In 1960, Kwame Nkrumah became the first President of which country?

Kwame Nkrumah | president of Ghana | Britannica.com president of Ghana Ho Chi Minh Kwame Nkrumah, (born Sept. 1909, Nkroful, Gold Coast [now Ghana]—died April 27, 1972, Bucharest , Rom.), Ghanaian nationalist leader who led the Gold Coast’s drive for independence from Britain and presided over its emergence as the new nation of Ghana . He headed the country from independence in 1957 until he was overthrown by a coup in 1966. Kwame Nkrumah, 1962. Marc and Evelyne Bernheim/Woodfin Camp and Associates Early years Kwame Nkrumah’s father was a goldsmith and his mother a retail trader. Baptized a Roman Catholic, Nkrumah spent nine years at the Roman Catholic elementary school in nearby Half Assini. After graduation from Achimota College in 1930, he started his career as a teacher at Roman Catholic junior schools in Elmina and Axim and at a seminary. Increasingly drawn to politics, Nkrumah decided to pursue further studies in the United States . He entered Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1935 and, after graduating in 1939, obtained master’s degrees from Lincoln and from the University of Pennsylvania . He studied the literature of socialism , notably Karl Marx and Vladimir I. Lenin, and of nationalism , especially Marcus Garvey , the black American leader of the 1920s. Eventually, Nkrumah came to describe himself as a “nondenominational Christian and a Marxist socialist.” He also immersed himself in political work, reorganizing and becoming president of the African Students’ Organization of the United States and Canada. He left the United States in May 1945 and went to England, where he organized the 5th Pan-African Congress in Manchester. Meanwhile, in the Gold Coast, J.B. Danquah had formed the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) to work for self-government by constitutional means. Invited to serve as the UGCC’s general secretary, Nkrumah returned home in late 1947. As general secretary, he addressed meetings throughout the Gold Coast and began to create a mass base for the new movement. When extensive riots occurred in February 1948, the British briefly arrested Nkrumah and other leaders of the UGCC. When a split developed between the middle-class leaders of the UGCC and the more radical supporters of Nkrumah, he formed in June 1949 the new Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP), a mass-based party that was committed to a program of immediate self-government. In January 1950, Nkrumah initiated a campaign of “positive action,” involving nonviolent protests, strikes, and noncooperation with the British colonial authorities. From prison to prime ministry In the ensuing crisis, services throughout the country were disrupted, and Nkrumah was again arrested and sentenced to one year’s imprisonment. But the Gold Coast’s first general election (Feb. 8, 1951) demonstrated the support the CPP had already won. Elected to Parliament, Nkrumah was released from prison to become leader of government business and, in 1952, prime minister of the Gold Coast. Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent When the Gold Coast and the British Togoland trust territory became an independent state within the British Commonwealth—as Ghana—in March 1957, Nkrumah became the new nation’s first prime minister. In 1958 Nkrumah’s government legalized the imprisonment without trial of those it regarded as security risks. It soon became apparent that Nkrumah’s style of government was to be authoritarian . Nkrumah’s popularity in the country rose, however, as new roads, schools, and health facilities were built and as the policy of Africanization created better career opportunities for Ghanaians. By a plebiscite of 1960 Ghana became a republic and Nkrumah became its president, with wide legislative and executive powers under a new constitution. Nkrumah then concentrated his attention on campaigning for the political unity of black Africa, and he began to lose touch with realities in Ghana. His administration became involved in magnificent but often ruinous development projects, so that a once-prosperous country became crippled with foreign debt. His governm


Andes Website - Pictures of the twenty highest mountain peaks in South America    The Top Twenty Further details of how to climb all of the peaks featured here are available in 'The Andes - A Guide for Climbers' by John Biggar (ISBN 0-978-0-9536087-4-4).  Available for purchase on our  Guidebooks   page. Aconcagua, 6969m, from Casa de Piedra at sunrise.                 Ojos del Salado, 6893m,  from the Argentine side at Cazadero Grande. Monte Pissis, 6793m, from the Laguna Verde. Cerro Bonete, 6759m, (aka Bonete Chico)  from Baboso No. 5 in the Andes, the little known Tres Cruces Sur 6749m and no. 11in the Andes,  Tres Cruces Central 6629m, seen from the summit of Ojos del Salado. Huascaran Sur 6746m on the right and Huascaran Norte, 6655m seen form Anta in the Callejon de Huaylas.  These are the 6th and 10th highest Andean peaks. High on the glacier on Llullaillaco on the Chile/Argentina border, At6739m this is the 7th highest in the Andes, and the highest peak known to have had an ascent at the time of the Incas. Cerro Mercedario at about 6700m is the 8th highest in the Andes. Cazadero 6658m, aka Walther Penck from above the El Arenal base camp. The 10th highest is Huascaran Norte, see picture of Huascaran Sur above. The 11th highest is Tres Cruces Central, see picture of Tres Cruces Sur above. Incahuasi on the Chile-Argentina border is 6621m high. Yerupaja, 6617m is by far the hardest and most dangerous of the top 20, and the highest point of the Cordillera Huayhuash. There have been several deaths in recent years on this the unlucky 13th highest Andean peak. Tupungato 6570m, from the north at Punta de Vacas. Sajama, 6542m is the highest peak in Bolivia. El Muerto, 6488m, seen from high on Ojos del Salado Sunset over Antofalla, c.6440m, the 17th highest peak, Argentine Puna de Atacama. Illimani 6438m as seen from the Bolivain capital city of La Paz. Nacimiento is currently listed as the 19th highest Andean peak, quoted at 6436m it is actually more like 6445m or even 6450m high. The steep cone of Veladero, above the central hiker, is at 6436m the 20th highest Andean peak.


In 1966, Seretse Khama became the first President of which country?

Biography of the African statesman: Sir Seretse Khama African History Expert By Alistair Boddy-Evans Seretse Khama was the first prime minister of Botswana, and from 1966 to his death in 1980, he served as the country's first president. Date of Birth: 1 July 1921, Serowe, Bechuanaland. Date of Death: 13 July 1980. An Early Life Seretse (the name means "the clay that binds together") Khama was born in Serowe, British Protectorate of Bechunaland, on 1 July 1921. His grandfather, Kgama III, was paramount chief (Kgosi) of the Bama-Ngwato, part of the Tswana people of the region. Kgama III had traveled to London in 1885, leading a delegation which asked for Crown protection to be given to Bechuanaland, foiling the empire building ambitions of Cecil Rhodes and the incursions of the Boers. Kgosi of the Bama-Ngwato Kgama III died in 1923 and the paramountcy briefly passed to his son Sekgoma II, who died a couple of years later (in 1925). At the age of four Seretse Khama effectively became Kgosi and his uncle Tshekedi Khama was made regent. Studying at Oxford and London Seretse Khama was educated in South Africa and graduated from Fort Hare College in 1944 with a BA. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge In 1945 he left for England to study law -- Initially for a year at Balliol College, Oxford, and then at the Inner Temple, London. In June 1947 Seretse Khama first met Ruth Williams, a WAAF ambulance driver during World War II now working as a clerk at Lloyds. Their marriage in September 1948 threw southern Africa into political turmoil. Repercussions for a Mixed Marriage The Apartheid government in South Africa had banned inter-racial marriages and the marriage of a black chief to a British white woman was a problem. The British government feared that South Africa would invade Bechuanaland or that it would immediately move for full independence. This was a concern because Britain was still heavily in debt after World War II and could not afford to lose the mineral wealth of South Africa, especially gold and uranium (needed for Britain's atomic bomb projects). Back in Bechuanaland Tshekedi was annoyed -- he attempted to disrupt the marriage and demanding that Seretse return home to have it annulled. Seretse came back immediately and was received by Tshekedi with the words "You Seretse, come here ruined by others, not by me." Seretse fought hard to persuade the Bama-Ngwato people of his continued suitability as chief, and on 21 June 1949 at a Kgotla (a meeting of the elders) he was declared Kgosi, and his new wife was warmly welcomed. Fit To Rule Seretse Khama returned to Britain to continue with his law studies, but was met with a Parliamentary investigation into his suitability for the chieftaincy -- whilst Bechuanaland was under its protection, Britain claimed the right to ratify any succession. Unfortunately for the government, the investigation's report concluded that Seretse was "eminently fit to rule" -- it was kept suppressed for thirty years. Seretse and his wife were banished him from Bechuanaland in 1950. Nationalist Hero Under international pressure for its apparent racism, Britain relented and allowed Seretse Khama and his wife to return to Bechuanaland in 1956, but only if both he and his uncle renounced their claim to the chieftaincy. What hadn't been expected was the political acclaim that six years exile had given him back home -- Seretse Khama was acclaimed as a nationalist hero. In 1962 Seretse founded the Bechuanaland Democratic Party and campaigned for multi-racial reform. Elected Prime Minister High on Seretse Khama's agenda was a need for democratic self-government, and he pushed the British authorities hard for independence. In 1965 the center of Bechuanaland government was moved from Mafikeng, in South Africa, to the newly established capital of Gaborone  and Seretse Khama was elected as Prime Minister. When the country achieved independence on 30 September 1966, Seretse became the first president of the Republic of Botswana. He was re-elected twice and died in office in 198


Which is the highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains?

Caucasus Mountains Caucasus Mountains Caucasus Mountains in Georgia   The Caucasus Mountains (like the Ural Mountains to the northeast) are usually considered the dividing line between Asia and Europe, with the northern region of the Caucasus in Europe; and the southern ( Trans-Caucasus ) in Asia--so technically you can consider the mountains themselves as either part of Asia or part of Europe.  The region is divided between Russia, Turkey, Iran, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and bounded on the west by the Black Sea and on the east by the Caspian Sea .  Three territories in the region claim independence but are not generally recognized:  Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia (See below). The mountains formed over twenty million years when the Arabian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate.  I found it interesting that the Caucasus Mountains are technically considered to be a continuation of the Himalayas.  The entire Caucasus region is prone to strong earthquakes.  The highest peak is Mount Elbrus (18,510 ft.) which is considered the highest point in Europe. The climate of the Caucasus varies according to elevation and latitude location.  For example, average temperature decreases as elevation rises. The same thing with precipitation, which increases with elevation.  There is also more precipitation, including snowfall, on the western slopes of the mountains from the influence of the Black Sea.   Mt. Elbrus, highest point in the Caucasus, is a long-dormant volcano.     Russians were aware of the Caucasus as early as the reign of Ivan IV in the sixteenth century, but only under Catherine the Great was a calculated move into the region made (under the Viceroy of the Caucasus, Grigorii Potemkin).  Shortly thereafter, Georgia (predominantly Christian) requested protection from Muslims to the south, and it was annexed into the Russian Empire in 1801.  Since Russia had to maintain communications across the Caucasus Mountains with Georgia, hostilities broke out between the Russians and  the mountain peoples of the Caucasus.  It took Russia into the 1860s to finally subdue resistance from the guerrillas. In the last twenty years, there has been a renewed outbreak of hostilities in different regions of the Caucasus.  Some background reasons for those hostilities: The tradition of mountaineer independence dating back to the resistance against Imperial Russia--some of that resistance continued against the Soviet regime. The fact that the Caucasus is one of the most linguistically, ethnically, religiously and culturally diverse regions on earth--all those different people do not always all get along well together. During the Second World War, Stalin--on the pretext of collaboration with the Germans--deported entire ethnic peoples such as Chechens, Ingush, Karachis, Balkars, Bulgarians, Greeks, Armenians, Kurds, Hemshin, Meskhetians to Siberia and Central Asia.  Following 1956, with Khrushchev's policy of de-Stalinization, most of these deported peoples were authorized to return to their home regions, but--and this is a big but--they returned to find that their property had been given to others to resettle the depopulated areas.  That meant that there was going to be trouble. The Soviet leadership took advantage of the deportations to redefine borders in the Northern Caucasus. Although some of these changes were later re-corrected, these border changes also served as a pretext for ethnic unrest. These are some of the recent problems: Abkhazia (Аҧсны, აფხაზეთი, Абхазия) is an "independent" republic that is officially part of Georgia but that is not recognized by any other country.  A secessionist movement of the Abkhaz ethnic minority declared their independence from George in 1992.  That lead to war, but Georgia lost (Russia helped the Abkhaz).  The Georgian defeat lead to a mass exodus and ethnic cleansing of the Georgian population in Abkhazia. South Ossetia (Хуссар Ирыстон, Южная Осетия, სამხრეთ ოსეთი) was an autonomous district of Georgia in the Soviet Union.  Now it is mostly controlled by an independent


One of the 'Five K's', what name is given to the strapped sword that must be worn by all Sikhs?

BBC - Religions - Sikhism: The Five Ks The Five Ks This article looks at the 5 Ks: five physical symbols of faith worn by Sikhs. On this page The 5 Ks date from the creation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. The Guru introduced them for several reasons: Adopting these common symbols would identify members of the Khalsa Because all members of the Khalsa wear the 5 Ks the members of the community are more strongly bound together Each K has a particular significance The meaning of the 5 Ks Kara - a steel bracelet © The 5 Ks taken together symbolise that the Sikh who wears them has dedicated themselves to a life of devotion and submission to the Guru. The 5 Ks are 5 physical symbols worn by Sikhs who have been initiated into the Khalsa. The five Ks are: Kaccha - also spelt, Kachh, Kachera (cotton underwear) Kirpan (steel sword) Kesh - uncut hair Various reasons and symbolisms have been put forward for the Sikh practice of keeping hair uncut. Throughout history hair (kesh) has been regarded as a symbol both of holiness and strength. One's hair is part of God's creation. Keeping hair uncut indicates that one is willing to accept God's gift as God intended it. Uncut hair symbolizes adoption of a simple life, and denial of pride in one's appearance. Not cutting one's hair is a symbol of one's wish to move beyond concerns of the body and attain spiritual maturity. A Sikh should only bow his head to the Guru, and not to a barber. It is a highly visible symbol of membership of the group. It follows the appearance of Guru Gobind Singh, founder of the Khalsa. Sikh women are just as forbidden to cut any body hair or even trim their eyebrows, as Sikh men are forbidden to trim their beards. Kara - a steel bracelet A symbol of restraint and gentility. A symbol that a Sikh is linked to the Guru. It acts as a reminder that a Sikh should not do anything of which the Guru would not approve. A symbol of God having no beginning or end. A symbol of permanent bonding to the community-being a link in the chain of Khalsa Sikhs (the word for link is 'kari'). The Kara is made of steel, rather than gold or silver, because it is not an ornament. Kanga - a wooden comb This symbolises a clean mind and body; since it keeps the uncut hair neat and tidy. It symbolises the importance of looking after the body which God has created. This does not conflict with the Sikh's aim to move beyond bodily concerns; since the body is one's vehicle for enlightenment one should care for it appropriately. Kachha - special underwear This is a pair of breeches that must not come below the knee. It was a particularly useful garment for Sikh warriors of the 18th and 19th centuries, being very suitable for warfare when riding a horse. It's a symbol of chastity. There is no fixed style of Kirpan, the ceremonial sword © Kirpan - a ceremonial sword There is no fixed style of Kirpan and it can be anything from a few inches to three feet long. It is kept in a sheath and can be worn over or under clothing. The Kirpan can symbolise: The soldier part of the Soldier-Saints Defence of good The struggle against injustice A metaphor for God For a Sikh the fact that the Guru has instructed the Sikhs to wear the 5 Ks is an entirely sufficient reason, and no more need be said. The symbols have become greatly more powerful with each passing year of Sikh history. Every Sikh remembers that every Sikh warrior, saint, or martyr since 1699, and every living member of the Khalsa, is united with them in having adopted the same 5 Ks.


To which organ of the body does the adjective Pulmonary refer?

Artery | Define Artery at Dictionary.com artery noun, plural arteries. 1. Anatomy. a blood vessel that conveys blood from the heart to any part of the body. 2. a main channel or highway, especially of a connected system with many branches. Origin of artery 1350-1400; Middle English < Latin artēria < Greek: windpipe, artery. See aorta Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for artery Expand How to Be a Racing Pirate King David Frum May 20, 2013 Now surgeons will have an hour to fix the artery, return blood, and revive you. New 'Suspended Animation' Procedure Saves Lives by Replacing Blood with a Cold Electrolyte Solution Elizabeth Lopatto April 1, 2014 For a patient having a serious heart attack, clearing the artery can save a life, Newman says. A Stroke That Hits Young Women Nicole LaPorte July 27, 2010 Historical Examples If the blood comes out in spurts, it is from an artery; but if it flows steadily, it is from a vein. Ordinarily the rupture of an artery on one side of the brain causes a paralysis on the other side of the body. Psychotherapy James J. Walsh British Dictionary definitions for artery Expand noun (pl) -teries 1. any of the tubular thick-walled muscular vessels that convey oxygenated blood from the heart to various parts of the body Compare pulmonary artery , vein 2. a major road or means of communication in any complex system Word Origin C14: from Latin artēria, related to Greek aortē the great artery, aorta Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for artery Expand n. late 14c., from Anglo-French arterie, Old French artaire (13c.; Modern French artère), and directly from Latin arteria, from Greek arteria "windpipe," also "an artery," as distinct from a vein; related to aeirein "to raise" (see aorta ). They were regarded by the ancients as air ducts because the arteries do not contain blood after death; medieval writers took them for the channels of the "vital spirits," and 16c. senses of artery in English include "trachea, windpipe." The word is used in reference to artery-like systems of major rivers from 1805; of railways from 1850. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper


In Greek mythology, what was the name of the wife of Orpheus whom he attempted to rescue from the Underworld?

Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Orpheus   Orpheus  (OHR-fee-us or OHR-fyoos) Supremely gifted minstrel who attempted to rescue his dead wife from the Underworld. Orpheus had been taught to play the lyre by Apollo, and such was his skill on the instrument, together with the sweetness of his singing voice, that he could charm wild animals and even cause trees to uproot themselves and follow in his steps. Jason and the Argonauts took him along when they quested after the Golden Fleece, and Orpheus saved them from shipwreck by drowning out the treacherously alluring voices of the Sirens with his own musical stylings. Orpheus fell in love with a nymph named Eurydice and blissful was their life together until one day she was pursued by a son of Apollo, the minor deity Aristaeus. In her headlong eagerness to escape, she stepped on a poisonous snake, was bitten and died. Disconsolate, Orpheus found a cave which lead to Hades and followed Eurydice to the Underworld. Here his musical charms were so persuasive that the King of the Dead permitted the minstrel to take his sweetheart home with him - on one condition. This condition was so simple that it takes some explaining to account for Orpheus's failure to heed it. Perhaps he could not bear to keep his eyes off their beloved object for a moment longer. Perhaps he wanted to share his rapture at birdsong and sunshine as they approached the mouth of the cave. Or maybe he wanted Eurydice to hear the latest lick that he had worked out on his lyre. In any case, he did the one thing he had been forbidden. He turned around and looked at Eurydice, and she was lost to him forever. Orpheus swore he would never love another, and it may have been the steadfastness of this vow which caused certain wild women of Thrace to tear him limb from limb in a fit of jealousy. They threw his head into a river, and it kept on singing all the way to the sea.


Reaching number 7 in the charts in 1993, 'Creep' was the first UK top ten hit for which group?

Radiohead on Apple Music To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music. Biography At some point in the early 21st century, Radiohead became something more than a band: they became a touchstone for everything that is fearless and adventurous in rock, inheriting the throne from David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and the Talking Heads. The latter group gave the band its name -- it's an album track on 1986's True Stories -- but Radiohead never sounded much like the Heads, nor did they take much from Bowie apart from their willingness to experiment. Instead, they spliced Floyd's spaciness with U2's messianic arena-rock heft, bridging the gap with guitar skronk borrowed from the '80s American underground. Jonny Greenwood's jagged, brutal interjections on "Creep," the band's 1993 breakthrough hit, recalled the ugly noise of the Pixies and Nirvana, a sound that translated over the expanse of an ocean, but in the throes of the alternative rock explosion of the mid-'90s, Radiohead were the odd band out. America remained besotted with their homegrown sensations, so "Creep" was treated as a one-hit wonder, and at home in England, they were seen as dour art-rock students lacking the glamour of neo-glam sensations Suede, and deliberately dodging the beery singalongs of Oasis. During the peak of Brit-pop in 1995, Radiohead released The Bends, a significant leap forward from their 1993 debut, Pablo Honey, and while that gained them some traction, it was 1997's OK Computer that broke down all the doors for the band and changed alternative rock in the process. Expanding their sound with electronica and unapologetic prog rock suites, Radiohead turned into a different band with OK Computer and the world followed suit. Soon, whenever rock bands dabbled in electronics, it was derived not from tightly sequenced rhythms, but rather, from glassy textures and introspection, a sensibility pioneered by the quintet. Radiohead doubled down on this aesthetic on 2000's Kid A, a record that traded concise hooks for minimal arrangements and jazz, providing a dividing line between an audience that once loved the group for their guitars and those listeners attracted to the band's aspirations. From this point on, Radiohead would occasionally flirt with concise song structures but were drawn toward unusual paths in both their music and business. Once their contract with EMI expired, they remained an independent band, pioneering different avenues of digital releases. They issued 2007's In Rainbows with little warning, letting listeners pay whatever they'd like for the record -- cementing Radiohead's reputation as a band compelled to look forward, not back.  Every member of Radiohead were pupils at Oxfordshire's Abingdon School. Ed O'Brien (guitar) and Phil Selway (drums) were the eldest, followed by a year by Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano) and Colin Greenwood (bass). These four musicians began playing in 1985, dubbing themselves On a Friday, and before long they added Colin's younger brother Jonny, who'd previously played in Illiterate Hands with Yorke's brother Andy and Nigel Powell. Jonny started on keyboards but moved to guitar, yet this incarnation proved short-lived. By 1987, everyone but Jonny left for university, where many members pursued music, but it wasn't until 1991 that the quintet regrouped and started gigging regularly in Oxford. Eventually, they came to the attention of Chris Hufford -- then best-known as the producer of shoegaze stars Slowdive -- who offered the group the chance to record a demo along with his partner Bryce Edge; the two soon became the band's managers.  EMI bit at the group's demo, signing them in 1991 and suggesting they change their name. On a Friday became Radiohead and they recorded their debut EP, Drill, with Hufford and Edge, releasing the record in May 1992. Next, the group entered the studio with producers Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade to record their full-length debut. The first fruit from these sessions was "Creep," a single released in the U.K. in September of 1992. "Cree


The 'Quagga', that became extinct in 1873, was a subspecies of which mammal?

Quagga: Can an Extinct Animal be Bred Back into Existence? – Cool Green Science Smart nature straight to your inbox every week Sign up for the newsletter In South Africa, conservationists are attempting to restore the quagga, a type of zebra notable for its unusual coloration and striping patterns. There’s one major issue: the quagga has been extinct since 1883. De-extinction – resurrecting species that have disappeared – has become a popular if contentious idea in conservation circles. The discussion has focused on cloning well-known extinct animals like the passenger pigeon and woolly mammoth. In the case of the quagga, scientists aren’t cloning them. They’re using livestock breeding techniques. And the project is well underway. Can an animal be bred back into existence? And even if it can, is this a wise use of conservation dollars and effort, or just a gimmick? One of the last quaggas, photographed in a London Zoo. Photo: Frederick York The Last Quagga? As a child, I remember staring at a picture of a quagga in a book of extinct animals. It appeared, to my eye, as a zebra without stripes. A fantastic beast. That impression was only partly true. The quagga did have some striping but only on its head, neck and front part of the body. Much of the body was brown, with the legs and belly being an unstriped white. This animal once roamed the Karoo Desert and other arid regions of southern Africa, presumably in large herds. This region of South Africa began being settled for agriculture by European colonists quite early; you can visit vineyards today that began in the late 1600s. Those European farmers saw the large, grazing ungulates of the Cape as competition, and began eliminating them with deadly effectiveness. The great herds disappeared. Some animals, such as bontebok and black wildebeest, were reduced to just dozens of animals. Others, like the quagga, weren’t that lucky. Its demise was swift and poorly documented. The last-known individual died in an Amsterdam Zoo in 1883, but no one even realized it at the time. Laws were passed in South Africa protecting the quagga from hunting in 1886, three years after its extinction. Only one photograph of a live quagga exists, and only 23 skins of the animal can be found in the world’s museums. As such, it achieved an almost-mythical status among naturalists. An animal that disappeared, in recent times, with only the merest of traces. For years, one of the few things we really knew about the quagga is that it would never roam the veldt again. And even that might not turn out to be true. A quagga museum pecimen that was sampled for DNA. Photo: Wikimedia user FunkMonk under a Creative Commons license. Enter the DNA Evidence Scientists long considered the quagga as a species due to its unique appearance. Some even considered it more closely related to wild horses than zebras. In 1984, researchers analyzed the DNA of the existing quagga skins. What they found challenged the conventional wisdom on this animal – and set off a new chapter in conservation history. The DNA evidence determined that the quagga was not a separate species at all, but rather a subspecies of the plains zebra. The plains zebra is the zebra everyone knows – the common zebra of Africa’s grasslands, the zebra you’re most likely to encounter in nature documentaries and at your local zoo. The evidence suggests that quaggas evolved their unique coat pattern relatively recently in evolutionary time, likely during the Pleistocene. They became isolated from the other plains zebra populations and rapidly evolved the less striped pattern and brown coloration. In scientific circles, discussions of quaggas inevitably lead to questions about what exactly constitutes a species or subspecies. What makes a quagga a quagga? Should DNA alone determine species status? In the case of the quagga, the lack of specimens and reliable field observations creates more questions than answers. In all likelihood, the coat patterns of the quagga demonstrated considerable variation, just as plains zebras exhibit considerable variation in str


In Greek mythology, who was the beautiful Trojan prince who was carried off by Zeus to become cup-bearer to the gods?

GANYMEDE (Ganymedes) - Greek Cup-Bearer of the Gods Gladdening Prince Ganymedes and the Eagle, Greco-Roman mosaic C3rd A.D., Sousse Archaeological Museum GANYMEDES (Ganymede) was a handsome Trojan prince who was carried off to heaven by Zeus in the shape of an eagle where he was appointed as cup-bearer of the gods. Ganymedes was also placed amongst the stars as the constellation Aquarius, his ambrosial mixing cup as Crater, and the eagle as Aquila. Ganymedes was often portrayed as the god of homosexual love and as such appears as a playmate of the love-gods Eros (Love) and Hymenaios (Hymenaeus) (Marital Love). Ganymedes was depicted in Greek vase painting as a handsome youth. In scenes of his abduction he holds a rooster (a lover's gift), hoop (a boy's toy), or lyre. When portrayed as the cup-bearer of the gods he pours nectar from a jug. In sculpture and mosaic art Ganymedes usually appears with shepherd's crock and a Phrygian cap. The boy's name was derived from the Greek words ganumai "gladdening" and mêdon or medeôn, "prince" or "genitals." The name may have been formed to contain a deliberate double-meaning. FAMILY OF GANYMEDE PARENTS [1.1] TROS (Homer Iliad 20.232, Hesiod Catalogues of Women Frag 102, Homeric Hymn 5.203, Diodorus Siculus 4.75.3, Suidas) [1.2] TROS & KALLIRHOE (Apollodorus 3.141) [2.1] LAOMEDON (The Little Iliad Frag 7) ENCYCLOPEDIA GANYME′DES (Ganumêdês). According to Homer and others, he was a son of Tros by Calirrhoë, and a brother of Ilus and Assaracus; being the most beautiful of all mortals, he was carried off by the gods that he might fill the cup of Zeus, and live among the eternal gods. (Hom. Il. xx. 231, &c.; Pind. Ol. 1. 44, xi. in fin.; Apollod. iii. 12. § 2.) The traditions about Ganymedes, however, differ greatly in their detail, for some call him a son of Laomedon (Cic. Tusc. i. 22; Eurip. Troad. 822), others a son of Ilus (Tzetz. ad Lycph. 34), and others, again, of Erichthonius or Assaracus. (Hygin. Fab. 224, 271.) The manner in which he was carried away from the earth is likewise differently described; for while Homer mentions the gods in general, later writers state that Zeus himself carried him off, either in his natural shape, or in the form of an eagle, or that he sent his eagle to fetch Ganymedes into heaven. (Apollod. l. c. ; Virg. Aen. v. 253; Ov. Met. x. 255; Lucian, Dial. Deor. 4.) Other statements of later date seem to be no more than arbitrary interpretations foisted upon the genuine legend. Thus we are told that he was not carried off by any god, but either by Tantalus or Minos, that he was killed during the chase, and buried on the Mysian Olympus. (Steph. Byz. s. v. Arpalia; Strab. xiii. p. 587 ; Eustath. ad Hom. pp. 986, 1205.) One tradition, which has a somewhat more genuine appearance, stated that he was carried off by Eos. (Schol. ad Apollon. Rhod. iii. 115.) There is, further, no agreement as to the place where the event occurred. (Strab., Steph. Byz. ll. cc., Horat. Carm. iii. 20, in fin.) The early legend simply states that Ganymedes was carried off that he might be the cupbearer of Zeus, in which office he was conceived to have succeeded Hebe (comp. Diod. iv. 75; Virg. Aen. i. 28) : but later writers describe him as the beloved and favourite of Zeus, without allusion to his office. (Eurip. Orest. 1392; Plat. Phaedr. p. 255; Xenoph. Symp. viii. 30; Cic. Tusc. iv. 33.) Zeus compensated the father for his loss with the present of a pair of divine horses (Hom. Il. v. 266, Hymn. in Ven. 202, &c.; Apollod. ii. 5. § 9 ; Paus. v. 24. § 1 ), and Hermes, who took the horses to Tros, at the same time comforted him by informing him that by the will of Zeus, Ganymedes had become immortal and exempt from old age. Other writers state that the compensation which Zeus gave to Tros consisted of a golden vine. (Schol. ad Eurip. Orest. 1399; Eustath. ad Hom. p. 1697.) The idea of Ganymedes being the cupbearer of Zeus (urniger) subsequently gave rise to his identification with the divinity who was believed to preside over the sources of the Nile (Philostr. Vit. Apoll. vi. 26; P


Reaching number 3 in the charts in 1998, 'The Bartender And The Thief' was the first UK top ten hit forwhich group?

Stereophonics : definition of Stereophonics and synonyms of Stereophonics (English) Stuart Cable Stereophonics are a Welsh rock band that formed in 1992 in the village of Cwmaman in Cynon Valley , Wales . The band currently comprises lead vocalist and guitarist Kelly Jones , bassist and backing vocalist Richard Jones , drummer Javier Weyler , guitarist and backing vocalist, Adam Zindani and touring member Tony Kirkham (keyboards), the group having originally also included Stuart Cable on drums. Stereophonics have released seven studio albums, five of which have topped the UK Albums Chart . Their seventh, Keep Calm and Carry On , was released in November 2009 but did not make the Top 10. A successful compilation album was also released in November 2008 – Decade in the Sun charting at number two in the United Kingdom. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene . Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals," [1] the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock." [2] Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around , was released in August 1997 and instantly charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles " Local Boy in the Photograph ", " More Life in a Tramps Vest " and " A Thousand Trees ", all of which failed to affect the top 20. The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles " The Bartender and the Thief ", " Just Looking " and " Pick a Part That's New ") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number-one: 2005's " Dakota ". The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, and Oxegen in 2010. Contents   History   Formation and early years (1992–1996) Kelly and Richard grew up together in the village of Cwmaman, Wales. Along with original drummer Stuart Cable and previous lead inspiration Ieuan Beal, they began writing and performing music in working men's clubs together in 1992 as a teenage cover band known as 'Tragic Love Company', a name inspired by their favourite bands ( The Tragically Hip , Mother Love Bone and Bad Company ). The band later changed their name to "The Stereophonics", named after the manufacturer of a record player that had belonged to Cable's father. [3] In March 1996, the band played a gig at their local Coliseum Theatre with Catatonia Krazy Keyboards and Pocket Devils. They played as Tragic Love Company and so impressed band manager John Brand that he signed a management deal with them after the concert. [4] In May 1996, they were the first artists to be signed to newly formed record label V2 , created by Richard Branson . Upon signing, they dropped "The" from their name and simply became "Stereophonics"   Debut album and ascent to fame (1997–2000) In August 1997, the band released their first studio album, Word Gets Around , which reached #6 in the UK charts, from which five singles were released. Afterwards, the band embarked on a successful world tour. Stuart Cable In February 1998, the band received a BRIT Award for Best New Group. In the same week, the band re-released the single " Local Boy in the Photograph " which, in turn, reached position 14 in the UK Singles Chart . The band's debut album, Word Gets Around, also went gold in the UK. In November 1998, " The Bartender and the Thief " (the first single from the album Performance and Cocktails ) was released, eventually reaching number 3 on the UK charts. " Just Looking " was released next and reached number 4 in March 1999. In that same month, the album was released, entering at number 1 and going platinum within three weeks. Later that year, the band played in front of 50,000 people at Morfa Stadium in Swansea . The concert was filmed and released on DVD the following year. They also collaborated with Tom Jones on a cover of


The 'Baiji' that became extinct in 2006, was a species of which mammal?

Dolphin Species Goes Extinct Due to Humans Dolphin Species Goes Extinct Due to Humans By Charles Q. Choi, Live Science Contributor | August 8, 2007 12:52pm ET MORE The Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), or baiji, are a type of freshwater dolphin thought to be the first dolphin species driven to extinction due to the impact of humans. The above male Yangtze River dolphin, named "Qi Qi," was held at the Wuhan dolphinarium from 1980 to 2002. Credit: Ding Wang et al. | Biology Letters The Yangtze River dolphin is now almost certainly extinct, making it the first dolphin that humans drove to extinction, scientists have now concluded after an intense search for the endangered species. The loss also represents the first global extinction of megafauna—any creature larger than about 200 pounds (100 kilograms)—for more than 50 years, since the disappearance of the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis). The Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) of China has long been recognized as one of the world's most rare and threatened mammal species. "It's a relic species, more than 20 million years old, that persisted through the most amazing kinds of changes in the planet," said marine biologist Barbara Taylor at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service. "It's been here longer than the Andes Mountains have been on Earth." In 1999, the surviving baiji population was estimated to be as low as just 13 dolphins, compared to 400 known baiji in 1981. The last confirmed glimpse of a baiji was documented by a photo taken in 2002, although unverified sightings were reported as recently as 2006. An international team of scientists conducted an intense six-week search for the dolphin in two research vessels during November and December 2006, covering the entire known range of the baiji in the 1,037-mile (1,669-kilometer) main channel of the Yangtze River. The researchers and their instruments failed to see or hear any evidence that the dolphin survives. "It was a surprise to everyone on the expedition that we didn't have any sightings at all, that the extinction just happened so quickly," Taylor recalled. This would make the baiji the first cetacean—that is, dolphin, porpoise or whale—to go extinct because of humans . The species was probably driven to extinction by harmful fishing practices that were not even devised to harm the dolphins, such as the use of gill nets, rolling hooks or electrical stunning. The findings are detailed Aug. 7 in the journal Biology Letters. "In the past, you had this out-of-control whaling that still didn't result in any extinctions, but these accidental deaths, which are much less visible to people, are much more insidious," Taylor said. Even if any baiji exist that scientists did not find, the continued deterioration of the Yangtze region's ecosystem—home to roughly 10 percent of the world's human population—means the species has no hope of even short-term survival as a viable population, the researchers added. "To help save the endangered Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis) that also live in the river, we'll likely have to keep them in lake preserves or raise them in captivity, because the situation in that river doesn't look like it can be controlled at this point," Taylor explained. With the loss of the Yangtze River dolphin, the world's most critically endangered cetacean species now is the vaquita or Gulf of California porpoise (Phocoena sinus), of which 250 survive. The vaquita and other coastal dolphins around the world now face the same peril that claimed the baiji—accidental deaths from fishing. "We have to find a way to let small-time fishermen put food on their tables that doesn't involve putting gill nets in the water that decimate these species ," Taylor said. "Unless we figure out a way to deal with this problem, the baiji may be the first in quite a long line of animals to face extinction." IMAGE GALLERY: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife


To which organ of the body does the adjective 'Hepatic' refer?

What does hepatic mean? definition, meaning and pronunciation (Free English Language Dictionary) hepatic ducts / hepatic cirrhosis Pertainym: liver (large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes)  Learn English with... Proverbs of the week  "The cure is worse than the disease." (English proverb) "To make a poor man poorer is not easy" (Breton proverb) "The remedy is worse than the desease." (Catalan proverb) "If a caged bird isn't singing for love, it's singing in a rage." (Corsican proverb)  HEPATIC: related words searches


The plot of which animated sit-com revolves around the employees of the 'Planet Express' delivery company?

Cartoons in English | Futurama in English · Add Comment   Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late-20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J. Fry, who, after being unwittingly cryogenically frozen for one thousand years, finds employment at Planet Express, an interplanetary delivery company in the retro-futuristic 31st century. The series was envisioned by Groening in the late 1990s while working on The Simpsons, later bringing Cohen aboard to develop storylines and characters to pitch the show to Fox..   Futurama is essentially a workplace sitcom, the plot of which revolves around the Planet Express interplanetary delivery company and its employees, a small group that largely fails to conform to future society.[62] Episodes usually feature the central trio of Fry, Leela, and Bender, though occasional storylines centered on the other main characters. Philip J. Fry (Billy West) Fry is a dim-witted, immature, slovenly, yet good-hearted pizza delivery boy who falls into a cryogenic pod, causing it to activate and freeze him just after midnight on January 1, 2000. He re-awakens on New Year’s Eve, 2999, and gets a job as a cargo delivery boy at Planet Express, a company owned by his only living relative, Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth. Fry’s love for Leela is a recurring theme throughout the series. Turanga Leela (Katey Sagal) Leela is the competent, one-eyed captain of the Planet Express Ship.[61] Abandoned as a baby, she grew up in the Cookieville Minimum Security Orphanarium believing herself to be an alienfrom another planet, but learns that she is actually a mutant from the sewers in the episode “Leela’s Homeworld”.[63] Prior to becoming the ship’s captain, Leela worked as a career assignment officer at the cryogenics lab where she first met Fry. She is Fry’s primary love interest. Her name is a reference to the Turangalîla-Symphonie by Olivier Messiaen.[64] Bender Bending Rodríguez (John DiMaggio) Bender is a foul-mouthed, heavy-drinking, cigar-smoking, kleptomaniacal, misanthropic, egocentric, ill-tempered robot manufactured by Mom’s Friendly Robot Company. He was originally programmed to bend girders for suicide booths, and is later designated as assistant sales manager and cook, despite lacking a sense of taste. He is Fry’s best friend and roommate. Professor Hubert J. Farnsworth (Billy West) Professor Hubert Farnsworth, also known simply as “the Professor,” is Fry’s distant nephew.[65] Farnsworth founded Planet Express Inc. to fund his work as a mad scientist. Although he is depicted as a brilliant scientist and inventor, at more than one-hundred and sixty years old he is extremely prone to age-related forgetfulness and fits of temper. In the episode “A Clone of My Own,” the Professor clones himself to produce a successor, Cubert Farnsworth, whom he treats like a son. Dr. John A. Zoidberg (Billy West) Zoidberg is a lobster-like alien from the planet Decapod 10, and the neurotic staff physician of Planet Express. Although he claims to be an expert on humans, his knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is woefully inaccurate. Zoidberg’s expertise seems to be with extra-terrestrial creatures. He is homeless, penniless, and—despite being depicted as Professor Farnsworth’s long-time friend—held in contempt by everyone on the crew, except Fry. Amy Wong (Lauren Tom) Amy is an incredibly rich, blunt, spoiled, ditzy, and accident-prone long-term intern at Planet Express. She is an engineering student at Mars University and heiress to the western hemisphere of Mars. Born on Mars, she is ethnically Chinese and is prone to cursing in Cantonese and using 31st-century slang. Her parents are the wealthy ranchers Leo and Inez Wong. She ispromiscuous in the beginning of the series and eventually enters a monogamous relationship with Kif Kroker. In the show’s sixth season, she acquires her doctorate. Hermes Conrad (Phil LaMarr) Hermes is the Jamaican account


The plot of which animated sit-com revolves around a Methodist family from the small Texan town of Arlen?

Rural Blog Archive June 2005 We sadly note his death yesterday at a              century plus one. There are plenty of stories on his              passing, including: The              Courier-Journal , Historian laureate,              advocate for progress dies, by Deborah Yetter;              and C-J guest columns, Herodotus              of the Bluegrass and Tom              Clark's legacy, through the eyes of his peers; the Lexington              Herald-Leader , Now a part of history,              (Clark) made Kentucky's past a lifetime study,              by Andy Mead; and related stories: Remembering              Thomas Clark - From his works , Services:              1 p.m. Friday at Lexington's First United Methodist              Church... , Editorial:              Thomas Clark: a colossus passes Documentary debunks              Appalachian region’s myths; KET to air starting              Sunday "The Appalachians is an              elegant film about a people and a region that are rarely              examined beyond stereotypes. The writer and producer,              Phyllis Geller, and the West Virginia-born executive              producer, Mari-Lynn C. Evans, want the world to know              that the people who live in the Appalachians from West              Virginia to Alabama have a proud heritage and have gotten              a supremely raw deal from the news media," writes              Anita Gates of The New York Times.              ( Read              more ) The documentary discusses Appalachian              residents’ struggles in detail, including how              they were swindled by Northern and Midwestern investors,              who convinced the residents to sell mineral rights during              a period of coal mining growth. Those investors "made              a point of depicting the locals as feral, backward and              obstructionist," Gates writes. "The Appalachians              ended up working as miners for the outsiders, who paid              low wages and hired trigger-happy ‘security forces’ to squelch efforts to unionize." "There were signs of hope, when Franklin              D. Roosevelt introduced the New Deal . . . By the time              Charles Kuralt made his television documentary 'Christmas              in Appalachia,' the locals were sick and tired of being              condescended to," writes Gates. "And many              still are. This film is a welcome first step toward              a new image for a population apparently still unprotected              by political correctness." This documentary, which has aired in other              parts of Appalachia, is coming to the state that has              more persistently poor counties than any other in Appalachia. Kentucky              Educational Television will air the documentary              in three parts starting at 9 p.m. on July 3. The complete              airing schedule will appear Friday on The Rural Blog. Tuesday, June 28, 2005 Industry-funded              study shows horses are $39 billion business, with 1.4              million jobs The equine industry, with hundreds of              stables, breeders and training farms around the country,              and a network of veterinarians, farriers and tack shops,              is a multi-billion dollar industry with 1.4 million              jobs, a ne


Deriving from the Greek for 'thick', what name is given to any class of sub-atomic particle that is composed of quarks, and is thus affected by the strong nuclear force?

Astronomical Glossary A radiofrequency band at a wavelength of 11.1 cm. [H76] s-Electron An orbital electron whose l quantum number is zero. [H76] S-Factor A nuclear cross-section factor measured in keV-barns. [H76] S-Matrix Scattering Matrix: A matrix representing the transitions from some initial to  some final state in a given interaction. The transitions may involve changes in the number of particles in the system. [H76] S-Process Slow Neutron Capture: A process in which heavy, stable, neutron-rich nuclei are  synthesized from iron-peak elements by successive captures of free neutrons in a weak neutron flux, so there is time for -decay before another neutron is captured (cf. r-process). This a slow but sure process of nucleosynthesis which is assumed to take place in the intershell regions during the red-giant phase of evolution, at densities up to 105 g cm-3 and temperatures of about 3 × 108 K (neutron densities assumed are 1010 cm-3). The s-process slowly builds stable nuclear species up to A = 208 (time between captures about 10-100 years). It ends there, because any further capture of neutrons leads immediately to -decay back to lead or thallium. The most likely source of neutrons for the s-process is linked to thermal instabilities in  the helium shell during double shell burning after core He exhaustion. The s-process probably occurs in stars where M < 9 M . [H76] S Stars Red-giant stars of spectral type S are similar to M stars except  that the dominant oxides are those of the metals of the fifth  period (Zr, Y, etc.) instead of the third (Ti, Sc, V). They also have strong CN bands and contain spectral lines of lithium and technetium. Pure S stars are those in which ZrO bands are very strong and TiO bands are either absent or only barely detectable. Almost all S stars are LPVs. (S1,0. The number following  the comma is an abundance parameter.) [H76] S-State/S-Level The state of an atom in which the orbital angular momentum L (the vector sum of the orbital angular momenta l of the individual electrons) is zero. [H76] S-Wave Secondary Wave: A seismic shear wave that moves transversely through Earth. The  s-waves cannot penetrate the core of the Earth, being totally reflected by the 2900-km discontinuity. [H76] SAA South Atlantic Anomaly SAO Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory [LLM96] SC Stars Stars which appear to be intermediate in type between S stars and carbon stars (C/O ratio near unity). [H76] sdB Subdwarf B-type stars with very broad and shallow Balmer lines; fewer lines of  the Balmer series are visible than for normal dwarfs. [JJ95] sdO Subdwarf O stars showing few very broad and shallow Balmer lines and a very  strong He II 4686 line. [JJ95] SEC Secondary Electron Conduction [LLM96] SFR Star Formation Rate SFH Star Formation History SI Units see International System of Units. [H76] SIN Superconductor Insulator Normal [LLM96] SIS Solid-state Imaging Spectrometer (ASCA X-ray satellite). SIS Superconductor Insulator Superconductor [LLM96] SIT Silicon Intensified Target [LLM96] Sachs-Wolfe Effect   FG Sagittae A supergiant whose spectral type has changed from B4 Ia in 1955 to  A5 Ia in 1967 to F6 Ia in 1972. It ejected a planetary nebula some 6000 years ago. It showed s-process elements  in its surface layer in 1972 that did not exist in 1965 - an indication of deep mixing. [H76] WZ Sagittae A recurrent DAe old nova (1913 and 1946) with the shortest known orbital period (about 80 minutes). It is almost certainly a close binary system in which mass is being transferred onto a white-dwarf primary. [H76] Sagittarius A A radio source (the galactic center) about 12 pc in diameter. (Sgr A West is a thermal source; Sgr A East is a nonthermal source.) [H76] Sagittarius A* The very center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A* is a strong  source of radio waves and probably a massive black hole. [C95] Sagittarius Arm One of the spiral arms of the Milky Way, lying between us and the  center of the Galaxy in the direction of Sagittarius. It includes the Scutum arm, th


Which fashion designer founded the Kings Road clothes shop Bazaar in 1955?

Mary Quant's Bazaar Mary Quant's Bazaar Mary Quant, designer of the mini skirt, opened her boutique here Location: Markham House, 138a King's Road, Chelsea, sw3 4uu Description: In October 1955, she teamed up with her husband, Alexander Plunkett-Greene, and an accountant, Archie McNair, to open a clothes shop on the Kings Road in London called Bazaar. Greene had inherited 5,000 pounds on his 21st birthday, and the three decided to go into business together. They rented Markham House, a three-story building here in London's artist district of Chelsea. They opened a boutique on the first floor and a restaurant in the basement. They called the boutique Bazaar. Its owners knew little about the business beyond Quant's fashion philosophy: I can't bear over-accessorization... a white hat worn with white gloves, white shoes and a white umbrella, she declared in Quant by Quant. Rules are invented for lazy people who don't want to think for themselves. True to her philosophy, Quant searched for the clothes she herself wanted to wear, selling miniskirts, funky dresses, bright tights and bras called Booby Traps to young people. The shop capitalized on the buying power of baby boomers, those born during the sharp increase in birthrate following the end of World War II, who were beginning to grow into teenagers. Naive about the mechanics of running a retail business, Quant and her partners sold their wares with a markup much smaller than any nearby store, without realizing they were actually taking a loss on many items. It was no wonder we did such a roaring trade the moment we opened, she later wrote. The shop was constantly stripped bare--sometimes we hardly had enough to dress the window--because we never bought enough of anything. Quant quickly discovered that manufacturers weren't making the kinds of clothes she wanted to sell, so she set up her own manufacturing outfit in her apartment, hiring a dressmaker to come during the day and help. Quant herself sewed dresses at night to sell the next day in the shop. I had to sell one day's output before I had the money to go out and buy more material, she recalled, noting that at first, I didn't think of myself as a designer. I just knew that I wanted to concentrate on finding the right clothes for the young to wear and the right accessories to go with them. Struggling to make ends meet and suffering ridicule from the press and some passers-by, Quant persevered. In less than ten years, her clothing designs was world famous, selling in 150 shops in Britain, 320 stores in the United States, and throughout the world: France, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and more. The miniskirt, for which she is arguably most famous, became one of the defining fashions of the 1960s. The miniskirt was developed separately by Andre Courrges, and there is disagreement as to who came up with the idea first. Mary Quant named the miniskirt after her favourite make of car, the Mini. In the basement here was (until 2008), a club called the Bosun's Locker, which became a haven for the nu-folk scene and where Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale, Mumford and Sons, etc. got kick started on the way to stardom.


What is the surname of the title character in Thomas Hardy's novel 'Jude The Obscure'?

In Thomas Hardy's novel Jude the Obscure, why and how is the title character "obscure"? | eNotes In Thomas Hardy's novel Jude the Obscure, why and how is the title character "obscure"? vangoghfan | College Teacher | (Level 2) Educator Emeritus Posted on January 6, 2012 at 5:07 AM As defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “obscure” has a number of meanings that seem relevant to the life of Jude Fawley, the central character of Thomas Hardy’s novel Jude the Obscure. According to the OED, “obscure” is associated with a variety of denotations and connotations, including the following: Dark, dim; gloomy, dismal. Concealed from sight by darkness. Difficult to understand or fathom. Enigmatic; ambiguous. Not illustrious or famous; humble.   Of all these definitions, it is clearly the final one that is most relevant to Jude Fawley. He is, after all, a poor man who lives in very humble circumstances and who never attracts much attention from the rest of the world. He never achieves his dreams of becoming a student in the full sense of that word, and by the end of the book he is largely weak and alone, living a life even more “obscure” than earlier. Hardy uses the word “obscure” several times in the book when describing Jude.  Early in the novel, for instance, the narrator notes, while describing Jude, that [d]rinking was the regular, stereotyped resource of the despairing worthless. He began to see now why some men boozed at inns. He struck down the hill northwards and came to an obscure public-house. Versions of the word “obscure” are used more than twenty times in the novel. Surely one of the most significant usages, however, is when Jude himself describes himself and Sue as poor obscure people like us . . . Jude lives a life that is dim, dark, gloomy, and dismal. He goes basically unnoticed by the rest of the world. His manner of life is difficult for many people to fathom or understand. And his character and circumstances are enigmatic and ambiguous.  In all these ways, then, Jude is “obscure” in almost every sense of the word.


In 'Monopoly', which is the most expensive of the orange properties?

Which property group colour gives the best ROI , undeveloped or fully developed, in Monopoly? - Board & Card Games Stack Exchange Which property group colour gives the best ROI , undeveloped or fully developed, in Monopoly? up vote 46 down vote favorite 6 Everybody always goes for the dark blues in Monopoly (Mayfair and Park Lane in the UK edition), but I'm convinced that the cheaper colour groups offer a better return on investment, partly because you can fully develop them quicker, and partly because you can own more squares, thereby giving you more "hits" and a steadier income. But is there any analysis to support (or refute) this view? 4   btw - "fully developed" is not always the best. Most most properties, 3 houses is the point at which rent pays more than it cost to improve the property. –  warren Sep 28 '11 at 17:36 up vote 48 down vote accepted My understanding is that the best three property groups are light blue (Angel Islington, Euston Road, Pentonville Road), orange (Bow Street, Marlborough Street, Vine Street), and dark blue (Park Lane, Mayfair). Light blue is good because the buildings are very cheap but give excellent returns. Orange is good because the likelihood of landing there is substantially higher, due to forced starting from Jail (gets you on a 6, 8 or 9). Finally, the dark blues are a good choice because eventually someone will draw the Advance to Mayfair card. There is a much more detailed analysis here . The names are from the American set, but the calculations are the same. 4   Your source specifically mentions "The best return on investment to be found is from putting a third house on New York Avenue." (Most Expensive Orange) I would bet that Orange is therefor the best as a group for ROI. –  WillfulWizard Oct 19 '10 at 21:26 2   Sweet. I remember reading a similar study on how Orange has the highest probability that someone will pay rent there and, for individual properties, I think it was Illinois. –  Jonn Oct 19 '10 at 23:53      Yes, and the main reason Illinois has the highest probability is because of the Chance card "Advance to Illinois". –  ghoppe Jun 17 '11 at 22:58 1   @ghoppe I have to disagree on their magnitude: St. Chuck, Reading, and Boardwalk also have teleport cards, but they are not statistically the most likely to land on. Obviously something sets Illinois apart from them. GO in fact has two teleports, as it's in both card piles. And you don't need two 7's to get to Illinois from jail. As I stated, any two rolls from the jail space give you a 11.3% chance to land on Illinois. –  corsiKa Jan 20 '12 at 16:26 1   continued... Having 3 chance spaces out of 40 on the board, and a 1/16 chance to draw that chance card, that tells me that each roll has a 3/(16*40) chance, or 0.46% chance, to teleport the player to Illinois. This means that for it to be a greater factor, you would have to start from Jail about 1/24 times. In other words, you'd start from jail about twice as often as the average square. Considering that it has two entry squares (itself and go to jail) PLUS two other methods of being sent there, it's obvious it carries that weight. –  corsiKa Jan 20 '12 at 16:30


From the 14th century to the 18th century, which country was known as 'Lang Xang', translated as 'The Land Of The Million Elephants'?

Laos | Article about Laos by The Free Dictionary Laos | Article about Laos by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Laos Related to Laos: Vietnam , Nepal Laos (lä`ōs), officially Lao People's Democratic Republic, republic (2005 est. pop. 6,217,000), 91,428 sq mi (236,800 sq km), SE Asia. A landlocked nation, Laos is bordered by China on the north, by Vietnam on the east, by Cambodia on the south, and by Thailand and Myanmar on the west. The capital and largest city is Vientiane Vientiane , city (1990 est. pop. 140,000), administrative capital and largest city of Laos, N central Laos, on the Mekong River, c.130 mi (210 km) southeast of the former royal capital of Luang Phabang. ..... Click the link for more information. . Land and People The Mekong Mekong , Chinese Lancang, one of the great rivers of SE Asia, c.2,600 mi (4,180 km) long. From its marshy source (definitively identified in 1994) on the Rup-sa Pass in the highlands of Tibet, it rises as the Za Qu (Dza Chu) and flows generally S through Yunnan prov. ..... Click the link for more information.  River, most of which flows in a broad valley, forms much of the boundaries with Myanmar and Thailand. For two stretches, however—one greater than 300 mi (480 km)—the Mekong flows entirely through the territory of Laos. Except for the Mekong lowlands and three major plateaus, the terrain of Laos is rugged, mountainous, and heavily forested; jagged crests in the north tower over 9,000 ft (2,740 m). In addition to the capital, important cities include Savannaket, Pakse, and Luang Phabang Luang Phabang or Luang Prabang , city (1995 est. pop. 55,300), capital of Luang Phabang prov. and the historic, religious, and cultural capital of Laos, NW Laos, on the Mekong River. ..... Click the link for more information.  (the former royal capital). Laos is one of the nations of Southeast Asia least touched by modern civilization. There are no railroads; roads and trails are limited; and use of the country's main communications artery, the Mekong River, is impeded by many falls and rapids. More than half the people live along the Mekong and its tributaries, and most are subsistence farmers. The urban areas are more prosperous, with a slowly growing middle class. About two thirds of the population are Lao Loum, a people ethnically related to the Thai, who live along the Mekong River valley. The Lao Theung or Mountain Mon Khmer (about 22% of the population) generally reside in upland valleys. Highland groups include the Hmong (Meo), Yao (Mien), Black Thai, Dao, and several Tibeto-Burman speaking peoples. There are also important minorities of Vietnamese and Chinese. A majority of Laotians are Theravada Buddhists; although the mountain peoples are generally animists, some have adopted Buddhism. Lao is the official language; French and English are also spoken. Economy Laos is one of Asia's poorest nations. Agriculture employs most of the Laotian workforce and accounts for about half of its gross domestic product. Rice is by far the chief crop; sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, and peanuts are also grown. Commercial crops include coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, and tea. Illegal opium and cannabis were long produced in the northwest, part of the "Golden Triangle" (which also includes neighboring portions of Thailand and Myanmar), but production there was largely eradicated by 2005. Water buffalo, pigs, cattle, and poultry are raised, and fish from the rivers supplement the diet. Forests cover over half of the country; tropical hardwoods are cut and lac is extracted; much timber is exported illegally to Vietnam. Copper, gold, tin, and gypsum are mined; other mineral resources include gemstones. Manufacturing is limited; textiles and garments are the most important products. Tourism has become increasingly significant in the 21st cent, providing service jobs for Laotians. Laos has significant hydroelectric potential and, despite a relative lack of development, electricity is a prime export, mainly to Thailand. The other principal exports are textiles and garments, t


Prior to the introduction of the Euro, which coin was equal to one-hundredth of a French Franc?

ExchangeRate.com - Currency Information French Euro Also See: The French Franc The euro (sign: €; code: EUR) is the official currency of the Eurozone: 16 of the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) and is the currency used by the EU institutions. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.Estonia is due to join the eurozone on 1 January 2011.The currency is also used in a further five European countries, with and without formal agreements, and is consequently used daily by some 327 million Europeans.Over 175 million people worldwide use currencies which are pegged to the euro, including more than 150 million people in Africa. The euro is the second largest reserve currency (a status it inherited from the German mark) as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the U.S. dollar.As of June 2010, with more than €800 billion in circulation, the euro is the currency with the highest combined value of banknotes and coins in circulation in the world, having surpassed the U.S. dollar. Based on IMF estimates of 2008 GDP and purchasing power parity among the various currencies, the eurozone is the second largest economy in the world. The name euro was officially adopted on 16 December 1995.The euro was introduced to world financial markets as an accounting currency on 1 January 1999, replacing the former European Currency Unit (ECU) at a ratio of 1:1. Euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002. Administration The euro is managed and administered by the Frankfurt-based European Central Bank (ECB) and the Eurosystem (composed of the central banks of the eurozone countries). As an independent central bank, the ECB has sole authority to set monetary policy. The Eurosystem participates in the printing, minting and distribution of notes and coins in all Member States, and the operation of the eurozone payment systems. The 1992 Maastricht Treaty obliges most EU Member States to adopt the euro upon meeting certain monetary and budgetary requirements, although not all states have done so. The United Kingdom and Denmark negotiated exemptions,while Sweden turned down the euro in a 2003 referendum, and has circumvented the obligation to adopt the euro by not meeting the monetary and budgetary requirements. All nations that have joined the EU since 1993 have pledged to adopt the euro in due course. CHARACTERISTICS Coins and banknotes The euro is divided into 100 cents (sometimes referred to as euro-cents, especially when distinguishing them from other currencies). In Community legislative acts the plural forms of euro and cent are spelled without the s, notwithstanding normal English usage.Otherwise, normal English plurals are recommended and used;with many local variations such as for example 'centime' in France. All circulating coins have a common side showing the denomination or value, and a map in the background. For the denominations except the 1-, 2- and 5-cent coins that map only showed the 15 Member States which were members when the euro was introduced. Beginning in 2007 or 2008 (depending on the country) the old map is being replaced by a map of Europe also showing countries outside the Union like Norway. The 1-, 2- and 5-cent coins, however, keep their old design, showing a geographical map of Europe with the 15 Member States of 2002 raised somewhat above the rest of the map. All common sides were designed by Luc Luycx. The coins also have a national side showing an image specifically chosen by the country that issued the coin. Euro coins from any Member State may be freely used in any nation which has adopted the euro. The common (top) and national sides of the €2 coinThe coins are issued in €2, €1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c denominations. In order to avoid the use of the two smallest coins, some cash transactions are rounded to the nearest five cents in the Netherlands (by voluntary agreement) and in Finland (by law).This practice is discouraged by the


Who wrote the 1905 opera 'The Merry Widow'?

Who wrote the libretto for "The Merry Widow"? | Reference.com Who wrote the libretto for "The Merry Widow"? A: Quick Answer Austrian-Hungarian librettists Viktor Leon and Leo Stein collaborated to write the libretto for the operetta "The Merry Widow," which premiered in Vienna in 1905. Leon and Stein based their operetta on the 1861 French comedy, "L'Attache d'ambassade" by French playwright Henri Meilhac. Full Answer Leon was born on Jan. 4, 1858, in present-day Bratislava and began his career as a journalist before becoming a librettist. As a librettist, he collaborated with composers such as Johann Strauss, Alfred Zamara and Rudolf Raimann. Stein was born on Mar. 25, 1861, in Lemberg, Austria and started his career as a playwright. He later on wrote libretti for composers such as Franz Lehar, Emmerich Kalman and Johann Strauss. "The Merry Widow" tells the story of a fictitious country's richest citizen, a young widow named Hanna Glawari, and her countrymen's efforts to thwart her foreign suitors so she would end up marrying a local and keeping her wealth inside the country. The operetta continues to be on mainstream consciousness, with occasional revivals and adaptations on stage, television and film. PBS broadcast a performance by the San Diego Opera in 2002.


Which kitchen appliance was invented by Percy Spencer in 1945?

Biographies of Percy L. Spencer Inventors Highest Rated   Percy L. Spencer ( 1894               - 1970               )  Category ( Inventors ) [ suggest a correction ]   He was known as the inventor of the microwave but even though he possessed an ingenious mind, Percy L Spencer didn’t live a life of ease in the early years. Born in Maine, Percy was left an orphan at a young age. He never graduated from a traditional school but his brains carried him through life and never failed him. Percy L Spencer invented the microwave oven in 1945 which was after World War II. What is known today as a conventional kitchen feature began as a very unconventional discovery. Spencer discovered the microwave because he was at one of the Raytheon Companies when he noticed a sudden and odd feeling surge through his body. Around the same time, Percy Spencer realized that his chocolate candy bar was melting. As he noted these strange and peculiar happenings, he also recognized that both were a result of where he chose to stand. Standing in front of a magnetron, Percy realized the power tube that drives the radar set was also capable of doing much more. He immediately took some kernels of popcorn and held it up to the magnetron. He watched with curiosity and splendid amazement as popcorn formed. From the experiment conducted at Raytheon, the microwave was developed. The first oven was basically developed for the use in commercial settings like restaurants and ocean vessels or railroad cars. These ovens weighed around seven hundred and fifty pounds. Today, the microwave oven is a familiar appliance in many homes across the world. Percy L. Spencer died in 1970. He left behind a lifetime of accomplishments. During his time at Raytheon, not only did he invent the microwave but he also held the position of Senior Vice-President of Raytheon. Percy L. Spencer secured over one hundred patents during his lifetime.    Rating  5


In March 2009, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the President of which African country?

Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir charged with Darfur war crimes | World news | The Guardian Close This article is 7 years old The Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir , has been charged with war crimes over the conflict in Darfur, becoming the first sitting head of state issued with an arrest warrant by the international criminal court (ICC). The court, based in The Hague, upheld the request of the chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, to charge Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity. More than 200,000 people have died since 2003 in the country's western Darfur region. Judges dismissed the prosecution's most contentious charge of genocide. Prosecutors had alleged Bashir tried to wipe out three non-Arab ethnic groups. Within minutes of the announcement, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. Mustafa Osman Ismail, an aide to Bashir, described the decision as "neo-colonialism ... They do not want Sudan to become stable." The ICC spokeswoman, Laurence Blairon, said the indictment, drawn up by three judges, included five counts of crimes against humanity: murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape. The two counts of war crimes were for directing attacks on the civilian population and pillaging. Blairon said Bashir was criminally responsible as the head of state and commander of the Sudanese armed forces for the offences during a five-year counter-insurgency campaign against three armed groups in Darfur. She said all states would be asked to execute the arrest warrant and if Sudan failed to cooperate the matter would be referred to the UN security council. Human rights groups hailed the ICC decision to pursue Bashir, who is accused of ordering mass murder, rape and torture in Darfur. "This sends a strong signal that the international community no longer tolerates impunity for grave violations of human rights committed by people in positions of power," said Tawanda Hondora, the deputy director of Amnesty International's Africa programme. Sudan does not recognise the ICC, and Bashir yesterday said the court could "eat" the arrest warrant, which he described as a western plot to hinder Sudan's development. Despite his defiance, the court's decision will raise immediate questions over his political future and he will find it difficult to travel abroad without the risk of arrest. The case is by far the biggest and most controversial that the ICC, which started work as a permanent court in 2002, has taken on. Bashir, who is 65 and has held power for 20 years, joins the likes of the former Liberian president Charles Taylor and the late Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosevic, who were indicted by special international tribunals while still in office. Both were subsequently forced from power and put on trial in The Hague. Few independent observers doubt Bashir's large share of responsibility for the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur. After the uprising in February 2003 by mainly non-Arab rebels, who complained of marginalisation and neglect, his government armed, trained and financed bands of Arab nomads to attack villages across Darfur, killing, raping and looting as they went. The army provided air and ground support. Moreno-Ocampo says the strategy caused 35,000 violent deaths, and alleges that Bashir wanted to eliminate the Fur, Marsalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups, whom he deemed supportive of the rebels. "More than 30 witnesses will [testify] how he [Bashir] managed to control everything, and we have strong evidence of his intention," Moreno-Ocampo said yesterday. But some Sudan experts were not convinced by the genocide charge, which is normally extremely difficult to prove. Equally contentious was the decision to pursue Bashir while he still heads an unpredictable regime in an unstable country. The US, UK and France were in favour of the arrest warrant, and hope it may push Sudan's government towards reforms and ending the six-year conflict. But Arab states and the African Union had pressed for a postponement of the charges to allow Bashir a final chance to end the


What was the name of the play known to have been written by Shakespeare as a sequel to 'Love's Labour's Lost', but for which no manuscript has ever been found?

Loves Labour's Lost   Loves Labour's Lost It's been said that which doesn't kill us makes us stronger...or at least drives us really crazy.  In Love's Labours Lost, 4 frat boys composed of the young King of Navarre and his best friends Berowne, Longaville and Dumain decide to improve themselves by adopting a monastic lifestyle dedicated to pursuit of learning and to forgo any distracting pleasures, especially women.  While the king is all for it, the others aren't so sure and as Berowne points out their task may be difficult considering the imminent arrival of the Princess of France and her fair ladies in waiting.  The king knows they can press on despite these enchanting women, but can they?  As the Princess' party arrives, they become aware of the men's situation and decide to test their faith.  This proves especially troublesome for Berowne who's old flame Rosaline is in the party.  The play continues at at a break neck pace with other foppish suitors, smart aleck clowns, and tutors of dubious intelligence thrown into the mix as the King's men to woo their counterparts in secret.     Below, as the play appeared in the 1623 First Folio. Loves Labour's Lost was probably first written first in 1593 and then later revised in 1594 as some scenes and references point to inconsistencies in the flow of the plot.  While no source material have ever been identified, out of all Shakespeare's works, this play holds the most in common with Shakespeare's Sonnets as several lines from the poems are used as well as the sonnet form is used in text throughout the play.  Another interesting connection is the character of Rosaline and her relationship with the main suitor Berowne, seem to mirror the ' Dark Lady ' of the Sonnets and her relationship with the sonnet speaker.  All of these connections and its composition in 1593 point the play having first been written for private performances for the Earl of Southhampton, the possible ' Fair Youth ' of the Sonnets.  Shakespeare is believed to have stayed with Southhampton during 1593 as the London Theaters were closed for a year and a half due to plague.  During this period he also wrote his two longer poems Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece for the Earl.  When the theaters were finally reopened in 1594, the play may have been revised for general performances.  Loves Labour's Lost holds the distinction of being the first play to feature Shakespeare's name printed on the title page.  Though Titus Andronicus was the first of his plays to reach print, the title page didn't mention his name.  It was common practice not to mention the playwrights as it was the plays and not the writers who mattered to the theater owners.  As the decade progressed and certain writers became well known in their own right, it made more financial sense for the writers to be included.  The first publication in 1598 is thought to be a pirated version because it was quickly followed in 1600 with a version that seemed to be drawn from Shakespeare's manuscript.  The first recorded performance of the play was in Christmas 1597 for Queen Elizabeth. While the play contains more topical allusions than any other Shakespeare's works, it has remained a popular comedy and is repeatedly revived today.   A copy of the 1598 Quarto An interesting side note to this play is that it may have had a companion piece or sequel that is now lost.  Love's Labour's Wonne , was mentioned in a period reference as a play by Shakespeare and also appeared as an independent title in a bookseller's listing, but no play by that title has survived.  This has lead to one of two theories, either the play has come down to us by another name with Taming of the Shrew , Much Ado About Nothing , As You Like It, and All's Well That Ends Well being possible contenders with 'Shrew' and 'Much' being the more probable ones.  The second that there is a lost play by Shakespeare with that title.  All of this leads to a minor enigma that may never be fully resolved. Click below or on the side links to view the Pla


Which kitchen appliance was invented by Denis Papin in 1679?

History of Kitchen Appliances By Mary Bellis Updated November 03, 2015. By definition, the kitchen is a room used for food preparation that is typically equipped with a stove, a sink for cleaning food and dish-washing, and cabinets and refrigerators for storing food and equipment. Kitchens have been around for centuries, however, it was not until post-civil war period that the majority of kitchen appliances were invented. The reason was that most people no longer had servants and housewives working alone in the kitchen needed culinary help. Also the advent of electricity greatly advanced the technology of labor-saving kitchen appliances. History of Kitchen Appliances In 1850, Joel Houghton patented a wooden machine with a hand-turned wheel that splashed water on dishes, it was hardly a workable machine, but it was the first patent . Garbage Disposer Architect, inventor John W. Hammes built his wife the world's first kitchen garbage disposer in 1927. After ten years of design improvement, Hammes went into business selling his appliance to the public. His company was called the In-Sink-Erator Manufacturing Company. continue reading below our video What to Do If Your Identity is Stolen The first historical record of a stove being built refers to a stove built in 1490 in Alsace, France. Microwave Ovens Before mechanical refrigeration systems were introduced, people cooled their food with ice and snow, either found locally or brought down from the mountains. Small Kitchen Appliances The familiar green plastic garbage bag (made from polyethylene) was invented by Harry Wasylyk in 1950. Electric Kettle Arthur Leslie Large invented the electric kettle in 1922. General Electric introduced the electric kettle with an automatic cut-out in 1930. Weber Kettle Grill George Stephen invented the original Weber Kettle Grill in 1951. Mason Jar John Mason patented the screw neck bottle or the "Mason Jar" on November 30, 1858. Electric Mixers The first patent that can claim to be for an electric mixer was issued on November 17, 1885 to Rufus M. Eastman. Lillian Moller Gilbreth (1878-1972), the mother of 12 children, also patented an electric food mixer (at a later date). Ivar Jepson invented Sunbeam Mixmaster, which he patented in 1928, and first mass marketed in 1930. Paper Towels The Scott Paper Company was founded in Philadelphia by Irvin and Clarence Scott in 1879. Brothers Seymour and Irvin Scott ran a paper commission business for twelve years, but the poor economy in the 1870s forced them out of business. Irvin and his younger brother, Clarence, then decided to form their own company out of the remains of the first. Irvin reportedly borrowed $2,000 from his father-in-law and added it to the $300 the two brothers had to form the capital of Scott Paper Company. In 1907, Scott Paper introduced the Sani-Towels paper towel, the first paper towels. They were invented for use in Philadelphia classrooms to help prevent the spread of the common cold from child to child. Peelers The nineteenth-century created numerous kitchen use inventions: toasters, potato mashers, apple/potato peelers, food choppers and sausage stuffers were all invented. Over 185 patents for coffee grinders and over 500 patents for apple/potato peelers were patented in the 1800s. Early peelers were made of iron and the patent number and other information was included in the casting. Peelers ranged from the familiar and simple round swiveling rod with a knife blade that peeled skin, to contraptions full of gears and wheels that could peel, core, slice and section. There were separate peelers designed for different fruits and vegetables; there were even peelers that removed the kernels from ears of corn. Pressure Cooker In 1679, French physicist Denis Papin invented the pressure cooker, called Papin's Digester, this airtight cooker produced a hot steam that cooked food more quickly while preserving nutrients.


In 2009, Sean Penn won the 'Oscar' for Best Actor for his role in which film?

Oscars 2009: Sean Penn defends gay rights as protesters abuse Heath Ledger - Telegraph Oscars Oscars 2009: Sean Penn defends gay rights as protesters abuse Heath Ledger Sean Penn jokingly praised the "homo-loving" Academy as the Oscars became a platform for gay rights, with protesters outside waving placards saying Heath Ledger burned in hell. By staff in Los Angeles 4:00PM GMT 23 Feb 2009 Stars on their way to the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles had to pass a group of Christian demonstrators outside who protested against gay marriage and attacked the memory of the late Heath Ledger, a favourite target of militant anti-gay protesters since his role in Brokeback Mountain. Penn won the best actor award for Milk, in which he played politician and gay rights activist Harvey Milk. The actor opened his acceptance speech with the words: "You commie, homo-loving sons of guns," to laughter from the audience. Referring to the protest, he said: "For those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone." Backstage, he dismissed the demonstrators' 'Heath in Hell' placards. "I think if we get used to dismissing these kind of comments rather than commenting on them, we'll be better off. It's meaningless jibberish," he said, expressing his sadness at the "culture of ignorance that has bred this kind of hateful expression, that these people have their signs outside essentially telling you that you're less than human". Related Articles


In which county could you climb England's highest mountain?

Climbing Scafell Pike - England's Highest Point - YouTube Climbing Scafell Pike - England's Highest Point 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. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on May 30, 2010 I climb Scafell Pike the highest point in England. Scafell Pike is part of the Cumbrian Mountains and is found in the Lake District National Park. At 3209 ft (978 m) Scafell Pike is a mildly challenging climb that you can do in a day with multiple choices of ascent and descent. Category


Which batsman holds the record for the most runs in a Test career?

Greatest Ever:Cricket:Top 10 Batsmen Of All-Time | Bleacher Report Greatest Ever:Cricket:Top 10 Batsmen Of All-Time Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow 9.2K Comments This is the second installment of my "Greatest Ever" series. The first one was about top 10 wrestlers. Of course, I got a good amount of criticisms which were constructive. Cricket is a very popular sporting event with millions of fans across the globe. As it is a game, it'll have all-time favorites and greatest players. Today, the list I prepared after crossing various hurdles is the Top-Ten Batsmen of all time. I know this is a debatable topic, but according to my experience in cricket (watching, not playing), this list will be the one I'll be opting for. As always, comments are welcome. Here we go... Next » 10. Wally Hammond This English batsman has an exclusive batting average in test cricket and he is one of the notable test batsmen of all time. He could hold the record for highest individual test innings with his outstanding 336 not out which was broken by Len Hutton after five years. He has 22 test centuries. His class would be easily observable if anyone has a look at his first class batting career. He scored over 50,000 runs with 167 centuries in first-class cricket. He could make 22 centuries in test cricket. He also captained England. He played for Gloucestershire in his first class career. 9. Sunil Gavaskar Sunil Gavaskar was one of the best Indian batsmen of all time. Gavaskar was possessed of a classical technique. He had a mind to match, with astonishing powers of concentration. To the purist, it was equally a pleasure to see him leave six outswingers in a row as to observe his cover drive. He was the highest test centurion till 2005 with his 34 test centuries. He has over 10,000 runs in test cricket at an average of 51.12. He has over 3,000 runs in one-day cricket with an average of 35.13. In 1980, he became the Wisden cricketer of the year. For his excellent run scoring ability he was called “Run Machine.” Next » 8. Ricky Ponting One of the all-time best captains in the world.He was and remains the archetypal modern cricketer: he plays all the shots with a full flourish of the bat and knows only to attack. And his breathtaking, dead-eye fielding is a force in the game by itself. He is another known for his captain’s knocks. Apart from being a stylish batsman, he holds an average of 58, scoring over 10,000 runs. Next » 7. Sir Jack Hobbs Sir Jack Hobbs is Renowned as a very modest and self-effacing man, he was popularly referred to as "The Master". As a batsman, he scored more runs and more centuries in first-class cricket than any other player in the history of the game. He was the only English cricketer and the only opening batsman to be selected as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the [20th] Century. He had played 61 Test matches between 1908 and 1930, with a career batting average in first-class cricket of 50.70. His record in the First class cricket remains unbreakable as he scored over 60,000 runs. He also took 108 wickets. Next » 6.Allan Border Allan Border was the former captain of Australia and is the first batsman in the test cricket to score 11000. He is one of the best batsmen in test cricket history. He scored 11174 runs with an average of 50.56. His performance against West Indies, the then leading cricket power of the world, was exclusive one. Though he got many successes throughout his career as a batsman, Australia could set their dominant position during his captaincy. He is regarded as one of the best captains ever for Australia. He led Australia in 93 matches and Australia won their first world cup championship in 1987 under his captaincy. He is also successful in one-day cricket with his bat. He scored over 6000 runs at an average of 30.62 with three centuries. The award for Australian player of the year has been named after Allan Border. He is now a member of Australian cricket hall of Fame. Next » 5.Sir Vivian Richards Considered to be one of the finest batsmen of all time, he was also a part time off


Which is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo?

Virgo Constellation: Facts about the Virgin Virgo Constellation: Facts about the Virgin By Kim Ann Zimmermann | August 9, 2012 12:41pm ET MORE Virgo is a congested constellation with 26 known exoplanets — planets outside of the solar system — orbiting around 20 stars, and at least a dozen Messier objects. It is the largest constellation of the Zodiac and the second-largest constellation overall, behind Hydra. Well over a thousand galaxies are known members of the Virgo Cluster. Credit: NASA/ Rogelio Bernal Andreo Locating Virgo Virgo covers 1,294 square degrees. Most of the constellation’s stars are dim, but Virgo's bright blue-white star, Spica, is fairly easy to locate. Stargazers can use the Big Dipper as a guide. Follow the curve of the handle down to the southeast until you come to the bright star Arcturus, in the Bootes constellation. Continue the arc to the next bright star, which is Spica. There's even a mnemonic phrase to help you remember: " Follow the arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica ." SKY MAP: The sky as seen at 10 pm local time on June 15 from midnorthern latitudes. Tied to fertility and agriculture, Virgo appears to stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere during the spring and summer months and to those in the Southern Hemisphere in autumn and winter. Right Ascension: 13 hours Visible between latitudes 80 and minus 80 degrees Best seen in May at 9 p.m. Spica , also known as Alpha Virginis, is the brightest star in the constellation. Spica ranks as the 16th brightest star in the night sky and can be regarded as a nearly perfect example of a star of the first magnitude. It is a blue giant about 260 light-years from Earth. The star is about twice as big as the sun and its luminosity is 2,300 times that of the sun. It is known as the "ear of wheat" being held by Virgo. The second brightest star is Gamma Virginis, also known as Porrima and Arich, is a binary star. The third-brightest star, Epsilon Virginis, is a yellow giant that is also known as Vindemiatrix, or the Grape Gatherer. Zeta Virginis, or Heze, is a white dwarf notable for its exceptionally short rotation period of less than 0.5 days. The star 70 Virginis has one of the first known exoplanets, with one confirmed planet 7.5 times the mass of Jupiter. The Virgo Galaxy Cluster contains 11 deep space objects catalogued by Charles Messier , more than any constellation except Sagittarius, which has 15. [Video: Galactic Eyes Peer Out Through Virgo ] Constellations ancient and modern grace the skies year round. Let's see what you know about the star patterns that appear overhead every night.


'The Lost Gardens Of Heligan' are a tourist attraction in which English county?

The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan The Lost Gardens of Heligan 200 acres of garden history, mystery and romance Twenty-five years ago, Heligan’s historic gardens were unknown and unseen; lost under a tangle of weeds. It was only the chance discovery of a door in the ruins that led to the restoration of this once great estate. Today, The Lost Gardens have been put back where they belong: in pride of place among the finest gardens in Cornwall.