In the human body, adductors and abductors are types of what?

adductor muscle | anatomy | Britannica.com Adductor muscle biceps muscle Adductor muscle, any of the muscles that draw a part of the body toward its median line or toward the axis of an extremity (compare abductor muscle ), particularly three powerful muscles of the human thigh— adductor longus, adductor brevis, and adductor magnus. Originating at the pubis and the ischium (lower portions of the pelvis—the hipbone), these ribbonlike muscles are attached along the femur (thighbone). Their primary action is adduction of the thigh, as in squeezing the thighs together; they also aid in rotation and flexion of the thigh. Other muscles named for this function include the adductor pollicis, which draws in and opposes the thumb, and the adductor hallucis, which acts on the great toe. Learn More in these related articles: abductor muscle any of the muscles that cause movement of a limb away from the midplane of the body or away from a neighbouring part or limb, as in raising the arms to the side (effected by the deltoideus muscle) or spreading the fingers or toes. In man certain muscles of the hands and feet are named for... Mollusks ...of the foot, gastropod and bivalve mollusks have large muscles attached to their shells. The columellar (shell) muscles of gastropods pull the foot and other parts of the body into the shell. The adductor muscles of bivalves (Figure 4) shorten to close the shell or relax to allow the shell to spring open, enabling the mollusk to extend its foot or to feed. The... Muscles that work skeletons ...4A) are hinged together. They can be closed to protect the animal within or allowed to open. A block of rubbery protein, the inner hinge ligament, lies just inside the hinge. When the adductor muscle contracts, it closes the shell, but, in so doing, it compresses the inner hinge ligament. When it relaxes, the ligament recoils elastically, reopening the shell. This is an unusual... 4 References found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference function in vertebrate muscle systems  (in muscle: Comparative anatomy ) mollusks form in bivalves  (in bivalve: External features ) External Links Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: April 17, 2009 URL: https://www.britannica.com/science/adductor-muscle Access Date: December 31, 2016 Share


Which lake in Canada has the same name as a constellation?

Constellations: Frequently Asked Questions Constellations: Frequently Asked Questions Throughout the centuries, people have looked to the stars to help them navigate across open oceans or featureless  deserts, know when to plant and harvest, and preserve their myths and folklore. Ancient peoples used the appearance  or disappearance of certain stars over the course of each year to mark the changing seasons. To make it easier to "read" this celestial calendar, they grouped the brighter stars into readily recognizable shapes, the constellations. Table of the Constellations (or preformated version ) Activity Corner: build Orion How many constellations are there? Astronomers officially recognize 88 constellations covering  the entire sky in the northern and southern hemispheres.  Currently, 14 men and women, 9 birds, two insects, 19 land animals, 10 water creatures, two centaurs, one head of hair, a serpent, a dragon, a flying horse, a river and 29 inanimate objects are represented in the night sky (the total comes to more than 88 because some constellations include more than one creature.) It is important to realize that the great majority of star patterns bear little, if any, resemblance to the figures they are supposed to represent and whose name they bear. The ancient constellation-makers probably meant for them to be symbolic, not literal, representations of their favorite animals or fabled heroes, a kind of celestial "Hall of Fame." Who invented them? Our modern constellation system comes to us from the ancient Greeks. The oldest description of the constellations as we know them comes from a poem, called Phaenomena, written about 270 B.C. by the Greek poet Aratus. However, it is clear from the poem that the constellations mentioned originated long before Aratus' time. No one is sure exactly where, when, or by whom they were invented. And yet a little detective work reveals a plausible origin. The first clue is that Aratus' constellations did not include any near the south celestial pole (the point on the celestial sphere directly above the Earth's south pole) because that area of the sky was always below the horizon of the ancient constellation-makers. From the size of this uncharted area of the sky, we can determine that the people responsible for the original constellations lived near a latitude of 36° north -- south of Greece, north of Egypt, but similar to the latitude of the ancient Babylonians and Sumerians. In addition, the constellation-free zone is not centered exactly on the south celestial pole. Because of a "wobble" of the Earth's axis of rotation, the position of the celestial poles changes slowly with time, a phenomenon known as precession.  The uncharted area is centered on the place in the sky where the south celestial pole would have been around the year 2000 B.C. This date matches the time of the Babylonians and Sumerians. Thus it seems likely the Greek constellations originated with the Sumerians and Babylonians. From there, knowledge  of the constellations somehow made its way to Egypt (perhaps through the Minoans on Crete who had contact with the Babylonians and settled in Egypt after an explosive volcanic eruption destroyed their civilization), where early Greek scholars first heard about the constellations and wrote about them. In 150 A.D., the Greek scientist Ptolemy published a book, known by its Arabic name, The Almagest , which contained a summary of Greek astronomical knowledge, including a catalog of 1022 stars, with estimates of their brightness, arranged into 48 constellations. These 48 formed the basis for our modern constellation system. Over the years, astronomers have added constellations to fill in the gaps between Ptolemy's figures and map the uncharted regions of the sky near the south celestial pole. Major contributors of new constellations included Dutch cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1551 and Pieter Keyser and Frederick de Hautmann, navigators aboard some of the first trading expeditions to the East Indi


In Greek legend, who, the last king of Troy, was the father of Hector and Paris?

Hector | Greek mythology | Britannica.com Greek mythology Hecuba Hector, in Greek legend , the eldest son of the Trojan king Priam and his queen Hecuba . He was the husband of Andromache and the chief warrior of the Trojan army. In Homer’s Iliad he is represented as an ideal warrior and the mainstay of Troy . His character is drawn in most favourable colours as a good son, a loving husband and father, and a trusty friend. His leave-taking of Andromache in the sixth book of the Iliad, and his departure to meet Achilles for the last time, are movingly described. He is an especial favourite of Apollo , and later poets even described him as son of that god. His chief exploits during the Trojan War were his defense of the wounded Sarpedon, his fight with Ajax , son of Telamon (his particular enemy), and the storming of the Greek ramparts. When Achilles , enraged with Agamemnon , deserted the Greeks, Hector drove them back to their ships, which he almost succeeded in burning. Patroclus , the friend of Achilles, who came to the help of the Greeks, was slain by Hector with the help of Apollo. Then Achilles, to revenge his friend’s death, returned to the war, slew Hector, dragged his body behind his chariot to the camp, and afterward round the tomb of Patroclus. Aphrodite and Apollo preserved it from corruption and mutilation. Priam , guarded by Hermes, went to Achilles and prevailed on him to give back the body, which was buried with great honour. Hector was afterward worshipped in the Troad and also at Tanagra, east of Thebes . King Priam of Troy mourning over the body of his son Hector. © Photos.com/Jupiterimages Hector - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) In Homer’s epic poem the Iliad, Hector is the son of the Trojan King Priam and the greatest of the Trojan heroes. When the Greeks besieged Troy, Hector’s wife, Andromache, begged him not to fight, but Hector embraced their child and left to join the battle. Hector killed Patroclus, a friend of the Greek hero Achilles, and in revenge Achilles killed Hector. Achilles then drove his chariot around the walls of Troy, dragging Hector’s body behind him. Priam finally begged his son’s body from Achilles. The Trojans, mourning, burned Hector’s body, and buried his ashes. When the fighting resumed, Troy fell to the Greeks. (See also Achilles; Homeric legend.) Article History


Who married film star Grace Kelly in April 1956?

BBC ON THIS DAY | 19 | 1956: Prince Rainier marries Grace Kelly 1956: Prince Rainier marries Grace Kelly Prince Rainier III of Monaco has married the American film actress Grace Kelly. The religious ceremony follows yesterday's civil ceremony held in the throne room in the Palace of Monaco. The celebration of the Nuptial Mass was held in the Cathedral of Monaco. Miss Kelly looked every bit the film star in her ivory gown made of silk taffeta and lace. The couple did not look at each other during the ceremony, but sat, stood and knelt facing the high altar as instructed by Monsignor Marella, the Papal Legate from Paris. They spoke their vows so quietly that it was hard to tell whether they made them in English or French, the national language of Monaco. At the end of the ceremony, a message was read out from the Pope. Then the couple drove through the streets of Monte Carlo in an open-top car, waving to thousands of well-wishers. The couple, who announced their engagement in January, are spending their honeymoon cruising around the Mediterranean aboard Prince Rainier's yacht, Deo Juvante II - out of the public eye for the first time in months. Nervous bride Yesterday's civil ceremony, conducted by the president of the Monaco Supreme Court, was attended by the couple's close family and friends. In Monaco, as in France, a civil marriage must take place before a religious ceremony. Miss Kelly, wearing a beige, lace dress with a close-fitting hat, was noticeably nervous throughout the proceedings. Following the legal formalities the couple made a short appearance on the balcony of the palace where approximately 500 members of the public waited below. The newly-married couple, surrounded by an abundance of red and white flowers, waved to the crowds for a few minutes before going back inside.


What term is applied to the situation when a woman has more than one husband?

Polyandry: Marriage with More Than One Man This type of marriage is, not surprisingly, very rarely found around the Globe. It occurs among populations where there are fewer women than men. Female tendencies to find husbands out of a sack first appeared among traditional matriarchal societies. In such primitive groups there was a tradition to kill baby girls in order to reduce the occurrence of births. As a result the female population gradually decreased in comparison to the male population -- and thus the term, "It's a Man's World"? Polygamy, on the other hand, is when a woman or man is married to more than one spouse. Polygamy is a term which is most often used when describing how a man is married to more than one woman. This description is incorrect because the concept of polygamy means a situation where either a man or woman is married to more than one spouse. The situation where the man or woman is married to more than one spouse can be sorted into different sociological categories and concepts. These include how a man can be married to more than one woman (polygyny) and how a woman can be married to more than one man (polyandry). Polyandry in human relationships occurs or has occurred in Tibet, the Canadian Arctic, Zanskar, Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, the Nymba, and Sri Lanka, and is known to have been present in some pre-contact Polynesian societies, though probably only among higher caste women. It is also encountered in some regions of Mongolia, among the Mosuo people in China, and in some Sub-Saharan African and American indigenous communities. In other societies, there are people who live in de facto polyandrous arrangements that are not recognized by the law . Sociologist Hilmi Ziya Ülken made the following statements about the prevalence of polygamy and monogamy; "Male dominance since the evolution of primitive societies and his first class distinction being his gender distinction have meant that the single husband framework has proved its sovereignty. However in some places, distinctive economic circumstances and in other places, certain historical periods, have all brought about a framework of marrying many husbands. This is apparent in the Fratri region of Australia." Although historically many societies witness single husband marriages, many women have married more than one man due to the geographical conditions and economic problems. For example; When there was limited land for usage in Tibet, a group of brothers all married the same woman. By marrying the same woman they were able to produce fewer children and avoid a split in their future inheritance. Consequently they were able to establish financial security to a certain degree. Link:


Which orange-seller became an actress, then mistress of King Charles II, died in 1687 aged 37, and was buried at St Martin-in-the-Fields?

BBC - Hereford and Worcester Culture - Nell Gwynne Born           1650 at Pipewell Lane, Hereford. In           her early teens was an Orange seller at the Drury Lane Theatre           in London Made           her debut as an actress in 1665 Became           (one of the many) mistresses of King Charles II in 1670 Is           mentioned in Samuel Pepys diary as "Pretty, witty Nell" Bore           two sons by Charles - one died and the other was made Earl           of Burford and, subsequently, Duke of St. Albans She           survived Charles and was given a pension by James II She died in 1687, aged 37, and is buried in the church of           St. Martin-in-the-Field Nell Gwynne certainly knew how to live life to the full, packing a       career as an orange seller, an actress and a royal mistress into her       37 years. Hereford       has always laid claim to Nell Gwynne - there's still a pub named after       her in Monkmoor street in the City. She was       probably born in Pipewell Lane, though naturally London has also laid       claim to Nell, saying she was born near Drury Lane, where she later       made her name as an actress. Her parents       were colourful characters. Dad was a former soldier, ruined by the civil war, and he died in       a debtors prison in Oxford, and his daughter probably didn't know       him. Her mother was drowned in a pond at Chelsea in July 1679, probably       while she was drunk. By this       time Nell was already an actress - though she'd started work as an       orange seller at the Drury Lane theatre. Orange       selling was a euphemism for a much older profession, though Nell was       never ashamed of this. She once       told a crowd surrounding her carriage "Pray good people be civil,       I am the Protestant whore." Though barely able to sign her name Nell was a vivacious character       - Samuel Pepys was entranced by her, called her "Pretty, witty       Nell" is his famous diary. It wasn't       long before Nell was the mistress of Charles Hart the actor, and was       having plays written for her. She was especially good at comic roles. Nell had       a thing about men with the name Charles - after Charles Hart she became       mistress of Charles Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, and then Charles II,       King of England. Nell called them Charles the first, Charles the second       and Charles the third! Royal       mistress Being a Royal mistress under the Stuarts was a very public position       - Nell was one of 13 mistresses Charles II kept. Unlike       some of Charles' other mistresses Nell was popular with the public       possibly because she wasn't a gold digger. The king       set her up in a nice little house 200 yards from Windsor castle and       paid her a pension out of the Secret Service budget! She bore       him two children: The elder was born in 1670 the elder, Charles (       I wonder where that name came from?) was made Baron Heddington and       Earl of Burford and, later, Duke of St. Albans. The younger, James, born a year later died when he was nine. Nell remained       a royal mistress until Charles died, indeed some of his last words       are reputed to have been "let not poor Nelly starve." James       I, who succeeded to the throne, saw that she didn't - paying off her       debts and granting her another pension - again out of the Secret Service       budget! Nell died       young, even for those times, at the age of 37, and her funeral was       a very public event, with the funeral sermon being preached by the       vicar, Thomas Tenison, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. Its hard       to imagine that happening today. If you


What was the name of the first of the space shuttles that was used only for testing purposes?

Enterprise: The Test Shuttle Enterprise: The Test Shuttle By Elizabeth Howell, Space.com Contributor | October 9, 2012 05:58pm ET MORE The first space shuttle, Enterprise, never made it to space. In fact, Enterprise was built without engines or a heat shield, so it was not capable of spaceflight. Nevertheless, it made major contributions to the space shuttle program as a test vehicle and it also helped popularize the program. The Space Shuttle prototype Enterprise flies free of NASA's 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) during one of five free flights carried out at the Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California in 1977 as part of the Shuttle program's Approach and Landing Tests (ALT). Credit: NASA/DFRC Enterprise was the culmination of decades of research in "lifting bodies." Between 1963 and 1975, the Air Force and NASA did research into methods of flying winged vehicles back from space and landing them like an aircraft. Six different prototypes were manufactured and flown in 223 glide tests, providing a set of information that was used for the shuttle and similar concepts developed by NASA. Star power The spacecraft was originally designated Constitution. NASA planned to roll out the shuttle on Sept. 17, 1976, which was Constitution Day. But fans of the television show Star Trek saw things a little differently. As the shuttle was being developed, fans of the science fiction series organized a campaign and sent letters to the White House asking for the name Enterprise. It is said that then-president Gerald Ford got tens of thousands of these letters. Recognizing the chance to cash in on popular sentiment, the name was changed to Enterprise. When Enterprise was brought out of its manufacturing facility in Palmdale, Calif., NASA naturally held an event to celebrate it. Most of the original cast from Star Trek attended the unveiling, posed for pictures in front of the shuttle, and lent a little star power to the space program. Flying deadstick Enterprise was used in five "drop tests" in California, allowing NASA astronauts to get a feel for how the shuttle would fly during the descent back to Earth. The space shuttle was designed to land on Earth as a deadstick; it would not be powered; the pilots would guide it to the surface using turns and computer guidance. Getting the landing exactly right, on the first time, would be crucial; there was no easy way to turn around and make a second attempt. Enterprise would fly several glide tests, leaving the back of an aircraft and flying unpowered to the ground. The test shuttle Enterprise made its first appearance mated to supportive propellant containers and boosters as it was rolled from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center en route to the launch pad, some 3.5 miles away, on May 1, 1979. Enterprise underwent several weeks of fit and function checks on the pad in preparation for STS-1, on which its sister craft Columbia took astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen into space for a 54-hour test mission. Credit: NASA Preparing to take flight NASA tested the shuttle several times on the ground before setting it loose. First, in February 1977, the agency did some taxi tests with Enterprise perched above a modified 747 passenger aircraft. The aircraft type (known as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft) would later be used to carry the shuttles between California and Florida if the shuttle landed at Edwards Air Force Base. Next, NASA flew the SCA five times with the shuttle on top of it. There was no crew inside the shuttle, as these were tests to determine how the aerodynamics on the aircraft would change with a 100-ton spacecraft perched on its back. Following that were three flights with crew inside. Still, the shuttle did not leave the safety of the aircraft as everyone was focused on making sure the systems operations and the crews knew the procedures for the landing. On the wing Enterprise was finally released into the air on Aug. 12, 1977. Fred Haise, best known for Apollo 13 , commanded the flight with Gordon Fullerton as second-in-command. Fullerton would g


What name was given to groups of runaway slaves in Jamaica and Guiana in the 17th and 18th centuries?

Maroons : Rebel Slaves in the Americas Maroons: Rebel Slaves in the Americas Richard Price         The man who was to become the first African-American maroon arrived within a decade of Columbus' landfall on the very first slave ship to reach the Americas. One of the last maroons to escape from slavery was still alive in Cuba only 15 years ago. The English word "maroon" (The authors have chosen to spell "maroon" in lower case when it is used to refer to individuals who escaped from slavery. It is capitalized only when used generically to refer to contemporary peoples or ethnic groups.) derives from Spanish cimarr�n--itself based on an Arawakan (Taino) Indian root. Cimarr�n originally referred to domestic cattle that had taken to the hills in Hispaniola, and soon after it was applied to American Indian slaves who had escaped from the Spaniards as well. By the end of the 1530s, the word had taken on strong connotations of being "fierce," "wild" and "unbroken," and was used primarily to refer to African-American runaways.         For more than four centuries, the communities formed by such escaped slaves dotted the fringes of plantation America, from Brazil to the southeastern United States, from Peru to the American Southwest. Known variously as palenques, quilombos, mocambos, cumbes,     mambises or ladeiras, these new societies ranged from tiny bands that survived less than a year to powerful states encompassing thousands of members that survived for generations and even centuries. Today their descendants still form semi-independent enclaves in several parts of the hemisphere -for example, in Suriname, French Guiana, Jamaica, Colombia and Belize--fiercely proud of their maroon origins and, in some cases at least, faithful to unique cultural traditions that were forged during the earliest days of African-American history.         During the past several decades, historical scholarship has done much to dispel the myth of the docile slave. The extent of violent resistance to enslavement has been documented rather fully--from the revolts in the slave factories of West Africa and mutinies during the Middle Passage to the organized rebellions that began to sweep most colonies within a decade after the arrival of the first slave ships. There is also a growing literature on the pervasiveness of various forms of "day-to-day" resistance--from simple malingering to subtle but systematic acts of sabotage.         Maroons and their communities can be seen to hold a special significance for the study of slave societies, for they were both the antithesis of all that slavery stood for, and at the same time a widespread and embarrassingly visible part of these systems. The very nature of plantation slavery engendered violence and resistance, and the wilderness setting of early New World plantations allowed marronage and the ubiquitous existence of organized maroon communities. Throughout Afro-America, such communities stood out as an heroic challenge to white authority, and as living proof of a slave consciousness that refused to be limited by the whites' definition and manipulation of it.         Within the first decade of most colonies' existence, the most brutal punishments had already been inflicted on recaptured rebel slaves, and in many cases these were quickly written into law. An early 18th-century visitor to Suriname reported that, "...if a slave runs away into the forest in order to avoid work for a few weeks, upon his being captured his Achilles tendon is removed for the first offense, while for a second offense... his right leg is amputated in order to stop his running away; I myself was a witness to slaves being punished this way."         And similar punishments for marronage--from being castrated to being slowly roasted to death--are reported from different regions throughout the Americas.         Marronage on the grand scale, with individual fugitives banding together to create independent communities of their own, struck directly at the foundations of the plantation system. It presented military and economic threats


The 10th competition of which sport was held in Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, USA, Australia, England and Scotland in 2008/09?

Rugby Football History   Introduction The first games were held in Athens in 1896 but did not include Rugby. Rugby was added to the Olympic program for the second Olympiad and featured in the games held at Paris in 1900, London in 1908, Antwerp in 1920, and Paris again in 1924. Shortly after the Paris Games, the IOC cancelled rugby as an Olympic sport - even though rugby sold more tickets than the track and field events celebrated in the movie about the 1924 Olympics, "Chariots of Fire." Read about Rugby in the Olympics here Then it was cast out until a decision was made on October 9th, 2009 to introduce Rugby Sevens. In  1928 the IOC turned down the request to stage rugby at the Amsterdam games.  Three factors were believed to be behind this: the IOC wanted more emphasis on  individual sports; women's athletics had swollen the number of competitors; and  the sport did not receive the backing that it should have from the British  entries. Officials also cited the French crowds' behavior and the lack of  widespread international participation. Both  the Soviet Union in 1980 and South Korea in 1988 made attempts to have rugby  readmitted, and it should be pointed out that South Korea came desperately close  to achieving their aim. In a  survey held by the Washington Post, Rugby was the most popular sport  requested to be added to the Olympics so it was only a matter of time before it  was included. Here I've collected various articles/information pertaining to attempts to re-instate Rugby as an Olympics event: Friday 18th February 2005 WWW.IRB.com Rugby aiming for Olympic glory once more As representatives of the International Olympic Committee visit London to consider which city should host the 2012 Olympic Games, the rugby world is in the middle of a lobbying process which hopes to make rugby sevens an Olympic sport for the 2012 Olympic Games. Although rugby has not appeared in the Olympics for the last 80 years, the 15-a-side version has appeared in four of the games (1900, Paris; 1908, London; 1920, Antwerp and 1924, Paris).   The last time it appeared there were three countries involved (Romania, USA and France) and the USA beat France 17-3 in the final.  As the match finished, the partisan French crowd were so riled by the result that there was a pitch invasion and several American supporters were beaten unconscious. Whether this was the reason for rugby's expulsion from the Games or whether it was the departure of the rugby loving Baron Pierre de Coubertin as IOC President, is not clear, but after an eighty year absence the International Rugby Board  is currently in the middle of a new lobbying process which, it hopes,  will enable the sevens version of the sport to be included. Mark Egan, Sevens Tournament Manager of the International Rugby Board, explains, “The IOC are meeting in Singapore in early July.  Their main decision is regarding the host city but they are also debating whether to alter the programme of sports within the 2012 Olympics.  Rugby is one of five sports being considered for inclusion along with golf, squash, karate and roller sports.  We have previously been through this process and rugby was recommended to be included but the programme didn't change.  To enable a new sport to become involved, there is the possibility that it would need to replace one of the existing sports as there are concerns by the IOC about the increasing size of the games, so it's not a straight forward process.  There is no assurance that the programme will change but we are doing everything we can to persuade them that rugby sevens would make a great Olympic sport.” The IRB is currently going through a thorough consultation and lobbying process and an application was submitted to the IOC in November.  We are working closely with the IOC, providing them with information about sevens and rugby in general.” Egan believes that it is the sevens version of the sport which would make an ideal Olympic event, “If rugby is included it will be the sevens format.   Rugby union is a global sport with 116 member unions.  S


Where are the British Houses of Parliament?

Houses of Parliament, London - TripAdvisor Want the lowest hotel prices? You're in the right place. We check 200+ sites for you. Houses of Parliament, London Would this be a good hot day activity? Yes Does this activity require advanced planning, ticketing or reservations? Yes Does this attraction provide visitors with a taste of the local culture? Yes No Unsure Does this attraction require above average amounts of physical activity (long walks, climbs, stairs or hikes)? Yes Is this activity accessible without advanced planning or reservations? Yes Is this attraction popular with tourists? Yes Does this attraction have good scenic or skyline views? Yes Is this attraction good for couples? Yes Would this be a good sunny day activity? Yes Is this attraction pet friendly? Yes Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info. Reset zoom Address: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, England Phone Number: Description: Most of this iconic building was built in the mid-19th century following a... Most of this iconic building was built in the mid-19th century following a devastating fire in 1834. Westminster Hall survived the fire and dates from 1097. Visitors can book tours through the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and are welcome to watch debates and committees when the Houses are sitting.. read more Inside the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey Tour in London More Info London Walking Tour Including Fast-Track Westminster Abbey Visit and Changing... More Info Vintage Bus Tour of London Including Westminster Abbey and Thames River Cruise See More Tours & Experiences Terrible “The World's Greatest Parliament ” The Palace of Westminster is one of the worlds most famous parliament building, with the Westminster hall dating back hundreds of years. A visit to central lobby is always fun and... read more Reviewed yesterday 11,950 Reviews from our TripAdvisor Community Which London hotels are on sale? mm/dd/yyyy mm/dd/yyyy See all travel guides Read reviews that mention: All reviews guided tour westminster hall local mp big ben robing room public gallery central lobby british government great hall beautiful building steeped in history own pace afternoon tea excellent tour take photos commons lords politics democracy mps Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Start your review of Houses of Parliament   Click to rate Reviewed yesterday NEW via mobile The Palace of Westminster is one of the worlds most famous parliament building, with the Westminster hall dating back hundreds of years. A visit to central lobby is always fun and if you contact your local MP they may well be able to take you to one of parliaments many exclusive (and taxpayer subside) bars! Helpful? Reviewed yesterday NEW via mobile I've never visited here before, only seen it on television, which doesn't show the amazing architecture of the building, I will defiantly revisit with my children Helpful? Reviewed yesterday NEW via mobile A must see for tourists visiting the U.K. Just beside Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, Westminster Abbey, and 10 Downing Street. Visit on a Wednesday when it is Prime Minister question time and see all the officials going in. Helpful? “Insightful!” Reviewed yesterday NEW A really unique place, full of history that in some cases, shaped the world. A visit to U.K. should include this place. Helpful? “Another good thing to see in London” Reviewed yesterday NEW The good thing about seeing the Houses of Parliament is that you can do this and Big Ben in one go. It looks good in the day but also very nice at night. Helpful? “Like congress only British” Reviewed 2 days ago NEW Not a ton of good stuff to say about the Parliament itself, however the building is cool looking and they're always weird people out front protesting for some cause no one cares about so, that said walk by check it out. Helpful? “Went during session” Reviewed 2 days ago NEW If you have a chance go and see while in session. It's nice to see both chambers on a Saturday, but save your money and go when its free. Although when I went the deb


Which group of over 7000 islands has main islands called Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Mindora, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol and Masbate?

Philippines, The | Article about Philippines, The by The Free Dictionary Philippines, The | Article about Philippines, The by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Philippines%2c+The Philippines, The Philippines, The (fĭl`əpēnz'), officially Republic of the Philippines, republic (2005 est. pop. 87,857,000), 115,830 sq mi (300,000 sq km), SW Pacific, in the Malay Archipelago off the SE Asia mainland. It comprises over 7,000 islands and rocks, of which only c.400 are permanently inhabited. The 11 largest islands— Luzon Luzon , island (1990 pop. 30,797,458), 40,420 sq mi (104,688 sq km), largest, most populous, and most important of the Philippine Islands. Land and People ..... Click the link for more information. , Mindanao Mindanao , island (1990 pop. 13,535,738), 36,537 sq mi (94,631 sq km), second largest of the Philippine islands, NE of Borneo. About one fifth of the island's population is Muslim (see Moros). ..... Click the link for more information. , Samar Samar , island (1990 pop. 1,246,722), 5,050 sq mi (13,079 sq km), 3d largest of the Philippines, one of the Visayan Islands, NE of Leyte (from which it is separated by the narrow San Juanico Strait). It has commercial coconut and abaca plantations. ..... Click the link for more information. , Negros Negros , island (1990 pop. 3,182,252), 4,905 sq mi (12,704 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, 4th largest of the Philippines, between Panay and Cebu. Although mountainous (Mt. Canloan, a volcano, rises to c. ..... Click the link for more information. , Palawan Palawan , island (1990 pop. 528,287), 4,550 sq mi (11,785 sq km), 5th largest of the Philippines, N of Borneo and between the Sulu Archipelago and the South China Sea. Lumbering is an important industry on Palawan. ..... Click the link for more information. , Panay Panay , island (1990 pop. 3,136,425), 4,446 sq mi (11,515 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, 6th largest of the Philippines, NW of Negros. Primarily agricultural with extensive lowlands, it is a major rice and sugarcane producing area. ..... Click the link for more information. , Mindoro Mindoro , island (1990 pop. 832,642), 3,759 sq mi (9,736 sq km), 7th largest of the Philippines, SW of Luzon. Its mountainous interior rises to c.8,500 ft (2,590 m) at Mt. Halcon. What little arable land there is on the island is devoted largely to subsistence farming. ..... Click the link for more information. , Leyte Leyte , island (1990 pop. 1,689,756), 2,785 sq mi (7,213 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, the Philippines, between Luzon and Mindanao. A fertile agricultural land, it is the nation's leading producer of sweet potatoes and bananas and a major producer of corn and peanuts. ..... Click the link for more information. , Cebu Cebu , island, 1,702 sq mi (4,408 sq km), one of the Visayan Islands, the Philippines, between Leyte and Negros. The coastal plains are intensely cultivated and densely populated. ..... Click the link for more information. , Bohol Bohol , island (1990 pop. 948,403), 1,491 sq mi (3,862 sq km), the Philippines, one of the Visayan Islands, SW of Leyte. It is a major corn-producing area. Rice, cacao, and hemp are also grown, and manganese and copper are mined. ..... Click the link for more information. , and Masbate Masbate , island, 1,262 sq mi (3,269 sq km), the Philippines, one of the Visayan Islands, S of SE Luzon. Gold, which has been mined there for centuries, is still produced in quantity; copper is also mined. The densely populated coastal plains are intensively cultivated. ..... Click the link for more information. —contain about 95% of the total land area. The northernmost point of land, the islet of Y'Ami in the Batan Islands, is separated from Taiwan by the Bashi Channel (c.50 mi/80 km wide). Manila Manila , city (1990 pop. 1,601,234), capital of the Philippines, SW Luzon, on Manila Bay. Manila is the center of the country's largest metropolitan area, its chief port, and the focus of all governmental, commercial, industrial, and cultural activities. ..... Click the link for more information. , on Luzo


"Where did the ""Mayflower"", carrying the Pilgrim Fathers, early settlers to Massachusetts, America, sail from in 1620?"

The Pilgrims and Plymouth Colony:1620 ---- Link to illustration of sailors carrying a tun barrel in 1597 ---- Link to details about The Ship ---- Link to 17th Century Navigation and numerous Student       Activities CHRISTOPHER JONES: MASTER OF THE MAYFLOWER LIFE ABOARD THE MAYFLOWER ---- Link to a list of Mayflower Passengers November 25, 2013 ---- Link to Pilgrim Search puzzle ---- Link to Medical Arts on the Mayflower ---- Link to "Ship Surgeon's Chest" ---- Link to Children on the Mayflower ---- Link to Mayflower Classroom Activity STORMS AT SEA [William Bradford's account] October 2003 ---- Link to Dr. Mike Haywood's painting of Mayflower approaching a head sea entitled "The Wind Freshens" ---- Link to Dr. Mike Haywood's painting of "John Howland Overboard" ANIMALS ON BOARD ---- Link to The Mayflower Dogs PROVISIONS ---- Link to Clothing of the Pilgrims FURNITURE ---- Link to an explanation of "Dual Dates" ---- Link to Elementary Compact Study ---- Link to Upper Level Compact Study THE FIRST EXPLORATIONS ---- Link to photos of Cape Cod CAPE COD BAY ---- Link to photo of Provincetown CAPE COD ---- Link to photos of Pilgrim Spring CORN HILL ---- Link to a coloring sheet on Indian Dwellings ---- Link to photos of Corn Hill FIRST ENCOUNTER BEACH ---- Link to photo of a shallop exploring an inlet ---- Link to Shallop in Sail (shallop coloring sheet) ---- Link to photo of a Plaque marking "First Encounter Beach" NEW PLIMOTH [now PLYMOUTH] ---- Link to photos of Town Brook ---- Link to Map Skills Project HOME-BUILDING BEGUN ---- Link to student work on Deaths the First Winter THE SPRING OF 1621 Click here for The Mayflower Dogs PROVISIONS Besides her human cargo of one hundred and thirty or more passengers and    crew, the lading of Mayflower when she sailed from Plymouth,    England, September 6/16, 1620, was considerable. Judging from authentic    sources of the period the food supply brought on Mayflower by the    Pilgrims would have included those mentioned by Capt. John Smith a few    years later. [from Capt. John Smith's A Sea Grammar, 1627] "A Commander at sea should provision himself and company at sea with    bedding, linen, arms and apparel; and keep his table aboard, and his    expenses at shore, and provide his petty Tally, which is a component    proportion according to the number of these particulars following: Fine wheat flour, close and well packed. Rice. Almonds. Comfits, and such like." Fruits (natural, dried and preserved) were probably in rather small    supply in that day. Dried or preserved fruits were not yet in common use    in the early 17th Century. CLOTHING The clothing supplies of the Pilgrims included hats, caps, shirts,    neck-cloths, jerkins, waistcoats, breeches (cloth and leather),    stockings, shoes, boots, belts, cloth, piece-goods (for dresses), etc. By    the will of William Mullins, it appears he had twenty-one dozen pairs of    shoes and thirteen pairs of boots on board. Undoubtedly, he intended to    use these as a medium of exchange or barter. By the terms of the contract    with the Pilgrims, the Merchant Adventurers were to supply all their    actual necessities of food, clothing, etc., for a full term of seven    years. The Wampanoag had an established system of government and religion. Children learned from their parents about their future adult roles as individuals and their responsibilities to the community. MEETING OF THE TWO CULTURES The first recorded facts concerning the Wampanoag People comes from the written accounts of many early explorers who found their way - in advance of the Pilgrims - to the Northeast coastal areas now known as New England. 1502 Miguel Cortereal, a Portuguese, sailing under his country's flag, commanded the first recorded expedition to lands within the Pokanoket realm. 1524 Among the earliest of these adventurers was the Florentine explorer Giovanni de Verrazzano who sailed out of Madeira in the year 1524 under the sponsorship of Francis I of Spain. In a letter to the King of France


Calista Flockhart became engaged to whom in February 2009?

Calista Flockhart - Stars Who Adopt as Single Moms - Pictures - CBS News Stars Who Adopt as Single Moms Next Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow announced on her website on June 4, 2010, that she adopted for the second time. Son Levi James, she announced, was born April 30. Crow is also mother to son Wyatt Steven, now 3, who she adopted in 2007. Credit: AP Photo/Matt Sayles Sandra Bullock On April 28, 2010, it was revealed that Sandra Bullock had adopted a baby boy. Louis Bardo Bullock, now 3-and-a-half months old, was born in New Orleans. Bullock started the adoption process four years ago with husband Jesse James, but the actress told People magazine she is now finalizing the adoption as a single parent. She and James separated in March following reports that he cheated, and Bullock has since filed for divorce. Take a look at some other celebrity moms who adopted as single parents. Credit: People Magazine Angelina Jolie Before beginning her relationship with Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie adopted two children as a single mom. In 2002, she adopted 7-month-old Maddox Chivan from Cambodia, and in 2005 she adopted 6-month-old Zahara Marley from Ethiopia. Jolie and Pitt went on to adopt son Pax Thien from Vietnam, and the couple also has three biological children -- daughter Shiloh Nouvel and twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline. Credit: AP Photo/Risto Bozovic Meg Ryan In January 2006, Meg Ryan adopted a 14-month old girl from China. She named her daugher Daisy True. The actress also has a son, Jack Henry, from her marriage to Dennis Quaid. The two divorced in 2001. Credit: AP Photo/Matt Sayles Mary-Louise Parker In September 2007, actress Mary-Louise Parker adopted a baby girl, Caroline "Ash" Aberash Parker, from Africa. Parker also has son William Atticus, born in 2004, with actor Billy Crudup. The two split before he was born. Credit: AP Photo/Peter Kramer Madonna Madonna adopted her second child from Malawi, a daughter she named Mercy James, in May 2009, less than a year after her divorce from husband Guy Richie was finalized. She and Richie adopted son David from the same African country in 2006. The singer also has two biological children - son Rocco (with Richie) and daughter Lourdes (with Carlos Leon). Credit: AP Photo/Steve Parsons, PA Calista Flockhart Actress Calista Flockheart adopted son Liam as a newborn in January 2001. She now raises him with actor Harrison Ford - the two began dating in 2002 and became engaged in March 2009. Credit: AP Edie Falco Actress Edie Falco has two adopted children. Son Anderson was adopted in 2004, and daughter Macy arrived in February 2008. Credit: AP Photo/Jason DeCrow Diane Keaton Actress Diane Keaton became a mom in 1996 when she adopted daughter Dexter. She also adopted son Duke in 2001. Credit: AP Mia Farrow Actress Mia Farrow has adopted 11 children, and six of those were adopted solely by her. The six she adopted alone are: Tam Farrow (who died in 2000 at age 19 from a heart ailment), Isaiah Justus Farrow, Quincy Farrow (also known as Kaeli-Shea Farrow), Frankie-Minh Farrow, Thaddeus W. Farrow and Gabriel Wilk Farrow. She adopted three other children while married to Andre Previn -- Soon-Yi, Lark Song and Summer Song -- and another two -- Moses and Dylan -- during her marriage to Woody Allen. Farrow also has four biological children: Fletcher Farrow and twins Matthew Phineas and Sascha Villiers with Previn, and Satchel O'Sullivan Farrow (now known as Ronan Seamus Farrow) with Allen. Credit: AP Photo/Tina Fineberg Sharon Stone Actress Sharon Stone is a mother to three sons, all of whom are adopted. She adopted son Roan Joseph Bronstein, born in 2000, with then-husband Phil Bronstein. The two divorced in 2004, and Stone adopted her other two sons, Laird Vonne in 2005 and Quinn Kelly in 2006, on her own. Credit: AP


Llama - Llama glama Llama Genus: Llama Species: glama Most llamas          today live in the high Andes          Mountains of western South America. They can be found in          Argentina, Bolivia, Chili, and especially Peru. It is believed that llamas may be the domesticated          descendants of the wild guanaco. They live in          grassy open spaces at very high altitudes of 7,400          - 12,800 feet, where the air is so thin there is          only 40% oxygen. The Alpine plains are dry and cold          and the soil is not very good. The grass is          difficult for most animals to digest, but the          llamas are able to adapt to these harsh conditions. Llamas are part of the camel family. They are approximately     36-47 inches wide at the shoulder and measured from the head     they are 4 feet tall at the shoulders. They can weigh up to     400 pounds when they are full-grown. They have 2 toes per     foot and the bottoms of their feet are padded with tough     leathery soles to protect them from sharp rocks. Their feet     are slender and their limbs are long. They have an unusual     way of moving; they pace, which means that both legs on the     same side raise together so they can run very quickly. They     have long, thick, coarse hair with spots of color that can     protect them from being attacked by prey. They can be     different shades of brown, black, peach, white, gray and     roan. They are very intelligent and learn     quickly. Unlike other hoofed     animals, camels and llamas have feet with 2 toes. The bottom     part of the foot is divided in 2 and is covered by a tough     leathery sole. Llamas are especially sure-footed. Because of     these pads, they have a good foothold on rocky and slippery     ground. Llamas have unique     blood that adapts well to the poor oxygen in the high     altitudes where they live. Llamas have more red blood cells     per unit volume of blood than any other mammal. The     hemoglobin, which is the oxygen carrying substance of the     cell, reacts faster with oxygen. Also, llamas are     able to travel long distances without water. They have 3     stomach compartments and they chew their cud. Cud is a     mouthful of swallowed food that is regurgitated from the     first stomach. Because of these special features the llama     makes an excellent packing animal for the people that live     in the remote areas of the Andes Mountains. A female llama     begins to breed when she's about a 1 year old. She's able to     have 1 baby, or cria, a year until she's about 15 years old.     Llamas can be bred at any time of the year. They don't have     a heat cycle; they are what are called induced ovulators.     This means ovulation happens 24-36 hours after breeding. She     almost always gives birth to 1 baby at a time. A baby llama     weighs 18 to 33 pounds when it's born. It's able to stand up     on it's own one hour after it's born. The mother nurses the     baby llama for 6 months. Male llamas are not used for     breeding until they are about 2-3 years old. Llamas were first     domesticated by the Incas around 4,000 BC near Lake     Titicaca. Their breeding was controlled by the government.     The llamas were used in many ways. Male llamas were used as     sacrifices. The wool from the llama was used to make coarse     woolen blankets for the common people, and their meat was     eaten. They were also used as beasts of burden. Llama     caravans went to distant provinces to trade. They were so     important to the prosperity of the Incas that llama herders     were paid very well. After the Spanish conquistadors came in     the 1500's, diseases killed many people as well as llamas.     But the llamas were still valua


The Last Ocean New Zealand | The Ross Sea is the most pristine marine ecosystem on earth.[1]   Unlike most of the world's oceans it has remained free from widespread pollution, invasive species, mining and overfishing.   The Ross Sea is the most productive stretch of water in the Southern Ocean and home to high concentrations of wildlife and an incredible array of animals, many found nowhere else on the planet.   It is teeming with large predatory fish, whales, seals, penguins and other animals that collectively comprise the last intact marine ecosystem on Earth. As such, the Ross Sea is a living laboratory providing scientists with the last chance to understand how a healthy marine ecosystem functions.


Ronan Keating was a member of which band?

Ronan Keating teases Boyzone reunion as band prepare to for 25th anniversary | Daily Mail Online comments They were one of the biggest boy bands in the nineties. And as Boyzone prepare to mark their 25th anniversary in 2018, Ronan Keating has teased fans that the group might be heading for a reunion tour. The Irish crooner, who was one of four original members of the band, confessed he wants to mark the special occasion in style.  Scroll down for video  'I think a tour would be the right thing to do': Ronan Keating has teased fans that Boyzone might be heading for a reunion tour in two years Speaking at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, the 39-year-old said: ‘We'll probably mark it somehow. I think a tour would be the right thing to do.’ RELATED ARTICLES Share 84 shares Other possibilities could include a new album, but Keating agrees the reunion should hark back to some of the group's classics. ‘It's going to be about nostalgia, it's not going to be about new music really,’ he added. Back together? The popular band are set to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2018 Hot talent: The Irish crooner, who was one of four original members of the band, revealed his hopes at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon Boyzone reunited in 2008 for a highly successful world tour and released a greatest hits album with two new singles. Shortly after the reunion, band member Stephen Gately died, devastating the group and their huge fan base. In 2010, Boyzone - also consisting of Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch - released a new album, called Brother, which became a tribute album to Gately. Nineties heartthrobs: Boyzone reunited in 2008 for a highly successful world tour and released a greatest hits album with two new singles Five-piece: Shortly after the reunion, band member Stephen Gately (pictured centre) died, devastating the group and their huge fan base Meanwhile, it was recently announced that Boyzone star Keith has joined forces with Westlife’s Brian McFadden for a two-man nationwide tour, aptly named Boyzlife. The former pop stars are spearheading the venture and revealed it 'has no limits' as they shared their plans to tour together later this year. Although, Ronan isn’t a part of the new venture, The Voice Australia coach wished the pair well during a recent appearance on ITV’s This Morning. ‘The lads have created this show,’ he said. ‘It's kind of a stand-up thing, comedy with a couple of songs in it and telling stories. I think it's sold out already. The lads are doing great.' Elsewhere, Ronan has been focusing on his solo efforts, releasing his new album, Time Of My Life, which he said was inspired by his new wife, Storm Uechtritz, who he married in August last year.  Not forgotten: In 2010, Boyzone - also consisting of Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch - released a new album, called Brother, which became a tribute album to Gately


What is the name of the major Greek stadium in Athens that was the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies, athletics events and the football (soccer) final at the 2004 Summer Olympics?

2004 Athens Olympic Stadium   Current Tenants AEK Athens Greece National Football Team Former Tenants 2004 Athens Olympics Population Base 3,400,000 On Site Parking Unknown Nearest Airport Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (AIA) The Olympic Stadium, the centre of the Olympic Games 2004, is situated at Maroussi and it is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex (OAKA). The Olympic Stadium will host 72,000 spectators, who will attend the exciting Athletics  events, the Football gold medal match and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Following an ATHENS 2004 and Ministry of Culture initiative, the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava has designed the upgrade of OAKA using innovative and creative ways, including the new roof structure for Olympic Stadium. Work at the AOSC fell notoriously behind schedule during the last 3 years, to a point where it was feared that they would not be finished on time. The problems were solved, and the work proceed according to the (very tight) time schedule. The most famous part of the construction, the "jewel in the crown" as it has come to be known, is the roof of the Olympic Stadium. The roof will be the trademark of the Athens Games, either by its presence or absence! The parts of the roof arrived from Italy during the summer of 2003. The two giant arcs have a total span of 304m and a maximum height of 80m. They provide the support for the cables that hold the polycarbonate panels comprising the roof. Its total weight will be 16,000 tons and it will cover an area of 10,000 sq.m. This means that almost 95% of the seats will be covered (only 35% were before). The special coating of the panels will reflect 60% of the sunlight, something extremely important when considering the weather conditions in Athens during the summer. The Ministry of Culture is responsible for this project. In 2004 the Olympic Games returned to Greece, the home of both the ancient Olympics and the first modern Olympics. For the first time ever a record 201 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in the Olympic Games. The overall tally for events on the programme was 301 (one more than in Sydney 2000). Popularity in the Games reached soared to new highs as 3.9 billion people had access to the television coverage compared to 3.6 billion for Sydney 2000. Women's wrestling was included in the program for the first time. Swimmer Michael Phelps won 6 gold medals and set a single-Games record with 8 total medals. Leontien Ziljaard-van Moorsel became the first female cyclist to earn 4 career gold medals and 6 total medals, while canoeist Birgit Fischer became the first athlete in any sport to win two medals in each of 5 Olympics. Runner Hicham El Guerrouj won both the 1,500m and the 5,000m, while on the women's side Kelly Holmes triumphed in both the 800m and the 1,500m. In team play, Argentina won the men's football tournament without giving up a goal, and the U.S. softball team won by outscoring their opponents 51-1.


The Night of the Long Knives is associated with which political figure?

The History Place - World War II in Europe Timeline: June 30, 1934 - The Night of the Long Knives The Night of the Long Knives The four million brown shirted Nazi storm troopers, the SA (Sturmabteilung), included many members who actually believed in the 'socialism' of National Socialism and also wanted to become a true revolutionary army in place of the regular German Army. But to the regular Army High Command and its conservative supporters, this potential storm trooper army represented a threat to centuries old German military traditions and the privileges of rank. Adolf Hitler had been promising the generals for years he would restore their former military glory and break the "shackles" of the Treaty of Versailles which limited the Army to 100,000 men and prevented modernization. For Adolf Hitler, the behavior of the SA was a problem that now threatened his own political survival and the entire future of the Nazi movement. The anti-capitalist, anti-tradition sentiments often expressed by SA leaders and echoed by the restless masses of storm troopers also caused great concern to big industry leaders who had helped put Hitler in power. Hitler had promised them he would put down the trade union movement and Marxists, which he had done. However, now his own storm troopers with their talk of a 'second revolution' were sounding more and more like Marxists themselves. (The first revolution having been the Nazi seizure of power in early 1933.) The SA was headed by Ernst Röhm, a battle scarred, aggressive, highly ambitious street brawler who had been with Hitler from the very beginning. Röhm and the SA had been very instrumental in Hitler's rise to power by violently seizing control of the streets and squashing Hitler's political opponents. However, by early 1934, a year after Hitler came to power, the SA's usefulness as a violent, threatening, revolutionary force had effectively come to an end. Hitler now needed the support of the regular Army generals and the big industry leaders to rebuild Germany after the Great Depression, re-arm the military and ultimately accomplish his long range goal of seizing more living space for the German people. The average German also feared and disliked the SA brownshirts with their arrogant, gangster-like behavior, such as extorting money from local shop owners, driving around in fancy news cars showing off, often getting drunk, beating up and even murdering innocent civilians. At the end of February, 1934, Hitler held a meeting attended by SA and regular Army leaders including Röhm and German Defense Minister General Werner von Blomberg. At this meeting Hitler informed Röhm the SA would not be a military force in Germany but would be limited to certain political functions. In Hitler's presence, Röhm gave in and even signed an agreement with Blomberg. However, Röhm soon let it be know he had no intention of keeping to the agreement. In April he even boldly held a press conference and proclaimed, "The SA is the National Socialist Revolution!!" Within the SA at this time was a highly disciplined organization known as the SS (Shutzstaffel) which had been formed in 1925 as Hitler's personal body guard. SS chief Heinrich Himmler along with his second-in-command, Reinhard Heydrich, and Hermann Göring, began plotting against Röhm to prod Hitler into action against his old comrade, hoping to gain from Röhm's downfall. On June 4, Hitler and Röhm had a five hour private meeting lasting until midnight. A few days later Röhm announced he was taking a 'personal illness' vacation and the whole SA would go on leave for the month of July. He also convened a conference of top SA leaders for June 30 at a resort town near Munich which Hitler promised to attend to sort things out. On June 17, Vice Chancellor Franz von Papen, who had helped Hitler become Chancellor, stunned everyone by making a speech criticizing the rowdy, anti-intellectual behavior of the SA and denouncing Nazi excesses such as strict press censorship. Papen also focused on the possibility of a 'second revolution' by Röhm and the SA and urged


"Who ""made some tarts, all on a summer's day""?"

Queen of Hearts | Mother Goose Club Playhouse Kids Video - YouTube Queen of Hearts | Mother Goose Club Playhouse Kids Video 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. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Feb 9, 2011 Check out more Mother Goose Club Nursery Rhymes on our channel. Watch "Wheels on the Bus and More!" http://bit.ly/1deIQl3 Buy our videos and songs! http://bit.ly/1myAmPG Visit http://www.mothergooseclub.com for videos and activities! Historical Background: The first known publication of "Queen of Hearts" was printed in "The European Magazines" in 1782 along with three less popular poems, "The King of Spades," "The King of Clubs," and "The King of Diamonds." These additional rhymes described their respective kings' living situations and their wives. In an English deck of playing cards, the Queen of Hearts has been linked to Elizabeth of York, queen to Henry VII. The headdress worn by the queen of hearts mimics the queen's crown of the early Tudor era. The Queen of Hearts is also a well-known character in Lewis Caroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." Looking for lyrics? Turn on closed captions to sing along! Big thanks to all of our fans out there, big and small! Traditional lyrics. Original music by Sockeye Media LLC © 2014. All rights reserved. "Queen of Hearts" lyrics:


Who has played the role of Indiana Jones most often in films?

Indiana Jones (Character) Indiana Jones (Character) There may be more photos available for this character. To select more photos to be displayed in this character's gallery, click the Edit Photos link. Overview Dr. Indiana Henry Jones, Jr. (born July 1, 1899), also known as Indy... See more  » Alternate Names: Baby Indy / Big Indiana Jones / Dr. Bones / Henry 'Indiana' Jones, Jr. / Indy / Old Indy / Toddler Indy / Young Indiana Jones / Young Indy Filmography ... aka "NBC's Saturday Night" - USA (complete title) ... aka "SNL" - USA (informal title) ... aka "SNL 25" - USA (alternative title) ... aka "Saturday Night" - USA (first season title) ... aka "Saturday Night Live '80" - USA (sixth season title) ... aka "Saturday Night Live 15" - USA (fifteenth season title) ... aka "Saturday Night Live 20" - USA (twentieth season title) ... aka "Saturday Night Live 25" - USA (twentyfifth season title) ... aka "PvG" - International (English title) (promotional abbreviation) ... aka "The People vs. George Lucas: Retold" - International (English title) (festival title) ... aka "E.T." - USA (informal title) ... aka "This Week in Entertainment" - USA (weekend title) (as Henry 'Indiana' Jones, Jr.) ... aka "Travels with Father" - USA (short title) ... aka "Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father" - USA (alternative title) ... aka "The Young Indiana Jones Treasure of the Peacock's Eye" - USA (premiere title) ... aka "Treasure of the Peacock's Eye" - USA (short title) Harrison Ford (as Indy) ... aka "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" - International (English title) (DVD title), South Africa (English title) (DVD box title), USA (reissue title) (as Henry 'Indiana' Jones, Jr.) ... aka "The Perils of Cupid" - USA (short title) (as Henry 'Indiana' Jones, Jr.) ... aka "Passion for Life" - USA (short title) (as Henry 'Indiana' Jones, Jr.) ... aka "My First Adventure" - USA (short title) ... aka "Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life" - USA (alternative title) ... aka "Oganga: The Giver and Taker of Life" - USA (short title) (as Henry 'Indiana' Jones, Jr.) ... aka "Journey of Radiance" - USA (short title) ... aka "Phantom Train of Doom" - USA (short title) ... aka "The Phantom Train of Doom" - USA (alternative title) Indiana Jones : [to Barthelemy] Sergeant, under no circumstances are you given leave to die. That's an order. One I expect you to obey for a change. See more  » Update You may correct errors and omissions on this page directly. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.   IMDb Everywhere Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your Watchlist and rate your favorite movies and TV shows on your phone or tablet!


Which country has the longest straight stretch of railway line?

Record Railroad Routes: Highest, Steepest & Longest More railroad records:   Early Railroads ,   Locomotives ,   Bridges & Tunnels ,   Train Records ,   Train Wrecks Note: This page was written by Christopher Muller and is copyright ï¿½ RailServe.com.  Content may not be reproduced in whole or in part on any website, message board, or other medium.  Please contact us with any questions, suggestions, or corrections. HIGHEST ALTITUDE   RAILROADS What is the highest railroad in the world? The Qinghai–Tibet Railway is the highest altitude railway in   the world. Completed in 2006, the railway reaches an elevation of   16,640 feet above sea level at Tanggula Pass, China. What is the highest railroad in the USA? The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the highest altitude railroad   ever built in the USA. Completed in 1891 and still operating today,   the railway reaches an elevation of 14,110 feet above sea level at   the summit of Pikes Peak. What was the highest adhesion railroad (not cable or cog) ever   built in the USA? The highest altitude adhesion railroad ever built in the USA   was the Argentine Central Railway. The narrow gauge mining and   tourist railroad built in 1906 reached the summit of Mt. McClellan   at 13,587 feet. The railroad was never financially successfully and   was abandoned in 1918. What is the highest operating adhesion railroad in the USA? The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad operates daily   steam-powered tourist trains over Cumbres Pass. Built in 1882 at an   elevation of 10,015 feet, Cumbres Pass is the highest altitude operating   railroad pass in the USA. What is the highest operating freight railroad in   the USA? Until taken out of service by Union Pacific in 1997, the   Tennessee Pass (elevation 10,240 feet) route built in 1881 across   the Rocky Mountains in Colorado was the highest mainline railroad in   the USA. Today, the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad's La Veta Pass   (elevation 9242 feet) is the highest freight railroad pass in the   USA. STEEPEST RAILROAD   GRADES What is the steepest operating adhesion railway   grade in the world? The world's steepest adhesion railway grade is a 13.8% grade   found on the tram network of LIsbon, Portugal. What is the steepest operating adhesion railroad grade in the   USA? The steepest adhesion railroad grade in the USA is found at   the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia. Shay geared steam   locomotives haul tourist trains up a maximum grade of 11% on this   former logging railroad. What is the steepest section of operating mainline railroad in the USA? Until taken out of service by Norfolk Southern in 2001, the   steepest operating mainline grade in the USA was the 4.7% Saluda   Grade south of Asheville, North Carolina. Since 2001, the steepest   mainline grade has been the 3.3% Raton Pass grade in New Mexico. TRACK LENGTH What and when was peak mileage of U.S. railroads? The United States railroad network reached peak route mileage   in 1916 with 266,381 miles. Mileage decreased to 138,623 as of 2012. What is the longest stretch of straight railway track in the world? The world's longest straight stretch is 297 miles on the   Trans-Australian Railway between Loongana, Western Australia and   Ooldea, South Australia.. What is the longest stretch of straight railroad track in the   USA? The longest straight track in the USA is 78.9 miles on CSX   between Laurel Hill and East Arcadia, North Carolina. The straight   is located on the former Seaboard Air Line route linking Hamlet and   Wilmington. RAILROAD TRACK   GAUGES What is the origin of standard gauge railroad track? Standard gauge track (4 feet 8-1/2 inches or 1435 millimeters)   has its origins with George Stephenson's early British railways   including the Stockton & Darlington Railway (1825) and Liverpool & Manchester Railway (1830). Standard gauge is used for most railroads   in North America, Australia, China, and Europe (except Ireland,   Spain, Portugal & Finland), plus most high speed rail applications


The Soviet Union did not participate in the Olympics until 1952, and from 1928 organised an alternative international sports event. What were these games called?

Olympic Games | Olympics Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Main article: Summer Olympic Games After the initial success, the Olympics struggled. The celebrations in Paris (1900) and St. Louis (1904) were overshadowed by the World's Fair exhibitions in which they were included. The 1906 Intercalated Games (so-called because of their off-year status, as 1906 is not divisible by four) were held in Athens, as the first of an alternating series of Athens-held Olympics. Although originally the IOC recognised and supported these games, they are currently not recognised by the IOC as Olympic Games, which has given rise to the explanation that they were intended to mark the 10th anniversary of the modern Olympics. The 1906 Games again attracted a broad international field of participants—in 1904, 80% had been American—and great public interest, thereby marking the beginning of a rise in popularity and size of the Games. From the 241 participants from 14 nations in 1896, the Games grew to nearly 11,100 competitors from 202 countries at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens . The number of competitors at the Winter Olympics is much smaller than at the Summer Games; at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin Italy, 2,633 athletes from 80 countries competed in 84 events. The Olympics are one of the largest media events. In Sydney in 2000, there were over 16,000 broadcasters and journalists, and an estimated 3.8 billion viewers watched the games on television. The growth of the Olympics is one of the largest problems the Olympics face today. Although allowing professional athletes and attracting sponsorships from major international companies solved financial problems in the 1980s, the large number of athletes, media and spectators makes it difficult and expensive for host cities to organize the Olympics. For example, the 2012 Olympics (which were held in London), is based on an updated budget of over £9bn—one of the biggest budgets for an Olympics to date. Even if sponsorships do lighten the load in terms of the debt that these countries take on, one of the biggest problems faced is how their economies will cope with the extra financial burdens put on them. Despite the Olympics usually being associated with one host city, most of the Olympics have had events held in other cities, especially the football and sailing events. There were two Olympics where some events were held in a different country: during the 1920 Antwerp Olympics two sailing races were held in the Netherlands; and during the Melbourne Olympics equestrian events were held in Sweden. The 2008 Beijing Olympics marked the third time that Olympic events have been held in the territories of two different NOC 's: at the 2008 Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong (which competes separately from mainland China.) 203 countries currently participate in the Olympics. This is a noticeably higher number than the number of countries belonging to the United Nations, which is only 193. The International Olympic Committee allows nations to compete which do not meet the strict requirements for political sovereignty that many other international organizations demand. As a result, many colonies and dependencies are permitted to host their own Olympic teams and athletes even if such competitors hold the same citizenship as another member nation. Examples of this include territories such as Puerto Rico , Bermuda , and Hong Kong , all of which compete as separate nations despite being legally a part of another country. Also, since 1980, Taiwan has competed under the name " Chinese Taipei ", and under a flag specially prepared by the IOC. Prior to that year the People's Republic of China refused to participate in the Games because Taiwan had been competing under the name "Republic of China". The Republic of the Marshall Islands was recognised as a nation by the IOC on February 9, 2006, and competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing . [9] Youth Olympic Games Main article: Youth Olympic Games The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) [10] are planned to be a "junior" version of the Games, complement


In England, the monarch has the power of veto over any proposed legislation from Parliament by withholding the Royal Assent. Who last used this power?

Constitution of the United Kingdom - WOW.com Constitution of the United Kingdom Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_Kingdom e The constitution of the United Kingdom is the sum of laws and principles that make up the body politic of the United Kingdom . It concerns both the relationship between the individual and the state, and the functioning of the legislature, the executive and judiciary. The UK does not have one specific constitutional document. Instead the constitution is found within a variety of written and some unwritten sources. This is sometimes referred to as an "unwritten" or uncodified constitution . [1] [2] The British constitution primarily draws from four sources: statute law (laws passed by the legislature), common law (laws established through court judgments), parliamentary conventions, and works of authority . [1] Since the Glorious Revolution of 1688, the concept of parliamentary sovereignty has been the bedrock of the British legislative constitution, that is, the statutes passed by Parliament are the supreme and final source of law in the UK. [3] It follows that Parliament can change the constitution simply by passing new statutes through Acts of Parliament . [4] There has been some debate about whether the parliamentary sovereignty remained intact [5] in the light of the UK's membership in the European Union (EU), an argument that was used by proponents of leaving the EU in the 2016 referendum vote (" Brexit "). [6] Another core constitutional principal, the rule of law , is a phrase that was popularized by legal scholar A. V. Dicey in his 1885 work, Introduction to the Study of the Law of the Constitution, which is recognized as a work of authority on the constitution by the British Parliament. [1] Contents Succession to the Crown Act 2013 — alters the laws of succession to the British throne General constitutional principles Sources Main articles: Act of Parliament , Common law , Treaties , Constitutional conventions of the United Kingdom , and Works of authority on the British constitution One of several shelves full of books about the UK constitution at a law library Acts of Parliament are bills which have received the approval of Parliament – that is, the Monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons . On rare occasions, the House of Commons uses the "Parliament Acts" (the Parliament Act 1911 and the Parliament Act 1949 ) to pass legislation without the approval of the House of Lords. It is unheard of in modern times for the Monarch to refuse to assent to a bill, though the possibility was contemplated by George V in relation to the fiercely controversial Government of Ireland Act 1914 . [9] Acts of Parliament are among the most important sources of the constitution. According to the traditional view, Parliament has the power to legislate however it wishes on any subject it wishes. For example, most of the iconic medieval statute known as Magna Carta has been repealed since 1828, despite previously being regarded as sacrosanct. It has traditionally been the case that the courts are barred from questioning any Act of Parliament , a principle that can be traced back to the medieval period. [10] On the other hand, this principle has not been without its dissidents and critics over the centuries, and attitudes among the judiciary in this area may be changing. [11] [ better source needed ] One consequence of the principle of parliamentary sovereignty is that there is no hierarchy among Acts of Parliament: all parliamentary legislation is, in principle, of equal validity and effectiveness. However, the judgment of Lord Justice Laws in the Thoburn case in 2002 indicated that there may be a special class of "constitutional statutes" such as Magna Carta , the Human Rights Act 1998 , the European Communities Act 1972 , the Act of Union and Bill of Rights which have a higher status than other legislation. This part of his judgment was " obiter " (i.e. not binding) – and, indeed, was controversial. It remains to be seen whether the doctrine will be accepted by other judg


What name is given to the HQ of the USA's Department of Defence?

About Department of Defense Home About DoD About the Department of Defense (DoD) On behalf of the Secretary of Defense and Deputy Secretary of Defense, we welcome you to Defense.gov, the official web site for the Department of Defense and the starting point for finding U.S. military information online. The home page for this site is located at http://www.defense.gov/. The Secretary of Defense is the principal defense policy advisor to the President. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense. The Deputy Secretary, the second-highest ranking official in the DoD, is delegated full power and authority to act for the Secretary and to exercise the powers of the Secretary on any and all matters for which the Secretary is authorized to act. The Department of Defense is America's oldest and largest government agency. With our military tracing its roots back to pre-Revolutionary times, the Department of Defense has grown and evolved with our nation. Today, the Department, headed by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, is not only in charge of the military, but it also employs a civilian force of thousands. With over 1.3 million men and women on active duty, and 742,000 civilian personnel, we are the nation's largest employer. Another 826 thousand serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces. More than 2 million military retirees and their family members receive benefits. Headquarters of the Department of Defense, the Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings. It is twice the size of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, and has three times the floor space of the Empire State Building in New York. Built during the early years of World War II, it is still thought of as one of the most efficient office buildings in the world. Despite 17.5 miles of corridors it takes only seven minutes to walk between any two points in the building. The national security depends on our defense installations and facilities being in the right place, at the right time, with the right qualities and capacities to protect our national resources. Those resources have never been more important as America fights terrorists who plan and carry out attacks on our facilities and our people. Our military servicemembers and civilians operate in every time zone and in every climate. More than 450,000 employees are overseas, both afloat and ashore. The Defense Department manages an inventory of installations and facilities to keep Americans safe. The Department’s physical plant is huge by any standard, consisting of more than several hundred thousand individual buildings and structures located at more than 5,000 different locations or sites. When all sites are added together, the Department of Defense utilizes over 30 million acres of land. These sites range from the very small in size such as unoccupied sites supporting a single navigational aid that sit on less than one-half acre, to the Army's vast White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico with over 3.6 million acres, or the Navy’s large complex of installations at Norfolk, Virginia with more than 78,000 employees. Mission The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide the military forces needed to deter war and to protect the security of our country. The department's headquarters is at the Pentagon . The mission of Defense.gov is to support the overall mission of the Department of Defense by providing official, timely and accurate information about defense policies, organizations, functions and operations. Also, Defense.gov is the single, unified starting point for finding military information online. This mission is consistent with the DoD Principles of Information, which outline the Department's policy for providing information to military members, DoD civilians, military family members, the American public, the Congress, and the news media. The information you find here is cleared for public release in accordance with applicable DoD policies. History The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps were established in 1775, in con


What position has Boris Johnson held from 4 May 2008?

Boris Johnson - Telegraph Boris Johnson Mayor of London 4:57PM BST 15 Sep 2014 Boris Johnson has been Mayor of London since May 2008, when he received the largest personal mandate in British political history. Upon graduation from Oxford University he joined The Daily Telegraph in 1987 as leader and feature writer. From 1989 to 1994 he was the Telegraph's European Community correspondent and from 1994 to 1999 he served as assistant editor. His association with The Spectator magazine began as political columnist in 1994. In 1999 he became editor of the Spectator, a post he held for six years before stepping down in December 2005. He has won several awards for journalism, both as editor and columnist. Besides his work as a journalist, Boris has published several books, including 'Friends, Voters and Countrymen', an autobiographical account of his experience of the 2001 election campaign, a novel, 'Seventy-Two Virgins'. He has also produced a TV series on Roman History from his book of the same name, 'The Dream of Rome'. In 2011 he published 'Johnson’s Life of London', a celebration of some of the people who gave London its vibrancy and character, from Roman times to the present day. In July 2007, Boris announced he would seek the nomination for Conservative candidate for Mayor of London. He was duly selected as the candidate in an all London open primary that autumn, before being elected Mayor in May 2008. Boris resigned as MP for Henley shortly after the 2008 election. He was re-elected for a second four year term as Mayor in May 2012.


What is the name for the change of direction when a ray of light passes from one medium (e.g. water) to another (e.g. air)?

Mirror Image: Reflection and Refraction of Light Mirror Image: Reflection and Refraction of Light By Jim Lucas, Live Science Contributor | October 1, 2014 10:43pm ET MORE A mirror image is the result of light rays bounding off a reflective surface. Credit: Denys Kurbatov | Shutterstock When people look into a mirror, they see an image of themselves behind the glass. That image results from light rays encountering the shiny surface and bouncing back, or reflecting, providing a "mirror image." People commonly think of the reflection as being reversed left to right; however, this is a misconception. If you face north and look straight into a mirror, the east side of your face is still on the east side of the image, and the same is true for the west side. The mirror does not reverse the image left to right; it reverses it front to back. For example, if you are facing north, your reflection is facing south.  The reflection of light rays is one of the major aspects of geometric optics; the other is refraction, or the bending of light rays. Geometric optics is one of two broad classes of optics, the field that "deals with the propagation of light through transparent media," according to Richard Fitzpatrick, a professor of physics at the University of Texas at Austin, in lecture notes for a course in  Electromagnetism and Optics . (The other class is physical optics.) Geometric optics Geometric optics treats light as continuous rays (as opposed to waves or particles) that move through transparent media according to three laws. The first law states that light rays move through similar transparent media in straight lines. The second states that when a light ray encounters a smooth, shiny (or conducting) surface, such as a  mirror , the ray bounces off that surface. The third law governs how light rays behave when they pass between two different media, such as air and water. For example, when you look at a spoon in a glass of water, the submerged part of the spoon appears to be in a different place than expected. This happens because the light rays change direction when they go from one transparent material (air) into another (water).  Sir  Isaac Newton  laid down the foundation for geometrical optics in his classic 1704 work " Opticks ." The principles he described are still used to this day to design eyeglasses, telescopes, microscopes, eyeglasses and camera lenses. In a reflecting telescope, light strikes the primary mirror and bounces back to a secondary mirror, which diverts the light to the lens in the eyepiece. Credit: Virginia Commonwealth University Reflection Reflections from flat surfaces are fairly easy to understand. A reflection appears to be the same distance from the "other side" of the mirror as the viewer's eyes are from the mirror. Also, when light is reflected from a mirror, it bounces off at the same angle in the opposite direction from which it hit. For example, if the light hits a flat or "plane mirror" at a 30-degree angle from the left, it will bounce off at a 30-degree angle to the right.  However, if the surface of the mirror is curved, the angles of reflection are different at different points on the surface. The most common curved surface used in optical devices is a  spherical mirror . If the mirror is convex, or curved outward, it will reflect a wider area, in which images appear smaller and farther away than those from a flat mirror. These mirrors are often used for outside rearview mirrors on cars and for keeping large areas under surveillance in stores.  If the surface is concave, or curved inward, a group of light rays from a distant source is reflected back toward a single location known as the focal point. This generally produces a magnifying effect, such as that seen in a makeup mirror. The radius of curvature of a mirror determines its magnification factor and its focal length.  Newton used a concave spherical mirror to make his  reflecting telescope , a design that is still popular with amateur astronomers due to its simplicity, low cost and high degree of image quality.  In a Newtonian refle


Larry Mullins and Adam Clayton are the rhythm section for which band?

Theme from Mission: Impossible - Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen | June 8th, 2011 | 4 Comments U2 is the biggest band in the world. Their 360-degree tour of 2010-2011 is the most expensive tour ever staged. It’s also the highest grossing. When most people think about U2, it’s Bono and The Edge. They’re the face and in many ways the spirit of the band. But Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen have served as the backbone and rhythm section of the band since the lads formed back in the late 1970s. And although Bono and The Edge get most of the attention, Clayton and Mullen can stake a claim Bono and The Edge can’t counter: they’re one-hit wonders. Their contribution to the one-hit wonder canon is a 1996 instrumental from a little movie titled Mission: Impossible that starred some obscure actor named Tom Cruise. As of mid-2011, Mission: Impossible has grossed more than $450 million at the box office worldwide. The Tom Cruise star power still works and the latest chapter of Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol or Mission: Impossible IV will reach theaters in December 2011, just in time for the holiday movie season. Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen aren’t slated to participate in the film or the soundtrack. But their techno/electronic take on the classic Mission: Impossible theme was a massive hit in 1996, reaching #7 on the Billboard Top 40 and transforming Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, U2’s bass player and drummer, into legitimate one-hit wonders. Listen to Theme from Mission: Impossible by Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen


Which islands in the South Pacific between New Guinea and South America were annexed by France in 1842?

Nuku Hiva | island, French Polynesia | Britannica.com island, French Polynesia Wake Island Nuku Hiva, volcanic island of the northwestern Marquesas Islands , French Polynesia , in the central South Pacific Ocean . Nuku Hiva is the Marquesas’ principal island. It is also widely regarded as the most beautiful of the Marquesas. Its rugged wooded terrain rises to Mount Tekao (3,888 feet [1,185 metres]) and is drained by small streams. There is no coastal plain or fringing coral reef. Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Sémhur The island has remains of numerous Polynesian stone house foundations, fortifications, and temples. First sighted by the French navigator Étienne Marchand in 1791, the island was named Madison Island by a U.S. naval officer, David Porter , who claimed it for the United States in 1813. France , however, annexed the Marquesas in 1842 and built a fort on the island. Nuku Hiva had a small sandalwood trade in the early 19th century and subsequently became a favoured stopping place for whalers. The narrow valleys are fertile and, under a warm and humid climate, yield copra and fruit for export. Hakapehi (Tai-o-hae), on the south coast, the main harbour and port, is the administrative seat for the Marquesas. Another harbour, Anaho Bay, is on the north coast. American writer Herman Melville visited the region in the 1840s, and Nuku Hiva was the setting for his first novel, Typee (1846). Area 131 square miles (339 square km). Pop. (2002) 2,652. Learn More in these related articles:


In the 19th century, Edward Gibbon Wakefield set up which organisation to colonise New Zealand?

New Zealand - About New Zealand NEW ZEALAND      A Geologic History New Zealand is surrounded on all sides by a vast undersea panorama of submerged ridges and troughs, rises, swells and plateaus together providing dramatic evidence of the way the earth's crust in this part of the world has been compiled into huge folds, rather like a gigantic rumpled tablecloth. These features are in turn often cleft by deep submarine trenches and peppered by submarine volcanoes, all providing a measure of the stresses and strains accompanying such movements. Although much of this great system of folds is submerged, a small part of it has been shaped into a group of mountainous islands known as new Zealand. Movements similar to those that have shaped the sea floor have also affected the New Zealand land mass. The evidence for these upheavals is recorded in the rocks exposed in mountains, rivers and streams and in sea cliffs around the coasts. The intense folding and cracking often seen in these rocks suggests that New Zealand has long been part of one of the earth's "mobile belts" - zones of weakness in the earth's crust along which breaking occurs.     Maori lady, New Zealand 1900s The rocks are cut by innumerable great fractures called faults, along which up, down and sideways movements have occurred. many of the faults have broken the present land surface, showing that they have been moving during the past few thousand years. Some faults have moved in the last century (producing major earthquakes) and these movements, together with almost continuous smaller scale earthquake and volcanic activity, indicate that New Zealand is very much "on the move" today. Earth movements in the region have tended to be concentrated into "bursts," of which the recent activity is an example, but geological record indicates that change has nevertheless been continuous for at least the past 500 million years. The change has involved geographic position (latitude and longitude) as well as size, shape and degree of insularity. New Zealand has not always been a se-girt island country and u to some 130 million years ago shared a common coastline with New Caledonia, eastern Australia, Tasmania and Antarctica. The modern shape of the country is largely a product of the last 10,000 years. Great Gondwana New Zealand's long voyage through time commenced in the Cambrian period of geological history, 570 to 500 million years ago, when it was part of a super-continent called Gondwana, made up of the land masses now comprising Australia, new guinea, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Antarctica, South America, Africa, Arabia, Malagasy and India. New Zealand lay on the eastern edge of the super-continent, wedged between Australia, Tasmania and Antarctica, and facing an ancestral ocean called the Tethys, separating Gondwana from another super-continent called Laurasia which was then a number of separate lands that were later to coalesce. The Laurasian lands included North America, Kazakhstan, southern and central Europe, Baltica (Scandinavia and European Russia), Mongolia, Siberia, China and Southeast Asia. In the early part of New Zealand's history, during the Cambrian and succeeding Ordovician and Silurian periods (500 to 410 million years ago), the edge of Gondwana occupied by New Zealand, New Caledonia and Australia projected northwards into the Northern Hemisphere, lying in latitudes 45 degrees north to the Cambrian and 30 degrees north in the Ordovician and the Siberian. The northward orientation of Gondwana brought new Zealand and Australia into contact with China, Southeast Asia and Kazakhstan so that new Zealand and Australia shared with these countries a number of coastal marine animals and their close relatives. Such coastal links gradually faded, however, as Gondwana began to swing to the south, bringing Australia and New Zealand into the Southern Hemisphere, Southeast Asia, China and Kazakhstan moved in a north-wards direction towards their present geographic position. Thus by the Devonian period 410 to 350 million y