Earl Scruggs (1924-2012) pioneered and was master of the three-fingered technique for playing what?

Earl Scruggs - Musician - Biography.com Earl Scruggs Earl Scruggs is a bluegrass musician who pioneered the Scruggs Style, a method of banjo playing. IN THESE GROUPS Famous People Born in Shelby Synopsis Earl Scruggs earned his place in music history when he stumbled across a unique banjo-playing style at the age of 10. He was the first to master and refine a three-finger picking method. During his later years, he experimented with the electric banjo and helped expand the instrument's traditional bluegrass repertoire to include rock 'n' roll. Early Life Banjoist. Earl Scruggs was born January 6, 1924 in Cleveland County, North Carolina, outside the town of Shelby. He was the fifth and last child born to Lula Ruppe Scruggs and George Elam Scruggs, a farmer and bookkeeper. The Piedmont region of North Carolina was steeped in bluegrass music, and the entire Scruggs family was very musical. Scruggs' father played fiddle and banjo, his mother played the organ and all four of his siblings played guitar or banjo or both. Earl Scruggs endured an early childhood tragedy at the age of four when his father passed away. Although Scruggs retained some early memories of his father, he regrettably does not remember his old man's banjo playing. "Due to his eight month illness prior to his death, I never remembered his picking although I do remember him," Scruggs recalled. To cope with his father's death and honor his memory, Scruggs took up the banjo — although at the age of four he was barely big enough to hold it. "The only way I could pick [older brother] Junie's banjo, or the old one my father played," Scruggs later remembered, "was to sit on the floor with the body part of the banjo to my right and slide it around quite a bit, depending on what position on the neck I was attempting to play." (Photo: Tom Hill/WireImage ) Scruggs Style For the rest of his childhood, Scruggs spent practically every waking hour that he was not in school or helping out on the family farm playing the banjo. Like most five-string banjo players, as a child Scruggs used a two-finger picking style. Although some North Carolina banjo players employed an experimental three-finger style, Scruggs' first attempts to master this new style failed. Then one day, mindlessly playing a tune called "Ruben," Scruggs looked down to discover that he was picking with three fingers — his thumb, middle and index fingers. He recalled that he ran around the house shouting, "I've got it! I've got it! I can play with three fingers!" Over the ensuing years and decades, Scruggs became the first banjoist to truly master and refine three-finger picking, developing a style that emphasized melody lines and a syncopated rhythm. In fact, he so profoundly influenced the three-finger picking technique that it is still known as the Scruggs Style and has remained essentially ubiquitous for bluegrass banjo music to this date. Scruggs attended Bolling Springs High School while also working at a local textile mill to help support himself and his family, all the while practicing the banjo obsessively. Upon his graduation in 1942, Scruggs, who never especially liked manual labor, decided instead to attempt to make his living as a musician. He landed a gig playing banjo for a popular country band called the Morris Brothers on a radio station in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Then, in 1944, the great bandleader Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass, invited Scruggs to play with his famous Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. For the next four years, Scruggs performed with Monroe on the Grand Ole Opry, the famous country radio show broadcast live from Nashville, as well as on several nationwide tours. In addition to Scruggs, Monroe's Blue Grass Boys also included a talented young guitarist named Lester Flatts, with whom Scruggs became fast friends. In 1948, ready to step out of Monroe's shadow and make names for themselves, Flatt and Scruggs left the Blue Grass Boys to form their own band. The Foggy Mountain Boys Named the Foggy Mountain Boys, but also frequently referred to simply as Flatt and Scruggs (or, alter


The Chinese (translated) 'Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists' which once instigated a famous rebellion against colonial and imperial presence in Peking (now Beijing) China, were better known by what name?

Chinese Cultural Studies: Concise Political History of China Concise Political History of China Compiled from Compton's Living Encyclopedia on America Online (August 1995) 1. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTINUITY A significant aspect of China is its long cultural and national history. The Chinese  people have shared a common culture longer than any other group on Earth. The Chinese  writing system, for example, dates back almost 4,000 years. The imperial dynastic system  of government, which continued for centuries, was established as early as 221 BC. Although  specific dynasties were overturned, the dynastic system survived. China was even ruled at  times by foreign invaders, such as the Mongols during the Yuan Dynasty, from AD 1279 to  1368, and the Manchus during the Ch'ing Dynasty, from AD 1644 to 1911, but the foreigners  were largely absorbed into the culture they governed. It is as if the Roman Empire had  lasted from the time of the Caesars to the 20th century, and during that time had evolved  a cultural system and written language shared by all the peoples of Europe. The dynastic system was overturned in 1911, and a weak republican form of government  existed until 1949. In that year, after a long civil war, the People's Republic of China,  with a Communist government, was proclaimed. This government and the ruling Communist  party have controlled China ever since. Although the dynastic system has disappeared, the  People's Republic occupies essentially the same territory and governs the same people. If  anything, the culture and power of China seem stronger in the late 20th century than at  almost any other period in history. Under the People's Republic, China's role in world  economic and political affairs has grown increasingly more important. 2. BEGINNINGS AND EARLY HISTORY Archaeological evidence suggests that China is one of the cradles of the human race.  The earliest known human in China, whose fossilized skull was unearthed in Shanxi Province  in 1963, is believed to date back to 600,000 BC. The remains of Sinanthropus pekinensis,  known as Peking Man and dating back to 400,000 BC, were excavated in 1923 at  Zhoukoudianzhen near Peking. Peking Man was closely related to Pithecanthropus of Java and  lived during the Old Stone Age. In the upper caves of Zhoukoudianzhen are found artifacts  of a late Old Stone Age man (50,000-35,000 BC), who ranks in age with the Cro-Magnon of  Europe. This was an early form of Homo sapiens, or modern man, who made tools out of bones  as well as stones, made clothes out of animal hides, and knew how to make fire. Around the 4th or 3rd millennium BC, in the New Stone Age, great changes occurred in  the lives of the ancient Chinese. Larger numbers of people began living together at  settled places, cultivating land, and domesticating animals. These people made polished  stone tools and built shelters in pit dwellings and beehive huts that were covered with  reed roofs. Such villages were found mostly in the area of the great bend of the Huang He  on the North China Plain. Despite its severe winters, this area was well suited to  agriculture. In fact, it closely resembled the other cradles of ancient civilizations,  such as the valley of the Nile in Egypt. The people of this period (3000-2000 BC) also developed the art of making pottery for  storing food and drink. Two distinct types have been discovered: red clay pots with  swirling black designs in the northwest near Yangshao village, and smooth black pottery in  northeast China near Lungshan, a site in Shandong Province. 3. SHANG DYNASTY The Chinese had settled in the Huang He, or Yellow River, valley of northern China by  3000 BC. By then they had pottery, wheels, farms, and silk, but they had not yet  discovered writing or the uses of metals. The Shang Dynasty (1766-1122 BC) is the first documented era of ancient China. The  highly developed hierarchy consisted of a king, nobles, commoners, and slaves. The capital  city was Anyang, in north Henan Province. Some scholars have suggested


The federation of which sport ruled in early 2012 that bikinis would not be compulsory for its competitors at the London Olympics?

London 2012 Olympics: day six – as it happened | Sport | The Guardian London 2012 Olympics: day six – as it happened Thursday 2 August 2012 02.20 EDT First published on Monday 3 September 2012 09.37 EDT Italy's Valentina Vezzali wins her sixth Olympic gold medal in the team event 10.04pm BST We'll be rounding up day six in a couple of minutes, but the action isn't stopping. Follow the USA as they look to make it three from three against Nigeria in the men's basketball. Updated at 10.04pm BST 9.59pm BST Let's not forget that this is basically a trade fair. With this fact in mind, pasty-faced free-market ideologue David Cameron is begging people to head into the centre of London - a ghost town, apparently, it says here - to spend some money and prop up his paggered old economy. Here's what's come out of his yap: People said also that London wouldn't cope, the traffic would grind to a halt, the capital city wouldn't manage, that hasn't been the case either. I think the authorities have done a good job. Clearly there is a challenge now though to say to Londoners, to the British public who've helped us to, as it were, defeat the threat of meltdown on the traffic system, to say to them now actually there is a case, London's working well, it's open for business, come back into the capital, come and shop, come and eat in London's restaurants and let's make sure that all of London's economy benefits from this. So the message is clear: shop, shop, shop, eat, eat, eat, shop, shop, shop. Whatever happened to austerity? It's almost as though he's making it up as he goes along. 9.52pm BST Back to Ersatz Wimbledon at Wimbledon, and Janko Tipsarevic has the face on. Tipsarevic crashed out of the doubles today, and after sliding around like a cartoon character on a banana skin on ice, he took to social media travesty Twitter to take a pop at the organisers: The level of organization and total care of players (starting from the quality of tennis courts) on these OI (sic) is really disappointing... London 2012 have been made aware of Tipsarevic's toy flinging, but have so far not responded, perhaps not giving a flying one. Updated at 9.53pm BST 9.49pm BST Great Britain suffered what can only be described as a piss-poor start in the water polo against 2008 silver medalists USA this evening. They were seven goals down in less than ten minutes. Oh Britain! But the team rallied well, ending the game on the wrong end of a 13-7 scoreline. As a result, coach Cristian Iordache is with the heartache: We had a problem starting the game. It could be something mental because I can't explain it. Probably we need to learn the lesson, because once a team is starting hard, we should step up a level. I don't think it was about pressure, but it was about experience. We need to learn from game to game. 9.43pm BST Bye, Steve! Nighty night! (Just for the record, Po' Scotty won't be in the Olympic Stadium tomorrow. Seeing we're on the subject, like.) Anyway, at Ersatz Wimbledon, melancholic news in the women's tennis as Kim Clijsters was beaten 6-2 7-5 by Maria Sharapova. That's the last the All England Club will see of the Belgian, who retires after next month's US Open. Here's Cllijsters' farewell: It was great. It's a nice experience every time you go out on Centre Court so I'm happy to say that my last match at Wimbledon was on Centre Court. Sharapova will face countrywoman Maria Kirilenko in the semis, guaranteeing Russia at least a silver in this tournament. Kirilenko had seen off former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. In the other semi, Serena Williams, who thrashed Caroline Wozniacki 6-0 6-3, will face Victoria Azarenka in a repeat of their Wimbledon semi-final. 9.31pm BST And that's it from me tonight. Thanks for all your emails, tweets, comments. Scott Murray will take you through to the close of the day's action. I'll see you again on Saturday - I'm lucky enough to be in the Olympic Stadium tomorrow... 9.28pm BST Beach volleyball USA have taken the first set against the Czech Republic in their men's beach volleyball group game. Work out who will ma


Name Shanghai's financial area and China's commercial hub, literally meaning 'east bank'?

Shanghai Facts - Get A General Information about Shanghai Shanghai Facts Home   >>  Shanghai Facts Shanghai Facts Shanghai, Hu for short, also known as Shen, is a multi-cultural metropolis with both modern and traditional chinese features. The city has a status equivalent to a province, and reports directly to the central government. Serving as the largest base of Chinese industrial technology, one of the most important seaports and China's largest commercial and financial center, Shanghai draws the attention of the whole world. Location Shanghai is situated at 31°41' north latitude and 121°29' east longitude. The city, whose name literally means "on the sea", is located on the east China coast just to the south of the mouth of the Yangtze river. Bordering on Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces on the west, Shanghai is washed by the east China sea on the east and Hangzhou Bay on the south. It also occupies a central location along China's coastline. Thanks to its advantageous geographic location, Shanghai is an excellent sea and river port, boasting easy access to the vast hinterland. See More >> Shanghai Geographical Features Except for a few hills lying in the southwest corner, most parts of the Shanghai area are flat and belong to the alluvial plain of the Yangtze River delta. The average sea level elevation is about 4 meters. Shanghai Water Resources Dotted with many rivers and lakes, the Shanghai area is known for its rich water resources. Most of the rivers are tributaries of the Huangpu River . Originated from the Taihu lake, the 113-kilometre-long Huangpu River winds through the downtown area of the city. The river is about 300 to 770 meters wide with an average width standing at 360 meters. The ice-free Huangpu River is the main waterway in the Shanghai area. Shanghai Area The city covers an area of 6,340.5 square kilometers, which extends about 120 kilometers in north and south and nearly 100 kilometers in east and west. Shanghai has an urban area of 2,643 square kilometers, land area of 6,219 square kilometers and water area of 122 square kilometers. The city's Chongming Island is the third largest island in China, covering an area of 1,041 square kilometers. Shanghai Population Shanghai is one of the most populated cities in China. It has a permanent resident population of 23,019,200, of which 12.21 million live in the urban areas. Shanghai population accounts for 1.1% of the Chinese population, with the average density of 2059 inhabitants per square kilometers (3854 in the urban areas). There is a huge floating population of itinerant workers, probably numbering two million. According to the report of the fifth census in the year 2000, the population of the ethnic minority groups in Shanghai has reached 103,639. People of different minority nationalities are scattering all over Shanghai. Getting along well with people of Han nationality during the hundreds of years of developing process of Shanghai, they have made their lives better and better by the sweat of their brow, and with the help of these respectable people’s profound intelligence and wisdom, Shanghai has been made one of the most developed district of China, a merry land with rich history and culture and an oriental bright pearl standing erectly in eastern Asia. The permanent residents of Shanghai come from china's 44 ethnic groups. The Han nationality accounts for 99.53% of the total. the rest of them are mainly from Hui, Man, Mongolian nationalities and Zhuang. Among these who believe in religion, most are Islam. As far as the statistics of 1990 is concerned, among the eight ethnic groups (Hui, Uighur, Kazakh, Tartar etc.) out of 44 in Shanghai, some 50965 people (81.98% of the population of minority nationalities in Shanghai) practice Islam. Besides Islam, many ethnic groups in Shanghai have also believed in Buddhism after it was introduced from Tibet long ago. People draw strength from their religious faith and live a colorful life, from which many special customs are formed. Shanghai Administrative Divisions Shanghai is divided into 16 districts an


Name Irvine Welsh's best selling 1993 novel about heroin addiction?

Hot Project: "Trainspotting" sequel in the works Aug 28, 2001 Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie are back, or at least they will be soon. Writer Irvine Welsh told the Edinburgh Book Festival on Monday that his new novel, Porno, is a sequel to his best-selling 1993 novel Trainspotting, which centers on the lives of a handful of heroin junkies in Edinburgh, Scotland. Director Danny Boyle made the original book into an outstanding film. In July 1996, Miramax’s Trainspotting opened in U.S. theaters and introduced audiences to a group of relatively unknown but impressive actors, including Ewan McGregor (Renton), Ewen Bremmer (Spud), Jonny Lee Miller (Sick Boy) and Robert Carlyle (Begbie). Most of them have gone on to have successful acting careers, especially McGregor , the film’s star. Welsh read excerpts from the manuscript to an audience at the book festival in Edinburgh, which he felt was a suitable setting to reveal some details about the project. After all, one of Trainspotting ‘s most infamous scenes, which involves Renton diving into an excrement-filled toilet to retrieve an opium suppository, took place on the first day of the festival. Porno brings the four still-standing characters back together, 10 years after the events of Trainspotting. The characters are a little bit older, but will they be any wiser? Sick Boy does porn Fans will no doubt be interested in seeing what the beloved characters from Leith have been up to this past decade, and Porno will chronicle the tales. Here are a few teasers: Spud, still a slave to his heroin addiction, has somehow been roped into writing a history of the town of Leith, the Edinburgh port where the original Trainspotting took place. Sick Boy, the bleach-blond barbiturate dealer, will make a comeback as an aspiring porn director. Welsh is also considering bringing a new character into the mix-a journalist turned porn starlet. Welsh , however, was mum about what the future has in store for Renton and Begbie. “I can’t say what is happening to Renton and Begbie-that would be too much information, but they do get back together,” he told Reuters. The Scottish author also addressed the question of a possible film adaptation. “These days, it is virtually impossible to write a book which couldn’t be made into a film,” he noted. “But you can’t really think like that. If you set out to write a book which will be a film, you’re not going to write a good book.” He also hinted that it would be interesting to see how a different set of actors would play the roles of Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie. Besides, it might be difficult to get McGregor back as old “Rent Boy.”


Which country's leader, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, announced in 2012 the effective nationalisation of local oil assets owned by Spanish corporation Repsol?

Default or not default? That is the (Argentine) question... https://www.opendemocracy.net/celia-szusterman/default-or-not-default-that-is-argentine-question

Argentina's president, Cristina Kirchner, refuses to accept that the country has defaulted on its debts. But her denial can only make things worse.

D-Day in Argentina, 30 July 2014,  came and went. And nothing has changed. The president, Cristina Kirchner, and her economy minister Axel Kicillof  are not tired of repeating that life goes on. Indeed. Yet, is it true that nothing has changed - default or not default?

On 31 July, the day after entering (or not) into default, Mrs Kirchner  broadcast to the nation: “They will have to invent another name. Because we have paid.” Once again, she seems to be in a state of denial. Instead of recognising reality, having a good analysis and devising a strategy to reach a solution, she offers - amid the usual sea of white-and-blue flags - an epic narrative.

This time the enemies are not the farmers nor Clarín, the multimedia group, but the “vulture funds” (the ubiquitous name for the hated hedge funds). Buenos Aires had woken on the morning of 29 July with hoardings offering a stark option: “Patria o Buitres” (Motherland or Vultures). The chief of cabinet, Jorge Capitanich, blamed not just the hedge funds but the United States, and threatened to take the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Axel Kicillof himself accused Judge Griesa of being at the service of the “vultures”, then accused the judge-appointed mediator, Dan Pollack, of incompetence. Even Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel economics laureate, reportedly said that Griesa’s decision was paramount to throwing a bomb not just at Argentina but at the whole global financial system.

Amidst so much hyperbole, one fact remains. On 31 July, Argentina fell into a default - variously described in the rest of the world as “selective”, “partial” or “technical” (see, for example, the reaction of the rating agencies Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, or China's Dagong Global Credit Rating, as well as the advice of Russ Dallen: “In this game, it is best to refer to the rulebook, which in this case is the Prospectus for the 2005 and/or 2010 Restructured Bonds). Until somebody comes up with a new word (“neo-defaultism”?) this is the reality. Yet for Kicillof, the use of the word default is an “atomic nonsense”.

A medley of failure

The sooner the situation is reversed, the sooner the default label will be removed.  But if the Argentine government does not recognise the severity of the situation, what are the chances that it will be in a rush to negotiate a solution to a problem it regards as non-existent? Yet until it does, the reputational damage will continue unabated. The consequences will be grave: among them a lack of investment, a drop in economic activity, a rise in unemployment, inflation, and pressures on foreign-exchange reserves.

On 27 June,


City University London's Cass School specialises in?

Home | Cass Business School Cass Business School Cass Business School is one of City, University of London's five Schools. © 2016 Cass Business School Cass Business School uses cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing browsing this website without changing your cookie settings, we assume you agree to this. Find out about the cookies we use . Dismiss


SNCF is the state railway group of which country?

About Us - Voyages-sncf.com Voyages-sncf.com: About us About Voyages-sncf Voyages-sncf.com is the official European distribution channel of the French railways (SNCF) for online sales of high-speed and conventional rail travel throughout France and Europe: plan your journeys, book your train tickets and get inspired by our travel guides! Voyages-sncf, the digital distributor of SNCF products and services in Europe Voyages-sncf has 8 websites in 12 languages, all with mobile versions. Seven countries have their own  dedicated site: Germany, Belgium (in French, Dutch and English), Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Switzerland (in French, German and English). The 8th website is in English and is aimed at all other European customers, using the Euro as its sole currency. European rail experts to serve our customers Local expertise: each country has its own dedicated team as well as a. multilingual aftersales service. A complete range of products and services for travelling in Europe Our full range of rail products and services, including trains operating in France (TGV, iDTGV, Intercités, etc) and international rail operators (Thalys, Eurostar, Elipsos, TGV Lyria, TGV France Italy, TGV France Spain, CityNightLine, Italo), brings you high-speed travel options throughout Europe. Our first priority is to keep internet users up-to-date about the latest offers and rail news, but we also have a range of associated services (secure payment, payment by PayPal, e-ticket, mobile app) to simplify train travel in Europe. Don't forget to use our best fare finder to find the lowest prices for more than 200 journeys three months in advance. The Voyages-sncf.com group Voyages-sncf.com Group in Europe is a major tourism expert in the distribution of European train journeys and the destination France. One third of it's 650 employees is dedicated to the development of the European and websites. With a sales revenue of 3,6 billion euros, its business volume grew significantly in 2012 with 7%. The Voyages-sncf.com group aims to be Europe's nº 1 rail operator and a major international group. This new dimension responds to the liberalisation of European markets, developments in consumer practices and the influence of the key digital players who are transforming the e-tourism market. In response to today's rail distribution challenges and new purchasing habits, Voyages-sncf.com now has a powerful, flexible network of 13 websites, multilingual mobile apps, 4 shops and an integrated call centre to meet the needs of its European customers.   It covers more than 30 countries via websites dedicated to the travel industry - and a network of more than 15,000 accredited travel agents and tour operator partners to distribute its rail products in Europe - as well as websites for individuals,  multi-linguistic applications, 4 dedicated shops (Cologne, Geneva, Milan and Aachen) and an integrated call center service. Voyages-sncf.com also has a series of dedicated websites for travel professionals, thus providing over 15,000 approved travel agencies and tour operators with the means to distribute its rail products in Europe, Supported by ticket offices and boutiques in Brussels, Cologne, Geneva, London, Milan and Madrid. As of today, Voyages-sncf.com works hard to simplify rail travel in Europe, with a dual focus on innovation and customer service. SNCF: Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français [The French National Railway Operator] The SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français) Group has a turnover of €32.6 million, a presence in 120 countries and 245,000 employees. It is a world leader in people transport, freight transport and logistics. The SNCF group offers a complete range of mobility solutions through its five business lines (SNCF INFRA: network operation and management, works, maintenance and engineering; SNCF PROXIMITÉ: regional transport, rail transport in the greater Paris region (Ile-de-France), Intercités and Keolis; SNCF VOYAGES, high-speed passenger transport, i.e. TGV, iDTGV, Eurostar, Thalys, Lyria, Alleo, Elipsos, Ga


What historic bicycle company introduced the children's Chopper bike in the 1970s?

Museum bikes from 1966 to 1985 on display at Classic Cycle | Classic Cycle Bainbridge Island Kitsap County Museum Bikes 1966 to 1985 Museum Saturday Nights Join us Saturday evenings this winter for a little bike history. On November 19th, December 17th, January 14th, and February 19th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Jeff and Paul will lead some bicycle history talks with demonstrations and some hands-on displays. There will also be snacks and refreshments.  We use these nights as fundraisers for the PAWS animal shelter, so please bring pet food and/or a cash donation. Chloe and her cat here to help PAWS December 17th “The Olympic Experience” Bicycles, jerseys, and memorabilia from our collection of Olympic team stuff.  We have a pretty broad selection of stuff that have featured in Olympic Games as far back as 1932. We also have a special guest speaker, local cycling star Chloe Dygert Owen.  Chloe will share some fun anecdotes from the most recent Olympics.  Chloe is a world champion in a couple of different cycling disciplines and a silver medalist from the Rio games.  As a recent transplant to the Pacific Northwest, she may have a take on the fastest fenders for your bike and the most aerodynamic rain gear as well. January 14th: The weird ones January 14th: ”The weird ones” will showcase all of the really strange stuff in the collection. We’ll have bikes on display that demonstrate a clear lack of common sense.  Questionable safety, design fads, outrageous prices and offensive marketing will be the theme of the night. Scratch your head and wonder “What were they thinking?” as you check out bicycles with bumpers, stick shifts, or retractable headlights.  There’ll be bicycle advertising from Camel cigarettes, helmets that made head injury worse, and design features that nobody in their right minds would have included. State of the Art February 19th February 19th: “State of the Art” will show off frame and component designs that have been labeled “Cutting Edge” throughout the decades, You’ll get to check out cutting edge materials and everything ever labeled “the latest”.  Bikes that have been welded, glued, bolted, and tied together.   Bikes made out of aluminum before anyone knew how to weld it.  Bikes flash cast out of magnesium (a new frame in only 7 seconds).  Missteps and real strides in plastic, carbon, steel and titanium bicycle construction.  This evening will show you how rapidly technology and style changes. 1974 Molteni Team Edition Colnago Super Molteni team edition “Eddy Merckx” made by Colnago There aren’t many bicycles out there that can be considered “famous”. I think that the average cyclist (of a certain age) could identify just three famous bicycles by sight: Pee Wee Herman’s bike from the movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Greg LeMond’s time trial bike from the 1989 Tour de France, and a Molteni team bike from the 1970′s. The average Schwinn Sting-Ray is also pretty well known but most people will identify any kids’ bike that has a banana seat and curved tubes as a Sting-Ray, so they don’t count. This is a beautifully restored Molteni team replica racing bike from the 1970′s. The Molteni team was a fabulously successful squad that ran from 1956 until 1976. Named after and sponsored by an Italian sausage company, Molteni’s brown jerseys and orange bikes are iconic in the bike racing world. That’s Eddy on the head tube Classic design Record crankset The Molteni team raced Colnago Supers in the 1970′s just like this one. Yes, we know that the frame says “Eddy Merckx”. It’s still a Colnago. Eddy Merckx was the star on the Molteni team, and despite the fabulous success of riders like Rudi Altig and Gianni Motta the team was all about Eddy. Eddy’s name was on the downtube and his face was on the head badge. I’m sure it was a surreal existence to be on the Molteni team in the 1970′s, kind of like playing for the Chicago Bulls in the 1980′s. Like shooting hoops with Michael Jordan while wearing Air Jordan shoes. Columbus tubing Fluted seat post Anyway, the bike is terrific. I think we have two other mid-’70′s Coln


Italian for angry, what is the pasta sauce of garlic, tomatoes, and red chili cooked in olive oil?

Penne Arrabbiata (Pasta cooked in Red Chili flakes and Olive Oil) - Honey, Whats Cooking Honey, Whats Cooking A food, travel & lifestyle blog. Main navigation Penne Arrabbiata (Pasta cooked in Red Chili flakes and Olive Oil) December 3, 2009 9 Comments Today I made, Penne Arrabbiata, which literally means, “Angry Penne”. This dish is cooked with red chili flakes, so it is hot and spicy, hence the term, ‘angry.’  I’ve had many variations of this dish in the US, but nothing beats eating Italian food in Italy.  On our honeymoon, my husband kept ordering Penne Arrabbiata (a veggie option), since many dishes in Italy contain red meat.  He must have ordered this dish like 7 times total, and he never seem to get sick of it.  What’s not to love?  Pasta, olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, topped off with parmesan cheese and parsley/basil! Traditionally, this dish is topped off with parsley, I used basil instead.  There is something about basil that goes so so well with Italian food.  Normally, this dish does not use onions and crushed tomatoes, I used both, what can I say, I love hearty dishes.  So I bring you my version of this simple, and truly amazing dish… I feel like I’m in Italy again.  Try this, you will not be dissapointed! NUTRITION: I used whole grain penne pasta, so this dish contains fiber.  The cheese adds protein and calcium to this dish.  Tomato sauce is a good source of Vitamin A and C. INGREDIENTS: Parmesan Cheese – 1/2 cup (finely grated)  DIRECTIONS: 1. Set aside water to boil.  2. Chop garlic, onions, and tomatoes. 3. Heat a pan on medium heat.  Add extra virgin olive oil.  Add red pepper flakes. 4. Add onions and garlic.  Saute until onions are golden. 5. Add the tomatoes and salt. 6. This is what you should have after 5 minutes.  7. Add crushed tomatoes.  Season with black pepper and salt. 8. Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes.  9. Now cook the pasta for 10 minutes, or until Al Dente.  10. In the meantime, chop the basil and grate the parmesan cheese.   11. The pasta should be done.  The sauce will cook down a little bit.  At this time add all the pasta to the sauce. Turn off the gas. 12. Add basil. 13. Add parmesan cheese. 14. All I can say is, why wasn’t I born Italian?   🙁    SOOOOOOOO GOOD! I would really appreciate your feedback!


To which country did Amazon move its European HQ in 2006?

Starbucks Moves EU HQ To London After Tax Row Weather Starbucks Moves EU HQ To London After Tax Row The coffee chain given a roasting over UK tax in 2012 says it will make London its European base, amid a franchise growth plan. 10:58, UK, Wednesday 16 April 2014 Image Caption: Starbucks has decided to move staff from Amsterdam to London Starbucks is to base its European headquarters in Britain, amid the ongoing row over multinationals' corporate tax structures. The coffee company is to shift its base from Amsterdam to London before the end of 2014. The UK is its largest European market, accounting for more than half its stores and employing around 7,500 staff. Kris Engskov, the company's president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), announced the move on Wednesday and said "London is the perfect place to grow our European business". Starbucks wants to move towards greater franchise participation, however at the moment it is not recruiting new UK franchisees. A spokesman told Sky News: "As part of our drive to improve profitability in the UK, we are shifting our business model from an equity-focus towards more franchised and licenced stores. "By bringing onboard local expertise, we are driving business success and it is a model we are now planning to pursue in other parts of Europe." Mr Engskov was grilled by MPs in 2012, as the UK boss, as they investigated the rates of tax paid by global giants including Starbucks, Google and Amazon. Starbucks has operated in Britain for more than 15 years but only made a small profit in one year, 2006. In the four years to the end of its 2012 reporting period, the company said it lost more than £150m in Britain, despite having a turnover approaching £2bn. Multinational corporations have come under fire for complex intra-company tax structures whereby the firm in one country pays itself in another for goods and services. Starbucks' transfer pricing includes costs for licensing and royalties. It also buys its coffee from a sub-division in Switzerland and then pays another to roast the beans in Amsterdam. IT firms such as Apple, Twitter and Candy Crush owner King Digital use Dublin-based structures for European operations, while eBay bases itself in Luxembourg. Amid the public furore stirred by the tax revelations, Starbucks said it would pay 'voluntary' UK corporation tax of £10m for two years. However, critics slammed the payments as a gift and not a legal requirement. Starbucks is due to file its latest UK accounts, for the 2012-13 fiscal year, with regulators before the end of June. Related Stories


A 'silk' is an informal term for what prestigious grade of profession?

Wear - definition of wear by The Free Dictionary Wear - definition of wear by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/wear v. wore (wôr), worn (wôrn), wear·ing, wears v.tr. 1. To carry or have on one's person as covering, adornment, or protection: wearing a jacket; must wear a seat belt. 2. To carry or have habitually on one's person, especially as an aid: wears glasses. 3. To display in one's appearance: always wears a smile. 4. To bear, carry, or maintain in a particular manner: wears her hair long. 5. To fly or display (colors). Used of a ship, jockey, or knight. 6. To damage, diminish, erode, or consume by long or hard use, attrition, or exposure. Often used with away, down, or off: rocks worn away by the sea; shoes worn down at the heels. 7. To produce by constant use, attrition, or exposure: eventually wore hollows in the stone steps. 8. To bring to a specified condition by long use or attrition: wore the clothes to rags; pebbles worn smooth. 9. To fatigue, weary, or exhaust: Your incessant criticism has worn my patience. 10. Nautical To make (a sailing ship) come about with the wind aft. v.intr. a. To last under continual or hard use: a fabric that will wear. b. To last through the passage of time: a friendship that wears well. 2. To break down or diminish through use or attrition: The rear tires began to wear. 3. To pass gradually or tediously: The hours wore on. 4. Nautical To come about with stern to windward. n. 1. The act of wearing or the state of being worn; use: This shirt is ideal for wear in sultry climates. 2. Clothing, especially of a particular kind or for a particular use. Often used in combination: rainwear; footwear. 3. Damage resulting from use or age: The rug shows plenty of wear. 4. The ability to withstand impairment from use or attrition: The engine has plenty of wear left. Phrasal Verbs: wear down To break down or exhaust by relentless pressure or resistance: The child's pleading finally wore her parents down. wear off To diminish gradually in effect: The drug wore off. wear out 1. To make or become unusable through long or heavy use: wore out a pair of hockey skates; a vacuum that finally wore out. 2. To exhaust; tire: Raking the leaves wore me out. 3. To use up or consume gradually: His complaining finally wore out my patience. Idioms: To exercise controlling authority in a household. wear thin 1. To be weakened or eroded gradually: Her patience is wearing thin. 2. To become less convincing, acceptable, or popular, as through repeated use: excuses that are wearing thin. [Middle English weren, from Old English werian; see wes-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] wear′er n. (wɛə) vb, wears, wearing, wore or worn 1. (Clothing & Fashion) (tr) to carry or have (a garment, etc) on one's person as clothing, ornament, etc 2. (tr) to carry or have on one's person habitually: she wears a lot of red. 3. (tr) to have in one's aspect: to wear a smile. 4. (tr) to display, show, or fly: a ship wears its colours. 5. to deteriorate or cause to deteriorate by constant use or action 6. to produce or be produced by constant rubbing, scraping, etc: to wear a hole in one's trousers. 7. to bring or be brought to a specified condition by constant use or action: to wear a tyre to shreds. 8. (intr) to submit to constant use or action in a specified way: his suit wears well. 9. (tr) to harass or weaken 10. (when: intr, often foll by on) (of time) to pass or be passed slowly 11. (tr) slang Brit to accept: Larry won't wear that argument. 12. (Nautical Terms) wear ship to change the tack of a sailing vessel, esp a square-rigger, by coming about so that the wind passes astern n 13. the act of wearing or state of being worn 14. (Clothing & Fashion) a. anything designed to be worn: leisure wear. b. (in combination): nightwear. 15. deterioration from constant or normal use or action 16. the quality of resisting the effects of constant use [Old English werian; related to Old High German werien, Old Norse verja, Gothic vasjan] ˈwearer n vb, wears, wearing, wore or worn (Nautical Terms) nautical to tack by g


Rib, stretcher, runner, ferrule, crook-handle and tube are parts of which common protective device?

Articles Wholesale Leather Jillian Distributors specialize in wholesale drop shipping and distribution, specializing in wholesale leather, connecting customers and businesses on a global scale. One of the numerous wholesale products we offer is wholesale leather apparel and wholesale leather products. We offer a wider array of wholesale leather Biker Gear, wholesale leather handbags and purses, wholesale leather wallets, wholesale leather luggage, wholesale leather jackets and wholesale leather vests. Leather is one of the most sought-after garments due to its purpose and fashion it gives to any clothing. It is a durable product, protective in nature to the elements and possibly a unwanted spill off the motorcycle. It also provides warmth and comfort, not to mention a sense of security, for the person wearing it. Lots of designers, utilize leather in their signature garments that provides some chic, sophisticated element to any outfit. Owning a timeless piece of leatherwear is just like preserving a precious treasure that never goes out of style and may last for a lifetime. From the classic biker jackets to chaps to wholesale leather vests, Jillian Distributors offer a huge selection of the trendiest leather clothing in the market today. Choose from a wide array of leatherwear from our online showroom in hundreds of styles, with large sizes available, at low wholesale leather prices. Quality is never compromised as we offer only top-quality wholesale leather apparel. Whether you are a leather lover or looking for some best wholesale leather prices on leather clothing, Jillian Distributors are one of the most reliable wholesale leather apparel distributors online. Our user-friendly website contains nothing but the hottest leather collections complete with the most detailed description of each product available. Wholesale Leather Motorcycle Leather Clothing,Wholesale Motorcycle Accessories Every motorcycle enthusiast knows that protective motorcycle clothing and motorcycle accessories are essential to the overall riding experience. This is the reason why businesses that provide the world with their need for motorcycle jackets, motorcycle vests, motorcycle chaps, motorcycle helmets, motorcycle gloves and others have been doing well. Help satisfy the needs of your customers through the product offerings at Jillian Distributors. We offer competitively priced wholesale leather motorcycle clothing which you will find as a great value. Let's get started today with our Wholesale Leather Motorcycle Clothing and accessories. More... Wholesale Flasks Wholesale flasks, discount flasks, cheap flasks and hip flasks never go out of style! Buy wholesale flasks, flask gift sets or a thousand flasks and save buying wholesale. Flasks have been the traditional gifts from grooms or groomsmen. Most of our flasks are suitable for engraving. We also carry specialty flasks with motorcycle, hunting and fishing, golf themes and more. There are many gift items to choose from for a person who likes to carry his drink around. But the best gift for this person would be a personalized hip flask. A hip flask is a flat empty bottle that has been designed specially for safely carrying liquid without any leakage or spillage. More... Surgical Stainless Steel Cookware You can serve your family healthy, nutritious, and delicious meals every time you cook if you prepare those meals in surgical stainless steel cookware. There are numerous benefits to cooking with this type of cookware. When you cook vegetables in a pot of water, many of the vitamins and minerals are lost. While your intention may be to serve your family healthy meals, it is almost impossible to do so when you cook away the health benefits of the food you prepare. Waterless cookware allows the vegetables and meats to retain their nutritional value. The vapor seal lids prevents moisture, minerals, and vitamins from escaping. More... Buying Wholesale Leather, Leather Wholesale Suppliers, Leather Distributors When you run an online business or own your own clothing store in your city,  it is of


As at 2012 which newspaper has the most popular website?

Will Oremus Will Oremus is Slate’s senior technology writer. Email him at will.oremus@slate.com or follow him on Twitter . When online traffic counter comScore announced last week that the lower-middlebrow British tabloid had surpassed the NYT in traffic , drawing 45.3 million unique visitors to the Gray Lady’s 44.8 million, reactions ranged from gleeful to apocalyptic. The Times, rather ungraciously, questioned the metrics. The Daily Mail is first only if you count the traffic to its subsidiary personal finance site, ThisIsMoney , a Times spokeswoman pointed out. Since the Times’ figures don’t include traffic to subsidiaries such as the Boston Globe, the comparison is apples to apples-plus-oranges. “We remain the No. 1 individual newspaper site in the world,” the spokeswoman told Buzzfeed . Console yourself with that if you must, Times honchos, but you’re missing the bigger picture. In the sentence, “The Daily Mail is now the most popular online newspaper,” the “most popular” claim is the least of the misnomers. The most important thing to know about the Daily Mail’s website (more properly called the Mail Online) is that it’s not really an online newspaper. That’s exactly why it’s so successful. Advertisement Unlike traditional online newspapers, the Mail Online bears little resemblance to the British tabloid that spawned it. Consider the differences between the two on Thursday. The Daily Mail’s top story in print that morning was a tale of “valiant villagers” from an obscure British Midlands town who were ordered by the government to tear down a protest camp they had built to “protect” their village from an “illegal gipsy invasion.” The Gypsies, the article noted bitterly, were allowed to stay. Get Slate in your inbox. In its xenophobia and parochialism, the piece was typical of the paper, which skews conservative, populist, and suburban. In tone, it stakes out the ground between establishment Tory broadsheets like the the Daily Telegraph and hysterical, barely literate “red top” tabloids like the Sun . If David Brent, Ricky Gervais’ chauvinist, pseudo-educated character on the British version of The Office , reads a newspaper at home, it’s probably the Daily Mail (though he might not admit it ). Also typical was the teaser that ran across the top of the paper, advertising a story in its Femail Magazine insert: “Can a marriage survive when the breadwinner is forced to become a househusband?” Aside from its political niche, the Daily Mail has long cultivated female readers with lifestyle, fashion, and home-decorating features. The Mail Online also targets women, but in an entirely different way. On Thursday morning, the website carried no mention of Gypsies or valiant villagers. Instead, U.S. visitors were greeted with unflattering pictures of actress Cameron Diaz. The headline : “Beware if the wind changes! Cameron Diaz pulls some odd facial expressions while out and about in London.” The brief accompanying story was about, well, Cameron Diaz making some odd facial expressions while out and about in London on a windy day—the unwritten implication being that she just had some type of cosmetic surgery. Another top story Thursday was headlined, “ Graffiti artist who painted Facebook’s HQ set for $200 million payday as staff celebrate social network’s $5bn IPO. ” It was essentially a shorter, rewritten version of a New York Times story, which mentioned but did not link to the original . It showed no original reporting, but efficiently distilled the more nuanced Times piece into a handful of paragraphs and pictures, leaving out the boring context and philosophizing. A third headline blared, “ Threat from new virus-infected emails which take over your PC even if you DON’T open their attachments. ” How could you not click on that? Several others dealt with celebrities, pets, and especially, celebrities’ pets. One was about Lady Gaga and Elton John taking a “pampered pooch” to dinner in Los Angeles. Another had Courtney Love’s daughter alleging that the boozy rock star had, through negligence, killed two family pets . Advertis


What significant territory did President Richard Nixon call by telephone on 20 July 1969?

Apollo 11 - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Google Apollo Program: Background The American effort to send astronauts to the moon had its origins in an appeal President John Kennedy made to a special joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961: “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.” At the time, the United States was still trailing the Soviet Union in space developments, and Cold War-era America welcomed Kennedy’s bold proposal.In 1966, after five years of work by an international team of scientists and engineers, the National Did You Know? President Richard Nixon spoke with Armstrong and Aldrin via a telephone radio transmissionshortly after they planted the American flag on the lunar surface. Nixon considered it the "most historic phone call ever made from the White House." Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) conducted the first unmanned Apollo mission, testing the structural integrity of the proposed launch vehicle and spacecraft combination. Then, on January 27, 1967, tragedy struck at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida , when a fire broke out during a manned launch-pad test of the Apollo spacecraft and Saturn rocket. Three astronauts were killed in the fire. Despite the setback, NASA and its thousands of employees forged ahead, and in October 1968 Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission, orbited Earth and successfully tested many of the sophisticated systems needed to conduct a moon journey and landing. In December of the same year, Apollo 8 took three astronauts to the dark side of the moon and back, and in March 1969 Apollo 9 tested the lunar module for the first time while in Earth orbit. That May, the three astronauts of Apollo 10 took the first complete Apollo spacecraft around the moon in a dry run for the scheduled July landing mission. Apollo 11 Mission: July 16-July 24, 1969 At 9:32 a.m. EDT on July 16, with the world watching, Apollo 11 took off from Kennedy Space Center with astronauts Neil Armstrong , Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins (1930-) aboard. Armstrong, a 38-year-old civilian research pilot, was the commander of the mission. After traveling 240,000 miles in 76 hours, Apollo 11 entered into a lunar orbit on July 19. The next day, at 1:46 p.m., the lunar module Eagle, manned by Armstrong and Aldrin, separated from the command module, where Collins remained. Two hours later, the Eagle began its descent to the lunar surface, and at 4:17 p.m. the craft touched down on the southwestern edge of the Sea of Tranquility. Armstrong immediately radioed to Mission Control in Houston, Texas , a now-famous message: “The Eagle has landed.” At 10:39 p.m., five hours ahead of the original schedule, Armstrong opened the hatch of the lunar module. As he made his way down the module’s ladder, a television camera attached to the craft recorded his progress and beamed the signal back to Earth, where hundreds of millions watched in great anticipation. At 10:56 p.m., as Armstrong stepped off the ladder and planted his foot on the moon’s powdery surface, he spoke his famous quote, which he later contended was slightly garbled by his microphone and meant to be “that’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” Aldrin joined him on the moon’s surface 19 minutes later, and together they took photographs of the terrain, planted a U.S. flag, ran a few simple scientific tests and spoke with President Richard Nixon (1913-94) via Houston. By 1:11 a.m. on July 21, both astronauts were back in the lunar module and the hatch was closed. The two men slept that night on the surface of the moon, and at 1:54 p.m. the Eagle began its ascent back to the command module. Among the items left on the surface of the moon was a plaque that read: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon–July 1969 A.D–We came in peace for all mankind.” At 5:35 p.m., Armstrong and Aldrin successfully docked and rejoined Collins, and at 12:56 a.m. on July 22 Apollo 11 began its journey home, safely spl


What spring 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix was held amongst violent civil unrest?

| Middle East , Bahrain , Denmark Anti-government protesters have held several "days of rage" in the run-up to the racing event [Reuters] Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel has won the Grand Prix in Bahrain while rage boiled beyond the track among protesters who say the ruling family that crushed Arab Spring demonstrations last year should not have hosted the race. High security kept trouble well away from the track on Sunday, where Red Bull's 24-year-old driver had started in pole position, before securing the twenty-second triumph of his career, in a race that passed without incident. As the race came to an end, protesters called for afternoon protests in the capital Manama's Pearl roundabout, the site of last year's unrest targeting the ruling al-Khalifa family. Similar protests were held outside the London offices of Formula One chief, Bernie Ecclestone, with demonstrators chanting "down, down Bernie" and "shame on you Bernie". Inside the circuit, however, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Manama said the crowd in the stands were largely foreign expatriates. "It seems like Bahrainis themselves are choosing to stay away from their Grand Prix" said our correspondent, who cannot be named for security reasons. Initial reports say attendance at the 45,000 capacity track had fallen through the floor. Protests Online reports say 10 female activists were able to make it into the circuit area itself before being arrested by police on site. There were also reports of arrests of foreign journalists - two Japanese journalists covering protests, Colin Freeman, chief foreign correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph, along with his fixer, and a news team from Britain's Channel 4 news. Live Box 2011121613259449703 Freeman's fixer, Mohammed Hassan, who had been detained for the second time in as many days, took to his twitter account following his release to send a message to the nation's Interior Ministry. "I'm offering my service for free as a way to express my refusal for @moi_Bahrain continuous abuse, tell any jorno in need of help", said Hassan using the shorthand that has become synonymous with the popular micro-blogging service. Opposition activist, Ala'a Shehabi, who had met with Ecclestone in London prior to this weekend's race has also been detained. Protesters have also been calling for the release of detained Abdul Hadi al-Khawaja, who is on the 74th day of a hunger strike. At a candlelight vigil in the village of Shakhurah, demonstrators were reported to be carrying pictures of al-Khawaja with them. Khawaja's deteriorating health has raised fears that he may die in custody, but Bahrain's interior ministry said on Sunday that he was in "good health" and would meet Denmark's ambassador later in the day. Khawaja is a dual citizen of Bahrain and Denmark. Political problems Kalil al-Marzooq, a spokesman for al-Wefaq, the country's main opposition bloc, told Al Jazeera that Bahrainis felt the race was "not a big question". "We have political problems. Especially the opposition itself ... [is] neutral about this event. We have people being killed. We have demands to return the power to the people rather than concentrating it on to the hands of the rulers," he said. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mansoor al Jamri, editor of the independent Al Wasat newspaper in Bahrain, said Sunday's race will be a "milestone in the history of the events that we have been going through since last year", but that the problem in Bahrain is not a matter of security. Instead, Jamri says "the problem is about political demands ... stopping the divisive policies, the discrimination" in the Gulf kingdom. King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, who was at the race, said that he wanted "to make clear my personal commitment to reform and reconciliation in our great country. The door is always open for sincere dialogue amongst all our people". As the race got under way, security was tight in Manama, and its surrounding areas, with reports indicating that anti-government protests overnight have resulted in fresh clashes. Our correspondent said "the highway on the way do


What major international leader was in 2010 officially given ranked status as a Hells Angel by his nation's 'high council' of bikers, with the name 'Abaddon'?

UNITED COUNCIL OF AMERICAN ATHLETES INC/MAKING THE RULES   UNITED COUNCIL OF AMERICAN ATHLETES INC/MAKING THE RULES Colin Kaepernick, Anatomy of Protest..Dodgers Manager, Dave Roberts removes Rich Hill in Perfecto bid..Soccer Star, Amy Wambach discloses bouts with substance abuse..Bruce exits, Caitlyn Jenner enters..FIFA's Sepp Blatter resigns...more   The official company website for UCOAA, established as an active "think-tank" for the estabtablishment and creation of Professional Track & Field.   SBTC Team Blog Including Photos Past and Present..Join SBTC Alumni Assn..SBTC All-Time Rankings   The Best in Online Shopping For Sporting Goods and much more!   Back-to-Back Bombings in Russia just ahead of Olympics..Ex-Super Agent's novel takes a look at Sports' seedy-side..Notre Dames', Manti Te'o involved in wildest story in years..Explicit Grand Jury Report..Special In-depth Expose' Inside The NCAA   Vikings Star,Adrian Peterson to practice with team...Melky Cabrera's improbable cover-up plot..Arabian head-wear causes problems for Olympics..A psychologist's view of Penn State scandal..Behind bars with Tim Montgomery..more   Coach Len Webb blogs on personal observations within the sportsworld   Opinions, editorials, and comments from around the sports world.   Win a Weekly Grand Prize and Have Fun Testing Your Sports I.Q.   Indepth Study of the Doping Wars In Sport   UNITED COUNCIL OF AMERICAN ATHLETES INC/MAKING THE RULES The World of Sports In The New Millennium Over 2,858,819 Hits! We are well on our way to the three-million-hits plateau...You're The Latest! Find Great bargains at The MTR Superstore!! Find the link on the left to enjoy some awesome shopping. The Anatomy of Protest The most noteworthy part of a national anthem before a NFL game used to be a great singing performance or a riveting flyover. Colin Kaepernick changed that. All eyes during the anthem are now on the San Francisco 49ers quarterback and other NFL players who have joined him in sitting or kneeling during the anthem. Kaepernick began sitting during the national anthem this preseason. A silent protest to show support for people of color who are being oppressed in the United States, and to take a stand against police brutality. It’s an effort to use his voice and his position as a NFL player to effect change for the people who are suffering, and don’t have the same ability to create significant change. "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick said, via NFL.com. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder." Initially, Kaepernick was alone in his protest. And unnoticed. His protest didn’t come to light and gain national attention until the third preseason game. Since then, he’s continued on with his protest while being joined by several other players from around the NFL. Here is a complete timeline of Kaepernick’s protest and every NFL player who has followed suit. Aug. 14 and Aug. 20 — Kaepernick goes unnoticed while sitting during the anthem Kaepernick made headlines when he sat during the 49ers third preseason game, but he also sat during the first two games, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Kaepernick wasn’t in uniform and didn’t play during the first two games. Aug. 26 — Kaepernick gains attention for his protest There was no grand unveiling of Kaepernick’s sitting protest. Instead, Jennifer Lee Chan of Niners Nation tweeted out a photo of the anthem, unrelated to Kaepernick sitting. The story gained national attention later that night and the 49ers released a statement confirming Kaepernick sat for the anthem. Kaepernick told the media after the game he sat because of the oppression of people of color and ongoing issues with police brutality. Aug. 28 — Kaepernick expands on his reasoning for the protest Kaepernick met with the media two days after the game and for the first time since the protest gained nationa


Bratwurst is a greatly varying German food made mainly of?

German Food German Food Well, you've come to the right place. We're the #1 online merchant for German food, gifts, deli items, and groceries here in the USA. By Inga Bowyer , President, GermanDeli.com Legendary Bratwurst Say the word "bratwurst" to an American and most picture a chubby sausage done to perfection on the grill. But add the word "Nuernberger" in front of the word "bratwurst and most Americans get a puzzled look. Germans or American who lived in Germany, however, get a gleam of sheer delight in their eyes and demand to know, Where?! German law dictates that to carry a food label marked "Nuernberger Bratwurst" in Germany the bratwurst can't exceed a certain size (slightly larger than a breakfast sausage), must be made using a certain age-old recipe, and must be produced within the city limits of Nuernberg, Germany. No variations are tolerated in Germany. After all, there's a legend surrounding why these delectable sausages must look and taste as they do. The legend includes dungeons, keyholes, a medieval city, and faithful friends and loved-ones To check out these authentic German bratwurst and to read more about the legend, please click here . Cheese European and German cheeses are sought-after for their outstanding quality and versatility. From the most firm to soft and softest and creamiest, these cheeses highlight an elaborate dinner or a humble supper. Flavors range from mild and buttery to bold and pungent. There are texture choices for your every preference, from firm to spreadable and everything in-between. As a savory appetizer or as a sweet dessert, you’ll find a cheese to match your craving. Click here to browse our cheese selection. German Baked Apples using an "Apfelbräter" Germans welcome autumn with many fine traditions, not the least of which is baking apples in a special ceramic baker called an “Apfelbräter”. It’s the perfect way to cook the apples so that all the delicious flavors from the apples along with the fillings you add can be captured within the apple baker. When there is a little nip in the air in fall or winter and even through the springtime, it’s so easy to fill your house with the smell of apples baking and topped off by the aroma of fillings that can include combinations of cinnamon, sugar, raisins, marzipan, chocolate, hazelnut spread, butter, vanilla, any variety of nuts, and/or your favorite apple brandy. The possibilities are truly endless, but the results are all the same: a delicious treat that takes full advantage of the apple harvest. For recipes and more information click here. Summer Salads German families celebrate the sunshiny days of June with a vast array of cool food options. Summer salads are king on every German table. Thinly-sliced cucumbers are tossed in dressings made of oil, vinegar, dill, and spices for a savory salad that is often enhanced with sour cream or yogurt for extra tang. Cold cuts, like German ring bologna, are often used to make salads that are protein-rich and require absolutely no cooking. Folks in the Northern half of Germany tend to favor mayonnaise-based salads and Germans closer to Bavaria, where temperatures are typically warmer, lean a bit more toward salads that get their zip from vinegar. Try this hot weather German favorite: Spread a slice of hearty German rye bread with a little butter. Add freshly-sliced tomatoes. Sprinkled with diced onions and garnished with chopped chives. Add salt and pepper to taste. Your kitchen stays cool and your stomach will love you. What is Wiener-Schnitzel? Traditional Wiener-Schnitzel (Wienerschnitzel) is a thin cutlet of veal coated in flour, egg, and breading, which is then sauteed in oil and butter until crispy. However, Germans and Europeans discovered, a long time ago, the joy of occasionally substituting veal with other cuts of meat like pork, poultry (chicken or turkey breast) and even game meats. In Austria the term "Wienerschnitzel" is protected by law and specifies "veal" as the meat to be used. So when you use any other meat for this dish it is proper to refer to it as "Vienna-style pork (c


Jurisprudence is the theory/philosophy of what?

Natural Law | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy Z Natural Law The term "natural law" is ambiguous. It refers to a type of moral theory, as well as to a type of legal theory, but the core claims of the two kinds of theory are logically independent. It does not refer to the laws of nature , the laws that science aims to describe. According to natural law moral theory, the moral standards that govern human behavior are, in some sense, objectively derived from the nature of human beings and the nature of the world. While being logically independent of natural law legal theory, the two theories intersect. However, the majority of the article will focus on natural law legal theory. According to natural law legal theory, the authority of legal standards necessarily derives, at least in part, from considerations having to do with the moral merit of those standards. There are a number of different kinds of natural law legal theories, differing from each other with respect to the role that morality plays in determining the authority of legal norms. The conceptual jurisprudence of John Austin provides a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of law that distinguishes law from non-law in every possible world. Classical natural law theory such as the theory of Thomas Aquinas focuses on the overlap between natural law moral and legal theories.  Similarly, the neo-naturalism of John Finnis is a development of classical natural law theory. In contrast, the procedural naturalism of Lon L. Fuller is a rejection of the conceptual naturalist idea that there are necessary substantive moral constraints on the content of law. Lastly, Ronald Dworkin’s theory is a response and critique of legal positivism . All of these theories subscribe to one or more basic tenets of natural law legal theory and are important to its development and influence. Table of Contents References and Further Reading 1. Two Kinds of Natural Law Theory At the outset, it is important to distinguish two kinds of theory that go by the name of natural law. The first is a theory of morality that is roughly characterized by the following theses. First, moral propositions have what is sometimes called objective standing in the sense that such propositions are the bearers of objective truth-value; that is, moral propositions can be objectively true or false. Though moral objectivism is sometimes equated with moral realism (see, e.g., Moore 1992, 190: "the truth of any moral proposition lies in its correspondence with a mind- and convention-independent moral reality"), the relationship between the two theories is controversial. Geoffrey Sayre-McCord (1988), for example, views moral objectivism as one species of moral realism, but not the only form; on Sayre-McCord's view, moral subjectivism and moral intersubjectivism are also forms of moral realism. Strictly speaking, then, natural law moral theory is committed only to the objectivity of moral norms. The second thesis constituting the core of natural law moral theory is the claim that standards of morality are in some sense derived from, or entailed by, the nature of the world and the nature of human beings. St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, identifies the rational nature of human beings as that which defines moral law: "the rule and measure of human acts is the reason, which is the first principle of human acts" (Aquinas, ST I-II, Q.90, A.I). On this common view, since human beings are by nature rational beings, it is morally appropriate that they should behave in a way that conforms to their rational nature. Thus, Aquinas derives the moral law from the nature of human beings (thus, "natural law"). But there is another kind of natural law theory having to do with the relationship of morality to law. According to natural law theory of law, there is no clean division between the notion of law and the notion of morality. Though there are different versions of natural law theory, all subscribe to the thesis that there


Hyponatremia/hyponatraemia is an unhelpful reduction of what element in human blood serum?

Part 10.1: Life-Threatening Electrolyte Abnormalities | Circulation 2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Part 10.1: Life-Threatening Electrolyte Abnormalities Electrolyte abnormalities are commonly associated with cardiovascular emergencies. These abnormalities may cause or contribute to cardiac arrest and may hinder resuscitative efforts. In some cases therapy for life-threatening electrolyte disorders should be initiated before laboratory results become available. Potassium (K+) The magnitude of the potassium gradient across cell membranes determines excitability of nerve and muscle cells, including the myocardium. Rapid or significant changes in the serum potassium concentration can have life-threatening consequences. Evaluation of serum potassium must consider the effects of changes in serum pH. When serum pH falls, serum potassium rises because potassium shifts from the cellular to the vascular space. When serum pH rises, serum potassium falls because potassium shifts from the vascular space into the cells. Effects of pH changes on serum potassium should be anticipated during therapy for hyperkalemia or hypokalemia and during any therapy that may cause changes in serum pH (eg, treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis). Hyperkalemia Although hyperkalemia is defined as a serum potassium concentration >5 mEq/L, it is moderate (6 to 7 mEq/L) and severe (>7 mEq/L) hyperkalemia that are life-threatening and require immediate therapy. Hyperkalemia is most commonly seen in patients with end-stage renal disease. Other causes are listed in the Table . Many medications can contribute to the development of hyperkalemia. Identification of potential causes of hyperkalemia will contribute to rapid identification and treatment. 1–3 View this table: View popup TABLE. Common Causes of Hyperkalemia Signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia include weakness, ascending paralysis, and respiratory failure. A variety of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes suggest hyperkalemia. Early findings include peaked T waves (tenting). As the serum potassium rises further, flattened P waves, prolonged PR interval (first-degree heart block), widened QRS complex, deepened S waves, and merging of S and T waves can be seen. If hyperkalemia is left untreated, a sine-wave pattern, idioventricular rhythms, and asystolic cardiac arrest may develop. Treatment of Hyperkalemia The treatment of hyperkalemia is determined by its severity and the patient’s clinical condition. Stop sources of exogenous potassium administration (eg, consider supplements and maintenance IV fluids) and evaluate drugs that can increase serum potassium (eg, potassium-sparing diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents). Additional treatment is based on the severity of the hyperkalemia and its clinical consequences. The following sequences list the treatments for hyperkalemia in order of priority. For mild elevation (5 to 6 mEq/L), remove potassium from the body with Diuretics: furosemide 40 to 80 mg IV Resins: Kayexalate 15 to 30 g in 50 to 100 mL of 20% sorbitol either orally or by retention enema For moderate elevation (6 to 7 mEq/L), shift potassium intracellularly with Glucose plus insulin: mix 25 g (50 mL of D50) glucose and 10 U regular insulin and give IV over 15 to 30 minutes Sodium bicarbonate: 50 mEq IV over 5 minutes (sodium bicarbonate alone is less effective than glucose plus insulin or nebulized albuterol, particularly for treatment of patients with renal failure; it is best used in conjunction with these medications 4,5 ) Nebulized albuterol: 10 to 20 mg nebulized over 15 minutes For severe elevation (>7 mEq/L with toxic ECG changes), you need to shift potassium into the cells and eliminate potassium from the body. Therapies that shift potassium will act rapidly but they are temporary; if the serum potassium rebounds you may need to repeat those therapies. In order of priority, treatment includes the following: Shift potassium into cells: Calcium chloride (10%)


What creature is on the mission insignia or badge of the first moon landing, Apollo 11?

Space Mission Patches - Apollo 11 Patch Apollo 11 The story of the Apollo 11 patch is well documented by crewmember        Michael Collins: "There were also a variety of non-technical chores, such as thinking        up names for our spacecraft and designing a mission emblem. We felt        Apollo 11 was no ordinary flight, and we wanted no ordinary design,        yet we were not professional designers. NASA offered to help us        along these lines (wisely, I think). On Gemini 10, which in my view        has the best-looking insignia of the Gemini series, artistic Barbara        Young had developed one of John's ideas and come up with a graceful        design, an aerodynamic X devoid of names and machines. This was        the approach we wanted to take on Apollo 11. We wanted to keep our        three names off it because we wanted the design to be representative        of everyone who had worked toward a lunar landing, and there were        thousands who could take a proprietary interest in it, yet who would        never see their names woven into the fabric of a patch. Further,        we wanted the design to be symbolic rather than explicit. On Apollo        7, Wally's patch showed the earth and an orbiting CSM trailing fire.        On 9, McDivitt produced a Saturn V, a CSM, and an LM. Apollo 10's        was even busier. Apollo 8's was closer to our way of thinking, showing        a figure eight looping around earth and moon, on a command-module-shaped        patch, but it had, like all the rest, three names printed on it.        We needed something simpler, yet something which unmistakably said        peaceful lunar landing by the United States. Jim Lovell, Neil's        backup, introduced an American eagle into the conversation. Of course!        What better symbol -- eagles landed, didn't they? At home I skimmed        through my library and finally found what I wanted in a National        Geographic book on birds: a bald eagle, landing        gear extended, wings partially folded, coming in for a landing.        I traced it on a piece of tissue paper and sketched in an oblique        view of a pockmarked lunar surface.    "Thus the Apollo 11 patch was born, although it        had a long way to go before final approval. I added a small earth        in the background and drew the sunshine coming from the wrong direction,        so that to this day our official insignia shows the earth over the        lunar horizon like when it really should look like .        I also penciled APOLLO around the top of my circular design and        ELEVEN around the bottom. Neil didn't like the ELEVEN because it        wouldn't be understandable to foreigners, so after trying XI and        11, we settled on the latter and put APOLLO 11 around the top. One        day outside the simulator I was describing my efforts to Jim Lovell,        and he and I both agreed that the eagle alone really didn't convey        the entire message we wanted. The Americans were about to land,        but so what? Tom Wilson, our computer expert and simulator instructor,        overheard us and piped up, Why not an olive branch as a symbol of        our peaceful expedition? Beautiful! Where do eagles carry olive        branches? In their beaks, naturally. So I sketched one in, and after        a few discussions with Neil and Buzz over color schemes, we were        ready to go to press. The sky would be black, not blue, but absolute        black, as in the real case. The eagle would be eagle-colored, the        moon moon-colored, as described by Apollo 8, and the earth also,        so all we had left to play with, really, were the colors of the        border and the letterin


Canadian psychiatrist Eric Berne (1910-70) founded which psychotherapeutic/psychological methodology?

Games Hong Kong People Play by George Adams GAMES HONG KONG             PEOPLE PLAY A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF THE HONG KONG             CHINESE BY             GEORGE ADAMS COPYRIGHT             GEORGE ADAMS 1991 For Danielle,             again "For             certain fortunate people there is             something which transcends all             classifications of behaviour, and that is             awareness; something which rises above             the programming of the past, and that is             spontaneity; and something that is more             rewarding than games, and that is             intimacy." Eric             Berne INTRODUCTION This             book is the first attempt to understand             the behaviour of Hong Kong people, and             any group of Chinese people in general,             from the viewpoint of game analysis, an             aspect of the psychological school known             as Transactional Analysis. Game analysis             as a technique of understanding human             behaviour was first presented by Eric             Berne in his book Games People Play (The             Psychology of Human Relationships) in             1964 . Game analysis continues to be one             of the most useful and comprehensible             techniques of social psychology, that is             the study of the individual's interaction             with others and his behaviour in society:             the family, at work, in the street and so             on. It continues to shed light on human             behaviour as it is applied in new             contexts and as more games, or variants             of games, are discovered in clinical,             educational and organizational             experience. Many of the games analysed in             detail by Eric Berne are just as             applicable to the Hong Kong context as             those which I have compiled here. A             number of Hong Kong people's games are             ultimately variations of recognised             Transactional Analysis games whilst some             appear to be additions to the compendium.             The problem faced by a game analyst in             Hong Kong is quite clearly to             differentiate charming aspects of             accepted Chinese cultural behaviour (most             of which are far from unique) such as             deference, modesty and politeness, from             true games. It was not always possible to             do this as it became obvious during             compilation of the present thesaurus that             Hong Kong people conduct games as a part             of everyday life to an extent quite             bewildering to Western observers. Games,             as opposed to their antitheses such as             intimacy and straightforwardness, seem to             be integrated into every part of Hong             Kong life - so much so that only             Westerners appear capable of perceiving             the series of manoeuvres as games.             (Perhaps, in return, only Hong Kong             psychologists can truly describe the             self-deception of Westerners). Hong Kong             people are also, in our experience, some             of the hardest and most indefatigable


What 'anachronistic' word was proposed for removal from titles in official 2012 review of the UK state honours system?

Royal Styles and Titles of Great Britain Garter's memorandum on styles and titles in the Royal Family (ca. 1860) 1  Introduction and overview When it comes to the styles and titles of the British Royal family, there are two periods to distinguish: before and after 1917.  In 1917, George V issued letters patent that precisely regulated these matters, specifying that a certain set of individuals were exclusively entitled to certain styles.  Before 1917, styles and titles were regulated by a mixture of partial rules and customs. This introduction presents an overview of what these rules and customs were prior to 1917.  The rest of the page analyzes in more detail the actual practice, and provides the texts of a number of grants. Note: since I began this page a scholarly article on the topic, which I have not yet seen, has been published: Lyon, Ann: 'The Prince and the Duchess: The Honours of the Royal Family: An Unconsidered Area of the Royal Prerogative.' Liverpool Law Review July 2006, 27(2):203-231. 1.1  Titles and Styles: some general principles See also what I have to say on royal styles . peerages and other honors Titles and styles, like dignities, precedence, distinctions, orders and decorations, emanate from the sovereign who is the fons honorum, fount of all honors.  There is, however, a substantial difference between some of these honors and the rest: to peerages is attached a very high privilege, that of sitting in the House of Lords (the privilege was severely curtailed, but not altogether eliminated, by the House of Lords Act 1999).  Holders of peerages are not just recipients of honors emanating from the sovereign, they are called to play an important constitutional role.  For this reason, the dignity to which this role is linked has become part of  constitutional law, and around it has grown a substantial body of law defining and protecting the rights and duties of holders of peerages.  In particular, a peerage may only be created in a very specific form (by letters patent passed under the Great Seal) on government advice; holders of peerages cannot be deprived except by an Act of Parliament; peerages may be resigned only under certain procedures defined by statutes; etc. "rights" to styles and titles None of this body of law applies in the slightest way to other titles and styles, such as those of Prince and Highness.  These styles and titles were, until comparatively recently (1917), governed mostly by sometimes ambiguous custom.  They have remained part of the royal prerogative, and their conferral does not necessitate the formal advice of government.  They can be conferred in a variety of ways: "group conferrals" (a single document defining a limited or unlimited class of people who receive them) or conferrals on a single person. The forms can be letters patent or royal warrant.  The "group conferrals" are typically passed under the Great Seal, while the warrants ad personam are generally not (see below the section on diplomatics ). More importantly, the conferral of a title or style does not create any rights that can be defended in the courts.  For example, if the Sovereign issues an order by royal warrant which is not being carried out, there is no way for the courts to enforce its execution: it is up to the sovereign to do something about it (scolding the recipient of the royal warrant or removing him).  Also, once a title has been conferred, nothing but custom and tradition dictates that it cannot be taken away.  "The Lord giveth, The Lord taketh away".  It may seem inappopriate or unfair, but it is certainly not illegal. what is a style? Fundamentally, the conferral of a style is the sovereign's command to his subjects, and in particular to the officers in charge of ceremonial and precedence (e.g., the Earl Marshal, the Kings of Arms and other heralds, the Lord Chamberlain), that they should call and treat a given individual in a specified manner.  The command ought to be followed by dutiful subjects until such time as the sovereign changes his mind. As to the form that this command can take, there


Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 classic horror novel about split personality is called what?

Robert Louis Stevenson - The Greatest Literature of All Time Robert Louis Stevenson • The Master of Ballantrae (1889) Also great: • The Weir of Hermiston (1896) Die young, leave a good body of work Do people still grow    up reading Robert Louis Stevenson? His adventures were staples of my own    youth because my parents had some of his old books around the house, but I    recall even then that most of my reading friends were into more current    books in which long-past British and Scottish customs and expressions did    not have to be puzzled out. Now in the era of Harry Potter, I suspect the    exploits of tykes from centuries ago are not exactly engrossing for    adolescents. Of all Stevenson's    once immensely popular novels, only Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and    Mr Hyde seems poised to remain a classic for eternity, mainly as a horror story. To a lesser degree his Treasure Island still lives as the archetypal pirate story, helped by repeated movie    treatments. Too bad really,    because Stevenson wrote some wonderful stuff. Not only have previous    generations of young and old thrilled to his tales, but he laid down many    of the structures that have gone into making great popular fiction ever    since. Many of today's "modern classics" are based on elements    first popularized by Robert Louis Stevenson. He had an incredibly diverse,    prolific and innovative output for a writer who died so young. Stevenson suffered    from tuberculosis since his childhood in Edinburgh and spent much of his    time in bed as a youth, making up stories before he could read. He studied    law at Edinburgh University but instead of practising as a lawyer he went    abroad for his health and wrote travel pieces, essays and short stories    for magazines. His first two books in 1878-79 were travel accounts. Other    non-fiction based on his personal experiences followed, but in 1882 four    stories he had written in the 1870s were published under the title New    Arabian Nights. These fantastic and macabre tales are considered by    many the earliest short stories of note in British literary history. However Treasure Island (1883) was his first big popular success. His first novel began with a map    of a "Treasure Island" he drew to amuse his stepson on a rainy    day while on holidays. It grew into a serialized story in a youth    periodical and then into book form to become the most beloved story of    pirates and treasure-seeking adventure of all time, creating the enduring    character of Long John Silver. It was followed by    the equally popular collection A Child's Garden of Verses (1885),    including many delightful poems that have been set to music and come down    to the present day. His second novel, Prince Otto (1885), was a    psychological fantasy taking place in the fictional state of Grï¿½newald. But Stevenson called on his    own upbringing in Scotland for his next adventure in Kidnapped (1886).    This is a sprawling thriller with a young orphan, David Balfour, battling    piratical sailors, fleeing the law across the wild Highlands as a falsely    suspected murderer, and maneuvering among scarcely understood political    intrigues of the time. A lesser known romantic sequel, Catriona (sometimes called David Balfour), was produced in 1893. The same year as Kidnapped, Stevenson published the famous novella (or long story) Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and    Mr Hyde , in which a personality is split by science into two—into    the respectable Victorian doctor and the brutish hell-raiser Hyde.    (Stevenson pronounced the first name like JEE-kyl, by the way, not JECK-le,    who is part of another duo, Heckle and Jeckle.)  Dr Jekyll and Mr    Hyde is a    story susceptible to many psychological interpretations,    and perhaps Stevenson's most philosophically sophisticated fiction. Around this time, Stevenson also wrote many shorter    stories, often in a macabre vein rec


Erected in 1989, what large geometric glass structure serves as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris?

Louvre Pyramid, Paris Louvre Pyramid 5 161 votes The Louvre Pyramid was built in the 1980s as the main entrance to the Louvre Museum . The modern glass structure, which forms a nice contrast with the historic facades of the Louvre, has become a landmark in its own right. Louvre Museum Expansion Louvre Pyramid The Louvre Pyramid was built as part of a project known as the 'Grand Louvre', first proposed in 1981 by the French president François Mitterrand, to expand and modernize the Louvre Museum . In the 1970s the centuries-old Louvre Palace struggled to cope with the rising number of visitors. The entrances were too small, each wing had a different entrance and the layout was so confusing that visitors struggled to find the entrance or the exit. Mitterrand suggested to expand the museum by relocating the Ministry of Finance - which had occupied the Richelieu wing of the Louvre since 1873 - to the Bercy neighborhood. Finally the Louvre Museum could occupy the whole U-shaped building. Subterranean entrance Hall Napoléon Miterrand rejected the idea of a competition for the Grand Louvre project, and appointed the Chinese-born American architect Ieoh Ming Pei to modernize the Louvre and integrate the different wings. Pei suggested excavating the Cour Napoléon - a central courtyard - and create a subterranean entrance hall - the Hall Napoléon - with access to the three different wings and space for shops, restaurants and other amenities. This would solve the accessibility problem of the Louvre Museum . The Pyramid Geometric Shape Pyramid Fountain For the entrance to the subterranean level, Pei wanted to avoid it looking like a mere subway station and he needed the right kind of building to draw visitors to the museum's entrance. A solid concrete structure - like his East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC - was out of the question, since this would clash with the classical facades of the Louvre palace. After studying the works of André Le Nôtre - France's great landscape designer - who strictly followed geometric patterns, Pei came up with the shape of a pyramid, which would form a beacon at the center of the courtyard. He opted for a glass cladding since this would be the least intrusive and it would also allow light to enter the foyer below. A Hostile Reception Louvre reflected in one of the pools As soon as word leaked that a modern pyramid would be built at the heart of the Louvre , most critics were quick to attack the audacious design. The plans also caused an outcry with Parisians, who had become weary of modern projects after the construction of the Montparnasse Tower and the bland towers of La Défense . Polls indicated a large majority of the French citizens opposed the structure. But soon after the official inauguration of the pyramid in March 1989, the opposition quickly subsided and the Louvre Pyramid became one of Paris's most beloved modern landmarks. The Design The pyramid at night Aerial view The pyramid is rather modest in size compared to the surrounding palace wings of the Louvre . It has a height of about 22 meters (72ft) and at its base measures just over 35 meters (116ft). It is flanked by three smaller pyramids and reflecting pools with modern fountains. Much effort was made to make the pyramid as transparent as possible. The 675 diamond-shaped and 118 triangular panes were specifically fabricated to make them completely clear. Attention was also paid to the 128 steel girders and 16 steel cables that hold the panes together. Technology from high tech yachts was used to make them as small and unobtrusive as possible. The Inverted Pyramid Inverted Pyramid In 1993 the underground area expanded with the opening of a modern shopping mall, the Carrousel du Louvre. It is anchored by an inverted glass pyramid, known as the Pyramide Inversée (Inverted Pyramid), which nicely complements the Louvre Pyramid. The pyramid was designed by the American architecture firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, who created a smaller version of Pei's pyramid, turned it upside down right and suspended it right


Up until ceasing posts in March 2012 who had become the most followed active professional footballer (soccer player) on Twitter?

Footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger comes out as gay | Daily Mail Online Share this article Share And Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton said: 'Thomas Hitzlsperger has shown a lot of courage today. Sad times when people have to wait till they retire from their chosen profession.' Former Leeds United and US winger Robbie Rogers announced he was gay last year, and  Hitzlsperger is the latest high-profile sports person to speak about their sexuality in public. Tennis star Martina Navratilova came out publicly as gay in 1981 while John Amaechi was the first NBA (National Basketball Association) player in the US to openly admit to being gay in 2007.  Love life: Hitzlsperger pictured with his former partner Inga Totzauer at home in Sutton Coldfield in March 2002 Another announcement: Former Leeds United and US winger Robbie Rogers said he was gay last year Ex-Wales rugby union captain Gareth Thomas, plus England and Surrey wicketkeeper Steven Davies, have both also come out in the last five years. Olympic boxing gold medallist Nicola Adams topped the Independent's annual 'Pink List' poll of influential lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in November 2012. 'I want to move the discussion about homosexuality among professional sportspeople forwards' Thomas Hitzlsperger And last month Tom Daley revealed he was in a relationship with a man, while two other Olympic divers have previously come out. Australian Matthew Mitcham announced he was gay in 2008 shortly before he won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. And four-time Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis revealed he was gay following his retirement in 1995. The full interview with Hitzlsperger will be published in the Die Zeit newspaper on Thursday. Chris Basiurski, chair of the Gay Football Supporters' Network, said: 'We really welcome this news. Gay sports stars: Last month Olympic diver Tom Daley (left) revealed he was in a relationship with a man. And Olympic boxing gold medallist Nicola Adams (right) topped a list of influential LGBT people in November 2012 Early death: Former England Under-21 international Justin Fashanu was the first professional footballer in Britain to come out in 1990 before he took his own life eight years later, aged 37 ‘It shows that we are moving one step closer to creating that atmosphere in football where players at all levels would be able to come out should they want to, safely and free from discrimination. 'In 2014 it shouldn't be an issue that a pro footballer is gay. Sadly it still is, therefore, huge credit to Thomas Hitzlsperger' Jake Humphrey, BT Sport presenter ‘We hope that one day current players would feel able to come out and that eventually a player’s sexual orientation will not be a news story. But for now, we wish Thomas Hitzlsperger well.’ And a spokesman for campaign group Stonewall told BBC Sport today: 'It's fantastic that he has been brave enough to openly discuss his sexual orientation. 'Every sports star who is willing to speak out makes it just that little bit easier for gay players and fans, and we hope, a new generation of footballers will feel confident enough to be themselves.' OTHER GAY SPORTS STARS WHO TOOK THE DECISION TO GO PUBLIC Justin Fashanu (football) - Britain's first black footballer to command a £1million transfer fee was also the first top-flight player to publicly admit his homosexuality. He came out in 1990 - in the dressing room his sexuality was less of a secret, and a clash of personalities with Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough contributed to his decline. After admitting he was gay, Fashanu struggled to reignite an already stuttering career, and retired in 1997, blaming his downfall on prejudice in the English game. He committed suicide in May 1998 aged 37. Greg Louganis (diving) - The American won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympic Games and followed that with a brace of golds in 1984 and 1988. Louganis' autobiography, which spent five weeks at number one on the New York Times best-seller list on its release in 1995, detailed his rise to global prominence an