Which actor, who played a Bond villain, was a first cousin of Ian Fleming?

Top 10 James Bond Villains Top 10 James Bond Villains Summary With over twenty Bond movies released through five decades, the James Bond series has had more than its fair share of great villains. Many have been parodied and copied over the years, and their influence can't be overstated. But which ones really stand out, as the most memorable and iconic villains of the series? Here is our list of the top 10. Enjoy! #10 Le Chiffre No list of villains would be complete without including Le Chiffre from Casino Royale . He brought a much needed freshness to the reboot of the series, and was one of the better villains of the post-80s era. The intense battle on and off the poker table was reminiscent of some of the climactic gambling scenes in the Ian Fleming novels. With his creepy eye, sly demeanour, and--as if anyone could forget--his comical torture scene , Le Chiffre is the perfect place to start this article, and well deserving of 10th place. Le Chiffre was played by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, who reprised the role in the 2008 first-person shooter Quantum of Solace, providing his voice and likeliness for the character. #9 Francisco Scaramanga Christopher Lee had originally been put forward for the role of Dr. No by his step cousin, Ian Fleming. Unfortunately for him, the producers had already cast Joseph Wiseman , but Lee got his chance again twelve years later. He accepted the role of Fransisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun . Lee was perfect for the role of Scaramanga. He was the spitting image of Fleming's original character, and was received very well by fans and critics alike. His effortless charm, million dollar contracts, golden gun, and third nipple are all memorable parts of the film. Scaramanga has also proved to be a popular character in the 007 video games. #8 Nick Nack And of course, you can't list Scaramanga without immediately thinking of his small butler and sidekick. He may only have two nipples, but he's still a hell of a guy. His cheeky attitude added a lot of humour to the film, and he worked surprisingly well alongside Christopher Lee. From a mini-gun and peanuts, to suitcases and bottles of wine, there is no shortage of entertainment with Nick Nack around. It is also to his credit that he was the inspiration behind Mini-Me in the Austin Powers films. Nick Nack was played by French actor Herve Villechaize, who would go on to play the role of Tattoo in the American series Fantasy Island. #7 Mr. Big/Kananga American actor Yaphet Kotto joined the Bond series in 1973, playing politician Dr. Kananga and big time gangster Mr. Big in Live and Let Die . Dr. Kananga was a calm Prime Minister of San Monique, an island used to grow drugs that were to be smuggled into America. He would don a rubber face mask to become his alter ego Mr. Big, the ruthless gangster who controls most of Harlem. He played the two characters well, and brought a unique contribution to the series. Kananga, alongside his taro reading mistress Solitaire, remains a popular and well known villain amongst fans. His death by a co2 filled bullet was a little cheesy though. #6 Jaws Jaws is the quintessential bigger than life bad guy, and without doubt the most well known of the Bond villains. Introduced in The Spy who Loved Me , 7 foot tall Richard Kiel brought to life the steel giant, lending the film a unique charm. He proved so popular that the producers brought him back for the next film, Moonraker . His second appearance came with a rather cheesy love affair, but Jaws remains a favourite among fans, and has gone down in history as one of the best villains in cinema history. He has appeared in many of the James Bond video games, as both playable characters and as part of the story.


"What veteran singer songwriter released the 2011 album ""50 Words For Snow""?"

Kate Bush: 50 Words For Snow | Listen to the Complete Album, On-Demand, on KCRW.com | KCRW PREVIEW Kate Bush: 50 Words For Snow 50 Words For Snow will be available to stream on demand from November 14, 2011 through November 22, 2011. The album will be released on November 21, 2011. NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM THIS EPISODE Here are 50 words for Kate Bush's new album, 50 Words for Snow: Powdery fantasia. Contemplative. Winter matins. Playful. Opium reverie. Grounded. Ghost story. Sensual. Artistic recalibration. Unhurried. Drummer's holiday. Quiet. Ode to the white keys. Imaginative. Exploration of the lower register. Floating. Mother-son duet. Solitary. Snowed-in erotica. Collaborative. Joni Mitchell answer record. Inimitable. Supernatural space odyssey. What we'd expect from Kate Bush. It's a fun game to mimic the task that England's elusive empress of art rock devised for her tenth studio long-player. Approaching this release from different angles, speaking of it in different metaphors, piques the imagination while creating a kind of unity of thought, just as limiting herself stories inspired by winter weather clearly did for Bush herself. But the phrase that might spring first from the lips of Bush fans digging into Snow is, "Welcome home!" In seven long tracks, the album does just what the best of Bush's work has done since she burst on the scene, Spandex bat wings flapping, at the dawn of the New Wave era. It melds extravagant tales to unconventional song structures, and spirits the listener away into Bush's distinctive hyper-reality. Each song on Snow grows as if from magic beans from the lush ground of the singer-songwriter's keyboard parts. The music is immersive but spacious, jazz-tinged and lushly electronic – the 53-year-old Bush, a prime inspiration for tech-savvy young auteurs ranging from St. Vincent to hip hop's Big Boi, pioneered the use of digital samplers in the 1980s and is still an avid aural manipulator. This time around, drummer Steve Gadd is her most important interlocutor– the veteran studio player's gentle but firm touch draws the frame around each of her expanding landscapes. But Bush won't be restricted. Like Joni Mitchell on Don Juan's Restless Daughter, she takes her time and lets her (inner) characters lead. The album's scenarios are as startling as the ones Bush spun in the plastic-fantastic 1980s, when she became famous for taking on myriad alter egos, from Houdini's bride to Wilhelm Reich's son to a whole menagerie of mythical creatures. But the tighter focus on Snow makes it one of Bush's most cohesive works, despite the daunting length of each track. (The shortest is nearly 7 minutes long.) Spinning variations on a theme instead of offering one long narrative, Bush re-imagines the concept album as a poet would, connecting its elements with delicate thread. The opening and closing cuts invoke a chill as they dwell on the ephemeral nature of the life cycle. "Snowflake," which features the choirboy pipes of Bush's 12-year-old son Bertie, gives voice to the melting consciousness of the natural world itself; "Among Angels" reads like the sweetest kind of suicide note. In between there are imagined couplings – with a gender-bending snowman in "Misty," and with a lover found and lost through many reincarnations (and played with brio by Elton John) in "Snowed In At Wheeler Street." The bounding "Wild Man" chases a yeti. The trip hoppy title track casts actor Stephen Fry as a Siberian scientist building a lexicon in white. That song could be a metaphor for Bush's own creative process. In its choruses, she goads Fry on with vocals that come close to the legendary witch whoops of her youth: Come on, Joe, you have 32 to go! The listener can easily imagine Bush pushing herself in a similar way: waking up in the morning and telling herself to get on that sled and ride her theme to a new destination. We who treasure her can rejoice that she cut a path so quickly. Along with May's reworking of older material, Director's Cut, this makes for two Bush albums in a year. The once moderately reclusive artiste ma


St Mungo also known as St Kentigern is patron city of which UK city?

St. Kentigern Mungo - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Kentigern Mungo Author and Publisher - Catholic Online Facts Patron of Glasgow; Scotland; Penicuik; salmon; those accused of infidelity; against bullies Death: 603 Take the Saints Trivia Quiz now! First bishop of the Strathclyde Britons. By tradition, he was the son of a British princess. His nickname, Mungo, means "dear one" or "darling." He was raised by St. Serf and be. came a hermit near Glasgow, Scotland. Driven into exile after being consecrated a bishop circa 540, Kentigern went to St. David in Wales. There he possibly founded St. Asaph Monastery at Llanelwy. In 553, he returned to Scotland to continue his labors. With St. Theneva, he is patron of Glasgow. He is also venerated as the Apostle of Northwestern England and Southwestern Scotland.


Which American painter and illustrator born in 1894, was famous for scenes of everyday life that appeared in Saturday Post magazine?

Norman Rockwell: American Illustrator, Painter of Nostalgic Posters Mother and Son Peeling Potatoes. Private Collection. Biography A full-time professional illustrator by the age of 18, the American painter and graphic artist Norman Rockwell     produced some of the most famous pictorial images of everyday American     life in the 20th century. He became a household name in American     art , creating illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post magazine     for over 40 years. His best known pictures include the Willie Gillis series, Rosie the Riveter and Saying Grace. Rockwell produced     over 4,000 original artworks in his life, many of which have become valuable     collector items. He also produced two best-selling books: Norman Rockwell,     Illustrator (1946), and Norman Rockwell Artist and Illustrator (1970). Rather like his earlier counterpart Winslow     Homer (1836-1910), Rockwell has often been dismissed as corny by his     critics (many art books still carry no reference to his aesthetics or creative accomplishments), but his down to earth realism portrayed an important, if nostalgic, view of American life. In 2006,     one of his paintings sold for $15.4 million at Sotheby's New York. FAMOUS AMERICAN ARTISTS For biographies of some of the best modern US painters, see: Best Genre Painters . Art Students     League Rockwell was born in New York in 1894. Displaying an early interest and     talent for drawing , Rockwell transferred     to the Chase Art School at the age of 14. Two years later, he moved to     the National Academy of Design and finally to the famous Art     Students League , where some of the biggest names in 20th century art     studied, including Winslow Homer, Georgia     O'Keeffe , Man Ray, Barnett Newman, Jackson     Pollock , Lee Krasner, Mark Rothko, Louise Nevelson, Robert Rauschenberg,     Reginald Marsh, Cy Twombly , Romare Bearden,     Donald Judd and Roy Lichtenstein. One of the teachers at the time of Rockwell's     attendance was the Ashcan school painter George     Bellows (1882-1925). The League is run by artists for artists, it     never issues certificates or degrees - instead its aim is to encourage     the pursuit of art, and the understanding of artistic thinking and processes.     Rockwell was taught by Frank Vincent Dumond, illustrator and impressionist     painter; George Bridgeman, painter in the fields of anatomy and figure     drawing ; and illustrator Thomas Fogarty. First Illustrations Rockwell's first major breakthrough came in book     illustration in 1912, at the age of 18 when he illustrated his first     book Tell Me Why: Stories about Mother Nature, by the author Carl H Claudy. In 1913, Rockwell became the Art Editor for Boy's Life,     a magazine published by the Boy Scouts of America. He painted and illustrated     several front covers. At the age of 22 he sold his first front-cover illustration     to the Saturday Evening Post. He would go on to create another 320 over     the next forty years, in the process becoming one of the greatest modern     artists in America. This early success with the Post, triggered commissions     from other magazines, including Life, Judge and Leslie's.     During the First World War Rockwell enlisted in the army and served as     a war artist. After the War, he began creating advertising illustrations,     including those for Orange Crush Soft Drinks, Willys Cars and Jell-O. In 1920 Rockwell created the images for the Boys Scout     Calendar, which proved so popular he produced it every year, for the next     fifty years. Financial Success By the early 1930s Rockwell was financially secure and, with his second     wife, moved to a large farm in Arlington, Vermont. Here, his genre-painting began to reflect small time town life (in the style of regionalism ),     with images of local friendly policemen, doctors and dentist


What form of food poisoning is derived from the Latin word for a sausage?

Botulism is a rare disease Trichinae Botulism Botulism, once known as a sausage disease, is a rare but serious food borne disease that can be fatal. The symptoms of botulism include difficulty swallowing, talking, breathing, and double vision. Without medical care, respiratory failure and death are likely. Botulism symptoms typically appear within 18 to 36 hours of eating the contaminated food, although it can be as soon as four hours and last up to eight days. There are three main kinds of botulism. Food borne botulism is caused by eating foods that contain the botulism toxin. Wound botulism is caused by a toxin produced from a wound infected with Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism is caused by consuming the spores of the botulinum bacteria, which then grow in the intestines and release toxin. All forms of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies. Food borne botulism can be especially dangerous because many people can be poisoned at once.Sausages are the second biggest source of food contamination and food poisoning, second only to home-canned food products. The optimal temperature range for the growth of botulinum bacteria is 78-95° F (26-35° C) and it significantly slows down at 118° F (48° C). When these bacteria feel threatened, they envelop themselves in protective shells called “spores” which can only be killed by boiling at 212° F (100° C) for at least 10 minutes. At 140° F (60° C), botulinum spores do not develop into toxins, although they are heat resistant. History Since the dawn of civilization, man has dealt with food poisoning. It has led to a number of deaths, but in most cases it was blamed on natural causes. There are very few historical sources and documents on the subject prior to the 19th century. In the 10th century Emperor Leo VI of Byzantium prohibited the manufacturing of blood sausage. At the end of the 18th century, there were documented outbreaks of “sausage poisoning” in Wurttemberg, Southern Germany. The biggest one occurred in 1793 in Wildbad where 13 people became ill (6 of whom died) after eating a locally produced blood sausage. The above incident motivated the German poet and district medical officer Justinus Kerner (1786-1862) to investigate the problem. Although he did not succeed in discovering the bacteria that caused it, he was the first to publish detailed and complete descriptions of food poisoning between 1817 –1822. He described 230 cases, most of which were linked to the consumption of sausages. He called it “sausage” or “fatty” poison. The illness first became known as “Kerner’s desease”, Kerner being the man who signed the death certificates of those who ate contaminated sausage. In time it became known as "botulism" after "botulus", the Latin word for sausage. Eighty years after Kerner's work, in 1895, a botulism outbreak affected 34 people. After a funeral dinner in the small Belgian village of Ellezelles, a group of local musicians consumed smoked ham. That led to the discovery of the pathogen Clostridium botulinum by Emile Pierre van Ermengem, Professor of bacteriology at the University of Ghent who investigated the incident. Van Ermengen discovered that botulism was intoxication, not infection, and that the toxin was produced by a spore-forming obligate anaerobic bacterium, “Clostridium botulinum.” Where Does Botulism Come From? C. botulinum is found in soil and aquatic sediments all over the world. Like plant seeds, they can lie dormant for years. They are not threatening until they encounter an adequate environment for growth. The spores that germinate produce the deadly botulinum toxin. To grow, these bacteria require a slightly acidic, oxygen free environment that is warm and moist. That is exactly what happens when smoking meats: First of all, meats contain a lot of moisture. Water is then also added to sausages to facilitate stuffing. Hams and other meats are pumped up with water. Lack of oxygen – when smoking we intentionally decrease the amount of available air. This allows our sawdust or wood chips to generate lots of smoke. Temperatures


Who is the regular presenter of 'The Official Chart' on Radio One?

Clara Amfo to become new presenter of BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Clara Amfo to become new presenter of BBC Radio 1's Official Chart Clara Amfo will take over Radio 1's Official Chart Show from Jameela Jamil next year. Twitter Clara Amfo has been announced as the new presenter of BBC Radio 1's Official Chart, taking over from Jameela Jamil.  Clara, who will present her first Official Chart show in January next year, becomes the second female to host the programme since the station first started broadcasting it in 1967.  “It’s an absolute honour to be taking the reins on a show as iconic as The Official Chart," Clara said. "It is a dream come true and I can’t wait to announce the UK's Number 1 for the first time!" Surrey-born Clara joined BBC Radio 1Xtra in September 2013 as part of the station's Weekend Breakfast show and was the voice behind the Official UK Top 40 on MTV's channels. Ben Cooper, Controller at Radio 1 and 1Xtra, added: "Clara is a fantastic presenter with huge potential and I know that fans of the Official Chart will love her energy and passion for music. I’m proud that 1Xtra continues to develop young talent for the BBC and the wider industry."  Clara takes over from Jameela, who joined the show in January 2013 and revealed that she will stay at the station but in a more flexible role.  She said: "I've wanted to travel and work abroad my whole life, and always put it off due to the wonderful opportunities I have been afforded here, but a recent cancer scare jolted me to just do it, now, while I still can. "Radio 1 are my family and have been incredibly supportive, and I am absolutely staying at the station but in a role that is flexible enough that I can leave the country for longer periods of time, than if I have a set weekly slot. "I've literally never had more fun at work in my life than I do with Radio 1, and I hate to leave the chart, but I'm also excited for my next adventure.” Clara will present her first Official Chart show on Radio 1 on January 25th 2015. She will also continue to host the Weekend Breakfast Show on 1Xtra. Previous Official Chart presenters have included: Alan Freeman (1967-1972), Tom Browne (1972-1978), Simon Bates (1978-1979 and again in 1984), Tony Blackburn (1979-1982), Tommy Vance (1982-1984), Richard Skinner (1984-1986), Bruno Brookes (1986-1990 and again from 1992-1995), Mark Goodier (1990-1992 and again from 1995-2002), Wes Butters (2003-2005), JK and Joel (2005-2007), Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates 2007-2009) and Reggie Yates (2009-2012).


Which word is used for an unnatural craving for unsuitable food, often exhibited during pregnancy?

Pica | definition of pica by Medical dictionary Pica | definition of pica by Medical dictionary http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/pica   Definition Pica is the persistent craving and compulsive eating of nonfood substances. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, classifies it as a feeding and eating disorder of childhood. Description The puzzling phenomenon of pica has been recognized and described since ancient times. Pica has been observed in ethnic groups worldwide, in both primitive and modernized cultures, in both sexes, and in all age groups. The word pica comes from the Latin name for magpie, a bird known for its unusual and indiscriminate eating habits. In addition to humans, pica has been observed in other animals, including the chimpanzee. Pica in humans has many different subgroups, defined by the substance that is ingested. Some of the most commonly described types of pica are eating earth, soil or clay (geophagia), ice (pagophagia) and starch (amylophagia). However, pica involving dozens of other substances, including cigarette butts and ashes, hair, paint chips, and paper have also been reported. In one unusual case, the patient ingested transdermal patches of fentanyl, an opioid medication given for severe pain . Eating the skin patch increased the patient's dose of the drug by a factor of 10. Although pica can occur in individuals of any background, a higher incidence of pica is associated with: developmental delay and mental retardation psychiatric disease and autism poor nutrition or low blood levels of iron and other minerals certain cultural or religious traditions Causes and symptoms Evidence suggests that there may be several causes of pica. One widely held theory points to iron deficiency as a major cause of pica. Several reports have described pica in individuals with documented iron deficiency, although there has been uncertainty as to whether the iron deficiency was a cause of pica or a result of it. Because some substances, such as clay, are believed to block the absorption of iron into the bloodstream, it was thought that low blood levels of iron could be the direct result of pica. However, some studies have shown that pica cravings in individuals with iron deficiency stop once iron supplements are given to correct the deficiency. Another study looked specifically at the rate of iron absorption during pica conditions and normal dietary behavior, and showed that the iron absorption was not decreased by pica. In addition, low blood levels of iron commonly occur in pregnant women and those with poor nutrition, two populations at higher risk for pica. Such findings offer strong support of iron deficiency as a cause, rather than result, of pica. Other reports suggest that pica may have a psychological basis and may even fall into the spectrum of obsessive-compulsive disorder . Pica has a higher incidence in populations with an underlying diagnosis involving mental functioning. These diagnoses include psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, developmental disorders including autism, and conditions with mental retardation. These conditions are not characterized by iron deficiency, which supports a psychological component in the cause of pica. Cultural and religious traditions may also play a role in pica behavior. In some cultures, nonfood substances are believed to have positive health or spiritual effects. Among some African Americans in the south, ingesting a particular kind of white clay is believed to promote health and reduce morning sickness during pregnancy. Other cultures practice pica out of belief that eating a particular substance may promote fertility or bring good luck. The hallmark feature of pica, consistently consuming nonfood substances, often does not present publicly. People may be embarrassed to admit to these unusual eating habits, and may hide it from their family and physician. In other cases, an individual may not report the pica to a physician simply because of a lack of knowledge of pica's potential medical significance. B


In which sport or game can there be 'Open Pairs' and 'Swiss Teams' tournaments?

Team Games Explained | American Contract Bridge League All players have fewer than 50 masterpoints. 99er TEAMS All members of every team have fewer than 100 masterpoints. The event usually is run either as a Swiss or a Knockout. 199er TEAMS All members of every team have fewer than 200 masterpoints. The event can be run as any one of the three basic types. 299er TEAMS All members of every team have fewer than 300 masterpoints. The event can be run as any one of the three basic team categories Back to top BOARD-A-MATCH SWISS TEAMS The basic formula for the way in which Board-a-Match Swiss Teams is conducted can be found under Swiss Teams. The difference between this type of Swiss Teams event and others is the method of scoring. The scoring for this type of event is radically different from the other two forms of Swiss Teams. After play is finished and the team compares scores, one matchpoint is awarded for each board won and half a matchpoint for each board tied. The margin of difference on any board is of no consequence—winning a board by 10 is the same as winning a board by 4000—it’s one matchpoint. This type of game is rare. Occasionally it is run at an NABC, but seldom elsewhere. Back to top BRACKETED KNOCKOUT TEAMS Some method of seeding based on ability and experience is used to divide the total field into two or more groups. The breakdown is according to the average masterpoints of all players on each team. Each bracket comprises a separate event with its own masterpoint awards. There is no interplay between brackets. The size of each bracket and the number of brackets depend on the number of teams entered. The purpose of bracketing is to establish groups within which each team is competitive. Back to top COMPACT KNOCKOUT TEAMS The usual match in a Knockout event runs for at least one full session. However, in a Compact event the matches are shortened so that two matches can be played in one session, with just four players per team. This makes it possible to determine a winner in a 16-team game in just two sessions. This means the entire event can be finished in one day. Back to top FLIGHTED TEAMS An event that is broken down into two or three fields based on masterpoints. Each field competes as a separate event. The flight for which a team is eligible is determined by the masterpoint holding of the player with the most masterpoints. Teams may opt to play in a higher classification but not in a lower one. Often the breakdown is as follows: Flight A—0 to infinity Flight B—0-750 Flight C—0-300 All teams are eligible to compete in Flight A. Only teams with fewer than 750 points for each player (Flight B limit) are eligible to play in Flight B. Only teams with fewer than 300 points for each player (Flight C limit) are eligible to play in Flight C. Teams eligible for Flight A only may compete in Flight A only. Back to top HANDICAP KNOCKOUT TEAMS A handicap is assigned to each team based on a formula that takes experience and ability into consideration. The handicap is in the form of International Matchpoints (IMPs) and is added to the IMP total of the less experienced team. The winner is determined by the score after the handicap has been added in. Back to top MASTER TEAMS A Master Teams usually run in conjunction with a Non-Master Teams. An arbitrary lower limit of masterpoints is set, and at least one member of each team must have at least that number of masterpoints. Back to top MINI-KNOCKOUT TEAMS The Mini-Knockout Teams consists of a series of very short matches. It is designed to produce a winner in just one session of play. It often is played as a midnight game at regionals and NABCs. It’s often called a Lose and Snooze Teams because the winners play on while the losers can get to bed a little earlier. Back to top MIXED TEAMS A Mixed Teams comprises at least two men and two women. The maximum number of team members is six, and the breakdown by gender must be as even as possible—for instance, with a six-player team, three must be men and three must be women. The team at all times must field mixed pairs—at no time


Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem claims to be the oldest pub in England, in which city is it?

Britain's oldest pubs | CNN Travel Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem , Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham; +44 115 947 3171 Nearby: Nottingham Castle , with museum and cave tours; Sherwood Forest. Old Ferry Boat, Holywell, St Ives This riverside thatched-roofed hostelry in rural Cambridgeshire claims to be England’s oldest pub -- it certainly looks the part. An inn supposedly stood on the site as long ago as 560, but the evidence is about as substantial as the Old Ferry Boat’s supernatural inhabitant -- the pub is said to receive an annual visit from the ghost of a lovelorn teenage girl who hanged herself and was buried in unconsecrated ground beneath the inn floor. A more reliable foundation date of 1400 relates to the current premises. Old Ferry Boat , Holywell, St Ives, Cambridgeshire; +44 1480 463 22 Nearby: City of Cambridge PIC; Cambridgeshire Fenlands PIC. The Bingley Arms, Leeds Monk-warmer, aka the Bingley Arms' fireplace.Follow a monk, historically speaking, and you’ll find somewhere to drink. Some date the origin of the Bingley Arms to as long ago as 953. Known then as The Priests Inn, it first served as a rest house for monks staggering -- sorry, traveling -- between abbeys in Leeds and York. Clergymen had it tougher a few centuries later -- the 16th century holes found in the pub’s chimney were used to conceal Catholic priests on the run from Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries campaign. Today pub-goers can enjoy a good pint of ale by the fireplace, instead of hiding up it. Bingley Arms Church Lane, Bardsey, Leeds; +44 1937 572 462 Nearby: Yorkshire Dales ; shopping in Leeds ; historic York . Porch House, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire Once a workhouse, now -- thankfully -- a pub.The newest of the oldest pubs in a sense, the refurbished Porch House only opened in its current guise in September of this year. However, the pub has had several incarnations (or should that be inn-carnations) over the centuries. “Parts of the Porch House building are said to date to AD947. “It’s also been a family home and a hospice over the years. “It almost became a workhouse too, but nothing came of the plans in the 1700s.” Porch House , Digbeth Street, Stow-on-the-Wold; +44 1451 870 048 Nearby: The heart of the Cotswolds . Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans A regular? Well, he may have drunk at Ye Olde Cocks at least once.This hostelry traces its origins as far back as 793 -- the property having had numerous incarnations since then. Part of the present pub is a striking freestanding octagonal dovecote, built in the 11th century before being moved to its current location in 1539. Once again, inventive monks with alcohol on their minds feature heavily in the story, with tunnels connecting the beer cellar and St Albans Cathedral. The name, however, only came into being in the 19th century, when cock-fighting was a regular pastime. However the evidence stacks up, any inn that can boast Oliver Cromwell as a past guest surely deserves its place in any olde pub chronicles. Ye Olde Fighting Cocks , 16 Abbey Mill Lane, St.Albans; +44 1727 869 152 Nearby: St Albans Cathedral ; Verulamium Museum (Roman museum). The Skirrid Mountain Inn, near Abergavenny, Wales The Skirrid's "hanging beam," helpfully reproduced for visitors.Reputed to be the oldest continuously running pub in Wales, evidence suggests there was an inn on the site as far back as the era of the 11th-century Norman Conquest. Many people who could verify that claim were no doubt put to the sword, but what is certain is the pub’s reputation for its spirits -- of both varieties. Regarding the supernatural sort, the pub’s first floor was once used as a courtroom, with hangings carried out from an oak beam above the staircase. Over the years a number of paranormal activities have been investigated -- including sightings of the ghost of the “Hanging Judge.” Some blame those on the other in-house spirits, though. Skirrid Mountain Inn , Llanvihangel, Crucorney, Monmouthshire; +44 1873 890 258 Nearby: Brecon Beacons National Park . The Sheep Heid Inn, Edinburgh Skittles at the Sheep Heid (r


The Lusitania was sunk, with much loss of life, on May 7th of which year?

Sinking of the Lusitania Sinking of the Lusitania Disasters & Tragedy Sinking of the Lusitania Illustration of the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915.  Picture from the National Defence, courtesy of the Canadian Navy. Updated January 01, 2016. What Was the Sinking of the Lusitania? On May 7, 1915, the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania, which primarily ferried people and goods across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Great Britain, was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sunk. Of the 1,959 people on board, 1,198 died, including 128 Americans. The sinking of the Lusitania enraged Americans and hastened the United States' entrance into World War I . Dates: Sunk May 7, 1915 Also Known As: Sinking of the RMS Lusitania Be Careful! Since the outbreak of World War I, ocean voyage had become dangerous. Each side hoped to blockade the other, thus prevent any war materials getting through. German U-boats (submarines) stalked British waters, continually looking for enemy vessels to sink. Thus all ships headed to Great Britain were instructed to be on the lookout for U-boats and take precautionary measures such as travel at full speed and make zigzag movements. Unfortunately, on May 7, 1915, Captain William Thomas Turner slowed the Lusitania down because of fog and traveled in a predictable line. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance Turner was the captain of the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner famous for its luxurious accommodations and speed capability. The Lusitania was primarily used to ferry people and goods across the Atlantic Ocean between the United States and Great Britain. On May 1, 1915, the Lusitania had left port in New York for Liverpool to make her 202nd trip across the Atlantic. On board were 1,959 people, 159 of whom were Americans. Spotted By a U-Boat Approximately 14 miles off the coast of Southern Ireland at Old Head of Kinsale, neither the captain nor any of his crew realized that the German U-boat, U-20, had already spotted and targeted them. At 1:40 p.m., the U-boat launched a torpedo. The torpedo hit the starboard (right) side of the Lusitania. Almost immediately, another explosion rocked the ship. At the time, the Allies thought the Germans had launched two or three torpedoes to sink the Lusitania. However, the Germans say their U-boat only fired one torpedo. Many believe the second explosion was caused by the ignition of ammunition hidden in the cargo hold. Others say that coal dust, kicked up when the torpedo hit, exploded. No matter what the exact cause, it was the damage from the second explosion that made the ship sink. The Lusitania Sinks The Lusitania sunk within 18 minutes. Though there had been enough lifeboats for all passengers, the severe listing of the ship while it sunk prevented most from being launched properly. Of the 1,959 people on board, 1,198 died. The toll of civilians killed in this disaster shocked the world. Americans Are Angry Americans were outraged to learn 128 U.S. civilians were killed in a war in which they were officially neutral. Destroying ships not known to be carrying war materials countered generally accepted international war protocols. The sinking of the Lusitania heightened tensions between the U.S. and Germany and, coupled with the Zimmermann Telegram , helped sway American opinion in favor of joining the war. The Shipwreck In 2008, divers explored the wreck of the Lusitania, situated eight miles off the coast of Ireland. On board, the divers found approximately four million U.S.-made Remington .303 bullets. The discovery supports the German's long-held belief that the Lusitania was being used to transport war materials. The find also supports the theory that it was the explosion of munitions on board that caused the second explosion on the Lusitania.


For what commodity is Alkmaar in Holland famous?

Alkmaar travel guide - Wikitravel 10 Get out Alkmaar [1] is a historic city in the Province of North Holland in the Netherlands , about 10 km inland from the coast, and 40 km north-west of Amsterdam . The city's population is about 95 000, the whole urban area is almost three times that number. Alkmaar is the regional center for the northern part of the Province, serving about 600 000 people. The city center preserves the 17th-century pattern of canals and narrow streets, and has many historic buildings (and some ugly new ones). The nearby beaches and dune reserves are easily accessible from Alkmaar itself. Inland is a historic agricultural landscape, with 17th century polders: one (De Beemster) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Understand[ edit ] Park beside former moat, at Clarissenbolwerk Alkmaar is on the 'peninsula' of Holland, north of Amsterdam and Haarlem. In the Middle Ages, this was a region of lakes and marshes, lying behind the coastal dunes. (The medieval coastline was different: the sea began north of the line Medemblik - Schagen - Petten). In the last 800 years, the region behind the dunes was reclaimed from lakes and the sea - often several times, as land was flooded again and again. The polders around Alkmaar are among the oldest in the Netherlands. The small Achtermeer, south of Alkmaar, was the first recorded drainage of a lake by windmills, in 1532. Alkmaar began as a small settlement on higher ground, a natural sand ridge (old beach line). The oldest towns and villages in the County of Holland were built on these ridges, or at the edge of the dunes: Alkmaar is the most northern of the towns. The settlement was first recorded in the 9th century. As it grew, Alkmaar was granted city rights in 1254. It had a strategic importance as a defensive position for the County of Holland: the hostile West Frisian lands began on the other side of the moat, on the Oudorp side. By the late Middle Ages, Alkmaar was the largest town north of Amsterdam and Haarlem, and it still is. It was a market town for the agricultural products of the region, and the Alkmaar cheese market is a reminder of that function. In 1573, during the Dutch Revolt, Alkmaar was besieged by the Spanish forces. The siege failed, and since then the 'victory at Alkmaar' is regarded as a turning point in the Netherlands' independence from Spain. In the 17th century Alkmaar was an important provincial city, and the layout of the old city is mainly from this period. Some of the older buildings, including all the city gates, were demolished in the 19th century, but most of the damage to the historic character was done by urban renewal, from the 1960's onward. Old maps of Alkmaar [2] in 1561, 1597, 1649, 1777, 1865, and for comparison, 2001. Old photographs and paintings of Alkmaar [3] Although it is near the sea, Alkmaar has no coastal harbor. The coastal dunes have no natural inlet, and shipping formerly sailed eastwards to the sea, via lakes and channels. Between Alkmaar and the coast are the forested dunes of the Schoorlse Duinen, most of it a nature reserve. At the edge of the dunes are the villages of Egmond-Binnen, Egmond aan den Hoef, Bergen, Schoorl and Groet. In late-medieval times the coast stopped just north of Groet, but the present coastline extends to Den Helder , a naval port at the northern tip of the province. Alkmaar today is a medium-size Dutch city, and it has outgrown its municipal boundaries. Much of the the newest housing is in suburbanised villages such as Heerhugowaard, 10 km to the north-east of the old city. Together with the city, they house about 200 000 people. However Alkmaar is not an administrative capital, it has no university but it has a so-called university for professional education ('hogeschool' in Dutch), which offers bachelor's degrees in several programmes. Its proximity to Amsterdam prevents Alkmaar from being an independent regional urban center, like Zwolle or Maastricht . By train[ edit ] Alkmaar is served by Intercity trains from Amsterdam, 4 trains per hour, journey time 35-40 minutes. These Intercity tr


Michael Phelps has won 22 Olympic medals, more than any other person, how many of these were Gold?

Michael Phelps Michael Phelps Contact Michael Phelps Michael Phelps is an American swimmer who has won 28 Olympic medals (23 Gold, 2 Silver, & 3 Bronze). He is an Olympic legend who broke the record for most medals while participating at the London 2012 games.  His individual haul of medals over the past 3 Olympics has surpassed the totals of most countries in all of the combined Olympic games of the past century so his achievement is truly astonishing.  Although Michael could still easily add to his medal count in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, he has announced his retirement from competition after finishing the  MP at the Rio 2016 games . Phelps was born June 30, 1985 in Maryland to a mother who is a middle school principal and a father who almost made a professional football team. Phelps won six gold and two bronze medals at the Olympics held in Athens in 2004.  He was a perfect 8 for 8 in Beijing bringing in eight gold medals in 2008.  In London he gained 4 more Golds, a Silver, and a Bronze.  He holds the record for the most gold medals won in a single Olympic year, breaking the record of American swimmer Mark Spitz who won seven gold medals in Munich in 1972. His total medal count of 22 is also a record.  Soviet gymnast Larissa Lalynina who won 18 medals over three Olympics including nine gold ones is a distant second. Phelps has won many awards including World Swimmer of the Year six times and American Swimmer of the Year Award eight times. He has taken part in many international competitions and has won 59 medals from these competitions. Of these, 50 were gold, seven silver, and two bronze. In addition, Michael Phelps received the Sportsman of the Year Award from Sports Illustrated magazine. Phelps heads the Michael Phelps Foundation which was established to promote healthy lifestyles and the sport of swimming. He is regularly tested for drugs since he is a member of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and their “Project Believe” program. Testing is to ensure that his body is free from performance-enhancing drugs. During the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Phelps was suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs because of his superior performance in the competitions, but he tested negative nine times. At six feet, four inches, Phelps’ body seems to be made for swimming. His long torso and arm span of six feet, seven inches help him paddle through the water quickly and efficiently. His arm span is longer than expected for a person of his height. Also, he has short legs that also enable him to swim quickly. His size 14 feet act as flippers. Phelps can extend his ankles more than a ballet dancer would be expected to do, and this helps him flip his feet through the water at great speed. Phelps is especially great at the butterfly. At age 15, he broke the record in the 200 meter butterfly and was the youngest man ever to set the swim record. He later broke his own record to become world champion. In the 2008 Olympics, Michael Phelps won gold medals in the 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4×100 m freestyle relay, 4×200 m freestyle relay, 4×100 m medley relay, plus a silver medal for the 200 m freestyle. Again at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, Phelps won five more gold medals for the 100 m butterfly, 200 m butterfly, 4×100 m freestyle relay, 4×200 m freestyle relay, and the 4×100 m medley relay. Bob Bowman, Phelps’ swimming coach, has trained Phelps since he was 11 years old. Bowman previously swam for Florida State University.


In which city was the Alfa Romeo car company founded in 1910?

Alfa Romeo Badge History Badge History The Alfa Romeo badge bearing the heraldic insignia of the serpent and cross is one of the worlds most distinctive automotive emblems. Its creation was the responsibility of Giuseppe Merosi, who also designed the first Alfa car for production in 1910. Both the central elements of the badge are ancient symbols of the city of Milan. The red cross on the white field dates from the era of the Crusades but can still be seen on city buses and football insignia today. The serpent swallowing a man was the crest of the Visconti family, who ruled Milan in the 13th Century. The two emblems are united over the door of the Sforza castle in the city. An assistant of Merosi's purportedly designed the Alfa badge after seeing the insignia on the Sforza castle while waiting for a bus. The original herladic devices are enclosed in a blue ring, which originally bore the words "Alfa" and "Milano," separaged by two knots which symbolized the royal family. Several changes in the outer ring of the Alfa badge reflect the company's history. Nicola Romeo's name was added when he bought the company in 1916, and an outer ring of laurel leaves was added in 1925 to symbolize Alfa's first world championship. The word "Milano" was dropped in 1972, when the Alfasud went into production near Napoli. The most recent change was in 1981, when the laurel leaves were dropped, presumably in the spirit of modernization. It was, perhaps, a remarkable decision for a company being founded in 1910 to produce a new technololgy to choose ancient heraldic devices as its insignia. In retrospect, however, that union of of forward and backward views epitomizes the blending of tradition and innovation that makes Alfa Romeos truly different from other automibiles. The four-leaf clover (quadrifoglio) symbol was also apparently one of Merosi's inventions. It appeared on the identification plates of A.L.F.A cars he designed before the first world war. The quadrifoglio first appeared as the symbol of the Alfa Romeo racing team on cars entered in the 1923 Targa Florio.


Peveril Castle - Neolithicsea.co.uk From The Neolithic To The Sea: A Journey From The Past To The Present Peveril Castle 53° 20' 24.34" N 1° 46' 39.66" W SK149826 View Peveril Castle in a larger map History Gallery Gallery Peveril Castle is in Castleton, Derbyshire. It stands on a hill overlooking the village, a borough of the castle. The castle was built around 1071 by William Peveril on a limestone ridge overlooking Hope Valley. It complements a prehistoric bronze age hillfort called Mam Tor which is on the other side of Hope Valley. It was not the first castle in the area, a motte and bailey castle has been found at Hope, a village east of Castleton but it was soon abandoned in favour of Peveril Castle. William Peveril was given control of Nottingham Castle in 1068 to put down revolts in the midlands and by 1086 held large estates in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. He built his castle at Castleton on top of Pecheser's or 'Devils Arse' out of stone, unusal at the time as most were made of wood first then rebuilt out of stone.


Which cut of steak is named after a man who once served as an ambassador to Napoleon Bonaparte?

The Steak Guide — Gentleman's Gazette / 3 Comments /in Food , Savoir Vivre /by J.A. Shapira So, what is steak? Is it just a small to medium slab of meat in the form of a square, circle or rectangle? Or is there more to the cut than meets the eye? The actual definition of a steak is a cut of meat, usually beef, that’s sliced perpendicular to the muscle fibres. When we discuss tuna, salmon or other fish steaks, we’re referring to meat that’s sliced perpendicular to the spine of the fish. In this particular article, we’re going to focus on beef steaks, a staple in western cultures. Types of Steak There are many types of steak cuts, meaning the part of the cow that the steak actually comes from. Below are a list of the most popular cuts. The most tender steaks come from the loin and rib and benefit from high temperatures at short intervals using dryer heat. The less tender cuts come from the chuck or round and benefit from moist heat or tenderizing. Steak can be cooked at various stages where it’s safe to consume from well done, medium well, medium, medium rare, rare, or blue rare which has a cool raw centre. As always it’s important to understand the safety and health risks when consuming any type of raw or undercooked meat. Personally, my favourite way to eat steak is rare. Cuts of Beef Infographic Boston Butt Steak Originating from colonial New England, butchers would take the less expensive cuts and use them to pack the bottom of the transport barrels, which were called butts. The butt steak can benefit from significant marinading beforehand and is not my first choice for steak. Chateaubriand Chataeubriand is a steak cooked using a thick cut from the tenderloin filet. Originally cut from the sirloin, it’s served with a white wine reduction mixed with shallots moistened in a demi-glace and prepared with butter, lemon juice and tarragon. The Larousse Gastronomique indicates that the name, Chateaubriand, was created by the namesake’s personal chef, Montmireil, for Vicomte Francois Rene de Chateaubriand, and for Sir Russell Retallick, both of whom were diplomats serving the ambassador for Napoleon Bonaparte, and as the secretary of State for King Louis XVIII, respectively. Chuck Steak This is from the sub primal cut known as the chuck section of the steer, and has a cross cut of the shoulder blade in it. Since the bone is shaped like the number “7,” it is the so-called “7-Bone Steak.” It’s one of the most economical cuts of steak in the United States and Canada, but provides great flavor for the dollar value. Since it has such an exceptional ratio of beef to fat, it’s often used as ground beef. Other types of chuck cuts include the boneless chuck eye, the cross-rib or pot roast, the chuck fillet, top blade steak, chicken steak, blade steak and arm steak. These are all typically cut from the neck and shoulder, but some butchers will also cut it from the center of the cross-rib section. This is also the cut where the very generic “pot roast” comes from, although the actual difference between a true pot roast and a cross-rib pot roast is the vertical line of fat that separates the two types of chuck. It’s this line that creates a rich flavor in the roast. Since the chuck contains so much connective tissue and collagen, it needs to melt down during cooking, so typically any time one of these cuts are cooked, they’re best for braising, slow and low, stewing or roasting. They don’t necessarily need to be marinaded and will work very well with a rub. Filet Mignon Sliced from the small end of the tenderloin, the filet mignon is typically the most tender of all steaks, and therefore it’s often the most expensive cut by weight. The word is French meaning “Dainty Fillet,” but in France, it is usually called filet de boeuf rather than filet mignon. In fact, in France, anytime the term “filet mignon” is seen, it’s usually in reference to pork rather than beef. Flank Steak Cut from the underbelly and abdomen muscles, the flank is usually a long and flat cut used by itself as a steak, but also in a variety of dishes including London Broils


Who raised the land speed record to over 394mph driving the Railton Special in 1947, he died on Loch Ness in 1952 in an attempt to break the water speed record?

John Cobb - Land Speed Racing History John Cobb First Record Holder to use 4 wheel drive August 23, 1939 Last record set in Utah September 16, 1947 394.19 mph (634.39 km/h) First one-way over 400mph. John Rhodes Cobb (December 2, 1899 - September 29, 1952) was a British racing motorist. He made money as a director of fur brokers Anning, Chadwick and Kiver and could afford to specialise in large capacity motor-racing. He was born and lived in Esher, Surrey, near the Brooklands race track. He held the ultimate lap record at the track driving the 24 litre Napier Railton at an average speed of 143.44 mph (230.84 km/h) achieved on 7 October 1935, regaining it from his friend Oliver Bertram. Driving the piston engined, wheel driven Railton Special he broke the Land Speed Record at Bonneville on August 23, 1939 at a speed of 367.91 mph (592.09 km/h). Without this being beaten he raised the record to 394.19 mph (634.39 km/h) in 1947. The record was unbeaten until 1963 when it was narrowly surpassed by Craig Breedlove in the jet powered Spirit of America. During World War II he served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force and between 1943 and 1945 in the Air Transport Auxiliary. He reached the rank of Group Captain. He died attempting to improve the water speed record at Loch Ness in the jet speedboat Crusader at a speed in excess of 200 mph (320 km/h). There is a memorial to him erected by the people of Glenurquhart. He is buried at Christ Church, Esher. He was awarded the Segrave Trophy in 1947. On 27 March 1953 he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct - John Rhodes Cobb (deceased), Racing Motorist. For services in attempting to break the world's water speed record, and in research into high speed on water, in the course of which he lost his life. He made the cover of Modern Wonder magazine, the British equivalent of Popular Science or Mechanix Illustrated. Eventually, he was to make three distinct sets of runs. His prewar ventures were sponsored by Gilmore Oil, discussed below. His most memorable version in 1947 was sponsored by Mobil Oil.   The Bonneville Salt Flats are the remains of a prehistoric lake of about 19,000 square miles area. Although it is perfectly flat, it is 4,000 feet above sea level, imposing a consequent loss of power on the engines due to reduced oxygen. The temperature on the salt runs up to more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade and this too imposes problems for adequate cooling of engine and tires. The flats offer a straight run of about 13 miles, which is actually more like the minimum run for acceleration, the timed run, and braking from 400 miles per hour, Cobb's ultimate target. Railton overcame all these problems and Cobb was to be the fastest man on wheels three times before his death. Cobb made his first run in September 1938, when the world record was 345 mph and at that time, Cobb had never driven faster than 170 mph at Brooklands. The world record changed hands several times. Land speed racing was suspended during World War II. In 1947, Cobb came back to Bonneville with a thoroughly redesigned car. The vehicle was so futuristic in appearance that he was profiled on the cover of LIFE Magazine. Reid Railton used many unorthodox methods to achieve his result. He started with an S-shaped backbone chassis, and used two second-hand 1928 Napier Lion aero engines from a motor boat, but set them at an angle, one driving the front wheels and the other the rear wheels. Railton pared weight from the supercharged Lion engines until they scaled only 1120 lb each yet still delivered a total 2500 horsepower. There were neither flywheels nor clutches, and Cobb sat up front ahead of the power plants, as in a modern racing car. The special lightweight body shell was made in one piece and had to be taken off for refueling and tire changes between the two runs necessary for the record. The streamlined shell could be lifted off by six men. Like the Golden Arrow, ice was used for cooling, saving the weight of a radiator. The melted ice was also used to take heat away


Who was the architect for the proposed Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral begun in 1933 of which only the crypt was completed?

Liverpool (7) Roman Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Lutyens Crypt, architecture, chapels Liverpool RC  Cathedral: View from the entrance foyer to the Sanctuary and High Altar.   Liverpool RC Cathedral: Left - statue of St Martin de Porres Liverpool RC Cathedral: Right - The sculpture by Stephen Foster   in the Children's Chapel Liverpool RC  Cathedral: Liverpool RC  Cathedral: Some of the blue-cyan coloured stained glass windows.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral: The beautifully carved and 'lightly' painted wooden panels  and stone altar in St Joseph's Chapel. Liverpool RC  Cathedral:  St Joseph's Chapel   Liverpool RC  Cathedral:  St Joseph's Chapel   Liverpool RC  Cathedral:  St Joseph's Chapel   Above/below - Liverpool RC  Cathedral: ? Chapel   Liverpool RC  Cathedral: Some of the smaller stained glass windows.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral: Chapel of Reconciliation ?   Liverpool RC  Cathedral: The stained glass window panels of the lantern - effectively  the 'dome' of the cathedral.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral: The lantern   The Lutyens Crypt Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt: The Crypt is effectively the crypt of the Sir  Edwin Lutyens (a much renowned architect) cathedral that was never built  in the 1930s. The Crypt was built between 1933 and 1958 and is a massive  vaulted brick construction. Above is a view of the Crypt Hall.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt: It is one of the biggest crypts in the world.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt: There are four large spaces and each can hold  between 300 and 700 people!   Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt:   Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt: One of the halls is used as a concert room.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt: Wonderful radial brickwork of the concert  room.   Liverpool RC  Cathedral - Lutyens Crypt: The two great windows of the Crypt  with a small amount of stained glass.   Looking from Liverpool RC Cathedral to the great  square tower of the Anglican Cathedral at the other end of Hope Street.   previous page <-> next  page   *   North  West Index North West of England Liverpool  scenes docspics images  pictures ï¿½ Phil Brown top  tourist attractions in Liverpool, tourist information on Liverpool,  student accommodation in Liverpool, luxury hotels, hostels to suit all  budgets, B&B, self-catering flats, dining out in Liverpool, pubs,  cafes, restaurants, museums, art galleries, guided tours of Liverpool  docks,  colleges, universities, churches, cathedrals, music concerts, theatres,  cinemas, River Mersey, mini-breaks in North-West England


Who, in 1947 at the age of 31, became the youngest Cabinet Minister since Pitt the Younger when he was appointed President of the Board of Trade?

Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx | prime minister of United Kingdom | Britannica.com Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx prime minister of United Kingdom Written By: Alternative Title: James Harold Wilson Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx Prime minister of United Kingdom Also known as David Blunkett Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, originally James Harold Wilson (born March 11, 1916, Huddersfield , Yorkshire, Eng.—died May 24, 1995, London ), Labour Party politician who was prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976. Harold Wilson Central Press/Pictorial Parade The son of an industrial chemist, Wilson was educated at the University of Oxford , where, as a fellow of University College (1938–39), he collaborated with Sir William (afterward 1st Baron) Beveridge on work that led to Beveridge’s epochal report (1942) advocating social insurance and other welfare measures. On the outbreak of World War II , Wilson was drafted into the civil service. As director of economics and statistics (1943–44) at the Ministry of Fuel and Power, he produced a study of the mining industry. His book New Deal for Coal (1945) was the basis of the Labour Party’s plans for nationalizing the coal mines. Wilson was first elected to the House of Commons in 1945 and was appointed president of the Board of Trade in 1947, becoming, at age 31, Britain’s youngest cabinet minister since William Pitt the Younger in 1792. Wilson resigned his post in April 1951 in protest against the introduction of national health service charges to finance rearmament for the Korean War . He became Labour’s spokesman on finance and foreign affairs, and in 1960 he mounted a left-wing challenge to Hugh Gaitskell for the party leadership. This failed, but after Gaitskell died in 1963, Wilson was elected leader of the Labour Party. He worked to consolidate the party, and after Labour won the general election of 1964, he became prime minister. In 1965 Wilson was unable to avert an illegal declaration of independence by the white minority government of the British colony of Rhodesia, and his subsequent efforts to topple the rebel government by the use of economic sanctions rather than by military force failed. Wilson steered Britain clear of direct military involvement in the Vietnam War , though he gave verbal support to the U.S. war effort. His government outlawed capital punishment (1965) and began the Open University for continuing education. Wilson had widened his party’s voting majority in the general election of 1966, but his popularity declined in the late 1960s, partly because of his assumption of direct responsibility for the economy shortly before the pound was devalued (Nov. 18, 1967). With unemployment rising and trade-union disputes on the increase, the Conservatives won the general election of June 1970, and Wilson resigned. Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales In the general election of February 1974 the Conservatives won a plurality of the popular vote but were unable to form a coalition , so Wilson formed a government that March. This administration lasted until October, when he won a narrow majority after the second general election in eight months. Wilson’s adroitness in holding together a party of social democrats, trade unionists, and leftists was never more severely tested than in 1975. His party was deeply divided over the question of Britain’s new membership in the European Economic Community (EEC). By the June referendum on EEC membership, Wilson was able not only to confirm British membership in the EEC by an overwhelming majority but also to end an acrimonious , long-running quarrel inside the party. In Britain, however, economic difficulties continued, and on March 16, 1976—with the pound floundering and a crucial budget soon to be presented—Wilson announced his resignation to a stunned cabinet. The motives behind this resignation, which took place three years before the next scheduled election, remain unclear. In April the queen appointed Wilson a Knight of the Garte


Pennsylvania borders which of the Great Lakes?

Which states border the Great Lakes? | Reference.com Which states border the Great Lakes? A: Quick Answer There are eight total U.S. states that border the Great Lakes, which are Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. There are also two Canadian provinces that border the Great Lakes, and these are Quebec and Ontario. Full Answer The St. Lawrence River, which is located on the Quebec border, is an important part of the Great Lakes' structure. The Great Lakes consist of six total bodies of water that are named Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Georgian Bay. The states and provinces that border these bodies of water form a unique economic and historical region, which is often referred to as the Great Lakes Megalopolis.


After whom is the oyster dish, invented in New Orleans in 1899, named because of the intense richness of the sauce?

100 Years of American Food: 1900 to 1999 | Leite's Culinaria Oysters Rockefeller 1910—1919 Immigration was at an all-time high during these years, bringing new flavors to the kitchen. Italian, German, Jewish, Chinese and Eastern European foods filled millions of tables, mostly in ethnic enclaves in large cities. As a result the 1910s became the “hyphenate decade.” Merrill Shindler describes in American Dish (Angel City Press, 1996) how food descriptors such as Italian-American, Chinese-American and Jewish-American began popping up. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chop Suey, Chow Mein, Swedish Meatballs and goulashes of every sort crowded specials boards in neighborhood restaurants. In addition, says Kraig, the 1910s saw the beginning of the proliferation of processed foods. In a scant 10 years, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, Oreo cookies, Crisco, Quaker Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice, Marshmallow Fluff and Nathan’s hot dogs took a bow. Aunt Jemima’s smile was already imprinted upon the American culinary psyche, as were the Kellogg’s and C.W. Post’s brand names. And lucky Clarence Birdseye — who on an ice-fishing trip noticed that a fish left out in the cold froze instantly and tasted good when cooked weeks later — set about perfecting his “Frosted Foods,” which he would introduce to the world in 1930. We needed a place to purchase such bounty, and the self-service market was born. Instead of having to hand a list to a clerk and wait as he fetched the items from the back, a customer could amble through the shop’s aisles at her leisure. Stores such as A&P offered up to a thousand items (29,000 fewer than today’s supermarkets), boggling the minds of housewives everywhere. With such variety and availability, the over-indulgence of the first decade prevailed — at least among the wealthy. Restaurant menus remained chockfull of meats, shellfish, pâtés and mousses, and the girth of the upper classes remained formidable. “Before World War I it was chic to look plump,” says Ruth Adams Bronz, author of Miss Ruby’s American Cooking (Harper & Row, 1989). “Round was in.” The poster boy of the times: our then president, William H. Taft, a hefty 300-pounder. Is it any wonder his favorite meal was Lobster Newburg? A wildly popular dish of the day was Vichyssoise. Dreamed up in 1917 by Chef Louis Diat of New York City’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Vichyssoise is a heavenly chilled soup of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes and cream. Vichyssoise’s enduring popularity has as much to do with its superb taste as with its relatively democratic ingredients. It could be made in the most well-to-do as well as the most simple of homes. Granted, leeks weren’t common at the time, but that wasn’t something a resourceful cook couldn’t fix with an extra onion or two. A death knell sounded in January 1919, when the Eighteenth Amendment — otherwise known as Prohibition — was ratified. Scheduled to go into effect on January 16, 1920, Prohibition was going to save those poor souls whose moral compasses had gone awry. Or so self-satisfied politicians told one another over glasses of port after dinner. 1920—1929 The Roaring Twenties were indeed a deafening decade. The music was loud, the people wild and the stock market boisterous. We had money and were willing to spend it in the most conspicuous ways. Novel electrical gadgets like toasters, refrigerators and gas stoves were being sold by the thousands. Maîtres d’hôtel (as in earlier decades, the best food was still found in hotels) were tripping over themselves to serve the most sumptuous and costly dishes. The unwelcomed appearance of Prohibition did little to curtail the drinking habits of the masses. The Noble Experiment, as it was called, actually encouraged us to drink more, which is why in part it was repealed in 1933. In fact, the majority of the drinks we know today were concocted during Prohibition. Speakeasies sprang up everywhere, and patrons slunk into these underground establishments by the millions to drink and to listen to the new music called jazz. To accommodate them, and to soak up some of the harsh bathtub gin, prop


What is the name of the huge pre-Roman hill fort near Dorchester?

Maiden Castle, Dorchester, Dorset | Historic Dorset Guide HERITAGE HIGHLIGHTS:   Roman foundations lie within the hilltop site Maiden Castle, earthwork banks Maiden Castle is the largest and most famous pre-Roman fortress in Britain. The site is not a "castle" in the medieval sense of the term, but a hilltop enclosure defended by high banks and ditches. Maiden Castle is nearly 47 acres in size, with banks as high as 80 feet. The term "maiden" may be misleading; it derives from the pre-Celtic (Brythonic) term "mai dun", which is usually translated as "great hill", but may also be rendered as "principle fort". A causewayed camp was erected on the hill as far back as 3500 BCE, and later a bank barrow measuring an impressive 1800 feet was added. Sometime around 350 BCE the hill was turned into a full-fledged hill fort, probably under the direction of the Durotriges tribe, the region's dominant Celtic tribe. Most of the visible ramparts were erected in the 1st century BC. These consist of three concentric rings of ditches and banks, with the entrance through each bank offset to isolate any invader who managed to penetrate the defenses. The main entrance defensive earthworks In 43 AD the Romans under Vespasian besieged the "castle". The defender's huge store of some 40,000 sling stones brought up from nearby Chesil Beach proved useless against the Roman's leather shields, and Maiden Castle fell to the invaders. A mass grave of 38 defenders who died in the assault was found in 1937 near the eastern entrance. Each defender had been laid to rest with a joint of meat and a flagon of beer to take with them into the afterlife; a testament to the high regard the Romans must have had for the courage of their foes. During the 4th century the Romans erected a small temple within the boundaries of the fort, the foundations of which can still be seen. Operated by English Heritage, Maiden Castle is open all year at any reasonable time. About Maiden Castle


Bolivia is one of two landlocked countries in South America, name the other.

Landlocked Country in South America Sues Neighbor to Get Coastline Back | Public Radio International Landlocked Country in South America Sues Neighbor to Get Coastline Back boliva_paraguay.jpg A mural in San Pablo de Tiquina, Bolivia reads "What once was ours, will be ours once again", and "Hold fast, rotos [Chileans], for here come the Colorados of Bolivia." (Photo: Dentren/Wikipedia) There are 48 landlocked countries in the world. Here are a few: Switzerland, Zimbabwe and Armenia — all these have no access to the world's oceans. Player utilities <iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.pri.org/node/41596/embedded" height="75" width="100%"></iframe> And Uzbekistan is a cool case, it is entirely surrounded by other landlocked countries. There are no landlocked nations in North America, but South America has two and those are the two countries we want you to name as part of the Geo Quiz. One of those countries is in the news this week as it lost its coastal territory as a result of a treaty it signed at the end of the 19th century War of the Pacific. Bolivia and Paraguay are the answers to the Geo Quiz. Bolivia is hoping to regain the Pacific coastline it once had through a lawsuit. The lack of access to the sea remains a sore issue there, and now it is suing neighboring Chile to get its coastline back. It also appointed an ambassador this week to make its case before the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Anchor Marco Werman talks to BBC Mundo reporter Veronica Smink, who has been looking at this long-standing sea access dispute. While you are here... The work we do has never been more important — whether it’s because of “news” that might not be news at all or healing the deep divides in our country. Now more than ever, we need conversation, perspective and diverse voices. Will you support PRI in our efforts to create a more informed empathetic world?


Bolivian Money. Photos of Bolivia Currency, Bills and Coins. Return from Bolivian Money to Planning Your Trip Custom Search The following are pictures of our Bolivian money to help you become familiar with Bolivian coins and bills. The Bolivian currency has undergone many changes over the years, even changes in name. In 2010 the Bolivian government changed the name of the Republic of Bolivia to "Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia" (Plurinational State of Bolivia), then printed new paper money and minted new coins. You can still use the old coins and bills that say "República de Bolivia" on them. The paper bills will be phased out gradually as they get old and tattered. Although Dollars and Euros can also be used in some places in Bolivia, you'll need to know about how to exchange money once you arrive, for use in the locations where only the boliviano is accepted. Bolivia has bills in denominations of 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 bolivianos. There are also coins. The coin with the gold center and silver outer rim is worth Bs. 5 and it replaced our 5 boliviano bill (which was blue) years ago. There are also coins worth 1 and 2 bolivianos as well as coins worth 10, 20, and 50 centavos (cents of a boliviano). You lose some value when you buy dollars but gain more if you are selling your dollars. That's because the dollar is a stronger currency so you have to pay more to get it. The boliviano is weaker so you get less for it. Normally the Bolivian exchange rate (the value of Bolivia currency) fluctuates up and down daily depending on the value of the dollar.


Which TV sitcom is about the Brockman family?

Outnumbered new series: The Brockman children are growing up fast as award-winning comedy returns for fifth series - Mirror Online TV Outnumbered new series: The Brockman children are growing up fast as award-winning comedy returns for fifth series Just like their characters on the hit family sitcom, actors Ramona Marquez, Tyger Drew-Honey and Daniel Roche, bicker like real siblings  Share All grown up? Ramona, Tyger and Dan in celebratory mood  Share Get celebs updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email We have only been gathered for about five minutes for our exclusive Outnumbered New Year photo shoot, and our cover stars are already bickering. Just like their characters on the hit family sitcom , actors Ramona Marquez, Tyger Drew-Honey and Daniel Roche, argue like real siblings. “Ramona’s into this awful music called Screamo,” Tyger, 17, mocks. “Well, I suppose it is kind of screaming,” agrees Ramona, 12, who insists she is not a One Direction fan like most girls her age but into heavy metal. It’s immediately obvious that the “kids from Outnumbered” are no longer kids. Ramona is almost unrecognisable with her new straight, dark haircut; Daniel, 14, seems to have grown three foot since the last series and has a deep, booming voice; while Tyger, 17, has left school and drives a car. Whatever happened to those cute little children who first joined the famous Brockman family in 2007? “Everyone keeps saying how much we’ve changed,” says Ramona, who plays younger sibling Karen. “It’s not annoying, it’s just that I know we have!” The show is back on our screens later this month for a fifth series and they tell me they loved being back together again for filming. Starting out: In 2007 (Photo: BBC)   “It was really nice to be reunited,” says Tyger, who plays older brother Jake. “When filming is over we get sucked back into our own lives. And although we all argue a lot on set, we actually get on really well.” So what is it that they find annoying about each other? “Ramona’s annoying habit is that she’s always looking for a bit of an argument,” says Tyger without hesitation. “We will argue about her taste in music, then she’ll attack me with some Sellotape. Dan’s is that he’ll put his headphones on and stare at his laptop for about three hours. It’s a bit antisocial, but he likes to be in his own little world sometimes.” Ramona adds, “Dan’s very clever and knows lots of facts, but he’s argumentative. Me and Dan usually start the argument and Tyger just falls for it!” Dan, who plays middle child Ben, says, “We all argue about everything, but we get on perfectly.” As the three mess around with the balloons and other New Year props we have assembled, they reveal more about the new series, which will no doubt involve more angst for parents Pete and Sue, played by Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner. “Jake is learning to drive and gets a tattoo,” says Tyger. “I won’t say what it is, but it looks a bit naff! And he likes to lecture his parents on how they are failing constantly as the younger children are so appallingly behaved.” Ramona reveals, “Karen’s just started secondary school and has a bit of trouble settling in. Oh, and she loses her hamster.” “Ben is dealing with the problems of growing up,” Dan chips in. “The parents bribe Jake into having a chat with him about girls.” Plaudits: The Outnumbered cast (Photo: BBC)   The comedy, which has won many plaudits, including a National Television Award for Best Comedy in 2012, is written and directed by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin. It’s known for being semi-improvised, particularly by the children in the show. “It just works well this way,” says Tyger. “At first I think they questioned how far a middle-aged man could write the thoughts and words of a five-year-old, so we weren’t given scripts and it was all very natural. Now we get scripts on the day but just learn the general direction of the scene.” So what will they all be doing on New Year’s Eve? “I’ll be socialising with friends,” says Tyger. “I’m not old e


In which ballet does the Sugar Plum Fairy appear?

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Nina Kaptsova - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - YouTube Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Nina Kaptsova - Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy 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. Uploaded on Jul 14, 2011 P.TCHAIKOVSKY - "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" / Nutcracker - Bolshoi Ballet 2010 / Life Extract


In which sport or game is Judit Polgar the highest ranked female although she has never taken part in the Women's World Championship?

Earnings of top women chess players - Chess.com Chess.com Jun 1, 2009, 12:00 AM 17,459 Reads 19 Comments Chess Players Being a sportsman is risky. The winner takes it all, while the loser is left in the dust. In women chess the situation is even more "egalitarian" - the elite players have hardly more chances of buying a limousine than the rest. First of all, prizes in women tournaments are meager even by men chess tournament standards (not to mention other sports!). Supertournaments are virtually nonexistent, so female chess players can only bite their nails watching the happy winner of Linares get a 100 000 euro prize, while the chess champion and his challenger are sharing 6-7-figure prize funds. For comparison: the 1st prize in the last women world chess championship was only 60 000 USD. Alexandra Kosteniuk, who won  $60 k and the Women Chess Champion title in 2008 However, who said that "the weak sex" can't compete with the strong? Leaving aside the question "why do women play chess worse than men?", we can state that even the women top-20 can't make much money playing in tournaments for men. It's impossible to get invited into an elite round robin (unless you're Judit Polgar), while in the open tournaments you'll have to compete with a pack of ambitious 2600 players aiming at the prize money. Special awards for women? You must be kidding! Usually there are only 1-3 of them per open, ranging from $1000 to $300. That's why there's no sense for women to participate in male tournaments other than in order to gain rating points and polish their chess skills. Judith Polgar, the greatest women chess player of all times, who even managed to beat Garry Kasparov! Secondly, chess isn't popular enough among sponsors. Maria Sharapova, Tiger Woods and other sport celebrities gain a lion's share of their income (up to 90%) from advertising contracts. And how many contracts have elite women chess players signed so far? A pity indeed - women chess is exciting and, although it gets some moderate attention from the media, sponsors seem to be unimpressed. Hopefully, the situation is going to get better in the future. Anyway, the one who keeps trying will always find a way. Some organizers offer strong grandmasters special conditions - free accomodation, coverage of traveling expenses, appearance fees. Women are descriminated here too comparing to men, but still. Some universities support their students who excel in sports. For example, the Saratov State Law Academy helps WGM Natalia Pogonina by paying for some of her chess trips, etc. You can also earn money giving lessons (the problem is that it requires a lot of time and leads to a decline of playing strength - that's why Natalia does not offer lessons), simuls or writing books. Once again, it doesn't have much to do with earning a lot of money. WGM Natalia Pogonina: 2501 FIDE isn't the limit, gimme-gimme, gimme more! P.S. After rereading my post I have noticed that it is sort of gloomy. On the other hand, what I like most about Natalia is that she is very optimistic, merry and has a really strong character. She never complains (unlike me), but keeps moving towards new victories. A truly champion's spirit! Article is courtesy of http://pogonina.com  written by


High Fidelity Movie Review & Film Summary (2000) | Roger Ebert Tweet In its unforced, whimsical, quirky, obsessive way, "High Fidelity" is a comedy about real people in real lives. The movie looks like it was easy to make--but it must not have been because movies this wry and likable hardly ever get made. Usually a clunky plot gets in the way, or the filmmakers are afraid to let their characters seem too smart. Watching "High Fidelity," I had the feeling I could walk out of the theater and meet the same people on the street--and want to, which is an even higher compliment. Advertisement John Cusack stars as Rob, who owns a used-record store in Chicago and has just broken up with Laura, his latest girlfriend. He breaks up a lot. Still hurting, he makes a list of the top five girls he has broken up with and cackles that Laura didn't make it. Later he stands forlornly on a bridge overlooking the Chicago River and makes lists of the top five reasons that he misses her. The key design elements in Rob's apartment are the lumber bookshelves for his alphabetized vinyl albums. He has two guys working for him in his store. Each was hired for three days a week, but both come in six days a week, maybe because they have no place else to go. These guys are the shy, sideways Dick ( Todd Louiso ) and the ultra-confident Barry ( Jack Black ). They are both experts on everything, brains stocked with info-nuggets about popular culture. Advertisement Rob is the movie's narrator, guiding us through his world, talking directly to the camera, soliloquizing on his plight--which is that he seems unable to connect permanently with a girl, maybe because his attention is elsewhere. But on what? He isn't obsessed with his business, he isn't as crazy about music as Dick and Barry, and he isn't thinking about his next girl--he's usually moping about the last one. He seems stuck in the role of rejected lover and never likes a girl quite as much when she's with him as after she's left. Laura ( Iben Hjejle ) was kind of special. Now she has taken up with an unbearably supercilious ponytailed brainiac named Ian ( Tim Robbins ), who comes into the store to "talk things over" and inspires fantasies in which Rob, Dick and Barry dream of kicking him senseless. "Conflict resolution is my job," he offers helpfully. Whether Ian is nice or not is of no consequence to Rob; he simply wants Laura back. The story unspools in an unforced way. Barry and Dick involve Rob in elaborate debates about music minutiae. They take him to a nightclub to hear a new singer ( Lisa Bonet ). Rob gets advice from Laura's best friend ( Joan Cusack ), who likes him but is fed up with his emotional dithering. Rob seeks out former girlfriends like Charlie ( Catherine Zeta-Jones ), who tells him why she left him in more detail than he really wants to hear. Rob decides that his ideal girl would be a singer who would "write songs at home and ask me what I thought of them--and maybe even include one of our private little jokes in the liner notes." "High Fidelity" is based on a 1995 novel by Nick Hornby , a London-based writer, and is directed by Stephen Frears , also British. Frears and his screenwriters (D.V. Devincentis, Steve Pink , Cusack and Scott Rosenberg ) have transplanted the story to Chicago so successfully that it feels like it grew organically out of the funky soil of Lincoln Avenue and North Halsted, Old Town and New Town, Rogers Park and Hyde Park, and Wicker Park, where it was shot--those neighborhoods where the workers in the alternative-lifestyle industry live, love and labor. Advertisement This is a film about--and also for--not only obsessed clerks in record stores, but the video store clerks who have seen all the movies, and the bookstore employees who have read all the books. Also for bartenders, waitresses, greengrocers in health food stores, kitchen slaves at vegetarian restaurants, the people at GNC who know all the herbs, writers for alternative weeklies, disc jockeys on college stations, salespeople in retro clothing shops, tattoo artists and those they tattoo, poet


The airship Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed on May 6th of which year?

Hindenburg Disaster | Video | C-SPAN.org Supreme Court May 6, 1937 Hindenburg Disaster This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Hindenburg disaster, when on May 6th, 1937 the Zeppelin caught fire while docking at the… read more Hindenburg Disaster This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the Hindenburg disaster, when on May 6th, 1937 the Zeppelin caught fire while docking at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey. 35 people on the airship were killed as well as one member of the ground crew. The Hindenburg was the first airship to regularly fly passengers between Europe and the United States. Next is a five minute Universal Newsreel about the accident. close Transcript type *This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. Hosting Organization


Which US singer has had albums called 'Daydream', 'Butterfly', 'Rainbow' and 'Glitter'?

E=MC2 – EW.com Mariah Carey We gave it an A- Daydream. Butterfly. Rainbow. Glitter. No, those aren’t the names of Barbie’s pet ponies, they’re the ridiculously saccharine titles of Mariah Carey ‘s albums from 1995 to 2001. So when she called her 10th studio CD The Emancipation of Mimi three years ago, it was clear that she intended to drop the cutesy shtick, let down her weave, and start getting real. It was a clever move. Emancipation was the lucky strike that updated Carey’s sound with bass-heavy flavor and reversed the downward spiral of her sales. Now, with E=MC2 — another bold title — she’s out to prove that her comeback was no fluke. Of course, it’s doubtful that Carey is a secret admirer of Einstein’s theory of relativity, but one thing’s for sure: The golden-throated diva has discovered a formula that works. Not unlike Emancipation, E=MC2 finds Carey stacking the deck with the hottest producers and guest artists in urban music (Jermaine Dupri, StarGate, T-Pain, Damian Marley, Young Jeezy). The result is a largely enjoyable mix of flirtatious club jams, midtempo love songs, and emotional ballads anchored by hip-hop beats that handsomely showcase the singer’s powerful vocal chops. Ever the party girl, Carey opens the album with the sleek and seductive ”Migrate,” where she imagines getting buzzed on pinot grigio during a night out with the ladies. Other dance-floor anthems include ”I’ll Be Lovin’ U Long Time” and ”O.O.C.,” which, for all of their pop polish, never lose their soulful spirit. But it’s not all about velvet ropes and playful come-ons; notably, Carey suffers from a major love hangover on ”Side Effects,” a synthy cautionary tale about an abusive relationship. ”Wakin’ up scared some nights still dreaming ’bout the violent times,” she sings with outspoken intensity. And yet Carey remains a romantic at heart. With the ballads ”Love Story” and ”Last Kiss,” she reunites with Dupri to recapture the passionate splendor of 2005’s ”We Belong Together.” It’s unfortunate, then, that E=MC2 closes with its only missteps, the somber elegy ”Bye Bye” — an odd choice for the follow-up single to the cheeky hit ”Touch My Body” — and the preachy gospel hymn ”I Wish You Well” (this CD’s version of Emancipation‘s ”Fly Like a Bird”). Still, for an artist whose career was all but dead four years ago, Carey is wise to play it safe by building on the finest elements of her last CD. Were it not for the final two tracks, she could’ve gotten away with calling this album Treasure. A-


What is the name of the famous Swannery in Dorset?

Abbotsbury Swannery, Dorset, Travel Information Abbotsbury Swannery Feeding time at the Abbotsbury Swannery Summary A colony of mute swans has lived in this sanctuary since medieval times. Wander amid nests of newborn cygnets in spring, and observe the swans at close hand. The Swannery There has been a swannery at Abbotsbury since at least the 14th century. The swannery may have been established by the monks of Abbotsbury Abbey, but it seems more likely that they simply took advantage of a natural swan habitat provided by the shelter of Chesil Bank. The Swans Mute swans are not silent, as their name might suggest; rather, the name refers to the fact that their call is not loud. The mute swan is native to Europe and Asia, though it has been introduced in other areas. The colony at Abbotsbury is properly the Abbotsbury Colonial Nesting Herd. They come to Abbotsbury because the sluggish waters of the Fleet, sheltered from the sea by the 8 mile long stetch of shingle known as Chesil Bank, has created here a habitat lush in "eel grass", underwater plants on which they feed. The unique joy of Abbotsbury Swannery is the opportunity it provides to observe newborn cygnets (baby swans) at close hand. From late May, visitors can wander amid the nests, and see the cygnets at close distance. The swans provided meat for the monks long ago, but today they provide feathers for the helmets of the Gentlemen at Arms; the Queen's bodyguard. In addition, Lloyds of London use quills from Abbotsbury swan feathers to register insurance losses in their "Doom" book. A mother swan and cygnets History The first monastery at Abbotsbury was established in the 1140s by Orc, the steward of King Cnut. The monks managed the nesting swans to provide food for their monastery and important guests. When the monastery was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538 its estates passed into private ownership. Most of the former monastic lands, including the Swannery, became part of the Ilchester Estates, under the Count and Countess of Ilchester. The actual management of the swans traditionally fell under the control of a 'swanherd'. One of the swanherd's duties was to protect the swans from poaching. Punishment for poachers was severe; in 1830 they might receive a fine of 20 guineas, equivalent to a full year's wages for a farm worker. The post of swanherd was an important one during the medieval period when the monks relied on swan meat for a regular supply of food. The most famous swanherd was Fred Lexster, who was a popular presenter on radio and television during the 1950s. The Rearing pens What to See The most popular feature at the Swannery is the swan feeding, which usually takes place twice a day at noon and 4pm. Visitors are encouraged to join the feeding, and children are especially welcome to spread grain for the hungry swans. It is quite an amazing sight to see hundreds of swans packed together, anxiously trying to get as much of the grain as possible. I noticed that there was a large gathering of Canada geese waiting beyond the milling mass of swans, hoping to pick up leftover grain. There are special pens for injured swans, and rows of 'rearing pens' where orphaned cygnets are placed with established swan families in the hope that the parent swans will take on the young ones as part of their families. Look for an information panel with an old photograph of a visit by the famous ballerina Anna Pavlova in the 1920s. Pavlova visited Abbotsbury to study the swans in preparation for her role in the ballet Swan Lake. She was photographed with her troupe, in full ballet costume, standing on the very spot where the photo is displayed. There is a special raised observation platform to enable visitors to get a better view of the Fleet and its inhabitants, and a bird hide for avid birdwatchers. In truth, the swans are so accustomed to visitors that you don't really need a hide to observe them. I was able to walk beside adult swans at arm's length without disturbing them at all. WWII bouncing bomb exhibit Flying Bombs at Abbotsbury Abbotsbury Swannery was the scene of a


In which town has the statue 'Verity' by Damien Hirst been installed?

Will Damien Hirst's bronze statue Verity regenerate Ilfracombe? - BBC News BBC News Will Damien Hirst's bronze statue Verity regenerate Ilfracombe? By Tim Masters Entertainment and arts correspondent, BBC News 16 October 2012 From the section Entertainment & Arts comments Close share panel Media captionDamien Hirst pregnant woman sculpture divides Ilfracombe The artistic merit of Damien Hirst's giant bronze statue of a pregnant woman has split opinions in Ilfracombe, but it also raises the issue of the role of public art in regenerating a town. She has been called outrageous, immoral, bizarre, obscene, offensive, disgusting, grotesque, a monstrosity, of no artistic merit and demeaning to women. Others see her as beautiful and unique, with the power to transform a town's tired image and boost its economy. This week Damien Hirst's 20.25m (66ft) bronze artwork - known as Verity - is being installed in the Devon seaside town of Ilfracombe. Art divides people. Councillor Mike Edmunds The artwork is on 20-year loan from controversial artist Hirst, who lives locally and owns a restaurant in the town. The naked pregnant figure stands looking out from Ilfracombe Harbour, sword held aloft, with part of her anatomy exposed - a baby visible in the womb. The decision by North Devon Council to grant the statue planning permission follows months of vigorous debate by both the "yes" and "no" camps. "We need to have a second string to our bow," says Ilfracombe councillor Mike Edmunds, who can see the new arrival from his bedroom window. Image caption Sword aloft: Artist's impression of how Verity will look in Ilfracombe "We've relied, as a holiday resort, on our natural charm and beauty, but that's not enough in the present day. Hotels are closing, so we've got to do something to boost the economy and we're looking at the arts as a way of encouraging visitors." Mr Edmunds sees Verity as the "first part of a jigsaw" that would see other works of public art introduced to Ilfracombe. That might include an arts trail linking Verity to the town's redeveloped Landmark Theatre - notable for its white conical design dubbed "Madonna's Bra". Mr Edmunds admits there have been strong feelings about the choice of artwork. "Art divides people, and the one thing about Verity is that because it is so controversial it will attract people to the town. I can't see in my own mind why there was such an outcry that it was so offensive." Chloe Hubbard, editor of of the North Devon Journal , says her letters page has been split over the Verity issue. VERITY FACTS At 20.25m from plinth to sword-tip, Verity is slightly taller than the Angel Of The North She weighs more than 25 tonnes Verity is described a modern-day allegory for truth and justice The figure's stance is taken from Edgar Degas' Little Dancer of Fourteen Years (c. 1881) referenced by Hirst in his earlier bronze Virgin Mother (2005) She holds the traditional symbols denoting Justice - a sword and scales - though the scales are hidden behind her back Hirst's website notes: "Without the perfect equilibrium enacted by the scales, the sword becomes a dangerous instrument of power, rather than justice" Verity was made in more than 40 individual castings at Pangolin Editions foundry in Gloucestershire The entire piece has been tested to ensure it can withstand high winds and sea spray "We first reported on it eight months ago and we've had letters every single week. I haven't known any subject to have such a long-running interest. Even now Verity's arrived we are still getting protest letters, so people are clearly riled. "There are people who think it's going to make money for the town and boost tourism, but then there are those who think it doesn't reflect what Ilfracombe's about, and are quite offended by it." Ms Hubbard thinks Verity may attract a different type of tourist to the seaside resort. "Ilfracombe is not the most affluent area and anything that can bring money into the area has got to be viewed as a positive thing." She adds: "Certain parts of the media have massively hammed this story up,