Where, apart from Australia, are monotremes found?

Monotremes A biography of the  Australian continent   Monotremes                                                                                A 100 million year old monotreme, an early platypus, Steropodon galmani, is the earliest mammal found in Australia. The fossil is an opalised jaw of Cretaceous age from Lightning Ridge , New South Wales. It is from the Lower Cretaceous (Albian) Griman Creek Formation . Being about the size of a house cat it is one of the largest known Mesozoic mammals, in size it overlapped with some of the smaller dinosaurs. The well-developed teeth of this animal already display the characteristic shape of monotremes. The only living monotremes are the platypus and 2 species of echidna . The term monotreme refers to ï¿½oneï¿½ ï¿½holeï¿½,  being the cloaca, and this is indeed one of two defining features of  this group. The cloaca is a common point of exit for all urinary,  defecatory and reproductive systems. All monotremes reproduce by laying  eggs, and nourishing their young with milk which is secreted through  mammary glands located in their skin. The 2 types of monotreme are the platypus  and the echidna. Extant species are only found in Australia and New  Guinea although fossil teeth from an extinct Platypus species has also  been found in Argentina, revealing that they were once distributed over  Southern Gondwana . The monotremes have a distinct gait,  reminiscent of the reptilian species, due to the positioning of the legs  on the side of the body as opposed to underneath it. All individuals  have a 15 mm spur above the heel of each hind leg, which whilst  appearing vestigial in the echidna, houses a potent toxin (produced by  the crural gland in the thigh), in male platypuses. It is the only  Australian mammal known to be venomous. The males will use these spurs  as weapons if they feel threatened, and inject poison into their foe.  Venom production peaks with the breeding season, suggesting a use in  sexual competition. Fossil record: The early mammalian tree split into 3 main  groups (monotremes, placentals and marsupials). It is now thought that  the first group to split off were the Monotremes. However, they have  left us scant information in the fossil record,  and what little evidence there is suggests that this group diverged in  the Early Cretaceous period. After this point, it would appear that the  Monotremes underwent evolution (molecular and morphological) at a much  slower pace than is known for the therian mammals. The earliest fossil find for this group  were from the Lightning Ridge Opal Fields of NSW, and consisted of the  lower jaw bone of a 100 million years ago species, Steropodon galmani ï¿½  one of the first mammalian species known from the Mesozoic Era. These  finds, and other like it, indicate that Monotremes first evolved in  Australia (during Late Jurassic or early Cretaceous ),  prior to spreading to South America and Antarctica. Both of these land  masses were at this point, obviously connected to Australia. A jawbone of a primitive platypus, Teinolophos trusleri , that had already evolved the  flat beak and aquatic lifestyle, has been found at Flat Rocks , Victoria,.  It has been dated to the Aptian part of the Lower Cretaceous , about 123Ma, a time when it was believed the early mammals were unspecialised  insectivores that survived by staying insignificant, keeping out of the  way of the ruling dinosaurs. Maybe it could evolve on the then  Australian Peninsula of Gondwana, where for some reason that is still  debated, dinosaurs were late arriving, and possibly in lower numbers  than elsewhere in Gondwana. See the  Peninsula Effect . A fossil platypus from the Early Miocene , Obdurodon dicksoni , has been found in the Riversleigh Fossil Site , northwest Queensland. Another species, Obdurodon insignis, from the Oligocene deposit at Lake Palankarinna , and also from an Oligocene deposit in the Lake Frome Embayment. Unlike the


"A 1999 film was entitled ""Being John "" who?"

Being John Malkovich (1999) - IMDb IMDb 29 December 2016 2:33 AM, UTC NEWS 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 From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC A puppeteer discovers a portal that leads literally into the head of movie star John Malkovich . Director: a list of 39 titles created 03 Apr 2011 a list of 49 titles created 05 Oct 2014 a list of 40 titles created 29 Nov 2014 a list of 30 titles created 05 Jul 2015 a list of 25 titles created 09 Dec 2015 Title: Being John Malkovich (1999) 7.8/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for     3     Oscars. Another    48 wins & 75 nominations. See more awards  » Videos A lovelorn screenwriter becomes desperate as he tries and fails to adapt 'The Orchid Thief' by Susan Orlean for the screen. Director: Spike Jonze An epic mosaic of interrelated characters in search of love, forgiveness, and meaning in the San Fernando Valley. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson A theatre director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he creates a life-size replica of New York City inside a warehouse as part of his new play. Director: Charlie Kaufman The story of a young man's adventures in the Californian pornography industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson A faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo. Director: Sofia Coppola An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of psychedelic escapades. Director: Terry Gilliam An estranged family of former child prodigies reunites when their father announces he is terminally ill. Director: Wes Anderson After a car wreck on the winding Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a perky Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality. Director: David Lynch A family determined to get their young daughter into the finals of a beauty pageant take a cross-country trip in their VW bus. Directors: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris Stars: Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear A bureaucrat in a retro-future world tries to correct an administrative error and himself becomes an enemy of the state. Director: Terry Gilliam A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it. Directors: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Stars: Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney A psychologically troubled novelty supplier is nudged towards a romance with an English woman, all the while being extorted by a phone-sex line run by a crooked mattress salesman, and purchasing stunning amounts of pudding. Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Edit Storyline Puppeteer Craig Schwartz and animal lover and pet store clerk Lotte Schwartz are just going through the motions of their marriage. Despite not being able to earn a living solely through puppeteering, Craig loves his profession as it allows him to inhabit the skin of others. He begins to take the ability to inhabit the skin of others to the next level when he is forced to take a job as a file clerk for the off-kilter LesterCorp, located on the five-foot tall 7½ floor of a Manhattan office building. Behind one of the filing cabinets in his work area, Craig finds a hidden door which he learns is a portal into the mind of John Malkovich , the visit through the portal which lasts fifteen minutes after which the person is spit into a ditch next to the New Jersey Turnpike. Craig is fascinated by the meaning of life associated with this finding. Lotte's trips through the portal make her evaluate her own self. And the confident Maxine Lund, one of Craig's co-workers who he tells about the ... Written by Huggo Ever Wanted To Be Someone Else? See more  » Genres: Rated R for language a


"""Monticello"" was the mansion owned by which US president?"

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello--Presidents: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello Monticello, “Little Mountain,” was the home from 1770 until his death in 1826, of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States.  It is also an architectural masterpiece.  Jefferson was one of America’s first and finest architects and he created, rebuilt, and revised the house throughout his long life.  No president’s home than Jefferson's Monticello better reflects the personality of its owner.  Jefferson, a true Renaissance man, was a giant among the Founding Fathers.  His deeply-rooted disputes with Alexander Hamilton created the two-party system in the United States and launched two competing visions of what the United States should be that dominated 19th-century politics and still survive today.  He was also a complex man, made up of penetrating intelligence, insatiable curiosity, high ideals, and deep contradictions.  The author of the ringing assertion that “all men are created equal” was also the master of 200 slaves.  The political theorist who saw the small-scale farmer as the bedrock of American democracy was himself the owner of many thousands of acres of land and a proud member of the Virginia plantation aristocracy. In 1769, Jefferson began building his house on the plantation that he inherited from his father, Peter Jefferson. He located it on top of a hill he explored as a child.  The main house was still not finished two years later. When he married Martha W. Skelton in 1772, he brought her to the South Pavilion, his bachelor quarters, because the house was not yet habitable. The newlyweds arrived on horseback during a blizzard.  The original eight-room house was apparently still incomplete in the 1780s, but even so impressed European visitors with the sophistication of its design.  At this stage, Jefferson knew architecture only through books, and his house closely followed the designs of Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio. Educated at the College of William and Mary, Jefferson was “the penman” of the American Revolution.  His pamphlet, A Summary View of the Rights of British America, written at Monticello and published in 1774, demonstrated his knowledge of the law and his ability to write clearly.  By the time Virginia sent him to the Second Continental Congress two years later, everyone recognized him as a fluent writer and superb legal draftsman.  The committee appointed to draft a declaration of independence in June 1776 selected him to write it.  He submitted his last draft on July 2.  Two days later, Congress adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson served as governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781.  During this time, he drafted the important Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, although it did not become law until 1786.  Driven from his home by the British and heavily criticized during his last year in office, he decided to abandon politics and retire to Monticello.  The death of his wife in 1782 changed his plans. Although he lost his wife at a young age long before residing in the White House, Thomas Jefferson never remarried. They had six children, but only two survived to adulthood. Returning to politics, he served briefly in Congress under the Articles of Confederation, where he laid the foundations for the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 that established the framework for westward expansion.  In 1784, he went to France as a member of a trade commission.  A year later, he succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France. Jefferson's office at Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello Jefferson’s five years in France had a dramatic impact both on his life and on his house.  He thrived on the Enlightenment principles he encountered in France and was smitten with the new Neoclassical architecture that he saw.  He witnessed the early days of the French Revolution, which he called “the first chapter of the hi


Founded in 914 AD by the Vikings who built on the banks of the River Suir, and with Reginald's Tower as its most recognisable landmark, what is the oldest city in the Republic of Ireland?

Waterford City : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki More info on Waterford City   Wikis Waterford City: Wikis Advertisements Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the oldest city in Ireland. For other uses, see Waterford (disambiguation) . Waterford "Waterford remains the untaken city" Location   3,465 Website: www.waterfordcity.ie Waterford (from the Old Norse : Veðrafjǫrðr/Vedrafjord meaning " ram fjord " or "windy fjord"— Irish : Port Láirge meaning "Lárag's port") [1] is the primary city of the South East region of Ireland . Founded in 914 AD by the Vikings , it is the country's oldest city and its fifth largest. The city is situated at the head of Waterford Harbour (Loch Dá Chaoch or Cuan Phort Láirge). The city motto Urbs Intacta Manet Waterfordia ("Waterford remains the untaken city") was granted by King Henry VII of England in 1497 after Waterford refused to recognise the claims of the pretenders Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck to the English throne. Waterford was subjected to two sieges in 1649 and 1650, during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland . It withstood the first siege but surrendered during the second siege to Henry Ireton on 6 August 1650. [2] [3] Reginald's Tower is the oldest urban civic building in Ireland, and the oldest monument to retain its Viking name. To this day, it remains Waterford's most recognisable landmark. It is believed to be the first building in Ireland to use mortar. Waterford and the River Suir by night The population of the city in 2006 was 49,240; of which 45,775 lived within the city limits, and 3,465 lived in the suburbs in County Kilkenny . [4] The River Suir , which flows through Waterford city, has provided a basis for the city's long maritime history. The place downriver from Waterford where the Nore and the Barrow join the River Suir is known in Irish as Cumar na dTrí Uisce ("the confluence of the three waters"). Waterford Port has been one of Ireland's major ports for over a millennium. In the 19th century shipbuilding was a major industry. The owners of the Neptune Shipyard, the Malcomson family , built and operated the largest fleet of iron steamers in the world between the mid-1850s and the late-1860s, including five trans-Atlantic passenger liners. [1] Today, Waterford is known for Waterford Crystal , a legacy of the city's former glass making industry. Glass, or crystal, was manufactured in the city from 1783 until early 2009, when the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc. [5] Waterford is the sister city of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Rochester, New York . Contents Waterford born Brigadier General Thomas Francis Meagher The quay at Waterford c. 1890–1900 Viking raiders first established a settlement at Waterford in 853. Waterford and all the other longphorts were vacated in 902, the Vikings having been driven out by the native Irish. The Vikings re-established themselves in Ireland at Waterford in 914 and built what would be Ireland's first city. A list of the city's rulers from this date to the mayors of the present day can be found in Rulers of Waterford . In 1167, Diarmuid MacMorrough , King of Leinster, failed in an attempt to take Waterford. He returned in 1170 with Norman mercenaries under Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow); together they besieged and took Waterford after a desperate defence. This was the introduction of the Anglo-Normans into Ireland. In 1171, Henry II of England landed at Waterford. Waterford and then Dublin were declared royal cities, Dublin was declared capital of Ireland. Historical populations [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Throughout the medieval period, Waterford was Ireland's second city after Dublin. In the 15th century Waterford repelled two pretenders to the English throne: Lambert Simnel and Perkin Warbeck . As a result, Kin


Which is recognised as the most massive bacterium so far discovered, reaching up to .75mm in length and large enough to be visible to the naked eye?

Data Bank Archive Data Bank Archive Compton Observatory crash tomorrow Nasa has announced that it will crash the nine-year-old Compton Observatory into the Pacific Ocean tomorrow (Sunday) The 16-ton spacecraft, which was hugely successful for nearly twice its planned lifetime of five years, studied gamma rays. The decision, much criticised, to crash the craft back to Earth, was taken because one of the gyroscopes had failed and the craft would become dangerously uncontrollable if a second went. Successful Shuttle flight Atlantis has returned safely to Earth at Kennedy Space centre after effecting repairs to the ISS. The space station was boosted into a 30 mile higher orbit (now 230 miles up), had four new batteries installed (now at full electrical power output), had a new antenna installed, plus construction crane, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and fans. The mission took one Russian and six American astronauts several days to complete after a delayed take-off. Warp drive The 11th annual Advanced Space Propulsion Research Workshop begins today at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, and will run through June 2, 2000. The workshop is sponsored by JPL and the Marshall Space Flight Center. Topics include advanced chemical propulsion, nuclear fission propulsion, solar sails, tethers, micropropulsion, advanced electrical propulsion, and fusion propulsion. Job searching If you are looking for a new job in aerospace forget the newspapers or networking - a new website - http://www.spacelinks.com/JobsStore.html -offers one-stop jobsearching throughout the industry. At least 400 jobs per week for $2.50 per week if you want full details. European Space Expo The International Aerospace Exhibition ILA2000 opens its doors in Berlin from June 6 to 12. The European Space Agency and Germany's Space Agency and space industry present their activities in a joint pavilion. The ILA2000 aerospace fair will take place in Berlin, at the Schönefeld airport. Trade days, reserved to professional visitors, are 6 to 8 June. Members of the general public will be welcomed from noon on Friday, 9 June to 12 June. Experts from ESA, the DLR and German industry will be joined by ESA astronauts to answer questions on the different programmes. The Big Black Hole that hums An exotic black hole binary star system known by astronomers as XTE J1550-564 has suddenly become nearly as bright an x-ray source as the Crab Nebula, which is the brightest hard x-ray source in the entire sky," said Dr. Mike McCollough of the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Centre. "Since last month's peak it's faded to about one-tenth the x-ray luminosity of the Crab, but that's still very bright Normally, J1550-564 is almost invisible at x-ray wavelengths, but its intensity varies in a seemingly random pattern of powerful flares. In 1998, for example, it was 1.5 times brighter than the Crab Nebula for several days. "That was the brightest eruption we know of," says McCollough, "It flared again in early 1999, but since then has been quiescent -- until lately. BATSE [the Burst and Transient Source Experiment on the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory] detected an outburst in the hard x-ray band [20-300 kilo electron-volts (keV)] on April 6, 2000, then the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer confirmed it at lower energies." McCollough and colleagues believe that XTE J1550 is a black hole with an orbiting companion star. Gaseous material from the star spilling toward the black hole forms a swirling disk of material that heats up as it falls through the black hole's event horizon. The disk, called an "accretion disk", becomes so hot and glows so brightly at x-ray wavelengths that it's visible to Earth-orbiting x-ray telescopes from 10,000 or more light years away. "It's probably blobs of material from the companion star cascading down onto the accretion disk," explains McCollough. When J1550 is "on," as it is now, its unpredictable x-ray flux oscillates by about 50% every 3 seconds or so. To astrophysicists, these oscillations are one of the most intriguing aspects of J1550's enigmatic be


The Nobel Peace Prize 1984 The Nobel Peace Prize 1984 Desmond Tutu The Nobel Peace Prize 1984 Desmond Mpilo Tutu The Nobel Peace Prize 1984 was awarded to Desmond Tutu. Photos: Copyright © The Nobel Foundation Share this: To cite this page MLA style: "The Nobel Peace Prize 1984". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 18 Jan 2017. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1984/>


Sine the mid 1990s the USA has banned what in hunting water fowl?

AB 711  Assembly Bill           - Bill Analysis BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                � AB 711 Page 1       ASSEMBLY THIRD READING      AB 711 (Rendon)      As Amended April 17, 2013      Majority vote WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE    9-5               APPROPRIATIONS   11-5 -----------------------------------------------------------------      |Ayes:|Rendon, Blumenfield,   |Ayes:|Gatto, Bocanegra,     |      |   |Bocanegra, Fong, Frazier, |   |Bradford,         |      |   |Gatto, Gomez, Yamada,   |   |Ian Calderon, Campos,   |      |   |Williams         |   |Gomez, Hall, Ammiano,   |      |   |             |   |Pan, Quirk, Weber     |      |-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|      |Nays:|Bigelow, Allen, Dahle,  |Nays:|Harkey, Bigelow,     |      |   |Beth Gaines, Patterson  |   |Donnelly, Linder, Wagner |      |   |             |   |             |      ----------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY :  Requires the use of nonlead ammunition for the taking       of wildlife in California. Specifically, this bill :      1)Requires use of nonlead ammunition for the taking of all        wildlife in California, including game mammals, game birds,        nongame birds, and nongame mammals, with any firearm.      2)Requires the Fish and Game Commission (FGC), by July 1, 2014,        to certify, by regulation, nonlead ammunition for these        purposes. Defines nonlead ammunition as including only        ammunition in which there is no lead content. Requires FGC to        also adopt regulations by July 1, 2014, that phase in the        nonlead ammunition requirements to be fully implemented        statewide by no later than July 1, 2016. Provides that the        existing restrictions on use of lead ammunition in California        condor habitat shall continue in effect until the statewide        nonlead ammunition requirements are implemented.      3)Expands the FGC's existing authority to establish a process to        provide hunters with nonlead ammunition at no or reduced        charge within certain hunting zones, to instead apply        statewide.      4)States legislative findings and declarations regarding the        threats to public health and wildlife posed by lead in the AB 711 Page 2        environment, and the availability of nonlead ammunition        alternatives. EXISTING LAW :      1)Requires the use of nonlead centerfire rifle and pistol        ammunition when taking big game or coyotes in specified deer        hunting zones known to be California Condor range.      2)Requires the FGC to certify nonlead ammunition by regulation        and defines nonlead ammunition to include only centerfire        rifle and pistol ammunition in which there is no lead content.        Requires the FGC to annually update the list of certified        nonlead ammunition.      3)Authorizes the FGC, to the extent funding is available, to        establish a process to provide hunters within specified deer        hunting zones known to be California condor habitat with        nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge.      4)Prohibits the use of lead ammunition to hunt waterfowl (United        States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regulation). FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations       Committee, minor costs, probably less than $50,000 for the       Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to develop regulations to


Hedwig | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia — Tom comments on Hedwig's intelligence [src] Hedwig (d. 27 July , 1997 ) was Harry Potter 's pet Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus). [3] In August 1991 Hedwig was purchased from Eeylops Owl Emporium and was gifted to Harry from Rubeus Hagrid on his eleventh birthday. Owls are used by wizards to deliver mail, but Hedwig was also an important companion as Harry was initiated into the wizarding world . She continued to be one of his closest companions until her death in the Battle of the Seven Potters in 1997. Contents Biography Purchase "Harry now carried a large cage that held a beautiful snowy owl, fast asleep with her head under her wing." —Harry Potter after receiving Hedwig as a gift [src] Hagrid introduces Hedwig to Harry in 1991 Rubeus Hagrid , who was in assisting Harry Potter in buying his school supplies bought Hedwig as a birthday present for Harry when they went to Diagon Alley together. Harry was delighted and couldn't thank Hagrid enough, while Hedwig had already fallen asleep after leaving the shop. [2] This was the first birthday present Harry had ever received, as the Dursleys did not celebrate his brithday. He became quickly attached to her. Harry Potter's pet Harry decided on her name after finding it in A History of Magic . Before attending his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry , Harry routinely stayed in his bedroom with Hedwig, away from the Dursleys , since she was his only friend at 4 Privet Drive . [4] Throughout her life, Hedwig provided Harry with mail service, as well as loyal companionship. Hedwig often showed Harry her affection by gently nibbling his ears and fingers, and seemed fully capable of understanding his wishes (as she faithfully followed Harry's orders to peck Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger until they responded to him). Hedwig with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley Hedwig was also highly intelligent, as she flew to France completely of her own accord while Hermione was on holiday there with her parents, just to ensure that Harry received a gift from her for his thirteenth birthday, later arriving at the Leaky Cauldron shortly after Harry stormed out of Privet Drive after a particularly bad argument despite the fact that she had been away and allegedly staying with the Weasleys when Harry left the Dursleys. According to the landlord, Tom , she arrived five minutes after he did. [5] She was also able to deliver letters even though there was no specific address given(only a name). Hedwig was a proud creature, and had a habit of staring or hooting "reproachfully," and showing Harry her tail, cuffing him with a wing, or even nipping him a little harder than usual if she was offended by his words or actions. She also seemed fairly disdainful of the hyperactive behaviour of Ron Weasley 's pet owl Pigwidgion (Pig, as Ron called him) Harry having Hedwig deliver a message to Sirius Black While living with the Dursleys , Hedwig was locked in her cage for months at a time to prevent Harry from sending messages to his "freaky little friends." As a result, the first holidays after Hogwarts were a frustrating and boring time for her, as much as for Harry. When Harry was rescued by the Weasley brothers in 1992 , Hedwig was freed from her cage and flew along following behind the flying Ford Anglia all the way to The Burrow . In 1992 when Harry thought his friends had forgotten him, he mused that Hedwig was the only reason he knew that discovering the wizarding world had not just been a dream. Fortunately, her frustrated hooting during her first year with them convinced the Dursleys to subsequently let Harry let Hedwig out for flights so long as he didn't use her to send messages, though Harry sometimes ignored this rule and possibly began ignoring it entirely after meeting Sirius Black and gaining leverage with the Dursleys. Snowy Owls are not native to Great Britain , and this caused some inconvenience, as she could not always perform tasks for Harry. Specifically, when Sirius Black was in hiding from the Ministry of Magic in 199


In 1986, who set a new record for scoring the quickest century in test cricket in terms of balls faced (from 56 balls)?

Record List : Fastest hundreds in test cricket (100s, 200s & 300s). - Fast Cricket. Record List : Fastest hundreds in test cricket (100s, 200s & 300s). Tag Test Match Records With evolution of Twenty20 cricket, modern batsmen have started to score quite quickly in one day and test matches as well. Naturally, that day is not far off when someone may thrill the world with a quick ton in longest format. See list of fastest century in ODIs . On 20 February 2016, on first day of his last test match, Brendon McCullum ravaged his favorite opposition Australia with a 54 ball century which now is the fastest ever in test cricket. McCullum's fifty came off 34 balls but he accelerated exponentially after that, blasting 6 sixes and 21 fours on a spicy Christchurch pitch and break all time record. Vivian Richards, West Indies master blaster, didn't play T20 cricket, but he always scored quickly anyway. The Caribbean legend held the record of fastest hundred in test match cricket for nearly three decades until McCullum broke it, raising hundred off off just 56 balls against England at Antigua back on 15 April 1986. With 4 wins in 4 games of that series, West Indies wanted a whitewash and after taking 164 run lead on first innings, it was obvious for them to push for an outright win. Viv Richards (the then captain) unleashed his true self, scoring unbeaten 110 from only 58 runs with 7 fours and 7 sixes to propel his team's lead to 410, helping his bowlers secure a 240 run win. and thus, a clean sweep! On 2nd November 2014, Misbah-ul-Haq at the age of 40 years, matched Vivian's record against the Aussies (just couldn't break it!), blasting 5 sixes and 11 fours in his 56 balls ton. Other recent fastest test match ton has been made by Adam Gilchrist, as Australians pushed for a win at Perth. Gilchrist took just 59 balls for his 102 runs, stroking 12 fours and 4 sixes against a depleted England side who went on to suffer yet another whitewash in that 5 test match series! Nathan Astle of New Zealand holds the record of fastest double century in test match cricket, against England, at Jade stadium in Christchurch. Set 550 to chase, Kiwis were 333 for 9 before Nathan Astle went briserk. With injured Chris Cairns at other end, defending, Astle scored his second hundred runs off just 39 balls, trying to pull off a miraculous win, but Kiwis lost the game by 98 runs. Recently, Ben Stokes overtook second position from Virender Sehwag. Record of fastest triple ton (300) in test cricket is held by India's Virender Sehwag, as you can see in 3rd table below. note that most triple centuries were made in yesteryears when cricket stats didn't record the number of balls played but number of minutes batted by the batsmen. hence, cricketing world don't have the accurate figures for fastest triple centuries in test matches. Fastest century in test cricket. Batsman (Country)


Which is the largest known of these invertebrates?

Largest Invertebrate | Colossal Squid Video of the largest squid ever captured Colossal squid are known to inhabit the abyssal depths of the ocean primarily in the Southern Ocean that circumnavigates Antarctica . Evidence of their existence has been obtained from the stomachs of the largest predatory carnivore in the sea - the mighty sperm whale. Many Sperm whales carry scars on their backs believed to be caused by the hooks of Colossal Squid. One of the significant morphological differences between the giant squid and the colossal squid is the existence of swiveling hooks on each of the sucker discs in the clubs at the ends of the colossal squids' feeding tentacles. The giant squid merely have a circular, serrated row of 'teeth' inside each of their sucker discs. Either way, both of these species of squid make for formidable and terrifying predators of the deep. Colossal Squid are a major prey item for Antarctic sperm whales feeding in the Southern Ocean; 14% of the squid beaks found in the stomachs of these sperm whales are those of the Colossal Squid, which indicates that Colossal Squid make up 77% of the prey consumed by these whales. Not only are the Colossal squid the largest invertebrates in the world, they have the largest eyes of any living on earth - even bigger than the blue whale . Much of the evidence of these squids that has been gathered from the stomachs of sperm whales have been the enormous beaks of the colossal squid. Here is an excellent page on the colossal squid, including close-up photos showing the wicked, lethal swiveling hooks of the colossal squid Giant Squid and Colossal Squid Fact Sheet


Bushido, developed between the 9th and 20th centuries relates to which culture?

Bushido the Soul of Japan Add to Cart About the author: Inazo Nitobe (1862-1933) became a Christian while a college student, and later a Friend. He rose to fame as an agricultural sugar expert, was the president of several colleges, was a Carnegie exchange professor to the United States, and was a tireless worker for Japanese- U.S. understanding. Most notably, he was the leader of the Japanese delegation to the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919, and when he arrived there he was promptly appointed under-secretary general of the League. Nitobe is famous for coining the phrase, "Bridge across the Pacific"; for writing the history of William Penn; and for the book, Bushido: The Soul of Japan. He is the only known Quaker whose picture is on his country's currency. Nitobe stemmed from a Samurai (Japanese nobility) family on Honshu, the main island of Japan. His grandfather was distinguished for developing irrigation projects and bringing much additional land under cultivation. His father died when he was five and his mother when he was 13. He was the youngest of eight and was raised by his uncle, who adopted him. At 13, he entered Tokyo English School. By studying English, he became acquainted with Christianity and the Bible. In 1877 he entered the newly founded Sapparo Agricultural College in the northern island of Hokkaido and graduated in 1881. William S. Clark, from Amherst College, was the viceprincipal of the Sapparo Agricultural College, although he left the college before Nitobe started attending. He left a strong influence on the students, particularly in the way ethics was taught. He said the only way he could teach ethics was by teaching the Bible. All of his students became Christians and signed Clark's "Covenant of Believers in Jesus." Bushido the Soul of Japan


What is the main unit of currency in Turkey?

Turkish monetary unit - definition of Turkish monetary unit by The Free Dictionary Turkish monetary unit - definition of Turkish monetary unit by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Turkish+monetary+unit Related to Turkish monetary unit: Turkish lira ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: monetary unit - a unit of money Turkish lira , lira - the basic unit of money in Turkey kurus , piaster , piastre - 100 kurus equal 1 lira in Turkey asper - 20 aspers equal 1 kurus in Turkey Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Copyright © 2003-2017 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.


"What was the name of Scrooge's clerk in Charles Dickens' ""A Christmas Carol""?"

SparkNotes: A Christmas Carol: Summary A Christmas Carol Context Characters A mean-spirited, miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his counting-house on a frigid Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the anteroom because Scrooge refuses to spend money on heating coals for a fire. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, pays his uncle a visit and invites him to his annual Christmas party. Two portly gentlemen also drop by and ask Scrooge for a contribution to their charity. Scrooge reacts to the holiday visitors with bitterness and venom, spitting out an angry "Bah! Humbug!" in response to his nephew's "Merry Christmas!" Later that evening, after returning to his dark, cold apartment, Scrooge receives a chilling visitation from the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley. Marley, looking haggard and pallid, relates his unfortunate story. As punishment for his greedy and self-serving life his spirit has been condemned to wander the Earth weighted down with heavy chains. Marley hopes to save Scrooge from sharing the same fate. Marley informs Scrooge that three spirits will visit him during each of the next three nights. After the wraith disappears, Scrooge collapses into a deep sleep. He wakes moments before the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past, a strange childlike phantom with a brightly glowing head. The spirit escorts Scrooge on a journey into the past to previous Christmases from the curmudgeon's earlier years. Invisible to those he watches, Scrooge revisits his childhood school days, his apprenticeship with a jolly merchant named Fezziwig, and his engagement to Belle, a woman who leaves Scrooge because his lust for money eclipses his ability to love another. Scrooge, deeply moved, sheds tears of regret before the phantom returns him to his bed. The Ghost of Christmas Present, a majestic giant clad in a green fur robe, takes Scrooge through London to unveil Christmas as it will happen that year. Scrooge watches the large, bustling Cratchit family prepare a miniature feast in its meager home. He discovers Bob Cratchit's crippled son, Tiny Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness and humility warms Scrooge's heart. The specter then zips Scrooge to his nephew's to witness the Christmas party. Scrooge finds the jovial gathering delightful and pleads with the spirit to stay until the very end of the festivities. As the day passes, the spirit ages, becoming noticeably older. Toward the end of the day, he shows Scrooge two starved children, Ignorance and Want, living under his coat. He vanishes instantly as Scrooge notices a dark, hooded figure coming toward him. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leads Scrooge through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating to an unnamed man's recent death. Scrooge sees businessmen discussing the dead man's riches, some vagabonds trading his personal effects for cash, and a poor couple expressing relief at the death of their unforgiving creditor. Scrooge, anxious to learn the lesson of his latest visitor, begs to know the name of the dead man. After pleading with the ghost, Scrooge finds himself in a churchyard, the spirit pointing to a grave. Scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to read his own name. He desperately implores the spirit to alter his fate, promising to renounce his insensitive, avaricious ways and to honor Christmas with all his heart. Whoosh! He suddenly finds himself safely tucked in his bed. Overwhelmed with joy by the chance to redeem himself and grateful that he has been returned to Christmas Day, Scrooge rushes out onto the street hoping to share his newfound Christmas spirit. He sends a giant Christmas turkey to the Cratchit house and attends Fred's party, to the stifled surprise of the other guests. As the years go by, he holds true to his promise and honors Christmas with all his heart: he treats Tiny Tim as if he were his own child, provides lavish gifts for the poor, and treats his fellow human beings with kindness, generosity, and warmth. More Help


"Stephen Sondheim's musical ""Sunday in the Park With George"" was inspired by a painting by whom?"

Stephen Sondheim | The Stars | Broadway: The American Musical | PBS Composers, Lyricists & Writers Stephen Sondheim Active in major Broadway productions of American musical theater beginning in 1957, composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim (born 1930) redefined the Broadway musical form with his innovative and award winning productions. He continued to be a major force in the shaping of this genre into the 1980s. American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim is mainly known for his stage works, which include “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (1962); “Anyone Can Whistle” (1964); “Company” (1970); “Follies” (1971); and “A Little Night Music” (1973). He is known for his collaborations with Leonard Bernstein as lyricist for “West Side Story” (1957) and “Candide” (1974), and with Richard Rogers on “Do I Hear a Waltz” (1965). Sondheim’s partnership with the director/producer Hal Prince resulted in Tony Awards for Best Musical Scores for three consecutive years (1971-1973), and “Pacific Overtures” (1976) was hailed as a landmark in American musical theater because of its masterful use of traditional Japanese theater elements. In 1984, Sondheim paired himself with James Lapine to put together “Sunday in the Park with George,” a musical inspired by a Georges Seurat painting. Sondheim was born into a prosperous business family on March 22, 1930. He studied piano for two years while very young and continued his interest in the musical stage throughout his education. Sondheim’s parents divorced in 1942 and his mother took up residence in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, close to the summertime residence of Oscar Hammerstein II. As a friend of Hammerstein’s son, Sondheim was able to ask the famous librettist for an evaluation of his first stage work, a high school production produced at the age of 15. Hammerstein’s critical evaluation of “By George” initiated a four-year relationship that was decisive in formulating the young artist’s style. As Hammerstein’s personal assistant, Sondheim gained entry into the world of professional theater. While attending Williams College he performed duties in the preparation and rehearsals of the Rogers and Hammerstein productions of “South Pacific” and “The King and I.” Upon graduation he won the Hutchinson Prize, which enabled him to study composition at Princeton University with Milton Babbitt. Sondheim began his professional career in television by writing scripts for the TOPPER and THE LAST WORD series and incidental music for the Broadway musical “Girls of Summer.” Shortly thereafter he made the acquaintance of Arthur Laurents, who introduced him to Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein as the possible lyricist for “West Side Story,” which was produced in 1957. The young songwriter found himself involved in one of the most successful shows ever produced on Broadway. Sondheim followed this success by collaborating on the Broadway production of “Gypsy” in 1959, distinguishing himself as one of the great young talents in American musical theater. Intent on broadening his talents, Sondheim sought productions where he could use his musical as well as lyrical expertise. He produced “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” in 1962 … a bawdy farce based on the plays of Plautus. The show had an impressive run of almost 1,000 performances, won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and was made into a successful film in 1966. A scene from Sondheim's "A Little Night Music." Sondheim followed with two less successful ventures: “Anyone Can Whistle” (1964) and “Do I Hear a Waltz” (1965). Although both failed commercially, Sondheim contributed songs of high quality. In 1970 Sondheim produced “Company,” which once again won him unanimous praise from the critics. The production was awarded the Drama Critics and Tony Awards for Best Musical of the season, and Sondheim received awards for the best composer and best lyricist. One critic commented that “Company” “is absolutely first rate … the freshest … in years … This is a wonderful musical score, the one that Broadway has long needed. …” The following


A Star of David can be seen in the stained glass of the cathedral of which Mexican city?

Stained glass windows showing the star of David - Picture of Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Mazatlan - TripAdvisor Want the lowest hotel prices? You're in the right place. We check 200+ sites for you. Stained glass windows showing the star of David - Picture of Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Mazatlan Photo: “Stained glass windows showing the star of David” From Review: Nice cathedral of Immaculate Conception Cathedral | Plaza de la Republica, Mazatlan 82000, Mexico Description:  Located in downtown Mazatlan, the architecture makes it well worth a... read more Located in downtown Mazatlan, the architecture makes it well worth a visit. Book In Advance Stone Island Beach and Old Town Sightseeing Tour See All Tours on Viator Other Recent Reviews “Nice cathedral” Reviewed 17 February 2016 I enjoyed walking around this cathedral. It has the grandeur of a grand old cathedral, but still feels like a place of worship. It is nice to wander around and see the blend of Mexican and Spainish influences. Helpful? © 2017 TripAdvisor LLC All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use , Privacy Policy , and Cookie Policy . * TripAdvisor LLC is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... (more) TripAdvisor LLC is not responsible for content on external web sites. Taxes, fees not included for deals content. TripAdvisor uses cookies to improve your site experience. Learn more or change your settings. By continuing, you consent to our cookies.


"After appearing in ""Ferris Bueller's Day Off"", Jennifer Grey starred opposite Patrick Swayze as Frances ""Baby"" Houseman in what 1987 film?"

Jennifer Grey - IMDb IMDb Actress | Soundtrack Jennifer Grey is an American actress who starred in the film Dirty Dancing (1987) opposite Patrick Swayze , a sleeper hit that would become one of the biggest films of the 1980s. She had previously appeared with Patrick Swayze in John Milius 's cold war drama Red Dawn (1984) as 'Toni', one of the 'Wolverines', a group of renegade teenagers fighting ... See full bio » Born: a list of 30 people created 04 Dec 2010 a list of 30 people created 17 Aug 2013 a list of 32 people created 19 Nov 2014 a list of 38 people created 7 months ago a list of 46 people created 3 weeks ago Do you have a demo reel? Add it to your IMDbPage How much of Jennifer Grey's work have you seen? User Polls Nominated for     1     Golden Globe. Another    1 win & 5 nominations. See more awards  » Known For  2007 John from Cincinnati (TV Series) Daphne, Meyer's Fiancée  1997 The Player (TV Movie) Stephanie Granatelli  1995 Fallen Angels (TV Series) Ginger Allen  1990 Criminal Justice (TV Movie) Liz Carter  1990 Murder in Mississippi (TV Movie) Rita Schwerner  1986 The Equalizer (TV Series) Valerie Jacobs  1984-1985 ABC Afterschool Specials (TV Series) Laura Eller / Carol Schwartz  1989 Bloodhounds of Broadway (performer: "I Surrender, Dear") Hide   2009-2016 Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) Herself  2016 Lip Sync Battle (TV Series) Herself - Surprise Appearance  2015 Sidewalks Entertainment (TV Series) Herself - Guest  2015 The Doctors (TV Series) Herself  2013 Cinema & Spice (TV Series) Herself  2011 Strictly Come Dancing (TV Series) Herself - Guest Judge  2010 The View (TV Series) Herself - Guest  2000 E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series documentary) Herself  2000 VH-1 Where Are They Now? (TV Series documentary) Herself  1999 The Daily Show (TV Series) Herself - Guest  2009-2016 Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) Herself / Jeanie Bueller  2004 101 Biggest Celebrity Oops (TV Special documentary) Herself - #88: Jennifer Grey by a Nose Related Videos 2 Interviews | 3 Articles | 4 Pictorials | 2 Magazine Cover Photos | See more » Alternate Names: Did You Know? Personal Quote: On the death of Patrick Swayze , she stated, "When I think of him, I think of being in his arms when we were kids, dancing, practicing the lift in the freezing lake, having a blast doing this tiny little movie we thought no one would ever see. He was a real cowboy with a tender heart. Which is why it was not surprising to me that the war he waged on his cancer was so courageous and dignified. ... See more » Trivia: Classmate of Tracy Pollan at the private Dalton School in New York City. See more » Star Sign:


Who was the first person to refuse an Academy Award for Best Actor?

BBC News | Obituaries | George C Scott: The man who refused an Oscar Thursday, September 23, 1999 Published at 12:36 GMT 13:36 UK Obituaries George C Scott: The man who refused an Oscar Oscar-winner: George C Scott as General George S Patton With his granite face and characteristically intense performances, George C Scott was regarded as one of the finest American actors of his generation. Watch George C Scott in Patton His magisterial portrayal of General George S Patton won him the Best Actor award at the 1971 Oscars. Scott shocked Hollywood by being the first person ever to refuse an Academy Award. He said that the politics surrounding such awards was "demeaning" and described the Oscar ceremony as "a two-hour meat parade". George C Scott: "Meat parade"- protest George C Scott was born in Virginia on 18 October 1927, the son of a mine surveyor. As a child he was both athletic and sensitive. He remembered his mother, who died when he was eight, as a creative inspiration. On graduating from high school in 1945, he enlisted in the US Marines, where he spent four years burying bodies in Arlington National Cemetery and, as he later recalled, "picking up a solid drinking habit that stayed with me from then on". Upon discharge from the Marines, he entered the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri and joined the university drama club. Playing his first role in a production of The Winslow Boy his life was transformed. "The minute I got on stage, I knew...that this was what I had to do." Screen debut Dropping out of college to pursue a career on the stage, George C Scott spent a number of lean years in Hollywood and Broadway before playing the title role in Joseph Papp's production of Richard III. He was rarely out of work after that. In 1959, he appeared in his first film, a psychological Western, The Hanging Tree. The same year, Otto Preminger cast him as the relentless prosecuting attorney in Anatomy of a Murder. The role brought him his first, unsuccesful, Oscar nomination. Scott as a social worker in 1964's The Sinner The early 1960s saw many appearances both on television and in the theatre. But Hollywood made George C Scott an international star. Memorable in The Hustler in 1961, the following year saw him as the bomb-loving US General Buck Turgidson in Doctor Strangelove. The film, a satire on the Cold War, starring Peter Sellars delighted and provoked audiences around the world. He brought characteristic gravitas to the role of Abraham in the 1966 production of The Bible before taking the lead role in Patton for which he will probably be best remembered. His ability to dominate the screen was essential in such films. He played Patton as a larger than life character, sometimes out of control, at other times coolly calculating. More recently, George C Scott returned to Broadway in Inherit the Wind with Jack Lemmon and was still to be seen in innumerable cameo roles both on TV and film. He was uneasy with stardom, once admitting: "There is no question you get pumped up by the recognition. Then a self-loathing sets in when you realise you're enjoying it." George C Scott was a complex man whose reputation as a hellraiser belied the range of his ability. In an age of tightly marketed, yet limited, Hollywood superstars, his status as one of the finest ever American actors is assured.


What replaced the Cyclops computer system, that helps to determine whether a serve is in or out, at the US Open in 2006 and the Wimbledon Championships in 2007?

Tennis - Wikipedia, Photos and Videos Tennis NEXT GO TO RESULTS [51 .. 100] WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE This article is about the sport. For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation) . Tennis Between 1859 and 1865, Birmingham , England Characteristics Yes, separate tours & mixed doubles Type Indoor or outdoor tennis court Presence Yes, Part of Summer Olympic programme from 1896 to 1924 Demonstration sport in the 1968 and 1984 Summer Olympics Part of Summer Olympic programme since 1988 Paralympic Yes, Part of Summer Paralympic programme since 1992 Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent ( singles ) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles ). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court . The object of the game is to play the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return. The player who is unable to return the ball will not gain a point, while the opposite player will. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society and at all ages. The sport can be played by anyone who can hold a racket, including wheelchair users . The modern game of tennis originated in Birmingham , England , in the late 19th century as "lawn tennis". [1] It had close connections both to various field ("lawn") games such as croquet and bowls as well as to the older racket sport of real tennis . During most of the 19th century, in fact, the term "tennis" referred to real tennis, not lawn tennis: for example, in Disraeli 's novel Sybil (1845), Lord Eugene De Vere announces that he will "go down to Hampton Court and play tennis." [2] The rules of tennis have changed little since the 1890s. Two exceptions are that from 1908 to 1961 the server had to keep one foot on the ground at all times, and the adoption of the tiebreak in the 1970s. A recent addition to professional tennis has been the adoption of electronic review technology coupled with a point challenge system, which allows a player to contest the line call of a point, a system known as Hawk-Eye . Tennis is played by millions of recreational players and is also a popular worldwide spectator sport. The four Grand Slam tournaments (also referred to as the "Majors") are especially popular: the Australian Open played on hard courts , the French Open played on red clay courts , Wimbledon played on grass courts , and the US Open played also on hard courts. Contents Predecessors Jeu de paume in the 17th century Historians believe that the game's ancient origin lay in 12th century northern France , where a ball was struck with the palm of the hand. [3] Louis X of France was a keen player of jeu de paume ("game of the palm"), which evolved into real tennis , and became notable as the first person to construct indoor tennis courts in the modern style. Louis was unhappy with playing tennis outdoors and accordingly had indoor, enclosed courts made in Paris "around the end of the 13th century". [4] In due course this design spread across royal palaces all over Europe. [4] In June 1316 at Vincennes , Val-de-Marne and following a particularly exhausting game, Louis drank a large quantity of cooled wine and subsequently died of either pneumonia or pleurisy , although there was also suspicion of poisoning. [5] Because of the contemporary accounts of his death, Louis X is history's first tennis player known by name. [5] Another of the early enthusiasts of the game was King Charles V of France , who had a court set up at the Louvre Palace . [6] It wasn't until the 16th century that rackets came into use, and the game began to be called "tennis", from the French term tenez, which can be translated as "hold!", "receive!" or "take!", an interjection used as a call from the server to his opponent. [7] It was popular in England and France, although the game was only played indoors where the ball could be hit off the wall. Henry VIII of England was a big fan of this game, which is now known as real tennis . [8] During the 18th cen


A traditional music ensemble from Indonesia, featuring instruments such as xylophones, gongs, bells, bamboo flutes, and strings is known as what?

ISFA - Traditional Indonesian Music & Dance Traditional Indonesian Music & Dance Gamelan Ensemble A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically      from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments      such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs;      bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings.      The tuning and construction of a gamelan orchestra is a complex      process. Javanese gamelans use two tuning systems:      sléndro and pélog. In general, no two gamelan      ensembles are the same, and those that arose in prestigious      courts are often considered to have their own style.      In Indonesia, gamelan usually accompanies dance, wayang      puppet perfonnances, or rituals or ceremonies. Saman Dance "Saman" the most popular dance in Aceh and the dance that      has become well-known abroad with the name "Thousand      hands". It has its origin from the Alas ethnic group and is      normally performed to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet      Muhammad [S] and other important occasions.      Eight to twenty male perfonners kneel in a row on the floor      and make different kinds of torso movements accompanied      by songs, clapping hands, slapping chests, slapping hands on      the floor, etc. The songs are praises to Allah or prayers. The      dance starts with slow movements and increases its tempo      gradually to great speed and finally come to a sudden stop.      There are many differcnt regional versions of "Saman". Baris Dance Baris Dance is a ceremonial dance from Bali. The word Baris      itself means "lines" or can also be associated with soldiers      forming lines, which is why this dance shows skills of a      group of soldiers.      This dance is a group dance performed by males, which is      usually performed by 8 to 40 dancers with lively and dynamic      yet sturdy music, accompanied by Gongs. The dancers usually      bring weapons as well as tools of the ceremony and use different      colored costumes. Sasando Sasando is a traditional string musical instrument from Rote,      Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia. The shape of sasando is      quite similar with other types of string instrument such as      guitar, violin, or kacapi.      The sasando consists of a body made from a hollow piece of      bamboo, with a wooden head and foot. The old version of      the sasando has 10 strings, stretched from the head to foot,      and fastened at both ends with nails. The nails at the head      can also be turned to adjust the tuning by altering the tension      of the strings. This sound source sits inside a semi-spherical      resonator made from leaves of the palmyra palm tree. A      small sasando can be 30 cm wide, while a large one can be      50 cm long and 30 cm wide.      Sasando music is used within the Timorese community for      all kinds of social events, such as to celebrate the birth of     baby, a wedding or death. Golek Dance The Golek Dance originated from the Yogyakarta Hadiningrat      Court in Central Java. Compared to average Javanese      court dances, the Golek dances have vivid characteristics      because their choreography is inspired by dance outside the      Javanese courts.      This dance depicts court ladies who are preparing for a court      festivity. They realise that one can be dressed with external      beauty as well as with intcrnal beauty. The ladies try to see      through the mcaning of beauty in human life, while observing      themselves in the mirror. Yapong Dance Yapong dance is a contemporary dance from Jakarta, Indonesia,      composed by Bagong Kussudiardjo, a famous choreographer      from Yogyakarta, Java in 1970.      Yapong is based on Betawi traditional style female dance.      The music is very lively; it is a combination of


"What was named ""Desire"" in the 1947 play by Tennessee Williams?"

A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) by Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) by Tennessee Williams Brief Summary & Review By Adam Burgess Updated April 29, 2016. A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) by Tennessee Williams is a classic of American drama, for many reasons. Williams was a semi-openly gay man at the time of publication (he did come out publicly in the 1970s) whose works, though certainly rife with queer elements, did not deal directly with gay characters or situations. A Streetcar Named Desire, though, like The Glass Menagerie (1945), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), is a perfect example of how Williams subverts heteronormative literary traditions in order to queer his text.  The play is about two sisters: Blanche, a mild, hypersensitive, and mentally disturbed/delusional middle-aged woman; and Stella, subordinate, sexual, and a symbol of the "New South." It is also about Stella's husband, Stanley. He is disturbingly sympathetic, an evil man with whom the reader cannot help but identify. The character Stanley is as uncomfortably enthralling and repulsive as, say, Vladimir Nabokov ’s Humbert Humbert, from Lolita (1955). continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge Blanche, who has suffered two major traumas, comes to New Orleans to stay with her sister and brother-in-law for a short time, until she can get back on her feet. It is soon discovered that these traumas have been the impetus for certain scandals which have forced Blanche out of her hometown and her career. Her secrets are revealed to Stanley through informants (he is a man of “connections” – likely due to his time in the Army and his lingering camaraderie with GI Vets), but Blanche continues to lie and tell stories right up to the end; the end being one of the most disturbing imaginable. Stanley , in all his pure heterosexuality and machismo is the source of the play’s sexual gaze. This is a revelation for the time period and is in fact, ironically, one of the two major sources of queerness in the play. Blanche and her history explain the second and more obvious queering. The most interesting element of this play, and there are many, is that these two queer representations are battling each other for supremacy over the heteronormative  element, which is to say, Stella. What is particularly powerful and unique about the play, and this is common for most of Williams’s plays, is that it is much more about language and character than it is about. The nature, the structure, of plays typically do not lend themselves well to story-through-language or through characterization, due to their sparseness; however, Williams tells quite a bit of his story in the stage direction , so it is easy to see why this play would be so difficult to stage successfully (it is fair to say that this has only been done perfectly well in one instance, which is the first staging, including Marlon Brando).  Williams comments on the changing nature of gender roles and sexual politics, post-World War II ; he adeptly, brilliantly, exposes the new American male, the romantic but tragic and dangerous hero-come-home. Women, who had taken up work and head-of-household positions, were suddenly forced back into their homes, back into submission, and the power dynamics, social confusion, and family disruption this caused is clearly explored and sensitively, if shockingly, delivered. He also comments on elements such as “New South versus Old South,” mental health, pederasty, post-traumatic stress disorder, class, race, gender, power, and control. This short play packs a wallop – it is loaded with themes, yet so delicately crafted that the characters and their stories still manage to come first. While Tennessee Williams is largely considered to be a “New Realist” or “ Expressionist ,” and this certainly shows in the themes of this play and in its construction, we can argue that this play is a work of Modern Tragedy, particularly due to the absence of religion/morality and the inability of any character to gain redemption or find peace. Notable Quotes: “When I was


Three racing trophies were established in the 20th century by James Gordon Bennett, Jr, for automobiles, aeroplanes and which other?

Rheims Air Show 1909 | First Super Speedway Rheims Air Show 1909 By: Mark Dill The great Los Angeles-to-Phoenix off-road race (more commonly known as " The Cactus Derby ") was another of the terrific classics from the sport's early days. In its 1914 edition, track racing legend and barnstormer Barney Oldfield entered the same Stutz racer he had piloted to fifth place in that year's Indianapolis 500. Below are the margin notes David composed to support his art:   Indianapolis Motor Speedway Founder and President Carl Fisher may have been a Hoosier but he had a global perspective. He also harbored a great deal of patriotic enthusiasm. He was keenly aware of developments in Europe, developments he felt threatened the gorwth of nascent American industries and the economy of the United States. He cast a wary eye on Brooklands , the new concrete-paved closed circuit race track in England, as well as the leadership of France in both automotive and aeronautic design.   Fisher saw the Speedway as first a race track but also a multi-purpose facility. This was especially so with aeronautics. The first competitive event at the track was the 1909 National Championship Balloon Races and Fisher was in regular communication with the Wright Brothers . He had a fascination with emerging technology and especially how its products created business opportunity. This inevitably led to Fisher to plan for an aviation show.   His sense of urgency about this vision spiked when in August 1909 the first great aviation show was staged in Rheims , France - known as the Grande Semaine d'Aviation de la Champagne . This event became the gold standard for air shows for many years to come. Fisher and his co-founders immediately pressed forward with plans despite the huge setback they encountered in their tragic first auto race meet which was also held in August 1909. Five people, including two spectators , lost their lives in two big wrecks that happened on the first and then the last day of the three-day event. The names of the people who lost their lives appear below:   Homer Jolliff , spectator   These articles report on the Rheims event and I include them on First Super Speedway for the reasons explained above. These developments have more than a tangential relationship with what went on at the track. They weighed heavily on the mind of Carl Fisher and probably the other founders as well. Fisher took his role in the world very seriously and saw the mission of the Speedway as a crucial ingredient to a successful America - helping automotive and aeronautical companies develop their products, and, in turn, grow successful businesses that helped countrymen prosper.   Attachment Rheims082409 contains an Indianapolis Star article from August 24, 1909 that focuses on the second day of the meet and the top honors won by American Glenn Curtiss and French Aviator M. (Louis) Paulham . Curtiss set a new speed record over the 6.2 mile course with a time of 8 minutes, 35.4 seconds. Paulman soared to the then amazing altitude of 56 kilometers although it is unclear from the article if this was a record.   Curtiss' feat was achieved just under the wire as time was expiring for competitors to take to the air. Earlier that day Louis Bleriot had clipped 16 seconds off Eugene Lefebvre's course record. Curtiss' success with the record made him one of the men to watch in the James Gordon Bennett Cup , the main event coming up that Saturday. The other interesting aspect of the day the article notes is Hubert Latham's flight with an aluminum propeller.   This article reports that hundreds of Americans had made the passage to France to witness the historic event. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt Jr. ; Mr. and Mrs. George Gould ; Mr. and Mrs. Nat Goodwin (actor); Actor William H. Crane and Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Kittredge of Cleveland.   Attachment Rheims082709 contains an article originally published in the Indianapolis Star August 27, 1909. This article reports on the third day of the air show and focuses on the accolades heaped on Frenchman Hubert Latham who e


In April 2010 Britain announced that it would create the world's largest marine reserve (650,000 square kilometres) around the Chagos Islands. Where are they?

UK Marine Protected Areas - news Wednesday 16th of November 2011 Formal advice on MCZ project's final recommendations now available on Defra website The Science Advisory Panel (an independent body of expert marine scientists) met in mid-September and discussed the recommendations of the four regional MCZ projects (published on the 8th of September 2011). The SAP sent their formal advice to Government on 30 October 2011. The report has now been made public and is available on the Defra website. Wednesday 16th of November 2011 Environment Minister statement on the recommended English MCZs and Science Advisory Panel advice To see Environment Minister Richard Benyon Written Ministerial Statement regarding the proposed MCZs please follow the link. Monday 27th of June 2011 Finding Sanctuary Spring 2011 Newsletter now available Finding Sanctuary are in the final months of the MCZ project and will be submitting their final report to Natural England and the JNCC on the 31st August. Much work has gone into finalising the network from the Steering Group, Working Group and Local Groups and this spring edition of the newsletter provides details of the network in addition to articles on topics including the submission of the final report; a ministerial visit to Finding Sanctuary; planning for the final months of the project; Atlantic array co-location; Monday 27th of June 2011 9th International Temperate Reefs Symposium this week in Plymouth The 9th International Temperate Reefs Symposium starts this week in Plymouth, hosted the University of Plymouth and the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. This week long conference features presentations and workshops on diverse themes including ecological theory, modelling, deep-sea reefs, climate change and restoration and management (see the conference schedule ). Monday 27th of June 2011 Devon Maritime Forum 5th July. Valuing Our Seas - New Directions Being held at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth, this Devon Maritime Forum aims to address several key policy issues including how the National Ecosystems Assessment might influence marine management, current thoughts on ICZM and MSP in Europe, how inshore fisheries management is developing and the role of the Forum in delivering answers to some of the questions arising from such issues. A full timetable together with further details on the Devon Maritime Forum can be found on their website . Thursday 16th of June 2011 Public urged to name Britain's forgotten wildlife Marine creatures stand out as Natural England and The Guardian launch a public competition to rescue unnamed British wildlife from obscurity Now in its second year, the 'Name a species' competition, run by Natural England and The Guardian, was launched on Saturday 11 June 2011 with the aim of finding a common name for 10 unknown, but amazing, British species. Five of the 10 unnamed species are marine creatures. A host of seemingly forgotten species exist in Britain and many are disappearing fast. Known to just a few scientists and identified only by Latin names, they lack the common touch and their decline risks going unnoticed as a result. The competition aims to rescue Britain's unnamed species from obscurity by asking the public to suggest memorable common names. Dr Pete Brotherton, Head of Biodiversity at Natural England said: "There is a wonderful array of fascinating creatures in this year's competition, from sea spiders and sea squirts, recently discovered mushrooms and rare hoverflies. Giving English names to these species will help give them a popular identity they are crying out for." The five marine creatures featuring in the competition's list of 10 unnamed species are: Coryphella browni - a recycling sea slug Nymphon gracile - an undersea spider with a straw Phallusia mammillata - Britain's largest sea squirt Sagartiogeton laceratus - a many tentacled anemone Ophiura albida - a snaky star in the sand Common names have been given to species throughout history. Frequently colourful and highly descriptive, these names have often been the best wa


How many poles are there related to the planet Earth?

How Many North Poles Does the Earth Have? How Many North Poles Does the Earth Have? GO Feb 29, 2008 09:19 GMT  ·  By Gabriel Gache  ·  Share:  You got the point, apparently the Earth has more than one North Pole! I'll put it like this: the North Pole can be anywhere you want it to be. It could be in Alaska, in the town called 'North Pole' for what I'm concerned, but then we would be deviating away from the story. For starters, there is the geographic north of the planet which represents the intersection of the imaginary lines we call meridians, located somewhere in the Arctic Ocean. Secondly, we have the instantaneous north pole which is basically the point on the surface of the Earth where the rotational axis of the Earth meets the ground. However, even this instantaneous north pole does not have a fixed location, due to the Earth revolution around the Sun. The instantaneous north pole describes a circle of the planets surface, called the Chandler wobble, which has as center the point called the north pole of balance. Then there is the magnetic north pole of the planet. This is determined by a magnetic field generated by the movement of fluid inside the core's planet. This magnetic field generates two locations on the surface of the planet, north and south, which, as you already know, can be easily determined with the help of a magnetic compass. Magnetic lines penetrate through the mass of the planet and emerge to the surface in a vertical pattern, only to form closed loops high above the planet's surface. Meaning that, if one were to stand directly over the magnetic north pole, the needle of the compass would point in a vertical direction. A secondary magnetic pole, is the north geomagnetic pole, totally different from the true magnetic north pole which lies somewhere in Canada - opposing to general belief which states that the magnetic north pole lies in the geographic north pole. The north geomagnetic pole is a remnant of the variable magnetic fields of our planet, is much weaker than the magnetic north pole and is located in Greenland, fact which led to numerous confusions in the past. And, to complicate things even further, one should probably know that the Earth's magnetic north pole is not stable. In fact, there is evidence that the magnetic north and south pole shift places frequently. Since 1973, the magnetic north pole accelerated its movement from 10 to 50 kilometers per year and seems to follow a direction which will most likely take it from Canada towards the Siberian regions of Russia. One more confusing fact. Why does the north pole of the needle of the compass tend to be attracted towards the north pole of the Earth? We were thought, in school, that identical poles repel each other, while different ones experience a force of attraction. As it turns out, it's just a matter of speaking. That's why many people have suggested that the magnetic north pole of our planet should be renamed as 'north seeking pole' One way or another, the confusion still remains and with so many north poles there is no wonder nobody has found Santa's house yet.


"What type of beer takes its name from the German word for ""storage""?"

Beer Glossary, brew terminology, IPA, Lager, Pilsner, Ales, Porters Abbey Beers: A variety of strong ales, similar to the Trappist beers, but not made in monasteries although, in some cases, they have been at one time. The term "Abbey ale" refers more to a relationship with a monastery than it does with a specific beer style. The following sub-categories are just as hard to define clearly. There are considerable conflicting viewpoints about what makes a tripel a tripel and so forth. It should be noted that due to the great variety in abbey ales, some of them would not fall into any of the four sub-categories listed below. That said, here's our take on the usual suspects: Single- Also often referred to as a blonde, singles tend to be the lightest in alcohol. They are usually under 6.5% ABV. Often golden, bottle conditioned, and just a bit dry. Dubbel-Both dubbels and quadruppels tend to be darker in color, but vary in strength and flavor profile. Dubbels are largely malt forward, with roasty qualities. They typically range from 6.5% to 8% ABV. Tripel- Probably the most pervasive style of these four sub-categories, tripels are lighter in color, yet higher in strength, usually over 8% ABV. It has been written that tripels use three times the normal amount of malt, dubbels twice as much, etc. True or not, tripels are fine examples of a light color/high strength beer style. Tripels can be very dry to very sweet, showing more range within their category than the other sub-styles. Quadrupel- As one might guess, quads are the darkest and the strongest, with an emphasis on the malt. They tend to be a little harder to find. Belgian Browns: This classic style from Flanders Belgium combines malty sweetness with a sourness gained from several months of maturation (usually in metal tanks). The most complex examples have a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Oudenaarde is the most famous producing town, located in East Flanders. Oudenaarde's water is low in calcium and high in sodium carbonate, which gives a particularly textured character to the beers. Typical examples of Belgian browns come in three ages and strengths. Golden/Blonde: Often aromatic and fruity-tasting, some of these are at a conventional alcohol content of 4%-5% ABV. Others are stronger. The most famous are the very strong ones like the deceptively drinkable Duvel, at 8.5% ABV. The name is Flemish for Devil. This beer has many competitors, usually with equally Devilish names. Lambics: Lambics represent the oldest style of beer (and beer making) found in the modern world. Specific to the Brussels area, this style resembles wine and champagne more than any other beer in the world. The name is most likely derived from the small town of Lembeek ("Lime Creek"), southwest of Brussels in the Zenne River valley. This is the heart of the Lambic region. A handful of breweries around Lembeek practice brewing methods which pre-date the culturing of yeasts. They gain their tartness from a content of at least 30% raw wheat in addition to malted barley, but their defining characteristic is the use of wild yeast, or "spontaneous" fermentation. Wild airborne yeasts, indigenous to the region, descend upon open brewing vessels in attics of farmhouse breweries, where nature takes its course. It is not uncommon for Lambics to have a fermentation period of two or three years, and much of that time in wooden casks. Most of these beers have a conventional alcohol content, in the range of 3%-6% ABV. Fruit Lambic- They are beers, and not wines, because the original fermentation is grain based (the definition for beer). The fruit comes later, and is an excellent compliment to acidity of the lambic beer style. In the traditional method, the fruit is added during the maturation of the beer, causing a further fermentation. The best of Belgian fruit beers have the dryness of pink Champagne, rather than the sweetness of a soda-pop. Gueuze- A champagne style lambic. The carbonation is achieved by blending young Lambic (typically six months old) with more mature vintages (two to three years). The re


Frdric Chopin is best known for his compositions for which instrument?

Music History 102 Born: Zelazowa Wola, near Warsaw, March 1, 1810 Died: Paris, October 17, 1849 One of the best-known and best-loved composers of the Romantic period, Chopin was born in Poland and lived most of his life in Paris, which was at that time the musical hub of Europe. Chopin's entire musical output was devoted to his favorite instrument, the piano. His over 200 solo compositions for the piano all demonstrate his highly individual melodic style, and include two sets of etudes (studies), three sonatas, four ballads, many pieces he variously titled preludes, impromptus, or scherzos, and a great number of dances. Included among the latter are a number of waltzes, but also a great many mazurkas and six polonaises, both of which are dances from his native Poland. Some of these dance pieces are among Chopin's best-known works, including the proud Polonaise in A-flat major and the haunting Waltz in C-sharp minor. Among Chopin's most individual works are the Préludes. Intended to serve as improvisatory beginnings to an intimate recital, these pieces range from tender melancholy to the dramatic utterances of the stormy Prelude in D minor. Many of Chopin's most beautiful compositions come from the series of short, reflective pieces he called Nocturnes. As can be heard in the Nocturne in F-sharp, these works are usually gentle and dreamlike with a flowing, rocking bass, and aptly demonstrate Chopin's predeliction for sweet, song-like melodies, very much in the style of Italian bel canto opera of the period. Music History 102: a Guide to Western Composers and their music Designed, compiled and created by Robert Sherrane


When was the Sret, initially the criminal investigative bureau of the Paris police, founded?

Posts 5,789 La SÃ»retÃ© Nationale was the former title of the French National Police, it served initially as the criminal investigative bureau of the Paris police and did not function as the national command and control organization until much later by which time it no longer had any detectives on its staff. It was founded by EugÃ¨ne FranÃ§ois Vidocq in 1812 and headed until 1827. It was the inspiration for Scotland Yard, the FBI and other departments of criminal investigation throughout the world. Vidocq was convinced that crime could not be controlled by then-current police methods, so he organized a special branch of the criminal division modelled on Napoleon's political police. The force was to work undercover and its early members consisted largely of reformed criminals. By 1820 – eight years after its formation – it had blossomed into a 30-man team of experts that had reduced the crime rate in Paris by 40%. The SÃ»retÃ© is considered a pioneer of all crime fighting organizations in the world. On 23 April 1941 the French police was nationalized under the Vichy regime and each was placed under the prefect, the term National Police was then first used. On the 10 of July 1966 the SÃ»retÃ© Nationale was merged into the Police Nationale which is now one of two national police forces and the main civil law enforcement agency of France. Patrick Last edited by 1886lebel; 11-05-2009 at 11:26 AM. Co-Author of the book: Banzai Special Project No. 1, The Siamese Mauser, A Study Of Siamese / Thai Type 45 & Type 46 Long Rifles and Type 47 Carbines, Including An Overview Of Siamese/Thai Weapons 1860ï¿½2014


"Who has the line ""Is this a dagger which I see before me"" in a Shakespearean play?"

Is this a dagger which I see before me - eNotes Shakespeare Quotes Is this a dagger which I see before me Macbeth: Read on Owl Eyes This eText is now on Owl Eyes. Clicking this link will open a new window. Macbeth has made his decision to kill the King and take the crown as his own. Inspired in part by his own ambition, the decision to murder Duncan is aided by the prophecies of the Witches as well as the insistent urging of his wife. Still, Macbeth is wracked with guilt over what he is about to do, and his mind races with thoughts of such evil action. He begins to hallucinate and sees a bloody dagger in the air, which will be his instrument of murder. He goes on to comment on the wickedness of the world, thoughts which are interrupted by the ringing of the bell, a signal from Lady Macbeth that Duncan's guards are drugged and sleeping. He goes off to complete the dire deed. Shakespeare's Macbeth is notable for hallucinations, terrifying dreams, witches, prophecies and all of the combining forces of nature which lead to chaos and murder in the gloomy countryside of Scotland.


Behourd, quintain, mle, and hastilude are terms relating to what?

Hastilude : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Advertisements    Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A knight receiving a lady's favour at a hastilude. From Codex Manesse . Hastilude is a generic term used in the Middle Ages to refer to many kinds of martial games . The word comes from the Latin hastiludium, literally 'lance game'. By the fourteenth century, the term usually excluded tournaments and was used to describe the other games collectively; this seems to have coincided with the increasing preference for ritualistic and individualistic games over the traditional mêlée style. [1] Today, the most well-known of the hastiludes are the tournament , or tourney, and the joust , but over the medieval period a number of other games and sports developed, which altered in popularity and rules from area to area, and from period to period. Distinction was made between the different types by contemporaries in their description, laws, prohibitions and customs. The main types are identified below. Contents Main article: Jousting In contrast to the tournament, which comprised teams of large numbers ranging over large tracts of land, the joust was fought between two individuals on horseback , in a small, defined ground often known as the lists. The two would ride at each other from opposite ends, charging with a couched lance . In the early fifteenth century, a barrier was introduced to keep the horses apart, to avoid collisions. More informal jousting events would have several horsemen within the lists at once, where each waited to take up the challenge of another, although the aim remained for the joust to be a one-on-one duel. There were several types of joust, including some regional preferences or rules. For example, in fourteenth century Germany, distinction was made between the Hohenzeuggestech, where the aim was to break the lance, and the Scharfrennen, where knights sought to unhorse their opponents. These types called for different lances (light in the former, heavy in the latter), and saddles (where the Scharfrennen called for saddles without front or rear supports, which would impede the fall). [2] Jousts originally developed out of the charge at the beginning of the mêlée, but by the thirteenth century had become quite distinct from the tourney. That it was seen as a separate event, with its own rules and customs, is clear from historical documents: such as Edward II of England 's ban of 1309 of all forms of hastilude except the joust. By nature of its duel, and the discrete space required for the action, the joust became a popular spectator and ceremonial sport, with elaborate rituals developing around the whole event. Pas d'armes Quintain at the Golden Gate Renaissance Festival 2005. The term quintain ( O. Fr. quintaine, from Lat. quintana, a street between the fifth and sixth maniples of a camp, where warlike exercises took place), also known as pavo (or peacock), was often used to refer collectively to a number of lance games, often used as training for jousting, where the competitor would attempt to strike an object with his lance, sword or other weapon. The common object was a shield or board on a pole (usually referred to, confusingly, as 'the quintain'), although a mannikin was sometimes used. It was not unknown for a seated armoured knight to act as the target. This game was open to all, popular with young men of all classes. While the use of horses aided in training for the joust, the game could be played on foot, using a wooden horse or on boats (popular in twelfth century London). [3] As late as the 18th century running at the quintain survived in English rural districts. In one variation of the pastime the quintain was a tun filled with water, which, if the blow was a poor one, was emptied over the striker. A later form was a post with a cross-piece, from which was suspended a ring, which the horseman en


When the Chinese Nationalist Party lost the civil war to the Communist Party in 1949, it relocated to which island and established Taipei as the Republic Of China's provisional capital?

History of the Kuomintang | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia History of the Kuomintang Share The Kuomintang (Traditional Chinese: 中國國民黨; Simplified Chinese: 中国国民党; Hanyu Pinyin: Zhōngguó Guómíndǎng; Initials: KMT or GMD) is a Chinese political party that ruled China 1927–48 and then moved to Taiwan. The name translates as "China's National People's Party" and was historically referred to as the Chinese Nationalists. The Party was initially founded on August 25, 1912, by Sun Yat-sen but dissolved in November 1913. It reformed on October 10th 1919, again led by Sun Yat-sen, and became the ruling party in China. After Sun's death, the party was dominated from 1927 to 1975 by Chiang Kai-shek . Though the KMT lost the civil war with the Communist Party of China in 1949, the party took control of Taiwan and remains a major political party of the Republic of China based in Taiwan. Founded in 1912 by Sun Yat-sen, the KMT helped topple the Qing Emperor and promoted modernization along Western lines. The party played a significant part in the first Chinese first National Assembly where is was the majority party. However the KMT failed to achieve complete control. The post of president was given to Yuan Shikai (1859–1916) as reward for his part in the revolution. Yuan Shikai abused his powers, over riding the constitution and creating strong tensions between himself and the other parties. In July 1913, the KMT staged a 'Second Revolution' to depose Yuan. This failed and the following crack down by Yuan led to the dissolution of the KMT and the exile of its leadership, mostly to Japan. Subsequently Yuan Shikai had himself made Emperor of China. In exile, Sun Yat-sen and other former KMT members founded several revolutionary parties under various names but with little success. These parties were united by Sun in 1919 under the title "The Kuomintang of China". The new party returned to Guangzhou in China in 1920 where it set up a government but failed to achieve control of all of China. After the death of Yuan Shikai in 1916, China fractured into many regions controlled by warlords. To strengthen the party's position, it accepted aid and support for the Soviet Union and its Comintern. The fledgling Communist Party of China was encouraged to join the KMT and thus formed the First United Front. The KMT gradually increased its sphere of influence from its Guangzhou base. Sun Yat-sen died in 1925 and Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975) became the KMT strong man. In 1926 Chiang led a military operation known as the Northern Expedition against the warlords that controlled much of the country. In 1927, Chiang instigated the April 12 Incident in Shanghai in which the Communist Party of China and Communist elements of the KMT were purged. [1] The Northern Expedition proved successful and the KMT party came to power throughout China (except Manchuria) in 1927 under the leadership of Chiang. The capital of China was moved to Nanjing in order to be closer to the party's strong base in southern China. The party was always concerned with strengthening Chinese identity at the same time it was discarding old traditions in the name of modernity. In 1929, the KMT government suppressed the textbook Modern Chinese History, widely used in secondary education. The Nationalists were concerned that, by not admitting the existence of the earliest emperors in ancient Chinese history, the book would weaken the foundation of the state. The case of the Modern Chinese History textbook reflects the symptoms of the period: banning the textbook strengthened the Nationalists' ideological control but also revealed their fear of the New Culture Movement and its more liberal ideological implications. The KMT tried to destroy the Communist party of Mao Zedong , but was unable to stop the invasion by Japan, which controlled most of the coastline and major cities, 1937–1945. Chiang Kai-shek secured massive military and economic aid from the United States, and in 1945 became one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, with a veto. The KMT governed most of


When SARS was discovered in 2003 it was only the third human coronavirus known, but by the end of 2012 a further three have been identified the last now known as MERS; what coronavirus is MERS most closely related to?

Receptor for new coronavirus found : Nature News & Comment Receptor for new coronavirus found Virus might have many animal reservoirs. Elizabeth R. Fischer, Rocky Mountain Labs/NIAID/NIH Coronavirus hCoV-EMC is thought to have originated in bats. This week, researchers identified the molecule that has allowed a novel human coronavirus to infect at least 14 people, killing eight, since its detection last year. This key discovery, which pinpoints the receptor that the virus uses to infect cells in the human airways, opens up opportunities to study the virus’s origin, the level of risk it poses and potential drugs and vaccines. But it will take more than lab work to determine whether the virus is the next SARS — the coronavirus responsible for severe acute respiratory syndrome, which infected more than 8,000 people and killed more than 750 in the early 2000s — or just an exotic pathogen of little broad importance to public health. Only epidemiological data can show how efficiently the new coronavirus, hCoV-EMC, spreads from person to person and whether it is as deadly as it seems — such data are sorely lacking. To jump to humans, animal viruses such as these novel coronaviruses, and avian and swine flu viruses, must evolve to be able to latch onto proteins on the surfaces of human cells. In a paper published this week in Nature 1 , Stalin Raj at the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and a largely European team report that spikes on the surface of hCoV-EMC bind to DPP4, a well-known receptor protein on human cells. When the binding site for the virus on DPP4 was blocked using antibodies, the virus could not infect cells; conversely, when DPP4 was expressed on the surface of normally non-susceptible cells, hCoV-EMC could now infect them. The authors “unequivocally demonstrate that DPP4 is the receptor”, says Ian Lipkin, a renowned virus hunter at Columbia University in New York. Although other receptors or co-receptors might be involved, the experiments suggest no need to look further, he says. The work seems “solid and important”, adds Michael Farzan, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute’s campus in Jupiter, Florida, who a decade ago led the team that discovered the receptor used by the SARS virus to enter human cells 2 . The receptor used by the SARS virus is found mainly on cells deep in the lungs. That helps to explain why that virus caused serious disease but was relatively difficult to catch or transmit by coughing or sneezing, notes Christian Drosten, director of the Institute of Virology at the University of Bonn Medical Centre in Germany and an author of the latest Nature paper. DPP4 seems to show a similar distribution, he says, which suggests that the new virus might behave in the same way. But Stanley Perlman, a coronavirus researcher at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, and co-author of a related News & Views article also published in this week’s Nature 3 , cautions that knowledge of the distribution of DPP4 in the human airways is limited. The researchers did clearly show that the receptor is present on only some types of respiratory epithelial cells (about 20% of the total), which suggests that catching the disease might require inhaling high doses of virus, says Drosten. But another lab study, published last month in mBio 4 , found that the virus infects human bronchial epithelial cells as easily as the coronaviruses that cause the common cold. The nature of the DPP4 protein means that the virus could remain a persistent threat. The receptor protein is present in very similar versions in many mammals, including bats, non-human primates, and various domestic animals. The virus might therefore easily jump between species, and humans might continue to be reinfected from a potentially wide range of animal reservoirs. This aspect of DPP4 is consistent with results published last year 5 showing that hCoV-EMC could infect bat, pig and human cells in vitro, an interspecies promiscuity not seen in the SARS virus or other coronaviruses. From a public-health standpoint, it will be important