In which city were the first operas performed?

Operas | American Opera American Opera Operas THE MOST FREQUENTLY PERFORMED OPERAS IN THE UNITED STATES Although it is hard to know exactly which operas have been the most performed in the United States, Madama Butterfly and La Boheme appear over and over again on unofficial lists as the top two. La Traviata, Carmen, and The Barber of Seville are three other operas that are leading contenders for frequency of performance. Some of these operas surprisingly got off to a rocky start but later become widely popular. Giocomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which premiered in 1904 in Milan, was not well received by the public at first. Changes were made by Puccini, and a few months later it became a smashing success. The first performance in the United States was in 1906 in Washington D.C. Also composed by Puccini, La Boheme, the story of the love between a seamstress and a poet, premiered in Turin in 1896 and four years later was performed at The Metropolitan Opera House in New York. La Triviata by Giuseppe Verdi, had it’s first premiere in Venice in 1853 and was met with jeers, possibly because of poor casting. It was revised and became successful in 1854 and premiered in New York in 1856. This opera is based on a play adapted from an Alexandre Dumas novel called La dame aux Camélias. Georges Bizet’s lighthearted opera, Carmen, opened in Paris in 1875, but was given terrible reviews by critics. By the end of its first run, the audience had dwindled and tickets were being sold for next to nothing. In a turn of events in 1875 it was well received in Vienna, and by 1878 was premiering in several cities including New York and Philadelphia. Sadly, Bizet did not live to see the astounding success of his opera. Finally, The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini was also an opera comique and was one of the first Italian operas performed in the United States. This opera premiered in 1816 in Rome and came to the Park Theater in New York almost ten years later. There are many other operas, like the aforementioned ones, that have stood the test of time and continue to be performed over and over. The fact that one to two hundred years later, these operas still enjoy such popularity, definitely attests to the greatness of these masterpieces. Search for:


In which French city is William the Conqueror buried?

William the Conqueror's tomb - Review of Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey), Caen, France - TripAdvisor Attraction details Recommended length of visit: 1-2 hours Owner description: The Men's Abbey - An architectural masterpiece of medieval art and 18th century Guided tours or self-guided tours of the monastic buildings (City Hall) In the 11th century, William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, King of England, transformed Caen into one of the most powerful cities of its time, which the Men's Abbey is one of the most striking buildings from this period. Born in Falaise in 1027, William was the son of Robert the Magnificent, the future Duke of Normandy, and Herleva, a tanner’s daughter. Upon his father’s death, William became the designated sole heir to the ducal throne. His succession to the throne was challenged by the barons, who considered William to be Robert’s illegitimate son. William quashed the rebels once and for all in 1047 and became the undisputed Duke of Normandy. Towards 1050, William married his distant cousin Matilda of Flanders, despite opposition from Pope Leo IX. The Church forbade their marriage, so Matilda and William sought atonement by founding the Abbayeaux- Dames, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, dedicated to Saint-Etienne. Work began on the Abbaye-aux-Hommes in 1066, the year that marked the Norman conquest of England. Edward, the King of England, had named William, the Duke of Normandy, to be his successor. Upon Edward’s death and betrayed by Harold, Edward’s brother-in-law, William took up arms to assert his claim to the throne. William defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings on 14th October 1066. William was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on 25th December 1066, whereupon he became William «the Conqueror». On 9th September 1087, he died in Rouen. According to his wishes, he was buried in the Abbey Church of Saint-Etienne in Caen. Abbey Church of Saint-Etienne Consecrated in 1077, the abbey church represents the oldest part of the site, with most of the features dating back to the 11th and 13th Centuries. The choir was redesigned in the 13th Century to reflect the prevailing Gothic style and is home to the tomb of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy and King of England. Monastic buildings The monastery was erected in the 11th Century, but destroyed during the First War of Religion (1562-63), before being rebuilt in the 18th Century. The monastic buildings are built around a Tuscan-style cloister epitomising the classical Italian style. The buildings are today headquarters of Caen City Hall. Together with the recently refurbished Place Saint- Sauveur, the Abbaye-aux-Hommes represents a unique heritage site. Medieval buildings and agricultural buildings The abbey also used to be a farm and an inn. It still houses a cider press, a carriage house and a bakery. Two 14th Century buildings bear witness to the abbey’s former role as a place of refuge and a political venue. - Palais Ducal, which was restored between 2012 and 2013, now hosts the city’s art library and its collection of contemporary art. - The Guardroom, where City Council meetings take place. There are newer reviews for this attraction


In the human body what is produced by the lachrymal glands?

Glands in the Human Body Explained With Diagrams Follow Us Glands in the Human Body Explained With Diagrams Glands in the human body produce, control and regulate the flow of hormones, breast milk, saliva, and other useful fluids. Mental stress influences the flow of hormones and other fluids as well. This article explains the significance of glands in metabolism, growth, and reproduction. Advertisement Glands in the body release fluids or hormones that play an important role in maintaining the health of the body. Glands are classified as ducted and ductless glands. Ducted glands, also called exocrine glands, secrete some chemicals through ducts. Ductless glands are called endocrine glands. Glands receive signals from the brain to release useful fluids. Endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones are the chemical messengers which facilitate the communication between the brain and the organs. As the nervous system uses nerves to send the required information, the glands in the human body use blood vessels as information channels. Here's an overview of the endocrine system. Endocrine or Ductless Glands of the Human Body Pituitary Gland The location of the pituitary gland is indicated by the orange portion The pituitary gland, located at the base of the skull, is known as the 'master gland'. It controls the functions of other ductless glands. This tiny, pea-shaped gland is one of the most important parts of our body. It is divided into anterior and posterior pituitary. This gland influences metabolism, reproduction and growth by releasing hormones like prolactin, thyroid stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone, oxytocin, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, etc. Adrenal Glands Graphic image of the agrenal glands on top of the kidney The adrenal glands look like triangular hats placed on the top of the kidneys. The length of an adrenal gland is about one or two inches and it weighs only a fraction of an ounce. Though small in size, these glands secrete almost three dozen hormones! The main functions of adrenal glands include carrying out the metabolic processes and helping the body deal with stress. These glands regulate the 'fight or flight mechanism' of the body. Adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenaline while the adrenal cortex releases cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone, and aldosterone (which determines salt-water balance in the body). Thyroid Gland Location of the thyroid gland and the vocal cords Thyroid gland, located in the neck, looks like a butterfly. It weighs less than an ounce. Situated below our voice box, thyroid's main function is to regulate body metabolism. Functions of the body are severely affected when thyroid does not work well. Overactive or under active thyroid gland leads to several health problems. Hormones secreted by the thyroid play an important role in generation of heat and energy, protein synthesis, vitamins, protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, release and functions of other hormones, increased sensitivity of the body to other hormones like adrenaline, etc. Thyroid hormones (T3 and T34) are produced with the help of iodine and tyrosine. Therefore experts recommend incorporation of iodized salt in regular diet. Parathyroid Glands The parathyroid glands are located behind the thyroid glands Human beings have four parathyroid glands. They are as small as a grain of rice and are located on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland. These glands control the level of calcium in our blood and bones. They regulate the growth of muscles and bones by determining the distribution of calcium and phosphate in the body. These glands also govern the function of the nervous and muscular system. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates vitamin D and enhances the absorption of calcium in the gastrointestinal tract. Low PTH levels lead to fatigue and anxiety. Hypothalamus The hypothalamus controls pituitary secretions Hypothalamus (part of the brain) is known as the 'control and relay center of the endocrine system'. The autono


How many days are there in the religious period of Lent?

How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated? How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated? How Are the 40 Days of Lent Calculated? Why Sundays Aren't Counted in Lent Catholics pray during an Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.  Win McNamee/Getty Images News/Getty Images By Scott P. Richert Updated February 29, 2016. Lent , the period of prayer and fasting in preparation for Easter , is 40 days long, but there are 46 days between Ash Wednesday , the first day of Lent in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar, and Easter. So how are the 40 days of Lent calculated? A Little History The answer takes us back to the earliest days of the Church. Christ's original disciples, who were Jewish, grew up with the idea that the Sabbath— the day of worship and of rest—was Saturday, the seventh day of the week, since the account of creation in Genesis says that God rested on the seventh day. Christ rose from the dead, however, on Sunday, the first day of the week, and the early Christians, starting with the apostles (those original disciples), saw Christ's Resurrection as a new creation, and so they transferred the day of rest and worship from Saturday to Sunday. Sunday: The Celebration of the Resurrection Since all Sundays—and not simply Easter Sunday—were days to celebrate Christ's Resurrection, Christians were forbidden to fast and do other forms of penance on those days. Therefore, when the Church expanded the period of fasting and prayer in preparation for Easter from a few days to 40 days (to mirror Christ's fasting in the desert, before He began His public ministry), Sundays could not be included in the count. 40 Days of Fasting Thus, in order for Lent to include 40 days on which fasting could occur, it had to be expanded to six full weeks (with six days of fasting in each week) plus four extra days— Ash Wednesday and the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that follow it. Six times six is thirty-six, plus four equals forty. And that's how we arrive at the 40 days of Lent! Learn More For a more in-depth explanation of the history of the Lenten fast, why it has been and remains 40 days long, why Sundays have never been part of the Lenten fast, and when the Lenten fast ends, see The 40 Days of Lent: A Short History of the Lenten Fast . Stay up to date on the latest Catholicism news and learn more about the Catholic Faith. Sign up for our free Catholicism newsletter today! More FAQs About Lent


What do we call the point in the orbit of a planet at which the planet is nearest to the Sun?

What is the Closest Planet to Earth? - Universe Today   Universe Today What is the Closest Planet to Earth? Article Updated: 23 Dec , 2016 by Matt Williams A common question when looking at the Solar System and Earth’s place in the grand scheme of it is “which planet is closest to Earth?” Aside from satisfying a person’s general curiosity, this question is also of great importance when it comes to space exploration. And as humanity contemplates mounting manned missions to neighboring planets, it also becomes one of immense practicality. If, someday, we hope to explore, settle, and colonize other worlds, which would make for the shortest trip? Invariable, the answer is Venus . Often referred to as “ Earth’s Twin “, Venus has many similarities to Earth. It is a terrestrial planet, it orbits within the Sun’s habitable zone, and it has an atmosphere that is believed to have once been like Earth’s. Combined with its proximity to us, its little wonder we consider it our twin. Venus’ Orbit: Venus orbits the Sun at an average distance (semi-major axis) of 108,208,000 km (0.723 AUs), ranging between 107,477,000 km (0.718 AU) at perihelion and 108,939,000 km (0.728 AU) at aphelion. This makes Venus’ orbit the least eccentric of all the planets in the Solar System. In fact, with an eccentricity of less than 0.01, its orbit is almost circular. Earth and Venus’ orbit compared. Credit: Sky and Telescope When Venus lies between Earth and the Sun, it experiences what is known as an inferior conjunction. It is at this point that it makes its closest approach to Earth (and that of any planet) with an average distance of 41 million km (25,476,219 mi). On average, Venus achieves an inferior conjunction with Earth every 584 days. And because of the decreasing eccentricity of Earth’s orbit, the minimum distances will become greater over the next tens of thousands of years. So not only is it Earth’s closest neighbor (when it makes its closest approach), but it will continue to get cozier with us as time goes on! Venus vs. Mars: As Earth’s other neighbor, Mars also has a “close” relationship with Earth. Orbiting our Sun at an average distance of 227,939,200 km (1.52 AU), Mars’ highly eccentric orbit (0.0934) takes it from a distance of 206,700,000 km (1.38 AU) at perihelion to 249,200,000 km (1.666 AU) at aphelion. This makes its orbit one of the more eccentric in our Solar System, second only to Mercury For Earth and Mars to be at their closest, both planets needs to be on the same side of the Sun, Mars needs to be at its closest distance from the Sun (perihelion), and Earth needs to be at its farthest (aphelion). This is known as opposition, a time when Mars appears as one of the brightest objects in the sky (as a red star), rivaling that of Venus or Jupiter. The eccentricity in Mars’ orbit means that it is . Credit: NASA But even at this point, the distance between Mars and Earth ranges considerably. The closest approach to take place occurred back in 2003, when Earth and Mars were only 56 million km (3,4796,787 mi) apart. And this was the closest they’d been in 50,000 years. The next closest approach will take place on July 27th, 20178, when Earth and Mars will be at a distance of 57.6 million km (35.8 mi) from each other. It has also been estimated that the closest theoretical approach would take place at a distance of 54.6 million km (33.9 million mi). However, no such approach has been documented in all of recorded history. One would be forced to wonder then why so much of humanity’s exploration efforts (past, present and future) are aimed at Mars. But when one considers just how horrible Venus’ environment is in comparison, the answer becomes clear. Exploration Efforts: The study and exploration of Venus has been difficult over the years, owing to the combination of its dense atmosphere and harsh surface environment. Its surface has been imaged only in recent history, thanks to the development of radar imaging. However, many robotic spacecraft and even a few landers have made the journey and discovered much about Earth’s closest neighbo


Born in 1585, who was known as the red eminence?

Red Eminence: The Iron Will Of Cardinal Richelieu Home This Month Popular Red Eminence: The Iron Will Of Cardinal Richelieu Red Eminence: The Iron Will Of Cardinal Richelieu August 4, 2014 61 Comments History Of the many leadership traits, willpower has special significance.  Difficult to describe, it is best illustrated by historical example, rather than by general discussion.  That sustained application of effort over a long period of time, and that concentrated focus on ends in the face of myriad obstacles, are manifested in the life of Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu (1585-1642).  Cardinal Richelieu was France’s most subtle, iron-willed, and ruthless statesman.  He was will incarnate, and arguably more than any other, he was the maker of modern France. From an early age he showed an ability to grasp the essentials of a complicated situation and mold them to his advantage.  His maternal grandfather had been a Parisian political figure, and his father, the Seigneur de Richelieu, had been Grand Provost of the Royal Household under Henry IV.  In an age when the titles of nobility meant far more than they do today, he made the most of his connections.  His family had him nominated for the position of a bishopric in 1606, but he was only twenty one.  The young lad then traveled to Rome and made a direct appeal to Pope Paul V; he charmed the pope by first lying about his age, and then by asking for forgiveness for his lie.  Paul, not knowing whether to be angry or pleased, was won over by the audacity and keenness of the French youngster.  He here demonstrated that remarkable ability to influence men of power, a skill he was to use to great effect throughout his long career. He discharged his duties as bishop with patient application and a probing intelligence that few of his contemporaries possessed.  While others focused on enriching themselves with the spoils of office, Richelieu was more interested in advancement.  He was nominated by his peers in 1614 to serve as delegate to the States-General; and from there it was but a short jump to be made secretary of state two years later with the help of Marie de Medicis (queen consort of Henry IV, and regent for her son Louis XIII).  He knew how to make himself indispensable to those holding the reins of power.  But he was no mere court sycophant.  His intellect and memory were second to none, and he had an quiet tenacity of purpose that preserved the ends, while permitting a remarkable flexibility of means.  Frequently underestimated, he frustrated all who crossed swords with him. His fortunes temporarily fell when one of his allies in court was killed.  The Queen Mother was banished along with Richelieu, and she soon joined an opposition faction.  Richelieu, at the request of the new powers in court, managed to mediate the dispute between the parties and get her back into the king’s favor.  Louis awarded him the position of cardinal, and from there he became prime minister in 1624 at the age of thirty nine. The working relationship of King Louis and Richelieu was so successful because each was aware of, and complemented, the qualities of the other.  Too many kings err, Richelieu felt, in not letting themselves be served by their ministers.  Although the king was always jealous of Richelieu’s abilities, he recognized that he could not do without him.  No one else had the will and means to keep the Huguenots in check, the French nobles in their place, and ambitious Spain at bay.  Richelieu cared little about theology; his purpose was to make France a powerful, centralized state, and to this end, any means was permitted.  He would confound many of his clerical colleagues in Rome by his ability to make alliances equally with Protestant as well as Catholic powers.  But for him, the interests of France came first. The Cardinal at war:  Richelieu at La Rochelle The siege of the city of La Rochelle shows Richelieu at his most tenacious.  This Huguenot stronghold had become nearly an independent city, a situation no sovereign in Paris could tolerate.  Richelieu assumed the role of


Who was the Spanish adventurer who conquered Peru in the 16th century?

Francisco Pizarro - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com Francisco Pizarro Definitions of Francisco Pizarro 1 n Spanish conquistador who conquered the Incas in what is now Peru and founded the city of Lima (1475-1541) Synonyms: an adventurer (especially one who led the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Peru in the 16th century) Word Family Usage Examples Sign up, it's free! Whether you're a student, an educator, or a life-long learner, Vocabulary.com can put you  on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.


What is Europe's oldest parliament dating from 930 AD?

Which country can claim to be the World's oldest democracy? | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk Which country can claim to be the World's oldest democracy? Russell Campbell, Dunedin, New Zealand Lots of them can. And do. Greece has a pretty good claim having invented the concept in the first place. However, long spells as an Ottoman colony or under military junta might put it out of the running if you're looking for longest continuously democratic country. Britain has a decent claim but it depends what you mean by democracy. As Rowan Atkinson put it in Blackadder: "take Manchester for instance. Population: 60,000. Electoral roll: 3". America frequently claims to be but this is because they define democracy so narrowly and in their own image such that on their criteria they're the worlds only democracy and on any other criteria they still aren't and never have been. Seth, Edinburgh, Scotland Perhaps Iceland can - their parliament, the Althing, is the oldest one still in use. It was formed in 930 by Vikings. Johan van Slooten, Urk, Netherlands The Native American people of the Six Nations, also known by the French term Iroquois and who know themselves as the Hau De-no Sau-nee (People of the Long Houses) claim to be the oldest living participatory democracy. Their homeland, country, nation or however you'd like to classify it as, was in the region now known as New York State, between the Adirondack Mountains and Niagara Falls. The other tribes included in the Six Nations also included the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas, joined in the 18th Century by the Tuscaroras, who did not have a vote. Archeological evidence indicates the Iroquois had lived on their lands for a very long time, with the earliest longhouses dated to at least 1100 A.D. Although there is no precise date for the establishment of the league, The Six Nations claim to have enjoyed a system of consensus government for over 800 years, well established long before the arrival of the Europeans. Founded to maintain peace and resolve disputes between its members, the Six Nations primary law was the Kainerekowa, the 'Great Law of Peace' which stated, simply, that Iroquois should not kill each other. They had a written constitution, laws dealing with ownership and trade routes and a funeral rite that allowed shared mourning at the passing of leaders from other tribes. From 1660, the nations combined to form a united front in negotiations with the European settlers. With the focus on maintaining peace with their neighbours, the Iroquois tribes were free to develop their predominantly agragian society. Their leaders were chosen, by their women, for their knowledge of the earth and their skills at providing for their villages. John Maguire, Dublin, Ireland A great many can claim it. It rather depends what you mean by democracy. The Isle of Man has the oldest Parliament, but it has not always been elected by universal suffrage. Did the UK have to await the extension of the franchise to 18 year olds? Or was it 1929, when women got the vote on the same terms as men - at least for Parliament, only householders voted in local authority elections at the time? Switzerland has an ancient confederation, but governments never get voted out of power, due to the permanent coaltion. The same four parties have been in power since 1959, two of them for over a century. Switzerland, like California, makes great use of direct democracy, at both confederal and cantonal level. But in some cantons women didn't get the vote until the 1970s. Australia and New Zealand were both early to give women the vote, but neither elects their Head of State. Quentin Langley, Woking UK If we mean by that, 'Which country has ensured that all adult citizens regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity, may choose reprentatives to exercise the powers of government longest?', then the answer is New Zealand. Universal adult suffrage was first established there in 1893. Fragano Ledgister, Atlanta, USA Seth, I'm surprised at you. Britain does not have a claim to being the world's oldest democracy, as i


Which saint set up a community on the island of Iona?

BBC - Scotland's History - Iona Scotland's History Scotland's History Articles Iona Iona The island of Iona, off the west coast of Scotland, is the symbolic centre of Scottish Christianity. Through 1400 years of history its fortunes have fluctuated, from its heights as one of the greatest centres of learning in Dark Age Europe, to its lows as a crumbling ruin. However, thanks to the fame of its monastic founder, St Columba, the island has always been revered as a holy place, and, over the centuries, Iona has continually been re-invented and reconstructed as a centre for pilgrimage. Iona's fame began in 563 AD when Columba, with thirteen followers, landed at the south end of the island, at St Columba's Bay, to establish a monastery. The Adobe Flash player and Javascript are required in order to view a video which appears on this page. You may wish to download the Adobe Flash player . The great abbey we see today belongs to a later era. Columba's Iona was very different. Columba had little interest in grand buildings - he was seeking seclusion among the 'desert' of the Atlantic Ocean. Almost nothing remains of his original monastery however traces of the vallum, or ditch, that surrounded the monastic enclosure, can still be seen. Inside would have been a settlement that resembled a small village - a modest, timber church, surrounded by huts for the monks to live and work in, and small cells to provide the solitude necessary for prayer. These cells, or chambers, used for prayer, are also found on the nearby islands of Canna and Eileach Naoimh, and certain islands off the coast of Ireland such as Skellig Michael. From Adomnán, who wrote Columba's biography 100 years after his death, we know a great deal about the early monastery's daily life. Withdrawn, contemplative and austere, its primary purpose was the contemplation of God through prayer and learning. Holy texts from around Europe were copied, poetry flourished and Adomnán himself wrote a guide to the Holy land - a fact which illustrates that the monastery's intellectual horizons stretched right across Christendom. As a consequence Iona amassed one of the greatest libraries in Western Europe and became a powerhouse of Dark Age learning. Columba died on the 9th June 597 AD. Adomnán writes that his final day was spent copying a psalter, on the Torr An Alba (the Hill of Scotland): the rock which stands in front of the Abbey today. He urged his successor as abbot to take up his work, then went to the church, dying in prayer before the altar with a final gesture of blessing on his monks. He is believed to have been buried below the small, stone chapel shrine, which is attached to the front of the abbey. It was around this building, or an earlier version of it, that the cult of Columba developed. Columba's monastery became a centre of pilgrimage. At first, access was restricted to high status pilgrims: royal and ecclesiastical visitors, or those in serious trouble, who stayed at its guest house, but later more humble pilgrims would have been allowed access to the monastery. The pilgrims travelled to Iona in life and in death. Many of the kings of Scotland, Ireland, and even of the Vikings, were buried there. Some of the most famous Kings of Alba, from Kenneth MacAlpin to MacBeth, made their final journey there - across the sound to Iona, onto the harbour, and up the Street of the Dead to the burial ground, the Relig Oran. This royal tradition was only broken twice whilst The Western Isles stayed a part of the Kingdom of Alba - once by Constantine mac Aed ( buried St Andrews) and again by Malcolm Canmore (buried at Dunfermline). The last king to be interred on Iona was Malcolm's brother, Donald Bane, before Malcolm's son, Edgar, surrendered the island to Magnus, King of Norway, after he subdued the isles to his will in 1098 AD. Recently the tradition was revived, and Iona was again the centre of national mourning when the Labour leader, John Smith, was buried there. Wealthy pilgrims brought money to the monastery, and in the 8th century some of the finest Dark Age works of art


What was the name of the first Plantagenet monarch of England?

The Plantagenets - Timeline of the Kings and Queens of England British life and culture - England, Scotland and Wales Timeline of the Kings and Queens of England   The Plantagenets 1154 - 1399 The Plantagenets were a huge powerful family not just in England but throughout Europe. The first Plantagenet was King Henry 2nd whose father owned vast  lands in Anjou an area as big as Normandy around the modern town of Tours.  Henry’s wife Eleanor ruled the even larger territory to the south called  Aquitaine. Plantagenet Kings were thus the richest family in Europe and ruled  England and half of France. Their name came from planta genista, the Latin for yellow broom flower, which the Counts of Anjou wore as an emblem on their helmets. This dynasty is normally subdivided into three parts. 1154-1216 - The first Plantagenet kings were the Angevins 1216-1399 - The Plantagenets 1399-1485 - The Houses of Lancaster and of York . Normally separated from main stream Plantagenets because they are considered the first truly English rather than French Kings. Altogether the House of Plantagents ruled for 331 years (includes The Houses of Lancaster and of York ). Angevins King Henry II 1154 - 1189 King Richard I the Lionheart 1189 - 1199 King John 1 1199 - 1216 Angevins King Henry II 1154 - 1189 Henry II, the first 'Plantagenet' king, accedes to the throne. He was not only king of England, but also ruled over most of Wales, Normandy, Anjou, Gascony and other parts of France (acquired through his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine). Age 21-56 Born: 5 March 1133 at Le Mans, France Parents: Geoffrey, Count  of Anjou, and Empress Matilda Ascended to the throne: 25 October 1154 aged 21 years Crowned: 19 December 1154 at  Westminster Abbey Married: Eleanor of Aquitaine, Daughter of William  X, Duke of Aquitaine Children: Five sons including Richard I and John,  three daughters and several illegitimate children Died: 6 July 1189  at Chinon Castle, Anjou, France aged 56 years Buried at: Fontevraud, France Succeeded by: his son Richard Came to the throne at just 21. He ruled for thirty-four years, but spent only fourteen of them in England. Henry owed his Kingship of England to his Norman mother Matilda, daughter of Henry 1st and his vast lands to his father Count of Anjou and his wife Eleanor,  Duchess of Aquitaine and Countess of Poitou. Thomas Becket was Henry II's Chancellor before the king made him Archbishop of Canterbury, even though he had never been a priest. Henry is mostly remembered for his quarrel with Thomas Becket, and Becket's subsequent murder in Canterbury Cathedral on 29th December 1170. Becket was slaughtered in the cathedral by four knights  acting on the rash words of the king, who is said to have proclaimed in a fit of  temper: "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?" Henry was devastated and ordered himself to be lashed hundreds of times as  penance.  Henry spent at least £6,440 throughout the 1180s – more than a  quarter of his average annual income – building and furnishing the impressive  keep at Dover Castle in Kent. The great tower is thought to have been  constructed as a show of wealth and power to 'impress' foreign pilgrims and  dignitaries on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket. Henry's eldest son, also called Henry, died before his father so in 1189 his second son, Richard, succeeded to the throne. Henry introduced trial by Jury for the first time. He also set up civil courts in each county shire. Henry brought the church under the rules of the civil courts. (His arguments  with Beckett.) Prior to this, backed by the Pope, the Church was literally  getting away with murder. Henry introduced the law that no man can be tried for the same offence twice. King Richard I the Lionheart 1189 - 1199 Richard was later nicknamed 'Lionheart' for his bravery in battle. The crusades and the state of his French territories preoccupied Richard, such that he spent less than a year of his 10-year reign in England. Age 31 - 42 Born: 6 September 1157 at Beaumont Place, Oxford Parents: Henry II and Eleano


Which English King immediately preceded the Tudors and was effectively the last Plantagenet monarch?

Tudor England FAQ & Facts: Frequently Asked Questions & Information - English History English History Tudor England FAQ & Facts: Frequently Asked Questions & Information General Questions   Who were the Tudors? The Tudors were a Welsh-English family that ruled England from 1485 to 1603. Henry Tudor was the son of Margaret Beaufort, who was descended from King Edward III through an illegitimate line, and Edmund Tudor, the son of Princess Catherine of Valois and her second husband, Owen Tudor. Through Catherine of Valois, Jasper was the half-brother of the last Lancastrian king, Henry VI. The Yorkist branch of the Plantagenet dynasty would eventually seize the throne from the incompetent Henry VI, but their reign ended when Richard III was killed at the battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485. Henry Tudor then claimed the throne as King Henry VII. He promptly married Elizabeth of York, daughter of the only successful Yorkist king, Edward IV, and niece of Richard III. Henry VII and Elizabeth of York’s second son, three of their grandchildren and one of their great-grandchildren, would rule England as part of the Tudor dynasty. When their rule ended, the throne passed to the Scottish branch of their family – James I was the great-grandson of their daughter, Margaret Tudor. Visit Tudor Genealogy for more information. TOP When did they rule England? The Tudors ruled England from 1485 to 1603. TOP Why are they so famous? The Tudors are famous because their dynasty was full of colorful characters and big events. Henry VIII and his six wives…. the English reformation…. the tragic tale of Lady Jane Grey…. the great intelligence of Elizabeth I and the artistic accomplishments of her reign…. During the sixteenth century, England emerged from the medieval world. It was a time of great change, most notably it marked the end of the Catholic church in England. There was an attendant rise in nationalism, a new spirit of confidence and patriotism swept the country. Great naval exploits began the great English seafaring tradition. Whether as pirates or officers or explorers, Elizabethan sailors controlled the seas. And besides the political and religious changes, the Tudors themselves were interesting and complex people. TOP What did they accomplish? The Tudors were able to establish England as a world power. They did so by positioning their country as a peace-maker between the dueling powers of France and Spain/the Holy Roman Empire. They also gave England a century of dynastic stability. With the exception of Lady Jane Grey’s brief reign and Catholic attempts to place Mary, queen of Scots on Elizabeth I’s throne, most Tudor monarchs came to the throne – and remained on the throne – unchallenged. This lengthy period of peace allowed England a much-needed respite from the Lancastrian-Yorkist wars. Government ran more efficiently; royal power replaced that of aristocrats and there was a uniform system of justice and taxation throughout the country. And, as always in times of peace, the arts flourished. TOP Can you give me a brief history of Tudor England? Tudor England began when Henry VII became king in 1485. There were five Tudor monarchs, not counting Lady Jane Grey who ruled for just nine days. The monarchs were, in order, Henry VII (ruled from 1485 to 1509), his son Henry VIII (ruled from 1509 to 1547), Edward VI, son of Henry VIII (ruled from 1547 to 1553), Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII (ruled from 1553 to 1558), and Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII (ruled from 1558 to 1603.) The most powerful Tudor monarchs were Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, though she was far more beloved of the English people. Both were powerful personalities who were able to control their squabbling councilors and answer the demands of an increasingly vocal Parliament. Under Henry VII, the English government came to be more stabilized and centralized. Under Henry VIII, English authority was tested on the Continent, though even military victories were too costly to maintain. A great victory over Scotland early in his reign (1513) was most notable; the attendan


In which country does the Zambezi river empty into the Indian ocean?

Zambezi River Zambezi River   T he Zambezi is Africa’s fourth largest River system, after the Nile, Zaire and Niger Rivers. It runs through six countries on it’s journey from central Africa to the Indian Ocean. Its unique value is that it is less developed than others in terms of human settlement and many areas along it’s banks enjoy protected status. It’s power has carved the spectacular Victoria Falls and the zigzagging Batoka Gorge. The Zambezi has been harnessed at various points along the way including the massive Kariba Dam between Zambia and Zimbabwe and Cabora Bassa Dam in Mozambique. Plans for another dam at the Batoka gorge have fortunately been shelved. The River’s beauty has attracted tourists from all over the world providing opportunities for a myriad of water sports and game viewing. Running for a length of 2700kms, it begins it’s journey as an insignificant little spring in the corner of north-west Zambia in the Mwinilunga District. It bubbles up between the roots of a tree, very close to the border where Zambia, Angola and Zaire meet. It enters Angola for about 230kms, where it accumulates the bulk of its headwater drainage, and re-enters Zambia again at Cholwezi rapids flowing due south but substantially enlarged by the entry of various tributaries. This upper part of the river is thinly populated by pastoralists, farmers and fishermen and although wildlife is sparse it is remarkably free of pollution. This is also the scene of the remarkable Ku-omboka Ceremony where thousands of inhabitants move annually to higher ground as the Zambezi floods into the low lying plains. It passes through the flat sandy country of the Western Province, then traverses the broad, annually flooding Barotse Plains, where much of the water is lost to evaporation, then over more rocky country where it’s tranquil course is interrupted by the Ngonye falls and rapids. As it turns to an easterly direction it forms the border between Zambia and Namibia and eventually joins up with the Chobe River in the Caprivi Swamps, briefly forming a border with Botswana. For the next 500kms it serves as the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe thundering over the Victoria Falls and through the narrow, steadily deepening Batoka Gorge, providing a fantastic playground for white water rafting, kayaking, river boarding and jet boating. From here the steep sides of the gorge eventually flatten out at the broad Gwembe Valley. Then it flows into the Kariba dam for 281kms – it’s width at one point being 40kms. From the dam wall the river travels due north, heading east again at Chirundu. Here it is flanked by the Lower Zambezi National Park on the Zambian side and Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side. This middle zone supports one of Africa’s most important wilderness areas. After the Luangwa confluence, it’s a much larger Zambezi that flows into Mozambique and out towards the Indian Ocean, having provided power, food, pleasure and transport for many and a home for untold numbers of wildlife along it’s journey. Fishing Trips on the Zambezi River


In which country is the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile?

The River Nile Homepage Back to top Geology Why should the river that tumbles out of the Ethiopian highlands and joins the White Nile at Khartoum be called the Blue Nile? It is not particularly blue. Perhaps it should be called the Summer River, because for most of the year it provides little water compared to the White Nile, but in Summer it is very much the dominant tributary. In the summer, winds from the SE bring moist air from the Indian Ocean. This is forced to rise over the Ethiopian Plateau, half of which is over 2 km high; the highest point in Ethiopia - Ras Dejen - is about 4.5 km high. The moist air cools as it rises, and this wrings out the moisture in torrents known as monsoon. Monsoon rains wash the Ethiopian highlands in summer, filling every dry wash that drains down to the Blue Nile.  The river itself swells so with water that at the confluence with the White Nile it causes its more sedate partner to dam back on itself. It is this annual flooding of the Blue Nile along with that of the Atbara to the north, which also flows out of the Ethiopian highlands, that caused the Nile to rise each year in Egypt. It is erosion of the basalt lavas of the Ethiopian highlands that allows the river each year to bring a fresh varnish of black mud to its floodplain. Maybe it should be called the Canyon Nile, because over half of its 800 km course from Lake Tana to Khartoum is through an impenetrable gorge. The canyon over much of its length is over 1500 m deep, just as deep as the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River in Arizona, U.S.A. Like the Grand Canyon, the Blue Nile Gorge exposes layers of rock laid down over hundreds of millions of years of earth history, with 150 million year old sandstones and limestones sandwiched between 800 million year old granites below and 20 million year old lava flows at the top. In spite of these similarities, the Blue Nile gorge is the more intimidating feature. Within 30 km of its source at Lake Tana the river enters a canyon which it does not leave for 400 km. This gorge is a tremendous obstacle for travel and communication from the north half of Ethiopia to the southern half. There is another difference between the two rivers: many people enjoy the raft ride down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, but no one has ever floated down the Blue Nile and lived to brag about it. Another possible name would be the Lost Nile. The traditional source of the Blue Nile is a spring which feeds the Little Abbai, a stream which flows NE into Lake Tana. Lake Tana itself lies at an elevation of a little over 1800 m and was formed when a young lava flow blocked the river, flooding a shallow depression. The river has cut through this barrier, flowing to the SE. As the river cuts deeper into its gorge, it slowly turns south, then SW, then W. Finally, as it leaves the great canyon, it turns to NNW to meet with its sister stream at Khartoum. The course of the stream thus turns 270 degrees from start to finish. nbsp; A Bit of History In Arabic the Blue Nile is called 'Al Bahr al-Azraq' while the Ethiopians call it the 'Abbai'. The numerous names given to the river reflect the river's complex history involving the river, the people who make their livelihood from it, and those who were determined to rule it. It would be impossible to tell the history of all of the people and tribes that have lived along the Nile in the space of this small site, and readers are encouraged to look for books with a more detailed account. A bit of history from the headwaters in Ethiopia and the Nile cities in Sudan follow. One very notable event for the people who lived along the Nile, both the Blue and White, is the invasion and conquest of the area by a somewhat mysterious group of warriors in the 1600's. Sennar, Sudan was chosen as the capital and the kingdom they established was called the Fung Empire. It stretched from the Red Sea to beyond the barrier of the White Nile. This kingdom collapsed in 1821 to an invasion of a Turkish army from Egypt. The new rulers established a capital at the place where th


Amazon.com: Books Books Books Advanced Search New Releases Best Sellers The New York Times® Best Sellers Children's Books Textbooks Textbook Rentals Sell Us Your Books Best Books of the Month Kindle eBooks Emily Brontë Emily Jane Brontë (/ˈbrɒnti/, commonly /ˈbrɒnteɪ/; 30 July 1818 - 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet who is best known for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. Emily was the third eldest of the four surviving Brontë siblings, between the youngest Anne and her brother Branwell. She wrote under the pen name Ellis Bell. Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Patrick Branwell Brontë (http://www.abm-enterprises.net/emily.htm) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.


Chemical formula for ammonia Home | Common chemical formula Ammonia Ammonia is a colorless gas which has a strong irritating and very alkaline in nature. Ammonia is used in industry as a refrigerant and in the manufacture of fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate. Domestically, ammonia is widely used as a cleaning agent.


Kaolin Uses, Benefits & Dosage - Drugs.com Herbal Database Inhalation of kaolin through occupational exposure may cause pneumoconiosis. Toxicology Inhalation may predispose miners to pulmonary diseases. Kaolin is a hydrated aluminum silicate. It occurs naturally as a clay that is prepared for pharmaceutical purposes by washing with water to remove sand and other impurities. History Kaolin has been used commercially and medicinally for hundreds of years. It is currently used in the manufacture of pottery, bricks, cement, ceramics, paints, plastering material, color lakes (insoluble dyes), and insulators. As a raw material, it is commonly found in paper, plastics, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, 2 and it is also used in pharmaceutical preparations as a filtering agent to clarify liquids. Evidence also suggests that kaolin may be useful in the decolorization of dye wastewater via the electrocoagulation method. 3 When applied topically, it serves as an emollient and drying agent. When ingested, it acts as an adsorbent to bind GI toxins and control diarrhea. Kaolin has been added to dusting powders and is used as a tablet excipient. It is also utilized in a variety of automated laboratory chemistry tests, including the determination of activated clotting time (ACT) 4 and in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis using the kaolin agglutination test (KAT). 5 Kaolin has also been used experimentally to induce hydrocephalus in animal models in order to assess the effects of the condition on sensorimotor development. 6 Chemistry Kaolin has the approximate chemical formula of H 2 Al 2 Si 2 O 8 (H 2 O) and is a white or yellow-white powder that has a slightly oily feel. It is an environmentally benign aluminosilicate mineral 7 that is insoluble in water. 1 Light kaolin is the preferred material for use in pharmaceutical preparations. The finely divided particles yield a very large surface area that adsorbs a wide variety of compounds. Kaolin's ability to enhance citric acid production by Aspergillus niger , a thermophilic fungus, has been studied. Aqueous suspensions of kaolin were added to the fungus medium in concentrations of 5 to 25 ppm. A maximum yield of citric acid (74.62 g/L) occurred within 96 hours after the production phase when using the 15 ppm aqueous suspension. Kaolin is effective in improving citric acid concentrations because of its ability to adsorb metal cations in the medium. This results in an increase in the activity of citrate synthase, an enzyme essential for the production of citric acid. 8 Uses and Pharmacology Diarrhea When given orally, kaolin, especially light kaolin, adsorbs substances from the GI tract and increases the bulk of feces. 9 Kaolin improves stool consistency within 24 to 48 hours; however, it does not decrease the number of stools passed or reduce the amount of fluids lost. 10 , 11 Data regarding the effects of kaolin on travelers' diarrhea are lacking. 12 Animal data A study of 252 crossbred pigs was conducted to assess the effects of dietary oats and kaolin on performance and diarrhea during the weaning period. This phenomenon, referred to as postweaning check period, can last for 7 to 14 days and often leads to death. Diets consisting of 10%, 20%, or 30% oats and kaolin at 1% and 3% were used. All pigs experienced stress lasting 7 to 14 days after weaning, regardless of diet. However, heavier pigs demonstrated superior performance compared with lighter pigs. Diarrhea was not problematic in this study. 13 Though clinical studies lack any evidence of benefit for the treatment of diarrhea in animals, it is often given to small animals, foals, calves, lambs, and kids. The recommended dose of kaolin pectin for animals is 1 to 2 mL/kg by mouth 4 times daily. 14 Clinical data Antidiarrheal preparations containing kaolin have been used in the treatment of enteritis, cholera, and dysentery. Kaolin preparations, however, have no intrinsic antibacterial activity and should not be used as the sole treatment in infectious diarrheas. Ulcerative Colitis Animal data A small study involving male Wistar rats w


In which year was the dwarf planet Pluto discovered?

Pluto Facts - Interesting Facts about Dwarf Planet Pluto Pluto Facts Pluto – www.nasa.gov/image-feature/global-mosaic-of-pluto-in-true-color Discovered in 1930, Pluto is the second closest dwarf planet to the Sun and was at one point classified as the ninth planet. Pluto is the largest dwarf planet but only the second most massive, with Eris being the most massive. 1.31 × 10^22 kg (0.17 Moons) Orbit Distance: Pluto size compared to the Moon and Earth Pluto’s Distance From Sun Facts about Pluto Pluto is named after the Greek god of the underworld. This is a later name for the more well known Hades and was proposed by Venetia Burney an eleven year old schoolgirl from Oxford, England. Pluto was reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006. This is when the IAU formalised the  definition of a planet  as “A planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.” Pluto was discovered on February 18th, 1930 by the Lowell Observatory. For the 76 years between Pluto being discovered and the time it was reclassified as a dwarf planet it completed under a third of its orbit around the Sun. Pluto has five known moons. The moons are Charon (discovered in 1978,), Hydra and Nix (both discovered in 2005), Kerberos originally P4 (discovered 2011) and Styx originally P5 (discovered 2012) official designations S/2011 (134340) 1 and  S/2012 (134340) 1. Pluto is the largest dwarf planet. At one point it was thought this could be Eris. Currently the most accurate measurements give Eris an average diameter of 2,326km with a margin of error of 12km, while Pluto’s diameter is 2,372km with a 2km margin of error. Pluto is one third water. This is in the form of water ice which is more than 3 times as much water as in all the Earth’s oceans, the remaining two thirds are rock. Pluto’s surface is covered with ices, and has several mountain ranges, light and dark regions, and a scattering of craters. Pluto is smaller than a number of moons. These are Ganymede, Titan, Callisto, Io, Europa, Triton, and the Earth’s moon . Pluto has 66% of the diameter of the Earth’s moon and 18% of its mass. While it is now confirmed that Pluto is the largest dwarf planet for around 10 years it was thought that this was Eris. Pluto has a eccentric and inclined orbit. This takes it between 4.4 and 7.3 billion km from the Sun meaning Pluto is periodically closer to the Sun than Neptune. Pluto has been visited by one spacecraft. The New Horizons spacecraft, which was launched in 2006, flew by Pluto on the 14th of July 2015 and took a series of images and other measurements. New Horizons is now on its way to the Kuiper Belt to explore even more distant objects. Pluto’s location was predicted by Percival Lowell in 1915. The prediction came from deviations he initially observed in 1905 in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Pluto sometimes has an atmosphere. When Pluto elliptical orbit takes it closer to the Sun, its surface ice thaws and forms a thin atmosphere primarily of nitrogen which slowly escapes the planet. It also has a methane haze that overs about 161 kilometres above the surface. The methane is dissociated by sunlight into hydrocarbons that fall to the surface and coat the ice with a dark covering. When Pluto travels away from the Sun the atmosphere then freezes back to its solid state.


At which university was Samuel Beckett from 1923 to 1927?

Samuel Beckett - Trinity Writers : Trinity College Dublin Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) Sam Slote Samuel Barclay Beckett, one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, was born in Foxrock, an affluent Dublin suburb, on 13 April (Good Friday) 1906. His family was of Protestant Huguenot stock and he enjoyed a comfortable childhood. He first attended the Earlsfort House School in Dublin, where he learned French to a high degree of proficiency (the school was bilingual). From 1920–1923 he followed his older brother Frank to the Portora Royal School in Enniskillen. He then went to Trinity College Dublin from 1923–1927, where he studied modern languages and, despite much stress, passed the Foundation Scholarship examination in 1926. His final results upon graduation earned him the Gold Medal. His tutor was the renowned Berkeley scholar A. A. Luce. In addition to his academic accomplishments, Beckett played on various College sports teams and had two first-class cricket matches against Northamptonshire in 1925 and 1926, making him the only Nobelist to merit an entry in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack. From his first year at Trinity he caught the attention of Thomas Rudmose-Brown, Professor of Romance Languages. Rudmose-Brown specialised in French literature and was unusual for combining the traditional canon with more modern and experimental works. The depth, range, and eclecticism of Rudmose-Brown was to have a lasting impact upon Beckett. In 1983 Beckett admitted that ‘Much needed light came to me from “Ruddy”, from his teaching and friendship. I think of him often and always with affection and gratitude’ (quoted in Knowlson 1996, 48). As a student, Beckett also read widely in Italian literature – especially Dante – and English literature. ‘The Trinity years were crucial to SB, the smithy in which his soul was forged’ (Ackerley and Gontarski 2004, 589). In March 1927, at Rudmose-Brown’s recommendation, Beckett was nominated for a position as Trinity College’s exchange lecturer with the École Normale Supérieure in Paris upon his graduation; although his appointment was delayed a year due to a misunderstanding concerning the tenure of his predecessor, Thomas McGreevy. Beckett stayed in Paris for two years, from October 1928 until September 1930. Through McGreevy Beckett enjoyed his first entrée into the Parisian literary scene and met James Joyce. Beckett began a close friendship with McGreevy and their correspondence throughout the years affords a key perspective on Beckett’s maturation. In Paris, Beckett continued his friendship with Alfred Péron, a graduate of the École Normale Supérieure, who he had met previously at Trinity when the Frenchman had held the reciprocal position of lecteur. Beckett’s two years in Paris saw his first publications: an essay on Joyce’s Finnegans Wake (then being serialised as ‘Work in Progress’), a short story entitled ‘Assumption’, and some poems, including the separately published and award-winning ‘Whoroscope’, which proffers a parodic life of René Descartes and is based on J. P. Mahaffy’s biography of the same. A monograph on Proust, strongly influenced by Schopenhauer, was written quickly in the summer of 1930 and published the following year. Upon his return to Dublin, Beckett accepted a three year appointment as a Lecturer in French at Trinity, where he lived in House 40 (for his final undergraduate year, he had lived in House 39). His playful erudition found an outlet in a witty and well-received lecture, concerning a non-existent French poet he dubbed Jean de Chas, given to the Trinity Modern Languages Society. He also participated in a pastiche of Corneille’s Le Cid and Chaplin’s The Kid entitled ‘Le Kid’; this was written by Beckett’s Parisian friend Georges Pelorson, who had also taken up a post at Trinity. The play was performed at the Peacock Theatre by the Trinity Modern Languages Society. During this period Beckett visited Paris several times and collaborated with Péron on translating the ‘Anna Livia Plurabelle’ chapter from Finnegans Wake into French. However, Beckett s


Wycliffe (TV Series 1994– ) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Set in Cornwall, Detective Superintendent Charles Wycliffe, who works along with his colleagues DI Doug Kersey and DI Lucy Lane, investigates murder cases with his trademark determination and clinical accuracy. Stars: When the manager of the local building society and his wife are killed during an attempted kidnapping, Det. Superintendent Charles Wycliffe has to postpone a well-deserved holiday to Paris - much to ... 8.2 Policeman Alan Trier is murdered and the abrasive Deputy Chief Constable Roth orders Wycliffe to avoid any scandal which would attract outside criticism in his investigation, given that Trier's wife ... 8.2 Hectoring land-owner Lionel Penmore is shot dead and the chief suspects are his tenants Kevin and Laura Kessell. Penmore has tried bribery and violence to evict the pair and their baby, Flo, from the... 8.0 Famous Directors: From Sundance to Prominence From Christopher Nolan to Quentin Tarantino and every Coen brother in between, many of today's most popular directors got their start at the Sundance Film Festival . Here's a list of some of the biggest names to go from Sundance to Hollywood prominence. a list of 35 titles created 25 Oct 2011 a list of 1985 titles created 20 Jul 2012 a list of 22 titles created 20 Jan 2013 a list of 269 titles created 02 Feb 2014 a list of 2127 titles created 15 May 2014 Search for " Wycliffe " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Alcoholic and divorced father of a young daughter, DS Jim Bergerac is a true maverick who prefers doing things his own way, and consequently doesn't always carry out his investigations the way his boss would like. Stars: John Nettles, Terence Alexander, Sean Arnold Lovejoy is an irresistible rogue with a keen eye for antiques. The part-time detective scours the murky salerooms, auction halls and stately homes of Britain, always on the lookout for a find. Stars: Ian McShane, Dudley Sutton, Chris Jury DI Jack Frost is an unconventional policeman with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice. Sloppy, disorganized and disrespectful, he attracts trouble like a magnet. Stars: David Jason, Bruce Alexander, John Lyons Dalziel and Pascoe (TV Series 1996) Crime | Mystery | Drama Supt. Dalziel and partner DI Pascoe investigate murders, and find a bond forming between them despite their blatantly differing personalities. Stars: Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan, David Royle The cases of a portly and eccentric criminal law barrister. Stars: Leo McKern, Jonathan Coy, Julian Curry The trials of the British aristocratic Bellamy family and their household staff. Stars: Gordon Jackson, David Langton, Jean Marsh Hetty wakes on her 60th birthday and decides to become a private investigator. With assistance from a teenager called Geoffrey and her husband Robert, combined with her own common sense, Hetty is confident she can solve any case. Stars: Patricia Routledge, Dominic Monaghan, Derek Benfield The 1960s lives and adventures of the police constabulary, medical staff and residents of Ashfordly and Aidensfield. Stars: William Simons, Derek Fowlds, Tricia Penrose Popular BBC sketch show that introduces a whole host of memorable characters such as Tim-Nice-But-Dim, Wayne and Waynetta Slob, The Old Gits and teenagers Kevin and Perry. The show spawned a slew of spin-off series and films. Stars: Harry Enfield, Paul Whitehouse, Kathy Burke The Korean War and a long lost letter separate the lives of young lovers Jean and Lionel, whose paths cross again by happenstance. Stars: Judi Dench, Geoffrey Palmer, Moira Brooker Comic goings on in this series set in an English holiday camp called Maplins. The title comes from the camp's greeting, which the staff are me


In the RAF, what is the rank immediately above Squadron Leader?

RAF Rank and Insignia RAF RANK AND INSIGNIA Equivelant USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Second Lieutenant / Leutnant NATO ranking code: OF-1 Rank Structure: Pilot Officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and ranks immediately below Flying Officer. Insignia: The insignia, which consists of a thin Blue band on a slightly wider Black band, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Flying Officer Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: First Lieutenant / Oberleutnant NATO ranking code: OF-1 Rank Structure: Flying Officer ranks above Pilot Officer and immediately below Flight Lieutenant Insignia: The insignia, which consists of a narror Blue band on a slightly wider Black band, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Flight Lieutenant Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Captain / Hauptmann NATO ranking code: OF-2 Rank Structure: Flight Lieutenant ranks above Flying Officer and immediately below Squadron Leader Insignia: The insignia, which consists of two narror Blue band on slightly wider Black bands, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Squadron Leader Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Major / Major NATO ranking code: OF-3 Rank Structure: Squadron Leader ranks above Flight Lieutenant and immediately below Wing Commander Insignia: The insignia, which consists of a thin Blue band on a slightly wider Black band between two narror Blue band on slightly wider Black bands, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Wing Commander Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel / Oberstleutnant NATO ranking code: OF-4 Rank Structure: Wing Commander ranks above Squadron Leader and immediately below Group Captain Insignia: The insignia, which consists of three narror Blue band on slightly wider Black bands, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Group Captain Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Colonel / Oberst NATO ranking code: OF-5 Rank Structure: Group Captain ranks above Wing Commander and immediately below Air Commodore Insignia: The insignia, which consists of four narror Blue band on slightly wider Black bands, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Air Commodore Equivelent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Brigadier / Generalmajor NATO ranking code: OF-6 Rank Structure: Air Commodore ranks above Group Captain and immediately below Air Vice-Marshall Insignia: The insignia, which consists of a Light Blue band on a wide Black band, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Air Vice-Marshall Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Major-General / Generalleutnant NATO ranking code: OF-7 Rank Structure: Air Vice-Marshall ranks above Air Commodore and immediately below Air Marshall Insignia: The insignia, which consists of a narror Light Blue band on slightly wider Black band and a Light Blue band on a wide Black band, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Air Marshall Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: Lieutenant-General / General der Flieger NATO ranking code: OF-8 Rank Structure: Air Marshall ranks above Air Vice-Marshall and immediately below Air Chief Marshall Insignia: The insignia, which consists of two narror Light Blue bands on slightly wider Black bands and a Light Blue band on a wide Black band, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoulder of the uniform. Rank: Air Chief Marshall Equivalent USAAF/Luftwaffe Rank: General / Generaloberst NATO ranking code: OF-9 Rank Structure: Air Chief Marshall ranks above Air Marshall and immediately below Marshall of the RAF Insignia: The insignia, which consists of three narror Light Blue bands on slightly wider Black bands and a Light Blue band on a wide Black band, is worn on the lower sleeve of the tunic or the epaulette on the shoul


Whose 1941 7th Symphony was called 'Leningrad'?

The enigma of Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony - World Socialist Web Site World Socialist Web Site Published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI)   The enigma of Shostakovich’s Leningrad Symphony By   Verena Nees 12 September 2012 Dmitri Shostakovich A memorable concert took place 70 years ago. On August 9, 1942, Dmitri Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony, the “Leningrad”, was performed in the city of Leningrad, now St. Petersburg. At the time, the city had been besieged by German troops for more than a year and its inhabitants subjected to relentless starvation. Karl Eliasberg conducted an orchestra of 15 surviving musicians from his radio orchestra and other musicians who had been recalled from the front specifically for the occasion. The Leningrad Philharmonic, then under the direction of Yevgeny Mravinsky, had been evacuated to Novosibirsk, where its performance of the Seventh Symphony had already met with great success in July. The symphony’s musical score was transported in a special aircraft that flew around the blockade to reach the besieged city. On the very day of the concert, the German army began an offensive that subjected the city to heavy bombardments. The Soviet Army in Leningrad allowed their anti-aircraft guns to remain silent for the duration of the concert. “People came in small groups or individually. They hurried along the well-worn routes from the most remote parts of the city, widely avoiding places where notice boards warned: ‘Use the other side of the street. Danger of artillery shelling’. So they went to the other, safer side of the road and watched as plaster and cornices crumbled, as stone fell from the walls of the houses being shelled. They walked carefully, hearing the thunder from the front, and listening for detonations that perhaps signalled the approach of shelling to the street they were hurrying along to reach the concert in the great hall of columns”. [1] Valerian Bogdanov-Berezovsky, a composer friend of Shostakovich and a visitor to the concert, wrote two days later in the Leningradskaya Pravda newspaper that the concert was “stormy and passionate—like a ceremonial occasion, grand and solemn—as on a national holiday”. [2] It was said the music could also be heard in the trenches of the German soldiers. Soon after its premiere, the “Leningrad” symphony began a triumphal march through concert halls all over the world and became Shostakovich’s most popular work. Apart from its reception in the cities of the Soviet Union, there were 60 performances in America alone, as well as in most major cities in eastern and western Europe. It was first performed in Berlin at the German State Opera under the direction of Sergiu Celibidache in the winter of 1946-47. It received an enthusiastic response from audiences everywhere. Music critics, musicians and conductors compared Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony to Beethoven’s “Eroica”, declaring the composer to be a genius. His Seventh was generally identified with the struggle of the Soviet people against the forces of fascism. The Seventh Symphony was rarely performed in the postwar period. In the Soviet Union, Andrei Zhdanov, Stalin’s cultural functionary, disparaged the work for lacking optimism. Shostakovich was accused of failing to counterpose to the violence of the Nazi invaders, depicted in the first movement, the power of the Red Army. In the West during the Cold War, Shostakovich’s works and particularly the “Leningrad” symphony were denounced and abandoned because they were regarded as music commissioned by Stalin. This view remained unchallenged until 1979, when Shostakovich’s memoirs were posthumously published by Solomon Volkov, the young Soviet music critic who had emigrated to the United States after Shostakovich’s death in 1975. [3] The memoirs were based on minutes of meetings, authorised by the composer himself and revealing Shostakovich as an opponent of Stalin and the ruling Soviet bureaucracy. The memoirs were first violently attacked in the East and West and regarded as forgeries. Although it was kno


Who was the first king of the House of Lancaster?

house of Lancaster | English family | Britannica.com House of Lancaster aristocracy House of Lancaster, a cadet branch of the house of Plantagenet . In the 15th century it provided three kings of England—Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI—and, defeated by the house of York , passed on its claims to the Tudor dynasty . The family name first appeared in 1267, when the title of earl of Lancaster was granted to Edmund “Crouchback” (1245–96), the youngest son of Henry III . Two of Edmund’s sons by his second wife, Blanche of Artois, succeeded to the title: Thomas, earl of Lancaster (died 1322), and Henry, earl of Lancaster (died 1345). Henry’s son, Henry, 1st duke of Lancaster (died 1361), was survived only by two coheiresses. The elder daughter—Maud, married to William, duke of Bavaria—died without issue a year after her father. The Lancastrian inheritance thus fell to the younger daughter, Blanche, and to her husband, John of Gaunt (died 1399), third surviving son of Edward III . After Gaunt’s death his son Henry of Lancaster deposed Richard II and became king himself, as Henry IV . On his accession the duchy of Lancaster was merged in the crown, and the house of Lancaster, in the persons of Henry IV, Henry V , and Henry VI , ruled England for more than 60 years.


Catherine Hogarth was the wife of which famous author?

The Other Dickens, A Life of Catherine Hogarth A Life of Catherine Hogarth Detailed info Catherine Hogarth, who came from a cultured Scots family, married Charles Dickens in 1836, the same year he began serializing his first novel. Together they traveled widely, entertained frequently, and raised ten children. In 1858, the celebrated writer pressured Catherine to leave their home, unjustly alleging that she was mentally disordered—unfit and unloved as wife and mother. Constructing a plotline nearly as powerful as his stories of Scrooge and Little Nell, Dickens created the image of his wife as a depressed and uninteresting figure, using two of her three sisters against her, by measuring her presumed weaknesses against their strengths. This self-serving fiction is still widely accepted. In the first comprehensive biography of Catherine Dickens, Lillian Nayder debunks this tale in retelling it, wresting away from the famous novelist the power to shape his wife's story. Nayder demonstrates that the Dickenses' marriage was long a happy one; more important, she shows that the figure we know only as "Mrs. Charles Dickens" was also a daughter, sister, and friend, a loving mother and grandmother, a capable household manager, and an intelligent person whose company was valued and sought by a wide circle of women and men. Making use of the Dickenses' banking records and legal papers as well as their correspondence with friends and family members, Nayder challenges the long-standing view of Catherine Dickens and offers unparalleled insights into the relations among the four Hogarth sisters, reclaiming those cherished by the famous novelist as Catherine's own and illuminating her special bond with her youngest sister, Helen, her staunchest ally during the marital breakdown. Drawing on little-known, unpublished material and forcing Catherine's husband from center stage, The Other Dickens revolutionizes our perception of the Dickens family dynamic, illuminates the legal and emotional ambiguities of Catherine's position as a "single" wife, and deepens our understanding of what it meant to be a woman in the Victorian age. Introduction: Constructing Catherine Dickens 1. "The Mind of Woman Occasionally Asserts Its Powers": Catherine Hogarth among Enlightened Patriarchs, 1815–1835 2. Becoming Galatea: Courtship and Marriage, 1835–1837 Interlude I. “The Girls Hogarth”: Catherine and Mary 3. “Their Voices, Mr. Dickens's Imperative”: Mesmerized, 1837–1842 4. “Their Voices, Mrs. Dickens’s Expostulatory”: Disentranced, 1843–1847 5. “Richer in That Respect”: Overbearings, 1848–1852 Interlude II. “Catherine Georgina”; or, What’s in a Name? 6. The Meaning of “Our”: Sleights of Hand, 1853–1858 7. “As If She Were Sole and Unmarried”: Separation, 1858–1870 Interlude III. “Forget Me Not”: Catherine and Helen 8. Last Wills and Last Words: Widowhood, 1870–1879 Afterword: “Suttee Business” ... more between the lines of the fragmented voices that remain. . . . In May 1858, she wrote to Angela Burdett Coutts, 'One day though not now I may be able to let you know you how hardly I have been used.' Some 150 years later, Catherine's unvoiced complaint now has its fullest expression."—Daniel Tyler, Times Literary Supplement The Other Dickens "The Other Dickens breaks new ground in Victorian Studies by making Catherine, Charles Dickens's wife, the center of a work that reconfigures the Dickens story so that it is as much hers as his—indeed more hers than his . . . . Nayder aims to both correct injustices done to Catherine by Charles and many of his biographers and, more crucially, to revivify Catherine’s voice, to write her life from her own perspective. . . . This carefully documented, engagingly written biography manages to do justice to both."—Lisa Rodensky, Women’s Review of Books (May/June 2011) The Other Dickens "History has not been kind to Catherine Dickens, which is why Lillian Nayder's new biography is such an essential piece of scholarship. Tracing Catherine’s life through a wealth of letters, journals, and legal documents, Nayder takes issue with gene


In which sport are penalties awarded to the opposing team for clipping, holding and hooking?

Ice Hockey Penalties – talkIceHockey Ice Hockey Penalties The Basics Ice Hockey is in essence a vicious game. Any sport where rough tackles are not only legal but also expected, needs to be tightly regulated to stop things from getting out of hand – this may go some way to explaining why ice hockey has such a long and involved system for giving penalties. But pay attention, because understanding what’s legal and what isn’t, is vital not only to stopping your team from giving away chances but also to playing a truly tactical game. Penalties are recorded in terms of minutes, and it says a lot about the game that one of a player’s major statistics is their Penalties in Minutes figure. Who calls penalties? Penalties in Ice Hockey are, in most cases, awarded by the referee and can range from earning you a couple of minutes out of play right through to being kicked out of the league, depending on how serious the offence is. Linesmen can also call penalties. Although these are usually technical infractions they can also call major penalties if the referee misses them. Serving Time Time out of play is served in the penalty box by the player who has been deemed to have committed the offence, and while this is in effect, no substitutes can be brought on to the ice. This applies to everyone on the team except the goalie. If the goalkeeper commits an action that the referee decides is worthy of a penalty, then one of his team mates serves the time in the penalty box for him. This doesn’t mean the goalie is immune to punishment though. If the infraction is serious enough, earning him a match or game misconduct, he can be sent off the ice. In this situation, the team can sub in a replacement goaltender for another player, or a player already on the ice can take the place of the goalie (and for his safety is allowed to use the goalie’s equipment). Timing is Key While the penalised player is off the ice, the offending team is essentially playing short handed, this is called a powerplay when the attacking team have the advantage or a powerkill when it is the defending team playing with an extra man. This imbalance of the teams changes the structure of play. For example, it is much easier to score from a powerplay, and so there have to be tight regulations to prevent teams from deliberately taking penalties to change the flow of the game. One example of this is that when the team not in possession of the puck is penalised, play does not stop, and the penalty is not awarded until they regain possession or a goal is scored. This stops defending teams from tactically giving away penalties if they are in a tight spot, facing an attack from the other team and thus stopping them from scoring by halting play. There are times when the penalty may not last the fully allotted time. In the case of a minor penalty, if the short-handed team is scored against during a penalty, then the clock is re-set and the player in the penalty box is allowed to re-join the game. In the case of a double minor, a goal being scored will reset the clock to two minutes – provided there’s longer than that still to be served. Unfortunately if you’ve committed a major infraction then you’re off the ice for the full duration – no matter how many goals the other team scores. Getting Back in the Game When a penalty being called, results in the team playing shorthanded, then once it has expired, the player is immediately allowed to return to the flow of the game. However, this is not the case with all types of penalties. Some may require play to have stopped before the player can re-join the game on the ice. One example of this is in the case of coincidental penalties. Coincidental penalties are where one or more players from each team have had penalties called against them at the same time, and so although both teams are playing with fewer players they are both at the same strength. In this case, both players remain on the bench until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their penalties. Types of Penalties There are seven main types of penalties that can be


What is the narne of the late playwright husband of the actress Maureen Lipman?

Jack Rosenthal sends Maureen Lipman a text from beyond the grave - Telegraph Jack Rosenthal sends Maureen Lipman a text from beyond the grave Maureen Lipman has received a surprising text message from her late husband,  Jack Rosenthal. The stage and screen actress Maureen Lipman.  Photo: Andrew Crowley By Tim Walker. Edited by Claire Fox. 6:30AM GMT 07 Mar 2011 After a quarter of Britons were last week reported to have been happy to admit to having had supernatural experiences, Maureen Lipman and Will Young have been telling Mandrake about theirs. Lipman, the distinguished 64-year-old stage and screen actress, tells me that she believes she was admonished by her late husband, the playwright Jack Rosenthal, in an eerie posthumous text message. “Our son, Adam, showed me the first draft of a novel he had been writing, and I criticised it,” Lipman told me at a party at the National Theatre to celebrate the launch of John Fraser’s new book, The Unholy Trinity of Monstrous Madonnas. “One of the characters in the novel was called Enk and later that day I was fiddling with my phone and a text message popped up from Jack. It said: 'The lad’s done well - Enk’. “I couldn’t believe it. I don’t know how it happened, but there was Jack’s name. Of course, it could have been an old message he had sent me that I had kept that had got mangled, but God only knows. I felt it was Jack’s way of telling me – 'Our boy’s doing all right. Leave him alone’.” Related Articles


Before he became an author, what was the original profession of Sir Walter Scott?

Sir Walter Scott Biography - eNotes.com Sir Walter Scott Biography Homework Help Sir Walter Scott Biography Sir Walter Scott, as one of his country’s earliest prominent writers, helped establish Scotland’s place in the literary canon. Scott was a prolific poet as well as the author of numerous historical romances and adventures. Despite his early success and the influence he exerted over nineteenth-century English literature, time had not always been kind to Scott. Later critics denounced his works on grounds of structure, tone, and content. Yet, in many ways, Scott was at the forefront of the romantic, larger-than-life style that pervaded the late nineteenth century. A renewed interest in Scott has overlooked his faults and helped cast his work in a more positive light. He remains a significant figure in both the Scottish canon and literature as a whole. Facts and Trivia When he was just two years old, Scott became afflicted with polio. Though he survived the illness, his right leg would be unusable for the rest of his life. Writing was not Scott’s first career choice. He studied law, which he practiced after completing his studies. He later served as sheriff-deputy of his county. In the second half of the twentieth century, Scott’s novels inspired two highly acclaimed films: Ivanhoe (based on the novel of the same name) and Rob Roy. A song commonly referred to as “Schubert’s Ave Maria” is in fact a musicalization of Scott’s “The Lady in the Lake.” Scott's works are often attributed with popularizing the kilt as a staple of Scottish garb. link Link Sir Walter Scott Published by Salem Press, Inc. Article abstract: Scott’s narrative poems about the stirring events in Scottish and medieval history were immensely popular in the nineteenth century, and in fiction he created the genre of the historical novel. Early Life Walter Scott counted among his ancestors many notable and colorful figures from Scottish history, and during his early years, after an attack of polio crippled his right leg, he spent hours listening to family stories and songs about their exploits. Even as a young boy, he collected these ballads and folktales, which vividly presented the past. He would later use this knowledge in the poems and novels which won great acclaim during his lifetime, and which endure to this day as classics of English literature. After being educated at home, Scott was sent in 1778 to high school in Edinburgh. He impressed both his teachers and his peers with his intelligence, his good nature, and his ability to tell stories; he was less accomplished in his scholarship. In 1783, he entered the Old College, but his interest remained the study and pursuit of ballads. In 1786, he joined his father, who was a lawyer, as an apprentice and was called to the bar in July of 1792. Scott made a competent though not outstanding lawyer, and his main interest continued to be literature, although he seemed to regard the writing profession as not quite suitable for a gentleman. Despite his doubts, however, he could not refrain from seeking out, collecting, and reciting the poetry of his native land. Inevitably, he tried his hand at composition. In 1797, Scott visited the Lake Country, where he met Charlotte Mary Carpenter, daughter of a deceased French refugee. After a brief courtship, Scott’s suit was approved by Charlotte’s guardian, the Marquess of Downshire, and the couple were married on Christmas Eve, 1797. Their union, comfortable rather than passionate, produced four children. Through exercise to overcome his infirmity, Scott developed a powerful and robust physique; he was an avid horseman and walker, and graceful, despite his lameness. Scott’s many portraits show a man of regular, rather than handsome, features, with keen, bright eyes. They also reveal the intelligence, good humor and compassion for which he was well-known. Scott’s contemporaries were universal in their admiration for him. Life’s Work Scott’s entry into the literary world was almost casual. After collecting the ballads of others, he began to compose some of his own. A g


Which driver won the first Grand Prix Formula One World Motor championship in 1950?

Nino Farina - 1950 Nino Farina Share The first ever Formula One World Champion came from a privileged background and had a stylish driving technique that was adopted by many drivers. A hard and determined racer, Farina relied on a combination of profound self belief and raw courage to compensate for the superior skills possessed by many of his more naturally talented opponents. Yet he also drove recklessly and few Formula One drivers ever competed with such apparent disregard for their personal safety. Somehow surviving an accident-strewn racing career, he was eventually killed in a road accident. Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 10 Silverstone, May 1950: Alfa Romeo’s Giuseppe Farina celebrates victory in the first ever Formula One world championship race, the British Grand Prix. Silverstone, May 1950: From left to right: King George VI talks with Juan Manuel Fangio, Giuseppe Farina and Luigi Fagioli during his visit to the British Grand Prix, the opening round of the inaugural Formula One world championship. Silverstone, July 1951: Reigning world champion Giuseppe Farina (car number one) leads eventual race winner, Ferrari’s Froilan Gonzalez (car 12), away at the start of the British Grand Prix. Farina retired on lap 76 of 90 with a faulty clutch. Silverstone, July 1952: Giuseppe Farina (centre) talks tactics with fellow Ferrari drivers Piero Taruffi (left) and Alberto Ascari (right) ahead of the British Grand Prix. Farina took pole, but could only finish sixth after technical problems. Silverstone, July 1953: At the British Grand Prix the four Ferrari drivers discuss tactics, along with French journalist/photographer Bernard Cahier. From left to right: Alberto Ascari, Giuseppe Farina, Bernard Cahier, Mike Hawthorn and Luiggi Villoresi. Silverstone, July 1953: Giuseppe Farina (right) on the grid before the start of the British Grand Prix. He is pictured with Ferrari rivals Alberto Ascari (left) and Jose Froilan Gonzalez (centre). Silverstone, July 1953: Having just finished third in the British Grand Prix for Ferrari, Giuseppe Farina prepares for the supporting Formula Libre Trophy race. Silverstone, July 1953: Guiseppe Farina, fresh from his third place in the British Grand Prix, readies himself for the following Formula Libre Trophy race, which he would win from Juan Manuel Fangio. Silverstone, July 1953: Giuseppe Farina, in the Thin Wall Special, lines up on the front row of the grid for the Formula Libre Trophy race that followed the British Grand Prix. Car number two is the BRM of Ken Wharton, with the Ferrari of Mike Hawthorn in the foreground. Silverstone, July 1953: Giuseppe Farina crosses the line in the Ferrari Thin Wall Special machine to take victory in the Formula Libre Trophy race that immediately followed the British Grand Prix. Info Close Giuseppe Antonio 'Nino' Farina was always destined to be involved in the automotive world, though not necessarily as a driver. On the day of his son’s birth, October 30, 1906, Nino's father Giovanni established Stabilimente Farina, a bodywork shop in Turin, the industrial city where much of Italy's car manufacturing industry was located. Here also, Giovanni's brother founded the coachbuilding firm of Pininfarina, later famed for designing many sleek Italian sportscars. From an early age Nino was expected to join the family business but his first driving experience, at the age of nine in a small car on the grounds of his father's factory, whetted his appetite for the sporting side of motoring. When he was 16 Nino accompanied his favourite uncle Pinin as a passenger in a race. Three years later his first solo competition ended in an accident, establishing a worrying trend that continued throughout his crash-prone career.  Farina was both athletically and academically inclined. In his youth he was a fast runner and became skilled at soccer and skiing. At the University of Turin he received a doctorate in law and became Dottore Giuseppe Farina. While his academic title came easily his route to becoming World Champion was less straightforward. He began his military service as a cav


Which racing driver won the Formula One Championship in 1981, 1983 and 1987?

Nelson Piquet - 1981, 1983, 1987 Nelson Piquet Share He was never a dominant driver but a crafty expert in winning by stealth, according to his detractors. He admitted he was lazy, yet willingly worked hard to improve his car. He could be cold and cruel but could also be warm and funny. He hated being a celebrity yet lived the life of a playboy to the hilt. He was never hugely popular but couldn't care less. All Nelson Piquet really cared about was driving a racing car, which he loved with a passion, especially when he won, which he did often enough to become a triple World Champion. Next Previous 1 / 7 Brands Hatch, July 1980: Piquet came home second in the British Grand Prix at the wheel of the Brabham BT49, the car that earlier that season had brought him his maiden Formula One win at Long Beach. © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. Buenos Aires, April 1981: Piquet recorded a clean sweep at the Argentine Grand Prix en route to his first world title. Have qualified on pole position, he then led from start to finish, setting the fastest lap on the way. © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. Nelson Piquet (BRA), Brabham BT52, 2nd place. French GP, Paul Ricard, France, 17 April 1983. Piquet finished second, having qualified sixth on the grid © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. Monte Carlo, May 1983: After qualifying sixth, immediately behind Keke Rosberg, for the Monaco Grand Prix, Piquet followed the Finn home to take second in the race, setting the fastest lap on the way. © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. Zandvoort, August 1983: Piquet heads out of the Dutch Grand Prix after falling victim to a failed overtaking attempt by championship rival, Renault’s Alain Prost, who also retired later that lap. © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. 1983: Nelson Piquet at the wheel of the distinctive Brabham BT52B, the car in which he would clinch his second drivers’ title in three years. © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. 1983 season: Nelson Piquet had plenty to smile about in 1983. Three wins and a further five podium finishes brought him the world championship by just two points from Alain Prost. © Sutton © No reproduction without permission. Born Nelson Sautomaior, on August 17, 1952, he used his mother's surname Piquet to hide his early racing adventures from his disapproving parents. His father, a prominent Brazilian government minister, had been a regional tennis champion and when Nelson showed early promise in that sport he was encouraged to pursue it. At 12 he was one of Brazil's most promising junior prospects. At 16, to further hone his tennis skills, his parents enrolled him at a school in California. But whacking a ball around a tennis court began to take second place in Nelson's mind to driving a car around a race track, particularly when his countryman Emerson Fittipaldi started making inroads abroad. And so Nelson Piquet began racing in his home state of Brazilia. Winning championships in karts and sportscars failed to win over his parents, who sought to distract him by sending him to university. But studying philosophy, engineering and management proved no substitute for the lure of racing and Nelson dropped out after a year. He sold his road car to buy a Formula Vee and in 1977 became the Brazilian champion in that category. On the advice of Emerson Fittipaldi his next career move was to Europe, where he arrived in 1977 with enough cash (L10,000) to embark on a Formula Three program. In 1978 victories in 13 of 26 races made him champion of one British F3 series and runner-up in another. Formula One teams were impressed and he was given outings in an Ensign and a privately entered McLaren before being hired by Brabham boss Bernie Ecclestone to serve as understudy to Niki Lauda for 1979. When the Austrian veteran walked away from Formula One racing at the end of that season the Brazilian newcomer became Brabham team leader by default. He was still learning on the job, but proved entirely up to the task of helping develop designer Gordan Murray's prom


Who was the first woman to run for US Vice President in 1984?

First Female Vice-Presidential Nominee Geraldine Ferraro Dies | Fox News First Female Vice-Presidential Nominee Geraldine Ferraro Dies Published        March 26, 2011 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 livefyre Email Print Geraldine Ferraro , who became the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket in 1984 -- only to lose in a landslide -- died Saturday. She was 75. Ferraro died at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was being treated for blood cancer, a disease she battled for 12 years, her family said. Ferraro "was widely known as a leader, a fighter for justice, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice," her family said. "To us, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, a woman devoted to and deeply loved by her family. Her courage and generosity of spirit throughout her life waging battles big and small, public and personal, will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed." Ferraro is survived by her husband of 50 years; her three children and their spouses; and her eight grandchildren. Ferraro was a Fox News contributor and a fixture on the national political stage ever since Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale plucked her from obscurity as a Queens congresswoman to join his ticket in 1984 against incumbents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Delegates in San Francisco erupted in cheers at the first line of her speech accepting the vice-presidential nomination. "My name is Geraldine Ferraro," she declared. "I stand before you to proclaim tonight: America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us." Her acceptance speech launched eight minutes of cheers, foot-stamping and tears. Ferraro sometimes overshadowed Mondale on the campaign trail, often drawing larger crowds and more media attention than the presidential candidate. But controversy accompanied her acclaim. Frequent, vociferous protests of her favorable view of abortion rights marked the campaign. Ferraro's run also was beset by ethical questions, first about her campaign finances and tax returns, then about the business dealings of her husband, John Zaccaro. Ferraro attributed much of the controversy to bias against Italian-Americans. Mondale said he selected Ferraro as a bold stroke to counter his poor showing in polls against  Reagan and because he felt America lagged far behind other democracies in elevating women to top leadership roles. "The time had come to eliminate the barriers to women of America and to reap the benefits of drawing talents from all Americans, including women," Mondale said. In the end, Reagan won 49 of the 50 states, the largest landslide in nearly half a century. "Though we were one-time political opponents, I am happy to say Gerry and I became friends in time -- a friendship marked by respect and affection," Bush said in a statement. "I admired Gerry in many ways, not the least of which was the dignified and principled manner she blazed new trails for women in politics." In the years after the presidential race, Ferraro told interviewers that she would have not have accepted the nomination had she known how it would focus criticism on her family. "You don't deliberately submit people you love to something like that," she told presidential historian Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. in an interview in Ladies Home Journal. "I don't think I'd run again for vice-president," she said, then paused, laughed and said, "Next time I'd run for president." Zaccaro pleaded guilty in 1985 to a misdemeanor charge of scheming to defraud in connection with obtaining financing for the purchase of five apartment buildings. Two years later he was acquitted of trying to extort a bribe from a cable television company. Ferraro's son, John Zaccaro Jr., was convicted in 1988 of selling cocaine to an undercover Vermont state trooper and served three months under house arrest. Some observers said legal troubles involving her husband and son were a drag on Ferraro's later political ambitions, which included her unsuccessful bids for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in New York in 1992 and 1998. Sarah Pa