Whose statue was removed from public view in State College, Pennsylvania?

Source: Penn State to be hit with fines in excess of $30 million - CNN.com Source: Penn State to be hit with fines in excess of $30 million By Ross Levitt and Susan Candiotti, CNN Updated 9:05 PM ET, Sun July 22, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Workers on Tuesday, July 24, remove the concrete landing area and wall where the Joe Paterno statue once stood in State College, Pennsylvania. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – A girl takes a picture at the site where the statue of former Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno stood. It sits empty now after it was removed by workers outside Beaver Stadium on Sunday, July 22. Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – The statue was removed exactly six months after Joe Paterno, the winningest coach in Division I football history, died of lung cancer. Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Workers wrap the statue of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in preparation for its removal on Sunday. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – The 900-pound bronze statue will be stored in a "secure location" in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal, university President Rodney Erickson said. Hide Caption Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Onlookers battle emotions as the statue is removed Sunday. Hide Caption Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Visitors gather around the Paterno statue on Saturday, July 21. Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Though the statue was removed from Beaver Stadium, the university library will continue to bear Paterno's name. Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Fans like Rachel O'Brien, center, 20, of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, have been steadily flocking to the site since Paterno's death in January. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – The removal of the statue comes ahead of sanctions on Penn State from the NCAA, to be announced Monday. Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – A tribue to Paterno sits at the base of the statue on Saturday. Hide Caption Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – Visitors gather around the statue on Saturday. Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Final tributes, Paterno statue removed Final tributes, Paterno statue removed – The Paterno statue continued to draw visitors Saturday, a day before it was removed from the stadium. Hide Caption Source: The Penn State sanctions are "well beyond" past penalties Source: NCAA will not suspend team, though school may have preferred that Statue of Joe Paterno taken down from outside stadium Family of late coach says "tearing down" statue will not help victims, community Penn State University will be hit with fines in excess of $30 million as part of "significant, unprecedented penalties" expected to be announced Monday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a source familiar with the case told CNN on Sunday. While the school's football program will not face the so-called "death penalty" that would have prevented the team from playing in the fall, the school might have preferred a one-year suspension because of the severity of the scholarship losses, postseason sanctions and other penalties, the source said. "If I were Penn State or any other school and were given both options, I'd pick the death penalty," the source said, addi


What were Big Brown, War Emblem, and Seattle Slew?

What's Going On Here | Add Seasoning - by Dan Liebman | BloodHorse.com Blog Stable What's Going On Here Add Seasoning - by Dan Liebman Add Seasoning - by Dan Liebman 17 June, 2008 10:53 AM Comment  Seattle Slew was a heck of a racehorse. He started only three times at 2 and had just six races prior to winning the 1977 Kentucky Derby (gr. I). He went on to win the Preakness (gr. I) and Belmont (gr. I) Stakes and remains, 31 years later, the only unbeaten horse to win the Triple Crown. Big Brown tried…and failed. We can look back and question the competition Seattle Slew ran against in his Triple Crown races, just as many are questioning the current crop of 3-year-olds. But we cannot question whether Seattle Slew was a good horse. Triple Crown winners had never occurred in back-to-back years until Seattle Slew and Affirmed (1978), so it was an historic moment when the two met in the Marlboro Cup Handicap (gr. I) Sept. 16, 1978. Partly because of who Affirmed had beaten in his races, and mainly because he had won 10 straight, for the only time in Seattle Slew’s 17-race career, Slew was not the choice of the bettors. Affirmed was made the 1-2 favorite while Seattle Slew went off at more than 2-1. But in wire-to-wire fashion, as was his style, Seattle Slew controlled the pace and ran away from Affirmed to win by three lengths. And it was not a soft pace. Seattle Slew ran the nine furlongs in 1:45 4⁄5, just two-fifths off the American record for the distance, set by another Triple Crown winner in the first Marlboro Cup five years earlier, Secretariat. Seasoning, or training, is an important part of preparation for any athlete, regardless of talent level. Though he had only been out six times prior to the Derby, Seattle Slew had run 46 furlongs, compared to three races totaling 25.5 furlongs for Big Brown. Every furlong previously run makes a big difference before having to traverse 31.5 furlongs in the course of the five-week Triple Crown period. Seattle Slew is the exception among the 11 winners of the Triple Crown. His three races at 2 are the lowest number among the esteemed group, the next lowest being six; they averaged nine starts as juveniles. Triple Crown winners Sir Barton and War Admiral each made six starts as 2-year-olds; Gallant Fox made seven; Omaha, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, and Affirmed each made nine; Count Fleet made 15; and Whirlaway made 16. By the time they ran in the Derby, the 11 Triple Crown winners averaged a dozen starts. In comparison, the seven horses in recent years that have won the Derby and Preakness only to fall short in the Belmont—Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, Real Quiet, War Emblem, Silver Charm, Charismatic, and Big Brown—have averaged four starts at 2 and fewer than eight prior to the Derby. Consider that of this year’s 20-horse Derby field, the average number of starts at 2 was 3.4 and the average number of starts prior to the first Saturday in May was 6.3. Compared to the 11 Triple Crown winners, those figures are 62% and 47.5% less, respectively. Charismatic and Smarty Jones never raced after the Belmont, but Funny Cide, Real Quiet, War Emblem, and Silver Charm all came back to win a grade or group I race. Big Brown needs to prove that he can do the same. Star Parade Those who bemoan the quick retirement of many of racing’s stars were smiling widely June 14, when three champions all won. The parade of stars was led by 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, who took the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) in his first start since a triumphant overseas trip to win the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I). Also at Churchill Downs that afternoon, Dreaming of Anna, the 2006 champion juvenile filly, was victorious in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT), while at Belmont Park, Ginger Punch, last year’s champion older female, took the Ogden Phipps Handicap (gr. I). Tags


Maryland Food – Specialty Foods of Maryland Maryland Food – Specialty Foods of Maryland By Rachel Cooper Updated January 09, 2016. Many states are commonly associated with their foods. Maryland is best known for the blue crab, the bountiful delicacy of the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland agriculture also plays a key role in the health of the state's economy, environment and quality of life. There are more than 12,800 farms in Maryland providing a wide variety of fresh, nutritious foods that are available locally. Following is a guide to the specialty foods of the region. Photo © Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau • Maryland Crabs Blue Crabs have been caught commercially in the Chesapeake Bay area since the mid 1800s. They are plentiful from late spring through fall. Crab is a favorite Maryland food and is prepared in many ways - steamed or sautéed (soft shells), as crab cakes and crab imperial, or in crab soup and crab dip. More » continue reading below our video America's Best Foodie Cities Photo © Getty Images • Oysters Oysters are harvested wild from the Chesapeake Bay or cultured in tributaries. They can be used in a variety of recipes from soups and chowders, and even eaten raw on the half shell. Oysters are at their best during the months whose names contain an “R.” During the summer their quality is poor because they have just finished spawning. Related Information Buy from Amazon Old Bay Seasoning is a blend of herbs and spices produced in Maryland by McCormick & Company. The seafood seasoning mix includes mustard, paprika, celery seed, bay leaf, both black and red pepper, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, salt, mace and ginger. Although is most popular for seasoning seafood, Old Bay is used to spice up a variety of foods including, french fries, fried chicken, hamburgers, dips, vegetables and more. Photo © Rachel Cooper • Maryland Produce Maryland farmers grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. Below is a list of typical Maryland products. Apples, Apricots, Arugula, Asian Pears, Asparagus, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Bok Choy, Boysenberries, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Cantaloupes, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries, Collards, Cucumbers, Currants, Daikon, Edamame, Soybeans, Eggplant, Endive, Grapes, Green Beans, Green Onions, Green Peppers, Hot Peppers, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Melons, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Nectarines, Okra, Onions, Parsnips, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Persimmons, Plums, Potatoes, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rutabagas, Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet Corn, Sweet Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Swiss Chard, Tomatillos, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watermelons, Zucchini Related Information Photo © Lew Robertson • Maryland Chicken The Maryland Eastern Shore is home to many chicken farms. Did you know that one of the most famous Perdue Farms is located in Maryland? Privately held and family-run for three generations, the company employs more than 21,000 associates and partners with 2,200 independent farm families. Photo © Laureen Brunelli • Smith Island Cake Known as the “official state dessert” of Maryland, Smith Island Cake contains several thin layers of yellow cake with rich chocolate fudge icing in between. The origin of the cake is unknown but it dates back to the 1600s and the early settlement of Smith Island, Maryland’s only inhabited island in the Chesapeake Bay. You can order them online from the Original Smith Island Cake Company or the Smith Island Baking Company.


"What President's middle name was simply ""S""?"

Who's winning, who's losing, and why. Dec. 27 2006 1:00 PM Malice in the Middle By David Wallis   Listen to the MP3 audio version of this story here , or sign up for Slate's free daily podcast on iTunes . Just days after Barack Obama mused about running for president, Republican strategist Ed Rogers winged the senator on Hardball. "Count me down as somebody who underestimates Barack Hussein Obama," sneered Rogers, carefully enunciating Obama's middle name—a family moniker passed down from his Kenyan father and grandfather. Obama's camp, which had not hidden their man's middle name or bragged about it, cried foul. "It wasn't a slip of the tongue, I know that," Obama's communications director, Robert Gibbs, told Maureen Dowd. "You can't solve Iraq with a campaign about people's middle names." Advertisement But you can't solve Iraq if your unfortunate middle name blocks your path to the White House, either. Obama's name tests the limits of American nomenclatural tolerance. Just say his full name to yourself. "Barack" is unfamiliar but innocuous. "Hussein" is the name of a loathed dictator and enemy. And Obama sounds eerily like the world's most wanted terrorist. (Right-wing Web site Freerepublic.com has featured a photoshopped image of " Senator Osama Obama ," and Rush Limbaugh has called him "Obama Osama.") The research of Grant W. Smith, a professor of English at Eastern Washington University, who has studied how voters react to the sounds of candidates' names, suggests that Obama's name could hurt him with undecided voters, who, since they sometimes cast ballots on the basis of vague sentiments, may be influenced by a candidate's unusual moniker. Surnames have a far greater impact than middle names, said Smith, who thinks voters will actually groove to the rhythm of Obama—though, he notes, it "would be better to have the accent on the first syllable"—O-bama (Apparently, names that echo the soothing cadence of nursery rhymes appeal to voters). Smith acknowledges, however, that Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden stir "very powerful associations" in the minds of Americans. Get Slate in your inbox. Obama's "Hussein" highlights the surprising, if very occasional, utility of middle names in politics, particularly in attack politics. Middle names can be particularly helpful in undermining a candidate's manufactured image. Consider Jim Webb's effective middle-assault on incumbent George Allen in the Virginia Senate race. To fend off charges that Webb applauded flag burning, a Webb aide repeatedly derided "George Felix Allen Jr. " for choosing to "cut and run" rather than serve in the military during Vietnam, as Webb did. (Allen shares a first name and last name with his father but technically is not a junior.) This was a brilliant swipe, since "Felix" conjures up not the image of a football-tossing, Confederate-flag-waving good ol' boy, as Allen portrayed himself, but of Felix Unger, the kvetching, overfastidious bachelor of TV's The Odd Couple . Advertisement Undoubtedly, Allen's macaca gaffe turned off many more voters than his prissy middle name. But the Webb campaign's constant references to "Felix" might have contributed to a public perception that Allen's macho pose was no more than skin-deep. Bill Clinton's political team did something similar to President George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential campaign. Some Democrats routinely referred to the incumbent as "George Herbert Walker Bush," which recalled an ascot-wearing British aristocrat, the type of fellow who seems surprised by the invention of the supermarket checkout scanner and who asks his waitress for a "splash" of coffee. It might have been one middle name too many for recession-battered American voters. "That administration was not connecting to the American people and its economic woes, maybe it had some added impact," said Clinton '92 campaign chairman Mickey Kantor. The middle name has a distinguished history in presidential politics. Middle names—often the maternal maiden name—came into fashion in the United States in the middle of 19th century. Only three


What teenage doctor was portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris?

Neil Patrick Harris - Biography - IMDb Neil Patrick Harris Biography Showing all 62 items Jump to: Overview  (3) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (1) | Trade Mark  (4) | Trivia  (44) | Personal Quotes  (8) | Salary  (1) Overview (3) 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) Neil Patrick Harris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 15, 1973. His parents, Sheila Gail (Scott) and Ronald Gene Harris, were lawyers and ran a restaurant. He grew up in Ruidoso, New Mexico, a small town 120 miles south of Albuquerque, where he first took up acting in the fourth grade. While tagging along with his older brother of 3 years, Harris won the part of Toto in a school production of The Wizard of Oz (1939). His parents moved the family to Albuquerque in 1988, the same year that Harris made his film debut in two movies: Purple People Eater (1988) and Clara's Heart (1988), which starred Whoopi Goldberg . A year later, when Neil was 16, he landed the lead role in Steven Bochco 's television series about a teen prodigy doctor at a local hospital, Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989), which launched Harris into teen-heartthrob status. The series lasted1989-1993 and earned him a People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New Series (1990) and a Golden Globe Nomination (1990). Harris attended the same high school as Freddie Prinze Jr. , La Cueva High School in Albuquerque. Neil acted on stage in a few plays while there, one of which was his senior play, Fiddler on the Roof (1971), in which he portrayed Lazar Wolf the butcher (1991). When "Doogie Howser, M.D." stopped production in 1993, Harris took up stage acting, which he had always wanted to do. After a string of made-for-television movies, Harris acted in his first big screen roles in nine years, Starship Troopers (1997) with Casper Van Dien and then The Proposition (1998). In July 1997, Harris accepted the role of Mark Cohen for the Los Angeles production of the beloved musical, Rent (2005). His performance in "Rent" garnered him a Drama-League Award in 1997. He continued in the musical, to rave reviews, until January 1998. He later reprised the role for six nights in his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in December 1998. In 1999, Harris returned to television in the short-lived sitcom Stark Raving Mad (1999), with Tony Shalhoub . He was also in the big-screen projects The Next Best Thing (2000) and Undercover Brother (2002), and he can be heard as the voice of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the newest animated Spider-Man (2003) series. Harris has continued his stage work, making his Broadway debut in 2001 in "Proof." He has also appeared on stage in "Romeo and Juliet," "Cabaret," Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert (2001), and, most recently, "Assassins." In 2005, Harris returned to the small screen in a guest-starring role on Numb3rs (2005) and a starring role in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005). Neil played the title role in the web-exclusive musical comedy Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008), widely downloaded via iTunes to become the #1 TV series for five straight weeks, despite not actually being on television. - IMDb Mini Biography By: ChristiRene80@aol.com Spouse (1) ( 6 September  2014      - present) (2 children) Trade Mark (4) Blonde hair and blue eyes Often plays mischievous characters Often works his singing abilities into his roles Often works his abilities as an illusionist into his roles Trivia (44) Both of his parents are lawyers. Went to the same high school as Freddie Prinze Jr. . His favorite movie is Rear Window (1954) by Alfred Hitchcock . His parents own a restaurant called "Perreniel's" in Albuquerque. His brother is now running the restaurant. Based on his Los Angeles stage performance in the musical Rent, he was attached to play Mark Cohen in a television mini series based on the Broadway musical, with Wilson Cruz as Angel, Rikki Lee Travolta as Roger Davis, and singer Shakira as Mimi, but the rights were pulled in order for Chris Columbus to make a film adaptation using much of the original Broadway cast including Anthony Rapp in the role o


What is the highest medal awarded by the U.S. military?

Description of Awards - U.S. Military Awards for Valor - Top 3   MEDAL OF HONOR The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded by the United States government. It is presented by the President of the United States, in the name of Congress, and is conferred only upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty: While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. There are three distinct versions (one for the Army, one for the Air Force, and one for the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard).     DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army (and previously, the United States Army Air Forces). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism: While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Distinguished Service Cross is equivalent to the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).     NAVY CROSS The Navy Cross is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, (and to members of the Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy). It is awarded for extraordinary heroism:  While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. Actions that merit the Navy Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Navy Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Air Force Cross (Air Force).     AIR FORCE CROSS The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. It is awarded for extraordinary heroism:  While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.  Actions that merit the Air Force Cross must be of such a high degree that they are above those required for all other U.S. combat decorations but do not merit award of the Medal of Honor. The Air Force Cross is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Navy Cross (Navy and Marine Corps, and Coast Guard when operating under the authority of the Department of the Navy).     SILVER STAR The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action: While engaged in action against an enemy of the United States; While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conf


Which TV show starred James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler?

James Gandolfini Dead: Jamie-Lynn Sigler "Heartbroken" Over Death - Us Weekly Alisandra Puliti Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who played James Gandolfini's daughter Meadow on The Sopranos, tells Us Weekly she's "heartbroken" over the actor's death Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic James Gandolfini's sudden death of a heart attack at age 51 on Wednesday, June 19, has left family, friends, and fans stunned and saddened. Tributes to the three-time Emmy-winning Sopranos star have been pouring in, and now his former TV daughter, Jamie-Lynn Sigler , is expressing her grief over his passing. PHOTOS: Stars we've lost in 2013 "This news has left me heartbroken," Sigler, 32, tells Us Weekly in a statement. "I can only imagine the pain his family feels at this time, and my heart goes out to them, especially Deborah, Michael, and Liliana." (The beloved star leaves behind wife Deborah and their 9-month-old daughter Liliana, as well as Michael, his 13-year-old son from a previous marriage. Gandolfini had been in Rome, Italy, when he passed suddenly late Wednesday.) PHOTOS: TV dads we love "I spent 10 years of my life studying and admiring one of the most brilliant actors, yes, but more importantly, one of the greatest men," she continues. "Jim had the ability, unbeknownst to him, to make you feel like everything would be alright if he was around. I treasure my memories with him and feel so honored that I was an up close witness to his greatness." PHOTOS: More shocking deaths in Hollywood Sigler (who most recently starred on the sitcom Guys With Kids and is now pregnant with her first child) got her big break as Meadow Soprano, the daughter of Gandolfini's mob boss Tony Soprano, on HBO's hit series The Sopranos. In the hours since the actor's death, she and other costars have spoken out about his incomparable legacy. PHOTOS: Stars' big breaks "I am shocked and devastated by Jim's passing," Edie Falco, who played wife Carmela Soprano, told Us. "He was a man of tremendous depth and sensitivity, with a kindness and generosity beyond words. I consider myself very lucky to have spent 10 years as his close colleague. My heart goes out to his family as those of us in his pretend one hold on to the memories of our intense and beautiful time together. The love between Tony and Carmela was one of the greatest I've ever known."


Complete the analogy. Sooner is to Oklahoma as _______ is to Indiana.

Oklahoma Makes Fourth Final Four Appearance - Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma Makes Fourth Final Four Appearance By Athletics Communications Complete Release in PDF Format Download Free Acrobat Reader FINAL FOUR INFORMATION Making its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance under eighth-year head coach Kelvin Sampson and 21st appearance all told, Oklahoma (31-4 overall, 13-3 Big 12) advanced to its fourth Final Four as the West Region's No. 2 seed. The Sooners will take on Indiana (24-11, 11-5 Big Ten), the South Region's No. 5 seed, Saturday at 6:07 p.m. EST at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The Sooners are ranked 3rd in the latest AP and ESPN/USA Today polls and posted wins over 15th-seeded Illinois-Chicago (71-63), seventh-seeded Xavier (78-65), third-seeded Arizona (88-67) and 12th-seeded Missouri (81-75) to advance to the Final Four. Indiana beat 12th-seeded Utah (75-56), 13th-seeded UNC Wilmington (76-67), top-seeded Duke (74-73) and 10th-seeded Kent State (81-69) in its first four tourney games. Saturday's second game will pit Kansas (33-3), the No. 1 seed in the Midwest, against Maryland (30-4), the East's No. 1 seed. Monday's national championship game will start at 9:18 p.m. EST. All of OU's NCAA Tournament games will air live on the Sooner Basketball Radio Network (flagship KOMA 1520 AM in Oklahoma City) with Bob Barry, Sr. (play-by-play) and Mike Houck (analyst) calling the action. The national semifinal and national championship games will be televised by CBS (KWTV Channel 9 in OKC). Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Billy Packer (analyst) and Bonnie Bernstein (courtside reporter) will announce. OKLAHOMA UPDATE Oklahoma, riding high after claiming a Big 12 Tournament title and four NCAA Tournament victories, has won 12 consecutive games and 16 of its last 17 contests. OU's last loss, an overtime defeat at rival Oklahoma State Feb. 13, came nearly a month and a half ago. With their 31 triumphs, the Sooners have posted their most wins since 1987-88 (the last time they advanced to the Final Four) when they went 35-4, and are assured of registering their best winning percentage under eighth-year mentor Kelvin Sampson. The team's Final Four appearance is its first under Sampson and its fourth overall. Junior guard Hollis Price, a first-team All-Big 12 selection and postseason tournament MVP, has been the team's catalyst virtually all season. He scored a game-high 23 points in the win over Kansas in the Big 12 Tournament title game and is averaging 18.3 points per game in NCAA Tournament action. The West Region's Most Outstanding Player leads the team in scoring with his 16.8 points per contest on the season and recently became OU's 32nd player to score 1,000 career points (he now ranks 22nd with 1,203). Price also averages 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals on the season. He has drained a team-high 83 treys (2.4 per game) and is shooting .464 from the field, .390 from long range and .842 from the foul line. Price was named CollegeInsider.com's Big 12 season MVP and to the Internet publication's 16-man All-America team. He is also one of 20 finalists for the Wooden Award. Senior forward Aaron McGhee turned in an awesome February by averaging 21.3 points and 9.3 rebounds during the month. He has recorded nine double-doubles in OU's last 17 games. McGhee is averaging 21.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament and also averaged 11.7 rebounds in the team's three Big 12 Tournament contests to earn all-tournament team honors. He has posted nine 20-point efforts in the last 15 games. The lefty has led the team in scoring in nine of the last 15 outings and in rebounding in 13 of the last 17. In Big 12 play, McGhee ranked sixth in scoring (17.4 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (8.1 rpg). Ebi Ere, the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and three-time league rookie of the week, is averaging 15.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in four NCAA Tournament games. On the season he ranks third on the team with his 14.5 points per game, second with 5.9 boards per outing and third with 1.7 assists. The junior guard has collected at least


What famous billionaire investor lives in Omaha, Nebraska?

Warren Buffett, Billionaire, Still Lives In Modest Omaha Home Which Cost $31,500 In 1958 (PHOTO) | The Huffington Post Warren Buffett, Billionaire, Still Lives In Modest Omaha Home Which Cost $31,500 In 1958 (PHOTO) 01/18/2013 05:35 pm ET | Updated Mar 06, 2013 270 When we daydream about winning the lottery, we imagine owning stunning digs in each exotic corner of the globe. So when we learned that one of the richest people in the world, billionaire Warren Buffett , chooses to continue to reside in the home he bought in 1958 for $31,500 in the Dundee-Happy Hollow Historic District of Omaha, Nebraska where he was raised, we were definitely surprised. (And thankful that our time mindlessly browsing Wikipedia ended up being productive!) As the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway , and named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine , we would picture him to be in something more extravagant than this well-kept gray stucco house, which Forbes Magazine says is approximately 6,000 square feet. (We're guessing the property has had a few additions over the years.) The property was last assessed in 2003 for $700,000 -- still a modest price for a billionaire.


Who is a former Mayor of Cincinnati, host of a trashy TV show, and the subject of an opera?

Jerry Springer: The Opera - Harvey Keitel - Theater - The New York Times The New York Times Theater |Tackling a Character Who’s a Real Character Search Continue reading the main story Photo Harvey Keitel rehearsing a scene from Jerry Springer: The Opera with Emily Skinner, left, and Laura Shoop. Credit Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Richard Thomas, the composer of “ Jerry Springer : The Opera,” says that the libretto contains only 174 objectionable words, including “nipple.” That tally may not account for certain expressions — all of them unprintable in this newspaper — that are repeated over and over, but is nevertheless considerably shy of the 8,000 swear words and obscenities claimed, Mr. Thomas says, by overexcited critics of the show during its run in London. “Jerry Springer: The Opera” was a huge hit in the West End, but when it was shown on BBC television in January 2005, it generated so many complaints that some BBC executives asked for police protection. Many of the protesters were members of Christian groups who objected not just to the show’s language but to a scene in Act II in which Jerry Springer wakes up as the host of a talk show in hell, trying to referee a quarrel among Satan, a diaper-clad Jesus (who confesses to being partly gay), a Mary who is a teenage unwed mother, Adam, Eve and God the Father, wearing a white Elvis suit, who belts out one of the show’s signature arias: “It ain’t easy being me. It so ain’t easy being me.” The British controversy, together with a financial falling-out among the producers, probably accounts for why “Jerry Springer: The Opera” has so far not enjoyed a Broadway transfer. Instead it has had modest regional productions in Chicago, Memphis and Minneapolis, and on Tuesday and Wednesday it will be performed at Carnegie Hall in a concert version with the actor Harvey Keitel , of all people, in the title role, the only nonsinging part in the show. Could Mr. Keitel sing if he had to? “That’s confidential,” Mr. Keitel said last week, sitting in his dressing room at a rehearsal space in Chelsea. “Unless you want to join me in the shower.” Continue reading the main story Mr. Thomas, who had dropped by Mr. Keitel’s dressing room, said: “I actually thought about having Jerry sing. But I couldn’t work out what he should be — a bass, a baritone? And then it dawned on me that he shouldn’t sing at all, but he has to be someone with an inherent musicality.” The part turned out to be very handy from a technical viewpoint, he added, because it helps break up the score’s immense number of changes in tempo. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Mr. Keitel is best known for playing thugs and tortured tough guys, characters like Jodie Foster’s pimp in “Taxi Driver” and Mr. White in “Reservoir Dogs.” He has also embraced full-frontal nudity more enthusiastically than just about any actor of his generation, porn stars excepted. His part in “Jerry Springer: The Opera” calls for him to play a character who both is and is not the real Jerry Springer, the British-born lawyer and former massage parlor patron and mayor of Cincinnati who went on to make a name for himself in trashy tabloid TV. This theatrical Mr. Springer has a philosophical streak seldom evidenced on the actual show, and at the end of his ordeal in hell he concludes that “there are no absolutes of good and evil” and that “we all live in a glorious state of flux.” The role was proving to be something of a challenge to Mr. Keitel, who studied at the Actors Studio and remains a devoted follower of the Method. Seated at a little table, with two volumes on Buddhist meditation in front of him along with a giant green crystal, he touched on all the legendary names of that acting movement — Stanislavski, Boleslavsky, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg — and threw in Goethe’s “Sorrows of Young Werther” for good measure. Acting, he kept saying in the course of an hour’s conversation, was a “journey.” It was a “process.” He talked about “finding the right path” and quoted Stella Adler again. “The homework, creating the character through t


What is the flagship campus of the University of California?

History & discoveries | University of California, Berkeley Greek Theatre, completed in 1903. photo: Photo by Alan Nyiri, courtesy of the Atkinson Photographic Archive California Hall, completed in 1905. photo: Photo by Alan Nyiri, courtesy of the Atkinson Photographic Archive Hearst Hall, completed in 1905. photo: Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library © UC Regents Northgate Hall, completed in 1906. photo: Photo © UC Regents Senior Hall, completed in 1906. Senior Hall is first used as a student union, and later becomes the meeting place for the Order of the Golden Bear, a fellowship of the campus community. photo: Photo © UC Regents Hearst Memorial Mining Building, completed in 1907. The building underwent a massive restoration, completed in 2002, that included cutting-edge seismic retrofitting. photo: Photo by Alan Nyiri, courtesy of the Atkinson Photographic Archive Sather Gate, completed in 1910. photo: Photo by Alan Nyiri, courtesy of the Atkinson Photographic Archive Durant Hall, completed in 1911. photo: Photo by Alan Nyiri, courtesy of the Atkinson Photographic Archive Doe Library, completed in 1912. photo: Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library © UC Regents Wellman Hall, completed in 1912. photo: Photo © UC Regents Girton Hall, completed in 1912. The building is moved to the Botanical Garden in 2014 and renamed Julia Morgan Hall. photo: Photo © UC Regents Sather Tower, aka the Campanile. Steel frame completed in 1914; stone facade completed in 1915. photo: Photo courtesy of The Bancroft Library © UC Regents Hilgard Hall, completed in 1917. photo: Photo © UC Regents Gilman Hall, completed in 1917. photo: Photo © UC Regents Wheeler Hall, completed in 1917. photo: Photo © UC Regents Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union building, completed in 1961. photo: Photo © UC Regents McCone Hall, completed in 1961. photo: Photo © UC Regents Tolman Hall, completed in 1962. photo: Photo © UC Regents Latimer Hall, completed in 1963. photo: Photo © UC Regents Barrows Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents Birge Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents Etcheverry Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents LeConte Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents Morgan Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents Pimentel Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents Wurster Hall, completed in 1964. photo: Photo © UC Regents Eshleman Hall, completed in 1965. A renovation of the building begins in 2010 as part of an overhaul of Lower Sproul Plaza. photo: Photo © UC Regents Koshland Hall, completed in 1965. photo: Photo © UC Regents Boalt Hall, completed in 1966. photo: Photo © UC Regents Hildebrand Hall, completed in 1966. photo: Photo © UC Regents Space Sciences Laboratory, completed in 1966. photo: Photo © UC Regents Lawrence Hall of Science, completed in 1968. photo: Photo © UC Regents Zellerbach Hall, completed in 1968. photo: Photo © UC Regents Zellerbach Playhouse, completed in 1968. photo: Photo © UC Regents A complete renovation and seismic retrofitting of California Memorial Stadium is completed in 2012. photo: Photo © UC Regents A rebuilt Campbell Hall is dedicated in February 2015. The focus of the renovation was bridging the gap between astronomers and physicists, and included an open-air bridge to LeConte Hall and the physics department. photo: Photo © UC Regents Jacobs Hall opens its doors in August 2015. The building is the headquarters of the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation, launched to immerse students in hands-on, human-centered design. photo: Photo © UC Regents In 2010 graduate and undergraduate student leadership negotiate an agreement to rebuild Lower Sproul Plaza. The ASUC agrees to share revenues from its retail businesses in Lower Sproul with the graduate students. That pact, along with a ballot measure to increase student fees, makes the renovation possible. photo: Photo © UC Regents The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive will move to a new location on the west side of campus in 2016. photo: Photo © UC Regents


What is the best-selling band whose name is a U.S. state?

Best Beers in America: Every State, Ranked by its Beer - Thrillist Thrillist Log in or Sign Up to start saving places View your Get Thrillist in Your Inbox Discover the very best food, drink and fun in your city. Eat up! I confirm I am at least 21 years old Follow Thrillist JetBlue Has a New Two-Day Flash Sale with $34 Flights It's a great time to be drinking beer in America. Not that it was ever, you know, a BAD time to be doing that necessarily, but with craft breweries multiplying like rabbits who've been drinking beer, you can literally find some serviceable (if not downright tasty) local brews in all 50 states. Which made the process of ranking them all the more difficult, but we were up to the challenge, especially since it meant drinking and thinking about beer for weeks straight. Here they are, all 50 states in the Union, ranked according to their beer. A couple notes about our criteria. Quantity and quality are both important, but quality's a bit MORE important. If you're a small state turning out a disproportionate amount of great beer, it did not go unrecognized. We also gave a boost to states who played a historical role in American beer as we know it today. We also argued a lot, so if you want to do that as well, please join us in the comments! 50. Mississippi There’s a reason that Mississippi’s the home of the blues. It has a lot to do with the fact that the state’s got fewer breweries than Blind Willie Nine Fingers has digits.   49. West Virginia Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye. Note: the teardrop is because there isn’t enough good beer to drink here.   48. Rhode Island ‘Gansett. That’s about all there is to say. ‘Gansett!! Luckily it’s really fun to say.   47. North Dakota You’d think that two decades of enduring wood-chipper jokes would drive more North Dakotans to drink, but noh... noh, there’s not much brewing going on here, though a can of Fargo Brewing Co.’s Iron Horse Pale Ale is a mighty fine treat.   46. Nevada Booze is a big business in the Silver State, but with respect to brewers like Great Basin, most of that silver is in Bullet form... given out for free. At the nickel slots. Related Jennifer Bui 45. South Dakota When every biker from Portland, OR to Portland, ME comes rolling into Sturgis, they probably drink more beer than the collective frat population of the US. But they subsist on a diet of tallboys and Kid Rock. And while you’ll find local beer on many taps throughout the state, those taps are probably gathering dust next to a fresh macro keg. I frequent SoDak, and when I do, I subsist mainly on Crow Peak’s excellent 11th Hour IPA. There’s a beer scene lurking in the Black Hills, but it needs some nourishment. And support.   Continue Reading 44. Nebraska Luckily, the Cornhuskers' 22 spot in the preseason AP poll is the only ranking this state really cares about.   43. Hawaii People tend to vouch for the tastiness of the local beer they tried while in Hawaii, which is probably because THEY WERE IN #@$%& Hawaii. Kona and Maui and the like make some solid beer, but it gets a bit of a perception bump from the Hawaiian mystique.   42. New Jersey All sorts of silly laws, plus a statewide Red Bull-vodka addiction, stonewalled the development of Jersey breweries for years, but even though things have freed up a bit, they still don’t make Taylor Ham beer. Someone make Taylor Ham beer! If anyone answers that ridiculous plea, it’ll be ballsy up-and-comer Carton.   41. New Hampshire Every person in New Hampshire is never more than two hours away from one of the top six beer states in the nation (gotta keep reading to figure out which!). So while the lack of an established scene aside from venerable Smuttynose is surprising, we don’t feel that badly for those who must choose daily between living free and dying. Jennifer Bui 40. Wyoming The combination of locals having a lot of time to hone their crafts and the influx of tourists -- skiers, dads who’ve been penned up in an RV with three kids who could care less about Old Faithful -- has made this sparsely populated wilderness a solid bee


Toy Store FAO Schwarz To Close After 145 Years Toy Store FAO Schwarz to Close After 145 Years Ben Hider—Getty Images A general view of the exterior facade of FAO Schwarz flagship Toy store in the General Motors Building at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street on December 30, 2013 in New York City. FAO Schwarz hopes to find a new home in New York City The FAO Schwarz toy store on New York City’s Fifth Avenue will be closing its doors this summer. It’s the last remaining location of the iconic toy brand. FAO Schwarz has had a location in New York City since 1870, but on July 15, the flagship location will close because of higher rents in the prime shopping district and competition from online retailers, reports the New York Times. The store once had 40 locations across the country, but the one on Fifth Avenue, which opened in 1986, is the only store remaining. Toys “R” Us, which owns FAO Schwarz, will continue to sell the boutique brand in its stores. But the company has troubles of its own; by the end of 2016 it plans to leave its flagship location on Broadway in Times Square. FAO Schwarz is reportedly looking for a new home in New York City.


What Southern city is often called the most polite city in the U.S.?

N.Y. Is Most Polite City? 'Were They Drinking?' N.Y. Is Most Polite City? 'Were They Drinking?' Reuters ^ | 12-14-01 Posted on 12/14/2001 4:38:00 PM PST by wyopa New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said Friday he was quite surprised his city -- whose citizens have been called brave and tough but rarely genteel --would be named as America's most polite place. "One has to wonder. I won't say, 'What were they smoking?' I will say, 'What were they drinking?" Giuliani said at a news conference in response to an annual survey conducted by an etiquette expert deeming New York and Charleston, South Carolina, as the most U.S. polite cities. "One has to really wonder, just what are the other cities like?" he added. Etiquette author Marjabelle Young Stewart, who sorted through tens of thousands of nominations to compile her list, handed the honor Thursday to the Big Apple and Charleston. New York may have the image of being a rough and gruff place populated by rude people, but Stewart said the city actually is one of the most polished for manners in the United States. New York's resolve and heartfelt gratitude to the support it received after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center increased the nominations for the city, Stewart added. "The graciousness the city showed served as a wake-up call to the world that it could go through so much and still show an outpouring of love," Stewart told Reuters. The etiquette expert did say there were a few bad apples and grumpy people who tarnished the city's image but that "New Yorkers have always been polite and helpful." Stewart has compiled the list for more than 25 years. Her seal of approval for manners is a hot commodity for any city's chamber of commerce, which may tout the rankings in promotional material. Trailing New York and Charleston were: Milwaukee; the Quad Cites of Moline and Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa; Chicago; and Portland, Oregon. Stewart, who has published about 20 etiquette books, advised cities that training taxi drivers, restaurant workers and shop clerks to be better-mannered is a good way to boost the image of a city as being courteous. I think Lewis Grizzard would have a problem with that! LOL. 2 posted on 12/14/2001 4:42:31 PM PST by katherineisgreat [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ] To: wyopa Contrary to the popular image, every time I've been to Manhattan on business I've been astounded at just how polite New Yorkers are. They'll give you directions..........even if they have no bloody clue what they're talking about. They just don't want to ignore you or leave you hanging. I found myself, time and again, telling 'em "Ya know, you'd better watch it; you're blowing the image of New Yorkers as rude and nasty big time..". They always seemed to get a kick out of that. I can certainly think of some Southern cities to add to the list........and there are many smaller towns that would more than qualify. None, however, are in Florida. :) 3 posted on 12/14/2001 4:45:46 PM PST by RightOnline [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ] To: wyopa Well, I've been a New Yorker, and I know how polite New Yorkers can be: very! Also, rude, kickass and bellicose. Visited Charleston at Eastertime. Such a cool gem of a city. And the people navigate the streets like New Yorkers, how great is that? V's wife. 4 posted on 12/14/2001 4:45:51 PM PST by ventana [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ] To: wyopa Much in the way that "an armed society is a polite society", a very dense society requires one to be civil more often than not. The Japanese, well-known for their (superficial) good manners, attribute that component of their society to the close quarters endured over centuries on a small, cramped island. I literally come into physical contact with dozens of strangers every day riding the Lexington subway. Accidentally stepping on the toes of a towering, swaggering CoreDemocrat(tm), if followed by an immediate "scuse me", always gets an "its alright" for a reply. 5 posted on 12/14/2001 4:46:32 PM PST by NativeNewY


What TV show was created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker?

South Park, satire and us – by Matt Stone | Technology | The Guardian The Observer South Park, satire and us – by Matt Stone Matt Stone and his creative partner Trey Parker have spent years perfecting The Stick of Truth – the video game version of their hit adult cartoon. In an interview, Stone talks about moral choices, comic timing and censorship Friday 7 March 2014 02.06 EST First published on Friday 7 March 2014 02.06 EST Share on Messenger Close With his creative partner Trey Parker, Matt Stone created both the enduringly popular adult cartoon series South Park and the smash-hit musical The Book of Mormon . Pairing boyish, gross-out comedy with biting parody, they are two of the darkest satirists in US media. Working with video-game developer Obsidian Entertainment, Stone has spent the last few years both writing and overseeing South Park: The Stick of Truth , a game that's far from the usual throwaway licensed cash-in. Instead it's an interactive extension of the South Park universe, with the same shocking and irresistible sense of humour. Here he talks about comedy's ever-expanding boundaries and the challenges of writing for interactive rather than passive comedy. Most licensed video games are farmed out and there is precious little involvement from the people who created the brand. Why did you and Trey involve yourself so closely with the South Park video game? We did do some cheap licensed games when the show first came out 15 years ago. I think they were on the N64 [Nintendo console] and they stank. We didn't like them. That's why we haven't done one since. We like video games and it's one of those things that matters to us. Doing a big show there are a lot of licensed products that you have to live with that aren't your favourites, like T-shirts and stuff; that's the deal with the devil. But when it's a real thing like a video game, it's different. It was the disappointment with the older ones that made us think, OK, if we ever do it again, we have to do it right, or at least intend to do it right, and when the PS3 and Xbox 360 came out we started talking about it. We could finally do the graphics in a way where it looked like you were in the show. Why do you think people are more discerning about games now than they used to be? It was a real learning process doing this, because when you put South Park on TV, it's basically free. You're watching commercials, but you turn it on and there it is. For a video game it's very different. People are spending $60 – or, in the future, when it's in the bargain bin, more like $10 – but for most people it's a big purchase that you might forgo something else to afford. And even apart from money, it's also a time investment. I don't start a video game until like three people have told me it's amazing, because I don't want to get three hours into a game and have it stink. I think the way people consume video games and how expensive they are makes it a different contract with the audience. It was the same with Book of Mormon - people are coming to the theatre, they're driving there, they're dressing up sometimes. It's a lot of money – it has to be on a different level because people consume it differently. An image from South Park: The Stick of Truth, an interactive extension of the South Park universe. When South Park first hit TV there was a huge moral panic around the show - 17 years later, how has the American public's conservatism changed? Are there things you could make jokes about then that you can't now? No, it's all the other way. It's crazily more permissive than when we started. The standards were much, much higher when we started out. You go back and watch the first season of South Park and it's pretty slow and not the best written and junky-looking, but it would almost play on Nickelodeon at this point. There are dirty words but, conceptually, we couldn't have covered the material that we do now. And yet, in the first year, that's when we were getting all the calls from the network and we had to fight for it, and that's when we were on the cover of magazines that


What dialect did the Oakland school district once propose teaching classes in?

CNN - 'Black English' proposal draws fire - Dec. 22, 1996 'Black English' proposal draws fire Symbolic move in Oakland touches a nerve December 22, 1996 Web posted at: 7:50 p.m. EST (CNN) -- So far it's little more than a vague idea, but a proposal by a California school board last week to recognize Black English as a second language has already sparked a firestorm of debate. "I am incensed," said poet Maya Angelou , who recited one of her poems at President Clinton's inauguration. "The very idea that African-American language is a language separate and apart can be very threatening, because it can encourage young men and women not to learn standard English." (403K/36 sec. AIFF or WAV sound) The Rev. Jesse Jackson also blasted the proposal, which was announced Wednesday by the California School Board to officially recognize Black English, also know as Ebonics, a term combining "ebony" and "phonics." "While we are fighting in California trying to extend affirmative action and fighting to teach our children so they become more qualified for jobs, in Oakland some madness has erupted over making slang talk a second language," Jackson said in a statement. "You don't have to go to school to learn to talk garbage," he said. School board members said the idea behind the proposal is to improve performance of black students, who make up 53 percent of the district and 71 percent of those enrolled in special-education courses. "What we are doing in Oakland is providing our teachers and parents with the tools to address the diverse languages our children bring into the classroom," said a school board statement. "We have to acknowledge that all of our students do not come to us speaking standard English," added Lucella Harrison, president of the Oakland School Board. How the new policy will be implemented isn't yet clear, but Oakland school officials have said they may ask for federal money to help African-American students who primarily speak Ebonics. Black English speaking students may be placed in classes that will help them to learn standard English, and teachers may be trained to understand Black English. "You don't have to go to school to learn to talk garbage." -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson Oakland's decision directly affects only the 52,000 students in the district. But the idea that Black English is a "genetically-based" language with roots in Western Africa -- and not just slang -- is highly symbolic of the nation's larger racial divide. Many believe Oakland's move has widespread implications on race, language and society. "This hurts the kids, that's the real tragedy of it," said John Fonte, a visiting scholar in education at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. "The way to learn English is to study English." Black English has already been taught in a number of schools such as Ann Arbor, Michigan. But Oakland appears to be the first district to make a system-wide change. The American Speech, Language and Hearing Association has classified Black English as a social dialect. English words in Black English tend to lose a "d" following a vowel, so "good" becomes "goo," and the final "th" is sometime is replaced with "f," so "with" becomes "wif." Critics say encouraging this non-standard English could give students the idea that Ebonics is a viable language in the workplace, a mistake that could hinder their job searches and careers. Said Ryan Cameron, a rap radio disc jockey: "It's something that people use among their friends, but it's not something that they have to do to get ahead or have to do to get a job."


What type of horses are prominently featured in Budweiser advertisements?

1000+ images about Budweiser Horse Commercials...;O) on Pinterest | Beer commercials, Funny horses and Clydesdale horses Forward Budweiser Clydesdales The Budweiser Clydesdales are a group of Clydesdale horses owned by Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company. They’re used to promote the Budweiser beer brand. There are six official teams of these horses, five of which travel the United States to attend various promotional events. The Clydesdales have been featured prominently in Budweiser advertising and have even been featured in Super Bowl commercials. Anheuser-Busch owns more than 250 Clydesdales in all, but only the best See More


In what city would you find the headquarters of Amazon.com?

Amazon Corporate Office & Headquarters Amazon Corporate Office & Headquarters 410 Terry Avenue North Seattle WA 98109 Amazon corporate phone number: Average Rating and Total Reviews Avg. Rating 144 Reviews For Amazon Headquarters & Corporate Office Rude Customer Service Reps Amazon does not care about their customers. The representatives are rude, not knowledgeable and inconsistent. Dec. 18, 2015 -by Allison Honesty I have repeatedly tried to get my money back and I am getting no where. Someone out there should care. Do you? Nov. 1, 2015 -by Ann Schroll shipped wrong parts I ordered two front quick strut assemblies one left and one right they are two different part numbers and I received 2 left assemblies, I contacted Amazon and requested that they send the correct right hand side strut assembly, they stated they would be happy to ship the correct part that I already paid for for an additional cost due to the fact that they did not have the correct part for the price I was quoted. I asked that they honor the contract they had with me for the price quoted. They said they could not honor the contract for that price and would happily refund my money to my account. I paid with gift cards because I do not have nor want a credit card. I found the parts locally and would like my money back so I can't purchase them, they stated that they would not be able to help me with that for it is not their policy to refund cash when a gift card was used. They said that the money in my account will never expire and that they hoped that I would give him another chance, I have no choice but to give him another chance because they have my money. I am a disabled minimum wage employee who does not make a lot of money to just have it sitting around on the off chance that I may need something from Amazon. Sep. 25, 2015 -by gabriele van Lingen Why Dont They Care? Customer service could not be any worse weather is Customer Support or Corporate Offices, they don't fix and tech issues, they lie to you over the phone, We need to boycott/petition Amazon away! Aug. 22, 2015 -by Chalk Mountain The worse customer information and help I have ever experienced. I have never dealt with a company that can't simply answer a question. Horrible. Aug. 17, 2015 -by Patricia Kerr Just that I am expressing my appreciation of your fine service. I am really impressed. Don't see how it could be any better. Lois Freeman Jun. 17, 2015 -by Lois Freeman No Service Tried 6 times to order from Baby Gift Registry. Would not accept and keeps looping to a customer service form that blanks out. What a joke - do not bother Jun. 7, 2015 -by Don't waste your time Amazon Fresh Just found out that Amazon Fresh is coming to the Uk! Apr. 26, 2015 -by Sheila Customer service has been outsourced and trying to communicate is impossible. When a person answers the phone, you can request a U.S. representative, but good luck with getting help with third party issues! Apr. 15, 2015 -by Cynthia disability Bad customer service I am a disabled person and they use every excuse too just hang up on individuals I chose amazon because of what they say they can do and they did nothing but hang up on me at the customer service department Mar. 24, 2015 -by sam Poor customer service Ordered Cowboy seat covers, floor mats, and steering wheel cover. when they arrived, the seat covers did not fit. Had to pay 19.01 to send them back, because Amazon was not willing to pay for the return, because I opened the package. Feb. 27, 2015 -by Michael Scammed I am advising anyone with problems as buyers or sellers where you have been scammed out of your money and/or items from this site to please file a complaint with BBB!!!! Lets help make these online corporations be held to their own rules!!!!! Feb. 25, 2015 -by tracy Poor customr service and refund policy order a hdtv on 1/27/15 it never shipped from third party seller. Opened a-z claim only to be told three days later I would have to wait another two weeks for a refund? Back up what you sell amazon. Feb. 15, 2015 -by Kevin Tankersley Thanks I have truly enjoyed orde


What invasive species has been blamed for reducing mammal populations in the Everglades?

Invasive Pythons Put Squeeze On Everglades' Animals : NPR Invasive Pythons Put Squeeze On Everglades' Animals Embed Embed Invasive Pythons Put Squeeze On Everglades' Animals Invasive Pythons Put Squeeze On Everglades' Animals Embed Embed Twitter Joseph Wasilewski, a wildlife biologist, captures a wild python on the side of the Tamiami Trail road that cuts through the Florida Everglades on Sept. 16, 2009. The number of invasive pythons in the Everglades has exploded since the 1990s. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Scientists are reporting that aliens are wiping out the animals in Florida's Everglades. The aliens are Burmese pythons from Asia. They've been slithering around south Florida for decades. But scientists now say the constrictors are so bad, they're eating their way through the swamps. And the federal government has decided to take action to prevent their spread. One scientist who has been trying to find out just how bad the invasion has become is Michael Dorcas. He's been catching snakes since he was a child in Texas. But he says a 15-foot Burmese python is a handful ... or two. "You typically try to grab them behind the head," he says, and "get somebody else to grab the back end of them. But often they still defecate all over you, even if they can't bite you, so it's always an unpleasant thing when you catch a wild python." Dorcas is now a biologist at Davidson College in North Carolina. For the past eight years, besides catching pythons, he has been driving through the Everglades counting animals — specifically, midsize mammals. Article continues after sponsorship Dorcas wanted to know how big a bite the pythons are taking out of the mammal population. When he compared the number of mammals now with the 1990s, when pythons were less common, he was shocked. "Once we calculated the percentages, we had no idea they were going to be this dramatic." How dramatic? "A 99.3 percent decrease in raccoon observations," he reports. "Decreases of 98.9 percent in possums, 94 percent white-tailed deer, 87.5 percent in bobcats." Pythons Removed From The Everglades The chart below shows the number of pythons removed from the park and neighboring areas between 1995 and 2010. Researchers say the slight decrease in the number of pythons captured in 2010 might be the result of a severe freeze in January of that year. Source: Michael Dorcas/Davidson University Nearly all the raccoons, possums, deer and bobcats gone. Now, counting animals by sight from a car isn't foolproof, but it is an accepted practice in wildlife research. Dorcas reports his findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. He says it's the first study to actually quantify the effect of the pythons' appetite in the Everglades. A Python Invasion He blames pythons because in areas known to be thickest with the snake, the mammals are scarcer. Where there are fewer pythons, there are more mammals. And there's no evidence that a disease is to blame, either. Furthermore, mammals and birds (the latter are also common snacks for pythons, as necropsies have revealed) often gather near water, where pythons like to feed. And Dorcas points out that snakes big enough to eat a good-sized raccoon haven't lived in Florida for millions of years. So "local" animals are "naive." The onset of the python invasion is often blamed on snake owners who release their pets when they get too big for comfort. Lawyer Marshall Meyers represents the pet industry and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. He says maybe some pet owners do that, but he also cites a report that a hurricane overwhelmed a snake breeding site in Florida that could have spread the snakes. And while pythons are no doubt eating mammals, it's more complicated than that. "I think it's habitat loss," Meyers says, and the fact that there's less fresh water in the Everglades now, which could reduce wildlife numbers. But he acknowledges that the python invaders and other exotic animals that escape or are released by owners give the pet trade a bad name. "They're spe


Jeopardy! | Game Shows Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Three contestants competed each show, all trying to win money by correctly phrasing answers in a form of a question, but realizing the "Jeopardy!" was that they lose money if they are wrong. The First Two Rounds Edit In the first two rounds, the three contestants faced a game board of six categories each with five clues behind money amounts (30 in all). Each round lasts of 6½ minutes. On a player's turn, he/she selected a category and an amount, then a clue was read. The first player to ring-in with a correct question won the value of the answer, but if he/she rung in and was wrong, the value of the answer was deducted from that player's score and the other player(s) had a chance at it. From 1964 to 1985, contestants could ring-in at any time while the host was reading a clue; starting in the second season of the current version, contestants were/are forced to wait out until after the clue was read. The player who got the question right or was the last to choose if nobody got the question right got to choose another clue. The round continued until time ran out or if all the clues were played. By the end of the original run, a cash jackpot ($500 + $500 per show) would be awarded to the first player of the day to correctly answer every clue in a single category. Doing so on the nighttime edition in 1974 won that player a Chevrolet Vega. In 1975, running a category won a London vacation package. In the 1978 revival, the two contestants with the highest scores moved on to Double Jeopardy, while the third place player was eliminated from the game but kept the cash he/she won. Also, in the pilot for the 1978 version, the game started with each player having 30 seconds to guess as many clues as they could; the rest of the round played as normal. Money Amounts Edit Money amounts are minimal in the Jeopardy round, while the money amounts are doubled in the Double Jeopardy round. In the 1990 Super Jeopardy! tournament, contestants played for points instead of dollars, though there is a payoff of $250,000 for the winner of the tournament. This was the only version where the second round clue values were not double that of the first. Here are the amounts for each round and on each version: Years Edit At some point in the round(s), the contestant in control will uncover a very special clue hidden somewhere on the Jeopardy! board called the "Daily Double" (Commonly in a high value clue; but one occurrence happens on the second lowest value clue.) On a Daily Double, the contestant who picked it can wager any or all of his/her current score (wagering all is classified as a "True Daily Double"), but must wager at least $5 (which was half of the lowest clue value in the original Fleming version, which was $10). If the contestant has a low score, has a zero score or has a negative score, he/she can risk up to the maximum clue value (which usually happens) on that clue. In either case, only the contestant who picked it can give the response. A correct response added the wager, but an incorrect response or an improperly-phrased response (even if correct and regardless of the round) or no response at all deducted the wager. (It is not told how many seconds is the limit, but it seems to be 15 seconds.) Either way, the contestant then chooses another clue afterwards to continue the game. There is only one Daily Double in the Jeopardy! round, and two Daily Doubles in the Double Jeopardy! round. Special Daily Doubles Edit Sometimes a Daily Double clue would appear differently. A Daily Double would have a sound clue after the main clue; this is called an Audio Daily Double. Another Daily Double would show the contestant a picture or a video clip mostly featuring a member of the Clue Crew after the main clue; this is called a Video Daily Double (in the Art Fleming era it was called a Film Daily Double). One last type, called the Celebrity Daily Double, featured a celebrity guest giving a clue about himself/herself. Clue Crew Edit Starting in 2001, a group of correspondents called the Clue Crew c


What is the moniker of the mustache growing month of November?

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What type of pizza is Chicago known for?

Classic Chicago Food | Choose Chicago Back to Previous Page Chicago is famous for its food – not only as a gourmet dining epicenter, but as the home of several local specialties. For an authentic experience, get a taste of these culinary staples with this Chicago guide to deep-dish pizza, the classic Chicago-style hot dog and the Italian Beef. DEEP-DISH CHICAGO PIZZA Forget thin crusts and delicate toppings. This treasured food staple is as hearty as they come, baked in a deep, round pan filled to the brim with cheese (and any other ingredients you desire) and topped with a thick layer of tomato sauce. The result is a piping hot, gooey piece of pizza on a buttery, flaky crust. Vying for most popular pizza spot is the family-owned and operated Lou Malnati's Pizzeria , which uses hand-selected ingredients like sweet-and tangy tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese from the same small dairy that has supplied the pizzeria for more than 40 years. Adding their own special twist by doubling up on the crust, Giordano's is famed for their stuffed pizza. An ultra-thin second layer of flaky crust holds in the melted cheese, which oozes out the moment a slice is pulled apart. These massive creations are a good 40% bigger than other deep dish pizzas — meaning there is more to love!  One great place to go for slice of deep-dish is The Original Gino's East of Chicago , whose interior is almost as beloved as its pie. Inside, the walls are covered with writing and graffiti drawn by dining patrons, so don't forget to leave your mark. Other deep dish favorites? The caramelized crust deliciousness served up at Pequod's in Lincoln Park and old-time favorites, Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due , CHICAGO-STYLE HOT DOGS What was born out of the Great Depression has since risen in the ranks to become a famous Chicago staple. So what is a Chicago-style hot dog? The primo version is this: an all-beef hot dog on a steamed poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, relish, tomato wedges, chopped onions, a pickle spear, hot peppers and celery salt. Of course, defining it is one thing; tasting it is a whole different ballgame. For a filling frank, put Portillo's on your to-do list. With both a standard and jumbo version of the Chicago-style hot dog with all the trimmings, there's plenty to enjoy. Or, hit up the reliable go-to's that are scattered throughout the city, each neighborhood has a few. For example, there's George's Hot Dogs or Red Hot Ranch in Bucktown, and Franks 'N' Dawgs or The Wiener's Circle in Lincoln Park. A meal will set you back just a few dollars and gets you a dog and a side of fries. And remember that yes, wherever you go in Chicago, don't order your hot dog with ketchup. Still hungry for encased meats? You can't go wrong with a hearty Maxwell Street Polish smothered in sweet, grilled onions and mustard at Jim's Original in University Village. ITALIAN BEEF Thin slices of seasoned roast beef bursting out from a long Italian roll, dripping with juices – this is the famous Italian beef sandwich. You can order it hot (with giardiniera peppers) or sweet (with sweet peppers); dipped/wet (the bread is quickly dunked), juicy (wetter) or soaked (even wetter!). But it's more than just a Chicago specialty. It's a historic icon. Al's Beef in Little Italy claims to be the inventor of the sandwich and has won countless awards since its founding in 1938, including being named one of the Best Sandwiches in America by Esquire Magazine and Top 10 Sandwiches in America by Travel + Leisure. Another popular place for Italian beef is aptly named Mr. Beef on Orleans . It's a small space with more of a "dive" vibe than "restaurant," but the big flavors are what really matter. Whether you eat standing at the counter or sitting at the communal table, you're in good company: Even Jay Leno has sung the praises of this place. Just remember to bring cash (there's an ATM if you forget), be quick with your order (service is speedy) and bring a big appetite. Browse for even more must-eat Chicago restaurants and get the inside scoop from our Chicago Like A Local dinin


"What former prison, located in San Francisco Bay, is called ""The Rock""?"

Alcatraz | prison, California, United States | Britannica.com prison, California, United States Alcatraz, former maximum-security prison located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay , off the coast of California. Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. AdstockRF Alcatraz, originally envisioned as a naval defense fortification, was designated a residence for military offenders in 1861, and it housed a diverse collection of prisoners in its early years. These included 19 Hopi Indians from the Arizona Territory who passively resisted government attempts to assimilate them, and American soldiers fighting in the Philippine-American War who had joined the Filipino cause in 1900. In 1907 the island was designated the Pacific Branch of the United States Military Prison, and the modern prison building was completed four years later. In 1933 the U.S. Army transferred control of the prison to the civilian Department of Justice, and, from 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz served as a federal prison for some of the most dangerous convicts in the American penitentiary system. Among its famous denizens were Al Capone , George (“Machine Gun”) Kelly , and Robert Stroud , the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Cell block in Alcatraz, a former prison on Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California. © Darren Patterson/Dreamstime.com Although Alcatraz was able to house 450 convicts in cells that measured about 10 feet by 4.5 feet (3 metres by 1.5 metres), no more than 250 prisoners ever occupied the island at one time. Escape attempts were rare, and most escapees relied on secrecy and subterfuge to reach the perceived freedom of the waters of San Francisco Bay. From May 2 to May 4, 1946, however, a half-dozen inmates participated in an escape attempt that was unprecedented in its violence. Later dubbed the “ Battle of Alcatraz,” the 48-hour incident began when prisoners overpowered their guards and obtained firearms and keys to the cell block. Frustrated by a locked door, the prisoners exchanged gunfire with the remaining guards, and order was restored only when U.S. Marines stormed the cell block under a hail of grenades and rifle fire. Two guards and three escapees were killed, and more than a dozen guards were wounded in the firefight. A few inmates did manage to escape from the island; whether they survived the currents of the bay is unknown. One daring escape was popularized in the Clint Eastwood film Escape from Alcatraz (1979). Similar Topics Statue of Liberty Eventually the cost associated with maintaining the prison, particularly the expense of transporting fresh water to and waste away from it, resulted in the closing of the facility on March 21, 1963. From November 20, 1969, to June 11, 1971, the island was occupied by Native American activists, including members of the American Indian Movement , who were protesting what they saw as the U.S. government’s ongoing economic, social, and political neglect of Native Americans. In 1972 the prison and its grounds became part of the newly created Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Alcatraz remains one of San Francisco’s most popular tourist destinations. Native American activists occupying Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California, November 1969. AP


What state's capital city is Charleston?

Charleston State Capital | State Symbols USA West Virginia Capitol building in Charleston; photo by David Wilson on Flickr (use permitted with attribution). Capital City of West Virginia USA Located in the Appalachian mountains where the Elk and Kanawha rivers converge in Kanawha county, Charleston is the state capital and largest city in West Virginia. All State Capitals West Virginia


Mark Wahlberg - Film Actor, Rapper - Biography.com Mark Wahlberg Mark Wahlberg got his start headlining the musical group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, later going on to a modeling career and acting success in Hollywood. IN THESE GROUPS Rags to Riches Mark Wahlberg - Mini Biography (TV-PG; 3:10) Actor Mark Wahlberg first gained recognition as the frontman for Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch and as a model for Calvin Klein. His long list of acting credits includes the films "The Departed," and "Boogie Nights." Synopsis Born on June 5, 1971, in Dorchester, Mass., Mark Wahlberg grew up the youngest of nine children. After a 45-day jail term at 16, Wahlberg turned his life around via the music world with the help of his brother Donnie, a member of New Kids on the Block. Wahlberg transformed from rapper to Hollywood actor and never looked back, starring in films such as Boogie Nights and Three Kings. His recent projects include Lone Survivor (2013), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) and Ted 2 (2015). On the Streets of Boston Actor and former rapper Mark Wahlberg was born on June 5, 1971, in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Wahlberg grew up the youngest of nine children in a working class Irish Catholic family in the Boston district of Dorchester. Wahlberg's parents divorced when he was 11; his mother has since blamed her own emotional neglect for her youngest son's descent into juvenile delinquency during the next several years. At 14, Wahlberg dropped out of school and began making his living on the streets—hustling, stealing, and selling drugs. Two years later, he hit rock bottom when he was jailed for his role in the savage beating of a Vietnamese man. Although the crime was believed by many to be racially motivated, Wahlberg has continually denied that race played a part in the attack. His 45-day stint in prison was a self-proclaimed turning point in the 16-year-old Wahlberg's life. Vowing to give himself some direction in his life, he also began body building seriously, chiseling his body into impressive form. Pop Star Fame By the time Wahlberg had emerged from prison, his older brother Donnie had rocketed to stardom as one of five fresh-faced members of the pop band New Kids on the Block. Donnie decided to help his younger brother find his own niche in the music business. What Wahlberg lacked in singing ability, he made up for in charisma and good looks—with Donnie's hip-hop arrangements and producing help, Marky Mark (his rap name) and his back-up deejay and dancers (dubbed "the Funky Bunch") recorded a debut album, Music for the People (1991). Driven by the success of the hit dance singles "Good Vibrations" and "Wildside" (and by Marky Mark's readiness to discard his shirt and drop his pants onstage and in his videos), the album went platinum, selling over a million copies. One of pop music's hottest new commodities, Wahlberg (and his rock-hard physique) became even more ubiquitous when he signed a two-year contract with the designer Calvin Klein to model underwear. His raucous public persona, he once became involved in a much-talked-about brawl with Madonna and her entourage at a Los Angeles nightclub only served to increase his popular appeal, until news began surfacing about his criminal past and his possibly racist and homophobic tendencies. In 1993, this part of Wahlberg's personal life was seriously questioned when he was accused of condoning blatantly homophobic remarks made on a British talk show by his fellow guest, the reggae singer Shabba Ranks. Combined with the disappointing sales of the Funky Bunch's second album, You Gotta Believe (1992), the public criticism of Wahlberg's career seemed to be steering his career towards certain death. The 22-year-old's survival instincts kicked in, however, and he soon made a move into another realm of the entertainment world—acting. Acting Career After appearing in a 1993 television movie, The Substitute, Wahlberg made his big screen debut in Penny Marshall's lightweight Renaissance Man (1994), in which he played one of a grou


What large lake can be found on the California-Nevada border?

California, Arizona and Nevada - Border Crossings on Waymarking.com you are not logged in.  [log in] California, Arizona and Nevada - Border Crossings on Waymarking.com Welcome to Waymarking.com! We hope you've been able to find what you are looking for. We would also like               to encourage you to take some time to browse some of the other aspects of our site.               We recommend viewing our featured waymarks ,               or perhaps the newest waymarks . You can               also create a free membership to track your progress online               and share your locations with others. Click                 here to view the complete waymark directory N 35° 00.858 W 114° 39.706 11S E 713350 N 3877127 Quick Description: This marker commemorates the iron column erected in 1873 at the southernmost tip of the boundary survey line run by Allexey W. Von Schmidt, U.S. astronomer and surveyor. Location: California, United States Date Posted: 1/3/2008 9:57:04 PM Waymark Code: WM2X8Z .KML File (Google Earth) Long Description: The line dividing Nevada and California was based on preliminary geodetic work by Lieutenant Joseph Christmas Ives. Ives determined the Colorado River end of the proposed oblique California-Nevada boundary. Von Schmidt calculated and ran the first complete survey of the boundary. His solar observations erred slightly--the actual line now being 3/4 mile to the north. THe information below can be found at the following URL: or, Not Just the Rails Were Crooked by Bruce A. Metcalf In his article "Riding the Roadbed: Part I, The Route to the Tunnel," in the April-May-June 1984 issue of the Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge Society Bulletin, William Kaminsky compares two photographs of the California/Nevada state line marker. The first, found in Mallory Hope Ferrell's "Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge" (page 53) show an 1888 Carson & Colorado train standing by the marker. The second shot, taken sometime after 1929, is reproduced in George Turner's "Slim Rails Through the Sand" (page 20). These two photos show the marker in two obviously different locations. Kaminsky then goes on to describe finding two possible locations for the marker during a September 1983 survey "less than ¼ miles" apart, and asks, "Did the C&C engineers make a mistake ... or ... did the location of the state line move?" The two photos do indeed show different locations, and quite properly so. The California/Nevada border moved not once, but several times between the dates of the two photos, and indeed, is still the subject of not a little controversy [US DOI 1962, Uzes 1977]. The 1849 California Constitution described this part of the boundary as a straight diagonal line from 42° North, 120° West to the intersection of the 39th parallel with the Colorado River [Uzes 1977] -- a casual political description that has been the source of both aggravation and litigation ever since. One of the first delegations the Nevada Territory sent to Sacramento asked that the border be made the crest of the Sierras, arguing that it did not pass through populated territory, and that during the winter months the area east of the divide was inaccessible except from Nevada anyway. Their request fell on ears both deaf and incomprehending. The precise location of this boundary was not a subject of practical concern to the California politicians. Indeed it wasn't until 1852 that Captain L. Sitgraves discovered, to everyone's surprise and consternation, that the "corner" of the border was actually in the middle of Lake Tahoe, and title to some of the land around that lake is still in the courts today. There were two events that made the prompt and accurate location of the boundary a matter of some urgency. One was the 1859 discovery of the Comstock silver lode, which was the proximate cause of the Carson & Colorado and most other industrial development in the area. The other event was the sad case of the community of Susanville [Lillard 1949]. The California Legislature fel


What type of fighting knife is named after a frontiersman who died at the Battle of the Alamo?

Biography of Jim Bowie in the Battle of Alamo By Christopher Minster Biography of Jim Bowie: James Bowie (1776-1836) was an American frontiersman, slave trader, smuggler, Indian fighter and soldier in the Texas Revolution . He was among the defenders at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, where he perished along with all of his comrades. Despite his somewhat checkered personal history, Bowie is considered one of Texas' greatest heroes. Early Life, Slave Trading and Land Speculation: James Bowie was born in Kentucky on April 10, 1796: as a child he lived in present-day Missouri and Louisiana. He enlisted to fight in the War of 1812 , but joined too late to see any action. He was soon back in Louisiana, selling timber. With the proceeds, he bought some slaves and expanded his operation. He became acquainted with Jean Lafitte, the legendary Gulf Coast pirate, who was involved in illegal slave smuggling. Bowie and his brothers bought smuggled slaves, declared that they had "found" them, and kept the money when they were sold at auction. continue reading below our video 4 Tips for Improving Test Performance Later, he came up with a scheme for getting land for free: he made up some French and Spanish documents claiming that he had purchased land in Louisiana. The Sandbar Fight: On September 19, 1827, Bowie was involved in the legendary “Sandbar Fight” in Louisiana. Two men, Samuel Levi Wells III and Dr. Thomas Harris Maddox, had agreed to fight a duel, and each man had brought several seconds along. Bowie was there on behalf of Wells. The duel ended after both men shot and missed twice, and they had decided to let the matter drop, but a brawl soon broke out among the seconds. Bowie fought like a demon in spite of being shot at least three times and stabbed with a sword-cane. The wounded Bowie killed one of his opponents with a massive knife: this later became famous as the “Bowie Knife.” Move to Texas: Like many frontiersmen at the time, Bowie became intrigued by the idea of Texas. He went there and found plenty to keep him busy, including another land speculation scheme and the charms of Ursula Veramendi, the well-connected daughter of the mayor of San Antonio. By 1830 Bowie made the move to Texas, staying one step ahead of his creditors back in Louisiana. When he fought off a vicious Tawakoni Indian attack while searching for a silver mine, his fame and reputation as a tough frontiersman grew. In 1831 he married Ursula and took up residence in San Antonio: she would soon die tragically of cholera along with her parents. Action in Nacogdoches: When disgruntled Texans attacked Nacogdoches in August of 1832 (they were protesting a Mexican order to give up their arms), Stephen F. Austin asked Bowie to intervene. Bowie arrived in time to capture some fleeing Mexican soldiers. This made Bowie a hero of those Texans who favored independence, although it is not necessarily what Bowie intended, as he had a Mexican wife and a lot of money in land in Mexican Texas. In 1835 open war broke out between rebellious Texans and the Mexican army. Bowie went to Nacogdoches, where he and Sam Houston were elected leaders of the local militia. He acted quickly, arming the men with weapons seized from the local Mexican armory. Assault on San Antonio: Bowie and other volunteers from Nacogdoches caught up with a rag-tag army led by Stephen F. Austin and James Fannin: they were marching on San Antonio, hoping to defeat Mexican General Cos and end the conflict quickly. In late October 1835 they laid siege to San Antonio , where Bowie's contacts among the population proved extremely beneficial: many residents of San Antonio joined the rebels, bringing valuable intelligence with them. Bowie and Fannin and some 90 men dug in on the grounds of Concepción Mission just outside the city: General Cos, spotting them there, attacked . The Battle of Concepción and capture of San Antonio: Bowie told his men to keep their heads and stay low. When the Mexican infantry advanced, the Texans devastated their ranks with accurate fire from their long rifles. The Texan sharp


What river connects New York City and Albany?

New York State Canal System The New York State Canal System Unlock the Legend Come explore some of the oldest water routes in North America and follow in the wake of history. The legend of the grand Erie Canal flows as strongly today as it did when it was opened in 1825. Four waterways -- the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego, and the Cayuga-Seneca -- travel through New York's heartland, gliding past lush farmland, famous battlefields, scenic port towns, and thriving wildlife preserves. The 524-mile New York State Canal System connects with hundreds of miles of lakes and rivers across the Empire State, linking the Great Lakes with the majestic Hudson River and with five waterways in Canada. Along this historic corridor, visitors of all ages can enjoy more than 2,500 recreational facilities and attractions. Pleasure boaters, motorists, hikers, and bicyclists alike will delight in unlocking the legend of New York's canals. Clinton's Folly When Governor DeWitt Clinton first proposed a Canal from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, detractors dismissed the project as "Clinton's folly." The Erie Canal took seven years to build and was the engineering marvel of its day -- yet it was constructed without the aid of a single professional engineer. It cut through 363 miles of wilderness and featured 18 aqueducts and 83 locks, with a rise of 568 feet from the Hudson River to Lake Erie. Finished in 1825, it spurred the first great westward migration of American settlers, opened the only trade route west of the Appalachians, and help make New York the preeminent commercial city in the U.S. The Erie Canal was enlarged three times to accommodate heavy traffic, most recently between 1905 and 1918 when the present-day Canal system was configured. Today the canals use or run parallel to the original waterways. And although the focus has shifted from commerce to pleasure, much of the equipment that allows thousands of recreational boaters to "lock through" the system's 57 locks every year dates back to 1918 and is meticulously maintained, often by second and third generation locktenders. Where It Is, What To Do The world has changed since 1825, but along the canals the pace today is just as leisurely, the hospitality just as neighborly for contemporary travelers (as apt to come by car, bicycle, on foot, or by boat) as in the days of mule drawn packet boats and "hoggee" mule drivers. Nearly every major city in New York can be found along the trade route established by the Erie Canal: it links Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and Albany with New York City. So canal life beckons from the doorstep of every New York metropolitan center. And the Canal system threads through five of the state's vacation regions each with a host of unique attractions. Scores of parks, picnic areas, restaurants, inns, museums, and historic sites are strung like small jewels along the canal's banks with even more to explore inland. Visit during summer and enjoy one of many Canal festivals held in dozens of towns. A trip along the canal is a voyage into history. This rich heritage comes alive in many settings. Experience canal traditions at the Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse, the Canal Town Museum in Canastota, and Erie Canal Village in Rome -- a complete, restored 1840s canal village. Ride in a mule-drawn packet boat near Medina, or visit Lockport to see locks from the 1840s Canal. Or explore vestiges of abandoned canal sections, preserved stone locks, and grassy towpaths once trodden by mule teams and now restored for hikers and bicyclists in canalside parks. Old lock 52 is adjacent to the New York State Thruway. Low Bridge -- Everybody down! To truly appreciate New York's Canals you can't be a landlubber. From May through November, it's on a boat that the canals truly come alive. Use your own boat or rent a fully equipped canal boat, and chart your own course. Marinas provide a full range of services for transient boaters. You can tie up and explore quiet, 19th-century canal towns, bicycle to nearby wineries for a tour, then dine aboard as the


"What composer's ""Hoe-down"" might you also remember from the commercial ""Beef, it's what's for dinner""?"

Composers - Classical Music Best Famous Popular Kickass   Composers Meet the Classical Music composers featured in the Kickass Classical Top 100 and find out where you've heard their music before. It's the top Classical Music from movies, songs, commercials, cartoons, video games and ringtones. Start scrolling to learn about famous Classical Music composers. On this site, click to hear the piece. Download it from iTunes and Pronounced "ar-NO." French composer who moved to Hollywood to compose for film. Charge Suite (suite) Amazon Nicknamed "Olympic Fanfare," this piece is synonymous with the Olympics. Composed in 1958, it has been the theme music for television coverage of the Olympics since 1968. Revamped by John Williams as part of his "Olympic Fanfare And Theme" for the 1984 Olympics. www.kickassclassical.com. Rock out with your Bach out. Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750) Pronounced "Bock," and his first name is pronounced "YO-hawn." More famous in his day for his mad piano and organ playing skills than his compositions, but his works are all we have to remember him by. Bachaholics know his music is more about the journey than the destination, and is famous for interweaving two or more melodies into any given piece. Famous for "The Well Tempered Clavier" and these: Air On The G String    Amazon An "air" (or "aria" in Italian) is a type of song or melody. The version of this particular air you hear today is a famous arrangement of the second movement of Bach's "Underwear Suite"... uh, "Orchestral Suite No. 3." The musical inspiration for Procol Harum's 1967 hit, "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." Sampled in the 1997 Sweetbox song "Everything's Gonna Be Alright." Bourrée In E Minor  Amazon From the fifth movement of Bach's "Suite For Lute No. 1 In E Minor," this is a staple among classic rock musicians, including Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull. Novelty classic rock tribute artist Tenacious D included this in their 2001 song "Rock Your Socks," and in a song in their 2006 film "Tenacious D In: The Pick Of Destiny," featured on the film's soundtrack as "Classico." By the way, the two other pieces in "Classico" are Beethoven's "Für Elise" ( below ) and Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" ( below ). Brandenburg Concerto No. 3  Bach's six Brandenburg Concertos are among the finest compositions of the Baroque era, showcasing unprecedented composition and using several instruments. The first movement of Bach's third Brandenburg Concerto is the most famous of these. Cello Suite No. 1  Amazon Pronounce it "Chello Sweet." Number one of six. Collect 'em all! This piece is the "Prelude." Popularized by contemporary cellist Yo-Yo Ma (no relation to Yo Mama). His version is used in the 2003 film "Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World." The piece is also played by Jamie Foxx in the 2009 film "The Soloist." Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring    A beautiful Baroque piece often played at Christmas, and used today as wedding music. From his "Cantata No. 147." Minuet In G  Amazon Not to be confused with Beethoven's ( below ). This one is found in Bach's "Anna Magdalena Notebook," a book of music he put together for his second wife. Scholars think Christian Petzold, a friend of Bach's, actually wrote this piece. The tune to the 1965 hit "Lovers' Concerto" by The Toys. Willie Nelson recorded this as "Bach Minuet In G" in 1986. Toccata And Fugue In D Minor      Amazon This pipe organ tune is commonly associated with mad scientists, Dracula, vampires and Halloween. And "Phantom Of The Opera," although this piece has nothing to do with it. A portion of this piece plays before the big plane crash in the 2004 film "The Aviator." Used in the trailer and opening scene of the 1975 film "Rollerball." Look for violinist Vanessa Mae's 1995 version of this piece from her CD "The Violin Player." Honorable Mention:  For more Bach you may have heard, check out "Sleepers, Wake" from "Cantata No. 140," and "Sheep May Safely Graze" from "Cantata No. 208." Barber, Samuel (1910-1981) American composer. Died the year Britney Spears was born. Lose one musical g