Who was the next president of the USA after Gerald Ford?

Gerald R. Ford | whitehouse.gov Air Force One Gerald R. Ford When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974 as our 38th President, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances...This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts."  When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, "I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts." It was indeed an unprecedented time. He had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign. Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks. There were the challenges of mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace. The President acted to curb the trend toward Government intervention and spending as a means of solving the problems of American society and the economy. In the long run, he believed, this shift would bring a better life for all Americans. Ford's reputation for integrity and openness had made him popular during his 25 years in Congress. From 1965 to 1973, he was House Minority Leader. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1913, he grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He starred on the University of Michigan football team, then went to Yale, where he served as assistant coach while earning his law degree. During World War II he attained the rank of lieutenant commander in the Navy. After the war he returned to Grand Rapids, where he began the practice of law, and entered Republican politics. A few weeks before his election to Congress in 1948, he married Elizabeth Bloomer. They have four children: Michael, John, Steven, and Susan. As President, Ford tried to calm earlier controversies by granting former President Nixon a full pardon. His nominee for Vice President, former Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, was the second person to fill that office by appointment. Gradually, Ford selected a cabinet of his own. Ford established his policies during his first year in office, despite opposition from a heavily Democratic Congress. His first goal was to curb inflation. Then, when recession became the Nation's most serious domestic problem, he shifted to measures aimed at stimulating the economy. But, still fearing inflation, Ford vetoed a number of non-military appropriations bills that would have further increased the already heavy budgetary deficit. During his first 14 months as President he vetoed 39 measures. His vetoes were usually sustained. Ford continued as he had in his Congressional days to view himself as "a moderate in domestic affairs, a conservative in fiscal affairs, and a dyed-in-the-wool internationalist in foreign affairs." A major goal was to help business operate more freely by reducing taxes upon it and easing the controls exercised by regulatory agencies. "We...declared our independence 200 years ago, and we are not about to lose it now to paper shufflers and computers," he said. In foreign affairs Ford acted vigorously to maintain U. S. power and prestige after the collapse of Cambodia and South Viet Nam. Preventing a new war in the Middle East remained a major objective; by providing aid to both Israel and Egypt, the Ford Administration helped persuade the two countries to accept an interim truce agreement. Detente with the Soviet Union continued. President Ford and Soviet leader Leonid I. Brezhnev set new limitations upon nuclear weapons. President Ford won the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 1976, but lost the election to his Democratic opponent, former Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia. On Inauguration Day, President Carter began his speech: "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land." A grateful people concurred. For more information about President Ford, please visit


Ichthyology | Define Ichthyology at Dictionary.com ichthyology [ik-thee-ol-uh-jee] /ˌɪk θiˈɒl ə dʒi/ Spell the branch of zoology dealing with fishes. Origin of ichthyology [ik-thee-uh-loj-ik] /ˌɪk θi əˈlɒdʒ ɪk/ (Show IPA), ichthyological, adjective ichthyologically, adverb Examples from the Web for ichthyology Expand British Dictionary definitions for ichthyology Expand the study of the physiology, history, economic importance, etc, of fishes Derived Forms Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for ichthyology Expand 1640s, Modern Latin, from Greek ikhthys "fish" + -ology . Related: Ichthyologist. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper


What country has the largest forested area?

10 Countries With Largest Forest Area - 10 Most Today 10 Countries With Largest Forest Area 1 Comment The following list contains the 10 countries with the largest forest area in the world, along with the percentage of the total land area of the country: 1. Russia – 7,762,602 km2 (2,997,157 mi2) which are 45.40% of the country’s land area. Russia is not only the largest country in the world, but also the country with the largest forest area. The forest area of Russia alone is the size of the entire continent of Australia! Forests in Siberia, Russia   2. Brazil – 4,776,980 km2 (1,844,402 mi2) which are 56.10% of the total land area of Brazil. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and over than half of it’s size is forested area, large part of which is the amazon area and its rainforest. The forest area of Brazil is larger than India Amazon Rainforests in Brazil   3. Canda – 3,101,340 km2 (1,197,434 mi2) which are 31.06% of Canada’s land. Canada is the second largest country in the world and its forest area is just about the size of India Forests in Quebec, Canada   4. United States – 3,030,890 km2 (1,170,233 mi2) of forest area which make for 30.84% of the US land Redwoods forests, California, United States   5. China – 1,821,000 km2 (703,092 mi2) which are only 18.21% of the land area of China. China has the smallest precentage of forests on it’s land from all the countries in this top 10 list Forests in Xibin, China 6. Australia – 1,470,832 km2 (567,891 mi2) – 19.00% Adelaide Hills Forest Range, South Australia   7. Congo (D.R) – 1,219,326 km2 (470,784 mi2) which are 52% of the country’s land Raiforests in Congo 8. Argentina – 945,336 km2 (364,996 mi2) – 34% of the land of Argentina is forested area Iguazu waterfalls in Argentina – a big forested area   9. Indonesia – 884,950 km2 (341,681 mi2) – 46.46% – almost half of Indonesia is a forest Forests in Cibodas, indonesia 10. India – 778,424 km2 (300,551 mi2) – 23.68% Forests in Karnataka, India


What element has the highest melting point of any metal - symbol W, otherwise known as wolfram?

Tungsten: Properties, Production, Applications & Alloys Tungsten: Properties, Production, Applications & Alloys Search the site Tungsten: Properties, Production, Applications & Alloys What is tungsten? Updated October 18, 2016 Tungsten is a dull silver-coloured metal with the highest melting point of any pure metal. Also known as wolfram, from which the element takes its symbol, W, tungsten is more resistant to fracturing than diamond and is much harder than steel. It is the refractory metal's unique properties - its strength and ability to withstand high temperatures - that make it ideal for many commercial and industrial applications. Properties: Melting Point: 6192°F (3422°C) Boiling Point: 10031°F (5555°C) Moh's Hardness: 7.5 Production: Tungsten is primarily extracted from two types of minerals, wolframite, and scheelite. However, tungsten recycling also accounts for about 30% of the global supply. China is the world's largest producer of the metal, providing over 80% of the world supply. Once tungsten ore has been processed and separated, the chemical form, ammonium paratungstate (APT), is produced. APT can be heated with hydrogen to form tungsten oxide or will react with carbon at temperatures above 1925°F (1050°C) to produce tungsten metal. Applications: Tungsten's primary application for over 100 years has been as the filament in incandescent light bulbs. Doped with small amounts of potassium-aluminum silicate, tungsten powder is sintered at high temperature to produce the wire filament that is in the center of light bulbs that light millions of homes around the world. Due to tungsten's ability to keep its shape at high temperatures, tungsten filaments are now also used in a variety of household applications, including lamps, floodlights, heating elements in electrical furnaces, microwave ovens, x-ray tubes and cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) in computer monitors and television sets. The metal's tolerance to intense heat also makes it ideal for thermocouples and electrical contacts in electric arc furnaces and welding equipment. Applications that require a concentrated mass, or weight, such as counterweights, fishing sinkers, and darts often use tungsten because of its density. Tungsten Carbide: Tungsten carbide is produced either by bonding one tungsten atom with a single carbon atom (represented by the chemical symbol WC) or two tungsten atoms with a single carbon atom (W2C). This is done by heating tungsten powder with carbon at temperatures of 2550°F to 2900°F (1400°C to 1600°C) in a stream of hydrogen gas. According to Moh's hardness scale (a measure of one material's ability to scratch another), tungsten carbide has a hardness of 9.5, only slightly lower than diamond. For this reason, this hard compound is sintered, a process that requires pressing and heating the powder form at high temperatures, to make products used in machining and cutting. The result is materials that can operate in conditions of high temperature and stress, such as drill bits, lathe tools, milling cutters and armor piercing ammunition. Cemented carbide is produced using a combination of tungsten carbide and cobalt powder, and is used to manufacture wear-resistant tools, such as those used in the mining industry. The tunnel-boring machine that was used to dig the Channel Tunnel linking Britain to Europe was, in fact, outfitted with almost 100 cemented carbide tips. Tungsten Alloys: Tungsten metal can be combined with other metals to increase their strength and resistance to wear and corrosion . Steel alloys often contain tungsten for these beneficial properties. Many high-speed steels -- those used in cutting and machining tools like saw blades -- contain around 18 percent tungsten. Tungsten-steel alloys are also used in the production of rocket engine nozzles, which must have high heat resistant properties. Other tungsten alloys include Stellite (cobalt, chromium, and tungsten), which is used in bearing and pistons due to its durability and resistance to wear, and Hevimet, which is made by sintering a tungsten alloy powder and is used in am


Arthur Wellesley (1769-1845) is better known by what title?

Arthur Wellesley Archives - Shannon Selin Napoleon’s Nemesis: The Duke of Wellington Sir Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte and Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley never met or corresponded, and they fought only one battle directly against each other, on June 18, 1815. The fact that it was the Battle of Waterloo , which resulted in Napoleon’s permanent removal from the French throne, cemented them together in history. Wellesley – better known as the Duke of Wellington, a title he was granted in 1814 – was born in Dublin on May 1, 1769, the same year as Napoleon. He joined the British Army in 1787 and served in the Netherlands, India and Denmark before rising to prominence in the Peninsular War . He led the allied forces to victory against the French in Spain, and served as Britain’s ambassador to France after Napoleon’s first abdication in 1814. Louis XVIII was very fond of him. When the Duke of Wellington was later asked if he saw Napoleon on the opposite heights at Waterloo, he said, “No, I could not – the day was dark – there was a great deal of rain in the air.” (1) It is claimed that during the battle a British artillery officer came to Wellington to tell him that he had a clear a view of Napoleon and several guns pointing in that direction. Wellington replied, “No! I’ll not allow it. It is not the business of commanders to be firing upon one another.” (2) As Andrew Roberts notes in Napoleon and Wellington (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2001), Napoleon needed to be defeated in the field. If he had been killed in an “ungentlemanly” fashion, people would always have suspected that he would have won the battle. Afterwards, Wellington refused to allow Napoleon to be handed over to the Prussians, who were keen to execute him. Wellington’s opinion of Napoleon Wellington did not consider Napoleon to be a gentleman. He commonly referred to him as “Buonaparte,” using a spelling and pronunciation that emphasized Napoleon’s non-French lineage. In 1835 he wrote: Buonaparte’s whole life, civil, political, and military, was a fraud. There was not a transaction, great or small, in which lying and fraud were not introduced…. Of flagrant lies, the most important in the military branch of his life that I can now recollect are – first, the expedition from Egypt into Syria, which totally failed, and yet on his return to Egypt was represented to the army there as a victory…. The next was the battle of Eylau. This he represented as a great victory. It is true that the Allied army retired after the battle. So did Buonaparte. … I should think that Spain would afford you instances of fraud in his political schemes and negotiations. … Buonaparte’s foreign policy was force and menace, aided by fraud and corruption. If the fraud was discovered, force and menace succeeded; and in most cases the unfortunate victim did not dare to avow that he perceived the fraud. (3) However he later said to the same correspondent: I have seen most of the other marshals and I have no doubt that, as a general, Buonaparte was the best of them…and with his prestige worth forty thousand men. (4) As Roberts points out, Wellington could not disparage Napoleon’s military skill without lessening his own achievements. Napoleon’s opinion of Wellington Napoleon referred to Wellington as a representative of the “English oligarchy,” and blamed him for his exile on St. Helena , even though Wellington – who had spent a month on the island in 1805 – had nothing to do with the choice of that remote location. One of Napoleon’s companions on St. Helena, the Count de Las Cases, writes that in general Napoleon disliked speaking of Wellington. “He seemed carefully to avoid pronouncing his opinion on him; feeling, no doubt, the impropriety of publicly depreciating the General who had triumphed over him.” (5) On one occasion when Napoleon did pronounce on Wellington, his remarks were not complimentary: [I]t is very certain that I gave [Wellington] a terrible quarter of an hour [at Waterloo]. This usually constitutes a claim on noble minds;


In what state is the highest mountain in the USA?

20 Highest Mountain Peaks in the United States By Amanda Briney Updated October 02, 2016. The following is a list of the top 20 highest peaks in the United States. Notice that the highest point in the United States is Mt. McKinley in Alaska and the highest point in the contiguous (lower) 48 states is Mt. Whitney in California. (For reference, the state and mountain range in which the peak is located is included below.) 1) Mount McKinley (Denali): 20,320 feet (6,194 m) • State: Alaska 2) Mount Saint Elias: 18,008 feet (5,489 m) • States: Alaska and the Yukon Territory • Range: Saint Elias Mountains 3) Mount Foraker: 17,400 feet (5,304 m) • State: Alaska 4) Mount Bona: 16,550 feet (5,044 m) • State: Alaska 5) Mount Blackburn: 16,390 feet (4,996 m) • State: Alaska 6) Mount Sanford: 16,237 feet (4,949 m) • State: Alaska • States: Alaska and British Columbia • Range: Saint Elias Mountains 8) Mount Hubbard - 14,950 feet (4,557 m) • States: Alaska and the Yukon Territory • Range: Saint Elias Mountains 9) Mount Bear: 14,831 feet (4,520 m) • State: Alaska 10) Mount Hunter: 14,573 feet (4,442 m) • State: Alaska 11) Mount Whitney: 14,505 feet (4,421 m) • State: California 12) Mount Alverstone: 14,500 feet (4,420 m) • States: Alaska and the Yukon Territory • Range: Saint Elias Mountains 13) University Peak: 14,470 feet (4,410 m) • State: Alaska 14) Mount Elbert: 14,440 feet (4,401 m) • State: Colorado 15) Mount Massive: 14,428 feet (4,398 m) • State: Colorado 16) Mount Harvard: 14,427 feet (4,397 m) • State: Colorado 17) Mount Rainier: 14,417 feet (4,394 m) • State: Washington 18) Mount Williamson: 14,389 feet (4,386 m) • State: California 19) La Plata Peak: 14,368 feet (4,379 m) • State: Colorado 20) Blanca Peak: 14,351 feet (4,374 m) • State: Colorado • Range: Sangre de Cristo Range Reference continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World (10 May 2010). Table of the Highest Major Summits of the United States - Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_of_the_highest_major_summits_of_the_United_States#cite_note-N_Mount_Harvard-31


Credited with popularising the girl's name Wendy in a famous children's book, who also wrote the stage play The Admirable Crichton?

James M. Barrie - Books, Biography, Quotes - Read Print James M. Barrie Subscribe to Our Newsletter Sign-up for The Bookworm, our free newsletter featuring quotes, newly added books, recommendations and more! Absolutely Free. Never miss a good book again! Follow Read Print on Twitter James M. Barrie 4 Favorites on Read Print Biography Sir James Matthew Barrie (May 9, 1860 – June 19, 1937), more commonly known as J. M. Barrie, was a Scottish author and dramatist. He is best remembered for creating Peter Pan , the boy who refused to grow up, whom he based on his friends, the Llewelyn Davies boys. He is also credited with popularising the name Wendy, which was very uncommon before he gave it to the heroine of Peter Pan .  More ... Books by James M. Barrie All Books 2 17 books found We hope you enjoy reading these James M. Barrie books!    If you'd like to read a specific James M. Barrie book which we're missing on Read Print,     do let us know. Quotes by James M. Barrie A safe but sometimes chilly way of recalling the past is to force open a crammed drawer. If you are searching for anything in particular you don't find it, but something falls out at the back that is often more interesting. Add to favorites Always be a little kinder than necessary. Add to favorites Ambition - it is the last infirmity of noble minds. Add to favorites Dreams do come true, if we only wish hard enough, You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it. Add to favorites Everytime a child says 'I don't believe in fairies' there is a little fairy somewhere that falls down dead. Add to favorites If we're missing any James M. Barrie books or quotes, do email us . Biography of James M. Barrie James. M. Barrie (1860-1937) was born in the Lowland village of Kirriemuir, in Forfashire. His father, David Barrie was a handloom weaver, and mother, Margaret Ogilvy, the daughter of a stonemason. They had ten children, Barrie was the ninth. Jamie, as he was called, heard tales of pirates from his mother, who read her children R.L. Stevenson's adventure stories in the evenings. When Barrie was seven, his brother David died in a skating accident. David had been the mother's favorite child, and she fell into depression. Barrie tried to gain her affection by dressing up in the dead boy's clothes. The obsessive relationship that grew between mother and son was to mark the whole of his life. After her death Barrie published in 1896 an adoring biography of his mother. At the age of 13, Barrie left his home village. At school he became interested in theatre and devoured works by such authors as Jules Verne, Mayne Reid, and James Fenimore Cooper. His classmates Barrie observed like an outsider, they were tall, interested in girls, while he remained small and apparently he never had a girl friend. Barrie studied at Dumfries Academy at the University of Edinburgh, receiving his M.A. in 1882. After working as a journalist for the Nottingham Journal, he moved in 1885 with empty pockets to London as a freelance writer. He sold his writings, mostly humorous, to fashionable magazine, such as The Pall Mall Gazette. In his mystery novel, BETTER DEAD (1888), Barrie made jokes of well-known people. Barrie knew such great figures of literature as G.B. Shaw, who did not like his pipe smoking, and H.G. Wells, and could surprise them with his remarks. Once he said to Wells: "It is all very well to be able to write books, but can you waggle your ears?" When a friend noticed that he ordered Brussels sprouts every day, he explained: "I cannot resists ordering them. The words are so lovely to say." With his friends, Jerome K. Jerome, Arthur Conan Doyle, P.G. Wodehouse and others, Barrie founded a cricket club, called Allahakbarries. Doyle was the only member who could actually play cricket. During World War I Barrie made a western film with his literary friends, starring Shaw, William Archer, G.K. Chesterton, etc. In 1888 Barie gained his first fame with AULD LICHT IDYLLS, sketches of Scottish life. Critics praised its originality. His melodramatic novel,


Hilary, Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas are traditional English (and Welsh) seasonal names in what?

Full text of "English surnames" See other formats A^UL^ ^M^iM'f'*^^       ^   \i   €nsUsf) Surnames*   A   Digitized by the Internet Archive  in 2011 with funding from  University of Toronto   http://www.archive.org/details/englishsurnames01lowe   Ciifiltsl) Surnames*  AN ESSAY  FAMILY NOMENCLATURE,  HISTORICAL, ETYMOLOGICAL, AND HUMOROUS ;  WITH  SEVERAL ILLUSTRATIVE APPENDICES.  BY MARK ANTONY LOWER, MA.  €f)ivti iEtfition, iEnlargctJ. IN TWO VOLUMES.— VOL. I.   LONDON:  JOHN RUSSELL SMITH,  4, OLD COMPTON STREET, SOHO SQUARE.   MDCCCXLIX.   " WHAT'S IN A NAME ?" " Imago animi, vultus, vitse, Nomen est."— Puteanus.     f£B25W7   C. AND J ADl.AKl), PRINTERS, nABTllOLOM KW CLOSE.   CONTENTS OP VOL. I.   Preface ....  Chapter I. Of Proper Names of Persons in general .  Chapter II. Of Surnames ....  Chapter III. History of English Surnames — Anglo-Saxon Period  Chapter IY. History of English Surnames since the Norman Conquest  Chapter Y. Of Local Surnames ....   page vii   Note to Chapter Y   Chapter YI.   Of Surnames derived from Occupations and Pursuits Note to Chapter YI .  Chapter YII. Of Surnames derived from Dignities and Offices   . 13   21   31   . 42 . 92   . 98 . 121   123   a   VI CONTENTS.  PAGE  Chapter YIII. Of Surnames derived from Personal and Moral Qualities . 139  Chapter IX. Of Surnames derived from Baptismal Names . .149  Chapter X. Of Surnames derived from Natural Objects • . . 175  Chapter XI.  Of Surnames derived from Heraldric Charges and from Traders'  Signs . . . . .192  Chapter XII.  Of Surnames derived from the Social Relations^ Periods of  Time, Age, &c. &c. . . . . 212  Chapter XIII. Of Surnames indicative of Contempt and Ridicule . . 220  Chapter XIV. Of Surnames derived from the Virtues, &c. . . 228  Chapter XV. Of Surnames derived from Oaths and Exclamations . . 237  Chapter XVI. Of Surnames originally Sobriquets . . . 240  Chapter XVII. Surnominal Puns . . . . . 244   i^trfate*   F the oft-quoted sentiment of Te- rence —   ll^^T " Homo sum ; liumaui nihil a me alienum puto,"  which drew down thunders of applause from the auditories of antient times, be equally deserving of respect in our own ; and if the assertion of Puteanus be true, that, " Sine Nomine, Homo non est,"'^" — that the name is esseyitial to the man^ — few apologies will be necessary for the publication of the following Prolusions, whose design is to illustrate the personal and generic nomeuclature of an impor- tant and influential section of the human race. The utilitarian, it is true, may regard my labours as of little value, and put in a ' Cui bono ?' but my reply to him shall be a brief one. — "Whatever   * Diatr. De Erycio.   Vlll PREFACE.   serves to gratify a laudable, or even a merely harm- less, cmiosity, is useful, and therefore not to be despised."  That a cmiosity as to the origin of proper names, and particularly of surnames, has prevailed to some extent is certain, from the number of literary men in England who have written (however slightly and unsatisfactorily) upon the subject, within the last three centuries ; and that it still prevails is shown by the fact that since I undertook, a few years ago, more fully to illustrate the history and signification of our Family Names, scarcely a single week has passed without my receiving communications on the subject, both from literary friends, and from total strangers, unconnected with literature. Hundreds of letters from all parts of this country, from Scot- land, Wales, Ireland, France, Belgium, and America, convince me, at least, that the inquiry is not devoid of interest, while at the same time they afford a flattering testimony that my investigations have been well received and appreciated.  The history of proper names not only affords a • very curious chapter for the etymologist, but also illustrates the progress of society, and throws much light upon the customs and pursuits of departed ages.  With


Which painting was stolen from the Louvre in Paris in 1911 and kept for two years by museum employee Vincenzo Peruggia?

Aug. 21, 1911: Mona Lisa stolen in Paris Aug. 21, 1911: Mona Lisa stolen in Paris Teresa Mathew Pin it Share On this day—Aug. 21, 1911—the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris . The work of art, by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, is believed to have been painted between 1503 and 1506. The painter Louis Béroud first discovered the theft when he walked to the place where the Mona Lisa had been on display and found only four iron pegs instead of the famous painting. After the museum confirmed that the painting had in fact been stolen, it was closed for a week to aid the investigation. Though French artist Guillame Apollinaire was initially suspected (he in turn tried to blame his friend Pablo Picasso), the culprit turned out to be Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee. Peruggia had stolen the painting during business hours and walked out with it under his coat after the museum had closed. After two years of hiding it, he was caught when he tried to sell the painting to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence . As an Italian loyalist, Peruggia believed that Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings should return to Italy and be displayed in an Italian museum. He would go on to serve six months of jail time. The Mona Lisa has been on permanent display at the Louvre since 1979. Reblog


Which British prime minister wrote History of the English Speaking Peoples?

National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC School You Gotta Know These British Prime Ministers The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is the head of the Cabinet (the executive council that leads the government) and is also de facto head of the legislature by his or her presence in the House of Commons. By modern convention, after a general election, the leader of a party able to command a majority of MPs (Members of Parliament) is requested by the monarch to form a government and becomes Prime Minister. In the 20th century, government terms have been a maximum of five years between elections, but the Prime Minister could choose to call an early election or be forced to do so if he or she ceased to command a majority in the Commons. As of 2011, the government’s term is fixed at exactly five years. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Prime Ministers came from both Houses of Parliament (Lords and Commons); since 1902, all Prime Ministers have been members of the Commons. Here are ten British Prime Ministers that “you gotta know,” with seven further honorable mentions. Robert Walpole (1676–1745, PM 1721–1742): Generally recognized as the first British Prime Minister, Walpole established personal control over a Whig-dominated Parliament on behalf of the German-speaking George I. He rose to power after many rivals were tarnished by the collapse of the South Sea Company. His long tenure continued under George II, but his attempts to avoid British military commitments worldwide led to his downfall during the War of the Austrian Succession. Robert Peel (1788–1850, PM 1834–1835, 1841–1846): Set out the founding principles of the Conservative Party in the Tamworth Manifesto and led the new party to its first general election victory. The Irish Famine accelerated his decision to repeal the Corn Laws, promoting free trade by removing grain tariffs. This act was achieved with Whig support and lost him the backing of his party. Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881, PM 1868, 1874–1880): Before becoming Prime Minister, Disraeli was instrumental in the passage of the Second Reform Act as leader of the House of Commons. Britain's only Prime Minister of Jewish descent, Disraeli was also a successful novelist. He promoted a strong, imperial foreign policy including investment in the Suez Canal and the peace achieved at the Congress of Berlin. William Gladstone (1809–1898, PM 1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886, 1892–1894): Noted Liberal Prime Minister who passed a Third Reform Act and modernized the military, but failed to achieve Irish Home Rule. Queen Victoria loathed him. During Disraeli’s ministry Gladstone's campaign sensationalized the “Bulgarian horrors,” suggesting that Britain needed to resolve the “Eastern Question” about the fate of the Ottoman Empire. H. H. Asquith (1852–1928, PM 1908–1916): Liberal Prime Minister who made sweeping reforms, including limiting the power of the unelected House of Lords with the Parliament Act in order to introduce the “People’s Budget” of 1911 which established state pensions. Not a successful wartime leader, Asquith lost control of a coalition government during World War I and was forced to resign in favor of David Lloyd George. David Lloyd George (1863–1945, PM 1916–1922): A native Welsh speaker who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Asquith. Taking control during World War I, he represnted the UK at the Paris Peace Conference, leading to the Treaty of Versailles. After the war he split the Liberal Party by aiming to continue the coalition government together with the Conservative Bonar Law: the coalition collapsed after embarrassment over the independence of Ireland and a scandal over the sale of honors. Winston Churchill (1874–1965, PM 1940–1945, 1951–1955): Best remembered as the UK’s wartime prime minister from the country’s isolation in 1940 to victory in 1945. The son of a major Conservative politician, Randolph Churchill, the young Winston Churchill was a Liberal who served in Asquith’s cabinet, becoming First Lord of the Admiralty before resigning over the failure of Gallipoli. As Stanley Baldwin’s (P


Loperamide is used to treat what medical condition?

loperamide oral : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD 25 Uses This medication is used to treat sudden diarrhea (including traveler's diarrhea ). It works by slowing down the movement of the gut. This decreases the number of bowel movements and makes the stool less watery. Loperamide is also used to reduce the amount of discharge in patients who have undergone an ileostomy. It is also used to treat on-going diarrhea in people with inflammatory bowel disease . Loperamide treats only the symptoms, not the cause of the diarrhea (e.g., infection). Treatment of other symptoms and the cause of the diarrhea should be determined by your doctor. Do not use in children younger than 6 years unless directed by your doctor. This medication should not be used in infants younger than 24 months. How to use loperamide If you are using the over-the-counter product to self-treat, read all the directions on the product package before taking this medication. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, follow your doctor's directions and the directions on your prescription label. Take this medication by mouth , usually after each loose stool, or as directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your condition and response to treatment. In children, dosage is also based on age and weight . Adults should not use more than 8 milligrams in 24 hours if self-treating, or 16 milligrams in 24 hours if under a doctor's direction. Improper use of this medication (overuse or abuse) - or use with certain other medications - may cause serious harm, such as fast/ irregular heartbeat or death (see also Overdose section - symptoms). Do not increase your dose, take it more often, or use it for longer than directed. Be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription, nonprescription, and herbal products). If you are taking the chewable tablet, take this medication on an empty stomach . The chewable tablets should be chewed thoroughly before swallowing. If you are using the rapidly dissolving tablets, dry your hands before opening the blister pack to carefully remove a tablet. Do not push the tablet through the blister pack. Place the tablet on the tongue , allow it to dissolve completely, then swallow it with saliva . Do not crush, split, or break the tablet before taking it. Do not remove the tablet from the blister pack until just before taking. No water is needed to take this medication. Diarrhea can cause a serious loss of body water ( dehydration ). Drink plenty of fluids and minerals ( electrolytes ) to replace what is lost. Tell your doctor right away if you develop signs of dehydration (e.g., extreme thirst, decreased urination, muscle cramps , weakness , fainting ). You may also need to change to a bland diet during this time to reduce irritation to your stomach / intestines . Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Tell your doctor if your diarrhea does not improve after 2 days, if your condition worsens, or if you develop new symptoms. If you develop blood in the stool , fever, or an uncomfortable fullness/swelling of the stomach/ abdomen , or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention. If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction for ongoing diarrhea, tell your doctor if your diarrhea continues after 10 days of treatment. What conditions does loperamide treat? Side Effects Dizziness , drowsiness, tiredness, or constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, contact your doctor promptly. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Stop taking this medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe constipation / nausea / vomiting , stomach/ abdominal pain , uncomfortable fullness of the stomach/abdomen. A very serious allergic reaction to this


St James's Palace in London was commissioned by which British monarch?

Just What Is ‘St James’s Palace’? – Royal Central 10 Questions & Answers On… King George V St James’s Palace used to be the Monarch’s primary residence in London, but since it was last used as such by King William IV, with Queen Victoria moving into Buckingham Palace upon her accession in 1837. Since its fall from being the primary residence of the Monarchy, it has still remained an important part of the British Monarchy, both as the official residence of the Monarchy and as a pseudonym for members of the Royal Family’s offices. St James’s Palace remains the centre of the Monarchy. Just a stone’s throw away from Buckingham Palace, the building commissioned by Henry VIII sits nicely on a corner largely away from the public eye. The building is now attached to the official residence of the Prince of Wales and a daily guard mounts at both St James’s Palace and Clarence House, for anyone wishing to see a changing the guard where there are significantly less people in the way. The court which the British Monarchy currently works with is called ‘the Court of St James’. Foreign diplomats are accredited to the Court of St James, when a new Monarch accedes to the throne, the accession council assemble at St James’s and until not-so-long ago, Prince Charles used it as his official residence. As well as the practical use of ‘the Court of St James’, it also has, as briefly mentioned a moment ago, the use as a pseudonym for offices of several members of the Royal Family, and the official residence of some others. Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, Princess Alexandra and is the official London residence of the Princess Royal. It also now acts as the base for the offices of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry since their staff began reporting directly to Princes William and Harry in 2009. The Palace The actual palace is well-furnished and has spacious apartments for its occupants. Take a look at the rare picture slideshow below of some parts inside St James’s Palace. Offices Prince William, Prince Harry and The Duchess of Cambridge all base their offices at St James’s Palace, even though all three of them now live at Kensington Palace. All letters sent from those three Royals come from St James’s Palace, though the address to send a letter to Prince William Kate or Harry remains Clarence House. When official statements are issued, they’re issued ‘from St James’s Palace’. For example, the announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge was pregnant came from St James’s Palace. Here are some pictures of things to do with the offices of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Related Items where is the slideshow and pictures British Royals latest


Technically a berry or fruit, brinjal is the Indian name for which 'vegetable'?

Eggplant Eggplant Eggplant © Denzil Green Technically, Eggplant (aka Aubergine) is a fruit -- a berry, in fact, though that knowledge won't get you very far at the grocery store if you bluster about why it's not next to the kiwi. Eggplants are related to the tomato and potato, which are in the same family -- the nightshade family. There are actually male and female Eggplants. Male ones have fewer seeds and shallow, round indents on their bottoms; on female bottoms, the indent is deeper and more like a line. Eggplants need to be harvested as soon as they are ripe; if left past that on the plant they get spongy and bitter. The most familiar Eggplants to us, the large dark purple ones, are called "Black Bell" or "Purple Globe." They're also called Globe Eggplant, Western Eggplant and American Eggplant. It's not known who exactly it was that thought this Eggplant was shaped anything like a globe. Italian Eggplant is, like Globe Eggplants, purple, but small and round. They are also called Small Globe Eggplant. The long, slim light purple ones, mostly used in Asian cooking, are a bit sweeter, have thin skin and fewer seeds. White Eggplants are better for baking, steaming or frying because with their tougher skin, they hold their shape better. Choose a Eggplant that feels plump, firm, and heavy for its size. Many jokes are made by men about their volunteering to look after this part of the shopping. To test ripeness, just press in a bit with a finger or thumb -- if you can't press at all (without a lot of effort), the Eggplant is not ripe. If it doesn't bounce back, it's overripe and may have mooshy spots inside. If you can make a little indent that lasts for a second then fills back out, then it's fine. Don't buy any that sound hollow inside if you knock on them, or that have bruised, soft or brown spots. Two-thirds of the world's Eggplant is grown in New Jersey, USA. Cooking Tips Most of the bitterness in eggplants is in the seeds. Larger, puffy Eggplants tend to have more bitterness in them. You can help reduce bitterness right away by choosing the right Eggplants (male ones have the fewest seeds). That being said, modern eggplants have had most of the bitterness bred out of them, so the worries of bitterness are largely a thing of the past. Many older recipes had you salt your Eggplant first, and let it sit for a while before using so that the salt could draw out the bitterness. You will now no longer notice a taste difference in bitterness between Eggplant that has been salted, and Eggplant that hasn't been, unless the Eggplant is very old and almost past it (see Storage section below.) To be fair, there can still be a use for salting. Salting helps to remove any excess moisture that might make the Eggplant fall apart on you, if that's not what would be good for your recipe. After you have salted it and let it sit, though, remember that part of the purpose of this was to get rid of moisture, so don't wash the salt off with water or the Eggplant will suck the water back up; instead, wipe the salt off with paper towel. Drawing out the moisture also makes the flesh of the Eggplant denser, so that it will absorb less fat or oil (though some bon vivants no doubt feel that the way Eggplant absorbs fat and oil is one of its most redeeming qualities). Use about 1/2 teaspoon of salt per pound (250g) of Eggplant. When cut, Eggplant slices will brown quickly. This is generally not a problem in most recipes, as the Eggplant very often gets browned anyway, but if it's something you wouldn't want in a particular recipe, use lemon juice on them. The air browning doesn't affect the flavour. When frying Eggplant, use a non-stick pan -- you're just going to be completely defeated otherwise. Have the pan very hot before you begin frying. Use no more than 1 tbsp of oil for pound (450g) of Eggplant that you're working with. If all the oil gets absorbed, don't panic and add more -- soon, the Eggplant will release it again. An Eggplant is a bit like a sponge in structure, and as such is ideal for soaking up water and oil. When heated past a c


The Irish Derby is held at which racecourse?

Irish Derby - Irish Triple Crown Horse Race held at Curragh Racecourse, County Kildare - Races.com.au Inaugurated: 1866 The ?1.5million Irish Derby is the second leg of the Irish Triple Crown, and the richest of the three races that make up this coveted series. Run in late June or early July each year at the Curragh Racecourse, it is run over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs on a right-handed turf track. Only three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies, geldings excluded, may compete in this Group 1 flat race. First run in 1866 when Selim claimed victory, the race is the Irish version of the English Derby Stakes and is held three weeks after this British event. Originally run over 1 mile and 6 furlongs, the race distance was cut to its current length in 1872 and it is the oldest of the five Irish Classics. Many runners in the Irish Derby have come via the Epsom Derby Stakes in England, and this British counterpart is an excellent race for punters to gauge the form of the entries prior to placing their bets. 14 horses have won both the English and British versions of this race in the same season, the first was Santa Claus (1964) and the most recent horse to take out this Derby double was High Chaparral (2002). It is also a good tip to look at the top five finishers in the Epsom Derby when making your Place bets on the Irish Derby as a number of entries, although have not claimed victory, have placed in both of these esteemed Group 1 races. Other excellent lead-up races held earlier in the season that help to uncover the top three-year-olds of the year include the first leg of the Triple Crown the Irish 2000 Guineas (1mile) and the Group 1 French Prix du Jockey Club (1mile 2 ? furlongs), which is the French equivalent to the race. Also watch for the winners and placegetters in the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Trial Derby (1m 2f) in May at Leopardstown, as many have gone on to see success in the Epsom and Irish Derbies. Because of the race?s profile and its international counterparts the field of runners is made up of not only the best local gallopers but elite contenders from Europe as well. Aside from the three-year-olds? form, it is also important to keep an eye on the leading trainers who have participated in the English Classic races that season, and who have had previous success in the Irish Derby. The trainer who has dominated the Irish Derby scene in recent years is Aidan O?Brien boasting six wins since 1997. His entries often provide the ante-post favourite in the lead-up to the race, and punters backing the favourite have been well rewarded in the last decade. Other trainers to keep an eye on include James Bolger, Dermot Weld, Devin Prendergast and John Oxx. The race is currently sponsored by Dubai Duty Free, who commenced sponsorship in 2008. The previous sponsor was Budweiser from 1986 ? 2007. The Irish Derby takes place as part of the Irish Derby Festival, which is the most anticipated event on the Irish racing calendar. Irish Derby ? Records: Most Successful Jockey: Morny Wing managed an impressive six wins with Ballyheron (1921), Waygood (1923), Rock Star (1930), Rosewell (1938), Windsor Slipper (1942) and Bright New (1946). Most Successful Trainer: World class trainer Aidan O?Brien has amassed an incredible seven Irish Derby victories with Desert King (1997), Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Dylan Thomas (2006), Soldier of Fortune (2007), Frozen Fire (2008) and Fame And Glory (2009). Irish Derby ? Recent Race Results: Year


The cephalothorax and the opisthosoma are body sections of what?

cephalothorax | zoology | Britannica.com Cephalothorax THIS IS A DIRECTORY PAGE. Britannica does not currently have an article on this topic. Alternative Title: prosoma Learn about this topic in these articles:   in arachnid: Body and appendages ...liquefied remains into their mouths. Except among daddy longlegs and the mites and ticks, in which the entire body forms a single region, the arachnid body is divided into two distinct regions: the cephalothorax, or prosoma, and the abdomen, or opisthosoma. The sternites (ventral plates) of the lower surface of the body show more variation than do the tergites (dorsal plates). The arachnids... in decapod Decapods have three distinct body regions, each made up of segments, or somites: the head, thorax, and abdomen. The head and the thorax are fused and are often referred to as the cephalothorax. A pair of appendages is attached to each somite. The first two pairs, the first and second antennae, consist of a segmented stalk and flagella, and serve such sensory functions as olfaction, touch, and...


Born Betty Joan Perske, which actress starred in The Big Sleep and To Have and Have Not?

Lauren Bacall - Biography - IMDb Lauren Bacall Biography Showing all 115 items Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (2) | Trade Mark  (3) | Trivia  (73) | Personal Quotes  (28) | Salary  (3) Overview (5) 5' 8½" (1.74 m) Mini Bio (1) Lauren Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924, in New York City. She is the daughter of Natalie Weinstein-Bacal, a Romanian Jewish immigrant, and William Perske, who was born in New Jersey, to Polish Jewish parents. Her family was middle-class, with her father working as a salesman and her mother as a secretary. They divorced when she was five. When she was a school girl, Lauren originally wanted to be a dancer, but later, she became enthralled with acting, so she switched gears to head into that field. She had studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York after high school, which enabled her to get her feet wet in some off-Broadway productions. Once out of school, Lauren entered modeling and, because of her beauty, appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar, one of the most popular magazines in the US. The wife of famed director Howard Hawks spotted the picture in the publication and arranged with her husband to have Lauren take a screen test. As a result, which was entirely positive, she was given the part of Marie Browning in To Have and Have Not (1944), a thriller opposite the great Humphrey Bogart , when she was just 19 years old. This not only set the tone for a fabulous career but also one of Hollywood's greatest love stories (she married Bogart in 1945). It was also the first of several Bogie-Bacall films. After 1945's Confidential Agent (1945), Lauren received second billing in The Big Sleep (1946) with Bogart. The mystery, in the role of Vivian Sternwood Rutledge, was a resounding success. Although she was making one film a year, each production would be eagerly awaited by the public. In 1947, again with her husband, Lauren starred in the thriller Dark Passage (1947). The film kept movie patrons on the edge of their seats. The following year, she starred with Bogart, Edward G. Robinson , and Lionel Barrymore in Key Largo (1948). The crime drama was even more of a nail biter than her previous film. In 1950, Lauren starred in Bright Leaf (1950), a drama set in 1894. It was a film of note because she appeared without her husband - her co-star was Gary Cooper . In 1953, Lauren appeared in her first comedy as Schatze Page in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). The film, with co-stars Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable , was a smash hit all across the theaters of America. After filming Designing Woman (1957), which was released in 1957, Humphrey Bogart died on January 14 from throat cancer. Devastated at being a widow, Lauren returned to the silver screen with The Gift of Love (1958) in 1958 opposite Robert Stack . The production turned out to be a big disappointment. Undaunted, Lauren moved back to New York City and appeared in several Broadway plays to huge critical acclaim. She was enjoying acting before live audiences and the audiences in turn enjoyed her fine performances. Lauren was away from the big screen for five years, but she returned in 1964 to appear in Shock Treatment (1964) and Sex and the Single Girl (1964). The latter film was a comedy starring Henry Fonda and Tony Curtis . In 1966, Lauren starred in Harper (1966) with Paul Newman and Julie Harris , which was one of former's signature films. Alternating her time between films and the stage, Lauren returned in 1974's Murder on the Orient Express (1974). The film, based on Agatha Christie 's best-selling book was a huge hit. It also garnered Ingrid Bergman her third Oscar. Actually, the huge star-studded cast helped to ensure its success. Two years later, in 1976, Lauren co-starred with John Wayne in The Shootist (1976). The film was Wayne's last - he died from cancer in 1979. In 1981, Lauren played an actress being stalked by a crazed admirer in The Fan (1981). The thriller was absolutely fascinating with Lauren in the lead role. After that production, Lauren was away from films again,


In which European city is the Charles Bridge?

Charles Bridge, Prague Charles Bridge, Prague This photo is from Your Photos of European Cities Charles Bridge, Prague Photograph by Jaroslav Zakravsky , My Shot Morning on the famous Charles Bridge. The only part of the day when there are no tourists, so that you can feel the real spirit of this magical place. (This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot .)


What nation won the European Football Championship after first failing to qualify for the finals tournament?

UEFA European Championship winners list | Football Bible UEFA European Championship winners list Published on Aug 29, 2014 The first UEFA European Football Championship was organized in 1960. It was previously called the European Nations Cup. Europe’s national teams contest the award every four years since that time. Currently, 9 nations have won the UEFA European Championship  title with Germany and Spain being the most successful teams, each having three titles. Here is the UEFA Euro Championship winners list. 1960 UEFA European Championship Final scores: 2-1 (Extra-time) Host country: France The first final went into extra time after a 1-1 draw between the Soviet Union and their opponents, Yugoslavia. Viktor Ponedelnik found the net with a header in the second half of the extra time to give the Soviet Union a win at the Parc des Princes, Paris.   Final scores: 2-1 Host country: Spain The Soviet Union got to defend their title four years later, reaching the finals of the tournament. They played the host nation, Spain, with the score line remaining 1-1 up to the final minutes of the match. Marcelino won Spain the title with a goal six minutes to the final whistle.   Final scores: 2-0 (Rematch) Host country: Italy Once more, the host nations qualified for the final. But this time it was Italy that was to battle it out with Yugoslavia in the 1968 European Football Championship final. Italy’s semi-final opponents, the Soviet Union, had been eliminated from the tournament after losing a coin toss used to determine 'the winner’ of the goalless draw. Italy won their first title after the final went for a rematch and ended 2-0 in their favor, two days after they tied 1-1.   Final scores: 3-0 Host country: Belgium The performance of the Soviet Union team was still outstanding as they made it to the finals for the third time. West Germany won the match 3-0 with two goals from Gerd Muller and another from Herbert Wimmer, at the Heysel Stadium .   Final scores: 2-2 (5-3 pen) Host country: Yugoslavia West Germany defended their title in 1976 and qualified for the finals. The Germans forced the match against Czechoslovakia into extra time after Bernd Holzenbein equalized 2-2 in the final minutes of the normal play time. The fight was on but eventually the winner was to be determined through a penalty shoot-out. Czechoslovakia won the shoot-out 5-3 after capitalizing on a miss by the German Uli Hoeneb.   Final scores: 2-1 Host country: Italy West Germany was at the finals for a third consecutive time, this time facing Belgium. Two goals from Horst Hrubesch made it 2-1 for Germany and they were crowned the European Champions for the second time.   Final scores: 2-0 Host country: France The 1984 European Football Championship final was a match between Spain and the host nation France. France had a successful contest having one of their players, Michel Platini, achieve a nine-goal record in the tournament. His ninth goal came in the final when they outscored Spain 2-0 to win heir first title.   Final scores: 2-0 Host country: West Germany Netherlands and the Soviet Union met in the 1988 final held in West Germany. The most memorable moment of the match is the spectacular second goal by Marco van Basten. The stunning volley sealed the 2-0 win for Netherlands, who were playing in the final for the first time.   Final scores: 2-0 Host country: Sweden In 1992, Germany had been unified and they got into the finals once again. This time their opponents were the newcomers Denmark. Denmark who had eliminated the Dutch in the semi finals. The Danes took the lead in the first half through a shot by John Jehsen and further extended it in the 78th minute to seal a 2-0 win.   Final scores: 2-1 (Extra-time-Golden goal) Host country: England The 1996 final went into extra time after Germany and the Czech Republic still tied 1-1 at the 90th minute. Olivier Bierhoff of Germany scored his second for the match five minutes into the extra time and this was the first golden goal in the European Football Championship history.   Final scores: 2-1 (Extra-time-


Who wrote the novel The French Lieutenant's Woman?

The French Lieutenant's Woman - John Fowles - Author Biography - LitLovers • Where—Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK • Education—University of Edinburg; B.A. Oxford University • Awards—Silver Pen Award John Robert Fowles was an English novelist and essayist. In 2008, The Times (of London) named Fowles among their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945." Fowles was born in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, England, the son of Gladys May Richards and Robert John Fowles. Gladys Richards belonged to an Essex family originally from London as well. The Richards family moved to Westcliff-on-Sea during 1918, as Spanish Flu swept through Europe, for Essex was said to have a healthy climate. Robert met Gladys Richards at a tennis club in Westcliff-on-Sea during 1924. Though she was ten years younger, and he in bad health from the World War I, they were married a year later on 18 June 1925. Nine months and two weeks later Gladys gave birth to John Robert Fowles. Fowles spent his childhood attended by his mother and by his cousin Peggy Fowles, 18 years old at the time of his birth, who was his nursemaid and close companion for ten years. Fowles attended Alleyn Court Preparatory School. The work of Richard Jefferies and his character Bevis were Fowles's favorite books as a child. He was an only child until he was 16 years old. Education During 1939, Fowles won a position at Bedford School, a two-hour train journey north of his home. His time at Bedford coincided with the Second World War. Fowles was a student at Bedford until 1944. He became Head Boy and was also an athletic standout: a member of the rugby-football third team, the Fives first team and captain of the cricket team, for which he was bowler. After leaving Bedford School during 1944, Fowles enrolled in a Naval Short Course at Edinburgh University. Fowles was prepared to receive a commission in the Royal Marines. He completed his training on 8 May 1945 — VE Day. Fowles was assigned instead to Okehampton Camp in the countryside near Devon for two years. During 1947, after completing his military service, Fowles entered New College, Oxford, where he studied both French and German, although he stopped studying German and concentrated on French for his BA. Fowles was undergoing a political transformation. Upon leaving the marines he wrote, "I ... began to hate what I was becoming in life—a British Establishment young hopeful. I decided instead to become a sort of anarchist." It was also at Oxford that Fowles first considered life as a writer, particularly after reading existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Though Fowles did not identify as an existentialist, their writing, like Fowles', was motivated from a feeling that the world was wrong. Teaching Career Fowles spent his early adult life as a teacher. His first year after Oxford was spent at the University of Poitiers. At the end of the year, he received two offers: one from the French department at Winchester, the other "from a ratty school in Greece," Fowles said, "Of course, I went against all the dictates of common sense and took the Greek job." During 1951, Fowles became an English master at the Anargyrios and Korgialenios School of Spetses on the Peloponnesian island of Spetsai, a critical part of Fowles's life, as the island which would later serve as the setting of his novel The Magus. Fowles was happy in Greece, especially outside of the school. He wrote poems that he later published, and became close to his fellow exiles. But during 1953 Fowles and the other masters at the school were all dismissed for trying to institute reforms, and Fowles returned to England. On the island of Spetsai, Fowles had grown fond of Elizabeth Christy, who was married to one of the other teachers. Christy's marriage was already ending because of the relationship with Fowles, and though they returned to England at the same time, they were no longer in each other's company. It was during this period that Fowles began drafting The Magus . His separation from Elizabeth did not last long. On 2 April 1954 they were married and Fowles


Grams to Hectograms - How many grams in a hectogram? Grams to Hectograms Conversion How many hectograms in a gram? Grams to hectograms weight units conversion table shows the most common values for the quick reference. Alternatively, you may use the converter below to convert any other values. 1 Gram = 0.01 Hectogram 1 Hectogram = 100 Grams Gram is a metric system unit of mass. It is one thousandth (1/1000) of the metric system base unit, kilogram. It is a very commonly used unit of mass in daily life. The abbreviation is "g". Hectogram is a unit of mass in metric system. 1 kilogram equals to 10 hectograms. It's rarely used and mostly for measurements in agricultural productivity, animal feed etc. The abbreviation is "hg". For other units of weight conversion, please go to Weight Conversion Converter


Which is the only Charles Dickens novel with a female narrator?

When the I's of Novels Cross Over; Should a Man Try to Write in a Woman's Voice and Vice Versa? - The New York Times The New York Times Books |When the I's of Novels Cross Over; Should a Man Try to Write in a Woman's Voice and Vice Versa? Search Continue reading the main story ''I have a great deal of difficulty in beginning to write my portion of these pages, for I know I am not clever.'' The author of this passage, the prolific and prolifically clever Charles Dickens, demonstrably believed the contrary. What novelists do, after all, is invent characters, and first-person narration, in which an imagined character is given a voice as well as a point of view, is a common convention. But in the cited passage, the speaker is Esther Summerson, the protagonist of the novel, ''Bleak House,'' who alternates chapters with an arch and satiric omniscient narrator more identifiable with the writer himself. Esther is a typically self-effacing and angelic Dickens heroine but the only female narrator in his entire output. And as a result, ''Bleak House,'' published in 1853, remains much discussed as both a narrative anomaly and a social one. ''It was probably the most controversial of his works at the time and is still the subject of enormous discussion among scholars,'' said Alison Case, a professor of English at Williams College and the author of ''Plotting Women,'' a forthcoming book on female narrators in 18th- and 19th-century fiction. ''Dickens's friend, John Foster, said, 'It was an experiment not worthy of success and certainly not successful.' '' This marked an interesting moment in the history of the relationship between writer and narrator, which itself is complex enough to have spawned an academic discipline (called narratology), one of whose more piquant issues is cross-gender narration: that is, male writers speaking in the voice of a female character, and, though historically less often, vice versa. Continue reading the main story ''Male writers seem to take on the first person to prove their virtuosity and/or empathy,'' said Joseph Boone, a narratologist and professor of English at the University of Southern California, ''while, at least historically, women writers, often working under male pseudonyms, might use the male first person as part of their attempt to 'pass' and prove themselves professionally.'' Advertisement Continue reading the main story In the past several decades, female writers have claimed their narrative authority much more aggressively. Indeed, cross-gender narration is a technique that is employed today -- by writers of both sexes -- far more often than it has ever been in the history of the novel (and probably more often than narrations that cross other boundaries, like race and ethnicity). But even so, it's relatively rare, and for many readers, it intensifies the challenge that all novels extend to them -- to suspend disbelief. Reaction to contemporary works like ''Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All'' by Allan Gurganus, ''The End of Alice'' by A. M. Homes and ''Memoirs of a Geisha'' by Arthur Golden is often informed by surprise, if not discomfort, at the gender gap between the teller of the tale and the controlling intelligence behind it. ''People are always asking me how I did it,'' said Mr. Gurganus, in a recent interview, 10 years after the publication of ''Confederate Widow,'' the purported memoir of an uneducated but shrewdly observant woman who at age 15 had married a 55-year-old veteran of the Civil War. ''Hundreds, if not thousands, of women, saying to me: How did you know? But what's weird is not my knowing, it's how weird most people consider that knowing. We live in a culture where it's considered an immense feat to assume a woman's voice.'' Fiction writing is an act of presumption. ''Listen,'' the the voice of the narrator says, ''I have a story to tell.'' Playwrights routinely give voice to characters of the opposite gender, but they do not routinely cede to any character the authority to tell the story the way it is conferred on a narrator in fiction. A first-person narrato


People Who Collect People Who Collect What is the word for People Who Collect? The short answer is A Collector. People seem to think that because some well-established collecting hobbies such as philately (stamp-collecting and the study of postal history), bibliophily (book-collecting) and numismatics (the collecting and study of coins) have particular names, there must be a word for the collecting of anything from matchbox labels to China ornaments. Collectors have had some success in promoting the terms arctophily (teddy-bear collecting from Greek arktos bear), tegestology (beer-mat collecting from Greek tegestos a small reed mat), deltiology (postcard collecting from Greek deltion a little writing-tablet) and copoclephily (key-ring collecting from Greek kope handle and kleis key). However, these are little known outside the circle of devotees except as verbal curiosities. One expert's view of such words is summed up by the following terse extract from J. Rendell's 1963 book Collecting Matchbox Labels: Despite the fact that the word phillumenist has come to a certain extent into general use the only correct appellation for the subject remains matchbox label collecting and the serious student of it describes himself or herself as no more or less than a matchbox label collector. I'm afraid it is our job as website owner to present and explain existing words, not to invent new ones! Related Links:


Budapest | national capital, Hungary | Britannica.com national capital, Hungary Charles Vidor Budapest, city , capital of Hungary , and seat of Pest megye (county). The city is the political, administrative, industrial, and commercial centre of Hungary. The site has been continuously settled since prehistoric times and is now the home of about one-fifth of the country’s population. Central Budapest, looking north along the Danube River, with the Parliament Building on the east … Jean S. Buldain/Berg & Assoc. Once called the “Queen of the Danube,” Budapest has long been the focal point of the nation and a lively cultural centre. The city straddles the Danube (Hungarian: Duna) River in the magnificent natural setting where the hills of western Hungary meet the plains stretching to the east and south. It consists of two parts, Buda and Pest, which are situated on opposite sides of the river and connected by a series of bridges. Budapest, with a view of the Pest. © Calvin Oosse Although the city’s roots date to Roman times and even earlier, modern Budapest is essentially an outgrowth of the 19th-century empire of Austria-Hungary , when Hungary was three times larger than the present country. Hungary’s reduction in size following World War I did not prevent Budapest from becoming, after Berlin , the second largest city in central Europe . One out of five Hungarians now lives in the capital, which, as the seat of government and the centre of Hungarian transport and industry , dominates all aspects of national life. Tens of thousands of commuters converge on Budapest daily, more than half the nation’s university students attend school in the city, and about half the country’s income from foreign tourism is earned there. A brief look at Budapest, Hungary. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Budapest stood apart from the relatively drab capitals of the other Soviet-bloc countries; it maintained an impression of plenty, with smart shops, good restaurants, and other amenities. The dissolution of the Soviet bloc and Hungary’s transition away from socialism brought Budapest new opportunities for prosperity and an influx of Western tourists—along with the stresses of economic transition to a more Western-style economy. Area city, 203 square miles (525 square km). Pop. (2005 est.) 1,697,343. Buda Castle on the Danube River, Budapest. © Farida/Fotolia The landscape The city site Strategically placed at the centre of the Carpathian Basin, Budapest lies on an ancient route linking the hills of Transdanubia (Hungarian: Dunántúl) with the Great Alfold (Great Hungarian Plain; Hungarian: Nagy Magyar Alföld). The wide Danube was always fordable at this point because of a few islands in the middle of the river. The city has marked topographical contrasts: Buda is built on the higher river terraces and hills of the western side, while the considerably larger Pest spreads out on a flat and featureless sand plain on the river’s opposite bank. Climate The climate of Budapest is transitional between the extreme conditions of the Great Alfold and the more temperate climate of Transdanubia, with its abundant rainfall. Mean annual temperature is 52 °F (11 °C), ranging from a July average of 72 °F (22 °C) to 30 °F (−1 °C) in January. Mean annual precipitation is 24 inches (600 mm). Winter snowfalls can be heavy, and the temperature may fall below 5 °F (−15 °C), but, on the other hand, heat waves combined with humidity in the summer can make the air oppressive. Flooding in Pest was endemic before the river was regulated in the 19th century. The Danube (blue only in the Johann Strauss waltz) has become heavily contaminated, and air pollution, from which the inhabitants of Buda have largely been able to escape, has afflicted most districts in Pest. The city layout Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies The finest thoroughfare in Budapest, Andrássy Avenue, runs in a straight line from the centre of Pest to City Park (Városliget), which contains the Millennium Monument. The monument consists of a semicircular pillared colonnade displaying statues of


Who was the 20th US president, the second to be assassinated, and the second shortest serving?

10 Shortest Serving US Presidents - Listverse 10 Shortest Serving US Presidents Listverse Staff September 24, 2007 Some presidents seem to have far too long in the Whitehouse (I am not naming names), but some have had so little time that they were barely able to fulfill their duties. This is a list of the ten shortest presidencies in US history. 10. John Tyler 1,430 Days Wikipedia In Office: April 4, 1841 – March 4, 1845 Served the remainder of William Harrison’s term. Denied renomination by the Whigs, Tyler flirted with the Liberty Party, but was persuaded not to run by the Democrats (his former party). Tyler’s presidency was rarely taken seriously in his time. He was usually referred to as the “Acting President” or “His Accidency” by opponents. Further, Tyler quickly found himself at odds with his former political supporters. Make the presidents easy to remember with The Presidents of the United States, NEW Classroom POSTER at Amazon.com! 9. Andrew Johnson 1,419 Days Wikipedia In Office: April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869 Served the remainder of Lincoln’s term. Sought the Democratic nomination in 1868, but was unsuccessful. Johnson had an ambiguous party status. He attempted to build up a party of loyalists under the National Union label, but he did not identify with either of the two main parties while President—though he did try for the Democratic nomination in 1868. Asked in 1868 why he did not become a Democrat, he said “It is true I am asked why don’t I join the Democratic party. Why don’t they join me…if I have administered the office of president so well?” 8. Chester A Arthur 1,262 Days Wikipedia In Office: September 19, 1881 – March 4, 1885 Served the remainder of Garfield’s term. Sought a full term, but was not re-nominated. The Arthur Administration enacted the first general Federal immigration law. Arthur approved a measure in 1882 excluding paupers, criminals, and the mentally ill. Congress also suspended Chinese immigration for ten years with the Chinese Exclusion Act, later making the restriction permanent. 7. John F Kennedy 1,036 Days Wikipedia In Office: January 20, 1961 – November 22, 1963 Assassinated in his first term. John F. Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President at noon on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural address he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens, famously saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” He also asked the nations of the world to join together to fight what he called the “common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.” 6. Millard Fillmore 969 Days Wikipedia In Office: July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 Served the remainder of Taylor’s term. Sought the Whig nomination in 1852, but lost to Winfield Scott. Four years later, ran again (as a Know Nothing) and came in third. As president, Fillmore dealt with increasing party divisions within the Whig party; party harmony became one of his primary objectives. He tried to unite the party by pointing out the differences between the Whigs and the Democrats (by proposing tariff reforms that negatively reflected on the Democratic Party). Another primary objective of Fillmore was to preserve the Union from the intensifying slavery debate. Get an admirable piece of American history. Buy the original John F. Kennedy for President Campaign Poster at Amazon.com! 5. Gerald Ford 895 Days Wikipedia In Office: August 9, 1974 – January 20, 1977 Served the remainder of Nixon’s term. Not elected for full term. In foreign policy, the Helsinki Accords marked a move toward detente in the Cold War, even as the former ally South Vietnam was invaded and conquered by North Vietnam; Ford did not intervene, but did help extract friends of the U.S. At home, the economy suffered from inflation and recession. Ford came under intense criticism for granting a preemptive pardon to President Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal. 4. Warren G Harding 881 Days Wikipedia In Office: March 4, 1921 – August 2, 1923 Died in his first term. In April 1921, speaking before a joint sess


Otoplasty is the surgical alteration of what external body parts?

Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Encino & Beverly Hills | Sean Younai, MD Home » Facial Rejuvenation » Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) Consultations offered at our four convenient locations in Encino, Beverly Hills, Glendale and Bakersfield Adults and children alike are often unhappy with the appearance of their ears. If the size, shape, or protrusion of your ears is problematic for you, ear surgery could be the answer you are looking for. Ear surgery, also called otoplasty, is used to permanently correct any issue you may have with your ears. These procedures are often also referred to as ear pinning or ear reduction surgery. Because they are cosmetic surgical procedures, however, they can only treat the appearance of the external ear. Otoplasty is performed using an incision in the back of the ear. Special sutures are then placed within the structure of the outer ear to pin it closer to the head. The cartilage may also be removed to reshape the ear if it is too large or comes to a point, or simply repositioned. Ear surgery can also be used in cases of traumatic injury or excessive stretching with large-gauge earrings to reshape the ears into a more natural shape. Ear surgery is the most popular plastic surgery among children. In fact, it is often recommended that kids get this surgery as soon as possible. There are two reasons for this. First, ears reach adult size around age seven in most people, at which point they can be operated on safely. The other reason that most people choose to do this procedure as early as possible is to spare the child from the teasing that often comes with having big ears. Dr. Younai has performed countless ear surgeries and can make your ears aesthetically pleasing, no matter what your current issue is. Following surgery, your results should be immediately apparent. You will need to avoid strenuous or potentially dangerous activities during your recovery, and will be asked to sleep with your head elevated for a few days following surgery. You scars will be naturally concealed in the folds behind your ears, and the results are permanent. Contents 7 Risks & Complications Introduction Otoplasty, also known as Ear Pinning, Ear Pinback, or Ear Reduction Surgery, is the cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that permanently corrects protruding ears. Otoplasty does so by positioning the ears closer to the head (Ear Pinning), reshaping them,reducing their size, and making them more symmetrical. Protruding Ear Deformity is the most prevalent congenital malformation of the head and neck area. Besides Protruding Ears, other External Ear deformities are also corrected by Otoplasty. These deformities include: Cup Ear or irregular development of the outer ears; Lop Ear or Bat Ear, where the edge of the ear’s exterior grows at a sharp and protruding angle; Cauliflower Ear, caused by crush injury to ear cartilage; "Spock’s Ear" with protruding sharp edge; Shell Ear, with missing folds and creases, as well as ears that are too large or too small. Otoplasty ranks as the most commonly performed plastic surgery Procedure on children between ages five and fourteen. Ear Pinning is one cosmetic surgery where "earlier is better" because of the devastating blows to a child’s self-esteem, who is teased for having protruding ears; being called names such as "Dumbo," "Mickey Mouse" and "Rabbit Ears." The optimal time for performing otoplasty in children is just before they start school, or at about the age of seven. At this age the ears have grown to nearly their adult size and the child is old enough to be able to undergo surgery safely. It also gives children a chance to correct their facial deformity before starting to socialize with peers in school. Otoplasty has also been a blessing for thousands of adults who have spent their lives feeling self-conscious about their "big ears." They have hidden their ears with hairstyles, hats, and avoided wearing ear jewelry. With Otoplasty they have gained the freedom to wear their hair short or pulled back, wear earrings, and no longer feel embarrassed about their look.


Which animal represents the Chinese year 2010?

Chinese New Year | Chinese Animal Year Zodiac | Chinese New Year Dates Today's Horoscope The Chinese Lunar calendar follows a 12 year cycle and each of the 12 years is represented by 12 Animals which form the Chinese Zodiac. After every 12 years the Chinese Calendar repeats itself. The animals in the Chinese Zodiac or the animals which constitute the Chinese calendar are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. • Chinese New Year Dates - Chinese new year dates as per English calendar Chinese Years - Chinese Animal Years List Given below is a list of all the years starting from the year 1900 to 2100 sorted according to the Chinese Animal they represent. For example, the Years listed under the column rat represent the Chinese Year of the Rat, likewise, Chinese Year of the Tiger, Chinese Year of the Hare etc... Rat 2103 Chinese New Year - Chinese New Year Date When in Chinese New Year 2018 or 2019? What is the English date corresponding to Chinese New Year date? Given below is the Chinese New Year dates of all Years between 2005 and 2020. Chinese New year date in English calendar format and English new year date in Chinese Year Format. Chinese new year date as per English calendar English date corresponding to Chinese new year i.e., first day of first Chinese month of each year. Chinese New Year 2011 - February 3, 2011 Chinese New Year 2012 - January 23, 2012 Chinese New Year 2013 - February 10, 2013 Chinese New Year 2014 - January 31, 2014 Chinese New Year 2015 - February 19, 2015 Chinese New Year 2016 - February 8, 2016 Chinese New Year 2017 - January 28, 2017 Chinese New Year 2018 - February 16, 2018 Chinese New Year 2019 - February 5, 2019 Chinese New Year 2020 - January 25, 2020 Chinese New Year 2021 - February 12, 2021 Chinese New Year 2022 - February 1, 2022 Chinese New Year 2023 - January 22, 2023 Chinese New Year 2024 - February 10, 2024 Chinese New Year 2025 - January 29, 2025 Chinese New Year 2026 - February 17, 2026 New year date as per Chinese calendar year Chinese date corresponding to English new year i.e., January 1. January, 1 2012 is 8-12-4709 January, 1 2013 is 20-11-4710 January, 1 2014 is 1-12-4711 January, 1 2015 is 11-11-4712 January, 1 2016 is 22-11-4713 January, 1 2017 is 4-12-4714 January, 1 2018 is 15-11-4715 January, 1 2019 is 26-11-4716 January, 1 2020 is 7-12-4717 January, 1 2021 is 18-11-4718 January, 1 2022 is 29-11-4719 January, 1 2023 is 10-12-4720 January, 1 2024 is 20-11-4721 January, 1 2025 is 2-12-4722 January, 1 2026 is 13-11-4723 January, 1 2027 is 24-11-4724 Chinese Calendar is the traditional astrology calendar of the Chinese people. Many of the chinese festivals and Government Holidays are determined based on the Chinese Calendar. The months of the Chinese Calendar is a sixty year cycle. Chinese Animal Year / Chinese Zodiac Calendar Chinese calendar related links


A Gibus or Chapeau Claque is what sort of top hat, originally popular at the opera?

Black Tie Guide | Vintage: Outerwear   Top Hat (White Tie) At the turn of the   nineteenth century the chapeau bras was the only hat for evening   dress.  Also known as a bicorne, it was a crescent shaped   headpiece like the one made famous by Napoleon but was specifically   designed as a collapsible hat to be carried under the arm ï¿½ thus its   French name ï¿½arm hatï¿½.  The tall ï¿½round hatsï¿½ worn as daywear were   impractical in comparison because they were awkward to carry at a   ball and had to be checked at the opera or theater.   That all changed when a collapsible version of the round hat   was invented in 1812 which allowed gentlemen to store their headwear   under their seats. Acceptable at first only for   informal evening events, tall hat styles became increasingly popular   as full-dress attire in the 1820s with the arrival in England of the   French top hat.  The standard top hat was made of black silk plush   (a pile longer and less dense than velvet pile) or felted beaver fur   while early collapsible versions were generally made of the former   material.   English top hat styles from an 1830 etiquette book.    (Click any image for more styles)   An interesting comparison of   silk and beaver fur was offered in the 1830 British etiquette book The Whole Art of Dress.  It explained that up to that point beaver was preferred over silk by   the nobility and gentry because it was lighter and more pliable thus   allowing a wider variety of shapes.  However silk hats had recently become available in lighter   weights and a variety of shapes and had the advantage of being much   more durable than beaver and of retaining their gloss indefinitely   while beaver ï¿½turns quite brown and looks very shabbyï¿½.  They   were also half the price of beaver.     Circa 1870-1890 corded silk and satin gibus. 1892 silk plush hat made in Montreal. Victorian-era beaver top hat. At the dawn of the Victorian   era conduct guides such as the American Handbook of the Man of Fashion were still   prescribing a chapeau bras for dances or large evening parties   because ï¿½to carry a common hat on such occasions, as is done by some   awkward imitators of fashion, is clumsy and absurd.ï¿½  Despite this, by the 1840s the top hat ï¿½had changed from a   fashion novelty to a status symbol for bourgeois men,ï¿½ explains the   McCord Museum's Web site.  ï¿½The top hat symbolized respectability,   wealth, dignity and social standing: High and imposing, it made men   look taller and ï¿½handsome.ï¿½  Consequently, when Antoine Gibus   perfected the collapsible version of the top hat around 1840 the   resulting gibus hat quickly became the most popular headwear after   six oï¿½clock.   The black top hat   remained de rigeur for evening dress throughout the   Victorian era with silk models becoming the standard material by the   mid century thanks to their adoption by Prince Albert and the   depletion of the North American beaver.  The   collapsible version of the top hat ï¿½ which took on the nicknames crush hat and opera hat ï¿½ also continued to be a common evening   option until the Edwardian era when it began to be considered old   fashioned.    Following World War One the   top hatï¿½s tendency to become shoddy after a night at the theater or   the ball resulted in a declining popularity until the early 1930s   when Apparel Arts reported that the trend was reversing.  The periodical also noted the return of the opera hat which   in America was now typically made of fine ribbed silk while in   England and Europe it was usually constructed of merino cloth.    High silk hat from 1932 issue of Men's Wear. Collapsible opera hat of merino from same    issue. "Crusher" hat from 1935 ad for    collegiate headwear. Although the Second World   War brought about another relaxation of fashion standards, etiquette   manuals continued to recommend both the silk hat and opera hat with   white tie right through the 1950s with one of them going so


By what name is footballer Edison Arantes do Nascimento better known?

Edson arantes do nascimento is better known as? - Find Answers Here! Edson arantes do nascimento is better known as? We found this answers Pelé - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Edson Arantes do Nascimento, who is better known as Pelé. The same year, France Football consulted their former Ballon D'Or ... - Read more Edison Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé - the greatest footballer ever holding the World Cup http://t.co/zL9dSB8QNV. Cancelar Dejar de seguir. - Read more Discussion about this question


In which European country is the Caledonian Canal?

UK Boating Holidays and Canal Boat Vacations Cruise the UK with Boating Holidays Boating Holidays has the widest range of holidays afloat in the UK. We offer over 1500 boating holiday options - almost all with online availability. We have the biggest choice of self-drive cruisers, narrowboats, and wide-beam narrowboats on the rivers and canals of England, Wales and Scotland. We also offer skippered hotel barges. Enjoy a canal cruise through scenic countryside Locks take your boat up and down hills Explore the Norfolk Broads by boat Moor at a canalside pub See the Falkirk Wheel - a new waterways wonder Cruise along the River Thames Travel through the centre of cities See the setting sun from a peaceful canal Have an energetic day going up or down the Caen Hill locks Tunnels are an exciting part of canal cruises Take your floating hotel to central London Lift bridges are a feature of some canal routes Descend a staircase set of locks Cruise amongst Highland scenery on the Caledonian Canal Sail across valleys on an aqueduct


In 1725 King George the First created what British chivalric honour, whose original ceremony entailed bodily cleansing?

Offaly, Author at Offaly History by Offaly Sporting tradition in Offaly is both long and varied. Myth and legend from times long past, as well as unprecedented successes in more recent years, are testimony to a county where sport plays a vital role in community life. As in virtually every other county in Ireland, the recent sporting past has been dominated by the G.A.A. Every parish has at least one club within its boundaries and the G.A.A. is easily the most prominent organisation in the county. Yet, the sporting past of Offaly is far more diverse than a mere record of G.A.A. activities. Boxing and athletics, tennis and golf, rugby and soccer, and a host of other sports, have all been long-established in the area and draw a steady and loyal following. Almost every parish has made its own unique contribution to the sporting life of the county. Sportsmen and women in a wide range of different disciplines have completed nationally, as well as internationally, and their various sports have ensured that enthusiasts in the county can involve themselves in a great variety of activities. Invariably, these sports have played a supporting role to the G.A.A. whose establishment in 1884 regularised games that had been played in the county for many centuries. Most areas in the county hold their own legends of battles in football and hurling against neighbouring townlands or villages. These legends tell of the entire male population of two areas playing a game with few set rules and an even less well-defined playing area. As a central county, Offaly also played host to famous inter-county matches. One such match in 1773 saw Tipperary play Galway in Banagher before a crowd of 10,000 with the victorious Tipperary team claiming 1000 guineas in prize-money and the two teams then proceeded to share two barrels of porter between them. On a more local level, a record survives of a hurling match between the men from the Stoney Estate in Kilcormac and the Manifold Estate in Cadamstown dating from pre-G.A.A. days with the game being played across country, the sliothar being made of wood and the hurls similar to the shape of hockey sticks. One such stick, dating from as far back as 1826 was found in Doon. Given that the county had such a long tradition in native games it was inevitable that Offaly should be intimately involved in the setting up of the G.A.A. by Michael Cusack in 1884. Clara-man P. J. White was one of the leading figures in the G.A.A. and his Clara club was the second ever to be affiliated to the G.A.A. (after Cusack’s own Metropolitan Club in Dublin). Offaly’s prominent role in G.A.A. history was further secured when the first ever All-Ireland Hurling Final, between Meelick from Galway and Thurles from Tipperary was played at Birr during Easter 1888. Included on the Meelick team was Lusmagh-man John Coolahan. From the mid-1890’s club football and hurling produced many memorable teams and matches, and the number of clubs grew yearly. However, it was not until the 1920s that the county began to enjoy any measure of success on a national level. Despite having competed in the Leinster Championships from the mid-1890’s (with the exception of 1921 when Offaly was unable to field a team due to the involvement of players in the War of Independence) the only successes were in the junior hurling championships in 1915 and 1922. The junior hurlers also went on to enjoy All-Ireland success in 1923 and 1929. In 1934 Eamonn De Valera officially opened O’Connor Park in Tullamore and then in 1935 the county won the Leinster Junior Football Title. Steady progression in football over the next two decades saw the capture of the county’s first Leinster minor title in 1947, with the O’Byrne Cup following in 1954. It was only in the 1960s that the county began to enjoy a run of victories which erased the bitter memories of painful defeat. 1960 saw the winning of the first Leinster Senior football championship with a one point defeat of Louth; and the following year saw the county reach its first All-Ireland Final only to lose by a similar one point m


In astrology the constellation Leo represents the Lion slain by whom?

Leo Constellation: Facts About the Lion Leo Constellation: Facts About the Lion By Kim Ann Zimmermann | August 1, 2012 10:58am ET MORE Leo the Lion is one of the earliest recognized constellations. The Mesopotamians are known to have documented the “lion” constellation. The Persians called it Ser or Shir; the Turks, Artan; the Syrians, Aryo; the Jewish, Arye; the Indians, Simha. These are all translated as “lion.” Hunting the lion Leo is a highly recognizable constellation, as it is one of the few constellations that resemble its namesake. It is fairly easy to find because the “pointer stars” of the Big Dipper point to Leo. March does come in with a lion. The constellation becomes visible in the Northern Hemisphere around the spring equinox and is easily identifiable through May. Leo lies between Cancer to the west and Virgo to the east. Right ascension: 11 hours Visible between latitudes 90 and minus 65 degrees Best seen in April at 9 p.m. This sky chart shows where the constellation Leo, the Lion and its trademark sickle appear in the eastern sky as viewed from the Northern Hemisphere during spring. This chart is where the constellation appears at 8 p.m. EDT as viewed from the U.S. East Coast. Credit: Starry Night Software The constellation can be found by looking for the "sickle" starting at the Regulus (Alpha Leonis) star. Regulus, Al Jabbah, and Algieba, together with the fainter stars ζ Leo (Adhafera), μ Leo (Ras Elased Borealis), and ε Leo (Ras Elased Australis), constitute the sickle. Another star in the planet is Al Geiba, the brightest star in the curve of the sickle, means "the lion’s mane." In January 2001, a large object eight times the size of Jupiter was discovered orbiting Al Geiba. A triangle of stars forms the lion’s haunches, with the brightest star of this trio being Denebola, which means "tail of the lion." There are a number of luminous galaxies within Leo, including the Leo triplet of M66, M65 and NGC 3628. The Leo Ring, a cloud of hydrogen and helium gas, orbits of two dwarf galaxies. Triplet of bright galaxies in the constellation of Leo (The Lion), together with a multitude of fainter objects: distant background galaxies and much closer Milky Way stars. The image hints at the power of the VST and OmegaCAM for surveying the extragalactic Universe and for mapping the low brightness objects of the galactic halo. Credit: ESO/INAF-VST/OmegaCAM. Acknowledgement: OmegaCen/Astro-WISE/Kapteyn Institute Mythology Leo is the Nemean Lion, which was killed by Hercules on one of the 12 labors he had to perform for killing his family. According to Greek mythology, the lion that terrorized the citizens had a hide that could not punctured by iron, bronze or stone. Having broken all of his weapons fighting the man-eating lion, Hercules finally strangled it to death and placed it in the heavens as one of his conquests. Astrology is not a science , but Leo is one of the 13 constellations of the Zodiac . Leo is the fifth sign of the Zodiac and represents those born July 22 to August 22. It is considered a masculine, extroverted sign. — Kim Ann Zimmermann Constellations ancient and modern grace the skies year round. Let's see what you know about the star patterns that appear overhead every night.


Whom did Pat Cash defeat in the 1987 Wimbledon Men's Singles Final?

Wimbledon, Great Britain June 23, 1986; 128 Draw (16 seeded) – $1,306,690; Surface – Grass  First all-European men’s semifinals since 1922, three players from non-existed currently countries (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, West Germany)… 18-year-old Boris Becker won his second straight Wimbledon beating all opponents quite easily, and seemed like a potential best player ever. In the final he overpowered Ivan Lendl, for whom it was first Wimbledon final (he had played all other major finals in years 1981-83). All scorelines First round: Bob Greene Jimmy Connors [3] had been through it. He had been in trouble, he had been pushed to the edge, but always he had found an escape. He would stare down an upset-minded opponent, almost talk him out of winning with a swaggering, pugnacious style. Not last night. For the first time in 15 years, Connors exited Wimbledon in the first round, served out of the tournament by Robert Seguso [31] of Prairie Oaks, Fla., 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(8). Seguso is better known as half of the second-ranked doubles team, winning the U.S. Open doubles last year with Ken Flach. Seguso used four match points in the fourth-set tie-breaker before he won what he called “my best victory.” A second serve ace down the center line tied the tie-breaker at 5. Seguso went up 6:5 when Connors couldn’t return a serve, even though he dived on his stomach in the attempt. Seguso blew his first match point by hitting a forehand wide. His backhand return winner set up the second match point, which he gave back by hitting a volley long. “I was pretty upset inside,” Seguso said. “But I didn’t let it out.” Connors’ shocking defeat came at the end of one of the most hectic first Tuesday’s in the 100-year history of the tournament. “Hey, the guy was playing unconscious,” Connors said. “He’s throwing second-serve aces in there in the tie breaker, just throwing the ball up and giving it a ride. If he can do that, well, good. I was looking for one little opening but he just kept bombing away, `boom, boom, boom.'” Connors, two months shy of 34, clearly was not the Connors who has won eight Grand Slam titles. Still, the match appeared for a long time to be just another tough one that he would gut out. He was up a service break in the third set and seemingly in command when Seguso began to turn things around. Connors, considered by many the greatest returner in the game’s history, simply had no answers for Seguso’s serve. He was jammed constantly, sprayed the ball often and even when he did get into a rally, he was surprised by Seguso’s steadiness. “I was thinking if I get to a fifth set,” Connors said, “I’ll be OK.” But Seguso closed out the match with an authoritative backhand volley. Connors stretched, lunged and got his racket on the ball. But it wasn’t close. The ball landed harmlessly near the stands. John Lloyd was in no mood for jokes. He was talking like a serious burnout case after losing to Christo Steyn, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 1-6. “I think now is the time to retire. I find it very difficult to get charged up,” Lloyd said. “It’s no big drama, I don’t enjoy it out on the court.” 32-year-old Lloyd [56], the best British player at the time, former Australian Open finalist, never played again on the tour. No. 10 Tim Mayotte, the former Stanford star who stamped himself as a legitimate Wimbledon contender a week ago when he won the Stella Artois Grass Court Championships, moved into the second round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Alexander Zverev (father of Mischa Zverev), the first Soviet man to play at Wimbledon since 1976. Defending champion Boris Becker made a triumphant return to Centre Court on Monday, capturing his opening-round tennis match in the 100th renewal of Wimbledon, which once again was plagued by rain. But Kevin Curren, who lost to Becker in the title match a year ago after upsetting both John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, was upset himself, falling to West German Eric Jelen. Becker, seeded fourth, crushed Eduardo Bengoechea 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, while Jelen [32] eliminated Curren, the 11th seed, 6-4, 6-7(4), 2-6, 6-4, 1