The Little (Tetrax Tetrax) and Great (Otis Tarda) are which birds?

Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) | HBW Alive Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) French: Outarde canepetière German: Zwergtrappe Spanish: Sisón común Taxonomy: France . DNA sequences suggest close phylogenetic relationship to the Little Brown Bustard (Heterotetrax humilis) #R . E birds have been awarded race orientalis on grounds of larger size and greyer, more heavily marked upperparts; but much individual variation and considerable overlap between populations. Monotypic. Distribution: Morocco and Iberia to France, Sardinia and SE Italy (possibly now extinct); Ukraine and SW Russia through Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan and extreme NW China; extreme N Iran. Winters from Mediterranean zone through Turkey and Caucasus to Iran, and erratically elsewhere in S Asia. Descriptive notes Male 43 cm, 794–975 g; female 43 cm, 680–945 g. Breeding male has streaked brown crown, blue-grey face shading to black on neck and breast, with broad white V... read more Voice Not very vocal. Both sexes have a grunting alarm call; in females this is sometimes extended in... read more Habitat Steppe and steppe-like landscapes, level or undulating short-grass plains, rich pastureland, fallow... read more Food and feeding Beetles, grasshoppers and other terrestrial invertebrates; also much plant material such as shoots, leaves, flowerheads and seeds. Animals... read more Breeding Feb–Jun. Nest is a shallow scrape usually in dense short-grass cover. Eggs 2–6; incubation 20–22 days; chick has buff... read more Movements Largely sedentary or dispersive in C and S Iberia, SE France (Crau), Sardinia and Italy; migratory... read more Status and conservation Not globally threatened. CITES II. Currently considered Near Threatened. Global population estimated at over 250,000 individuals in late 1990s, much higher than the 100,... read more Bibliography Only subscribers are able to see the bibliography. Login or Subscribe to get access to a lot of extra features! Public comments No comments yet Only members are able to post public comments. To make the most of all of HBW's features, discover our subscriptions now!


Devadatta repeatedly tried to kill which religious leader?

The Devadatta Story Devadatta’s Ambition   A series of tragic events occurred when the Buddha was 72 years old and in the 37th year of his teaching mission. This was the year when his cousin Devadatta initiated a schism in the ranks of the Sangha, then instigated a palace coup in the city of Rajagriha, the capital of the kingdom of Magadha, and finally made four attempts to assassinate the Buddha. These events were a great test of the Buddha’s wisdom, compassion, patience, equanimity, and ability to skillfully lead the Sangha in the face of external and internal threats to its survival and integrity.   It should be noted that doubts have been cast on the veracity of the legend of Devadatta as told in the canonical literature and commentaries of the various schools of Buddhism. Reginald Ray, basing himself on the work of earlier scholars, sums up the various accounts in his book Buddhist Saints in India: A Study of Buddhist Values & Orientation (see pp. 162-173). According to Reginald Ray, it is possible that Devadatta was no relation nor even a contemporary of the Buddha, but may have been a strict proponent of the life of the forest renunciant who opposed the softer life of monastic Buddhism over a century after the Buddha’s passing. This Devadatta apparently created a Sangha that considered itself a separate and purer stream of Buddhism than the Sangha founded by Shakyamuni Buddha. Devadatta’s rival order still existed in India as late as the seventh century C.E. according to the testimony of the Chinese monk Hsuan-tsang (602-664). This would mean that the monks of the mainstream schools of Indian Buddhism such as the Theravada and Sarvastivada might have created the legend of Devadatta in order to vilify the founder of this rival Sangha. From here on, however, I will simply present my synthesis of the traditional accounts.    Devadatta was a cousin of the Buddha. According to the Pali accounts he was the brother of Yashodhara. Sanksrit legends, however, claim that he was actually Ananda’s older brother and that he grew up in the palace with Siddhartha, the young bodhisattva. These stories portray Devadatta as jealous and cruel. In one story he shoots down a swan that falls to earth near Siddhartha. Siddhartha takes out the arrow and nurses it back to health, but Devadatta insists that the swan belongs to him because he shot it. The two boys then went to the king’s court where the counselors argued over the merits of each case. In the end, a wise man declared that the swan should belong to one who saved its life rather than the one who tried to take it away. In another incident, Devadatta killed a white elephant that was going to be presented to Siddhartha as a gift. He was also said to have competed for Yashodhara’s hand in marriage, but again lost to his cousin Siddhartha. Another legend claims that, after Siddhartha had renounced the home life in order to live as an ascetic, Devadatta tried to seduce Yashodhara, but was rebuffed.   Devadatta joined the Sangha along with Aniruddha, Bhaddiya, Ananda, Bhagu, Kimbila, and their barber Upali back when the Buddha had first returned to Kapilavastu. At that time he had been talked into leaving the home life and becoming a monk because the former king, Bhaddiya, and the other Shakyas wanted to make sure that Devadatta would not become the ruler by default when the other heirs to the throne had become monks. Soon after becoming a monk, Devadatta attained the five types of supernatural powers that can be developed through meditation. These five were: supernatural mastery of the body, the divine ear (clairaudience), mind reading, past life recall, and the divine eye (clairvoyance). For a long time, Devadatta was a respected member of the Sangha. Unfortunately, his jealousy and envy prevented him from attaining any genuine insight or liberation, and his supernatural powers only increased his arrogance.    At some point, Devadatta used his supernatural powers to gain the patronage of Prince Ajatashatru, the son of King Bimbisara and Queen Vaidehi.   The occasion was this. Once wh


Which 12th century Cistercian Abbey’s remains stand just outside Ripon?

Abbeys and Monasteries in Yorkshire | Heritage Guide to Lancashire England > Yorkshire > Gazetteer of Abbeys and Monasteries Abbeys and Monasteries in Yorkshire This page Bolton Abbey - Rievaulx Abbey A 12th century Augustinian priory set in a superb position on the banks of the River Wharfe. The abbey was founded around 1154 by monks from Embsay who were granted land here by Lady Alice de Romille of Skipton Castle. Bolton Abbey,                                                          Yorkshire,                              England, BD23 6AL Heritage Rating:   ? Heritage Highlight: The east end of the church, including the arch of the east window, still stand to full height. A beautiful ruined abbey in a peaceful countryside setting, known for its rose window and lovely geometric floor tiles. Byland,                              Coxwold,                                                          Yorkshire,                              England, YO61 4BD Heritage Rating: Coverham Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastic house established by Helewisia de Glanville in 1190. De Glanvillle was the daughter of Ranulf de Glanville, Lord Chief Justice of the realm. Coverham,                                                          Yorkshire,                              England, DL8 4RL Heritage Rating: Easby Abbey A Premonstratensian monastery established around 1300 on the banks of the River Swale. The refectory stands to a considerable height, and there are remnants of wall paintings in the old parish church in the abbey grounds. Easby Abbey is situated in a lovely dell in wooded countryside but within sight of Richmond Castle, and there is a path along the river joining the abbey and castle. B6272,                              Richmond,                                                          Yorkshire,                              England, DL10 7EU Heritage Rating: Fountains Abbey The extensive remains of a 12th century Cistercian monastery, named a World Heritage site. Named for the many springs in the area, Fountains grew to become one of the largest and richest monasteries in Britain. The medieval architecture is superb, including a surviving 168 ft. tower. In October, Fountains hosts a "son et lumiere" show (sound and light to us uneducated louts). Ripon,                                                          Yorkshire,                              England, HG4 3DY Heritage Rating:   ? Heritage Highlight: One of the highlights of English heritage; the superb vaulting of the undercroft should not be missed. Jervaulx Abbey Jervaulx Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery located in a peaceful valley setting in the Vale of Ure, a few miles east of the Yorkshire Dales. The monastery was founded in 1156 as a daughter house of Byland Abbey. Apart from its historical significance and the beauty of the location, Jervaulx is known for its horticulture; over 180 varieties of wildflower grow in and on the abbey walls. Park House,                              Jervaulx,                                            Yorkshire Dales,                              Yorkshire,                              England, HG4 4PH Heritage Rating: The Black Swan Hotel The face of this charming 45-room country hotel is an interesting composition of Tudor Rectory, Elizabethan Coaching Inn and Georgian House, creating a veritable maze of lounges for guests to enjoy. The newly awarded two rosette Rutland Restaurants offers three sumptuous menus for di


Nicknamed Napoleon, Marcus Chamat has represented Europe in which sport?

This article posted by Paul on April 9, 2015 | Share on Facebook! | Tweet This 9th April Marcus Chamat named as Euro captain SWEDEN’S MARCUS CHAMAT, a six-time Mosconi Cup veteran, will take the helm for Team Europe when the 2015 event takes place at the Tropicana in Las Vegas in December. The 39 year-old Swede was the life and soul of the team when Europe won for only the second time in 2002 and has an overall record of 11 victories from 26 Mosconi Cup matches played . Chamat, who carries the nickname ‘Napoleon’, takes over the job from Johan Ruijsink who retired from the position undefeated through seven Mosconi Cups. “It will be tough to follow in the footsteps of Johan and all that he did with the European team, but to be the captain of the best team in the world is really a great opportunity for anyone,” said Chamat. “I’m really overwhelmed as it’s a dream for anyone to be involved in this event as a player or coach. My heart always beats hard when it’s the Mosconi Cup going back to the very first time I played in 2000.” The 2015 PartyPoker Mosconi Cup takes place from Monday December 7 to Thursday December 10, the Europe v USA showdown is hosted for the first time at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Chamat added, “Now I get an opportunity to coach a great European team in Las Vegas and take on the Americans. I’m sure we will come prepared but I know that they will do and try anything to change the scenario of the last few years.” Chamat, who turned professional in 1999, has enjoyed a successful career that has seen him win both in Europe and the USA. He was ranked as high as No.1 in the world in 2005 and has twice won bronze medals at WPA World Championships. Chamat still competes occasionally at the top level and he recently finished ninth at the WPA World 10 Ball in the Philippines. He is also co-owner of the highly successful Interpool Club in Gavle, Sweden, where he leads a work force of some 20 people. “I know my team will go to Vegas as favourites, but I know that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve played in enough Mosconi Cups to know that it could change at any time. “This will of course be a huge challenge, especially after what Johan has achieved but I’ve known all the players for years they know me. We have to come together as a team and then it will be real hard for the Americans to beat us. “I was in Vegas as a spectator for the 2013 Mosconi, and the way our team played there was probably the best I’ve ever seen. I’m going to celebrate this great news a little and then I’m going to focus on this job and get to work!” Tickets for the PartyPoker Mosconi Cup are available exclusively through The New Tropicana Las Vegas. Visit http://trop.lv/MosconiCup2015 , call 800.829.9034 or purchase in person at the Show Tickets desk. There is a single session on each day’s play and tickets are priced at $43.45 per session plus commission. The popular season tickets covering all four sessions are available for $154 plus commission. All prices include LET. The 2015 PARTYPOKER MOSCONI CUP is sponsored by PartyPoker, the world’s leading online poker site. The Official Table of the Mosconi Cup is supplied by Diamond Billiards, the cloth is supplied by Iwan Simonis and the Official Balls are Super Aramith by Saluc. Luke Riches, Matchroom Sport: luke.riches@matchroom.com Notes: Matchroom Sport are one of the world’s leading producers of televised sport and are responsible for over 1,000 hours of original programming across a range of sports. Based in the UK and chaired by charismatic founder Barry Hearn, the Mosconi Cup is one of a stable of pool events that include the World Cup of Pool and the World Pool Masters. Ten Facts about the Mosconi Cup 1.  Played out annually each December, the MC debuted in 1994. 2. Despite recent dominance, the Europeans still trail the USA overall by 9-11. 3. Since the early 2000’s, the event is played on an annual home-and-away basis. 4. There are a maximum 21 matches during the Mosconi Cup. The first team to reach 11 carries off the famous trophy. 5. With a potential of 20 hours broadcast time, every sh


Who wrote the 1904 novel The Napoleon of Notting Hill?

The Napoleon of Notting Hill - Gilbert Keith Chesterton | Feedbooks The Napoleon of Notting Hill in EPUB format, also available for Kindle or in PDF This work is available for countries where copyright is Life+70 and in the USA. The Napoleon of Notting Hill is a novel written by G. K. Chesterton in 1904, set in a nearly-unchanged London in 1984. Though the novel deals with the future, it concentrates not on technology nor on totalitarian government but on a government where no one cares what happens, comparable to Fahrenheit 451 in that respect. The dreary succession of randomly selected Kings of England is broken up when Auberon Quin, who cares for nothing but a good joke, is chosen. To amuse…  (more) The Napoleon of Notting Hill is a novel written by G. K. Chesterton in 1904, set in a nearly-unchanged London in 1984. Though the novel deals with the future, it concentrates not on technology nor on totalitarian government but on a government where no one cares what happens, comparable to Fahrenheit 451 in that respect. The dreary succession of randomly selected Kings of England is broken up when Auberon Quin, who cares for nothing but a good joke, is chosen. To amuse himself, he institutes elaborate costumes for the provosts of the districts of London. All are bored by the King's antics except for one earnest young man who takes the cry for regional pride seriously – Adam Wayne, the eponymous Napoleon of Notting Hill. While the novel is humorous (one instance has the King sitting on top of an omnibus and speaking to it as to a horse: "Forward, my beauty, my Arab," he said, patting the omnibus encouragingly, "fleetest of all thy bounding tribe"), it is also an adventure story: Chesterton is not afraid to let blood be drawn in his battles, fought with sword and halberd in the London streets, and Wayne thinks up a few ingenious strategies; and, finally, the novel is philosophical, considering the value of one man's actions and the virtue of respect for one's enemies.


What name is given to the sensitive flesh at the base of one’s fingernails?

8 Health Warnings Your Fingernails Are Sending - Be Well Buzz Be Well Buzz Stimulating your mind, upgrading your body, and elevating your soul daily.  8 Health Warnings Your Fingernails Are Sending Written By Share On Twitter Fingernails and disease don’t go together in most minds… but they should. Your fingernails can give you valuable health warnings and signal the presence of serious disease. Take a good long look at your nails. Hold a hand level with your nose about a foot out from your face and scrutinize each one. Look at the curves, dips, ridges, and grooves. Check out how thick or thin they are and if your nails are chipped or broken. Make a note of the color of the nail itself, the skin under it, and the skin around the nail. Check your memory – have your nails always looked like this? Changes to your fingernails and disease onset are linked, so note any new developments. With this fresh view, compare what you see with this list of eight potential fingernail health warnings. 1. Discolored nails A healthy fingernail should be pink with a touch of pinkish white (moons) near the base. If your nails are a dull color or streaked with other colors, you may have a serious hidden health problem. Green nails are a sign of bacterial infection Red streaks in your nail bed are a warning of a heart valve infection Blueish nails signal low oxygen levels in your blood Dull nails mean a vitamin deficiency White nails may signal liver disease, such as hepatitis Dark stripes at the top (Terry’s nails) are associated with aging and congestive heart failure Scrub those nails clean and really look at your nail color! Given the “rainbow” of potential health challenges, you want to be sure you see what your fingers are saying. 2. Thick nails Thick nails are not natural. You want your nails to be strong, but if they resemble talons or claws more than traditional nails watch out! Thickened nails that are otherwise normal can signal lung disease Thick and rough-textured nails can signal a fungal infection Thick and separated nails may mean thyroid disease or psoriasis Unusual thickness may also be a symptom of a circulation problem Thickening nails are a change that should tune you in to other health symptoms you may be ignoring. Also watch out for allergic reactions to new medications which can show up as suddenly thick nails! 3. Split nails Split nails aren’t just occasionally chipped or shut in doors. Instead, these nails seem to flake away in layers. Don’t blame frequent hand washing or nail polish for everything, especially since: Split nails result from folic acid, Vitamin C, and protein deficiencies Split nails combined with a pitted nail bed (base) can signal psoriasis, which begins in nails 10% of the time according to WebMD Split nails may result from chronic malnutrition Watch what you eat and check the psoriasis connection to fight back and pay more attention to your health overall. 4.Concave (Spoon) nails Spoon fingernails signal a number of internal issues. To be considered full spoons, nails will be soft and curve up, forming a dip that is often big enough to hold water. Spoon nails signal: Iron deficiency (usually from anemia) Hemachromatosis, a liver disorder where your body absorbs too much iron Heart disease Hypothyroidism Your fingernail and health challenges go hand in hand – for many people, clearing up their health issue results in their spoon nails returning back to normal. 5. Pitted nails Small dips or holes in your nails can be a result of banging up your hands – or they could be a sign that you need to look more closely at your health. Nail pitting can signal: Psoriasis Connective tissue disorder Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss Zinc deficiency (when the pit seems to form a line across the middle of your nail) Watch your hand to separate natural dents and dings from real, lasting pits. The first will clear up quickly, but pits linked to disease linger. 6. Ridges Nails should have smooth surfaces with almost imperceptible lines. Obvious ridge lines are a signal that something is up


Latin for ‘put away the flesh’, what name is given to ‘a feast’ or ‘fair’?

What does carnival mean? Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Carnival(noun) a festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Gatholic countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday Carnival(noun) any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess Origin: [It. carnevale, prob. for older carnelevale, prop., the putting away of meat; fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh + levare to take away, lift up, fr. levis light.] Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Carnival Carnival, Carnaval, or Carnivale is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life. Carnival is traditionally held in areas with a large Catholic and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Orthodox makeup. Protestant areas usually do not have Carnival celebrations or have modified traditions, such as the Danish Carnival or other Shrove Tuesday events. Conversely, the Philippines, a predominantly Roman Catholic country, does not have Carnival celebrations as they are more culturally influenced by neighboring Asian nations, which do not have Carnival celebrations. Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Carnival kär′ni-val, n. a feast observed by Roman Catholics just before the fast of Lent: any season of revelry or indulgence: riotous feasting, merriment, or amusement. [It. carnevale—Low L. carnelevarium, apparently from L. carnem levare, to put away flesh.] The Nuttall Encyclopedia(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Carnival in Roman Catholic countries the name given to a season of feasting and revelry immediately preceding Lent, akin to the Saturnalia of the Romans. CrunchBase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: Carnival Carnival Labs are one of the worlds leading iPhone and mobile device development teams. We’ve been developing applications since the launch of the app store. Numerology The numerical value of carnival in Chaldean Numerology is: 4 Pythagorean Numerology


As in the name of the Spanish clothing retailer, for what do the initials H & M stand?

What those company initials stand for - CNN.com What those company initials stand for By Ethan Tex, Mental Floss "H" comes from a women's store called Hers and "M" comes from a hunting supplier called Mauritz Widforss. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Ever wonder about the stories behind names like CVS or H&M or IKEA? Pharmacy chain CVS started out as "Consumer Value Stores" IKEA takes first 2 letters from founder's name, second 2 letters from locations H&M comes from first letters of women's store and hunting supplier RELATED TOPICS ( Mental Floss ) -- Dozens of companies use acronyms or initials in their names, but how well do you know what the abbreviated letters mean? Let's take a look at the etymologies behind a few abbreviated company names. 1. CVS Sorry, drugstore fans, there aren't three fat cat pharmacists with these initials running around out there. When the pharmacy chain was founded in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1963, it was known as "Consumer Value Stores." Over time the name became abbreviated to simply CVS. 2. K-Mart Longtime five-and-dime mogul Sebastian S. Kresge opened his first larger store in Garden City, Michigan, in 1962. The store was named K-Mart after him. (Kresge had earned the right to have a store named for him; he opened up his new venture at the tender age of 94.) 3. IKEA The Swedish furniture giant and noted charity takes its name from founder Ingvar Kamprad's initials conjoined with a the first initial of the farm where Kamprad grew up, Elmtaryd, and the parish he calls home, Agunnaryd. 4. DHL In the late 1960s, Larry Hillblom was a broke student at the University of California, Berkeley's law school, so to pick up a bit of extra cash, he would make courier runs from San Francisco. After he finished law school, he decided the courier business was the real racket for him, so he recruited his pals Adrian Dalsey and Robert Lynn to help him with the runs. Although they started out making their delivery trips in a single Plymouth Duster, the company quickly took off, and they named it after their respective last initials. Mental Floss: Mojave Desert's airplane graveyard 5. AT&T No surprises here. The telecom giant sprang to life in 1885 as American Telephone and Telegraph, although it's now legally known as just AT&T. 6. JBL The speaker company is named after its founder, James Bullough Lansing. But if Lansing had kept his original name, the company might have been called Martini Speakers. Lansing was born James Martini in 1902, but when he was 25, he changed his name to James Lansing at the suggestion of the woman who would become his wife. (The martini was already a popular cocktail at the time, and several of Lansing's brothers had also changed their name by shortening it to Martin.) 7. 3M The conglomerate behind Post-It Notes gets its name from its roots as a company that mined stone to make grinding wheels. Since it was located in Two Harbors, Minnesota, the company was known as Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, which was later shortened to 3M. 8. BVD The stalwart men's underwear maker was originally founded by a group of New Yorkers named Bradley, Voorhees, and Day to make women's bustles. Eventually the trio branched out into knitted union suits for men, and their wares became so popular that "BVDs" has become a generic term for any underwear. 9. H&M The beloved clothing store began in Sweden in 1947. Founder Erling Persson was only selling women's duds, so he called the store Hennes -- Swedish for "hers." Twenty-one years later, he bought up a hunting supplier called Mauritz Widforss. After the acquisition, Persson branched out into men's clothing and began calling the store Hennes and Mauritz, which eventually became shortened to H&M. 10. A&W Root Beer Roy Allen opened his first root beer stand in Lodi, California, in the summer of 1919, and quickly began expanding to the surrounding areas. Within a year he had partnered with Frank Wright, and the pair christened their flagship product "A&W Root Beer." 11. GEICO The adorable gecko's employer is more formally known as the Government Employees Insuran


Which US fashion retailers have the forenames David and Ezra?

Ezra Fitch Ezra Fitch Remains: Buried, Stone Ridge Cemetery, Stone Ridge, NY Gender: Male Nationality: United States Executive summary: Abercrombie & Fitch Ezra Fitch was an attorney but an avid sportsman in his free time, and a prime customer at the Abercrombie Company outdoor equipment store. He befriended the store's proprietor, David Abercrombie , and became Abercrombie's business partner in 1900. Fitch took control of the company in 1904, renaming the store Abercrombie & Fitch , and Abercrombie left the business in 1907. Since Fitch's death, A&F has evolved into a chain of upscale fashion shops, best known for its ads featuring semi-clothed and apparently starving urban youth. Long after his death, Fitch was the namesake of the "Ezra Fitch" sub-brand of men's wear sold at A&F stores in the early 2000s but since discontinued, and from 2005-07 "Ezra Fitch" was a brand of cologne sold at A&F stores. Father: Roswell Reed Fitch (b. 25-Nov-1841, d. 1888) Mother: Margaretta Wyanna Hasbrouck Fitch Mother: Helen Carswell Fitch (stepmother) Sister: Helen Margaret Fitch Truman Wife: (m.)


The Peasants Revolt took place during the reign of which English King?

Peasants Revolt - History Learning Site History Learning Site   historylearningsite.co.uk . The History Learning Site , 5 Mar 2015. 20 Oct 2016. Medieval England experienced few revolts but the most serious was the Peasants’ Revolt which took place in June 1381. A violent system of punishments for offenders was usually enough to put off peasants from causing trouble. Most areas in England also had castles in which soldiers were garrisoned, and these were usually enough to guarantee reasonable behaviour among medieval peasants. An army of peasants from Kent and Essex marched on London. They did something no-one had done before or since – they captured the Tower of London. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the King’s Treasurer were killed. The king, Richard II, was only 14 at the time but despite his youth, he agreed to meet the peasants at a place called Mile End. What were the peasants angry about and why had they come to London ? 1. After the Black Death , many manors were left short of workers. To encourage those who had survived to stay on their manor, many lords had given the peasants on their estates their freedom and paid them to work on their land. Now, nearly 35 years after the Black Death, many peasants feared that the lords would take back these privileges and they were prepared to fight for them. 2. Many peasants had to work for free on church land, sometimes up to two days in the week. This meant that they could not work on their own land which made it difficult to grow enough food for their families. Peasants wanted to be free of this burden that made the church rich but them poor. They were supported in what they wanted by a priest called John Ball from Kent. 3. There had been a long war with France. Wars cost money and that money usually came from the peasants through the taxes that they paid. In 1380, Richard II introduced a new tax called the Poll Tax. This made everyone who was on the tax register pay 5p. It was the third time in four years that such a tax had been used. By 1381, the peasants had had enough. 5p to them was a great deal of money. If they could not pay in cash, they could pay in kind, such as seeds, tools etc., anything that could be vital to survival in the coming year. In May 1381, a tax collector arrived at the Essex village of Fobbing to find out why the people there had not paid their poll tax. He was thrown out by the villagers. In June, soldiers arrived to establish law and order. They too were thrown out as the villagers of Fobbing had now organised themselves and many other local villages in Essex had joined them. After doing this, the villagers marched on London to plead with the young king to hear their complaints. One man had emerged as the leader of the peasants – Wat Tyler from Kent. As the peasants from Kent had marched to London, they had destroyed tax records and tax registers. The buildings which housed government records were burned down. They got into the city of London because the people there had opened the gates to them. By mid-June the discipline of the peasants was starting to go. Many got drunk in London and looting took place. It is known that foreigners were murdered by the peasants. Wat Tyler had asked for discipline amongst those who looked up to him as their leader. He did not get it. On June 14th, the king met the rebels at Mile End. At this meeting, Richard II gave the peasants all that they asked for and asked that they go home in peace. Some did. Others returned to the city and murdered the archbishop and Treasurer – their heads were cut off on Tower Hill by the Tower of London. Richard II spent the night in hiding in fear of his life. On June 15th, he met the rebels again at Smithfield outside of the city’s walls. It is said that this was the idea of the Lord Mayor (Sir William Walworthe) who wanted to get the rebels out of the city. Medieval London was wooden and the streets were cramped. Any attempt to put down the rebels in the city could have ended in a fire or the rebels would have found it easy to vanish into the city once they knew that soldiers w


Who was the only canonised King of France? (name and number)

National Academic Quiz Tournaments, LLC School You Gotta Know These Kings of France Louis XIV (1638-1715, r. 1643-1715) House of Bourbon. Louis XIV's reign is often cited as the best historical example of an absolute monarchy. Louis led France against most of the rest of Europe to win the throne of Spain for his grandson (the War of the Spanish Succession). He championed classical art, religious orthodoxy, and instituted a great program of building throughout France. Known as the "Sun King," his 72-year-reign is the second longest in recorded history. Louis XIII (1601-1643, r. 1610-1643) House of Bourbon. Sometimes working with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, and sometimes against, Louis XIII turned France into the pre-eminent European power during his reign. This was largely achieved via French victories in the Thirty Years' War. The Three Musketeers is set in the early years of his reign. Francis I (1494-1547, r. 1515-1547) House of Valois. Francis's early military victories (like the Battle of Marignano), his lavish court, and his support of luminaries like Leonardo da Vinci augured a splendid reign. His rivalry with Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire spelled his doom, however. He was captured in battle in 1525 and held for a humiliating ransom. Wars continued after his release, but bankruptcy and religious strife laid France low. Henry IV (1553-1610, r. 1589-1610) Founder of the house of Bourbon. Henry, the king of Navarre, became the heir to the throne when Henry III's brother died in 1584. After fighting Catholic opposition in the War of the Three Henries, he renounced Protestantism and accepted Catholicism in order to enter Paris and become king. With the help of Maximilien Sully he erased the national debt and removed much of the religious strife with the Edict of Nantes (1598). Philip II (1165-1223, r. 1179-1223) House of Capet. Philip was the first of the great Capetian kings of France. Fighting and negotiating against Henry II, Richard I, and John of England, Philip won back Normandy, Brittany, Anjou, and other territories. He also took part in the famous Third Crusade (with Richard I and Frederick Barbarossa) and made use of the Albigensian crusade to pave the way for the annexation of Languedoc by his successor. Charles VIII (1470-1498, r. 1483-1498) House of Valois. Charles' short reign is remarkable for the enormous cost in men and money of his Italian campaign but more so for the number of his successors that to followed his catastrophic lead. Charles was motivated by a desire to govern Naples, which he had theoretically inherited. He died before he could surpass or absolve his disastrous first campaign with another. Louis IX (1214-1270, r. 1226-1270) House of Capet. Louis led the Seventh Crusade that ended in military disaster, but after his ransoming remained in the Holy Land to successfully negotiate for what he couldn't win. He returned to Europe with his reputation intact and negotiated a peace with England that saw Henry III become his vassal. He stabilized the French currency and is generally held to have reduced corruption in the kingdom. He died leading a crusade against Tunisia. St. Louis is the only canonized king of France. Louis VIII (1187-1226, r. 1223-1226) House of Capet. Though he reigned for only three years, Louis' contributions to the rise of French power were enormous. He annexed Languedoc and captured Poitou from England. Perhaps more importantly, he established the systems of appanages (land grants) which replaced the older, local nobles with barons who owed their fiefs to the crown. This allowed for the subsequent rise in French royal (and national) power. Charles V (1338-1380, r. 1364-1380) House of Capet. Charles had an inauspicious start (before his reign even began) with having to ransom his father, John II, from England for three million crowns and most of southwestern France. Later, with military advisor Bertrand du Guesclin, he recaptured almost all of that territory. He also concluded alliances with Portugal, Spain, and Flanders, reorgan


Mary Robinson and Frances Villiers were mistresses of which 19th century King?

Top 10 Philandering English Monarchs - Listverse Top 10 Philandering English Monarchs Kiri Derrick April 21, 2011 In celebration of the upcoming royal wedding I have prepared a list to celebrate another British royal tradition – the mistress. Mistresses have been recognized since written history began. Traditionally a mistress was a woman who was kept, as a lover, by a man who could afford to maintain her lifestyle, the better the mistress the more costly the upkeep. Young women, and often their families, would work to attract the richest and most powerful lovers for the money and status that came with him. Usually this was outside of the mans marriage, but often the wife was aware of the mistress and accepted her presence as the social norm. This does not include women who may have spent a night with a king, but any woman who was kept as a mistress for any length of time. This list will look at 10 of the most prolific philandering English Monarchs and the women they kept. 10 William IV 1 Mistress William IV was king of the United Kingdom for 20 years, but while he was Duke of Clarence he lived with his mistress, an Irish actress named Dorothea Jordan . They never married as they needed permission from the king in order to have a legitimate wedding. They were said to be very much in love and together they had 10 children George FitzClarence 1st Earl of Munster (1794), Henry Edward (1795), Sophia Sidney Baroness De L’Isle and Dudley (1796), Lady Mary Fox (1798), Lieutenant General Lord Frederick FitzClarence (1799), Elizabeth Hay Countess of Erroll (1801), Rear-Admiral Lord Adolphus FitzClarence (1802), Lady Augusta Hallyburton (1803), Lord Augustus FitzClarence (1805) and Amelia Cary Viscountess Falkland (1807). The relationship ended badly in 1811, Dorothea claimed that the split was due to money problems. The surname FitzClarence come from FitzRoy, an Anglo-Norman name meaning “son of the king”. Different versions of this name were used by many royals as a surname for their illegitimate children. 9 George I 2 Mistresses George I came to Britain from Hanover in 1714, after he inherited the throne, and with him he brought his two long-established mistresses. He had divorced his wife Sophia Dorothea of Celle in 1694, and had her imprisoned in the Castle of Ahlden for the rest of her life, after a scandalous affair. Her lover, Philip Christoph von Königsmarck, disappeared one morning never to be seen again, and years later two men confessed that George had paid them to kill him and dump his body in a river. His first mistress was Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenburg, nicknamed “The Maypole” because she was so thin. Together they had three Illegitimate children: Anna Luise Sophie von der Schulenburg Countess of Dölitz (1692), Melusina von der Schulenburg Countess of Walsingham (1693) and Margaret Gertrude von der Schulenburg, Countess of Oeynhausen (1701). After Georges death she kept a pet raven which she believed was George’s re-incarnated soul. George’s second mistress, Sophia von Kielmansegg, was nicknamed “The Elephant” due to her portly size. In European royalty inbreeding was prolific as families struggled to keep their wealth and power, however this was usually a match between cousins. Sophia was actually George’s illegitimate half-sister as they were both children of Ernest Augustus Elector of Hanover. Sophia’s family have denied she slept with George, but it was common knowledge at British court she was his mistress. Both women were George’s mistresses until his death, in 1727. 8 Edward VIII 3 Mistresses Edward VIII is said to have been quite promiscuous during his youth, and had many affairs with married women, but most of the reports of this are hearsay and very difficult to verify. He had 3 official mistresses, which puts him quite low on this list. Edward met Winifred Dudley Ward, a wealthy socialite, in 1918 at a dinner party, and for the next sixteen years Freda was Edward’s mistress. There is speculation that her son Timothy Ward Seely is actually Edwards illegitimate son, although this remains unproven.


Dushanbe is the capital city of which former Soviet republic?

Dushanbe - the capital of Tajikistan Dushanbe Dushanbe - Tajikistan Dushanbe - The former residence of Hissar Beks Dushanbe, the capital city of the republic, is located in Hissar Valley in the south of Tajikistan. Before the revolution the site of the present capital of Tajikistan was occupied by three small kishlaks: Sary Assija, Shahmansur and Dushanbe (dushanbe means "Monday" in Tajik; the market-day in the kishlak). Although the name of the city is rather new, its historical past dated back as far as 3 thousand years. Archeologists have dug out the remains of Greek-Bactrian settlements, the site of ancient settlement from Kushan period, site of ancient Shishi Khon village and other medieval settlements.                    In the early 20th century Dushanbe was the summer residence of Hissar beks. In 1920 the last of Bukhara emirs Said Alimhon fled from Bukhara and made Dushanbe his residence. But Bolsheviks forced him to leave Dushanbe and run abroad. July 14, 1922 Dushanbe passed into the hands of the Bolsheviks and became the capital of the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as a part of the Uzbek SSR. Since 1929 - the capital of the Tajik SSR. However, it could hardly be calle a city. There was a small settlement of 4 houses with wooden floors, 42 wagons and 283 inhabitants. In than 70-year's time a small mountain kishlak has grown into green, modern, industrial city with more than 600 thousand inhabitants. From 1929 to 1990 it was the capital of Tajik SSR, and since 1991 it has been the capital of independent Tajikistan.


Which work by Charles Dickens opens with the line “Now, what I want is facts”?

BBC - Primary History - Famous People - Charles Dickens Why is Charles Dickens famous? Who was Charles Dickens? Charles Dickens is a famous English writer. People all over the world enjoy his stories. One of them is Oliver Twist, the story of a poor boy in Victorian times. Books by Dickens can be funny and sad. His stories are full of interesting 'characters' (people). When did Dickens live? Dickens was born in England in 1812. He died in 1870. His first big success was The Pickwick Papers. This was in 1837, the year Victoria became Britain's Queen. Dickens lived through the Industrial Revolution . He wrote about how life was changing, especially for poor people. Why do people read Dickens? Many of Dickens' stories came out in weekly or monthly parts, as serials. Each month people could read a new chapter in the story. Perhaps this is why Dickens' books make good films and TV serials too. Readers like a good story, with interesting characters. Dickens was very clever at making up characters. People all over the world know Oliver Twist, Scrooge and David Copperfield, even if they have not read the books in which these characters appear. Early life Where was Dickens born? On 7 February 1812, Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth. His parents named him Charles John Huffam Dickens. Portsmouth was the home of the Royal Navy . His father, John Dickens, worked as a clerk for the Navy. His mother's name was Elizabeth Barrow. She wanted to be a teacher and run a school. Happy times The Dickens family never had much money. Charles had seven brothers and sisters. Mr Dickens dreamed of being rich. Mrs Dickens dreamed of owning a school. Somehow things never went right. In 1816 the family moved to Chatham, in Kent. Charles was happy there. He went to school. He explored the countryside. He loved the old castle at Rochester. Hard times In 1822 the family moved to London. Now times were hard. Mr Dickens was sent to prison for six months for not paying his bills. Charles (aged 12) had to work in a dirty old factory , beside the River Thames. He could hear rats squeaking and running about. His job was to put labels on pots of 'blacking', used to clean fireplaces. Dickens never forgot this unhappy time. He wrote about it later. Growing up By 1824 Mr Dickens had enough money to send Charles back to school. At 15, Charles got a job in a lawyer's office. He hated it. In his books he makes most lawyers horrid! Charles learned shorthand . He got a job writing about Parliament . He travelled around England by stagecoach , writing for newspapers. He wrote stories about the people he met. Dickens the writer Dickens is a success In 1833, he sold his first story. At first Dickens called himself 'Boz'. This was his pen-name . In 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth. Suddenly he became famous. His funny stories called The Pickwick Papers were a success. Oliver Twist Oliver Twist came out in 1837. It was a grim tale about an orphan boy (Oliver), who is sent to the workhouse . Oliver ends up in the London underworld, in a gang of thieves led by Fagin. The story ends happily for Oliver, but people were shocked. Were poor children really treated so badly? Life for poor children Life for poor children in Victorian times was very hard. Small children worked in coal mines and factories . Little boys were made to climb inside chimneys and clean them. Oliver Twist almost becomes a 'chimney-boy'. Instead he is made to work for an undertaker . Life in London London was a big, crowded city. Many poor people lived in slums . Homeless children slept on the streets. Many people died from diseases. Almost half the funerals in London in the 1830s were of children under 10. London did not have a police force until 1829. Even young children were sent to prison. Dickens the celebrity A famous man Dickens became so famous people knew him as he walked about London. He was a celebrity. Dickens walked for miles around the city, watching and listening. He made notes for new stories. Dickens keeps busy In 1846 Dickens became editor of the Daily News, a newspaper. He did not li


Which haemorrhagic fever virus is named after a city in Hessen, Germany?

Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers. VHF Information and advice | Patient See also: Yellow Fever Immunisation written for patients This is a notifiable disease in the UK. See the Notifiable Diseases article for more detail. Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are extremely rare in the UK. However, they can occur in returning travellers and should be in the differential diagnosis for cases of unexplained fever in a returning traveller from a relevant area. Not all VHFs are confined by vector to the tropics, as some are highly contagious. This means that the potential for outbreak is real if imported cases go undetected. VHF should be on the differential diagnosis of travellers with unexplained pyrexia returning from an affected area. It should rise very high on the list of differential diagnosis if there are features suggesting bleeding, hypovolaemia, increased vascular permeability, or organ failure. Suspected VHF is a medical and public health emergency and immediate advice should be sought from the local Communicable Disease Consultant on how to proceed[ 1 ]. Pathogens VHFs are caused by five types of ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus: Filoviruses: only two so far have been identified as causing human disease. These are the Ebola and Marburg viruses. Arenaviruses: there are a number of arenaviruses, including Lassa fever, Argentine haemorrhagic fever (HF), Bolivian HF, Brazilian HF, Venezuelan HF and lymphocytic choriomeningitis. Bunyaviruses: there are a great many bunyaviruses. They cause Korean HF (Hantavirus), Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Crimean-Congo HF (CCHF). Flaviviruses: these cause yellow fever, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile virus, Omsk HF, Alkhurma disease and dengue fever. Paramyxoviruses: these are a rare cause of VHF, as the most recognised human disease viruses in this group are measles and mumps. However, Hendra virus and Nipah virus have been described as causing VHFs. Click to find out more » Filoviridae This group includes the Marburg and Ebola viruses. Most outbreaks originate from Africa. In the Congo and in Kenya, fruit bats are the natural host of Marburg virus, although non-human primates can also be infected[ 2 ]. The natural host of Ebola virus is unknown; however, it is thought most probably also to be bats. Both diseases are severe: mortality is significant and healthcare workers are often amongst the victims. Marburg and Ebola viruses are regarded as potential bioterrorism weapons, although it is difficult to envisage how they could be used without ultimately affecting combatants and civilians on both sides of a conflict. Arenaviridae These viruses infect rodents and occasionally humans. At least eight arenaviruses are known to cause human disease. The diseases range in severity - the most common is Lassa fever. Others include Junin virus (JUNV), Lujo virus (LUJV) and Whitewater Arroyo virus (WWAV). The natural reservoir of Lassa fever is the multimammate rat. The virus is transmitted to humans by rodents and via mosquito and other bites, from primates, including people. It is highly contagious. Medical staff are at high risk of catching it from patients. Up to 300,000 infections and 5,000 deaths from Lassa fever are estimated to occur yearly, mostly in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea[ 3 ]. Lassa fever can be asymptomatic. It has been imported into Western Europe and the USA by travellers from Africa on commercial airlines[ 4 ]. Bunyaviridae These viruses are all transmitted by arthropods (mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies) which are both the reservoir and the vector, with the exception of Hantavirus (whose reservoir is in rodents). They include Hantaviruses, Rift Valley fever (RVF) and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). RVF is transmitted to humans and domesticated animals by mosquitoes and by the slaughter of infected livestock[ 5 ]. CCHF is carried by ticks and causes a fulminant disease that can also be transmitted by aerosol. Outbreaks of CCHF have occurred in Africa, Asia and Europe. Hantaviruses exist throughout the world. Infection occurs after exposure of


Which 2010 Disney movie features the villainous Mother Gothel?

Disney and the DSM-IV: Could New Villain Have BPD? | More Than Borderline - HealthyPlace Disney and the DSM-IV: Could New Villain Have BPD? Posted on December 7, 2010 by Becky Oberg Rapunzel! Rapunzel! What can the woman in your hair teach us about borderline personality disorder (BPD)? As a villain, Mother Gothel in Disney’s Tangled is unique.  She’s not motivated by revenge, greed, or lust for power. Gothel, terrified of growing older, is motivated by fear. As a result, she begins to display symptoms of BPD –to the point where she will literally die without Rapunzel and her magic hair. What are the Symptoms of BPD? According to the DSM-IV, there are nine criteria for BPD. In order to merit a BPD diagnosis , the patient must meet five of them. According to HealthyPlace, the criteria are: frantic efforts to avoid real or perceived abandonment (not including self-harm or suicidal behavior) a pattern of intense, unstable relationships alternating between idealization and devaluation persistently unstable self-image inappropriate, intense anger stress-related paranoia or dissociation I believe Gothel would meet criteria 1, 2, 3, 6 and 8 were she a real human. So, as an example of one way BPD can manifest, this is a hypothetical case. Criterion Two: Gothel’s Two Views of Rapunzel Early in the movie, Gothel attempts to dote on Rapunzel: telling her she loves her, making her favorite hazelnut soup, even leaving on a three-day journey to make a special paint. However, when Rapunzel asks to leave the tower to find out why floating lanterns appear in the sky on her birthday, Gothel refuses. Her “adorable” daughter is now “sloppy, underdressed, immature, clumsy” and too weak to handle herself. Gothel’s needs determine how she views Rapunzel. Criterion Three: Gothel’s Identity and Rapunzel’s Views Gothel repeatedly tries to convince Rapunzel that she has her best interests in heart. She excels at playing the victim card, repeatedly saying “Great, now I’mthe bad guy.” As long as Rapunzel believes Gothel is her mother, Gothel seems to believe she is. Only when Rapunzel finds out the truth does Gothel quit the charade.  “You want me to be the bad guy?” she growls. ”Fine.  Now I’m the bad guy.” Criteria Six and Eight:  Gothel’s Anger and Happiness Gothel ‘s emotional state depends entirely on Rapunzel’s. If Rapunzel is happy, so is Gothel. She needs Rapunzel to be happy in order to be happy, and becomes depressed or angry whenever Rapunzel is unhappy. The more curious Rapunzel becomes about life outside the tower, the more angry Gothel becomes, resulting in an argument ended when Gothel screams “You are not leaving this tower–EVER!” Criterion One: A Manufactured Crisis After Rapunzel leaves the tower, Gothel pursues. Upon finding that Rapunzel is happy about her choice to leave, Gothel quickly enlists the help of two thugs. As the thugs attempt to kidnap Rapunzel, Gothel double-crosses them and knocks them out with a piece of driftwood. If manufacturing a crisis in order to appear to be the rescuer isn’t a “frantic effort” to avoid abandonment, I don’t know what is. The Cost of BPD What would be ironic in real life is justice in an animated movie. Gothel perishes in one of the most creative and memorable death scenes in a Disney movie. In a way, Gothel died because she was unable to accept herself. Gothel had to be young and could not live any other way. However, we don’t have to share that fate. According to NAMI, BPD is highly treatable. Whether it’s dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or schema therapy or some other therapy, there is hope for recovery. We can learn to accept ourselves and accept the ups and downs of life. We can get the villain of BPD out of our hair. (Visited 1,029 times, 1 visits today)


Who is Jessica’s father in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice?

Jessica's character and conduct in the Merchant of Venice   Examination Questions on The Merchant of Venice Question: Jessica's character and conduct, particularly with reference to Shylock's influence and training; in contrast with Portia's home-influence? Answer: Jessica had in her all the rudiments of a very lovely womanhood; but a deal of cultivation was needed to develop them to anything like perfection. It is highly improbable that Shylock had ever consciously given her any training whatever, save such as might be conveyed to her through numerous injunctions to "fast bind" in order that she might "fast find." Though his evil influence had failed to injure to a really dangerous extent her innate truth and purity, yet it had had such an effect upon her character as to make it perfectly easy and natural to her to deceive and desert her unloving father, who made her home a hell, and to cling in preference to her Christian lover. True to the precepts which had been dinged in her ears through her whole life, she did not make her escape without a fair supply of the needful gold. But though this general principle has been imparted to her by Shylock, she has failed to learn the lesson of the value of money; and she spends his hard-earned ducats with a freedom and recklessness that is positive torture to her grasping father. To me, one of the most pitiful evidences of Jessica's lack of proper home training is the way in which she speaks of her father after her arrival at Belmont. That she should have lost all respect and love for him, and that she should have voluntarily deserted him without apparently feeling the slightest compunction, is perhaps no more than natural; but when she listens to, and even joins in, the accusations of wickedness and cruelty made against him, we cannot but deplore the blemish which ignorance of the good and the beautiful has left upon her character. Had she had the refining influences thrown around her which Portia enjoyed in her home life, though she might never have been the force which the latter was, she might have been, as she doubtless afterwards became, as true, beautiful, and loyal as her instincts would direct.


John James Audubon became famous for painting ….what?

John James Audubon Biography John James Audubon Biography Famous Names in Art - A John James Audubon Biography John James Audubon (American, b. Haiti, 1785-1851). Robert Havell (American, 1793-1878), Engraver after John James Audubon. American Flamingo, 1838. From The Birds of America (plate CCCCXXX1). Hand-colored etching and aquatint on Whatman paper.  Image courtesy of the Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. By Shelley Esaak The Basics: The word "Audubon" has long been synonymous with anything related to the creatures of flight. And it's all because of this artist. John James Audubon was a French-American naturalist and painter. He is best known for his study and illustrations of birds in their natural habitats. Early Life:   Audubon was born Jean Rabine on April 26, 1785 in Les Cayes, Santo Domingo (modern Haiti). He was the illegitimate offspring of French sea captain Lieutenant Jean Audubon and Spanish–Creole chambermaid Jeanne Rabine, the latter of whom was killed in a slave uprising a few months after her son's birth. Lieutenant Audubon brought three year old Jean back to France in 1788 and, along with his new (and legitimate) wife, formally adopted the boy. Jean Rabine then became Jean-Jacques Fougère Audubon. On the heels of a childhood spent largely outdoors in the countryside near Nantes, it is believed that Audubon went to Paris sometime before 1802 to train as an artist. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World He later claimed that Jacques-Louis David had been one of his teachers, although there is no surviving record of such. Whatever training he did (or didn't) receive was short-lived. In 1803 Jean Audubon sent his son to America for two reasons. (1) Ostensibly, he'd purchased an estate near Philadelphia that needed overseeing and, (2) primarily, the youth had turned 18 and was due at any moment to be conscripted into Napoleon's army. It was after his move to American that he became known as "John James Laforest Audubon." His Art: At the Mill Grove, Pennsylvania estate, Audubon met the great passions of his life: American birds and his neighbor's daughter, Lucy Bakewell (whom he married in 1808). He began collecting all things ornithological and making pencil and pastel sketches of birds. As his confidence as an artist grew, he ventured into watercolors -- the medium he would most often employ for the rest of his career. It quickly became evident that Audubon was ill-suited to oversee an estate or, indeed, much of anything that kept him away from the study of birds. He would go on to try his hand at several other business ventures, all of which failed. Audubon largely became a traveling artist, teaching occasional pupils, but always painting local birds and their natural habitats. After finally declaring bankruptcy in 1819, his only goal in life became to publish a folio of his bird paintings. Interestingly, he had to take his work to London in order to make the book Birds of America a success in America. Audubon is best known today for his highly dramatic bird and animal watercolors (along with around 70 oil canvases), as well as the National Audubon Society (formed in 1886) named in his honor. Audubon died on January 27, 1851 in New York City. Important Works: The Birds of America, 1827-38; the original, "double elephant" folios The Ornithological Biographies, 1831–38 (text complementing Birds...) The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, 1845-48 Famous Quote: "I am at work, and have done much, but I wish I had eight pairs of hands and another body to shoot the specimens." -- from a letter dated October 11, 1829 Sources and Further Reading: Audubon, John James, and Lucy Audubon (ed.). The Life of John James Audubon, the Naturalist New York : G. P. Putnam & Son, 1869. Reynolds, Gary A. (ed.) John James Audubon and his Sons (exh. cat.). New York : Grey Art Gallery and Study Center, 1982. Rodgers, David. "Audubon, John James" The Oxford Companion to Western Art. Ed. Hugh Brigstocke. Oxford University Press, 2001.


Which Biblical city’s walls fell to the blast of trumpets?

Joshua 6. The Holy Bible: King James Version 26   ¶ And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. 1 Kgs. 16.34 ¶ So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country. Published by The American Bible Society


Charlotte Beyser Bartholdi was the model for which statue?

Image of CHARLOTTE BEYSSER BARTHOLDI. - Mother Of French Sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, And Model For The Face Of The Statue Of Liberty. Oil On Canvas By Ary Scheffer, 1855. From Granger - Historical Picture Archive NEXT NEXT CHARLOTTE BEYSSER BARTHOLDI. Mother of French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, and model for the face of the Statue of Liberty. Oil on canvas by Ary Scheffer, 1855. Image No. 0162988


Which famous fair held annually for 700 years was first held at Smithfield in 1133?

Bartholomew Fair | Article about Bartholomew Fair by The Free Dictionary Bartholomew Fair | Article about Bartholomew Fair by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Bartholomew+Fair Bartholomew Fair August 24 Although St. Bartholomew's Day isn't really celebrated anymore, for more than 700 years (1133-1855) it was the day on which the Bartholomew Fair was held at Smithfield on the outskirts of London. What began as an opportunity for buying and selling cloth eventually turned into a major event. Almost every type of commodity could be purchased there, and a number of sideshows and other crude sources of entertainment were available as well—earning the Fair its present-day reputation as "the Coney Island of medieval England." Eventually the entertainment aspects of the Fair outweighed its commercial purposes, and although it was very much a part of English life there was a movement to close it down. In 1822, thousands of people rioted in protest against the threat of closing the Fair. But finally, in 1855, it was permanently abolished. St. Bartholomew's Day is also known for the massacre of the Huguenots (Protestants) in France, which began at the instigation of Catherine de Medici in Paris on the night of August 23-24, 1572, and spread throughout the country for two more days until between 5,000 and 10,000 had been killed. SOURCES:


Which king’s four sons together with their mother rebelled against him in France in 1173?

King Henry II | Britroyals Born: March 5, 1133 at Le Mans, France Parents: Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, and Empress Matilda Relation to Elizabeth II: 22nd great-grandfather House of: Angevin Ascended to the throne: October 25, 1154 aged 21 years Crowned: December 19, 1154 at Westminster Abbey Married: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Daughter of William X, Duke of Aquitaine Children: Five sons including Richard I and John, three daughters and several illegitimate children Died: July 6, 1189 at Chinon Castle, Anjou, aged 56 years, 4 months, and 1 day Buried at: Fontevraud, France Reigned for: 34 years, 8 months, and 11 days Succeeded by: his son Richard King of England 1154�89. The son of Matilda and Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou, he succeeded King Stephen (c. 1097�1154). He curbed the power of the barons, but his attempt to bring the church courts under control was abandoned after the murder of Thomas � Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1170. The English conquest of Ireland began during Henry's reign. On several occasions his sons rebelled, notably 1173�74. Henry was succeeded by his son Richard (I) the Lionheart. Henry was lord of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and Count of Anjou, Brittany, Poitou, Normandy, Maine, and Gascony. He claimed Aquitaine through marriage to the heiress Eleanor in 1152. Henry's many French possessions caused him to live for more than half his reign outside England. This made it essential for him to establish a judicial and administrative system which would work during his absence. His chancellor and friend, Becket, was persuaded to become archbishop of Canterbury in 1162 in the hope that he would help the king curb the power of the ecclesiastical courts. However, once consecrated, Becket felt bound to defend church privileges, and he was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral 1170 by four knights of the king's household. In 1171 Henry invaded Ireland and received homage from the King of Leinster. In 1174 his three sons Henry, Richard and Geoffrey led an unsuccessful rebellion against their father. Quotes: Here I am, not a traitor of the king, but a priest of God. Why do you want me?' - Thomas � Becket addressing his murderers, 29 December 1170 Timeline for King Henry II Year


What was won by Louisa Johnson in December 2015?

X Factor: Who WON? Louisa Johnson or Reggie N Bollie? Home The X Factor 2016 X Factor 2015: Who WON? Louisa Johnson OR Reggie N Bollie? X Factor 2015: Who WON? Louisa Johnson OR Reggie N Bollie? 13th December 2015 by Nick Barnes Follow @ImNickBarnes Well, this is it… after months of auditions and performances, it is time for the all important result. Who is the winner of the 2015 series of The X Factor? It has been confirmed this evening that Louisa Johnson has been crowned as the winner of The X Factor 2015! The journey started months and months ago when thousands upon thousands auditioned for The X Factor, and one by one they were whittled down until we ended up with our final 13 contestants. Throughout the live shows, the majority of results episodes have seen two acts given the chop from the show so the numbers dwindled quickly. From Seann Miley Moore, and 4th Impact, to Lauren Murray… and last night we had to wave goodbye to Che Chesterman who finished in third position. It left Louisa Johnson and Reggie N Bollie to fight it out this evening to prove that they are worthy of winning the whole series and that they could make the most of the lucrative recording contract with SYCO Music. IF LOUISA WINS: We have to admit that if there was on act who deserved to win the competition from the very beginning, it’s Louisa Johnson. For a 17-year-old, Louisa’s talent is out of this world a the vocal ability is insane – the notes that she can hit, the the range she has is incredible for someone of her age. Louisa is actually really humble, and she hasn’t had a bad week throughout the whole series, so she deserved to take the crown this evening. She certainly had the best voice in the competition this year and we reckon she could just about sing anything. She has named Leona Lewis as one of her inspirations, and we could see her being the new Leona Lewis as she has the voice to sing those powerful ballads that hit you right in the feels. Leona sadly went a bit wrong as she didn’t have the right management and Syco Music didn’t do her justice in the end, and we just hope that doesn’t happen to Louisa as she could go on to have a stellar career. Do you think the right act won the competition this evening? Let us know your thoughts in the comments, below…


Which BBC three-part drama was set in Pepys Rd, South London?

BBC - Capital - Media Centre Media Centre Bafta-winning Peter Bowker’s adaptation of John Lanchester’s critically acclaimed and bestselling novel Capital Category: BBC One ; Drama Set on a single street in South London, Capital is a portrait of a road transformed by soaring property prices: what was once the home of modest lower-middle class families, Pepys Road has been continuously gentrified into a street of multimillion pound houses. Toby Jones (Marvellous, The Girl), Lesley Sharp (Scott And Bailey, The Shadow Line) Wunmi Mosaku (Dancing On The Edge, In The Flesh) and Adeel Akhtar (Utopia, Four Lions) star in Bafta-winning Peter Bowker’s adaptation of John Lanchester’s critically acclaimed and bestselling novel Capital, produced by Kudos for BBC One. Joined by Rachael Stirling (Detectorists, The Bletchley Circle), Gemma Jones (Marvellous, The Lady Vanishes), Robert Emms (Atlantis, War Horse), Bryan Dick (Wolf Hall, Eric And Ernie) and Radoslaw Kaim (Spies Of Warsaw, Wallander), the line-up also includes multi-award-winning Indian actress Shabana Azmi and, fresh from her Olivier award-winning role in West End musical Once, Zrinka Cvitešić. The denizens of Pepys Road include investment banker Roger (Toby Jones), rubbing his hands in anticipation of his £1m bonus; his spendthrift wife Arabella (Rachael Stirling); Polish builder Bogdan (Radoslaw Kaim), who has come from Warsaw to indulge the rich in their interior decoration whims; Quentina, the Zimbabwean refugee with a PhD, working as a traffic warden (Wunmi Mosaku); local newsagent Ahmed (Adeel Akhtar); and OAP Petunia (Gemma Jones), who has lived her entire life on Pepys Road and who is now contemplating death in the house in which she was born. One day, the street’s residents all receive an anonymous postcard through their front doors bearing a simple message: 'We Want What You Have'. Who is behind the anonymous hate campaign? And what do they want? As the mystery of the postcards deepens, we learn more about this vivid and unforgettable ensemble of characters. Interweaving stories reveal lives filled with love and loss, fear and greed, fortune and envy and most recognisable of all, family and home - stories bursting with piercing and funny observations on modern life and urban existence, of ordinary people who find themselves caught and changed by a city at a time of extraordinary flux. Directed by Euros Lyn (Happy Valley, Last Tango In Halifax), Capital is a 3x60 produced by Kudos for BBC One. Executive producers are Derek Wax (The Hour, From There To Here) and Peter Bowker (Marvellous, From There To Here) for Kudos and Lucy Richer (Marvellous, The Casual Vacancy) for the BBC. It is produced by Matt Strevens (Cucumber, An Adventure In Space And Time). Commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One and Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama. Filming took place in London. The full Media Pack, including Q&As with the cast, Peter Bowker and exec producer Derek Wax here CK


Which Sparkhill Community leader drives a yellow Mercedes?

Citizen Khan Citizen Khan TV Series This warm and exceedingly funny six-part sitcom follows the trials and tribulations of self-appointed Muslim community leader Mr Khan and his long suffering family in Sparkhill, Birmingham the capital of British Pakistan.Khan is a larger-than-life character, a small man with big dreams and strident opinions. Like many of us, he’s struggling to make ends meet. But he’s proud of his thriftiness – witness his 1979 suit and ancient yellow Mercedes. Things would be so much easier if everyone just listened to him and followed his lead, but his obsessively house-proud wife and two feisty daughters have other ideas. Roadshow Entertainment


Sclera Anatomy, Function & Diagram | Body Maps Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close Sclera The sclera is the part of the eye commonly known as the “white.” It forms the supporting wall of the eyeball, and is continuous with the clear cornea. The sclera is covered by the conjunctiva, a clear mucus membrane that helps lubricate the eye. It is thickest in the area surrounding the optic nerve. The sclera is made up of three divisions: the episclera, loose connective tissue, immediately beneath the conjunctiva; sclera proper, the dense white tissue that gives the area its color; and the lamina fusca, the innermost zone made up of elastic fibers. There are a number of abnormalities associated with the sclera. Some are genetic and include: Melanosis: excess deposits of melanin (pigment) on the surface of the sclera, which can become inflamed and uncomfortable Scleral Coloboma: missing tissue that results in notching and bulging of the sclera (lesions) Ectasia: a thinning and bulging of the sclera There are now state-of-the-art contact lenses that are fitted to treat those with scleral ectasia. Acquired abnormalities of the sclera include: Ectasia that can be brought on as a side effect of traumas or inflammations Episcleritis: a hypersensitivity reaction which can be anterior or posterior, is characterized by engorged blood vessels, and can also affect the cornea


Which artistic term is used for the balance of light and shade?

Art Terms and Definitions Art Terms and Definitions Abstract Art: Art created from a realistic situation but represented unrealistically. Abstract art images are "abstracted" from real life images Acrylic paint: A plastic, water soluble pigment used for painting. Aesthetics: Originally the study of beautiful things. But currently aesthetics refers to the study or understanding of anything that is visually pleasing or "works" within the boundaries of the principles of art. Analogous colors: Colors next to each other on the color wheel. Applied art: A functional object or arrangement whereby the principles of art are applied. Refers to such things as pottery, interior decorating, architecture, furniture, etc Armature: A structural support for an object. Particularly used in sculpture to build upon. Assemblage: The use of found objects or three-dimensional objects to create a work of art. Balance: The art principle which refers to the arrangement of elements in an art work. Balance can be either formal symmetrical, informal asymmetrical or radial. Binder: The "glue" the holds pigment together and makes it stick to a surface. Bisque: Clay objects that have been fired one time. (unglazed) Brush drawing: An image created with a paint brush, typically using India ink or watercolor, that has a linear quality rather than a painterly finish. Bust: A sculpture representing the neck and head only of a person. Calligraphy: Literally means beautiful line. Typically refers to a type of writing that incorporates the use of a wide pen nib. Canvas: Coarse cloth or heavy fabric that must be stretched and primed to use for painting, particularly for oil paintings. Ceramic: Clay objects that have been fired twice, the second time with a glaze. Chalk: Soft limestone, sometimes used as a drawing material or mixed to make pastels and other crayons. Charcoal: A drawing material made from charred wood. Chiaroscuro: Italian word for "light-shade". The use and balance of light and shade in a painting, and in particular the use of strong contrast. Clay: A natural, moist earth substance used in making bricks, tile, pottery and ceramic sculpture. Collage: An arrangement of shapes adhered to a background. Collagraph: A print made from a collage of assorted pasted materials such as papers, cardboards, string etc. Color: An element of art that refers to "hue". Color wheel: The organization of colors on a wheel. Used to help understand color schemes. Complimentary colors: Colors opposite each other on the color wheel. When to complimentary colors are mixed together you will get a neutral tone Composition: The arrangement of the parts of a work of art. Computer art: Art made with the use of a computer program. Conceptual art: Art where the idea, rather than the actual object is the most significant feature. Particularly popular in the 1960's. Design: From the Italian word meaning "drawing" which also implied planning and composing. Diptych: Painting, usually an altarpiece, made up of hinged panels. Drawing: Representations on a flat surface usually made with pen, pencil, crayon, chalk or paint with an emphasis on line. Earth colors: Pigments made using earth (dirt) that contain metal oxides mixed with a binder such as glue. Egg tempera: Paint made of powdered pigment and bound together with egg yolk or egg whites. The most prominent painting material used from the 12th century to the rise of oil painting. Emphasis: A principle in art where important elements and ideas are emphasized via composition. Engraving: A process, used by printmakers, of incising or scratching lines into a wood block or metal plate from which a print was made. Environmental art: Art made on a grand scale, involving the creation of a man-made environment such as architecture, sculpture, light or landscape. Eye-level: In reference to perspective, eye-level is the artists' view of where the perceived line or perspective came from. Facade: The front or face of a building. Figurative: Artwork based on the human form. Fine art: A term used to describe work that is without any particular f


Which sculptor produced the 1934/35 work, Ecce Homo?

Sir Jacob Epstein | British sculptor | Britannica.com Sir Jacob Epstein Paul Manship Sir Jacob Epstein, (born Nov. 10, 1880, New York , N.Y., U.S.—died Aug. 21, 1959, London , Eng.), one of the leading portrait sculptors of the 20th century, whose work, though seldom innovative, was widely heralded for its perceptive depiction of the sitter’s character and its modeling technique. Sir Jacob Epstein. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Epstein’s early ambition was to be a painter, and he spent his adolescence sketching the teeming ghetto life of New York City , showing even then the obsession with human personality that distinguishes much of his mature work. Faulty eyesight forced him to abandon painting for sculpture , and, after studying for two years in Paris, he set up a sculpture studio in London in 1905. He soon began to make his way as a portrait sculptor, despite the public scandals caused by the nudity of his so-called Strand Statues (1907–08; destroyed 1937) and the debauched-looking angel on his memorial (1912) for the Irish writer Oscar Wilde . In 1913 Epstein became a founding member of the London Group , a loose association of artists and writers promoting modern art in England . Over the next two years, he developed a mildly experimental style that yielded some of his most powerful works, characterized by their extreme simplification of forms and calm surfaces. Most of these pieces were carved from stone, but the strongest work of the period, The Rock Drill (1913), was modeled in plaster, and its robotlike form reflects his short-lived interest in sleek, abstract design. Jacob Epstein with his work Primeval Gods. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. With the dissolution of the London Group in 1916, Epstein began to work in the two modes for which he is best known. Works of the first mode, mostly religious and allegorical figures such as Genesis (1930) and Ecce Homo (1934–35), consisted of crude, brutal-looking forms carved directly into a megalith, often revealing the shape of the original block. The second mode, a multitude of bronzes cast from modeled clay, forms the bulk of his work. These brilliantly executed studies of the rich and the celebrated are characterized by subtle treatment of planes and richly agitated surfaces. At first used to accentuate the play of light on bronze , the rough surfaces were later exaggerated to such an extent that they bore little relationship to the sculptural mass and became merely decorative. Occasionally, he also made monumental bronzes, such as St. Michael and the Devil (1956–58). In his later years, Epstein became a vehement opponent of abstract sculptors. He was knighted in 1954. Jacob Epstein, 1949.


Which nautical measurement is 240 yards?

Glossary of Nautical Measures - Lengths - Hemyock Castle Glossary of Nautical Measures - Lengths The definition, meaning and origin of nautical length measurements. Page Contents: Useful Reference Books . Lengths - Nautical: Due to the very nature of nautical life and its sometimes harsh conditions, measurements tended to be practical rather than theoretical. Definitions varied in different countries and in different reference books. The "Cable" causes much confusion, partly due to the method of cable construction and by its use as a measure of distance. The heaviest UK RN cable-laid anchor cables were constructed by twisting together 3 hawser-laid ropes (clockwise); each hawser-laid rope was constructed by twisting together 3 ropes (anti-clockwise). This repeated twisting produced very strong water-laid cables which absorbed little water. Each stage of twisting reduced the length of the cable. Manufacture of a 100 fathom cable would require 3 x 120 fathom hawsers. Each hawser would require 3 x 150 fathom ropes. In 1830, the UK Admiralty defined the following: Cable's Length (distance): Tenth of a nautical mile (approx 101 fathoms). Cable-laid cable: 100 to 115 fathoms. Cablet: 120 fathoms. Hawser-laid cable: 130 fathoms. Fathom: 6 feet. Man's arm span, finger tip to finger tip. Also used as a verb: To measure the depth of; to get to the bottom of, to understand. Shackle of cable (UK RN, old): 12½ fathoms. Length of a section of (anchor) chain. (Used until 1949). Shot or shackle of cable: 15 fathoms. Length of a section of (anchor) chain between joining shackles or swivels. Scope of cable: The length of (anchor) cable paid-out. Measured by counting shackles. Approx 5 times depth of water, depending on conditions. Cable (UK RN and Germany): 0.1 nautical mile. Approx 101 fathoms. Metric Cable (France and Spain): 200 metres. Approx. 109 fathoms. Cable (USA):


Which weight system is used for precious metals?

Weights Carat The carat is used to measure the weight of diamonds and other gemstones. Since 1st April 1914 a carat has been standardised as 1/5 of a gram. It is sometimes called a metric carat. There are, or were, 4 grains per carat, although this appears to be an rough approximation used by gem dealers. As there are 5 carats per gram, this would make a gram equal to 20 diamond grains, whereas the correct figure is 15.4323 (-480/31.1035). Perhaps gem dealers were using wheat grains instead of barley grains, although even this is only an approximation. Because diamonds and other gemstones are expensive, it is necessary to use subdivisions of the carat. It is usually subdivided and recorded to 2 decimal places, a hundredth of a carat is known in rather unmathematical trade jargon as a "point". Half a carat is therefore written .50 carats or 0.50 carats, and would be referred to as 50 points. In ancient times, there were various values for the carat, which ranged from 0.1885 to 0.2135 grams. Gram A gram or gramme is a standard metric unit of weight. There are obviously 1000 grams per kilogram. In 1960, the ISO confirmed the IS unit system which was based upon the existing MKS (Metres, Kilograms, and Seconds) system. The kilogram was defined as the weight of the International Prototype made of platinum and iridium which is held at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sèvres in France. One kilogram is equivalent to 2.204622 avoirdupois pounds. Grain An ancient unit which was originally based on the weight of a grain of wheat. The grain is the smallest unit of weight in the avoirdupois, troy, and apothecaries systems. Surprisingly it is identical in all three systems. There are, or were, 4 grains per carat, although this appears to be an rough approximation used by gem dealers. As there are 5 carats per gram, this would make a gram equal to 20 diamond grains, whereas the correct figure is 15.4323 (-480/31.1035). Perhaps gem dealers were using wheat grains instead of barley grains, although even this is only an approximation. 24 grains =1 pennyweight 480 grains = 1 troy ounce 5760 grains = 1 troy pound 437.5 grains = 1 ounce avoirdupois 7000 grains = 1 pound avoirdupois 1 grain = 0.0648 grams (0.06479891) 15.432 grains = 1 gram Grain Although we have stated above that the grain weighted the same in all three of the above systems, there were at least two different grains. The troy system used the supposed weight of the barley grain, whereas the wheat grain was also used as a standard of weight. There were three barley grains to four wheat grains. Momme A unit of weight previously used in Japan to weigh pearls. 75 grains = momme 3.75 grams = 1 momme Dram or Drachm An ancient unit of weight, also a Greek coin. It is believed to have originally meant the amount which one could hold in one's hand. 16 drams = 1 ounce avoirdupois 8 drams = 1 ounce apothecaries 1 dram (avoirdupois) = 27.34375 grains 1 dram (avoirdupois)= 1.772 grams 1 dram (apothecaries) = 60 grains Therefore:- 1 dram apothecaries = 2.194286 drams avoirdupois Imperial System A British system developed and refined from the earlier Roman systems used in Britain during the middle ages. In 1824 the troy pound was defined or confirmed. In 1863 the Imperial or avoirdupois pound was redefined as 0.45359237 kilograms. 20 stones avoirdupois = 1 ton avoirdupois 14 pounds avoirdupois = 1 stone avoirdupois 16 ounces avoirdupois = 1 pound avoirdupois 1 ounce avoirdupois = 28.349523 grams approx. 1 pound avoirdupois = 453.59237 grams 1 ton avoirdupois = 2240 pounds avoirdupois Troy A system historically used for measuring the weight of drugs, precious metals and gemstones. The name comes from the French city of Troyes. 480 grains = 1 ounce troy 31.1035 grams = 1 ounce troy 12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound 20 pennyweights (dwt) = 1 ounce troy 1 pound = 373.242 grams 1 pound = 5760 grains Pennyweight The pennyweight was the weight of a silver penny in medieval England. When pennies were introduced in England in the 8th century, their original weight is believed to have b


Which African country is entirely surrounded by Senegal?

Africa Africa Burkina Faso Burkina Faso is a landlocked West African state. With a total border length of 3,192 kilometers (1,984 miles), Burkina Faso is bordered by Mali to the north and west; Niger to the east; and Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d'Ivoire to the south. Cameroon Located on the west coast of Central Africa, Cameroon covers an area of 475,400 square kilometers (183,695 square miles), slightly more than California. Land boundaries extend for a total of 4,591 kilometers (2,853 miles) between Nigeria to the northwest, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) to the east, and the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea to the south. Cape Verde Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands and 5 islets situated 483 kilometers (300 miles) due west of Dakar, Senegal, in the North Atlantic Ocean. Cape Verde's total land area is 4,033 square kilometers (1,557 square miles), which makes it slightly larger than the U.S. Central African Republic The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari, now the Central African Republic (CAR), is well named; it is a landlocked country in the center of the African continent. Land boundaries extend for 5,203 kilometers (3,233 miles) connecting Cameroon to the west, Chad and Sudan to the north, and the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the south. Chad The former French colony of Chad, a landlocked country located in northern Central Africa, is more than 3 times the size of California. The country has an area of 1,284,000 square kilometers (495,755 square miles), with a land boundary length of 5,968 kilometers (3,708 miles). Congo, Republic of The; The Republic of the Congo (ROC) is located in Western Africa and has an area of 342,000 square kilometers (132,000 square miles). It has a modest coastline of 169 kilometers (105 miles) along the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest and shares land borders with Gabon, Cameroon, and the Central African Republic on the west and north. Côte D'ivoire Côte d'Ivoire (which means "Ivory Coast") is a West African country bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Ghana and Liberia. It has an area of 322,460 square kilometers (124,502 square miles) of which 318,000 square kilometers (122,780 square miles) are occupied by land while water occupies the remaining 4,460 square kilometers (1,722 square miles). Djibouti Djibouti is situated in the Horn of Africa, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, bordering the Gulf of Aden. To the north lies Eritrea with a shared border of 113 kilometers (70 miles); to the north, west, and southwest lies Ethiopia, with a border length of 337 kilometers (209 miles); and to the southeast lies Somalia, with a border length of 58 kilometers (36 miles). Egypt The Arab Republic of Egypt is located in North Africa, bordering on the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Libya to the west, the Gaza Strip to the east, and Sudan to the south. With an area of 1,001,450 square kilometers (386,659 square miles) and a coastline of 2,450 kilometers (1,522 miles), Egypt is slightly more than 3 times the size of New Mexico. Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea is a small West African nation of 28,051 square kilometers (10,830 square miles), roughly the same size as Maryland. It consists of a mainland enclave called Río Muni, on the west coast of Africa bordering Cameroon and Gabon, and 5 small islands off the coast of Cameroon in the Bight of Biafra: Bioko, Annobón, Corisco, and the 2 small islands known together as Islas Elobey. Eritrea Eritrea is an eastern African country occupying an area of 121,320 square kilometers (46,841 square miles), which makes it slightly larger than the state of Pennsylvania. It borders Sudan to the north and west, Ethiopia and Djibouti to the south, and the Red Sea to the east. Ethiopia Located in the Horn of Africa— the pointy peninsula-like landmass that emanates out of the eastern part of the continent—Ethiopia has a total area of 1,127,127 square kilometers (935,183 square miles), rendering it slightly less than twice the size of Texas. A landlocked country complet


In which country is around 85% of the Thar desert?

Thar Desert - New World Encyclopedia Thar Desert Next (The Bahamas) A NASA satellite image of the Thar Desert, with the India-Pakistan border superimposed. The desert is at the center left of the image; the Indus River and its tributaries are to the left side of the desert, and the dark green line at the bottom center of the image is the Aravalli Range. The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, encompasses 77,000 square miles of rolling sand dunes in eastern Pakistan and the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan. Small portions of the desert also extend into the Indian states of Haryana, Punjab, and Gujarat, but these states do not exercise extensive control over the region. The Thar Desert's name derives from the word t'hul, the general term for the region's sand ridges. It is defined by a series of natural borders, including the Aravalli Mountain Range to the southeast and the Punjab plain in the north and northeast. To the west, lies the Indus plain, and to the south, the Rann of Kutch. The geographic isolation of the Thar Desert by mountain ranges and plains contributes significantly to the weather patterns that shape its distinctive, hot, dry environment. The environment around the Thar effectively absorbs all the rain that is carried in the monsoon clouds before the clouds can reach the desert. The resulting monsoon winds in the desert are hot and dry, and the desert does not share in the wet season experienced in surrounding terrains. Contents 7 Credits Contributing to the beauty of the Thar is the desert's perpetual motion. While sand dunes are a common occurrence in deserts across the world, the dunes of the Thar are remarkable for their continual motion. The sandy desert floor is always moving. Origin of the Thar Desert Road in Tharparkar District Pakistan Lopping of Khejri tree for fodder and fuelwood at village Harsawa. Tecomella undulata tree at the village of Harsawa. Checking of shifting sand dunes through plantations of Acacia tortillis near Laxmangarh town Greening desert with plantations of jojoba at Fatehpur, Shekhawati The desert city of Jaipur, Rajasthan The Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur , India Desert tribes near Jaisalmer, India The origin of the Thar Desert is a controversial subject. Some experts consider it to be 4,000 to 10,000 years old, while others maintain that aridity started in this region much earlier. Another theory states that the area turned to desert relatively recently: Perhaps around 2,000-1,500 B.C.E. Around this time, the Ghaggar River ceased to be a major river. It now terminates in the desert. It has been observed through remote sensing techniques that Late Quaternary climatic changes and neotectonics have played a significant role in modifying the drainage courses, and a large number of palaeochannels exist. Most of the studies share the opinion that the palaeochannels of the Sarasvati coincide with the bed of present day Ghaggar and believe that the Sutlej along with the Yamuna once flowed into the present Ghaggar riverbed. It has been postulated that the Sutlej was the main tributary of the Ghaggar and that subsequently the tectonic movements might have forced the Sutlej westward and the Yamuna eastward, causing the Ghaggar to dry up. Geography There are three principal landforms in the desert region: The predominantly sand covered Thar Plains with hills including the central dune free country Hills The Thar Desert is distinguished by a series of rolling sand dunes that vary in height across the desert . While sand dunes are a common occurrence in deserts across the world, the dunes of the Thar are remarkable for their continual motion. In sharp contrast to the mountain ranges that ring the desert, the sandy desert floor is always in motion. The perpetual movement of the desert, while contributing the the desert's beauty, has had a prohibitive effect for permanent human settlement, as the sands can easily be blown over structures. The sands are particularly mobile due to severe winds in the region, which sweep the sands over areas of fertile soil . The layer of s


Which street is Dublin’s main shopping centre?

Shopping in Dublin Shopping in Dublin Stephen's Green Shopping Centre Hands up who’s visited London, Paris and Berlin purely to shop? Yes, shopping there is legendary, but the logistics are difficult. I've collapsed into cafés in these cities, far from my hostel/hotel, exhausted, vowing to return to complete the shopping mission another time. There is no such hassle in Dublin. Dublin is big enough to offer distinct shopping districts that are small enough not only to explore on foot, but to stroll between. Quirky markets, trendy boutiques, designer stores and chic cafés are easy to find. The best shopping complex outside the city centre is Dundrum Shopping Centre, 10 minutes away by tram (Luas). There's no need for frustrating map navigation or stressful underground travel. Read more in my guide Shopping in Dublin: Four Key Areas . Where to shop Two of the main shopping areas are pedestrianised and are found either side of the River Liffey. Grafton Street is on the south side and Henry and Jervis Streets are on the north side. The Jervis Street Shopping Centre is the main complex in the latter area (125 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, www.jervis.ie ). Around the corner from Jervis and Henry Streets, you'll find Penneys (O'Connell Street, Dublin 1, +353 (1) 656 6666, www.primark.ie) - this is an Irish bargain basement for funky, trendy but throwaway fashion and accessories and is much loved amongst Irish fashionistas - just don't expect your buys to last a lifetime! Just 10 minutes away, Grafton Street tends to attract an entirely different market, especially its flagship store Brown Thomas (88 Grafton Street, Dublin 2, +353 (1) 6056666, www.brownthomas.com ) where you'll find much more extravagant shoppers in search of designer wares. Don’t let this put you off if you’re on a shoestring, though, as there are some funky markets and eccentric vintage shops tucked away in the small roads and alleys that connect Grafton Street with its surrounds. My favourite is George's Street Arcade (S Great Georges St, Dublin, +353 (1) 283 6077, www.georgesstreetarcade.ie ) where you'll find quirky and and second-hand gems. The Powerscourt Shopping Centre (59 William St, Dublin 2, +353 (1) 6794144, www.powerscourtcentre.com) - where you'll also find the ever creative and evolving The Loft Market every Friday-Sunday, on the second floor, championing emerging young Irish designers - and Westbury Shopping Mall (off Grafton Street, Dublin 2) are well worth checking out for individual boutiques and original fashions, tasty cafes and classy bars. St Stephen's Green shopping centre (Stephens Green West, Dublin 2, +353 (1) 4780888, www.stephensgreen.com , main photo above) is a massive, glass-walled complex at the top of Grafton Street. If it's high street labels you're after, you'll find them here. I, however, find the centre too packed at weekends to enjoy browsing. Dundrum Town Centre (Sandyford Road, Dundrum, Dublin 16, +353(1)2991700, www.dundrum.ie ) is another extensive shopping complex 10 minutes outside the city centre, accessible easily by the Luas at two stops, Balally or Dundrum. This is a designer and high-street Mecca on many floors under one massive roof and there's ample parking (but it's not cheap) as well as public transport facilities. There's a large cinema here, and a great selection of restaurants, too. En route to Dundrum on the Luas, you'll fall upon Ranelagh, a buzzing village that's more than worth a stop with wonderful boutiques, cafés, restaurants and bars.  Original weekend markets are where adventurous shoppers will find creative designers, original crafts and delicious Irish food at low prices. As well as The Loft Market every Friday-Sunday, on the second floor of Powerscourt Shopping Centre (mentioned above) that champions Irish and ethical fashion, you've got Designer Mart at Cow's Lane (Cow's Lane, Old City Temple Bar , Dublin 2, +353 1 677 2255;  www.templebar.ie ) or the Temple Bar Food Market (Temple Bar Cultural Trust, 12 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2; +353 1 6772255;  www.templebar.ie ), both on Satu