England cricketer Jos Buttler plays for which county side?

Jos Buttler | England Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo ODI # 3791 Profile Jos Buttler has helped bring England's limited-overs batting into the 21st century. His impact on the one-day and T20 sides has been extraordinary and, as of early 2016, he had England's three fastest one-day hundreds to his name - thrilling innings against New Zealand (Edgbaston), Sri Lanka (Lord's) and topping the list a 46-ball onslaught against Pakistan in Dubai. His attempts to forge a Test career have provided more troublesome and he lost his position in the side during the series against Pakistan in 2015-16 during a period where his keeping started to improve but his batting slip away. He had begun promising after making his debut in 2014 when Matt Prior succumbed to what would be a career-ending injury, scoring five half-centuries in his first eight Tests including 85 on debut against India at the Ageas Bowl. Buttler shot to prominence as a 19-year-old in the 2010 season for Somerset, especially in the one-day arena where his clear-minded and quick-footed aggressive batting helped him to 440 CB40 runs at 55.00. He made his first-class debut against Lancashire at Taunton in 2009 and became a regular in the County Championship from May 2010 - playing a part in Somerset's title challenge that season. He combined in particularly potent fashion with Kieron Pollard in Somerset's run to Twenty20 Finals Day in both 2010 and 2011, and impressed in the 2011 CB40 final, making 86 from 72 balls in Somerset's defeat to Surrey. He made his international debut in late 2011 and became a fixture of England's T20 side. His breakthrough innings came against South Africa at Edgbaston, with a blistering 32 off 10 balls. After a successful Lions tour of Sri Lanka in early 2012, Buttler was given his ODI debut against Pakistan in the UAE, though had to wait almost a year for his second cap, this time as wicketkeeper and when Ashley Giles took over as limited-overs coach one of his first key decision was to ditch Kieswetter for Buttler on a tour of India. With Kieswetter still preferred as Somerset's gloveman, it was that rivalry that caused Buttler to leave his beloved West Country and switch to Lancashire for the 2014 season. Lancashire saw him for 10 Championship matches, but it was soon apparent he would be making only fleeting visits in the future. England looked to him for impetus and increasingly he delivered, striking 99 against West Indies at North Sound - hitting a return catch to Ravi Rampaul in the final over - and kicking off the 2014 ODI summer with a first ODI hundred against Sri Lanka at Lord's as he led a failed England run chase virtually single handedly. When Prior became stricken by Achilles trouble, the selectors gambled by throwing him into the Test team. The fact he has not found that transition without its problems does not mean he will not return. ESPNcricinfo staff


"""All that glisters is not gold"" is a quote from which Shakespeare play?"

No Fear Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice: Act 2, Scene 7, Page 3 The Merchant of Venice Lies all within.—Deliver me the key. Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! Here an angel’s lying in a golden bed.—Give me the key. I will     choose this one and try my chances. PORTIA There, take it, Prince. And if my form lie there Then I am yours. PORTIA (she hands him a key) There, take it, prince. And if my     picture’s in there, then I’m yours. MOROCCO opens the golden casket MOROCCO opens the gold casket. 65 O hell, what have we here? A carrion death, within whose empty eye There is a written scroll. I’ll read the writing. (reads) “All that glisters is not gold— Often have you heard that told. Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold. Gilded tombs do worms enfold. Had you been as wise as bold, Young in limbs, in judgment old, Your answer had not been inscrolled. Fare you well. Your suit is cold— Cold, indeed, and labor lost.” Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost! Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part. MOROCCO Damn it! What’s this? It’s a skull with a scroll in its empty eye     socket. I’ll read it aloud. (he reads) “All that glitters is not gold— You’ve often heard that said. Many men have sold their souls Just to view my shiny surface. But gilded tombs contain worms. If you’d been as wise as you were bold, With an old man’s mature judgment, You wouldn’t have had to read this scroll. So goodbye—you lost your chance.” Lost my chance indeed! So goodbye hope, and hello despair. Portia, goodbye to you. My     heart’s too sad for long goodbyes. Losers always leave quickly. Exit MOROCCO with his train MOROCCO exits with his   entourage. PORTIA A gentle riddance.—Draw the curtains, go.— Let all of his complexion choose me so. PORTIA Good riddance!—Close the curtains and leave.—I hope everyone     who looks like him will make the same choice. Exeunt


In physics, what is the S I unit of work?

Units of Work | Tutor 4 Physics Tutor 4 Physics Force Units of Work Since work done W = F.S, its units     are force times length. The SI unit of work is Newton-meter (Nm).     Another name for it is Joule (J).  1 Nm = 1 J  The unit of  work in cgs system is dyne cm or erg  Note that 1 J = 107 ergs.  The dimensional formula of work is     [ML2T-2] System


Paragon railway station is in which English city?

Hull Paragon Railway Station (HUL) - 15 tips from 1863 visitors Hull Paragon Railway Station (HUL) Train Station Hull Paragon Railway Station (HUL) 5.6/10 Log in to leave a tip here. Post Rob Clark November 24, 2012 The car park is good value. I pay £18.30 for 4 days. Make sure you get the rail user rate by paying on the phone or by paying the full rate in cash and get the reinbursement at the ticket office. Rob Clark November 24, 2012 Hull has won numerous visitor awards. Check out the museum quarter, The Deep, the marina and Trinity sqaure. A very friendly city, have a wander around the market for a flavour of local life. Sean Hickman August 10, 2014 Make sure you say Hello, or goodbye, to Phillip Larkin when you're here. also some good connections from this station including direct trains to London Kings X. Benjamin Casablancas February 15, 2012 Been here 100+ times Don't understand the Hull-bashing at all, with a bit of enthusiasm, you can achieve anything you want in this city. Deborah Stevenson March 26, 2012 Been here 10+ times All the bashing of Hull should really stop. Yes, it has problems, but every city has problems. Alistair December 29, 2014 Roger Green March 9, 2013 Make sure you know where you are being picked up from as lots of exits!


Which pair used a windmill for their Top Bun Bakery?

Search - DVD Netflix Search Results for 'Wallace and Gromit in A Close Shave' Get Help


Dads Army – you know the show but who sang the song…? | Cultured Views Cultured Views Dads Army – you know the show but who sang the song…? Tag: Entertainment — wendy @ 7:50 pm If you wish to follow an article here you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed . Thanks for visiting! If you have just been enjoying the BBC’s 40th anniversary celebration of Dads Army then you will have loved the appearances of the surviving cast members such as Jones ( Clive Dunn ),  Pike (Ian Lavender), Hodges (Bill Pertwee ), The Vicar ( Frank Wilson ), Mrs Fox  (Pamella Cundell ) and of course the brilliant writers of the show, David Croft and Jimmy Perry. It was a great show even though we learned that the American’s actually tried to do their own version of Dads Army – but that is something best ignored… But there was one person who was not mentioned and I thought this was a rather sad exclusion because this particular man introduced the show each time we sat down to enjoy it with his very distinctive voice…the man who sang the Dads Army theme song. This man was Bud Flanagan. A veteran of the English stage and screen he was born in 1896 and made his name as the partner of Chesney Allen in the comedy duo Flanagan and Allen. He was actually enjoying his retirement, though in ill-health, when in 1968 he was asked to record a theme song for a new BBC comedy show about a group of elderly men who joined the Home Guard when it was implemented in England in 1941. Dads Army. Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allen were a very popular pre and post-war comedy duo who starred on stage, screen and eventually television. One of their biggest hits was a song ‘ Underneath the arches ‘ which highlighted their own particular style of performing – Bud Flanagan would sing the melody while Ches Allen largely narrated the lyrics. It was very effective and quite unique. Here are some of their famous songs: * ‘Shine on Harvest Moon’ * ‘Down Forget Me Not Lane’ They were also part of the legendary comedy team known as The Crazy Gang. Bud Flanagan was asked to record the theme song by the writers of Dads Army, Perry and Croft, because the theme for the show was so like the old war-songs he used to sing on his recordings. This song  – ” Who do you think you are kidding Mr Hitler ” –  was to be Bud Flanagan’s last legacy to the public who had loved him for so long. He died, on October 20th 1968,  soon after recording this most memorable song. Today a new and younger generation have discovered this gem of a TV series and Bud Flanagan’s name still lives on. This one song alone will always ensure this. His longtime partner, Ches Allen, died November 13 1982 at the age of 89. Blue Memorial Plaque on 12 Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, London where Bud Flanagan was born in 1896. Copyright © 2007-2015 Cultured Views . All rights reserved. Related posts:


Which is Britain's largest national park?

The Complete Guide To: Britain's national parks | The Independent UK The Complete Guide To: Britain's national parks To mark the 60th anniversary of the legislation that provided protection to our most precious landscapes, Simon Calder celebrates the wealth of history and nature on our doorstep Friday 14 August 2009 23:00 BST Click to follow The Complete Guide To: Britain's national parks 1/11 Alamy Where should I start? On the hill where the campaign for free access to Britain's wilderness began. In 1932, much of the UK's outdoors were out-of-bounds. It took the courage of thousands of people, traipsing from the Midlands industrial belt and the Lancashire mill towns to the raw heart of England, to open up the countryside. They took part in a "mass trespass" of Kinder Scout in Derbyshire, the highest point in the middle of Britain – standing 2,088 feet above sea level. One of the organisers was sentenced to six months in prison for his part, but eventually the case for access to the countryside was recognised with the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. Two years later, Britain's first National Park, the Peak District, was created. It started a trend: today about 10 per cent of Britain's land area is protected within the 14 National Parks (the 15th, the South Downs, is in the process of creation). Unlike in some countries, the land within the boundaries of each National Park is mostly in private hands. Restrictions on its use help preserve some of the remaining open space in this crowded country. They get more than 100 million visitors each year – and the Peak District is said to be the second-most visited National Park in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan. Today, the Park offers scenery ranging from bleak hilltops to deep gorges, and from awesome to ornate. You can ascend Kinder Scout by taking the A57 Manchester-Sheffield road to the point where it meets the Pennine Way, the 267-mile long-distance footpath along the spine of northern England. Head south on the path. Flagstones assist the climb, but in a landscape flattened by aeons of lively weather, identifying the summit is tricky: search for the small triangle that marks the highest point. Then look at the surroundings: on a clear day the barren peak of the Peak District bestows a magnificent 360-degree view. To the east, valleys snake towards South Yorkshire, to the west Victorian railway viaducts direct your eye towards the towers of Manchester. Descend from here via Jacob's Ladder to the softer, rounder landscapes of southern Derbyshire and the village of Edale – the end (or start) of the Pennine Way. At the Old Nag's Head Inn (01433 670291) and the Rambler Inn (01433 670268) you can find beer, bed and breakfast. Something less demanding? Southern softies can head for the low-rise National Parks nearest to London: the Broads in Norfolk and the New Forest. The fine city of Norwich is the gateway to the Broads, which comprise a series of shallow artificial lakes. The Romans first cut peat for fuel; in the Middle Ages, local monasteries began to excavate the stuff as a profitable side-industry. As sea levels rose, the pits they dug began to flood. Despite the construction of dykes and windmills, the flooding continued and resulted in the Broads landscapes of today, with reed beds, woodland and grazing marshes – home to rare wildlife, such as the swallowtail butterfly. It remains very popular as a place to hire a boat to get out and explore the waterways. The best place from which to survey the waterscape is St Helen's Church in Ranworth – known as "The Cathedral of the Broads". This 15th-century structure has the most perfectly preserved rood screen in the country, embellished with intricate pictures of the disciples, and a stone spiral staircase to the top of the tower from where you can see half of Norfolk. Close by, a boardwalk takes you through the reed beds to the edge of Ranworth Broad. The Broads has an increasing number of indulgent places to stay, such as the Broad House Hotel (01603 783 567; broadhousehotel.co.uk ), a luxury boutiqu


Alex Polizzi is known as the Hotel Inspector on Channel 4, how is she known in a series on BBC2?

Alex Polizzi - Biography - IMDb Alex Polizzi Jump to: Overview  (2) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (1) Overview (2) Alessandra Maria-Luigia O Polizzi Di Sorrentino Mini Bio (1) Alessandra Maria-Luigia O Polizzi Di Sorrentino (born 28 August 1971) is a British hotelier, and the presenter of the British TV series The Hotel Inspector[3] on Channel 5, taking over from Ruth Watson. Polizzi comes from a long line of hoteliers, her grandfather being Lord Forte. Her mother, the hotel designer Hon. Olga Polizzi, CBE, is Lord Forte's daughter and the sister of Sir Rocco Forte. Her father was Count Alessandro Polizzi, an Italian marquess, who died in a car accident in 1980.[4] She read English at Oxford, trained at the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, and worked for Marco Pierre White before working in the family business The Rocco Forte Collection in Cardiff, Rome and St Petersburg. Falling in love with a baker, she started her own wholesale bakery, supplying bread to Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason.[5] Alex and her husband Marcus Miller have a daughter called Olga. She manages the Hotel Endsleigh in Milton Abbot, near Tavistock in Devon, which is owned by her mother.[6] Polizzi fronts the BBC2 series Alex Polizzi: The Fixer,[7] which focuses on Polizzi turning around family businesses, not just hotels.[8] The series comprises six episodes; the first aired on 31 January 2012. - IMDb Mini Biography By: ADAM STEVENS Spouse (1)


The native British tree generally known as the Mountain Ash has which alternative name?

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) - British trees - Woodland Trust Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) Rowan trees can live for up to 200 years Leaves are arranged like a feather Each leaflet is long, oval and has a toothed edge Leaves are feather-like with fight to eight pairs of leaflets (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Flowers appear in dense clusters and each has five creamy white petals (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Rowan is widely planted as a street or garden tree (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) The seeds from the scarlet rowan berries are dispersed by birds (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Each leaflet is long and pointed at the end Twigs are smooth to the touch Leaf buds on twigs are purple and hairy (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Rowan bark is smooth and silvery-grey (Photo: P Sterry/WTML) Rowan grows well on high ground and can be found growing wild in the Scottish Highlands (Photo: A Cleave/WTML) Rowan is also known as mountain ash and is native to the UK and northern and western Europe. Common name: rowan, mountain ash Scientific name: Sorbus aucuparia Family: Rosaceae UK provenance: native Interesting fact: the rowan is also known as the mountain ash, due to the fact that it grows well at high altitudes and its leaves are similar to those of the ash, Fraxinus excelsior. However, the two species are not related. What does rowan look like? Overview: mature trees can grow to 15m and can live for up to 200 years. The bark is smooth and silvery grey, and leaf buds are purple and hairy. Leaves: pinnate (like a feather), comprising 5-8 pairs of leaflets, plus one 'terminal' leaflet at the end. Each leaflet is long, oval and toothed. Flowers: rowan is hermaphrodite, meaning each flower contains both male and female reproductive parts. Flowers are borne in dense clusters, each one bearing five creamy white petals Fruits: after successful pollination by insects, they develop into scarlet fruits. The seeds are dispersed by birds. Look out for: it has 5-8 pairs of serrated leaflets which are distinctive. Could be confused with: ash (Fraxinus excelsior) or elder (Sambucus nigra), however, the leaflets are serrated and more or less pointed at the end in rowan than both of these. Identified in winter by: the young twigs start hairy and become smooth later. Buds are hairy all over. Terminal buds (on the ends of shoots) are up to 8mm in length and lateral buds (in leaf axils) have 2-5 scales. Where to find rowan Native to cooler regions of the northern hemisphere and most common in the UK in the north and west, it often grows in high altitude locations. It is commonly found in the wild, particularly in the highlands of Scotland, but it is also widely planted as a street or garden tree.  Value to wildlife The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of a number of moths, including the larger Welsh wave and autumn green carpet. Caterpillars of the apple fruit moth feed on the berries. Flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects, while the berries are a rich source of autumn food for birds, especially the blackbird, mistle thrush, redstart, redwing, song thrush, fieldfare and waxwing. Mythology and symbolism The colour red was considered to be the best colour for fighting evil, and so the rowan, with its bright red berries, has long been associated with magic and witches. Its old Celtic name is 'fid na ndruad', which means wizards' tree. In Ireland it was planted near houses to protect them against spirits, and in Wales rowan trees were planted in churchyards. Cutting down a rowan was considered taboo in Scotland. The wood was used for stirring milk to prevent it curdling, and as a pocket charm against rheumatism. It was also used to make divining rods. How we use rowan The wood is pale yellow-brown with a deeper brown heartwood. It is strong, hard and tough, but not particularly durable. It is sometimes used in turnery, furniture, craftwork and engraving. Rowan berries are edible to humans - they are sour but rich in vitamin C, and can be used to make a jelly to accompany meats. Threats Rowan can be susceptible to fireblight and may be affected by silver leaf disease.


Who held the post of First Lord of the Admiralty at the outbreak of the First World War and was appointed to the post again two days after the outbreak of the Second World War?

Winston Churchill resigns - Apr 05, 1955 - HISTORY.com Winston Churchill resigns Publisher A+E Networks Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, the British leader who guided Great Britain and the Allies through the crisis of World War II, retires as prime minister of Great Britain. Born at Blenheim Palace in 1874, Churchill joined the British Fourth Hussars upon his father’s death in 1895. During the next five years, he enjoyed an illustrious military career, serving in India, the Sudan, and South Africa, and distinguishing himself several times in battle. In 1899, he resigned his commission to concentrate on his literary and political career and in 1900 was elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP from Oldham. In 1904, he joined the Liberals, serving a number of important posts before being appointed Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty in 1911, where he worked to bring the British navy to a readiness for the war he foresaw. In 1915, in the second year of World War I, Churchill was held responsible for the disastrous Dardanelles and Gallipoli campaigns and was thus excluded from the war coalition government. However, in 1917, he returned to politics as a cabinet member in the Liberal government of Lloyd George. From 1919 to 1921, he was secretary of state for war and in 1924 returned to the Conservative Party, where two years later he played a leading role in the defeat of the General Strike of 1926. Out of office from 1929 to 1939, Churchill issued unheeded warnings of the threat of Nazi and Japanese aggression. After the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Churchill returned to his post as First Lord of the Admiralty and eight months later replaced Neville Chamberlain as prime minister of a new coalition government. In the first year of his administration, Britain stood alone against Nazi Germany, but Churchill promised his country and the world that Britain would “never surrender.” He rallied the British people to a resolute resistance and expertly orchestrated Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin into an alliance that eventually crushed the Axis. After a postwar Labor Party victory in 1945, he became leader of the opposition and in 1951 was again elected prime minister. In 1953, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. After his retirement as prime minister, he remained in Parliament until 1964, the year before his death. Related Videos


Which country in the Middle East has Doha as its capital?

Qatar Map / Geography of Qatar / Map of Qatar - Worldatlas.com Print this map Archaeologists have uncovered evidence that the Qatar Peninsula, jutting north into the Persian Gulf from Saudi Arabia , was initially inhabited during the Middle East Stone Age. The Islamic history of this strategic land was influenced over many centuries by the British , Ottomans and Portuguese , plus a long series of nomadic Arab tribes. In 1777, the Persians took control of Qatar prompting many merchants and families to migrate to Zubarah, a town founded by the Bani Utbah tribe in 1732. Zubarah ultimately became an important center for trade, and thrived with the pearling in the Persian Gulf . A war between the Zubarah based Al-Khalifa traders and Bahrain broke out in 1782. The battle of Zubarah was a brutal one, and lasted through the early 19th century dragging Kuwait , Iran , the Omanis and the Ottomans. Due to a growing interest in India , and an ambition to secure a passage for the East India Company, British forces arrived in the Persian Gulf bringing with them their own imposition of order by way of the General Treaty of Peace. However, this didn't stop Bahraini forces from attacking the city of Doha in 1867, and in turn provoking the Qatari to counterattack. It was British Colonel Lewis Pelly who presented a peace treaty to Bahrain and Qatar, which ultimately resulted in a huge milestone for Qatar as they were recognized as a separate entity from Bahrain . In 1913, after a brief period under the rule of the Ottomans, Qatar signed a treaty with Britain relinquishing their autonomy in foreign affairs in exchange for military protection. In the early 20th century, Qatar was a relatively poor Middle East sheikhdom, with pearl production and fishing being its major revenue sources. Then, in 1939, the discovery of oil and gas transformed it into an influential and rich land for both its current ruling clan (the Al Thani family), and its entire people. In April of 1970, two years after Britain withdrew their military commitments from Qatar, the country was declared an independent, Arab, Islamic state. In 1995, the ruling Amir, Sheikh Khalifa, was removed by his son, the current Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. This event helped move Qatar into the most desirable position of having one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, and helped propel Qatar into a progressive Middle East state. As a by-product, jobs are guaranteed in Qatar, and college education is free. There is no income tax here; all public services are gratis, and the government provides all health care. In 2012, Qatar retained its title for the third time as the richest country in the world, based on per capita income. Tourism in Qatar (mostly to Doha) has increased rather dramatically. Sparkling new hotels (Las Vegas-like) stand along the lengthy waterfront, and the traveling world has finally learned about Qatar's beautiful beaches, and of course, the duty-free shopping. The government, in 2014, released a dress code decree to remind tourists how to dress properly. Recently, it was announced that Qatar will be the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is sure to draw even more attention to the already thriving region. See Also


Which element in the periodic table has atomic number 8 - it is the lowest numbered element to begin with a vowel?

Periodic Table of the Elements Periodic Table of the Elements By Tim Sharp, Reference Editor | January 5, 2016 11:24am ET MORE The classic Periodic Table organizes the chemical elements according to the number of protons that each has in its atomic nucleus. Credit: Karl Tate, Livescience.com contributor The Periodic Table of the Elements arranges all of the known elements in an informative array. Elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. Order generally coincides with increasing atomic mass. The different rows of elements are called periods. The period number of an element signifies the highest energy level an electron in that element occupies (in the unexcited state), according to the Los Alamos National Laboratory . The number of electrons in a period increases as one moves down the periodic table; therefore, as the energy level of the atom increases, the number of energy sub-levels per energy level increases. Elements that lie in the same column on the periodic table (called a "group") have identical valance electron configurations and consequently behave in a similar fashion chemically. For instance, all the group 18 elements are inert gases. [ Related: How Are the Elements Grouped? ] The periodic table contains an enormous amount of important information:   Atomic Number: The number of protons in an atom defines what element it is. For example, carbon atoms have six protons, hydrogen atoms have one, and oxygen atoms have eight. The number of protons in an atom is referred to as the atomic number of that element. The number of protons in an atom also determines the chemical behavior of the element. Element Symbol: The element symbol is one, two or three letters chosen to represent an element ("H" for hydrogen, "Kr" for krypton, "Uup" for Ununpentium, etc.). These symbols are used internationally.  Atomic Weight: The standard atomic weight is the average mass of an element in atomic mass units ("amu"). Though individual atoms always have an integer number of atomic mass units, the atomic mass on the periodic table is stated as a decimal number because it is an average of the various isotopes of an element. The average number of neutrons for an element can be found by subtracting the number of protons (atomic number) from the atomic mass. Atomic weight for elements 93-118: For naturally occurring elements, the atomic weight is calculated from averaging the weights of the natural abundances of the isotopes of that element. However, for man-made trans-uranium elements there is no "natural" abundance. The convention is to list the atomic weight of the longest-lived isotope in the periodic table. These atomic weights should be considered provisional since a new isotope with a longer half-life could be produced in the future. Within this man-made category are the superheavy elements, or those with atomic numbers above 104. The larger the atom's nucleus — which increases with the number of protons inside — the more unstable that element is, generally. As such, these outsized elements are fleeting, lasting mere milliseconds before decaying into lighter elements, according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). For instance, superheavy elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 were just verified by the IPUAC in December 2015, completing the seventh row, or period, on the table. Several different labs produced the superheavy elements. "The chemistry community is eager to see its most cherished table finally being completed down to the seventh row. IUPAC has now initiated the process of formalizing names and symbols for these elements," Jan Reedijk, president of the Inorganic Chemistry Division of IUPAC,  said in an IUPAC statement . Element articles


David Beckham retired in 2013 after playing 10 games for which French club?

David Beckham: his club and international career in stats | Football | The Guardian David Beckham: his club and international career in stats The retiring former England captain won 19 major trophies during his career and sold approximately 10m shirts Guardian staff Thursday 16 May 2013 11.34 EDT First published on Thursday 16 May 2013 11.34 EDT Preston North End (loan) 1994-95 Real Madrid 2003-07 6 Premier League titles: 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03 1 La Liga title: 2006-07 1 Ligue 1 title: 2012-13 2 MLS Cups: 2011, 2012 1 Intercontinental Cup: 1999 2 FA Cups: 1995-96, 1998-99 4 Community Shields: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997 1 Spanish Super Cup: 2003 1 FA Youth Cup: 1991-92 IN NUMBERS 0 Amount in euros David Beckham took from his salary at Paris Saint-Germain . He donated the money to French children's charities 1 Goal from inside his own half, against Wimbledon in 1996 1 Uefa club footballer of the year award, in 1998-99, the year Manchester United won the treble 1 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2010 1 OBE, awarded in 2003 3 Rating out of 10 he was awarded by L'Equipe for his performance in PSG's 2-2 draw with Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final first leg this season 4 Countries in which Beckham won the league title, the only Englishman to do this – in England , Spain, the United States and France 4 Times included in the PFA Team of the Year when with Manchester United 9 Times he was sent off during his career, once for United, four times for Real Madrid , once for LA Galaxy, once for PSG, and twice for England, most famously in the 1998 World Cup round-of-16 game with Argentina 9 Games Beckham played for the next Manchester United manager, David Moyes, when he was on loan at Preston North End. He played 256 games more for the outgoing United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson 17 Goals for England. He is the only Englishman to score at three World Cups, against Colombia in 1998, Argentina in 2002 and Ecuador in 2006 19 Major trophies won by Beckham during his senior career 107 Champions League games played. He was the first Englishman to play in more than 100 111 Beckham goals in 641 league and Champions League games during his club career 115 Caps for England, the most by any outfield player. Only Peter Shilton has played more times for England 147 Beckham assists in league games during his career 157 Number of countries which showed the 2012 MLS Cup final, which David Beckham's LA Galaxy won, his last game for the club 231 Percentage increase in worldwide MLS merchandise sales between his first game in 2007 and his last five years later 534 Top-flight league games played by Beckham across five countries and 19 seasons 10m Estimated replica Beckham shirts sold throughout his career £1bn Estimated shirt and boot sales relating to Beckham during his career


The 2010 film Money Never Sleeps is the sequel to which 1987 film?

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps ( 2010 ) PG-13 | Watch Now From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video Now out of prison but still disgraced by his peers, Gordon Gekko works his future son-in-law, an idealistic stock broker, when he sees an opportunity to take down a Wall Street enemy and rebuild his empire. Director: a list of 31 titles created 14 Dec 2010 a list of 38 titles created 25 Jun 2011 a list of 24 titles created 26 Aug 2012 a list of 28 titles created 18 Apr 2013 a list of 26 titles created 1 month ago Title: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) 6.3/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for     1     Golden Globe. Another    1 win & 3 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Edit Storyline As the global economy teeters on the brink of disaster, a young Wall Street trader partners with disgraced former Wall Street corporate raider Gordon Gekko on a two-tiered mission: To alert the financial community to the coming doom, and to find out who was responsible for the death of the young trader's mentor. Written by Anonymous Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and thematic elements | See all certifications  » Parents Guide: 24 September 2010 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: Wall Street 2 See more  » Filming Locations: $19,011,188        (USA) (24 September 2010) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia Title was originally "Money Never Sleeps". When Oliver Stone signed on to direct, he added "Wall Street 2" to the title. Later the numeral was dropped, since Stone wanted the film to be seen as both a sequel and a stand alone story. See more » Goofs In several of the close-up shots of Jake on his motorcycle you can clearly see a dolly with the camera crew in the reflection in Jake's helmet visor. See more » Quotes Gordon Gekko : You know what they say, "Parents are the bone on which children sharpen their teeth." IS IT REALLY POSSIBLE (Cato Remix) Written by Axel Hirn , Bjorn Klein, Herfried Knapp, Thomas Unegbu, Flip Philipp, Michale Steindl Jurgen Mitterlehner and Daniel Nosig Performed by Wet Cookies Remix and Additional Production by Cato Courtesy of Cat' N Roof Records By Arrangement with Visions from the Roof Great... Until The Third Act 24 September 2010 | by M_Exchange (United States) – See all my reviews I loved this movie until its final thirty minutes or so. During those thirty minutes you realize that Stone and his team of writers were searching desperately for a way to end the movie on a positive, hopeful note. We are left to plod along with them on this implausible track. Also, during the ending Gekko's daughter's character consistency is shot to hell and she appears as venal as the characters against whom she rails. Those moments are especially disappointing because I believed that this movie had the potential to be Stone's best film ever. Carey Mulligan and Michael Douglas in particular delivered great performances. Shia Lebeouf is "good enough." The writing is fairly unpredictable then everything seems to be tied into a nice bundle near the end. The problem was that Stone couldn't quite bring himself to put the bow on that bundle. He wanted to add a bit of glitter to it, which seemed gaudy and completely out of place. Bottom line: if this movie had ended on a somewhat dark note it would have reflected the reality of modern day Wall Street, and it would have made for a tighter, better movie. It's worth watching, and if you liked the first Wall Street it probably won't disappoint you. You might want to leave during its third act, though :) 119 of 169 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes


Which American author wrote The Witches of Eastwick?

The witches of Eastwick - John Updike - Google Books The witches of Eastwick 1 Review https://books.google.com/books/about/The_witches_of_Eastwick.html?id=MQ01lWbhvFMC "A great deal of fun to read...Fresh, consantly entertaining....John Updike remains a wizard of language and observation." THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER In a small New England town in the late 1960s, there lived three witches. Alexandra Spofford, a sculptress, Jane Smart, a cellist, and Sukie Rougemont,the local gossip columnist. Their supernatural gifts were intriguing, to say the least. Divorced but hardly celibate, content but always ripe for adventure, one day all three witches found themselves under the spell of a new man in town, Darryl Van Horne. His hot tub was the scene of some bewitching delights, but that doesn't being to conjure the half of it.... From inside the book What people are saying -  Write a review Witches User Review  - cajungirltoo - Overstock.com I have only started to read but Updike is classic as always a excellent value at the O and fast shipping thanks Read full review Contents All Book Search results » About the author (1984) John Updike was born in 1932, in Shillington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Harvard College in 1954, and spent a year in Oxford, England, at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art. From 1955 to 1957 he was a member of the staff of "The New Yorker, " and since 1957 has lived in Massachusetts. He is the author of fifty-odd previous books, including twenty novels and numerous collections of short stories, poems, and criticism. His fiction has won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the American Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Rosenthal Award, and the Howells Medal.


The River Rhone enters which European lake in Switzerland before exiting the same lake in France - English name needed?

Rhone (river) : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki More info on Rhone (river)   Wikis Rhone (river): Wikis Advertisements Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics View over the Rhone flowing from Valais into Lake Geneva Countries 2,300  m3/s (81,224  cu ft/s ) The Rhone ( French : Rhône; Arpitan : Rôno; Occitan : Ròse; standard German : Rhone; Valais German: Rotten; Italian : Rodano) is one of the major rivers of Europe , originating in Switzerland and running from there through the south-eastern corner of France . At Arles , near its mouth at the Mediterranean Sea , the river divides into two branches, known as the Great Rhone (French: Grand Rhône) and the Little Rhone (Petit Rhône). Contents 8 External links Navigation Before railroads and highways were invented, the Rhone was an important inland trade and transportation route, connecting the cities of Arles , Avignon , Valence , Vienne and Lyon to the Mediterranean ports of Fos , Marseille and Sète . Travelling down the Rhone by barge would take three weeks. By motorized vessel, the trip now takes only three days. The Rhône is classified as a class V waterway [1] from the mouth of the Saône river to the sea. The Saône, which is also canalized, connects the Rhône ports to the cities of Villefranche-sur-Saône , Mâcon and Chalon-sur-Saône . Smaller vessels (up to CEMT class I) can travel further northwest, north and northeast via the Centre-Loire-Briare and Loing Canals to the Seine river , via the Canal de la Marne à la Saône (recently often called the "Canal entre Champagne et Bourgogne") to the Marne , via the Canal des Vosges (formerly called the "Canal de l'Est – Branche Sud") to the Moselle and via the Canal du Rhône au Rhin to the Rhine . The Rhone is infamous for its strong current when the river carries large quantities of water: current speeds up to 10 kilometres per hour (6 mph) are sometimes reached, particularly in the stretch below the last lock at Valabrègues and in some of the diversion canals. The ten river locks are operated daily from 05:00 a.m. until 09:00 p.m. Night operation can be requested and is usually granted [2] . Course It rises as the effluent of the Rhone Glacier in Valais , in the Swiss Alps , at an altitude of approximately 2,150 metres (7,100 ft). [3] Up to Brig , the Rhone is a torrent, and then becomes a great mountain river running SW through a glacier valley. Between Brig and Martigny , it collects waters mostly from the valleys of the Pennine Alps on the south, whose rivers originate from the large glaciers of the massifs of Monte Rosa , Dom , and Grand Combin . After Martigny, the river turns NW towards Lake Geneva (French Lac Léman) and separates the Chablais Alps from the Bernese Alps . It enters Lake Geneva near the Swiss town of Bouveret and exits it at the city of Geneva before entering France. The average annual discharge from Lake Geneva is 570  m3/s (20,000 cu ft/s). [4] It is joined by the river Saône at Lyon , before going south. Along the Rhone Valley , it is joined on the right (western) bank by the rivers Eyrieux , Ardèche , Cèze , and Gardon coming from the Cévennes mountains ; and on the left bank by the rivers Isère , Drôme , Ouvèze , and Durance from the Alps . At Arles , the Rhone divides itself in two arms, forming the Camargue delta , with all branches flowing into the Mediterranean Sea . The larger arm is called the "Grand Rhône", the smaller the "Petit Rhône". The average annual discharge at Arles is 2,300  m3/s (81,000 cu ft/s). [4] History Mouth of the Rhone The Rhone has been an important highway since the times of the Greeks and Romans . It was the main trade route from the Mediterranean to east-central Gaul . [5] As such, it helped convey Greek cultural influences to the western Hallstatt and the later La Tène cultures. [5] Celtic tribes living near the Rhone included the Seduni , Segobriges, Allobroges , Segusiavi, Helvetii ,


Now in the Musée d’Orsay, who painted Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe in the 1860s?

Musée d'Orsay: Edouard Manet Luncheon on the Grass H. 208; W. 264.5 cm © RMN -Grand Palais(Musée d'Orsay) / Hervé Lewandowski Full entry Le déjeuner sur l'herbe [Luncheon on the Grass] Rejected by the jury of the 1863 Salon, Manet exhibited Le déjeuner sur l’herbe under the title Le Bain at the Salon des Refusés (initiated the same year by Napoléon III) where it became the principal attraction, generating both laughter and scandal. Yet in Le déjeuner sur l'herbe, Manet was paying tribute to Europe's artistic heritage, borrowing his subject from the Concert champêtre – a painting by Titian attributed at the time to Giorgione (Louvre) – and taking his inspiration for the composition of the central group from the Marcantonio Raimondi engraving after Raphael's Judgement of Paris.But the classical references were counterbalanced by Manet's boldness. The presence of a nude woman among clothed men is justified neither by mythological nor allegorical precedents. This, and the contemporary dress, rendered the strange and almost unreal scene obscene in the eyes of the public of the day. Manet himself jokingly nicknamed his painting "la partie carrée". In those days, Manet's style and treatment were considered as shocking as the subject itself. He made no transition between the light and dark elements of the picture, abandoning the usual subtle gradations in favour of brutal contrasts, thereby drawing reproaches for his "mania for seeing in blocks". And the characters seem to fit uncomfortably in the sketchy background of woods from which Manet has deliberately excluded both depth and perspective. Le déjeuner sur l'herbe - testimony to Manet's refusal to conform to convention and his initiation of a new freedom from traditional subjects and modes of representation - can perhaps be considered as the departure point for Modern Art.


Which book opens with the words “When he was nearly thirteen my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow”?

NEA Big Read NEA Big Read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Writing is a process of self-discipline you must learn before you can call yourself a writer. There are people who write, but I think they’re quite different from people who must write. About the Book Introduction to the Book Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird begins at the end. The novel opens with the adult Jean Louise "Scout" Finch writing, "When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow." By the time Jem finally gets around to breaking his arm more than 250 pages later most readers will have forgotten they were ever warned. This echoes the way the whole book unfolds-in no special hurry, with lifelike indirection. Nothing happens all by itself. The book's two plots inch forward along parallel tracks, only converging near the end. The first plot revolves around Arthur "Boo" Radley, who lives in a shuttered house down the street from the Finches and is rumored to be some kind of monster. Scout, Jem, and their next-door neighbor Dill engage in pranks, trying to make Boo show himself. Unexpectedly, Boo reciprocates their interest with a series of small gifts, until he ultimately steps off his porch and into their lives when they need him most. The second story concerns Scout and Jem's father, the attorney Atticus Finch. The local judge appoints him to defend a black man, Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of raping a white woman. Atticus suspects he will lose the case, but he faces up to the challenge just the same, at one point heroically stepping between his client and a lynch mob. Along with its twin plot lines, To Kill a Mockingbird has two broad themes: tolerance and justice. Lee treats the first through the children's fear of their mysterious neighbor. She illustrates the second with Atticus's courage in defending Robinson to the best of his ability, despite the racial prejudices of their small Southern town. Tying the stories together is a simple but profound piece of advice Atticus gives Scout: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." By the end of the novel, Scout has done exactly that—guessed at the pain not only beneath Tom Robinson's skin, but also under that of her neighbor. How the Novel Came to Be Written Any claims for To Kill a Mockingbird as a book that changed history could not have seemed more far-fetched one winter night in 1958, as Nelle Harper Lee huddled in her outer-borough New York apartment trying to finesse her unruly, episodic manuscript into some semblance of a cohesive novel. All but drowning in multiple drafts of the same material, Lee suddenly threw open a window and scattered five years of work onto the dirty snow below. Did Lee really intend to destroy To Kill a Mockingbird? We'll never know. Fortunately, in the next moment, she called her editor. J.B. Lippincott's formidable Tay Hohoff promptly sent her outside to gather all the pages back–thus rescuing To Kill a Mockingbird from the slush. The novel had its origins in Lee's hometown of Monroeville, Alabama—the small, Southern town that the fictional Maycomb is based upon. Her father's unsuccessful defense of a black man and his son accused of murder, in addition to the Scottsboro Boys trials and another notorious interracial rape case, helped to shape Lee's budding social conscience and sense of a dramatic story. Along with his legal practice, Lee's father published and edited the town newspaper. His regard for the written word impacted Lee's sensibility as surely as his respect for the law. Lee would name her idealized vision of her father after Titus Pomponius Atticus, a friend of the Roman orator Cicero renowned as, according to Lee, "a wise, learned and humane man." For a long time, Lee called her work in progress Atticus. Once she fastened on To Kill a Mockingbird she did not look back. An early version of the novel, titled Go Set a Watchman, featured Scout as an adult returning to Maycomb. Lee’s editor, Tay Hohoff, asked her


Which group had a number one hit in 1977 with Chanson D’amour?

The Manhattan Transfer  Chanson d'amour 1976 Atlantic  11573 - YouTube The Manhattan Transfer  Chanson d'amour 1976 Atlantic  11573 Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Aug 4, 2012 Chanson D'Amour  Written-By -- Wayne Shanklin .   The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both. The group's name comes from John Dos Passos' 1925 novel Manhattan Transfer and refers to their New York origins.The first manifestation of the group was established during 1969 in New York City by Tim Hauser, Erin Dickins, Marty Nelson, and Pat Rosalia. Gene Pistilli, a good friend, soon became an integral component and composed for and recorded with the group. They contracted with Capitol Records, recorded several tracks, and during 1971 issued their first album, Jukin'. The album was later reissued in the UK by EMI's Music for Pleasure under the title The Manhattan Transfer and Gene Pistilli[1][2] Pistilli had been best known for his performing and songwriting collaborations with Terry Cashman and Tommy West. This team endured until 1973. According to Hauser, "Gene and I were in two different places. He was more into R&B, and the Memphis sound, and by then I'd become more interested in jazz and swing..."[3] Second line-up The next line-up of the group was formed in 1973 by Tim Hauser with singers Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, and Laurel Massé. After performances at Max's Kansas City, Trude Heller's and Reno Sweeney with Herb Abramson's A-1 Sound engineer Jim Reeves in New York City, the group developed a cult fan base. Ahmet Ertegün, founder and chairman of Atlantic Records, saw them at Reno Sweeney and offered a recording contract. The group's first album for Atlantic was The Manhattan Transfer in 1975, which included their first successful single, the gospel tune "Operator". During the summer of 1975, the group were showcased in their own hour-long television variety series on CBS. They also gained a following in Europe, where their next two albums, Coming Out and Pastiche, brought a string of hits. One was a revival of Wayne Shanklin's "Chanson D'Amour", which became a number one hit in the UK and Australia in 1977, though it failed to chart in the US. These were followed by a live album, The Manhattan Transfer Live, which was recorded in the UK and reached the UK Top 5. Category


What is the maximum number of horses allowed to race in the Grand National?

2017 Grand National Runners & Odds - Horse By Horse Guide 2017 GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS & ODDS The potential runners and their Paddy Power ante post odds… MANY CLOUDS Winner of the 2015 Grand National for trainer Oliver Sherwood, giving jockey Leighton Aspell back-to-back wins in the event and a third National win for owner Trevor Hemmings. He aimed for the elusive back-to-back wins in 2016 but couldn’t make the dream happen and had to settle for completing the race in 16th place. With any luck he’ll be given another shot at the Grand National in 2017. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 62210-1 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 10 | TRAINER: O SHERWOOD Good £30 FREE BETS THE LAST SAMURI A terrific run from The Last Samuri in the Grand National 2016 saw him finish in second place behind the winner Rule The World. Another year on and he should definitely be in contention for the ultimate prize especially as he is currently on 5 wins from just 11 chase starts. A continuation of good form and expect to see The Last Samuri plummet in the odds as the race draws closer. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 3112-53 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 9 | TRAINER: K BAILEY Good £30 FREE BETS DON POLI While it would no doubt be a huge coup for the Grand National 2017 if Don Poli were given a run, it’s also a little unlikely with the Gold Cup at Cheltenham beckoning. Of course both are not impossible as he did run in the Aintree Bowl Chase just 20 days after his Gold Cup run in 2016 but at just 8 years of age I wouldn’t be putting any bets on him just yet. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 1132-3P2 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 8 | TRAINER: G ELLIOTT Good £30 FREE BETS CARLINGFORD LOUGH Entered in both 2016 and 2015, Carlingford Lough has been withdrawn both times with connections opting to got to Cheltenham and the Gold Cup instead. With a 50% win or place rate from his 22 Chase starts, Carlingford Lough is a very highly rated horse who has notched up over £500K in earnings over the course of his career. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 4614-1 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 11 | TRAINER: J KIELY Good £30 FREE BETS VIEUX LION ROUGE Despite being only 7 years old at the time and going off at 66/1 in the 2016 National, Vieux Lion Rouge gave a very encouraging account of himself when he finished in 7th place. Fresh off the back of a Becher Chase win, he seems the sort that prefers heavier ground but maybe a couple of spring time trips could boost his 2017 Grand National credentials. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 1U267-1 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 8 | TRAINER: D PIPE Good £30 FREE BETS NATIVE RIVER An exciting prospect from Colin Tizzard but the chances of seeing Native River lining up for the Grand National 2017 hover somewhere between nil and zilch. He will be just 7 years old when the race rolls around and although he has had an impressive career to this point with a 100% record of wins/places from his nine chase starts, including a win in the Coral Welsh National in December 2016, I can’t see his connections running him in the National. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 3321-211 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 7 | TRAINER: C TIZZARD good £30 FREE BETS NOBLE ENDEAVOR Fresh off the back of a win in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December, Nobel Endeavor is a solid runner but one who perhaps lacks the necessary experience to have a go at the Grand National 2017. With only eight chase starts and only one big win under his belt, connections may hold off for another year – time will tell. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: 12F-P541 | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 8 | TRAINER: G ELLIOTT good £30 FREE BETS THE YOUNG MASTER Possibly a first Grand National entry for the Neil Mulholland trained The Young Master if he gets the nod in 2017. Since November 2015 he has been ridden by Sam Waley-Cohen with mixed success. A win at Sandown back in April gave connections a good end to the season but unfortuntely that didn’t continue as he fell first time out this season at Aintree, in the Becher Chase. NO.00 | JOCKEY: | FORM: U4631-F | WEIGHT: 00-00 | AGE: 8 | TRAINER: N MULHOLLAND Good £30 FREE BETS EMPIRE OF DIRT With three back to back wins under his belt, things are l


Writing’s on the Wall is the theme song to which Bond film?

Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall (from Spectre) - YouTube Sam Smith - Writing's On The Wall (from Spectre) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Oct 4, 2015 Writing’s On The Wall’ by Sam Smith, the official theme song from Spectre Download Now on iTunes: http://po.st/WiBO6i Listen on Spotify: http://po.st/WOTWsp & Apple Music: http://po.st/HfyJAB Download on Google Play: http://po.st/vODrWY Pre-order on CD & Vinyl: http://po.st/rqPkl3 Pre-order on Amazon: http://po.st/7g0POh


Who is the current presenter of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue?

Jack Dee is the perfect host for I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue | Television & radio | The Guardian Radio comedy Jack Dee is the perfect host for I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue The grumpy comic has taken over from the late Humphrey Lyttleton and proved a hit. But are some presenters simply irreplaceable? Comedian Jack Dee. Photograph: Amit Lennon Monday 5 July 2010 10.20 EDT First published on Monday 5 July 2010 10.20 EDT Share on Messenger Close Rock groups routinely soldier on for decades without one or more of their original members, and fans don't tend to gripe so long as the same old songs get played. But the radio show which loses its lynchpin faces an altogether more precarious future, especially if the history of the series in question is bound up with the departing host. Last week, I attended a recording in Cambridge of two shows in the current series of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (6.30pm, Mondays, R4), where I was struck by what a neat fit Jack Dee is as anchor. His dexterity with material that requires a measure of toxic disdain has already been proved in his solo stints on two series of the programme. But it was encouraging to see up close how he marshals the team members – Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke Taylor and, on this occasion, David Mitchell – and chides them gently like a PE master. Behind the audience's easy laughter, I detected authentic relief that the show hadn't gone to pot. After all, ISIHAC underwent an initially fraught probationary period in which three different hosts (Dee, Rob Brydon, Stephen Fry) were auditioned publicly after the death in 2008 of Humphrey Lyttleton . Light entertainment is a medium where the word "inimitable" gets used as frequently as "dahling", but you need only sample five minutes of "Humph" on ISIHAC to appreciate the balance he struck between cultivated bumbling and wry naughtiness . The shortcomings of two of the trial hosts made Humph's persona seem all the more miraculous. Fry sounded, as he so often does, as though he were broadcasting to the proles from a throne in the clouds; the effect was rather as if Zeus had been handed Radio 4's 6.30pm comedy slot. Brydon's turn in Humph's chair, on the other hand, felt all wrong for the opposite reason. A friend of mine put it best when she said that Brydon just made the jokes sound dirty. Of course, they are dirty – some of the filthiest broadcast anywhere, before or after the watershed, particularly the ones involving "the lovely Samantha", or Lionel Blair. But Humph delivered those gags with a bored obliviousness; not only did the doubles entendres appear lost on him, his world-weary tone suggested that he couldn't be bothered to fathom the jokes anyway. That's why Dee has turned out to be such a boon for the show. His grumpiness may be synthetic but it has a similar effect on the series as Humph's wry befuddlement – it introduces just the right amount of comic distance between the host and the demeaning material he is forced to read. In recent years, Radio 4 listeners have had to acclimatise themselves to changes of personnel on other key shows. Sandi Toksvig, already a joy on Excess Baggage (10am, Saturday), has proved to be a jaunty, jousting successor to Simon Hoggart on The News Quiz . And Kirsty Young , now four years into her stretch on Desert Island Discs (11.15am, Sunday), and therefore past the point where she can be thrown to the piranhas, recently coaxed the writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce into giving one of the most purely life-affirming interviews ever heard on the series. Desert Island Discs was always going to be a survivor, since it depends more on its whimsical castaway conceit and the calibre of the interviewee in any given week than on its presenter's personality. It's the Doctor Who of radio institutions. No one expects the same host to go on for ever, so regeneration is always on the cards. But if there is a rule about shows that survive a participant's death or departure, it seems to be that the less amorphous the format, the greater the chance of longevity. Lurking in the back of the mind of any pro


Who is the daughter of Leontes in The Winter’s Tale?

SparkNotes: The Winter's Tale: Characters The Winter's Tale Short Summary Act I, Scenes i-ii Leontes -  The King of Sicilia, and the childhood friend of the Bohemian King Polixenes. He is gripped by jealous fantasies, which convince him that Polixenes has been having an affair with his wife, Hermione; his jealousy leads to the destruction of his family. Hermione -  The virtuous and beautiful Queen of Sicilia. Falsely accused of infidelity by her husband, Leontes, she apparently dies of grief just after being vindicated by the Oracle of Delphi, but is restored to life at the play's close. Perdita -  The daughter of Leontes and Hermione. Because her father believes her to be illegitimate, she is abandoned as a baby on the coast of Bohemia, and brought up by a Shepherd. Unaware of her royal lineage, she falls in love with the Bohemian Prince Florizel. Polixenes -  The King of Bohemia, and Leontes's boyhood friend. He is falsely accused of having an affair with Leontes's wife, and barely escapes Sicilia with his life. Much later in life, he sees his only son fall in love with a lowly Shepherd's daughter—who is, in fact, a Sicilian princess. Florizel -  Polixenes's only son and heir; he falls in love with Perdita, unaware of her royal ancestry, and defies his father by eloping with her. Camillo -  An honest Sicilian nobleman, he refuses to follow Leontes's order to poison Polixenes, deciding instead to flee Sicily and enter the Bohemian King's service. Paulina -  A noblewoman of Sicily, she is fierce in her defense of Hermione's virtue, and unrelenting in her condemnation of Leontes after Hermione's death. She is also the agent of the (apparently) dead Queen's resurrection. Autolycus -  A roguish peddler, vagabond, and pickpocket; he steals the Clown's purse and does a great deal of pilfering at the Shepherd's sheepshearing, but ends by assisting in Perdita and Florizel's escape. Shepherd -  An old and honorable sheep-tender, he finds Perdita as a baby and raises her as his own daughter. Antigonus -  Paulina's husband, and also a loyal defender of Hermione. He is given the unfortunate task of abandoning the baby Perdita on the Bohemian coast. Clown -  The Shepherd's buffoonish son, and Perdita's adopted brother. Mamillius -  The young prince of Sicilia, Leontes and Hermione's son. He dies, perhaps of grief, after his father wrongly imprisons his mother. Cleomenes -  A lord of Sicilia, sent to Delphi to ask the Oracle about Hermione's guilt. Dion -  A Sicilian lord, he accompanies Cleomenes to Delphi. Emilia -  One of Hermione's ladies-in-waiting. Archidamus -  A lord of Bohemia. More Help


In which city is the Potala Palace, the traditional home of the Dalai Lama?

Potala Palace Potala Palace The Potala Palace, Lhasa, Tibet   ( Enlarge )   ( Close-up ) Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental structure in all of Tibet. Early legends concerning the rocky hill tell of a sacred cave, considered to be the dwelling place of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara), that was used as a meditation retreat by Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century AD. In 637 Songtsen Gampo built a palace on the hill. This structure stood until the seventeenth century, when it was incorporated into the foundations of the greater buildings still standing today. Construction of the present palace began in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694; its construction required the labors of more than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsman. In 1922 the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the White Palace and added two stories to the Red Palace. The Potala Palace was only slightly damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the invading Chinese in 1959. Unlike most other Tibetan religious structures, it was not sacked by the Red Guards during the 1960s and 1970s, apparently through the personal intervention of Chou En Lai. As a result, all the chapels and their artifacts are very well preserved. From as early as the eleventh century the palace was called Potala. This name probably derives from Mt. Potala, the mythological mountain abode of the Bodhisattva Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara / Kuan Yin) in southern India. The Emperor Songtsen Gampo had been regarded as an incarnation of Chenresi. Given that he founded the Potala, it seems likely that the hilltop palace of Lhasa took on the name of the Indian sacred mountain. The Potala Palace is an immense structure, its interior space being in excess of 130,000 square meters. Fulfilling numerous functions, the Potala was first and foremost the residence of the Dalai Lama and his large staff. In addition, it was the seat of Tibetan government, where all ceremonies of state were held; it housed a school for religious training of monks and administrators; and it was one of Tibet's major pilgrimage destinations because of the tombs of past Dalai Lamas. Within the White Palace are two small chapels, the Phakpa Lhakhang and the Chogyal Drubphuk; dating from the seventh century, these chapels are the oldest surviving structures on the hill and also the most sacred. The Potala's most venerated statue, the Arya Lokeshvara, is housed inside the Phapka Lhakhang, and it draws thousands of Tibetan pilgrims each day.


What word can be the title of a 1970’s/1980’s Japanese TV programme, a type of primate, or slang word for £500?

Anime and manga Credits and links DISCLAIMER: I have never been to Japan. I don't speak any more Japanese than the stuff given in the ' teach me ' section (on a good day, when I don't forget half of it). I also have not knowingly spoken to an actual Japanese person in, like, the last decade. One day I hope this will change. One day I hope to visit Akihabara while flashing lights and cute robotic toys still excite me; rather than somebody reading this in an archive and taking me out of some sense of sympathy 'cos I'm a senile old cantankerous git... If/when I do make to to Japan, I'll be sure to take lots of photos and then downloading this document will make your computer explode, even with broadband! :-) NOTE: This document looks best in MSIE or Opera. There are some formatting oddities regarding forced flowing around inserted tables with Firefox, so if you are using Firefox you may see some stuff appears odd or some content overlays other content when it shouldn't.   By Masamune Shirow. English version by Studio Proteus. Angel Heart, vol 18, chap 194. By Tsukasa Hojo. French version by Panini Manga. Stuck? Try this. The French one (on the right) reads a lot better if you do it right-to-left. Japanese manga has, traditionally, been written in a style that would seem to be "back to front". This goes as far as the book is actually read completely in reverse (i.e. the spine is on the right). If you look really carefully at the crappy picture of the four manga books above, you may notice that the spine and binding is on the right of all of them. The English one, however, has been 'doctored' to read in traditional Western style. Purists would argue that this is an abomination, and I do wonder what is changed in the translation - while each 'cell' typically fits within the rectangle and rejigging the rectangles is pretty easy with computers, however you cannot help but wonder what happens in the case of things that extend beyond the normal boundaries (sound effects are notorious for this) or more difficult cases where the cells are oblique shapes. Below you can see a quick'n'dirty reworking of Angel Heart. On the left is how it may appear if the frames were cut out and moved around. On the right is the worst case scenario. As the original Japanese text will be erased from the speech bubbles for the translation, all that needs to be done is a simple optical flip. Ugh! Ugh! Angel Heart, reworked for Angel Heart, flipped for a quick change to left-to-right style. It could be argued that the optical flip version is graphically nicer: in the middle left frame Mademoiselle Shindo is looking into the page and not out of it, likewise bottom left shows Xiang-Ying (driving) looking into the page. It is a more pleasing layout. However doing this introduces its own inconsistencies. So Mlle Shindo doesn't know how to drive and they are teaching her to use the brakes. Something that is fairly universal is the pedal ordering in a car - so in the flipped version it appears as if she is stamping hard on the accelerator! The more observant of you will have noticed that the Japanese drive on the left, like the English, however the optically-flipped version puts Mlle Shindo sitting on the left of the vehicule, which would be wrong. This could logically be fixed in this instance by flipping the page, then flipping again the problem frames. But surely it is no great hardship to read 'backwards'? It may seem odd at first, but it is like sudoku, either you get it or you don't... What's "mangaka"? Mangaka - 漫画家 - is the name given to a professional manga artist. It is not the 'full' name for manga. The Cat Returns (Japanese) Whisper of the Heart (Japanese) The ones in bold are ones that I have seen, with the language of the soundtrack (if Japanese, assume subtitled). Mononoke was, nicely, shown by FilmFour in both versions, the English dub and the subtitled Japanese original. I had the pleasure of seeing Tales from Earthsea (Les Contes de Terremer) at a local country-town cinema! (French dubbage) Entries followed by a '*' are ones that I have taped b


In art, what name is given to the technique of mural painting on wet plaster?

Mural Clients About Mural A mural is any piece of art work painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture. Some wall paintings are painted on large canvases, which are then attached to the wall (e.g., with marouflage). Whether these works can be accurately called "Murals" is a subject of some controversy in the art world, but the technique has been in common use since the late 19th century. History Murals of sorts date to Upper Paleolithic times such as the paintings in the Chauvet Cave in Ardèche department of southern France (around 30,000 BC). Many ancient murals have survived in Egyptian tombs (around 3150 BC), the Minoan palaces(Middle period III of the Neopalatial period, 1700-1600 BC) and in Pompeii (around 100 BC - AD 79). During the Middle Ages murals were usually executed on dry plaster (secco). In Italy, circa 1300, the technique of painting of frescos on wet plaster was reintroduced and led to a significant increase in the quality of mural painting. In modern times, the term became more well-known with the Mexican "muralista" art movement (Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, or José Orozco). There are many different styles and techniques. The best-known is probably fresco, which uses water-soluble paints with a damp lime wash, a rapid use of the resulting mixture over a large surface, and often in parts (but with a sense of the whole). The colors lighten as they dry. The marouflage method has also been used for millennia. Murals today are painted in a variety of ways, using oil or water-based media. The styles can vary from abstract to trompe-l'œil(a French term for "fool" or "trick the eye"). Initiated by the works of mural artists like Graham Rust or Rainer Maria Latzke in the 1980s, trompe-l'oeil painting has experienced a renaissance in private and public buildings in Europe. Today, the beauty of a wall mural has become much more widely available with a technique whereby a painting or photographic image is transferred to poster paper or canvas which is then pasted to a wall surface (see wallpaper,Frescography) to give the effect of either a hand-painted mural or realistic scene. Copyright | Jai Helps Art                                                                                Developed By  Waltons Technology


What is the surname of the American acting brothers Alec, Stephen, Daniel and William?

Baldwin Brothers Biography Alec, Daniel, Billy and Stephen Alec Baldwin Alexander Rae Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958, in Massapequa, New York, Long_Island, New York) is an American actor who is the oldest and best known of the "Baldwin brothers", with brothers Daniel, Stephen and William. He is of three quarters Irish and one quarter French descent. Baldwin has appeared in movies such as The Cooler, The Hunt for Red October, Beetlejuice, Ghosts of Mississippi, Talk Radio, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (voice), The Cat in the Hat, Pearl Harbor, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Along Came Polly, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, and The Aviator. He has also made notable appearances on television. In particular, Baldwin is one of the most frequent hosts of Saturday Night Live, leading the show twelve times and also making cameo appearances regularly. He played William Barrett Travis in a movie about the Alamo called Thirteen Days of Glory. In 1998, he began narrating the American version of the children's series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He left the series in 2003. When Baldwin was young, he had a job as a busboy at famous New York City disco Studio 54. He claims he had to quit the job because seeing all of the sex going on around him "was making me too horny." He was married to actress Kim Basinger from 1993 to 2002. They were the subject of much media attention for the bitter divorce and custody fight for their daughter and accusations that Baldwin was an abusive husband, which many believed hurt his career in addition to allegations of him having anger managemeant problems. Baldwin, a liberal Democrat, has always had an active interest in politics and is frequently rumored to be a candidate for public office. He recently revealed in a British magazine interview that he plans to leave acting in a few years to pursue a career in politics. Daniel Baldwin Daniel Baldwin is an American actor who is a member of the famous Baldwin family. His brothers, Alec, Stephen and William are also actors. William Baldwin William Baldwin (born February 21, 1963) is an American actor. He is best known for his early starring roles in such films as Backdraft and Flatliners. He also starred alongside Cindy Crawford in the 1995 film, Fair Game. He has continued to act in films and on television, but has not taken many lead roles. His brothers Daniel, Stephen and Alec are also notable actors - see Baldwin brothers. He is married to singer Chynna Phillips. Stephen Baldwin Stephen Baldwin (born May 12, 1966) is an American actor. He is one of the "Baldwin brothers," with brothers Daniel, William and the most famous Alec. In 2001 and 2002 he was a frequent caller into "The Ron and Fez Show" before they moved from New York City to Washington D.C. He is a born-again Christian in contrast to his leftist brother Alec. He currently resides in the village of Nyack, New York. He directed and produced Livin' It!, a film that focuses on Christian athletes involved in extreme sports and evangelism. Stephen Baldwin became a born-again Christian shortly after the 9/11 attacks. He frequently talks about his conversion experience, which involves his Portuguese housekeeper. He also currently hosts the television show, Scare Tactics. From Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_brothers


What nationality is tennis player Agnieszka Radwanska?

Agnieszka Radwanska | The official Website of the International Premier Tennis League | Players | IPTLWorld.com Poland Bio Agnieszka Radwanska is a Polish professional tennis player. She has won 14 singles career titles and 2 doubles career titles till date. Radwanska has won quite a few accolades – she is the first Polish woman in the Open Era to reach the finals at Wimbledon and also the first Polish woman to claim a singles title. She considers Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis as her tennis inspirations. Her younger sister, Urszula is also a tennis player, and they have also played together as a doubles’ pair. Radwanska likes to construct points by wearing out her opponents and also makes intelligent use of the court. She has based her game on variety, mobility and a tendency to anticipate her opponent’s next move. The primary weapons in her arsenal include a mixture of lobs and slices, along with her ability to hit shots at strange angles. This will be Agnieszka’s first time playing in the IPTL. She will represent the Indian Aces and hope to add another dimension to the team. Have You Collected Your SlamCards ?


Which British poet (1914-1953) is quoted as having said “When one burns one’s bridges, what a very nice fire it makes”?

Quotes - MarkShirey MarkShirey Edited by Mark T. Shirey ( shirey@acm.org ) 1990-present. The emphasis is on thoughtfulness and humor, not triteness or truth. Please provide attributions if they're missing or wrong. -- 96.37% of all statistics are made up.  - Kevin D. Quitt -- He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing.  - A. J. Raffles -- You can only be young once, but you can be immature forever.  - Larry Anderson -- The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..."     - Isaac Asimov I'm not afraid of dying.  I just don't want to be there when it happens.     - Woody Allen It's not easy being green.  - Kermit -- History is made at night.  Character is what you are in the dark.     - Lord John Whorfin The more head downwards I am, the more I keep inventing new things.     - Alice, "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll -- The wise man never argues with the fool; casual observers may not be able to tell which is which. No matter what hits the fan, it's never distributed evenly. -- If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes. -- If we make peaceful revolution impossible, we make violent revolution inevitable.  - John Kennedy "Everything you say is boring and incomprehensible," she said, "but that alone doesn't make it true."  - Kafka -- Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans.  - John Lennon -- If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; but if you really make them think, they'll hate you. -- Can't have everything, where would you put it?  - Steven Wright Everywhere! - Anonymous Neckties can impair blood flow to the brain and interfere with clear thinking, alertness, and judgment. The more things change, the more they stay insane. -- It's only words... unless they're true.  - David Mamet -- When you're swimmin' in the creek And an eel bites your cheek That's a moray Any clod can have the facts, but having opinions is an art.     - Charles McCabe, San Francisco Chronicle -- An ounce of pretention is worth a pound of manure. -- At this distance they couldn't hit the broad side of a ba   - last words of some Southern Civil War general -- A good idea doesn't care who has it, and neither should you. -- I'm not cynical - just experienced. -- Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.     - Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965), Hansard, November 11, 1947 -- You can lie with statistics, but not to a statistician. -- To learn which questions are unanswerable, and _not_to_answer_them_; this skill is most needed in times of stress and darkness.     - Ursula LeGuin, The Left Hand of Darkness -- I have committed the worst sin of all that a man can commit.  I have not been happy.  May the glaciers of oblivion drag me and mercilessly let me fall.     - J. L. Borges I don't mind anybody dropping out of anything, but it's the imposition on somebody else I don't like.  The moment you start dropping out and then begging off somebody else to help you, then it's no good.  - George Harrison -- Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.  - Groucho Marx -- To recognize that nature has neither a preference for our species nor a bias against it takes only a little courage.  - James Randi -- Tell us what you despise; by this are you truly known. -- There is an evil tendency underlying all our technology - the tendency to do what is reasonable even when it isn't any good.     - Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -- The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents.  - H.P. Lovecraft -- Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.  - Isaac Asimov -- Some say I'm a visionary, others just say I'm seeing things. -- It is impossible to prepare simultaneously for wa


Who was the last British Prime Minister to have a double letter in their surname (as in Pitt)?

BBC - History -   British History in depth: Prime Ministers and Politics Timeline On This Day Prime Ministers and Politics Timeline Do you know which prime minister brought 'fallen women' to 10 Downing Street? Or which one fought a duel? Or who was known as 'the Goat'? Take a political journey through nearly 300 years of high ideals and low cunning, from Gordon Brown to the first man to hold prime ministerial powers, Robert Walpole. Margaret Thatcher Conservative, 1979 - 1990 Britain's first female prime minister came to power with the country descending into industrial and economic chaos. A relatively inexperienced politician, she nonetheless adopted a personal style of indomitable self-confidence and brooked no weakness in herself or her colleagues. Derisively dubbed the 'Iron Lady' by the Soviet press, she wore the moniker with pride. Her government's free-market policies included trade liberalisation, deregulation, sweeping privatisation, breaking the power of the unions, focus on the individual and the creation of an 'enterprise culture'. 'Thatcherism' has had a profound and lasting economic and social impact on Britain, and still sharply divides opinion to this day. The first PM to serve three consecutive terms (including two 'landslide' victories) she was eventually toppled by her own party following the disastrous imposition of a 'poll tax'. Nonetheless, she is generally considered to be one of the best peace time prime ministers of the 20th Century. James Callaghan Labour, 1976 - 1979 Callaghan inherited the office of prime minister following the surprise resignation of Harold Wilson. With only a tiny parliamentary majority to support him, he faced an increasingly one-sided confrontation with organised labour in the form of rampant strike action. Things came to a head in the so-called 'Winter of Discontent', a phrase from Shakespeare borrowed by Callaghan himself to describe the events leading up to February 1979. Britain was 'strikebound', with public servants staging mass walk outs, leaving food and fuel supplies undelivered, rubbish uncollected and - most notoriously - bodies unburied. Things became so bad in Hull it was dubbed 'the second Stalingrad'. The tabloid press has since been accused of overstating the severity of the situation (and wrongly quoting him as saying 'Crisis? What Crisis?') but it was enough at the time to sound the death knell for Callaghan's government later in the same year. Harold Wilson Labour, 1974 - 1976 In March 1974, Wilson became prime minister for the third time at the head of a minority government, following the first hung parliament (one where no party holds a majority) for 45 years. Often described as a wily fixer and negotiator, it took all of his skills to hold on to power in the face of economic and industrial turmoil. His party was also sharply divided, with many Labour members of parliament (MPs) bitter about Wilson's manoeuvring against his colleagues. He called another general election in October 1974, thereby ending the shortest parliament since 1681, and was returned to office with a majority of just three seats. He presided over a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Economic Community (EEC), and a collapse in the value of the pound which prompted a humiliating 'rescue operation' by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Exhausted, Wilson resigned saying 'politicians should not go on and on'. Edward Heath Conservative, 1970 - 1974 Heath succeeded in taking Britain into the European Economic Community (EEC), the precursor to the European Union, despite two previous failed attempts by Britain to gain entry, in 1961 and 1967. But his government was dogged by torrid industrial relations and recurrent economic crises. Things came to a head in January 1974, when industry was put on a 'three-day week' to conserve fuel. Fuel was in dangerously short supply following a combination of domestic industrial action (coal miners on 'work-to-rule') and a quadrupling of prices by Middle Eastern oil exporting nations in the wake of Israel's victory in the Yom Kipp


Which motor manufacturer produces the Duster model?

Dacia Duster Review | Auto Express Dacia Duster review The Dacia Duster offers the space and practicality of a Nissan Qashqai, but for the price of a Micra For:  Fantastic value for money, spacious interior, pleasant to drive Against:  Basic entry-level Access model, noisy diesel, poor safety score More on this model Dacia Duster gets new dual-clutch auto Sponsored Links The Dacia Duster is a small, rugged SUV that costs the same as a small hatchback. The low price point means it's competitive enough to take on the best of the best in the crossover SUV and family hatchback segments of the market. If you look it as a cut-price Nissan Qashqai, you might start questioning whether you really need to spend more for "the real thing". The Duster's range is pretty easy to get your head around, but the entry-level model is basic. In Access spec, there's black plastic everywhere, steel wheels and no radio inside, but it's a genuinely cheap and cheerful model. The range was subtly updated in late 2015 with a slightly revised front end and a new top line Laureate Prime model, and again in 2016 with a new automatic model. It does have its issues, particularly its three-star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating and engines that aren't quite as economical as more expensive alternatives. The Duster does fight back with a flexible interior, appealing looks and pretty decent driving manners. Our Choice:  Dacia Duster 1.5 dCi 110 4x2 Laureate There are plenty of good-value models in the crossover SUV sector, but there’s nothing to rival the Dacia Duster for a low list price. The Duster uses running gear from Renault and Nissan models, but economies of scale mean it's priced the same as a supermini. Yet in terms of size, the Duster has as much room as models such as the Ford Focus , Skoda Yeti and Suzuki Vitara – not to mention the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar , which is sold from sister showrooms. While Dacia has been under Renault ownership since 1999, it wasn't introduced in the UK as a Renault division until 2012. The Duster was the first car it sold here, and it set the template for the firm's budget range. The line-up has grown since the model was first introduced, and the current range comprises Access, Ambiance, Ambiance Prime, Laureate and Prestige trims. Image 8 of 8 Image 8 of 8 You can add more premium features to the Duster, such as leather upholstery for around £500, but cloth trim and a slightly more pared-back kit list better suit the Dacia’s honest, down-to-earth character. Items such as climate control or keyless go aren’t even available as options, but the Laureate model offers enough gear to make it usable at an accessible price. That’s why with the well proven 1.5 dCi engine it’s the pick of the range. Although it’s cheap, the Duster has plenty of appeal for drivers who aren’t badge snobs. Dacia is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, and so many of its mechanical components are tried and tested from other group models. The Dacia Duster seats five comfortably, and will even take you some way off-road if you opt for the 4x4 option. Most people will choose front-wheel drive, though, and both drive systems can be mated to a 109bhp 1.5 dCi diesel, a 114bhp petrol 1.6 (but only in the entry model), and a 124bhp 1.2-litre turbo petrol on top-spec Laureate and Prestige models. If you buy a front-wheel-drive diesel, Duster, there's also the option of a twin-clutch EDC auto gearbox. The Duster was updated in 2016, but the changes were limited to new alloy wheels, a tweaked front grille and new colours. The minor updates will be difficult to spot, yet the car’s charms in 4x4 spec mean it blends on-road comfort with grip and stability in slippy conditions at an incredibly affordable price. Performance is only adequate, but with decent efficiency, plenty of room and a good kit list in Laureate trim, the Duster is still a great compact off-roader for the money. Engines, performance and drive 3.5 A simple engine choice and a straightforward drive: the best engine is the diesel, and Dacia’s trim line-up reflects this The Dacia Dust


Which European city stands on fourteen islands at the mouth of Lake Mälaren?

Sweden | upgrademeforfree.com Sweden Stockholm, Sweden Stockholm, the cultural, political, and economic center of Sweden since the 13th century, is strategically located on fourteen islands at the mouth of Lake Mälaren. Since the city is built on islands and known for its beauty, "Venice of the North" is how it is known to some. 36 Photos


What name is given to the winding route through Jerusalem from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

Via Dolorosa « See The Holy Land Ecce Homo Arch   Every Friday afternoon hundreds of Christians join in a procession through the Old City of Jerusalem , stopping at 14 Stations of the Cross as they identify with the suffering of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. Their route is called the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows). This is also the name of the principal street they follow, a narrow marketplace abustle with traders and shoppers, most likely similar to the scene on the first Good Friday. It is unlikely that Jesus followed this route on his way to Calvary. Today’s Via Dolorosa originated in pious tradition rather than in certain fact, but it is hallowed by the footsteps of the faithful over centuries.   Franciscans lead procession First Station: Franciscan friars begin the Friday observance in the courtyard of the Al-Omariyyeh College (Seetheholyland.net) The Friday procession is led by Franciscan friars, custodians of most of the holy places since the 13th century. It starts at 4pm — 3pm in winter, from late October till late March — at an Islamic college, Umariyya School, just inside St Stephen’s or Lions’ Gate. Pilgrims wind their way westward to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , where the last five Stations are located. Each procession is accompanied by Muslim escorts, in Ottoman uniforms of red fez, gold-embroidered waistcoat and baggy blue trousers, who signify their authority by banging silver-topped staves on the ground. Many other pilgrims, individually or in groups with guides, follow the same 500-metre route during the week. Route of the Via Dolorosa (© Custodia Terrae Sanctae) For those walking the Via Dolorosa on their own, the route is not easy to follow. A simple map is available from the Christian Information Centre , Omar Ibn el-Khattab Square, Jaffa Gate (closed on Sundays, Christian holidays and Saturday afternoons). The PlanetWare travel guide also has a map.   Number of Stations has varied While scholars disagree on the path Jesus took on Good Friday, processions in the 4th and 5th centuries from the Mount of Olives to Calvary followed more or less along the route taken by modern pilgrims (but there were no stops for Stations). The practice of following the Stations of the Cross appears to have developed in Europe among Christians who could not travel to the Holy Land. The number of Stations varied from 7 to 18 or more. Today’s Via Dolorosa route was established in the 18th century, with the present 14 Stations, but some of the Stations were given their present location only in the 19th century. Bronze discs mark Stations on the Via Dolorosa; the crossed arms are a Franciscan symbol (Seetheholyland.net) Nine of the 14 stations are based on Gospel references. The other five — Jesus’ three falls, his meeting with his Mother, and Veronica wiping his face — are traditional.   Place of judgement unknown The chief difficulty in determining Jesus’ path to Calvary is that nobody knows the site of Pontius Pilate ’s Praetorium, where Jesus was condemned to death and given the crossbeam of his cross to carry through the streets. There are three possible locations: • Herod the Great ’s Palace or Citadel, which dominated the Upper City. The remains of the Citadel complex, with its Tower of David (erected long after King David’s time), are just inside the present Jaffa Gate. This is the most likely location. Second Station: Ecce Homo Arch over Via Dolorosa, with Sisters of Zion convent at right (Seetheholyland.net) • The Antonia Fortress, a vast military garrison built by Herod the Great north of the Temple compound and with a commanding view of the Temple environs. The Umariyya School, now the location of the first Station of the Cross, is believed to stand on part of its site. • The Palace of the Hasmoneans, built before Herod’s time to house the rulers of Judea. It was probably located midway between Herod’s Palace and the Temple, in what is today the Jewish Quarter. In the immediate area of the Antonia Fortress is the Ecce Homo Arch, reaching across the Via Dolorosa. It is named after the famous phrase (“Behol


Also in the Musée d’Orsay, who painted Bedroom in Arles in the 1880s?

Tour of the Musée D'Orsay - Paris Travel Guide | Localers Twitter Facebook Google+ Email Housed in a former rail terminus on the banks of the seine, the Musée d’Orsay is one of the largest collections of 19th century Impressionist and post-Impressionist art in the world. I begin my tour of the museum on the ground floor with my feet firmly placed in the 19th century -- 1863 to be exact. I am face to face with Alexandre Cabanel’s painting “The Birth of Venus” (1863). It is a painting little known today but was lauded by the critics when it appeared that year at the Salon. It was popular with the establishment too, finding its way into emperor Napoleon III’s art collection. There is something oddly artificial about this painting. Venus lies naked, sprawled out, with her long flowing hair by her side, as though she were lying on a bed. The problem is, she’s not lying on a bed, she’s lying on a wave, and there are angels fluttering about overhead. Her arm is gracefully arched over her face, obstructing her view, and as a consequence we are free to look on her naked body, without her reproachful looks to put us off. My guide for the day, Marjorie, explains: ‘this painting is an example of a work produced at the height of 19th century academic painting when idealisation of the female nude and ancient mythology took precedence over any concerns for realism’. The Paris Salon- Madison Square Garden for 19th Century Artists Cabanel’s painting made its debut at the yearly Parisian Salon, where paintings like this adhered to the strict academic codes of the period. Marjorie says, 'at the time, exposing your work at the Salon was the equivalent of a musician performing at Madison Square Garden.' Many paintings were routinely refused from the Salon. And as a result, Napoleon III was forced (at the behest of 3,000 disgruntled artists) to establish “Le Salon des Refusés”, or Exhibition of Rejects in 1863 -- the same year that Cabanel's painting was exhibited. It was in this same year that the second painting I will see, Edouard Manet’s Dejeuner sur l’Herbe, will be exhibited at the Salon des Refuses. Dejeuner Sur l’Herbe – A Modern Art Game Changer We leave the ground floor galleries and climb to the top floor to see the Manet. On our way, we pass the first huge clock face, which bookends each side of the top floor of the museum, and through which the luminous grey light of Paris seeps. I stop and take a look out -- past the giant hands -- at the remarkable view of the right bank of Paris, with Montmartre rising in the distance. I walk on with Marjorie and we are confronted by what most art historians consider a game changer in art, Manet's Dejeuner Sur l’Herbe. Marjorie stands to the side of the painting illustrating convincingly that, although Dejeuner Sur l’Herbe and The Birth of Venus were painted in the same year, and feature female nudes, they couldn’t be more different in style and subject matter. Manet’s female nudes are not polished, idealised beauties in the way that Cabanel's are. Nor have they anything to do with antiquity. Their male companions, dressed in contemporary 19th century garb, lend the painting a stark modernity, accentuating the odd nakedness of the two women. The woman sitting in the foreground looks out of the painting to meet the viewer’s gaze as though she is challenging it. It stands in stark constrast to Cabanel’s Venus -- the fay, wallflower, who looks away as we gazed freely on her naked body. Paris’s Shift to Impressionism Marjorie also points to a shift in a style of painting, which made Manet an important precursor to Impressionism. Details like the foliage and the hands of the sitters are painted without precision, as though the painting had been rushed. The painting’s exhibition was met with uproar and bewilderment by the establishment. Painters who admired Manet, however, began to adopt his rushed style. Marjorie shows me how this evolution in painting took place as we walk on to the next room to see some of the standout Impressionist works painted a decade later by Claude Monet and Camille Pissar