On which of the Great Lakes does the city of Milwaukee lie?

Great Lakes travel guide - Wikitravel Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Many boaters use the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway and their connection points as a travel route. There are many marinas and public boat ramps available for this purpose. Also, the Great Lakes Cruising Company [1] and the American Canadian Caribbean Line [2] provide cruises on the Great Lakes. Zebra mussels Swimmers have the invasive species of zebra mussels from the Caspian Sea to thank for the clear waters—each one of the billions, the size of a fingernail, filters nearly a liter per day. They have been enormously disruptive to local ecosystems, and their sharp shells are a terrible hassle for anyone trying to clean the hull of their boat, but they have had a couple pleasant side effects. In addition to making the waters such a lovely clear crystal blue, their filtering efforts have increased population and size of smallmouth bass in Lake Erie and yellow perch in Lake St. Clair. Great Lakes Beaches are something most of the world has overlooked. While yes, for most of the year, it's too cold to swim, the southern coasts actually boast some fantastic beaches in the summer months. The lakes are big enough to make you feel like you are at the ocean, with waves to boot, but without the annoying salt and jellyfish. And throughout much of the water system, the water is actually clean enough to drink (not recommended) and certainly clear enough where you can freely open your eyes underwater. Some of the most famous beaches include the Great Lakes' longest at Wasaga Beach in Central Ontario , the beach volleyball hub of the Midwest at Lincoln Park Beach in Chicago , the beautiful beaches along the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore , and the affluent beach communities along Chicago's version of the Hamptons in Harbor Country , Michigan . And even when it's too cold for swimming, several beaches throughout the region are actually known for surfing. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] There isn't any one sort of souvenir or good associated with the Great Lakes (aside, perhaps, from American automobiles), but there are plenty of great places to go shopping. Chicago 's Magnificent Mile is renowned as one of the world's truly great retail strips. Yorkville serves much the same purpose in Toronto . A smaller retail location is in Detroit 's Renaissance Center, which is probably worth a visit regardless of whether you want to shop at its many stores and souvenir shops. Tower City Center in Cleveland is another major shopping complex, with retail running the gamut from high end boutiques to low-end national franchises and back again. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] Rugged coast line at Cave Point County Park, Wisconsin . What could possibly unite the disparate culinary regions of the Great Lakes? Oh right, fish. Lake trout, wild salmon, chubs, smelt, perch, walleye, and whitefish are all very popular both among recreational and commercial fishers throughout the region. Smoked fish and shrimp is especially popular in small "shacks," particularly along the industrial shores of southwestern Lake Michigan, and you should jump at the chance to try some. Similarities end at fish, however. The Chicagoland area is a culinary delight, from high end contemporary American in Chicago , to low end regional fast food like Chicago-style pizza, hot dogs, etc., and cuisines brought their via the tides of immigration from the American South , Greece , Middle East , Mexico , Vietnam , etc. Toronto rivals Chicago for international cuisine, both high and low end, with enormous immigrant populations from all over Asia especially. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] There is one city in this region synonymous with drinking, and that is Milwaukee . Brew City was for a long time the world's leading beer producer, and remains firmly associated with the drink both in the popular culture ideal and the reality of the city's great nightlife. While none can rival that of Milwaukee, the cities and towns lining the Great Lakes largely share its affection for the drink, particularly in can form, accompanied with cheap shots


What farming disease was reported in 2011 to have virtually disappeared, 25 years after its emergence and scary projection?

agriculture facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about agriculture BIBLIOGRAPHY In addition to the articles listed below, agriculture is discussed in a number of other articles. Domesticationdescribes the early history. Other aspects of the social structure of agriculturalists are discussed in Community, article on Community development; Manorial economy; rural society; and Village. Other aspects of the economy of agriculture are discussed under Communism, economic organization of; Credit; Famine; Food; Land; Land tenure; and Plantations. I COMPARATIVE TECHNOLOGY There are several ways of comparing the agricultural economy of one region with that of another. It can be done in terms of crop distributions, or relative productivity, or the effect on the rural landscape. The method used here will be a classification of agricultural practice in terms of the basic method or technology by which the farmer tackles the job of wresting crops from the earth. Agricultural technology, as it functions in various natural settings, not only influences crop patterns, productivity, and the landscape, but also affects population density, possibilities for trade and urbanization, and social structure. If we look around the world and attempt to plot on a map the varying techniques with which different societies face the fundamental tasks of cultivation, we are bound to be struck by the existence, over wide areas containing many millions of people, of relatively unsophisticated techniques that seem to be survivals from an age which the more sophisticated societies have left far behind. There are today but few regions where these unsophisticated techniques are entirely unaffected by new ideas that have spread with modern trade and commerce from those countries with early experience of agrarian revolution (as defined below). The degree of penetration by these new ideas varies widely, however, from place to place. The agricultural systems of the world may be considered in terms of the following very broad categories, which may, as will be seen, be further subdivided (in some cases using criteria other than technology): (1) shifting cultivation; (2) simple sedentary cultivation with hand tools; (3) simple plow cultivation; (4) cultivation dominated by the effects of the agrarian revolution. Shifting cultivation Shifting cultivation is a system under which temporary clearings are made, usually but not invariably in forest country, and cultivated for a short period of years before being allowed to revert to natural vegetation while the cultivator moves on to a succession of new clearings. Typically, the period for which any one patch is in cultivation is a good deal shorter than the period for which it is allowed to lie fallow under naturally regenerating vegetation. Shifting cultivation as just defined is the dominant agricultural system over wide areas of the earth’s surface. Most of these areas are within the tropics, notably in the Amazon Basin and adjacent areas of South America, in most regions of intertropical Africa, in a number of remote jungle areas in India, in most of the less populated parts of both peninsular and insular southeast Asia, in the highland areas of Manchuria and Korea, and in aboriginal southwest China. This system of agriculture was formerly widespread in many parts of Europe, notably in northwest Spain and in the Black Forest and other forested highland regions of central Europe; survivals may still be encountered. Possibly something like 200 million people, occupying 14 million square miles, are engaged in shifting cultivation. In addition to the impermanence of cultivation and to the system of “bush-fallow” already mentioned, many but not all systems of shifting cultivation also involve other characteristic traits, notably clearing by slashing and burning the forest or other vegetation (leaving stumps and often bigger trees), and cultivation by hoe, dibble, or digging stick but not by plow. Perhaps because in western and central Europe shifting cultivation has receded in the face of more advanced t


In certain species of birds, what is the name of the pouch used for temporarily storing food?

Bird Digestion BIRD DIGESTION FOOD'S TRIP THROUGH A BIRD: bill rectum cloaca A typical bird's digestive tract is usually considered to consist of the parts listed at the right. You know what the bill, mouth and tongue are. The pharynx (FAIR-ingx) is the part between the mouth and the esophagus, much involved with swallowing. The esophagus is the tube leading down from the pharynx. THE CROP: Not present in all birds, the crop serves more or less as a "doggy bag" when the bird eats. Notice the crop in the picture above. Let's say you're a Song Sparrow and you discover a weed just loaded with delicious-looking seeds, but the weed grows in the open. If you flit into the open area to eat the weed's seeds, you're making yourself vulnerable to predators who want to eat you. What to do? What you do is to flit into the open and gobble up those seeds far faster than any stomach could possibly handle them, then fly to safety. You can do this because of your crop. For, as you cram in those seeds, a few at first go straight to the gut but, when that fills, further seeds begin detouring to the bag-like crop. Once the crop is full of seed, you fly to your favorite perch, and now there's not much to do but let your stomach digest. As those first seeds in the stomach begin working their way through the rest of the body, seeds stored in the crop automatically refill the stomach. If someday you pick up a bird, perhaps one that has flown into a window and you want to save it from the cat, if that bird has recently eaten, you well may be able to feel the crop in the chest area, feeling like a bag filled with grit right below the feathers. Actually, specialists in the field of bird guts would want to insist that some birds have real crops, other birds have "pseudocrops," and that there are other croplike variations, but we don't want to get too confused so we'll just leave it at that. THE TWO-CHAMBERED STOMACH: The proventriculus: The stomach is an amazing affair consisting of two chambers. The proventriculus is the first chamber. It secretes an acid for breaking down food, and is best developed in birds that swallow entire fish and other animals containing bones which must be digested. If you know a little chemistry, you'll know how amazing it is that bird stomach-acid can have a pH as low as 0.2. In most of North America there's a kind of bird known as a shrike, which eats small animals, especially rodents and songbirds. A shrike's well developed first stomach-chamber can digest an entire mouse in only three hours! The gizzard: The bird stomach's second chamber is known as the gizzard. If you've ever eaten a chicken gizzard you know how tough and rubbery it is. To accomplish what the gizzard does, it absolutely must be tough, for the gizzard's main function is to grind and digest tough food. Though the gizzard consists of very powerful muscles, it alone can't pulverize everything the typical bird eats; you know how hard uncooked rice and corn kernels are, and these aren't even considered hard types of grain. OWL PELLETS products of a special gizzard Several hours after an owl eats, the fur, bones, teeth & feathers of its prey still in the gizzard are compressed into a pellet the same shape as the gizzard. In the above photo you can see white bones enmeshed in a mass of fur and feathers. Once formed, the pellet moves up from the gizzard to the proventriculus, where it remains for up to 10 hours before being regurgitated. Owls can't eat while a fully formed pellet is present, blocking the digestive track. When an Owl is ready to produce a pellet it usually closes its eyes, gets a funny luck in its face, doesn't want to fly and, when the pellet is ready to come out, the beak is opened and the pellet simply drops out. Other birds of prey, such as hawks, also produce pellets but the owl's  digestive juices are less acidic than those of other birds of prey, so there is more material present to form a pellet. The pellet above is from a Barn Owl found in a barn near my own home. Something other than muscle power is needed. This "something else" is


Buried in Highgate in London and subsequently immortalised in economic and social theory, who wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1848?

Karl Marx: More Right and more Relevant than ever! | Other | History & Theory | Front page articles Karl Marx: More Right and more Relevant than ever! +1 The Communist Manifesto opens with the lines, "A spectre is haunting Europe." Over 160 years later it appears that the spectre of Marxism is as potent as ever, with supporters and detractors increasing daily. Why is it that an old German philosophy student, buried over 100 years ago in Highgate cemetery in London, excites such controversy? If one searches the newspapers, the utterances of leading statesmen, jurists, businessmen, and academics, even His Holiness the Pope, you will hear that Marxism is old, dead, irrelevant, and wrong. This, of course, begs the question, why spend so much time, energy, and money refuting something that is dead? The Pope, of all people, should know that the Bible says, "Let the dead bury the dead." Businessmen are a great many things, but spendthrift is not one of them. The only conclusion one reaches as to why the wealthy and powerful exhaust so much money and time combating a so-called "dead" idea is that it is not dead at all; that in fact, Marxism reveals the truth about their system, capitalism, and they must do whatever is necessary to hide this fact from the mass of the people —  especially the workers and youth. "Marxism is old" It has been said that Marxism is an old idea and we need something new. There are a number of different fallacies with this critique. There are a great many old ideas that are equally valid today as when they were developed. Should we throw away all of Greek philosophy because it is too old? Is there nothing to learn from the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the British Empire, Nazi Germany, etc? What is too "old"? Is it 100 years ago? 50 years? 10 years? Last month? Or yesterday? Taken to its logical conclusion, this critique destroys all knowledge and experience. Additionally, this argument on behalf of capitalism is hypocritical. If Marxism is old, then capitalism is even older. Adam Smith, who developed the classical political economy of capitalism, wrote a full century before Marx! Smith is still taught in universities and provides the basis for economics curricula. Pick up a copy of the Communist Manifesto. Then go to the library and search for any other book written in the 19th century. Unless you select Darwin's Origin of the Species then it is almost certain that your book will only contain a historical relevance and tell us relatively little about today's society. Conversely, with this or that exception, there is no more modern book than Marx and Engels' Manifesto. It explains the division of society into classes, it explains the phenomenon of globalization, global crises of overproduction, the state, it even explains the exploitation and oppression of women. "But Marx talks about the working class — the working class no longer exists like it did in the 19th century!" This statement is absolutely true, but at the same time it is not a critique of Marxism. Those who discount the "old" are frequently blissfully ignorant of how things actually were in the past. If we are to believe the tales, the industrial armies awoke each morning ready to receive the gospel of St. Karl, not like today where we have iPads and social media to distract ourselves. If only this fantasy were true. In Marx and Engels' day, the overwhelming majority of humanity were peasants, not wage workers. Only in Britain did the working class make up the majority of society. In the 1871 Paris Commune, the only workers’ revolution Marx was alive to see, the average workshop was made up of just eight workers. This is less than half the number of “associates” at a chain fast-food outlet or coffee shop, who are supposedly “atomized” and impervious to class-consciousness. And yet, the workers of Paris "stormed Heaven," in the words of Marx.  The critics say that was all well and good for Paris in 1871, but things are different now. Again, it is never specified what is different and why it would make any fundamental impact. It is like th


Name the fantasy North Wales village used in film and TV (notably the 1960s 'The Prisoner' series), at one time directly related to a porcelain company of the same name which now owns the Spode and Royal Worcester brands?

VisitBritain_Top 12 Guide to Britain & Northern Ireland_01 by Jamm Design Ltd - issuu issuu TO PLACES IN BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND Stonehenge Wiltshire, England The Peace Bridge Derry-Londonderry, Northen Ireland 2 Introduction 2012 is a big year and we are welcoming you to Britain with our Top 12 attractions and experiences in our regions and cities! has it that the start of the marathon was moved to the Castle’s East Terrace because the then Princess of Wales wanted her children to see the race), and much, much more. Not only is Britain hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games but we have many more exciting and excellent events to celebrate, including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a series of colourful Jubilee activities progressing through the year . The bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens makes this year a mustvisit to Kent, home to many of his literary inspirations. In addition, 2012 marks the centenary of the Titanic in Belfast, where the iconic ship was built with the world’s largest & greatest Titanic visitor experience. Hopefully you will get a chance to experience some of this yourself and discover your own Top 12! The London 2012 Festival (21 June – 9 Sept) reaches across the entire country including free events (Britain has collections of the world’s finest art in iconic galleries – most of them free to visit); breath-taking views (pop in to the Lookout Café for the sweeping views to Portland, Dorset, while munching sandwiches made with locally-caught crab); literary highlights ( the World Shakespeare Festival in Warwickshire and around the world celebrates the bard’s influence); historical sites galore (visit the Little Chapel in Guernsey, possibly the world’s smallest consecrated church); family fun and attractions (Longleat Safari Park is in the heart of the English countryside, Wiltshire); palatial gardens (stroll through Bath’s Royal Victoria Park en route to taking tea in the Pump Room); sports to participate in (learn to play polo in Windsor), hidden gems (seek out Project Pigeon in Birmingham); bon vivants’ delights (West Sussex alone has 12 world-class vineyards); little known regional facts (visit Windsor to hear the amazing story of the 1908 Olympic marathon and why the official marathon route is 26 miles and 385 yards - legend How to use We have created an easy-to-use guide that provides you with all the information needed to experience the Top 12 in each region; click on the Contents Page to take you to the sections - England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands Then, within each section, you will find categories for regions recommending their Top 12s, with contact details, opening times and websites providing more information. Hopefully this guide has given you some ideas and inspiration that will thrill your readers and viewers. Britain – You’re Invited. Paul Gauger Global Leader, 2012 Games Media www.visitbritain.com/media Media contacts in Americas New York Meredith Pearson PR Executive USA 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0377 C: 001 917 412 0124 E: meredith.pearson@visitbritain.org Kathleen Oâ€™Connell PR Executive USA 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0364 E: kathleen.oconnell@visitbritain.org Callum Roberts Business Development Assistant 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0336 E: callum.roberts@visitbritain.org Lisa Kearns PR & Communications Executive 845 Third Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10022 T: 001 212 850 0327 E: lisa.kearns@visitbritain.org Los Angeles Katrina Early Film Tourism and PR Manager (West Coast) 11766 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90025 T: 00 1 310 268 2132 F: 00 1 310 481 2960 E: katrina.early@visitbritain.org Odalys Flores E: odalys.flores@visitbritain.org Canada Ted Flett PR & Communications Manager 160 Bloor Street East, Suite 905, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 1B9 T: 001 416 646 6676 F: 001 416 642 2240 C: 001 647.202.4184 E: ted.flett@visitbritain.org Brazil Mitsi Goulias Press & PR Manager Centro Brasileiro Britanico, Ru


In which year was the first British vehicle registration issued?

History of Number Plates | Registration and Car Number Plate History Login/Register History of Number Plates This article focuses on the history of GB Mainland number plates. Interested in the History of Irish Number Plates ? At the beginning of the century, with mechanically propelled vehicles increasing in number, and accidents occurring more frequently, it became apparent that a means of identifying cars had become necessary. The solution was The Motor Car Act 1903. From 1st January 1904 it become compulsory for every motorcar to be registered with a number plate. This came about 5 years after Dutch authorities first introduced the idea to the world. The first mark to be issued in London was the simple, bold, A1 and this was registered to Earl Russell. He wanted the mark so badly he camped out all night to secure it, making him not only the first registrant but also the inventor of the idea of having a distinctive, personalised or cherished plate on a vehicle. Since then, the registration system has changed 4 times to accommodate the ever-growing demand for vehicle registrations. Interesting fact: Our Director Des currently has O 11 on his vehicle, which dates back to 1903 and was originally issued in Birmingham Let's take a look at the different number plate systems that have come into play over the years... Dateless 1903-1963 The first plates issued were dateless, that is, there was nothing to denote the year of issue. This system lasted for an incredible 60 years. Initially, the marks were made up of a local council identifier code of up to 3 letters, followed by a random number, e.g. ABC 123. In the early 1950s, as numbers started to run out, the components were reversed, giving rise to registrations in the format 123 ABC. In 1920 The Roads Act was passed that made a few minor changes to the number plate system. Up until this time, there was nothing to stop authorities having two registers, one for cars and one for motorcycles. This meant that it was possible for a car and a motorcycle in the same area to have the same plate. The 1920 act put a stop to this and ensured that all authorities had one single register for all vehicles. Also, up until 1920, if a vehicle moved from one area to another, it would lose the plate and receive a new one in the new area, the old plate being reassigned to another vehicle. It was decided that this was simply too confusing and inconvenient, so this practice was stopped by the 1920 Roads Act. Not surprisingly, all the dateless registrations are now in high demand, especially short combinations such as O 11 which is worth in excess of £95,000. The high price tag is due to the single letter and the fact that it only has 3 characters in total. Suffix 1963 - 1983 By 1963, a number of local councils had run out of registrations, even by adding extra digits and reversing them. As a result of this, the Suffix system was introduced, a letter indicating the year of registration being added at the end of the plate, which until then had comprised only 3 letters followed by 3 numbers. Thus, 1963 plates had the format AAA 111A, 1964 plates AAA 111B and so on. This was the first change to a system that had been set up in 1903 when there were far fewer cars on the roads. Since then the administration of the system has turned into a massive task. Everything was done manually and locally. Police checks on vehicle records were time consuming and labour intensive. There were also delays with registrations and the public were not happy with having to wait. So in 1963, as well as a revamp of the system, thought started to be given to utilising some modern technology, namely, computers to create a centralised system. This system would be nine years in the planning! Since 1903 the design of the physical plates had gone through a few changes but the most significant was in 1973 when all newly registered vehicles were required to have reflective style number plates, with black letters on a white background at the front, and on a yellow background at the rear. Older style plates, with white or silver letter


Which UK football team is nicknamed 'The Posh'?

Official Website of the Posh - Peterborough United FC latest news, photos and videos Peterborough United Business Finder is powered by city-visitor.com & cityvisitor.co.uk By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. You can change this and find out more by following this link . Accept Cookies


Jamaica Inn, made famous by writer Daphne du Maurier, lies on which moor?

Smugglers Inn Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier | Jamaica Inn Book your stay with us check availability   History of Jamaica Inn Jamaica Inn was built in 1750 as a coaching inn – the 18th century equivalent of a modern day service station for weary travellers. Using the turnpike between Launceston and Bodmin, they would stay at the Inn after crossing the wild and treacherous moor. Some of the travellers were a little less respectable than most and used the Inn to hide away smuggler’s contraband that had been brought ashore. It is estimated that half the brandy and a quarter of all tea being smuggled into the UK was landed along the Cornish and Devon coasts. Jamaica Inn was remote and isolated so it was the ideal stopping place on the way to Devon and beyond. In 1778 the Inn was extended to include a coach house, stables and a tack room, creating the L-shaped main part of the building as it is today. You can relive the smugglers' experience at our Smugglers Museum - we have one of the finest and most extensive collections of smuggling artefacts in the UK - and enjoy 'The History of Jamaica Inn', an educational and historical film show that recounts many of the myths and legends associated with the Inn, including tales of wreckers and smugglers over the past 300 years. It is commonly thought that Jamaica Inn was so named because it was used to store rum smuggled into the country from Jamaica. However, the name is actually said to derive from the important local landowning Trelawney family, two of whose members served as Governors of Jamaica in the 18th century. According to stories, gangs of wreckers operated on the coast of Cornwall during the early 19th century and it was described as a “haven of smugglers”. The wreckers enticed ships to this coastline by tricking them with beacon lights, which they deliberately lit on the shore. Once the ships foundered on the rocky coast they were looted by the wreckers. Jamaica Inn is well known as the setting for Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name, published in 1936. The young author was inspired to write her novel in 1930 after she and a friend became lost in fog whilst out riding on the moors, and were lead back by their horses to safety at the Inn. During the time spent recovering from her ordeal, the local rector is said to have entertained her with ghost stories and tales of smuggling! She described the nocturnal activities of a smuggling ring based at the now celebrated inn, portraying a hidden world as a place of tense excitement and claustrophobia, of real peril and thrill. Later du Maurier went on to spend a long period at the Inn, furthering her love of the location. The novel was made into the film 'Jamaica Inn' in 1939 by Alfred Hitchcock and in 1983 Jane Seymour starred in a TV film. 'Jamaica Inn' was again dramatised in a major 3-part series by the BBC shown in April 2014. Smugglers Museum... The Smugglers Museum houses one of the finest collections of smuggling artefacts in the country. Featuring 'The History of Jamaica Inn', an educational and historical film show...


The 'Hogarth' or 'S Shape' is an arrangement of what?

How to Make Hogarth Flower Arrangements | eHow How to Make Hogarth Flower Arrangements  Email Save William Hogarth, an English, painter introduced designs that had curves like an S, often called the lazy S. These minimal arrangements are some of the most complex floral pieces to make. They are based on the subtle S curve and use a small amount of greenery and flowers. Some are nearly all flowers. You can use many kinds of flowers and natural elements in a Hogarth Arrangement. The modern day Hogarth Floral Arrangement may have very few components. The most important thing is to capture the S curve and keep the materials to a minimum. Garden flowers in particular are a tribute to the artist. Things You'll Need Line greenery, cedar, eucalyptus or fern for example Fresh flowers Floral shears Prepare container with floral foam. The foam should rise no higher than an inch above the rim if at all. Make sure it is secure. Use waterproof tape if needed. Soak foam with water if the flowers are fresh. Chose very fresh greenery that has a curve or can be curved with your hands. Bend slowly and carefully to keep from breaking. Notice that the highest greenery piece curves slightly down from it's highest point. Place the second piece of greenery securely into the foam on the opposite side of the container. It must curve downward. Step back and 'eye' the greenery. Do you see a subtle 'S' curve flowing from the highest point to the lowest? Keep manipulating the greenery or flowers if you chose to use them until you can see that Hogarth 'S' curve. Add mass flowers at the meeting point between the high and low main pieces of greenery. This should flow over the rim of the container causing all components to blend together. Start adding in line flowers that compliment the arrangement. Remember to keep them within the 'S' curve area in the arrangement. Finish placing the remainder of the flowers. Keep checking that the Hogarth flower arrangement curve is dominant. Trim away any greenery or leaves that look out of place. Tips & Warnings Wire can be used to bend the flowers or greenery into the Hogarth 'S' curve. Be sure no wires show at all. Promoted By Zergnet


Wendy Deng are the first names of what famous media mogul's wife?

Wendi Murdoch the Tiger Mom: How the media mogul's wife supported controversial author (and turned to her for parenting advice) | Daily Mail Online Wendi Murdoch the Tiger Mom: How the media mogul's wife supported controversial author (and turned to her for parenting advice) Wendi Murdoch emailed 'Tiger Mom' author Amy Chua requesting for their daughters to have a play date Mrs Murdoch asked Chua how to get a child to practise the piano for more than an hour a day When the author was facing a public backlash, Mrs Murdoch asked her why she cared - telling her 'get over it' comments Married to one of the world’s most famous and controversial media tycoons it may come as little surprise that Wendi Deng Murdoch practises tough love with her children. Now Mrs Murdoch has been revealed as a fan of ‘Tiger Mom’ Amy Chua - even emailing the author to request a play date for their four daughters to meet,  The New York Times reported. Just before the Wall Street Journal, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, ran an excerpt from Chua’s child-rearing manual, 'Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,' Mrs Murdoch fired Chua an email suggesting a get-together. Tough love: Wendi Murdoch, left, has been outed as a fan of 'Tiger Mom' Amy Chua, right. The author says that they both parent in 'almost identical' ways 'She wanted her daughters to come to New Haven and meet my daughters,' the controversial author told the paper. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Despite an age gap – Ms Chua’s daughters Sophia and Lula are 19 and 16 respectively while Chloe and Grace are 10 and 8, the girls share common ground. All four girls are fluent in Chinese and English and have Chinese mothers who adhere to strict parenting methods. Get over it: When Chua was vilified for her controversial strict parenting Mrs Murdoch told her to 'get over' the criticism Indeed, at their first meeting Mrs Murdoch turned to Ms Chua for advice, including how to get a child to do piano practice for more than an hour a day, the Tiger Mom told the paper. ‘She parents almost identically to the way I do,' 49-year-old Ms Chua said. Ms Chua, a Yale law professor, shot to fame after her parenting manual was published in 2011. In it, she described her efforts to give her two daughters a traditional strict 'Chinese' upbringing and argues that 'Western' parents put the self-esteem of their children before academic success. She was vilified for her super-strict parenting style which includes banning sleepovers and television and never accepting a grade lower than an A. No stranger to a public backlash, Mrs Murdoch was on hand to offer Ms Chua some hard-hitting advice – ‘get over it’. 'She was like: "Why do you care what people think? You have two wonderful daughters. Get over it,"' Ms.Chua recalled to the New York Times. While she may not have seemed particularly sympathetic Rupert Murdoch’s third wife was, presumably empathetic. Almost four decades younger than her husband Mrs Murdoch, 43, has been labelled - amongst other insults - a 'gold digger' since the couple wed in 1999. Strict styles: Both Amy Chua, pictured left with her family, and Wendi Murdoch, right with her daughters Chloe, right and Grace, left, believe in strict parenting styles No stranger to criticism: Almost four decades younger than her husband Mrs Murdoch, 43, has been labelled - amongst other insults - a 'gold digger' since the couple wed in 1999 However, opinion on Mrs Murdoch as a mere ‘trophy wife’ seemed to shift last July during her husband’s testimony before a British parliamentary subcommittee over the phone hacking scandal. Mrs Murdoch - now famously - sprang from her chair, hitting protester wielding a piebefore he could attack her husband. Fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, an old friend of Mrs Murdoch’s, was not surprised to see her leap into the fray for her husband. 'Nothing characterizes her more than that moment. She is protective and fierce and not afraid of anything,' she told the New York Times. However Mrs Murdoch is more than her 81-year-old husband’s unlikely look-out and continues to carve


What is the longest side of a right-angled triangle called?

Pythagoras Theorem Pythagoras' Theorem Over 2000 years ago there was an amazing discovery about triangles: When a triangle has a right angle (90°) ... ... and squares are made on each   of the  three sides, ... ... then the biggest square has the exact same area as the other two squares put together! It is called "Pythagoras' Theorem" and can be written in one short equation: a2 + b2 = c2 c is the longest side of the triangle a and b are the other two sides Definition The longest side of the triangle is called the "hypotenuse", so the formal definition is: In a right angled triangle: the square of the    hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides. Sure ... ? Let's see if it really works using an example. Example: A "3,4,5" triangle has a right angle in it. Let's check if the areas are the same: 32 + 42 = 52 It works ... like Magic! Why Is This Useful? If we know the lengths of two sides of a right angled triangle, we can find the length of the third side. (But remember it only works on right angled   triangles!) How Do I Use it? Write it down as an equation:   Now you can use algebra to find any missing value, as in the following examples: Example: Solve this triangle. You can also read about Squares and Square Roots to find out why √169 = 13 Example: Solve this triangle. Take 81 from both sides: b2 = 144 Example: What is the diagonal distance across a square of size 1?   c2 = 2 c = √2 = 1.4142... It works the other way around, too: when the three sides of a triangle make a2 + b2 = c2, then the triangle is right angled. Example: Does this triangle have a Right Angle?   a2 + b2 = 102 + 242 = 100 + 576 = 676 c2 = 262 = 676 Yes, it does have a Right Angle! Example: Does an 8, 15, 16 triangle have a Right Angle? Does 82 + 152 = 162 ? 82 + 152 = 64 + 225 = 289, but 162 = 256 So, NO, it does not have a Right Angle Example: Does this triangle have a Right Angle?   So this is a right-angled triangle And You Can Prove The Theorem Yourself ! Get paper pen and scissors, then using the following animation as a guide: Draw a right angled triangle on the paper, leaving plenty of space. Draw a square along the hypotenuse (the longest side) Draw the same sized square on the other side of the hypotenuse Draw lines as shown on the animation, like this: Cut out the shapes Arrange them so that you can prove that the big square has the same area as the two squares on the other sides Another, Amazingly Simple, Proof Here is one of the oldest proofs that the square on the long side has the same area as the other squares. Watch the animation, and pay attention when the triangles start sliding around. You may want to watch the animation a few times to understand what is happening. The purple triangle is the important one.  becomes


Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of what?

DMOZ - Science: Biology: Mycology DMOZ Science Biology Mycology 81 Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their genetic and biochemical properties and their taxonomy. Much study focuses on yeasts and microscopic fungi, many of which are plant and animal pathogens. Subcategories 15


Who was British ex-prime minister Tony Blair's press secretary and influential strategist?

Famous People Famous People Famous People Leicester and Leicestershire proudly boast of many famous residents past and present… We are still adding to this list, so if there is anyone you think should be included, please get in touch. Leicester City Council is not responsible for the content or services on external websites. Laurel Aitken Born 1927. Died 2005 - Singer Lorenzo Aitken, born in 1927 and better  known as Laurel Aitken, was a singer and one of the originators of Jamaican Ska music. Often referred to as the ‘Godfather of Ska’, Aitken lived in Leicester from 1970. > Read more about Laurel Aitken on Wikipedia James Allen Born 1864. Died 1912 – Author James Allen was an author known for his inspirational books and poetry and was known as a pioneer of the self-help movement. He was born in Leicester, where his father worked as a factory knitter. > Read more about James Allen on Wikipedia Richard Armitage Born 1971 - Actor Famous for his roles in 'North & South', 'Robin Hood' and 'Spooks', Leicestershire born Armitage plays Thorin Oakenshield in the three-film adaptation of 'The Hobbit'.  > Read more about Richard Armitage on Wikipedia Sir David Attenborough, CBE  Born 1926 – Broadcaster & naturalist David Attenborough grew up on the campus of University College, Leicester, (now the city's university), where his father was principal. His career as the respected face and voice of British natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years. He is best known for writing and presenting the nine "Life" series, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, which collectively form a comprehensive survey of all terrestrial life. He is the younger brother of director, producer and actor Lord Richard Attenborough. > Read more about David Attenborough on Wikipedia Lord Richard Attenborough, CBE Born 1923. Died 2014 - Actor, director & producer Lord Attenborough was born in Cambridge but educated at Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester. His acting career started on stage and he appeared in shows at Leicester's Little Theatre prior to going to RADA. Lord Attenborough, along with his brother Sir David Attenborough, spent a lot of their childhood exploring the collections held at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery. Lord Attenborough had been collecting Picasso ceramics since the 1950s and in 2007, a large part of his collection went on public display at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery for the first time. > Read more about Lord Attenborough on Wikipedia Tina Baker Born 1958 - TV critic Tina Baker is a leading British soap opera and TV critic. She was born in Leicester in 1958. She has featured on many TV programmes such as, Coronation Street Secrets, The Good Soap Guide, How Soaps Changed the World, Big Brother's Big Mouth, and The Top 100 TV Christmas Crackers. She is well known as the soap opera expert on the morning television programme GMTV and is member of the judging panel on the annual British Soap Awards. > Read more about Tina Baker on Wikipedia Sam Bailey Born 1977 - Singer - X Factor winner 2013 Bailey was born in Bexley, London. Prior to auditioning for The X Factor, Bailey worked as a prison officer in HM Prison Gartree. She lives in Leicester with her husband and two children. She is a Leicester City fan. She is known for winning the tenth series of The X Factor. Following her win, her debut cover single "Skyscraper" was released and achieved Christmas number 1 in December 2013. > Read more about Sam Bailey on Wikipedia George Percy Bankart Born 1866. Died 1929 - Specialist plaster and lead worker - Arts and Crafts Movement Bankart was born in Leicester and studied at the Wyggeston Boys' Grammar School and attended the Leicester School of Art. He trained as an architect but became a specialist in ornamental plaster and lead work. He wrote a number of books on the subject, two of which are still considered standard works on the craft. In 1883 he was articled to Isaac Barradale and would have worked alongside Ernest Gimson. His work can still be seen on buildings in Leicester and elsewhere.   > Read mo


In 1869, Frenchman Eugene Meyer invented a wheel for which mode of transport, and became regarded as a father of the 'high' version of the machine?

history of the bicycle : definition of history of the bicycle and synonyms of history of the bicycle (English)   Replica made 1965-72 from the alleged 1493 Caprotti sketch. There are several early but unverifiable claims for the invention of bicycle-like machines. The earliest comes from a sketch said to be from 1493 and attributed to Gian Giacomo Caprotti , a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci . In 1998 Hans-Erhard Lessing said that this last assertion is a purposeful fraud. [1] [2] However, the authenticity of the bicycle sketch is still vigorously maintained by followers of Prof. Augusto Marinoni, a lexicographer and philologist, who was entrusted by the Commissione Vinciana of Rome with the transcription of da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus . [3] Later, and equally unverifiable, is the contention that Comte de Sivrac developed a célérifère in 1791, demonstrating it at the Palais-Royal in France. The célérifère supposedly had two wheels set on a rigid wooden frame and no steering, directional control being limited to that attainable by leaning. [4] A rider was said to have sat astride the machine and pushed it along using alternate feet. We now know a two-wheeled célérifère never existed (though there were four-wheelers) and it was a misinterpretation by the well known French journalist Louis Baudry de Saunier in 1891. [5] [6]   1817 to 1819: the draisine or velocipede   Wooden draisine (around 1820), the earliest two-wheeler   Drais' 1817 design made to measure The first verifiable claim for a practically used bicycle belongs to German Baron Karl von Drais , a civil servant to the Grand Duke of Baden in Germany . Drais invented his Laufmaschine ( German for "running machine") of 1817 that was called Draisine (English) or draisienne (French) by the press. Karl von Drais patented this design in 1818, which was the first commercially successful two-wheeled, steerable, human-propelled machine, commonly called a velocipede , and nicknamed hobby-horse or dandy horse . [7] It was initially manufactured in Germany and France. Hans-Erhard Lessing found from circumstantial evidence that Drais' interest in finding an alternative to the horse was the starvation and death of horses caused by crop failure in 1816 (" Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death ," following the volcanic eruption of Tambora ). [8] On his first reported ride from Mannheim on June 12, 1817, he covered 13 km (eight miles) in less than an hour. [9] Constructed almost entirely of wood, the draisine weighed 22 kg (48 pounds), had brass bushings within the wheel bearings, iron shod wheels, a rear-wheel brake and 152 mm (6 inches) of trail of the front-wheel for a self-centering caster effect. This design was welcomed by mechanically minded men daring to balance, and several thousand copies were built and used, primarily in Western Europe and in North America. Its popularity rapidly faded when, partly due to increasing numbers of accidents, some city authorities began to prohibit its use. However in 1866 Paris a Chinese visitor named Bin Chun could still observe foot-pushed velocipedes. [10] Denis Johnson's son riding a velocipede, Lithograph 1819. The concept was picked up by a number of British cartwrights; the most notable being Denis Johnson of London announcing in late 1818 that he would sell an improved model. [11] New names were introduced when Johnson patented his machine “pedestrian curricle” or “velocipede,” but the public preferred nicknames like “hobby-horse,” after the children’s toy or, worse still, “dandyhorse,” after the foppish men who often rode them. [7] Johnson's machine was an improvement on Drais's, being notably more elegant: his wooden frame had a serpentine shape instead of Drais's straight one, allowing the use of larger wheels without raising the rider's seat. During the summer of 1819 the "hobby-horse", thanks in part to Johnson's marketing skills and better patent protection, became the craze and fashion in London society. The dandies, the Corinthians of the Regency, adopted it, and therefore the poet John Keats referred to it as "the nothing" of the


What Swiss Alpine town hosts the annual World Economic Forum gathering of international leaders, financiers and business chiefs?

World Economic Forum: a history and analysis | Transnational Institute Transnational Institute World Economic Forum: a history and analysis 20 January 2015 Article The annual gathering in Davos has certainly cemented the power of a tiny global elite, but its real power has been as a spawning ground for neoliberalism's major advances - the rise of the financial sector, the spread of corporate trade agreements and the integration of emerging economic powers into the global economy. Authors Henry Kissinger at the World Economic Forum in 2008 This article and its accompanying infographic have been jointly published by the Transnational Institute and Occupy.com. The annual meetings of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, bring together thousands of the world’s top corporate executives, bankers and financiers with leading heads of state, finance and trade ministers, central bankers and policymakers from dozens of the world’s largest economies; the heads of all major international organizations including the IMF, World Bank, World Trade Organization, Bank for International Settlements, UN, OECD and others, as well as hundreds of academics, economists, political scientists, journalists, cultural elites and occasional celebrities. The WEF states that it is “committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation,” collaborating with corporate, political, academic and other influential groups and sectors “to shape global, regional and industry agendas” and to “define challenges, solutions and actions.” Apart from the annual forum meeting in Davos, the WEF hosts regional and sometimes even country-specific meetings multiple times a year in Asia, Latin America, Africa and elsewhere. The Forum is host to dozens of different projects bringing together academics with corporate representatives and policy-makers to promote particular issues and positions on a wide array of subjects, from investment to the environment, employment, technology and inequality. From these projects and others, the Forum publishes dozens of reports annually, identifying key issues of importance, risks, opportunities, investments and reforms. The WEF has survived by adapting to the times. Following the surge of so-called anti-globalization protests in 1999, the Forum began to invite non-governmental organizations representing constituencies that were more frequently found in the streets protesting against meetings of the WTO, IMF and Group of Seven. In the 2000 meeting at Davos, the Forum invited leaders from 15 NGOs to debate the heads of the WTO and the President of Mexico on the subject of globalization. The participation of NGOs and non-profit organizations has increased over time, and not without reason. According to a poll conducted on behalf of the WEF just prior to the 2011 meeting, while global trust in bankers, governments and business was significantly low, NGOs had the highest rate of trust among the public. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal last September, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, Klaus Schwab, was asked about the prospects of “youth frustration over high levels of underemployment and unemployment” as expressed in the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street movements, noting that the Forum was frequently criticized for promoting policies and ideologies that contribute to those very problems. Schwab replied that the Forum tries “to have everybody in the boat.” Davos, he explained, “is about heads of state and big corporations, but it’s also civil society – so all of the heads of the major NGOs are at the table in Davos.” In reaction to the Occupy Wall Street movement, Schwab said, “We also try... to put more emphasis on integrating the youth into what we are doing.” WEF's beginnings So, what exactly has the World Economic Forum been doing, and how did it emerge in the first place? It began in 1971 as the European Management Forum, inviting roughly 400 of Europe’s top CEOs to promote American forms of business management. Created by Klaus Schwab, a Swiss national who studied in the


Claret wine comes from which wine region of France?

Bordeaux wine | Britannica.com Bordeaux wine Rhône wine Bordeaux wine, also called claret, any of numerous wines of the region surrounding the city of Bordeaux , France . Bordeaux has a long history in wine culture; like Burgundy and the Rhine region, it was known in Roman times. During the English occupation of Bordeaux, a charter was granted, first by Richard I and second by John in 1199, to the still-functioning jurade, a controlling body dating originally from the 12th century, which in its ceremonies still observes its medieval ritual and uses its traditional robes of the St. Emilion district for the supervision of wine making. Claret meant in those days a pale wine made by mixing reds and whites; the word claret is not used in modern French. Vineyards in St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France. © Adam & Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer The modern Bordeaux region is one of the world’s most important regions making fine wines. It is divided by the Bordeaux wine classification into 36 districts, which in turn are divided into communes. Within these communes, again, are certain individual vineyards, called châteaux in this region, that produce the finest wines. The châteaux bottle their own wine and label it under their names, thus guaranteeing that it is not a blend. The château-bottled wines rated best are classified as crus classés, which in turn have five categories called growths. These five growths are not altogether based on excellence, which in fine wines remains always a matter of taste to some degree; other criteria , such as market price, exportation, and fame also formed these ratings. Rated in 1855, this classification is also outdated; nevertheless it has held up well over the years apart from excluding the possibility of improvement after 1855. After these crus classés are crus exceptionnels, comprising a half dozen wines, and several hundred wines named crus bourgeois and crus artisans, or paysans. The last two categories are largely obsolete owing to the growth of cooperative wineries, which have enabled small proprietors to use up-to-date wineries managed by expert vintners, thus raising the quality of less-expensive wine in Bordeaux and elsewhere. Although strict labeling is in force in Bordeaux château-bottled wines, inferior wines are still sold as Bordeaux. Further, because a poor year produces wine of inferior quality, such wines must be known by vintage as well. Major wine-producing regions of France. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Chablis Wines of the Bordeaux region are labeled Bordeaux. Wines from specific districts of Bordeaux are usually of specific type and have more interest; they are labeled with the district name, as Médoc or St. Emilion. Within the districts are communes, of specific wine type and of superior character; these are labeled with the name of the commune, St. Julien or St. Estèphe. Of the 17 districts in Bordeaux, Médoc, Graves, St. Emilion, and Pomerol are best known. Médoc, Sauternes, and Barsac were classified in 1855, Graves in 1953, and St. Emilion in 1955. Médoc These wines are red, generally of light body and strong flavour. Médoc, 50 miles (80.5 km) long and 3–7 miles (5–11 km) wide, has a dozen communes, each possessing soil that produces wine of particular quality; Pauillac, Margaux, St. Julien, Cantenac, and St. Estèphe are of these. Of the 61 red wines classified crus classés in 1855, all but one were from Médoc. First growth châteaux are Lafite-Rothschild, Margaux, and Latour; other crus classés number among them Mouton-Rothschild and Kirwan. Graves The general reputation of Graves is for white wine, rich in taste and not too sweet. Actually Graves produces as much red as white. These balanced, fine-coloured, and rather fruity reds are sometimes rated finer than the whites. Château Haut-Brion was classified first growth in 1855; it is one of eight classified red wines of Graves in the 1959 official classification of Graves. Five châteaux were selected as classified white wines of Graves in 1959. Sauternes and Barsac Wine: Fact or Fiction? The natural sweet wines, fruity with endu


Macclesfield Pub Quiz League: February 2011 Macclesfield Pub Quiz League 22nd Feb–Cup/Plate Semi Finals   Questions set by Plough Horntails and the Dolphin 1. How many hoops are used in the standard game of Croquet? A, 6. 2. Which African kingdom was known as Basutoland before it gained independence in 1966? A. Lesotho. 3. The work "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" is the textbook of which religious movement founded in 1879? A. Christian Science. 4. What is the fruit of the Blackthorn called? A. The Sloe. 5. How many countries sit on the full United Nations Security Council? A. 15. 6. According to the book of Genesis, which land lay to the "east of Eden"? A. The Land of Nod. 7. What is the name of the southernmost point of Africa? A. Cape Agulhas (note: The Cape of Good Hope is just south of Cape Town and is NOT correct). 8. Responding to a pressing issue in year 1095, what appeal did Pope Urban II make to Kings, Nobles and Knights in a sermon at the Council of Clermont? A. Please help to regain the Holy Lands… the First Crusade. (Accept any answer relating to freeing Jerusalem from Moslems/ Mohammadens / Turks/ Saracens) 9. Who holds the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union? A. Baroness Ashton (Accept Catherine Ashton). 10. Which city was awarded the 1944 Summer Olympic Games? A. London. 11. In which country did the Maoist organization the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) operate? A. Peru. 12. Which major city’s name translates into English as Fragrant Harbour? A. Hong Kong. 13. In which country was the Granny Smith apple first grown? A. Australia (in 1868) 15. Who was the architect of Coventry Cathedral? A. Basil Spence. 16. Who opened an historic address to his people with the following, “In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.” A. King George VI (as taken from the King’s Speech) 17. Which car company makes the Alhambra model? A. Seat. 18. Which car company makes a model called the Sirion? A. Diahatsu 19. What is the Nationality of Stefaan Engels who set a World record on Saturday 5th February in Barcelona by completing a marathon every day for a year, a total of 9,569 miles? A. Belgian. 20. Who wrote Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, as well as collections of poetry? A. Siegfried Sassoon. 21. Approximately what percentage of the planet’s surface is covered by Tropical rainforests? A. 2% (but they are home to more than 50% species on Earth). Accept any figure less than 5%. 22. What is the name of the point on the Celestial sphere directly below an observer or a given position? A. Nadir. (Note this is the opposite of zenith). 23. What is the term, of French origin, loosely translated 'into mouth', for using facial muscles and shaping the lips for the mouthpiece to play a woodwind or brass musical instrument? A. Embouchure (origin, em = into, bouche = mouth) also accept embrasure. 24. In his 2011 memoir, ‘Known and Unknown’, which US ex-politician tries to deflect blame onto others including Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice, for Iraq War mistakes? A. Donald Rumsfeld. (The book title alludes to Rumsfeld's famous statement: "There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know..." The statement was made by Rumsfeld on February 12, 2002 at a press briefing addressing the absence of evidence linking the Iraq government with the supply of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups.) 25. How many vertices (corners) has a regular dodecahedron (a dodecahedron is a 3D form with 12 faces)? A. 20. 26. The Salmon River in Idaho, USA is known by what nickname, It is also the name of a 1954 film, whose title soundtrack was recorded b


Which European country found itself without a government from June 2010 into 2011 because of failed coalition talks between its seven political parties?

European History/Print version - Wikibooks, open books for an open world European History/Print version This is the print version of European History You won't see this message or any elements not part of the book's content when you print or preview this page. European History Chapter 01 - The Crises of the Middle Ages Introduction The Middle Ages was a period of approximately one thousand years of history; generally accepted as spanning from the fall of the Roman Empire (toward the end of the 5th century) to the Protestant reformation in the 16th century. This period began with a demographic downturn at the end of the Roman imperial era, with European populations shrinking and many cities and rural estates abandoned. A cooling climate, disease, and political disorder each played a part in this opening period which saw Classical Mediterranean civilization eclipsed. Across Europe, there emerged smaller, more localized hybrid societies combining Roman, Christian and Germanic or Celtic barbarian influences. By the 9th and 10th centuries, populations had reached their minima, and Europe became a largely rural and somewhat backward region. Commerce and learning flourished in the Islamic world, China and India during the same period. Islamic armies conquered Spain during the 7th and 8th centuries, but were defeated by the Frankish kingdom in 732 when they attempted to enter France. The turn of the first millennium saw renewed growth and activity, as kings and cities consolidated their authority and began to repopulate lands left empty by Rome's decline. Warmer weather after 900 allowed more land to be brought into food production. The feudal system of agriculture, where peasants were tied to their estates by obligations to local lords or to the church, provided a degree of economic stability. This was aided by the arrival in Europe of the horse collar from Asia, which increased crop yields by allowing plows to be drawn by horse, rather than by slower oxen. Commercial towns flourished in England, France and the Low Countries. German rulers dispatched monks and peasants to clear forests and settle in Eastern Europe and the Baltic regions. The city-states of northern Italy rose in wealth and influence. Islamic Spain became a center of learning and culture where Christians, Muslims and Jews coexisted in relative amity. Despite many local wars and disputes between knights, the High Middle Ages, from 1000-1250, saw growing populations and prosperity enough to build great cathedrals and send European armies abroad on crusades. After 1250, demographic stagnation emerged. Population growth slowed or stopped as the limits of medieval agriculture were reached. Major conflicts between powerful kingdoms, such as the Hundred Years' War between England and France, became more frequent. The Christian church, previously secure in its spiritual authority, was racked by schisms and increasing financial corruption. The year 1348 saw a catastrophe as the virulent bubonic plague (the "Black Death"), entered Italy, carried by ships from Asia. It spread across the continent over three years killing, by some estimates, one-third of all Europeans. Many believed it was the end of the world foretold by Christian myth. Along with its suffering, the plague wrought economic havoc, driving up the cost of labor and making the old feudal system untenable, as surviving peasants scorned its demands. The following century and a half transformed Europe from a patchwork of feudal fiefdoms, under loose royal and church control, into a collection of newborn but increasingly unified national states. Towns became centers of resistance and dissent to the old royal and church authorities. Former noble and knightly influence declined, and rulers realigned themselves toward the increasingly wealthy and influential burgher and merchant classes. Emergence of the printing press and spreading literacy, increased religious and political conflict in many countries. By 1500, Christopher Columbus had sailed across the ocean to the New World, and Martin Luther was about to challeng


Which book of the Bible features Noah's Ark?

The Story of Noah's Ark From the Bible’s Book of Genesis - The Daily Beast Antediluvian The Story of Noah's Ark From the Bible’s Book of Genesis Read the passage from the book of Genesis of the King James Version of the Bible that is the source of Darren Aronofsky’s new epic, ‘Noah.’ The Daily Beast 03.24.14 9:45 AM ET And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: and he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters: and all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto thern, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive


A 'salt eel' is a nautical term for the end of a what?

Nautical and Boating Glossary Including Pirate Terms Nautical  Glossary A-1: (Lloyd's of London) The Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping , which  deals with the design and construction of ships, was first published in the  mid-1700s. The state of a ship's hull was designated by letters and that of  its equipment (anchor, cables, etc.) by numbers. This meant, for example, that  a ship classified A-1 was first-rate. If classified A-2 , the hull was considered  first-rate, but its equipment second-rate. Abaft: Behind or aft of; on the after side of; towards the stern relative to some other  object or position. Abaft the beam: Any direction between the beam and the stern, more behind a vessel than in front  of it. Behind a perpendicular line extending out from the middle of the boat Abeam: At right angles to the fore and aft line of the boat, or beside, the boat; on  the beam; also Abreast. Able Bodied Seamen: A member of the deck crew who is able to perform all the duties of an experienced  seaman; certificated by examination; must have three years sea service. Also  called Able Seamen and A.B. Aboard: On or in a vessel. Close aboard is close to another ship or an obstruction About: Across the wind in relation to the bow. When a sailboat tacks across the wind  to bring it from one side to the other, she is said to go about. About Ship: The order to tack the ship Above-Board: Above the deck, and therefore open and visible. This gave rise to the term used  to denote open and fair dealing. Above Deck: On the deck (not over it; see ALOFT). Abox: To lay the head-yards abox in a square rigged sailing vessel was to lay them  square to the foremast in order to heave:to. Abreast: Alongside of; on the beam. ABS: American Bureau of Shipping: A U.S. based private classification, or standards  setting society for merchant ships and other marine systems. Abyss: That part of the ocean lying below 300 fathoms from the surface. Access Hole: A hole through casing, bulkhead, floor or deck to enable one to reach work or  gear. Accommodation: A cabin fitted for the use of passengers. A:Cockbill, A:Cockbell: Describing an anchor when it hangs by its ring at the cathead or from the hawsehole  ready for letting go. Addendum: Additional terms at the end of a charter party. Addled: Mad, insane, or just stupid. An "addlepate" is a fool. Admeasurement: The confirmed or official dimensions of a ship. Admiral: The title of a commander of a fleet or a subdivision of it. Admiralty Law: (1) Admiralty law (also referred to as maritime law) is a distinct body of law  which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic  law governing maritime activities, and private and international law governing  the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the high  seas. (2) Prior to the mid-1970s, most international conventions concerning maritime  trade and commerce originated in a private organization of maritime lawyers  known as the ComitÃ© Maritime International (International Maritime Committee  or CMI). Founded in 1897, the CMI was responsible for the drafting of numerous  international conventions including the Hague Rules (International Convention  on Bills of Lading), the Visby Amendments (amending the Hague Rules), the Salvage  Convention and many others. While the CMI continues to function in an advisory  capacity, many of its functions have been taken over by the International Maritime  Organization, which was established by the United Nations in 1958 but did not  become truly effective until about 1974. Admiralty Order: An order given by the commander of a fleet, or a counrties navy to all the ships  under that command Admiralty Sweep: A large, cautious turn made to approach a gangway or to come alongside a vessel  or jetty in a boat. Adornings: The gingerbread woodwork on the stern of old sailing ships. Adrift: Floating free with the currents and tide; said of a free floating object or  boat which can not move by its own power; flo


Which species of animal at an East German zoo had a hip replacement operation in January 2011?

Tiger, tiger, moving right: Pioneering hip operation gives Girl a new start | Environment | The Guardian Wildlife Tiger, tiger, moving right: Pioneering hip operation gives Girl a new start Malayan tiger suffering arthritis in her right hip gets prosthetic hip in world first operation by Leipzig vets Malaysian tiger Girl is given a replacement hip by vets at the University of Leipzig. Photograph: Waltraud Grubitzsch/AFP/Getty Images Sunday 30 January 2011 09.15 EST First published on Sunday 30 January 2011 09.15 EST Close This article is 5 years old A tiger at an east German zoo has had a hip replacement in a world first operation by vets from the University of Leipzig. The eight-year-old Malayan tiger, called Girl, had been suffering from arthritis in her right hip since spring. Now she has been given a prosthetic hip of the kind first developed for dogs. The operation was not easy. During the three-hour procedure last week, Girl's heart almost stopped, the university said in a statement, before anaesthetist Michaele Alef saved her life. Girl is recovering in a separate enclosure back in Halle Zoo in Saxony-Anhalt, away from visitors. She is being carefully monitored for the next six weeks, when the risk of dislocation is highest. The university says there is every chance she will take the new hip to her grave – female Malayan tigers have a life expectancy of around 20 years. Leipzig vets said they believed their operation was the first of its kind. "I don't know of any other cases in the world where a tiger has been given an artificial hip joint," Peter Böttcher, in charge of the operation, said. The operation is usually expensive, but Leipzig carried it out free of charge because Girl is such a rare creature. "Malayan tigers are one of the world's most endangered species, with only around 500 estimated to be living in the wild. This was another reason to operate on Girl," the university statement said.


In his 2011 memoir, Known and Unknown, which US ex-politician deflected blame onto others including Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice for Iraq War mistakes?

Macclesfield Pub Quiz League: 22nd Feb–Cup/Plate Semi Finals 22nd Feb–Cup/Plate Semi Finals   Questions set by Plough Horntails and the Dolphin 1. How many hoops are used in the standard game of Croquet? A, 6. 2. Which African kingdom was known as Basutoland before it gained independence in 1966? A. Lesotho. 3. The work "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" is the textbook of which religious movement founded in 1879? A. Christian Science. 4. What is the fruit of the Blackthorn called? A. The Sloe. 5. How many countries sit on the full United Nations Security Council? A. 15. 6. According to the book of Genesis, which land lay to the "east of Eden"? A. The Land of Nod. 7. What is the name of the southernmost point of Africa? A. Cape Agulhas (note: The Cape of Good Hope is just south of Cape Town and is NOT correct). 8. Responding to a pressing issue in year 1095, what appeal did Pope Urban II make to Kings, Nobles and Knights in a sermon at the Council of Clermont? A. Please help to regain the Holy Lands… the First Crusade. (Accept any answer relating to freeing Jerusalem from Moslems/ Mohammadens / Turks/ Saracens) 9. Who holds the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union? A. Baroness Ashton (Accept Catherine Ashton). 10. Which city was awarded the 1944 Summer Olympic Games? A. London. 11. In which country did the Maoist organization the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) operate? A. Peru. 12. Which major city’s name translates into English as Fragrant Harbour? A. Hong Kong. 13. In which country was the Granny Smith apple first grown? A. Australia (in 1868) 15. Who was the architect of Coventry Cathedral? A. Basil Spence. 16. Who opened an historic address to his people with the following, “In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.” A. King George VI (as taken from the King’s Speech) 17. Which car company makes the Alhambra model? A. Seat. 18. Which car company makes a model called the Sirion? A. Diahatsu 19. What is the Nationality of Stefaan Engels who set a World record on Saturday 5th February in Barcelona by completing a marathon every day for a year, a total of 9,569 miles? A. Belgian. 20. Who wrote Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, as well as collections of poetry? A. Siegfried Sassoon. 21. Approximately what percentage of the planet’s surface is covered by Tropical rainforests? A. 2% (but they are home to more than 50% species on Earth). Accept any figure less than 5%. 22. What is the name of the point on the Celestial sphere directly below an observer or a given position? A. Nadir. (Note this is the opposite of zenith). 23. What is the term, of French origin, loosely translated 'into mouth', for using facial muscles and shaping the lips for the mouthpiece to play a woodwind or brass musical instrument? A. Embouchure (origin, em = into, bouche = mouth) also accept embrasure. 24. In his 2011 memoir, ‘Known and Unknown’, which US ex-politician tries to deflect blame onto others including Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice, for Iraq War mistakes? A. Donald Rumsfeld. (The book title alludes to Rumsfeld's famous statement: "There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know..." The statement was made by Rumsfeld on February 12, 2002 at a press briefing addressing the absence of evidence linking the Iraq government with the supply of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups.) 25. How many vertices (corners) has a regular dodecahedron (a dodecahedron is a 3D form with 12 faces)? A. 20. 26. The Salmon River in Idaho, USA is known by what nickname, It is also the name of a 1954 film, whose title soundtrack was recorded by each of it


Which football club broke the British transfer record in January 2011 by paying Liverpool F C £50million for Fernando Torres?

BBC Sport - Football - Torres makes record move from Liverpool to Chelsea Torres makes record move from Liverpool to Chelsea Advertisement Chelsea move a step forward - Torres Chelsea have broken the British transfer record by paying a reported £50m to seal the capture of striker Fernando Torres from Liverpool. The 26-year-old Spain international signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with the Blues. "This is the target for every footballer - to try to play for one of the top clubs in the world," he said. "They [Chelsea] are one of the biggest teams in Europe and are always fighting for everything." The signing was pushed through shortly before the transfer deadline and came on a dramatic day, with Chelsea and Liverpool involved in the four biggest transfers of the day. PHIL MCNULTY'S BLOG The Anfield club looked to plug the gap left by Torres leaving by signing two strikers - Uruguayan Luis Suarez from Ajax for £22.7m and Andy Carroll from Newcastle for £35m. Chelsea also brought in Benfica defender David Luiz for a reported fee of £21.3m. But it will be the capture of Torres that sends out the strongest message that the club remain a force to be reckoned with in the transfer market. Torres, a World Cup winner in 2010 and European champion in 2008 with Spain, spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool after joining from Atletico Madrid for a fee of £20m, scoring 81 goals in 142 matches. BIGGEST WORLD TRANSFERS Man Utd-Real Madrid (July 2009) 2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (£56.5m) AC Milan-Real Madrid (June 2009) 4. Fernando Torres (£50m) Liverpool-Chelsea (Jan 2011) "I'm so happy and proud to be here," added Torres, who is available to play in the Champions League having only featured in this season's Europa League and could face Liverpool in the league on Sunday. "It's been two, three, four very hard days for me. I'm really happy - this is a great club. I'm prepared and ready for the challenge. "I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. "I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come. "It's my dream to win the Champions League and I'm sure I can, playing for Chelsea." Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has selected both Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka up front in four of Chelsea's last five league games. 606: DEBATE Torres is a quality player and he is reaching his peak so for 50mill I believe we have a bargain Andrew_S_95 The defending champions' only defeat in that period - a 1-0 reverse against Wolves - came when Anelka started the match on the bench. "I am a big fan of all of the Chelsea strikers," said Torres of his competition for a striking berth. "When I was very young I remember Anelka was playing for Arsenal. Obviously Drogba is the best striker in the world by far. "It is a big responsibility for me to play alongside them because the level they have is so high." Torres becomes the fourth most expensive signing in world football behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kaka. Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck added: "This is a very significant day for Chelsea, capturing one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him. "We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goalscorer in English football and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitions. I hope every Chelsea fan is as excited as I am with this news." The Reds rejected a £35m bid from Chelsea after Torres' transfer request was turned down on Friday. Mark Lawrenson on deadline day activities at Liverpool But with Torres clearly intent on a move away from Anfield the Reds finally accepted defeat and cashed in on their prize asset. Manager Kenny Dalglish said earlier on Monday: "Movement is part and parcel of football but the most important people at Liverpool Football Club are the ones who want to be here." Liverpool had been angered by the timing of Torres' transfer request last week and reportedly believe the London club "tapped up" the player by encouraging him to express a desire to leave. Torres had a £50m release


How many vertices (corners) has a regular dodecahedron (a dodecahedon is a 3D form with 12 faces)?

Spinning Dodecahedron It has 20 Vertices (corner points) and at each vertex 3 edges meet It is one of the Platonic Solids Volume and Surface Area Volume = (15+7×√5)/4 × (Edge Length)3 Surface Area = 3×√(25+10×√5) × (Edge Length)2 It is called a dodecahedron because it is a polyhedron that has 12 faces (from Greek dodeca- meaning 12). When we have more than one dodecahedron they are called dodecahedra   When we say "dodecahedron" we often mean "regular dodecahedron" (in other words all faces are the same size and shape), but it doesn't have to be - this is also a dodecahedron, even though all faces are not the same.   12-Sided Dice? Yes! A dodecahedron which has 12 equal faces has an equal chance of landing on any face. In fact, you can make fair dice out of all of the Platonic Solids.   cut out the shape and glue it together.


English 17th century 'Hearth Money' was a tax on which part of a house?

Hearth Money | Living in the Past Living in the Past Posted on December 12, 2014 by LIP | Comments Off on In at the Ground Floor: Exploring a 17th Century Home in South Derbyshire Introduction In this post (the second post in a series that considers everyday life in Early Modern England [i] through ‘archaeological stories’ that places historical evidence within a fictional narrative: see ‘ Expedition into the Past: Tales of a 17th Century Derbyshire Manor House ’ for a brief explanation of this approach), [ii] we continue to follow Samuel Beighton. This Constable [iii] is investigating ‘Upper Hall’ (a privately occupied dwelling in the Swadlincote area of South Derbyshire), [iv] in order to verify the number of chargeable fireplaces for the first Hearth Tax assessment, in September 1662. [v] This post continues from ‘ The Taxman Cometh: Exploring a 17th Century South Derbyshire Home ’, in which Samuels examines the setting and front façade of the manor House. The real-life characters encountered within these posts are discussed (alongside other occupants and events connected with the house) in ‘ From Yeoman to Gentleman: Peopling a 17th Century South Derbyshire Manor House ’, which includes tentative ‘family histories’ to consider social relationships within and between the Hall and the wider community. ‘ Living in the Early Modern Past: the 17th Century Home ’ outlines the domestic environment and material culture of the typical yeoman household at this time, providing a backdrop and comparisons for the society and culture of Upper Hall. ‘ Expedition into the Past ’ provides background information, and discusses how this series uses written and materials sources to create a historically descriptive, but imaginary, tale. (Please see the endnotes for information on the sources used, and on the introduction of fictional characters and circumstances. Italicised text is used to denote discussion of later and features, and to present background information, outside the main narrative.) Constable Beighton resumes his investigations as one of the servants reluctantly admits him into the property through the porch: he now stands within the entrance hall. Entrance Hall The constable looks about him as the servant hesitates over where she should first conduct the officious intruder. Muffled voices permeate a closed oak door to the right, which intrigue Beighton, though this room appears not to be their destination. Samuel can just see stairs to another floor through the opening in the wattle panels in front of him. Through another oaken door to the left, he glimpses what must be the kitchen. Parlour-Dining Room Though not visible to Samuel at this time, visitors in later years would have encountered a door to the left of that which led to the kitchen, which opened into an extension built in the late 18th or early 19th century, to the north of the porch. Its construction therefore postdates Beighton’s assessment of 1662, and the repeal of the hearth tax in the 1680s. It will be seen below (in the section on the Hall) that the house has at several times been subdivided; this extension was most likely built as a parlour-dining room, after the south wing – and its dining room and parlour – was separated from the rest of the house. This modification appears to have been carried out in or after the late Georgian period (by which time the Benskin family had vacated the property), perhaps by the grandson of the third owner (William Cant), William Bailey (or ‘Bayley’) Cant (see ‘ From Yeoman to Gentleman ’).   The room is fitted with a fine (original?) late 18th – early 19th century style fire surround (perhaps made of what in the past was commonly called ‘ deal ’). Within the fireplace is a late 19th – 20th century cast iron combination grate, with  transfer-printed  ceramic tiles. The ceramic hearth tiles appear to be relatively recent additions, perhaps set on top of an earlier hearth-stone (possibly raising the level of the fireplace floor, in order to comply with modern building regulations for fitting a gas fire within the grate). To


The Salmon River in Idaho USA is known by what nickname, (also the name of a 1954 film, whose title soundtrack was recorded by each of its stars, Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum)?

Macclesfield Pub Quiz League: February 2011 Macclesfield Pub Quiz League 22nd Feb–Cup/Plate Semi Finals   Questions set by Plough Horntails and the Dolphin 1. How many hoops are used in the standard game of Croquet? A, 6. 2. Which African kingdom was known as Basutoland before it gained independence in 1966? A. Lesotho. 3. The work "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" is the textbook of which religious movement founded in 1879? A. Christian Science. 4. What is the fruit of the Blackthorn called? A. The Sloe. 5. How many countries sit on the full United Nations Security Council? A. 15. 6. According to the book of Genesis, which land lay to the "east of Eden"? A. The Land of Nod. 7. What is the name of the southernmost point of Africa? A. Cape Agulhas (note: The Cape of Good Hope is just south of Cape Town and is NOT correct). 8. Responding to a pressing issue in year 1095, what appeal did Pope Urban II make to Kings, Nobles and Knights in a sermon at the Council of Clermont? A. Please help to regain the Holy Lands… the First Crusade. (Accept any answer relating to freeing Jerusalem from Moslems/ Mohammadens / Turks/ Saracens) 9. Who holds the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union? A. Baroness Ashton (Accept Catherine Ashton). 10. Which city was awarded the 1944 Summer Olympic Games? A. London. 11. In which country did the Maoist organization the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) operate? A. Peru. 12. Which major city’s name translates into English as Fragrant Harbour? A. Hong Kong. 13. In which country was the Granny Smith apple first grown? A. Australia (in 1868) 15. Who was the architect of Coventry Cathedral? A. Basil Spence. 16. Who opened an historic address to his people with the following, “In this grave hour, perhaps the most fateful in our history, I send to every household of my peoples, both at home and overseas, this message, spoken with the same depth of feeling for each one of you as if I were able to cross your threshold and speak to you myself.” A. King George VI (as taken from the King’s Speech) 17. Which car company makes the Alhambra model? A. Seat. 18. Which car company makes a model called the Sirion? A. Diahatsu 19. What is the Nationality of Stefaan Engels who set a World record on Saturday 5th February in Barcelona by completing a marathon every day for a year, a total of 9,569 miles? A. Belgian. 20. Who wrote Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man and Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, as well as collections of poetry? A. Siegfried Sassoon. 21. Approximately what percentage of the planet’s surface is covered by Tropical rainforests? A. 2% (but they are home to more than 50% species on Earth). Accept any figure less than 5%. 22. What is the name of the point on the Celestial sphere directly below an observer or a given position? A. Nadir. (Note this is the opposite of zenith). 23. What is the term, of French origin, loosely translated 'into mouth', for using facial muscles and shaping the lips for the mouthpiece to play a woodwind or brass musical instrument? A. Embouchure (origin, em = into, bouche = mouth) also accept embrasure. 24. In his 2011 memoir, ‘Known and Unknown’, which US ex-politician tries to deflect blame onto others including Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice, for Iraq War mistakes? A. Donald Rumsfeld. (The book title alludes to Rumsfeld's famous statement: "There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know..." The statement was made by Rumsfeld on February 12, 2002 at a press briefing addressing the absence of evidence linking the Iraq government with the supply of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups.) 25. How many vertices (corners) has a regular dodecahedron (a dodecahedron is a 3D form with 12 faces)? A. 20. 26. The Salmon River in Idaho, USA is known by what nickname, It is also the name of a 1954 film, whose title soundtrack was recorded b


Which prolific 18th century German-British composer created Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks and the opera Serse?

Composers | TSO | Live It Live TSO | Live It Live Arne Thomas Arne (1710-1778) is today remembered for little else apart from the song “Rule, Britannia!” In his day, however, Arne was a prolific composer for the London stage. He wrote operas in English (Artaxerxes being the most significant), ballad operas, masques and pantomimes, and composed music for plays, including the works of Shakespeare. “Rule, Britannia!” comes from the masque, Alfred. Arne’s career overlapped with that of his more famous contemporary and fellow Londoner, George Frideric Handel. A Catholic, Arne composed some masses, odes, cantatas, many songs and a small quantity of instrumental music including concertos and sonatas. According to the Oxford Companion to Music, Arne “appears to have been something of a scoundrel”. He sounds like a most interesting man. © Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Bach, C P E With its irregular, non-symmetrical phrasing, sudden shifts in harmony, and melodic twists and turns, the music of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) constantly surprises. Musical aptitude ran through the Bach family. Centred around Saxony and Thuringia in Germany, the Bachs were a force in music for many hundreds of years. C P E Bach, one of the sons of Johann Sebastian, ventured out of the traditional Bach homelands and made his career in Berlin and Hamburg. Indeed, for many years he was a keyboard player in the service of Frederich II (aka Frederick the Great) of Prussia. In addition to composing a significant quantity of keyboard music, C P E Bach wrote a very important treatise on playing the instrument, Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments. Bach’s essay also offers important nuggets of information on musical style and taste generally. In 1768 he succeeded Telemann as director of music in Hamburg and, in this new role, produced a considerable body of Protestant church music. C P E Bach’s music sounds nothing like his father’s. He eschewed complex polyphony in favour of cleaner textures and is regarded as a key exponent of the Empfindsamer Stil (expressive style). © Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Bach, J C Often known as the ‘London Bach’, Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782), one of the sons of Johann Sebastian Bach, left Saxony, the traditional stronghold of the Bach family, and made his career in the English capital. Aged only 15 when his father died, J C Bach travelled first of all to Berlin where he studied with his half-brother, C P E Bach, and later abandoned Germany for Italy, living in Milan for a number of years (1755-1761). Already an unconventional career trajectory for a Bach, J C Bach’s career became still more unconventional when he entered the Roman Catholic communion and developed an interest in opera. Indeed, the success of his operas in Italy brought his name to the attention of the King’s Theatre in London, which commissioned two operas from him for the 1762-3 season (Orione and Zanaida). Bach left Italy for England in 1762 and was based in London for the remainder of his life. Despite his activities as a composer of opera, his posthumous reputation rests largely on his contribution to the symphony and concerto. Indeed, his music was highly influential upon the young Mozart, who came to know J C Bach when the Mozart family spent 18 months in London as part of their pan-European tour. Significantly, Mozart’s earliest experiments with piano concertos are arrangements of works by J C Bach. In subsequent years Mozart’s father, Leopold, reminded his son of the pleasing and agreeable works of the ‘London Bach’. He praised it as music worthy of emulation. © Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Bach, J S Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was one of the leading composers of the Baroque. Although he never left central and northern Germany (he held positions in Weimar, Cöthen and Leipzig and his travels took him to Hamburg, Lübeck and Berlin), Bach was fully aware of musical developments elsewhere in Europe and remained up-to-date with music by his Italian contemporaries, Vivaldi above all. He also had a secure understanding of the Fre