music manager and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath Rob Atha - Table football player Mike Atherton - former England cricket captain and commentator B Max Beesley - English actor and musician. Wes Brown - ex -Manchester United footballer Anthony Burgess (1917–1993): Manchester-born and educated author, poet, playwright, musician, linguist, translator and critic, most famous for his novel A Clockwork Orange C Darren Campbell - former sprinter representing Great Britain John Cassidy, an Irish-born sculptor and painter who lived in Manchester Sir Humphrey Chetham, merchant and benefactor of Chetham's Library, born in Crumpsall Richard Cobden (1804–1865): Sussex-born industrialist who moved to Manchester where he was politically active Roy Collins (1934-2009), cricketer who played for Lancashire and Cheshire, born in Clayton Peter Cundall OA, a horticulturist and television presenter born in Manchester Ian Curtis musician and singer in Joy Division D Les Dawson - comedian born in Collyhurst Arthur Delaney - painter influenced by L. S. Lowry Lee Dixon - former professional footballer and ITV Sport football pundit Robert Donat - film and stage actor. He is best known for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps and Goodbye, Mr. Chips for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor E F Judy Finnigan - Television presenter and columnist. She has usually co-presented with her husband, Richard Madeley, and the two are collectively known, informally, as Richard and Judy G Liam Gallagher lead singer of Manchester band Oasis. Born in Burnage Noel Gallagher - songwriter and lead guitarist for High Flying Birds and formerly Oasis[25] Born in Burnage George Garrett - Submarine pioneer who built Resurgam. Brought up in Moss Side Max George - member of boy band, The Wanted Jimi Goodwin - bassist, vocalist and guitarist for The Doves Holliday Grainger - Didsbury born actress, most known for portraying Lucrezia Borgia in Showtime's The Borgias Trevor Griffiths - dramatist, co-writer of screenplay


What is the unit of weight used to measure gemstones?

Units for weighting Gemstones Home > Gemstones > Units for weighting Gemstones Units for weighting Gemstones Carat This weight is used in the gems trade since ancient times. The name is derived from the seed (kuara) of the African Coral tree or from the kernel (Greek-kertion) of the Carob bean. Since 1907, Europe as well as America, have adopted the metric carat of 200 mg. or 0.2g. Therefore weights given for famous old diamonds often vary because local carats and not metric carats were used. The carat is subdivided into fraction (1/10 ct) or decimals (1.25ct) up to two decimal places. Small diamonds are weighed in "points" = 1/100 cts. (=0.01 cts.). The table below illustrates diameter and corresponding carat weight for diamonds cut in the modern brilliant cut. Gems with different specific gravities and different cuts obviously have different diameters. The carat weight of gems is not to be confused with the karat used by goldsmith. In the case of gold, the karat is not a weight measure, but shows purity. The higher the karatage, the higher is the content of gold in the piece of Jewellery. The weight can differ Gram


How many points make 'game' in rubber bridge?

Rubber Bridge | American Contract Bridge League Chicago Rubber Bridge Scoring As its name suggests, rubber bridge is played in rubbers. A rubber is the best of three games. A game is won by the first team to score 100 or more points for successful contracts, over several deals if necessary. A side which has already won one game toward the current rubber is said to be vulnerable. A side which has not yet won a game is not vulnerable. A side which is vulnerable is subject to higher bonuses and penalties than one that is not. The score is kept on a piece of paper divided into two columns headed WE and THEY, for the two teams, with a horizontal line part-way down (see example). Scores for successful contracts are entered below the line, and count toward winning a game. Other scores, such as bonuses for tricks made in excess of the contract (overtricks), or penalties for tricks short of the contract (undertricks) are entered above the line, and do not count toward winning the game. Score for making the contract For a successful contract, the score below the line for each trick (in excess of six, which is referred to as “book”) bid and made is as follows: If trumps are clubs or diamonds: 20 per trick If trumps are hearts or spades: 30 per trick If notrump: 40 for the first trick, and 30 for each subsequent trick If the contract was doubled the above scores are doubled. If it was doubled and redoubled, they are multiplied by 4. In addition, the declarer’s side scores an extra 50 points above the line if they succeed in a doubled contract. This is sometimes known as “50 for the insult.” For making a redoubled contract the bonus is 100 above the line. Because of the difference in score, clubs and diamonds are called the minor suits, and hearts and spades are the major suits. Slam bonus A contract to make 12 tricks is known as a small slam. A contract to make all 13 tricks is called a grand slam. For bidding and making a slam, declarer’s side gets an extra bonus above the line, depending on their vulnerability, as follows: Slam bonus 1500 Score for overtricks If the declarer’s side wins more tricks than were bid and was not doubled, then in addition to the score below the line for the contract, it scores score for the overtricks above the line at the same rate as for bid tricks, i.e., 20 per trick if a minor suit was trumps; 30 per trick in a major suit or no trumps. If the contract was doubled or redoubled, the bonus for overtricks does not depend on the trump suit, but does depend on whether the declarer’s side was vulnerable as follows: Score per overtrick Redoubled undertricks cost twice as much as doubled undertricks. Honors The top five trumps (A K Q J 10) are called honors. If one player holds all five of these cards, that player’s side scores a bonus of 150 above the line. Four honors in one hand scores 100. If there are no trumps and a player holds four aces, that player’s side scores 150 for honors. As there is no skill in scoring for honors, players often agree to play without the honor bonuses. Game and Rubber A side that accumulates 100 points or more below the line wins a game. A new line is drawn under the scores. Anything the opponents had below the line does not count toward the next game; they start from zero again. It is important to notice that, starting from zero and in the absence of doubles, to make a game in one hand you need to succeed in a contract of at least 3NT, 4, 4, 5 or 5. The side that first wins two games wins the rubber. For this they get a bonus of 700 if they won it two games to zero, or 500 if it was two games to one. Both sides’ scores are then totaled. If the game is played for money (or cookies, or pencils), the side with the higher score wins even if the rubber isn’t won. Example of Rubber Bridge Scoring The scoresheet of a completed rubber might look like this (the letters in brackets refer to the footnotes–they would not appear on the scoresheet): We ===========>   We bid 2 and made 10 tricks—60 below the line for the contract and 60 above for the overtricks. They bid 4, we doubled them,


What is the name of the organic food company founded by Prince Charles?

stumbleupon More StatsView More About Prince Charles The eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II , Charles, Prince of Wales, has a net worth of $210 million. But what is striking about Prince Charles is his being “the champion of sustainable business.” Duchy Originals is an organic food company which was founded by the prince in 1990. The company made a profit of £2.25 million after its joint venture with Waitrose in September 2010. A sum of £625,293 was donated to charity. Duchy Originals had plans to launch the food brand in America and India as part of a five-year plan to quadruple yearly turnover from £50m to £200m. Prince Charles generated most of his income from his inherited landed estate, the Duchy of Cornwall estate. The property was built in 1337 by Edward III for his son and heir, Prince Edward. The main purpose of The Duchy is to provide a secure income for the prince and the future Princes of Wales. Today, this estate has a property portfolio worth over one billion dollars. The Duchy of Cornwall is a 200-square mile of land set in 23 counties. It includes agricultural (Duchy Originals), residential (Poundbury), and commercial properties. According to Prince Charles’ 2011 financial details, he earned £17,796,000, a 4% increase from his Duchy of Cornwall estate. It is interesting to note Prince Charles is also earning 17.9% of Grants-in-Aids and government departments totaling to £1,962,000. Grant-in-Aids include the travel by air and rail on official visits. During the year of 2010 and 2011, Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles spent about £388,000 a 56% increase from previous years. Prince Charles also earned profit from his property deals which grossed to £43 million from years 2001-2006. These profits were generated from the sales of a block of retail shops and farmlands as well as the renovation of the Oval Cricket ground. Indeed, Prince Charles can rest and enjoy his financially supported status being the heir to the throne in England. The Luxurious Life of Prince Charles – Someone to be celebrated for his Social Services From splendid humanitarian socialist to a high profile property holder, Prince Charles has has gathered immense success and popularity from all his doings. Being the eldest child of Elizabeth ll, he clasps with massive responsibilities. As a result, he received the title of “The Prince of Wales” at such a very young age. You might be aware of his education, social efforts, and wedding, but there are several other facts such as luxury, interest, and post-Diana life which many are not aware of. Separation with Diana   Although it was an early age romance between the Prince and Diana, their marriage didn’t last for long. Within only five years of getting married, there were presumed issues between the two. Some said it is because of the 13-year age difference between them wile some blamed Charles’s adulterous affairs with Camilla. But the fact from the inside says that Charles tried to protect his marriage. Also, he used to stay very upset after his separation, and therefore, couldn’t stop himself from attending the funeral of Diana. Luxurious Life You might be aware of Charles luxurious life but do you know up to what extent. The prince has possession of over 10,000 houses around the world and the same number of shops and offices. Apart from this, he also holds a huge portion of land which adds up to his property. Charles suffered a sky-scraping loss on his property in the past few years but in spite of this fact, he still holds a comforting property that is approximately worth £260m in total. Charles is fond of investing more on the social reforms and growth of humanity. How the Prince of Wales Pays the Bills Prince Charles’ income continues to grow while he was working at shrinking his carbon footprint. The Prince of Wales reportedly also has a customized Aston Martin that runs on Wine. The official word from the Prince’s office revealed that Prince Charles had promised to reduce his carbon footprint by as much as 25 percent by using green energy. His mother, Queen E


In which town are the prominent amateur Rugby League teams `Rose Bridge' and `St Patrick's' based?

Internationals Internationals Thursday, 04 December 2014 09:57 Internationals Touch - AJ Barnard / Warren Pretorious Interchanges - Ettienne Collins Barla come into this game after a tough encounter on the Wednesday night and physiology Dennis Sunman has worked hard all week repairing people to get back on the field , Tom Moorby has had to sit out with a injury but all others patched up and ready to go , a decent crowd at grizzley park where their to witness the occasion , on Scott Davidson cored after 10 mins 0-4 , Danny Rowse missed the conversion .some hard decisions went against barla and needed to defend 3 sets , king jinked through the line and Du-preeZ added the extras 6-4 , Lofthouse scored on 22 mins , Parkinson added the extras 4-10 Barla . 31 mins in Barla had a good sequence of passes from one side of pitch to the other but the final ball from singleton to Foulstone was missed to what was a certain try , SA pushed back well and gained 40M up the park with some hard forward work . The arm wrestle continued , Barla received a penalty on 39 mins , Parkinson hammered home the kick , 6-12 , Some hard work from SA and rangey centre Coester crossed and Preez kicked a fine touchline conversion . 12-12 Thats how the half finished 12-12 Second half kicked off and deemed high tackle awarded the SA team a penalty Du Preez opted for the sticks and was successful , 14-12 , barla had Broidy sin binned for a high tackle and SA capitalised immediate Cohen Mzembe crossed on 50 mins , Du Preez missed the goal 18-12 , 56 minutes gone and Barla added a try down the left wing by Parkinson , 18-16 Parkinson missed his own conversion . 63 mins Samaai scored under the posts , du preez added the extras 24-16 , 70 mins SA awarded a penalty close to the line and opted to run the ball , but barla held strong . Barla attacked the SA line and Fairhurst crossed the line on 79 mins , Parkinson missed the goal , 24-20   the game nearly never started when. Power cut right on Ko delayed the game for 7 mins , when the game did start Barla where awarded 3 penalties which carries them up the pitch , 3 mins in a pass from Hayward sent Moorby in on the corner , Roswe added a to this with a touchline conversation 0-6 barla , both team worked hard up the middle but a again BARLA broke the right hand side and this time Hayward joined the line to release Tyson on 12 mins to crops in the right corner this time Rowse missed the conversion  0-10 barla , Danny Fairhurst worked the dummy half well and opted down the blind and threw a face ball to Parkinson who crossed left corner after 19 mins conversion was missed 0-14 Barla , 31 minutes in Parkinson gained some valuable yards with a 30 m dash from half back , Barla then worked it right for Tyson to take a ball from Lynch to cross for his second , conversion missed by Rowse 0-18 , 38 minutes in Huby took a crash ball to burst the line and sold the fullback a copybook dummy , Rowse added the conversion 0-24 . HT 0-24 Second half kicked off and 6 mins into the 2nd half Danny Rowse grounded some excellent possession with a big punt down field barla again regained position and a well worked move and Lyme passed out the back to Huby to crashes over for his second , Rowse again the goal added 0-30 Some swift hand work to the left and 17 mins into second half and Parkinson scored right in the corner , Rowse again missed a difficult kick 0-34 , 26 mins into second half and some good work fro Foulstone and Glenn and Worthington was there to cross the line ,I front of the posts and Rowse added the extras , 0-40 , 3 mins later lofthouse broke the line drew the full back to slip to barla fullback Hayward , Rowse again added the extras 0-46 , Lofthouse gives Barla the half century on 75 mins with a try in the left corner , Rowse hits the post 0-50 . , barlas defence stayed strong to the end and completes a good win in some hot conditions   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BARLA SQUAD TO MEET PRESIDENTS SELECT Barla ha


Which 1985 agreement between many EC states led to the removal of border controls between those countries?

Iqtisadi: The Dominoes Fall: The War in Syria, Europe and Turkey | Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies Iqtisadi: The Dominoes Fall: The War in Syria, Europe and Turkey In this issue of Iqtisadi: Middle East Economy, MDC Senior Researcher Dr. Paul Rivlin examines the demographic, economic, and political implications of the war in Syria for Europe and Turkey. Author:  description:  Syrian and Iraqi Refugees Arrive at Lesbos, Greece / Credit: Ggia, via Wikimedia Commons The war in Syria has resulted in the loss of up to 450,000 lives and some 13.5 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance, including six million children. There are 4.7 million refugees in neighboring countries, including 2.6 million in Turkey, one million in Lebanon, and 600,000 in Jordan. The loss of GDP in Syria was estimated at $275 billion and it will take many years for the country to be reconstructed once the conflict ends. This catastrophe has had effects beyond the Middle East and this edition of Iqtisadi examines the implications for the European Union (EU) and Turkey. The 28 members of the EU and ten Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries – Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria (suspended) and Tunisia – have signed an agreement known as the European Neighborhood Policy. This aimed to achieve the political association and economic integration between the EU and MENA members. While they are separated only by the Mediterranean Sea, the demographic and economic differences are huge. In 2014, the EU had a population of just over 500 million, while MENA states (including Iran and the Gulf Arab states) had over 350 million. After a long period of demographic transition, the countries of the EU are now characterized by low fertility and a dwindling and aging population. This demographic predicament has economic and social consequences, including a shortage of labor. Families in MENA have, on average, twice as many children than those in the EU, which has led to a substantial increase in the number of young people, as well as an overall increase in the total population. Table 1 shows that the contrast is economic as well as demographic. Average income levels in the EU are much higher than in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries listed. The developing countries of MENA (excluding Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE) have a combined GDP of $1.5 trillion, equal to only eight percent of that of the EU. If the list was widened and Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the countries of the Sahel were included, then the gap would be even wider. description:  Table 1: The North-South Gap. The author’s calculation using World Bank data These demographic and economic gaps form very powerful push and pull factors driving the emigration from MENA to Europe, but in recent years they have been overshadowed by the wars that have engulfed MENA and have caused millions to flee to Europe. In 2015, more than a million migrants and refugees fled to Europe, compared with 280,000 in 2014. More than 135,000 people arrived during the first two months of 2016 and it is estimated that two thousand a day are arriving in Greece. Over 80 percent of those who reached Europe by boat in 2015 came from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The refugees aim to reach the richer northern members of the European Union (EU), particularly Germany and Sweden, that had, until recently, liberal policies towards the admittance of refugees. This is taking place against a background of terrorist attacks on European targets by the Islamic State (IS), the latest of which were two attacks in Paris— in January 2015 when 17 people were killed November 2015 when 130 were killed —and Brussels on March 22, 2016, in which more than 30 people were killed. Most of the migrants have fled via Turkey to Greece and then, with increasing difficulty, north towards Germany. The effects of the recent mass migration to Europe have been dramatic with the re-imposition of border controls in much of the EU. In 1985, the Schenge


The song 'O Fortuna' is to be found in which Carl Orff musical work?

Carl Orff - O Fortuna (Carmina Burana) - YouTube Carl Orff - O Fortuna (Carmina Burana) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jan 13, 2014 Full Song Title: O Fortuna by Carl Orff In 1935--36, "O Fortuna" was set to music by the German composer Carl Orff for his twenty-four-movement cantata Carmina Burana. The composition appears in numerous films and television commercials and has become a staple in popular culture, setting the mood for dramatic or cataclysmic situations. Carl Orff (July 10, 1895 -- March 29, 1982) was a 20th-century German composer. In addition to his career as a composer, Orff developed an influential approach toward music education for children. Orff is most known for Carmina Burana (1936), a "scenic cantata". It is the first part of a trilogy that also includes Catulli Carmina and Trionfo di Afrodite. Carmina Burana reflected his interest in medieval German poetry. The trilogy as a whole is called Trionfi, or "Triumphs". The composer described it as the celebration of the triumph of the human spirit through sexual and holistic balance. The work was based on thirteenth-century poetry found in a manuscript dubbed the Codex latinus monacensis found in the Benedictine monastery of Benediktbeuern in 1803 and written by the Goliards; this collection is also known as Carmina Burana. While "modern" in some of his compositional techniques, Orff was able to capture the spirit of the medieval period in this trilogy, with infectious rhythms and simple harmonies. The medieval poems, written in Latin and an early form of German, are often racy, but without descending into smut. "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi", commonly known as "O Fortuna", from Carmina Burana, is often used to denote primal forces, for example in the Oliver Stone movie The Doors. The work's association with fascism also led Pier Paolo Pasolini to use the movement "Veris leta facies" to accompany the concluding scenes of torture and murder in his final film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom. With the success of Carmina Burana, Orff disowned all of his previous works except for Catulli Carmina and the Entrata (an orchestration of "The Bells" by William Byrd (1539--1623)), which were rewritten until acceptable by Orff. Later on, however, many of these earlier works were released (some even with Orff's approval). As an historical aside, Carmina Burana is probably the most famous piece of music composed and premiered in Nazi Germany. Carmina Burana was in fact so popular that Orff received a commission in Frankfurt to compose incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, which was supposed to replace the banned music by Mendelssohn. After several performances of this music, he claimed not to be satisfied with the it and reworked it into the final version that was first performed in 1964. Orff was reluctant to term any of his works simply operas in the traditional sense. For example, he referred to his works Der Mond (The Moon, 1939) and Die Kluge (The Wise Woman, 1943) as "Märchenoper" ("fairytale operas"). Both compositions feature the same "timeless" sound, called timeless because they do not employ any of the musical techniques of the period in which they were composed, with the intent that they be difficult to define as belonging to a particular era. Their melodies, rhythms, and accompanying text form a unique union of words and music. About his Antigonae (1949), Orff said specifically that it was not an opera but rather a Vertonung, a "musical setting", of the ancient tragedy. The text is an excellent German translation, by Friedrich Hölderlin, of the Sophocles play of the same name. The orchestration relies heavily on the percussion section and is otherwise fairly simple. It has been labelled by some as minimalistic, a term which is most pertinent in terms of the melodic line. The story of Antigone has a haunting similarity


The Nazi regime was Germany's Third Reich, which was the First Reich?

The Other Reichs: The First and Second Before Hitler's Third Reich The Other Reichs: The First and Second Before Hitler's Third Reich 18th Century Statue of Charlemagne in the Vatican.  Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons By Robert Wilde Updated July 08, 2016. The German word 'reich' means 'empire', although it can also be translated as government. In 1930's Germany the Nazi party identified their rule as a Third Reich, and in doing so gave English speakers around the world a wholly negative connotation to the word. Some people are surprised to find that the concept, and use, of three reichs is not a solely Nazi idea, but a common component of German historiography. This misconception stems from the use of 'Reich' as totalitarian nightmare, and not as empire. In this article your Guide will examine the institutions referred to as reichs, and explore how they compare. As you can tell, there were two reichs before Hitler made his third, but you might see reference to a fourth... The First Reich: The Holy Roman Empire (800/962 - 1806) Although the name dates to the twelfth century reign of Frederick Barbarossa , the Holy Roman Empire had its origins over 300 years earlier. In 800 AD Charlemagne was crowned emperor of a territory which covered much of western and central Europe; this created an institution that would remain, in one form or another, for over a thousand years. continue reading below our video Profile of Otto von Bismarck The Empire was reinvigorated by Otto I in the tenth century, and his imperial coronation in 962 has also been used to define the start of both the Holy Roman Empire, and the First Reich. By this stage Charlemagne's empire had been divided, and the remainder was based around a set of core territories occupying much the same area as modern Germany. The geography, politics and strength of this empire continued to fluctuate massively over the next eight hundred years, but the imperial ideal, and the German heartland, remained. In 1806 the Empire was abolished by the then Emperor Francis II, partly as a response to the Napoleonic threat. Allowing for the difficulties in summarizing the Holy Roman Empire - which parts of a fluid thousand year history do you select? - it was generally a loose confederation of many smaller, almost independent, territories, with little desire to vastly expand across Europe. It wasn't considered the first at this point, but a follow up to the Roman Empire of the classical world; indeed Charlemagne was meant to be a new Roman leader. The Second Reich: The German Empire (1871 - 1918) The dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, combined with a growing feeling of German nationalism, led to repeated attempts at unifying the multitude of German territories, before a single state was created almost solely by the will of Otto von Bismarck , aided by the military skills of Moltke. Between 1862 and 1871 this great Prussian politician used a combination of persuasion, strategy, skill and outright warfare to create a German Empire dominated by Prussia, and ruled by the Kaiser (who had very little to do with the creation of the empire he would rule). This new state, the Kaiserreich, grew to dominate European politics at the close of the 19th, and start of the 20th, century. In 1918, after defeat in the Great War, a popular revolution forced the Kaiser into abdication and exile; a republic was then declared. This second German Empire was largely the opposite of the Holy Roman, despite having the Kaiser as a similar imperial figurehead: a centralised and authoritarian state which, after the dismissal of Bismarck in 1890, maintained an aggressive foreign policy. Bismarck was one of the geniuses of European history, in no small part because he knew when to stop. The Second Reich fell when it was ruled by people who didn't. The Third Reich: Nazi Germany (1933 - 1945) In 1933, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of the German State, which at that point had been a democracy. Dictatorial powers and sweeping changes soon followed, as democracy disappeared and the count


Sisters Kate and Bianca appear in which of Shakespeare's plays?

SparkNotes: The Taming of the Shrew: Character List The Taming of the Shrew William Shakespeare Plot Overview Analysis of Major Characters Katherine -  The “shrew” of the play’s title, Katherine, or Kate, is the daughter of Baptista Minola, with whom she lives in Padua. She is sharp-tongued, quick-tempered, and prone to violence, particularly against anyone who tries to marry her. Her hostility toward suitors particularly distresses her father. But her anger and rudeness disguise her deep-seated sense of insecurity and her jealousy toward her sister, Bianca. She does not resist her suitor Petruchio forever, though, and she eventually subjugates herself to him, despite her previous repudiation of marriage. Read an in-depth analysis of Katherine. Petruchio -  Petruchio is a gentleman from Verona. Loud, boisterous, eccentric, quick-witted, and frequently drunk, he has come to Padua “to wive and thrive.” He wishes for nothing more than a woman with an enormous dowry, and he finds Kate to be the perfect fit. Disregarding everyone who warns him of her shrewishness, he eventually succeeds not only in wooing Katherine, but in silencing her tongue and temper with his own. Read an in-depth analysis of Petruchio. Bianca -  The younger daughter of Baptista. The lovely Bianca proves herself the opposite of her sister, Kate, at the beginning of the play: she is soft-spoken, sweet, and unassuming. Thus, she operates as Kate’s principal female foil. Because of her large dowry and her mild behavior, several men vie for her hand. Baptista, however, will not let her marry until Kate is wed. Baptista -  Minola Baptista is one of the wealthiest men in Padua, and his daughters become the prey of many suitors due to the substantial dowries he can offer. He is good-natured, if a bit superficial. His absentmindedness increases when Kate shows her obstinate nature. Thus, at the opening of the play, he is already desperate to find her a suitor, having decided that she must marry before Bianca does. Lucentio -  A young student from Pisa, the good-natured and intrepid Lucentio comes to Padua to study at the city’s renowned university, but he is immediately sidetracked when he falls in love with Bianca at first sight. By disguising himself as a classics instructor named Cambio, he convinces Gremio to offer him to Baptista as a tutor for Bianca. He wins her love, but his impersonation gets him into trouble when his father, Vincentio, visits Padua.


Which Impressionist painted 'The Card Players'?

The Card Players, Paul Cezanne: Analysis By Cezanne. Background The Card Players is a series of Impressionist     paintings by the French modernist Paul Cezanne. One of his most ambitious     projects, now seen as an important contribution to modern     art , it occupied him for several years. Please note that the term     'Impressionist' is used here in a general sense, to describe a loose,     almost unfinished style of painting, rather than Monet's spontaneous type     of plein-air art. For more, see: Characteristics     of Impressionism (1870-1930). Although painted during Cezanne's final     period, they represent some of the greatest     genre paintings of the French School. There are five versions in the series, each varying in content and size: one is in a private     collection, the others are in the Musee d'Orsay, the Courtauld     Gallery, the Barnes Foundation, and the Metropolitan Museum     of Art. The privately held version was bought in 2011 by the Royal     Family of Qatar for a sum estimated to be between $250 million and $300     million. Cezanne also executed a number of preparatory oils and drawings for the series, including: Study for The Card Players 189092,     Rhode Island School of Design Museum); Man with a Pipe (study for     The Card Players) (1890-2, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City); Study for The Card Players 1890-2, Worcester Art Museum, MA); and Man in a Blue Smock (1891-97, Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas).     Cezanne is famous for his still     life painting , and art historians believe that he chose the subject     of cards because the people playing the game were essentially a form of human still life. He was also probably influenced by the Nain     Brothers (1599-1677) whose Card Players (c.1642) was in the     collection of his local art museum in Aix-en-Provence. Analysis of The     Card Players paintings by Cezanne Each painting in Cezanne's series shows     two or more Provencal peasants quietly smoking their pipes and playing     cards. They were mostly modelled on workers from the Cezanne family estate     known as Le Jas de Bouffan, many of whom came to sit for him over     the years, including an old gardener known as 'le pere Alexandre' and     a farm worker by the name of Paulin Paulet - both of whom appear in the     two card-player versions of the subject. At any rate, unlike the     drunken, rowdy peasants memorialized in the seventeenth century paintings     of the Dutch     Realist School of genre painting (1600-1700), Cezanne's peasants are     all studiously intent on the card game in front of them, and make no attempt     at conversation. There is no excitement or melodrama. On the contrary,     Cezanne's figure painting conveys     a sense of timless tranquility throughout the series. In his book "Cezanne.     A Study of His Development" (1927), the art critic Roger     Fry (1866-1934), a leading authority on Post-Impressionism ,     described Cezanne's card players as having such an extraordinary sense     of monumental gravity that they have found their true centre and can never     be moved.   The Five Versions Art historians believe that the series     was completed between 1892 and 1896 but remain undecided about the order in which the five versions were painted. Initially it was thought either     that he began with the larger paintings and gradually got smaller, or     else he started with the most figures (five) and ended with the three     versions with only two figures. However, recent research, including x-ray     tests - indicates that he painted them in size order, going from small     to large. If so, they are likely to have been painted in the following     order: 1. The Card Players ( Musee     d'Orsay, Paris ) Number of figures: two Number of cardplayers: two Size: 47.5 × 57 cm We know how irrita


Who is the presenter of TV programme Dragons Den?

Dragons’ Den Presenter | Dragons’ Den Investors and get funding for your business...   Dragons’ Den Presenter Dragons’ Den has been one of the most successful reality TV show series in Britain ever since it first aired 6 years back. The show is based on a show of the same name originally aired in Japan. Dragons’ Den has had many versions of the show in different countries around the globe. Dragons’ Den provides a platform to all those budding enterprisers, who want to make it big in the enterprising world with their unique business concept, however lag the finances to take their idea to the next level. The participants participate in Dragons’ Den and pitch about their unique business concept to the ‘dragons’ that are multi millionaire venture capitalists on the show, looking for the right investment opportunity themselves. Before pitching on the Dragons’ Den, the contestants have to let the ‘dragons’ know about the investment sum they are seeking from them as well as the equity percentage they are ready to offer in return for the same. The aim of the show is securing the investment amount that they had asked for in the least, from either one or more panel members at the Dragons’ Den. If the participants fail to secure the total sum asked for, then they would have to leave Dragons’ Den with no investment. The judges’ team at the Dragons’ Den is made up of five very powerful and successful entrepreneurs who have loads of experience backing them.  It’s always advisable, before entering Dragons’ Den with you business concept, to do a proper and thorough homework and study of your business plan, because the ‘dragons’ at the Dragons’ Den are not ordinary people; if they plan on investing in your business idea, they need to know how successful would it be in the market and who the consumers will be as well as the realistic figures of the business in the future. Dragons’ Den has been presented by Evan Harold Davis, who is a journalist and an economist in Britain. Dragon’ Den presenter replaced Peter Jay in 2001 to be an economics editor with BBC. He quit his job as an economics editor in the year 2008 and became a presenter on one of the radio programs on BBC Radio. Evan is Dragons’ Den presenter as well as a presenter for another business based show on TV in Britain. This Dragons’ Den presenter was raised in Surrey. Evans studied Economics, Politics and Philosophy from the year 1981 to 1984 at the St John’s College in Oxford and later on he got his MPA at the Harvard University. When this Dragons’ Den presenter was studying at the Oxford University, Evan was the editor of students’ newspaper at his college. Evan Davis, the Dragons’ Den presenter worked at the Fiscal Studies Institute as an economist and when he was working there, he also helped in the work of the officials on development of the system Poll Tax. Evan, the Dragons’ Den presenter went to the London Business  School in the year 1988 and he wrote for their publication. In the year 1993, this Dragons’ Den presenter entered BBC and worked as a correspondent of economics with them. Evans worked with them as an economics editor for a program on their channel from the year 1997 till 2001. Around the mid 90’s, this Dragons’ Den presenter was also an Advisory Council member at Social Market Foundation. Evan is also an American-British successor generation project member. When this Dragons’ Den presenter was an economics editor at BBC, he was also taking care of analysing and reporting the development in economy on many programs on television and over the radio. Davis, the Dragons’ Den presenter also played a part defining the wide reporting of economics on BBC through out the outputs of the corporation, including online. Evan Davis, Dragons’ Den presenter, also blogged for the website of BBC where he made an attempt to know the actual world, with the economics tool kit. The subjects that this Dragons’ Den presenter discussed in the blog included caring for the old people, road pricing, and budget as well as choosing wine. T


From 1956 until his death in 2008 in which country did Arthur C Clarke live?

Sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90 - Technology & science - Space | NBC News Sci-fi guru Arthur C. Clarke dies at 90 Known for ‘2001’ and tech predictions; asked for secular funeral Below: Advertise Sanka Vidanagama  /  AFP - Getty Images file Science-fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, seen here in this photograph taken at his home in Sri Lanka in December 2007, has died at the age of 90 after suffering breathing problems, an aide says. updated 3/19/2008 11:32:09 AM ET 2008-03-19T15:32:09 - COLOMBO, Sri Lanka  — Even in death, Arthur C. Clarke would not compromise his vision. The famed science fiction writer, who once denigrated religion as “a necessary evil in the childhood of our particular species,” left written instructions that his funeral be completely secular, according to his aides. “Absolutely no religious rites of any kind, relating to any religious faith, should be associated with my funeral,” he wrote. Clarke died early Wednesday at age 90 and was to be buried in a private funeral this weekend in his adopted home of Sri Lanka. Clarke, who had battled debilitating post-polio syndrome for years, suffered breathing problems in recent days, aide Rohan De Silva said. The visionary author won worldwide acclaim with more than 100 books on space, science and the future. The 1968 story “2001: A Space Odyssey” — written simultaneously as a novel and screenplay with director Stanley Kubrick — was a frightening prophecy of artificial intelligence run amok. One year after it made Clarke a household name in fiction, the scientist entered the homes of millions of Americans alongside Walter Cronkite anchoring television coverage of the Apollo mission to the moon. Clarke also was credited with the concept of communications satellites in 1945, decades before they became a reality. He became known as the "godfather" of the satellite revolution. Geosynchronous orbits, which keep satellites in a fixed position relative to the ground, are called Clarke orbits. Advertise Fiction vs. nonfiction His nonfiction volumes on space travel and his explorations of the Great Barrier Reef and Indian Ocean earned him respect in the world of science, and in 1976 he became an honorary fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. But it was his writing that shot him to his greatest fame and that gave him the greatest fulfillment. “Sometimes I am asked how I would like to be remembered,” Clarke said recently. “I have had a diverse career as a writer, underwater explorer and space promoter. Of all these, I would like to be remembered as a writer.” From 1950, he began a prolific output of both fiction and nonfiction, sometimes publishing three books in a year. A statement from Clarke’s office said he had recently reviewed the final manuscript of his latest novel. “The Last Theorem,” co-written with Frederik Pohl, will be published later this year, it said. Some of his best-known books are “Childhood’s End,” 1953; “The City and The Stars,” 1956; “The Nine Billion Names of God,” 1967; “Rendezvous with Rama,” 1973; “Imperial Earth,” 1975; and “The Songs of Distant Earth,” 1986. When Clarke and Kubrick got together to develop a movie about space, they looked for inspiration to several of Clarke’s shorter pieces. As work progressed on the screenplay, Clarke also wrote a novel of the story. He followed it up with “2010,” “2061,” and “3001: The Final Odyssey.” "2010" was made into a film sequel, and Clarke's legacy in the movies may well continue after his death: A film adaptation of "Rendezvous With Rama" has been in development for years, with actor Morgan Freeman as producer and star. How Clarke inspired space exploration Clarke's fiction inspired real-life space exploration. After the first moon landing in 1969 — an event Clarke predicted decades earlier — NASA Administrator Tom Paine said in an inscription to the writer that he "provided the essential intellectual drive that led us to the moon." Clarke's 1979 novel, "The Fountains of Paradise," helped spark the real-world efforts to build a space elevator from Earth to orbit. T


Which film saw Sean Connery's last portrayal of James Bond?

7 James Bond Movies Starring Sean Connery Buy from Amazon In 1962, the movie-going world was introduced to James Bond, a British secret agent with a devil-may-care attitude and license to kill, and with it the success of the spy movie in the 1960s was born. In this first film, Bond is sent to Jamaica to investigate the death of a fellow British agent, only to encounter deadly assassins, a sexy femme fatale and even a poisonous tarantula. With the help of CIA agent Felix Leiter and the bikini-clad Honey Rider - who makes an unforgettable entrance - Bond searches for the headquarters of the fanatical Dr. No, a Chinese scientist bent on world domination. Made on a low budget, Dr. No was a big box office hit and laid the cornerstone for what would become the most successful film franchise in history. Check Amazon rating » continue reading below our video Actors Who Have Played James Bond MGM Home Entertainment Buy from Amazon Undeniably the gold standard of Bond films, Goldfinger set forth the template for all other 007 pictures: theme song sung by a popular artist, a focus on high-tech gadgets – in this case an Aston Martin complete with ejector seat – and a maniacal arch-villain who spouts campy one-liners while devising Rube Goldberg-like methods of trying to kill Bond. That’s not to say any of this is bad; Goldfinger is a wildly entertaining movie that introduced a lethal hat-throwing henchman called Oddjob and the sultry villainess Pussy Galore. It was a clear departure from the first two films and set the stage for increasingly flashier productions, setting the precedent that each subsequent film had to surpass its predecessor. Check Amazon rating » MGM Home Entertainment Buy from Amazon While on location in Japan, Connery publicly announced that he would be retiring from the role after five movies. In the film, Bond takes on the head of SPECTRE, Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Donald Pleasance), in an effort to prevent a world war after a mysterious rocket ship seizes manned space missions from Earth’s orbit. For the first time, Blofeld’s face was revealed on screen – only his hands and back of his head were seen in From Russia with Love and Thunderball – while the movie continued the trend of shifting away from the real-world espionage of the earlier movies toward the campy world-domination plots that defined the Roger Moore era. Check Amazon rating » MGM Home Entertainment Buy from Amazon In 1971, Connery famously said that he would never play Bond again. Fast-forward 12 years and he agreed to return for one final performance. Never Say Never Again was the only Bond film not produced by Broccoli and Saltzman’s Eon Productions. Instead it was written and produced by Kevin McClory, who managed to retain rights to Fleming’s novel, Thunderball, after a lengthy legal battle. Essentially a remake of Thunderball, the movie saw an aging Bond brought out of retirement to do battle with megalomaniacal millionaire Maximillian Largo, who steals several nuclear warheads in order to bring the world to its knees. The film opened mere months after Roger Moore ’s Octapussy, and set a record for the best opening for a Bond film. It also was a return to form for Connery after the silliness of Diamonds Are Forever, and allowed him to depart the character on a high note. Check Amazon rating »


What is the nickname of TV presenter Richard Hammond?

BBC NEWS | UK | England | North Yorkshire | TV presenter suffers brain injury TV presenter suffers brain injury Richard Hammond is seriously ill in a Leeds hospital Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has suffered a "significant brain injury" after crashing a jet-powered car at speeds of up to 300mph during filming. Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary said they were "reasonably optimistic" the 36-year-old would make a good recovery. The BBC, which is likely to face close scrutiny, has begun an inquiry. The police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are also investigating. Event organisers insisted that proper safety precautions were taken. Scene of Richard Hammond's crash at Elvington airfield Enlarge Image Hammond's wife Mindy was at his bedside in the Leeds hospital and he was also visited by Top Gear co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May. Referring to Hammond by his nickname, Clarkson said in statement: "Both James and I are looking forward to getting our 'hamster' back." The presenter had been driving a jet-powered dragster similar to the Vampire - used by Colin Fallows to set the British land speed record of 300.3mph. Primetime Land Speed Engineering, which is jointly run by Fallows, organised the event. A spokesman for the firm said the vehicle Hammond was driving "had been prepared and was being operated to the highest of standards". The audience and the TV producers want you as a presenter to be there, on the inside Steve Berry Top Gear's chequered past Keith King, an inspector for the HSE, said it was a "very unusual case", adding that the executive would look at the preparation and planning of the event and contingencies for an emergency. Meanwhile, Supt Martin Deacon of North Yorkshire police, said his officers would initially focus on the road and the vehicle. On Thursday afternoon, the dragster was lifted on to the back of a lorry and taken away for forensic examination at an undisclosed location. 'Speed obsession' The BBC said in a statement that it had begun an investigation into the accident and promised full co-operation with the HSE. "We continue to be concerned about [Hammond's] condition and we are keeping in touch with his family," the statement said. Vampire Acceleration: 0 to 272mph in 6 seconds Engine: Rolls Royce Orpheus Fuel economy: 7-10 gallons per mile Weight: 2,200 lbs (998kg) Enlarge Image Top Gear has courted controversy in the past over its big-budget car stunts, and in 1999 a group of MPs criticised the series for being "obsessed with acceleration and speed". Last year, lobby group Transport 2000 called for the show to be taken off the air accusing it of "glamorising speed and failing to make the connection with danger on the roads". At the time, Hammond defended the programme, saying: "Top Gear is an entertaining show, for people that are interested in cars, that is driven by people who have been motoring journalists for many, many years." Hammond had to be cut free from the car on Wednesday evening after eyewitnesses at the Elvington airfield near York described how he "veered off to the right" and the car's parachutes were deployed. A website set up for well-wishers to make donations to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which airlifted Hammond to hospital, has so far raised more than ï¿½4,000.


In which country does the factual series Ice Road Truckers take place?

Reality trucking shows: Truckers ask, "Where's the reality?" - TheTrucker.com - America's Trucking Newspaper Reality trucking shows: Truckers ask, "Where's the reality?" Reality trucking shows: Truckers ask, "Where's the reality?" Wednesday, May 29, 2013 by Aprille Hanson Lisa Kelly, a star in the History Channel series "Ice Road Truckers," speaks at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., this spring. Editor's note: This article was first published in the May 15-31 issue of The Trucker newspaper. While television audiences might be entertained by the extreme antics of the men on “Big Rig Bounty Hunters” or by the hair-raising, treacherous situations the drivers on “Ice Road Truckers” face, most average truck drivers agree that that is all the trucking shows on television truly are – entertainment. “I don't like any of the shows,” John Fahrion said on The Trucker Facebook page. “They attempt to paint a picture of the stereotypical trucker. The shows make the truckers look like buffoons. How can we get any respect from the general public when they think this is how we really act?” Several truckers responded to The Trucker Facebook page post asking if trucking television shows are an accurate portrayal of the industry. Most gave a resounding “No,” that life on the road isn’t what’s considered reality on the small screen. “I've been trucking 25 years and I can't sit through any of the reality trucking shows,” John Highley commented. “Other than having trucks in them, they don't have much of anything that resembles real trucking.” The inaccuracies about the trucking industry being played out for the world can lead some unsuspecting viewers to bite off a bigger career than they can chew. “Had a trainee once who thought it'd be cool to drive just like in the movie, ‘Black Dog.’ He quit pretty quick once reality set in,” Robert Cooper posted. “Slinging chains on a steel load in -20-degree Fahrenheit weather just off Lake Huron apparently wasn't in the movie. …” While most truckers agree that negative stereotypes are continuing to be enforced by the shows, Charlotte Ground said they’re at least shining a much-needed light on the industry. “Trucking is one of the hardest jobs and least respected not only by receivers but employers,” Ground said. “I like the shows because it’s helping increase respect for truckers but it doesn’t even touch the surface on the difficulties and hardships faced.” Jeff Tingle posted that television is finally portraying truckers as “decent human beings,” even with some of the crazy characters thrown in. “Hopefully these shows will get those not in our industry to understand our challenges. We need all the help we can get to rid the public of all the old stereotypes,” Tingle said. “As diverse as trucking is, I'd say that pretty much everything I've seen is accurate, even if it doesn't represent my style or kind of trucking.” Here’s a breakdown of some of the top trucking shows and truckers views on them: BIG RIG BOUNTY HUNTERS Premiered: February 2013 AIRS: Thursdays, 8 p.m. / 7 p.m. Central; full episodes online at history.com Synopsis:  History’s most recent trucking show, “Big Rig Bounty Hunters,” follows four different groups of men – and one “Lone Wolf” as he’s called – who find tractor-trailers that have been abandoned or stolen to either retrieve the goods or get them to their proper destination on-time. On History’s website the show is explained: “In Big Rig Bounty Hunters, History tracks five groups of colorful characters along a perilous competition to retrieve the missing loads while facing a ticking clock and life-threatening duty. A day in the life of a truck hunter is never easy, but the dollar signs keep these truckers hunting.” The “colorful characters” are the vets, desert dogs, the lone wolf, Jersey boys, Texans and ex-cons. With bad grammar and bad teeth prevalent, the truck hunters may be entertaining, but also feed into unpleasant trucker stereotypes, according to drivers on The Trucker Facebook page. “‘Big Rig Bounty Hunters’ is so fake,” Bruce Shealy posted. “Pathetic sh


HBOS - What does HBOS stand for? The Free Dictionary HBOS - What does HBOS stand for? The Free Dictionary http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/HBOS HBOS Halifax Bank of Scotland Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Write what you mean clearly and correctly. References in periodicals archive ? City watchdogs will look at taking potential further action against former HBOS senior management - including ex-chief executives Andy Hornby and James Crosby, as well as past chairman Lord Stevenson - after a report by barrister Andrew Green blasted former regulators for failing to investigate a raft of executives.


Which retail company used Julie Walters in its adverts?

Video: Watch: All the best Christmas adverts from 2015 - Telegraph Follow Now it's November, expect your tellies and social media feeds to be packed full of minute-long videos reminding you of the kind of familial and festive love that makes you part with lots of money. We'll be collecting all the best adverts from this year to make it easier to figure out which company wins Christmas 2015 – and to see how they stack up against the giants of yesteryear . Grab your tissues, here we go. In alphabetical order: Aldi "Reindeer on rooftops and brandy cream pouring" begins the discount supermarket's version of My Favourite Things from the Sound of Music. Argos Invoking the powers of both Frozen and Minions, which last year was the most viral Christmas advert , Argos' offering shows people skiing and zorbing down a mountain to promote the retaler's fastest service ever. Asda Asda's advert, created by VCCP, celebrates the things we do "because it's Christmas" – from covering our houses in fairy lights to grabbing that opportunity underneath the mistletoe. As Martine McCutcheon's Natalie says in Love Actually, if you can't do it at Christmas, when can you? The ad, which ends with Asda's traditional pocket tap, features X Factor runner-up Fleur East's debut single Sax ahead of its release on November 6. Body Shop "'Tis the season of the shower-ballad," apparently. The Body Shop's Christmas ad is a collection of clips of people singing Jingle Bells in the shower. Bare bums and all. Boots There wasn't a dry eye in the house after Boots' advert last year , which showed a family coming together early on Boxing Day so they can celebrate Christmas with their mother, a nurse coming off the night shift. This year's ad is a jollier, sparklier affair, showing all of the beauty gifts availale at Boots. Burberry In his second year as the Christmas face of Burberry, Romeo Beckham is joined by a host of celebrities including Julie Walters, Elton John, James Corden, Naomi Campbell and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. This year's Burberry campaign is a homage to Billy Elliott , recreating the film's opening scene to mark the 15th anniversary of its release. Cadbury The chocolate maker has created a "Cadvent calendar", with 24 trucks rolling out across the country, opening their doors daily throughout December bringing treats to the UK's local confectionary lovers. Carphone Warehouse "Keith Lemon in the outback – it's as wrong as being on the wrong phone deal," says Carphone Warehouse's chief marketing officer Julian Diment. Coca-Cola The iconic "Holidays are Coming" jingle has been gracing our screens for 20 years now. To celebrate the occasion, Matt Smith, a 28-year-old professional truck driver from Andover in Hampshire, was the first member of the public ever to get behind the wheel of the Coca-Cola Christmas truck. Currys PC World Jeff Goldblum, star of The Fly and Jurassic Park, makes a comical appearance in Currys PC World's Spare The Act campaign, created by AMV BBDO. The Oscar-nominated 1980s heart-throb comes to the rescue when a woman fails to hide her disappointment upon getting an uninspiring gift from her husband and a family struggles to swallow a charred turkey, giving them a master class in acting. Debenhams Following last year's "Found It" campaign, which featured children running around Debenhams store looking for their presents, the retailer has focused on finding the perfect gift to send to your loved ones. Halfords If it looks familiar, it's because Halfords ran a similar advert last year. But if it ain't broke... the ad was well received for its simple and nostalgic reminder of childhood. As the ad asks, does anything beat a bike? Harrods The animated mice are back. Peter Pumpernickel and Poppy Peasprout find themselves in the middle of a ballet troupe performing in the windows of Harrods. Harvey Nichols Harvey Nicks coins the term "gift face", or that stiff-cheeked frozen smile that comes from receiving too many terrible presents. House of Fraser 'Tis the season to drop beats do Christmas in your own style, whether that's partying


Which famous mountain is known as the Six Grandfathers to the Lakota Sioux Indians?

Six Grandfathers Mountain | Gypsy Road Trip American History Shall March Along That Skyline Six Grandfathers Mountain, now known as Mount Rushmore, was spiritual home to the Lakota Sioux Indians. Many of the Sioux were insulted by the building of the Memorial on their sacred land. Add to that the fact that the monument celebrates the Europeans, who killed so many of their tribesmen as well as appropriating their land, and it is no wonder there is still controversy between the Sioux and the US government today. As far back at 1923, the people of the Black Hills region of South Dakota were searching for an idea to bring tourists to their part of the country. After seeing samples of carvings done by Gutzon Borglum, he was invited by historian Doane Robinson, The Father of Mount Rushmore, to the Black Hills so they could find an acceptable place for a large carving.  After dismissing the idea of using the Needles range, they settled on the granite faced Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota. The granite was relatively free of fractures, and it also faced southeast for more sun exposure. When the selection was made, sixty year old Borglum remarked, “American history shall march along that skyline.” For one hour each evening, Mount Rushmore, The Presidents’ Mountain, is illuminated with steadily increasing lights that make this carving glow in brilliant splendor. The four presidential faces shown on this 1989 postcard are from left to right: George Washington, the father of our country; Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Constitution, and instrumental in the Louisiana Purchase; Theodore Roosevelt, champion of conservation; and Abraham Lincoln, leader during the Civil War. Today we can see the results of Gutzon Borglum’s  guidance of approximately four hundred workers, including his son,  from 1927-1941.  The four sixty foot likenesses of the faces rest on 1,278 acres. Original plans were to sculpt them down to the waists, but that idea was cancelled due to insufficient funds. Upon his death, Gutzon’s son, Lincoln Borglum, was in charge of completing the project, but he basically left it as the monument appeared upon his father’s death. Today you can visit the Lincoln Borglum Museum where a film provides an introduction to the memorial site plus historic exhibits.  Take a lunch break at Carvers’  Cafe where you might find on the menu tasty dishes such as Jeffersonian Gourmet Salad or Teddy’s Bison Chili. If you are lucky, you can sit at a table by the large wall of windows, which provides a great view of Mount Rushmore. The Sculptor’s Studio displays the unique plaster models used prior to sculpting on the mountain side, as well as the tools used while carving. A recent addition is the Native American Heritage Village devoted to Indian culture and the Indians’ place in local history. For another close-up view of the mountain, take the scenic chairlift ride through the Ponderosa pines. Views are spectacular and there is a park at the summit as well as a small outdoor grille.  You must be careful getting on and off as the chairlift stops for no one.  You do get a unique view of the presidential faces as well as enjoying the feeling of flying up the mountainside on the chairlift. Coming down you can either return on the chairlift or descend on the Alpine Slide.  This new slide is 2000 feet long and you are able to control the speed downhill on a wheeled sled with brakes. So it is up to you!  Either take a slow and leisurely ride down, or get a rush of excitement. On the side of the mountain behind the faces is an interesting tunnel called the Hall of Records. In 1998, they began construction of a vault there that would hold sixteen porcelain enamel panels.  On these panels are: text of The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, biographies of the four presidents, and a short history of the United States.  All this is being done to preserve our present history for future generations. At this time, the Hall of Records is not accessible to the public. Here at Mount Rushmore, you and your family can have a great educat


Who was Britain's youngest Olympian at the 2008 games?

Youngest Olympian dives into record books | Metro News Youngest Olympian dives into record books metrowebukmetro Sunday 24 Feb 2008 9:07 pm A boy of just 13 will become Britain’s youngest ever male Olympian when he competes at the Beijing Games this summer. Tom Daley qualified for the 2008 Olympiad after winning bronze in the synchronised 10m (30ft) dive at the FINA Diving World Cup yesterday. ‘I’m absolutely over the Moon â I can’t believe I’ve done it,’ said Tom. ‘Just going to the Olympic Games is enough â but to be the youngest ever male Olympian is phenomenal.’ The teenager from Plymouth, who trains four hours a day during school term-time and six hours a day during the holidays, said his success was down to his gruelling regime and (mainly) balanced diet – although he admits to enjoying the occasional Pot Noodle. A dedicated competitor, he gets up first thing in the morning for extra practice. Tom, who will be 14 years and 81 days when the Games begin in August, will take the record for youngest British male Olympian from another diver, Fred Hodges. He was 15 years and 94 days old at the start of the 1936 Berlin Games. More