What is the county town of Kent, England?

Things to do in Kent | Days Out | Places to Visit You are here:  Counties -> Things to do in Kent Things to do in Kent Page Contents Places to visit in Kent The County of Kent, situated at the south eastern tip of England, is often called the 'Garden of England'; with its hop fields, oast houses, orchards, sumptuous gardens and captivating countryside. Kent is the oldest place name in Britain, the county's history goes back to Roman times, not surprising then that Kent has many historic towns, more than the average amount of intriguing castles, beautiful stately homes and historic attractions. Kent offers visitors the chance to relax and unwind, stroll in quiet country lanes, go horse riding, cycling, play golf or enjoy exhilarating coastal walks. On the north coast, lies the historic town of Rochester , childhood home of Charles Dickens. Many of Rochester's buildings feature in Dickens' novels. Chatham is famous for the Historic Dockyard , once home of the Royal Navy, where over 400 years of naval history are brought vividly back to life. Sittingbourne and Milton Regis were barge making towns - for a flavour of their past visit the Dolphin Yard Sailing Barge Museum . Nearby are beautiful Kentish villages such as Tunstall, Upchurch and Rodmersham, with thatched roofs, centuries old churches and atmospheric pubs, surrounded by orchards. Faversham , nestling between the rural beauty of the Downs and the sweeping flatlands of the north Kent marshes, is one of the most charming and historic small towns in the area. The Isle of Sheppy's name means Island of Sheep - it is a popular holiday destination, with award winning beaches. Ornithologists should visit the Swale National Nature Reserve on the sourthern tip of the island and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds site at Elmley Marshes. There are five historic towns to be found in the heart of Kent: Maidstone , the County Town of Kent, has excellent shopping, sports and leisure facilities. Only five miles from Maidstone is the magnificent Leeds Castle - a wonderful historical national treasure. Sevenoaks , home of England's oldest house Knole, which is set in 1000 acres of splendid deer park. Ashford , a convenient central point to tour from, to explore delightful villages in the surrounding countryside. Tonbridge , home of the most complete motte and bailey castle in Kent, and Royal Tunbridge Wells , one of the most elegant towns in the country. Each town is distinctive and offers antique shops, lively shopping centres and gourmet restaurants One of the Country's greatest cities, Canterbury is a wonderful blend of heritage, culture and tradition. The magnificent Cathedral and the tranquil ruins of St Augustine's Abbey form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kent Tourist Information can be found in Sun Street. Herne Bay, north of Canterbury, has an attractive seafront, and the town's story including the fate of its famous pier, is told at the local museum. Further along the coast, fresh fish and seafood are for sale at Whitstable's busy harbour. The east coast of Kent is known as the Isle of Thanet - you will find three principal resorts here: Margate , Broadstairs and Ramsgate . Each has its own distinct character, attractions and charm. Throughout the season the area is packed with festivals, sports and events, providing a wide choice of stimulating activities. Kent's Garden Coast is a region rich in heritage, picturesque villages and sandy beaches: Folkestone is a traditional seaside resort, with harbour, seafood stalls, cobbled streets and a mile long Edwardian cliff top promenade. The ancient and tranquil Cinque Port town of Hythe offers speciality shops and walks along the Royal Military Canal, and the tourist information centre is in Red Lion Square. Romney Marsh is a unique expanse of flat, open countryside characterised by medieval churches and excellent rural pubs, it has been a smugglers' haunt for generations. The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, the world's smallest public railway runs from Hythe to


Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte are characters in which 1980’s UK television drama series?

Charles Ryder - Brideshead Revisited (UK) Characters - ShareTV Season 1 / Episode 11: - Brideshead Revisited Charles Ryder: The chapel showed no ill effects of its long neglect. The paint was as fresh and bright as ever. And the lamp burned once more before the altar. I knelt and said a prayer - an ancient, newly-learned form of words. I thought that the builders did not know the uses to which their work would descend. They made a new house with the stones of the old castle. Year by year the great harvest of timber in the park grew to ripeness, until, in sudden frost, came the Age of Hooper. The place was desolate and the work all brought to nothing. Quomodo sedet sola civitas - vanity of vanities, all is vanity. And yet, I thought, that is not the last word. It is not even an apt word - it is a dead word from ten years back. Something quite remote from anything the builders intended had come out of their work and out of the fierce little human tragedy in which I played. Something none of us thought about at the time. A small red flame, a beaten copper lamp of deplorable design, re-lit before the beaten copper doors of a tabernacle. This flame, which the old knights saw from their tombs, which they saw put out: the flame burns again for *other* soldiers far from home - farther, in heart, than Acre or Jerusalem. It could not have been lit but for the builders and the tragedians. And there I found it that morning, burning anew among the old stones.


What is the first name of former Irish boxer Barry McGuigan?

Barry McGuigan - BoxRec Barry McGuigan Hall of Fame bio: click World Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Name: Barry McGuigan Birth Name: Finbar Patrick McGuigan Born: 1961-02-28 Amateur Record: 21-2 with 19 knockouts [1] Bantamweight Gold Medalist representing Ireland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Results: George Lowe (Scotland) DQ 2 Michael Anthony (Guyana) W 3 Bill Rannelli (Canada) RSC 3 Tumat Sogolik (Papua New Guinea) W 3 [2] Represented Ireland as a featherweight at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia. Results: 1st round bye Issack Mabushi (Tanzania) RSC 3 Winfred Kabunda (Zambia) L 3 (1-4) [3] Professional Career Mcguigan vs. Eusebio Pedroza After winning his first two professional fights by knockout, McGuigan lost a close eight-round decision to Peter Eubank in August 1981. Four months later, McGuigan avenged the defeat by stopping Eubank in eight rounds. McGuigan knocked out Young Ali in six rounds in June 1982. Ali lapsed into a coma after the fight and died six months later. McGuigan won the vacant British Boxing Board of Control Featherweight Championship with a second-round TKO of Vernon Penprase in April 1983. Seven months later, McGuigan knocked out Valerio Nati in six rounds to win the vacant European Boxing Union Featherweight Championship. In June 1985, McGuigan defeated Eusebio Pedroza by a lopsided fifteen-round unanimous decision to win the World Boxing Association Featherweight Championship in London, England. Pedroza had been champion for seven years and had successfully defended the title nineteen times. [4] In June 1986, McGuigan lost the title in his third defense to Steve Cruz , a 5-1 underdog, by a close fifteen-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas, Nevada. After fourteen rounds, McGuigan was ahead by two points on two of the three official scorecards, but Cruz pulled ahead by putting the champion down twice in the fifteenth and final round. The fight was named Fight of the Year by The Ring . [5] McGuigan was out of the ring for almost two years following the loss to Cruz. After three consecutive wins, he lost to Jim McDonnell by a fourth-round TKO in May 1989. The fight was stopped due to a cut over his right eye. McGuigan announced his retirement after the defeat. "I said when I started my comeback that if I lost I would retire," he said. "I don't intend to reverse that." The 28-year-old McGuigan walked away with a record of 32-3 with 28 knockouts. [6] McGuigan was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. Notes McGuigan was a hero in Ireland, and his immense popularity transcended boxing. Long-standing violence between Catholics and Protestants subsided when he stepped in the ring. McGuigan, a Catholic who married a Protestant, campaigned for peace. The popular saying of the day was "Leave the fighting to McGuigan." McGuigan's father, Pat McGuigan, was a professional singer. He would sing "Danny Boy" in the ring before his son's fights. In a 1988 video about his boxing career, McGuigan said his manager, Barney Eastwood, forced him to fight Steve Cruz despite ankle and ear injuries. Eastwood sued McGuigan and Channel 5 Video, the makers of the video, for libel and was awarded $775,000 in 1992. McGuigan and Channel 5 Video were also ordered to pay court costs, estimated at nearly $1.4 million. [7] Shane McGuigan, Barry's son, boxed briefly as an amateur and won several titles, including the Irish Under 21 Championships at light middleweight. [8] Preceded by:


In June 1987, which country introduced a one dollar coin nicknamed the ‘Loonie’?

Loonie turns 25 years old - Canada - CBC News Loonie turns 25 years old Iconic coin was only created after dies for original design were lost CBC News Posted: Jun 30, 2012 5:24 AM ET Last Updated: Jun 30, 2012 5:21 AM ET The loon design has taken a back seat to a number of commemorative one-dollar coins introduced since the original loonie came out. This "loonie" introduced last fall honours the centennial of the founding of the Dominion Parks Branch in 1911. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press) The Royal Canadian Mint (Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.) Canada's gold-coloured $1 coin, nicknamed the loonie for the waterfowl emblazoned on one side, was first minted 25 years ago. The shiny new 11-sided-edge coin, was introduced on June 30, 1987 as a cost-saving measure and quickly had a fan following. It was a hit with tourists and vending-machine operators, who predicted higher profits with more people carrying coins instead of paper. It was decidedly less popular, however, with some business operators who complained about the heavier haul to the bank. Collectors admired its design by Ontario wildlife artist Robert-Ralph Carmichael, whose initials appear near the bird's beak. Before the introduction of the loonie, Canadians used green and white paper one-dollar bills. The bills wore out quickly: most only lasted between nine and 12 months. Canada also had a large, silver-coloured dollar coin, but it was seldom used by anyone other than coin collectors. Wasn't originally intended By switching from a bill to a coin that would last much longer, the government calculated it could save taxpayers $175 million to $250 million over 20 years. Initially, the loonie design was not meant to be. The federal government authorized its design only after the original master dies were lost in transit to the Winnipeg Mint from Ottawa in November 1986. That design depicted a voyageur, similar to what was on the previous silver-coloured dollar coin. Carmichael, who lives in Echo Bay near Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., said the original loon concept was actually a second-place contender years earlier. Lighter loonies, toonies The new loonie weighs 6.27 grams, versus the seven-gram old loonie. The toonie now weighs 6.92 grams, versus the 7.3-gram old toonie. The Winnipeg Mint distributed 80 million loonies coast to coast in June 1987. Since then, 1.5 billion loonies — made of 91.5 percent nickel and 8.5 percent aureate bronze for its plating — have been minted. The last Canadian $1 bills rolled off the presses in 1989 to make room for the loonie, a move that left many Canadians no choice but to embrace the coin. A bimetallic $2 coin — nicknamed the toonie — followed in 1996. But it's the loonie that remains most iconic among Canadian coins in wide circulation. Its name is the one most often used in any reference to the Canadian currency in reports on how the Canadian dollar's rise and fall is affecting trade, manufacturing and travel. In the spring of 2012, the metal composition changed from nickel alloy to multi-plated steel, so the coins now are more than half a gram lighter and cheaper to produce. A lighter version of the toonie was also introduced.


Silicon Alley is a nickname for an area with a concentration of Internet and new media companies in which city?

Silicon Alley Silicon Alley Silicon Alley From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia                Jump to:   navigation,   search Silicon Alley is a nickname for an area with a concentration of Internet and new media companies in Manhattan, New York City. Originally, the term referred to the cluster of such companies extending from the Flatiron District down to SoHo and TriBeCa along the Broadway corridor, but as the location of these companies spread out, it became a general term referring to the dot com industry in New York City as a whole. The name derives from Silicon Valley in California. The name is ironic; New York City contains no alleys since the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, which removed all remaining serviceable alleys. Silicon Alley has also been a term used to refer to Dumbo, a neighborhood in Brooklyn. Companies that reside in Dumbo range from Web liquid, a digital marketing agency, to Amplify Education, an education technology company. The first publication to cover Silicon Alley was @NY, an online newsletter founded in the summer of 1995 by Tom Watson and Jason Chervokas. The first magazine to focus on the venture capital opportunities in Silicon Alley, AlleyCat News co-founded by Anna Copeland Wheatley and Janet Stites, was launched in the fall of 1996. Courtney Pulitzer branched off from her @The Scene column with @NY and created Courtney Pulitzer's Cyber Scene and her popular networking events Cocktails with Courtney. First Tuesday, co-founded by Vincent Grimaldi de Puget and John Grossbart, became the largest gathering of Silicon Alley, welcoming 500 to 1000 venture capitalists and entrepreneurs every month. It was an initiative of law firm Sonnenschein and the Kellogg School of Management, as well as other corporate founders, including Accenture (then Andersen Consulting), AlleyCat News and Merrill Lynch. Silicon Alley Reporter started publishing in October 1996. It was founded by Jason Calacanis and was in business from 1996-2001. @NY, print magazines, and the attending media coverage by the larger New York press helped to popularize both the name, and the idea of New York City as a dot-com center. In 1997, over 200 members and leaders of Silicon Alley joined NYC entrepreneurs, Andrew Rasiej and Cecilia Pagkalinawan to help wire Washington Irving High School to the internet. This response and the Department of Education's growing need for technology integration marked the birth of MOUSE, an organization that today serves tens of thousands of underserved youth in schools in five states and over 20 countries. After the bubble burst, Silicon Alley Reporter was rebranded as Venture Reporter in September 2001 and sold to Dow Jones. Self-financed AlleyCat News ceased publication in October 2001. A couple of years after the internet bust, Silicon Alley began making its comeback with the help of NY Tech meetup and NextNY. Since 2003 Silicon Alley has seen a steady growth in the number of start-ups and has joined the ranks of Boston and San Francisco as one of the three leading technology centers in the United States. As of 2007 Google's second largest office is located in New York. And, as of 2009, New York's Silicon Alley has become the startup leader in advertising, new media, financial technologies such as MediaMind, DoubleClick, Roo, IAC, meetup.com and a slew of web 2.0 companies. According to the National Venture Capital Association, 247 venture capital deals worth $1.4 billion closed in New York in 2009, despite the recession and rocky market. New York still ranks third behind Silicon Valley and Boston in the number of deals and overall investment rates, but New York is holding its own against the other big hubs and possibly beginning to increase its share. A similar area of concentration in London is called Tech City, or Silicon Roundabout, centered around the Old Street Roundabout in Shoreditch in East London. Posted by Navigation menu Personal tools  Create accountLog in        Namespaces    Article   Talk       Variants                Views


Which animal is the subject of the 1984 film ‘A Private Function’?

A Private Function (1984) - FilmAffinity A Private Function Alan Bennett (Story: Alan Bennett, Malcolm Mowbray) Music Tony Pierce-Roberts Cast Comedy | 1940s . Animals Synopsis / Plot Life isn't easy in 1947 Yorkshire where strict post-war rationing is putting the squeeze on the townspeople. But when a married working-class couple (Palin and Smith) discovers that the town s wealthy elite has been secretly fattening up an illegal pig for their own selfish gluttony they hatch an outlandish kidnapping scheme that gives new meaning to the phrase bringing home the bacon! Michael Palin (A Fish Called Wanda) teams with Oscar® winner* Maggie Smith (Gosford Park) in this uproarious comedy in which the laughs come fast (Variety) and the upper class becomes furious! Co-starring Denholm Elliott Pete Postlethwaite and one divine swine this hilarious comedy is alive and unruly [and] the humor keeps boiling up (Pauline Kael: The New Yorker)! Awards 1984 : 3 BAFTA Awards, including Best Actress (Maggie Smith). 5 Nominations Ratings by Movie Soulmates


Former World Number One professional tennis player Arantxa Vicario was born in which country?

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario - Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia I Love to read n write about Interesting People Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Born  18 December 1971 (age 44) Barcelona, Spain (1971-12-18) Plays  Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Spouse  Jose Santacana (m. 2008), Juan Vehils (m. ?–2001) Children  Leo Santacana, Arantxa Santacana Books  Tennis, The Young Tennis Player Parents  Marisa Vicario Rubio, Emilio Sanchez Similar People  Conchita Martinez, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Emilio Sanchez, Martina Navratilova Spanish tennis player arantxa sanchez vicario biography and life story Sponsored Links Aranzazu Isabel Maria "Arantxa" Sanchez Vicario ([aˈɾantʃa ˈsantʃeθ βiˈkaɾjo]; born 18 December 1971) is a Spanish former World No. 1 professional tennis player. She won four Grand Slam singles titles, six Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. Career Arantxa Sanchez Vicario started playing tennis at the age of four, when she followed her older brothers Emilio Sanchez and Javier Sanchez (both of whom became professional players) to the court and hit balls against the wall with her first racquet. As a 17-year-old, she became the youngest winner of the women's singles title at the 1989 French Open, defeating World No. 1 Steffi Graf in the final. (Monica Seles broke the record the following year when she won the title at age 16.) Sanchez Vicario quickly developed a reputation on the tour for her tenacity and refusal to concede a point. Commentator Bud Collins described her as "unceasing in determined pursuit of tennis balls, none seeming too distant to be retrieved in some manner and returned again and again to demoralize opponents" and nicknamed her the "Barcelona Bumblebee". She won six women's doubles Grand Slam titles, including the US Open in 1993 (with Helena Sukova) and Wimbledon in 1995 (with Jana Novotna). She also won four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. In 1991, she helped Spain win its first-ever Fed Cup title, and helped Spain win the Fed Cup in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1998. Sanchez Vicario holds the records for the most matches won by a player in Fed Cup competition (72) and for most ties played (58). She was ITF world champion in 1994 in singles. Sanchez Vicario was also a member of the Spanish teams that won the Hopman Cup in 1990 and 2002. Sponsored Links Over the course of her career, Sanchez Vicario won 29 singles titles and 69 doubles titles before retiring in November 2002. She came out of retirement in 2004 to play doubles in a few select tournaments as well as the 2004 Summer Olympics, where she became the only tennis player to play in five Olympics in the Games history. Sanchez Vicario is the most decorated Olympian in Spanish history with four medals – two silver and two bronze. In 2005, TENNIS Magazine put her in 27th place in its list of 40 Greatest Players of the TENNIS era and in 2007, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She was only the third Spanish player (and the first Spanish woman) to be inducted. In 2009, Sanchez Vicario was present at the opening ceremony of Madrid's Caja Magica, the new venue for the Madrid Masters. The second show court is named Court Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in her honour. Personal life She has been married twice: her first marriage to the sportswriter Juan Vehils ended in 2001. She married the businessman Josep Santacana in September 2008. Their first baby, a girl also named Arantxa, was born on 27 February 2009. Sanchez Vicario gave birth to their second child, a boy named Leo, on 28 October 2011. In 2012 it was reported that, despite having earned $60 million over the course of her career, Sanchez Vicario's parents had "lost" all of her money, and that she was actually in debt to Spanish tax authorities. Singles: 2 medals (1 silver medal, 1 bronze medal) Arantxa Sanchez Vicario lost in the semi-finals to Jennifer Capriati 6–3, 3–6, 6–1. In 1992, there was no bronze medal play-off match, both beaten semi-final players received bronze medals Singles Key Won tournament; or reached Final; Semifinal; Quarter-


How many sisters did Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, have?

The Duke of Edinburgh at 90: a tragic childhood - Telegraph The Duke of Edinburgh at 90: a tragic childhood In this exclusive extract, royal biographer Philip Eade reveals how  Prince Philip's formative years were his loneliest The funeral procession of Prince Philip's sister Cecile and her husband George Donatus, through Darmstadt in 1937. Philip is pictured third from right.  Photo: Taken from 'Young Prince Philip' by Philip Eade By Philip Eade Comments He had the most unorthodox childhood: with his mother in a psychiatric clinic and his exiled father mostly absent, Prince Philip spent his early years being sent from post to pillar. Despite a succession of family tragedies, he emerged capable, charming and uncomplaining. As the longest-serving royal consort in British history approaches 90, our exclusive extract from Philip Eade’s new book, Young Prince Philip: His Turbulent Early Life, shows how his traumatic childhood shaped him and details the strength of character he showed in the face of such tragedy and turbulence. On November 16, 1937, at around noon, Prince Philip ’s heavily pregnant sister, Cecile, set off on the short drive through the woods from the Hesse family’s old hunting box at Wolfsgarten to Frankfurt aerodrome to fly to London for a family wedding. With her were her husband, George Donatus, or “Don”, who had recently succeeded his father as the Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine; his widowed mother; and their two young sons, aged six and four, who were due to be pages. Air travel was growing in popularity but most Europeans considered it risky and unpredictable, particularly in the high winds and dense fogs of autumn. Cecile was reputedly so terrified of aeroplanes that she always wore black when she flew. However, Don Hesse was a dedicated and fearless flyer, like the young Philip, who made frequent continental trips to visit relations. They took off just before two o’clock in bright sunshine in a three-engine Junkers monoplane. The plane had been scheduled to land en route near Brussels, but a thick North Sea fog had swept in and they were instructed to proceed instead to Steene, on the coast near Ostend. There, too, fog had reduced visibility to a few yards but the pilot went ahead with his descent, flying blind. An eyewitness described seeing the aeroplane coming down out of the fog and hitting the top of a brickworks chimney at about 100mph. There were no survivors. In the charred wreckage were the remains of an infant, prematurely delivered, lying beside the body of Cecile. It was suggested that the pilot had attempted to land only when he became aware that the Grand Duchess had begun to give birth. At Gordonstoun school in Morayshire, it fell to the German émigré headmaster, Kurt Hahn, to break the news to 16-year-old Philip. The young prince, already used to steeling himself against life’s shocks and tragedies, did not break down. “His sorrow was that of a man,” his headmaster recalled. Related Articles Duke and Duchess appear together at Epsom Derby 04 Jun 2011 Philip travelled alone to Germany for the funeral at Darmstadt, the Hesse family’s home town south of Frankfurt. As the coffins were borne through streets festooned with swastikas, he cut a forlorn figure in his civilian dark suit and overcoat, his white-blonde hair standing out against the dark military greatcoats. Beside him marched his surviving German brothers-in-law: Prince Christoph of Hesse, husband of Philip’s youngest sister, Sophie, conspicuous in his SS garb; and Christoph’s brother, Prince Philipp of Hesse, in the brown shirt of the SA. Philip’s uncle, Lord Louis (“Dickie”) Mountbatten, followed just behind in British naval dress. The streets of Darmstadt were lined with detachments of soldiers in Nazi uniforms and, as the procession passed, many in the crowd extended their arms in a Heil Hitler salute – a gesture Philip had been accustomed to seeing as a schoolboy in Nazi Germany. Don and Cecile had recently joined the Nazi party themselves. Hitler and Goebbels had sent messages of sympathy; Goering attended the funeral in


Manor Farm at Dingley Dell features in which novel by Charles Dickens?

The return of Dingley Dell - Telegraph The return of Dingley Dell By Sarah Lonsdale Comments One winter, while out skating on a pond in his beloved North Downs, Charles Dickens fell through the ice and crashed into the freezing water. He sought help from the owner of a nearby manor house, Cobtree Manor, who turned out to be a charming, hospitable man by the name of Mr William Spong. The two men struck up a friendship, and Dickens later based the agreeable old Mr Wardle of The Pickwick Papers on Spong, while Cobtree Manor, near Maidstone in Kent, became Manor Farm of Dingley Dell - the convivial house where members of the Pickwick Society spent happy hours playing cards and eating fine food in front of a blazing fire in the old dining-room. Although Dickens gives no physical description of the house, he makes constant references to its homely, peaceful atmosphere and the "quiet seclusion" of its grounds. One character says: "There ain't a better spot o' ground in all of Kent." Cobtree has seen many changes since Dickens wrote Pickwick Papers in 1836, and not all of them for the better. In fact Dickens would barely recognise the Elizabethan manor house today. Its famous quiet seclusion has been replaced by the constant roar of the M20, which passes just a few hundred yards from its venerable old walls, and in 1968 an entire wing was pulled down owing to an infestation of dry rot. Although most of what was pulled down was a late-Victorian extension, about half the Elizabethan original went in the process. Like one of Dickens's faded grandes dames, Cobtree went through a period of horrendous neglect, and the current owner, who brought the manor back from near-destruction, has made the best of efforts to revive her. All went well for Cobtree until 1964, when the then owner, Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, died. Sir Garrard had been a wealthy and flamboyant local figure - elected mayor of Maidstone no fewer than 12 times - and had turned part of the Cobtree estate into what was once the largest private zoo in Europe. Sir Garrard left the estate in a charitable trust for the "benefit of the people of Maidstone", stipulating that Maidstone Borough Council, which would be responsible for the maintenance of Cobtree, allow his widow Lady Edna to continue living in the house. When Lady Edna died in 1992 and her godson, David Wigg, moved out Maidstone Council left the house empty. Although the council claims the house was secure, cowboy builders managed to strip it of its ancient Kent peg roof tiles, period fireplaces and copper piping; even the boiler and old radiators were removed. At that time, David Lawty and his family were living in nearby Allington and David spotted Maidstone Council's invitation for ideas in the local paper. The notion of saving the derelict old house appealed to him and he put in an offer, suggesting it could be turned into a health club. This rejected but hewas offered the house for his bid of £175,000, on condition that he renovate the old Victorian stables as well as the house. "All in all, we spent about £850,000 on renovating the house and the stables. The stables are now holiday cottages which bring us a nice little income every year," he says. Mr Lawty now wants to run a bigger cottage complex in the United States, which is why Cobtree is for sale. But he has saved, amongst other things, the "Dickens" dining-room, with its enormous inglenook fireplace, around which Pickwick and his friends played whist while waiting for yet another of Mr Wardle's sumptuous dinners. • Cobtree Manor is for sale through Bradford and Bingley's Maidstone branch; tel Int 44 1622 759891.


Which scientist is credited with saying ‘The one who follows the crowd will usually get further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before’?

The One Who Follows the Crowd Will Usually Go No Further Than the Crowd | Quote Investigator The One Who Follows the Crowd Will Usually Go No Further Than the Crowd Albert Einstein? Eda LeShan? Alan Ashley-Pitt? Francis Phillip Wernig? Anonymous? Dear Quote Investigator: The following quote has been credited to Albert Einstein and posted on Facebook and various websites: The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. Those who walk alone are likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before. Here is an alternative version I have seen: The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. Is this a sample of Einstein’s wisdom? Quote Investigator: Probably not. It does not appear in the comprehensive collection of quotations “The Ultimate Quotable Einstein” from Princeton University Press. 1 The earliest evidence of the saying that QI has located appeared in the 1970s. The 1973 self-help book “The Wonderful Crisis of Middle Age” by Eda LeShan contained a discussion about creativity that included a version of the saying, and the author did not attribute the words to Albert Einstein. She stated that the quotation was from a poster she had seen, and in a footnote she identified Alan Ashley-Pitt as the creator: 2 The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before. Creativity in living is not without its attendant difficulties, for peculiarity breeds contempt. And the unfortunate thing about being ahead of your time is that when people finally realize you were right, they’ll say it was obvious all along. You have two choices in your life; you can dissolve into the mainstream, or you can be distinct. To be distinct, you must be different. To be different, you must strive to be what no one else but you can be . . . * * By Alan Ashley-Pitt (Aardvarque Enterprises, 116 W. Arrellaga Street, Santa Barbara, California 93104). Here are additional selected citations in chronological order. A “Catalog of Copyright Entries” from the United States Copyright Office for the time period January-June 1971 listed a poster titled “On creativity” by Alan Ashley-Pitt: 3 On creativity. [Girl in bandstand in park; poster] PP3. By Alan Ashley-Pitt, pseud. of Francis Phillip Wernig. Print. © Aardvarque Enterprises; 15Jul70; K92106. Note that the entry gave a copyright date of July 15, 1970 for the poster and also indicated that Ashley-Pitt was a pseudonym for Francis Phillip Wernig. It is not certain that this copyright entry referred to the poster seen and written about by Eda LeShan in 1973, but the creator was the same. In 1977 a column in the Chicago Metro News weekly newspaper mentioned the quotation. It was seen by the columnist in an office, and no attribution was given: 4 “The man who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The man who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no man has ever been before.” This profound axiom hangs on the wall in the attractive, fashionable office of “Mr. Ebony”, Joseph Owens’ office and although it is rarely seen by those who enter Mr. Ebony’s Boutique, it is an apt and descriptive analogy of this daring clothing entrepreneur and his philosophy. In 1987 a version of the statement appeared in a paper at an academic conference on “Creativity and Innovation: Towards a European Network”. The words were indented indicating they were part of a quotation, but no ascription was given. The word “person” was used instead of ‘man, “woman”, or “one”: 5 The person who follows the crowd will usually get no further than the crowd. The person who walks alone is likely to find himself in places no one has ever been before. The GoodReads website included a version of the expression with the word “woman” in their database. The number of members who liked the quote exceeded 500: 6 “The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further tha


The Chromatic Scale is a musical scale with how many pitches or notes?

Music Theory/Scales and Intervals - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Music Theory/Scales and Intervals Jump to: navigation , search A musical scale is a set of notes, usually not arbitrary, of which most notes in a piece of music might be chosen. There exist many scales with highly distinctive sounds, though some are much more common than others. the term "scale" comes from the latin word 'scala' meaning 'ladder'. Thus a scale is a ladder of notes. Contents Simple intervals[ edit ] Before we progress, we must discuss intervals. An interval is usually defined as the distance between two pitches, that is, how many semitones lie between them. When the two pitches are the same, they are said to be in unison, and two notes played in unison can be impossible to distinguish from a single note when they are played by the same instrument and the instrument is properly tuned. When they are twelve semitones apart, they are an octave apart (we will learn why it is called an octave shortly). Simple intervals are defined as those intervals that are one octave or less apart. Intervals are usually named according to the relationship of the higher note to the lower note in the major scale, though they also have alternative names depending upon the spelling of the particular notes on the page of music. Semitones perfect octave augmented seventh This table gives the most common nomenclature for each interval according to its relation to the major scale. For example, the interval of four semitones occurs as the third note of the major scale, and thus it is called a major third. The interval of seven semitones occurs as the fifth note of the major scale, and so it is called a perfect fifth. Whether an interval is "perfect" or "major" depends on mathematical ratios of frequencies as determined by the Greeks. Other possible names are given under "alternate names," and the most common of these are emboldened. One may draw several inferences from this table: If any perfect interval is raised by one semitone, the interval becomes augmented If any perfect interval is lowered by one semitone, the interval becomes diminished If any major interval is raised by one semitone, the interval becomes augmented If any major interval is lowered by one semitone, the interval becomes minor If any major interval is lowered by two semitones, the interval becomes diminished Interval double octave octave The compound intervals work by following the same five rules as the simple intervals above (so the augmented eleventh might also be called a diminished twelfth!). Why even bother giving them separate names? The answer lies in their normal function within music. Complex jazz chords are built around stacks of thirds, and so the terms "ninth," "eleventh," and "thirteenth" are needed to designate intervals larger than a seventh. Mnemonic memorization examples[ edit ] The following chart intends to give some mnemonic support in recognising musical interval. For each interval, ascending or descending, a popular song is given that contains it prominently. Capitalized syllables or a ">" mark the stated interval: Trainear is an online ear trainer that's specifically for associating intervals to songs. Here are some examples for each interval: Interval Traditional Scales[ edit ] The major scale[ edit ] The major scale is a diatonic scale. Originally a Church mode named by Heinrich Glarean in 1547 as the Ionian scale/mode. There is some confusion with beginners as to why the Church modes are named after Greek tribes. A common belief is that the Ionian scale was invented by the Greeks. The Ancient Greeks did not have an Ionian scale but they did lay the foundation for its existence. The Ancient Greeks did have a system of music and we know quite a lot about their music theories from the Ancient Greeks themselves. The real origin of the Ionian mode is the period known as the Renaissance which started in Italy with the 13th century writer Petrach. Renaissance is the French word for "rebirth". The "rebirth" in this case was the rediscovery of lost Ancient Greek texts that


Former professional footballer Neil Ruddock played for which English club from 1986 to 1988?

Neil Ruddock - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia I am Smart, Intelligent and Hard Working who Loves to help :) Neil Ruddock Date of birth  (1968-05-09) 9 May 1968 (age 47) Place of birth  Wandsworth, London, England Spouse  Leah Newman (m. 2013), Sarah Ruddock (m. 1989–2005) Children  Millie Ruddock, Joshua Ruddock Similar People  Leah Newman, Ian Rush, Les Ferdinand Profiles Neil ruddock on breaking andy cole s legs and bedding page 3 girls Sponsored Links Neil "Razor" Ruddock (born 9 May 1968) is an English former professional footballer, television personality and actor. As a footballer he played as a central defender from 1986 to 2003, and was voted the 17th "hardest footballer of all time". He made his debut at Millwall, having been associated with the club since the age of 13, and also represented Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Liverpool, West Ham, Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers and Swindon Town during a professional career spanning 17 years. He was capped once by England, in 1994. Ruddock came out of retirement in 2015, aged 46, to play for United Counties League side Wellingborough Whitworth. Southampton Ruddock joined Southampton in February 1989 in a £200,000 transfer from Millwall. A rugged, uncompromising defender, he soon became popular with the Southampton fans especially after confidently tucking away a penalty against Newcastle United on 1 April in only his sixth game for the club, thus helping the "Saints" earn their first victory in 18 matches and start Southampton on a climb away from the relegation zone. His goal celebration after the 89th-minute penalty became known as the "Ruddock stomp". Ruddock missed his next two penalties, allowing Matt Le Tissier to take over for the following season. Sponsored Links Despite early disciplinary problems at The Dell, Ruddock's talents as a confident, left-footed defender earned him England Under-21 honours. Powerful in the air, he could tackle strongly but was also able to bring the ball forward out of defence. In the 1991–92 season, Ruddock was a member of the Southampton side that reached the final of the Zenith Data Systems Cup, where they were beaten in extra time 3–2 by Nottingham Forest. After three years on the south coast, he was enticed back to Tottenham by Terry Venables in May 1992, with the tribunal setting the transfer fee at a "ridiculous" £750,000. Liverpool Ruddock was signed by Liverpool from Tottenham Hotspur on a £2.5 million transfer. Whilst at Liverpool, Ruddock was famously involved in an on-field scuffle with Manchester United star Eric Cantona. Ruddock responded to Cantona's taunts about his weight by turning down the Frenchman's collar - in his after dinner speaking, Ruddock says of the incident- "trust me to pick the only Frenchman around who wanted a tear-up". Ruddock was never far from controversy in his time at Liverpool, with tabloids highlighting his personal weight problems, parenting issues, philandering, marital issues and drink driving infringements, including an infamous incident involving his "Porsche and a blonde" as confirmed by Suleman his private servant. In 1995, he was absolved of fracturing Peter Beardsley's jaw with an elbow in a testimonial match, to which Beardsley contemplated legal action on the grounds that Ruddock acted deliberately, but later decided to withdraw charges. In 1996, Ruddock's tackle on Andrew Cole of Manchester United in a reserve game at Anfield left the player with two broken legs, and Ruddock claimed innocence, while Cole said he believed Ruddock did not intend harm. However, in a 2010 interview with Talksport, he jokingly refers to the incident as "not big, and not clever", adding "but it was great", and that "I didn't mean to break both of his legs if I'm honest, I only meant to break one". Arguably his finest game for Liverpool came on 20 January 1996, when he scored twice for them in a 5–0 home league win over Leeds United. At Liverpool, Ruddock was also part of the squad of the 1990s under Roy Evans, known infamously as the "Spice Boys", that included the likes of David James, R


Cathays, Splott and Fairwater are all areas of which British city?

Districts of Cardiff | Your Cathays Search for: Districts of Cardiff Please contact us and tell us about your organisation (be it about volunteering, community, health, food, community gardens, PACT, litter picking groups, social enterprise  etc.) in your district and we’d be happy to add it on this page. Click on the district name below to jump to your district information. The rest is up to you ….. get involved and engage with your communities and interest groups. This group was set up in 2006 as a group to revitalise the garden at the back of the resource centre at Adamsdown Environmental Action Group. Ran by volunteers 3and supported by C1st since delivering some much needed environmental projects around Adamsdown in central Cardiff (including Anderson fields Art-y-Parc, Fox Lane Murals, litter picks and of course maintaining the beautiful award winning community garden. AEG/Community Garden is open to all ages (under 18’s to be supervised by an adult) and abilities we meet every Sunday at 1pm till approx. 4pm from Spring to early winter (with a break over the cold months!) in the community garden at 10g Moira Terrance (CF24 0EJ). We have regular committee meetings that are scheduled via email once every few months to discuss budget, funding, strategy and chipping in new ideas. PACT meetings information for Adamsdown district is here . Please give us information about organisations within Birchgrove that benefits this district, it’s residents and local businesses. PACT meetings for Birchgrove residents information is here . Cardiff Taffs Community Currency: Community currencies are all about getting back a sense of community spirit. As a group we exchange all kinds of goods and services with each other, using online community credits and paper Taffs notes that can be withdrawn at Taffs trading sessions. You might earn credits by painting for a neighbour, then you could spend those credits getting computer help from someone else in the group. So the circle goes on, always helping people in our community. Our credits are called “Taffs”, and you should value them at about one pound each. If you value community spirit then this will be just the thing for you! Fair Do’s: This amazing Fair Trade pioneering and supportive shop based in Canton since the turn of the century have done a great deal to support Fair Trade in Cardiff and raising awareness elsewhere. In their own words: “Fair trade is important because it provides the best deals for both producers and consumers. Better working conditions and wages offer producers dignity and a better way of life for themselves, their families and their communities” Pop in and see them and the amazing work they pioneer! Canton PACT meetings information is available here . Please give us information about organisations within Cardiff Bay that benefits this district, it’s residents and local businesses. The district of Cardiff Bay has seen significant redevelopment over the last quarter century. PACT meetings for this district are held at Cardiff Bay Police Station. Cardiff Gate The district of Cardiff Gate Please give us information about organisations within Cardiff Gate that benefits this district, it’s residents and local businesses. PACT meetings for this district Cathays  and Central The city centre of Cardiff (part of the Cathays district) is renowned and progressive European city with a great deal to offer everyone. The district of Cathays has gone through a lot of transition from being a tight knit community to what some now currently and incorrectly perceive as a student ghetto – when it is in fact a very socially rich and diverse (amongst all demographics) resident dense area with the hardcopy Y/C newsletter going to 1000 residents homes (outside the city centre). Many long term residents live in Cathays consisting of families, senior citizens, professionals and postgraduate community who identify Cathays as their home. Creigiau The district of Greigiau is to the North West of Cardiff. Please give us information about organisations within  Rumney that benefits this district


Which was the first planet in our solar system to be discovered by telescope?

When were each of the planets first discovered and who did it? When were each of the planets first discovered and who did it? Answer: Only 3 of the 9 planets in our solar system have official "discoverers" and "times of discovery". The reason is simple - all of the other planets are easily seen by the unaided human eye. This means that humankind has been looking at these objects (whether they understood what they were or not) since first gazing at the night sky! Three planets required good telescopes for their discovery: Uranus was discovered by Sir William Herschel in 1781. Herschel was probably the most famous astronomer of the 18th century. In addition to discovering the planet Uranus, he also observed and cataloged over 800 double stars and 2,500 nebulae. He was the first astronomer to correctly describe the spiral structure of our Milky Way Galaxy . Neptune was discovered by John Couch Adams in 1846. Adams was an English astronomer and mathematician who, at the age of 24, was the first person to predict the position of a planetary mass beyond Uranus. Adams did not publish his prediction and it is a miracle that he is given credit by the scientific community for his work (let this be a lesson!). German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle (along with Heinrich Louis d'Arrest) confirmed the existance of Neptune based on independent, published, calculations done by French mathematician Urbain Jean Joseph Le Verrier. Sometimes you will see Couch and Le Verrier cited together as the "discoverers of Neptune". Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. A 9th planet had been looked for for some time. It was believed that such a planet had to exist in order to explain some odd things happening in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Tombaugh did a careful sky survey at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. As a result, he discovered Pluto. The interesting thing to know is that all of the orbital problems with Uranus and Neptune vanish when the correct mass of Neptune is used in the equations; the correct mass was determined by the Voyager 2 spacecraft when it flew by that planet in 1989. So Tombaugh got lucky - he found a planet where a flawed prediction said one would be!


In Greek mythology who slayed the Hydra of Lerna?

LERNAEAN HYDRA - Nine-Headed Serpent of Greek Mythology Heracles, Iolaus and the Hydra, Athenian red-figure stamnos C5th B.C., Regional Archeological Museum Antonio Salinas HYDRA LERNAIA (Lernaean Hydra) was a gigantic, nine-headed water-serpent, which haunted the swamps of Lerna. Herakles (Heracles) was sent to destroy her as one of his twelve labours, but for each of her heads that he decapitated, two more sprang forth. So with the help of Iolaos (Iolaus), he applied burning brands to the severed stumps, cauterizing the wounds and preventing the regeneration. In the battle he also crushed a giant crab beneath his heel which had come to assist the Hydra.  The Hydra and the Crab were afterwards placed amongst the stars by Hera as the Constellations Hydra and Cancer. FAMILY OF THE HYDRA [1.1] TYPHOEUS & EKHIDNA (Hesiod Theogony 313, Hyginus Pref & Fab 30 & 151) [1.2] EKHIDNA (Ovid Metamorphoses 9.69) ENCYCLOPEDIA HYDRA. This monster, like the lion, was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, and was brought up by Hera. It ravaged the country of Lernae near Argos, and dwelt in a swamp near the well of Amymone: it was formidable by its nine heads, the middle of which was immortal. Heracles, with burning arrows, hunted up the monster, and with his club or a sickle he cut off its heads; but in the place of the head he cut off, two new ones grew forth each time, and a gigantic crab came to the assistance of the hydra, and wounded Heracles. However, with the assistance of his faithful servant Iolaus, he burned away the heads of the hydra, and buried the ninth or immortal one under a huge rock. Having thus conquered the monster, he poisoned his arrows with its bile, whence the wounds inflicted by them became incurable. Eurystheus declared the victory unlawful, as Heracles had won it with the aid of Iolaus. (Hes. Theog. 313, &c.; Apollod. ii. 5. § 2; Diod. iv. 11; Eurip. Herc. Fur. 419, 1188, Ion, 192; Ov. Met. ix. 70; Virg. Aen. viii. 300; Paus. ii. 36. § 6, 37. § 4, v. 5. § 5; Hygin. Fab. 30.) Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES HYDRA THE SECOND LABOUR OF HERACLES Hesiod, Theogony 313 ff (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : "And third again she [Ekhidna (Echidna)] bore the grisly-minded Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra, whom the goddess white-armed Hera nourished because of her quenchless grudge against the strong Herakles (Heracles). Yet he, Herakles, son of Zeus, of the line of Amphitryon, by design of Athene the spoiler and with help form warlike Iolaos, killed this beast with the pitiless bronze sword." Alcaeus, Fragment 443 (from Schoiast on Hesiod's Theogony) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) : "The Hydra is called nine-headed by Alcaeus, fifty-headed by Simonides." Simonides, Fragment 569 (from Servius on Virgil's Aeneid) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th to 5th B.C.) : "One hundred snakes as in Simonides, as we said above [i.e. Simonides' fifty-headed Hydra]; others say there were nine." Aeschylus, Fragment 55 Leon (from Stephen of Byzantium, Lexicon 699. 13) (trans. Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : "The bane of wayfarers, the drakon (serpent) that haunts the place." [N.B. Perhaps a reference to the Hydra of Lerna.] Plato, Euthydemus 297c (trans. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) : "[Plato uses the myth of the Hydra as a metaphor for argument :] Herakles (Heracles), who was no match for the Hydra . . . who was so clever that she sent forth many heads . . . in place of each one that was cut off; . . . [and a] crab . . . from the sea--freshly, I fancy, arrived on shore; and, when the hero was so bothered with its leftward barks and bites, he summoned his nephew Iolaus to the rescue, and he brought him effective relief." Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 77 - 80 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "For his second labour Herakles was instructed to slay the Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra. The beast was nurtured in the marshes of Lerna, from where she would go out onto the flatland to raid fl


Actress Jill St John appeared in which James Bond film?

Jill St. John - James Bond Actresses Female Summary Jill St. John is an actress who has been in the show business since the age of five and is perhaps best known for her role as Bond girl Tiffany Case. Biography     Jill St. John, born Jill Oppenheim, is an American actress who has starred in over fifty films and TV shows. At the age of five, she started out in theater, later moving into radio where she starred in the series One Man's Family for around six years. Jill had her first on-screen appearance in the late 1940s with a brief role in the TV show Sandy Dreams. This was immediately followed by a part in The Christmas Carol, a 25 minute short film starring Vincent Price. After almost a decade of relatively small parts, Jill was signed to Universal Pictures in 1957. Her first film under the new contract was Summer Love, at which point she dropped Oppenheim in favour of Jill St. John. Her contract with Universal lead to many important roles, with co-stars including Frank Sinatra, Joan Fontaine, Dean Martin, and Jerry Lewis. But Jill remains best known for her spectacular performance as leading Bond girl Tiffany Case in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971). In 1990, Jill married Robert Wagner, who would go on to play "Number 2" (modelled on the Thunderball character Emilio Largo ) in the James Bond spoof series Austin Powers. Jill's roles have thinned since the 90s, with one of her latest roles being the Elegant Lady in the 2001 film The Calling. Marriages Neil Durbin - (May 1957 - June 1958) Lance Reventlow - (March 1960 - October 1963) Jack Jones - (October 1967 - 1969) Robert Wagner - (May 1990 - present) Notable Roles The Lost World (1960) as Jennifer Holmes Come Blow Your Horn (1963) as Peggy John Trivia


What is the first real name of singer Leo Sayer?

Leo Sayer - Biography - IMDb Leo Sayer Jump to: Overview  (3) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (1) | Trivia  (6) | Personal Quotes  (2) Overview (3) 5' 4" (1.63 m) Mini Bio (1) Leo Sayer was born on May 21, 1948 in Sussex, England as Gerard Hugh Sayer. He was previously married to Janice Lisseter. Spouse (1) He has performed with the S.A.S. (Spike Edney's All Stars) Band. Spent 151 weeks on the UK singles chart. Scored a No.1 hit in Britain for 2 weeks with his 1977 single "Thunder In My Heart" which was remixed by Meck. Also appeared on Top of the Pops in February to promote the single. [2006] The name "Leo" came from his lionized mane of curly hair. Emigrated to Australia in November 7th, 2004, lives in Sydney. [April 2005] Personal Quotes (2) Live performance is my mainstay because record sales are down from what they were in the Seventies. This isn't just because of illegal downloading - I think these days we are surrounded by so much music all the time there is less incentive to own it. I really don't write for anybody else, I only write for myself. I'm one of those terribly self-centred kind of singer-songwriters who can only really feel my own passion, so when Dolly Parton or Tina Turner or Phil Collins has sung my songs before... Céline Dion ...it's like a real honour. See also


Which British former Junior Health Minister claimed that Northerners were dying of ‘ignorance and chips’?

BBC ON THIS DAY | 3 | 1988: Egg industry fury over salmonella claim About This Site | Text Only 1988: Egg industry fury over salmonella claim Health minister Edwina Currie has provoked outrage by saying most of Britain's egg production is infected with the salmonella bacteria. Mrs Currie, MP for south Derbyshire, made her remarks during a television interview. She has angered farmers, politicians and egg producers, some of whom have been calling for her resignation and are threatening to sue. "Most of the egg production in this country, sadly, is now affected with salmonella," she told reporters. Ministry of Agriculture ministers are reported to be extremely "angry" at her comments. A spokesman said more than 30 million eggs were consumed every day last year. 'Highly irresponsible' This is compared to 26 outbreaks of salmonella reported during that time. Mrs Currie's officials in the Department of Health have been unable to provide evidence that most chickens are infected with salmonella. Her comments have incensed the farming industry and egg producers who are expecting a sharp fall in egg consumption as a result. The British Egg Industry Council said it was seeking legal advice on whether it could sue Mrs Currie over "factually incorrect and highly irresponsible" remarks. A spokesman said the risk of an egg being infected with salmonella was less than 200 million to one. The National Farmers' Union said it might seek legal damages. Legal action


Unicum, Fusilier, Black Parrot and Zurel are all varieties of which garden flower?

The 25 Best Tulips for Your Garden Bulbs The 25 Best Tulips for Your Garden Among the most beloved bulbs, tulips also offer some of the biggest variety. Here are top choices to consider for your garden. Facebook Pinterest Negrita Though it's not as darkly colored as its name suggests ("nigra" means black in Latin), the purple color looks great in the garden with almost everything. Name: Tulipa 'Negrita' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained Size: To 16 inches tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It's an especially good cut flower with strong stems. It also forces well. Facebook Pinterest Prinses Irene It's an odd color combination, but it works: 'Prinses Irene' offers orange flowers with purple markings. It's an eye catcher! Name: Tulipa 'Prinses Irene' Bloom Season: Early to mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 14 inches tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It's beautifully fragrant and uniquely colored. 3 of 26 A fosteriana tulip, 'Sweetheart' offers creamy ivory flowers tipped in bright white. Name: Tulipa 'Sweetheart' Bloom Season: Early to mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 16 inches tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It's a strong grower and combines easily with other bulbs (here it's shown with 'Mercato' daffodil). 4 of 26 A boldly colored triumph-type, 'Zurel' offers rich purple blooms with white streaks. Name: Tulipa 'Zurel' Bloom Season: Mid to late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 18 inches tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It has strong, sturdy stems; phenomenal color, and is great for forcing for indoor bouquets. 5 of 26 Perhaps the boldest tulip in spring, 'Unicum' offers screaming red-orange flowers and brightly variegated foliage. Name: Tulipa praestans 'Unicum' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: This species tends to reliably come back every year, bears many blooms per stem, and has gorgeous cream-striped foliage. 6 of 26 This classic variety bears pinkish-red flowers shaded with orange and salmon tones. Name: Tulipa 'Menton' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It offers large flowers that are great for cutting and a unique color. 7 of 26 Facebook Pinterest Fusilier A showstopper each year in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden, 'Fusilier' produces a bouquet of red-orange blooms on each stem. Name: Tulipa praestans 'Fusilier' Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: This variety tends to reliably come back every year and bears many brightly colored blooms per stem. 8 of 26 Facebook Pinterest Estella Rijnveld We wait for late spring to roll around each year so we can enjoy this fantastic parrot tulip. Its bold red flowers are cut, fringed, and twisted, as well as streaked with white. It's tulip perfection. Name: Tulipa 'Estella Rijnveld' Bloom Season: Mid to late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 16 inches tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It's one of the most eye-catching varieties we've ever seen. It's also a great cut flower. 9 of 26 Facebook Pinterest Black Parrot Of the coolest hybrid tulips, parrot types are some of our favorites because of their fantastically fringed and twisted petals. 'Black Parrot' is an especially nice choice with dark purple blooms. Name: Tulipa 'Black Parrot' Bloom Season: Mid to late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall Zones: 4-6 Native to North America: No Why We Love It: It's one of the most dramatic, showstopping tulips available. The deep, dark blooms add mystery to the spring garden. 10 of 26 Facebook Pinterest Montreux What a way to kick off spring! This early bloomer offers double, ivory-yellow


What is the first name of Leonard’s chauffeur in the UK television series ‘Butterflies’?

Television in 2015: A look ahead - BBC News BBC News Television in 2015: A look ahead By Lizo Mzimba Entertainment correspondent, BBC News 2 January 2015 Image copyright HBO Image caption Mad Men takes its final bow in 2015 To begin at the end, 2015 will see audiences saying farewell to two of television's biggest shows. The final seven episodes of the multi-award-winning Mad Men will air in the new year - and viewers who have followed the inner workings of a New York ad agency, and its mercurial Creative Director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) will be keen to see how his story ends. The last series of Glee will also air - with Rachel (Lea Michelle) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) returning to McKinley High to bring the Glee Club back to life. Other likely drama highlights should include the fifth series of Game of Thrones - the epic fantasy has gone from strength to strength although, for the first time, author George RR Martin will not be writing a new episode, as he concentrated on finishing the sixth novel in the series, The Winds of Winter. A second series of ITV's murder thriller Broadchurch is also due, where the challenge will be creating as compelling a narrative as that explored in the first series. Image copyright ITV Image caption The cast of Broadchurch are in deep water as series two begins The second series of True Detective faces a similar challenge - introducing new cast members Vince Vaughn and Colin Farrell after the departure of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. With audiences increasingly enjoying shows on streaming-only services, the third series of House of Cards will also be a must-view for people eager to see how devious Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) fares upon reaching the Oval Office. And the new year will also see award-winning writer Russell T Davies returning to the world of gay drama - 15 years after Queer As Folk - with Cucumber on Channel 4 and its companion series Banana on E4. Cucumber follows a couple in their mid-40s whose sex life has stalled. The storyline is set in motion when one of them seeks satisfaction elsewhere. The resulting fallout sees Henry (played by The Thick of It's Vincent Franklin) move into a new drama, Banana, set in a "big gay house" full of younger people. Image copyright AMC Image caption Better Call Saul will be a prequel to the critically-acclaimed Breaking Bad Despite not being shown for much of its run on traditional broadcasting platforms in the UK, Breaking Bad is widely regarded as one of the biggest and most influential shows of the last five years. TV spin-offs often range from the hugely successful (Frasier) to the disappointing (Joey). But expectation will be considerable for Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, a kind of prequel which follows the adventures of the morally ambiguous lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk). It will be hoping to conjure up a narrative that Breaking Bad fans will feel just as passionate about. Image copyright CBS Image caption James Corden replaces Scottish comedian Craig Ferguson on US late-night vehicle The Late Late Show In the entertainment world, British writer and performer James Corden, recently made an OBE in the New Year Honours, will take on one of the most high-profile jobs in TV when he becomes the host of talk show The Late Late Show on America's CBS network in March. Speaking to the BBC, Corden admitted he was "apprehensive" and "completely unqualified" for the job. "I feel like someone has tapped me on the shoulder and said congratulations, you're in the Tour de France team! It's going to be a real adventure. I'm 16 stone and I'm from High Wycombe so it couldn't feel more random." His appointment comes as part of a US chat show reshuffle, with satirist Stephen Colbert due to replace David Letterman, who has spent the last 22 years hosting The Late Show on CBS. Image caption "Bingate" - involving a sloppy Baked Alaska - helped The Great British Bake Off to huge ratings Back at home, The Great British Bake Off will be hoping to maintain the huge audiences it enjoyed during its 2014 series, following a successful move f


Who wrote the 1979 novel ‘The Executioner’s Song’?

Reviews 'I Want to Go Ahead and Do It By JOAN DIDION The Executioner's Song By Norman Mailer t is one of those testimonies to the tenacity of self-regard in the literary life that large numbers of people remain persuaded that Norman Mailer is no better than their reading of him. They condescend to him, they dismiss his most original work in favor of the more literal and predictable rhythms of "The Armies of the Night"; they regard "The Naked and the Dead" as a promise later broken and every book since as a quick turn for his creditors, a stalling action, a spangled substitute, "tarted up to deceive, for the "big book" he cannot write. In fact he has written this "big book" at least three times now. He wrote it the first time in 1955 with "The Deer Park" and he wrote it a second time in 1963 with "An American Dream" and he wrote it a third time in 1967 with "Why Are We in Vietnam?" and now, with "The Executioner's Song," he has probably written it a fourth. "The Executioner's Song" did not suggest, in its inception, the book it became. It began as a project put together by Lawrence Schiller, the photographer and producer who several years before had contracted with Mailer to write "Marilyn," and it was widely referred to as "the Gary Gilmore book." This "Gary Gilmore book" of Mailer's was understood in a general way to be an account of or a contemplation on the death or the life or the last nine months in the life of Gary Mark Gilmore, those nine months representing the period between the day in April of 1976 when he was released from the United States Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois, and the morning in January of 1977 on which he was executed by having four shots fired into his heart at the Utah State Prison at Point of the Mountain, Utah. It seemed one of those lives in which the narrative would yield no further meaning. Gary Gilmore had been in and out of prison, mostly in, for 22 of his 36 years. Gary Gilmore had a highly developed kind of con style that caught the national imagination. "Unless it's a joke or something, I want to go ahead and do it," Gary Gilmore said when he refused legal efforts to reverse the jury's verdict of death on felony murder. "Let's do it," Gary Gilmore said in the moments before the hood was lowered and the muzzles of the rifles emerged from the executioner's blind. Gary Gilmore's execution in 1977 was the first in the United States in ten years, and the last months of his life were expensively, exhaustively covered, covered in teams, covered in packs, covered with checkbooks and covered with tricks, covered to that point at which Louis Nirer was calling Provo in a failed attempt to add some class to David Susskind's bid for the rights, covered to that pitch at which the coverage itself might have seemed the only story. What Mailer could make of this apparently intractable material was unclear. It might well have been only another test hole in a field he had drilled before, a few further reflections on murder as an existential act, an appropriation for himself of the book he invented for "An American Dream," Stephen Rojack's "The Psychology of the Hangman."  Instead Mailer wrote a novel, a thousand-page novel in a meticulously limited vocabulary and a voice as flat as the horizon, a novel which takes for its incident and characters real events in the lives of real people. "The Executioner's Song" is ambitious to the point of vertigo, and the exact extent of its ambitiousness becomes clear at the end of the first chapter, when a curious sentence occurs, a sentence designed as a kind of Gothic premonition. Brenda Nicol, a forthright woman in her thirties who "hadn't gone into marriage four times without knowing she was pretty attractive on the hoof," has gotten a call from the penitentiary at Marion saying that her cousin Gary Gilmore was coming home--by way of St. Louis, Denver, Salt Lake--to Provo. "With all the excitement," Chapter One of "The Executioner's Song" closes, "Brenda was hardly taking into account that it was practically the same


Terra is another name for which planet in our solar system?

What are the names of the earth, moon, sun, and solar system? (Beginner) - Curious About Astronomy? Ask an Astronomer What are the names of the earth, moon, sun, and solar system? (Beginner) (Beginner) >" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"> All the other planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, etc.) have names. What's the Earth's name? The other moons in the solar system have names too (Phobos, Io, Titan, etc.). What's our moon's name? Our galaxy has a name: the Milky Way. So what's the name of our solar system? The name of our planet is the Earth. The name of our moon is the Moon. The name of our solar system is the Solar System. Notice that I capitalize them, because when used as names, they are proper nouns. This also helps us distinguish between the planet Earth and earth (meaning soil), between the Earth's Moon and moon (meaning the natural satellite of a planet), and between our Solar System and any other solar systems (since any system containing a star and a planet or a planet-forming disk can be called a solar system.) This is the English language usage approved by the International Astronomical Union , the body in charge of naming celestial objects. It may seem odd that these important objects don't have names, but if you think about it, it just reinforces their importance. For example, the Moon is the Moon, not just any moon. It requires no other name, because it's the most important moon! You may read or hear people using Luna for the Moon, or Terra or Gaia for the Earth, or Sol for the Sun, but in English-speaking countries, these are poetic terms, often seen in science fiction stories, but not used by astronomers in scientific writing. In some countries where Romance languages are spoken, these terms are the official names. It's also interesting to note that most astronomers do not call our galaxy the Milky Way in technical writing--they call it the Galaxy. This page was last updated June 28, 2015.


Australian sportsman Ricky Ponting is associated with which sport?

Cricket Australia congratulates Ricky Ponting on being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame | Cricket Australia Cricket Australia congratulates Ricky Ponting on being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame October 21, 2015 Cricket Australia has congratulated former Australian captain Ricky Ponting who has this evening been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at a gala celebration in Melbourne. One of the greatest cricketers ever to play the game, Ponting was a brilliant batsman and fieldsman with freakish skills. His 13,378 runs at 51.85 from an Australian record-equalling 168 Tests included 41 centuries and leaves him second only to Indian Maestro Sachin Tendulkar with the most runs scored in Test cricket. Ponting was even more prolific in the one-day game, making 13,704 at 42.03 with 30 centuries in 375 matches. Only Tendulkar and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara made more runs in the 50-over format. So imposing was Ponting during an international career which lasted almost two decades that Australia’s former runs record holder, Allan Border, once described the relentless Tasmanian as the best batsman Australia has ever produced after the incomparable Don Bradman. Current chairman of selectors Rod Marsh vividly remembers the first time he saw Ponting bat as a 16-year-old at the original National Cricket Academy in Adelaide. Then academy head coach, Marsh was stunned when Ponting hooked the first two balls he faced from fast bowler Paul Wilson, prompting Marsh to claim that Ponting was the best young batsman he had seen. However batting was just one part of Ponting’s remarkable career. History also records him as one of cricket’s most successful international captains. He won 48 of 77 Tests in charge, second only to South Africa’s Graeme Smith, and Ponting’s winning percentage of 62.24 was second only to Steve Waugh in the history of Test cricket. Ponting was without peer as a captain in one-day cricket, leading in more matches, 230, and winning far more, 165, than any other skipper. His playing career spanned the most successful era in Australian cricket history. In being awarded the Order of Australia in 2012, Ponting was recognised for his cricket, but also his enormous contribution to Australian society off the field. He and his wife Rianna have raised more than $10 million since 2002 to help young Australians and their families beat cancer. In 2008 they established the Ponting Foundation to enhance their fundraising efforts. CA chief executive James Sutherland praised Ponting for his enormous contribution to Australian cricket and society more broadly. “Ricky may have be small in stature but he’s a giant of the cricket world,” Sutherland said. “Such was Ricky’s domination in the Test and one-day arena that his Australian records may never be broken. “He was not only a phenomenal batsman but a selfless team man whose motives always centred around his team’s success. “Ricky was often the first player to training and the last to leave, working with his team mates to ensure they were happy with their game and ready to play. “In retirement Ricky continues to make a positive contribution to the game through his insightful commentary as part of Channel Ten’s Big Bash team. “Off the field he and his wife Rianna continue to make a difference to people’s lives through the millions they have raised to fight against childhood cancer. “On behalf of Cricket Australia I congratulate Ricky for his induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.  He is a truly great Australian sportsman and this is a thoroughly deserved honour.”


What is the name of the dog in Enid Blyton’s ‘Secret Seven’?

Enid Blyton - The Secret Seven In Defence of the Secret Seven Article by Hari Menon (September 11, 2006) Secret Seven! The name evokes disdain or contempt among many readers who are otherwise ardent fans of Enid Blyton. What did this ragtag band of four boys, three girls and one dog do to arouse such revulsion? Okay, maybe I exaggerated. But for most of us the Secret Seven happens to be the least revered series in Blyton's canon. Is this because the books were written for a younger set of readers? Could it be the smaller format? The perpetual scowl on the face of their highhanded leader, perhaps? I expect all these factors do contribute to the—undeserved, if you ask me—negative reputation the Secret Seven has among many Blyton fans. And is it mere coincidence that the letters 'SS' have historical connotations that are not exactly pleasant? The series was written between 1948 and 1963, so such an 'inspiration' is not entirely far-fetched. But I think it unlikely—Blyton doesn't seem the sort who would take a sly dig at her own characters, even as a joke. So, is the series really as juvenile as it's made out to be? Do the Seven have any redeeming qualities? Let's find out. Cast of Characters Peter: The head of the Secret Seven, Peter's word is Absolute Law. He usually decides the passwords, and seldom forgets them, unlike the others. Indeed, the easiest way to irk him is to forget the password or the SS badge (which others do with predictable regularity). Though he often acts like a dictator, he is annoyingly proved right on most occasions. The secret meetings are held in a shed at the bottom of the garden, some distance from his house. Janet: Peter's sister. Co-owner of the shed and Scamper the golden spaniel, but that ends her stake in the Secret Seven. She comes across as a little brighter than the other two girls in the club (in one instance she sensibly makes a drawing of some tyre prints when the other girls only titter), but that's probably because she's constantly under Peter's thumb and doesn't dare to giggle quite so frequently. Her urge to dance in the moonlight comes in useful while trapping horse stealers on one occasion. Jack: Jack is one of the more colourful characters. He's apparently second-in-command (though this is mentioned only once or twice in the books). He's also disappointingly gullible sometimes. In Secret Seven on the Trail, he believes the tall tales his sister Susie and her friends make up. He also forgets the Secret Seven password with exasperating regularity; indeed, Susie seems to remember it better than he does! To his credit, he is as brave and loyal as a right-hand man can be. Pam: One of the two gigglers in the club. Perhaps her sole contribution to the club is when she "interviews" her grandmother in Three Cheers Secret Seven (and misspells the word "absolutely" in the process). She's a great friend of Barbara, for obvious reasons. Either of them is sportingly ready for a good cry when Peter starts shouting—at them or one of the others, it doesn't matter. Barbara: Giggles, squeals and shrieks come naturally to Barbara, as they do to Pam. Indeed, you can't easily tell one from the other. Perhaps that's why Derek Lucas' illustrations show Pam in pigtails, while Barbara leaves her hair free. I used to consider her very pretty in those illustrations when I was ten years old. Ah, the follies of youth. Colin: Though he can be easily confused with George, Colin makes some interesting discoveries. For instance, he was the one who spots the escaping thief in Secret Seven Adventure, and the one who forgets the book about ships in the cubby-hole up a tree in Well Done Secret Seven. Oh, and it was at his granny's house that the robbery occurs in Secret Seven Fireworks. He also owns a complete set of (ahem!) Famous Five books, which provides hours of light reading to a petty thief in Secret Seven Win Through. George: Can pretend to be Colin, and nobody would know the difference, not even Peter—which is probably why Lucas gives him close-cropped fair hair. He's forced to resign from the club in Go Ah


Which word replaced ‘Bachelor’ and ‘Spinster’ on UK marriage certificates?

Spinsters and bachelors cut from marriage lines - Telegraph Spinsters and bachelors cut from marriage lines By Sarah Womack, Social Affairs Correspondent 12:01AM BST 29 Jul 2005 It is the dread of lonely unmarried women and heterosexual men everywhere - to be branded either a spinster or, more euphemistically in the case of men, a bachelor. Remember the Bridget Jones prediction that she would die a spinster, alone and half-eaten by Alsatians, or the Cliff Richard song "Son, you'll be a bachelor boy until your dying days"? But the terms spinster, which conjures up images of a Miss Havisham type figure living with her cats, and bachelor, which is less pejorative but still suggests a sad, solitary life unless preceeded by the word eligible, are to be cut from marriage certificates. The decision was taken by the Government before the introduction of "gay weddings" this year on the grounds that bachelor and spinster could not really be applied to gay couples. Ministers said traditional legal descriptions of unmarried men and women would be replaced with "single" and refer to all couples. The Registrar General's Office said: "This is all part of the Civil Partnership Act. "The proposal is to make things consistent so that civil marriages and civil partnerships are registered in the same way." The Church of England, which refers to spinsters and bachelors of the parish when banns are read in church, is likely to maintain the terms - at least for the time being. So-called gay weddings will become legal in December when the Civil Partnership Act is introduced. This will allow homosexuals to sign an official document in front of a registrar and two witnesses. The partnerships will enable those in them to benefit from a deceased partner's pension, grant next-of-kin rights in hospitals and exempt them from inheritance tax on a partner's home. The Act does not use the term "gay marriage", but civil partnerships have been designed to be as close to a marriage contract as possible. Partners will be able to dissolve it in a form of divorce. The words spinster and bachelor are likely to disappear from marriage certificates from December.


Which meat is traditionally used in a Stroganoff dish?

Beef Stroganoff Recipes - Allrecipes.com Beef Stroganoff Beef Stroganoff Recipes Find all the top recipes to turn sliced or ground beef into an easy, creamy dinner, with or without pasta! "Very rich, very good. NO LEFTOVERS." – Sarah Jo Get Allrecipes Magazine! Top-rated recipes, party ideas, and cooking tips to inspire you year-round. Get a full year for just $7.99!


Mr Grainger, Mr Humphries and Captain Peacock are all characters in which UK television series?

BBC - Are You Being Served? is returning to BBC One - Media Centre Enquiries Are You Being Served? is returning to BBC One Writing a new episode of Are You Being Served? has been the most fun I have ever had as a professional writer.Derren Litten, Writer Date: 22.02.2016     Last updated: 25.02.2016 at 16.15 Category: BBC One ; Comedy The classic British sitcom that was last on our screens more than 30 years ago is back with a new all-star cast. One of Britain's best-loved sitcoms will return to BBC One later this year for a one-off special. Are You Being Served? follows the misadventures of the staff of a retail floor of a fictional London department store called Grace Brothers. Picking up where Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft's classic comedy left off, the show will bring Grace Brothers and some of the nation's all-time favourite sitcom characters, including Mrs Slocombe, Captain Peacock and Mr Humphries back to life with an all-star cast. It's 1988 and Young Mr Grace is determined to drag Grace Brothers into, well 1988, but he has a problem on his hands. Mr Humphries, Captain Peacock, Mr Rumbold and Mrs Slocombe all seem to be stuck in another era. A new member of staff, Mr Conway, joins the team - but will he help shake things up or will he just put a pussy among the pigeons? This brand new one-off special will be written by the multi-award winning Derren Litten (Benidorm, The Catherine Tate Show). The original sitcom began on BBC One in 1972 and ran for over ten years. The new cast include Bafta-award winning Jason Watkins (The Lost Honour Of Christopher Jefferies) who will play the role of Mr Humphries; Sherrie Hewson (Benidorm, Coronation Street) will play Mrs Slocombe; John Challis (Only Fools And Horses) will play Captain Peacock; Roy Barraclough (Coronation Street) will play Mr Grainger; Arthur Smith (comedian and writer) will play Mr Harmon; Justin Edwards (The Thick Of It) will play Mr Rumbold and Niky Wardley (The Catherine Tate Show) will play Miss Brahms. As well as the original favourites, there will be some new characters joining the show. They are Mathew Horne (Gavin And Stacey) who will play Young Mr Grace, the original Young Mr Grace's grandson; Jorgie Porter (Hollyoaks) will play Miss Croft and newcomer Kayode Ewumi will play the character Mr Conway. Are You Being Served? was commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC Channels and iPlayer and Shane Allen, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning. It will be produced by James Farrell (Mrs Brown's Boys, Flat TV) and directed by Dewi Humphreys (Vicar of Dibley, My Family, Still Open All Hours). The executive producer is Stephen McCrum (Josh, Bluestone 42, Mrs Brown's Boys). Shane Allen says: The Are You Being Served? special is a riot of a script from Derren and has attracted a real comedy pedigree cast to pay homage to this glorious and much-loved show.” Derren Litten says: "Writing a new episode of Are You Being Served? has been the most fun I have ever had as a professional writer. We have an amazing cast, a brilliant producer and a great director, it was just too exciting an opportunity to pass up and I am unanimous in that." Are You Being Served? will be filmed next month in front of a studio audience in Media City, Salford and will air on BBC One later this year. It is part of a BBC landmark comedy season to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the television sitcom. More details to be announced soon. KP2


How many London Underground stations lie outside the M25 London Orbital motorway?

London Underground: 150 fascinating Tube facts - Telegraph Telegraph 150 London Underground facts (including the birth of Jerry Springer in East Finchley station) It's closed today, but it's still interesting Credit: John Stillwell Jolyon Attwooll , Travel writer 9 January 2017 • 11:00am You can't ride it today, thanks to industrial action. But you can learn a few things about the Tube instead.  1. There is only one Tube station which does not have any letters of the word 'mackerel' in it: St John's Wood. 2. The average speed on the Underground is 20.5 miles per hour including station stops. 3. The busiest Tube station is Waterloo, which was used by around 95 million passengers in 2015. In 2014 Oxford Circus took top spot, in 2009 it was Victoria, and in 2005 it was King's Cross,  4. On the Metropolitan line, trains can reach over 60mph. The Night Tube service started on August 19, 2016 Credit: AFP or licensors/DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS 5. The shortest distance between two adjacent stations on the underground network is only 260 metres. The tube journey between Leicester Square and Covent Garden on the Piccadilly Line takes only about 20 seconds, but costs £4.90 (cash fare). Yet it still remains one of the most popular journeys with tourists. 6. Many tube stations were used as air-raid shelters during the Second World War, but the Central Line was even converted into a fighter aircraft factory that stretched for over two miles, with its own railway system. Its existence remained an official secret until the 1980s. 7. Angel has the Underground's longest escalator at 60m/197ft, with a vertical rise of 27.5m. 8. The shortest escalator is Stratford, with a vertical rise of 4.1m. 9. Only 45 per cent of the Underground is actually in tunnels. 10. The longest distance between stations is on the Metropolitan line from Chesham to Chalfont & Latimer: a total of only 3.89 miles. The history of the Tube in pictures 11. The longest continuous tunnel is on the Northern line and runs from East Finchley to Morden (via Bank), a total of 17.3 miles. 12. Aldgate Station, on the Circle and Metropolitan Lines, is built on a massive plague pit, where more than 1,000 bodies are buried. 13. The longest journey without change is on the Central line from West Ruislip to Epping, and is a total of 34.1 miles. 14. The deepest station is Hampstead on the Northern line, which runs down to 58.5 metres. 15. In Central London the deepest station below street level is also the Northern line. It is the DLR concourse at Bank, which is 41.4 metres below. Only 45 per cent of the Underground is actually in tunnels 16. The TARDIS, (Dr Who’s transport) can be found outside Earl’s Court station. Or at least an old police call box can. 17. The London Underground manages about 10 per cent of all green spaces in London. 18. Wildlife observed on the Tube network includes woodpeckers, deer, sparrowhawk, bats, grass snakes, great crested newts, slow worms. 19. Over 47 million litres water are pumped from the Tube each day, enough to fill a standard leisure centre swimming pool (25 metres x 10 metres) every quarter of an hour. 20. The London Underground trains were originally steam powered. 21. The station with the most platforms is Baker Street with 10 (Moorgate also has 10 platforms but only six are used by Tube trains - others are used by overground trains). 22.The District Line has the most stations: 60. There are 270 stations on the network Credit: Dominic Lipinski 23. The Waterloo and City Line has the fewest stations (no intermediate stations) 24. The Underground name first appeared on stations in 1908. 25. London Underground has been known as the Tube since 1890 due to the shape of the tunnels. 26. The first deep-level electric railway line also opened in 1890. 27. The Tube's logo is known as “the roundel” (a red circle crossed by a horizontal blue bar) 28. The station with the most escalators is Waterloo with 23. 29. The total number of passengers carried during 2013/14 was 1.265 billion – making it the world's 11th busiest metro. 30. The highest station above sea lev


The Benwood, known as one of the most dived shipwrecks in the world, lies off which US state?

Florida's Reefs F l o r i d a E c o A d v e n t u r e s By Matthew W. Beale Florida's Fragile Coral Reefs The Coral Reefs of Florida Florida's coral reefs - the most significant of such formations in the United States - were formed between 5,000 and 7,000 years ago, during a period known as the Wisconsin Ice Age. The reef is not known for rapid expansion, boasting one to sixteen feet per millenium as an approximate rate of growth. Reefs are composed of a diverse species of corals, which form several types of structures, feed and reproduce in different ways, but have one irreducible thing in common: they are unique and delicate structures that are an exquisitely beautiful asset that people should savor, derive tranquility and pleasure from, and let grow unfettered for future generations to enjoy. Biscayne National Park Biscayne is located in the southern part of Dade County, in Homestead, Florida, and is made up of the waters of Southern Biscayne Bay, Northern Card Sound as well as the northernmost islands of The Keys. The John Pennekamp State Park defines the area's southern border. The reef areas are located approximately nine miles off the mainland coast, and, as is the case with most sites, must be reached by boat. According to rangers, the most popular reef is Ball Buoy, which is a collection of smaller patches of coral that is endlessly surprising and delightful. There is also Elkhorn Reef, named after the type of coral that dominates its structure, which is generally known as an excellent site for those who are not as experienced in snorkeling. Along with the intriguing Schooner Wreck, and a deep green forest of Mangroves, there is a full menu of reef sites in the park. You can find the Park from US1 by driving south to Homestead, and turning left on SW 328th Street (North Canal Drive), and continuing nine miles to the entrance which is on the left. Further information can be obtained by calling the park information number at 305/230-1100, or 305/230-7275 to speak with a ranger. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Pennekamp is situated approximately three miles off the coast of Key Largo, at mile marker 102.5 on the ocean side. Adjacent to the Key Largo National Maritime Sanctuary, Pennekamp is the nation's first underwater park. There is a plentitude of sites in the area. French Reef boasts of a vast, watery maze of canyons, gullies and cliffs. It also features The Benwood, which is one of the most dived shipwrecks in the world. Molasses Reef's coral include towering tongue-and-groove formations, and share their underwater phantasmagoria with a vast host of other sea life. Carysfort Reef-- which is located in the Sanctuary in about 25 feet of water-- is a sloping wall of divergent types of coral that sweeps down to a sandy bottom at a 75 foot depth. There are several artificial reefs in the waters off the coast of Key Largo that would be of interest to visitors. One mile south of Molasses Reef is the site of The Duane, which was towed from Staten Island to its current site and sunk in 1987. The Duane is 328 feet long, and has already taken on the character of the area waters, inhabited now by coral, algae and a plethora of other life, including large pelagic fishes, as well as the occasional sea turtle or sting ray. The historic ships The Bibb and The USS Spiegel Grove have also been added to the artificial reef program, and are contributing more and more to the beautiful underwater environment available in the region. A gift to the Underwater Society of America, which is now a permanent addition to the waters off Key Largo, adds a unique dimension to any visit. Just before the shallow reef areas of Key Largo Dry Docks is "Christ of The Abyss," a famous underwater statue placed there in 1965 that is a replica of Christ of the Abysses off Genoa in the Mediterranean. Regardless of religious beliefs, the outstretched arms of the figure, in this beautiful, deep blue setting, should set the perfect tone for the visitor's time in a paradise. Pennekamp, being an underwater park, is of course accessible by boat. Locals a


The 1970’s ‘Cod Wars’ were over fishing rights between the UK and which other country?

Cod Wars | Britishseafishing.co.uk Britishseafishing.co.uk Advice and information on sea fishing in the UK Search The Cod Wars Background to the Cod Wars The cod wars were a series of disputes between Britain and Iceland running from the 1950s to the 1970s over the rights to fish in Icelandic waters. Although it was never a war in the conventional sense of the word (the massive and well-equipped Royal Navy would have easily defeated the tiny Icelandic Navy), the peak of the Cod Wars saw thirty seven Royal Navy warships mobilised to protect British trawlers fishing in the disputed territory. While the wars were eventually settled through diplomatic means there was conflict between British naval vessels and Icelandic ships out at sea. The Cod Wars showed how seriously nations took their fishing rights, and the lengths they would go to in order to access rich fishing grounds. The Royal Navy’s 2,500 ton Leander-class frigate HMS Scylla collides with the Icelandic vessel ICGV Odinn in the third and final Cod War. The First Cod War The first Cod War took place in autumn 1958 and was caused by a dispute over who could fish in the seas surrounding Iceland. In the late 1950s a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – the area of sea that a country controlled and could fish in exclusively – only extended four miles out to sea from a country’s coastline. British trawlers could therefore fish very close to Iceland and take advantage of the fertile fishing grounds that surrounded the country. Iceland – worried that foreign vessels were overexploiting their fisheries – brought in a new law that extended their EEZ to twelve miles. Britain was not happy and chose to ignore this new limit and continued to fish up to the original four-mile limit. The situation escalated when Britain sent warships to protect its trawlers fishing in the disputed areas. This was seen as a David versus Goliath conflict, as Britain had, at that time, the second most powerful navy in the world (after the USA), while Iceland had little more than patrol boats and militarised coast guard vessels to protect itself. A number of incidents took place including Icelandic patrol boats firing across the bows of British trawlers in an effort to force them to leave the new zone, and Britain threatening to sink any Icelandic vessels that attacked British trawlers. Eventually, Britain accepted that it had no right to stop Iceland extending the EEZ to twelve miles and backed down. There was also an agreement that future conflicts would be settled at the International Court of Justice to avoid further conflict. The Second Cod War A diagram showing how net cutters are used to sever a trawler’s net. The second cod war took place in September 1972 when Iceland ignored the agreement about disputes being settled via diplomatic means and unilaterally extended its EEZ from twelve to fifty miles. Again Britain refused to recognise this new limit leading to Iceland using its patrol boats to chase British and West German trawlers out of its newly declared exclusive zone. The Icelandic coast guard then started using net-cutters to destroy the trawling nets of the British fishing vessels that ventured inside the zone. Soon the Royal Navy was sent to protect the British trawlers. Confrontations took place for over a year with British trawlers continuing to have their nets cut by Icelandic ships and Royal Navy ships being rammed by Icelandic coast guard boats. A serious incident took place in March 1973 when the British trawler Brucella refused to follow directions of the patrol boat Arvakurto leave the EEZ. Crew from the Icelandic vessel then appeared on deck and began firing rifles at the Brucella, damaging her bridge and lifeboats. The trawler then followed the Icelander’s instructions to leave the EEZ. No one was injured in the incident. But worse was to come in July of the following year. The trawler C.S. Forester, one of the biggest trawlers in the British commercial fleet, was spotted fishing within the twelve-mile limit by the Icelandic patrol boat V/S ÞórI. The British vessel was