In 1957, there were how many states in the USA?

CDC | TB | Fact Sheets | Trends in Tuberculosis – United States Trends in Tuberculosis, 2015  Number of TB Cases Reported in the United States in 2015  A total of 9,557 TB cases (a rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 persons) were reported in the United States in 2015. This represents a 1.6% increase in the number of TB cases compared to cases reported in 2014.  Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia (DC) each reported an increase in TB cases from 2014.  Despite the increase in the number of cases, the TB incidence rate per 100,000 persons has remained relatively stable at approximately 3.0 since 2013.   TB Deaths in the United States There were 493 deaths from TB in 2014, the most recent year for which these data are available. This is an 11% decrease from the 555 TB deaths in 2013. Overall, the number of TB deaths reported annually has decreased by 71% since 1992.   TB Rates in U.S.-born Persons compared to Foreign-born Persons Living in the United States The case rate among foreign-born persons has continually decreased since 1996, and the rates for U.S.-born persons have been approximately the same for the past 3 years. In 2015, a total of 66.4% of reported TB cases in the United States occurred among foreign-born persons. The case rate among foreign-born persons (15.1 cases per 100,000 persons) was approximately 13 times higher than among U.S.-born persons (1.2 cases per 100,000 persons). The majority of these cases are among persons who have been in the United States 5 years or longer.      Rates of TB for Different Racial and Ethnic Groups † For this report, persons identified as white, black, Asian, American Indian/Alaska Native, native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or of multiple races are all non-Hispanic. Persons identified as Hispanic may be of any race. American Indians or Alaska Natives: 6.1 TB cases per 100,000 persons Asians: 18.2 TB cases per 100,000 persons Blacks or African Americans: 5.0 TB cases per 100,000 persons Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders: 18.2 TB cases per 100,000 persons Hispanics or Latinos: 4.8 TB cases per 100,000 persons Whites: 0.6 TB cases per 100,000 persons Multidrug-Resistant* TB (MDR TB) Overall, the percentage of MDR TB cases decreased slightly from 1.3% (94 cases) in 2014 to 1.2% (89 cases) in 2015.** Of the total number of reported MDR TB cases, the proportion occurring among foreign-born persons increased from 31% (149 of 484) in 1993 to 85% (76 of 89) in 2015. *   MDR TB is defined as TB disease that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin. ** Among culture-positive TB cases in the United States with initial drug-susceptibility testing results.   Completion of TB Treatment The proportion of TB patients prescribed the recommended initial treatment regimen including isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol increased from 40.3% in 1993 to 84.7% in 2015. The proportion of eligible TB patients who completed treatment within 1 year increased from 63.4% in 1993 to 89.6% in 2013 (the latest year that data is available). Eliminating TB in the U.S. Resuming and accelerating progress toward TB elimination in the United States will require an intensified, dual approach. This includes strengthening existing systems to prevent transmission of infectious TB disease and increasing efforts to detect and treat latent TB infection in high-risk populations. State Data The most recent surveillance report, Reported Tuberculosis in the United States, 2015, includes data from 60 reporting areas (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and seven other U.S. jurisdictions in the Pacific and Caribbean). The report can be found online at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/default.htm . If you need additional state-specific data not available in this report, you can contact your state TB control office: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/links/tboffices.htm . Other resources include the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP) Atlas (2008-2013), an interactive tool that allows users to observe trends and pattern


Altogether, how many strings are there on the four instruments in a traditional string quartet?

Sacramento String Quartet - Mersonacta Quartet, Premier String Quartet in Northern California   How does the process work? First you have to let us know when the event is, where it is going to be, how long you need our services for, and what kind of music are you looking for.  If you decide that you want our services, simply let us know that you’re ready to lock down the date by signing an agreement with us.  Meanwhile, you can email or call us anytime for additional information, or come to hear us play at one of our free auditions before we begin the agreement/contract signing process.     Do you guys offer duet or trio service? Yes. However, we recommend the full quartet because most of the music that we’ve arranged is in our quartet format, therefore your musical selections will be limited when reducing the number of musicians.   Can I still book you guys even if the event is only a week away? Yes. Although our availability might be limited, but do contact us and find out!     What kind of music do you guys play? We offer everything from classical to contemporary, and with a musical library as big as ours, you can pick and choose across the multiple genres to keep your guests entertained!  Just take a look at our repertoire section and see for yourself.  We also offer custom music arrangement/transcription service at additional cost.     How long should I hire you for my event? Most events range between the 2-3 hour span, while wedding ceremonies are only about an hour long including the seating of the guests (with the exception of catholic weddings). We only need about 10 minutes to set up, and a 5 minute break for every hour we play. We are more than happy to pause to accommodate speeches, toasts, or other events in your schedule.     Can I hear you guys play before I hire you? Absolutely, and we hope you can share this experience with your loved ones! We hold free public concerts regularly for our friends and potential clients at a predetermined location between the months of February and May. These auditions are free to the public, however, the exact date and time of the concerts will be posted on our website approximately two week prior to the concert date.  Enjoy a nice brew of fresh coffee, or a tasty sandwich while listening to us play live for an hour for you and your guests to enjoy!     What if I have a special song that I want you guys to play during the event? We would be more than happy to play that special song for your event.  If you already have sheet music in string quartet format, we can play those almost immediately free of charge as part of your music selection for the event.  If you have the sheet music for your song in a different format (such as piano or guitar), we still need to charge a transcription of $40.  Please allow up to 21 days for the transcription service to take place.  Cost for arrangement/transcription service depends on the difficulty as well as length of song.    If you do not have any sheet music of the song, simply point us to the video of the song on YouTube or send us an mp3 file via email — and we will make the transcription happen.     What if my event goes over the contracted hour? How are increments billed? We bill in 15 minute increments, at 25% of the initial hourly rate, which is $125 per 15min overage.     What is your performance & formal attire? Normally all black professional attire unless requested otherwise. Sometimes we also wear dark gray top and all black bottoms.   Want to ask a question that's not on here?   Cellist   Alison "Wonderland" Sharkey officially joined the Mersonacta Quartet in 2015. Praised for her rich, velvety tone, Alison has been an active symphony section member (Stockton Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony, Reno Philharmonic, Fresno Philharmonic, Napa Valley Symphony) and recording artist in the Northern California region since 2003. She received her BA in Music and English from DePaul University and her MM from CSUS and has traveled the world making music. Alison also enjoys playing bass in her band the Kelps, sewing thin


"In 2008, the game of Cluedo was updated as Cluedo Reinvention"" with some new weapons. Which one of these was in the original game?"

Cluedo | Board game manuals Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Board game manuals Wiki Cluedo ( Template:Pron-en ; Clue in North America ) is a deduction board game originally published by Waddingtons in Leeds , United Kingdom in 1949. [1] It was devised by Anthony E. Pratt, a solicitor's clerk and part-time clown from Birmingham , England . It is now published by the United States game and toy company Hasbro , which acquired its U.S. publisher Parker Brothers as well as Waddingtons . The object of the basic game is for players to strategically move around the game board, in the guise of one of the game's characters, collecting clues from which to deduce which suspect murdered the game's perpetual victim: Dr. Black (Mr. Boddy in North American versions), and with which weapon and in what room. More games, books, and a film have been released as part of the Cluedo franchise. The board games form an overall story whose complete chronology can be found at Cluedo chronology . In 2008, Cluedo Reinvention was created (with changes to board, gameplay and characters) as a modern spin-off. Contents Edit In 1944 Anthony E. Pratt filed for a patent of his invention of a murder/mystery-themed game, originally named "Murder!" Shortly thereafter, Pratt and his wife presented the game to Waddington's executive Norman Watson, who immediately purchased the game and provided its trademark name of "Cluedo." Though the patent was granted in 1947, due to war shortages the game was not officially launched until 1949, at which time the game was simultaneously licensed to Parker Bros. in the United States for publication, where it was re-named "Clue." However, there were several differences from the original game concept and that initially published in 1949 (which also remains the most enduring version of the game). In particular, Pratt's original design calls for ten characters , one of whom was to be designated the victim by random drawing prior to the start of the game. The game allowed for play of up to eight remaining characters, providing for nine suspects in total. Originally there were eleven rooms, including the eliminated " gun room " and cellar. In addition there were nine weapons including the unused axe , bomb , syringe , poison , shillelagh (walking stick/ cudgel ), and fireplace poker . Some of these unused weapons and characters would appear in later spinoff versions of the game. Some aspects of the gameplay were also different. Notably, the remaining playing cards were distributed into the rooms to be retrieved, rather than dealt directly to the players. Players also had to land on another player in order to make suggestions about that player's character through the use of special counter-tokens, and once exhausted, a player could no longer make suggestions. There were other minor differences, all of which would be updated by the game's initial release and remain essentially unchanged in the standard classic editions of the game. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Equipment Edit The game's current equipment consists of a board which shows the rooms of an English country house called Tudor Mansion (previously Tudor Close and Tudor Hall), and the corridors and passages linking them, several coloured playing pieces (character pawns), some props representing murder weapons (dagger, rope, etc), one or two six-sided dice/die, three sets of cards describing the 9 rooms (scene of crime), the 6 suspects and 6 weapons (corresponding to the playing pieces), along with a Solution Cards envelope to contain one card of each, and a Detective's Notes pad (often with 6 pencils) for keeping detailed notes during the game. Suspects Main article: Cluedo characters Depending on edition, the playing pieces are typically made of coloured plastic, shaped like chess pawns , or character figurines . Occasionally they are made from wood or pewter . Miss Scarlett (spelled Miss Scarlet in North American versions – a red piece) Rope Lead Pipe (called Lead Piping in earlier UK editions, the early tokens were made out of actual lead ) Spanner (called Wrench in North American e


Who led the expedition that discovered The Titanic on the bed of the Atlantic Ocean?

RMS Titanic is found by Dr Robert Ballad 1st September 1985   In the 1980s Dr. Robert Ballard was determined to discover the Titanic. On several occasions he tried to rally an expedition to find the most famous shipwreck of all time. To him undersea exploration was easy but the Titanic, deep on the Atlantic sea bed would push boundaries further than any deep sea diver had previously gone.   Equipment had to be specially designed to withstand the water pressures of the depths they needed to explore. The Titanic would lay at a depth over 13,000 feet. In 1973, the submersible Alvin went through design changes. Inparticular, her steel hull was replaced with titanium alloy which could better withstand the depths involved. Eventually funding was granted from Woods Hole and equipment was borrowed from various sources that included a side scan sonar, a deep-towed magnetometer, an LIBEC imaging system and of course underwater cameras. The Titanic's distress signal placed the Titanic at 41°46'N, 50° 14' west. Part of the British Enquiry was to ascertain if this was exact. It concluded that the position given was slightly inaccurate as the Carpathia, who raced to the Titanic's rescue, reached the lifeboats before they should have done if the position was accurate. Ballard's search strategy was simply: they would scan the ocean floor within a best search triangle until they found the ship. Earlier in 1981 Jack Grimm led a team to find the ship, positive that they were searching the exact spot the ship foundered - they had not. Revised calculations suggested that the Titanic was eight miles further north than previously thought. They allowed for the speed of the lifeboats and the probable drift Titanic would have had on her way both after she had stopped and then down to the bottom of the ocean. After reworking these calculations, a second 1981 expedition failed again. The Deep-tow passed within a mile and a half of the wreck but the sonar scanners were out of range. After three weeks of searching Grimm was convinced he had found one of Titanic's propellers. He began to tell the world that Titanic had been found. Two years later Grimm wanted to search the area again but the expedition failed. Ballard who had followed the expeditions with great interest realised that Grimm had not spent enough time looking for the ship. It was now Ballard's turn. Ballard had a realisation which led him to develop the Argo/Jason concept. When assembled they were a remote controlled deep towed deep sea video vessel combined with a swimming robot on a cable leash. The name of the project was derived form Greek mythology (Jason and the Argonauts). Argo would be an unmanned submarine loaded with video cameras towed above the ocean bottom at the end of fibre-optical wires. The built in sonar could scan accurately the ocean floor for small debris. In 1984 the US Navy agreed to fund a three week test for the following summer and Argo was built. Aboard the Knorr, Ballard sailed to where he believed the Titanic sank. He hoped that his French colleagues had not beaten him to the wreck. However, by the end three weeks he had not found the ship and on August 6 1985 headed home. Lateral thinking   When a ship it sinks it leaves a path of debris (objects from within the ship or objects breaking off). Depending how deep the vessel sinks this debris can be scattered over a large distance. On a shorter descent, the debris falls more or less vertically. However, as the Titanic sank 21/2 miles a huge debris field was expected. A new search strategy was formed. This time they would first look for the debris field rather than the Titanic herself. The logbook of the Californian enabled Ballard and his crew to estimate the speed and direction of drift of the lifeboats. The Californian was between five to ten miles away from the Titanic at the time of the disaster and reported in its log that they had experienced drift. Also Ballard knew that the Titanic had to be north of where the lifeboats were found.   On August 24 1985 Ballard returned to the vacinity of the Titanic. He


What infectious disease, caused by a virus, is characterised by the eruption of successive crops of blisters?

Chicken pox | Define Chicken pox at Dictionary.com Expand chicken pox definition A mild but highly contagious disease , caused by a virus and characterized by slight fever and the eruption of blisters on the skin . Chicken pox is classified as a disease of childhood, although it can occur in adults. Note: Children who have had chicken pox are immune to future infection by the virus that causes it. The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


In September 1905 the government of New South Wales, Australia, voted to buy 1,000 miles of netting in attempt to control what?

Australian climate records | CRIKEY !#&@ ......  IT'S THE WEATHER CYCLES ‘kg007’said”One record equaled today, 6 days straight of 35c plus for December, equals record set in 1898! ” and “Adelaide now has recorded four days in a row of 40c plus, just peaked at 40.4. Breaking record set of 3 days in 1898 and 2007.” and “Some new December records set today Clare 41.7, Pt Pirie 44.8, Snowtown 44.9!” and “Port Augusta can be added to the list has hit 46.4 previous record 46.1!” and “Scratch that, Pt Pirie now 45.4, Snowtown 45.2 more than 1c above previous records!” and “Pt Pirie at 45.6, previous record 44.0! Whyalla hit 45.5, previous record 44.9!” and “Port Augusta new record 47.2, previous 46.1!” and “Edinburgh has equaled its December record with 43.5c!” and “Whyalla has new record of 45.8, previous 44.9!” KEN KATO “The all-time record for most number of December consecutive days with 40C or above was broken though. BLAIR TREWIN “The most impressive record I’ve seen so far is Snowtown’s, where 45.2 is a December record for old and new sites combined (data back to 1908). The current Port Augusta site is a fair bit hotter than its predecessors but 47.2 is still an impressive number. ” NICE ARIAL SHOT OF DUST FRONT ‘YEP’ said Here l will document Past and present documented snow events on the southern WA ranges. Feel free to add to this information below in the comments section Please click in the title to load all further entries AUGUST 2015 William Bungey, a farmer from Borden, recording the temperature on Bluff Knoll at 7am this morning A rare dusting of snow has fallen over Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range, in Western Australia’s Great Southern, entertaining some campers and others who made the trek. VIDEO: Rare dusting of snow falls on Bluff Knoll in WA’s Stirling Range (ABC News) Temperatures plummeted across the state’s south over Saturday night, with Pingelly in the Wheatbelt recording the lowest at -2 degrees Celsius.from this link http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-09/dusting-of-snow-falls-on-bluff-knoll-in-wa-stirling-range/6683604 The last time it snowed in WA was in August 2013, also at Bluff Knoll. More than 100 people climbed the trail at Bluff Knoll to see the snow, with some sleeping overnight in anticipation and others trekking up in the early hours of the morning. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) had predicted snow was possible over ranges, saying a front passing over the state’s south was bringing a trail of cold air behind it. It said snow typically falls in WA about once per year, most commonly in the Stirling and Porongorup Ranges…. … “Another cold front was due to bring some moderate rainfall to the South West and Lower West districts on Monday, forecasters said. Bluff Knoll, 90 kilometres north of Albany, is the third highest peak in Western Australia. The BoM said while snow in WA most often occurred over the state’s far south, there had been reports of it falling as far north as Wongan Hills (1923), Bencubbin (1956) and Coolgardie (1966).” “The snow-capped Wellington Range, as seen from the banks of the Huon River, at Franklin. Picture: Kim Eiszele” 1st August 2014 31st JULY and 1st AUGUST 2014 VICTORIA Thanks to KEN KATO for the sat pic’mage and here is where the event is discussed “Today’s satellite imagery from NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites looked truly spectacular” Mt MACEDON 870m “Nice 1cm snow cover here this morning. Down to -1 earlier now it’s -0.4C …Just had another 20 mins of heavy wind blown snow, the temp dipped back below zero. This is the coldest day I’ve seen here in the 11 years that I’ve been coming up to the mountain. next day “A Facebook friend just posted a pic of nice snow at or near Portland . It looks good . We still have a full cover after a very cold night (-2.4C) it still below zero now. I’ve not seen it like this for years. It has been less than 1C for 40 hours now. A fantastic event for us here, for a change ! 3rd Aug 2014 “Still snow on the ground here this morning. A severe frost as well. It’s -3.4C” 4th August 2014 “Still snow on the ground here, if we keep ge


What are the names of the twins born to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie?

[pics] Vivienne & Knox Jolie-Pitt Birthday: Branglina Twins Turn 6 Years Old - Hollywood Life 26 Photos Wow, six years sure flies by fast! Happy 6th birthday to the adorable Branglina twins, Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt! Brad Pitt , 50, and Angelina Jolie , 39, have two huge reasons to celebrate on July 12 — it’s Vivienne and Knox ‘s 6th birthday! Click inside to take a look at pictures from the past six years of their lives. Vivienne & Knox Jolie-Pitt Turn 6  — Happy 6th Birthday Can you believe it? The Branglina twins turned 6 years old on Saturday, July 12! The miracle twins were born in the beautiful city of Nice, France in 2008. Now, they are growing up before our own eyes! However, 2014 was probably the twins biggest year yet. After all, the precious little Vivi made her big screen debut alongside her mommy, Angelina, in the blockbuster film, Maleficent . Vivienne portrayed a very young princess Aurora, and she was perfect for the role! The Jolie-Pitt twins are very special to the couple. They are the second and third biological children for Brad and Angelina, and came just two years after they welcomed their first child together, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt , 8. However, Brangelina love all of their children — adopted and biological — the same. This includes their oldest son, Maddox , 12, Pax , 10, and Zahara , 9. Hopefully we will Vivi and Knox become a big brother and sister sometime soon! Wouldn’t you love for Brad and Angelina to welcome another child together? Vivi & Knox: Fun Facts About The Jolie-Pitt Twins Did you know that Vivienne and Knox’s  names pay tribute to members of both Brad and Angelina’s families? For Vivienne, her middle name Marcheline Bertrand is actually her grandmother — Angelina’s mother’s — first name. And for Knox, his first name was the middle name of Brad’s grandfather, Hal Knox Hillhouse. In the past, Angelina has said that out of all of their children, Knox is the most like Brad — personality-wise. She has also shared that Vivienne is the most girly of all three of her daughters, and that she absolutely loves all things pink and princess-y! Happy birthday, Vivi and Knox! Hey, HollywoodLifers — Leave your birthday wishes for little Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt in the comments below! — Lauren Cox


What contest, held between 24 teams, was played in Dubai between 5 and 7 March 2009, and was won by Wales?

Rugby Football History   Introduction The first games were held in Athens in 1896 but did not include Rugby. Rugby was added to the Olympic program for the second Olympiad and featured in the games held at Paris in 1900, London in 1908, Antwerp in 1920, and Paris again in 1924. Shortly after the Paris Games, the IOC cancelled rugby as an Olympic sport - even though rugby sold more tickets than the track and field events celebrated in the movie about the 1924 Olympics, "Chariots of Fire." Read about Rugby in the Olympics here Then it was cast out until a decision was made on October 9th, 2009 to introduce Rugby Sevens. In  1928 the IOC turned down the request to stage rugby at the Amsterdam games.  Three factors were believed to be behind this: the IOC wanted more emphasis on  individual sports; women's athletics had swollen the number of competitors; and  the sport did not receive the backing that it should have from the British  entries. Officials also cited the French crowds' behavior and the lack of  widespread international participation. Both  the Soviet Union in 1980 and South Korea in 1988 made attempts to have rugby  readmitted, and it should be pointed out that South Korea came desperately close  to achieving their aim. In a  survey held by the Washington Post, Rugby was the most popular sport  requested to be added to the Olympics so it was only a matter of time before it  was included. Here I've collected various articles/information pertaining to attempts to re-instate Rugby as an Olympics event: Friday 18th February 2005 WWW.IRB.com Rugby aiming for Olympic glory once more As representatives of the International Olympic Committee visit London to consider which city should host the 2012 Olympic Games, the rugby world is in the middle of a lobbying process which hopes to make rugby sevens an Olympic sport for the 2012 Olympic Games. Although rugby has not appeared in the Olympics for the last 80 years, the 15-a-side version has appeared in four of the games (1900, Paris; 1908, London; 1920, Antwerp and 1924, Paris).   The last time it appeared there were three countries involved (Romania, USA and France) and the USA beat France 17-3 in the final.  As the match finished, the partisan French crowd were so riled by the result that there was a pitch invasion and several American supporters were beaten unconscious. Whether this was the reason for rugby's expulsion from the Games or whether it was the departure of the rugby loving Baron Pierre de Coubertin as IOC President, is not clear, but after an eighty year absence the International Rugby Board  is currently in the middle of a new lobbying process which, it hopes,  will enable the sevens version of the sport to be included. Mark Egan, Sevens Tournament Manager of the International Rugby Board, explains, “The IOC are meeting in Singapore in early July.  Their main decision is regarding the host city but they are also debating whether to alter the programme of sports within the 2012 Olympics.  Rugby is one of five sports being considered for inclusion along with golf, squash, karate and roller sports.  We have previously been through this process and rugby was recommended to be included but the programme didn't change.  To enable a new sport to become involved, there is the possibility that it would need to replace one of the existing sports as there are concerns by the IOC about the increasing size of the games, so it's not a straight forward process.  There is no assurance that the programme will change but we are doing everything we can to persuade them that rugby sevens would make a great Olympic sport.” The IRB is currently going through a thorough consultation and lobbying process and an application was submitted to the IOC in November.  We are working closely with the IOC, providing them with information about sevens and rugby in general.” Egan believes that it is the sevens version of the sport which would make an ideal Olympic event, “If rugby is included it will be the sevens format.   Rugby union is a global sport with 116 member unions.  S


Who was elected Vice-Chancellor by the Swiss Federal Assembly in August 2005 and became Federal Chancellor of Switzerland in December 2007?

Switzerland (12/07/10) Switzerland (12/07/10) For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z . PROFILE Geography Area: 41,285 sq. km. (15,941 sq. mi.); about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. Cities: Capital--Bern (population about 123,000). Other cities--Zurich (359,000), Geneva (180,000), Basel (164,000), Lausanne (119,000). Terrain: 40% mountains, the remainder hills and plateau. Switzerland straddles the central ranges of the Alps. Climate: Temperate, varying with altitude and season. People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Swiss (singular and plural). Population (year-end 2009): 7.8 million. Ethnic groups: Mixed European. Religions: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 4.3%, others 5.4%, no religion 11%. Languages: German 63.7%, French 20.4%, Italian 6.5%, Romansch 0.5%, other 9.4%. Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--100%. Literacy--100%. Health: Infant mortality rate--3.9/1,000. Life expectancy--men 79.4 yrs., women 84.2 yrs. Work force (4.0 million in second quarter 2010): Agriculture and forestry--4.0%. Industry and construction--23.5%. Services sector and government--72.5%. Government Type: Federal state. Independence: The first Swiss Confederation was founded in August 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. The Swiss Confederation established independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Constitution: 1848; extensively amended in 1874; fully revised in 2000 Branches: Executive--Federal Council, a collegium of seven members, headed by a rotating 1-year presidency. Legislative--Federal Assembly (bicameral: Council of States, 46 members; National Council, 200 members). Judicial--Federal Tribunal. Administrative subdivisions: 26 cantons (states) with considerable autonomy. Political parties: Swiss People's Party (SVP), Social Democratic Party (SP), Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Democratic Party (CVP), and several smaller parties representing localities or views from extreme left to extreme right. Suffrage: In federal matters, universal over 18. Economy GDP (2009): $494.6 billion (519.2 billion Swiss francs [SFr]). Government expenses (in GDP%, 2008): 38.3% (federal, cantonal, and local). Annual growth rate (2009): -1.9%. Unemployment (October 2010): 3.6%. Per capita income (2009 est.): $63,519. Avg. inflation rate: -0.3% (2009); 1.4% (2010 est.). Natural resources: Water power, timber, salt. Agriculture (1% of GDP): Products--dairy (24%), livestock (26%), grains (4%), fruit and vegetables, potatoes, wine (15%). Arable land (1999): 26%. Industry (est. 29% of GDP): Types--machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, time pieces, precision instruments, textiles and clothing, pigment, transportation equipment. Services (70% of GDP). Trade: Merchandise exports (2009)--$173 billion (official exchange rate): food, beverages, and tobacco (3%; +24%); metal and chemical industries (42%; +12%); precision instruments (7%; +8%); watches (8%; +16%); machinery and electronics (21%; +11%); clothing 1.1%; +4%). Major markets--EU, United States, Canada, CIS, India, Brazil, Japan. Merchandise imports (2009)--$156 billion (official exchange rate): consumer goods (38%); equipment (19%); energy (7.1%); raw materials (28%). Major suppliers--EU, U.S., Canada, CIS, South Africa. Exchange rate (November 2010): $1 U.S. = 0.9833 CHF or SFr. PEOPLE Switzerland sits at the crossroads of several major European cultures, which have heavily influenced the country's languages and cultural practices. Switzerland has four official languages--German, French, Italian, and Romansch (based on Latin and spoken by a small minority in the Canton Graubunden). The German spoken is predominantly a Swiss dialect, but newspapers and some media broadcasts use High German. Many Swiss speak more than one language. English is widely spoken, especially among the university educated. More than 75% of the population lives in the central plain, which stretches between the Alps and the Jura Mountains and from Geneva in the southwest to the Rhine River and Lake Constance in the northeast. Resident foreigne


On 15 May 2002, FIFA announced that which nation would host the Football (soccer) World Cup in 2010?

South Africa wins the 2010 bid to host the Soccer World Cup | South African History Online South African History Online Home » South Africa wins the 2010 bid to host the Soccer World Cup South Africa wins the 2010 bid to host the Soccer World Cup Joseph "Sepp" Blatter Saturday, 15 May 2004 On 15 May 2004, the president of the Federation of International Football Association's (FIFA), Joseph "Sepp" Blatter, announced that South Africa would host the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The announcement was made in Zurich, where South Africa was represented by a delegation that included Nelson Mandela and Head of the Local Organizing Committee, Danny Jordan . South Africa beat Morocco by four votes to win the bid. The victory was a morale booster, as South Africa had previously lost the bid to Germany by a single vote in 2000.   References:


"""Wisden"" is a reference book on which subject?"

Words on the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack Words on the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack Nothing captures the spirit of cricket quite like its 150-year-old annual Read next by: Matthew Engel England’s Andrew Flintoff consoles Australia’s Brett Lee during the memorable 2005 Ashes series The word “unique” has been devalued by its overuse in the media – by sports journalists in particular – along with many other words such as “tragedy”, “genius”, “brilliant”, “fury” and “refute”. Next week, however, is a landmark in the history of a truly unique sporting institution: Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, founded in 1864, will be publishing its 150th edition. And few other organisations have worked harder to ensure that words such as “unique” are used only when appropriate. In the countries where cricket is important (and, since India is one of them, they include almost a third of the global population) the word “Wisden” conjures instant recognition. “He’s a walking Wisden,” one might say of someone crammed full of cricketing facts. “The Bible of cricket,” it is called to the point of cliché – to which one former editor would reply that maybe the Bible was the Wisden of religion. It is also described as infallible – frequently and erroneously. I know about its fallibility because I was that former editor – for 12 years, in two separate terms between 1993 and 2007 – and was associated with it for almost 20. Every one of the book’s mistakes was like a hammer-blow to me: we will come to the story of the “Wisden willie” later. However, the book does work exceptionally (perhaps uniquely) hard to eliminate errors, which is one factor in its reputation. The original 1864 edition of Wisden Only one factor, though. At first sight, Wisden is a dauntingly fat book (1,584 pages in 2013), full of stats and small type about a complicated sport. It began as a 112-page pocket book and, although two of the dimensions have remained stable, you need a very wide pocket to contain it now. Deep too: the original edition cost an old shilling (5p) and this year’s retails at £50 – an increase that is 12 times the rate of inflation. The original edition looks useless: the scores it reported were mostly ancient, and the pages were eked out with bizarre extraneous matter such as the lengths of canals, the rules of quoits and the battles of the Wars of the Roses. One might also say that the 2013 Wisden is useless, since the gamut of statistical information is available free of charge from other sources on the internet. All of which is to miss the point. For a start, Wisden has actually been a spectacular hedge against inflation. The record price for an entire set of originals is £130,000. An 1864 edition alone can go for up to £25,000. In the pink, 1886 The chief reason for Wisden’s endurance is that it kept appearing. No. 23 failed to emerge in 1886, but it popped out a year later, along with the 1887, so that the chain remained unbroken. At the time, it was just one of several competing Victorian cricket almanacks. Its rivals withered; Wisden never missed again, even in wartime, when the match reports were fewer but the obituary voluminous. It was founded by John Wisden, a small (five-foot-nothing) but very skilful bowler known as “The Little Wonder” who eked out his earnings from the game by opening a “cricket and cigar depot”. The almanack was just an adjunct to what became a successful sporting equipment business. He died in 1884, aged only 57 and heirless, which could have been an obvious cue for the book’s disappearance. The 1916 edition, with a tribute to WG Grace Rescue came in the shape of a young man called Charles Pardon, who took over as editor, salvaged the 1886 edition and began pepping up the contents. And though Charles died even more prematurely, aged 40 in 1890, he was succeeded by his younger brother Sydney, who was to remain editor for 35 years. The Pardons just had an instinct. They created a book that at once strove to be authoritative, accurate and complete, yet encompassed a discreet whiff of showbiz. In 1889 Charles published the first sepia p


"""Chateau Snavely"", ""Amanda's"", and ""Payne"" were three attempts to remake which UK TV series for the US market ?"

Sitcom : Wikis (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki       Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics Canadian humour Did you know ... the 1957–1958 CBS sitcom Dick and the Duchess was one of the few American television series filmed in England ? prior to writing the episode " The Apartment " of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld , writer Peter Mehlman had "barely written any dialogue in [his] life"? the 1962–1963 CBS sitcom The New Loretta Young Show (Loretta Young pictured) introduced audiences to later stars Dack Rambo and Ted Knight ? all four stars of Starved , an FX sitcom about eating disorders , struggled with eating disorders themselves, a fact unknown to producers until after casting? British actress Glynis Johns appeared in the short-lived 1963 CBS sitcom called Glynis , in which she played a mystery writer, with Keith Andes as her lawyer -husband? Walter Brennan starred in the 1964–1965 ABC sitcom The Tycoon as an eccentric chairman of the board of the fictitious Thunder Corporation? Alice Nelson and Sam the Butcher were engaged to be married in the final season of the sitcom The Brady Bunch ? Barbara Billingsley was so typecast as June Cleaver on the sitcom Leave It to Beaver that she could not get acting jobs for nearly twenty years? Annie Fargé , who played a scatterbrained French wife to an American architect in the 1960 CBS sitcom Angel , was described by Time as "easily the brightest newcomer to situation comedy" though the series folded after one season? From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For the satirical film by François Ozon, see Sitcom (film) . A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that usually consists of recurring characters in a common environment such as a home or workplace and can include laugh tracks or studio audiences. Such programs originated in radio. Today, sitcoms are found almost exclusively on television as one of its dominant narrative forms. Contents 13 External links Characteristics As opposed to stand up comedy , a situation comedy has a storyline and ongoing characters in, essentially, a comedic drama. The situation is usually that of a family, workplace, or a group of friends. The term situation comedy or sitcom was adopted to distinguish them from other comedy formats such as sketch comedy , or stand-up comedy. Often these other formats were presented within a variety format mixed with musical performances, as in vaudeville . The emerging mass medium of radio allowed audiences to return to programs over and over, which allowed programs to return to the same characters and situations each episode and expect audiences to be familiar with them. While the humor in sitcoms varies, it is usually character-driven, which may result in running gags during the series. Often in a situation comedy television series the status quo is maintained from episode to episode; while within an episode there may be a disruption to the usual situation and the character interactions, this will usually be settled by the episode's end and the situation returned to how it was prior to the disruption. There are exceptions to this. Some shows feature story arcs across many episodes where the characters and situations change and evolve. History Comedies from past civilizations, such as those of Aristophanes in ancient Greece , Terence and Plautus in ancient Rome , Śudraka in ancient India , and numerous examples including Shakespeare , Molière , the Commedia dell'arte and the Punch and Judy shows from post- Renaissance Europe, are the ancestors of the modern sitcom. Some of the characters, pratfalls, routines and situations as preserved in eyewitness accounts and in the texts of the plays themselves, are remarkably similar to those in earlier modern sitcoms such as I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners . The first television sitcom is said to be Pinwright's Progress , ten episodes being broadcast on the BBC between 1946 - 19


"Who wrote ""Other people see things and say: why? - but I dream things that never were and say: why not?"""

multifarious: "Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?" "Remember kids! In order to maintain an untenable position, you have to be actively ignorant"                            ....Stephen Colbert Saturday, January 17, 2009 "Some people see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?" Robert F. Kennedy delivered 18 March 1968, University of Kansas Chancellor, Governor and Mrs. Docking, Senator and Mrs. Pierson, ladies and gentlemen and my friends: I'm very pleased to be here. I'm really not here to make a speech. I've -- I've come because I came from Kansas State and they want to send their love to all of you. They did. That's all they talk about over there, how much they love you. Actually, I want to establish the fact that I am not an alumnus of Villanova. I'm very pleased and very touched, as my wife is, at your warm reception here. I think of my colleagues in the United States Senate, and I think of my friends there, and I think of the warmth that exists in the Senate of the United States -- I don't know why you're laughing. I was sick last year and I received a message from the Senate of the United States which said: "We hope you recover," and the vote was 42 to 40. And then they took a poll in a -- one of the financial magazines of five hundred of the largest businessmen in the United States, to ask them, what political leader they most admired, who they wanted to see President of the United States. And I received one vote -- and I understand they're looking for him. I could take all my supporters to lunch, but I'm -- I don't know whether you're going to like what I'm going to say today but I just want you to remember, as you look back upon this day, and when it comes to a question of who you're going to support -- that it was a Kennedy who got you out of class. I am very pleased to be here with my colleagues, Senator Pierson, who I think has contributed so much in the Senate of the United States, who has fought for the interests of Kansas and has had a distinguished career, and I'm very proud to be associated with him. And Senator Carlson who is not here, who is one of the most respected members of the Senate of the United States -- respected not just by the -- on the Republican side, by the Democratic side, by all of his colleagues, and I am pleased and proud to be in the Senate with Senator Carlson from the State of Kansas. And I'm happy to be here with an old friend, Governor Docking. I don't think there was anyone that was more committed to President Kennedy and made more of an effort under the most adverse circumstances and with the most difficult situation than his father, who was Governor of the State of Kansas -- nobody I worked with more closely, myself, when I was in Los Angeles. We weren't 100 percent successful, but that was a relationship that I will always value, and I know how highly President Kennedy valued it and I'm very pleased to see him -- and to have seen his mother, Mrs. Docking today also, so I'm very pleased to be in his State. And then I'm pleased to be here because I like to see all of you, in addition. In 1824, when Thomas Hart Benton was urging in Congress the development of Iowa and other western territories, he was opposed by Daniel Webster, the Senator from Massachusetts. "What," asked Webster, "What do we want with this vast and worthless area? This region of savages and wild beasts of deserts of shifting sands and of whirlwinds, of dust, and of cactus and of prairie dogs? "To what use," he said, "could we ever hope to put these great deserts? I will never vote for one-cent from the public treasury to place the west one inch closer to Boston than it is now." And that is why I am here today instead of my brother Edward. I'm glad to come here to the home of the man who publicly wrote: If our colleges and universities do not breed men who riot, who rebel, who attack life with all the youthful vision and vigor, then there is something wrong with our colleges. The m


Until 1992, TASS was the official news agency for which organisation?

ITAR-TASS | Russian news agency | Britannica.com Russian news agency Alternative Titles: Informatsionnye Telegrafnoye Agentstvto Rossii-Telegrafnoe Agentstvo Sovetskovo Soyuza, Petrograd Telegraph Agency, ROSTA, Russian Telegraph Agency, St. Petersburg Telegraph Agency, TASS Related Topics United Press International (UPI) ITAR-TASS, abbreviation ofInformatsionnye Telegrafnoye Agentstvto Rossii–Telegrafnoe Agentstvo Sovetskovo Soyuza, (Russian: “Information Telegraph Agency of Russia–Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union”), Russian news agency formed in 1992 after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. ITAR reports on domestic news, while TASS reports on world events, including news from the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Headquarters of ITAR-TASS, Moscow, Russia. Stanislav Kozlovsky Russia’s first news agency, the St. Petersburg Telegraph Agency, was formed under the direction of Emperor Nikolai II in 1904. It was renamed the Petrograd Telegraph Agency in 1914. From 1918 to 1925 it served as the first revolutionary news agency and was known as the Russian Telegraph Agency, or ROSTA. Renamed TASS in 1925, the organization was the official news agency of the Soviet Union until 1991. It also was one of the world’s major international wire services, distributing news throughout the Soviet Union and the rest of the world. Until the breakup of the Soviet Union, TASS was responsible to the Council of Ministers. Its extensive national news networks were the main source of news for all Soviet newspapers and radio and television stations. It had news bureaus and correspondents in more than 100 countries, and its international clients included the wire services of most developed Western nations as well as eastern European and developing countries. Around the world, news was transmitted in Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, and Arabic. TASS dispatched on matters of public policy, and its coverage of international affairs reflected the official position of the state. Screenshot of the online home page of ITAR-TASS. Copyright © ITAR-TASS. All rights reserved. After it was renamed ITAR-TASS in 1992, the agency continued to operate more than 130 news bureaus or offices in Russia and around the world. The agency also maintains an electronic data bank, INFO-TASS, which processes current and historical material on Russia and CIS member states. Learn More in these related articles:


Which 1940 film, a story of corruption in politics written and directed by Preston Sturges, is told in flashback by a bartender about his rise to, and fall from, being a state Governor?

Greatest Films of 1940 The Bank Dick (1940) , 73        minutes, D: Eddie Cline A great classic W. C. Fields comedy, with wonderful sight gags and       one-liners. Fields (in his last major film role) credited himself       as screenwriter Mahatma Kane Jeeves (similar to "My hat,       my cane, Jeeves!"). A drunken, unemployed       no-account, henpecked husband in Lompoc, California (pronounced Lompoke)       - Egbert Souse (W. C. Fields) (pronounced "Soo-zay") -       inadvertently foiled a bank robbery in town, and was rewarded for       his accidental heroism with an in-bank position as a guard (or "dick"-detective)       by grateful bank president Mr. Skinner (Pierre Watkin). Egbert's       most frequent visits were to the Black Pussy Cat Cafe for stiff drinks.       Egbert was conned by J. Frothingham Waterbury (Russell       Hicks) to fund a flimsy mining operation, Beefsteak Mines. He convinced       bank clerk Og Oggilby (Grady Sutton) - his future       son-in-law, the dim-witted fiancee of his daughter Myrtle (Una Merkel),       to embezzle $500. And       then he had to avoid having auditing bank examiner J. Pinkerton Snoopington       (Franklin Pangborn) discover his crime by slipping him a drink. Hilarious,       bumbling antics ensue, concluding with another bank robbery and a       classic car chase sequence, with Egbert taken as hostage. Dance, Girl, Dance (1940), 90 minutes, D: Dorothy       Arzner An early feminist-minded film, and a critical and commercial box-office     failure, from pioneering butch-lesbian Dorothy Arzner (and regarded as     her best) - one of the few female Hollywood directors at the time, and     featuring one of Lucille Ball's better film roles. Not to be confused     with the 1933 film of the same name. This backstage musical was taglined: "Heartbreak Behind Gayety of a Girly-Girl Show!" and pitted     the two dichotomous female leads against each other - a good girl vs.     bad girl representing two opposite styles of dance (burlesque and ballet).     Aspiring 'serious' but poor ballerina Judy O'Brien (young Maureen O’Hara     in her third Hollywood film), an Irish redhead, and her outrageous, gold-digging,     ambitious friend Bubbles (Lucille Ball) were introduced as two chorus     girls stranded in Akron, Ohio before they traveled separately back to     New York City to find work. Bubbles (renamed "Tiger" Lily White) became a cheap burlesque stripper in a live show, while      Judy struggled in dance school with her Russian dance teacher/mentor      Madame Lydia Basilova (Maria Ouspenskaya). With      a cruel and cutthroat gesture, Bubbles hired the desperate Judy to      dance ballet immediately after her own act, knowledgeable that "stooge" Judy would be greeted with hostile jeers, boos, and laughter from the      voyeuristic dirty-old-man audience, and would - of course - demand      an encore by Bubbles (who only stripped to a hula skirt and bra!).      Besides an on-stage catfight, the film's most remarkable sequence was      Judy's celebrated lecture-speech delivered at the climax to the males      of a jeering burlesque audience who were mocking her classical dance      act. Fantasia (1940) , 120        minutes, D: Ben Sharpsteen and Disney An innovative and revolutionary animated classic from Walt Disney       (his third feature animation), combining classical music masterpieces       with imaginative visuals, presented with conductor Leopold Stokowski       and the Philadelphia Orchestra. It was the first commercial American       film to use stereophonic sound as well as the first and only film       recorded in pioneering Fantasound. An updated version was created       almost 60 years later, Fantasia/2000       (1999) - the first feature length animated film to be presented       in IMAX, with


Of the 16 states of Germany, 13 are termed area states (Flchenlnder). What are the other 3?

German political system Back to home page click here A SHORT GUIDE TO THE GERMAN POLITICAL SYSTEM Conclusion INTRODUCTION Unlike the American political system [ click here ] and the British political system [ click here ] which essentially have existed in their current form for centuries, the current German political system is a much more recent construct dating from 1949 when the American, British and French zones of occupation were consolidated into the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). In 1990, the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) joined the Federal Republic. However, the 1949 constitution embraces a central feature of the original German constitution of 1871 - which brought together Prussia with Europe's other German states (except Austria) - and the Weimar Constitution of 1919 - which involved a sharing of power between the central government and local L&#228nder (states) - namely a disperal of authority between different levels of goverment. So the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) of 1949 deliberately distributes power between the central government and the L&#228nder. The vitality of Germany's democratic system and the quality of its political leadership - Chancellors such as Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963), Willy Brandt (1969-1974), Helmut Schmidt (1974-1982), Helmut Kohl (1982-1998) and now Angela Merkel - have been enormously impressive. THE EXECUTIVE The head of state is the President, a largely ceremonial position, elected for a maximum of two five-year terms. The voters in the election for President are known collectively as the Federal Convention, which consists of all members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members nominated by the state legislatures - a total of 1,244. The current President is Joachim Gauck. The head of the government is the Chancellor (equivalent to the British Prime Minister). The current Chancellor is Angela Merkel of the CDU. Every four years, after national elections and the convocation of the newly elected members of the Bundestag, the chancellor is elected by a majority of the members of the Bundestag upon the proposal of the President. This vote is one of the few cases where a majority of all elected members of the Bundestag must be achieved, as opposed to a mere majority of those that are currently assembled. This is referred to as the "Kanzlermehrheit" (Chancellor's majority) and is designed to ensure the establishment of a stable government. Most significantly, the Chancellor cannot be dismissed by a simple vote of no confidence but only by a "constructive vote of no confidence" with majority support for an alternative named Chancellor. Since 1949, only two constructive votes of no confidence have been attempted (in 1972 and 1982) and only one (that in 1982) has been successful. This special type of no confidence vote was invented in (West) Germany, but is today also used in other nations, such as Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Slovenia and Lesotho. In the six decades of the Bundestag, there have been only eight Chancellors - a remarkable element of stability. In the same period of time, Italy has had 37 Prime Ministers (although some of served several separate terms of office). As in Britain or France, day to day government is carried out by a Cabinet, the members of which are formally appointed by the President but in practice chosen by the Chancellor. Since Germany has a system of proportional representation for the election of its lower house, no one party wins an absolute majority of the seats and all German governments are therefore coalitions. Following the last Federal election in 2013, it took almost three months to form a new government. Unusually this is a coalition of the two major parties, the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats - what the Germans call "Gro&#223e Koalition" or simply "GroKo". THE BUNDESTAG The lower house in the German political system is the Bundestag. Its members are elected for four-year terms. The method of election is known as mixed member proportional representation (MMPR), a more complicated system than first-past-p


Which film starring The Beatles concerned the theft of a ring from Ringo Starr by a religious organisation?

Beatles Timeline PREFACE: The objective of the Beatles Timeline is two-fold: First, it was written with the intention of being entertaining, hence the numerous Beatle quotes as you read along. These quotes were selectively chosen in an attempt to capture the essence and spirit of the band. For those familiar with the band and its history, this will definitely be a fun "refresher course". And to those of you who have recently discovered the Beatles, this historical presentation should provide enough insight for you to develop an appreciation of why Beatle fans, music lovers and historians all agree that the Beatles were the greatest rock 'n' roll band to emerge out of the twentieth century. The second objective of the Timeline is to provide an accurate accounting of the major events as they unfolded during the Beatles musical career. This includes some focus on their solo careers just before the band would split up in early 1970. I did not document their solo careers beyond that date. The individual careers of John, Paul, George and Ringo after 1970 are quite extensive and there are plenty of books available to read if you need to learn more about them. Having said that, the Timeline does continue to detail further developments of the Beatles between 1970 and 2000. The tragic death of John Lennon and the reaction of those who knew him is documented, as well as their new hit albums, single releases, and recordings done by the surviving three Beatles. It should be noted here that the Timeline was written mainly from a North American perspective while touching briefly on the international events of the Beatles. In order to achieve the two above-mentioned objectives, I went about doing three months of investigative research, culling information from a variety of books, magazines, albums, the Internet, radio and television broadcasts, to assemble the information together. Since NO ONE PARTICULAR BOOK OR AUTHOR WAS RELIED UPON for developing the Timeline (see list of "Acknowledgments" at the bottom), the cross-referencing of information from one source to another made my task very tricky but not daunting. There is such a great wealth of available information on the band. Even in the final stages when this text was being proof-read for me, I still decided on some last minute changes to the copy, thereby ensuring that format and accuracy were complete as possible for publication on the Ottawa Beatles Site. TECHNICAL NOTE: In order to save space and to keep the format tidy, I have grouped all of the Beatles USA tour schedules together at the end of each year in the Timeline rather than spreading them out sequentially by each individual performance. This is the only exception where the dates deviate within this presentation, but summarizing and presenting it this way, I believe, makes for easier reading. Remember, the purpose of this chronology is to make it as entertaining as possible! INVITATION: Should you be aware of a significant event in this period that is not listed, or inaccurate, I invite you to submit it to me by e-mail . The Timeline is not set in stone, and will grow with information from fans worldwide. John Whelan George Martin, Beatles musical director, born January 3, in London **1934** Brian Samuel Epstein, Beatles manager, born September 19 (in Rodney Street, in Liverpool) **1940** Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity (a.k.a. "Tony Sheridan"), born May 21, 1940 (in Norwich) July Richard Starkey, born July 7 (in family home, 9 Madyrn Street, Dingle, in Liverpool) October John Winston Lennon, born October 9 (at Oxford Maternity Hospital in Liverpool) John was born to Julia and Fred Lennon. **1942** July John's father, Fred Lennon, leaves home for good. Julia moves in with her new man, John Dykins. June James Paul McCartney, born June 18 (at Walton General Hospital in Liverpool) **1943** George Harrison, born February 25 (10 minutes past midnight in their family's terraced home, 12 Arnold Grove, in Liverpool) John Lennon moves in to stay with his Aunt Mimi Smith who raises h


What were first established by St Bel at Lyons, France, in 1762, and at London in 1790?

The Nuttall Encyclopædia/B - Wikisource, the free online library The Nuttall Encyclopædia/B 714913 The Nuttall Encyclopædia — BJames Wood B Baader, Franz Xavier von, a German philosopher, born at Münich; was patronised by the king of Bavaria, and became professor in Münich, who, revolting alike from the materialism of Hume, which he studied in England, and the transcendentalism of Kant, with its self-sufficiency of the reason, fell back upon the mysticism of Jacob Boehme, and taught in 16 vols. what might rather be called a theosophy than a philosophy, which regarded God in Himself, and God even in life, as incomprehensible realities. He, however, identified himself with the liberal movement in politics, and offended the king (1765-1841). Ba`al (meaning Lord), pl. Baalim, the principal male divinity of the Canaanites and Phoenicians, identified with the sun as the great quickening and life-sustaining power in nature, the god who presided over the labours of the husbandman and granted the increase; his crowning attribute, strength; worshipped on hill-tops with sacrifices, incense, and dancing. Baal-worship, being that of the Canaanites, was for a time mixed up with the worship of Jehovah in Israel, and at one time threatened to swamp it, but under the zealous preaching of the prophets it was eventually stamped out. Baal`bek (i. e. City of Baal, or the Sun), an ancient city of Syria, 35 m. NW. of Damascus; called by the Greeks, Heliopolis; once a place of great size, wealth, and splendour; now in ruins, the most conspicuous of which is the Great Temple to Baal, one of the most magnificent ruins of the East, covering an area of four acres. Baalism, the name given to the worship of natural causes, tending to the obscuration and denial of the worship of God as Spirit. Baba, Ali, the character in the “Arabian Nights” who discovers and enters the den of the Forty Thieves by the magic password “ Sesamë ” (q. v.), a word which he accidentally overheard. Baba, Cape, in Asia Minor, the most western point in Asia, in Anatolia, with a town of the name. Babbage, Charles, a mathematician, born in Devonshire; studied at Cambridge, and professor there; spent much time and money over the invention of a calculating machine; wrote on “The Economy of Manufactures and Machinery,” and an autobiography entitled “Passages from the Life of a Philosopher”; in his later years was famous for his hostility to street organ-grinders (1791-1871). Babbington, Antony, an English Catholic gentleman; conspired against Elizabeth on behalf of Mary, Queen of Scots, confessed his guilt, and was executed at Tyburn in 1586. Bab-el-Mandeb (i. e. the Gate of Tears), a strait between Asia and Africa forming the entrance to the Red Sea, so called from the strong currents which rush through it, and often cause wreckage to vessels attempting to pass it. Baber, the founder of the Mogul empire in Hindustan, a descendant of Tamerlane; thrice invaded India, and became at length master of it in 1526; left memoirs; his dynasty lasted for three centuries. Babes in the Wood, Irish banditti who infested the Wicklow Mountains in the 18th century, and were guilty of the greatest atrocities. See Children . Bâbis, a modern Persian sect founded in 1843, their doctrines a mixture of pantheistic with Gnostic and Buddhist beliefs; adverse to polygamy, concubinage, and divorce; insisted on the emancipation of women; have suffered from persecution, but are increasing in numbers. Baboeuf, François Noel, a violent revolutionary in France, self-styled Gracchus; headed an insurrection against the Directory, “which died in the birth, stifled by the soldiery”; convicted of conspiracy, was guillotined, after attempting to commit suicide (1764-1797). Baboo, or Babu, name applied to a native Hindu gentleman who has some knowledge of English. Baboon, Lewis, the name Arbuthnot gives to Louis XIV. in his “History of John Bull.” Ba`brius, or Gabrius, a Greek poet of uncertain date; turned the fables of Æsop and of others into verse, with alterations. Baby-farming, a system of nursing new-born infants


"Who wrote the music for the musical (and later, film) ""Cabaret""?"

Cabaret [Original Soundtrack Recording] - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic Cabaret [Original Soundtrack Recording] google+ AllMusic Review               by William Ruhlmann Even though he came from the theater himself, Bob Fosse , when he came to make a film of Harold Prince 's musical Cabaret, did what most movie directors do, taking the 15-song score and cutting two-thirds of it to leave five songs -- "Wilkommen," "Two Ladies," "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," "If You Could See Her," and "Cabaret." (In addition, "Sitting Pretty" was performed instrumentally and "Married" in German.) He then allowed the show's songwriters, John Kander and Fred Ebb , to add material to emphasize the film's two musical stars, "Mein Herr" and "Maybe This Time" for Liza Minnelli and "Money, Money" for Minnelli and Joel Grey . ("Maybe This Time" was a Kander-Ebb song Minnelli had been singing since 1964.) The film was even more successful than the show, and the soundtrack album went gold, outselling the original Broadway cast album. It is not the record you want to buy to get the complete score, of course, and even at its 38-plus-minute running time it's padded. But it contains some definitive Minnelli performances, particularly her rendition of the title song. In the show and film, the song's upbeat, devil-may-care mood is in stark contrast to the downbeat conclusion of the plot, which finds lead character Sally Bowles stranded in Nazi Germany. Coming from Minnelli, there is an added subtext, as the performance can be read as a tribute to her mother, Judy Garland . And Grey is equally impressive, particularly in "Wilkommen" and "If You Could See Her." Cabaret won Academy Awards for Minnelli and Grey, but lost the Best Picture award, and a similar judgment can be made about the soundtrack album. Their performances are outstanding, but the album as a whole is a bit skimpy. Subsequent stage productions tended to incorporate the new film songs. (The 1996 CD reissue re-sequences the songs.) Track Listing


Cube Numbers To the main page     "Mathematische Basteleien" What is a cube number? A cube number (or a cube) is a number you can write as a product of three equal factors of natural numbers. Formula: k=a*a*a=a³ (k and a stand for integers.) On the other hand a cube number results by multiplying an integer by itself three times. Formula: a*a*a=a³=k  (a and k stand for integers.) The same factor is called the base. After this a negative number like (-2)³= -8 or a fraction number like  (2/3)³=8/27 are suspended.  If it is appropriate, the number 0 is also a cubic number. These are the first 100 cube numbers.  You can illustrate the name cube number by the following drawings.  If a is the side of a cube, the volume is a³. ...1... 1 Computation with the calculator In former times you found cube numbers by ready-reckoners, today there are calculators. You act with the TI30 like this: After entering the number you press the keys yx , (1/3) and finally = . Example: [2299968] -- [yx] -- [(1/3)] --  [=] . You get 22999681/3 =132.  It is even simpler to give in 2299968^(1/3) into the searching field of Google or Bing.  The cube root appears after pressing the enter key.  2 Determination by nested intervals 22999681/3 The number must be between 100 and 200 (100³=1000000 and 200³=4000000). It must be between 130 and 140 (130³=2197000 and 140³=2744000). It must be near 130 and 8 is on the ones place. Then 132 comes into consideration. Result:  22999681/3=132  22999681/3 You write the number in factors and develop the cube number this way. 2299968  =  8*287496  =  8*27*10648 =  8*27*8*1331=8*27*8*11*121=8*8*27*11³=(2*2*3*11)³=132.  Result:  22999681/3 = 132. Cube Roots of Negative Numbers?     top There is (-2)³=-8. You could think that then (-8)1/3=-2 is. In former times this notation was common in schools, too. Today you demand that a1/3 is only defined for a>0 or a=0. The term (-8)1/3 ist not allowed. Thus you avoid conflicts as the following calculations show.  There is (-8)1/3=(-8)2/6=[(-8)2]1/6=(64)1/6=(26 )1/6=2. That means that (-8)1/3 would be ambiguous. You would get two results depending on the way of calculation.  This is possible. The equation (-2)³=-8 is changed to -(81/3)=-2. Generally x³=a leads to x=-(-a)1/3 for a<0. Sequences and Series top Series  of the cube numbers There is a series to each sequence and this is the sequence of the partial sums.  For cube numbers this is the sequence  sn= 1³+2³+3³+...+n³.  1³+2³+3³+...+n³=[n(n+1)/2]² is given. Proof by mathematical induction >The statement holds for n=1:     s1=[1*(1+1)/2]²=1. >Assume that the formula holds for all natural numbers n:   sn=[n(n+1)/2]². >You must show that then the formula also holds for n+1:  sn+1 = [(n+1)(n+2)/2]². Calculation: Convert the product [(n+1)(n+2)]² into a sum at first.  [(n+1)(n+2)]²=(n²+3n+2)²=n4+(3n+2)²+2n²(3n+2)=n4+(9n²+12n+4)+(6n³+4n²)=n4+6n³+12n²+12n+4 There is sn+1 = sn+(n+1)³ = [n(n+1)/2]²+(n+1)³ = [n²(n+1)²+4(n+1)³]/4 = [n²(n²+2n+1)+(4n³+12n²+12n+4)]/4  = (n4+6n³+13n²+12n+4)/4 = [(n+1)(n+2)]²/4 = [(n+1)(n+2)/2]², qed.. The formula 1³+2³+3³+...+n³=[n(n+1)/2]² contains the  series of the natural numbers, because the sum can be written as 1+2+3+ ...+n=n(n+1)/2. Thus there is the formula 1³+2³+3³+...+n³ = (1+2+3+...+n)², which is illustrated on the right. Interpretation as an arithmetic series of third order The sequence of the cube numbers is also an arithmetic series of third order. A figure follows to explain this. In every new row you find the difference of two numbers a row higher.  The feature is that you reach a constant difference 6 after three steps.  There are formulas for these sequences, so that you can prove the formula 1³+2³+3³+...+n³=[n(n+1)/2]² in another way. You can read this on Steffen Weber's (URL below) German web site.  Series of odd numbers  There is 1³=1, 2³=3+5, 3³=7+9+11, 4³=13+15+17+19, ... and 1³+2³+3³+4³+... = 1+3+5+7+9+11+13+15+17+19+... Series of the reciprocal cube numbers There is another series of cube numbers, the one of the reciprocal cube numbers: 1/1³+1/2³+1/3³+...+1/n³. It is convergent. You f


What is the name of the swampy area in Florida, south of Lake Okeechobee?

History of Lake Okeechobee | Everglades Forever | Florida DEP File Library Brief History of Lake Okeechobee Geological surveys indicate that Lake Okeechobee was formed   about 6,000 years ago, when ocean waters receded and water was left   standing in a shallow depression in what today is known as the state   of Florida. The expansive lake that resulted from this process was   named Okeechobee, which means "big water" in the language   of the Seminole Tribe. The lake served as a direct source of water to the Everglades   by way of numerous small tributaries passing out of the lake’s   southern end. Changes in south Florida have had severe impacts on Lake   Okeechobee. In the 1890s, Hamilton Disston, a Philadelphia   businessman and real estate developer, constructed a canal   connecting Lake Okeechobee with Lake Hicpochee, the headwaters of   the Caloosahatchee River, providing the lake’s first outlet to   tidewater via the Caloosahatchee River. In the early 1900s, the   Everglades Drainage District constructed several other canals that   impacted Lake Okeechobee. These canals provided a slow, continuous   drainage from Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.  The goal was   to drain the northern Everglades for agricultural purposes and to prevent the   crops from flooding. Small towns arose in this region, some very close to the lake. A   small muck levee was constructed along the southern shore of the   lake to protect those towns and farms. But then, in the 1920s, two   major hurricanes struck south Florida. One of them generated a storm   surge in the lake that flooded coastal areas and hundreds of acres   to the south, resulting in approximately 2,000 deaths. To   prevent this kind of devastation from reoccurring, Florida turned to   Congress for help. Congress directed the United States Army Corps of   Engineers ( USACE ) to   lead efforts to prevent future tragedies of that scale. Building the Herbert Hoover Dike ,   an earthen levee that still surrounds the lake's perimeter, was one   of the first features of the USACE’s solution. Resulting from the   system of canals and levees built by the Corps, today all   discharges into and out of the lake are artificially controlled,   except Fisheating Creek. At the same time the dike and water control structures were   completed, the USACE developed a water level management tool, called   a regulation schedule , that   is cooperatively administered by the USACE and the South Florida Water   Management District (SFWMD) .   High water levels can lead to declines in the lake's submerged plant   beds and in the juvenile ages classes of important sport fish (such   as bass). When lake levels are particularly high, large flood   control discharges of freshwater are sent though canals to the St.   Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries, impacting the estuarine   organisms. After the construction of the canals, much of the land around Lake   Okeechobee was converted to agricultural use. To the north, dairy   farms and beef cattle ranching became the major land uses, while in   the south, sugar cane and vegetable farming increased rapidly.   The land use changes were associated with large increases in the   rate of nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) inputs to the lake,   leading to water quality challenges. The Plans In 2000, the Florida State legislature passed the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act . Through the legislation, the   SFWMD, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ( DACS ),   and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( DEP )   have developed and implemented strategies to restore the lake and   its watershed. Announced in October 2005, Lake Okeechobee & Estuary Recovery (LOER) plan is a response to   the current conditions of Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and   Caloosahatchee Estuaries after the 2004-2005 hurricanes. This action   plan has been developed to help restore the ecological health of   these water bodies, building on the s


What is the symbol for a fifth wedding anniversary?

5th Anniversary Celebration Suggestions - Ideas & Symbols Share By Sheri Stritof Wood, representing strength and a solidified relationship, and silverware, representing connectedness, are the traditional and modern gifts associated with your fifth wedding anniversary. Here are more gift and celebration ideas for your fifth anniversary. 5th Anniversary Traditional Gift: Wood. The strength of your marriage bond is represented by the traditional gift of wood for your 5th anniversary. Wood is strong and long-lasting. 5th Anniversary Contemporary/Modern Gift: Silverware. The modern gift of silverware is a reminder of the connection the two of you formed as you shared meals with each other and your children. 5th Anniversary Gemstone: Daisy. In the language of flowers, daisies represent innocence, loyal love, I'll never tell, and purity. Ways to Celebrate Your 5th Anniversary: Plant a tree together. You can plant one in your yard, or at a park, school, or church. An oak tree represent solidity. A pine tree represents the evergreen character of your love for one another. A flaming red maple represents the flaming passion you have for each other. A flowering crab tree represents love eternal. continue reading below our video 5th Wedding Anniversary Gift Suggestions Toast one another with hope that your love continues to grow and prosper like the trees around you. Purchase tickets to a show, movie, sports event, concert, theatre, etc. to attend together. Gift Suggestions to Purchase for Your 5th Anniversary: Purchase a framed share of stock in a major company that has meaning to the both of you. Wooden baskets.


Motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with routines on a course consisting of multiple jumps of varying lengths and angles that generally occupy one to two acres (.4 to .8 hectares) in what sport?

Freestyle Motocross - 必应 Sign in Freestyle Motocross Freestyle Motocross (also known as FMX) is a variation on the sport of motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts. The two main types of freestyle events are: Big Air (also known as Best Trick), in which each rider gets two jumps — usually covering more than 75 ft (22.8m) — from a dirt-covered ramp. A panel of judges evaluates the style, trick difficulty, and originality and produces a score on a 100-point scale. Each rider's highest single-jump score is compared; top score wins.  Freestyle Motocross, the old ... (展开) er of the two disciplines. Riders perform two routines, lasting between 90 seconds and 14 minutes, on a course consisting of multiple jumps of varying lengths and angles that generally occupy one to two acres (.4 to .8 hectares). Like Big Air, a panel of judges assigns each contestant a score based on a 100-point scale, looking for difficult tricks and variations over jumps.  Notable Freestyle motocross events include Red Bull X-Fighters, NIGHT of the JUMPs, the X-Games, Gravity Games, Big-X, Moto-X Freestyle National Championship, and Dew Action Sports Tour. Freeriding is the original form of freestyle motocross which started in the hills of southern California; due to professional racers such as Jeremy McGrath and Phil Lawrence "play riding" in the hills of reche canyon. It has no structure, and is traditionally done on public land. Riders for natural jumps and drop-offs to execute their tricks on. Some freeriders prefer to jump on sand dunes. In many ways, freeriding requires more skill and mental ability. Notable freeriding locations include Ocotillo Wells and Glamis Dunes in California, Beaumont, California, and Cainville, Utah. Freestyle motocross (also known as FMX) is a variation on the sport of motocross in which motorcycle riders attempt to impress judges with jumps and stunts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_Motocross ¥6.00 · 生活 内容提要 *****Freestyle Motocross***** **Can Can** Cliffhanger***Double Grabs** Tricks are the bread and butter of freestyle motocross, and you will find some ... https://itunes.apple.com/cn/app/freestyle-motocross/id... By Adamson, Thomas K. · 32 pages Freestyle motocross is all about pulling off awesome mid-air stunts with style. From tried-and-true tricks like the Hart attack to the new electric doom, these daring riders pull … book.douban.com/subject/5277025 FreestyleMX.com. Your source for Freestyle Motocross News, FMX Culture and Freeride Reviews in the new world. Learn everything about Freestyle Motocross here! freestylemx.com By Motocross a Way of Life · 3 min · 333,587 views 2016-4-17 · Different Colors- https://teespring.com/motocross-a-way... FMX - Freestyle Motcross 2016 #MWL Probably the best motocross compilation channel. Designed to ... www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMaSgrozgQY


Which musician's children are named Sarah, Kimberly, Sean, Liam, Renee, Alastair and Ruby?

EXCLUSIVE: Rod Stewart, 70, Jokes That His Eight Kids Are Tough Critics of His Music EXCLUSIVE: Rod Stewart, 70, Jokes That His Eight Kids Are Tough Critics of His Music by Raphael Chestang 5:11 PM PDT, October 30, 2015 Playing EXCLUSIVE: Rod Stewart, 70, Jokes That His Eight Kids Are Tough Critics of His Music At 70 years old, Rod Stewart's life is a lot different from when he first started out. The biggest change? He has eight kids! On the way to selling more than 100 million albums, Stewart -- who just released his 29th album -- managed to raise a large family. His children, Kimberly, 36; Sean, 35; Ruby, 28; Renee, 23; Liam, 21; Alastair, 9; Aiden, 4; and Sarah Streeter, 52, may have had a little bit of input on his latest album, Another Country, which the GRAMMY winner recorded at home. PIC: Rod Stewart Joins Instagram With a Hairy Shot "The kids would run in and tell me what they think, which was usually, 'A bunch of rubbish, Dad,'" Stewart joked. "No, that's not true, but it's just a wonderful environment." Stewart admitted that he's not exactly the same musician he was during his rock 'n' roll heyday. The new album is so personal it even includes a song about his nighttime rituals with his youngest child, Aiden. "I've even written a song about putting my 4-year-old son to bed called 'Batman, Superman, Spider-Man,'" he said. "Songs I probably wouldn't have written about 30 years ago when I was a real rock 'n' roll star." One of his middle children, Ruby, has the most involvement in Stewart's music career as of late. A tremendous singer-songwriter in her own right, Ruby joined him onstage during a Las Vegas show. "More or less we just play what we want," Stewart said. "It's great because Vegas treats me like I'm Elvis. They're so wonderful there. They fly me home to Los Angeles every night. Ruby and I sit on the jet and have our little dinner and a glass of wine after the show." WATCH: Rod Stewart Relives Heartbreak Through New Songs With so many hits, we wondered how Another Country ranks with Stewart among his past projects. "I suppose the new ones are always your favorites, but time will tell," Stewart said. "We'll see how it's received." Rolling Stone, for one thing, called the album "stellar," while The Independent also gave it a glowing review, stating, "Rod can still deliver." Watch the video to see Stewart's priceless reaction to our first interview with him as a young rock idol in 1981. Another Country is available now. SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE SHARE ON TWITTER TWEET


"Who is said to be ""the father of history""?"

Herodotus Greek historian father of history Related link pages Herodotus - Greek historian Herodotus, later famous as a historian to the point of becoming known by his admirers as the 'father of history', was born in Halicarnassus, (now Bodrum, Turkey), in about 484 B. C. As a son of a prominent family Herodotus received a good education sufficient to allow him to eventually gain an extensive familiarity with the literature of ancient Greece. He seems to have travelled very extensively in the Greek and Persian worlds into which he had been born. The inhabited world as known of by Herodotus.   On this map the Mediterranean Sea can be discerned as a large inlet, with landmasses to the north and south, and with a western entry point labelled Pillars, (from the  Greek designation ~ 'the Pillars of Hercules'). Today's Italian peninsula can be easily seen with mainland Greece being located to its right and with today's Turkey, (or Asia Minor), being furthur right again. In Herodotus day Halicarnassus was an "Ionian" Greek colonial town subject to Persian overlordship and located at the bottom left of Asia Minor. When he was in his early thirties (circa 457 BC) some political difficulties between Herodotus' wider family and the rulers of Halicarnassus contributed to his living in exile for several years. During these times his initial destination seems to have been the the island of Samos but thereafter Herodotus traveled widely throughout virtually the entire ancient Middle East visiting Asia Minor, Babylonia, Egypt, and Greece. Herodotus was centrally involved in the rebellious overthrow of the unpopular ruler of Halicarnassus and was thereby enabled to enjoy full rights of citizenship in his home city. He did not settle down there however but, circa 447 BC, went to Athens, then the center and focus of culture in the Greek world, where he won the admiration of the most illustrious men of Greece, including the great Athenian statesman Pericles. During a stay of some years in Athens Herodotus seems to have been awarded a substantial sum, by a decree of the people, in appreciation of his literary talents. Herodotus did not enjoy the status of citizenship, with associated enhancements in rights, in Athens and this may have contributed to his joining in (443 BC) with a new colonial settlement at Thurii in southern Italy where he could hope to be a citizen. Such colonies were widely sponsored by individual greek city states for commercial reasons and also to better provide for the employment of their citizens. Herodotus settled down in Thurii and devoted his efforts to the completion of a great work entitled 'Inquiry' ( a Greek word which passed into Latin and took on its modern meaning as History ). Herodotus' wide-ranging work has subsequently been presented by scholars as a nine part work the first six 'books' of which are introductory and give rounded introductions to most of the peoples of the ancient world giving insights into their customs, legends, history, and traditions. The last three 'books' treat with the rivalries and conflicts between the Greek and Persian worlds from the early fifth century B. C. In the several sections of The Histories, Herodotus describes the expansion of the Persian Achaemenid empire under several of its kings including Cyrus the Great (557-530 BC: Book1), Cambyses (530-522 BC: Book 2 and part of Book 3) and Darius I the Great (521-486 BC: the rest of Book 3 then Books 4,5,6), culminating in king Xerxes' (486-479 BC: Books 7, 8, 9) expedition in 480 BCE against the Greeks, which met with disaster in the naval engagement at Salamis and the land battles at Plataea and Mycale. Herodotus' work presents the development of civilization as moving inexorably toward a great confrontation between Persia and Greece, which are presented as the centers, respectively, of Eastern and Western culture. Herodotus of Halicarnassus hereby publishes the results of his inquiries, hoping to do two things: to preserve the memory of the past by putting on record the astonishing achievements both of the Greek and the


Around 2,000 of which type of rocket-propelled pilotless bomb was launched on London from 8 September 1944 to March 1945?

The Blitz | Bomb Incidents | West End at War Copyright Westminster City Archives By Ronan Thomas It is now 70 years since the start of the Blitz, the systematic attempt by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany to bomb the British people into submission from September 1940 to May 1941. 'The Blitz' - the phrase derives from the German word 'Blitzkrieg' ('lightning war') - is remembered as a national ordeal which deeply marked all who endured it. Heavy air raids took place on British cities for over eight months, from 7 September 1940 to 11 May 1941. These were followed by smaller scale air attacks in the so-called 'Lull' of 11 May 1941 to 21 January 1944, the 'Little Blitz' of 21 January to 19 April 1944 and the final V-Weapons campaign of 13 June 1944 - 29 March 1945. During 1940-1945 some 60,000 British civilians were killed by aerial bombing (43,000 from September 1940 to May 1941). 71,000 were treated for life-threatening injuries and over 88,000 others were less seriously injured. Whilst London was bombed the most heavily - nearly 30,000 died and 50,000 were seriously injured - devastating raids also took place on eighteen other British cities, towns, ports and industrial production centres. These included: Coventry, Cardiff, Swansea, Belfast, Tyneside, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Hull, Southampton, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Glasgow, Clydeside, Nottingham and Exeter. For four and a half years Britain endured the physical and psychological consequences of air attack: fear, shock, the loss of loved ones, deprivation, comprehensive destruction of property and the potential of defeat. In London, over one million buildings were destroyed or otherwise damaged as the most formidable air force in Europe, the Luftwaffe, dropped its ordnance across the capital. Londoners’ nerves were shredded, but their collective will to resist was not broken. A ‘Blitz Spirit’ of solidarity and defiance – encouraged from 10 May 1940 by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill – sustained the capital and the nation during the darkest moments. A popular documentary film of October 1940 was entitled ‘London Can Take It!’, a phrase which became the beleaguered capital’s watchword. Battle of Britain to the Blitz The onset of the Blitz coincided with the culmination of the Battle of Britain in September 1940, in which Hitler’s Luftwaffe tried and failed to achieve air superiority against the Royal Air Force (RAF) prior to a planned German invasion of the British Isles. After eight months of ‘Phoney War’, following the outbreak of hostilities on 3 September 1939, stunning German victories in France and the Low Countries resulted in the British Army’s retreat to and evacuation from Dunkirk (26 May - 4 June 1940). Following the fall of France in June, as Churchill rallied the British people in the defence of their island and Empire, Hitler launched a strategy of economic blockade. Luftwaffe dive-bombers struck British merchant vessels repeatedly in the English Channel. During July over 30,000 tons of British shipping were sunk. Air attacks began on British ports, raw materials and food storage infrastructure and aircraft production centres. Hitler - at this stage hoping to pressure Britain into a negotiated peace - offered her a ‘last appeal to reason’ on 19 July. With Churchill's refusal, Hitler agreed to a plan submitted by his Air Minister and Luftwaffe Commander, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering, to destroy the RAF prior to a seaborne invasion of Britain: Operation Sea Lion. Sea Lion was scheduled for mid-September 1940, whilst weather remained favourable. The invasion plan was predicated on the swift achievement of German air superiority following destruction of Britain’s naval forces in the English Channel and the RAF's radar stations, airfields and fighters. From their newly-seized airfields on the French coast, flight time for German fighter aircraft across the Channel to Dover was six minutes. Goering was confident that the RAF could be defeated in a month. In the subsequent Battle of Britain, from 19 July-31 October 1940, Goering


In the USA, what is special about 2 February?

What Happened on February 2nd This Day in History   2 Feb, 1989 - Sky Television Launched 2nd February, 1989 : Sky Television Satellite Service launched by Rupert Murdoch's News International. Later after both British Sky Broadcasting and Sky Television are losing money they combine to create the current British Sky Broadcasting.     2 Feb, 1990 - Apartheid 2nd February, 1990 : President De Klerk of South Africa lifts the 30-year ban on leading anti-apartheid group the African National Congress ( ANC ). He also stated the jailed ANC leader Nelson Mandela would be released.     2 Feb, 1916 - Zeppelins Drop Bombs 2nd February, 1916 : German zeppelins drop close to 400 bombs over the West Midlands the crew of a British fishing trawler later comes across the crashed remains of one of the giant airships floating in the North Sea.     2 Feb, 1921 - Ideal Town 2nd February, 1921 : A short article was published in a local Pennsylvania newspaper indicating what people look for in a town-especially if contemplating moving there. Ten points of consideration were outlined in regards to what people look for in a town. Four of the ten points mentioned are as follows: Attractiveness, and healthfulness (availability of adequate health care), as well as availability of education, and friendliness of people. The availability of recreation, practicality of living, accessibility of necessities, along with business and employment opportunities are also very important to most people. Additionally, the level of progressiveness of an area is one factor that people consider when relocating to a new area.     2 Feb, 1923 - Gasoline 2nd February, 1923 : Gasoline mixed with tetraethyl lead was sold starting this day and year. This gasoline blend was first introduced to the public by the General Motors Company.     2 Feb, 1925 - Alaska Diphtheria 2nd February, 1925 : A major epidemic of Diphtheria in Nome, Alaska, today received much needed diphtheria serum delivered by a team of sled dogs led by Gunnar Kasson.     2 Feb, 1925 - Sears, Roebuck Opens It's First Store 2nd February, 1925 : Sears opens it's first retail store in the Merchandise building ( part of it's headquarters building in Chicago ). The first retail store was just an expansion of it's existing catalog business started in the 1890's.     2 Feb, 1933 - Buster Keaton 2nd February, 1933 : Buster Keaton was a slapstick comedy and silent film star who was fired from MGM as of this day. The reason that was given in one history report was that he was drinking excessively. A possible reason for Buster Keaton's failure to make it with MGM was the fact that it may have been hard for him to adjust working under the direction of someone else. Before this time, he had actually been able to have control over his own creativity. From the time that he had been fired until about 10 years later, Keaton had undergone more trials. For one, his wife had divorced him, and he had taken on smaller and smaller film roles. He had even ended up in a psychiatric ward (mental hospital) for awhile as well. However, he made a strong comeback in the 1950s.     2 Feb, 1933 - Livestock 2nd February, 1933 : On this day, a new livestock board appointed by Ferguson (presumably the name of the livestock company) had decided to replace 260 old employees with new ones.     2 Feb, 1936 - Babe Ruth 2nd February, 1936 : Babe Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on this day. He was a famous major league baseball player for the Boston Red Sox (1914-1919) and then the New York Yankees (1920-1934). He also played for the Boston Braves (now Atlanta Braves) during his last year as a player in 1935. During Ruth's career, he had achieved much, for instance, he ranked 3rd on the all-time home run list. Part of the reason why is because he achieved a record of 60 home runs in the year 1927. Babe Ruth was also the only player to hit three home runs in two World Series appearances (1926 and 1928).     2 Feb, 1937 - White House 2nd February, 1937 : On this day it was reported that the White House roof was leakin


When did the Football Association in the UK present the FA Cup for competition?

Scottish Football Association   The Oldest National Football Trophy in the World Although there is evidence of football trophies existing prior to 1873 it is factually correct to state that the Scottish Cup is the oldest trophy within Association football and the oldest national football trophy in the world.  Surviving trophies such as the Youdan Cup (1867) are from a different football code (Sheffield Rules) and cannot be placed within the context of the Association game. As Association football is the modern world game it can be argued that the Scottish Cup is the oldest trophy in World Football. The FA Cup as a competition dates from 1871 making it two years older than the Scottish Cup competition but the present FA trophy dates from 1911 and the original was stolen in 1895, never to be recovered.  The First Successful Tournament  The FA Cup struggled in its early years to get off the ground. Most of the clubs in the formative years of the tournament were from the Metropolis of London with Glasgow’s Queen’s Park being one of the few clubs competing from out with the area. For many of England’s northern clubs, making the rail journey south was simply too expensive and time consuming and local competitions against rival teams were deemed to be more worthwhile. With most of Scotland’s population located around the central belt of Scotland the Scottish Cup quickly became a successful event and improved transport links to Dundee and Aberdeen extended the coverage of the competition.  The Scottish Cup along with the international matches promoted football in Scotland. During the early 1880s football reporters noted the enthusiasm of Scottish clubs in applying in large numbers to play in the Scottish Cup. By 1895 so many Scottish clubs were taking part in the Scottish Cup competition that a Qualifying tournament had to be established to cope with the demand. The success of the tournament therefore spans across 135 years with the First and Second World Wars being the main cause of disruption to the competition. The Early Years The Scottish Cup 1874 to 1914 On 13th March 1873 eight clubs came together to form the Scottish Football Association. The new organisation collected £56 12s 11d in order to institute a Challenge Cup. Queen’s Park, Scotland’s leading club of the period, won the first final in 1874 with a 2-0 victory over Clydesdale. The ‘Spiders’ would go on to win the first three tournaments and the first 15 years of the competition was largely dominated by Queen’s and the three Dunbartonshire clubs of Vale of Leven, Renton and Dumbarton. In 1884 the record victory in the Scottish Cup was established when Arbroath defeated Bon Accord 36-0. With football moving towards professionalism during the early 1890s the big city clubs began to get their names engraved on the coveted trophy. The first ‘Old Firm’ final took place in 1894 while clubs like Hearts, Hibernian and Glasgow side Third Lanark also enjoyed success. In 1909 the trophy was withheld after rioting broke out at the end of the replayed ‘Old Firm’ final ( fans from both clubs were incensed that the match did not go into extra time). Attendances at the finals grew impressively over the period; from 2,500 in 1874 to 70,000 by 1909. Celtic were the cup holders in 1914 when the First World War brought a close to the competition for five years. Promoting a National Game In Scotland a rudimentary set of Laws existed for Association football which provided a basic framework for clubs to play each other in friendly matches. The SFA Annuals of the 1870s show that the rules for the Scottish Cup competition were far more stringent which improved the organisation levels and attitudes of the clubs who were willing to participate. The tournament raised the standards within Scottish football and forged a “national” game. The Cup and Hampden The Scottish Cup and Hampden Park Both the Scottish Cup competition and the name ‘Hampden Park’ date back to 1873. Although the present Hampden Park dates from 1903 (and as such is still 20 years older than Wembley) all three Hampden gro