What name was given to the unidentified serial killer who murdered three young girls in Rochester, New York during the 1970's – the name was given because each of the girls had a first and second name beginning with the same letter?

Serial Killers Who Got Away - SERIALKILLERCALENDAR.COM - HOME OF THE SERIAL KILLER MAGAZINE - SERIAL KILLER CALENDAR - SERIAL KILLER TRADING CARDS - SERIAL KILLER DVDS - MURDERABILLIA Serial Killers Who Got Away WANT TO BE PART OF OUR KILLER TEAM? CONTACT JAMES GILKS SERIAL KILLERS WHO GOT AWAY By Jessica Robinson According to the Radford University database, as of June 5, 2008, there were 1,877 known serial killers throughout time and across the world. Out of those, 26 have remained uncaptured and unidentified. Between 1884 and 1885, Austin, Texas, was terrorized by a killer called the Servant Girl Annihilator or the Austin Axe Murderer. At least seven women, mostly servant girls, died at the hands of this killer. He would drag his victims from their beds and rape them before slashing or axing them to death. Several of his victims were stabbed by a spike in the ears or the face. Multiple individuals were arrested for the crimes, but no one was convicted. The last murders occurred on December 14, 1885, in downtown Austin when two wealthy white women, Eula Phillips and Sue Hancock, were killed. The Servant Girl Annihilator’s victims include: Mollie Smith, who was attacked on New Year’s Eve; Eliza Shelley, who was attacked on May 6, 1885; Irene Cross, who was attacked on May 23; Mary Ramey, 11, and her mother, Rebecca Ramey, who were attacked in August, Mary died but Rebecca survived; Gracie Vance, Orange Washington, Lucinda Boddy, and Patsie Gibson were all attacked on September 26, and Vance and Washington later died from their injuries; and Sue Hancock and Eula Phillips were attacked on separate incidents on Christmas Eve, 1885. The crimes of the Servant Girl Annihilator were depicted in a novel by Steven Saylor, A Twist at the End, which was published in 2000. There has also been some speculation that this murderer and Jack the Ripper were the same person, which is explored in the book Jack the Ripper: The American Connection by Shirley Harrison. Jack the Ripper was a serial killer who killed in and around Whitechapel, London, in 1888. His victims were prostitutes who were murdered by having their throats slashed. In three of his victims, he removed internal organs. The five victims that are ascribed to the Ripper include Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. Nichols’s body was discovered on August 31, 1888. Her throat had been severed by two deep cuts, and her lower abdomen was partly ripped open. Chapman’s body was found on September 8, 1888, in a doorway with her throat slit and her abdomen slashed entirely open. It was discovered later that her uterus had been removed. Stride and Eddowes were both killed on September 30, 1888. Stride was killed by one cut on the left side of her neck that severed her main artery, but there were no mutilations to her abdomen. It is theorized that the Ripper may have been interrupted during the murder, which might explain why he went after Eddowes. Her body was found 45 minutes after Strides, and her throat was cut and her abdomen was ripped open. Her left kidney and the major part of her uterus had been removed. Kelly’s body was found in her room on November 9, 1888. Her throat had been cut down to her spine, and almost all of her organs were removed. The majority of her organs were strewn about the room. The only one investigators couldn’t find was her heart. Kelly is believed to have been the Ripper’s final victim, but there are other murders that might be ascribed to him. Since he was never caught, it is difficult to ascertain exactly how many women he killed. There were a lot of suspects in the Jack the Ripper case, including doctors, butchers, and people in the royal family. To date, there are over 100 suspects. He has influenced popular culture through books and movies, and he was the first serial killer to create a world-wide media frenzy. The Axeman of New Orleans was active in New Orleans and surrounding communities from May 1918 to October 1919. As the name implies, the victims were attacke


Which Cuban athlete won the men's 110m hurdles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing?

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Most-Viewed Event in US TV History | iHaveNet.com 2008 Olympics Most-Viewed Event US TV History   NBC Universal's Beijing Olympic coverage was viewed by more Americans than any event in U.S. television history, according to data provided by Nielsen Media Research. NBCU's coverage reached 214 million total viewers, shattering the previous mark set by the 1996 Atlanta Olympics (209M) by five million viewers and surpassing the 2004 Athens Games (203M) by 11 million viewers. The 2008 Beijing Summer Games averaged 27.7 million viewers and scored a 17-day rating of 16.2/28 to post significant gains over the 2004 Athens Games. Sunday night's Closing Ceremony had the best rating for any Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony outside the U.S. since the 1976 Montreal Games. "This audience record is something I thought I'd never see again, but what really satisfied me is the way in which these Olympics truly captivated and seemed to inspire our country," said Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports & Olympics and Executive Producer of NBC Universal's Beijing Olympics coverage. "For me, the greatest measure of success at an Olympics is the number of messages I receive from parents of young kids who have fallen in love with the Olympics. That child means more to me than anything because I think a love affair with the Olympics is the greatest in all of sports." MOST VIEWED EVENTS IN American Television HISTORY 1. 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, 214 million (17 days) 2. 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, 209 million (17 days) 3. 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics, 204 million (16 days) 4. 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, 203 million (17 days) 5. 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, 194 million (17 days) VIEWERS AND RATING BOTH UP SIGNIFICANTLY FROM ATHENS: The Beijing Olympics 17-day average primetime viewership is 27.7 million, the best primetime average viewership for a complete Summer Olympics outside the U.S since Montreal in 1976, and 13 percent ahead of Athens in 2004 (24.6 million). NBC's average of a 16.2 rating, 28 share is the best rating for a Summer Olympics outside the U.S. since Barcelona in 1992 (17.1/33) and is an eight percent increase over Athens in 2004 (15.0/26). With the Beijing Olympics, NBC became the most dominant network in primetime for 17 consecutive nights since the advent of Nielsen People Meters in 1987. On each of its 17 nights of Beijing Olympic coverage, NBC enjoyed a 244 percent or greater lead over the nearest broadcast network in the adult 18 to 49 demographic (important to advertisers), a 225 or greater percent gain in viewers (persons 2+), and 200 or larger percent in household rating. NBC also set records in Nielsen People Meter history for biggest margins over the combined major-network competition for three consecutive weeks, with wins of 24 percent or more over ABC, CBS and Fox combined for three straight weeks in 18-49 and 23 percent or more in total viewers. OLYMPICS IN PRIMETIME DOMINATE COMPETITION: In primetime, NBC's Beijing Games won all 100-rated half-hours against its entire network competition. CLOSING CEREMONY BEST NON U.S. SUMMER RATING SINCE 1976: Sunday's Closing Ceremony garnered 27.8 million average viewers, a 42 percent gain from the Closing Ceremony night in Athens (19.6 million). The night earned a 15.5 rating/25 share, a 30 percent increase from Athens (11.9/20). In both categories, the Closing Ceremony from Beijing was the best delivery for a Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony outside the U.S. since Montreal in 1976. NBC Universal's 3,600 hours of Beijing Olympic coverage not only fueled record-breaking Olympic viewership, but also cast an Olympic "halo" across the many different divisions of NBC Universal. The unprecedented Olympic coverage drove record numbers of viewers to NBCU's cable networks; it also produced impressive gains in viewership and competitive advantage for NBC News' "Today," "NBC Nightly News," and NBC's affiliated stations. NBCOLYMPICS.COM ON MSN POSTS RECORD NUMBERS: For the complete Beijing Games, NBCOlympics.com has more than doubled the


The Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellano completed the first known navigation of which river?

Francisco de Orellana (Explorer) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Francisco de Orellana Male Born 1511 Francisco de Orellana was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He completed the first known navigation of the length of the Amazon River, which initially was named "Rio de Orellana. " He also founded the city of Guayaquil in what is now Ecuador. related links News + Updates Browse recent news and stories about Francisco de Orellana. Fcecon TerÃ¡ ServiÃ§o De UrgÃªncia Paralisado Para RealizaÃ§Ã£o De DedetizaÃ§Ã£o  Portal A CrÃtica Google News - Aug 20, 2011 'A FundaÃ§Ã£o Centro de Controle de Oncologia (FCecon), localizada na rua Francisco Orellana, bairro Planalto, Zona Centro-Oeste de Manaus, informou que, entre Ã s 13h e 18h deste sÃ¡bado (20/08), terÃ¡ seu serviÃ§o de urgÃªncia paralisado para a realizaÃ§Ã£o de' El Santo Cristo De La Grita (Video)  El Informe.Com.Ve Google News - Aug 08, 2011 'Cuenta la lleyenda que la talla de madera fue hecha por fray Francisco Orellana con la ayuda de los Ã¡ngeles en 1410, tras un terremoto que sacudiÃ³ a la ciudad Atenas del TÃ¡chira. En este video producido por Sun Channel y la CorporaciÃ³n Tachirense de' F Cecon UtilizarÃ¡ Neuronavegador, Que Possibilita Cirurgias Com Menos Riscos  Portal A CrÃtica Google News - Jul 09, 2011 'O prÃ©dio da fundaÃ§Ã£o estÃ¡ localizado na Rua Francisco Orellana, no Dom Pedro I, Zona Centro Oeste da capital. A utilizaÃ§Ã£o do Neuronavegador em cirurgias de instrumentaÃ§Ã£o de coluna tambÃ©m Ã© importante, pois reduz a necessidade de irradiaÃ§Ã£o ionizante' La Huelga Amenaza A La Vendimia  Diario De Jerez Google News - Jun 30, 2011 'Francisco Orellana (CCOO) tambiÃ©n hizo hincapiÃ© en que âla ausencia los Ãºltimos veinte aÃ±os de conflictos en el sector demuestra la disposiciÃ³n al diÃ¡logo de los sindicatos, pero la actitud impositiva y agresiva de Fedejerez, que no deja margen a la' Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Francisco de Orellana. CHILDHOOD 1511 Birth Born in 1511. TWENTIES 1533 22 Years Old Orellana served in Nicaragua until joining Pizarro's army in Peru in 1533, where he supported Pizarro in his conflict with Diego de Almagro (1538). … Read More After the victory over Almagro's men, he was appointed governor of La Culata and re-established the town of Guayaquil, previously founded by Pizarro and repopulated by SebastiÃ¡n de BelalcÃ¡zar. (During the civil war he sided with the Pizarros and was Ensign General of a force sent by Francisco Pizarro from Lima in aid of Hernando Pizarro. He was granted land at Puerto Viejo, on the coast of Ecuador.)

 In 1540 Gonzalo Pizarro arrived in Quito as governor and was charged by Francisco Pizarro with an expedition to locate the "Land of Cinnamon", thought to be somewhere to the east. Read Less THIRTIES Show Less Orellana was one of Gonzalo Pizarro's lieutenants during his 1541 expedition east of Quito into the South American interior. … Read More In Quito, Gonzalo Pizarro collected a force of 220 Spaniards and 4000 natives, while Orellana, as second in command, was sent back to Guayaquil to gather troops and horses. Read Less Pizarro left Quito in February 1541 just before Orellana arrived with his 23 men and horses. … Read More Orellana hurried after the main expedition, eventually making contact with them in March. However, by the time the expedition had left the mountains, 3000 natives and 140 Spanish had either died or deserted.

 On reaching the River Coca (a tributary of the Napo), a brigantine, the San Pedro, was constructed to ferry the sick and supplies. Gonzalo Pizarro ordered him to explore the Coca River and return when the river ended. When they arrived at the confluence with the Napo River, his men threatened to mutiny if they did not continue. Read Less On 26 December 1541 he agreed to be elected chief of the new expedition and to conquer new lands in name of the king. … Read More Orellana (with the Dominican Gaspar de Carvajal who chronicled the expedition) and 50 men set off down stream to find food. Unable to return against the current


What is the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands?

Where is The Turks And Caicos Islands? / Where is The Turks And Caicos Islands Located in The World? / The Turks And Caicos Islands Map - WorldAtlas.com Where is The Turks And Caicos Islands? Location of The Turks And Caicos Islands on a map. What is the capital of The Turks And Caicos Islands? Located in the continent of the Caribbean , Turks and Caicos covers 948 square kilometers of land, making it the 190th largest nation in terms of land area. The Turks And Caicos Islands is a dependant territory of The United Kingdom. The population of The Turks And Caicos Islands is 46,335 (2012) and the nation has a density of 49 people per square kilometer. The currency of The Turks And Caicos Islands is the US Dollar (USD). As well, the people of The Turks And Caicos Islands are refered to as none. The dialing code for the country is 1 and the top level internet domain for none sites is .tc. The Turks And Caicos Islands does not share land borders with any countries. To learn more, visit our detailed Turks and Caicos section. Quick facts


"Which of Shakespeare's plays opens with the lines ""Proceed, Solinus, to procure my fall""?"

SCENE I. A hall in DUKE SOLINUS'S palace. SCENE I. A hall in DUKE SOLINUS'S palace. Enter DUKE SOLINUS, AEGEON, Gaoler, Officers, and other Attendants


In 'The Simpsons', by what name is the performer 'Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas Yerucham Krustofski' better known?

Characters - The Simpsons - GlobalTV.com: Official Site of Global Television The Simpsons cast Homer Simpson Homer Simpson was born March 12, 1951 to parents Abe and Mona Simpson. He is an overweight and lazy, yet devoted and caring man of below average intelligence. At his job at the Sprinfield Nuclear Power plant, Homer is lazy, and often sleeps on duty. His favourite hobbies are watching TV and drinking at Moe's Tavern. His best friends are childhood pals Barney Gumble, Lenny Leonard, Carl Carlson, and Moe Szyslak. His favourite beer is Duff. In 1960, Homer pushed 15 crayons up his nose. One remains wedged in his brain, resulting in Homer's below low IQ. Homer Simpson developed an overeating habit after a traumatizing experience discovering a decomposing corpse. Homer met Marge Bouvier in high school and fell in love with her immediately. The couple married at Shotgun Pete's 24 hour Wedding Chapel while Marge was pregnant with their first born, Bart. It is the three announcements of Marge's pregnancy which have resulted in Homer Simpson's loss of hair. Throughout the years, Homer's held many jobs. This include a gig at Sir Putt-A-Lot's Merrie Old Fun Cetre, a pin monkey at Barney's uncle's bowling alley, a professional astronaut, and aa Grammy award winning musician. Homer's rival is his pious neighbor Ned Flanders. Homer attends church on a regular basis despite being an irreligious man. Despite his indifference towards church, Homer has met God several times, who once told Homer he's allowed to skip church. Homer is a polygot, meaning he is able to easily speak many languages. Homer has been known to speak Spanish and Penguing. At least once a season, Homer Simpson has had a life saving operation. He owns the Denver Broncos, has died twice, has been shot three times, and is afraid of sock puppets. Homer Simpsons middle name is The Simpsons creator Matt Groening's nod to Bullwinkle J Moose of Rocky and Bullwinkle. Homer has been cited as being inspired by actor Walter Mathau and the British comedy Laurel and Hardy. Homer Simpson's email is Chucklover53@aol.com - if you send Homer an email, Simpsons writer Matt Saleman will reply. Marge Simpson Marge Simpson's role is to essentially maintain order in the Simpsons household. She is often described as the killjoy of the family. Marge is the youngest daughter or Jacqueline and Clancy Bouvier, she has two older sisters, twins Patty and Selma. Throughout the years, Marge Simpson has held many occupations. These jobs include pretzel wagon creator and seller, policewoman, trade show model, real estate agent for Red Blazer Realty, and baker for an erotic bakery. Marge met Homer Simpson in high school, and fell in love with Homer after realizing her prom date Artie Ziff was a sleaze ball. Since senior prom, Marge has worn her hair in a beehive style. She uses Blue dye #56 and if you included the height of her hair, Marge is 8'6 tall. Marge is a talented painter, Ringo Star lover, and celebrated cook. Her specialty dish is pork chops, which happens to be her husband Homer's favourite. Marge is left handed, needs glasses, and is afraid of flying. In 2009, Marge Simpson posed for playboy magazine. She is said to have been based on Jackie Onassis. Lisa Simpson Lisa Simpson is the 8 year old prodigy of the Simpsons family. She is a smart, independent overachiever with few friends. Lisa's first word was "Bart". Lisa is a vegetarian, leftist, and member of Mensa. Her IQ is 159. Lisa'd hobbies include playing baritone saxophone, riding horses, and studying. Lisa's first boyfriend has Nelson Muntz. She's had many crushes and is adored by Milhouse. . Lisa Simpson speaks Italian, wears Calvin Klein invisible braces, and is a part of the Free Tibet movement. The character of Lisa Simpson was originally written as "a female Bart". Lisa's saxophone solos are performed by Terry Harrington.   Bart Simpson Born on April Fool's Day, Bart Simpson is the eldest child of Marge and Homer Simpson. He is a self-proclaimed underachiever and prankster of Sprinfield Elementary. A rebel before he was bor


"An example includes describing someone as ""not unattractive"" instead of ""attractive"". What name is given, in rhetoric, to a figure of speech in which a statement is expressed by denying its opposite?"

AP Literature Vocabulary Flashcards Allegory Definition - a symbolic representation a of an abstract idea that has a deeper meaning to the reader than the symbol's literal, face value   In the novel, The Scarlet Letter, Hester is forced to wear a red letter on her blouse that symbolizes shame, but as the novel continues, it becomes an allegory of judgment and punishment. Term Alliteration Definition -The repetition of two or more stressed syllables that begin with the same consonants and similar sounds.   "Sally saw sea shells by the sea shore" Term Allusion Definition - A mention or reference to a previous, well-known thing - can be literary, historical, mythological, or biblical.   - "How the knave jowls it to the ground as if 'twere Cain's jawbone, that did the first murder!" is a biblical allusion found in the play Hamlet. Term Analogy Definition a comparison of a similar trait of two generally different things, usually used to help clarify a thought or idea   A novel is to a letter as speech is to a word. Term A short take narrating an interesting or even amusing biographical incident   "I was walking to class yesterday and a teacher dressed as a clown gave me $100 dollars." Term antagonist Definition A character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict.   The Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz Term antimetabole Definition Reversal of the order if repeated words or phrases to intensify the final formulation, to present alter, or show contrast.   "One should eat to live, not live to eat." Alternatively, "You like it; it likes you." Or, Fair is foul and foul is fair.” Term - contrasting ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction   "Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more". "The vases of the classical period are but the reflection of classical beauty; the vases of the archaic period are beauty itself". "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Term antihero Definition A main character in a dramatic or narrative work that is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage.   Greg House from the TV show House. Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby Term anthropomorphism Definition A version of personification, but instead of attributing human qualities to animals, it attributes human qualities and form to gods or goddesses   Zeus and Apollo are two common examples of gods that were given human attributes. The qualities often applied are those such as love, hatred, jealousy, etc. Term Aphorism Definition A brief and concise statement embodying a moral or principle generally containing truth or accepted as truth.   "Oh, you cruel streets of Manhattan, how I detest you!" Term Apposition Definition A grammatical construction in which two elements are placed side by side, with one element serving to define or modify the other   John and Bob, both friends of mine, are starting a band. Term Archetype Definition An original model or pattern from which other later copies are made, especially a character, an action, or situation that seems to represent common patterns of human life. Think of it as the biggest cliché ever, but one that never dies   The orphaned prince or the lost chieftain's son raised ignorant of his heritage until he is rediscovered by his parents   The damsel in distress rescued from a hideous monster by a handsome young man who later marries the girl   Cyclops are the archetypical monsters Term Assonance Definition - a form of rhyme in which, although different consonants in the stressed syllables are used, the same vowel sounds are used   "fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks" Term Asyndeton Definition The artistic elimination of conjunctions in a sentence to create a particular effect. Its use can have the effect of speeding up the rhythm of a passage and making a single idea more memorable   Examples are veni, vidi, vici and its English translation "I came, I saw, I conquered." Term Unrhymed lines


In 'The Simpsons', by what name is the evil genius 'Robert Underdunk Terwilliger' better known?

Robert Terwilliger | Simpsons Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Biography Robert Terwilliger began his career as "Sideshow Bob", a non-speaking sidekick on Krusty the Clown's television show. In actuality his younger brother Cecil had auditioned for the role, which Krusty was not impressed by and saw Bob as the ideal comic foil. [6] Sideshow Bob endured much as was to be expected from clown sidekicks, such as being targeted with pies and shot out of cannons, but Krusty took on a more sadistic bent in order to get laughs, which had been shown to be a habit of doing to other sidekicks of his. Sideshow Bob soon began to tire of these antics, and also realized that off-camera Krusty was engaging in vulgar behavior such as illegal gambling and patronizing strip joints. Fed up with enduring abuse in order to make money to fund Krusty's carnal appetites, Sideshow Bob began plotting Krusty's downfall. [7] Fed up with Krusty's torment, Bob disguised himself as Krusty and framed him for armed robbery of the Kwik-E-Mart . After Krusty was arrested, Bob takes control of the show, introducing children to elements of high culture. However, Bob's reign is short-lived; Bart Simpson, with the help of his sister, Lisa, exposes Bob's treachery and Krusty is released. Bart, with Lisa's help, was able to catch Bob mainly because of Bob's large feet actually filled out Krusty's clown shoes, so when his foot was stepped on in the security footage he felt it and yelped. Had it actually been Krusty committing the robbery, he would not have felt his foot being stepped on (or he may have worn normal shoes to aid in his getaway). Bart and Lisa also knew that Krusty had a pacemaker and in the security footage Bob used the microwave, which the real Krusty could not do because it would interfere with his pacemaker. Finally, Krusty was illiterate and Bob was reading a magazine in the Kwik-E-Mart right before committing the robbery. After the new evidence was brought forward, Bob was subsequently convicted for the robbery and sent to jail, but not before swearing vengeance on Bart. [7] Bob performing H.M.S. Pinafore. During his time in prison, Bob won an Emmy Award for his role on The Krusty the Clown Show , but his award was confiscated by the prison guards. Bob took part in a prisoner dating service, and went into a relationship with Selma Bouvier , Bart's aunt. After he was released from prison, he proposed and married Selma, despite Bart's protests. As part of a scheme to inherit money she has invested in the stock market, Bob attempted to blow Selma up during their honeymoon. However, Bart again foiled the plan and Sideshow Bob returns to prison, exclaiming that as soon as the Democrats were back in office, he and all his criminal buddies would be back on the streets. [8] Ironically, he would run as a Republican in a later episode. Sideshow Bob tries to kill Bart Simpson After being paroled from prison, Bob targeted Bart directly, threatening him repeatedly. His first attempt at threatening Bart involved mailing dozens of threatening letter written in Bob's own blood (only one of the letters was not actually written by Sideshow Bob, written in a sloppy, grammatically-incorrect manner and obviously not being written in blood, which was instead written by Homer as revenge for Bart tattooing his butt with "Wide Load"), which also caused some problems with his health due to blood loss. The letters led Bart to become extremely paranoid. Bob eventually managed to get parole due to manipulating the Parole Jury with his intellect and cultured nature. He then unveiled his release to the Simpsons family in a movie theater, and then proceeded to declare all the people he won't be killing, making sure to leave Bart off the list. His actions forced the Simpsons to move to Terror Lake with the identity of the Thompsons as part of the Witness Relocation Program. Bob, however, anticipated their relocation and followed them to their new houseboat, although the actual journey proved painful for Bob, having his head hit repeatedly by speed bumps, being scalded


The constellation 'Draco' is said to represent which mythical creature?

Constellation Names | Constellation Guide Constellation Names Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky Constellation Names Constellation names, like the names of stars, come from a variety of sources and each has a different story and meaning to it. Old constellations’ names usually come from Greek mythology, while the constellations created more recently were mostly named after scientific instruments and exotic animals. However, there are no strict rules because the stories of the constellations differ from one constellation to the next. Constellation names that come from Greek mythology or refer to figures from Greek and Roman myths, as zodiac constellations do, are probably the ones that are best known. They were created and documented by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century A.D. Constellation names associated with figures from mythology include most of the members of the Perseus family (Perseus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cetus, Cepheus, Pegasus, and Auriga), the Hercules family (Hercules, Sagitta, Aquila, Lyra, Cygnus, Hydra, Crater, Corvus, Ophiuchus, Serpens, Centaurus, Lupus, Corona Australis, and Ara), the Orion family (Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Lepus, Monoceros), the Zodiac family (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces), and the Ursa Major family (Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Canes Venatici, Boötes, and Corona Borealis). Constellations named after scientific instruments were mostly created by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. They include Norma, Circinus, Telescopium, Microscopium, Octans, and Reticulum. The constellations that carry names of exotic animals were for the most part introduced by the Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman in the 16th century, and mainly include members of the Johann Bayer family: Dorado, Grus, Tucana, Chamaeleon and Volans among others. Below is the list of constellations with their names, genitive forms, English names, name meanings, mythical associations, and stories about how they were named. CONSTELLATION NAMES AND MEANINGS ANDROMEDA – THE CHAINED MAIDEN Genitive: Andromedae Andromeda is one of the Greek constellations. It was named after Andromeda, the daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus in Greek mythology, who was chained and left for the sea monster Cetus to eat, and then saved by Perseus. Andromeda was sacrified to Cetus to appease the gods and stop the monster from ravaging her land. Cetus was sent by the god Poseidon after Cassiopeia had boasted that she was more beautiful than the nymphs. ANTLIA – THE AIR PUMP Genitive: Antliae Antlia is one of the constellations created by the French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. He originally named it Antlia Pneumatica, or Machine Pneumatique in French, in honour of French physicist Denis Papin’s invention, the air pump. APUS – THE BIRD OF PARADISE Genitive: Apodis Apus represents a bird of paradise. The constellation’s name means “no feet” in Greek, referring to a western misconception of a bird-of-paradise as one not having feet. The constellation was created and named by the Dutch astronomer and cartographer Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century. AQUARIUS – THE WATER BEARER Genitive: Aquarii Aquarius is one of the 44 Greek constellations. It is usually associated with Ganymede, the cup-carrier to the Olympian gods. In the myth, Ganymede was the son of King Tros, known for giving Troy its name. Ganymede was the most beautiful boy alive and Zeus was so infatuated with him that he took the form of an eagle and abducted the boy. In some versions of the myth, Zeus sent an eagle, represented by the constellation Aquila, to fetch Ganymede and bring him to Olympus. AQUILA – THE EAGLE Genitive: Aquilae Aquila constellation is sometimes associated with the eagle who held Zeus’ thunderbolts in Greek mythology, and other times with the eagle who abducted Ganymede and brought him to Olympus. ARA – THE ALTAR Genitive: Arae Ara is associated with the altar on which the gods formed an alliance befor


Robert Downey Jnr. was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as 'Kirk Lazarus' in which film?

Robert Downey, Jr. | Profiles | Finding Your Roots | PBS Robert Downey, Jr. and Maggie Gyllenhaal Robert Downey, Jr. Explore more from this episode More Robert Downey, Jr., a two-time Academy Award® nominee, earned his most recent Oscar® nomination, for Best Supporting Actor, for his work in Ben Stiller’s comedy hit “Tropic Thunder.”  His performance as Kirk Lazarus, a white Australian actor playing a black American character, also brought him Golden Globe, BAFTA Award and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations.  Downey was honored with his first Oscar® nomination, in the category of Best Actor, for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough’s acclaimed 1992 biopic “Chaplin,” for which he also won BAFTA Award and London Film Critics Awards and received a Golden Globe Award nomination. In early 2010, Downey received another Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the title role of the 2009 hit “Sherlock Holmes,” under the direction of Guy Ritchie. In December 2011, Downey teamed up with Ritchie and co-star Jude Law to return to the role of the legendary detective in the sequel “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” Downey starred alongside Zach Galifianakis in Todd Phillips’ “Due Date” released in late 2010. In the Warner Bros. film, Downey plays the role of an expectant father on a road trip racing to get back in time for the birth of his first child. Additionally in 2010, Downey and his producer/wife, Susan Downey, launched production company, Team Downey, which has a first look deal with Warner Bros. Downey was honored by Time Magazine’s “Time 100” in 2008, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world. In summer 2008, Downey received praise from critics and audiences for his performance in the title role of the blockbuster hit “Iron Man,” under the direction of Jon Favreau.  Bringing the Marvel Comics superhero to the big screen, “Iron Man” earned more than $585 million worldwide, making it one of the year’s biggest hits.  Downey reprised his role in the successful sequel, which was released this past spring.  He returns to the role in Josh Whedon’s upcoming actioner “The Avengers,” which teams Iron Man with other Marvel Comics superheroes out in May 2012. Downey’s other recent films include “The Soloist,” opposite Jamie Foxx; “Charlie Bartlett”; David Fincher’s “Zodiac,” alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo; Richard Linklater’s “A Scanner Darkly,” with Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder and Woody Harrelson; “Fur,” opposite Nicole Kidman in a film inspired by the life of revered photographer Diane Arbus; and “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.”  He also shared in a SAG Award® nomination as a member of the ensemble cast of George Clooney’s true-life drama “Good Night, and Good Luck,” and in a Special Jury Prize won by the ensemble cast of “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” presented at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Downey’s long list of film credits also includes “Gothika”; “The Singing Detective”; Curtis Hanson’s “Wonder Boys”; “U.S. Marshals”; Mike Figgis’ “One Night Stand”; Jodie Foster’s “Home for the Holidays”; “Richard III”; Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers”; Robert Altman’s “The Gingerbread Man” and “Short Cuts,” sharing in a Golden Globe Award for Best Ensemble for the latter; “Heart and Souls,” “Soapdish,” “Air America,” “Chances Are,” “True Believer,” “Less Than Zero,” “Weird Science,” “Firstborn,” and “Pound,” in which he made his debut under the direction of Robert Downey Sr. Marking his debut into music, Debuting Robert Downey Jr. released his debut album titled “The Futurist” on the Sony Classics Label on November 23rd, 2004.   The album’s eight original songs that Downey wrote and his two musical numbers debuting as cover songs revealed his sultry singing voice and his musical talents. In 2001, Downey made his primetime television debut when he joined the cast of the Fox-TV series “Ally McBeal,” as attorney Larry Paul.  For this role, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made fo


Reaching 50 off 24 balls in 2005, who holds the record for the fastest Test half-century in Cricket history?

Pakistan close on Test series win after Misbah blitz Pakistan close on Test series win after Misbah blitz Shahid Hashmi Share View photos Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul Haq (C) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a century (100 runs) on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia at the Zayed International Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on November 2, 2014 (AFP Photo/Marwan Naamani) More Pakistan were on the verge of their first series win over Australia in 20 years and victory in the second Test after skipper Misbah-ul Haq rewrote the record books with his belligerent batting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Misbah smashed a 56-ball hundred, equalling West Indian legend Viv Richards's record made against England at Antigua in 1986, minutes after breaking the mark for the fastest fifty which he made off just 21 balls at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Misbah's stunning blitz set up Pakistan to declare their second innings at 293-3, setting a daunting 603-run target for Australia who suffered another batting collapse before reaching 143-4 at stumps on the fourth day. Misbah said it was an honour to be bracketted with Richards. "I think it's the biggest honour for me," said Misbah. "I am no where near him (Richards) and scoring a hundred in as many deliveries as he did is something I will always remember in my life. "I didn't know about the record of fastest hundred but someone from the team told me and I got to know it, its great to have this record." Steven Smith (38) and Mitchell Marsh (26) were at the crease as Australia still need another 460 runs for an unlikely win or bat out three sessions on the final day to avoid a 2-0 whitewash, their first series defeat against the Pakistanis since a 1-0 loss in Pakistan in 1994. Australia's woes with the bat continued as left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (3-65) struck regular blows by dismissing Chris Rogers (two), Glenn Maxwell (four) and Michael Clarke (five) in 19 balls to leave Australia tottering at 43-3. Clarke was beaten by a beautiful turner as the Australian captain pushed on the backfoot only to see his stumps disturbed. That summed up Clarke's miserable series with only 57 runs. David Warner had held on end intact, reaching his 13th half-century before miscuing a drive off Mohammad Hafeez and was caught for 58. Earlier Misbah, notorious for his slow batting in one-day internationals, removed all doubts about his credentials. In all Misbah hit 11 boundaries and five sixes off 57 balls during his two centuries in the match, a blitz which overshadowed Azhar Ali's feat of 100 not out, making this only the second occasion in Test cricket's history when two batsmen scored a century in each innings in the same match. Australian brothers Ian and Greg Chappell scored centuries in each innings against New Zealand at Wellington in 1973. Misbah beat the previous record of the fastest half-century held by South Africa's Jacques Kallis scored against Zimbabwe at Cape Town in 2004. Misbah hit two boundaries off paceman Mitchell Starc to reach his hundred, punched the air in delight and waved his bat to team-mates. This is also the second fastest hundred in terms of time, behind Australia's Jack Gregory who reached a hundred in 70 minutes against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921. Misbah took 74 minutes to reach the mark. Misbah cut loose after Younis Khan fell for 46, hitting three sixes and a four off one Steven Smith over and then hit the spinner for his fourth six an over later. In all he hit four boundaries and as many sixes in his fifty. Misbah pushed Starc for three to complete the fastest Test fifty ever which took only 24 minutes. The previous fastest fifty in terms of time was held by Bangladesh's Mohammad Ashraful who took 27 minutes for his fifty against India at Dhaka in 2007. The previous fastest Test half-century by a Pakistani batsman was by Shahid Afridi who took 26 balls to reach the mark, against India at Bangalore in 2005. Majid Khan previously held the record for the fastest hundred by a Pakistani, scored off 74 balls against New Zealand in Karachi in 1976. Reblog


Philip Seymour Hoffman was nominated for the 2008 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as 'Father Brendan Flynn' in which film?

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Awards - IMDb Philip Seymour Hoffman Showing all 89 wins and 98 nominations Academy Awards, USA Best Actor in a Supporting Role Doubt (2008)   ((feature film)) For playing "Will Toffman". For episode "No Acting Please". Denver Film Critics Society Tied with Talk to Me (2007). Nominated Tied with Heath Ledger for Brokeback Mountain (2005). Online Film Critics Society Awards Tied with Benicio Del Toro for Traffic (2000). Best Ensemble Tied with State and Main (2000). Best Ensemble Tied with Almost Famous (2000). Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Joaquin Phoenix For the first "processing" questioning scene between Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman) and Freddie Quell (... More For the first "processing" questioning scene between Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman) and Freddie Quell (Phoenix). Tied with Django Unchained (2012), Hitchcock (2012), and _The Impossible (2012)_.


Who was the wife of King Henry III of England?

King of England Henry III Plantagenet, King of England (1207 - 1272) - Genealogy King of England Henry III Plantagenet, King of England French: King of England Henry III De Orléans, King of England Also Known As: "Henry of Winchester", "King of England", "Lord of Ireland", "Duke of Aquitaine" Birthdate: Winchester Castle, Winchester, Hampshire, England Death: in Westminster Palace, Westminster, London, England Place of Burial: Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Middlesex, England Immediate Family: KING OF ENGLAND, King of England Managed by: Oct 1 1206 - Winchester, Hampshire, Eng Death: Nov 16 1272 - Westminster, Middlesex, Eng Parents: John Plantagenet I, Isabella Plantagenet (born Taillefer) Children: Oct 17 1216 - Winchester, Hampshire, England Death: Apr 9 1272 - Westminster, Middlesex, England Father: John I of England ( Lackland) King of England Wife: Queen Eleanor Plantagenet (born Berenger) Children: ...rine Plantaganet, The Right Honourable Edmund "Crouchback" Plantagenet Earl of Leicester, Margaret England Plantagenet, John Plantagenet,... Siblings: ...England, Henry III, Princess ofEngland Eleanor, Richard True Earl of Cornwall, Joan Lady of Wales Plantagenet, Richard True Earl of Cornwall Oct 8 1207 - Winchester, Hampshire, England Death: Nov 23 1272 - Westminster, Middlesex, England Mother: Oct 8 1207 - Winchester Castle, Hampshire, England Death: Oct 8 1207 - Winchester, England Death: Nov 23 1272 - Winchester, England Wife: Oct 1 1206 - Winchester, Hampshire, Eng Death: Nov 16 1272 - Westminster, Middlesex, Eng Father: ...enet I, Richard Plantagenet, William Plantagenet, Henry Plantagenet, John Plantagenet, Edmund 'Crouchback' Plantagenet, Beatrice Plantagenet Brother: JOHN , " Lackland" King England Plantagenet, Isabella Plantagenet (born de Taillefer) Wife: Eleanor Leonor Countess Provence Queen of England Siblings: Oct 8 1207 - WinchesterCastle Hampshire England Death: Nov 23 1272 - Westminster Palace London England Parents: John King of England, Isabel England (born de Taillefer) Wife: Beatrice Plantagenet, Margaret of England Dunkeld,, Prince Edmund " Crouchback" Plantagenet, Katherin Plantaganet Brother: Between June 8 1272 and July 7 1272 - Westminster,England Wife: About Henry III of England a short summary from Wikipedia: Henry III Reign: 19 October 1216 – 16 November 1272 Coronation: 28 October 1216, Gloucester 17 May 1220, Westminster Abbey Predecessor: John Regent William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1216–1219) Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent (1219–1227) Consort Eleanor of Provence Edmund, 1st Earl of Leicester and Lancaster Katherine of England Father: John, King of England Mother: Isabella, Countess of Angoulême Born: 1 October 1207 Died: 16 November 1272 (aged 65) Westminster, London ================================================ Wikipedia links: ================================================ Citations / Sources : [S494] #1 The Plantagenet Ancestry (1928), Turton, W. H. [William Harry], (London: Phillimore & Co., Ltd., 1928), FHL microfilm 87,859., p. 4, 120, 224. [S1196] #552 Europaische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der europaischen Staaten. Neue Folge (1978), Schwennicke, Detlev, (Marburg: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, c1978-1995 (v. 1-16) -- Frankfurt am Main: Vittorio Klostermann, c1998- Medieval Families bibliography #552.), FHL book Q 940 D5es new series., Band 2 Tafel 18, 90. Schwennicke's, Europäische Stammtafeln, [S556] #1325 Ogle and Bothal; or, A history of the baronies of Ogle, Bothal, and Hepple, and of the families of Ogle and Bertram, Ogle, Henry A., (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England : Reid, 1902), 929.242 Og5o., p. 298a. [S1260] An Encyclopedia of World History; Ancient, Medieval, and Modern, Chronologically Arranged (1972), Langer, William L., (5th edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1972), p. 127, 211. Henry III reigned 1216-1272. [S1375] The Thirteenth Century, 1216-1307 (1953), Powicke, Frederick Maurice, Sir, (The Oxford History of England, vol. 4. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1953), FHL book 942 H2oh v. 4., p. 268. [S37] Journal of British Studies, (The


In which city are the headquarters of the European

World’s Most Popular Business Cities World’s Most Popular Business Cities SHARES » more from Asia-Pacific News World's Most Popular Business Cities A shift in economic growth from the West to emerging markets over the past decade has led to the emergence of new business hubs across the world. Regions such as Asia, the Middle East and South America have seen rapid economic growth, coupled with improved infrastructure, and in some cases, lighter regulation. Multinational organizations have rushed to capitalize on this, increasing the number of people they hire in these countries and setting up new offices in emerging markets. For example, banks including HSBC and Barclays have said they will increase hiring in Asia, while cutting staff in developed markets. GE, for example, has moved the headquarters of its X-ray business to Beijing from the U.S. The emergence of these new business centers has sometimes come at the expense of the traditional centers such as New York, Frankfurt and London. But it hasn't always been smooth. Dubai, which experienced huge investments in real estate over the past decade, faced a property bust in 2009. We decided to look at the top business hubs in the world based on research by global real estate firm CB Richard Ellis, which surveyed 300 of the world's largest companies, including Fortune 500 firms and other non-listed entities, such as law firms. The ranking is based on what percentage of these companies have offices in these cities. We've matched that with the cost of renting office space in the central business districts (CBDs) of these hubs from real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. Office rent cost is measured in square meter per year. The results might surprise you with some of the largest North American cities absent. So which cities are the world's most popular business hubs? Click ahead to find out. By: Rajeshni Naidu-Ghelani (Posted: August 16, 2011)


Who wrote the novels 'Go Tell It On The Mountain' and 'Giovanni's Room'?

Giovanni's Room Giovanni's Room or browse other Shmoopers' Questions In A Nutshell James Baldwin tended to write controversial novels, and Giovanni's Room was definitely controversial when it was published in 1956. Baldwin was born in Harlem, NY in 1924. In his teens, he worked as a Pentecostal preacher, under the influence of his father. Yet as he grew older, he moved away from the influence of the church. He found himself an apartment in the artist's district of Greenwich Village, NY and then, in 1948, in part due to the alienation he felt as a gay black man, he moved to Paris. Baldwin's literary reputation bloomed with his semi-autobiographical first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, published in 1953. He wrote several other works before Giovanni's Room, all of which dealt with the experience of being a black man in America before the Civil Rights Movement . During this time, Baldwin also had a love affair with a man named Lucien Happersberger, an experience upon which he must have drawn for Giovanni's Room. The two became very close, but after several years, Lucien married a woman. Baldwin dedicated Giovanni's Room to Lucien. Giovanni's Room was completed in 1956 and presented for publication. Upon finishing the manuscript, Baldwin's publisher suggested that he might as well burn the book due to its focus on a romantic relationship between two men. As an African American writer, Baldwin was already rebelling against the racial prejudices of his time. Now, by writing about his sexuality, the publisher feared that he would even further alienate his audience – both black and white. The book stirred up a great deal of controversy when it was released. However, the critics proclaimed it a masterpiece, and it is still recognized as such today. Even in the 21st century, it is one of the few widely accepted books to openly deal with a same-sex relationship in a direct and complex way.   Why Should I Care? In Giovanni's Room, the main character, David, feels ashamed of being gay. It's the 1950s, and his family and society are simply not ready to accept his sexual orientation, and neither is David. The fact that he is gay is obvious, and yet he manages to trick himself over and over again – until his secret becomes public and he's finally forced to confront the truth. Can you imagine what this might feel like? Think of something about yourself that maybe your family or your society doesn't approve of, something that perhaps makes you feel deeply ashamed. Now imagine that tomorrow morning you wake up and that thing is on every news channel; it is on the front of every paper; you come downstairs and your parents can't even meet your eyes. Imagine how you would feel, what you would say, and what you would you do. Now maybe you're thinking, "This is stupid. Nothing embarrasses me." Maybe you're right. Maybe nothing leaps to mind. Who knows? But what's interesting is that David would give the exact same answer. David is so ashamed of his sexuality that he can't even admit that he is ashamed. He goes to Paris, claiming that he is searching for himself, when in reality he is fleeing from himself. In his case, the result is tragedy because the lies that he tells to himself inevitably become lies that he tells to other people. As one reads Giovanni's Room, it's hard not to recognize something of David in oneself. William Faulkner is rumored to have said, "We have to start teaching ourselves not to be afraid." You might think of the message of Giovanni's Room in similar terms. Perhaps the message is less dramatic, but it is also subtler and more personal and more poignant: "We have to start teaching ourselves not to be ashamed."


Which cyclist won the first ever Tour de France in 1903?

The Birth of the Tour de France, 110 Years Ago - History in the Headlines The Birth of the Tour de France, 110 Years Ago June 28, 2013 By Christopher Klein 2012 Tour de France The Birth of the Tour de France, 110 Years Ago Author The Birth of the Tour de France, 110 Years Ago URL Google Launched as a newspaper publicity stunt in 1903, the Tour de France instantly proved itself an epic test of endurance, with competitors in the first race pedaling through the night on grueling stages that lasted upwards of 24 hours. Cheating was also endemic from the very start. As the Tour de France embarks on its 100th edition—world wars canceled 11 races—take a look back at the birth of the world’s most famous cycling race. On July 1, 1903, 60 men mounted their bicycles outside the Café au Reveil Matin in the Parisian suburb of Montgeron. The five-dozen riders were mostly French, with just a sprinkle of Belgians, Swiss, Germans and Italians. A third were professionals sponsored by bicycle manufacturers, the others simply devotees of the sport. All 60 wheelmen, however, were united by the challenge of embarking on an unprecedented test of endurance—not to mention the 20,000 francs in prize money—in the inaugural Tour de France. At 3:16 p.m., the cyclists turned the pedals of their bicycles and raced into the unknown. Nothing like the Tour de France had ever been attempted before. Journalist Geo Lefevre had dreamt up the fanciful race as a stunt to boost the circulation of his struggling daily sports newspaper, L’Auto. Henri Desgrange, the director-editor of L’Auto and a former champion cyclist himself, loved the idea of turning France into one giant velodrome. They developed a 1,500-mile clockwise loop of the country running from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes before returning to the French capital. There were no Alpine climbs and only six stages—as opposed to the 21 stages in the 2013 Tour— but the distances covered in each of them were monstrous, an average of 250 miles. (No single stage in the 2013 Tour tops 150 miles.) Between one and three rest days were scheduled between stages for recovery. The inaugural Tour de France, July 1903. The first stage of the epic race was particularly dastardly. The route from Paris to Lyon stretched nearly 300 miles. No doubt several of the riders who wheeled away from Paris worried not about winning the race—but surviving it. Unlike today’s riders, the cyclists in 1903 rode over unpaved roads without helmets. They rode as individuals, not team members. Riders could receive no help. They could not glide in the slipstream of fellow riders or vehicles of any kind. They rode without support cars. Cyclists were responsible for making their own repairs. They even rode with spare tires and tubes wrapped around their torsos in case they developed flats. And unlike modern-day riders, the cyclists in the 1903 Tour de France, forced to cover enormous swathes of land, spent much of the race riding through the night with moonlight the only guide and stars the only spectators. During the early morning hours of the first stage, race officials came across many competitors “riding like sleepwalkers.” Hour after hour through the night, riders abandoned the race. One of the favorites, Hippolyte Aucouturier, quit after developing stomach cramps, perhaps from the swigs of red wine he took as an early 1900s version of a performance enhancer. Twenty-three riders abandoned the first stage of the race, but the one man who barreled through the night faster than anyone else was another pre-race favorite, 32-year-old professional Maurice Garin. The mustachioed French national worked as a chimney sweep as a teenager before becoming one of France’s leading cyclists. Caked in mud, the diminutive Garin crossed the finish line in Lyon a little more than 17 hours after the start outside Paris. In spite of the race’s length, he won by only one minute. “The Little Chimney Sweep” built his lead as the race progressed. By the fifth stage, Garin had a two-hour advantage. When his nearest competitor suffered two f


Which former MI5 secret service agent wrote the controversial book 'Spycatcher'?

BBC ON THIS DAY | 13 | 1988: Government loses Spycatcher battle About This Site | Text Only 1988: Government loses Spycatcher battle The British Government has lost its long-running battle to stop the publication of the controversial book Spycatcher, written by a former secret service agent. Law Lords ruled the media can publish extracts from former MI5 officer Peter Wright's memoirs, because any damage to national security has already been done by its publication abroad. But they agreed Mr Wright's book had indeed constituted a serious breach of confidentiality, the principle at the heart of the government's case against him for the last three years. Despite the defeat Home Secretary Douglas Hurd claimed the ruling "vindicated" the government's attempts to preserve the life-long "duty of confidentiality". However, Shadow Home Secretary Roy Hattersley, said the ruling now made the Government's position "demonstrably absurd." He said in using the legal system the government had behaved in a "scandalous way when it must have known it would lose in the end". These were genuine matters of public importance that the public should be allowed to know about. Donald Trelford, editor of The Observer Mr Wright was condemned by the Law Lords as a traitor for disclosing security service secrets, but his lawyer, Malcolm Turnball, said their criticism of his client was unjudicial and "reeked of bad losing". He argued allegations about confidentiality had already failed to convince an Australian court in an earlier attempt by the British government to prevent publication of his client's book. Mr Wright was apparently ill, and unable to comment on today's verdict. With the ruling, injunctions imposed against The Observer, The Guardian and The Sunday Times have been lifted. Outside the court Donald Trelford, editor of The Observer celebrated: "At long last our democratic system has reached the obvious conclusion that these were genuine matters of public importance that the public should be allowed to know about." Spycatcher is already an international bestseller with nearly two million copies sold. In his memoirs as an MI5 officer Mr Wright alleges the security service operated beyond the law. Some of his more controversial revelations include the claim that Prime Minister Harold Wilson was the target of an MI5 conspiracy and that ex-chief of MI5, Roger Hollis, was a Soviet mole in the 1960s.


For his role in which 1987 film did Michael Douglas win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of 'Gordon Gecko'?

Wall Street (1987) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider who takes the youth under his wing. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 38 titles created 21 Apr 2013 a list of 44 titles created 19 Jul 2013 a list of 25 titles created 04 May 2014 a list of 24 titles created 25 Aug 2015 a list of 37 titles created 07 Sep 2015 Search for " Wall Street " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won     1     Oscar. Another    9 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Now out of prison but still disgraced by his peers, Gordon Gekko works his future son-in-law, an idealistic stock broker, when he sees an opportunity to take down a Wall Street enemy and rebuild his empire. Director: Oliver Stone The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for. Director: Oliver Stone A New Orleans DA discovers there's more to the Kennedy assassination than the official story. Director: Oliver Stone     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X   The story of the famous and influential 1960s rock band The Doors and its lead singer and composer, Jim Morrison , from his days as a UCLA film student in Los Angeles, to his untimely death in Paris, France at age 27 in 1971. Director: Oliver Stone A married couple try everything to get each other to leave the house in a vicious divorce battle. Director: Danny DeVito A borderline personality disordered defense worker frustrated with the various flaws he sees in society, begins to psychotically and violently lash out against them. Director: Joel Schumacher A biographical story of former U.S. president Richard Milhous Nixon, from his days as a young boy to his eventual presidency which ended in shame. Director: Oliver Stone A married man's one-night stand comes back to haunt him when that lover begins to stalk him and his family. Director: Adrian Lyne A chronicle of the life and presidency of George W. Bush . Director: Oliver Stone Two victims of traumatized childhoods become lovers and psychopathic serial murderers irresponsibly glorified by the mass media. Director: Oliver Stone A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man. Director: Oliver Stone A rude, contemptuous talk show host becomes overwhelmed by the hatred that surrounds his program just before it goes national. Director: Oliver Stone Edit Storyline Bud Fox is a Wall Street stockbroker in early 1980's New York with a strong desire to get to the top. Working for his firm during the day, he spends his spare time working an on angle with the high-powered, extremely successful (but ruthless and greedy) broker Gordon Gekko. Fox finally meets with Gekko, who takes the youth under his wing and explains his philosophy that "Greed is Good". Taking the advice and working closely with Gekko, Fox soon finds himself swept into a world of "yuppies", shady business deals, the "good life", fast money, and fast women; something which is at odds with his family including his estranged father and the blue-collared way Fox was brought up. Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au> Every dream has a price. Genres: 11 December 1987 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Michael Douglas had just come off heroic roles like the one in Romancing the Stone (1984) and was looking for something dark and edgy. See more » Goofs When Gekko's 3-year old son Rudy tosses the raspberry at Gekko's lawyer, it flies downward onto the patio table. In the next shot it hit


UNITA was the name of the guerrilla army that fought for independence for which African country?

APWorldHistoryWiki - A - African Nations Gain Independence - Struggles in Africa A - African Nations Gain Independence - Struggles in Africa Zoe Norris, Baylee Nichols, Kenzie Casement, Brooklyn Arnold Geograpically Diverse Continent Africa is the second largest continent in the world. It has tropical rainforests, savannas, and deserts. It also has fertile coastal strips in North and South Africa. Most people live around the fertile areas. The land produces enough food for big populations making it possible for larger colonies to thrive. Africa is known for having lots of minerals such as gold ore, copper ore, and diamonds. They also produce crops like coffee and cocoa. These are just some of the main reasons why European powers wanted to stay in control and do just about anything to maintain them. Savannas(n.): grasslands with scattered trees Colonies Demand Independence Thousands of African people started to demand freedom from the European leaders. Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, and Leopold Senghor led independence movements in their countries. In some countries, political pressure was enough to get independence, this method worked well for British colonies that became Nigeria and Ghana and in most of France's West African colonies. Unfortunately not all countries were that lucky. In countries such as Algeria and Kenya, the battle for liberation became violent. Kwame Nkrumah Jomo Kenyatta: (1894-1974) Born in a small Kikuyu village, and educated at a Christian mission. As an adult he quickly became a very strong nationalist. He became an anticolonial organizer and fought long and hard for the independence of Kenya. Checkpoint Question: Why did European powers resist independence for their African colonies? The European powers wanted the African colonies resources like rich deposits of minerals, cash crops, and petroleum. Africans Build New Nations Some new African nations has peace but others broke out in civil war, military rule, or corrupt dictators. Confronting Ethnic Divisons The European powers had drawn colony lines without regard of the thousands of ethnic groups. Many nations gained independence with people that had different religions and languages and were more focused on putting forth their loyalty to their ethnic groups, not a national government. Because of this, there was a lot of ethnic and regional conflict. Many countries had one-party political systems rather than multiparty systems. It was believed that multiparty systems encouraged disunity. Although, many of the one-party systems turned into dictatorships. The down side of these particular dictatorships was that the dictators used their power to enrich themselves, and a certain batch of lucky people. Because of this, military's often took control. More than half of African nations faced a coup d'etat. Some of these military leaders wished to improve awful conditions and restore civilian rule, but that wish was never granted to the people. Other military leaders became brutal tyrants. coup d'etat(n.): forcible overthrow of a government Moving Toward Democracy As military's often ruled many of the colonies, a democratic government was desired. In the mean time, Western governments and the World bank required reforms as a condition for loans. Because of this, some governments made changes. Many legalized opposition parties and allowed the freedom of speech. In nations such as Tanzania, Nigeria, and Benin, multiparty elections took place, removing long-ruling leaders from office. Election Campaign held in Tanzania Foreigners Jostle for Influence Unfortunately, although many African nations gained political freedom, colonial powers still maintained control of local business. Because of this, many nations remained dependent economically on their former colonies. During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union often competed for military and strategic advantages through alliances with many African countries. The United States supported Mobutu Sese Seko, a dictator of Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and they also supported Somalia. On the


Which SAS soldier wrote the book 'Bravo Two Zero', an account of a failed mission during the (1st) Gulf War?

More About the Bravo Two Zero Patrol More About the Bravo Two Zero Patrol Gulf War Documentary The man who commanded the SAS in the Gulf War has spoken publicly for the first time about his unit's operations. In the BBC documentary series 'The Gulf War', Brigadier Andy Massey says that tactical mistakes were made in the deployment of the soldiers. Three men from the patrol known as Bravo Two Zero died in an operation to find Scud missiles behind Iraqi lines. For the SAS, the Bravo Two Zero patrol has always been seen with distinctly mixed feelings. On one hand, its most famous ever action is a tale of remarkable endurance and heroism, but it was also a clear failure, with only one of the eight-man patrol escaping death or capture. Privately, SAS soldiers have always acknowledged mistakes were made. Now, in an interview for a BBC documentary on the war, the commander of special forces in the Gulf, Brigadier Andy Massey, has publicly said there were errors, notably the failure to go behind enemy lines with vehicles. Without transport, the patrol was unable to move rapidly when they were discovered, having to try to escape from deep behind enemy lines on foot. In fact the men of Bravo Two Zero themselves chose not to use vehicles, while other patrols with the same task -finding Scud missiles - made what proved to be the right decision and took Land Rovers. Ironically it is the least successful patrol that has become a legend. Daily Telegraph ( 22 May 1996)   Ex-SAS troopers accuse officers of hypocrisy By Tim Butcher, Defence Correspondent   TENSIONS between officers and troopers that threaten to harm the SAS were revealed yesterday at the launch of another television programme on the Army's elite regiment. Five former troopers criticised what they describe as the "hypocrisy" of officers for banning them from the regiment's base in Hereford for taking part in the programme and being involved with the publication of the accompanying book. They accused officers of inconsistency for not taking similar action against commanders such as Gen Sir Peter de la Billière, who referred to the regiment extensively in two autobiographical books. "There are two rules, one for the officers and one for the soldiers," one of the troopers, who identified himself as Rusty, told a press conference. "The thing is the officers are telling the soldiers' stories and are allowed to get away with it." The five were among 40 names on a list of banned people not allowed access to Stirling Lines, the SAS base in Hereford. The others banned include Andy McNab and Chris Ryan, who both wrote SAS books about the Gulf conflict. One of the group who identified himself as Soldier "I" said they could take part in meetings of the SAS Regimental Association and other regimental functions, anywhere but at Stirling Lines. "In my mind it is sheer hypocrisy," Soldier "I" said. He believed the banning order was a short-sighted measure taken after the rash of recent SAS publicity including the books by McNab and Ryan as well as assorted videos and television programmes. He described the commanding officer of 22 SAS as "paranoid". "He does not know how to handle the press," he said. "He does not know how to handle this media explosion. "It's a knee-jerk reaction and he just decided the only way to combat this problem is to ban everybody, but in fact it drives it underground and makes people more determined to do their bit." "As far as I am concerned what we set about doing was to give the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" All five appeared at the press launch of SAS - The Soldiers' Story to be broadcast by ITV, starting on Thursday week - wearing boiler suits, combat boots and black balaclavas, saying they did not want to reveal their identity because they had served in Northern Ireland. Each of the seven episodes includes personal accounts of some of the regiment's most famous achievements, including the 1980 storming of the Iranian embassy in London. The series' makers said the first episode had been cleared by the Ministry of Defence since it did not


For his role in which 1997 film did Jack Nicholson win an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of 'Melvin Udall'?

1997 Academy Awards® Winners and History The Full Monty (1997, UK) Actor: JACK NICHOLSON in "As Good As It Gets", Matt Damon         in "Good Will Hunting", Dustin Hoffman in "Wag         the Dog", Robert Duvall in "The Apostle", Peter         Fonda in "Ulee's Gold" Actress: HELEN HUNT in "As Good As It Gets", Judi Dench in "(Her         Majesty) Mrs Brown", Helena Bonham Carter in "The Wings         of the Dove", Kate Winslet in "Titanic", Julie         Christie in "Afterglow" Supporting Actor: ROBIN WILLIAMS in "Good Will Hunting", Robert Forster         in "Jackie Brown", Anthony Hopkins in "Amistad",         Greg Kinnear in "As Good As It Gets", Burt Reynolds         in "Boogie Nights" Supporting Actress: KIM BASINGER in "L.A. Confidential", Joan Cusack in "In & Out", Minnie Driver in "Good Will Hunting", Julianne         Moore in "Boogie Nights", Gloria Stuart in "Titanic" Director: JAMES CAMERON for "Titanic", Peter Cattaneo for "The         Full Monty", Atom Egoyan for "The Sweet Hereafter",         Curtis Hanson for "L.A. Confidential", Gus Van Sant         for "Good Will Hunting" Director-producer-screenwriter          James Cameron's three-hour mega-hit, Titanic - both          the most expensive film ever made AND the number one, most           successful box-office film of all-time (shared by 20th          Century Fox and Paramount Studios), was the fictionalized account          of the 1912 White Star Line cruise-ship disaster. It was the          first Best Picture winner to gross over $1 billion (worldwide),          and $600 million (domestic). Cameron's film was both a love          story surrounded with the special-effects sinking of the 'unsinkable' Titanic on          its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York. The          reconstructed ship in the film was three-quarters actual size. Titanic had a record number of nominations          and wins - fourteen, tying the all-time record set by All           About Eve (1950) . That made it the second of          only two films to receive 14 Academy Award nominations, including          Best Picture. It was also the second film to win 11 Academy          Awards, including Best Picture - it tied Ben-Hur           (1959) with eleven Oscar wins - the most Oscar          wins of any film in Academy Awards history. [ The           Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) would          equal the feat in six years with 11 wins.] Both Titanic and Ben-Hur          (1959) failed to win Best Original Screenplay (Titanic wasn't          even nominated in the category), although both films won          Best Picture and Best Director honors. To date, it was          the last film to win Best Picture without a Screenplay          nomination (Adapted or Original); the last Best Picture          to not have its screenplay nominated was The           Sound of Music (1965) . [The earlier version, Titanic (1953), lacked           nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, but had two           nominations, including Best Art Direction and it won an Oscar           for Best Story and Screenplay - by Charles Brackett, Walter           Reisch, and Richard Breen.] Its fourteen nominations included: Best Picture,          Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best          Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best          Film Editing, Best Make-up, Best Score, Best Song ("My          Heart Will Go On"), Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing,          and Best Visual Effects. Titanic lost only three awards          for which it was nominated - its two acting nominations, and


'Shining Path' is the name of the guerrilla organisation operating in which South American country?

Peru: Shining Path Guerillas Back in Action Shining Path   Guerillas Back in Action By Abraham Lama LIMA, Jun 20 (IPS) - After being declared   ''virtually annihilated'' in 1996 by President Alberto Fujimori, rebels of the Shining   Path movement are operating again in the remote jungle areas of Peru. Dissidents within the guerrilla organisation,   calling themselves "Red Path" have refused to comply with the surrender call of   Shining Path's founder Abimael Guzman. Since 1993 they have been holed up in remote jungle regions, staging only sporadic incursions. For the past three weeks, however, the   dissident group has launched a series of high-profile attacks apparently designed to   demonstrate that it is still alive and kicking. A column of around 80 Red Path combatants   appeared in the area of Alto Huallaga in Peru's central jungle region and occupied four   towns for short periods. And in Viscatan, in Peru's south-central tropical mountainous   region, insurgents have attacked ''peasant patrols,'' - the rural paramilitary units   created and armed by the government. Over the past week, government troops were flown   by air to reinforce army posts in the area of the Huallaga river and increase the number   of soldiers trying to fence in the column that attacked the four towns. Uchiza, one of the   larger towns in the area was occupied on May 28 for nearly one hour by some 50 rebels, who   set fire to several banks and public buildings. A police officer and one guerrilla fighter were   killed and four rebels were wounded in the confrontation while a teacher and two students,   caught in the crossfire, also died. Police sources said the National Intelligence Service   warned in March that rebels in Huallaga were preparing for action again and that they   would ''possibly try to conduct large-scale operations to attract international   attention.'' Farther south, an army detachment was sent to   Viscatan, the starting-point for incursions by armed rebel groups into several highland   villages in the area of Ayacucho in May and early this month. The rebel units sought out   leaders of the ''peasant patrols,'' a few of whom were killed and their houses burned in a   warning to local residents that anyone who provided the army with information or   assistance would be killed. According to sociologist Flavio Solorzano, an   analyst with the local non-governmental organisation ''Population and Development,'' each   of the two new guerrilla fronts had its own distinct purpose. ''The political leadership   of the dissident group of Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) which does not accept the party   line of peace adopted by Guzman is in Viscatan, while the column operating in Huallaga is   to carry out politically-oriented operations and obtain logistical resources,'' said   Solorzano. He added that ''it can be deduced that Sendero Rojo (Red Path) is trying to   recuperate its social bases in Ayacucho, where the peasant war led by Guzman broke out in   1980'' Since 1994, Viscatan has been considered the   refuge of Oscar Feliciano Ramirez, known as ''comrade Feliciano,'' the only member of the   Central Committee of Shining Path still at large. Ramirez heads the dissidents who have   refused to agree to the surrender called for by Guzman from his prison cell. But government spokespersons said last week that   a new rebel military-political command had emerged in Huallaga, headed by Julio Flores or   Filomeno Cerron - authorities are unsure which is his real name - better known as   ''comrade Artemio.'' Analysts familiar with the working of the guerrilla movement said   Artemio is not following Feliciano's orders, but trying to operate on his own, taking   advantage of unrest among impoverished local peasants and a slight recent rise in the   price of coca, the raw material of cocaine. Others, like Solorzano, believed he was only a   ''regional-level commander'' who bowed to the authority of the head of Red Path. From 1980 to 1993, the area in


Which Italian design company, best known for its jeans, was founded by Renzo Rosso in Molvena in 1978?

Italian Jeans, casuals and other clothing manufacturer. Italian Jeans, casuals and other clothing manufacturer. Italian Jeans, casuals and other clothing manufacturer. Sunday, May 31, 2009 Italian Jeans, casuals and other clothing manufacturer. Diesel S.p.A. is an Italian design company. It is best known for clothing aimed at the youth market, particularly jeans, but the brand can now be found on everything from male thongs to perfume. The company is owned by its founder Renzo Rosso, and is based in Molvena in northern Italy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HISTORY The company was founded by Renzo Rosso and his former boss Adriano Goldschmied of the AG Jeans company, in 1978. Diesel's milestone years include 1985 (Renzo's complete acquisition of the company), 1988 the hiring straight out of fashion college of current head designer and Creative Director Wilbert Das, 1991 (beginning of the international marketing strategy) and 1996 (opening of Diesel's first flagship store on New York City's Lexington Avenue). In February 2007, the company launched a major intimates and beachwear division for men and women that is carried in the retail and department stores. Diesel Black Gold was announced in November 2007. Retail store in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company has around 2,200 employees in 18 subsidiaries across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Its products are available in 5000 retail outlets, of which 300 are Diesel-branded stores. Annual sales were approximately €1.2 billion in 2005, and €1.3 billion in 2009. Revenue is largely derived from denim sales, but also extremely successful and influential ranges of accessories and children's wear - Diesel Kid Production of denim jeans is based mainly in Italy. Despite the uncertain Economic climate, Diesel continues to be a strong brand in the fashion Industry The biggest store is located in Milan, Italy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brands All Diesel collections, including licensed products, are made under the Creative Direction of Wilbert Das. The principal lines are Diesel, the main line, and Diesel Black Gold, a new collection launched in 2007 in the casual-luxury segment. The children's collection is called Diesel Kid. Diesel Denim Gallery offers limited edition denim sold in innovative art-gallery-like spaces. Diesel also offers collections of footwear, intimate (underwear), and bags. Diesel's licensed collections are eyewear (made with Safilo), jewelry and watches (Fossil), and fragrances (L'Oréal). L'Oreal and Diesel launched Fuel for Life (for him and for her) in the fall of 2007. A mini-collection for Adidas was launched in 2008 called Adidas Originals Denim by Diesel. The underwear license is held by the US company Mast Industries Inc., who also make lingerie for Victoria's Secret. A new collaboration with AGV has seen the launch of a Helmet. Recently Diesel Home, thanks to collaborations with Moroso nd Foscarini has been launched in the market. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Creative Direction Diesel's Creative Director and head designer is Wilbert Das who has worked for Diesel since 1988. Wilbert started as a designer on the Male, Accessories, Leather, and Kids lines. He rose quickly to head the style office and creative areas of Diesel, and in 1993 was given the official title of Creative Director, with responsibilities ranging from directing all product design as well as all communication campaigns. From clothing & accessory design to advertising, new media, merchandising, retail & interior design (including stores, showrooms, offices, hotels), planning of fashion shows & events, as well as developing new brand extensions such as houseware, furniture and even automobiles. Literally all aspects of the Diesel brand’s style and image continue to fall under Wilbert’s responsibility. Posted by


Which title, referring to a story from Greek mythology, is shared by paintings by Bouguereau, Cabanel and Botticelli?

The Birth of Venus, Botticelli Botticelli , The Birth of Venus Botticelli , The Birth of Venus The Birth of Venus is a painting by Sandro Botticelli. It depicts the Goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a full grown woman, arriving at the sea-shore. This large picture by Botticelli may have been, like the Primavera, painted for Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco's Villa di Castello, around 1483, or even before. Some scholars suggest that the Venus painted for Lorenzo and mentioned by Giorgio Vasari may have been a different, now lost, work to the painting in the Uffizi. Some experts believe it to be a celebration of the love of Giuliano di Piero de' Medici (who died in the Pazzi conspiracy in 1478) for Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, who lived in Portovenere, a town by the sea with a local tradition of being the birthplace of Venus. Whatever inspired the artist, there are clear similarities to Ovid's Metamorphoses and Fasti, as well as to Poliziano's Verses. The classical Goddess Venus emerges from the water on a shell, blown towards shore by the Zephyrs , symbols of spiritual passions, and with one of the Ores, goddesses of the seasons, who hands her a flowered cloak. According to some commentators, the naked goddess isn't then a symbol of earthly but of spiritual love, like an ancient marble statue (which might have inspired the 18th century sculptor, Antonio Canova, by its candor), slim and long-limbed, with harmonious features. The effect, nonetheless, is distinctly pagan considering it was made at a time and place when most artworks depicted Roman Catholic themes. It is somewhat surprising that this canvas escaped the flames of Savonarola's bonfires, where a number of Botticelli's other "pagan" influenced works perished. Detail of Venus The anatomy of Venus and various subsidiary details do not display the strict classical realism of Leonardo da Vinci or Raphael. Most obviously, Venus has an improbably long neck, and her left shoulder slopes at an anatomically unlikely angle. Such details, whether artistic errors or artistic licence, do little to diminish the great beauty of the painting, and some have suggested it prefigures mannerism. Classical inspiration Mural at Pompeii The painting was one of a series which Botticelli was inspired to paint after written descriptions by the 2nd century historian Lucian of masterpieces of Ancient Greece which had long since disappeared by Botticelli's time. The ancient painting by Apelles was called Anadyomene Venus, "Anadyomene" meaning "rising from the sea"; this title was also used for Botticelli's painting, The Birth of Venus only becoming its better known title in the 19th century. A mural from Pompeii was never seen by Botticelli, but may have been a Roman copy of the then famous painting by Apelles which Lucian mentioned. In classical antiquity, the sea shell was a metaphor for a woman's vulva. The pose of Botticelli's Venus is reminiscent of the Venus de Medici, a marble sculpture from classical antiquity in the Medici collection which Botticelli had opportunity to study. Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" in literature A subplot (chapter 7) of Thomas Pynchon's novel V. (1961) centers on an attempt to steal the painting from the Uffizi gallery in Florence. Rafael Mantissa, an exile from Venezuela, is more or less in love with Venus. While some correctly argue that this is not your regular motive for stealing a painting, this is an underscored point of the novel: the paradoxical relation of men to Woman. Men are attracted to Woman, but at the same time destroyed. However, all of this is perceived by one of the characters, Herbert Stencil, in his attempt to come to terms with loss through historical imagination and historiography - the famous 'historical chapters' in V.. Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" in popular culture Reproductions and variations on Botticelli's famous painting have been numerous in popular culture, including in advertising and motion pictures: A scene in the 1962 James Bond film Dr. No with Ursula Andress rising from the sea was inspired by the painting. The scene


In 'The Simsons', what is the name of Springfield's baseball team who play their home games at 'Duff Stadium'?

Springfield Isotopes | Simpsons Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia The Springfield Isotopes are Springfield 's only minor league baseball team. Profile The team is shown as drastically underfunded and struggling in competition. Their home games are played at Duff Stadium as Duff Beer sponsors and co-manages the team. The Isotopes name is most likely in reference to Springfield's nuclear power plant . Homer Simpson was the Isotopes mascot for a brief period, taking over from the Capital City Goofball, before being fired. The Team Cap Players include Flash Baylor , Fishbone Walker , Smash Diggins , Buck Mitchell and Babe Ruth IV . Potential Relocation The low quality of the team combined with its financial difficulties has prompted management to consider moving the team. After the team was sold to the Duff corporation (from the Mafia, and according to Moe the last of the family-owned teams), Homer once learned that there were plans to move the team to Albuquerque, and staged a hunger strike to prevent it. Springfield become aware of their plans to move the team due to Homer's efforts and their premature roll-out of food packaging with "Albuquerque Isotopes" written on them. Albuquerque decides to change the decision to move the team. Appearances


7 dogs that look like a real-life Scooby Doo 7 dogs that look like a real-life Scooby Doo 1 week ago Image: Hanna-Barbera Productions via WENN.com Print Scooby Dooby, meet your doppelgängers Share Tumble Combined comments & shares on social media Are there Scooby Doo look-alike contests out there in the world? If so, these dogs should enter and take home all of the prizes. Not only are these Great Danes the same breed as the beloved cartoon character, but they also have that special je ne sais quoi that is Scooby. It's impossible to look at these guys without without cracking a smile. 1. Scooby in transit It's Scooby! It's Scooby Doo, and he's all buckled up ready to solve some supernatural mystery. Velma probably took this photo. Actually, you're right, it was most likely Daphne. She seems like she'd be into Instagram. 2. Successful Scooby This picture was taken after Scooby and Shaggy made the big bucks on their reality TV show. Their days now include lots of lounging, lots of boats and lots of photos of the whole adventure. 3. Classic Scooby Here's the Scooby we know and love. Tongue out, tail wagging, ready to jump for joy and solve a mystery or three. 4. Sleeping Scooby More:  12 dog breeds first-time owners should think twice about 5. Scooby on an adventure Here we have Scooby on location, solving the great mystery of the supernatural creature in the rocks. He's ready to go, folks. (Also, he looks quite dashing, no?) 6. Scooby the Great This photo was taken from Scooby's promo for his latest show. He was going for the "sophisticated canine" look, and it works. Mainly, everything works on Scooby. 7. Serious Scooby Scooby is thinking about Scooby snacks in this photo, and he asks that you don't bother him.


In 'The Simpsons', what is the name of the shop owned by 'Ned Flanders' that caters for left-handed people?

Ned Flanders | Simpsons Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Ned being spanked as part of his treatment Ned as a boy with his parents   Ned Flanders grew up in New York and was the son of "Freaky Beatniks" who did not discipline Ned and let him run wild. Eventually they took him to Dr. Foster , a psychiatrist, who put the young Ned through the University of Minnesota Spankalogical Protocol , which involved eight months of continuous spanking. The treatment worked so well that it rendered Ned unable to express any anger at all and resulted in his trademark nonsensical jabbering at moments when he was particularly close to losing his temper, causing Ned to unknowingly repress his anger. Flanders got his diploma from Oral Roberts University . Flanders worked as a salesman in the pharmaceuticals industry for the bulk of his adult life. Having saved much of his earnings, Flanders decided to quit his job and invested his family's life savings into a store in the Springfield mall called " The Leftorium " specializing in products for left-handed people. He lives at 744 Evergreen Terrace . Ned's age is uncertain. In " Hurricane Neddy " he is shown as a child in a flashback 30 years earlier, but later, in " Viva Ned Flanders ", he states that he is 60 years old. (He attributes his youthful appearance to "clean living, chewing thoroughly, and a daily dose of vitamin church.") Later still, in " Walking Big & Tall ", he is once again shown as a child 30 years ago. In the latter appearance, he is shown to be around the same age as Homer and Marge, who are in the same scene as children. Personality Ned is very honest and sincere in carrying out the Christian doctrines of charity, kindness and compassion to an extent unseen within the rest of the Springfield community. He is frequently shown doing volunteer work, and is rigorously honest and upright, even going so far as to spend an entire day tracking down a Leftorium customer in order to give him the extra change that he had forgotten to hand over. He once donated a kidney and a lung out of the goodness of his heart to whoever needs them first. [2] He is also a good neighbor to the Simpsons, regularly offering his assistance. Ned’s dogged friendship inspires the loyalty of others; when his Leftorium appeared on the verge of bankruptcy shortly after it opened, Homer arranged a George Bailey-esque bailout with the help of many people in Springfield . Upon discovering that Bart and Lisa Simpson were not baptized he immediately took it upon himself to (unsuccessfully) conduct the ceremony without their parents' consent. He also was one of the organizers of a mob to remove the La Maison Derrière due to the amoral exploitation of the sexual desires in males (although he notably had to ask for permission to commence a mob to Belle , the owner of the place they were attempting to tear down in a mob frenzy, indicating that he either wasn't completely aware of how a mob was supposed to work or was unwilling to go to the extreme of inciting a mob riot to get rid of the house). In more recent episodes he seems to have gained more tolerance to other religions and homosexuality, as long as the people in question are good-natured. However, his bias and perspective still makes him think that they will have a harder time getting to heaven. Ned's house on Evergreen Terrace. Ned was married to the equally religious Maude Flanders (after whose death he married Edna Krabappel ). Ned and Maude had two children together; the sheltered and naive Rod and Todd . While still married to Maude, Ned married Ginger , a waitress, while on a drunken bender in Las Vegas. Ginger came to live with Ned and his sons for a brief period following Maude's death, but she quickly grew tired of the Ned's sickly-sweet personalities and fled. Flanders has also been connected romantically with a beautiful Christian-rock singer, Rachel Jordan , and Tiffany Sloane , a movie star. He also makes absolute certain every year to pay and file his tax returns at the start of the new year, especially when considering how the vast majority of Spri


Founded by Thomas Stemberg in Massachusetts in 1985, it now has over 2,000 stores in 27 countries. Which is the world's largest office supply company?

Thomas G. Stemberg, Who With a Partner Founded Staples, Dies at 66 | www.bullfax.com Thomas G. Stemberg, Who With a Partner Founded Staples, Dies at 66 Fri, 10/23/2015 - 16:09 EDT - NY Times Thomas Stemberg, founder of Staples office superstore, dies BOSTON (AP) — Thomas Stemberg, a former grocery business executive who founded Staples Inc. and revolutionized the office supplies retail business, died Friday at his home in Massachusetts. He was 66.Venture capital firm Highland Capital Partners, which Stemberg joined in 2005, said he died of cancer.Stemberg was a New England grocery executive but left after a dispute with his bosses. He came up with the idea of Staples after driving around the Boston area searching unsuccessfully for printer ribbon on July 4th weekend in 1985 when stores were closed. Tom Stemberg's Advice to Young Entrepreneurs Tom Stemberg Tom Stemberg is a Managing General Partner of the Highland Consumer Fund at Highland Capital Partners. For his current investments, he focuses on retail and consumer services companies and has a interest in how technology can be applied to impact existing businesses. Tom is the original founder of Staples, the [...] Banker Suicides Return: DSK's Hedge Fund Partner Jumps From 23rd Floor Apartment The summer, thankfully, has been largely bereft of the dismal trend of bankers committing suicide, but as Bloomberg reports, Thierry Leyne, a French-Israeli banker and partner of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the disgraced former chief of the IMF, was found dead Thursday after apparently taking his own life by jumping off the 23rd floor of one of the Yoo towers, a prestigious residential complex in Tel Aviv.


The 'Haber Process' is a reaction of nitrogen and hydrogen in order to produce which gas?

The Haber Process for the manufacture of ammonia THE HABER PROCESS This page describes the Haber Process for the manufacture of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen, and then goes on to explain the reasons for the conditions used in the process. It looks at the effect of temperature, pressure and catalyst on the composition of the equilibrium mixture, the rate of the reaction and the economics of the process. Important:  If you aren't sure about using Le Chatelier's Principle or about the effect of changing conditions on rates of reaction you should explore these links before you go on. When you are reading this page, if you find that you aren't understanding the effect of changing one of the conditions on the position of equilibrium or on the rate of the reaction, come back and follow up these links. A brief summary of the Haber Process The Haber Process combines nitrogen from the air with hydrogen derived mainly from natural gas (methane) into ammonia. The reaction is reversible and the production of ammonia is exothermic. A flow scheme for the Haber Process looks like this: Some notes on the conditions The catalyst The catalyst is actually slightly more complicated than pure iron. It has potassium hydroxide added to it as a promoter - a substance that increases its efficiency. The pressure The pressure varies from one manufacturing plant to another, but is always high. You can't go far wrong in an exam quoting 200 atmospheres. Recycling At each pass of the gases through the reactor, only about 15% of the nitrogen and hydrogen converts to ammonia. (This figure also varies from plant to plant.) By continual recycling of the unreacted nitrogen and hydrogen, the overall conversion is about 98%. Explaining the conditions The proportions of nitrogen and hydrogen The mixture of nitrogen and hydrogen going into the reactor is in the ratio of 1 volume of nitrogen to 3 volumes of hydrogen. Avogadro's Law says that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules. That means that the gases are going into the reactor in the ratio of 1 molecule of nitrogen to 3 of hydrogen. That is the proportion demanded by the equation. In some reactions you might choose to use an excess of one of the reactants. You would do this if it is particularly important to use up as much as possible of the other reactant - if, for example, it was much more expensive. That doesn't apply in this case. There is always a down-side to using anything other than the equation proportions. If you have an excess of one reactant there will be molecules passing through the reactor which can't possibly react because there isn't anything for them to react with. This wastes reactor space - particularly space on the surface of the catalyst. The temperature Equilibrium considerations You need to shift the position of the equilibrium as far as possible to the right in order to produce the maximum possible amount of ammonia in the equilibrium mixture. The forward reaction (the production of ammonia) is exothermic. According to Le Chatelier's Principle, this will be favoured if you lower the temperature. The system will respond by moving the position of equilibrium to counteract this - in other words by producing more heat. In order to get as much ammonia as possible in the equilibrium mixture, you need as low a temperature as possible. However, 400 - 450°C isn't a low temperature! Rate considerations The lower the temperature you use, the slower the reaction becomes. A manufacturer is trying to produce as much ammonia as possible per day. It makes no sense to try to achieve an equilibrium mixture which contains a very high proportion of ammonia if it takes several years for the reaction to reach that equilibrium. You need the gases to reach equilibrium within the very short time that they will be in contact with the catalyst in the reactor. The compromise 400 - 450°C is a compromise temperature producing a reasonably high proportion of ammonia in the equilibrium mixture (even if it is only 15%), but in a very short