"In Chaucer's ""Canterbury Tales"", which character tells the first tale?"

SparkNotes: The Canterbury Tales: Character List The Canterbury Tales Analysis of Major Characters The Pilgrims The Narrator -  The narrator makes it quite clear that he is also a character in his book. Although he is called Chaucer, we should be wary of accepting his words and opinions as Chaucer’s own. In the General Prologue, the narrator presents himself as a gregarious and naïve character. Later on, the Host accuses him of being silent and sullen. Because the narrator writes down his impressions of the pilgrims from memory, whom he does and does not like, and what he chooses and chooses not to remember about the characters, tells us as much about the narrator’s own prejudices as it does about the characters themselves. The Knight -  The first pilgrim Chaucer describes in the General Prologue, and the teller of the first tale. The Knight represents the ideal of a medieval Christian man-at-arms. He has participated in no less than fifteen of the great crusades of his era. Brave, experienced, and prudent, the narrator greatly admires him. Read an in-depth analysis of The Knight. The Wife of Bath -  Bath is an English town on the Avon River, not the name of this woman’s husband. Though she is a seamstress by occupation, she seems to be a professional wife. She has been married five times and had many other affairs in her youth, making her well practiced in the art of love. She presents herself as someone who loves marriage and sex, but, from what we see of her, she also takes pleasure in rich attire, talking, and arguing. She is deaf in one ear and has a gap between her front teeth, which was considered attractive in Chaucer’s time. She has traveled on pilgrimages to Jerusalem three times and elsewhere in Europe as well. Read an in-depth analysis of The Wife of Bath. The Pardoner -  Pardoners granted papal indulgences—reprieves from penance in exchange for charitable donations to the Church. Many pardoners, including this one, collected profits for themselves. In fact, Chaucer’s Pardoner excels in fraud, carrying a bag full of fake relics—for example, he claims to have the veil of the Virgin Mary. The Pardoner has long, greasy, yellow hair and is beardless. These characteristics were associated with shiftiness and gender ambiguity in Chaucer’s time. The Pardoner also has a gift for singing and preaching whenever he finds himself inside a church. Read an in-depth analysis of The Pardoner. The Miller -  Stout and brawny, the Miller has a wart on his nose and a big mouth, both literally and figuratively. He threatens the Host’s notion of propriety when he drunkenly insists on telling the second tale. Indeed, the Miller seems to enjoy overturning all conventions: he ruins the Host’s carefully planned storytelling order; he rips doors off hinges; and he tells a tale that is somewhat blasphemous, ridiculing religious clerks, scholarly clerks, carpenters, and women. The Prioress -  Described as modest and quiet, this Prioress (a nun who is head of her convent) aspires to have exquisite taste. Her table manners are dainty, she knows French (though not the French of the court), she dresses well, and she is charitable and compassionate. The Monk -  Most monks of the Middle Ages lived in monasteries according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, which demanded that they devote their lives to “work and prayer.” This Monk cares little for the Rule; his devotion is to hunting and eating. He is large, loud, and well clad in hunting boots and furs. The Friar -  Roaming priests with no ties to a monastery, friars were a great object of criticism in Chaucer’s time. Always ready to befriend young women or rich men who might need his services, the friar actively administers the sacraments in his town, especially those of marriage and confession. However, Chaucer’s worldly Friar has taken to accepting bribes. The Summoner -  The Summoner brings persons accused of violating Church law to ecclesiastical court. This Summoner is a lecherous man whose face is scarred by leprosy. He gets drunk frequently, is irritable, and is not particularly qualified


What is the name of the cafe/tea room, founded by Frederick Belmont in 1919 in Harrogate, and now a tourist attraction?

Harrogate - a guide to the town Harrogate Hedge-blog Harrogate Harrogate is a town in North Yorkshire, with a population of 73,576 (2011 census). Its mineral waters were discovered in the 1500s, and it grew as a spa town in the 1600s and 1700s. The town's motto is arx celebris fontibus, meaning city famous for its springs. Present-day attractions include the original Bettys tearooms , and RHS Harlow Carr gardens. It was the happiest town in the UK in 2013 , and again in 2014 . Many people who live in Harrogate work in Leeds or Bradford. It is relatively prosperous, with an average household income of £41,833 in the Harrogate district, and an average house price of £265,207. (Source: 'A Profile of the Harrogate District 2011/12' . It also notes that tourism accounts for 25% of the district's economy, and that the conference centre generates £150m in Harrogate). Name and history of Harrogate    The name Harrogate comes from the Anglo-Norse Here-gatte, gatte being the way to, and Here or Herelaw the soldier's hill (now Harlow). So Harrogate could mean 'the way to the soldier's hill.' Another idea is that it means 'the way to the cairn, or heap of stones.'  Harrogate is not mentioned in the Domesday Book, but it is likely that it existed as a name for many centuries before there was a settlement here. It was part of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough, although it was probably actually a heath, with gorse, bracken, heather, and patches of trees. The first reference to Harrogate in a document, was in 1332, on the roll of the Knaresborough Court.  The town was created from two hamlets, High Harrogate and Low Harrogate. High Harrogate had the first important building, the chantry chapel, built in 1400, and Low Harrogate probably developed later. It was the discovery of the first mineral spring in 1571 that was the catalyst for Harrogate's development as a spa town. The waters continued to attract visitors until the early years of the 1900s. See our section on Harrogate as a spa town . During World War II, Harrogate's large hotels accommodated government offices evacuated from London. This helped lead to the town's function as a conference and exhibition centre in the post-war years, and up to the present day. There was also industry in Harrogate - ICI had a plant at Hornbeam Park. Crimplene was invented there in the 1950s, and named after Crimple Beck. Harrogate hosted the Eurovision song contest in 1982, the year the International Centre opened. It has won various floral competitions, including Britain in Bloom in 2003, and European floral competitions in 1977 and 2004. The cauldron for the London 2012 Olympics was designed and built by Thomas Heatherwick in Harrogate. Harrogate: shopping    Harrogate is centred on the War Memorial at Prospect Crescent.  The main shopping area is east from there, on James St, Cambridge St, Oxford St, and Beulah St. There's a WH Smith and a TK Maxx in the Victoria Shopping Centre at the top of Cambridge St.  Parliament St and the Montpellier Quarter have a number of interesting and expensive stores. There are quite a few independent and less expensive shops on Cheltenham Parade and the streets off it, such as the lower part of Station Parade, and Commercial Street.    Harrogate: Bettys Also in this area, at no.1 Parliament St, is Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms . Founded in Harrogate in 1919 by Frederick Belmont, an orphan from Switzerland, Bettys quickly became very popular, and there are now six Bettys, including in York and Ilkley. As well as the tea rooms, they have a shop selling bread, cakes, biscuits, and chocolates, all made by hand in the Bettys craft bakery. Tea and coffee is by Taylors of Harrogate - bought by Bettys in the 1960s.  There are various possible explanations for the name Bettys, but no-one knows for sure who she was. Could it be that the company's first Board Meeting was interrupted by a little girl called Betty, just as the directors were discussing what to call the business? Harrogate: the Harrogate International Centre   Harrogate Internation Centre is a convention and conference


Which comedian's TV characters include Bubbles Devere and Vicky Pollard?

Little Britain - Wikiquote Little Britain Jump to: navigation , search Little Britain is a BBC radio and television sketch show written by and starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams . The show features parodies and exaggerated stereotypes to comedic effect, with repeated catch-phrases. There were 4 series, as well as a spin off, Little Britain USA and several Specials. Contents Pilot [0.01][ edit ] Marjorie Dawes : So what advice can we give to Fatty Halliday about losing some of his excess weight? Paul? Paul: Eat sensibly. Marjorie: Oh that's rich coming from you. Anyone else? Pat: Don't eat too much chocolate. Marjorie: What do you mean, don't eat too much chocolate? All the other kids hate him. Chocolate's the only friend he's got. Meera? Meera: Exercise. Marjorie: No I can't... what? Meera: Exercise. Marjorie: What? Do it again... Meera: Exercise. Marjorie: No I can't understand... do it again. Meera: Exercise. Marjorie: One more? Meera: Exercise. Marjorie: No, I'll tell you what you should be doing, Chris, and that's getting some kind of exercise! I do six step aerobics every month, and thats' why I'm so thin. Marjorie: Sorry, do it again... Meera: Fish and fugn chips. Marjorie: She doesn't make sense... do it again. Meera: Fish and chips. Marjorie Dawes: Do it again. Meera: Oh my got, forget it. Marjorie Dawes: Well it must be some sort of dish that we don't get over here. [Marjorie writes down 'CURRY' on the whiteboard] Episode Three [1.03][ edit ] Marjorie Dawes: Lettuce, Lettuce, High in fat, Low in fat, lettuce, Meera! Meera: Low in fat. Marjorie Dawes: No I can't do it again! Meera: Low in fat. Marjorie Dawes: No I can't do it again! Meera: Low in fat. Marjorie Dawes: No I can't do it again. Paul: She said Low in fat! Marjorie Dawes: Alright! Don't patronize her! *patronizes Meera* Low in fat, well done! Marjorie Dawes : So what advice can we give to Barbara, to turn her tragic life around? Paul. Paul:[sighs] Cut out biscuits. Marjorie Dawes: Cut out biscuits. Good. Anyone else? Mary? Meera: Instead of sugar, use artificial sweetener in tea. Marjorie Dawes: Something about sugar. But really I think the most useful advice we can all give you is to look at the person inside. Because you're obviously an incredibly unhappy person. Barbara: No, I'm not! Marjorie Dawes: Well you deserve to be! I know Mum doesn't speak to you anymore, but that's not for here. But as far as she's concerned if you got knocked down by a bus tomorrow the world would be a better place! Barbara: Mum does speak to me! I spoke to her yesterday! Episode Four [1.04][ edit ] Mum: What do you mean? Yes, there are nuts or yes you know? Ray: Yeeeeees. Dad: Well which? Ray: If I tell ye the truth, I'll tell ye a lie, but if you call me false then I'll also tell ye a lie. [He plays the flute] Dad: OK, so does the cake contain nuts? Ray: [picks up a piece of cake and puts it to his ear] Carrot cake, carrot cake, have ye any nuts? [He listens] The carrot cake contains... no nuts. [picks up another piece of cake to his ear] Lemon drizzle cake, lemon drizzle cake, have ye any nuts? [He listens] The lemon drizzle cake contains... no nuts. [He plays the flute] No nuts. [picks up chocolate cake to his ear] Chocolate cake, chocolate cake, have ye any nuts? [He listens] [to Mike] He wants to speak to you. Dad: [takes the cake, baffled, puts it to his ear and listens] Mike Kapalski? Episode Five [1.05][ edit ] Robot: Tuck your shirt in. I am a robot. Boy: Yeah. Episode Six [1.06][ edit ] Vicky : Yeah but no but yeah but no but yeah but no because I've never had sex apart from that one time eight months ago but apart from that I'm a complete virgin. [Andy has chosen a card that says 'With Deepest Sympathy'.] Lou : Are you sure this is the card you want to send your brother Declan for his birthday? Andy : Yeah, yeah, yeah. [After they have bought the card.] Andy: It's his birthday. He's not dead. Episode Seven [1.07][ edit ] Social Worker: Vicky, where is the baby? Vicky : Swapped it for a Westlife CD. Social Worker: How could you do such a thing? Vicky Pollard


"Tchiakovsky's ""1812 Overture"" was written to commemorate which battle, fought around 60 miles west of Moscow?"

battle of borodino : definition of battle of borodino and synonyms of battle of borodino (English) Berezina The Battle of Borodino ( Russian : Бородинское сражение, Borodinskoe srazhenie; French : Bataille de la Moskova ), fought on September 7, 1812, [7] was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the French invasion of Russia and all Napoleonic Wars , involving more than 250,000 troops and resulting in at least 70,000 casualties. The French Grande Armée under Emperor Napoleon I attacked the Imperial Russian Army of General Mikhail Kutuzov near the village of Borodino , west of the town of Mozhaysk , and eventually captured the main positions on the battlefield, but failed to destroy the Russian army despite heavy losses. About a third of Napoleon's soldiers were killed or wounded; Russian losses were also heavy, but her casualties could be compensated since large forces of militia were already with the Russian Army and replacement depots which were close by had already been gathering and training troops. The battle itself ended with the Russian Army out of position. The state of exhaustion of the French forces and lack of information on the Russian Army's condition led Napoleon to remain on the battlefield with his army instead of the forced pursuit that had marked other campaigns that he had conducted in the past. [8] The entirety of Napoleon's Imperial Guard , however, was still available to his disposition and in refusing to implement it he lost his singular chance to destroy the Russian army. [9] The battle at Borodino was a pivotal point in the campaign, as it was the last offensive action fought by Napoleon in Russia. By withdrawing, the Russian army preserved its combat strength, eventually allowing it to force Napoleon out of the country. Historical reports of the battle differed markedly depending on whether they originated from supporters of the French or Russian sides. Factional fighting between senior officers within each army also led to conflicting accounts and disagreements over the roles of particular individuals. Contents Main article: French invasion of Russia The French Grande Armée began its invasion of Russia on June 16, 1812. Emperor Alexander I proclaimed a Patriotic War in response and prepared to face the French. According to the plan of the German general Karl Ludwig von Phull , the Russian troops under the command of Count Michael Barclay de Tolly had to face the Grande Armée at Vilnius region, the remaining troops under general Pyotr Bagration would launch an attack to the French' s southern flank and rear. However, Phull's plan soon was proved to be a fatal mistake, as the enormous Grande Armee was more than enough to separate and crush both Russian armies at the same time. Furthermore, the participation of Tsar Alexander I in commanding caused more chaos in the Russian army. The Russian forces massed along the Polish frontier were obliged to fall back in the face of the swift French advance. [10]   Napoleon I on the Borodino Heights, by Vasily Vereshchagin (1897) Napoleon advanced from Vitebsk , hoping to catch the Russian Army in the open where he could annihilate it. [11] The French army, however, was not positioned well for an extended overland campaign as it was 925 km (575 mi) from its nearest logistic base at Kovno (Kaunas). The extended French supply lines were vulnerable to assault by Russian forces. Cossacks, Light Cavalry, Guerilla forces, and even French deserters attacked French supply columns and seriously depleted Napoleon's forces. [12] The central French force under Napoleon's direct command had crossed the Niemen with 286,000 men but by the time of the battle was reduced to 161,475, mostly through starvation and disease. [13] Nonetheless, the lure of a decisive battle spurred Napoleon to action, driving him further into Russia and further stretching his supply lines. Meanwhile, infighting between Barclay's subordinates repeatedly prevented the Russian commander from committing his forces to battle. [14] Barclay's constant retreat was perceived by both his fellow gen


"Which English film actor and comedian starred in such films as ""Trouble in Store"" (1953) and ""The Square Peg"" (1958)?"

Trouble in Store Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 14 out of 14 people found the following review useful: One of my childhood favorites from North Yorkshire 13 February 2002 I saw this on UK TV today for the first time in many years and was reminded of the great enjoyment that Norman Wisdom has always provided. This movie now seems very dated and full of the flavour of early 50's Britain. I'll always remember the 'pill swallowing' sequence and we always used it as a joke with our own kids when they had to take pills and struggled. Seeing it again I became aware of a number of throw-away lines with sexual connotations that now seem quite modern. The movie is firmly rooted in the British class system - but here the 'common' working man takes the p*** out of all the establishment figures and institiutions AND wins good in the end AND gets his girl. No wonder Norman Wisdom was such a hero in Russia and Albania (apparently)! See this movie if you haven't already .. enjoy it for what it is and what it represented. Was the above review useful to you? 14 out of 17 people found the following review useful: A good comedy that will make you forget your troubles. from Stockton, England 17 May 2004 Though now slightly over fifty years old, Sir Norman's film debut remains one of his very best movies. 'Trouble In Store' finds the clown in top form, as a stock room worker who wishes to move up in the world and marry the girl of his dreams. Whether roller-skating behind a fast moving bus or crooning his biggest hit (and signature tune) 'Don't Laugh At Me', Norman demonstrates the charisma that made him such a major box office attraction. Backing Norman is the fantastic Margaret Rutherford, who in only a handful of scenes steals the picture (and everything else!) as an elderly shoplifter. The very lovely Lana Morris also scores as the object of Sir Norman's affections. Lana comes across in this picture so well that it is a real pity that she did not have a better movie career. Highlights range from Wisdom's window dressing 'duel' with Michael Ward, a very catchy duet with Lana (Norman once again showing us his great singing voice) and a fun Western parody climax. This movie seemed to fly by and is probably Sir Norman's most enjoyable film. Was the above review useful to you? 10 out of 10 people found the following review useful: "Makes you good to feel alive" from Derby, UK 29 June 2008 It's often said you have to be English to understand Norman Wisdom's humour  Albanians would probably agree, the same as Russians would've done about George Formby. The fact is he's always appealed to certain parts of the population, usually kids or people with defiantly unsophisticated humour like me. In his films I cringe at the obligatory mawkish bad bits but overall have always got more out than I put in, apart from his last. This was his first big effort: he plays lowly Norman in the stockroom at a big department store under the control of new broom Jerry Desmonde and intent on winning the love of the girl on the record counter. There's various adventures along the way, many firings and re-hirings and a tiny sub-plot involving a gang of what turned out to be extremely cartoony robbers, but basically it's a one man show. However if you already know that Norman isn't your bag, try this one solely for the beautiful performances by the ever frothing Desmonde up against Wisdom for the first time, and regal Margaret Rutherford as an expert shoplifter in a fantastic feathered hat. Favourite bits: the smashing window dressing scene; Norman's first explosive encounter with Desmonde; the climactic violent gunfight in front of an audience. Norman's most famous song is here too: Don't Laugh At Me 'Cause I'm A Fool; in 2008 UK BBC broadcast an otherwise interesting programme on him at 92 years old with Alzheimer's disease setting in with that precise aim in mind. I do hope no one takes the mickey out of those particular sensitive documentary makers if they ever get old and in the way too. Recommended as I've always liked Norman's films - to a point - but then again


Who replaced George Entwistle to become the present Director General of the BBC in April 2013?

U.K. Politicians Attack BBC for ‘Culture of Cronyism’ | Variety U.K. Politicians Attack BBC for ‘Culture of Cronyism’ December 16, 2013 | 04:44AM PT 'BBC's governance model is broken,' says U.K. Parliament's Public Accounts Committee LONDON — A powerful committee of U.K. politicians has made a stinging attack on the BBC ’s management and trustees, claiming that a culture of “cronyism” had developed at the pubcaster. The U.K. Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, which monitors the use of public money, has been investigating the high level of severance payments for departing BBC execs. In the three years to December 2012, the BBC gave 150 senior managers severance payments totaling £25 million ($40.8 million) as part of an effort to cut the number of senior managers from 624 to 445. PAC concluded that “the BBC paid more salary in lieu of notice than it was obliged to in 22 of the 150 severance payments for senior managers in the three years to December 2012, at a cost of £1.4 million ($2.28 million).” PAC, which is chaired by Member of Parliament Margaret Hodge, concluded that “cronyism was a factor that allowed for the liberal use of other people’s money.” The committee reprimanded the BBC Trust, the network’s governing body, headed by Chris Patten (pictured, above left, with BBC director-general Tony Hall ), for not challenging the payments, which it said was symptomatic of a wider malaise at the pubcaster. PAC said: “Our examination of severance payments exposed a dysfunctional relationship between the BBC executive and the BBC Trust that casts doubt on the effectiveness of the BBC’s governance model.” It concluded that there had been a “breakdown in the relationship between the BBC Trust and the executive. At present the governance model is broken.” The BBC last week revised the rules of engagement between the executive and the Trust in the hope that it would improve its effectiveness and transparency. PAC warned that “The Trust and the executive have a limited amount of time to demonstrate that the current governance model can be made to work.” The BBC was contrite in its response, stating: “We greatly regret that license fee payers were let down by this episode. They are entitled to expect that their money is spent wisely.” It pointed to a decision last year by Hall to impose a $245,000 cap on severance payments. Hall became director-general in April. He replaced George Entwistle, who departed after a furor over the BBC’s handling of the Jimmy Savile pedophile scandal.


The dish gumbo originated in which US state?

A Short History of Gumbo – Southern Foodways Alliance A Short History of Gumbo A Short History of Gumbo A SHORT HISTORY OF GUMBO by Stanley Dry Of all the dishes in the realm of Louisiana cooking, gumbo is the most famous and, very likely, the most popular. Gumbo crosses all class barriers, appearing on the tables of the poor as well as the wealthy. Although ingredients might vary greatly from one cook to the next, and from one part of the state to another, a steaming bowl of fragrant gumbo is one of life’s cherished pleasures, as emblematic of Louisiana as chili is of Texas. Gumbo is often cited as an example of the melting-pot nature of Louisiana cooking, but trying to sort out the origins and evolution of the dish is highly speculative. The name derives from a West African word for okra, suggesting that gumbo was originally made with okra. The use of filé (dried and ground sassafras leaves) was a contribution of the Choctaws and, possibly, other local tribes. Roux has its origin in French cuisine, although the roux used in gumbos is much darker than its Gallic cousins. Dr. Carl A. Brasseaux, of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, who has written the definitive history of the Cajuns, found that the first documented references to gumbo appeared around the turn of the 19th century. In 1803, gumbo was served at a gubernatorial reception in New Orleans, and in 1804 gumbo was served at aCajun gathering on the Acadian Coast. Today, the gumbos people are most familiar with are seafood gumbo and chicken and sausage gumbo. But that merely scratches the surface of gumbo cookery, both historical and contemporary. Lafcadio Hearn’s La Cuisine Creole, published in 1885, contains recipes for several gumbos made from a variety of ingredients—chicken, ham, bacon, oysters, crab, shrimp, and beef, among them. Some of the recipes are made with okra, others with filé. Although there is no mention of a roux in any of the recipes, some of them call for the addition of flour or browned flour as a thickener. The Creole Cookery Book, published by the Christian Woman’s Exchange of New Orleans in 1885, calls gumbo making an “occult science” that “should be allowed its proper place in the gastronomical world.” A New Orleans gumbo, the book maintains, “can be made of scraps of cold meat or fowl, a few oysters, crabs or shrimps, and, with a couple of spoonfuls of well cooked rice, is a very satisfying and economical dinner.” The editors include several recipes for gumbo, one of which incorporates filé (spelled “fillet” in the book). Some of the recipes are made with various greens and herbs, but, curiously, there is no mention of okra as a gumbo ingredient, although the book includes three recipes for okra soup. The Picayune’s Creole Cookbook, published in New Orleans in 1901, includes recipes for a variety of gumbos. Among the principal ingredients are chicken, ham, oysters, turkey, wild turkey, squirrel, rabbit, beef, veal, crabs, soft-shell crabs, shrimp, greens, and cabbage. Some of the gumbos are made with okra, others with filé. Traditionally, gumbos have been divided into two large categories—those thickened with okra and those thickened with filé. According to some accounts, before the advent of refrigeration and freezers, okra was the preferred thickening agent for gumbo, while filé was a substitute used only in the off-season when okra wasn’t available. That sounds plausible, but I’ve also come across references to dried okra as an ingredient in 19th-century gumbos. By drying okra, cooks could use it in their gumbos year round. In some respects, putting gumbo into either an okra or a filé category is still valid, but for many cooks, a brown roux is the only thickener, and filé has virtually disappeared from their recipes. Often roux-based gumbos do incorporate filé, and to my taste they are the better for it. Filé is used both for thickening and for flavor. It is usually added to a gumbo just before serving, or at the table. Many okra gumbos also incorporate a brown roux and some roux-based gumbo contain a small amount of okra, often


Which country was the first to experience civil uprisings in 'The Arab Spring', the then existing government being overthrown in January 2011 after 23 years in power?

The Arab Spring: A Year Of Revolution : NPR Tunisians protest outside the gates to the French Embassy in Tunis. Arab Spring began in Tunisia when a fruit vendor set himself on fire in protest in front of a government building. Fethi Belaid /AFP/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Fethi Belaid /AFP/Getty Images Tunisians protest outside the gates to the French Embassy in Tunis. Arab Spring began in Tunisia when a fruit vendor set himself on fire in protest in front of a government building. Fethi Belaid /AFP/Getty Images A year ago, 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi was getting ready to sell fruits and vegetables in the rural town of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. Bouazizi was the breadwinner for his widowed mother and six siblings, but he didn't have a permit to sell the goods. When the police asked Bouazizi to hand over his wooden cart, he refused and a policewoman allegedly slapped him. Angered after being publicly humiliated, Bouazizi marched in front of a government building and set himself on fire. His act of desperation resonated immediately with others in the town. Protests began that day in Sidi Bouzid, captured by cellphone cameras and shared on the Internet. Within days, protests started popping up across the country, calling upon President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his regime to step down. About a month later, he fled. The momentum in Tunisia set off uprisings across the Middle East that became known as the Arab Spring. A year after the young Tunisian became a martyr, where does the Arab world stand on demands for democracy? Article continues after sponsorship Mixed Success In Egypt Along with Tunisia, Egypt has been viewed as a victory. Esraa Abdel Fattah, an Egyptian democracy activist known as "Facebook Girl" for her social media savvy, fought for a new Egypt. She was also an organizer for the major protest in Tahrir  Square on Jan. 25. An Egyptian anti-government protester holds a defaced poster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, with the words "Mubarak, get out" written above, during a demonstration in Cairo in January. Ben Curtis/AP hide caption toggle caption Ben Curtis/AP An Egyptian anti-government protester holds a defaced poster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, with the words "Mubarak, get out" written above, during a demonstration in Cairo in January. Ben Curtis/AP When President Honsi Mubarak stepped down, it was thought that Egypt had completed its revolution. But now, as Egypt starts its first round of "free and fair elections," Fattah tells weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz that she isn't so sure the work is over. "Always I am optimistic for the future of Egypt, but now I have some worry," she says. "I think maybe the result of the revolution will take longer than I expected." Fattah says Egypt is already having major setbacks during this period of transition. And despite Mubarak stepping down, she says, the country is still in the "Mubarak regime" and life is not better than it was a year ago. Egypt's Next Steps Fattah is among those who say the real transition in Egypt will happen when a civilian leader is elected. The recent elections, however, put the Muslim Brotherhood ahead , which perhaps is not exactly what secular activists had in mind. Shadi Hamid, director of research for the Brookings Institute in Doha, says he doesn't see ascendants of Islamist groups as a pitfall for the Middle East. "None of this should be surprising," he tells Raz. "Islamists are popular, they're well organized. It was inevitable that they were going to win and dominate in these elections." The Arab Spring Tunisia: Government overthrown on Jan. 14, 2011. President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali flees into exhile. Elections for a Consituent Assembly held on Oct. 23, 2011. Egypt: Government overthrown on Feb. 11, 2011. President Hosni Mubarak steps down, faces charges of killing unarmed protesters. Elections held on Nov. 28, 2011. Protests continue in Tahrir Square. Libya: Anti-government protests begin on Feb. 15, 2011, leading to civil war between opposition forces and Moammar Gadhafi loyalists. Tripoli wa


Which organic compound has the formula C4H10?

WRITING THE STRUCTURAL FORMULAE OF ORGANIC MOLECULES  Bond line notation > WRITING THE STRUCTURAL FORMULAE OF ORGANIC MOLECULES  Already we have seen the bonding    nature of       carbon in the previous section. Now let us            familiarize ourselves with the structural formulae of some organic molecules. On            this page, we will build them up with variety of combinations of different atoms            using valence rules. While doing so we should keep in our mind that it is            customary that every organic molecule must contain at least one carbon atom. The organic compounds are categorized into various types based on the  functional group or groups present. The simplest of all are saturated acyclic  hydrocarbons otherwise known as alkanes. It is possible to get most of  the organic compounds by modifying these alkanes. Now let us write the structural formulae of alkanes. HOMOLOGOUS SERIES Before writing the formulae of alkanes, it is necessary to understand the meaning of homologous series. A Homologous series refers to organic compounds with a similar general formula and possessing similar chemical properties due to presence of same functional group and exhibiting a regular gradation of physical properties with increase in molecular weight. The difference between the formulae of two successive compounds in a homologous series is CH2. WHAT ARE ALKANES? Alkanes constitute homologous series of saturated acyclic hydrocarbons represented by the general formula CnH2n+2. Where n = number of carbon atoms. The hydrocarbons are organic compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen as constituent atoms. The word saturated indicates the presence of only single bonds between two           carbon atoms, C-C.  That means, in alkanes, all the carbon atoms must be sp3 hybridized and form four single bonds with other atoms. In this case other atoms           refer to carbon and hydrogen only. STEPWISE CONSTRUCTION OF ALKANE MOLECULES Construction of CH4 (methane) molecule: Let us start with the first alkane containing one carbon (n=1). Substitution           of this value in the general formula, CnH2n+2  gives CH4.    It is named as methane.  It can be constructed by connecting a carbon with four hydrogen atoms.    Remember that the carbon is tetravalent. The           stepwise construction of methane molecule is shown below.   Construction of C2H6 (ethane) molecule: The second alkane contains two carbons and its formula is C2H6. It is named as ethane.           There is a C-C bond in this molecule. The stepwise           construction of ethane molecule is shown below.  Remember that each carbon in any           given alkane forms only four single bonds.   Also note that the shaded area, which shows how the ethane molecule differs by           a 'CH2' group from methane molecule. We can also think that the ethane           molecule is obtained by inserting a CH2 group in between a C and H of           methane.   Construction of C3H8 (propane) molecule: Now let us move on to the third alkane named as propane containing three  carbons. Its formula is C3H8. The three  carbon atoms are linked to each other linearly and the 8 hydrogens are attached to them  as shown below.   Construction of butane & isobutane molecules: The next formula containing four carbon atoms is C4H10.  However the 4 carbon atoms can be arranged in a linear chain or in branched  manner. Therefore two structurally different alkanes containing 4 carbons are  obtained as shown below. These molecules with linear and branched chains are  named as butane and isobutane respectively. They possess same molecular formula  but differ in structures and hence are known as structural isomers . It is very important to note that all of the following structures are one and same and indicate the different ways of writing the structure of isobutane. Construction of isomers of C5H12: There


"The 2012 release ""GRRR!"" is the latest compilation from which band?"

GRRR! | The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones Released November 2012Recorded July 1962– August 2012 GRRR! Australia The Rolling Stones, ABKCO Music & Records and Universal Music Group are pleased to announce the release of GRRR! by the Rolling Stones on the 12th November 2012 for the world, excluding North America, and on the 13th November 2012 in North America. Available in five different formats, including a three-CD 50 track version including 50 tracks, and a four-CD super-deluxe version gathering a whopping 80 tracks, the collection tells the fascinating ongoing story of the Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band In The World, from their high octane version of Chuck Berry’s “Come On”, their first single issued in June 1963, via the thrilling chart-toppers “The Last Time”, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, “Get Off Of My Cloud”, “Jumping Jack Flash”, “Honky Tonk Women” and the perennial juke-box and concert favourites “Brown Sugar”, “Tumbling Dice”, “Miss You” and “Start Me Up”, all the way to the present day with the inclusion of “Doom And Gloom” and “One More Shot”, two new studio recordings recently completed by the group in Paris, France in August 2012.


The artificial language Esperanto was devised in 1887 by Lazarus Ludwig who?

Esperanto language, alphabet and pronunciation Esperanto Esperanto is an international auxiliary language devised in 1887 by Dr. Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof (1859-1917), an eye doctor, under the pseudonym of " Doktoro Esperanto ".  He originally called the language " La Internacia Lingvo " (The International Language), but it soon became known as Esperanto,  which means "the hoping one". Zamenhof was born in the Polish city of Bialystok which at that time was home to a polyglot, multiethnic mixture of Poles, Russians, Jews, Lithuanians and Germans. He believed that much of the distrust and misunderstanding between the different ethnic groups was a result of language differences, so he resolved to create an international language which could be used as an neutral lingua franca and could help break down the language barriers. Zamenhof's first work on Esperanto, the " Unua Libro " (First Book) published in 1887, contained 920 roots from which tens of thousands of words could be formed, together with the " Fundamenta Gramatiko " (Fundamental Grammar), which consisted of 16 basic grammatical rules. Zamenhof renounced all rights to Esperanto and encouraged comments and suggestions on the development of the language. The first Universal Esperanto Congress ( La Unua Universala Esperanto Kongreso ) was held at Boulogne-sur-Mer in 1905. The majority of Esperanto roots are based on Latin, though some vocabulary is taken from modern Romance languages, and from English, German, Polish and Russian. Roots can be combined with affixes to form new words, for example: lerni = to learn, lernejo = a school, lernanto = a pupil/student, lernejestro = a headmaster.  The affixes can also stand alone: ejo = place, estro = leader/head, etc. Spelling conventions are somewhat similar to Polish, though Zamenhof came up with a number of new letters for Esperanto ( Ĉĉ, Ĝĝ, Ĥĥ, Ĵĵ, Ŝŝ, Ŭŭ ). These new letters are not used to write any other language and only feature in special Esperanto fonts or in Unicode fonts, so are often replaced with ch, gh, jh or cx, gx, jx, or c', g', j', etc. Zamenhof recognised this problem and favoured using the former method when the special letters were not available. Today Esperanto is the most widely used international auxiliary language and is particularly popular in Eastern Europe and China. There is a flourishing Esperanto literature including books, magazines and poetry. Some of the literary works are originally written in Esperanto while others are translated from other languages. There are also Esperanto songs and a number of radio stations broadcast news bulletins in Esperanto. There are approximately 1,000 native speakers of Esperanto, 10,000 people can speak Esperanto fluently, 100,000 can use it actively, 1 million understand a lot of Esperanto, and about 10 million have studied it to some extent. Recordings in the text by Jan Jurčík Esperanto alphabet & pronunciation A recording of the Esperanto alphabet by Jan Jurčík Sample text in Esperanto Ĉiuj homoj estas denaske liberaj kaj egalaj laŭ digno kaj rajtoj. Ili posedas racion kaj konsciencon, kaj devus konduti unu la alian en spirito de frateco. A recording of this text by Oliver Ash < Another version of the sample text by Julijan Jovanovic Ĉiuj homoj naskiĝas liberaj kaj egalaj en digno  kaj rajtoj. Ili posedas racion kaj konsciencon, kaj devus konduti  unu la alian en spirito en frateco. Translation All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)


"Actor Michael Sheard played which feared teacher in ""Grange Hill""?"

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Grange Hill favourite Sheard dies Grange Hill favourite Sheard dies Michael Sheard became a cult hero in Grange Hill and Star Wars Actor Michael Sheard, best known for playing teacher Mr Bronson in long-running children's TV drama Grange Hill in the 1980s, has died aged 65. Sheard gained wider fame as Admiral Ozzel in 1980 Star Wars film The Empire Strikes Back. His other films included Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade - one of a string of appearances as Adolf Hitler - and he was a regular guest in Doctor Who. His agent said he had cancer and died at home on the Isle of Wight. In Grange Hill, his stern manner and cries of "You, boy" as deputy head Maurice Bronson made him one of TV's most memorable figures. Michael Sheard played Adolf Hitler five times Born in Aberdeen, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) in London before winning parts in TV shows such as Dixon of Dock Green and Crossroads. With a series of roles in Doctor Who spanning more than 20 years, he boasted that he starred alongside more Doctors than any other actor. He was even touted as a potential Doctor himself. "Things got in the way," he told the BBC's Wiltshire website in 2003. "It would have been fun to do." In Star Wars, he was memorably choked by Darth Vader - and said George Lucas told him it was "the best screen death I've ever seen". At the time, Star Wars was "just another part in a very busy actor's career", he said, but it has secured him a place in the hearts of Star Wars fans and an Admiral Ozzel action figure came out last year. Michael Sheard played Mr Bronson from 1985-89 He regularly appeared at Star Wars, cult TV and 1980s-themed conventions and club nights. He played Hitler five times and Himmler three times - but said playing Goering's double in sitcom 'Allo 'Allo was his worst performance. Other film appearances included Raiders of the Lost Ark, All Quiet On The Western Front and The Dirty Dozen - Second Assignment. He appeared alongside Dame Peggy Ashcroft in 1980 TV movie Caught on a Train and said Escape to Athena with Roger Moore was his favourite role. Moore wrote the foreword to the first of three autobiographies, Yes, Mr Bronson: Memoirs of a Bum Actor, published in 1997. Sheard once said he "wouldn't have missed dear old Bronson for anything". "He was scary, but as an actor Mr Bronson was a lovely part to play."


Which fashion designer created uniforms for the American 2012 Olympic team?

2012 Olympics -- China-made Team USA uniforms ignite anger comment WASHINGTON -- Uniforms for U.S. Olympic athletes are American red, white and blue -- but made in China. That has members of Congress fuming. Republicans and Democrats railed Thursday about the U.S. Olympic Committee's decision to dress the U.S. team in Chinese manufactured berets, blazers and pants while the American textile industry struggles economically with many U.S. workers desperate for jobs. Team USA's uniforms for the London Games were made in China, which ignited anger on Capitol Hill.  AP Photo/Ralph Lauren "I am so upset. I think the Olympic committee should be ashamed of themselves. I think they should be embarrassed. I think they should take all the uniforms, put them in a big pile and burn them and start all over again," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters at a Capitol Hill news conference on taxes. "If they have to wear nothing but a singlet that says USA on it, painted by hand, then that's what they should wear," he said, referring to an athletic jersey. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told reporters at her weekly news conference that she's proud of the nation's Olympic athletes, but, "They should be wearing uniforms that are made in America." House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said simply of the USOC: "You'd think they'd know better." In a statement, the U.S. Olympic Committee defended the choice of designer Ralph Lauren for the clothing at the London Games, which begin later this month. "Unlike most Olympic teams around the world, the U.S. Olympic Team is privately funded and we're grateful for the support of our sponsors," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky said in a statement. "We're proud of our partnership with Ralph Lauren, an iconic American company, and excited to watch America's finest athletes compete at the upcoming Games in London." Ralph Lauren also is dressing the Olympic and Paralympic teams for the closing ceremony and providing casual clothes to be worn around the Olympic Village. Nike has made many of the competition uniforms for the U.S. and outfits for the medal stand. On Twitter, Sandusky called the outrage over the made-in-China uniforms nonsense. The designer, Sandusky wrote, "financially supports our team. An American company that supports American athletes." Ralph Lauren's company declined to comment on the criticism. In fact, this is not the first time that Ralph Lauren has designed the Olympic uniforms. Yet that did little to quell the anger on Capitol Hill. "It is not just a label, it's an economic solution," said Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y. "Today there are 600,000 vacant manufacturing jobs in this country and the Olympic committee is outsourcing the manufacturing of uniforms to China? That is not just outrageous, it's just plain dumb. It is self-defeating." Israel urged the USOC to reverse the decision and ensure U.S. athletes wear uniforms that are made in America. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., sent letters to Lawrence Probst III, chairman of the USOC, complaining about the made-in-China uniforms. Brown suggested that the USOC find a manufacturer with a facility in the United States, suggesting the Hugo Boss plant in Cleveland. "There is no compelling reason why all of the uniforms cannot be made here on U.S. soil at the same price, at better quality," Gillibrand and Israel wrote. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., said that while millions of Americans are unemployed, "there is no reason why U.S. Olympic uniforms are not being manufactured in the U.S. This action on the part of the U.S. Olympic Committee is symbolic of a disastrous trade policy which has cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and must be changed." In a tweet, U.S. track and field Olympian Nick Symmonds, who will compete in the 800-meter run at the London Games, wrote: "Our Ralph Lauren outfits for the Olympic opening ceremonies were made in China. So, um, thanks China." This is hardly the first time patriotism has been discussed when it comes to Olympic clothing. The must-have souvenir of the 20


"Which group released the soundtrack for the 1980 film ""Flash Gordon""?"

Flash Gordon (1980) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A football player and his friends travel to the planet Mongo and find themselves fighting the tyranny of Ming the Merciless to save Earth. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 44 titles created 10 Dec 2011 a list of 22 titles created 29 Jan 2014 a list of 35 titles created 5 months ago a list of 24 titles created 4 months ago a list of 24 titles created 2 months ago Search for " Flash Gordon " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for     2     BAFTA Film Awards. Another    2 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards  » Photos Edit Storyline Flash Gordon is an American football hero who is skyjacked aboard Dr. Hans Zarkov's rocketship along with his beautiful girlfriend Dale Arden. The threesome are drawn into the influence of the planet Mongo, ruled by Emperor Ming the Merciless. The evil Ming has been testing Earth with unnatural disasters, and deeming our world a threat to his rule. He also intends to take Dale as his concubine, attempts to execute Flash and intends to destroy Earth. Flash must avoid the amorous attentions of Ming's daughter, and unite the warring kingdoms of Mongo to rescue Dale and save our world. Written by David Thiel <d-thiel@uiuc.edu> Get ready to kick some Flash. See more  » Genres: 5 December 1980 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)| Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints) Color: Did You Know? Trivia Dino De Laurentiis originally hoped that Federico Fellini would direct this film. The director had actually contributed to the original Flash strip cartoon during WWII. See more » Goofs When Flash holds out his hand to help Baron over the edge of the tilting combat platform, one of the spikes bends as Flash's leg pushes against it. See more » Quotes [first lines] The Emperor Ming : Klytus, I'm bored. What play thing can you offer me today? Klytus : An obscure body in the S-K System, Your Majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet Earth. The Emperor Ming : How peaceful it looks. [He activates a console, and watches as earthquakes, floods, etc. start to occur. They both get a good laugh out of it] Klytus : Most effective, Your Majesty. Will you destroy this Earth? The Emperor Ming : Later. I like to play with thing a while before annihilation. [laughs evilly] Closing credits: THE END ? See more » Connections See more » Frequently Asked Questions (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews I'm not even joking. It's quite possibly one of the worst films ever made, but that is what makes it so marvellous. Loud, cheesy, poorly acted and about as subtle as a pitchfork rammed up the bum. Based on the long- running strips originally written by Alex Raymond, it tells the story of all- American goodie Flash Gordon and his teleportation onto the planet Mongo, lorded over by the eviler- than- evil Ming the Merciless, who has eyes on Flash's lady friend, Dale Arden. If you are a fan of comic books, the sci-fi genre, Queen, or, like me, all three, then this is, simply put perfect entertainment. They should make more films like this- cheesy, camp and stupid. by the way, if you hate this because you think it is too stupid, you REALLY don't understand it!! LONG LIVE FLASH!!! 47 of 84 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes


In what year of WW2 did the German forces surrender at Stalingrad?

Germans surrender at Stalingrad - Feb 02, 1943 - HISTORY.com Germans surrender at Stalingrad Publisher A+E Networks On this day, the last of the German forces fighting at Stalingrad surrender, despite Hitler’s earlier declaration that “Surrender is out of the question. The troops will defend themselves to the last!” The Battle of Stalingrad began in the summer of 1942, as German forces assaulted the city, a major industrial center and a potential strategic coup. But despite repeated attempts, the German 6th Army, under Friedrich von Paulus, and part of the 4th Panzer Army, under Ewald von Kleist, could not break past the adamantine defense by the Soviet 62nd Army, despite pushing the Soviets almost to the Volga River in mid-October and encircling Stalingrad. Diminishing resources, partisan guerilla attacks, and the cruelty of the Russian winter began to take their toll on the Germans. On November 19, the Soviets made their move, launching a counteroffensive that began with a massive artillery bombardment of the German position. The Soviets then encircled the enemy, launching pincer movements from north and south simultaneously, even as the Germans encircled Stalingrad. The German position soon became untenable. Surrender was their only hope for survival. But Hitler wouldn’t hear of it: “The 6th Army will hold its positions to the last man and the last round.” Von Paulus held out until January 31, 1943, when he finally surrendered. Of more than 280,000 men under Paulus’ command, half were already dead or dying, about 35,000 had been evacuated from the front, and the remaining 91,000 were hauled off to Soviet POW camps. Pockets of German belligerence continued until February 2. Hitler berated Von Paulus for not committing suicide. Von Paulus, captured by the Soviets, repaid Hitler by selling out to the Soviets, joining the National Committee for Free Germany, and urging German troops to surrender on other battlegrounds in the USSR. Related Videos


Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Belle are among the children of which Hollywood actor, formerly married to Demi Moore?

Demi Moore's daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah catch up over lunch | Daily Mail Online The Willis/Moore clan have suffered a tough few months after Tallulah Willis entered a treatment facility to overcome various issues. But the 20-year-old can count on the support of her older siblings Rumer, 24, and 23-year-old Scout. The trio proved there's nothing stronger than a sisterly bond as they met up on Monday. Scroll down for video  Lunch date: Rumer Willis stepped out in Los Angeles on Monday with a male pal as she headed to meet her sisters Scout and Tallulah for lunch Scout and Tallulah made a stylish arrival at trendy Los Angeles eatery Joan's on Third, with the middle Willis girl looking chic in a denim mac-style jacket and ripped white jeans. Youngest Willis sister Tallulah also looked striking in a quirky red hat, green dungarees and a white top. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Meanwhile, Rumer - looking casual in a black T-shirt and jeans - arrived at the restaurant separately to her sisters alongside a male pal. The foursome then caught up over a lavish lunch, with Rumer appearing to show her companions a message on her phone. Stylish siblings: Scout and Tallulah turned heads as they arrived to meet their older sister in equally striking outfits Sister act: The siblings and their male companion enjoyed lunch at Joan's On Third while Rumer appeared to show them something on her phone During their meal, Tallulah couldn't help but take a snap of her and Scout at the table, later sharing the picture on Instagram.  The show of unity comes after Tallulah sought professional help for personal issues over the summer. She was allowed home after six weeks of intensive therapy and later admitted in a video blog that she had suffered with an eating disorder and body dysmorphia. Sibling selfie: Scout took a snap of her and her younger sister while they enjoyed their meal Speaking to People magazine at a recent event, Rumer revealed that she believed growing up in Los Angeles had affected her younger siblings more than her, because she spent the vast majority of her childhood and early teens at her parents Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's estate in Idaho. She said: 'They kind of grew up more here, so in a way, it's interesting because they’ve had such a different experience than I had.  'They moved out to L.A. when they were younger, so they were kind of exposed to everything a lot more.' As for her sister's recovery, Rumer admitted she had been 'blown away' by her progress. She added to the magazine: 'I've actually been so impressed and blown away by her strength and her openness and willingness. 'Not only to move past things but also to share herself with other people.' Support: Tallulah is now sober after undergoing a stint in a rehab treatment for personal issues last month Moving on: The 20-year-old looks better than ever and has been spotted spending more time with her mother, Demi Moore (pictured above a photography exhibition earlier this month)


"What type of animal is Hobbes in the syndicated cartoon strip ""Calvin and Hobbes""?"

Hobbes | The Calvin and Hobbes Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Namesake Always keep petting the tiger. Hobbes is named after 17th century philosopher Thomas Hobbes, who had what Watterson described as "a dim view of human nature." Thomas Hobbes is famous for his claim that humans' natural state is one of war, and that there "the life of man [is], solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." Hobbes' personality does not match with the philosopher's worldview. Hobbes is much more rational and aware of consequences than Calvin, but seldom interferes with Calvin's troublemaking beyond a few oblique warnings. After all, Calvin will be the one to get in trouble for it, not Hobbes. Hobbes' is more playful, loyal, and kind. The only time he usually has doubhts is with Calvin's imaginary inventions (such as his Time Machine and Transmogrifier), which he is a reluctant participant at best. Origins Watterson based some of Hobbes' characteristics, especially his playfulness and attack instinct, on his own pet cat, Sprite. Hobbes takes great pride in being a feline and frequently makes wry or even disparaging comments about human nature, declaring his good fortune to lead a tiger's life. In Calvin's philosophical ramblings, it is evident that Hobbes is usually Bill Watterson's voice on the subject, whereas Calvin usually seems to echo the sentiments (or lack thereof) of modern America. It may otherwise be asserted that Calvin rather portrays an alter-ego of Watterson. Artistic evolution Hobbes certainly changed in appearance over the strip's run. At the beginning of the strip's run, Hobbes was slightly shorter, and his tufts of fur were less defined and shorter. His eyes also had more of a round shape, as opposed to the oval shape of later years. The most notable change, however, were the pads on Hobbes' hands. Hobbes began looking like his current self around mid-1989. In earlier years, Bill Watterson drew the pads on Hobbes' hands as a reminder that they were really paws, but later removed them on the grounds that he found them to be visually distracting. Reality From Calvin 's point of view, Hobbes is a walking, talking, bipedal tiger, much larger (and often much stronger) than Calvin and full of his own attitudes and ideas. But when the perspective shifts to any other character, readers see merely a little stuffed tiger. This is, of course, an odd dichotomy and leaves in question the nature of Hobbes' reality. Magic vs. imagination Hobbes appears the way Calvin views him in Susie's company Many readers assume that Hobbes is either a product of Calvin's imagination, or a doll that comes to life when Calvin is the only one around. However, both of these theories are incorrect. As Watterson explains in the Tenth Anniversary Book , "Hobbes is more about the subjective nature of reality than dolls coming to life": thus there is no concrete definition of Hobbes' reality. Watterson explained: "Calvin sees Hobbes one way, and everyone else sees Hobbes another way." Hobbes' reality is in the eye of the beholder. The so-called 'gimmick' of Hobbes is the juxtaposition of Calvin and Hobbes' reality and everyone else's, with the two rarely agreeing. There has been more than one instance of Hobbes appearing the way Calvin sees him around another person. One instance is when Calvin loses Hobbes in the first Calvin and Hobbes book, Hobbes is seen as a tiger in the company of Susie Derkins. However, she was facing the other way when it occurred (see picture on right). In a Sunday strip from the same book, the car stops going and Calvin and Hobbes beep the horn hoping for someone to come help. Hobbes is seen as a tiger when Calvin's mother is there, but she isn't looking. There is one strip when Calvin is fighting with Hobbes' and we see Susie's perspective in one panel, but some people think it was Calvin seeing him transform back into his stuffed animal form and expressing confusion. At one point, Calvin stated that Hobbes was steering, however since Susie was there, the imagination became to 'realism', and Hobbes was riding in the back as a stuff


At the beginning of the 2013-14 season, which former international player is manager of Championship side Watford FC?

Championship 2013-14: the fans' half-term report | Football | The Guardian Championship 2013-14: the fans' half-term report The people who really know their clubs give us the lowdown on the Championship season so far Friday 20 December 2013 08.40 EST First published on Friday 20 December 2013 08.40 EST Barnsley Season in one word Afterclap. How's it going? Like a jigsaw you might find amongst a bric-a-brac sale, we were chuffed with our lot but find ourselves unsure if we have all the correct pieces we need. Having tied down many of the characters that helped us secure our Championship survival last term, we ambitiously felt that we had added few more quality players to our number. Sadly mid-table mediocrity is a distant dream. The campaign so far has been bewildering, but the board has acted and now in Danny we trust! Who's been the star? Paddy McCourt – "The Derry Pele" might be regarded as a luxury at the moment, but he is the shining star who has brightened up many a dull afternoon or evening. Biggest disappointment? After his achievements last season, the board, the players and most of all the fans bought into "Flicker's Family" philosophy hook line and sinker. How this unravelled has hurt everybody. A well loved character, but an outcome that was a bitter disappointment. All we want for Christmas is … A brand-new terrace chant. No longer can we sing "Three Little Birds" – fortunately every little thing did turn out alright last season. And whilst "Walking in a Wilson Wonderland" and "Just Like Watching Brazil" will inevitably re-emerge, it's a new era, a new challenge and a massive scrap in 2014 for the Reds. Birmingham City Season in one word Apathetic. How's it going? It's about as good as we can expect. We've got no money; an owner on trial over alleged money laundering; and a team of kids, loanees, freebies and Nikola Zigic. The miracle really is that we haven't gone into adminstration, that we've managed a few decent results and we might have unearthed a rough diamond or two. The problem is the fans have slowly given up; until we start winning home games attendances will continue to drop and people are too apathetic even to moan now. Who's been the star? Tom Adeyemi for me. Signed on a free, started a bit slowly but he looks like he's got a real engine on him, can get from box to box and scores a few. First-team football has done him wonders and I think come the end of the season he could be snapped up if we're still in the toilet financially. Biggest disappointment? Controversial choice, but I'm going to go with Gianni Paladini. Continously fed the local rumour mill about how he's going to buy the club, goes on radio to say he wants to do it but somehow mysteriously he can't close the deal – and he seems unwilling to do anything about this contract he apparently had to do it. All we want for Christmas is … The club sold to a new owner who can at least put a little bit of money in. The club needs investment now and the longer the current situation drags on the worse it's going to get. Blackburn Rovers Season in one word Inconsistent. How's it going? Looking at the squad we reconstructed over the summer and the quite severe financial surgery that came with it, we are roughly in the spot on the league table I expected us to be occupying. Gary Bowyer has taken on a difficult job and so far he's been decent by my reckoning. But things are never easy on planet Venky's and for every good performance we've had (Bolton at Ewood in particular was superb), we've had to endure a pretty torrid one (say hello Charlton at home a few weeks later). The squad is younger and certainly more committed than the toothless shambles we had last season, but the overall financial picture at the club is bleaker than a rainy winter night. It's never dull, which I suppose is one thing. Who's been the star? The obvious answer is Jordan Rhodes. He's not often deployed in the role that suits him best, but his goal scoring record is excellent and as such he deserves the ultimate accolade. Special hat tip to on loan Tom Cairney as well, very h


Which English poet died in a house at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. It is now a museum dedicated to his memory?

Home - Keats Shelley House shop Situated at the right foot of the Spanish Steps, just a few steps away from Spagna metro station, the Keats-Shelley House is a museum dedicated to the English Romantic poets, who were spellbound by the Eternal City. 26 Piazza di Spagna is most famous for being the final dwelling place of John Keats, who died here in 1821, aged just 25, and to this day Keats’s bedroom is preserved as a shrine to his tragic story and extraordinary talent. Displayed through a chain of beautiful rooms, the collection contains a great many treasures and curiosities associated with the lives and works of the Romantic poets, as well as one of the finest libraries of Romantic literature in the world; now numbering more than 8,000 volumes. In addition to the exhibition rooms, there are two spacious terraces boasting stunning views, a book and gift shop, and a small cinema room where visitors can watch an exclusive introductory film about the Romantics. Group visits and talks are available by booking, and the rooms of the House and its terrace are also available for private hire by contacting us.


Who is to replace Charles Dickens on the UK £10 note in 2017?

Jane Austen to be face of the Bank of England £10 note - BBC News BBC News Jane Austen to be face of the Bank of England £10 note 24 July 2013 Close share panel Media captionPeople from Jane Austen's hometown of Alton give their views on the note Author Jane Austen is to feature on the next £10 note, the Bank of England says, avoiding a long-term absence of women represented on banknotes. The Pride and Prejudice author will be the next face of the note, replacing Charles Darwin, probably in 2017. Chancellor George Osborne tweeted the move showed "sense and sensibility". In April, the Bank prompted a high-profile campaign against the prospect of having no female characters, besides the Queen, on the UK's currency. It had announced that Sir Winston Churchill would be put on the £5 note from 2016, replacing social reformer Elizabeth Fry. The latest announcement means that women could be absent from newly issued banknotes for up to a year, although the Elizabeth Fry £5 note will still be in circulation. 'In the wings' On Twitter, Mr Osborne wrote: "[Incoming Bank of England governor] Mark Carney's choice of Jane Austen as face of £10 note is great. After understandable row over lack of women, shows sense and sensibility." Banknotes are regularly redesigned, in order to maintain security and prevent forgeries. Banknotes around the world Denmark has six different note denominations, half of which showed famous Danish women (Karen Blixen, Anna Ancher and Johanne Luise Heiberg) US banknotes mostly celebrate former presidents and signatories to 1776 declaration of independence, all of whom are men The Queen appears on more denominations than anyone else - she features on currency in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK The most recent new design from the Bank of England to enter circulation was the £50 note. This features Matthew Boulton and James Watt, who were most celebrated for bringing the steam engine into the textile manufacturing process. The decision to replace Elizabeth Fry on the £5 note prompted protests and discussions about female representation on banknotes, but Jane Austen was thought to have already been part of the Bank's plans for the next new note. Sir Mervyn King, in his last public appearance as governor of the Bank, said the author was "quietly waiting in the wings" to replace Darwin. Mr Carney started discussions about female representation on banknotes on his first day in office. Media captionMark Carney discusses women on banknotes and in the Bank of England The Bank said in a statement that it was "never the Bank's intention" that none of the four characters on banknotes would be a woman. "Jane Austen certainly merits a place in the select group of historical figures to appear on our banknotes. Her novels have an enduring and universal appeal and she is recognised as one of the greatest writers in English literature," Mr Carney said. He also announced a review of the selection process for future banknote characters. Jane Austen will be the 17th historical figure to appear on Bank of England notes. The review will be completed by the end of the year. Campaign The pressure was increased on the new governor through protests, an online petition - signed by 35,000 people, and a threat of legal action. Image caption Caroline Criado-Perez led a campaign for more female representation on banknotes The campaign was led by Caroline Criado-Perez, from Rutland, who was invited to speak to Bank officials about the situation earlier in July. She described the expected announcement as "a brilliant day for women and a fantastic one for people power". "We warmly welcome this move from the Bank and thank them for listening to us and taking such positive and emphatic steps to address our concerns," she said. "To hear Jane Austen confirmed is fantastic, but to hear the process will be comprehensively reviewed is even better. The money raised for a legal challenge will now be donated to women's charities the Fawcett Society, Women's Aid and Rape Crisis. Banknote features Jane Austen, who lived from 1775 to 1817, became


"How many stories make up Chaucer's ""Canterbury Tales""?"

The Canterbury Tales - The British Library Description English 'The Canterbury Tales' by Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1345-1400) was enormously popular in medieval England, with over 80 copies in existence from the 1500s. Its popularity may be due to the fact that the tales were written in Middle English, a language that developed after the Norman invasion, after which those in power would have spoken French. Chaucer was born in London, around 1345, into a well-connected family of wine-merchants. As a young teenager he was taken into an aristocratic household. Still in his teens, he fought in Edward III's army in France. During an attack on Rheims, Chaucer was taken prisoner, but released after a ransom was paid, in part by the king himself. By 1367, he had entered royal service under the patronage of the king's son, the powerful John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. When the duke's wife died two years later, Chaucer composed the Book of the Duchess in her memory - his first known poem. For the rest of his life, Chaucer's fortunes were tied to the political intrigues of court life. While John of Gaunt's influence was in the ascendant he did well, obtaining generous pensions and lucrative administrative appointments, such as Comptroller of the Custom and Subsidy of Wools, Hides and Woodfells. Diplomatic duties took him to France and Italy, where he became familiar with the works of Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio - authors who would inspire his own poetry. When Edward III died in 1377, he was succeeded by his young grandson, Richard II. As the new king's uncle, John of Gaunt's authority grew stronger - much to the advantage of Chaucer, who reached the top of his public career when he became one of the two knights for the county of Kent in 1386. But a turbulent power struggle between John of Gaunt and Thomas of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester would soon lead to a decline in Chaucer's circumstances. His last years were spent using his court connections to secure protection from his creditors as he waited for royal pensions to be paid. Chaucer died in 1400. What is 'The Canterbury Tales' about? Chaucer's long poem follows the journey of a group of pilgrims, 31 including Chaucer himself, from the Tabard Inn in Southwark to St Thomas à Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral. The host at the inn suggests each pilgrim tell two tales on the way out and two on the way home to help while away their time on the road. The best storyteller is to be rewarded with a free supper on their return. This literary device gives Chaucer the opportunity to paint a series of vivid word portraits of a cross-section of his society, from a knight and prioress, to a carpenter and cook; a much-married wife of Bath, to a bawdy miller - an occupation regarded in Chaucer's day as shifty and dishonest. Chaucer mixes satire and realism in lively characterisations of his pilgrims. The tone of their tales ranges from pious to comic, with humour veering between erudite wit and good honest vulgarity. Taken together, the tales offer a fascinating insight into English life during the late 14th century. Chaucer's original plan was for over 100 stories, but only 24 were completed, some of which had already been written for earlier works. Their order varies in different surviving copies, the Hengwrt manuscript being valued most for its accuracy. Why was Chaucer important? Chaucer is credited with having set the style for Middle English literature. Earlier Anglo-Saxon poetry, such as 'Beowulf', had been succeeded by a taste for French literature, in large part the result of England being ruled by Norman French kings after the Conquest of 1066. Even by Chaucer's day, the royal court was still bilingual. His first works are either translations of French originals or much influenced by them. Later, Chaucer's writing picked up an Italian flavour through his diplomatic visits there. Finally, he blended French, Italian and classical influences into a truly English style in two great works: 'Troilus and Criseyed' and the 'Canterbury Tales'. Continuous publication of the 'Canterbury Tales


In which country was Jean-Claude Van Damme born?

Jean-Claude Van Damme - Biography - IMDb 5' 9¾" (1.77 m) Mini Bio (1) Van Damme was born Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg in Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Brussels, Belgium, to Eliana and Eugène Van Varenberg, an accountant. "The Muscles from Brussels" started martial arts at the age of eleven. His father introduced him to martial arts when he saw his son was physically weak. At the age of 12, Van Damme began his martial arts training at Centre National De Karate (National Center of Karate) under the guidance of Master Claude Goetz in Ixelles, Belgium. Van Damme trained for 4 years and earned a spot on the Belgium Karate Team. He won the European professional karate association's middleweight championship as a teenager, and also beat the 2nd best karate fighter in the world. His goal was to be number one but got sidetracked when he left his hometown of Brussels. In 1976 at the age of sixteen, Jean-Claude started his Martial Arts fight career. Over the next 6-years, he competed in both full-contact and semi-contact matches. He debuted under his birth name of Jean Claude Van Varenberg. In his first match, Jean-Claude was staggered by a round-house kick thrown by fellow countryman, Toon Van Oostrum in Brussels, Belgium. Van Damme was badly stunned, but came back to knockout Van Oostrum moments later. In 1977, at the WAKO Open International in Antwerp, Belgium, Jean-Claude lost a decision to fellow team mate Patrick Teugels in a semi-contact match. At the 1978 Challenge De Espoirs Karate Tournament (1st Trials),Jean-Claude placed 2nd in the semi-contact division. He defeated twenty-five opponents during the week long tournament, but lost in the finals to Angelo Spataro from the Naha Club. Later in 1978, Jean-Claude lost a 3-round match for the Belgium Lightweight Championship (semi-contact) to his fellow team-mate to Patrick Teugels. In 1979, Jean-Claude traveled to the United States of America, to Tampa, Florida. In his first and only match against a United States opponent, Van Damme faced 'Sherman 'Big Train'Bergman', a kick-boxer from Miami Beach, Florida. For the first and only time in his career, Jean-Claude was knocked to the canvas after absorbing a powerful left hook from Bergman. However, Jean-Claude climbed off the canvas and with a perfectly timed ax-kick, knocked Bergman out in 56 seconds of the first round. Jean-Claude was a member of the Belgium team which competed on December 26, 1979 at the La Coupe Fancois Persoons Karate Tournament which was sanctioned by the Federation bruxelloise de Karate. Van Damme's final match victory enabled his team to win the European Team Karate Championship. In Full-Contact karate, Jean-Claude knocked out England's Micheal Heming in 46 seconds of the first round. In 1980, Van Damme knocked out France's Georges Verlugels in 2 rounds of a match fought under kick-boxing rules. Jean-Claude wanted to defeat his rival Patrick Teugels. At the Forest Nationals in Brussels, on March 8, 1980, Jean-Claude knocked Teugels down and Teugels suffered a nose injury and was unable to continue. Jean-Claude was awarded a first round victory. Jean-Claude retired from martial arts in 1982, following a knockout over Nedjad Gharbi in Brussels,Belgium. Jean-Claude posted a 18-1 (18 knockouts) Kickboxing record, and a Semi-Contact record of 41-4. He came to Hong Kong at the age of 19 for the first time and felt insured to do action movies in Hong Kong. In 1981 Van Damme moved to Los Angeles. He took English classes while working as carpet layer, pizza delivery man, limo driver, and thanks to Chuck Norris he got a job as a bouncer at a club. Norris gave Van Damme a small role in the movie Missing in Action (1984), but it wasn't good enough to get anybody's attention. Then in 1984 he got a role as a villain named Ivan in the low-budget movie No Retreat, No Surrender (1986). Then one day, while walking on the streets, Jean-Claude spotted a producer for Cannon Pictures, and showed some of his martial arts abilities which led to a role in Bloodsport (1988). But the movie, filmed in Hong Kong, was so bad wh


After China and India, which African country is the world's largest tea producing nation?

The Worlds Top 10 Tea Producing Nations - WorldAtlas.com The Worlds Top 10 Tea Producing Nations These countries lead the world production of tea, the 2nd most popular beverage in the world. Multiple varieties of loose leaf tea next to a cup of brewed tea. While coffee might seem to be the “go-to” drink for those seeking a hot beverage, the world actually runs on tea. Aside from water, tea is the most popular beverage in the world , and in the United States alone; tea imports have risen over 400% since 1990. Popular for thousands of years, tea is believed to have originated in China as a medicinal drink. In the 17th century, it spread to the UK, establishing its hold there – and, judging by the British cultural institution that is the ‘cuppa,’ it has obviously maintained its popularity. If you need a bit of a pick me up, you can reach for a black or green caffeinated tea; to wind down after a long day, there are countless varieties of decaffeinated herbal teas. With such a high demand, it is understandable that tea needs to be produced on a mass scale, and across the world in varied locations in order to cater to growing requirements for the plants required to make different varieties. Based on UN Food And Agriculture Organization statistics for global production from 1993-2013, here are the 10 top tea-producing nations in the world. 10 – Argentina (69,924 tonnes) Mate served in traditional gourd shaped cup with special "Bombilla" straw While tea is currently a significant part of Argentinian culture, seeds for Russian and Chinese varieties only arrived in Argentina in the 1920s. Low tea prices in the 1950s, as well as a government imposed import ban, made tea a slowly growing industry in Argentina, but eventually, due to the large nation's varied climate and geology, it became one of the top producers in the world. Black tea makes up the majority of the tea produced in Argentina with the subtropical climate providing ideal conditions for growing hybrid Indian and Assamica variants. Mate, a traditional herbal brew, made from the leaves of yerba mate plant, is very popular in Argentina – and is, in fact, their national drink. 9 – Islamic Republic of Iran (83,990 tonnes) Black Tea is the most common variety of produced in Iran. Until the end of the 15th century, Iran’s hot beverage of choice was coffee – however, its distant location from the main coffee producing countries meant that beans were hard to obtain. Tea was much easier to get in Iran, thanks to the overland trade link with China dubbed the “silk road.” Tea became increasingly popular, and in 1882 with seeds obtained from India, Iranians began to cultivate tea in their own nation, spearheaded by Prince Mohammad Mirza, the first mayor of Tehran, also known as “Kashef al Saltaneh.” Saltaneh, who was Iranian ambassador to India under British rule, knew that the Brits would keep their tea production secrets under lock and key, because it was one of their main businesses in India. Saltaneh went undercover as a French laborer in India, working on plantations to learn all the trade secrets, and then bringing some samples back to Iran. He planted them in the Iranian region of Gilan, and the tea industry was begun. Today, there are 32,000 hectares of tea farms, most being located on the hillsides. 8 – Japan (88,900 tonnes) Tea Plantation in Makinohara city, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan Out of Japan’s four major islands, the climate and conditions on three are favorable to produce tea. Japan produces 85,900 tonnes of the stuff annually, and with many tea drinkers, despite their large production numbers, the Japanese export less than 2% of the thousands of tonnes they produce. Of the varieties they produce, about 99.9% is green tea, which is so common that it is the default option in the country. Japanese green teas are predominantly steamed, with bancha being the most basic version. However, Japan’s green tea offerings are diverse, including sencha, genmaicha, and hojicha. 7 – Vietnam (116,780 tonnes) Workers pick tea leaves on agricultural plantation, Thai Nguyen, Vietnam


What is the first name of the diplomat after whom Downing Street is named?

Downing Street | DigiLondon Totteridge and Whetstone tube station Totteridge and Whetstone tube station is a London Underground station in north London. The station is the penultimate one on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line, between Woodside Park and High Barnet stations, and in Travelcard Zone 4. It is on the northern side of Totteridge Lane (A5109), somewhat to the east of the Dollis Brook (the traditional boundary between Totteridge and Whetstone) hence is in Whetstone. Totteridge and Whetstone station was planned by the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway (EH&LR) and was originally opened as Whetstone and Totteridge in 1872 by the read more Downing Street Category: Government Downing Street is the street in Westminster, London, which has been the official residence for 200 years of two of the most senior British Cabinet Ministers, the First Lord of the Treasury, an office held by the Prime Minister, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an office held by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Downing Street is located in Whitehall in central London, a few minutes’ walk from the Houses of Parliament and on the edge of Horse Guards Parade and St. James’s Park. The most famous address in Downing Street is 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury – and thus, in modern times, the residence of the Prime Minister, since the two roles have been filled by the same person. As a result of this, “Downing Street” or “Number 10” is often used as a metonym for the Prime Ministers or their office, whilst “Number 11” is likewise a term for the Chancellors of the Exchequer or their office. The street was built by and named after Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet (1632–1689). Downing was a soldier and diplomat who served under Oliver Cromwell and King Charles II. In the service of the King he was rewarded with the plot of land adjoining St. James’s Park upon which Downing Street now stands. The Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Chief Whip all officially live in houses on one side of the street. According to the Downing Street official website, the last private resident in the street was a Mr Chicken, about whom very little is known except that he left Downing Street some time in the 1730s. The houses on the other side were all replaced by the massive Foreign Office in the nineteenth century. In the 1950s and 1960s, plans were considered to demolish both the Foreign Office and the rest of Downing Street and build “something more modern”. However the plans were never implemented and have long since been abandoned.


Who was murdered by John Bellingham in 1812?

BBC News - The MP whose ancestor killed the prime minister The MP whose ancestor killed the prime minister By Justin Parkinson BBC News political reporter On the afternoon of 11 May, 1812, John Bellingham, a bankrupt and embittered businessman, walked into the lobby of the Palace of Westminster. He waited a while and, upon seeing prime minister Spencer Perceval, approached him, took out a duelling pistol and shot him through the heart. As shocked onlookers rushed towards him, Perceval uttered the words: "I am murdered. I am murdered." He then collapsed and died - the only UK prime minister to be assassinated. Fast-forward 197 years, six months and one week. Conservative MP Henry Bellingham is in the Commons, looking uncomfortable as both Labour MP Frank Dobson and Tory leader David Cameron make light-hearted remarks about his infamous ancestor. 'Appalling flaws' Delivering his "loyal address" in response to the Queen's Speech, ex-minister Mr Dobson jokes that Perceval, a Tory, was the "only man in history who has been assassinated on lobby terms". Mr Cameron replies: "When it comes to assassinating sitting prime ministers, he [John Bellingham] had a much better aim than the current foreign secretary [David Miliband]." And so Perceval's murder continues mildly to plague the Bellinghams, a long-standing and influential political family. Henry, the 54-year-old MP for North West Norfolk, has an ambivalent relationship with John. Sitting in Portcullis House, Parliament's modern extension, he told the BBC: "History doesn't relate whether this appalling behaviour was a horrendous stain on the family's character or name and how the family reacted. I wouldn't bring it up in conversation that I'm a descendant - or a near-descendant - of a murderer of a prime minister. But I don't try to deny it Henry Bellingham MP "All I can say is that I don't think it has held back my advancement. "Or maybe the Tory party has felt that, such were the appalling flaws in John Bellingham's character, that I was bound to be similar!" Humour is never away when John Bellingham is mentioned, as if time has healed all wounds. Henry Bellingham is not sure precisely how he and Perceval's murderer are related, but there was some connection at least four generations back with John's branch of the family. With understatement Mr Bellingham, educated at Eton and Cambridge, said: "He was always a bit of a black sheep of the family." By any standards, John Bellingham had been through a terrible ordeal. On a trip to Russia in 1803, he was arrested over allegations of insurance fraud, following the sinking of a ship carrying some cargo he owned. Bellingham sought help from the British authorities, but none came. Eventually the charges against him were dropped but, in the meantime, he had become bankrupt, meaning a further detention. 'Given run-around' Bellingham remained in a rat-infested Russian jail for six years. On his release he returned to the UK and urged the government to compensate him, arguing that he had been abandoned and suffered an injustice. He wrote to the foreign secretary and frequently visited Parliament to try to persuade ministers, including Perceval, to take up his case. Henry Bellingham said: "I think Whitehall was even more indolent in replying to letters than it is now. He was being given the run-around by government departments. "He began appearing in the lobby. He made a habit of waiting there and lobbying different ministers. He certainly lobbied the prime minister on a number of occasions and demanded a chat with him. "The prime minister ignored him completely and was withdrawn, and even offensive. "It was about the fifth occasion on which he had approached him when the prime minister told him to take a running jump, so he drew the gun and shot him dead." Recollect that my family was ruined and myself destroyed, merely because it was Mr Perceval's pleasure that justice should not be granted John Bellingham After John Bellingham killed Perceval, he sat down and was arrested. The prime minister was seemingly not a popular man. As the pol


For what does the first 'S' stand in SMS?

What does SMS stand for? We've got 112 definitions for SMS » What does SMS stand for? What does SMS mean? This page is about the various possible meanings of the acronym, abbreviation, shorthand or slang term: SMS. Filter by: Couldn't find the full form or full meaning of SMS? Maybe you were looking for one of these abbreviations: Discuss these SMS abbreviations with the community: Know what is SMS ? Got another good explanation for SMS ? Don't keep it to yourself! Add it HERE! Still can't find the acronym definition you were looking for? Use our Power Search technology to look for more unique definitions from across the web! Search the web


"Which American film actor and comedian starred in such films as It's a Gift (1934) and 'What a Man"" (1941)"

Comedy Films COMEDY FILMS Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Examples Earliest Comedy: Cinematic comedy can be considered the oldest film genre (and     one of the most prolific and popular). Comedy was ideal for the early silent     films, as it was dependent on visual action and physical humor rather than     sound. Slapstick, one of the earliest forms of comedy, poked fun at     farcical situations of physical mishap and indignity, usually in pratfalls,     practical jokes, accidents, acrobatic death-defying stunts, water soakings,     or wild chase scenes with trains and cars. [Burlesque is another form     of early comedy, characterized by unrefined and broad humor, designed to produce     ridicule.] Pioneers in the early days of silent cinema and film-making, the     Lumiere Brothers, included a short comedy film in their very first public     screening in 1895 titled Watering the Gardener or "The Sprinkler Sprinkled" (L'Arroseur Arrose). Its predictable subject matter included a man     with a garden watering hose who was tricked into being soaked by a prankster     child. Keystone Studios: It     took until 1912 for American comedy to emerge. The first comics were trained     by performing in the circus, in burlesque, vaudeville (music halls), or pantomime.     Film entrepreneur Mack Sennett, soon nicknamed "The King of Comedy" and "The     Master of Slapstick Comedy," formed the Keystone Company (and Studios)     in 1912 - it soon was the leading producer of slapstick and comic characters. The major hallmark of Sennett's career work was inventive,     visual, improvised comedy displayed in short silent films that moved frantically.     His early short comedies featured wild slapstick chase finales, visual gags     and stunts, and speedy, zany action. The action appeared all the more frantic     and frenzied by his use of a filming technique whereby he shot the pictures     at a slow camera speed, and then accelerated the frames in the projector during     playback. He often cast vaudevillian, burlesque, and circus performers in     his films. Those with exaggerated or grotesque looks (obese, cross-eyed, lanky,     leering, pop-eyed, etc.) were chosen to add to the unreality of the situations.     His most popular pictures involved his bumbling comedy policemen, the Keystone     Cops. There would be flying pies, bricks, careening vehicles with people hanging     off, crashes, and other dangerous-looking stunts. Cinema's first custard-pie-in-the-face was in Sennett's silent film comedy A Noise From the Deep (1913), in which comedian Mabel Normand, a farmgirl threw a pie into the kisser of obese farmhand Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle.  Eccentric comic artists (and character actors) included  Arbuckle, Edgar Kennedy, Mabel Normand, zany and cross-eyed Ben Turpin,     Mack Swain, Billy Bevan, Charley Chase and Chester Conklin. [Even Carole Lombard     began her career at Keystone.] Charlie Chaplin got his start at Keystone (his     first film was the short Making a Living (1914)) and made numerous     short films from 1914-1919 (for Keystone, Essanay, Mutual, and First National),     until his first full-length feature that he directed, wrote, and acted in, The Kid (1921) - see below. The Silent Era Clowns Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle: Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was one of the earliest silent film comedians (as well as director and screenwriter). He started out with the Selig Polyscope Company in 1909 (his first film was Ben's Kid (1909)), and then went onto Universal Pictures in 1913 where he appeared in several of Mack Sennett's Keystone Comedies films, noted for fast-paced chase sequences and 'pie-in-the-face' segments. Arbuckle was the first of the silent comedians to direct his own films,  starting with Barnyard Flirtations (1914). His teaming with Mabel Normand at Keystone, in a series of "Fatty and Mabel" films, were lucrative for the studi


Who replaced Rowan Williams to become the new Archbishop of Canterbury in February 2013?

When will Justin Welby officially become Archbishop of Canterbury? When will Justin Welby officially become Archbishop of Canterbury? Photo: Keith Blundy/Aegies Associates Tuesday 1st January 2013 Dr Rowan Williams, 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, stepped down from the position on 31st December 2012. Justin Welby, Bishop of Durham, was named as his successor on 9th November 2012. Bishop Justin’s name was submitted to the Prime Minister by the Crown Nominations Commission after a consultation process to determine the needs of the diocese of Canterbury, the Church of England nationally and the wider Anglican Communion. Consideration of possible candidates took place over several months, and on the Commission’s recommendation the Prime Minister put Bishop Justin’s name forward to Her Majesty The Queen. The announcement of his nomination was made by 10 Downing Street on 9th November 2012. On 10th January 2013, the College of Canons will meet in the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral to elect Bishop Justin as the new Archbishop, having received the Congé d’Élire and Letter Missive from the Crown authorising the Election to take place. A further legal ceremony, the Confirmation of Election, will take place on 4th February 2013 at St Paul's Cathedral. The Dean of Canterbury will report to a commission of senior diocesan bishops chaired by the Archbishop of York that Bishop Justin has been elected according to statute, and the Archbishop of York, on behalf of his fellow bishops and the wider Church, will confer on him the ‘spiritualities’ of the diocese of Canterbury. At this point, he becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury - until then he remains Bishop of Durham. On 21st March, after paying Homage to Her Majesty in his new role, his public ministry will inaugurated in a colourful ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral, to which bishops from the whole Church of England, Primates of the wider Anglican Communion and many ecumenical guests will be invited. The new Archbishop will be installed in two places in the Cathedral - the diocesan ‘cathedra’ in the Cathedral Quire as the bishop of the diocese of Canterbury, and the Chair of St Augustine as Archbishop of Canterbury.


Which fast food chain was founded by Harland Saunders in 1930?

Who Founded KFC Who Founded KFC 08 Nov, 2011 who founded 0 KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a fast food restaurant chain operating in over 110 countries of the world. They are best known for their chicken coated in 11 herbs and spices that remains a secret recipe to this day. Although chicken is the specialty of KFC, they have a wide variety of other items on their menu. Keep reading if you want to know who founded this successful fast food chain. Who Founded KFC? Kentucky Fried Chicken was founded by Harland Sanders, who’s likeness still features on many of their advertisements today, in 1930. He began serving chicken at his gas station and was so successful that, in 1935, the governor of Kentucky made Harland Sanders an honorary Kentucky Colonel. This is why many advertisements make reference to “the Colonel” or “Colonel Sanders.” Shortly after receiving this honor he expanded his restaurant to 142 seats. Unfortunately, the new Interstate 75 highway meant that most travelers bypassed his establishment. He decided to take the money from his first social security check to search the country for potential franchisees. In 1952 Sanders and Pete Harman struck a deal and the first KFC franchise was opened in South Salt Lake, Utah. Only a decade later there were over 600 KFC franchises in the United States and Canada. In 1964 Sanders sold the US portion of the operation for $2 million. Did you know? The KFC recipe is so secret that different parts of the secret blend of herbs and spices are produced in different locations. The only written recipe is kept in a special secure vault at the company’s headquarters. It is guarded with security cameras and motion detectors. Related Articles