How are the planets Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus collectively described?

The "Jovian" Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune During the last class we discussed the terrestrial planets--that is those planets that are most like the Earth in size, composition, and structure. While the geologies of the inner four planets have some things in common, we have found that each one is quite different from the others. The next four planets we will talk about--Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune--are very different to the terrestrial planets in that they have no real solid surfaces, being dominated by thick, deep atmospheres. Thus, there is no "geology" to speak of, and we talk more about the meteorology (weather) of these gas giants. Jupiter Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, and is the largest planet in the solar system. Its average distance from the Sun is 5.2 AU (778,330,000 km), and its equatorial radius is 68,700 km (almost 11 times that of Earth). Though Jupiter is very massive (having 318 times the mass of the Earth), it is not very dense: it has a mean density of 1.4 gm/cm3. Just slightly more dense than water! Suprisingly, even though Jupiter is enormous, it spins very rapidly, completing one rotation in slightly under 10 hours. It takes 12 years for Jupiter to circle the Sun. Jupiter is a swirling ball of clouds arranged in rotating storms and in complex bands: These bands are caused by rising and descending air, as shown in Fig. 12.8 of the textbook: Jupiter is mostly a large ball of hydrogen and helium gas with a few trace elements: This picture illustrates the internal structure of Jupiter. The outer layer is primarily composed of       molecular hydrogen. At greater depths the hydrogen starts resembling a liquid. At 10,000 kilometers       below Jupiter's cloud top liquid hydrogen reaches a pressure of 1,000,000 bar with a temperature of       6,000ï¿½ K. At this state hydrogen changes into a phase of liquid metallic hydrogen. In this state, the       hydrogen atoms break down yielding ionized protons and electrons similar to the Sun's interior. Below       this is a layer dominated by ice where "ice" denotes a soupy liquid mixture of water, methane, and       ammonia under high temperatures and pressures. Finally at the center is a rocky or rocky-ice core of       up to 10 Earth masses.1 The rapid rotation of Jupiter creates an incredible amount of shear in the atmosphere, and all kinds of storms form. The biggest of these, the "great red spot" was discovered by Cassini in the 17th century: The red spot is simply a high pressure area like those seen on the Earth: Jupiter has no real solid surface, with the clouds gradually compressing to a liquid state, and this further compresses into a "metallic" state that surrounds the rocky core. The temperature of Jupiter at the cloud tops is very cold, -121 C, but increases dramatically as you go inwards, reaching to 20,000 K in the core. Jupiter has a large number of known moons (about 63 of them), but most of these are tiny little rocks (< 5 km in radii). There are four major moons of Jupiter: the "Galilean satellites" Io , Europa , Ganymede , and Callisto (shown in order, below--that tiny oblong rock to the left of Io is one of the smaller moons Almathea, that orbits inside that of Io). The innermost of these four moons is Io, and its surface is covered with lava flows from the numerous volcanoes on its surface (go to pages 347 and 348 of the textbook for more images). In fact, Io has the youngest surface in the solar system, being constantly reshaped by volcanic eruptions. The yellowish-orange color of Io is due to the large amount of sulfur that is discharged in these eruptions. Here is a possible lake of sulfur: The reason Io has so many volcanoes is that the intense gravity of Jupiter, and that of the other three moons, constantly tugs on Io, stretching and compressing it (see page 349 of the textbook): This generates an enormous amount of heat that liquifies the insides of Io. This process is also at work on the next moon out from Jupiter, Europa. Europa has one of the


In 2010, actress Ayda Field married which British entertainer?

Robbie Williams Marries Ayda Field | Access Hollywood Robbie Williams Marries Ayda Field August 8, 2010 10:41 AM PDT British pop singer Robbie Williams has married U.S. actress Ayda Field in his Beverly Hills mansion. Spokesman Murray Chalmers said in a statement Sunday that the pair held a ceremony on the grounds of their home in Los Angeles on Saturday. People.com reported that a small group of 75 guests attended the 36-year-old singer’s wedding. Williams is hugely popular in Britain and the rest of Europe, first as a member of the boy band Take That in the 1990s, and later when he pursued a solo singing career. He is known for such hits as “Millennium” and “Rock DJ.” Copyright ©


What name is given to the road in Jerusalem said to be the path that Jesus took carrying his cross?

Via Dolorosa « See The Holy Land Ecce Homo Arch   Every Friday afternoon hundreds of Christians join in a procession through the Old City of Jerusalem , stopping at 14 Stations of the Cross as they identify with the suffering of Jesus on his way to crucifixion. Their route is called the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows). This is also the name of the principal street they follow, a narrow marketplace abustle with traders and shoppers, most likely similar to the scene on the first Good Friday. It is unlikely that Jesus followed this route on his way to Calvary. Today’s Via Dolorosa originated in pious tradition rather than in certain fact, but it is hallowed by the footsteps of the faithful over centuries.   Franciscans lead procession First Station: Franciscan friars begin the Friday observance in the courtyard of the Al-Omariyyeh College (Seetheholyland.net) The Friday procession is led by Franciscan friars, custodians of most of the holy places since the 13th century. It starts at 4pm — 3pm in winter, from late October till late March — at an Islamic college, Umariyya School, just inside St Stephen’s or Lions’ Gate. Pilgrims wind their way westward to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre , where the last five Stations are located. Each procession is accompanied by Muslim escorts, in Ottoman uniforms of red fez, gold-embroidered waistcoat and baggy blue trousers, who signify their authority by banging silver-topped staves on the ground. Many other pilgrims, individually or in groups with guides, follow the same 500-metre route during the week. Route of the Via Dolorosa (© Custodia Terrae Sanctae) For those walking the Via Dolorosa on their own, the route is not easy to follow. A simple map is available from the Christian Information Centre , Omar Ibn el-Khattab Square, Jaffa Gate (closed on Sundays, Christian holidays and Saturday afternoons). The PlanetWare travel guide also has a map.   Number of Stations has varied While scholars disagree on the path Jesus took on Good Friday, processions in the 4th and 5th centuries from the Mount of Olives to Calvary followed more or less along the route taken by modern pilgrims (but there were no stops for Stations). The practice of following the Stations of the Cross appears to have developed in Europe among Christians who could not travel to the Holy Land. The number of Stations varied from 7 to 18 or more. Today’s Via Dolorosa route was established in the 18th century, with the present 14 Stations, but some of the Stations were given their present location only in the 19th century. Bronze discs mark Stations on the Via Dolorosa; the crossed arms are a Franciscan symbol (Seetheholyland.net) Nine of the 14 stations are based on Gospel references. The other five — Jesus’ three falls, his meeting with his Mother, and Veronica wiping his face — are traditional.   Place of judgement unknown The chief difficulty in determining Jesus’ path to Calvary is that nobody knows the site of Pontius Pilate ’s Praetorium, where Jesus was condemned to death and given the crossbeam of his cross to carry through the streets. There are three possible locations: • Herod the Great ’s Palace or Citadel, which dominated the Upper City. The remains of the Citadel complex, with its Tower of David (erected long after King David’s time), are just inside the present Jaffa Gate. This is the most likely location. Second Station: Ecce Homo Arch over Via Dolorosa, with Sisters of Zion convent at right (Seetheholyland.net) • The Antonia Fortress, a vast military garrison built by Herod the Great north of the Temple compound and with a commanding view of the Temple environs. The Umariyya School, now the location of the first Station of the Cross, is believed to stand on part of its site. • The Palace of the Hasmoneans, built before Herod’s time to house the rulers of Judea. It was probably located midway between Herod’s Palace and the Temple, in what is today the Jewish Quarter. In the immediate area of the Antonia Fortress is the Ecce Homo Arch, reaching across the Via Dolorosa. It is named after the famous phrase (“Behol


Which fictional character was born in Lithuania, imprisoned in Baltimore, escaped to Florence and was last known to be living in Buenos Aires?

FICTIONAL MONSTERS/KILLERS/ETC in "Watching/reading fictionalized crime stories." Forum Dec 12 08 7:33 PM     DR. HANNIBAL LECTER Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a fictional character appearing in four novels by author Thomas Harris and their film adaptations. The American Film Institute calls Lecter (as portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins) the most memorable villain in film history.Lecter is a brilliant and cultured psychiatrist turned cannibalistic serial murderer, nicknamed "Hannibal the Cannibal". The first book of the Hannibal Lecter series, Red Dragon, was published in 1981. It was filmed in 1986 under the title Manhunter. A second adaptation was released in 2002 under the original title. The sequel, The Silence of the Lambs, was published in 1988, and filmed in 1991. The next installment in the series, Hannibal, was published in 1999, and filmed in 2001. The latest in the series, Hannibal Rising, was published in 2006 and its film adaptation has just been released. Lecter was played by Brian Cox in Manhunter (though he was named "Lecktor" in that film), by Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon and Hannibal, and by Aaron Thomas and Gaspard Ulliel in the prequel Hannibal Rising. Ancestry Hannibal Lecter was born in Lithuania in 1933 to a wealthy aristocratic family; his father, simply known as Count Lecter, was a descendant of the warlord "Hannibal the Grim" (1365-1428) who defeated the Teutonic Order at the Battle of Grunwald, in 1410, while his mother, Madame Simonetta Sforza, descended from both the Visconti and Sforza families who separately ruled Milan for a total of 250 years. He is the eighth in his blood-line to bear his ancestor's forename. It has been suggested that Lecter was also descended from Giuliano Bevisangue ("Bevisangue" means "Blood-Drinker"), a feared and ruthless figure in 12th-century Tuscany, and from the Machiavelli bloodline. In the book Hannibal, Lecter himself would pursue this subject, to determine from the records of the Capponi Library if there was any true connection to Bevisangue, but he was unable to answer the question. Hannibal also asserted that Lecter was a distant cousin of the artist Balthus. Childhood Lecter's childhood was first alluded to in Hannibal, but was fully detailed in Hannibal Rising. When Lecter was six years old, he was introduced to his sister, Mischa, who was born in 1939. The two formed a strong, affectionate bond. When he was eight, his family left their estate to live in a lodge in the forest in order to escape Hitler's Blitzkrieg. Three years later, his parents, tutor, and family retainers died by a German bomber attempting to disable a Soviet tank (decades later while flying between Europe and the United States, Hannibal dreams of being six at the time of these events). The lodge was invaded by a group of former Lithuanian collaborators turned looters. Lecter and Mischa were held captive by said looters. Mischa was cannibalized, but Lecter escaped, only to be severely traumatized by his sister's death and was rendered mute. Mischa's death would haunt Lecter for the rest of his life; Hannibal explains that it destroyed his faith in God, and thereafter he believed that there was no real justice in the world. It is also implied in Hannibal that, years later, he saw his rival Clarice Starling, as a surrogate for his sister. After the looters fled, he wandered the forests until he was found by a tank crew. The soldiers cut the shackle from his neck, which had stripped away pieces of his skin, leaving a scar that would never truly heal. He was also carrying, at this time, his father's binoculars: the binoculars stayed with him for many years and featured again later. The Soviets returned Lecter to his family's castle, which had been converted into an orphanage. The war had many lasting effects on the children, and many of them became bullies. While living there, he frequently attacked and severely wounded many of his fellow orphans, but only those who bullied, hurt or insulted others. Lecter called on his memories of the leader of the group of looters, Vl


Which group released the album 'Zooropa' in 1993?

U2 > Discography > Albums > Zooropa Twitter Initially intended to be just an EP, Zooropa became a full-fledged album with 10 tracks recorded in six-weeks, the fastest U2 album ever. Interesting releases from around the world included two Australian sets of 2 x 5 CD packs. The first 2 x 5 CD pack included a copy of the Stay (Swing Format) single as the 2nd bonus CD. Virgin Megastore in Adelaide also released the Even Better Than the Real Thing single as their 2nd bonus CD. In Germany, Universal released a 2-CD box set with a copy of both Achtung Baby and Zooropa. Zooropa reached No.1 in the following countries: Australia, Italy, Sweden, Austria, France, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, Holland, Norway, the US, Denmark, Ireland, and Iceland. Zooropa stayed on the charts for 61 weeks in Ireland. It peaked at No.2 in Finland, Portugal, and Spain while reaching No.3 and No.10 in Belgium and Hungary, respectively. In the US, the album was certified multi-platinum by RIAA with 2 million units sold. U2 won a Grammy for Zooropa as the Best Alternative Album of the Year and the readers of Rolling Stone voted it Best Album.um charts. In the US, it was certified platinum by the RIAA. Production Credits Produced by: Flood, Brian Eno, and The Edge Mixed and Engineered by: Flood and Robbie Adams Studio: The Factory, Windmill Lane, and Westland Studios, Dublin Release Date:


What is the pen name of American author Daniel Handler who wrote the children's book 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'?

Daniel Handler | American author | Britannica.com American author Nathaniel Hawthorne Daniel Handler, pen name Lemony Snicket (born February 28, 1970, San Francisco, California , U.S.), American author best known for his A Series of Unfortunate Events, a collection of unhappy morality tales for older children that featured alliterative titles such as The Reptile Room (1999), The Austere Academy (2000), and The Miserable Mill (2000). Handler wrote the series under the pen name Lemony Snicket. After earning a B.A. in 1992 from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, Handler wrote a novel , which he discarded upon finishing. He returned to his hometown, worked as an administrative assistant and a writer for a radio program, and, in the meantime, wrote another novel before moving to New York City , where he began reviewing movies and reading manuscripts for a literary agent. His novel was rejected so many times that he began hosting a reading series called “Great Writers Who Can’t Get Published.” Shortly thereafter, he appeared on the literary scene with The Basic Eight (1999), a critically acclaimed novel about a high-school student bludgeoned with a croquet mallet wielded by a classmate. Watch Your Mouth (2000), written in the form of an opera, was a satiric work centred on the theme of incest . Remembering his youth, Handler railed against the number of novels for young people that were devoted to sports or fantasy themes. When urged to turn his hand to creating the kind of books that he would have enjoyed, Handler resurrected Lemony Snicket—a name he had invented when requesting materials from a right-wing organization for a book project—as the doleful narrator and author of the series. The first volume, The Bad Beginning (1999), related the travails of three orphaned siblings; it also acquainted readers with Handler’s fondness for naming some characters after past literary luminaries—in this case, Klaus, Sunny, and Violet Baudelaire. The Bad Beginning and subsequent volumes established an aura of mystery around Snicket by depicting him as a shadowy figure on the back of hardcover editions—his image appearing out of focus or away from the camera. Handler deftly served as Snicket’s representative at book events, regaling his listeners with the travails of Snicket as well as entertaining them with accordion music and dire tales about danger lurking in the most unlikely places. A favourite story recounted how a bug had bitten Snicket in his armpit and prevented him from appearing. Handler also warned readers not to read or purchase the Snicket books because they featured unhappy beginnings, middles, and endings. Notwithstanding these appeals, his fans waited with eager anticipation for each new offering in the 13-book series, which also included The Ersatz Elevator (2001), The Slippery Slope (2003), The Penultimate Peril (2005), and The End (2006). Handler chronicled the youthful adventures of Snicket himself in the All the Wrong Questions series, which included Who Could That Be at This Hour? (2012) and Shouldn’t You Be in School? (2014). Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots Like A Series of Unfortunate Events, Handler’s books for adults also incorporated black humour and unreliable narrators. In addition to Watch Your Mouth, they include Adverbs (2006), a collection of love stories set in a futuristic San Francisco , and We Are Pirates (2015), about a contemporary teenager who develops an interest in piracy . He also wrote Why We Broke Up (2011), a young-adult novel about first love, and the children’s picture book The Dark (2013). In addition to his novels, Handler also saw success in film. He wrote screenplays for Rick (2003), which was based on the Giuseppe Verdi opera Rigoletto , and Kill the Poor (2003), an adaptation of the novel by Joel Rose. Handler also contributed to the screenplay for Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004).


Three Counties Radio covers Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and which other county?

Beds, Herts & Bucks - BBC News BBC News A pedestrian dies after a fire engine responding to an emergency loses control and overturns. 19 January 2017 A man is cleared in connection with a woman's body found buried under rubble at his home. 19 January 2017 Three people are charged with murdering a 38-year-old man who died in a stabbing outside his home in Hertfordshire. 19 January 2017


In which county of the Republic of Ireland are Connemara National Park and the country's largest lake, Lake Corrib?

Vacation to Galway, Ireland | Keytours Vacations Excursions & Activities Co Galway Travel Information  In the heart of western Ireland, the County of Galway represents many of the quintessential aspects of Ireland and is a prime vacation destination with great sightseeing opportunities. It is home to the Republic of Irelandâs largest lake, Lough Corrib,  as well as the Twelve Bens mountain range, and Connemara National Park.Additional Ireland travel information including vacation packages.


Lawrence Olivier won only one Oscar, for which film in 1948?

Laurence Olivier - Biography - IMDb Laurence Olivier Biography Showing all 227 items Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (3) | Trade Mark  (5) | Trivia  (141) | Personal Quotes  (44) | Salary  (28) Overview (5) 5' 10" (1.78 m) Mini Bio (1) Laurence Olivier could speak William Shakespeare 's lines as naturally as if he were "actually thinking them", said English playwright Charles Bennett , who met Olivier in 1927. Laurence Kerr Olivier was born in Dorking, Surrey, England, to Agnes Louise (Crookenden) and Gerard Kerr Olivier, a High Anglican priest. His surname came from a great-great-grandfather who was of French Huguenot origin. One of Olivier's earliest successes as a Shakespearean actor on the London stage came in 1935 when he played "Romeo" and "Mercutio" in alternate performances of "Romeo and Juliet" with John Gielgud . A young Englishwoman just beginning her career on the stage fell in love with Olivier's Romeo. In 1937, she was "Ophelia" to his "Hamlet" in a special performance at Kronberg Castle, Elsinore, Denmark. In 1940, she became his second wife after both returned from making films in America that were major box office hits of 1939. His film was Wuthering Heights (1939), her film was Gone with the Wind (1939). Vivien Leigh and Olivier were screen lovers in Fire Over England (1937), 21 Days Together (1940) and That Hamilton Woman (1941). There was almost a fourth film together in 1944 when Olivier and Leigh traveled to Scotland with Charles C. Bennett to research the real-life story of a Scottish girl accused of murdering her French lover. Bennett recalled that Olivier researched the story "with all the thoroughness of Sherlock Holmes" and "we unearthed evidence, never known or produced at the trial, that would most certainly have sent the young lady to the gallows". The film project was then abandoned. During their two-decade marriage, Olivier and Leigh appeared on the stage in England and America and made films whenever they really needed to make some money. In 1951, Olivier was working on a screen adaptation of Theodore Dreiser 's novel "Sister Carrie" ( Carrie (1952)) while Leigh was completing work on the film version of the Tennessee Williams ' play, A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). She won her second Oscar for bringing "Blanche DuBois" to the screen. Carrie (1952) was a film that Olivier never talked about. George Hurstwood, a middle-aged married man from Chicago who tricked a young woman into leaving a younger man about to marry her, became a New York street person in the novel. Olivier played him as a somewhat nicer person who didn't fall quite as low. A PBS documentary on Olivier's career broadcast in 1987 covered his first sojourn in Hollywood in the early 1930s with his first wife, Jill Esmond , and noted that her star was higher than his at that time. On film, he was upstaged by his second wife, too, even though the list of films he made is four times as long as hers. More than half of his film credits come after The Entertainer (1960), which started out as a play in London in 1957. When the play moved across the Atlantic to Broadway in 1958, the role of "Archie Rice"'s daughter was taken over by Joan Plowright , who was also in the film. They married soon after the release of The Entertainer (1960). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Dale O'Connor <daleoc@worldnet.att.net> Spouse (3) A handsome man with a magnificent speaking voice Often played noble and fiercely proud leaders and royalty figures Often directed himself in his films Rich smooth voice Trivia (141) 1985: When presenting at the Oscars, he forgot to name the Best Picture nominees. He simply opened the envelope and proclaimed, " Amadeus (1984)". Even with his noble titles, he refused to carry on a conversation with anyone who would not address him as "Larry". 10/97: Ranked #46 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. Knighted in the 1947 King's Birthday Honours List, made a life peer in the 1970 Queen's Birthday Honours List, awarded the Order of Merit in 1981. Father, with Jill Esmond , of son Tarq


The name of which African country means 'House of Stone'?

Origin of African Country Names - Words We Speak - GaiaNews http://www.raceandhistory.com/historicalviews/africa.htm Algeria - Named after the capital city Algiers or Al-Jazair     ("The Island") in Arabic. A reference to the small islands     that once dotted the bay of the city. Angola - When Portuguese mariner Diego Cao landed at the mouth of     the Congo River in 1483, two distinct Kingdoms ruled the region. The     Kingdom of the Bakongo reigned in the north. The Quimbundos Kingdom,     also known as Ndongo, dominated in the western and central areas. The     king of the Quimbundos was called "Ngola". The region, taking     its name from the king, became Angola. Benin - (Formerly Dahomey) named after the ancient Nigerian     Kingdom of Benin. The former name Dahomey, pronounced Dan Ho Me     ("on the belly of Dan") was an ancient Kingdom located in the south of what is modern-day Benin Republic. Botswana - A name used to collectively describe the Tswana, the     country's dominant ethnic group. Formerly known as Bechuanaland,     Bechauna being an alternative spelling for Botswana. Burkina Fasso - Mossi for "Land of Incorruptible Men" was changed to this from Upper Volta in 1984. Upper Volta reffered to     its geographical location in relation to the Volta river. Burundi - Derives from Rundi (Kirundi) the language universally     spoken throughout Burundi. Cameroon (also Cameroun in French) - The name is derived from Rio     de Camarï¿½es (the River of Prawns) the name given to River Wouri by     Portuguese Explorers in the 15th century. Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) - Named after the westernmost point in     mainland Africa. The nearest point on the continent to this Island     Nation. Central African Republic - It's in Central Africa! Africa is     believed to have originated from either the Latin word aprica     ("Sunny") or greek aphrike ("without cold") and     originally applied to North Africa. However as Europe discovered the     extent of continental Africa, the term came to match its modern day usage. Chad - The name appears to derive from the Lake which forms it     South-Western border with Nigeria. Comoros - The name "Comoros" is derived from the Arabic     kamar or kumr, meaning "moon," although this name was first     applied by Arab geographers to Madagascar. It was adopted by French     Colonialists to describe the Islands. Congo - Named after the 15th Kingdom of Kongo which thrived on     both banks of the River Congo, extending into Modern day Congo, Congo     DR, Angola and Zambia. Congo DR - As Above. Also formerly known as Zaire a traditional     local name for River Congo. Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) - The Reference by European traders     to the availabiilty of Ivory Tusks. Djibouti - (Fomerly Territory of the Afars and Issas) Named after     the Port capital. Egypt - Direct geographical descendent of Ancient Egypt. Equatorial Guinea - Guinea derives from the berber word aguinaw,     or gnawa ("black man"), which Berbers (Nomadic Saharan     Peoples) have used to describe most of West Africa. Eritrea - The Latin phrase Mare Erythraeum ("Red Sea")     was used by Italy to describe its colonies in the horn of Africa. This     later became Eritrea and was adopted by the country on independence from     Ethiopia. Ethiopia - Direct geographical descendent of Ancient Ethiopia. Gabon - Gabon's first European visitors were Portuguese traders who     arrived in the 15th century and subsequent Portuguese references refered     to it as Gabon after the Portuguese word gabao, a coat with sleeves and     hood resembling the shape of the Como River estuary, where they first     explored. Gambia - Named after the River Gambia which flows through the     Country. Ghana - Named after the Ancient West African Kingdom of Ghana.     See Ancient Ghana. Guinea - See Equatorial Guinea. Guinea-Bissau - See Equatorial Guinea. Kenya - Named after the mountain o


The MP for Pontefract & Castleford is Yvette Cooper; she is the wife of which other MP?

BBC NEWS | MP Expenses: Yvette Cooper, Pontefract & Castleford £12,219 CLAIMS AND RESPONSES Claim: The Telegraph says Ms Cooper re-designated, or "flipped", her second home from a property in South Yorkshire to the London home she owned with her husband Ed Balls in 2005 - after he was elected to the Commons. After that, the paper says the couple each claimed half of the share of their ï¿½1,468 mortgage interest costs. In May 2007, the couple moved to a larger home in London and began claiming ï¿½1,031 each in mortgage interest as well as ï¿½2,000 in moving costs. According to the paper, the two submitted the same claim twice in July 2006. Additionally, Mr Balls was said to have charged ï¿½33 for two Remembrance Sunday poppy wreaths, although the claim was turned down. Response: Ms Cooper said she sought advice from the Commons authorities before changing her second home arrangement in 2005. The two MPs say they split the cost of bills evenly and since moving in 2007, have claimed less than in allowances than in the previous two years. Between them, they claimed just over ï¿½24,000 in 2007-8, above the ï¿½23,083 limit for a single MP but well below the ï¿½46,000 threshold for couples. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner investigated their second home arrangement in 2008 and approved it, pointing out the couple had paid capital gains tax on the flat sale. The couple said the 2006 'double claim' was an inadvertent error and the correct amount was paid once spotted. Mr Balls added that the claim for the wreaths "was submitted in error by a staff member". RECEIPTS The links below will take you to the original documents on Parliament's website. As the links have been automatically generated it is possible a small percentage of them may not work.


What name is given to the female equivalent of the Oedipus Complex?

Oedipus Complex Oedipus Complex   Description In the Oedipus complex, a boy is fixated on his mother and competes with his father for maternal attention. The opposite, the attraction of a girl to her father and rivalry with her mother, is sometimes called the Electra complex. Sexual awakening At some point, the child realizes that there is a difference between their mother and their father. Around the same time they realize that they are more alike to one than the other. Thus the child acquires gender. The child may also form some kind of erotic attachment to the parent of the opposite sex. Whilst their understanding of the full sexual act may be questioned, some kind of primitive physical sensations are felt when they regard and think about the parent in question. Jealousies The primitive desire for the one parent may also awaken in the child a jealous motivation to exclude the other parent. Transferring of affections may also occur as the child seeks to become independent and escape a perceived 'engulfing mother'. A critical point of awakening is where the child realizes that the mother has affections for others besides itself. Primitive jealousies are not necessarily constrained to the child and and both parents may join in the game, both in terms of competing with each other for the child's affections and also competing with the child for the affection of the other parent. Note that opposition to parents may not necessarily be sexually based -- this can also be a part of the struggle to assert one's identity and rebellion against parental control. The process of transitioning A critical aspect of the Oedipal stage is loosening of the ties to the mother of vulnerability, dependence and intimacy. This is a natural part of the child becoming more independent and is facilitated by the realization that the mother desires more than just the child. The Oedipal move blocks the routes of sexual and identification love back to the mother. She becomes a separate object, removed from his ideal self. Thus she can be the subject of object love. This separation and externalization of love allows a transition away from narcissism of earlier stages. The father's role in this is much debated. In a number of accounts, such as Lacan's symbolic register , the child transitions their attentions from mother to father. The father effectively says 'You must be like me -- you may not be like the mother -- you must wait to love her, as I do.' The child thus also learns to wait and share attention. Separation The boy thus returns to the mother as a separate individual. That separation may be emphasized with scorn and a sense of mastery over women. that can also be seen in the long separation of boys and girls in play and social relationships. This is a source of male denigration of women. Women become separated reminders of lost and forbidden unity. Their unique attributes, from softness to general femininity are, in consequence, also lost and must be given up as a part of the distancing process. Women become thus both desired and feared. The symbolic phallus becomes a means of protection for the boy and the rituals of mastery used to cover up feelings of loss. Separation leads to unavailability and hence the scarcity principle takes effect, increasing desire . Women thus create a tension in boys between a lost paradise and dangerous sirens. Excessive separation leads to a sense of helplessness that can in turn lead to patterns of idealized control and self-sufficiency. Whilst the boy becomes separated from the mother, it is a long time before he can be independent of her and hence must develop a working relationship that may reflect the tension of love and difference he feels. The relationship thus may return to a closer mother-son tie, where the point of healthy distance is a dynamically negotiated position, such that comforting is available but is required only upon occasion. What about the girls? Most writings about the Oedipal stage focus largely or exclusively on boys, who are seen to have a particular


Which fictional character was shipwrecked when the 'Demeter' ran aground?

Dracula Archives - The Vampire LibraryThe Vampire Library Dracula’s Demeter by Doug Lamoreux July, 1897, the Russian schooner, Demeter, set sail from Varna carrying fifty oblong boxes partially filled with earth. A month later, in the midst of a raging storm, the derelict Demeter ran aground in Whitby, England, her crew missing save for her captain, who was tied to the wheel with a crucifix... In the Footsteps of Dracula by Steven P. Unger “Worldwide fascination with Dracula, like the bloodthirsty Count himself, will never die. Completed and comprising approximately 35,000 words and 185 photographs, In the Footsteps of Dracula: A Personal Journey and Travel Guide is the first and only book to include: * For the armchair traveler, pict... iDrakula by Bekka Black “The classic vampire story that started it all gets new life for a generation of connected teens 18-year-old Jonathan Harker is diagnosed with a rare blood disorder after visiting a Romanian Count. His girlfriend Mina and a pre-med student named Van Helsing team up to investigate the source of... Vlad the Undead by Hanna Lutzen “Lucia, a young Danish medical student, receives an unusual inheritance from her grandfather — a sheaf of old crumbling papers. During her summer vacation, in the isolation of a dark apartment in Copenhagen, she realizes these are no ordinary documents. The manuscript tells the story of... Blood Hunger by A. M. Esmonde “An explorer makes a discovery in Romania, dubbed the ‘Ice Prince’ find it is significant enough to put him and his girlfriend Lucia Ferrara in the media spotlight. Iliana and her sister’s journey to the United Kingdom, news that the ‘Ice Prince’ had been discover... Dracula in Love by Karen Essex “In this wonderfully transporting novel, award-winning author Karen Essex turns a timeless classic inside out, spinning a haunting, erotic, and suspenseful story of eternal love and possession. From the shadowy banks of the river Thames to the wild and windswept Yorkshire coast, Dracula’s eter... Darker Passions: Dracula by Amarantha Knight (Nancy Kilpatrick) “Reprint of this sexualized version of the classic. Bram Stoker’s Dracula was heavy with the repressed sexuality of the Victorian age; here, the sexual undercurrent surfaces and slinks wryly to the center of the action. Dracula is not the cretinous lurker of Herzog’s cinematic Nosf... Incarnadine: The True Memoirs of Count Dracula: Volume One by R. H. Greene “Bram Stoker’s most terrifying creation tells his own story in Incarnadine: The True Memoirs of Count Dracula. Author R. H. Greene vividly reimagines the harrowing and sensual Dracula mythos as a first person memoir written by Dracula himself. In this first of two volumes, the Medieval o... Dracula the Un-Dead: The Sequel to the Original Classic by Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt “At last–the sequel to Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula, written by his direct descendant and a Dracula historian Bram Stoker’s Dracula is the prototypical horror novel, an inspiration for the world’s seemingly limitless fascination with vampires. Though many have tr... Sisters of the Night Series by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro The Angry Angel “In Bram Stoker’s dark classic Dracula, three “weird sisters,” make a brief but unforgettable appearance. The beautiful, mad brides of the vampire lord, their untold histories are at last revealed to us in SISTERS OF THE NIGHT, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s bri... Saberhagen’s Dracula by Fred Saberhagen The Dracula Tape The story of Mina Harker and vampire hunters who pursue the Count and drive him to even more ruthless actions. Count Dracula sets the record straight as Saberhagen presents the transcripts of his tapes. Voted best novel featuring Dracula at ‘Dracula 97: a Centennial Celebratio... Dorina Basarab, Dhampir Series by Karen Chance Midnight’s Daughter “Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. So far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing. Now Dor.


The Al Khalifa family has ruled which country since 1783?

King Hamad Al Khalifa biography | birthday, trivia | Bahraini Royalty | Who2 King Hamad Al Khalifa Biography Royalty   Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa is the latest head of the family that since 1783 has ruled the country of Bahrain, an archipelago of 30 islands tucked in a gulf between Saudia Arabia and Qatar. King Hamad, whose earlier posts included that of defense minister (1971-1988), became emir in 1999 upon the death of his father. His title changed to King in 2002, when Bahrain, formerly an emirate, became a constitutional monarchy. The Khalifa family is of the Sunni branch of Islam, and the fact that most Bahranis are Shiite Muslims has contributed to political tensions, including those in which government forces fired on apparently peacful protesters in February 2011. The protests were a symptom of the country’s religious divide, but they were also a call for greater democracy. In that way they resembled the secular uprisings that swept Tunisia, Egypt and Lybia in early 2011, but King Hamad remained in power in the years that followed. Extra credit King Hamad has multiple wives, but the number (and their names) vary depending on the source. His official biography says he “married his cousin” on 9 October 1968; this is apparently Princess Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa. They have four children, including Hamad’s eldest, Shaikh Salman, born 21 October 1969, who became Bahrain’s crown prince. Other children include sons Abdullah (b. 1975) and Khalifa (b. 1977), and daughter Najla (b. 1981). King Hamad has other sons and daughters with at least two other wives.


What common name is given to Chopin's 'Waltz in D Minor'?

Waltzes - Chopin Music Chopin Music You are here: Home / Works / Waltzes Waltzes Waltzes WaltzesThe waltzes have never lost their original attraction for pianists, either in public or in private. Their rhythmic verve, their wealth of melody, their power to evoke well-defined moods and to recreate the atmosphere of excitement, nostalgia, or languor have exercised an irresistible fascination upon generations of music-lovers. Chopin wrote his waltzes spanning his whole lifetime. They have very little in common with Schuberts’s waltzes, nor do they resemble the Viennese of the Lanner and Strauss circle, who wroteUnterhaltungsmusik for a wide audience. Chopin’s waltzes are designed for the salons of the aristocracy: they are sophisticated works in which, behind the glitter and glamour, deeper and often melancholic feelings are hiding. Grand Valse Brillante in E-flat Major, Op. 18 — Vivo This waltz might well be the successor of Weber’s Invitation to the Dance. It is one of Chopin’s most popular and glittering works, full of sparkle and pianistic virtuosity. (Note the fast repeated notes and the witty appoggiaturas.) Valse Brillante in A-flat Major, Op. 34 No. 1 — Vivace The first work of opus 34 is a genuine concert piece in rondo form and coda, calling for considerable technical powers. Valse Brillante in A Minor, Op. 34 No. 2 — Lento This waltz shows the “other” side of Chopin: this piece is full of melancholy, gloom and grief, expressed in mournful simplicity. Valse Brillante in F Major, Op. 34 No. 3 — Lento This waltz is a perpetuum mobile in polymetrical figuration. Grande Valse Nouvelle in A-flat Major, Op. 42 — Lento This is the most ambitious and substantial of all Chopin’s waltzes. The opening trill leads into a charming melody in 2/4 metre, set against the 3/4 left hand accompaniment. The charming themes, the virtuosic figurations and the exhilarating coda make this waltz a favourite with every audience. Waltz in D-flat Major, Op. 64 No. 1 — Molto vivace This first waltz of Opus 64 was written for George Sand’s dog. It is nicknamed Minute Waltz, although it would be madness to play it within the time of one minute. This sobriquet most likely refers to the small and miniature nature of the work. The sostenuto calm of the central section is a typical feature of many Chopin waltzes, where often a swiftly moving section is set off against a contemplative middle section. Vladimir de Pachmann arranged this waltz in thirds. When he played his arrangement during a recital in London, he crouched over the keyboard such that nobody could see his hands. When asked why he did this he answered, “Why I do this? I will tell. I see in the audience my old friend Moriz Rosenthall, and I do not wish for him to copy my fingering.” Waltz in C-sharp Minor, Op. 64 No. 2 — Tempo giusto This second waltz of Opus 64 is just as popular as the first, although here a yearning melancholy and sorrowful expression brings the piece to a deeper plane of emotion. Artur Rubinstein played this waltz often. When people asked him how he could continue to play the same waltz for over 75 years, he replied, “Because it’s not the same, and I don’t play it the same way.” Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 64 No. 3 — Moderato This one is said to be one of Chopin’s personal favourites: he played it frequently. It possesses a certain inner nobility of bearing. The central C major section, in which the theme sounds in the bass, is of especial beauty. Only the closing section has a build-up of tempo, ending in a sudden whirlwind of scales and triads. Artur Rubinstein said, “This waltz is the most original of all. This waltz is not for dancing, nor is it a ‘salon piece,’ no, it is a thing directly from Chopin’s heart and soul.” Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 69 No. 1 (posth.) — Lento This work is also known as L’adieu. Chopin fell in love with Maria Wodzinska (1819-1896), but her father did not want her to marry a young, poor musician. Waltz in B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2 (posth.) — Moderato Chopin composed this piece at the age of 19. He ordered this waltz (along with other early wo


Which current England footballer won his first four caps under four different managers?

Simon Hattenstone tracks down the legendary 1966 World Cup squad | Football | The Guardian Close This article is 10 years old George Cohen won only one trophy in his football career. Still, if you're going to bag just the one, you might as well make it the World Cup, he says. Three years on, a knee injury ended his career; 10 years on, he was diagnosed with cancer of the bowel; 40 years on, he's beaten the cancer three times, seen his nephew Ben become a World Cup winner in rugby, and is talking about his lucky life. Cohen, the right-back in 1966, was one of the England team's unsung heroes. He grew up in and played for Fulham throughout his career. He was strong and fast and disciplined, he rarely did anything flash like score a goal or beat a man and, like his team-mates, he was the product of a very particular era. They were working-class boys, born to postwar austerity, rationing. Cohen's father was a gas-fitter, his mother worked for London Transport. Cohen, known as Moyshe to his friends despite not being Jewish, was a talented boxer. He considered making a go of it professionally, but his dad was having none of it. "Use your brains son," he told young George, recommending a career as an electrician. He joined the Fulham ground staff when he was 17. "I got £20 for my signing-on fee, £28 for my monthly wage, and we had a couple of good results where I got another £8 in bonuses, so in the end I took home £50. I said to my dad, 'Look at that, Dad, I got £50 this month' and I could have bitten my tongue. My father was earning £10-12 gross for a 40-hour week. Here was a little twit coming home saying I've earned £50 after tax. My father just looked at me and smiled. I can see the smile now. It haunts me." Look at the pictures from the post-final celebration and the England players, all red shirts and goofy smiles (except for Bobby Moore, who was always immaculate and gorgeous), symbolised innocence, industry, stiff upper lip, triumph. The team became iconic, like the Beatles or the first men on the moon. And the individuals who made up that team seemed very different from today's footballers - they could just as easily have been down the mines as parading football's greatest trophy around Wembley. I was only three years old when England won the World Cup, but I grew up with their victory. It seemed to be part of the national curriculum. I can't remember how many times we were shown the film of the final on an afternoon in class as an example of what was possible in life. The team made more money than most of their non-playing friends, but they hardly made a fortune. For the majority, their career was over by the time they hit 30. Then they had to settle down and find themselves jobs in the real world. What became of the team of 1966? Did it transform their lives? Do they envy the loaded modern footballer? I was warned finding out wouldn't be easy - the boys of 66 would expect to be paid for their time, and some simply don't like talking about it. Cohen is the first to agree to be interviewed. We meet at a smart hotel in Tunbridge Wells, the town where he lives with Daphne, his wife of 50-odd years, and where he works as a property developer. He is made for blazers and starched white shirts, and could easily be mistaken for ex-military. How would he describe himself as a footballer? "The biggest assets I had were speed and strength," he says. "I was chunky, never fat. We didn't have the food to be fat." As a boy, he remembers seeing the toffs go into the local private tennis courts, while he and his friends spent their time chasing each other round the block - that's why he was so fast, he says. Did football seem glamorous to him when he started out? He smiles, "You got to eat at some wonderful places. One in particular, the Midland hotel in Manchester was sumptuous. For a youngster, going there for the first time, it was absolutely magnificent. The hors d'oeuvres trolley was something you wouldn't believe - it revolved on an axis like a wheel. It was a meal on its own." By the time the World Cup finals came round in 196


Which prominent European politician was injured by a shot fired by Violet Gibson in 1926?

The Woman who Shot Mussolini by Frances Stonor Saunders: review - Telegraph Books The Woman who Shot Mussolini by Frances Stonor Saunders: review The Woman who Shot Mussolini by Frances Stonor Saunders is a detailed  examination of a curious historical near miss, says Noel Malcolm By Noel Malcolm 5:55AM GMT 28 Feb 2010 At precisely 10.58 on the morning of April 7 1926, as Benito Mussolini was striding across the square at the top of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, a short, middle-aged, grey-haired woman stepped out of the crowd and fired a pistol directly at his face. He happened to turn his head aside and the bullet merely nicked the bridge of his nose. She then pointed the gun at his body and fired again; but the ammunition was faulty and nothing happened. The would-be assassin was knocked to the ground by a policeman and the crowd descended on her, kicking and pummelling. With difficulty, the police extricated the woman and took her off for interrogation. A political conspiracy was suspected – perhaps an international plot, masterminded from Moscow. The Foreign Minister started a rumour that the assailant was a Slav and a mob quickly set about smashing the windows of the Soviet Embassy in Rome. But this was no Russian-trained killer. (If only it had been, the aim would have been better and presumably the bullets would have worked.) It was in fact the Honorable Violet Gibson, sister of the second Lord Ashbourne; their father, the first Baron, had been Lord Chancellor of Ireland and they had been brought up in one of the grandest houses in Dublin. The identity of the assailant was quickly established, together with the fact that she had been living in a nunnery in Rome for some time. But what the police needed to establish was her motive for the deed and – even more importantly, from their point of view – whether any other people had been in on the plot. Huge resources were expended on trailing suspects and sending agents to England and France (where they tried to gather intelligence about her brother, Lord Ashbourne – an eccentric, Gaelic-speaking, kilt-wearing Irish nationalist and Catholic convert). Gradually it became clear that this act had not been planned by an international conspiracy and that whatever the reasons for the attempt had been, they were known only to Violet Gibson herself – or perhaps not even to her, since she was clearly in a state of mental derangement. But just how mad she was, and how far her mental illness was compatible with holding sincere political beliefs and planning an assassination as a rational course of action, it was impossible to tell. Lawyers and psychologists spent many months trying to solve this problem, until Mussolini decided, for foreign policy reasons, to have Gibson released and sent back to England. She was quickly packed off to an asylum in Northampton (the one made famous by an earlier inmate, the poet John Clare), where she stayed until her death, 30 years later. But the problem that so perplexed those Italian experts has remained unsolved to this day. Frances Stonor Saunders’s new book offers not so much a solution to it, as an attempt to state it in all its complexity – an attempt, that is, to enter into the mind of someone who was abnormally irrational, but never simply insane. Intense religious feeling played a large part in the story. Violet was an enthusiast for 'Theosophy’ (the mystic cod-religion of Madame Blavatsky) before converting to Roman Catholicism; she then became obsessed with ideas of martyrdom, self-sacrifice and, indeed, the sacrifice of others. The first time she was put in a mental home was after attacking a servant girl with a knife; in her study, her Bible was found to be open at the book of Genesis, describing Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. Her brother, the pro-Fenian and fellow convert, was a fervent supporter of Catholic 'Modernism’ and Christian Socialism who bitterly disapproved of the Pope; and there is some evidence that when Violet went to Rome with a revolver in her luggage, the Holy Father was to be her first target. But whe


Of which US city was Jerry Springer the mayor in 1977-78?

Jerry Springer takes oath as mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 [Video] Jerry Springer takes oath as mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 WCPO - Cincinnati Scripps• City council member re-elected with highest vote total. Reblog


"Which Italian composer claimed that he could ""set a laundry list to music""?"

Introduction: A-Z of Opera   Classical Music Home > A-Z of Opera Introduction It might seem that opera, as it developed in Western Europe in the late 16th century, was all a terrible mistake. The interests of the time, scientific and cultural, had brought close attention to the world of ancient Greece and Rome, but if opera was ever intended as a revival of classical Greek tragedy, then it was singularly wide of the mark. Opera, in fact, reflected elements of classical Greek and Roman thought and practice, but had an equal debt to its own immediate predecessors and to the society in which it developed. In the 16th century there was nothing particularly new about drama and nothing new in the combination of music and drama. Such a combination had had a place, after all, in medieval Christian liturgy, with plays and music re-enacting events associated with Easter and with Christmas. From this a larger repertoire had grown, with plays based on events recorded in the Bible or derived from Christian tradition. Music was associated with dramatic action in secular performances of one sort or another. Court entertainments of various kinds took place in which elements of drama and music were combined. An extravagant example is recorded in accounts of the Feast of the Pheasant in Burgundy in 1454. Following the Turkish capture of Constantinople a court banquet was given in an attempt to arouse interest in a Crusade. On this occasion singers in the guise of musical blackbirds emerged from a giant pie for the edification of the guests. Such diversions, whether primarily political or artistic, took place throughout Europe. The essential difference in the new art of opera lay in its developed dramatic structure. This, in turn, was associated with a much more dramatic style of music, drawing on the classical art of rhetoric, the art of public speaking, which, nominally at least, formed part of the new education. The period now known as the Baroque developed in the last decades of the 16th century. It is distinguished, above all, by the development of what has become known as dramatic monody. Here a simple form of melody closely follows the rhythms and intonations of speech, accompanied by simple if occasionally startling chords. The new technique of composition made opera possible. Plays with songs and dances were one thing, but works providing a dramatic combination of words and music throughout were something different. There were three principal elements from the ancient world that influenced the new form: Greek and Roman tragedy, ancient rhetoric, and the work of the philosophers Plato and Aristotle. Interest in classical Greek tragedy brought with it the understanding that music and dance had been essential elements of performance. With the music now lost, a new music was created. At the same time the rules and conventions of classical Greek and Roman rhetoric came to be reflected in drama. The new art of opera could also seek theoretical support from the works of Plato and Aristotle. From Plato came the idea that certain kinds of music were rightly associated with certain states of mind or soul. In the philosophical dialogue The Republic Plato’s hero Socrates suggests that some kinds of music should be banned, because of the effect they have on character. Others are to be encouraged as fostering bravery or prudence. This was at the basis of what became the Doctrine of the Affections, the association of certain pieces of music with certain states of mind, so that a sad song, for example, might both express the feeling of the singer and arouse a similar feeling in those who heard it. From Aristotle came the now fundamental connection of music with poetry and rhetoric, together with the suggested moral purpose of drama. Through the proper exercise of the emotions of pity and fear, exercised on suitable subjects, an audience would undergo a moral cleansing, a catharsis. Opera, then, had a moral purpose. It was soon, of course, to have a political one. From the very beginning opera brought together all the arts. It involved painting, p


Which creatures might be bred and reared in a 'ranarium'?

Breed - definition of breed by The Free Dictionary Breed - definition of breed by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/breed v. bred (brĕd), breed·ing, breeds v.tr. 1. To produce (offspring); give birth to or hatch. 2. To bring about; engender: "Admission of guilt tends to breed public sympathy" (Jonathan Alter). 3. a. To cause to reproduce, especially by controlled mating and selection: breed cattle. b. To develop new or improved strains in (organisms), chiefly through controlled mating and selection of offspring for desirable traits. c. To inseminate or impregnate; mate with. 4. To rear or train; bring up: a writer who was bred in a seafaring culture. 5. To be the place of origin of: Austria breeds great skiers. 6. To produce (fissionable material) in a breeder reactor. v.intr. 3. To originate and develop: Mischief breeds in bored minds. n. 1. A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation. 2. A kind; a sort: a new breed of politician; a new breed of computer. 3. Offensive A person of mixed racial descent; a half-breed. Idioms: breed a scab/scabs on (one's) nose Regional To stir up trouble for oneself. breed up a storm New England To become cloudy. [Middle English breden, from Old English brēdan; see bhreu- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] breed vb, breeds, breeding or bred 1. to bear (offspring) 2. (tr) to bring up; raise 3. (Genetics) to produce or cause to produce by mating; propagate 4. (Breeds) to produce and maintain new or improved strains of (domestic animals and plants) 5. to produce or be produced; generate: to breed trouble; violence breeds in densely populated areas. n 6. (Genetics) a group of organisms within a species, esp a group of domestic animals, originated and maintained by man and having a clearly defined set of characteristics 7. (Genetics) a lineage or race: a breed of Europeans. 8. a kind, sort, or group: a special breed of hatred. [Old English brēdan, of Germanic origin; related to brood] breed 1. to produce (offspring); procreate. 2. to produce by mating; propagate sexually; reproduce. 3. to cause (plants or animals) to reproduce and usu. to be improved by selection. 4. to give rise to; engender; produce: Dirt breeds disease. 5. to develop by training or education; bring up; rear: born and bred a gentleman. 6. to impregnate; mate: to breed a mare. 7. to produce more fissile nuclear fuel than is consumed in a reactor. v.i. 9. to be engendered or produced; grow. n. 10. a relatively homogenous group of animals within a species, developed and maintained by humans. 11. lineage; stock; strain. [before 1000; Middle English breden, Old English brēdan to nourish] breed Verb 1. To produce or reproduce by giving birth or hatching: Mosquitoes breed in water. 2. To raise animals or plants, often to produce new or improved types: breed a new type of corn. Noun A group of organisms having common ancestors and sharing certain traits that are not shared with other members of the same species. Breeds are usually produced by mating selected parents. Breed  a race or variety of animals; a class, sort, or kind of men, things, or qualities; a number produced at one time. See also brood . Examples: breed of bees [a brood], 1580; of duckling, 1802; of thinkers; of wits, 1588. breed I will have been breeding you will have been breeding he/she/it will have been breeding we will have been breeding you will have been breeding they will have been breeding Past Perfect Continuous Noun 1. breed - a special variety of domesticated animals within a species; "he experimented on a particular breed of white rats"; "he created a new strain of sheep" animal group - a group of animals variety - (biology) a taxonomic category consisting of members of a species that differ from others of the same species in minor but heritable characteristics; "varieties are frequently recognized in botany" bloodstock - thoroughbred horses (collectively) pedigree - line of de


At which Paris airfield did Charles Lindbergh complete the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927?

Lindbergh lands in Paris - May 21, 1927 - HISTORY.com Lindbergh lands in Paris Publisher A+E Networks American pilot Charles A. Lindbergh lands at Le Bourget Field in Paris, successfully completing the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight and the first ever nonstop flight between New York to Paris. His single-engine monoplane, The Spirit of St. Louis, had lifted off from Roosevelt Field in New York 33 1/2 hours before. Charles Augustus Lindbergh, born in Detroit in 1902, took up flying at the age of 20. In 1923, he bought a surplus World War I Curtiss “Jenny” biplane and toured the country as a barnstorming stunt flyer. In 1924, he enrolled in the Army Air Service flying school in Texas and graduated at the top of his class as a first lieutenant. He became an airmail pilot in 1926 and pioneered the route between St. Louis and Chicago. Among U.S. aviators, he was highly regarded. In May 1919, the first transatlantic flight was made by a U.S. hydroplane that flew from New York to Plymouth, England, via Newfoundland, the Azores Islands, and Lisbon. Later that month, Frenchman Raymond Orteig, an owner of hotels in New York, put up a purse of $25,000 to the first aviator or aviators to fly nonstop from Paris to New York or New York to Paris. In June 1919, the British fliers John W. Alcock and Arthur W. Brown made the first nonstop transatlantic flight, flying 1,960 miles from Newfoundland to Ireland. The flight from New York to Paris would be nearly twice that distance. Orteig said his challenge would be good for five years. In 1926, with no one having attempted the flight, Orteig made the offer again. By this time, aircraft technology had advanced to a point where a few thought such a flight might be possible. Several of the world’s top aviators–including American polar explorer Richard Byrd, French flying ace Rene Fonck–decided to accept the challenge, and so did Charles Lindbergh. Lindbergh convinced the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce to sponsor the flight, and a budget of $15,000 was set. The Ryan Airlines Corporation of San Diego volunteered to build a single-engine aircraft to his specifications. Extra fuel tanks were added, and the wing span was increased to 46 feet to accommodate the additional weight. The main fuel tank was placed in front of the cockpit because it would be safest there in the event of a crash. This meant Lindbergh would have no forward vision, so a periscope was added. To reduce weight, everything that was not utterly essential was left out. There would be no radio, gas gauge, night-flying lights, navigation equipment, or parachute. Lindbergh would sit in a light seat made of wicker. Unlike other aviators attempting the flight, Lindbergh would be alone, with no navigator or co-pilot. The aircraft was christened The Spirit of St. Louis, and on May 12, 1927, Lindbergh flew it from San Diego to New York, setting a new record for the fastest transcontinental flight. Bad weather delayed Lindbergh’s transatlantic attempt for a week. On the night of May 19, nerves and a newspaperman’s noisy poker game kept him up all night. Early the next morning, though he hadn’t slept, the skies were clear and he rushed to Roosevelt Field on Long Island. Six men had died attempting the long and dangerous flight he was about to take. At 7:52 a.m. EST on May 20, The Spirit of St. Louis lifted off from Roosevelt Field, so loaded with fuel that it barely cleared the telephone wires at the end of the runway. Lindbergh traveled northeast up the coast. After only four hours, he felt tired and flew within 10 feet of the water to keep his mind clear. As night fell, the aircraft left the coast of Newfoundland and set off across the Atlantic. At about 2 a.m. on May 21, Lindbergh passed the halfway mark, and an hour later dawn came. Soon after, The Spirit of St. Louis entered a fog, and Lindbergh struggled to stay awake, holding his eyelids open with his fingers and hallucinating that ghosts were passing through the cockpit. After 24 hours in the air, he felt a little more awake and spotted fishing boats in the water. At about 11


Which chemical element gets its named from the Greek for 'bringer of light'?

List of chemical elements – Bodycote plc From the Greek words oxy genes meaning acid and forming Palladium Pd 46 Named after the asteroid pallas which was discovered at about the same time. Derived from Pallas Athene, the Greek goddess of wisdom Phosphorus


The Primate of All Ireland is the Archbishop of which City?

Primate of All Ireland : Wikis (The Full Wiki) 7 External links History The episcopal see of Dublin was created in the eleventh century, when Dublin was a Norse city. Its first bishop, Dunan (or Donatus) was described at his death as "chief bishop of the Foreigners". [2] From the first, Dublin had close ties to the see of Canterbury . [3] The fifth bishop of Dublin, Gregory, was only a subdeacon when he was elected bishop by what Aubrey Gwynn called "the Norse party in the city". He was sent to England where he was consecrated by Archbishop Ralph of Canterbury, but on his return he was prevented from entering his see by those who wanted Dublin integrated with the Irish hierarchy. A compromise was reached by which Gregory was recognised as bishop of Dublin, while he in turn accepted the authority of Cellach , archbishop of Armagh, as primate. [4] The Synod of Kells in 1152 divided Ireland between the four archdioceses of Armagh, Dublin, Cashel and Tuam. Gregory was appointed archbishop of Dublin. The papal legate , Cardinal John Paparo , also appointed the archbishop of Armagh "as Primate over the other bishops, as was fitting." [5] Henry de Loundres , archbishop of Dublin from 1213 to 1228, obtained a bull from Pope Honorius III prohibiting any archbishop from having the cross carried before him (a symbol of authority) in the archdiocese of Dublin without the consent of the archbishop of Dublin. [6] A century later, this bull led to a confrontation between Richard FitzRalph, archbishop of Armagh, and Alexander de Bicknor , archbishop of Dublin, when FitzRalph, acting on letters of King Edward III specifically allowing him to do so, entered Dublin in 1349 "with the cross erect before him". He was opposed by the prior of Kilmainham on the instructions of Bicknor, and forced to withdraw to Drogheda. On Bicknor's death, and the succession of John de St. Paul to the see of Dublin, King Edward revoked his letters to FitzRalph and forbade the primate to excercise his juristiction in Dublin. [7] In 1353 the matter was referred to Avignon . There Pope Innocent VI , acting on the advice of the College of Cardinals , ruled that "each of these prelates should be Primate; while, for the distinction of style, the Primate of Armagh should entitle himself Primate of All Ireland, but the Metropolitan of Dublin should subscribe himself Primate of Ireland." [8] Status The Archbishop of Armagh's leading status is based on the belief that his See was founded by St. Patrick , the city of Armagh thus being the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland. On the other hand, Dublin is the political, cultural, social, economic and secular centre of Ireland, and has been for many centuries, thus making the Archbishop of Dublin someone of considerable influence, with a high national profile. Dispute has "flared up" on a number of occasions, such as during the time in office of Saint Oliver Plunkett and in the late 18th century. Since the 1870s one or other of the Catholic archbishops of Armagh and Dublin has been a member of the College of Cardinals . Due to Ireland's small size, two Irish reigning diocesan cardinals are unlikely to be created. [9] An apparent dominance of Dublin over Armagh was shown in the 1850s when the then Archbishop of Armagh, Paul Cullen was transferred from Armagh to the nominally inferior see of Dublin, where he became the most high-profile Catholic prelate in Ireland. Some years after the First Vatican Council , in which he played a central role in the proclamation of Papal Infallibility , he was made Ireland's first cardinal, ahead of the nominally superior Archbishop of Armagh. Cullen's successor in Dublin, Archbishop Edward MacCabe was also made a cardinal. But after that, the cardinal's red hat went invariably to the Archbishop of Armagh, until Pope John Paul II awarded the red hat not to the low-key pastoral Seán Brady of Armagh, but to the higher-profile, more intellectual, and clearly conservative, Desmond Connell of Dublin. But in 2007 Pope Benedict XVI decided to give the honour again to the See of Patrick, creating Brady


Archibald Primrose was Prime Minister 1894-95, what was his title?

History of Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery - GOV.UK GOV.UK Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery Liberal 1894 to 1895 Born 21 May 1929, Epsom, Surrey Dates in office Liberal Interesting facts Rosebery's declared ambitions were to marry an heiress, own a horse that won the Derby and be Prime Minister. He fulfilled all 3. “There are 2 supreme pleasures in life. One is ideal, the other real. The ideal is when a man receives the seals of office from his Sovereign. The real pleasure comes when he hands them back.” The Earl of Rosebery is best known today as a staunch upholder of the British Empire. Born into a Scottish aristocratic family, the Earl of Rosebery attended Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, where he developed an interest in both politics and horseracing. While at Oxford, he succeeded to his grandfather’s title as 5th Earl of Rosebery in 1868, and took up his seat in the House of Lords. A year later he bought his first racehorse, Ladas, against university rules. Offered a choice by the university authorities between selling his horse or abandoning his studies, he chose the racehorse. Lord Rosebery first became a public figure when he managed Gladstone ’s successful Midlothian Campaign in 1879. In 1881 Gladstone convinced him to take up the post of Under Secretary at the Home Office, with special responsibility for Scotland. Not convinced that Gladstone was interested in Scottish affairs, he resigned after 2 years. He then travelled the world, promoting his imperialist ideas. In Australia he made a celebrated speech announcing: “the British Empire is a Commonwealth of Nations”. In 1885 he joined Gladstone’s Cabinet as Commissioner of the Board of Works and Lord Privy Seal. A year later, he became Foreign Secretary in Gladstone’s third administration. Queen Victoria, an admirer, described it as the “only really good appointment” in the whole government. The death of his wife, Hannah, in 1890 kept him out of politics for some time, but he was eventually persuaded by Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales to return, and in 1892 he became Foreign Secretary again in Gladstone’s last administration. When Gladstone resigned in March 1894, Lord Rosebery accepted the post of Prime Minister, although he did so reluctantly, regarding it as a dangerously poisoned chalice. He would have preferred to spend his time on horseracing and literature. Lord Rosebery did not enjoy the success in office of his Liberal predecessor Gladstone. It was a short-lived administration - he inherited a divided Cabinet, faced an obstructive, Tory-dominated House of Lords and was heavily attacked in the Commons for opposing Irish Home Rule. His imperialist designs in foreign policy, such as expansion of the fleet, were defeated by disagreements within the Liberal Party, while the House of Lords stopped the Liberals’ domestic legislation. His government lasted only 15 months, falling in June 1895 over a vote of censure on military supplies. In the following year, he resigned as Liberal leader in the interests of party unity. He became the leader of the Liberal Imperialist division of the party, but retired from politics altogether in 1905 when Henry Campbell-Bannerman was chosen as Liberal Prime Minister. In his later years, he turned to writing political biographies. He died in 1929, requesting to hear the Eton Boating Song before he passed away. Help us improve GOV.UK


The global collection of what is stored in a vault in Svalbard on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen?

What Is The Svalbard Global Seed Vault? - WorldAtlas.com Environment What Is The Svalbard Global Seed Vault? This seed vault on a far northern island of Norway promises to help ensure the protection of the earth's flora biodiversity in the event of a global catastrophe. Above-ground entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. 5. History To save the world’s population in the aftermath of a global crisis, and to allow life on Earth to continue in the face of a major disaster, a remote location in the world houses one of the most treasured of all vaults on this planet. This, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which stores spare or duplicate copies of plant seeds obtained from worldwide gene banks in its frozen interior, would be more valuable than vast reserves of platinum, gold, and diamonds in the wake of a global agricultural crisis. These seeds are highly protected so that, when needed, they can be revived again. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located around 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago near Longyearbyen. The vault was established by Cary Fowler, an American agriculturist and former executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, in association with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The founding stone of the vault was established on June 19th, 2006 by a collective group comprised of the respective Prime Ministers of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The vault was finally opened in 2008 in a partnership between the Crop Trust, NordGen, and the Norwegian Government. 4. Funding and Support The construction cost of $9 USD million needed for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was entirely funded by the Norwegian government. Currently, Norway and the Global Crop Diversity Trust is responsible for maintaining the operational costs of the vault, while governments from across the world and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provide the primary sources of funding for the vault. 3. Mission The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is like the ultimate back up for the world’s citizens in times of a major global crisis. Although there are 1,700 gene banks scattered across the world in various countries, the seeds of crop plants stored in these gene banks are quite susceptible to war, natural catastrophes, poor financial management, and/or political instability. The vulnerable nature of these gene banks necessitated the need for a much more secure mode of storage that would act as a global deposit of seeds to benefit the entire world population in the face of a disaster. The hyper-secure seed gene bank in Svalbard provides just that. 2. Sample Collection Size The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has a storage capacity of 4.5 million varieties of crops. Taking into account that each variety of crop will be represented by 500 seeds, the vault has a total storage capacity of 2.5 billion seeds. Currently, over 860,000 samples of crops representing African and Asian staples like wheat, rice, maize, and sorghum, and American and European favorites like potato, barley, and lettuce, are all stored in the vault. A high rate of caution is maintained in storing the seeds in the vault. They are completely dried and then sealed in specially designed four-ply packets before storing them in the vault. The maintenance of optimum temperatures (-18º Celsius) is extremely important to ensure the survival of these seeds for long periods of time. By 2013, one-third of the genera diversity of seeds that are stored in all of the gene banks of the world were already represented in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, and its collection is still expanding. 1. Operations and Management Currently, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is managed under the tripartite agreement between the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen), the Norwegian government, and the Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT). The refrigeration units in the vault are maintained by power generated from locally mined coal. Even if the equipment fails to work due to some unprecedented reason, the


The bell, Great Peter is in the northwest tower of which cathedral?

Great Peter - 216-2-22 - York Minster North West Tower - YouTube Great Peter - 216-2-22 - York Minster North West Tower Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Aug 23, 2010 Great Peter, one of britain's largets bells, and the only bell that is swung manually! It is swung for 10 minutes at midday everyday. It was a great experience. Notice the rounds from the other tower! Category


Which county cricket team play home games at Wantage Road?

County Ground | England | Cricket Grounds | ESPN Cricinfo 06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT Marylebone Cricket Club University Matches Northamptonshire v Loughborough MCCU Fri Apr 7 - Mon Apr 10 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Glamorgan Thu Apr 27 (50 ovs)           14:00 local | 13:00 GMT 09:00 EDT | 08:00 CDT | 06:00 PDT Royal London One-Day Cup North Group - Northamptonshire v Warwickshire Wed May 3 (50 ovs) 11:00 local | 10:00 GMT 06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT Royal London One-Day Cup North Group - Northamptonshire v Worcestershire Wed May 10 (50 ovs) 11:00 local | 10:00 GMT 06:00 EDT | 05:00 CDT | 03:00 PDT Royal London One-Day Cup North Group - Northamptonshire v Yorkshire Tue May 16 (50 ovs)           14:00 local | 13:00 GMT 09:00 EDT | 08:00 CDT | 06:00 PDT Royal London One-Day Cup North Group - Northamptonshire v Nottinghamshire Sun May 21 (50 ovs) Northamptonshire v South Africa Fri May 26 - Mon May 29 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Worcestershire Fri Jun 9 - Mon Jun 12 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Derbyshire Mon Jun 26 - Thu Jun 29 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Leicestershire Fri Jul 7 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast Tue Jul 11 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast Thu Jul 27 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast Tue Aug 1 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast Thu Aug 3 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast Sun Aug 6 - Wed Aug 9 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire Fri Aug 11 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast 101st Match - Northamptonshire v Leicestershire Fri Aug 18 (20 ovs) NatWest t20 Blast 119th Match - Northamptonshire v Durham Tue Sep 5 - Fri Sep 8 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Sussex Tue Sep 19 - Fri Sep 22 Specsavers County Championship Division Two Northamptonshire v Nottinghamshire


Which future president escaped from Lincoln Prison in 1919 when a key to his cell was smuggled in to him in a cake?

The greatest escape from Lincoln Prison The greatest escape from Lincoln Prison Twitter 11:27 am The façade of Lincoln Prison is an intimidating welcome for anyone entering the facility. Since its opening in 1872, few have escaped and those who have were often quickly re-apprehended. That is, except for the case of Eamon de Valera, the Irish dissident and future president of Ireland, who managed to escape to freedom in 1919 in a famous incident which briefly brought the Irish revolution to Lincoln. Eamon de Valera was born in New York in 1882 to an Irish mother and a Cuban father. Returning to Ireland following his father’s death in 1885, he became a radical revolutionary figure in Irish politics, fighting for independence from the United Kingdom. He was arrested and sentenced to death for his role in the Easter Rising of 1916, but this was later commuted due to his American citizenship. Following his release from prison in 1916, he quickly gained fame on the Irish political scene, becoming MP For East Claire in the House of Commons and becoming leader of Sinn Fein. He had also, however, gained notoriety amongst the British political elites, thus ensuring his eventual re-arrest and imprisonment at Lincoln. De Valera had been sent to Lincoln Prison for his part in a “German Plot” against the British, though this was merely a pretence to imprison the troublesome Irish politician. Once incarcerated in Lincoln, de Valera quickly began formulating his escape with the help of fellow prisoners John Milroy and John McGarry, as well as with other Irish Republicans on the outside, including Michael Collins. According to de Valera, he wanted to escape to “embarrass the English”, but more likely he was simply not a fan of being incarcerated (few are). Lincoln Prison today is in a much different environment when compared to its surroundings a century ago. To the rear and east of the prison were open fields surrounded by barbed wire, which the Republicans hoped to use to their advantage by sneaking de Valera through a rear door. The plans were sung to de Valera through a window in his cell by a fellow Irish inmate (in Gaelic to confuse the guards). The first song told him of the route of escape and a second gave him instructions to obtain a copy of the master-key for the prison. De Valera, to his benefit, was a deeply religious man and had been active in the prison’s chapel since his internment. Using his connections within the chapel, he managed to steal candles from the altar and while mass was being read, “borrowed” the master-key of the chaplain and made an impression of it in the candle wax, which he melted using his body heat. The mould was then packaged in paper and tossed over the wall of the prison so a duplicate could be made. The key was duplicated and smuggled in to the prison concealed in a cake, and the escape began on the evening of February 4, 1919. With Collins and other members of Sinn Fein having cut through the wire, a group of Irish girls were sent to flirt with the prison guards to ensure their backs were turned. The guards were suitably busy, so de Valera, McGarry and Milroy were able to walk to the back door of the prison, and after some difficulty (Collins had managed to snap the key in the door), escape the prison. De Valera was wrapped in a fur coat, and swiftly moved to the railway station where they split up, with Collins boarding a train to London and de Valera being driven to Manchester, after which he returned to Ireland briefly and then the United States. The prison officials, for their part, knew finding the men would be virtually impossible, and after a day’s search throughout the city, conceded defeat. The escape from Lincoln was major news, covered in all the national papers. Officials in the prison blamed the escape on the ability of special prisoners to interact with the general prison population. Regardless of the cause, however, the escape proved to be an important moment in Irish history; when a cake, a wax key and some pretty girls helped spring a future Irish president from Lincoln Prison. T


Which opera features a 'Prisoner's Chorus'?

Beethoven - Fidelio / Prisoners' Chorus - YouTube Beethoven - Fidelio / Prisoners' Chorus Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Aug 7, 2012 This Spadecaller video features the Prisoner's Chorus from Beethoven's opera, Fidelio; and the visual arts of Matthew Schwartz. See lyrics in German and English below. Ludwig Van Beethoven Oh what joy, in the open air Freely to breathe again! Up here alone is life! The dungeon is a grave. FIRST PRISONER We shall with all our faith Trust in the help of God! Hope whispers softly in my ears! We shall be free, we shall find peace. ALL THE OTHERS Oh Freedom! Will you be given us? CHOR DER GEFANGENEN O Welche Lust, in Freier Luft Den Atem leicht zu heben! Nur hier, nur hier ist Leben! Der Kerker eine Gruft.


Which Scottish football team is nicknamed the 'Pars'?

Scottish Football Club nicknames (From Evening Times) Scottish Football Club nicknames / Today's Top 10 1 THE BULLY WEE: The most likely explanation for Clyde's nickname is they were a wee team playing to a high, or bully standard. 2 THE PARS: Early Dunfermline players were said to get 'paralytic' at the bar, hence the Pars. 3 THE STAGGIES: Ross County's badge is a stag's head, taken from the badge of the Seaforth Highlanders. 4 THE SONS: Short for Sons of the Rock, it is the nickname of Dumbarton. 5 THE BLUE BRAZIL: Cowdenbeath adopted the ironic nickname during a poor run of form in the 1990s. 6 THE HONEST MEN: A line from the Burns poem Tam O'Shanter gives Ayr United its nickname. 7 THE RED LICHTIES: Taken from the red light used to guide fishing boats to harbour at Arbroath. 8 THE STEELMEN: Motherwell's name comes from the steelworks that used to dominate the town. 9 THE GABLE ENDIES: Wealthy merchants in Montrose built houses in Dutch gable style. 10 THE BAIRNS: An old town motto read "Better meddle wi the deil than the Bairns o Falkirk".


On which precise day of the month in November does the USA celebrate Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving: What's the history of the holiday and why does the United States celebrate 'turkey day'? Thanksgiving: What's the history of the holiday and why does the United States celebrate 'turkey day'? Watch | Macy's Thanksgiving Parade - by numbers 01:26 When is Thanksgiving Day 2016? Today. Thursday, Nov 24, (the fourth Thursday in November) – the day before Black Friday. Thanksgiving Day traditionally kicks off the 'holiday season' in the United States. The day was set in stone by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1939 and approved by Congress in 1941. FDR changed it from Abraham Lincoln's designation as the last Thursday in November (because there are sometimes five Thursdays in the month). Watch | Five strange Thanksgiving traditions 01:58 While Britons think of it as a warm-up for the Yuletide period , many Americans think it of it as just as important as Christmas. In fact, more people in the US celebrate Thanksgiving than they do Christmas. Thanksgiving Day is a secular holiday in a country that officially separates church and state so this probably makes sense. I'm ready for more cherished #Thanksgiving moments, in just *7* days!! pic.twitter.com/iTETz7MIF4 — Brittney Whaley (@brittney_whaley) October 4, 2016 What is the history of Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to the 1621 celebration at the Plymouth Plantation, where the religious refugees from England known popularly as the Pilgrims invited the local Native Americans to a harvest feast after a particularly successful growing season. The previous year's harvests had failed and in the winter of 1620, half of the pilgrims had starved to death. Luckily for the rest, members of the local Wampanoag tribe taught the Pilgrims how to grow corn, beans and squash (the Three Sisters); catch fish, and collect seafood. There are only two contemporary accounts of the 1621 Thanksgiving, but it's clear that turkey was not on the menu. The three-day feast included goose, lobster, cod and deer. Google's Doodle in its US search engine, rendered in a rich harvest-coloured palette, is an ode to this season of togetherness. Google's Thanksgiving Doodle in the US Credit: Google Does Britain have an equivalent? Yes, it's called Harvest Day, although it's a lot less of a big deal. While we usually take a few non-perishables down to our local church and enter our autumn vegetables in competitions , Thanksgiving in North America is a much more plentiful and extravagant affair. So why do Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day? Pilgrim Edward Winslow wrote a letter about that now-famous meal in 1621 which mentioned a turkey hunt before the dinner. Another theory says the choice of turkey was inspired by Queen Elizabeth I who was eating dinner when she heard that Spanish ships had sunk on their way to attack England. She was so thrilled with the news she ordered another goose be served. Some claim early US settlers roasted turkeys as they were inspired by her actions. Others say that as wild turkeys are native to North America, they were a natural choice for early settlers. #otd in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day. pic.twitter.com/3tnOxD31PE Classic Thanksgiving dishes Turkey: and/or ham, goose and duck or turduken (a spatchcocked combo of three whole birds!) Stuffing (also known as dressing): a mix of bread cubes, chopped celery, carrots, onions and sage stuffed inside the turkey for roasting. Chestnuts, chopped bacon or sausage, and raisins or apples are also sometimes included in the stuffing. Pies: pumpkin pies are most common, but pecan, apple, sweet potato and mincemeat pies are also quite popular. Thanksgiving Recipes Thanksgiving etiquette: 'Don't mention the election!' Arguing with the in-laws is a time-honoured holiday tradition the world over – but with passions running high after Donald Trump's election, many Americans will be navigating a minefield as they celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday. Thankfully, the internet has stepped up with a host of tips for taking the peril out of the occasion – star


Which bird has the Latin name Pica Pica?

The RSPB: Magpie Conservation status: Green With its noisy chattering, black-and-white plumage and long tail, there is nothing else quite like the magpie in the UK. When seen close-up its black plumage takes on an altogether more colourful hue with a purplish-blue iridescent sheen to the wing feathers, and a green gloss to the tail. Magpies seem to be jacks of all trades - scavengers, predators and pest-destroyers, their challenging, almost arrogant attitude has won them few friends. Non-breeding birds will gather together in flocks. Illustrations


Under what name does Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta perform?

Lady Gaga - Biography - IMDb Lady Gaga Jump to: Overview  (4) | Mini Bio  (1) | Trade Mark  (10) | Trivia  (55) | Personal Quotes  (42) Overview (4) 5' 1" (1.55 m) Mini Bio (1) Lady Gaga, born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an American songwriter, singer, actress, philanthropist, dancer and fashion designer. Gaga was born on March 28, 1986 in Manhattan, New York City, to Cynthia Louise (Bissett) and Joseph Anthony Germanotta, Jr., an internet entrepreneur. Her father is of Italian descent, and her mother is of half Italian and half French-Canadian, English, German, and Scottish ancestry. Gaga was able to sing and play the piano from a young age. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart from age 11 where was bullied for her appearance (she was small and plumper than other girls with large front teeth) and eccentric habits. By the age of 14, Gaga was performing at open mike nights in clubs and bars. By age 17, she had gained early admission to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to sharpening her songwriting skills, she composed essays and analytical papers on art, religion, social issues and politics. At the age of 19 Gaga withdrew from her studies and moved out of her parents' home in order to pursue a musical career. During this time she started a band which began to gain local attention. After a brief partnership with talent scout Rob Fusari, which resulted in the creation of her stage name, Gaga was signed to Def Jam Records in 2006; however she was dropped from the label after just three months. Devastated, Gaga returned home, and became increasingly experimental: fascinating herself with emerging neo-burlesque shows, go-go dancing at bars dressed in little more than a bikini in addition to experimenting with drugs. Gaga met performance artist Lady Starlight during this time; after a performance at Lollapalooza Festival in 2007 Gaga was signed by Vince Herbert to Streamline Records, an imprint of Interscope Records. Having served as an apprentice songwriter under an internship at Famous Music Publishing, which was later acquired by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Gaga subsequently struck a music publishing deal with Sony/ATV. As a result, she was hired to write songs for Britney Spears and labelmates New Kids on the Block, Fergie, and the Pussycat Dolls. At Interscope, singer-songwriter Akon recognized her vocal abilities when she sang a reference vocal for one of his tracks in studio; Akon then convinced Interscope-Geffen-A&M Chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine to form a joint deal by having her also sign with his own label Kon Live, making her his "franchise player." In 2008 Gaga released her first album 'The Fame' to lukewarm radio play; Gaga toured around Europe and in gay clubs in the US to promote the album - however it was not until her first hit 'Just Dance' came to mainstream attention in 2009 that Gaga exploded onto the music scene. Since then Gaga has gained numerous awards and nominations for a string of hits; her first album spawned several more smash hits ('Paparazzi' 'LoveGame' and 'Poker Face'); while touring the album Gaga wrote 'The Fame Monster', an EP examining the darker side to her new-found fame. The Fame Monster was released in 2009 and won multiple awards, spawning her most iconic single 'Bad Romance' as well as 'Telephone' and 'Alejandro'. During this time Gaga came under increased public and critical scrutiny for her eccentric and often bizarre style choices. Gaga embarked on her second tour, The Monster Ball; upon finishing in May 2011, the critically acclaimed and commercially accomplished tour ran for over one and a half years and grossed $227.4 million, making it one of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time and the highest-grossing for a debut headlining artist. Concerts performed at Madison Square Garden in New York City were filmed for an HBO television special. The special accrued one of its five Emmy Award nominations and has since been released on DVD and Blu-ray. In 2011 Gaga released her second full-length album 'Born this Way'; the album was rec


Who was Chancellor of Germany immediately before Angela Merkel?

Who is Angela Merkel? - CNN.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel has secured a third term in the office Scientist-turned-politician came close to securing an absolute majority Despite her popularity, she will have to govern at the head of a coalition She is the first woman and the first former East German to take up the post She may be unpopular in many of the troubled countries of the eurozone, but of Europe's leaders, Chancellor Angela Merkel is the one who managed to keep her sear throughout the crisis. While voters in France, Spain, Italy and Greece her counterparts packing, Merkel has been reelected with one of the strongest mandates in the history of modern Germany. As the leading figure in the fight against the region's financial crisis, Merkel is used to saying no. She has blocked bailouts, rejected proposals, denied pleas and stood up to the rest of Europe. For her pains she has earned praise at home -- where she is nicknamed "Mutti" ("Mommy") -- and animosity abroad. Photoshopped pictures of her with devil horns, or even worse, a Hitler-style moustache, became a regular feature during anti-austerity protests across Europe. She received threats and even a parcel bomb . Opinion: Is Germany playing beggar-my-neighbor with the eurozone? But Merkel, frequently dubbed Germany's "Iron Lady" and hailed as the country's answer to former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (a nickname she herself rejects firmly), isn't scared by the crowds. She is the first woman to be elected German chancellor, and the first former East German to take up the post. She came second in the most recent Forbes Powerful People list , trailing just behind U.S. President Barack Obama. Yet she is often attacked by her critics for being prone to indecision and cautious. So how did she become world's most powerful woman? Merkel, 59, the daughter of a Protestant minister, was brought up in a little town in then-Communist East Germany. She trained as physicist before turning to politics as the spokesperson of former East Germany's opposition movement "Democratic Awakening" during the revolution. She entered parliament in the first post-unification election, serving in various ministerial posts and as the leader of the opposition before she was finally elected chancellor in 2005. Defterios: Style and substance of two leaders Her rise to power has been governed by the same set of principles she enforced during the eurozone crisis: no shortcuts, no "big bazookas." Her way of doing things reflects her scientific background: systematic, analytical and step-by-step -- no surprises and definitely no extravagance. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Merkel teaches German history at school 02:04 "If you say you are going to do something then you must do it," is her favourite maxim, according to her recently-published authorized biography -- a biography that admits Merkel's political profile is "almost dull." Peer Steinbrueck: The man who stirred up German politics Elsewhere in the Western world, such a "boring" approach to politics might not work. But commentators suggest her calm and methodical way of governing was precisely what Germans were looking for after several turbulent years under the extravagant Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Her approach has worked so far: she was re-elected in 2009 and won her third term in the office, according to preliminary results released Monday. And it is Merkel's popularity that pushed her party towards yet another election victory. It is no coincidence that most of the Christian Democrats' election posters featured a giant photo of Merkel and rather miniscule party logo. People are voting for "Angie," and not necessarily the CDU/CSU. Germany's Schaeuble: Enthusiastic on campaign trail In June's popularity rankings by Forsa Institute for German magazine Stern, Merkel ended up with the highest rank of all German political leaders, with 70% of voters saying they are satisfied with her work . Despite her high profile, comparatively little is known about the Chancellor's private life. Her last name, now a political trademark, comes from h