Which country has the only flag that is not rectangular or square?

Nepal This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website Nepal 5:4, image by Andr� Coutanche Flag adopted 12 December 1962, coat of arms adopted 16 December 1962. According to the very precise construction details contained in the Nepalese Constitution, the proportions of the flag are 4:3 plus width of the blue border (which makes the upper pendant longer than the lower because of its sharper angle). Christopher Southworth, 13 May 2003 Meaning of the Flag The flag of Nepal is the only national flag which is not rectangular, being based upon two separate pennants which belonged to rival branches of the Rana dynasty, which formerly ruled the country. The two pennants were first joined in the last century, but it was not adopted as the official flag until 1962, when a constitutional form of government was established. The moon in the upper part represents the royal house. The sun in the lower part symbolizes a branch of the Rana family, members of which acted as prime ministers until 1961. The charges are now said to represent the hope that Nepal itself will last as long as the sun and the moon. The style of these heavenly bodies was streamlined on December 16, 1962. The coat of arms still portrays these charges with facial features. Crimson is deemed the national color. Motto on their coat of arms: "The mother and the Mother Earth are more important than the heavenly kingdom." Sources: Alter (1986) Banderas y escudos del mundo (Flags and coats of arms of the world). Madrid: EASA (1986). Flags. Philadelphia: Running Press (1994) The Observer's Book of Flags. London: Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd. (1966) Juan Vaquer, Jr., 25 February 1999 The faces were removed in 1962, I believe. John Ayer, 30 September 2000 Some other attributions have been reported to FOTW concerning the origin and meaning of the flag: The other day I met a man who was from Nepal and he explained to me about the flag's meanings. The moon, he said, is supposed to represent quiet because Nepal is such a peaceful country and people are asleep during the night. And the sun is suppose to represent work because it is such a hard-working country and everyone is busy during the daytime. Interesting. Flags4Pikachu@aol.com, 06 Dec 1999 The sun and the moon mean that Nepal will last as long as the two remain  in the sky. The flag has been in use in Nepal for centuries, from the time of  the Malla dynasty that preceded the Shahs and the Ranas. As an example, see this photo of the Golden Gate (1753 AD)  which is ornamented with a metal Nepal flag. Such flags are installed at the  doorways of many temples in Kathmandu; some have the sun and moon design and  some don't. Name withheld by request, 11 July 2004 The two triangles symbolize the Himalayas and also stand for the two main  religions in Nepal - Hinduism and Buddhism. 'National Emblems of Nepal', issued by the Department of Publicity in  December 1963 Christopher Southworth, 12 July 2004 The flag is actually a symbol of extreme faith. The shape of the current flag was determined at the very beginning of the history of modern Nepal, and the credit for it goes to King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Above the crescent moon in the top triangle are eight small triangles in what looks like a smaller version of the sun partially eclipsed by the moon. The moon has been used as the symbol of Elixir and is believed to give eternal life. Every religious ritual is done according to the waxing and waning of the moon. The moon even reflects the peaceful and friendly attitude of the Nepali people. The sun in the lower part has 12 triangles altogether. The sun is the heavenly symbol of fire. It is even the symbol of life because it provides the heat necessary for living beings. It soaks up the water and gives it back in the form of rain, making food production possible on earth. According to the Hindu religion, Sun is one of the Dev or Gods among five Gods or the Panchadev ("pancha" means five and "dev" means god). The history of the worship of the sun is connected with ancient Vedic rituals. Even the 12 signs of


What is the only surname to be shared by an American President and a British Prime Minister?

William Howard Taft (1857 - 1930) - Genealogy William Howard Taft "President Taft", "Chief Justice Taft" Birthdate: Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, United States Death: Arlington, Arlington County , VA, USA Immediate Family: Half brother of Charles Phelps Taft and Peter Rawson "Rossy" Taft II Occupation: President of the United States, 27th US President, President, U.S., 27th President of the United States, United States President, College Dean, Attorney, US President, President of the United Satates, 27th President of the USA, united states president Managed by: Sep 15 1857 - Cincinnati, Ohio Death: Mar 8 1930 - District Of Columbia Burial: Mar 11 1930 - Arlington Nat. Parents: Alphonso Taft, Louisa Maria Torrey Wife: Sep 15 1857 - Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio Death: Mar 8 1930 - Washington, D. C. Parents: Alphonso Taft, Louisa Maria Torrey Wife: President William Howard Taft Monument, Arlington, Virginia, United States Spouse: Circa 1858 - Ohio, United States Residence: 1880 - Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA Parents: Alphonso Taft, Louisa M. Taft Siblings: Circa 1858 - Ohio, United States Residence: 1910 - Precinct 3, Washington, District Of Columbia, USA Wife: Australian Newspapers Text: "...with naval and military honours. Tho late William Howard Taft was the 27 ih l'rcsklcut of tho United StaU-s. He was selected on Novem... Publication: Mar 10 1930 - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: "...Is a long way oft yet." ' Ex-President Taft Dead WASHINGTON, Sunday. William Howard Taft, 27th Presi dent of the United States, d... Publication: Mar 10 1930 - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: "..., March 8. Mr; William Howard Taft, 'Presi dent of the United gtaites from 1999 to Y91S, died to-day aged "73 years'. (Mr Hdover ... Publication: Mar 10 1930 - Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: ... tremor since 1914. It is not expected to affect the canal. . WILLIAM! TAFT DEAD FORMER PRESIDENT OI U.S. WASHINGTON, Saturday. William H... Publication: Mar 10 1930 - Grafton, New South Wales, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: "...at his funeral. William Howard Taft wans. born in 1857. 'He had a distinguished career in legal and political spherles. He wais Pre ... Publication: Mar 10 1930 - Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia Page: Australian Newspapers Text: ... miners lo other occupations AUSTRALIA'S SYMPATHY. LATE MR. WILLIAM H. TAFT. CANBERRA, Thursday. The Prime Minister (Mr. Scullin) has sen... Publication: Mar 14 1930 - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Page: About William H. Taft, 27th President of the USA "Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever." -- William Howard Taft He considered his time as Chief Justice to be the highest point of his career; allegedly, he once remarked "I do not remember that I was ever President". WGA ______________________________________________ William Howard Taft (September 15, 1857 – March 8, 1930) was the 27th President of the United States and later the 10th Chief Justice of the United States. He is the only person to have served in both offices. Born in 1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio, into the powerful Taft family, "Big Bill" graduated from Yale College Phi Beta Kappa in 1878, and from Cincinnati Law School in 1880. He worked in a number of local non-descript legal positions until he was tapped to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court in 1887. In 1890, Taft was appointed Solicitor General of the United States and in 1891 a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In 1900, President William McKinley appointed Taft Governor-General of the Philippines. In 1904, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Taft Secretary of War with the hope that he might groom Taft, his then close political ally, into his hand picked presidential successor. Riding a wave of popular support of President (and fellow Republican) Theodore Roosevelt, Taft won an easy victory in his 1908 bid for the presidency. In his first and only term, President Taft's domestic agen


Marilyn Monroe was born and died in the same American City which one?

Marilyn Monroe - Biography - IMDb Marilyn Monroe Biography Showing all 282 items Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (2) | Spouse  (3) | Trade Mark  (4) | Trivia  (133) | Personal Quotes  (116) | Salary  (19) Overview (5) 5' 5½" (1.66 m) Mini Bio (2) Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson at the Los Angeles County Hospital on June 1, 1926. Her mother Gladys Pearl Baker was a film-cutter at Consolidated Film Industries. Marilyn's father's identity was never known. Because Gladys was mentally and financially unable to care for young Marilyn, Gladys placed her in the care of a foster family, The Bolenders. Although the Bolender family wanted to adopt Marilyn, Gladys was eventually able to stabilize her lifestyle and took Marilyn back in her care when Marilyn was 7 years old. However, shortly after regaining custody of Marilyn, Gladys had a complete mental breakdown and was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and was committed to a state mental hospital. Gladys spent the rest of her life going in and out of hospitals and did not have contact with Marilyn ever again. Gladys outlived her daughter, dying in 1984. Marilyn was then taken in by Gladys' best friend Grace Goddard, who, after a series of foster homes, placed Marilyn into the Los Angeles Orphan's Home in 1935. Marilyn was traumatized by her experience there despite the Orphan's Home being an adequate living facility. Grace Goddard eventually took Marilyn back to live with her in 1937 although this stay did not last long as Grace's husband began molesting Marilyn. Marilyn went to live with Grace's Aunt Ana after this incident, although due to Aunt Ana's advanced age she could not care properly for Marilyn. Marilyn once again for the third time had to return to live with the Goddard's. The Goddard's planned to relocated and according to law, could not take Marilyn with them. She only had two choices: return to the orphanage or get married. Marilyn was only 16 years old. She decided to marry a neighborhood friend named James Dougherty; he went into the military, she modeled, they divorced in 1946. She owned 200 books (including Tolstoy, Whitman, Milton), listened to Beethoven records, studied acting at the Actors' lab in Hollywood, and took literature courses at UCLA downtown. 20th Century Fox gave her a contract but let it lapse a year later. In 1948, Columbia gave her a six-month contract, turned her over to coach Natasha Lytess and featured her in the B movie Ladies of the Chorus (1948) in which she sang three numbers : "Every Baby Needs a Da Da Daddy", "Anyone Can Tell I Love You" and "The Ladies of the Chorus" with Adele Jergens (dubbed by Virginia Rees) and others. Joseph L. Mankiewicz saw her in a small part in The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and put her in All About Eve (1950), resulting in 20th Century re-signing her to a seven-year contract. Niagara (1953) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) launched her as a sex symbol superstar. When she went to a supper honoring her in the The Seven Year Itch (1955), she arrived in a red chiffon gown borrowed from the studio (she had never owned a gown). That same year, she married and divorced baseball great Joe DiMaggio (their wedding night was spent in Paso Robles, California). After The Seven Year Itch (1955), she wanted serious acting to replace the sexpot image and went to New York's Actors Studio. She worked with director Lee Strasberg and also underwent psychoanalysis to learn more about herself. Critics praised her transformation in Bus Stop (1956) and the press was stunned by her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller . True to form, she had no veil to match her beige wedding dress so she dyed one in coffee; he wore one of the two suits he owned. They went to England that fall where she made The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) with Laurence Olivier , fighting with him and falling further prey to alcohol and pills. Two miscarriages and gynecological surgery followed. So did an affair with Yves Montand . Work on her last picture The Misfits (1961), written for her by departing husband Miller was interrupted by exhaust


"Which Ukrainian City is known as the ""Pearl of the Black Sea""?"

The Pearl of the Black Sea. A quick look at Odessa. - Review of Potemkin Steps, Odessa, Ukraine - TripAdvisor “The Pearl of the Black Sea. A quick look at Odessa.” Reviewed October 13, 2012 We arrived at Odessa on 6th October 2012. Odessa was formerly colonized by ancient Greeks some 25 centuries ago. It is now a cosmopolitan city with a population of just over 1 million. It was the fourth largest city in Imperial Russia, after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw. Today it’s the Black Sea’s largest port to the Ukraine region and is often called “ the Pearl of the Black Sea.” It is famous for it’s seascapes, street scenes, markets and concerts. The city has a sylvan atmosphere from it’s many poplar, acacia and plane trees. Until 1991 when it gained independence, Ukraine was part of the USSR. Now it has it’s own currency, it’s own arm forces, and is a popular holiday destination for the locals, and is a thriving city. We visited the square of Catherine the Great and the popular Primorsky Boulevard where we viewed the famous Potemkin Staircase from the top, the Pushkin Statue and opposite the statue, the imposing white colonnaded Odessa City Hall and viewed the exterior of the Opera House. The Potemkin Steps was built is such a way that viewed from the bottom of the 192 steps, one sees only the sky-line at the top, and viewed from the top, the steps are hardly visible.The steps are almost twice as wide at the bottom than at the top and they lead from the harbor area up to the Prymorsky Bulvar. The Opera House was built just over 100 years ago by Austrian architects with it’s baroque architecture. We then saw the Alley of Glory with the 70 foot high Monument to the Unknown Sailor, commemorating the defenders of Odessa in World War 2. Here you can witness the changing of the guards, performed every 15 minutes. We visited the Sobornaya Square to see the impressive Preobrazhensky Cathedral and the tree filled City Garden. Tips: Changing money with black market traders is not recommended and can be dangerous. Security must not be taken for granted, so be aware of your surroundings, and secure personal valuable items like cameras, purses and wallets, and do not attract attention with jewelry; and carry your bags in such a way that these are not opened without you being aware. Stick to the main attractions, sights and districts.


What food would you get if you ordered Albondingas in a Spanish restaurant or Frikadeller in a Scandinavian one?

Spanish food | The Daily Norm Madrid – Restaurant focus: Va de Baco and Ølsen As far as gastronomic finesse goes, Madrid is not as renowned as some of its neighbouring Spanish cities. However the buzz word around Madrid is inevitably tapas, and an innovative approach to tapas is what Madrid does best. Upon arriving in Madrid, late on a Friday night, we knew that many of the most popular tapas bars would already be heaving with the hip young Madrillanean crowd. Aperitif, croquetas and ensaladilla rusa One of my favourite tapas bars is Lateral  in the Plaza de Santa Ana, a trendy restaurant which offers a fresh and unpretentious approach to tapas classics and innovations alike. The problem is, its prices are so reasonable, and its flavourful offerings so delicious that the place is always packed. And cashing in on their popularity, the restaurant does pack you in into ridiculously tight spaces – generally four people will be crammed in around a corner table the size of a large computer monitor… there is barely room for your knees to squeeze under, let alone for the various tapas dishes to sit upon the table in unison. They also tend to rush you through the meal so that they can more swiftly eat into the lengthening queue which forms outside the restaurant each evening. Spider crab and albondigas Finding Lateral to be, predictably, pack out with queues stretching well into the buzzing Plaza de Santa Ana, we headed a few blocks down the road along the Calle del Prado, where we stumbled upon Va de Baco at 4 Calle del Prado 28013. The restaurant is seemingly quite new, decked out with chic lighting and cabinets brimming full of wine.  But the real star was the food. To start we were given a free aperitif which comprised a consommé style soup in which well-seasoned chickpeas bobbed gracefully, while on the side a super-creamy jamon croquette added some texture to the dish. Moving on to the tapas we ordered: simple, traditional favourites such as Ensaladilla Rusa (a mayonnaise-based potato salad with tuna a crunchy vegetables) and albondigas (meatballs) were served with contemporary twists such as the creamy curry sauce of the albondigas. More adventurous was a tapas of spider crab, delicately served with a potent wasabi mayonnaise, while the real star of the night was a ginger cream dessert with slices of mandarin and a passionfruit sorbet accompanying – exquisite. And best of all, the final bill, including a large carafe of Rioja plus two glasses extra at the end of the meal, was a mere €45 for the two of us. Ginger cream Bread stick... On our second night in Madrid, we ditched the tapas trail for a hispanic-scandinavian fusion in the form of trendy new restaurant,  Ølsen  (15, Calle del Prado). The recently opened restaurant is already a firm favourite of the Madrid cool-crowd, with minimalist woods, low lighting and a chilled lounge soundtrack (I distinctly recognised Hotel Costes Volume 15 while we were dining) creating a very atmospheric dining ambience. As for the food, which for the most part pulls on Scandinavian influences, we were constantly thrilled by attention to detail and imaginative flavour fusions. Sweet corn cakes with various fishy treats To start we shared a fish sharing platter comprising sweet corn cakes and a selection of smoked salmon, smoked trout, caviar and a delicious taramasalata-styled smoked fish roe accompaniment. The combination of sweet, soft cakes and smokey fish was divine. On the side, bread was served in the form of various bagel-shaped creations, ranging from a sweeter glazed brioche to flat seeded cracker. For mains, we both chose a smoked lean brazed pork, with a red fruit and beer sauce and horseradish mashed potatoes. The meat was so tender and caramelised that along with the acidity of the red fruits and creaminess of the mashed potatoes, this dish took comfort to another level. A comfort which was then cranked up to a level of ridiculous self-indulgence when I had my dessert – a giant, soft and unctuous Oreo cookie with red fruits icecream. Oh god, I would return to Madrid just to ha


In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales the pilgrims met at which inn?

SparkNotes: The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue: Introduction The Canterbury Tales General Prologue: The Knight through the Man of Law Fragment 1, lines 1–42 Summary Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote . . . (See Important Quotations Explained ) The narrator opens the General Prologue with a description of the return of spring. He describes the April rains, the burgeoning flowers and leaves, and the chirping birds. Around this time of year, the narrator says, people begin to feel the desire to go on a pilgrimage. Many devout English pilgrims set off to visit shrines in distant holy lands, but even more choose to travel to Canterbury to visit the relics of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, where they thank the martyr for having helped them when they were in need. The narrator tells us that as he prepared to go on such a pilgrimage, staying at a tavern in Southwark called the Tabard Inn, a great company of twenty-nine travelers entered. The travelers were a diverse group who, like the narrator, were on their way to Canterbury. They happily agreed to let him join them. That night, the group slept at the Tabard, and woke up early the next morning to set off on their journey. Before continuing the tale, the narrator declares his intent to list and describe each of the members of the group. Analysis The invocation of spring with which the General Prologue begins is lengthy and formal compared to the language of the rest of the Prologue. The first lines situate the story in a particular time and place, but the speaker does this in cosmic and cyclical terms, celebrating the vitality and richness of spring. This approach gives the opening lines a dreamy, timeless, unfocused quality, and it is therefore surprising when the narrator reveals that he’s going to describe a pilgrimage that he himself took rather than telling a love story. A pilgrimage is a religious journey undertaken for penance and grace. As pilgrimages went, Canterbury was not a very difficult destination for an English person to reach. It was, therefore, very popular in fourteenth-century England, as the narrator mentions. Pilgrims traveled to visit the remains of Saint Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in 1170 by knights of King Henry II. Soon after his death, he became the most popular saint in England. The pilgrimage in The Canterbury Tales should not be thought of as an entirely solemn occasion, because it also offered the pilgrims an opportunity to abandon work and take a vacation. In line 20, the narrator abandons his unfocused, all-knowing point of view, identifying himself as an actual person for the first time by inserting the first person—“I”—as he relates how he met the group of pilgrims while staying at the Tabard Inn. He emphasizes that this group, which he encountered by accident, was itself formed quite by chance (25–26). He then shifts into the first-person plural, referring to the pilgrims as “we” beginning in line 29, asserting his status as a member of the group. The narrator ends the introductory portion of his prologue by noting that he has “tyme and space” to tell his narrative. His comments underscore the fact that he is writing some time after the events of his story, and that he is describing the characters from memory. He has spoken and met with these people, but he has waited a certain length of time before sitting down and describing them. His intention to describe each pilgrim as he or she seemed to him is also important, for it emphasizes that his descriptions are not only subject to his memory but are also shaped by his individual perceptions and opinions regarding each of the characters. He positions himself as a mediator between two groups: the group of pilgrims, of which he was a member, and us, the audience, whom the narrator explicitly addresses as “you” in lines 34 and 38. On the other hand, the narrator’s declaration that he will tell us about the “condicioun,” “degree,” and “array” (dress) of each of the pilgrims suggests that his portrait


What was the name of the oil tanker that ran aground off the coast of Brittany in 1978?

BBC ON THIS DAY | 24 | 1978: Tanker Amoco Cadiz splits in two About This Site | Text Only 1978: Tanker Amoco Cadiz splits in two Violent seas have split the Amoco Cadiz super tanker wrecked off the coast of France, destroying any hopes of salvaging any remaining oil and threatening an ecological disaster. Experts hoped 30,000 to 50,000 tons of oil left in the holds could have been pumped out but this morning's split, off the north coast of Finisterre, means all the 220,000-ton cargo will have escaped into the sea. Strong tides and winds are driving the oil slick westward raising fears it will affect the Channel Islands and the western coast of the Cherbourg peninsula in France. The oil spill is now covering 800 square miles (1,287 sq km) since it ran aground on Portsall Rocks, three miles off the coast of Brittany, France, eight days ago, en route from the Gulf to Le Havre. The French Navy announced 30 ships are working to contain the oil slick. They include five Royal Navy tugs, two ships from Norway and a vessel from Holland equipped with mechanical shovels. Officers are working around the clock spraying detergent to disperse the oil slick, and helicopters have been commissioned to assist with this. Experts said the best form of removing the oil is by sucking it off the sea from another vessel but this is currently not an option as the weather and sea is too volatile. The slick is being monitored by planes using infra-red cameras and the Landsatt satellite will shortly be taking pictures of it from space. Environmental damage The Amoco Cadiz's cargo is already forming a "chocolate mousse" - a dangerous mix of oil and water that forms naturally - which will pollute all life forms it drifts across. Its damage to the environment is coupled with the long-term effect the oil slick will have on the local economy of shellfish and oyster fishermen. According to some sources bombing or burning the ship is still being discussed as an option but no decisions have been taken yet. In 1967 Britain bombed the hulk of the Torrey Canyon for several days but the wreck was destroyed only after all the oil had leaked out.


Which major political figure won, the Nobe1Prize for Literature for his 'History of the English Speaking Peoples'?

A History of the English Speaking Peoples, Volume 1 - The Birth of Britain (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading) by Winston S. Churchill, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading 5.50(w) x 8.25(h) x (d) Related Subjects Historical (Diachronic) Linguistics Read an Excerpt The Birth of Britain is the first volume of A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, the immensely popular and eminently readable four-volume work of history by Winston Churchill. Written by one of the masters of the English language, it is a grand and sweeping story that captures the drama of history. A rousing account of the early history of Britain, the work describes the great men and women of the past and their impact on the development of the legal and political institutions of the English. Indeed, Churchill celebrates the creation of the constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system and the kings, queens, and leading nobles who helped create English democracy in The Birth of Britain, which was first written at a time when that great achievement faced its darkest hour. One of the greatest figures of the twentieth century, Winston Churchill is best known for his leadership of Britain during the Second World War. After a period of political exile that was part of a storied career in public life that included great successes and dramatic failures, Churchill was called to power and led Britain during its finest hour. As prime minister, Churchill joined with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin to defeat Hitler and the Axis powers of Italy and Japan. Although voted out of office following the end of World War II, Churchill helped shape the post-war world and returned to the prime minister’s office in 1951. His famed “Iron Curtain” speech offered the best description of the world order following the defeat of the Nazis and the subsequent spread of communism. But Churchill was not simply one of the most important political leaders of his time. He was also the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953, and his many works include fiction, biography, and history as well as collections of essays and speeches. His memoirs, speeches, and other works during his long career remain essential documents for the history of his time. More popular with non-scholars than with academic historians, Churchill’s works of history, nonetheless, reveal the keen grasp of history by an author who not only witnessed history but made it himself. The Birth of Britain was not Churchill’s only written work, but was one of the last of many works of fiction and nonfiction. Despite his role as one of the great political leaders of his county throughout the first half of the twentieth century—he was a member of Parliament, first lord of the admiralty on two occasions, and prime minister in World War II and again from 1951 to 1955—Churchill compiled a large literary corpus. While still a young man, Churchill was a newspaper correspondent and prior to that served a tour of duty in the military, which formed the core of his first book, The Story of the Malakand Field. In 1900, he published his only work of fiction, the novel Savrola, a modern political drama in which Churchill reveals his political philosophy. Churchill’s true talents, however, rested in the writing of nonfiction, and many of his works proclaimed his devotion to democratic principles and praised figures of the past who embodied the virtues of honor and decency or who provided a political education for Churchill and others. His interest in political biography was most clearly demonstrated in his biography of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill (1906). This work defended his father’s legacy and also provided Churchill a model for his own political beliefs and practices. A second biography, which also served to vindicate one of his ancestors and to provide a model of statesmanship, was Marlborough: His Life and Times (1933-38). The biography examines the life of John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, whose place in government and leadership against the absolute monarch Louis


Which operatic character dies at the hand of the soldier Don Juan?

What is a Play? What is a Play? Resources Text...         Robert Cohen and Donovan Sherman. Theatre: Brief Version, 11th edition, Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2017; Chapter 2: What is A Play? Outside reading...         Aristotle. Poetics . Translation by S.H. Butcher, London, 1907 Objectives of Unit I, Lecture 3: What is a Play? To identify the different genres of dramatic literature and the six elements of dramatric structure as established by Aristotle. 1. What is a genre ? Genre is a French word meaning "category" or "type." The choice of genre reflect's the writer's point of view towards his subject. The two oldest genres, dating back to the fifth century BCE, are tragedy and comedy. 2.  Using the classical definition, what is the difference   between a tragedy and a comedy? Mask of Comedy and Tragedy In a tragedy, the protagonist goes down in defeat (hence the frown), in a comedy he overcomes the dramatic obstacle and attains his major objective (which is why he's smiling). 3.  What is the difference between the protagonist and the antagonist? The protagonist is the principal character (the "hero") in a play; the antagonist is his primary opponent (the "villain"): the dramatic obstacle. In many plays the "hero" is not very heroic. 4. What is the major objective? The major objective, also known as the spine, is a character's primary desire or goal. If the protagonist reaches his goal, the play (by definition) is a comedy. If he doesn't, it's a tragedy. In a Shakespearean tragedy, the protagonist (hero) always dies; in a Shakespearean comedy he often gets married. The greater the body count at the final curtain, the greater the tragedy. The more weddings in the last act, the greater the comedy. (I was taught this 50 years ago, kind of "tongue in cheek," by Professor T. W. Baldwin in a Shakespeare class at Southern Illinois University- Carbondale.) 5. What is the popular definition of a drama? A serious, but not tragic, play dealing with the middle, or lower class. A bourgeois drama. (Bourgeois is a French term meaning the owner of a small business, a merchant, a trades-man, or home owner.)     A comedy? A light amusing play with a happy ending. Usually a farce. 6.  What is the difference between high comedy and low comedy? Arms and the Man The subject of high comedy is usually serious and provokes "thoughtful laughter". The action is both possible and probable and the comedy grows out of the character, not the situation. It is usually a realistic portrayal of life. Arms and the Man (1894) by George Bernard Shaw, the story of a Swiss army officer who has replaced the shells in his cartridge belt with chocolate, is generally considered a high comedy (a Comedy of Ideas). The play was adapted into a German operetta by Oscar Straus: The Chocolate Soldier (1908). The objective of low comedy is "riotous laughter." The action is possible, but not very probable and the play is dominated by situation (plot), not character. It calls for little or no thought, and is only believable for the moment. 7.  List the six rungs on the Ladder of Comedy. Comedy of ideas (Satire). Comedy of wit (The humor is in the lines), Comedy of situation or plot, (The SitCom), Comedy of pain (Slapstick), The "dirty" joke, Bathroom humor. The top two rungs, the comedy of character and idea, are generally considered high comedy. The bottom four rungs -- the comedy of pain, situation, wit and the "dirty joke" -- are low comedy. In a Comedy of Wit, the audience laughs at the lines delivered by the actor. A good example is George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's The Man Who Came To Dinner (1939). The character of Sheridan Whiteside is based on Alexander Woollcott (1887-1943), a well known New York theatre critic and the radio host of CBS' The Town Crier. Watch a brief clip from the 2000 Broadway revival staring Nathan Lane. Note that Whiteside is very obnoxious, but also funny. In a Comedy of Pain, or Slapstick, the humor comes from a character slipping on a bannana peel, falling down a flight a of steps, having a chair pulled out from und


Which British monarch was 'Elector of Hanover' from 1698-1727?

George I | History Today Read more George I (r. 1714-27) Elector of Hanover (r.1698-1727) and king of Great Britain, chosen to prevent a Catholic succession. He was an unpopular king who could not speak English and relied heavily on his ministers, leading to the emergence of the office of prime minister.


What charitable publication was founded by John Bird?

Big Issue founder John Bird appointed to The House of Lords | Big Issue Big Issue sellers are working, not begging, so if you pay for a magazine please take one Home » The Mix » News » Big Issue founder John Bird appointed to The House of Lords Big Issue founder John Bird appointed to The House of Lords News Oct 13, 2015 John Bird has been appointed as a crossbencher to the House of Lords, and will work for "social opportunity and social justice"   The Big Issue is delighted to announce that its founder, John Bird, has today been appointed to the House of Lords as an independent working Peer in recognition of his work as the social entrepreneur who launched The Big Issue magazine, The Big Issue Foundation and Big Issue Invest. As a crossbencher John Bird will owe no allegiance to any political party and will be free to take part in legislative debates free of the constraints of party considerations and consensus politics. John’s appointment by the independent House of Lords Appointments Commission is based on his life experience of the matters closest to the heart of The Big Issue: social deprivation, poverty, prison and how socially-based entrepreneurialism can make a real difference to lives. Nigel Kershaw, Chair of The Big Issue, said: “At a time when there is a certain amount of controversy around some appointments to the House of Lords, I believe that John is a Lord we can all applaud. “It is a testament to his character and vision – and to the changing world we live in – that John becomes probably the first Peer ever appointed on a lifetime of experience which includes being raised as an orphan in a slum, illiteracy, sleeping rough and being jailed as a young offender. “In spectacularly turning around his own life by becoming a trail-blazing social entrepreneur, John has inspired millions with The Big Issue’s mission to provide a hand up to thousands of people too often forgotten by society." John Bird said: “Mine will be a voice in the legislative process for the thousands of people The Big Issue has helped over the past 24 years and continues to help today through our philosophy of social entrepreneurialism based on self-help. “I believe that one of the complexities of modern policy is that sometimes the best thinkers, like The Big Issue, are left outside the box. Yet if we are to have social opportunity and social justice for all, the thinking within the box needs to change.” John Bird founded The Big Issue in 1991 as a street magazine to be sold by the homeless with half the proceeds of every sale going to the vendors, thus giving them the opportunity of earning money through their own efforts rather than depending on handouts. Since then the magazine has put over £100 million directly into the pockets of homeless individuals, sold almost 200 million copies and has helped thousands of homeless people move themselves away from poverty. In 1995 John Bird launched the Big Issue Foundation , a charity that supports Big Issue vendors in dealing with the issues that have caused their homelessness or have developed as a result of their living on the street. He continues to serve on the Board of Directors for The Big Issue. In 2001, with The Big Issue chairman Nigel Kershaw, he launched Big Issue Invest the social investment arm of the Big Issue which provides finance to help develop social enterprises and charities. John Bird continues to serve on the Board of Directors for The Big Issue and is a global speaker on motivational and social issues. Baroness Morris of Yardley, who along with Baron Alton of Liverpool, nominated John Bird, said: “I'm delighted that John Bird has been appointed as a cross-bench member of the House of Lords. His work with members of our community who face considerable challenges and his successful track record in helping people to overcome them means that he will bring great experience and knowledge to the Lords. “More than that, he has the determination and the tenacity to argue for what he believes to be the right way forward in key areas of social policy.” Help us to help our vendors. By s


Whose final live concert took place on 29th August 1969 Candlestick Park in San Francisco?

29 August 1966: The Beatles' final concert in Candlestick Park, San Francisco | The Beatles Bible Ringo Starr Anthology The Park's capacity was 42,500, but only 25,000 tickets were sold, leaving large sections of unsold seats. Fans paid between $4.50 and $6.50 for tickets, and The Beatles' fee was around $90,000. The show's promoter was local company Tempo Productions. The Beatles took 65% of the gross, the city of San Francisco took 15% of paid admissions and were given 50 free tickets. This arrangement, coupled with low ticket sales and other unexpected expenses resulted in a financial loss for Tempo Productions. Candlestick Park was the home of the baseball team the San Francisco Giants. The stage was located just behind second base on the field, and was five feet high and surrounded by a six-foot high wire fence. The compère was 'Emperor' Gene Nelson of KYA 1260 AM, and the support acts were, in order of appearance, The Remains, Bobby Hebb, The Cyrkle and The Ronettes. The show began at 8pm. I was the MC, and, as any Giants fans will know, Candlestick Park in August, at night, was cold, foggy and windy. The funniest thing this night was one of the warm-up acts, Bobby Hebb. He stood up on the stage at Candlestick Park, with the fog, and the wind blowing, and he was singing 'Sunny'! It was tough anyway to work a ballpark as an MC, especially as The Beatles were taking their time to get out. I was trying to entertain a crowd that was shouting, 'Beatles, Beatles, Beatles.' The dressing room was chaos. There were loads of people there. The press tried to get passes for their kids and the singer Joan Baez was in there. Any local celebrity, who was in town, was in the dressing room. They were having a party in there. They were having a perfectly wonderful time, while I was freezing my buns off on second base! 'Emperor' Gene Nelson The Beatles Off The Record, Keith Badman The Beatles took to the stage at 9.27pm, and performed 11 songs: Rock And Roll Music , She's A Woman , If I Needed Someone , Day Tripper , Baby's In Black , I Feel Fine , Yesterday , I Wanna Be Your Man , Nowhere Man , Paperback Writer and Long Tall Sally . The group knew it was to be their final concert. Recognising its significance, John Lennon and Paul McCartney took a camera onto the stage, with which they took pictures of the crowd, the rest of the group, and themselves at arm's length. Before one of the last numbers, we actually set up this camera, I think it had a fisheye, a wide-angle lens. We set it up on the amplifier and Ringo came off the drums, and we stood with our backs to the audience and posed for a photograph, because we knew that was the last show. George Harrison The Beatles Off The Record, Keith Badman As The Beatles made their way to Candlestick Park, Paul McCartney asked their press officer Tony Barrow to make a recording of the concert on audio cassette, using a hand-held recorder. The cassette lasted 30 minutes on each side, and, as Barrow didn't flip it during the show, the recording cut off during final song Long Tall Sally . There was a sort of end of term spirit thing going on, and there was also this kind of feeling amongst all of us around The Beatles, that this might just be the last concert that they will ever do. I remember Paul, casually, at the very last minute, saying, 'Have you got your cassette recorder with you?' and I said, 'Yes, of course.' Paul then said, 'Tape it will you? Tape the show,' which I did, literally just holding the microphone up in the middle of the field. As a personal souvenir of the occasion, it was a very nice thing to have and the only difference was that it wasn't a spectacular occasion. It was nothing like Shea Stadium, there was nothing special about it at all, except that The Beatles did put in extra ad-libs and link material which they hadn't put in before on any other occasion. Tony Barrow The Beatles Off The Record, Keith Badman Barrow gave the original tape of the Candlestick Park concert to McCartney. He also made a single copy, which was kept in a locked drawer in Barrow's office desk.


In Holst's suite 'The Planets' who is the bringer of old age?

Holst- Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age- The Planets Suite - YouTube Holst- Saturn, The Bringer of Old Age- The Planets Suite Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Feb 22, 2008 English composer Gustav Holst composed The Planets between 1914 and 1916. The Birmingham premiere of the suite took place in 1918, fifteen years before Pluto was discovered. Though the Planets became by far the most popular work of Holst's and one of the most known pieces by an English-born composer, Holst did not consider the piece one of his finest. Partially because of this, he never wrote an eighth movement, though unexpectedly the IAU relegated Pluto from its status as planet proper in 2006. Category Standard YouTube License Music


Which English town is twinned with Disney World?

Swindon twinned with Disney World - Telegraph Planning Swindon twinned with Disney World It may not be a place that instantly conjures up images of Mickey, Goofy and  Donald but Swindon has more in common with Walt Disney World than you may  think. The new park, which could eventually sprawl over as much as 1,700 acres of Shanghai's Pudong district, could cost as much as $4bn (£2.43bn) over the next five years Photo: GETTY By Caroline Gammell 6:58PM GMT 07 Dec 2009 For the Wiltshire town – widely associated with roundabouts, railways and roads – is to be twinned with the magical, cartoon world based in Florida. It fought off fierce competition from the likes of Weston-super-Mare, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Milton Keynes to lay claim to the honour. A shortlist was whittled down to 25 and with the closing date on November 22, nervous contenders had to wait two weeks before hearing who had won. Each hopeful entrant had to explain why their chosen location was best suited to the animated world of Disney. Rebecca Warren, 20, produced a slide show comparing the Florida wonderland with her home town, known for celebrities such as Billie Piper and Melinda Messenger. Related Articles Mother 'groped by Donald Duck’ 12 Aug 2010 In several images she is seen with a friend dressed in Mickey Mouse ears as she reads out a voice-over accompanied by orchestral Disney-style music. “You’ll never be able to compare the place where dreams come true,” she said. “But we may find a few similarities – even it’s just one or two.” Waxing lyrical about the “ever expanding town with a friendly village feel”, Miss Warren highlights the features of a town satirised in the hit comedy series The Office and Red Dwarf. Undeterred, she continues: “We may not have a castle, or the hot Florida sun. “But we do sure have what Disney has – it’s fun for everyone.” Without a hint of irony she adds: “The teacups are my favourite ride, I say this without a doubt. “You twist and turn again and again, just like our famous Magic Roundabout.” Built in 1972, the Magic Roundabout in Swindon is made up of five mini roundabouts arranged in a circle and was recently voted as the fourth scariest junction in Britain. Other entrants to the competition included Alison Griffiths, a 41-year-old nurse manager, who spent her honeymoon at Disney World and put forward Bristol. Karen Taylor, 49, described the Florida fantasy land and Weston-super-Mare as a “match made in heaven”. Hugh Wood, of Disney Destinations International, said: “Britain clearly has a love for Walt Disney World and long-standing affinity with the parks and their magic, which is probably why the number and quality of entries received was so high.” After finding out her pitch had been successful, Miss Warren said: “I still cannot believe that my entry has been selected, it’s fantastic.” The building society worker will fly to Florida with her 11-year-old nephew Aaron and five-year-old niece Amy for the unveiling of the plaque: “Walt Disney World Twinned with Swindon.” The Wiltshire town will host its own celebratory party in January. It is understood that Mickey and Minnie might make an appearance, but Cinderella has yet to confirm.


How is the Gravelly Hill interchange more commonly known?

Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham turns 40 - Telegraph Motoring News Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham turns 40 Spaghetti Junction, the famous interchange linking the M6 with the A38(M) in  Birmingham, was opened 40 years ago today. Spaghetti Junction was opened on May 24, 1972. Nowadays it is used by more than 210,000 vehicles a day Photo: ALAMY Comments Gravelly Hill Interchange, more commonly known as "Spaghetti Junction", turns 40 today. It was on May 24 1972 that the interchange, which is located at junction 6 of the M6 motorway, was first opened, with its famous nickname reputedly coined by Roy Smith, a journalist working on the Birmingham Evening Mail, due to the appearance of the complicated road network when seen from the air. His idea caught on with such success that today most people only know Gravelly Hill Interchange by its nickname. Spaghetti Junction also features in the English Dictionary and is the name of the official Birmingham City Students' Union magazine. In total Spaghetti Junction serves 18 routes, most importantly linking the M6 with the A38(M) Aston Expressway in Birmingham, as well as the A38 (Tyburn Road) and the A5127. In total the junction covers an area of about 30 acres and features more than 500 concrete columns supporting its five levels. Construction of the junction began in 1968 and took four years to complete, its complicated design a result of it following the line of the local canal and river networks in order to minimise the demolition of property. When it opened there were about 40,000 vehicles a day using Gravelly Hill Interchange, a figure that has risen to 210,000 vehicles a day in 2012. Related Articles


"The ""House"" is the target in which Winter Olympic Sport?"

Winter Olympics 2014: GB sets ambitious medal target for Sochi Games - but who might deliver them? | The Independent Olympics Winter Olympics 2014: GB sets ambitious medal target for Sochi Games - but who might deliver them? UK Sport sets goal of three to seven podiums after investing £14m - we take a look at some of the GB contenders Friday 17 January 2014 01:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Lizzy Yarnold is the Skeleton world number one GETTY IMAGES Britain’s Winter Olympians have been set an ambitious target of bringing home the country’s best ever medal haul from next month’s Sochi Games. UK Sport, the body that funds elite Olympic sport, today revealed a goal of three to seven medals, a range that potentially takes Britain well beyond their previous best. It is nearly 80 years since Britain won three medals at a Winter Olympics – the gold, silver and bronze collected in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936 – and such has been the recent scarcity of podium places that at the last four Games Britain have gathered four medals in total. Should Team GB reach the upper end of their target, it will match nearly a third of Britain’s entire current total of winter medals. Since the first Winter Olympics in 1924, where Britain recorded its highest single Games tally of four, only 22 medals have been won by Britons in 90 years. At Vancouver 2010 Amy Williams’ skeleton gold was Britain’s sole success but record funding – £14m in public and Lottery money has been spent on this Olympic cycle – and investment in coaching and expanding the support network and technology available to key winter sports has significantly raised hopes of succeeding in Russia. Skeleton – now Britain’s signature winter event – again offers the best chance via Lizzy Yarnold and Shelley Rudman, respectively world No 1 and current world champion. Britain’s women curlers are world champions, while sports such as speed skating and freestyle skiing, a newcomer to the Games, also provide medal-winning potential. Winter wonders: Great Britain’s medal prospects in Sochi Winter wonders: Great Britain’s medal prospects in Sochi 1/7 Eve Muirhead Twenty-three year old Scot skips the women’s curling team, who are the current world champions having beaten Sweden last year. 2/7 Shelley Rudman Reigning world champion in the skeleton, carried the Great Britain flag at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. Competing in her third Winter Games. 3/7 Lizzy Yarnold Current world No 1 in the skeleton, the 25-year old won bronze at the 2012 World Championships. 4/7 Jenny Jones The Bristol-born snowboarder is a three-time X Games gold medallist in slopestyle. 5/7 Katie Summerhayes Teenage freestyle skier who has recovered from a career-threatening cruciate knee injury. Took part in the Winter Youth Olympics in Austria in 2012. 6/7 Elise Christie First British woman to win a short-track speed skating World Championship medal. Took part in Vancouver four years ago but could only manage finishes of 11th (500m), 19th (1,000m) and 20th (1,500m). 7/7 James Woods Freestyle skier who won World Championship silver last year to go with bronze medals at the X Games in both 2011 in Tignes and 2013 in Colorado.   “If we achieve three, that’s hugely significant,” said Liz Nicholl, UK Sport’s chief executive. “It’s an ambitious target and our hopes are high. We can all honestly say this squad of athletes will be the best supported and best prepared of any winter campaign. We have more potential across more sports going into these Games than we’ve ever had in the past. We’re confident these ranges are accurate.” UK Sport set a target of 40 to 70 medals for London 2012, with Team GB winning 65. Infrostrada Sports, a statistical analysis company, forecast Britain would win 66 medals in London and, like UK Sport, also predicts a positive Winter Games with six medals. Britain have been here before. The target for Vancouver was three medals and around Williams’ dramatic triumph were a succession of failures. But four years of background investment allied to the maturing of the likes of Eve Muirhead, t


In which state was US President William McKinley assassinated?

The Assassination of President William McKinley, 1901 The Assassination of President William McKinley, 1901 Printer Friendly Version >>> President McKinley, whose popularity was heightened by the victory of the United States in the Spanish-American war, was easily returned to a second term in the election of 1900. His running mate was Theodore Roosevelt, Governor of New York. In less than a year McKinley’s presidency was cut short by an assassin's bullet delivered in Buffalo, New York. "Now that damned cowboy is in the White House!" declared political boss and Senator from Ohio, Mark Hanna on hearing the news. President McKinley Reviews Troops, September 6, 1901 In September 1901 the President scheduled a visit to the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, NY. Planning for this extravaganza had been in the works for years but postponed during the Spanish-American War. With the war's conclusion the preparations for the Exposition could go forward and all the governments of the western hemisphere were invited to attend. It occupied 350 acres with buildings whose architecture reflected the style of the Spanish Renaissance. The major theme of the exposition extolled the wonders of the new source of power - electricity. Arriving on September 6, President McKinley welcomed visitors at the Exposition’s stadium followed by a short reception at the Temple of Music. Noting that the reception was to last only ten minutes, an aide felt the president was unnecessarily exposing himself to danger. In reply, the president commented "No one would wish to hurt me." McKinley stood at the head of the reception line in the Temple of Music. His famous handshake whisked each recipient on his way. A slim, 28-year-old man named Leon Czolgosz approached. He had a handkerchief wrapped about his right hand. As the president reached for his left hand, Czolgosz dropped the handkerchief revealing a pistol. He fired twice. The first bullet bounced off McKinley's chest. The second ripped through his stomach. McKinley's first thoughts were of his wife - "be careful how you tell her, oh be careful" and of his assassin - "be easy with him boys." He lingered for eight days finally succumbing to gangrene and infection on September 14 with the words "it is God's way, his will, not ours, be done." Czolgosz, a self-proclaimed anarchist, had been deeply affected by the treatment of the Slavic miners during the coal strikes of 1897. Justice was swift. His trial began on September 23 and a guilty verdict presented the next day. Given that the purpose of the exposition where the President was shot was to extol the wonders of electricity, it is one of history's ironies that his assassin met his maker on October 29, 1901 at Auburn Prison, New York courtesy of the latest method of execution � the electric chair. ADVERTISMENT "Suddenly I saw a hand shoved toward the President. . . Then there were two shots in rapid succession." Reporter John D. Wells was covering McKinley's visit to the Exposition and witnessed his assassination. We join his account as the President enters the Temple of Music: "In the capacity of Exposition representative of the Buffalo Morning Review I was called upon to cover the visit of President McKinley to the Pan-American Exposition on that memorable Friday when the Chief Executive of this great nation was stricken by an assassin. Outside the Temple of Music was a dense crowd, fully fifteen thousand in number, all attracted there by the President's reception. Once the President's party were well inside the building, the doors were closed to allow time to make complete preparations for the levee. The chairs had been peculiarly arranged, leaving a lane from the southeast entrance of the building to the southwest exit, through which the people were to pass. It was scarcely large enough for the passage of more than one file of people. Under the majestic dome of the building, and bordering the passageway, a small space had been cleared. Here the President stood. In line, along each side of the passageway, were the eighteen members


What was the former name of Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe?

Harare, capital of Zimbabwe safaris Zambezi Home / Countries / Zimbabwe / Harare Harare Harare is the capital city and the base of operations for all incoming flights, trains and even self-drive trips around the country. With a wonderful climate – warm to hot in summer and cool and dry in winter, the city has a natural tendency to look attractive with its wide streets and lovely trees and champagne air. Of main interest are the craft markets and the unique Shona sculptures which are prolifically created throughout the region from wood or soapstone. The city is built in the highveld, 1,500m above sea level and was first developed by early pioneers looking for gold. Originally called Salisbury in Cecil John Rhodes’ time, the city has seen three dramatic changes in government; from the British to the Rhodesians to Robert Mugabe’s Shona party ZANU-PF. The name “harare” is borrowed from the first Shona inhabitants called Ne-Harawa after the regional chief – Haarare (“one who does not sleep”). Built on top of a kopje (inselberg), it was controlled by the Mbare people who inevitable fought with the next tribe to come along; Chief Gutsa and his followers. The Mbare people eventually moved up north of the Zambezi Valley while the Chief Gutsa was overtaken by the arrival of Major Frank Johnson who led the British South Africa Company. Used mainly as an overnight stop before or after a safari, as it has several very good hotels convenient to the airport. There are a few safari lodges which are not far from the city that offer game viewing activities as well as great opportunities for day trips. The best thing about Harare is that it’s easy to get out into the really good safari areas on the edge of the Zambezi! Ask an expert We've helped first-timers and seasoned travellers in Africa since 1995. We can help you take advantage of mainstream options. Better still we'll show you how and where to step off well beaten paths for the more interesting journeys. Drop a note right here...


Who had number 1 hits in 1959 with 'Dream Lover' and 'Mack the Knife'?

1959 Song Hits by Roger Lee Hall   There are movie critics and fans who say that 1939 was the peak year for great Hollywood films. And that's true. Well, I believe 1959 was one of the peak years for popular songs, because it was the end of a decade when a great deal of change had taken place in the pop music world. There was the growing popularity of R&B and Rock n' Roll music. Also, there was a broadening of music categories on records, radio, movies and television. Just consider these different categories: Broadway tunes: "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from GYPSY Country & Western songs: "The Battle of New Orleans" (21st best seller of 1950s) Easy Listening: "Mack the Knife" (the 5th best selling record of the 1950s) Ethnic/ Latino: "La Bamba" Movie songs: "High Hopes" from A HOLE IN THE HEAD (Oscar winning song) Patriotic: "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" (only hit for Mormon Tabernacle Choir) Rhythm & Blues: "Stagger Lee" Rock n' Roll: "A Big Hunk O' Love" (another No. 1 hit for Elvis Presley) This was also the year when three Rock n' Roll legends died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959: J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson, Richie Valens, and Buddy Holly. And it was  the year that Elvis returned from his Army service in Germany and kept his hit records rolling along. 1959 was the year when the first  Rock guitar instrumental ("Sleep Walk") reached No. 1 on the charts. And it was year of scandal when New York disc jockey, Alan Freed, was brought to trial for taking money for promoting records in the so-called "Payola Scandal." Other disc jockeys were also fined, like Peter Tripp from WMGM in New York, who pioneered the Top 40 format. So look at this list and see how many  you know from these... 50 Song Hits from 1959 All My Tomorrows -- Frank Sinatra Along Came Jones -- The Coasters +The Battle of New Orleans -- Johnny Horton The Best is Yet to Come -- Tony Bennett +A Big Hunk O' Love -- Elvis Presley +The Big Hurt -- Miss Toni Fisher Charlie Brown -- The Coasters Climb Ev'ry Mountain --       Patricia Neway from THE SOUND OF MUSIC +Come Softly To Me -- The Fleetwoods +Donna -- Ritchie Valens +Don't You Know -- Della Reese +Dream Lover -- Bobby Darin +The Happy Organ -- Dave "Baby" Cortez +Heartaches By The Number -- Guy Mitchell High Hopes -- Frank Sinatra It Doean't Matter Anymore -- Buddy Holly +It's Just A Matter of Time -- Brook Benton +Kansas City -- Wilbur Harrison No. 1 Songs from 1959 Arranged by number of weeks at No. 1 and alphaebtical titles for tied weeks (according to The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits by Joel Whitburn) Mack The Knife -- Bobby Darin (9 weeks at #1) The Battle Of New Orleans -- Johnny Horton (6 weeks at #1) Venus -- Frankie Avalon (5 weeks at #1) Come Softly To Me -- The Fleetwoods (4 weeks at #1) Lonely Boy -- Paul Anka (4 weeks at #1) Stagger Lee -- Lloyd Price (4 weeks at #1) The Three Bells -- The Browns (4 weeks at #1) Smoke Gets In Your Eyes -- The Platters (3 weeks at #1) A Big Hunk Of Love -- Elvis Presley (2 weeks at #1) Heartaches By The Number -- Guy Mitchell (2 weeks at #1) Kansas City -- Wilbert Harrison (2 weeks at #1) Sleep Walk -- Santo & Johnny (2 weeks at #1) The Happy Organ -- Dave "Baby" Cortez (1 week at #) Mr. Blue -- The Fleetwoods (1 weeks at #1) Why -- Frankie Avalaon (1 week at #1) Ten Top Albums from 1959 KIND OF BLUE -- Miles Davis (No. 3) GUNFIGHTER BALLADS AND TRAIL SONGS -- Marty Robbins (No. 6) HEAVENLY -- Johnny Mathis (No. 7) TIME OUT -- The Dave Brubeck Quartet (No. 10) THE SOUND OF MUSIC -- Broadway Cast (No. 17) AT LARGE -- The Kingston Trio (No. 18) THE MUSIC OF PETER GUNN -- Henry Mancini (No. 19) HERE WE GO AGAIN! -- The Kingston trio (No. 22) THE LORD'S PRAYER -- The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (No. 29) COME DANCE WITH ME! -- Frank Sinatra (No. 35) -- Source: 100 Best-Selling Albums of the 50s by Charlotte Greig


The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is a pro-am golf tournament played at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and which other course which features the Barry Burn?

About | Alfred Dunhill Links Championship History A unique championship played at the Home of Golf The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is one of the world’s leading golf events.  It is a magnet for golfers from every corner of the globe. A celebration of links golf, it is played over three magnificent courses – the Old Course (St Andrews), the Championship Course, Carnoustie (near Dundee) and Kingsbarns Golf Links (10km south of St Andrews). For golfers everywhere the Old Course at St Andrews is a unique place. Here history and sport come together in a magical way. Golf has been played over these links for hundreds of years. It is universally acknowledged as the ‘Home of Golf’ and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is the only major professional tournament played every year at St Andrews. The championship has a unique format, incorporating two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for the world’s leading golfers with a US$5 million prize fund, and a team competition which features some of the most celebrated amateur golfers playing alongside the professionals. Many of the greatest players such as Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Sir Nick Faldo, Retief Goosen, Padraig Harrington, Rory McIlroy, Colin Montgomerie, Louis Oosthuizen and Vijay Singh have played in the Championship, Amateurs have included entertainment stars such as Michael Douglas, Samuel L Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Hugh Grant and Jamie Dornan. They have shared the fairways with sporting greats like Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Ian Botham, Boris Becker, Ruud Gullit and Michael Phelps. The first Championship was staged in 2001, but Alfred Dunhill’s connection with St Andrews, through the Alfred Dunhill Cup, goes back to 1985, giving an unbroken span of more than 30 years supporting golf at St Andrews. Roll of honour - Individual Championship 2016: Tyrrell Hatton (English) Roll of honour - Team Championship 2016: Danny Willett & Jonathan Smart 2015: Florian Fritsch & Michael Ballack 2014: Peter Lawrie & Kieran McManus 2013: Thomas Levet & David Sayer 2012: Alexander Noren & Ernesto Bertarelli 2011: Nick Dougherty & Chris Evans 2010: Robert Karlsson & Dermot Desmond 2009: Soren Hansen & Kieran McManus 2008: John Bickerton & Bruce Watson 2007: Scott Strange & Robert Coe 2006: Padraig Harrington & JP McManus 2005: Henrik Stenson & Rurik Gobel 2004: Fred Couples & Craig Heatley 2003: Sam Torrance & Daniel Torrance 2002: Padraig Harrington & JP McManus 2001: Brett Rumford & Chris Peacock Format Championship Format The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship incorporates two separate competitions – an individual professional tournament for 168 of the world’s leading golfers and a Team Championship in which each professional is paired with one of 168 amateurs. Play is over three courses in rotation over the first three days – the Old Course St Andrews, the Championship Course Carnoustie and Kingsbarns Golf Links – with the final round being played over the Old Course. After three rounds the field is reduced to the leading 60 professionals and those tying for 60th place, and the leading 20 teams. Amateurs receive a stroke allowance equal to two thirds of their official handicap to a maximum of 18 for men and 24 for women. The team score is the lower of the professional’s and his amateur partner’s net score at each hole. Prize money Prize Money Total prize money for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is US$5 million – comprising $4.8 million for the individual professional competition and $200,000 for the Team Championship, paid only to the professionals. In the professional competition the first prize is $800,000, second prize is $533,330 and third prize is $300,480. In the Team Championship, the first prize is $50,000, second prize is $30,000 and third prize is $20,000. Foundation


What is the more common name of the Chilean Pine?

Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) | Plants & Fungi At Kew Discover plants and fungi Araucaria araucana (monkey puzzle) The monkey puzzle was given its name by an observer who thought that monkeys wouldn't be able to climb the spiky branches. Araucaria araucana in Chile (Photo: Martin Gardner) Species information Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch Common name:  monkey puzzle, Chile pine (English); araucaria, pino araucana, pino Chileno, piñonero (Spanish) Conservation status:  Vulnerable (VU) according to IUCN Red List criteria. Declared a Natural Monument in Chile in 1990. Habitat:  Mixed deciduous and evergreen forest, or growing as pure stands; in moist loamy soil or in stabilised volcanic ash; on the lower slopes of mountains. Key Uses:  Ornamental; edible seeds; a valuable timber tree, but logging of wild trees now strictly prohibited; a sacred tree in indigenous culture. Known hazards:  The rigid spines on the trunk and leaf tips are potentially hazardous. This is a tree to avoid climbing! Taxonomy Genus: Araucaria About this species The monkey puzzle or Chile pine (Araucaria araucana) is an evergreen conifer native to Argentina and Chile. It was discovered in about 1780 by a Spanish explorer and introduced to England by Archibald Menzies in 1795. Menzies was a plant collector and naval surgeon on Captain George Vancouver's circumnavigation of the globe, travelling in Captain James Cook's old ship, HMS Discovery. He was served the seeds of this conifer as dessert while dining with the governor of Chile and later sowed them in a frame on the quarter deck, returning home to England with five healthy plants. One of these monkey puzzles could be seen at Kew until it died in 1892. The common name alludes to the fact that the task of climbing the tree, with its sharp branches tightly clothed with spiny leaves, would puzzle even a monkey. Synonym:  Discover more Geography and distribution Native to southwest Argentina and southern and central Chile, where it grows at 600 to 1,800 m above sea level. Description Araucaria araucana pollen cones at Kew An evergreen, pyramid-shaped tree, the monkey puzzle grows up to 50 m high with a trunk circumference of up to 2.5 m. The tree's most distinguishing feature is its leaves. They are stiff, dark green and glossy with a spiny tip and completely cover each branch, closely overlapping each other. The visual effect is wholly unusual and while many consider the appearance of the tree majestic, others find its scaly, almost reptilian foliage somewhat scary. The horizontal branches are produced in tiers and have few side branches. The female cone is globular and up to 20 cm in diameter; the male cone is cylindrical and up to 15 cm long. Trees normally have cones of only one sex, rarely both. Threats and conservation The monkey puzzle is well-adapted to fire, volcanic activity having long caused wildfires in its natural habitat, so this is not a threat under natural circumstances. However, fires resulting from human activities (especially agricultural clearances) cause severe damage to remaining populations of the tree. Research in Chile, carried out under the auspices of the Flagship Species Fund of the U.K.’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Flora & Fauna International (FFI), found at least 80% of the trees remaining in one study area had suffered fire damage. Monkey puzzle stem Despite being officially declared a Natural Monument in 1990 (making it an offence to cut down wild trees), forests outside of protected areas are still subject to high levels of damage due to burning, grazing and conversion to commercial plantations. The majority of the forests occur in a relatively small area of the Chilean and Argentinean Andes; the most threatened populations are in the coastal cordillera in southern Chile. Araucaria araucana is listed in CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Appendix 1, which includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional ci


Ismene was an incestual daughter of Oedipus & Jocasta. Who was her better known sister?

SparkNotes: The Oedipus Plays: Character List The Oedipus Plays Plot Overview Analysis of Major Characters Oedipus -  The protagonist of Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus. Oedipus becomes king of Thebes before the action of Oedipus the King begins. He is renowned for his intelligence and his ability to solve riddles—he saved the city of Thebes and was made its king by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, the supernatural being that had held the city captive. Yet Oedipus is stubbornly blind to the truth about himself. His name’s literal meaning (“swollen foot”) is the clue to his identity—he was taken from the house of Laius as a baby and left in the mountains with his feet bound together. On his way to Thebes, he killed his biological father, not knowing who he was, and proceeded to marry Jocasta, his biological mother. Read an in-depth analysis of Oedipus. Jocasta -  Oedipus’s wife and mother, and Creon’s sister. Jocasta appears only in the final scenes of Oedipus the King. In her first words, she attempts to make peace between Oedipus and Creon, pleading with Oedipus not to banish Creon. She is comforting to her husband and calmly tries to urge him to reject Tiresias’s terrifying prophecies as false. Jocasta solves the riddle of Oedipus’s identity before Oedipus does, and she expresses her love for her son and husband in her desire to protect him from this knowledge. Antigone -  Child of Oedipus and Jocasta, and therefore both Oedipus’s daughter and his sister. Antigone appears briefly at the end of Oedipus the King, when she says goodbye to her father as Creon prepares to banish Oedipus. She appears at greater length in Oedipus at Colonus, leading and caring for her old, blind father in his exile. But Antigone comes into her own in Antigone. As that play’s protagonist, she demonstrates a courage and clarity of sight unparalleled by any other character in the three Theban plays. Whereas other characters—Oedipus, Creon, Polynices—are reluctant to acknowledge the consequences of their actions, Antigone is unabashed in her conviction that she has done right. Read an in-depth analysis of Antigone. Creon -  Oedipus’s brother-in-law, Creon appears more than any other character in the three plays combined. In him more than anyone else we see the gradual rise and fall of one man’s power. Early in Oedipus the King, Creon claims to have no desire for kingship. Yet, when he has the opportunity to grasp power at the end of that play, Creon seems quite eager. We learn in Oedipus at Colonus that he is willing to fight with his nephews for this power, and in Antigone Creon rules Thebes with a stubborn blindness that is similar to Oedipus’s rule. But Creon never has our sympathy in the way Oedipus does, because he is bossy and bureaucratic, intent on asserting his own authority. Read an in-depth analysis of Creon. Polynices -  Son of Oedipus, and thus also his brother. Polynices appears only very briefly in Oedipus at Colonus. He arrives at Colonus seeking his father’s blessing in his battle with his brother, Eteocles, for power in Thebes. Polynices tries to point out the similarity between his own situation and that of Oedipus, but his words seem opportunistic rather than filial, a fact that Oedipus points out. Tiresias -  Tiresias, the blind soothsayer of Thebes, appears in both Oedipus the King and Antigone. In Oedipus the King, Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the murderer he hunts, and Oedipus does not believe him. In Antigone, Tiresias tells Creon that Creon himself is bringing disaster upon Thebes, and Creon does not believe him. Yet, both Oedipus and Creon claim to trust Tiresias deeply. The literal blindness of the soothsayer points to the metaphorical blindness of those who refuse to believe the truth about themselves when they hear it spoken. Haemon -  Creon’s son, who appears only in Antigone. Haemon is engaged to marry Antigone. Motivated by his love for her, he argues with Creon about the latter’s decision to punish her. Ismene -  Oedipus’s daughter Ismene appears at the end of Oedipus the King and to a limited exten


Income tax was first levied in the UK to pay for which conflicts?

Income Tax Income Tax Income Tax What is Income Tax? Income Tax is the principal form of direct personal taxation in the UK. It takes the form of a proportion of a person's earnings, which is collected by HM Revenue & Customs and passed to the Treasury. Income Tax was previously collected by the Inland Revenue, but in April 2005, Inland Revenue merged with HM Customs and Excise Departments to form the present HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The main forms of income that are liable to Income Tax are earnings from employment and self-employment, retirement pensions, profits from business, income from property, interest on savings and dividends from investments. It is also payable on Jobseeker's Allowance and tips and bonuses. Deductions for Income Tax are usually made "at source": that is, they are deducted by the paying authority (the employer) and passed to HMRC without ever reaching the individual. Self-employed people, however, must assess their own tax liabilities and make any necessary payments to the taxation authorities themselves. The types of income exempt from Income Tax are most means-tested benefits, employer or employee pension contributions, student grants, loans or scholarships, and earnings from certain types of saving products, such as National Savings Certificates and Individual Savings Accounts. UK residents are allowed to earn or receive a certain amount of taxable income each year tax-free. This is known as a 'Personal Allowance'. A Blind Person's Allowance may also be added to the Personal Allowance for those registered blind. For people under 65, the Income Tax personal allowance (the amount you can earn before you pay tax) increased to £9,440 in April 2013. For people over 65, related allowances froze in April 2013. From 2014-15, taxpayers will receive a new Personal Tax Statement, telling them how much Income Tax and National Insurance they have paid and what their money is being spent on.   Background Income Tax was the first tax in British history to be levied directly on people's earnings. It was introduced in 1799 by the then Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger, as a temporary measure to cover the cost of the Napoleonic Wars. Today, it remains a temporary tax, which expires on April 5 each year, and has to be renewed as a provision in the annual Finance Bill. The Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1913 permits the Government to continue to collect Income Tax for up to four months after the expiry of the measure, until the Finance Bill becomes law. Deduction at source was introduced in 1803 by Henry Addington. At this time, the amount charged was reduced from the original rate of 10 per cent on incomes in excess of £60 per annum, but the earnings threshold was widened to double the size of the liable population. Income Tax was formally repealed in 1816, a year after the Battle of Waterloo, but it was reintroduced in 1842 by Sir Robert Peel to deal with a massive public deficit. At this time, it was levied only on the very rich, and it remained so for many years. In 1874, it contributed only £6 million of Government revenues of £77 million. Income Tax rose dramatically in the early 20th Century. A new range of taxes and rates was introduced in 1907 by Herbert Asquith. In 1909, an alternative to Income Tax for high levels of earnings, called the "Surtax" or "Super Tax" was introduced. Super Tax survived until 1973, when it was replaced with the Higher Rate of Income Tax. By 1918, the standard rate rose to 30 per cent, which brought in £257 million per annum, on top of £36 million from Super Tax. Moreover, by 1930, 10 million Britons were liable for Income Tax. Income Tax was extended to a larger proportion of the population and its rates increased again in 1945, to pay for the Second World War effort. The current Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system for deducting tax at source was introduced in 1944, replacing the previous system of annual or six-monthly collection. The "tax code", telling employers the proportion of income to be deducted, and the P45 form was introduced alongside PAYE. Throughout the


Which football club's original name was Small Heath Alliance?

Small Heath Alliance :: Independent Birmingham City Football Club Website Find out how to enjoy Small Heath Alliance "ad-free" » This site is using cookies: We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide certain   features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your   use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners.     If you have not used your browser settings to prevent this website from   setting cookies then we consider that you have given your consent for us   to use them. [More Details] Advertisement


The Mexican beaded lizard is one of only two species of poisonous lizard. What is the other?

Venomous lizards - Venomous, Poisonous, Dangerous, and other Wonders Venomous, Poisonous, Dangerous, and other Wonders lizards  >  Venomous lizards There are some 5000 different species of lizards worldwide and, until a few years ago, only two (the Gila Monster and the Mexican Beaded Lizard) were thought to be venomous. Scientists also believed that those two species had evolved venom production independently from snakes. Indeed, until recently, nasty swelling and excessive bleeding resulting from another lizard's bite was thought to be due to infection from the bacteria in the reptile's mouth. But a team of searchers from the University of Melbourne, Australia have revolutionized herpetology by showing that venomous lizards are actually much more widespread than thought. These scientists, under the leadership of Bryan Fry, have demonstrated that both monitor lizards (commonly kept as pets) and iguanas also produce venom. Nine types of lizard toxins are shared with snakes, but some toxins are new and yet to be investigated for medical research. Furthermore, it is now thought that venom production had, actually, a single early origin for lizards and snake and that the common ancestor to all venomous species lived about 200 million years ago. The evolution of venom would have, thus, coincided with the rapid spread of small mammals. To date, the toxin-producing oral glands have been identified in species of the anguimorph and iguanian lineages. It is believed that as many as 100 species of living lizards actually use venom. ANGUIMORPHS 1) Helodermatidae Until a few years ago, the only two known species of venomous lizards belonged to the family Helodermatidae and the genus Heloderma. Those two species are the Gila Monster and the Mexican Beaded Lizard. These lizards are carnivores. Unlike snakes, they don't inject their venom in the wound; venom merely flows into the wound. Luckily, attacks on people are uncommon for these reptiles are known to bite with tenacity. Their venom causes paralysis, difficulty in breathing and sometimes convulsions, but is normally not fatal to humans. Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards Both become sexually mature at around 2-3 years of age. They have been known to live for up to 30 years. They mate in April (Gila Monster) or May/June (Beaded Lizard) and eggs are deposited 2 months later. The eggs take another 5 and 1/2 to 7 months to hatch. - Gila Monster (Heloderma suspectum) The Gila Monster is found in southern Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico, in the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts. As a adaption to its hot environment, it lives in burrows. Gila Monsters can grow to a full length of 55 cm (22 inches). They have a stout body with a broad head and a stumpy tail and are mostly black with bright patches which vary in color from yellow to orange or salmon. Their skin is tuberculated. The Gila Monster is listed as an endangered species both in the US and in Mexico. According to Arizona state law, is it illegal to harass them, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect them. - Mexican Beaded Lizard, or Beaded Lizard (Heloderma horridum) Mexican Beaded Lizards occur in central and western Mexico. They live in thorn scrub land as well as in tropical and pine forests. They look quite similar to the Gila Monster, but are bigger (they can measure more than 1 meter or 40 inches, females being bigger than males with a broader head) with a brown body and bright yellow to whitish spots. Like the Gila Monsters, they are considered endangered and are protected by law throughout their natural range. 2) Monitor Lizards (Varanidae) There are about thirty species in this family of lizards (not to mention the subspecies). They all have an elongated snout, a long, smooth, retractile tongue, well-developed limbs and strong claws, a long tail and a dull grayish color. However, Monitor Lizards vary greatly in size, with some species hardly measuring 20 cm (2/3 foot) when the Komodo Dragon measures up to 3 meters (10 feet) and can weigh over 350 pounds. The monitor lizards' geographical range is varied too


What was the name of the dog which won `Britain's Got Talent' in 2012?

Ashleigh and Pudsey - Britain's Got Talent 2012 audition - UK version - YouTube Ashleigh and Pudsey - Britain's Got Talent 2012 audition - UK version Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 7, 2012 Watch Ashleigh and top dog Pudsey's super cute Britain's Got Talent audition. Dancing together to BC-52 tune The Flintstones, can the adorable pair melt the hearts of the nation? We all know Simon Cowell loves a dog act, but what will Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Amanda Holden make of this paw-some performance? See more from Britain's Got Talent here:


Which currently running London musical holds the West End record for the longest continuous run?

Long-running West End plays | UK news | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close · The Mousetrap By Agatha Christie. The whodunnit opened at the Ambassadors theatre in the West End on November 25 1952 and starred Richard Attenborough and Sheila Sim. In 1974, after 8,862 performances, it moved to the St Martin's Theatre next door, where it has been ever since. The production holds the world record for the longest continuous theatrical run. · Art By Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton. Opened in October 1996 at Wyndham's Theatre starring Tom Courtenay, Ken Stott and Albert Finney. The play about three friends and what happens after one buys a work of modern art was an immediate hit. It won the best new comedy awards at the 1997 Olivier Awards and the 1996 Evening Standard Awards. The cast has changed 21 times during its run, luring huge names from the US and classic British actors. It transferred to the Whitehall theatre in October this year. · The Woman in Black By Susan Hill, adapted by Stephen Mallatratt. This thriller, about a lawyer obsessed with the belief that his family has been cursed, opened in February 1989 at the 1,000-seat Strand Theatre before transferring two months later to the Playhouse. It finally moved to the tiny Fortune Theatre in June that year where it remains today. · Les Misérables By Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Les Miz opened at the Barbican in October 1985 and moved to its present home at the Palace Theatre two months later. Seen by more than 24m people with 31 cast recordings in London alone. Worldwide it has been seen by more than 40m people in 27 countries and in 16 languages. · Cats Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by TS Eliot. Cats opened in 1981 at the New London Theatre and is the longest-running musical in British musical history. In London it has taken more than £100m at more than 7,000 performances and has been seen by nearly 8m people.


How many players are on court in a handball team?

How many players are there on a handball team? | Reference.com How many players are there on a handball team? A: Quick Answer There can be up to 14 players on a handball team. During a match, each team can have up to seven players on the court: one goalkeeper and six court players. All other players are substitutes. Full Answer Indoor handball is played on a court that is 40 meters long by 20 meters wide with a goal area at each end. The ball is made of leather or synthetic material and comes in three sizes. The size used in a match depends on the gender and age of the players competing. A match consists of two 30-minute halves separated by a 10-minute break, and the team that scores the most goals wins.


Which physicist's principle asserts that no two electrons can occupy the same energy state simultaneously?

Exclusion principle | Article about exclusion principle by The Free Dictionary Exclusion principle | Article about exclusion principle by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/exclusion+principle exclusion principle, physical principle enunciated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1925 stating that no two electrons in an atom atom [Gr.,=uncuttable (indivisible)], basic unit of matter; more properly, the smallest unit of a chemical element having the properties of that element. Structure of the Atom ..... Click the link for more information.  can occupy the same energy state simultaneously. The energy states, or levels, in an atom are described in the quantum theory quantum theory, modern physical theory concerned with the emission and absorption of energy by matter and with the motion of material particles; the quantum theory and the theory of relativity together form the theoretical basis of modern physics. ..... Click the link for more information.  by various values of four different quantum numbers; the exclusion principle holds that no two electrons can have the same four quantum numbers in an atom. One of these quantum numbers describes one of the two possible directions for the electron's intrinsic spin. As a result of the exclusion principle, two electrons that are in the same energy level as described by the other three quantum numbers are differentiated from each other because they have opposite spins. This principle applies not only to atoms but to other systems containing particles as well, and it applies not only to electrons but also to a large class of particles collectively known as fermions (see elementary particles elementary particles, the most basic physical constituents of the universe. Basic Constituents of Matter Molecules are built up from the atom, which is the basic unit of any chemical element. The atom in turn is made from the proton, neutron, and electron. ..... Click the link for more information. ). Exclusion principle No two electrons may simultaneously occupy the same quantum state. This principle, often called the Pauli principle, was first formulated by Wolfgang Pauli in 1925 and, for time-independent quantum states, it means that no two electrons may be described by state functions which are characterized by exactly the same quantum numbers. In addition to electrons, all known particles having half-integer intrinsic angular momentum, or spin, obey the exclusion principle. It plays a central role in the understanding of many diverse phenomena, including the periodic table of the elements and their chemical activities, the electron contribution to the specific heat of metals, the shell structure in the atomic nucleus analogous to that of electrons in atoms, and certain symmetries in the scattering of identical particles. See Angular momentum , Quantum numbers , Spin (quantum mechanics) Using the fact that a system will try to occupy the state of lowest possible energy, the electron configuration of atoms may be understood by simply filling the single-particle energy levels according to the Pauli principle. This is the basis of Niels Bohr's explanation of the periodic table. See Atomic structure and spectra , Electron configuration exclusion principle


In the Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant what was the name of the boat carrying the Queen?

Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant cheered by crowds - BBC News BBC News Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant cheered by crowds 3 June 2012 Close share panel Media captionWatch key moments from the Thames river pageant More than one million rain-soaked people have watched the Queen's 1,000-boat Diamond Jubilee pageant weave its way along the Thames, organisers say. The Queen's barge travelled among the flotilla of tugs, steamers, pleasure cruisers, dragon boats and kayaks. The London event was the highlight of the Jubilee weekend, but a fly-past was cancelled because of the weather. Some 10,000 people joined a Greenwich street party, one of many in the UK marking 60 years of the Queen's reign. The pageant - believed to be the Thames's most spectacular in 350 years - started at Albert Bridge with the ringing of Jubilee bells at 14:40 BST and ended as the last vessel completed the seven-mile route to Tower Bridge just after 18:00 BST. The Queen, dressed in a white hat and a silver and white coat designed by Angela Kelly, travelled on the Spirit of Chartwell, which was decorated with 10,000 flowers from the royal estates. She was accompanied by her family, including the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. At the scene - Tower Bridge By Philippa ThomasBBC News The biggest river pageant the modern Thames has ever seen ended with a brief flurry of fireworks, a stalwart tooting of horns and a final round of cheers from the river bank. Here on the south side of Tower Bridge, hundreds of spectators stuck it out to the end. They were drenched to the skin, but managed a chorus of Land of Hope and Glory - and a jolly few even swayed along as they waved their sodden Union flags. They'd waited for hours in good cheer through cold, mist and showers until they had had their glimpse of the Queen. She was, in truth, just a tiny figure on the Royal Barge, but the point at which the monarch passed by - especially with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, beside her - was a moment many were determined to be able to say they'd witnessed. A boat carrying eight specially-cast Jubilee bells led the water-borne procession, with churches along the river bank returning the peal as it passed. There were 10 musical barges, carrying choirs and orchestras. The Spirit of Chartwell left Cadogan Pier once the rowing boats in the flotilla had safely passed. Leading the rowing boats was the million-pound row barge Gloriana, with Olympic gold medallists Sir Matthew Pinsent and Sir Steve Redgrave among its 18 rowers. A collection of small ships used to rescue stranded troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940 also took part, led by the Motor Torpedo boat 102, the flagship of the officer who co-ordinated the evacuation. Some 20,000 people were thought to have been in the boats of the flotilla, which travelled at 4 knots (4.6 mph), with the Thames barrier closed to slow the river's flow. A huge cheer went up whenever the royal barge came into the crowds' sights. Hungarian Laura Konig, 34, who lives in the London borough of Sutton, said: "I really enjoy the music. When the boats with bands come by it's brilliant and the atmosphere is so cool. The weather could be better but apart from that it's an amazing day." The Queen smiled at the sight of a life-size puppet horse - from the play War Horse - which was running along the rooftop of the National Theatre. The Queen pointed out the performance to Camilla. Dozens of spectators at Tower Bridge were disappointed as security staff blocked off pathways due to fears of overcrowding, more than an hour before the flotilla was due to arrive. Media captionSurprise royal guests join Diamond Jubilee street party Tower Bridge raised as the royal barge approached, with heavy rain returning to the London skies as it moored to allow the Queen to watch the rest of the flotilla pass. The final music barge carrying members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir stopped next to the royal barge for a short performance. As it played a nautical tune, the Q


In the Patrick O'Brian novels about Jack Aubrey, who is his doctor companion?

Patrick O'Brian | W. W. Norton & Company DONE Patrick O'Brian's acclaimed Aubrey/Maturin series of historical novels has been described as "a masterpiece" (David Mamet, New York Times), "addictively readable" (Patrick T. Reardon, Chicago Tribune), and "the best historical novels ever written" (Richard Snow, New York Times Book Review), which "should have been on those lists of the greatest novels of the 20th century" (George Will). Set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, O'Brian's twenty-volume series centers on the enduring friendship between naval officer Jack Aubrey and physician (and spy) Stephen Maturin. The Far Side of the World, the tenth book in the series, was adapted into a 2003 film directed by Peter Weir and starring Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany. The film was nominated for ten Oscars, including Best Picture. The books are now available in hardcover, paperback, and e-book format. In addition to the Aubrey/Maturin novels, Patrick O'Brian wrote several books including the novels Testimonies, The Golden Ocean, and The Unknown Shore, as well as biographies of Joseph Banks and Picasso. He translated many works from French into English, among them the novels and memoirs of Simone de Beauvoir, the first volume of Jean Lacouture's biography of Charles de Gaulle, and famed fugitive Henri Cherriere's memoir Papillon. O'Brian died in January 2000. Books by Patrick O'Brian