Who is the TESCO boss who recently announced his intention to retire?

Exodus continues as another top boss checks out at Tesco | This is Money Exodus continues as another top boss checks out at Tesco comments The exodus of top talent at Tesco continued yesterday as Britain’s biggest retailer announced the architect of its move into banking is its latest high level departure. Tesco veteran Andy Higginson, who rose from finance director to chairman of Tesco Bank during a 15 year stint, will head through the checkout for one final time next September. The 54-year-old, who is also a non-executive director at BSkyB, said he plans to retire and ‘move on to the next phase of my career’. Talent exodus: The grocer's top team has been hit by a wave of defections since Sir Terry Leahy quit The firm said he will not receive any pay-off or payment in lieu of notice. The loss of Higginson, who has helped transform the grocer into a major player on the international stage, is a significant blow and comes after a period of unprecedented change in which Tesco (down 0.1p to 379.85p) has haemorrhaged senior executives. Earlier this year it lost chief executive Sir Terry Leahy, the mastermind of its current strategy, who passed on the reigns to Philip Clarke.   RUTH SUNDERLAND: Libya's wealth of opportunity Then Marks & Spencer poached its highly regarded head of internet Laura Wade-Gery and Tesco mobile boss Lance Batchelor jumped ship to Dominos Pizza. In May chairman David Reid said he would head for the hills and there has been a raft of other lower level departures. Fresh food director Colin Holmes has also left, along with Mark Horrobin, chief operating officer of Tesco Mobile. Retail analyst Clive Black, at broker Shore Capital, said: ‘Tesco has surprised us with the announcement of an impending change in its senior management team. ‘Losing someone of Higginson’s capability and experience can only be regarded as a loss to the business. ‘Higginson transformed the business from a reasonably value based domestic grocer into a truly multi-channel and international business, now the third largest retailer in the world.’ He was finance and strategy director for 11 years and took up a new role to lead the retailing service division in 2008 – which includes Tesco Bank. In his most recent position he migrated Tesco Bank onto its own platform and oversaw the online and telecoms divisions and the integration of the firm behind Tesco Clubcard. The grocer said: ‘Tesco announces that Andrew Higginson, chief executive of retailing services, has informed the company of his intention to retire next year, on September 1, 2012.’ Chief executive Philip Clarke said: ‘I respect Andy’s decision to move on and am grateful that he has given me sufficient notice to effect proper succession planning.’


In Marvel Comics which God is the alter ego of Donald Blake?

Thor (Thor Odinson) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios. Thor (Thor Odinson) Sighted page [ view draft ]   (+/-) This is the latest sighted revision, approved on 29 August 2010. The draft has 2 changes awaiting review. Accuracy Thor Odinson Aliases Donald M. Blake, God of Thunder, Son of Odin, the Thunderer, Lord of Asgard, Jake Olson, Sigurd Jarlson, Donar, Donner, Hloriddi, Unhappy Hrungnir’s Playmate, Veur, Hrodr’s Foe-Man, Longbeard’s Son, Vingthor the Hurler, Siegfried, Siegmund, "Woe-King"; impersonated Hercules, Harokin, Freya; formerly bound to Eric Masterson Identity Venus #12 (1951); (modern) Journey into Mystery #83 (1962) Origin Journey into Mystery #83 (1962), Thor #159 (1968), Thor Annual #11 (1983) Significant Issues As Blake, found Mjolnir in Norway, became Thor (Journey into Mystery #83, 1962); founded the Avengers (Avengers #1, 1963); learned origin of Donald Blake identity (Thor #159, 1968), origin an past adventures on Earth recounted (Thor Annual #11, 1983); adopted Sigurd Jarlson identity (Thor #341, 1984); merged with Eric Masterson (Thor #408, 1989); exiled for killing Loki (Thor #432, 1991); retrieved from exile by Eric Masterson (Thor #457, 1993); became insane, overcame with aid of Adam Warlock and Dr. Strange (Thor #460-471, 1993-1994); adopted form of Jake Olson (Thor #2, 2001); witnessed death of Odin, became Lord of Asgard (Thor #41-43, 2002) had falling out with Avengers (Avengers #63, 2003); Asgard bombed (Thor #68, 2003); conquered Earth (Thor #68, 2003); undid conquest of Earth (Thor #79, 2004); perished in battling Those Who Sit Above In Shadow (Thor #85, 2004) Occupation Warrior, adventurer; former monarch, paramedic, construction worker; (as Donald Blake) physician, surgeon Known Relatives Odin Borson (father, deceased), Gaea (mother), Frigga (adoptive mother), Loki (adoptive brother, deceased), Balder, Hermod, Tyr, Vidar (half-brothers), Buri (Tiwaz, paternal great-grandfather), Bolthorn (maternal great grandfather), Bor Burison (grandfather, deceased), Bestia (paternal grandmother, presumed deceased), Vili, Ve (paternal uncles, deceased), Sigyn (sister-in-law),Solveig (sister-in-law, deceased), Jormungand (Midgard Serpent), Fenris Wolf (nephews), Hela (niece), large extended family via Gaea and others Group Affiliation Gods of Asgard, Avengers ; formerly Queen’s Vengeance , Godpack, Thor Corps Education Tutored by scholars of Asgard; (Blake) M.D. Physical Attributes 640 lbs; (Blake) 150 lbs. Eyes Blond Powers As the son of Odin and Gaea, Thor's strength, endurance and resistance to injury are greater than the vast majority of his superhuman race. He is extremely long-lived (though not completely immune to aging), immune to conventional disease and highly resistant to injury. His flesh and bones are several times denser than a human's. As Lord of Asgard, Thor possessed the Odinforce, which enabled him to tap into the near-infinite resources of cosmic and mystical energies, enhancing all of his abilities. With the vast magical power of the Odinforce, Thor was even able to dent Captain America’s virtually indestructible shield with Mjolnir. Click here for complete list of Thor's powers Abilities Thor is trained in the arts of war, being a superbly skilled warrior, highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship and hammer throwing. Weapons Thor wields Mjolnir , a hammer forged from uru metal. Mjolnir is virtually unbreakable, and allows Thor to command the powers of the storm, causing rain, thunder and lightning. Thor can channel the storm’s fury into devastating blasts of energy that can destroy even secondary Adamantium. He can also channel his godly energies through Mjolnir into blasts so powerful that they can slay even immortals. Mjolnir can absorb other energies into itself, which Thor can then release. Mjolnir obeys Thor’s commands as though it were alive, and if Thor’s will is strong enough, the hammer can pass through nearly any barrier to reach him should he so desire. Using this command over Mjolnir’s flight path, Thor i


Who directed the 2004 Oscar winning film 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'?

2004 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences * Art Direction - Art Direction: Grant Major; Set Decoration: Dan Hennah and Alan Lee * Best Picture - Barrie M. Osborne, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, Producers * Sound Mixing - Christopher Boyes, Michael Semanick, Michael Hedges and Hammond Peek * Music (Original Score) - Howard Shore * Music (Original Song) - Into The West in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" Music and Lyric by Fran Walsh and Howard Shore and Annie Lennox * Film Editing - Jamie Selkirk * Visual Effects - Jim Rygiel, Joe Letteri, Randall William Cook and Alex Funke * Costume Design - Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor * Directing - Peter Jackson


What is the highest number that is a common factor (HCF) of 32 and 48?

Greatest Common Factor Greatest Common Factor The highest number that divides exactly into two or more numbers. It is the "greatest" thing for simplifying fractions! Let's start with an Example ...  Greatest Common Factor of 12 and 16 Find all the Factors of each number, Circle the Common factors, Choose the Greatest of those So ... what is a "Factor" ? Factors are numbers we multiply together to get another number: A number can have many factors: Factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 ... ...      because 2 × 6 = 12, or 4 × 3 = 12, or 1 × 12 = 12. (Read how to find All the Factors of a Number . In our case we don't need the negative ones.) What is a "Common Factor" ? Say we have worked out the factors of two numbers: Example: Factors of 12 and 30 Factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 Factors of 30 are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15 and 30 Then the common factors are those that are found in both    lists: Notice that 1, 2, 3 and 6 appear in both lists? So, the common factors of 12 and 30 are: 1, 2, 3 and 6 It is a common factor when it is a factor of two or more numbers. Here is another example with three numbers: Example: The common factors of 15, 30 and 105 Factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5, and 15 Factors of 30 are 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15 and 30 Factors of 105 are 1, 3, 5, 7, 15, 21, 35 and 105 The factors that are common to all three numbers are 1, 3, 5 and 15 In other words, the common factors of 15, 30 and 105 are 1, 3, 5 and 15 What is the "Greatest Common Factor" ? It is simply the largest of the common factors. In our previous example, the largest of the common factors is 15, so the Greatest Common Factor of 15, 30 and 105 is 15 The "Greatest Common Factor" is the largest of the common factors (of two or more numbers) Why is this Useful? One of the most useful things is when we want to simplify a fraction: Example: How could we simplify 1230 ? Earlier we found that the Common Factors of 12 and 30 are 1, 2, 3 and 6, and so the Greatest Common Factor is 6. So the largest number we can divide both 12 and 30 evenly by is 6, like this:


Which QC chaired an enquiry into MPs expenses in 2009?

More MP expenses revealed - Manchester Evening News News More MP expenses revealed FURTHER details of what south Manchester MPs have been claiming on expenses has emerged, with tax payers' money being spent on everything from ironing boards and tea strainers to carpet underlay. Gerald Kaufman, MP for Longsight and Levenshulme even tried to claim nearly £1,000 for just one chair.  Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email FURTHER details of what south Manchester MPs have been claiming on expenses has emerged, with tax payers' money being spent on everything from ironing boards and tea strainers to carpet underlay. Gerald Kaufman, MP for Longsight and Levenshulme even tried to claim nearly £1,000 for just one chair. His claim for a £935 Orion chair and stool combination from swanky Macclesfield furniture store Arighi Bianchi was rejected by Parliament's fees officer, with the note 'liaise with MP' scrawled across it. Mr Kaufman was also told he couldn't claim £1,262 against his gas bill - because his account with British Gas was already £1,055 in credit. His other claims included £1.50 for a tea strainer. He declined to comment on the story when contacted by the Reporter. John Leech was sent a council tax reminder in May last year telling him to pay £77.81 immediately. The MP for Withington also claimed a £21.82 electric bill in July last year that had become overdue. Other receipts submitted by the MPs included £632 for a carpet - plus £202 for sponge underlay. However he announced last Friday that he had been sent a letter from Sir Thomas Legg, the civil servant carrying out the enquiry into MPs' expenses, giving him the all clear. The letter stated there were 'no issues Sir Legg had to be concerned with', meaning Mr Leech's claims are seen as reasonable. Mr Leech said: "I have been happy to cooperate with Sir Thomas and give him all the information he asked for. I am glad he has confirmed that there are no issues he is concerned about." "I have always said that it is important that when spending public money there are the right checks and balances. I have already released my expenses on-line, and have also put Sir Thomas's letter on-line too." A £15 water filter purifier was claimed on expenses by Wythenshawe and Sale East MP Paul Goggins who represents Northenden. He bought it on a shopping trip to home and garden specialists Robert Dyas, in central London, where he also bought a £30 ironing board. He also claimed £56.90 for dry cleaning. It was also revealed this year that Mr Goggins let a friend live at his taxpayer-funded second home in south-east London rent-free. The MP claimed almost £45,000 for the home and did not tell the Commons fees office that he shared it. Mr Goggins also declined to comment on his expenses claims. Tony Lloyd, who represents Whalley Range, claimed a total of £18,544 in additional cost allowance last year. The vast majority of the Manchester Central MP's claims were to cover rental payments on his second home. Documents released yesterday showed no unusual claims among his receipts. He said: "It is right and proper that people can see MPs' expenses." All MPs allowance claims are now available for public inspection on the www.parliament.uk website. Like us on Facebook Most Read Most Recent Most Read Most Recent


Rachmaninov's 'Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini' is a work for which solo instrument and orchestra?

RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 43 - YouTube RACHMANINOFF: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, Op. 43 Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Jun 16, 2011 When my paternal Grandfather died some years ago, I was amazed to discover a collection of Rachmaninoff 78rpm albums among his possessions. What an unexpected delight to find that recordings existed of Rachmaninoff playing his own pieces. This recording was made in the Camden Church Studio number 2 with 70 musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra and released on Victor Records. Purists may object to what I've done to this recording (pseudo-stereo, EQ adjusted) but I wanted to bring this fantastic work to a wide audience. There is nothing better than hearing a composer play his own music; especially music as grand and romantic as this. The piece is a set of 24 variations on the twenty-fourth and last of Niccolò Paganini's Caprices for solo violin, which has inspired works by several composers. After a brief introduction, the first variation is played before the theme. Paganini's theme is stated on strings with the piano picking out salient notes, after the first variation. Rachmaninoff likely got the idea of having a variation before the theme from the finale of Beethoven's Eroica symphony. Variations 2 to 6 recombine elements of the theme. The pauses and rhetorical flourishes for the piano in variation 7 herald a change of tempo and tone. The piano next gravely intones the Dies Irae, the "day of wrath" plainchant from the medieval Mass of the Dead, while the orchestra accompanies with a slower version of the opening motif of the Paganini theme. The piece is one of several by Rachmaninoff to quote the Dies Irae plainchant melody. The 18th variation (which I came to know through the TV movie 'Somewhere in Time') is justifiably famous but the whole work is one of my favourites: a great composer showing off his talent whilst also producing great music. Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano. Philadelphia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski: Conductor. Recorded December 24, 1934. Category


'Yesterday' and 'Ticket to Ride' first appeared on which Beatles album of 1965?

Yesterday | The Beatles Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, Now it looks as though they're here to stay, Oh, I believe in yesterday Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be There's a shadow hanging over me Oh, yesterday came suddenly Why she had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play Now I need a place to hide away Oh, I believe in yesterday Why she had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say I said something wrong, now I long for yesterday Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play Now I need a place to hide away Oh, I believe in yesterday, Mm mm mm mm mm. "Yesterday" "Back in the U.S.S.R." (UK-1976) "Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by the Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. Although credited to "Lennon–McCartney", the song was written solely by Paul McCartney. It remains popular today with more than 2,200 cover versions, and is one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded music. At the time of its first appearance the song was released by the Beatles' record company as a single in the United States but not in the United Kingdom (for further details see below). Consequently, whilst it topped the American chart in 1965 the song first hit the British top 10 three months after the release of Help! in a cover version by Matt Monro. "Yesterday" was voted the best song of the 20th century in a 1999 BBC Radio 2 poll of music experts and listeners and was also voted the No. 1 Pop song of all time by MTV and Rolling Stone magazine the following year. In 1997, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) asserts that it was performed over seven million times in the 20th century alone. "Yesterday" is a melancholy acoustic guitar ballad about the break-up of a relationship. McCartney is the only Beatle to appear on the recording, and it was the first official recording by the Beatles that relied upon a performance by a single member of the band. He was accompanied by a string quartet. The final recording was so different from other works by the Beatles that the band members vetoed the release of the song as a single in the United Kingdom. (However, it was issued as a single there in 1976.) In 2000 McCartney asked Yoko Ono if she would agree to change the credit on the song to read "McCartney–Lennon" in the The Beatles Anthology, but she refused. Please note the text from Wikipedia is imported without editing or authentication.


Which species of bird can be Reed, Corn or Cirl?

The RSPB: Browse bird families: Buntings Browse bird families Image: Paco Gómez The buntings of Europe, Asia and Africa are related to American sparrows. They are rather finch-like but have differently-structured bills, slightly flatter heads and longer bodies, and many have longer tails with white sides. Some are short-legged and heavy-bodied and strictly terrestrial, others are lighter and live more in trees and bushes. Most have simple, unmusical but distinctive songs. Some are long-distance migrants and several European and Asian species have appeared in the UK as rare vagrants.


Who wrote the 2006 best seller 'The Book Thief' set in Munich during World War II?

Stealing to Settle a Score With Life - The New York Times The New York Times Books |Stealing to Settle a Score With Life Search Books | BOOKS OF THE TIMES Stealing to Settle a Score With Life Continue reading the main story The Book Thief By Markus Zusak Illustrated. 552 pages. Alfred A. Knopf. $16.95. Markus Zusak has not really written "Harry Potter and the Holocaust." It just feels that way. "The Book Thief" is perched on the cusp between grown-up and young-adult fiction, and it is loaded with librarian appeal. It deplores human misery. It celebrates the power of language. It may encourage adolescents to read. It has an element of the fanciful. And it's a book that bestows a self-congratulatory glow upon anyone willing to grapple with it. "The Book Thief" resembles other, better novels that have been widely popular. Its roundabout approach to the Holocaust suggests "Everything Is Illuminated" Lite. Its embattled, feisty young heroine has a Potterish appeal as she makes her way through a mystifying adult world. There is a Vonnegut whimsy to the mordant turns of fate here. And Mr. Zusak's narrator offers constant manipulative asides, as in the clever Lemony Snicket books, although in this case wit is not much of an option. The narrator is Death. How can a tale told by Death be mistaken for young-adult storytelling? Easily: because this book's narrator is sorry for what he has to do. "To me, war is like the new boss who expects the impossible," he confides, on one of many occasions when he campaigns to win readers' approval. "You see?" he says, about the demise of one of the book's best-liked characters. "Even death has a heart." The youthful sensibility of "The Book Thief" also contributes to a wider innocence. While it is set in Germany during World War II and is not immune to bloodshed, most of this story is figurative: it unfolds as symbolic or metaphorical abstraction. The dominoes lined up on its cover are compared to falling bodies. The book thief of the title is a schoolgirl named Liesel Meminger, and the meaning of her stealing is not left unexplained. She has been robbed of a brother, who dies at the start of the book. Her mother disappears, and then Liesel is left in foster care. A great deal has been taken away from her. She steals books to settle the score. Continue reading the main story The first book taken by Liesel offers a sampling of Mr. Zusak's real but easily oversold charm. It is called "The Grave Digger's Handbook," and is subtitled "A Twelve-Step Guide to Grave-Digging Success." Liesel finds it at the cemetery where her brother is buried. And it becomes her link to the past, even after she is put in the care of Rosa and Hans Hubermann, whose household is colorful to the point of dangerous whimsy. Hans finds life-affirming ways to play the accordion, for example. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Liesel lives in a town called Molching, which is close enough to Munich for its residents to see Jews being sent to the Dachau concentration camp nearby. Since Liesel is Lutheran, she is not in any danger of sharing this fate, although the effects of the war on Germans are strongly felt. But Liesel finds herself forced into a Hitler Youth uniform. And perversely, the Führer's "Mein Kampf" becomes one of the books that are important in her life. Mr. Zusak does his imaginative best to make sure that no Nazi touchstone like "Mein Kampf" is treated in a predictable way. Hitler's book first helps to save a young Jewish man named Max Vandenburg, who is hidden by the Hubermanns. Then, with its pages turned blank by white paint, it is transformed into an entirely different book altogether. And it helps to forge an everlasting connection between Liesel and Max. Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up Privacy Policy "The Book Thief" is a long, winding tale, punctuated by Death's commentary. ("By the way -- I like this human idea of the grim reaper. I like the scythe. It amuses me.") Most of it is


In Edinburgh what name is given to the streets that link the Castle with Holyrood Palace?

Royal Maile, Edinburgh | weepingredorger weepingredorger by weepingredorger Royal Mile is the name given since the 16th-century to a succession of streets which form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh. As the name suggests, the Royal Mile is approximately one Scots mile long,and runs between two foci of history in Scotland, from Edinburgh Castle at the top of the Castle Rock, down to Holyrood Palace. The streets which make up the Royal Mile are (west to east) Castlehill, Lawnmarket, High Street, Canongate and Abbey Strand. The Royal Mile is Edinburgh Old Town’s busiest tourist street, rivalled only by Prince Street in the New Town. To Edinburgh Stone above storms, you rear upon the ridge: we live on your back, its crag-and-tail, spires and tenements stacked on your spine, the castle and the palace linked by one rope. A spatchcocked town, the ribcage split open like a skellie, a kipper, a guttit haddie. We wander through your windy mazes, all our voices are flags on the high street. From the sky’s edge to the grey firth we are the city, you are within us. Each crooked close and wynd is a busy cut on the crowded mile that takes us home in eden Edinburgh, centred on the rock, our city with your seven hills and heavens. Valerie Gillies


Which European country's flag is a horizontal tricolour red, white and green (in that order top to bottom)?

flags of europe : definition of flags of europe and synonyms of flags of europe (English) Flag of Albania The flag of Albania , adopted in April 1992, is a red flag with a black two-headed eagle in the centre. It is derived from the seal of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg , a 15th century Albanian who led the revolt against the Ottoman Empire that resulted in brief independence for Albania from 1443 to 1478. 1866 — Flag of Andorra The flag of Andorra , adopted in 1866, is a tricolour of blue, yellow, and red with the coat of arms of Andorra in the centre. It is based on the flags of France and Spain. The coat of arms of Andorra is based on the Catalan flag (4-red-coloured ribbons with yellow background). 1918 — 1938 1945 — Flag of Austria , originally adopted in 1918, was officially adopted (again) in 1945, after being banned during World War II . Stripes of red and white have been a collective emblem of Austria for over 800 years, and their first usage on the flag occurred in 1191. According to long established legend, the red and white flag was designed to resemble the bloodstained white coat worn by the Duke of Austria during a fierce battle. 1990 — Flag of Armenia The flag of Armenia (or the "Armenian Tricolour") was officially adopted on August 24, 1990. It was first used by the short-lived Democratic Republic of Armenia from 1918-1920. According to the Constitution of Armenia , "red symbolises the Armenian Highland, the Armenian people's continued struggle for survival, maintenance of the Christian faith, Armenia's independence and freedom. Blue symbolises the will of the people of Armenia to live beneath peaceful skies. Orange symbolises the creative talent and hard-working nature of the people of Armenia." [4] 1991 — Flag of Azerbaijan The flag of Azerbaijan was officially adopted on February 5, 1991. It is based on an earlier flag used by the short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920). It features three equal horizontal bands of blue, red, and green. A crescent and eight-pointed star, Turkish symbols, are centred in the red band which represents progress. The country had a long alliance with Turkey , and the blue colour has long been associated with the Turkic peoples. Green symbolises Islam . 1995 — Flag of Belarus Belarus ' flag was officially adopted on May 16, 1995. The dominant red and green were colours used on its flag when it was a republic of the former Soviet Union. The woven fabric ornament on the left uses traditional Belarusian red and white colours. 1831 — The flag of Belgium was officially adopted on January 23, 1831. Black, gold and red are symbolic of the country's coat of arms ; black representing the shield; gold representing the lion, and red representing the lion's claws and tongue. The vertical layout is taken from the French Tricolour . 1998 — Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina The flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina consists of a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag. The remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle. The three points of the triangle stand for the three nations of Bosnia: Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs. It is said to represent the map of Bosnia. 1878 — 1946 The flag of Bulgaria was adopted in 1989 and consists of three horizontal bands of white, green and red. 1990 — Flag of Croatia The flag of Croatia , adopted in December 1990, consists of three equal horizontal stripes of red, white and blue, which has been the Croatian flag since 1848. In the middle is the Coat of arms of Croatia, which replaced a five-pointed red star with yellow border in the centre, which was there when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia . 1960 — The flag of Cyprus was officially adopted on August 16, 1960. The island is depicted in a copper shade representative of its name; the name Cyprus has roots in the Sumerian word for copper (zubar) from the large deposits of copper found on the island. The crossed green olive branches sy


Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the USA, was the delegate to the Continental Congress for which American state?

Thomas Jefferson | whitehouse.gov Air Force One Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, a spokesman for democracy, was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809). In the thick of party conflict in 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This powerful advocate of liberty was born in 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia, inheriting from his father, a planter and surveyor, some 5,000 acres of land, and from his mother, a Randolph, high social standing. He studied at the College of William and Mary, then read law. In 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, and took her to live in his partly constructed mountaintop home, Monticello. Freckled and sandy-haired, rather tall and awkward, Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no public speaker. In the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause. As the "silent member" of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia. Most notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786. Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France in 1785. His sympathy for the French Revolution led him into conflict with Alexander Hamilton when Jefferson was Secretary of State in President Washington's Cabinet. He resigned in 1793. Sharp political conflict developed, and two separate parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, began to form. Jefferson gradually assumed leadership of the Republicans, who sympathized with the revolutionary cause in France. Attacking Federalist policies, he opposed a strong centralized Government and championed the rights of states. As a reluctant candidate for President in 1796, Jefferson came within three votes of election. Through a flaw in the Constitution, he became Vice President, although an opponent of President Adams. In 1800 the defect caused a more serious problem. Republican electors, attempting to name both a President and a Vice President from their own party, cast a tie vote between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The House of Representatives settled the tie. Hamilton, disliking both Jefferson and Burr, nevertheless urged Jefferson's election. When Jefferson assumed the Presidency, the crisis in France had passed. He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a third. He also sent a naval squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in the Mediterranean. Further, although the Constitution made no provision for the acquisition of new land, Jefferson suppressed his qualms over constitutionality when he had the opportunity to acquire the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon in 1803. During Jefferson's second term, he was increasingly preoccupied with keeping the Nation from involvement in the Napoleonic wars, though both England and France interfered with the neutral rights of American merchantmen. Jefferson's attempted solution, an embargo upon American shipping, worked badly and was unpopular. Jefferson retired to Monticello to ponder such projects as his grand designs for the University of Virginia. A French nobleman observed that he had placed his house and his mind "on an elevated situation, from which he might contemplate the universe." He died on July 4, 1826. The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel  and Hugh Sidey. Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association.


In which country will the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup be held?

Rugby World Cup 2011: event will be held in New Zealand despite Christchurch earthquake tragedy - Telegraph Rugby Union Rugby World Cup 2011: event will be held in New Zealand despite Christchurch earthquake tragedy While the struggle to find survivors and the fight to preserve life itself  continued around the clock in Christchurch on Wednesday, the full sporting  ramifications of Tuesday’s earthquake were beginning to be felt in one of  the world’s most passionate rugby cities. Mixed emotions: Scott Hamilton in action for the Crusaders at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch Photo: GETTY IMAGES Follow However, Rugby World Cup 2011 organisers have stressed that the event will go ahead and that all matches will be played in New Zealand . Encouraging early reports that the recently renovated and expanded 38,628-capacity AMI Stadium in Christchurch appeared to have survived without any major structural damage, have been qualified. It now transpires there has been severe liquefaction on the playing surface itself as a result of the earthquake. The pitch is reportedly mottled and covered with 18-inch-high mounds and resembles a small mogul ski field as a result of air pockets rising during the quake. Canterbury Crusaders officials have inspected the pitch but will wait until experts can give a definitive view. Reclaiming the playing surface and conducting extensive safety checks on the stadiums – not to mention any structural repair work that does need doing – is clearly going to be a long process and Crusaders officials are already seeking out alternative Super 15 venues for the rest of the season. Dunedin or Nelson would seem the obvious alternatives and that would allow the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Canterbury to concentrate on ensuring that there is no reason why the five World Cup pool games and two quarter-finals scheduled for Christchurch should not take place in the city. Related Articles O'Gara starts at fly-half for Ireland 23 Feb 2011 Martin Snedden, the NZ 2011 chief executive, has confirmed that a full assessment of the entire World Cup infrastructure in Christchurch, including hotels and transport, will be made as soon as is practical. “We are mindful of the pressure the people of Christchurch are under and do not want to place any more demands on them,” Snedden said. “There has been speculation that this tragedy puts the entire event in jeopardy or that matches will relocate to Australia. That is not the case. RWC 2011 will proceed and all matches will take place in New Zealand.” In the short term the Crusaders have also taken the only sensible decision available in cancelling their next Super 15 game, away at Wellington on Saturday. The Super 15 organisers have fully supported the decision and ruled the game a ‘draw’ which is worth two points apiece in the league table. “Our thoughts are with our families, friends and wider Crusaders community and rugby is not a priority at the moment,” Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said. “All of the Crusaders players, team management, staff and board members have been directly affected by this terrible tragedy and it’s our desire to stay here and support our families and community at this time.” Leicester Tigers and former New Zealand wing Scott Hamilton, born and bred in Christchurch, has been talking about the impact of the tragedy. “The cathedral is Christchurch is synonymous with the city, you can’t just throw another one of those up and to see landmarks that I grew up with on the ground is a shock,” Hamilton said. “We grew up at school with earthquake drills, knowing where to go to be safer. it is sad to see so many people losing their lives and many more injured, your heart goes out to them all. We are going to try to help out as much as we can and plan to auction some shirts. They will need a lot more than that but every little helps.” “My little daughter was sick during Monday night and my wife was up with her. She noticed on her phone at about 3am there were some messages from home. She came in and told me what had happened. I’ve got family and


Which famous singer said 'I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to'?

Good Quotations by Famous People Good Quotations by Famous People: Famous quotes, witty quotes, and funny quotations collected by Gabriel Robins over the years. "Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo." - H. G. Wells (1866-1946) "Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever." - Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) "Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake." - Chessmaster Savielly Grigorievitch Tartakower (1887-1956) "Don't be so humble - you are not that great." - Golda Meir (1898-1978) to a visiting diplomat "His ignorance is encyclopedic" "If a man does his best, what else is there?" - General George S. Patton (1885-1945) "Political correctness is tyranny with manners." - Charlton Heston (1924-2008) "You can avoid reality, but you cannot avoid the consequences of avoiding reality." - Ayn Rand (1905-1982) "When one person suffers from a delusion it is called insanity; when many people suffer from a delusion it is called religion." - Robert Pirsig (1948-) "Sex and religion are closer to each other than either might prefer." - Saint Thomas More (1478-1535) "I can write better than anybody who can write faster, and I can write faster than anybody who can write better." - A. J. Liebling (1904-1963) "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." - Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855) "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet." - Saint Augustine (354-430) "Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955) "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955) "A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) "You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you." - Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) "We are all atheists about most of the gods humanity has ever believed in. Some of us just go one god further." - Richard Dawkins (1941-) "The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work." - Emile Zola (1840-1902) "This book fills a much-needed gap." - Moses Hadas (1900-1966) in a review "The full use of your powers along lines of excellence." - definition of "happiness" by John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) "I'm living so far beyond my income that we may  almost be said to be living apart." - e e cummings (1894-1962) "Give me a museum and I'll fill it." - Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) - Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) to his orchestra "I'll moider da bum." - Heavyweight boxer Tony Galento, when asked what he thought of William Shakespeare "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is." - Yogi Berra "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) "Each problem that I solved became a rule which served afterwards to solve other problems." - Rene Descartes (1596-1650), "Discours de la Methode" "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." - Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." - Henry Ford (1863-1947) "Do, or do not. There is no 'try'." - Yoda ('The Empire Strikes Back') "The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it." - Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) "Don't stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed." - George Burns (1896-1996) "I don't know why we are here, but I'm pretty sure that it is not in order to enjoy ourselves." - Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) "There are no facts, only interpretations." - Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sin


The 2009 film `Inglourious Basterds' is set during which conflict?

Inglourious Basterds (2009) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error From $9.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON TV ON DISC ALL In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner's vengeful plans for the same. Directors: a list of 25 titles created 03 Mar 2012 a list of 22 titles created 17 Oct 2013 a list of 28 titles created 10 Aug 2014 a list of 49 titles created 15 Oct 2015 a list of 24 titles created 10 months ago Search for " Inglourious Basterds " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Won     1     Oscar. Another    124 wins & 153 nominations. See more awards  » Videos With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Director: Quentin Tarantino The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption. Director: Quentin Tarantino An insomniac office worker, looking for a way to change his life, crosses paths with a devil-may-care soap maker, forming an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more. Director: David Fincher After a simple jewelry heist goes terribly wrong, the surviving criminals begin to suspect that one of them is a police informant. Director: Quentin Tarantino Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort , from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Director: Martin Scorsese A thief, who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology, is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO. Director: Christopher Nolan The Bride wakens from a four-year coma. The child she carried in her womb is gone. Now she must wreak vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her - a team she was once part of. Director: Quentin Tarantino Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. Director: David Fincher Forrest Gump, while not intelligent, has accidentally been present at many historic moments, but his true love, Jenny Curran, eludes him. Director: Robert Zemeckis A computer hacker learns from mysterious rebels about the true nature of his reality and his role in the war against its controllers. Directors: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8.5/10 X   Eight years after the Joker's reign of anarchy, the Dark Knight, with the help of the enigmatic Selina, is forced from his imposed exile to save Gotham City, now on the edge of total annihilation, from the brutal guerrilla terrorist Bane. Director: Christopher Nolan When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, the caped crusader must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice. Director: Christopher Nolan Edit Storyline In German-occupied France, young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the slaughter of her family by Colonel Hans Landa. Narrowly escaping with her life, she plots her revenge several years later when German war hero Fredrick Zoller takes a rapid interest in her and arranges an illustrious movie premiere at the theater she now runs. With the promise of every major Nazi officer in attendance, the event catches the attention of the "Basterds", a group of Jewish-American guerrilla soldiers led by the ruthless Lt. Aldo Raine. As the relentless executioners advance and the conspiring young girl's plans are set in motion, their paths will cross for a fateful evening that will shake the very annals of history. Written by


Who is the BP Chief Executive recently quizzed by the US Congress?

US congress to question BP chairman and chief executive over oil spill | Environment | The Guardian US congress to question BP chairman and chief executive over oil spill Carl-Henric Svanberg and Tony Hayward face 35-member committee as row over Gulf of Mexico crisis escalates The BP chief executive, Tony Hayward, faces a congressional committee tomorrow. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters Andrew Clark in New York Wednesday 16 June 2010 14.35 EDT First published on Wednesday 16 June 2010 14.35 EDT Share on Messenger Close The ritual flogging will shortly commence. After intensive coaching in crisis communications, BP's chairman and chief executive will face hostile questioning tomorrow from 35 members of a congressional committee about the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP's low-profile Swedish chairman, Carl-Henric Svanberg, and much-maligned chief executive, Tony Hayward, would be well-advised to adopt a supine posture according to experts, who say that such hearings are more of a theatrical forum than a true attempt to extract fresh information. "They've just got to sit there and take it," said Dan McGinn, a communications adviser at TMG Strategies who has coached business bosses for similar hearings. "They've got to express deep regret and genuine humility. Hayward needs to say he accepts responsibility, that this happened on his watch." Trying to deflect any portion of blame onto other companies would only inflame political anger, as would any public quibbling over the $20bn likely to be set aside for a clean-up. But the examination requires a tricky balancing. Svanberg and Hayward also need to look in command of the situation to avoid any further erosion of confidence among investors. "I would tell him [Hayward] that this isn't about you – you're a prop," said McGinn. "The theatrics, the setup – if you're looking for deep substance, forget it. They'll just want to pummel and hit BP , to demonstrate to the public and to their districts that they're tough." Members of the congressional subcommittee on energy and environment include Henry Waxman, a notoriously combative Californian who once confronted Lehman Brothers's boss Dick Fuld with the robust question: "Your company is bankrupt. You keep $480m. Is that fair?" Two Louisiana congressmen, Charlie Melancon and Steve Scalise, are likely to be particularly severe, given the environmental damage to the beaches of their home state. US cable news networks have been urging the White House to be angrier towards BP and thehearing, which could go on for much of the day, is the biggest opportunity so far for a showdown. Carl Messineo, organiser of a "seize BP" campaign that calls for the company's assets to be ringfenced, said he wanted to see Svanberg and Hayward brought to book for their "lies" in understating the size of the spill, which has risen from early estimates of 5,000 barrels per day to as much as 60,000. "I would want to know why they misled the public," said Messineo. "I would like Hayward to explain to the people of the Gulf coast directly why they [can't] feed their families this week and why they [can't] make their rent payments." Congress has a history of coming down hard on the bosses of scandal-hit companies. In 1994, the heads of America's leading tobacco companies were dubbed the "seven dwarfs" as they told aghast lawmakers, under oath, that they did not consider nicotine to be addictive. Two years ago, the heads of General Motors and Chrysler were pilloried by congressmen for flying to Washington on corporate jets to plead for a taxpayer-funded bailout. More recently, Goldman Sachs's chief executive, Lloyd Blankfein, was obliged to explain why his employees had dubbed a contentious mortgage transaction as a "shitty deal" in an embarrassing internal email. Charles Maxwell, an oil analyst at stockbroker Weeden & Co, said BP's chief executive should expect no sympathy in Congress: "They're going to pillory BP because they have to take Tony [Hayward] down to get their political agenda accepted." Questions for Hayward Did you cut costs and


Which English county borders only one other county?

Counties of England Counties in England Exploring the counties of England with history and pictures. The history of the counties of England dates back to early Anglo-Saxon times when âshiresâ were first formed as a way of raising taxes and when the nation of England was first created. These Anglo-Saxon shires usually had a fortified town at the centre, known back then as the âshire townâ. The word âCountyâ came later, being first introduced by the Normans when they conquered England back in 1066 and has its origins in French, simply meaning a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a âCountâ. The words âcountyâ and âcountiesâ therefore are derived from French (from the Normans) but most of the county names themselves still kept (and retain today) their original Anglo-Saxon names, such as âWorcestershireâ or âBedfordshireâ which is simply the name of the shire or county town, with the suffix of shire. There are other counties however that got their name differently, such as Cornwall, and Devon, both of which take their names from the Celtic tribes that inhabited the regions, such as the âCornoviiâ in Cornwall . Other exceptions include todays Kent, which derives from the Kingdom of Kent, and Sussex (both East and West) and Essex. These names derive from the East Saxons (Essex) and the South Saxons (Sussex). The county names of Norfolk and Suffolk, derive from the âNorth Folkâ and âSouth Folkâ of the ancient Kingdom of East Anglia. Each county link below will take you to the main county page where we list all the wonderful historic towns, villages and attractions that each county has to offer. You will also find a Picture Tour for each county, offering a diverse selection of the wonderful towns, attractions and varying landscapes. We hope you enjoy viewing the beautiful counties of England..


Beaune, Nuits St George and Chambertin are wines from which French wine region?

Touring Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée & Gevrey | Burgundy Eye Touring Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée & Gevrey By Magali Trinquart Wine tours Burgundy, wine tasting Nuits-Saint-Georges In the heart of the Côte d’Or region of Burgundy, in the vicinity of Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin you can set off to discover the world of the great wines of Burgundy, wine tastings and cellar visits await you to uncover these Burgundian delicacies. Do not hesitate in visiting estates, vineyards or cellars as part of an organised excursion or independently. You are advised to make a reservation in advance for all wine tastings and cellar visits. Cellar visits Burgundy: Nuits-Saint-Georges, Vosne-Romanée, Gevrey-Chambertin The Domaine de Montmain, at the Château de Villars Fontaine (Villars-Fontaine), 4km from Nuits-Saint-Georges, as it is today was created by Bernard Hudelot. There are 23 hectares under cultivation with about 40% devoted to white wine and 60% to red. Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Rouge and Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Blanc. You can enjoy tasting the wines with the owner at the domaine in the beautiful 15th century cellar. Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 12noon and then from 1.30pm to 6pm, Saturdays by appointment only, closed on Sundays. Located in the heart of Burgundy, Tours & Détours (Gevrey-Chambertin) is an upmarket travel agency specialising in the organisation of trips for business groups. Bringing together professionals form various backgrounds - tourism, wine, communication, history - who all share a common passion for the Burgundy region. Thanks to Tours & Détours’ connections with the wine industry, you will benefit from the agency’s knowledge of Burgundy and its historical sites, of its wines, and from the excellent ties the team has developed over the years with local winemakers. Tours & Détours offers up-scale, all-inclusive seminars tailored to suit its clients’ needs. Sandquist Europe is a boutique travel company that provides custom travel services for English speakers visiting Europe. Their experience in active and incentive travel has provided them the skill set and the contacts to organize unique and exhilarating programs. Ever since its creation in 1822, Maison Morin Père & Fils (Nuits-Saint-Georges) has maintained the Burgundian tradition and worked to promote the wines of Burgundy in France and the rest of the world. Every year, it receives over 30,000 visitors in its 18th century cellars and introduces them to know-how that is almost 200 years old. Today, Maison Morin Père & Fils is a grower and merchant of the finest Burgundian wines in the town of Nuits-Saint-Georges. The Maison Morin is also renowned for its Marc de Bourgogne, always aged in oak barrels to develop its full potential. Burgundy wines, tastings and vineyard tours Since 1896, the Rion family at the Domaine Armelle et Bernard Rion (Vosne-Romanée) has been working vines. From generation to generation, tradition and knowledge have been passed down. Bernard Rion and his wife Armelle have been managing the vineyard since 1981. After studies in viticulture and winemaking, their daughter Alice joined them in 2006. Armelle and Bernard invite you to share their passion for vintage the wines of Burgundy but also for Burgundy truffles. Through their cellar visits they will speak to you about the work of the vines and the development of the wines. Visits in French or in English. Rates from €7, tasting and visit of the estate. Pierre Bourée Fils (Gevrey-Chambertin), just south of Dijon in the in Côte d’Or. The Pierre Bourée Fils house harvests and produces wine and also buys grapes and musts to make their fine wines. Harvesting and wine making processes follow natural procedures so as to preserve the grapes as much as possible. In addition to being an owner, wine merchant and producer, Pierre Bourée Fils also offers guided wine tastings, carried out in unique and entertaining style, called La Table de Pierre Bourée . The Table de Pierre Bourée is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.


In a 2010 film Percy Jackson is the son of which Greek God?

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - streaming as Gabe Ugliano Synopsis Accident prone teenager, Percy discovers he's actually a demi-God, the son of Poseidon, and he is needed when Zeus' lightning is stolen. Percy must master his new found skills in order to prevent a war between the Gods that could devastate the entire world. Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief - watch online: streaming, buy or rent You can buy "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" on PlayStation, Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store as download or rent it on PlayStation, Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store online.


Who directed the 2005 Oscar winning film 'Million Dollar Baby'?

'Million Dollar Baby' Wins Best Picture Oscar | Fox News 'Million Dollar Baby' Wins Best Picture Oscar Published        February 28, 2005 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 Email Print LOS ANGELES –  It was a 'Million Dollar' night. Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" ( search ) won the Oscar for best picture Sunday night, beating its major competitor, "The Aviator." The emotional movie about a female boxer and her coach also took three other trophies, including honors for director Eastwood, lead-actress Hilary Swank ( search ) and supporting-actor Morgan Freeman ( search ). "I'm just a kid -- I've got a lot of stuff to do yet," a beaming Eastwood said after taking the director prize. Fast Facts: Complete List of Oscar Winners Eastwood, who at 74 became the oldest directing winner ever, noted his mother was with him when his Western "Unforgiven" won the 1992 best-picture and directing Oscar. "She's here with me again tonight, so at 96, I'm thanking her for her genes," Eastwood said. Martin Scorsese ( search ), director of "The Aviator" and one of American cinema's most esteemed filmmakers, lost to Eastwood in the directing category. Losing for the fifth time Sunday night, Scorsese matched the record of Oscar futility held by a handful of legendary filmmakers such as Alfred Hitchcock and Robert Altman, who also went 0-for-5 in the directing category. "The Aviator" had led contenders with 11 nominations. It came away with the most Oscars, its five awards including the supporting-actress prize for Cate Blanchett ( search ). The award for best actress went to Swank for "Million Dollar Baby." "I'm just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream," Swank said, looking the part in an elegant deep-blue backless gown. Swank, who won the best-actress Oscar five years ago for "Boys Don't Cry," once again beat out main rival Annette Bening, nominated for the theater farce "Being Julia." Bening had been the front-runner for "American Beauty" five years ago but lost to underdog Swank. Swank joined Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Sally Field and Luise Rainer as the only actresses with a perfect track record at the Oscars: Two nominations and two wins. The Oscar for best actor went to Jamie Foxx ( search ) for "Ray." Foxx was considered a shoo-in for the award, due to his uncanny performance as late music legend Ray Charles. The wins by Freeman and Foxx followed Denzel Washington and Halle Berry's triumph three years ago for "Training Day" and "Monster's Ball," the only other time blacks claimed two acting Oscars. Renee Zellweger, last year's best supporting actress for "Cold Mountain," presented the best supporting actor award, which went to Freeman for "Million Dollar Baby." It was his first Oscar. Freeman thanked director Eastwood and star Swank, saying the emotional boxing movie was "a labor of love." Freeman was the favorite for that award, though Thomas Haden Church of "Sideways" and Clive Owen of "Closer" offered strong competition. Tim Robbins, last year's best supporting actor for "Mystic River," presented the award for best supporting actress, which went to Blanchett for "The Aviator." "This is an indescribable surprise and honor," said the actress, who was praised for her impression of Howard Hughes' lover Katharine Hepburn. It was her first Oscar. Blanchett was the favorite for supporting actress, but Virginia Madsen of "Sideways" and Natalie Portman of the sex drama "Closer" offered strong competition. Comedian Chris Rock ( search ) started off the Oscars with a swear word ("Sit your asses down!") and continued with a series of funny but insulting jokes that took aim at everyone from Nicole Kidman to Tobey Maguire to President Bush. "The only acting you ever see at the Oscars is when people act like they're not mad they lost," Rock said. He recalled the year when Berry won and fellow nominee "Nicole Kidman was smiling so wide, she should have won an Emmy at the Oscars for her great performance. I was like, if you'd done that in the movie, you'd have won an Oscar, girl." The superhero action comedy "The Incredibles" won the animated-f


By population, what is the second largest city in Belgium?

Belgium Belgium COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. Belgium is a nation located in Western Europe. It is between the     Netherlands to the north, Germany and Luxembourg to the east, France to     the south, and the North Sea to the west. Belgium is about the size of     Maryland, has an area of 30,510 square kilometers (11,780 square miles)     and includes 280 square kilometers (108 square miles) of inland     waterways. It has 66 kilometers (41 miles) of coastline and its borders     total 1,385 kilometers (861 miles). Belgium shares 620 kilometers (385     miles) with France, 167 kilometers (103 miles) with Germany, 148     kilometers (92 miles) with Luxembourg, and 450 kilometers (280 miles)     with the Netherlands. The nation also claims an exclusive fishing zone     that extends 68 kilometers (42 miles) into the North Sea. Belgium is the     traditional crossroads of Europe and its capital, Brussels, also serves     as the capital of the European Union (EU). Brussels also serves as the     headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the     Western European Union (WEU). Brussels is located in the middle of the     country and has a population of 954,460. It is one of the largest cities     in Belgium. In contrast, Antwerp, Belgium's second largest city     has a population of 447,632 and is located in the northern area of the     nation. Lastly, Ghent, Belgium's third largest city has a     population of 224,074 and is in the northwest. POPULATION. In July 2000, it was estimated that Belgium had a population of     10,241,506. The population growth rate is estimated at a low 0.18     percent. The fertility rate is estimated at 1.61 children born per woman     and the birth rate consists of 10.91 births per 1,000 people. The death     rate is 10.13 deaths per 1,000. Like many advanced industrialized countries, Belgium's population     is aging and 16 percent of the inhabitants are over the age of 65, while     only 18 percent are between the ages of 0 and 14. The life expectancy     for men is 74.47 years and 81.3 years for women. A majority of Belgians     now live in urban areas and, as people from both the rural areas and     immigrants settle in the cities, this trend is growing rapidly. The     population density of Belgium is second only to the Netherlands in     Europe. The nation has 3 major ethnic communities: the Flemish, the Walloons,     and the German-speakers. The Flemish make up about 58 percent of the     population and speak a form of Dutch known as Flemish. The Flemish are     concentrated in the northern regions of the nation. The Walloons speak     French and mainly live in the southern areas of Belgium. About 31     percent of Belgians are Walloons. German-speakers are the third major     group and they mainly reside in the east around the city of Liege.     German-speakers comprise about 1 percent of the population. There are     also numerous other ethnic minority groups in the country. Brussels     alone has 19 different bilingual communities. Many of these other groups are from North Africa     and the Middle East, particularly Turkey. There is also a significant     Italian population. Since World War II, higher birth rates among the     nation's foreign-born population have increased faster than that     of native Belgians. The majority of new immigrants from the     Mediterranean region tend to settle in the industrial areas of the     Walloons—Brussels and Antwerp. There is a low migration rate of     0.98 per 1,000. Although a small number of recent Belgium immigrants     return to their countries of origin each year, most emigrants go to     nations within the EU or the United States. Conflicts between the Flemish and the Walloons have traditionally     divided Belgian society. Throughout most of the 19th and early 20th     centuries, the French-speaking population


What is the capital of the French region of Brittany?

Brittany - tourist attractions, accommodation and regional guide. Regions of France  ›  Brittany       Brittany, lying in the northwest corner of France, is one of the great historic provinces of France. The most Atlantic of France's regions, Brittany is proud of its Celtic heritage, that sets it apart from the rest of France. It it enjoys a mild climate somewhat warmer though not necessarily drier than the climate of the southwest of England.  Brittany - travel guide and tourist attractions Saint Malo - walled city   More information The name " Brittany" derives from the Britons who, back in the dark ages, came south across the English Channel to seek refuge from the Anglo Saxon invaders who were pushing them out of a large part of the island of Great Britain.     In this historic past, other Britons fled  to the west and south west of their own island, to Wales and Cornwall; and so it is that today, Brittany shares a historic culture with the other Celtic regions of northwest Europe.    Today, the French administrative region of Brittany covers four "departments", the Côtes d'Armor (22) in the north, Finistère (29) in the far west, Morbihan (56) in the south, and Ille et Vilaine (35) in the east, bordering on Normandy and the Loire valley area. Another department used to belong to the historic province of Brittany, and this was the Loire Atlantique (44), the area round the city of Nantes which used once to be the Breton capital, but is today no longer in the region.      The capital city of the modern Brittany region is Rennes, located in the central eastern part of the region; most of the major lines of communication between Brittany and Paris pass through Rennes, which is a large industrial and university city. Other important cities in the region are Brest, one of the two most important French naval ports, St Malo, an imposing walled city on the north coast, and Vannes, the capital of the Morbihan, with an atractive old town centre. Quimper, the capital of the Finistère, and St. Brieuc, the capital of the Côtes d'Armor, are less important. Lorient, in the Morbihan, was once a major shipping port trading with - as its name suggests - the Orient; but its shipping and ship-building industries have largely declined, and like other ports on the south coast of Brittany, is better known today for its yachting and yacht-building industry. It is also the venue for Brittany's annual Interceltiques music and culture festival. Prehistoric megaliths at Carnac    Despite its limited size, Brittany is quite a diverse region; the north and west coasts, open to the force of the North Atlantic, are rugged and rocky, with beautiful sandy coves and beaches. The south coast, facing onto the Bay of Biscay, is flatter, much milder, and graced by a number of large sandy beaches. There are also a lot of inlets on the south coast, such as La Trinité sur Mer, which in the past have been ports and commercial harbours, but today are more popular with yachtsmen and a dwindling fishing industry. The sea here is warmer in summer. The backbone of Brittany is a granite ridge stretching from east to west, peaking in the Monts d'Arrée. But most of inland Brittany is gentle farming country, a region famous for its milk and butter and its early crops.     As a holiday region, it is of course Brittany's coasts that attract the greatest number of visitors; the inland regions are on the whole quite tranquil and for this reason have attracted a lot of second-home owners from other parts of France, and from Britain.       In cultural terms, Brittany is very distinctive, with its own language and Celtic cultural tradition that set it apart from the rest of France. The Breton language, though not much used in everyday life, and not understood by most of the modern population, has made a comeback in recent years, and is taught in a lot of schools. Celtic traditions are alive or recalled today in Breton folk music, its Celtic festivals, and its many prehistoric monuments Reaching Brittany:


Aberdeen International Airport homepage Ski escapes from Aberdeen Airport Hit the slopes this winter with a variety of direct routes from Aberdeen! Win a hotel stay Win a stay for 2 at the Norwood Hall Hotel, Aberdeen How many bedrooms does Norwood Hall Hotel have? 57


What's the birthstone for September? | Earth | EarthSky What’s the birthstone for September? By EarthSky in Earth | September 1, 2015 September’s birthstone, the sapphire, was said to represent the purity of the soul. The sapphire, birthstone for September, is a relative of July’s birthstone, ruby. Like ruby, it is a form of the mineral corundum, a normally drab grey mineral. Red corundum is called the ruby, while all other gem quality forms of corundum are called sapphires. Typically, sapphires appear as blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure. The most valued shade of blue is the medium-deep cornflower blue. Sapphires also occur in other natural colors and tints – colorless, gray, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, violet and brown – called fancy sapphires. These different colors are caused by different kinds of impurities within the crystal. For example, yellow sapphires get their color from ferric iron, and colorless gems have no contaminants. The Logan Sapphire Brooch, the second largest sapphire known (at 422.99 carats), is on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Image Credit: Andrew Bossi The biggest source of sapphires world-wide is Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland. Found in alluvial deposits of weathered basalt, Australian sapphires typically are blue stones with a dark and inky appearance. Kashmir, in India, used to be a well-known source of the cornflower-blue stones. In the United States, a major source is the Yogo Gulch Mine in Montana that mostly yields small stones for industrial use. The word sapphire has its roots in several ancient languages: the Arabic safir, the Latin sapphirus (meaning blue), and the Greek word sappheiros for the island of Sappherine in the Arabian Sea where sapphires were found in ancient Grecian times. Ancient Persians called sapphire the “Celestial Stone.” It was the gem of Apollo, Greek God of prophesy and was worn by worshipers visiting his shrine in Delphi to seek his help. It was used by ancient Etruscans as far back as the 7th century B.C. The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. It was believed that the stone’s color would darken if worn by an adulterer or adulteress, or by an unworthy person. Sapphires were once believed to be protection against snakes. It was said that if poisonous reptiles and spiders were placed in a jar containing the stone, the creatures would immediately die. The French of the 13th century believed that sapphire transformed stupidity to wisdom, and irritability to good temper. One of the most famous sapphires rests on the Imperial State Crown, worn by Queen Victoria in 1838. It resides in the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This gem is called the St. Edward’s Sapphire because it once belonged to Edward the Confessor, who wore the stone on a ring during his coronation in 1042. Find out about the birthstones for the other months of the year:


Which Shakespeare play takes place in the city of Messina, Sicily?

Was Shakespeare Sicilian? Crollalanza...? - Times of Sicily March 1, 2012 by Giovanni Morreale 19 Comments Speculation: Was Shakespeare Italian? Was he born in Sicily? This thought has perplexed many people, especially in England. It’s generated the same indignation that it would cause us to hear an allegation that Pirandello was a foreigner who had moved to Agrigento. Over the centuries, scholars have been puzzled by Shakespeare’s profound knowledge of Italian. Shakespeare possessed an impressive familiarity with stories written by Italian authors such as Giovanni Boccaccio, Matteo Bandello, and Masuccio Salernitano. His plays contain too many accurate details about esoteric affairs in distant places, at courts, to have been written by someone “of low social standing such as Shakespeare”. Fifteen out of thirty seven Shakespearean plays are set in Italy, which is quite amazing if one thinks that Shakespeare never set foot abroad. He never mentions Stratford in his plays, for instance, while his knowledge of Italian toponomy, art, ways of living, laws, history and traditions are things that everyone can verify by reading his plays. In an attempt to solve the mystery of Shakespeare’s Italian leanings, one former teacher of literature has published a new hypothesis especially for people eager to hear something new about the bard. First of all, we all agree with Prof. Juvara when he says that it is the substance of Shakespeare’s plays and its heritage that really counts and it belongs to humanity in the first place. After all, nationalities are social conventions. In his book “Shakespeare era italiano” (2002), retired Sicilian professor Martino Iuvara claims that Shakespeare was, in fact, not English at all, but Sicilian. His conclusion is drawn from research carried out from 1925 to 1950 by two professors at Palermo University. Iuvara posits that Shakespeare was born not in Stratford in April 1564, as is commonly believed, but in Messina as Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza. His parents were not John Shakespeare and Mary Arden, but were Dr. Giovanni Florio, and Guglielma Crollalanza, a Sicilian noblewoman. Crollalanza, literally Crolla (Shake) lancia (Speare) according to Iuvara studied abroad and was educated by Franciscan monks who taught him Latin, Greek, and history. Because of their Calvinist beliefs, Michelangelo Florio’s family was persecuted by the Inquisition (Messina was then under the Spanish yoke) for alleged Calvinist propaganda. It seems that Giovanni Florio had published some sort of invective against Rome and the Church. The family supposedly departed Italy during the Holy Inquisition and moved to London. It was in London that Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza decided to change his name to its English equivalent. Iuvara’s evidence includes a play written by Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza in Sicilian dialect. The play’s name is “Tanto traffico per Niente”, which can be translated into Much traffic for Nothing or Much Ado About Nothing. He also mentions a book of sayings written by a writer, one Michelangelo Crollalanza, in the sixteenth century Calvinist Northern Italy. Some of the sayings correspond to lines in Hamlet. Michelangelo’s father, Giovanni Florio, once owned a home called “Casa Otello”, built by a retired Venetian known as Otello who, in a jealous rage, murdered his wife. In Milan, according to documents found by prof. Iuvara, Michelangelo falls in love with a 16-year-old countess belonging to the Milanese aristocracy, Giulietta. The girl’s family opposed their love, so the girl is sent to Verona (…) under the protection of the city governor. When Michelangelo reaches her there, he learns that the girl has committed suicide because of the sexual harassment of the governor, a fervent anticalvinist, who accuses Michelangelo of having murdered the girl. After Giulietta’s death, Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza decided to flee Italy because the inquisitors had already murdered his father. We must admit that the similarities between Michelangelo Florio Crollalanza and Shakespeare are intriguing… This post


Which group from Teignmouth has issued albums 'Black Holes & Revelations' and 'The Resistance'

Muse | New Music And Songs | Muse About Muse Muse's fusion of progressive rock, electronica, and Radiohead-influenced experimentation have helped them sell millions of records and top charts worldwide. It's all crafted by guitarist/vocalist Matthew Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme, and drummer Dominic Howard, a trio of friends who began playing music together in their hometown of Teignmouth, Devon; they started the first incarnation of the band at the age of 13, changing the name of the group from Gothic Plague to Fixed Penalty to Rocket Baby Dolls as time passed. By 1997, the bandmates settled on the name Muse and released their self-titled debut EP on Dangerous Records, followed by the Muscle Museum EP in 1998. The group's emotive, passionate sound and live presence drew critical acclaim and industry buzz, and Muse signed a deal with Maverick Records after a trip to New York's CMJ festival. The singles "Cave" and "Uno" preceded their debut full-length album, Showbiz, which was released toward the end of 1999. Two years later, Muse issued Origin of Symmetry and had a major hit with "Hyper Music," which helped propel the album to platinum status in the U.K. In 2002, fans were treated to Hullabaloo Soundtrack, a combination rarities/live set that peaked at number ten in Europe. Muse then returned with a proper studio effort, Absolution, which became the band's first album to chart in America. A short North American tour in the spring of 2004 coincided with Muse's spot on the fifth annual Coachella Music and Arts Festival, and Absolution eventually went gold in the U.S. Back at home, the album earned Muse their second platinum certification. Released in 2006, Black Holes & Revelations marked the band's brightest, most dynamic set of material to date, topping the U.K. album chart within its first week and earning Muse their second consecutive number one album at home. In America, the album broke into the Top Ten. Muse toured Europe, America, Australia, and Southeast Asia in support of Black Holes & Revelations, and their dynamic stage performance won the band multiple awards for Best Live Act, including accolades from the NME Awards, the Q Awards, and the Vodafone Live Music Awards. (It was also captured on 2008's H.A.A.R.P. Live from Wembley.) The trio spent the remainder of 2008, as well as the early part of 2009, in the recording studio, eventually emerging with The Resistance in September. Reviews were very positive, and the album hit number one in more than a dozen countries. The band soon kicked off a world tour, headlining shows as well as supporting U2. In 2011, Bellamy and company were asked to write the official theme for the 2012 Summer Olympics, which were being held in London, and the band returned with the triumphant rock anthem "Survival." The song also became the lead single of their next album, 2012's The 2nd Law. The road-hungry band undertook another large-scale tour to promote The 2nd Law, and their spectacular show at Rome's Olympic Stadium -- complete with pyrotechnics, video walls, and acrobats -- was filmed in ultra-high definition for the concert movie Live at Rome Olympic Stadium, which was slated for release theatrically in December 2013. In early March 2015, the band dropped "Dead Inside," the first single from their seventh studio long-player Drones, which arrived in June. It was their fifth consecutive U.K. number one album and their first release to top the U.S. charts. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi


Which French Football Ligue 1 team's name includes the title Girondins?

Sports Events 365 | French Ligue 1 tickets | Buy tickets for French Ligue 1 Fixtures - Sports Events 365 French Ligue 1 French Ligue 1 The French League (Formally Ligue 1) is the top football league in France. It was founded in 1932, originally under the name National. The league’s most successful club is Saint-Étienne who has won the trophy 10 times, although the most recent of which was in 1981. Many of the world’s greatest players have played in the French league before moving on to other European giants. Thierry Henry started his career at AS Monaco, which was then managed by Arsene Wenger. Henry made 105 league appearances for the club. Zinedine Zidane played for Cannes and Girondins de Bordeaux before joining Juventus while Ronaldinho made his name at Paris Saint-Germain before moving to FC Barcelona. 4 French teams have made it to the final of the European Cup and the Champions League. Stade de Reims in 1959, Saint Etienne in 1976, Marseille in 1991 and AS Monaco in 2004. But so far, no French team has won the title. Olympique Lyonnais (Also known as Lyon) which dominated Ligue 1 in the 2000s, won the league title 7 consecutive times between 2002 and 2008 and firmly established itself as Ligue 1’s top club, ahead of Olympique Marseille and Bordeaux. More recently, however, there are two new powerhouses in French football. Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco have been granted huge budgets by big-money owners which allowed them to invest heavily in world class talents. The signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Edinson Cavani and David Luis have transformed Paris Saint-Germain into a European giant, competing for the UEFA Champions League title and reaching steadily the quarter finals. In the local Ligue 1, PSG is the title holder for the second consecutive time. AS Monaco’s transition is still ongoing. This year might be a 'financial year' after selling James Rodriguez to Real Madrid and loaning Radamel Falcao to Manchester United. Still, AS Monaco has Dimitar Berbatov and João Moutinho and could be a contender for the higher positions in the league. Other stand out performers currently playing in Ligue 1 include Saint Etienne’s Loic Perrin, Montpellier’s Remy Cabella and Toulouse’s young, versatile defender, Serge Aurier. The biggest win in Ligue 1 history was Sochaux’ 12-1 win over Valenciennes in the 1935-36 season. Goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau has made the most appearances in Ligue 1 history with over 600, and is still currently playing for Bastia. Delio Onnis is the highest goal scorer in the competition’s history with 299 for AS Monaco. Since 2006 SportsEvents365 is proud to be the most reliable ticket broker in the market with our "Supply Guarantee" policy. Every order is handled by one of our sales representative to ensure the best customer care possible. Don't wait! Buy your Ligue 1 tickets today from SportsEvents365. Our variety of Ligue 1 tickets feature no hidden fees.


Born in Chavaniac in France which general fought alongside General Washington in the American revolutionary war of 1776 - 1783?

Marquis De Lafayette Biography - American Revolution Updated August 29, 2016. Marquis de Lafayette - Early Life: Born September 6, 1757, at Chavaniac, France, Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette was the son of Michel du Motier and Marie de La Rivière. A colonel in the French Army, Michel was killed at the Battle of Minden in August 1759. Raised by his mother and grandparents, the young marquis was sent to Paris for education at the Collège du Plessis and the Versailles Academy. Gaining military training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Musketeers of the Guard on April 9, 1771. Three years later he married Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles on April 11, 1774. Through Adrienne's dowry he received a promotion to captain in the Noailles Dragoons Regiment. While training at Metz in 1775, Lafayette met the Comte de Broglie, commander of the Army of the East. Taking a liking to the young man, de Broglie invited him to join the Freemasons. Through his affiliation in this group, Lafayette learned of the tensions between Britain and its American colonies. By participating in the Freemasons and other "thinking groups" in Paris, Lafayette became an advocate for the rights of man and the abolition of slavery. Marquis de Lafayette - Coming to America: In December 1776, with the American Revolution raging, Lafayette met with American agent Silas Deane and accepted an offer to enter American service as a major general. Learning of this, his father-in-law, who did not approve, had Lafayette assigned to Britain. During a brief posting in London, he met several future antagonists including Major General Sir Henry Clinton . Returning to France, he obtained aid from de Broglie and Johann de Kalb to advance his American ambitions. Though forbidden by King Louis XVI to go, Lafayette purchased a ship, evaded efforts to detain him, and put to sea on April 20, 1777. Landing near Georgetown, SC on June 13, Lafayette briefly stayed with Major Benjamin Huger before proceeding to Philadelphia. Arriving, Congress initially rebuffed him as they were tired of Deane sending "French glory seekers." After offering to serve without pay, Lafayette received his commission but it was dated July 31, 1777, rather than the date of his agreement with Deane and he was not assigned a unit. For these reasons, he nearly returned home, however Benjamin Franklin dispatched a letter to General George Washington asking the American commander to accept the young Frenchman as an aide-de-camp. Marquis de Lafayette - American Revolution: Accepted onto Washington's staff, Lafayette first saw action at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Outflanked by the British, Washington allowed Lafayette to join Major General John Sullivan 's men. While attempting to rally the Third Pennsylvania Brigade, Lafayette was wounded in the leg, but did not seek treatment until an orderly retreat was organized. For his actions, Washington cited him for bravery and recommended him for divisional command. Recovering, he was given Major General Adam Stephen's division and saw action in New Jersey with Major General Nathanael Greene . Rejoining the army at Valley Forge , Lafayette was asked by the War Board to proceed to Albany to organize an invasion of Canada. Before leaving, Lafayette alerted Washington about his suspicions regarding Brigadier General Thomas Conway's efforts to have him removed from command of the army. Arriving at Albany, he found that there were too few men present for an invasion and after negotiating an alliance with the Oneidas he returned to Valley Forge . In May 1778, Washington dispatched Lafayette with 2,200 men to ascertain British intentions outside Philadelphia. Aware of Lafayette's presence, the British marched out of the city with 5,000 men in an effort to capture him. In the resulting Battle of Barren Hill, Lafayette was skillfully able to extract his command and rejoin Washington. The following month, he saw action at the Battle of Monmouth as Washington attempted to attack Clinton as he withdrew to New York. In July, Greene and L


Hobgoblin, Fidler's Elbow and Goliath are brewed by which brewer based at Witney in Oxfordshire?

Wychwood (Marstonï¿½s), Witney, Oxfordshire, England | RateBeer | wychwood.co.uk | [email protected] Wychwood was founded in 1983 in Witney by Paddy Glenny in the maltings of Clinchï¿½s Brewery. Originally called the Eagle Brewery, then Glenny Brewery, the name changed to Wychwood in 1990 after the success of Hobgoblin beer, first brewed in 1988. The company was taken over by Refresh UK in 2002, who then moved production of Brakspear beers to the site with a different kit. In March 2008 Refresh UK were taken over by Marstonï¿½s.


St. Olaf of Norway - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online St. Olaf of Norway Author and Publisher - Catholic Online Facts Patron of carvers; difficult marriage; kings; Norway, Faroe Islands, �land Birth: 995 Take the Saints Trivia Quiz now! King of Norway and a martyr, also called Olaf Haraldsson. The son of King Harald Grenske of Norway, he spent most of his youth as a Norse raider until 1010 when he was baptized at Rouen. In 1013, he journeyed to England and offered his services to King Ethelred against the invading Danes. Returning home in 1015 after succeeding to the throne, he embarked upon a war to free Norway from the domination of the Danes and the Swedes, defeating Earl Sweyn at Nesje in 1016. He also immediately requested that missionaries be sent from England to advance the Christianization of Norway. Owing to the harsh nature of his rule, he faced a rebellion of nobles in 1029. Through the aid of the formidable King Canute of Denmark, the rebels overthrew him and drove him into exile in Russia. Olaf returned in 1031 but was slain in battle at Stiklestad, Norway, on July 29. While neither popular nor considered especially holy during his lifetime, Olaf was soon revered after death owing to reports of miracles occurring at his tomb. He was greatly respected as a champion of Norwegain independence, and his shrine became the foundation of the cathedral of Trondheim, which was a popular place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. He is the patron of Norway, and was canonized in 1164.


Who wrote the songs and music for Easter Parade?

Fred Astaire "Easter Parade" Sheet Music in Bb Major (transposable) - Download & Print - SKU: MN0090829 Irving Berlin - Ballads - 2nd Edition Irving Berlin - Piano Play-Along Volume 42 More of the Best Songs Ever - 3rd Edition Still More Songs of the 1930's The Definitive Movie Collection - 3rd Edition Ultimate Movie Music - 2nd Edition Displaying All Reviews (2) In order to write a review on digital sheet music         you must first have purchased the item. Geneva_Messex


Name the Nigerian boxer who boxed in Liverpool from 1951, became the World Featherweight champion in Paris, in June 1957 stopping Cherif Hamia.

Africa’s Kid crowned king - SuperSport - Boxing Africa’s Kid crowned king 05 November 2013, 14:44 Tweet When Hogan "Kid" Bassey won the world featherweight title in 1957 he caused a sensation. More than half a century later, Bassey is still remembered and revered as the first Nigerian to become a world boxing champion. And the story of his career is still one of the most enduring in African sport. In the first article of a new series on SuperBoxing, we look back on the career of one of Africa’s finest fighters. The articles, all written by RON JACKSON, have appeared in Sports Talk on SuperBoxing. Boxing enthusiasts can collect them as part of a treasure chest of charming stories and valuable information. Bassey won the title in Paris on June 24 1957 when he stopped Cherif Hamia in the tenth round. It was the culmination of a journey that began in a village called Ufok Ubet in Eastern Nigeria, where Bassey was born on June 3 1932. The village was near Creek Town in an area called Calabar where Bassey had to help with the work on the family's small farm when he was still a little boy in a poor family. He soon learned to fight when he was sent to fetch water from as communal tap where there were always bullies trying to jump the queue. Fighting them off brought out a natural talent – the ability to use his fists. He was eleven years old when he was sent to live with an aunt in Lagos. That was where he began boxing at a local club. He was 16 when, in his first professional fight, he challenged for the Nigerian flyweight title. He eventually won the title when he defeated Dick Turpin over 12 rounds in 1949. Soon afterwards he won the Nigerian bantamweight title when he defeated Steve Jeffra. There was little money to be made by boxing in Nigeria so Bassey decided to try his luck in Britain. With financial help of a few friends, he arrived in a cold and damp Liverpool in December 1951. In his first fight abroad, in January 1952, he stopped Ray Hillyard. He kept busy and had 18 fights in his first year in Britain. He won 14, and lost on points to John Kelly, Frankie Williams and Pierre Cossemyns, all good boxers. In 1953 Bassey had ten fights, including a stoppage win over the highly rated Spaniard Luis Romero. After a six-month holiday in Nigeria, Hogan returned to Liverpool decidedly heavier. He moved to featherweight and beat Sammy McCarthy, who had been unbeaten in his 28 previous fights. CROWNED AT KING’S HALL On November 19 1955 he fought John Kelly, an Irishman, for the British Empire featherweight title. They met in Kelly's back yard at the King's Hall in Belfast. Kelly had won their previous fight, in April 1952, on points. This time it was a different story. In his book Bassey on Boxing he wrote: “When I stepped into the Belfast ring I realised how alone I was in the vast hall thronged by Irishman. The cheer that Kelly received when he went to his corner was almost frightening. “Plans can so easily go awry, and they nearly did that night. It was the bugbear of all boxers, the cut eye. It happened in the fifth round. My greatest fear was that the referee would stop the fight. “As I stepped towards the middle of the ring for the seventh round I knew I had to go in and fight. He [Kelly] had become a little over-confident ... As he came in, I feinted to throw a left hook and, just as I had hoped he would, he swayed to his left. “I put everything into a right cross that crashed against Kelly's jaw like a trip-hammer. I knew he had no chance of beating the count. Actually Kelly was down for five minutes before he fully recovered. I was the new British Empire champion.” THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONNECTION In 1956, taxation nearly crippled boxing in England and some small halls closed down. Bassey, by now a married man, was unable to get enough fights to make a living and found a job as a motor mechanic's assistant in Liverpool. In September 1956, he fought a young South African featherweight, Alby Tissong, who had been boxing in Britain for several years. They met at the Liverpool Stadium, where Tissong had put up some fine perfor


Taraxacum spp is the Latin name for which genus of common wild garden plant?

Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) | Plants & Fungi At Kew Cultivation Taraxacum officinale (Photo: Wolfgang Stuppy) Taking the fruits from dandelion clocks can provide hundreds of plants if they are sown onto an all-purpose compost in deep pots, to accommodate the roots, or straight onto open soil. Plants are likely to start flowering in their second year. There are seed suppliers who stock a thick-leaved variety, more suitable for growing as a salad vegetable. The dandelion is so successful at colonising abandoned areas of the garden that no help is really needed to grow it. The plentiful one-seeded fruits are carried on the wind and can travel relatively long distances so neglecting a garden will usually ensure that this plant appears. Removing it is more difficult, as the long, thick taproots will delve down deeply into a border or lawn and even in cracks in paving, making them hard to remove completely. Chopping off the top of the plant is not enough to kill it as it will sprout again from the remaining roots. Rabbits love the leaves so if you have one as a pet it may appreciate a patch of dandelions being allowed to grow in a corner of the garden. The flowers and fruiting heads are attractive but this plant can soon take over and, because it is so strongly associated with a poorly kept garden, deliberate cultivation is rare. References and credits Clapham, A. R., Tutin, T. G. & Moore, D. M. (1987). Flora of the British Isles. 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Mabberley, D. J. (2008). Mabberley’s Plant-book. A Portable Dictionary of Plants, their Classification and Uses. 3rd Ed. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Mabey, R. (1996). Flora Britannica. Sinclair-Stevenson, London. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (Feb 2003)  Available online . New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Ltd. Taraxacum officinale. (Feb 2003).  Press, B. & Gibbons, B (1993). Photographic Field Guide to Wild Flowers of Britain and Europe. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, London. Preston, C. D., Pearman, D. A. & Dines, T. D. (2002). The New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Kew science editor: Nicholas Hind Kew contributors: Sustainable Uses Group Copyediting: Kew Publishing Authored in partnership with ARKive. For thousands of videos, images and fact-files illustrating the world's species visit www.arkive.org While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and such-like included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions.


Which UK supermarket has its headquarters in Preston?

Booths - Grocery.com Shopping Booths Booths is a chain of supermarkets based in the United Kingdom. The stores sell a wide variety of food, beverages and wines. History Booths was founded in 1847 by the then-only 19-year old Edwin H. Booth. With the money he borrowed from a business mentor, Booth started with a single shop and named it ‘The China House.’ His small shop was located in Blackpool and primarily sold different varieties of tea. After three months, Booth was able to return the money he borrowed as capital, and even made a significant profit. Booth soon started expanding his stock and began looking for additional quality goods that he could sell in his shop. In 1855, while Booth was in France, he discovered a French coffee product from Count Simon’s. He then started selling this particular coffee in his store. In 1902, Booth’s stores added cafés and started growing. The cafés in the stores added to their appeal, and increased the activity in every Booth’s store. In 1863, Booths started moving into the trade of spirits and wines, thanks to changes made in licensing laws. In 1879, several Booths branches opened in the area of Lytham. In 1884, several more branches of Booths opened in the area of Blackburn. In 1920, under John Booth’s (Edward’s son) leadership, the private company opened for staff who wanted to become shareholders. This was John Booth’s way of expressing his appreciation to the stores’ staff who enthusiastically worked in the stores. Today, Booths has at least 26 stores in different parts of the country. These stores are located in different parts of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Ever since its inception, the store chain has stuck to its original philosophy, which was to acquire what best goods are available and sell them in stores that are attractive and staffed with first-class assistants. Booths has also entered into a partnership with Slow Foods, a company that supplies the stores with fresh, high quality foods. Booths is also committed to promoting sustainability. Since 2006, the company has been continuously working on how to reduce, if not eliminate, the emissions of greenhouse gases that the stores or its suppliers produce. Headquarters: Preston,UK