midbrain | anatomy | Britannica.com Midbrain organ Midbrain, also called mesencephalon, region of the developing vertebrate brain that is composed of the tectum and tegmentum. The midbrain serves important functions in motor movement, particularly movements of the eye , and in auditory and visual processing. It is located within the brainstem and between the two other developmental regions of the brain, the forebrain and the hindbrain ; compared with those regions, the midbrain is relatively small. Sagittal section of the human brain, showing structures of the cerebellum, brainstem, and cerebral … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The tectum (from Latin for “roof”) makes up the rear portion of the midbrain and is formed by two paired rounded swellings, the superior and inferior colliculi. The superior colliculus receives input from the retina and the visual cortex and participates in a variety of visual reflexes, particularly the tracking of objects in the visual field. The inferior colliculus receives both crossed and uncrossed auditory fibres and projects upon the medial geniculate body, the auditory relay nucleus of the thalamus . The tegmentum is located in front of the tectum. It consists of fibre tracts and three regions distinguished by their colour—the red nucleus, the periaqueductal gray, and the substantia nigra. The red nucleus is a large structure located centrally within the tegmentum that is involved in the coordination of sensorimotor information. Crossed fibres of the superior cerebellar peduncle (the major output system of the cerebellum) surround and partially terminate in the red nucleus. Most crossed ascending fibres of that bundle project to thalamic nuclei, which have access to the primary motor cortex. A smaller number of fibres synapse on large cells in caudal regions of the red nucleus; those give rise to the crossed fibres of the rubrospinal tract, which runs to the spinal cord and is influenced by the motor cortex. human nervous system: Midbrain The substantia nigra is a large pigmented cluster of neurons that consists of two parts, the pars reticulata and the pars compacta . Cells of the pars compacta contain the dark pigment melanin ; these cells synthesize dopamine and project to either the caudate nucleus or the putamen , both of which are structures of the basal ganglia and are involved in mediating movement and motor coordination. These two structures, in addition to the globus pallidus, form the striatum . By inhibiting the action of neurons in the caudate nucleus and the putamen, the dopaminergic cells of the pars compacta influence the neuronal output of the neurotransmitter GABA ( gamma-aminobutyric acid ). The neurons in turn project to the cells of the pars reticulata, which, by projecting fibres to the thalamus, are part of the output system of the corpus striatum. Similar Topics


During which war did the Battle of the Ebro take place?

Battle of the Ebro – History Wars Weapons About Battle of the Ebro The Battle of the Ebro took place in Spain, from July 24 to November 15, 1938, during the Spanish Civil War. It was fought between the Nationalist forces, composed of 90,000 men, under General Fidel Davila, and the Republican army, made up of 85,000 troops and commanded by Juan Modesto. Both armies were reinforced by foreign units: the Nationalists, who had risen up in arms against the socialist Republican government, were reinforced by the Condor Legion , while the Soviet-backed Republican Army had been shored up by the International Brigades, guerrilla units formed by volunteers that came from different countries, such as the Soviet Union, Ireland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The Republican commanders were also assisted by Soviet military advisers. Having crossed the Ebro at different points on the night of July 24, 1938, the Republicans attacked the Nationalist positions on the other side of the river, taking several thousand prisioners of war during the first couple of weeks. However, German and Italian aircraft from the Condor Legion destroyed the bridges across the river, stopping the socialist offensive. Then, the Nationalist army counter-attacked, annihilating more than half of the Republican Army of the Ebro, which had got trapped between the river and the enemy forces. By November 16, the Nationalist Army had recovered all the lost territory and cities and crossed the Ebro, setting up new military bases on the other side of the river. With about 26,000 soldiers killed in action on both sides, the Battle of the Ebro was the fiercest military engagement of the Spanish Civil War and the last socialist offensive against the Spanish Army. Map showing the Republican offensive across the Ebro before being mauled to pieces by the Nationalist counter-attacks


In the acronym ASBO, for what does the B stand?

ASBO - What does ASBO stand for? The Free Dictionary ASBO - What does ASBO stand for? The Free Dictionary http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/ASBO Anti Social Behaviour Order (UK) ASBO Association of School Business Officials International ASBO Association of School Board Officials (various locations) ASBO Application Specific Business Object (IBM Websphere) ASBO Academicus Sanctae Barbae Ordo (Latin: Academic Order of Saint Barbara) ASBO Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Oesterreichs (German: Workers' Samaritan Federation Austria) Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Write what you mean clearly and correctly. References in periodicals archive ? Asbos, available since 1999, are issued by courts to anyone over the age of 10 for antisocial behaviour such as drunkenness. Tackling a decline in Asbo numbers; Police commissioner candidate on a collision course with government The changes include abolishing the Asbo and replacing it with a new Criminal Behaviour Order which will ban individuals from particular activities or places, and civil Crime Prevention Injunctions which will be brought in to give agencies power to protect victims and communities.


Which Italian city features in the original film version of The Italian Job?

The Italian Job (2003)--The Lybarger Links Review Original 1969 film also available on VHS (DVD link at bottom of page) ........................................................................................................ A friend of mine lamented that the new     remake of  the droll 1969 comedy The Italian Job was little more     than a collection of outlandishly improbable vehicle chases. She's right, but the fourteen-year-old in me is     eternally grateful. The new film offers high-speed fuel-wasting that     demonstrates some genuine creativity and flair. Screenwriters Donna Powers and Wayne Powers and director     F. Gary Gray deserve bonus points for not trying to replicate Troy     Kennedy-Martin's original script. There's really no way to repeat the     charm of the original film's car chases through the streets and the     steps of Turin or the low-key banter with Michael Caine, No�l Coward     and Benny Hill. All that's left of the first film is this version are     the Cooper Minis and a couple of tiny details. The original characters     have been dropped, and Venice and Los Angeles have taken over for     Turin.  As a result the 2003 take on The     Italian Job is enjoyable on its own terms. If the plot seems a bit     routine, the setting and action scenes more than compensate. Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg, Boogie     Nights) has teamed with an ace crew of thieves to pull off an     elaborate gold heist in everyone's favorite Italian city with canals.     Among the crew are: a wizened safecracker named John       Bridger (Donald Sutherland) Handsome Rob, a suave Englishman       (Jason Statham from Snatch) who drives women and vehicles       with equal expertise a scholarly demolition specialist       (rapper Mos Def) dubbed Left Ear a gifted computer hacker named Lyle       (Seth Green, the Austin Powers movies) whose skill in other       areas is negligible a shifty fellow with the dry moniker       of Steve (Edward Norton) After a spectacular boat chase involving     the Venetian cops, the lads make off with the goldt. Steve, however,     decides that sharing isn't his thing and betrays his partners. Steve uses deadly force to acquire his     accomplices' shares, but he inadvertently leaves most of them alive.     Charlie and the rest of the crew tr ack     him down to LA and plan to sting him. To make their revenge sweeter,     they recruit John's daughter Stella (Charlize Theron), who shares her     dad's persuasiveness with safe doors and who has a lead foot under the     wheel of her Cooper Mini. Narrative depth and logic (where do they     get the money to buy all of those customized Mini cars?) take a back     seat to action, and that's actually a good thing. Gray and the Powers     duo come up with some truly jaw dropping set pieces. The Venetian     opening is nail biting enough, but the LA scenes  feature some imaginative     chases through subways and actually bother to acknowledge some of the     real life obstacles that accompany driving in LA. On the human side, Mark Wahlberg is     pleasantly bland in the lead, but this bunch of supporting characters     would probably upstage anyone. There are Russian mobsters, struggling     actors and an enormous fellow with the ironic nickname of "Skinny     Pete." From all of this bunch, Seth Green steals     the show. Through a series of skillfully improvised sequences, Green     takes what would normally be a dull token role and creates the film's     most engaging character. Hold on to your sides when Green enviously     watches Statham making the moves on yet another female conquest     and  starts mimicking the other man's Cockney drawl. With more sequences like this one, the     new Italian Job could have been as fondly recalled as the     original. Still, when it's working, the current film is as sweet as a     plate of cannoli.


How many vertebrae are there in the human neck?

Cervical Vertebrae - Anatomy Pictures and Information Home > Skeletal System > Spine > Cervical Vertebrae Cervical Vertebrae The cervical vertebrae of the spine consist of seven bony rings that reside in the neck between the base of the skull and the thoracic vertebrae in the trunk. Among the vertebrae of the spinal column, the cervical vertebrae are the thinnest and most delicate bones. Yet, in spite of their size, the cervical vertebrae have the huge jobs of supporting the head, protecting the spinal cord, and providing mobility to the head and neck. The cervical vertebrae are stacked along the length of the neck to form a continuous column between the skull and the chest.... Move up/down/left/right: Click compass arrows Rotate image: Click and drag in any direction, anywhere in the frame Identify objects: Click on them in the image 2D Interactive 3D Rotate & Zoom Change Anatomical System Vertebra and Spinal Cord, Cross-section Full Cervical Vertebrae Description [Continued from above] . . . Each cervical vertebra is named by its position in order from superior (C1 or first cervical vertebra) to inferior (C7 or seventh cervical vertebra). The C1 vertebra, which holds up the skull, is named the atlas after the mythological titan Atlas who similarly held the Earth on his shoulders. Similar to the C1 vertebra, the C2 vertebra is named the axis as it provides the axis upon which the skull and atlas rotate when the head is moved side to side. Each cervical vertebra consists of a thin ring of bone, or vertebral arch, surrounding the vertebral and transverse foramina. The vertebral foramen is a large opening in the center of the vertebra that provides space for the spinal cord and its meninges as they pass through the neck. Flanking the vertebral foramen on each side are the much smaller transverse foramina. The transverse foramina surround the vertebral arteries and veins, which, along with the carotid arteries and jugular veins, have the vital job of carrying blood to and from the brain. Extending from the vertebral arch are several bony processes that are involved in muscle attachment and movement of the neck. The spinous process extends from the posterior end of the arch and serves as a connection point for the muscles that extend the neck, such as the trapezius and spinalis muscles. On the left and right lateral sides of each vertebra is a transverse process that forms the insertion point for the muscles of the erector spinae group that extend and flex the neck. A thickened region of bone known as the body lies anterior to the vertebral foramen and forms the main bone mass in all vertebrae except for the atlas. The bodies strengthen the vertebrae and support most of the weight of the tissues of the head and neck. Intervertebral disks made of rubbery fibrocartilage lie between the vertebral bodies to provide slight flexibility to the neck. Lateral to the vertebral bodies are flattened facets that form joints with the neighboring vertebrae and skull, allowing movement among the vertebrae. The axis has a very distinct shape due to the presence of the odontoid process, a tooth-like prominence that extends from its body superiorly toward the axis. The odontoid process serves as the axis upon which the atlas rotates at the atlantoaxial joint. Despite being some of the smallest and lightest bones in the axial skeleton, the cervical vertebrae perform many important functions that are critical to the survival of the body. Vital nerves and blood vessels passing through the neck are protected from mechanical damage by the bony arches of the cervical vertebrae. The cervical vertebrae also provide support to the head and neck, including supporting the muscles that move this region of the body. The muscles that attach to the vertebral processes provide posture to the head and neck throughout the day and have the greatest endurance of all of the body’s muscles. Finally, the many joints formed between the skull and cervical vertebrae provide incredible flexibility that allows the head and neck to rotate, flex, and extend. Prepared by T


In darts, a three dart finish requiring a treble, single and double of the same number is given what name?

Darts 501 - Terms and Meanings The centre of the board. (see also: "SINGLE-BULL" and "DOUBLE-BULL") Score of 50 BUST / BUSTED Hitting more than you needed in an x01 game. The darts do not count and the  player begins his next turn on the same score he had prior to. C C In a Cricket game this refers to high scores base on the number of darts scored.  For example a triple-20, single-20, single-20 would be called a C-5 because "5  darts" were scored with three darts. CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST Hitting treble 20, treble 1 and treble 5 in three darts (see "BREAKFAST") CHALKING Keeping score / marking the game. CHIPS A score of 26. (See also: "BREAKFAST /BED & BREAKFAST") CHUCKER A player who just "chucks" the darts at the board, doesn't aim or care. CIRCLE IT When a player scores a single digit (less than 10) with three darts, his  team-mates would shout out "Circle it!" to the scorekeeper to highlight the  terrible throw. A variation on this tradition is to draw a fish around the  score, often leading to aquarium-related jokes being aimed at particularly poor  or unlucky players. CLOCK The dartboard itself, usually in the context of "ROUND THE CLOCK". CORK The centre of the board. This comes from the cork in the end of a keg where it  is tapped. The ends of kegs were used for targets in the game's early days. D DARTITIS Name given to a mental state of a dart thrower unable to release his / her dart  during a throw. DEVIL The treble-6, so called due to '666', and the fact that it is often hit in error  when going for treble-13 or treble-10. DIDDLE FOR THE MIDDLE A throw to see who gets one dart closer to the bullseye to determine who throws  first in the game. Also known as a "BULL OFF", "MIDDLE FOR MIDDLE" and "OUT FOR  BULL". DOUBLE The thin outer ring of the board. In standard x01 games, a double counts for two  times the number hit. DOUBLE-BULL On dartboards configured with a bullseye consisting of two concentric circles,  the outer circle is commonly green and worth 25 and the inner circle is commonly  red and worth 50 points. Hitting the innermost ring of this type of bullseye is  a "DOUBLE-BULL". (See also: "BULLSEYE") DOUBLE IN (DI) A variant of x01 in which a double is needed to start the game. DOUBLE OUT (DO) Hitting the double of a number to win a game of 'x01 DOUBLE TOP Not being able to hit the double needed to win the game. DOWNSTAIRS The lower portion of the board, usually in reference to the 19s in a game of  x01. E A game that requires no special shot to begin scoring. FAT The largest portion of a number (the area between the double and triple ring) FEATHERS The 'feathers'/ Flights of the dart which makes the dart more aerodynamic FLIGHTS The "wings" at the end of a dart that make it fly straight. Also known as  feathers. G Advises all players that the match has now started GAME SHOT Signifies that the match winning double has been hit GOOD GROUP A compliment for tight, accurate throwing. GRAND SLAM Hitting the T5, T20 & T1 in one throw. GRANNY A lose without scoring, see SHUT OUT cricket game H HAIL MARY The third dart that miraculously scores a high treble where the first two  combined scored low single numbers HAT TRICK A score of three bullseyes in a single throw. HIGH TON Scoring between 151-180 points in a game of '01 HOCKEY The throw or Toe line. See 'Oche' Oche is pronounced as Hockey I ISLAND The actual playable area of a dart board (inside the doubles ring). Missing this  area entirely is sometimes referred to as "Off the island". J K KILLER A game variant where a number of players "own" a number on the dartboard and  compete to build up "lives" (by hitting that number) until a threshold is  reached (usually 4 or 6) before attempting to "kill" other players by removing  the lives they have built up (by hitting those other players' numbers) until a  single player is left. L LEG One game of a match. Most professional matches are made up of a number of sets,  each of which is split into legs. LEG SHOT Signifies that a player has completed (Won) the "leg" as per Game Shot. LIPSTICK Nam


In which country is the wine growing region, Hawkes Bay?

Hawkes Bay Wines, Wine Growers, Wineries, New Zealand Wine 4 Welcome to Hawke's Bay Wine Hawke's Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand and the second largest. Located at 39.4°S, in the North Island of NZ, our climate is maritime and similar to Bordeaux. We are New Zealand's leading producer of full-bodied red wines. Red wines dominate, with 88% of New Zealand's production (tonnes) of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah grapes in 2016. We also specialise in rich, complex Chardonnays.


Robber, Fiddler and Edible are all types of which creature?

Are sand crabs edible? | Reference.com Are sand crabs edible? A: Quick Answer Sand crabs, like all species of crabs, can be eaten. Sand crabs are also called mole crabs, and while they are often considered ugly in appearance, they are crunchy and flavorful. Full Answer Sand crabs are often used by fisherman as bait to help catch pompano, red drum and even kingfish. Special rakes can be purchased to help dig these little crabs out of the sand, where they tend to hide while waiting for bits of food to float by. These crabs are the smallest in size of all crabs and they can sometimes be found in large numbers around stinging jellyfish. These tiny crabs eat bits of tentacle by wrapping the tentacle around one leg and begin nibbling, so it is not recommended to eat sand crab in an area where there are lots of jellyfish.


Joan of Arc Biography -Biography Online About Joan of Arc Biography Joan of Arc (1412-1431) is considered a French heroine and Roman Catholic saint. Born in obscurity to a peasant family, she travelled to the uncrowned Dauphin of France, advising him to reclaim his French throne and defeat the English. Joan of Arc was sent alongside French troops at the siege of Orleans and rose to prominence after the siege was lifted after nine days. She was later captured and burned at the stake for heresy. However, as she predicted, seven years after her death, France was reunited with the English defeated and Charles crowned King. Early Life Joan of Arc was born in 1412 Domremy, France. Legend says that she was born to auspicious signs held to be a forecast of national triumph. However, what is more certain is that her family were poor and her region had suffered from the long conflict between England and France. “One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” – Joan of Arc From an early age Joan of Arc displayed a sensitive and religious temperament. It is said by friends that: “She was greatly committed to the service of God and the Blessed Mary.” (1) From the age of 12 she began to have mystical visions. In these visions she said she felt the voice of God commanding her to renew the French nation. At her later trial Joan of Arc said she felt these visions were as real seeing another person. The visions were often accompanied by light and the presence of saints such as St Michael and St Catherine. “I was thirteen when I had a Voice from God for my help and guidance. The first time that I heard this Voice, I was very much frightened; it was mid-day, in the summer, in my father’s garden.   – Joan of Arc from her trial transcript. (2) These visions made Joan of Arc even more religiously inclined. She would frequently go to confession and, it is said that, whenever she heard the bells for Mass she would immediately drop her work and run to church. Initially Joan did not tell others about her visions and inner commandments but in May 1428 the divine messages urged her to seek an audience with Charles de Ponthieu currently an ineffective and relatively weak leader of the French. At the time of Joan’s childhood, France was seriously divided with a lack of national unity. In 1415 King Henry V of England had invaded France and defeated the French army at Agincourt. This famous victory over the French nobility left the country weak and divided. The main divisions were between the Dauphins and English supporting Burgundians. Under Charles de Ponthieu the French were without direction and without a real leader. When Joan of Arc came to the court she overwhelmed Charles with her passion and conviction. It is quite remarkable that this 17 year old peasant girl was, as a consequence, given control over an army and allowed to lead them into battle. Within a year Joan of Arc had led the French army to victories at Orleans, Patay and Troyes. Many other towns were also liberated from English control and it allowed a triumphal entry into Dauphin for the coronation of King Charles VII on 17 July 1429. For her exploits and leadership Joan of Arc and her family were granted noble status. She has also won the hearts of the French soldiers who looked up to Joan as an almost mythical leader. However a year later Joan was captured by the Burgundian forces at Compiegne and sold to the English. Her trial is well documented and provides a revealing insight into her character and destiny. The English and members of the French clergy decided to put her on trial for witchcraft. In many ways it was a show trial with the result cleverly orchestrated. The leading clergy member was Pierre Cauchon was a staunch supporter of the British and hated Joan of Arc for her miraculous revival of French national pride. However, another interpretation is that he genuinely felt obliged to save Joan’s Immortal soul from damnation for the claims she was making. T


Which car company is/was named after the man who invented the carburettor?

Mercedes cars are named after an Austrian girl Home » vehicles » Mercedes cars are named after an Austrian girl Mercedes cars are named after an Austrian girl In 1897, Austrian businessman Emil Jellinek, traveled from his home in Nice, France to purchase a car from the Daimler factory in Cannstatt, Germany. On his return to the French Riviera, his sporting Daimler Phoenix caused such a sensation that he decided to enter it into a local touring competition, under the name of “Mercedes” after his favorite 9 year old daughter. Realizing the business potential for the new car, he not only placed an order for 36 more, but also secured the franchise for selling them in several countries. Gottlieb Daimler also agreed to having them sold under the name of “Mercedes.” The Mercedes trade name was registered after Daimler’s death in 1900 and the 3-pointed star became the trade mark. Daimler had once drawn the emblem on a postcard to his wife, the star symbolizing the growth of the business into transport on land, sea and air. For Karl Benz, a name for his automobile was simple: he enclosed his name in a cogwheel to exemplify the solidness of his engineering works at Mannheim. The cogwheel later became a laurel wreath. After the First World War the Daimler and Benz companies worked closer together, generally advertising on the same posters. They amalgamated in 1926, combining the laurel wreath and 3-pointed star as their trade mark. Interestingly, although Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz were two of the major pioneers in the automotive industry, they probably never met, even though they lived only 100km (60 miles) from each other in Germany. Daimler passed away in 1900. Daimler-Benz amalgamated in 1926. Gottlieb Daimler (1834 – 1900) founded the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG) in 1890, and also introduced the world’s first motorcycle, pickup truck and taxi.


What does the Italian company Fincantieri make?

Fincantieri Marine Group CORPORATE VIDEO ABOUT FMG Fincantieri           Marine Group is the U.S. subsidiary of Italian enterprise FINCANTIERI,           one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, employing 20,000           shipbuilding professionals in 20 shipyards on four different           continents.FINCANTIERI has a rich history           dating back more than 230 years and a track record of building           more than 7,000 ships. LCS 9 LCS 9, the future USS Little Rock, is named for the crown jewel of Arkansas. She will be commissioned on hallowed ground at the final resting place of the decommissioned Little Rock in Buffalo, New York.   FMG SHIPYARDS Fincantieri Marinette Marine Fincantieri Marinette Marine was founded in 1942 along        the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisconsin to meet America's Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding


Meetings of Tory backbenchers are known by what name?

When the 1922 Committee comes calling, it’s time to go - Telegraph Conservative When the 1922 Committee comes calling, it’s time to go The lessons of history will not be lost on the Tory Chief Whip, Andrew  Mitchell, as he fights to keep his job Andrew Mitchell managed to escape with his political life yesterday Photo: EPA Comments Tomorrow sees the 90th anniversary of the day when Tory MPs claimed their first and greatest ministerial scalp. How fitting that the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers is still threatening the careers of Cabinet ministers and party grandees – even if the Chief Whip, Andrew Mitchell, managed to escape with his political life yesterday. If a rowdy meeting of Tory backbenchers calls for your resignation at the 1922 committee, you have to go. All sorts of things can upset them: incompetence, a lurid private life – or they may decide that they just don’t like your style. That is what happened with the Liberal prime minister David Lloyd George in 1922. Then, as now, the Tories were in coalition with the Liberals. Then, as now, there were savage cuts – defence spending slashed by 42 per cent and Civil Service numbers by 35 per cent on the advice of Sir Eric Geddes, a Lloyd George appointee. But it was Lloyd George’s high-handedness that the Tory backbenchers loathed. History does not relate whether he knew the price of milk, but his arrogance was beyond question. At a meeting in the Conservative Carlton Club, Stanley Baldwin, later Tory PM, noted that Lloyd George was “a dynamic force” but added: “A dynamic force is a very terrible thing; it may crush you but it is not necessarily right.” Lloyd George fell, and after a general election a new intake of Tory backbenchers formally set up the 1922 committee the following year. Since then it has chalked up a long list of victims. The roll call includes Margaret Thatcher’s foreign secretary Peter Carrington, who stepped down over the Falklands. Lord Carrington wrote: “I had attended a fairly disagreeable meeting of the 1922 committee and although nobody shouted for my resignation I know that within the Conservative Party itself, my remaining in office was not going to help the PM with her supporters.” The 1922 also ended the careers of David Mellor, whose love life hit the headlines; Leon Brittan, who resigned after the Westland affair; and Iain Duncan Smith, whose period as Tory leader was brought to a close by the committee. Related Articles Key Cameron loyalist fails 1922 committee bid 16 May 2012 As luck would have it, the 1922 executive meets every Wednesday at 4pm before a general meeting at 5pm. And after that? The officers of the committee have a meeting with …er… the chief whip, currently Andrew “Thrasher” Mitchell. Ironically, yesterday’s attack on Thrasher by Ed Miliband will have helped shore up his position. Mr Miliband described Mr Mitchell as “toast” – and no Tory would want to prove the Labour leader right. Yet the Chief Whip had better watch it. If the backbenchers lose confidence in him, then one fine Wednesday evening at about 6pm… he will be the first to know. ------- Great disgruntlement, I hear, in Thrasher’s former roost, the Department for International Development (DfID). What is upsetting middle-ranking officials is the headlong rush of ministers and top officials to meet the UN target of giving 0.7 per cent of our Gross National Income (GNI) in foreign aid by next year. It is not the target itself, but the speed at which money is being spent to meet the deadline. Word is that senior people are overriding misgivings from those nearer the front line about whether programmes are really value for money and whether there should be more monitoring in countries known to be corrupt, such as Ethiopia. DfID boasts that we will be the first G20 country to “deliver” 0.7 per cent of GNI in overseas aid. But at what cost? This year and last we only reached 0.56 per cent. Hitting 0.7 per cent by next year will mean the British taxpayer coughing up an extra £2.7 billion. Why are the top brass so anxious for us to be the first to hit


Which bird has only two toes on each foot?

Birds' legs and feet: Different shapes Southern Cassowary Black-winged Stilt Others frequent the same type of habitat, but with vegetation, involving the need of long legs, in order to walk and run through bushes and scrubs. The birds of the wet areas also need long legs to forage in shallow or deeper waters.  Some large terrestrial birds such as ostrich and other similar species, have didactylous feet, with only two strong toe forwards. Ostrich On the other hand, the aerial birds often perch on branches in trees, and need flexible toes with claws, able to grasp strongly the branch when they rest or sleep. They have the most common anisodactylous feet, with three toes forwards and one toe backwards.    The creepers which are arboreal species have zygodactylous toes (two forwards and two backwards) allowing them to climb along the tree trunks. We find this type of feet in Psittaciformes , but also in Picidae and Sittidae families. Eurasian Treecreeper Little Woodpecker In addition, the Sittidae, and mainly the nuthatches, are able to forage upside down, and to move over the tree trunk upwards and downwards. But we can find several very different shapes, such as webbed feet in aquatic birds ( Anseriformes , Laridae and numerous shorebirds), lobed feet in coots or grebes, very long thin toes in jacanas, and semi-palmated feet in several shorebirds’ species. Eurasian Coot Least Grebe African Jacana Some aquatic birds such as gannets, cormorants and pelicans, have anisodactylous feet, with the four toes joined by the same membrane.   Great Cormorant Juvenile The Apodiformes have short legs with pamprodactylous feet, with four toes forwards, allowing them to grasp the rim of the nest. These birds belong to the Apodidae Family and are almost exclusively aerial, landing only for nesting.   Common Swift The short legs are well adapted to the behaviour of Trochilidae when they feed on nectar inside the flowers.   Costa's Hummingbird And some species found in the Galliforme Order, show a spur on the rear legs, just above the other toes. Ring-necked Pheasant Legs and feet tell us how and where the bird is living, what is its foraging behaviour, if it moves by running, walking or swimming. As the bill, legs and feet are very important tools allowing each species to feed, to catch preys, to kill them. In fact, they are for the bird that are for us forks, knifes or shoes! We will learn more about each group in detail though the following pages.


Who was the first Olympic boxing gold medallist (middleweight in 1952) to go on to become heavyweight champion of the world?

How many boxers turn their Olympic gold medals into professional titles? | Sport | The Guardian The Queensberry rules How many boxers turn their Olympic gold medals into professional titles? Does the amateur success of double Olympic champion Zou Shiming suggest he will flourish as a professional boxer? Zou Shiming wins his second professional fight, against Mexico's Jesus Ortega, on points. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Patrick Connor for The Queensberry Rules, part of the Guardian Sport Network Thursday 8 August 2013 05.15 EDT First published on Thursday 8 August 2013 05.15 EDT Share on Messenger Close Name a few of the most difficult or loathsome professions in the history of history. Sin-eater, coal miner, chimney sweep. When the words "boxer" or "fighter" are tossed into the discussion, people might think of Muhammad Ali or Mike Tyson and dismiss the idea. Those guys made armloads of money and commanded global attention while double-fisting drinks with little umbrellas in them and living it large, didn't they? The reality for most fighters is a low-income existence with not much to show for it in the end. On top of that, they are punched in the face repeatedly for their efforts. How many fighters have their hand wraps taken off after their first serious sparring session and think "this seems like an easy way to not become rich"? A safe assumption is that, upon choosing to become a fighter, most have a hankering to be great. The sugar plum fairy dancing in the head of nearly every amateur fighter is Olympic gold drapery, and your average professional fighter's fairytale ends with winning a world title. Two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming won his second professional fight against Jesus Ortega in Macau last weekend. While Zou could unlock a potentially enormous boxing market in China, one can't help but wonder what will come of his career. In 23 Olympic games featuring boxing (but not the 2012 Games , which are too recent to feature in this discussion), 893 medals have been awarded in total, with 229 golds going to 223 individuals, 38 of whom went on to win a recognised world-title belt. In other words, Olympic gold medalists have a 17 per cent chance of becoming a major belt-holder. Through the first nine Olympic boxing games (1904-1952), only five gold medalists went on to win world titles in the professional ranks: Frankie Genaro, Fidel LaBarba, Jackie Fields, Pascual Perez and Floyd Patterson. The first 14 Olympics with boxing produced only 10 future titlists. The other 28 have all come since 1976 – the Olympics considered by many to be the highlight for US boxing. The Games in 1976 were also the first to produce more than two future titlists. Why, then, despite the fact that amateur boxing more resembled professional fighting at that time, do the Olympics seem to spit out future champions at a higher rate: more weight divisions and an easier road to winning a belt? A different type of promotion for gold medalists? Television? A gold medal wasn't much of a belt notch until Floyd Patterson followed up on his 1952 victory by capturing the vacant heavyweight title four years later. In his second defence, he threw a bone to 1956 gold medalist Pete Rademacher in the latter's professional debut, and the large, honey-coloured pendant became just a tad more important to promotion. But the term "golden boy", specifically in reference to a former Olympic gold medalist in the paid ranks, was given a serious push when the likable Ray Leonard moved along quickly following his showing in 1976. The 1976 Games proved to be a watershed moment for Olympic boxing in more ways than one. The US won four gold medals, but came close to taking home six that year. The bronze winner at heavyweight, John Tate, would have been another number on the "future belt-holder" list. Maybe the value of a belt was cheapened a bit at that point, however. The US joined 64 other countries in boycotting the 1980 Olympics, and by the time the 1984 Games were done, Larry Holmes was a few months away from helping to legitimise a new sanctioning


Which film and comic ‘superhero’ has a ‘day-job’ as photographer with the Daily Bugle?

Daily Bugle - Marvel Universe Wiki: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios. Daily Bugle Rebuilt after being bombed by the Green Goblin; destroyed a second time First Appearance Amazing Spider-Man #1 (1963) Founded in 1897, the Daily Bugle was purchased a few decades after its inception by businessman William Walter Goodman , who prized selfless human achievement above all else and who lent his name to the building the newspaper called home. In 1939, when the android Human Torch and Namor the Sub-Mariner began alternately terrorizing and protecting the city, Bugle photographer Phil Sheldon immortalized many of their exploits. Following Captain America 's debut in late 1940, Bugle reporter Jeff Mace became one of his earliest imitators as the costumed Patriot, although he was just as often active against evil as a correspondent alongside Mary Morgan and freelancer Jack Casey , while C. Thomas Sites and others chronicled the battlefield missions of the Howling Commandos . Joe Robertson , editor-in-chief In later decades, the Bugle's destiny became inexorably linked with that of J. Jonah Jameson , known for uncovering secret details of the Invaders ' wartime missions. Jameson, inspired by the past Bugle editor Walter "Old Man" Jameson (often mistakenly assumed to be Jonah's father) mimicking his signature flat-top and mustache. He rose through the Bugle's ranks as copy boy, reporter, editor and editor-in-chief, championing civil rights and opposition to organized crime. Some twenty years ago, having already emptied his inheritance to buy the Bugle corporation years before, he purchased the entire Goodman Building housing the newspaper to which he had dedicated his life. Ben Urich , former reporter In recent years, Jameson's obsession with Spider-Man has shaped the Bugle's perspective on superheroes, centered on suspicion toward masked vigilantes and superhuman feats upstaging straightforward human heroism. The Bugle's offices have been the sites of Spider-Man's battles with Doctor Octopus , the Fly , the Scorpion , the Vulture and many others. The Bugle building has been twice destroyed during such battles, once by Graviton and once by the Green Goblin , but it has been rebuilt each time to remain as active as ever. Despite lukewarm attempts to cover superhuman activity more objectively in its short-lived Pulse feature, the Bugle formally supported the recent passage of the Superhuman Registration Act , but the exposure of longtime Bugle photographer Peter Parker as Spider-Man undermined the paper's credibility. Daily Bugle Staff


The Pillars of Hercules feature on either side of the coat of arms of which country?

Pillars of Hercules | Knowledge Guild Pillars of Hercules by Kuba The Columnae Herculis was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The northern Pillar is the Rock of Gibraltar in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. A corresponding North African peak not being predominant, the identity of the southern Pillar has been disputed through history, with the two most likely candidates being Monte Hacho in Ceuta and Jebel Musa in Morocco. Location of the Pillars of Hercules in the Gibraltar Strait According to Greek mythology adopted by the Etruscans and Romans, when Hercules had to perform twelve labours, one of them was to fetch the Cattle of Geryon of the far West and bring them to Eurystheus; this marked the westward extent of his travels. A lost passage of Pindar quoted by Strabo was the earliest traceable reference in this context: ‘The pillars which Pindar calls the gates of Gades when he asserts that they are the farthermost limits reached by Heracles.’ According to Plato’s account, the lost realm of Atlantis was situated beyond the Pillars of Hercules, in effect placing it in the realm of the Unknown. Renaissance tradition says the pillars bore the warning Nec plus ultra – or Non plus ultra: ‘nothing further beyond’ – serving as a warning to sailors and navigators to go no further. According to some Roman sources, while on his way to the island of Erytheia Hercules had to cross the mountain that was once Atlas. Instead of climbing the great mountain, Hercules used his superhuman strength to smash through it. By doing so, he connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and formed the Strait of Gibraltar. One part of the split mountain is Gibraltar and the other is either Monte Hacho or Jebel Musa. These two mountains taken together have since then been known as the Pillars of Hercules, though other natural features have been associated with the name. Diodorus Siculus, however, held that instead of smashing through an isthmus to create the Straits of Gibraltar, Hercules instead narrowed an already existing strait to prevent monsters from the Atlantic Ocean from entering the Mediterranean Sea. Escudo de España; the Spanish of Coat of Arms The Pillars appear as supporters of the coat of arms of Spain, originating from the famous impresa – royal emblem, or badge – of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, who was King of Spain in the years following the discovery of the Americas. It bears the motto Plus Ultra, encouraging him to ignore the ancient warning, to take risks and go further beyond. It indicates the desire to see the Pillars as an entrance to the rest of the world rather than as a gate to the Mediterranean Sea. It also indicates the overseas possessions that Spain had. Also, in Inferno XXVI Dante Alighieri mentions Ulysses in the pit of the Fraudulent Counsellors and his voyage past the Pillars of Hercules. Ulysses justifies endangering his sailors by the fact that his goal is to gain knowledge of the unknown. After five months of navigation in the ocean, Ulysses sights the mountain of Purgatory but encounters a whirlwind from it that sinks his ship and all on it for their daring to approach Purgatory while alive, by their strength and wits alone. Share this:


Which UK town is home to a pencil museum?

Pencil Museum THE PENCIL MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED for renovation work   Our reopening is now be scheduled for spring 2017. Thank you for your continued patience and support.   Derwent fine art products are still available to buy at The Pencil Museum Shop, Station Street Keswick. Tel. 017687 73626. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 4.30pm, Sat 10am to 4pm (closed on Sundays).   We look forward to welcoming you back to the Museum in the New Year!


Which director’s last film was Family Plot in 1975?

Greatest Film Directors and Their Best Films (Alphabetical Order, Unranked) ROGER CORMAN 1926- Extremely Prolific King (Producer and Director) of     the Independents and Classic, Tacky, Low-Budget B's (Horror and Sci-Fi)    and Drive-In Movies Suggested Filmography: Swamp Women (1955), The     Day the World Ended (1956), It Conquered the World (1956), Not of This     Earth (1957), The Undead (1957), Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957), Sorority     Girl (1957), Machine-Gun Kelly (1958), A Bucket of Blood (1959), House     of Usher (1960), The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), The Wasp Woman (1960),     The Intruder (1961), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Premature Burial     (1962), Tales of Terror (1962), X - The Man With the X-Ray Eyes (1963),     The Haunted Palace (1963), The Raven (1963), The Terror (1963), The Masque     of the Red Death (1964), The Tomb of Ligeia (1965), The Wild Angels (1966),     The St. Valentine's Day Massacre (1967), The Trip (1967), Bloody Mama     (1970), Death Race 2000 (1975), Frankenstein Unbound (1990). DAVID CRONENBERG 1943- GEORGE CUKOR 1899-1983 Cosmopolitan, Refined "Woman's" Director    During 50 Year Career Wit     and class distinguish his sophisticated pictures, which star Katharine     and Audrey Hepburn and Greta Garbo. Suggested Filmography: A Bill of Divorcement (1932),      One Hour With You (1932), What Price Hollywood? (1932), Little       Women (1933) , Dinner at Eight (1933) , David      Copperfield (1935), Camille (1936) , Romeo and      Juliet (1936), Sylvia Scarlett (1936), Holiday (1938), The Adventures      of Tom Sawyer (1938), Gone With The Wind (1939) (partial), The Women      (1939), The Philadelphia Story (1940) , Keeper of the Flame      (1942), Gaslight (1944) , A Double Life (1947), Adam's Rib (1949) , Born Yesterday (1950), The      Marrying Kind (1952), Pat and Mike (1952), A Star is Born (1954) , It Should Happen to You      (1954), Lust for Life (1956) (co-director, uncredited), Bhowani Junction      (1956), Les Girls (1957), Let's Make Love (1960), My       Fair Lady (1964) , Travels With My Aunt (1972), Rich and Famous (1981). MICHAEL CURTIZ 1888-1962 Hollywood's Most Prolific, Skilled and Colorful Hungarian-born    Director of the 30s and 40s He     made Casablanca and Elvis Presley's King Creole, along with dozens     of movies in every genre, from action to horror to melodrama. Suggested Filmography: Cabin      in the Cotton (1932) , Doctor X (1932), The Kennel Murder Case (1933),      The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933), Captain Blood (1935), The Charge      of the Light Brigade (1936), The Walking Dead (1936), Anthony Adverse      (1936), Kid Galahad (1937), Marked Woman (1937), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) , Angels       With Dirty Faces (1938) , Four Daughters (1938), Dodge City (1939),      The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), Santa Fe Trail (1940),      The Sea Hawk (1940), Virginia City (1940), The Sea Wolf (1941), Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) , Casablanca (1942) , This is the Army (1943), Passage      to Marseille (1944), Mildred Pierce (1945) , Night      and Day (1946), Life With Father (1947), The Unsuspected (1947), My Dream      Is Yours (1949), Flamingo Road (1949), Young Man With a Horn (1950), Jim      Thorpe - All American (1951), The Egyptian (1954), White Christmas (1954),      We're No Angels (1955), The Proud Rebel (1958), King Creole (1958), The      Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960), The Comancheros (1961). CECIL B. DE MILLE 1881-1959 Master Director and "Showman" of the Big    Budget, Excessive Historical Epic and Religious Spectacle/Pageant He     was the first master of big-budget event movies, with two The      Ten Commandments films and The Greatest Show on Earth. Suggested Filmography: The Squaw Man (in three      versions 1914, 1918, 1931), The Cheat


What can be skinny, tapered, slim, straight, boot oat, cigarette bottom, narrow-bottom, low waist, anti-fit, flared or distressed?

Jeans & Pants - fashion4gals.com fashion4gals.com Tops & Tees Jeans & Pants A day of pants shopping leaves most women exhausted and frustrated, and that is on a good day. Each brand seems to cut their pants differently, causing not only in common size issues but specific body part fit issues. Collective pants problems include gapping at the back of the waist, tight thighs, tight calves (with skinny jeans), uncomfortable rises, and length issues. The fact is pants represent the long, hard fight for women’s rights, so it’s vital that women stick with them. Learning about pants for different events and what materials are used makes it easier to select the right pair. Pants are now worn by women on just about every occasion, the only exceptions being brides, pageant competitors, and formal dance attendees, although some pioneering women are breaking down those walls as well. The point is there is a pair of pants out there to suit every situation. Pants can be worn on casual, business, and formal occasions as far as the material and complete appearance is in keeping with the situation. Women can get a great fit from their pants by aiming not only on size but also on the rise and the inseam or length. All three of these factors together give pants the perfect fit. Facts such as pockets, waistbands, cuffs, and linings make each style of pants unique. The key to buying great women’s pants is to know one’s measurements and to try pants on diligently until the veracious items are found. It is difficult to buy a pair of pants off the rack and know whether or not they will fit and flatter. Unfortunately, there is no magic key to make pants shopping easier for women, but knowing this offers many women the willpower to keep trying different pants until they get a garment that works for them. Jeans Pants Normally Jeans are trousers made from denim or dungaree cloth. Generally the term "jeans" refers to a particular style of pants, called "blue jeans," In present era, jeans remain a popular fashion item, and they come in several fits, including skinny, tapered, slim, straight, boot cut, cigarette bottom, narrow bottom, low waist, anti-fit, and flare. "Distressed" (visibly aged and worn, but still intact and functional) jean trousers have become gradually fashionable, making pre-sale "factory distressing" a common feature in commercially sold jeans. As well, although jeans are commonly known as a fashion garment in the present time, they are still worn as protective wears by some individuals, such as cattle ranch workers and motorcycle riders, due to their high durability as compared to other common fabrics. Skinny Jeans Skinny jeans generally have a snug fit all the way through the legs and end in a small leg opening. Skinny leg jeans are also called as Cigarette, Drain Pipes, Carrot Leg, Peg Legs, Pencil Legs. This style of jeans was in fashion in the 1950's when many Hollywood stars wore them.  Lately they have become more popular and are very trendy when worn with a pair of boots or scrunched at the ankles. Straight Jeans As the names suggests, Straight-Leg jeans are exact same. They are traditional and have been around 30 years in. They have a straight narrow leg which does not flare at the ankles. They are usually the same circumference from the knees to the hem. The major differences among straight leg jeans normally have to do with the length of the inseam. There are few styles that are a bit shorter and others that are a bit longer. Boot Cut Jeans Boot Cut Jeans will usually taper to the knee and then slightly flare out to accommodate a boot. This style of jeans became popular in the 1990's. Men's boot-cut and women's boot-cuts tend to be cut in different way. Women's jeans are usually tight to the knee and then flare out slightly to the hem while men's styles are usually flared all the way from crotch to hem. Normally women's Boot cut jeans are no larger than 1 to 2 inches difference in circumference from the knee to the leg opening although some manufacturers refer to a 3 to 4 inch difference as a boot cut. Flare aka Bell Bo


Papageno and Pamina are characters in which opera?

Who’s Who in The Magic Flute: A Character Guide | The Opera Blog Who’s Who in The Magic Flute: A Character Guide By Jennifer Williams , November 4, 2013 Monsters and magical flutes, princes and priests, bears and buffoons: a one-stop guide to help you tell friend from foe in the colourful world of The Magic Flute. The Hero A young prince who sets out on an adventure to find and rescue his princess.   Photo by Branco Gaica Queen of the Night The Queen of the Night pretends to be on Tamino’s side at their first meeting, but we’ll soon find out she’s not as nice as she seems! Listen out when she sings: her songs have very, very high notes!   Photo by Branco Gaica Three Ladies The Queen of the Night has three “ladies”, who are her attendants and do her bidding.   Photo by Branco Gaica Papageno (pah-pah-gae-no) Papageno is a bird-catcher who sells his birds to the Queen of the Night. He’s a simple guy who just dreams of having a girlfriend!   Three boys are sent to guide Papageno and Tamino on their dangerous path.   Photo by Jeff Busby Pamina (pa-mee-nah) Pamina is the daughter of the Queen of the Night. She’s one part damsel-in-distress, locked up in the house of Sarastro (we’ll meet him in a second) and awaiting rescue. She’s also very brave, standing up to her mother! the bad guy Photo by Branco Gaica Monostatos (moh-noh-sta-tohs) Monostatos is the mean and greedy servant of Sarastro. He’s not really loyal to anyone and goes after anything he wants!   Photo by Jeff Busby Sarastro (sah-rah-stroh) The tall and imposing Sarastro is High Priest of the Sun. At the start of the opera, we think he’s the bad guy (but we might change our minds as the story goes on!)   Photo by Branco Gaica Papagena (pah-pah-gae-nah) A cheerful simple girl who goes around disguised as an old woman, Papagena is looking forward to finding a man and settling down to have some little baby chicks. For more information and tickets, click  here . 4 Responses to “Who’s Who in The Magic Flute: A Character Guide” Mrs lee brown


Cape Hatteras in North Carolina is the nearest land to which UK overseas territory?

About Bermuda – its History, Geography, and Life Local Weather About Bermuda – its History, Geography, and Life Bermuda is a British Overseas Territory made up of a group of islands in in the North Atlantic Ocean with a land mass of 21 square miles (54 kilometres). The closest point of land is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on the east coast of the United States of America being about 1,030 kilometres or 640 miles to the west-northwest. Spaniard Juan de Bermudez discovered Bermuda in 1505 and the islands were named after him. The islands were never claimed for Spain and it wasn’t until 1609 when British settlers sailing to Jamestown in Virginia were shipwrecked in a hurricane that Bermuda was first inhabited. The stranded settlers built two ships whilst in Bermuda and sailed to Jamestown leaving two men to officially settle in Bermuda. The first capital, St Georges, was established in 1612 with the capital now being Hamilton. Bermuda is the most populous remaining British Overseas Territory with a population of 64,268 (2010 Census). Bermuda’s main economy was tourism until the late 1970’s when International Business took over. A steady stream of offshore companies invested in Bermuda, hiring locals and calling Bermuda home due to its strong regulatory system, proximity to the US and British law. The mainstay of the economy is now Reinsurance and Insurance which provides many Bermudians and expatriates their jobs. Bermudians enjoy a high quality of life with a GDP as of 2009 at $5.85bn giving a per capita GDP of $86,000 making the island one of the highest per capita to GDP ratio’s in the world. Bermuda is the northernmost point in the supposed Bermuda Triangle, with Miami and Puerto Rico the other two points. Please see below link for more general Bermuda information: www.bermuda-online.org Things to expect when you live here There are a lot of differences between working in a large city such as London and working in Bermuda.  For one, your commute will likely take in ocean views, warm breezes and sunshire and of course, it will take only an average of 15 minutes, depending on where you live.  You may even be able to see Jonny Barnes on your daily moped ride to work.  You may also find yourself waving at this icon of Bermuda as he greets all the morning commuters, rain or shine.  He is a retired bus driver who upon finishing his career has stood at the foot of the lane round-a-bout from 1986 to wave everybody commuting into work each morning telling them that he loves them and spreads his zest for life. In Bermuda, it is very common to greet everyone you meet whether in the street, shop or office with a, “Good Morning” or “Good Afternoon” depending on time of day. Local Bermudians expect this customary greeting so become accustomed to doing this all of the time. Bermuda does not produce many goods, except for the local rum, Goslings Black Seal, the main ingredient of the world famous Dark n Stormy. Due to the size of the island, the majority of goods are imported and so the cost of daily living can be quite expensive. Many of the daily staples such as milk, cereal or bread will be often be twice as expensive as in the UK or United States.  There is however less income tax here, or actually ZERO income tax which makes affording those goods easier. As Bermuda has no income tax, the government generates a large proportion of its revenue from duties on products brought in overseas. There is a heavy duty on boats and luxury cars for example, over 100% in some cases. Moving here from abroad Finding work in Bermuda can be difficult as you are not allowed to come to the island and search for a job. The best way is to use our site to search for jobs! If that fails check out one of the recruiting agency websites listed below:


During 2014, 74 year old Alexander Chancellor became the editor of which magazine?

Prince Charles to splurge £5m on tragic heir's estate | Daily Mail Online comments The Prince of Wales is planning to spend millions on buying vast chucks of the Cornwall estate Having made the biggest gamble of his life with the £45 million purchase of decaying Palladian mansion Dumfries House in Scotland, Prince Charles is about to make another eye-catching investment. I can disclose that the heir to the throne is planning to spend millions on vast chunks of the historic Cornish estate that will host the fashionable annual Port Eliot arts festival this weekend. His Duchy of Cornwall estate will buy more than 800 acres of land, farmhouses and outbuildings from his bohemian friend the Earl of St Germans, who lives at the 123-room Port Eliot house, which has its own church and celebrated gardens. ‘The Duchy estate is in advanced negotiations regarding the purchase of part of the Port Eliot estate,’ confirms a Clarence House spokesman. ‘The negotiations do not include the house.’ The land was put on the market, in nine lots worth a combined £4.7 million, last October by the 73-year-old earl, Peregrine Eliot, who married his third wife, 44-year-old former magazine journalist Cathy Wilson, in 2005. His party-loving son and heir Jago, who founded the arts festival, was found dead in the bath at the age of 40 in 2006 after suffering an epileptic fit. Jago was reported to have been furious when his father sold a farm on the 6,000-acre estate the year before his death to finance the purchase of a London townhouse for his new wife. ‘Everyone is horrified that this move risks breaking up the estate,’ one of his friends said at the time. ‘Jago feels his inheritance is at risk.’ The gatehouse to the sprawling Port Eliot estate near Saltash, which Charles is planning on buying part of Port Eliot house, parts of which date back to the 9th century, was substantially remodelled by renowned architect Sir John Soane in the 18th century. It was opened to visitors in 2008 in an arrangement which allows national treasures to be donated to the state in place of inheritance tax. Charles should have no trouble affording the purchase. The Duchy generated £31.4 million in the last financial year, giving him an income of £19.5 million. Last November, a committee of MPs said the prince’s estate should be investigated following claims that it was exploiting an ‘unfair advantage’ over commercial rivals because it is exempt from corporation tax and capital gains tax. A Duchy spokesman denied that it had a tax advantage. Clegg's man: I'm off Beleaguered Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, whose party’s poll ratings remain stuck in single figures ten months before the General Election, appears to have received a significant vote of no confidence. His most trusted adviser, Tim Snowball, has jumped ship after almost a decade as Clegg’s right-hand man. The 30-year-old political secretary and chief of staff is to become a lobbyist. Snowball says: ‘It was a difficult decision for me, but the right one for my long-term career.’ The two met when the Sheffield Hallam MP gave a lecture at Sheffield University, where Snowball was a postgraduate student. He began working for Clegg immediately. Snowball managed his successful party leadership campaign and the Deputy PM’s 2010 election tour at the height of ‘Cleggmania’. Latterly, Snowball moved back to Lib Dem HQ as director of communications and political operations, where he was expected to play a central role in next year’s election campaign. Will there be any rats left on the sinking ship by then?   Brand's oh-so grand kebab house entrance Russell Brand, who took Jemima Khan, daughter of the late Sir James Goldsmith and his aristocratic wife Lady Annabel, to dinner at the Lahore Kebab House Happily ensconced with billionaire’s daughter Jemima Khan while writing his manifesto for revolution, Russell Brand occasionally ventures out to recruit more followers. The ‘anarchist’ comedian, 39, treated Jemima, the 40-year-old daughter of the late Sir James Goldsmith and his aristocratic wife Lady Annabel, to dinner at t


Pannage pork is considered a delicacy, on what are the pigs fed?

Acorn-Finished Pork: An Ancient Tradition | Mast Tree Network Browse: Home » 2009 » November » Acorn-Finished Pork: An Ancient Tradition Acorn-Finished Pork: An Ancient Tradition November 10, 2009 · by admin · in Business Opportunities , Mast and Livestock Acorn-finished pork is a centuries-old tradition that has been handed down from the Mediterranean region of Europe. Pigs are native to the hardwood forests of Eurasia and there is a growing movement in Europe and America to return to more traditional methods of pork production, which are more humane for the pigs, better for the environment, and healthier for the consumer than pork produced by modern factory farms. Jamón ibérico de bellota. Click for price. In some regions, these ancient, traditional methods of raising pork never disappeared. The legendary jamón ibérico de bellota (Iberian acorn-finished ham), also known as pata negra, is widely considered to be the finest pork in the world. This Spanish ham comes from the black Iberian pig (cerdo negra) and is raised in southern Spain near the border with Portugal in oak forests called la dehesa. During the six month period (la montanera) every fall and winter that they forage in the Dehesa, the pigs eat 15-20 pounds of acorns (bellotas) every day, gaining up to two pounds a day, and enjoy fresh air and exercise. After they are “sacrificed,” the hams are cured for 12-36 months, producing a truly artisan meat. Jamón Ibérico de bellota has only been available in the United States since 2008 and can be purchased from websites such as Jamon.com for $100 or more per pound. The Italian Cinta Senese and the Hungarian Mangalitsa are more old-fashioned European breeds traditionally raised on acorns. In the New Forest in southern England, pigs are still turned out for a minimum of 60 days every autumn to eat acorns and beechnuts, in a practice known as “ pannage ,” or the “Common of Mast.” The practice of finishing pigs on acorns followed European settlers to North America and is regaining popularity today due to its many benefits: Acorn Finished Pork and Animal Welfare Acorn finished meat is humane, allowing the pigs to enjoy fresh air and sunshine, as well as practice natural behaviors such as rooting and nesting. Many acorn-finished pork producers even allow their sows to farrow in the woods. Because the animals are not too crowded and are able to behave naturally, pastured pigs rarely have problems with stress and boredom-related cannibalism and their tails are generally not docked. Most are completely antibiotic and hormone free. Acorn Finished Pork and the Environment Because the pigs spend their days wandering in forests and pastures, they spread their manure naturally, eliminating the toxic waste problems associated with many commercial-scale pig farms. In fact, instead of causing air and groundwater pollution, manure from pastured pigs can actually improve the soil.


Which Scottish group had UK top 20 hits with Real Gone Kid and Dignity?

About - Deacon Blue ABOUT DEACON BLUE – Believers We are reluctant travellers/All trying to get home” (“Gone”) Deacon Blue are on the move again. The band whose second life began with the album The Hipsters in 2012 and accelerated with A New House released in 2014, is now poised to scale new heights with Believers. “The Hipsters was about the band – my love letter to Deacon Blue,” says singer, pianist and songwriter Ricky Ross. “A New House was about our country, Scotland, a physical sense of a place that I’m sometimes overwhelmed with. Believers is about the journey we all take into the dark. You come to that point in your life where – whatever you’ve been told, whatever the evidence you’ve been presented with – you just don’t know what the answer is. At which point you can only rely on the instincts of your heart. You either take the leap or you don’t.” For Ross and his fellow travellers in Deacon Blue – Lorraine McIntosh (vocals), James Prime (keyboards) and Dougie Vipond (drums, vocals) – taking those leaps of faith has become second nature. The band continues to celebrate the legacy of their platinum-selling success in the 1980s and 1990s. But in recent years, they have hit a sweet spot with a creative process that has helped them grow, once again, into a major contemporary act whose new records are playlisted on BBC Radio 2 and elsewhere, and who routinely sell out huge venues as disparate as the SSE Hydro Arena in their hometown of Glasgow and, more recently, Aintree Racecourse on Merseyside. With worldwide sales now in excess of seven million albums – including five albums in the UK Top Five and 17 singles in the UK Top 40 – the band is back with another reason to believe. Believers began, as did the two previous albums, with Ross writing and demoing songs with the help of Gregor Philp, the guitarist who first joined Deacon Blue in 2008. After a few days of rehearsals, the full band, including bass player Lewis Gordon (also recruited in 2008), returned to Chem19 studio in Glasgow with producer Paul Savage (Franz Ferdinand, Mogwai, King Creosote, etc.). “Paul works a lot with new bands and people who are completely outside our musical world, and brings a different perspective to the songs,” Ross says. “We love working in his studio. He gets a great sound. It’s been one of the most creative sessions I’ve ever done.” The sense of a band and producer working in perfect sync was evident throughout the recording sessions, with everyone pitching in ideas for the arrangements, some of which have taken the songs in unexpected directions. “A Boy”, a song full of nostalgic yearning, is enhanced by a string quartet arranged by Pete Harvey (of King Creosote fame). “We were young once/Don’t pretend it didn’t happen to you,” Ross sings. Other songs are stripped back to the essentials, instrumentally and emotionally. “What I Left Out” is a song which Ross found in his Logic files, which he had completely forgotten having written. A sense of quiet wonder permeates the song’s poignant lyric which is set against a simple backdrop of Fender Rhodes piano and acoustic guitar. “I told her everything…She’s got me wondering what I left out.” “It’s a love song, from an older perspective,” Ross says. “The guy is thinking he must have left out some important detail about himself, because she still seems to love him after all this time.” Some of the songs are deep album tracks, including “Birds” a long, spontaneous performance that was recorded almost as a live track with the liberating refrain: “One day we’re going to be free as the birds.” “It’s really special,” Ross enthuses. “It reminded me of when we were doing Raintown. We’d always think a track wasn’t finished and our producer Jon Kelly would say ‘What’s wrong with it?’ And we’d realise it was sorted. It’s a nice moment.” The first single to emerge from these sessions is “The Believers”, a song reflecting, in part, on the scenes of despair among refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean and elsewhere, but nevertheless cast as an anthem of hope: “Step on a boat/Go on a journey/May


Which Swedish warship sank on her maiden voyage on 10th August 1628?

New Clues Emerge in Centuries-Old Swedish Shipwreck | Public Radio International New Clues Emerge in Centuries-Old Swedish Shipwreck In 1628, the Swedish warship Vasa sank on its maiden voyage. Player utilities PRI.org <iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.pri.org/node/36281/embedded" height="75" width="100%"></iframe> Over the centuries, many have tried to explain what caused that embarrassing and deadly mishap. Researchers in Stockholm have now conducted a detailed examination of the 17th-century vessel, and they've found new clues as to why it sank. The ship is on display at Stockholm's Vasa Museum, one of Sweden's most popular tourist destinations. Step inside and you're greeted by a breathtaking sight — the bow of a nearly four hundred year-old wooden warship. It looks like something out of the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean." "It's like a piece of art," says Susanna Vallejos, a guide at the museum. The ship, especially its stern, is covered with wooden sculptures. "They're very beautiful, of course, but the main use of them was to tell us things about the royal family, the king," says Vallejos. The King of Sweden at the time was Gustav II Adolf, the man who ordered the building of the ship. Today, at least a million people visit the museum every year, but Vallejos says what draws visitors is more than just the beauty of the ship. "The story is also quite special and tragic." Vasa set sail on her maiden voyage on August 10, 1628. At the time, she was the most powerfully armed warship in the world, with 64 bronze cannons. Twenty minutes into her journey, the ship was hit by two strong winds. It heeled to port, water gushed in, and the ship sank less than a mile into the journey. Thirty people died. Soon after, there was an inquest that concluded that the ship had been unstable. But the reasons behind the instability have remained a point of debate over the centuries. Fred Hocker, an archaeologist at the Vasa Museum, has been trying to find some definitive answers. "We have, over the last three years, measured every single piece of the wood in the ship," says Hocker. "If we want to understand how the ship was built, that's what it takes." Hocker's meticulous measurements paid off. They gave him fresh insight into what made the Vasa unstable. For one thing, the ship was asymmetrical, more so than most ships of the day. "There is more ship structure on the port side of the hull than on the starboard side," explains Hocker. "Unballasted, the ship would probably heel to port." No wonder the ship tipped to the port side when the winds hit. But why was the ship so lopsided? While examining the ship, Hocker discovered four rulers the workmen had used. Those rulers were based on different standards of measurement at the time. Two were in Swedish feet, which were divided into twelve inches. The other two were in Amsterdam feet, which had eleven inches in a foot. So each carpenter had used his own system of measurement. "When somebody tells him, make that thing four inches thick, his four inches is not going to be the same as the next guy's four inches," says Hocker. "And you can see those variations in the timbers, as well." But that wasn't the only reason the ship sank. Hocker says the Vasa was also top-heavy. "The part of the ship that was above the water is too heavy compared to the part of the ship that's in the water. [It] makes it too easy for it to heel over." People in the 17th century were aware of that fact, but they didn't understand what made the ship top-heavy, or whom to blame for the poor design. Some historians and military architects have blamed the King. They thought that he had interfered with the ship's dimensions after the construction had begun. But Hocker's measurements offered no evidence to support that theory. He uncovered a simpler cause. "The deck structure is simply too heavy," he says. "It's heavier than it needs to be to carry the guns that Vasa was armed with." Why were the decks so heavy? Hocker studied historical documents and found that the shipbuilder, a Dutch man named Henri


On 1st January 2015, which country became the 19th to adopt the Euro as its currency?

litas | Lithuanian currency | Britannica.com Lithuanian currency THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Learn about this topic in these articles:   in Lithuania: Finance During the Soviet occupation, Lithuania used the Russian ruble as its currency. The litas, the national currency, which had been introduced to Lithuania in 1922, was restored in 1993. In January 2015 Lithuania became the 19th country to adopt the euro as its official currency. The country’s central bank is the Bank of Lithuania. All state-owned banks in Lithuania had been privatized by 2002. A...


Which actor won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 2007?

Johnny Depp - MusicBrainz Johnny Depp Various Artists 2 This artist only has release groups by various artists. Showing official release groups for various artists. Show all various artists release groups instead . Artist information


Which TV personality and singer now has the surname Fernandez-Versini?

Cheryl drops the name Fernandez-Versini | The Indian Express Cheryl drops the name Fernandez-Versini Cheryl drops the name Fernandez-Versini Cheryl has officially dropped surname Fernandez-Versini following the breakdown of her marriage. By: PTI | London | Published:April 20, 2016 3:33 pm Singer and TV personality Cheryl has officially dropped surname Fernandez-Versini following the breakdown of her marriage. Singer and TV personality Cheryl has officially dropped surname Fernandez-Versini following the breakdown of her marriage. The 32-year-old pop star, who is in the process of re-launching her solo career, will now just be known by her first name as she gears up to record her new album, reported Daily Mirror. After splitting from second husband Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini at the end of last year, Cheryl will publicly go without a surname, instead of reverting to maiden name Tweedy. The former Girls Aloud star will be honoured at 7th annual Global Gift Gala in Paris by Eva Longoria, and has been added to the line-up as simply ‘Cheryl’. She will receive The Global Gift Philanthropist Award, honouring her work with Cheryl’s Trust -which she set up to support the needs of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK. “Cheryl wants to wipe the slate clean and start afresh with a new name, now the divorce is going through. “Things turned pretty nasty over the weekend, with both Cheryl and JB making comments on social media, so from hereon in, she will just be known as Cheryl,” a source said. “Her last album in 2014 was released under the name ‘Cheryl’, too, but everyone still called her by her new married name,” it added.


Where in the body would you find Glisson’s capsule and Kupffer cells?

Anatomy and physiology of the liver  Anatomy and Physiology of the liver Human liver development begins during the third week of gestation and does not achieve mature architecture until about 15 years of age. It reaches its largest relative size, 10% of fetal weight, around the ninth week. It is about 5% of body weight in the healthy neonate. The liver is about 2% of body weight in the adult. It weighs around 1400g in an adult female and about 1800g in the male. * The liver is located in the right upper quadrant  of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It is almost completely behind the rib cage but the lower edge may be palpated along the right costal margin during inspiration. A connective tissue layer called Glisson's capsule covers the surface of the liver. The capsule extends to invest all but the smallest the vessels within the liver. * The falciform ligament attaches the liver to the abdominal wall and diaphragm and divides the liver into a larger right lobe and a smaller left lobe. In 1957, the french surgeon Claude Couinaud described 8 liver segments. Since then, radiographic studies describe an average of twenty segments based on distribution of blood supply * . Each segment has its own independent vascular and biliary branches. Surgeons utilize these independent segments when performing liver resection for tumor or transplantation. There are at least three reasons why segmental resection is superior to simple wedge resection. First, segmental resection minimizes blood loss because vascular density is reduced at the borders between segments. Second, it results in improved tumor removal for those cancers which are disseminated via intrasegmental branches of the portal vein. Third, segmental resection spares normal liver allowing for repeat partial hepatectomy * . Each segment of the liver is further divided into lobules. Lobules are usually represented as discrete hexagonal aggregations of hepatocytes. The hepatocytes assemble as plates which radiate from a central vein. Lobules are served by arterial, venous and biliary vessels at their periphery. This model is useful for teaching purposes but more closely resembles the adult pig lobule than the human. Human lobules have little connective tissue separating one lobule from another. The paucity of connective tissue makes it more difficult to identify the portal triads and the boundaries of individual lobules. Central veins are easier to identify due to their large lumen and because they lack connective tissue that invests the portal triad vessels. Lobules consist of hepatocytes and the spaces between them. Sinusoids are the spaces between the plates of hepatocytes. Sinusoids receive blood from the portal triads. About 25% of total cardiac output enters the sinusoids via terminal portal and arterial vessels. Seventy-five percent of the blood flowing into the liver comes   through the portal vein; the remaining 25% is oxygenated blood   that is carried by the hepatic artery. The blood mixes, passes through the sinusoids, bathes the hepatocytes and drains into the central vein.   About 1.5 liters of blood exit the liver every minute. The liver is central to a multitude of physiologic functions, including: Clearance of damaged red blood cells & bacteria by phagocytosis Nutrient management Synthesis of plasma proteins such as   albumin, globulin, protein C, insulin-like growth factor, clotting factors, etc. Biotransformation of  toxins, hormones, and drugs Vitamin & mineral storage Phagocytosis Red blood cell (RBC) life span is about 120 days. Reticuloendothelial (macrophage) cells in the spleen, liver and bone marrow are primarily responsible for clearing pathogens and debris. Kupffer cells are reticuloendothelial cells resident in the liver sinusoids that scavenge damaged RBCs and bacteria as they pass through. Hundreds of millions of RBCs are removed by the reticuloendothelial system every minute. Kupffer cells, like other reticuloendothelial macrophages, lyse RBCs into heme and globin. Globin is further catabolized into polypeptide components fo


Holly Bleasdale is the holder of the British record in which athletics event?

Holly Bradshaw | First Artist Mission Instagram:  Hollypv Profile Holly Bradshaw (born Holly Bleasdale) is a young British athlete that exploded onto the scene in 2011 and produced some stand out performances in 2012. Holly started the 2012 season in blistering form setting a new indoor PB and British record of 4.87m in Villeurbanne, France. She continued in the same vein regularly jumping 4.70m indoors and she set a new outdoor British Record of 4.71m at the Aviva Olympic Trials & UK Championships in June. Holly’s junior career gained fame when she broke the British Junior pole vault record in June 2010, with a vault of 4.35m. A month later, she won bronze at the 2010 World Junior Championships. In 2011, she represented Great Britain in the European Team Championships, where she finished in 5th place. Gold medal winning performances at the Aviva Grand prix, Aviva European Indoor Trials, and a 3rd place finish at the final Diamond League meet before the Olympics, set Holly up for a realistic opportunity of a medal at London 2012. She ultimately finished a credible 6th place at London but her disappointment spurred her on to become one of the leading pole vaulters in the world. 2012 proved to be a pivotal year for Holly as she was able to compete with the world’s best on a consistent basis. She has really pushed on since the Olympics and held the 2013 World leading indoor height of 4.77m which she achieved whilst successfully defending her National Championships title in February. She followed this with her best achievement to date, becoming European Indoor Champion in March 2013, which cemented her status as the world number one. After recovering from an injury that saw her miss the majority of 2013, Holly started the 2014 season with a bang, recording the world leading jump in February, easily clearing 4.73m. After a 16-month absence, she won the Welsh Championships in her first event back, followed by a gold in the British Championships a week later. At just 24 years-old Holly is a down to earth and bubbly individual with a bright future ahead of her. Away from the track she has enrolled in a Sports Science degree course at Manchester Metropolitan University. Holly is incredibly engaging and seems to be a natural fit with brands. Having worked with brands like Subway, Nike and Sky, there is great value in working with Holly and supporting a TeamGB Olympic Finalist athlete. Major Achievements


Which city, the third largest in Denmark, is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen?

Odense: The Birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen | Travel the World Odense: The Birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen, the son of Odense. Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, but to put that into a little bit of perspective, Odense has a population of just over 172,000, between that of Jackson, Mississippi and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  There is one main reason to visit Odense, and that is Hans Christian Andersen.  Hans Christian Andersen is one of the most famous celebrities to ever come out of Denmark and Odense’s claim to fame is that Odense is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen.  Hopefully everybody knows who Hans Christian Andersen is.  I grew up with his fairy tales.  But in case you need a reminder, he wrote The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and countless more.  While Hans Christian Andersen only lived in Odense until the age of 14, at which time he moved to Copenhagen to seek his fortune, Odense is very proud of the fact that it is the birthplace of the famous author, and signs of Hans Christian Andersen can be seen around every corner of the city. This little yellow house is where the famous Hans Christian Andersen was born. The best place to get to know Hans Christian Andersen is the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, or as the Danes call it, H.C. Andersens Hus .  The Danes are on a first name basis with Denmark’s famous son and call him H.C. (pronounced hoo-see).  Hans Christian Andersen’s first home, where he was born and lived for two years, is incorporated into this museum.  But his birth home is just a small part of this very large museum dedicated to one important man. The modern entrance to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. While Hans Christian Andersen’s small birth home can be seen from the old town street, the entrance to the museum is actually in the back and is very modern.  Walking through the museum is literally like walking through Hans Christian Andersen’s life.  Many of Hans Christian Andersen’s personal possessions are displayed, like his hat and his dentures, along with explanations of what was happening in his life at the time, all in chronological order.  Seeing everything in perspective really helps illustrate the struggles he went through and how amazing it is that he eventually became so successful and so well-loved.  Hans Christian Andersen's passport. Visitors to the museum will also learn there was much more to Hans Christian Andersen than just his fairy tales.  He was also a poet and an artist and a traveler.  He was talented in the arts of paper cutting and drawing.  Hans Christian Andersen was an avid traveler and believed travel was an important part of life.  He knew Europe better than many of his contemporaries.  One of his famous quotes is, “To travel is to live.”  He embarked on his first journey in 1831 and took his 30th and last in 1873, two years before he died.  He not only traveled through Europe, but also to Asia Minor and Africa. Reconstruction of Hans Christian Andersen's study from his Nyhavn apartment. Hans Christian Andersen’s Childhood Home , where he lived from ages two to 14, is also open to visitors.  But beyond these two homes there are signs of Hans Christian Andersen everywhere throughout Odense.  Behind Sankt Knuds Kirke, Odense’s cathedral, is HC Andersen Haven, a park dedicated to the writer with a prominent statue of him.  On a sunny day you will see countless Danes lounging in the grass of this park.  Walking around Odense you will find Hans Christian Andersen’s profile worked into the sidewalk and they’ve even used him for the pedestrian street lights. Danes soaking in the sun in Odense's HC Andersen Haven. There are a number of sculptures and street furniture inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's stories throughout town.  A great place to view some of Odense’s outdoor artwork is in the square in front of the Town Hall, which is also the perfect place to enjoy a licorice ice cream cone from the ice cream shop. We stayed in Odense for two nights of our Denmark road trip  so we could n


Which British high street store is owned by the US chain Walgreens (not Walmart)?

Tax inversion takes a hit as Walgreen Alliance Boots stays in US | Business | The Guardian Alliance Boots Tax inversion takes a hit as Walgreen Alliance Boots stays in US After intense political pressure, Walgreens decides to stay in Chicago, rather than take advantage of Alliance Boots' domicile in Switzerland A Walgreens store in Boston, Massachusetts. Photograph: Steven Senne/AP Wednesday 6 August 2014 11.48 EDT First published on Wednesday 6 August 2014 11.48 EDT Close This article is 2 years old The US drugstore chain Walgreens has abandoned plans to shift its headquarters to Europe as part of its £9bn takeover of the group that owns British high-street stalwart Boots the Chemist. The US group, which has more than 8,000 US outlets, was under intense political pressure to keep its tax domicile in the US as it pushed ahead with the deal to buy the 55% share of Alliance Boots it does not already own. The decision is a blow to other US companies with similar tax-cutting plans, such as the US drugmaker Abbvie, which has embarked on a £31bn takeover of UK firm Shire, in pursuit of a UK domicile that will lower its tax bill. The deal spells a massive payday for Stefano Pessina , the Italian billionaire who bought Boots in a heavily debt-funded deal with hedge fund Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 2007. Pessina will get £1.5bn in cash and £2.95bn of shares, but the 73-year-old dealmaker has no plans to retire, and has been named as executive vice chairman of the combined company. Walgreens' decision to keep its headquarters in Chicago, rather than take advantage of Alliance Boots' tax domicile in Berne, Switzerland, came after the US Treasury threatened to restrict tax benefits for American firms that go abroad for tax purposes and president Barack Obama accused tax-shifting companies of lacking patriotism. Greg Wasson, chief executive of the combined company Walgreen Boots Alliance, said the risks of a "significant potential consumer backlash" from changing its tax domicile were too great. The decision will be a bitter disappointment to Walgreens' shareholders, especially Goldman Sachs and a group of hedge funds that had urged the pharmacy group to relocate to Europe to cut its tax bill. Wasson told investors that Walgreens had done an "extensive study" of an inversion - the process of moving its corporate headquarters out of the US to reduce taxes . But the company feared "a protracted controversy" with tax officials at the Internal Revenue Service that could see it bogged down in litigation for up to 10 years, as well as the potential loss of government contracts. "The parties could not arrive at a structure … to ensure that the transaction could withstand almost certain intense protracted IRS scrutiny," Wasson told investors. "While we fully understand the significant financial benefits of an inversion, when weighed against the risk, we determined that pursuing a structure that included an inversion was not the right structure for our future enterprise." Alliance Boots has more than 2,500 high street chemists across the UK. Photograph: Sergio Dionisio/AP On Tuesday the US Treasury secretary Jacob Lew said the Obama administration could act to reduce tax benefits for companies moving overseas for tax purposes without waiting for the approval of Congress. "If Congress doesn't act, we can't wait for months or years to go by and just watch companies make decisions as if nothing will change," Lew told the New York Times. According to the paper, 22 US companies have announced an inversion deal since 2011, although the biggest potential deal so far, a hostile takeover of the UK pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca by its US rival Pfizer, fell through amid the political backlash in both countries. Obama has argued that US companies pursuing inversions do not deserve to call themselves American companies. "I don't care if it's legal. It's wrong," he said in a speech last month. Walgreens is paying £3.1bn in cash and £5.9bn in shares to take full control of Alliance Boots, having taken a 45% stake in 2012. The pharmacy group hopes to creat


Which is the smallest native British gull?

Identify a bird seen in British Columbia by color Fulvous Whistling-Duck Fulvous Whistling-Duck: Large, long-legged, long-necked duck with dark brown back and white V-shaped rump patch. Head and underparts are buff to cinnamon with white throat and vent. The white-edged side and flank feathers form a striking border between sides and back. Tail is black with white undertail coverts. Emperor Goose Emperor Goose: This small goose has slate-gray plumage that is subtly barred in white and black. It has a white head and hindneck, a dark foreneck, a short pink bill, and a white tail with black under tail coverts. The legs are bright yellow-orange. It feeds on plants, crustaceans and mollusks. It has a direct flight with rapid wing beats. The sexes are similar, with the female slightly smaller. Ross's Goose Ross's Goose: Small, white goose with black primary feathers and stubby gray-based red-orange bill. Red-orange legs and feet. Eats mostly fresh grasses and grains, often in the company of Snow Geese. Rapid direct flight with strong wing beats. Flies in a V formation. North America's smallest goose. American Black Duck American Black Duck: Stocky, medium-sized dabbling duck with dark brown body, paler face and foreneck, and purple speculum bordered with black. Head is finely streaked; dark eyestripe is distinct. White underwings contrast with dark brown body in flight. Legs, feet are orange. Swift direct flight. Garganey Garganey: This small dabbling duck has black-streaked, gray upperparts, chestnut-brown mottled face and breast, pale gray flanks, and a white stripe above the eye that runs down the neck. The wings have pale blue shoulder patches and a dark green speculum with white borders visible in flight. Fast direct flight with rapid wing beats. Diet includes aquatic invertebrates. Baikal Teal Baikal Teal: Small dabbling duck, head pattern of pale brown, green, white, and black. Pink breast has dark spots, flanks are gray bordered with vertical white stripes, scapulars are brown, black, and white. Wing speculum is green with buff upper and white lower border. Black undertail coverts. Steller's Eider Steller's Eider: Small eider with black back and collar, white sides, buff-brown underparts with small but distinct black spot on side. White head has a dark tuft, black eye patch and chin. Wings are white with black primaries and a white-bordered blue speculum. Blue-gray bill, legs and feet. Spectacled Eider Spectacled Eider: Smallest of the Eiders, has orange bill, white upperparts, black underparts, breast, sides, black pointed tail, yellow-green head and large white "goggles" bordered with black. White feathers on the upper mandible extend past nostril. Rapid direct flight in straight line formation. King Eider King Eider: Large diving duck with black body and white breast, back. The crown and nape are pale blue; distinct bill is orange-red, sweeping upward into a large, orange basal knob outlined in black. Wings are black with large white patches visible in flight. Tail has white patches at the base. Common Eider Common Eider: Large diving duck (v-nigrum), with distinctive sloping forehead, black body, white breast and back. Crown is black and nape is pale green. Wings are white with black primary and secondary feathers. Tail and rump are black. Bill is dull yellow to gray-green (eastern) or orange-yellow (western). Smew Smew: Small merganser, mostly white body except for black back, mask, breast bar, and V-shaped nape patch. Wings are dark with large white patches. Gray legs, feet. Feeds on fish, aquatic insects, and their larvae. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats. Flies in straight line or V formation. Mountain Quail Mountain Quail: Large,striking quail with long elegant black head plume, white-bordered rufous-brown face and throat, gray-brown upperparts, blue-gray breast, and rufous-brown belly and sides with distinct white bars. Rapid direct flight, series of several stiff wing beats followed by a short glide. Northern Bobwhite Northern Bobwhite: Medium, morphologically variable quail, most with unique head p