Which building in Moscow started life as an insurance office and later became the headquarters of the KGB ?

The KGB’s Old Headquarters Lives On | The American Spectator The KGB’s Old Headquarters Lives On December 11, 2014, 9:00 am Total: 0 Email Moscow Red Square is one of the world’s most iconic locales. Dominated by the Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and GUM Department Store, the space looks little different from Soviet times. While Lenin’s mausoleum remains, any hint of menace is gone. Indeed, even during the worst of the USSR the square was more symbolic than threatening. For the most part no one went to the Kremlin to die. Very different, however, is Lubyanka, just a short walk up Teatralny Proezd past the Bentley and Maserati dealerships.  In the late nineteenth century 15 insurance companies congregated on Great Lubyanka Street, prospering as the great czarist despotism entered the industrial age. The Rossia agency, one of Russia’s largest, completed an office building in 1900. Excess space was turned into apartments and leased out to retailers selling everything from books to beds. The building was profitable, but 14 years later in his worst single decision the foolish czar led his country into the abyss of World War I. In 1917 he was ousted by a moderate revolution, which in turn was overthrown by the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Lenin. They nationalized insurance companies along with much of the rest of the economy, and switched Russia’s capital from Petrograd to Moscow. As a result, the Rossia building at No. 2 Great Lubyanka Street became the new regime’s property. And the new secret police, known as the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission for Combating Counter-Revolution and Sabotage, or Cheka, evicted the rest of the tenants and settled in. The building was renovated and merged with a new structure behind the original one. The most important “improvements” were made inside, however, such as increasing prison space. With further reconstruction and expansion the building took its present form. The KGB added two more buildings over the years. After all, the secret police had much to do: a dictatorship’s work is never done. The first Cheka head was Felix Dzerzhinsky, a Russian Pole born in 1877. He conducted the infamous “Red Terror,” what he called a “fight to the finish” against the Bolsheviks’ political opponents. As part of that campaign he personally approved the torture and murder of thousands. He wrote: “Kill without investigation, so that they will be afraid.” And the agency did so. Of course, not every prisoner was murdered, so the first concentration camps were established in 1918. In a testament to Dzerzhinsky’s effectiveness, the Nazis modeled their repressive security apparatus, most notably the Gestapo, after the Cheka. After his death in 1926 Dzerzhinsky was buried between the Kremlin and Lenin’s mausoleum. Grand Lubyanka Street was renamed Dzerzhinsky Street. Observed J. Michael Waller: “So total was the KGB’s devotion to Dzerzhinsky that his iconography proliferated in the form of official sculptures, anniversaries, quotations, and poetry—even the annual celebration of the Cheka chief’s birthday, September 11.” A grand statue of Dzerzhinsky, weighing 15 tons, was erected in a circle in front of the Cheka headquarters. After all, the party owed its rule to repression, exemplified by the secret police. Even as other buildings were constructed to handle the burgeoning repression the director, including such brutal notables as Lavrenty Beria under Joseph Stalin and Yuri Andropov under Leonid Brezhnev, stayed in Lubyanka, occupying an office on the third floor overlooking the square and later Dzerzhinsky’s statue. The agency’s name changed over the years. The Cheka became the GPU, OGPU, NKVD and later the KGB. After the latter was dissolved the building went to the Border Guard Service, later absorbed by the Federal Security Service (FSB), responsible for foreign intelligence. Today Lubyanka looks non-threatening, a yellowish color and architectural style less severe than the harshly grandiose Stalinist architecture seen throughout the city. The KGB faced its greatest challenge in the Gor


In Greek mythology, Stheno and Euryale were the immortal sisters of whom ?

Greek Mythology: Gorgon :- Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa Greek Mythology Gorgon :- Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa                       Gorgons                                             In Greek mythology, Gorgons or Gorgones were described as three powerful female monsters creatures, the daughters of Phorcys and Ceto . The names of the three Gorgons were Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. Of the three sisters only Medusa was mortal, and so it was her head which King Polydektes of Seriphos commanded the young hero Perseus to fetch.  Stheno:  In Greek mythology, Stheno was the eldest of the Gorgons, vicious female monsters with brass hands, sharp fangs and "hair" made of living venomous snakes. She and her sister Euryale were both immortal, and the third sister, Medusa, was mortal. Of the three Gorgons, she was known to be the most independent and ferocious, having killed more men than both of her sisters combined.  Stheno According to some versions,, Stheno was transformed into a Gorgon because of standing with her sister Medusa, who was raped by the sea god Poseidon in the Temple of Athena. Athena baring no emotion and finding no fault in Poseidon, was furious with Medusa. As a punishment, Medusa was changed into a terrible monster, along with her sisters Stheno and Euryale. Stheno tends to be depicted as a thin gorgon monster with red snakes curling around her head instead of hair.  Euryale: In Greek mythology,  Euryale was the second eldest one of the Gorgons, three vicious sisters with brass hands, sharp fangs, and hair of living, venomous snakes. She and her sister Stheno, were immortal, where as Medusa was mortal.  Euryale According to some versions,, Euryale was transformed into a Gorgon because of standing with her sister Medusa, who was raped by the sea god Poseidon in the Temple of Athena. Athena baring no emotion and finding no fault in Poseidon, was furious with Medusa. As a punishment, Medusa was changed into a terrible monster, along with her sisters Stheno and Euryale.  In some version, Euryale  had the ability to turn anyone to stone with her gaze. In many stories, Euryale is noted for her bellowing cries, particularly in the tale of Medusa's death at Perseus' hands. Medusa:  In Greek mythology, Medusa was originally a ravishingly beautiful maiden.  Poseidon had raped her in Athena's temple, the enraged Athena transformed Medusa's beautiful hair to serpents and made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone. Sea god, Poseidon seducing Medusa in Athena's temple  In some versions, Medusa was described as priestess of Athena, was devoted to a life of celibacy. But she was wooed by Poseidon, whom she loved in return, she forgot her vows, and had sex with Poseidon in Athena's temple. In one version, Poseidon, as a bird,  seduce Medusa in Athena's temple.  Medusa                Medusa was beheaded by Perseus , who was sent to fetch her head by King Polydectes of Seriphus because Polydectes wanted to marry his mother, Danae . The gods were well aware of this, and Perseus received help. He received a mirrored shield from Athena, gold, winged sandals from Hermes , a sword from Hephaestus and Hades 's helm of invisibility. Medusa was the only one of the three Gorgons who was mortal, so Perseus was able to slay her while looking at the reflection from the mirrored shield he received from Athena. During that time, Medusa was pregnant by Poseidon. When Perseus beheaded her, Pegasus, a winged horse, and Chrysaor, a golden sword-wielding giant, sprang from her body.


What , during the First World War, was renamed 'liberty cabbage' in the UK and the US because of anti-German feeling ?

German-Americans during World War I | Immigrant Entrepreneurship German-Americans during World War I Entries » German-Americans during World War I World War I had a devastating effect on German-Americans and their cultural heritage. Up until that point, German-Americans, as a group, had been spared much of the discrimination, abuse, rejection, and collective mistrust experienced by so many different racial and ethnic groups in the history of the United States. Indeed, over the years, they had been viewed as a well-integrated and esteemed part of American society. All of this changed with the outbreak of war. Author » Katja Wüstenbecker , University of Jena Published: September 19, 2014 Updated: September 25, 2014 Notes World War I had a devastating effect on German-Americans and their cultural heritage. Up until that point, German-Americans, as a group, had been spared much of the discrimination, abuse, rejection, and collective mistrust experienced by so many different racial and ethnic groups in the history of the United States. Indeed, over the years, they had been viewed as a well-integrated and esteemed part of American society. All of this changed with the outbreak of war. At once, German ancestry became a liability. As a result, German-Americans attempted to shed the vestiges of their heritage and become fully “American.” Among other outcomes, this process hastened their assimilation into American society and put an end to many German-language and cultural institutions in the United States. Although German immigrants had begun settling in America during the colonial period, the vast majority of them (more than five million) arrived in the nineteenth century. In fact, as late as 1910 , about nine percent of the American population had been born in Germany or was of German parentage – the highest percentage of any ethnic group. [1] Moreover, as most German-Americans lived on the East Coast or in the Midwest, there were numerous regions in which they made up as much as 35 percent of the populace. Most of the earlier German immigrants had been farmers or craftsmen and had usually settled near fellow countrymen in towns or on the countryside; most of those who arrived in the 1880s and thereafter moved to the ever growing cities in search of work. Soon enough there was hardly any large U.S. city without an ethnic German neighborhood. German-Americans wielded strong economic and cultural influence in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, with the latter three forming the so-called German triangle. German immigrants were generally considered to be hard-working, thrifty, and charitable – a successfully integrated group that still clung to its cultural heritage by maintaining German-language schools, newspapers, and various social clubs. No other immigrant group founded so many different societies: there were specific occupational groups, shooting clubs, singing groups, literary associations, and gymnastic clubs, as well as societies for Germans from particular regions, to name just a few. Craftsmen founded mutual benefit societies to provide assistance in the event of invalidity or to support the widows and orphans of members. Members not only attended weekly meetings, but also participated in weekend activities and charitable events. They helped newcomers, cared for the elderly, and supported each other in times of personal or professional need. By 1915, there were thousands of these societies all over the country, with more than two hundred in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Milwaukee, respectively. [2] But not all German immigrants joined these clubs. Some engaged in political work, or joined labor unions or business organizations; others preferred their churches and the social networks that sprang up around them. This was especially true in rural areas, where churches were the center of cultural and communal life. Despite their differences, most Germans had one thing in common – a love for and an ongoing commitment to the German language. German-Americans may have c


What's the famous tourist attraction to be found at a castle founded by Cormac McCarthy in County Cork ?

Visit Ireland - Attractions and Activities: Top Attractions Save Target As... (IE) or Save Link As... (Netscape) COUNTY ANTRIM Belfast City (Beal Feirste) is the capital of Northern Ireland and is located in County Antrim. The city offers easy access with a choice of two airports. Located in the city at Belfast Lough is Belfast Harbour Airport, Belfast International Airport is 12 miles west of the city. At Belfast Port, harbour ferries arrive from Scotland and the U.K. History and politics play a major role in the fabric of Belfast, where the culture that has evolved here is different than other parts of Northern Ireland. It is rich in a diversity of cultures in art, music, dance, sports, shopping, attractions and historical sites. Once you are in Belfast, take advantage of what it has to offer, with a city tour bus or Black Taxi tours. City Hall is located on Donegall Square. It dominates the area with its magnificent architecture of classical renaissance style with fine Portland stone exterior and Italian marble interior. It was completed in 1903. Ulster Museum is noted for its Irish antiquities, Ulster history and displays of art, The Early Ireland Gallery (10,000 BC to 1,500 BC), and treasures from the Armada shipwreck, Girona. Linen Hall Library, located on Donegal Square, was established in 1788. It houses an Irish collection of over 20,000 volumes and a Robert Burns collection. Crown Liquor Saloon is the most famous pub in Belfast. The building is of Victorian architecture, with the outside covered in thousands of colorful tiles. The inside décor has stained and painted glass, carved oak screens and mahogany furniture. Grand Opera House offers a variety of musical programs. The Botanic Gardens, the rose gardens and herbaceous borders were established in 1920. Two greenhouses dominate the gardens. The Palm House has a conservatory containing tropical plants like coffee, sugar, and banana plants. The Tropical Ravine has a high walkway that provides a great viewpoint. Queen's University dates from 1849 and offers a Visitor Center with historical exhibitions. The architecture is something to be noted. St. Anne's Cathedral, an Anglican Church, was built between 1899 and 1927. It incorporates part of the original building. There are beautiful mosaics within the church. The Golden Mile has restaurants, galleries, entertainment venues, and pubs. Culturlann Macadam O'Fiaich, on the Falls Road, is Belfast's main Irish language arts center. There are many murals painted on the buildings that depict the plight of Irish Catholics from An Gorta Mor to the 21st Century. Fernhill House: The People's Museum tells the history of the Protestants in the Shankill District. The murals painted on the buildings depict their story over the past 30 years. Belfast Zoo houses 40 endangered species of animals. It has won national and international acclaim for rare animal breeding. Belfast Castle was built in 1870 and was the former home of the Donegall family. It offers a spectacular view of the city. There is a heritage center, antique shop, and children's play area on the premise. COUNTY CLARE County Clare, steeped in history, offers beautiful seascapes, landscapes, lakes, cliffs, caves and music. There is a multitude of activities to enjoy indoors and out. Here we have highlighted The Burren, The Cliffs of Moher, and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The Burren in Irish, bhoireann meaning "stony place", is over 500 square miles of karstic limestone. It is in the northwest corner of County Clare. The area is a haven for botanists and ecologists because of the unique flora and rock. The ground surface is a floor of gray rock with long parallel grooves, known as grykes. Rainwater seeps through the porous rocks to the underground caves and lakes that swell with overflow, appearing in full lakes that disappear after the rain. There is an amazing variety of flora with Arctic, Alpine, and Mediterranean plants growing in spring and summer. It has an amazing range of color in the flowers, ferns and mosses. You can walk your way to the discovery of anc


Which chemical element is named after the Greek for 'hidden one' ?

BBC Science - The periodic table: how elements get their names The periodic table: how elements get their names By Christopher Brooks BBC Scotland Most people could name many of the elements, but how many of us know how they got those names? Each of the 115 known chemical elements was discovered over the last few thousand years, from before recorded history began to the nuclear laboratories of the 21st century. British scientists and the elements Humphry Davy discovered nine elements using electrolysis - the splitting up of compounds into elements by applying electricity. William Ramsay discovered a new group of unreactive elements using spectroscopy , now called the noble gases. William Crookes identified helium for the first time, and also discovered thallium . Their chosen names were influenced by an ever changing mix of language, culture and our understanding of chemistry. So how did they get these names? And why do they end in -ium? Ancient Elements Several elements' names have Anglo-Saxon language origins, including gold, iron, copper and silver. These metals were known long before they got these names, however. Gold can be found in its pure form in nature and although iron is usually found in ores which require smelting, the earliest known iron artefacts, from 3500 BCE, derive from purer metal from meteorites. The Latin names of these elements are commemorated in their atomic symbols, Au (aurum) for gold and Fe (ferrum) for iron. The Romans began the practise of element names ending in "-um," with Victorian scientists continuing the trend. Meteoric iron was used by humans before smelting of iron ores was invented. Element of uncertainty Since 1947, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ( IUPAC ) has had the responsibility for approving elements' names, and deciding the single internationally recognised symbol for each element. Before this, there were multiple historical occasions of elements being given several names, usually due to simultaneous discovery or uncertainty over a discovery. The name of element 41 was not agreed for 150 years. It was called columbium in America and niobium in Europe until IUPAC finally decided the official name would be niobium in 1949. Dr Fabienne Meyers, Associate Director of IUPAC, explains the current naming process : To start with, "the discoverers are invited to propose a name and a symbol." "For linguistic consistency, the recommended practice is that all new elements should end in '-ium'," she adds. The sake of naming an element is essentially to avoid confusion.” End Quote Dr Fabienne Meyers Associate Direcor, IUPAC "Since the sake of naming an element is essentially to avoid confusion, it is important to ensure that the proposed name is unique and has not been used earlier even unofficially or temporarily for a different element." "After examination and acceptance by the division - which includes a public review period of five months - the name and symbol are then submitted to the IUPAC Council for approval." The name is then published in the scientific journal Pure and Applied Chemistry . Actinium to zirconium A common source of names both now and historically, over a quarter of the elements are named after a place, often where they were discovered or synthesised. These places range in size from continents (europium) and countries (americium, francium, polonium) to the the Scottish village Strontian (strontium). Because of the great wealth of discoveries made there, four elements are named after the Swedish mining village, Ytterby (ytterbium, yttrium, erbium and terbium). There is just one element that wasn't first discovered on Earth, and it too is named after its place of the discovery - helium, from the Greek word for Sun, helios. Myth and legend Dmitri Mendeleev published the periodic table in its modern form. About a dozen elements take their name directly from legends, including titanium, arsenic and tantalum. Nickel and cobalt are named after 'devil' and 'kobold', from the Germanic folk belief that malign creatures snuck into mines to replace valuable


Who sculpted the figure of the Statue of Liberty ?

Auguste Bartholdi - Statue Of Liberty National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) Auguste Bartholdi A portrait of Auguste Bartholdi. National Park Service, Statue of Liberty NM Born on August 2, 1834 in Colmar, Alsace, France, Auguste Bartholdi was the French sculptor who designed the Statue of Liberty. Early in his career, Bartholdi extensively studied art, sculpture, and architecture. From 1855 to 1856, Bartholdi embarked on a life-changing trip throughout Europe and the Middle East with some fellow artists. When they visited the Sphinx and Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Bartholdi discovered his passion for large-scale public monuments and colossal sculptures. In 1869, the Egyptian government expressed interest in designing a lighthouse for the Suez Canal. Eager and excited, Bartholdi designed a colossal statue of a robed woman holding a torch, which he called Egypt (or Progress) Brings Light to Asia. When he attended the canal's inauguration, however, Bartholdi was informed that he would not be able to proceed with the lighthouse. Although disappointed, Bartholdi received a second chance to design a colossal statue. In 1865, Edouard de Laboulaye proposed that a monument representing freedom and democracy be created for the United States. Bartholdi was a great supporter of Laboulaye's idea and in 1870 he began designing the Statue of "Liberty Enlightening the World."   Bartholdi's early sketch NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, STATUE OF LIBERTY NM In the first few years after the Statue's conception, Bartholdi made a number of trips to the U.S. The moment he first entered New York harbor by ship, he spotted the location where he knew the Statue must stand - Bedloe's Island. Bartholdi saw New York as the gateway to America and it was at Bedloe's Island that Bartholdi envisioned the Statue rising out of the star-shaped Fort Wood. Bartholdi also used his trips to stir up support for the Statue - both ideologically and financially. When he returned to Paris in 1872, Bartholdi used his American contacts to assist Edouard de Laboulaye in creating the Franco-American Union in Paris which raised 400,000 francs to fund the construction of the Statue. Bartholdi visited the United States once more in 1876 to display the Statue's massive arm and torch at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. Afterwards the pieces were displayed in Madison Square Park, New York City until 1882 to assist in fundraising. Additionally, Bartholdi assisted with setting up the American Committee for the Statue of Liberty for fundraising in the United States for the pedestal.   NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, STATUE OF LIBERTY NM   The Statue was fully constructed in Paris and presented by the Franco American Union to the United States Ambassador in 1884. In 1886, Bartholdi oversaw the Statue's assembly in New York and participated in its inauguration. At the ceremony, Bartholdi was presented with the key to the city and later climbed the Statue to release the tricolor French flag that veiled Liberty's face. Bartholdi died of tuberculosis in 1904.


The Liverpool FC anthem You'll Never Walk Alone comes from which Rodgers and Hammerstein musical ?

You'll Never Walk Alone - Lyrics and History - Liverpool FC With hope in your heart And you’ll never walk alone You’ll never walk alone Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you’ll never walk alone You’ll never walk alone   Who sang it first? Liverpool or Celtic? There is much discussion between Liverpool and Celtic fans about which group of fans first adopted the song as their own, but it is widely accepted that The Kop were the first group of fans to perform it on the terraces thanks to the local connection with Gerry and the Pacemakers, and the story that the group presented their version of the song to Bill Shankly. From  Wikipedia : The song quickly became the anthem of Liverpool Football Club and is invariably sung by its supporters moments before the start of each home game.[11] The words “You’ll Never Walk Alone” also feature in the club crest and on the Shankly Gates entrance to Anfield, the home stadium. According to former player Tommy Smith, Gerry Marsden presented Liverpool manager Bill Shankly with a tape recording of his forthcoming cover single during a pre-season coach trip in the summer of 1963. “Shanks was in awe of what he heard. […] Football writers from the local newspapers were travelling with our party and, thirsty for a story of any kind between games, filed copy back to their editors to the effect that we had adopted Gerry Marsden’s forthcoming single as the club song.” There was also an article on The Guradian website which states that Liverpool fans were more than likely the original source of the song, again due to the Gerry and the Pacemakers connection. And the fact that a group of Scottish football fans might not be so aware of the musical Carousel (their stereotype, not mine!) From The Guardian : The song, originally written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in 1945 for the Broadway musical Carousel, only became a terrace favourite after it was covered by Gerry and the Pacemakers in November 1963. Almost immediately – as footage from Panorama in 1964 shows – Liverpool supporters adopted it. As Paul Fields points out: “Before the early 60s football fans made noise and occasionally chanted something brief (like Play Up Pompey!) but it was the Kop that started singing popular songs of the day (mainly Merseybeat songs such as Gerry and the Pacemakers’ You’ll Never Walk Alone) and later started to adapt the lyrics of songs to celebrate the team and its players. “If any Celtic fans still claim that they sang it first, it would have to predate Gerry’s version. Now can you really see thousands of working class Glaswegians in the 50s/early 60s spontaneously joining in a sing-along from a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical?” No, us neither. Finally, here is the video for the Gerry and the Pacemakers version. YNWA


'Gourmet Night' and 'The Kipper and the Corpse' were the titles of episodes from which TV series ?

"Fawlty Towers" The Kipper and the Corpse (TV Episode 1979) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The Kipper and the Corpse  TV-PG | One of the guests has died in his sleep, but Basil thinks it's due to serving him spoiled food. Director: From $1.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 1715 titles created 27 Dec 2012 a list of 1894 titles created 11 Feb 2013 a list of 44 titles created 01 Dec 2013 a list of 10 titles created 26 Feb 2014 a list of 295 titles created 01 Jan 2015 Title: The Kipper and the Corpse (12 Mar 1979) 9.2/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? Edit Storyline One of the hotel's guests dies in his sleep but Basil doesn't really notice and just goes about his business, delivering the man's breakfast to his room and then complaining that he was rude and didn't thank him. Polly soon realizes he is dead and Sybil asks another guest, Dr. Price, to attend to the situation. Basil thinks the out of date kippers were the cause, but he's been dead most of the night. Pandemonium sets in when they try to remove the body without any of the guests knowing what has happened. It doesn't quite go as planned. Written by garykmcd 12 March 1979 (UK) See more  » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia The hotel guest who was seen blowing up a sex doll in his room was named after a newspaper critic who disliked the series. See more » Goofs When the corpse's arm falls out of the closet, the actor turns his obviously alive hand over. See more » Quotes Mrs. Chase : [Manuel is checking the window for a draft that is disturbing Mrs. Chase's dog] We have to be very careful, Mr. Fawlty. He's not very strong. Basil Fawlty : Indeed, yes. A rapid movement of air could damage him irreparably! If, um, if only one could keep him in air-tight containers. (United States) – See all my reviews Fawlty Towers was notorious for rotten customer service, and this episode is a dissertation on it. It complements "Waldorf Salad" and "Basil the Rat" (the final episode) quite well - this time, dead bodies with a subplot involving ill-prepared kippers (and sausages) are brought into the mix. A group of executives drop off Mr. Leeman at the hotel - he dies during the night, but the hotel staff think it's a result of food poisoning of that morning's breakfast. Painstaking efforts are made by Basil, Manuel, and Polly to hide the body - carting the corpse up and down stairs, eventually depositing it first in one of the closets in a guest room and then in the kitchen. As Andrew Sachs has mentioned, they cast the Leeman character with a small man (Derek Royle) so as to make all the hauling a bit easier. The supporting cast in this one are especially good (Geoffrey Palmer as the snobby sausage-loving Dr. Price, and Mavis Pugh as Mrs. Chase, owner of the sausage-loving shi-tzu dog). Gilly Flower, who plays Ms. Tibbs, got a fairly big part in this episode after many episodes with one and two-liners, and she did it very well. This is the episode with the well-known 'Basil pokes Manuel in the eye' scene and a bit where Basil walks in on a guest preparing to have his way with an inflatable sex doll. By episode's end, it seems like just about everyone has 'had it' with the lousy hotel - even Manuel belts out a firm, "Meeester Fawlty, I no wan' to work here anymore! I on strike!" But in the end, Basil is the one who gets the respite and once again, leaves Sybil to solve the day's problems. Personally, I think this would've been a good episode to end the series. Although unintentionally, it rounds out the other episodes nicely and pretty much drives home the fact that Fawlty Towers is a hotel that's beyond help. 12 of 16 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? Yes


The name of which chemical element derives from the Greek word for 'lazy'?

How did argon get its name? | Reference.com How did argon get its name? A: Quick Answer The noble gas argon was named by its discoverers, Baron Rayleigh and William Ramsay, in 1894. The name comes from the Greek word argon, the neuter form of the word argos, which means lazy, idle and living without labor. It was so named because of its inert qualities. Full Answer Argon is chemically inactive and only forms compound-like structures under extreme conditions. Ramsay and Rayleigh were doing similar experiments concurrently and discovered the element at about the same time. They decided to make the announcement of the discovery and naming of the element together. Their work was preceded by Henry Cavendish, who had predicted the gas's existence almost 200 years earlier. In the experiment that led to Cavendish's hypothesis, he removed oxygen and nitrogen from air and found that a small amount of gas remained. Ramsay and Rayleigh identified this unknown gas as argon. Argon was the first of the noble gases to be discovered. Upon its announcement by Ramsay and Rayleigh, it created a problem for scientists, as they did not know where to place it on the periodic table. Ramsay suggested that the table should be extended to include a whole new group; his suggestion was eventually accepted. Soon after, the remaining members of the noble gases group were found.


Who currently holds the title of Lord of Mann ?

UK Royal Titles UK Royal Titles Discussion about royal and noble titles in the UK Themes in the blog August 12, 2013 Anonymous asked: How do titles transfer? For example George VI was previously Duke of York and then Andrew became Duke of York, does this mean when William and Kate have children the titles will shift? I know Andrew was born after the King had passed but do titles correspond with how close a person is to the thrown? If William were to die before becoming King than George would become the Duke of Cambridge.  However if he becomes King than the title will ‘merge with the crown’ effectively meaning that it will cease to exist Prince George: A (projected) Life in Titles It’s been a good couple of weeks since the world was mesmerised by the birth of our latest Royal.  Generally speaking, I’ve been rather impressed with the mainstream media’s reporting of his title, which I’m sure they’ll be relieved to hear.  However, as of yet, I don’t think I’ve come across a detailed projection of how we can expect his titles to evolve as he moves through his life.  Enter UKRoyaltitles.co.uk and another sensational blog post. As we know, the youngster is currently styled His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.  Barring anything unexpected, he should remain this way until his grandfather’s ascension to the throne.  At that moment his father shall become Duke of Cornwall (along with a whole host of other titles) meaning that technically, he will become HRH Prince George of Cornwall and Cambridge.  I expect in reality the Cambridge will be gradually dropped. At some stage during his grandfather’s (probably fairly brief) reign it is highly likely that William will be created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.  At this stage, we will be introduced to HRH Prince George of Wales.  Roll the clock forward a few years and with the succession of King William IV (if his father chooses to be known as such) George will automatically become Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isle, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.  He will also become THE Prince George, as children (rather than grandchildren) of the sovereign use the definite article in their style.  In reality he will be referred to as HRH The Duke of Cornwall until his likely creation as Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester, a title that can only (by custom) be bestowed upon the heir apparent but unlike the other titles, is not automatic.  At this stage he, like his grandfather today will be known HRH The Prince of Wales. Then, one distant day in the future – when scarily, I and most of my readers will probably be dead – he will ascend the throne himself, presumably (although not definitely) taking the regnal name of George.  Depending on the title his grandfather takes, he will be known King George VII or VIII.  There is one other possible title he may pick up along the way.  Sons of sovereigns (or those directly in line of succession) tend to receive peerages upon marriage (in the way that William was created ‘Duke of Cambridge’) primarily so that their wife can enjoy a decent title.  If George is to marry once his father has already succeeded than this will be a non-issue – he will, at the very least, be Duke of Cornwall allowing his wife to style herself a Royal Duchess.  However in the – unlikely but not impossible – event of him marrying during his father’s reign a title would need to be bestowed upon him.  Cambridge would be not be available (that’s William’s until he becomes King) but a whole host of other Royal Dukedoms including Clarence, Sussex and Windsor, will be waiting in the wings. Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and God bless our little Prince and future King. Just to confirm (as you would expect from this site) what our tiny royal’s title is. Once named, he will be known as His Royal Highness Prince X of Cambridge. This title depends on one set of Letters Patent and two title conventions. It is through the letters patent on 1917 that he claims his princely style.  This declaration secured t


Ulysees is the Roman equivalent of which name from ancient Greek mythology ?

Who Is Ulysses? - Homer's Odyssey Who Is Ulysses? - Homer's Odyssey Who Is Ulysses? - Homer's Odyssey Ulysses carrying the Palladium.  Clipart.com By  N.S. Gill's Ancient/Classical History Glossary Updated August 17, 2016. Ulysses is the Latin form of the name Odysseus commonly found in Vergil's Latin, Dante's Italian (Ulisse), and the English of Thomas Bulfinch, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and James Joyce. The Greek 'd' in Odysseus became a Latin 'l' in Ulysses. Ulysses is the hero of the Odyssey , the Greek epic poem attributed to Homer. Ulysses spends 10 years trying to get back home to Ithaca after the Greeks win the Trojan War. Ulysses comes up with the idea of the Trojan Horse that permits the Greeks to get inside the Trojan city walls, torch the city, and go home. On his way home, Ulysses and his men encounter various monsters and have lots of adventures. Ulysses is known for his cunning, which he uses when his men find themselves stuck in the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus. However, Ulysses' trick, which includes blinding Polyphemus, puts Ulysses on the bad side of the Cyclops' father, Poseidon (Neptune, since we're dealing with the Latin version). When Ulysses finally reaches his home island of Ithaca, he plots to take vengeance on the suitors who have been wooing his wife and eating his family out of hearth and home. continue reading below our video Profile of Odysseus Go to Other Ancient / Classical History Glossary pages beginning with the letter a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | wxyz Also Known As: Ὀδυσσεύς, Ulixes Examples: James Joyce wrote a novel called Ulysses that deliberately alludes to the Ulysses of the Odyssey. Another famous Ulysses was the 18th U.S. president, Ulysses S. Grant.


What name was given to the Nazi takeover of Austria in 1938 ?

The History Place - Triumph of Hitler: Nazis Take Austria Nazis Take Austria Nineteen months would elapse from the day Hitler grabbed control of the German Army until the actual start of World War II. During those months, Hitler engaged in a kind of gangster diplomacy in which he bluffed, bullied, threatened, and lied to various European leaders in order to expand the borders of his Reich. His very first victim was Dr. Kurt von Schuschnigg, Chancellor of Austria, a country being torn apart from within by Nazi agitators and also feeling threatened from the outside by Germany's newfound military strength. Hoping for some sort of peaceful settlement with Hitler, Schuschnigg agreed to a face-to-face meeting at Berchtesgaden. The meeting was arraigned by Franz von Papen, the former ambassador to Austria. On the chilly winter morning of February 12, 1938, Schuschnigg's car was met at the German-Austrian border by Papen, who joined him for the ride up to Hitler's spectacular mountaintop retreat. Papen informed Schuschnigg that Hitler was in a very good mood this morning. But, Papen added, Hitler hoped that Schuschnigg wouldn't mind if three of Germany's top generals were also present during the day's discussion. The intimidating glare of the Führer Adolf Hitler - at home in his study room inside his mountaintop retreat at Berchtesgaden - scene of his first  diplomatic conquest. Schuschnigg was somewhat taken aback by this, but it was too late to change anything now. He arrived at the steps of Hitler's villa and was greeted by the Führer himself. Standing behind Hitler were the three generals; Wilhelm Keitel, Chief of the High Command, Walter von Reichenau, Commander of Army troops along the German-Austrian border, and Air Force General Hugo Sperrle. Hitler led Schuschnigg into his villa and up to the great hall on the second floor, a big room featuring a huge plate glass window with sweeping views of the Alps, and in the far distance, Austria itself. Schuschnigg, taking it all in, broke the ice with a little small talk about the view. But Hitler cut him right off. "We did not gather here to speak of the fine view or the weather!" Thus began two hours of hell in which the quiet-spoken Austrian Chancellor was lambasted without mercy by the Führer. "You have done everything to avoid a friendly policy!" Hitler yelled. "The whole history of Austria is just one uninterrupted act of high treason...And I can tell you right now, Herr Schuschnigg, that I am absolutely determined to make an end of this. The German Reich is one of the great powers, and nobody will raise his voice if it settles its border problems." After regaining his composure, Schuschnigg tried to settle down Hitler, telling him: "We will do everything to remove obstacles to a better understanding, as far as it is possible." But Hitler didn't let up. "That is what you say!...But I am telling you that I am going to solve the so-called Austrian problem one way or the other...I have a historic mission, and this mission I will fulfill because Providence has destined me to do so...I have only to give an order and all your ridiculous defense mechanisms will be blown to bits. You don't seriously believe you can stop me or even delay me for half an hour, do you?" Hitler pointed out that Austria was isolated diplomatically and could not halt a Nazi invasion. "Don't think for one moment that anybody on earth is going to thwart my decisions. Italy? I see eye to eye with Mussolini...England? England will not move one finger for Austria...And France?" Hitler said France had the power to stop him during the Rhineland occupation but did nothing and that "now it is too late for France." An exasperated Schuschnigg finally asked Hitler what his terms were. But Hitler cut him off again, rudely dismissing him now. "We can discuss that this afternoon." By the afternoon, the 41-year-old Schuschnigg had aged about ten years. He was then introduced to Germany's new Foreign Minister, an amoral character named Joachim Ribbentrop who presented him with a two-page document containing Hitler's de


Which branch of mathematics is named after the Latin word for pebble ?

Amazing Math Topics: Why Calculus Rocks Why Does Calculus Rock? Dear Ms. Hardtke, I am replying to the question about how the border-lines apply to calculus. Knowing the unusual sense of humor shared by math teachers, I initially thought the answer was something silly like "Calculus Rocks!" I also considered the answer had something to do with limits, as calculus relies critically on the concept of limits, and the letter is written between the borders. Then I wondered what the word 'calculus' means and what its etymology was, as trigonometry deals with the measure of triangles; geometry deals with questions of shapes and sizes; and algebra, founded by Abu Muhammad ibn Musa al-Kwarizmi (derived from the Arabic word "al-jabr"), is the extension of arithmetic and the study of equations. The word 'calculi' means pebble or small stone in Latin and from it are *derived* the words "calculate" and "calculus". The root word became associated with mathematics because of early Greek mathematicians in circa 600 B.C. who did arithmetic with the aid of pebbles ( http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/calculus ). The word "calculus" usually refers to "Differential and Integral Calculus", which investigates motion and rates of change. Ancient Greek accountants laid pebbles in columns on a sand tray and manipulated them to do all their calculations. The grooves on the early counting boards were known as "alveoli" and the pebbles as "calculi" ( http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/57564.html ). Such counting boards were the predecessor to the abacus. The calculator can be considered the modern electronic equivalent of an ancient sandtray and pebbles. Linguistic evidence also shows that the Romans used pebbles on a board for calculations. The Roman expression for "to calculate" is "calculus ponere" (literally "to place pebbles"). When Romans wished to settle accounts, they would use the expression "vocare aliquem ad calculos" ("to call them to the pebbles") ( http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/57572.html ). So, in sum, the border-lines relate to calculus because of the etymology and origins of the word. Hope you had a great summer! Sincerely,


Which sporting venue was known for a time as Billy Williams' Cabbage Patch ?

Billy Williams | England Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo 1885 - 1902 Profile Billy Williams, who died at his home at Hampton Wick on April 14, aged 90, was a fine allround sportsman. Born on April 12, 1860, he was a member of MCC from 1900. In the seasons of 1885 and 1886 he appeared as wicketkeeper for Middlesex, and after an absence of 14 years returned to the county side as a bowler of legbreaks, playing occasionally till 1905. During the winter of 1896-97 he toured the West Indies with Mr. Arthur Priestley's team and, with 67 wickets at an average cost of 9.62, finished second in the bowling averages to A. E. Stoddart. He often assisted MCC and was credited with taking 100 or more wickets a season in all matches for 55 years. In his last summer as a player, he turned out at the age of 74 for MCC against the House of Lords and, after dismissing Lord Dalkeith, Lord Tennyson and Major L. George for 16 runs, was presented by the Marylebone Club with the ball. A good story is told of when, at the age of 65, he visited the West Indies during the tour of the Hon. F. S. G. Calthorpe's M.C.C. team in 1925-26. In Georgetown he challenged a West Indian friend against whom he played 30 years before to a single-wicket match for £25 a side. Winning the toss, Williams severely punished his opponent's bowling, completed a century and declared. Then, with a googly, he bowled his exhausted victim first ball. Apart from his cricket, Williams, as he was known to everyone for many years, was celebrated as the man who, in the early part of the century when a member of the Middlesex County Rugby Union Committee, ended a long search for a suitable site for a National Rugby Union ground by discovering a cabbage field of 10 acres which has since developed into the famous Twickenham enclosure. For a long time the ground, later extended by 18 acres, was known to Rugby football followers as "Billy Williams's cabbage patch." Formerly a player for the Harlequins RFC, he was a Rugby referee for 21 years. An honorary member of the Wimbledon Park Golf Club, he played a daily round until his last illness, and was a regular attendant at Lord's and at Rugby matches in the London area, particularly Richmond. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack


Which country has launched its Mars Orbiter spacecraft, also known as Mangalyaan, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre ?

Liftoff! India's First Mars Probe Launches Toward the Red Planet Liftoff! India's First Mars Probe Launches Toward the Red Planet By Miriam Kramer, Staff Writer | November 5, 2013 05:00am ET MORE India's first mission to Mars, the Mars Orbiter Mission, launches the Mangalyaan orbiter toward the Red Planet atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on Nov. 5, 2013 from the Indian Space Research Organisation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Credit: Indian Space Research Organisation India's first-ever mission to Mars launched into space today (Nov. 5), beginning the country's first interplanetary mission to explore the solar system.  With a thunderous roar, India's  Mars Orbiter Mission  rocketed into space at 4:08 a.m. EST (0908 GMT) from the Indian Space Research Organisation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, where the local time will be 2:38 p.m. in the afternoon. An ISRO Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launched the probe on its 300-day trek into orbit around the Red Planet. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches India's first mission to Mars, the Mars Orbiter Mission, from the the Indian Space Research Organisation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Nov. 5, 2013. Credit: ISRO "The journey has only just begun," said ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan after the successful launch. [ India's First Mars Mission (Photos) ] Less than an hour after liftoff,  Radhakrishnan reported that India's Mars probe successfully entered a staging orbit around Earth. Mars Orbiter Mission director Kunhi Krishnan describing the launch as a start to a "grand and glorious" mission.  If all goes well, India's first Mars orbiter — called Mangalyaan (Hindi for "Mars Craft") — will arrive at the Red Planet on Sept. 24, 2014, making India the fourth country to successfully deliver a spacecraft to Mars. The $73.5 million Mangalyaan spacecraft  weighs 2,980 pounds (1,350 kilograms). Through the course of several orbits, the spacecraft will perform a series of maneuvers to place it on a path to Mars.


What was the name of the Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury ?

Archbishops of Canterbury Archbishops of Canterbury By  Ben Johnson   |   Comments In the Christian church, an archbishop is a bishop of superior rank who has authority over other bishops in an ecclesiastic province or area. The Church of England is presided over by two archbishops: the archbishop of Canterbury, who is 'primate of All England', and the archbishop of York, who is 'primate of England'. In the time of St. Augustine, around the 5th century it was intended that England would be divided into two provinces with two archbishops, one at London and one at York . Canterbury gained supremacy just prior to the Reformation in the 16th century, when it exercised the powers of papal legate throughout England. It is the Archbishop of Canterbury who has the privilege of crowning the kings and queens of England and ranks immediately after the princes of royal blood. The Archbishop's official residence is at Lambeth Palace, London, and second residence at the Old Palace, Canterbury. The first Archbishop of Canterbury was Augustine. Originally prior to the Benedictine monastery of St. Andrew in Rome, he was sent to England by Pope Gregory I with the mission to convert the natives to Roman Christianity. Landing in Ebbesfleet, Kent in 597 Augustine quickly converted his first native when he baptized Ethelbert, King of Kent along with many of his subjects. He was consecrated Bishop of the English at Arles that same year and appointed archbishop in 601, establishing his seat at Canterbury. In 603 he attempted unsuccessfully to unite the Roman and native Celtic churches at a conference on the Severn. The following list traces the Archbishops from the time of Augustine through the Reformation, up to the present day. Their influence on the history of England and the English people is apparent for all to see. Archbishops of Canterbury   604 Laurentius. Nominated by St. Augustine as his successor. Had a rocky ride when King Ethelbert of Kent was succeeded by his pagan son Eadbald. Remaining calm Laurentius eventually converted Eadbald to Christianity, thus preserving the Roman mission in England.     627 Honorius. The last of the group of Roman missionaries who had accompanied St. Augustine to England.     668 Theodore (of Tarsus). The Greek theologian was already in his sixties when he was sent to England by Pope Vitalian to assume the role of archbishop. Despite his age he went on to reorganise the English Church creating the diocesan structure, uniting for the first time the people of England.   693 Berhtwald. The first archbishop of English birth. Worked with King Wihtred of Kent to develop the laws of the land.   Cuthbert. Established England as an important base from which Anglo-Saxon missionaries were despatched abroad.     765 Jaenberht. Backed the wrong horse in the King of Kent against King Offa of Mercia. He saw the importance of Canterbury reduce as power shifted to Offa's cathedral in Lichfield.   793 Ethelheard, St. Originally chosen by King Offa of Mercia, to make Lichfield into the premier archbishopric in England. Ethelheard appears to have messed things up a little in the politics of the day, and unwittingly succeeded in reinstating Canterbury's traditional superiority.   805 Wulfred. As with his predecessors Wulfred's rule was frequently disrupted by disputes with the kings of Mercia and was at one stage exiled by King Cenwulf.     833 Ceolnoth. Maintained Canterbury's superiority within the Church of England by forming close relationships with the rising power of the Kings of Wessex, and abandoning the pro-Mercian policies of Feologeld.     890 Plegmund. Appointed Archbishop by Alfred the Great. Plegmund played an influential role in the reigns of both Alfred and Edward the Elder. He was involved in early efforts to convert the Danelaw to Christianity.     942 Oda. Oda's career serves to demonstrate the integration of Scandinavians into English society. The son of a pagan who came to England with the Viking 'Great Army', Oda organised the reintroduction of a bishopric into the Scandinavian settlements of East Angl


What was the title of the only UK No. 1 hit for Dusty Springfield ?

The Hit Songs of Dusty Springfield | Spinditty The Hit Songs of Dusty Springfield The Hit Songs of Dusty Springfield Updated on December 15, 2016 Joined: 2 years agoFollowers: 130Articles: 80 62 Dusty Springfield | Source The Best of Dusty Springfield In my humble opinion, Dusty Springfield's hit songs have rightly been cited as among the best by any British female singer of her generation. Starting out as a member of The Springfields, she progressed to a solo career in the 1960s and was among the forefront of the British Invasion, enjoying success in both the USA and the UK. Although not immediately recognisable in her earlier recordings, her preference for the soul music coming out of America became more apparent as her career blossomed. She has been credited with introducing the Motown Sound to the UK; when on TV in the Sixties she hosted a showcase of the music, singing along with Martha Reeves. You can hear that soulfulness in many of the songs featured here, all of which appeared on the British music charts of the time. During the 1960s, there was sometimes a discrepancy between the Dusty Springfield songs released as singles in the UK and the USA. Therefore, there may be tracks missing here that were popular in the States which were not so in Britain, and vice versa. However, there is no denying the popularity of Dusty Springfield, not only in the 1960s, but also during her comeback in the 1980s and 1990s. If, like me, you enjoy the output of one of the finest popular singers the UK has produced, then you are in for a treat! Advertisement 1963: "I Only Want to Be With You" Dusty's first hit in the UK was this Number 4 song written by Mike Hawker and Ivor Raymonde. Unequivocally catchy, Dusty delivers a full blooded vocal full of defiance that, at the time, had not been matched by many female singers in the rock era. With the beginnings of the British Invasion taking place in the US, it also became her first hit record in America too. Advertisement   Hit Songs of 1964 Stay Awhile: This Number 13 UK hit is a song that includes much that is reminiscent of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. It seems the three minute single had not fully arrived yet, as this clocks in at a little under two minutes. I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself: One of Dusty Springfield's biggest hits of the 1960s, this is an emotionally laden ballad that defined her plaintive, soulful vocals. It reached Number 3 in the UK, but strangely failed to chart in the USA. Losing You: Dusty's third and final UK Top 20 hit of 1964. Catch a glimpse of Gene Pitney in the video from the 1960s pop show Ready, Steady, Go! Stay Awhile I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself Losing You   Hit Songs of 1965 Your Hurtin' Kinda Love: A minor Top Forty hit in the UK, this was nevertheless another Dusty vocal tour-de-force, as she infuses her soulful voice into a standard pop-style Sixties song. In the Middle of Nowhere: Another huge hit in the UK that missed the mark in the US, the song is an uptempo "growler" from Dusty that made the Top Ten in July. Some of Your Lovin': Written by the famed songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, this song became Dusty Springfield's favourite performance and was another Top 10 hit in October. Your Hurtin' Kinda Love In the Middle of Nowhere Some of Your Lovin' Little By Little Hit Songs of 1966 Little By Little: 1966 was to be Dusty Springfield's most successful year singles wise. This first hit of the year really did not indicate the direction in which she was headed, but it nevertheless gave her a rock inspired Top 20 hit. You Don't Have to Say You Love Me: Surprisingly, this was Dusty's only ever UK Number One hit. Originally an Italian song entitled "Lo Che Non Vivo (Senza Te)," it was given an English lyric full of unrequited love in which she gives one of her finest vocal performances. Goin' Back: Not released as a single in the US, if pushed, this is quite possibly my favourite of Dusty Springfield's songs. Another track penned by Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Dusty's rendition will surely break your heart. It pea


In the Muppett shows, what is the name of Kermit the Frog's nephew ?

Robin the Frog | Muppet Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Robin singing "Over the Rainbow." Robin with his uncle Kermit in A Muppet Family Christmas. Robin on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Robin on BBC 's Top of the Pops performing "Halfway Down the Stairs" . Robin with his friend John Denver on Rocky Mountain Holiday. Robin sitting in his Uncle Kermit's office chair ... ...and playing laser tag along with his " Aunt Miss Piggy ." Robin the Frog is Kermit 's nephew , a kind and clever kid who sometimes feels unnoticed because of his small size. Robin likes to spend time with his uncle Kermit, his friend Sweetums , and his boys' club, the Frog Scouts . Robin made his debut in the 1971 television special The Frog Prince , as the prince-turned-to-frog. In this special, while he was voiced by Jerry Nelson , the puppetry was performed by Frank Oz . [1] Although he made a few appearances on The Muppet Show 's first season, his relationship to Kermit was not established until episode 212 . The episode's story involves Robin's plans to run away until Bernadette Peters encouraged him to believe in himself by singing " Just One Person ." Robin had a hit song in the United Kingdom with his rendition of A. A. Milne 's " Halfway Down the Stairs ," which appeared on the first Muppet Show album in 1977. He is introduced as Kermit's nephew on the record (and identified as such on the back cover). Robin also sang on several episodes of The Muppet Show including episode 223 where he sang " Two Lost Souls " with Sweetums , episode 307 where he offered a sweet moment singing " Over the Rainbow ," and in episode 312 when he sang " Octopus' Garden ." Robin's additional television work includes Rocky Mountain Holiday , in which he bonded with John Denver ; A Muppet Family Christmas , in which he and Kermit entered a Fraggle hole and met the Fraggles ; and Nickelodeon 's Muppet Time inserts, introducing each segment, as well as appearing with the Frog Scouts . One of Robin's most prominent roles was playing Tiny Tim in The Muppet Christmas Carol . Robin is the star of the 2000 Playstation game Muppet Monster Adventure , where he battles monstrous forms of Kermit, Miss Piggy , Clifford , Fozzie Bear and Gonzo in order to revert them back to their normal selves. In 2004, Palisades Toys made an action figure of Robin in his Frog Scout uniform in Series 7. In recent years, Robin has appeared mostly in minor roles. He appeared somewhat prominently in It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie in a couple scenes with Kermit, and portrayed the Green Fairy in the " Moulin Scrooge " number. It was also revealed that in the world in which Kermit was never born , Robin would have been a barback at Club Dot . After a five-year absence from productions, Robin returned in A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa , as performed by Matt Vogel . Robin also made a silent cameo in the film The Muppets , which is referenced in his brief speaking appearance in the sequel Muppets Most Wanted . Robin wore his Tiny Tim attire in a 2009 appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon , and later sang " When the River Meets the Sea " with his uncle Kermit in a 2011 appearance. He also appeared with Kermit in a segment for the 2015 Disney Parks Christmas Parade , talking about their first trip to Disney World together. Contents [ show ] Notes


'The Knowledge' that London taxi drivers need to learn is an intimate knowledge of all streets within a 6 mile radius of which London mainline station ?

The case against London cabbies The case against London cabbies It's time to end the archaic privileges of taxi drivers Email I lost my misguided faith in black cabs last week, on the corner of Royal College Street in north London. It was the tiniest trip — 2.4 miles from Bloomsbury to my Camden flat at 11.30 in the evening. Hard to mess up, too: empty roads, good weather and the easiest of routes — practically a straight line to my flat. To my horror, the cabbie dodged the obvious, straight route and embarked on an extended loop through the traffic-choked hub of Camden Town tube station and Camden Market. I pointed him in the right direction and he reluctantly did a U-turn and headed up Royal College Street. Not a word of apology — and still a £11.20 fare for a ten-minute journey. No tip, needless to say. I can’t know whether he was ripping me off or merely clueless. But either way, in the days of satnav, it’s staggeringly incompetent. And in the days of highly efficient taxi and minicab apps — like Uber, Addison Lee and Kabbee — it’s unforgiveable. The exclusive privileges given to black cabs must go. Black cabs are the go-slow thugs of the road. Overpriced, selective in who they pick up, arrogant about their knowledge and the Knowledge, nasty to other drivers, homicidal to bicyclists, bullying to competitors, they crawl across our cities in a puffed-up bubble of self-importance that has needed pricking for years. The myth that the Knowledge is some astounding feat of memory is no longer true, if it ever was. In 15 years, no black cab driver has ever known the quickest route to my flat. Yes, it’s impressive to learn 320 routes within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. And cabbies were particularly gratified in 2000, when scientists at University College London discovered that black cab drivers often had an enlarged hippocampus — the part of the brain associated with navigation in birds and other animals. But none of that matters with modern technology. Google Maps and TomTom can even tell you where surprise traffic jams are. No hippocampus can do that. There’s no justification left for a predominant, controlling group of cabs, with a monopoly on being hailed on the street or from airport taxi ranks. Access to the job is controlled through oral, one-on-one exams by PCO examiners, giving them a hugely subjective role in choosing who makes the grade. Throw in exclusive parking spaces for black cabs and the right to use bus lanes, and you have one of the last unreformed trades, with heavily restricted practices, in the country. The moment any rival tries to open up the market, black cab drivers bring the capital to a halt. A few years ago, Westminster council decided, utterly reasonably, to set up a minicab rank off Leicester Square, from Thursday to Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. — when black cabs are inevitably in short supply. In response, a huge fleet of black cabs blocked the Mall for several hours and brought central London to a standstill. With their exclusive rights protected by the Public Carriage Office, and their rivals held back, black cabs behave like any cartel — they squeeze their advantages for all their worth. On countless occasions, I’ve gone nuts at the little tricks drivers use to extend the journey time: gradually slowing down in approach to a green light, willing it to turn red; slowing down before a zebra crossing in the hope that a pedestrian will come along; moving off at the lights at a glacial pace; piling on infinitesimal fractions of seconds to the journey by taking a particularly wide arc into a corner; scrupulously staying out of yellow boxes painted over crossroads, apparently for Highway Code reasons, but really to catch another red light. The list of offences goes on: refusing to take bikes because of their deep-seated hatred of bicyclists; playing Radio 5 Live at offensively loud volume; refusing to pick you up, even with their yellow light on, because they don’t like the look of you or because you’re on the wrong side of the street and they’re heading home in the other direction. If yo


Which area of Czechoslovakia was transferred to Germany after the Munich conference of September 1938 ?

September 1938 - The Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia | The Globe at War September 1938 - The Dismemberment of Czechoslovakia Submitted by SteveMerc on Thu, 08/18/2011 - 21:45 Following the Third Reich's Anschluss, or political union, with Austria Hitler looked to Czechoslovakia for his next conquest. As a pretext for war the German media, under Goebbels direction, emitted a constant propaganda stream heightening tensions in the area by calling for protecting the German minority in Czechoslovakia. Goebbels agitations focused on the Sudetenland, a Czechoslovakian region running along the German border and home to most of Czechoslovakia's ethnic Germans. Nazi collaborators worked from within the Sudetenland, just as during the Austrian Anschluss, to play up alleged concerns regarding the well fare of German blooded Czechoslovak citizens arguably facing discrimination. Throughout the volatile summer of 1938 the British Government, led by newly elected Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, eagerly sought to avoid confronting Hitler over Czechoslovakia. Hitler seized the opportunity provided by British hesitancy and moved aggressively toward war with Czechoslovakia. As summer's days began to wane Hitler's speeches became even more warlike. Hitler ordered German combat units placed on a heightened state of alert and the Wehrmacht frantically prepared for invading Czechoslovakia. On September 15, 1938 Chamberlain, desiring to avoid war, met with Hitler at Hitler's private retreat in Berchtesgaden. Hitler deceivingly told Chamberlain he coveted "only the Sudetenland". Chamberlain returned to London confident he could appease Hitler and win French and Czech acquiescence for Hitler's "request". On September 18, Chamberlain met with the French Premier, Edouard Daladier, in London. The French anxiously sought to avoid war and, as did the British, incorrectly believed the French army and air force lacked the power to challenge Germany. The Soviet Union possessed the only military willing to intervene, but Romania and Poland, considering Russia's imperialistic history, refused to grant the Red Army military access across their borders. On September 19, 1938 the British and French asked the Czech government to accept an agreement ceding the Sudetenland to Germany. To his credit, Czech President Eduard Benes firmly turned down this request to give up nearly half of sovereign Czech territory. Moreover, defending Czechoslovakia would be nearly impossible without the Sudetenland - further emboldening Benes to hold onto this critical piece of his nation. The well-equipped Czech army had studded the Sudetenland with a maze of fortifications embedded in rugged defensive terrain. In addition, handing over the Sudetenland would mean crippling the Czechoslovakian economy; via the loss of heavy industry and natural resources located therein. In spite of all this, the Czech cabinet refused to stand with Benes and instead voted for relinquishing the Sudetenland; ostensibly in the interest of peace. On September 21, 1938, the Czech government grudgingly gave notice of acquiescence to the German annexation of the Sudetenland. Chamberlain flew to meet with Hitler, in Germany at Bad Godesberg on the Rhine River, and seal the deal. Hitler, ever the gambler, switched his terms and pushed for a quicker turnover of the Sudetenland than the Czechs had agreed. Hitler pressed aggressively with little concern over crossing the precipice of war. Hitler's underhanded "bait and switch" not only undercut his ability to negotiate with Britain after the fall of France but meant Chamberlain's shuttle diplomacy and subsequent deal to avoid war nearly fell apart. Britain and Czechoslovakia mobilized for war. On September 26th, Hitler spoke at the Sportspalast in Berlin, arguing in highly inflammatory terms for a decision over the Sudetenland, no matter the consequences for peace. Hitler expressed readiness for war but the German army in particular was appalled at the prospect of war. Many of Hitler's generals, especially Army Chief of Staff Ludwig Beck, adamantly argued a


Kielder Water is a large artificial reservoir in which English county ?

Kielder email: info@keepers-cottage.co.uk Kielder Kielder Water is a large artificial reservoir in Northumberland in North East England. It is the largest artificial lake in the United Kingdom by capacity and it is surrounded by Kielder Forest, the largest human-made woodland in Europe. It was planned in the late 1960s to satisfy an expected rise in demand for water to support a booming UK industrial economy. It was constructed between 1975 and 1981 by an AMEC/Balfour Beatty[1] joint venture and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982. It took two years for the valley to fill with water completely once construction was completed. Keilder column Kielder Forest is a large forestry plantation in Northumberland, England, surrounding the reservoir Kielder Water. It is the largest man-made woodland in Europe. Kielder is dominated by conifers. Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) covers 75% of the planted area; this species thrives in the damp conditions afforded by northern Britain. Other species include Norway Spruce (Picea abies) and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), which cover 9% of the area each. The remainder is made up of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), larch (Larix spp.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and broadleaves including birch (Betula spp.), Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), cherry (Prunus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), Beech (Fagus sylvatica), and willow (Salix spp.). 475,000 cubic metres of timber is harvested annually to supply local sawmilling, chipboard, pulp and wood fuel customers. Most of this volume comes from clearfelling areas; an increasing percentage however is sourced from stands harvested under continuous cover silviculture systems. Clear felled areas are replanted with a mix of coniferous and broadleaf tree species, opportunities are also taken to increase the proportion of open space and to improved the riparian habitat. As with all Forestry Commission woodlands timber is independently certified under the Forest Stewardship Council scheme. The forest contains a number of sites of special scientific interest, primarily associated with the upland moorland environment. A programme of restoration of Border Mires is ongoing. The forest is one of the last English strongholds of the European red squirrel, and provides excellent habitat for many species of birds of prey. A large population of roe deer is actively managed. Many archaeological remains can be found within the forest and are an important cultural link to the often turbulent history of the area. Kielder Castle Visitor Centre is an 18th century hunting lodge built by the Duke of Northumberland, which has been converted into a visitor and information centre. It is located on the edge of Kielder Village at the head of the River North Tyne valley. The Castle serves as a hub for the growing number of recreational facilities on offer, walking and cycling trails, picnic areas and a forest drive. The forest contains a number of art and architectural installations including a Skyspace[1] designed by James Turrell and Wave Chamber, a camera obscura in a stone cairn by Chris Drury. The forest also contains Kielder Observatory which is an astronomical observatory.


Who designed the National Theatre building on the South Bank in London ?

Haworth Tompkins completes renovation of National Theatre Leave a comment London studio Haworth Tompkins has completed its £80 million refurbishment of Brutalist icon the National Theatre , including the addition of an all-new aluminium-clad theatre production facility (+ slideshow). Haworth Tompkins , winner of last year's Stirling Prize , has spent the last eight years working on an overhaul of the London landmark completed by architect Denys Lasdun in 1976 and widely considered to be his most important work. The intervention – named NT Future – involved reframing an existing auditorium within a large education centre, transforming an old service yard into a riverside bar and cafe, upgrading the entrance and foyers, and adding the new production centre. The firm's strategy was to build on the architect's original concept, creating a series of spaces designed to complement and enhance the existing building through use of a considered material palette and sensitive approach. "Denys Lasdun's National Theatre is one of the great buildings of the 20th century," said the team in a statement. "We set out to build on Lasdun's vision of public openness so as to reveal it to new audiences and a changing context." The production facility, known as the Max Rayne Centre, is the most prominent of the new additions. Related story The Shed at the National Theatre by Haworth Tompkins Instead of the timber-printed concrete walls that characterise the main building, this structure has a facade of vertical aluminium fins and crumpled steel mesh. "The Max Rayne Centre is designed to complement rather than replicate the NT's masonry language, harmonising with Lasdun's austere orthogonal forms," said the architects. A section of glazing on one wall offers views into a painting workshop contained within. The building also accommodates a design studio and production offices, as well as some departments relocated to make extra space elsewhere in the complex. The Cottesloe Theatre – the smallest of the National Theatre's three auditoriums – was renamed as the Dorfman Theatre to acknowledge a donation made towards its renovation. Its capacity was increased, while seating was replaced and stage equipment upgraded. Around this, former workshops have been converted into an education centre named the Clore. This will allow the auditorium to be used as a learning space outside of performance times. In the main building, Haworth Tompkins has enlarged the foyer in a manner the team believes is appropriate, with dining and shop spaces kept to the side of the main flow of movement. The entrance has also been remodelled to improve its connection with the riverside promenade. The new cafe and bar spaces were created within an area previously used as a service yard. There is also a new route into the theatre's refurbished restaurant, allowing it to open outside of theatre hours. "The National Theatre was designed to be welcoming, and openness lies at the core of NT Future," said the architects. "Since Lasdun's building was completed, the public river walk has been extended, Waterloo has been regenerated, and the South Bank has become a new centre for London. NT Future embeds the National Theatre at the heart of this transformation." Once described by Prince Charles as being like a nuclear power station, the National Theatre is one of London's best known and most divisive Brutalist buildings. Vast and city-like in plan, it was designed by Lasdun without the help of a team and despite the fact he had no experience in theatre planning. It has since been heralded as one of the last great buildings of the age of public sector architecture. The first major renovation of the building was carried out in the 1990s by fellow London firm Stanton Williams. Haworth Tompkins started working on the second redesign in 2007, and the first visible sign of its intervention was a temporary bright red auditorium structure that took the place of the Cottesloe during its refit. "NT Future will keep the National at the top of world theatre," added Haworth Tompkins. "With the South


The formula pi times radius squared times height gives the volume of which three-dimensional geometric shape ?

Geometric Formula Review | Purplemath Geometric Formula Review Purplemath There are many geometric formulas, and they relate height, width, length, or radius, etc, to perimeter, area, surface area, or volume, etc. Some of the formulas are rather complicated, and you hardly ever see them, let alone use them. But there are some basic formulas that you really should memorize, because it really is reasonable for your instructor to expect you to know them. For instance, it is very easy to find the area A of a rectangle: it is just the length l times the width w: Arect = lw MathHelp.com Affiliate The "rect" in the formula above is a subscript, indicating that the area "A" being found is that of a rectangle. Because I'm going to be discussing area, volume, etc, formulas for different shapes, I'm using the subscripts to make clear the shape to which the particular formula refers (while using "A" for "area", "SA" for "surface area", "P" for "perimeter", and "V" for "volume"). Subscripting of this sort can be a useful technique for making your meaning clear, so try to keep this in the back of your mind for possible future use. If you look at a picture of a rectangle, and remember that "perimeter" means "length around the outside", you'll see that a rectangle's perimeter P is the sum of the top and bottom lengths l and the left and right widths w: Prect = 2l + 2w Squares are even simpler, because their lengths and widths are identical. The area A and perimeter P of a square with side-length s are given by: Asqr = s2 Psqr = 4s You should know the formula for the area of a triangle; it's easy to memorize, and it tends to pop up unexpectedly in the middle of word problems. Given the measurements for the base b and the height h of the triangle, the area A of the triangle is: Of course, the perimeter P of the triangle will just be the sum of the lengths of the triangle's three sides. You should know the formula for the circumference C and area A of a circle, given the radius r: Acir = πr2 Ccir = 2πr ("π" is the number approximated by 3.14159 or the fraction 22/7) Remember that the radius of a circle is the distance from the center to the outside of a circle. In other words, the radius is just halfway across. If they give you the length of the diameter, being the length of a line through the middle going all the way across the circle, then you'll first have to divide that value in half in order to apply the above formulas. Content Continues Below The above are all "flat", two-dimensional shapes. Sometimes you will have to deal with three-dimensional shapes, such as cubes or cones. For these kinds of shapes, you'll be finding the surface area (if you were painting the object, this is the area that you'd have to cover) and the volume (being the interior space that you could fill, were the shape hollow). The formula for the volume V of a cube is easy, since the length, the width, and the height are all the same value s: Vcube = s3 The formula for the surface area (the area you would measure if you needed to paint the ouside of the cube) is fairly easy, too, since all the sides have the same square area of s2. There are six sides (top, bottom, left, right, front, and back), so the surface area SA is: SAcube= 6s2 The formulas get a bit more complicated for a "rectangular prism", which is the technical term for a brick. The volume V is still fairly simple, being length times width times height: Vrect = lwh WyzAnt Tutoring The surface area formula is a bit more ornate. (Try to follow the reasoning that I'm going to use, because you'll probably forget the formula, but it's easy to recreate if you just take a little time and think about it.) The top and bottom of the "brick" have the same area, being length times width. The left and right sides of the brick have the same area, being width times height. And the front and back of the brick have the same area, being length times height. (Draw a picture, labelling the dimensions, if you're not sure of this.) Then the formula for the surface area SA of a brick is: SArect= 2lw + 2wh + 2lh Advertisement


Who is the Patron Saint of grocers and police ?

St. Michael Medals - Patron Saint of Police Officers St. Michael The Archangel St. Michael, the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the war cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles. Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.


What is the more common name of the Chilean Pine ?

Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) | Plants & Fungi At Kew Discover plants and fungi Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) The monkey puzzle was given its name by an observer who thought that monkeys wouldn't be able to climb the spiky branches. Araucaria araucana in Chile (Photo: Martin Gardner) Species information Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch Common name:  monkey puzzle, Chile pine (English); araucaria, pino araucana, pino Chileno, piñonero (Spanish) Conservation status:  Vulnerable (VU) according to IUCN Red List criteria. Declared a Natural Monument in Chile in 1990. Habitat:  Mixed deciduous and evergreen forest, or growing as pure stands; in moist loamy soil or in stabilised volcanic ash; on the lower slopes of mountains. Key Uses:  Ornamental; edible seeds; a valuable timber tree, but logging of wild trees now strictly prohibited; a sacred tree in indigenous culture. Known hazards:  The rigid spines on the trunk and leaf tips are potentially hazardous. This is a tree to avoid climbing! Taxonomy Genus: Araucaria About this species The monkey puzzle or Chile pine (Araucaria araucana) is an evergreen conifer native to Argentina and Chile. It was discovered in about 1780 by a Spanish explorer and introduced to England by Archibald Menzies in 1795. Menzies was a plant collector and naval surgeon on Captain George Vancouver's circumnavigation of the globe, travelling in Captain James Cook's old ship, HMS Discovery. He was served the seeds of this conifer as dessert while dining with the governor of Chile and later sowed them in a frame on the quarter deck, returning home to England with five healthy plants. One of these monkey puzzles could be seen at Kew until it died in 1892. The common name alludes to the fact that the task of climbing the tree, with its sharp branches tightly clothed with spiny leaves, would puzzle even a monkey. Synonym:  Discover more Geography and distribution Native to southwest Argentina and southern and central Chile, where it grows at 600 to 1,800 m above sea level. Description Araucaria araucana pollen cones at Kew An evergreen, pyramid-shaped tree, the monkey puzzle grows up to 50 m high with a trunk circumference of up to 2.5 m. The tree's most distinguishing feature is its leaves. They are stiff, dark green and glossy with a spiny tip and completely cover each branch, closely overlapping each other. The visual effect is wholly unusual and while many consider the appearance of the tree majestic, others find its scaly, almost reptilian foliage somewhat scary. The horizontal branches are produced in tiers and have few side branches. The female cone is globular and up to 20 cm in diameter; the male cone is cylindrical and up to 15 cm long. Trees normally have cones of only one sex, rarely both. Threats and conservation The monkey puzzle is well-adapted to fire, volcanic activity having long caused wildfires in its natural habitat, so this is not a threat under natural circumstances. However, fires resulting from human activities (especially agricultural clearances) cause severe damage to remaining populations of the tree. Research in Chile, carried out under the auspices of the Flagship Species Fund of the U.K.’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Flora & Fauna International (FFI), found at least 80% of the trees remaining in one study area had suffered fire damage. Monkey puzzle stem Despite being officially declared a Natural Monument in 1990 (making it an offence to cut down wild trees), forests outside of protected areas are still subject to high levels of damage due to burning, grazing and conversion to commercial plantations. The majority of the forests occur in a relatively small area of the Chilean and Argentinean Andes; the most threatened populations are in the coastal cordillera in southern Chile. Araucaria araucana is listed in CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix 1, which includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional ci


What was the title of the only U.K. No.1 hit for the group The Dave Clark Five ?

Music: The History of the Dave Clark Five (CD) by Dave Clark Five Buy The Dave Clark Five Artist Snapshot: British beat group the Dave Clark Five formed in North London in 1960. They first hit the U.K. charts in October 1963, in the wake of a spectacular upsurge of talent known in the United States as the British Invasion. "Glad All Over" proved one of the most distinctive and recognizable songs of the era, reaching number one in the U.K. in January 1964. Over the next couple of years, the group enjoyed hits with "Bits And Pieces" and "Catch Us If You Can," but as their star began to fade in their home land, new opportunities awaited them in the States. A series of appearances on the ED SULLIVAN SHOW helped them score a remarkable 17 Billboard Top 40 hits, including a number one with "Over And Over." Track Listing Browse more products related to " Dave Clark Five " Album Description Available in very limited quantities!!! This is the only legal Dave Clark 5 title available. 2 CD best of with 50 tracks! Product Notes The Dave Clark Five have long been given short shrift by history, consigned to the "Merseybeat" category. But hits like "Glad All Over," "Bits and Pieces," and the gorgeous "Because" still stand out as classy pop records. On the other hand, the DC5''s cover of the Contours'' "Do You Love Me" stands out as one of the more unbridled, edgy English singles of the sixties. The band actually had a winning way with both more rocking material and softer, poppier sides. While this two-disc anthology is probably a little much for most, the serious pop collector will find a great deal here to celebrate. --Skip Heller If You Enjoy "The History of the Dave Clark Five (CD)", May We Also Recommend:  [


Which actor was the first director of the National Theatre ?

National Theatre: Rufus Norris is new director - Telegraph Theatre News National Theatre: Rufus Norris is new director Rufus Norris, director of Festen and London Road, will take over the artistic  directorship of the National Theatre in April 2015   Image 1 of 2 Rufus Norris is to take over from Sir Nicholas Hytner as director of the National Theatre Photo: Getty Images   By Hannah Furness and Serena Davies 10:45AM BST 15 Oct 2013 Rufus Norris was named this morning as the new director of the National Theatre . Norris, 48, has become the first actor and the first non-Cambridge graduate to be appointed director of National Theatre in four decades, as he pledges to bring adventure, bravery and risk to arguably the most important job in British arts. Norris, who has worked on an opera with Damon Albarn, a feature film which premiered in Cannes and a host of award-winning theatre productions, has now formally accepted the role, succeeding Nicholas Hytner, who announced in April that he will step down at the end of March 2015, after what will be 12 years in the post. . Saying he was "nervous" but excited at taking on a National Theatre in the "rudest possible health", he has pledged to bring a fresh outlook, courageous projects and "attack" the role with gusto. Speaking at a press conference, he said the appointment was a "huge honour and privilege", adding he had celebrated by having a "nice tea while my kids took the p--- out of me". Related Articles Richard Eyre: "The National Theatre has defied its critics" 14 Oct 2013 RADA-trained Norris is the first actor to take the role since the theatre's first artistic director Sir Laurence Olivier, having worked as a painter and decorator and "played in bands" in his youth. He is also the first NT boss not to have read English at Cambridge since 1973;his four immediate predecessors (Sirs) Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn and Nicholas Hytner all did. Norris been an associate director of the National for the past two years, with productions including the acclaimed The Amen Corner and Table, performed in the Shed theatre. He also directed London Road, the multi-award winning musical. Earlier in his career, he made his name with Festen and with a version of Cabaret, which is currently touring. Hytner disclosed the appointment, announced to staff moments before it was released publicly, was received with a standing ovation and a "roar louder than anything ever heard" at the theatre before. Norris said: "This appointment is a great honour and I am thrilled at the prospect and challenge of leading this exceptional organisation, where it has been a privilege to work under the inspirational leadership of Nick Hytner. "The National is an extraordinary place, full of extraordinary people, and I look forward with relish to the task ahead - that being to fill our theatres with the most exciting, accessible and ground-breaking work our unique and broad community of artists has to offer." He has previously spoken about the difficulties faced by black actors finding work in Britain, and pledged continue the "positive moves" to address gender imbalance. When asked about his background as an actor, Norris said he believed “hand on heart” that it was the “only way” to develop as a director, with his background giving him “an insight into the way people do their job”. After being told he was the first non-Cambridge gradute to take the role since Oliver, he added: “Of course there have been times in my life where I’ve regretted being a painter and decorator and playing in bands for four years when I could’ve been at university. But I’m sitting here, it’s worked out. “A lot of people who go to Oxford and Cambridge are very, very clever, but it doesn’t mean they're the only clever people. “Of course I’m proud of the fact we’re breaking down what might be perceived to be a barrier and perhaps long ago was, but I don’t think it is anymore.” Hytner, whose time in charge of the theatre on London's Southbank has seen it stage money-spinning hits The History Boys, War Horse and One Man, Two Guvnors as


What was the name of the drummer in TV's The Muppet Show ?

The Animal(Muppets) vs. Buddy Rich - Drums - YouTube The Animal(Muppets) vs. Buddy Rich - Drums Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Apr 15, 2008 Ronnie Verrell is the man who actually plays the drums you hear from the Animal in this clip. Wow, 100,000 views.


What is the more common name of the wild hyacinth ?

What is a Wild Hyacinth? What is a Wild Hyacinth? On This Page Last Modified Date: 12 January 2017 Copyright Protected: 10 most extreme places on Earth Wild hyacinth , Camassia scolloides, is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the lily family which is native to the Eastern United States and southeastern Canada. It is an herbaceous plant, which means it has a soft green stem that dies off every winter, in contrast to a brown woody stem like those found on rose bushes. The plant grows from a bulb that remains alive all winter, producing new leaves, stems and flowers every spring. Common names for this plant include camas, quamash , Indian hyacinth and Eastern or Atlantic camas. This attractive plant has waxy green leaves which can grow up to 12 inches (30.5 cm) long. These leaves surround a flower stock which can grow up to 2 feet (.61 m) high. The flowers of wild hyacinth range from white to blue to lavender. The blossoms have six petals that splay out in a star shape, and 6 stamens which stretch out from the center, ending in bright yellow anthers. They produce a strong, sweet scent and attract bees and other pollen seeking insects. Wild hyacinth grows naturally in areas with plenty of moisture and rich, well-drained soil. They can be found both in open prairies and woodlands, primarily due to their ability to grow well in either shade or sunshine.  The bulb of one species, Camassia quamash, was used for food by Native Americans, but the rest of the plant is poisonous.  In fact, gardeners with sensitive skin may wish to wear gloves when handling the plant. In the US, wild hyacinth can be found in the eastern half of the continent along the Eastern seaboard from Georgia up to the Canadian border and ranging as far west as Illinois in the north and Texas in the South. Due possibly to the cooler temperatures in Canada, the plant occurs naturally in limited areas on some of the islands in Lake Erie. The plant has been placed on Canada’s protected species list under the Endangered Species Act of 2007. Hyacinth is also cultivated for gardens and grown indoors. The seeds of the plant grow first into bulbs which eventually produce the plant. Most gardeners prefer to start with a bulb since it takes five years to grow a mature plant from seed. Medium to large bulbs should be planted approximately 6 inches (15.2 cm) deep and several inches apart; smaller bulbs should be planted a bit closer to the surface. Other species of flowers throughout the world, such as various bluebells found in Asia, Europe and Africa, are also referred to as wild hyacinth. Unlike the American variety, these plants have bell or trumpet shaped blossoms.  Though they also grow from bulbs or rhizomes, they do not have a separate flower stock. Their blossoms, which grow at the end of the leaf stems, occur in a range of blues, pinks and whites.  Other common names for the European variety include wood hyacinth , Spanish bluebell and harebell. Ad


Which Conservative politician has used the pseudonyms Michael Green and Sebastian Fox in his business life ?

Grant Shapps: my Michael Green alias was only a 'joke' - Telegraph Politics Grant Shapps: my Michael Green alias was only a 'joke' Grant Shapps, the Conservative Party chairman, has claimed he was only joking  when he used a fake name to promote his get-rich-quick business. Mr Shapps on new reports: 'Old story: all properly declared at the time and all many years ago. Labour just hate business'  By Rowena Mason , Political Correspondent 6:15PM BST 05 Oct 2012 Comments Mr Shapps is being investigated by the Advertising Standards Agency over his use of an alias, but he last night insisted his real identity was "never a secret" The senior MP said he is "absolutely not embarrassed" about having built a successful business under the name of Michael Green while he was recovering for Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer. Hitting back at his critics, Mr Shapps said he only attended an event with a name badge reading "Michael Green" because it was his pseudonym used to write books like How to Get Stinking Rich. "It was a conference joke," he told the Evening Standard. “Everyone knew who I was. It was not a secret, never was. Authors using pen names is normal. Nigel West is really Rupert Allason [ a former Tory MP and spy writer] and people didn’t care.” Mr Shapps also denied accusations that he bought Twitter followers and said he only ever edited his Wikipedia entry to make it accurate. Related Articles Grant Shapps edited own Wikipedia page 09 Sep 2012 He spoke out to defend himself after Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, mocked the Conservative chairman for his multiple identities. “I’m absolutely not embarrassed about having done something that Ed Miliband has never done – which is to build up a business from scratch,” Mr Shapps told the newspaper. “I know what it’s like to get up early and graft – and to put my house on the line to buy the next printing press, pray it works out, and pay my employees at the end of the week. “It’s easy to make speeches saying ‘I know how difficult it is for working people’. But I have actually been a working person. “Some of us did stuff before we went into politics. Miliband has no other experience at all. He’s the one who must think he was born to rule because he never went for any other job.” The probe into Mr Shapps is focusing on his claims to be a self-help guru called Michael Green on a website called howtocorp.com. A complaint to the ASA alleges that the website misled the public by presenting Michael Green as a genuine businessman with a personal fortune of £17 million, who would share the secrets of his success for a fee. It relates to a website entitled “Sebastian Fox’s How To Corp – The Home of Great Toolkits on the Net”, which includes links to articles on each advertised “toolkit” which it says are written by Michael Green.