Westminster Abbey is dedicated to which Saint?

UK - London - Westminster: Westminster Abbey - North entra… | Flickr Wally Gobetz By: Wally Gobetz UK - London - Westminster: Westminster Abbey - North entrance The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, which is almost always referred to as Westminster Abbey, is a mainly Gothic church, on the scale of a cathedral (and indeed often considered one). It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English monarchs.   Legend has it that a shrine was first founded in 616 on the present site, then known as Thorn Ey (Thorn Island) after a fisherman on the River Thames saw a vision of Saint Peter. In the 960s or early 970s Saint Dunstan, assisted by King Edgar planted a community of Benedictine monks here. The stone Abbey was built around 1045–1050 by King Edward the Confessor, who had selected the site for his burial, and was consecrated on December 28, 1065, immediately before the Confessor's funeral. It was the site of the last Saxon coronation of his successor King Harold. The Abbot and learned monks, with close proximity to the Palace of Westminster became a powerful force in the centuries after the Norman Conquest.   The Abbey became the coronation site of Norman kings, but none were buried there until Henry III rebuilt it in Anglo-French Gothic style as a shrine to honour Edward the Confessor and as setting for his own tomb, under the highest Gothic nave in England. The work continued between 1245-1517 and was largely finished by the architect Henry Yevele in the reign of King Richard II. Henry VII added a Perpendicular style chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary in 1503 (known as the Henry VII Chapel ). Henry VIII had assumed direct royal control in 1539 and granted the Abbey cathedral status by charter in 1540, simultaneously issuing letters patent establishing the diocese of Westminster and sparing it from dissolution. Westminster was a cathedral only until 1550. The expression "robbing Peter to pay Paul" may arise from this period when money meant for the Abbey, which was dedicated to St Peter, was diverted to the treasury of St Paul's Cathedral.   The Abbey was restored to the Benedictines under the Catholic Queen Mary, but they were again ejected under Queen Elizabeth I in 1559. In 1579, Elizabeth re-established Westminster as a "Royal Peculiar" — a church responsible directly to the sovereign, rather than to a diocesan bishop — and made it the Collegiate Church of St Peter. It suffered damage during the turbulent 1640s, when it was attacked by Puritan iconoclasts, but was again protected by its close ties to the state during the Commonwealth period.   The abbey's two western towers were built between 1722 and 1745 by Nicholas Hawksmoor, constructed from Portland stone to an early example of a Gothic Revival design. Further rebuilding and restoration occurred in the 19th century under Sir George Gilbert Scott.   Until the 19th century, Westminster was the third seat of learning in England, after Oxford and Cambridge. It was here that the first third of the King James Bible Old Testament and the last half of the New Testament were translated. The New English Bible was also put together here in the 20th century.   Since the coronations in 1066 of both King Harold and William the Conqueror, all English and British monarchs (except Lady Jane Grey, although it is highly debatable whether she was, either in theory or practice, the Queen of England; and Edward V and Edward VIII, who did not have coronations) have been crowned in the Abbey.  St Edward's Chair, the throne on which British sovereigns are seated at the moment of coronation, is housed within the Abbey; from 1296 to 1996 the chair also housed the Stone of Scone upon which the kings of Scotland are crowned, but pending another coronation the Stone is now kept in Scotland. According to H.V. Morton's "In Search of London," a ghostly monk is said to appear in the Abbey on the eve of a coronation. The book states that the monk was last seen prior to the coronation of George VI in 1937. (The book was published in 1951; it is unknown if the mon


Which England Rugby Union player has the nickname 36?

Twickenham warms to Billy Twelvetrees - a name we'll remember - Telegraph England Twickenham warms to Billy Twelvetrees - a name we'll remember The England rugby centre's name made almost as much of a stir as his Six  Nations debut against Scotland Billy Twelvetrees: 'It generates funny nicknames, it’s a cool name and people respond to it' Photo: Getty Images Comments Sports commentators are no strangers to hyperbole. They will often claim that the name of this or that sportsman or woman will “live long in the memory” following some extraordinary display of skill. In the case of Billy Twelvetrees, the England centre who made his international debut in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday, it may well be true. Win or lose, few were likely to forget that surname. The 24-year-old won roars of approval from the crowd of 80,000 as he powered past the Scottish defence to score his first try for England, helping the team to a 38-18 victory. But since then he and his family have been asked as many questions about his unusual name as his prowess on the pitch. Will Greenwood, the former World Cup winner, praised the “horticultural theme developing in the England centre shirt”, while Clare Balding said she wanted to name a racehorse after Twelvetrees. Related Articles Twelvetrees or Tuilagi for Dublin? 04 Feb 2013 “Everyone has been asking where it came from,” says Walter Twelvetrees, 88, Billy’s proud grandfather, at his home in Wisborough Green, West Sussex. The answer actually lies with Billy’s mother, Beverley, he explains. She was the last of Walter’s three daughters to get married and her sisters had already abandoned their maiden names. Beverley not only wanted to keep her name, but even asked her husband, Kevin, to change his from Fentiman to Twelvetrees. “Kevin always says she told him she wouldn’t marry him unless he changed his name,” Walter recalls. There was, though, another reason. “Twelvetrees” fitted well with Kevin’s job – as a tree surgeon. The couple have since set up Twelvetrees Treecare. A coincidence, of course. However, there is a theory called nominative determinism that suggests Beverley’s name could have influenced her decision to join her husband in his work. “You would think you couldn’t make this case up,” explains Richard Coates, professor in linguistics at the University of the West of England. “But if someone has a particular surname, it might subliminally nudge them into choosing a line of business they had not thought of. Some people treat it as a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Billy’s team-mates tease him over his name, he says. Christened William Wesley Twelvetrees, he is known in the rugby world as 36, thanks to the way his Irish former team-mate at Leicester, Geordan Murphy, pronounced his name. “In an Irish accent it sounds like 'twelve threes’,” he explains. This joshing is fine by Billy. “I’m glad [my dad] took the name and I have it, too. It generates funny nicknames, it’s a cool name and people respond to it.” The family has found it harder to trace the name’s origins. Although they have found Twelvetrees living in Lincolnshire in the 1600s, Walter cannot explain the meaning of the name. “It is a mystery where it comes from,” agrees Prof Coates. Research suggests the name is a derivation of “Tweltrick”, which originated in the 1500s, but Prof Coates says this obscures its meaning even further. “It clearly has nothing to do with trees originally – the first 'tree’ doesn’t appear in the name until nearly the end of the 17th century,” he says. “It is also an open question whether or not it has anything to do with 12.” Whatever its origins, Paul Longley, professor of geographic information science at University College London, confirms that people bearing the name of Twelvetrees are very rare. He has a database that matches surnames to a world map and says: “There are 1.25 of them per million. Not a lot of people know that.” His map also shows the Twelvetrees have a “taste for the good life”, with the highest concentrations in Majorca and Hawaii. “The problem with people who have names li


Complete the title of the 2009 animated science fiction film Cloudy with a Chance of _______________.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Reviews - The Review Monk Official Synopsis Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 is a 2013 American computer-animated comic science fiction film produced by Sony Pictures Animation and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film is the sequel to the 2009 film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, which was loosely based on Judi and Ron Barrett's book of the same name. It was directed by Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, produced by Kirk Bodyfelt, and executive produced by the directors of the first film, Phil Lord and Chris Miller. The film was released on September 27, 2013. Wikipedia Starring Cast


The International New York Times was known by what title until last October?

New York Times Chronology: NYS Newspapers: New York State Library NYSED / OCE / NYSL / Research Library / Newspapers / The New York Times : 1851-2010 The New York Times: A Chronology: 1851-2010 Researched and Compiled by Bill Lucey, June 25, 2006, revised May 23, 2010 September 18, 1851: Henry J. Raymond, Speaker of the New York State Assembly and George Jones, an Albany banker, begin publishing The New-York Daily Times at 113 Nassau Street. Note: Raymond worked for Horace Greeley at the New York Tribune before teaming with Jones. September 11, 1852: Raymond Rotham writes the first theater review for The Times. September 14, 1857: The New York Times replaces The New-York Daily Times as the new name of the paper. April 21, 1861: The New York Times launches a Sunday edition. The first edition sold for 2 cents. Note: The Sunday Monitor (Baltimore, MD) published the first Sunday newspaper on December 18, 1796. September, 1869: Maria Morgan is the first female reporter to occupy a desk in The Times newsroom, where she's assigned to stock news, horse shows, and racing. Note: Sara Jane Clark was the first woman reporter on The Times payroll, submitting travel pieces from the West and Europe using the pen name Grace Greenwood July 22, 1871: The Times expose the crooked dealings of Tammany Hall's William Marcy Tweed, or "Boss Tweed", who, along with others, had been stealing millions from the New York City Treasury, according to documents presented to the paper by his enemies. The story displayed figures from the Controller's books showing large chunks of money were being diverted to the Tammany Ring. George Miller, a carpenter, according to the ledger, was to have received $360,747 for repairing a courthouse, which was never completed. Miller never received a dime. The checks were actually endorsed by firms in partnership with Tweed. The deception evident in these revelations marked the beginning of the end for Tweed and his underhanded operation. He was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to prison. This page one story ran under a three-column headline and is believed to have been the paper's first display heading. The first Times article to report Tweed's malfeasance appeared July 8th. Note: Tweed's associates offered The Times $5 million if they would kill the story. The Times refused. 1872: The New York Times promotes itself as "the only Republican paper in New York." March 25, 1878: In a short lived experiment, The Times begin publishing the first of three supplements written in Spanish. April 13, 1893: The Times is sold to The New York  Times Publishing Company. Charles R. Miller, the editor of the paper, was named  president. Managing editor George F. Spinney became the publisher and business  manager. In announcing the new management team on April 14th, the paper reports  "The Times will be a Democratic newspaper." August 19, 1896: Adolph S. Och's name first appears on The Times editorial page listing him as publisher after becoming principal owner the previous day. September 6, 1896: The first photographs appeared in the Illustrated Sunday Magazine, the paper's first regular supplement. The magazine was discontinued after the September 3rd, 1899 edition. Note: The first half tone illustration was published in The New York Daily Graphic on March 4, 1880. October 8, 1896: The Times begin publishing summaries of major news stories on page one under the logo: "The News Condensed." October 10, 1896: The Times begins a book review section, The Saturday Review of Books and Art, based on the assumption books can and should be treated as news. October 25, 1896: The Times slogan: "All the News  That's Fit to Print" makes its first appearance on the editorial page. Note: A portion of the slogan: "All The News" was actually taken from The Philadelphia Times; Ochs and The Times' editors merely added "Fit To Print". December 1, 1896: The hyphen from The New York Times is dropped once a style change is universally accepted. Note: The New-York Historical Society is the only institution to keep the hyphen in its name. F


In American politics, what is the symbol of the Republican Party?

Why are a donkey and an elephant the symbols of the Democratic and Republican Parties? | HowStuffWorks Why are a donkey and an elephant the symbols of the Democratic and Republican Parties? Alex Wong/ Getty Images When the Democratic Party gathers for its 2008 convention in Denver , Colo ., a donkey named Mordecai will give new meaning to the term "political animal." Mordecai is slated to be the first official live mascot in the history of the Democratic Party. The "official 'asscot," as his owner Curtis Imrie has called him, won't deliver an address to the party like Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will. But Democrats hope his presence in the Mile High City will provide a light-hearted moment or two at the Democratic National Convention (DNC). There's no word on whether the Republican Party will provide a live counterpart of its animal emblem, the elephant, for its September convention in Minneapolis , Minn . But Mordecai's presence at the DNC raises a sensible question. Just where did these symbols come from? Why do the Democrats choose to affiliate themselves with an oft-ridiculed member of the horse family? And how did the Republicans, the party of social and fiscal conservatism, come to be represented by an ivory-tusked pachyderm? Up Next Did Betsy Ross really make the first American flag? The origins of these political images lie in the mind of a German-born political cartoonist named Thomas Nast, whose drawings also helped create modern images of Uncle Sam and Santa Claus . Nast moved to New York City when he was six years old and displayed artistic ability at an early age. Because he grew up in New York's thriving society, he worked his political and social knowledge into his artwork. Nast joined the staff of Harper's Weekly in 1862. By the time he left in 1886, he had not only stamped the elephant and donkey as political party symbols, he'd also become one of the most influential cartoonists in American history. By the time he used the donkey as a Democratic Party symbol, Nast was already a household name. He had ascended to fame with cartoons that depicted the battlefield horrors of the Civil War and helped bring down the Boss Tweed ring, a group of corrupt New York politicians. Read on to learn how Nast's fame led to today's famous symbols. The Party Shift You might be wondering: if Thomas Nast favored social liberalism, why was he a Republican? Nast was a Republican before the two parties shifted in their philosophies. So how did the parties flip-flop? The history of each party is complex, and the shift was gradual, but the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt as a Democratic president was one turning point. Roosevelt's liberal New Deal policies as a Democrat made many in the Republican Party become Democrats. By contrast, it also sparked many Southern conservatives to start voting Republican. 1


What is the minimum distance over which a 'steeplechase' is run, in British horse racing?

Different Types of Horse Race | UK Horse Racing Explained Grand National Betting Tips The Types of UK Horse Races When you first start betting on horseracing, you'll notice that there are a number of different types of race that you can bet on. Below is our comprehensive round-up of all the different types of horse races that you're likely to come across when betting on horses. The Steeplechase Steeplechases are usually run over a distance of between 2 and 4 miles and have larger jumps than those in a Hurdle. The jumps on a Steeplechase course must be at least 4.5 feet high and are fixed, so that they don't collapse like those in a Hurdle. Steeplechases are therefore more suitable for more experienced horses and horses cannot take part in Steeplechases until July 1 in the year of their fourth birthday. The most famous Steeple Chase in British horseracing is the Grand National, which is held annually at Aintree. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is also a Steeple Chase. The Hurdle Hurdles are run over a minimum distance of 2 miles but can be run up to a distance of about 3 miles. The jumps in a Hurdle race must be at least 3.5 feet high but they tend to be smaller than jumps in Steeplechase races and collapse more easily. Therefore, Hurdles tend to be more suitable for less experienced horses than Steeplechases, although horses cannot take part in Hurdles until July 1 in the year of their third birthday. Famous Hurdle races include the Stan James Intermediate Hurdle which is held at Newbury's Hennessey Meeting, and the Champion Hurdle which is held at the Cheltenham Festival. The All-Weather Race All-weather horse racing is a relatively new type of racing in the UK. Horses race in purpose-built all-weather racing stadiums on artificial ground. Although all-weather races can be run throughout the year, they are generally run in the winter. There aren't many all-weather tracks in the UK at the moment, but more are being built so all-weather races are likely to become a more regular feature of the British horseracing calendar. The Jump Race Jump Races are also often known as National Hunt races and are races in which horses have to jump over obstacles such as fences, ditches and water jumps. Traditionally the jump-racing season has taken place during winter and spring, but nowadays the season runs for longer than this. The Flat Race Flat races are races in which the horses race over a long stretch of grass with no fences, open ditches or water jumps. The season runs throughout the summer and autumn. Flat-racing courses are usually shorter than jump-racing courses. Epsom is a flat racing course. Although flat racing, jump racing and all-weather racing are the three main categories of horserace in the UK, there are also many other types of race that you will come across within these categories. Handicap Races In handicap races, horses of different abilities compete against each other, so in order to make the race fairer and more entertaining, each horse is allocated a weight to carry depending upon its ability. In most cases, the handicaps are based on a horse's official rating, which is checked after each race it takes part in and may change depending on how well it has done. The ratings are stored on computer at Weatherby's, and when a horse competes in a handicap race, the computer allocates an appropriate handicap, which is then checked by the official handicapper. The official handicapper also allocates handicaps to competing horses that don't have an official rating. The horse with the highest rating is allocated the top weight available, and all other horses are allocated weights in comparison to that depending on ability. Bumper Races Although National Hunt races are usually jump-races, there are also National Hunt Flat Races, known as “bumpers”. Bumpers usually feature young horses and are designed to give them experience. Traditionally, bumper races also tended to feature amateur jockeys, but now you will find experienced jockeys competing as well. The most famous bumper in British horseracing takes place at the Cheltenham Fes


In which Australian state is one of the southern hemisphere's most remarkable sites, Ayers Rock?

Australia 2006-P Discover Australia - UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Ayers Rock / Uluru and Aborigine $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof with Color DX1 - Talisman Coins Australia 2006-P Discover Australia - UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Ayers Rock / Uluru and Aborigine $1 Pure Silver Dollar Proof with Color DX1 Price: $129.95 $69.95 Product Description Beautiful color highlights the iconic monument of the Australia outback, Ayers Rock! Uluru, traditionally known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone monolith in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 208 miles by air southwest of the nearest large town, Alice Springs (or 280 miles by road). Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara and  Yankunytjatjara, the Aboriginal peoples of the area. It has many springs, waterholes, rock caves  and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as an  UNESCO World Heritage Site . Uluru / Ayers Rock Situated in the heart of the continent, Ayers Rock is Australia's most famous natural landmark. The world-renowned sandstone formation rises 1,142 feet above the surrounding desert. However, like an iceberg, most of its bulk lies below the surface. The Rock measures nearly six miles in circumference. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Anangu landowners, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area. Click here for more coins featuring famous landmarks and monuments! Uluru is notable for appearing to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year, with sunset a particularly remarkable sight when it briefly glows red. Although rainfall is uncommon in this semiarid area, during wet periods the rock acquires a silvery-gray color, with streaks of black algae forming on channels of water flow. The Perth Mint has done a remarkable job of depicting this natural wonder in the color often seen at sunset on this one ounce pure silver proof. The sense of being there in the primeval setting is heightened by the presence of the aborigine and the desert vegetation. Please note, the mint images of this beautiful proof coin do not do it justice. The fields are deeply mirrored, the relief devices are white-frosted cameo, and the deep, rich colors of Ayers Rock / Uluru are incredible! Click here for more UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Technology Note The Perth Mint of Australia employs its own proprietary colorization technology, in which the color is actually sealed on the coin. The vibrant hues and precise execution of the technology create a stunning, full-color portrait on each coin. Click here for other great colored coins! Obverse An indigenous Australian man, an aborigine, stands in the foreground of this dramatic view of Ayers Rock (known in the local aboriginal language as Uluru) at sunset. The desert vegetation and impressive coloration lend to the sense of being there. The legends ULURU and  DISCOVER  AUSTRALIA define the theme. The Perth Mint's "P" mint mark is judiciously placed under the monument to the right, near the 3:30 position along the rim. The legend 1 OZ 999 SILVER guarantees the weight and purity. Click here for more great pure silver coins! Reverse Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, in crowned profile facing right. This portrait, featuring Her Majesty wearing a tiara and pearl drop earrings, was executed by the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley. The legend ELIZABETH II and denomination also appear. Click here for other beautiful silver dollars! Packaging The coin is encapsulated inside an elegant, luxury presentation case with a native Australian sheoak wood lid, protected by a full-color outer box. An individually-numbered certificate of authenticity is included. Specifications


In British horse racing, what is the minimum distance over which a 'flat race' is run?

Horse Racing terms explained. A free guide to horse racing and betting the point at which horses gather immediately before the start of a race Best In In handicap races, the horse that is considered favourite at the 'weigh in'. Bar A term used in connection with bookmakers' prices. e.g. '6 - 1 bar two' means that you can obtain at least 6 - 1 about any horse bar the first two in betting, and '10 - I bar three' means at least 10-1 about any horse bar the first three in betting. Blinkers A form of headgear which prevents a horse looking either left or right. Sometimes called 'blinds'. Blower A means of communication between racecourse and betting shops/offices. Run by the Exchange Telegraph Co. Blue Bet A bet which is not genuine but made as bait to catch mug punters. Board price The price offered against each horse on the book-maker's board, or display area, in betting shops, etc. 'Taking the board price' means taking the last price shown against your selection at the time you strike the bet. Bookie's Runner A person who who works on behalf of a bookmaker on course Bridle, won on the Won easily, without being pushed out. Claiming Race race where the winner can be "claimed" from the yard for a set fee. Classics This term is used to describe the five major three-year-old races of the flat season: the 1000 Guineas, the 2000 Guineas, the Derby, the Oaks and the St Leger. Of these, fillies can be entered for all five, but colts cannot be entered for the 1000 Guineas or the Oaks. Classic pretensions Holding some hope of success in one of the classic races (Two Thousand Guineas, One Thousand Guineas, Derby, Oaks, St Leger). Clerk of the Course Racecourse official responsible for overall management of a racecourse, including going Collateral form When two horses, A and B, have run on separate occasions against a third horse, C, the form of A and B on a line through C is known as collateral form. Commission agent A bookmaker who passes on the bets he collects from his clients to another bookmaker while he himself relies on the commission paid for the business. Conditional Jockey The jumping equivalent of an apprentice. Corner horse A horse, holding its position in the market, whose price is many points shorter than that shown in the betting forecasts (e.g. average suggested price 100 - 8, actual price, firm at 9 - 2). Should not be freely tipped by the racing correspondents. Course Specialist Horse which tends to run well at a particular track. Covered Up Keeping a horse behind other runners to prevent it running too freely in the early stages of a race. Dam The third and fifth races on the card comprise this pool. Tickets are K1 each. Daily Tote Treble The second, fourth and sixth races on the card comprise this pool. Tickets are 50p each. Dark Horse Probably a good horse, but its full potential is unknown. Dead Heat This is when two or more selections cannot be separated by the judge even after consulting the photo finish. When settling bets, simply halve the stake. Distance The disdtance of a race: Five furlongs is the minimum and the four and a half miles of the Grand National is the longest. Also the margin by which a horse is beaten by the horse directly in front. This ranges from a short head to 'by a distance' (more than thirty lengths. Double A multiple bet. Thus in a win double both horses must finish first for the double to succeed. In an each-way or place double both horses must be placed to draw the place double dividend. Down-The-Card Indicates races at the same meeting. Draw The starting positions allotted to horses contesting races on the flat (there is no draw for positions over jumps). In this country the lowest numbers are on the left, as seen from behind the stalls. Dual Forecast A Tote bet involving the forecast of the first and second horses in a race, either order. Each way Get away on level terms with the others. Flat Racing the Flat Season begins at the end of March and runs through to the end of September on turf. Races are run over a minimum distance of five furlongs up to a maximum of twenty two furlong


What is the symbol of the democratic Party in American politics?

Political Animals: Republican Elephants and Democratic Donkeys   |   Arts & Culture | Smithsonian Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Use Political Animals: Republican Elephants and Democratic Donkeys Politicians and parties may flip-flop but for more than 100 years, the political iconography of the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant has remained unchanged Politicians Are More Persuasive During Interactive Town Hall Meetings Typical contemporary illustrations of the Democratic donkey and the Republican elephant In a few days, America will elect our next president. It’s been a particularly contentious and divisive campaign, with party lines not so much drawn as carved: red states vs. blue states; liberals vs. conservatives; Republicans vs. Democrats. While party platforms change and politicians adapt their beliefs in response to their constituency and their poll numbers, one thing has remained consistent for more than 100 years: the political iconography of the democratic donkey and the republican elephant. The donkey and elephant first appeared in the mid-19th century, and were popularized by Thomas Nast , a cartoonist working for Harper’s Magazine from 1862-1886. It was a time when political cartoons weren’t just relegated to a sidebar in the editorial page, but really had the power to change minds and sway undecided voters by distilling complex ideas into more compressible representations. Cartoons had power. And Thomas Nast was a master of the medium, although one who, by all accounts, was churlish, vindictive and fiercely loyal to the Republican party. In fact, it’s said that President Lincoln referred to Nast as his “best recruiting general” during his re-election campaign. These very public “recruiting” efforts led Nast to create the familiar political symbols that have lasted longer than either of the political parties they represent. The 1870 Harpers cartoon credited with associating the donkey and the Democratic Party On January 15, 1870, Nast published the cartoon that would forever link the donkey to the Democrat. A few ideas should be clear for the cartoon to make sense: First, “republican” and “democrat” meant very different things in the 19th century than they do today (but that’s another article entirely); “jackass” pretty much meant the exact same thing then that it does today; and Nast was a vocal opponent of a group of Northern Democrats known as “ Copperheads .” In his cartoon, the donkey, standing in for the Copperhead press, is kicking a dead lion, representing President Lincoln’s recently deceased press secretary (E.M. Stanton). With this simple but artfully rendered statement, Nast succinctly articulated his belief that the Copperheads, a group opposed the Civil War, were dishonoring the legacy of Lincoln’s administration. The choice of a donkey –that is to say, a jackass– would be clearly understood as commentary intended to disparage the Democrats. Nast continue to use the donkey as a stand-in for Democratic organizations, and the popularity of his cartoons through 1880s ensured that the party remained inextricably tied to jackasses. However, although Thomas Nast is credited with popularizing this association, he was not the first to use it as a representation of the Democratic party. An 1837 lithograph depicting the first appearance of the Democratic donkey. In 1828, when Andrew Jackson was running for president, his opponents were fond of referring to him as a jackass (if only such candid discourse were permissible today). Emboldened by his detractors, Jackson embraced the image as the symbol of his campaign, rebranding the donkey as steadfast, determined, and willful, instead of wrong-headed, slow, and obstinate. Throughout his presidency, the symbol remained associated with Jackson and, to a lesser extent, the Democratic party. The association was forgotten, though, until Nast, for reasons of his own, revived it more than 30 years later. “The Third Term Panic: An ass, having put on the Lion’s skin, roamed about in the forest, and amused himself by frightening all the foolish Anima


"Now only used in the Isle of Man, a ""deemster"" is an old name for what?"

John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae and Deemster (c.1368 - 1422) - Genealogy John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae and Deemster Share your family tree and photos with the people you know and love Build your family tree online Share photos and videos John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae and Deemster Birthdate: in Lezayre, Isle of Man Immediate Family: Circa 1368 - Isle of Man Death: After 1422 - Altadale, Lezayre, Isle of Man Son: Between Jan 9 1368 and Jan 8 1369 - Isle of Man Death: Between Jan 10 1422 and Jan 9 1423 - Lezayre, Isle of Man Father: son About John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae and Deemster Deemster John McCrystyn was born circa 1368 at Isle of Man. He died after 1422 at Altadale, Lezayre, Isle of Man. He held the office of Deemster in 1408. Owing to the disappearance of all early Manx records, this John McCrystyn is the earliest of whom a written record exists, when he is recorded in 1408 as a Deemster. An "indenture" is to be seen at the British Museum, signed by him as "John McCrystyn, Justiciarius Insulae". From the earliest records extant, the Christians held the Office of Deemster, an office of the greatest dignity and authority. In the ancient court rolls, the deemsters were styled "Justiciarii Domini Regis". They were not only the chief judges, but were also the Lord's Privy Councillors, and their influence over the people resembled the civil authority of the ancient Druids. They alone knew, and were guardians of the unwritten laws, which only on important occasions were verbally divulged to the people. The Deemstership was hereditary in the Christian family, either by some decree of which all knowledge is lost, or because it was convenient for a son, as soon as old enough, to attend his father, the Deemster, at Courts, acting as his amanuensis and assistant, in order to be initiated into the duties, to learn the unwritten laws and customs, and to prepare himself for the serious and important oiffice. Notes from a Christian family genealogical table prepared in the early 1900s. Arms: Azure a chevron confrée, between three chalices OR. Crest: a unicorn’s head argent, erased, armed and crested OR. Motto: Salus per Christum A family of Scandinavian origin, the MacCristens, or Christins, or, as they now call themselves, Christians must have attained an important position in the Isle of Mann at an early date, as John McCristen, the first of whom there is any record, was one of the Judges or Deemsters in 1408 and a Member of the Tynwald Court in 1422. Of his three successors, who also bore the name of John, the first was seated at Altadale, in the Parish of Lezayre; the second was Deemster, from 1500-1510, and the third was also Deemster from 1511-1535. This later acquired the property adjoining Altadale and called the whole Milntown. He was the first to put the Manx Laws in writing. Daniel, his brother, was the ancestor of the Christians of Baldroma, in Maughold. His sister married Garret of Ballabrooie, and his eldest daughter Samsbury of Ronaldsway. John, his second son, was Water-Bailiff. William, the eldest, who was Deemster with his father, succeeded to the estate in 1535, but died four years afterwards. William’s second son, Robert, was also Deemster. From him the Christians of Lewaigue, in Maughold, are descended. Ewan, the fourth in descent from William, changed his name from MacCristen to Christian. He succeeded to the property in 1593. In 1605, when only 26 years old, he was made Deemster, and held that office 51 years. He was also Deputy-Governor of Peel Castle, and the most influential man in the Island. His sister, Jane, married Thomas Samsbury of Ronaldsway, and died without progeny. He purchased that estate from her trustees, and presented it, in 1643, to her third son, William, the famous ‘Iliam Dhone.’ John, his eldest son, who died before him, was Assistant-Deemster. His eldest daughter, Mabel, born in 1599, was John Curghey of Ballakillingan’s second wife. Ewan, John Curghey’s son, by his first wife, married Margaret, born in 1617, a younger sister of Mabel’s. Ewan was succeeded


Britain's highest waterfall, Cauldron Snout, lies on a river that rises in the north Pennines. Which river?

Natural Britain, Cauldron Snout, County Durham Natural Britain Tweet Cauldron Snout is a waterfall situated immediately below a dam on the Cow Green Reservoir. The dam and waterfall are on the upper reaches of the River Tees in Northern England. The water issues from below a dam built on to the eastern end of the reservoir. This substantial flow then cascades over a series of cataracts over rocky steps. At 200 yards long it is reckoned to be the longest waterfall in England. The vertical distance from the first cataract to the last is 200 feet, giving it claim to the title of the highest waterfall in England. From Cauldron Snout the Tees makes its way towards High Force , which is further down stream. High Force is undoubtedly England's biggest waterfall but Cauldron Snout is one of the few examples of extreme British landscape. It attracts a lot of visitors who are happy to make the almost two mile walk from the nearest car park at Cow Green Reservoir in order to take in the views. Cow Green was constructed between 1967 and 1971. The two mile long reservoir was built to supply the industries of Teesside. The Upper Teesdale area has long been recognised as of national importance environmentally. Plans to locate the reservoir there were met with staunch opposition from local conservationists. There was justifiable concern for the rich flora and fauna found in the area, including rare alpine plants like the unique Teesdale violet. Some concerns were met, however, as only an area of about one tenth of the violet's habitat was destroyed by the completion of the reservoir. In 1969, in an effort to balance the development, the remaining area was designated a National Nature Reserve. The Moor House-Upper Teesdale National Nature Reserve covers an area stretching from the upper edge of enclosed land in the Eden Valley, over Great Dun Fell, Little Dun Fell and Knock Fell and on to the upper end of the Cow Green reservoir. It extends southwards to the summit of Mickle Fell and to the High Force waterfall that lies down river to the east. The county border between Cumbria and County Durham runs down the middle of the reservoir. Guided walks along the Widdybank Fell nature trail leave from the Cow Green Reservoir car park daily at 2.00 pm. The walk takes the visitor to the dam and Cauldron Snout. Large panels at the car park display information about the reserve, its animal life, climate, geology and vegetation.


In which year did France withdraw from NATO, and Indira Ghandi become Prime Minister of India?

HT Correspondent Hindustan Times The hours between Indira Gandhi’s assassination and the naming of Rajiv Gandhi as the next prime minister have often been the subject of intense political speculation, including suggestions that Pranab Mukherjee may have made a move for the coveted post.(Virendra Prabhakar/HT File Photo) In the second volume of his memoir, The Turbulent Years: 1980-96, President Pranab Mukherjee shares an insider’s account of several significant events during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. In this extract, Mukherjee talks about how Rajiv Gandhi wanted to know “how potent” the bullets were after his mother Indira Gandhi was shot by her bodyguards in 1984. He also rejects as “false and spiteful” stories that he aspired to be the Prime Minister after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The hours between Indira’s assassination and the naming of Rajiv as the next prime minister have often been the subject of intense political speculation. Here is an excerpt from Mukherjee’s memoir on the issue: With the agenda of revamping the faction-ridden party organization, Rajiv Gandhi went on a tour of West Bengal at the end of October 1984. He arrived at Bagdogra airport near Siliguri in North Bengal on 29 October. A.B.A. Ghani Khan Choudhury and I, both Cabinet ministers in lndira Gandhi’s government, along with a few other Congress leaders, received him there. After the reception at Bagdogra, Rajiv went on to address a number of meetings at Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North Dinajpur and the Malda districts. We spent the night at Malda, where Ghani Khan Choudhury had arranged for our stay at the newly-constructed Department of Irrigation bungalow, Gour Bhavan. The next day, we went from Malda to Kharagpur by a special train organized by Ghani Khan Choudhury, travelling through the districts of Murshidabad, Birbhum, Burdwan, Bankura and Midnapore. From Kharagpur of the Midnapore district, we travelled by car to Digha, where we spent the night of 30 October. The next morning, on 31 October 1984, we set off once again. After addressing the first meeting at Ramnagar, Rajiv Gandhi reached Contai (Kanthi) where he began addressing his second meeting of the day. It was here that I received a message on the police wireless at 9.30 am: ‘lndira Gandhi assaulted. Return to Delhi immediately.’ Read | ‘Pranab, I know of the consequences’: Indira on storming Golden Temple Rajiv Gandhi and film actor Amitabh Bachchan at Indira Gandhi’s funeral.    (HT File Photo) l immediately passed Rajiv a note, even as he was addressing the meeting, asking him to cut short the speech. He did so, and as soon as he sat down, I told him about the message. I suggested that we cancel all other engagements and return to Delhi immediately, and he agreed. I announced to the public gathered for the meeting that we had to go back to the capital urgently and that the rest of the programmes scheduled for the day were being cancelled. Ghani Khan Choudhury had used his personal Mercedes car for the tour, ”while Rajiv and l and a few other Congress leaders were in Ambassador cars provided by the party. Ghani Khan Choudhury, who was on the dais with us, suggested that we use his car so as to move quickly-and we did. I instructed the police personnel on duty to send a message to Delhi for a Special aircraft to be arranged for our journey to Delhi--an Indian Air Force aircraft either from the Kalaikunda Air Force station near Kharagpur or from Calcutta (now Kolkata). The roads to Kharagpur and Calcutta diverged at Kolaghat, which is about 100 kilometres from Contai, and we needed to be informed by wireless where to head before we reached Kolaghat. Four of us-Rajiv Gandhi, Ghani Khan Choudhury, Rajiv’s PSO (personal security officer) and l--left Contai at around 9.40 a.m. Rajiv initially wanted to drive, but we dissuaded him. He agreed, but sat in the front, beside the driver. The three of us squeezed into the back. Throughout the journey, Rajiv remained composed, but kept the transistor radio tuned to BBC news. It is through the news that we got to know that sixteen bulle


Which year saw Castro create the communist state of Cuba, and Makarios elected President of the newly independent Cyprus?

countries countries Czech Republic Geography The Czech Republic's central European landscape is dominated by the Bohemian Massif, which rises to heights of 3,000 ft (900 m) above sea level. This ring of mountains encircles a large elevated basin, the Bohemian Plateau. The principal rivers are the Elbe and the Vltava. Government Parliamentary democracy. History Probably about the 5th century A.D. , Slavic tribes from the Vistula basin settled in the region of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia. The Czechs founded the kingdom of Bohemia and the Premyslide dynasty, which ruled Bohemia and Moravia from the 10th to the 16th century. One of the Bohemian kings, Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor, made Prague an imperial capital and a center of Latin scholarship. The Hussite movement founded by Jan Hus (1369?–1415) linked the Slavs to the Reformation and revived Czech nationalism, previously under German domination. A Hapsburg, Ferdinand I, ascended the throne in 1526. The Czechs rebelled in 1618, precipitating the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). Defeated in 1620, they were ruled for the next 300 years as part of the Austrian empire. Full independence from the Hapsburgs was not achieved until the end of World War I, following the collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. A union of the Czech lands and Slovakia was proclaimed in Prague on Nov. 14, 1918, and the Czech nation became one of the two component parts of the newly formed Czechoslovakian state. In March 1939, German troops occupied Czechoslovakia, and Czech Bohemia and Moravia became German protectorates for the duration of World War II. The former government returned in April 1945 when the war ended and the country's pre-1938 boundaries were restored. When elections were held in 1946, Communists became the dominant political party and gained control of the Czechoslovakian government in 1948. Thereafter, the former democracy was turned into a Soviet-style state. Nearly 42 years of Communist rule ended with the nearly bloodless “velvet revolution” in 1989. Václav Havel, a leading playwright and dissident, was elected president of Czechoslovakia in 1989. Havel, imprisoned twice by the Communist regime and his plays banned, became an international symbol for human rights, democracy, and peaceful dissent. The return of democratic political reform saw a strong Slovak nationalist movement emerge by the end of 1991, which sought independence for Slovakia. When the general elections of June 1992 failed to resolve the continuing coexistence of the two republics within the federation, Czech and Slovak political leaders agreed to separate their states into two fully independent nations. On Jan. 1, 1993, the Czechoslovakian federation was dissolved and two separate independent countries were established—the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in March 1999. In Aug. 2002, severe flooding caused 70,000 people in Prague and 200,000 nationwide to be evacuated. President Václav Havel left office in Feb. 2003, after 13 years as president. Over the years, Havel lost some of his immense popularity with the Czechs, who became disenchanted with his failings as a political leader. But internationally Havel has remained a towering figure of moral authority and courage. In March, Václav Klaus became the Czech Republic's second president. A conservative economist, he and Havel often clashed. In May 2004, the Czech Republic joined the EU. After an inconclusive election in June 2006, the political deadlock was broken in August, with rightist Mirek Topolánek appointed prime minister. His government resigned in October, after losing a no-confidence vote. He formed another government in January 2007. A year later, Topolánek's government narrowly survived another no-confidence vote. While the Czech Republic held a six-month rotating term as President of the EU, the government collapsed and Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek resigned after his center-right government lost a parliamentary vote of confidence in March 2009. Facts & Figures President: Václav Klaus (2003) Prime Minister-designate:


Which runner took the 100 metres gold at the Atlanta Olympics, only a year after she overcame Grave's Disease

Golden girl: The first Olympic speed queen - CNN.com Golden girl: The first Olympic speed queen By Tom McGowan, CNN Updated 3:30 PM ET, Fri August 3, 2012 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Robinson's rocket – Betty Robinson made history in 1928 by becoming the first woman to clinch Olympic track and field gold. Her achievement has paved the way for her fellow U.S. female athletes to etch their names into Games folklore. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians The Babe – Robinson was lucky to survive a plane crash in 1931, and the following year Mildred "Babe" Didrikson took over her mantle as the top U.S. woman athlete, winning gold in hurdles and javelin at the Los Angeles Olympics and silver in the high jump. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians History maker – Wyomia Tyus became the first sprinter, male or female, to retain the 100m title at the Olympics when she triumphed in 1968, also winning gold in the 4x100m relay in Mexico. She is seen here winning the women's 100m final at Tokyo '64. Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Flo-Jo stars in Seoul – Florence Griffith-Joyner still holds the women's world records for 100m and 200m, winning three gold medals and a silver at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She died aged just 38, from a heart seizure while sleeping. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Sister Act – American tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams have won two gold medals together in women's doubles. Their first came at Sydney 2000, where Venus also won the singles competition. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Breathless success – U.S. swimmer Amy Van Dyken overcame problems with asthma to win six gold medals during her Olympic career, with four of those coming at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians What did you say? – U.S. soccer star Mia Hamm inspired her side to gold in the women's football in Atlanta in 1996 and at Athens 2004. The Americans also triumphed at Beijing 2008. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Gail Force – Sprinter Gail Devers overcame Graves' disease to win three Olympic gold medals, including the women's 100m in 1996 and 2000 as she emulated Tyus. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Making the breakthrough – Mary Lou Retton became the first American woman to win gold in the individual all-around event in 1984, breaking eastern Europe's stranglehold on the competition. She also won two silvers and two bronzes, becoming a national hero. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Team USA's top female Olympians Iron Woman – Jackie Joyner-Kersee won gold in both heptathlon and the long jump at Seoul in 1988. She then successfully defended her heptathlon title at Barcelona 1992. Hide Caption


After failing to win his sixth Tour de France, who made up for his disappointment by winning the inaugural Olympic road time trial in 1996?

News for September 5 News for September 5 Indurain to retire Miguel Indurain, who      failed in his attempt to win a record sixth consecutive      Tour de France in July, will quit cycling in December,      the sports paper AS reported on Wednesday. Indurain and his Banesto team could not be reached      for comment. The paper says Indurain has said his      best days are behind him. Indurain, 32, won the Olympic      time-trial at Atlanta in August when the      sport's top professionals competed in      the Games for the first time. His contract with Banesto forces him to ride in the      Tour of Spain, which starts on Saturday, for the first      time in four years. Banesto had already contacted Spain's 1995 world      champion Abraham Olano, who rides for the Italian      team Mapei, to replace Indurain, AS reported. Indurain's manager Francis Lafargue said he would      not compete for another season just for the money. "Miguel is a honest man. His engine is as powerful as      ever and he is only 32-years-old," Lafargue said. "But if he feels he can no longer be his former self, he      won't do one more season just for the money." A Banesto spokesman said it was too soon to      comment on Indurain's future. "We are focusing on the Tour of Spain and when the      moment comes to renew the contract we will see," he      said. Indurain's contract expires in December. Another view Five times Tour de France champion Miguel Indurain may retire this year according to sources close to his Banesto team, the sports daily As reported on Wednesday. Indurain, 32, whose contract expires in December, failed to record a sixth successive win in the Tour this year but won gold in the Atlanta Olympics time trial. ``Miguel Indurain is determined to give up cycling this winter,'' As said. ``According to sources close to the Banesto team, Indurain has already shared his decision with close friends. ``Although they are trying to convince him against it, the announcement could be made public in a few days.'' A Banesto spokesman said it was too soon to comment on Indurain's future but his manager Francis Lafargue said he would not compete for another season just for the money. ``Miguel is a honest man. His engine is as powerful as ever and he is only 32 years old,'' Lafargue told the French Sud-Ouest newspaper. ``But if he feels he can no longer be his former self, he won't do one more season just for the money.'' The Banesto spokesman said: ``We are focusing on the Tour of Spain and when the moment comes to renew the contract we will see.'' Last month Indurain said he was not keen to race in the three-week Tour starting in Valencia on Saturday. ``I didn't particularly want to do it but the team decides,'' he said. ``Physically I am well but mentally I'm not.'' Durand and Laurent caught on the dope French cyclists Jacky      Durand and Thierry Laurent have been suspended for      eight months after testing positive to the anabolic      steroid Nandrolone, it was announced here on      Wednesday. The two men have appealed the sentence and will be      allowed to continue competing until a second verdict      is handed down. Both tested positive during the Spring European      spring competition -- Durand in April and Laurent in      early May, when he came second in the "Dunkirk      Four Days". Durand and Laurent have been stripped of their      placings in the race in which they tested positive and      were each fined 2000 Swiss francs (1600 dollars). The Frenchmen are considered time-trial specialists,      with the former holding the yellow jersey in the early      stages of the 1995 Tour de France and both      competing in the 1996 Tour. Durand, 29, won the French road racing      championship in 1993 and 1994, while the 30-year      old Laurent has previously represented France in      international competition. Their cases


What cotton cloth, woven from coloured yarns into stripes or checks, takes its name from the Malay word for striped?

gingham gingham yarn-dyed, plain-weave cotton fabric, usually striped or checked. [1605-15; < D gingang < Malay gangan, gingan with space between, hence, striped] * * * ▪ fabric       plain-woven fabric, originally made completely of cotton fibres but later also of man-made fibres, which derives its colour and pattern effects from carded or combed yarns. The name comes from the Malay word genggang, meaning “striped,” and thence from the French guingan, used by the Bretons to signify cloth made from striped colouring. Medium or fine yarns of varying quality are used to obtain the plain, checked, or striped effects. The warp and the weft, or filling, may be the same, even-sided and balanced.       Gingham is strong, substantial, and serviceable. It launders easily and well, but lower-textured fabric may shrink considerably unless preshrunk. Prices of gingham have a wide range; designs or patterns run from the conservative to the gaudy. Uses include dress goods, shirting, trimming, kerchiefs, aprons, children's wear, and beachwear. * * * gingiva Look at other dictionaries: Gingham — is a fabric made from dyed cotton yarn. The name is Indonesian in origin, assimilated into Dutch. When originally imported (in the 17th century), it was a striped fabric, but from the mid 18th century, when it was being produced in the mills of… …   Wikipedia Gingham — Ging ham, n. [F. guingan; cf. Jav. ginggang; or perh. fr. Guingamp, in France.] A kind of cotton or linen cloth, usually in stripes or checks, the yarn of which is dyed before it is woven; distinguished from printed cotton or prints. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English Gingham — (Köpergingham), Baumwollen Merinos, s. Weberei …   Lexikon der gesamten Technik Gingham — (Gingang), ostind. Baumwollstoffe, jetzt die gestreifte oder gewürfelte engl., schott. oder Wiener Leinwand, dicht gewebt aus gefärbtem Baumwollgarn …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon gingham — 1610s, from Du. gingang, traders rendering of a Malay word said to be ginggang striped, used as a noun with the sense of striped cotton. Cf. Fr. guingan, Sp. guinga, It. gingano, Ger. gingang …   Etymology dictionary gingham — ► NOUN ▪ lightweight plain woven cotton cloth, typically checked. ORIGIN from a Malay word meaning striped …   English terms dictionary gingham — [giŋ′əm] n. [< Du gingang or Fr guingan, ult. < Malay ginggang, striped (cloth)] a yarn dyed cotton cloth, usually woven in stripes, checks, or plaids …   English World dictionary gingham — [[t]gɪ̱ŋəm[/t]] N UNCOUNT Gingham is cotton cloth which has a woven pattern of small squares, usually in white and one other colour. ...a gingham apron. ...gingham check shorts …   English dictionary Gingham — Ging|ham: ↑Gingan. Gin|gan [ gɪŋgan], Gingham [ gɪŋəm], der; s, s [engl. gingham < malai. ginggang, eigtl. = gestreift]: gemustertes Baumwollgewebe in Leinenbindung …   Universal-Lexikon gingham — ging|ham [ˈgıŋəm] n [U] [Date: 1600 1700; : Malay; Origin: genggang] cotton cloth that has a pattern of small white and coloured squares on it ▪ a red and white gingham tablecloth …   Dictionary of contemporary English 16+


Who wrote 'Earthly Powers', a long and ambitious first- person novel, narrated by an octogenarian homosexual?

2011 - dooneyscafe.com : dooneyscafe.com 2011 Filed under Booker Prize Project Jean’s Best of the Bookers Well, here they are. Of the 255 novels I read for this project, here are the 20 I recommend. These are shortened reviews. If you want to see the whole thing check out Jean’s Booker Project on www.dooneyscafe.com 1969 Barry England—Figures in a Landscape Two escaped guys trek their way through an unidentified tropical landscape fighting nature and a helicopter opponent. There are no extra details. The book is grueling, tight, sharp, and raw. For years my favourite war book has been Charles Yale Harrison’s Generals Die in Bed (1930).Figures in a Landscape is as good, and as urgent though no war is ever mentioned. At times the tension in the book is almost unbearable. This was Barry England’s first novel. A remarkable debut. About 40 years later he published a second novel and is mostly known (if at all) for his plays. I don’t think this book should have been the winner but I suspect it will be the one I will remember the most vividly for the longest period of time. Apparently it was made into a film starring Malcolm McDowell and Robert Shaw. 1973 J G Farrell—The Siege of Krishnapur The book is about the siege of Krishnapur in 1857 during the Indian rebellion, and is a penetrating look at British Victorian values. Farrell takes on opium use and production, the righteous anger of religious zealots, the problems created by the Crimean war (not enough available young men, for one), the fad of phrenology, social structure, the hypocrisy of Victorian morality, medical procedures (in one scene two doctors with opposing beliefs regarding the treatment of cholera thrash it out), issues of ownership and property, beauty and art, materialism, science and industry. It’s a scathing attack of the dangers of belief in a superior culture. But it’s also funny, really funny. It’s impossible to read this book without considering our own culture; as a reader there is no smug way out. It isn’t possible to feel superior to these characters—that trap has been exposed. Instead the reader is forced to consider the occupation of Iraq, the “war on terrorism” and the fight to bring democracy and capitalism to another culture, and the assumption that North America’s relatively new culture is better. Iris Murdoch—The Black Prince. UBC Bradley Pearson, the first-person narrator, makes Bertie Wooster looks like an emotional giant. Brad makes Hamlet, The Prince of Denmark, appear to be an uncomplaining, unbrooding optimist. Remember the dolt of a narrator from Ford Madox Ford’s The Good Soldier, John Dowell? Well, Brad makes John seem reliable. Okay, I’ll stop. Divorced from his wife, half-heartedly going after his best friend’s wife (both Bradley and his best friend, Arthur, are writers, though the friend is more successful), rumored to be a closet homosexual who really loves Arthur, Bradley falls desperately in love with Arthur’s daughter. Bradley’s rambling about his feeling are almost unbearable to read. Do men talk like this? His sister, Priscilla is even worse. But I’m onto Murdoch and I was looking for the twist at the end, though I couldn’t anticipate what it would be. She snuck up, and clobbered me, again. In this novel the ending almost forces you to start at the beginning again to see how she pulled it off. 1979 V. S. Naipaul—A Bend in the River In Conrad’s Heart of Darkness first-person narrator Marlow tells the tale of Kurtz. This European view of Africa, or more specifically what we assume is the Belgian Congo, examines the impact of imperialism, the European fear of going native, light/dark, good/bad and the very notion of freedom. With Naipaul’s narrator, Salim, the reader is back to what again we assume is the Congo, and post-colonial psychosis. But A Bend in the River isn’t just an update, or validation of Conrad. I’ve been trying to figure out what exactly it might be. Homage, in part. But I think the word that best presents Naipaul’s relationship to Conrad is conversation. In Naipaul’s novel, Africa, despite independence, is still


After whom is the international airport at Pisa in Italy, named?

Airport Pisa, Italy - YouTube Airport Pisa, Italy Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on May 4, 2014 Pisa International Airport, formerly Galileo Galilei Airport and San Giusto Airport is an airport located in Pisa, Italy. It is the main airport in Tuscany. It is named after Galileo Galilei, the famous scientist and native of Pisa. The airport was first developed for the military in the 1930 and 1940s. The airport was used by 4,526,723 passengers in 2011 Category


Who played the leading roles in both 'Rebel Without A Cause' and 'West Side Story'?

Natalie Wood - Biography - IMDb Natalie Wood Biography Showing all 98 items Jump to: Overview  (5) | Mini Bio  (1) | Spouse  (3) | Trade Mark  (3) | Trivia  (67) | Personal Quotes  (9) | Salary  (10) Overview (5) 5' (1.52 m) Mini Bio (1) Natalie Wood was born on July 20, 1938, in San Francisco, California, as Natalia Nikolaevna Zakharenko. Her parents, Maria Stepanovna (Zudilova) and Nikolai Stepanovich Zakharenko, were Russian-born émigrés, of Ukrainian and Russian descent, who spoke barely comprehensible English; they changed the family name to Gurdin after becoming US citizens. When she was just four years old, Natalie appeared in her first film, Happy Land (1943). A production company had come to Santa Rosa, California, where the Gurdins were living and Natalie won a bit part of a crying little girl who had just dropped her ice cream cone. With stars in her eyes for her daughter, Mrs. Gurdin packed the family and moved south to Los Angeles in the hopes that more films would come her daughter's way. Unfortunately they did not, at least not at first, and the family continued to scrape by much as they had done in Santa Rosa. In 1946 Natalie tested for a role in Tomorrow Is Forever (1946). She was only seven at the time, and flunked the screen test. Natalie's mother convinced the studio heads to give her another test, and this time she was convincing enough that they gave Natalie the role. In 1947's Miracle on 34th Street (1947), she won the hearts of movie patrons around the country as Susan Walker in a film that is considered a Christmas classic to this day. Natalie stayed very busy as a child actress, appearing in no less than 18 films in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When she was 16 Natalie appeared in Rebel Without a Cause (1955) with James Dean , Sal Mineo and Dennis Hopper . She played Judy, a rebellious high school student who was more concerned with hanging out with the wrong crowd than being a sweet teenager like her contemporaries. The result was her first Academy Award nomination and a defining moment in her development as an adult actress. She appeared in Splendor in the Grass (1961), West Side Story (1961), Gypsy (1962), and Love with the Proper Stranger (1963). While Natalie was reported to be unhappy making "West Side Story", the film did win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. In short, it was a smash hit. Although she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award in that one, she did receive nominations for her roles in "Splendor in the Grass" and "Love with the Proper Stranger". After This Property Is Condemned (1966) in 1966, Natalie stayed away from Hollywood for three years to have time for herself and to consider where she was going. When she did return her star quality had not diminished a bit, as evidenced by her playing Carol Sanders in the hit Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969). From that point on Natalie didn't work as much. She made a few television appearances, but nothing of substance with the exception of the TV mini-series From Here to Eternity (1979). After making The Last Married Couple in America (1980), Natalie began work on Brainstorm (1983) in the fall of 1981 with Christopher Walken . She did not live to see it released. On November 29, 1981, she was sailing on the yacht she shared with her husband, Robert Wagner, and their friend Walken, when Natalie fell in the ocean while trying to board the dinghy tied up alongside the yacht and drowned. She was 43 years old. Natalie had made 56 films for TV and the silver screen and it's hard to say what she could have done while making her comeback. "Brainstorm" was finally released in 1983. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Denny Jackson Spouse (3) Named after director Sam Wood . Her favorite actress was Vivien Leigh and her favorite singer was Bob Dylan . She suffered from a deep fear of drowning after having barely survived an accident when she was a little girl, during the filming of The Green Promise (1949). Her fear was so great that Elia Kazan had to lie - promising a double - and trick her into


Which greenish-yellow gas was discovered by Humphry Davy in 1810?

Chemical Element: chlorine - Word Information Chemical Element: chlorine (Greek: chloros, grass-green; a reference to the color of the gas which tends to be greenish-yellow; gas) Chemical-Element Information Atomic number: 17 Year discovered: 1774 or 1810 Discovered by: Karl Wilhelm Scheele (1742-1786), a Swedish chemist, and credit is given to Sir Humphry Davy for showing that chlorine was an element not an oxygen compound. Karl Wilhelm Scheele discovered many simple compounds from plants and animals, to say nothing of such poisonous gases as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen cyanide. Scheele was also involved in the discovery of a number of elements, though he never managed to get undisputed credit for a single one of them. By 1774, he had done most of the preliminary work that led to the discovery of the element manganese. His friend, the Swedish mineralogist Johan Gottlieb Gahn (1745-1818); however, completed the final step and got credit for the discovery. Again, in 1774, Scheele isolated the gas chlorine, which was unusual in that it was not colorless. Chlorine is greenish-yellow and its name is derived from the Greek word for “green”. Scheele’s problem was that he didn’t recognize chlorine to be an element because he thought it was a combination of some substance with oxygen. Since Scheele thought the resulting gas contained oxygen, Sir Humphry Davy proposed and confirmed chlorine to be an element in 1810, and he also named the element. Scheele obtained chlorine through the reaction of the mineral pyrolusite (manganese dioxide) with hydrochloric acid (then known as muriatic acid). Davy had worked with hydrochloric acid (a strong acid) and he showed that it contained no oxygen. This was the final blow to the general assumption that oxygen was essential to acids. Hydrochloric acid did contain chlorine, and Scheele thought chlorine was an oxygen-containing compound. In 1810, Davy showed this was not true, and that chlorine was an element. For this reason, Davy, rather than Scheele usually receives credit for the discovery of chlorine. Name in other languages:


'The Sea, The Sea' a 1978 novel about a theatre director and his childhood love, was by which authoress

The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch – review | Books | The Guardian Classics corner The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch – review The 1978 Booker prize-winning novel, featuring a theatre director who retires to the coast to write his memoirs, is a rich and textured study of vanity and self-delusion Iris Murdoch in 1978, the year she wrote The Sea, The Sea. Photograph: Jane Bown for the Observer Share on Messenger Close Charles Arrowby, celebrated theatre director, egomaniac and narrator of Iris Murdoch's 1978 Booker prize-winning novel, has retired to a remote Martello tower on the cliffs by the sea – a body of water by turns calm, raging and boasting the occasional, possibly hallucinated, monster. Arrowby is writing his memoirs, and his attempt to chronicle his successful career in the "histrionic arts", both on the boards and off, reveals a character that is part Pooter, part Proust and part Partridge, yet wholly Murdoch. Shruff End, as the atmospheric, oil lamp-lit house is named, is where Arrowby aims to become a hermit and reflect upon his life. He details his marvellously revolting meals with the lyricism of a gourmand – salivating over Battenberg cake and prunes, and making quirky declarations: "Kipper fillets are arguably better than smoked salmon unless the latter is very good," and suchlike. These domestic pursuits, along with some tantalising recollections from his former life, keep him – and us – entertained for some time. But Arrowby's heart is patently not in the solitary life. "How huge it is, how empty, this great space for which I have been longing all my life," Arrowby writes, adding poignantly, "Still no letters." With nothing to do but "learning to be good", it is inevitable that Arrowby will create some drama even in this isolated spot; and this he does by attempting to draw his former lover Lizzie into his new life while trying to destroy the marriage of his childhood sweetheart, Hartley. Other visitors congregate at his new abode, shedding light on Arrowby's past and present: his Buddhist cousin, James (of whom he has always been profoundly jealous), and various theatrical ex-lovers and ex-friends. Their relationships reveal the shallows of Arrowby's self-knowledge – as well as his ability to manipulate. Peppered with literary allusions, yet enjoyable on its own terms, the strongest echo in The Sea, The Sea is of Prospero and The Tempest. Murdoch's subtly, blackly humorous digs at human vanity and self-delusion periodically build into waves of hilarity, and Arrowby is a brilliant creation: a deeply textured, intriguing yet unreliable narrator, and one of the finest character studies of the 20th century.


Which colourless and odourless gas was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772?

Nitrogen»the essentials [WebElements Periodic Table] Element News Nitrogen: the essentials Nitrogen is a Group 15 element. Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere by volume but the atmosphere of Mars contains less than 3% nitrogen. The element seemed so inert that Lavoisier named it azote, meaning "without life". However, its compounds are vital components of foods, fertilizers, and explosives. Nitrogen gas is colourless, odourless, and generally inert. As a liquid it is also colourless and odourless. When nitrogen is heated, it combines directly with magnesium, lithium, or calcium. When mixed with oxygen and subjected to electric sparks, it forms nitric oxide (NO) and then the dioxide (NO2). When heated under pressure with hydrogen in the presence of a suitable catalyst , ammonia forms (Haber process). Nitrogen is "fixed" from the atmosphere by bacteria in the roots of certain plants such as clover. Hence the usefulness of clover in crop rotation. Image adapted with permission from Prof James Marshall 's (U. North Texas, USA) Walking Tour of the elements CD. Nitrogen: historical information Nitrogen was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772 at Scotland. Origin of name : from the Greek words "nitron genes" meaning "nitre" and "forming" and the Latin word "nitrum" (nitre is a common name for potassium nitrate, KNO#). It was known during the 18th century that air contains at least two gases, one of which supports combustion and life, and the other of which does not. Nitrogen was discovered by Daniel Rutherford in 1772, who called it noxious air, but Scheele, Cavendish, Priestley, and others at about the same time studied "burnt" or "dephlogisticated" air, as air without oxygen was then called. Sometime prior to the autumn of 1803, the Englishman John Dalton was able to explain the results of some of his studies by assuming that matter is composed of atoms and that all samples of any given compound consist of the same combination of these atoms. Dalton also noted that in series of compounds, the ratios of the masses of the second element that combine with a given weight of the first element can be reduced to small whole numbers (the law of multiple proportions). This was further evidence for atoms. Dalton's theory of atoms was published by Thomas Thomson in the 3rd edition of his System of Chemistry in 1807 and in a paper about strontium oxalates published in the Philosophical Transactions. Dalton published these ideas himself in the following year in the New System of Chemical Philosophy. The symbol used by Dalton for nitrogen is shown below. [See History of Chemistry, Sir Edward Thorpe, volume 1, Watts & Co, London, 1914.] Nitrogen around us Read more » Nitrogen is a key component of biological molecules such as proteins (which are made from amino acids, and nucleic acids. The nitrogen cycle in nature is very important. Nitrogen gas (dinitrogen, N2) makes up about 78% of the atmosphere by volume. The atmosphere of Mars contains less than 3% nitrogen. There are relatively few minerals containing nitrogen but nitrates such as "saltpetre" (NaNO3) are very important. Abundances for nitrogen in a number of different environments. More abundance data » Location Second ionisation energy : 2856 kJ mol‑1 Isolation Isolation : there is never any need to make nitrogen in the laboratory as it is readily available commercially or through in-house air liquefaction plants. However the decomposition of sodium azide is one route to N2 and decomposition is ammonium dichromate is another. Both reactions must only be carried out under controlled conditions by a professional. NaN3 (300°C) → 2Na + 3N2 (NH4)2Cr2O7 → N2 + Cr2O3 + 4H2O Nitrogen is made on massive scale by liquefaction of air and fractional distillation of the resulting liquid air to separate out oxygen and other gases. Very high purity nitrogen is available by this route. Nitrogen isotopes Read more » Nitrogen has two isotopes, N-14 and N-15, both of which are used in various applications. N-15 is used for the production of the radioisotope O-15 which is used in PET. N-


Whose only UK chart-topping single was called 'Don't You Want Me'?

Heartbreak: part two of 1000 songs everyone must hear | Music | The Observer ABC 1981 Whether in its original, spare funk version or the orchestrated Trevor Horn take that appeared on the classic The Lexicon of Love album, this debut single provided a fine showcase for the sophisticated romanticism of the Sheffield popsters. Despite the universal “blueprint that says boy meets girl”, former music journo Martin Fry is struggling in his quest to find love’s “real McCoy”, and contends, in his angsty croon, that tears are not enough to prove that a girl’s emotions are genuine. GM The Winner Takes It All Abba 1980 The enormous success of Mamma Mia! as a feelgood karaoke movie obscures the acute insights Abba brought to the art of the break-up song. This mesmerising loop of swelling melody and harmonies beats anything on Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks for harsh truths about broken marriage, especially when Agnetha Fältskog wails in punch-drunk resignation: “The judges will decide/ The likes of me abide.” Björn Ulvaeus resolutely denied that it was about Agnetha’s and his 1979 divorce. GM Call Me on Your Way Back Home Ryan Adams 2000 Adams’s insistence on singing about his seemingly endless playground crushes can get more than a little wearing, but this – like most of the Heartbreaker album – sounds suspiciously like the real deal. “I just want to die without you,” sobs the boy with “bubblegum on his shoes”, and he does indeed sound utterly bereft. The music is wonderfully simpatico, all hushed acoustic guitar, aching harmonica and lowering cellos. GT Never Ever All Saints 1997 Despite an intro – “A few questions that I need to know…” – that induces exasperation in lovers of the English language, Never Ever is one of the best girl-group songs of its time. Its one-eyebrow-raised sultriness may be less effective than it was in 1997, when All Saints were pitting their underdog coolness against the behemoth that was the Spice Girls, but it’s worn well. The four voices harmonise like a dream – must have been all that partying. CS Joan Baez 1975 A fond but cautious tango with the ghost of her ex-lover Bob Dylan – “Yes, I loved you dearly” – prompted by an out-of-the-blue phone call. Full of private details, buried clues and bittersweet memories dragged to the surface – “Your eyes were bluer than robin’s eggs/ My poetry was lousy, you said,” – the sly, tugging folk melody underpins the dangers of remembering too well. GT You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away The Beatles 1965 Lennon’s lyric on this sensitive classic is effective if viewed as a male lover’s despair at his girlfriend’s departure. But when transposed to an empathic understanding of the clandestine sexuality of eatles manager Brian Epstein, it is bold, devastating and, while revealing the paranoia and shame surrounding homosexuality in Britain during the mid-60s, still triumphant. MR The Boy Done Wrong Again Belle and Sebastian 1996 The penultimate track on their second album, If You’re Feeling Sinister, this is a slice of impeccable bed-sitted forlornness, a tale of hanging your head in shame and crying your life away, told over the most melancholy strings. Not only does The Boy Done Wrong Again succeed in capturing the sheer loneliness of heartbreak, it also shows Belle and Sebastian at their creative peak, the combination of Isobel Campbell’s cello and the sly, sad wit of Stuart Murdoch’s lyrics producing a song that is quite deliciously wistful. LBar Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Matt Sweeney 2005 This is the most extraordinary, gut-wrenching twist of a song, its mood only enhanced by the discord of Will Oldham’s voice and Sweeney’s guitar. Beginning with a man offering himself up completely to the woman he loves, in the fifth verse the atmosphere suddenly grows chilly, the earlier happiness replaced by fallen tears and broken smiles, burning houses and faked kisses. The lack of explanation is what makes this song so unsettling, serving as a reminder that love can disappear as swiftly as it arrives: “Where are you going?” Oldham asks. “Why are you leaving?” LBar Letter to Hermion


In football's European Championships, which was the first country to appear in two successive finals?

UEFA European Championship Top 10 Midfielders UEFA European Championship Top 10 Midfielders Published on Country: Portugal Years Active: 1990 to 2008 Rui Costa represented Portugal in three UEFA European Championships . He was a good provider for other players to score goals but still scored a good number himself. At his time, the national side had a steady performance making it to the quarter finals in 1996, then the semifinals at the Euro 2000 and eventually the Euro 2004 final. On the progress to the final, he helped the Portugal team to eliminate England at the quarter finals through a remarkable strike which secured a 2-1 win. 9.) Lothar Matthaus Country: Germany Years Active: 1979 to 2000 Lothar Matthaus played for Germany in four European Football Championships, winning the tournament in 1980. He was captain of the team at the Euro 1988 and he scored in the semifinal to give his team a lead, before Netherlands equalized through Ronald Koeman and snatched the victory in the final minutes by a Marco van Basten goal. His efforts were recognized as he appeared on the 1988 team of the tournament. That would be the last time Matthaus played at the tournament after an injury ruled him out of the 1992 European Championship. 8.) Luis Figo Country: Portugal Years Active: 1989 to 2009 Luis Figo was an exceptional winger with a successful career at club and international level. He is remembered in La Liga for being the second highest player in the number of assists, next to Lionel Messi. He played for Portugal in three European Football Championships, from 1996 to 2004. The 2000 Ballon d’Or winner helped Portugal to the 2004 Euro final against Greece, who pulled off a shocking win. Figo failed to win any European Championship trophy with his team but he certainly led them to their best ever performance in the European competition. His efforts saw him feature in the UEFA Team of the Tournament twice, in 2000 and 2004. 7.) Michael Ballack Country: Germany Years Active: 1995 to 2012 Michael Ballack was in the German squad at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 European Championships. He captained the team in the last two tournaments, helping them reach the 2008 Euro final. He scored an incredible free kick against Austria to seal a 1-0 win for Germany helping them progress to the quarter finals. Germany faired on well past Portugal in the quarter final and Turkey in the semi final before losing to Spain in the final. Despite the loss, Ballack did prove to be a world-class player and was among the best performers at the tournaments. 6.) Michel Platini Country: France Years Active: 1972 to 1988 Michel Platini was captain of the France national team that won the European Championship in 1984. His admirable abilities in taking free kicks and scoring goals immensely helped the team win the tournament. He contributed nine goals to the 14 goals recorded by the whole team. Platini booked a spot in the final after scoring the decisive goal at the end of extra time to defeat Portugal 3-2 at the semifinal. He then scored the opener in the final against Spain as his team won 2-0 to become Champions of Europe. He was the best player of the tournament and the eventual top scorer. 5.) Andres Iniesta Country: Spain Years Active: 2001 to Current Andres Iniesta was influential during Spain’s two consecutive title wins, in Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. He is the kind of midfielder who provides quality crosses and key passes, which have proven essential in steering Spain forward in international competitions. His achievements with the senior team are a perfect follow up to his successful career with the Spain youth teams, which won European Championships in 2001 and 2002. Iniesta was at his best in 2012 where he was man of the match thrice and featured in the UEFA Team of the Tournament in both editions. 4.) Valentin Kozmich Ivanov Country: The Soviet Union Years Active: 1952 to 1966 Valentin Ivanov played for the Soviet Union national football team. He was a joint top scorer in the inaugural tournament in 1960 and his contribution helped the team to win the first


Which of Dicken's' novels features 'Sir John and Edward Chester'?

Amazon.co.uk:Customer Reviews: Barnaby Rudge (BBC) Barnaby Rudge (BBC) 4.5 out of 5 stars 135 72 people found this helpful 5.0 out of 5 starsPossibly Dickens's least-known work. ByS. Hapgoodon 29 November 2003 "Barnaby Rudge" was the first commercial failure Dickens had. There were a number of reasons for this, mainly I suspect that it was published during a recession, but also because Dickens had by then made a big name for himself as an observer of his own times. That is very much the image he still has today, Dickens is synonymous with the mid-19th century, so going back to the end of the 18th century wasn't perhaps commercially a good move. These days "Barnaby Rudge" has become overshadowed completely by Dickens's other historical novel, "A Tale Of Two Cities", not helped by the fact that both books cover more or less the same themes: the horrors of mob rule, a city plunged into anarchy, the storming of a prison, and what happens when innocent people get dragged into a cause that is being manipulated by people with dubious axes to grind, plus of course the perennial theme of love triumphing in the face of evil. Having said all that, "Barnaby Rudge" holds up strongly as a book in its own right. The anti-Catholic Gordon Riots are virtually unknown to us these days (I have to admit, somewhat shamefully, I had never heard of them before, it was quite an eye-opener to find that such a devestating thing had happened in London!), but its central core theme of people becoming divided and wrecking havoc and hatred on each other is as relevant now as ever. Barnaby himself is a mentally-handicapped young man, and it is heartbreaking to see him allowing himself to be adopted by the cause in the belief that he will make his mother proud of him. It is also a delightful portrait of someone totally pure at heart caught up in a cynical, hate-filled world. I don't mean that to sound as though Dickens is preaching, (which would be off-putting to anyone just wanting a good read) because he isn't, nowhere does he allow that to happen. As you would expect with Dickens there is a whole cast of strong, eccentric characters: the vain, uptight spinster Miss Miggs who seems to delude herself that every man she meets is fatally smitten with her, the almost feral-like Hugh the ostler, Dennis the Hangman, enthusiastically keen to get a rope round everybody else's neck but not so keen to see it near his own, Gabriel Varden, the salt-of-the-earth locksmith and his insufferably neurotic wife, and the immensely slappable Sir John Chester. The younger characters pale by comparison, though I have a soft-spot for Joe Willett, bullied by his overbearing father so much he has to run away from home and join the army. The central star-crossed love-story between Edward Chester (Protestant) and Emma Haredale (Catholic) virtually makes no impact at all, simply because the characters are so two-dimensional, and Dolly Varden is just a daft young flirt who realises, too late, that she's let a good bloke out of her grasp. Also much of the stuff surrounding Barnaby's mysterious father really doesn't make much impact at all. Rudge Snr simply doesn't come alive as a character. He's spent so long in the shadows that he seems to have become one! What makes this book worth reading are obviously the Riots themselves, and showing the devestation it has on the ordinary people caught up in it, and the comedy set around the 'Maypole Inn'. Most importantly though, the character of Barnaby himself, and his talking black crow, Grip. Here you get Dickens's love of humanity and his compassion worked to great effect. 9 people found this helpful 3.0 out of 5 starsVery disappointing ByHugh Sedonon 14 November 2011 I did not enjoy my limited exposure to Dickens at school. Some fifty-odd years later, I decided to try again, commencing, rather oddly with hindsight, with his last, unfinished novel Edwin Drood. I liked this so much that I have since been working my way through his other books. Barnaby Rudge is my eleventh (plus three of the Christmas stories), and is the fi


What large, South American rodent is sometimes known as the 'water hog'?

The Capybara - South America's BIG Rodent - InfoBarrel The Capybara - South America's BIG Rodent South America's Unique Animals The Capybara The capybara is the largest rodent alive. It is related to other South American rodents such as the agouti, chinchilla and guinea pig. Its taxonomic name is Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris comes from the Greek words for 'water' and 'pig or hog'. Its common name is derived from the Guarani language and translates as 'master of the grasses'. The capybara is semi-aquatic Range The capybara is found through most of South America including Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Suriname, Argentina, Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia. Escapees are now found in aquatic habitats around the world, including Florida and, in 2011, the central coast of California. Credit: Wikimedia Home ranges average 10 hectares with the animals living in high density congregations. Habitat The capybara is found near bodies of water either in savannah areas or in dense forest. Lakes, rivers, swamps, marshlands and ponds are all suitable habitats for the capybara. They flourish on ranchlands to the point of being regarded as serious competition for domestic livestock. Description The heavy capybara has a barrel-shaped body. The head is short. Adults measure 107 to 134 cm in length, are 50 to 64 cm tall and weigh between 35 and 66 kg. The average on the Venezuelan llanos is 48.9 kg. Females are slightly heavier than males. There is a vestigial tail. The coat is devoid of underhair and is reddish-brown on the dorsal surfaces and more creamy underneath. The thin, coarse hair gives good protection from the undergrowth without the animal becoming too hot. However in the heat of the day the animal is in danger of drying out and wallows in mud and/or water to keep cool and hydrated. The capybara has sweat glands in the skin surface which is unusual among rodents. The hindquarters are slightly longer than the forelegs and the feet have a small amount of webbing. Credit: Wikimedia The eyes, ears and nostrils are all situated on top of the head and the muzzles are blunt. The jaw hinge of the capybara is non-perpendicular and food is ground in a back and forth fashion rather than from side to side. There are two scent glands. A 'morillo' is located on the snout and an anal gland near the anus. The anal pocket of the male opens more easily and is lined with detachable hairs which are coated with a long-lasting scent secretion. These hairs are released on objects such as plants and are tasted by other capybaras. The morillo is rubbed on objects and urination is also used to mark objects. Like many rodent species, the front teeth grow continually in compensation for the continual wearing down of the teeth through eating. The cheek teeth also grow continually. Behaviour The capybara is normally highly social. Some occasionally live a solitary life but it is usually found in groups of 10 to 20 individuals. Sometimes larger groups of 100 animals congregate together. The smaller groups consists of 2 to 4 adult males, 4 to 7 adult females and the rest juveniles. Capybaras chatter continually in their groups, establishing social bonds or working out dominance issues. They have a bark which is decidedly dog-like. This is heard when the animals are threatened or when the females are herding their young. Credit: Wikimedia Capybaras are great swimmers and will submerge for up to five minutes to escape predators. They can also sleep in the water, just keeping their noses (which are conveniently situated on top of the head) above the water level. As temperatures increase towards noon, they wallow in the water, grazing again late afternoon and into the early evening. They have another period of rest through the middle of the night and are grazing again well before dawn. In captivity, life expectancy is twelve years. Capybaras are gentle by nature and not difficult to tame. Nutrition Grasses, aquatic plants, fruit and tree bark are all eaten by the capybara although they are very selective when feeding, often eating out o


Which huge seabird of the 'Tropics' is also known as the 'man-o-war bird'?

Seabird | All Birds Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia File:Sterna fuscata flight.JPG Seabirds (also known as marine birds) are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution , as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations. The first seabirds evolved in the Cretaceous period , and modern seabird families emerged in the Paleogene . In general, seabirds live longer, breed later and have fewer young than other birds do, but they invest a great deal of time in their young. Most species nest in colonies , which can vary in size from a few dozen birds to millions. Many species are famous for undertaking long annual migrations , crossing the equator or circumnavigating the Earth in some cases. They feed both at the ocean's surface and below it, and even feed on each other. Seabirds can be highly pelagic , coastal, or in some cases spend a part of the year away from the sea entirely. Seabirds and humans have a long history together: they have provided food to hunters , guided fishermen to fishing stocks and led sailors to land. Many species are currently threatened by human activities, and conservation efforts are under way. Contents [ show ] Classification of seabirds There exists no single definition of which groups, families, and species are seabirds, and most definitions are in some way arbitrary. In the words of two seabird scientists, "The one common characteristic that all seabirds share is that they feed in saltwater ; but, as seems to be true with any statement in biology, some do not." [2] However, by convention all of the Sphenisciformes and Procellariiformes , all of the Pelecaniformes except the darters , and some of the Charadriiformes (the skuas , gulls , terns , auks and skimmers ) are classified as seabirds. The phalaropes are usually included as well, since although they are waders ("shorebirds" in North America ), two of the three species are oceanic for nine months of the year, crossing the equator to feed pelagically. Loons and grebes , which nest on lakes but winter at sea, are usually categorized as water birds, not seabirds. Although there are a number of sea ducks in the family Anatidae which are truly marine in the winter, by convention they are usually excluded from the seabird grouping. Many waders (or shorebirds) and herons are also highly marine, living on the sea's edge (coast), but are also not treated as seabirds Evolution and fossil record Seabirds, by virtue of living in a geologically depositional environment (that is, in the sea where sediments are readily laid down), are well represented in the fossil record. [2] They are first known to occur in the Cretaceous Period, the earliest being the Hesperornithiformes , like Hesperornis regalis, a flightless loon-like seabird that dove in a fashion similar to grebes and loons (using its feet to move underwater) [3] but had a beak filled with sharp teeth. [4] File:Hesperornis.jpeg While Hesperornis is not thought to have left descendants, the earliest modern seabirds also occurred in the Cretaceous, with a species called Tytthostonyx glauconiticus , which seems allied to the Procellariiformes and/or Pelecaniformes . In the Paleogene the seas were dominated by early Procellariidae , giant penguins and two extinct families , the Pelagornithidae and the Plotopteridae (a group of large seabirds that looked like the penguins). [5] Modern genera began their wide radiation in the Miocene , although the genus Puffinus (which includes today's Manx Shearwater and Sooty Shearwater ) might date back to the Oligocene . [2] The highest diversity of seabirds apparently existed during the Late Miocene and the Pliocene . At the end of the latter, the oceanic food web had undergone a period of upheaval due to extinction of considerable numbers of marine species; [6] subsequently, the spread of marine mammals seems to have prevented seabirds from reaching their erstwhile diversity. [7] Characterist


What nationality is reigning Olympic decathlon champion, Erki Nool?

Erki Nool won Heptathlon in Reval Hotels Cup - News - News - Decathlon 2000 Erki Nool won Heptathlon in Reval Hotels Cup (0) Feb 06, 2005 Sydney Olympic Decathlon champion Erki Nool won the annual Reval Holels Cup combined events meeting - which he organises - with a more than respectable Heptathlon score of 6070 points this weekend. The 34 year-old Estonian who has a personal best of 6374 (1999) had scored 6123 last year when coming second at this same meeting but can be more than satisfied with a victory at a lower score this year as he faced an exceptionally strong field. In particular, back in fifth place was reigning World Indoor Heptathlon champion Roman Šebrle . The Czech who of course is also the Athens Olympic champion for the Decathlon, scored 5765 points.