US actress Susan Tomalin is better known by what name?

Susan Sarandon - Film Actress - Biography.com Susan Sarandon Susan Sarandon is an Academy Award-winning American film actress known for roles in films like Bull Durham, Thelma and Louise and Dead Man Walking. IN THESE GROUPS Famous People in Action Film quotes “The only thing that gives me the courage to do things—because I'm a shy person—is the idea of living with myself afterward.” Susan Sarandon Susan Sarandon - Versatile Actress (TV-14; 1:11) Watch a short video about Susan Sarandon and learn which role that this actress with more than 50 films under her belt cherished the most. Synopsis American film actress Susan Sarandon was born on October 4, 1946, in New York City. After college, Sarandon began acting, and in 1975 she landed a role in the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. She won an Academy Award for her performance in Dead Man Walking (1995), and received Oscar nominations for her roles in Atlantic City (1980), Thelma and Louise (1991), Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and The Client (1994). Other notable films include The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Bull Durham (1988). Early Career Actress and activist Susan Sarandon was born on October 4, 1946, in New York City, New York. Known as an actress and an activist, Sarandon has shared with the world her dramatic talents and personal convictions. She graduated the Catholic University of America in 1968 and not long after made her film debut in Joe (1970). After a few other film roles, Sarandon landed a part in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), a campy musical, which has developed quite a cult following over the years. Career Highlights Sarandon earned her first Academy Award nomination for Atlantic City (1980) starring opposite screen legend Burt Lancaster. But her career really seemed to pick up steam later that decade with appearances in The Witches of Eastwick (1987) and Bull Durham (1988). In The Witches of Eastwick, she played one of three women seduced by the devil (Jack Nicholson) and developed special powers. This comedic battle of good versus evil showed Sarandon’s talent for lighter fare. In Bull Durham, she played smart and sexy baseball groupie “Annie Savoy” who becomes involved with one of the players -- “Ebby Calvin ‘Nuke’ LaLoosh” played by Tim Robbins. Robbins would become her partner in real life. With Geena Davis, Susan Sarandon made one of her most memorable films Thelma and Louise (1991), which centered on the friendship of two women on a road trip turned wrong. Her portrayal of the tough, protective, and somewhat broken Louise brought her another Academy Award nomination. Sarandon was also nominated for Lorenzo's Oil (1992) and The Client (1994). She played a nun in the gritty and powerful capital punishment drama Dead Man Walking (1995) and won her first Academy Award for her performance. Recent Work More recently, Sarandon took to the stage to appear in a revival of Eugene Ionesco's Exit the King. She played Queen Marguerite to Geoffrey Rush's King Berenger in the critically acclaimed production. On the big screen, Sarandon took on a supporting role in The Lovely Bones (2009), a film adaptation of the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, in addition to roles in various films and TV series, including The Big C (2012), Arbitrage (2012) and Cloud Atlas (2012). Activism Outspoken on many issues, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins included information on the plight of Haitian HIV-positive refugees during the 1993 Academy Awards ceremony where they appeared as presenters. In 2006, she was one of the celebrities that joined antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan in a fast against the war in Iraq. Personal Life Susan Sarandon has three children: a daughter from a relationship with writer Franco Amurri and two sons with actor Tim Robbins. She and Robbins split in the summer of 2009, they had been one of Hollywood's most enduring couples having been together for 23 years. She was also married to actor Chris Sarandon from 1967 to 1979. Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us


Who plays Dr John Becker in the US television series ‘Becker’?

Becker (TV Series 1998–2004) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Dr. John Becker goes through his daily routine of being a doctor, stopping at his favorite diner, and other various situations, all the while hating life and everything around him. Creator: Linda deletes some important files and spends the day trying to recover them or cover up what she's done. Some out-of-town friends have come to see John but he's nowhere to be seen so Chris must ... 8.7 Becker's intended talk to children about nutrition abruptly becomes a discussion about sex. Two police officers conduct a stakeout at the diner. 8.6 As he does with everyone else, Becker finds fault with his attorney. Nevertheless, she refuses to let him take the stand, fearing that he won't be able to control his temper. 8.5 a list of 21 titles created 23 Jun 2011 a list of 38 titles created 07 Mar 2012 a list of 34 titles created 31 Aug 2012 a list of 45 titles created 11 Jul 2014 a list of 26 titles created 30 Mar 2015 Search for " Becker " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for     1     Golden Globe. Another    4 wins & 9 nominations. See more awards  » Videos Hot-tempered journalist Maya Gallo got herself fired from yet another job when she made an anchorwoman cry on the air with some gag copy on the teleprompter. Unable to find a job anywhere ... See full summary  » Stars: Laura San Giacomo, Enrico Colantoni, George Segal The regulars of the Boston bar Cheers share their experiences and lives with each other while drinking or working at the bar where everybody knows your name. Stars: Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger In this sitcom, Charlie, who takes Mike Flaherty's place in later years, is the Deputy-Mayor of New York City, and his team of half-wits must constantly save the Mayor from embarrassment and the media. Stars: Michael J. Fox, Charlie Sheen, Heather Locklear The workplace sitcom "NewsRadio" explores the office politics and interpersonal relationships among the staff of WNYX NewsRadio, New York's #2 news radio station. Beleaguered news director ... See full summary  » Stars: Dave Foley, Stephen Root, Andy Dick Drew is an assistant director of personnel in a Cleveland department store and he has been stuck there for ten years. Other than fighting with co-worker Mimi, his hobbies include drinking ... See full summary  » Stars: Drew Carey, Diedrich Bader, Ryan Stiles Light television comedy featuring Paul and Jaime Buchman as a recently married couple in New York City. They point out the gentle humor of domesticity and in the everyday situations of life. Stars: Paul Reiser, Helen Hunt, John Pankow Dr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle where he lives with his father and works as a radio psychiatrist. Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.3/10 X   A free spirited yoga instructor finds true love in a conservative lawyer and they got married on the first date. Though they are polar opposites; her need of stability is fulfilled with him, his need of optimism is fulfilled with her. Stars: Jenna Elfman, Thomas Gibson, Joel Murray Edit Storyline Misanthropic Dr. John Becker runs a clinic in New York City. He is assisted by super-capable Margaret Wyborn and less-than-capable Linda, who's only kept on because no one else can stand the doctor. Becker's best (some would say only) friend is the blind Jake Malinak, who runs a newsstand in the diner across the street. The diner used to be run by Reggie Kostas, but it has been taken over by Chris Conner, a lady whom Becker fluctuates between loathing and being attracted to. The diner is also frequented by Robert Benito, who is universally known as Bob and is the super at Becker's apartment (much to the


Freetown is the capital of which African country?

Freetown | national capital, Sierra Leone | Britannica.com national capital, Sierra Leone Sir Milton Margai Freetown, capital, chief port, and largest city of Sierra Leone , on the rocky Sierra Leone Peninsula, at the seaward tip of a range of wooded hills, which were named Serra Leôa (“Lion Mountains”) by the Portuguese navigator Pedro de Sintra when he explored the West African coast in 1462. By the 1650s the increased activity of British, French, Dutch, and Danish trading companies ended the limited degree of Portuguese control over the coastal trade. An English abolitionist , Granville Sharp , selected the site (south of the mouth of the Sierra Leone River) in 1787 as a haven for African slaves, freed and destitute in England . (They were known as the Black Poor.) In 1792 the Sierra Leone Company assumed responsibility and helped settle slaves from Nova Scotia who had fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War , the “Maroons,” runaway slaves of Jamaica, and others from captured slave ships. They were landed at King Jimmy’s Watering Place (now a bustling marketplace). Their descendants, known as Creoles, are now outnumbered by Mende and Temne immigrants from the interior. In 1821 Freetown became the seat of government for all of Great Britain’s West African possessions, a position it retained (with slight changes) until 1874. Freetown, incorporated as a municipality in 1893, became the country’s capital in 1961. View of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. Caroline Penn—Impact Photos/Heritage-Images Freetown’s excellent natural harbour (an important World War II naval base) has deepwater docking facilities at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay. Its exports include palm oil and kernels, cocoa, coffee, ginger, and kola nuts. The city is the country’s commercial and transportation centre; industrial enterprises are limited and include diamond cutting, confectionary, paint and shoe enterprises, rice milling, and fish packing. Construction of the Guma Dam has solved Freeport’s longtime water problem and provided more electrical power. Hastings Airfield (10 miles [16 km] southeast) handles domestic flights; the international airport at Lungi is across the Sierra Leone River . Freetown, Sierra Leone.


Russian doctor Ivan Pavlov was known for his experiments on which animals?

Pavlov's Dog Pavlov's Dog Ivan Petrovich Pavlov   (1849-1936) Who was Ivan Pavlov? The Russian scientist Ivan        Petrovich Pavlov was born in 1849 in Ryazan, where        his father worked as a village priest. In 1870 Ivan        Pavlov abandoned the religious career for which he        had been preparing, and instead went into science.        There he had a great impact on the field of        physiology by studying the mechanisms underlying the   digestive system in mammals. For his original work in this   field of research, Pavlov was awarded the Nobel Prize   in Physiology or Medicine in 1904. By then he had   turned to studying the laws on the formation of   conditioned reflexes, a topic on which he worked   until his death in 1936. His discoveries in this   field paved the way for an objective science of   behavior.   Pavlov's drooling dogs While Ivan Pavlov worked to        unveil the secrets of the digestive system, he also        studied what signals triggered related phenomena,        such as the secretion of saliva. When a dog        encounters food, saliva starts to pour from the        salivary glands located in the back of its oral        cavity. This saliva is needed in order to make the        food easier to swallow. The fluid also contains        enzymes that break down certain compounds in the        food. In humans, for example, saliva contains the   enzyme amylase, an effective processor of starch. Pavlov became interested in   studying reflexes when he saw that the dogs drooled   without the proper stimulus. Although no food was in   sight, their saliva still dribbled. It turned out   that the dogs were reacting to lab coats. Every time   the dogs were served food, the person who served the   food was wearing a lab coat. Therefore, the dogs   reacted as if food was on its way whenever they saw a   lab coat. In a series of experiments,   Pavlov then tried to figure out how these phenomena   were linked. For example, he struck a bell when the   dogs were fed. If the bell was sounded in close   association with their meal, the dogs learnt to   associate the sound of the bell with food. After a   while, at the mere sound of the bell, they responded   by drooling.   Different kinds of   reflexes Reflexes make us react in a        certain way. When a light beam hits our eyes, our        pupils shrink in response to the light stimulus. And        when the doctor taps you below the knee cap, your leg        swings out. These reflexes are called unconditioned,        or built-in. The body responds in the same fashion        every time the stimuli (the light or the tap) is        applied. In the same way, dogs drool when they   encounter food. Pavlov's discovery was that   environmental events that previously had no relation   to a given reflex (such as a bell sound) could,   through experience, trigger a reflex (salivation).   This kind of learnt response is called conditioned   reflex, and the process whereby dogs or humans learn   to connect a stimulus to a reflex is called   conditioning. Animals generally learn to   associate stimuli that are relevant to their   survival. Food aversion is an example of a natural   conditioned reflex. If an animal eats something with   a distinctive vanilla taste and then eats a tasteless   poison that leads to nausea, the animal will not be   particularly eager to eat vanilla-flavoured food the   next time. Linking nausea to taste is an   evolutionarily successful strategy, since animals   that failed to learn their lesson did not last very   long.   Why were Pavlov's findings given so much   acknowledgment? Pavlov's description on how        animals (and humans) can be trained to respond in a        certain way to a particular stimulus drew tremendous        interest from the time he first presented his


Which British monarch died in October 1760?

Hanoverians - Timeline of the Kings and Queens of England of the United Kingdom Born: 30 October 1683 at Herrenhausen, Hanover Parents: George  I and Sophia Dorothea Ascended to the throne: June 11, 1727 aged 43 years Crowned: 11 October 1727 at Westminster  Abbey Married: Caroline, daughter of Margrave of  Brandenburg Children: Four sons and five daughters Died: 25 October 1760 at Kensington Palace Buried at: Westminster Abbey Succeeded by: his grandson George III King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1727, George preferred Germany to England, but learned to speak English, unlike his father. Interesting Fact: The last British monarch to lead troops into battle at the Battle of Dettingen against the French in 1743. 1735, George II gave Sir Rober Walpole a gift of 10 Downing Street, now the permanent  London residence of the British prime minister . 1739 - Dick Turpin, highwayman, hanged at York  King George III 1760 - 1820 George III, the longest-serving Hanoverian monarch, died after occupying the throne for 60 years. His eldest son served as prince regent from 1811 to 1820 when his father was declared insane. Grandson of George II Succeeded  by: his son George IV King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760. George III was the first Hanoverian monarch to be born in England. He was born on 4 June 1738 in London and was the son of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, and grandson of George II. He was the first monarch since Queen Anne to put British interests well before those of Hanover. George III ruled for 50 years and fathered 15 children. He suffered from recurrent fits of madness and after 1810, his son acted as regent. During his reign: Britain lost its American colonies but emerged as a leading power in Europe. Australia was colonised. His reign was the age of some of the greatest names in English literature - Jane Austen, Byron, Shelley, Keats and Wordsworth. It was also the time of great statesmen like Pitt and Fox and great captains like Wellington and Nelson . 1769 - Captain James Cook’s first voyage to explore the Pacific.  In 1773 the 'Boston Tea Party' was the first sign of the troubles that were to come in America. The American Colonies proclaimed their independence on July 4th 1776. 1775 - James Watt develops the steam engine. The 1790s saw the French Revolution. The wars with France continued until Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. In 1801, under the Act of Union Great Britain and Ireland were united into a  single nation - the United Kingdom. George was thus the first king of the new  nation. 1813 - Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is published.  King George IV 1820 - 1830 George IV was deeply unpopular for his extravagant lifestyle and scandalous private life, but he was an enthusiastic supporter of the arts and his residences, particularly Carlton House and Brighton Pavilion, set new standards of taste. Age 58-67 Eldest son of George III Parents: George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Born: St James's Palace, London, on 12 August 1762 Ascended to the throne: 29 January 1820 aged 57  years Crowned: 19 July 1821 at Westminster Abbey Married: Mrs Fitzherbert (English), then Caroline, daughter of Duke of Brunswick Children: One daughter,and at  least two illegitimate children Died: 26 June 1830 at Windsor Castle,  aged 67 years Buried at: Windsor Succeeded by: his brother  William IV George became prince regent in 1811, while his father was very ill, and king in 1820. Built Brighton Pavilion. He died on 26 June 1830. His only child, Princess Charlotte had died in childbirth in 1817, so the crown passed to George's brother who became William IV. King William IV 1830 - 1837 During his youth, William had served in the Royal Navy so he was nicknamed 'the sailor king' Age 64-71. Third son of George III. Born: 21 August 1765 at Buckingham House (now Palace) Parents: George III and Charlotte of  Mecklenburg-Strelitz Ascended to the throne: June 26, 1830 aged 64 years Crowned: 8 September 1831 at Westminster  Abbey Married: Adelaide, daughter of Dukeof  Saxe-Meinigen Children: Four no


Spring Tides Neap Tides | The Old Farmer's Almanac Rate this Article:  Average: 3.4 (441 votes) The following is a explanation of spring and neap tides in relation to lunar and solar cycles. Since antiquity, people have noticed that oceans exhibit a much greater tidal range around the time of the full Moon and new Moon. This is when the Moon and Sun are either together in the sky or are on opposite sides of the heavens. Higher tides occur during these Moon phases because the Sun also exerts a gravitational pull on our oceans, although it is only 46 percent as strong as the Moon's. When the gravitational effects of the Sun and the Moon combine, we get spring tides, which have nothing to do with the season of spring. The term refers to the action of the seas springing out and then springing back. These are times of high high tides and low low tides. A week later, during either of the two quarter Moon phases , when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other and their tidal influences partially cancel each other out, neap tides occur, and the tidal range is minimal. In fact, because the oceans take a bit of time to catch up to the geometry of the Moon, spring and neap tides usually occur about a day after the respective lunar cycles. Now morn has come,


The Singapura is one of the smallest breeds of which animal?

Singapura Cat | Cat Breeds | Petfinder Singapura Cat See more adoptable Singapura cats available on Petfinder Singapura Cat Personality Singapuras, happily unaware of the controversy surrounding them, go right on being what they are: pesky people pleasers. At home in any situation, Puras love to be the center of attention and they don't seem to understand the word 'stranger', they want to be there with you to welcome your guests. They're curious, people-oriented, and remain playful well into adulthood. Their voices are quiet and unobtrusive, and they trust their humans implicitly. Puras are not quite as active as Abyssinians, but they are spirited nevertheless. They're curious, affectionate, almost too intelligent, and seem very much in tune with their favorite humans' moods. Singapura Cat Breed Traits The Singapura possesses the dominant ticked tabby gene Ta, which produces alternating bands of color on each individual hair, the same gene that gives the Abyssinian his distinctive coat. The coat color is modified by the Burmese gene cb, which results in a warm brown color (sepia), alternating with a warm 'old ivory' ground color. This gives the coat the appearance of refined, delicate coloration. Both of these genes are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. Unlike the Abyssinian, the Singapura's standard calls for some barring on the inner front legs. Adult male Singapuras weigh in at a flyweight of around 6 pounds (2.7 kg), and females tip the scales at approximately 4 pounds (1.8 kg). Interested in the history of the Singapura cat breed? Singapore, an island spanning 226 square miles (585 sq. km) perched off the tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia, has scores of feral felines, as do many seaports. These cats make their livings off the leavings of the fishing trade, and in the past were not paid much attention unless they became nuisances, and then they were picked up by the cat police and summarily dealt with. It is a hard life for these nomads and, far from being praised as pedigrees, they were disparagingly known as 'drain' or 'sewer' cats by the denizens of the island. Small brown cats with ticked coats have been observed on the isle since at least 1965. This variety, however, is not the only kind of cat found on the island; other varieties include solid-colored cats, deeper-colored ticked cats that often have short, bobbed tails, and cats that display the white spotting factor. The Singapura breed as we know him in North America has made the Guinness Book of World Records (as the smallest breed of domestic cat), has had an entire advertising campaign centered around him (to promote tourism in the Republic of Singapore), and has had the dubious distinction of being the center of a cat controversy. In 1975 Tommy and Hal Meadow returned from Singapore with three ticked, sepia-colored cats by the names of Tess, Tickle, and Pusse. Tommy Meadow, a former CFF judge and Abyssinian and Burmese breeder active in the cat fancy since 1955, wrote a standard for the breed and began a breeding program to weed out undesirable traits and produce consistency in color, coat, pattern, and disposition. The breed was promoted under the name Singapura, the Malaysian name for Singapore. In 1980 another breeder obtained a fourth cat from the Singapore SPCA and that cat was also used in the breeding program. Tommy Meadow founded the United Singapura Society, whose stated goal was to protect, preserve, and promote the Singapura. The CFA accepted the Singapura for registration in 1982, and granted Championship status in 1988. Controversy arose in 1990, when Singapore reporter Sandra Davie interviewed Tommy Meadow for The Straits Times. Tommy admitted that Tess, Tickle, and Pusse had been born in America and transported to Singapore when she and her husband Hal moved there in 1974. Tommy said Tess, Tickle, and Pusse were the grandchildren of Singapore cats that Hal had sent to Tommy in Galveston, Texas, via a company ship when he was in Singapore on business in 1971. Tommy explained that after she allowed the cats to mate, sh


The First World War began during which month of 1914?

First World War.com - Timeline - 1914 Timeline Timeline - 1914 The First World War spanned four years and involved many nation states. This section lists the landmark events of the year 1914, the first year of the war which began as the widely expected war of movement, but which inexplicably (to contemporary eyes) settled into stubborn trench warfare. Sponsored Links For a day by day account click any given month using the sidebar to the right. Date Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austro-Hungarian empire, in Sarajevo, Bosnia July 28 Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia July 29 - December 9 Austria-Hungary repeatedly invades Serbia but is repeatedly repulsed August 1 Outbreak of war - Germany declares war on Russia August 3 Germany declares war on France August 4 Britain declares war on Germany August 4 US President Woodrow Wilson declares policy of US neutrality August 14 Battle of the Frontiers begins August 17-19 Japan declares war on Germany August 23 - September 2 Austria-Hungary invades Russian Poland (Galicia) August 26-30 Battle of Tannenberg, which Russia loses; Germany's greatest success of the war on Eastern Front September 5-10 First Battle of Marne, halts German advance, resulting in stalemate and trench warfare September 9-14 First Battle of Masurian Lakes, which Russia loses September 14 First Battle of Aisne begins September 15 - November 24 The "race to the sea", trenches appear on September 15 September 17-28 Austro-German attack on western Poland October 14 - November 22


Who wrote the 1963 novel ‘Ice Station Zebra’?

Learn and talk about Ice Station Zebra (novel), 1963 British novels, British novels adapted into films, Cold War spy novels, Novels by Alistair MacLean Plot[ edit ] Drift Ice Station Zebra, a British meteorological station built on an ice floe in the Arctic Sea , suffers a catastrophic oil fire; several of its men die, and their shelter and supplies are destroyed. The survivors hole up in one hut with little food and heat. The (fictional) American nuclear-powered submarine USS Dolphin is dispatched on a rescue mission. Just before it departs, Dr. Carpenter, the narrator, is sent to accompany it. Carpenter's background is unknown, but he claims that he is an expert in dealing with frostbite and other deep-cold medical conditions, and he carries an order from the Chief of Naval Operations of the U.S. Navy . Commander Swanson, the submarine captain, is suspicious of Carpenter, and calls in his superior Admiral Garvie. Garvie refuses to allow Carpenter on board without knowing his mission. Under duress, Carpenter says that the station is actually a highly equipped listening post, keeping watch for nuclear missile launches from the Soviet Union , a statement which convinces the commander and the admiral. The Dolphin reaches the Arctic ice-pack, and dives under it. It surfaces in a break in the ice and succeeds in making tenuous radio contact with Ice Station Zebra. Carpenter confides to the Captain that the commander of the station is his brother. Having obtained a bearing on the station, the Dolphin dives again, and succeeds in finding a lead five miles from the station. Carpenter, Executive Officer Hansen, and two crewmen make the journey to the station through an Arctic storm on foot, taking with them as many supplies as they can. They reach the Zebra after a near-impossible trek, and find that eight of the men on the station are dead, while the 11 others are barely alive. Investigating the corpses, Carpenter finds that one of them has been shot. They find that their radio has been damaged, and so Carpenter and Hansen return to the Dolphin. The submarine moves close to the station, and finding no open water, blows a hole in the ice using a torpedo. The sick men are cared for by the Dolphin. Carpenter does some more investigating, and finds that the fire was no accident; it was a cover to hide that three of the dead men, one of whom was his brother, were murdered. He also discovers several unburned supplies hidden in the bottom of a hut, while Swanson finds a gun hidden in a petrol tank. The surviving members of Zebra are brought on board the Dolphin, and the station is abandoned. While still under the ice, a fire breaks out in the engine room and the sub is forced to shut down its nuclear reactor . The crew succeeds in saving the ship, after several hours of hard labor, and thanks to Swanson's ingenuity. Carpenter calls a meeting of the survivors, and announces that the fire was no accident. He reveals that he is an MI6 officer, and that his real mission was to retrieve photographic film from a reconnaissance satellite (see Corona ) that has photographed every missile base in the U.S. The film had been ejected from the satellite so that Soviet agents operating under cover at Zebra could retrieve it; Carpenter's brother had been sent to the station to prevent this. Carpenter reveals the identity of the Russian agents, and successfully retrieves the film. Background and origin of plot[ edit ] USS Skate Corona spy satellite The novel was influenced by the heightened atmosphere of the Cold War , with its escalating series of international crises such as the U-2 incident ; West Berlin ; unrest in Hungary , Indochina , Congo , and Latin America ; and the Cuban missile crisis . The novel exploits contemporary fascination with the under-the-ice exploits of such American nuclear-powered submarines as Nautilus , Skate , Sargo and Seadragon . MacLean may have been anticipating the excitement of his British readers regarding the upcoming commissioning of the HMS Dreadnought , the Royal Navy 's first nuclear submarine. Also, MacLean ma


‘The Fight of the Millennium’ took place in Las Vegas in September 1999 between Felix Trinidad and which other boxer?

Felix Trinidad - Public Speaking & Appearances - Speakerpedia, Discover & Follow a World of Compelling Voices Claim Felix's Profile Felix Trinidad   Felix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. is a boxer from Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico and a former multi-division champion of the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Council. Felix Trinidad has an impressive record of 42 wins and 2 losses, with 35 wins by knockout, and is considered one of the best Puerto Rican boxers in history, along the likes of Wilfred Benitez, Ivan Calderon, and Hector Camacho. When Trinidad Sr. announced his decision to turn his son into a professional boxer rather than wait for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he was met with skepticism and criticism from Puerto Rico's top boxing experts. Trinidad Jr, however, proved them wrong quickly by burying opponent after opponent. Among Trinidad's victims was Jake Rodriguez, a fellow Puerto Rican and former Jr. Welterweight champion of the world, who was the only one to last 10 rounds with him during this period. In 1993, Trinidad traveled to San Diego, California and defeated the crafty defending world Welterweight champion Maurice Blocker in 2 rounds, in a fight televised by Showtime. It was the beginning of a long-lasting friendship between the new champion and the cable network. Defending this title, he beat former and future world champions Hector 'Macho' Camacho, Freddie Pendleton, and 'Yori Boy' Campas among others. He kept defending the title until he was able to sign for an unification bout with the other world Welterweight champ, Oscar De La Hoya. During all of that, Trinidad changed alliegances from Showtime to HBO. The highly anticipated bout between the 2 Welterweight champions took place September 18, 1999 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. It was nicknamed Fight of the Millennium. De La Hoya dominated the early part of the fight, but decided to coast during the final rounds. Thinking he had the fight won, De La Hoya preferred to evade Trinidad rather than exchange punches with him. In a highly controversial decision, Trinidad won the fight by majority decision. After leaving the Welterweight world championships vacant, Trinidad moved in weight to challenge World Jr Middleweight champion David Reid, a Las Vegas talent, again at the Mandalay Bay. Trinidad was knocked down in the 3rd, but proceeded to beat Reid, dropping him 5 times and winning a unanimous decision. Next, he unified the title vs the other world champion, power puncher Fernando Vargas of Oxnard, California. This bout saw Trinidad rise from the canvas in round 4 after a fast start that saw him knock down the Mexican warrior twice in round one, but he prevailed after dropping Vargas again 3 times in round 12, the last knockdown after which the fight was stopped. After Trinidad left the division, he came back and regained the world title. Trinidad once again moved up in weight, lured by Don King's Middleweight unification tournament and he beat William Joppy by a knockout in 5 rounds to become world Middleweight champion. His unification bout with the other world champ, Bernard Hopkins of Philadelphia, originally scheduled for September 15, 2001 at the Madison Square Garden had to be postponed because of the September 11 Terrorist attacks. It was fought, however, two weeks later, on September 29, and Trinidad had to taste the sour taste of defeat this time, losing for the first time, to the physically more mature Hopkins, who then became the undisputed world champion in the division. Trinidad's fans in Puerto Rico proved how much they really loved him by mounting another large welcoming at the airport after his defeat. After beating former Middleweight world champ Hassine Cherifi of France by knockout in 4 rounds in San Juan, Trinidad shockingly announced his retirement, leaving the sport of boxing with a record of 41 wins, only 1 defeat, and 34 wins by knockout. He reconciled with his wife Sharon, after a scandal broke out where it was discovered he had a baby girl with a TV model that he had an affair with. He has committed to pay the


In which year was the maximum speed limit of 70 mph introduced in the UK?

On This Day: 70mph speed limit imposed on motorways On This Day: 70mph speed limit imposed on motorways Julian Gavaghan Pin it Share DECEMBER 22, 1965: Britain’s 70mph top speed limit was imposed on motorways on this day in 1965 – in what was supposed to be only a temporary measure. The trial was introduced due to the high number of accidents while drivers were free to go as fast as they liked after the first highway – the M1 – was opened in 1959. The two-year experiment by the Department of Transport was deeply unpopular and led to protest campaigns by motoring groups such as the RAC and AA. Silent British Pathé footage shows hundreds of – mostly male - drivers attending a demonstration at Newport Pagnell service station on the M1 in Buckinghamshire. But by 1967 – when Transport Secretary Barbara Castle made her decision to make the speed limit permanent – polls showed 61 per cent of Britons were in favour. This was due to studies by the Government’s Road Research Laboratory that showed casualties had been cut by 20 per cent and 60 lives had been saved. However, motoring groups and manufacturers still doubted the report’s finding and demanded the speed limit was scrapped. Lord Chesham, executive vice-chairman of the RAC, then said: 'There are enough red herrings in this report to fill the hold of the largest Grimsby trawler.' Today, Britain’s top speed limit is one of the slowest in Europe and there have been repeated calls to increase it. For example, France, Holland, Austria and Denmark are among 17 countries on the continent where motorists can legally drive at 80mph (130km/h) on their motorways. Notably, Germany has no speed limit on the majority of its autobahn, although drivers’ insurance is voided if they crash while going over 80mph. The British Government had intended to raise the speed limit - but allegedly ditched the plans amid fears that it would alienate women voters. Former Transport Secretary Philip Hammond had in 2011 claimed the 70mph limit had been 'discredited' and a rise to 80mph would boost the economy. [On This Day: 'Birdman' Gerard Masselin dies after parachute fails] But Patrick McLoughlin, who now fills the Cabinet post, said in June this year that the move was no longer a priority. Polls have shown a majority of drivers would support the move, but significant numbers of women were against it. Speed limits for motorists were first enforced in Britain in 1861. The 1965 'red flag' amendment to the Locomotives Act (since early cars were called 'light locomotives') required vehicles to drive at 2mph in towns while a man walked 60 yards in front either waving a banner or carrying a lantern. Read More But limits, which later rose to 20mph, were abolished  in 1931 after being 'so universally disobeyed that its maintenance brought the law into contempt'.


What was the name of the speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr in Washington DC in August 1963?

Martin Luther King, Jr. | National Archives Hire a Researcher Martin Luther King, Jr. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a speech to a massive group of civil rights marchers gathered around the Lincoln memorial in Washington DC. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom brought together the nations most prominent civil rights leaders, along with tens of thousands of marchers, to press the United States government for equality. The culmination of this event was the influential and most memorable speech of Dr. King's career. Popularly known as the "I have a Dream" speech, the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. influenced the Federal government to take more direct actions to more fully realize racial equality. Mister Maestro, Inc., and Twentieth Century Fox Records Company recorded the speech and offered the recording for sale. Dr. King and his attorneys claimed that the speech was copyrighted and the recording violated that copyright. The court found in favor of Dr. King. Among the papers filed in the case and available at the National Archives at New York City is a deposition given by Martin Luther King, Jr. and signed in his own hand. Educational Activities Discussion Questions: What was the official name for the event on August 28th, 1963? What does this title tell us about its focus? What organizations were involved in the the March on Washington? What does this tell us about the event? How does Martin Luther King, Jr. describe his writing process? What are the major issues of this case? In other words, what is Martin Luther King, Jr. disputing? How does Martin Luther King, Jr. describe his earlier speech on June 23rd in Detroit? How does Martin Luther King, Jr. compare and contrast the two "I have a dream..." speeches? What are the major similarities and differences?


Roman Abramovich bought which English football club in 2003?

BBC NEWS | Business | Russian businessman buys Chelsea Russian businessman buys Chelsea Chelsea are one of England's most successful clubs Chelsea football club is to be bought by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in a deal worth ï¿½140m ($233m). The surprise takeover - the biggest in British football history - was finalised late on Tuesday after talks with long-time chairman Ken Bates. He bought the club in 1982 for just ï¿½1, while taking on debts of ï¿½1.5m. Although the club has prospered, debts have grown and it is estimated the new owner will stump up ï¿½80m to cover them. On top of that, Mr Abramovich is buying just over half the shares of Chelsea Village, which owns the football club, for 35 pence each - putting the total value of the club's shares at ï¿½59.3m. The Russian businessman pledged to plough even more resources into the club while Mr Bates said the deal would move Chelsea onto the "next level". Profile: Roman Abramovich "We are delighted to agree this deal to acquire what is already one of the top clubs in Europe," Mr Abramovich said. "We have the resources and ambition to achieve even more given the huge potential of this great club." Mr Abramovich is one of the major shareholders in Sibneft, one of Russia's largest oil companies, and "a keen follower of sport and international football," a statement said. Mr Abramovich also has significant interests in Russia's aluminium industry, and until recently owned a sizeable stake in Russian airline Aeroflot - the sale of which may have funded the Chelsea buyout. KEN BATES Self-made millionaire from ready-mix concrete Bought a struggling Chelsea for ï¿½1 in 1982 In 1985 he wanted to install electric fences to control crowd trouble at Stamford Bridge In 1991 he ran into controversy when it was alleged Chelsea made illegal payments to players - the club was fined ï¿½105,000 The TV interests were significant, "as in the modern game today TV rights are what it's all about," he said. "Football has been in terrible trouble in this country recently - it's clocked up huge debts and the transfer market has collapsed," he added. "I think what this could signal is the arrival of overseas sugar daddies. "If this is the start of the super-rich invaders it'll be very, very interesting to see how the fans react to it." Misgivings One Chelsea fan told the BBC he was shocked by the news. "I think it's disgraceful because I always thought that Ken Bates was Mr Chelsea."


Phobophobia is the irrational fear of developing a what?

Learn About Phobophobia: The Fear of Phobias Phobias SHARE Learn About Phobophobia: The Fear of Phobias Phobias are intense, irrational fears caused by non-dangerous stimuli. Examples of common phobias include arachnophobia (fear of spiders), social phobia (fear of social situations), and acrophobia (fear of heights). There are even phobias of long words and left handed people. But what you may not have known is that some people have a fear of phobias. It's known as phobophobia, and in some ways it's more common than you may think. Have a Phobia? What About Anxiety? Find out what your anxiety says about you and how you can treat it by taking my free 7 minute anxiety test now. Start the test here . How Phobophobia Works Experts are somewhat mixed on whether or not phobophobia is common. The truth is that it seems to affect those that already have fears or phobias, which may imply that it's not a phobia itself, but rather a symptom of the phobia. Make sure you've taken my anxiety test yet if you haven't already. But the idea behind phobophobia is that there are those that are either: Intensely afraid of phobia/anxiety symptoms, or Intensely afraid of developing a phobia. Many people experience the former. Those with panic attacks or severe anxiety are actually very prone to experiencing "fear of fear," where they become very fearful about experiencing another attack of anxiety – especially anxiety with severe physical symptoms. The symptoms of anxiety can be so severe that they cause immense distress, and in some cases make the person either feel like they're having a heart attack or feel like something is seriously wrong with their health. Many just develop a fear because it's so difficult to deal with anxiety symptoms. For those with phobias, this may be considered its own symptom of the phobia. But if you experience anxiety so strong over the idea of encountering your phobia, your psychologist may want to consider it a separate disorder. Getting a Fear of Having a New Phobia Of course, much rarer would be a fear of developing a phobia. This is likely more common in those with many phobias that seem to develop them quickly. They may start to believe or fear that they are destined for another phobia, thus causing them intense anxiety. This is of course much less common. You Can Fear Anything Phobias are often not something a person can control, and no matter how irrational a fear may be, it's usually difficult for someone's own willpower to overcome it. Those with phobias often know they're irrational, but can't control the fear. But the good news is that nearly all phobias can be cured, so you do not have to live with these symptoms forever. I've helped thousands of people overcome their anxiety and phobias starting with my free 7 minute anxiety test. Take the test now to learn more about your own anxiety and what you can do to cure it.


Which famous British graffiti artist describes himself as a ‘Quality Vandal’?

26 Facts You Didn’t Know About Banksy 26 Facts You Didn’t Know About Banksy Download Description One of the world’s most entertaining and controversial artists of the day is the mysterious street artist known as Banksy. He’s renowned for blasting his creations on walls, and has gained internat... One of the world’s most entertaining and controversial artists of the day is the mysterious street artist known as Banksy. He’s renowned for blasting his creations on walls, and has gained international fame. He’s sort of like a modern day rapscallion, a devil-may-care rogue who dances to his own beat. Perhaps only a few know his secret identity, but as of yet, nothing concrete has emerged to the public. So, let’s check out some interesting facts about the artist Banksy.


Mount Tiede is a volcanic peak in which group of islands?

Teide Volcano in the Canary Islands | Volcano Teide   Teide Volcano Mount Teide is the third highest volcanic structure and most voluminous in the world after Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea in Hawaii. It is the highest peak on the Canary Islands and in the whole of Spain. The formation began 170,000 years ago following the giant collapse of the former volcanic edifice, which was even bigger than the one that stands today. That is how Las Cañadas caldera was formed. Today we can only see part of the escarpment because as the inside of Teide grew, it gradually filled the caldera with its materials. Stratovolcanoes grow because the successive lava eruptions, with increasingly viscous lava, settle one on top of another. In the last 20,000 years, most eruptions (Montaña Blanca, Pico Cabras, etc.) have taken place around the base of Teide, because it is harder for lava to spew from the very peak at such a great height. According to the beliefs of the Canary Island aboriginals (guanches), Guayota, the king of evil, the devil, lived inside Teide (hell), and he kidnapped the god Magec (god of light and sun), and took him down inside Teide. The guanches asked Achamán - their supreme god - for mercy, and he managed to defeat Guayota, rescue Magec from the bowels of Teide and plug up the crater. It is said that the whitish plug that Achamán put in place is the last cone of the volcano, crowning Teide. In the classical world, Teide was the source of great fascination. Even the Greek historian Herodotus mentioned Teide twice: “(…) Atlas is lofty and has a cylindrical form. It is said to stand so tall that one cannot see its summit on account of the clouds which in summer as well as winter envelope it, and it is called by the inhabitants a Pillar of Heaven (…)”. The other quote reads as follows: “(…) There is a hill of salt called Atlas that is round and steep and so lofty that its summit cannot be clearly discerned (…)”. In his work called "Naturalis Historia" the Roman author, Pliny the Elder, (AD 24-79) mentions the snow sighted by the expedition that King Juba II sent to the islands: “(…) Ninguaria, so named from its perpetual snow, wrapped in cloud (…)”. During the Renaissance, many historians and adventurers begin to identify and relate the Atlantic islands with the remains of Atlantis, and Teide with Mount Atlas, with the Canary Islands representing the highest parts of the sunken continent. In the era of European expansion, Teide, with its imposing height, was considered to be the highest mountain in the world, since it was used as a navigation beacon in the Atlantic Ocean by southbound Spanish, Portuguese and British seafarers. Select type of activity:


What is the title of J K Rowling’s first book for adults?

Social class, swearing and sex permeate J.K. Rowling's first adult book - CNN.com Social class, swearing and sex permeate J.K. Rowling's first adult book By Laura Smith-Spark and Erin McLaughlin, CNN Updated 8:25 PM ET, Thu September 27, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. JUST WATCHED J.K. Rowling's new book not for kids 02:19 Story highlights "A big, ambitious, brilliant, profane, funny," upsetting and eloquent novel, says one critic "The Casual Vacancy" is J.K. Rowling's first book for adults The plot centers on a local election in a fictional small English town "This is definitely not a book for children," writes New York Times reviewer Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling's first adult novel went on sale amid a buzz of anticipation Thursday -- but reviews suggest those hoping for a repeat of the charms and wizardry of the Hogwarts books may be disappointed. "The Casual Vacancy" is firmly aimed at those in the grown-up world, with the writer's pen dissecting social inequality, small-town politics and snobbery -- with sex, abuse and a mouthful of swearing thrown in for good measure. Muggle moms await J.K. Rowling's first adult book Set in the fictional town of Pagford, in western England, it centers on a local election following the death of a parish councilman -- and relies on what reviewers agree is a cast of finely drawn but generally unpleasant characters to bring this insular world to life. "We are firmly in Muggle-land -- about as far from the enchanted world of Harry Potter as we can get," wrote Michiko Kakutani in The New York Times. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Life after Potter 00:52 "There is no magic in this book -- in terms of wizarding or in terms of narrative sorcery. Instead, this novel for adults is filled with a variety of people like Harry's aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley: self-absorbed, small-minded, snobbish and judgmental folks, whose stories neither engage nor transport us." The Guardian newspaper's Theo Tait judges it "a solid, traditional and determinedly unadventurous English novel" but praises Rowling's depiction of the "claustrophobic horror" of a small-town community, with plenty of scheming and "everyone knowing everyone." Sales of the book, which was released in paper, online and e-book form in Britain and the United States on Thursday morning, will no doubt be closely watched. But while Rowling's publisher, Little Brown, and booksellers seem confident the tome will prove a bestseller, the mad rush and predawn lines that awaited some of the Potter releases were not in evidence. Early sales seemed slow at a central London branch of the Waterstone's bookstore chain, where stacks of the hardback novel, with its stridently red and yellow cover, were unwrapped and ready for buyers. Opinion: J.K. Rowling explains why muggles are obsessed with class Waterstone's spokeswoman Debs Tilley said preorders had been "fantastic," suggesting Rowling commands a legion of devoted readers willing to give her new venture a try, even if they're not beating down the doors to the store. "Having known and loved her writing for the past 15 years, the world has been waiting to see what she did next," Tilley said. " 'The Casual Vacancy' has reminded us all just how popular she is and how committed her fans are." Store manager Lori Fazio of R.J. Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut, told CNN that interest in the novel had been building for months, with lots of advance orders. "People can't wait for this, for it to finally hit the bookstore," she said. While the book is certainly different from Rowling's previous works, Fazio predicts it will win fans if readers realize it's "an extreme opposite from Harry Potter" and go into it with an open mind. Harry Potter is certainly a tough act to follow. The seven-book series sold more than 450 million copies and spawned a multibillion-dollar film franchise. Details of the new book's content were kept largely under wraps ahead of its release, with Rowling speaking to only a few media outlets in the United Ki


How many stations are there on the Chicago ‘L’ rail system?

CTA Facts at a Glance CTA Facts at a Glance Spring 2016 Service Overview The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) operates the nation’s second largest public transportation system. On an average weekday, 1.6 million rides are taken on CTA. The CTA is a regional transit system that serves 35 suburbs, in addition to the City of Chicago, and provides 83 percent of the public transit trips in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area either with direct service or connecting service to Metra and Pace. CTA has 1,888 buses that operate 130 routes and 1,301 route miles. Buses make about 18,843 trips a day and serve 10,813 bus stops. On the rapid transit system, CTA’s 1,492 rail cars operate eight routes and 224.1 miles of track. CTA trains make about 2,276 trips each day and serve 145 stations. Chicago is one of the few cities in the world that has rail service to two major airports. CTA’s Blue Line ‘L’ can take customers to O’Hare International Airport. Orange Line trains, which operate clockwise on the Loop ‘L’ structure, travel to Midway Airport. CTA also provides around-the-clock service on certain routes. During late night and early morning hours, major rail lines and some of CTA’s bus routes offer “Night Owl” service, much of it with connecting schedules and routing. Organization Chicago Transit Authority is an independent governmental agency created by state legislation. CTA began operating on Oct. 1, 1947, after it acquired the properties of the Chicago Rapid Transit Company and the Chicago Surface Lines. On Oct. 1, 1952, CTA became the predominant operator of Chicago transit when it purchased the Chicago Motor Coach system. Governance & oversight The governing arm of CTA is the Chicago Transit Board. Terry Peterson serves as chairman. The board consists of seven members, four appointed by the Mayor of Chicago and three by the Governor of Illinois. The Mayor’s appointees are subject to the approval of the Governor and the Chicago City Council; the Governor’s appointees are subject to the approval of the Mayor and the Illinois State Senate. CTA’s day-to-day operations are directed by Dorval R. Carter, Jr., president. CTA generates revenue from both farebox collections and nonfarebox revenues, and also receives supplemental funding for operating expenses through the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The RTA was established in 1974 to oversee local transportation operators in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area. Illinois state law requires the three RTA service boards— CTA, Metra (the suburban rail system) and Pace (the suburban bus system) — to recover collectively at least 50 percent of operating costs from farebox and other system revenues.


Actor and theatre producer Bill Kenwright became chairman of which English football club in 2004?

Bill Kenwright | Coronation Street Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. Bill Kenwright CBE (born 4th September , 1945 in Liverpool ) is a British actor and theatrical producer who played Gordon Clegg on Coronation Street from 1968 to 1969 , and then intermittently until 1995 . The part was taken over by Geoffrey Leesley for guest appearances in 2002 and 2004 before Bill reprised the role for the episodes following the death of Gordon's mother Betty in 2012 . Prior to his casting on the Street, Bill was a contemporary of Paul McCartney's in school and became a part-time drama student at the Liverpool Playhouse. At the age of 17 he was invited to join the National Youth Theatre's tour of Europe followed by a short season in the West End. A year later he was awarded a place to read English Literature at Manchester University but immediately upon arrival made his way to Granada 's Quay Street studios and asked for work. To his amazement he was taken on to appear in The Villains and then appeared in Strike Pay and First Timers before Coronation Street. He went on to appear in the 1972 film Carry on Matron and an episode of The Liver Birds the same year. Bill gave up full-time acting in the mid 1970s to become a highly successful theatrical producer, his biggest hits being West End production Blood Brothers and a national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Techincolour Dreamcoat. He had a minor stint as a recording artist in the late 1960s , and now owns his own record label. Bill staged a successful takeover of Everton Football Club in 1999 , and became the chairman in 2004 .


The Parietal lobe and Temporal lobe are part of which organ of the body?

Parietal Lobe Anatomy & Pictures | Body Maps Your message has been sent. OK We're sorry, an error occurred. We are unable to collect your feedback at this time. However, your feedback is important to us. Please try again later. Close Parietal lobe The parietal lobe is located near the center of the brain, behind the frontal lobe, in front of the occipital lobe, and above the temporal lobe. The parietal lobe contains an area known as the primary sensory area. This is where impulses from the skin, such as warmth, cold, pain, and touch, are interpreted. Just like the primary motor area in the frontal lobe, the more sensory input that comes from an area of the body (like the fingers), the more surface area of the parietal lobe is involved in the processing of that information. The parietal lobe is also an essential element of spatial information, which gives us the ability to judge size, distance, and shapes. A specific triangular-shaped area known as the parietal association cortex gives us the ability to understand written language and solve mathematical problems. The left hemisphere of the parietal lobe is often more active in right-handed people. This lobe is known for handling the symbolism of letters and numbers. The right hemisphere tends to be more active in left-handed people and helps with the interpretation of images and spatial distances within them, such as those that exist in maps. Regardless of handedness, people are not “right brained” or “left brained”; we use both sides of our parietal lobe.


How many white stripes are there on the national flag of Greece?

The Greek Flag The Greek Flag The pattern and colors of the Greek Flag have changed somewhat since the Revolution of the Hellenic Nation in 1821. Many people wonder why the founders of Democracy have chosen the symbols, pattern and colors that appear on the National Flag of Greece. It is difficult to reveal the true intentions of the people responsible for the selection of the flag. The design, symbols and pattern of the Flag The stripes represent the number of the syllables in the phrase: Eleftheria i Thanatos (Liberty or Death). Liberty or Death was the motto during the years of the Hellenic Revolution against the Ottoman Empire in the 19nth century [Others claim that the stripes reflect the number of letters in the Greek word for Freedom Eleftheria]. This word stirred the heart of the oppressed Greeks, it created intense emotions and inspired them to fight and gain their freedom after 400 years of slavery. The striped pattern was chosen because of its similarity with the wavy sea that surrounds the shores of Greece. The interchange of blue and white colors makes the Greek Flag on a windy day to look like the Aegean Pelagos (sea). Only the quaint islands are missing! The Hellenic Square Cross that rests on the upper left-side of the flag and occupies one fourth of the total area demonstrates the respect and the devotion the Hellenic people have for the Greek Orthodox Church and signifies the important role of Christianity in the formation of the modern Hellenic Nation. During the dark years of the Ottoman rule, the Greek Orthodox Church helped the enslaved Greeks to retain their cultural characteristics: the Hellenic language, the Byzantine religion and generally the Hellenic ethnic identity, by the institution of the Crypha Scholia (secret schools). The Crypha Scholia were a web of schools that operated secretly throughout Greece and were committed in transmitting to Greeks the wonders of their ancestors and the rest of their cultural heritage. Today, Christianity is still the dominant religion among Greeks. Therefore, the significance of the Cross is justified. The colors of the Flag Blue and White. These two colors symbolize the blue of the Hellenic Sea and the Whiteness of its restless waves! According to the mythic legends, the Goddess of Beauty and Love, Aphrodite (Venus) emerged from these waves. In addition, it reflects the blue of the Hellenic Sky and the White of the few clouds in it. There are some who speculate that the blue and white symbolize the similar color of the clothing (vrakes) of the Greek sailors during the War of Independence. Copyright Alexandros © 1996


In which US city was Senator Robert F Kennedy assassinated in June 1968?

Bobby Kennedy is assassinated - Jun 05, 1968 - HISTORY.com Bobby Kennedy is assassinated Publisher A+E Networks Senator Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles after winning the California presidential primary. Immediately after he announced to his cheering supporters that the country was ready to end its fractious divisions, Kennedy was shot several times by the 22-year-old Palestinian Sirhan Sirhan. He died a day later. The summer of 1968 was a tempestuous time in American history. Both the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement were peaking. Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated in the spring, igniting riots across the country. In the face of this unrest, President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to seek a second term in the upcoming presidential election. Robert Kennedy, John’s younger brother and former U.S. Attorney General, stepped into this breach and experienced a groundswell of support. Kennedy was perceived by many to be the only person in American politics capable of uniting the people. He was beloved by the minority community for his integrity and devotion to the civil rights cause. After winning California’s primary, Kennedy was in the position to receive the Democratic nomination and face off against Richard Nixon in the general election. As star athletes Rafer Johnson and Roosevelt Grier accompanied Kennedy out a rear exit of the Ambassador Hotel, Sirhan Sirhan stepped forward with a rolled up campaign poster, hiding his .22 revolver. He was only a foot away when he fired several shots at Kennedy. Grier and Johnson wrestled Sirhan to the ground, but not before five bystanders were wounded. Grier was distraught afterward and blamed himself for allowing Kennedy to be shot. Sirhan, who was born in Palestine, confessed to the crime at his trial and received a death sentence on March 3, 1969. However, since the California State Supreme Court invalidated all death penalty sentences in 1972, Sirhan has spent the rest of his life in prison. According to the New York Times, he has since said that he believed Kennedy was “instrumental” in the oppression of Palestinians. Hubert Humphrey ended up running for the Democrats in 1968, but lost by a small margin to Nixon. Related Videos


Who commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War?

The Army of Northern Virginia .  Robert E. Lee    . WGBH American Experience  | PBS Other General Articles The Army of Northern Virginia, commonly referred to as "Lee's Army," was the Confederacy's main fighting force in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. Strategically, the Eastern Theater was arguably the most important battleground of the Civil War; comprising the states of Virginia, West Virginia Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, this zone was home to the capital cities of the Union and the Confederacy, as well as site of the War's most famous battles. Originally called the Confederate Army of the Potomac, the confederate forces were renamed the Army of Northern Virginia when Robert E. Lee assumed command on June 1, 1862, in a battle to defend the city of Richmond from Union forces. Before taking command of the Army  of Northern Virginia, Lee had had limited success, suffering a string of defeats in the early stages of the War. But in Richmond, Lee sought to inspire his troops by drawing upon Virginia's storied military tradition, telling them that "every man has resolved to maintain the ancient fame of the Army of Northern Virginia and the reputation of its general and to conquer or die in the approaching contest." The newly created Army of Northern Virginia, however, had no ancient fame. Its first conflict, dubbed the Seven Days' Battles, was gruesome and exhausting, but it would define the character of Lee's soldiers; they were tough, resilient, and willing to suffer great casualties to push the Union forces back. During battle, the Army of Northern Virginia numbered between 54,000 and 92,000 men. The soldiers came from every state in the Confederacy and their average age was 25. The geographic diversity of the force presented some interesting challenges: Lee's troops, for example, did not share a common uniform or pattern of speech. Diversity in the ranks, however, meant that collectively the army was knowledgeable in every landscape from the Louisiana bayous to the Appalachian mountain trails. In the summer of 1862, Lee made the Army of Northern Virginia his own -- instilling discipline and order. He consolidated power in the few commanders he had come to trust, most of whom were members of the southern gentry. From 1861 to 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia fought in dozens of major battles including the decisive confrontations at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. The Army of Northern Virginia's brightest hour came in December 1862 at Fredericksburg. In a war infamous for high casualty engagements, the Army of Northern Virginia inflicted 12,653 casualties while only losing 5,377 men. "The Army of Northern Virginia is an army that has really sort of a split personality," historian Peter S. Carmichael says in Robert E. Lee. "One personality is this extraordinary confidence in their leader, extraordinary high morale, a belief they can’t be conquered. But at the same time it is an army that was being worn down. Lee was pushing these men beyond, beyond the logistical capacity of that army."   Throughout the war, the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia were often ill supplied and underfed. Many fought barefoot and without the basic clothing provided for their adversaries. As early as 1862, Lee expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that his troops "barely get bread from day to day." Lack of food and supplies led to widespread desertion and disorder. By the end of the war, one brigade commander reported that 1,157 men in his column were absent without leave. Afraid for his army's morale, Lee instructed sharpshooters to stand at the rear of the army and fire on any soldier who retreated. But even these attempts failed when the shooters were hesitant to aim at their own men.  After Lee's surrender at the Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia entered into the realm of Southern lore. Lee's troops were remembered for their determination and resolve against long odds. Along with their commander, they would become central icons of "The Lost Cause


Which London university was founded in 1837 as the Government School of Design?

Physick, John, The Victoria and Albert Museum, the history of its building. London: V&A, 1982 Pressmark: Ref 708.21 PHY Victoria and Albert Museum, A Grand design: the art of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publications with the Baltimore Museum of Art, 1997 Pressmark: Ref 708.21 VIC/GRA Further reading Barontini, Chiara, 'From the library of the School of Design to the National Art Library: 150 Years of art librarianship.' M.A. thesis, School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University College London, 1993 Pressmark: 21.G.82 Barontini, Chiara, The National Art Library and its buildings: from Somerset House to South Kensington. London: National Art Library, 1995 Pressmark: NJ.95.0358 Barringer, Tim, 'The South Kensington Museum and the mid-Victorian moment.' In: Victorian: the style of empire; selected proceedings of the Fourth Annual Decorative Arts Institute. Toronto: Decorative Arts Institute, about 1996. Pressmark: 47.Y.2319 Bonython, Elizabeth. "Index to the Henry Cole diaries, 1822–1882, held in the National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum." 5 vols. Unpublished typescript, National Art Library, V&A, about 1992. 5 volumes, alphabetically arranged by names and subjects. See entries under: South Kensington File and Schools of Art (Design) Pressmark: Ref 016.091 BON Bonython, Elizabeth, King Cole: a picture portrait of Sir Henry Cole, KCB., 1808–1882. London: V&A, 1982. Pressmark: 190.H.117 History of art education and the Schools of Design Bell, Quentin, The Schools of Design. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1963 Pressmark: 90.F.47 Denis, Raphael Cardoso, 'The Brompton Barracks: war, peace and the rise of Victorian art and design education.' Journal of Design History 8, no.1 (1995) Pressmark: PP.2.O Frayling, Christopher, The Royal College of Art: one hundred and fifty years of art and design. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1987 Pressmark: 504.C.112 MacDonald, Stuart, The history and philosophy of art education. London: University of London, 1970 Pressmark: 22.F.104 Sparkes, John C.L., Schools of art: their origin, history, work, and influence. London: printed and published for the Executive Council of the International Health Exhibition and for the Council of the Society of Arts by William Clowes and Sons, Limited, 1884. Published as part of the International Health Exhibition, 1884 Pressmark: A.44 (2) National competition prize winners and national scholars Wallis, George, Catalogue of the exhibition of works of manufacture: designed or executed by students of the Schools of Art in connexion with the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education, South Kensington, London. London: HMSO, 1858 Pressmark: 502.B.42 Includes indexes of manufacturers, schools and student exhibitors. Sparkes, John C.L., Schools of art: their origin, history, work, and influence. London: William Clowes & Sons, 1884 Pressmark: A.44 (2) Appendix F includes list of students, past and present, of the Training Class at South Kensington.  Appendix G includes a list of National Scholars. Wallis, George, 'The work of the students of the Schools of Art in Great Britain and Ireland, in connection with the Science and Art Department, South Kensington.' In: International Health Exhibition, 1884. Section II. Education. London: William Clowes & Sons, Limited, 1884. Lists students who passed through the National Training School (Central School, Marlborough House and South Kensington) from 1853 and a list of National Scholars Central School, South Kensington. Pressmark:  A.44 (3) ; photocopies of lists of students at Ref 745.44941 CEN Report of the examiners on the works sent from various schools of art in competition for national medals (1857–1868), continued as: Report of the examiners on the national competition: together with the results of the examination of students in schools of art and of the examination of works sent up from schools of art in competition for prizes (1870–1882), continued as: Reports of the examiners on the results of the art examinations ... (1898–1899) Pressmark: 97.PP.75 Great Britai


How many tiles are there in a standard game of Scrabble?

How Many Letter Tiles Are in Scrabble? How Many Letter Tiles Are in Scrabble? By Erik Arneson Updated September 28, 2016. Scrabble is the most popular word game ever published. This is part of our Scrabble FAQ . There are exactly 100 tiles in Scrabble, distributed this way (read more about Scrabble's tile distribution ): Blank/Wild: 2 tiles


The Mount in Shrewsbury, Shropshire was the birthplace of which 19th Century naturalist?

Peter D. A. Boyd's paper on Shrewsbury, Charles Darwin and the Darwin Country website Charles Robert 1809-1882 Emily Catherine 1810-1866. Charles's sisters had a great influence on his upbringing   and were important correspondents, keeping him in touch with news of Shrewsbury   when he was away from it. Susan Darwin lived at The Mount until her death   in 1866. She was the last member of the Darwin Family to live there. The sale   details of the house and contents provide an insight into the nature of the   household and way of life of the Darwins in Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury and the Darwins Shrewsbury is the County Town of Shropshire. Shropshire is   England's largest inland county with Wales bordering it on its west side.   The historic town centre of Shrewsbury is within a loop of the River Severn.   It is well known for its historic buildings including Norman castle, medieval   abbey, timber-framed tudor buildings, fine churches and museums. The remains   of the Roman town of Viroconium (Uriconium) at Wroxeter and the Ironbridge   Gorge ('Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution') are nearby. Shrewsbury is a popular destination for visitors not only   because of the interests of the town itself and the nearby heritage sites   but also for the wonderful countryside of hills, valleys, rivers, lakes, moors   and mountains within easy reach. This was the countryside in which Charles   Darwin was brought up and which influenced his lifelong interest in natural   history. Visitors to Shrewsbury can walk the same streets and passage-ways   (shuts) that Charles and his family walked. Parts of Shrewsbury are very little   changed from his time and many buildings associated with him may be seen (even   though the interiors of some are not open to the public). Among the many places that visitors may see in Shrewsbury   include:- · 'The Mount', where CD was born, and some remaining   features of its gardens (access limited) · St Chad's Church, opposite The Quarry Park, where CD was christened · The Unitarian Chapel on the High Street, attended by CD and his mother   (contains an interesting memorial to CD) · Site of Rev. Case's day school on Claremont Hill attended by CD (private   house not open to the public) · The old Shrewsbury School building near the Castle attended by CD   as a boarder (now the public library) · The Bell-stone in the precincts of the Morris Hall (glacial erratic   shown to CD by Mr Cotton -said to be CD's introduction to geology) · The bronze statue of CD erected in 1897 outside the old Shrewsbury   School building · A bronze statue (erected in 2000) at the present Shrewsbury School   site - representing a younger CD · Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (new Darwin displays planned) Shrewsbury can also form a base to visit various sites further afield including:- · The grave and memorial of Dr Robert Darwin and Susannah   Darwin at Montford Church (a few miles north west of Shrewsbury). · the Wedgwood Museum, Barlaston, Stoke on Trent - pictures, documents   and other items associated with the Darwin and Wedgwood families (see http://www.wedgwoodmuseum.org.uk ) · Lichfield - home of Erasmus Darwin (CD's grandfather) from 1756-1781   (see http://www.lichfield.gov.uk and http://www.erasmus-darwin.org ). The writer plans to create a virtual tour of the Shrewsbury   sites on the Darwin Country website at http://www.darwincountry.org. However,   real Darwinian visitors to Shrewsbury should make enquiries at the Tourist   Information Centre in Shrewsbury for further details (see also Shrewsbury   Tourism's website at http://www.shrewsburytourism.co.uk ). Henri Quinn, Robert Darwin enthusiast and local businessman,   has carried out research into the Darwins over many years with a band of fellow   local researchers. In 1999, Henri published a useful guide to some of the   places in Shrewsbury associated with Charles Darwin and the Darwin Family   (Quinn, 1999). The Mount and the Darwin's Garden Robert D


‘The Beehive’ is the common name of the Executive Wing of the parliamentary building in which country?

Photograph of the Beehive Parliament Buildings Wellington This photo shows the executive wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings that are known as the Beehive. Beehive (building) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Beehive is the common name for the Executive Wing of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings, located at the corner of Molesworth Street and Lambton Quay, Wellington. Designed by British architect Sir Basil Spence in 1964, the building was completed in 1981. The building is ten storeys (72 m) high. The top floor is occupied by the Cabinet offices, with the Prime Minister's offices on the floor immediately below. Other floors contain the offices of individual cabinet ministers. Other facilities within the building include function rooms such as a television studio, press theatre, and a banqueting hall, as well as service rooms, among which are the parliamentary catering facilities of Bellamy�s. The building also houses, in its basement, the country�s main civil defence headquarters. The Beehive's circular footprint is an elegant and attractive design feature. However it is also quite impractical, as many of its rooms are wedge-shaped or asymmetrical, with desks and other office furniture at awkward angles. The Beehive's brown roof is constructed from 20 tonnes of hand-welded copper. It has developed a naturally weathered appearance. During the 1990s, there was a proposal to physically move the Beehive so as to allow for the extension of the Parliament Buildings. The plan was never carried out. A tunnel leads from the building under Bowen Street, linking the Beehive with parliamentary offices in Bowen House. The Beehive is extensively decorated with New Zealand art, notably a large stained glass window in the foyer that commemorates the country's 150th anniversary in 1990.


Which modern-day country was known as the Khmer Republic between 1970 and 1975?

Khmer National Army | Military Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The oldest and largest branch of the Cambodian armed forces in terms of personnel and matériel, the Royal Khmer Army (French: Armée Royale Khmère – ARK) was officially created on November 20, 1946, after the signing of a French-Khmer military agreement. [1] [2] Three days later, the first entirely Cambodian regular military unit, the 1st Khmer Rifle Battalion (French: 1ér Battaillon de Chasseurs Khmères – 1st BCK), was raised in Phnom Penh, formed by elements transferred from both the Khmer National Guard or ‘Indigenous Guard’ (French: Garde Indigène) and the Cambodian Rifle Regiment (French: Régiment de Chasseurs Cambodgiens – RCC) of the colonial French Union Army . A second rifle battalion (French: 2éme Battaillon de Chasseurs Khmères – 2nd BCK), created out from locally-recruited Khmer irregular auxiliaries (French: Supplétifs) was raised in Kratie in December that year.  Led by a cadre of French officers and senior NCOs, and intended to be used on internal security operations to bolster French Far East Expeditionary Corps (CEFEO) regular troops, the new Khmer battalions saw their first combat in 1947 against Vietminh guerrilla forces in north-eastern Cambodia . Small-scale counter-insurgency operations, this time against the Cambodian nationalist Khmer Issarak rebel movement, continued over the next three years, during which the Khmer battalions gradually assumed responsibility for the defence of Battambang and Kampong Thom Provinces . The ARK in the First Indochina War Edit This period saw a rapid expansion of ARK units – a third Rifle Battalion (3rd BCK) was raised in August 1948 at Takéo , followed in January 1951 by other two rifle battalions (5th BCK and 6th BCK) at the French-run Pursat Infantry Training Center (French: Centre d’Entrainement de Infanterie – CEI). Specialized formations were also raised. Two armoured car squadrons were formed, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron (French: 1ér Esquadron de Reconnaissance Blindée – 1st ERB) in August 1950 and the 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron (French: 2éme Esquadron de Reconnaissance Blindée – 2nd ERB) in July 1951 at Phnom Penh, [3] and a Khmer Parachute Battalion (French: 1ér Battaillon Parachutiste Khmèr – 1st BPK) was officially created in December 1952. [4] Two additional infantry battalions were raised in April 1953 – 7th BCK in Siem Reap and 8th BCK at Ta Khmao, Kandal Province . Although French-trained Khmer junior officers and NCOs slowly began to take a leading role over time, the ARK was still kept firmly under the control of French colonial authorities. By mid-1953, however, Khmer military personnel began not only to participate in anti-French nationalistic demonstrations calling for complete Cambodian independence, but they also deserted French-led units by the hundreds. In October that year, the French High Command finally agreed to transfer responsibility for Cambodian national security to the ARK; for that purpose, two new light infantry battalions were added in November, the 9th BCK raised in Svay Rieng and the 10th BCK at Prey Veng . On November 20, 1953, the Kingdom of Cambodia was granted full independence, though France maintained control over all Air and Naval assets, and the right to station CEFEO units in north-eastern Cambodia to guard its communications links with Tonkin. [5] Pre-1970 organization Edit By January 1970, the Royal Khmer Army standed at about 35,000 Officers and enlisted men and women, organized according to French practice into 53 regiments (actually, battalions) and 13-15 regional independent companies; slightly over half were designated infantry battalions (French: Battaillons d’Infanterie), and the remainder light infantry battalions (French: Battaillons de Chasseurs) and border commando battalions (French: Battaillons Commando). Elite troops and some support units, including the Khmer Royal Guard (French: Garde Royale Khmère), Phnom Penh garrison, Airborne troops (French: Parachutistes), Signals (French: Transmissions), Engineers (French: Génie), Arti


The wine Retsina is native to which European country?

Drink Greek- Travel Squire Barbara Bonfigli First Glass Greece A Retsina Revival Plan There’s a quick way to go broke in Greece, and I don’t mean letting an octopus swallow your wallet. It’s cocktails. Johnny Walker and Jim Beam only travel first class; mojitos and Blue Angels, strictly deluxe. So what’s a thirsty traveler to do? Drink Greek. It’s a lot easier than speaking it and you’ll make new friends even faster. Greek beer and brandy can be inexpensive and delicious, and wine is the best bet of all. Greece is a wine drinker’s paradise thanks to eons of experience, perfect growing conditions, and the blessing of Bacchus, an ancient fun loving god whose only job is to lead you astray. Every region has its native grapes – the agiorgitiko, the robola, the savatiano, and its characteristic wines – the medium-bodied, fruity Nemea reds of the Peloponnese, the gentle, elegant Roditis whites from Patras, the sweet, luscious muscats from Samos. Local wines can often be bought in bulk cheaply at small grocery stores. Bottled wines come in every price range; there are decent reds and whites for six euros, good ones for nine, and excellent ones for much less than you’d pay in the U.S. or most other European countries. If you dislike a wine you’ve ordered in a taverna, they’ll usually replace it, knowing you don’t know your agiorgitiko from your assyrtiko. A great Greek white that costs peanuts is retsina, a simple white to which a little pine resin has been added. Retsina has been given a bad rap, starting about 500 B.C. when some picky Athenians turned up their Grecian noses at the scent and taste of pine resin. As far back as 2500 years ago, pine plugs were used to seal amphorae as wine was shipped throughout the Empire. People got to liking the piney flavor, then they noticed it kept them from getting headaches or hangovers in hot weather (this is history I’m quoting, from the people who invented it.) Some foreigners think you’re kidding when you order retsina. Others love it. I’m in the lovers camp and I was born near Napa Valley which may be proof of reincarnation.   In Café Tempest: Adventures on a Small Greek Island, my sassy heroine Sarah has a love-hate relationship with retsina. She drinks it whenever she can and claims it can start your motor bike, remove your nail polish, and cure you of thought. I’d been thinking of ways to promote my new novel,  when a friend and I came up with the idea of inventing a cocktail based on retsina, the most distinctive and debated wine in all of Greece. We call it the Tempestini –the world’ first retsina cocktail– and the recipe is now featured on the official Café Tempest website. Improbably delicious! The Tempestini  is part retsina, part Samos sweet wine, a dash of triple sec and a splash of unsweetened cranberry juice. It’s sangria with attitude, a Mediterranean martini, easy to drink and hard to forget. We began serving them chilled at all the Cafe Tempest book events including delightful parties at the Greek Embassy in Washington D.C.,  the Greek Consul General’s in Manhattan and the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago. At first people laughed especially Greeks. A retsina cocktail? You’re kidding, right? Then they tasted it … and flipped!  “Ne!” (Yes) I say, speaking for Sarah and all the characters in Cafe Tempest who love Greece as much as I do. Could I play a small part in the world-wide revival of retsina? Yamas! (Cheers!) If you’re game to try the Tempestini, the world’s first retsina cocktail, mix one up. It’s improbably fabulous. I co-invented it to disprove the rude things (not fair!) I say about retsina in my book. The recipe is at www.cafetempest.com . Where to Try a Tempestini: Kellari Parea Bistro


Who became British Prime Minister in June 2007?

History of Gordon Brown - GOV.UK GOV.UK The Rt Hon David Cameron MP Gordon Brown Gordon Brown Labour 2007 to 2010 Born 20 February 1951, Giffnock, Glasgow, Scotland Dates in office Labour Major acts Climate Change Act 2008: to set a target for the year 2050 for the reduction of targeted greenhouse gas emissions. Counter-Terrorism Act 2008: to confer further powers to gather and share information for counter-terrorism and other purposes. Interesting facts Britain’s longest-serving modern Chancellor of the Exchequer. He was appointed Chancellor in May 1997, when Tony Blair became Prime Minister, through to June 2007 when he started as Prime Minister himself. As Prime Minister, Gordon Brown oversaw the devolution of powers in Northern Ireland, the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and the world's first ever Climate Change Act. Gordon Brown was born in Scotland and grew up in the industrial town of Kirkcaldy. He started at Edinburgh University aged 16, becoming the youngest fresher there since the war. It was at university that he began to have problems with his sight and doctors diagnosed him with a detached retina, which was caused by an injury he received in his final game for his school rugby team. He gained a First Class honours degree in History and became the youngest ever Rector of Edinburgh University in 1972. Gordon Brown became MP for Dunfermline East in the 1983 General Election with a majority of 11,000 and shared his first office in the House of Commons with Tony Blair, where they became friends. Later he became Shadow Chancellor and backed Tony Blair for the leadership of the Labour Party. Working together they won a landslide majority in 1997. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer during the longest ever period of economic growth. He also made the Bank of England independent and announced, at the Gleneagles Summit in 2005, an agreement to support the world’s poorest countries and deal with climate change. His passion for global justice was shown in his negotiation to cancel the debts of the world’s poorest nations and the tripling of the development budget. It was during his time as Chancellor that he proposed to Sarah Macaulay and 7 months later they were married at their home in North Queensferry. Gordon Brown became Prime Minister on 27 June 2007 after Tony Blair left office. During his time as Prime Minister he oversaw changes such as the introduction of neighbourhood policing in every area, a legally-enforceable right to early cancer screening and treatment, and the world’s first ever Climate Change Act, which was implemented in autumn 2008. The greatest challenge he faced in office was the worldwide financial crisis and the following recession. In April 2009, he hosted the G20 Summit in London where world leaders pledged to make an additional $1.1 trillion available to help the world economy through the crisis and restore credit, growth and jobs. They also pledged to improve financial supervision and regulation. UK combat operations in Iraq, which had begun during his predecessor’s time in office, came to an end under Gordon Brown. British forces withdrew from the country at the end of April 2009. He regularly visited Iraq and Afghanistan and, in December 2009, he became the first Prime Minister for some considerable time to stay in a war zone when he stayed overnight in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He became heavily involved in international negotiations to reach an agreement to replace the Kyoto Treaty and, in December 2009, he attended the United Nations summit in Copenhagen. Following the summit, he pledged to lead an international campaign to turn the agreements reached at Copenhagen into a legally binding treaty. During his time in office, he worked with his Irish counterpart Brian Cowen to negotiate the devolution of policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland. An agreement was finally reached in February 2010 and the powers were passed to Northern Ireland’s government in the following April. Help us improve GOV.UK


The Naga Viper is what type of foodstuff?

Naga Viper Chili Peppers - Chili Pepper Madness Naga Viper Chili Peppers Naga Viper Chili Peppers 1,382,118 Scovilles. The Naga Viper (capsicum chinense) has been rated at 1,382,118 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), according to tests conducted by the Warwick HRI Mineral Analysis Laboratory, UK, in November 2010. The Naga Viper chili pepper is a hybrid of three different chili peppers - the Bhut Jolokia, the Naga Morich, and the Trinidad Scorpion. It was created by Gerald Fowler, who runs the Chili Pepper Company in Cumbria, England. This pepper is hotter than the Naga Jolokia (or Bhut Jolokia) by a scorching 300,000 Scovilles, and is claimed to be able to peel paint. In comparison, pure capsaicin is rated at between 15,000,000 - 16,000,000 Scoville units, and police grade pepper spray is rated at about 5,000,000 Scovilles. This blistering pepper was reportedly grown in a greenhouse during wintry weather, as opposed to the oven-like heat of the Indian or Mexican climates. Note: "Naga" mean "Cobra Snake" in Sanskrit. Please note that while the Guinness Book of World Records reports this as the hottest chili pepper in the world, there is dispute and it is not officially recognized by the  Chile Pepper Institute in New Mexico .


Who hosted the ‘$64,000 Question’ on British television?

The 64,000 Dollar Question - TvWiki, the free encyclopedia The 64,000 Dollar Question The $64,000 Question was a popular United States television game show from 1955-1958; The $64,000 Challenge (1956-1958) was its popular spinoff show. Contents The $64,000 Question--- CBS , June 1955-June 1958, Tuesday 10-10:30 p.m.; September-November 1958, Sunday, 10-10:30 p.m. The $64,000 Challenge---CBS, April 1956-September 1958, Sunday, 10-10:30 p.m. [ edit ] The Idea The $64,000 Question had its roots in the CBS radio quiz show, Take It or Leave It, which ran from April 20, 1940, to July 27, 1947, hosted first by Bob Hawk and then by Phil Baker. In 1947, the series switched to NBC , hosted by Baker, Garry Moore, Eddie Cantor and Jack Paar . On September 10, 1950, Take It or Leave It changed its title to The $64 Question. With Paar and Baker still on board as hosts, the series continued on NBC radio until June 1, 1952. On both Take It or Leave It and The $64 Question, contestants were asked questions devised by the series' writer-researcher Edith Oliver. She attempted to make each question slightly more difficult than the preceding one. After answering a question correctly, the contestant had the choice to "take" the prize for that question or "leave it" in favor of a chance at the next question. The first question was worth one dollar, and the value doubled for each successive question, up to the seventh and final question, worth 64 United States dollars . During the 1940s, "That's the $64 question" became a common catchphrase for a particularly difficult question or problem. In addition to the common phrase "take it or leave it," the show also popularized another phrase, widely spoken in the 1940s as a taunt but now mostly forgotten. Chanted in unison by the entire audience when someone chose to risk their winnings by going for the $64 prize, it was vocalized with a rising inflection: "You'll be sorrr-REEEE!" Strangely, the phrase "the $64,000 question" is common in Britain , where it means "the most important question," despite the fact that the original game show is virtually unknown in the UK. Later there was a British adaptation of the show, also known as The $64,000 Question, hosted by Bob Monkhouse , although the top prize was only £6,400. This was, however, quite a lot of money for a British game show at the time (early 1990s ). [ edit ] The Hard Sell The $64,000 Question, as American television audiences would know and love it, was created by Louis G. Cowan , formerly known for radio's Quiz Kids . Cowan had a difficult time finding sponsorship for The $64,000 Question. Cosmetics giant Helena Rubenstein (who eventually did become a familiar television advertiser) rejected the idea, reportedly because its wealthy founding namesake didn't even own a television set at the time and had no idea of television's advertising potential. The Chrysler Corporation turned down the chance to launch the show because the automaker reportedly feared sponsoring a big-money quiz show would outrage company workers whose wages they were trying not to inflate. A vacuum cleaner company also said no to Cowan, reportedly because the concept would be too glamorous for its product. It was an intriguing argument considering that print ads of the time featured vacuum cleaners operated by women who stopped just short of being glamour queens but never appeared in soiled housework clothes. Finally, Cowan convinced Revlon . The key: Revlon founder and chieftain Charles Revson knew top competitor Hazel Bishop had fattened its sales through sponsoring the popular This is Your Life , and he wanted a piece of that action if he could have it. According to Fire and Ice , a 1970s book chronicling Revson and his company, Revson first signed a deal to sponsor Cowan's brainchild for 13 weeks with the right to withdraw when they expired. The $64,000 Question premiered June 7, 1955 on CBS-TV, sponsored by cosmetics maker Revlon and originating from the start live from CBS-TV Studio 52 in New York (now the disco-theater Studio 54 ). To increase the show's drama and su


Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday which marks the end of what?

Eid al-Fitr: The Holiday and How Muslims Celebrate The celebration marks the end of the month of Ramadan + READ ARTICLE Muslims across the globe marked the start Thursday of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day celebration that marks the end of Ramadan at sunset. Eid al-Fitr begins each year with the sighting of the new moon, indicating the end of a month of fasting and reflection. To start the holiday, many gather in large, open-air locations or in local mosques on the first morning for special prayers, the Salat al-Eid. People celebrate after the more reflective month of Ramadan. Different cultures celebrate differently, including with large, open festivals, adorning arms with intricate henna tattoo designs, exchanging gifts or wearing festive clothing and jewelry. New York City schools closed in observance of Eid al-Fitr, and President Obama released a statement extending holiday wishes to Muslims in America and elsewhere. “As Muslims mark the end of the month, they are reminded that Ramadan is a time to reflect spiritually, build communally, and aid those in need,” he said. “While Eid marks the end of Ramadan, it marks a new beginning for each individual – a reason to celebrate and express gratitude on this holiday.”