What is the first line of the poem 'Home thoughts from Abroad' by Robert Browning?

SparkNotes: Robert Browning’s Poetry: “Home-Thoughts, From Abroad” “Home-Thoughts, From Abroad” “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed’s Church” “Fra Lippo Lippi” Oh, to be in England, Now that April’s there, And whoever wakes in England Sees, some morning, unaware, That the lowest boughs and the brushwood sheaf Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf, While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough In England - now! And after April, when May follows, And the whitethroat builds, and all the swallows - Hark! where my blossomed pear-tree in the hedge Leans to the field and scatters on the clover Blossoms and dewdrops - at the bent spray’s edge - That’s the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over, Lest you should think he never could recapture The first fine careless rapture! And though the fields look rough with hoary dew, All will be gay when noontide wakes anew The buttercups, the little children’s dower, - Far brighter than this gaudy melon-flower! Summary “Home-Thoughts, From Abroad” celebrates the everyday and the domestic, taking the form of a short lyric. The poet casts himself in the role of the homesick traveler, longing for every detail of his beloved home. At this point in his career, Browning had spent quite a bit of time in Italy, so perhaps the longing for England has a bit of biographical urgency attached to it. The poem describes a typical springtime scene in the English countryside, with birds singing and flowers blooming. Browning tries to make the ordinary magical, as he describes the thrush’s ability to recreate his transcendental song over and over again. Form Except for the poem’s rhyme scheme and number of lines, it resembles an inverted sonnet: it divides into two sections, each of which is characterized by its own tone. The first, shorter stanza establishes the emotional tenor of the poem—the speaker longs for his home. This section contains two trimeter lines, followed by two tetrameter lines, three pentameter lines, and a final trimeter line; it rhymes ABABCCDD. The metrical pattern and the rhyme scheme give it a sort of rising and falling sense that mirrors the emotional rise and fall of the poem’s central theme: the burst of joy at thinking of home, then the resignation that home lies so far away. The second section is longer, and consists almost entirely of pentameter lines, save the eighth line, which is tetrameter. It rhymes AABCBCDDEEFF. The more even metrical pattern and more drawn-out rhyme plan allow for a more contemplative feel; it is here that the poet settles back and thinks on the progress of the seasons that cycle outside of him. In its metrical irregularity and surprising last line, as well as its overall tone, the poem suggests the work of Emily Dickinson. Commentary This seemingly simple little poem reacts in quite complex ways to both Romanticism and the development of the British Empire. The domestic bliss and rapturous exchange with nature that characterize many Romantic poems emerge here as the constructions of people who do not live the life about which they write. But these constructions were integral to an illusion of “Rural England” that served as a crucial background for many philosophical ideas, and as a powerful unifying principle for many Britons: as the British Empire grew, and more British citizens began to live outside the home islands, maintaining a mythical conception of “England” became important as a way to differentiate oneself from the colonies’ native population. As works like Forster’s A Passage to India show, the British abroad in the colonies (such as India) worked much harder at being British than their compatriots in London. Thus in this period, sentimental thoughts of the English countryside, such as the ones in this poem, hardly ever present a pure nostalgia; rather, they carry a great deal of ideological weight. Nevertheless this poem contains much sincerity. Browning had left Britain, although he lived in Italy and not in a British colony. And as is evident from the poem, his relationship with “home” was a troubled one: although the speaker


Which rugby league player was nicknamed 'Chariots'?

Sports humour, funny stories about rugby nicknames Rugby Nicknames 'Teflon' In my opinion, the Welsh rugby crowd are great at a particular brand of humour.  In the 1980's Cardiff had a player called Gerald Cordle playing on the wing.  He went through a bad patch, dropping pass after pass with the try line at his mercy.  Now Gerald was of African extraction, but did the Welsh crowd racially abuse him - no.  Instead, they took called him Teflon, because he had non-stick hands. In another example of Welsh humour I played with a second row forward called Dai eighteen months. So called because an accident left him with only an ear and a half. In the same team we had a Thomas central heating, this alluded to the fact that he had two front teeth missing. Referee to prop forward. "You're boring the hooker."  (Cunning, but illegal scrum technique) Prop to referee, "You're not so interesting yourself ref." Rugby Players'  Nicknames Welsh Rugby Nicknames [Extra material supplied by Martin] Rob Howley (Stan because he looks like the one from Laurel and Hardy) Richard Hibbard (Shirley - the hair) Sam Warburton (Avatar as he looks like the lead character) Alan Bateman (Clamp on account of his tackling) Gareth Thomas = Alfie is so called because apparently he looked like a TV  character ALF (alien life form) Martyn Williams = Nugget (A thoroughly reliable back row forward with great handling skills) Stephen Jones = Wellies (Doesn't wear them when he played, that's for sure) Gethin Jenkins = Melon (Because of his head!)  English Rugby Nicknames Chariots (Martin) Offiah (Speedy winger named after the film of the legendary sprinter Eric Liddle) Brian Moore = Le Pit-Bull (So named by the French. This tenacious hooker always led from the front.  Keeps up his act when commentating.) Rob Andrew = Squeaky (Apparently he never did anything wrong) Jason Robinson = Billy Whizz (A loss to international rugby: a genius when running at opponents) Mickey Skinner = Munch and sometimes Crunch (Apparently because of his ferocious tackles?) Will Carling = Bumface (The England captain had a characteristic chin dimple) Steve Thompson = Shrek (I wouldn't call him this to his face) Danny Grewcock = Robolock (Strong British Lion and England lock forward) The Twickenham Fox It doesn't take much to liven up a rugby match between England and  Scotland, so the appearance of a fox during 2011's Six Nations match  delighted the crowd, although it was surprising given the standard  demographic that it wasn't pursued off the pitch by a pack of hounds to the  shout of tally-ho. So fleet of foot was Mr Fox that many regret now that  Martin Johnson hadn't taken it to the World Cup last autumn instead of Mike  Tindall ¤ Assorted Nationalities Nicknames Shane Byrne = Mullet  (See Hairstyle opposite) Brian O' Driscoll = Bod or God (Self explanatory: a great loss to the British Lions in 2005) Craig Chalmers = Judith (The Scottish outside half was named after Judith Chalmers, the famous broadcaster) Thomas Castaignede = The Little Prince (As the French press named the skilful three-quarter) Phillipe Bernat-Salle = The Pau rocket (He played for Pau and France and was an extremely speedy winger) International Rugby Team Nicknames Almost every nation has at least one shortened name to inspire its fans,  and to increase the commentators vocabulary. Argentina: Los Pumas Canada: Canucks or Maple Leafs Cote d'Ivoire - Les éléphants Fiji: Bati [The Warriors] Sometimes referred to as The Flying  Fijians France: Les Bleus or sometimes Les Tricolores Georgia: The Lelos [The team's nickname comes from 'lelo burti', a  traditional Georgian sport with strong similarities to rugby] Italy: Azzurri, The Gladiators of Rome Japan: The Cherry Blossoms or The Brave Blossoms Namibia: The Welwitschias [a desert flower] New Zealand: The All Blacks Portugal: Os Lobos [The Wolves] Romania: The Oaks Spain: El XV Del León [their emblem] South Africa: The Springboks Tonga: Ikale Tahi [Sea Eagles] USA: The Eagles Uruguay - Los Teros [their emblem] Wales: Dragons


What name is given to two vowel-sounds pronounced as one syllable?

diphthongs - How many syllables are there in the word "fire"? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange up vote 12 down vote I know nothing about Haiku, but I can tell you some general things to think about in terms of the syllable in general. Unfortunately, the syllable is one of those concepts that is difficult to define precisely and uncontroversially in terms of its details, depsite it being one of the few phonological phenomena that your "average" speaker has a good degree of intiution about. What we can say is that speech appears to be organised into "syllables" which are defined by some combination of the following: a syllable generally corresponds to a peak in sonority; a syllable generally corresponds to a unit that speakers intuitively make use of in metalinguistic activities (e.g. singing or clapping one note per syllable); a syllable is an organisational unit: it generally corresponds to a vowel at its nucleus, wth which consonants at the "edges" of the same syllable are associated in some way (e.g. changes in duration can occur across the syllable as a whole unit), and in a given language you can find a relatively small number of patterns that all syllables conform to. When considering the above factors, there are a few cases where ambiguity arises. For example, in the word "strengths", there is a peak of sonority on the "s", and it's unusual for such a complex cluster to occur, suggesting that the final "s" may constitute its own syllable. But on the other hand, few if any speakers would make two claps/taps to accompany the word "strengths", or sing it on two notes. The word "fire" is another example where there is ambiguity, and probably speaker-to-speaker variation. On the one hand, we may conclude that it is composed of 2 syllables: one with a diphthong followed by one with a single schwa vowel. Or we may conclude that it comprises a single syllable with a triphthong ("single vowel" with three targets). One motivating argument for it being a single syllable might be the existence of alternative pronunciatons in which a single diphthong is present; a motivating argument for two syllables would be where speakers mark the word with two claps/notes, or pronounce a distinct yod ("y" sound) between the diphthong and schwa. up vote 5 down vote It's nothing to do with whether the letter "r" is enunciated. It's just a matter of the vowel sound, which I personally would say is a triphthong , though others might argue they don't accept that term at all, and simply call it a diphthong For the purposes of poetry, singing, etc., it's largely a matter of choice and circumstance whether you say these sounds are one or two (or even more) syllables (and, maybe, say/sing them as such). I do like this question though, because it's extended my knowledge to recognise that choir, for example, is in fact a quadthong (which after following up on @kitukwfyer's comment, I find is more often called a tetraphthong ).


Which European country's flag is the oldest in the world?

The 5 Oldest Country Flags in the World – Patriot Wood Order a wood replica of the Scotland Saltire today! → 2. AUSTRIA (Adopted 1230) The flag of Austria entertains three equal horizontal stripes of red, white, and red. Historically, the design is based on the coat of arms of the Babenberg dynasty, and at first the flag was orange-white-blue, but later the orange and blue stripes became red. According to legend, the flag was invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria as a consequence of his fighting during the Siege of Acre (1189-1191). After a fierce battle, his white surcoat was completely drenched in blood. When he removed his belt, the cloth underneath was strikingly white, revealing the color combination of red-white-red. So taken was he by this singular sight that he adopted the colors and scheme as Austria’s flag. Though the Austrian Flag was in the works in 1105, it wasn’t officially adopted until 1230. Place a custom order for a wooden replica of the Austrian Flag today! → 3. LATVIA (1280) One of the oldest flags in the world, the Flag of Latvia was first mentioned in medieval chronicle called the Rhymed Chronicle of Livonia in 1280. The chronicle mentions a red standard with a white stripe being used by Latvian tribes. According to the LatvianHistory.com , “when the leader of Ancient Latvian Semigallian tribe lead the attack against the Teutonic Crusader controlled Riga, Latgalian soldiers from Cēsis came to support the crusaders. The Latgalians came with red-white-red flag that chronicler called the ‘flag of the letts.’” A legend refers to a mortally wounded chief of a Latvian tribe who was wrapped in a white sheet. The part of the sheet on which he was lying remained white, but the two edges were stained in his blood. During the next battle the bloodstained sheet was used as a flag. According to the legend this time the Latvian warriors were successful and drove the enemy away. Place a custom order for a wooden replica of the Flag of Latvia today! → 4. DENMARK (Adopted 1307 or earlier) Known as the known as the 'Dannebrog' or 'Danish cloth,' in Denmark, the the current design of a white Scandinavian cross on a red background was officially adopted in 1307 or earlier. The Flag of Denmark also holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest continuously used national flag . According to legend, the flag came into Danish possession during the Battle of Lyndanisse in 1219. The Danes were on a failing crusade in Estonia, but after praying to God, a flag fell from the sky. After this event, Danish King Valdemar II went on to defeat the Estonians. The first recorded use of the flag appeared less than 100 years later. This legend has no historical or factual record, though many hold it to be true. Sources note that while Denmark was never part of the Roman Empire, similar designs were used by the Empire to represent provinces, as the white cross is symbolic of Christianity. The cross design was later adopted by other Nordic countries such as Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. Place a custom order for a wooden replica of the Flag of Denmark today! → 5. ALBANIA (1443) The Flag of Albania consists of a red field (background) with a black two-headed eagle in its center. The first sighting of Albania’s flag was on on November 28, 1443, when Skanderbeg (George Kastrioti), the national hero of Albania, raised his flag over the fortress of Krujë in defiance of the Turks who ruled the country. The unique double-headed eagle design was borrowed from the Byzantine Empire. The symbol of the double-headed eagle was re-used by Albanian nationalists during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a symbol of their campaign for their country's independence from the Ottoman Empire. On November 28, 1912, the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed, and the flag was officially adopted.


Horse racing trainers Evan, Ian, Stuart and Nick, share which surname with jockeys Darren and Christian?

Oldtimers with memories required - Trainers Christian Names > Betfair Community > Horse Racing Report TheNorfolkMafia • May 14, 2013 10:00 PM BST A Charlton 2003 - Alistair Charlton A Charlton 2003 - Alistair Charlton Report stewarts rise • May 14, 2013 10:00 PM BST Barry Morgan. Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:00 PM BST Jack Clayton Report onthejim • May 14, 2013 10:01 PM BST Norman Bradley Report stewarts rise • May 14, 2013 10:02 PM BST Daniel O'Donnell-Does a bit of singing now! Daniel O'Donnell-Does a bit of singing now! Report onthejim • May 14, 2013 10:03 PM BST Steve "full extent" Norton Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:03 PM BST Les Hall Report themightymac • May 14, 2013 10:03 PM BST George    Bridgland FR    1960 Ralph    Emery    1994 Tony    Charlton    2003 George  Bridgland FR  1960Tommy  Carey  1960Reginald  Day  1960Marcus  Marsh  1960Rufus  Beasley  1961Percy  Carter FR  1961Vernon  Cross  1961 Peter  Payne Gallway  1961Jeremy  Clayton  1962Peter  Dawson  1962Et Report toberaheena • May 14, 2013 10:06 PM BST Clem Magnier Clem Magnier Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:08 PM BST I think A Bastiman was Robin's dad, but his name was Deryck, so I don't know what the 'A' stood for. I think A Bastiman was Robin's dad, but his name was Deryck, so I don't know what the 'A' stood for. Report stewarts rise • May 14, 2013 10:09 PM BST E Jones-Earl-poss. Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:13 PM BST L Dale was Syd Dale. Don't know what the L stood for. L Dale was Syd Dale. Don't know what the L stood for. Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:20 PM BST (The other) Syd Dale was a composer and arranger, and was musical director of the program Six Five Special in the 1960's, so that's perhaps where L Dale got his name from. (The other) Syd Dale was a composer and arranger, and was musical director of the program Six Five Special in the 1960's, so that's perhaps where L Dale got his name from. Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:23 PM BST I wouldn't be sure that HT Cross was Vernon Cross. The latter was always V Cross in racecards. I wouldn't be sure that HT Cross was Vernon Cross. The latter was always V Cross in racecards. Report blackbarn • May 14, 2013 10:32 PM BST hi ged,   Syd Dale was definitely Mr L S Dale.  Not much help as I have no idea what the L stood for. hi ged,  Syd Dale was definitely Mr L S Dale. Not much help as I have no idea what the L stood for. Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:32 PM BST M Charles is Martin Charles. M Charles is Martin Charles. Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:33 PM BST Syd Dale trained Mill House, and Black Justice (and Mr M Prescott(7), I think) Syd Dale trained Mill House, and Black Justice (and Mr M Prescott(7), I think) Report ged • May 14, 2013 10:39 PM BST Hi blackbarn M Goswell was Mick Goswell. Hi blackbarnM Goswell was Mick Goswell. Report blackbarn • May 14, 2013 10:42 PM BST I have posted some obscure trivia on here over the years, but this one takes irrelevance to hitherto unheard of heights ( or is that depths?) .... Syd Dale started training 5 miles from Gary Moore's Woodingdean yard.  Syd trained Plummers Plain to win the Whitbread. Plummers Plain is a village less than one mile from Gary's current Lower Beeding yard.    Remember where you heard it I have posted some obscure trivia on here over the years, but this one takes irrelevance to hitherto unheard of heights ( or is that depths?) ....Syd Dale started training 5 miles from Gary Moore's Woodingdean yard. Syd trained Plummers Plain to win Report salmon spray • May 14, 2013 10:43 PM BST Didn't Goswell hold the licence for a woman ? Didn't Goswell hold the licence for a woman ? Report blackbarn • May 14, 2013 10:46 PM BST I think the french trainer is Miguel Clement. He was defo training about that time and has a son who is also a trainer. I think the french trainer is Miguel Clement. He was defo training about that time and has a son who is also a trainer. Report boingingbaggie • May 14, 2013 10:47 PM BST Les Halles must live in Paris. Line 4, Metro. Les Halles must live in Paris.Line 4, Metro. Report superdub • M


Which ancient trackway runs from St Albans to Canterbury?

Watling Street Routes - Watling Street Watling Street Watling Street is a very ancient trackway that runs across England from Dover to Wales. It was first used by the Britons between settlements in the Canterbury and St Albans areas. The Romans later built a road along its route - The London to Dover section is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III. Watling Street is now covered by the A2 from Dover to London and the A5 road from London to Wroxeter. Towns and Villages located near Watling Street Canterbury , Dover, Dunstable, Hinckley, St. Albans, Wall, Wroxeter


Which cologne, created in 1792, was named after the street number of the building in Glockengasse, Cologne where it was created?

Cologne, Germany, is the birthplace of eau de cologne | Travel | Dallas News Cologne, Germany, is the birthplace of eau de cologne Filed under Travel at Story And Photography By Susan Farlow / Special Contributor To The Dallas Morning News Connect with Story And Photography By Susan Farlow / Special Contributor To The Dallas Morning News Get Daily Dallas News Headlines Sign Up Get Unlimited Digital Access Your first month is less than a dollar. $0.99 for first 4 weeks Subscribe Now COLOGNE, Germany - "I had no idea," said a woman in the Cologne perfume shop Farina House. She had just learned that eau de cologne was created in this German city on the Rhine River. She isn't alone. Few people connect cologne, the fragrance, to Cologne the city. But here, 300 years ago, eau de cologne ("water of Cologne") was first concocted. The scent scientist, according to most sources, was a 23-year-old Italian named Johann Maria Farina (1685-1766), who learned the art of perfume-making from his grandmother, moved to Cologne, fashioned a delicate new scent in 1708, and named it in honor of his adopted hometown. In 1709, he set up the fragrance company. Eight generations later, the company remains in the hands of the Farina family, who continue to make the original citrusy fragrance, still using the secret formula. "Here is my business card," said Johann Maria Farina, the current managing director of the legendary perfume house, who carries the same name as his scent-inventing forebear. The card read, "The World's Oldest Fragrance Company." He added, "Why don't you take the audio tour of our museum?" In the same building as the shop, the three-story museum traces Cologne's cologne heritage. It's a history that's far from simple but plenty entertaining. It would make a great movie, its plot stuffed with centuries-old rivalries, eccentric characters and the grooming habits of some of history's highest and mightiest. Before I'd even set foot in Farina House, I knew its brand wasn't the only famous cologne in town. While Farina might be the oldest, the cologne named No. 4711 is the most popular. A huge 4711 sign greets arrivals at the city's train station. Throughout Old Town in this 2,000-year-old city, shops showcase 4711 in their windows. A visitor could be forgiven for thinking 4711 was the only sniff in town. To get the lowdown on these two eau-de-cologne dynasties, I visited both Farina House and the 4711 home shop to ferret out the personalities behind these storied brands, rivals since the late 18th century. The tour of Farina's fragrance museum begins on the third floor, where you come face to face with a painting of the scent's creator. I couldn't take my eyes off his nose. That snoot was so sensitive, according to a book I bought at the tourist office, that it could discern a person's country and occupation "with his eyes closed." Farina was - and I mean this in the nicest possible way - a human bloodhound. As I wandered among displays of antique perfume bottles, exhibits on fragrance forgeries and a reproduction of a distillation room, the self-guided audio tour explained why Farina's fragrance was called cologne instead of Köln, the German name of this city. "Three hundred years ago," said the CD guide, "French was spoken by the upper classes from southern Italy to northern England. French was also the language of trade." Thus, the French word for the city, Cologne, was used. In the 18th century, fragrance was a luxury item. Before long, Farina's cologne was being shipped to royal houses throughout Europe. Records show Napoleon used a bottle a day. The emperor is said to have had special boots in which he could stash a bottle of Farina cologne for dabbing on the go. Other regular customers of yore, said a display, included Queen Victoria, Empress Maria Theresa, Mozart, Voltaire, Louis XV and XVI. More recent users: Princess Diana, Marlene Dietrich and Bill Clinton. For most of the 1700s, eau de cologne was a term used solely for Farina's scent. Because there were no such things as trademarks in those days, hundreds of competi


The Brooklyn Bridge crosses which river?

Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge By Ellen Freudenheim Updated January 15, 2017. The Brooklyn Bridge connects two great New York City boroughs: Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can walk it, drive it, bike it, or just admire it. One way or the other, the Brooklyn Bridge is a must-visit when traveling to Brooklyn. In fact, it's not just an enjoyable experience for tourists, many born-and-bred New Yorkers find themselves still charmed by the bridge. There's a dedicated pedestrian walkway on the Brooklyn Bridge, above the roaring car traffic, so it's a wonderful stroll. First, decide which side you will start from: Brooklyn or Manhattan? How to Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge Starting in Brooklyn Starting in Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walk can be accessed on the Brooklyn side from two entrance ways. The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway begins at the intersection of Tillary Street and Boerum Place. This entrance is what one sees from a car when crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. The second way to get onto the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway is to access it via an underpass on Washington Street. The underpass is about two blocks from Front Street in Brooklyn. This underpass leads up a stairway to a ramp up that brings you onto the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway. continue reading below our video How to Walk the Brooklyn Bridge Which subway gets you closest to the Brooklyn Bridge on the Brooklyn side? Many subways run close to the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge. But all involve a walk of a third to two-thirds of a mile before arriving at the bridge. (This is useful to know if one has young children in tow, or is wearing impossible shoes.) Also, to avoid frustrating route changes, always check subway schedules on the New York City MTA Trip Planner website for possible route changes, especially on weekends. The absolutely closest, but least pretty route, is to take the A or C subway to the High Street-Brooklyn Bridge stop. Go right on Pearl Street, then left on Prospect Street to Washington Street. Look on the left for the entrance to the underpass on Washington Street. The underpass leads up a stairway to a ramp up, and voila! You will have arrived on the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Path. Beware zooming cyclists. (Distance: quarter of a mile to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway) For a more charming adventure, exit the 2 and 3 subways at Clark Street Station, ride the elevator to street level, and walk to your left onto historic little Henry Street. Head downhill towards the un-miss-able Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. Cross Henry Street at Cranberry Street and take the pathway through the Co-op houses. Walk across the street known as Cadman Plaza West. Then follow the path through tiny Cadman Plaza Park to Washington Street (which is also known as Cadman Plaza East). On Washington Street, take the underpass on the left, up a stairway to the Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Path. (Distance: a third of a mile to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway) If you're prone to getting lost, take the longer, but straighter route: Take the 2,3, 4,5, N or R subways to Borough Hall. Walk along Boerum Place (incorrectly labeled as Adams Street on some online maps) for about twelve minutes, passing the Brooklyn Marriott on the right. Cross onto the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian path at Tillary Street. (Distance: two thirds of a mile to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway) The coolest and fastest way to return is by New York Water Taxi : This is a seasonal, paid service, and schedules vary. Call (212) 742.1969, or see the WaterTaxi website. Getting Back to Brooklyn You can walk back, of course. Or, take the J, Z,4 or 5 from City Hall, or the 2, 3 from Chambers Street back to Brooklyn. How to Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge Starting in Manhattan Ah! This is much easier, but the views are not as good as going in the other direction. The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walk can be accessed from City Hall on the Manhattan side of the East River . Which subway gets you closest to the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side? The closest trains are the 4, 5, 6, J or Z to Br


Carrots nutrition facts and health benefits Photo courtesy: wordridden Daucus carota is cultivated across the world for its prized taproot. It is biennial and bears flowers during second year of life. However, in general, the whole plant is harvested much prematurely without wait for the bloom when its root reaches about an inch in diameter, tender and juicy. Asian (oriental) variety. color and tail like tapering lower ends. Carrots vary widely in color and shape depending up on the cultivar types. Generally, oriental taproots are long, featuring flat upper end with tapering, tail like, lower ends. They are winter season crops in many parts of Asia. European carrots, on the other hand, have more rounded blunt ends with almost as a cylindrical body. In addition, European-variety feature bright orange color in contrast to saffron colored Asian cultivars. Health benefits of carrots Sweet and crunchy carrots are notably rich in anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber. They provide only 41 calories per 100 g, negligible amount of fat and no cholesterol. They are exceptionally rich source of carotenes and vitamin-A. 100 g fresh carrot contains 8285 µg of beta-carotene and 16706 IU of vitamin A. Studies have found that flavonoid compounds in carrots may offer protect from skin, lung and oral cavity cancers. Carotenes converted into vitamin A in the liver cells. Beta-carotene is the major carotene present in these roots. Beta carotene is one of the powerful natural anti-oxidant that helps protect human body from harmful oxygen-free radical injury. In addition, it also carry out all the functions of vitamin-A such as maintaining good eye health, reproduction (sperm production), maintenance of epithelial integrity, growth and development. Carrots are rich in poly-acetylene antioxidant, falcarinol. Research study conducted by scientists at University of Newcastle on laboratory animals has found that falcarinol in carrots may help fight against cancers by destroying pre-cancerous cells in the tumors. Fresh roots are also good in vitamin C; provide about 9% of RDA. Vitamin-C is water soluble anti-oxidant. It helps the body maintain healthy connective tissue, teeth and gum. Its anti-oxidant property helps the human body protect from diseases and cancers by scavenging action on harmful free radicals. In addition, they are especially rich in many B-complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, pantothenic acid, etc., that acts as co-factors to enzymes during substrate metabolism in the body. Further, They also compose healthy levels of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Selection and storage Fresh carrots and green bell peppers in a market. Fresh carrots can be available in the markets around the season. While buying, look for young, tender, bright-colored roots with firm consistency. Avoid soft, flabby roots, with cuts or mold. Furthermore, avoid very large-sized roots as they can be an indication of overmaturity, ensuing poor eating quality. Undue exposure of carrot to sunlight would result in greenish discoloration near its top end because of chlorophyll photo-pigment deposition. Although this may not affect on health badly, however, the condition may diminish its sweet taste. Avoid forking or twisting carrots as they may be the indication of either disease infestation or close crop cultivation. Once at home, wash them thoroughly in cold water to remove dirt, soil, or insecticide/fungicides. Generally, the top greens are severed from the root before storing in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator where they keep well for 1-2 weeks. Set refrigerator temperature level below 35 degree F and high humidity to maintain vitality. Preparation and serving methods Wash carrots thoroughly before use. Trim both ends; gently scrape


In which group of islands are St Mary's, St Agnes and Bryher?

St. Agnes St. Agnes Island Highlights There are five inhabited islands - St. Mary's, Tresco, St. Martin's, Bryher and St. Agnes – and countless uninhabited islands to explore. Not only are the entire Isles of Scilly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but 2,200 people are lucky enough to call it home. By Foot One of the simplest pleasures when staying on Scilly is to go exploring.  Between them, the five inhabited islands have more than 60 miles of trails and tracks and approximately 9 miles of paved road, as well as (of course!) the beautiful waters that surround them St. Agnes England’s final frontier: totally untamed and thoroughly unspoilt On the most south-westerly edge of the Isles of Scilly, St. Agnes is totally unspoilt and astonishingly peaceful. It measures just a mile or so across, and its closest neighbour is Gugh, to which it is joined by a sand bar at low tide. This is an island of wonderful contrasts, from rocky outcrops on its exposed west side to paradise beaches in its more sheltered coves; the tranquillity of the sandbar between St. Agnes and Gugh is particularly magical. Inland are quaint cottages and a patchwork of flower fields, while a lighthouse stands at the island’s highest point. St. Agnes is also a thriving community of working farms and creative, light industrial flair.  St. Agnes urges your senses to seek adventure. Head off in search of the circular maze of rounded beach stones; marvel at the stone stacks and cairns that dot Wingletang Down, or comb the beaches for shipwrecked treasures at Beady Pool. Periglis Beach is a fine spot for a picnic as well as a shell collectors’ paradise. It also offers stunning views across to the bird sanctuary that is Annet, the Western Rocks and out to Bishop Rock. And then there’s the Old Man of Gugh, who stands 3 metres tall and is believed to be associated with Bronze Age rituals.  Of course, there is always the option to simply go for a dip, or sit and watch the world go by whilst sampling the local produce at the restaurants and cafés, or supping a beer at the Turk’s Head pub. There are no matching listings. Green tourism award St Agnes Boating St. Agnes All year St Agnes Boating is a small family owned business that has over twenty years experience boating within the islands using Scilly's only purpose built catamaran the Spirit of St Agnes. For a more intimate bespoke service the Enterprise is available for special hire, fishing and sightseeing trips. Call us or go online to discuss your requirements. Read more » Search results: 1 Showing: 1 to 1 Green tourism award Troytown Farm Shop St. Agnes All year Troytown Farm is the only dairy farm in Scilly. Milking 9 dairy cows, it might also be the smallest in the country. Farming on a small scale works for us, as we process the milk in our little dairy and make very special ice cream, clotted cream, butter and yogurt to sell direct to our customers from our farm shop. Covean Cottage Ts on Ts Cafe St. Agnes Apr-Oct Teas on T-Days: delightful garden cafe on the island of St. Agnes serving delicious, freshly baked cream teas and cakes.. 2 - 5 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays Tel. 01720 422620. Also evening Pizza nights during the Summer (pre-orders only). Read more » St Agnes Boating Wildlife Safaris St. Agnes Apr-Sep St Agnes Boating is working with the Seabird Recovery Project and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust to promote the island’s wildlife. Every Wednesday we have a Wildlife Trust Ranger onboard who is our guide. The Spirit travels to Annet, the protected island where the seabirds nest and then onto the Western Rocks towards the Bishop Rock Lighthouse every Wednesday afternoon. Puffins, Manx Shearwaters and other nesting seabirds should be seen from April to July.  Come along to find out why our customers say this trip is exciting, educational, informative and fun! Read more » St. Agnes Stores St. Agnes All year England's most South Westerly Post Office! Our friendly little shop sells a great range of good food, wines, freshly baked bread, pastries and pasties. We stock lots of delicious St. Agnes produ


What name is given to a number sequence in which each term is the sum of the two preceding terms?

The Fibonacci Numbers     Fibonacci is perhaps best known for discovering a series of numbers that we now refer to as the Fibonacci numbers.      1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233,... This sequence was introduced in Fibonacci's first book, Liber abbaci, where it arose in the solution to a mathematical problem:        "A certain man put a pair of rabbits in a place surrounded by a wall. How many pairs of rabbits can be produced from that pair in a year if it is supposed that every month each pair begets a new pair from which the second month on becomes productive?" (Liber abbaci, chapter 12, p. 283-4)      Solution:           At month zero, there is one pair of rabbits. At the beginning of the first month (January 1st), there is one pair of rabbits that has mated, but not yet given birth. At the beginning of the second month, the original pair gives birth, giving rise to another pair of rabbits...and so on. After one full year, there are 377 pairs of rabbits.       The Fibonacci numbers form what we call a recurrent sequence. Beginning with 1, each term of the Fibonacci sequence is the sum of the two preceding numbers.    0+1=1     1+1=2     1+2=3     2+3=5     3+5=8    5+8=13    Here is a recurrence relation for the Fibonacci numbers:     This equation identifies a situation, when n is greater than 2, where each term of a sequence is the sum of the two preceding terms, as is the case with the Fibonacci series.


In `Winnie the Pooh', who lived in the 'House at Pooh Corner'?

Winnie the Pooh & House at Pooh Corner: Dramatisation : David Benedictus : 9781840320015 Try AbeBooks Description Two CDs packed full of fun and adventure with Winnie-the-Pooh and all his friends in the Hundred Acre Forest. Each CD forms part of a wonderful dramatisation of Winnie-the-Pooh by David Benedictus with music composed, directed and played by John Gould. With a cast of carefully-chosen actors, this adaptation conveys all the magic of Milne's classic stories. The cast includes the following stars: Pooh - Stephen Fry Piglet - Jane Horrocks Eeyore - Geoffrey Palmer Kanga - Judi Dench Roo - Finty Williams Rabbit - Robert Daws Owl - Michael Williams Christopher Robin - Steven Webb show more Product details 120                   x 142                   x 10mm                                   | 117.94g Publication date


Which chocolate selection was launched in 1938 and is famous for the 'say it with ' advertising campaign?

The History of Chocolate More about the range 1847The business moves to Bridge Street In 1847, the Cadbury brothers' booming business moved into a new, larger factory in Bridge Street in the centre of Birmingham. The new site had its own private canal spur, which linked the factory to the Birmingham Navigation Canal and from there to all the major ports in Britain. More about the new factory 1847Fry's Produce the First Chocolate Bar 18th century France produced pastilles (tablets) and bars. But it wasn’t until Bristol company Fry & Son made a ‘chocolate delicieux a manger’ in 1847 that the first bar of chocolate appeared, as we know it today. The first ever chocolate bar was made from a mixture of cocoa powder and sugar with a little of the melted cocoa butter that had been extracted from the beans. The result was a bar that could be moulded. It might have been coarse and bitter by today’s standards, but it was still a revolution. Shaped into blocks and bars, and poured over fruit-flavoured centres, this plain chocolate was a real breakthrough. But there were many more treats in store... More about the brothers 1866An innovative processing technique is introduced The turning point for the Cadbury business was the introduction of a new processing technique, resulting in the 1866 launch of 'Cadbury Cocoa Essence', the UK's first unadulterated cocoa. Before Cocoa Essence, the cocoa Cadbury produced, like that of many other manufacturers, contained high levels of cocoa butter. They had to add starches to mask its taste and texture. But George Cadbury had heard about an innovative cocoa press being used by a Dutch manufacturer called Coenraad Johannes van Houten. The press squeezed out much of the cocoa butter from the beans, so it wasn’t necessary to add starches. Could this be the way forward? Buying the press was a massive gamble. It was expensive and the brothers had little money. It had to be used for mass production and no one knew if there’d be enough demand for the product. But the Cadbury brothers decided to go for it - the first British manufacturer to go down this route. It was a momentous step, one that changed the British cocoa business and led to the future prosperity of Cadbury. The press was installed in their factory in Bridge Street, Cadbury Brothers’ new product appeared. Cocoa Essence was extensively advertised as 'Absolutely Pure. Therefore Best’, alongside medical testimonials. The marketing of Cocoa Essence helped increase sales dramatically and transformed a small business into the worldwide company that Cadbury is today. More about Cocoa Essence 1875First Milk Chocolate Bar In 1875, a Swiss manufacturer called Daniel Peter added milk to his recipe to make the first milk chocolate bar. This wasn’t a completely new idea; Cadbury produced their milk chocolate drink based on Sir Hans Sloane’s recipe between 1849 and 1875. And Cadbury added their own milk chocolate bars in 1897. But Daniel Peter was still way ahead of them – using condensed milk rather than powdered milk to produce a chocolate with a superior taste and texture. Another Swiss manufacturer invented the conching machine in 1879. This refined chocolate, giving it the smooth texture we know today. Swiss milk chocolate dominated the British market – a situation the Cadbury family set out to challenge in the 20th Century. More about milk chocolate 1875Cadbury makes their first Easter egg The first Cadbury Easter egg was made in 1875. The earliest eggs were made with dark chocolate and had a smooth, plain surface. They were filled with sugar-coated chocolate drops known as 'dragees’. Later Easter eggs were decorated and had their plain shells enhanced with chocolate piping and marzipan flowers. 1878The Cadbury Brothers are inspired by their vision When the Bridge Street factory became too small, George Cadbury had a new vision of the future. 'Why should an industrial area be squalid and depressing?’ he asked. His vision was shared by his brother Richard, and they began searching for a very special site for their new factory. In 1878 the brother


In which English port is the Special Boat Service (SBS) based?

Special Boat Service (SBS) – ShadowSpear Special Operations Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) January 28, 2009 The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the British Royal Navy’s special forces unit. The service’s motto is “By Strength and Guile”. It forms part of the United Kingdom Special Forces, alongside the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR). The SBS is an independent unit of the Royal Marines and is based with 1 Assault Group Royal Marines and the British Army’s 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery in Royal Marines Poole, in Poole, Dorset. Selection To be eligible for SBS selection, a candidate must have at least two years regular service. Formerly candidates were from the Royal Marines or the Royal Navy, but now volunteers are taken from any arm of the services. In order to qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist, Candidates must first undergo Special Forces Selection with the SAS before continuing to SBS selection. There is also an SBS Reserve (SBS(R)), and candidates must have previous military experience or have served at least two years in the Royal Marines Reserve before attending a Specialist course and gaining the specialist qualification of swimmer canoeist. SBS(R) provides individual reservists to serve with the regular SBS rather than forming independent teams. Role The SBS’s role is not confined to seaborne and maritime operations; their responsibilities do not end at the tide line. The SBS usually provides the special forces element of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and is responsible for Maritime Counter-Terrorism operations, including the protection of oil rigs and vessels at sea. It also has the responsibility for conducting coastal reconnaissance before amphibious operations. This involves conducting hydrographic surveys (surveying beaches and coastal waters to determine their suitability for amphibious landings) and landing small teams ashore covertly, to conduct reconnaissance patrols or set up coast-watch observation posts; as the SBS and Boat Troops of the SAS did in the Falklands war in 1982. Training Qualification as an SBS Swimmer Canoeist involves an extensive training course, building on the skills gained during SF Selection at Hereford. Training includes: -Diving both closed and open circuit – candidates swim underwater for miles in poor visibility completing complex navigational tasks and employment exercises -Parachuting both HALO and HAHO -Demolition -Infiltration of ships, in harbour and whilst under way, and oil platforms -Canoeing – Use of the Klepper canoe during selection is extensive -Further survival training in the wilds of Scotland -Beach reconnaissance including photography -Maritime Counter-Terrorism activities Those who pass the selection course qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist (SC3) and are then probationers. Being trained as parachutists, SBS marines are distinguishable by wearing the Special Forces Parachute badge on the shoulder of the right sleeve on their uniforms. Organization The SBS is thought to have a complement of around 100 “Swimmer Canoeists” at any one time. These are split into four operational squadrons and the training wing which conducts selection and continuation training. C and X squadrons rotate through three specialist roles. M squadron is the maritime counter-terrorism and shipboard operations unit. Within M-Squadron is the Black Group, the counter-terrorism team that uses helicopter-borne assaults. Z squadron takes care of small watercraft and mini sub insertions. Personnel have previously been required to return to the main Commando force after the first three year tour, potentially returning again after a short period, it is thought that this requirement has been relaxed with some personnel remaining with the service as required. History 1941: The Special Air Service was formed in World War II during the north African conflict. The SAS later formed a unit comprising eight-man sections of divers and canoeists to reconnoiter enemy fortifications from land or sea, raid enemy ports, and conduct sabotage operations against mercha


The Alabama Three performed 'Woke Up This Morning', the title song to which very popular crime series?

Alabama 3: Hear the Train a' Comin' (Video 2005) - IMDb IMDb 17 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC NEWS There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Alabama 3: Hear the Train a' Comin' ( 2005 ) 1h 11min Film of Alabama 3's concert at the London Astoria, December 14 2004. Directors: Title: Alabama 3: Hear the Train a' Comin' (Video 2005) 8.6/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Add Image Add an image Do you have any images for this title? 17 October 2005 (UK) See more  » Filming Locations: (United States) – See all my reviews History The band formed when Jake Black met Rob Spragg at an acid house party in Peckham and they decided that a fusion of country music with acid house was a musical possibility. Other members of the band were accumulated over a lengthy period, but it is known that Rob Spragg was at university with Piers Marsh, the harmonica player and programmer for the band whilst Orlando Harrison, the group's current keyboardist, used to live with Jake Black. Prior to the formation of the Alabama 3 Jake had gone through his "wilderness years" period of which there is little or no recorded output. This creative gulch lasted years following the demise of The Jangletties. Starting their act under the alias "The First Presleyterian Church Of Elvis The Divine (UK)" they eventually switched names to Alabama 3 and, after having been dismissed by the mainstream media as a novelty act, the group finally signed to One Little Indian records in 1997 for the release of their debut album Exile on Coldharbour Lane. In August 2007, they toured under the name of "Alabama 3: Acoustic and Unplugged" with Devlin Love to promote their new album, M.O.R. (released September 10, 2007. Bassist John "Segs" Jennings has apparently left the band, saying he is "busy elsewhere and (he doesn't) have the time." The latest album M.O.R includes a cover of Jerry Reed's 1970s hit "Amos Moses" and features The Proclaimers on the track "Sweet Joy" plus piano parts on the country stomp version of the Gil Scott Heron song The Clan by Brian Jackson. In September and October 2007, the band toured the UK in support of M.O.R. with Irish band Republic Of Loose supporting. On Friday 29th February 2008 members of the band encored with Carbon/Silicon at the seventh and final Carbon Casino gig at The Inn On The Green, under the Westway. Mick Jones joined them on stage to add guitar and backing vocals to a version of "Woke Up This Morning". Larry Love of Alabama 3 on stage at Carbon Casino 7 Current band members/aliases The members of the band are: Jake Black AKA The Very Reverend Dr. D. Wayne Love: vocals Rob Spragg AKA Larry Love: vocals Zoe Devlin AKA Devlin Love: vocals Piers Marsh AKA The Mountain of Love: programming, keyboards, vocals and harmonica Nick Reynolds AKA Harpo Strangelove: harmonica and vocals Simon (The Dude) Edwards AKA Sir Eddie Real: percussion, vocals Orlando Harrison AKA The Spirit: keyboards, keyboard bass Mark Sams AKA Rock Freebase: guitar, bass guitar Jonny Delafons AKA L. B. Dope: drums, percussion Steve Finnerty AKA LOVEPIPE production,guitar,bass,vocals Musical style Alabama 3's sound is a blend of country, blues, and acid house. Their songs have sampled Jim Jones in "Mao Tse Tung Said" and Birmingham Six survivor Patrick Hill in "The Thrills Have Gone." Trouser Press reviewer Jason Reeher wrote that A3's "debut is brilliant and (shambolic)...owing huge debts to both Hank Williams and Happy Mondays." Alabama 3's music in TV and film Alabama 3's song "Woke Up This Morning" from Exile on Coldharbour Lane plays during the opening credits of the HBO television series The Sopranos. A snippet of "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlife" can be heard at the beginning of the first episode of the third season of The Sopranos as Tony Soprano walks down the drive way to get his morning newspaper.


In which Ealing film comedy did Dennis Price kill off various members of the D'Ascoyne family?

Kind Hearts and Coronets Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb 88 out of 105 people found the following review useful: Brilliantly fun, dark humour and satire from United States 23 March 2005 Undoubtedly one of the most perfect, brilliant comedies ever, this movie is extremely fun and revels in its dark, clever humour. What can one say about a comedy centred around a dapper, charming, likable, impoverished young English gentleman who is at the same time an utterly remorseless, ever-calculating killer who has no qualms about killing an entire line of relatives who all stand in his path to inherit the family fortune? On top of that, he all the while takes great care in preserving his demeanor and status as a gentleman; all the relatives he must eliminate are brought to life by the genius of Alec Guinness; and there's an executioner who takes pains to show proper respect to his social "superior." The dialogue, indeed pretty much all of the humour, is a shining example of "British humour" at its best. It is subtle, clever, dark, and full of irony and satire. It is pure, brilliant entertainment that doesn't stop. Comedy really can't get much better than this. Was the above review useful to you? 69 out of 83 people found the following review useful: His memoirs! from New York 5 August 2005 Robert Hamer, the director of "Kind Hearts and Coronets", one of the better comedies to come out of the Ealing studios in the late forties, created a memorable film that still keeps enchanting, no matter how many times one has seen it. This is a film that like a vintage wine gets better with age. Of course, the right elements were put together in this venture under Mr. Hamer's direction, which is probably the best tribute one could say about the film. Louis Mazzini, the young man who should have inherited a noble title that is lost as her mother elopes with an Italian tenor and she is disinherited. Louis is determined to regain what's due to him, by whatever means possible. Things go well for him, but he commits a mistake in entering an illicit romance with the calculating Sibella, while at the same time falling in love with the radiant Edith D'Ascoyne, the young widow. Dennis Price gives a smart account of Louis Mazzini. He is a delight to watch as he keeps scratching off dead relatives from behind the picture frame. Alec Guinness portrays eight D'Ascoynes with an unusual panache. Best of all is Lady Agatha who encounters 'turbulence' while flying in a balloon. Valerie Hobson makes an impression with her Edith and Joan Greenwood is at her best as Sibella. This is a film to treasure. Was the above review useful to you? 59 out of 71 people found the following review useful: Quite superb from United Kingdom 9 July 2001 This fine film is an example of Ealing at its very best, with a superlative script and acting of a very high standard. In watching, one is once more all too sadly aware of the difference in quality between British films of this era and today; there can't have been in recent times a screenplay as cleverly comic, economical and incisive as this is. The level of wit is high, and perfectly suitable for a black comedy such as this. Certain lines and scenes linger agreeably in the memory; the part where Price, in his droll narration, slips into verse, is wonderful, as is the "fight" he has with a lower-class rival; "I'm not going to drawn into a scuffle with you!" The element of class satire is strong, and while one is shown the lethargy and complacency of the upper classes through the amusing parade of Alec Guinness' characters, Price's corrupt plans are never condemned as such. His character, vigorous and witty, and the clever tool of narration, which in its tone draws in the viewer almost as a confidant. Similarly, but to an even more effective degree than in "Whisky Galore!" (1948) and "The League of Gentlemen" (1959), the viewer is made sympathetic to wrong-doings. The stunningly executed plot and dialogue are finely put across indeed by all of the actors. In the main role, Price refines and defines the cad Mancini perfectly; it really


Name either of the other two goddesses who were beaten by Aphrodite in the 'Judgement of Paris'?

JUDGEMENT OF PARIS - Greek Mythology JUDGEMENT OF PARIS Paris Athena, Aphrodite and Hera (detail), Greco-Roman mosaic from Antioch C2nd A.D., Musée du Louvre THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS was a contest between the three most beautiful goddesses of Olympos-- Aphrodite , Hera and Athena --for the prize of a golden apple addressed "To the Fairest." The story began with the wedding of Peleus and Thetis which all the gods had been invited to attend except for Eris , goddess of discord. When Eris appeared at the festivities she was turned away and in her anger cast the golden apple amongst the assembled goddesses addressed "To the Fairest." Three goddesses laid claim to the apple--Aphrodite, Hera and Athena. Zeus was asked to mediate and he commanded Hermes to lead the three goddesses to Paris of Troy to decide the issue. The three goddesses appearing before the shepherd prince, each offering him gifts for favour. He chose Aphrodite, swayed by her promise to bestow upon him Helene, the most beautiful woman, for wife. The subsequent abduction of Helene led directly to the Trojan War and the fall of the city. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES Stasinus of Cyprus or Hegesias of Aegina, Cypria Fragment 1 (as summarized in Proclus, Chrestomathia) (trans. Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C7th or 6th B.C.) : "The [Homeric] epic called The Cypria which is current is eleven books. Its contents are as follows. Zeus plans with Themis to bring about the Trojan war. Eris (Strife) arrives while the gods are feasting at the marriage of Peleus and starts a dispute between Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite as to which of them is fairest. The three are led by Hermes at the command of Zeus to Alexandros [Paris] on Mount Ida for his decision, and Alexandros, lured by his promised marriage with Helene, decides in favour of Aphrodite." Stasinus of Cyprus or Hegesias of Aegina, Cypria Fragment 6 (from Athenaeus 15. 682) : "The author of the Cypria, whether Hegesias or Stasinos, mentions flowers used for garlands. The poet, whoever he was, writes as follows in his first book [describing the Judgement of Paris] : ‘She [Aphrodite] clothed herself with garments which the Kharites (Graces) and Horai (Seasons) had made for her and dyed in flowers of spring--such flowers as the Horai wear--in crocus and hyacinth and flourishing violet and the rose's lovely bloom, so sweet and delicious, and heavenly buds, the flowers of the narcissus and lily. In such perfumed garments is Aphrodite clothed at all seasons. Then laughter-loving Aphrodite and her handmaidens wove sweet-smelling crowns of flowers of the earth and put them upon their heads--the bright-coiffed goddesses, the Nymphai and Kharites (Graces), and golden Aphrodite too, while they sang sweetly on the mount of many-fountained Ida.’" Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca E3. 2 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "[At the wedding of Peleus and Thetis :] Eris tossed an apple to Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, in recognition of their beauty, and Zeus bade Hermes escort them to Alexandros [Paris] on Ide, to be judged by him. They offered Alexandros gifts: Hera said if she were chosen fairest of all women, she would make him king of all men; Athena promised him victory in war; and Aphrodite promised him Helene in marriage. So he chose Aphrodite." Strabo, Geography 13. 1. 51 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "The Adramyttene Gulf [in the Troad] . . . Inside is Antandros, above which lies a mountain called Alexandreia, where the Judgment of Paris is said to have taken place." Pausanias, Description of Greece 15. 9. 5 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "[Amongst the scenes depicted on the chest of Kypselos dedicated at Olympia :] There is also Hermes bringing to Alexandros [Paris] the son of Priamos the goddesses of whose beauty he is to judge, the inscription on them being : ‘Here is Hermes, who is showing to Alexandros, that he may arbitrate concerning their beauty, Hera, Athena and Aphrodite.’" Paris, Hermes, Athena, Hera and Aphrodite, Athenian red-figure kylix C5th B.C., Antikensammlung Berl


Which 20th century British Prime Minister was born in Broadstairs, Kent?

BBC NEWS | UK | England | Kent | Heath's days in Kent remembered Heath's days in Kent remembered Sir Edward Heath learned to sail at Broadstairs in the 1950s Former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath has been described as a shy man who loved sailing, by the ex-commodore of the club where he learned the sport. Sir Edward, who died on Sunday, was born in Broadstairs, Kent, in 1916. He was a keen sailor, winning the Admiral's Cup in the 1970s, and learned the sport at Broadstairs Sailing Club. Richard Noble, who was a commodore at the club, said Sir Edward was shy but was always relaxed when he came back to visit, even as prime minister. Mr Noble said: "He was a good sailor. He joined the club in 1952, was taught to sail by a chap called Gordon Knight who was a local schoolmaster. It's a pity he didn't marry his girlfriend, but apparently she got a bit fed up waiting for him to pop the question Richard Noble, former commodore, Broadstairs Sailing Club "He owned a couple of dinghies here, a snipe called Blue Heather and subsequently a more exciting fireball called Blue Heather II. "He visited the sailing club at Broadstairs quite often when he was prime minister. "He used to have a beer and used to mix quite freely with people. I would think he probably felt more relaxed. "He often used visited the local pub on the pier where he was naturally very popular. Sir Edward Heath represented Old Bexley and Sidcup for over 50 years "It's a pity he didn't marry his girlfriend, but apparently she got a bit fed up waiting for him to pop the question." Mr Heath led the country from 1970 to 1974, when he was beaten by Labour, led by Harold Wilson. He was succeeded as Conservative leader by Margaret Thatcher. He represented the Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency, on the fringes of Kent and London, from 1950 until 2001. Current Conservative Party leader Michael Howard, whose Folkestone and Hythe seat is in Kent, said: "He was one of the political giants of the second half of the 20th Century." "He was the last Conservative leader who served in World War II and undoubtedly his contribution, both before he became prime minister and as prime minister, to the political life of our country was enormous."


Who was Les Dennis's partner on 'The Laughter Show' before his early death in 1986?

Les Dennis biography, Personal life, Early life, Career Les Dennis : biography 12 October 1953 - Les Dennis (born Leslie Dennis Heseltine; on 12 October 1953) is an English comedian, television presenter and actor. He was best known as the host of Family Fortunes for 15 years. Personal life Dennis married actress Amanda Holden on 4 June 1995. They had a temporary split in 2000 when Holden's affair with actor Neil Morrissey was exposed in the press, before eventually separating in December 2002 and divorcing in 2003. Dennis met Claire Nicholson in 2005. The couple have a daughter, Eleanor Grace, who was born on 24 April 2008; Dennis and Nicholson were married on 23 November 2009 in Highgate. Their son Thomas Christopher was born on 14 April 2011. Dennis is a Liverpool fan, despite the fact that his mother was a Manchester United supporter. Early life Dennis was born in Garston, Liverpool, Lancashire. His father worked in a betting shop after service in the Royal Navy during World War II and a period as a football player on the books of Liverpool F.C. (but did not play for the first team), whilst his mother worked in a factory. He attended the Stockton Wood and Joseph Williams primary schools and then Quarry Bank High School after passing the Eleven plus exam. He had a Saturday job in Burton's clothes store whilst still at school and started in entertainment as a stand-up comedian in working men's clubs. Career Early work and Family Fortunes As a comedian Dennis worked the North West social and working men's clubs. He was given his earliest opportunities by Liverpool based husband and wife theatrical agents Stuart and Dorene Gillespie ( Stuart and Dorene had been a successful act themselves in Variety ) and in his autobiography he credits them with discovering him. His first radio appearance was in 1971 on Stuart's BBC Radio Merseyside series Variety Time (The programmes were taped in front of a live audience in Merseyside Clubs ). In 1974, he won "New Faces", an ITV talent show and appeared on numerous light-entertainment shows. In 1982, he joined as one of the team on Russ Abbot's Madhouse and The Russ Abbot Show before forming a comedy partnership with fellow impressionist Dustin Gee, which in turn led to a series of their own, The Laughter Show. Following Gee's death in 1986, Les carried on The Laughter Show as a solo performer and became the third host of Family Fortunes for a fifteen-year run from 1987 to 2002. Theatre work His theatre work included Amos Hart in Chicago, Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl in the West End. He had starred in Skylight at the Water Mill Theatre, Newbury, Berkshire; Mr Wonderful at the Gateway Theatre, Chester, Misery at the Coliseum Theatre, Oldham; toured in the play Just Between Ourselves and appeared with Janet Suzman in Cherished Disappointments In Love at London's Soho Theatre. He starred with Christopher Cazenove and John Duttine in a national tour of 'Art' and as Norman Bartholomew in Anthony Shaffer's dark comedy Murderer at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. He also starred in a hit season in Neville's Island at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He appeared in the role of Mr. Fulton in "High School Musical 2" in a UK tour from late August 2009 to February 2010. He had also made an appearance on two episodes of Bang Bang, It's Reeves and Mortimer in The Club sketch, where he played himself. He also took part in a video-only special of Shooting Stars in 1993, where Vic Reeves introduced him pronouncing his name as if it were French saying "Les Dennis, the French fire engine". He toured in Hairspray as Wilbur Turnblad alongside Michael Ball, Brian Conley and Michael Starke – who alternated the role of Edna Turnblad. He is currently starring in the touring production of Legally Blonde The Musical playing the role of Professor Callahan. Film work Dennis' big screen debut was in the film Intimate Relations with Julie Walters, Rupert Graves and Laura Sadler and he appeared in the comedy feature film Large and in Wildlife, a short directed by Nick Allsop.


In which year was the 20p coin introduced and the word 'new' dropped from all newly minted coins in Britain?

Decimal Coins of the UK - The Change to Decimal Coinage The Change to Decimal Coinage Pictures of Decimal Coins Decimalisation Day D-Day was February 15th 1971. On that day the United Kingdom changed from the centuries old tradition of using 12 pence to the shilling and 20 shillings to the pound to a new decimal 100 new pence to the pound. Options considered There had been much debate as to the best way of implementing the switch. Australia used a dollar valued at ten old shillings, making the new cent equal to 1.2 old pence, a small change in value. An alternative was to go to a pound-mil system, with a mil equal to 0.24 old pence, a latter-day successor to the farthing. Another was to keep the penny and have a new unit at 100 pence (eight shillings and fourpence). However, in the UK the pound was considered to be particularly important because of the UK's international trading status. In addition, having a new penny worth 2.4 old pence was less of a problem as inflation had made its purchasing power insignificant. As a temporary measure a half new penny was introduced, but as will be seen this had a short life. There was even a pattern quarter penny made in aluminium, but this was not proceeded with. It was realised at the time that the decision was made that the life of the halfpenny would be very short, but it was felt necessary despite the considerable extra cost of having to mint the coin. Banks never accepted transactions involving an odd halfpenny. The Timetable for the Change The change was made gradually over three years, in a number of stages. In 1968 new shillings and florins were issued as 5 new pence and 10 new pence coins. The older shillings and florins continued to  circulate long after decimalisation until the size of the coins was reduced. Theoretically  silver coins from 1816 could still have been found in change, but the active  withdrawal of silver in the years following the change in 1947, followed  by the combination of a dramatic rise in the price of silver with devaluation  in 1967 meant that silver coins rapidly vanished from circulation. Blue plastic wallets containing the new 5p and 10p coins dated 1968, along with 1/2p, 1p and 2p  coins dated 1971 were put on sale. These wallets are still very common. In October 1969 the 50 new pence piece replaced the 10 shilling note, which ceased to be legal tender on 22nd November 1970. The old halfpenny was demonetised on 1st August 1969. The half-crown was demonetised on 1st January 1970. The remaining decimal coins became legal tender on 15th February 1971.  Maundy coins (and silver threepenny pieces of Maundy design, i.e. with  a crowned three on the reverse) were revalued as being in new pence at the same time. The changeover was so rapid that the old penny and nickel brass threepence pieces  had been removed from circulation by the end of 1971, although I know  of one shop in the Yorkshire Dales which continued to use the old currency  for a long time on the basis that 'this new-fangled stuff will never catch on'. The old penny and threepence coins ceased to be legal tender on 31st August 1971, just over six months after D-day. It is no longer possible to exchange them for current coins at a bank. Later Developments The sixpence , which was allowed to continue circulating at 2½ new pence, was eventually withdrawn at the end of June 1980. I am indebted to Brian Dominic for the following quote from John Glover's book "London's Underground": "The adoption of decimal currency on 15 February 1971 posed a few problems for London Transport, which had favoured the £ Sterling being halved in value and divided into 100 pence - what today might be termed a '50p pound'. With their extensive use of coin operated machines, the Board took strong exception to the proposed introduction of ½p coins, the lack of any coin between 2p and 5p, and the lack of a close relationship of old values and coins with the new. It was all too difficult for them, and it was indeed at London Transport's behest that the 2½p (sixpence) was retained in the coinag


On which US ship was the World War 2 peace treaty with Japan signed?

WW II Veteran recounts signing of Peace Treaty on USS Missouri ✕ ≡ WW II Veteran recounts signing of Peace Treaty on USS Missouri Sally and Chuck Folger will celebrate their 70th anniversary later this month. Chuck Folger was on the USS Missouri when the Japanese formally surrendered to end World War II. Photo by Jan Wingo-Locklear | okcFRIDAY By Jan Wingo-Locklear OKC Friday �It�s over!� is what comes to mind when Navy Lt. Chuck Folger recounts his thoughts on Sept. 2, 1945 as he watched Japanese military and dignitaries board his ship, the USS Missouri, to sign a formal Peace Treaty (entitled the Japanese Instrument of Surrender) with US dignitaries. �I don�t remember much of my thoughts except just ... one minute we were in battle ... the next thing I knew a paper was signed and it was all over,� he said. In actuality, he said the signing took about 45 minutes and was done on a table from the wardroom, covered in a simple green tablecloth. Very simple, yet it was the object used to end the over-four-years of war and countless lives lost. Remembering the years, days, hours, minutes leading up to this important 45 minutes, seemingly simple act, Lt. Folger could not help but think about the two Japanese Kamikaze war planes that had attacked a little while back, even so much as starting a small fire on the deck of the Missouri. Of course, the planes went down, whereupon a Japanese body also fell onto the deck of the Missouri - in two pieces. An obviously serene moment for this Veteran, he recalled how they treated the dead Japanese pilot with dignity. He was given a burial service at sea. Someone had a Japanese flag and it was draped over the body. The chaplain reminded the men that this man, although the enemy, was �doing his job.� Officers and crew were invited to attend the burial. �We stood at attention on the fantail of the deck�s stern,� said a somber Folger. �Although this man had tried to destroy us, here we were conducting a ceremony for him. I was proud to be an American! I never felt so proud to say The Pledge of Allegiance.� Folger talked about the atomic bombs that fell on Japan earlier that year. �That was a signal that the war was coming to an end.� As the Japanese dignitaries left the USS Missouri and the peace agreement they had just endorsed that long ago day in 1945, Folger, who was standing close enough to reach out and touch them, said he thought they must be feeling great despair. The signing ended with wave after wave of Allied war planes flying overhead, �from horizon to horizon. It added an emphasis that it was all over but that we were still in control.� Arriving back home in the States, Chuck Folger was greeted by his wife, Sally. They have four children and are expecting a new great granddaughter in the Spring. They will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary the end of this month, Nov. 21. With twinkles in their eyes, you can see the joy they experience in just being together. �We have a purpose in this life and family is a real part of that,� said this Veteran. A Veterans� Day celebration will be held Sat., Nov. 10 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Crossings Community Center. Director Steve Turner said all are welcome. 1


Which Swedish tennis player won the men's singles title at Wimbledon from 1988 to 1990?

Wimbledon Mens Players | Mens Singles Champions | Andy Murray | Roger Federer Mens Players Wimbledon Mens Singles We take a look at the mens singles competition, providing background and chances of the players for the 2011 tournament at the All England Club. Many Tennis fans would argue that Wimbledon is the toughest of the four majors to win as it is the only one played on a grass surface. The winner must therefore be versatile in handling the different challenges that playing on grass poses. Please check here for details of the 2010 Wimbledon mens seedings . The 2011 Men’s singles at Wimbledon promises yet again to be as exciting as ever with Roger Federer favourite in the Wimbledon mens singles betting to win the crown once again afre beating Andy Roddick last year. Nadal’s victory in 2008 prevented Federer from becoming the first man in Wimbledon history to record six straight wins, he will be back at SW19 for the first time since and desperate to regain his crown. In some media circles Federer was being written off last year, but he came back to the top when he won the US Open Tennis for the fifth straight year, defeating Britain's Andy Murray in the final. He then lost to Nadal in the Australian Open final in another five set epic, before achieving his greatest moment in tennis, when he won the French Open title for the first time. That win gave him a record equalling fourteen Grand Slams a record he shares with, Sampras and he also became the first man since Andre Agassi to win all four Grand Slam titles. We think that Federer should win once more this year but the following players all have chances Robin Soderling Fred Perry - The last British Mens Single Champion Fred Perry was the last British mens single champion at Wimbledon when he won the title for the third and final time in 1936. Perry, had won the previous two mens singles titles at the 1934 and 1935 Championship and despite being some years ago reports suggest that he was one of the greatest ever Wimbledon champions. Can Scot, Andy Murray emulate the great man this year? Murray has been in outstanding form this year and won the the title at Queens Club last week. He has shot up to number three in the world rankings and is third favourite to win in the mens singles betting. He reached the quarter finals last year where he was beaten by Rafa Nadal. Tim Henman remains the only British player to get to the semi finals in recent years, he achieved this four times in total. Modern Era Mens Wimbledon Champions In recent years, some of the biggest names in mens Tennis have lifted the famous Mens Singles trophy. Four times champion Rod Laver was the first male to claim the title in the open era in 1968 and 1969. Fellow Australian John Newcombe won back to back championships in 1970 and 1971 before Bjorn Borg won four consecutive titles between 1976 - 79. During the 80s, the Wimbledon mens singles title was won by great names such as John McEnroe, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg, all who won the title on more than one occasion during the decade. American great Pete Sampras dominated the title in the 90s winning the mens singles crown a total of seven times between 1993 and 2000, only Richard Krajicek stopped him from winning a Wimbledon record eight straight titles. In recent years, the mens singles game has been all about Roger Federer who has won the last four Wimbledon mens singles championships and the Swiss star shows no signs of slowing down his dominance of the mens game. Past Wimbledon Mens Singles Winners 1980 B. Borg (Sweeden)


In meteorology what name is given to the technique of using substances such as silver iodide to increase precipitation?

Cloud seeding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cloud seeding Jump to: navigation , search Cloud seeding, a form of weather modification , is the attempt to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds , by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei , which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud. The usual intent is to increase precipitation (rain or snow), but hail and fog suppression are also widely practiced in airports. Contents [ edit ] How cloud seeding works A ground-based Silver Iodide generator The most common chemicals used for cloud seeding include silver iodide and dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide ). The expansion of liquid propane into a gas has also been used and can produce ice crystals at warmer temperatures than silver iodide. The use of hygroscopic materials, such as salt, is increasing in popularity because of some promising research results. Seeding of clouds requires that they contain supercooled liquid water—that is, liquid water colder than zero degrees Celsius. Introduction of a substance such as silver iodide, which has a crystalline structure similar to that of ice, will induce freezing nucleation . Dry ice or propane expansion cools the air to such an extent that ice crystals can nucleate spontaneously from the vapor phase. Unlike seeding with silver iodide, this spontaneous nucleation does not require any existing droplets or particles because it produces extremely high vapor supersaturations near the seeding substance. However, the existing droplets are needed for the ice crystals to grow into large enough particles to precipitate out. In mid-latitude clouds, the usual seeding strategy has been predicated upon the fact that the equilibrium vapor pressure is lower over ice than over water. When ice particles form in supercooled clouds, this fact allows the ice particles to grow at the expense of liquid droplets. If there is sufficient growth, the particles become heavy enough to fall as snow (or, if melting occurs, rain) from clouds that otherwise would produce no precipitation. This process is known as "static" seeding. Seeding of warm-season or tropical cumuliform (convective) clouds seeks to exploit the latent heat released by freezing. This strategy of "dynamic" seeding assumes that the additional latent heat adds buoyancy, strengthens updrafts, ensures more low-level convergence, and ultimately causes rapid growth of properly selected clouds. Cloud seeding chemicals may be dispersed by aircraft (as in the second figure) or by dispersion devices located on the ground (generators, as in first figure, or canisters fired from anti-aircraft guns or rockets). For release by aircraft, silver iodide flares are ignited and dispersed as an aircraft flies through the inflow of a cloud. When released by devices on the ground, the fine particles are carried downwind and upwards by air currents after release. [ edit ] Controversy Referring to the 1903, 1915, 1919 and 1944 and 1947 weather modification experiments, the Federation of Meterology discounted "rain making". By the 1950s the CSIRO Division of Radiophysics switched to investigating the physics of clouds and had hoped by 1957 to be masters of the weather. By the 1960s the dreams of weather making had truly faded only to be re-ignited post-corporatisation of the Snowy Mountains Scheme in order to achieve "above target" water for energy generation and profits. While cloud seeding has shown to be effective in altering cloud structure and size, and converting cloud water to ice particles, it is more controversial whether cloud seeding increases the amount of precipitation at the ground. Cloud seeding may also suppress precipitation.[ citation needed ] Part of the problem is that it is difficult to discern how much precipitation would have occurred had the cloud not been seeded. There are no discernible "traces" of the effectiveness of recent cloud seeding in the Snowy Mountains Australia. Nevertheless, there is hope that winter cloud seeding over mountains will produce snow. Thi


What name is given to the Sunday at the start of Holy Week?

The Days of Holy Week The Days of Holy Week Dennis Bratcher Holy Saturday Holy Week is the last week of Lent , the week   immediately preceding Easter or Resurrection Sunday.  It is observed in many Christian   churches as a time to commemorate and enact the suffering (Passion) and   death of Jesus through various observances and services of worship. While   some church traditions focus specifically on the events of the last week of   Jesus’ life, many of the liturgies symbolize larger themes that marked   Jesus’ entire ministry. Observances during this week range from daily   liturgical services in churches to informal meetings in homes to participate   in a Christian version of the Passover Seder . In Catholic tradition, the conclusion to the week is called the Easter Triduum (a triduum is a space of three days usually accompanying a   church festival or holy days that are devoted to special prayer and   observance). Some liturgical traditions, such as Lutherans, simply refer to "The Three Days."  The Easter Triduum begins Thursday evening of Holy Week with   Eucharist and concludes with evening prayers Easter Sunday. Increasingly, evangelical churches that have tended to look with   suspicion on traditional "High-Church" observances of Holy Week are now   realizing the value of Holy Week services, especially on Good Friday (see Low Church and High Church ). This has a solid theological basis both in   Scripture and in the traditions of the Faith. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the   German theologian who was executed by the Nazis, wrote of the Cost of   Discipleship and warned of "cheap grace" that did not take seriously   either the gravity of sin or the radical call to servanthood: "When Jesus   bids a man come, he bids him come and die." It is this dimension that is well served by Holy Week observances, as   they call us to move behind the joyful celebrations of Palm Sunday and   Easter, and focus on the suffering, humiliation, and death that is part of   Holy Week. It is important to place the hope of the Resurrection, the   promise of newness and life, against the background of death and endings. It   is only in walking through the shadows and darkness of Holy Week and Good   Friday, only in realizing the horror and magnitude of sin and  its   consequences in the world incarnated in the dying Jesus on the cross, only   in contemplating the ending and despair that the disciples felt on Holy   Saturday, that we can truly understand the light and hope of Sunday morning! In observing this truth, that new beginnings come from endings, many   people are able to draw a parable of their own lives and faith journey from   the observances of Holy Week. In providing people with the opportunity to   experience this truth in liturgy and symbol, the services become a powerful   proclamation of the transformative power of the Gospel, and God at work in   the lives of people. The entire week between Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday is included in Holy   Week, and some church traditions have daily services during the week.   However, usually only Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday are   times of special observance in most churches. Palm Sunday (or Passion Sunday) Holy Week begins with the sixth Sunday in Lent.  This Sunday observes the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem that   was marked by the crowds who were in Jerusalem for Passover waving palm   branches and proclaiming him as the messianic king. The Gospels tell us that   Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, enacting the prophecy of Zechariah   9:9, and in so doing emphasized the humility that was to characterize the   Kingdom he proclaimed. The irony of his acceptance as the new Davidic King   (Mark 11:10) by the crowds who would only five days later cry for his   execution should be a sobering reminder of the human tendency to want God on   our own terms. Traditionally, worshippers enact the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem by the   waving of


Rubies and sapphires are varieties of which mineral?

Ruby and Sapphire: Gems of the Mineral Corundum Home » Gemstones » Ruby and Sapphire Ruby and Sapphire Ruby and sapphire have the same chemical composition and crystal structure - they are both varieties of the mineral corundum Rubies: The most desired variety of corundum is the ruby. The red color is produced by trace amounts of chromium in the mineral. These two beautiful rubies were mined in Madagascar. The one on the left is a 7 x 5 millimeter octagon that weighs about 1.32 carats. The one on the right is an 8 x 6 millimeter oval that weighs about 1.34 carats. Although Asia has been the traditional source of gem corundum for over one thousand years, Africa is poised to become a new primary source. Ruby, Sapphire, and Fancy Sapphire Most people don't realize that ruby and sapphire are both gems of the mineral corundum . Both of these gems have the same chemical composition and the same mineral structure. Trace amounts of impurities determine if a gem corundum will be a brilliant red ruby or a beautiful blue sapphire. It is surprising that "impurities" can produce such wonderful results! Red and blue are just two of the many colors found in gem corundums. Trace amounts of other elements can produce brilliant yellow, orange, green, and purple gems. Red corundums are known as "rubies," blue corundums are known as "sapphires," and corundums of any other color are known as " fancy sapphires ." Corundum produces gems in a spectrum of colors. Related:   Corundum: Mineral Summary What Makes a Ruby? Some gem-quality corundum contains trace amounts of chromium. A very small amount of chromium gives corundum a pink color. Larger amounts of chromium increase the color saturation of the stone and produce a gem with a deeper red color.  To be considered a "ruby," a corundum should have a color between orangey red and a slightly purplish red. The most desirable color is a pure vibrant red. Very few specimens of corundum have a natural color within the range required for a ruby. Very few also have the clarity required to produce a nice faceted stone. Long ago, people who prepared gem materials for cutting discovered that heating rubies under controlled conditions can intensify their color. Heating can also cause inclusions to become less visible and improve the clarity of a gem. Most rubies in the market today have been heated to improve their color and clarity. Many of them have had other treatments to improve their appearance. These treatments are normal and expected in the gem trade, but a seller should disclose them to a buyer in advance of a sale. Montana sapphire: The most widely known sapphire locality in North America is Yogo Gulch, Montana, famous for producing deep blue sapphires of excellent quality. Creative Commons photo of a gem from Barnes Jewelry, Helena, Montana, by Montanabw. Corundum as ruby, sapphire, and fancy sapphire: Gem-quality corundum is a highly prized and valuable material. When it is bright red in color, it is called "ruby." When it is deep blue, it is called "sapphire." Gem-quality corundum of any other color is called "fancy sapphire." All of the stones in this photo were mined in Africa. What Makes a Sapphire? Trace amounts of iron and titanium can develop a blue color in corundum. Blue corundums are known as "sapphires." The name "sapphire" is used for corundums that range from light blue to dark blue in color. The blue can range from a violetish blue to a greenish blue. Stones in the middle of this range, with a rich blue color, are the most desirable. Gem-quality corundum occurs in a wide range of other colors, including pink, purple, orange, yellow, and green. These stones are known as "fancy sapphires." It is surprising that a single mineral can produce gemstones of so many different colors. When the color of a sapphire is any color other than blue, the color should be used as a preceding adjective to describe the stone. For example, pink sapphire, yellow sapphire, or green sapphire. Used alone, the word "sapphire" refers only to blue corundum. The color and clarity of blue


What name is given to the mark placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to show that each is pronounced separately?

dieresis - definition and meaning dieresis Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition n. Linguistics  A mark ( ¨ ) placed over the second of two adjacent vowels to indicate that they are to be pronounced as separate sounds rather than a diphthong, as in naïve. n. Linguistics  A mark ( ¨ ) placed over a vowel, such as the final vowel in Brontë, to indicate that the vowel is not silent. n. Poetry  A break or pause in a line of verse that occurs when the end of a word and the end of a metrical foot coincide. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License n. A diacritic ( ¨ ) placed over the second of two consecutive vowels to indicate that the second vowel is to be pronounced separately from the preceding vowel (as in the girls’ given name of Zoë). It does not indicate a diphthong, but rather that each vowel has its full quality, within the sound-context. Now an uncommon practice in English, but still used in some other languages (e.g. French: haïr, Dutch: ruïne). n. Alternative form of diaeresis. from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English n. Same as diæresis. from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia n. The separate pronunciation of two vowels usually united as a diphthong; by extension of meaning, separate pronunciation of any two adjacent vowels, or the consequent division of one syllable into two. See dialysis and distraction, 8. n. The sign (¨) regularly placed over the second of two contiguous vowels to indicate that they are pronounced separately; the same sign used for other purposes. n. In prosody, the division made in a line or a verse by coincidence of the end of a foot and the end of a word; especially, such a division at the close of a colon or rhythmic series. It is strictly distinct from, but often included under, cesura (which see). n. In pathology, a solution of continuity, as an ulcer or a wound. n. In crustaceans, the division in the outer branch of the last pleopods. from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. n. a diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel in German to indicate a change in sound Etymologies from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition Late Latin diaeresis, from Greek diairesis, from diairein, to divide : dia-, apart; see dia- + hairein, to take. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License From Ancient Greek διαίρεσις ("division, split"), from διά (dia, "apart") + αἱρέω (aireō, "I take"). Examples


Milk and sunlight are good sources of which vitamin?

Vitamin D — Health Professional Fact Sheet Disclaimer Introduction Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D obtained from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and must undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation. The first occurs in the liver and converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], also known as calcidiol. The second occurs primarily in the kidney and forms the physiologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], also known as calcitriol [ 1 ]. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts [ 1 , 2 ]. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults [ 1 ]. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis. Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by vitamin D [ 1 ]. Many cells have vitamin D receptors, and some convert 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)2D. Serum concentration of 25(OH)D is the best indicator of vitamin D status. It reflects vitamin D produced cutaneously and that obtained from food and supplements [ 1 ] and has a fairly long circulating half-life of 15 days [ 5 ]. 25(OH)D functions as a biomarker of exposure, but it is not clear to what extent 25(OH)D levels also serve as a biomarker of effect (i.e., relating to health status or outcomes) [ 1 ]. Serum 25(OH)D levels do not indicate the amount of vitamin D stored in body tissues. In contrast to 25(OH)D, circulating 1,25(OH)2D is generally not a good indicator of vitamin D status because it has a short half-life of 15 hours and serum concentrations are closely regulated by parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate [ 5 ]. Levels of 1,25(OH)2D do not typically decrease until vitamin D deficiency is severe [ 2 , 6 ]. There is considerable discussion of the serum concentrations of 25(OH)D associated with deficiency (e.g., rickets), adequacy for bone health, and optimal overall health, and cut points have not been developed by a scientific consensus process. Based on its review of data of vitamin D needs, a committee of the Institute of Medicine concluded that persons are at risk of vitamin D deficiency at serum 25(OH)D concentrations <30 nmol/L (<12 ng/mL). Some are potentially at risk for inadequacy at levels ranging from 30–50 nmol/L (12–20 ng/mL). Practically all people are sufficient at levels ≥50 nmol/L (≥20 ng/mL); the committee stated that 50 nmol/L is the serum 25(OH)D level that covers the needs of 97.5% of the population. Serum concentrations >125 nmol/L (>50 ng/mL) are associated with potential adverse effects [ 1 ] (Table 1). Table 1: Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] Concentrations and Health* [ 1 ] nmol/L** Emerging evidence links potential adverse effects to such high levels, particularly >150 nmol/L (>60 ng/mL) * Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D are reported in both nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) and nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). ** 1 nmol/L = 0.4 ng/mL An additional complication in assessing vitamin D status is in the actual measurement of serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Considerable variability exists among the various assays available (the two most common methods being antibody based and liquid chromatography based) and among laboratories that conduct the analyses [ 1 , 7 , 8 ]. This means that compared with the actual concentration of 25(OH)D in a sample of blood serum, a falsely low or false