"According to a fragment of ""The Achilleid"", written by Statius in the first century AD, when Achilles the mythological Greek hero was born, his mother tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx. Where was he left vulnerable?"

Achilles A Achilles In Greek mythology , Achilles ( Ancient Greek : Ἀχιλλεύς) was a Greek hero of the Trojan War , the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer 's Iliad . Achilles also has the attributes of being the most handsome of the heroes assembled against Troy . Later legends (beginning with a poem by Statius in the first century AD) state that Achilles was invulnerable in all of his body except for his heel . Since he died due to a arrow shot into his heel, the " Achilles' heel " has come to mean a person's principal weakness. Birth Achilles was the son of the nymph Thetis and Peleus , the king of the Myrmidons. Zeus and Poseidon had been rivals for the hand of Thetis until Prometheus , the fire-bringer, warned Zeus of a prophecy that Thetis would bear a son greater than his father. For this reason, the two gods withdrew their pursuit, and had her wed Peleus. As with most mythology there is a tale which offers an alternative version of these events: in Argonautica (iv.760) Hera alludes to Thetis's chaste resistance to the advances of Zeus, that Thetis was so loyal to Hera's marriage bond that she coolly rejected him. According to a fragment of an Achilleis— the Achilleid, written by Statius in the first century AD, and to no other sources, when Achilles was born Thetis tried to make him immortal by dipping him in the river Styx . However, he was left vulnerable at the part of the body she held him by, his heel. (See Achilles heel, Achilles' tendon.) It is not clear if this version of events was known earlier. In another version of this story, Thetis anointed the boy in ambrosia and put him on top of a fire to burn away the mortal parts of his body. She was interrupted by Peleus and abandoned both father and son in a rage. However none of the sources before Statius makes any reference to this general invulnerability. To the contrary, in the Iliad Homer mentions Achilles being wounded: in Book 21 the Paeonian hero Asteropaeus, son of Pelagon, challenged Achilles by the river Scamander. He cast two spears at once, one grazed Achilles' elbow, "drawing a spurt of blood." Also in the fragmentary poems of the Epic Cycle in which we can find description of the hero's death, Kúpria (unknown author), Aithiopis by Arctinus of Miletus, Ilias Mikrá by Lesche of Mytilene, Iliou pérsis by Arctinus of Miletus, there is no trace of any reference to his general invulnerability or his famous weakness (heel); in the later vase-paintings presenting Achilles' death, the arrow (or in many cases, arrows) hit his body. Peleus entrusted Achilles to Chiron the Centaur , on Mt. Pelion , to be raised. Achilles in the Trojan War The first two lines of the Iliad read: μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος οὐλομένην, ἣ μυρί' Ἀχαιοῖς ἄλγε' ἔθηκεν, Sing, Goddess, of the rage, of Peleus' son Achilles the accursed rage, which brought pain to thousands of the Achaeans. Achilles is the only mortal to experience consuming rage. His anger is at some times wavering, but at other times he cannot be cooled. The humanization of Achilles by the events of the war is an important theme of the narrative. Telephus When the Greeks left for the Trojan War, they accidentally stopped in Mysia, ruled by King Telephus. In the resulting battle, Achilles gave Telephus a wound that would not heal; Telephus consulted an oracle, who stated that "he that wounded shall heal". Guided by the oracle, he arrived at Argos , where Achilles heals him in order that he become their guide for the voyage to Troy. According to other reports in Euripides ' lost play about Telephus, he went to Aulis pretending to be a beggar and asked Achilles to heal his wound. Achilles refused, claiming to have no medical knowledge. Alternatively, Telephus held Orestes for ransom, the ransom being Achilles' aid in healing the wound. Odysseus reasoned that the spear had inflicted the wound; therefore, the spear must be able to heal it. Pieces of the spear were scraped off onto the wound and Telephus was healed. Troilus According to the Cypria (the part of the Epic Cycle that tells the events o


The Neckar, Main and Ruhr are tributaries of which river?

Rhine (river) | Article about Rhine (river) by The Free Dictionary Rhine (river) | Article about Rhine (river) by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Rhine+(river) Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Wikipedia . Rhine (rīn), Du. Rijn, Fr. Rhin, Ger. Rhein, Lat. Rhenus, principal river of Europe, c.820 mi (1,320 km) long. It rises in the Swiss Alps and flows generally north, passing through or bordering on Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea. Its important tributaries are the Aare, Neckar, Main, Moselle, and Ruhr rivers; canals link the river with the Maas, Rhône-Saône, Marne, and Danube (via the Main) valleys. Course The Rhine's highest source, the Hinter Rhine, issues from the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier more than 11,000 ft (3,353 m) above sea level and joins the Vorder Rhine, flowing from Lake Tuma, to form the Rhine proper at Reichenau, S of Chur, Switzerland. From Chur the river flows N to Lake Constance and then W over the 65-ft (20-m) Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen (harnessed for hydroelectric power by the Swiss) to Basel, c.500 mi (800 km) from the North Sea. At Basel the Rhine becomes the Upper Rhine of the Germans and turns sharply N to Mainz across the broad-floored Rhine rift valley, a large graben, or down-faulted block, between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mts. Navigation here is by way of a lateral canal through France as far as Strasbourg; below Strasbourg the riverbed has been improved for navigation. Below Mainz, at Bingen, Germany, the Rhine leaves the rift valley and flows for c.80 mi (130 km) across the Rhenish Slate Mts. in a steep gorge, famous for its scenery and wines, with castles surviving from times when tolls were levied on the river's traffic, and landmarks such as the Lorelei and the Drachenfels. Beyond Bonn the river becomes the Lower Rhine of the Germans and emerges onto the North German Plain as a broad, sluggish, and increasingly polluted river flowing on a bed of deltaic deposits left by ancestors of the modern river. Efforts to solve the pollution problem began in the late 1970s and had achieved considerable, if not complete, success by the late 1990s. Just below Emmerich, on the border with the Netherlands, the modern delta begins, and the Rhine breaks up into two major distributaries, the Lek and the Waal. The Lek, which becomes the Nieuwe Maas, continues W to Rotterdam and then by the canalized New Waterway enters the North Sea at Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland). The Waal, which merges with the waters of the Maas to form the Merwede, also flows west; the Merwede and the Bergsche Maas join to form the Hollandschdiep, an arm of the North Sea, 6 mi (9.6 km) SE of Dordrecht. A third distributary, known as the Crooked Rhine, leads to Utrecht and continues west to the sea as the Old Rhine; it is linked with Amsterdam by the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal and thence by the North Sea Canal to the North Sea. Commerce The Rhine was declared free to international navigation in 1868, and in 1919 navigation of the river between Basel and Krimpen, on the Lek, and Gorinchem, on the Waal, was placed under the authority of the Central Rhine Commission, with headquarters at Strasbourg. Navigation above Basel is controlled jointly by Switzerland and Germany. The river carries more traffic than any other waterway in the world and is navigable by oceangoing vessels as far as Mannheim, Germany, by river barges to Basel, Switzerland, and by pleasure craft and sightseeing boats on navigable stretches as far as Rheinfelden, Switzerland. Coal, coke, grain, timber, and iron ore are the principal cargoes carried on the river. Rotterdam is the chief outlet to the North Sea, and Duisburg, the outlet for the Ruhr industrial region, is the leading river port. The Rhine-Main-Danube canal, completed in 1992, now allows barge traffic between the North Sea and the Black Sea. Bibliography See W. Marsden, The Rhineland (1973); K.-W. Kock and G. Rohr, The Rhine (1987). Rhine   a river in Western Europe. The Rhine has a length of 1


At the medal ceremonies for events at the Olympics, national anthems are played for those who have which placing(s)?

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


Who formally became Emperor of Japan in 1926 and became its constitutional monarch in 1946?

Hirohito, Emperor of Japan | Article about Hirohito, Emperor of Japan by The Free Dictionary Hirohito, Emperor of Japan | Article about Hirohito, Emperor of Japan by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Hirohito%2c+Emperor+of+Japan Related to Hirohito, Emperor of Japan: Emperor Akihito , Emperor Meiji Hirohito (hērō`hētō), 1901–89, emperor of Japan. He was made regent in 1921 and succeeded his father, Yoshihito (the Taishō Taishō , 1879–1926, reign name of emperor of Japan (1912–26). His given name was Yoshihito. The son of Mutsuhito, the Meiji emperor, he succeeded to the throne in 1912, but because of illness he played little part in governing the nation. ..... Click the link for more information.  emperor), in 1926. He married (1924) Princess Nagako Kuni (1903–2000); a son and heir, Prince Akihito Akihito , 1933–, emperor of Japan (1989–). As crown prince, he traveled widely, visiting Great Britain, Canada, the United States, and many countries of Asia and South America. Like his father, Hirohito, Akihito is an accomplished amateur marine biologist. In Apr. ..... Click the link for more information. , was born in 1933. For 20 years he reigned as sovereign as Japan went to war in China and the Pacific, and in 1945 he made an unprecedented radio broadcast announcing Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies. Under Allied occupation, he retained the throne, but was transformed from imperial sovereign to democratic symbol. The constitution of 1946 made him "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people," and he became familiar as a marine biologist, family figure, and greeter of foreign heads of state. His Showa ("enlightened peace") reign was the longest and one of the most turbulent in Japan's history. Bibliography See D. Irokawa, The Age of Hirohito (1995); H. P. Bix, Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan (2000). Hirohito


"Which band, comprising David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison and Tina Weymouth, had hit records including ""Burning Down the House"" and ""Psycho Killer""?"

1000+ images about Talking Heads - David Byrne - Tina Weymouth - Jerry Harrison - Chris Frantz on Pinterest | Weymouth, Tom tom club and David Forward Talking Heads were an American new wave band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne (lead vocals and guitar), Chris Frantz (drums and backing vocals), Tina Weymouth (bass and backing vocals) and Jerry Harrison (keyboards, guitar, and backing vocals). See More


What ocean borders the US state of Georgia?

What states border the Atlantic Ocean? | Reference.com What states border the Atlantic Ocean? A: Quick Answer The states in the U.S. that border the Atlantic Ocean include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland and Massachusetts. In addition, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia also border the Atlantic Ocean. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama border a part of the Atlantic Ocean known as the Gulf of Mexico. Full Answer The states that directly border the Atlantic Ocean have a combined coastline of 2,069 miles. The states that border the Gulf of Mexico have a total coastline length of 1,631 miles. States bordering the Atlantic Ocean are typically known as East Coast states. The northernmost of these states is Maine, and the southernmost state is Florida. Important cities that lie along the Atlantic Ocean coastline include Boston, New York City, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Virginia Beach, Kitty Hawk, Wilmington, Charleston, Savannah, Daytona Beack, West Palm Beach, Miami and Key West. Geographical features along the coastline include Cape Hatteras, Cape May, Myrtle Beach, Roanoke Island, the barrier islands and the Chesapeake Bay. The I-95 corridor runs down the Atlantic coastline from New York to Florida. The earliest U.S. colony, Jamestown, Virginia, was located along the Atlantic Ocean coastline, which was settled by colonists who crossed the Atlantic from Europe.


Video: Meet Gary, the world's largest pet rodent - Telegraph Weird News Video Meet Gary, the world's largest pet rodent A couple in America have adopted a giant rodent the size of a labrador, and  even allow it to sleep in their bed. 4:15PM BST 21 Jun 2013 Melanie Typaldos, 57, shares her home in Texas with her pet Gary - the world's largest rodent. The computer programmer and her husband, Richard Loveman, 54, even let the giant guinea pig - known as a capybara - sleep in their bed. The couple fell in love with the South American mammals during a holiday to Venezuela , and adopted Gary from an owner who could no longer care for him. The capybara has become part of the family and enjoys nothing more than swimming with his owners in the swimming pool, which was built to remind the pet of his natural habitat. Melanie says: "Although some people might find it strange, it’s really no different than having a dog or a cat . Related Content


In chess, what piece is allowed to jump over other pieces?

Chess Moves - Extensive Insight To The Jump Chess Move Delivering Online Chess To The World The Jump Chess Move In chess, the knight is the only piece that may jump pieces, provided that the destination square must be either empty or occupied by one of the opposing pieces. The knight is considered to be one of the most unique chess pieces you have to play with. This horse-like piece can move in strange L shapes and is the only chess piece that is allowed to jump over other chess pieces according to official chess rules. The knight's movement is rather different from other pieces as it moves in an L shape; either 2 squares forward, backward, left, or right and then 1 square left or right. This special jumping feature can make the knight a very useful chess piece, especially at the start of the game. The king has a small range of movement and may move only 1 square in any direction so long as it move doesn’t leave the moving side in check and the destination square isn’t currently occupied by a friendly piece. The king is not allowed to jump. Although the queen is a lot more mobile, she may not jump any pieces like the knight piece can. However, she may slide any number of squares in any direction. The queen’s destination square can either be empty or occupied by one of the opponent’s piece. The move mustn’t leave the moving side’s King in check. The rook has quite a wide range and may slide any number of squares either horizontally or vertically but may not jump pieces. As usual, the destination square must be either empty or occupied by an opposing piece. None of the rook’s moves must leave the moving side in check. The bishop piece may slide any number of squares in a diagonal direction but may not jump pieces. The destination square must be empty or occupied by an opposing piece. The move must not leave the moving side in check. The chess pawn is often in the line of fire because it may only move 1 square forward as long as its destination square is empty. The pawn may move 2 squares on its first move if there are 2 squares open, as pawns are also not allowed to jump over other pieces. The pawn can only capture a piece that is 1 square diagonally in front of it and the move mustn’t leave the moving side in check. One exception to the pawn moving rules is the en passant rule. If you are looking for chess variant that allows for a bit more jumping, with pieces other than knights, you can always try jumping chess. In this variant, queens, rooks and bishops can choose to jump over one intervening chess piece of either color. Jumping Chess is a Chess Variant where captures are made by jumping over a piece, as in Checkers. The standard chess array is used, but in order to avoid many un-captured pieces at the edge of the board, 2 extra ranks and 2 extra files are added.


Which Canadian portrait photographer of Armenian heritage photographed Winston Churchill in his studio in Ottawa on 30 December, 1941, which, it is claimed, is the most reproduced photographic portrait in history?

Karsh, Yousuf | Armenian Photography Foundation Armenian Photography Foundation December 23 1908 - July 13 2002 Nationality: Armenian/Canadian Place of Activity: Canada/Syria/USA Yousuf Karsh, (December 23, 1908 – July 13, 2002) was a Canadian photographer of Armenian heritage, and one of the most famous and accomplished portrait photographers of all time. Yousuf or Josuf (his given Armenian name was Hovsep) Karsh was born in Mardin, a city in the eastern Ottoman Empire (present Turkey). He grew up during the Armenian Genocide where he wrote, “I saw relatives massacred; my sister died of starvation as we were driven from village to village.” At the age of 14, he fled with his family to Syria to escape persecution. Two years later, his parents sent Yousuf to live with his uncle George Nakash, a photographer in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Karsh briefly attended school there and assisted in his uncle’s studio. Nakash saw great potential in his nephew and in 1928 arranged for Karsh to apprentice with portrait photographer John Garo in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. His brother, Malak Karsh, was also a photographer famous for the image of logs floating down the river on the Canadian one dollar bill. Karsh returned to Canada four years later, eager to make his mark. He established a studio in the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, close to Canada’s seat of government. Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King discovered Karsh and arranged introductions with visiting dignitaries for portrait sittings. Karsh’s work attracted the attention of varied celebrities, but his place in history was sealed on 30 December 1941 when he photographed Winston Churchill, after Churchill gave a speech to Canadian House of Commons in Ottawa. The image of Churchill brought Karsh international prominence, and is claimed to be the most reproduced photographic portrait in history. Of the 100 most notable people of the century, named by the International Who’s Who [2000], Karsh had photographed 51. In the late 1990s Karsh moved to Boston and on July 13, 2002, aged 93, he died at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital after complications following surgery. He was interred in Notre Dame Cemetery in Ottawa. Karsh was a master of studio lights. One of Karsh’s distinctive practices was lighting the subject’s hands separately. Journalist George Perry wrote in the British paper The Sunday Times that “when the famous start thinking of immortality, they call for Karsh of Ottawa.” Karsh had a gift for capturing the essence of his subject in the instant of his portrait. As Karsh wrote of his own work in Karsh Portfolio in 1967, “Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can. The revelation, if it comes at all, will come in a small fraction of a second with an unconscious gesture, a gleam of the eye, a brief lifting of the mask that all humans wear to conceal their innermost selves from the world. In that fleeting interval of opportunity the photographer must act or lose his prize.” All photographs on Lusadaran website are copyrighted by their respective owners and are displayed for educational and research purposes. Permission is required for any other use. Copyright © 2011-2017 Armenian Photography Foundation


To an imaginary observer above the North Pole, which way would the earth appear to rotate?

Earth's Rotation Earth's Rotation Earth's Rotation and the Apparent        Daily Motion of the Sky The earth rotates about an imaginary line that passes through the North and South Poles of the planet.  This line is called the axis of     rotation.  Earth rotates about this axis once each day (approximately     24 hours).  Although you most likely already knew that fact, there     is a slight complication most people are not aware of. More       specifically, our rotation period (the time elapsed for one rotation)       with respect     to the stars  is called a sidereal day.  A sidereal day is     24 sidereal hours, or 23 hours and 56 minutes on a normal clock.  Our     clock time is based on the earth's rotation with respect to the sun from     solar noon to solar noon.  This is a solar day, and it is divided     into 24 hours.  Because Earth travels about 1 / 365 of the way around     the sun during one day, there is a small difference between solar     time and sidereal     time . The earth takes about 1/365 of a day or about 4 minutes      more to get into the </FONT>same position with respect to the sun after it reaches the same position with respect to the stars. We use sun-based time because it is more important to most of us whether the Sun is up than whether a given star is up. Those who care which star is up (like astronomers) may also use sidereal time. 1) The sidereal day is shorter         than the solar day because the earth rotates and revolves         in the same sense - counterclockwise in the diagram above. Venus         rotates         in the opposite         direction to its revolution - is its sidereal day longer or shorter       than its solar day? Note:         Astronomers and other scientists sometimes use ordinary words       but with different or more limited meaning attached.  The words " rotate " and " revolve " are         examples of this:  To an astronomer, "rotate" = spin         around an axis that runs through you, and "revolve" = orbit         about another object.  One time around = one revolution.  In         the 1500's Copernicus published a radical theory of the solar system         in which he proposed that the planets revolve about the sun.  His         book "on the revolutions of the planets" changed how         we view our universe.  From its title we get the word "revolution" meaning "action giving rise to radical change in society". Not          quite sure why the solar day lasts 4 minutes longer than the sidereal          day?  Click on Brisban's icon for NO FRILLS HELP!   So         which way does the world turn?  One way to visualize how the         earth turns is to hold out your right fist with your thumb extended         and pointing straight up         (the traditional hitchhiker fist).   If you visualize that         your thumb points north, then your fingers are curling in the direction         of Earth's rotation.  Because of this easy set up, we say that         the earth rotates in a "right-handed" manner (because you are using     your right hand as a model). You         can take this model a step further by visualizing that the base of         your thumb is where Europe and  Africa are located (Europe is         above Africa of course when North is up).  The Atlantic Ocean         would be on your fingers and the flat part of your fist by your knuckles         are the Americas.  The back of your hand is the Pacific Ocean,         which leaves Asia to rest where your wrist is.  If you keep         this simple model in mind, you will always have an Earth-globe to         check directions by.  This is not so different from counting     using your fingers. For an observer at a fixed position         on Earth, the rotation of the earth


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What was ordered by Pope Paul IV in 1555 to be set up on the left bank of the Tiber?

OspIRS_e F) Bibliography and Contributions A) THE JEWS IN ROME Even if the evidence of the first presences of the        Jewish people dates back to the II century b.C., the        massive arrival of the Jews to Rome is connected to the        deportations of thousands of them as slaves by empereor Tito after the        destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Their condition changed time by time until the Jews was        allowed to organize free and independent communities,        always characterized by a strong feeling of identity and        distinction from the other people. Such communities arose        nearby the Tiber using the river like primary source of        economic and trading activities: the main areas of        settlement was at first Trastevere, around to square in        Piscinula, and subsequently also on the left river bank,        at the Porch of Ottavia where the ghetto would have be        built, just in front of the Fabricio Bridge, that for this        reason was also known as Pons Judeorum . In Trastevere it is still present in Vicolo dell'Atleta,        in the basement of a restaurant, what  is considered        the most ancient synagogue, that dates back to the XIII        century (pict.A1 and A2), and identified by some scholars        as the Nathan ben Jechiel one (1035-1106). Page           top B) THE          GHETTO During the Middle Ages the roman Jews, mainly involved in        commercial activities, did not have particular        difficulties in living together the Christian population.        But during the Renaissance, after the Protestant schism,        the Roman Church became more coercive for the not        Christian people so that in July 14th 1555 the pope Paul        IV Carafa, just elected (1555-1559), revoked with the        bulla “ Cum         nimis absurdum ” all the previously granted rights and ordered to confine        the about 3000 members of the Jewish community in a        restricted area, the district known as Ghetto. [complete         original latin text] In order to reduce the effect of such ordinance in        1562 the new pope Pius IV (1560-1565) instituted in favor        of the Jews the “Jus         Gazzagà” (right of ownership) according to which the Christians        kept the property of the houses located in the ghetto        area, but without the right of evict the Jews who lived        there nor to increase of the rent. Originally the doors of the Ghetto were only two; in 1577        it was opened a third one. The main door was in the Giudea        Square (no more existing and where it was located the        fountain, the only drinkable water resource of the ghetto,        just outside the fencing borders), the others two was        nearby the churches of St.Angelo and St.Gregorio. In 1589 the pope Sisto V (1585-1590) revoked some        restrictions and widened the ghetto including the long        building  facing the Tiber river and Via della         Fiumara (no more existing) at the ends of which two        new doors were constructed. The ghetto reached a surface        of 3 hectares. In the picture B1, on the base of the 1748 Nolli map, are        indicated the borders, the names and the positions of the        five doors and the names of the main roads of the ghetto. After more than two centuries the excessive growth of the        resident people forced the pope Leone XII (1823-1829) to        allow a further increase of the        ghetto: therefore the (1825) building between Via         della Reginella and Via St.Ambrogio was        annexed to the ghetto opening an accessing passage between Via di Pescheria and Via Rua and adding        three more doors, up to a tota


What is the largest country by land area in Africa?

Map of Top Ten Largest African Countries by Area Largest Countries in the World by Area Countries in Africa Africa is made up of over fifty sovereign nations, and several more territories and dependencies. Of the countries in Africa, Algeria is the largest country by area, with an area of 2,381,740 square kilometers. Algeria is situated in northwestern Africa, and its capital is in Algiers. Algeria has a population of over 33 million. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in Africa, falling just behind Algeria, with an area of 2,344,858 square miles. The DRC is located in Central Africa, and its capital is in Kinshasa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has a population of almost 72 million. The Republic of the Sudan is the third largest nation, with 1,861,484 square kilometers in area. Sudan is located in northeastern Africa, and its capital is located in Khartoum. The population of Sudan is about 67 million. The fourth largest country in Africa is Libya, with an area of 1,759,540. Libya is situated in the far north of Africa along the Mediterranean Sea, and its capital is Tripoli. The population of Libya is just over 6 million people. Chad is in fifth place for largest African countries by area, with a total area of about 1,284,000 square kilometers. Chad is centrally located in Africa, and its capital is N'Djamena. The population of Chad is about 10.1 million. Niger has the sixth largest area in Africa, with its area measuring about 1,267,000 square kilometers. Niger is a central African country, with its capital in Niamey. The population of Niger is almost 14 millions. Angola has an area of 1,246,700 square kilometers, making it seventh largest in the African continent. Angola is a southwestern nation, with its capital in Lunda, and its population numbers under 16 million. Mali takes eighth place in terms of largest countries in Africa, with an area of 1,240,192 square kilometers. Mali is located in West Africa, and its capital is in Bamako. The population of Mali is about 13.5 million. South Africa is the ninth largest country in Africa. Located in the far south of the African continent, South Africa has an area of 1,221,037 square kilometers. The capital of South Africa is in three cities: Bloemfontein, Cape Town, and Pretoria, and the population of the country is about 47.5 million. The tenth largest country in Africa by area is Ethiopia, which is located in eastern Africa. The area of Ethiopia is 1,104,300 square kilometers, and its population is about 85.2 million. The capital of Ethiopia is Addis Adaba. Top 10 Largest African Countries by Area Country


"Who wrote the series of books about ""Budgie The Helicopter""?"

TV ACRES: Aircraft > Helicopters > Budgie the Little Helicopter (Sarah Ferguson) Home > Index > Aircraft >  Helicopters > Budgie the Little Helicopter     Helicopters Budgie the Little Helicopter - Brave and friendly helicopter featured on the animated half-hour        children's series BUDGIE THE LITTLE HELICOPTER/ITV/1994-96. This        aviation adventure follows the antics of Budgie, the smallest        helicopter in the hangar and his adorable copter buddies, Lionel,        Pippa and Chuck. They all interact with Harefield Airfield's        resident mechanics, Mike and Ken. The series debuted in England        and later premiered in America in 1995 on The Fox Network's        weekday preschool program, FOX CUBHOUSE as a component series of        MAGIC ADVENTURES OF MUMFIE. The program is based on four        children's books written by HRH Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of        York. The books included Budgie, The Little Helicopter; Budgie at Bendrick's Point; Budgie Goes To Sea; and Budgie and the Blizzard.        Sarah Ferguson got the idea for her successful children's        character while training as a Royal Navy Pilot. Produced by Sleepy        Kids PLC, HTV Limited and Fred Wolf Films (U.K).   External Links


"During World War II, in north Africa, who was known as ""The Desert Fox""?"

“The Desert Fox” commits suicide - Oct 14, 1944 - HISTORY.com “The Desert Fox” commits suicide Share this: “The Desert Fox” commits suicide Author “The Desert Fox” commits suicide URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1944, German Gen. Erwin Rommel, nicknamed “the Desert Fox,” is given the option of facing a public trial for treason, as a co-conspirator in the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, or taking cyanide. He chooses the latter. Rommel was born in 1891 in Wurttenberg, Germany, the son of a teacher. Although not descended from military men, the newly unified German empire made it fashionable to choose a military career, which young Rommel did, becoming an officer cadet. During World War I, he showed himself to be a natural leader with unnatural courage, fighting in France, Romania, and Italy. Following the war, he pursued a teaching career in German military academies, writing a textbook, Infantry Attacks, that was well regarded. At the outbreak of World War II, Rommel was given command of the troops that guarded Hitler’s headquarters, a disappointment for a man used to fighting on the front lines with the infantry. But in early 1940, he was given his chance to put to use his gifts, when he was given command of the 7th Panzer Division. Although a novice as far as mechanized forces were concerned, he soon mastered the advantages and proved his leadership abilities again in the German offensive against the French channel coast in May. In early 1941, Rommel was given control of the troops sent to North Africa to aid Germany’s ailing ally, Italy, in maintaining its position in Libya. It is here, in the deserts of North Africa, that Rommel earned his vaunted reputation, as well as his nickname (he became known for his “fox-like” sneak attacks). Winning significant victories against the British, whom he begrudgingly admired, Rommel nevertheless became weary of this theater of operations; he wanted to go back to Europe. It wasn’t until a second battle to take el-Alamein in Egypt went against him that the “invincible” general was finally called home back to Europe. Hitler put Rommel back in northern France, to guard against an Allied invasion. Rommel’s suggestions for the precautions necessary to repel an enemy invasion were not heeded, and he began to lose confidence in Hitler and Germany’s ability to win the war. When Rommel was approached by friends to agree to head the German government in the event of Hitler’s overthrow, he agreed-although there was no explicit talk of assassination, which he found abhorrent. D-Day was launched, and Rommel’s prediction of disaster for Germany’s position played itself out. Still, Hitler would not consider negotiations with the Allies. Rommel ended up in the hospital after his car was attacked by British bombers and he was forced off the road. Meanwhile, details of the failed assassination plot had come to Hitler’s attention, including Rommel’s contact with the conspirators. As Rommel was convalescing in his home at Herrlingen, two generals visited and offered him his choice-trial or suicide. Rommel told his wife and son what had transpired, and that he had chosen to take the cyanide capsules the generals had provided. The German government gave Rommel a state funeral. His death was attributed to war wounds. Related Videos


What colours are on the flag used to signify the finish of a Formula One motor race?

Flags used in Auto Racing This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Flags used in Auto Racing La   Gazzetta dello Sport Formula 1 flags Auto Racing flags In auto racing some flags have a different meaning and there are some extra  flags. There are two main systems: 1. American: http://www.toolcity.net/~mel/flags.html as used in NASCAR, CART, etc.; 2. the rest of the world: http://www.f1cafe.pair.com/raceflags/ as used in Formula 1, Formula 3000, etc. Stefan Lambregts, 3 November 1999 Formula 1 flag rules These are the official rules that dictate the displaying of flags on F1  tracks. This is extracted from "Appendix H to the International Sporting Code  - Recommendations for the supervision of the road and emergency services" as published from the FIA and available at http://www.fia.com/regle/annexe_H/Appendix-H.htm 4 - SIGNALING In the supervision of the road, the Clerk of the Course (or his deputy)   and the observation posts rely largely on the use of signals to contribute   to the drivers' safety and enforce the regulations. Signals are given in daylight by different coloured flags which may be   supplemented, or under some circumstances replaced by, lights. Black and white signal boards of similar dimensions to the flags may also   be used for certain signals: these should be clearly specified in the   supplementary regulations of the event concerned. At night the flags may be replaced by lights and reflective panels, but   all drivers must be made aware of this at a briefing beforehand. Yellow   lights at each post are obligatory for events run at night (see paragraph   4.2. and Article 12). 4.1 Flags: The minimum size of all flags is 60cm x 80cm except the red and chequered   flags which should be at least 80cm x 100cm. 4.1.1) Flag signals to be used by the Clerk of the Course or his   deputy at the start line: a) National flag: This flag is normally used to start the race. The starting signal     should be given by lowering the flag which, for standing start events,     should not be raised above the head until all cars are stationary and in     no case for more than 10 seconds. Should the national flag not be used for any reason, the colour of     the flag (which should not cause confusion with any other flag described     in this Chapter), should be specified in the Supplementary Regulations. b) Red flag: image by Phil Nelson This flag should be waved at the start line when it has been decided     to stop a practice session or the race. Simultaneously, each observer's     post around the circuit should also wave a red flag. The red flag may also be used by the Clerk of the Course or his     nominee to close the circuit (see Article 2.3.c). c) Black and white chequered flag: image by Phil Nelson This flag should be waved and signifies the end of a practice session     or the race. d) Black flag: image by Phil Nelson This flag should be used to inform the driver concerned that he must     stop at his pit or at the place designated in the supplementary or     championship regulations on the next approach to the pit entry. If a     driver fails to comply for any reason, this flag should not be shown for     more than four consecutive laps. The decision to show this flag rests solely with the Stewards of the     Meeting, the team concerned will immediately be informed of the     decision. e) Black flag with an orange disc 40 cm in diameter: image by Phil Nelson This flag should be used to inform the driver concerned that his car     has mechanical problems likely to endanger himself or others and means     that the he must stop at his pit on the next lap. When the mechanical     problems have been rectified to the satisfaction of the chief     scrutinizer the car may rejoin the race. f) Black and white flag divided diagonally: image by Phil Nelson This flag should be shown once only and is a warning to the driver     concerned that he has been reported for unsportsmanlike behaviour. These last three


The last edition of which British music chart television programme was broadcast on 30 July 2006 after running for 41 1/2 years?

Top of the Pops | Rock Peaks Top of the Pops Know a thing or two about this show? Want to help make this page better? Earn points and win prizes. Find out what's involved Track 3 days 8 hours ago Read the original article on Wikipedia Top of the Pops on Wikipedia Top of the Pops Logo used for the 2015/16 Christmas and New Year specials Created by 1 January 1964 (1964-01-01) – 30 July 2006 (2006-07-30) Christmas specials: 25 December 2006 (2006-12-25) – present Chronology Top of the Pops 2 Top Gear of the Pops Top of the Pops Reloaded TOTP@Play External links Website Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1 January 1964 and 30 July 2006. It was traditionally shown every Thursday evening on BBC1, except for a short period on Fridays in mid-1973 before being again moved to Fridays in 1996, and then to Sundays on BBC Two in 2005. Each weekly programme consisted of performances from some of that week's best-selling popular music artists, with a rundown of that week's singles chart. Additionally, there was a special edition of the programme on Christmas Day (and usually, until 1984, a second such edition a few days after Christmas), featuring some of the best-selling singles of the year. With its high viewing figures the show became a significant part of British popular culture. Although the weekly show was cancelled in 2006,[2] the Christmas special has continued.[3][4][5] It also survives as Top of the Pops 2, which began in 1994 and features vintage performances from the Top of the Pops archives. In the 1990s, the show's format was sold to several foreign broadcasters in the form of a franchise package, and at one point various versions of the show were shown in nearly 100 countries. Editions of the programme from the 1970s (and now 1980s) are being repeated on most Thursdays on BBC Four, although episodes featuring certain former presenters are not repeated.[6] Contents 1.3 Christmas Top Of The Pops 1.4 1980s 1.5 1991: 'Year Zero' revamp 1.6 1994–1997 1.8 2003: All New Top of the Pops 1.9 2004–2005: Move to BBC Two 1.10 2006: Cancellation 1.11 2006–present: After the end 1.11.1 Calls for return 1.11.5 Christmas and New Year specials 1.11.6 Comic Relief specials 2 Performers, performances and presenters 2.1 Miming 3.1 January to October 1964 – no dance troupes 3.2 November 1964 to April 1968 – The Go-Jos 3.3 May to June 1968 – Go-Jos/Pan's People transition 3.4 July 1968 to April 1976 – Pan's People 3.5 May to October 1976 – Ruby Flipper 3.6 November 1976 to October 1981 – Legs & Co 3.7 December 1981 to September 1983 – Zoo 3.8 October 1983 to 2006 – After Zoo 3.9 Dance Troupe chronology 8.2 United States and Canada 8.3 New Zealand 8.4 Africa, Asia and the Middle East 8.5 Latin America 9.1 Number One in the Compilation Charts 10 Top of the Pops magazine 11 In popular culture 17 External links History Top of the Pops was created by BBC producer Johnnie Stewart, inspired by the popular Teen and Twenty Disc Club which aired on Radio Luxembourg. It was first aired in 1964 and was originally based on the Top 20. By 1970 the Top 30 was being used and the show was extended from 30 to 45 minutes duration. The show was also now shown in colour following the BBC1 upgrade in November 1969. A switch to the Top 40 was made in 1984. (Radio One also changed to the Top 30 in the early 70s and to the Top 40 in 1978). The show saw many changes through the decades, in style, design, fashion and taste. It periodically had some aspect of its title sequence, logo and theme tune, format, or set design altered in some way, keeping the show looking modern despite its age. The programme had several executive producers during its run (although not all were billed as such), in charge of the overall production of the show, although specific content on individual shows was sometimes decided by other producers. When Stewart left the show in 1973, after nearly 10 years in charge, he was replaced by Robin Nash. Both Stewart and Nash made brief returns to th


The Koran is the sacred book of which religion?

The Quran - Islamic Religion - Quatr.us ( 600s AD ), now in Birmingham, England The Quran is the holy book of the religion of Islam ,   as the Bible is for Christians and the Torah is for Jews . The Quran was   written in Arabic , a little bit   after the death of Mohammed in 632 AD . For Islamic believers, memorizing many verses   from the Quran is a way of honoring God, or Allah. Children often memorized the whole Quran as they went through school . According to believers,   the Quran is the words of God, passed by the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Mohammed , written down so they   will not be forgotten. Like the Torah and the Bible, the Quran told believers how to be good. The Quran says that people should not drink wine or beer , for instance. Like the Torah, the Quran said that people should not eat meat from pigs . Also, the Quran gave many rights to women that women had not had before. Women inherited money from their parents, and kept control of their own money when they were married, and they could get a divorce if their husband beat them. The Quran tells many of the same stories that are in the Jewish Torah and the Christian Bible, though the Quran tells the stories in somewhat different ways. The Quran includes the stories of Nuh, who is the same as Noah in the Torah. The Quran also includes the story of Musa, who is the same as Moses in the Torah.


If you travelled downstream from the Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, which country would you be in when you reached the ocean?

Travellers' Guide To Zimbabwe - Wiki Travel Guide - Travellerspoint Lion cub © All Rights Reserved wanderers Fantastic safaris, stunning scenery, a proudly African culture: Zimbabwe has all the stereotypical African attractions, plus a handful more. The Victoria Falls , on the Zambezi river along the Zambian coast, is a magnificent, extraordinarily powerful sight. The falls and surrounding river afford some great adventure activities, like white water rafting (might wanna avoid the falls though), parachuting, microlighting, and bungee jumping (the world's tallest bungee jump, that is). Great Zimbabwe, in southeastern Zimbabwe, was once a thriving medieval city: now, it is a historical marvel, indicating the height of African civilization. edit Brief History By the Middle Ages, there was a Bantu civilization in the region, as evidenced by ruins at Great Zimbabwe and other smaller sites, whose main outstanding archaeological achievement is a unique dry stone architecture. Around the early 10th century, trade developed with Muslim merchants on the Indian Ocean coast, helping to develop the Kingdom of Mapungubwe in the 11th century. The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was the first in a series of sophisticated trade states developed in Zimbabwe by the time of the first European explorers from Portugal. From about 1250 until 1450, Mapungubwe was eclipsed by the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. In 1834, the Ndebele people arrived while fleeing from the Zulu leader Shaka, making the area their new empire, Matabeleland. In 1837–38, the Rozwi Empire along with other Shona states were conquered by the Ndebele, who arrived from south of the Limpopo and forced them to pay tribute and concentrate in northern Zimbabwe. In the 1880s, the British arrived with Cecil Rhodes's British South Africa Company (BSAC). In 1898, the name Southern Rhodesia was adopted. In 1898 'Southern Rhodesia' became the official denotation for the region south of the Zambezi,[10] which later became Zimbabwe. The region to the north was administered separately by the BSAC and later named Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia ). Southern Rhodesia became a self-governing British colony in October 1923, subsequent to a 1922 referendum. Rhodesians served on behalf of the United Kingdom during World War II, mainly in the East African Campaign against Axis forces in Italian East Africa. In the elections of February 1980, Mugabe and his ZANU won a landslide victory. Elections in March 1990 resulted in another victory for Mugabe and his party, which won 117 of the 120 election seats. Election observers estimated voter turnout at only 54% and found the campaign neither free nor fair. The economical and political situation and the health of the people (life expectancy declined from around 60 to about 35 in the period since 1990) declined during the 1980s and 1990s. Just as one might not expect things to get worse, Mugabe began to redistribute land to blacks in 2000 with a compulsory land redistribution. In 2002, Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations on charges of human rights abuses during the land redistribution and of election tampering. During 2008, problems in Zimbabwe reached crisis proportions in the areas of living standards, public health (with a major cholera outbreak in December) and various public considerations. On 29 March 2008, Zimbabwe held a presidential election along with a parliamentary election. The three major candidates were Robert Mugabe of the Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T), and Simba Makoni, an independent. The results of this election were withheld for four weeks, following which it was generally acknowledged that the MDC had achieved a significant majority of seats. However, Mugabe retained control because Tsvangirai did not win by the margin required by Zimbabwean law. Hence, the election results that would otherwise put Mugabe out of power, failed the opposition. In September 2008, a power-sharing agreement was reached between Mugabe and Tsvangirai,


"Idris el Senussi, Emir or Cyrenu, was made the first king of what ""United Kingdom"" on 24 December 1951?"

Crown Prince Regent: Hasan: 1969 Prime Ministers: Mahmud al-Muntasir (1951–1954); Hussein Maziq (1965–1967); Wanis al-Qaddafi (1968–1969). Legislature: Parliament; Upper House (Senate); Lower House (House of Representatives). Independence: 24 December 1951. Area: 1,759,530 km2 (679,358 square miles). Population: 1,091,830 (as of 1954).       The 1951 constitution states that King Idris as-Sanusi is the head of state, who can exercise political power to run the affairs of the country, through a government led by a prime minister, as well as can veto legislations and dissolve the house of representatives. The king's government is made up of the parliament, the upper house (Senate) and the lower house (House of Representatives). Each of the three provinces of Libya, namely Cyrenaica, Tripolitania and Fezzan, were represented in the Senate by eight representatives. Each province had its own "provincial government."   The flag of Cyrenaica, Eastern Libya.   The name Sanusi (or Senusi) refers to a political-religious order, said to have been founded by the grandfather of King Idris, the Grand Sanusi (Sayyid Muhammad Ibn Ali as-Senussi), in 1837 in Saudi Arabia. The black flag with white star & crescent was adopted by Idris as-Sanusi. The Sanusi family were involved in the wars against the French (between 1902 to 1913) and against the Italian invasions of Libya. After the Italians returned to Libya, after the treaty they signed with Turkey, the country was destroyed, Emir Idris fled to Egypt, and subsequently Omar al-Mukhtar was hanged in 1931. On the 1st of March 1949, Sayyid Idris proclaimed the eastern region of Libya as "The Emirate of Cyrenaica", and appointed himself the Emir of Cyrenaica. Even though the UK did recognise the Emirate, the UN failed to recognise the new country. In 1951 King Idris was appointed the King of Libya.   Like the American president was reported by Aljazeera to have said in 1968: "King Idris' regime was stable and secure because it was corrupt, truly corrupt". The same source also stated that: "In their bid to dominate Africa, the [Seven] Sisters installed a king in Libya, a dictator in Gabon, fought the nationalisation of oil resources in Algeria, and through corruption, war and assassinations, brought Nigeria to its knees" (aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2013/04/201344105231487582.html).   The Berbers of Libya Under King Idris The official status of the Berbers during the kingdom can be argued to have been slightly better than that during Gaddafi's period, and so far the same as during the "transitional" period of the NTC. However, all these three governments have declared constitutionally that Arabic is the only official language of Libya - even though Berber is the native language of Libya. The king's constitution states this under Article 186. However, Article 24 also states that any Libyan can use any language to 'practice' his or her religion or culture, including its use in literature and the media. After practice, of course, comes the real test - whenever the dictators are ready. In addition to the lack of any official recognition, there was no clear policy to assist the Berbers along those lines to develop their unique culture and nurture their prehistoric identity. When a language is declared official it will have the "legal protection", the "funds", and the dedication to ensure its free evolution. But when it is marginalised or forced into integration into another's freedom then neglect naturally follows.      03 March 2014: The Libyan government has decided to reinstate the Libyan nationality to King Idris and to his family. Decree 146 of 2014, issued by the PMO, also returns all the property confiscated by Gaddafi's government to the Sanusi family.


What is the name for the area of the Atlantic Ocean south east of Bermuda distinguished by the mass of brown seaweed that floats there?

The Bermuda Triangle Postado por Editor sábado, 19 de dezembro de 2009 às 16:37 The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean in which a number of aircraft and surface vessels have disappeared. Some people have claimed that these disappearances fall beyond the boundaries of human error or acts of nature. Some of these disappearances have been attributed to the paranormal, a suspension of the laws of physics, or activity by extraterrestrial beings by popular culture. Though a substantial documentation exists showing numerous incidents to have been inaccurately reported or embellished by later authors, and numerous official agencies have gone on record as stating the number and nature of disappearances to be similar to any other area of ocean, many have remained unexplained despite considerable investigation. The Triangle Area The boundaries of the Triangle vary with the author; some stating its shape is akin to a trapezoid covering the Straits of Florida, the Bahamas, and the entire Caribbean island area east to the Azores; others add to it the Gulf of Mexico. The more familiar, triangular boundary in most written works has as its points somewhere on the Atlantic coast of Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the mid-Atlantic island of Bermuda, with most of the accidents concentrated along the southern boundary around the Bahamas and the Florida Straits. The area is one of the most heavily-sailed shipping lanes in the world, with ships crossing through it daily for ports in the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. Cruise ships are also plentiful, and pleasure craft regularly go back and forth between Florida and the islands. It is also a heavily flown route for commercial and private aircraft heading towards Florida, the Caribbean, and South America from points north. The Gulf Stream ocean current flows through the Triangle after leaving the Gulf of Mexico; its current of five to six knots may have played a part in a number of disappearances. Sudden storms can and do appear, and in the summer to late fall hurricanes strike the area. The combination of heavy maritime traffic and tempestuous weather makes it inevitable that vessels could founder in storms and be lost without a trace  especially before improved telecommunications, radar, and satellite technology arrived late in the 20th century. History of the Triangle Story According to the Triangle authors, Christopher Columbus was the first person to document something strange in the Triangle, reporting that he and his crew observed "strange dancing lights on the horizon", flames in the sky, and at another point he wrote in his log about bizarre compass bearings in the area. From his log book, dated October 11, 1492 he wrote: The land was first seen by a sailor (Rodrigo de Triana), although the Admiral at ten o'clock that evening standing on the quarter-deck saw a light, but so small a body that he could not affirm it to be land; calling to Pero Gutiérrez, groom of the King's wardrobe, he told him he saw a light, and bid him look that way, which he did and saw it; he did the same to Rodrigo Sánchez of Segovia, whom the King and Queen had sent with the squadron as comptroller, but he was unable to see it from his situation. The Admiral again perceived it once or twice, appearing like the light of a wax candle moving up and down, which some thought an indication of land. But the Admiral held it for certain that land was near... Modern scholars checking the original log books have surmised that the lights he saw were the cooking fires of Taino natives in their canoes or on the beach; the compass problems were the result of a false reading based on the movement of a star. The first article of any kind in which the legend of the Triangle began appeared in newspapers by E.V.W. Jones on September 16, 1950, through the Associated Press. Two years later, Fate magazine published "Sea Mystery At Our Back Door", a short article by George X. Sand in the October 1952 issue covering the loss of several planes and ships, i


In May 2009, suspected NAZI death camp guard John Demjanjuk was deported from where to Germany?

'Nazi guard' John Demjanjuk arrives in Germany to face war crimes charges | World news | The Guardian 'Nazi guard' John Demjanjuk arrives in Germany to face war crimes charges Ukrainian accused of involvement in killing 29,000 Jews at Sobibor death camp to undergo medical tests Suspected Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk, 89, is taken from an ambulance and placed on a plane in Cleveland. Photograph: Ron Kuntz/Reuters Tuesday 12 May 2009 09.46 EDT First published on Tuesday 12 May 2009 09.46 EDT Close This article is 7 years old Germany was preparing to stage one of the last Nazi trials today following the long-awaited arrival from the US of John Demjanjuk, who faces charges that he helped to kill 29,000 Jews. Demjanjuk, 89, landed at Munich airport early this morning after being deported from his home in Cleveland, Ohio, following his family's failed attempts to block his extradition on the grounds of ill health. The retired car worker was transferred through the morning mist on a stretcher from the Gulfstream jet into an ambulance of the Bavarian Red Cross and taken to Stadelheim prison in Munich, where he was due to undergo medical tests to determine whether he is fit to stand trial. The journey was a reversal of the one he took 57 years ago when he and his wife travelled from Munich to Bremerhaven to board a ship to New York. There he convinced authorities of his status as a "displaced person" and was allowed entry into the US as a refugee, becoming a citizen in 1958. It took 25 years before he began facing questions about his alleged past and 32 years of repeated international attempts before he was finally extradited. Following his return to Germany for the first time today a judge was expected to formally charge Demjanjuk with being an accessory to the murder of 29,000 Jews while he was a guard at the Nazi death camp of Sobibor in occupied Poland between March and September 1943. Eyewitnesses say he pushed men, women and children into the gas chambers. Ukraine-born Demjanjuk has denied the charges, arguing that he was drafted into the Soviet army and spent much of the war as a prisoner of war at the hands of the German army and that he was never a camp guard. Anton Winkler, of the Munich prosecutors' office, said the charge sheet stretched to 21 pages and there was enough evidence to put Demjanjuk on trial. "We have his SS membership card, as well as his transfer orders, the authenticity of which have been been verified," he said. There are also written statements from witnesses, all except one of whom has died since giving evidence against him. Prosecutors said it could take a year before Demjanjuk is brought to trial. If he is found guilty he could face between three and 15 years in prison. But what is certain is that he will never be able to return to the US, where his citizenship has been revoked. Demjanjuk is at the top of the Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Centre's list of most wanted war crime suspects. Jewish campaigners welcomed his arrest. Charlotte Knobloch, head of Germany's Central Council of Jews, said she was "relieved and pleased" at his deportation following months of legal wrangling. But she stressed the case was "not about revenge, but justice" and urged the authorities to push for a trial as soon as possible in what she called a "race against time". Demjanjuk's defence lawyers are likely to argue that he has been denied his rights because he will not be able to see his family in the US again – even if he is found not guilty – and that he is too ill to stand trial anyway. Demjanjuk's past began to catch up with him in 1977 when US authorities started investigating allegations that he was involved in Nazi crimes. In 1981 he was stripped of his US citizenship and extradited to Israel, where he was sentenced to death after Holocaust survivors identified him as the notorious guard "Ivan the Terrible" from the Treblinka death camp. But the conviction was overturned and the death sentence quashed in 1993 after doubt was thrown on the case. He returned to Cleveland and was given US citizenship once ag


What famous picture was stolen from its frame in the Louvre in 1911, was recovered in Florence and returned in 1913?

Mona Lisa: The theft that created a legend - CNN.com Mona Lisa: The theft that created a legend By Sheena McKenzie, for CNN Updated 7:26 AM ET, Tue November 19, 2013 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – More than 100 years ago, in August 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen off the walls of the Louvre in Paris. The famous Leonardo da Vinci painting wasn't recovered until two years later, in December 1913. Hide Caption 1 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – Vincenzo Peruggia, the Italian handyman who stole the Mona Lisa, had trouble with the law before -- once for attempting to rob a prostitute and once for carrying a gun during a fistfight. Hide Caption 2 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – This reconstruction shows how Peruggia perpetrated the greatest art theft of the 20th century. After hiding in a closet overnight, he simply removed the painting, hid it under his smock and walked out with it under his arm. Hide Caption 3 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – Peruggia encountered a locked door as he tried to leave through the Visconti courtyard. He desperately removed the doorknob, to no avail. Then a plumber who was passing by opened the door with a key. Hide Caption 4 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – It would be 24 hours before someone noticed the painting was missing. Artwork was often removed to be photographed or cleaned. Hide Caption 5 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – Achille Beltrame illustrated the theft in September 1911. "The Louvre had over 400 rooms but only 200 guards and even fewer on duty overnight," said Noah Charney, professor of art history and author of "The Thefts of the Mona Lisa." "There were basically no alarms in play." Hide Caption 6 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – A man in Paris offers the score of "Did you? Mona Lisa!!" It was a satirical song about the theft. Hide Caption 7 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – Seen here is Peruggia's apartment in Paris, where Peruggia hid the Mona Lisa in a false bottom of a wooden trunk. Hide Caption 8 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – Police ransacked Peruggia's apartment in 1911 looking for the stolen painting. They didn't find it. Hide Caption 9 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – The poet Guillaume Apollinaire was arrested September 7, 1911, and jailed on suspicion of the Mona Lisa's theft. He was released five days later because prosecutors didn't have the evidence to build a case. Hide Caption 10 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – Spanish painter Pablo Picasso was also questioned by police after buying two stone statues from Apollinaire's secretary, Josephe-Honoré Géry Pieret. Once Pieret admitted to stealing the statues from the Louvre in 1907, Apollinaire and Picasso returned them. Hide Caption 11 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – The Titanic sank on April 14, 1912, and focus shifted away from the failed investigation of the Mona Lisa theft. The trail had gone cold, and it was reported that the painting had been shipped out of France. Hide Caption 12 of 22 Photos: 100th anniversary: The Mona Lisa is recovered Mona Lisa recovered 100 years ago – The Hotel Tripoli-Italia, now called the Hotel La Gioconda, is where Peruggia showed the stolen painting to art dealer Alfredo Geri and Uffizi Gallery director Giovanni Poggi in Florence, Italy, on December 10, 1913


What town 16 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, dominated by the Puritans in the 17th century, was famous for its witchcraft trials?

Massachusetts - U.S. States - HISTORY.com Date of Statehood: February 6, 1788 Did You Know? The chocolate chip cookie was reportedly invented in 1930 at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts. In 1997 it was designated the official cookie of the commonwealth. Capital: Boston Size: 10,554 square miles Nickname(s): Bay State Motto: Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem (“By the sword we seek peace, but peace only underliberty”) Tree: American Elm Bird: Chickadee Interesting Facts After a harsh winter that claimed the lives of half of the Mayflower’s original immigrants from England in 1620, the Pilgrims were taught to plant corn and survive in the wilderness by Native American Indians. In November of the following year, the Pilgrims organized a harvest feast in Plymouth to celebrate their new crop—an event widely regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.” Established in Cambridge in 1636 by vote of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Harvard University was the first institution of higher education in the United States. Nineteen people were hanged at Gallows Hill in 1692 for worshipping the devil and practicing witchcraft, and close to 200 others were similarly accused. In 1711, after judge Samuel Sewall and others involved in the Salem witch trials had admitted wrongdoing, the colony restored the good names of all accused and granted restitution to their heirs. Massachusetts observes a legal holiday called Patriots’ Day on the third Monday of April each year, commemorating the first battles of the American Revolution at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Following the American Revolutionary War, many people struggled to support their families under the heavy tax burdens levied to pay off war debt. Faced with losing their property, a group of insurgents led by Daniel Shays—a farmer and veteran of the war—forced the closure of several debtors’ courts and attempted to occupy a federal arsenal in Springfield on January 25, 1787. Although repelled, Shays’ Rebellion highlighted the need for a stronger national government and influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution. Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher at the International YMCA in Springfield, invented the game of basketball in December 1891 as a way to occupy his students indoors during the cold winter months. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets nailed to railings 10 feet above the floor. Tags


What device found on ships from the 18th century, consists of a telescope, a graduated arc and two mirrors, one of which is attached to a moveable arm?

West Sea Co. NAUTICAL INSTRUMENTS Catalog Page 3 When no price is shown, use button to request the price. Click on photos for larger images. Click for ordering details. 3.07  NOCTURNAL.  Very rare,    especially early dated navigational device for telling time    at sea at night using the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa    Minor (the Great and Little Bears).  This night use    instrument, so-called a “Nocturnal,” is of    European origin.  It is made of three pieces of a dense    light colored hardwood with very little graining.  The    top piece consists of a long tapered arm pivoting on its    large end and having a beveled leading edge.  It is    attached by means of a hollow pewter rivet to two discs of    increasing size.  The middle and smaller disc is    engraved with the successive days of a 30 day month around    its center.  These are surrounded by hours of the day 1    -12 marked on both hemispheres, subdivided into 15 minute    (quarter hour) segments.  Two wooden nibs with beveled    leading edges extend outward from the disc.  The first    is located at the 30 day/12 hour mark.  The second is    at the 5 day/4 hour mark.  It overlays the larger disc    with heart-shaped handle at the bottom and small nib at the    apex.  This disc is profusely engraved front and    back.  On the front the outer circle describes a series    of 30 degree arcs divided by single degrees with the    notations (counterclockwise from the 2 o'clock postion), I, F, M, A, M, I, I, A, S, O, N, D; indcating the    months.  Within that circle are two concentric hour    scales, 0 – 12 on both hemispheres, running in    clockwise and counterclockwise directions, each subdivided    in 15 minute (1/4 hour) segments.  The back is engraved    with a compass rose around the center, marked with the    cardinal and intercardinal points of the compass down to 2    points.   The rose is surrounded by a complex tide    table with a series of 32 values.  There are some    decorative markings flanking the two cut-out hearts which    comprise the handle.  Most importantly the date “1631” is prominent at the bottom!  This venerable instrument    is in outstanding  original condition, especially given    the fact that it is over 380 years    old!  It shows obvious signs of wear and actual careful    use, but absolutely no abuse.  There are no chips or    cracks.  The surfaces have acquired a rich natural wood    age patina.  And although slightly warped with age, the    components revolved freely with a nice tight action as    originally designed.  The body measures 9 ½ inches    long and is 5 ½ inches in diameter.  The pivoting    arm is 8 7/8ths inches long for a combined overall length of    10 ½ inches.   A really rare relic from the    earliest days of sail.  Absolutely museum    quality!   According to Alan Major in “Maritime Antiques,” 1981, A.S. Barnes & Co., New York, the nocturnal dates     from the 15th century.  It consisted of two concentric     discs, the larger of which had a handle and was graduated     into 12 equal parts representing the months of the year     subdivided in 5 day intervals.  The smaller inner disc     with long pointer was divided into 2 - 12 hour sections     subdivided to 15 minute increments.  The discs were     joined by a central pivot with a hole in the middle.  In use, the mariner first set the pointer to the proper date     then sighted the Pole Star in the hole of the     instrument.  The beveled edge of the long arm was then     aligned with the two stars in the constellation Ursa Major     called the “hind guards.”  The reading thus     shown on the inner disc indicated the time of the sighting     to the nearest 15 minutes!  By taking the reading of     the Hind Guards relative to the Pole Star it was also     possible for the navigator to determine his ship’s     latitude using tables called “The Regiment of


Madonna says ex-husband Sean Penn told her he 'finally appreciates' her art | Daily Mail Online comments To say they've had a volatile relationship would be an understatement.  But it seems that Madonna was able to see the funny side of her rocky first marriage to Sean Penn, as she told the audience of her Rebel Heart Tour in Brooklyn on Saturday night.  The Queen of Pop, 57, took a break from high-energy dance numbers to share a moment of reflection about her ex.  Scroll down for video  Marriage guidance: It seems that Madonna was able to see the funny side of her rocky first marriage to Sean Penn, as she told the audience to her Rebel Heart Tour in Brooklyn on Saturday night Sitting astride a stool, clutching a ukulele, she mused over the 54-year-old actor coming to see her show at Madison Square Gardens on Thursday night.  The candid chat was captured by Madonna TV , as she explained it was the second time he has watched her show there - and the previous time was during their marriage and caused an argument.  'I did a show at Madison Square Garden the other night if you heard about it. And my ex-husband was there! Could you imagine?' she said incredulously, to the crowd at the Barclays Center.  Candid: Sitting astride a stool, clutching a ukulele, the Queen of Pop, 57, mused over the 54-year-old actor coming to see her show at Madison Square Gardens on Thursday night 'He had been at my show 30 years earlier when I was at Madison Square Garden, and he was very upset with me for wearing a costume that was too revealing. That's not a lie!' she added, which prompted laughs from the audience.  'Anyway, after the show he wrote me a letter and said he finally appreciates my art, ' the star confessed with a coy smile.  To rousing applause, the twice-divorced star concluded: 'And that is what I have to say about marriage, OK? Thirty f**king years later.' Sean was spotted looking relaxed and adoringly at his ex-wife last week as he sat front centre stage as Madge performed True Blue on her second night at the iconic NYC venue.  Water under the bridge: Madonna's ex-husband Sean Penn was spotted at her Thursday night show at Madison Square Gardens and she says he wrote her a letter afterwards saying her finally appreciated her artistry They first met on a movie lot in 1985 where Madonna was filming her Material Girl video, she was just about to become a global superstar; he was minor Hollywood royalty, a Bratpack actor who promised to become something more.  They were married that August, and Madonna has said previously that the fireworks between them were unlike anything she's ever experienced, before or since. However, the famously toxic relationship was also fraught with Sean's criticism, mood swings, and violence and they divorced in 1989 after four years of marriage.  She said that Penn all but destroyed her with his drinking, moods and taste for pornography.  Toxic: The relationship was also fraught with Sean's criticism, mood swings, and violence and they divorced in 1989 after four years of marriage - pictured in 1987 at Madison Square Gardens in NYC  And then there was his constant criticism and violence - once, he allegedly tied her to a chair and beat her, while another time, he is said to have hit her with a baseball bat.  However, several times he promised to go to rehab or therapy, or to father a child with her, and she took him back.  All these years later, the couple seem to have evolved into the best of frenemies. Sean was reportedly dumped by younger fiancee Charlize Theron, 40, after spending time together in Europe in May. Sexy: Madonna's Rebel Heart show is as raunchy as ever, which she says used to cause arguments between them 30 years previously Read more:


What is the east coast of Nicaragua, fronting the Caribbean Sea, called?

Nicaragua Nicaragua Official name: Republic of Nicaragua Area: 129,494 square kilometers (49,998 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Mogotón Peak (2,438 meters/7,999 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level Hemispheres: Northern and Western A.M. = noon GMT Longest distances: 472 kilometers (293 miles) from north to south; 478 kilometers (297    miles) from east to west Land boundaries: 1,231 kilometers (765 miles) total boundary length; Costa Rica 309    kilometers (192 miles); Honduras 922 kilometers (573 miles) Coastline: 910 kilometers (565 miles) Territorial sea limits: 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE Nicaragua is the largest country in Central America. It is located north     of Costa Rica and south of Honduras, between the Pacific Ocean and the     Caribbean Sea. With a total area of about 129,494 square kilometers     (49,998 square miles), the country is slightly smaller than the state of     New York. Nicaragua is administratively divided into fifteen departments     and two autonomous regions. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES Nicaragua has no outside territories or dependencies. 3 CLIMATE In Nicaragua, temperature is affected more by elevation than by season.     On the flat lands (in the east and west), daytime temperatures average     29°C (85°F) and night temperatures drop below 21°C     (70°F). In the central highlands temperatures are lower, about     21°C (70°F) in the daytime and about 15°C (60°F) at     night. In the very high mountains, temperatures can approach freezing     after dark. The rainy season (winter, or invierno ) is from May through November and the dry season (summer, or verano ) is from June through October. The Mosquito Coast gets the greatest     amount of yearly rainfall, from 230 to 508 centimeters (90 to 200     inches). Less rain, about 76 to 229 centimeters (30 to 90 inches) per     year, falls on the Central Highlands; precipitation here occurs over a     longer period of the year. On the Pacific Coast, annual rainfall ranges     from 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches). Periodically, hurricanes have caused severe damage on Nicaragua. The     most devastating storms in recent years were Hurricane Mitch (October     1998) and Hurricane Joan (November 1988). 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS The country is shaped like an equilateral triangle with its     southwest/northeast side along the Honduran border, the north/south side along          the Caribbean, and the southeast/northwest side along the Costa Rican     border and Pacific Ocean. The land naturally divides into three topographic zones: the Pacific     Lowlands, the Central Highlands, and the Atlantic Lowlands. The Pacific     Lowlands is a band about 75 kilometers (47 miles) wide along the Pacific     Ocean between Honduras and Costa Rica. The plain is punctuated by     clusters of volcanoes, immediately to the east of which is a long,     narrow depression passing along the isthmus from the Gulf of Fonseca in     the north to the San Juan River at the bottom of the country. This     depression is sometimes called the Nicaraguan Depression. To the     northeast are the Central Highlands; this region has the highest     mountains and the coolest temperatures. The sparsely populated Atlantic     Lowlands comprise more than half the area of Nicaragua. These lowlands     and the Mosquito Coast are the traditional home of the Miskito peoples     (after whom the coastal region was named). Tropical rainforest and     savannahs dominate this region, crossed by scores of rivers flowing to     the Caribbean. Nicaragua is situated on the Caribbean Tectonic Plate, but just off the     country's Pacific coast is the Cocos Tectonic Plate. Frequent     earthquakes and volcanic eruptions result from action of the Caribbean     and Cocos plates. Nicaragua has hundreds of minor earthquakes and shocks     each year and occasionally experiences a serious quake.


What was abolished throughout the British Empire in 1833?

Why was Slavery finally abolished in the British Empire?: The Abolition of Slavery Project Why was Slavery finally abolished in the British Empire? Slavery Timeline Why was Slavery finally abolished in the British Empire? In July 1833, a Bill to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire passed in the House of Commons, followed by the House of Lords on 1st August. There has been a lot of debate over the factors that contributed to the final success of the bill: A change in economic interests.  After 1776, when America became independent, Britain's sugar colonies, such as Jamaica and Barbados, declined as America could trade directly with the French and Dutch in the West Indies. Furthermore, as the industrial revolution took hold in the 18th century, Britain no longer needed slave-based goods. The country was more able to prosper from new systems which required high efficiency, through free trade and free labour. Cotton, rather than sugar, became the main produce of the British economy and English towns, such as Manchester and Salford, became industrial centres of world importance.  Resistance by enslaved people. Enslaved people had resisted the trade since it began. However, the French Revolution brought ideas of liberty and equality, which inspired those seeking an end to slavery (for example, Toussaint L'Ouverture who led a successful slave revolt in Haiti). Major slave revolts followed ( Barbados 1816, Demerara 1822 and Jamaica 1831-1832); they reduced profitability and gave a strong indication that, regardless of politicial opinion, the enslaved people were not going to tolerate enslavement. The revolts shocked the British government and made them see that the costs and dangers of keeping slavery in the West Indies were too high. In places like Jamaica, many terrified plantation owners were finally ready to accept abolition rather than risk a widespread war. Parliamentary reform. When parliament was finally reformed in 1832, two-thirds of those who supported slavery were swept from power. The once powerful West India Lobby had lost its political strength. Abolition campaigns and religious groups. The demand for freedom for enslaved people had become almost universal. It was now driven forward, not only by the formal abolition campaign but by a coalition of non-conformist churches as well as Evangelicals in the Church of England. The act, however, did not free enslaved people immediately; they were to become "apprentices" for 6 years. Compensation of 20 million was to be paid to the planters. Protests finally forced the government to abolish the apprenticeship system on 1st August, 1838.


Who made the first solo non-stop crossing of the Atlantic in 1927?

Charles Lindbergh & the First Solo Transatlantic Flight | The Greatest Moments in Flight Charles Lindbergh & the First Solo Transatlantic Flight | The Greatest Moments in Flight By Nola Taylor Redd, Space.com Contributor | July 20, 2012 01:27pm ET MORE The Spirit of St. Louis carried Charles Lindbergh from New York to Paris in 33 and a half hours, the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Credit: Library of Congress This is part of a series of articles on the Greatest Moments in Flight, the breakthrough events that paved the way for human spaceflight and its next steps: asteroid mining and bases on the moon and Mars. As the Spirit of St. Louis rolled down the dirt runway of Roosevelt Field in New York, many doubted it would successfully cross the Atlantic Ocean. Yet, when Charles Lindbergh landed safely in Paris less than 34 hours later, becoming the first pilot to solo a nonstop transatlantic flight, he changed public opinion on the value of air travel and laid the foundation for the future development of aviation. Preparing for the voyage Born only a year before the Wright brothers made their first historic flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Charles Lindbergh grew up in the grip of aviation fever. Though he attended college to study engineering, he was drawn to the skies. "The life of an aviator seemed to me ideal. It involved skill. It brought adventure. It made use of the latest developments of science. Mechanical engineers were fettered to factories and drafting boards while pilots have the freedom of wind with the expanse of sky. There were times in an aeroplane when it seemed I had escaped mortality to look down on earth like a God."— Charles Lindbergh, "We, Pilot & Plane," 1927 Lindbergh left college to become a barnstormer, performing daredevil stunts at fairs. In 1924, Lindbergh enlisted in the Army, training at the U.S. Army flying school, where he graduated first in his class. After graduation, he became a postal pilot, flying the mail from St. Louis to Chicago. In 1919, Raymond Orteig, a hotel owner in New York City, offered a prize of $25,000 to the first pilot to fly nonstop from New York to Paris. By 1927, four men had died, three were seriously injured, and two others went missing in the attempt, but the prize still remained tantalizingly out of reach. Lindbergh convinced nine St. Louis businessmen to finance his attempt, using their funds to build a special plane that he helped to design. Named in honor of his sponsors, the plane was called the Spirit of St. Louis. The plane's single-engine design caused many to doubt its ability to cross the vast Atlantic. Previous attempts had all included multi-engine planes. Also, co-pilots had been a staple on the 3,500 mile journey, but Lindbergh intended to fly alone. Lindbergh omitted a parachute and a radio from his gear, opting to include more gasoline. The newspapers called him "the flying fool." Alone in the sky On May 20, 1927, at 7:52 a.m., the Spirit of St. Louis accelerated down the runway off Long Island and lifted into the sky while a crowd of 500 watched. The plane barely cleared the telephone wires at the end of the strip. "The field was a little soft due to the rain during the night, and the heavily loaded plane gathered speed very slowly." Lindbergh flew over Cape Cod and Nova Scotia, reaching the ocean as the sun set. Fog thickened in the night sky, and sleet formed on his plane when he attempted to pass through the clouds. He struggled with drowsiness, fighting to stay awake as he sometimes flew only ten feet above the ocean. A tiny fishing boat provided the first sign that he had reached Europe, and within an hour he had reached land. He flew about 1,500 feet over Ireland and England, headed toward France as the weather cleared. Darkness fell again as he passed over the coast of his target country. "I first saw the lights of Paris a little before 10 p.m., or 5 p.m., New York time, and a few minutes later I was circling the Eiffel Tower at an altitude of about four thousand feet." After traveling more than 3,600 miles in 33 and a hal


Which US TV show, where the star appeared as a fictionalised version of himself with his friends George Costanza, Elaine Benes and Cosmo Kramer, ran for 9 seasons?

See the Cast of 'Seinfeld' Then and Now See the Cast of 'Seinfeld' Then and Now December 14, 2013 @ 3:38 PM NBC 'Seinfeld' debuted on NBC in 1989 and ran for nine seasons, becoming one of America's most beloved sitcoms -- created by Larry David and starring Jerry Seinfeld as a fictional version of himself, the show centered around the stand-up comedian, three of his neurotic friends, and the everyday situations and relationships that drove them nuts. 'Seinfeld' has endured in syndication on various TV networks, where new and old fans can relive and discover classic episodes every week. It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since the show took its final bow -- and to celebrate the anniversary of the end of one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, we're taking a look back at your favorite cast members to see what they're up to now. Jerry Seinfeld, Himself NBC/Getty Images Then: Jerry Seinfeld played a fictional version of himself, a moderately famous New York stand-up comedian who is the most sane of his group of friends, although he's still pretty neurotic and a total neat-freak. Now: Seinfeld has appeared on '30 Rock' and Larry David's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' and continues to perform stand-up. He's also the creator and host of the web series 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.' Jason Alexander, George Costanza NBC/Getty Images Then: Jason Alexander played George Costanza, Jerry's insecure best friend who is often very petty and dishonest. Alexander based his portrayal of George in part off of Woody Allen, which is why he chose to wear glasses -- in real life, Alexander doesn't need them. Other actors considered for the role included Danny DeVito, David Alan Grier, and Nathan Lane. Now: Alexander has guest-starred on 'Two and a Half Men,' 'Mike and Molly,' and a very memorable musical episode of 'Community.' He's also lent his voice talents to 'American Dad' and Adult Swim's 'China, IL.' Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Elaine Benes NBC/Getty Images Then: Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Elaine wasn't originally written into the series and didn't appear in the first episode. The feisty and assertive Elaine is Jerry's ex, and is based on Carol Leifer, a friend of Seinfeld's who dated him in real life. Rosie O'Donnell, Megan Mullally, Mariska Hargitay, and Patricia Heaton all auditioned for the part. Now: Louis-Dreyfus currently stars on the HBO series 'Veep' as Vice President Selina Meyer. She also recently appeared in the indie film 'Enough Said,' which co-starred James Gandolfini in one of his final roles. Michael Richards, Cosmo Kramer NBC/Getty Images Then: Michael Richards played Cosmo Kramer, Jerry's wacky neighbor from across the hall who always enters Jerry's apartment wildly and without knocking. The character was based on a neighbor of Larry David's named Kenny Kramer; 'Monk' star Tony Shalhoub was also considered for the role. Now: Richards had a voice part in Seinfeld's animated film 'Bee Movie' in 2007, and participated in the multi-episode 'Seinfeld' reunion on Larry David's 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' He currently stars on Kirstie Alley's new sitcom 'Kirstie' on TV Land. Wayne Knight, Newman NBC/Getty Images Then: Wayne Knight played Newman, a fellow tenant and mailman in Jerry and Kramer's building and Jerry's nemesis, whom Jerry always greets with a sinister "Hello, Newman." Knight had previously appeared in 'Dirty Dancing' and 'Born on the Fourth of July,' and made his debut on 'Seinfeld' in 1992. Now: You may also recognize Knight from roles in 'Jurassic Park' and '3rd Rock from the Sun.' Currently he stars on the sitcom 'The Exes,' and has lent his voice to animated projects like 'Kung Fu Panda' and 'Regular Show.' Jerry Stiller, Frank Costanza NBC/Getty Images Then: Jerry Stiller played George Costanza's highly-excitable and eccentric father, Frank, replacing previous actor, John Randolph. Stiller is also the father of actor Ben Stiller. Now: After 'Seinfeld,' Stiller starred on the sitcom 'The King of Queens,' and has appeared in his son's films 'Zoolander' and 'The Heartbreak Kid.' Estelle Harris, Estelle Costanza NBC/Getty Ima