Which comic actor died on stage (literally) at the Sunderland Empire in April 1976?

A Tribute to Sid James A Tribute to Sid James Many   thanks to Steve Foster for the following insight into the death of a great actor. SID JAMES Sunderland Empire Theatre - 26th April 1976 The following is a tribute   to the late Sid James. Sid was one of the most popular members of the Carry On series of   films and an asset to the British film Industry. He was a very private man and loved by   everyone. With this in mind, the following article is written as a tribute to Sid who died   doing what he loved most. Theatre comedy ends in tragedy. This was the title of the front page story leading in the local newspaper on that tragic evening. The report continued  As a mark of respect to Sidney James, who collapsed and died on stage at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland last night, the rest of the weeks performances of The Mating Season in which he starred have been called off. Sid was appearing in this run of The Mating Season with Audrey Jeans. This particular performance was the opening night at the Empire, the start of what was hoped would be a successful week long run. The performances that were due to follow were indeed called off, those familiar words "The show must go on" simply didn't apply here, Sid was irreplaceable and there was simply no option. Irene Young, an usherette on duty that night told me. "I knew at once that something was wrong, I could see at once that Audrey Jeans was beginning to fluff her lines, it was clear that there was some ad-libbing". Also in the audience that evening was Mrs Olga Bolton from Seaham, Co Durham, she told me. "It was very upsetting, I was with a friend who thought that Sid was acting up, I knew at once. Sid took a few steps back without speaking, there was a couch just behind him, he just collapsed onto it. A lady member of the cast (Audrey Jeans) came forward and shouted in the direction of the wings - close the curtains, at that point the curtain fell". A majority of the audience still believed at this point that this was all part of the show, to the point that much laughter was evident. Mr Mel James, the theatre manager (who is still currently theatre manager) came forward to the curtain and appealed for a doctor. His efforts were still thought to be part of the performance and he had to repeat his plea by asking. "In all honesty, is there a doctor in the house". There was indeed a doctor present, he was sitting in the front stalls and had already realised there was something wrong, he was making his way towards the stage area anyway. Irene Young met the doctor and escorted him to the door leading onto the stage. Valerie Ashton (Sids wife) was with him in Sunderland that evening, she was standing in the wings and was present throughout. The doctor called for an ambulance and Sid was taken to the Sunderland Royal Infirmary. It was later reported that Sid James had died of a heart attack on stage of the Sunderland Empire Theatre. Sid was 62 when he died,   his show-biz career spanned over nearly 60 years. Barbara Windsor said at the time his death was announced. "I cant believe it, out of all the people I know in show business, Sid was such   a gentleman, he was just wonderful and I loved him so much, its awful,   terrible". Hattie Jacques said; "He was a true   gentleman and the parts he played in the films belied his true character". Diana   Coupland, Sids TV wife in Bless this house said "I hadn't seen   Sid since Bless this House at the end of February, he was certainly very healthy and   robust then". Sid had gone on tour with the Mating Game as soon as the then current series of Bless this House had finished. Sid and Diana were in the middle of negotiating a new series of the show which was due to start at the end of 76. Sid once said regarding the Bless this House series, "The television series itself is very hard work, we sometimes have to film on our day off, things sometimes have to be done over and over again until they are as near perfect as possible". Recalling the Carry On series of films, he was to remark. "The Carry On fil


Which instrument does jazz musician Courtney Pine play/

Courtney Pine - 'I became one of the most hated saxophonists of all time' | The Independent Features Courtney Pine - 'I became one of the most hated saxophonists of all time' Despite his billing as one of Britain's most celebrated and influential jazz artists, Courtney Pine tells Ian Burrell that it hasn't been an easy ride to the top table Friday 12 November 2010 00:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Culture He might be Britain's most famous saxophonist, but Courtney Pine spends an awful lot of time in the dog house. Sometimes he's in the metaphorical kennel to which the jazz establishment consigns those who don't conform to its maxims. But more often he's down in the garden shed, practising his musicianship in the place he really does call "the dog house". Recently, the sound of the instrument wafting across the gardens of Harrow, north-west London, has not been the saxophone but the rare timbre of the bass clarinet. For the first time in his long career, Pine has made an album on which he exclusively plays this "much hipper instrument", which he hopes will become "a new voice in the jazz world". The album, Europa, is eclectic, a collection of the sounds and flavours of the European countries that Pine has toured for more than two decades. "I've been to Budapest, the Red Square and Turkey, and I'm picking up tunes and instruments and languages and I've tasted the food – and I'm thinking, 'How can I put this story into one album?'" Tall and broad with long dreadlocks gangling from beneath a black bandana, Pine is a striking figure. His thrilling 1986 debut album, Journey to the Urge Within, transformed the jazz world and gave a platform to new British black musicians such as the pianist Julian Joseph, drummer Mark Mondesir and singer Cleveland Watkiss. The son of Jamaican immigrants, Pine later released Closer to Home, which highlighted his Caribbean roots and his teenage career as a reggae musician. He is also closer to the streets than some of his jazz contemporaries and has done collaborative work with drum'n'bass and hip-hop artists. All of which might make an album inspired by Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, with song titles in Spanish and Norwegian, seem like a departure. Not at all, he says, arguing that the recording is a "continuation" of his story, another reflection of his life. "I've always talked about my African, Caribbean and European roots, so this makes sense. I could go and do a George Gershwin tribute or the songs of Louis Armstrong, but this is about my environment and my travels." Although the album won't be released until 25 February, he will perform the material for the first time at the London Jazz Festival on 15 November with the band that he handpicked for the project. The jazz bassist Alec Dankworth, son of John and Cleo Laine, has lived in Spain and inspired some of the Spanish elements on Europa. On piano, Pine has the classically-trained Zoe Rahman, who was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2006. He is working with his "favourite drummer" Mondesir for the first time in 17 years. He is hoping that the recording will leave a lasting legacy. "The album is deep, man. It's not an album I should be doing. I should be making disco commercial records with [grime rapper] Tinchy Stryder! But I just had this wake up moment – 'When are you going to do one of those albums?' I thought 'Okay, I've got my own label, I'm still gigging, I've got the bass clarinet and the musicians, let's do it now'." The earthiness of the bass clarinet, he says, makes it ideal to tell the story of these European journeys. Asked if he's trying to raise the bar, he compares learning to play the instrument to doing the pole vault. "The reason why it hasn't been used so much in jazz is because it's so very hard to play," he says, citing American bass clarinet greats Bennie Maupin and Eric Dolphy, and European exponents Louis Sclavis from France and Henri Bok from Holland. Pine, like some of those others, is a saxophonist who first played the clarinet at school. Now 46, his journey to the top table of British jazz has been l


Which female vocalist had a 2001 hit with the song “Here With Me”?

The Best Female Singer/Songwriters of All Time The Best Female Singer/Songwriters of All Time The All-Time Best Vocal Performances by Women Singer/Songwriters Who are the best female singer-songwriters of all time? Women are obviously still discriminated against in many industries when it comes to recognition, promotion and equal pay. But surely the music business is more enlightened ... or is it? As I worked on a page of the best rock songs of all time, I consulted the Rolling Stone list of 500 greatest songs and several similar lists, and I came to the conclusion that female singer/songwriters are still being shortchanged. Yes, a few songs by Carole King and Joni Mitchell made the cut, but utterly stellar songs like "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez, "Stoney End" by Laura Nyro, "Thank You" by Dido, and "Love And Affection" by Joan Armatrading were nowhere to be found. So I decided to create my own list. I hope you'll agree with me that the songs below deserve consideration for anyone's "best of" rankings. I can't agree with Rolling Stone that pop-fizzy commercial successes are "greater" than the best songs on this page. The bios and song notes below were taken primarily from the artists' Wikipedia pages, and I do not take credit for them. compiled by Michael R. Burch Here is my personal (and therefore subjective) top ten list of the best female singer/songwriters, with a few ties. I have bolded my favorite songs by each artist ... Who was America’s first female singer-songwriter? Peggy Lee entered the public consciousness at a time when it was highly unusual for commercial singers to write their own material. Born into a poor North Dakota family in 1920, Lee began her career at a local radio station, where she sang in exchange for food. She went on to collaborate on original songs with Duke Ellington and Quincy Jones, but is best known for her inventive cover versions. Lee heavily rewrote Little Willie John’s hit song "Fever" and her lyrics are now more famous than those of the original. Lee later wrote the co-songs for Disney’s "The Lady and the Tramp." She is also known for writing and performing classic songs like "He's a Tramp," "Big Spender" and "Hallelujah I Love Him So." With her extravagant blonde hair and outspoken manner, “Miss Peggy” was reportedly the inspiration for The Muppet Show’s Miss Piggy! Music Trivia: Ironically, Carole King is the Queen of the American female songwriters! (#10) Mariah Carey: Vision of Love, Love Takes Time, I Don't Wanna Cry, One Sweet Day, Hero, Someday, Fantasy, Loverboy, Dreamlover, Without You           Matraca Berg: Strawberry Wine, I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today, I'm That Kind of Girl, The Last One to Know, Faking Love, Wild Angels, Everybody Knows, Wrong Side of Memphis, You and Tequila   (#9) Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart: Dreamboat Annie, Straight On, Barracuda, Crazy On You, Magic Man, Never, Heartless, Dog And Butterfly, Even It Up           Joni Mitchell: Woodstock, Help Me, Both Sides Now, Big Yellow Taxi, Free Man In Paris, River, Blue, Chelsea Morning, You Turn Me On   (#8) Christine McVie: As Long As You Follow, The Chain, Don't Stop, Hold Me, Over My Head, Say You Love Me, Songbird, Little Lies, Think About Me   (#7) Carly Simon:  You're So Vain, Let The River Run, Anticipation, You Belong To Me, That's The Way I Always Heard It Should Be (We'll Marry)          Alanis Morissette: Ironic, You Learn, You Oughta Know, Uninvited, Hand In My Pocket, Thank U, Unsent, Hands Clean, Head Over Feet   (#6) Dido: Thank You, White Flag, Here With Me, Stan, Life For Rent, Sand In My Shoes, Hunter, End of Night, Blackbird, Don't Leave Home          Cyndi Lauper: Time After Time, Change of Heart, Hatful Of Stars, Who Let In The Rain, Good Enough, True Colors, Sisters of Avalon, She Bop          Sade: Smooth Operator, Your Love Is King, No Ordinary Love, The Sweetest Taboo, Soldier of Love, Kiss of Life, By Your Side   (#5) Stevie Nicks: Landslide, The Chain, Dreams, Rhiannon, Gypsy, Sara, Gold Dust Woman, Stand Back, Leather And Lace, Ed


In which country was the first motorway built?

News : celebrating 50 years since the opening of the M1 motorway - The AA 50 years of the M1 The motorway that revolutionised travel in the UK 29 October 2009 Fifty years ago on Monday (2 November), the first stretch of the M1 opened, heralding a revolution in travel, according to the AA. The 62-miles from Berrygrove, near Watford (now junction 5) to Crick, near Rugby (now junction 18) – opened by then Transport Minister Ernest Marples – linked north and south and is still part of the UK's longest motorway. Paul Watters, head of road and transport policy at the AA, says: "The significance of the M1 can't be underestimated – it is the backbone of the UK. It revolutionised travel as Britain's first long-distance motorway – before it opened, you'd be lucky to get to the Scottish border within eight hours from London but now you can be halfway up Scotland in that time." The AA was instrumental in the development of the M1 – it was a founder member of the Roads Campaign Council, which put pressure on government to build new roads to reduce congestion and road accidents – and laid on a big AA presence at the opening ceremony near Slip End (now junction 10), just south of Luton. Pictures from the AA archive on our flickr photostream » Leading the way The AA led the way in modernising roadside assistance, moving from the days of saluting patrols on motorcycle-sidecars to the widespread use of patrol vans with modern equipment. It formed a special motorway patrol force, equipped with Ford Escort estates and Land Rovers, and an AA spotter plane – a de Havilland Dragon Rapide piloted by a former WWII Mosquito pilot – monitored traffic flow and reported breakdowns and accidents, which were then radioed to patrols from a mobile office located at Broughton flyover, near Newport Pagnell (now junction 14). Early days The traffic in the early years was much quieter than now and, with no speed limit, overheating and blown engines were the most common call-outs. Retired AA motorway patrol Stan Hallard recollects watching AC Cobra cars being driven at more than 150mph. However, Stan says that most cars of the day were simply not designed for sustained high speed driving: "We would often go out to cars where the engine had literally blown up – people would naively drive flat-out in cars that often only had a basic one-litre engine with no temperature gauge. One trip on the motorway could be the death knell of a car." Safety equipment was limited and the hard shoulder relatively narrow and soft, so stricken cars were often just towed off the motorway – sometimes in convoy with a stricken vehicle on tow at the rear and another at the front, pushed down the hard shoulder using special rubber bumpers. The future of the M1 The engineers who designed the M1 estimated traffic of 20,000 cars per day but it now carries up to 140,000. Without upgrades, it is estimated that traffic on the M1 will flow at between 50mph and 60mph in peak periods by 2025 and will be stop-start on many sections. The current solution is to improve capacity largely through limited widening, such as the recently completed scheme from junction 6A to 10. The AA says that by 2030, it is likely that most of the M1 will be 'widened' through 'active traffic management' using variable speed limits, traffic control and hard shoulder running. During this period, technology will move forward and many vehicles will be equipped with electronics that communicate with the 'road' e.g. autopilot-type speed control and 'platooning' (when groups of vehicles 'lock together' by radar cruise control). Cars will likely produce around half the CO2 they do now – many will be hybrids or use hydrogen fuel cells – and service areas will undoubtedly have electric vehicle recharging points or battery exchange facilities. Paul Watters says: "We should never under-invest in this key part of British life and the economy – it is arguably, in communication terms, our most important motorway. "When it opened, the M1 was able to satisfy Britain's rapidly growing demand for car travel but today it struggles to


Which Chancellor, executed in 1535, became the patron saint of politicians?

Thomas More to be patron saint of politicians - Telegraph Thomas More to be patron saint of politicians By David Millward and Caroline Davies 12:00AM BST 28 Sep 2000 THOMAS MORE, beheaded in 1535 for defying Henry VIII and canonised as a martyr 400 years later, is to become the patron saint of politicians. On Nov 5, he will be proposed by the Pope as "a model and intercessor for all those who consider their political commitment as a choice of life". However, the author of Utopia - celebrated for his principles, learning and prodigious capacity for hard work - was not averse to the murkier tricks of 16th century statecraft. The campaign to bestow the honour on the statesman, executed after he refused to accept Henry VIII as head of the English Church, was led by Francesco Cossiga, Italian president from 1985 to 1992. Thomas More, chancellor of England from 1529 to 1532, was cited for the "shining example offered by the great English statesman". The ceremony recognising this will be the centrepiece of a global gathering of politicians which will mark the culmination of a pilgrimage from the Holy Land to Rome. The campaign to honour him has been backed by the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Alton, who has no doubts that St Thomas More is an appropriate role model. He said: "Sometimes we don't recognise the treasures that we have." However, Clifford Davies, history fellow at Wadham College, Oxford, said: "In standing up for his principles he did quite a lot of nasty things including torturing heretics. He was a lawyer and he did use every trick in the book to try to avoid the consequences. Actually, he was quite an adept politician. But the fact is, he was executed for his principles, so why not make him a patron saint?" Related Articles


A costermonger sells fruit and vegetables, usually from a barrow. Which particular item did a costermonger originally sell?

Mayhew London Labour, vol I. Mayhew London Labour, vol I.  Mayhew London Labour, vol I.   OF THE STREET-SELLERS OF FISH. OF THE KIND AND QUANTITIES OF FISH SOLD BY THE LONDON           COSTERMONGERS. Having now given the reader a general view of the numbers,           characters, habits, tastes, amuse- ments, language,           opinions, earnings, and vicissi- tudes of the London           costermongers,-having de-  scribed their usual style of dress, diet,           homes, conveyances, and street-markets,-having ex- plained where their donkeys are bought, or the terms on which they        borrow           them, their barrows, their stock-money, and occasionally their stock itself,-having           shown their ordinary mode of dealing, either in person or by deputy,  Begin Page 062 either at half-profits or by means of boys,- where they go           and how they manage on their rounds in town and in the country,-what are the laws           affecting them, as well as the operation of those laws upon the rest of the           community,- having done all this by way of giving the reader a general knowledge of           the street-sellers of fish, fruit, and vegetables,-I now proceed to treat more           particularly of each of these classes  seriatim. Beginning with the street-fishmongers, I shall describe,           in due order, the season when, the market where, and the classes of people by whom,           the wet-fish, the dry-fish, and the shell- fish are           severally sold and purchased in the London streets, together with all other con- comitant circumstances. The facilities of railway conveyance, by means of which fish can be sent from the           coast to the capital with much greater rapidity, and therefore be received much           fresher than was formerly the case, have brought large supplies to London from places           that before contributed no quantity to the market, and so induced, as I heard in all           quarters at Billingsgate, an extra- ordinary lowness of           price in this species of diet. This cheap food, through the agency of           the costermongers, is conveyed to every poor man's door, both in the thickly-crowded           streets where the poor reside-a family at least in a room -in the vicinity of           Drury-lane and of White- chapel, in Westminster,           Bethnal-green, and St. Giles's, and through the long miles of the suburbs. For all           low-priced fish the poor are the costermongers' best customers, and a fish diet seems           becoming almost as common among the ill-paid classes of London, as is a potato           diet among the peasants of Ireland. Indeed, now, the fish season of the poor never, or           rarely, knows an interruption. If fresh herrings are not in the market, there are           sprats; and if not sprats, there are soles, or whitings, or mackarel, or plaice. The rooms of the very neediest of our needy metropolitan population, always smell of           fish; most frequently of herrings. So much so, indeed, that to those who, like myself,           have been in the habit of visiting their dwellings, the smell of herrings, even in           comfortable homes, savours from association, so strongly of squalor and wretchedness,           as to be often most oppres- sive. The volatile oil of the           fish seems to hang about the walls and beams of the rooms for ever. Those who have           experienced the smell of fish only in a well-ordered kitchen, can form no adequate           notion of this stench, in perhaps a dilapidated and ill-drained house, and in           a rarely-cleaned room; and I have many a time he


The daughter of which famous author of many children’s books wrote “A Childhood at Green Hedges”?

Enid Blyton. All About The Author And Her Books For Children christmas stories Enid Blyton Enid Blyton was one of my favourite authors when I was a kid but I knew next to nothing about her until I started doing some research for this section of Best Books for Kids.  Enid Blyton I've always loved reading biographies of people who've lead interesting lives and I found Barbara Stoney's biography of Enid really fascinating. Over the years, quite a few books have been written about Enid Blyton and the books she wrote for children but, as far as I know, Stoney's book is the only one that's still in print. Most of the information about Enid Blyton on this page comes from Stoney's biography. It's worth hunting down this book if you'd like to read about Enid's life in more detail. A Short Biography of Enid Blyton Enid Mary Blyton was born on 11 August 1897 her home at 354 Lordship Lane in East Dulwich, South London.   At the time of Enid's birth her father, Thomas Blyton, was a cutlery salesman, although he later went into business for himself. Her mother, Theresa, was a full-time wife and mother. Enid would later write that her mother's life revolved around housework. This probably seems like a strange thing to include in a page about Enid's life but it was to prove quite important because Enid, as she grew up, had very different interests from her mother.  She was not at all keen on housework and this was to cause problems between mother and daughter.  Early Life The Blyton family moved to Beckenham in Kent when Enid was a baby and she and her two younger brothers, Hanley and Carey, spent their childhood there. Enid was very close to her father and together they enjoyed walks in the country, gardening, the theatre, art, music and literature. Her mother didn't share these interests and disapproved of her husband and daughter's activities, mostly because she wanted Enid to help in the house. In fact, Enid and her mother had nothing in common and their relationship was difficult, to say the least. It became even more difficult after Theresa and Thomas separated when Enid was not quite thirteen. Enid seems to have seen her father's departure from the family home as a personal betrayal and her mother's approach to the situation didn't help. Because separation and divorce were scandalous in England in 1910, Theresa never admitted to the break-up but told people that her husband was 'away on business'. She forced her daughters to keep up this pretense until their father's death in 1920, even though they knew that Thomas was living with his mistress, Florence, with whom he had another family. Enid visited her father at his office in London several times but their relationship was never as close as it had been.  Childhood & School Days When she was young, Enid went to a small school near her home called 'Tresco'. The school was run by two sisters and Enid enjoyed her time there. She had a good memory, was a bright student and did well at most subjects, especially art, nature study and English. In those pre-TV days, Enid and her brothers and friends played the games that all children liked to play. They pretended to be Red Indians, Burglars and Policemen and built cubby houses outdoors. Enid also enjoyed card games and board games like Snakes and Ladders, Draughts and Chess. And, of course, she loved reading. She read books like  Black Beauty  and  Little Women  but loved myths, legends and poetry too. When she was ten, Enid started at a school in Beckenham called St Christopher's. The school accepted boarders but Enid attended as a day-girl. An intelligent girl who was fun to be with, she was popular and enjoyed school life. Enid also had a talent for music and played the piano from a young age. She preferred writing though and, as a teenager, spent less and less time on her music as she devoted more time to her writing.  Writing Enid had always written and knew from an early age that she wanted to be a writer but it was when her father left that she really began to write in earnest. Lonely without him and unhappy in her relationsh


The domed folly known as the Ashton Memorial overlooks which English city?

A Look at Lancaster Ancient Britain ï¿½ Castles ï¿½ Churches/Cathedrals ï¿½ Houses/Manors ï¿½ Museums ï¿½ Towns ï¿½ Countryside ï¿½ London ï¿½ History & Folklore ï¿½ Travel Tips Test daily news A Look at Lancaster by Elizabeth Ashworth Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire in the north west of England. It is the seat of the Duchy of Lancaster and much of the land is owned by Her Majesty the Queen, who also holds the hereditary title Duke of Lancaster. The town, which became a city in 1937, has a long and interesting history which stretches back to pre-Roman times. The Norman castle, which was originally built as a fortification against the Scots, stands in good repair and is still used as both a court and a prison. Once known as 'The Hanging Town' because more prisoners were sentenced to death here than at any other court in the land, it is famous for the trial of the Lancashire Witches. In the 18th century Lancaster was an important port as the town was then accessible to sea going ships. Tidal changes resulted in the silting up of the river estuary and nowadays only small boats can sail so far up the River Lune. Most of the fine buildings in the city date from this era of prosperity and the boom in the cotton and slave trade with Africa and the USA. Nowadays Lancaster is known for its culture, its history and its rapidly expanding University, which was established in 1964. The Castle As its name suggests, Lancaster was once a Roman settlement, with a fort, built by the Roman general Agricola, on the site overlooking the River Lune which is today occupied by Lancaster Castle and Lancaster Priory. This area of northern England was fiercely fought over after the Norman Conquest by King William of England and the Scots, continuing until 1092 when King William Rufus captured Carlisle and set the border between England and Scotland along the line which still divides it today. One of William's loyal supporters, Roger of Poitou, was rewarded by the king for his loyalty with the gift of land here, and it was probably around this time that the stone castle was built both as a residence and as a fortification against any further invasion from the north. The castle would originally have been a stone keep surrounded by wooden fencing, but advances in the techniques of warfare, including the use of catapults, meant that in later years, the area surrounding the keep came to be protected by stone walls, with towers at regular intervals from where archers could shoot at the advancing enemy. Interestingly, Lancaster was captured again in 1715 by the Jacobite army, but the occupation lasted only two days. The ownership of the Castle passed through a succession of noble families and their names and the dates are recorded on an oak panel in the Shire Hall. Then, in 1399, Richard II claimed the Duchy as property of the monarch and the land and surrounding estates remain in the hands of the ruling king or queen to this day. Apart from some rebuilding after the Civil War, later additions to the Castle include the 14th Century Witches Tower, the impressive gatehouse which was added at the beginning of the 15th Century in the reign of Henry IV; and the 19th Century women's prison. And until the Bankruptcy Act of 1866 it also housed a debtors' prison. At the end of the 18th Century, a new Crown Court and Shire Hall were begun to the designs of Thomas Harrison, and were completed in 1798. Because of its security, high profile trials are still held here. In 1821 a women's prison was built to a design by Joseph Gandy. It was designed to be a semi circle that contained five tiers of cells leading off a central gallery, so that a large number of prisoners could be supervised from one central point. It is still being used for its original purpose today, though its inmates are now male prisoners. And the conditions are an improvement on the original damp and completely dark dungeon, where visitors can get a taste of what imprisonment would have once been like as the guide clangs shut the huge door of three inch thick oak with metal st


Which type of grass is extensively used in the binding together of sand dunes?

| The Wildlife Trusts The Wildlife Trusts Philip Precey About The dense, grey-green tufts of Marram Grass are a familiar feature of our coastal sand dunes: its spiky leaves featuring in many games during long summer picnics at the beach. But Marram Grass is not just a convenient child's sword or hiding place, it plays a vital role in stabilising the dunes, its fibrous, matted roots binding the sand down. Well-adapted to a harsh life at the coast, its glossy, rolled-up leaves protect it from drying out. How to identify The dense tufts of spiky Marram Grass are a distinctive feature of this plant. Its leaves are rolled and dense flower spikes appear in July and August. Where to find it Widespread around the coasts of the UK. Habitats December How can people help Marram Grass is an important feature of our coastal sand dunes: it helps to stabilise the dunes which encourages the colonisation of other plants. The Wildlife Trusts look after many coastal habitats for the benefit of all kinds of plants and wildflowers, and are working closely with farmers, landowners and developers to promote wildlife-friendly practices in these areas. We have a vision of a 'Living Landscape': a network of habitats and wildlife corridors across town and country, which are good for both wildlife and people. You can support this greener vision for the future by joining your local Wildlife Trust.


Which World War Two general was nicknamed ‘Vinegar Joe’?

6/12/2006 • World War II Lieutenant General Joseph ‘Vinegar Joe’ Stilwell did not give up a fight easily. As long as there was the slightest possibility of salvaging a situation, the irascible infantryman saw himself duty-bound to try. In Burma during the dark days of May 1942, Stilwell’s stubborn insistence that an attempt be made to re-establish control over retreating Chinese troops put the general and his small staff directly in harm’s way. In the midst of the chaos of a complete Allied military collapse, Stilwell finally was forced to undergo a long march to India with the Japanese snapping at his heels. By the end of April 1942, it was obvious that Lt. Gen. Sir Harold Alexander’s Burma army could no longer hold a defensive line against the Japanese, who were pushing northward from Rangoon to Mandalay. Three Chinese armies had moved into Burma from the province of Yunnan between February and April in an effort to restore the situation. Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek had placed Stilwell in command of this Chinese Expeditionary Force. Unfortunately for the Allies, however, Stilwell found his Chinese subordinates recalcitrant in following his instructions, which were frequently contradicted by Chiang’s own direct communications with his generals. The command situation was further complicated when Chinese forces were placed under Alexander’s overall command. As Alexander attempted to hold a defensive line from Prome in the west to Toungoo in the east, in late April the Japanese smashed the Chinese 55th Division on the Toungoo front and rapidly pushed northward toward Lashio (the starting point of the crucial Burma Road) and Myitkyina. This action panicked the Allied troops, who also gave ground along the Irrawaddy River and commenced a general retreat toward Mandalay. Stilwell himself had arrived in Burma in March, thinking to use his Chinese troops to launch a counteroffensive against the Japanese. In February he had been dispatched to the Chinese capital of Chungking with the task of improving the fighting efficiency of the Chinese army, which was already deeply involved in fighting the Japanese. Chiang Kai-shek was the supreme Allied commander for the China theater, and Stilwell had been designated his Allied chief of staff. The Chinese had been obtaining supplies from the United States through the port of Rangoon; these were then trucked into China over the treacherous Burma Road. A major Japanese aim was to cut off this means of supply to Chiang by invading Burma and seizing that route. Because of the direct threat to Chinese interests, Chiang was willing to send troops into Burma, and Stilwell sought and eventually received command of this Chinese Expeditionary Force. But Chiang refused to permit Stilwell to use the Chinese without strings attached, and this interference made Chinese armies in the field less effective than they otherwise might have been. With the general collapse of the entire Allied position in late April, Stilwell found himself unable to control the movements of his troops. Chiang, from his headquarters in Chungking, persisted in issuing contradictory orders both to Stilwell and the Chinese generals in Burma. In one instance, Chiang sent word to Stilwell on April 29 that Mandalay (a militarily undefendable city) was to be held at all costs. The next day Chiang reversed this edict. Frustrating as such intrusions were, Chiang’s mercurial temperament was the least of Stilwell’s problems. In late April, Stilwell had two forward headquarters in Burma–one at Shwebo (north of Mandalay) and one at Lashio. There were small American staffs at each of these headquarters, but on April 25 the Lashio headquarters was abandoned and its staff sent on to China via the Burma Road. Stilwell was at Shwebo when Alexander ordered the evacuation of all Burma. The order was simply a confirmation of what was already taking place, as British, Indian, Burmese and Chinese troops were engaged in a chaotic scramble along escape routes to India and China. Despite the anarchy that surrounded him, Stilwell remained calm, even af


In which American state does the Mississippi river enter the Gulf of Mexico?

Mississippi | history - geography - state, United States | Britannica.com state, United States (2010) 2,967,297; (2016 est.) 2,988,726 Total area (sq mi) "Virtute et Armis (By Valor and Arms)" State bird2 Seats in U.S. House of Representatives 4 (of 435) 1Excluding military abroad. 2The wood duck is the state waterfowl. Mississippi, constituent state of the United States of America. Its name derives from a Native American word meaning “great waters” or “father of waters.” Mississippi became the 20th state of the union in 1817. Jackson is the state capital. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. State capitol building (front) and the cityscape of Jackson, Miss., U.S. Philip Gould/Corbis Mississippi is smaller than most of the U.S. states and is bounded on the north by Tennessee , on the east by Alabama , on the south by Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico , and on the west by Louisiana and Arkansas . Mississippi is naturally well suited to agriculture; its soil is rich and deep, and its landscape is laced with many rivers. Until the mid-20th century the dominance of a rural, unhurried lifestyle generally worked to the state’s advantage. This way of life was manifest in part in a culture of gentility, the legacy of which is still evident in the many historic mansions located in such old towns as Columbus , Biloxi , Natchez , Vicksburg , and Holly Springs . Longwood, an antebellum mansion in Natchez, Miss., U.S. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. With increasing urbanization and industrialization, however, the leisurely approach to life in many ways became a hindrance to Mississippi’s economic and social development. For decades an unusually large dependent population, a predominantly agricultural economy, and a prevailing resistance to change have kept Mississippi’s per capita income low and created an inadequate standard of living for many families. Moreover, the state has been the site of intense interracial conflict, sitting centre stage during the civil rights movement of the mid-20th century. In the early 21st century roughly half of all Mississippians still lived in rural areas—though not necessarily on farms—and the state continued to rank low in many economic indexes. Area 48,441 square miles (125,460 square km). Population (2010) 2,967,297; (2016 est.) 2,988,726. Land Elvis Presley Mississippi is a low-lying state, its highest point reaching only about 800 feet (240 metres) above sea level . Except for its hilly northeast corner, Mississippi lies entirely within the eastern gulf segment of the broader Coastal Plain physiographic region. It has generally low topographic elevations and extensive tracts of marshy land. Its major soil areas encompass hills, plains, prairies, river lowlands, and pine woods. Relief and soils In the northwestern part of the state, the great fertile crescent called the Delta is the old floodplain of the Yazoo and Mississippi rivers, comprising some 6,250 square miles (16,200 square km) of black alluvial soil several feet deep. Once subject to disastrous floods, the land is now protected by levee and reservoir systems. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Opening land to farming and hunting reduced the once abundant wildlife drastically. Some animals, such as wolves and pumas (cougars), are extinct in the state; bobcats are rare and bears even rarer. Deer, however, are once again thriving, and the population of wild turkeys has increased significantly. The state has a variety of resident and migratory birds, including, among others, bald and golden eagles, many types of waterfowl and wading birds, and an array of warblers, woodpeckers, and hummingbirds. Some game fish can be caught throughout the year, with catfish , bream, bass, and perch the leading freshwater species. The gulf is rich in shrimp, oysters, and fish, together forming the mainstay of an extensive commercial fishery. People Population composition People of white European ancestry—primarily British, Irish, or northern European—account for about three-fifths of Mississippi’s residents, while African Americ


Which Thames dredger made the headlines in 1989 when it rammed the Marchioness pleasure boat?

August 20, 1989: 51 people killed as Thames pleasure boat Marchioness is rammed by dredger - BT   August 20, 1989: 51 people killed as Thames pleasure boat Marchioness is rammed by dredger Partygoers in their twenties died when the anchor of the 1,880-tonne Bowbelle sliced through the side of the pleasure cruiser, which rolled over and began to capsize immediately.   Print this story The Marchioness, a small pleasure cruiser packed with around 130 partygoers, was sunk with the loss of 51 lives when it was struck by a barge on the River Thames on this day in 1989. The boat, which had been hired by a young entrepreneur named Jonathan Phang to celebrate the birthday of his business partner Antonio de Vasconcellos, was hit by the dredger Bowbelle near the Cannon Street railway bridge as both vessels headed downriver in the early hours of the morning. The anchor of the 1,880-tonne barge sliced through the side of the 46-tonne Marchioness, which rolled over and began to capsize immediately; as it did so, the Bowbelle (pictured below) continued forward, pushing the stricken cruiser underneath it and deeper into the water. The smaller boat was completely immersed in no more than 30 seconds, with most of the victims trapped in its hull. The majority of survivors had been on its upper decks when the collision occurred; police commandeered other small boats to pick them up at the scene. An investigation found the disaster to have been caused by the poor visibility from each ship's wheelhouse, the fact that both vessels were using the centre of the river and the lack of clear instructions to the lookout on the Bowbelle. The captain of the dredger, Douglas Henderson, was twice prosecuted for failing to keep an adequate lookout but was acquitted as the juries were unable to reach a verdict on both occasions. However, a coroner's inquest in 1995 found the victims had been unlawfully killed. Survivors and families of victims campaigned more than 10 years for a public inquiry, which was finally held in the year 2000. Chairman Lord Justice Clarke’s report blamed poor lookouts on both vessels for the collision and criticised the boats’ owners for failing to instruct and monitor their crews correctly. Lord Clarke’s recommendations also led to four lifeboat search and rescue stations being set up on the Thames by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 2002, as well as changes to laws governing inland waters. What are your memories of the Marchioness disaster? Has enough been done to prevent such things happening again? Let us know in the Comments section below. Marchioness disaster - Did you know? The Marchioness was launched in 1923, and had been one of the 'little ships' involved in the Dunkirk evacuation of 1940. The boat was hired to celebrate the 26th birthday of banker Antonio de Vasconcellos, who would lose his life in the disaster; most of the other victims were also in their twenties. Captain Douglas Henderson was not at the helm of the Bowbelle when it hit the Marchioness.  It was later revealed that he had drunk either five or six pints of beer in the afternoon before the collision. Among the victims was Frances Dallaglio, sister of future England rugby captain Lawrence. At just 19 years of age, she was the youngest person on board. Several victims managed to escape from the stricken vessel but subsequently drowned in the strong currents on the Thames. The Bowbelle crew were also criticised for not deploying its two lifeboats and life rafts. A decision was made by Westminster Coroner Dr Paul Knapman to cut off the hands of more than 20 victims for identification purposes - an action later criticised by Lord Clarke in his 2001 report. A 2001 inquiry by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency into the competence and behaviour of Douglas Henderson concluded that he should be allowed to keep his master's certificate, as he met all the service and medical fitness requirements. Seven years later, the Bowbelle – since sold to a Madeiran company and renamed Bom Rei - split in half and sank off the coast of Ponta do Sol, Madeira. It


Which powerful illuminant gas is produce from the action of water on calcium carbide?

Acetylene | Define Acetylene at Dictionary.com acetylene [uh-set-l-een, -in] /əˈsɛt lˌin, -ɪn/ Spell noun, Chemistry. 1. a colorless gas, C 2 H 2 , having an etherlike odor, produced usually by the action of water on calcium carbide or by pyrolysis of natural gas: used especially in metal cutting and welding, as an illuminant, and in organic synthesis. Expand [uh-set-l-en-ik] /əˌsɛt lˈɛn ɪk/ (Show IPA), adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for acetylene Expand Historical Examples They had put a table at the back of this cave, and an acetylene light illuminated it. Csar or Nothing Po Baroja Baroja Finer grades are cut into slate pencils and acetylene burners. Practical Cinematography and Its Applications Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot acetylene, a compound of carbon and hydrogen, is used in this way. British Dictionary definitions for acetylene Expand noun 1. a colourless flammable gas used in the manufacture of organic chemicals and in cutting and welding metals. Formula: C2H2 Systematic name ethyne 2. Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for acetylene Expand n. gaseous hydrocarbon, 1864, from French acétylène, coined by French chemist Marcelin-Pierre-Eugène Berthelot (1823-1907) from chemical ending -ene + acetyl, which was coined from acetic in 1839 by German chemist Justus von Liebig; see acetic . Liebig's coinage was in reference to a different radical; acetyl was transferred to its current sense in 1850s, but Berthelot's coinage was based on the original use of acetyl. The name acetylene is an unfortunate one as the hydrocarbon is not directly related to the modern acetyl radical and the molecule ... contains a triple bond, not a double bond which the suffix -ene (q.v.) implies. [Flood, "Origins of Chemical Names," 1963] Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper


Who played investigator Jim Hardie in the TV western series “Wells Fargo”?

Dale Robertson, Star of TV Westerns, Dies at 89 | Hollywood Reporter Dale Robertson, Star of TV Westerns, Dies at 89 5:55 PM PST 2/27/2013 by Mike Barnes Getty Images Dale Robertson in "Tales of Wells Fargo" The Oklahoma native toplined NBC’s “Tales of Wells Fargo” in the late 1950s and appeared in scores of other films and TV shows. Dale Robertson, a veteran of movies and TV Westerns of the 1950s and ’60s who played “the left-handed gun” on NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo, died Wednesday of lung cancer and pneumonia in a San Diego hospital. He was 89. An Oklahoma native and member of the Cowboy Hall of Fame, Robertson also starred as gambler-turned-railroad tycoon Ben Calhoun in Iron Horse, which ran on ABC from 1966-68, and as the Texas billionaire title character in NBC’s 1987-88 adventure series J.J. Starbuck, from Stephen J. Cannell Productions. The tall, handsome Robertson also had recurring roles on TV’s Dynasty, Dallas, Harts of the West and Death Valley Days, on which he followed Ronald Reagan and Robert Taylor as a narrator. Robertson (who was right-handed) played Wells Fargo special agent Jim Hardie -- referred to as “the left-handed gun” -- in Tales of Wells Fargo, which was set in the 1870s and ’80s and aired on NBC from 1957-62. On the series, Hardie protected stagecoaches from outlaws and Indians, seeing them safely to their destination. He reportedly did his own stunts. Born in Harrah, Okla., Robertson grew up around horses. He served in World War II, where he was twice wounded in combat and won bronze and silver stars. He also boxed professionally before movie scouts spotted his picture in a photography store and signed him up. Robertson’s film credits included Fighting Man of the Plains (1949) with Randolph Scott, Call Mr. Mister (1951) with Dan Dailey, The Farmer Takes a Wife with Betty Grable (1953) and the Arctic-set Top of the World (1955). Robertson used his Hollywood earnings to raise horses on the Haymaker Farms ranch that he built in Yukon, Okla., just west of Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Gazette reported that at one time, he owned 235 horses, and some of the mares had five world champions. Robertson sold the ranch and horses years ago, and in May, his wife Susan, who survives him, presided over an auction that sold much of his memorabilia and belongings.


Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was reprimanded after head butting a player from which Premier League team?

Newcastle fine Alan Pardew £100,000 for head-butt on Hull's David Meyler | Football | The Guardian Newcastle fine Alan Pardew £100,000 for head-butt on Hull's David Meyler • Incident happens during second half of Newcastle game • 'It was a heat of the moment thing – I massively regret it' Observer Sport staff and agencies Saturday 1 March 2014 11.50 EST First published on Saturday 1 March 2014 11.50 EST Close This article is 2 years old Newcastle United last night fined Alan Pardew £100,000 after the manager lost control on the touchline and head-butted the Hull City midfielder David Meyler during his side's 4-1 win at the KC Stadium on Saturday . The manager was sent to the stands by the referee, Kevin Friend, in the 72nd minute of the match at the KC Stadium, but that could be the least of his worries. Newcastle's action over what they called "unacceptable" behaviour came amid calls from figures within the game for Pardew's dismissal, with the former Newcastle manager Graeme Souness calling it "a sackable offence". The FA chairman, Greg Dyke, responded to the incident by saying: "Clearly it looks serious and we will investigate it." Pardew, who has some form when it comes to pitch-side confrontations, can expect a significant ban. The incident was sparked by Pardew taking exception to being moved out of the way by Meyler as he retrieved the ball for a throw-in. Pardew objected to the contact from the home defender and, after squaring up to Meyler as he sought to rejoin play, the manager then head-butted him in the face. Alan Pardew is lead away from the touchline at the KC Stadium after headbutting Hull City's David Meyler. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Pardew was contrite after the match, telling Sky: "It was a heat of the moment thing – I massively regret it. I think I'm going to sit down now because that's two or three incidents I've been involved in. I didn't mean to do anything aggressive but I moved my head and that's enough." Hull's manager, Steve Bruce, said: "I think Alan knows he's been stupid and apologised. I haven't seen [anything like it] before but it's gone, as far as we're concerned. We've accepted his apology." Bruce saw no blame on the part of his player, who was booked. "I'm pleased with David Meyler's reaction. If he'd rolled around on the floor it could have been a much bigger incident." Newcastle, revealing Pardew's fine, said in a statement: "His behaviour was unacceptable and is not the behaviour we expect from the manager of Newcastle United … Sadly, the headlines tomorrow will not be focused on the result or the efforts of the players, but instead on the actions of our manager. Alan unreservedly apologised immediately following the game to the player, to Hull City and its fans, and to the fans of Newcastle United . "We have held discussions this evening with Alan … and it is clear he deeply regrets his actions. Alan has accepted a formal warning in relation to his behaviour today and also a club fine of £100,000. The club is now drawing a line under this matter." However, Pardew's actions drew a more severe response from elsewhere in football. The Match of the Day host Gary Lineker called the incident "inexcusable", while the former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage called it "a shocking act. A ridiculous, scandalous act from a manager who's got previous. Has his position become untenable? It's violent conduct, a three-game ban for a player, but because it's a manager I feel it's worse. I would give him a complete ban from now until the end of the season … home and away games. But given Newcastle's current position [safe from the threat of relegation], is that any punishment?" The former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer told BeIN Sports: "I have never seen anything like that before, ever. I've seen managers on the touchline losing their patience perhaps, pushing other managers, but I've never ever seen a manager head-butt a player … It is absolutely staggering. Frankly I wouldn't be surprised, and I don't think anybody will be surprised at all, if Alan Pardew were to resign over this. "Ev


Trappist monks are a stricter version of which religious order?

Homepage | Becoming a Trappist Monk or Nun Becoming a Trappist Monk or Nun Homepage One Order, Seventeen Monasteries of Monks and Nuns We are the Cistercians of the Strict Observance, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, also known as "Trappists" or "Trappistines". We encourage you to explore our lives by exploring these pages, especially our "Newcomer's Guide." If you are interested in becoming a Cistercian monk or nun, your will find helpful information here: Steps to Becoming a Monk or Nun and links to all of our monasteries. Please enjoy exploring this site! Learn more about us →   Daily Reflection: January 19, 2017 A brother said to Pambo: “Say something to the Archbishop so that he may be edified. Pambo replied: “If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech.” Which is better for the other to speak or to say nothing? Monastic Wisdom Abba Poemen Said If a monk overcomes two things, he can be free from this world." And a brother asked: "What are they?" He replied: "Bodily ease and vainglory." The Newcomer's Guide to the Trappists An Excellent Introduction to the Trappists for Young People! Get the basics concerning a beautiful and distinctive sixteen hundred year old monastic tradition still lived by monks and nuns in the U.S. Today. News What sign can this be? What sort of sign were the shepherds given? You will find the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. . . .What kind of sign, then, can this be?           Indeed it is a great one, if only we understand it rightly. Such understanding will be ours if this message of love is not restricted to our hearing, but if our hearts too are illuminated by the light which accompanied the appearance of the angels. The angel who first proclaimed the good tidings appeared surrounded by light to teach us that only those whose minds are spiritually enlightened can truly understand the message.           Much can be said of this sign; but as time is passing, I shall say little, and briefly. Bethlehem, the house of bread, is holy Church, in which is distributed the body of Christ, the true bread. The manger at Bethlehem is the altar of the church; it is there that Christ's creatures are fed. This is the table of which it is written, You have prepared a banquet for me. In this manger is Jesus, wrapped in the swaddling clothes which are the outward form of the sacraments. Here in this manger, under the species of bread and wine, is the true body and blood of Christ. We believe that Christ himself is here, but he is wrapped in swaddling clothes; in other words, he is invisibly contained in these sacraments. We have no greater or clearer proof of Christ's birth than our daily reception of his body and blood at the holy altar, and the sight of him who was once born for us of a virgin daily offered in sacrifice for us. Christmas Discourse, Aelred of Rievaulx


Although not necessarily wearing them, which item of clothing does a grabologist take great pleasure in collecting?

Long Distance Walking Advice Long Distance Walking Advice The Aftermath General The are lots of walking tips available in almost any walking magazine or book, so it is not my intention to repeat all of these here. Instead I will concentrate on the things I have found from my own personal experiences, particularly those relating to long distance walking, rather than walking in general, although there is obviously a large overlap between the two. Many of these things have been mentioned in various places throughout my walking diaries and in other pages relating to boots and other items of equipment, but it is probably more useful to collect them all together into one place. Building up to a Long Distance Walk I often have people asking me how I can manage to keep going day after day for two or three weeks of continuous walking through all sorts of weather conditions and over terrain that is often steep and difficult. To those who only ever stir from their armchairs to walk a hundred yards down to the pub and back, and go everywhere else by car, it seems an almost impossible feat of stamina and endurance, and certainly not one that could ever be enjoyed. However, it is something that most people in good health are capable of if they are prepared to spend some time building themselves up to it. With youth, it is often quite possible to embark on a strenuous schedule with only a small amount of training, as muscles and general fitness can be built up fairly quickly, though it may involve quite a bit of pain and suffering in the process. With advancing age, the process can be a lot slower, so it is much more sensible to work up to things gradually, but the end result can be the same. It is true that age limits the absolute peak of fitness that can be achieved, but walking is not an activity that demands such intensive levels of exertion; it is more dependent on achieving a moderate level of physical fitness but having a lot of stamina, which older people are quite capable of. Despite my earlier comments, I met a chap who looked like he was in his sixties walking the Pennine Way. He had not done any serious walking for twenty years and only did a couple of walks before embarking on the Pennine Way. His chosen schedule was fairly moderate over 20 days, but he was carrying all his own things, which weighed a few pounds more than mine. Although he was finding the walk a bit hard going, he managed to keep on at a steady pace, and I felt sure that he would have made it to the finish, though I left him behind a bit before the halfway point. At the time of writing (2013), I am coming up to 69 years old and have not yet found any serious decline in my walking ability. I am perhaps a little slower now than I was at my peak, but I am still able to keep up a good walking pace over considerable distances and over mountainous terrain. My peak fitness was probably in my mid fifties, but I think this was more because of the amount of work and exercise that I was doing at the time than a matter of age. Hence, I am certainly fitter and better able to undertake strenuous walks than I ever was in my teens and twenties, simply because I now do much more exercise. It is often not old age itself that causes too much decline in walking ability, but the effects of illnesses and diseases. So long as it is possible to stay healthy, there is only a gradual decline in physical ability with advancing years, and I have been lucky enough so far to remain in good health. The amount of build up that is required for a long distance walk depends very much on what level you are starting at. If you already do a lot of walking, albeit only on a one-day basis, then it is relatively easy to gain the extra fitness required, but if you have spent many years doing very little physical activity then a considerably longer period will be necessary. Whatever your level of fitness, the thing to do is to start off with whatever level of walking you are capable of and try to do this on a regular basis, gradually pushing the limits up as you build up in fitness. For those with


Emil Zatopek won the 5000 and 10000 metres at the 1952 Olympics. In which event did his wife Dana also win a gold medal?

Athletics at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com Athletics at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Games Date Started: July 20, 1952 Date Finished: July 27, 1952 Events: 33 Participants: 963 (776 men and 187 women) from 57 countries Youngest Participant:   Barbara Jones (15 years, 124 days) Oldest Participant:   John Deni (49 years, 75 days) Most Medals (Athlete): 3 athletes with 3 medals Most Medals (Country): United States (31 medals) Overview The world had not recovered somewhat from the ravages of World War II, and the level of athletics competition was increasing yearly. The 1952 Olympics saw the début of athletes from the Soviet Union, who had competed at the 1946 and 1950 European Championships, but had passed on the 1948 Olympics, for rather Byzantine reasons. Germany also competed again, after they were not invited in 1948. Titularly Germany was to be represented by a combined team from East and West Germany, but the German team was entirely from West Germany, as the East Germans refused to compete alongside their Western counterparts. The 1952 Olympics were opened by two Finnish track legends. The torch was brought into the stadium at the Opening Ceremony by [Paavo Nurmi], the greatest athletic star in the Finnish pantheon. He then handed it to [Hannes Kolehmainen] , winner of the 5K and 10K in 1912 and the marathon in 1920, who lit the Olympic Flame. Having been opened by distance runners, it was fitting that the Helsinki Olympics were the private party of the great Czechoslovakian runner, [Emil Zátopek]. Zátopek won the 5,000/10,000 double in dominating fashion. He had never before run a marathon, but elected to enter that race as well, and won quite easily, completeing a unique Olympic distance triple. His family did quite well, as his wife, Dana Zátopková, won the women’s javelin gold medal. The German team won no events, but collected two silvers and three bronze medals. The Soviet men did won any gold medals, but [Galina Zybina] won the shot put and [Nina Romashkova-Ponomaryova] the discus throw. Medalists A Sports Reference Site : About SR/Olympics  | Privacy Statement  | Conditions & Terms of Service | Use of Data Data provided by OlyMADMen , led by Hilary Evans, Arild Gjerde, Jeroen Heijmans, and Bill Mallon. Members: David Foster, Martin Frank, Jørn Jensen, Carl-Johan Johansson, Taavi Kalju, Martin Kellner, George Masin, Stein Opdahl, Wolf Reinhardt, Ralf Regnitter, Paul Tchir, Magne Teigen, Christian Tugnoli, Morten Aarlia Torp, and Ralf Schlüter. Sports Reference LLC and www.sports-reference.com are not sponsored by or affiliated with the Olympics, the United States Olympic Committee or the International Olympic Committee. Trademarks featured or referred to on this website are the property of their respective trademark holders and not Sports Reference LLC or www.sports-reference.com . Part of the


The Lempira is the main unit of currency in which central American country?

A Look at Central America Money and Currency The official unit of currency in Panama is the Panama balboa. However, the official paper currency of Panama is the US dollar. More » The Guatemala Quetzal. One unit of Guatemalan currency is called the quetzal. More » The Honduras Lempira. One unit of Honduran currency is called the lempira. More » The El Salvador Colón (Now replaced by the US Dollar). One unit of El Salvadoran currency used to be called the colón, divided into 100 centavos. However, in 2001, El Salvador adopted the US dollar as its official unit of currency. More » The Costa Rica Colón.


Which golfer won the British Open, US Open and Canadian Open in 1971?

Complete List of British Open Winners By Brent Kelley Updated January 13, 2017. Below is the full list of British Open winners dating to the founding of the Open Championship in the mid-19th century. Before we see the list, though, let's start with the oldest major's winningest golfers. The Most-Frequent Winners of the Open 6 wins - Harry Vardon, 1896, 1898, 1899, 1903, 1911, 1914 5 wins - James Braid, 1901, 1905, 1906, 1908, 1910 5 wins - J.H. Taylor, 1894, 1895, 1900, 1909, 1913 5 wins - Peter Thomson, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1965 5 wins - Tom Watson, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1983 4 wins - Old Tom Morris, Young Tom Morris, Willie Park Sr., Walter Hagen, Bobby Locke 3 wins - Jamie Anderson, Bob Ferguson, Bobby Jones, Henry Cotton, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods 2 wins - Bob Martin, Willie Park Jr., Harold Hilton, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els The Full Roster of British Open Champions Here are all the winners in Open Championship history (a-amateur): continue reading below our video What Size Bike Should I Buy?


What was the name of the model tragically shot by Oscar Pretorius?

Oscar Pistorius charged with MURDER of model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp | Daily Mail Online Screams, shouts... then four shots: Pistorius charged with murdering his model lover after gun horror at 4am Incident happened at his Pretoria mansion, north of Johannesburg Dead woman is former FHM model Reeva Steenkamp She was shot several times in the head and hand Neighbours woken at 4am with 'screaming and shouting' Pistorius believed to have told police he thought she was an intruder Media reporting it could have been a Valentine's Day surprise gone wrong Celebrated sprinter is in police custody before a court hearing tomorrow Officers have visited his house before over alleged 'domestic incidents'


Which aviation company manufactured the Cherokee, Comanche and Seminole light aircraft?

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What is the name of the traditional stiff skirt worn by Greek and Albanian men?

Traditional dress of Greece: Colors of Greek culture Traditional dress of Greece: Colors of Greek culture Arts , Culture , Handicrafts , People Smiling Greek girls in cultural outfits. Image by Dorret A country by taking the name of which, at once our thoughts begin to float on the ocean of culture, civilization and traditions; is known as Greece in the lovely planet. This fabulous European country is located on the southern part of Europe, which is mainly a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 3,000 islands.  Most of us know that the Greek culture has been evolved over thousands of year and is adorned with the influences of the most ancient civilizations of the world. Greek dancers in traditional costumes. Image by anoldent There is enormous amount of material that can be produced on the Greek culture which has probably one of the longest histories on earth. But let us mainly focus upon the subject and i-e traditional dress of Greece which is the historic Greek garb having antiquity characteristics. The story of the traditional Greek outfits start with the homemade clothing known as chiton, peplos, himation and chlamys. These all ancient Greek clothing consisted of lengths of linen or wool fabric, which generally was rectangular. Men’s robes went down to their knees, whereas women’s went down to their ankles. Most of these garments were simply draped over the bodies. A Greek boy dancing in traditional garb. Image by jball359 During the Byzantine era, the designs of the outfits were changed and more colors and patterns were introduced in Greece. New trends for embroideries were adopted and the usage of the imported silk and other fabrics became common. Conservativeness and modesty were though the key features of these Byzantine traditional costumes. Heads were normally covered by a variety of head-cloths and veils and different types of shoes were in use as well. The Greek dancers of that time wore short sleeves or sleeveless dresses, which may or may not have a lighter sleeve from an undergarment below. They had tight wide belts, and their skirts had a flared and differently colored element. Colors of Greek culture – Image by minolta102 From the mid of the 15th century, Greece was a part of the great Ottoman empire till its declaration of independence in 1821. During that era, fashion in clothing was greatly flourished and many regional costumes were developed. Due to strict legal regulations, different religious communities were bound to wear distinct types of clothes. The well to do Greeks also got inspired from the European style clothing and a fusion of east and west was developed in that era in clothing. From Greece – Traditional outfits – Image by FOSM Today, if we see the traditional costume worn by Greeks in various national festivals and cultural events, that is the invention of King Otto and Queen Amalia, respectively, who arrived in Greece in the late 1830’s. These dresses became the identical emblem of the Greek people. Queen Amalia gave the design of Amalia dress as the court dress. Amalia dress was having a loose-fitting, white cotton or silk shirt, often decorated with lace at the neck and handcuffs, over which a richly embroidered jacket or vest is worn, usually of dark blue or claret velvet. Today, Amalia Costume seems to have lost much of its symbolic content. A model portraying Greek goddess of harvest. Greek Myth – Image by Rachel Adams In different parts of Greece, women wore a variety of traditional dresses but the main features are almost same. They wore a simple cotton dress as a base, with a sleeveless wool vest over it. Different types of aprons, colorful sashes and large bright colored scarves were also integral accessories for the dresses of Greek women. Karagouna – Folk costumes of Greece – Image by Novica Another traditional outfit that was once worn as favorite attire was the karagouna. This dress was bedecked with tremendous embroidery and colorful elements and it included many layers, starting with a black-fringed white under dress. The Greek women also used some outer


What name is given to the point of a planet’s orbit furthest from the sun?

At what times are the planets closest and farthest from the Sun? At what times are the planets closest and farthest from the Sun? Well, I think that we might all recall some teacher somewhere telling us that the Earth is actually closest to the Sun when the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing winter (December 21), and is farthest during the summer months ( June 21) north of the equator. We were all pretty bewildered by this until we learned that the Earth's axis maintains a fixed orientation to the plane of the solar system such that when it is at 'perihelion' at the Winter Solstice, the Earth is tilted away from the Sun, and the slanting of the solar rays cause less light energy to strike the surface at a given time of the day. In the summer, when the Sun is farthest from the Earth at the Summer Solstice, the Earth's axis is tilted towards the Sun, and the light rays angle to the ground at a steeper angle. The Sun rises higher in the sky, and in the northern hemisphere, this all adds up to balmy summer days. The other planets in the solar system travel around the Sun over different orbital periods. Their years, measured in Earth days, are very different than our own. Mercury takes 87 Earth days to go once around the sun, Jupiter takes 11.8 Earth years, and Neptune takes 164.8 Earth years. The question of when will each of the planets be closest ( perihelion) and farthest ( aphelion ) from the Sun will be different for each planet. There is no fixed time during a single EARTH year when this will happen, but instead you have to work out the locations of all the planets in their orbits and determine their perihelia and aphelia. From this you can find the appropriate Earth day, month and year when this will happen. The easiest way I know how to do this is to go to the US Nautical Ephemeris, which is published every year, and check out their tables for the heliocentric distance of the planet from the Sun, usually given in Astronomical Units ( ie in units of the radius of the Earth's orbit of 93 million miles). You then scan the table for the date when this number is a minimum ( perihelion) and a maximum ( aphelion). Since Venus and Mercury orbit the Sun in less than one year, you can just use the 1995 or 1996 Ephemeris to look this up. For the rest of the planets, you will need to go back a bit further. It's a real bear of a process. A shortcut is to find the current heliocentric longitude of the planet, and its change per day, and compare this with the orbital element of the planet's 'Longitude of Perihelion'. Example, For Mercury, on January 3, 1995 its longitude was 345.7 degrees, and its Longitude of Perihelion is 77.37 degrees. The planets daily longitude changes by 4.09 degrees per day, so this means that its next perihelion will occur when the planet has moved an additional 77.37 + (360.0 - 345.7) = 91.67 degrees. At a rate of 4.09 degrees/day, this will take 22.41 days from January 3, 1995 so that its next perihelion will be on January 25, 1995. Since Mercury goes once around the sun every 87.6 days, it will reach aphelion after 87.6/2 = 43.8 days after perihelion passage on January 25. Below I will list the upcoming, next perihelia and aphelia for the planets. Distance (mega miles)       Next Date        Perihelion   Aphelion    Perihelion   Aphelion  Mercury    28.6      43.4     10/16/1995   11/29/1995  Venus     66.8      67.7     8/11/1995    12/1/1995  Earth     91.4      94.5     12/21/1995    6/21/1996  Mars 128.4     154.9     2/19/1996    1/28/1997  Jupiter   460.3     507.2     5/5/1999     3/29/2005  Saturn    837.6     936.2     5/26/2003    2/8/2018  Uranus   1699.0     1868.0     3/1/2050     4/17/2008  Neptune   2771.0     2819.0     3/2030      2/2112  Pluto    2756.0     4555.0     8/1989      8/2113 <\pre> Unless I have made some dumb mistake in adding and converting from elapsed days to a calendar date, these dates should


A dish described as “a la Dubarry” would contain which vegetable?

Cooking Terms - Glossary - Lifestyle FOOD Lifestyle FOOD Means ‘in the style of’ in French. Abats French for offal. Absorption Method A way of cooking rice by adding the exact amount of water and cooking with the lid on until all the water is absorbed and steam holes appear in the surface of the rice. Aceto Italian for vinegar. Acidulate, To To add acid (such as lemon juice or vinegar) to cooking or soaking water to stop fruit or vegetables from oxidizing and discolouring. Acqua Italian for water. Additive Something added to food to improve its keeping qualities, flavour, colour and texture. In the European Union, all additives are listed by E numbers or names on packaging unless they are natural and not required to be listed by law. Adjust, To To taste before serving and then re–season if necessary. Aerate To incorporate air into a mixture by sieving dry mixtures or whisking liquid mixtures (such as egg white or cream). Affumicato Italian for garlic. Air Dry, To To dry food, usually ham or fish, by hanging it in a flow of fresh air. Al Dente Italian term meaning ‘to the tooth’—cooked but still retaining some bite—applied mainly to pasta. Al’, All’, Alla Means ‘in the style of’ in Italian. Albedo American term for the white pith of citrus fruit. Albumen Technical term for egg white. All–purpose Flour American term for plain white flour that can be used for all types of baking. Allumettes French for matchsticks, usually applied to the size of chopped potatoes and vegetables. Altitude Effects The effects on cooking at a high altitude, which drops the boiling point of water by 1°C for each 275 m. At very high altitudes, a pressure cooker is needed to cook successfully. Amatriciana, All’ With bacon, onions and tomatoes. Ammonia A pungent gas. Overripe cheese and fish that are starting to go off smell of this. Amuse Gueule Meaning ‘mouth pleaser’ in French, this small appetizer is served before a meal. Anticaking Agent Something added to powdered food to stop it clumping together, usually a compound of magnesium, aluminium or sodium. Shown as an E number on packaging (E530–E578). Antioxidant A preservation agent, such as vitamins C or E, that slows the reaction rate of food to oxygen. Shown as an E number on packaging (E300–E321). Apéritif Drink taken before a meal to ‘open’ the appetite, such as champagne or sherry. Appellation D’origine French designation for a wine or foodstuff that guarantees its method of production and ingredients. Appetizer Small items of food served before or at the start of a meal or with drinks. Aromatics Ingredients, such as spices and herbs, that add aroma to food. Arrosto Spanish and Portuguese for rice. Artificial Sweeteners Any sweetening product that does not contain sugars. Asciutto Italian term that refers to pasta, gnocchi or rice drained of its cooking liquid. Assiette French for plate, usually taken to mean a plated assortment of cheeses, meats or desserts. Astringent An acidic or tannic solution (such as lemon juice or wine), which makes the skin of the mouth tighten up. Au Means ‘in the style of’, ‘in’ or ‘with’ in French. Au Lait Means ‘with milk’ in French. Back Fat Hard pork fat from the back of a pig. Bake To cook in an oven in dry heat, usually until browned on the outside. Bake Blind To bake a pastry case while it is unfilled to set the pastry. It is usually lined with baking paper or foil and filled with baking beads to stop the sides collapsing or the base from bubbling up. Ballotine A stuffed roll of boned meat or poultry or a boned chicken tied into a round shape. Bard, To To tie fat or fatty meat, such as bacon, over a lean joint or bird to stop it drying out as it cooks. The fat is removed before eating. Baron Of Beef A very large joint consisting of two sirloins of beef connected by the backbone. Barquette Boat–shaped tartlet tin. Baste, To To spoon melted fat or liquid over food as it cooks to stop it drying out and to add flavour. Bat Out, To To flatten or pound meat until it is thinner. Baton A stick of vegetable about 6 x 2 x 2 cm. Batter A mixture of flour, milk and eg


When the rock band Free disbanded, Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke went on to form which other group?

Free - Music on Google Play Free About the artist Free was an English rock band formed in London in 1968, best known for their 1970 signature song "All Right Now". They disbanded in 1973 and lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become a frontman of the band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums. Lead guitarist Paul Kossoff formed Back Street Crawler and died from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 25 in 1976. Bassist Andy Fraser formed Sharks. The band was famed for its sensational live shows and nonstop touring. However, early studio albums did not sell very well – until the release of Fire and Water which featured the massive hit "All Right Now". The song helped secure them a place at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 where they played to 600,000 people. By the early 1970s, Free was one of the biggest-selling British blues rock groups; by the time the band dissolved in 1973, they had sold more than 20 million albums around the world and had played more than 700 arena and festival concerts. "All Right Now," remains a rock staple, and had been entered into ASCAP's "One Million" airplay singles club. Rolling Stone has referred to the band as "British hard rock pioneers". 1 $11.49 Heartbreaker is the sixth and final studio album by English rock group Free, that provided them with one of their most successful singles, "Wishing Well". It was recorded in late 1972 after bassist... 1 1 $9.49 Heartbreaker is the sixth and final studio album by English rock group Free, that provided them with one of their most successful singles, "Wishing Well". It was recorded in late 1972 after bassist... 1 1 $9.49 Free at Last is the fifth studio album by English rock band Free. The band had broken up in April 1971 due to differences between singer Paul Rodgers and bassist Andy Fraser but had now reformed. 1 1 $6.99 Fire and Water is the third studio album released by English rock group Free. The album became the band's breakthrough hit, reaching #2 in the UK charts and #17 in the US, making it the most succes... 1 1 $9.49 Free is the second album by English rock group Free, recorded and released in 1969. The band had spent time touring after their debut album Tons of Sobs the previous year, and there is a marked dif... 1 Paul Rodgers 0 Paul Bernard Rodgers is an English singer, songwriter and musician, best known for his success in the 1960s and 1970s as vocalist of Free and Bad Company. He now lives in Canada as a naturalized Ca... 0 Paul Kossoff 0 Paul Francis Kossoff was an English guitarist best known as a member of Free. He was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". 0 Rory Gallagher 0 William Rory Gallagher was an Irish blues and rock multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and bandleader. Born in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, and brought up in Cork, Gallagher recorded solo albums th... 0 Wishbone Ash 0 Wishbone Ash are a British rock band who achieved success in the early and mid-1970s. Their popular albums included Wishbone Ash, Pilgrimage, Argus, There's the Rub, and New England. Wishbone Ash a... 0 Humble Pie 0 Humble Pie was an English rock band formed by Steve Marriott, in Essex during 1969. They are known as one of the late 1960s' first supergroups and found success on both sides of the Atlantic with s... 0 Thin Lizzy 0 Thin Lizzy are a rock band formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist and lead vocalist Phil Lynott, met while still in school. Lynott l... 0 Dr. Feelgood 0 Dr. Feelgood are a British pub rock band formed in 1971. Hailing from Canvey Island, Essex, they are best known for early singles like "She Does It Right", "Roxette", and "Back in the Night". The g... 0 Chicken Shack 0 Chicken Shack are a British blues band, founded in the mid-1960s by Stan Webb, Andy Silvester, and Alan Morley, who were later joined by Christine Perfect in 1968. Chicken Shack has performed with ... 0 Mott The Hoople 0 Mott the Hoople were an English rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid-1970s


Which Austrian racing driver was the posthumous Formula One world champion in 1970?

Jochen Rindt - 1970 Jochen Rindt Share In the record books he is notable for being the only posthumous World Champion. But before he was killed Jochen Rindt had carved himself a memorable niche in the small but select category of heroes whose voracious appetite for raw racing was demonstrably apparent in a daredevil driving style that was both thrilling and worrying to watch. Few threw themselves into the fray with such vigour, nor did many measure up to Rindt's status as a colourful character. Fiercely determined and resolutely independent, he had a rough and tumble allure seldom seen before or since. Next Previous 1 / 7 Clermont Ferrand, July 1969: After qualifying third, a sick Jochen Rindt was forced to retire from the French Grand Prix, his fifth race with Lotus, suffering from double vision. © Sutton Images Zeltweg, August 1964: Jochen Rindt’s Formula One debut was in a Brabham BT11-BRM at the Austrian Grand Prix. He qualified 13th, but went on to retire from the race with steering problems. © Sutton Images Spa, June 1966: Jochen Rindt scored his first Formula One podium with second place in the Belgian Grand Prix. In his Cooper T81-Maserati he split the Ferraris of John Surtees and Lorenzo Bandini. © Schlegelmilch Monte Carlo, May 1968: Jochen Rindt endured a difficult season in unreliable Brabham machinery. His retirement from the Monaco Grand Prix was just one of ten that year. © Schlegelmilch Silverstone , July 1969: The British Grand Prix brought Jochen Rindt his third pole position of the season and his first finish for Lotus. He came fourth after a memorable battle with the Matra of Jackie Stewart. © Schlegelmilch Nurburgring, August 1969: The Lotus 49B of Jochen Rindt takes flight during the German Grand Prix. Having started third on the grid, the Austrian went on to retire from the race with ignition problems. © Schlegelmilch Jarama, April 1970: Jochen Rindt gave the famous Lotus 72 its race debut at the Spanish Grand Prix. He retired after just nine laps with electrical problems. © Schlegelmilch Karl Jochen Rindt, born on April 18, 1942, in Mainz, Germany, was orphaned as an infant when his wealthy parents were killed in a bombing raid. His maternal grandparents adopted him and brought him up in Graz, Austria. A head-strong youngster seemingly hell-bent on defying authority, he continually sought ways to indulge in his burgeoning passions for speed and competition - preferably allied with danger. Twice he broke limbs in schoolboy ski races and when he switched to motorized sport, at first on a moped and then on a motocross bike, he either crashed or won. On public roads he drove battered Volkswagens like a madman and was often in trouble with the police. His rebellious streak caused him to be expelled from several private schools and his strait-laced grandparents (his grandfather was a prominent lawyer) despaired for his future.  He affected a deliberately unkempt appearance and had a personality that tended to be abrasive. He used pieces of string instead of laces to tie his battered shoes. His flat boxer's nose (he was born that way) and abrupt manner of speaking made him seem intimidating. Confident to the point of arrogance and ambitious in the extreme, he resolved while still in his teens to ascend to the very pinnacle of motorsport.  His hero was Count Wolfgang von Trips, the aristocratic German driver whose death at Monza in 1961 failed to dampen Rindt's enthusiasm. He began racing touring cars and then single seaters, crashing with alarming frequency and several times ending up in hospital. Yet such setbacks only fortified his will to succeed. He personally financed his first forays in more serious formula cars. In 1964 he went to England and bought a Formula Two Brabham for 4,000 pounds cash. In his second F2 race, at Crystal Palace, the British press reported that 'an unknown Austrian' had beaten the famous Graham Hill. Contemporary accounts noted the spectacular style that was to become Rindt's trademark: 'His car was sideways throughout the race. It went around the corners at unbelievable angl


The filbert is an alternative name for which nut?

Buy Hazelnuts and Filbert Products - Nuts.com 8 ounce bag Add to cart Perfectly dry roasted DuChilly Hazelnuts are superior and sweeter tasting than traditional hazelnuts. They make an incredible snack that's packed with nutrients. About Hazelnuts The hazelnut is the hard-shelled fruit of the hazelnut tree. Hazelnuts, also known as filberts from European folklore, are believed to have originated over 5000 years ago in prehistoric China. Currently, the world's top three producers of hazelnuts are Turkey, Italy, and the United States. Nearly 100% of the U.S. crop for hazelnuts comes from the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Today, hazelnuts are prized for their many health benefits, as well as for a wealth of culinary applications around the world. Hazelnuts Health Benefits Heart Health Most nuts contain a high amount of unsaturated fat, aka "good" fat. Filberts contain almost 80 percent monounsaturated fat and less than 4 percent saturated fat. Replacing saturated fat with monounsaturated fat is known to reduce total blood and LDL "bad" cholesterol levels, making hazelnuts a great heart-healthy snack option. Super Antioxidant Strength The antioxidant levels in hazelnuts are comparable to those of many superfoods. Hazelnuts have one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) scores of any nut; ORAC is the most widely accepted method of measuring antioxidants, the compounds that fight damaging free radicals in the body. Further, filberts contained the highest proanthocyanidins (PACs) concentration of any tree nut. PACs have antioxidant capabilities that are 20 times more potent than Vitamin C and 50 times more than Vitamin E. #1 Nut for Folate Hazelnuts are the richest source of folate among tree nuts. Folate, also known as folic acid or vitamin B-12, is essential for many of our body's metabolic processes. It aids the production of red blood cells, supports brain function and cardiovascular health, and reduces the risk of neural tube defects. Even More Nutrients The health benefits of hazelnuts don’t stop there. Like most nuts, filberts are a good source of protein, dietary fiber, iron, and potassium. They also contain over 20% of the Daily Value (DV) of copper and over 80% DV of manganese. Copper helps our bodies utilize iron and supports the development of bones and connective tissue. Manganese regulates blood sugar levels, aids calcium absorption, and supports bone health. Taste and Uses Hazelnuts have a delicate nutty flavor and mildly bitter skin, they are most commonly used to complement the tastes of confectionary goods, however they are also used in select savory dishes. One form of the nut you may be familiar with is the sweet spread, Nutella , which can be paired with any number of sweet and savory treats. Hazelnuts for Sweets Filberts pair exceptionally well with chocolate, a combination which makes Nutella, a chocolate-hazelnut spread, widely popular. Hazelnut paste is often made from roasted filberts and sugar, and is used in tortes and pastries to add a touch of elegance and sweetness, while hazelnut flour adds a nutty appeal to cakes, cookies, and baked goods. Hazelnuts for Savory Dishes Chopped hazelnuts can be used as a crust for fish or chicken. Hazelnut oil is renowned for its many health benefits, and can be used to dress up salads and marinades or bring a subtle nutty flavor to baking. As with cakes and cookies, hazelnuts can be added atop your favorite bread recipes for a nutritious crunch. How are hazelnuts harvested? Hazelnut trees thrive in cool, moist climates and require the chill to break dormancy. The trees are ready for harvest during mid-autumn when the nuts begin falling to the ground on their own; mechanical shakers are rarely used to remove nuts from the trees since they will not be ripe yet. Instead, in commercial harvesting, various equipment is used to collect the filberts from the ground, separate them from excess leaves and empty husks, and haul them to processing facilities. The hazelnuts are dried and the remaining husks are removed manually or by machine. The nuts are the


Which French cyclist won the Tour de France four consecutive times in the 1960’s?

When-if Ever-Was Cycling Drug-Free? When-if Ever-Was Cycling Drug-Free? Share Armstrong riding in the 2005 Tour de France. Credit: Bjarte Hetland via Wikimedia Commons It s a great rarity today for someone to achieve athletic success who doesn t take drugs. That quote seems rather timely, in the wake of the news that cyclist Lance Armstrong will no longer fight the accusations of doping leveled at him by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency . The charges may cost Armstrong all seven of his Tour de France titles. The development in Armstrong s case follows two recent drug suspensions in baseball in the past 10 days Melky Cabrera, an All-Star outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, and Bartolo Col n, a starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, both received 50-game bans after testing positive for artificial testosterone. But the quote above has nothing to do with modern-day athletics. It comes from a retired track coach quoted in a 1971 New York Times Magazine article. (The article s author, sportswriter and activist Jack Scott, who died in 2000, has one of the more interesting biographies you ll find Oberlin College athletic director, Bill Walton confidant, onetime suspected associate of the Symbionese Liberation Army.) Whether or not the coach s statement then was somewhat hyperbolic, it s clear that the drug problem has loomed over the sports world for a long time. And although the abuses in cycling have become harder to ignore in just the past two decades, the sport has been home to all manner of chemical enhancements for more than 100 years. Jacques Anquetil, a French cyclist who won the Tour de France five times in the 1950s and 1960s, openly admitted to doping. Everyone in cycling dopes himself, he said in Scott s 1971 article. Those who claim they don t are liars. In Anquetil s era, the agents of choice were stimulants such as amphetamines, but as early as the late 1800s cyclists fueled up with a mixture of coca leaf extract and wine called Vin Mariani, according to a 1983 Hastings Center report . Baseball, too, had its period of rampant amphetamine use, which is viewed in an almost nostalgic light now that stronger performance enhancers such as anabolic steroids and human growth hormone have tainted the game s image. But in endurance sports such as cycling, performance enhancement can be especially deadly. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, a Danish cyclist named Knud Enemark Jensen lost consciousness during a race, fell from his bicycle and died. Postmortem tests reportedly revealed the presence of amphetamines in his system. After English rider Tom Simpson collapsed and died during the 1967 Tour de France, amphetamines were found both in his bloodstream and in a vial tucked inside his jersey. More recently, cyclists have boosted their endurance with the use of an artificial version of the hormone erythropoietin, or EPO, which stimulates red blood cell production and boosts the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. Danish cyclist Bjarne Riis, who won the 1996 Tour de France, later admitted that he used EPO during that time. EPO thickens the blood, and it also has proved dangerous. After a spate of suspicious rider deaths, a 1991 New York Times article highlighted the deadly potential of the drug du jour. “There is no absolute proof, but there’s so much smoke that most of us are convinced,” University of Oklahoma hematologist Randy Eichner told the newspaper. “You just don’t get 18 deaths in four years, mysteriously, with 10 of them attributed to cardiac problems.” Cycling insiders, too, noticed drastic changes in 1991. That is the year that three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond thinks that EPO took over his sport. As he told Scientific American writer Michael Shermer in 2008 , Something was different in the 1991 Tour. There were riders from previous years who couldn t stay on my wheel who were now dropping me on even modest climbs. LeMond had won the race the two previous years, but he fell to seventh place in 1991. Indeed, since the mid-1990s there have been few Tour winners who did not later run afoul of an