In which book does Michael Henchard auction his wife and child?

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy-MonkeyNotes Study Guide Summary/Free BookNotes/Chapter Summary/Analysis/Synopsis/Download Notes CONFLICT Protagonist The story revolves round the rise and fall of Michael Henchard. From a mere hay-trusser, he rises to become the leading corn and hay merchant of the area. He then becomes the Mayor of Casterbridge. However, his past action of selling his wife and child catch up with him, and circumstances turn against him, reducing him to penury. Because of his love for his stepdaughter, Elizabeth-Jane, he lies to Newson when the latter comes looking for her. He tells him that she had died a year ago. When Newson reappears, Henchard leaves Casterbridge a penniless man. He takes up his old profession of a hay-trusser. He dies in solitude, a broken and bitter man, without having effected a reconciliation with Elizabeth-Jane. Antagonist Michael Henchard is his own antagonist and brings about his own downfall. The weaknesses of his character, including his drinking, his impulsiveness and his arrogance, make him sell his wife and daughter and lie to Elizabeth-Jane about her parentage; these, in turn, lead to his becoming a social outcast. After having great successes in Casterbridge, he dies a lonely and penniless man. Donald Farfrae is another antagonist to Henchard. His arrival in town changes everything for the protagonist. The two men have many conflicts and clashes, and the competitiveness within their personal lives, both in business and in love, creates the outward conflict in the novel. Farfrae, who outdoes Henchard in everything, does much to hasten Henchard's downfall. Climax In the court scene, one of the most dramatic moments in the novel, Henchard's past is finally exposed by the 'furmity woman'. From this point forward, Henchard's social and financial ruin is precipitated. Although at one point he is the most influential man in Casterbridge, his exposure, combined with his rash speculation, leads to his declaring bankruptcy in business and his becoming an outcast from society. Your browser does not support the IFRAME tag. Outcome The novel is a dark tragedy in which Henchard faces total ruin and lonely death. Although Henchard seeks redemption for his misdeeds, it is too late. As a result of his actions, he dies an outcast, without having reconciled himself with society or Elizabeth-Jane. SHORT PLOT/CHAPTER SUMMARY (Synopsis) Michael Henchard, an itinerant hay-trusser, reaches Weydon Priors looking for work. He is accompanied by his wife Susan and their baby, Elizabeth-Jane. Though there are no jobs available, they head towards a spot where a fair is in progress and make their weary way to a tent where furmity is being sold. Michael Henchard quietly signals to the "'furmity woman'" to lace his with rum. When he has imbibed more than enough liquor, he rashly auctions his wife and child to a sailor for five guineas. The next day, when he recovers from his drunken stupor, he is filled with remorse. After making a futile effort to search for them, he leaves, vowing not to touch liquor for twenty-one years. Henchard tells the "'furmity woman'" his destination. After a passage of eighteen years, Susan and Elizabeth-Jane again make their way to Weydon Priors. Newson, the sailor who has earlier purchased them, has been reported missing at sea. Giving him up for dead, Susan now searches for Henchard. All she tells Elizabeth-Jane is that he is a distant relative. With difficulty the "'furmity woman'" recalls Henchard and tells Susan he left Weydon Priors to go to Casterbridge; Susan sets out to find him there. On reaching Casterbridge, to her utter astonishment, she finds that Henchard has become a leading corn and hay merchant. He has even risen to the position of the Mayor of Casterbridge. Susan feels this is a situation that requires some serious thinking, for she feels she cannot confront her husband immediately. She and Elizabeth-Jane stay the night at the Three Mariner's. This inn is the very same inn in which Farfrae is currently s


Which play has tramps Estragon and Vladimir as the main characters?

Vladimir and Estragon Vladimir and Estragon    Bookmark this page    Manage My Reading List In spite of the existential concept that man cannot take the essence of his existence from someone else, in viewing this play, we have to view Vladimir and Estragon in their relationship to each other. In fact, the novice viewing this play for the first time often fails to note any significant difference between the two characters. In hearing the play read, even the most experienced theater person will often confuse one of the characters for the other. Therefore, the similarities are as important as the differences between them. Both are tramps dressed in costumes which could be interchanged. They both wear big boots which don't necessarily fit, and both have big bowler hats. Their suits are baggy and ill-fitting. (In Act II, when Estragon removes the cord he uses for a belt, his trousers are so baggy that they fall about his feet.) Their costumes recall the type found in burlesque or vaudeville houses, the type often associated with the character of the "Little Tramp," portrayed by Charlie Chaplin. The Chaplinesque-type costume prepares us for many of the comic routines that Vladimir and Estragon perform. The opening scene with Estragon struggling with his boots and Vladimir doffing and donning his hat to inspect it for lice could be a part of a burlesque routine. The resemblance of their costumes to Chaplin's supports the view that these tramps are outcasts from society, but have the same plucky defiance to continue to exist as Chaplin's "Little Tramp" did. Another action which could come directly from the burlesque theater occurs when Vladimir finds a hat on the ground which he tries on, giving his own to Estragon, who tries it on while giving his hat to Vladimir, who tries it on while giving the new-found hat to Estragon, who tries it on, etc. This comic episode continues until the characters — and the audience — are bored with it. Other burlesque-like scenes involve Vladimir's struggles to help Estragon with his boots while Estragon is hopping awkwardly about the stage on one foot to keep from falling; another scene involves the loss of Estragon's pants, while other scenes involve the two tramps' grotesque efforts to help Pozzo and Lucky get up off the ground and their inept attempts to hang themselves. Thus, the two characters are tied together partly by being two parts of a burlesque act.


Which Shakespeare play features Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Meaning, Quotes & Summary - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Meaning, Quotes & Summary Watch short & fun videos Start Your Free Trial Today An error occurred trying to load this video. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. You must create an account to continue watching Register for a free trial Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student Start Your Free Trial To Continue Watching As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you             succeed. Coming up next: Shakespeare's Caliban: Character Analysis, Overview You're on a roll. Keep up the good work! Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds 0:02 Who Are Rosencrantz &… Add to Add to Add to Want to watch this again later? Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Custom Courses are courses that you create from Study.com lessons. Use them just like other courses to    track progress, access quizzes and exams, and share content. Teachers Organize and share selected lessons with your class. Make planning easier by creating your own custom course. Students Create a new course from any lesson page or your dashboard. From any lesson page: Click "Add to" located below the video player and follow the prompts to name your course and save your lesson. From your dashboard: Click on the "Custom Courses" tab, then click "Create course". Next, go to any lesson page and begin     adding lessons. Edit your Custom Course directly from your dashboard. Personalize: Name your Custom Course and add an optional description or learning objective. Organize: Create chapters to group lesson within your course. Remove and reorder chapters and lessons at any time. Share your Custom Course or assign lessons and chapters. Teacher Edition: Share or assign lessons and chapters by clicking the "Teacher" tab on the lesson or chapter page you want to     assign.     Students' quiz scores and video views will be trackable in your "Teacher" tab. Premium Edition: You can share your Custom Course by copying and pasting the course URL. Only Study.com members will be able to access the     entire course. Create an account to start this course today Try it free for 5 days! Lesson Transcript Instructor: Shamekia Thomas Shamekia has taught English at the secondary level and has her doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are two minor characters who play an important role in William Shakespeare's popular play 'Hamlet.' Learn more about the significance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and test your knowledge with a quiz. Who Are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern After the death of his father, Prince Hamlet begins behaving in unusual ways, which causes concern for his mother and uncle. In an effort to find out what was troubling Hamlet, King Claudius and Queen Gertrude send for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's closest friends, with haste to use them for 'the supply and profit of (their) hope' in Act II, Scene 2. Instead of serving as friends of Hamlet's, they end up being traitors who agree to take Hamlet to his death. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern seem to function as one character in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, because they are always presented together and function as a unit. At times it seems that others see them as a single person rather than two distinct men, and they are described as 'half men.' When speaking of Hamlet's behavior, they finish each other's statements. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are minor characters of major importance. They serve as the go-between between Hamlet and King Claudius on several occasions. Significance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Rosencrantz and Guildenstern do whatever Claudius asks of them. They even try to discover what Hamlet did with Polonius' body for the King. Rosencrantz asks Hamlet, 'What have you done, my lord, with the dead body?' (Act 4, Scene 2, lin


Who painted 'The Laughing Cavalier' in 1624?

Oil Painting Reproduction of Hals- The Laughing Cavalier 1 from 20 OIL PAINTING:  The Laughing Cavalier, 1624       The Laughing Cavalier by Frans Hals is one of the most famous portraits in the world, yet the identity of the man is unknown. From the inscription in the upper right corner we know only that he was twenty-six years old when Hals painted him in 1624, presumably as a commission from the sitter himself. The title, inaccurate but now inseparable from the work, dates from the 1870s when it was first exhibited by Sir Richard Wallace. Its modern fame is founded partly on the incomparable skill with which Hals has painted the brilliant costume (including the love emblems on the doublet), but above all on the vivid portrayal of swaggering self-confidence. Browse Artists Alphabetically by Name


Blue Boy Blue Boy The Blue Boy (c 1770) About this Painting The Blue Boy, (1770) by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) oil on canvas   The best known painting at The Huntington, The Blue Boy was Gainsborough’s first attempt at full length Van Dyck dress – knee breeches and a slashed doublet with a lace collar – which is based on the work of Anthony van Dyck, the 17th-century Flemish painter who had revolutionized British art. The shimmering blue satin is rendered in a spectrum of minutely calibrated tints – indigo, lapis, cobalt, slate, turquoise, charcoal, and cream – which have been applied in extremely complex layers of vigorous slashes and fine strokes.   Blue Boy did not seduce its first viewers with an image of a celebrity or with literary or historical allusions, but with Gainsborough’s command of paint and the sheer mastery of his brushwork. Henry E. Huntington purchased the painting along with Gainsborough’s Cottage Door and Reynolds’s Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse from the Duke of Westminster. Admission


Who shot Lee Harvey Oswald in November 1963?

Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald - Nov 24, 1963 - HISTORY.com Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald Share this: Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald Author Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald URL Publisher A+E Networks At 12:20 p.m., in the basement of the Dallas police station, Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy, is shot to death by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. On November 22, President Kennedy was fatally shot while riding in an open-car motorcade through the streets of downtown Dallas. Less than an hour after the shooting, Lee Harvey Oswald killed a policeman who questioned him on the street. Thirty minutes after that, he was arrested in a movie theater by police. Oswald was formally arraigned on November 23 for the murders of President Kennedy and Officer J.D. Tippit. On November 24, Oswald was brought to the basement of the Dallas police headquarters on his way to a more secure county jail. A crowd of police and press with live television cameras rolling gathered to witness his departure. As Oswald came into the room, Jack Ruby emerged from the crowd and fatally wounded him with a single shot from a concealed .38 revolver. Ruby, who was immediately detained, claimed that rage at Kennedy’s murder was the motive for his action. Some called him a hero, but he was nonetheless charged with first-degree murder. Jack Ruby, originally known as Jacob Rubenstein, operated strip joints and dance halls in Dallas and had minor connections to organized crime. He also had a relationship with a number of Dallas policemen, which amounted to various favors in exchange for leniency in their monitoring of his establishments. He features prominently in Kennedy-assassination theories, and many believe he killed Oswald to keep him from revealing a larger conspiracy. In his trial, Ruby denied the allegation and pleaded innocent on the grounds that his great grief over Kennedy’s murder had caused him to suffer “psychomotor epilepsy” and shoot Oswald unconsciously. The jury found him guilty of the “murder with malice” of Oswald and sentenced him to die. In October 1966, the Texas Court of Appeals reversed the decision on the grounds of improper admission of testimony and the fact that Ruby could not have received a fair trial in Dallas at the time. In January 1967, while awaiting a new trial, to be held in Wichita Falls, Ruby died of lung cancer in a Dallas hospital. The official Warren Commission report of 1964 concluded that neither Oswald nor Ruby were part of a larger conspiracy, either domestic or international, to assassinate President Kennedy. Despite its seemingly firm conclusions, the report failed to silence conspiracy theories surrounding the event, and in 1978 the House Select Committee on Assassinations concluded in a preliminary report that Kennedy was “probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy” that may have involved multiple shooters and organized crime. The committee’s findings, as with those of the Warren Commission, continue to be widely disputed. Related Videos


Who did Sirhan Sirhan assassinate in 1968?

Robert Kennedy's Killer Sirhan Sirhan Says He Was Brainwashed - ABC News ABC News Assassin's Lawyer Says Sirhan Sirhan Was Brainwashed By Russell Goldman Email A lawyer for Sirhan Sirhan , the confessed assassin of Robert F. Kennedy, plans to present new evidence at a parole board hearing suggesting that he did not act alone, was potentially brain washed and cannot remember anything about the 43-year-old shooting. "There is no question he was hypno-programmed," lawyer William F. Pepper told ABCNews.com. "He was set up. He was used. He was manipulated." Sirhan will appear before a California parole board on Wednesday for the 14th time since his May 1969 sentencing. It is the first time he will be represented by Pepper. Taking a page from the conspiracies that have dogged the assassination of Kennedy's brother President John F. Kennedy, Pepper plans to introduce new evidence that suggests there was a second gunman who fatally shot RFK in the kitchen of a Los Angeles hotel, following his victory in the 1968 California presidential primary. Pepper said he believes Sirhan was "hypno-programmed," essentially brainwashed to kill Kennedy and his memories were then erased. The lawyer's tale has all the makings of a great conspiracy theory, if not a science fiction thriller akin to the "Manchurian Candidate." "Ten independent witnesses say Sirhan was always in front of Bobby, never behind him," said Pepper, "but the autopsy says Bobby was shot at close range from behind the right ear." Pepper says he believes he knows who ordered Sirhan to shoot Kennedy, but won't yet say who it is. He said in addition to the parole hearing, he is preparing an appeal. Pepper said Sirhan is "remorseful" for his role in the 1968 assassination of Kennedy, but the gunman "does not remember anything about the shooting." The image of Sirhan sitting in a California prison cell in 2011 regretting a crime he does not remember does not jibe with a defiant Sirhan sitting a California courtroom in 1969. At his trial, Sirhan confessed to the crime and declared he had committed it "with 20 years of malice aforethought." Second Gunman Conspiracy Theory Members of the Kennedy family declined to discuss the claims by Sirhan's lawyer. The second gunman theory is not new, said Cyril Wecht, a renowned forensic pathologist and one of two independent physicians who examined Kennedy's body. Wecht was also one of nine forensic pathologists on a panel who reexamined the JFK assassination, but the only one who dissented from the single bullet theory. Wecht said the coroner in the RFK case gave "unchallenged, unequivocal" testimony to the grand jury that Kennedy had been shot from behind at close range. Witnesses all put Sirhan in front of Kennedy. Wecht said it was scientifically plausible to hypnotize someone and induce them to murder, but said he did not know if there was enough evidence to suggest that in Sirhan's case. Parole hearings are typically not the platform to introduce new evidence, or retry a case. Boards typically want to hear convicts express remorse for their crimes, not deny remembering them. But Pepper says "There is an exception when the factual narrative is wrong. Counsel has the right to correct those facts. I don't know why prior counsel never did that. I am going to clarify the record." A spokeswoman for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said she cannot comment on the specifics of Sirhan's case, but parole board hearings generally "are not to decide guilt or innocence." "The board accepts as fact the guilty verdict," said Terry Thornton. "The purpose is to determine if or when an inmate can return to society." Pepper successfully won a 1999 civil case against the city of Memphis, in which he argued Memphis police were involved in the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., for which James Earl Ray, the only suspect was convicted in 1969. Pepper said Sirhan had been examined by Daniel Brown, a psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, who found he was "easily hypnotized" and was not faking his inability to reme


Buffalo Passport Agency Send me a copy Subject: Email addresses provided here will be used solely to email the link indicated. They will not be saved, shared, or used again in any manner whatsoever. The CAPTCHA code you entered is not valid, please reenter the CAPTCHA code Buffalo Passport Agency If you are traveling internationally in less than 2 weeks or need to obtain a foreign visa within 4 weeks, you are eligible to schedule an appointment at this agency with proof of international travel.  Will call (pickup) service is offered for life or death emergencies and immediate international travel.   Call 24/7 for an Appointment Se habla español. 1-877-487-2778, 1-888-874-7793 (TDD/TTY) Appointments are required at all passport agencies.  There is no charge to make an appointment at a passport agency and customers should not pay anyone or any business making such a charge. You must pay the $60 expedite fee in addition to application fees to apply at this agency. Proof of international travel is required when applying at this agency. Will call service is offered for life or death emergencies and immediate travel abroad (leaving within # business).  The agency will advise you when the passport will be ready for pickup at will call based on your documented travel plans. For all other customers, passports will be processed within # business of applying at the agency. During your appointment, the agency will advise how the passport will be sent to you.   Completed forms All required supporting documents (including one photo and a front and back photocopy of identification) A major Credit Card, Debit/Check card (not ATM cards), Check, Bank Draft, Cash (Exact Change), or Money Order to cover the application and expedited fees Need help getting started? Find out what forms, documents, and fees you will need to bring to your appointment. When You Arrive Arrive early to allow enough time to pass through building security screening and metal detectors (weapons are prohibited).               Check-In at the Information Desk.     Present your Social Security Number or Appointment Confirmation     Number to verify your appointment. Receive your number, please be seated, and wait until your number is called. When your number is called go to your assigned window.  A passport specialist will review your forms and supporting documents. Please note: Wait times may vary. Please take into account that you may not be seen exactly at your appointment time. Driving Directions Expand All From South: Take I-90 East to I-190 North. Take I-190 North about 5 miles to Exit 6 (Elm Street).  Head north about one mile on Elm Street (Hwy 33) to Genesee Street. Turn left on Genesee Street and travel one and a half blocks to the Agency. From North: Take I-190 South to Exit 6 (Elm Street).  Head north about one mile on Elm Street (Hwy 33) to Genesee Street.  Turn left on Genesee Street and travel one and a half blocks to the Agency. From East: Take I-90 West (New York State Thruway) to Highway 33 West (Kensington Expressway). Take Highway 33 West (Kensington Expressway) to Oak Street Exit (continuation of Hwy 33). Upon exiting the expressway, make an immediate right from Oak Street onto Genesee Street. Travel one half block. The Agency is on the left side of the street. From the Airport: Take Highway 33 West (Kensington Expressway) to Oak Street Exit (continuation of Hwy 33). Upon exiting the expressway, make an immediate right from Oak Street onto Genesee Street. Travel one half block. The Agency is on the left side of the street. From Ontario: Take Queen Elizabeth Way to the Peace Bridge. Proceed across the Peace Bridge.Take I-190 South to Exit 6 (Elm Street). Head north about one mile on Elm Street (Hwy 33) to Genesee Street. Turn left on Genesee Street and travel one and a half blocks to the Agency. Buffalo Passport Agency


Aconcagua mountain - Facts, location Aconcagua Mountain TheÂ  Aconcagua mountain Â (6962 meters above sea level) is located in the Argentine Republic, at 69Âº 59Â´ West longitude and 32Âº 39Â´ South latitude, in what is called Aconcagua Mountain Provincial Park in the province of Mendoza. This province is situated in the Center West of Argentina, and it has an area of 150,839 square kilometers. Those who want to visit Aconcagua Mountain Park must go through the capital of the province, also called Mendoza, which is located 750 meters above sea level. Mendoza is well known around the world for the quality of its wines, mainly the Malbec variety from LujÃ¡n de Cuyo, one of the best worldwide. Mendoza is a modern region with an international airport, all means of transport, and lodging capacity for 15,000 people (campsites, apartments, houses, hotels, cottages, etc.)Â  Aconcagua mountain Â is a preferred destination due to the physical and psychological demands it poses to climbers, its climate and the beauty of the surrounding scenery. It is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the most sought after in the seven-thousand meter circuit. It is also special as an introduction to big heights since its elevation and geographic and weather conditions constitute an ideal setting both for moderate demands and as preparation for the more exacting challenges posed by the eight-thousand meter and other peaks in the Himalayas. The "Colossus of America" is the goal of climbers from all over the world as well as an attraction to thousands of tourists per year who come enjoy its natural beauty and treasure this unique and magnificent experience.   TheÂ Aconcagua Mountain Provincial ParkÂ is one of the three high-mountain parks in Mendoza, along with Tupungato volcano and Diamante lagoon. It was created by Law 4807 on November 28, 1990; it is located in the district of Las Heras and comprises 71,000 hectares. The official season for visits goes from November 15 to March 15. The harsh weather conditions of this reserve are due to the altitude of the ecosystem, and this explains its low bio-diversity. However, the local animal and plant species are of special interest and show an outstanding adaptation to the altitude. They are found in the lower areas of the park (up to 4000 meters above sea level).Â  The predominant vegetation is the steppe with low bushes, such as yellow firewood, yareta and goat horn, along with open height pastures made up of huecÃº and ichus. Besides, over sixty varieties of birds inhabit the area. Among them, the most typical species are the condor and the purple eagle. The most common land animals are the mountain rats, the agachona and the red fox. Other species worth mentioning are some amphibians and reptiles indigenous to high mountain regions. Fertile plains and streams are home to spotted sandpipers, churrines and a variety of duck called torrente. There are also large herds of guanacos predated by pumas. European hares abound and are an exotic species growing wild in the region. A few meters from the first park ranger camp and the international road, tourists can visit one of the most exotic lagoons in the province of Mendoza for its blue color and its cold temperature. This lagoon is home to a wide range of indigenous animals and wild plants.   Mountain Climbing in Mendoza There are also several climbing clubs and federations, such as (MMC) Mendoza Mountain Climbing Club (CAM in Spanish) founded in 1935, which has one of the largest libraries on mountain issues in the country, as well as woodies and mountain shelters. The club also features a provincial school for mountain and trekking guides as well as a branch of the Argentine Association of Mountain Guides based in Bariloche and recognized by the International Union of Associations of Mountain Guides based in Switzerland.Â  In CordÃ³n del Plata, 70 kilometers from the city, it is possible to climb several peaks over 5000 meters and one over 6000 meters in 3 to 5 day journeys, which is ideal for training and acclimation.Â


Cotopaxi Other      websites by author: Greening      Earlham Creation/revision date December 5, 2005 Cotopaxi,      towers above the surrounding landscape and is a remarkable sight on      the Ecuadorian horizon. The first assent of this volcano was on the      28th of November 1872 by Wilhelm Reiss and Ángel Escobar. It      is in the Cotopaxi province of Ecuador and is protected by Cotopaxi      Parque Naciónal. Photo by Charles A. Wood, from Volcano      World Introduction Cotopaxi, rising 5,897 meters above sea level,      with a base width of 23 km, is currently the highest active volcano      in the world. It is located 80 km SSE from the country’s capital:      Quito, a city of 1,865,541 (Wikipedia), in the Northern Andean mountain      belt. Although Ecuador is host to several (26) other active volcanoes      (and 250 total), Cotopaxi is considered to be the countries most dangerous      volcano because of the large population at risk if it were to violently      erupt as it has in the past. Similar to two-thirds of all the world’s      volcanoes, Cotopaxi sits in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a ring of subducting      oceanic lithosphere beneath continental lithosphere, creating a zone      of volcanoes. The majority of these, like Cotopaxi, are stratovolcanoes. Geologic      Processes Cotopaxi lies in the Ecuadorian Andes, a mountain      belt that spans the western coast of South America that formed during      the Middle and Upper Tertiary periods into the early part of the Mesozoic      era. In the Pleistocene epoch, glaciers covered the Andes from Ecuador      to the southern tip of the Andes in Chile. Photo from Volcano      World Cotopaxi is a stratovolcano. These volcanoes are      known both as the most picturesque and the most dangerous and deadly.      This type of volcano is created from both explosive and effusive eruptions.      It is combined of layers of tephra alternating with layers of viscous      lava flows creating their steep-sided and symmetrical cone shape (As      seen in the above diagram ). Like other stratovolcanos, Cotopaxi's crater      is relatively small compared to the size of the mountain. Photo from Instituto      Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional Volcanoes occur only in certain areas and are      due to geological processes. In order for volcano’s to occur the      magma in the Earth’s mantle must begin to rise. Magma is lighter      than the solid rock surrounding it, and therefore its buoyancy enables      it to rise. As the magma rises it collects in magma chambers that serve      as the fuel for a volcano. When magma rises and nears the surface of      the Earth the pressure begins to decrease (pressure is more intense      with depth just as temperature increases with depth towards the Earth’s      core). This decrease in pressure causes the gasses in the magma to expand,      which eventually propels the magma through openings in the Earth’s      surface—voila—volcano! There are several three different      types and also different eruptive styles of volcanoes. The majority      of volcanoes occur at plate boundaries. Cotopaxi is a subduction zone volcano, located      where the Nazca oceanic plate is subducting underneath the continent      of South America. Subduction zones often create volcanoes because when      the subducting plate reaches around 100 km down, it is deep within the      Earths mantle and the friction of the two plates, combined with the      increased temperature and pressure case the partial melting of the overriding      plate (in this case the South American Plate). In this partial melting      new magma is formed, creating a magma chamber in which a volcano begins      to evolve. History      of Cotopaxi Volcano Cotopaxi has had several r


The Trout Quintet - A Cheerful Countryside Work The Trout Quintet A Cheerful Countryside Work Schubert's Trout Quintet is a light and lively chamber piece, which recycles one of the composer's most popular melodies... Schubert wrote it for a keen patron, who wanted the composer to include the popular melody from his song "The Trout". Origins of the Quintet In 1819, Schubert was touring the Austrian countryside on a kind of holiday. He met an enthusiastic amateur cello player called Sylvester Paumgartner, who also happened to be a wealthy mine owner. Paumgartner was extremely fond of Schubert's song "The Trout", a jolly little tune about fishing. He asked the composer to write a string quintet using the melody from the song. People think he asked for a quintet specifically so that his cello part would be more fun to play, instead of just plodding out the bass to support the melody in the other instruments (like in a regular string quartet). Schubert was eager to please (and perhaps in need of some patronage?), so he recycled his old song and sent Paumgartner the brand new Trout Quintet. But although Paumgartner was a really keen cello player, he wasn't a very good one! Schubert had accidentally made the cello part a bit too difficult for the poor patron, who struggled to perform it properly. Oh dear! Paumgartner got a group of musicians he had already hired to play it in his house, but the composer shelved the score after that. It was never performed publicly in Schubert's lifetime. It was only published a year after Schubert died. Schubert is actually more famous for his 600+ songs , which he wrote all throughout his life... The Lively Music The Trout Quintet has a bit a of a weird instrumentation setup. The normal layout of a string quintet is basically just a string quartet (two violins, one viola, one cello) with a piano stuck on. But the Trout Quintet has one violin, a viola, a cello, a piano, and a double bass as well. Highly odd! I suppose the double bass adds some balance to the high tinkling piano passages. The quintet is a very light and melodic piece, with not much drama or sadness. It's fun to listen to, but there's not very much to sink your teeth into! I think that the piece's bright sound is because Schubert was feeling cheerful and refreshed after his trip to the country. That, or he didn't want to upset his patron Paumgartner with too much drama! The 4th movement is where all the variations from the song are. Schubert basically passes the melody around all the instruments, slows it down, speeds it up, and generally plays around with it. The fun piano accompaniment part from the song isn't played until really close to the end. Maybe Schubert was teasing Paumgartner? I have an image of the patron on the edge of his seat, waiting for the piano part to come, and getting excited when it finally arrives... The quintet is in A Major, and is in 5 movements: Allegro Vivace (fast and lively) Andante (walking pace) Andantino (theme and variations) Allegro giusto (quick, strict) Schubert was also a bit creative in his harmonies. He basically used non-traditional harmonic techniques, which create a more relaxed and carefree sound. I reckon this is the influence of his holiday again! Here are some of my favorite variations from the 4th movement. First though, here's the original song: Ahhh, wonderful! And now my favorite variations... My favorite movement is definitely the 5th movement though. I find the melodies really catchy. It's a perfect finish to this fun quintet! Good Recordings One recording I like is by the Amadeus Quartet. They manage to keep the piece sounding happy and light, while balancing everything exquisitely. Bravo!


Who wrote the music for the 1957 musical 'West Side Story'?

Arthur Laurents: Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for 'West Side Story' and 'Gypsy' | The Independent Arthur Laurents: Playwright and screenwriter who wrote the books for 'West Side Story' and 'Gypsy' Sunday 15 May 2011 23:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Online The playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents wrote the books for two true classics of musical theatre, West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959), and directed the hit musical La Cage aux Folles (1983). His plays included the powerful anti-semitism drama, The Home of the Brave (1945) and The Time of the Cuckoo (1952), which on screen became David Lean's Summertime. His screenplays include Hitchcock's Rope (1948), and The Way We Were (1973). West Side Story and Gypsy would figure in most historians' top 10 stage musicals – indeed, Gypsy is often cited as having the best book of any show. West Side Story had a score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (making his Broadway debut), while Sondheim also provided lyrics for Gypsy, to Jule Styne's music. Both benefited from the superb choreography and staging of Jerome Robbins, but Laurents' contributions cannot be over-estimated. His teaming with Bernstein, Robbins and Sondheim was not placid. Robbins was a theatrical genius but arguably the most disliked of Broadway personalities, and Laurents was to call him "a monster", but the musicals on which they collaborated, West Side Story and Gypsy, have proved their durability. As conceived by Robbins and Bernstein, West Side Story was to transpose Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to a tale of warring Catholics and Jews in New York (with the title East Side Story), but Laurents persuaded them that it would have more originality if based on the experience of Puerto Ricans in the city. It was also his idea to begin the show with a wordless dance sequence demonstrating the conflict and rivalry between the two street gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. Broadway had never seen a show like it when it opened in 1957. I was fortunate to be at the first night in London in 1958, when the show opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, and it was one of the most electrifying evenings I have ever experienced – it seemed as if the applause, cheers and stamping would never stop. Gypsy began life as a memoir by the stripper Gypsy Rose Lee about her early life as a child performer in vaudeville, driven by a fiercely ambitious mother. Robbins had envisioned "a panorama of vaudeville and burlesque", but Laurents thought the show should be built around the mother, Rose, and her single-minded pursuit of fame for her daughters, June and Louise. With Ethel Merman set for the part of Rose, Styne and Sondheim wrote a rich, melodious score, the songs perfectly integrated with Laurents' witty, perceptive and economical script. Merman, who had a reputation for firing performers who stole the limelight, displayed her generosity for the good of the show in allowing two major show-stoppers by other members of the cast – "All I Need Is The Girl", in which one of the chorus boys envisions the song-and-dance act with which he hopes to headline, and "You Gotta Have a Gimmick", the hilarious advice three strippers give to Louise. Rose herself has one of the great tour-de-force numbers at the show's climax, "Rose's Turn", in which all her bitterness and frustrations erupt. When the show was staged in London in 1974 with Angela Lansbury starring, Laurents devised a chilling piece of new staging in which, having finished the number to rapturous applause from the audience, Rose continues bowing after the applause dies out as if lost in a hallucination. In 1962 Mervyn LeRoy directed a film version that was fairly faithful to the original, with Rosalind Russell energetically conveying all of Rose's electricity, vulgarity and humour (though most of her singing was dubbed by Lisa Kirk). Gypsy has had four major Broadway revivals, starring Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and Patti Lupone, and earlier this year Barbra Streisand announced that she would be starring in a new film version, but


La Giralda is the bell tower of which Spanish cathedral?

Giralda, Seville Giralda 5 12 votes La Giralda, the bell tower of the Cathedral, is the most famous landmark in Seville. The tower was originally built at the end of the twelfth century as the minaret of a large mosque built by the Moors. Construction Belfry Weathervane In the twelfth century the Almohades, who dominated the region, built a new great mosque in Seville. Construction of its minaret started in 1184 under the lead of engineer Gever, who designed an ingenious structure with two separate load-bearing walls connected to each other via an internal ramp. Construction of the minaret was completed in 1198. Stones from ancient Roman monuments were used to build the tower. At the foot of the Giralda one can still find inscriptions dating back to the era of Emperor Augustus. The Giralda In 1356, after the reconquest of Seville by the Christians, much of the mosque was destroyed by a large earthquake. Only two parts of the original structure survived unscathed, the Patio de los Naranjos (a courtyard) and the minaret. The rest of the building was replaced by a Gothic cathedral . In the fourteenth century the original bronze spheres at the top of the tower were replaced by Christian symbols. Its current appearance dates back to 1568 when Hernán Ruiz added the magnificent belfry. Surprisingly, the Renaissance style of the belfry blends in harmoniously with the moorish base. The name of the tower - Spanish for weathervane - stems from the large vane at the top of the belfry, known as giraldillo. The large statue, depicting Faith, shows a woman in a classical Roman attire, holding a shield in the right hand and a palm in the left. The original vane is now installed near the entrance of the cathedral at the Puerta de San Cristobal. Copycats The Giralda is one of the most famous bell towers in the world and served as a model for several other towers such as the former Madison Square Garden in New York (now demolished), View from the Giralda the tower of the Ferry Building in San Francisco and the Wrigley Building in Chicago . Views The tower can be accessed from inside the cathedral. A long climb on the ramp leads to the tower's belfry from where you have a superb 360 degree view over Seville. You can easily spot landmarks such as the Real Alcazar , Plaza de Espana and Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza .


What is the name of the road/rail bridge opened in 2000 that links Copenhagen and Malmo?

The Oresund Bridge - Scandinavia Travel The Oresund Bridge The Bridge Connecting Denmark And Sweden https://www.flickr.com/photos/newsoresund/ By Terri Mapes Updated September 09, 2016. The Øresund Bridge (locally called Øresundsbron) is the bridge that connects Amager and Oresund in Denmark (on the island Zealand ) with Skane, Sweden, a total length of just over 10 miles (16,4 km). This is the road connection between the metropolitan areas of Copenhagen and Malmo . Perfect for travelers wanting a quick connection between Sweden and Denmark without flying, the Øresund Bridge now carries more than 60,000 travelers daily - amongst them both local commuters and visitors. The Øresund Bridge offers a 4-lane road carrying 6 million vehicles per year, and two train tracks (another 8 million people each year). When was the Øresund Bridge built? Well, in 1991, the governments of Denmark and Sweden agreed on constructing this massive project , and while it took a while to build this monster bridge, the Oresund Bridge was officially opened on July 1, 2000. Building the Øresund bridge included construction of a bridge, a tunnel (2.5 miles long / 4 km) and a new island where travelers go from tunnel-level (on the Danish side) to the level of the bridge. continue reading below our video Long-Haul Flight Survival Tips Øresund Bridge Toll: Travelers have several options when it comes to toll passes for the bridge. Single use toll passes for cars are available for EUR 36, vans and similar vehicles cost EUR 71. Besides a popular annual bridge pass (called BroPas) aimed at commuters, travelers might want to consider purchasing a 10-trip pass with a 30% discount (EUR 260 for cars.) The toll for driving across the Øresund Bridge is paid at the toll station on the Swedish side. Thankfully, they accept both cash and credit cards . There is no border control as both Denmark and Sweden are part of the European Union. Also, check the bridge traffic & toll information . The Øresund Bridge's local name "Øresundsbron" is a combination of the Danish word "Øresundsbroen" and the Swedish word "Öresundsbron", both meaning Oresund Bridge in English. FUN FACT: The high bridge part of the Øresund Bridge has the longest cable-stayed main span of all bridges in the world. That goes for both road and rail traffic! And, the tunnel part of Øresundsbron is the world's longest underwater tube tunnel, also for both road and rail traffic.


Krill, Krill Pictures, Krill Facts - National Geographic Size relative to a paper clip Please add a "relative" entry to your dictionary. The lowly krill averages only about two inches (five centimeters) in length, but it represents a giant-sized link in the global food chain. These small, shrimp-like crustaceans are essentially the fuel that runs the engine of the Earth’s marine ecosystems. Krill feed on phytoplankton, microscopic, single-celled plants that drift near the ocean’s surface and live off carbon dioxide and the sun’s rays. They in turn are the main staple in the diets of literally hundreds of different animals, from fish, to birds, to baleen whales. Simply put, without krill, most of the life forms in the Antarctic would disappear. Alarmingly, there are recent studies that show Antarctic krill stocks may have dropped by 80 percent since the 1970s. Scientists attribute these declines in part to ice cover loss caused by global warming. This ice loss removes a primary source of food for krill: ice-algae. Pink and opaque, Antarctic krill are among the largest of the 85 known krill species. Their estimated numbers range from 125 million tons to 6 billion tons in the waters around Antarctica. During certain times of year, krill congregate in swarms so dense and widespread that they can be seen from space. Antarctic krill can live up to 10 years, an amazing longevity for such a heavily hunted creature. They spend their days avoiding predators in the cold depths of the Antarctic Ocean, some 320 feet (100 meters) below the surface. During the night, they drift up the water column toward the surface in search of phytoplankton.


BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Morocco's miracle mule Wednesday, 2 October, 2002, 08:56 GMT 09:56 UK Morocco's miracle mule The mule's owners did not realise it was pregnant By the BBC's Katty Kay A mule has given birth to a male foal in a hamlet deep in rural Morocco. No big deal, you may think, but in fact the birth was a minor scientific miracle. A mule is the hybrid of a horse and a donkey and should be sterile - except in this instance. There have only been two substantiated cases of a mule giving birth in the past quarter century: one in China in 1988 and the other also in Morocco in 1984. The mule's aged owner did not realise the mule was pregnant and rode her 20 kilometres to market the day before the birth Since 1527, (when records began on the issue) there have only been a total of 60 reported cases of mules giving birth. "The occurrence is so historically rare that the Romans had a saying Cum mula peperit, meaning 'when a mule foals', the equivalent of our 'once in a very blue moon'," explained Dr Gigi Kay, a horse vet with the charity the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, who has visited the mother and son. Paying tribute The 14-year-old mother mule gave birth on 28 August, in a small hamlet of three poor farms in the region of Oulmes, 80 kilometres south of the ancient city of Fez. The farm is nestled at the foot of the Atlas mountains, where the mother mule has become a cult. She and her foal have been visited by streams of people, many of whom travelled for hours to pay tribute to the miracle birth and bring gifts to the owner and the animal. The mule has become a local attraction The mule's aged owner, a farming woman whose face is covered in traditional local tattoos, did not realise the mule was pregnant and rode her 20 kilometres to market the day before the birth. Dr Kay is running blood tests on both the mother and the foal. She said the science defied belief. A horse has 64 chromosomes and a donkey has 62, so a mule is left with 63, an uneven number which cannot divide into chromosome pairs. This should make a mule unable to reproduce. The Moroccan foal looks a bit like a baby donkey and a bit like a baby mule - but not exactly like either. See also:


To which saint is the Cathedral in Red Square dedicated?

Saint Basil Cathedral on Red Square, Moscow, stock photography by Auto Exposure The story behind "Saint Basil Cathedral on Red Square, Moscow" I am back :) Sorry for the long dry spell, but I was busy leading a team in Russia. Of course I took my camera, so the next week or so I will post some images of the largest country on earth, starting of with the most famous sight: St Basil’s cathedral at Red Square. Красная площадь, Krasnaya ploshchad) is the Russian name of th square, right next to the Kremlin. As Krasnaya means Red as well as Beautiful, it is assumed that the colour red has little to do with the name, but the beauty of the place was referred to when it was renamed. Originally the beauty referred to the Cathedral shown above: The Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin on the Moat (Russian: Собор Покрова что на Рву or simply Pokrovskiy Cathedral, better known as the Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed or Saint Basil’s Cathedral – Russian: Собор Василия Блаженного). Legend has that the architects Barma and Postnik were blinded after finishing the building, so that they could not create anything of greater beauty… In the front of the cathedral stands a bronze statue commemorating Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, who rallied Russia’s volunteer army against the Polish invaders during the Time of Troubles in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The statue was originally constructed in the center of Red Square, but the Soviet government felt it obstructed parades and moved the statue in front of the cathedral in 1936. The initial concept was to build a cluster of chapels, one dedicated to each of the saints on whose feast day the tsar had won a battle, but the construction of a single central tower unifies these spaces into a single cathedral. Legend says that Ivan had the architect, Postnik Yakovlev, blinded to prevent him from building a more magnificent building for anyone else. Saint Basil’s Cathedral should not be confused with the Moscow Kremlin, which is situated right next to it on Red Square. It is not at all a part of the Moscow Kremlin. However, many publications do make the mistake of calling this structure the Kremlin. The misconception has inadvertently been reinforced by Western television journalists, who have often stood in front of St. Basil’s during their reports. (Thanks to WikiPedia for additional info used) ( 3 comments add yours : click the link above the image, or share using the buttons.) Share your Planet!


Which club won the UEFA Champions League Final the year before Liverpool's win in Istanbul in 2005?

Press kits - UEFA Champions League – UEFA.org Press kits Last updated 20/09/2013 16:45 CET UEFA Champions League: København - Juventus Match press kits UEFA Champions League - 2013/2014 SeasonMatch press kits København Parken - CopenhagenTuesday 17 September 2013 20.45 CET    (20.45 local time) Group B - Matchday 1 Juventus UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OFFICIAL SPONSORS Contents Previous meetings Only this chapter Head to Head No UEFA competition matches have been played between these two teams FC København - Record versus clubs from opponents' country UEFA Champions League Crespo 48, 63, Claudio López 64, Fiore 90; Zuma 81 08/08/2001 Laursen 73(P), Fernandez 85; Crespo 56 UEFA Champions League Papin 1, 72, Simone 5, 15, Laudrup 44, Orlando 60 Juventus - Record versus clubs from opponents' country UEFA Champions League Marchisio 6, Vidal 23, Giovinco 37, Quagliarella 75 23/10/2012 Boniek 34, Platini 65, Tardelli 82; Petersen 79, 83, Hansen 86 15/09/1982 Jensen 78; Platini 44, Rossi 54, Brio 60, Cabrini 74 Home 5 Match background Only this chapter FC København embark on only their third UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with the visit of two-time winners Juventus, who have never lost on matchday one in 13 previous participations. • This is Juve's second visit to the Danish capital in successive seasons, following last season's 1-1 group draw away to FC Nordsjælland in which Mirko Vučinić scored a late equaliser. The Italian champions were unbeaten as they won Group E and also defeated Nordsjælland 4-0 at the Juventus Stadium. Their campaign concluded in the quarter-finals, the furthest they have progressed in seven years, where they lost 2-0 home and away to FC Bayern München to end an unbeaten 18-game run in UEFA competition. Previous meetings • København are meeting Juventus for the first time and will hope to improve on their record against Italian sides. In four contests they have suffered three defeats with only a single victory to their name, beating Lazio 2-1 in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, their most recent tie. They went down 4-1 in the second leg. • Before last season's encounter Juve had faced only one Danish team. That came 31 years ago when they beat Hvidovre IF 4-1 in Copenhagen in a European Champion Clubs' Cup first round encounter. Michel Platini – who also scored in the Turin return two weeks later – Paolo Rossi, Sergio Brio and Antonio Cabrini got the Juventus goals. The second leg in Italy finished 3-3, the Danish side scoring twice in the final seven minutes to snatch a draw. Match background • In their eighth successive European campaign, København – exempt from the qualifying rounds for the first time – were last amongst Europe's elite in 2010/11 when they finished second in their group behind FC Barcelona. They started with a 1-0 home win against FC Rubin Kazan, drew 1-1 at home to Barça and beat Panathinaikos FC 3-1. In the round of 16 they lost 2-0 at home to Chelsea FC, drawing 0-0 in the return. • Juventus have won eight and drawn five of their 13 matchday one fixtures in the competition. They began last season by coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Chelsea and have won three of their other matchday one away games with another two drawn. • On their travels in 2012/13, the Bianconeri also won 1-0 at FC Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage while in the round of 16 they scored three without reply at Celtic FC. That extended their unbeaten run on their travels in Europe to nine games – four wins and five draws – since losing 4-1 at Fulham FC in the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg. The sequence ended in the quarter-final defeat against Bayern. Team ties • Olof Mellberg played for Juventus in 2008/09, scoring two goals in 27 Serie A games. He was a team-mate of Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio and Paolo De Ceglie. • Mellberg played against Buffon and Andrea Pirlo as Sweden and Italy drew 1-1 in Porto in a group fixture at UEFA EURO 2004 on 18 June. • Chiellini scored the only goal as Italy defeated Me


Who commanded the French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805?

Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Trafalgar Battle of Trafalgar.  Public Domain By Kennedy Hickman Battle of Trafalgar - Conflict & Dates: The Battle of Trafalgar was fought October 21, 1805, during the War of the Third Coalition (1803-1806), which was part of the larger Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). Fleets & Commanders 33 ships of the line (18 French, 15 Spanish) Battle of Trafalgar - Napoleon's Plan: As the War of the Third Coalition raged, Napoleon began planning for the invasion of Britain. Success of this operation necessitated control of the English Channel and instructions were issued for Vice Admiral Pierre Villeneuve's fleet at Toulon to elude Vice Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson's blockade and rendezvous with Spanish forces in the Caribbean. This united fleet would re-cross the Atlantic, join with French ships at Brest and then take control of the Channel. While Villeneuve succeeded in escaping from Toulon and reaching the Caribbean, the plan began to unravel when he returned to European waters. Pursued by Nelson, whom he feared, Villeneuve suffered a minor defeat at the Battle of Cape Finisterre  on July 22, 1805. Having lost two ships of the line to Vice Admiral Robert Calder, Villeneuve put into port at Ferrol, Spain. Ordered by Napoleon to proceed to Brest, Villeneuve instead turned south towards Cadiz to elude the British. With no sign of Villeneuve by late August, Napoleon transferred his invasion force at Boulogne to operations in Germany. While the combined Franco-Spanish fleet was at anchor in Cadiz, Nelson returned to England for a brief rest. Battle of Trafalgar - Preparations for Battle: While Nelson was in England, Admiral William Cornwallis, commanding the Channel Fleet, dispatched 20 ships of the line south for operations off Spain. Learning that Villeneuve was at Cadiz on September 2, Nelson immediately made preparations to join the fleet off Spain with his flagship HMS Victory (104 guns). Reaching Cadiz on September 29, Nelson took command from Calder. Conducting a loose blockade off Cadiz, Nelson's supply situation quickly degraded and five ships of the line were dispatched to Gibraltar. Another was lost when Calder departed for his court martial regarding his actions at Cape Finisterre. In Cadiz, Villeneuve possessed 33 ships of the line, but his crews were short on men and experience. Receiving orders to sail for the Mediterranean on September 16, Villeneuve delayed as many of his officers felt it best to remain in port. The admiral resolved to put to sea on October 18 when he learned that Vice Admiral François Rosily had arrived in Madrid to relieve him. Straggling out of port the next day, the fleet formed into three columns and began sailing southwest towards Gibraltar. That evening, the British were spotted in pursuit and the fleet formed into a single line. Battle of Trafalgar - "England Expects...": Following Villeneuve, Nelson led a force of 27 ships of the line and four frigates. Having contemplated the approaching battle for some time, Nelson sought to achieve a decisive victory rather than the typically inconclusive engagement that often occurred in the Age of Sail. To do so, he planned to abandon the standard line of battle and sail directly at the enemy in two columns, one towards the center and the other the rear. These would break the enemy line in half and allow the rear-most ships to be surrounded and destroyed in a "pell mell" battle while the enemy van was unable to assist. The disadvantage to these tactics was that his ships would be under fire during the approach to the enemy line. Having thoroughly discussed these plans with his officers in the weeks before the battle, Nelson intended to lead the column striking the enemy center, while Vice Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, aboard HMS Royal Sovereign (100), commanded the second column. Around 6:00 AM on October 21, while northwest of Cape Trafalgar, Nelson gave the order to prepare for battle. Two hours later, Villeneuve ordered his fleet to reverse their course a


Which river comprised the boundary between Hades and Earth in Greek mythology?

The River Styx Picture, The River Styx Image The River Styx Picture Copyright 2009-2015 Malrow from DeviantArt The River Styx (Greek: Στύξ, Stux, also meaning "hate" and "detestation") was a river in Greek mythology which formed the boundary between Earth and the Underworld (often called Hades which is also the name of this domain's ruler). It circles the Underworld nine times. The rivers Styx , Phlegethon, Acheron and Cocytus all converge at the center of the underworld on a great marsh. The other important rivers of the underworld are Lethe and Eridanos, and Alpheus , a real river that runs in Italy partially underground and undersea. Married couples would throw rings into the river to appease the gods of marriage, Hades and Persephone , as it was believed to be one of the few mortal portals to the underworld . In other versions, Phlegyas guarded Phlegethon, one of the other main rivers of the underworld . Sometimes the ferryman was called Charon (also spelled Kharon in older texts). The gods respected the Styx and swore binding oaths by it. Zeus swore to give Semele whatever she wanted and was then obliged to follow through, resulting in her death. Helios similarly promised Phaëton whatever he desired, also resulting in his death. Gods that did not follow through on such an oath had to drink from the river, causing them to lose their voices for nine years, then being exiled from the council of gods for nine years after that. According to some versions, Styx had miraculous powers and could make someone immortal/invulnerable. Achilles may have been dipped in it in his childhood, acquiring invulnerability, with exception of his heel, which was held by his mother in order to submerge him. His exposed heel thus became known as Achilles ' heel, a metaphor for a weak spot. Styx was primarily a feature in the afterworld of Greek mythology, but has been described as a feature present in the hell of Christianity as well, notably in The Divine Comedy and also "Paradise Lost". The ferryman Charon is in modern times commonly believed to have transported the souls of the newly dead across this river into the underworld , though in the original Greek and Roman sources, as well as in Dante, it was the river Acheron that Charon plied. Dante put Phlegyas over the Styx and made it the fifth circle of Hell, where the wrathful and sullen are punished by being drowned in the muddy waters for eternity. In ancient times some believed that putting a gold coin under the tongue upon death, would help pay the toll for the ferry to help cross the Styx river which would lead you to the entrance to the underworld . If some could not pay the fee they were said to haunt those who did not put the coin under their departed bodies tongue.


CHARON (Kharon) - Ferryman of the Dead, Underworld Daemon of Greek Mythology Charon, Athenian red-figure lekythos C5th B.C., Rhode Island School of Design Museum KHARON (Charon) was the Ferryman of the Dead, an underworld daimon (spirit) in the service of King Haides . Hermes Psykhopompos (Guide of the Dead) gathered the shades of the dead from the upper world and led them down to the shores of the Akherousian (Acherusian) mere in the underworld where Kharon transported them across the waters to Haides in his skiff. His fee was a single obolos coin which was placed in the mouth of a corpse upon burial. Those who had not received proper burial were unable to pay the fee and were left to wander the earthly side of the Akheron (Acheron), haunting the world as ghosts. Kharon was depicted in ancient Greek art as an ugly, bearded man with a crooked nose, wearing a conical hat and tunic. He was shown standing in his skiff holding a pole, about to receive a shade from Hermes Psykhopompos (Psychopomp). The Etruscans of central Italy identified him with one of their own underworld daimones who was named Charun after the Greek figure. He was depicted as a more repulsive creature with blue-grey skin, a tusked mouth, hooked nose and sometimes serpent-draped arms. His attribute was a large, double-headed mallet. Image right Perseus Project , July 2000 : "Charon, the ferryman, prepares to ferry a soul across the Acheron to Hades. He wears a red tunic (exomis) and conical hat (pilos). In one hand he holds an oar, and with the other he steadies himself on the stern of his boat. On the right is his passenger, a woman wearing a black chiton. Between the two figures are the tall reeds of the river." FAMILY OF CHARON EREBOS & NYX (Other references) ENCYCLOPEDIA CHARON (Charôn), a son of Erebos, the aged and dirty ferryman in the lower world, who conveyed in his boat the shades of the dead--though only of those whose bodies were buried--across the rivers of the lower world. (Virg. Aen. vi. 295, &c.; Senec. Herc. fur. 764.) For this service he was paid by each shade with an obolus or danace, which coin was placed in the mouth of every dead body previous to its burial. This notion of Charon seems to be of late origin, for it does not occur in any of the early poets of Greece. (Paus. x. 28. § 1; Juven. iii. 267; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1666.) Charon was represented in the Lesche of Delphi by Polygnotus. Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES CHARON FERRYMAN OF THE DEAD Charon, Hermes Psychopomp and shade, Athenian red-figure lekythos C5th B.C., National Archaeological Museum, Athens Pindar, Fragment 143 (trans. Sandys) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "But they, set free from sickness and eld and toils, having fled from the deeply sounding ferry of Akheron (Acheron)." Timotheus, Fragment 786 (from Machon, Philoxenus) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric V) (Greek lyric C5th B.C.) : "But since Timotheos' Kharon (Charon), the one in his Niobe, does not let me dally but shouts that the ferry-boat is leaving, and gloomy Moira (Fate), who must be obeyed is summoning me." Aeschylus, Seven Against Thebes 854 ff (trans. Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : "But sail upon the wind of lamentation, my friends, and about your head row with your hands' rapid stroke in conveyance of the dead, that stroke which always causes the sacred slack-sailed, black-clothed ship [of Kharon (Charon)] to pass over Akheron (Acheron) to the unseen land here Apollon does not walk, the sunless land that receives all men." Euripides, Alcestis 252 ff (trans. Vellacott) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : "Alkestis (Alcestis) : I see him there at the oars of his little boat in the lake, the ferryman of the dead, Kharon (Charon), with his hand upon the oar and he calls me now. ‘What keeps you? Hurry, you hold us back.’ He is urging me on in angry impatience." Euripides, Alcestis 361 : "The ferryman of ghosts, Kharon at his oar." Euripides, Alcestic 439 ff : "Chorus : The old man [Kharon], whos sits at the steering oar and ferries the dead, know th


Who wrote the operetta 'Orpheus in the Underworld'?

Orpheus in the Underworld | operetta by Offenbach | Britannica.com Orpheus in the Underworld Alternative Title: “Orphée aux enfers” Related Topics Listen: Offenbach, Jacques: Orpheus in the Underworld The overture to Jacques Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld (1858). Orpheus in the Underworld, French Orphée aux enfers, comic operetta by French composer Jacques Offenbach (French libretto by Hector Crémieux and Ludovic Halévy ), a satirical treatment of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus . It premiered on October 21, 1858, at the Théâtre des Bouffes-Parisiens in Paris . The work’s best-known music is the cancan that appears in the overture and the final scene. The work was originally structured in two acts, though Offenbach later expanded it into four acts. Background and context The classic story of Orpheus concerns a renowned musician who is so distraught over the death of his wife, Eurydice , that he attempts to rescue her from the Underworld, the place of the dead. This tragic tale was adapted for opera by many composers, including Claudio Monteverdi (written and first performed 1607), Christoph Gluck (first performed 1762, later revised), and Joseph Haydn (written 1791, first performed 1951). Jacques Offenbach. © Photos.com/Jupiterimages Unlike the other composers, Offenbach gave the story a farcical twist. In his version Orpheus and Eurydice, though married to each other, are amicably living separate lives, each blissfully occupied with a new lover. Like Eurydice in the original Greek story, Offenbach’s heroine is fatally bitten by a snake , but, rather than dying tragically, she willingly relocates to the Underworld to be with Pluto —the ruler of the Underworld—who in a mortal form had become her lover while she was alive. In Offenbach’s version Orpheus acts to retrieve Eurydice much against his will. Both he and Eurydice are pleased when his attempt fails. Offenbach was equally irreverent in terms of music, pairing courtly minuets with high-kicking cancans and quoting satirically from Gluck’s earlier opera. When Offenbach’s opera premiered, critics expressed shock, both because it mocked Gluck’s revered telling of the tale and because it dismissed the idea of the perfection of ancient Greece . Audiences, however, loved it, and within a few years Orpheus in the Underworld became an international success. So marked was the opera’s fame, and so lasting, that in 1886 Camille Saint-Saëns satirized the satire by quoting the finale’s cancan at a much slower tempo and assigning it to tortoises in The Carnival of the Animals (1886). Similar Topics Der Ring des Nibelungen Of the famed overture, it should be noted that at the time of the operetta’s Parisian premiere, there was no full overture, only a brief prelude . The French preferred their operas that way. Once Offenbach’s work achieved international fame, a more substantial overture was demanded, particularly by German theatres. So an overture was provided, one that made prominent use of the operetta’s best music, most obviously the concluding cancan. The overture rapidly gained popularity on its own account, and it remains a favourite piece for orchestral pops concerts. Main cast and vocal parts Eurydice, wife of Orpheus (soprano) Pluto, god of the Underworld and Eurydice’s lover (tenor) Juno , wife of Jupiter (soprano) Jupiter, father of the gods (baritone) Public Opinion (mezzo-soprano) John Styx, servant of Pluto (tenor) Orpheus, a musician and husband of Eurydice (tenor) Setting and story summary Orpheus in the Underworld is set in ancient Greece, on Mount Olympus , and in the Underworld. Act I The house of Orpheus and Eurydice in the countryside near Thebes. Public Opinion sets the scene for the ensuing drama: Eurydice is dissatisfied. Her husband, Orpheus, is obsessed with music, and she wishes to have a more attentive admirer. In fact, she has already taken a new lover, the shepherd Aristaeus (the mortal disguise of the god Pluto, ruler of the Underworld). When she is mortally wounded, Pluto reveals himself, and the two go happily off to the Underworld. Orpheu


What popular name is given to the Infernal Galop from Act 2 of 'Orpheus in the Underworld'?

Orpheus in the Underworld Orpheus in the Underworld Orpheus in the Underworld (DVD) Orpheus in the Underworld (in French: 'Orphée aux enfers') is an operetta in two acts by Jacques Offenbach. The original French text was by Meilhac and Halévy, and the first production took place in Paris in 1858. It is famous for the good plot and the far more famous music. Outside classical circles, the Infernal Galop from Act II, Scene 2 is widely recognized as the music for the "Can-can". Synopsis Note: Orpheus in the Underworld exists in several forms: Offenbach originally wrote it in a two-act form, then expanded it to four acts with a great deal of filler material, ballets, and such like when it proved popular. The English translations are in a far more confusing state, as several add numbers from other operas, a major translation replaces Public Opinion with Orpheus' mother, and so on. This article lists only songs in the original two-act version (the four-act version is performed rarely and has the same plot), using the names given to them by the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company's 1994 CD. An additional song included on that CD from the four-act version ("A skip, a hop") is ignored for consistency. Act I, Scene 1: Near Thebes We open with a melodrama (Introduction and Melodrame) in which Public Opinion explains who she is, setting herself up as the guardian of morality. She seeks to rework Orpheus and Eurydice - who hate each other - into a moral tale for the ages. However, she has her work cut out for her: Eurydice is in love with the shepherd, Aristaeus, who lives next door ("Ah when a woman's heart is yearning"), and Orpheus is in love with Chloë, a shepherdess. When Orpheus mistakes Eurydice for her, everything comes out, and Eurydice insists they break the marriage off ("So you confess?"). However Orpheus, fearing Public Opinion's reaction, torments her into keeping the scandal quiet using violin music, which she hates. We now meet Aristaeus (who is, in fact, Pluto) keeping up his disguise by singing a pastoral song about those awful sheep ("Hail! My name's Aristaeus"). Since Pluto was originally played by a famous female impersonator, this song contains numerous falsetto notes. Eurydice, however, has discovered what she thinks is a plot by Orpheus to kill Aristaeus, but is in fact a conspiracy between him and Pluto to kill her, so Pluto may have her. Pluto tricks her into walking into the trap by showing immunity to it, and, as she dies, transforms into his true form (Transformation Scene) Eurydice finds that death is not so bad when the God of Death is in love with you ("I thought that death would be more painful"), and so keeps coming back for one more verse. They descend into the Underworld as soon as Eurydice has left a note telling her husband she has been unavoidably detained (Descent to the Underworld). All seems to be going well for Orpheus until Public Opinion catches up with him, and threatens to ruin his violin teaching career unless he goes to rescue his wife. Orpheus reluctantly agrees ("Come, come, come"). Act I, Scene 2: Olympus The scene changes to Olympus, where the Gods sleep out of boredom ("We're fast asleep"). Things look a bit more interesting for them when Diana returns and begins gossiping about Actaeon , her current love ("When I go riding"). However, Jupiter , shocked at the behaviour of the supposedly virgin goddess, has turned Actaeon into a stag. Pluto then arrives, and reveals to the other gods the pleasures of Hell (Entrance of Pluto), leading them to revolt against horrid ambrosia, hideous nectar, and the sheer boredom of Olympus ("To arms, you gods and demi-gods"). Jupiter's demands to know what is going on lead them to point out his hypocrisy at great length, describing - and poking fun of - all his mythological affairs ("When you seduced the fair Alcmena"). However, little further progress can be made before news of Orpheus' arrival forces the gods to get onto their best behaviour (Finale, Act I). Pluto is worried he will be forced to give Eurydice back, and, after a quotation from Gluck's Orfeo


In which country is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded?

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies and Banquets Lists of Nobel Prizes and Laureates 10 December - A Magic Date The Nobel Laureates take center stage in Stockholm on 10 December, when they receive the Nobel Medal, Nobel Diploma and a document confirming the Nobel Prize amount from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. In Oslo, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates receive their Nobel Peace Prize from the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the presence of King Harald V of Norway. An important part is the presentation of the Nobel Lectures by the Nobel Laureates. In Stockholm, the lectures are presented days before the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. In Oslo, the Nobel Laureates deliver their lectures during the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony. Facts Since 1901, the Nobel Prizes have been presented to the Laureates at ceremonies. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway and the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine and Literature and the Prize in Economic Sciences are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden. Major International Events


Who wrote the 1986 Booker Prize winning novel 'The Old Devils?

The Old Devils : Kingsley Amis : 9780099461050 The Old Devils Add to basket Add to wishlist Description Malcolm, Peter and Charlie and their Soave-sodden wives have one main ambition left in life: to drink Wales dry. But their routine is both shaken and stirred when they are joined by professional Welshman Alun Weaver (CBE) and his wife, Rhiannon. show more Product details 130                   x 196                   x 30mm                                   | 258.55g Publication date Contemporary Fiction About Kingsley Amis Kingsley Amis was born in south London in 1922 and was educated at the City of London School and St John's College, Oxford. After the publication of Lucky Jim in 1954, Kingsley Amis wrote over twenty novels, including The Alteration, winner of the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, The Old Devils, winner of the Booker Prize in 1986, and The Biographer's Moustache, which was to be his last book. He also wrote on politics, education, language, films, television, restaurants and drink. Kingsley Amis was awarded the CBE in 1981 and received a knighthood in 1990. He died in October 1995. show more Review Text Booker Prize Winner 1986. Among Kingsley Amis's later novels, this alone recaptured the flair and comic invention of his earlier work, leavened with a new and mordant savagery for which the Old Devil himself became renowned. As a vision of growing old disgracefully, this biting novel is unlikely to be bettered, with three men joining their wives in a simple ambition: to drink Wales dry, while setting the world to rights. But chaos reigns when their company is joined by professional Welshman Alun Weaver (CBE) and his wife, who have decided to return to their Celtic roots. Soon, of course, the knives are out with a vengeance. The sheer energy of Amis's prose (not to mention the scalding wit) suggests anything but crabbed age, and this irresistible late salvo from a comic master is one to be savoured - whatever your age. (Kirkus UK) show more Review quote "A brilliant novel. It is sadly comic and comically sad" -- Anthony Burgess "He was a genuine comic writer, probably the best after P. G. Wodehouse ... He had a lasting influence and was a very good novelist" -- John Mortimer "A bloody funny lovely bloody book... A genius at full throttle" Financial Times "In these explicit days, Mr Amis is the laureate of the unsayable, the literary it man" Sunday Telegraph show more Follow us


Who wrote the 1981 Booker Prize winning novel `Midnights Children?

'Midnight's Children' the rich story of seeking an identity | National Catholic Reporter 'Midnight's Children' the rich story of seeking an identity Print email PDF "Midnight's Children" Indian/Canadian director Deepa Mehta's cinematic interpretation of Salmon Rushdie's 1981 Booker Prize-winning novel "Midnight's Children" is a vibrant epic that spans about 30 years and has a cast of thousands. It tells the story of two baby boys who were born precisely at midnight on Aug. 15, 1947, when India gained independence from Great Britain. The nurse, Mary Pereira (Seema Biswas), a Catholic, switched the boys soon after birth, meaning that the child of the poor father would grow up in a wealthy family and the child of privilege would grow up begging from that family. One night, a group of children also born at midnight on India's independence day appear to Saleem (Satya Bhabha).  These "midnight children" support one another over the years, meeting at that midnight hour. Eventually Mary, who is a nanny is Saleem's home, reveals what she had done. The father, Mr. Sinai (Ronit Roy), is crushed and cruel. Mrs. Sinai sends Saleem to live with her sister in West Pakistan. In due course, Saleem and Shiva (Siddharth) are on opposing sides, the aggressive Shiva always wanting a birthright that is still being born. "Midnight's Children" is a richly textured story about India's post-colonial era as seen through the lives of two characters who compete in a struggle to some kind of normalcy. The mammoth influence of India's colonial past and how the characters deal with it looking to the future is presented through magical realism. This technique is decidedly spiritual and creates a space where the characters can image what can be and what they are to do. In need of a good laugh? Check out NCR's Francis cartoon strip . You can also sign up for email alerts for our Francis Chronicles blog.  At the press day for the film, Mehta ("Water") explained many aspects of her filmmaking and the role color plays in defining emotions in the story. Red symbolizes blood and emotion; blue is the color of midnight; and green stands for fertility and hope. "The color palate of the film is important," she said, "because color seeps into all of life, everything." The biggest challenges to shooting the film, Mehta said, was the span of years, the huge cast, managing 16 main characters, and staging a massacre in a snake-infested swamp toward the end of the film with 1,500 extras -- and the mosquitoes. The thing that attracted Mehta to the film, she explained, is that it is about "the journey of a person trying to find a home and an identity," noting that she made the journey from India to Canada. In today's world, she said, "we are always redefining ourselves, where we are from, who our families are, and this is a universal theme." I asked about the story being again about two male characters representing human experience, and Mehta came back with, "But if you look, this is a film about women more than men. Saleem, in particular, is defined by all the females who surround him." I enjoyed "Midnight's Children" despite its length. Mehta laughed when she said she started with a script, written by Rushdie, that was 270 pages long and had to reword it (one page usually equals one minute of film), ending up with a film lasting 140 minutes. The main difference between "Midnight's Children" and Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning 1982 film "Gandhi" is that this new film is the inside looking out rather than the outside looking in. "Something in the Air" This French film won Best Screenplay at the 2012 Venice Film Festival, but I am not quite sure why. It tells the personal story of the filmmaker Olivier Assayas, a kind of semi-autobiography. It starts off well enough in a high school classroom in Paris 1971, when a teacher reads from Blaise Pascal: "Between us and Heaven or Hell there is only life, which is the frailest thing in the world." From then on, the film follows the main character, Gilles (Clément Métayer), an aspiring artist who wants to make films, through t


Which female politician was assassinated in Pakistan in December 2007?

Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto assassinated - Dec 27, 2007 - HISTORY.com Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto assassinated Share this: Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto assassinated Author Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto assassinated URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 2007, Benazir Bhutto, a former Pakistani prime minister and the first democratically elected female leader of a Muslim country, is assassinated at age 54 in the Pakistani city of Rawalpindi. A polarizing figure at home and abroad, Bhutto had spent three decades struggling to stay afloat in the murky waters of Pakistani politics. To many of her supporters, she represented the strongest hope for democratic and egalitarian leadership in a country unhinged by political corruption and Islamic extremism. Born in 1953 to a wealthy landowning family, Bhutto grew up in the privileged world of Pakistan’s political elite, receiving degrees from Harvard and Oxford. Her father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founded the populist-leaning Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in 1967. He then served as president and prime minister from 1971 to 1977, when he was ousted in a bloodless military coup led by General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq and charged with authorizing a political opponent’s murder. Her father’s overthrow and subsequent execution in April 1979 thrust a young Benazir Bhutto into the political spotlight. She and her mother, Nusrat, whom she succeeded in 1982 as the PPP’s chairperson, spent several years in and out of detention for protesting his arrest and campaigning against General Zia. In August 1988, Zia died in a plane crash; three months later, Bhutto won the general election and formed a government, becoming the first woman—and, at 35, the youngest person—to head a Muslim state in modern times. Dismissed in 1990 after less than half a term as prime minister, she was reelected in 1993 and served again until 1996. Both times, she was removed from office by the sitting president—Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990 and Farooq Leghari in 1996—amid charges of corruption and incompetent governance. After her second dismissal from office, Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, faced allegations of various forms of financial misconduct, including accepting multimillion-dollar kickbacks and laundering money through Swiss banks. Zardari spent eight years in prison, while Bhutto lived in exile in London and Dubai with the couple’s three children. In 2007, under pressure from Bhutto’s supporters within the U.S. government, President Pervez Musharraf granted amnesty to Bhutto, Zardari and other Pakistani politicians with pending graft charges. On October 18 of that year, despite a spate of death threats from Islamic militants, Bhutto returned to Pakistan with plans to participate in the 2008 general election. On the day of her arrival, she narrowly escaped a suicide bomb attack on her convoy that killed at least 136 people and injured more than 450. On December 27, 2007, as Bhutto was waving to a crowd at a PPP rally in Rawalpindi, a gunman opened fire on her bulletproof vehicle. A bomb then exploded near the car, killing more than 20 people and wounding 100 others, including Bhutto. She was pronounced dead later that night and buried the next day in her hometown of Gardi Khuda Bakhsh, next to her father’s grave. The exact cause of her death remains in dispute: A subsequent investigation by Britain’s Scotland Yard ruled that Bhutto died of head injuries caused by the force of the explosion, while the PPP maintained that she died from gunshot wounds. Bhutto’s death sparked widespread violence across Pakistan, with riots and demonstrations leading to violent police crackdowns. The political turmoil caused international fears of instability in a nuclear-armed nation already embroiled in a fight against Islamic extremists. In the weeks and months following Bhutto’s death, Pakistani moderates and Western leaders waited anxiously to see who would emerge as her successor. Zardari, who had taken the helm of the PPP after his wife’s assassination, was elected president of Pakistan in Septemb


Which isotope of carbon is used in radiocarbon dating?

Carbon-14 Dating - Tracer: A substance, usually a labeled element, used to follow a complex sequence of biochemical reactions, as in an animal body, to locate diseased cells and tissues, to determine physical properties, etc. Half-life: The time required to for half the original nuclides to decay. Metabolic Processes: The chemical and physical processes continuously going on in living organisms and cells. Isotopes: One of two or more atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons in their nucleus but different numbers of neutrons. Carbon-14 Dating Radio-carbon dating is a method of obtaining age estimates on organic materials. The word "estimates" is used because there is a significant amount of uncertainty in these measurements. Each sample type has specific problems associated with its use for dating purposes, including contamination and special environmental effects. More information on the sources of error in carbon dating are presented at the bottom of this page. The method was developed immediately following World War II by Willard F. Libby and coworkers and has provided age determinations in archeology, geology, geophysics, and other branches of science. Radiocarbon dating estimates can be obtained on wood, charcoal, marine and freshwater shells, bone and antler, and peat and organic-bearing sediments. They can also be obtained from carbonate deposits such as tufa, calcite, marl, dissolved carbon dioxide, and carbonates in ocean, lake and groundwater sources. Carbon dioxide is distributed on a worldwide basis into various atmospheric, biospheric, and hydrospheric reservoirs on a time scale much shorter than its half-life. Measurements have shown that in recent history, radiocarbon levels have remained relatively constant in most of the biosphere due to the metabolic processes in living organisms and the relatively rapid turnover of carbonates in surface ocean waters. However, changes in the atmosphere over the ages are a source of uncertainty in the measurements. Carbon (C) has three naturally occurring isotopes. Both C-12 and C-13 are stable, but C-14 decays by very weak beta decay to nitrogen-14 with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years. Naturally occurring radiocarbon is produced as a secondary effect of cosmic-ray bombardment of the upper atmosphere. Plants transpire to take in atmospheric carbon, which is the beginning of absorption of carbon into the food chain. Animals eat the plants and this action introduces carbon into their bodies. After the organism dies, carbon-14 continues to decay without being replaced. To measure the amount of radiocarbon left in a artifact, scientists burn a small piece to convert it into carbon dioxide gas. Radiation counters are used to detect the electrons given off by decaying C-14 as it turns into nitrogen. The amount of C-14 is compared to the amount of C-12, the stable form of carbon, to determine how much radiocarbon has decayed, thereby dating the artifact. Exponential Decay Formula: A = A0* 2^(-t/k) Where "A" is the present amount of the radioactive isotope, "A0" is the original amount of the radioactive isotope that is measured in the same units as "A." The value "t" is the time it takes to reduce the original amount of the isotope to the present amount, and "k" is the half-life of the isotope, measured in the same units as "t." The applet allows you to choose the C-14 to C-12 ratio, then calculates the age of our skull from the formula above. Uncertainty in Carbon Dating As mentioned above, there is significant uncertainty in carbon dating.  There are several variables that contribute to this uncertainty. First, as mentioned previously, the proportions of C-14 in the atmosphere in historic times is unknown. The C-14:C-12 atmospheric ratio is known to vary over time and it is not at all certain that the curve is “well behaved.” Complicating things further, various plants have differing abilities to exclude significant proportions of the C-14 in their intake. This varies with environmental conditions as well. The varying rates at which C-14 is exclud


An isotope of which metal was used to poison the Russian Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006?

Alexander Litvinenko 'was poisoned twice with polonium-210' inquiry hears - Telegraph Law and Order Alexander Litvinenko 'was poisoned twice with polonium-210' inquiry hears Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko is thought to have been poisoned with  polonium-210 on October 16 and November 1, 2006 By Gordon Rayner, and Tom Whitehead 6:44PM GMT 27 Jan 2015 Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned “not once, but twice” with radioactive polonium-210 by a Russian “death squad” sent by Vladimir Putin, an inquiry into his killing has heard. The former KGB spy had already survived one attempt on his life by the time he ingested a fatal dose of the rare isotope, but mistakenly thought he was suffering from food poisoning when the first murder attempt made him sick. Samples of his hair proved that polonium had entered his body on two separate occasions weeks apart, the inquiry into his death in 2006 was told. For the first time, it also emerged that one of the two prime suspects in the killing had approached a contact in Germany and asked if he knew a chef in London who could slip a “very expensive poison” into Litvinenko’s food or drink. On the first day of the inquiry, which replaces an inquest into the 43-year-old’s death and has the power to hear secret evidence from intelligence sources, the chairman Sir Robert Owen was given the most detailed account to date of the events surrounding the “state sponsored” assassination. Related Articles Alexander Litvinenko Inquiry: as it happened 27 Jan 2015 He was told that Andrey Lugovoy, a former KGB bodyguard, and former soldier Dmitry Kovtun slipped into the country twice with supplies of polonium-210 and administered the fatal dose in a pot of green tea during a meeting with Litvinenko at London’s Millennium Hotel on November 1, 2006. But Robin Tam QC, council to the Inquiry at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, disclosed that Litvinenko had been the subject of an earlier assassination attempt, during a meeting with Lugovoy and Kovtun at a business premises on October 16 that year. Lugovoy and Kovtun had flown into the country on that date, and checked into the Best Western Hotel in Shaftesbury Avenue. According to Mr Tam, they had smuggled polonium-210 in their luggage, and left traces of it in their adjacent rooms, 107 and 108. The radioactive material is easily concealed because its alpha radiation is simple to contain and it does not emit gamma radiation of the sort that might be picked up by airport scanners. Litvinenko had agreed to meet the two men in the boardroom of Erinys, a private security company, where they allegedly slipped him a dose of the poison, which is deadly if ingested in sufficient quantities. Mr Tam said: “One of the most significant things the evidence suggests is that Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium not once but twice. “It suggests two things - attempts to poison Mr Litvinenko were made at both meetings and that those attempts met with some success on both occasions. “Hair samples that are available indicate that Mr Litvinenko may well have been poisoned twice and that the first occasion being much less severe than the second.” On the evening of October 16, Litvinenko, 43, vomited when he got home and put it down to food poisoning. The two men left the country on October 18, but on October 30 Kovtun, who had previously lived in Hamburg where he worked in a restaurant, returned to the German city and met a former colleague, referred to only as D3. Mr Tam said: “Mr Kovtun raised the subject of Mr Litvinenko, who was unknown to D3. Mr Kovtun said that Mr Litvinenko was a traitor with blood on his hands who did deals with Chechnya.” Kovtun asked D3 whether he knew any cooks working in London, because: “He had a very expensive poison and that he needed the cook to put the poison in Mr Litvinenko's food or drink.” D3 thought at the time that Kovtun was “talking rubbish” and only later reported the conversation to the authorities. He did know a chef in London, and gave Kovtun his number, which Kovtun later called to ask for a meeting. Two days later, on


After the Latin name for which modern European capital is the element Hafnium named?

Dark gray, dense metal which can take on a high polish melting point 2227 °C; 4041 °F boiling point 4602 °C; 8316 °F density 13.31 g/cc; 830.92 pounds/cubic foot 1922 Dirk Coster & György Karl von Hevesy, Denmark Hafnia = København (Copenhagen) (Latin) History & Etymology Chemists suspected long time, that Zirconium minerals contained the impurity of some unknown element. Many of them reported the discovery of this element: 1845: The Swedish chemist and mineralogist Lars Fredrik Svanberg (1805-1878) reported the discovery in zircon of this new element, which he named Norium. Ostranium (остраний), 1869: Henry Clifton Sorby discovered Jargonium by spectroscopical analysis. He retracted his claim the following year: the spectrum he had seen was due to impure Zirconium (note) . 1879: Tellef Dahl, inspector of the Norwegian mines, found a new metal in nickel pyrite of Kragerø, in Norway, and named it Norwegium (Ng) (norvégium) after the country in which it was first found (note) . 1911: Nigrium. Euxenium (эвксений). On the basis of the periodic law the Danish chemist Julius Thomsen (1826-1909) showed in 1895 that an element must exist between the rare earths and Tantalum, different from the rare earths and close to Zirconium. The final discovery of Hafnium in the first half of the twentieth century was one of chemistryпїЅs more controversial episodes. In 1911 Georges Urbain, the French chemist and authority on the rare earths, claimed to have isolated the element of atomic number 72 from a sample of rare-earth residues, and named it Celtium (Ct) (note) . It seems very unlikely that this element could have been found in the necessary concentrations along with rare earths. But, in 1922 Urbain and Alexandre Dauvillier claimed to have X-ray evidence to support the discovery (note) . Around the same time a mineral orthite, found on the Svjatoj Nos peninsula in the Trans-Baykal region, was brought under the attention of the chemists in St. Petersburg. It was supposed that orthite contained one of the most interesting radioactive elements, Thorium. The geochemist Vladimir Ivanovich Vernadskij (Владимир Иванович Вернадский) (1863-1945) charged the analysis of orthite to his student Konstantin Avtonomovich Nenadkevich (Константин Автономович Ненадкевич) (1880-1963). Soon he extracted from orthite the assumed thorium, but they were not confident, that they had isolated Thorium. Nenadkevich determined the atomic weight of the element and it turned out that it was equal to 178, while the atomic weight of Thorium is 232. In accordance with the periodic law the element in orthite must be found in Mendeleyev's table between Lutecium and Tantalum, thus element #72. Since this was an empty place, Nenadkevich had found a new element, which he named Asium (азием), after Asia, where the mineral was found. Because of the First World War and the following Civil War in Russia, the necessary further confirmation research and publication was delayed. By that time Niels Bohr had developed his atomic theory and so was confident that element 72 would be a member of Group 4 and was more likely to be found along with zirconium than with the rare earths. Working in Bohr's laboratory in Copenhagen in 1922, the Dutchman Dirk Coster (1889-1950) and the Hungarian György Karl von Hevesy (1885-1966) used X-ray spectroscopic analysis to show that element 72 was present in Norwegian zircon. In November 1922 was announced that the Nobel Prize in Physics for the year 1922 was awarded to Bohr "for his services in the investigation of the structure of atoms and of the radiation emanating from them". Bohr went to Stockholm to receive the prize and would give his Nobel Lecture "The structure of the atom". The day before his presentation, Bohr received a very significant message of Coster and Hevesy which had remained in Copenhagen. They had just highlighted lines which must be from element 72. The Dutchman Coster proposed the name Hafnium (after Copenhagen), and although Bohr preferred the name Danium (after Denmark), he accepted Coster's name. Bohr announced the disco