What is the name of the highly toxic protein obtained from the pressed seeds of the castor oil plant?

Castor Oil - An Overview and Health Benefits of the Castor Oil - Healthers - Health R Us Vegetables Castor Oil Castor oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the seed of the castor plant. It has a multiplicity of uses including for skin and hair care and alleviating certain medical conditions. Exposure to the outer layer of the castor seed may result in serious medical complications. What is castor oil? Castor oil is derived from the seed of the castor plant, ricinus communis. The plant is indigenous to east Africa and India but is now widely grown in other tropical zones worldwide. The oil extracted from the seed has a thick consistency. The color may range from clear to slightly yellow although there is a darker colored, light to dark brown, version that gets this color from the alternative extraction process used. Castor oil generally has a mild odor and the taste is bland. Castor oil is composed primarily of three fatty acids, ricinoleic, linoleic and oleic acids. The most abundant of the three, ricinoleic acid, is an unsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, known for its strong pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes up approximately 90% of the fatty acid content of castor oil. Oleic and linoleic acid are present in smaller portions. Oleic acid is commonly used in moisturizers for softening the skin while linoleic acid is used on the skin for retaining moisture. Other substances present include carbohydrates, enzymes, mineral salts, vitamin E, water and ricin, a toxic plant protein. Alternative names There are numerous variations in the name for the castor plant. One of the more common alternative names is Palma Christi (meaning Christ’s palm) because the shape of its leaves resembles hands. The plant is also known as the African coffee tree, Arandi, Bi Ma Zi, Bofareira, Castor bean plant, Erand, Gandharva hasta, Mexico seed/weed, mole bean, oil plant, Tangantangan oil plant and the Wonder tree. Extraction method Castor oil is obtained from the seed of the castor plant. Natural castor oil is extracted using a cold pressing technique. The outer layer of ripe castor seeds, called the hull, is first removed. This layer is what contains ricin, the toxic plant protein that can cause serious health complications as it prevents the body from producing proteins. Ricin is not usually found in the extracted oil. The hull-less seeds are subsequently cooked in order to prepare them for the extracting process. Cooking makes the seeds more pliable and thus easier for the oil content to be pressed out. The cooked seeds are later dried and then run through a cold press which applies high pressure to extract the maximum quantity of oil possible. The oil is then filtered to remove impurities. This procedure renders oil that is slightly yellow in appearance. A variety of castor oil, commonly called the Jamaican black castor oil, uses a different extraction method. Instead of boiling, the seeds are roasted and then passed through a grinder. This pulp is then boiled to extract the oil. This technique renders oil that is dark brown in color, a result of the presence of ashes from the roasting in the initial stage of production. The lighter colored variety is considered the purest. Uses Castor oil has been touted for its many health benefits in the treatment of skin conditions, for alleviating gastro-intestinal problems, as a stimulant for the immune and lymphatic systems, for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits, as an antiviral/antibacterial/antifungal, and as a beauty treatment for the promotion of healthy hair and skin, among other benefits. The most common and oldest use of castor oil is as a laxative in the treatment of constipation. It helps to remove fecal matter by soothing and purging the upper and lower intestinal tract. Castor oil has even been used to induce labor in full-term pregnant women. Another benefit is its ability to stimulate the immune and lymphatic systems. Castor oil absorbed into the skin leads to increased lymphocytes, a white blood cell. This further improves the function of the immune sy


Which former British Prime Minister played cricket for Middlesex?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home | England Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo 1924 - 1927 Profile Lord Home of the Hirsel, The Baron, KT, PC, who died at his home on October 9, 1995, aged 92, was the only British prime minister to have played first-class cricket. As Lord Dunglass, he was a useful member of the Eton XI. In the rain-affected Eton- Harrow match of 1922 he scored 66, despite being hindered by a saturated outfield, and then took 4 for 37 with his medium-paced out-swingers. He played ten first-class matches for six different teams: Middlesex, Oxford University, H. D. G. Leveson Gower's XI, MCC (with whom he toured South America under Pelham Warner), Free Foresters and Harlequins. His two games for Middlesex were in 1924 and 1925, both against Oxford University while he was actually an Oxford undergraduate; he did not represent the university until the following year. His cricket was gradually overtaken by politics, and he entered the Commons in 1931. After he succeeded to his father's title and became the 14th Earl of Home, he rose to be foreign secretary and then prime minister, when he emerged as a totally unexpected compromise choice as Harold Macmillan's successor. After renouncing his title (and becoming Sir Alec Douglas-Home until he returned to the Lords as a life peer) he remained in Downing Street for a year until the 1964 election. Despite all his honours, Alec Home never made an enemy and was much valued, in cricket as in politics, for his quiet charm and sagacity. He was president of MCC in 1966 and an important behind-the-scenes influence whenever the game was in difficulties. From 1977 to 1989 Lord Home was Governor of I Zingari. The general opinion is that, even if he had devoted himself to the game, he would not have been a regular county player, but then no one expected him to rise so high in politics either. H. S. Altham, in his review of public schools cricket in the 1923 Wisden, said Lord Dunglass was a better batsman on wet pitches - he had the courage of his convictions and could hook and pull the turning ball effectively. Much the same could be said for his politics: he was always at his best on a sticky wicket. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack


Which English poet died in 1915 from septicaemia after being bitten by a mosquito?

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Coventry/Warwickshire | Poet Brooke's birthplace for sale Poet Brooke's birthplace for sale Plans to turn the house into a museum were too expensive The home where World War One poet Rupert Brooke was born has been put up for sale by the local council. Brooke, whose most famous work is the patriotic poem The Soldier, was born at 5, Hillmorton Road, in Rugby, Warwickshire, in 1887. Plans to turn the Grade II-listed house into a museum fell through and it has now been put up for sale for ï¿½400,000. But the sale has been criticised by the Rupert Brooke Society's president Peter Miller as a missed opportunity. He said: "I just feel angry we had been led to assume that there would be a visitor centre raising not only the works of Rupert Brooke but, apart from Shakespeare, all the writers in the county of Warwickshire. Rupert Brooke spent the first four years of his life in the house "This would have been a heritage centre, this would have been an attraction to visitors and it would have encouraged tourism to Rugby. "I can only say that I think it's a very short-sighted move." Rugby Borough Council, which bought the property for about ï¿½350,000 three years ago, said plans to turn it into a museum had been rejected because it would not have attracted sufficient visitors to break even. Michael Lenihan, economic development manager, said: "At the moment the house is let but, while we do let houses as a social landlord, it is not our business to let them on a commercial basis. "It is costing us about ï¿½12,000 to ï¿½14,000 a year to maintain." Rupert Brooke spent the first four years of his life in the house and also attended Rugby School, where his father was a schoolmaster. He joined the Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War One and died from septicaemia after being bitten by a mosquito en route to the Dardanelles in 1915. The house is being sold via agents Howkins and Harrison.


What is the name of the dog in the children’s tv programme ‘The Herbs’?

The Herbs - Childrens TV | Jedi's Paradise The Herbs The Herbs is a 60’s Children’s TV animated show. It was designed for pre-school children, but I think it appeals to all ages and was one of the new colour 'Watch with Mother' titles. The Herbs was created by Michael Bond and animated by Ivor Wood at Filmfair (who were responsible for Paddington and The Wombles). The first episode was transmitted on 12th February 1968. Only 13 episodes were made of this delightful programme, but that isn't the end of this story.  Parsley the Lion had become quite popular with the children that watched, so it was decided to give him his own show - Parsley the Lion and Friends. It was supposed to centre on Parsley more, but I think the original Herbs did that anyway.  The new programme also included all the characters that we met in The Herbs. Story Each episode began with the narrator (Gordon Rollings) talking about herbs in the garden, and each time he mentioned a different one, then the herb (plant) would appear. This was a magic herb garden, that you could only get access to by saying the magic word - Herbidacious.  The door of the garden would swing open and in we would all be let in. The garden was owned by Sir Basil and Lady Rosemary, where each week a new adventure would take place. It seems that all the animals in the Herb garden (Parsley, Dill, Sage) could see us watching, but none of the people (Sir Basil, Lady Rosemary etc.) could, which would really confuse Bayleaf as he wanted to know what Parsley was waving at. Each of the characters were named after a herb and they all had a song to sing us, see below for more details. The Herbs Characters Parsley the Lion "I'm a very friendly Lion called Parsley" Parsley is a lovable Green Lion, whose mane and tail are made out of the herb parsley (hence the name). He is the one that shows us around the garden and loves waving to the viewers.  He's not a brave lion and hides whenever there is trouble/danger around or when strangers appear. He was once called Doctor Parsley when he combined herbs with the jumpers Aunt Mint knitted for the chives, and it cured their colds. Parsley also doesn't like to get his tail wet or climb, as he found out when climbing the Tarragon Plant. He pretended to climb it the first time, but only snuck across to the neighbouring tree and back down it again. Shame he got caught and had to climb it for real. But he did have fun playing in the clouds. He made Sir Basil suffer when he shot his tail off, as he pretended to be dead. Poor Sir Basil didn't know what to do, so as usual shouted for Lady Rosemary, who saw Parsley was faking it. His best friend is Dill the dog and both of them seem to get themselves into trouble. But once in a while Parsley does come up with a good idea, such as the time he persuaded Pashana Bedhi to use his snake charming skills to float Sage and his nest back in the tree. "I'm a very friendly Lion called Parsley with a tail for doing jobs of every kind but I mustn't treat it roughly or too harshly for it's such a useful thing to have behind" His songs are: "I'm a very friendly Lion called Parsley I am always very glad to see you wave but please don't shout or speak to me too harshly because I'm not particularly brave" "I'm a very friendly Lion called Parsley I really don't like climbing things at all so please don't shout or speak to me too harshly I am sure you wouldn't want to see me fall" "I'm a very friendly Lion called Parsley I'm supposed to pull this rope and ring the bell though I try to pull it gently never harshly I'm afraid that I'm not doing very well" "For today I'm known as Doctor Parsley because the Chives have aches and pains and chills if I treat them very gently never harshly they will very soon be cured of all their ills"   "If you take advice from Doctor Parsley you take camomile for colds and tooth ache too if you find your skin is itching rather harshly then some marigolds the very thing for you" "I'm a very friendly Lion called <sniff> <sniff> but sometimes I feel very very <sniff> so please don't shout or speak to


How many lines usually make up a limerick?

How to Write a Limerick How to Write a Limerick How to Write a Limerick Oli Kellett/Taxi/Getty Images Share By Grace Fleming You might need to write a limerick for an assignment, or you may want to learn the art just for fun or to impress a friend. Limericks are fun--they usually have a bit of a twist and a perhaps a silly element. And best of all, they can be a great way to express how clever and creative you can be! A limerick contains five lines. In this mini-poem, the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and fourth lines rhyme. Here is an example: There once was a student named Dwight, Who slept only three hours a night. He dozed in the classroom And snoozed in the bathroom, So Dwight’s college options are slight. There is also a certain rhythm to a limerick that makes it unique. The meter, or the number of beats ( stressed syllables ) per lines, is 3,3,2,2,3. For example, in the second line, the three stressed points are slept, three, and night. The syllabification is (usually) 8,8,5,5,8, but there is some variation in this. In the limerick above, there are actually 6 syllables in the third and fourth lines. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge To write your own limerick, begin with a person and/or a place. Make sure that one or both of them are easy to rhyme. For your first try, start with “there once was” and finish the first line with five more syllables. Example: There once was a boy from Cancun. Now think of a feature or an event and write a line that ends in a word that rhymes with Cancun, such as: Whose eyes were as round as the moon. Next, skip to the fifth line, which will be the final line that includes the twist or punch line. What are some of your rhyming word choices? There are many.


Irish Yew - Taxus baccata âFastigiataâ - PNW Plants Fruit Description Most commonly used for hedging purposes, Irish Yew has a naturally upright form and takes shearing well. It's an option for gardeners looking for an alternative to more common Eastern Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis).   Morphology: Taxus baccata âFastigiataâ will reach 7â â 8â high by 3â wide in ten years. Ultimately, it can reach up to 20 feet high if left un-pruned. It naturally makes a good shape without any clipping or trimming. It holds its branches in an upright rigid fashion. Needles are linear in shape with an acute tip. This is a female cultivar that produces red berries in the fall. Children should be kept away from the berries as they find them attractive. Unfortunately they are poisonous.   Adaptation: Taxus baccata âFastigiataâ prefers well-drained acidic soil and is drought tolerant once established. Plant it in full sun or shade. All parts of the yew plant (bark, and foliage included) can be toxic, so site plants with care.   Pests:


What is the name of the official Scottish residence of the British monarch?

The official residence of the British monarch in Scotland - Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor Fee: Yes Recommended length of visit: 2-3 hours Owner description: The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen. The palace stands at the end of Edinburgh's Royal Mile against the spectacular backdrop of Arthur's Seat. This fine palace is closely associated with Scotland's rich history and is used by The Queen when carrying out official engagements in Scotland. The State Apartments reflect the changing tastes of successive monarchs, and are renowned for their fine plasterwork ceilings and unrivalled collection of Brussels tapestries. They are furnished with numerous fine paintings and other works of art, many of which have long associations with Holyroodhouse. The visit to Holyroodhouse includes Mary, Queen of Scots' Chambers and the Darnley Rooms, the setting for many dramatic episodes in Mary's short and turbulent reign. In the Palace's west corner tower are Mary's Bedchamber, described as 'the most famous room in Scotland', and her Outer Chamber, the scene of the murder of her Italian secretary, David Rizzio'. During the summer months, you can join a guided tour of Holyrood Abbey, which lies adjacent to the Palace in the spectacular setting of Arthur's Seat. Escorted by Wardens dressed in their ancient hunting Stewart tartan, you will learn about the building's extraordinary history. There are newer reviews for this attraction


How many points are scored for a drop-goal in rugby union?

BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | Laws & Equipment | The basics of rugby union Rugby player positions explained Rugby union is played by two teams of 15 players. Although the aim of the game is simple, there are many laws which make can make it hard for the new viewer to keep track of what is going on. Here BBC Sport runs through the very basics of the game and, to the right, you can click on the links to find our more on the various rules of rugby union. AIM OF THE GAME Jonny Wilkinson scores the winning points in the 2003 World Cup final The aim of the game is very simple - use the ball to score more points than the other team. You can run with the ball, kick it and pass it, but passing forwards is not allowed. Rugby union is a contact sport, so you can tackle an opponent in order to get the ball, as long as you stay within the rules. There is a referee, aided by two touch judges (one on each side of the pitch), to decide how the rules should be applied during a game. There are several ways to score points. A try - five points are awarded for touching the ball down in your opponent's goal area. A conversion - two points are added for a successful kick through the goalposts after a try A goal kick - three points are awarded for a penalty kick or drop goal through the posts If both teams score the same amount of points, or no points are scored, then the match is a draw. In some cases, extra time is played to decide who wins. DURATION A game of rugby union has two periods of 40 minutes each. In international matches the referee will stop the clock for stoppages. Between the two halves, there is a maximum 10-minute interval, after which both teams change ends. The referee's whistle indicates the start and finish of the half. Extra time will only be played if it's a knockout competition. KICK-OFF Before the start of the match, the referee tosses a coin to decide which team will kick off the match. The captain of the team that wins the toss gets to decide which end he wants to attack first, or whether his side or the opposition will kick off. The game is started by a place kick or a drop kick from the middle of the halfway line. The ball must travel forwards at least 10 metres from the kick-off. If it does not, the opposition get the choice of a scrum or line-out on the halfway line, with the advantage of the feed or throw. If a penalty or drop goal is scored during the game, play is restarted with a drop kick from the halfway line. The team that has conceded the points takes the kick. THE BALL Rugby union is played with an oval-shaped ball. All balls must be between 28cm and 30cm in length (approximately 11-13 inches). Most full-size balls weigh between 383 and 440 grammes (approximately 13.5-15.5 ounces) Bookmark with:


Convict George Joseph Smith was known as the ‘Brides in the ‘what’ murderer’?

Fred Dinenage: Murder Casebook - Brides in the Bath Murders Extract - YouTube Fred Dinenage: Murder Casebook - Brides in the Bath Murders Extract 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. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Aug 25, 2011 A short clip from the episode about George Joseph Smith known as the Brides in the Bath Murderer. (C) Talent TV South. First broadcast on Crime and Investigation Network. Please visit www.talenttvsouth.com for more information or 'like' page at www.facebook.com/talenttvsouth. Category


Which late actor and comedian was born Solomon Joel Cohen in May 1913?

Sid James, Comedian • Biography & Facts Sid James Comedian Sid James (born Solomon Joel Cohen; 8 May 1913 – 26 April 1976) was a South African-born English actor and comedian.Appearing in British films from 1947, he was cast in numerous small and supporting roles into the 1960s. His profile was raised as Tony Hancock 's co-star in Hancock's Half Hour, which ran on television from 1956 until 1960, and then he became known as a regular performer in the Carry On films. Meanwhile, his starring roles in television sitcoms continued for the rest of his life.Remembered for a lascivious persona, the Snopes website describing him as "the grand old man of dirty laughter", he became known for his amiability in his later television work. Bruce Forsyth described him as "a natural at being natural." Personal facts


Which US author wrote the novel ‘Get Shorty’?

Get Shorty: A Novel: Elmore Leonard: 9780062120250: Amazon.com: Books Elmore Leonard Page 1 of 1 Start over Sponsored Products are advertisements for products sold by merchants on Amazon.com. When you click on a Sponsored Product ad, you will be taken to an Amazon detail page where you can learn more about the product and purchase it. To learn more about Amazon Sponsored Products, click here . Carlos the Ant (Michael Gresham Legal Thrillers Book 4) John Ellsworth USA Today Bestseller John Ellsworth is burning up the Amazon charts. See why the Michael Gresham series made John Ellsworth a household name! The Law Partners (Michael Gresham Legal Thrillers Book 3) John Ellsworth USA Today Bestseller John Ellsworth is burning up the Amazon charts. See why the Michael Gresham series made John Ellsworth a household name! Marriage Can Be Murder (Dr. Benjamin Bones Mysteries Book 1) Emma Jameson First in a nostalgic cozy mystery series set in 1939 England. Handsome young Dr. Bones moves into a haunted house and must solve a murder. Descent Into Hell by Robert Thomas Robert Thomas Angelic Edward quickly becomes the family's nightmare.Once an innocent child, he is now a serial killer looking for his next thrill.Can he be stopped? Kindle Edition The Sweet Smell of Murder (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Book 1) Cindy Bell If you like chocolate, a fun murder mystery and lovable pets, you will love this culinary cozy mystery! Ad feedback Special Offers and Product Promotions Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Taking his latest fictive turn in Hollywood, Leonard, whose oeuvre includes screenplays as well as such bestselling novels as Glitz and Freaky Deaky , adds insider knowledge to his signature humor in this roundly satisfying behind-the-scenes tour of filmdom. Slightly disaffected Chili Palmer, a small-time loan shark with big-time style, is a vintage Leonard hero. Following a bad debt from Miami to Las Vegas and on to Beverly Hills, Chili hooks up with Harry Zimm, once a leading director of grade-B horror flicks, now trying to make a comeback. While succumbing to the siren call of celluloid, Chili also narrows in on the bad debt, in the process running up against a sharp-dressing hood with whose money Harry has played too loose. In Leonard's seamless handling, the complex plot flows through twists of revenge, murder and romance, as Chili, his authentic cool making a mark in the capital of sham ("Don't talk when you don't have to" is his very un-Hollywood motto), cagily gets it together with Karen Flores, Harry's former lover and featured star. A perfect resolution puts punch in the title and will keep readers smiling for days. Chili and his story are Leonard's best yet. First serial rights to Rolling Stone; BOMC and QPB selections; major ad/promo, author tour. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.              --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. “The greatest crime writer of our time, perhaps ever!” (The New York Times Book Review) “An absolute master.” (The Detroit News) Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here , or download a FREE Kindle Reading App . Ignite your imagination with these editor's picks from Kindle books. See more Product Details Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; Reprint edition (November 29, 2011) Language: English Shipping Weight: 8 ounces ( View shipping rates and policies ) Average Customer Review: HALL OF FAME on January 18, 2000 Format: Paperback With Elmore Leonard we get a new book every year or so, and it's a good thing, because even though not every one is a solid success, they are all fun and every now and then a real masterpiece emerges. I believe that Get Shorty is such a success. It's a Cinderella story as if written by Damon Runyan. Chili Palmer, a small time mobster on the trail of a deadbeat who has run off with $300,000 of mob money after faking his own death, finds himself in Hollywood getting involved with movie making instead of recovering the money. On one level the book is pure Leonard an exciting underworld stor


Which artist is known for his ‘Blue Period’?

Artist known for his Blue Period - Crossword Clue Answer | Crossword Heaven Universal - August 04, 2011 Washington Post - February 03, 2004 Found an answer for the clue Artist known for his Blue Period that we don't have? Then please submit it to us so we can make the clue database even better!


Which country hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup?

1994 FIFA World Cup (USA '94) - U.S. Soccer U.S. Soccer Licensees World Cup USA 1994 was the most successful event in FIFA history, demonstrating that the United States is without peer in staging major international events, and that Americans can embrace the world’s most popular sport. The cumulative attendance of 3,587,538 broke the previous record by more than 1 million, and the average attendance for the 52-game tournament of 68,991 also established a new mark. U.S. stadia were filled to approximately 96 percent capacity during the World Cup. The success of the U.S. team, which advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 1930, helped boost already high U.S. television ratings. Approximately 11 million Americans were tuned in to the USA vs. Brazil round of 16 match on July 4, an all-time high for soccer in the United States. In the final, after a scoreless regulation and overtime, Brazil defeated Italy on penalty kicks 3-2 to become the first country to win four World Cup titles. World Cup matches were played at nine venues — the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (including the final); Foxboro (Mass.) Stadium; Soldier Field in Chicago; the Cotton Bowl in Dallas; the Pontiac (Mich.) Silverdome; Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.; the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.; Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, Calif.; and RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. World Cup USA 1994 also left behind a legacy for soccer in the U.S. A surplus of approximately $50 million — more than double original projections — was contributed to the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the U.S. Soccer organization created to administer the World Cup surplus. Improved training facilities and renovated stadiums in World Cup communities, upgraded to meet FIFA standards, will serve as a reminder of the success of World Cup USA 1994 for years to come. Follow Us


The Solheim Cup is contested by women in which sport?

Mallon: Solheim's good sport PHOTO: Meg Mallon of Natick, Mass. (Tom Hanson, AP) Mallon: Solheim's good sport By Jerry Potter, USA TODAY The last time the Solheim Cup was contested in Scotland, John Mallon walked  every step around the golf course with his daughter Meg. He was outside the ropes, spectating, and she was inside, competing for the  USA against Europe in 1992 at Dalmahoy near Edinburgh. Those who walked near  him still can remember him cheering for his daughter in a hushed tone. Mallon vs. Europe Born: April 14, 1963, at Natick,     Mass. Resides: Ocean Ridge, Fla. Mallon's Solheim Cup match-play records through     the years: 1992 2-1-0 1998 2-1-1 Total 7-3-4 "Come on Meggie; come on Meggie," he would say in a voice so low  that no one could be offended. His Meggie has gone on to become a fixture in the Solheim Cup, playing as a  qualifier on U.S. teams that have challenged Europe every two years since '92.  She's a vital part of this year's team, which returns to Scotland for the matches  Friday through Sunday at Loch Lomond near Glasgow. "I don't go near my father when I compete because he's so nervous," Meg says. "My mother has a different attitude. No matter what happens,  she smiles and says, 'Oh well, she tried.' " Parents in attendance The Mallons, John and Marian, are in Scotland this weekend to cheer for Meg  and her teammates . In the past four Cups, Mallon has compiled a record of 7-3-4,  but more important she has demonstrated an attitude that epitomizes the spirit  of the Solheim Cup. In '98, on the last day of competition, Mallon gave Europe's Sophie Gustafson  the final hole of their singles match so they would halve the match. The score  didn't change the outcome of the Solheim Cup. The USA retained it by four points. The next morning at breakfast John Mallon was asked what he thought of his  daughter's decision. "Class," he answered. Meg said she had planned to give away her victory as long as it wouldn't hurt  the team. She had asked her captain, Judy Rankin, to meet her in the fairway  at the 18th hole at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. "I asked Judy if it was OK if I conceded the match," Mallon recalls. "She said, 'You do what you want to do.' I felt good about my decision  because we'd both played so well. Each of us were under par. I didn't think  that either one of us deserved to lose the match." Character of the Cup LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw says Mallon embodies the ethos of the Solheim Cup,  which was created by the late Karsten Solheim to promote women's golf and his  family business, Ping golf equipment. "Dottie Pepper probably represents the competitive nature of the Cup," Votaw says, "but Meg Mallon represents the character of the Cup. Meg gears  up her game every year to make the Solheim Cup. She gets so psyched up about  it that I can't even talk with her about the team. She's competitive, but she  doesn't forget the fellowship that exists between the two teams." Mallon made her first Solheim Cup in '92 mainly because she won two majors,  the LPGA Championship and the U.S. Women's Open, in a span of three weeks in  '91. At that time she looked like a player for all majors. She was an accurate  driver and a deft putter. People were calling her Major Meg and predicting great  things for her. Yet Mallon would play for nine years and one month before winning another major  championship. She blew a five-stroke lead in the '95 Women's Open, which Annika  Sorenstam won. She led this year's Women's Open after two rounds and was tied  with Karrie Webb with nine holes to play, but four three-putts on the back nine  handed the Open to Webb. "This is so cruel," Mallon said after the loss. "It's like your  date takes you to the prom and then leaves you." Three weeks after the Women's Open, Mallon's fate changed. She came from three  strokes back of Sorenstam and Lorie Kane to win the last du Maurier Classic.  The victory, her second of the season and 13th of her career, has helped her  earn more than $1 mil


In the human body, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis is commonly known by what name?

Allergic rhinitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Headache     Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. You will be asked whether your symptoms vary by time of day or season, and exposure to pets or other allergens. Allergy testing may reveal the pollen or other substances that trigger your symptoms. Skin testing is the most common method of allergy testing. If your doctor determines you cannot have skin testing, special blood tests may help with the diagnosis. These tests, known as IgE RAST tests, can measure the levels of allergy-related substances. A complete blood count (CBC) test, called the eosinophil count, may also help diagnose allergies. Treatment LIFESTYLE AND AVOIDING ALLERGENS The best treatment is to avoid the pollens that cause your symptoms. It may be impossible to avoid all pollen. But you can often take steps to reduce your exposure . You may be prescribed medicine to treat allergic rhinitis. The medicine your doctor prescribes depends on your symptoms and how severe they are. Your age and whether you have other medical conditions, such as asthma, will also be considered. For mild allergic rhinitis, a nasal wash can help remove mucus from the nose. You can buy a saline solution at a drug store or make one at home using 1 cup (240 milliliters) of warm water, half a teaspoon (3 grams) of salt, and pinch of baking soda. Treatments for allergic rhinitis include: ANTIHISTAMINES Medicines called antihistamines work well for treating allergy symptoms. They may be used when symptoms do not happen often or do not last long. Be aware of the following: Many antihistamines taken by mouth can be bought without a prescription. Some can cause sleepiness. You should not drive or operate machines after taking this type of medicine. Others cause little or no sleepiness. Antihistamine nasal sprays work well for treating allergic rhinitis. Ask your doctor if you should try these medicines first. CORTICOSTEROIDS Nasal corticosteroid sprays are the most effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. They work best when used nonstop, but they can also be helpful when used for shorter periods of time. Corticosteroid sprays are generally safe for children and adults. Many brands are available. You can buy three brands without a prescription. For all other brands, you will need a prescription from your doctor. DECONGESTANTS Decongestants may also be helpful for reducing symptoms such as nasal stuffiness. Do not use nasal spray decongestants for more than 3 days. OTHER MEDICINES Leukotriene inhibitors are prescription medicines that block leukotrienes. These are the chemicals the body releases in response to an allergen that also trigger symptoms. ALLERGY SHOTS Allergy shots (immunotherapy) are sometimes recommended if you cannot avoid the pollen and your symptoms are hard to control. This includes regular shots of the pollen you are allergic to. Each dose is slightly larger than the dose before it, until you reach the dose that helps control your symptoms. Allergy shots may help your body adjust to the pollen that is causing the reaction. SUBLINGUAL IMMUNOTHERAPY TREATMENT (SLIT) Instead of shots, medicine put under the tongue may help for grass and ragweed allergies. Outlook (Prognosis) Most symptoms of allergic rhinitis can be treated. More severe cases need allergy shots. Some people, especially children, may outgrow an allergy as the immune system becomes less sensitive to the trigger. But once a substance, such as pollen, causes allergies, it often continues to have a long-term effect on the person. When to Contact a Medical Professional Call for an appointment with your provider if: You have severe hay fever symptoms Treatment that once worked for you no longer works Your symptoms do not respond to treatment Prevention You can sometimes prevent symptoms by avoiding the pollen you are allergic to. During pollen season, you should stay indoors where it is air-conditioned, if possible. Sleep with the windows closed, and drive with the windows rolled up. Alternative Names


Italian musician David Rizzio was private secretary to which British monarch?

Rizzio - Memidex dictionary/thesaurus Rizzio David Rizzio | Davide Rizzio | Davide Riccio | Davide Rizzo (Born: about 1533 – Died: 9 March 1566) an Italian courtier, born close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts de San Paolo et Solbrito, who rose to become the private secretary of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary's husband, Lord Darnley,...


Who was World Heavyweight Boxing Champion 1919 to 1926?

Jack Dempsey was heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. Jack Dempsey Jack-Dempsey Jack Dempsey was heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. His aggressive style and punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. He was the first boxer to have the first million dollar gate and many of his fights set financial and attendance records . He is listed #10 on The Ring’s list of all-time heavyweights and #7 among its Top 100  Greatest Punchers. Title fight and controversy On July 4 1919 at Toledo, Ohio, Dempsey and the then world heavyweight champion Jess Willard met for the world title. Some predicted a victory for Dempsey against the vastly larger champion but many called the fight of modern David and Goliath. Dempsey knocked down Willard seven times all in the first round and Willard’s corner would not let him answer the bell for the fourth round. Willard was reported to have suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs, several broken teeth and a number of deep fractures to his facial bones – an unprecedented level of damage in boxing which aroused suspicion that Dempsey had cheated. The “loaded gloves theory” became widely known when Kearns stated (January 20, 1964 Sports Illustrated.) that he had applied plaster of paris to the customary wrappings under Dempsey’s gloves. Also boxing Historian J.J. Johnston said that the film of the fight shows Willard upon entering the ring walking over to Dempsey and  examining his hands” which was not a normal procedure – implies he was concerned about foul play, Willard later claimed to have been defeated by gangsterism. Title defense Dempsey’s next important fight was against Frenchman Georges Carpentier and took place on July 2, 1921 at Boyle’s Thirty Acres, Jersey City. Carpentier was a war hero during WWI and was a  popular figure on both sides of the Atlantic. Their fight was the first to generate the first million dollar gate in boxing history making the event the first national radio broadcast reaching mostly homemade radio sets after first being telegraphed to KDKA for broadcast. In the 3rd round Dempsey began to take charge and administered a brutal beating to Carpentier and eventually stopped him in the fourth round. Last successful title defense In September 1923 at New York’s Polo Grounds Dempsey fought young contender Luis Angel Firpo, from Argentina and won a 2nd-round KO. Firpo was knocked down repeatedly but continued to fight back, even knocking Dempsey down twice. The second time Dempsey was floored he went sailing head first through the ring ropes, landing on a reporter’s typewriter, and taking several more seconds than the ten stipulated by the rules. This fight was transmitted live to Buenos Aires by radio, and people gathered in the streets to listen to it through primitive amplifiers. First fight against Tunney In September 1926, Dempsey fought Gene Tunney in Philadelphia Dempsey and lost his title on points in ten rounds. Tunney was an excellent boxer who had lost only once in his career. Dempsey could no longer display his legendary punching power or hand speed, and was easily outboxed by Tunney who would dodge, use excellent pad level, and then let loose with a salvo of punches of his own. ‘The “Long Count Fight’ The rematch took place in Chicago, Illinois, on September 22, generating an amazing $2 million gate. Dempsey was behind points when he knocked Tunney down in the seventh round. A new rule for boxing at the time mandated that when a fighter knocked down an opponent, he must immediately go to a neutral corner. But Dempsey seemed to have forgotten that rule and refused to immediately move to the neutral corner when instructed by the referee. The referee had to escort Dempsey to the neutral corner, which bought Tunney at least an extra five seconds to recover. The official timekeeper for the fight counted the time Tunney stayed down as 14 seconds. But after Dempsey finally went to a neutral corner, the referee started his count, and Tunney got up at the referee’s count of nine. Tunney dropped Dempsey for a count of one in round eight, and easily


New Bald Bird Discovered in Laos | WIRED New Bald Bird Discovered in Laos subscribe 6 months for $5 - plus a FREE Portable Phone Charger. On Twitter 2 hours Panasonic responds to the demands of a 4K HDR world with a beastly camera that's better suited for video. wrd.cm/2hRaUoV Author: Hadley Leggett. Hadley Leggett Science Date of Publication: 07.29.09. Time of Publication: 7:00 pm. 7:00 pm New Bald Bird Discovered in Laos A rare bald songbird has been hiding out in the rocky limestone cliffs of central Laos. Dubbed the “bare-faced bulbul” because of its unusual feather-free head, the newly discovered species is the only example of a bald songbird in Asia and the first new type of bulbul reported in the last hundred years. It’s not clear how such a distinctive-looking bird escaped detection for so long, but the creature’s preference for rugged terrain probably played a role. The rocky limestone-dominated regions of Laos are generally uninhabitable by humans but home to a variety of unique animals, including new species of rabbit and rat discovered in the last decade. Biologist Robert J. Timmins of the Wildlife Conservation Society caught a glimpse in 1995 of what looked like a songbird with a bald head. He recorded the strange sighting in his field notebook, but omitted it from published account, because the idea of a bald bulbul seemed far-fetched. “RJT subsequently weathered a fair amount of good-natured ribbing on relating the sighting to skeptical colleagues,” wrote the researchers in a paper introducing the new bird, published July in the birding journal Forktail. Now, 13 years later, Timmins has been vindicated: Two more scientists spotted a small grey bird with an orange, featherless face and a distinctive song. Using recordings of the first animal’s call, the researchers attracted at least six more of the bizarre bald-faced birds. They captured one and sent it to a museum to compare with known species to confirm it is a new species, which the scientists named Pycnonotus hualon. “Bald songbirds are unusual in general, not only in Asia,” wrote conservation biologist Peter Clyne of the Wildlife Conservation Society. “While in some birds, such as the vultures, it probably evolved as a feature that enabled more efficient feeding, in many species it is more likely that baldness evolved as a means of display.” No one knows exactly why this particular bulbul went bald, but Clyne suspects its featherless face evolved as a way to attract mates. So take note, middle-aged men: Bald is beautiful, at least if you’re a bird.


How many players are on the field at one time in a men’s lacrosse team?

Introducing the Players of Field Lacrosse - dummies Introducing the Players of Field Lacrosse Introducing the Players of Field Lacrosse Introducing the Players of Field Lacrosse While box lacrosse is played mainly in Canada, an outdoor version of lacrosse is more popular in the United States. Field lacrosse is most popular in the northeastern U.S. (though since the 1980s, the game has spread throughout the U.S.) and differs from its box brother in many ways. Though a summertime professional outdoor league called Major League Lacrosse (MLL) started in 2000, the most popular form of field lacrosse has always been played in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The collegiate field season starts in late February and runs through May. It is played by roughly 250 U.S. colleges and universities, spanning the Division I, II, and III, and junior college varsity levels. The International Lacrosse Federation sponsors a World Lacrosse Championship once every four years between countries around the world. Because of the significantly larger playing field (110 by 60 yards as opposed to 200 feet by 85 feet in box lacrosse), a field lacrosse team, well, fields a few more players than a box lacrosse team. A men’s field lacrosse team includes nine players, plus a goaltender; a women’s team has eleven players, plus the goalie. The rest of this article introduces you to the field participants and the roles they play. Though field lacrosse teams have more players on the field at once, each team is allowed a maximum of six players (plus the goalie) on one-half of the field at any one time. That is, when in their offensive zone, a men’s field lacrosse team must keep three players (plus the goalie) behind the midfield line. Of course, it’s not six on ten for them, as their opponent can only have seven players defending the zone (plus the goalie) at the same time. This so-called field split in outdoor lacrosse forces more specialization in playing positions. The four main positions are attackmen, midfielders, defensemen, and goalies, though each position includes even more specific roles. Teams employ lines of three attackmen, three midfielders, and three defensemen. Attacking the goal: The attackmen are the primary offensive weapons looking to feed and score. They create most of the offense and generally do not play defense, serving as three players kept on the opposite side of the midline while the ball is at the other end. It’s not uncommon for the attackmen to stay on the field the whole game. Many attackmen have the ability to both feed and score, but some focus on only one of those offensive elements. Playing both ways: Midfielders play offense and defense, following the flow of the game and getting involved at both ends of the field. Midfielders, or “middies,” are crucial to a team’s transition offense and defense. Teams generally run three lines consisting of three midfielders each. For example, some midfields may be defensive specialists, coming on the field only in certain situations, while others may only play faceoffs and then run off the field. However, many midfielders also run regular midfield shifts, and a select few are dangerous offensive weapons. Although the three field players with longer sticks play defense, a fourth long stick can be used in the midfield. Creating a first line of defense: The defensemen generally stay on their half of the field while their team is on offense, though they are allowed to cross the midline in transition as long as an equal number of midfielders stays back. The role of the defensemen is generally to stop the opposing attackmen from scoring or creating offense. Occasionally, they will be dispatched to cover a dominant opposing midfielder. Keeping the ball in play: Goalies in field lacrosse have to be more athletic than those in box lacrosse because of the larger goal (6 by 6 feet, as opposed to 4-3/4 by 4 feet in box lacrosse). Goalies play with their sticks held upright and the head pointing skyward, unlike the hockey style used in box lacrosse. In addition to stopping shots an


What is the name of the dark, dense German bread made from coarsely ground rye?

Basic Breads - How To Cooking Tips - RecipeTips.com Country or region of origin: various Type of flour used: various Description: Artisan bread refers to different types of bread that are prepared by a skilled baker and are handcrafted through each step of the process. During the preparation process, the bread artisan mixes the perfect balance of all-natural ingredients and bakes the bread using the optimum oven temperature and baking time to create a product with an excellent crumb and crust. Some varieties of artisan bread have a very light and delicate flavor while others may have a very pronounced flavor depending on the ingredients and the preparation techniques that were used. Bagel Country or region of origin: Eastern Europe Type of flour used: various, but mostly white all-purpose, unbleached bread flour, whole-wheat , and rye flour Description: A bagel is a chewy doughnut shaped yeast bread that is very popular worldwide. The bagel originated in eastern Europe where at one time it was among the most common breads in Jewish households. It is now believed that the best bagels are made in New York City bakeries from recipes and techniques brought to the United States by Jewish immigrants. Before baking, bagels are poached for a short time. This technique prevents the dough from rising any further during baking, which creates the characteristic soft and chewy texture. Many types of flour are used, but white all-purpose, unbleached or bread flour, whole-wheat, and rye flour are most often used. Some bagels are plain while others include numerous ingredients that are incorporated with the dough or used as a topping, such as cheese, onions, garlic, pieces of fruit or vegetables, seeds, herbs, spices, or coarse salt. Bagels are often sliced into two flat rings and eaten plain, toasted, or spread with cream cheese or other ingredients. Baguette Country or region of origin: France Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - usually a combination of all-purpose flour and unbleached bread flour Description: A baguette is a basic type of yeast bread that originated in France. The name of this traditional French bread translates to little rod, which describes the long, thin shape that is characteristic of the loaf. A baguette is usually 1 1/2 to 2 feet in length and 3 to 4 inches in diameter. The term baguette may be used to describe a variety of breads that all have the baguette shape in common, but may originate from different countries of regions. The dough for a French baguette is usually made with wheat flour and the bread has a soft, chewy interior surrounded by a crispy, brown crust. The dough can also be used for variations in the shape of the bread including split rolls known as pistolets and a shape that resembles an ear of wheat known as a pain d'epi. Bangeli Bread Country or region of origin: Switzerland Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) Description: A Swiss bread loaf that is an adaptation of German and French white breads. Bangeli bread has a long baguette shape , which often has several horizontal slashes across the top. The bread features a thick crust and a chewy interior similar to French bread. It is used much the same as similar white breads of German or French origin: as a sandwich bread when thinly sliced; as a bread used for toasting, topped with preserves or jellies; as a bread served with cheese and wine; and as a crusty bread that can be spread with butter or dipped in extra virgin olive oil and served as an accompaniment to a meal. Bolillo Bread Country or region of origin: Mexico Type of flour used: white flour (wheat) - bread flour or all-purpose flour Description: A Mexican bread, made with a basic dough that is very similar to a French baguette dough. The bread has a crispy, flavorful crust and a soft, chewy crumb. The dough is usually formed into a football shaped roll. Occasionally, the dough is scored to create three sections along the length of the football shape, in which case the bolillo is known as a telera. Bolillos are most often used for the Mexican sandwich known as a torta, which


Asturias, Aragon and Murcia are regions in which European country?

Murcia | region, Spain | Britannica.com Murcia Cartagena Murcia, comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) and historical region of southeastern Spain that is coextensive with the provincia (province) of Murcia. It is bounded by the autonomous communities of Castile–La Mancha to the north, Valencia to the east, and Andalusia to the west; the Mediterranean Sea lies to the south. The autonomous community of Murcia was established under the statute of autonomy of June 9, 1982. The capital is Murcia city. Area 4,368 square miles (11,313 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 1,392,117. Revolcadores massif, near Moratalla, Murcia, Spain. Lionni Geography The Baetic Cordillera in the southern portion of Murcia borders the Mediterranean and declines eastward into the plain of Cartagena . The tableland of Jumilla and Yecla rises in the northern portion of Murcia. To the west of Murcia is the pre-Baetic cordillera. The Segura River runs northwest to southeast through the centre of Murcia, irrigating the rich huertas (irrigated farming plots that are usually family-run) in the valleys of the Baetic Cordillera. Annual precipitation in the region is very low, ranging from about 7 inches (170 mm) around Cape Tiñoso to about 11 inches (280 mm) in Cartagena. Temperatures are high and show relatively little seasonal variation. The population of the plain of Cartagena is sparse, and the isolated farmsteads and small villages are located where there is water. Emigration from Murcia has been considerable since 1900. The dialect in the countryside is called Panocho, and it reflects Arab, Catalan, and Aragonese influences. Intensive irrigation supports a dense population in the huertas on the satellite farming communities around the city of Murcia. The autonomous community has relied on water transfer for irrigation since the 1960s, mainly through the Tagus-Segura river scheme. By the early 21st century, however, water supplies had been depleted, and the transfer of water had to be approved by the central government in Madrid. Minifundios (small farms) predominate in the huertas, while the growth of small-scale industries in the towns has allowed many underemployed agricultural workers to work part-time in factories. The traditional dwelling of the Murcian huerta is the barraca, a thatched farmhouse, oftentimes decorated with jasmine and geraniums. The populations of the ports of Cartagena, Mazarrón, and Aguilas have grown with the development of shipping and mining along the coastal plain. Similar Topics Andalusia About one-half of the land under cultivation is dry-farmed, mainly for barley and grapes to make wine, but this accounts for only a small percentage of the autonomous community’s agricultural output and is gradually losing ground to irrigated farming. The principal crops of the irrigated huertas are tomatoes, peppers, plums, peaches, grapes, oranges, lemons, apricots, and melons. Pigs are bred. The food-processing industry is concentrated along the Segura River and has absorbed some of the surplus workforce from the surrounding huertas. Cartagena has emerged as an industrial centre of the first order, exploiting the coast’s resources of lead, zinc, and salt. A petrochemical complex at Escombreras has established Cartagena as one of Europe’s leading petrochemical centres. The service sector has benefited from the development of tourism along the coast. History Castile annexed the kingdom of Murcia in 1243, thereby securing access to the Mediterranean and challenging the southern expansion of the Crown of Aragon . Castile ceded part of Murcia to the kingdom of Valencia in 1304, and the remaining territory was divided into the provinces of Murcia and Albacete in 1833.


US singer Thomas DeCarlo Callaway is better known by what name?

CeeLo Green - MusicBrainz CeeLo Green Cee‐Lo Green 1 Showing official release groups by this artist. Show all release groups instead , or show various artists release groups . Artist information


‘Down and Out in Paris and London’ was written by which British author?

BBC - History -   Historic Figures: George Orwell (1903 - 1950) Historic Figures z George Orwell    © Orwell was a British journalist and author, who wrote two of the most famous novels of the 20th century 'Animal Farm' and 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'. Orwell was born Eric Arthur Blair on 25 June 1903 in eastern India, the son of a British colonial civil servant. He was educated in England and, after he left Eton, joined the Indian Imperial Police in Burma, then a British colony. He resigned in 1927 and decided to become a writer. In 1928, he moved to Paris where lack of success as a writer forced him into a series of menial jobs. He described his experiences in his first book, 'Down and Out in Paris and London', published in 1933. He took the name George Orwell, shortly before its publication. This was followed by his first novel, 'Burmese Days', in 1934. An anarchist in the late 1920s, by the 1930s he had begun to consider himself a socialist. In 1936, he was commissioned to write an account of poverty among unemployed miners in northern England, which resulted in 'The Road to Wigan Pier' (1937). Late in 1936, Orwell travelled to Spain to fight for the Republicans against Franco's Nationalists. He was forced to flee in fear of his life from Soviet-backed communists who were suppressing revolutionary socialist dissenters. The experience turned him into a lifelong anti-Stalinist. Between 1941 and 1943, Orwell worked on propaganda for the BBC. In 1943, he became literary editor of the Tribune, a weekly left-wing magazine. By now he was a prolific journalist, writing articles, reviews and books. In 1945, Orwell's 'Animal Farm' was published. A political fable set in a farmyard but based on Stalin's betrayal of the Russian Revolution, it made Orwell's name and ensured he was financially comfortable for the first time in his life. 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' was published four years later. Set in an imaginary totalitarian future, the book made a deep impression, with its title and many phrases - such as 'Big Brother is watching you', 'newspeak' and 'doublethink' - entering popular use. By now Orwell's health was deteriorating and he died of tuberculosis on 21 January 1950.


Who won the 2010 Brit Award for best British Female Solo Artist?

Brit Awards 2010 winners: Lady GaGa, Lily Allen and JLS | Daily Mail Online Share this article Share The Spice Girls were honoured with the prize for Best Brits Performance of 30 Years while Robbie Williams was handed the Outstanding Contribution to Music and sang a medley of hits past and present. The Brit Awards rarely pass without incident and Liam Gallagher duly provided some controversy by swearing on the live show. Picking up the award for Best Album of 30 Years, the Oasis frontman thanked the early members of the band, with the exception of older brother Noel, who walked out on the group last summer. Arriving alone on stage, he yelled into the microphone: 'Listen kids. I want to thank Bonehead, Guigsy and Alan White. The best band in the f***ing world. Live forever.' He then threw the microphone into the audience before wandering into the crowd and leaving the stage. As he left the stage, host Peter Kay remarked: 'What a knobhead.' Viewer Antonia Holland has set up a group on Facebook called Peter Kay's reply to Liam Gallagher at the Brits which now has over 54,000 fans. Delighted: Florence and the Machine with her Best British Album award and Jay-Z accepts the award for the Best International Male Solo Artist She's got the Lungs: Florence performed on stage with Dizzee Rascal with a mash-up of her hit You've Got The Love and his hit Dirty Cash One fan Deirdre Stirling posted: 'Liam Gallagher is a rude spoilt brat who has rested on his brother's talents for far too long. Deeply disturbed young man with no manners!' Lily Allen opened the show in a black corset dress and made her entry on to the stage on a suspended glittering rocket before walking down a giant staircase. She was joined on stage by paratroopers dressed in pink military camouflage and women pushing Silver Cross prams. Host Peter Kay called for 'responsible fun' and warned the stars he would sound a horn if they rambled on too much. Sam Fox, who presented the Brits in 1989 with Mick Fleetwood and famously fluffed her lines, was then brought on stage. She presented the award for the most memorable Brits moment, a special gong to mark the show's 30th anniversary, to Spice Girls Melanie Brown and Geri Halliwell. The girlband's 1997 performance of Who Do You Think You Are? which saw Geri wear the iconic skimpy Union Jack dress was 'overwhelmingly' voted as the Best Brit Performance of 30 Years by GMTV viewers. Kasabian performed their 2009 top-five hit Fire, complete with screens of blazing flames. Other performances came from Florence and the Machine, who won Best Album for her debut Lungs, who dueted with Dizzee Rascal. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys also performed their track Empire State Of Mind. A NIGHT OF LOWLIGHTS AND AWARDS FOR THE BIG SELLERS by PAUL CONNOLLY Try to erase the memory of Jonathan Ross as the world’s most embarrassing gangsta dad and Cheryl Cole’s shockingly personality-deficient and badly lip-synched performance. Instead, let’s focus on the Brit Awards themselves and the apportioning thereof. Did the voters get them right? Well, the big winners were the big sellers, Lady Gaga and JLS. The erstwhile Stefani Germanotta won every international category apart from  Best Male, although host Peter Kay suggested even that had been a close thing. Double act: Jay-Z and Alicia Keys sang their hit Empire State Of Mind, with Alicia dressed in a low cut dress Instead Jay-Z walked off with the International Male Solo Artist award mainly, one suspects, because he agreed to turn up and perform the brilliant Empire State Of Mind with Alicia Keys. It was a rare highlight in a show of lowlights (can I mention poor Cheryl’s appalling lip-synching again as well as Robbie Williams’s tedious medley right at the end to ‘celebrate’ his winning of the Outstanding Contribution Award?). Jay-Z’s competition was not stiff – Bruce Springsteen aside, none of the other nominees had made a decent album last year (do not even whisper the words “what about Michael Buble?”). But to have the camel-faced megastar rapper at the show represented a coup for the organisers, even if


Qom | Iran | Britannica.com Iran Qom, also spelled Qum , city , capital of Qom province, north-central Iran . The city lies on both banks of the Rūd-e Qom and beside a salt desert, the Dasht-e Kavīr , 92 miles (147 km) south of Tehrān . Dome of the Shrine of Fāṭimah, Qom, Iran. Kurt Scholz/Shostal Associates In the 8th century Qom was one of the centres of Shīʿite Islam . In 816 Fāṭimah , the sister of the eighth imam of the Twelver Shīʿites, ʿAlī al-Riḍā, died in the town and was buried there. It became a place of pilgrimage in the 17th century, when the Ṣafavid rulers built a golden-domed shrine over Fāṭimah’s tomb. The modern city has the largest madrasah (theological college) in the country, where students can specialize in Islamic law, philosophy, theology, and logic. It was at Qom that the Iranian army surrendered to Islamic revolutionary militia in 1979. Following the Islamic Revolution in Iran early in 1979, the revolution’s principal figure, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini , again took up residence in Qom, whence he had been exiled by the shah, and made the town his seat. Some 10 kings and 400 Islamic saints are interred in Qom and its neighbourhood. Shāh ʿAbbās II is buried there in a special mausoleum richly adorned with 14 fine silk rugs, dated 1666. On the southern side of the city is a group of five mausoleums (mostly 14th century) distinguished by remarkable polychrome stucco ornaments. Qom has developed into a lively industrial centre owing in part to its proximity to Tehrān. It is a regional centre for the distribution of petroleum and petroleum products, and a natural gas pipeline from Bandar-e Anzalī and Tehrān and a crude-oil pipeline from Tehrān run through Qom to the Abadan refinery on the Persian Gulf . Qom gained additional prosperity when oil fields were discovered at Sarājeh near the city in 1956 and a large refinery was built between Qom and Tehrān. Rural populations migrated to the growing township, and its economic growth accelerated with new investments in the textile industry and the establishment of petrochemical, cement, and brick-making industries. In the 1970s several dams were completed on the upper reaches of the Rūd-e Qom. Similar Topics


X Type, Open End, Two Way and Closed End are all types of what used in the fashion industry?

Types of Zipper | Textile School Types of Zipper apparel Zippers use two sets of interlocking teeth called chain zippers, or coils called coil zippers, each connected to a strip of fabric tape. The teeth or coils are formed of metal, plastic, or synthetic material. A slider with a tab, which may be purely functional or serve a decorative function as well, is used to open and close the zipper. Besides the details of the mechanism, there are several other ways of categorizing zippers.Like categorisation based on element or teeth material or based on the In this page Types of Zippers based on Functionality Types of Zippers based on Element/Teeth Material There are 3 main categories of zippers which are based on 3 different types of materials as below: Metal: Metal zipper is most basic original zipper first produced. The first zipper was made of metal around 1917 and 1920s. When slider slides up in a zipper the elements get tightly interlocked to keep zipper shut. Metal zippers are divided into 2 groups, depending on the material used and the process of manufacture: Teeth formed from a metal wire, either flat or profiled and made from brass, aluminium, nickel or white brass (nickel-free) Teeth die-cast directly onto the tape, with zinc metal Metal zippers are usually made in a variety of finishes, such as golden brass, antique brass, antique silver, gunmetal, silver etc. These finishes are achieved by chemical treatment of the zipper chain and matching plating of the sliders and end stops. Generally metal zippers are available in various finishes, but most commonly used zipper finishes are as below: Aluminum: Elements are constructed using aluminum Brass: Elements are constructed using brass alloy, typically a combination of copper and zinc Antique Brass: Elements made from brass that is chemically treated to give worn-out brass appearance Black Oxidized: Elements are made from brass that is chemically treated to a black matte finish Molded Plastic: These plastic zippers have individually injected molded teeth, fused directly on to the tape of the zipper. The High performance resins used to manufacture molded plastic elements are incredibly strong and make zippers that are durable, strong and flexible. These zippers are ideal for outerwear and heavy weight garments or any outdoor application. Plastic zippers are divided into 5 groups: LFC or L-type zippers made with meander/Ruhrmann type coil, stitched around the edge of the carrier tape. CFC zippers made with spiral coil, stitched on one side of the carrier tape. Woven-in coil zippers, in which the coil is formed and directly woven into the carrier tape on special looms. Plastic moulded zippers, in which the teeth/elements made from polyacetal (commonly known as Delrin‚ ) are directly moulded onto the carrier tape. Plastic extruded zippers, in which a string of teeth/elements is first extruded and then stitched onto the carrier tape. Invisible Zippers The main categories of zippers, as described above, also include speciality zippers, which have special types of construction, or parts, or finishes. CFC zippers have a special class known as Invisible zippers due to the special construction and mode of use. These zippers do not require provision of a fly, since they are made and stitched in such a manner that only a hairline seam is visible from outside. These zips are predominantly used in ladies dresses and skirts. These zippers are available in knitted and woven tapes. Two way zippers: These zippers are made usually in #5 or larger sizes in CFC, plastic moulded and metal. The major applications are outerwear and luggage. These are made in X-type or Otype. Open End zippers: Some zipper applications require a zipper to detached completely e.g. jackets and outerwear. Instead of a fixed bottom stop, box & pin attachment is used. Coil: Coil zippers are made from continuous coil of monofilament in place of individual teeth. Coil zippers are often referred to as nylon zippers. The teeth of these zippers are extruded nylon strip sewn onto the zipper tape. These zippers are very f


What was the name of the late King’s jester in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’?

Shakespeare's Fools - Yorick in Hamlet Shakespeare's Fools: Yorick in Hamlet From The Fools of Shakespeare by Frederick Warde. London: McBride, Nast & company. "The King's Jester" Hamlet, a young Danish prince, accompanied by his friend Horatio, stands by a low wall that encloses a graveyard watching an old sexton who is digging a grave. With professional unconcern the old fellow shovels out the earth, together with some human bones; amongst them two skulls, one of which he strikes smartly with his spade to imbed it in the soft earth, and prevent its rolling away. Shocked at the apparent indifference of the old man to these dead relics, the prince advances, interrupts his work, and engages him in conversation. The grave-digger is a quaint, independent old fellow, and answers the prince's questions with humorous bluntness. The prince inquires, "How long will a man lie in the earth ere he rot?" After replying to the question, the sexton picks up one of the skulls from the mound of earth and asserts, "This skull hath lain i' the earth three-and-twenty years." "Whose was it" asks the prince. "A whoreson mad fellow's it was," replies the sexton, and then adds, "A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! a' poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same skull, sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester." Gently taking the grim remainder from the irreverent hands of the old grave-digger, and gazing at it with loving tenderness, the prince exclaims: "Alas, poor Yorick I - I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now how abhorred in my imagination it is I my gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed, I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table in a roar? Not one now to mock your own grinning! quite chap-fallen!" For three-and-twenty years that skull had lain in the earth, till every vestige of its personality had been destroyed, and only the experienced eye of the old sexton could recognize it. A chapless skull! dust and bones tossed up from the decaying earth from which they sprang, and to which, by the inexorable law of nature, they had returned; a skull that once was covered with skin and tissues, through which ran a myriad of arteries and veins, conveying the blood to and from the active brain that lay in the now empty shell. A skull that had crowned a frame, clothed like itself, intersected with nerves that connected the sensations of heart and brain, and canals that carried the vital fluids on their ceaseless course, giving the entire structure a living entity, and an individual personality; the personality of Yorick, jester to the court of Hamlet, King of Denmark. Yorick! what a merry, loving soul he must have been, how full of fun and frolic. What pranks he must have played on those big, good-natured, long-haired Viking warriors, as they sat at the banquet table in the great hall of the castle of Elsinore. In fancy, I can hear their laughter at his madcap jests, and the deep roar of their voices as they join in the chorus of his merry songs. I can see him in the churchyard, serious for a moment, sitting on an ancient tombstone, gravely watching the old sexton digging "a pit of clay"; the last resting place of folly and wisdom; but his fun-loving soul cannot long be restrained by even such solemn environment; so, furtively, the mad rogue purloins the bibulous old grave digger's flagon of Rhenish, standing near-by, and pours its contents over the head of the discomfited sexton; then, fleet as a deer he runs away, leaps the churchyard wall, and the faint echo of his merry laughter is the only solace for the old man's wrath. Yorick! the lines are few, and the description brief that Shakespeare has given us of the man, but they are so pregnant with suggestion, so sweet in thought, and so tender in memory that he lives in our minds as completely as though he gamboled on the earth a


Who assassinated US President Abraham Lincoln in 1865?

Abraham Lincoln | whitehouse.gov Air Force One Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln became the United States' 16th President in 1861, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy in 1863. Lincoln warned the South in his Inaugural Address: "In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you.... You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it." Lincoln thought secession illegal, and was willing to use force to defend Federal law and the Union. When Confederate batteries fired on Fort Sumter and forced its surrender, he called on the states for 75,000 volunteers. Four more slave states joined the Confederacy but four remained within the Union. The Civil War had begun. The son of a Kentucky frontiersman, Lincoln had to struggle for a living and for learning. Five months before receiving his party's nomination for President, he sketched his life: "I was born Feb. 12, 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky. My parents were both born in Virginia, of undistinguished families--second families, perhaps I should say. My mother, who died in my tenth year, was of a family of the name of Hanks.... My father ... removed from Kentucky to ... Indiana, in my eighth year.... It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods. There I grew up.... Of course when I came of age I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher ... but that was all." Lincoln made extraordinary efforts to attain knowledge while working on a farm, splitting rails for fences, and keeping store at New Salem, Illinois. He was a captain in the Black Hawk War, spent eight years in the Illinois legislature, and rode the circuit of courts for many years. His law partner said of him, "His ambition was a little engine that knew no rest." He married Mary Todd, and they had four boys, only one of whom lived to maturity. In 1858 Lincoln ran against Stephen A. Douglas for Senator. He lost the election, but in debating with Douglas he gained a national reputation that won him the Republican nomination for President in 1860. As President, he built the Republican Party into a strong national organization. Further, he rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared forever free those slaves within the Confederacy. Lincoln never let the world forget that the Civil War involved an even larger issue. This he stated most movingly in dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg: "that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Lincoln won re-election in 1864, as Union military triumphs heralded an end to the war. In his planning for peace, the President was flexible and generous, encouraging Southerners to lay down their arms and join speedily in reunion. The spirit that guided him was clearly that of his Second Inaugural Address, now inscribed on one wall of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C.: "With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.... " On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre in Washington by John Wilkes Booth, an actor, who somehow thought he was helping the South. The opposite was the result, for with Lincoln's death, the possibility of peace with magnanimity died. The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel  and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association. Learn more about Abraham Lincoln 's spouse, Mary Todd Lincoln .


Which is the only novel by Charles Dickens to have a female narrator (Esther Summerson)?

Esther Summerson: My favourite Charles Dickens character - Telegraph Charles Dickens Esther Summerson: My favourite Charles Dickens character Esther Summerson - from Bleak House - is one of Charles Dickens's best  female characters and is the eleventh in the Telegraph pick of the best  Charles Dickens characters.   Robert Ball's illustration of Bleak House with its heroine Esther Summerson.    Bleak House by Charles Dickens.    Charles Dickens 'excelled in the creation of characters,' said poet TS Eliot  By Rachel Ward , Writer, Telegraph TV & Radio 11:33AM GMT 11 Feb 2012 My Favourite Charles Dickens character: Esther Summerson from Bleak House (1854) Charles Dickens’s 10th novel, Bleak House, features one of his most holy of heroines – a mother to all and “angel of the house”: the Oprah Winfrey of the Victorian age, if you will. Unlike the writer’s other angels, Little Dorrit’s Amy; or Sissy Jupe in Hard Times, Esther gets to tell her own story as she narrates a tale centring on a quarrel over an inheritance. Charlotte Bronte may have described her as “weak and twaddling,” but she’s the only woman that Dickens allows a pen and he brilliantly projects Esther as his type of ideal woman, with her modesty, perceptiveness, and moral responsibility. As her name suggests (it means “star”), she lights up the gloomy and chaotic world of the novel and dispenses her love to the needy, because love is the very thing she needs in return. As an illegitimate daughter, Esther faces numerous bitter experiences in Victorian society and takes a great dislike to those she feels unworthy of her virtues – her handling of the incorrigibly irresponsible Harold Skimpole is perhaps one of her finest moments as she politely refuses his proposal, all the while letting him know exactly what she thinks of him. The full series of 'My favourite Charles Dickens character' is:


Which racing circuit held the 2011 British Formula One Grand Prix?

Great Britain 2016 FORMULA 1 BRITISH GRAND PRIX Great Britain Unfortunately, we are unable to play the video at this time. Error Code: UNKNOWN 1:33.401 by Mark Webber (2013) Fri 08 – Sun 10 Jul 2016 Practice 1 Next Previous 1 / 5 Race winner Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren celebrates on the podium. Formula One World Championship, Rd 9, British Grand Prix, Race, Silverstone, England, Sunday 6 July 2008. Damon Hill (GBR) Williams FW16 celebrates his win. British Grand Prix, Silverstone, 10 July 1994. Race winner Nigel Mansell (GBR) Williams FW11B caught and overtook his second placed team mate Nelson Piquet (BRA) in thrilling fashion. Formula One World Championship, Rd7, British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England, 12 July 1987. Jackie Stewart (GBR), Matra Cosworth MS80, and Jochen Rindt (AUT), Lotus Cosworth 49B, traded places for the lead throughout the race until Rindt's wing endplate worked loose. British Grand Prix, Rd6, Silverstone, England. 19 July 1969. Bruce Mclaren (NZL) Cooper Climax T53 leads eventual race winner Jack Brabham (AUS) Cooper Climax T53. British Grand Prix, Silverstone, England, 16 July 1960. Like so many of England's racing circuits, Silverstone started life as an aerodrome. When the Second World War ended in 1945, England's other two circuits, Donington Park and the legendary Brooklands, had fallen into disrepair. And so it was that the outer taxiways and interconnecting runways of Silverstone became adopted by the Royal Automobile Club as the home for the British Grand Prix in 1948. The circuit was fast and challenging and in 1949 the shape was formed that remains the basis of the track to this day.  When the Formula One World Championship was incepted in 1950, Silverstone held the very first round, won by Guiseppe Farina in an Alfa Romeo. In 1951 the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) was handed the lease by the RAC, and huge modifications were made. The pits were moved to the straight between Woodcote and Copse, from the Farm straight where they had originally been, and a short circuit was built within the larger circuit, cutting from Becketts corner to Woodcote. From 1955 the British Grand Prix swapped venues between Aintree and Silverstone, but with the advent of the 1960s, Aintree fell out of favour and the race was switched between Silverstone and Brands Hatch. In 1971 the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) bought the entire 720 acre plot on which Silverstone sits and went about redeveloping the track. New pits were built and a chicane was erected at Woodcote which provided close finishes and great overtaking opportunities.  In 1987, with speeds reaching astounding levels, a corner was built before Woodcote, and in 1992 a new complex of corners was created between Farm and Woodcote. And in recent years various upgrades have been made to the track's facilities. A racing school now exists at the circuit and with government funding a new bypass has been built, greatly improving access to the once notoriously out-of-the-way venue. In 2010 came another major change to the circuit's Formula One layout, designed to further improve the venue for spectators and provide an even greater driver challenge. The new infield layout juts right at the reworked Abbey bend before heading into the new Arena complex of turns. This takes drivers on to the main straight of Silverstone’s National circuit, before rejoining the previous Grand Prix layout at Brooklands.


Nancy Shevell married which English singer/songwriter in October 2011?

Paul McCartney Remarries...Again - Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games Read more By Osagie Alonge English musician, singer-songwriter and composer Paul McCartney has gotten married for the third time. The news was confirmed by celebrity gossip magazine US Weekly. The former member of the English rock band The Beatles tied the knot with New Yorker Nancy Shevell in a civil ceremony at the Old Marylebone Town Hall, Westminster, London on Sunday, October 9, 2011. McCartney presented Shevell with a five-carat square-cut Neil Lane diamond set in a platinum ring at the low profile wedding ceremony which was attended by 30 close friends of the couple. The newlyweds are planning to throw a separate party in NYC for their friends in the United States. McCartney, 69 and Shevell, 51 started dating in November 2007. McCartney has previously been married to photographer, musician Linda McCartney, and former model Heather Mills.  Shevell has also been married once to lawyer Bruce Blakeman. Ⓒ Copyright NET News Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Please use sharing tools. Do not cut, copy or lift any content from this website without our consent.


In August 2011 NASA announced that photographic evidence had been captured of possible liquid water of which planet in our solar system?

new illuminati: Extraordinary Solar System Anomalies Extraordinary Solar System Anomalies by Joe Szosak   Anomalous objects tracing back to our ancient past are not exclusive to Mars. Strange, unexplained discoveries have been made in recent years throughout our Solar System. Mars by far shows the best potential for having supported an ancient civilization in the distant past. Based on the demonstrated evidence there is a strong probability that advanced life on Mars was a precursor to life here on Earth. However, growing evidence from elsewhere - on neighboring planets such as Mercury, Venus and Saturn, and even our own Moon - points to other intelligent life as also having existed in the distant past. It is quite possible that we on Earth are the final civilization to be living in our Solar System. In March 1996 it was announced for the first time that artificial structures had been discovered on the Moon. The briefing was given by former NASA scientists, engineers and other researchers, under the title "The Mars Mission", a grassroots space research and policy group of specialists and citizens. They stated that they were acting independently of NASA, and that their briefing had not been sanctioned by the space agency. At the briefing in the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. it was stated that, in addition to NASA, the Soviet Union had photographic evidence proving the presence of ancient ruins on the Moon. Video films and photos made by U.S. astronauts during the Apollo program were shown at the briefing. Representatives of the media were extremely surprised as to why the materials had not been revealed to the public earlier. It was indicated that this was due to censorship by NASA and the U.S. government. These official mission films, analyzed using scientific techniques and computer technologies unavailable to NASA 30 years ago (when the original photographs were taken), now provide compelling evidence for the presence of ancient artificial structures on the Moon. The former manager of the Data and Photo Control Department at NASA's Lunar Receiving Laboratory during the manned Apollo Lunar Program, Ken Johnston, has released a number of sensational statements. The specialist said that U.S. astronauts found ancient ruins of artificial origin when they landed on the Moon. He said that the U.S. government had been keeping this information a secret for 40 years. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11) in a July 21, 1969 transmission described that several alien spacecraft were located around a nearby crater on the lunar surface. Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon (Apollo 11), described an encounter with an alien Moon city or space station and the presence of many spaceships that were far superior in size and technology to ours in his 1969 lunar expedition. According to Armstrong the extraterrestrials have an established base on the Moon and wanted us to leave and stay off the Moon. Have you ever wondered why the Moon landings stopped and why we haven't tried building a Moon base? After all it seems a better and easier idea than constructing a floating (orbiting) Earth space station. Well it appears that the final straw for NASA and the U.S. government was the Apollo 17 mission. In December of 1972 Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent about 75 hours on the lunar surface in the Taurus-Littrow Valley. During their moonwalk they discovered, among many other anomalous artifacts, the severed head of a robot (see photos below). As Cernan put it, even though he was seeing it with his own eyes, he still couldn't quite bring himself to believe it. He dubbed the entire valley "one mysterious looking place". Interestingly enough Cernan and Schmitt were the last astronauts to set foot on the Moon. There were no further Moon landings after Apollo 17. After this discovery isn't it understandable why? The list of expert testimonials is endless. I describe them in detail in my books. These are not just some geeks reading science fiction books with an over zealous imagination. They are veteran


Which Scottish musician/songwriter died in January 2011?

Gerry Rafferty, Songwriter, Dies at 63 - The New York Times The New York Times Music |Gerry Rafferty, Songwriter, Dies at 63 Search Continue reading the main story Gerry Rafferty, a Scottish singer and songwriter who combined a gift for melody, a distinctive voice and a fatalistic worldview to produce 1970s hits like “Stuck in the Middle With You” and “Baker Street,” died Tuesday in Dorset, England. He was 63. His death was confirmed by Michael Gray, his former manager, in an obituary he wrote for the London newspaper The Guardian, and later by his agent, Paul Charles, in a report by The Associated Press. Various news reports said Mr. Rafferty had been hospitalized for severe liver and kidney problems. Mr. Rafferty’s 1978 album, “City to City,” reached No. 1 in the United States. One track, “Baker Street,” made the Top 10 in both Britain and the United States. So did “Stuck in the Middle With You,” a song Mr. Rafferty and Joe Egan recorded with their group Stealers Wheel in 1972. That song reached a new generation of listeners when Quentin Tarantino used it in the notorious ear-slicing scene in his 1992 movie “Reservoir Dogs.” In all, Mr. Rafferty sold more than 10 million albums over three decades. But Mr. Gray, writing in The Guardian, said Mr. Rafferty’s success was a shadow of what it might have been. At the peak of his popularity, Mr. Rafferty declined to tour the United States and turned down chances to play with Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney. In his later years his output declined, then stopped altogether as he “spiraled into alcoholism,” Mr. Gray said. Mr. Rafferty himself said in a rare interview in 2009 with The Sunday Express that he suffered from depression. Advertisement Continue reading the main story But at his peak Mr. Rafferty drew rave reviews for his synthesis of country, folk and rock music. Reviewing “City to City” in Rolling Stone, Ken Emerson said Mr. Rafferty “writes with the sweet melodiousness of Paul McCartney and sings with John Lennon’s weary huskiness.” Mr. Emerson discerned “a prayerful quality” in Mr. Rafferty’s voice, reminiscent of “the dim dawn after a dark night of the soul.” Photo Gerry Rafferty in the 1970s. Credit Photofest Almost from his birth in Paisley, Scotland, on April 16, 1947, Gerald Rafferty knew plenty about life’s dark side. He and his mother would hide from his father to avoid being beaten when he stumbled home drunk, Mr. Gray wrote. But music pervaded the family’s life, as young Gerry assimilated Roman Catholic hymns, traditional folk music, 1950s pop and even the Irish rebel tunes his deaf father bellowed. Mr. Rafferty dropped out of school at 15 and went to work in a butcher shop. On weekends he and a friend, Mr. Egan, played in a local group, the Mavericks. After bouncing about a bit, Mr. Rafferty and Mr. Egan reunited in Stealers Wheel, whose debut album included “Stuck in the Middle.” “Stuck in the Middle,” written as a parody of many of Bob Dylan’s songs, ridiculed a music industry cocktail party, complaining, “Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you.” Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy By 1975, Stealers Wheel had broken up after recording three albums, and Mr. Rafferty spent the next three years in legal disputes over contracts. Finally, in 1978, he was free to record again and signed with United Artists. “City to City,” a solo effort, was his first album for the label. Its centerpiece song, “Baker Street,” featured a saxophone solo by Raphael Ravenscroft that became so popular it was said to spark a global increase in saxophone sales. Mr. Rafferty went on to record several more albums, including “Night Owl,” which made it to the Top Five in England and the Top 20 in the United States in 1979. Other albums followed, some of which garnered good reviews but none of which approached Mr. Rafferty’s earlier success. He contributed a vocal to the soundtrack of the 1983 film “Local Hero,” and p


The Puyehue volcano erupted in which South American country in June 2011?

Volcano erupts in Chile - Photos - The Big Picture - Boston.com Volcano erupts in Chile The eruption of the Puyehue volcano in the Andes mountains of southern Chile last weekend provided some spectacular images of the force of nature. Ash covers the landscape and thousands of people were evacuated from the surrounding rural communities. The volcano, which hasn't been active since 1960 when it erupted after an earthquake, sent its plume of ash 6 miles high across Argentina and toward the Atlantic Ocean. -- Lloyd Young ( 33 photos total ) A plume of ash, estimated six miles (10km) high and three mile wide is seen after a volcano erupted in the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain, about 575 miles (920 km) south of the capital, Santiago June 4. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters) 2 A boy wearing a protective mask, walks along an ash-covered street near San Carlos de Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina, on June 7 three days after the eruption of Chile's Puyehue volcano. Dozens of South American flights had to be scrapped Tuesday because of the huge cloud of volcanic ash spewing from a Chile an volcano, as fears grew of possible landslides near the eruption. So far 4,000 people have been evacuated from 22 rural Chile an communities surrounding the Puyehue volcano, which rumbled to life on Saturday after showing no activity since 1960, when it erupted following a magnitude 9.5 earthquake.(Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images) # 4 A helicopter flies over smoke and ash rising from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain near Osorno city in south-central Chile June 5. A volcano dormant for decades erupted in the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain in south-central Chile on Saturday, belching an ash cloud more than 6 miles (10 km) high that blew over the Andes and carpeted a popular ski resort in neighboring Argentina. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters) # 6 This NASA Earth Observatory natural-color satellite image obtained June 7, 2011 was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiomter on the Aqua satellite shortly after the eruption began on June. The brown ash plume reaches high above the clouds covering much of the scene, and casts a dark shadow towards the southeast. Along the leading edge of the plume, it appears heavier material is falling out of the ash cloud, while finer particles remain suspended in the atmosphere. (NASA) # 7 A plume of light-coloured ash stretches along the edge of the Andes in this natural-color satellite image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard Terra on the morning of June 6 as the eruption at the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain continues. (NASA) # 8 A cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago June 5. Puyehue volcano erupted for the first time in half a century on June 4 prompting evacuations for 3,500 people as it sent a cloud of ash that reached Argentina. The National Service of Geology and Mining said the explosion that sparked the eruption also produced a column of gas 10 kilometers (six miles) high, hours after warning of strong seismic activity in the area. (Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images) #


The President of which African country resigned in February 2011 after widespread protests calling for his departure?

Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa -- country by country - CNN.com Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa -- country by country By the CNN Wire Staff STORY HIGHLIGHTS Protesters in Bahrain return to Pearl Roundabout Libyans continue protests despite violent crackdown, witnesses say The demonstrations started in Tunisia in December and have swept across region The leaders of Tunisia and Egypt have resigned amid mass protests RELATED TOPICS Iran (CNN) -- Two months ago, a Tunisian fruit vendor struck a match that started a fire that has spread throughout much of North Africa and the Middle East. Muhammad Bouazizi's self-immolation prompted anti-government protests that toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt. Here are the latest developments, including the roots of the unrest, as well as a look at previous events in affected countries. Saturday developments: LIBYA Protests continued to turn violent Saturday, however the death and injury toll is unclear. The government has not responded to repeated requests by news media outlets, including CNN, to allow reporters into the country. In Benghazi, witnesses reported bloody clashes with soldiers firing tear gas and bullets. A doctor treating the injured at Al Jala hospital said at least 30 people were killed, most of them from gunshot wounds to the head. Witnesses said protests had erupted in cities across the country, including al-Baida, Ajdabiya and Misratah, where anti-government protesters leaving noon prayers at a local mosque were confronted by demonstrators supportive of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. Witnesses also said anti-Gadhafi protesters used a bulldozer to break through a wall at Alfadeel Abu-Omar military camp only to be fired upon as they retreated. A report aired on state-run Libyan television characterized demonstrators as saboteurs. Human Rights Watch reports that 84 people have been killed in Libyan demonstrations since Tuesday. The organization bases that estimate on telephone calls made to medical providers across the country. Roots of unrest: Protests in Libya, ruled by Gadhafi since a 1969 coup, began in January when demonstrators, fed up with delays, broke into a housing project the government was building and occupied it. Gadhafi's government responded with a $24 billion fund for housing and development. A month later, more demonstrations were sparked when police detained relatives of those killed in an alleged 1996 massacre at the Abu Salim prison, according to Human Rights Watch. High unemployment has also fueled the protests, as have anti-Gadhafi groups. BAHRAIN Thousands of Bahraini protesters returned to Pearl Roundabout on Saturday, two days after a deadly attack by security forces that left four dead and scores wounded. Crown Prince Salman ordered the military out of the center of the nation's capital and announced that protesters could remain there without fear of being attacked, a key demand demonstrators had made. The crown prince indicated he is deeply sorry for the deaths of protesters and said an investigation will be launched and that those responsible will be held accountable. Salman also said the government is willing to enter into talks with demonstrators. Roots of unrest: Protesters initially took to the streets of Manama on Monday to demand reform and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. But some are now calling for the removal of the royal family, which has led the Persian Gulf island state since the 18th century. Young members of the country's Shiite Muslim majority have staged violent protests in recent years to complain about discrimination, unemployment and corruption, issues they say the country's Sunni rulers have done little to address. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights says authorities launched a clampdown on dissent in late 2010. It accused the government of torturing some human rights activists. YEMEN As Saturday's protests left six people wounded, President Ali Abdullah Saleh blamed the unrest on foreign agendas and a plot against Yemen's stability, according to the state-run Saba news agency. Hundred