In which city were the crime series 'Homicide: Life on the Street' and 'The Wire' both set?

Homicide: Life on the Street (TV Series 1993–1999) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Homicide: Life on the Street  TV-14 | A police homicide investigation unit investigates violent crimes in the city of Baltimore. Creator: John Lange (Vincent D'Onofrio) becomes pinned between a subway train and the station platform. The Baltimore homicide department is called to investigate whether a crime has been committed or whether... 9.6 Bayliss and Pembleton bring in Risley Tucker, an Arabber, as the prime suspect in the murder of 11-year-old Adena Watson. With a ten-hour time limit, they try one last interrogation in a desparate ... 9.5 The department and community press the Homicide Unit to solve a cop-involved killing. With the lives and reputations of fellow officers at stake... 8.8 a list of 24 titles created 03 Apr 2011 a list of 23 titles created 17 Jan 2012 a list of 40 titles created 25 Jan 2012 a list of 22 titles created 04 Oct 2013 a list of 25 titles created 08 Nov 2013 Title: Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999) 8.6/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won     4     Primetime Emmys. Another    21 wins & 82 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Edit Storyline A one-hour drama inspired by David Simon's acclaimed non-fiction book "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets." It is at once a mundane yet compelling look in and around a Homicide unit of the Baltimore Police Department, a group of determined individuals who are committed to their grim job at hand. Written by Karina Santos <tallulahg@aol.com> 31 January 1993 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Barry Levinson wanted Richard Belzer as Munch after hearing him on "The Howard Stern Radio Show". NBC suggested Jason Priestley but Levinson refused. Belzer was the last cast member hired. See more » Goofs A couple of times, reference is made to the other shift of the Homicide detectives as being the "night shift". However, at the time, the squads of the Homicide department regularly rotated shifts so that no one group of detectives would routinely have the night shift. See more » Quotes Det. John Munch : [coming out of a bar and then saluting an American flag] I'm too damn sober. Referenced in Frequency  (2000) See more » Frequently Asked Questions User Reviews   From Book by former Baltimore Sun Crime Reporter, David Simon . Character Driven Series without becoming Soap Opera. Bold, Innovative, Unique and Very Memorable. (United States) – See all my reviews Ever since first encountering this Series, its title has held a certain fascination for this writer. First of all we have HOMICIDE, now that makes perfect sense. We've all heard that term used in countless Feature Films, Radio Dramas, TV Series, Pulp Magazines, Detective Novels, etc. Then we have the second part of the Title, "Life on the Streets", the Sub-Title if you will. This is also a very descriptive, loaded phrase. The discussion of being "on the Street" is certainly an authentic phrase, used by the "Real Police" as much as by any authors. But try putting the two together, as has been done here in this series and in the book that proceeded it, and what do you get? "HOMICIDE:Life On The Streets", is our answer but of course. But this is one Title that appears to be an instant oxymoron, for the juxtaposition of the two elements just doesn't blend. It would be much like blending Fire and Water, this Homicide & Life. And yet, we do see what the Series creator Paul Attinsano is driving at. Either term by itself would not be adequate. It's just another case of the sum of the parts equaling more than the total. Okay, now that we have that out of the way, let's start off by saying that there has never been a dramatic series that has started out to have such a high quality of story line and writing,


Which city is the setting for the original crime series 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'?

CSI:Crime Scene Investigation | CSI | Fandom powered by Wikia CSI CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (commonly referred to as CSI or CSI: Las Vegas) is a popular, Emmy Award-winning CBS television series that trails the investigations of a team of Las Vegas forensic scientists as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths and crimes committed. The show has spawned two spinoffs, each enjoying their own success. The first spin-off, which debuted in September 2002, is set in Miami ( CSI: Miami ), the show's second is set in New York City ( CSI: NY ) debuted in September 2004, and the third (CSI: Cyber) debuted in March 2015. CSI is produced in partnership with the Canadian media company Alliance Atlantis . The series concluded its run with a two-part series finale (aired as season 16, episodes 1 and 2), that aired on September 27, 2015, and starred Ted Danson, Marg Helgenberger, and William Petersen. Contents Edit The show follows the cases of the Crime Scene Investigation division of the Las Vegas Police Department, usually referred to by officers as the "Las Vegas Crime Lab". Anthony E. Zuiker chose to set the series in Las Vegas because—as mentioned in the pilot episode—that city's crime lab is the second most active in the United States , after the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia . [1] The division solves crimes almost entirely through the means of forensic evidence, which may or may not come to the conclusion of a murder or accidental death. Keeping in theme with the setting, investigations often lead to taboo subjects, such as sexual deviations. The bizarre conclusions of these cases often force one to question morals and beliefs and possibly human nature in general. Style Edit Stylistically, the show has drawn favorable comparisons to Quincy and The X-Files . The show's gadgets and occasional usage of yet-to-be-invented technology have moved the show nominally into the genre of science fiction and garnered it a Saturn Award nomination for best network television series. The series also occasionally lapses into the realm of fantasy , such as a 2006 episode, Toe Tags which is told from the point of view of several corpses in the CSI lab who reanimate and discuss their deaths with each other. The series is known for its unusual camera angles, percussive editing techniques, hi-tech gadgets, detailed technical discussion, and graphic portrayal of bullet trajectories, blood spray patterns, organ damage, methods of evidence recovery (e.g. fingerprint's from the inside of latex gloves), and crime reconstructions. This technique of shooting extreme close-ups, normally with explanatory commentary from one of the characters is referred to in the media as the "CSI shot". Many episodes feature lengthy scenes in which experiments, tests, or other technical work is portrayed in detail, usually with minimal sounds effects and accompanying music — a technique reminiscent of Mission Impossible . Often the lighting, composition, and mise-en-scene elements are heavily influenced byavant-garde film. Although violence plays an important role in the series, in terms of the investigators' actual conduct, the series is actually less violent (but more sexual) than its immediate spin-off, CSI: Miami in that the Las Vegas investigators rarely use deadly force. In fact, Gil Grissom , supervisor of the crime lab, has expressed distaste for carrying a firearm, and Warrick Brown and Nick Stokes are hinted at as having barely passable firearms expertise. Although most episodes cover the solving of two (usually unrelated) cases, a few episodes focus on a single case. In general, the crime is solved, but in some cases, they fail (which makes the story more realistic). Opening Theme Edit The season 8 cast of CSI, after the departure of Jorja Fox . The opening credits feature clips for every main cast from previous seasons. Since the start, CSI 's theme song has been "Who Are You", written by Pete Townshend with vocals by lead singer Roger Daltrey of The Who. Daltrey made a special appearance in a season seven episode, " Living Legend


What is the name of the evil wizard who is always trying to catch the Smurfs?

Who are the Smurfs? Smurf Character Name List 101 - BlueBuddies.com ... All your favorite Smurfs for sale! Who and what are the Smurfs? The Smurfs are tiny, blue creatures who live in mushroom houses in a village hidden in the forest. Smurfs are blue, three-apples tall, and speak a dialect which makes heavy use of the word "smurf". The root word "smurf" is used extensively as a noun, verb, and everything in-between; "what a smurfy smurf, Papa Smurf" would not be an uncommon sentence. There are over 100 Smurfs inside the Smurf Village. The Smurfs are led by 543-year-old Papa Smurf, a good and powerful wizard. Each Smurf is assigned a task in the village, according to their ability and the needs of the community. Smurfs live peaceful lives in harmony with nature. The word "Schtroumpf" (Smurf) is the Flemish equivalent of the English language colloquial "Whatchamacallit". You can download our comprehensive and annotated list of Smurf names as a text file. Listen to Smurf voices - you can hear each Smurf talk! The list of Smurfs characters include: Papa Smurf : Papa Smurf is the leader of the Smurfs, and the only Smurf who wears red. Papa Smurf brings the Smurfs to safety in times of danger and crisis. Everyone in Smurf Village turns to Papa Smurf when things go awry. Papa is always busy making magical spells and potions in his laboratory.  ♪ Listen to Papa Smurf Lazy Smurf : Lazy is perhaps the most aply named Smurf in the village. Almost certifiably narcoleptic, Lazy can fall asleep anywhere, anytime, day or night.  ♪ Listen to Lazy Smurf Handy Smurf : Handy wears a pencil in his ear and helps fix things in the village. Handy is known for his amazing technological creations, such as the telesmurf (telephone), Weather Smurfing Machine, and Smurfmobile. The rest of the Smurfs have a bit of a Luddite bent and often criticize (and eventually abandon) Handy's inventions.  ♪ Listen to Handy Smurf Brainy Smurf : Brainy seems to be an expert on everything...but he's usually wrong. He publishes a series of missives entitled "Quotations of Brainy Smurf" - universally reviled by all (except himself, of course). Brainy's best friend is Clumsy.  ♪ Listen to Brainy Smurf Clumsy Smurf : Clumsy Smurf is a kind soul who is often tripped up by his own two feet. Clumsy loves to collect rocks and is best friends with Brainy. Clumsy's clothing seems to fit rather loosely, adding to his clumsy appearance.  ♪ Listen to Clumsy Smurf Reporter Smurf : Reporter Smurf is the news reporter for the Smurf Village. Reporter Smurf wears a newsroom-style visor on his head and carries a quill and notepad. Reporter interviews various Smurfs for publication in his newspaper, which he prints using his printing press, which is maintained by Handy Smurf. The Smurfs will return after these messages: Tailor Smurf : Tailor makes all the clothes in the village. He's often seen with a needle or two in his cap and a tape measure around his neck.  ♪ Listen to Tailor Smurf Farmer Smurf : Farmer plants the crops for the Smurfs and helps organize the harvest. Farmer Smurf wears a straw hat and overalls.  ♪ Listen to Farmer Smurf Dreamy Smurf : Dreamy Smurf is always dreaming of other places and other things. Dreamy is best known for his appearance as Astrosmurf, where he visited the fictitious Swoofs on their home planet.  ♪ Listen to Dreamy Smurf Harmony Smurf : Harmony is the musician of Smurf Village, but he doesn't have many fans. Although he deserves an "A+" for effort, Harmony's trumpet playing leaves much to be desired, and he's usually asked to stop playing as soon as he gets started.  ♪ Listen to Harmony Smurf Painter Smurf : Painter Smurf is a brilliant artist (much like our own Vic George ). Painter speaks with a French accent and refers to his paintings as "masterpizzas". Hefty Smurf : Hefty Smurf is the strongest Smurf in the village. He's also the only Smurf to sport a tattoo (a red heart)! Hefty is friends with Handy and can often be seen lifting weights or exercising.  ♪ Listen to Hefty Smurf Vanity Smurf : Vanity Smurf is never without a mirror in sight.


Via Italian from Latin meaning 'goddess', what do we call a distinguished female singer?

diva | Definition, meaning & more | Collins Dictionary It < L, goddess, fem. of divus, god: see deity Example sentences containing 'diva' As the last of the applause evaporated , I pulled Lorraine out of her seat so we could go backstage and meet this golden diva. Shell, Ray ICED Danlo squeezed between a shivering autist and a beautiful , black-skinned woman whom he recognized as the diva , Nirvelli. Zindell, David THE BROKEN GOD Twenty minutes later she padded downstairs in her disco diva slippers . Cecelia Ahern 2004 PS, I LOVE YOU Suddenly , she was no longer Renee Rothchild, international jazz diva. Bill Adler and Mel Watkins WHO KILLED TIFFANY JONES? Trends of 'diva' You can refer to a successful and famous female opera singer as a diva. Brazilian Portuguese: diva


Who’s the only major deity to have the same name in both Greek and Roman mythology?

Greek and Roman Gods Home | What's New | Contents | Ask | Store | University Greek and Roman Gods Here are the twelve Olympian gods and a brief description of each. The Greeks    and Romans shared the same stories, but used different names. Greek Lord       of the sky and supreme ruler of the gods. Known for throwing lightening       bolts. Poseidon Ruler       of the sea. Brother of Zeus. Carried a three-pronged spear known as       a trident. Hades Pluto Ruler       of the underworld and the dead. Brother of Zeus. Had a helmet which       rendered its wearer invisible. Hestia Vesta A       virgin goddess and sister of Zeus. No distinct personality or part       in myths. Goddess of the Hearth, the symbol of the home. Hera Juno Zeus's       wife and sister. Protector of marriage, spent most of her time punishing       the many women Zeus fell in love with. Likes cows and peacocks. Ares God       of war and son of Zeus and Hera. Likes vultures and dogs. Athena Minerva Daughter       of Zeus alone. No mother.(?) She sprang from his head full-grown and       in full armor. The protector of civilized life, handicrafts, and agriculture.       Invented the bridle, and first to tame the horse. Likes Athens, olives,       and owls. Apollo Apollo Son       of Zeus. Master musician, archer god, healer, god of light, god of       truth, sun god. A busy god who likes the laurel tree, dolphins, and       crows. Aphrodite Venus Daughter       of Zeus. Goddess of Love and Beauty. Likes the myrtle tree, doves,       sparrows, and swans. Hermes Mercury


"""Cor, stinks in here"" was the first line spoken in the first episode of which UK TV series?"

As Peggy Mitchell makes her tragic exit, here are 13 memorable EastEnders departures (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series) As Peggy Mitchell makes her tragic exit, here are 13 memorable EastEnders departures As Peggy Mitchell makes her tragic exit, here are 13 memorable EastEnders departures / Press Association 2014 There won’t be a dry eye in the house as EastEnders bids a fond farewell to matriarch Peggy Mitchell, played by Dame Barbara Windsor. The EastEnders stalwart, 78, is leaving the show for good and her famous character will be killed off in Tuesday’s episode. Dame Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell (BBC) In the long-running BBC One soap, the clock is ticking down for terminally-ill Peggy. The cancer she thought she had beaten has spread and nothing more can be done. https://youtu.be/RHeu8Qa51oo To mark the occasion, BBC Store is making a collection of 15 classic Albert Square exit stories available for fans to buy. As Peggy heads out of Albert Square for the very last time, here is our pick of BBC Store’s memorable departures by bad boys, soap vixens, villains and other residents in the London borough of Walford. 1. Tiffany dies Martine McCutcheon and Ross Kemp (The BBC Store EastEnders Iconic Exits Collection is available from 17 May www.bbcstore.com) At the time of her death on New Year’s Eve in 1998, Tiffany Mitchell (Martine McCutheon) was experiencing marital difficulties with husband Grant (Ross Kemp). The couple argued over custody of baby daughter Courtney and as Tiffany tried to flee from Grant, she ran straight into the path of a car driven by neighbour Frank Butcher (the late Mike Reid). 2. Goodbye to Grant Ross Kemp as Grant Mitchell (The BBC Store EastEnders Iconic Exits Collection is available from 17 May www.bbcstore.com) In 1999, Grant left Walford with his daughter Courtney after an altercation with his sibling. Phil (Steve McFadden) pulled a gun on his younger brother after hearing about Grant’s tryst with Phil’s then-wife Kathy (Gillian Taylforth). The dramatic story culminated with the brothers’ car plunging into the River Thames. 3. Den Watts’ first ‘murder’ Leslie Grantham as Den (The BBC Store EastEnders Iconic Exits Collection is available from 17 May www.bbcstore.com) In 1989, ‘dirty’ Den (played by Leslie Grantham) was famously shot by a hitman with a gun which was concealed in a bunch of daffodils. Years later, Den came back from the dead. Turns out he’d faked his death. 4. Goodbye Arthur Bill Treacher (The BBC Store EastEnders Iconic Exits Collection is available from 17 May www.bbcstore.com) In 1996, troubled Arthur Fowler (Bill Treacher) was in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Arthur received a blow to his head during a prison fracas. On his release, he suffered a brain haemorrhage at his beloved allotment. He died later in hospital, leaving the Fowler family heartbroken. 5. David Wicks legs it Michael French as David Wicks and Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale (The BBC Store EastEnders Iconic Exits Collection is available from 17 May www.bbcstore.com) David Wicks (Michael French) was another of Walford’s wide-boy womanisers. David had an affair with his half-brother Ian Beale’s (Adam Woodyatt) wife Cindy (Michelle Collins) and then arranged to have Ian shot before then embarking on another affair with old flame Carol Jackson (Lindsey Coulson). When the truth about his actions came out, David was ostracised by his family and decided to leave the Square in 1996. 6. Ethel Skinner’s death Gretchen Franklin and June Brown (The BBC Store EastEnders Iconic Exits Collection is available from 17 May www.bbcstore.com) The death of veteran Albert Square resident Ethel (Gretchen Franklin) in 2000 was one of the most moving ever depicted in the BBC soap. It raised issues about euthanasia and dying with dignity. Ethel knew she was terminally ill, and having kept a stash of morphine hidden away, she begged her best friend Dot (June Brown) to help end her life. After wrestling with her conscience, Dot agreed. 7. Trevor Morgan holds Little Mo hostage Fire at the Slaters’ house (The BBC Sto


A deficiency in which trace element is a major cause of the condition called goitre?

Causes of goitre - Health Exchange Causes of goitre Symptoms of goitre Causes of goitre There are several causes of goitre, which is a swollen thyroid gland. Sometimes no definite cause can be found. Iodine deficiency Iodine deficiency used to be the major cause of goitres, but it is now rare in England due to changes in our diet. It remains a significant problem in parts of the developing world. Iodine is a trace element found in seawater and soil. It enters the food chain through plants that grow in iodine-rich soil, or through fish or plants from the sea. Iodine is found in: seafood, such as fish, shellfish or seaweed plant foods, such as cereals or grains cow’s milk The thyroid gland (a gland in the neck that produces hormones) needs iodine to help manufacture thyroid hormones (chemicals released into the bloodstream that control the body’s growth and metabolism). If your body does not receive enough iodine, your thyroid gland becomes underactive, and will expand in order to produce more thyroid hormones. In the UK, iodine deficiency used to be a common problem until the early 1900s, when salt manufactures started to add small amounts of iodine to salt, which reduced the number of cases. However, in recent years, the number of people experiencing iodine deficiency in the UK has started to rise. This could be due to an increased number of people preferring a low-salt, non-dairy diet. Iodine deficiency can be a problem for people following a strict vegan diet. Overactive thyroid gland A goitre can develop if the thyroid gland becomes overactive (hyperthyroidism), leading to too many thyroid hormones being produced. Increased hormone production over-stimulates the thyroid gland and causes it to swell. The leading cause of hyperthyroidism is a condition called Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease causes your immune system (the body’s natural defence system) to send antibodies (proteins that fight infections) to your thyroid gland. The antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland, causing an increased amount of thyroid hormones to be released. See  hyperthyroidism for more information about this condition. Underactive thyroid gland A goitre can also develop if the thyroid gland becomes underactive (hypothyroidism). If the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, the body will stimulate it to produce more. This can cause the thyroid gland to swell. As well as iodine deficiency, one of the leading causes of hypothyroidism is a condition called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis , sometimes known as Hashimoto’s disease. As with Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease. Rather than over-stimulating the gland, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis interferes with the gland’s ability to produce hormones. In order to compensate for this, the body causes the gland to swell, resulting in a goitre. Read more about  Hashimoto’s thyroiditis . Smoking There may also be a link between smoking and an increased risk of developing a goitre. This may be because tobacco smoke contains a chemical called thiocyanate, which can interfere with the body’s ability to make use of iodine. Smokers who have a low-iodine diet are particularly at risk. See quitting smoking for help to stop smoking. Other causes A number of other causes have been linked to goitres. These are outlined below. Pregnancy and puberty The changes in hormone levels that occur during pregnancy and puberty (when a child gradually progresses to a sexually developed adult) can affect the thyroid gland. Lithium Lithium is a medicine often used to treat a number of mental health conditions, such as  depression and  bipolar disorder (a condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another). Lithium can interfere with how your thyroid gland functions. Infection A number of bacteria, parasites and fungi that cause infections are also known to cause goitres. Excessive iodine An excessive amount of iodine can build up in the body as a result of eating too much iodine-rich food. For example seaweed, particularly kelp (a type of brown seaweed that contains man


What name is given to an adult, Red Deer stag aged six years or older?

Red Deer – Stag Antlers The Red Deer Red Deer Where do they come from?   The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is distributed throughout Europe, with a British sub-species native to the UK.  Highest population density in Scotland, but also present in the Lake District and other parts of England. Antler size:   Large and impressive, Red Deer antlers are the kind usually seen in Scottish sporting lodges and country hotels.  The average antler length is between 31” and 34”.  The spread (measured inside the antler beams at the widest place) ranges from 27” to 31” in Scotland and 29” to 34” elsewhere in the UK. What else should I know?    Red Deer antlers are dark brown, with polished white tips to the tines.  A Royal Stag has 12 points or tines;  an Imperial Stag has 14 points;  and a Monarch has 16 points.  While Red Deer antlers from English parks may be bigger, wild Scottish Red Deer antlers are prized for their place of origin. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec feugiat ultricies vulputate. Suspendisse quis lacinia erat, eu tincidunt ante. Pellentesque aliquet feugiat tellus, et feugiat tortor porttitor vel. Nullam id scelerisque magna. Curabitur placerat sodales placerat. Nunc dignissim ac velit vel lobortis. - Jane Doe Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec feugiat ultricies vulputate. Suspendisse quis lacinia erat, eu tincidunt ante. Pellentesque aliquet feugiat tellus, et feugiat tortor porttitor vel. Nullam id scelerisque magna. Curabitur placerat sodales placerat. Nunc dignissim ac velit vel lobortis. Nam luctus mauris elit, sed suscipit nunc ullamcorper ut. - John Doe Where can I buy Red Deer antlers? To see a wide selection of deer antlers for sale, from exotic species right through to impressive Red Deer stag antlers, visit the UK Taxidermy website.   Forestry Commission Background information . . . The Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) is Britain’s largest land mammal.  It has a reddish-brown coat which darkens in winter, and the adult males or stags carry large, highly branched antlers. Widespread throughout Europe, the Red Deer has several sub-species.  These include Cervus elaphus scoticus, found in Scotland;  Cervus elaphus elaphus in Western Europe; and Cervus elaphus hippelaphus in Eastern Europe.  It is the only native deer species present in Ireland. A native British species, the Red Deer first migrated here from Europe 11,000 years ago.  Mesolithic people hunted Red Deer for food, using their hides for clothing and their antlers for tools.  As the forests were cleared to make way for agriculture, the Red Deer population became confined to the Scottish Highlands, south-west England, and a few other areas. Today, the Red Deer is distributed widely across the UK, its population boosted by animals that have escaped from deer parks.  It is a herbivore, grazing on a wide variety of plants such as heather, grasses, shrubs and trees.  The Red Deer’s natural predators – bears and wolves – are extinct from Britain, but vulnerable calves are sometimes killed by eagles and foxes. Red Deer stags range in weight from 90 to 190 kg, measuring between 107 and 137 cm at the shoulder.  The hinds (females) can weigh between 63 and 120 kg, and measure up to 122 cm at the shoulder. In general, the Red Deer that roam the open mountains of Scotland are smaller in size than those found in lowland parts of England. The lifespan of a Red Deer can be as long as 18 years, but among young deer there is a high mortality rate, especially in Scotland where many calves are lost shortly after birth or during their first winter. A Red Deer stag is also known as a hart, an old English word which specifically describes a male Red Deer that is more than five years old.   How Red Deer antlers grow . . . Red Deer have always been prized for their antlers, which are collected by deer stalkers to commemorate a successful day on the mountain.  Traditionally, fine sets of Red Deer antlers are mounted on a shield to decorate the walls of a shooting lodge or country house. A Red Deer’s antlers start growing in th


Who became President of France in the early summer of 2007?

Francois Hollande Biography (President of France) Birthplace: Rouen, France Best known as: The President of France, 2012 - Francois Hollande is the longtime Socialist party leader who was elected President of France in 2012. He succeeded Nicolas Sarkozy and will serve a 5-year term through 2017. Hollande has been involved in Socialist politics in France since joining the party in 1979. He graduated from the elite Ecole Nationale d'Administration (1980) and also attended the Paris Institute of Political Studies (commonly known as Sciences Po). Hollande became a member of parliament in the French national assembly in 1988, representing the Correze region of southern France. In 1997 he succeeded Lionel Jospin in the party's First Secretary. At the time, many saw Hollande as a bland functionary and compromiser; indeed, his own nickname for himself is "Mr. Normal." He ran for the Socialist party nomination for president in 2007, but in an odd twist lost to Segolene Royal, his longtime companion and mother to his four children. She lost the general election to Sarkozy, and shortly after that his affair with Paris Match writer Valerie Trierweiler became public, and he split with Royal. Hollande stepped down as the Socialist party's executive secretary in 2008, and his career seemed on the wane. However, in 2011 the New York hotel scandal of Socialist leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn turned the slightly duller Hollande into a more attractive presidential candidate. He ran on a platform of increased taxes on the rich (with a top rate of 75% on earnings over one million euros) and a promise to add thousands of new teachers. When he beat Sarkozy in the final presidential elections on 6 May 2012, the CBC called him "the amiable political tortoise who overtook the hyperactive hare." Early in 2014, Hollande's administration was shaken when the French magazine Closer claimed that he was having an affair with actress Julie Gayet. Hollande deplored the invasion of his privacy but did not deny the report. Trierweiler was hospitalized briefly after the report broke, and a week later Hollande told the French news agency AFP that he and Trierweiler had split up. Extra credit: In addition to his other roles, Francois Hollande was mayor of the city of Tulle from 2001-08… He represented Correze from 1988-93, and again from 1997 until his election in 2012… Francois Hollande has four children with Segolene Royal: Thomas (born 1984), Clémence (b. 1985), Julien (b. 1987) and Flora (b. 1992). Copyright © 1998-2017  by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved.


Which country was formerly nicknamed 'The Cockpit of Europe'?

Which country is called Cockpit of Europe? Information of the world Which country is called Cockpit of Europe? Home » Sciences » Geography » Which country is called Cockpit of Europe? Belgium is usually called as the cockpit of Europe. Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union. Belgium


Which European country has often been referred to as the 'Playground Of Europe'?

The Regulation of GMOs in Europe and the United States: A Case-Study of Contemporary European Regulatory Politics - Council on Foreign Relations Council on Foreign Relations The Regulation of Gmos in Europe and the United States: A Case-Study of Contemporary European Regulatory Politics Connect With Us:  Citation by Easybib Save this citation The Regulation of GMOs in Europe and the United States: A Case-Study of Contemporary European Regulatory Politics Authors: Diahanna Lynch, and David Vogel Publisher Council on Foreign Relations Press Release Date April 5, 2001 Share Post Email  This paper was prepared for a workshop on trans-Atlantic differences in GMO regulation sponsored by the Council of Foreign Relations. It draws in part on an unpublished paper, "Apples and Oranges: Comparing the Regulation of Genetically Modified Food in Europe and the United States," co-authored with Diahanna Lynch. INTRODUCTION This paper seeks to place the divergent approaches of the European Union and United States toward the introduction and marketing of genetically modified (GM) foods and seeds in a broader context. It argues that an important key to understanding why Europe and the United States have chosen to regulate identical technologies in such a dissimilar fashion has to do with recent changes in politics of risk regulation in Europe. From the 1960s through the mid 1980s, the regulation of health, safety and environmental risks was generally stricter in the United States than in Europe. Since the mid 1980s, the obverse has often been the case: a wide array of European consumer and environmental regulations, including those governing GMOs, are now more restrictive than in the United States. In a number of important respects, European regulatory politics and policies over the last fifteen years resemble those of the United States between the late 1960s and the mid 1980s. They are often politicized, highly contentious and characterized by a suspicion of science and a mistrust of both government and industry. By contrast, the US regulation of GMOs resembles the European regulatory style of the 1970s: regulators have worked cooperatively with industry and been supportive of technological innovation, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have enjoyed little access to the policy process. [ 1 ] This paper begins by reviewing comparative studies of health, safety and environmental regulation in Europe and the United States in order to place contemporary cross-Atlantic regulatory differences in an historical context. It then summarizes the evolution of American and European policies governing GMOs. The third section of the paper reviews a number of explanations for the differences in European and American regulatory policies toward this new agricultural technology, and the final section advances an explanation rooted in the emergence of a new European approach toward risk regulation in general, and food safety in particular. HISTORICAL CONTEXT The extensive comparative literature on public health, safety and environmental regulation in the United States and Europe published during the 1980s reported significant differences in American and European approaches toward the management of technological risks. [ 2 ] As a general rule American regulatory politics tended to be more contentious, confrontational and adversarial than in Europe. There was less public trust in government officials and more widespread public skepticism about the benefits of new technologies. The American regulatory process was relatively legalistic, formal and open, with NGOs enjoying considerable access and influence. The decisions of regulatory agencies were politically visible and subject to extensive public review. Industry was often mistrusted and frequently found itself on the political defensive. By contrast, in Europe, "policy decisions about risk remained (closed to the public) . . . the preserve of experienced bureaucrats and their established advisory networks." [ 3 ] NGOs had limited access to the regulatory process and public officials tended to work cl


Which country was formerly known as the 'Sugar Bowl of the World'?

Which Country Known as Sugar Bowl of the World? Which Country Known as Sugar Bowl of the World? 0 0 Cuba Cuba country is known as Sugar bowl of the world. It’s officially the Republic of Cuba an Island country in the Caribbean. Havana is the capital of Cuba. Total area of Cuba is 109, 884 km2. The Population of Cuba is 11,210,064 according to the 2013 census. Raul Castro is currently the president of Cuba. Bacardi rum was originally manufactured in Cuba. Cuba is the 17th largest Island in the world. Rio Cauto is the longest river in Cuba. Cuba is famous for its cigars. The Official language of Cuba is Spanish even though many Cubans speak English. Literacy rate in Cuba is 99.8%. 1st January is celebrated as Cuban National day. Christmas was not an official holiday in Cuba until 1997, When Pope Paul ll came to visit. Only 5% Cubans have access to the Internet. Cuba has the highest doctor-to-patient ratio in the world, that doctors are often sent abroad to countries by the Cuba government where needed. During the 1950s, Cuba published 58 daily newspaper, the number has been down to a little under 20. Cuba is home to the Bee Hummingbird, which is the world’s smallest bird.  Only two countries in the world are not allowed to sell Coca-Cola officially: North Korea and Cuba. Own cell phones were prohibited until 2008. Update


Dante Gabriel Rossetti's mistress, Jane Burden, was the wife of which artist and poet?

Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1828–1882 | Tate Wikipedia entry Artist biography Rossetti was born in London. His father, an Italian political refugee, was a poet and Dante scholar and from 1831 Professor of Italian at King's College, London. His mother, who was half Italian and half English, was a private teacher. His sister Christina (1830-94) later became a poet. He entered Sass's Drawing Academy probably in late summer 1841. He joined the Royal Academy Schools as a probationer in 1844, becoming a full student in December 1845. By 1847 he was considering careers in both poetry and painting . He was briefly a pupil of Ford Madox Brown in March 1848. In August 1848 he moved with William Holman Hunt to a studio in Cleveland Street and around September that year founded, with Holman Hunt and J.E. Millais, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. He finished his translation of Dante's Vita Nuova in October 1848. He exhibited his first major oil painting, The Girlhood of Mary Virgin (Tate Gallery N04872 ), at the Free Exhibition in March 1849. In September and October of that year he visited Paris and Flanders with Holman Hunt, and was greatly impressed by mediaeval and Renaissance art. He probably met his future wife and frequent model Elizabeth Siddall late in 1849; they married in 1860. He was largely responsible for the Pre-Raphaelite magazine The Germ, published in 1850. In April 1850 he exhibited Ecce Ancilla Domini! (Tate Gallery N01210 ) at the National Institution, but rarely showed in public thereafter following the picture's negative reception. From 1854 he was friendly with the critic John Ruskin, who was instrumental in bringing the Pre-Raphaelites to public attention, and in 1855-6 with the poet Robert Browning. In 1855 he went to Paris to see the Exposition Universelle. In 1856 he met Edward Coley Burne-Jones and William Morris; he was a contributor to Morris's Oxford and Cambridge Magazine. Five of his illustrations were included in Moxon's edition of Tennyson's Poems (published 1857). He showed eight works in the private Pre-Raphaelite exhibition, held at Russell Place in July 1857. Also that year he worked on the Oxford Union murals, during which time he met Jane Burden. Jane married William Morris but she and Rossetti had an intimate relationship which spanned decades, and she posed for some of Rossetti's best-known paintings (see Proserpine, 1874, Tate Gallery N05064 ). In 1858 Rossetti founded the Hogarth Club, an exhibiting and social club, with Madox Brown and others. Around this time he met Fanny Cornforth, who became his primary model and mistress for the next decade. Rossetti's translation of The Early Italian Poets was published in 1861. In 1862 Elizabeth Siddall died from an overdose of laudanum. The artist visited Belgium with his brother William in 1863, and was in Paris in 1864. In 1865 he met Alexa Wilding, who became an important model for him. From the mid-1860s he began suffering from eye trouble and insomnia, and showed signs of paranoia. In October 1869 he exhumed his wife's coffin to retrieve his Poems, which were published in 1870. His health broke down in 1872 and he abandoned most of his old friendships. He spent long periods at Jane and William Morris's Kelmscott Manor between 1871 and 1874. A new edition of Poems was published in 1881 together with Ballads and Sonnets. He died at Birchington-on-Sea, Kent. Further reading: Virginia Surtees, Dante Gabriel Rossetti 1828-1882. The Paintings and Drawings: A Catalogue Raisonné, 2 volumes, Oxford 1971Leslie Parris (ed.), The Pre-Raphaelites, exhibition catalogue, Tate Gallery, London 1984, reprinted 1994 Terry Riggs Read more Wikipedia entry Dante Gabriel Rossetti (/ˈdænti ˈɡeɪbriəl rəˈzɛti/; 12 May 1828 – 9 April 1882) was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848 with William Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais. Rossetti was later to be the main inspiration for a second generation of artists and writers influenced by the movement, most notably William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones. His work


Which Russian man designed the legendary AK-47 assault rifle?

Inventor of AK-47 rifle Mikhail Kalashnikov dies at 94 — RT News "Mikhail Kalashnikov's entire life is a shining example of  dedication to serving your country," said a statement from  Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed "deep  condolences" over the death of the engineer. Kalashnikov who continued working well into his nineties, had  been suffering from heart and intestinal problems, and on  November 17 was admitted into intensive care in Izhevsk in  central Russia - where the plant that produces the eponymous  rifles is located. The official cause of death will be revealed  following a mandatory autopsy. A public funeral will be organized by the regional  administration, in consultation with surviving relatives, though  no date has been named so far. Patriot, genius, villain? For most of his life, Kalashnikov, who was famous for his frugal  lifestyle, was feted as a straightforward hero. The self-taught peasant turned tank mechanic who never finished  high school, but achieved a remarkable and lasting feat of  engineering while still in his twenties. He was forever asked if he regretted engineering the weapon that  probably killed more than any other in the last fifty years. "I invented it for the protection of the Motherland. I have  no regrets and bear no responsibility for how politicians have  used it," he told them. On a few occasions, when in a more reflective mood, the usually  forceful Kalashnikov wondered what might have been. "I'm proud of my invention, but I'm sad that it is used by  terrorists," he said once. "I would prefer to have invented a machine that people could  use and that would help farmers with their work – for example a  lawnmower." Indeed, at his museum in Izhevsk, where he spent most of his life  working at the factory that was eventually named after him, there  is an ingenious mechanical lawnmower Kalashnikov invented to more  easily take care of the lawn at his country house. It’s not what he will be remembered for. Considering his age and circumstances, it was hardly surprising  that Kalashnikov felt he could best serve his country by creating  weapons. Born in 1919, Mikhail was the seventeenth child of well-off  peasants. When he was eleven, during Joseph Stalin’s  collectivization campaign his parents had their land confiscated,  and the whole family was exiled to Siberia (a fact rarely  mentioned in fawning Soviet-era biographies). As the country began to mobilize ahead of a war that seemed  inevitable, but was as yet undeclared, Kalashnikov chose to go  into a tank brigade. His aptitude for engineering was immediately apparent. He was allowed to create several modifications – a tank shot  counter, a running time meter – that were to be adopted for the  whole Red Army, and made him famous. He was destined to go on an  engineering course, when Operation Barbarossa intervened. Kalashnikov’s own career as a tank commander was cut short in the  first few months of the conflict on the Eastern Front, when an  explosive shell ripped open his shoulder. Kalashnikov says the germ of the idea came to him as he  recuperated in hospital. But the invention of the AK-47 was not a Eureka moment, but a  trial-and-error process of modifications and improvements  undertaken by a team over six years. While for propaganda purposes Kalashnikov’s invention was  presented as a radically new development, it was based on several  principles that had already been seen in British, Russian and  Italian weapons to which the inventor had easy access as he drew  up his blueprints. AK-47 Length: 880 mm Cyclic rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute Price: Between $15 in some post-war African states and up to    $1,000 at height of regional conflicts. Official prices    somewhere in the middle. Total quantity produced: approximately 100 million. Its main precursor was the German StG 44, the first truly  effective automatic weapon of World War II. But at the same time, Kalashnikov’s masterstroke was to combine  the mechanisms of previous


Awarded by Congress; which is the highest military decoration given in the U.S.A.?

Description of Awards - U.S. Military Awards for Valor - Top 3   MEDAL OF HONOR The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded by the United States government. It is presented by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress, and is conferred only upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty: While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. There are three distinct versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard).     DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army (and previously, the United States Army Air Forces). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism: While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).     NAVY CROSS The Navy Cross is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, (and to members of the Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism:  While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Actions that merit the Navy Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Navy Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).     AIR FORCE CROSS The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. It is awarded for extraordinary heroism:  While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.  Actions that merit the Air Force Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Air Force Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy).     SILVER STAR The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action: While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conf


"Which animal is ""Me"" in Roald Dahl's book, 'The Giraffe And The Pelly And Me'?"

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me - Roald Dahl Roald Dahl The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me Published in 1985 Synopsis The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is another of Roald's books for younger readers. It started out with three characters, but no story. Background Background The Ladderless Window-Cleaning Company has just moved in to the old wooden house not far from where Billy lives. He'd rather have a wonderful sweet-shop, but when he meets the members of the Company - the Giraffe, the Pelican and the Monkey - he can't believe his eyes. The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me is another of Roald's books for younger readers. It started out with three characters, but no story. Quentin Blake liked the idea of a giraffe, as he'd never drawn one before. He also knew he could have fun with a pelican's beak. And Roald Dahl loved the monkey previously drawn by Quentin for  The Enormous Crocodile , so insisted he was included too. The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me was published in 1985. At the end of the story, the monkey sings Billy a song, the words of which are carved into stone slabs around the base of a bench which sits just near Roald Dahl's grave:  "We have tears in our eyes As we wave our goodbyes, We so loved being with you, we three. So do please now and then Come see us again, The Giraffe and the Pelly and me." You can visit Roald Dahl's grave in the parish church of St Peter and St Paul in Great Missenden. It's just down the road from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre . Quote


What is the name of the traditional boat used for transport on the River Nile?

Boats of the River Nile - Photos of Egypt - Images of Ancient Egypt - Pictures of Egypt - Photos of Ancient Egypt - Karnak, Pyramids, Tutankhamun, Abu Simbel, Aswan, The Nile, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Feluccas, Valley of the Kings, The Sphinx Your perfect Home from Home when you visit Pembrokeshire to see the Puffins on Skomer , walk the coastal paths or visit the beautiful National Parks The Boats of the River Nile The history of Egypt is totally dominated by the River Nile. At one time nearly all transportation was by boat along the river. Consequently it was always thought that the Gods would travel by boat - or barque as it was called. The souls of the dead also travelled by barque in the afterlife. The falcon-headed god Re-Horakhte bringing the morning sun (image from the tomb of Sennedjem, Thebes) FELUCCAS - The felucca has remained, over the centuries, the primary transportation of the Nile. Its ancient form still graces the river as it has done since the time of the Pharaos. Motorised barges transport bulk material and modern cruise ships transport tourists, but the felucca remains despite modern alternatives. The felucca rarely has any form of engine and relies entirely on the breeze which builds during the day and usually subsides at night. Some of the craft today are used to carry tourists who wish to enjoy an eternally peaceful journey carried along by the gentle breeze and the currents of the river. Few are now made entirely of wood, but the basic layout has barely changed. They don't have a keel as such, but a heavy centreplate which can be raised in the shallows. The sails are seriously low tech affairs made of native cotton and other natural fibres. A working felucca, the traditional Nile boat Working feluccas alongside the riverbank Hardy travellers seeing the Nile by Felucca Two Feluccas sailing in the dusk towards Aswan A Felucca full of people at sunset The northern end of the eastern shore at Aswan with boat repair yards Tour Boats - There are a phenomenal number of tourist boats on the Nile and most of them resemble a floating block of flats - they have little charm on the outside and absolutely no connection with Egypt on the inside. They are floating hotels designed to keep the Western traveller sanitised from the world outside - but Pharoah does exact his revenge!! There are one or two craft with some individuality - but they are rare. A more traditional style of tourist vessel just leaving the town of Esna Quite an old looking tourist cruise boat - the MV Sudan, turning in the river Our boat was a converted ferry from Port Said with virtually no luxury whatever! Hmmm! Our boat with its wonderful motley crew - wouldn't have missed them for the world!


In which country was the world's first international Air show held in 1909?

Chronology of Aviation History for 1909 Speed: 47.82-mph, Louis Blériot, Blériot XII, 28 August, 1909, France Distance: 145.53-miles, Henry Farman, HF.1 N° III, 3 November 1909, France Altitude: 1,486-feet, Hubert Latham, Antoinette VII, 1 December 1909, France Weight: 1,367-lbs, Blériot, Blériot Model XII, France Engine Power: 89-hp, De Dion, Bouton, France (undated) 1909 1909 (Omaha, Nebraska) — Fort Omaha Balloon School becomes the first United States Army school for balloon observers. January 1909 January 7 (Paris, France) — The Aéro-Club de France grants its first 15 pilots' licenses: number 1 is Louis Blériot and number 15 is Wilbur Wright. January 23 (Baddeck Bay, Nova Scotia) — John McCurdy flies the Aerial Experiment Association's Silver Dart biplane 40 feet over the frozen Bras d'Or lake at Baddeck Bay, thus becoming the first flight of a heavier-than-air machine in Canada. February 23 (Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada) — John McCurdy makes the first aeroplane flight in Canada in the Silver Dart. He flies 2640 feet at Baddeck, Cape Breton. February 1909 February 24 (Montgomery, Alabama) — The Wright Brothers found a school in the USA to train pilots for exhibition flights. March 1909 March (Germany) — The Zeppelin LZ.3 entered service into the German Army as the Z1. April 1909 April 6 (Bouy, France) — The first machine wholly designed by air pioneer Henry Farman took to the air at Buoy, France for its initial test flight. The HF.1 biplane is the first aircraft to incorporate practical ailerons attached to the trailing edges of the wings. May 1909 May 1 (Fulham, London, England) — The de Havilland N°1 is unveiled by Geoffrey de Havilland, a bus engineer. The aircraft is a single-seat biplane with two pusher propellers. May 14 (England) — Samuel Cody makes the first aeroplane flight in the UK longer than 1 mile (1.6 km) in British Army Aeroplane No. 1. June 1909 5 June (England) — First flight of the Roe I Triplane. June 12 (Paris, France) — Louis Blériot flies his Blériot XII monoplane at Issy-les-Moulineaux with two passengers, Santos-Dumont and André Fournier. This marks the first time a pilot has flown with two passengers. July 1909 July (Frankfurt, Germany) — The International Exhibition of Aviation opens in Frankfurt-am-Main (now known as ILA and regularly held in Berlin). July 13 (France) — Flying 25.6 miles in his Blériot XI, Louis Blériot wins the Aéro-Club's Prix du Voyage of 4,500 FF. July 19 (Calais, France) — Hubert Latham makes the first attempt to cross the English Channel. He flies 11 miles from Calais and lands in the water. July 23 (Essex, England) — On this date, Alliott Verdon Roe, took his triplane out from its hangar under an arch of a railroad bridge, over to the river Lea at Walthamstow, near London for its initial test flight. The Avroplane took off from Lea marshes on an initial straight-line flight of 899 feet. This triplane aircraft thus made history by being the first airworthy machine designed and piloted by a Briton. July 25 (Sangatte, France) — Louis Blériot takes off from Sangatte, France at 4:35 am for his history making flight across the English Channel. Thirty-seven minutes later he lands his Blériot XI monoplane at Dover, Kent, England. Louis Blériot therefore wins the £1,000 Daily Mail prize for the first Channel crossing by airplane in daylight. Blériot also received an additional £3,000 from the French government. July 25 (Odessa, Russia) — First official aeroplane flight in Russia, made by Van den Schkrouff flying a Voisin biplane at Odessa. July 29 (Sweden) — First official aeroplane flight in Sweden, made by French pilot Legagneux flying a Voisin biplane. July 30 (Fort Myer, Virginia) — Orville Wright flies with passenger Lt. Benjamin Foulois at an average 42.58 mph over a measured round-trip course, successfully completing flight tests in the Wright Military Flyer for the U.S. Army at Fort Myer, Virginia. The Army buys the airplane for $30,000. August 1909 August (Reims, France) — First International Air Races held in Reims. Glenn Curtiss wins Major Prize. Augu


The story setting of which Puccini opera is Paris in the 1830s?

Puccini's La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera - New York | Expedia Puccini's La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera by The Metropolitan Opera Duration 2h 30m Free cancellation Cancellation Policy You can cancel free of charge until 17 days before your reservation starts. After that time, no cancellations, changes or refunds will be made. No booking or credit card fees per traveler Price was {0} Discount price is $115 $115 Check Availability Previous image, 5 total items. Next image, 5 total items. Watch the curtain rise on a tale of friendship, love, and inevitable tragedy, set in the lamp-lit nights of Paris in the 1830s. Under the meticulous direction of conductor Nicola Luisotti, Puccini's La Boheme is one of the Metropolitan Opera's most acclaimed and beloved performances. The close ties of 4 bohemian Parisians are illustrated in the opening scenes of this 4-act production. As musicians, poets, philosophers, and painters, their bond is one that is bound by creativity. Their contented singing depicts a life which, though simple, is filled with joy. When Rodolfo has a chance encounter with a beautiful neighbor, the pair fall in love and the group of friends grows. Yet, with the passage of time, an unpredictable force drives them apart, testing the depth of their love of the quality of their friends. Find out how these deeply rooted relationships intertwine and blossom with stunning performances by an all-star ensemble cast. To see La Boheme is to celebrate, to grieve, and to love. Watch the curtain rise on a tale of friendship, love, and inevitable tragedy, set in the lamp-lit nights of Paris in the 1830s. Under the meticulous direction of conductor Nicola Luisotti, Puccini's La Boheme is one of the Metropolitan Opera's most acclaimed and beloved performances. The close ties of 4 bohemian Parisians are illustrated in the opening scenes of this 4-act production. As musicians, poets, philosophers, and painters, their bond is one that is bound by creativity. Their contented singing depicts a life which, though simple, is filled with joy. When Rodolfo has a chance encounter with a beautiful neighbor, the pair fall in love and the group of friends grows. Yet, with the passage of time, an unpredictable force drives them apart, testing the depth of their love of the quality of their friends. Find out how these deeply rooted relationships intertwine and blossom with stunning performances by an all-star ensemble cast. To see La Boheme is to celebrate, to grieve, and to love.


Which vegetable is available in varieties such as 'Bok Choy' and 'Savoy'?

Types of Cabbage: Red Cabbage, Savoy Cabbage, Napa Cabbage | Berkeley Wellness Print Hundreds of varieties of cabbage are grown throughout the world. This cruciferous vegetable is a hearty staple on tables from China to Italy and Ireland. But in American markets you will find three basic types: green, red, and Savoy. Green cabbage: This cabbage has smooth, dark to pale green outer leaves. The inner leaves are pale green or white. Sometimes the outer leaves of cabbage are tied around the head as the cabbage grows to keep the interior white. Cabbage also turns white if it is kept in cold storage. Three types of green cabbage—Danish, domestic, and pointed—account for most commercially marketed cabbage. Danish types, which are grown for late-fall sale, and for storage over the winter, are very compact and solid, with round or oval heads. Domestic types form slightly looser, round or flattened heads, with curled leaves that are more brittle than any of the Danish types. Pointed varieties, which are grown mainly for spring marketing, have small, rather conical heads and smooth leaves. Red cabbage: Similar in flavor to green cabbage, red cabbage has deep ruby-red to purple outer leaves, with white veins or streaks on the inside. Its texture may be somewhat tougher than green, but red cabbage has more vitamin C, providing 56 percent of the RDA in a 1-cup serving. Savoy cabbage: This cabbage has crinkled, ruffly, yellow-green leaves that form a less compact head than other types. Savoy cabbage has a more delicate texture and milder flavor than other varieties, making it a good choice for salads and coleslaw. Tuscan cabbage: Relatively new to this country, Tuscan cabbage is available mostly at farmers’ markets and specialty produce stores. It’s a mild-flavored cabbage, with long, narrow, almost feathery leaves that are dark green with white ribs. It looks like a narrow version of kale, which is a close relative. There is also a black Tuscan cabbage, known as cavalo nero in Italy, whose leaves are such a dark purple that they appear black. Chinese cabbages are actually connected to American cabbage more by the market term “cabbage” than by any botanical relationship. Every market and every region will have a slightly different name for the same vegetable, and the Chinese names for these vegetables areno help: They are all some form of choy, a word that simply means vegetable. Many of the so-called cabbages, though, do share some flavor characteristics. They all have pungent, sometimes mustardy or cabbagey flavors. The following is a list of some of the more common Chinese cabbages that you may find in your local supermarket or at a farmer’s market. Bok choy: Bok choy is a loose, bulbous cluster of white to light green stems topped with darker green leaves. Look for firm, white stems and crisp, dark green, glossy leaves. Avoid any with brown spots on the leaves, as these have not been stored at a low enough temperature to prevent some loss in flavor. Separate the leaves from the stalks. Slice the stalks and steam or sauté. The leaves can be sautéed or steamed, either whole or sliced. Baby bok choy: This miniature bok choyis shaped just like the big boy, but its stems and leaves are a more uniform green. Its taste is fresh, clean, sweet, and not very cabbage-like. Choy sum: This member of the Chinese cabbage family is also known as flowering cabbage, and in Japan it’s called saishin. It has small yellow flowers and slim stalks with rounded leaves. Select firm stalks with crisp leaves. Gai choy: This broad-leafed cabbage has curved stems, a semi-enclosed head, and a strong, pungent, mustardy flavor. It is entirely edible, yet with some varieties of gai choy (such as dai gai choy), the leafy part is discarded while the stems are used for salting, pickling, or drying. Napa cabbage: The market name for this cabbage comes from a Japanese word (nappa), but it has been so absorbed into American cuisine that most people probably think that the name comes from California’s Napa Valley. There are several varieties of napa cabbage, but the two


Which classic French sauce is made by whisking clarified butter into warm egg yolks?

Five Mother Sauces of Classical Cuisine 1.  Béchamel Sauce Béchamel is probably the simplest of the mother sauces because it doesn't require making stock. If you have milk, flour, and butter, you can make a very basic béchamel. Béchamel is made by thickening hot milk with a simple white roux. The sauce is then flavored with onion, cloves, and nutmeg and simmered until it is creamy and velvety smooth. Béchamel can be used as an ingredient in baked pasta recipes like lasagna, and also in casseroles. But it's also the basis for some of the most common white sauces, cream sauces and cheese-based sauces. Here are some of the small sauces made from béchamel: continue reading below our video Why the Vitamix is Way Cooler Than You Even Thought Veloute sauce. Philippe Desnerck / Getty Images 2.  Velouté Sauce Velouté is another relatively simple mother sauce. Velouté sauce is made by thickening white stock with roux and then simmering it for a while. While the chicken velouté , made with chicken stock , is the most common type, there is also a veal velouté and fish velouté . Each of the veloutés forms the basis of its own respective secondary mother sauce. For instance, chicken velouté fortified with cream becomes the Suprême Sauce . Veal velouté thickened with a liaison of egg yolks and cream becomes the Allemende Sauce . And the fish velouté plus white wine and heavy cream becomes the White Wine Sauce . Small sauces from velouté can be derived from the velouté directly, or from each of the three secondary sauces. For example: 3.  Espagnole Sauce The Espagnole Sauce, also sometimes called Brown Sauce, is a slightly more complex mother sauce. Espagnole is made by thickening brown stock with roux. So in that sense, it's similar to a velouté. The difference is that Espagnole is made with tomato purée and mirepoix for deeper color and flavor. Moreover, brown stock itself is made from bones that have first been roasted to add color and flavor. The Espagnole is traditionally further refined to produce a rich, deeply flavorful sauce called a demi-glace . The demi-glace is then the starting point for making the various small sauces. A demi-glace consists of a mixture of half Espagnole, half brown stock, which is then reduced by half. For a short-cut, you could skip the demi-glace step and make the small sauces directly from the Espagnole. You'll lose some flavor and body, but you'll save time. Here are some examples of small sauces made from Espagnole: 4.  Hollandaise Sauce Hollandaise is unlike the mother sauces we've mentioned so far, but as you'll see, it is really just a liquid and a thickening agent, plus flavorings. Hollandaise is a tangy, buttery sauce made by slowly whisking clarified butter into warm egg yolks. So the liquid here is the clarified butter and the thickening agent is the egg yolks. Hollandaise is an emulsified sauce, and we use clarified butter when making a Hollandaise because whole butter, which contains water and milk solids, can break the emulsion. Clarified butter is just pure butterfat, so it helps the emulsion remain stable. Hollandaise sauce can be used on its own, and it's particularly delicious on seafood, vegetables, and eggs. But there are also a number of small sauces that can be made from Hollandaise: 5.  Classic Tomate Sauce The fifth mother sauce is the classic Tomate Sauce. This sauce resembles the traditional tomato sauce that we might use on pasta and pizza, but it's got much more flavor and requires a few more steps to make. First, we render salt pork and then sauté aromatic vegetables. Then we add tomatoes, stock, and a ham bone, and simmer it in the oven for a couple of hours. Cooking the sauce in the oven helps heat it evenly and without scorching. Traditionally, the sauce tomate was thickened with roux, and some chefs still prepare it this way. But in reality, the tomatoes themselves are enough to thicken the sauce. Here are a few small sauces made from the classic tomate sauce:


Which city is the home of the Spanish football team Real Betis?

Real Betis Balompie | Andalucia.com REAL BETIS BALOMPIE Buy Real Betis football Tickets EARLY DAYS Betis, full name Real Betis Balompie, followed in 1907, founded by students from the Polytechnic. They were led by another Brit, Henry Jones - known as Papa Jones - who was their first chairman; their inaugural match was also against Huelva, in 1908. With royal decree from Alfonso XIII (he of the Seville luxury hotel) in 1915, they gained the 'Real'. Betis is generally considered the more working-class team, since it was founded as a breakaway from Seville, who refused to allow a player in because he was 'just a simple worker'. Betis Tickets Online Buy Real Betis ticket on line from Ticket Bureau. Hotel or House delivery or local collection options available. WEHRE'S THEIR STADIUM AND WHAT HAVE THEY WON? The Betis stadium, Benito Villamarin (built for the 1929 Expo, also named after a former president), is in Heliopolis district, to the south of the city centre - at the far end of Avenida de la Palmera. The stadium seats 51,700. You can get to the Betis stadium by bus – all the following routes go there: 1, 2, 6, 34, 37. Fans are called 'Beticos' or ´verdiblancos' (green whites). Betis won the Liga in 1935 and their first Copa del Rey in 1977 and was the first Andalucian club to make it into the UEFA Champions League. They won their second Cup in 2005. Ver mapa más grande TRIVIA Betis' name is derived from Baetica, the Roman name for the Guadalquivir river , which runs through Seville. Balompie is the literal Spanish word for football, as opposed to the anglicized version, futbol. The colours originated when one of the club's founders returned from Glasgow with a Celtic strip, and it was decided to adopt the same green and black stripes; the black was subsequently changed for white, making their colours the same as the Andalucian flag. Their stadium is named after their chairman, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, a colourful and controversial character. His pet dog, Hugo the 'singing' Husky, is a star in his own right. SEVILLA AND BETIS: HEAD TO HEAD To say it is a fierce rivalry is an understatement: recently, fans have even celebrated their own defeat, if it causes the relegation of the other team. Their first derby took place in 1915, with Seville winning 4-3, which more or less set a precedent: Betis lost again the following year in the first Copa Andalucia. Since then, Seville has won around 65 per cent of their derbies. In 2007, a Seville-Betis Copa del Rey quarter-final had to be suspended after a Betis supporter threw a projectile at the then-Seville manager, Juande Ramos, and knocked him unconscious. Betis were sanctioned by having to play their next three home matches at another venue. In 2009 Betis beat Seville at home for the first time in 13 years. Sevilla FC - REAL BETIS BALOMPIE: A CENTURY OF FOOTBALL RIVALRY Spurs and Arsenal, West Ham and Chelsea, Rangers and Celtic, AC Milan and Inter - many cities have rival football clubs whose fans have maintained years of animosity, or friendly debate. It may be geographical, it may religious, but there's nothing like a derby to get a city's blood rising to boiling point. Probably the most famous rivalry in Andalucian, if not Spanish football , is Seville and Betis - the red-and-whites vs the green-and-whites. Search Hotels in Andalucia


According to the nursery rhyme, in which London street did the Muffin Man live?

Muffin Man | Nursery Rhymes & Kids' Songs | BusSongs.com Link to this song from your website or blog: Muffin Man Lyrics on BusSongs.com Recommendations Information About Muffin Man "The Muffin Man" is a traditional children's song or nursery rhyme of English origin. The rhyme was first recorded in around 1820 with lyrics very similar to those used today; sometimes it is sung using Mulberry lane instead of Drury Lane. Drury Lane is the name of a street located in London's Theatreland There are many traditional songs that have been set according to the lyrics of this song with regional variations in wording. The Muffin Man would deliver muffins door-to-door or sell them in the street; the muffins were the English bread product called English muffins and not the sweeter cupcake American variety. One of the many stories associated with this is :Originally eaten by the "downstairs" servants in England's Victorian society, the English muffin surfaced and rose to prominence in Great Britain when members of all classes of society became aware of its goodness. The family baker made English muffins from leftover bread and biscuit dough scraps and mashed potatoes. He fried the batter on a hot griddle, creating light, crusty muffins for the servants. Once members of the "upstairs" family tasted these rich muffins, they began to request them for themselves - especially during teatime. As a result of the English muffin becoming the "most fancied" bread on the isle, English muffin factories sprang up all over England. Muffin men could be heard in the streets selling their muffins from wooden trays slung around their necks. For teatime in private homes and clubs, the English muffins would be split and toasted over an open fire and served in a covered sterling dish alongside tea. The prominence of the muffin men in English society was evident when "Oh, do you know the muffin man" became a popular children nursery rhyme. The popularity of the English muffin reached its zenith in Great Britain during the years preceding World War I.


In which country are the headquarters of the high-street clothing retailers H&M?

How Zara Grew Into the World’s Largest Fashion Retailer - The New York Times The New York Times Magazine |How Zara Grew Into the World’s Largest Fashion Retailer Search How Zara Grew Into the World’s Largest Fashion Retailer By SUZY HANSEN Continue reading the main story Photo Jackets from Zara’s fall 2012 collection await inspection at a factory in Arteixo, Spain. Credit Pedro Guimarães for The New York Times Galicia, on the Atlantic coast of northern Spain, is the homeland of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, but is otherwise famous for being a place people try to leave. For much of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of gallegos, as they are called, emigrated to countries as far away as Argentina to escape Galicia’s rural poverty. Today, however, even as Spain teeters on the edge of economic catastrophe, the Galician city La Coruña has attracted notice as the hometown of Amancio Ortega Gaona, the world’s third-richest man — he displaced Warren Buffett this year on the Bloomberg billionaire index — and the founder of a wildly successful fashion company, Inditex, more commonly known by its oldest and biggest brand, Zara. Ortega has never given an interview, according to his communications department, nor does he attend award ceremonies or parties. He rarely allows his picture to be taken. Pablo Isla, who took over the company when the 76-year-old Ortega stepped down as chairman last year, rarely gives interviews or waves to the camera, either. In fact, the public face of Inditex is its soft-spoken communications director, Jesus Echevarría, who, as I discovered during a recent visit to the Inditex complex, is perhaps the only communications director on the planet who all but apologizes whenever he must answer questions about Inditex’s runaway success. The company’s outward modesty reflects its surroundings. La Coruña is a quiet place, typically European in its humdrum perfection: tidy highways and compact cars, clean taxis, no need to worry about tipping. The week I visited in late July, the conservative national government was threatening to implement a new austerity plan, and unemployment among people under 30 in Spain hit 50 percent, but the city seemed calm. Restaurants were busy, beaches packed. People dozed on La Coruña’s seaside boulders, while their dogs leapt in the water. The city is a little more than 300 miles from Madrid and 555 miles from Barcelona. It’s an odd location for an aggressive, global company like Inditex. The campus (located in the industrial area of Arteixo, next door to La Coruña) consists of corporate headquarters for the entire company, as well as headquarters for Zara and Zara Home, two of Inditex’s eight brands. There are also factories and a distribution center where clothes are loaded onto trucks to be sent around the world. The factories are directly across from the corporate offices. The main building, where I waited for my hosts, somewhat resembled a hospital waiting room, with rows of plain boxy black chairs and little else. Apart from a single poster of a fashion model, nothing adorned its white walls. No flowers, no words, no ads, no fashion magazines, no style. The setting felt appropriate for the age of austerity, even if Inditex is one company in Spain that is actually thriving. Continue reading the main story Inditex is a pioneer among “fast fashion” companies, which essentially imitate the latest fashions and speed their cheaper versions into stores. Every one of Inditex’s brands — Zara, Zara Home, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Oysho, Stradivarius, Pull & Bear and Uterqüe — follow the Zara template: trendy and decently made but inexpensive products sold in beautiful, high-end-looking stores. Zara’s prices are similar to those of the Gap: coats for $200, sweaters for $70, T-shirts for $30. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Inditex now makes 840 million garments a year and has around 5,900 stores in 85 countries, though that number is always changing because Inditex has in recent years opened more than a store a day, or about 500 stores a year. Right now there are around


Skagboys is a prequel to which novel by Irving Welsh?

Skagboys: Irvine Welsh Interview - YouTube Skagboys: Irvine Welsh Interview Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Sep 25, 2012 Help us caption and translate this video on Amara.org: http://www.amara.org/en/v/B7MR/ Author Irvine Welsh sat down with uVu at Book and Books in Coral Gables, Florida to discuss his new novel :Skagboys," a prequel to his successful "Trainspotting." Mr. Welsh will also be at the Miami Book Fair International this year to talk about the book. About uVu: uVu is a community video website and companion digital broadcast powered by WPBT2, South Florida 's PBS station. The website consists of video content created and submitted to the site by individuals, community groups and cultural/educational institutions, which allows the community to experience, at any time, the important happenings of South Florida . http://www.uvuvideo.org Category


The three principal Uralic languages are Finnish, Estonian, and which other?

Uralic languages | Britannica.com Uralic languages Ob-Ugric languages Uralic languages, family of more than 20 related languages, all descended from a Proto-Uralic language that existed 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. At its earliest stages, Uralic most probably included the ancestors of the Yukaghir language . The Uralic languages are spoken by more than 25 million people scattered throughout northeastern Europe , northern Asia, and (through immigration) North America . The most demographically important Uralic language is Hungarian , the official language of Hungary . Two other Uralic languages, Estonian (the official language of Estonia ) and Finnish (one of two national languages of Finland —the other is Swedish, a Germanic language), are also spoken by millions. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Attempts to trace the genealogy of the Uralic languages to periods earlier than Proto-Uralic have been hampered by the great changes in the attested languages, which preserve relatively few features and therefore provide little evidence upon which scholars may base meaningful claims for a more distant relationship. Most commonly mentioned in this respect is a putative connection with the Altaic language family (including Turkic and Mongolian ). This hypothetical language group, called Ural-Altaic , is not considered by most scholars to be soundly based. Although the Uralic and Indo-European languages are not generally thought to be related, more speculative studies have suggested a connection between them. Relationship with the Eskimo languages , Dravidian (e.g., Telugu ), Japanese , Korean , and various American Indian groups has also been proposed. The most radical of these claims is the massive Dené-Finnish grouping of Morris Swadesh, which encompasses , among others, Sino-Tibetan (e.g., Chinese ) and Athabaskan (e.g., Navajo ). The Uralic language family in its current status consists of two related groups of languages, the Finno-Ugric and the Samoyedic , both of which developed from a common ancestor, called Proto-Uralic, that was spoken 7,000 to 10,000 years ago in the general area of the north-central Ural Mountains . At its very earliest stages Uralic most probably included the ancestors of the Yukaghir languages (formerly listed as a Paleo-Siberian stock with no known relatives). Similar Topics creole languages Over the millennia, both Finno-Ugric and Samoyedic branches of Uralic have given rise to more or less divergent subgroups of languages, which nonetheless have retained certain traits from their common source. For example, the degree of similarity between two of the least closely related members of the Finno-Ugric group, Hungarian and Finnish, is comparable to that between English and Russian (which belong to the Indo-European family of languages). The difference between any Finno-Ugric language and any Samoyedic tongue would be even greater. On the other hand, more closely related members of Finno-Ugric, such as Finnish and Estonian, differ in much the same manner as greatly diverse dialects of the same language. The distribution of Uralic languages Establishment of the family Determining the geographic location, material culture , and linguistic characteristics of the earliest stages of Uralic at a period thousands of years prior to any historical record is a problem beset with enormous difficulties; consensus among Uralic scholars is limited to a handful of general hypotheses . The original homeland of Proto-Uralic is considered to have been in the vicinity of the north-central Urals , possibly centred west of the mountains. Following the dissolution of Uralic, the precursors of the Samoyeds gradually moved northward and eastward into Siberia . The Finno-Ugrians moved to the south and west, to an area close to the confluence of the Kama and Volga rivers. Shared cognates Several kinds of indirect evidence support the above supposition. One approach attempts to reconstruct the natural environment of these groups on the basis of shared cognates (related words) for plants, animals, and minerals and on the distribution o


What was the title of Status Quo’s first UK hit single, a tribute to L. S. Lowry?

Pictures Of Matchstick Men by Status Quo Songfacts Pictures Of Matchstick Men by Status Quo Songfacts Songfacts The group's lead singer Francis Rossi wrote this song - he was still a teenager and it was just the second tune he had ever composed. Like many of his later songs, this one is about a woman who treats him wrong ("You make men cry, you lie"). In our interview with Rossi , he explained: "'Matchstick Men' was basically about my ex-wife. I'd just got married, and I thought, Oh, this is a mistake, what have I done?" This was Status Quo's debut hit in the UK and their only hit in America. It was originally intended to be a B-side to "Gentleman Joe's Sidewalk Cafe," but at the last minute they decided to swap the B-side and the A-side of the single. Status Quo are best known in Britain for their no-nonsense, heads-down boogie rock which they have played since the 1970s, but this psychedelic effort is their best-known hit in America, where it is a staple of oldies radio. When the song hit the American charts, the group made the fateful decision to remain in Europe, focusing their efforts on the UK market. This paid off with wild success in their homeland, as Status Quo became one of the most popular bands in Britain, charting over 60 singles. They did tour the US in the mid-'70s, but never broke the American market. Their only other chart entry there was "Ice in the Sun," released later in 1968. Lead singer Francis Rossi wrote three-quarters of this song on the toilet, where he'd fled to escape his wife and mother-in-law. The remainder he finished off in the lounge. This song was inspired by the matchstick men paintings of L.S. Lowry (1887-1976). Lowry was an English painter who became famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of northern England during the middle of the 20th century. They were peopled with spindly human figures who looked like matchstick men. L.S. Lowry inspired another hit song, Brian and Michael's 1978 UK chart topper "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs," which was a tribute to the then recently deceased Lowry's life. Also in 2006 the Manchester Rock band Oasis paid tribute to Lowry with the new music video for " The Masterplan " single. The video, which was done to promote their new greatest hits CD, was done in the style of Lowry's matchstick men paintings. It took a while for Jimi Hendrix to catch on in America, but his 1966 single " Hey Joe " was a big hit in the UK, and a huge influence on many British guitarists. Francis Rossi was one of the many who were enthralled by the song, and when he wrote "Matchstick Men," he used a similar chord sequence, which would be lifted many times hence. "Lots of Oasis stuff are of that ilk and of that sequence," Rossi told us. "Chord sequences seem to come and go, become fashionable and unfashionable, but the favorite is the one with the 1/6/2/4 with the excellent minor in it." Camper Van Beethoven covered this on their 1989 Key Lime Pie CD and it topped Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart. Their vocalist at the time, David Lowery, shared nearly the same last name with the artist who did the matchstick men paintings: L.S. Lowry. If you picked up traces of this song in Status Quo's 1974 #1 UK hit " Down Down ," that's because they used the intro to "Matchstick Men" as the basis for the verse melody. Francis Rossi explained that he realized after he wrote it that he had stolen from his own song. In 2002, Death in Vegas had a #14 hit in the UK with their track "Scorpio Rising," which featured Liam Gallagher from Oasis on vocals. The song was so similar to "Pictures Of Matchstick Men" that Status Quo were credited as co-writers.


Which Edinburgh landmark did Bill Bryson describe as looking like a “Gothic rocket ship”?

Scott Monument : definition of Scott Monument and synonyms of Scott Monument (English) The Scott Monument is a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott . It stands in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh , opposite the Jenners department store on Princes Street and near to Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station . The tower is 200 feet 6 inches (61.11 m) high, and has a series of viewing decks reached by a series of narrow spiral staircases giving panoramic views of central Edinburgh and its surroundings. The highest viewing deck is reached by a total of 287 steps (those who climb the steps can obtain a certificate commemorating the event). It is built from Binny sandstone quarried in nearby Ecclesmachan . This oily stone was known to attract dirt quickly and was probably a deliberate choice to allow the Gothic form to quickly obtain the patina of age.[ citation needed ] Arguably the soot of Edinburgh's chimneys, in combination with smoke from the nearby railway line and Waverley Station perhaps over-egged the result, and it is now very hard to make out the numerous carved figures. Bill Bryson has described it as looking like a "gothic rocket ship". [1] Contents   The Monument seen from the first level   The Sir Walter Scott statue designed by John Steell , located inside the Scott Monument Following Scott's death in 1832, a competition was held to design a monument to him. An unlikely entrant went under the pseudonym " John Morvo ", the name of the medieval architect of Melrose Abbey . Morvo was in fact George Meikle Kemp , forty-five year old joiner , draftsman , and self-taught architect . Kemp had feared his lack of architectural qualifications and reputation would disqualify him, but his design (which was similar to an unsuccessful one he had earlier submitted for the design of Glasgow Cathedral ) was popular with the competition's judges, and in 1838 Kemp was awarded the contract to construct the monument. John Steell was commissioned to design a monumental statue of Scott to rest in the space between the tower's four columns. Steell's statue, made from white Carrara marble , shows Scott seated, resting from writing one of his works with a quill pen and his dog Maida by his side. The foundation stone was laid on the 15th of August 1840. Following an Act of Parliament permitting it (the Monument to Sir Walter Scott Act 1841 (4 & 5 Vict.) C A P. XV.), construction began in 1841 and ran for nearly four years. The tower was completed in the autumn of 1844, with Kemp's son placing the finial in August of the year. The total cost was £16,154/7/11. [2] When the monument was inaugurated on the 15th of August 1846, George Meikle Kemp himself was absent; walking home from the site on the foggy evening of the 6th of March 1844, Kemp had fallen into the Union Canal and drowned.   Modern administration In the 1990s, the monument was closed periodically for restoration work: In the early 1990s it was covered in scaffolding for several years, and it was closed again for additional work in 1998/99. For these purposes, the original quarry was re-opened to get matching sandstone from which craftsmen carved the necessary replacements. Proposals to stoneclean the monument as part of the restoration were shelved due to the damage it would sustain. [3] The overall cost of the restoration was £2.36 million and was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund , Historic Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council . [2] The monument is now administered by the Culture and Sport division of the City of Edinburgh Council, although the cost of restoration led to discussions in 1996 about selling the landmark to private interests. [4]   A panorama of Edinburgh, seen from the Scott Monument   References


Which building did Clive James describe as a “portable typewriter full of oyster shells”?

Test your geography knowledge with these 50 questions | Travel | Dallas News Test your geography knowledge with these 50 questions Filed under Travel at John Flinn / Special Contributor To The Dallas Morning News Connect with John Flinn / Special Contributor To The Dallas Morning News Get Daily Dallas News Headlines Sign Up Get Unlimited Digital Access Your first month is less than a dollar. $0.99 for first 4 weeks Subscribe Now Sorry, Ambrose, I think you got this one wrong. A century ago, Ambrose Bierce, the notorious San Francisco critic and satirist, famously wrote: "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." But if that's true, how to explain, then, that nearly a decade into our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, a survey by National Geographic found that a majority of Americans ages 18 to 24 couldn't locate either country on a map? More of them, though, were able to correctly identify the setting for the original CSI television show. (It is Las Vegas.) Which brings us to this geography quiz. It isn't so much a serious test of knowledge as it is a way for us to illuminate some fun facts we've stumbled upon in the last 12 months, usually while looking up something else. We hope it will convince you that our planet is an intriguing and wonderfully peculiar place, and well worth getting to know better. There are no prizes for getting all, or most, of these questions right - just the satisfaction of knowing you're not as much of a geographic dunderhead as some of your fellow Americans. Answers are at the bottom of the page. Get started 1. Clive James once described this Australian landmark as looking like "a portable typewriter full of oyster shells." What was he describing? 2. Thanks to a mistake by Ferdinand Magellan, this South American region's name means, roughly, "Land of the People with Big Feet." What are we referring to? 3. Which single Canadian province has given its name to two different dog breeds? 4. What do Ghana, the former Czechoslovakia and "On the Good Ship Lollipop" have in common? 5. Only three national parks straddle state borders: One is in North Carolina and Tennessee, one is in Nevada and California and one spans parts of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Name them. Hint: One is the oldest national park, one the most-visited and one the lowest. 6. Are all the "-stan" countries - Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, etc. - contiguous, or does any "stan" stand alone? 7. In Budapest, what geographic feature separates Buda from Pest? 8. Which two countries face each other across the Yalu River? 9. About how many islands constitute the Philippines? a) 7b) 70c) 700d) 7,000e) 70,000 Name that place 10. Named for King Philip II of Spain, this nation - not Japan - invented karaoke, and is considered to be the text-messaging capital of the world, with its population of 92 million people sending, by some estimates, 350 million a day - more than the U.S. and Europe combined. 11. This landlocked European nation is the only sovereign Grand Duchy left in the world (which means it's ruled by a grand duke), claims the planet's highest gross domestic product per capita and is unfairly ranked by Guinness World Records as the world's leading consumer of alcohol. 12. Its name comes from a native term for "big village," it's the second-largest country in the world (after Russia) and its inhabitants are the planet's leading consumers of macaroni and cheese. 13. This country has set aside a wilderness reserve for the yeti (otherwise known as the abominable snowman), has issued a postage stamp with a functioning, 4-inch CD-ROM on it and measures its output in Gross National Happiness. 14. It has a navy with several thousand sailors, even though it's one of only two landlocked countries in South America. Thirty-one different men served as president between 1904 and 1954; most were removed by coup. Dueling is still legal here - as long as both parties are registered blood donors. 15. Its national railway is the world's largest employer, with more than a million people on the payroll. Its film industry cranks out movies at the rate of


The so-called “Curse of the Bambino” afflicted which team between 1918 and 2004?

What is Bambino's Curse? What is Bambino's Curse? What is My Belief? the Legend of the Curse In 1918 the Red Sox won their 5th World Series, the most by any club at that time. One of the stars of the Boston championship franchise was a young pitcher by the name of George Herman Ruth, aka The Babe or The Bambino. In 1920, however, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee needed money to finance his girlfriend's play, so he sold Babe Ruth's contract to Colonel Jacob Ruppert's New York Yankees for $100,000 (plus a loan collateralized by Fenway Park). Since then, the Yankees, who had never won a World Championship before acquiring Ruth, have gone on to win 26, and are arguably one of the greatest success stories in the history of sport. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox have appeared in only four World Series since 1918, losing each one in game seven. Many consider Boston's performance after the departure of Babe Ruth to be attributable to "The Curse of the Bambino." the Weblog The weblog Bambino's Curse is my attempt to capture the day to day experience of being a life long Red Sox fan, an experience marked by more lows than highs, but an experience that in the end has its own rewards. Like the adage says, the treasure is always found in the journey itself and not the final destination. So each day (or close to it) during the regular season (less frequently during the off season), I post my thoughts on the main page . As far as the actual writing goes, I'll be the first to admit it's a work in progress. I have a daily struggle with the writing, especially with trying to establish my own unique voice and tone.  Even after doing this for the entire '01 season and beyond , , I STILL don't have a solid grasp or comfort level with the words on the screen. Some days I come across as a dull "just the facts, ma'am" correspondent doing little more than aping what others, the professional sports writers, do so, so much better than I; other days I sound like a pathetic school girl crying into the pages of her diary, and other times I seem unsure whether the whole Bambino's Curse experience for me is an ironic, tongue-in-cheek joke or a profound and earnest attempt to understand and share my inner-self. I guess my uncertainty makes sense, as what I'm trying to do when I write is a mixture of all the above. the Evidence of the Curse Over the years, the Red Sox have compiled one of the most infamous stories of defeat, near miss, and utter collapse that the world of sports has ever known. To read the gory details, check out the ultimate timeline of Amazing Boston Red Sox Losses, Remarkable Collapses and other Record Breaking Feats at SoxSuck.com (link opens in new window). After looking the timeline over, ask yourself if it's all "just a coincidence." the meaning of "1918," The ubiquitous appearance on the Bambino's Curse website of "1918," refers to the last year the Red Sox won the World Series. The comma is symbolic of the fact that at the time of selling Babe Ruth in 1920 the Red Sox were the premier team in baseball, and everyone expected they'd win the next World Series quite soon. The comma is in expectation of completing the listing of the championship years: 1903, 1912, 1915, 1916, 1918, . . .   Well, we've been waiting for the next one for 83 years now.  The comma following the 1918 date continues to symbolize every Red Sox fan's ongoing belief that a World Series Championship will happen "next year." An unfortunate yet familiar phrase among Red Sox fans is "wait 'til next year."