Maipo Valley is a wine-growing region in which country?

Maipo Valley Wine Regions Maipo Valley Maipo Valley Wine Maipo Valley is one of Chile's most important wine-producing regions. Located just south of the capital, Santiago, Maipo Valley is home to some of the country's most prestigious wines. It is often described as the 'Bordeaux of South America', and rich, fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon is undoubtedly its most celebrated wine style. Maipo is at the very northern end of Chile's extensive Central Valley, running from just north of the Rapel Valley up to where the countryside begins to give way to houses and roads in the southern suburbs of Santiago. The Coastal Range separates the area from the Pacific coast, and on the eastern side, the Andes Mountains rise suddenly and dramatically, separating Maipo from the Argentinean region of Mendoza . Tradition meets modernity © Matt Wilson/Wines of Chile The Maipo Valley is the home of viticulture in Chile. The first vines were planted around Santiago at the city's birth in the 1540s, but it wasn't until the 1800s that viticulture began to expand significantly, as an indirect result of entrepreneurial Chileans growing rich from the mineral wealth found in the Atacama Desert to the north. It became fashionable for these wealthy individuals to travel to France, and they inevitably returned home with vines to plant in their new, French-influenced wine estates. The vineyards of Cousino Macul, Concha Y Toro and Santa Rita were developed during this period, and they remain today important names in the Chilean wine industry. The region can be roughly separated into three broad areas: Alto Maipo, Central Maipo and Maipo Bajo. The vineyards of Alto Maipo (or Upper Maipo) run along the eastern edge of the Andes Mountains, where they benefit from altitudes of 1300-2500ft (400-760m) above sea level. At this height, warm sun during the day is followed by colder nights, which slow ripening. This extends the growing season , leading to grapes with a balance of ripeness and acidity . Alto Maipo's colluvial soils (those brought down from the mountains over time by gravity as opposed to rivers) are rocky and free-draining and are considered excellent for viticulture: vines have to work harder for water in the ground and so put their energy into producing smaller berries with a high concentration of sugars and acids. Alto Maipo, which encompasses the sub-regions of Puente Alto and Pirque , is the most prestigious of Maipo's viticultural areas. It is here that the vineyards of Don Melchor, Almaviva and Vinedo Chadwick can be found along the banks of the Maipo River and among the houses and buildings of Santiago itself. Central Maipo (sometimes called Maipo Medio) is the lower-lying ground just to the west of Alto Maipo, surrounding the towns of Buin and Paine. The climate here is slightly warmer than in Alto Maipo, and the soils are slightly more clay-based and fertile, leading to a slightly less-refined style of wine. Cabernet Sauvignon is still the most-grown grape variety, but there are also substantial plantings of Carmenere vines, as the warmer climate is well suited to this iconic Chilean grape variety. Maipo Bajo (or lower Maipo) centers on the towns of Isla de Maipo and Talagante . The wine industry here is more concerned with winemaking than viticulture, and while there are a few vineyards, there are many wineries. Undurraga and De Martino are just two of the names that can be found in this part of Chile, making wines with grapes from all over the country. Some viticulture takes place here near the river, where cool breezes create mesoclimates suitable for growing white-wine varieties, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. Annual rainfall in Maipo is very low and the climate is both warm and dry, so the arrival of technological advances in the 1980s brought an element of consistency to winemaking here. Drip irrigation gives viticulturists a weapon against extended dry spells, while stainless-steel tanks and oak barrels allow controlled fermentation and quality ageing. Along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenere, a wide range of grape varieties ar


Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean is a possession of which country?

Bouvet Island travel guide - Wikitravel Time Zone UTC Bouvet Island is an uninhabited 58.5 km² volcanic, mostly inaccessible, island in the Southern Ocean , south-southwest of Cape Town . It is thought to be the most remote island in the world. The nearest land is Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, which is over 1,750 km (1,090 mi) away to the south. Understand[ edit ] This uninhabited volcanic island was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825 when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favour of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island. It's not too hard to get a lot of search-engine-hits for airports, hotels, rental cars, or even airport limousines at Bouvet Island, even though there have never been, and likely never will be, such things. Landscape[ edit ] It is a small (58.5 km²) volcanic island that rises sharply from the ocean, with cliffs up to 500 m high. Almost all of the island is covered by a thick glacier. The highest point is Olav Peak at 780 m Get in[ edit ] Since the entire island is a nature reserve, it's likely that you will be denied entry permission, if the purpose of entering is just tourism - although usually you won't find any Norwegian immigration officers in the island to refuse your entry! But, if you absolutely have to get there anyway, your best bet is to try to find out when the next research expedition is scheduled to get there and ask if you can join them. If you have a useful occupation or skill, such as Arctic research biologist, research geologist, helicopter pilot, or physician, you will probably be welcome. There's been at least one case of this happening in the past, when a bunch of radio amateurs were allowed to enter the Island for a DXpedition (setting up an amateur radio station there to communicate with people across the world). Companies that can help to arrange travel to Bouvet Island include: Oceanwide Expeditions [1] explores the most remote places in and around the South and Mid-Atlantic Islands with their own ships and expedition crew. Passengers are taken from Ushuaia to remote locations such as Bouvet Island. Other locations are the South Sandwich Islands, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, Cape Verde and St. Helena. With fully equiped zodiacs passengers are going ashore on several islands, which are rich in wildlife and offer plenty of opportunities for exploring activities. By boat[ edit ] There is nowhere even remotely usable as a harbour, although it is possible to anchor offshore. If you are willing to put your life at risk, you might try using a light boat with outboard engine to enter. It has been known to work, but plenty of people have tried and decided it was not worth the risk. In theory, it should be possible to land on the island using a large, dual engine speed boat, as there is a small beach in the North Western corner of the island. It would, however, require extraordinary bravery and considerable boating skills to avoid sinking the boat before reaching shore.


The epitaph for which American singer who died in 1988 was 'The best is yet to come'?

20 Memorable Epitaphs | HowStuffWorks 20 Memorable Epitaphs Harry Langdon/ Getty Images They might be six feet under, but a good epitaph means they'll never be forgotten. Some of the wittiest and most famous people who lived here on Earth left an equally memorable message on their tombstones to remember them by when they died. Many offer inside jokes and punchy observations about life and death ; some don't contain words at all. Some of these epitaphs are momentous and others are hilarious -- but all of them are near perfect representations of the persons buried beneath them. From Frank Sinatra to Winston Churchill to Jesse James, here lie 20 of our favorite gravestone inscriptions.


Gully the Seagull is the mascot for which south coast Championship football club?

The Football League Mascot Race line-up The Football League Mascot Race line-up Posted: Thu 25 Oct 2012 Birds, cats, dogs and elephants will be among the 26 mascots lining up for the annual Football League Mascot Race on Friday, in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. The mascots will be under starters orders at 1pm, with the event taking place as part of the Racing Post weekend at Doncaster Racecourse. Last season, Notts County's Mr Magpie was triumphant so he returns to defend the title, but who will challenge him for the title this year? Here's the full list of runners. The odds are provided by BetButler. To place a bet on this market, please call Alex on 0333 900 2000. Mr Magpie - Notts County Mr Magpie is back to defend his title and he's in beak, sorry peak, condition after watching both the Olympics and Paralympics this summer. Will you back him at 15/8? Billy Brewer - Burton Albion After coming second in last year's Football League race; Billy is raring to go this time around, hoping to put the loss of last season behind him to claim victory. Can the punters see him winning this year at 5/2? Chaddy Owl - Oldham Athletic Chaddy is a previous winner of the Mascot Grand National and is determined to regain his crown at Doncaster. Expect a strong showing from Chaddy, though he is under strict instructions not to fly down the course. Anything less than a top-three finish and he will be getting his wings clipped upon his return to Boundary Park. Who will back him at 5/2? Filbert Fox - Leicester City A wily contender, Filbert Fox is always likely to be in the hunt. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in cunning. Will his cunningness be promising at 7/2? Robin Hood - Nottingham Forest Robin Hood has a generous nature, combined with his prolonged and skilful evasion of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Having been pipped by arch-rival Mr Magpie last time out - Robin is keen to bring the title back to the South side of the Trent. Will he triumph at 7/2? Rover - Blackburn Rovers Rover will be making his Mascot Race debut at Doncaster. Whilst he thrives on the big occasions, his inexperience at this event could hinder his chances of winning the race. Expect him to be there or thereabouts come the finish. Back him at 6/1 if you fancy the newbie? Loft Junior - Bolton Wanderers Lofty Junior is the son of Lofty the Lion. He's a teenage character that loves to street dance; he struts around the Reebok Stadium like he owns the place. Look out for his trendy clothes and wacky hair style. Will he dance to the finish line? Back him at 9/2. Pete The Eagle - Crystal Palace Pete The Eagle should get off to a flying start and hoping to zoom in on a victory, let's just hope he doesn't miss Alice the Eagle too much during his visit to Doncaster. Will he fly to the gold medal at 5/1? Rammie - Derby County Favourite food is freshly cut Pride Park Grass and his mortal enemy is Robin Hood. Will he be the fastest mascot? Back him at 6/1. Gully the Seagull - Brighton and Hove Albion Gully the Seagull is Brighton and Hove Albion's football-mad mascot. He is eight and a half years old and can often be seen playing pranks on his sibling seagulls Sammy and Sally who join him in his pitch-side antics. His favourite singer is Sheryl Crow and his favourite film is under siege staring Steven Seagal. Will he kick his way to the finish line at 7/1? Yorkie the Lion - York City Yorkie the Lion is hoping to hear all the York City fans roaring him on and he's going to try and repay them with a gold medal at the end of the race. Don't miss the roaring price of 8/1. H'Angus the Monkey - Hartlepool United H'Angus has been the 'Pools mascot since 1999 when he burst on to the scene and began monkeying around and regularly hitting the headlines. More recently, H'Angus won a gladiator-style competition on Disney XD Channel when he fought off challenges of other mascots. Will the monkey swing to the finish line? Back him at 9/1. City Gent - Bradford City Out for the day from his rest coup to accomplish mascot race victory. He will be watching out for Filbert the Fox because he's n


Give one year when the actor David Garrick was alive.

David Garrick, photo, biography David Garrick Biography David Garrick (1717-1779) In 1685 Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes - Henry IV issued the act of toleration, equalizing the rights of the Huguenots (French Protestants) and Catholics. Now for trying to emigrate Huguenots relied death penalty. The latter, however, nobody was afraid of. He had only to give anyone a bribe and then should be - on all four sides. So he found himself in England, a rich French merchant, La Garrigue, who became a foreign land Garrick. His children's fate has developed differently. One settled in Portugal and became the largest wine merchant. Another remained in England, married an Irish and bought a commission. So Captain Garrick and vegetating in a provincial town, burdened with the offspring of six children, who, of course, the other a better future. At one of them, David, hopes were especially high. The boy was alive, which ran to knowledge, and his father sent him to his brother in Lisbon - God willing, he will make from the vintner. D. Zoffani. David Garrick in the comedy 'My wife Provaka' 1763-1765 David and accurately in Lisbon succeeded, albeit in his. When my uncle going to the merchants, he amused them to fall. From the secrets of wine trade is, unfortunately, distracted, and a year later, the boy had to be sent home - to the merchants he obviously was not fit. Well, Captain Garrick hand on him did not wave. I decided to put on the academic part and gave them just to open a school of Samuel Johnson, the good money he took small - lived on the content-rich wife, a lot of his older. The scientists really had a remarkable. Subsequently, he became a leading British literary critic and author of the famous dictionary. Here are all my knowledge he did not manage to convey to David. His wife was terribly sick, he threw home, school and went on foot to London (travel money was not), taking only his favorite, David. My father once took care of him and arranged to one lawyer, who lived near the capital. That little later from the student refused. David no interest in law and not shown as he could, sitting in the London theater. But here, his luck did not leave. He received from his uncle's small wine cellar just in front of Covent Garden - one of the two (the second was called Dryuri Lane) leading drama theater of the city, not far from another theater, Gudmens Fields. J. Reynolds. 'Garrick between tragedy and comedy Muses' 1747 Forthcoming Garrick became one of the most popular people in the London theater - actors felt in him the man. Hour test was already close. In 1740 ill-known London harlequin Yates, and Dzhiffard, director of the theater Gudmens Fields, who have often seen Garrick in their performances, asked him to speak instead of Yates. Garrick put on a mask of a harlequin, and played so that no one noticed the replacement. Season was over, and Dzhiffard Garrick took with him on summer tour. Fortunately, with him gone, Charles McLean, a few months before that rocked in the role of Shylock ( "The Merchant of Venice 'William Shakespeare). McLean was a character actor who transformed this traditionally comic image in a tragic. Other major actors' achievements in McLean was not, but over time he became famous as a theater teacher. McLean managed to do away with the melodic recitation of which came from the classical theater actors. He forced his students to pronounce the most commonplace remarks tone, and then build on these intonation, adjust to the conditions of the scene. Garrick learned from Maclean long, but when his phenomenal abilities that was enough. In 1741 Dzhiffard gave him the role of Richard III, promised that he will be brought before the public as a 'gentleman, which first appeared on the stage'. It was a way to lure more people into the hall, but the way is dangerous. It happened that the audience did not like them to beat a novice. With Garrick, of course, nothing like that could befall. The very next day in a review reported that in London there is now a great actor. Since then, one success followed another. Not


At which battle in 1471 did Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, die?

RBH biography: Richard 'The Kingmaker' Neville, Earl of Warwick (1428-1471) Earl of Salisbury Died: 14th April 1471 at the Battle of Barnet, Hertfordshire Commonly   known as the 'Kingmaker,' Richard Neville was the eldest son of his   namesake, Richard Neville , 5th Earl   of Salisbury, by Alice daughter and heiress of Thomas   Montacute , 4th Earl of Salisbury. He is said to have been born at   the maternal family manor of Bisham in Berkshire on 22nd November 1428. Richard�s Earldom of Warwick came from   his marriage, at the age of six, to the sister of the last of the Beauchamp   family who held that title and was, at that time, the richest and most   powerful Earldom in England. His greatest castles were Warwick (Warks),   Cardiff (Glams), Abergavenny (Monmouths) and Barnard (Durham), but he also   favoured Caversham (Oxon) and others. The   Earl of Salisbury�s sister was married to the Royal claimant, the Duke   of York . Her brother and nephew therefore became the greatest   supporters of the Yorkist cause against Margaret of Anjou and the Beauforts,   who swayed the mind of the unworldly Henry VI .   In this capacity, the Earl of Warwick won for the Yorkists the first battle   of the civil wars, at St. Albans, in 1455. After this victory, poor Henry   was obliged to make his enemy 'Captain of Calais', a position which gave   Richard command of the only real standing force in the English dominions. It   also gave him command of a considerable fleet with which, in 1458-9, he did   good service against Spanish fleets in the Channel. In the same year,   Warwick joined his uncle, the Duke of York, in the West of England, was   defeated with him by the Lancastrians at Ludford and fled back to Calais by   way of Guernsey. Thence in 1460 to Ireland and then again to Calais. In the   summer of that year, he was back in Eng�land and helped to win, for the   Yorkists, the Battle of Northampton. While York and Warwick's father,   Salisbury, went northwards to meet the forces which Queen Margaret had   raised in Scotland and Yorkshire, Warwick remained in London in charge of   Henry, whom he still professed to regard as King. His father's death at the   Battle of Wakefield left Warwick head of the Neville family and added to his   castles the great Yorkshire strongholds of Middleham and Sheriff Hutton.   While York's death - though it left the nominal headship of the party to his   son, the young Earl   of March - gave Warwick undisputed command of the policy of that   party. In   February 1461, the Earl marched out, with poor Henry in his train, to meet   the great Lancastrian army at St. Albans. He was beaten by it and fled to   join March, who in the West had won the Battle of Mortimer's Cross. Edward   IV, as March now claimed to be, entered London as a victor, with Warwick as   his 'Kingmaker' by his side. It was not, however, Warwick but Edward himself   whose generalship was responsible for the final Yorkist victory at Towton on   Palm Sunday 1461. Edward rewarded his great subject with the wardenships of   the Cinque Ports and of the Scottish Marches and the office of Chamberlain;   and Warwick's riches must have been enormous. Warwick   seems to have had some skill in diplomacy and, for the first few years of   the reign, Edward left most things in his hands. But he was anxious that the   King should marry either one of his own daughters or a French princess   chosen by himself. Wherefore Edward's marriage with Elizabeth Woodville and,   still more, the favours which he showered on her relations, soon roused the   jealousy of the Earl. By the year 1468, he seems to have determined to upset   Edward's throne by some means or another. However, as too deep a stream of   blood which he himself had spilt seemed to run between him and the   Lancastrians, he turned to Edward's second brother, the Duke of Clarence. He   married the young duke to his eldest daughter and raised an insurrection   which he allowed Clarence


What collective name is given to the seven bones that make up the back of the foot and ankle?

Ankle and Foot Home > Skeletal System > Bones of the Leg and Foot > Ankle and Foot Ankle and Foot The bones of the ankle and foot form the most distal region of the lower limb in the appendicular skeleton. These bones are responsible for the propulsion, balance, and support of the body’s weight through many diverse activities, such as standing, walking, running, and jumping. The ankle joint is formed by the union of the lower leg bones – the tibia and fibula – and the talus bone (one of a group of bones collectively known as the tarsus, located in the foot). Together, these three bones form a tight synovial hinge joint that permits the plantarflexion and dorsiflexion of the foot.... Move up/down/left/right: Click compass arrows Rotate image: Click and drag in any direction, anywhere in the frame Identify objects: Click on them in the image 2D Interactive 3D Rotate & Zoom Change Anatomical System Ankle and Foot, Posterior (Back) Full Ankle and Foot Description [Continued from above] . . . Plantarflexion is the movement that describes the pointing of the foot toward the ground, as in standing on one’s tiptoes. Dorsiflexion is the opposite of plantarflexion and involves the movement of the foot away from the ground, as in pulling the toes up and walking on one’s heels. The medial malleolus of the tibia and the lateral malleolus of the fibula form a cup surrounding the rounded tarsus to prevent lateral movement at the ankle joint. The fibula is united to the bones of the foot on the lateral side of the ankle by the anterior and posterior talofibular ligaments and the calcaneofibular ligament. On the medial side, the wide deltoid ligament binds the tibia to the tarsal bones of the foot. All of these ligaments work together to limit extreme movements and dislocations of the ankle joint while providing slight lateral flexibility that helps the body walk on uneven surfaces and maintain its balance. Twenty-six small bones of the foot provide the strength and flexibility necessary for bipedal locomotion. The seven tarsal bones form the posterior portion of the foot nearest to the heel. Each tarsal bone is a short bone with many flat facets that allow the tarsals to glide past one another. This gliding motion provides lateral mobility to the foot below the level of the ankle joint and allows the foot to bend to adjust the body’s balance. Anterior to the tarsals are the five long metatarsal bones of the foot and the fourteen phalanges of the toes. The metatarsals, phalanges, and tarsals form the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot to divide the body’s weight across the entire foot and act as a spring to absorb and release the force of the body’s weight on the ground. These bones also act as a lever to increase the strength of the muscles acting on the ankle joint, allowing the body to easily lift its entire weight up on the balls of the foot and the toes. This leverage is essential to rapid locomotion and jumping as it greatly increases the strength and speed of the legs. Many different ligaments hold the bones of the foot firmly together while providing flexibility to the bones. Amongst the tarsal bones, the plantar calcaneonavicular ligament joins the navicular bone to the calcaneus (heel bone), while the plantar cuboideonavicular ligament joins the navicular bone to the cuboid bone. The dorsal and plantar tarsometatarsal ligaments bind the tarsal and metatarsal bones together, support the arches of the foot, and strengthen overall structure of the foot. In the anterior of the foot, the plantar metatarsal ligaments bind the instep across the sole of the foot. Prepared by Tim Taylor, Anatomy and Physiology Instructor


The 2007 film 'Cinderella Man' is a biopic of which boxer?

Cinderella Man (2005) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The story of James Braddock, a supposedly washed-up boxer who came back to become a champion and an inspiration in the 1930s. Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON TV a list of 25 titles created 28 Dec 2010 a list of 35 titles created 30 Sep 2011 a list of 22 titles created 21 Jan 2013 a list of 43 titles created 31 Jan 2013 a list of 37 titles created 16 Mar 2013 Search for " Cinderella Man " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for     3     Oscars. Another    16 wins & 40 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Edit Storyline During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock--a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him--his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, ... Written by Sujit R. Varma When America was on its knees, he brought us to our feet. See more  » Genres: Rated PG-13 for intense boxing violence and some language | See all certifications  » Parents Guide: 3 June 2005 (USA) See more  » Also Known As: $18,320,205        (USA) (3 June 2005) Gross: Did You Know? Trivia In reality after Max Baer had killed Frankie Campbell in the ring, he stayed by his side for 30 minutes, waiting for the ambulance to arrive, and spent time with him and his family at the hospital, telling Frankie's wife how sorry he was. The next day he was pronounced dead, after hearing this Max Baer broke down in tears. See more » Goofs In a shot of Joe Gould sitting in his car, you can clearly see the leaves of a palm tree reflected in the automobile's window. This scene takes place in the New York/New Jersey area, where there are no palm trees. See more » Quotes See more » Crazy Credits Before the title appears the following: "In all the history of the boxing game, you'll find no human interest story to compare with the life narrative of James J. Braddock." - Damon Runyon (1936) See more » Connections James J. Braddock: Gladiator of the Great Depression 3 June 2005 | by lavatch (Twin Cities, Minnesota) – See all my reviews "Cinderella Man" deserves to be placed alongside other great biographical films dealing with the lives and times of great boxers. Such films include "Raging Bull," "The Joe Louis Story," "Ali," "The Hurricane," and "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story." These films share in common not just a documentary-like approach to boxing or a superficial biopic. They also portray the human side of a modern gladiator and the culture that produced him. In the case of "Cinderella Man," we are given a detailed and heart-rending portrait of the Great Depression in American. The story of the gentleman pugilist James J. Braddock is the backdrop to the larger drama of Americans' struggle in the 1930s. Russell Crowe provides a brilliant interpretation of Braddock, capturing the decency of a man whose career as a boxer would appear to have peaked at just the wrong time prior to the Crash of


The island of Socotra in the Arabian Sea belongs to which country?

BBC - Travel - Stepping back in time in Socotra Nature & Outdoors Stepping back in time in Socotra As visitors flock to see the Yemen island’s Candyland-like features, the increase in tourism is both helping to ease poverty and straining traditional ways of life. By Tik Root 10 May 2013 Nestled high on a plateau between the Haghier mountain range and the Arabian Sea, five Socotrans gathered in a stone hut devoid of electricity, running water and all but the most essential supplies. After a fire-cooked dinner of goat, rice and tea, a group of Dixam plateau men settled in for a standard night of song, poetry and discussion about their island’s future. Related article: Oman’s underground playgrounds Socotra is an island of roughly 50,000 people located 380km off the coast of Yemen, the country to which it only technically belongs. Far removed from the political and security instability on the mainland, Socotra’s stunning microclimates, exceptional biodiversity and Candyland-like features make it an inimitable paradise. A Unesco World Heritage Site , the Socotra archipelago is home to hundreds of endemic or endangered plant and animal species. The iconic “Dragon’s Blood” tree (Dracaena cinnabari), for instance, defies expectations, with moisture-capturing canopies that reach toward the sky and sap that runs red, giving the plant its name. Socotran culture is equally unique, having been preserved by centuries of near total isolation. As is typical of the island’s residents, none of the men in Dixam know their age, let alone their birthdate. A few are fluent in Arabic, but most prefer to speak Socotri, a sharp yet pleasant native language spoken only on the island. Since 1999 though, when a commercial airport was built on the outskirts of the capital Hadibu, outsiders have started to discover Socotra, a trend that is helping to ease poverty and diversify the economy, but is also putting the traditional way of life at risk. “We protect the environment and nature because when visitors come they are comfortable,” said one man in the hut, unconsciously verbalising Socotra’s shift from a self-sufficient oasis to one increasingly reliant on external support. Over the last decade, tourism has been a boon to the economy. The pristine environment and untouched feel makes Socotra an alluring, yet under-travelled destination. Visitors can wander over cragged peaks, through Dragon's Blood forests, deep into stalagmite caves and across white sand dunes before plunging into the crisp, blue ocean. They can hike the 1,520m-high Skand peak, swim alongside dolphins, rock climb, lounge on world-class beaches or stop and try the locals’ fermented goat’s milk; no doubt an acquired taste. From the western-most city of Qalansiyah to the Dihamri Protected Area on the island’s northeastern point, goats are a notably ubiquitous part of the landscape. Brought to Socotra centuries ago by sailors, they reproduced rapidly and are now a staple of island life, providing both food and income for their owners. Unfortunately, they also eat virtually everything in their path, including the seedlings of rare plants. Harry Jans, a passionate traveller and amateur botanist, learned about Socotra after seeing a picture of the Dragon’s Blood tree on the side of a garbage can at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Intrigued, he typed the words into Google and was blown away by the strange images before him. A quick search for Socotra brings up not only the Dragon’s Blood, but also the gnome of the plant world: the endemic Desert Rose (Adenium obesum sokotranum). With its stout, branchless trunk topped with tufts of green leaves, the Desert Rose is the island’s most well-known type of Bottle tree, a variety that survives in island’s drier regions by storing water in their trunks. “This is an inspection tour to get more info about Socotra,” he explained less than a year later, sitting on a beach during a break from snorkelling in Dihamri. Jans leads botanical tours around the world, and plans to return to Socotra again in 2015 with, as he puts it, “20 plant freaks”. Des


The last words of which American actor who died in 1957 are reputed to be 'I should never have switched from scotch to martinis'?

dying words of famous people - famous last words Last Words, death bed        statements . . . Thomas Jefferson--still survives... ~~ John Adams, US President, d. July 4, 1826 (Actually, Jefferson had died earlier that same day.) This is the last of earth! I am content. ~~ John Quincy Adams, US President, d. February 21, 1848 See in what peace a Christian can die. ~~ Joseph Addison, writer, d. June 17, 1719 Is it not meningitis? ~~ Louisa M. Alcott, writer, d. 1888 Waiting are they? Waiting are they? Well--let 'em wait. In response to an attending doctor who attempted to comfort him        by saying, "General, I fear the angels are waiting for you." ~~ Ethan Allen, American Revolutionary general, d. 1789 Am I dying or is this my birthday? When she woke briefly during her last illness and found all her        family around her bedside. ~~ Lady Nancy Astor, d. 1964 Nothing, but death. When asked by her sister, Cassandra, if there was anything she        wanted. ~~ Jane Austen, writer, d. July 18, 1817 Codeine . . . bourbon. ~~ Tallulah Bankhead, actress, d. December 12, 1968 How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden? ~~ P. T. Barnum, entrepreneur, d. 1891 I can't sleep. ~~ James M. Barrie, author, d. 1937 Is everybody happy? I want everybody to be happy. I know I'm happy. ~~ Ethel Barrymore, actress, d. June 18, 1959 Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such        a conventional thing to happen to him. ~~ John Barrymore, actor, d. May 29, 1942 I am ready to die for my Lord, that in my blood the Church may        obtain liberty and peace. ~~ Thomas à Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, d.1170 Now comes the mystery. ~~ Henry Ward Beecher, evangelist, d. March 8, 1887 In her new book The Most Famous         Man in America, author Debby Applegate writes on page 466         that Beecher's last words in fact were, "You were saying         that I could not recover." Ms. Applegate has not been able         to confirm the traditional version of Beecher's last words. Friends applaud, the comedy is finished. ~~ Ludwig van Beethoven, composer, d. March 26, 1827 I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis. ~~ Humphrey Bogart, actor, d. January 14, 1957 Josephine... ~~ Napoleon Bonaparte, French Emperor, May 5, 1821 I am about to -- or I am going to -- die: either expression is        correct. ~~ Dominique Bouhours, French grammarian, d. 1702 Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you. ~~ Johannes Brahms, composer, d. April 3, 1897 Oh, I am not going to die, am I? He will not separate us, we have        been so happy. Spoken to her husband of 9 months, Rev. Arthur Nicholls. ~~ Charlotte Bronte, writer, d. March 31, 1855 Beautiful. In reply to her husband who had asked how she felt. ~~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning, writer, d. June 28, 1861 Now I shall go to sleep. Goodnight. ~~ Lord George Byron, writer, d. 1824 Et tu, Brute? ~~ Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman Emperor, d. 44 BC I am still alive! Stabbed to death by his own guards - (as reported by Roman historian        Tacitus) ~~ Gaius Caligula, Roman Emperor, d.41 AD Don't let poor Nelly (his mistress, Nell Gwynne) starve. ~~ Charles II, King of England and Scotland, d. 1685 Ay Jesus. ~~ Charles V, King of France, d. 1380 I am dying. I haven't drunk champagne for a long time. ~~ Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, writer, d. July 1, 1904 The earth is suffocating . . . Swear to make them cut me open,        so that I won't be buried alive. Dying of tuberculosis. ~~ Frederic Chopin, composer, d. October 16, 1849 I'm bored with it all. Before slipping into a coma. He died 9 days later. ~~ Winston Churchill, statesman, d. January 24, 1965 This time it will be a long one. ~~ Georges Clemenceau, French premier, d. 1929 I have tried so hard to do the right. ~~ Grover Cleveland, US President, d. 1908 That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted. ~~ Lou Costello, comedian, d. March 3, 1959 Goodnight my darlings, I'll see you tomorrow. ~~ Noel Coward, writer, d. 19


Beira is the second largest city in which African country?

Threatened by climate change, Mozambique's Beira bets on urban renewal | Reuters Fri Jul 8, 2016 | 7:01 AM EDT Threatened by climate change, Mozambique's Beira bets on urban renewal By Astrid Zweynert BONN, Germany (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Daviz Simango is one of Mozambique's most influential politicians but last year when yet another flood inundated Beira, the coastal city he has served as mayor since 2003, he felt powerless. "Disasters like that happen all the time in our city but last year was the worst for me - it felt like we're trapped in an endless cycle of disaster after disaster," Simango said. Simango, who has stood in presidential elections in the southeast African country and is the founder-president of its third-largest party, the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) has embarked on an ambitious plan for his city, the country's second largest. Like many African coastal cities, Beira - which lies just above sea-level - is in a race against time to protect itself from cyclones, floods and rising sea-water levels. Experts say climate change will increase the severity of cyclones and flooding, particularly along the country's 2,700 kilometers (1,680 miles) of coast. It is a challenge that Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries, is ill equipped to tackle. The U.N. Human Development Index ranks Mozambique 178th out of 187 countries. With a population of some 26 million, the adult literacy rate is about 56 percent and average life expectancy at birth is just 50.3 years. Most of Beira's more than 500,000 residents live in poverty even thought the city's port is a thriving gateway to the Indian Ocean for landlocked Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, Simango said. FIXING PAST MISTAKES Scientists predict that sea-levels worldwide are likely to rise 50 to 130 cm (20 to 51 inches) by the end of this century if planet-warming emissions are not reduced rapidly. "We may have to move 100,000 people to safer areas because of the rising sea-level," Simango, a 52-year-old brimming with energy, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation this week during a conference on resilient cities in Bonn. During heavy downpours in the rainy season - from November to March - Beira's ageing drainage system backs up within hours, forcing many people out of their homes, in particular in the slums, said Simango. As a result, year after year, residents loose their livelihoods and are exposed to diseases like malaria and cholera and drinking water can become contaminated due to fecal material being swept out. A major problem is that the Chiveve tidal river was built over during the 1960s, a "big mistake of the past," said Simango. The city is restoring the Chiveve now with the help of of 13 million euros ($14.4 million) in finance from German development bank KfW, a project due to be completed later this year. The river is being cleared of rubbish and its original course restored to provide a natural drainage system during floods and storm surges. Beira is also putting a flood barrier in place to protect against storm surges, and is installing new waste disposal and drainage systems. GREEN CITY With a master plan now drawn up to make Beira more resilient and sustainable by 2035, Simango is hoping a partnership between the city and private investors will help him to raise the $100 million he estimates it will cost to disaster-proof the city. The mayor is also keen to make his city greener and more inclusive, as mandated by new global developments goals agreed by world leaders last year. More than 2,000 mangrove trees, a natural flood defense, are being planted along the Chiveve River. "We're going further with this project and turning our green belt into a recreational area," said Simango. The mayor has also launched campaigns with a local charity to educate residents about minimizing disaster risk. "Beira could serve as a model for other cities in Africa," he said. BIG CHALLENGES But the city faces many challenges. It lacks modern infrastructure to support its growing population, and nearly a third of residents lack access to clean water,


Who directed the 2012 film 'Django Unchained'?

Django Unchained (2012) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Director: Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence. a list of 37 titles created 25 Sep 2012 a list of 35 titles created 16 Dec 2012 a list of 22 titles created 18 Jul 2013 a list of 31 titles created 15 Jan 2014 a list of 40 titles created 3 months ago Search for " Django Unchained " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won     2     Oscars. Another    54 wins & 144 nominations. See more awards  » Videos In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same. Directors: Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth Stars: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption. Director: Quentin Tarantino Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort , from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Director: Martin Scorsese A thief, who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology, is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO. Director: Christopher Nolan An insomniac office worker, looking for a way to change his life, crosses paths with a devil-may-care soap maker, forming an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more. Director: David Fincher Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him. Director: Robert Zemeckis When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice. Director: Christopher Nolan Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. Director: David Fincher     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.5/10 X   Eight years after the Joker's reign of anarchy, the Dark Knight, with the help of the enigmatic Selina, is forced from his imposed exile to save Gotham City, now on the edge of total annihilation, from the brutal guerrilla terrorist Bane. Director: Christopher Nolan An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston. Director: Martin Scorsese After a simple jewelry heist goes terribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant. Director: Quentin Tarantino In 1954, a U.S. marshal investigates the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane. Director: Martin Scorsese Edit Storyline Former dentist, Dr. King Schultz, buys the freedom of a slave, Django, and trains him with the intent to make him his deputy bounty hunter. Instead, he is led to the site of Django's wife who is under the hands of Calvin Candie, a ruthless plantation owner. Written by BenLobel Life, liberty and the pursuit of vengeance. See more  » Genres: Motion Picture Rating           ( MPAA ) Rated R for strong graphic violence throughout, a vicious fight, language and some nudity | See all certifications  » Parents Guide: 25 December 2012


Which Briton won the Men's Triathlon at the 2012 London Olympics?

2012 Olympics: Britain's Brownlee brothers win medals in triathlon - latimes LONDON OLYMPICS Britain's Brownlee brothers win medals in triathlon Alistair Brownlee, at 24 the world's top-ranked triathlete, wins gold in time of 1:46:25. Spain's Javier Gomez earns silver and Jonathan Brownlee, 22, is third, to delight of crowd at Hyde Park. August 07, 2012 |By Mike Bresnahan LONDON -- Oh, brother. Britain had been torn in a cheerful way, trying to figure out who would win the Olympic men's triathlon. Alistair Brownlee is the world's top-ranked triathlete at age 24 and immensely popular here, and his younger brother Jonathan is ranked No. 2 in the world with legions of fans as well. PHOTOS: London Olympics, Day 11 Still dazzled by three gold medals in one night at Olympic Stadium last weekend, British fans were treated to another memorable event when Alistair won Tuesday's triathlon. He crossed the finish line at Hyde Park amid scores of screaming British fans, his pace 11 seconds ahead of Spain's Javier Gomez. Jonathan Brownlee, 22, was third, 20 seconds behind Gomez. There could have been a longer distance from first to second, but Alistair grabbed a British flag and draped it over his back down the stretch. He slowly walked the last few steps, soaking up the scene with a huge grin, and finished with a time of 1:46:25. "The pressure was stacked up," Alistair said. "I woke up this morning, I was really nervous. I was like a kid at Christmas, looking forward to the race. "To get two of us brothers, two British brothers, on the podium: You could not ask for more." Alistair's effort brought a 19th gold medal for Britain, which recovered after a slow competitive Olympic start to move comfortably into third in the medal count behind China and the U.S. Hunter Kemper of the U.S. finished 14th with a time of 1:48:46 on a course with a 1,500-meter swim, 43-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run. PHOTOS: Lolo Jones competes in 100-meter hurdles "The best guys won today," said Kemper, 36. "I'm definitely more of the diesel versus the Formula One racetrack. I mean, Alistair is 24 years old. It's quick. It feels like you're sprinting the whole 10K for 30 minutes. To me, it felt like I was plodding along because I was running so slow." The other U.S. competitor, Manuel Huerta, was 51st out of 54 finishers, completing the course in 1:53:39. He was grabbing his left side afterward and did not speak with reporters. Alistair sustained a small tear in his left Achilles' tendon back in February, but, as he once famously said, "I don't believe in having a rest day." The Brownlees and Gomez were alone a few minutes after finishing the bike portion and starting the run, but Jonathan dropped back after the midpoint of the run, leaving his older brother and Gomez. Alistair didn't have company for long from there, effortlessly creating space from Gomez. The gold medal was his. The younger brother wasn't far behind, either.


Corazon Aquino succeeded which President in the Philippines in 1986?

BBC ON THIS DAY | 25 | 1986: Corazon Aquino is Philippines president About This Site | Text Only 1986: Corazon Aquino is Philippines president The new Philippines president Corazon Aquino is sworn in today, bringing to an end years of dictatorship under Ferdinand Marcos. Former leader Mr Marcos, who changed the constitution in 1973 to give himself absolute powers, was threatening to go ahead with his own swearing-in ceremony today at his heavily-guarded palace. However, the United States, which has supported him in office since he was first elected in 1965 finally withdrew its backing three days ago. Mrs Aquino, who will spend the day appointing her Cabinet, will make improving the lot of the poor one of her first priorities. Exile in Hawaii In her first news conference she announced that she would not be living in the presidential palace, as it was not fitting for the leader of such an impoverished nation. She also urged the people to be patient, saying the problems inflicted by 20 years of Marcos's corrupt rule could not be remedied overnight. Mr Marcos has been flown from Clark Air Force base, where he had been given temporary haven, into exile in Hawaii. He had been accused of cheating during the elections on 7 February to deprive Mrs Aquino's party of victory. Since then he has attempted to retain control by force. He announced a state of emergency and said he was seizing television and radio stations, newspapers and public utilities. But two senior members of his government, Defence Minister Juan Ponce Enrile and chief of staff Lieutenant-General Fidel Ramos, announced on Saturday they were switching loyalties and backing Mrs Aquino as the country's president. Mrs Aquino was persuaded to enter politics after her late husband, Benigno Aquino, was shot dead in 1983 when he returned to the Philippines from exile. The assassination led to a period of political turmoil, which ended with the election of Mrs Aquino. Vote rigging Mr Enrile and General Ramos have come clean about their role in the government's corrupt attempts to rob Mrs Aquino of victory at the polls. Mr Enrile confessed that his home district had been required to produce a quote of 350,000 spurious votes to window-dress the overall result. General Ramos gave details of how Marcos had brazenly turned the armed forces into a political machine for his personal gain. Corazon Aquino governed the Philippines until 1992 In Context


The 2004 film 'The Aviator' starring Leonardo DiCaprio is a biopic of whom?

The Aviator (2004) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error A biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes ' career from the late 1920s to the mid-1940s. Director: From $7.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 25 titles created 17 Mar 2011 a list of 47 titles created 20 Feb 2012 a list of 28 titles created 16 May 2012 a list of 38 titles created 09 Sep 2013 a list of 41 titles created 15 Jun 2014 Search for " The Aviator " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won     5     Oscars. Another    74 wins & 119 nominations. See more awards  » Videos In 1863, Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points area of New York City seeking revenge against Bill the Butcher, his father's killer. Director: Martin Scorsese A fisherman, a smuggler, and a syndicate of businessmen match wits over the possession of a priceless diamond. Director: Edward Zwick A writer and wall street trader, Nick, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Director: Baz Luhrmann Twenty-something Richard travels to Thailand and finds himself in possession of a strange map. Rumours state that it leads to a solitary beach paradise, a tropical bliss - excited and intrigued, he sets out to find it. Director: Danny Boyle A CIA agent on the ground in Jordan hunts down a powerful terrorist leader while being caught between the unclear intentions of his American supervisors and Jordan Intelligence. Director: Ridley Scott The cruel King Louis XIV of France has a secret twin brother who he keeps imprisoned. Can the twin be substituted for the real king? Director: Randall Wallace A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Director: Sam Mendes Shakespeare's famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue. Director: Baz Luhrmann J. Edgar Hoover, powerful head of the F.B.I. for nearly 50 years, looks back on his professional and personal life. Director: Clint Eastwood     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X   The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles , from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s. Director: Taylor Hackford The true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars' worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor. Director: Steven Spielberg Two documentary filmmakers chronicle their time in Sonagchi, Calcutta and the relationships they developed with children of prostitutes who work the city's notorious red light district. Directors: Zana Briski, Ross Kauffman Stars: Kochi, Avijit Halder, Shanti Das Edit Storyline Biopic of billionaire Howard Hughes , starting with his early filmmaking years as owner of RKO studios but mostly focusing on his role in designing and promoting new aircraft. Hughes was a risk-taker spending several fortunes on designing experimental aircraft and eventually founding TWA as a rival to Pan AM airlines owned by his great rival Juan Trippe. When Trippe's politico Senator Ralph Owen Brewster accuses Hughes of being a war profiteer, it's Hughes who gains the upper hand. Hughes also had many women in his life including a long relationship with actress Katharine Hepburn . From an early age however, Hughes was also germophobic and would have severe bouts of mental illness. Written by garykmcd Kate Beckinsale as Ava Gardner the passion he couldn't resist. See more  » Genres: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, nudity, language and a crash sequence | See all certificat


Which author wrote using the pen name Mary Westmacott?

Mary Westmacott | Agatha Christie Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The name Mary Westmacott was one chosen by Christie with great care. Mary was Christie's own middle name, and Westmacott the name of some family relatives. Mary Westmacott is a distinct person from Agatha Christie. In 1950, when she was invited to a celebration for her work, she quipped, "Thank you for asking me to meet Agatha Christie. If you don't mind, I am bringing my old friend Mary Westmacott with me." The Westmacott novels were simply written for "fun," to put it loosely. Christie had said in her autobiography that she wanted "to do something that is not my proper job," i.e., writing detective novels. She said she wrote the first, Giant's Bread, with a "rather guilty feeling" and enjoyed the project she had undertaken. Although Mary Westmacott was revealed to be Agatha Christie in 1949, it didn't stop her from publishing two more Westmacott novels, still under her pseudonym. This is another affirmation that Agatha could write more than just great detective stories. Structure Edit The focus of the Mary Westmacott novel's is human relationship. There's even a hint of autobiographical elements that Christie inserts. There are several themes, to briefly mention a few: possessiveness, failure in human perception, nature and the inequality of love, self-evaluation, and awareness of one's and others' feelings. In the books there are even contemplation of suicide and supernatural elements. Hick's Essay Edit To celebrate Agatha Christie’s Centenary, Rosalind Hicks , Agatha Christie's daughter, wrote an essay on the Westmacott novels. We have reproduced this here: “As early as 1930, my mother wrote her first novel using the name “Mary Westmacott”. These novels, six in all, were a complete departure from the usual sphere of Agatha Christie “Queen of Crime”. The name Mary Westmacott was chosen after some thought. Mary was Agatha’s second name and Westmacott the name of some distant relatives. She succeeded in keeping her identity as Mary Westmacott unknown for nearly twenty years and the books, much to her pleasure, were modestly successful. Giant’s Bread was first published in 1930 and was to be the first of six books under this nom de plume. It is a novel about Vernon Deyre, his childhood, his family, the two women he loved and his obsession with music. My mother had some experience of the musical world having been trained as a singer and a concert pianist in Paris when she was young. She was interested in modern music, and tried to express the feelings and ambitions of the singer and the composer. There is a lot about childhood and the First World War taken from her own experiences. Her publishers, Collins, were not very enthusiastic about this change of direction in her work as she was at this time becoming quite well known in the world of detective fiction. They needn’t have worried. In 1930 she also published  The Mysterious Mr. Quin  and,  Murder at the Vicarage  – Miss Marple’s first book. During the next ten years there followed no less than sixteen full length Poirot stories including such titles as  Murder on the Orient Express ,  The A.B.C. Murders ,  Death on the Nile , and  Appointment with Death . Her second Mary Westmacott book  Unfinished Portrait  was published in 1934. It also relied a lot on her own experiences and early life. In 1944 she published  Absent in the Spring . She wrote in her autobiography  : “Shortly after that, I wrote the one book that has satisfied me completely. It was a new Mary Westmacott, the book that I had always wanted to write, that had been clear in my mind. It was the picture of a woman with a complete image of herself, of what she was, but about which she was completely mistaken. Through her own actions, her own feelings and thoughts, this would be revealed to the reader. She would be, as it were, continually meeting herself, not recognising herself, but becoming increasingly uneasy. What brought about this revelation would be the fact that for the first time in her life she was alone – completely alone – for


The TV series 'Heartbeat' was largely set in which fictitious Yorkshire village?

Heartbeat - the TV series Heartbeat - the TV series ? Heartbeat is a long-running and highly popular TV series produced originally by Yorkshire Television, and subsequently by ITV, in the UK: since its first screening on Friday 10th April 1992, the show ran to over 350 hour-long episodes, in 18 series, of which the last was broadcast on Sunday 12th September 2010. According to the cutting from from Woman magazine, sent to Nicholas Rhea by a fan, Heartbeat placed it in the top ten most watched programmes of the decade. And it all began with Nicholas Rhea's books. Heartbeat Constable novels by Nicholas Rhea. The stories feature an English policeman in a rural village in North Yorkshire during the 1960's, although cast changes and story developments have resulted in group of village characters sharing the attention with the local village bobby. The Heartbeat title refers to an English bobby 'on the beat', the medical stories that are woven into each episode, and the way each programme puts a finger on the pulse of the rural community of Aidensfield. Heartbeat The last episode of Heartbeat was broadcast Sunday 12 September 2010, but despite the passage of time the much-loved series is not forgotten - in the UK and around the world. In the summer of 2016 it appeared in a new form - for the first time ever, Heartbeat came to the stage, starring members of the TV cast. With use of video footage and a clever set, this touring production recreated the atmosphere of the 1960s rural Yorkshire settings. David Stockwell, Gina Ward, PC Geoff Younger and a number of other of the most popular characters starred in the two-hour live stage production with a brand-new script. The show toured the UK between April and July 2016: see the archived schedule here . Heartbeat Although there have been no new episode of Heartbeat since September 2010, the show is still much loved, in the UK and around the world - and of course that includes Yorkshire! In April 2014, Nicholas Rhea was delighted to find Heartbeat magazine. It came in at no. 65, a few positions above rhubarb! Top of the poll was, of course, Yorkshire pudding. Heartbeat Special Another book from Nicholas Rhea is something rather different: a lavishly illustrated book about the making of Heartbeat . It includes input from the makers and stars of the show, as well as the author's own unique inside information. It is published by Mortons of Horncastle , and can be ordered from them via its own dedicated web site , now only available in a digital edition, where you can also see some of its many pictures, and read extracts from the text. Heartbeat For a long time, although we received many enquiries about whether Heartbeat is available on DVD, Nicholas Rhea could only point out that this up to ITV, not him! (He explains that among the things which make Heartbeat so special are the use of original sixties records, and the frequent appearances of guest stars. Both of these factors would involve ITV in obtaining clearances before they could authorise DVDs of the series - something that could not have been foreseen when the original contracts were drawn up, long before DVDs were invented.) But in September 2010, Network DVD released a boxed set of three DVDs, containing the whole first series - ten episodes of classic Heartbeat . This first series sees Nick and his doctor wife Kate (Niamh Cusack) settling in Aidensfield, having left the bustle of London behind. As villagers' initial suspicion gives way to acceptance, the couple become increasingly involved, both professionally and personally, in the daily life of the rural community. Bill Maynard also stars as the irrepressible Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, with guest appearances from, among others, Philip Glenister, Annette Crosbie, Eleanor Bron, John Duttine and Elizabeth Spriggs. Once the ice was broken, the party just went on. Sixteen series are now available on DVD, not to mention two series of related hospital drama, The Royal . Caution: the disks are in Region 2 / PAL format; this means that it may not be compatible with DVD players outsi


Which famous woman wrote 'Leaves from the Journal of our Life in the Highlands', published in 1868?

Project MUSE - Prostrated Sophie Gilmartin - Prostrated - History Workshop Journal 61 History Workshop Journal 61 (2006) 267-271 Prostrated Sophie Gilmartin Maria H. Frawley, Invalidism and Identity in Nineteenth-Century Britain, University of Chicago Press, 2004; 292 pp., £27.50; ISBN 0-226-26120-4. One autumn in the early 1840s, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the politician and prolific author known for his toga histories of ancient Rome and Pompeii, lay on a bed in Malvern, swaddled in a sort of hydropathic toga. He was undergoing the 'water cure', one element of which was to wrap the invalid body in wet sheets. Prolific as he was, Bulwer-Lytton naturally went on to give an account of his cure in an essay first published in the New Monthly Magazine in 1845. In his experience the cure was a revelation, endowing him with 'the first knowledge of health' that he had 'attained since manhood'. He addresses a male readership, exhorting them to devote an [End Page 267] autumn to the cure, away from the strife and struggle of business, and away from the masculine ideology of competition and work that was gaining ground in the 1840s. Through the cure men who are prostrated with exhaustion and care will 'return at once to the careless spirits of the boy on his first holiday'. Bulwer-Lytton is just one of the many seekers after health in the nineteenth century with whom Maria Frawley engages in her excellent study, Invalidism and Identity in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Almost all the fellow-sufferers in her book have written their own accounts of their invalidism, and their particular cases are varied: Maria Frawley writes about the hypochondriac, the invalid tourist and the invalid who lives abroad for health reasons, the Christian invalid whose prime consideration is the longer journey into the afterlife, and those invalids whose journey may simply be an imaginative one, as they gaze out of the sickroom window. As she writes in the introduction, her book is in part a contribution to the field of medical history which focuses upon the patient, rather than upon the physician or medical institution, a field which received its rallying-cry with Roy Porter's 1985 article, 'The Patient's View: Doing Medical History From Below'. Porter exhorted historians to correct a distortion he felt existed when the patient's voice is ignored or dismissed by institutional medicine. Maria Frawley's particular and important contribution is to trace how nineteenth-century invalids exhibit a degree of control and agency over their treatment, and how this often active approach results in opportunities for self-fashioning. The author invokes Ian Hacking's concept of 'dynamic nominalism' in nineteenth-century culture: Social change creates new categories of people, but the counting is no mere report of developments. It elaborately, often philanthropically, creates new ways for people to be'. 1 Nineteenth-century invalids recognized that society understood them as a category or type with a particular role to play. But it is just this concept of a 'role to play' that both challenges and takes on a double meaning for the invalids in Frawley's study: while the invalid's role was conceived as passive and receiving of care, the actual invalids in Frawley's study are all writing and, in doing so, attempting to make their invalidism active and useful so that it can be regarded as a contribution to a society enamoured of industry and progress. The invalid is preoccupied with a role to play also in the sense of fearing that society may judge him or her not as 'active' but as 'acting'. In her introduction Frawley declares an intention to address the question, 'If incurable but still at work, relegated to bed but still capable of travel, was the invalid something of an impostor?' In a century which trumpeted the virtues of work and industry but which closed with Oscar Wilde's Bunbury, this is a fascinating question, but it is not, after all, one with which this book sufficiently engages. While many other questions are explored, this last is dealt with more by implication. Fr


The Order of the White Lion is an honour bestowed in which East European country?

‘British Schindler’ honoured for saving 669 children from the Nazis | World news | The Guardian ‘British Schindler’ honoured for saving 669 children from the Nazis Sir Nicholas Winton awarded with Order of the White Lion in Czech Republic British war hero Sir Nicholas Winton is awarded the highest state honour by the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Tuesday 28 October 2014 14.54 EDT Last modified on Tuesday 28 October 2014 21.57 EDT Close This article is 2 years old Sir Nicholas Winton, a British man who saved 669 children from the Nazis, was awarded the highest civilian honour in the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Winton, now 105, was presented with the Order of the White Lion by the Czech president in a special ceremony at Prague Castle. Winton, who has often been nicknamed “the British Schindler”, organised the transportation and settlement of 669 children over nine months before the second world war broke out in September 1939. Most of those he saved were Jewish children living in then-German-occupied Czechoslovakia whose families were later imprisoned or murdered in concentration camps. Winton gave a speech during the ceremony. He said: “I want to thank you all for this enormous expression of thanks for something which happened to me a heck of a long time ago. I am delighted that so many of the children are still about and are here to thank me. “England was the only country at that time willing to accept unaccompanied minors. I thank the British people for making room to accept them, and of course the enormous help given by so many of the Czechs who were at that time doing what they could to fight the Germans and to try to get the children out.” In the same ceremony, the Order of the White Lion was also bestowed on Sir Winston Churchill , given in memoriam to his grandson Nicholas Soames. They are the only British citizens to receive the award, after Margaret Thatcher and the Queen. Presenting the award, the Czech President, Milos Zeman said: “It is a great pleasure to confer this award upon two great personalities of the UK. I am only ashamed it has been awarded so late – but better late than never. Congratulations Sir Winton. This is our highest honour; we cannot do one higher.” The ceremony was attended by many of the people that Winton saved, as well as schoolchildren from the Basic School of Sir Nicholas Winton, named after him, in Kunzak, Czech Republic. Winton and his family were flown out on a special plane courtesy of the Czech government so that he could be taken to receive the award and return back the same day for his normal bedtime.


In Kipling's 'The Jungle Book' what kind of creature is Akela?

THE JUNGLE BOOK by Rudyard Kipling - FULL Audio Book | Greatest Audio Books - YouTube THE JUNGLE BOOK by Rudyard Kipling - FULL Audio Book | Greatest Audio Books Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Mar 18, 2013 THE JUNGLE BOOK by Rudyard Kipling - FULL Audio Book | Greatest Audio Books The Jungle Book (1894) is a collection of stories by English Nobel laureate Rudyard Kipling. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893--94. The original publications contain illustrations, some by Rudyard's father, John Lockwood Kipling. Kipling was born in India and spent the first six years of his childhood there. After about ten years in England, he went back to India and worked there for about six-and-half years. These stories were written when Kipling lived in Vermont. There is evidence that it was written for his daughter Josephine, who died in 1899 aged six, after a rare first edition of the book with a poignant handwritten note by the author to his young daughter was discovered at the National Trust's Wimpole Hall in Cambridgeshire in 2010. The tales in the book (and also those in The Second Jungle Book which followed in 1895, and which includes five further stories about Mowgli) are fables, using animals in an anthropomorphic manner to give moral lessons. The verses of The Law of the Jungle, for example, lay down rules for the safety of individuals, families and communities. Kipling put in them nearly everything he knew or "heard or dreamed about the Indian jungle."[3] Other readers have interpreted the work as allegories of the politics and society of the time.[4] The best-known of them are the three stories revolving around the adventures of an abandoned "man cub" Mowgli who is raised by wolves in the Indian jungle. The most famous of the other stories are probably "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi", the story of a heroic mongoose, and "Toomai of the Elephants", the tale of a young elephant-handler. As with much of Kipling's work, each of the stories is preceded by a piece of verse, and succeeded by another. The Jungle Book, because of its moral tone, came to be used as a motivational book by the Cub Scouts, a junior element of the Scouting movement. This use of the book's universe was approved by Kipling after a direct petition of Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting movement, who had originally asked for the author's permission for the use of the Memory Game from Kim in his scheme to develop the morale and fitness of working-class youths in cities. Akela, the head wolf in The Jungle Book, has become a senior figure in the movement, the name being traditionally adopted by the leader of each Cub Scout pack. - SUBSCRIBE to Greatest Audio Books:


On a German menu what kind of meat is 'huhn'?

Meals and Manners, Eating Habits in Germany - Germanfoods.org Meals and Manners, Eating Habits in Germany So i(s)st man in Deutschland Whether eating at a restaurant or with a family, here’s a brief guide as to what to expect and how to behave when eating in Germany. Typical German foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are detailed, along with some general observations about how food is purchased, served and eaten. Breakfast (Frühstück) A typical breakfast in Germany consists of a warm beverage such as coffee, tea or cocoa, bread (Brot) or bread rolls (Brötchen) with various spreads and toppings such as Butter (butter) or Margarine (margarine), Marmelade (marmalade or other jam), Honig (honey), Quark (a type of curd cheese), Wurst (sausage) and Käse (cheese). A glass of juice (Saft) is also commonplace, as is a boiled egg (Ei). Cereals are also popular, particularly among younger people. Müsli, which is a mixture of cereal flakes, nuts and dried fruit and other ingredients is also very popular. It is mixed with Joghurt (yogurt) or Milch (milk) and often topped with fresh fruit (Obst). With today’s busy lifestyles there is a growing trend towards eating a more simple breakfast, so you are more likely to see young people eating cereal rather than tucking into a more hearty meal of bread, cheese and sausage. However, the traditional breakfast of fresh breads accompanied by a cheese or meat selection is still alive and well, particularly on the weekend when the family has more time. With a bakery (Bäckerei) on every street corner, it’s customary to buy freshly baked rolls on Saturday and Sunday for the whole family to enjoy over a leisurely breakfast. On weekends, some Germans also like to cook eggs, whether hartgekochtes Ei (hard-boiled egg), Spiegelei (fried egg) or Rührei (scrambled egg). Grosse Pause/ Zweites Frühstück / Pausenbrot Germans have plenty of words to describe a meal that is eaten between main meals. Far from being unhealthy, eating small snacks between meals is encouraged to prevent overeating at lunch and dinner. Eating a snack between breakfast and lunch is very traditional in German schools and this is called Pausenbrot (recess bread if you translate it literally) or Zweites Frühstück (second breakfast). Since German schoolchildren generally don’t eat meals at school, there’s quite a long wait between breakfast and lunch, which typically they eat at home. So, the Pausenbrot is meant to make sure students have the energy and ability to concentrate for the entire morning. Although the word Pausenbrot indicates that it’s a sandwich snack, it doesn’t necessarily have to contain bread. Pausenbrot may be a small sandwich, but fruit is quite typical, and yogurt or a Müsli bar are also popular Pausenbrot snacks. Snack (Zwischenmahlzeit) Adults also need to keep their energy levels up during the day. For them, it’s the Zwischenmahlzeit (in-between meal) that keeps them going between meals. A Zwischenmahlzeit is also referred to as Brotzeit, Vesper or Zweites Frühstück. The English word Snack is also used, as is Imbiss, although these refer more to actual meals that may replace main meals, whereas the Zwischenmahlzeit is meant to be eaten in addition to the main meal. Lunch (Mittagessen) Traditionally, German families eat their main meal during the day, between 12 and 2 p.m. However, many families now eat the warm meal in the evening. A typical lunch plate might consist of Kartoffelsalat mit Würstchen oder Frikadellen (potato salad with sausage or meat balls), Spätzle mit Geschnetzeltem (Spätzle noodles with stir-fry), Schnitzel mit Buttergemüse (Schnitzel with buttered vegetables) or Fischstäbchen mit Kartoffelpüree (Fish sticks with mashed potato). Meat is served most every day, particularly pork and chicken. Vegetables are also a standard part of any Mittagessen. Typical vegetables served at lunchtime are grüne Bohnen (green beans), Möhren (carrots), Erbsen (peas)and Kohl (cabbage). Potatoes are also a staple and come in the form of Salzkartoffel (boiled), Knödel (dumplings), Bratkartoffel (fried potatoe


The element ytterbium takes its name from a locality in which country?

Elements Named for Places | The Basement Geographer Elements Named for Places by kuschk As schoolchildren, we are all exposed to the periodic table of the elements in our science textbooks and on the walls of our chemistry classrooms.  This organised display of the chemical elements – the pure chemical substances that are the building blocks of all molecules – ingrains the names, symbols, and atomic weights of the 118 elements that have been identified in our heads.  98 of these elements occur naturally on Earth (although some only in trace amounts); the other 20 have been artificially produced within laboratories.  The names of elements derive from a number of different sources: ancient or longstanding names for those elements discovered in days of yore (e.g., gold, silver, antimony); descriptive names for elements that exhibit a certain characteristic (the most common source of element names, usually derived from a Greek adjective), or eponymic names for elements named after people (e.g., curium , einsteinium , bohrium ). This is a geography website, however, and so it should come as no surprise that this article is most concerned with those elements that have geographically-derived names.  While the practice of naming elements after places is becoming increasingly common due to the need to find names for synthetically-created laboratory elements, the practice as a regular occurrence dates back to the mid-19th century (and technically, it dates as far back as the name for copper, as you’ll find out below).  Of the 118 identified elements, 32 derive their name from a toponym.  As you’ll see below, because much of the influence in the field of nuclear physics has been held by a select few laboratories, there is a surprising amount of repetition in terms of name sources. Americium (95 Am): Named for (the United States of) America, the land where the element was discovered during the course of the Manhattan Project , the US-led World War II programme that would develop the first atomic bomb.  Two members of the team that helped discover americium, Glenn Seaborg and Albert Ghiorso , were part of teams based out of the University of California, Berkeley ’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that were ultimately responsible for discovering or co-discovering 13 different elements between 1940 and 1974.  Among these elements, berkelium (97 Bk)and californium (98 Cf)were discovered by this team in 1949 and 1950, respectively, and named accordingly. The Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory. Cerium (58 Ce) and palladium (46 Pd): In the early 19th century, chemists were discovering all sorts of elements; for example, just between 1801 and 1809 twelve different elements were isolated for the first time.  Also during this decade, astronomers were discovering the first known asteroids.  Two of these extraterrestrial bodies would lend their names to newly-discovered elements.  The first asteroid to be discovered, Ceres (today classified as a dwarf planet) was discovered on the last day of 1801.  When the great Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius co-discovered the element with the atomic number of 58 in 1803, he would name it after the recently discovered Ceres ( itself named for the Roman god of agriculture).  At the same time in England, William Hyde Wollaston had discovered the element with the atomic number of 46 and also intended to name this element for Ceres.  Wollaston, however, did not immediately publish his results (in fact, he instead made his first announcement of his discovery by selling samples of his newly-discovered metal in a London mineralogical shop ) and by the time he went public with his discovery, cerium has already been announced by Berzelius.  Wollaston thus went with the name of the second asteroid to be discovered, Pallas , first observed in March 1802. Copper (29 Cu): The English copperis derived from the Latin cuprum, a simplification of an older Latin name for the metal, aes Cyprium, which in turn comes from the Greek name for Cyprus .  The island was a major source of the metal in Roman times.   While


What is the common name for the garden flower whose botanical name is hemerocallis?

Flowers, Plants, and Shrubs, by their Common Name - Garden Helper, Gardening Questions and Answers Gardening Questions and Answers No-dash-here, you've found The Real Garden Helper! Gardening on the Web since 1997   Cookies! Plants and Flowers for Your Garden, Listed by their Common Names Below you will find an index of all the plants that have been profiled on The Garden Helper, using our new Plant Care Icon System One member of The Gardener's Forum refers to this index as "the easiest ...flower catalog to read in this world." I think that I'll have to agree with her... but I'd just call it my 'Garden Wish List' I hope that you will like it too! (psst.... This list is rather extensive, so you may want to check out the 'more specific' index pages listed in the left column...) Common Name Abelia grandiflora 3-6 ft. Abelia is a very durable and adaptable shrub with dense, glossy dark green foliage. It produces hundreds of 1" funnel shaped flowers from early summer until the first frost 6-9 Osteospermum barberae 12-18" Osteospermums should be grown in full sun, but they will tolerate some partial shade. They produce a steady supply of unique 2" spoon flowers from early spring until the first frost 6-9 Arctotis x hybrida 1-2 ft. African Daisies typically have bold, beautiful foliage and large, 3"-4", intensely colored flowers with bright centers. The foliage is gray to silvery green and coated with soft, downy silver hairs. The flowers close at night. 9-11 Medicago sativa 3 ft. Alfalfa is a nitrogen fixing, legumous member of the pea family which is used as feed for farm animals or as a cover crop. It produces clusters of small flowers 4-7 Algerian Ivy Hedera canariensis Algerian Ivy's glossy 4-8" foliage and the vines ability to crawl, creep and climb just about anywhere makes this a great ground cover or privacy screen 4-7 Allium species 1-6 ft. Flowering Onions are bulb type plants with green, grass-like foliage. They produce hollow, leafless stems that are topped with 1"-5" flower clusters that can contain as many as 100 tiny, star shaped flowers. vary Aster alpinus 6-12" The Alpine Aster plant forms a nice compact mound and produces an abundance of 1 ½" white flowers in May and June 3-9 Aquilegia flabellata 6-12" Violet with white flowers are borne on stiff stalks above the lacy bluish green foliage of the durable, self seeding Alpine Columbine 3-9 Dianthus alpinus 4-8" This true alpine species of Pinks forms cushions of neat, dark green foliage. In mid-summer they produce dozens of extra large but otherwise typical looking, sweet smelling Dianthus flowers. Deer resistant 4-9 Papaver alpinum 6-10" This short lived, miniature version of the Iceland Poppy readily re seeds itself. It produces saucer shaped 1" white, yellow or peach flowers in mid summer 4-9 This evergreen Veronica forms a tight mat of soft green foliage. An abundance of small spikes of light blue flowers arise in early summer. Mow or shear flower spikes down after bloom to keep neat. 4-9 Easy to grow creeping evergreen with 1"-2", glossy green or fuzzy gray foliage. Blooms mainly in spring, flowering on and off until fall, producing airy spikes of white, rose, pink, pale or deep blue flowers. 3-8 Hippeastrum 1-2 ft. Amaryllis is the easiest of all bulbs to force into bloom . The 4-6" flowers appear in all shades and combinations red, white, pink, salmon and orange on top of a 1-2 foot stem 9-11 Leymus racemosus 'Glaucus' 2-3 ft. American Dune Grass is a valuable plant for the prevention of the wind eroding your soil due to its rhizomatous spreading habit 4-9 Brugmansia 6-12 ft. From early summer until fall, mature Angel's Trumpet's produce waves of large, very fragrant, downward hanging, trumpet shaped, 6"-10" long flowers. In frost free regions, they may bloom all year long. 9-12 Protasparagus setaceus 10 ft. The Asparagus Fern is a very popular plant for florists who commonly use the lacy fronds in arrangements. These decorative vines will grow up to 10 feet with support, or they can be kept to a more compact size by regularly removing the tips from new


In shipping weather forecasts what adjective is used for an event due to occur in less than six hours?

Definitions of Severe Weather Alerts | WTTE Definitions of Severe Weather Alerts by WTTE Erin Carroll on Facebook | Twitter ---------- The NWS divides severe weather alerts into a few types of hazardous weather/hydrologic events: Severe local storms - Short-fused, small-scale hazardous weather or hydrologic events produced by thunderstorms, including large hail, damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash floods. Winter storms - Weather hazards associated with freezing or frozen precipitation (freezing rain, sleet, snow) or combined effects of winter precipitation and strong winds. Fire weather - Weather conditions leading to an increased risk of wildfires. Flooding - Hazardous hydrologic events resulting in temporary inundation of land areas not normally covered by water, often caused by excessive rainfall. Coastal/lakeshore hazards - Hydrological hazards that may affect property, marine or leisure activities in areas near ocean and lake waters including high surf and coastal or lakeshore flooding, as well as rip currents. Marine hazards - Hazardous events that may affect marine travel, fishing and shipping interests along large bodies of water, including hazardous seas and freezing spray. Other hazards - Weather hazards not directly associated with any of the above including extreme heat or cold, dense fog, high winds, and river or lakeshore flooding. Severe Local Storms Tornado Watch - Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in and close to the watch area. These watches are issued for large areas by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, and are usually valid for five to eight hours. Tornado Warning - Strong rotation in a thunderstorm is indicated by Doppler weather radar or a tornado is sighted by Skywarn spotters or other persons, such as local law enforcement. These warnings are currently issued on a polygonal basis. Tornado Emergency - Sent as a \"severe weather statement\" or a complete re-issuance of the tornado warning, this is an unofficial, high-end tornado warning issued when a violent tornado is expected to impact a heavily populated area.{ } Severe Thunderstorm Watch (yellow box or blue box) - Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. A severe thunderstorm contains large damaging hail of 1 inch (25 mm) diameter or larger, and/or damaging winds greater than 58 mph (95 km/h or 50 knots) or greater. Isolated tornadoes are also possible but not expected to be the dominant severe weather event.{ } Severe Thunderstorm Warning - A severe thunderstorm is indicated by Doppler weather radar or sighted by Skywarn spotters or other persons, such as local law enforcement. A severe thunderstorm contains large damaging hail of 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter or larger, and/or damaging winds of 58 mph (93 km/h) or greater.{ } Significant Weather Advisory - A strong thunderstorm is indicated by Doppler weather radar, containing small hail below 1 inch (2.5 cm) diameter, and/or strong winds of 39-57 miles per hour (63-92 km/h). These advisories are usually issued on a county by county basis. Flash Flood Watch (green box) - Conditions are favorable for (flash) flooding in and close to the watch area. These watches are issued by the Weather Forecast Office and are usually issued six to 24 hours in advance of expected flood potential. In Canada, a Heavy Rainfall Warning has a similar meaning. Flash Flood Warning - Flash flooding is occurring, imminent, or highly likely. A flash flood is a flood that occurs within six hours of excessive rainfall and that poses a threat to life and/or property. Ice jams and dam failures can also cause flash floods. These warnings are issued on a county by county basis by the local Weather Forecast Office and are generally in effect for two to six hours, although particularly during tropical cyclones a warning may last for a longer period of time, and occasionally last shorter than two hours. Winter Storms Blizzard Warning - Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) or great


Who was the British composer of 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis'?

Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis - Williams | HD Classical Music Wedding March from "A Midsummer Ni... by Mendelssohn Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, also known as the Tallis Fantasia, is a work for string orchestra by the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. It was composed in 1910 and performed for the first time in September of that year atGloucester Cathedral for the Three Choirs Festival. Vaughan Williams himself conducted, and the composition proved to be a major success. He revised the work twice, in 1913 and 1919. Performances generally run between 14 and 16 minutes. The work takes its name from the original composer of the melody, Thomas Tallis (c.1505--1585). Many of Vaughan Williams' works are associated with or inspired by the music of the English Renaissance. In 1906 Vaughan Williams included Tallis's Third Mode Melody in the English Hymnal, which he was then editing, as the melody for Joseph Addison's hymn When Rising from the Bed of Death. The tune is in Double Common Meter (D.C.M. or C.M.D.). Composition The work is scored for an expanded string orchestra divided into three parts: orchestra I, a full-sized string orchestra; orchestra II, a single desk from each section (ideally placed apart from Orchestra I); and a string quartet. Vaughan Williams made this configuration resemble an organ in sound, with the quartet representing the swell division, orchestra II the choir division, and orchestra I the great division. The score specifies that the second orchestra should be placed apart from the first. This spacing emphasises the way that the second orchestra several times echoes the first orchestra. In structure this piece resembles the Elizabethan-age "fantasy." The theme is heard in its entirety three times during the course of the work, but the music grows from the theme's constituent motives or fragments, with variations upon them. A secondary melody, based on the original, is first heard on the solo viola about a third of the way into the Fantasia, and this theme forms the climax of the work about five minutes before the end. The original 1567 theme Tallis's original tune is in the Phrygian mode and was one of nine he contributed to the Psalter of 1567 for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker. When Vaughan Williams edited the English Hymnal of 1906, he also included this melody (number 92). Tallis's original words to the hymn were: "Why fum'th in fight the Gentiles spite, in fury raging stout? Why tak'th in hand the people fond, vain things to bring about? The Kings arise, the Lords devise, in counsels met thereto, against the Lord with false accord, against His Christ they go. —Psalm 2:1--2, Archbishop Parker's Psalter (1567)" In popular culture In 1997 it was the theme music to the concluding sketch of the last episode of series 3 of The Fast Show featuring recurring characters Ted and Ralph at the former's wife's grave. In 2010 listeners of the UK classical music radio station Classic FM voted the piece into third place on the station's "Hall of Fame", an annual poll of the most popular classical music works. This work has featured in a number of films. It was played in the 1988 film Remando al viento (Rowing with the Wind) starring Hugh Grant as Lord Byron, was prominently featured in the 2003 film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World with Russell Crowe, The Thief and the Cobbler (Recobbled Cut) and was referenced in the post-crucifixion music of John Debney's score to the 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. This piece was also featured in the novel Fifty Shades Darker by E. L. James and was chosen by the author for the classical-music soundtrack for a planned film version of the series. In August 2013, the piece was used in the final episode of the twentieth series of British motoring series Top Gear, in a segment celebrating the British motor industry. ----------------------------------------------------- The text above is offered by courtesy of Wikipedia, under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Classical music piece performed by: Gardner Chamber


On the BBC programme of the same name about failing businesses, who is 'The Fixer'?

The Fixer, BBC Two | The Arts Desk Home > tv > The Fixer, BBC Two The Fixer, BBC Two | reviews, news & interviews The Fixer, BBC Two Alex Polizzi checks out of hotels to advise failing businesses by Jasper Rees Tuesday, 31 January 2012 Share The Fixer: Alex Polizzi renews her vow to straight talking and arse-kicking It’s not a genre which springs too many surprises. Ever since Sir John Harvey-Jones strode into shot a good 20 years ago, the template was set for the sort-your-life-out documentary. Expert enters, throws up hands in horror, delivers a quantity of home truths, exits. Like the talent contest, it’s a flexi-format, applicable to kitchen cleanliness, child-rearing, the high street and, in the case of The Hotel Inspector, mouldy B&Bs on their uppers. In The Fixer, Alex Polizzi has checked out of hotel salvage and turned her attention to putting a smile on the face of ailing businesses. In episode one we were in Kettering, where an outlet trading in wedding dresses was facing bankruptcy. A turnover of not far shy of 200 grand in the previous year had yielded a profit of just over three percent, or five grand. The proprietress,a mumsy lady called Anne who had remortgaged her home, paid her two squabbling daughters but not herself. Enter the lady in red - the colour of anger, and of debt. Deploying the big bad killer smile with which she slips a stiletto between ribs, Polizzi asked the mumsy Anne if her failure to deal with the business side of the business was down to lack of will or lack of ability? The office being - literally - a cupboard out the back suggested a lot of both. In this strategy vacuum, the premises had been allowed to bulge with unsellable dead stock – 75K’s worth - yards and yards of florid satin and lace, puff sleeves and miscellaneous meringue up at which every fiancée in Northants seemed to have turned her nose. And whenever a blushing future bride did fancy one of these monstrous confections, Anne would scrupulously not flog it to them if it was beyond their budget. “Wakey, wakey!” advised Polizzi. The story that Polizzi unearthed here is not significantly different now that she’s no longer carpeting hoteliers. A family business is prey to the same tensions no matter what the iffy product. In this case the two daughters were at each other’s throats while the mother continued to treat them like babies. While treading the thin line between interfering and holding back, it didn’t take Polizzi long to kick them up the arse in triplicate and for the business to return to health with a grand reopening and a televised trip to church for 10 local couples to renew their wedding vows in the company's dresses. You wonder who volunteers for this form of highly public therapy. On the one hand it’s the last refuge of the desperate, but if it all works out it’s a shrewd form of advertising. Quite how it worked out in this case remains somewhat opaque. The ladies hit rock bottom when they shifted only 11 old dresses out of 150 in an everything-must-go sale, for example, only for the viewer to be told that off camera someone had bought the lot off them. Who? Why? We were not told. As with Mary Queen of Shops, in the end you watch Polizzi for Polizzi. On this evidence she seems determined to be slightly less in-yer-face than when sorting out hotels. Perhaps she's treading more gently now she's on the BBC and/or off her home patch, but it could be simply that these three women aroused her more to pity than wrath. But she’s nowhere near angry enough. Someone should fix that. On this evidence Polizzi seems determined to be slightly less in-yer-face than when sorting out hotels