From which plant is the Mexican drink tequila distilled ?

A Guide To Drinking Tequila In Mexico - Gadling Gadling Sign up for our newsletters Gadling by Jessica Festa on Aug 10, 2012 While tequila is typically thought of as something you took too many shots of during a crazy night out, the drink actually has a deep cultural meaning, rich history and a proper way to be sipped. To help you get better acquainted with the libation, here is a guide to drinking tequila in Mexico . History Originating in the northwestern state of Jalisco, tequila is North America’s first distilled and commercially produced alcohol. It is distilled from the blue agave plant, which produces sugar and is native to Jalisco. Tequila’s roots reach back into pre-Hispanic times when the Aztecs fermented sap from the local agave plants, long before the Spanish arrived in 1521. Then, when the brandy the Spaniards had brought with them ran out, they began to distill the agave plant to make tequila. By law, tequila can only be called “tequila” if it is made in Jalisco. The first qualifications for the drink were written in 1947, and have been constantly updated ever since. If you’re looking for top-shelf tequila, make sure it’s made with 100% blue agave.How It’s Made According to tequila distillers Daniel Osuna and Alfonso Pelayo Osuna, there is a very specific process for making tequila. First, the agave is cultivated for seven to eight years, before the spines are cut off and the piñas are transported to the distillery. Once this is done, there are four steps in the production process. 1. The piñas are roasted in the oven. This is to change the starch into fermentable sugars and to soften the piñas’ texture to be able to extract their juice. 2. Now comes the sugar extraction, where the largest amount of sugar within the agave is extracted. 3. Fermenting is the most important stage in the process for obtaining the desired characteristics of the tequila. The sugar is isolated to allow it to change to alcohol and for the pleasant aromas to appear. 4. Finally, the product is distilled. This is when the tequila is refined for perfect flavor and aroma in oak barrels. The alcohol absorbs the oak, allowing the tequila to have perfect body, softness and texture. Classifications There are two basic classifications of tequila , “100% blue agave” and “tequila mixto” (mixed). Mixed tequila contains at least 51% blue agave, with the rest typically coming from cane sugar. Other ingredients you may find in this type of tequila include caramel color, oak extract flavoring, glycerin, and sugar based syrup. This type does not need to be made in Jalisco. The other classification, 100% blue agave, will read “Tequila 100% de agave” or “Tequila 100% puro de agave” on the bottle. If it simply says “tequila,” it’s probably mixed. From the two classifications there are five sub-classifications: Tequila Silver – Blanco – Plata – White – Platinum: This type of tequila is in its purest form. It usually isn’t aged, with the true flavors, intensity and sweetness being present. Tequila Gold – Joven – Oro: This type of tequila is usually mixed, with added colors and flavors. Most times, this type of tequila is inexpensive and used for mixed drinks in bars; however, there are exceptions to this, like when silver tequila is mixed with a reposado and/or añejo tequila. By doing this, you’re still keeping the product 100% blue agave. Tequila Reposado: Known as an “aged” or “rested” tequila, the drink is aged in wood barrels or storage tanks from anywhere between 2 to 11 months. It’s usually gold in color and has flavors of agave and wood. Sometimes, the tequila will be aged in a barrel that once contained a different spirit like whiskey or wine, giving it some of those tastes, as well. Tequila Añejo: This “extra aged” tequila is aged for at least one year. The liquid usually takes on an amber color that is more smooth, dark and complex than the other sub-classifications. Tequila Extra Añejo: Known as “ultra aged,” this tequila is aged for three years or more. The extended aging gives it a very dark color, and the flavor is often hard to distinguish


In mythology , which bird can be reborn from its own ashes ?

Phoenix | Mythology Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia This article is about the mythological bird. For the Phoenician king, see Phoenix (King) . The phoenix depicted in the Aberdeen Bestiary (ca. 12thC). The Phoenix (Ancient Greek: Φοῖνιξ, phoínix, Persian: ققنوس, Arabic: العنقاء) is a mythical, sacred firebird that can be found in the mythologies of the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Chinese, Japanese and (according to Sanchuniathon) Phoenicians, Hindu and other cultures. In Mythology Edit The phoenix is a mythical bird that is the true spirit of fire with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold or yellow and red. It was said to have eyes as blue as sapphires. It was said to be the spirit of Ra himself because its fire was so fierce. It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of incense and sacred materials that it then ignites; the bird burned fiercely then was reduced to ashes, from which the new, young phoenix arises, reborn anew to live a better life than the previous one. The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its previous incarnation. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of its old self in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in the Egyptian city of The phoenix looked like a giant fiery eagle with a flame trail behind it wherever it flew Heliopolis (literally "sun-city" in Greek). It is said that the bird's cry is that of a beautiful song. The Phoenix's ability to be reborn from its own ashes makes it essentially immortal. In very few stories, they are able to change into people and other birds. There is only ever one phoenix at a time. The tears of the phoenix have ability to heal any wound or infection and raise the dead. The phoenix's size is not definite since it can change size, but its regular size is the size of a house. Trivia


Who chairs the Radio 4 programme Round Britain Quiz ?

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 Quiz - Downloads Radio 4 Quiz Brain of Britain Radio 4 Quiz Podcast Intelligent and challenging quiz games on BBC Radio 4. Featuring Round Britain Quiz, Counterpoint and Brain of Britain with Quiz Masters including Paul Gambaccini, Tom Sutcliffe and Russell Davies. Updated: weekly


What is the longest river in Italy? | Reference.com What is the longest river in Italy? A: Quick Answer The longest river in Italy is the Po River, which flows over 405 miles from its source in the Val Po of the northern Italian Cottian Alps to its outflow in the Adriatic Sea near Venice. It begins at 6,900 feet above sea level and discharges at sea level. Full Answer The Po River flows through the cities of Ferrara, Turin and Piacenza. It is surrounded by the Po Valley, which extends to parts of Switzerland and France. The valley is frequently subject to heavy flooding from the Po River. At its widest point, the river has an expanse of 1,650 feet. The second-largest river in Italy is the Adige River.


How is the plant monstera deliciosa better known ?

Ceriman Morton, J. 1987. Ceriman. p. 1517. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL. Ceriman Other Uses Of the many aroids (members of the family of Araceae) that are cultivated as ornamental plants, only this one has been grown as well for its fruit. The ceriman, Monstera deliciosa Liebm. (syn. Philodendron pertusum Kunth & Bouche), is often called merely monstera and, inappropriately, false breadfruit. Because of the apertures in its leaves, some have called it Swiss-cheese plant, or hurricane plant, suggesting that the holes and slits permit the wind to pass through without damaging the foliage. Generally, in Mexico and other Latin American countries it is known as pinanona, or pina anona, but in Venezuela it is called ojul or huracan; in Colombia, hojadillo; in Guatemala, harpon or arpon comun. In Guadeloupe it is caroal, liane percee, or liane franche; in Martinique, siguine couleurre; in French Guiana, arum du pays or arum troud. In Brazil it is catalogued by a leading nursery as ananas japonez (Japanese pineapple). Fig. 4: The ceriman (Monstera deliciosa) in flower and fruit at Palm Lodge Tropical Grove, Homestead, Fla. In: J.F. Morton, Some Useful and Ornamental Plants of the Caribbean Gardens, 1955. Description The plant is a fast-growing, stout, herbaceous vine spreading over the ground and forming extensive mats if unsupported, but climbing trees to a height of 30 ft (9 m) or more. The stems are cylindrical, heavy, 2 1/2 to 3 in (6.25-7.5 cm) thick, rough with leaf scars, and producing numerous, long, tough aerial roots. The leathery leaves, on stiff, erect, flattened petioles to 3 1/2 ft (105 cm) long, are oval, cordate at the base, to 3 ft (90 cm) or more in length and to 2 3/4 ft (82.8 cm) wide; deeply cut into 9-in (22.8 cm) strips around the margins and perforated on each side of the midrib with elliptic or oblong holes of various sizes. Several inflorescences arise in a group from the leaf axils on tough, cylindrical stalks. The cream colored spadix, sheltered at first by a waxy, white, calla-lily-like spathe, develops into a green compound fruit 8 to 12 in (20-30 cm) or more in length and 2 to 3 1/2 in (5-8.75 cm) thick, suggesting an ear of corn. The thick, hard rind, made up of hexagonal plates or "scales", covers individual segments of ivory-colored, juicy, fragrant pulp much like diced pineapple. Between the segments there are thin, black particles (floral remnants). Generally there are no seeds, but sometimes, pale-green, hard seeds the size of large peas, may occur in a dozen or so of the segments. Origin and Distribution The ceriman is native to wet forests of southern Mexico, Guatemala and parts of Costa Rica and Panama. It was introduced into cultivation in England in 1752; reached Singapore in 1877 and India in 1878. Specimens of the fruit were exhibited by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1874 and 1881. It has become familiar as an ornamental in most of the warm countries of the world and is widely used in warm and temperate regions as a potted plant indoors,especially in conservatories and greenhousesthough it does not bloom nor fruit in confinement. In Guatemala, it is raised in pots in patios to prevent too rampant growth, as it is apt to become an aggressive nuisance. The fruits are marketed to some extent in Queensland and, in the past, were sometimes shipped from Florida to gourmet grocers in New York and Philadelphia. Propagation In some European nurseries, the ceriman is raised from imported seed. Rapid multiplication has been achieved through tissue culture in Denmark. Generally, propagation is by means of stem cuttings, which may be simply set in beds or pots in the ground where the vine is intended to grow. Suckers or offshoots, with or without roots, can be separated from parent plants and transplanted successfully. Mulching is desirable as well as watering until new roots have become well-established. Culture Suckers will fruit in 2 to 4 years; cuttings in 4 to 6 years, depending on the location, soil and attention given. Out-of


What was the host city of the 1984 Summer Olympics ?

How L.A.'s 1984 Summer Olympics Became the Most Successful Games Ever How L.A.'s 1984 Summer Olympics Became the Most Successful Games Ever Go to permalink It's almost showtime for Sochi, which may or may not have its shit together by the time the opening ceremonies start. While it's too late for Sochi to change its trajectory, perhaps the 2016 host city could jot down a few tips from what are widely considered to be the most successful Olympics ever: L.A., 1984. Can Sochi Get Its Shit Together? Can Sochi Get Its Shit Together? Can Sochi Get Its Shit Together? By all accounts—except maybe Vladimir Putin's—the small Russian resort town of Sochi… Read more Read more In the late 1970s, hosting the Olympics was not a very desirable thing for a city to do. The games were seen as financially risky: Montreal's debt from the 1976 Summer Games totaled $1.5 billion dollars, which wasn't paid off until 2006. Denver was actually awarded the 1976 Winter Games but its voters did not approve public funding, so it went to Innsbruck, Austria. Plus, tensions were high when it came to international athletic competitions. Munich had suffered a deadly hostage crisis in 1972 and the Cold War was brewing. The 1980 games in Moscow were boycotted by the U.S. and other countries, and the U.S.S.R. and many other Eastern European boycotted the 1984 games. An early front-runner, Tehran, pulled out from the 1984 bidding process at the last minute due to social unrest. Advertisement Advertisement In the end, only two cities officially bid to host the 1984 Summer Games: New York City and Los Angeles. Since the U.S. could only recommend one city for the international bid, when they decided on L.A. to represent the U.S., it became the winning city by default. Preparing for challenges The Olympics are essentially a high-profile opportunity for civic rebranding: A chance for a smaller city to put itself on the map or for a larger one to reinvent itself. While L.A. was by no means a tiny hamlet looking for validation, the city was certainly hoping to turn around its reputation as a smoggy, sprawling megalopolis lacking a center or any real civic pride. Detractors were quick to judge the choice of L.A. as too big, too unprepared, and too financially strapped. Plus, L.A. had already hosted the Summer Olympics once, back in 1932. But L.A. did have one real handicap: The 1984 Summer Olympics were the first in history not to be sponsored by the government, as they still are in many countries and had previously been in the U.S. Sponsored This called for a budget-conscious Olympics, headed by local businessman Peter Ueberroth. He organized a committee that functioned more like a corporation, dubbing it LA84 and creating a board consisting of entrepreneurs and other financially savvy leaders. Accordingly, the games would be funded by unprecedented corporate sponsorships, impressive private fundraising, and, for the first time on U.S. soil, television deals. The committee sold the television rights to the broadcast to ABC for $225 million, raising a large amount of money far in advance of the games. Leave it up to the entertainment capital of the world to strike such a smart deal. Ueberroth was named Time's Man of the Year. Budget-minded development L.A.'s fiscally responsible philosophy extended to its innovative architectural strategy. The building frenzy that accompanies a winning bid is often followed by a devastating post-Olympics blow, where the city is left with rotting stadiums and empty transit systems. This is most infamously illustrated in Athens, Greece; there, not only are most of the city's 2004 venues now empty and dilapidated, but it has been theorized that the egregious expenses may have actually contributed to Greece's ongoing financial crisis. Nagano, Japan, also fell into a recession after their 1998 Winter Olympics. Much of this is illustrated in The Olympic City , where Gary Hustwit and Jon Pack traveled to hosting cities to document what happens after the games leave. Advertisement Advertisement Also, as we've seen in Sochi—which is building e


How many bells signify the end of a nautical watch ?

Watch Schedules and Ship's Bells - BoatSafe.com   Watch Schedules and Ship's Bells As early as the 15th Century, a bell was used to sound the time onboard a ship. (Time, in those days, was kept with an hourglass. See The History of Navigation ) The bell was rung every half hour of the 4 hour watch. A 24 hour day was divided into six 4 hour watches, except the dog watch (16:00 - 20:00 hours) which could be divided into two 2 hour watches to allow for the taking of the evening meal.   Midnight to 4 AM (0000 - 0400) Morning Watch 4 AM to 8 AM (0400 - 0800) Forenoon Watch 8 AM to Noon (0800 - 1200) Afternoon Watch Noon to 4 PM (1200 - 1600) First Dog Watch 4 PM to 6 PM (1600 - 1800) Second Dog Watch 6 PM to 8 PM (1800 - 2000) First Watch 8 PM to Midnight (2000 - 0000) The bells were struck for every half-hour of each watch, with a maximum of eight bells. For instance, during the Middle Watch you would hear the the following: 00:30 1 bell 01:30 2 bells, pause, 1 bell 02:00 2 bells, pause, 2 bells 02:30 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, pause, 1 bell 03:00 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, pause, 2 bells 03:30 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, pause, 1 bell 04:00 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, pause, 2 bells, pause, 2 bells At eight bells your watch was over! All other 4 hour watches followed this same procedure except the Dog Watches. At the end of the First Dog Watch, only four bells were struck, and the Second Dog Watch bells were struck like this: 6:30 PM, one bell; 7 PM two bells; 7:30 PM, three bells; and at 8 PM, eight bells. Since 1915, all U.S. Merchant vessels over 100 gross tons have, by law, divided the crew into three watches, working four hours on and eight hours off, and turning the dog watches into one evening watch.


In which of London's Royal Parks is Speakers' Corner located ?

Speakers Corner Speakers' Corner Sitemap Speakers' Corner "We walked through Hyde Park looking for Speakers’ Corner, which – especially for us as East Germans – was legendary, the very symbol of free speech. I hope that is not an insult to you, the members of the British Parliament." Speech by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel in London to both Houses of the British Parliament 27 Feb 2014 Culture Secretary and Speakers' Corner Speakers Speakers' Corner Movement PRESS RELEASE SAVE SPEAKERS' CORNER Speakers' Corner is the most famous location for free speech in the world. It symbolises popular struggles in Britain for the right to vote, speak and assemble. It exists since the 1872 Parks and Gardens Act. We believe that the redesign of Speakers' Corner by the Royal Parks which they will officially launch at a press conference at Speakers' Corner at 8.30am on June 19th undermines Speakers' Corner. The Royal Parks' claim that their change to the layout enhances Speakers' Corner; in fact it appears designed to destroy it, because: 1.     The area has been significantly reduced in size 2.     The redesign is structured around then needs of pop concerts not public oratory 3.     No consultation took place with anyone from Speakers' Corner 4.     The toilet facilities in Marble Arch have been taken away and no new facilities provided 5.     In this way, the overall redesign of both Marble Arch and Speakers' Corner takes no account of the needs or feelings of its users Sadly, the planning and implementation of the redesign was imposed by the Royal Parks and it completely excluded the Speakers' Corner community from participation. The redesign fundamentally undermines the traditional Speakers' Corner as a place of free speech and significantly reduces the size of the area. Over the last two decades the Royal Parks have, by intent or incompetence, systematically undermined Speakers' Corner. First, they installed a merry-go-round, which resulted in a campaign of civil disobedience. Then they increasingly used the land designated by statute, as the "Speakers' Area" for commercial events; consequently, "Speakers' Corner" is frequently drowned out by the incredible noise levels generated. The toilets in Marble Arch were closed a couple of years ago, so the nearest public toilet is now 500 meters away. This means that the area is used a public toilet by homeless people and the smell of faeces can be overpowering. The refreshment cafe charges extortionate prices. This excludes the less well off, many of who have been regulars at Speakers' Corner for decades, from being able to afford a tea of coffee. Despite increasing tension and violence there are no longer any uniformed police at Speakers' Corner. Only a few years ago, the police used to reduce the incidences of violent outbreaks and encourage tolerance and both the speakers and the Speakers’ Corner community knew them. This is no longer the case. The Speakers' Corner redesign, which is to be officially opened on Thursday 19th June 2014 at 8.30am will be opposed because: rather than protect the area from sound pollution it significantly reduces the speakers area; and is it specifically designed for vast commercial projects, like pop concerts. This directly conflict with Speakers' Corners' statutory role and spiritual and heritage role as the world's oldest and most famous area specifically designated for free speech. We demand that the Royal Parks 1.     Not an inch from Speakers Corner! Restore the traditional Speakers' Corner area to its size in 2013! 2.     We are not cattle! Remove the new gates! 3.     We want tolerance! At least one uniformed police officer should be present during peak times at Speakers' Corner on Sunday afternoons 4.     Reopen free public toilets within 200 meters of Speakers' Corner Any enquiries about the campaign can be directed to Heiko Khoo the issues will be debated on a regular basis at Speakers' Corner every Sunday. Heiko Khoo is a Speakers' Corner speaker who has spoken at Speakers' Corner since 1986. He produces the Speakers' Corner radio show for Lon


In Shakespeare's Richard III, the Duke of Clarence is famously drowned in a vat of what type of wine ?

2004 06 summer bulletin by Wendy Moorhen - issuu issuu Ricardian Bulletin Magazine of the Richard III Society ISSN 0308 4337 Ricardian Bulletin Summer 2004 Contents 2 3 5 6 7 10 13 18 25 28 37 40 43 44 45 50 52 54 60 61 From the Chairman New Membership Arrangements The Robert Hamblin Award A Society Wedding Media Retrospective News and Reviews The Man Himself The Debate: Was Edward IV Illegitimate? Bosworth, Merevale and Atherstone 1485: Recent Discoveries by John D. Austin Correspondence Barton Library Bookseller Letter from America Obituaries Report on Society Events Future Society Events Branches and Groups Contacts Branches and Groups Reports New Members Calendar Contributions Contributions are welcomed from all members. Articles and correspondence regarding the Bulletin Debate should be sent to Peter Hammond and all other contributions to Elizabeth Nokes. Bulletin Press Dates 15 January for Spring issue; 15 April for Summer issue; 15 July for Autumn issue; 15 October for Winter issue. Articles should be sent well in advance. Bulletin & Ricardian Back Numbers Back issues of the The Ricardian and The Bulletin are available from Pat Ruffle. If you are interested in obtaining any back numbers, please contact Mrs Ruffle to establish whether she holds the issue(s) in which you are interested. The Ricardian Bulletin produced by the Bulletin Editorial Committee, General Editor Elizabeth Nokes and printed by St Edmundsbury Press. ÂŠ Richard III Society, 2004 1 From the Chairman I t is now a year since we introduced the first edition of the new look Bulletin and I think that it’s fair to say that it is a winner. Knowing some of the things in store for future issues, I'm sure that things are going to get even better. Writing of things getting better, we have already had two programmes this year on terrestrial television giving a positive image of Richard III to a wide viewing audience. First there was Tony Robinson’s programme, which we reviewed in March, and now Terry Jones’series Mediaeval Lives. As befits a former member of the Monty Python team, Terry mixed serious history and humour in a clever and sometimes idiosyncratic way. No matter, it got the message across, debunking a number of mediaeval myths along the way. One in particular certainly hit home for us, and how nice it was to hear Thomas Langton’s panegyric description of Richard’s kingship quoted again on prime time television. The producers of Mediaeval Lives consulted the Society during the development stage of the series, and, as with the Robinson programme, we were able to influence the representation of Richard and his reign. The Society is making a real difference to how the king is perceived in the popular imagination. A simple fact illustrating what we gain from such a proactive approach is that the number of new members joining the Society during the first quarter of 2004 is double that of last year. A third programme, ‘Historyonics’, is reviewed by Geoff Wheeler later in this issue. It has been said many times that we are able to have this positive influence on both the academic and popular view of Richard III because we have a strong and active membership. We do not take this for granted. As a part of the ongoing review of Society activities we have recently been looking at membership administration and have decided on some radical changes. They are explained next in this issue, but I would just like to say that the changes will benefit all members and I am especially grateful to Wendy Moorhen for her work in bringing it all together. On the subject of membership, it is worth noting already that the Members’ Day and Society AGM for 2004 will be held on the 2 October in Bristol at an exciting venue in the heart of the city. It will be only the second time that this event has been held outside London, so I hope that there will be a good turn-out of members from across the country. Undoubtedly, a highlight of this issue is the debate between Joanna Laynesmith and Michael Jones over the legitimacy of Edward IV. I’m sure that it’s a subject which will run an


Swanhilde is the lead role in which ballet ?

Misty Copeland: A trailblazing ballerina makes the judge's table - LA Times Misty Copeland: A trailblazing ballerina makes the judge's table Misty Copeland Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times Prima ballerina Misty Copeland will make history as the first African American woman to dance the lead role of Swanilda in the famous ballet "Coppelia." She will also be a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance." Prima ballerina Misty Copeland will make history as the first African American woman to dance the lead role of Swanilda in the famous ballet "Coppelia." She will also be a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance." (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Jevon Phillips Contact Reporter Ballerina Misty Copeland's judging theory on 'SYTYCD': 'If there's not a balance, then there's just no point." Misty Copeland has her feet in a bucket of ice water. It's symbolic of the hard work it's taken to become not only a prima ballerina in the American Ballet Theater, but also the first African American ballerina in that venerable company to be featured as the lead in "Coppélia." Copeland's ability to continually transcend the dance world will be on display in tonight's episode, and more upcoming ones, of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" -- where she will be a guest judge. From the custody battles fought for her as she became a well-known teen dance prodigy, to her ascension as the popular Firebird in a reimagining of the 1910 Stravinsky classic "The Firebird," Copeland's rise to the top of the ballet world has been well-documented. A broader opportunity awaits for her and ballet as she joins the popular dance program now in its 11th season. But first, the ice. What do you do on your Sundays off? When I'm in rehearsal season, for some reason it doesn't feel as grueling. There's something extra that we all just attribute to going onstage. We're in performance mode at the Metropolitan, and I'm dead. So Sundays, I just chill out. I'm probably going to get dragged around by my boyfriend to shop for the apartment. Otherwise, I'm icing my body and taking care of myself. What are you working on right now? I'll be performing [in a ballet] that was choreographed by George Balanchine called "Duo Concertant." It's a pretty beautiful piece; it's just me and a partner with a violinist and a pianist on stage. Then I will also dance in George Balanchine's "Themes and Variations" and another old old ballet called "Gaîté Parisienne." That's a fun one. It's got cancan dancers and it's set in Paris and it's really uplifting and exciting. And then it changes every week! Do you enjoy that switching from week to week or would you rather settle into something? It definitely makes it more exciting that you don't get complacent in the role that you're performing because you constantly have to think about what you're doing to transform into different characters for the different parts. I think the worst part is that when you want to be thinking about the performance that you're doing that night, you're rehearsing all day for the ballet you'll be doing next week. You body is just exhausted. You're going to be the first African American ballerina to dance the lead in "Coppélia." How does it feel to not only get the lead, but be a "first"? Misty Copeland Misty Copeland performs. Misty Copeland performs. (Gene Schiavone) It's very exciting. I work so hard every day. When I'm given an opportunity like this, performing Swanilda, I really don't step back and look at the picture thinking "Oh, I'm the first." I get into this little bubble and just try to do my best and completely do all the research I can on the role. It usually doesn't hit me until I've performed the part and I'm looking back on things. That kind of happened when I performed the role of Firebird (in "The Firebird") ... I was so completely immersed in becoming this character and being the best I could be that none of those things were on my mind. So, I'm just excited.  I actually premiered the role in "Coppélia" in Abu Dhabi in April. It was nice to be able to have an opportunity to view it one time out


Biltong is a cured meat from which country ?

How to make Biltong - YouTube How to make Biltong Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 3, 2013 Biltong is a kind of cured meat that originated in South Africa. Many different types of meat are used to produce it, ranging from beef through game meats to fillets of ostrich from commercial farms. It is typically made from raw fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or flat pieces sliced across the grain. Crown National makes the famous Safari Biltong Seasoning. Check out their website at www.crownnational.co.za for more information Category


Before entering government, Neville Chamberlain was lord mayor of which city ?

Neville Chamberlain - Prime Minister, Government Official, Mayor - Biography.com Neville Chamberlain Neville Chamberlain was the British prime minister as Great Britain entered World War II. He is known for his policy of "appeasement" toward Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany. IN THESE GROUPS “I believe it is peace for our time ... peace with honour.” Neville Chamberlain Synopsis Neville Chamberlain was born on March 18, 1869, in Birmingham, England. He served as British prime minister from 1937 to 1940, and is best known for his policy of "appeasement" toward Adolf Hitler's Germany. He signed the Munich Agreement in 1938, relinquishing a region of Czechoslovakia to the Nazis. In 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Chamberlain, who had lost political support, resigned in 1940 and died a few months later. Early Life Born in Birmingham, England, on March 18, 1869, Arthur Neville Chamberlain served as his country's leader in the years leading up to World War II and the early days of the war itself, and is best remembered for his policy of appeasement with Nazi Germany. His father, Joseph Chamberlain, was a successful businessman who held several government posts, including as mayor of Birmingham for a time. Neville Chamberlain had three sisters, Ethel, Ida and Hilda, as well as two older half-siblings, Beatrice and Austen, from his father's first marriage. He attended the Rugby School and then Mason College (now University of Birmingham). At the age of 21, Chamberlain went to the Bahamas to manage an estate there for several years. That business venture ultimately failed, but he had proven himself as a talented manager and businessman. Chamberlain found success in business after returning to England. Leading Political Figure In 1911, Neville Chamberlain won election to the Birmingham City Council—his first political post. He married Anne Vere Cole that same year, and the couple eventually had two children together, Dorothy and Francis. Chamberlain became Birmingham's lord mayor in 1915. Before long, he became a figure on the national political scene. Chamberlain won election to the House of Commons in 1918 as a member of the Conservative Party. He went on to serve as postmaster general and minister of health. In the mid-1920s, Chamberlain and his half-brother, Austen, both served on Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin's cabinet. In 1930, during a period of infighting among members of the Conservative Party, Chamberlain briefly became party chairman, until Stanley Baldwin regained control. He then used his talents for economics and business matters as chancellor of the exchequer. For six years, Chamberlain oversaw the country's financial policies. British Prime Minister Chamberlain became Britain's prime minister in 1937. Some of his early efforts focused on improving the lives of workers. The Factories Act of 1937 restricted the number of hours that children and women worked. The following year, Chamberlain supported the Holiday with Pay Act, which gave workers a week off with pay. However, his work on the domestic front was quickly overshadowed by growing foreign relations issues. Rather than challenge acts of aggression by Nazi Germany, Chamberlain sought ways to pacify Adolf Hitler. Chamberlain signed the Munich Pact in 1938, which gave parts of Czechoslovakia to Germany. Some have speculated that his desire to keep the peace was somewhat driven by Britain being outmatched by Germany's military at the time. Chamberlain seemed to have underestimated Hitler's ambitions. In March 1939, Hitler violated the Munich Pact by invading Czechoslovakia. Britain and France agreed to protect Poland later that month. After Hitler's forces entered Poland that September, Chamberlain officially declared war on Germany; this declaration came shortly after the invasion, but his slight delay in making this announcement negatively impacted Chamberlain's popularity. While he saw Britain through the early days of the war, Chamberlain found himself on the political decline. He resigned on May 10, 1940, and was succeeded by Winston Churchill as prime min


Which noises did Spanish censors remove from the film Blazing Saddles ?

Blazing Saddles (1974) - Alternate Versions - IMDb Blazing Saddles (1974) Alternate Versions Showing all 10 items The standard cable and commercial broadcast versions omit racial slurs and some bad language. Extent of the editing is contingent on whether the TV-PG, or TV-14 version is being shown. When Blazing Saddles was aired on Fox Family Channel in 2001, when Lillie Von Schtupp's name was mentioned, the Schtupp part was left out. There was also a scene ater Bart tried the dynamite but the detonator wouldn't cooperate with Lillie Von Schtupp not catching a remark Bart called out so Gabby Johnson explains it to her in his drunken gibberish. When aired on Fox Family, the part Hedley Lamaar is looking through a law book for 'Land Snatch' was altered: when Hedley get's to the part of the book that says 'See Snatch' is changed to 'See Property'. These scenes were altered for TV viewing: When Bart asks Jim what he'd like to do, Jim's response of "Play chess...Screw?" Was changed to: "Play ches...Saloon?"; A line of dialogue from Jim was altered to remove the word 'pissant'; Jim's line of "Little bastard shot me in the ass" was changed to "Little punk shot me in the you know."; Racial slurs like "nigger" and "chink" were still intact. On most TV prints, the song sung by the citizens of Rock Ridge in the church is censored at the end. In the original, they sing "Our town is turning into shit." The TV version dubs an off-key organ chord sound effect over the offensive word. One TV print shown on US network TV in the 1980s removed all sounds of belching and flatulence from the campfire beans sequence. As a result viewers watched the cowboys standing up and sitting down for no apparent reason. Gov. Le Petomane also, in some televised versions, shakes hands with the cardboard townspeople in fake Rock Ridge. Previous versions shown on TV in the UK show Mongo's blackended face after the Candy Gram explodes. In all release versions, the scene fades out before we see Mongo's blackened face. TV prints use an alternate take of a sequence in which Rock Ridge's town priest says a prayer. In the theatrical version, the prayer ends with the line, "...or are we just jerking off?" The TV version substitutes a take (shot from a different angle) in which the prayer ends with, "...or are we just whisting Dixie?" The 2004 DVD release includes this alternate take. The TV release has five extra scenes that weren't in the theatrical release: When Sheriff Bart is trying to capture Mongo, after he delivers the "CandyGram for Mongo", it then shows a "draw on the dummy sheriff" game that fires a cannon at Mongo, and then a scene Bart convinces Mongo to go diving down a well for Spanish Doubloons and Bart stops pumping air to the diving suit because it's time for his lunch break. Bart and Jim run away from Hedley Lamarr and his gang whilst wearing the KKK outfits. They run into some Born-again Christians having a baptism/picnic and join in. Lily Von Shtupp (Madeline Kahn) gives a brief spoken introduction to the saloon crowd before beginning her song. Governor Le Petomaine (Mel Brooks) arrives in the fake Rock Ridge a few moments before the final showdown, in a stagecoach with a flashing red light on the back, makes a joke about losing the "blue collar vote" and does a skit in the town where he impersonates Harpo Marx. When the dynamite fails to explode, Lily Von Schtuup says with some German rambling that it didn't work. When nobody knows what she said the guy that speaks frontier gibberish tries to translate. Those around him hit him with their hats. See also


In which country did wafu salad dressing originate ?

The Food Timeline: history notes--salad Food historians tell us salads (generally defined as mixed greens with dressing) were enjoyed by ancient Romans and Greeks. As time progressed, salads became more complicated. Recipes varied according to place and time. Dinner salads, as we know them today, were popular with Renaissance folks. Composed salads assembled with layers of ingredients were enjoyed in the 18th century. They were called Salmagundi . Today they are called chef's salad. Why do we call it salad? The basis for the word salad is 'sal', meaning salt. This was chosen because in ancient times, salt was often an ingredient in the dressing. Notes here: "Salad, a term derived from the Latin sal (salt), which yielded the form salata, 'salted things' such as the raw vegetables eaen in classical times with a dressing of oil, vinegar or salt. The word turns up in Old French as salade and then in late 14th century English as salad or sallet." ---Oxford Companion to Food, Alan Davidson [Oxford Univeristy Press:Oxford] 2nd edition, 2006 (p. 682) "Etymologically, the key ingredient of salad, and the reason for its getting its name, is the dressing. The Romans were enthusiastic eaters of salads, many of their differing hardly at all from present-day ones--a simple selection of raw vegetables...--and they always used a dressing of some sort: oil, vinegar, and often brine. And hence the name salad, which comes from Vulgar Latin Herba salata, literally 'salted herb'." ---An A-Z of Food and Drink, John Ayto [Oxford University Press:Oxford] 2002 (p. 294) Etymological notes & historic uses, Oxford English Dictionary: "Salad [a. OF. salade (14th c.), a. Pr. salada = OIt. salata, Pg. salada (cf. It. insalata, Sp. ensalada): ta, f. *sal and cf. quot. 1687 s.v. SALADING.  c1390 Forme of Cury (1780) 41 Salat. Take persel, sawge, garlec [etc.]..waische hem clene..and myng hem wel with rawe oile, lay on vyneger and salt, and serue it forth." "Although the ancient Greeks and Romans did not use the world "salad," they enjoyed a variety of dishes with raw vegetables dressed with vinegar, oil, and herbs...The medical practitioners Hippocrates and Galen belived that raw vegetables easily slipped through the system and did not create obstructions for what followed, therefore they should be served first. Others reported that the vinegar in the dressing destroyed the taste of the wine, therefore they should be served last. This debate has continued ever since...With the fall of Rome, salads were less important in western Europe, although raw vegetables and fruit were eaten on fast days and as medicinal correctives...The term salade derived from the Vulgar Roman herba salata, literally 'salted herb'. It remained a feature of Byzantine cookery and reentered the European menu via medieval Spain and Renaissance Italy. At first "salad" referred to various kinds of greens pickled in vinegar or salt. The word salade later referred to fresh-cooked greens of raw vegetables prepared in the Roman manner." ---Encyclopedia of Food and Culture, Solomon H. Katz, editor and William Woys Weaver, associate editor [Charles Scribner's Sons:New York] 2003, Volume 3 (p. 224-5) [NOTE: This book contains far more information than can be paraphrased here. Ask your librarian to help you find a copy.] At the tail end of the 19th century (in the United States) the domestic science/home economics movement took hold. Proponnents of this new science were obsessed with control. They considered tossed plates of mixed greens "messy" and eschewed them in favor of "orderly presentations." Salad items were painstakenly separated, organized, and presented. Molded gelatin (Jell-O et al) salads proliferated because they offered maximum control. "Salad greens, which did have to be served raw and crisp, demanded more complicated measures. The object of scientific salad making was to subdue the raw greens until they bore as little resemblance as possible to their natural state. If a plain green salad was called for, the experts tried to avoid simply letting a disorganized pile of


Americans call them thumbtacks; what do we call them ?

Don't talk garbage!...or why American words are mangling our English | Daily Mail Online Don't talk garbage!...or why American words are mangling our English comments The most delicate tool ever invented is the English language. It is endlessly rich, subtle, mellifluous and diverse — a vast mechanism built from 220,000 words, perfectly formed components that work together like jewelled cogs. To wreck that mechanism deliberately — and to teach our children to do the same — would be worse than obscene. But that is what is happening. A survey of 74,000 short stories written by British children has revealed that Americanisms are destroying traditional British words. Like the grey squirrels that were introduced into the UK from the U.S. 130 years ago — and have almost wiped out our indigenous (and much lovelier) red squirrels — American words are infectious, destructive and virulent. And they are taking over. A recent survey into children's literacy found that American phrases have made their way into the English language American words are designed to be easy to use. They are simple to say and spell. They combine nouns and verbs, labels and instructions, so that they are convenient to pick up and apply. A country of immigrants, speaking a dissonant babel of Yiddish, Italian, Gaelic, Dutch, Norwegian, German, Polish and Russian, needed a common tongue. Take sidewalk, for instance: it refers to that part of a road (the side) reserved for pedestrians (who walk). Two simple words are compounded to replace a third, pavement. Yet pavement is a wonderful word, a fragment of old French that resonates with the ringing blows of medieval craftsmen as they laid a stone floor — pavire is the Latin word for beating or ramming down. Why must we in Britain discard a beautiful, meaningful word, and replace it with a Frankenstein creation? American-English is a compound language — a language in kit form. Any word can perform any function. Listen to the jargon of a burger-flipper at fast-food restaurant: ‘Welcome to the drivethru,’ ‘What’s your order?’ ‘Do you want fries with that?’ ‘I’ve actioned it,’ ‘Have a nice day.’ RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Drivethru might be the worst of all possible words. It takes a verb and a preposition, and screws them together (Americans love doing that: walkup, stopover, hangout). Then it mangles the spelling. Finally, it applies this hideous, mongrel expression to a place where the food isn’t fit for dogs. In English, you can order your food, but food isn’t an order; you can fry potatoes, but they’ll be chips, not fries; you can take action and see action, but you can’t simply action anything. The findings of the survey, by the Oxford University Press, revealed yesterday that British children no longer know the difference between real English and its half-delinquent American cousin. They misunderestimated me: George W Bush came under fire for not always having a grip on the English language U.S. English is sometimes called globish, bundling ‘global’ and ‘English’ into one concept. And as we know, some Americans have a rare ability to bundle all kinds of words together. George W. Bush was capable of saying: ‘They misunderestimated me,’ and ‘Is our children learning?’ This was a president who treated English the way a horde of squatters treat a stately home — barging in, kicking holes in the walls, and generally leaving it in a foul mess. Of course, language is not a fixed thing that must not be tampered with. It has been evolving for 1,500 years, and in that time English has absorbed the vocabularies and grammars of half the world, as traders, invaders and refugees brought new words and ways of speaking to these shores. It has been shaped and honed by the greatest poets who ever spoke in any tongue, from Chaucer and Shakespeare to John Betjeman and Dylan Thomas. But the coarse, half-articulate version called American-English is not an evolution. It’s a degraded version. Two centuries ago, British abolitionists fought the American slave trade. Now a new campaign of abolition is needed — to rid us o


What was the name of Scooby Doo's nephew, whose catchphrase was 'Puppy Power' ?

Scrappy-Doo | Scoobypedia | Fandom powered by Wikia Don Messick [2] Scrappy-Doo is a Great Dane puppy and the nephew of Scooby-Doo . Scrappy is the most noteworthy of Scooby's relatives. He is noted for being quite headstrong and always wanting to face off in a fight against the various villains (unlike his uncle). Scooby and Shaggy Rogers were present at Scrappy's birth . Contents [ show ] Physical appearance His ears are pointed and slightly bent at the tip. His coat is brown, and he has a black nose, black eyes. He wears the traditional Doo family collar. Personality Scrappy idolized his uncle Scooby and would often assist Scooby and his friends in solving mysteries. With a highly energetic and brave personality, despite his small size, Scrappy was the opposite of his uncle; Scrappy would usually insist on trying to directly fight the various monsters Scooby and his associates encountered. History Scrappy in Scooby-Doo . Scrappy was added to the cast of Scooby-Doo to save the show's ratings, which by 1979 had begun to sink to the point of cancellation threats from ABC . After his addition to the show proved it to be a ratings success, Hanna-Barbera restructured the show around Scrappy in 1980. The original format of four teenagers and their dog(s) solving supernatural mysteries for a half-hour was eshewed for simpler, more comedic adventures which involved real supernatural villains (the villains in previous Scooby episodes were almost always regular humans in disguise). Scrappy remained an integral part of the Scooby-Doo franchise, on both TV and in Scooby related licensed products and merchandising, through the end of the 1980s. He was also briefly the star of his own seven minute shorts — the Scrappy and Yabba Doo segments of Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo . Teamed with his uncle Yabba-Doo and Deputy Dusty , he helped maintain law and order in a small town in the American west. In later years, the presence of Scrappy-Doo has often been criticized as having had a negative impact on the various Scooby-Doo series of the 1980s. Others credit Scooby-Doo's gradual decline during that period to other factors, such as the format changes. Scrappy-Doo has become the symbol of a character, usually over-exuberant or cute in an irritating way, that critics say is gratuitously added to a series. Scrappy's cameo in Scooby-Doo! And The Goblin King . In line with the general perception of the character by audiences, Scrappy-Doo has not appeared in any Scooby-related spin-offs since the made-for-television movie Scooby-Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf in 1988, save for the first live-action theatrical film Scooby-Doo , where Scrappy played a decidedly negative role as the film's main antagonist. Scrappy-Doo also made a brief appearance in an episode of the 2000s animated series Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law in the episode " Shaggy Busted "), where he appeared at the end of the episode to repeat his catchphrase, only to be scooped up by Avenger the eagle. In later episodes, his corpse can be seen as an easter egg (like for example, in Avenger's nest). A statue of Scrappy Doo is shown in the Crystal Cove Spook Museum in an episode of the recent Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated series. When Daphne attempts to talk about him however, Freddy cuts her off saying that they swore never to speak of him again, implying something negative happened regarding him. Notes/trivia Lennie Weinrib provided his voice for one season in 1979; from 1980 onwards, it was performed by Don Messick , also the voice of Scooby-Doo . His catchphrase(s) is: "Let me at him, let me at him!", "Put em' up, put em' up!" and "Uncle Scooby, let me at 'em, I will splat 'em!". Plush figures resembling Scrappy appear in one scene of Scooby-Doo! And The Goblin King . Scrappy is unique amongst television characters in that, in an ironic twist of fate, he both saved the franchise and was the result of its eventual decline. This is however, not proven, although the fact that he disappeared after the 80s makes one wonder. Negativity towards him could also be the result of how he was


Which city hosted the 1976 Summer Olympic Games ?

Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics - results & video highlights Official Reports arrow African boycott The 1976 Montreal Games were marred by an African boycott involving 22 countries. The boycott was organised by Tanzania to protest the fact that the New Zealand rugby team had toured apartheid South Africa and that New Zealand was scheduled to compete in the Olympic Games. Debuts and firsts Women’s events in basketball, rowing and team handball all made their Olympic debut. Hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time, and boxer Clarence Hill of Bermuda earned a bronze medal to give Bermuda the honour of being the least populous nation (53,500) ever to have one of its athletes win a medal at the Summer Games. Memorable champions Alberto Juantorena of Cuba completed the first 400m and 800m double victory. The Japanese women’s volleyball team proved untouchable, winning all their matches in straight sets, and Miklos Németh of Hungary won the javelin to become the first son of an athletics gold medalist to win a gold of his own. Perfect Nadia Fourteen-year-old gymnast Nadia Comaneci of Romania was the undoubted star of the Games. She shot to fame when, for her performance on the uneven bars, she was awarded the first-ever perfect score of 10.0. She went on to earn seven maximum marks in total. NOCs: 92 Athletes: 6,084 (1,260 women, 4.824 men) Events: 198 Media: n/a  An Innovation in the transport of the flame For the Athens to Ottawa stage of the torch relay the Olympic flame travelled by air, but not by plane. Instead, a sensor used to detect ionized particles of the Flame turned them into coded impulses. The impulses were transmitted by satellite to Ottawa where they activated a laser beam which recreated the Olympic flame in its original shape. The African Boycott Despite there being no African athletes present (they participated in a boycott organised by Tanzania, in which 22 countries came together to protest against a tour of South Africa by the New Zealand national rugby team), the standard of the competitions at the 1976 Olympic Games was very high. The Medal for the least populated country With its 53,500 inhabitants, Bermuda became the most sparsely-populated country to win a medal at the Summer Games, thanks to Clarence Hill who won the bronze medal in boxing in the heavyweight category. An Artificial pitch Hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time. Events open to women Women's events appeared in basketball, handball and rowing. Ceremonies Montreal 17 July 1976. Flags of the nations during the Olympic oath. Official opening of the Games by: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Lighting the Olympic Flame by: Stéphane Préfontaine and Sandra Henderson (two athletes aged 16 and 15). Olympic Oath by: Official Oath by: Maurice Forget (athletics) It is made up of the Olympic rings mounted on an Olympic podium, which is also the graphic interpretation of the letter M, the initial of Montreal. In the centre, the athletics track, the focal point of the Games. This emblem invokes the universal fraternity offered by the Olympic Ideal, as well as the glory of the winners, the gallant spirit of their battles and the accession of Montreal to the rank of Olympic city. On the obverse, the design of Guiseppe Cassioli, created for the Amsterdam Games in 1928. The principal symbols are Victory, Fraternity and Universality. The reverse was designed as intentionally bare. It comprises a stylized laurel crown, symbol of victory since the Games of Antiquity, and the emblem of the Montreal Games.   Number of torchbearers: 500 in Greece and 261 in Canada Total distance: 775 km including 514 in Greece Countries crossed: Greece, Canada More info The Games Organising Committee made two main series of posters. The first illustrated eight key themes: - the emblem of the International Olympic Committee (here) : entitled “The Invitation” and representing the five rings reflected symbolically by successive waves, thus inviting the athletes from all the continents to the 1976 Olympic Games. - the emblem of the Organising Com


The ballet Pineapple Poll features music by which composer ?

John Cranko Ballets - The Lady & The Fool, Pineapp ... - Ica Classics: ICAD 5040 | Buy from ArkivMusic Booklet notes: English, French, German Running time: 89 mins R E V I E W: Wonderful to have these two masterpieces of balletomania easily available. I do not believe that it is the role of the critic to ï¿½spoil the plotï¿½ of a ballet or an opera whilst writing a review. Even with a work like Madame Butterfly or Sleeping Beauty it would be presumptuous of a writer to assume that all their readers knew the libretto or the ï¿½bookï¿½. However, a few brief observations are probably in order. For example is it a comedy or a tragedy? Does it tell a story or present a series of tableaux? These are questions worth answering. But to give a complete synopsis in the manner of Kobbéï¿½s Opera or Balanchineï¿½s Festival of Ballet is both redundant and unfair. I will confine my remarks to generalisations and concentrate more on the presentation of the story and music rather than the story itself.   The two ballets presented here are contrasting tales. One, Pineapple Poll, is a gay, light-hearted romp whilst the other, The Lady and the Fool is bittersweet: both are technically comedies.   It is useful to give a brief thumbnail sketch of the life and career of John Cranko. He was born in Rustenburg in the Transvaal in 1927. From an early age he was interested in dance and movement, developing puppet shows for his friends. His first stage appearance as a dancer was in 1943 in a performance given by the Cape Town University Ballet. After some early ballet training under Dulcie Howes, he produced his first ballet, The Soldierï¿½s Tale. In 1946 he moved to London and worked as a dancer and then as a choreographer with the Sadlerï¿½s Wells Theatre Ballet, which was the forerunner of The Royal Ballet.   Cranko is best known for his collaboration with Charles Mackerras in Pineapple Poll although other triumphs included The Prince of the Pagodas to music by Britten and Harlequin in April with a score by Richard Arnell. Other ballets that he choreographed included Onegin based on music from Tchaikovskyï¿½s The Seasons and Prokofievï¿½s Romeo & Juliet. However, his activities were not confined to the ballet. He devised a West End revue called Cranks which opened in 1955 and ran for over 200 performances. He died in 1973 after a reaction to a sleeping pill taken during a transatlantic flight.   The title The Lady and the Fool along with the intelligence that this is a ï¿½comedyï¿½ probably gives the game away as to the story line. This work was premiered by the Sadlerï¿½s Wells Theatre Ballet at the New Theatre in Oxford on 25 February 1954. However, the original choreography did not satisfy Cranko: the ballet was reworked for Covent Garden and was first given there on 9 June 1955. This is the version presented on this DVD.   The score that Charles Mackerras devised is based on music from a number of lesser-known operatic works by Giuseppe Verdi. These include Alzira, Jerusalem, I Lombardi and Attila. I confess to never having heard of these operas!   There is a tremendous danger that this ballet can sink into sheer sentimentality and any interpretation must try to avoid this. Certainly, there is a degree of melodrama in the present realisation, however it does not become overpowering. The tension between the sympathy the audience will feel towards the poverty-stricken clowns Moondog and Bootface who are asleep on a street bench and the antipathy towards the dashing, narcissistic Capitano Adoncino is the basis of any appreciation of this ballet. Any tendency for the ballet to become morbid is offset by the magnificent ballroom scenes where the heroine La Capricciosa dances with her suitors who represent wealth, gallantry and rank. The ï¿½pas de deuxï¿½ between Moondog and La Capricciosa is the highlight of the ballet and is both moving and beautiful.   The three principals are superb: Svetlana Beriosova as La Capricciosa, Ronald Hynd as Moondog and Ray Powell as Bootface. All the dancers execute their routines with grace, expressiveness, ease a


What item of playground equipment is known in North America as a teeter-totter ?

Playground Safety Guide -OrthoInfo - AAOS Copyright 2009 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Playground Safety Guide Playgrounds are exciting, fun places for children. They can help to build dexterity,  and they are a great place to make friends. Kids are marvelously inventive and use  playground equipment in many different ways not intended by the manufacturers. Each year in the United States, more than 156,000 children under age 14 are treated  in hospital emergency rooms for injuries occuring on public playgrounds, according  to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC). There are many ways to prevent these injuries and to lessen the severity of the injuries  that do occur. Types of Playground Injuries Playground injuries range from bumps, bruises, and cuts to life-threatening injuries  like strangulation. According to the CDC, approximately 45% of playground injuries are severe. These injuries  include: Fractures (broken bones) The vast majority of injuries on the playground are connected with climbing equipment  and swings. Falls Approximately 79% of equipment-related injuries are caused by falls. Most of these    injuries are falls to the ground under equipment, rather than falling onto another    piece of equipment. Children fall because they slip, lose their grip, or lose their balance while playing    on monkey bars, swings, slides, merry-go-rounds, and seesaws. Often, they'll fall    on their outstretched hand trying to protect themselves, and sustain a fracture involving    the elbow. This type of elbow fracture (supracondylar fracture of the humerus) is    the most common injury that requires a trip to the operating room for treatment. Often children are hurt not only by the fall, but by being struck by the equipment    as they fall. Something as simple as drawstrings from a hooded sweatshirt can catch    on a piece of playground equipment and can lead to a fall. Other injuries include falls that result from being struck by the same equipment the    child was playing with, or as a result of being struck with moving equipment. Slides Many injuries are also related to slide use. A 2009 study found a relationship between shinbone (tibia) fractures and young children    going down a slide on the lap of an adult. In many of these cases, the child's leg    became stuck, but the adult and child could not stop moving down the slide. In other    cases, the child's leg became twisted during the ride down. Other Causes A smaller number of playground injuries occur on teeter-totters and seesaws. To lesser degrees, injuries result from contact with sharp edges of equipment; impact    with stationary equipment; and falling after being struck with some type of equipment    other than what the child was playing on. Parents and Injury Prevention Supervision Close supervision by a responsible adult may be the most important factor in preventing    playground injuries. Age appropriate equipment and carefully designed playground layouts, by themselves,    won't be enough to prevent all injuries that may occur. Adults must provide focused    supervision. They must instruct children in proper use of the equipment, and monitor    and enforce playground rules. Playground Checkup Parents, relatives, teachers, babysitters, or anyone who sends or brings children    to the playground should periodically inspect the facility for hazards. Report any    problems to the proper officials. Don't let your children use that playground until    the authorities have completed repairs. Top of page Playground Considerations and Injury Prevention Whether playground injuries are caused by falls or other types of contact, attention  to three major factors can help to reduce the incidence of injury: playground surface,  playground design, and equipment installation and maintenance. Playground Surface The type of surface on the playground is the most important factor in the number and    severity of injuries due to falls. The number and severity of injuries can


Tower Bridge in London is an example of what kind of bridge ?

Tower Bridge | London’s Famous Bridges | London Landmarks Step inside the Engine Rooms to find one of London's true hidden gems. Soak in the atmosphere as authentic machinery which once lifted Tower Bridge’s 1000 tonne bascules fill the space with whirring wheels and moving pistons. These beautifully maintained coal-driven engines are sure to amaze.


What drink, a type of fortified wine, was a favourite tipple of Shakespeare's Falstaff ?

Shakespeare's Drinking: What Did Shakespeare Drink? What Did Shakespeare Drink? OLIVIA What's a drunken man like, fool? CLOWN Like a drowned man, a fool, and a madman: one draught above heat makes him a fool, the second mads him, and a third drowns him. Twelfth Night (1.5.127-30) Ale and Beer Ale (beer made with a top fermenting yeast) was the drink of choice in Shakespeare's day. Everyone from the poorest farmer to the Queen herself drank the brew made from malt, and a mini brewery was an essential part of every household. Shakespeare's own father was an official ale taster in Stratford � an important and respected job which involved monitoring the ingredients used by professional brewers and ensuring they sold their ale at Crown regulated prices. Beer, however, eventually became more popular than ale. "In 1574, there were still 58 ale brewers to 33 beer brewers in the City [London], but beer gradually replaced ale as the national drink over the course of the century" (Picard, 187). Wine Wine was available in Shakespeare's England, but it was very expensive (about twelve times more costly than ale (Singman, 137)) and so only the upper classes could enjoy it regularly. English grapes were not adequate for winemaking so they imported their wines from France, Spain, and Greece. Sack, a sweet wine fortified with brandy (known today as sherry), was most popular with the Elizabethans. Shakespeare's Prince Hal and the lads at the Boar's-head Tavern in Eastcheap were impassioned by the scrumptious drink. The following is a passage from 2 Henry IV in which Falstaff praises the benefits of sack to one�s constitution: A good sherris sack hath a two-fold operation in it. It ascends me into the brain; dries me there all the foolish and dull and curdy vapours which environ it; makes it apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble fiery and delectable shapes, which, delivered o'er to the voice, the tongue, which is the birth, becomes excellent wit. The second property of your excellent sherris is, the warming of the blood; which, before cold and settled, left the liver white and pale, which is the badge of pusillanimity and cowardice; but the sherris warms it and makes it course from the inwards to the parts extreme: it illumineth the face, which as a beacon gives warning to all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to arm; and then the vital commoners and inland petty spirits muster me all to their captain, the heart, who, great and puffed up with this retinue, doth any deed of courage; and this valour comes of sherris. So that skill in the weapon is nothing without sack, for that sets it a-work; and learning a mere hoard of gold kept by a devil, till sack commences it and sets it in act and use. Hereof comes it that Prince Harry is valiant; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father, he hath, like lean, sterile and bare land, manured, husbanded and tilled with excellent endeavour of drinking good and good store of fertile sherris, that he is become very hot and valiant. If I had a thousand sons, the first humane principle I would teach them should be, to forswear thin potations and to addict themselves to sack. (4.3.100) Shakespeare also mentions the following varieties of wine in his plays: Malmsey A rich and sweet wine brought to England from Greece in the 16th century, Malmsey is now produced on the island of Madeira. Shakespeare writes about Malmsey in Love�s Labour�s Lost (5.2.240) and 2 Henry IV (2.1.36), but the most famous reference to Malmsey in all of literature can be found in Richard III, when Richard orders the execution of his brother, the Duke of Clarence. Richard�s hired assassins decide to drown Clarence in a large cask (butt) of the brew. When they arrive at the Tower of London to carry out the task, the unsuspecting Clarence asks for a cup of wine. The Second Murderer offers this ghastly retort: �You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon� (1.4.153). Metheglin (Mead) Known also as honey wine, metheglin was more of a tonic than an enjoyable cocktail. It was made of water, yeast, honey, cloves, and p


The Australian kookaburra is one of the largest species of which bird ?

Australia Zoo - Birds Birds Shop Now » (Dacelo novaeguineae) The Laughing Kookaburra is the largest of the kingfisher family, and famous for its chorus of laughter which echoes through the Australian bush. Unlike most of its relatives, kookaburras occupy the same territories year-round which they mark with their noisy calls. Each group knows the boundaries of each other’s territories by communicating before the spring breeding season to establish boundaries. Habitat Laughing Kookaburras live in woodlands and open forests and occur in almost any part of eastern Australia with trees big enough to build their nests and open patches suitable to use as hunting grounds. You can see Laughing Kookaburras in the north of Cape York Peninsula, inland to western edge of the Great Diving Range and southwest to Eyre Peninsula. Diet Kookaburras aren’t selective eaters. Their diet consists of snakes, lizards, rodents and the odd small bird, but they live primarily on different insects and invertebrates. Their method of hunting is to perch and pounce. This technique is consistent in all kingfisher species. The spot their prey and fixate on it before fluttering down to seize it in their bill, and flying back to a tree branch to eat their catch. Breeding Laughing Kookaburras mate for life and take so long to rear their young that they rarely have more than one clutch each season. They have a low birth rate to keep pace with their longevity. Once the young reach independence, instead of being forced out of the territories, most stay to help parents defend the territory boundaries and rear further clutches. Kookaburra nesting season starts in September and finishes in January. They nest in hollows found in trees and termite mounds with incubation beginning with the first egg laid, although they can lay up to four. Incubation and feeding of the chicks is carried out by all members of the family group. Bird Call Kookaburras are famous for their early morning and evening songs. The call sometimes described as a ‘cackle’ is used as a territorial marker and is renowned as Australia’s quintessential bush anthem. Display Status Age: 16 Years (DOB 27/10/2000) Sex: Male Tok is a very funny fella to work with, as he is always laughing at one thing or another! Tok was bred here at Australia Zoo in 2001 with a large group of other Kookaburras. Tok and his brother Tik grew up very quickly, with all seven other kookaburras feeding the little ones several times a day. At about four weeks of age, both of these featherless critters were removed from the nest to be hand-raised. This was to help the birds become more comfortable around people so that they could be used in the Wandering Wildlife program. Fortunately for us, Tok showed a keen interest in flying and very quickly completed his free flight training. Tok loves doing his part in the show, and more importantly he loves keeping the Crocoseum clear of other kookaburras, because the Crocoseum is Tok's territory and no other kookaburra is permitted to enter! Adopt An Animal Benefits By sponsoring one of our animals or conservation projects at Australia Zoo, not only do you have the satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference - you will also receive gifts of appreciation according to the level at which you sponsor! Wooo-hoo! $50 Donation


Postman Pat - Jess the Cat - YouTube Postman Pat - Jess the Cat Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 15, 2013 Here is a Postman Pat song called Jess the Cat. Category


Which fastening system was developed by Swiss inventor George de Mestral?

Georges de Mestral, 82, Inventor Who Developed Velcro in - NYTimes.com Georges de Mestral, 82, Inventor Who Developed Velcro in Reuters Published: February 12, 1990 COMMUGNY, Switzerland, Feb. 11— Georges de Mestral, the 82-year-old Swiss inventor of Velcro, has died, his wife, Helen, said today. Mr. de Mestral, who spent years perfecting the fastener that revolutionized much of the clothing industry, came upon the idea of Velcro after a walk in the woods outside Geneva in 1941. Mr. de Mestral's clothing became entangled in a patch of burrs and, as the story goes, this led him to wonder what made it stick. Years of research followed, and in 1948 he invented Velcro. Eventually he sold the world license for Velcro and lived on royalties and profits from his Swiss factory, Mrs. de Mestral said. 'Velvet' and 'Crochet' Velcro - the name is a combination of ''velvet'' and ''crochet,'' the French word for hook - is made of two strips of nylon. On one strip is a pile made of tiny loops. The facing strip is covered with tiny nylon hooks. When pressed together the strips adhere, but they can easily be peeled apart and put together again. Velcro U.S.A., the American division of the Netherlands-based company Mr. de Mestral helped to establish, once estimated that the material could be opened and closed up to 50,000 times without loss of power. Today, Velcro is used for everything from keeping astronauts from floating off the floor of their spacecrafts to keeping artificial hearts in place, as well as the more mundane tasks of fastening clothing. One of Top 50 Inventions A group of international inventors voted Velcro one of the century's 50 most important independent inventions. But it was not Mr. de Mestral's only work. ''There was one stupid little thing that sold very well,'' Mrs. de Mestral said today. ''An asparagus peeler.'' Mr. de Mestral was born near Nyon, Switzerland. At about the age of 12 he obtained his first patent for a toy airplane and later went on to become an engineer.


How many masts does the vessel known as a Ketch have ?

Popular Types of Sailboats Illustrated and Described in Detail Site Guide The Different Types of Sailboats If you’re a sailboat fanatic like me, all types of sailboats will attract your attention. Some more so than others admittedly, but all will have something about them that catches your eye. If you’re not a fanatic (not yet, that is) but just an interested observer, then the first thing you’ll notice about a sailboat will be how many masts it has and the configuration of its sails - in other words, its 'rig'. This observation alone will enable you to identify the five main types of sailboats — sloops, cutters, ketches, yawls and schooners - all of which are described here. Most sailboats will have a single hull and are known as monohulls. Other types of sailboats will have two hulls (catamarans) and three hulls (trimarans).  Monohulls are featured here, but you can read about  multihulls  elswhere on this site. Sloops A single-masted sailboat with just two sails — a foresail (aka headsail or jib) and a mainsail — is a sloop, the purest type of sailboat. The sloop rig can also be described as a Bermuda rig, Bermudian rig or Marconi rig. A Cat-Ketch Yawls Yawls have their origins as old-time sail fishing boats, where the small mizzen sail was trimmed to keep the vessel steady when hauling the nets. Much like a ketch, the difference being that the yawl has the mizzen mast positioned aft of the rudder post whereas the ketch has its mizzen mast ahead of the rudder post. You’ll not be surprised to learn that a yawl with a staysail is known as cutter-rigged yawl. A Yawl - mizzen mast aft of the rudder post Schooners A schooner is a two-or-more masted sailboat, in which the aft-most mast - the mainmast - is the same height or taller than the foremast. The one shown here is gaff cutter rigged, with a topsail set on the mainmast. Many sailors agree that of all the different types of sailboats, a schooner under full sail is one of the most beautiful sights afloat. A two-masted Schooner Gaffers Gaffed-rigged sailboats, or 'gaffers', have their mainsail supported by a spar - the 'gaff' - which is hauled up mast by a separate halyard. Often these types of sailboats are rigged with a topsail, as shown here and in the gaff schooner above, which really adds some grunt in light airs. All this comes at a price of course, both in terms of material cost and weight aloft, which is why very few modern yachts are fitted with gaff rigs these days. A Gaff Cutter with topsail All artwork on this page is by Andrew Simpson Examples of the Various Types of Sailboats...


Who became the 120th Briton to win a Nobel Prize by winning this year's prize for physics ?

God particle genius Professor Peter Higgs wins Nobel Prize for Physics then vanishes | Daily Mail Online comments He solved one of the greatest mysteries in the universe...but last night Peter Higgs was at the centre of one himself. Professor Higgs, the scientist who first predicted the existence of the ‘God particle’, was yesterday awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics, but officials admitted they did not know where he was or if he even knew he had won the award. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences could not raise him on the phone before making the announcement and said he had gone ‘into hiding’.  Scroll down for video Officials admit they don't know where Peter Higgs is... or if he knows he's won the award Colleagues said the self-effacing 84-year-old, who has not been well lately, had gone hiking in the Scottish Highlands to avoid the ‘storm’ of interest. Alan Walker, a friend and fellow physicist, said: ‘The pressure was so much he decided to go on holiday without a phone to avoid the media storm. RELATED ARTICLES Share 'He’s not available and good for him. He didn’t tell even me.’ In a statement prepared last week, amid anticipation that he would be the 120th Briton to be honoured with a Nobel Prize, Prof Higgs said he was ‘overwhelmed’. The magnet core of the world's largest superconducting solenoid magnet at CERN in Geneva (left). And pictured (right), Peter Higgs, who has won the Nobel Prize for Physics Born in Newcastle in 1929, the son of a BBC sound engineer, Peter Higgs was a gifted pupil at Bristol’s Cotham Grammar where he won many prizes – although none for physics. He chose to study at King’s College London, after rejecting Oxford and Cambridge as the choice of the ‘idle rich’, and gained a first-class honours degree in 1950. He was a young lecturer at Edinburgh University in 1964 when he dreamed up the particle that would make him famous. Along with two other groups of scientists who were working independently, he came up with an explanation of how the most basic building blocks of the universe gain mass. Mr Higgs shares the prize with Belgium physicist Francois Englert who proposed a similar theory around the same time The theory states that the cosmos is pervaded by an invisible field that confers mass on particles as they pass through it. Unlike the other scientists of the time, Prof Higgs also forecast the field was made up of countless tiny particles – Higgs bosons, or God particles. The theory was not universally accepted and one of his papers was rejected for publication because it was ‘of no obvious relevance to physics’. But by the 1980s, the hunt for the Higgs boson was on in earnest and last year, almost 50 years after Prof Higgs predicted its existence, scientists at the Large Hadron Collider found it. Prof Higgs shares the £775,000 prize with Belgian scientist Francois Englert, who with colleague Robert Brout proposed a similar theory around the same time. Dr Brout died in 2011 and, under Nobel rules, cannot be honoured. Prime Minister David Cameron said: ‘It took nearly 50 years and thousands of great minds to discover the Higgs boson after Prof Higgs proposed it, and he and all those people should be extremely proud.’ Professor Peter Higgs appears to wipe away a tear after scientists at the Large Hadron Collider claimed to have discovered a particle believed to be the Higgs Boson in 2012 Dr Alex Tapper, of Imperial College London, said: ‘Nobody can be more deserving of the prize than the visionaries who waited 50 years to discover if their ideas were right or wrong.’ Professor Paul Newman, of the University of Birmingham, added: ‘The audacity of proposing such a bizarre and all-pervading mechanism based on what was known half a century ago is simply stunning.’ Some had hoped that the third team of scientists to propose the theory would also be honoured. But Nobel rules state the prize can be shared between only three people. Tom Kibble, of Imperial College London, a member of the team that was overlooked, congratulated the winners but questioned why the Nobel committee was ‘constrained by


Which British Prime Minister was nicknamed 'The Grocer' by Private Eye magazine ?

The Thatcherist - The New Yorker The Thatcherist Hendrik Hertzberg CreditIllustration by Tom Bachtell By the dismal end of the nineteen-seventies, a series of oil shocks had sent the economies of most of the world’s developed democracies into a tailspin. Their publics were not pleased. In country after country, voters voted out the ins and voted in the outs. Ideology didn’t seem to matter. In France, Spain, Sweden, and Greece, governing parties of the right and the center right were shown the door. In West Germany (as it still was), the Netherlands, Portugal, and, of course, the United States, it was incumbents of the left and the center left who got the hook. An early beneficiary of this political turbulence was Margaret Thatcher, the leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, who swept to power in the general election of May 3, 1979, following the so-called Winter of Discontent. Her rise was as improbable as it was inexorable. In a party of reflexive male chauvinists, she was a woman. In a party traditionally dominated by landed aristocrats, rich industrialists, and upper-class twits of every stripe, she was a product of the striving middle class. Her predecessor as party leader and Tory Prime Minister, Edward Heath, had been indelibly dubbed “the Grocer” by the satirical magazine Private Eye. Though cruelly aimed at Heath’s status anxieties, the Eye’s gibe was rooted in his stint negotiating food prices in Brussels. Margaret Thatcher, however, was the actual daughter of an actual grocer, and proud of it. Finally, in a party riddled with “wets” who had accommodated themselves to Labour’s postwar welfare state, she was a doctrinaire free-market fundamentalist, a radical believer in the individualism of the successful, a despiser of “society” (“there is no such thing”) and social solidarity—a visionary, even a kind of revolutionary, and in temperament anything but conservative. At her death last week, at the age of eighty-seven, she was the Right Honourable Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, laden with honors. The encomiums poured forth in a torrent. Some were a little over the top: “the greatest British peacetime Prime Minister” (David Cameron, the Tory who currently holds that office), “this greatest of Britons” (the Daily Telegraph). But no one could doubt that her personal political success was unparalleled in modern times. Cameron credited her with “winning the backing of the British people three times in a row.” Under Mrs. Thatcher, the Conservative Party did indeed win three successive elections, each of which yielded a parliamentary landslide. But she never truly won “the backing of the British people.” Her share of the popular vote—never more than forty-four per cent—was lower than the loser’s tally in five of the last seven American Presidential elections. Yet because the United Kingdom crams three major parties into a system suited for two—“first past the post,” winner-take-all in every constituency—and because two of those three parties were left of center, Mrs. Thatcher’s Tories were able to amass huge parliamentary majorities. And since a British Prime Minister’s power is largely unfettered, she rarely failed to get her uncompromising way even though most of her fellow-citizens were never in sympathy with her policies. No doubt this was a source of the uniquely venomous quality of the bitterness that she provoked in life and the ugly gloating that, in some quarters, welcomed her death. Buy a cartoon Among the eulogists last week was Elizabeth Colbert Busch, who is running for Congress as a Democrat in the district that includes Charleston, South Carolina. Thatcher, Busch said, was “a tough consensus builder who cared about everybody.” Perhaps this was meant as a bit of gentle satire: Busch is the sister of Stephen Colbert, of “The Colbert Report.” For Thatcher was a breaker of consensus, not a builder of it. And she did not care about everybody. She seemed not to care about the poor and the near-poor, whose misfortunes she tended to regard as failures of character. Tough she was, though. Krasnaya Zvezda (Red Star)


The birth of which Roman goddess is famously the subject of a 1486 painting by Sandro Botticelli ?

Botticelli's Birth of Venus - ItalianRenaissance.org Botticelli’s Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus, c. 1484-86, tempera on canvas Aside from his painting of the Primavera, Sandro Botticelli’s other greatest work, done for the Medici family, is the Birth of Venus.  Unfortunately, we do not know for sure which Medici it was painted for, or which location it was originally hung in. Before considering the subject matter, it is important to take note of the medium.  This is a work of tempera on canvas.  During this time, wood panels were popular surfaces for painting, and they would remain popular through the end of the sixteenth century.  Canvas, however, was starting to gain acceptance by painters.  It worked well in humid regions, such as Venice, because wooden panels tended to warp in such climates.  Canvas also cost less than wood, but it was also considered to be less formal, which made it more appropriate for paintings that would be shown in non-official locations (e.g. countryside villas, rather than urban palaces). The theme of the Birth of Venus was taken from the writings of the ancient poet, Homer.  According to the traditional account, after Venus was born, she rode on a seashell and sea foam to the island of Cythera.  In the painting we see here, Venus is prominently depicted in the center, born out of the foam as she rides to shore.  On the left, the figure of Zephyrus carries the nymph Chloris (alternatively identified as “Aura”) as he blows the wind to guide Venus. On shore, a figure who has been identified as Pomona, or as the goddess of Spring, waits for Venus with mantle in hand.  The mantle billows in the wind from Zephyrus’ mouth. The composition is similar in some respects to that of the Primavera. Venus is slightly to the right of center, and she is isolated against the background so no other figures overlap her.  She has a slight tilt of the head, and she leans in an awkward contrapposto-like stance. Botticelli paid much attention to her hair and hairstyle, which reflected his interest in the way women wore their long hair in the late fifteenth century.  He gave Venus an idealized face which is remarkably free of blemishes, and beautifully shaded her face to distinguish a lighter side and a more shaded side. Of obvious importance in this painting is the nudity of Venus.  The depiction of nude women was not something that was normally done in the Middle Ages, with a few exceptions in specific circumstances.  For the modeling of this figure, Botticelli turned to an Aphrodite statue, such as the Aphrodite of Cnidos, in which the goddess attempts to cover herself in a gesture of modestly. In painting Venus, Botticelli painted a dark line around the contours of her body.  This made it easier to see her bodily forms against the background, and it also emphasized the color of her milky skin.  The result of all of this is that Venus almost looks like her flesh is made out of marble, underscoring the sculpturesque nature of her body. Comparison of the Capitoline Venus (after the Aphrodite of Cnidos) with Venus from Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus”. The demand for this type of scene, of course, was humanism, which was alive and well in the court of Lorenzo d’Medici in the 1480s.  Here, Renaissance humanism was open not only to the use of a pagan sculpture as a model, but also a pagan narrative for the subject matter. Although the Birth of Venus is not a work which employed Renaissance perspectival innovations, the elegance of the classical subject matter was something that would have intrigued wealthy Florentines who patronized this type of work.  However, it would not have appealed to everyone, like those who viewed the worldly behavior of the ruling Medici family as corrupt or vile.  By the 1490s, the tension that resulted from the clash between courtly excess and those who wanted religious reform came to a climax when the preacher Savonarola preached his crusade to the people of Florence.  One of the people influenced by the preacher was Botticelli, whose change of heart moved him to destroy som


How many pockets are there on a standard snooker table ?

Pool vs Snooker Pool vs. Snooker What is the difference between a pool table and a snooker table? We receive this question quite often and know there are many people who would like to know the difference.  These tables are compared side by side below.  For game rules of either just do an Internet search. Pool and Snooker are similar in appearance, yet quite different.  The games played on each are also different. More skill is required to play snooker than pool since the table is larger, the pockets narrower, the pocket lead-in curved and the balls smaller. Pool is more common in the United States than snooker.  Certain states have a concentration of snooker popularity including Colorado, deep South and the mid-West in the United States.  Once a person plays snooker, they become better at pool since the accuracy is critical to snooker.  Snooker is the game of choice in Canada, Great Britain, Europe, Middle East, Australia and India.  For the most part snooker has become popular in countries where Great Britain has had Colonial interests. We are proud to offer our interchangeable rail designs for our pool and snooker table plans!  So, if you only have room for one table, you can make two sets of rails for the same table.  In about 2 hours, you can expertly replace your table rails with snooker or pool rails once you have built the rails.  Click on the button at the right to learn more about your options. Pool   Our 9 foot Mission Pool Table is shown     with Snooker Rails.  It requires about 2 hours to change the rails     to switch between Pool and Snooker.   Table     Size   Officially sanctioned pool tables are     8 (regulation) and 9 feet (tournament).  Bar and coin op tables come in 6 and 7 feet. We offer 7, 8, 8 plus, and 9 foot pool table sizes in our     pool table plans for     your flexibility. The official sizes are 10'     (American) and 12' (British) foot tables. Snooker tables are     sometimes referred to as English Pool tables. We offer 7, 8, 8 plus, 9 and 10 foot in our snooker table     plans.  American Snooker tables use the same size slate as pool tables.  British pool tables use 11/2"- 2" slate. Pockets   Corner pockets are     smaller than side pockets. Cushions change direction into the pocket at an     angle.  The     end of the rails at the pocket opening are covered with a pocket facing     which is not seen when covered with the rail cloth.     Corner Pockets and side     pockets are the same size and are significantly smaller than pool     pockets. The ball enters the pocket after passing through     a curved gateway     which is a continuation of the cushions.  Unlike pool rails, pocket facings     are not needed.   pool pocket at an angle. Notice     the curved lead into the snooker pocket. Cushions & Rails   Pool cushions come in various sizes.  They     use     good quality K-55 or K-66 profiles which are "V" (or     pyramidal) shaped.   American snooker tables have "V" (or pyramidal) shaped cushions.  Stepped rubber or "L" shaped, is used more commonly     on British tables.  Both style cushions play about the same. Our Snooker Table plans use K-66 profile since     it is easier to     build to achieve the proper curved lead-ins using a commercially     available part called "snooker bends".   Alternate sets of rails     (pool or snooker) can easily be displayed and stored as a design element     of your billiard room.     Our snooker rails are     simply mounted to the wall with removable eye bolts screwed into the sub     rail.  Two wall anchors with protruding screws for each make quick     work removing snooker rails for change over to snooker.  Notice how     level the top rail can be to display our antique snooker ball set!   Table Height   Height specifications are     measured from an unshimmed corner.  This definition is based on     common sense and no one, to our knowledge, has ever addressed this as a     specification.    American height


In which city was the International Committee of the Red Cross founded in 1863 ?

The Founding of the Red Cross Movement | History Today The Founding of the Red Cross Movement Medicine & Disease The great humanitarian organisation was founded on October 29th, 1863. The Battle of Solferino, fought in northern Italy in 1859, was a decisive episode in the struggle for Italian independence, in the birth of the Red Cross movement and in the creation of the Geneva Conventions. The bloody battle between the Austrians and a French-Italian alliance lasted for hours before the Austrians were driven into retreat. The casualties have been estimated at anything from 30,000 to 40,000 men. Thousands of wounded were left on the battlefield, far too many for the victors’ small medical teams to cope with. It happened that a 31-year-old Swiss businessman named Henri Dunant was travelling through the area and was utterly horrified by the battle (which he afterwards said compelled young men to be murderers) and by its aftermath. He helped to organise people from the nearby villages to bring water, food and aid to the wounded, regardless of their nationality. He persuaded the French to release a few captured Austrian doctors to help and he paid for the hasty creation of makeshift hospitals. In 1862 Dunant wrote an account of what he had seen in which he suggested that national armies should have efficiently trained non-combatant volunteers to give help to the wounded of both sides. He also wanted international treaties to guarantee the protection of those involved. He sent copies to important figures all over Europe and he made a strong impression. Dunant came from Geneva, where he had grown up a devout Calvinist with a deep interest in charitable work. In his twenties he engaged in business activities in North Africa and Italy and helped to create the international Young Men’s Christian Association. In 1863 the Public Welfare Association in Geneva set up a five-man committee to consider Dunant’s ideas. Gustave Moynier, the association’s president and a prominent local figure, and Dunant himself were the key members. The committee organised an international conference in Geneva in October to start things moving. Delegates from countries including Austria, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, Spain and Sweden attended and on the 29th approved the proposals of the committee of five. This effectively marked the launch of the Red Cross movement. The symbol of a red cross on a white background reversed the Swiss national emblem of a white cross on a red background. Later, in Muslim countries, the Red Cross would become the Red Crescent. In 1864 the Swiss government organised a conference in Geneva at which delegates from European countries as well as the US, Mexico and Brazil signed the first Geneva Convention ‘for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field’, which set up rules on the lines Dunant had advocated and would in time be accepted as international law by almost all the countries in the world. In that same year the first Red Cross volunteers in a battle wearing the Red Cross symbol attended an action in Denmark. Dunant had been hugely successful, but the fly in the ointment was that he and Gustave Moynier had come to dislike each other intensely. From 1864 Moynier was president of the committee of five, which would subsequently become the International Committee of the Red Cross. He regarded Dunant as a romantic, impractical idealist and soon forced him out of the movement. Dunant had spent far more time on the Red Cross than on business and in 1867 he went bankrupt, which enabled Moynier to have him expelled from the committee. A warrant was issued for Dunant’s arrest on a charge of fraudulent bankruptcy. He left Geneva and was reduced to living in poverty in various European cities. Although he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, he was an almost forgotten figure when he died in 1910 in a Swiss nursing home at the age of 82. Moynier had died that same year. Meanwhile the Red Cross movement had flourished. Its work began to extend from the military sphere