Which tourist resort of Croatia was formerly known as Ragusa?

Dubrovnik Things to do Edit This Experience the "Pearl of the Adriatic" through Dubrovnik Cruises. The ancient port city of Croatia, which lies within the Dalmatain Coast, offers the beauty of the Adriatic Sea plus the ancient wonders of Croatia. Enjoy the blue waters while cruising and the historic architecture of the city formerly known as Ragusa.  The Weather Dubrovnik is in a Mediterranean city featuring dry warm summers (temperatures average in the 80s) and temperate winters.  Perfect for cruising in the summer, 80 plus degree weather allows the visitor the freedom to swim the pristine waters or sunbath on the shore, yet comfortable enough to tour the ancient sites and appreciate the outdoor shopping.  Mild winters allow for satisfying off-season travel as well. Ports of Call Dubrovnik Cruises generally dock in Old Town. Your trip can vary from a day trip to a 24-day voyage through the Black Sea.  You can choose to cruise locally visiting cities such as Split, Zadar, the Serbian Port of Koper and the Albanian city of Durres or you can add diversity to your travels and include Venice and Istanbul. Make sure your excursion includes Cavat, a resort community on the southern side of Rat peninsula that offers gorgeous beaches and resort-style travel. Boats come and go several times a day from the local old harbor pier. Exclusive to Bargain Cruising If you'd prefer more freedom and privacy, you can take your own private cruise, a private and pricey alternative. Cruises can be purchased as bargain packages as well. Directline cruises offers 5 percent discounts on cruises booked through their 800 number.  Vacations-to-Go claim that you can save up to 75 percent off through their booking procedures. Don't Forget the Essentials Croatian travel requires a passport, but no visa if your visit is limited to under 90 days.  If you don't speak Croatian, fret not. English is spoken for the benefit of tourists.  During the latter 1900s Croatia was considered part of the former nation of Yugoslavia and was attacked by former country members in the Serbian-Montenegro Army. Croatia is now considered both a safe and free nation and Dubrovnik a safe community. While euros are commonly accepted, the official currency of Croatia is the Kuna.  Most restaurants and tourist attractions are considered reasonably priced.


Which European capital is situated at the point where Lake Malar joins the Baltic Sea?

Where is Stockholm located? | Reference.com Where is Stockholm located? A: Quick Answer Stockholm, which is the capital and largest city of Sweden, is located at the junction of Lake Malar and Salt Bay. It stands on 15 islands where the lake joins the Baltic Sea. Full Answer Stockholm contains about 20 percent of the total population of Sweden, which increased through the years due to immigration. The city generates a quarter of the country's gross national product. It is the most economically stable region in Sweden, where production exceeds manufacturing. One of its major electronic industries is the telecommunication company Ericsson. Stockholm is the site for the prestigious awarding of the Nobel Prizes in several categories, including physiology or medicine, literature, physics and chemistry.


Which mountain range forms the backbone of Italy?

Apennine Range | mountains, Italy | Britannica.com Apennine Range Alternative Titles: Appennines, Appennini, Appennino Related Topics Ariano Irpino Apennine Range, also called the Apennines, Italian Appennino, series of mountain ranges bordered by narrow coastlands that form the physical backbone of peninsular Italy . From Cadibona Pass in the northwest, close to the Maritime Alps , they form a great arc, which extends as far as the Egadi Islands to the west of Sicily . Their total length is approximately 870 miles (1,400 kilometres), and their width ranges from 25 to 125 miles. Mount Corno , 9,554 feet (2,912 metres), is the highest point of the Apennines proper on the peninsula. The range follows a northwest–southeast orientation as far as Calabria , at the southern tip of Italy; the regional trend then changes direction, first toward the south and finally westward. The Apennines mountain range. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Apennines are among the younger ranges of the Alpine system and, geologically speaking, are related to the coastal range of the Atlas Mountains of North Africa . Similarities have also been observed with the Dinaric Alps , which extend through the Balkan region, including Greece. Nearby Sardinia and Corsica , on the other hand, are dissimilar to the Apennines, their granitic rock masses being linked to outcroppings along the Spanish and French coast, from which they parted some 20 million years ago. Physical features Geology The majority of geologic units of the Apennines are made up of marine sedimentary rocks that were deposited over the southern margin of the Tethys Sea , the large ocean that spread out between the Paleo-European and the Paleo-African plates during their separation in the Mesozoic Era (about 250 to 65 million years ago). These rocks are mostly shales, sandstones, and limestones, while igneous rocks (such as the ophiolites of the northern Apennines, the remains of an older oceanic crust) are scarce. The oldest rocks—metamorphic units of the late Paleozoic Era (about 300 to 250 million years ago), with their continental sedimentary cover containing plant remains—represent the relicts of the ancient continental crust of Gondwanaland and are found in small outcroppings. The granitic intrusions and metamorphic units of the Calabrian and Sicilian ranges are also Paleozoic (Hercynian orogeny), but they are believed to be Alpine in origin and only became part of the Apennine chain through subsequent major tectonic movements. Similar Topics Jura Mountains The Apennine orogeny developed through several tectonic phases, mostly during the Cenozoic Era (i.e., since about 65 million years ago), and came to a climax in the Miocene and Pliocene epochs (about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). The Apennines consist of a thrust-belt structure with three basic trending motions: toward the Adriatic Sea (the northern and central ranges), the Ionian Sea (Calabrian Apennines), and Africa (Sicilian Range). During Plio-Pleistocene times (i.e., about 5,300,000 to 11,700 years ago), ingression and regression of the sea caused the formation of large marine and continental sedimentary belts (sands, clays, and conglomerates) along the slopes of the new chain. In the past million years numerous large faults have developed along the western side of the Apennines, which may be connected to the crustal thinning that began about 10 million years ago and resulted in the formation of a new sea, the Tyrrhenian. Most of these faults have also facilitated strong volcanic activity, and a volcanic chain has formed along them from Mount Amiata in Tuscany to Mount Etna in Sicily; most of these volcanoes—including Mount Amiata, Mount Cimino, the Alban Hills near Rome , and the Ponza Islands—are extinct, but, to the south, Mount Vesuvius, the Eolie Islands , and Mount Etna are all still active. Seismic activity is common along the entire length of the chain (including Sicily), with more than 40,000 recorded events since ad 1000. Mostly earthquakes are shallow (three to 19 miles deep), and their occurrence is probably connec


What are the invisible lines that supposedly link ancient magical sites?

Ley-lines    What        was the Original Purpose(s) of Ley-lines?   There are several developed theories on the purpose of ley-lines,  many of which offer valid potential; something  which in itself illustrates the complexity of unravelling the myriad of alignments from several millennia of activity. It is likely that ley-lines are a product of different elements from several of the following theories, being created at different times, for different purposes. The following examples are the current contenders for explaining how such a dedication to straight-lines has led mankind its present position. It is important to recognise the distinction between ley-lines and geometric alignments.   Spirit ways and Death roads - (Funerary paths): Although there is little direct evidence for 'religious' worship in the modern sense of the word at megalithic sites, there is certainly evidence that funerary rites were involved at several important locations (some of which may be classed a secondary use). The burial of valuable goods alongside funerary remains, placing of remains inside stone chambers underground, and alignment of funerary structures or their inhabitants with the rising sun, all attest to the fact that funerary ley-markers were not placed according to purely 'scientific' criteria, although they may also have been added to existing pre-existing ley-lines. A number of rituals and traditions have been associated with the path taken by funerary parties. Traditionally known as 'death roads' (dood-wegen or geister-wege). The fact that 'spirit paths' are traditionally straight and seem to include the same 'markers' as ley lines significantly increases the argument for some of the leys having once served this function. Spirit lines are also invisible, and are viewed as 'tracks' or 'paths' for the movement of the spirits, which may explain why markers are often not visible from one location to another (an argument traditionally used against the existence of leys themselves). Funerary Traditions: Watkins mentions the English funerary tradition of stopping at a crossroads and saying a prayer, a custom still practiced to this day.  Other customs involve walking around or 'bumping' churches and stones en-route. Processions are not supposed to carry a corpse twice over the same bridge and custom forbade singing or music on a bridge  Another interesting funerary-custom, still practiced into the 20th century was for mourners to carry a pebble and when they passed certain spots, throw their pebbles into a pile of previous mourners pebbles. The 'Fairy paths' of the Irish also have folklore associated with them. There are numerous stories of houses being built over Fairy-lines and being then being destroyed or cursed. Stones, crosses, crossroads, bridges and Churches are all the same points on Watkins list of ley-markers, although it is probable that many of the alignments that involve churches and cemeteries, or which pass areas with traditional funerary rites or death rituals have been mistakenly classified as 'ley lines' as funerary paths are not necessarily always straight.     ( More   about St. Michael ) The   St. Michael's ley has been shown to be inter-related with several   other prominent British megaliths through geometry, astronomy and an   apparent knowledge of longitude/latitude, not least of all to   Stonehenge. Stonehenge, whilst not being a part of the St. Michael ley, is connected with both Glastonbury and Avebury/Silbury through geometry, and also forms the crossing point of several prominent ley-lines - both astronomical and non-astronomical. The first astronomically significant ley-line to pass through Stonehenge was first identified by Sir Norman Lockyer, and later extended to 22 miles in length by K. Koop. This ley follows the path of the mid-summer sunrise on a bearing of 49ï¿½ 15'. (2) Another significant ley-line to pass through Stonehenge was also identified by Lockyer, and can be shown to extend accurately for 18.5 miles. It skirts only the edge


Which relative of the giraffe has zebra-like stripes?

Zebra-like giraffe relative rediscovered - World news - World environment | NBC News Zebra-like giraffe relative rediscovered Okapi hadn't been detected in Congo park in 50 years Below: Advertise Peter J. Stephenson  /  WWF-Canon via Reuters This okapi, an animal that is the giraffe's closest living relative, lives in the Ituri Reserve within the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the species hadn't been detected where it was first discovered a century ago until a recent survey found signs of its presence. msnbc.com staff and news service reports updated 6/9/2006 9:18:44 AM ET 2006-06-09T13:18:44 + - JOHANNESBURG  — An animal that looks like a cross between a horse, zebra and giraffe has been rediscovered where the species was first found a century ago, conservationists announced Friday. Delighted conservationists said they had found conclusive proof of the existence of the okapi in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga National Park — defying the odds of survival in a region battered by savage conflict. Discovered in what is now Virunga in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 1901, the shy forest-dwelling okapi has not been seen in the park since 1959. It was known to be present elsewhere in the Congo and several zoos around the world have okapis in captivity, but there were concerns it had gone extinct in the place of its discovery because of violence and lawlessness. But a recent survey of the area by the World Wildlife Fund and the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation found 17 okapi tracks and other evidence of its presence. No sightings of the elusive animal were made but its tracks were taken as absolute proof of the creature’s recent activity in the park. Giraffe's closest living kin It is only found in the secluded forests of eastern Congo and is considered the giraffe’s closest living relative. Advertise “The rediscovery of okapis in Virunga National Park is a positive sign,” said Marc Languy, of WWF’s Eastern Africa Regional Program. “As the country is returning to peace, it shows that the protected areas in this troubled region are now havens for rare wildlife once more.” Okapi have large ears, a relatively long neck, and a long black tongue. Males have hairy horns, while females are sometimes have a reddish tone and usually slightly taller than males. A solitary animal, the okapi only joins peers for mating. They feed on more than 100 different species of forest plants, some which are poisonous to humans, as well as grasses, fruits, ferns and fungi. They also eat a type of clay that provides minerals and salt. The animal’s eastern Congo home has been the scene of incessant conflict including a brutal civil war that erupted in 1998 and then escalated to engulf several other African states at a cost of millions of lives. The Congo hopes to put the bloodshed and chaos behind when it holds its first free elections in four decades next month, but marauding rebels and militia continue to fight on in the remote east. Poaching, deforestation a problem Virunga National Park, located on the border with Rwanda and Uganda, stretches some 200 miles between Lake Kivu and Lake Albert. Besides the threats from armed conflict, wildlife has suffered from poaching and deforestation by the more than 60,000 squatters inside the park. “Except for mountain gorillas, which have shown an increase in population due to important conservation efforts, most wildlife in the park have heavily suffered from poaching,” WWF said in a statement. “The population of hippopotamus, for example, has dropped from 29,000 in the mid-1970s to less than 1,000 today.” Reuters contributed to this report.


What collective name is given to the children of Gaia and Uranus?

From Noah to Dardanus From Noah to Dardanus This article describes the descendants of Noah, up to the foundation of   Troy by Dardanus, and is based on Greek mythology which is thought to be an   embellished version of real history. The Real History Behind The Greek Mythology There are good reasons to believe that Greek Mythology is an      embellished version of real history. The so-called 'gods' were just      ordinary men and women whose deeds have been exaggerated so that they      could be made into gods. I will go into this argument in detail in my      forthcoming new book, but basically they are as follows: Ouranos and Gaia represent Noah and his wife. Titan, Kronus and Iapetus are Shem, Ham and Japheth. This is       evident from a Chaldean fragment ( 1 )       which says "After the Flood, Titan and Prometheus lived,       and Titan undertook a war against Kronus". Prometheus (not       shown in the diagram), is a son of Iapetus in Greek mythology, and       he appears in the Chaldean fragment in place of his father. Kronus       must be Ham, because he appears in the Egyptian king list of Manetho       ( 2 ) among the demi-gods       that precede the first dynasty. This leaves only Shem to be       accounted for, and he is given the name Titan which is a       collective name for all the children of Ouranos and Gaia. Kronus achieves notoriety by castrating his father Uranus, an       exaggerated version of the story about Ham seeing his father naked       in his tent. By comparison of the Greek and Egyptian mythologies, it is       possible to show that the Greek Zeus is the Egyptian Osyris, and       since he is a son of Ham, he must be Mizraim. Oceanus and Tethys were additional children of Noah,      born after the flood (and there is nothing in the Bible to suggest      that this should not happen). They got married and had both sons and      daughters. Their sons were called 'River Gods' and their daughters      were called 'Oceanids'. One of the Oceanids, either Clymene or Asia,      married Iapetus (Japheth) and they had a son called Atlas who had a      daughter called Electra. She married Zeus who is the same as the      Egyptian Osiris and the Biblical Mizraim. Zeus and Electra had a son      called Dardanus who became the first king of Troy. Dardanus married Batia, the grand-daughter of Scamander      the River God, who represents the river near Troy. Her father was      Teucer, king of the Teucrians. Dardanus and Batia had a son called      Ericthoneus who succeeded him as the next king of Troy, and the line      continues as far as the Trojan war. Virgil ( 3 )      tells the story of how Aeneas fled from the burning city of Troy and      established his kingdom in Italy. Then there is Brutus, the      great-grandson of Aeneas, who came to Britain and founded of the      British (Welsh) monarchy, despite claims to the contrary which I have      dealt with in Why All The Fuss About Geoffrey and The Good Book of Oxford . Taking all this together, we have a continuous genealogy from Noah      to the Welsh monarchy, but that's not all. Berosus ( 4 ),      a Babylonian priest of the third century BC, gives a list of ten kings      before the flood, corresponding to the ten patriarchs from Adam to      Noah. So the genealogy goes all the way back to Adam. Note: There is a more elaborate version of the      descent from Noah to Dardanus, but it is based on sources that cannot      be authenticated. See From Noah to       Dardanus (according to Annius) . References 1. Hodges, E.R., Cory's      Ancient Fragments, A New and Enlarged Edition, Reeves & Turner, London, 1876. Facsimile reprints from Ballantrae, Ontario,      Canada. This Chaldean fragment is from Alexander Polyhistor. 2. Cory's Ancient      Fragments. King list of Manetho. 3. Virgil - The Aneid, Penguin


Which US city filed for bankruptcy in July?

Bankrupt Cities, Municipalities List and Map Bankrupt Cities, Municipalities List and Map         Many local governments across the U.S. face steep budget deficits as they struggle to pay off debts accumulated over a number of years. As a last resort, a select few filed for bankruptcy. Governing is tracking the issue, and will update this page as more municipalities seek bankruptcy protection. A federal judge recently approved Detroit's plan to pay off about $7 billion in debt. Detroit previously became the largest U.S. city ever to file for bankruptcy in 2013. Overall bankrupt municipalities remain extremely rare. A Governing analysis estimated only one of every 1,668 eligible general-purpose local governments (0.06 percent) filed for bankruptcy protection from 2008 through 2012. Excluding filings later dismissed, only one of every 2,710 eligible localities (not all states permit governments to file for bankruptcy) filed since 2008. The majority of filings have not been submitted by bankrupt cities, but rather lesser-known utility authorities and other narrowly-defined special districts throughout the country. In Omaha, Neb., more than a dozen sanitary districts have filed for bankruptcy, accounting for nearly a quarter of all Chapter 9 filings since 2010. It's also important to note that only about half of states outline laws authorizing municipal bankruptcy. View our bankruptcy laws map  for each state's policies. List of Bankruptcy Filings Since January 1, 2010 All Municipal Bankruptcy Filings: 51 General-Purpose Local Government Bankruptcy Filings (9): -- City of Hillview, Ky. -- City of San Bernardino, Calif. -- Town of Mammoth Lakes, Calf. (Dismissed) -- City of Stockton, Calif. -- City of Harrisburg, Pa. (Dismissed) -- City of Central Falls, R.I. -- Boise County, Idaho (Dismissed) LAST UPDATED: Aug. 21, 2015 Municipal Bankruptcies Map The map below shows all municipalities filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection since 2010, along with local governments voting to approve a bankruptcy filing.   Cities, towns and counties are shown in red. Utility authorities and other municipalities are displayed in gray. Click a marker to view details of each filing. Multiple municipalities have filed for bankruptcy in some cities, such as Omaha, Neb., so not all markers are visible without zooming in on the map. Please note that some listed municipal bankruptcy filings have been dismissed, as indicated.   Detroit Bankruptcy States without laws authorizing municipal bankruptcies often allow for different measures providing financial relief. In Michigan, seven cities and school districts have emergency managers, and another three are under consent agreements. View our  map and story  about the state's efforts to turn around the distressed municipalities. Other Detroit Coverage:


Rachel Verinder’s diamond gives what book its title?

SparkNotes: The Moonstone: Character List Character List Plot Overview Analysis of Major Characters Rachel Verinder  -  Rachel Verinder, only daughter to Lady Verinder, receives the Moonstone on her eighteenth birthday, only to have it stolen that night. Rachel is a straightforward and impassioned heroine. She is in love with Franklin Blake. Read an in-depth analysis of Rachel Verinder. Lady Verinder  -  Lady Verinder is an honest and just mistress to her household in Yorkshire. She suffers from heart disease and dies a third of the way through the novel Franklin Blake  -  Franklin Blake, Lady Verinder's nephew, is the editorial force behind the collected narratives of the novel—he has asked everyone to write what they know about the disappearance of the diamond, in the interests of clearing his own name. Franklin is good-natured and somewhat indecisive, perhaps because of his training in various foreign countries. Franklin is in love with Rachel Verinder. Read an in-depth analysis of Franklin Blake. Godfrey Ablewhite  -  Godfrey Ablewhite is a renowned philanthropist and leader of several Ladies' Charity Groups in London. He is a cousin of Rachel Verinder's and proposes marriage to Rachel twice. Godfrey begins to look suspicious and hypocritical during Miss Clack's narrative. Read an in-depth analysis of Godfrey Ablewhite. Gabriel Betteredge  -  Gabriel Betteredge is the trusted house steward of Lady Verinder. He has been in service to the Lady and her family his entire life and feels a strong attachment to the family and household servants. Betteredge has a provincial, earthy sense of humor. He enjoys the novelty of both detective work and the writing of a narrative. Ezra Jennings  -  Ezra Jennings is the assistant to Mr. Candy. Jennings has a strange appearance—he is tall and thin, with a face wrinkled beyond his years and hair that is half white and half black—that causes him to be shunned from social interaction. Jennings is intelligent and science-minded. He seems to harbor secrets from his past and is capable of womanly depths of feeling for others. Read an in-depth analysis of Ezra Jennings. Sergeant Cuff  -  Sergeant Cuff is a renowned detective from London. Tall and gaunt, he does not look like a member of the police force, yet his perceptive intelligence is striking. Cuff is idiosyncractic—his favorite pastime when not working is to breed roses. Cuff also exhibits a quiet sympathy for some others. Miss Drusilla Clack  -  Miss Clack, niece to Lady Verinder, is an overly-pious and falsely humble Christian—a member of many of Godfrey Ablewhite's Ladies' charities. Miss Clack's main interest is in the evilness of others, whom she attempts to save with the Christian pamphlets she carries with her. Miss Clack is capable of real venom toward those she doesn't like, such as Rachel Verinder. She holds strictly traditional views on gender roles, yet would and does swoon in the presence of her "Christian Hero," Godfrey Ablewhite. Mr. Mathew Bruff  -  Mr. Bruff has long been the family lawyer to the Verinders—he holds Rachel Verinder, Lady Verinder, and Franklin Blake all in high esteem. Mr. Bruff has a lawyer's mind for thinking logically through the facts of the case. He is resistant to any imaginative or mystical thinking. He respects the Indians for their efficiency and tenacity. Mr. Candy  -  Mr. Candy is the local doctor to Lady Verinder. He has a boyish sense of humor and a lively pride in his profession. Mr. Candy falls ill the night of Rachel's birthday from exposure to the rain and is incoherent or forgetful forever after. Superintendent Seegrave  -  Seegrave is the overconfident but not-too-meticulous local police superintendent in Frizinghall, the nearest town to Lady Verinder's estate. Seegrave's methods of detection are unperceptive and unsurprising—he suspects the servants first and bullies them into cooperation with the case. Colonel John Herncastle  -  John Herncastle, we learn in the preface, fought for the English army in India and stole the Moonstone diamond while he was there in 1799. A reclusive and


Polydactylism is distinguished by extra what?

Polydactyls Polydactyls (c) RebelPawz Maine Coons 2015 Introduction Our special interest is in Polydactyl Maine Coons. In our opinion they are the most amazing creatures and they deserve a lot of love and respect. RebelPawz Maine Coons was founded because of our love for the Polydactyl Maine Coons (and Mainelymagic Enzo Furrari P very much in particular). Mainelymagic Enzo Furrari P We are just totally in love with this special trait of the Maine Coon and would love to see it advance further and get more respected in the New Zealand show world. New Zealand is currently the only country in the world where you can show a poly on totally equal footing with other Maine Coons and other pedigree cats. Our objective is to see them out there much more than they are currently and be totally on an equal footing with the straight foots (no pun intended ;) ). TICA world wide have in May 2015 allowed polys into championship, but it had to be done as a separate breed code from the straight foots, but it is a step in the right direction. RebelPawz have been incredibly fortunate to be able to start breeding polys, thanks to the extremely generous support of Soozn Grindell of Mainelymagic Maine Coons (importer of the first Poly Maine Coon to NZ) and Zena Pigden/Liz Curry of Shiningwater and Kittycourt Maine Coons. We will be forever grateful to Soozn Grindell for her immense knowledge and help with our breeding program and for the fuel for our passion for the Poly Maine Coon. We are part of a very small group of breeders in New Zealand who breeds Poly Maine Coons and we are very proud and humbled to be able to be part of it. We hope to make everyone proud of our efforts and look forward to the exciting journey ahead. Kittycourt Embers N Ashes In human, polydactyly is considered a common occurence. Dr Alan Green (MD FAAP), author, pediatrician, lecturer and keynote speaker says: 'Polydactylism, or having one or more extra fingers or toes, is probably the most common abnormality of development found at birth. Polydactylism is reported in about 2 per 1000 children. However, many of the simpler cases are taken care of in the nursery by the obstetrician or pediatrician and don't show up in these statistics' (ref 1). Anne Boleyn, Winston Churchill and King Charles VIII of France (ref World Knowledge Library) are some famous polydactyls. "Polydactyly is an ancient trait and but for a quirk of evolution, all modern animals would have 7 or 8 digits instead of just 5. The oldest known four-legged animals, Ichthyostega and Acanthostega, had 7 or 8 digits per limb. The "extra" digits were next to the thumb. The extra digits disappeared 350 million years ago, leaving modern animals with just 5 per limb. 100 million years after evolution opted for five digits, throwbacks to ancestral polydactyly occurred, as a fossil of a seven-toed reptile demonstrates. The fossil, an aquatic marine reptile called Nanchangosaurus, was an mutant or evolutionary throwback which lived 100 million years after other seven-toed amphibians had died out.” (Ref 2).  There has been concern in the Cat Fancies that polydactyly may be associated with other abnormalities that we would not want to encourage in cat breeding. It is important that we separate true polydactyl from other syndromes that happen to include extra digits such as Ellis-van Creveld syndrome which is a disorder of the skeletal dysplasia type and includes cardiac malformation, dwarfism, cleft palate as well as extra digits. This is an autosomal recessive gene found on the chromosome 4 short arm and quite distinct to the simple dominant polydactyl gene found in the Maine Coon cat. RebelPawz Brimful of Asha Genetics and Research The polydactyl gene in the Maine Coon breed is the standard benign autosomal dominant gene for polydactyly, Pd. This gene has been identified following the sequencing of the cat genome. Preaxial polydactyly is caused by ectopic expression of the signalling molecule Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) in the developing limb bud. Mutations in the long-distant, limb-specific cis-regulator for SHH, called th


Who is to replace Jessie J in the 2014 series of The Voice?

The Voice 2014: Kylie Minogue frontrunner to replace Jessie J | The Voice UK 2017 | TellyMix The Voice UK 2017 Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Kylie Minogue is said to be front runner to replace Jessie J on The Voice UK next year. Jessie J quit the BBC series earlier this year, saying of the third series next Spring: "I'm not doing it, no. No I'm not. Because there's 42 days I've been asked to clear my diary and I'm on tour for 40 of them. So there is no way that I can fit it into my diary, so… I have no idea what the other coaches are doing but I will not be coming back to The Voice next year." Aussie popstar Kylie, who was originally tipped to join the first series, is said to be her replacement. An 'insider' told The Hollywood Reporter that the Can't Get You Outta My Head singer is in talks with producers, although she is yet to put pen to paper. Discussing her replacement recently, Jessie backed another big female singer to take over. "Somebody that's going to work hard, be themselves and is a great singer. That's it, I just ask for it to be a female who can really blow. And I mean in the singing sense. Ha ha ha!" she laughed. THR also claims Tom Jones is 'expected' to come back, despite recent reports to the contrary . However, Sir Tom has previously said he would wait until the other names are confirmed before agreeing to take part himself. Stars rumoured to be in talks with Voice bosses to replace Danny O'Donoghue , who has also quit, include Will Young and JLS member Oritsé Williams.


Who won the 2013 series of TV’s Celebrity Masterchef?

Celebrity MasterChef: who should win? | Television & radio | The Guardian TV and radio blog Celebrity MasterChef: who should win? It's the final week and four contestants remain – Ade Edmondson, Brian Capron, Les Dennis and Janet Street-Porter. Which one do you think Gregg and John will choose? Who's the master? Clockwise, Les Dennis, Janet Street-Porter, Brian Capron and Ade Edmondson. Photograph: BBC/Shine TV Wednesday 4 September 2013 07.37 EDT First published on Wednesday 4 September 2013 07.37 EDT Share on Messenger Close Celebrity MasterChef has been ticking along according to plan so far. As always, the trips to fancy restaurants have been fraught. As always, we've been treated to a nonstop medley of arbitrarily chosen tracks from Now That's What I Call Accessible Dubstep and Serene Moods: Inspirational Balladry. As always, Gregg Wallace has responded to news that a dish will be served late by slapping his forehead like he's trying to dislodge a wasp from his ear. And, as always, there will be a presentation-based afternoon-tea round where everyone spends an entire day making stuff that they could have quite easily bought on a plastic platter from Iceland for a pound. And, since this is the final week of the competition, we're days away from discovering the Celebrity MasterChef 2013 champion. Ade Edmondson , Brian Capron , Les Dennis and Janet Street-Porter are all scrapping it out for the title. On Friday, one of them will be crowned. Who do you want it to be? Actually, that's a silly question. You want it to be Janet Street-Porter . I want it to be Janet Street-Porter. Everyone wants it to be Janet Street-Porter. At this stage of the competition – and I'm not ruling out Stockholm Syndrome – there are only about four people on Earth who I love more than Street-Porter. Last week, the contestants were asked to make a dish inspired by someone they admire. While the others droned on and on about their grandchildren and their parents and how special they were, Janet made a fish pie. Inspired by herself. Because she likes fish pie. She is magnificent. Janet stands out because she seems to have a genuine aversion to the notion of fine dining. The finals of MasterChef are essentially UltraFaff Central, and this visibly irks her no end. And, while it makes about as much sense for someone who hates fine dining to appear on MasterChef as it does for someone who hates stupidity and ridiculous dental veneers to appear on Made in Chelsea, she's given the show a sound kick up the bum. Tonight, tired of being reminded by Gregg and John that her presentation isn't up to scratch, she turns in a treacle tart so utterly sarcastic and halfhearted that she may as well have written "Will this do?" on it in an unbroken stream of urine. The judges, used to being pandered to by a procession of wriggly-tongued bumlickers, haven't had the foggiest what to do with Janet either. They've tried joshing along with her. They've tried taking a hard line. Later this week, she gets spectacularly good-cop-bad-copped by Gregg and John and she barely even notices. Street-Porter is disturbance made flesh, and it's been a delight to watch her reduce everything around her to rubble. The fact that she's through to the final four, despite being such a chronic pain in everyone's arse, is a miracle. So Street-Porter should win Celebrity MasterChef . Whether she actually will or not is a different story. We can probably write Les Dennis out of the equation now. Appearing on the show has certainly endeared people to him – he's so pathologically unsure of himself that he ends every sentence with a heartbreakingly sad little smile – but he's made too many mistakes to be taken seriously as a champion. Similarly Brian Capron, who seems to be too busy concentrating on looking like some sort of creepy woodsperson to pay attention to the details necessary to cut it at this level. And that just leaves Ade Edmondson. Although initially he seemed as if he would be out of his depth on a show that isn't based on a lazy pun of his own name , he's grown in stature during the


Who announced his ‘Great Leap Forward’ in 1958?

The Great Leap Forward - History Learning Site The Great Leap Forward Citation: C N Trueman "The Great Leap Forward" historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning Site, 26 May 2015. 16 Aug 2016. The Great Leap Forward took place in 1958. The Great Leap Forward was Mao’s attempt to modernise China’s economy so that by 1988, China would have an economy that rivalled America. Card issued to celebrate the Great Leap Forward Mao had toured China and concluded that the Chinese people were capable of anything and the two primary tasks that he felt they should target was industry and agriculture. Mao announced a second Five Year Plan to last from 1958 to 1963. This plan was called the Great Leap Forward. The Great Leap Forward planned to develop agriculture and industry. Mao believed that both had to grow to allow the other to grow. Industry could only prosper if the work force was well fed, while the agricultural workers needed industry to produce the modern tools needed for modernisation. To allow for this, China was reformed into a series of communes. The geographical size of a commune varied but most contained about 5000 families. People in a commune gave up their ownership of tools, animals etc so that everything was owned by the commune. People now worked for the commune and not for themselves. The life of an individual was controlled by the commune. Schools and nurseries were provided by the communes so that all adults could work. Health care was provided and the elderly were moved into “houses of happiness” so that they could be looked after and also so that families could work and not have to worry about leaving their elderly relatives at home. The commune provided all that was needed – including entertainment. Soldiers worked alongside people. The population in a commune was sub-divided. Twelve families formed a work team. Twelve work terms formed a brigade. Each sub-division was given specific work to do. Party members oversaw the work of a commune to ensure that decisions followed the correct party line. By the end of 1958, 700 million people had been placed into 26,578 communes. The speed with which this was achieved was astounding. However, the government did all that it could to whip up enthusiasm for the communes. Propaganda was everywhere – including in the fields where the workers could listen to political speeches as they worked as the communes provided public address systems. Everybody involved in communes was urged not only to meet set targets but to beat them. If the communes lacked machinery, the workers used their bare hands. Major constructions were built in record time – though the quality of some was dubious. The Great Leap Forward also encouraged communes to set up “back-yard” production plants. The most famous were 600,000backyard furnaces which produced steel for the communes. When all of these furnaces were working, they added a considerable amount of steel to China’s annual total – 11 million tonnes. The figures for steel, coal, chemicals, timber, cement etc all showed huge rises though the figures started at in 1958 were low. Grain and cotton production also showed major increases in production. Mao had introduced the Great Leap Forward with the phrase “it is possible to accomplish any task whatsoever.” By the end of 1958, it seemed as if his claim was true. The consequences of the Great Leap Forward However, in 1959, things started to go wrong. Political decisions/beliefs took precedence over commonsense and communes faced the task of doing things which they were incapable of achieving. Party officials would order the impossible and commune leaders, who knew what their commune was capable of doing or not, could be charged with being a “bourgeois reactionary” if he complained. Such a charge would lead to prison. Quickly produced farm machinery produced in factories fell to pieces when used. Many thousands of workers were injured after working long hours and falling asleep at their jobs. Steel produced by the backyard furnaces was frequently too weak to be of any use and could not be used in con


If a dessert is served ‘a la mode’ what is it served with?

A La Mode! 5 Desserts That Are Even Better with Ice Cream — Recipes from The Kitchn | The Kitchn Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies If I've already made the decision to have dessert, then the question of whether or not to have it a la mode is a no-brainer. Yes, please! There's something about ice cream that makes each sweet bite that much better. Here are five desserts beyond the traditional apple pie a la mode that are begging to be topped with a scoop of ice cream. (Image credit: Nealey Dozier ) While vanilla ice cream is the obvious choice for its versatility, sorbets and even vegan ice creams are great toppers that offer a nice temperature and textural contrast with whatever they're served on. My favorite part is when they start to melt, forming a nice saucy base that mingles in with the rest of the dessert. Dig the ice cream scoop out of the drawer and start scooping!


From which cereal is polenta now mainly made?

Grain ( cereal ) foods, mostly wholegrain and / or high cereal fibre varieties | Eat For Health Grain ( cereal ) foods, mostly wholegrain and / or high cereal fibre varieties Grain ( cereal ) foods, mostly wholegrain and / or high cereal fibre varieties Grain ( cereal ) foods, mostly wholegrain and / or high cereal fibre varieties Most Australians consume less than half the recommended quantity of wholegrain foods, and too much refined grain (cereal) food.  At least two thirds of grain foods eaten should be wholegrain. What is in the Grains ( cereals ) group? Grain foods are mostly made from wheat, oats, rice, rye, barley, millet, quinoa and corn.  The different grains can be cooked and eaten whole, ground into flour to make a variety of cereal foods like bread, pasta and noodles, or made into ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. Grains (cereal) foods can be broken up into four main groups. The main sub-groups are: Breads - Wholemeal, wholegrain, white, rye, pita, lavash, naan, focaccia, crispbreads, damper Breakfast Cereals - Ready to eat, high fibre (wholegrain) oats, porridge, muesli, wholewheat biscuits Grains - Rice, barley, corn, polenta, buckwheat, spelt, millet, sorghum, triticale, rye, quinoa, semolina Other products - Pasta, noodles, English muffin, crumpet, rice cakes, couscous, bulgur, popcorn, flour. What exactly is a wholegrain cereal? Wholegrain cereals contain the three layers of the grain. Wholegrain cereals contain more fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than refined cereal foods such as white bread, because many of the important nutrients occur in the outer layer of the grain which is lost during processing. Wholegrain foods are particularly important in vegetarian diets as a source of iron and zinc. Wholemeal foods are made from wholegrains which have been crushed to a finer texture. Nutritionally, wholegrain and wholemeal foods are very similar.  Choosing wholegrain varieties is best. Tips for choosing wholegrain (cereals) include: Look for words like ‘wholegrain’ or ‘wholemeal’. Some ‘multigrain’ breads are made with white flour and various whole grains added. ‘Wholemeal wholegrain’ bread is made with wholemeal flour plus whole grains and has more fibre and nutrients than wholemeal, wholegrain or white breads. Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au What exactly is a refined grain cereal? Refined grains (for example, white flour), have had the bran and germ layers removed.  In doing this most of the fibre and many of the vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals are lost.  Some fibre and vitamins and minerals can be added back (such as in white bread) but these are not necessarily grain derived and the full benefit may be lost.  More importantly, the phytochemicals (which are linked to significant health benefits) which have been removed in refined grains cannot be added back. Refined grains, such as white flour are nearly always used in processed foods, such as cakes and biscuits. These types of grain foods are not recommended as they are considered a discretionary food choice because of their relatively large amounts of added fats and added sugars and/or added salt. Source: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au How much should I eat from the Grain ( cereal ) group? Consuming at least 4-6 serves of grain (cereal) foods per day is recommended for Australian adults, while the amount recommended for children and adolescents depends on their age and sex. Follow the links below to find out how many serves you need to eat per day. Minimum recommended average daily number of serves from each of the five food groups Adults Additional serves of grains can be added depending on individual energy needs, these are provided in the tables above. Grain foods, especially wholegrain, are an ideal choice for extra energy needs and should be consumed in preference to discretionary food and alternate drink choices. The serve sizes used in the Australian Dietary Guidelines are not necessarily as big as the portion you may put on a plate or in a bowl. For example a serve of bread is 1 slice, not 2 which you would use to make a sandwic


What is the chief ingredient of passata?

1000+ images about Passata and Tomato Recipes on Pinterest | Homemade pizza sauce, Soups and Green tomatoes Crock-Pot Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce {via CrockPotLadies.com} - This fresh sauce uses less than 5 ingredients, is vegan, vegetarian and gluten free and is simply amazing served over your favorite pasta. Or as a brushetta topping! See More


In Hockney’s Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy – who or what is Percy?

'Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy', David Hockney, 1970–1 | Tate Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy 1970–1 Support: 2134 x 3048 mm frame: 2170 x 3084 x 58 mm Collection Presented by the Friends of the Tate Gallery 1971 Reference Display caption Summary This is one of a series of large double portraits which Hockney began in 1968. He had painted imaginary couples in such earlier paintings as The First Marriage (A Marriage of Styles) 1963 (Tate T00596 ). In the later paintings, the subjects are real couples who were Hockney’s friends. They are portrayed in their home environment in a style which is both realistic and highly simplified. Hockney worked from photographs and life observation, making drawings to resolve composition . Usually one character looks at the other, who looks out of the painting at the viewer, thus creating a cyclical movement of looking. Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy is unusual in that both subjects, Mr and Mrs Clark, look out at the artist and viewer from either side of a large open window which is in the centre of the painting. The viewer, who looks at the painting from a central perspective , will be at the apex of the couple’s gaze out of the painting, a third in the relationship. Percy is the name of one of the Clarks’ cats and refers to the cat sitting statue-like on Mr Clark’s knee, looking out of the window. ‘Mr and Mrs Clark’ are the dress designer Ozzie Clark and the fabric designer Celia Birtwell. Like Hockney, the two came from the north of England and met the artist in 1961 in Manchester, where Ozzie was studying at Manchester College of Art. Both men went on to study at the Royal College of Art in London. When Ozzie and Celia married in 1969, Hockney was their best man. He painted them in their flat in Notting Hill Gate, west London, an area where the artist and a number of his friends then lived. Hockney chose to paint them in their bedroom because he liked the light there. An etching from his earlier series A Rake’s Progress 1961-3 (Tate P07029 -44) is portrayed on the left side of the painting. He began to make drawings and take photographs for the painting in 1969 and began working on the canvas in the spring of 1970, completing the painting in early 1971. In 1976 he described the painting as one of two works of his to come close to naturalism (Kinley 1992), although many areas of the image have been flattened and emptied of detail. Hockney has commented that his aim in this painting was to ‘achieve ... the presence of two people in this room. All the technical problems were caused because my main aim was to paint the relationship of these two people.’ (Quoted in Kinley 1992, [p.6].) One technical problem was to paint the figures contre jour, or against the light, something he had been experimenting with in earlier pictures of single figures in interiors. As in a photograph, it was difficult to achieve a balance between the bright daylight outside the window and the relative shade indoors. Because the canvas was so big, Hockney worked on it in his studio, where he set up light conditions that approximated those in the Clarks’ bedroom. He painted the lilies, sitting in a vase on a small table in the foreground of the painting, from life at the studio. He found the nearly life-size scale of the figures difficult to realise and both Clarks posed for him many times. In the event, Hockney painted Ozzie Clark’s head as many as twelve times before he was satisfied. He is depicted lounging on a chair, his bare feet buried in the long pile of a fur rug. His pose is relaxed but his expression is watchful. Celia stands with one hand on her waist wearing a long, flowing dress and a rather wistful expression. Close to her and therefore, perhaps, associated with her are the lilies, traditionally a symbol of the Annunciation and feminine purity. Likewise, the cat on Ozzie’s lap carries symbolic resonances of the libertine and somebody who disregards rules and does as they please. Viewed in this way, Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy recalls the famous portrait of a married couple, The Arnolfini


What name is given to a depiction of Mary holding the dead body of Christ?

The Pieta by Michelangelo The Pieta by Michelangelo Shop our Religious Pieta Gallery. The                  Pieta, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding the                  body of her son Jesus Christ after his death, has                  been created in many different forms by various                  painters and sculptors. Of all the great paintings                  and sculptures on the Pieta, however, the one by                  Michelangelo stands out from all the rest. Prior to sculpting the Pieta, Michelangelo was                  relatively unknown to the world as an artist.                  He was only in his early twenties when he was                  commissioned in 1498 to do a life-size sculpture                  of the Virgin Mary holding her son in her arms.                  It would be the first of four that he would create                  and the only one he completely finished. It was                  to be unveiled in St. Peter's Basilica for the                  Jubilee of 1500. In less than two years Michelangelo carved from                  a single slab of marble, one of the most magnificent                  sculptures ever created. His interpretation of                  the Pieta was far different than ones previously                  created by other artists. Michelangelo decided                  to create a youthful, serene and celestial Virgin                  Mary instead of a broken hearted and somewhat                  older woman. When it was unveiled a proud Michelangelo stood                  by and watched as people admired the beautiful                  Pieta. However, what was pride quickly turned                  into anger as he overheard a group of people attributing                  the work to other artists of his time. That anger                  caused Michelangelo to add one last thing to his sculpture. Going down the sash on the Virgin Mary,                  Michelangelo carved his name. He later regretted                  that his emotions got the best of him and vowed                  to never sign another one of his works again. We hope that you will enjoy our selection of                  The Pieta by Michelangelo. We have a variety of                  sizes from which to choose. All of them are imported                  from Italy and made with exacting standards from                  bonded carrara marble.


In which US state is Princeton University?

Princeton University | university, Princeton, New Jersey, United States | Britannica.com Princeton University university, Princeton, New Jersey, United States Written By: Alternative Title: College of New Jersey Related Topics Ivy League Princeton University, coeducational, privately endowed institution of higher learning at Princeton , New Jersey , U.S. It was founded as the College of New Jersey in 1746, making it the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It was in Princeton’s Nassau Hall in 1783 that General George Washington received the formal thanks of the Continental Congress for his conduct of the American Revolution . Two U.S. presidents— James Madison and Woodrow Wilson —graduated from Princeton, and Wilson served as president of the university from 1902 to 1910. The school’s name was changed to Princeton University in 1896, and its graduate school was opened in 1900. Another famous graduate of Princeton is the novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald , who did much to popularize the institution’s image as a bastion of upper-class male privilege. Since 1969 the university has admitted women. Enrollment is approximately 7,000. Blair Hall on the campus of Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. © Michael Levy Alexander Hall on the campus of Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. © Michael Levy In addition to a college and graduate school, Princeton has a School of Engineering and Applied Science (1921) and a School of Architecture (1919). The university’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs continues a long Princeton tradition of furnishing government officials. The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (1951) is one of the foremost research centres on nuclear fusion, while the renowned Institute for Advanced Study (1930), associated with the university but independent of it, is where Albert Einstein spent the last two decades of his life. The Princeton University Art Museum maintains an extensive collection. Exterior of the Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, N.J. © Michael Levy


Which instrument was played by jazz artist Benny Goodman?

Benny Goodman —   Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and photos at Last.fm fip Benny Goodman, born Benjamin David Goodman, (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American jazz musician, known as King of Swing, Patriarch of the Clarinet, The Professor, and Swing's Senior Statesman. Goodman was regarded by some as a demanding taskmaster, by others an arrogant and eccentric martinet. Many musicians spoke of The Ray, Goodman's trademark glare that he bestowed on a musician who failed to perform to his demanding standards. Anita O'Day and Helen Forrest spoke bitterly of their… read more


If you were using a pull-through what would you be cleaning?

Outers - Pull Thru Kits Pull Thru Kits Black Powder Disposable Pull Thru Kits These compact kits quickly and conveniently clears gunk and junk from your barrel. It includes a pull-thru cable, a throwaway packet of cleaning solution and six felt cleaning wads, which should get you through a full day (or more) of activities. But wait until you get back to civilization before tossing away your used items, because your gun isn't the only thing we want to keep clean. Features & Benefits: Caliber-specific kits for rifles and universal option for shotguns Designed for fast, convenient cleaning in the field Includes pull-thru cable, felt cleaning wads and cleaning solution Compact size for easy packing into gear bags or pockets Disposable Pull Thru Kits 1 Long pull-through cable for rifles and shotguns 6 Felt cleaning wads 1 Small packet of cleaning solution Part #


What seven-letter word means “A Russian tea urn”?

samovar - definition and meaning samovar Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition n. A metal urn with a spigot, used to boil water for tea and traditionally having a chimney and heated by coals. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License n. A metal urn with a spigot, for boiling water for making tea. Traditionally, the water is heated by hot coals or charcoal in a chimney-like tube which runs through the center of the urn. Today, it is more likely that the water is heated by an electric coil. It is a common misconception that tea is boiled in the samovar. This is not the case. The samovar merely boils the water, which is drawn off via the spigot into a separate teapot in which the tea is allowed to steep. from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English n. A metal urn used in Russia for making tea. It is filled with water, which is heated by charcoal placed in a pipe, with chimney attached, which passes through the urn. from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia n. A copper urn used in Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, and elsewhere, in which water is kept boiling for use when required for making tea, live charcoal being placed in a tube which passes up through the center of the urn. Similar vessels are used in winter in northern China, for keeping soups, etc., hot at table. from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. n. a metal urn with a spigot at the base; used in Russia to boil water for tea Etymologies


Which of Beethoven’s symphonies was nicknamed ‘The Eroica’?

Beethoven's Eroica: Keeping Score | PBS Shop Beethoven's Eroica Beethoven called his Third Symphony Eroica (“Heroic”). The Eroica is two hundred years old yet still seems modern. In this symphony Beethoven began to use broad strokes of sound to tell us how he felt, and what being alive meant to him. The piece caused a sensation and changed the idea of what a symphony could be. When Beethoven called this piece “heroic,” he wasn’t kidding. It’s bigger, longer than a symphony had ever been. It’s confessional, even confrontational. Just the scale of it was huge, unprecedented—and daunting for its first listeners. It foreshadowed the world that Wagner and, ultimately, Sigmund Freud would explore—the realm of the unconscious. That’s what was so revolutionary. The First Movement When Beethoven first presented himself to Viennese society, he had to make a name for himself. He did this by playing some of his own compositions and, most importantly, by improvising on themes of his own or of his rivals. Nothing like it had been heard before. These improvisations—often lasting an hour—were entire landscapes of emotional extremes. They were tragic, stormy, lyrical, wildly exhilarating. Such exhibitions of power first drew people to Beethoven’s art. And the improvisations that dazzled Vienna were, in a way, rehearsals of the daring musical ideas Beethoven would explore in his symphonies. The first movement of the Eroica was unprecedented in scale, in part because he had so much to say. Beethoven uses a huge spectrum of keys to express different worlds of emotion. Each new experience of the themes gets darker and deeper. He develops the movement as a way of expressing what really happens in life—the wrong turns, the confusion, the sense of helplessness and entrapment. In the first movement of the Eroica, Beethoven takes his listeners on a wild journey through the emotional extremes that can be wrought from a few simple themes. The Second Movement Perhaps the best reflection of these emotional extremes is the Second Movement, which he titled “Funeral March,” a powerful musical evocation of the massive state funerals then taking place in Paris. The music suggests the thunder of drums and the roar of the crowd. In this movement, Beethoven explores grief, its public face and its intimate expression. The oboe solo at the beginning is a personalized and interior expression of grief within a public ceremony. It’s a modern solo in that it has tremendous psychological dimension. The music is evocative—we can almost see the funeral procession pass before us and ask, What really has died here? Perhaps it is part of Beethoven that is being mourned. In the years before he wrote Eroica, Beethoven realized he was going deaf, and his initial reaction was terror and shame. He tried to keep it a secret. He couldn’t bear for anyone to know that he—a musician—was not able to hear. But he came to realize that, as a musician, he could function perfectly well. What really scared him was being cut off from other people, losing the possibility of hearing intimate conversation. What kind of strange, isolated, lonely, crazy individual was he in danger of becoming? That was the real terror. As Beethoven’s personal crisis deepened in 1802, he took refuge in the village of Heiligenstadt. He hoped that the quiet of the countryside would bring relief to the distortions in his hearing. And he needed time to get himself together—to face the decision, literally, of whether to live or to die. In Heiligenstadt, he wrote the most important document we have that reflects the turmoil in his life. The so-called Heiligenstadt Testament is a kind of last will, or possibly a suicide note. It wasn’t meant to be read during his lifetime. But it reveals Beethoven’s state of mind just before he wrote Eroica. Somehow he found the strength to go on. In the works that follow the Heiligenstadt Testament, he inserted his humanity into the very fabric of the music. The Third Movement A year later, in 1803, Beethoven returned to Heiligenstadt, where his depression gave way to an astonish


Which James Bond villain owns the island of Crab Key?

Crab Key - James Bond Locations Off the coast of Jamaica. Summary Crab Key is a fictional island owned by Dr. No and appears in both the novel and the movie Dr. No. Image The image on the left is the location used for filming the bauxite mine and other external shots of Crab Key. It is actually in North Jamaica and was cleverly shot to make it look like a small island. Crab Key in the novel Dr. No In Ian Fleming's novel Dr. No (1958), Crab Key was an island located thirty miles north of Jamaica and sixty miles south of Cuba. The island was 50 square miles (80km2) and 3/4 of the land toward the east was occupied by swamps, shallow lakes and marshland filled with thousands of trees and shrubs called mangroves. Toward the west of the island was a 500 foot mountain that abruptly ended at a sheer drop to the infested waters below. A hot wind at the west blew northeast over the mountain. There were many large colonies of seabirds at the west of Crab Key that excreted guano, a substance high in phosphorus that is used to make fertilizer. There was mountains of the stuff and Dr. No hired one hundred workers to dig it out. The workers dug 50 cubic feet of guano a day, which was sold in monthly shipments, loaded onto ships with a crane under the supervision of Dr. No. A long river led down into the sea, along the south east into a small sandy bay where Bond first went when he visited the island. The bottom of the river was muddy and filled with small fish, shrimp and leeches. The sand in the bay was formed from volcanic rock and was of a chocolate brown colour that looked almost black at night. To the east of Crab Key there were many species of birds including: Egrets Sand Pipers Roseate Spoonbills Dr. No had a lair built into the mountain at the west of Crab Key. The inside was huge, with elaborate guest quarters, prison cells and an exquisite dining room and home for Dr. No. In one of the rooms on the west wall, there was a huge pane of magnified glass that gave a magnificent view of the ocean outside. Dr. No had hired experts to build it who had installed the glass panel on the inside of the mountain, and chipped away at the rock outside to create a view directly into the depths of the ocean. Dr. No was running an operation from the island, jamming USA test missiles with a powerful radio beam, causing them to crash land. The island was well guarded with radar, high powered boat patrols and manhunts with sniffer dogs. Dr. No had bought the island for its privacy so that he could conduct his plans without interference. However, a group of bird lovers called the Audubon Society had a lease on part of the island and had found some rare birds. They planned to make the island into a tourist attraction and refused to sell their lease. Dr. No bought a huge tractor and fixed it up to look like a dragon, adding a flame thrower on the front. He sent men out in the vehicle to burn the people at the Audubon camp as well as all the rare birds in the area. Although Dr. No got his privacy back, Bond ended up investigating and Dr. No eventually came to his death, choking under a huge heap of guano. The Real Mine used for Crab Key Crab Key in the Movie The image on the left is the actual location of the beach used in Dr. No. It is a beach located at the north of Jamaica, but in the film it's the island crab key. In the movie Dr. No , Crab Key was an island located off the coast of Jamaica. It contained a large bauxite mine and acres upon acres of swamps, marshland, rivers and Mangroves. A Chinese scientist named Dr. No owned the island. He was running an operation where he would ruin USA missile launches by interfering with missiles and causing them to crash. He controlled the missiles with a powerful radio beam which was powered by a nuclear reactor underground. Dr. No had created an underground lair in the mountains, which contained the reactor, some guest quarters and Dr. No's private quarters. Dr. No had designed a large aquarium with glass that magnified the tiny fish and made them look like sharks. Bond and his ally Quarrel suspected t


In which fictional county is ‘The Archers’ set?

The Archers (Radio) - TV Tropes The Archers You need to login to do this. Get Known if you don't have an account Share —Sandi Toksvig, The News Quiz The Archers is a popular BBC radio Soap Opera , set in the fictional West Midlands county of Borsetshire. It follows the lives of the Archer family, and the other families living in the small, rural village of Ambridge (based on Hanbury in Worcestershire). It has been broadcast nationally since 1951 after starting its regional run in 1950, making it the longest running current soap opera in radio format and, since the cancelling of Guiding Light , the longest running soap in any format. This show provides examples of: Barsetshire : Borsetshire Crossover : With Gardener's Question Time, of all things. Eric Robson and some of the panel appeared in The Archers, and on Easter Sunday 2011 several Archers characters asked questions on GQT. The odd presenter from other BBC series has turned up As Himself or herself to open the village fete or something as well And the occassional Royal has visited. Sort-of appeared on Hancock's Half-hour as "The Bowmans" Edutainment Show : originated as an educational series about agriculture... Genre Shift :... but long since outgrew that Loads and Loads of Characters : Pretty much a given, considering how long the show has been going on. Long-Runners : 60 years and counting Love Triangle : Ed, Will and Emma This particular subplot is so long and convoluted that the nice people at The BBC provided a cheat sheet. It is still ongoing, and practically a Long Runner in its own right - when editor Vanessa Whitburn told an interviewer in 2001 that it would be a major long-term Story Arc she wasn't kidding. She repeated this claim about the repercussions of the 2nd January 2011's double-length Wham Episode - only time will tell. The Midlands : West Midlands Ratings Stunt : one of the very first examples - the death of a major character was broadcast to coincide with the launch of ITV in 1955) Nigel's death. Real Life Writes the Plot : Julia's death was written in after her actress, Mary Wimbush, died at the age of 91. Shown Their Work : even with the series' edutainment roots very much a thing of the past, great care is taken to ensure that it presents an accurate view of the intricacies of farming There is an urban legend that farmers have been known to write in and complain if they used the wrong animal sound effect ... although the BBC did realise quite early on that they were dealing with a listenership that had expert knowledge, and took pains to ensure the animal sounds were appropriate to the scene. The BBC's library of animal sound effects is now unparelleled, and a large proportion of this is down to the longevitry of this show. Spin-Off : Ambridge Extra , on Radio 4 Extra, explores storylines, characters and locations that don't get focused on in the main Archer's program. At the moment, it's only 2 episodes a week. Graphically represented for your consideration. Variations on a Theme Song : The Archers always uses the same piece of music ("Barwick Green", a 1924 piece by Yorkshire composer Arthur Wood) as its theme tune, which passage is used depends on whether the episode is ordinary or dramatic.


Which British dramatist wrote the 1945 play ‘An Inspector Calls’?

An Inspector Calls - YouTube An Inspector Calls Last updated on Jan 24, 2014 An Inspector Calls (1982 BBC TV Film) An Inspector Calls was a made-for-television adaptation produced by Ronald Smedley for the BBC and broadcast on 17 August 1982. The film was based on the play written by British Dramatist J B Priestley, which was first performed in 1945 in the Soviet Union, and subsequently in the UK in 1946. The play is a three-act drama, and the BBC's ninety-minute film was accordingly filmed in three parts, directed by Michael Simpson. Bernard Hepton starred as Inspector Goole, and the cast included Sarah Berger as Sheila Birling, Nigel Davenport as Arthur Birling, Simon Ward as Gerald Croft, Margaret Tyzack as Sybil Birling and David Sibley as Eric Birling.


‘Catriona’, also known as ‘David Balfour’, was the sequel to which novel?

Catriona: A Sequel to 'Kidnapped' eBook by Robert Louis Stevenson - 1230000275008 | Kobo You've successfully reported this review. We appreciate your feedback. OK, close Catriona: A Sequel to 'Kidnapped' by Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson Books Thanks for Sharing! You submitted the following rating and review. We'll publish them on our site once we've reviewed them. by on December 17, 2016


To within a year either way, in what year did Victoria’s husband Prince Albert die?

Queen Victoria - The UK's Longest Reigning Monarch Queen Victoria Queen Victoria The Longest Ruling Monarch of the United Kingdom Queen Victoria of Great Britain. Original Artist: By T H Maquire. (1852).  (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) By Patricia Daniels, Contributing Writer Updated July 26, 2016. Who Was Queen Victoria? Ascending to the throne at only 18 years old, Queen Victoria ruled the United Kingdom for nearly 64 years -- the longest of any British monarch. During her reign, Great Britain became a powerful industrial nation and boasted an empire that stretched across the globe. Despite the early loss of her beloved husband, Queen Victoria provided a reassuring stability during much of the 19th century - an era of great social and technological change. The years of her reign are referred to as the Victorian Era. Dates: May 24, 1819 - January 22, 1901 Reign: 1837 - 1901 Also Known As: Alexandrina Victoria of the House of Hanover; "the Grandmother of Europe" The Girl Who Would Be Queen Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace on May 24, 1819 to Edward, the Duke of Kent (and fourth son of King George III) and German Princess Victoire of Leiningen. Although Victoria was fifth in line to the throne - unlikely to become monarch - the duke feared that any future claim to the throne might be challenged if she were born abroad. continue reading below our video Profile of Queen Victoria He ensured that his daughter was born on British soil, moving with his pregnant wife from Germany to England. Christened Alexandrina Victoria at birth, the child came to be called Victoria. Despite being born into royalty, she did not grow up surrounded by wealth. Edward's spendthrift ways had left him with many debts. The duke and duchess, in an attempt to reduce expenses, moved with their infant daughter to a modest home. Not long after the move, Edward became ill and died of pneumonia on January 23, 1820 (Victoria was just eight months old). Six days later, King George III died as well, thus making George IV King of England. Victoria was now third in line to the throne behind her two uncles, who had failed to produce heirs. Victoria's Less Than Royal Childhood King George IV , whose only legitimate child had died in childbirth, was resentful of his brother's daughter. He begrudgingly allowed Victoria and her mother to move into an apartment at Kensington Palace, but would only approve a small allowance. The duchess’s brother, Prince Leopold (later King Leopold I of Belgium ), agreed to pay for Victoria's upbringing and education. Tutors were hired to school Victoria in history, math, drawing, and languages. Raised by a German mother who spoke little English, Victoria spoke mostly German the first few years of her life, but readily learned both English and French. In 1827, when Victoria was eight, her Uncle Frederick, the Duke of York, died, placing her one step closer to the throne. A Scheming Pair When newly widowed, Victoria's mother had turned for advice to John Conroy, a colleague of her late husband. In the years following the duke's death, the self-serving Conroy convinced the duchess that she should have herself declared Victoria's regent (an agent acting on behalf of an incapacitated or underage monarch) in the event that Victoria became queen while still a minor. In this way, Conroy - through the duchess - could essentially control the throne. When King George IV (who loathed Conroy and the duchess) died in 1830, the pair believed they could easily persuade newly-crowned King William IV to name the duchess as Victoria's regent. But King William did not trust the duchess and refused her request. The duchess petitioned Parliament, winning approval as Victoria's sole regent in 1831. The regency proved unnecessary. On June 20, 1837, a month after Victoria's eighteenth birthday, King William died, making Victoria queen of England. The Young Queen Weeks after assuming the throne, Queen Victoria moved to Buckingham Palace , where she began the business of ruling the nation. The young queen's composure and confidence impressed


In 2012, Luis Suarez twice scored hat-tricks against which Premiership side?

Liverpool Videos: Which Luis Suarez Hat-Trick vs. Norwich City Was Better? | Bleacher Report Liverpool Videos: Which Luis Suarez Hat-Trick vs. Norwich City Was Better? By Karl Matchett , Featured Columnist Jan 15, 2013 Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Julian Finney/Getty Images 5 Comments Liverpool take on Norwich City this weekend in the Premier League looking to bounce back from their 2-1 reversal against Manchester United on Sunday.  The game will no doubt bring up plenty of reminders from the past couple of fixtures between the two sides. Luis Suarez has proven himself a terrifying adversary for many clubs since his move from Ajax in 2011, but he seems to have reserved special treatment for the Canaries, twice scoring hat-tricks against them in their own back yard. On Sunday he will have his first chance to score against Norwich at Anfield, having seen John Ruddy thwart him on a number of occasions last season in the 1-1 draw. The big question is: Which Suarez treble was more impressive? Late April 2012 saw the Uruguayan forward score every goal in the game in a 3-0 win at Carrow Road, with two sublime finishes topped off by a strike from just inside the Norwich half to seal his hat-trick. A fine left-footed finish put Liverpool ahead from just inside the box after Steven Gerrard robbed the defence of possession, while Suarez's second goal was perhaps his cleanest strike since joining the club—a fired, driven shot, low into the far corner after a break down the right channel. His celebrated third showed the best of his tenacity, vision and execution in a match during which he gave the Norwich defenders a torrid time all game long. Five months later, Suarez was at it again against the same opponents, this time helping Liverpool pick up their first Premier League victory under Brendan Rodgers in a 5-2 win. The opening goal came inside of 100 seconds, as he drilled a low shot inside the near post and followed it up with a fine second before halftime. Moments after he'd missed a fairly routine chance, Suarez robbed the ball from Norwich's defence, tricked his way past his marker and bent the ball into the far corner to put the Reds 2-0 ahead. Which Suarez hat-trick was better? 3-0 during 2011-12 Submit Vote vote to see results Which Suarez hat-trick was better? 3-0 during 2011-12 25.7% Total votes: 315 Suarez then picked up an assist, setting up Nuri Sahin for his only Premiership goal for the Reds, before he completed his hat-trick by curling another shot into the far corner for a 4-0 lead. The game ended with three further goals being scored, but it was once more all about Suarez. So which was better? The first hat-trick saw Suarez win the match effectively by himself, including two spectacular solo strikes, but this season's treble saw him show the best of himself in a "defensive" attacking aspect for the second goal, along with two fine other finishes. Regardless, Liverpool fans will be hoping to see the No. 7 net another goal—or three—on Saturday when Norwich come to town.


It is generally agreed that the term ‘hat-trick’ was first used in 1858, in which sport?

What's a Hat Trick in Different Sports? Here's An Easy Explanation Follow Us What's a Hat Trick in Different Sports? Here's An Easy Explanation If you're a sports fan, you have definitely heard the word "hat trick" being thrown around at some point or the other. But because of its wide usage, it is often hard to deduce what the term means in each specific sport. So we make it easy with this article that defines what the term hat trick means in different sports, along with its origin. Advertisement Speedy Gonzales! In the NHL, the fastest-recorded natural hat trick was achieved by Chicago Blackhawks player Bill Mosienko, at 3 back-to-back goals in just 21 seconds! Being an enthusiast of any sport, it is very important to understand the terminology used to better understand and appreciate the game. If you were watching a soccer match, and said, "Yeah, touchdown!" when a goal is scored, you are in for the wrath that is going to be showered down upon you by your friends and other fans. But that's what is so awesome about the Internet! Today, if you are unsure about something, all you have to do is enter the magic keywords into your preferred search engine, and voilà! You are exposed to new discoveries and better knowledge about things you thought you knew so well! So here we are, sports enthusiasts just like you, trying to understand the "Whats", the "Whens", and the "Whys" behind the words that fuel the adrenaline already triggered by a game. And the best part is, this is a no-frills subject, because we only focus on one of the most universal sporting phrases out there―the "Hat Trick". Used in varied sports from cricket, to soccer, rugby, baseball, and hockey, amongst others, while the crux remains the same, what you achieve with a "hat trick" varies with each sport. We bring you the definition of a hat trick, along with its origin and usage in each sport. Hat-Trick: Definition And Origin Before we dive into what popularized the usage of the term, we have to know what a hat trick means in general. It is essentially an achievement, by either the offensive or defensive player in a game, who achieves a feat in numbers of three, within a given time frame or within the stipulated rules, completing which would earn you a "hat trick". Confused still? Based on a definition given by the Oxford Dictionary (that is slightly paraphrased), "A hat trick is three successes of the same kind within a limited period ..." This could be the scoring of three goals, in games like soccer, hockey, water polo, or the taking of three wickets or three strikes like in cricket and baseball, respectively. But beyond just gaining a three of a kind, certain parameters must be followed (which varies with each sport) in order for it to be called a "hat trick". The most widely accepted fact indicates that the word was first used in 1858 in the game of cricket. According to the legend, back in those days, the fans would hold a collection of proceeds for any player who performs exceptionally in a game, and that collection is awarded to the player. So when a bowler named H. H. Stephenson took three wickets consecutively with three successive balls, the observers held the customary collection, and they bought a cap/hat with the proceeds and gifted it to him. And, thus, the feat of achieving a three of a kind came to be known as a hat trick. So, we covered the "hat" bit. But what about the "trick"? Back in the 19th century, magicians started experimenting and performed the famous hat trick that we know of today that included pulling rabbits, doves, and whatnots out of a top hat. That became known as the "Hat-Trick". Now in the sport, getting the three of a kind was an exceptional feat, and seemed like a magic trick. Which is another explanation for why it is named the way it is! So now that we know the basic meaning and history behind the term, let us see how it permeated into so many different sports and what meaning it took on in each of them. Meaning Of "HAT-Trick" In Different Sports In Cricket ● In the game that started it all, we have already looked at the


In 2000 to 2002, which Grand Prix team won a hat-trick of constructors’ titles?

Ferrari boss not to proud to accept change | Sport | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close Luca di Montezemolo swept into the Ferrari factory yesterday with a glad-handing good nature that reflects his huge confidence in the famous Italian company which has prospered under his stewardship since he joined as president in 1992. He carries the air of a man who has more influence than most, both within the famous Italian team and the wider world of formula one which his scarlet cars, driven by Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, so dominated during this year's world championship. Di Montezemolo's views matter and he is well aware that his team's succession of victories this season have added to the commercially difficult time that formula one is going through and that the rules need to be altered to improve the show. Yet he makes it clear that, while he and the Ferrari team are prepared to sign up for cost-cutting measures to help the sport, these must be linked to more income flow. That means Bernie Ecclestone, in his role as commercial rights holder, producing a bigger share for the teams than the current 47% of television and other commercial revenues. "I think Bernie has done a great job for formula one over the years and I well remember him at the constructors' meetings back in 1973 when I first joined Ferrari as assistant team manager to Enzo Ferrari," he said. "Things were different then. I remember being sent as an annual ritual by Mr Ferrari to Monza to demand more passes and more starting money for the Italian grand prix or else he wouldn't send his cars. Bernie changed all that and did much to market the formula one business over the last two decades. But, as with everything, life changes. We, the teams, get not one penny of the circuit advertising or the ticket sales. "If the grandstands at the circuits are full or empty, it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference for the teams. So we have to change this, because the future of formula one, as ever, depends on the balance between the large and the small teams. "The issue is not, as some people have said, what we might or might not pay Michael Schumacher, but how much income permeates down to the likes or Sauber and Jordan. And, as things stand at the moment, not enough gets down to them to ensure that they can survive." His acknowledgment of the sport's problems do not, however, diminish his pride at Ferrari's success since he took over, restoring a rich heritage to its rightful place. When Schumacher won the 2000 Japanese grand prix, thereby clinching the first Ferrari driver's championship for 21 years, it was a momentous day for the Bologna-born Montezemolo. "In 2001 we then won the world championship four races before the end of the season and I never imagined we could improve on that this year," he said, "but we did. That is much down to Michael, who has proved himself to be a driver of huge status and we all hugely admire him both for his talents and as a man." Di Montezemolo brushes aside complaints about the hierarchy at Ferrari which has Schumacher ahead of Barrichello and was highlighted in this season's Austrian grand prix when Barrichello was forced to concede victory to his team-mate on the final lap. "At Ferrari the status of the No1 driver is determined by the timing sheets, not decided by God or what the journalists or the team might think, but by his sheer speed. And Michael has been consistently the fastest Ferrari driver since 1996." Montezemolo also praised Barrichello's efforts. "We are pleased with Rubens's efforts as he is consistently closer to Michael in terms of performance and they have both been great support to the team at difficult moments." The charismatic Di Montezemolo reflects a contrasting, international dimension to his predecessor Enzo Ferrari. They were different men for different times. Ferrari, totally absorbed in presiding over his personal fiefdom, never strayed far from his fortress in Maranello. Di Montezemolo studied at New York's Columbia university and existed on the fringes of Italian motorsport until inv


When the ads. finished, keeper Molly Badham welcomed them back to which zoo?

PG Tips chimp in rehab as she’s too human – The Sun SHE is a Seventies icon – an advertising star so famous she makes today’s meerkats look like a bunch of extras. But Choppers, one of the talented chimps from the PG Tips family, has been left traumatised after years of being treated like a HUMAN. And, according to her new keeper, the tea makers could not give a monkeys — refusing to pick up the bill for her care. The 42-year-old chimp was watched by millions in the 1970s, playing the role of Ada in the classic adverts. But she was left psychologically scarred by her spell in the limelight and has had to endure a spell in simian rehab to help her mix with other chimps. Sharon Redrobe, new chief executive of Twycross Zoo, where Choppers has lived all her life, said: “She’s been damaged — it’s not a good start in life to be treated like a human because they don’t learn ape behaviour and find it difficult to adjust to being with other chimps. “We’ve tried to get in touch with PG Tips but they are owned by Unilever now — they’d rather they had nothing to do with it. “But they still use a monkey in their adverts, which is a direct link to the old PG Tips ads. “It would be nice if they would put their hand in their pocket and contribute towards Choppers’ care, especially as she was such a big part of their marketing strategy.” The iconic TV adverts, featuring the Tipps family, first aired in 1956 and were a huge hit for the brand. By 1958, PG Tips had risen from fourth place in the British tea market to first. Much-loved Choppers starred in perhaps the most famous commercial of them all from 1971, where two chimps playing father and son removal men accidentally dropped a piano down a flight of stairs. Kitted out in a frilly pink pinny, she offered consolation cuppas to the bumbling piano movers played by her ape pals. Now, 40 years on, it is hard to imagine that the hunched, greying great ape shuffling around her cage once delighted millions of TV viewers. But Choppers has had a difficult few years. She was left bereft last July when her advert co-star and lifelong pal Louis died, aged 37. Sharon said: “When he died, Choppers was obviously sad. They had been together for their entire lives. However it presented a good opportunity to get her mixing with other chimps.” But after living with Louis for so long, co-existing with other animals was a struggle for poor Choppers. Sharon, who took over the running of Twycross last year, added: “A lot of our chimps at the zoo have been hand-reared but Choppers and Louis’ TV past made it extra difficult to integrate them with others. “They were introduced to other chimps a long time ago, before I came to the zoo, but there had been a fight and the plan was dropped. “When we first introduced Choppers to other apes this time around, it was obvious there were problems. She liked to smile, something she learned from humans, but baring your teeth in the chimp world is known as a ‘fear grin’ and can provoke aggression.” It took three years of hard work to help Choppers bond with the other chimps — yet Unilever, the multinational giant that now owns PG Tips, has refused to pay. Last night a spokesman for Unilever said: “We haven’t featured chimpanzees in any PG Tips advertising for over a decade and now use the iconic Monkey character as our brand ambassador.” Sharon said: “We worked really hard but it is worth it. There is definite progress. “Choppers has started hooting and grooming other chimps, which is wonderful to see. Now that she’s picking up chimp behaviour, she seems so much happier.” Choppers has improved so much, she is now housed with a group of friends, as the Twycross team slowly expand her social group. But despite the progress, Sharon is adamant her chimps will never be thrust in front of TV cameras again. She said: “It happened — you can’t deny the past. But I absolutely would not use chimps in entertainment any more. It makes me so disappointed that in 2013 we still have performing chimps out there.” The new Leonardo DiCaprio film, The Wolf Of Wall Street, has come under fire


What was the first name of Mark Knopfler’s brother in Dire Straits?

Mark Knopfler | Biography & History | AllMusic google+ Artist Biography               by Mark Deming The most celebrated British guitar hero to emerge in the 1970s and '80s, Mark Knopfler rose to fame as the leader of Dire Straits , and his songwriting and incisive guitar work played a decisive role in making them an international success story. At a time when punk and new wave were making technique for its own sake seem irrelevant, and metal was taking the guitar solo in noisier and unpredictable directions, Knopfler 's clean but dexterous picking proved there was still room for traditionalism and chops in mainstream rock & roll. But even without considering Dire Straits , Knopfler has accumulated an impressive résumé as a producer, sideman, songwriter, and film composer, working alongside some of the best and best-known figures in the music business. Mark Freuder Knopfler was born in Glasgow, Scotland on August 12, 1949. His father, a Hungarian émigré, worked as an architect, while his mother, of English heritage, was a schoolteacher. The Knopfler family moved to England when Mark was seven years of age, settling in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, and he developed a passion for music while spending time with his uncle; as he told journalist Dan Forte , "I heard my Uncle Kingsley playing boogie-woogie on the piano when I was about eight or nine, and I thought that those three chords were the most magnificent things in the world -- still do." A few years later, Knopfler began learning to play guitar, first on an inexpensive Hofner model before moving up to a Fender electric his father bought for him. At 16, Knopfler and some pals cut a demo single that was never released, and he performed in a vocal group that was successful enough to merit an appearance on local television. In 1967, Knopfler enrolled at Harlow Technical College, where he studied journalism, and a year later he landed a job at the Yorkshire Evening Post, where he wrote news stories and music criticism. After two years at the Post, Knopfler opted to return to school, studying English at Leeds University. While at Leeds, he became friends with a fellow guitarist named Steve Phillips , and they began playing out under the name the Duolian String Pickers; while working with Phillips , Knopfler began developing the fingerpicking style that would become his trademark. After graduating from Leeds in 1973, Knopfler moved to London and joined a pub rock band called Brewer's Droop , featuring drummer Pick Withers . Knopfler 's tenure with the band was short-lived, and he took a position as a lecturer at Essex's Loughton College. Knopfler became friends with a handful of local musicians, and they formed a new band called the Café Racers. Mark 's brother, David Knopfler , who was also a guitarist and songwriter, introduced Mark to a fellow musician, John Illsley , who played guitar but was also a solid bassist. When the Café Racers found themselves in need of a bass player one night, Mark asked Illsley to sit in, and before long, Mark , David , and John were sharing an apartment and working on songs, with Mark on lead guitar, David on rhythm, and John on bass. Mark invited Pick Withers to play drums with the new combo, and while they played their first few gigs as the Café Racers, before long they adopted a new name coined by Withers -- Dire Straits . After cutting a demo tape, Dire Straits found a champion in BBC disk jockey Charlie Gillett , who began playing their demo on his show, attracting the attention of manager Ed Bicknell and Polygram A&R man John Stainze . Bicknell took Dire Straits under his wing and Stainze signed the group to Polygram's progressive and hard rock subsidiary Vertigo Records; Warner Bros. picked up the band for the United States. Dire Straits ' self-titled debut album was released in the fall of 1978, and the song "Sultans of Swing" became a surprise hit single in both America and the U.K., with the album following it into the charts, as the group's clean, expert playing, and Knopfler 's deft lead guitars, Dylanesque vocals, and evocat


Craig and Charlie Reid got together to form which band in 1983?

Story THE PROCLAIMERS    January 2015 After completing a 2-year World tour late in 2013, Craig and Charlie took 2014 off to focus entirely on writing a new album. They headed to Rockfield Studios in December with their band and producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey, Idlewild, The Who) and recorded their 10th studio album for release on Cooking Vinyl in April this year. The Proclaimers return to the road and will be touring in 2015 from May through to December. April 2013 saw The Proclaimers out on a three week USA acoustic tour before joining up with their live band for a host of UK festivals and concerts over the summer including their fifth Glastonbury appearance, Cornbury, T In The Park, Camp Bestival and a Canadian tour in August. The Proclaimers returned for more UK dates and their final concert this year as the first Scottish band to play at the newly opened Hydro Arena in Glasgow in early October. 1st July saw the release of a thirty-track compilation selected by Craig and Charlie from their 9 studio albums to date. ‘The Very Best of The Proclaimers’ (25 Years – 1987 to 2012). Following on from the theatre success of the musical drama featuring songs by The Proclaimers ‘Sunshine On Leith’, the movie version had its UK release in October (Entertainment Film Distributors) and was hugely popular, opening at number 3, moving up to 2 in it’s second and spending another month in the top ten, generating over £4.8 million at the UK Box office. Sunshine On Leith was number 5 in the highest grossing Independent UK films of 2013.  The movie was released in the UK on DVD/Blu-ray on 27th January 2014. It has its international releases across the globe throughout 2014 and is released in USA/Canada in 2015. Screenplay by Stephen Greenhorn, directed by Dexter Fletcher, produced by DNA Films & Black Camel Pictures and starring Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks, George MacKay, Antonia Thomas, Kevin Guthrie and Freya Mavor. Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have over the years enjoyed huge success across the globe as the emotional honesty, political fire, wit and sing-along raucousness of their songs and their extensive touring has enlightened and entertained fans new and old. The Proclaimers have carved out a niche for themselves in the netherworld where pop, folk, new wave and punk collide. In the process they have enjoyed Gold and Platinum singles and albums in UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Born in Leith in 1962, Craig and Charlie Reid grew up in Edinburgh, Cornwall and Auchtermuchty in Fife. At home, they listened to early rock ‘n’ roll and country greats such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard and Hank Williams. At school they played in punk bands and formed The Proclaimers in 1983. With a fervent live following growing in Scotland, particularly in Inverness where they performed regularly, their first big break came late in 1986 when they were invited to tour with The Housemartins. Then in January 1987 they made a now seminal appearance on the Channel 4 pop programme The Tube, performing Letter From America & Throw The ‘R’ Away. Singing in regional accents about Scotland – its emigration and its politics – they were a far cry from the mid-Eighties playlist staples of Rick Astley and Sinitta, and became a phenomenon almost overnight, signing to Chrysalis within a month and recording their debut album acoustically, This Is The Story, a week later, produced by the man who also signed them to Chrysalis, John Williams. Voted NME Readers Best New Band that year, they toured the UK extensively and a new ‘band’ version of Letter From America, produced by Gerry Rafferty went Top 3 in November. Complementing their raw, stripped down delivery with the greater musical scope of a full band, they then embraced country and rock on their second album, 1988’s Sunshine On Leith produced by Pete Wingfield, which also saw them form their first full live band and go on a 9 month World tour. In addition to the deeply moving classic title track which has gone on to be an anthem fo